Dying Eyes

Brian McDone Mysteries #1

by Ryan Casey

What secrets hide behind dying eyes?With the Christmas and New Year chaos out of the way, it's time for the Lancashire Police Department to put their feet up and return to normality.But for Detective Brian McDone, there is no respite from the frenzy. An unidentified young woman is found brutally murdered in a seedy section of the city, her body laced with bruises, her sharp fingernails digging into her palms. Her eyes are staring up at something in pure fear.Nobody knows who she is.As Brian and his team begin to piece together the clues, the answers lead him to places he would least expect. The further Brian digs, one question soon becomes who can he trust? The answer, it seems, may be life-threatening.The first in a new police procedural series from British author Ryan Casey, Dying Eyes is a dark urban detective mystery packed with suspense, and a twisting, turning plot sure to please fans of crime thrillers."With twists and turns aplenty, the story is both riveting and horrifying, and it is well-worth reading and re-reading." - T.A. Dean

Genres: Mystery, Thriller, Amazon, Ebooks, Mystery Thriller, Crime, Suspense

408 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 5, 2013

About the author

Ryan Casey is the author of over a dozen novels and a highly successful serial. He writes gritty post-apocalyptic fiction, throwing normal people into devastating situations and exploring how they react and adapt. He has also written several detective mysteries and thrillers. Across all genres, Casey's work is renowned for its rapid pacing, unforgettably complex characters, and knockout twists.

Casey lives in the United Kingdom. He has a BA degree in English with Creative Writing from the University of Birmingham, and has been writing stories for as long as he can remember. In his spare time, he can be spotted walking his West Highland White Terrier, has a passion for cinema and television, and probably spends a little bit too much time in the pub.

For more information on Ryan's books, visit http://ryancaseybooks.com/

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Reviews

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved it! Gripping read. My first read of this author and it won't be the last.

[Katie · Rating 3 out of 5]

*I 'purchased' this book for free from Amazon*

This book was interesting, but it just seems to go on and on and skips back and forth so much it's exhausting. I feel that a big chunk of the end could have been left out. McDone's character is a little ridiculous, he's trying to hide his self-harming by pretending to be an alcoholic, which is supposedly okay to be if you're a police officer. I just don't understand why he has to commit so fully to being a smelly, gross drunk to cover up his cutting, can't he just wear long sleeves? and if he's constantly hungover from passing out drunk every night, then how can he be so sharp at his job?

I really enjoy murder mysteries, who done it's, etc. but this book was too much about everyone else but the murdered girl, and yet there wasn't successful character building of any of the main characters.

[David Freas · Rating 2 out of 5]

This had the potential to be a good story. However, several things negated that potential.

1/ The main character wasn’t engaging. The only good thing about him was his love for his son, but that’s not enough.

2/ None of the other characters were likeable either. All were rude and abrasive to each other and much of what passed for conflict between them was merely bickering.

3/ Much of the book was overwritten with the author trying too hard to find different ways to say the same thing but failing. One example: a character ejected instead of unbuckled her seatbelt. The two are not synonyms.

Those failings reduced what could have been a 3 or 4 star book to a 2 star one. Actually, 1½ stars would be a more accurate rating because the book did nothing for me.

So, I won’t be reading more of this author’s books.

[Stephanie · Rating 1 out of 5]

NO SPOILERS

Wow I had to struggle through this. More read it out of amusement for how dreadful it was. Sorry Ryan Casey I do always try not to give bad reviews but I would be not doing my brain justice if I didn't allow it to vent just a bit about how much you just stole some hours of my life.

Really don't bother reading this.

Obvious story, obvious back story. The one twist on the usual story really isn't covered up terribly well so the reveal is dreadful as is the twist on the back story.

[Joan]

My word this was depressing. And what's with the Americanism? Preston Police Department? Surely it's Lancashire Constabulary??

I couldn't find one thing to like in the characters, or the depiction of the city. DNF when the language got too much. (why do writers always depict policeman as being foul-mouthed?)

Not rating for personal reasons.

[Hanne · Rating 2 out of 5]

...and yet another free book on amazon

WHY DID THE AUTHOR NOT MAKE THE PROTAGONIST LIKEABLE????
also it was very technical and just not great???
so uh yeah

the mystery part was fine i guess
but it wasn't anything particularly great

[Black Butterfly · Rating 4 out of 5]

I HAVE SUCH MIXED EMOTIONS ABOUT THIS SERIES (starter bk#1), THE STORY LINE IS VERY GOOD BUT THE CHARACTERS UGH. I DID NOT LIKE ANY OF THEM THE MAIN LEAD (mc morbid) IS A TROUBLED DISGUSTING PERSON AND THE REST ARE JUST UNLIKABLE AND FORGETTABLE. BECAUSE OF DC MCDONE’S DEPRESSING BEHAVIOR IT MADE ME VERY ANGRY (in the next bk) I HOPE HE REALLY GETS HIS SH*T TOGETHER. MAYBE THE AUTHOR WAS TRYING TO MAKE HIM MORE LIKE A REAL PERSON A LITTLE TOO MUCH. WELL IT DID NOT WORK FOR ME IT MADE ME KINDA DEPRESSED, THERE WAS'NT ANYBODY TO REALLY ROOT FOR. I’M TRYING TO DECIDE IF I WANT TO READ MORE OF THE SERIES OR IF I’M DONE WITH DC MCDONE. BUMMER! ;\

[Ted Tayler · Rating 4 out of 5]

More of a case of who didn't do it, rather than a who dunnit. Nevertheless, it was a thoroughly enjoyable tale, written in a style that lifts it above the norm. I look forward to more Brian McDone stories, I believe Ryan Casey is onto a winner!

[Beth]

FREE ON AMAZON 07/08/14

[Tony Parsons · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interview room. DS Brian McDone (son, Lancashire PD) & DS Cassy Emerson went to tell Mr. Trevor Watson & Mrs. Shenice Watson the bad news.
Nicola “Nicky” Watson (22, daughter/sister) had been murdered.

DS McDone & DS Emerson were interviewing Ms. Stocks (grandmother).
Daniel “Danny” Stocks (23, Nicky’s BF) was nowhere to be found.
Scott Watson (son/brother) was next on their list.
DS “Fatty” McDone & DS Emerson interrogated Daniel “Danny” Stocks accompanied by Jonny Marsden (solicitor).
DS Robert Luther (leader), accompanied by his solicitor Kayleigh Wallbridge (solicitor) was also being interrogated by Brian, DS Kayleigh, & DS Cassy (f).
Will the murderer be caught & brought to justice?

I did not receive any type of compensation for reading & reviewing this book. While I receive free books from publishers & authors, I am under no obligation to write a positive review. Only an honest one.

A very awesome book cover, great font & writing style. A very well written who-dunnit murder mystery book. It was very easy for me to read/follow from start/finish & never a dull moment. There were no grammar/typo errors, nor any repetitive or out of line sequence sentences. Lots of exciting scenarios, with several twists/turns & a great set of unique characters to keep track of. This could also make another great who-dunnit murder mystery movie, or better yet a mini TV series. A very easy rating of 5 stars.

Thank you for the free author; Higher Bank Books; Amazon Digital Services LLC.; book
Tony Parsons MSW (Washburn)

[bookreader_nix · Rating 3 out of 5]

CONTAINS A SPOILER

This wasn't the best, honestly. I actually expected more out of it. During the first few chapters, I wasn't really liking the way it read and it got quite annoying when the characters couldn't finish their sentences. "How - Wha - Why - But how - how could - " and it goes on and on. I think the author has more potential and can write better. The story line was....okayyyy. It was interesting all the plot twists and, as some of the people who reviewed this book said it was more of a who-didn't-do-it book, I thought that was what made the book kinda interesting. When you're only on page 120 out of 209 (I read the Nook version), you're automatically going to assume a plot twist is coming. There's no way the killer was found with another 89 pages to go... I also have to admit, the ending was pretty good. I'm glad Brian got a good ending. Although, I was a little sad that Cassy died only because she seemed like a real badass and that's just awesome.


Overall, I would have to give it a 3.5 star rating. I think the main issue I had was the language used and the style of writing. I wouldn't turn away another Ryan Casey book, though :)

[Lirisha Tuladhar · Rating 4 out of 5]

To say this book was totally awesome wouldnt be so appropriate.. The book waa somewhat quite a twist and turn.. and like it had said.. you dont know whom to trust and whom not..
The murder framing as a prostitute was quite good and the way the investigation smoothed on was grasping somehow.. Like the characters felt.. well here is the culprit! but then again it comes with a twist and again it starts the hunt of whos the culprit.. well that was something to keep the story going...
a bit of romance mixed along with the realiatic game with time... The way story also portrayed the hardship of the work and the balance between the family.. The burning frustrations and depressions.. it was commendable..
i really enjoyed the book and it surely did make me awake.. started reading and couldnt put it down, until.. it all reached the end.. started with a death.. ended with death.. the IRONY!!

[R.L. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought the suspense was killer in this novel. Loved it.

After the young lady is found, it is assumed that she is a prostitute. She is not. They soon discover that there are several cover-ups going on, and most of them involve a personal empowerment group trying to uplift people in the small town and cause the town to improve itself. Surely nothing could be wrong with that?

But there is a lot wrong with people in this mysterious group. Who are the bad guys? Are there several? Or just one? And could the top people in the police department be involved in cover-ups, too?

The only nit I have is that the cover looks like covers I've seen elsewhere.

The story line doesn't lag. The characters are believable. Recommended read.

[Will Decker · Rating 2 out of 5]

Getting to the end turned into a real struggle. At what point do you cut bait? Character development was almost weird; I can't say it was non-existent, it just didn't bring the characters to life in a way that made them relate-able. Except for Cassy, there isn't a likable character in the story. Nor do the characters interact with each other like real people. They're off (weird). And what's with constantly repeating things? Going for a higher word count? There's a lot of potential in this story, but it needs a lot more work in the delivery, and that's after cutting the author slack for being English.

[Karen B. Furman · Rating 2 out of 5]

Lately I have been trying to stay away from murder mysteries set in England, but the cover of this book caught my attention. I get caught up in the hierarchy of the police force, and often have to re-read parts of the story, but that was not the case with this book. While it isn't unusual to have more than one suspect, the Detective Sergeant in this book arrested every potential suspect along the way. The ending left a bitter taste in my mouth. This book definitely didn't provide justice for anyone.

[Mrs M V Goodall · Rating 5 out of 5]

Keeps you guessing until the end.

Thought I had it worked out! The twists & turns made it an interesting glimpse into the twisted reality of the perpetrators mind & although I did get the right person I had the motive not completely right. I found myself feeling as frustrated as the main characters must have been, with dead ends & leads going nowhere!! The main characters were both flawed individuals, which made it easier to relate to them. Definitely a good read.

[Lorraine · Rating 5 out of 5]

AWESOME READ!!

Ryan Casey proves that a crime story doesn't have to be a large book!! In just around 400 pages, this book kept me constantly involved. A murder mystery that keeps evolving, not a clue, who the real person is, who murdered a young woman!! Not until the very end!!
A MUST READ!!

[Uwe · Rating 1 out of 5]

Boring story, boring characters, the conversation is sometimes out of a comic book or something. A detective who cuts himself and is using whisky as a deodorant and his boss is just an idiot, not to talk about the rest of the so called police department which obviously got only drunks, fat ones or dumb ones....... who thought about this ?

[patti · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dying Eyes(Brian McDone Mysteries Book 1)

I found that the book was very repetitious in a lot of ways. The author seems to tell the reader the same story- as if we didn't get it the first time. The book could have been reduced to half the size. That's how I felt. Was a decent read.

[Karen D Buswell · Rating 3 out of 5]

The actual mystery was ok, but I was not taken with the characters or the unbelievable approach to policing. I had a hard time handling the coping mechanism of the main character. Hopefully that line of presentation is over--hope based on this books ending. I may read another to just to see if there is any improvement in these areas.

[Barrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

New to this author

I usually don't enjoy books written in a foreign country. Slow going at first but in a few chapters I was hooked! I recommend this book to those that love a great cop book!

[Jerry Walch · Rating 2 out of 5]

I’m not a fan of the English style of mystery writing. Perhaps someone who’s a fan say of Agatha Christie would enjoy this book, but that’s not my cup of tea. Too slow! Too long and drawn out. I will not read this book again and I will not be reading any more books in the Brian McDone series.

[MelMon Sanchez · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was hoping for more with the length of this book. There were too many investigative mistakes, too many suspects, too many people accused. It was a total back and forth and getting nowhere kind of story.

[Linda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Didn't much care for this -- not terrible, just not my style. Won't be continuing the series. At least the author finally satisfied my curiosity as to why McDone was pretending to be an alcoholic, and what had happened to separate him from his wife and son.

[Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was exceptional it had everything-mystery,intrigue,humour some parts almost brought me to tears, but I really enjoyed this book. I can't wait to read another by this author(I need to see if he can do it again) I'm betting he can.

[linda · Rating 2 out of 5]

The detective inspector in this book is, a flawed human and that is ok and not that unusual in police stories but this one just came across as weak and not very likable. I guess I was looking for a hero.

[kathleen Anne Boyle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Don't like the main character, do the police really act like that?

[katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thumbs up

Good read. Enjoyed from start too finish didn't want it to end. Will read more by this author. Very interesting

[Robbie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Had a little trouble at first empathizing with Brian McDone, but he grows on you after a while. Good book; lots of highs and lows; I rated it 4.6 stars.

[david gordon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent Read

Took me a day and a half to finish it, highly recommended to mystery lovers. Will be reading more from Ryan Casey.