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Jimmy Vega Mystery #3
No Witness But the Moon Lib/E
In this powerful novel from award-winning author Suzanne Chazin, a tense standoff between a Hispanic police officer and an undocumented immigrant leads to the shooting death of one, the shattered life of the other, and the shocking connection between them.On a clear, moonlit night in December, police detective Jimmy Vega races to the scene of a reported home invasion in an upscale New York community. As Vega arrives, he spots a Hispanic man who fits the description of the armed intruder running from the victim's estate. Vega chases him into the woods. When the suspect refuses to surrender--and reaches into his pocket--Vega has only seconds to make a life-or-death decision.What begins as a tragic mistake takes an even darker turn when Vega uncovers disturbing links between the dead man and his own mother's brutal, unsolved murder. Vega's need for answers propels him back to his old Bronx neighborhood, where he is viewed as a disgraced cop, not a homegrown hero. It also puts him at odds with his girlfriend, Adele Figueroa, head of a local immigrant center, who must weigh her own doubts about his behavior.When a shocking piece of evidence surfaces, it becomes clear that someone doesn't want Vega to put all the pieces together--and is willing to do whatever it takes to bury the truth. Only by risking everything will Vega be able to find justice, redemption, and the most elusive goal of all: the ability to forgive himself.
11 pages, Audio CD
First published October 25, 2016
121 people are currently reading
1083 people want to read
About the author
Suzanne Chazin
17 books149 followers Suzanne Chazin is the author of two critically acclaimed, award-winning suspense series. Her “Jimmy Vega” series, about an upstate New York cop navigating the world of the undocumented was an American Library Association finalist for Best Mystery of the Year and an Amazon pick. Her Georgia Skeehan/FDNY series was hailed as, “searing and emotionally explosive” (USA Today), and her heroine, fire investigator Georgia Skeehan, as “incredibly strong” (People).
A graduate of Northwestern University, Suzanne worked for two decades in journalism, writing for Reader's Digest and The New York Times, and winning several national awards. Among her quirkier experiences as a journalist: profiling a doctor who used his kitchen ceiling fan as a centrifuge (he went on to win the Nobel Prize in medicine for his work), and visiting a small Georgia town that had a parade in her honor because they got the funny idea that she was actually somebody important.
Thank God her novel-writing career has disabused her of any such notion.
For more information, please visit her website at: www.suzannechazin.com
A graduate of Northwestern University, Suzanne worked for two decades in journalism, writing for Reader's Digest and The New York Times, and winning several national awards. Among her quirkier experiences as a journalist: profiling a doctor who used his kitchen ceiling fan as a centrifuge (he went on to win the Nobel Prize in medicine for his work), and visiting a small Georgia town that had a parade in her honor because they got the funny idea that she was actually somebody important.
Thank God her novel-writing career has disabused her of any such notion.
For more information, please visit her website at: www.suzannechazin.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 130 reviews
September 18, 2016
I received a copy of No Witness But the Moon by Suzanne Chazin through NetGalley for an honest review. My thanks to Kensington Books and to Suzanne Chazin for the opportunity.
"Nobody would believe ME."
A deadly shooting. Hair-splitting, instant reactions. Decisions snapped closed like the reactive jaws of a pitbull. And questionable choices made by individuals rooted in the long ago.
Detective Jimmy Vega is on his way back to the station for the night when the call comes in. The December north wind carries the bite of another home invasion in the small city of Wickford, New York. Jimmy bolts rapidly out of his patrol car upon arriving at the scene. Every second is crucial and every detail of the perp's description is front and center. Jimmy yells for the man to put his hands on top of his head. He repeats the command in Spanish. The suspect refuses and reaches into his jacket. Jimmy opens fire and the man falls to the ground. Backup arrives to find the individual dead. No other weapon is found. In the man's hand is a photo taken some time back. What does it mean?
And the nightmare begins for Detective Jimmy Vega, an 18 year homicide task force officer. The deadly rays of a split-second decision will encompass not only him, his family, and fellow officers, but the community at large and the media covering his every move. His girlfriend, Adele Figueroa, is an executive director of La Casa which is a large immigration outreach center in the city. She knows the law as a Harvard attorney and she also knows Jimmy.
What follows is the unfolding of a very taunt storyline in which Chazin jars you wide awake with the realities of her well-drawn characters on both sides of this equation. "He flushed at the wattage of her scrutiny." You'll feel the upsurge spilling out from a very painful deluge of raw emotions. Nothing booms louder than real life up square into your face.
If the bloodhound in you thinks that you know which way this one is heading, you're in for a zapping bolt of surprise around every corner. Chazin has done her research and it plays out throughout the story. This is my first Jimmy Vega Mystery in this series. Believe me, I'll be reaching back for the previous ones and looking forward to future offerings. No Witness But the Moon will definitely open up a dialogue worthy of deep discussion.
"Nobody would believe ME."
A deadly shooting. Hair-splitting, instant reactions. Decisions snapped closed like the reactive jaws of a pitbull. And questionable choices made by individuals rooted in the long ago.
Detective Jimmy Vega is on his way back to the station for the night when the call comes in. The December north wind carries the bite of another home invasion in the small city of Wickford, New York. Jimmy bolts rapidly out of his patrol car upon arriving at the scene. Every second is crucial and every detail of the perp's description is front and center. Jimmy yells for the man to put his hands on top of his head. He repeats the command in Spanish. The suspect refuses and reaches into his jacket. Jimmy opens fire and the man falls to the ground. Backup arrives to find the individual dead. No other weapon is found. In the man's hand is a photo taken some time back. What does it mean?
And the nightmare begins for Detective Jimmy Vega, an 18 year homicide task force officer. The deadly rays of a split-second decision will encompass not only him, his family, and fellow officers, but the community at large and the media covering his every move. His girlfriend, Adele Figueroa, is an executive director of La Casa which is a large immigration outreach center in the city. She knows the law as a Harvard attorney and she also knows Jimmy.
What follows is the unfolding of a very taunt storyline in which Chazin jars you wide awake with the realities of her well-drawn characters on both sides of this equation. "He flushed at the wattage of her scrutiny." You'll feel the upsurge spilling out from a very painful deluge of raw emotions. Nothing booms louder than real life up square into your face.
If the bloodhound in you thinks that you know which way this one is heading, you're in for a zapping bolt of surprise around every corner. Chazin has done her research and it plays out throughout the story. This is my first Jimmy Vega Mystery in this series. Believe me, I'll be reaching back for the previous ones and looking forward to future offerings. No Witness But the Moon will definitely open up a dialogue worthy of deep discussion.
October 2, 2016
No Witness but the Moon is the third book in the Jimmy Vega series. The novel opens with Jimmy making the snap decision to shoot a man he thought to be an armed suspect fleeing the scene of a robbery. Jimmy shoots the man four times, killing him. He soon discovers that not only was the man not armed, the dead man’s daughter is his girlfriend’s babysitter.
Jimmy soon becomes front-page news, as a political activist uses the shootings to showcase police brutality. While under investigation for the shooting, Jimmy travels to the Bronx, where he lived until age 11, to visit his mother’s grave. During this visit, he finds clues that lead him to finally be able to solve his mother’s murder.
Having read the first two books in the series, I had high expectations –No Witness But the Moon does not disappoint. I found the mystery behind the shooting and Jimmy’s mother to be more engrossing than the first two books, most likely because of Vega’s connection to both crimes. Once again, Chazin highlights the complexities behind issues like illegal immigration and police brutality. I highly recommend this series, especially if you are looking for books that make you think more about hot-button issues in American society.
I received a copy of this book from NetGalley and Kensington Books in exchange for an honest review.
Jimmy soon becomes front-page news, as a political activist uses the shootings to showcase police brutality. While under investigation for the shooting, Jimmy travels to the Bronx, where he lived until age 11, to visit his mother’s grave. During this visit, he finds clues that lead him to finally be able to solve his mother’s murder.
Having read the first two books in the series, I had high expectations –No Witness But the Moon does not disappoint. I found the mystery behind the shooting and Jimmy’s mother to be more engrossing than the first two books, most likely because of Vega’s connection to both crimes. Once again, Chazin highlights the complexities behind issues like illegal immigration and police brutality. I highly recommend this series, especially if you are looking for books that make you think more about hot-button issues in American society.
I received a copy of this book from NetGalley and Kensington Books in exchange for an honest review.
September 25, 2016
Having read A Blossom of Bright Light and loved it, I was really looking forward to this. This is an excellent fast paced sequel set in upstate New York that had me riveted to the book. Our hispanic cop, Jimmy, really finds himself tested to the limit. On a December night, Jimmy responds to a armed home invasion call. He sees a hispanic male who corresponds to the description given and in a split second decision, tragically shoots the man dead. The man is not armed and there is a photograph on him. This event is to have wide ranging repercussions for Jimmy. those closest to him and the police.
The media put a spotlight on Jimmy and he is being tried in the court of public opinion. The community see him as a disgraced cop. Jimmy's daughter, and his girlfriend, a director at a large immigratiion outreach centre, express doubts about Jimmy's actions and do not believe in his innocence. To top it all, Jimmy is struggling and suffering from PTSD. Jimmy is shocked to discover that the dead man turns out to have connections with the horrific murder of his mother. This pulls him back to his old neighbourhood in the Bronx as he tries to find out exactly what happened to his mother. There are twists aplenty. Jimmy's investigation runs into danger when it becomes apparent someone does not want him finding out the truth.
Suzanne Chazin is a talented writer. she has written a story about contemporary issues that could have been headlines ripped from today's newspapers, like the police shootings. She gives us a compassionate and timely look at the plight of illegal immigrants. She has insight and a keen understanding of the role of conflict in personal relationships. The book is well written, brilliantly plotted and the character development is wonderful. Thanks to Kensington Books for an ARC.
The media put a spotlight on Jimmy and he is being tried in the court of public opinion. The community see him as a disgraced cop. Jimmy's daughter, and his girlfriend, a director at a large immigratiion outreach centre, express doubts about Jimmy's actions and do not believe in his innocence. To top it all, Jimmy is struggling and suffering from PTSD. Jimmy is shocked to discover that the dead man turns out to have connections with the horrific murder of his mother. This pulls him back to his old neighbourhood in the Bronx as he tries to find out exactly what happened to his mother. There are twists aplenty. Jimmy's investigation runs into danger when it becomes apparent someone does not want him finding out the truth.
Suzanne Chazin is a talented writer. she has written a story about contemporary issues that could have been headlines ripped from today's newspapers, like the police shootings. She gives us a compassionate and timely look at the plight of illegal immigrants. She has insight and a keen understanding of the role of conflict in personal relationships. The book is well written, brilliantly plotted and the character development is wonderful. Thanks to Kensington Books for an ARC.
November 19, 2016
Four shots ring out in the night, resulting in the death of an unarmed man fleeing from a reported home invasion. The repercussions from this questionable shooting will bring cop Jimmy Vega to his knees. Add in an irreverent priest, and a dog named Diablo. A ubiquitous activist, cloaked in self-righteous satisfaction, insinuates himself into the spotlight, smugly using the piranha-like media to spin the story into one that is guaranteed to get the most bang for the buck.
A well-written mystery, smart and timely. Illegal immigration is at the heart of things. You can draw your own parallels.
A well-written mystery, smart and timely. Illegal immigration is at the heart of things. You can draw your own parallels.
November 1, 2016
Following on from A Blossom of Bright Light, this is the third book featuring homicide detective Jimmy Vega and this one really puts Jimmy in the spotlight. Responding to a home invasion call, Jimmy confronts a Hispanic male and ends up shooting the man. Jimmy realizes too late that the man, an undocumented immigrant, wasn't armed but was holding a photograph. Fuelled by intense media involvement and public outcry, the incident has wide-ranging consequences for Jimmy professionally and personally, as his relationships with his girlfriend, Adele, and with his daughter become strained. Adele, as the head of a center which supports immigrants, is torn between supporting Jimmy and doing what is expected of her as a community figure.
When Jimmy discovers a link between his mother's murder two years ago and the dead man, two seemingly separate cases converge and lead to an exciting finale.
Suzanne Chazin has done it again! She has combined a suspenseful mystery with topical social issues in a sensitive manner and showed great psychological insight not only into the plight of undocumented immigrants but also the difficulties faced by a US born detective with Hispanic roots who constantly has to straddle two cultures/worlds. I've become very fond of Jimmy Vega over the course of these three books, and while he is a flawed character, he is also extremely likable. With complex and captivating characters and a story line that is incredibly poignant, this was another well-written book and I hope Ms. Chazin will continue with this series. All books in the series will work as a standalone but I would suggest reading them in order for the character development.
I received an ARC from NetGalley but ended up listening to the audiobook which was narrated skillfully by Thom Rivera.
When Jimmy discovers a link between his mother's murder two years ago and the dead man, two seemingly separate cases converge and lead to an exciting finale.
Suzanne Chazin has done it again! She has combined a suspenseful mystery with topical social issues in a sensitive manner and showed great psychological insight not only into the plight of undocumented immigrants but also the difficulties faced by a US born detective with Hispanic roots who constantly has to straddle two cultures/worlds. I've become very fond of Jimmy Vega over the course of these three books, and while he is a flawed character, he is also extremely likable. With complex and captivating characters and a story line that is incredibly poignant, this was another well-written book and I hope Ms. Chazin will continue with this series. All books in the series will work as a standalone but I would suggest reading them in order for the character development.
I received an ARC from NetGalley but ended up listening to the audiobook which was narrated skillfully by Thom Rivera.
October 21, 2016
Hispanic cop Jimmy Vega responds to an armed home invasion call. When he arrives at the address he sees a Hispanic male who fits the description of the armed intruder running from the estate. Vega chases him into the woods. When the suspect refuses to surrender and reaches into his pocket, Vega has just seconds to make a life or death decision.
A tragic mistake. The man had not been armed. The media put a spotlight on Vega and the community judge him a disgraced cop. Vega uncovers links between the dead man and his mothers brutal murder.
With lots of twists and good characters makes this well written novel hard to put down.
I would like to thank NetGalley, Kensington Books and the author Suzanne Chazin for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
A tragic mistake. The man had not been armed. The media put a spotlight on Vega and the community judge him a disgraced cop. Vega uncovers links between the dead man and his mothers brutal murder.
With lots of twists and good characters makes this well written novel hard to put down.
I would like to thank NetGalley, Kensington Books and the author Suzanne Chazin for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
February 11, 2017
Police Detective Jimmy Vega responds to the scene of a reported home invasion in an upscale community and sees an Hispanic man fleeing the victim's estate who fits the armed suspect's description. Vega chases the man into a wooded area, and when the suspect not only refuses his order to stop but reaches into his pocket, Vega has only a split second to make a decision.
When it is discovered that the man was unarmed, Vega's life is turned upside down. Vega's girlfriend, Adele Figueroa, head of a local immigration center, must work through her own doubts of his actions. But more disturbing is the fact that there is evidence linking this man to the unsolved murder of Vega's mother. Vega must return to his old Bronx neighborhood, where he is vilified as a disgraced cop, not a neighborhood hero. But he is determined to find the connection, and find out the truth about what happened that night and the night his mother was murdered.
The Jimmy Vega series is an excellent one. It shows insight into the issues facing the Hispanic communities, not just in the location of the book, but really facing communities across the country. Maybe reading this series will give a little understanding and compassion to the reader. Yes, it's fiction, but I believe that's it's very well researched and true to what is happening across the country. The books are very well written. The character of Adele Figueroa is just a little too quick to judge her boyfriend Jimmy Vega; for someone who is in love with a police detective, she is very quick to doubt him and his motives. This seems to happen in every book. Other than that, The characters are well drawn, and I love the Jimmy Vega character. Recommended for readers of police procedurals.
Thanks to Netgalley for a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
When it is discovered that the man was unarmed, Vega's life is turned upside down. Vega's girlfriend, Adele Figueroa, head of a local immigration center, must work through her own doubts of his actions. But more disturbing is the fact that there is evidence linking this man to the unsolved murder of Vega's mother. Vega must return to his old Bronx neighborhood, where he is vilified as a disgraced cop, not a neighborhood hero. But he is determined to find the connection, and find out the truth about what happened that night and the night his mother was murdered.
The Jimmy Vega series is an excellent one. It shows insight into the issues facing the Hispanic communities, not just in the location of the book, but really facing communities across the country. Maybe reading this series will give a little understanding and compassion to the reader. Yes, it's fiction, but I believe that's it's very well researched and true to what is happening across the country. The books are very well written. The character of Adele Figueroa is just a little too quick to judge her boyfriend Jimmy Vega; for someone who is in love with a police detective, she is very quick to doubt him and his motives. This seems to happen in every book. Other than that, The characters are well drawn, and I love the Jimmy Vega character. Recommended for readers of police procedurals.
Thanks to Netgalley for a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
December 18, 2016
Detective Jimmy Vega arrives at the scene of a home invasion and shoots what he fears is a fleeing criminal that fits the description. He uncovers details that may link the man he has shot with his mother’s murder. As he goes back to his old neighborhood he does not receive a very good welcome. It also effects his relationship with his girlfriend who is head of an immigration center. Can he find justice and right these wrongs or will it be the end of his career and his relationship? Great read. I would like to thank the Publisher and Net Galley for the chance to read this ARC.
January 28, 2018
Book 3.
Still one of my favorite series but I'm ready to fire Adele and Joy. Their less than loyal attitude to Jimmy is getting annoying. I get Adele being tied to the issues each book has covered however Joy needs to play the daughter role more rather than always somehow being part of the problem. While I still love the relationship between Jimmy and Adele, it's going to start growing stale if Adele doesn't start being more of a supportive girlfriend.
The topic of immigrants as always is relevant and important and handled with great respect by the author.
Still one of my favorite series but I'm ready to fire Adele and Joy. Their less than loyal attitude to Jimmy is getting annoying. I get Adele being tied to the issues each book has covered however Joy needs to play the daughter role more rather than always somehow being part of the problem. While I still love the relationship between Jimmy and Adele, it's going to start growing stale if Adele doesn't start being more of a supportive girlfriend.
The topic of immigrants as always is relevant and important and handled with great respect by the author.
November 17, 2016
Police shootings of unarmed suspects is a hot topic ripped from our current headlines. I admit to being one of those people who thinks cops often use their guns - and their batons - too quickly, particularly within certain neighborhoods with racial profiling. Suzanne Chazin takes this issue and pulls it inside out, so that we see and feel it all unfold from the cop's perspective. We experience that moment, those two short seconds, when a cop must decide and react.
Suzanne Chazin has a gift for getting inside a controversial issue and showing us all the angles. She gives us the humanity within the event, so that we feel it on a visceral level.
The characters are complex and captivating. They take us places and show us things we might never have seen otherwise, and they do it in a way that unfolds naturally within the story.
The plot is filled with mystery, suspense, heartache, despair, hope, love, and endurance.
Suzanne Chazin is an author whose writing can bridge gaps and invite discussions. This story has depth and layers and insight, as well as a well executed, entertaining mystery.
*I was provided with an advance ebook copy by the publisher, via NetGalley, in exchange for my honest review.*
Suzanne Chazin has a gift for getting inside a controversial issue and showing us all the angles. She gives us the humanity within the event, so that we feel it on a visceral level.
The characters are complex and captivating. They take us places and show us things we might never have seen otherwise, and they do it in a way that unfolds naturally within the story.
The plot is filled with mystery, suspense, heartache, despair, hope, love, and endurance.
Suzanne Chazin is an author whose writing can bridge gaps and invite discussions. This story has depth and layers and insight, as well as a well executed, entertaining mystery.
*I was provided with an advance ebook copy by the publisher, via NetGalley, in exchange for my honest review.*
September 1, 2016
I received this book via NetGalley to give an honest review.
When I read the blurb for this book I knew I had to read it. You hear so much on how police shoot people and it is a big deal especially right now.
With this story we are taken into the world of Officer Vega who had two seconds to make a decision that could affect him and everything he works for. Those two seconds is now costing him everything. Though what he uncovers is far more than something he ever thought he would get answers to.
We see how Officer Vega deals with the decision he made and it affects him truly. Not only does it affect him, but his relationships with friends and family. I really love how one of his fellow officers pushed him to get help so it doesn't consume him because he went through the same thing at one time in his life. I think the author did a wonderful job with bringing issues within the world that are happening now into this story and blending them well from illegal entry into the US and undocumented people to the shooting of a man. We see how a mob reacts when they see the person they believe is responsible but don't have all the facts because the officer can not speak on such things.
Vega goes on a search not only to get answers to who this Hispanic man was but he gets the answers to the unsolved murder. It is all connected in some way but will Vega find out too late who is behind it all?
There is so much I can go into with this book but I feel like I would give it all away. This book is I felt fast-paced it keeps you wondering what is going to happen next. I really liked the ending and how Vega really tries to do good for others. I haven't read the other books in this series but I think I will as the author did a great job with the plot, characters, and story line. I felt she really captured a lot within the story.
When I read the blurb for this book I knew I had to read it. You hear so much on how police shoot people and it is a big deal especially right now.
With this story we are taken into the world of Officer Vega who had two seconds to make a decision that could affect him and everything he works for. Those two seconds is now costing him everything. Though what he uncovers is far more than something he ever thought he would get answers to.
We see how Officer Vega deals with the decision he made and it affects him truly. Not only does it affect him, but his relationships with friends and family. I really love how one of his fellow officers pushed him to get help so it doesn't consume him because he went through the same thing at one time in his life. I think the author did a wonderful job with bringing issues within the world that are happening now into this story and blending them well from illegal entry into the US and undocumented people to the shooting of a man. We see how a mob reacts when they see the person they believe is responsible but don't have all the facts because the officer can not speak on such things.
Vega goes on a search not only to get answers to who this Hispanic man was but he gets the answers to the unsolved murder. It is all connected in some way but will Vega find out too late who is behind it all?
There is so much I can go into with this book but I feel like I would give it all away. This book is I felt fast-paced it keeps you wondering what is going to happen next. I really liked the ending and how Vega really tries to do good for others. I haven't read the other books in this series but I think I will as the author did a great job with the plot, characters, and story line. I felt she really captured a lot within the story.
October 22, 2016
Original review can be found at http://kristineandterri.blogspot.ca/2...
** I received an advanced readers copy from Kensington via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!**
No Witness But the Moon is the third book in the Jimmy Vega Mystery series but can be read as a stand alone. I did not have the opportunity to read the first two and it did not impact my enjoyment or understanding of this book.
This book was about Jimmy Vega and what happened when he responded to a home invasion and ended up shooting and killing an unarmed suspect who also turned out to be an illegal immigrant. It showcased the public and media out lash and the internal struggle Vega went through in coming to terms with how the events played out. Not only was his career immediately impacted but his relationship with his daughter and girlfriend. As he was trying to cope with what had happened, clues and questions began to rise that lead him towards a completely separate unsolved murder.
This is a hot topic in the media and public opinion right now so I wasn't sure how it would play out in this book. I think Chazin did a good job of showing the impact that the shooting had on all of the key players. I was most interested in how Vega dealt or didn't deal with his feelings and emotions after the event.
Over all it was an enjoyable story that kept me interested and curious throughout. Vega got on my nerves a lot with his stupid and somewhat thoughtless actions after the fact but I was able to overlook that in my interest in the bigger picture. Having said that, I didn't feel that it wrapped up as neatly as I would have liked and I was left with a few questions unanswered.
** I received an advanced readers copy from Kensington via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!**
No Witness But the Moon is the third book in the Jimmy Vega Mystery series but can be read as a stand alone. I did not have the opportunity to read the first two and it did not impact my enjoyment or understanding of this book.
This book was about Jimmy Vega and what happened when he responded to a home invasion and ended up shooting and killing an unarmed suspect who also turned out to be an illegal immigrant. It showcased the public and media out lash and the internal struggle Vega went through in coming to terms with how the events played out. Not only was his career immediately impacted but his relationship with his daughter and girlfriend. As he was trying to cope with what had happened, clues and questions began to rise that lead him towards a completely separate unsolved murder.
This is a hot topic in the media and public opinion right now so I wasn't sure how it would play out in this book. I think Chazin did a good job of showing the impact that the shooting had on all of the key players. I was most interested in how Vega dealt or didn't deal with his feelings and emotions after the event.
Over all it was an enjoyable story that kept me interested and curious throughout. Vega got on my nerves a lot with his stupid and somewhat thoughtless actions after the fact but I was able to overlook that in my interest in the bigger picture. Having said that, I didn't feel that it wrapped up as neatly as I would have liked and I was left with a few questions unanswered.
February 14, 2018
Well, that was a fast and exciting read!! Never read this author before as we are delving into books in our Special Interest Mystery Group that many of us are not familiar with. I was skeptical with this book because it is the 3rd in a series, but there were no real gaps in the story that made me wish I had read the first two before this one. Fascinating and present day story of a police detective you responds to a home break-in (there had been a series of these) and confronts the robber who refuses to turn around or respond to him. Both detective and robber are Hispanic and we finally get a few words from the robber but he refuses to turn around and makes a motion like he is going for a weapon. The detective has only 2 seconds to react and shoots and kills the robber. Then things get interesting. Lots of really good reality of present day immigration issues, social media usage and a publicity seeking person who makes a living by trying to paint every police shooting as excessive and beyond reasonable. We get into the mind of the detective who is our protagonist and all that he goes through, including the horror and remorse for killing a person. But as time goes on we find there is a lot more than meets the eye, as people are not who we think they are and there are deep secrets in the Hispanic community that are covered up for various reasons. Very well done book and I intend to read the first two of the series.
January 19, 2020
Chazin's plots are always captivating. I marvel how she (and other writers) can come up with such original storylines book after book and weave the telling so it comes into place at the end. Another aspect of the author's wors is how much reality she puts into the situations and characters as if she had been a police officer or refugee herself.
A few too many coincidences so rate it 4.5 stars bumped up to a five (to make up for the previous Vega read that was 3.5 stars knocked down to a 3 for the ending).
A few too many coincidences so rate it 4.5 stars bumped up to a five (to make up for the previous Vega read that was 3.5 stars knocked down to a 3 for the ending).
December 17, 2016
Fabulous who done it! This reader was captivated by the creativity of Chazin's ability to create a page turner with so many unexpected developments just when you think you have found the answers.
A must read if you like suspense and surprise endings. A real page turner.
A must read if you like suspense and surprise endings. A real page turner.
June 5, 2017
Suzanne Chazin did it again. After having read A Blossom of Bright Light I was happy to find her new book on Netgalley. It fully satisfied my expectations. She has a unique way of weaving together suspenseful crime with deep psychological insight and the backdrop of hispanic immigrants.
This backdrop is as important and as painful as the main characters and she describes it in a way that puts the reader right in the middle. I didn't feel like an outsider looking on from a distance. My heart broke for these people.
Vega and Adele are loveable main characters deep in conflict, both just trying to do the right thing without hurting the other, a seemingly impossible task.
This is an open-minded and courageous novel that cleary takes the side of illegal immigrants and at the same time the side of a cop who shoots one of them supposedly in self-defense.
I found myself feeling compassion with Vega's guilt and regret, his struggle to cope with what he has done.
This alone would be reason to love this book.
But there's more to it. The fast pace and the excellent writing kept me glued to my kindle. This sure is one of my favorite reads this year.
I want to thank Netgalley and Kensington for this thrillling ARC in exchange for my honest review.
This backdrop is as important and as painful as the main characters and she describes it in a way that puts the reader right in the middle. I didn't feel like an outsider looking on from a distance. My heart broke for these people.
Vega and Adele are loveable main characters deep in conflict, both just trying to do the right thing without hurting the other, a seemingly impossible task.
This is an open-minded and courageous novel that cleary takes the side of illegal immigrants and at the same time the side of a cop who shoots one of them supposedly in self-defense.
I found myself feeling compassion with Vega's guilt and regret, his struggle to cope with what he has done.
This alone would be reason to love this book.
But there's more to it. The fast pace and the excellent writing kept me glued to my kindle. This sure is one of my favorite reads this year.
I want to thank Netgalley and Kensington for this thrillling ARC in exchange for my honest review.
August 11, 2017
In the third Jimmy Vega book of the series, immigration and police brutality are again explored. As the book opens, Jimmy has just shot a man who is fleeing the scene of a robbery at a house belonging to a famous celebrity. During the investigation, the police discover that the victim was the father of
Jimmy's girlfriend's babysitter. He had no weapon leading the police to question Jimmy's claim of self defense.
He struggles with guilt and uncovers secrets to try and defend his actions.
I received this book from Goodreads in exchange for an honest review. I really enjoyed reading it and certainly was surprised at the ending.
Highly recommend!!
Jimmy's girlfriend's babysitter. He had no weapon leading the police to question Jimmy's claim of self defense.
He struggles with guilt and uncovers secrets to try and defend his actions.
I received this book from Goodreads in exchange for an honest review. I really enjoyed reading it and certainly was surprised at the ending.
Highly recommend!!
August 4, 2016
I received this from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. What a great and intense story. It is also so relevant to today and the issues going on. I loved Vega. A man who is dedicated to his job and struggles with his convictions. This book did such a great job showing the cop's perspective and the suffering community. Very well written.
March 18, 2019
Jimmy Vega is a homicide detective in an upscale county North of New York City. He was on a call to the community of Wickford where a break-in had been reported. He spotted a person fleeing the scene and ordered him to stop. But the alleged perp ran into the woods. He repeated his command to stop and when the person turned and appeared to have a weapon in his hand , he fired 4 times . When he came to examine the body, he realized that the man was not armed ......and that is when the trouble all started.
Little did anyone realize but this unnecessary killing would bring down a lot of woes for Jimmy. His girl friend , Adele is the leader for a group , La Casa , which helps the Spanish community in the area. As word spreads about the shooting, all kind of bad publicity arises with demands for a thorough investigation of the circumstances surrounding the shooting. The case becomes more complicated when the shooting becomes known and the Spanish community becomes enraged about the shooting. It is going to take a while for Jimmy to fight his way through to solve the case , especially when he becomes suspended by his department while the case is examined.
The pace of this book accelerates towards it's surprise ending. I promise an adrenaline rush to the conclusion.
Little did anyone realize but this unnecessary killing would bring down a lot of woes for Jimmy. His girl friend , Adele is the leader for a group , La Casa , which helps the Spanish community in the area. As word spreads about the shooting, all kind of bad publicity arises with demands for a thorough investigation of the circumstances surrounding the shooting. The case becomes more complicated when the shooting becomes known and the Spanish community becomes enraged about the shooting. It is going to take a while for Jimmy to fight his way through to solve the case , especially when he becomes suspended by his department while the case is examined.
The pace of this book accelerates towards it's surprise ending. I promise an adrenaline rush to the conclusion.
June 17, 2017
In this powerful novel from award-winning author Suzanne Chazin, a tense stand-off between a Hispanic police officer and an undocumented immigrant leads to the shooting death of one, the shattered life of the other, and the shocking connection between them. . .
On a clear, moonlit night in December, police detective Jimmy Vega races to the scene of a reported home invasion in an upscale New York community. As Vega arrives, he spots a Hispanic man who fits the description of the armed intruder, running from the victim’s estate. Vega chases him into the woods. When the suspect refuses to surrender—and reaches into his pocket—Vega has only seconds to make a life-or-death decision.
What begins as a tragic mistake takes an even darker turn when Vega uncovers disturbing links between the dead man and his own mother’s brutal, unsolved murder. Vega’s need for answers propels him back to his old Bronx neighborhood, where he is viewed as a disgraced cop, not a homegrown hero. It also puts him at odds with his girlfriend, Adele Figueroa, head of a local immigrant center, who must weigh her own doubts about his behavior.
When a shocking piece of evidence surfaces, it becomes clear that someone doesn’t want Vega to put all the pieces together—and is willing to do whatever it takes to bury the truth. Only by risking everything will Vega be able to find justice, redemption, and the most elusive goal of all: the ability to forgive himself
What did I think of it:
4 stars
will I did like it , I didn't love it, there was times when I would be pulled in to the story , and then the next I would not be , don't know if its the story its self or if it was just me, but I sis like it, so I might pick up a copy of it at a much later date and give it a 2nd chance , with that said I would love to say thinks to Netgalley who give me a chance at read what was a really good book in a change for my honest opinion which this is 100%
October 25, 2016
This is the first book I have ever read by Suzanne Chazin and I absolutely loved it. Because of the world we live in, everyone lives under a microscope, including the police. So when a police officer shoots an unarmed man, it makes national news. This story is about a police shooting. It is also about illegal immigrants, which is another hot topic in America. So combine these two hot topics and you get a story that keeps you riveted to the pages.
I liked Jimmy’s character, a lot. But I do think that him pushing off seeing the psychologist right after the shooting and not taking his friends (and Adele’s) advice about lying low was stupid. Real stupid and it made me kinda shake my head. But, he did get some good solid leads about his mother’s murder and his own impending court case.
Adele’s character was written great and I loved how torn she was on Jimmy’s shooting case. When the going got hot (pressure by the board of the local immigrant center + a TV personality who wanted her to join his cause against Jimmy), she didn’t buckle under pressure and kept her cool. Which meant distancing herself from Jimmy while investigating his case on her own.
The trio of storylines (Jimmy’s, his mother’s death and the other one….not giving it away) were tied together beautifully at the end. The twist that happened in the last chapters of the book kept me awake afterwards going “No way, not this person”. I also loved how the author resolved each storyline in a way that no one else got hurt (well Jimmy did, but you will have to read the book….lol).
How many stars will I give No Witness But the Moon? 5
Why? Like I said in my first sentence, this book takes 2 hot topics (police shootings and illegal immigrants) and skillfully tells a tale that intertwines both.
Will I reread? Yes
Will I recommend to family and friends? Yes
Age range? Adult
Why? No sex. Violence, which includes a pretty vivid description of a head being blown off at below the chin.
I liked Jimmy’s character, a lot. But I do think that him pushing off seeing the psychologist right after the shooting and not taking his friends (and Adele’s) advice about lying low was stupid. Real stupid and it made me kinda shake my head. But, he did get some good solid leads about his mother’s murder and his own impending court case.
Adele’s character was written great and I loved how torn she was on Jimmy’s shooting case. When the going got hot (pressure by the board of the local immigrant center + a TV personality who wanted her to join his cause against Jimmy), she didn’t buckle under pressure and kept her cool. Which meant distancing herself from Jimmy while investigating his case on her own.
The trio of storylines (Jimmy’s, his mother’s death and the other one….not giving it away) were tied together beautifully at the end. The twist that happened in the last chapters of the book kept me awake afterwards going “No way, not this person”. I also loved how the author resolved each storyline in a way that no one else got hurt (well Jimmy did, but you will have to read the book….lol).
How many stars will I give No Witness But the Moon? 5
Why? Like I said in my first sentence, this book takes 2 hot topics (police shootings and illegal immigrants) and skillfully tells a tale that intertwines both.
Will I reread? Yes
Will I recommend to family and friends? Yes
Age range? Adult
Why? No sex. Violence, which includes a pretty vivid description of a head being blown off at below the chin.
August 25, 2016
The third Jimmy Vega Mystery and every bit as good as the first and second, maybe better. The saga continues with many of the same characters as well as the introduction some new ones. Issues that are prominent in current events share the spotlight in this latest tale, a shooting of an unarmed person by a law enforcement officer and the ongoing plight of illegal immigrants. I live in an area where there is a large population of people from south of the southern border of America. I do not question their presence or ask for papers but rather I see them to be for the most part hard workers. I have also noted some serious issues. The author has good insight into these issues and acknowledges her sources in the end note. An excellent and unbiased mingling of the issues unfolds nicely in a plot that grabs and holds the reader’s attention, and perhaps even sways the reader’s opinion of these issues. An excellent enjoyable read and my personal hope for a follow on to this series.
September 20, 2016
Many thanks for NetGalley and Kensington Books(Publisher) for the ARC of "No Witness but the Moon" by Suzanne Chazin. Especially with constant news reports of both Police actions,and the public criticism and response, this book explores through a mystery and thriller genre, many events that happen in our daily lives. The Police Officer is Hispanic, and he is responding to a 911 call of a home break in. In those few minutes,many things happen. What happens when a Policeman of a minority makes a decision? I was captivated by the following events and history of the characters. The topic of illegal immigration, and criminal activities was interesting. I was kept in suspense and did not expect the ending. I would recommend this book.
August 25, 2017
Jimmy Vega is a cop in this Suazanne Chazin series. This mystery finds the main character Jimmy in some major trouble. He has shot and killed a suspect in a break-in. Chazin spends a lot of pages fleshing out the characters involved in this mystery. Jimmy's girl friend Adele is burdened with loyalty to Jimmy and her outreach center. Felt the first half of the this installment was a bit slow but the last half of the book found resolutions to the puzzles of this crime. Copy was provided by Kensington Books via Netgalley for an honest review.
October 24, 2016
A page turner, with well-developed, real characters, No Witness but the Moon is definitely current. It takes over where today's headlines end. This book shows the other side of a police involved shooting. It would be an interesting read for a high school civics class. I can also see it as a movie.
I received an ARC from the publisher through NetGalley.
I received an ARC from the publisher through NetGalley.
September 18, 2016
I loved this book from the first chapter. A U.S.police officer shoots and kills a man he thinks to be armed, how wrong he is, the suspect is not armed and it is the beginning of a nightmare for officer Vega. There's lots going on in this story and it is definitely a book I can recommend.
February 12, 2020
I am really loving this series. Everything is crazy mixed up in this story. Jimmy answers a call and ends up shooting a suspect. He can't talk about anything and this hurts his daughter and Adele. It was a real risk for Jimmy to look into his mother's death and then when it connected to the current issue, it would be a real blow up.
The issues around immigration are so heart-breaking. The illegals are in a bad place to start and then because they are illegal, people take advantage making everything continually bad or worse.
The issues around immigration are so heart-breaking. The illegals are in a bad place to start and then because they are illegal, people take advantage making everything continually bad or worse.
September 5, 2020
I really enjoyed this book. This is a new author for me & I’ll read the other books in this series
August 29, 2020
I like this cast of characters and the immigrant situations portrayed. The story line certainly fits in with today's headlines regarding police and minorities.
February 9, 2022
No Witness but the Moon by Suzanne Chazin seems so relevant to current events, yet it was written four years back. The characters, the storyline, the pacing were all great and held my interest throughout. I Recommend.
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