Dead Line

by Brian McGrory

Lauded by critics and Washington insiders alike for his debut novel The Incumbent, and its national bestselling sequel, The Nominee, Brian McGrory returns with the third sensational thriller featuring intrepid newspaperman Jack Flynn.

For his entire career, Jack Flynn has been like a heat-seeking missile in pursuit of news, with the exclusive goal of splashing his revelations on the pages of his beloved Boston Record. But now he comes across a story that might be the hardest -- and maybe the last -- of his life.

Jack is the recipient of an explosive tip involving Toby Harkins, the fugitive leader of an Irish mafia and estranged son of none other than Boston Mayor Daniel Harkins. Toby also happens to be the prime suspect in the heist of a dozen priceless treasures from the Gardner Museum -- the largest unsolved art theft in American history. But no sooner does the morning paper hit the newsstands with Jack's shocking story than a beautiful young woman, the mysterious whistleblower, is shot in the head. As Jack digs into a conspiracy that winds from the back rooms of City Hall to the genteel parlors of proper Boston, he must come to terms with the fact that he has caused an innocent's death, and that the FBI may be using him in a deadly game of cat and mouse in which the players involved aren't nearly who or what they seem. As a result, Jack begins to question the integrity of the job to which he has devoted his adult life.

Engaging, suspenseful, and crackling with newsroom energy, Dead Line once again offers the kind of explosive action that's all in a day's work for Jack Flynn, a hero whose dogged search for truth may not last him until press time.

Genres: Fiction, Mystery

384 pages, Paperback

First published December 30, 2003

About the author

Brian McGrory is a longtime newspaper reporter, editor, and columnist. Born and raised in and around Boston, he went to college at Bates College in Maine. He worked for the Patriot Ledger in Quincy, the New Haven Register in Connecticut, and has written for and edited the Boston Globe since 1989. He has a twice weekly column that appears on the front of the metro section, for which he has won the Scripps Howard journalism award, and is the author of four novels. He lives in Massachusetts with his entire family.

Reviews

[LATOYA JOVENA · Rating 4 out of 5]

Clever. Funny.

[Kevin · Rating 1 out of 5]

Weak, predictable plot but that is not the worst part of this disaster!
The misogynistic, "cutsie" comments that took up 50% of the space in this book are not only unhelpful but just plain annoying!
Simply 372 pages of my reading life I can never get back.
I wish I could give it 0 ****

[Mayre · Rating 5 out of 5]

Terrific book,,,hope there is a sequel

[Karena · Rating 3 out of 5]

I finally finished this book. It amazes me that I have been reading it on and off since last year. I normally enjoy thrillers, but this book was a little slow in some parts. And it made me put down the book for a while, once I did that I had to force myself to pick it up again. There were times that I wanted to put the book down forever and start another one. But I was determined to finish it to the end, and I'm really proud of myself. What kept my interest was that it was based in my city, so it was cool to read about certain sections and streets of the city that were mentioned.

[Nike Chillemi · Rating 3 out of 5]

In this character driven political murder mystery, hero Newpaper reporter Jack Flyn comes of as an introspective and often funny guy. This is a well written story with a few problems. One is that I sorta knew in the right beginning who the bad guy was. If I tell you why, it will be a total spoiler for anyone who cares to read this book.

Liked the character, would read another McGrory book.

[Jeffrey · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have enjoyed this series and especially the newspaper characters..

[Joshua Rhee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Teehee

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

really enjoyed thi.s one