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Catch and Release
An ex-mob fixer must solve the murder of a hitman’s wife and daughter before becoming the next victim.
A vigilante justice crime thriller with a twist ending.
Connor Harding is a problem solver. Retired hitman Freddie Blasko has a problem. Twelve years ago, someone murdered his wife and daughter, and now he wants Connor to find the killer.
Connor’s not keen to take the case because he knows an unsolvable murder when he sees one. Twelve years is a long time, and there’s no evidence, witnesses, or bodies.
But Freddie isn’t the type to take no for an answer. He gives Connor an solve the case, or Connor’s brother dies. Fearing for his brother’s life, Connor investigates the murders and slowly pieces the puzzle together. During his investigation, he uncovers a dark secret and learns no one, not even the victims, are who they seem.
Connor also discovers he’s got a problem. While he’s hunting the killer, someone else is stalking him.
Can Connor find the murderer and save his brother before becoming the next victim?
Catch and Release is the seventh novel by award-winning author Trace Conger.
A vigilante justice crime thriller with a twist ending.
Connor Harding is a problem solver. Retired hitman Freddie Blasko has a problem. Twelve years ago, someone murdered his wife and daughter, and now he wants Connor to find the killer.
Connor’s not keen to take the case because he knows an unsolvable murder when he sees one. Twelve years is a long time, and there’s no evidence, witnesses, or bodies.
But Freddie isn’t the type to take no for an answer. He gives Connor an solve the case, or Connor’s brother dies. Fearing for his brother’s life, Connor investigates the murders and slowly pieces the puzzle together. During his investigation, he uncovers a dark secret and learns no one, not even the victims, are who they seem.
Connor also discovers he’s got a problem. While he’s hunting the killer, someone else is stalking him.
Can Connor find the murderer and save his brother before becoming the next victim?
Catch and Release is the seventh novel by award-winning author Trace Conger.
147 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 7, 2022
7 people are currently reading
30 people want to read
About the author
Trace Conger
24 books60 followersTrace Conger is an award-winning author in the crime, thriller, and suspense genres. He writes the Connor Harding (Thriller) series and the Mr. Finn (PI) series.
His Connor Harding series follows freelance “Mirage Man” Connor Harding as he solves problems for the world’s most dangerous criminals. The Mr. Finn series follows private investigator Finn Harding as he straddles the fine line between right and wrong.
Conger won a Shamus Award for his debut novel, THE SHADOW BROKER. His suspense novella, THE WHITE BOY, won the Fresh Ink Award for Best Novella of 2020.
He is known for his tight writing style, dark themes, and subtle humor. Trace lives in Cincinnati with his wonderfully supportive family.
Visit him online at www.traceconger.com.
Sign up for his newsletter to receive free fiction and exclusive updates at www.traceconger.com/freebies.
His Connor Harding series follows freelance “Mirage Man” Connor Harding as he solves problems for the world’s most dangerous criminals. The Mr. Finn series follows private investigator Finn Harding as he straddles the fine line between right and wrong.
Conger won a Shamus Award for his debut novel, THE SHADOW BROKER. His suspense novella, THE WHITE BOY, won the Fresh Ink Award for Best Novella of 2020.
He is known for his tight writing style, dark themes, and subtle humor. Trace lives in Cincinnati with his wonderfully supportive family.
Visit him online at www.traceconger.com.
Sign up for his newsletter to receive free fiction and exclusive updates at www.traceconger.com/freebies.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
July 29, 2022
Catch and Release by Trace Conger
A Connor Harding Thriller #1
What would you do to save your sibling? Would you use your finely honed military skills to find a murderer…for another murderer…to save your brother’s life? And, what would you do if the trail you were following to that killer proved to be lead to an unexpected destination?
What I liked:
* Connor Harding: intelligent, excellent at solving puzzles, lethal, ex-military intelligence officer, skilled in interrogation and reading people, has an interesting family, intriguing, would like to read more about him
* The quiet setting and small town of Meddybemps, Maine
* The steps Connor followed to figure out the puzzle of who killed Little Freddie’s wife and daughter
* That Connor is willing to do what is right…even if it is not necessarily legal
* Conor’s protectiveness…at least of some and sometimes
* The way Connor handles himself…in more than one situation
* Wondering if Connor might end up with Tara…or someone else
* The unexpected twist
* The way the story ends
* Hoping that I will see Connor in another story in the future
What I didn’t like:
* Who and what I was meant not to like
Did I enjoy this book? Yes
Would I read more in this series? Definitely
Thank you to the author for the ARC – This is my honest review.
5 Stars
A Connor Harding Thriller #1
What would you do to save your sibling? Would you use your finely honed military skills to find a murderer…for another murderer…to save your brother’s life? And, what would you do if the trail you were following to that killer proved to be lead to an unexpected destination?
What I liked:
* Connor Harding: intelligent, excellent at solving puzzles, lethal, ex-military intelligence officer, skilled in interrogation and reading people, has an interesting family, intriguing, would like to read more about him
* The quiet setting and small town of Meddybemps, Maine
* The steps Connor followed to figure out the puzzle of who killed Little Freddie’s wife and daughter
* That Connor is willing to do what is right…even if it is not necessarily legal
* Conor’s protectiveness…at least of some and sometimes
* The way Connor handles himself…in more than one situation
* Wondering if Connor might end up with Tara…or someone else
* The unexpected twist
* The way the story ends
* Hoping that I will see Connor in another story in the future
What I didn’t like:
* Who and what I was meant not to like
Did I enjoy this book? Yes
Would I read more in this series? Definitely
Thank you to the author for the ARC – This is my honest review.
5 Stars
October 1, 2023
Connor is on vacation at the family cabin in Maine when he is approached to "help" Freddie find the killer of his wife & daughter. Seems Freddie is an assassin and has threatened Connor's brother & his family. The only info Freddie has are postcards that come annually taunting him with details about their deaths.
The info is non-existant but ex-intelligence man Connor is all about research. Very methodical and way too short- only 144 pages.
The info is non-existant but ex-intelligence man Connor is all about research. Very methodical and way too short- only 144 pages.
December 23, 2022
A page turner with several unexpected twists.
January 9, 2024
It was a short read and I enjoyed it but it wrapped up quick. I would have liked the book to be longer and give us more backstory to the different characters.
May 20, 2025
Fun read, well paced, good lead character and story. Will read more of author.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews