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Dark Harbor
One dead millionaire, one dead intruder, and a detective whose only path forward means exposing the secrets of Bar Harbor’s wealthy elite.
Detective Brock Justice never imagined the glittering coastal town of Bar Harbor would be his next battleground. When multimillionaire Granville Warren and an unidentifiable burglar turn up dead in a mansion break-in gone awry, the evidence points straight to Granville’s much younger wife, Lily. Her self-defense claim raises more suspicion than sympathy, and Brock must untangle a crime scene awash in contradictions.
Justice’s instincts scream there's more beneath the polished surface of Bar Harbor’s elite, but the last thing he needs is interference from inside his own ranks. Enter Samantha Osborn, a detective just back from a task force assignment—too polished, too eager, and watching his every move. Brock doesn’t believe in coincidences, and Osborn smells like trouble from a mile away.
As Brock and his team pushes deeper into the Warren case, each uncovered clue pulls them further into Bar Harbor’s deep-seated corruption. Haunted by past mistakes and facing powerful figures intent on keeping their secrets hidden, Justice must walk a razor’s edge to solve this twisted case—or risk losing his career, his reputation, and possibly his life.
With intricate plotting reminiscent of Craig Johnson’s Longmire and the relentless, atmospheric tension of C.J. Box’s Joe Pickett, Bruce Robert Coffin delivers another gripping Detective Justice novel that cuts straight to the bone.
_________________________
Praise for the Detective Justice
“…reads like the real deal—a tale of trial and redemption…” —Craig Johnson, author of the Walt Longmire Mysteries
“A superior, Connelly-esque procedural that ratchets up the tension page by page.” —Reed Farrel Coleman, New York Times bestselling author of Blind to Midnight
“Smooth as buttah in the telling, Coffin’s layered characters almost leap off the page to sit in your lap.” —Tracy Clark, award-winning author of the Cass Raines Chicago Mystery series and the Det. Harriet Foster series
“The pace is break-neck swift, the writing crisp, and the tension nearly unbearable…” —Baron Birtcher, award-winning and bestselling author of Knife River
“Brock Justice is a protagonist worth following.” —Paul Doiron, author of Dead by Dawn
“...suspenseful and extremely entertaining.” —Chris Miller, Best Thriller Books
“One of the most mesmerizing crime fiction series starters I’ve read in years…” —LynDee Walker, bestselling author of the Faith McClellan series
“...drips with gritty authenticity and razor-sharp detail.” —Brian Shea, author of the Boston Crime Thriller series
“…a superb police procedural, gripping and tight.” —Lou Berney, Edgar Award-winning author of Crooks
“...a masterfully creative and riveting tale of suspense.
Detective Brock Justice never imagined the glittering coastal town of Bar Harbor would be his next battleground. When multimillionaire Granville Warren and an unidentifiable burglar turn up dead in a mansion break-in gone awry, the evidence points straight to Granville’s much younger wife, Lily. Her self-defense claim raises more suspicion than sympathy, and Brock must untangle a crime scene awash in contradictions.
Justice’s instincts scream there's more beneath the polished surface of Bar Harbor’s elite, but the last thing he needs is interference from inside his own ranks. Enter Samantha Osborn, a detective just back from a task force assignment—too polished, too eager, and watching his every move. Brock doesn’t believe in coincidences, and Osborn smells like trouble from a mile away.
As Brock and his team pushes deeper into the Warren case, each uncovered clue pulls them further into Bar Harbor’s deep-seated corruption. Haunted by past mistakes and facing powerful figures intent on keeping their secrets hidden, Justice must walk a razor’s edge to solve this twisted case—or risk losing his career, his reputation, and possibly his life.
With intricate plotting reminiscent of Craig Johnson’s Longmire and the relentless, atmospheric tension of C.J. Box’s Joe Pickett, Bruce Robert Coffin delivers another gripping Detective Justice novel that cuts straight to the bone.
_________________________
Praise for the Detective Justice
“…reads like the real deal—a tale of trial and redemption…” —Craig Johnson, author of the Walt Longmire Mysteries
“A superior, Connelly-esque procedural that ratchets up the tension page by page.” —Reed Farrel Coleman, New York Times bestselling author of Blind to Midnight
“Smooth as buttah in the telling, Coffin’s layered characters almost leap off the page to sit in your lap.” —Tracy Clark, award-winning author of the Cass Raines Chicago Mystery series and the Det. Harriet Foster series
“The pace is break-neck swift, the writing crisp, and the tension nearly unbearable…” —Baron Birtcher, award-winning and bestselling author of Knife River
“Brock Justice is a protagonist worth following.” —Paul Doiron, author of Dead by Dawn
“...suspenseful and extremely entertaining.” —Chris Miller, Best Thriller Books
“One of the most mesmerizing crime fiction series starters I’ve read in years…” —LynDee Walker, bestselling author of the Faith McClellan series
“...drips with gritty authenticity and razor-sharp detail.” —Brian Shea, author of the Boston Crime Thriller series
“…a superb police procedural, gripping and tight.” —Lou Berney, Edgar Award-winning author of Crooks
“...a masterfully creative and riveting tale of suspense.
- GenresSuspense
388 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 11, 2026
About the author
Bruce Robert Coffin
26 books309 followersBruce Robert Coffin is the award-winning author of the Detective Byron Mysteries. A former detective sergeant, he supervised all homicide and violent crime investigations for Maine's largest city. Following the terror attacks of September 11, 2001, Bruce spent 4 years investigating counter-terrorism cases for the FBI, earning the Director's Award, the highest award a non-agent can receive.
His short fiction appears in a number of anthologies, including Best American Mystery Stories 2016.
www.brucerobertcoffin.com
His short fiction appears in a number of anthologies, including Best American Mystery Stories 2016.
www.brucerobertcoffin.com
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
August 15, 2026
Great story - suspenseful and very exciting near the end! It was surprising to find out the guilty parties but even more so the story behind it! Some characters left me wanting more to know - maybe in the next book!
September 18, 2026
LETHAL FAMILY VALUES
As Maine State Police Detective Brock Justice rolls up on the opulent cliffside mansion overlooking Bar Harbor, he steels himself for the high-pressure grind and relentlessly blinding spotlight tattooed to the murder of one of the state's richest businessmen.
A seasoned murder cop with a hard nose and a checkered past, Justice knows better than to place much faith in the first-glance take of the bloody scene waiting for him inside the yellow crime scene tape:
Graphic signs of a burglary gone horribly wrong. Brawl wreckage in the den. A wide-open safe. Cash, documents and a bag of jewels scattered on the floor. Two dead bodies -- billionaire Granville Warren with a .45 slug to the brainpan and one of the balaclava-wearing thieves, gunned down by Warren's much younger trophy wife, Lily, the third to hold that title.
That's the opening round of grisly cards dealt by author Bruce Robert Coffin in his marvelously relentless and fast-paced crime thriller, Dark Harbor, the latest in his Detective Justice series. And make no mistake, Coffin, a cop in Portland for more than three decades, is a past master at the literary sleight of hand, the fake shuffle, the bottom deal and the ace up the sleeve.
The reader would be wise not to bet the farm on any single turn of painted pasteboard because Coffin deals a very complex game with an impressive number of characters holding something shady in their hand -- from the former partner Warren screwed out of millions to the absent-minded cleaning lady with the ex-con boyfriend and the jazz-singer wife with the prostitution bounce and changed name in her past and a recent one-night stand caught on camera.
Then there's the vicious avarice of the dead man, a loathsome jackal who loves to flaunt his wealth with a powerful Mercedes-Maybach sedan, an 80-foot yacht named Filthy Rich and generous donations to local charities and civic institutions.
Turns out Warren is also a ruthless blackmailer who for decades has used a sleazy private investigator to dig up dirt on business partners, competitors, politicians and friends, all to gain the leverage needed to accumulate more wealth and greater power.
He's even targeted family members, including his first wife, the victim of a drunken car wreck that was anything but accidental, and his own son, a lobsterman photographed having extramarital sex with his business partner, a man who owns two successful seafood restaurants the elder Warren wants to gobble up. Might as well -- he's already grabbed the notes on his son's boats, saving him from bankruptcy while ensnaring him in scandal.
Warren's evil ways have stamped a capital D on his dysfunctional family, which includes a harridan of a lawyer daughter who both hates and idolizes her father, loathes the latest Mrs. Warren as a gold-digger out to grab a hunk of the family fortune and never misses an opportunity to jab a rhetorical spear into her downtrodden, disinherited and hard-drinking brother.
Justice and his team, which includes his partner, Det. Chloe Wright; a wisecracking sidekick named Det. Jordan Zimmerman, Zim for short; and a surprising and last-second addition, Det. Samantha Osborn, plow through this cast of potential suspects, checking their alibis and uncovering the truth behind their lies.
They're also hot on the trail of the second burglar, Julian Lyford, an ex-con with a huge gambling debt and the faithful Warren housekeeper as a girlfriend, who may be an accomplice because the alarm was off and she has a history of forgetting to set it. Lyford's got a painful thigh wound from a wayward slug fired by Lily, who killed the man who killed her husband, a Vegas thug named Dylan Nichols. Wait a minute -- didn't Lily live in Vegas back in the day?
That's just one of the "coincidences" no cop ever chalks up to random chance. And another reason to believe the botched burglary was really a targeted hit on Warren and an attempt to seize his cache of blackmail material, which the dead man has been collecting for nearly a decade, jacking the potential list of murder suspects into the double-digit range -- maybe triple.
As they chase down the expanding list of suspects and leads, Justice and the team must deal with an abrasively overbearing boss, Lieutenant Penny Cumberland, nicknamed Penny Dreadful, who is also a fierce defender of her people. They also have to dodge the bullets of a shifty command-level weasel, Major Ron Morgan. He's a skunk of the highest order who hates Justice for telling the truth about a former partner who killed an unarmed suspect and has added Osborn to the team to dig up dirt on the man he blames for undermining his chances to head the state police force.
Coffin deftly deals these cards and keeps the story moving briskly, forcing the reader to pay attention while not plunging them into an impenetrable thicket of plot twists and characters. He's also a master at weaving just the right amount of technical detail and cop-ly tradecraft, adding depth and texture without forcing the reader down a mind-numbing side trail.
There's a quiet authenticity to Dark Harbor that resonates in all of Coffin's crime novels. There's also the noticeable and rising mastery of a storyteller at the top of his game. Helluva writer. Helluva book.
-- Jim Nesbitt is the award-winning author of five hard-boiled Texas crime thrillers that feature a battered but relentless ex-murder cop named Ed Earl Burch.
As Maine State Police Detective Brock Justice rolls up on the opulent cliffside mansion overlooking Bar Harbor, he steels himself for the high-pressure grind and relentlessly blinding spotlight tattooed to the murder of one of the state's richest businessmen.
A seasoned murder cop with a hard nose and a checkered past, Justice knows better than to place much faith in the first-glance take of the bloody scene waiting for him inside the yellow crime scene tape:
Graphic signs of a burglary gone horribly wrong. Brawl wreckage in the den. A wide-open safe. Cash, documents and a bag of jewels scattered on the floor. Two dead bodies -- billionaire Granville Warren with a .45 slug to the brainpan and one of the balaclava-wearing thieves, gunned down by Warren's much younger trophy wife, Lily, the third to hold that title.
That's the opening round of grisly cards dealt by author Bruce Robert Coffin in his marvelously relentless and fast-paced crime thriller, Dark Harbor, the latest in his Detective Justice series. And make no mistake, Coffin, a cop in Portland for more than three decades, is a past master at the literary sleight of hand, the fake shuffle, the bottom deal and the ace up the sleeve.
The reader would be wise not to bet the farm on any single turn of painted pasteboard because Coffin deals a very complex game with an impressive number of characters holding something shady in their hand -- from the former partner Warren screwed out of millions to the absent-minded cleaning lady with the ex-con boyfriend and the jazz-singer wife with the prostitution bounce and changed name in her past and a recent one-night stand caught on camera.
Then there's the vicious avarice of the dead man, a loathsome jackal who loves to flaunt his wealth with a powerful Mercedes-Maybach sedan, an 80-foot yacht named Filthy Rich and generous donations to local charities and civic institutions.
Turns out Warren is also a ruthless blackmailer who for decades has used a sleazy private investigator to dig up dirt on business partners, competitors, politicians and friends, all to gain the leverage needed to accumulate more wealth and greater power.
He's even targeted family members, including his first wife, the victim of a drunken car wreck that was anything but accidental, and his own son, a lobsterman photographed having extramarital sex with his business partner, a man who owns two successful seafood restaurants the elder Warren wants to gobble up. Might as well -- he's already grabbed the notes on his son's boats, saving him from bankruptcy while ensnaring him in scandal.
Warren's evil ways have stamped a capital D on his dysfunctional family, which includes a harridan of a lawyer daughter who both hates and idolizes her father, loathes the latest Mrs. Warren as a gold-digger out to grab a hunk of the family fortune and never misses an opportunity to jab a rhetorical spear into her downtrodden, disinherited and hard-drinking brother.
Justice and his team, which includes his partner, Det. Chloe Wright; a wisecracking sidekick named Det. Jordan Zimmerman, Zim for short; and a surprising and last-second addition, Det. Samantha Osborn, plow through this cast of potential suspects, checking their alibis and uncovering the truth behind their lies.
They're also hot on the trail of the second burglar, Julian Lyford, an ex-con with a huge gambling debt and the faithful Warren housekeeper as a girlfriend, who may be an accomplice because the alarm was off and she has a history of forgetting to set it. Lyford's got a painful thigh wound from a wayward slug fired by Lily, who killed the man who killed her husband, a Vegas thug named Dylan Nichols. Wait a minute -- didn't Lily live in Vegas back in the day?
That's just one of the "coincidences" no cop ever chalks up to random chance. And another reason to believe the botched burglary was really a targeted hit on Warren and an attempt to seize his cache of blackmail material, which the dead man has been collecting for nearly a decade, jacking the potential list of murder suspects into the double-digit range -- maybe triple.
As they chase down the expanding list of suspects and leads, Justice and the team must deal with an abrasively overbearing boss, Lieutenant Penny Cumberland, nicknamed Penny Dreadful, who is also a fierce defender of her people. They also have to dodge the bullets of a shifty command-level weasel, Major Ron Morgan. He's a skunk of the highest order who hates Justice for telling the truth about a former partner who killed an unarmed suspect and has added Osborn to the team to dig up dirt on the man he blames for undermining his chances to head the state police force.
Coffin deftly deals these cards and keeps the story moving briskly, forcing the reader to pay attention while not plunging them into an impenetrable thicket of plot twists and characters. He's also a master at weaving just the right amount of technical detail and cop-ly tradecraft, adding depth and texture without forcing the reader down a mind-numbing side trail.
There's a quiet authenticity to Dark Harbor that resonates in all of Coffin's crime novels. There's also the noticeable and rising mastery of a storyteller at the top of his game. Helluva writer. Helluva book.
-- Jim Nesbitt is the award-winning author of five hard-boiled Texas crime thrillers that feature a battered but relentless ex-murder cop named Ed Earl Burch.
August 13, 2026
I got this ebook copy from a Goodreads giveaway and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
One dead millionaire, one dead intruder, and a mansion full of secrets had me hooked right from the start. This is the kind of murder mystery where the deeper Detective Brock Justice digs, the dirtier Bar Harbor starts looking.
The investigation is packed with suspicious evidence, wealthy people with plenty to hide, police interference, corruption, and enough twists to keep you questioning who is telling the truth. Brock was my kind of detective too. He trusts his gut, asks questions people would rather leave alone, and keeps digging even when powerful people would love to see him stop.
I really enjoyed the crime investigation and the darker side hiding underneath Bar Harbor’s wealthy image. It has that small town crime thriller feel where money can buy plenty, but it cannot keep every secret buried forever.
I give it a 4 outta 5 catfish!
One dead millionaire, one dead intruder, and a mansion full of secrets had me hooked right from the start. This is the kind of murder mystery where the deeper Detective Brock Justice digs, the dirtier Bar Harbor starts looking.
The investigation is packed with suspicious evidence, wealthy people with plenty to hide, police interference, corruption, and enough twists to keep you questioning who is telling the truth. Brock was my kind of detective too. He trusts his gut, asks questions people would rather leave alone, and keeps digging even when powerful people would love to see him stop.
I really enjoyed the crime investigation and the darker side hiding underneath Bar Harbor’s wealthy image. It has that small town crime thriller feel where money can buy plenty, but it cannot keep every secret buried forever.
I give it a 4 outta 5 catfish!
August 12, 2026
I received an ARC through "Severn River" and I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
The story begins with Granville Warner and his wife Lily returning home after spending the day on his yacht. They discover a short while later that there are burglars in them home and Granville is killed and Lily kills one of them and wounds another. Detectives Brock and Chloe from Maine State Police, MSD, are sent to the scene to investigate. Granville is a very wealthy man and has a lot of influence in Bar Harbor.
Follow Brock, Chloe and the rest of the team as they pursue who the burglars worked for, who the 2nd burglar was and what obstacles Brock had to overcome to complete the investigation. Meet the Granville's family and discover what secrets they were hiding. Read the exciting ending and finally learn what the killing was all about.
This story will definitely keep your interest, don't miss out!
The story begins with Granville Warner and his wife Lily returning home after spending the day on his yacht. They discover a short while later that there are burglars in them home and Granville is killed and Lily kills one of them and wounds another. Detectives Brock and Chloe from Maine State Police, MSD, are sent to the scene to investigate. Granville is a very wealthy man and has a lot of influence in Bar Harbor.
Follow Brock, Chloe and the rest of the team as they pursue who the burglars worked for, who the 2nd burglar was and what obstacles Brock had to overcome to complete the investigation. Meet the Granville's family and discover what secrets they were hiding. Read the exciting ending and finally learn what the killing was all about.
This story will definitely keep your interest, don't miss out!
September 3, 2026
5-stars for a great mystery that kept me on the edge of my seat wondering whodunnit until the very end.
I listened to this in a day and am miffed that I now have to wait months for book 4! I binged books 1-2-3 in under a week.
Gritty detective novels are my jam so this is one series I hope continues for a long time!
I listened to this in a day and am miffed that I now have to wait months for book 4! I binged books 1-2-3 in under a week.
Gritty detective novels are my jam so this is one series I hope continues for a long time!
August 17, 2026
A billionaire is murdered and his beautiful young wife is in a shocked state after shooting dead one of his assailants. Brock and Chloe have an intricate case on their hands with several suspects and red herrings. An entertaining and riveting page turner with surprising twists which had me guessing. Good police procedurals especially Brock and Chloe delving into the dark secrets of the wealthy and corrupt officials hampering their investigation.
August 15, 2026
Another excellent police procedural in this fine series set in Maine. The Bar Harbor setting rings true and the politics of life in a town with a lot of wealthy people add interest. Brock Justice and Chloe are developing a partnership that works well. You’re in the hands of a pro here. I hope the series goes on for a long time. It has been extended to a total of 8 books.
September 6, 2026
Suspense at it’s finest
Robert Coffin’s ability to capture and hold the reader’s attention is superb. This is the first book in the Detective Justice series. I found the characters to be flawed but human and relatable. The twists and turns in the plot grabbed me completely. Simply put, I didn’t want to put this book down. Excellent writing and great suspense. Thank you Mr. Coffin for an engrossing experience. You have a new fan.
Robert Coffin’s ability to capture and hold the reader’s attention is superb. This is the first book in the Detective Justice series. I found the characters to be flawed but human and relatable. The twists and turns in the plot grabbed me completely. Simply put, I didn’t want to put this book down. Excellent writing and great suspense. Thank you Mr. Coffin for an engrossing experience. You have a new fan.
September 13, 2026
I've become a fan of Bruce Robert Coffin's and of both of his Maine detective series. Thanks to author David Rosenfelt for the recommendation!
Of course, it probably helps that I know the state very well and I love crime mysteries. Both the Detective Justice and the Detective Byron series are well written and enjoyable. It's a real treat that the Detective Justice series is still alive, with another book slated for 2027.
Character development is excellent, and the settings are well illustrated, yet not overpoweringly so. Both of these series definitely highlight people over place, yet there's enough description of the locations to enjoy a taste of Maine.
This book, like both before it in the series move at a good pace. These aren't complex, overly twisty or unpredictable stories. Dark Harbor, along with all of the Maine Detective books is an easy and interesting read. Who can ask for more?
Of course, it probably helps that I know the state very well and I love crime mysteries. Both the Detective Justice and the Detective Byron series are well written and enjoyable. It's a real treat that the Detective Justice series is still alive, with another book slated for 2027.
Character development is excellent, and the settings are well illustrated, yet not overpoweringly so. Both of these series definitely highlight people over place, yet there's enough description of the locations to enjoy a taste of Maine.
This book, like both before it in the series move at a good pace. These aren't complex, overly twisty or unpredictable stories. Dark Harbor, along with all of the Maine Detective books is an easy and interesting read. Who can ask for more?
August 16, 2026
My copy was delivered the day it was released. I had a wonderful lazy Sunday reading the third installment, in the Detective Justice Series! I knew I needed to dedicate the day to it … once I pick it up a Bruce Robert Coffin novel, I can’t put it down.
August 30, 2026
I think this is his best yet
He seems to be adding more complexity, with the subtlety that leaves the clues there so that the ending is a still a surprise, but you see suddenly see it was there the whole time. Great story with a character that is evolving.
He seems to be adding more complexity, with the subtlety that leaves the clues there so that the ending is a still a surprise, but you see suddenly see it was there the whole time. Great story with a character that is evolving.
September 2, 2026
Coffin kept me guessing all the way to the conclusion of the mystery. His characters came alive almost immediately! His storytelling is smooth, exciting, and fun to read. Can’t wait to get into his next mystery!
August 11, 2026
Another excellent story in this series with Detectives Justice and Wright from Mr. Coffin! I can't wait to read the next story in this series.
August 12, 2026
This book is awesome. Keeps you guessing. I highly recommend reading it.
August 14, 2026
Another good read. I am hooked on these characters, and this author has a gift for creating solid characters and an intricate plotline.
September 1, 2026
The Detective Justice novels are so good. The first sentence draws you in to the end.
August 11, 2026
Great detective story that will keep you up reading when you should get some sleep. Third in the series, but reads well on its own.
August 12, 2026
Fast-paced and twisty. Devoured it in a day!
August 11, 2026
Dark Harbor: A Detective Justice Novel by Bruce Robert Coffin is the latest read in an excellent police procedural series that began with Crimson Thaw. As always, it is best to read in order though one could start here if you really wanted to do so.
Granville Warren III is wealthy and one of those guys who has to make sure everyone knows he has the best of everything. He has the best house, the best car, the best boat, and certainly the best wife. The former Lily Marshall is his third wife and is far younger and very beautiful. After a day of sailing, they have returned to their mansion in Maine and are planning on going out to dinner.
That plan died, along with Granville Warren III, within minutes of their arrival home thanks to the intruders in the mansion. He died, as did one of the intruders, and that is the latest case for Maine State Police Detective Brock Justice and his partner, Detective Chole Wright, and the rest of their team.
According to the wife who was found by local responding police officers wearing a bloody bathrobe and holding a gun, she shot and killed the intruder after he had shot her husband. The Warren’s were very wealthy and the local power brokers in the community. Everyone knew them and often had jobs because of them or some other very strong connection. That includes the local police chief who was very tight with them as the couple routinely donated funds and equipment to the local small department.
That local dynamic makes the investigation more difficult. One of several difficulties that will rear their ugly heads in Dark Harbor: A Detective Justice Novel.
This is a great police procedural series. Led by the main character, Brock Justice, and numerous returning secondary characters, the read is complicated and a real page turning pleasure to read. Every book gives a little more on the background of Justice and others and this one is no exception. Highly recommended, as is the entire series. This read and the others are available on Kindle Unlimited.
My digital ARC came directly from the publisher, Severn River Publishing, with no expectation of a positive review.
Kevin R. Tipple ©2026
Granville Warren III is wealthy and one of those guys who has to make sure everyone knows he has the best of everything. He has the best house, the best car, the best boat, and certainly the best wife. The former Lily Marshall is his third wife and is far younger and very beautiful. After a day of sailing, they have returned to their mansion in Maine and are planning on going out to dinner.
That plan died, along with Granville Warren III, within minutes of their arrival home thanks to the intruders in the mansion. He died, as did one of the intruders, and that is the latest case for Maine State Police Detective Brock Justice and his partner, Detective Chole Wright, and the rest of their team.
According to the wife who was found by local responding police officers wearing a bloody bathrobe and holding a gun, she shot and killed the intruder after he had shot her husband. The Warren’s were very wealthy and the local power brokers in the community. Everyone knew them and often had jobs because of them or some other very strong connection. That includes the local police chief who was very tight with them as the couple routinely donated funds and equipment to the local small department.
That local dynamic makes the investigation more difficult. One of several difficulties that will rear their ugly heads in Dark Harbor: A Detective Justice Novel.
This is a great police procedural series. Led by the main character, Brock Justice, and numerous returning secondary characters, the read is complicated and a real page turning pleasure to read. Every book gives a little more on the background of Justice and others and this one is no exception. Highly recommended, as is the entire series. This read and the others are available on Kindle Unlimited.
My digital ARC came directly from the publisher, Severn River Publishing, with no expectation of a positive review.
Kevin R. Tipple ©2026
August 15, 2026
Gripping multilayered police procedural hits the spot.
When multimillionaire Granville Warren and an unidentified burglar are found dead after a chaotic home invasion in a Bar Harbor, Maine mansion, Detective Brock Justice is called to investigate with his partner Detective Chloe Wright and a suspicious new member of the team, Detective Samantha Osborn, who seems to be harboring some hidden motives for being there.
Granville’s much younger widow, Lily, claims she acted in self-defense but some of the evidence contradicts her story. Brock must navigate the underbelly of the local elite as he discovers that the dead town patron had some serious flaws including the fact that he was blackmailing tons of them.
I love a good cop story without drama and psycho stuff and this was it. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, I really like tension and gritty authenticity. It’s obvious that the author has real world experience in law enforcement. This is the third in the series I have read and I really like the main character, Brock Justice, who is a compelling resilient protagonist. I love the hard boiled mysteries and small town intrigue of these and I look forward to the next installment.
ARC compliments of the publisher.
When multimillionaire Granville Warren and an unidentified burglar are found dead after a chaotic home invasion in a Bar Harbor, Maine mansion, Detective Brock Justice is called to investigate with his partner Detective Chloe Wright and a suspicious new member of the team, Detective Samantha Osborn, who seems to be harboring some hidden motives for being there.
Granville’s much younger widow, Lily, claims she acted in self-defense but some of the evidence contradicts her story. Brock must navigate the underbelly of the local elite as he discovers that the dead town patron had some serious flaws including the fact that he was blackmailing tons of them.
I love a good cop story without drama and psycho stuff and this was it. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, I really like tension and gritty authenticity. It’s obvious that the author has real world experience in law enforcement. This is the third in the series I have read and I really like the main character, Brock Justice, who is a compelling resilient protagonist. I love the hard boiled mysteries and small town intrigue of these and I look forward to the next installment.
ARC compliments of the publisher.
Review of advance copy received from Edelweiss+
Bruce Robert Coffin has created a great detective in the character of Brock Justice. In Dark Harbor the third mystery in this series set in Maine we get to follow Justice and his colleagues when they try to solve what appear as a burglury with deadly outcome. Brock is still having troubles with others in the police due to earlier events but he seems to warm up to Chloe but there is a new member on the team. The story is well written and filled with twists, some of which I didn't see coming and it's entertaining and filled with some great dialogue. It is also very hard to put down, I read it in two sittings. I must say that I really enjoy this series although it seems that Maine is a very dangerous place to live. I must thank Edelweiss , Severn River Publishing and Simon & Schuster for giving me this advance copy and I recommend this series to all lovers of good mysteries.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
DETECTIVE JUSTICE:
Source: Severn River Publishing.
DARK HARBOR, #3 - A vast improvement from CT and just as good as BF. Interesting story lines and characters. Plenty of misdirection. 4*
CRIMSON THAW, #1 - I was disappointed in this wordy and a slow-paced story. The characters are good and the story lines interesting, but the writing style was not for me. 3*
BITTER FALL, #2 - I really enjoyed reading this book; the pages just ran. Interesting story lines with a variety of characters that made for an intriguing and immersing way to relax. No misdirection since presumptions could be easily made by most readers. The killer was easy to figure out part way through the story. 4*
THE PIRATE'S SECRET - The writing style reminds me of Die Hard and Hudson Hawk. Silly in places but with good story lines and good characters. What the Pirate did was excellent. Source: Netgalley. 4*
Source: Severn River Publishing.
DARK HARBOR, #3 - A vast improvement from CT and just as good as BF. Interesting story lines and characters. Plenty of misdirection. 4*
CRIMSON THAW, #1 - I was disappointed in this wordy and a slow-paced story. The characters are good and the story lines interesting, but the writing style was not for me. 3*
BITTER FALL, #2 - I really enjoyed reading this book; the pages just ran. Interesting story lines with a variety of characters that made for an intriguing and immersing way to relax. No misdirection since presumptions could be easily made by most readers. The killer was easy to figure out part way through the story. 4*
THE PIRATE'S SECRET - The writing style reminds me of Die Hard and Hudson Hawk. Silly in places but with good story lines and good characters. What the Pirate did was excellent. Source: Netgalley. 4*
August 14, 2026
This series continues to grow stronger with each installment. Dark Harbor delivers an engaging blend of atmosphere, character, and suspense that keeps the story moving and makes the reader eager to return to Detective Brock Justice’s world. The location adds intrigue and personality, becoming an essential part of the novel’s appeal. The intricate storylines create momentum and keep the reader invested. The well-developed cast feel authentic and make you want to stay connected to their lives. Pick up a copy, settle into your favorite reading spot with a snack close by, and discover what Detective Brock Justice is facing this time.
Review of advance copy
Dark Harbor, book #3 of the Detective Brock Justice series has Detectives Justice and Chole Wright of the Maine State Police investigating an extremely complex murder of one of Bar Harbor’s leading citizens. A myriad of suspects including family members are encountered along with a mole assigned to Justice’s investigatory team by a disgruntled superior. Excellent reading with likeable and well-developed characters. I received an ARC from Severn River Publishing and the opinions expressed are my own.
August 12, 2026
When murder comes to the wealthy citizens of Bar Harbor, Detective Brock Justice must investigate a case that has far too many questions and only one main suspect, the widow. Bruce Robert Coffin writes excellent police procedurals, building the reveal brick by brick and dodging bullets along the way. This is the third book in the series, but can easily be read as a stand alone. The first two books are 5 star reads too.
September 15, 2026
The aptly-named Detective Justice is on the trail of a murder suspect in Bar Harbor, Maine, with the aid of his team. The trouble is, a simple-seeming case gets more and more complicated the more he looks into it. An accurate police procedural book that walks the reader through the method of solving such a case (though it leaves a couple of plot points unexplained, maybe for the next book in the series). A bit on the dry side, but worth sticking with, though the ending seems rather forced.
August 30, 2026
Love this series, and this third edition did not disappoint. The characters are interesting and are developing with each book. The mystery kept me turning the pages. I like the writing style as well. Glad to see there will be a fourth book in the series and hopefully many more.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Dark Harbor, the third book in Coffin's Justice series is an outstanding addition!
It slowed a little with all the procedural processes, but there was so much going on and so many story threads I was never bored, and I never guessed. That's saying something because I'm a mystery/thriller junkie and it usually doesn't take me by surprise when I make my guess at whodunit!
There's a bit of an overarching story thread around the boss's boss, but you won't feel anything but compelled to go back to the previous books to discover why, believe me it will be worth it!
I love that the author always has a vindicating surprise for us....so, beware of the fox in the hen house in this installment. I have no idea how many the author plans for this series, but I'm here for them. I highly recommend this series!
It slowed a little with all the procedural processes, but there was so much going on and so many story threads I was never bored, and I never guessed. That's saying something because I'm a mystery/thriller junkie and it usually doesn't take me by surprise when I make my guess at whodunit!
There's a bit of an overarching story thread around the boss's boss, but you won't feel anything but compelled to go back to the previous books to discover why, believe me it will be worth it!
I love that the author always has a vindicating surprise for us....so, beware of the fox in the hen house in this installment. I have no idea how many the author plans for this series, but I'm here for them. I highly recommend this series!
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