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A Better Part of Valor: Valorie Dawes Thrillers, Book 3
While jogging off duty along the riverfront, rookie cop Valorie Dawes discovers the body of a young girl—and ignites a manhunt for a serial killer.
The Shoeless Schoolgirl Slayer has remained a step ahead of the Clayton, CT police for months. All of his victims drowned. All were found barefoot. And all bear the same strange, fresh tattoo.
Then rookie cop Val Dawes notices patterns that eluded the department's more traditional senior detectives. Following her intuition, she discovers clues that convince her she's closing in.
But is she? Or is the clever and elusive Slayer laying a trap to make Val the next victim?
The Shoeless Schoolgirl Slayer has remained a step ahead of the Clayton, CT police for months. All of his victims drowned. All were found barefoot. And all bear the same strange, fresh tattoo.
Then rookie cop Val Dawes notices patterns that eluded the department's more traditional senior detectives. Following her intuition, she discovers clues that convince her she's closing in.
But is she? Or is the clever and elusive Slayer laying a trap to make Val the next victim?
- GenresThriller
Audible Audio
Published July 30, 2024
3 people are currently reading
4 people want to read
About the author
Gary Corbin
12 books63 followersGary Corbin is a writer, actor, and playwright in Camas, WA, a suburb of Portland, OR.
In his character-driven police procedural, A Woman of Valor, rookie policewoman Valorie Dawes has a mission: take serial child molesters like Richard Harkins off the streets of her small hometown of Clayton, CT—for good. But can Valorie overcome the trauma she suffered as a child and stop Harkins from hurting others—or will her bottled-up anger lead her to take reckless risks that put the people she loves in greater danger?
Gary's debut novel, Lying in Judgment, was released in March, 2016. Lying in Judgment is a courtroom thriller about Peter Robertson, who serves on the jury of a murder trial for the crime he committed. Lying in Judgment was selected as Bookworks.com "Book of the Week" for July 11-18, 2016, and was the feature novel on Literary Lightbox’s “Indie Spotlight” in February 2017. In the sequel, Lying in Vengeance, Peter is blackmailed by a former fellow juror, who demands that he kill her stalker - or she'll reveal his secret murderous past.
His Mountain Man Mysteries series includes Gary's second novel, The Mountain Man's Dog, The Mountain Man's Bride, and The Mountain Man's Badge.
All are available in hardcover, paperback, and ebook forms. Lying in Judgment, Lying in Vengeance, and The Mountain Man's Dog are also available on audio.
An award-winning playwright, several of his plays have been produced in the Portland, OR area, some of them multiple times. In addition to his own scripts, Gary writes, ghost-writes, and edits scripts. He specializes in tight, realistic dialogue involving sharply drawn, interesting characters in complex relationships.
Gary is a member of PDX Playwrights, the Portland Area Theater Alliance, the Willamette Writers Group and the Bar Noir Writers Workshop, and participates in workshops and conferences in the Portland, Oregon area.
A homebrewer as well as a maker of wine, mead, cider, and soft drinks, Gary is a member of the Oregon Brew Crew and a BJCP National Beer Judge. He loves to ski, cook, and garden, and hopes someday to train his dogs to obey. And when that doesn’t work, there’s always Renegade’s Paradise.
In his character-driven police procedural, A Woman of Valor, rookie policewoman Valorie Dawes has a mission: take serial child molesters like Richard Harkins off the streets of her small hometown of Clayton, CT—for good. But can Valorie overcome the trauma she suffered as a child and stop Harkins from hurting others—or will her bottled-up anger lead her to take reckless risks that put the people she loves in greater danger?
Gary's debut novel, Lying in Judgment, was released in March, 2016. Lying in Judgment is a courtroom thriller about Peter Robertson, who serves on the jury of a murder trial for the crime he committed. Lying in Judgment was selected as Bookworks.com "Book of the Week" for July 11-18, 2016, and was the feature novel on Literary Lightbox’s “Indie Spotlight” in February 2017. In the sequel, Lying in Vengeance, Peter is blackmailed by a former fellow juror, who demands that he kill her stalker - or she'll reveal his secret murderous past.
His Mountain Man Mysteries series includes Gary's second novel, The Mountain Man's Dog, The Mountain Man's Bride, and The Mountain Man's Badge.
All are available in hardcover, paperback, and ebook forms. Lying in Judgment, Lying in Vengeance, and The Mountain Man's Dog are also available on audio.
An award-winning playwright, several of his plays have been produced in the Portland, OR area, some of them multiple times. In addition to his own scripts, Gary writes, ghost-writes, and edits scripts. He specializes in tight, realistic dialogue involving sharply drawn, interesting characters in complex relationships.
Gary is a member of PDX Playwrights, the Portland Area Theater Alliance, the Willamette Writers Group and the Bar Noir Writers Workshop, and participates in workshops and conferences in the Portland, Oregon area.
A homebrewer as well as a maker of wine, mead, cider, and soft drinks, Gary is a member of the Oregon Brew Crew and a BJCP National Beer Judge. He loves to ski, cook, and garden, and hopes someday to train his dogs to obey. And when that doesn’t work, there’s always Renegade’s Paradise.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
September 14, 2021
I seem to be making a habit of reading Gary’s books part way through a series! For example, I’ve previously read The Mountain Man’s Badge, book three in the Mountain Man Mysteries series, and Lying in Vengeance, the follow-up to courtroom drama, Lying in Judgment. True to form, A Better Part of Valor, published on 21st September 2021, is the third book in the author’s Valorie Dawes series. The book can be read as a standalone but the references to key events in Valorie’s life and the previous investigations she’s been involved in would be spoilers for the earlier two books. So if you fancy embarking on a new police procedural series, start with the first book, A Woman of Valor.
The book contains meticulous detail of police procedure and the step-by-step process of a murder investigation: narrowing down suspects, cross-checking alibis, interviewing witnesses, identifying connections between the victims, trawling social media for background information on victims and suspects, not to mention recording every piece of evidence, every conversation and interaction in minute detail. As the hunt for the killer progresses, the long hours take their toll on everyone involved in the investigation, including Valorie who seems to exist solely on a diet on coffee and the odd snatched breakfast. How she finds the energy for runs and punishing gym sessions I don’t know! The team also have to put up with interference from the Mayor, Megan Iverson, anxious for a crime wave not to jeopardize her political ambitions, shared by her husband.
Val’s back story, the details of which are slowly revealed, helps the reader understand why she is so driven to solve the case, why she often underestimates her abilities and can at times take unnecessary risks. Luckily, she has former partner, Gil, to provide wise advice. Recovering from a serious injury incurred in a previous case, Gil is the person who knows Valorie best and one of the few people from whom she will accept advice – and actually take it! Gil’s description of Valorie as ‘intelligent, intuitive, relentless, and gutsy as hell’ sums her up nicely and makes her an engaging protagonist. I really liked the relationship between Gil and Valorie, and his wise advice when Valorie doubts herself, ‘Find the best part of you. That’s the key’.
Given the nature of the crime, the suspects are all male most of whom are rather unpleasant characters or suspiciously too helpful. I had various suspicions about who the perpetrator might be but the author skilfully led me up several blind alleys before returning to main street. The tension ramps up in the final chapters in which the hunter becomes the hunted. But is the real conflict within Valorie’s heart as she ponders the risks of crossing the boundary between friendship and something more?
A Better Part of Valor is a chunky read but its intricate plot, likeable central character and sense of authenticity kept this reader turning the pages way past her bedtime.
The book contains meticulous detail of police procedure and the step-by-step process of a murder investigation: narrowing down suspects, cross-checking alibis, interviewing witnesses, identifying connections between the victims, trawling social media for background information on victims and suspects, not to mention recording every piece of evidence, every conversation and interaction in minute detail. As the hunt for the killer progresses, the long hours take their toll on everyone involved in the investigation, including Valorie who seems to exist solely on a diet on coffee and the odd snatched breakfast. How she finds the energy for runs and punishing gym sessions I don’t know! The team also have to put up with interference from the Mayor, Megan Iverson, anxious for a crime wave not to jeopardize her political ambitions, shared by her husband.
Val’s back story, the details of which are slowly revealed, helps the reader understand why she is so driven to solve the case, why she often underestimates her abilities and can at times take unnecessary risks. Luckily, she has former partner, Gil, to provide wise advice. Recovering from a serious injury incurred in a previous case, Gil is the person who knows Valorie best and one of the few people from whom she will accept advice – and actually take it! Gil’s description of Valorie as ‘intelligent, intuitive, relentless, and gutsy as hell’ sums her up nicely and makes her an engaging protagonist. I really liked the relationship between Gil and Valorie, and his wise advice when Valorie doubts herself, ‘Find the best part of you. That’s the key’.
Given the nature of the crime, the suspects are all male most of whom are rather unpleasant characters or suspiciously too helpful. I had various suspicions about who the perpetrator might be but the author skilfully led me up several blind alleys before returning to main street. The tension ramps up in the final chapters in which the hunter becomes the hunted. But is the real conflict within Valorie’s heart as she ponders the risks of crossing the boundary between friendship and something more?
A Better Part of Valor is a chunky read but its intricate plot, likeable central character and sense of authenticity kept this reader turning the pages way past her bedtime.
October 4, 2021
A Better Part of Valor is an epic finale to one great mystery and thrill-filled book!
I've been a fan of Gary Corbin for quite a while. His books just read the right way for me, and I've been vining along with every new release ever since. When you find those authors, you cling to them. It's like finding a good friend - you want to stay along for the ride and keep in touch. So, here I am yet again, ready and willing to solve some more mysteries with Val.
This third addition to Val's story is a much longer one. It's quite hefty of a read, but it's totally worth it. The time flew by and I realized I was suddenly done! It's hard to find books like that, at least in my opinion. Long books tend to feel like they drag on, and this one kept throwing twists and turns at me that kept me hooked. But, I better get to the plot first...
Valories Dawes works in law enforcement and has been living up to a family legacy for a very long time. She's young, spunky and very intelligent, but that isn't always what people want to hear out of a woman, now is it? Now throw in that girls are being murdered across the city, and she's certain they have to be connected. Young high schoolers with their lives ahead of them... good grades... great at sports... so much potential! But why? With lots of tension, intrigue and desire, this book will teach you to expect the unexpected.
Val is an epic lead, but the poor girl never gets a break. She's constantly at work, which isn't a bad thing for us readers... But when the recent string of violence against women happens, she takes up a job offer to help lead the manhunt for who's behind it. Not long after getting set up with this group, more violence keeps happening. All the while, a close friend deals with some permanent injuries which tests Val's inner strength. It's hard not to blame one's self in these situations...
There is such a unique cast of characters in this book that will make you suspicious of everyone. Diego, Rico, Megan, Curtis, Josh, Beth... There's something going on! Peeping Toms, awkward connections, drugs, and more... So much happens in so little time... But you know Val, she'll eventually figure it out.
A personal note: I'm happy to see Gil again! I wanted a lot more of him, but I'll take what I can get.
Second personal note: Gary definitely wrote the ending for me.... Well, maybe not, but it definitely fell where I wanted it to go!
So, are you ready to jump into this thrill ride? Here's a few notes for you to consider: This book is apart of a series but can easily be read apart from the rest. I'm who I am, so I always enjoy reading the full series leading up. You'll get the Easter eggs and relationships, but it's not needed! Feel free to jump right in and enjoy the ride (maybe come back and comment so I can finally talk to someone about Gary's amazing books!). If you love true crime or shows like Bones, CSI, NCIS - grab this book! There's lots of order in this book and also lots of drama to spice it up. I feel like my love of Bones really helped with my joy for these books, even if they aren't the exact same as each other.
Overall, this is one heck of a book! I loved reading it and am so happy I got to dive back into Mr. Corbin's books. I highly recommend this one, and all of his other books... What can I say? I'm biased.
Five out of five stars.
Thank you to Gary Corbin for providing me a free copy of this book in exchange of an honest review.
I've been a fan of Gary Corbin for quite a while. His books just read the right way for me, and I've been vining along with every new release ever since. When you find those authors, you cling to them. It's like finding a good friend - you want to stay along for the ride and keep in touch. So, here I am yet again, ready and willing to solve some more mysteries with Val.
This third addition to Val's story is a much longer one. It's quite hefty of a read, but it's totally worth it. The time flew by and I realized I was suddenly done! It's hard to find books like that, at least in my opinion. Long books tend to feel like they drag on, and this one kept throwing twists and turns at me that kept me hooked. But, I better get to the plot first...
Valories Dawes works in law enforcement and has been living up to a family legacy for a very long time. She's young, spunky and very intelligent, but that isn't always what people want to hear out of a woman, now is it? Now throw in that girls are being murdered across the city, and she's certain they have to be connected. Young high schoolers with their lives ahead of them... good grades... great at sports... so much potential! But why? With lots of tension, intrigue and desire, this book will teach you to expect the unexpected.
Val is an epic lead, but the poor girl never gets a break. She's constantly at work, which isn't a bad thing for us readers... But when the recent string of violence against women happens, she takes up a job offer to help lead the manhunt for who's behind it. Not long after getting set up with this group, more violence keeps happening. All the while, a close friend deals with some permanent injuries which tests Val's inner strength. It's hard not to blame one's self in these situations...
There is such a unique cast of characters in this book that will make you suspicious of everyone. Diego, Rico, Megan, Curtis, Josh, Beth... There's something going on! Peeping Toms, awkward connections, drugs, and more... So much happens in so little time... But you know Val, she'll eventually figure it out.
A personal note: I'm happy to see Gil again! I wanted a lot more of him, but I'll take what I can get.
Second personal note: Gary definitely wrote the ending for me.... Well, maybe not, but it definitely fell where I wanted it to go!
So, are you ready to jump into this thrill ride? Here's a few notes for you to consider: This book is apart of a series but can easily be read apart from the rest. I'm who I am, so I always enjoy reading the full series leading up. You'll get the Easter eggs and relationships, but it's not needed! Feel free to jump right in and enjoy the ride (maybe come back and comment so I can finally talk to someone about Gary's amazing books!). If you love true crime or shows like Bones, CSI, NCIS - grab this book! There's lots of order in this book and also lots of drama to spice it up. I feel like my love of Bones really helped with my joy for these books, even if they aren't the exact same as each other.
Overall, this is one heck of a book! I loved reading it and am so happy I got to dive back into Mr. Corbin's books. I highly recommend this one, and all of his other books... What can I say? I'm biased.
Five out of five stars.
Thank you to Gary Corbin for providing me a free copy of this book in exchange of an honest review.
October 4, 2021
A Better Part of Valor is an epic finale to one great mystery and thrill-filled book!
I've been a fan of Gary Corbin for quite a while. His books just read the right way for me, and I've been vining along with every new release ever since. When you find those authors, you cling to them. It's like finding a good friend - you want to stay along for the ride and keep in touch. So, here I am yet again, ready and willing to solve some more mysteries with Val.
This third addition to Val's story is a much longer one. It's quite hefty of a read, but it's totally worth it. The time flew by and I realized I was suddenly done! It's hard to find books like that, at least in my opinion. Long books tend to feel like they drag on, and this one kept throwing twists and turns at me that kept me hooked. But, I better get to the plot first...
Valories Dawes works in law enforcement and has been living up to a family legacy for a very long time. She's young, spunky and very intelligent, but that isn't always what people want to hear out of a woman, now is it? Now throw in that girls are being murdered across the city, and she's certain they have to be connected. Young high schoolers with their lives ahead of them... good grades... great at sports... so much potential! But why? With lots of tension, intrigue and desire, this book will teach you to expect the unexpected.
Val is an epic lead, but the poor girl never gets a break. She's constantly at work, which isn't a bad thing for us readers... But when the recent string of violence against women happens, she takes up a job offer to help lead the manhunt for who's behind it. Not long after getting set up with this group, more violence keeps happening. All the while, a close friend deals with some permanent injuries which tests Val's inner strength. It's hard not to blame one's self in these situations...
There is such a unique cast of characters in this book that will make you suspicious of everyone. Diego, Rico, Megan, Curtis, Josh, Beth... There's something going on! Peeping Toms, awkward connections, drugs, and more... So much happens in so little time... But you know Val, she'll eventually figure it out.
A personal note: I'm happy to see Gil again! I wanted a lot more of him, but I'll take what I can get.
Second personal note: Gary definitely wrote the ending for me.... Well, maybe not, but it definitely fell where I wanted it to go!
So, are you ready to jump into this thrill ride? Here's a few notes for you to consider: This book is apart of a series but can easily be read apart from the rest. I'm who I am, so I always enjoy reading the full series leading up. You'll get the Easter eggs and relationships, but it's not needed! Feel free to jump right in and enjoy the ride (maybe come back and comment so I can finally talk to someone about Gary's amazing books!). If you love true crime or shows like Bones, CSI, NCIS - grab this book! There's lots of order in this book and also lots of drama to spice it up. I feel like my love of Bones really helped with my joy for these books, even if they aren't the exact same as each other.
Overall, this is one heck of a book! I loved reading it and am so happy I got to dive back into Mr. Corbin's books. I highly recommend this one, and all of his other books... What can I say? I'm biased.
Five out of five stars.
Thank you to Gary Corbin for providing me a free copy of this book in exchange of an honest review.
I've been a fan of Gary Corbin for quite a while. His books just read the right way for me, and I've been vining along with every new release ever since. When you find those authors, you cling to them. It's like finding a good friend - you want to stay along for the ride and keep in touch. So, here I am yet again, ready and willing to solve some more mysteries with Val.
This third addition to Val's story is a much longer one. It's quite hefty of a read, but it's totally worth it. The time flew by and I realized I was suddenly done! It's hard to find books like that, at least in my opinion. Long books tend to feel like they drag on, and this one kept throwing twists and turns at me that kept me hooked. But, I better get to the plot first...
Valories Dawes works in law enforcement and has been living up to a family legacy for a very long time. She's young, spunky and very intelligent, but that isn't always what people want to hear out of a woman, now is it? Now throw in that girls are being murdered across the city, and she's certain they have to be connected. Young high schoolers with their lives ahead of them... good grades... great at sports... so much potential! But why? With lots of tension, intrigue and desire, this book will teach you to expect the unexpected.
Val is an epic lead, but the poor girl never gets a break. She's constantly at work, which isn't a bad thing for us readers... But when the recent string of violence against women happens, she takes up a job offer to help lead the manhunt for who's behind it. Not long after getting set up with this group, more violence keeps happening. All the while, a close friend deals with some permanent injuries which tests Val's inner strength. It's hard not to blame one's self in these situations...
There is such a unique cast of characters in this book that will make you suspicious of everyone. Diego, Rico, Megan, Curtis, Josh, Beth... There's something going on! Peeping Toms, awkward connections, drugs, and more... So much happens in so little time... But you know Val, she'll eventually figure it out.
A personal note: I'm happy to see Gil again! I wanted a lot more of him, but I'll take what I can get.
Second personal note: Gary definitely wrote the ending for me.... Well, maybe not, but it definitely fell where I wanted it to go!
So, are you ready to jump into this thrill ride? Here's a few notes for you to consider: This book is apart of a series but can easily be read apart from the rest. I'm who I am, so I always enjoy reading the full series leading up. You'll get the Easter eggs and relationships, but it's not needed! Feel free to jump right in and enjoy the ride (maybe come back and comment so I can finally talk to someone about Gary's amazing books!). If you love true crime or shows like Bones, CSI, NCIS - grab this book! There's lots of order in this book and also lots of drama to spice it up. I feel like my love of Bones really helped with my joy for these books, even if they aren't the exact same as each other.
Overall, this is one heck of a book! I loved reading it and am so happy I got to dive back into Mr. Corbin's books. I highly recommend this one, and all of his other books... What can I say? I'm biased.
Five out of five stars.
Thank you to Gary Corbin for providing me a free copy of this book in exchange of an honest review.
August 22, 2021
A Better Part of Valor is the third installment of the Valorie Dawes Thriller series, but it works well as a stand-alone book as Corbin drops enough hints of her backstory to keep the reader informed. Valorie Dawes has followed in her Uncle Val’s footsteps and becomes a policewoman. As a rookie, she’s faced the usual harassment of any younger cop by older policemen, not to mention the sexual harassment endemic in the department. Corbin manages to integrate childhood sexual abuse, sexism, and workplace harassment into a police procedural. Our heroine is not readily accepted by members of the force, though she has connected with a few, such as her partner Gil, now sidelined with an on-the-job injury. When a serial rapist/killer of teenaged girls ravages the city, the search for the killer is politicized. Rookie Val is asked to join a special task force that emphasizes the safety of the city’s women.
The book, with its emphasis on #MeToo situations, is en pointe with current events. Valerie’s struggles seem real as do things like racial profiling which, along with sexism, wanders throughout the book. Social media’s influence on policemen and on the population is also timely—especially lies spread by a blogger with inside information on what is going on in the PD.
The book, with its emphasis on #MeToo situations, is en pointe with current events. Valerie’s struggles seem real as do things like racial profiling which, along with sexism, wanders throughout the book. Social media’s influence on policemen and on the population is also timely—especially lies spread by a blogger with inside information on what is going on in the PD.
October 6, 2021
I've known Gary Corbin for many years and when he published his first novel, I bought it out of curiosity. I have since bought every book he has written and they get better every time. The book kept me engaged with its compelling murder mystery and more so by the rich character development of the main character. It combines the best of page-turner thriller with character-based literary fiction. Valorie Dawes is a complex character. Her reserve makes her socially awkward but the author gives us enough insight into her inner workings to make her ultimately likeable. After the mystery was solved, I was eager to follow Valorie onto her next adventure.
One of the things I disliked about the author's previous novels was the lack of character differentiation of the minor characters. He has improved greatly in this area, making all of the characters memorable, which makes it easier to follow the plot and more enjoyable to read.
The evil characters in the book seem frighteningly real, which makes me wonder where the author gets his insights. Luckily, I know he really is a great guy with a (somewhat disturbingly) vivid imagination.
One of the things I disliked about the author's previous novels was the lack of character differentiation of the minor characters. He has improved greatly in this area, making all of the characters memorable, which makes it easier to follow the plot and more enjoyable to read.
The evil characters in the book seem frighteningly real, which makes me wonder where the author gets his insights. Luckily, I know he really is a great guy with a (somewhat disturbingly) vivid imagination.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews