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The Wayward Path
Charity Gray was an intelligent, inquisitive teen who disappeared fifteen years earlier. When her body is discovered, it should be a typical cold case. Before the Detroit Police can get started, the FBI commandeers the investigation, with a prime suspect in mind: retired mobster Leo Agonasti.
When Agonasti slips through their grasp he reaches out to Sergeant Jefferson Chene. Their unusual friendship draws Chene into the thick of the case. Burdened with two reluctant FBI agents, Chene is working against the clock and the feds to find the real killer.
Chene senses they are getting close to the answers. Will he be able to solve the murder and clear the old mobster of this heinous crime before time runs out?
When Agonasti slips through their grasp he reaches out to Sergeant Jefferson Chene. Their unusual friendship draws Chene into the thick of the case. Burdened with two reluctant FBI agents, Chene is working against the clock and the feds to find the real killer.
Chene senses they are getting close to the answers. Will he be able to solve the murder and clear the old mobster of this heinous crime before time runs out?
Paperback
Published August 3, 2022
1 person is currently reading
19 people want to read
About the author
Mark Love
17 books51 followersMark Love lived for many years in the metropolitan Detroit area, where crime and corruption were always prevalent. A former freelance reporter, Love honed his writing skills covering features and hard news.
Love is the author of three Jamie Richmond romance mysteries, "Devious", "Vanishing Act" and "Fleeing Beauty". "Chasing Favors" and the novella "Stealing Haven".
He also writes the Jefferson Chene mystery series, which includes "Why 319?", "Your Turn to Die" and "The Wayward Path".
Love also wrote the novel "Rules of Desperation" which is a standalone mystery/thriller.
His latest work is the novella "Part-Time Criminal" was published in 2025.
Love resides in west Michigan with his wife, Kim. He enjoys a wide variety of music, books, cooking and the great outdoors. Love is currently working on his next novel.
Love is the author of three Jamie Richmond romance mysteries, "Devious", "Vanishing Act" and "Fleeing Beauty". "Chasing Favors" and the novella "Stealing Haven".
He also writes the Jefferson Chene mystery series, which includes "Why 319?", "Your Turn to Die" and "The Wayward Path".
Love also wrote the novel "Rules of Desperation" which is a standalone mystery/thriller.
His latest work is the novella "Part-Time Criminal" was published in 2025.
Love resides in west Michigan with his wife, Kim. He enjoys a wide variety of music, books, cooking and the great outdoors. Love is currently working on his next novel.
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
July 3, 2022
Mark Love's newest novel, The Wayward Path, is another wonderful addition to the Jefferson Chene case files. In this entry, a fifteen-year-old murder brings Chene and his Michigan State Police major case squad into an uneasy alliance with both the FBI and the mob as a cold case turns blazing hot. The author deftly handles a complicated investigation populated with a strong cast of well-developed characters in exciting scenes ranging from distressed areas of Detroit to the uber-wealthy suburbs to mob hangouts to boats in the middle of the Detroit River. Touching on themes of loyalty, gratitude, ambition, greed, revenge, even altruism and selflessness, The Wayward Path is an immensely satisfying read that will keep the reader both guessing and turning the pages. Highly recommended.
July 3, 2022
The Wayward Path is an exceptionally well-written crime thriller that had me gripped from the very beginning and looking for clues as to 'whodunnit' until the very end!
The author, Mark Love, has created gritty, true-to-life characters that light up the imagination and get you lost within the story. I’ve got to say that I definitely had a soft spot for the retired mobster, Leo Agonasti. There’s a certain charm written into his character that really won me over! But, of course, who could forget the incredible protagonist Chene!
If you’re looking for a new crime novel full of suspense with terrifically written characters and a complex murder mystery set to keep you guessing, get a copy of The Wayward Path! FIVE STARS!!!
The author, Mark Love, has created gritty, true-to-life characters that light up the imagination and get you lost within the story. I’ve got to say that I definitely had a soft spot for the retired mobster, Leo Agonasti. There’s a certain charm written into his character that really won me over! But, of course, who could forget the incredible protagonist Chene!
If you’re looking for a new crime novel full of suspense with terrifically written characters and a complex murder mystery set to keep you guessing, get a copy of The Wayward Path! FIVE STARS!!!
June 16, 2022
A gruesome discovery leads Jefferson Chene of the Michigan State Police and his team on a round of the mob bosses of Detroit. Which of them knew what happened to Charity Gray? And who tried to frame Chene’s friend, the retired mobster Leo Agonasti?
This is my third Chene book and they keep getting better and better. I’m particularly fascinated by the way the police, FBI, and the established gangs interact. My favorite character is the elusive and deliciously criminal Agonasti and his sidekick Max. If you like gritty, non-stop action and unusual plot twists, this is the book for you.
This is my third Chene book and they keep getting better and better. I’m particularly fascinated by the way the police, FBI, and the established gangs interact. My favorite character is the elusive and deliciously criminal Agonasti and his sidekick Max. If you like gritty, non-stop action and unusual plot twists, this is the book for you.
July 19, 2022
One word for this book, the third in Mark Love’s Jefferson Chene series…unputdownable!
If you love a good mystery/crime story…this book is terrific. Bonus if you like well painted scenes of great cities and complicated but clever characters. I’ve not read the previous books featuring Chene; but this is a stand alone story that will have you reaching for them just like me. From the dark, seedy corners of old Detroit eastward to the shores of upscale Grosse Pointe, Love gives readers a literary trip through the Motor City as FBI and Michigan State Police work to solve a cold case. But, of course there are twists and turns along the way with infamous mob bosses and an odd-couple friendship. Officer Chene and the Wayward Path will have you rooting for a movie next..it’s that good!
If you love a good mystery/crime story…this book is terrific. Bonus if you like well painted scenes of great cities and complicated but clever characters. I’ve not read the previous books featuring Chene; but this is a stand alone story that will have you reaching for them just like me. From the dark, seedy corners of old Detroit eastward to the shores of upscale Grosse Pointe, Love gives readers a literary trip through the Motor City as FBI and Michigan State Police work to solve a cold case. But, of course there are twists and turns along the way with infamous mob bosses and an odd-couple friendship. Officer Chene and the Wayward Path will have you rooting for a movie next..it’s that good!
July 10, 2022
This was a very enjoyable read. Unfortunately for me, this being the first Jefferson Chene book that I have read--and this being the third in the series--I know nothing of Chene's history. When time allows, I will have to start at book 1: Why 319.
A wonderful read for me is when I am transported into the story and/or see images and similarities to other works be they novels or a TV procedural. Mark Love manages to do this for me in The Wayward Path. A page turner for sure, I can easily see Jefferson Chene as a 1930s private eye or as a Dick Wolf production. Well done!
A wonderful read for me is when I am transported into the story and/or see images and similarities to other works be they novels or a TV procedural. Mark Love manages to do this for me in The Wayward Path. A page turner for sure, I can easily see Jefferson Chene as a 1930s private eye or as a Dick Wolf production. Well done!
March 9, 2025
This is the first book I've read by Mark Love, and now I can't wait to read more. Entertaining and suspenseful, filled with twists and turns with a massively entertaining climax. The main character's wise guy quips and jabs made me grin and sometimes laugh out loud. Definitely a character who would be a hoot to meet in person. This book would make a great movie!
February 18, 2023
I have enjoyed getting to know the characters across the other books in this series. The care given to describing and helping the reader learn about Detroit is much appreciated as well. Easy to get caught up in the story and it is hard to put it down. Thank you.
August 11, 2022
A young woman’s body stuffed in a wall leads Sgt. Chene to defend his mobster friend but can he track down the killer in time? In the heart of Detroit, a construction crew discovers a tightly wrapped body of a fifteen-year-old girl named Charity Gray. What was she doing in the wall of a condemned house? What is her connection to a mobster? The police are stumped. Before they can investigate further, the feds take over the case. Sgt. Chene wants nothing to do with the case but is pulled in to work with the feds due to his unusual friendship with retired mobster Leo. Chene is good at his job, but this case is leading him on a chase. The more clues he uncovers the closer he gets to solving the murder, the deeper in danger he is. Can he clear Leo’s name in time to catch the real killer or will he be too late?
The Wayward Path is a gritty crime mystery that captured my inner detective’s imagination. I love a good detective mystery. Throw in a hard-edged setting like Detroit and a cold case to solve and I’m one happy reader. The Wayward Path is a feast for any crime fiction/mystery reader. It all starts with the descriptive narration and Mark Love sets the tone from the very first page. Even though this is book three in a series, the author takes the time to catch the reader up to speed on the characters, setting, and police procedure. The dialogue is smart, savvy, and full of terminology associated with solving crime. I enjoyed Chene immensely. The conflict he feels on this case is expertly written. The mystery itself is complex with a full cast of characters and Mark Love unfolds it using intricate narration and plot progression. There were many times when I got so engrossed in the story, I read late into the night. While I guessed the killer before it was revealed, there were a couple of surprises I didn’t expect. Mark Love is a brilliant mystery writer and one to keep an eye on. If you enjoy mysteries with an edge, pick up The Wayward Path. If crime fiction is your reading jam, you’ll want to read The Wayward Path. Highly recommend!
Disclaimer: I received a copy from the author in the hopes I'd review it.
My Rating: 5 stars
Reviewed by: Mrs. N
This review first appeared: https://www.nnlightsbookheaven.com/po...
The Wayward Path is a gritty crime mystery that captured my inner detective’s imagination. I love a good detective mystery. Throw in a hard-edged setting like Detroit and a cold case to solve and I’m one happy reader. The Wayward Path is a feast for any crime fiction/mystery reader. It all starts with the descriptive narration and Mark Love sets the tone from the very first page. Even though this is book three in a series, the author takes the time to catch the reader up to speed on the characters, setting, and police procedure. The dialogue is smart, savvy, and full of terminology associated with solving crime. I enjoyed Chene immensely. The conflict he feels on this case is expertly written. The mystery itself is complex with a full cast of characters and Mark Love unfolds it using intricate narration and plot progression. There were many times when I got so engrossed in the story, I read late into the night. While I guessed the killer before it was revealed, there were a couple of surprises I didn’t expect. Mark Love is a brilliant mystery writer and one to keep an eye on. If you enjoy mysteries with an edge, pick up The Wayward Path. If crime fiction is your reading jam, you’ll want to read The Wayward Path. Highly recommend!
Disclaimer: I received a copy from the author in the hopes I'd review it.
My Rating: 5 stars
Reviewed by: Mrs. N
This review first appeared: https://www.nnlightsbookheaven.com/po...
September 6, 2022
A must-read for fans of mystery and suspense. This was my first dive into the world of Jefferson Chene. Chene isn't your stereotypical detective and his connections to the criminal underworld in Detroit are intriguing and make his character unique. I enjoyed the cast of characters helping Chene along the way with their own distinct personalities and abilities. The plotting of the whodunnit was also intricate and sound as the cold case of the fifteen-year-old murder unravelled. Overall, an extremely well-written book.
August 21, 2022
Cutting back and forth between the perspectives of prime suspect Agonasti and lead investigator Chene, The Wayward Path walks the line between a police procedural and a crime novel, giving us lots of characters to root for. As it becomes clear that Agonasti had nothing to do with the death of Charity and Chene learns about her fierce curiosity, only more questions arise? What did the teenager come across? Who is targeting Chene? And why, after a gunfight in the streets that lands Chene in the hospital, do police find a picture of Chene’s girlfriend in the shooter’s pocket?
Fans of straight police procedurals will find a lot to like in the pages of Mark Love’s newest. Also, those with an interest in seeing both sides. With his attention to Agonasti’s backstory, I was reminded of Dennis Lehane’s Joe Coughlin series.
This is a solid read with interesting characters and a mystery with more than meets the eye.
Fans of straight police procedurals will find a lot to like in the pages of Mark Love’s newest. Also, those with an interest in seeing both sides. With his attention to Agonasti’s backstory, I was reminded of Dennis Lehane’s Joe Coughlin series.
This is a solid read with interesting characters and a mystery with more than meets the eye.
July 10, 2023
The Wayward Path was my first encounter with Mark Love’s Jefferson Chene series. Finally, a police procedural that reminds me of the late Robert B. Parker’s or Dennis Lehane’s novels. I’m not going to summarize the plot because if you’re reading a book review, you’ve doubtless already read the blurb. Here’s why I liked it and mean to read the previous two books: vivid characters, not all of them strictly good guys, a fast pace, and a style that kept me reading when I should have been doing other things. Mr. Love’s previous books are Why 319? and Your Turn to Die, and I've already bought them.
December 31, 2023
Chene and Crew
I love a good crime thriller like The Wayward Path. The characters and the story were very entertaining and the was action packed. This book is part of a series and this is my first book by Mark Love. If you love crime fiction then this is the book for you!
I love a good crime thriller like The Wayward Path. The characters and the story were very entertaining and the was action packed. This book is part of a series and this is my first book by Mark Love. If you love crime fiction then this is the book for you!
August 7, 2023
I love a good crime thriller like The Wayward Path. The characters and the story were very entertaining and the was action packed. This book is part of a series and this is my first book by Mark Love. If you love crime fiction then this is the book for you!
July 26, 2023
I loved this book. It was so full of twists and turns, some I didn’t see coming.
June 30, 2023
Mark LOVE (hence the pun) has written a terrific police procedural that never feels false or forced. The jocular humor among the cops rings with verisimilitude and elicits genuine laughter. I am reminded of Ed McBain's 87th Precinct series and some of Joseph Wambaugh's earlier writing. I highly recommend this novel to anyone who likes great, gritty crime fiction!
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews