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Deadline
When a body is found in front of the campus arts building, college newspaper editor Colin Mitchell immediately suspects there is more to the case than meets the eye.
His first clue is the severed hand that shows up in his inbox – a hand that belonged to a girl whose story Colin tried to write and both the college and the police did their best to ignore. His second is the strange symbol found at the scene of the crime, one that may have a connection to a murderous cult whose origins go back almost a thousand years to a highly secretive military religious order founded during the Crusades.
As he digs deeper into the mystery, Colin begins to uncover a trail of murder and corruption that extends beyond his wildest dreams. He’s going to need every last bit of his innate investigative talent and insider knowledge of how the school operates to get to the bottom of it all because the police are starting to zero in on him as their prime suspect…and the real killer is closer than he thinks.
His first clue is the severed hand that shows up in his inbox – a hand that belonged to a girl whose story Colin tried to write and both the college and the police did their best to ignore. His second is the strange symbol found at the scene of the crime, one that may have a connection to a murderous cult whose origins go back almost a thousand years to a highly secretive military religious order founded during the Crusades.
As he digs deeper into the mystery, Colin begins to uncover a trail of murder and corruption that extends beyond his wildest dreams. He’s going to need every last bit of his innate investigative talent and insider knowledge of how the school operates to get to the bottom of it all because the police are starting to zero in on him as their prime suspect…and the real killer is closer than he thinks.
230 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 2, 2013
121 people are currently reading
602 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
January 25, 2017
This is a unique story that is like the daVinci code meets Animal House. A college newspaper editor is out to get the 'establishment'; he is constantly butting heads with the faculty advisor and the college president. When he writes a story about the President's car being towed he is demoted to sports writer and that day's edition is being pulped.
He is immediately thrust into a mystery when there are police swarming the campus and blocking off roadways... he decides to investigate and goes above and beyond to get the story. And a mysterious package arrives at the office that contains a dismembered hand, that he recognizes. And within hours he is part of the story when his natural curiosity gets him in trouble. Then another newspaper staffer tracks him down and tells him there is an ancient group that are associated with the symbol on the box.
The quickly figure out that is is bigger than corruption, mysterious students, dead people and a seemingly incompetent security staff. And he is quickly becoming the prime suspect.
He is immediately thrust into a mystery when there are police swarming the campus and blocking off roadways... he decides to investigate and goes above and beyond to get the story. And a mysterious package arrives at the office that contains a dismembered hand, that he recognizes. And within hours he is part of the story when his natural curiosity gets him in trouble. Then another newspaper staffer tracks him down and tells him there is an ancient group that are associated with the symbol on the box.
The quickly figure out that is is bigger than corruption, mysterious students, dead people and a seemingly incompetent security staff. And he is quickly becoming the prime suspect.
March 22, 2015
After the dismembered body of a young woman is found on the campus of Westhill college, an investigative reporter with the student newspaper begins to look into the case. With the help of a colleague, he uncovers a connection to a millenium-old cult and a modern conspiracy. Meanwhile, his investigation leads the cops to his door...
A decent, entertaining murder mystery. Colin's attitude, while not at all helpful for his situation, rarely failed to amuse. Only 3 stars, though, as the story never really gripped me.
A decent, entertaining murder mystery. Colin's attitude, while not at all helpful for his situation, rarely failed to amuse. Only 3 stars, though, as the story never really gripped me.
November 3, 2019
This novel was surprisingly bitty, none of the smoothness that I have come to expect from the author. This isn't helped by multiple narrators so I never really felt that I got to "know" any of the characters. The storyline falls, just about, in to a supernatural thriller category but it never really got off the ground for me; probably because his influences were showing.
The best thing I can say about it is that once the setting and the main players have been established it moves along at a cracking pace - if you make it past the first 20% or so of the book it becomes a roller coaster ride of revelations and brutal murders. Unfortunately by that point I had already realised that I wasn't going to really care about how this worked out so I was just following on for the set pieces. There are some lavishly gruesome ones but it all felt a little more like a screenplay than an actual novel and I can't pin down why.
I usually love this author but this one left me wanting more. In it's own twisted way it was fun to read but I'm not breathlessly waiting to get my hands on the sequel.
The best thing I can say about it is that once the setting and the main players have been established it moves along at a cracking pace - if you make it past the first 20% or so of the book it becomes a roller coaster ride of revelations and brutal murders. Unfortunately by that point I had already realised that I wasn't going to really care about how this worked out so I was just following on for the set pieces. There are some lavishly gruesome ones but it all felt a little more like a screenplay than an actual novel and I can't pin down why.
I usually love this author but this one left me wanting more. In it's own twisted way it was fun to read but I'm not breathlessly waiting to get my hands on the sequel.
April 17, 2022
Those Who Slay Together
A snarky college reporter pursues leads into the sadistic murder of a young native American woman. He soon becomes the target of corrupt college officials, the cops and a twisted religious cult.
This was an enjoyable book. Colin is fun and well developed. U fortunately the remainder of the cast does not fare so well. They are cartoonish and buffonish. Still a fun read with a satisfying ending.
A snarky college reporter pursues leads into the sadistic murder of a young native American woman. He soon becomes the target of corrupt college officials, the cops and a twisted religious cult.
This was an enjoyable book. Colin is fun and well developed. U fortunately the remainder of the cast does not fare so well. They are cartoonish and buffonish. Still a fun read with a satisfying ending.
April 22, 2022
Good one
Interesting, tense plot. Main character becomes more engaging as the book goes on; he starts off sort of annoying. Story is completed, but you will see that another story is in store for Colin Mitchell. Rather than rehash the plot, I'll say it's worth reading, and the writing is good enough that I've purchased the second in the series.
Interesting, tense plot. Main character becomes more engaging as the book goes on; he starts off sort of annoying. Story is completed, but you will see that another story is in store for Colin Mitchell. Rather than rehash the plot, I'll say it's worth reading, and the writing is good enough that I've purchased the second in the series.
June 15, 2018
Another great book
I really enjoy the novels by this author and appreciate his style of writing which he applies to all sorts of genres. He has got me hooked on these characters and I will follow them in the sequel to ‘Deadline’.
I really enjoy the novels by this author and appreciate his style of writing which he applies to all sorts of genres. He has got me hooked on these characters and I will follow them in the sequel to ‘Deadline’.
February 11, 2020
Gruesome murder mystery
This turned graphic after finding the body(ies). Leave it to a journalist to get in trouble with all the wrong people. The cops want to blame him too...
This turned graphic after finding the body(ies). Leave it to a journalist to get in trouble with all the wrong people. The cops want to blame him too...
March 18, 2020
I like the main character, Colin. He is a smart, funny, wisecracking guy. The plot was far-fetched and not really believable. But I finished the book to see what would happen to Colin.
February 11, 2021
Great read, fast paced. Didnt wanna put it down!!
August 21, 2016
"Deadline" is a clever title for a book about an investigative reporter looking into a growing set of deaths. Colin Mitchell works for a college newspaper and wants to do a good job as an investigative reporter -- but many of his best stories are quashed by either his inept boss, or the corrupt college president, or the corrupt head of the college's corrupt security force, or by possibly corrupt cops -- you get the idea.
When a female student is found on campus in various pieces, and her severed hand appears in Colin's mailbox, he gets quite interested in the case. Especially when a connection to a medieval quasi-religious cult is found at the scene of the crime. The investigation takes on a personal note, however, when the police start looking at Colin as the possible perpetrator AND the remnants of the cult decide he may be a problem as well.
I enjoyed the book as a nice easy read, especially Colin's on-point snarky observations. 4 stars.
When a female student is found on campus in various pieces, and her severed hand appears in Colin's mailbox, he gets quite interested in the case. Especially when a connection to a medieval quasi-religious cult is found at the scene of the crime. The investigation takes on a personal note, however, when the police start looking at Colin as the possible perpetrator AND the remnants of the cult decide he may be a problem as well.
I enjoyed the book as a nice easy read, especially Colin's on-point snarky observations. 4 stars.
November 5, 2013
A fast-paced mystery that I found fun to read. Colin, the main character, starts out pretty snarky, and is something of a know-it-all. But as the story progresses, he's also revealed to be genuinely passionate about his job, and is working pretty much surrounded by idiots. I liked him better as the main events unfolded. He eventually gets to interact with a couple of characters that are not idiots. The mystery is an interesting one, partly rooted in some obscure history. Relating that history produced the only spot in the book where the story dragged a bit. Mostly, events proceeded at a good clip. Overall, a very entertaining read.
October 10, 2013
I really enjoyed this book! I got it for free as one of the daily kindle deals on Amazon, and mostly I am not super surprised by those books; some I will like okay and others I never finish reading because of how many typing and spelling errors there are, or the plot sucks. This was really not the case at all with Deadline. It was a unique book in that I feel like I haven't heard this same idea 20 times before. I really enjoyed Craig's writing style and will look for more books to read by him. A+ !!
Will there be another book featuring Colin Mitchell? I hope so!
Will there be another book featuring Colin Mitchell? I hope so!
September 27, 2014
In this novel, a college journalist investigates a series of murders that start on campus and point to the survival of an ancient Christian cult. As an academic who's worked on, and advised, college newspapers, I got a kick out of some of this novel's cynical remarks about university politics and the student press. However, I ultimately found its relentless sarcasm more obnoxious than entertaining. The book could have used a touch of sympathetic humor to make the protagonist come across as less arrogant and more likeable.
October 6, 2015
Excellent story line with a lot of twists and turns. Loved all the action. This book grabs you from the beginning and I didn't want to put it down. As soon as I finished, I ordered the sequel, Whitechapel, and was not disappointed. Highly recommended.
Excellent story line with a lot of twists and turns.
Loved all the action. The research definitely added to the story. This book grabs you from the beginning and keeps you til the end. As soon as I finished, I ordered the sequel, which also didn't disappoint.
Excellent story line with a lot of twists and turns.
Loved all the action. The research definitely added to the story. This book grabs you from the beginning and keeps you til the end. As soon as I finished, I ordered the sequel, which also didn't disappoint.
January 21, 2015
Finished it in less than 24 hours because it held my attention that well. I'm not a fan of the sub-genre(evil religious cult), but appreciate the addition of political influence and the way it gave the story a less than totally predictable thread. The protag characters are believable and likable. The antag characters are unlikable enough. The lack of mystery in that makeup is pardonable by well-placed action where it's needed. I will read this author's next book.
January 17, 2015
A college newspaper writer gets involved with murder and a sociopath who believes he's part of a 1000 year old militaristic religious sect. It starts with the murder and dissection of a co-ed who was unwittingly part of a porn web site. The cult member is torturing, crucifying and killing people whom he deems are immoral. A very convoluted tale involving government and academic corruption around a plan to rehabilitate former convicts. The author ties it all together very nicely.
January 17, 2015
A college newspaper writer gets involved with murder and a sociopath who believes he's part of a 1000 year old militaristic religious sect. It starts with the murder and dissection of a co-ed who was unwittingly part of a porn web site. The cult member is torturing, crucifying and killing people whom he deems are immoral. A very convoluted tale involving government and academic corruption around a plan to rehabilitate former convicts. The author ties it all together very nicely.
August 1, 2016
Enjoyable holiday read, but be warned it has a sequel(s)
I like this guy's we writing style. clear and zippy, and he throws in a few snippets of interesting facts. Have read another of his stand alone books, which I also enjoyed. Concerns about series in general as I prefer my reads, like my movies, original and independent. Consequently I prefer if series are indicated as such.
I like this guy's we writing style. clear and zippy, and he throws in a few snippets of interesting facts. Have read another of his stand alone books, which I also enjoyed. Concerns about series in general as I prefer my reads, like my movies, original and independent. Consequently I prefer if series are indicated as such.
January 12, 2014
I picked this book up free on Amazon. It was well worth the price I paid LOL!
It was an okay book. It read quickly and was intriguing even if a little predictable. The writing was okay. There was decent character development. If you are looking for a quick, fast read, this could satisfy that need.
It was an okay book. It read quickly and was intriguing even if a little predictable. The writing was okay. There was decent character development. If you are looking for a quick, fast read, this could satisfy that need.
October 14, 2013
Main character starts out thoroughly unlikable but becomes a little more tolerable as the story unfolds. Author employs typical plot devices like having main character figure it out because he had more info than the reader. decent story.
February 19, 2014
I really enjoyed this book.
October 13, 2013
maybe 3.4 stars. Just mediocre. won't read others. Started a new book at the end of this one...I guess hoping you would buy it.
November 4, 2013
Not bad at all.
December 25, 2013
Great read!
held my interest throughout the book. kept building at a good pace to keep my interest. good job by the author
held my interest throughout the book. kept building at a good pace to keep my interest. good job by the author
June 26, 2014
The author did a great job pulling me into this story and held my attention to the end. Well written, good plot and good characters. A good suspense book.
August 16, 2014
Very slow and boring. I skimmed many chapters just to see if it would get better. Couldn't get into it. :(
October 13, 2014
I enjoyed this story which kept me guessing throughout the twists and turns of the plot. Well written and easy to read, I'll be looking for more from this author.
January 2, 2015
it was a very quick read, did keep me interested though i thought it wrapped up too nice and neat for how complex it was set up to be, and still have a few unanswered questions.
January 11, 2015
A quick enjoyable read that took my mind off of worries and dresses thus deserving five stars.
April 5, 2015
Decent read. There are some lulls in the middle, but overall, kept me engaged
Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews