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O Preço da Justiça
Seu objetivo era solucionar assassinatos - até que o impensável acontecesse...
Recentemente viúvo, o investigador da Polícia de Austin Jason Scarsdale trabalha para solucionar o assassinato de dois pedófilos, enquanto tenta ser pai e mãe de sua filha de cinco anos.
Durante a investigação, Scardale é forçado a cruzar a mira de dois comandantes da polícia que querem acabar com ele.
Encantado pela Analista de Crimes da Polícia de Austin Dani Mueller, quem também passou por uma tragédia, Scarsdale luta contra a atração que sente e a suspeita de que algo não está certo.Ela está guardando um segredo, um que não apenas pode custar seu emprego - mas pode acabar com a vida dela.
Dani esconde um passado mortal
Depois de sua filha ser brutalmente assassinada, Dani se vingou, mudou seu nome e fugiu para Austin.Mas se seu segredo se espalhar, ela sabe que não haverá como se esconder da família perversa do assassino.Arrastados para uma teia de maldade e mentiras, Scarsdale e Dani descobrem o valor de quebrar a regras.
Então, quando eles achavam que as coisas não poderiam ficar piores...Elas ficam.
Recentemente viúvo, o investigador da Polícia de Austin Jason Scarsdale trabalha para solucionar o assassinato de dois pedófilos, enquanto tenta ser pai e mãe de sua filha de cinco anos.
Durante a investigação, Scardale é forçado a cruzar a mira de dois comandantes da polícia que querem acabar com ele.
Encantado pela Analista de Crimes da Polícia de Austin Dani Mueller, quem também passou por uma tragédia, Scarsdale luta contra a atração que sente e a suspeita de que algo não está certo.Ela está guardando um segredo, um que não apenas pode custar seu emprego - mas pode acabar com a vida dela.
Dani esconde um passado mortal
Depois de sua filha ser brutalmente assassinada, Dani se vingou, mudou seu nome e fugiu para Austin.Mas se seu segredo se espalhar, ela sabe que não haverá como se esconder da família perversa do assassino.Arrastados para uma teia de maldade e mentiras, Scarsdale e Dani descobrem o valor de quebrar a regras.
Então, quando eles achavam que as coisas não poderiam ficar piores...Elas ficam.
338 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2012
56 people are currently reading
130 people want to read
About the author
Alan Brenham
40 books111 followersAlan Brenham is the pseudonym of Alan Behr, an American author and attorney.
He served as a law enforcement officer before earning a law degree from Baylor University and worked as a prosecutor and criminal defense attorney for twenty-two years.
Alan began his writing craft by studying novels by Michael McGarrity, James Hayman, and Michael Connelly.
He has authored ten crime fiction novels. Alan and his wife, Lillian, currently live in the Central Texas area.
He served as a law enforcement officer before earning a law degree from Baylor University and worked as a prosecutor and criminal defense attorney for twenty-two years.
Alan began his writing craft by studying novels by Michael McGarrity, James Hayman, and Michael Connelly.
He has authored ten crime fiction novels. Alan and his wife, Lillian, currently live in the Central Texas area.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 44 reviews
January 15, 2014
I was gripped from the opening page by this book. The writing style is flawless and engaging, delicately crafting the world and history to events around the characters with each sentence. The opening few chapters establish each of the main characters backstories and interweave their lives in a very real and meaningful way for the reader. By the second chapter I couldn’t put the book down and was living and dying with the emotions of the characters, especially those of Dani Mueller. The plot is very well done; the twists and turns of it are not predictable and have the reader on the edge of their seat.
The legal aspects of the book are extremely well explained, especially when they come from the author’s experience. There is a display of knowledge about law and order that a lot of other books in this genre are lacking.
The use of both third person and first person narrative is superbly well done. The first person narrative is reserved for when following Dani Mueller and the third person narrative is used for the other characters – the CEO, Jason Scarsdale, Harris, Zarko etc.
The way the book is written allows the audience to solve the mystery elements of the story along with the characters of Harris and Scarsdale without holding back details.
The use of language is excellent, it is not too flowery and overcomplicated so it can be read and enjoyed by anyone whilst avoiding being overly simplistic.
This is an excellent example of crime fiction focusing on the effect that crime against children can have on people; it is extremely enjoyable and satisfying to read without feeling like it is a story that has to have a happy ending or is even leading to a completely neat and tidy finish.
At the very end of the digital version there is one slight annoyance – the formatting switches from normal type set to italics and part way through the italics there is another small section of normal type set.
On the whole I would recommend this book to anyone – whether they are interested in the crime genre or not – as an excellent work of fiction.
The legal aspects of the book are extremely well explained, especially when they come from the author’s experience. There is a display of knowledge about law and order that a lot of other books in this genre are lacking.
The use of both third person and first person narrative is superbly well done. The first person narrative is reserved for when following Dani Mueller and the third person narrative is used for the other characters – the CEO, Jason Scarsdale, Harris, Zarko etc.
The way the book is written allows the audience to solve the mystery elements of the story along with the characters of Harris and Scarsdale without holding back details.
The use of language is excellent, it is not too flowery and overcomplicated so it can be read and enjoyed by anyone whilst avoiding being overly simplistic.
This is an excellent example of crime fiction focusing on the effect that crime against children can have on people; it is extremely enjoyable and satisfying to read without feeling like it is a story that has to have a happy ending or is even leading to a completely neat and tidy finish.
At the very end of the digital version there is one slight annoyance – the formatting switches from normal type set to italics and part way through the italics there is another small section of normal type set.
On the whole I would recommend this book to anyone – whether they are interested in the crime genre or not – as an excellent work of fiction.
January 12, 2014
More reviews at Creating-Serenity.com
This started off really intense. The first few chapters completely drew me in and had me very curious about this thriller. Then the thriller portions started. A plot like that my hubby thinks he will absolutely love was just slow for me. It’s not that Alan Brenham didn’t have the action, this definitely does, but it’s the cop scenes and the learning about the bad guys that threw me off.
Now, I have to say, the writing was phenomenal. I really think anyone that enjoys thrillers will just love this book. As I said above my hubby can’t wait to read this. However, I’m just not a lover of thrillers.
That said, the pluses were the plot! It seemed very smooth and the finding of information and the way everything comes together was great. The characters were also very well done. I loved Scarsdale. I mean this guy is just trying to live after his wife dies, support his child, and all this BS is coming his way! I was beginning to wonder how much crap this poor guy could take! I was totally cheering for him from the beginning.
Some of the choices Dani made had my heart palpitating. And that’s what a good thriller is about right? Well this one is great because my heart didn’t stop racing until the end! And this girl must want me to have a heart attack because she does the dumbest stuff! Have you seen cop shows Dani? No? Go watch them girl.
The downsides… There are a lot of people to remember. I think with it being a thriller I wanted to memorize each person so I could figure out the killer and that got me into trouble almost at the beginning. The characters are all very different but, for me, they started blending together. I also guessed the killer about maybe half way through. He was the epitome of a bad guy, not a sheep in wolves clothing. And I think I would have preferred if I was stunned.
All in all though, not bad! I was pleasantly surprised as I do not read many thrillers. Really interesting and I know the thrill seekers out there will just love this to death ;)
This started off really intense. The first few chapters completely drew me in and had me very curious about this thriller. Then the thriller portions started. A plot like that my hubby thinks he will absolutely love was just slow for me. It’s not that Alan Brenham didn’t have the action, this definitely does, but it’s the cop scenes and the learning about the bad guys that threw me off.
Now, I have to say, the writing was phenomenal. I really think anyone that enjoys thrillers will just love this book. As I said above my hubby can’t wait to read this. However, I’m just not a lover of thrillers.
That said, the pluses were the plot! It seemed very smooth and the finding of information and the way everything comes together was great. The characters were also very well done. I loved Scarsdale. I mean this guy is just trying to live after his wife dies, support his child, and all this BS is coming his way! I was beginning to wonder how much crap this poor guy could take! I was totally cheering for him from the beginning.
Some of the choices Dani made had my heart palpitating. And that’s what a good thriller is about right? Well this one is great because my heart didn’t stop racing until the end! And this girl must want me to have a heart attack because she does the dumbest stuff! Have you seen cop shows Dani? No? Go watch them girl.
The downsides… There are a lot of people to remember. I think with it being a thriller I wanted to memorize each person so I could figure out the killer and that got me into trouble almost at the beginning. The characters are all very different but, for me, they started blending together. I also guessed the killer about maybe half way through. He was the epitome of a bad guy, not a sheep in wolves clothing. And I think I would have preferred if I was stunned.
All in all though, not bad! I was pleasantly surprised as I do not read many thrillers. Really interesting and I know the thrill seekers out there will just love this to death ;)
October 9, 2012
A Crime Thriller with Twists
Detective Jason Scarsdale’s wife, Charity, passed away four weeks prior as the result of a car wreck. Jason feels guilty because he should have gone to the store rather than watch TV. They have a five-year old daughter, Shannon, whom Jason has rather ignored because of his long hours at work and his excuse that he needed time with the boys. After Charity died, Jason’s sister, Sarah, came and stayed with them for awhile. Severely depressed, Jason was on the edge of committing suicide until Sarah reminded him how much Shannon needed him particularly now. Jason’s police partner, Harris, and he were called out on a case where the mother, Dory Mabry, when she got home from work found her boyfriend and baby sitter, Terry Wayne Olsen, with his penis in her three-year old daughter’s mouth. She attacked him, hurting him. Thus begins this story of Jason and his buddy Harris investigating several pedophile cases of rape and murder.
Scott Dewayne Lasiter was on trial for the murder of a nine-year old girl, Amy Crowell. The mother, Susan Crowell, had to testify. Demi Mueller, an observer at this trial, once known as Karla Engel, a defense attorney and crime analyst in California had suffered the death of her ten- year old daughter, Katarina, who had been raped and beaten to death by a pedophile, Doyle Burton. Karla, shocked to the core when the murderer of her daughter was not convicted and she received notes and phone calls from him bragging about how he did her daughter, found him and beat him to death the same way her daughter had suffered. It was for that reason she legally changed her name so that she could not be traced. She thereafter secured a position with the Austin Police Department as a crime analyst and her specialty was child molesters. While Demi was commiserating with Susan while she was on the stand, she relived those terrible days after the death of Katarina.
The pedophile on trial was Scott Lasiter and Demi had decided to do to pedophiles who get off without a conviction what they did to their victims…kill them in the same manner they killed. Thus she sneaked into Lasiter’s house one evening intent on sneaking up on him and butchering him as he butchered the child, but he returned home with Tom Zarko. She hid in the closet and the two men got into a fight and Zarko killed Lasiter. During their oral exchange Demi realized that Lassiter was not the murderer, but Zarko was.
From there the story has many twists and turns with Scarsdale attempting to be a father/mother to his motherless child; trying to track down the real killer of Amy and the leader of a pedophile ring; resisting an obvious attempt within the Austin PD to get rid of him because he was getting too close to the truth; aware of an appeal between him and Demi that he feels is betraying his deceased wife, Charity; car chases; an inability to make necessary arrests because of the shenanigans within the PD of those in office who can thwart him; and finally finding his own daughter in danger from this ring.
This tale is a page turner with many unexpected twists and turns. It is well written, an easy quick read and I recommend it.
Detective Jason Scarsdale’s wife, Charity, passed away four weeks prior as the result of a car wreck. Jason feels guilty because he should have gone to the store rather than watch TV. They have a five-year old daughter, Shannon, whom Jason has rather ignored because of his long hours at work and his excuse that he needed time with the boys. After Charity died, Jason’s sister, Sarah, came and stayed with them for awhile. Severely depressed, Jason was on the edge of committing suicide until Sarah reminded him how much Shannon needed him particularly now. Jason’s police partner, Harris, and he were called out on a case where the mother, Dory Mabry, when she got home from work found her boyfriend and baby sitter, Terry Wayne Olsen, with his penis in her three-year old daughter’s mouth. She attacked him, hurting him. Thus begins this story of Jason and his buddy Harris investigating several pedophile cases of rape and murder.
Scott Dewayne Lasiter was on trial for the murder of a nine-year old girl, Amy Crowell. The mother, Susan Crowell, had to testify. Demi Mueller, an observer at this trial, once known as Karla Engel, a defense attorney and crime analyst in California had suffered the death of her ten- year old daughter, Katarina, who had been raped and beaten to death by a pedophile, Doyle Burton. Karla, shocked to the core when the murderer of her daughter was not convicted and she received notes and phone calls from him bragging about how he did her daughter, found him and beat him to death the same way her daughter had suffered. It was for that reason she legally changed her name so that she could not be traced. She thereafter secured a position with the Austin Police Department as a crime analyst and her specialty was child molesters. While Demi was commiserating with Susan while she was on the stand, she relived those terrible days after the death of Katarina.
The pedophile on trial was Scott Lasiter and Demi had decided to do to pedophiles who get off without a conviction what they did to their victims…kill them in the same manner they killed. Thus she sneaked into Lasiter’s house one evening intent on sneaking up on him and butchering him as he butchered the child, but he returned home with Tom Zarko. She hid in the closet and the two men got into a fight and Zarko killed Lasiter. During their oral exchange Demi realized that Lassiter was not the murderer, but Zarko was.
From there the story has many twists and turns with Scarsdale attempting to be a father/mother to his motherless child; trying to track down the real killer of Amy and the leader of a pedophile ring; resisting an obvious attempt within the Austin PD to get rid of him because he was getting too close to the truth; aware of an appeal between him and Demi that he feels is betraying his deceased wife, Charity; car chases; an inability to make necessary arrests because of the shenanigans within the PD of those in office who can thwart him; and finally finding his own daughter in danger from this ring.
This tale is a page turner with many unexpected twists and turns. It is well written, an easy quick read and I recommend it.
June 14, 2014
Dani Mueller was a woman who lived in Sacramento but relocated to Austin, Texas. Her daughter was murdered and when the man accused of the crime was acquitted, and then was beaten and murdered, the man's family thought Dani had killed him for revenge. They began harassing and stalking her. When this became unbearable, she decided to have her name changed and start life over in Texas.
In Austin she works as a crime scene investigator. She attends the trial of a man who murdered a child close to Dani's daughter's age. When this man is acquitted, Dani decides to take her own revenge but someone beats her to it.
Jason Searsdale is a detective on the Austin, PD. He has his own tragedy with the recent loss of his wife. He comes into contact with Dani at work. When she talks to him, she encourages him to bring his five-year-old daughter, Shannon, to work on bring your child to work day. Shannon and Dani bond, somewhat filling a void in each other's lives.
Jason becomes involves in two murder investigations. While Dani becomes the subject of a stalker in Austin. The reader follows the story from both Jason and Dani's points of view.
Jason, Dani and Shannon are excellent, sympathetic characters. We become interested in their lives and predicaments. The evil characters are truly evil and are part of a group involved in pedophelia and child pornography. The reader wants them to be punished. With the sides so well portrayed, it makes this a very good mystery.
I received this book in return for my honest review.
In Austin she works as a crime scene investigator. She attends the trial of a man who murdered a child close to Dani's daughter's age. When this man is acquitted, Dani decides to take her own revenge but someone beats her to it.
Jason Searsdale is a detective on the Austin, PD. He has his own tragedy with the recent loss of his wife. He comes into contact with Dani at work. When she talks to him, she encourages him to bring his five-year-old daughter, Shannon, to work on bring your child to work day. Shannon and Dani bond, somewhat filling a void in each other's lives.
Jason becomes involves in two murder investigations. While Dani becomes the subject of a stalker in Austin. The reader follows the story from both Jason and Dani's points of view.
Jason, Dani and Shannon are excellent, sympathetic characters. We become interested in their lives and predicaments. The evil characters are truly evil and are part of a group involved in pedophelia and child pornography. The reader wants them to be punished. With the sides so well portrayed, it makes this a very good mystery.
I received this book in return for my honest review.
March 25, 2014
Is there such a thing as second chances? Only if you’re willing to make the decision to go for it. This is a really good crime/mystery/thriller that is heart-wrenching in places. Dani’s daughter not only died but was murdered in the most heinous way (not graphically spelled out but you get the gist of what happened to her), which is enough to send any mom over the edge. Dani has stepped over the line and is trying to figure out how to turn around and step back. Jason is a single parent who also knows about loss, as his wife was killed in a car accident only a short while before. Jason and Dani meet through work – he’s a detective and she’s an analyst. Jason is trying to find a pedophile and needs Dani’s help to figure out who it might be.
I really enjoyed the plot and the story. It is very gritty, real – you get a really good sense of Jason’s emotional turmoil. He is definitely going through a lot. There is nothing graphic in this story but you do get a good sense of what has taken place. Dani is really a complex character, she reacted to a dark situation and now not only has to deal with the consequences but it now threatens her life. I absolutely loved Shannon. I really enjoyed this, it kept me interested and intrigued as to where it was going to go. Definitely some interesting twists. I was given a copy as part of a tour. This was a 4 - 4.5 for me. Good story.
I really enjoyed the plot and the story. It is very gritty, real – you get a really good sense of Jason’s emotional turmoil. He is definitely going through a lot. There is nothing graphic in this story but you do get a good sense of what has taken place. Dani is really a complex character, she reacted to a dark situation and now not only has to deal with the consequences but it now threatens her life. I absolutely loved Shannon. I really enjoyed this, it kept me interested and intrigued as to where it was going to go. Definitely some interesting twists. I was given a copy as part of a tour. This was a 4 - 4.5 for me. Good story.
January 10, 2014
Detective Jason Scarsdale lost his wife years before. It was a senseless accident that took her life. Jason still blamed himself for it. He was trying to move on with his life and raise his daughter but it wasn't easy. He kept busy with work and spending time with his daughter doing fun things. It was while working on a case he met Dani. No one knew much about the profiler but she was good at her job. Jason's daughter Shannon met Dani and loved her instantly. There was something about Dani though. Jason felt she was hiding something... and she was. A secret so dark and dangerous it may end their budding relationship.
This is one book with many twists and turns. You will think you have everything figured out several times before you reach the end. Great characters who come alive on the page and a story that will blow your mind, this book is worth the read! I was pleasantly surprised while reading this book. A different take on justice and WOW is it fantastic. I recommend this one Highly.
I found no issues.
I gave this one 5 cheers out of 5 because it is an amazing story that could become a series. ~Copy of book provided by author in exchange for a fair review~
This is one book with many twists and turns. You will think you have everything figured out several times before you reach the end. Great characters who come alive on the page and a story that will blow your mind, this book is worth the read! I was pleasantly surprised while reading this book. A different take on justice and WOW is it fantastic. I recommend this one Highly.
I found no issues.
I gave this one 5 cheers out of 5 because it is an amazing story that could become a series. ~Copy of book provided by author in exchange for a fair review~
November 30, 2013
Coming to terms with the loss of a love one is never easy. Regrets haunt P.D. Detective Jason Scarsdale, in the weeks following his young wife’s death, especially since he blames himself.
When Scarsdale and his partner, Sean Harris of the Austin Police Departments, Sex Crimes Division are instructed to investigate a child molestation, they soon realize the case is far more involved than first appears. Their investigations lead them deep into a paedophile ring, whose tentacles reach far and wide, with repercussions which will affect them in ways they never could have foreseen.
When Jason becomes friendly with co-worker Dani Mueller he doesn’t realize that she has her own hidden secrets which will affect his life more than he could have ever imagined.
Cleverly written, with believable characters and great attention to detail, the author has made full use of his in-depth experience in both police and law departments, to write a brilliant crime thriller.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this detailed and captivating story, which kept me guessing throughout with its twists and turns.
When Scarsdale and his partner, Sean Harris of the Austin Police Departments, Sex Crimes Division are instructed to investigate a child molestation, they soon realize the case is far more involved than first appears. Their investigations lead them deep into a paedophile ring, whose tentacles reach far and wide, with repercussions which will affect them in ways they never could have foreseen.
When Jason becomes friendly with co-worker Dani Mueller he doesn’t realize that she has her own hidden secrets which will affect his life more than he could have ever imagined.
Cleverly written, with believable characters and great attention to detail, the author has made full use of his in-depth experience in both police and law departments, to write a brilliant crime thriller.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this detailed and captivating story, which kept me guessing throughout with its twists and turns.
June 1, 2014
I found this to be an OUTSTANDING read of corruption, deception, revenge and murder which will keep you guessing. The author did an outstanding job from the beginning to the end with amazing twist and turns to keep you on the edge of your seats while holding your breath while voices are screaming in your head OH NO. The author starts each chapter with wonderful quotes that touch your heart while reaching your soul. You will read a story about pedophiles out to make money by kidnapping and killing small children, who will go to extremes to stop those that want to stop them. It’s kill or be killed, you have people in high places who will stop at nothing to get what they want. This book is an is an outstanding read from beginning to the end it is one you do not want to miss. There was nothing in this story that I did not like, the ending leaves you a picture of how life could be but keeps you wondering if they find a life together.
This story starts off on a sad foot, with Detective Jason Scarsdale in his car thinking about his dead wife who died a few weeks before. He looks at his wedding band while remembering how they came together as one. In one night he lost it all which he thinks is his fault if he would have just gone to the store as she asked she would still be alive. He lifts his gun and opens his mouth just as his cell phone rings. He is then reminded he has a little girl at home that needs him, he decides to give life just one more day.
Dani Mueller has lost so much her husband left her before her daughter was even born. Her daughter is her life, when her daughter is kidnapped by a pedophile and is killed her life is over. Revenge is the only think that keeps her going. She has many secrets and they must not get out. Dani moved on from a lawyer to a police crime analyst for Scarsdale’s department. She is in hiding for if people knew where she is she will be killed.
Dani and Scarsdale come together in the fight to get pedophiles off the street. Scarsdale does it by the book where Dani isn’t too picky how it gets done as long as the job is done. She gets into one heck of a mess which makes it harder to keep her secretes from others.
You have the CEO who is the mystery man he is the head of the pedophile group and has the most to lose and the most to gain. He is one bad mean man who lets others do his dirty work while always keeping his hands clean. He is the man behind the mask, no one has ever seen him. They only know to be scared of him as they follow his orders. His orders are clear you do as I say or you won’t make it out alive. Who could this mask man be? Can he be taken down, Scarsdale doesn’t know but he is sure going to give it his best shot. He has the most to lose when his daughter is kidnapped which leads me to one of the best quotes in this book. “To be in your children’s memories tomorrow, you have to be in their lives today.” –Anonymous this is so true and must not be forgotten.
There are so many favorite parts in this book. When Scarsdale straddles the chair why Olsen sets at the table he had just gotten arrested. Scarsdale is reading the arrest report and whistling “I Fought the Law” I found myself singing I fought the law and the law won while cheering for Scarsdale.
The second favorite parts was with Dani was in a fight for her life. That was truly funny when she kicked his butt all over and he was on his knee screaming like a baby why curled in a ball with his hands between his knees yelling out “Oh shit. My nuts. Oh shit.” I found myself cheering for Dani nothing like an alpha female kicking a** and taking no names. Got to love a strong women.
Then the part where Scarsdale is talking on the phone to his mother-in-law was to funny. “ “I love you, too, Marcy. Have a nice day. Bye.” He hung up. “They dropped the house on the wrong witch,” He muttered.” I wonder how many times we have thought the same thing in our lives. I know I have a time or two.
The authors experience as a former law enforcement officer helps him write a story that is not only realistic but one with a detailed picture of police work that is believable. From the shocking beginning of this book to the startling end, Price of Justice provides the suspense, thrills, twist and turns that one expects to find in a first rate thriller. It’s a book you will not want to put down until the end. I highly recommend this book, it is one you will not want to miss.
This story starts off on a sad foot, with Detective Jason Scarsdale in his car thinking about his dead wife who died a few weeks before. He looks at his wedding band while remembering how they came together as one. In one night he lost it all which he thinks is his fault if he would have just gone to the store as she asked she would still be alive. He lifts his gun and opens his mouth just as his cell phone rings. He is then reminded he has a little girl at home that needs him, he decides to give life just one more day.
Dani Mueller has lost so much her husband left her before her daughter was even born. Her daughter is her life, when her daughter is kidnapped by a pedophile and is killed her life is over. Revenge is the only think that keeps her going. She has many secrets and they must not get out. Dani moved on from a lawyer to a police crime analyst for Scarsdale’s department. She is in hiding for if people knew where she is she will be killed.
Dani and Scarsdale come together in the fight to get pedophiles off the street. Scarsdale does it by the book where Dani isn’t too picky how it gets done as long as the job is done. She gets into one heck of a mess which makes it harder to keep her secretes from others.
You have the CEO who is the mystery man he is the head of the pedophile group and has the most to lose and the most to gain. He is one bad mean man who lets others do his dirty work while always keeping his hands clean. He is the man behind the mask, no one has ever seen him. They only know to be scared of him as they follow his orders. His orders are clear you do as I say or you won’t make it out alive. Who could this mask man be? Can he be taken down, Scarsdale doesn’t know but he is sure going to give it his best shot. He has the most to lose when his daughter is kidnapped which leads me to one of the best quotes in this book. “To be in your children’s memories tomorrow, you have to be in their lives today.” –Anonymous this is so true and must not be forgotten.
There are so many favorite parts in this book. When Scarsdale straddles the chair why Olsen sets at the table he had just gotten arrested. Scarsdale is reading the arrest report and whistling “I Fought the Law” I found myself singing I fought the law and the law won while cheering for Scarsdale.
The second favorite parts was with Dani was in a fight for her life. That was truly funny when she kicked his butt all over and he was on his knee screaming like a baby why curled in a ball with his hands between his knees yelling out “Oh shit. My nuts. Oh shit.” I found myself cheering for Dani nothing like an alpha female kicking a** and taking no names. Got to love a strong women.
Then the part where Scarsdale is talking on the phone to his mother-in-law was to funny. “ “I love you, too, Marcy. Have a nice day. Bye.” He hung up. “They dropped the house on the wrong witch,” He muttered.” I wonder how many times we have thought the same thing in our lives. I know I have a time or two.
The authors experience as a former law enforcement officer helps him write a story that is not only realistic but one with a detailed picture of police work that is believable. From the shocking beginning of this book to the startling end, Price of Justice provides the suspense, thrills, twist and turns that one expects to find in a first rate thriller. It’s a book you will not want to put down until the end. I highly recommend this book, it is one you will not want to miss.
March 1, 2014
The Price of Justice by Alan Brenham is a 2013 Black Opal Book publication. I was provided a copy of this book by the author in exchange for an honest review.
Jason Scarsdale is a detective on the edge due to his wife's recent death in a car crash for which he blames himself. Instead of making the fatal decision to end his life, he vows to bring down the monster responsible for killing a young girl and to be a better father to his young daughter.
Enter Dani Mueller, a lawyer and crime expert that is also suffering the effects of heartbreak and loss after her ten year old daughter was murdered. She too is working on this volitile case. When Jason introduces his daughter, Shannon to Dani the two forge a bond. But, Dani has a complicated past and getting too close to Jason and Shannon may not be a great idea.
Jason is reeling from losing a court case which set a dangerous pedophile free and if that weren't enough, he is struggling with being a single parent and faces trouble from his former in laws who never really liked him in the first place.
Tension begins to mount as Jason discovers Dani could be a suspect and that she has gone to great deal of trouble to reinvent herself. Jason also finds his job is on the line due to an incident involving the DA who holds a grudge against Jason.
Already in a dark place and struggling to find light at the end of the tunnel, Jason will face the most difficult decisions of his life, with his job, his family, and his own conscience.
This is a very dark tale and not for the faint of heart. The subject matter is difficult to read about and I couldn't help but find myself relating to the anger the victim's loved ones felt and the outrage that came with watching the leader of a ring of pedophiles just walk out of court. If you put yourself in their shoes, really try to imagine how you would feel if this monster killed your child, could you honestly say the thought of taking the law into your own hands wouldn't cross your mind?
This is only one of the many thought provoking subjects the author addresses while managing to build suspense and tension with kidnappings and races against time.
Each chapter began with a quote and as a lover of quotes I found I only recognized a few of them. The quotes alone were deep and significant to each chapter and to the book as a whole. The deeply personal message in the book dealt with the father and daughter relationship that Jason had taken for granted prior to his wife's death and the realization that he had missed so much of Shannon's life already. He didn't want to waste a day of being with his daughter and giving her the love and protection she deserved from him. He will have to fight tooth and nail for the safety and welfare of his child, but Jason will reach deep inside himself and rise to the occasion.
I must say this was one of the best first novels by an author I have read in this genre in awhile. The author states in his bio that he does have experience with writing, but this is his first novel. Obviously, his experience with being in law enforcement and being familiar with the law worked in his favor as well. The novel is placed in the triller genre and that's alright, it fits in this category just fine, but it could also work as a police procedural too. The most impressive thing for me was how well drawn the characters were. The secondary characters helped to firm up the bonds between the three main characters. Some of them are very likeable and others not so much.
Dani/ Karla was a very complex character, but deep down she was a good person. Some may find that difficult depending on one's feelings about certain things but I really liked her. I thought she was great with Shannon, and Shannon certainly felt a kinship with Dani that only a child could recognize in an adult. For me this book was certainly a thrill ride, but it was also a very touching story and that's kind of hard to pull off in this type of book. I think once the book has been read, you will find yourself thinking about it and all the various feelings it evoked. I cheered Jason on the whole way and you will just fall in love with Shannon.
All in all the author did a fantastic job with this one and so I can't deny it the highest rating I can give. A+ or 5 stars!
Jason Scarsdale is a detective on the edge due to his wife's recent death in a car crash for which he blames himself. Instead of making the fatal decision to end his life, he vows to bring down the monster responsible for killing a young girl and to be a better father to his young daughter.
Enter Dani Mueller, a lawyer and crime expert that is also suffering the effects of heartbreak and loss after her ten year old daughter was murdered. She too is working on this volitile case. When Jason introduces his daughter, Shannon to Dani the two forge a bond. But, Dani has a complicated past and getting too close to Jason and Shannon may not be a great idea.
Jason is reeling from losing a court case which set a dangerous pedophile free and if that weren't enough, he is struggling with being a single parent and faces trouble from his former in laws who never really liked him in the first place.
Tension begins to mount as Jason discovers Dani could be a suspect and that she has gone to great deal of trouble to reinvent herself. Jason also finds his job is on the line due to an incident involving the DA who holds a grudge against Jason.
Already in a dark place and struggling to find light at the end of the tunnel, Jason will face the most difficult decisions of his life, with his job, his family, and his own conscience.
This is a very dark tale and not for the faint of heart. The subject matter is difficult to read about and I couldn't help but find myself relating to the anger the victim's loved ones felt and the outrage that came with watching the leader of a ring of pedophiles just walk out of court. If you put yourself in their shoes, really try to imagine how you would feel if this monster killed your child, could you honestly say the thought of taking the law into your own hands wouldn't cross your mind?
This is only one of the many thought provoking subjects the author addresses while managing to build suspense and tension with kidnappings and races against time.
Each chapter began with a quote and as a lover of quotes I found I only recognized a few of them. The quotes alone were deep and significant to each chapter and to the book as a whole. The deeply personal message in the book dealt with the father and daughter relationship that Jason had taken for granted prior to his wife's death and the realization that he had missed so much of Shannon's life already. He didn't want to waste a day of being with his daughter and giving her the love and protection she deserved from him. He will have to fight tooth and nail for the safety and welfare of his child, but Jason will reach deep inside himself and rise to the occasion.
I must say this was one of the best first novels by an author I have read in this genre in awhile. The author states in his bio that he does have experience with writing, but this is his first novel. Obviously, his experience with being in law enforcement and being familiar with the law worked in his favor as well. The novel is placed in the triller genre and that's alright, it fits in this category just fine, but it could also work as a police procedural too. The most impressive thing for me was how well drawn the characters were. The secondary characters helped to firm up the bonds between the three main characters. Some of them are very likeable and others not so much.
Dani/ Karla was a very complex character, but deep down she was a good person. Some may find that difficult depending on one's feelings about certain things but I really liked her. I thought she was great with Shannon, and Shannon certainly felt a kinship with Dani that only a child could recognize in an adult. For me this book was certainly a thrill ride, but it was also a very touching story and that's kind of hard to pull off in this type of book. I think once the book has been read, you will find yourself thinking about it and all the various feelings it evoked. I cheered Jason on the whole way and you will just fall in love with Shannon.
All in all the author did a fantastic job with this one and so I can't deny it the highest rating I can give. A+ or 5 stars!
March 10, 2014
This was indeed a fat and juicy crime thriller: something to really get your teeth into. Don’t make the mistake I made and read it when you can only squeeze a few pages at a time. You’ll not want to put it down. It had everything you could possibly want from a thriller: action, intrigue, corruption, deceit, and a very likeable detective on the hunt of some especially vile, seedy and slimy criminals.
Detective Jason Scarsdale, after tragically losing his young wife—for which he blames himself—struggles to find the strength to be both parents to his young five-year-old daughter. His job, hunting down paedophiles, is not an enviable one, especially when the guilty sometimes go free. Scarsdale is on the trail of a particularly disgusting paedophile ring, but his investigation is thwarted by wrong conviction, secrets of a co-worker (Dani) and departmental leaks at a high level. And when it gets personal and his daughter’s life is at risk, Scarsdale has no hesitation in breaking the rules…
The author’s characters are perfectly conceived: it was easy to like Jason, it was easy to like Dani, his co-worker, who herself has a tragic history and a rather unorthodox approach to justice. It was easy, actually, to like all the good guys. And his portrayal of the villains was equally perfect; they weren’t just bad guys, they were the lowest of the low. The writing is slick and carries you along easily as you race to reach the end of this book. This would, without doubt be a five-star book, but just a few things knocked a star off: the formatting was a little dodgy, and editing was slack: amongst other things, Lasiter occasionally became Lassiter, Dani’s character, written in the first person strayed rather erratically between past and present tenses, and there was a bit of headhopping. But, such things are fixable. Although I can’t fault the plot, I found it a little hard to believe at what could be achieved in three weeks at the end of the story. Nonetheless, I really enjoyed this gripping story and hope Detective Scarsdale gets another case to solve.
Detective Jason Scarsdale, after tragically losing his young wife—for which he blames himself—struggles to find the strength to be both parents to his young five-year-old daughter. His job, hunting down paedophiles, is not an enviable one, especially when the guilty sometimes go free. Scarsdale is on the trail of a particularly disgusting paedophile ring, but his investigation is thwarted by wrong conviction, secrets of a co-worker (Dani) and departmental leaks at a high level. And when it gets personal and his daughter’s life is at risk, Scarsdale has no hesitation in breaking the rules…
The author’s characters are perfectly conceived: it was easy to like Jason, it was easy to like Dani, his co-worker, who herself has a tragic history and a rather unorthodox approach to justice. It was easy, actually, to like all the good guys. And his portrayal of the villains was equally perfect; they weren’t just bad guys, they were the lowest of the low. The writing is slick and carries you along easily as you race to reach the end of this book. This would, without doubt be a five-star book, but just a few things knocked a star off: the formatting was a little dodgy, and editing was slack: amongst other things, Lasiter occasionally became Lassiter, Dani’s character, written in the first person strayed rather erratically between past and present tenses, and there was a bit of headhopping. But, such things are fixable. Although I can’t fault the plot, I found it a little hard to believe at what could be achieved in three weeks at the end of the story. Nonetheless, I really enjoyed this gripping story and hope Detective Scarsdale gets another case to solve.
July 22, 2016
This book kept popping up on my goodreads recommendations, and as an avid thriller reader, the high rating and positive reviews had me intrigued. I had never heard of the author, and could not find the book in my usual spots. He was kind enough to send me a copy, and I was eager to dig in as soon as I received it.
I was not disappointed by this book. I was hooked from the first chapter and the suspenseful story had me awake most of the night! Many police/detective thrillers can be slow and long, and I find myself frustrated to be bogged down in confusing details unrelated to the plot. This was not the case with Price of Justice, a fast-paced and quick read. The author did not throw in a million red-herrings meant to throw the reader off. From the beginning, there were a few suspects, and I had absolutely no idea who was involved in the crime ring. My initial guess turned out to be completely wrong.
The main characters, Jason Scarsdale and Dani Mueller, were portrayed with just enough detail to create depth without being irritating or superfluous. Their complicated personal lives were well woven into the main plot. I highly recommend this thriller for anyone who loves to stay up at night reading "just one more chapter." This was a fabulous debut, and I can't wait to see what Alan Brenham has in store for us next.
I was not disappointed by this book. I was hooked from the first chapter and the suspenseful story had me awake most of the night! Many police/detective thrillers can be slow and long, and I find myself frustrated to be bogged down in confusing details unrelated to the plot. This was not the case with Price of Justice, a fast-paced and quick read. The author did not throw in a million red-herrings meant to throw the reader off. From the beginning, there were a few suspects, and I had absolutely no idea who was involved in the crime ring. My initial guess turned out to be completely wrong.
The main characters, Jason Scarsdale and Dani Mueller, were portrayed with just enough detail to create depth without being irritating or superfluous. Their complicated personal lives were well woven into the main plot. I highly recommend this thriller for anyone who loves to stay up at night reading "just one more chapter." This was a fabulous debut, and I can't wait to see what Alan Brenham has in store for us next.
April 6, 2014
I really enjoyed this thriller and once I began I just could not stop reading! I was never sure how everything would shake out; Dani and Jason’s personal tragedies and horrific heartbreak keep me intensely invested in making sure the bad guys got their just rewards. I liked mentally debating the social conundrum of justice rendered and forfeited due to legal loopholes and/or inept prosecution. For me, there is always the consideration of actually convicting an innocent person verses allowing a guilty person freedom to commit another atrocity. The pedophiles in this book are irredeemable monsters deserving of whatever karma dishes out. This thriller pulls out all the stops, and relentlessly reveals the emotional depths and lengths a parent will take when those monsters seem to be untouchable.
This book was given to me in exchange for my honest review.
Reviewed by Laurie-J
This book was given to me in exchange for my honest review.
Reviewed by Laurie-J
January 17, 2013
This was an enjoyable, unpredictable and a surprisingly heart wrenching crime thriller. The twists and turns were well written and the guilt, pain and sorrow felt by both the main character Jason and the crime analyst Dani from the loss of his wife and her daughter was vividly conveyed. I appreciated the added back stories which lent to the mystery and danger as they sifted through the many clues and police policy red tape to let justice prevail in conjunction with a bit of revenge. In my opinion, a truly talented writer can tell a story so realistically that you could believe the plot was derived from an actual occurrence. Brenham has accomplished this for me. He didn’t rush the building closeness between Jason and Dani in such a short time after their losses and their emotional state and cleverness was fantastically delivered.
March 20, 2013
It took me a while to get through this book, as I haven't had a lot of free time on my hands lately, I tried reading this book and another at the same time and now I know why I don't read two books at a time, I can't keep the stories straight, I like to devote 100% of my attention to what i'm reading and in this case trying to multi task was a huge failure. With that said I really like Brenham's style of writting, I enjoyed the charecter development, the interactions between the charecters, and the relationships between them. I am looking forward to reading more of Alan Breham's work. Well done.
I recieved a free e-copy of this book in exchange for an unbiased review.
I recieved a free e-copy of this book in exchange for an unbiased review.
September 23, 2014
Given To Me For An Honest Review
Price of Justice by Alan Brenham is a book that once you begin reading it you cannot put down. It is about Dt. Scarsdale who has recently lost his wife. He is left with a young daughter. The other main character is Dani Mueller who is hiding out from her ex-husband's family and is living under an assumed name. There is a pedophile that has been killed and the search is on for the person that has killed him. There are so many twists and turns and your pages will practically be turning themselves. This book will grab you in and keep you there until the end. I highly recommend this book. Alan Brenham I look forward to more from him.
Price of Justice by Alan Brenham is a book that once you begin reading it you cannot put down. It is about Dt. Scarsdale who has recently lost his wife. He is left with a young daughter. The other main character is Dani Mueller who is hiding out from her ex-husband's family and is living under an assumed name. There is a pedophile that has been killed and the search is on for the person that has killed him. There are so many twists and turns and your pages will practically be turning themselves. This book will grab you in and keep you there until the end. I highly recommend this book. Alan Brenham I look forward to more from him.
November 18, 2012
The plot arc finds its finest form in detective novels and this book about an Austin detective and a police analyst with a past is no exception. Tension builds as Scarsdale and Mueller seek to root out a pedophile (in particular) and pedophilia (in general). Page after page, you will be hanging on the edge, hoping at once that the author will and will not go there.
For a breakdown of how well the book follows Gustav Freytag's plot pyramid, check out my blog.
For a breakdown of how well the book follows Gustav Freytag's plot pyramid, check out my blog.
January 26, 2013
Detective Jason Scarsdale is suicidal following the death of his wife Charity. But other things demand his attention. His daughter Shannon. Catching a serial killer. Busting a pedophile ring. Co-worker Dani Mueller is connected to all three. Her past complicates Scarsdale’s personal and professional lives. Page turner. Couldn’t put it down. Like an episode of Law & Order. With the unexpected twist at the end.
January 28, 2013
Recently a friend recommended I read a novel by one of this generations premier crime writers. After reading only a few pages of this work of popular fiction, I put the book down in dismay, thinking to myself: “And the author has sold a million copies of this book!” Fortunately what I expected (but failed) to find in this murder mystery—plot development, well-drawn characters, realistic dialogue, suspense—I found weeks later when I began reading author Alan Brenham’s novel Price of Justice.
When we meet Detective Jason Scarsdale in the first few pages of the novel, he is tirelessly working to track down a sex offender. Yet in the process of solving several cases, including three murders, Jason is forced to deal with the loss of his wife: who was killed weeks earlier in an automobile accident. Feeling responsible for her death, and now left alone to raise their five year old daughter, the detective descends into an abyss of guilt and despondency; and at one point he even contemplates committing suicide. Fortunately, however, his love for his daughter, and his passion for fighting crime, overpowers his momentary urge to leave the world.
Scarsdale is also freed from morbid self-scrutiny—and suicidal ideation—with the help of a few friends. In particular, the female crime analyst Dani Mueller (who is mourning the recent loss of her daughter) helps him cope with his grief and move forward in life. Yet as Scarsdale and his team draw closer to solving a homicide case, he discovers some disturbing things about his new friend Dani; information that changes the course of the investigation and alters the way he views police work and the world.
Beyond simply creating a believable, ‘flesh and blood’ protagonist Brenham crafts a multi-faceted story. Shifting from third-person to first-person narration—when the story is told from Dani Mueller’s perspective—the author allows the reader to witness the drama from a different angle; it is a technique (and added point of view) which enables us to grasp the complexity of the characters. Mueller’s narration reveals her own personal struggle to maintain her moral—and professional—integrity despite making difficult (and dangerous) ethical decisions. Her extreme position provides a literary foil through which we make sense of Scarsdale’s existential questioning: as he, like Mueller, asks himself, ‘What is the price of justice?’
The suspense of the story builds gradually and culminates in Scarsdale’s moment of crisis; as the entire case, and even his personal life, hinges upon an ethical decision. In this way the novel resembles classical drama, where the protagonist’s deeds determine the “falling action” (or unfolding) of the plot. In addition, Brenham does a masterful job of bringing all the subplots together in the closing chapters of the novel. Consistent with quality fiction the story has the potential of moving several different directions; and due to the nuanced nature of the central characters—and the extreme circumstances surrounding the interrelated cases—the reader cannot anticipate the conclusion.
Employing his experience as a former law enforcement officer, the author paints a realistic and detailed picture of police work. For this reason the novel proves more educational than your average crime story. From the shocking opening scene to the startling conclusion, Price of Justice provides the suspense and psychological depth one expects to find in a first rate thriller. I highly recommend this novel.
Christopher Ackerman
For Independent Professional Book Reviewers
www.bookreviewers.org
When we meet Detective Jason Scarsdale in the first few pages of the novel, he is tirelessly working to track down a sex offender. Yet in the process of solving several cases, including three murders, Jason is forced to deal with the loss of his wife: who was killed weeks earlier in an automobile accident. Feeling responsible for her death, and now left alone to raise their five year old daughter, the detective descends into an abyss of guilt and despondency; and at one point he even contemplates committing suicide. Fortunately, however, his love for his daughter, and his passion for fighting crime, overpowers his momentary urge to leave the world.
Scarsdale is also freed from morbid self-scrutiny—and suicidal ideation—with the help of a few friends. In particular, the female crime analyst Dani Mueller (who is mourning the recent loss of her daughter) helps him cope with his grief and move forward in life. Yet as Scarsdale and his team draw closer to solving a homicide case, he discovers some disturbing things about his new friend Dani; information that changes the course of the investigation and alters the way he views police work and the world.
Beyond simply creating a believable, ‘flesh and blood’ protagonist Brenham crafts a multi-faceted story. Shifting from third-person to first-person narration—when the story is told from Dani Mueller’s perspective—the author allows the reader to witness the drama from a different angle; it is a technique (and added point of view) which enables us to grasp the complexity of the characters. Mueller’s narration reveals her own personal struggle to maintain her moral—and professional—integrity despite making difficult (and dangerous) ethical decisions. Her extreme position provides a literary foil through which we make sense of Scarsdale’s existential questioning: as he, like Mueller, asks himself, ‘What is the price of justice?’
The suspense of the story builds gradually and culminates in Scarsdale’s moment of crisis; as the entire case, and even his personal life, hinges upon an ethical decision. In this way the novel resembles classical drama, where the protagonist’s deeds determine the “falling action” (or unfolding) of the plot. In addition, Brenham does a masterful job of bringing all the subplots together in the closing chapters of the novel. Consistent with quality fiction the story has the potential of moving several different directions; and due to the nuanced nature of the central characters—and the extreme circumstances surrounding the interrelated cases—the reader cannot anticipate the conclusion.
Employing his experience as a former law enforcement officer, the author paints a realistic and detailed picture of police work. For this reason the novel proves more educational than your average crime story. From the shocking opening scene to the startling conclusion, Price of Justice provides the suspense and psychological depth one expects to find in a first rate thriller. I highly recommend this novel.
Christopher Ackerman
For Independent Professional Book Reviewers
www.bookreviewers.org
January 21, 2013
Price of Justice follows the form of most crime/suspense novels of its genre…but for double the intensity. For in this thriller, two of the main characters, both invariably investigating the crimes at hand, have a personal vengeance to claim.
Meet Detective Jason Scarsdale who, in investigating the murder of 9-year-old Amy Crowell, is still coming to terms with the loss of his own wife a mere five weeks ago. Now, he must find Amy’s real murderer and the leader of a cruel paedophile ring, whilst becoming his own young daughters’ sole support. A challenging task, given Scarsdale was ready to blow his own brains out in the opening scenes of the book.
Next, we meet Demi Mueller, a.k.a. Karla Engel, defense attorney and crime analyst who lost her own 10-year-old daughter to the hands of rape and murder. She has yet to overcome the death of her daughter, whose death she avenged by murdering her killer when he failed to be convicted by the jury system (hence, her change in name and subsequent move upstate). She now finds herself working towards the same goals as Scarsdale, only she plans out her own outcomes…butchering murderers in the same way they butchered their victims.
Not surprisingly, a bond forms between Scarsdale and Mueller, with Mueller forming a particularly close relationship with the Detective’s own young daughter. What follow, in true crime style, are the abduction of his daughter and the kidnap of Mueller, leaving a wounded Scarsdale to pick up the pieces of his shattered life.
Author Alan Brenham is a talented writer and does a fine job of building the tension throughout the story. Though I felt some of the subplots were predictable, there were enough surprises to keep me page-turning and enjoying the drama. I appreciated the ending, and Brenham’s careful restraint in playing out the relationship between Scarsdale and Mueller. Highly recommended read.
Meet Detective Jason Scarsdale who, in investigating the murder of 9-year-old Amy Crowell, is still coming to terms with the loss of his own wife a mere five weeks ago. Now, he must find Amy’s real murderer and the leader of a cruel paedophile ring, whilst becoming his own young daughters’ sole support. A challenging task, given Scarsdale was ready to blow his own brains out in the opening scenes of the book.
Next, we meet Demi Mueller, a.k.a. Karla Engel, defense attorney and crime analyst who lost her own 10-year-old daughter to the hands of rape and murder. She has yet to overcome the death of her daughter, whose death she avenged by murdering her killer when he failed to be convicted by the jury system (hence, her change in name and subsequent move upstate). She now finds herself working towards the same goals as Scarsdale, only she plans out her own outcomes…butchering murderers in the same way they butchered their victims.
Not surprisingly, a bond forms between Scarsdale and Mueller, with Mueller forming a particularly close relationship with the Detective’s own young daughter. What follow, in true crime style, are the abduction of his daughter and the kidnap of Mueller, leaving a wounded Scarsdale to pick up the pieces of his shattered life.
Author Alan Brenham is a talented writer and does a fine job of building the tension throughout the story. Though I felt some of the subplots were predictable, there were enough surprises to keep me page-turning and enjoying the drama. I appreciated the ending, and Brenham’s careful restraint in playing out the relationship between Scarsdale and Mueller. Highly recommended read.
November 30, 2012
This book begins in a really dark place with the lead character, Detective Jason Scarsdale alone, in his car, contemplating blowing his brains out.
It is only five weeks since his wife was killed in an automobile accident and he blames himself. All that really saves him is his five year old daughter Shannon. She needs her daddy to help her get through these troubling times and he needs her too.Some of the conversations they have, early on in the story really tug at the heartstrings.
The main bulk of the story revolves around Scarsdale and his partner Sean Harris trying to convict a pedophile and break the ring he is a part of. Someone in the police department seems to be leaking information to the suspect so he always seems one step ahead. Can they crack the case before Scarsdale is removed from duty?
Helping them is Dani Mueller, a police crime analyst but she has a secret that could threaten the case and lose Dani her job.
The characters of Jason and Dani are really well written. They both have a sadness in their life - Jason, the loss of his wife and Dani the brutal abuse and murder of her young daughter. They meet through work and although Shannon instantly falls for Dani (as only a young child can) it is to the authors credit that Jason and Dani are not thrown together as a romantic sidebar to the story. The attraction is there but both are wary, for their own reasons and attraction is really as far as it goes.
Towards the end of the story things really hot up with threats to all and a race to save lives and break the case.
The story ends in a much better place than where it started and, I must say, I cared about the characters enough for that to please me immensely.
It is only five weeks since his wife was killed in an automobile accident and he blames himself. All that really saves him is his five year old daughter Shannon. She needs her daddy to help her get through these troubling times and he needs her too.Some of the conversations they have, early on in the story really tug at the heartstrings.
The main bulk of the story revolves around Scarsdale and his partner Sean Harris trying to convict a pedophile and break the ring he is a part of. Someone in the police department seems to be leaking information to the suspect so he always seems one step ahead. Can they crack the case before Scarsdale is removed from duty?
Helping them is Dani Mueller, a police crime analyst but she has a secret that could threaten the case and lose Dani her job.
The characters of Jason and Dani are really well written. They both have a sadness in their life - Jason, the loss of his wife and Dani the brutal abuse and murder of her young daughter. They meet through work and although Shannon instantly falls for Dani (as only a young child can) it is to the authors credit that Jason and Dani are not thrown together as a romantic sidebar to the story. The attraction is there but both are wary, for their own reasons and attraction is really as far as it goes.
Towards the end of the story things really hot up with threats to all and a race to save lives and break the case.
The story ends in a much better place than where it started and, I must say, I cared about the characters enough for that to please me immensely.
January 2, 2014
A very well done story, that just wasn’t for me.
I rate this book at 4 stars because I can easily tell the author put the hard work into it that is required to make and sell a novel. I'm fairly new to the crime drama genre and this book kinda reaffirmed what I had already known about the genre, that I find it dull. Of course that's just my personal opinion, with the over saturation of crime drama on TV lately I really found the book hard to get into.
However, that doesn't mean that Brenham didn't do a really good job on it. At no point did I find the scenes hard to imagine or confusing. He did a wonderful job describing them. His characters were also very thought out (if not a little cliché in the sense that they were troubled. But then again what cop isn't a little troubled.) I also found no errors in formatting or typos, suggesting that the publisher did a good job on the editing, and nothing destroys a good story faster than bad editing.
The only real negatives that I can think of for the book are again, just the fact that it’s not my kind of story. However, I know for a fact that crime drama is huge right now and I have no problem saying that this one will fit in with the pack just fine. I highly recommend it for any investigative/crime drama enthusiast.
If I had to pick one thing that really annoyed me about the book, besides what’s stated above, is that Brenham alternated between third person POV and first person POV. Again, I'm not a fan of the genre so I don't know if this happens a lot but for me I found it kind of jarring.
So in the end, I know this book is one that many would love, including my dad, but for me it just wasn't my style.
I rate this book at 4 stars because I can easily tell the author put the hard work into it that is required to make and sell a novel. I'm fairly new to the crime drama genre and this book kinda reaffirmed what I had already known about the genre, that I find it dull. Of course that's just my personal opinion, with the over saturation of crime drama on TV lately I really found the book hard to get into.
However, that doesn't mean that Brenham didn't do a really good job on it. At no point did I find the scenes hard to imagine or confusing. He did a wonderful job describing them. His characters were also very thought out (if not a little cliché in the sense that they were troubled. But then again what cop isn't a little troubled.) I also found no errors in formatting or typos, suggesting that the publisher did a good job on the editing, and nothing destroys a good story faster than bad editing.
The only real negatives that I can think of for the book are again, just the fact that it’s not my kind of story. However, I know for a fact that crime drama is huge right now and I have no problem saying that this one will fit in with the pack just fine. I highly recommend it for any investigative/crime drama enthusiast.
If I had to pick one thing that really annoyed me about the book, besides what’s stated above, is that Brenham alternated between third person POV and first person POV. Again, I'm not a fan of the genre so I don't know if this happens a lot but for me I found it kind of jarring.
So in the end, I know this book is one that many would love, including my dad, but for me it just wasn't my style.
June 9, 2013
Reviewer: Charlee
Rating: 5 out of 5 Fairies
I honestly couldn't wait to start reading Price of Justice. I love a good crime thriller; however,I often find myself disappointed by boring storylines and nothing to grip me. BUT, I have to say, this book was awesome! It's well written with plenty going on to keep my brain busy.
Following the story of a cop, Jason Scarsdale is trying to adjust to life following the death of his beloved wife, while struggling to be everything his little girl needs him to be, and still catch the sickos on the street, of which there are many! Scarsdale finds a friend in the form of Dani, who also works at the precinct, and together, with his daughter, Shannon, they get on like a house on fire.
But Dani has secrets of her own and could unwittingly bring a whole world of trouble to Scarsdale and Shannon. Scarsdale must do what is best for Shannon despite breaking his own, and Shannon's heart by doing it.
Fighting custody battles with his mother-in-law, Scarsdale's world is ripped apart once again when the ring of paedophiles he is chasing threaten his precious daughter. Shannon is all Scarsdale has left, but can he protect his little girl? A very well deserved 5 stars!
Rating: 5 out of 5 Fairies
I honestly couldn't wait to start reading Price of Justice. I love a good crime thriller; however,I often find myself disappointed by boring storylines and nothing to grip me. BUT, I have to say, this book was awesome! It's well written with plenty going on to keep my brain busy.
Following the story of a cop, Jason Scarsdale is trying to adjust to life following the death of his beloved wife, while struggling to be everything his little girl needs him to be, and still catch the sickos on the street, of which there are many! Scarsdale finds a friend in the form of Dani, who also works at the precinct, and together, with his daughter, Shannon, they get on like a house on fire.
But Dani has secrets of her own and could unwittingly bring a whole world of trouble to Scarsdale and Shannon. Scarsdale must do what is best for Shannon despite breaking his own, and Shannon's heart by doing it.
Fighting custody battles with his mother-in-law, Scarsdale's world is ripped apart once again when the ring of paedophiles he is chasing threaten his precious daughter. Shannon is all Scarsdale has left, but can he protect his little girl? A very well deserved 5 stars!
October 8, 2018
One of the year's best thrillers! Through alternating points of view, author Alan Brenham deftly reveals a psychopath who is hell-bent on exacting revenge for some past indiscretion (“If only that prick cop treated him with a little respect back in Dayton”). But the perp isn’t content to simply assassinate Marshall from afar as he watches the TV news crews roll into the crime scene. He’s going to have a little fun before making Marshall pay the ultimate price.
Brenham’s fourth novel is every bit as engrossing his Jason Scarsdale series that came before it. If there’s one distinguishing thread that runs through Brenham’s work, it’s humanity, a trait sorely lacking in most cookie-cutter police procedurals.
Check out the rest of my review at BestThrillers.com.
Brenham’s fourth novel is every bit as engrossing his Jason Scarsdale series that came before it. If there’s one distinguishing thread that runs through Brenham’s work, it’s humanity, a trait sorely lacking in most cookie-cutter police procedurals.
Check out the rest of my review at BestThrillers.com.
April 21, 2014
This is my kind of book. It grabs you from the very beginning, has enough elements going to keep you interested and leaves you satisfied and exhausted at the end. You can sympathize with Detective Scarsdale, the loss of his wife, trying to juggle job and being a single dad to his 5 year old daughter, knowing that 2 supervisors have it out for him. You really know from the beginning who did what but it's the way they go about trying to prove it that is so entertaining.
I received this from the author for an honest review and I loved it. Can't wait for his next book to come out.
I received this from the author for an honest review and I loved it. Can't wait for his next book to come out.
June 10, 2013
I have to admit that, due to the nature of this book, I was very nervous about reviewing it. I am so glad I gave it a go!
This book has everything a great crime novel needs, strong characters, believable storyline and is obviously well researched.
With twists and turns and cliff hangers that actually made me gasp out loud, this white knuckle ride left me wanting to read more.
A book I would be more than happy to recommend as well as read again.
~Emma~
This book has everything a great crime novel needs, strong characters, believable storyline and is obviously well researched.
With twists and turns and cliff hangers that actually made me gasp out loud, this white knuckle ride left me wanting to read more.
A book I would be more than happy to recommend as well as read again.
~Emma~
May 23, 2013
You will become invested in the characters soon after you open the book. They are those that you can relate to since the author does such a great job of drawing them out for you. This book is a great thriller, great dialogue, quick pace and adventure suspense mixed together for a compelling read...3.5 stars!
August 15, 2018
Brenham will not disappoint you with the mystery of who's holding the wrings. Not graphic if you're worried about the pedophile just a love story on trust and restructuring of ones heart.
Great emotions of ups and downs dealing with lost, revenge and money. Those we trust with our lives sometimes are the ones we should be running and hiding under the bed.
Great emotions of ups and downs dealing with lost, revenge and money. Those we trust with our lives sometimes are the ones we should be running and hiding under the bed.
March 20, 2013
Ending was a let down, and a few editing errors in the book. Otherwise, a very good adventure.
May 28, 2024
Alan Brenham's Pride of Justice is a gripping thriller that masterfully intertwines suspense, mystery, and legal drama. Brenham's background as a law enforcement officer and attorney infuses the narrative with a sense of authenticity and realism, crafting a compelling story that captures the reader's attention from the outset.
The plot centers on Detective Jason Scarsdale, a dedicated investigator who relentlessly pursues justice while grappling with personal struggles. His life becomes more complicated when he encounters Dani Mueller, a determined and enigmatic woman seeking her own form of justice. Their uneasy alliance forms the crux of the story as they work to solve a complex murder case, unearthing a labyrinth of dark secrets, deceit, and corruption. Brenham's character development stands out. Scarsdale is portrayed as a complex individual, battling internal demons and moral dilemmas that give him depth and relatability. Dani Mueller is equally intriguing, with her secretive nature and personal vendetta keeping readers hooked and curious about her true motives. Their interactions are charged with tension and mutual distrust, adding another layer of complexity to the narrative. The plot is well-constructed, with carefully placed twists and turns that maintain the tension and pace. Brenham's knowledge of investigative procedures adds gratifying credibility to the story through his meticulous attention to detail.
Pride of Justice offers a sophisticated exploration of justice, morality, and the lengths people will go to protect those they love. Fans of the genre will eagerly anticipate Brenham's next work.
The plot centers on Detective Jason Scarsdale, a dedicated investigator who relentlessly pursues justice while grappling with personal struggles. His life becomes more complicated when he encounters Dani Mueller, a determined and enigmatic woman seeking her own form of justice. Their uneasy alliance forms the crux of the story as they work to solve a complex murder case, unearthing a labyrinth of dark secrets, deceit, and corruption. Brenham's character development stands out. Scarsdale is portrayed as a complex individual, battling internal demons and moral dilemmas that give him depth and relatability. Dani Mueller is equally intriguing, with her secretive nature and personal vendetta keeping readers hooked and curious about her true motives. Their interactions are charged with tension and mutual distrust, adding another layer of complexity to the narrative. The plot is well-constructed, with carefully placed twists and turns that maintain the tension and pace. Brenham's knowledge of investigative procedures adds gratifying credibility to the story through his meticulous attention to detail.
Pride of Justice offers a sophisticated exploration of justice, morality, and the lengths people will go to protect those they love. Fans of the genre will eagerly anticipate Brenham's next work.
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