What do you think?
Joe Burgess #2
The Angel of Knowlton Park
Homicide detective Joe Burgess investigates after the body of eight-year-old Timothy Watts is found wrapped in a blanket in a Portland, Maine park.
- GenresMysteryProceduralCrime
387 pages, Hardcover
Published January 1, 2008
About the author
Kate Flora
55 books130 followersKate Flora grew up on a chicken farm in Maine where the Friday afternoon trip to the library was the high point of her week. She dreamed of being able to create the kind of compelling, enchanting worlds of the books she disappeared into every week, but growing up in the era when “help wanted” ads were still sex-segregated, she felt her calling was to go to law school and get the job they told her she couldn’t have.
After law school, Kate worked in the Maine attorney general’s office, protecting battered kids, chasing deadbeat dads, and representing the Human Rights Commission. Those years taught her all a crime writer needs to know about the human propensity to commit horrible acts. After some years in private practice, she decided to give writing a serious try when she quit the law to stay at home for a few years with her young sons. That ‘serious try’ led to ten tenacious and hellacious years in the unpublished writer’s corner, followed, finally, by the sale of her Thea Kozak series.
Kate’s eighteen books will include eight Thea Kozak mysteries, five gritty Joe Burgess police procedurals, a suspense thriller (written under the name Katharine Clark), two true crime books, Death Dealer and Finding Amy (co-written with Joseph Loughlin, a Portland, Maine Deputy Police Chief), a Maine game warden's memoir, A Good Man with a Dog, co-written with Roger Guay, and a book about police shootings from the police point of view, Shots Fired: The misunderstandings, misconceptions, and myths about police shootings, co-written with Joseph K. Loughlin. Finding Amy was a 2007 Edgar nominee as well as a Maine Literary Award finalist, and has been optioned for a movie. Kate’s award-winning short stories have been widely anthologized and Redemption and And Grant You Peace, her third and fourth Joe Burgess mysteries, won the Maine Literary Award for Crime Fiction.
Flora's fiction, nonfiction, and short fiction have been finalists for the Edgar, Agatha, Anthony, and Derringer Awards.
She is a founding member of the New England Crime Bake, the region's annual mystery conference, and the Maine Crime Wave. With two other crime writers, she started founded Level Best Books, where she worked as an editor and publisher for seven years. She served a term as international president of Sisters in Crime, an organization founded to promote awareness of women writers’ contributions to the mystery field. Currently, she teaches writing and does manuscript critiques for Grub Street in Boston.
She has two sons (one into film and the other into photovoltaics) two lovely daughters-in-law, an adorable eight-year-old grandson and five granddogs, Frances, Otis, Harvey, Oscar, and Daisy. When not conducting research for her novels and nonfiction—research that includes riding an ATV through the Canadian woods or hiding in a tick-infested field waiting to be found by search and rescue dogs—Kate can often be found in her garden, waging war against the woodchucks and her husband’s lawnmower, or in the kitchen, devising clever and devious ways to get the men in her life to eat their vegetables.
After law school, Kate worked in the Maine attorney general’s office, protecting battered kids, chasing deadbeat dads, and representing the Human Rights Commission. Those years taught her all a crime writer needs to know about the human propensity to commit horrible acts. After some years in private practice, she decided to give writing a serious try when she quit the law to stay at home for a few years with her young sons. That ‘serious try’ led to ten tenacious and hellacious years in the unpublished writer’s corner, followed, finally, by the sale of her Thea Kozak series.
Kate’s eighteen books will include eight Thea Kozak mysteries, five gritty Joe Burgess police procedurals, a suspense thriller (written under the name Katharine Clark), two true crime books, Death Dealer and Finding Amy (co-written with Joseph Loughlin, a Portland, Maine Deputy Police Chief), a Maine game warden's memoir, A Good Man with a Dog, co-written with Roger Guay, and a book about police shootings from the police point of view, Shots Fired: The misunderstandings, misconceptions, and myths about police shootings, co-written with Joseph K. Loughlin. Finding Amy was a 2007 Edgar nominee as well as a Maine Literary Award finalist, and has been optioned for a movie. Kate’s award-winning short stories have been widely anthologized and Redemption and And Grant You Peace, her third and fourth Joe Burgess mysteries, won the Maine Literary Award for Crime Fiction.
Flora's fiction, nonfiction, and short fiction have been finalists for the Edgar, Agatha, Anthony, and Derringer Awards.
She is a founding member of the New England Crime Bake, the region's annual mystery conference, and the Maine Crime Wave. With two other crime writers, she started founded Level Best Books, where she worked as an editor and publisher for seven years. She served a term as international president of Sisters in Crime, an organization founded to promote awareness of women writers’ contributions to the mystery field. Currently, she teaches writing and does manuscript critiques for Grub Street in Boston.
She has two sons (one into film and the other into photovoltaics) two lovely daughters-in-law, an adorable eight-year-old grandson and five granddogs, Frances, Otis, Harvey, Oscar, and Daisy. When not conducting research for her novels and nonfiction—research that includes riding an ATV through the Canadian woods or hiding in a tick-infested field waiting to be found by search and rescue dogs—Kate can often be found in her garden, waging war against the woodchucks and her husband’s lawnmower, or in the kitchen, devising clever and devious ways to get the men in her life to eat their vegetables.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews
January 1, 2019
This is #2 in the Joe Burgess Series, and he is still driving himself so hard that he's really a bit of a masochist. It's still annoying. But the story is carefully plotted, and the timeline is seamless. I devoured it in spite of (not because of) the ongoing litany of Joe's knee pain, lack of sleep, lack of decent meals, etc, etc. Somehow he is stuck into my psyche and I really love these mysteries/police procedurals. The stories take place in Portland, Maine, which becomes a character in its own right. Recommended.
November 17, 2019
There is a lot to like in this series. There are so many police procedurals out there, but somehow Flora seems to put one in the picture more effectively than many of the others. The way the Portland Police Department people talk with each other has verisimilitude, as does the difficult rhythm of police work -- painstaking attention to detail, lots of frustration, long periods of waiting, and sudden calls to action interrupting one's personal life.
Readers should be warned that this is a dark plot. Pedophilia and violence against children does not make for easy reading, and Flora does not hold back much of the horror (though the reader does not witness anything first-hand). I also always respond positively to plots where you can begin to guess what actually happened, and this is one.
The writing varies between effective crisp dialog, and florid, overwritten prose. Here's an example of the latter: "the spirit of the dead boy screamed somewhere deep in his brain, a cry for justice...that reverberated like an echo."
Burgess, for the most part, is a good character. His repeatedly getting battered does get a bit old, as do his aches and pains, but I guess that can be a valid part of a character. What I have more difficulty is his frequently being described as "the meanest cop in Portland," something I have not really noticed happening in this book or its predecessor in the series. He is a deeply caring police professional who is obsessed with justice, especially when children are involved. That does not seem like a mean person to me. Sure, he can be testy when sleep-deprived, in pain and under stress, but I would not see that as mean.
Anyway, this is a good series so far and I will progress further into it.
Readers should be warned that this is a dark plot. Pedophilia and violence against children does not make for easy reading, and Flora does not hold back much of the horror (though the reader does not witness anything first-hand). I also always respond positively to plots where you can begin to guess what actually happened, and this is one.
The writing varies between effective crisp dialog, and florid, overwritten prose. Here's an example of the latter: "the spirit of the dead boy screamed somewhere deep in his brain, a cry for justice...that reverberated like an echo."
Burgess, for the most part, is a good character. His repeatedly getting battered does get a bit old, as do his aches and pains, but I guess that can be a valid part of a character. What I have more difficulty is his frequently being described as "the meanest cop in Portland," something I have not really noticed happening in this book or its predecessor in the series. He is a deeply caring police professional who is obsessed with justice, especially when children are involved. That does not seem like a mean person to me. Sure, he can be testy when sleep-deprived, in pain and under stress, but I would not see that as mean.
Anyway, this is a good series so far and I will progress further into it.
March 15, 2021
I received a review copy from eBook Discovery and this is my honest opinion. This is one more amazing, but not pretty read. The subject matter is dark and depressing but the main characters bring light and can lift the story out of the mire. They are resolute, dedicated, determined, stubborn, caring individuals who will not stop until they find justice for their victims. Are they realistic in all of their actions? Not by a long-shot. Most police departments, especially in the current "politically correct" society, wouldn't tolerate their actions for a minute. But if I or a family member needed justice would I want them on the case? You bet your life I would. As with the previous Joe Burgess book, there is plenty of action, intense investigation and interactions, and curveballs that tend to come out of left field.
My only continuing issue with Ms. Flora's books is her overuse (in my opinion) of profanity. I can deal with the f-bomb, even though I'd rather not, and all the other forms of profanity except the religious ones. I so wish she would drop those from her vocabulary. It is so bad I really want to ask if she kisses her mother with that filthy mouth! Obviously, I haven't reached the point that I'm willing to give up on her writing, but it is getting close. Maybe the next one will be better (in terms of profanity because I'm not sure she can get better in terms of writing) but I'm not going to hold my breath. I guess I'll just have to read it to find out.
My only continuing issue with Ms. Flora's books is her overuse (in my opinion) of profanity. I can deal with the f-bomb, even though I'd rather not, and all the other forms of profanity except the religious ones. I so wish she would drop those from her vocabulary. It is so bad I really want to ask if she kisses her mother with that filthy mouth! Obviously, I haven't reached the point that I'm willing to give up on her writing, but it is getting close. Maybe the next one will be better (in terms of profanity because I'm not sure she can get better in terms of writing) but I'm not going to hold my breath. I guess I'll just have to read it to find out.
October 28, 2018
Who You Gonna Call?
The world needs more like Joe Burgess in Kate Flora’s THE ANGEL OF KNOWLTON PARK, conscientious, principled, and determined to bring justice, no matter what. He's an amazing, strong, real character, and if I needed someone to watch my back or save me from a monster, he'd be my first choice. I'd even order pizza for him afterward, or rather, for them. Burgess said it was the team, good people acting together.
Vacation plans dropped, girl friend has to understand, injured knee iced and wrapped, wounds stitched . . . and he just keeps going. Clues are found, confusions interfere, but justice promised must be delivered. This is not an easy book, well-written but not easy. There are dark places, but good people bring some light. I have already requested the next book in the series. I wish Burgess could clean up the world.
A few favorite quotes:
“Crime scenes spoke volumes . . . It was his job to figure out what they were saying.”
“hard winter and spring . . . visions of that peaceful lake . .. It was hard to let those visions go. But Timmy Watts was dead and for now his attention needed to be here.”
“A diamond in the rough . . . full of wonder and curiosity. He was so needy it broke your heart . . . natural generosity.”
“Not hoping for pain free days, but simply for less painful ones.”
Hope is made of small things.”
The world needs more like Joe Burgess in Kate Flora’s THE ANGEL OF KNOWLTON PARK, conscientious, principled, and determined to bring justice, no matter what. He's an amazing, strong, real character, and if I needed someone to watch my back or save me from a monster, he'd be my first choice. I'd even order pizza for him afterward, or rather, for them. Burgess said it was the team, good people acting together.
Vacation plans dropped, girl friend has to understand, injured knee iced and wrapped, wounds stitched . . . and he just keeps going. Clues are found, confusions interfere, but justice promised must be delivered. This is not an easy book, well-written but not easy. There are dark places, but good people bring some light. I have already requested the next book in the series. I wish Burgess could clean up the world.
A few favorite quotes:
“Crime scenes spoke volumes . . . It was his job to figure out what they were saying.”
“hard winter and spring . . . visions of that peaceful lake . .. It was hard to let those visions go. But Timmy Watts was dead and for now his attention needed to be here.”
“A diamond in the rough . . . full of wonder and curiosity. He was so needy it broke your heart . . . natural generosity.”
“Not hoping for pain free days, but simply for less painful ones.”
Hope is made of small things.”
July 10, 2019
Homicide Detective, Joe Burgess is on his way to go on vacation with his girlfriend, Chris, when he gets called to the site of the death of a child. The child, Timmy Watts lives with a family that does not care for him at all. The neighborhood has been Timmy's hangout and DHS has fallen down on the job. What Burgess and his team discoveer makes for a very emotional read. Even though this is a fiction book it is all too clear that this could really happen in real life so it was hard for me to read this book. The book was very good. Only discovered a few errors and they did not distract from the reading. A hard story but good edition to the series. Highly recommend this book.
October 25, 2019
Burgess called to crime scene of a young child. It was to be his vacation time, they couldn’t locate Kyle, so he got the case. I like Joe Burgess , he brings his flaws out in the story, the tears the case bring he waits till he is at home. Looking at this undernourish boy, that wandered the area for a kind word, or for a little food. The body spoke volumns to Joe, this was an overkill, and he wanted to know why and get the killer. I Like the characters they seem real, and what they endured, and how they stretch themselves in a case, especially when a child. Good series, and good characters.
February 14, 2021
As a police procedural, this story has a very good pace. It's very entertaining and easy to read, and we really get to know the characters well. The problem is that the main character isn't in character by not getting rid of his bad superior. I started by getting a new English teacher in 4th grade.
I received this book for free from eBook Discovery. I voluntarily post this review. This is my honest review.
I received this book for free from eBook Discovery. I voluntarily post this review. This is my honest review.
November 14, 2017
Joe Burgess is dedicated to his work - perhaps too dedicated, as when an innocent child is killed on his Portland beat, he takes justice for that victim as an all-too-personal quest. A police procedural with heart (and blood, and the dog shit reality of the street), with an unforgettable cast of characters both in and out of the precinct. Recommended.
January 8, 2019
Blue Lives Matter
Kate Flora didn't have to buy she brought to life what it means to be a policeman. Joe Burgess, the meanest detective on the force, is also the one who can solve this case and he does it even after being taken off the case.
Kate Flora uses this opportunity to teach us all about the humanity of a police officer. So glad I read this book.
Kate Flora didn't have to buy she brought to life what it means to be a policeman. Joe Burgess, the meanest detective on the force, is also the one who can solve this case and he does it even after being taken off the case.
Kate Flora uses this opportunity to teach us all about the humanity of a police officer. So glad I read this book.
May 25, 2017
Thanks Kate!
Best cop story in a long time! The in's and outs, day in day out struggles of murder detectives are truely overlooked sometimes by us all. The determination and dedication to their jobs is what us citizens never see.
Best cop story in a long time! The in's and outs, day in day out struggles of murder detectives are truely overlooked sometimes by us all. The determination and dedication to their jobs is what us citizens never see.
July 17, 2017
Great book
This is my second Joe Burgess book. Real, gritty and brutal at times, the plot pulls the reader in and leaves them feeling as if they were standing in the middle of a crime scene. Two books down...time to sink into the third!
This is my second Joe Burgess book. Real, gritty and brutal at times, the plot pulls the reader in and leaves them feeling as if they were standing in the middle of a crime scene. Two books down...time to sink into the third!
December 16, 2021
Wonderfully written
This novel takes the seamier side of life and drags you with it. You can picture the rooms, the cemetery & even the victims. The characters were solid as well as being human. I’m going to be reading more from this author.
This novel takes the seamier side of life and drags you with it. You can picture the rooms, the cemetery & even the victims. The characters were solid as well as being human. I’m going to be reading more from this author.
April 15, 2022
Moves along
The story moves along well. The author can be a bit wordy by revisiting information that she has already shared but that's not a deal breaker. Proofreaders could improve.
The story moves along well. The author can be a bit wordy by revisiting information that she has already shared but that's not a deal breaker. Proofreaders could improve.
August 19, 2023
Joe Burgess is my kind of cop, total, "Bulldog." The story is frightening and the family the kid lives in is more so. The book was well written and was a page turner for me. Kate Flora is an excellent writer and I look forward to reading her other books!
September 21, 2018
Joe Burgess is good company. Nice to know he’s there to battle on keeping the world a little safer
November 28, 2021
Good mystery--kept me guessing almost to the end. Setting close to my home. I will read more of this series involving Joe Burgess.
October 29, 2019
This is Book #2 in the Det. Joe Burgess detective series by Kate Flora. Even though I was looking for a novel that takes place in Maine, the location doesn't come into play with the story unless you have knowledge of the towns and cities around Portland Maine... non the less ... the story line doesn't need the geographical location to keep you in suspense. Very good.
Read
May 1, 2010The Angel of Knowlton Park, by Kate Flora, a-minus, No. 2 in the Detective Joe Burgess series. Narrated by Terry Rose, produced by Books in Motion, downloaded from audible.com.
This series takes place in Portland Maine, and they are police procedurals. We have the traditional outspoken driven cop, Burgess, and his team, and the Deputy of the Department who hates him and is always trying to get him fired. In this book, Burgess is just ready to go on vacation, when his immediate supervising lieutenant says he can’t go on vacation because an eight-year-old boy, Timmy, has been found in the park. He has been brutally murdered. Joe Burgess has a gift for investigating child murders, but that is in part because he is still tortured by the murderer of a child he wasn’t able to put away. As he investigates, he finds that Timmy was a member of a family with seemingly no redeeming characteristics. The family is into all kinds of crime, including one brother into pedaphilia. As Burgess and his team investigate, things become quite complicated with more children put in danger, and the Deputy of the department is trying to find ways to get Burgess discredited so he can fire him. This is an action-packed book. I’m not fond of the narrator. In both of these books by Kate Flora, this narrator seems to have a limited range of different voices to use, so he uses voices which sound quite silly, almost cartoonish, to increase the variety of voices. It would be better if he didn’t try to do different voices because many of the ones he creates are extremely irritating. However, the book itself is so good that I finished it despite my irritation.
This series takes place in Portland Maine, and they are police procedurals. We have the traditional outspoken driven cop, Burgess, and his team, and the Deputy of the Department who hates him and is always trying to get him fired. In this book, Burgess is just ready to go on vacation, when his immediate supervising lieutenant says he can’t go on vacation because an eight-year-old boy, Timmy, has been found in the park. He has been brutally murdered. Joe Burgess has a gift for investigating child murders, but that is in part because he is still tortured by the murderer of a child he wasn’t able to put away. As he investigates, he finds that Timmy was a member of a family with seemingly no redeeming characteristics. The family is into all kinds of crime, including one brother into pedaphilia. As Burgess and his team investigate, things become quite complicated with more children put in danger, and the Deputy of the department is trying to find ways to get Burgess discredited so he can fire him. This is an action-packed book. I’m not fond of the narrator. In both of these books by Kate Flora, this narrator seems to have a limited range of different voices to use, so he uses voices which sound quite silly, almost cartoonish, to increase the variety of voices. It would be better if he didn’t try to do different voices because many of the ones he creates are extremely irritating. However, the book itself is so good that I finished it despite my irritation.
January 26, 2009
Detective Joe Burgess is a crusty and tough, yet caring,often kind member of the homicide team in Portland,Maine. They are confronted with the senseless murder of a beautiful eight year old boy. His family members include thieves, drug addicts and dealers, prostitution and many other senseless heinous crimes. They live in indescribable squalor.The child has lived with extreme neglect, but had somehow managed to be an appealing boy. In addition, he usually had to seek out kind neighbors for food.
This case is filled with frustrations and brutality for the team. The family and most of the neighbors deny having seen anything or knowing anything to assist with this frustrating case.
Flora has written this story vividly, with a careful eye for details. She has imparted the sense of determination of these policemen to solve this horrifying crime.
This case is filled with frustrations and brutality for the team. The family and most of the neighbors deny having seen anything or knowing anything to assist with this frustrating case.
Flora has written this story vividly, with a careful eye for details. She has imparted the sense of determination of these policemen to solve this horrifying crime.
June 7, 2018
I like Joe. He takes a lickin' and keeps on tickin'. There's a certain charm to his persistence, to his Sisyphean task of trying to navigate the bureaucratic bullshit to solve the case and to his ability to make sure his personal life does not come before work. And Joe develops a little more each book. Kinda feel like I know his pain points as well as his pleasures, what few he allows himself.
In spite of the cliche I like the way Flora uses her straight-forward storytelling to make and keep it interesting. She keeps it moving along with enough the detail to get the timber and temper of the place. I get a sense that I'm doing a ride-along with Joe's and the team.
Just started Joe Burgess #3 this morning :)
In spite of the cliche I like the way Flora uses her straight-forward storytelling to make and keep it interesting. She keeps it moving along with enough the detail to get the timber and temper of the place. I get a sense that I'm doing a ride-along with Joe's and the team.
Just started Joe Burgess #3 this morning :)
January 5, 2020
Compelling
Normally I avoid crime novels about murdered children because they're too upsetting. This second in the Joe Burgess series was definitely upsetting but I couldn't put it down. Joe and his team of Portland, Maine police detectives are so deftly written, such good, caring cops they offer a hopeful counterpoint to the horrifying people and crimes they are up against. This book has more humor than the first which helped since the subject was harder to read about. I love the relationship between Joe and his new love, as well as the continuously unfolding backstories on the other detectives. This is not a genre I'm usually drawn to but I look forward to the next Joe Burgess novel.
Normally I avoid crime novels about murdered children because they're too upsetting. This second in the Joe Burgess series was definitely upsetting but I couldn't put it down. Joe and his team of Portland, Maine police detectives are so deftly written, such good, caring cops they offer a hopeful counterpoint to the horrifying people and crimes they are up against. This book has more humor than the first which helped since the subject was harder to read about. I love the relationship between Joe and his new love, as well as the continuously unfolding backstories on the other detectives. This is not a genre I'm usually drawn to but I look forward to the next Joe Burgess novel.
April 10, 2009
This one captured me from the get-go. Compulsive reading, but dark. Normally I don't go for stories involving crimes against children, but this one worked. Set in Portland, Maine, Flora's protagonist, Detective Burgess, is utterly sympathetic and he exudes dogged determination. Clearly, police procedurals are my go-to reads right now. Compare with William Kent Krueger, Brian Freeman, and P.J.Tracy.
July 19, 2011
It is hard to say I liked a book when the subject is so dark. An eight year old boy is brutally murdered and the entire book is a police drama detailing their efforts to solve the murder. The book is well written and you get a sense of the teamwork and sometimes luck it takes to solve such a crime. Joe Burgess (detective and main character) is a hard working and likeable guy. I will read another of the Joe Burgess novels just to keep up with him.
March 26, 2012
I like this one even better than Playing God. Det. Joe Burgess is really growing on me as a character. I keep drawing parallels between him and Preston/Child's Lt. Vincent D'Agosta, although you get to know Burgess much better than D'Agosta because the writing is 100% from Burgess' perspective. Police procedure is very realist. No - "Look! the bad guy conveniently popped up at the last minute and asked me to arrest him! All in a day's work..." like some detective novels.
May 14, 2012
I have just finished 3 books in this series. The mystery cases are very good but it is overkill (no pun intended) with the information about being a policeman. I would recommend beginning with the first one but read some other books before you read the second, etc.
January 28, 2015
Angel of knowlton park
I have already bought book three in the Joe Burgess series. You really feel for these detectives as they work their way through cases. GP and their own boss in their faces all the way.
I have already bought book three in the Joe Burgess series. You really feel for these detectives as they work their way through cases. GP and their own boss in their faces all the way.
March 16, 2020
Joe and Team at it Again
Well developed story and characters! Constant action, twists and turns, characters are very human and great dedicated detectives. A must read series! Getting ready for book 3!!!
Well developed story and characters! Constant action, twists and turns, characters are very human and great dedicated detectives. A must read series! Getting ready for book 3!!!
March 20, 2009
Great character development and characters you'd want to meet. You can't help but pull for the good guys in their quest to find the doer.
May 9, 2009
This is a thoughtful book about a childs murder and how it affects the people who have to find the killer.
September 2, 2012
Okay, but loaded with formulaic tropes and soap-box posturing.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews