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Jason Coulter #2
Ten of Swords
Jason Coulter, a loner private eye and former cop, is hired to find a missing teenager in Salt Lake City.
The girl in question is Monica Gasteau, a serial runaway who, rumour has it, is involved in the supernatural occult.
Since his only lead is the usual hang-outs of Salt Lake youths, Jason stakes out a well-populated park in the hope of stumbling upon a clue.
But he gets far more than he bargained for.
When he finally spots Monica, all hell breaks loose.
Gun shots ring out, leaving two of her friends dead and one seriously injured.
A simple missing persons case has quickly transformed into a homicide incident with both the police and the FBI involved and protecting their own interests.
Although the obvious answer is racial motivation for the crime, Jason finds deeper connections linking the shootings.
The satanic Church of the Four-Sided Triangle keeps cropping up and with their thirst for ritual sacrifices, Jason is determined to bring them to justice.
Urging him forward is a steady stream of information from all angles – his former homicide partner, an FBI agent looking for a leg up, and a tarot card reader who foresees despair as the deadly Ten of Swords card is played.
Can he sort the genuine clues from the red herrings before another sacrifice is made?
The girl in question is Monica Gasteau, a serial runaway who, rumour has it, is involved in the supernatural occult.
Since his only lead is the usual hang-outs of Salt Lake youths, Jason stakes out a well-populated park in the hope of stumbling upon a clue.
But he gets far more than he bargained for.
When he finally spots Monica, all hell breaks loose.
Gun shots ring out, leaving two of her friends dead and one seriously injured.
A simple missing persons case has quickly transformed into a homicide incident with both the police and the FBI involved and protecting their own interests.
Although the obvious answer is racial motivation for the crime, Jason finds deeper connections linking the shootings.
The satanic Church of the Four-Sided Triangle keeps cropping up and with their thirst for ritual sacrifices, Jason is determined to bring them to justice.
Urging him forward is a steady stream of information from all angles – his former homicide partner, an FBI agent looking for a leg up, and a tarot card reader who foresees despair as the deadly Ten of Swords card is played.
Can he sort the genuine clues from the red herrings before another sacrifice is made?
- GenresMystery
185 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1991
About the author
John Levitt
13 books98 followersAbout the Author - from his website:
I grew up in New York City. After a stint at the University of Chicago (I didn’t graduate–I had things to do) I traveled around the country and ended up in San Francisco. Drugs and rock ‘n roll. Did some light shows for bands, learned to play guitar – the usual stuff. I forgot all about writing.
A few years later, while working at a ski lodge in Alta, Utah, I found I was getting bored. So I looked around for the most unlikely thing I could think of, and joined the Salt Lake City Police Department. I only planned to do it for a year, just for the experience. That year turned into seven.
When I left, I had enough material to fill a book. So I wrote one, a police thriller. Then another.
Dog Days was my first Urban Fantasy, followed by New Tricks and Unleashed. Play Dead is the latest in the series and the last, at least for a while.
I split my time these days between Alta, Utah, and San Francisco, and when I’m not working or writing, play guitar with my band in SF, The Procrastinistas.
The character of the dog, Lou – well, he’s sort of a dog – is based on a real dog. Big surprise there. I personally have one cat and no dogs -- but my girlfriend now has four.
I grew up in New York City. After a stint at the University of Chicago (I didn’t graduate–I had things to do) I traveled around the country and ended up in San Francisco. Drugs and rock ‘n roll. Did some light shows for bands, learned to play guitar – the usual stuff. I forgot all about writing.
A few years later, while working at a ski lodge in Alta, Utah, I found I was getting bored. So I looked around for the most unlikely thing I could think of, and joined the Salt Lake City Police Department. I only planned to do it for a year, just for the experience. That year turned into seven.
When I left, I had enough material to fill a book. So I wrote one, a police thriller. Then another.
Dog Days was my first Urban Fantasy, followed by New Tricks and Unleashed. Play Dead is the latest in the series and the last, at least for a while.
I split my time these days between Alta, Utah, and San Francisco, and when I’m not working or writing, play guitar with my band in SF, The Procrastinistas.
The character of the dog, Lou – well, he’s sort of a dog – is based on a real dog. Big surprise there. I personally have one cat and no dogs -- but my girlfriend now has four.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
July 3, 2016
This short story was jam packed with honest-to-goodness wacky characters who PI Jase Coulter used to his best advantage while finding his quarry. Along the way what he uncovers is a chilling murderer, who almost takes Jase out but with a lucky twist he survives by the skin of his teeth.
Action, mystery, suspense, sex, a little horror and a cat named Stony combine to create a great book by an author I have missed reading.
Action, mystery, suspense, sex, a little horror and a cat named Stony combine to create a great book by an author I have missed reading.
February 24, 2018
What a story!
I read the first book which I felt added to this one. He is a private investigator in Salt Lake City. He gets a request to find a teenage daughter of couple who didn't seem all that close to their daughter. She had been sexually acting out. He started at a park and saw her with a girl and two young black men then bullets are flying and the two young black men are killed. There is such a variety of activities that it is hard to know what is vital to know. A man from the FBI befriends our hero. There are more bodies, and our hero keeps contact with the local police (he worked for them in the first book) and also with the FBI agent. He keeps this agent informed with the idea that each is helping the other in this investigation. The story was good. I'm wondering if we will see more of Jason Coulter.
I read the first book which I felt added to this one. He is a private investigator in Salt Lake City. He gets a request to find a teenage daughter of couple who didn't seem all that close to their daughter. She had been sexually acting out. He started at a park and saw her with a girl and two young black men then bullets are flying and the two young black men are killed. There is such a variety of activities that it is hard to know what is vital to know. A man from the FBI befriends our hero. There are more bodies, and our hero keeps contact with the local police (he worked for them in the first book) and also with the FBI agent. He keeps this agent informed with the idea that each is helping the other in this investigation. The story was good. I'm wondering if we will see more of Jason Coulter.
June 3, 2016
Former police Salt Lake homicide investigator turned private, Jason Coulter is hired to find a teenage runaway, who has a taste for blackmail. Relying on tips from his best snitch with suspicions the FBI is after him, and ironically teaming up with a former Dallas cop, now FBI agent, Coulter follows many trails looking for runaway Monica.
He sees her briefly, as rifle shots take down to black kids and their girls scatter. What was she doing with them?
Has she been victimized by the bizarre Church of the Four Angle Triangle? By dopers? By pimps?
Along with Tony, the FBI agent, Coulter spies on an uncanny ceremony at a gathering of this weird church – could she be among them? He investigates houses where she might have stayed and turns up the body of one of the friends she hung out with. Death seems to stalk those he seeks.
This is a first rate, well plotted, first person narrated mystery and deserves to stand with the classics – don’t miss this one!
He sees her briefly, as rifle shots take down to black kids and their girls scatter. What was she doing with them?
Has she been victimized by the bizarre Church of the Four Angle Triangle? By dopers? By pimps?
Along with Tony, the FBI agent, Coulter spies on an uncanny ceremony at a gathering of this weird church – could she be among them? He investigates houses where she might have stayed and turns up the body of one of the friends she hung out with. Death seems to stalk those he seeks.
This is a first rate, well plotted, first person narrated mystery and deserves to stand with the classics – don’t miss this one!
August 26, 2016
This is book is my first acquaintance with J.R. Levitt and the series about ex-cop, now private investigator Jason Coulter, and it was a very pleasant surprise.
In this book he has hired to locate a teenager and bring her back to her parents. But just as Coulter sees the opportunity to make that happen a shooting against the crowd where Monica is in happens, it leaves two young black kids dead, and Monica disappears again. In the investigation traces of racism, Mormon culture, cults, tarot cards (where the term Ten of Swords stem from) and much more is drawn in solving what is going on.
This is a fascinating story, that had me at the very edge of my seat throughout, and when it all unraveled, I was blown away. I swallowed it whole in a few days and sincerely recommend this book to all mystery fans.
In this book he has hired to locate a teenager and bring her back to her parents. But just as Coulter sees the opportunity to make that happen a shooting against the crowd where Monica is in happens, it leaves two young black kids dead, and Monica disappears again. In the investigation traces of racism, Mormon culture, cults, tarot cards (where the term Ten of Swords stem from) and much more is drawn in solving what is going on.
This is a fascinating story, that had me at the very edge of my seat throughout, and when it all unraveled, I was blown away. I swallowed it whole in a few days and sincerely recommend this book to all mystery fans.
March 24, 2018
Ten of Swords has the feel of an old fashioned crime mystery. Levitt has a tight writing style that moves the plot along. The tangle of clues keeps the reader guessing. He gives small insights into the character of the detective but does not dwell on character development. It did feel dated with the racial bigotry, smoking, gender roles, etc. It is set in Salt Lake City with a few references to the Mormon Church, which does not come off looking good. The novel has a dark take on human nature.
October 1, 2016
Great mystery
There is enough suspense in this book to keep you hooked to the twist at the end. I really liked the book.
There is enough suspense in this book to keep you hooked to the twist at the end. I really liked the book.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews