Long Way Home is an action-packed new thriller from bestselling author J. B. Turner and the follow-up to the electric No Way Back.
When Jack McNeal threw Henry Graff’s body in the reservoir, he thought he had closed the book on Graff and his nefarious associates. But when Graff’s body is exhumed from the water, McNeal’s troubles really begin. Plagued by flashbacks and nightmares from his murderous past and unable to move on from the tragic deaths of his wife and young son, McNeal is on the verge of a breakdown.
On the hunt for the mysterious “Woodcutter,” the man at the center of this whole conspiracy, McNeal uncovers a web of political intrigue that goes all the way to the White House. But the conspirators don’t want McNeal digging.
As he and his family are targeted by the same shadowy security consultancy that was responsible for his wife’s death, McNeal will stop at nothing to bring those responsible to justice, even if that means becoming the bad guy he swore he would never be.
J.B. Turner is the bestselling author of the Jon Reznick thriller series. His next book, HARD SHADOWS (Thomas and Mercer), is published on 30 June 2026. He is a former journalist. His books have sold more than three million copies. He also wrote the American Ghost black-ops series and the Deborah Jones crime series. He has a keen interest in geo-politics. And he loves music. Everything from Beethoven to The Beatles, The Cure to Bach. And everything in between. He loves films. Well, good ones. One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, Taxi Driver, Goodfellas, Heat, The Godfather, The Offence, The Parallax View, Silver Linings Playbook, The Banshees of Inisherin, The Gray Man, The French Connection, Payback, It’s a Wonderful Life, Manhattan, Sideways, Annie Hall, Hell or High Water. TV shows he has enjoyed include: The Terminal List, The Kominsky Method, The Morning Show, Succession, Call My Agent!, Your Honor, The Undoing, Patrick Melrose, Colony, Bloodline, Mare of Easttown, Dead to Me, Fleishman is in Trouble, The Mosquito Coast and After Life. He lives in Edinburgh, Scotland. He is married with two children.
Literary Agent: Mitch Hoffman, The Aaron M. Priest Literary Agency, New York.
Film/TV: Rich Green, The Gotham Group, Los Angeles.
When Jack McNeal threw Henry Graff's body in the reservoir, he thought he had closed the book on Graff and his nefarious associates. But when Gaff's body is exhumed from the water, McNeal's troubles really begin. Plagued by flashbacks and nightmares from his murderous past and unable to move on from the tragic deaths of his wife and young son, McNeal is on the verge of breakdown. On the hunt for the mysterious "Woodcutter," the man at the centre of this whole conspiracy, McNeal uncovers a wen of political intrigue that goes all the way to the White House. But conspirators don't want McNeal digging.
This is a fast-paced political thriller. Jack's previous actions surface when a body is discovered. This is a multilayered story with plenty of twist and turns. It's also been descriptively written. Jack's family are being targeted. He knows he has to kill or be killed. The characters are well developed. I don't normally read political stories, but i quite enjoyed this book.
I would like to thank #NetGalley #AmazonPublishingUK and the author #JBTurner for my ARC of #LongWayHome in exchange for an honest review.
Pathetically poor story line. The protagonist along with the author is clueless about what to do. I had to push the pages one by one to complete the story. I was frustrated with my self for choosing to read this. I am sorry to say, this is a very poor wiring by the author whom I found has written some exciting books in the past. Suddenly his acumen send to have dropped in last few books of his.
Long Way Home by J.B. Turner is the second book about New York city policeman Jack McNeal and although in my mind not as good as the first one it still is a great read. Jack has some serious problems to deal with and some will be solved at the end of this story but there are some that may be fixed in the third book? One can always hope. I haven't read much by this author but what I have tried is good enough to recommend to others.
A gripping thriller filled with angst and sadness with a dash of happiness in the future maybe. When you read this book be prepared to be sucked in and not want to put this book down until you see how it ends.
I received this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I launched into "Long Way Home" by J.B. Turner without realizing he'd already had a debut novel in the Jack McNeal series. Such is the disarray of my Kindle selections. However, sequence didn't necessarily matter. Turner is a master. I just didn't know the back story. McNeal is an internal affairs cop, a good guy. But he ends up questioning everything. Three years prior, he and his brother Peter tracked down and dealt with the pair who had killed his wife, an investigative journalist. Long Way is basically blowback. The FBI recovered the body of one of the killers and traced clues to McNeal. Agents applied heat, and the organization responsible for the hit targeted McNeal. Turner created a tale of high intrigue, involving the highest levels of government and the shadow organizations that keep flawed politicians in power. McNeal found himself with a target on his back and discovered the regret that comes when a good person decides to pursue payback. McNeal hadn't necessarily expected the repercussions. He incurred debt and spends most of the novel learning just what that means. This is a dark thriller and impeccably written. McNeal wants to do the right thing, but his decisions result in a lot of pain.
Fair play to the author for writing this book and the preceding “no way back” but they are two of the worst books I have read. I bought both from Amazon (kindle) at the same time and was determined to finish them but they are so heavily padded with recaps (and generally poor writing) that they are practically unreadable. Again my compliments to the author as I have never tried to write a book so well done (this is not sarcasm) but these were torture. I really do not understand the 4 star ratings.
J.B. Turner has proved his writing in not only all consuming but equally engaging & thrilling! Long Way Home is the second in the Jack McNeal series with stunning detail involving several high stake characters. From mob bosses to ex-CIA and even a few operatives - it's all tightly wrapped and bundled nicely. The plot gradually thickens at a steady pace as we're introduced to some alarming findings - Henry Graff's body in a reservoir- was just the tip of this iceberg. As we progress, we uncover there's more to meet the eye here as everyone takes hold and the shifting takes shape. McNeal's family is being targeted by a White House conspiracy from a shadowy security consultantcy. Jack knows he has to kill or be killed and must act quickly to bring in justice even if this means to put his own neck on the line while playing the hard core criminal. The question remains: Who killed Finn O'Brien? Was this a cookie cutter copy cat or a more experienced individual. Who or what is this about a "Woodcutter" and why is there so much focus on the Presidents body guards? What happens if you lose your sense of self while trying to bring in justice? You know therapy is available but can you physically place yourself there and confess for your sins? Will the truth come out? Will those who killed become the hunters or the hunted? What about those who did this group wrong? Will they ever get the justice that they have coming? Will the Karma train ride off into the sunset? I'll tell you there's so many questions that you'll build upon being consumed by the smoke and haze. It's all about survival. Fight or Flight! Thank you to J.B. Turner, Amazon Publishing UK, & Netgalley for this ARC! This was one hell of a wild ride that I didn't wish to head. Looking forward to seeing what more this writer has up his sleeve.
I received an ARC through "NetGalley" and I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
Jack is continuing with his NYPD job when later he is approached by the FBI since Graff's body has been discovered. Jack and his brother Peter now have to watch over their shoulders regarding their involvement of Graff's disappearance. At the same ime that this is going, they are not aware that they are being watched by a group who want to keep the knowledge that Jack learned and who was involved in the death of Jack's wife.
Jack is warned by an unknown party to keep his mouth shut. Jack took a picture of this individual and sent it down to a PI friend in Florida. When Jack went to visit his friend to learn what the PI had discovered. Instead, when he went to the friend's apartment, he found him dead. AS Jack would later learn, this unknown group was not playing games, Jack had other acquaintances that might this same end.
Jack was trying to determine what he wanted to do to avenge these killings. When Jack went to church to confess to the priest, he was met by an unexpected stranger who wanted to help Jack. Jack eventually laid out a plan. Where he originally had two people that he was considering, one of them wound up in the hospital.
To discover who was behind the killings, who the party that was willing to help him and what steps took to help, then you need to read this book. It is definitely worth your time.
Long Way Home is the second book in this new series about Jack McNeal, a detective in the Internal Affairs section of NYPD. In the first book his wife was murdered, and the action he took then has now come back to haunt him. Unusually for a crime thriller like this, the story was not brought to a satisfactory conclusion, but carried over into the second book. Having now read both books, I am of the (perhaps unpopular) opinion that this story could have been condensed into one book, thereby doing away with the need for the repetition that is common to both. I like the character of Jack McNeal and that is why I kept on reading. He is convincing as a deeply troubled soul who has lost his wife and son, and maybe his moral compass too. Normally he does things by the book, but he is up against a conspiracy that goes right to the top levels of government. He is now a suspect in the eyes of the FBI, and the criminals are trying their best to eliminate him. He has no choice but to accept the help of someone from his past who he would normally give a wide berth to. This story is unrelentingly bleak, with none of the usual humour to offset the violence and darkness. To be honest, I was glad when I got to the end. The loose ends are all tied up, but I’m not sure I want to read any more if there is a another book in this series. Thanks to Thomas & Mercer and NetGalley for a digital copy to review.
When Jack McNeal threw Henry Graff’s body in the reservoir, he thought he had closed the book on Graff and his nefarious associates. But when Graff’s body is exhumed from the water, McNeal’s troubles really begin. Plagued by flashbacks and nightmares from his murderous past and unable to move on from the tragic deaths of his wife and young son, McNeal is on the verge of a breakdown.
On the hunt for the mysterious “Woodcutter,” the man at the center of this whole conspiracy, McNeal uncovers a web of political intrigue that goes all the way to the White House. But the conspirators don’t want McNeal digging.
As he and his family are targeted by the same shadowy security consultancy that was responsible for his wife’s death, McNeal will stop at nothing to bring those responsible to justice, even if that means becoming the bad guy he swore he would never be.
I'm Conflicted I like the Jack McNeal character. But while I understand why he's made the choices he has, I'm still conflicted about them. In this particular novel, book 2 in the series, he's facing severe consequences for his bold moves.
This series is very well written, with rich, genuine characterizations and a break-neck pace. It's also a bit unique because of who Jack is (an officer of the NYPD Internal Affairs division), and because of the actions he takes. Even with my conflicted attitude, I'm still thoroughly involved in Jack's dilemma. I'm in this to the finish and hoping for the best for Jack.
Fans of thrillers, suspense, LEO reads, political thrillers, and even spy craft stories will enjoy this series. While this book could stand on its own, I recommend starting with the first book to truly understand who and what Jack McNeal is.
There was good and bad about this book but the bad came from the narrator. No matter how many times Jack was taken in for questions by the FBI or the NYPD, or anything else for that matter, he spoke softly and never never got angry or showed any emotions whatsoever. THAT made it pretty boring. He was a cop, for petes sake, show some emotions.
No romance and the F-bomb was used 80 times.
As for the narration: Besides the complaints I had about Jonathan Davis he gave everyone their own voice but that doesn't matter if the main character has a quiet boring voice no matter who he was talking to. He spoke to the cops, investigating him, in the same tone he talked to his dad and brother that he loved so much.
Jack wonders why he is still doing his job, the ones he has to investigate day after day. A wife who left, he had dark moods, not easy to live with, he still missed her. With his brother they share a secret, a deadly secret. This plot continues from the first book. It gives us more in knowing the characters what they are like, what they are facing. For Jack it’s answers to who murdered his wife. Different of looking back at what happened three years ago, suspenseful and readers will enjoy this second book in the series. Given ARC by Net Galley and Amazon Uk..for my voluntary review and my honest opinion
Jack McNeal and his brother took the law into their hands and murdered the men responsible for murdering his wife. Now, one body has been found and the FBI is breathing down Jack’s neck. Meanwhile, the group who ordering his wife’s death is following him to see if he is a threat. Jack is even threatened to say nothing to the FBI. Then those close to him begin to die…and Jack has nothing left to lose! Through the streets of NYC, Manhattan and Staten Island, Jack leads the bad guys on a merry chase. But these are some very powerful people, will Jack survive long enough to satisfy his thirst for vengeance? Great thriller!!
Enjoyed this latest political thriller from J. B. Turner. Jack McNeal's past actions come to the surface when a body is found. He is determined to keep his brother out of the fall out, and determine to find answers. The problem is, there are a lot of players, a lot of questions, and the body is just the tip of things. This is a slow build thriller with lots of layers. Many twists and turns that kept me turning the pages. Highly recommend. I received an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Once again a superb read that kept me turning the pages.
You had to feel for Jack. The whole experience puts him where no man should go. His loss was to much to bare . After helping his sister in law and family helped give something back. Plus another family he helped to put some of his wife's money to good use. It gave him some prospective in his only life next to him. His loss was lonely but he new he was going to be ok. God he looked good after all that time in the sun.
When an NYPD Internal Affairs officer's wife mysteriously shows up in the East River, all bets are off as this plot unfolds. Jack and his brother, Peter are thrown into a thrilling cat and mouse caper of evading NYPD detectives, FBI agents, corrupt politicians and an unknown hit man tied to the deep state lurking in the shadows. Jack spirals into dark behaviors pitting him against his own Internal Affaiirs colleagues as he and his brother become prime suspects in an Internal Affairs investigation concerning the disappearance of people possibly connected to his wife's murder.
This is the required second part dfor the Jack McNeal series. First book ("No Way Back") left too much threads open and this second book is closing them all. Can't deny the way everything is closed surprised me... I imagined everything would evolve in a different way. If you have read "No Way Back", you need to read this one to get all the story. Although you can read "Long Way Home" without having read "No Way Back", I think there are several aspects related to the first one making it a mandatory requisite for full understanding of what's happening there.
Thank you to #NetGalley, Amazon Publishing UK and J.B. Turner for the opportunity to read an advance copy of LONG WAY HOME, to be published 21 February. This was a fast-paced political thriller in which a God-fearing NYPD Internal Affairs Investigator becomes involved in a traumatic situation that isn’t resolved until the last pages. Great read. Highly recommended to readers who enjoy this genre. #NetGalley, #AmazonPublishingUK. #LongWayHome. #J.B.Turner
Many pages devoted to strange dreams of the troubled protagonist, who is guilt-ridden for his role in avenging the murder of his wife. The paragraphs devoted to his interactions with his psychologist are easier to justify. He manages to outwit his opponents with help from a mafia boss from his old neighborhood , and achieves some measure of redemption in an ending that was surprisingly good.
I felt this book was a lot better than the first book. Unfortunately I took a break between this and the first book, which made it a little difficult to remember all the character's.
I would recommend this to anyone that like political based crime stories. In some respects it is a little like the TV series Scandal without the depth of characters.
If you do read the first book in the series, make sure you read this straight after
So I have to admit I had to go and read the first book and I can say that I did enjoy it this one was a little darker than the first and that's okay. I did feel like this book was more character-driven than the first but it wasn't a big issue for me. It was fast-paced but flowed and made sense. I can say this if you haven't read no way back go read it now if not you will be confused. All in all, it was a good read with continued character development.
I’m about 20 % into it and am not that captivated except for the character Jack McNeal and his past and present. If I doesn’t get more interesting I may bag it. Well needless to say it got more interesting and I ended up enjoying it. The McNeal family had quite the story with a lot of twists and turns. I recommend this book despite its slow start. Turner does justice in the end. 4.5
I have read every book of this author in the Jon Reznik series and totally enjoyed them and rated them all as five star reads. This is my first exposure to the Jack McNeal series and it didn't quire measure up to the above mentioned series. The plot was slow to develop and did not always keep my interest.
I liked this book even tho it was hard on my emotions and/or sensitivity at times. It details a fine NY Police family that was caught up in fascinating twists and turns with the police, high and low NY society, and their ideas of morality in general. Lots of blood and guts and murders and Turner, the author, keeps you wondering when what would happen and to whom!
I enjoyed this J.B.Turner 2nd book in this series. My heart went out to McNeil’s painful losses and could understand the desire for vengeance. It was clear that eliminating these people did not take away his grief. Neither did it satisfy his desire for retribution. Very well done and a great narrator.
A Detective in NYPD Internal Affairs, he sees a psychologist after the death of his wife and son. The first book was dark, this one darker.
His first book was about revenge but it has come back to haunt him in a way he never thought. He is being investigated by the FBI and his family is once again affected. Somehow Jack never comes across as likeable in either book.
Definitely enjoyed the 2nd chapter of McNeal story. Unfortunately he had to lose his dad,brother to accomplish revenge for his wife death. Went to the dark side to accomplish it. Be interesting to see what is next. J.B did excellent job of story telling.10 stars 🌟 plus!!!! Thanks, Carl Clause