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Mike Romeo #3
Romeo's Hammer
She was beautiful and naked and dying... Mike Romeo finds her in the fog, on the beach, staggering around like a drunk. But it's not alcohol that's in her — it's poison. After getting this mysterious woman to the hospital, Romeo figures that's the end of the matter. But it's only the beginning. When the woman goes missing, Romeo is hired by her father to find her. But the trail grows cold, the circumstances strange. The people involved with her are a mix of L.A. odd and downright dangerous. There's a washed-up Hollywood star hoping for a comeback; hired muscle willing to break bones just for the workout; a fight manager with underworld connections; and a strange cult predicting the return of angels to the earth. And some very bad people who want Romeo dead. From the posh beaches of Malibu to the dark corners of L.A.'s fight game, Romeo's Hammer takes you on another thrill ride in the series that New York Times bestselling author Meg Gardiner calls "sharp as a switchblade."
260 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 25, 2017
759 people are currently reading
365 people want to read
About the author
James Scott Bell
132 books1,036 followersJim is a former trial lawyer who now writes and speaks full time. He is the bestselling author of Try Dying, No Legal Grounds, Presumed Guilty, Glimpses of Paradise, Breach of Promise and several other thrillers. He is a winner of the Christy Award for Excellence in Inspirational Fiction, and was a fiction columnist for Writers Digest magazine. He has written two books in the Writers' Digest series, Write Great Fiction: Plot & Structure and Revision & Self-Editing.
Jim has taught writing at Pepperdine University and numerous writers conferences. He attended the University of California, Santa Barbara where he studied writing with Raymond Carver.
Series:
* Shannon Saga (with Tracie Peterson)
* The Trials of Kit Shannon
* Ty Buchanan
Jim has taught writing at Pepperdine University and numerous writers conferences. He attended the University of California, Santa Barbara where he studied writing with Raymond Carver.
Series:
* Shannon Saga (with Tracie Peterson)
* The Trials of Kit Shannon
* Ty Buchanan
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 85 reviews
November 8, 2020
Book #3 in a snappy series about a pedantic ex cage fighting wise-guy who assists his lawyer friend fight bad guys in LA. Very entertaining!
June 14, 2020
Another great fun book in James Scott Bell's Mike Romeo series. On to # 4!
June 13, 2021
I really dig this author. I not only get a well plotted and interesting story, but a rambling philosophy lecture throughout the pages as well. Of course I will come back for another serving of Mike Romeo and Ira Rosen.
May 9, 2017
I am enthralled with this character! His well ordered mind has a laser focus on what is important amidst the flotsam of life. What hooked me were the classical references to the greatest thinkers of Western civilization and acerbic observations on modern life. Mr. Bell has a sharp mind and clearly reads widely in order to hone his character's persona. The little asides Mike Romeo makes are a wealth of deep thinking and observation about our cultural morass. And yet there is still humor in each book. James Scott Bell has a hit series on his hands. I hope my own characters will be half as compelling as Mike Romeo. If you need a thinking person's hero, Mike Romeo is your guy. Congratulations to Mr. Bell for another classy series! I can scarcely wait for the next book.
April 20, 2019
This series is great fun. Mike Romeo is an original thriller hero, a tough guy who quotes great thinkers and philosophers at the drop of a spent 9mm cartridge. There's the older-but-wiser mentor, the women you want to trust but can't, the villains you love to hate, all choreographed in fast-moving plots with plenty of mystery and action. The series started strong, and it just keeps getting better. This one is my favorite so far. James Scott Bell is a master of plotting and pacing. Try the Romeo series. If you're a thriller fan, you're in for a treat.
June 6, 2018
The main character is filled with an Intriguing mixture of literary references, philosophical musings, and vigilante justice. His “inner voice” is funny, and occasionally endearing. The situations he gets into are often violent, but he generally avoids starting fights. The story is a bit too tragic for my tastes, but it was a great story overall.
July 24, 2017
Very good book. I really like the way this author writes and draws his characters. There is a great deal of humor mixed in. A woman is on the beach definitely high on something. Romeo is enlisted to find out what really happened.
September 13, 2018
Loved it
I read all 3 books. When I read the 1st book I knew I was going to read them back to back. Excellent story,great characters, and the humor was right down my ally. Mr. Bell you will b one of my very top authors.
I read all 3 books. When I read the 1st book I knew I was going to read them back to back. Excellent story,great characters, and the humor was right down my ally. Mr. Bell you will b one of my very top authors.
December 14, 2018
Thoroughly enjoy this author, his characters, his wit, his writing style and story development. I was hooked with the 1st of the series but wanted to insure it wasn't a fluke before I commented. I am now eagerly looking forward to #4. His character Romeo is much like Jack Reacher in his appeal.
February 18, 2023
Strange mystery
I think the story was laden down with way too much philosophy. It really distracted from the mystery of finding the missing girl. Then the author left you hanging as to what happened to her and the main character, s future.
I think the story was laden down with way too much philosophy. It really distracted from the mystery of finding the missing girl. Then the author left you hanging as to what happened to her and the main character, s future.
August 6, 2021
Too much fill in
I couldn't get into this book. It had too much philosophical talk and too much fill in material. I got lost a few times.
I couldn't get into this book. It had too much philosophical talk and too much fill in material. I got lost a few times.
October 11, 2024
Romeo’s Hammer -
This was ok. Fairly unrealistic but readable. I think this was my least favorite book by this author but as stated, it’s readable.
This was ok. Fairly unrealistic but readable. I think this was my least favorite book by this author but as stated, it’s readable.
April 21, 2023
Think Robert B. Parker and Robert Crais, Elmore Leonard, and others who write in a similar style.
I was a fan of Robert B. Parker’s “Spenser” series. And while this is my first read in the “Romeo” series, I am liking it for the same reasons why I enjoyed spending quiet reading time with “Spenser”. There are several other characters in this book that I thoroughly enjoyed, and I look forward to getting to know them better in the near future.
Romeo does come across a lot like Spenser (book and television series). True, there no equivalent to the character Hawk, and I kind of miss that, but James Scott Bell isn’t writing about a character in someone else’s books. Romeo not having a “Susan Silverman” as a romantic interest is a point in James Scott Bell’s favour.
Spenser was a boxer by training, and he stayed true to the art. Romeo has a somewhat unconventional approach to hand-to-hand combat.
Romeo wins hands down when it comes to being able to draw from literature in general, and classical literature and philosophy, during the course of dialog. Nothing overly heavy or preachy; just the right references to add some special zing to the dialog, whether the folk listening in get it or not.
When I post a rating of either four stars or five stars, that is an indication that I am very interested in reading more by the author. Even better, I have four more books by James Scott Bell on my Kindle, and while it took some time for me to randomly select Romeo’s Hammer as my starting point, it was certainly a case of “better late than never”.
I was a fan of Robert B. Parker’s “Spenser” series. And while this is my first read in the “Romeo” series, I am liking it for the same reasons why I enjoyed spending quiet reading time with “Spenser”. There are several other characters in this book that I thoroughly enjoyed, and I look forward to getting to know them better in the near future.
Romeo does come across a lot like Spenser (book and television series). True, there no equivalent to the character Hawk, and I kind of miss that, but James Scott Bell isn’t writing about a character in someone else’s books. Romeo not having a “Susan Silverman” as a romantic interest is a point in James Scott Bell’s favour.
Spenser was a boxer by training, and he stayed true to the art. Romeo has a somewhat unconventional approach to hand-to-hand combat.
Romeo wins hands down when it comes to being able to draw from literature in general, and classical literature and philosophy, during the course of dialog. Nothing overly heavy or preachy; just the right references to add some special zing to the dialog, whether the folk listening in get it or not.
When I post a rating of either four stars or five stars, that is an indication that I am very interested in reading more by the author. Even better, I have four more books by James Scott Bell on my Kindle, and while it took some time for me to randomly select Romeo’s Hammer as my starting point, it was certainly a case of “better late than never”.
February 2, 2021
Mike, the classically educated former cage fighter is back, now living in a mobile home (owned by Ira) on the beach and driving a classic Mustang. When he comes across a staggering, naked woman on the beach, he get her help from Artra, a doctor at a local clinic, who discovers she was poisoned. Days later the girl's father comes to him because she has gone missing. Feeling a sense of responsibility, Mike agrees to search for her. Mike also befriends Carter "C Dog," a young weed-smoking, wanna-be rocker. Some guys that Mike embarrassed stole Carter's guitar in retribution.
Mike thinks that if he helps others he might make up for some of the bad he did. The Romeo series is filled with discussions on truth, living right, coming to grips with the past, and being educated. Because of who he is, how he looks, and the work he does, Mike is always being challenged to fight, even when he doesn't want to. He is afraid to get close to anyone because he feels he brings destruction.
There are no sex scenes, but innuendo and double entendre flourish. The profanity is suggested but not written. The violence level is the expected amount for this genre but not overly graphic.
Mike thinks that if he helps others he might make up for some of the bad he did. The Romeo series is filled with discussions on truth, living right, coming to grips with the past, and being educated. Because of who he is, how he looks, and the work he does, Mike is always being challenged to fight, even when he doesn't want to. He is afraid to get close to anyone because he feels he brings destruction.
There are no sex scenes, but innuendo and double entendre flourish. The profanity is suggested but not written. The violence level is the expected amount for this genre but not overly graphic.
December 16, 2025
Just OK
I could have given this Book a 1 Star Rating because the Main Character is Horrible he is Extremely Pretentious, a Smart A$$, a Mary Sue...
The Main Character is too Annoying to Enjoy this Book very Unlikable. He is a Know it All, Can Beat Anyone Up: Black Belts, Professional Body Guards, Thugs...
This Book is Written in an Arrogant Way. The Author and the Main Character are More Intelligent than Everyone and too Good for Everyone else. It is Not just Obsessed with Constant Quotes from Literature it is full of Uppity Lectures...
I Hate Books like this that Meander around. There is Way too much Going on for a 250 page Book. This Book Doesn't have a Good Focus on the Central Plot. It Goes in too many different directions.
I don't care about any of the Unnecessary Side plots the Side Characters they are All Badly Written.
I will Not Read Anything Else by this Author this is Not a Book I can Recommend.
I could have given this Book a 1 Star Rating because the Main Character is Horrible he is Extremely Pretentious, a Smart A$$, a Mary Sue...
The Main Character is too Annoying to Enjoy this Book very Unlikable. He is a Know it All, Can Beat Anyone Up: Black Belts, Professional Body Guards, Thugs...
This Book is Written in an Arrogant Way. The Author and the Main Character are More Intelligent than Everyone and too Good for Everyone else. It is Not just Obsessed with Constant Quotes from Literature it is full of Uppity Lectures...
I Hate Books like this that Meander around. There is Way too much Going on for a 250 page Book. This Book Doesn't have a Good Focus on the Central Plot. It Goes in too many different directions.
I don't care about any of the Unnecessary Side plots the Side Characters they are All Badly Written.
I will Not Read Anything Else by this Author this is Not a Book I can Recommend.
February 21, 2021
I bought this book at the recommendation of a friend, and downloaded the first two Romeo books also, as I like to read a series in order. I'm glad I did! The first book had a good plot, but it was dragged down a little by the burden of setting the stage for the new characters. Happily for us readers, in the rest of the series we get to enjoy the plots and characters without dwelling as much on Romeo's idiosyncracies, especially his compulsion to philosophize and annoy people with obfuscating intellectualisms. (Geez, it's infectious...)
Anyway, after reading all the available Spensers, Reachers, Rhodenbarrs, Bolitars, Allons, Plums, Peabodys, Cadfaels, etc., I'm always on the hunt for a good mystery/thriller read with a touch of humor. Mike Romeo fills the bill nicely. I really did laugh out loud at some of his descriptions and comments.
Anyway, after reading all the available Spensers, Reachers, Rhodenbarrs, Bolitars, Allons, Plums, Peabodys, Cadfaels, etc., I'm always on the hunt for a good mystery/thriller read with a touch of humor. Mike Romeo fills the bill nicely. I really did laugh out loud at some of his descriptions and comments.
January 5, 2019
Mike Romeo, on a beach, in fog, finds a naked girl. She's dying. He gets her to a hospital.
That is only the beginning.
The girl's father hires Romeo to find his daughter.
Romeo is an interesting character, with a sharp wit. From the beaches of Malibu to the corners of L.A., more interesting characters are introduced. That includes a strange cult predicting the return of angels to the earth.
I loved the biblical references in the story. Not in any way religious. Exciting plot, all the way to the end.
That is only the beginning.
The girl's father hires Romeo to find his daughter.
Romeo is an interesting character, with a sharp wit. From the beaches of Malibu to the corners of L.A., more interesting characters are introduced. That includes a strange cult predicting the return of angels to the earth.
I loved the biblical references in the story. Not in any way religious. Exciting plot, all the way to the end.
August 22, 2022
I enjoy this series a lot. The main character, Mike Romeo, makes frequent reference to philosophy. He is a genius who is deeply read in philosophy and literature. He's also physical formidable and he often finds himself trouble when trying to help someone else out. I also like Ira and some of the other secondary characters. They are fun, quick reads that pack some punch. I find the story plotting to be somewhat convoluted at times. Some things get resolved all too quickly, while other things sort of hang.
January 19, 2019
Oh no, I finished it
You know those books where you are loving it so much that you don’t want it to be over, but you can’t stop reading it anyway? Those are the Mike Romeo books for me. The intellect, the wit, the dialogue, it’s all there. I don’t know why someone hasn’t snapped this up to make it into a television or movie hit, but they’re missing the boat. When it does become a movie, please for the love of all that is good don’t cast Nicole Kidman‘s ex as Mike.
You know those books where you are loving it so much that you don’t want it to be over, but you can’t stop reading it anyway? Those are the Mike Romeo books for me. The intellect, the wit, the dialogue, it’s all there. I don’t know why someone hasn’t snapped this up to make it into a television or movie hit, but they’re missing the boat. When it does become a movie, please for the love of all that is good don’t cast Nicole Kidman‘s ex as Mike.
March 6, 2021
Every author could take a page from Mr. Bell's books. And what I mean to say is that the books are clean, well-plotted, beautifully written. The book is filled with excellent characters and dialog that flows like a natural conversation rather than characters reading from a script. Even better, Mike Romeo is not a cookie-cutter protagonist - he's smart, thoughtful, and although he's flawed, he's hopefully seeking redemption along the way. Well worth the read!
March 22, 2021
Romeo Rules
Imagine a cross between the series Kung Fu meets the detective Columbo and a philosophical MMA fighter? That’s what you have here. An extremely well written story that had me laughing and intrigued, the main character’s sarcastic wit and philosophical musings were so far out there that I couldn’t put the darn thing down till I was finished. I’m going to go and read them all. Highly recommend it!!!
Imagine a cross between the series Kung Fu meets the detective Columbo and a philosophical MMA fighter? That’s what you have here. An extremely well written story that had me laughing and intrigued, the main character’s sarcastic wit and philosophical musings were so far out there that I couldn’t put the darn thing down till I was finished. I’m going to go and read them all. Highly recommend it!!!
April 11, 2021
This is a detective thriller that was a fun read. The author created a heroic detective who I found myself rooting for immediately. Mike Romeo has a great sense of humor, is extremely well read, and has a kind heart, but when action is called for, he steps up. In some ways he reminds me of a combination of Robert Crais' 2 detectives, Elvis Cole and Joe Pike. I look forward to reading more of the Mike Romeo series.
June 19, 2021
Absolutely the best!
Couldn't have enjoyed a book any more than this. Michael's philosophy is entertaining (just not to those he is spouting off to). His smartalleck mouth causes outbursts of laughter (on my end) and makes for a fast moving story that twists and turns and ends up resolved for additional adventures for Michael another day. Some characters are meaty and some are classics,as you will find. Great story!
Couldn't have enjoyed a book any more than this. Michael's philosophy is entertaining (just not to those he is spouting off to). His smartalleck mouth causes outbursts of laughter (on my end) and makes for a fast moving story that twists and turns and ends up resolved for additional adventures for Michael another day. Some characters are meaty and some are classics,as you will find. Great story!
October 17, 2024
An unexpected gem.
This book / series popped up without a search or any prior knowledge of this author. Unlike some new material I have explored, this one grabbed me right away, and kept me turning pages in the need to see what happens to the characters and who is behind the mayhem. I grew to like and care about the interesting and well developed cast. Can't wait to read the next one!
Tim
This book / series popped up without a search or any prior knowledge of this author. Unlike some new material I have explored, this one grabbed me right away, and kept me turning pages in the need to see what happens to the characters and who is behind the mayhem. I grew to like and care about the interesting and well developed cast. Can't wait to read the next one!
Tim
October 12, 2017
Mike Romeo
Continues in his adventures and we learn more of the past of this genius who went to Yale at age 14, but didn't graduate. As usual, Mike gets beat up, throws a few of his own punches, and manages to partially foil a dastardly plot, and as usual there are a few twists.
Waiting for the next booj!
Continues in his adventures and we learn more of the past of this genius who went to Yale at age 14, but didn't graduate. As usual, Mike gets beat up, throws a few of his own punches, and manages to partially foil a dastardly plot, and as usual there are a few twists.
Waiting for the next booj!
June 9, 2019
I really liked this series. It was intriguing and kept my interest. It was hard to get other things done as I read this series. I appreciate the suspense, the characters and the story line. I appreciate the "clean" book that is free from profanity and sexual content, which is unnecessary to a great book.
August 26, 2020
Because I don't write spoilers, I don't get into plots. All the Romeo novels by James Scott Bell are highly unique, very well-written, and worth reading. I can't wait for the next one, but I guess I'll have to. My reviews of Romeo's novels 2 through 5 will be this one, no changes. All the Romeo novels get five stars.
October 11, 2020
Thrillers just don't get better than this
If you haven't read any of the Mike Romeo books, you owe out to yourself to start with the first one. If you like Lee Child, you're going to love James Scott Bell.
If you've read the first two books in the series, then you know what to expect, and you won't be disappointed.
If you haven't read any of the Mike Romeo books, you owe out to yourself to start with the first one. If you like Lee Child, you're going to love James Scott Bell.
If you've read the first two books in the series, then you know what to expect, and you won't be disappointed.
February 19, 2021
I downloaded the book because it was free and I felt like reading a crime novel. It pulled me in after half a dozen pages. Set in modern-day bright Los Angeles, it nevertheless has a film-noir tinge to it. Mike Romeo has all the good bits of Mike Hammer and Sam Spade with a touch of Raylan Givens and Archie Goodwin thrown in. I enjoyed the book immensely.
April 13, 2021
Never Disappoints
Another great read by James Scott Bell. He rolls all the action, intrigue, and plot twists into one exciting page turner with humor, philosophy, and a likable protagonist even when he is reluctantly beating up on someone or killing. Subtle questions and answers about God are a bonus.
Another great read by James Scott Bell. He rolls all the action, intrigue, and plot twists into one exciting page turner with humor, philosophy, and a likable protagonist even when he is reluctantly beating up on someone or killing. Subtle questions and answers about God are a bonus.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 85 reviews