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Brooding City Series #1
Brooding City: Brooding City Series Book 1
Cursed with the supernatural ability to know when others are lying to him, Arthur Brennan, homicide detective with Odols Police Department, sees deception everywhere he looks. Following a betrayal at the hands of fellow Sleepers several years ago, Brennan has left behind the life of a clandestine dream-stalking assassin and taken up a silver detective’s badge. The eyeless corpse of a dead pharmacist sets Brennan on the hunt for a ruthless madman, one whose product is leaving its own mounting body count.Brooding City is the first installment in a series that promises to grip readers of all genres. With fast-paced action and touching emotional moments blended seamlessly together, Brooding City delivers unrelenting entertainment and intrigue as it delves into the darkest corners of a city full of nightmarish boogeymen and children who still believe in destiny.
291 pages, Paperback
First published August 1, 2015
16 people are currently reading
354 people want to read
About the author
Tom Shutt
19 books34 followersTom Shutt writes paranormal suspense with generous helpings of humor and a sprig of mystery thrown in for good measure. Sometimes he dabbles in fantasy, but in all cases, he strives to push the boundaries of modern fiction in search of good answers to hard questions.
He lives on the perpetually rainy East Coast with some cats, dogs, and a basement full of mistresses. His favorite authors are Jim Butcher, George R. R. Martin, Jonathan Stroud, and Eoin Colfer. He knows how to hide a body from the police, and the research for his novels has likely landed him on a few security watch lists. He enjoys reading, gaming (Halo, Civilization, BioShock, Call of Duty, Minecraft), playing pool, chasing deer, hunting deer, riding deer, and lying about what activities he does with deer. His favorite shows include Supernatural, Game of Thrones, iZombie, and anything created by Joss Whedon.
He lives on the perpetually rainy East Coast with some cats, dogs, and a basement full of mistresses. His favorite authors are Jim Butcher, George R. R. Martin, Jonathan Stroud, and Eoin Colfer. He knows how to hide a body from the police, and the research for his novels has likely landed him on a few security watch lists. He enjoys reading, gaming (Halo, Civilization, BioShock, Call of Duty, Minecraft), playing pool, chasing deer, hunting deer, riding deer, and lying about what activities he does with deer. His favorite shows include Supernatural, Game of Thrones, iZombie, and anything created by Joss Whedon.
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
November 16, 2015
Detective Brennan along with his partners Bishop & Sam, investigate the murder of a pharmacist. While watching the journey in their investigation, we learn also information about their personal lives and a secret that Brennan keeps from his partners and the rest of the world.
Meanwhile, Jeremy is a young boy who discovers that he has suddenly a power. He can read memories from people that he's in contact with. In his journey we can see something suspicious going on with his family and at the same time, someone seems interested in his new power. Many secrets will see the light of the day by the end of his story.
Brooding City was something new for me, since I'm not particularly used in mystery reads. I do love crime tv shows, but reading one was definitely something new. I liked it, but there were things that confused me and left me unsatisfied. It kind of reminded me of Inception, especially when it came to the sleepers.
First of all, the stories of the two characters were different and they didn't seem to connect, apart from a specific element, the sleepers. Although, there was a tiny connection, but it showed up at the very ending. Also, I feel like it was lacking in information. Especially when it comes to Jeremy's story, I don't feel satisfied with the result. I was really enjoying his story, but I have so many gaps and I'm not sure if there will be continuation, when it comes to his story, since the blurb of the sequel didn't mention anything.
Overall, I liked the writing, the characters were very interesting and intriguing and the stories were quite captivating. If you like paranormal mysteries and crime stories, this one will definitely do the trick for you.
Copy was kindly provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.
August 29, 2015
Brooding City by Tom Shutt is a debut novel; and, it is one, great debut. It is paranormal suspense with dueling storylines that will keep you enthralled from beginning to end; and, it will keep you wanting more.
The first storyline deals with a detective, his partner, and a murder investigation. Detective Arthur Brenan and Detective Noel Bishop are called out to investigate the death of a young pharmacist, living way beyond his means in a rundown apartment in a bad section of the city of Odols. Their investigation connects the murder to some thugs in a drug organization. With the help of his good friend, Sam McCarthy—an ex-cop, and Noel’s ex-lover—Brennan and Bishop attempt to bring down the drug lord and his organization, and to get rid of the drugs that have permeated their city.
The other storyline deals with a teenage boy, his fragile family ties, and the discovery of family secrets. Jeremy Scott and his family spend the summer months at their ranch outside of Odols. Out of boredom, Jeremy explores the vast, country landscape, discovering an old tower. After a fall in the tower, Jeremy discovers something new—mental powers he never knew he had. This discovery leads to adventure that is more than Jeremy could ever have hoped for, more than he could ever have imagined.
Both storylines in this multi-character novel have paranormal elements which add powerful layers of mystery and suspense to this thrilling, overall story. I won’t say any more. I don’t want to give away anything. I want you, the reader, to discover this wonderful book for yourself.
I highly recommend Brooding City. It is, in my opinion, damn near perfect. 4 ¾ stars
HKelleyB is an editor, proofreader, and book reviewer. This honest review is given in exchange for a free copy of this e-book.
The first storyline deals with a detective, his partner, and a murder investigation. Detective Arthur Brenan and Detective Noel Bishop are called out to investigate the death of a young pharmacist, living way beyond his means in a rundown apartment in a bad section of the city of Odols. Their investigation connects the murder to some thugs in a drug organization. With the help of his good friend, Sam McCarthy—an ex-cop, and Noel’s ex-lover—Brennan and Bishop attempt to bring down the drug lord and his organization, and to get rid of the drugs that have permeated their city.
The other storyline deals with a teenage boy, his fragile family ties, and the discovery of family secrets. Jeremy Scott and his family spend the summer months at their ranch outside of Odols. Out of boredom, Jeremy explores the vast, country landscape, discovering an old tower. After a fall in the tower, Jeremy discovers something new—mental powers he never knew he had. This discovery leads to adventure that is more than Jeremy could ever have hoped for, more than he could ever have imagined.
Both storylines in this multi-character novel have paranormal elements which add powerful layers of mystery and suspense to this thrilling, overall story. I won’t say any more. I don’t want to give away anything. I want you, the reader, to discover this wonderful book for yourself.
I highly recommend Brooding City. It is, in my opinion, damn near perfect. 4 ¾ stars
HKelleyB is an editor, proofreader, and book reviewer. This honest review is given in exchange for a free copy of this e-book.
January 14, 2016
Mysteries have always been a bit of a love/hate deal with me. When done well, I find myself in a world of conspiracy, intrigue, lies, and carefully crafted investigations that navigate the webs of deception which are spun by a host of parties with different secrets to hide. Unfortunately, the mystery genre is also a rather saturated one. Between all the crime dramas on television and the large quantities of murder mystery literature that are readily available, I tend to find mystery stories to be a bit predictable and a tad formulaic. There are certainly a lot of ways to mix it up though and one method is to throw in a bit of the paranormal. That is largely what Tom Shutt has done with his debut novel BROODING CITY.
It's not genre-defining nor was it anything that left me particularly astounded by the end, but it is a solid and enjoyable read that builds up a world of paranormal intrigue and suspense.
For clarity's sake let me state plainly that I received a digital copy of this book in exchange for my honest, unbiased thoughts.
CHARACTERS
The cast of Brooding City is largely a collection of enjoyably familiar archetypes. While none are particularly interesting or compelling on their own, they do mesh nicely into the overarching world in which the story takes place. The two key persons are Detective Brennan, a grizzled officer who also secretly used to be what is known as a Sleeper (more to come on that in a moment). Technically, Brennan still belongs to this underworld of mythic individuals and much of his character development has to do with how his past refuses to release its grip on him. Then there's the adolescent Jeremy who is only just beginning learn the truth about who and what he is. The chapters switch off between the two of them as their stories develop parallel to one another.
Each of these main characters has their own narrative and set of supporting characters. Brennan and his colleagues at the police station are investigating a strange murder which leads to the unveiling of a dangerous gang/cartel/mob. In a separate section of the world, Jeremy and his family confront more domestic and personal issues. Out of the two, Jeremy is certainly the most enjoyable and his family feels far more colorful than the folks over in Brennan's neck of the woods.
For me, a lot of the sequences relating to Brennan's side of the story felt a bit too much like an episode of Castle where all the characters are kind of mean. Neither Brennan, nor his partner Bishop, nor his buddy Sam were particularly likable and I didn't really feel like they were particularly true to life. I think Sam and Brennan were supposed to be funny and maybe Bishop was supposed to be a bit sassy, but I read all three of them as angry, conceited individuals that lacked any of the charm that marked the characters that they reminded me of. All that said, I did feel quite a bit more attached to them by the novel's end, but even then did not consider them characters that I was completely invested in.
The main attraction here for me was Jeremy and his family. It's here that a lot more of the world building takes place since Jeremy is just being introduced to the world of the Sleepers whereas Brennan has already run away from it (or tried to). The characters here also seemed a lot more personable. There are plenty of interpersonal problems to keep things tense, but the interactions between these characters felt a lot more authentic. Jeremy's sister and uncle are the real standouts when it comes to strong supporting characters and serve as a big part of why this side of the story was so compelling for me. Then there's Benjamin who I really still didn't know too much about by the end, but he's a character with a lot of mystique and one I definitely want to know more about.
WORLD/SETTING
Like I mentioned before, the world itself is divided into two distinct parts. There is the bustling urban area in which Brennan and his fellow officers do their investigative work and then there is the remote estate in which Jeremy's family resides. It was honestly kind of nice to have a story swap between such strongly contrasted backdrops. Both areas are expansive in their own way yet also fit the story like a glove.
The events take place in present day, so these two spaces are approximately what you would expect. the main differences here have to do with the existence of "Sleepers" and "Patches." Sleepers are bedtime story monsters. They are allegedly fictional beings that have the ability to travel into other people's dreams and even harm them to such an extent that they become "fractured" which seems to describe a catatonic mental state that people slip into either due to a Sleeper assault or a Patches overdose. This condition is also fatal as it shuts down all bodily functions. Patches are something that sounds similar to a nicotine patch, but have some other medicinal purpose. When these patches are doused with a large quantity of a pharmaceutical chemical, they become a hallucinogenic drug used by many, including two members of Brennan's extended family. The introduction of these major differences felt a little bit matter-of-fact and left me guessing at what they actually were. In the case of the Sleepers, this is a very good thing especially since by the end, I still wasn't quite sure whether Sleepers are actually bad or not. So far as the patches are concerned though, I would have preferred a tiny bit more explanation upfront since I made them out to be a lot more than they actually ended up being.
It's also worth noting that there is a third section of the world that is explored in conservative portions. That is the world of the Sleepers. Both Jeremy and Brennan show us what the world of dreams is like and those sequences were by far the most compelling chapters in the novel.
PLOT/TONE
Overall this story does strike a nice balance between the real and the supernatural. It was nice that the narrative spent so much time trying to make readers believe in these characters as real people, but I found that the novel was at it's best when delving into its more supernatural components. The characters aren't bad or anything, but some of the quieter moments between them just didn't resonate with me as much. This is especially true for the detectives, but I felt it across the board. Interactions between Jeremy and Benjamin and Jeremy and his uncle were moments that I lived for in this book and are largely what stuck with me after I turned over the final page.
Fortunately the crime thriller elements take backseat to the mystery of the Sleepers on both sides of the story since the murder mystery is (somewhat) standard fare. The story also doesn't waste too much time trying to keep readers guessing about who committed the murder. In fact, this story really doesn't drag it's heels too much at all. Every moment seems to be used to its maximum potential and the pacing is, for the most part, very well done. It's a relatively quick read overall, but still felt satisfying to get through. That said, this is book DOES feel like only the start of something far more interesting. Brennan and Jeremy's stories happen beside each other but are never interwoven until the very end. They seem to be introducing readers to two sides of the same coin, but I think readers will have to wait until book two in this series before they get to see it flip.
CONCLUSION
BROODING CITY promises to be the start of a complex and ever-unfolding story that dives into the secret world of Sleepers and how these all-too-real creatures can have serious consequence on the world as we know it. While it is true that the story starts to get really good right as this novel ends, it didn't feel like a manipulative or cheap cliff-hanger ending. The story that is told within this entry wraps up in a satisfying way while also paving the way for more interesting stories ahead. I'm intrigued to see where the larger narrative will go and am glad that I was introduced to this world, even if I don't know it as well as I'd like to. I also found that you don't have to be really up on all things paranormal to enjoy this story. It's rules are simple and it's immediately accessible, but it also has room to delve deeper into the ideas that are introduced. I'm certainly looking forward to the release of the next book in this series!
It's not genre-defining nor was it anything that left me particularly astounded by the end, but it is a solid and enjoyable read that builds up a world of paranormal intrigue and suspense.
For clarity's sake let me state plainly that I received a digital copy of this book in exchange for my honest, unbiased thoughts.
CHARACTERS
The cast of Brooding City is largely a collection of enjoyably familiar archetypes. While none are particularly interesting or compelling on their own, they do mesh nicely into the overarching world in which the story takes place. The two key persons are Detective Brennan, a grizzled officer who also secretly used to be what is known as a Sleeper (more to come on that in a moment). Technically, Brennan still belongs to this underworld of mythic individuals and much of his character development has to do with how his past refuses to release its grip on him. Then there's the adolescent Jeremy who is only just beginning learn the truth about who and what he is. The chapters switch off between the two of them as their stories develop parallel to one another.
Each of these main characters has their own narrative and set of supporting characters. Brennan and his colleagues at the police station are investigating a strange murder which leads to the unveiling of a dangerous gang/cartel/mob. In a separate section of the world, Jeremy and his family confront more domestic and personal issues. Out of the two, Jeremy is certainly the most enjoyable and his family feels far more colorful than the folks over in Brennan's neck of the woods.
For me, a lot of the sequences relating to Brennan's side of the story felt a bit too much like an episode of Castle where all the characters are kind of mean. Neither Brennan, nor his partner Bishop, nor his buddy Sam were particularly likable and I didn't really feel like they were particularly true to life. I think Sam and Brennan were supposed to be funny and maybe Bishop was supposed to be a bit sassy, but I read all three of them as angry, conceited individuals that lacked any of the charm that marked the characters that they reminded me of. All that said, I did feel quite a bit more attached to them by the novel's end, but even then did not consider them characters that I was completely invested in.
The main attraction here for me was Jeremy and his family. It's here that a lot more of the world building takes place since Jeremy is just being introduced to the world of the Sleepers whereas Brennan has already run away from it (or tried to). The characters here also seemed a lot more personable. There are plenty of interpersonal problems to keep things tense, but the interactions between these characters felt a lot more authentic. Jeremy's sister and uncle are the real standouts when it comes to strong supporting characters and serve as a big part of why this side of the story was so compelling for me. Then there's Benjamin who I really still didn't know too much about by the end, but he's a character with a lot of mystique and one I definitely want to know more about.
WORLD/SETTING
Like I mentioned before, the world itself is divided into two distinct parts. There is the bustling urban area in which Brennan and his fellow officers do their investigative work and then there is the remote estate in which Jeremy's family resides. It was honestly kind of nice to have a story swap between such strongly contrasted backdrops. Both areas are expansive in their own way yet also fit the story like a glove.
The events take place in present day, so these two spaces are approximately what you would expect. the main differences here have to do with the existence of "Sleepers" and "Patches." Sleepers are bedtime story monsters. They are allegedly fictional beings that have the ability to travel into other people's dreams and even harm them to such an extent that they become "fractured" which seems to describe a catatonic mental state that people slip into either due to a Sleeper assault or a Patches overdose. This condition is also fatal as it shuts down all bodily functions. Patches are something that sounds similar to a nicotine patch, but have some other medicinal purpose. When these patches are doused with a large quantity of a pharmaceutical chemical, they become a hallucinogenic drug used by many, including two members of Brennan's extended family. The introduction of these major differences felt a little bit matter-of-fact and left me guessing at what they actually were. In the case of the Sleepers, this is a very good thing especially since by the end, I still wasn't quite sure whether Sleepers are actually bad or not. So far as the patches are concerned though, I would have preferred a tiny bit more explanation upfront since I made them out to be a lot more than they actually ended up being.
It's also worth noting that there is a third section of the world that is explored in conservative portions. That is the world of the Sleepers. Both Jeremy and Brennan show us what the world of dreams is like and those sequences were by far the most compelling chapters in the novel.
PLOT/TONE
Overall this story does strike a nice balance between the real and the supernatural. It was nice that the narrative spent so much time trying to make readers believe in these characters as real people, but I found that the novel was at it's best when delving into its more supernatural components. The characters aren't bad or anything, but some of the quieter moments between them just didn't resonate with me as much. This is especially true for the detectives, but I felt it across the board. Interactions between Jeremy and Benjamin and Jeremy and his uncle were moments that I lived for in this book and are largely what stuck with me after I turned over the final page.
Fortunately the crime thriller elements take backseat to the mystery of the Sleepers on both sides of the story since the murder mystery is (somewhat) standard fare. The story also doesn't waste too much time trying to keep readers guessing about who committed the murder. In fact, this story really doesn't drag it's heels too much at all. Every moment seems to be used to its maximum potential and the pacing is, for the most part, very well done. It's a relatively quick read overall, but still felt satisfying to get through. That said, this is book DOES feel like only the start of something far more interesting. Brennan and Jeremy's stories happen beside each other but are never interwoven until the very end. They seem to be introducing readers to two sides of the same coin, but I think readers will have to wait until book two in this series before they get to see it flip.
CONCLUSION
BROODING CITY promises to be the start of a complex and ever-unfolding story that dives into the secret world of Sleepers and how these all-too-real creatures can have serious consequence on the world as we know it. While it is true that the story starts to get really good right as this novel ends, it didn't feel like a manipulative or cheap cliff-hanger ending. The story that is told within this entry wraps up in a satisfying way while also paving the way for more interesting stories ahead. I'm intrigued to see where the larger narrative will go and am glad that I was introduced to this world, even if I don't know it as well as I'd like to. I also found that you don't have to be really up on all things paranormal to enjoy this story. It's rules are simple and it's immediately accessible, but it also has room to delve deeper into the ideas that are introduced. I'm certainly looking forward to the release of the next book in this series!
August 21, 2015
I received this book from the author for an honest review.
It was absolutely fantastic, it was well developed and the mystery is not over, I'm dying to know what more will happen in this series.
The sleepers are a great paranormal add if you love paranormal books, the idea behind them is pretty cool actually, it even make me wonder if they actually exist you never know.
I loved the criminalistic part of the book since I love criminal thrillers actually and this one wasn't that heavy, it was pretty deep in the matter but you will not feel it I promise, I think the breaks here and there is what make it so enjoyable.
The characters were all pretty interesting since they were all so different from each other and that I think is a good hook for a book because you actually want to know more about their lives and why they're like that.
A super recommendation on criminal paranormal readings.
More Reviews: www.bookwormiespot.com
It was absolutely fantastic, it was well developed and the mystery is not over, I'm dying to know what more will happen in this series.
The sleepers are a great paranormal add if you love paranormal books, the idea behind them is pretty cool actually, it even make me wonder if they actually exist you never know.
I loved the criminalistic part of the book since I love criminal thrillers actually and this one wasn't that heavy, it was pretty deep in the matter but you will not feel it I promise, I think the breaks here and there is what make it so enjoyable.
The characters were all pretty interesting since they were all so different from each other and that I think is a good hook for a book because you actually want to know more about their lives and why they're like that.
A super recommendation on criminal paranormal readings.
More Reviews: www.bookwormiespot.com
September 2, 2015
I enjoyed this book very much. I wouldn't mind seeing a version of it my a PS game or PC game. I love stories of mystery and murder. This book even has a couple stories lines going on at once. It kept me wanting to read more and kept me wondering what would happen next. I think to me the paranormal elements added to the mystery and suspense of this thrilling masterpiece. I will would love to read more from this author! *I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest review*
August 12, 2016
A brilliant, debut novel from Tom Shutt. I wouldn't usually choose to read a crime novel, but this had enough paranormal elements to make it delightfully palatable to me! It was a well-crafted story with plenty of mystery and intrigue throughout.
The novel is gripping from the outset, opening with detective, Brennan at a murder scene. The gruesome crime scene with an eyeless victim certainly caused me to read on! But even Detective Brennan's investigation into this, despite having plenty of action and character development, was soon surpassed by the introduction of the other main character, Jeremy. An ordinary teenager at first, whose life is changed when he finds a mysterious tower. The supernatural events that unfold around Jeremy cause him to uncover things about his family and the world of the Sleepers, the organisation of assassins within dreams that Brennan has previously belonged to.
The story is told from the alternate viewpoints of Detective Brennan and the teenager Jeremy. With the unfolding mysteries surrounding the characters, you gradually come to find out more about the Sleepers. (I don't want to say too much about them, but I loved the gradual unfolding of the mystery). Although some of the questions are answered by the end of the novel, to do with the drug case Brennan is working and the complexities and past of Jeremy's family, there are still unresolved issues that make the next in the series a must read.
On a final note, the characters are well developed; even the secondary ones, such as ballsy, Bishop, Brennan's partner and Jeremy's workaholic father, Nathaniel or the fun-loving uncle, Rick. Time has been taken to make the prose descriptive and vivid too. I found myself really captivated by some of the settings - such as the Tower, Jeremy stumbles upon.
Thanks for a great read, Tom and looking forward to Patient Darkness!
I received a free copy of the book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
The novel is gripping from the outset, opening with detective, Brennan at a murder scene. The gruesome crime scene with an eyeless victim certainly caused me to read on! But even Detective Brennan's investigation into this, despite having plenty of action and character development, was soon surpassed by the introduction of the other main character, Jeremy. An ordinary teenager at first, whose life is changed when he finds a mysterious tower. The supernatural events that unfold around Jeremy cause him to uncover things about his family and the world of the Sleepers, the organisation of assassins within dreams that Brennan has previously belonged to.
The story is told from the alternate viewpoints of Detective Brennan and the teenager Jeremy. With the unfolding mysteries surrounding the characters, you gradually come to find out more about the Sleepers. (I don't want to say too much about them, but I loved the gradual unfolding of the mystery). Although some of the questions are answered by the end of the novel, to do with the drug case Brennan is working and the complexities and past of Jeremy's family, there are still unresolved issues that make the next in the series a must read.
On a final note, the characters are well developed; even the secondary ones, such as ballsy, Bishop, Brennan's partner and Jeremy's workaholic father, Nathaniel or the fun-loving uncle, Rick. Time has been taken to make the prose descriptive and vivid too. I found myself really captivated by some of the settings - such as the Tower, Jeremy stumbles upon.
Thanks for a great read, Tom and looking forward to Patient Darkness!
I received a free copy of the book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
August 31, 2015
This was a great debut novel by Tom Shutt. It is a paranormal suspense book with two storylines throughout the book. If you don't like to read books with changing point of views then you might get slightly confused at first. Im not crazy when a book bounces back and forth but this one wasn't too bad once you knew who the main characters were. By the time you are done reading this book, you will want more.
One storyline deals with a detective and his partners trying to investigate a murder. The clues bring them to a drug organization and the two detectives try to bring down the drug lord.
The second storyline deals with a teenage boy. He discovers his family secrets after falling in a tower which leaves him with mental powers he never knew he had. The discovery of his powers, lead to more than he could ever imagine.
This was a really good read. I am ready to learn more about Detective Arthur Brenan and Jeremy in the next book to this series.
***I received an ARC copy from the author in exchange for an honest review***
One storyline deals with a detective and his partners trying to investigate a murder. The clues bring them to a drug organization and the two detectives try to bring down the drug lord.
The second storyline deals with a teenage boy. He discovers his family secrets after falling in a tower which leaves him with mental powers he never knew he had. The discovery of his powers, lead to more than he could ever imagine.
This was a really good read. I am ready to learn more about Detective Arthur Brenan and Jeremy in the next book to this series.
***I received an ARC copy from the author in exchange for an honest review***
September 2, 2015
I don't normally read crime dramas, but this one had some paranormal twists to it that I thoroughly enjoyed. There were two different story lines in the book, one involving a detective and his investigation and another involving a boy that eventually comes to find out he has powers. Both are good stories, although I liked the one with the boy more than the detective, but as I said before, I don't normally read detective novels.
This is a great debut novel and I would definitely read the second, and recommend this one.
This is a great debut novel and I would definitely read the second, and recommend this one.
August 15, 2015
I loved this book.The story was interesting and easy to follow.Can't wait for the next book.
November 17, 2015
Thank you, Tom, for kindly giving me a copy of your book to review it, and congratulations on your debut novel!
Real rate: 3.5 stars
This book was a pleasant surprise, mainly because I had to finish the other books that were on my reading list and didn’t even remember the synapsis. I was glad to discover a book with almost all the elements I love: a crime (and an ugly, mysterious one), a police investigation that was always two steps behind the bad guys, led by two cops with their own problems to deal with that made them far from perfect, and all this happening in a city where reality mixes with some “paranormal” phenomenon. I’m not sure if paranormal is the correct adjective, I wouldn’t want you to think of ghosts and spirits. A better description would be a fictional world where our minds have powers that are almost palpable to those who are aware of them. So, in this book, Detectives Bishop and Brennan are investigating the murder of a young pharmacists, who apparently had a normal kind of life but could afford expensive things, this being something that caught the detectives’ attention. Meanwhile, the city was under the domain of a new type of drug, disguised as “medicine” for those who wanted to stop smoking, which made it easy to distribute, buy and apply. As any drug, it fractured the user’s mind, making them susceptible to hallucinations that could be a product of their imagination…or boosted their psychic abilities. At the same time, there’s the story about Jeremy, a teenager who’s expending his vacations in the summer ranch his parents own. In his boredom he investigates the property’s land, discovering a building called The Tower that seems very interesting and mysterious to him. There, an accident will make him aware of his mind power, and his awakening will allow him to know a lot of the family (dirty, personal, intimate) secrets.
Both of these stories happen in parallel, so your mind is constantly searching for the link between them until the end. You have a glimpse of its connection somewhere in the middle, and a bit at the end, but it’s not strong enough for you to understand. It’s like if two people saw each other while traveling in a train, each one in a different direction; there is a moment in which both of them are aware of each other, but the moment the trains start moving, it’s over. This is the feeling I got from the stories, and of course it’s what made want to read the next book (because yes, I need to know the rest of the story).
Good: I think I described most of what I liked previously, but in any case I’ll write them again. I liked the crime investigation better as a police suspense story, I felt my mind working to solve the case while feeling empathic with Brennan’s life problems. Also, the characters were real and hardly perfect, very realistic. The drug problem was very creative, I don’t know if something like that exists, but it made me wonder if it was true, how hard it would be to fight its use. On the other hand, the Jeremy part was a bit more sentimental because it involved his parents, their memories and experiences, while the kid was struggling to understand what was going on in his mind. Nevertheless, I loved his ability, it was not only creative but very fascinating (and overwhelming, if you had it). Of course, his story ended abruptly, and now I need to know whether Jeremy won or his uncle worked his way around. And let me say my imagination was gladly challenged with the battle inside Rick’s mind, they were some great chapters to read. Finally, good finale of the book, it tickles you curiosity and makes you want to read the sequel :)
Not so good: I think both stories could have been more described, they had so much potential that I expected much more. Some of the memories from Rick could have been more explained, because I had trouble understanding why Jeremy considered his uncle a bad person, and if it wasn’t for Rick’s final actions, I still wouldn’t get it. In the other story, I think the way Bishop managed to stay alive in the hospital / narco lab was not told, it was like a gap in the storyline that, to me, it was important, because it could contain information that will clarify the drug business or the crime they were investigating or something like that. I even though she was confabulated with the drug dealers, of that she was a dirty cop, but in the end nothing happen and she didn’t even wanted to talk about it. Maybe she also has a “power”, I don’t know, I’ll have to read the other book to know if I figured her out.
Would I recommend it? Yes.
October 27, 2015
*I received a free copy of this book for an honest review (Lovers of Paranormal)*
Simply put, I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I have always been a fan of paranormal, and this did not disappoint. In recent years paranormal has really risen to popularity. One of the potential downfalls of this, however, is that sometimes character types and story lines can feel recycled. It is safe to say that this was not the case in this book. Forget the werewolves, vampires, and witches in this book! We have ‘Sleepers’, Fractured mental states, and unique abilities. So if you like a story that is paranormal, but not in the norm, then I highly suggest you give this a try.
This book has two story lines happening at the same time. Now I know some people are not fans of parallel story lines, but Shutt does a great job keep them in order and flowing-even in their respective settings.
Detective Brennan has seen some cases in his time, but a man with his eyes gouged out is not a typical crime. Along with his partner, Bishop, they begin to investigate the crime with little to no information. Brennen enlists in the talents of his friend and ex-cop turned PI, Sam. Through some digging they get enough information to get them on the path to finding their killer. Brennen soon realizes that this case hits closer to home than expected. When some family emergencies come into play, Brennan realizes that there are some things that are not black and grey. With painful dreams and memories of his past, the impending situations with his sister and nephew, and ghosts from the past threatening to make him go crazy, someone wonders how Brennan can handle it all.
While we are watching the story unfold with Brennan, his partner, and his friend, Jeremy is just like any other teenager and gets injured while exploring. When he wakes up from his injury, he is soon thrown into the world where he can gain insights into those he touches. It causes confusion and the inability to concentrate. He then gets a visitor in his dreams and Jeremy realizes the world is not what it seems.
While these stories do not cross paths with each other, they are connected in some way. I look forward to seeing what happens in the next installment. Thank you very much for allowing me to read and review your work.
http://araynagrace.blogspot.com/2015/...
Simply put, I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I have always been a fan of paranormal, and this did not disappoint. In recent years paranormal has really risen to popularity. One of the potential downfalls of this, however, is that sometimes character types and story lines can feel recycled. It is safe to say that this was not the case in this book. Forget the werewolves, vampires, and witches in this book! We have ‘Sleepers’, Fractured mental states, and unique abilities. So if you like a story that is paranormal, but not in the norm, then I highly suggest you give this a try.
This book has two story lines happening at the same time. Now I know some people are not fans of parallel story lines, but Shutt does a great job keep them in order and flowing-even in their respective settings.
Detective Brennan has seen some cases in his time, but a man with his eyes gouged out is not a typical crime. Along with his partner, Bishop, they begin to investigate the crime with little to no information. Brennen enlists in the talents of his friend and ex-cop turned PI, Sam. Through some digging they get enough information to get them on the path to finding their killer. Brennen soon realizes that this case hits closer to home than expected. When some family emergencies come into play, Brennan realizes that there are some things that are not black and grey. With painful dreams and memories of his past, the impending situations with his sister and nephew, and ghosts from the past threatening to make him go crazy, someone wonders how Brennan can handle it all.
While we are watching the story unfold with Brennan, his partner, and his friend, Jeremy is just like any other teenager and gets injured while exploring. When he wakes up from his injury, he is soon thrown into the world where he can gain insights into those he touches. It causes confusion and the inability to concentrate. He then gets a visitor in his dreams and Jeremy realizes the world is not what it seems.
While these stories do not cross paths with each other, they are connected in some way. I look forward to seeing what happens in the next installment. Thank you very much for allowing me to read and review your work.
http://araynagrace.blogspot.com/2015/...
November 18, 2015
Brooding City is about police detective Arthur Brennan. He and his partner are called to the scene of a baffling murder, the investigation of which will lead them into the city’s dark underbelly of crime. Their lives could be the price to find the murderer and stop the flow of a drug that is infesting the city and has already taken its toll on Brennan.
Meanwhile, spending the summer on his family’s ranch, is Jeremy. A young man obsessing with an old tower on the family property. An injury sustained while exploring the tower opens his mind to an incredible and frightening power that will give him intimate knowledge that could change his family forever and lead him to do things he would never have imagined.
At first the two stories seem very much unrelated, but the reader does eventually find a most interesting connection between Jeremy and Brennan. What it means in the grand scheme of the story isn’t readily obvious.
This book kept my attention. Both stories were equally enthralling, with equally interesting characters and thrilling twists. Despite bouncing back and forth between the two, I never felt like I had to get through one to get back to the other. I was content to wait to see how they intersected. While I do still have some unanswered questions, I can wait for the next book.
I gratefully received a copy of this book in return for a fair and honest review.
Meanwhile, spending the summer on his family’s ranch, is Jeremy. A young man obsessing with an old tower on the family property. An injury sustained while exploring the tower opens his mind to an incredible and frightening power that will give him intimate knowledge that could change his family forever and lead him to do things he would never have imagined.
At first the two stories seem very much unrelated, but the reader does eventually find a most interesting connection between Jeremy and Brennan. What it means in the grand scheme of the story isn’t readily obvious.
This book kept my attention. Both stories were equally enthralling, with equally interesting characters and thrilling twists. Despite bouncing back and forth between the two, I never felt like I had to get through one to get back to the other. I was content to wait to see how they intersected. While I do still have some unanswered questions, I can wait for the next book.
I gratefully received a copy of this book in return for a fair and honest review.
November 23, 2015
Seriously? This is one incredible book !!!! I absolutely love how Tom covers this paranormal book in a different angle. He skillfully has 2 different story lines going in parallel. Every time he switches I was like "no, not now" only to realize he was picking up on the other story line which I was waiting for. He put me quite in a conundrum there and I loved how he expertly handled this switches, leaving you on a mini cliff hanger pretty much every time.
Arthur is a different kind of hero, yes he is a cop and a good one at that, but he doesn't come across as very heroic at first, until you get to know him. He is an extremely likable character that I can't wait to read more about in future books! He is a well rounded character, who you can see existing in real life. His "supporting" cast is well selected and they play well off of each other.
I am not going to give anything away about the second story line, but needless to say it is a great addition to the book, giving you different angles that you can see coming together very nicely.
All in all I really enjoyed this book and can't wait to get my hand on the next one. It is extremely well written, with a great pace that keeps you at the edge of the seat for almost the entire time. Tom has a few nice twists in it that are unexpected and very well thought through.
Thanks for giving me this book with me.
I have received this book from the author for an honest review. (LoP, Lovers of Paranormal)
Arthur is a different kind of hero, yes he is a cop and a good one at that, but he doesn't come across as very heroic at first, until you get to know him. He is an extremely likable character that I can't wait to read more about in future books! He is a well rounded character, who you can see existing in real life. His "supporting" cast is well selected and they play well off of each other.
I am not going to give anything away about the second story line, but needless to say it is a great addition to the book, giving you different angles that you can see coming together very nicely.
All in all I really enjoyed this book and can't wait to get my hand on the next one. It is extremely well written, with a great pace that keeps you at the edge of the seat for almost the entire time. Tom has a few nice twists in it that are unexpected and very well thought through.
Thanks for giving me this book with me.
I have received this book from the author for an honest review. (LoP, Lovers of Paranormal)
October 7, 2015
As a fan of all things paranormal and crime shows like Law & Order, I was immediately hooked on Brooding City. The opening scene reminded me a lot of Jim Butcher and Michael Connelly rolled into one. Brennan and Bishop made a great team and I loved that Bishop gave Sam hell all the way through, right up to the end. Brennan's relationship with his family was a surprise. You don't get a lot of familial feels in crime novels.
And then there was the parallel (yet not so parallel) storyline that follows teenager Jeremy.
Jeremy surprised me the most. I didn't expect to care about him as much as I did. By the end of the book I was flying through the pages to see what happened next. I won't spoil it. Suffice it to say, the final chapter of that story line was unexpected.
At first I worried that two very different story lines would be difficult to keep up with, or would lose my interest, but Mr. Shutt balanced them both nicely. The transitions were handled well and I found myself turning page after page without becoming confused or bored.
I have a million questions about the Sleepers and the Tower and Jeremy and the role Brennan plays. All of which I'm sure will be answered in the sequel.
This book is a must read for anyone who likes a good crime novel with a really great, intriguing supernatural twist
And then there was the parallel (yet not so parallel) storyline that follows teenager Jeremy.
Jeremy surprised me the most. I didn't expect to care about him as much as I did. By the end of the book I was flying through the pages to see what happened next. I won't spoil it. Suffice it to say, the final chapter of that story line was unexpected.
At first I worried that two very different story lines would be difficult to keep up with, or would lose my interest, but Mr. Shutt balanced them both nicely. The transitions were handled well and I found myself turning page after page without becoming confused or bored.
I have a million questions about the Sleepers and the Tower and Jeremy and the role Brennan plays. All of which I'm sure will be answered in the sequel.
This book is a must read for anyone who likes a good crime novel with a really great, intriguing supernatural twist
October 14, 2015
This is a most difficult book to rate. On so many levels, it deserves 5 stars. For uniqueness and creative interest alone, this is a high-interest story. The dual plot lines are both fascinating and compelling. I was particularly thrilled by the highly imaginative and yet grounded foundations for both. Never did I shake my head in disbelief. Rather, I loved the incredible creations introduced by this impressive author. And Shutt is impressive. His writing, for the most part, is highly skilled and polished, and I have to trust this in a writer before I can fully enjoy a book. Shutt’s characters are highly individual and engaging, and he handles their interactions and dialogues deftly and surely. Best of all, Shutt pays great attention to subtle nuances and details that compel a reader to keep reading. So why the difficulty? Only because of one continuity problem and a suddenly unsatisfactory ending. Don’t get me wrong. The endings for both plot lines are logically consistent. I just felt that suddenly the author leaped into his endings. Fortunately, there is a sequel. So yes, I do give this book 5 stars, because it is just so damned interesting! Shutt has a talent and imagination that should take him far, and I do look forward to reading more of his work.
October 28, 2015
Brooding City is an interesting story with two main characters. Arthur Brennan is a detective investigating the murder of a pharmacist. Jeremy is a teenager who discovers he has a power. Both characters were well formed and fascinating to read about although in places Jeremy didn't seem as fleshed out as Brennan and I certainly found Brennan to be the more interesting character and I found his story more enticing as well.
The world the story was set in was well crafted and enjoyable to read about, I especially liked the idea of the sleepers.
The stories of the two characters were so vastly different that it was like reading two different stories that kept interrupting each other. The stories didn't seem connected except for the element of the sleepers. The stories did come together in a very small way right at the end of the book but not before.
It was a good read, interesting characters and stories.
The world the story was set in was well crafted and enjoyable to read about, I especially liked the idea of the sleepers.
The stories of the two characters were so vastly different that it was like reading two different stories that kept interrupting each other. The stories didn't seem connected except for the element of the sleepers. The stories did come together in a very small way right at the end of the book but not before.
It was a good read, interesting characters and stories.
December 19, 2015
This book was given to me for a fair and honest review.
I have always liked crime novels, with this book you have a paranormal crime novel with Brennan the detective, who has the power of knowing if someone is telling the truth or lying. Brennan is investigating a murder of a pharmacist, this also contains Bishop and Sam who help this story run along nicely. Good characters and you also get to know some of Brennan's past with his involvement with sleepers.
The story became confusing for me when the story split to contain Jeremy's story also, I liked Jeremy's story but ended up with more questions unanswered by the end of the book, also other than the sleepers I don't know what the connection is between the two main characters, maybe this becomes more apparent when reading the next book in the series.
I have always liked crime novels, with this book you have a paranormal crime novel with Brennan the detective, who has the power of knowing if someone is telling the truth or lying. Brennan is investigating a murder of a pharmacist, this also contains Bishop and Sam who help this story run along nicely. Good characters and you also get to know some of Brennan's past with his involvement with sleepers.
The story became confusing for me when the story split to contain Jeremy's story also, I liked Jeremy's story but ended up with more questions unanswered by the end of the book, also other than the sleepers I don't know what the connection is between the two main characters, maybe this becomes more apparent when reading the next book in the series.
September 25, 2015
This is a paranormal novel with a crime/suspense twist that goes back and forth between two main characters. The first being Detective Brennan, who had a psychic ability and Jeremy a teenager who his own abilities.
The story starts off with Brennan investigating the murder of a medical student in the investigation leads him to uncover something much bigger. While Jeremy’s story shows him uncovering his own dark secrets.
I did find it a bit confusing at first when Jeremy’s character was introduced and it could be a bit jarring at times going for back and forth between the two characters. But their stories blended together nicely and overall I did enjoy the book. A good debut novel from Tom Schutt and I’m interested to see what happens in his next book.
The story starts off with Brennan investigating the murder of a medical student in the investigation leads him to uncover something much bigger. While Jeremy’s story shows him uncovering his own dark secrets.
I did find it a bit confusing at first when Jeremy’s character was introduced and it could be a bit jarring at times going for back and forth between the two characters. But their stories blended together nicely and overall I did enjoy the book. A good debut novel from Tom Schutt and I’m interested to see what happens in his next book.
November 4, 2015
I went into this book expecting awfulness written by yet another bloody airport author. I couldn't have been more wrong and I am especially glad I was. I adored this book and was thoroughly applauding the bravery and genre-literacy displayed by Shutt. Once you get past a rather limp title, you find a book which playfully hops between Science Fiction, Pulp Crime and Magical Realism, toying around with genre conventions rather than idolising them and, therefore, casting them in a new light and finding unexpected common ground between all three. A wonderful and anthracite book by a superb new writer.
November 10, 2015
***I received this book in exchange for an honest review (LoP or Lovers of Paranormal)***
While reading the book, to be honest, I was lost at first. I was a little confuse about the names. There are different story lines. The plot are interesting, it shows some investigation about a murder which made it a little different than the normal werewolves, vampires etc. Although, it is indeed a book of paranomal, it has that CSI touch which makes it more interesting. This is only book 1, this is definitely something that most people would want to follow. I would definitely recommend this book.
While reading the book, to be honest, I was lost at first. I was a little confuse about the names. There are different story lines. The plot are interesting, it shows some investigation about a murder which made it a little different than the normal werewolves, vampires etc. Although, it is indeed a book of paranomal, it has that CSI touch which makes it more interesting. This is only book 1, this is definitely something that most people would want to follow. I would definitely recommend this book.
April 27, 2016
I am not a great fan of the straightforward mystery genre – at least not of Poirot and Maigret kind, though occasionally, once in a while I might take up a mystery book. Brooding City is an exception because it is an exceptional novel: it grasps you and doesn't let you go. It's dark, moody, somber, thoughtful, with two fascinating plots running almost in parallel. It is the kind of book that makes you miss subway stops. As far as the genre goes the author might have created quite a masterpiece that would stand the test of time: highly recommended!
April 26, 2016
Didn't leave a good feeling at the end, I was confused, having trouble to understand what was happening. It looks like there are two stories in one book. I also had lots of questions toward the background story which went on behind it. Would recommend to focus just on one character development.
(Read my full review here)
(Read my full review here)
October 31, 2015
I was given this book for free in exchange for an honest review from LoP group.
I was engrossed from page one but I have to admit it took me a couple chapters to be able to follow along with all the characters. there was tons of suspense, which I love, but toward the end I had a rough time following Jeremy's tale, some parts didn't make sense to me. overall it was an enjoyable book.
I was engrossed from page one but I have to admit it took me a couple chapters to be able to follow along with all the characters. there was tons of suspense, which I love, but toward the end I had a rough time following Jeremy's tale, some parts didn't make sense to me. overall it was an enjoyable book.
February 18, 2016
Shutt's writing and attention to detail was so well done that I became completely absorbed into the story. I greatly enjoyed the supernatural, crime/mystery, and sci-fi elementals of it; he pulled it all together and made it work very well.
September 13, 2016
Very interesting and enjoyable story. Unfortunately my favorite portion had to do with Jeremy, not Brennan and (spoilers) since he isn't in the 2nd book I won't be continuing the series. I will definitely be willing to read more by the author, he tells a good story.
March 4, 2025
Read Brooding City in a bundle titled Magic & Mayhem.
This book was kind of two stories in one told in alternating chapters (almost). I could see myself getting upset at being jumped back and forth as the main characters of each story were not interrelated at all. I would find myself thinking "Wait! I'm not ready to move on." then find I was engrossed in the new chapter and again at the end "Wait!...." In spite of my "Wait!s" I very much enjoyed the book.
This book was kind of two stories in one told in alternating chapters (almost). I could see myself getting upset at being jumped back and forth as the main characters of each story were not interrelated at all. I would find myself thinking "Wait! I'm not ready to move on." then find I was engrossed in the new chapter and again at the end "Wait!...." In spite of my "Wait!s" I very much enjoyed the book.
May 26, 2016
This book was really just okay. It had two plotlines going on that may tie together in the next book in the series, but seemed very unconnected here and remained so even at the end. As for the mystery, it was so-so. There wasn't enough depth to make it either a good detective story or a good urban fantasy for me, and although there were several interesting aspects-The mysterious drugs, Brennan's sister, Brennan's past and his strange abilities, and whatever was going on with the young deuteragonist, they felt like promises the author never kept. Interesting elements, but they never tied together all that well to make a satisfying story. Possibly the rest of the series would be better.
I got this as a free ebook for Kindle.
I got this as a free ebook for Kindle.
June 14, 2016
Fantasy is not my choice in books
First the book starts with two different stories in alternating chapters which is quite frustrating. The fantasy then takes over in both stories. This is not my idea of a good read. I thought the summary of the book was very misleading.
First the book starts with two different stories in alternating chapters which is quite frustrating. The fantasy then takes over in both stories. This is not my idea of a good read. I thought the summary of the book was very misleading.
May 5, 2016
I received a free copy of this book for an honest review.
I had a hard time getting into this book, but it had some pretty good moments once the action picked up.
I had a hard time getting into this book, but it had some pretty good moments once the action picked up.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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