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Skin Kadash #4
County Line
When the steadfast Ruby Jane Whittaker drops out of sight, dogged ex-cop Skin Kadash sets out to discover what drove the woman he loves to leave her life behind so suddenly and without explanation. The discovery of a dead man in her apartment, followed by an attack by a mysterious stalker, leads Skin first to California, then across the country on a desperate journey deep into Ruby Jane’s haunted past--and toward an explosive confrontation which will determine if either has a future.
412 pages, Paperback
First published June 1, 2011
65 people are currently reading
1222 people want to read
About the author
Bill Cameron
27 books48 followersBill Cameron is also known as W.H. Cameron.
Crossroad author W.H. Cameron raises backyard chickens in Oregon, and shapes unruly words into captivating people caught in harrowing situations in his writing room. As Bill Cameron, he’s the critically-acclaimed author of the edgy and stirring Skin Kadash mysteries, including County Line. His young adult mystery Property of the State, introducing troubled yet resourceful Joey Getchie, was named one of Kirkus Reviews Best Books of 2016.
In a starred review, Kirkus described Property of the State as, “An eminently satisfying series opener for mystery fans who want their downtrodden detectives to be appealing, clever, and unafraid of action.” Booklist said, “Joey’s intense, gripping narration of his heartbreaking life will haunt readers.” Publishers Weekly said of County Line, “Contemporary sharp-edged noir doesn’t get much better than Cameron’s mournful novel featuring ex-cop Skin Kadash.” New York Times bestselling author Chelsea Cain described Day One as “an utterly engrossing page-turner.” In the Vancouver Voice, Carolyn Schultz-Rathbun said, “The body count is positively Shakespearean, but in Cameron’s vision of P-town’s dark underbelly, love really is strong as death. Maybe stronger.” Chasing Smoke received a starred review from Library Journal, and Booklist declared, “it engages the reader on an emotional as well as literary level.”
In 2012, County Line won the Spotted Owl Award for Best Northwest Mystery. Lost Dog was nominated for the 2008 Rocky Award and was a finalist for the 2008 Spotted Owl Award. Cameron’s short story, “The Princess of Felony Flats,” was nominated for a 2011 CWA Short Story Dagger Award. His short fiction has appeared in Alfred Hitchcock’s Mystery Magazine, Portland Noir, Murder at the Beach, Killer Year, First Thrills, and A Beast Without A Name: Crime Fiction Inspired by the Music of Steely Dan.
Crossroad author W.H. Cameron raises backyard chickens in Oregon, and shapes unruly words into captivating people caught in harrowing situations in his writing room. As Bill Cameron, he’s the critically-acclaimed author of the edgy and stirring Skin Kadash mysteries, including County Line. His young adult mystery Property of the State, introducing troubled yet resourceful Joey Getchie, was named one of Kirkus Reviews Best Books of 2016.
In a starred review, Kirkus described Property of the State as, “An eminently satisfying series opener for mystery fans who want their downtrodden detectives to be appealing, clever, and unafraid of action.” Booklist said, “Joey’s intense, gripping narration of his heartbreaking life will haunt readers.” Publishers Weekly said of County Line, “Contemporary sharp-edged noir doesn’t get much better than Cameron’s mournful novel featuring ex-cop Skin Kadash.” New York Times bestselling author Chelsea Cain described Day One as “an utterly engrossing page-turner.” In the Vancouver Voice, Carolyn Schultz-Rathbun said, “The body count is positively Shakespearean, but in Cameron’s vision of P-town’s dark underbelly, love really is strong as death. Maybe stronger.” Chasing Smoke received a starred review from Library Journal, and Booklist declared, “it engages the reader on an emotional as well as literary level.”
In 2012, County Line won the Spotted Owl Award for Best Northwest Mystery. Lost Dog was nominated for the 2008 Rocky Award and was a finalist for the 2008 Spotted Owl Award. Cameron’s short story, “The Princess of Felony Flats,” was nominated for a 2011 CWA Short Story Dagger Award. His short fiction has appeared in Alfred Hitchcock’s Mystery Magazine, Portland Noir, Murder at the Beach, Killer Year, First Thrills, and A Beast Without A Name: Crime Fiction Inspired by the Music of Steely Dan.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 125 reviews
August 11, 2011
I was not familiar with the author Bill Cameron, until I downloaded this title to my Nook, as part of Barnes & Noble's "Free Friday" promotion for ebook readers. I don't take advantage of every one of those, as many are in the romance or supernatural/romance category. In this case I'm very glad I took a chance.
Skin Kadash, is a retired police detective living in Oregon. His relationship with Ruby Jane Whittake is going through a shakey period so when the book opens (apparently shortly after events in the previous book in the series) he is returning from a 'time out' to see where the two of them stand. What he discovers when he returns is first that nobody has seen Ruby for a while and second that a homeless man is dead in her bathtub. Skin sets out to find Ruby, eventually teaming up with her former boyfriend, who is also concerned about her welfare. As the twosome follow Ruby's trail back to her childhood home. Along the way hit & run "accidents" start to happen and a few bodies start to show up. Part way through Cameron shifts the narrative and we see the high school world of young Ruby Jane as things take place that could eventually lead to the crimes taking place today.
Not sure how many books there are in this series, but Cameron gives enough background so that even if this is the book you read (as it was with me) you are not completely lost. His characters are three-dimensional and even those briefly introduced have enough depth so that you care when something happens to them. I'm going to look for other books with Skin, to learn more about his background and that of Ruby and the rest. Highly recommended for mystery fans.
Skin Kadash, is a retired police detective living in Oregon. His relationship with Ruby Jane Whittake is going through a shakey period so when the book opens (apparently shortly after events in the previous book in the series) he is returning from a 'time out' to see where the two of them stand. What he discovers when he returns is first that nobody has seen Ruby for a while and second that a homeless man is dead in her bathtub. Skin sets out to find Ruby, eventually teaming up with her former boyfriend, who is also concerned about her welfare. As the twosome follow Ruby's trail back to her childhood home. Along the way hit & run "accidents" start to happen and a few bodies start to show up. Part way through Cameron shifts the narrative and we see the high school world of young Ruby Jane as things take place that could eventually lead to the crimes taking place today.
Not sure how many books there are in this series, but Cameron gives enough background so that even if this is the book you read (as it was with me) you are not completely lost. His characters are three-dimensional and even those briefly introduced have enough depth so that you care when something happens to them. I'm going to look for other books with Skin, to learn more about his background and that of Ruby and the rest. Highly recommended for mystery fans.
June 10, 2011
COUNTY LINE, by Oregon-based Bill Cameron, is a thrill ride of a mystery, the fourth featuring cool cop, Thomas “Skin” Kadash. In this story, Skin is now retired and just coming off a grueling recovery following a gunshot wound sustained in DAY ONE. The story sucks you in from the first scene with Skin driving home to Portland after spending a month recuperating in a cell-phone dead zone, wondering why the hell he still hasn’t heard from Ruby Jane Whittaker. Ruby Jane, owner of Uncommon Cup (of coffee), has recently – to Skin’s surprise – crossed from friend to love… but she doesn’t know that yet. Or, maybe she does. Skin’s a bit spotty on the whole situation.
Upon learning that Ruby Jane up and left her chain of coffee shops two weeks earlier and hasn’t checked in since, Skin literally drops everything to find her, his ex-cop gut telling him she’s in trouble. What follows is a series of action-packed scenes made more remarkable by the details Cameron chooses to spotlight… the light from a cell phone is a ‘splash of acid in my eyes’ and a trip to the grocery store made memorable by a woman snacking from ‘an open bag of Purina Beggin’ Strips’. The vivid details Cameron weaves in using an economy of words plopped me smack in the middle of the story. I smelled the dead bodies, I felt characters’ pain, and I tasted chicken pot pie from Cartopia.
You think I’m exaggerating? Read it yourself. You’ll agree.
Skin enlists help from a character first introduced in LOST DOG, Peter McKrall, Ruby Jane’s previous love interest. Skin’s and Peter’s partnership is an uneasy one that takes them through several states, hot on Ruby Jane’s trail. Cameron tells the story from Skin’s first-person, present tense point of view and then switches to a third person, past tense POV to show us what happened to Ruby Jane between 1988 and 1989 that has her so spooked in the present. It sounds confusing but it’s not. Strap in and enjoy the ride.
A writer I know doesn’t think male writers can write convincing female characters and vice versa. Cameron shoots holes through that theory. Ruby Jane’s story is deftly told and by the time Cameron returns me to Skin’s POV, I breathed a sigh of relief because I wasn’t sure I could handle any more angst.
COUNTY LINE was a truly fun read. The plot had enough Lombard Street-esque twists and turns to get me feverishly shuffling back pages to figure out how I missed the big reveal at the end. If that’s not enough to convince you to rush right out and buy it, consider this: COUNTY LINE is the fourth Skin Kadash story but you don’t need to read books 1 through 3 first to enjoy it.
But it sure helps.
Upon learning that Ruby Jane up and left her chain of coffee shops two weeks earlier and hasn’t checked in since, Skin literally drops everything to find her, his ex-cop gut telling him she’s in trouble. What follows is a series of action-packed scenes made more remarkable by the details Cameron chooses to spotlight… the light from a cell phone is a ‘splash of acid in my eyes’ and a trip to the grocery store made memorable by a woman snacking from ‘an open bag of Purina Beggin’ Strips’. The vivid details Cameron weaves in using an economy of words plopped me smack in the middle of the story. I smelled the dead bodies, I felt characters’ pain, and I tasted chicken pot pie from Cartopia.
You think I’m exaggerating? Read it yourself. You’ll agree.
Skin enlists help from a character first introduced in LOST DOG, Peter McKrall, Ruby Jane’s previous love interest. Skin’s and Peter’s partnership is an uneasy one that takes them through several states, hot on Ruby Jane’s trail. Cameron tells the story from Skin’s first-person, present tense point of view and then switches to a third person, past tense POV to show us what happened to Ruby Jane between 1988 and 1989 that has her so spooked in the present. It sounds confusing but it’s not. Strap in and enjoy the ride.
A writer I know doesn’t think male writers can write convincing female characters and vice versa. Cameron shoots holes through that theory. Ruby Jane’s story is deftly told and by the time Cameron returns me to Skin’s POV, I breathed a sigh of relief because I wasn’t sure I could handle any more angst.
COUNTY LINE was a truly fun read. The plot had enough Lombard Street-esque twists and turns to get me feverishly shuffling back pages to figure out how I missed the big reveal at the end. If that’s not enough to convince you to rush right out and buy it, consider this: COUNTY LINE is the fourth Skin Kadash story but you don’t need to read books 1 through 3 first to enjoy it.
But it sure helps.
September 10, 2011
This book was a bit of a departure from the kind of books I typically like. It’s a crime-mystery, with a missing woman and a dead body found in the apartment belonging to the missing woman. The man who cares about both is Skin Kadash, an ex-cop who has returned from a self-imposed exile due to emotional/mental health issues. His gal is Ruby Jane and she is MIA. Because he suspects a connection between Ruby Jane and the dead body in her tub, he sets out across the country to find her. He digs into her past and finds something sinister; it leads to Ruby Jane, the identity of the man in the bathtub, and something else. The story is told from Kadash’s perspective and from an omniscient perspective when it is about Ruby Jane’s past. It is fast-paced and a real page-turner once you get in, but the ending really disappointed me. It seemed to go off in a strange (yet plausible) direction, but the introduction of the “bad guys” at the end of the story just seemed weird. It seemed so because after we had been given all this other back-story on characters that played a role in Ruby Jane’s life, to have new characters introduced at such a late point in the story seemed, I don’t know, out of left field, I guess. It was a disappointment, but did not completely ruin the story for me. I still enjoyed the ride. 3 stars
March 13, 2012
Actual rating: 2.5 stars.
This was a Free Friday Nook download from Barnes & Noble. I read the sample paragraph, liked what I saw, and grabbed a copy ... not all free ebooks looked this promising. Bill Cameron's thing is an ex-cop private eye, Skin Kadash, who lives and (mostly) works the Portland, Oregon area. Portland's hip, the Pacific Northwest settings are hip, and the characters, at least some of them, are hipsters. Coffee shops? This novel's got 'em. If Skin had hopped on a bicycle at some point, I wouldn't have been surprised.
This is good, workman-like private eye storytelling, and you won't be disappointed. I myself was a little irritated with the way Cameron dribbled out the clues in this book, one small item at a time, right up to the closing pages. He did it by placing a secretive female at the center of the mystery, one who simply wouldn't share. Personally, I found it unlikely that a real woman in trouble would go so far out of her way to hide essential, life-saving information from the men who are trying to help her, particularly since they are her current and former lovers. But apart from that bit of contrived unreality, I enjoyed the read.
Should another Skin Kadash novel throw itself my way, I'll read it. With a cup of Starbucks in my hand.
This was a Free Friday Nook download from Barnes & Noble. I read the sample paragraph, liked what I saw, and grabbed a copy ... not all free ebooks looked this promising. Bill Cameron's thing is an ex-cop private eye, Skin Kadash, who lives and (mostly) works the Portland, Oregon area. Portland's hip, the Pacific Northwest settings are hip, and the characters, at least some of them, are hipsters. Coffee shops? This novel's got 'em. If Skin had hopped on a bicycle at some point, I wouldn't have been surprised.
This is good, workman-like private eye storytelling, and you won't be disappointed. I myself was a little irritated with the way Cameron dribbled out the clues in this book, one small item at a time, right up to the closing pages. He did it by placing a secretive female at the center of the mystery, one who simply wouldn't share. Personally, I found it unlikely that a real woman in trouble would go so far out of her way to hide essential, life-saving information from the men who are trying to help her, particularly since they are her current and former lovers. But apart from that bit of contrived unreality, I enjoyed the read.
Should another Skin Kadash novel throw itself my way, I'll read it. With a cup of Starbucks in my hand.
July 31, 2011
A solid sort-of-PI thriller from Bill Cameron. I say "sort of" because while ex-cop Skin Kadash doesn't actually have a PI license, he does all the PI-type stuff in his search for his missing lover Ruby Jane, who disappears about the time Skin finds a corpse in her bathtub. The middle of the book is a long flashback sequence that gets a little confusing at times, because the narrative jumps back and forth within the flashback, but I quickly adjusted to that because Ruby Jane's back story is so engrossing. There are a couple of very shocking yet believable twists that I certainly didn't see coming. A great page-turner. Recommended.
July 5, 2012
It was a little confusing at first with the change of POV...it made me want to keep reading only because I was interested in the female character's story line...otherwise, the ending was truly surprising, but wouldn't read it again...read if you are bored or have nothing else to read...its a free Nook book!
October 7, 2020
Interesting to pick up a book thinking it is a stand-alone and find out after reading it that it is number 4 in a series. But that is the tale of this book and me. I'll be happy to read more of Mr. Cameron's work should I come across it, even though this novel was constructed in a way I generally dislike. It began in a straight forward manner, then flipped back to the childhood of one of the characters. In fact, a large portion took place in the past. When events moved to 'real' time things came together and all the mish-mash of facts and mysteries eventually made sense enough to be acceptable, although a bit of a stretch was needed. I do have soft spots for flawed characters and athletic women. In truth, more of a procedural than a whodunit and I thought there were a dozen more pages to go when it ended, the backspace unexpectedly filled with extensive Acknowledgements and of all things, a study guide.
Recommended.
Recommended.
November 1, 2019
This was a Free Friday Nook book or I probably would never have read it. It was an easy read, although the timeline did switch back and forth. It was not hard to follow since the chapters had dates at the beginning. The part that interested me the most was the setting in Ohio because I grew up in Preble County in Ohio and a lot of names were very familiar. And I lived in Portland for awhile so I could imagine being there also-always makes it easier to like and identify with a book if it is a familiar setting. The characters were easy with me to identify with so He did a good job there. Storyline held my interest. It was good.
October 2, 2024
It was a freebie on Kindle, so I tried it, not having read any of the others in the series. It was a (retired) police procedural. Slow to start, and at first I wasn't sure what the mystery was, but it picked up as I got into it.
July 24, 2018
Lots to keep you guessing. Found the section about teenage Ruby Jane quite compelling
August 10, 2011
Recently I have had the pleasure of reading some very good books. Some have been okay, but others have been mind-blowing. County Line by Bill Cameron was right smack in the middle of okay and mind-blowing at a steady awesome. From the beginning I was wondering how it was all going to wrap up and then right between section one and two there was a wallop when the entire style of the book changed pace as we switched voices. That’s when it started to get exciting.
Part One: Skin. This was my first introduction so Skin Kadash and I can say that it was a pleasant one. Skin is a retired cop with a little bit of an authority problem. He has just wrapped up a winter retreat at a nice bed and breakfast to get his head set straight and he’s been starting to worry about his friend Ruby Jane. It’s possible she just disappeared because she was tired of Skin, but what if that wasn’t it? Skin begins to investigate and discovers a dead man in Ruby Jane’s bathtub. Okay – that’s a little tricky to blow off, now isn’t it? Skin starts tracking Ruby Jane down through her various relatives and friends and connections (and not via Facebook might I add) when he starts to realize he’s stumbled on something big. Ruby Jane’s not quite as innocent as she seems, but Skin has to figure out where she is and just how deep into it she is.
Part Two: Roo. Ruby Jane’s section passes quickly as your mind starts to piece together all the information that is being thrown at you haphazardly. I’m the type of person that loves to read with a pencil and a piece of paper right next to me (Sorry Prof. Slinkard – I still can’t write in my books). I jot down clues, I jot down dates, I jot down names. I needed that skill in this section as Ruby Jane’s story flips and flops back and forth through time. It’s normally pretty easy to follow along, but occasionally I had to stop and backtrack or think. This was the highlight of this book.
Part Three: Biddy. I won’t give away the conclusion, since I’m not into spoilers, but I will say that while this book could be called formulaic (as most books are – even really great books), I still found the conclusion satisfying and somewhat surprising.
I did have to send a tweet to Mr. Cameron at one point, asking him for clarification on one of the passages in the book, and wouldn’t you know it – he replied back! Props to Mr. Cameron. Overall, I found this book to be engaging and fast paced (after you got past Skin’s section) and I really love the characters. Since this is part of a series, I’m going to have to make time to go back and read some of the other bits and pieces of Skin’s story.
Thank you Mr. Cameron.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received County Line by Bill Cameron free from Tyrus Books through the FSB Media review program. I was not required to write a positive review and did not receive any other compensation. The opinions I have expressed are my own and no one else’s. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
Part One: Skin. This was my first introduction so Skin Kadash and I can say that it was a pleasant one. Skin is a retired cop with a little bit of an authority problem. He has just wrapped up a winter retreat at a nice bed and breakfast to get his head set straight and he’s been starting to worry about his friend Ruby Jane. It’s possible she just disappeared because she was tired of Skin, but what if that wasn’t it? Skin begins to investigate and discovers a dead man in Ruby Jane’s bathtub. Okay – that’s a little tricky to blow off, now isn’t it? Skin starts tracking Ruby Jane down through her various relatives and friends and connections (and not via Facebook might I add) when he starts to realize he’s stumbled on something big. Ruby Jane’s not quite as innocent as she seems, but Skin has to figure out where she is and just how deep into it she is.
Part Two: Roo. Ruby Jane’s section passes quickly as your mind starts to piece together all the information that is being thrown at you haphazardly. I’m the type of person that loves to read with a pencil and a piece of paper right next to me (Sorry Prof. Slinkard – I still can’t write in my books). I jot down clues, I jot down dates, I jot down names. I needed that skill in this section as Ruby Jane’s story flips and flops back and forth through time. It’s normally pretty easy to follow along, but occasionally I had to stop and backtrack or think. This was the highlight of this book.
Part Three: Biddy. I won’t give away the conclusion, since I’m not into spoilers, but I will say that while this book could be called formulaic (as most books are – even really great books), I still found the conclusion satisfying and somewhat surprising.
I did have to send a tweet to Mr. Cameron at one point, asking him for clarification on one of the passages in the book, and wouldn’t you know it – he replied back! Props to Mr. Cameron. Overall, I found this book to be engaging and fast paced (after you got past Skin’s section) and I really love the characters. Since this is part of a series, I’m going to have to make time to go back and read some of the other bits and pieces of Skin’s story.
Thank you Mr. Cameron.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received County Line by Bill Cameron free from Tyrus Books through the FSB Media review program. I was not required to write a positive review and did not receive any other compensation. The opinions I have expressed are my own and no one else’s. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
July 26, 2011
Skin Kadash returns home after spending a month in a retreat called Last Homely House. Last Homely House is a bed and breakfast where Skin has been recuperating from a near-fatal gunshot wound. Skin has been following doctor’s orders but now he is back and anxious to see Ruby Jane Whittaker. Skin keeps trying Ruby’s cell phone on the way back home but he doesn't get a response. Ruby Jane owns several coffee houses and Skin is sure he will find her at one of them but that does not happen. She has left town without telling anyone her destination.
When Skin gains access to Ruby’s home, he finds a homeless man dead in Ruby Jane’s bathtub. Skin contacts the police and gets the body removed but is still no closer to finding out what has happened to Ruby Jane.
With a gut feeling that Ruby is in danger, Skin begins a search for her. His first stop is Pete McKrall. Pete now lives in Walnut Creek, California. Pete had a relationship with Ruby Jane but that is in the past. Now Skin fears that Ruby has gone back to Pete. Pete knows no more about where Ruby Jane has gone than Skin does but decides he is going to join in the search.
Ruby’s trail leads the two across the country and deep into Ruby Jane’s past. It appears that Ruby Jane has not been totally honest about her past. The two uncover one surprise after another but Ruby Jane seems to be one step ahead of them. It is obvious that she doesn’t want to be found. This makes Skin and Pete even more determined to locate her.
Skin is a retired police officer who knows his way around trouble and there is no end to the trouble he runs into in his search for Ruby Jane. There is excitement on every page and Ruby Jane’s background is a puzzle that takes a while to put together and reveals a young Ruby Jane very different from the adult that Skin is familiar with.
Bill Cameron has developed some wonderful characters in his Skin Kadash novels. County Line can be read as a stand-alone but the previous novels are well worth reading and it is difficult to pick a favorite.
When Skin gains access to Ruby’s home, he finds a homeless man dead in Ruby Jane’s bathtub. Skin contacts the police and gets the body removed but is still no closer to finding out what has happened to Ruby Jane.
With a gut feeling that Ruby is in danger, Skin begins a search for her. His first stop is Pete McKrall. Pete now lives in Walnut Creek, California. Pete had a relationship with Ruby Jane but that is in the past. Now Skin fears that Ruby has gone back to Pete. Pete knows no more about where Ruby Jane has gone than Skin does but decides he is going to join in the search.
Ruby’s trail leads the two across the country and deep into Ruby Jane’s past. It appears that Ruby Jane has not been totally honest about her past. The two uncover one surprise after another but Ruby Jane seems to be one step ahead of them. It is obvious that she doesn’t want to be found. This makes Skin and Pete even more determined to locate her.
Skin is a retired police officer who knows his way around trouble and there is no end to the trouble he runs into in his search for Ruby Jane. There is excitement on every page and Ruby Jane’s background is a puzzle that takes a while to put together and reveals a young Ruby Jane very different from the adult that Skin is familiar with.
Bill Cameron has developed some wonderful characters in his Skin Kadash novels. County Line can be read as a stand-alone but the previous novels are well worth reading and it is difficult to pick a favorite.
November 6, 2013
I am a lover of mysteries. I love them even more when I'm within fifty pages of THE END and I'm still trying to figure them out.
COUNTY LINE is one such treasure.
The fourth installment in a series following the perfectly flawed Skin Kadash (pronounced KAY-dish as per the great and powerful Oz himself, Bill Cameron), COUNTY LINE follows Skin as he comes back from a somewhat forced vacation to find the (not-so-requited) love of his life Ruby Jane missing and a dead man in her bathtub.
What follows next is a search that spans miles, time and more than a few broken hearts as we (both Skin and Peter--not to mention, the reader) learn about the chain events more than twenty years ago that created the Ruby Jane we know today. Cars disappear only to be found sleeping with the fishes. Pockets are picked. Drunks die in spectacularly violent "accidents" while other drunks simply disappear. Through it all, there is one common link: Ruby Jane.
COUNTY LINE is a carefully woven tale, delving deep into one woman's past while the two men who love her in their own completely different ways work to not only find her but uncover her secrets as well. There were so many times when I thought I knew what was going to happen only to have Cameron pull the rug out from under me, leaving me dazed, confused and going, "What the f*** just happened here?!?!"
sidenote: I did know right from the beginning who the dead guy in the tub was and that his "natural" death was not so natural after all...but that was the ONLY thing I knew for certain. The rest I was stumped on. So, well done, Bill!
I will admit that it did take me a little minute to get into the characters' lives, but I attribute that to the fact that this is the FOURTH book in a well-established series, so sometimes, I felt like I was on the outside of a particularly funny joke I might have "gotten" if I'd read the other books. But, that just makes me want to go out and pick up the others in the collection just so I can be in the know.
COUNTY LINE is one such treasure.
The fourth installment in a series following the perfectly flawed Skin Kadash (pronounced KAY-dish as per the great and powerful Oz himself, Bill Cameron), COUNTY LINE follows Skin as he comes back from a somewhat forced vacation to find the (not-so-requited) love of his life Ruby Jane missing and a dead man in her bathtub.
What follows next is a search that spans miles, time and more than a few broken hearts as we (both Skin and Peter--not to mention, the reader) learn about the chain events more than twenty years ago that created the Ruby Jane we know today. Cars disappear only to be found sleeping with the fishes. Pockets are picked. Drunks die in spectacularly violent "accidents" while other drunks simply disappear. Through it all, there is one common link: Ruby Jane.
COUNTY LINE is a carefully woven tale, delving deep into one woman's past while the two men who love her in their own completely different ways work to not only find her but uncover her secrets as well. There were so many times when I thought I knew what was going to happen only to have Cameron pull the rug out from under me, leaving me dazed, confused and going, "What the f*** just happened here?!?!"
sidenote: I did know right from the beginning who the dead guy in the tub was and that his "natural" death was not so natural after all...but that was the ONLY thing I knew for certain. The rest I was stumped on. So, well done, Bill!
I will admit that it did take me a little minute to get into the characters' lives, but I attribute that to the fact that this is the FOURTH book in a well-established series, so sometimes, I felt like I was on the outside of a particularly funny joke I might have "gotten" if I'd read the other books. But, that just makes me want to go out and pick up the others in the collection just so I can be in the know.
October 17, 2011
Before even attempting to evaluate this novel, it must be pointed out that at the beginning and end of the book as well as in between segments there are QR barcodes, purportedly featuring bonus material and extras. To do so, of course, one must own a smartphone and download an app to view the material. Since I have no need or desire to own such an instrument (what’s wrong, am I anti-American?), I don’t know how much, if anything, I am missing, especially what the barcode at the end of and within the novel provides. Since I had a feeling of incompleteness after finishing the book, I wonder. And if that is information I need to judge the novel, then it not only is a disservice to the reader who chooses not to utilize it, but a poor gimmick to sell smartphones and cellular service. As it is, I found it only a distraction, as well as questioning whether it was necessary for a full appreciation of the book.
As far as the novel is concerned, it is incisively written, with good character development. It begins when go-getter Ruby Jane Whittaker, founder and owner of a three-store chain of coffee shops in Portland, Oregon, goes off on what is to be a two-week trip. When she doesn’t return, two of her boyfriends take heed, and undertake to find her. The effort takes them to San Francisco to see her brother (who becomes a hit-and-run victim before their eyes), then to a small Ohio town where Ruby Jane grew up and then back to Oregon. The effort raises more questions than it does answers.
Another section of the novel retraces Ruby Jane’s earlier life in Ohio, and provides some background to the mystery, which is finally brought to a violent finish, albeit leaving this reader wondering whether or not that really is the conclusion, or just laying the groundwork for the next book in this series. If you own a smartphone, OK, you can take this as a recommendation. If not - - well, the choice is yours.
As far as the novel is concerned, it is incisively written, with good character development. It begins when go-getter Ruby Jane Whittaker, founder and owner of a three-store chain of coffee shops in Portland, Oregon, goes off on what is to be a two-week trip. When she doesn’t return, two of her boyfriends take heed, and undertake to find her. The effort takes them to San Francisco to see her brother (who becomes a hit-and-run victim before their eyes), then to a small Ohio town where Ruby Jane grew up and then back to Oregon. The effort raises more questions than it does answers.
Another section of the novel retraces Ruby Jane’s earlier life in Ohio, and provides some background to the mystery, which is finally brought to a violent finish, albeit leaving this reader wondering whether or not that really is the conclusion, or just laying the groundwork for the next book in this series. If you own a smartphone, OK, you can take this as a recommendation. If not - - well, the choice is yours.
July 18, 2011
Skin Kadash is a former cop. He was recovering from a gun shot wound, only to learn that his girlfriend, Ruby Jane Whittaker has gone missing. What had Ruby gotten herself into? When Skin goes to Ruby’s apartment to find any sort of clue as to where Ruby is, Skin finds a dead man in Ruby’s bath tub. Skin decides to start off at Pete McKrall’s place. Pete is Ruby’s former boyfriend. On one hand, Skin hopes that he does not find Ruby with Pete but on the other hand if she is there than he and Ruby will have to figure out where they are in their relationship.
County Line is the first book I have read by this author. I could tell that these were reoccurring characters when I first starting reading this book. It started out with Skin staying at a quiet, retreat where he was recovering from a near fatal gunshot wound. Though, I have not read any of the previous books, I was able to reading this book with no problems. Skin really made this book for me. He is like a modern day outlaw. He takes no bull and does not hold back. Ruby could hold her own with Pete and Skin. I liked this because if Ruby was a weak female than I would not have felt the connection between Skin and her and wanted Skin to find her. This book is split into several different parts. The first part is about Skin and him trying to find Ruby. The next section flashes back in time to Ruby and her past to help clue the reader into what Ruby is hiding and running from. The last section brings the reader back to the present and tries all the loose ends up nicely. Fans of a good suspense/mystery novel will enjoy this book.
County Line is the first book I have read by this author. I could tell that these were reoccurring characters when I first starting reading this book. It started out with Skin staying at a quiet, retreat where he was recovering from a near fatal gunshot wound. Though, I have not read any of the previous books, I was able to reading this book with no problems. Skin really made this book for me. He is like a modern day outlaw. He takes no bull and does not hold back. Ruby could hold her own with Pete and Skin. I liked this because if Ruby was a weak female than I would not have felt the connection between Skin and her and wanted Skin to find her. This book is split into several different parts. The first part is about Skin and him trying to find Ruby. The next section flashes back in time to Ruby and her past to help clue the reader into what Ruby is hiding and running from. The last section brings the reader back to the present and tries all the loose ends up nicely. Fans of a good suspense/mystery novel will enjoy this book.
April 14, 2012
This is two books in one. The one I enjoyed the most is the taut, bare-knuckled adventure of 'Skin' Kadash as he searches Portland, San Francisco, and a small Ohio town for the woman he has decided he loves. While he was recuperating from another adventure, she has taken off for parts unknown, for reasons unknown, and has not returned as quickly as she led her friends to believe. He knows he has to track her down. Along the way, there are murders, attempted murders, brawls, and scant clues.
Compressed between the two halves of this thriller is another story. This one about the confused teenage version of Ruby Jane-the woman Kadash loves. She's in and out of trouble. Fighting to make her way through life against the odds. In a way, this backstory is what drives the rest, but I found it mostly a distraction. The style is different. The tone is different. And I wasn't invested enough in her to stick with it. I skimmed through and got the gist of it.
The writing was pretty good. The characters and settings well presented. The mystery was OK. What knocked this book down from 4 to 3 stars was the weak center section.
Compressed between the two halves of this thriller is another story. This one about the confused teenage version of Ruby Jane-the woman Kadash loves. She's in and out of trouble. Fighting to make her way through life against the odds. In a way, this backstory is what drives the rest, but I found it mostly a distraction. The style is different. The tone is different. And I wasn't invested enough in her to stick with it. I skimmed through and got the gist of it.
The writing was pretty good. The characters and settings well presented. The mystery was OK. What knocked this book down from 4 to 3 stars was the weak center section.
June 30, 2013
This is the first book by Bill Cameron I have had the pleasure to read, but my no means my last! Talk about a page-turning, heart-pumping mystery thriller! County Line has it all! Skin Kadash is a phenomenal character; gritty, likable, intelligent and has a certain swagger that will appeal to readers. After a month long break from Ruby, he decides it's time to get back together, but when he enters her apartment, he finds a dead body and Ruby no where to be found.
He begins searching for her and it takes him into a dark and winding journey into Ruby's past. He meets up with Ruby Jane's old flame Peter McKrall. Along the the way, we learn more about Ruby Jane and her teenage past - and how it has shaped her into the woman she is today. Ruby Jane is a strong character who has been to hell and back. Skin wants to learn what has happened to make Ruby Jane run away from her life and him.
With twists and turns, mystery, drama, suspense and compelling characters, County Line is a book you won't want to put down! Mystery and thriller lovers will find themselves enraptured in Skin and Ruby's journey and Bill Cameron does it with flourish. Highly recommended!
He begins searching for her and it takes him into a dark and winding journey into Ruby's past. He meets up with Ruby Jane's old flame Peter McKrall. Along the the way, we learn more about Ruby Jane and her teenage past - and how it has shaped her into the woman she is today. Ruby Jane is a strong character who has been to hell and back. Skin wants to learn what has happened to make Ruby Jane run away from her life and him.
With twists and turns, mystery, drama, suspense and compelling characters, County Line is a book you won't want to put down! Mystery and thriller lovers will find themselves enraptured in Skin and Ruby's journey and Bill Cameron does it with flourish. Highly recommended!
October 6, 2011
I was very excited to get this book because I admire Janet Reid and if she repped it then it must be good.
One of the first things I do when I buy or open a book is look at the page count so when I saw 405 I sighed. The first part was hard for me to read because of Bill Cameron's style is so unusual. It felt to me that he was pushing the prose to make it sound interesting. I had to back track many times to understand. But this may be my problem because I haven't lived in an English speaking country in a long time so my ears are used to the best possible English one can speak and this "contemporary" prose is very slangy. I found it
Thus it was a relief when the POV changed and the prose changed with it to something much more readable
Almost near the ending I almost put the book on the shelf before finishing it because they story... the unending chase and travel with the same formula of describing the surroundings — as if I really care what kind of pine tree it is... just never ended and it didn't seem to ascend to a climax.
One of the first things I do when I buy or open a book is look at the page count so when I saw 405 I sighed. The first part was hard for me to read because of Bill Cameron's style is so unusual. It felt to me that he was pushing the prose to make it sound interesting. I had to back track many times to understand. But this may be my problem because I haven't lived in an English speaking country in a long time so my ears are used to the best possible English one can speak and this "contemporary" prose is very slangy. I found it
Thus it was a relief when the POV changed and the prose changed with it to something much more readable
Almost near the ending I almost put the book on the shelf before finishing it because they story... the unending chase and travel with the same formula of describing the surroundings — as if I really care what kind of pine tree it is... just never ended and it didn't seem to ascend to a climax.
November 24, 2012
County Line won the 2012 Spotted Owl from the Portland organization Friends of Mystery and there's a good reason for that. I spent today, the day after a fun but exhausting Thanksgiving, sitting on the couch with a sleeping dog on my lap. This was the perfect read. It's a tale of ex-cop Skin's search for his vanished girl friend, Ruby Jane, who doesn't want to be found. The story covers a lot of geography, from Portland to San Francisco to Ohio and even Orcas Island in Washington State. It covers a lot of time as well, with chapters moving from present day to the 1988s. The point of view moves from Skin's first-person present-tense to Ruby Jane's third-person past-tense. Cameron skillfully meshes all this into a gripping story of uncertain love, evil family dynamics, and a teenager faced with impossible choices. Cameron can write and he can plot. The satisfying denouement incorporates more than one surprise.
October 12, 2012
This was a Free Friday downloadable selection available from Barnes and Noble, and it was no longer free at the time of this review.
This reader was quickly pulled into the noir world of Skin Kadash of Portland, Oregon who is willing to travel to California for a clue about the whereabouts of a woman Skin knows. Just when I'm settling into a noir mystery into the exotic locales of Portland and San Francisco, I was jolted by the clue that everything you need to know happened on Preble County Line Road. What?!! Preble County Line Road is less than a mile from my house!
Well, the exact location is a little farther from my house and school district; but Skin has to travel to Farmersville and Valley View High School. Then the chapters switch to flashbacks out of chronological order.
I recommend this to readers of noir mystery, even if you don't live near Preble County Line Road.
This reader was quickly pulled into the noir world of Skin Kadash of Portland, Oregon who is willing to travel to California for a clue about the whereabouts of a woman Skin knows. Just when I'm settling into a noir mystery into the exotic locales of Portland and San Francisco, I was jolted by the clue that everything you need to know happened on Preble County Line Road. What?!! Preble County Line Road is less than a mile from my house!
Well, the exact location is a little farther from my house and school district; but Skin has to travel to Farmersville and Valley View High School. Then the chapters switch to flashbacks out of chronological order.
I recommend this to readers of noir mystery, even if you don't live near Preble County Line Road.
September 21, 2011
The book took its time introducing its characters, painting a vivid picture of the setting and locations, and prepping for the conflicts. As a reader though, the effort was apparent to me. In the same manner,I felt like the use of the flashback/flashforward style which is common in TV/movies also came across as a conscious effort. I may be wrong, but it felt like the plot was written out first, and then the scenes were rearranged afterwards, to enhance presentation. I guess I got distracted by this posturing and writing technique. I miss the elements of raw honesty, passion and the natural build-up of conflict. The plot in itself was simple although well thought out. I am on the border on this one.
October 13, 2011
I should start by saying this is the first book I have read in this story, so I am a little bit out of order when it comes to Ruby Jane, Peter, and Skin. This book was okay, but the jumping back and forth between part 1 and part 2, and then the extra skipping around in part 2 was really distracting and frustrating. The story was interesting, but I wish there would have been more story that related to the ending - again, maybe something I had missed because I did not read the first two books. I am intrigued enough to read both the first two books in the series if they become available as an e-book at a reasonable price. Overall, an interesting story, but the timeline used in the book took so much away from it that all I could give it was 3 stars.
July 17, 2011
Skin needs to find his girlfriend Ruby Jane. While he was on vacation, she took off and no one seen or heard from her. Meanwhile, there's a dead guy in her bathtub and her brother's been run down in the street.
Actually, this was very well-written and I liked the characters. Unfortunately, I didn't like the fact that about half the book is told in the present, but the other half is in the past. Ruby Jane's history didn't hold my interest, but Skin's search did.
I also hated the ending, but that's just me. I don't like to get attached to characters and have them killed off for no good reason and then have people act like nothing really happened.
Actually, this was very well-written and I liked the characters. Unfortunately, I didn't like the fact that about half the book is told in the present, but the other half is in the past. Ruby Jane's history didn't hold my interest, but Skin's search did.
I also hated the ending, but that's just me. I don't like to get attached to characters and have them killed off for no good reason and then have people act like nothing really happened.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 24, 2011
Not my cup of tea.
The story itself was okay, the pace rather steady. But nothing really surprised or shocked me. I didn't form a bond or connection with any of the characters and I'm sure that plays into why I didn't enjoy this very much.
Which isn't to say that it's bad, it just wasn't for me.
I like my mystery/thrillers to be fast paced and constantly keeping me guessing. This wasn't like that at all.
The pace was pretty constant and at times a bit slow. I never got to the point where I couldn't put it down. On the contrary I was okay to not pick it up and continue reading.
Towards the very end though it did pick up. But at that point it was too little too late.
The story itself was okay, the pace rather steady. But nothing really surprised or shocked me. I didn't form a bond or connection with any of the characters and I'm sure that plays into why I didn't enjoy this very much.
Which isn't to say that it's bad, it just wasn't for me.
I like my mystery/thrillers to be fast paced and constantly keeping me guessing. This wasn't like that at all.
The pace was pretty constant and at times a bit slow. I never got to the point where I couldn't put it down. On the contrary I was okay to not pick it up and continue reading.
Towards the very end though it did pick up. But at that point it was too little too late.
August 1, 2011
I did not realize that this book was part of another series until I was really getting into it. While some warning on the cover or description would have been nice, Cameron does well in how he gives you just enough to take off on this nice roller coaster he has written for you.
And it is a roller coaster. This is definitely one of those books where you can expect to look at the clock and wonder where did the time go. I ended up not being able to put this down last night :D and finished it up this morning.
The characters are fascinating, and the plot had me guessing to the very end. I may have to go back and read some of the back story.
And it is a roller coaster. This is definitely one of those books where you can expect to look at the clock and wonder where did the time go. I ended up not being able to put this down last night :D and finished it up this morning.
The characters are fascinating, and the plot had me guessing to the very end. I may have to go back and read some of the back story.
July 30, 2011
I really enjoyed this book! It was a great mystery, and had me intrigued the whole way through! I didn't see the twist coming, and while it wasn't jaw-dropping, it was still unexpected. I was so interested in Ruby Jane's background story, I almost forgot about Skin and his whole part of it! I probably could have done without Pete, but I think he may be part of an earlier book? This is my first Bill Cameron, so I'm going to seek out his other books and try to find the background story on what makes Skin so ugly!
September 1, 2011
Free Friday nook book This wasn't bad for a free book. At first it seemed rather scattered, but the pieces fell into place after a while. Two 'suitors' go in search of Ruby Jane Whittaker, one a former love, and the main character, her supposed current love. There are a lot of flashbacks as we readers learn the backkground of the Whittaker family, and the geography goes from Oregon to Ohio to the San Juan Islands of Washington State. It is not a pretty story, for the most part. It is interesting, for the most part. Dysfuntional family, and all.
December 20, 2011
I think this book could be described as "crime noir". This book has dark tones and crimes are committed. I really like the way this author writes. I will be watching for more of his books. The book switches between present and past events. There's just enough humor, sensitivity and a lot of "what the heck is going on?" to make it gripping and suspenseful all the way to the end. Does Dash find Ruby Jane? What does the confrontation bring for their future? You'll have to read the book to find out. Pick this book up and read it, it's an awesome book.
September 5, 2013
I really enjoyed the overall plot and mystery of this book. I did a few issues with the writing though. The book is dived into 3 sections about 2 of the main characters. The part where Skin was the main focus, was overly descriptive. To the point that I found my self skimming over half of the page. The section about Ruby wasn't overly descriptive but jumped back an forth and side to side. It made it hard to keep up with what was going on when and in what sequence. In the end, all the loose ends were tied up and everything made sense.
July 30, 2011
I don't read this genre all that often, so it's hard to say how this compares to others of its kind, but it was a moderately enjoyable read. I felt like I did not need the layers of narratives. The flashback narratives with RJ were most enjoyable - the story that served as its foundation was less interesting and at times, silly. However, I did like RJ - she made for an interesting female protagonist.
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