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Brick Kavanagh #1
Relentless
Cherry blossom season is Washington, D.C.’s most beautiful time of the year. But as tourists flock to the city, this year’s festivities are marred by the discovery of the naked body of a young woman floating in the Tidal Basin.
Veteran homicide detective Brian (Brick) Kavanagh is assigned to the case. He’s shocked when he learns the victim is connected to another homicide which makes the investigation very personal for him.
Brick’s efforts to solve the case are thwarted by departmental politics and a rush to judgment. Convinced that justice has not been served and the wrong person is in jail, Kavanagh risks all to relentlessly pursue the truth. Overlooked evidence ultimately leads to a devastating conclusion in a heartbreaking case.
Perfect for fans of police procedurals in the style of Harry Bosch
Veteran homicide detective Brian (Brick) Kavanagh is assigned to the case. He’s shocked when he learns the victim is connected to another homicide which makes the investigation very personal for him.
Brick’s efforts to solve the case are thwarted by departmental politics and a rush to judgment. Convinced that justice has not been served and the wrong person is in jail, Kavanagh risks all to relentlessly pursue the truth. Overlooked evidence ultimately leads to a devastating conclusion in a heartbreaking case.
Perfect for fans of police procedurals in the style of Harry Bosch
298 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 17, 2019
88 people are currently reading
607 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 55 reviews
September 4, 2022
Always eager to to try new books and authors, I gladly accepted an ARC of Shawn Wilson’s latest novel. In order to get the full context, I chose to begin with the first in the series, which brings me to this review. Wilson provides the reader with a strong police procedural, adding depth and character development throughout, as she illustrates the struggles her protagonist has while working as a DC Homicide detective. Full of wonderful storytelling and some painful revelations, Shawn Wilson is one author worth reading for a stellar experience.
The DC area is always beautiful in the spring, but all this is dashed when a young woman’s naked body is discovered in the Tidal Basin. This calls for DC Homicide Detective Brian ‘Brick’ Kavanagh, who attends the scene in hopes of making some headway before forensics disappear and the young woman is left as a crime statistic.
As Kavanagh begins his investigation, he learns that this murder is tied to another, with close personal ties. He tries to peel back the truth from an ever-mounting pile of deception, but Kavanagh encounters fellow detectives who are keen to shelve this as a crime between minorities. Others may not care, but Detective Brick Kavanagh feels everyone deserves their fair share of investigative time.
After someone confesses to the crime, Kavanagh wonders if that is the end of it, as his colleagues seem happy to move on. However, the defence attorney might be his one chance to get to the truth. Upset by the lack of support DC Homicide offers, Kavanagh retires and begins investigating on his own. It’s only then that the dark truth comes to light and no one is safe. Who killed two innocent Guatemalans and how has Kavanagh risked the lives of everyone around him? Wilson does a masterful job in this piece stringing the reader along until the impactful ending.
New authors have always been a welcomed challenge for me, as I learn so much about them through their writing. While I have a list of go-to authors, I am happy to expand it when I come across someone who is worth my time. Shawn Wilson is one of those, as I have come to discover with this piece. She has grit and determination, allowing me to feel as though she could compete with others in the genre and perhaps surpass them. I am eager to get to the ARC of her latest book, in hopes that it is just as exciting as this proved to be.
Wilson works to build her narrative up from the opening pages, providing the reader with a stellar pathway throughout this police procedural. Her depiction of characters is spot-on and allows the reader to feel in the middle of the action, which adds more to the story. Plot twists keep the reader on the edge of their seat, as short chapters propel them to ‘read a little more’, which makes for a great reading experience. I am eager to add Shawn Wilson to my list of authors and hope others will try this book, in hopes of doing the same.
Kudos, Madam Wilson, for a stellar debut novel. I am eager to read more and see how I like your style.
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
The DC area is always beautiful in the spring, but all this is dashed when a young woman’s naked body is discovered in the Tidal Basin. This calls for DC Homicide Detective Brian ‘Brick’ Kavanagh, who attends the scene in hopes of making some headway before forensics disappear and the young woman is left as a crime statistic.
As Kavanagh begins his investigation, he learns that this murder is tied to another, with close personal ties. He tries to peel back the truth from an ever-mounting pile of deception, but Kavanagh encounters fellow detectives who are keen to shelve this as a crime between minorities. Others may not care, but Detective Brick Kavanagh feels everyone deserves their fair share of investigative time.
After someone confesses to the crime, Kavanagh wonders if that is the end of it, as his colleagues seem happy to move on. However, the defence attorney might be his one chance to get to the truth. Upset by the lack of support DC Homicide offers, Kavanagh retires and begins investigating on his own. It’s only then that the dark truth comes to light and no one is safe. Who killed two innocent Guatemalans and how has Kavanagh risked the lives of everyone around him? Wilson does a masterful job in this piece stringing the reader along until the impactful ending.
New authors have always been a welcomed challenge for me, as I learn so much about them through their writing. While I have a list of go-to authors, I am happy to expand it when I come across someone who is worth my time. Shawn Wilson is one of those, as I have come to discover with this piece. She has grit and determination, allowing me to feel as though she could compete with others in the genre and perhaps surpass them. I am eager to get to the ARC of her latest book, in hopes that it is just as exciting as this proved to be.
Wilson works to build her narrative up from the opening pages, providing the reader with a stellar pathway throughout this police procedural. Her depiction of characters is spot-on and allows the reader to feel in the middle of the action, which adds more to the story. Plot twists keep the reader on the edge of their seat, as short chapters propel them to ‘read a little more’, which makes for a great reading experience. I am eager to add Shawn Wilson to my list of authors and hope others will try this book, in hopes of doing the same.
Kudos, Madam Wilson, for a stellar debut novel. I am eager to read more and see how I like your style.
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
December 21, 2019
Actually, this isn't a bad effort overall - certainly for a debut novel. At the same time, I have to say that compared with top-rated police series writers like Jonathan Kellerman (Alex Delaware) or Michael Connelly (Harry Bosch), this one reads more like Dick and Jane.
In part that's because I just can't relate to a guy knicknamed "Brick" - even if (or maybe because) it comes as a result of his red hair. Beyond that, I'll compare it to old commercial for pasta sauce that proclaimed, "It's in there." That's true here as well, but the pot needs stronger ingredients - whether that be more adult-like dialogue, smoother transitions or more fleshed-out characters - before I can call the result delicious and, perhaps more importantly, truly be eager to read the next installment.
The main character's real name is Brian Kavanagh; at age 42, he works with his partner Ron Hayes in Washington, D.C. (somewhere I read that Ron's hair is in "dark dreads," so I'm gonna go out on a limb and guess that he's African-American). Early on, they get called in when the body of a young woman turns up in the Tidal Basin; her ID can't be determined at the scene, but she's got a birthmark that may prove relevant. Not long after, Brian (yes, I really do refuse to call him Brick) and Ron get involved with the case of a missing immigrant worker at their favorite watering hole. Not long after that, the officers realize that his case and that of the murdered woman may be linked. As if all this weren't enough to keep them busy, they have to deal with a pair of police partners known to be in cahoots with a high-level muckety-muck who will stop at nothing to get his next promotion - prompting Brian to take an action that could forever change the course of his life.
Then another body turns up in another jurisdiction, making Brian suspect that a serial killer may be on the loose. That's underscored by a couple of chapters seemingly written by said serial killer, although they're inserted rather haphazardly and really don't add anything to the plot. When a man unexpectedly pleads guilty to a couple of the murders, Brian gets even more suspicious and teams up with the man's beautiful, intelligent defense attorney (oh gosh, can you guess where that will go)? Compounding the confusion, a medical examiner overlooks a crucial clue that would have stood out like a sore thumb to even the most inexperienced newbie. All that said, everything gets resolved in the end - most things satisfactorily, one not so much.
As I said early on, taken as a whole this book really is quite readable and definitely, positively shows promise - but it's sort of like a steak without much sizzle. Admittedly, this one won't make my Top 20 list of favorites for 2019, but I do thank the publisher for offering it to me to read and review.
In part that's because I just can't relate to a guy knicknamed "Brick" - even if (or maybe because) it comes as a result of his red hair. Beyond that, I'll compare it to old commercial for pasta sauce that proclaimed, "It's in there." That's true here as well, but the pot needs stronger ingredients - whether that be more adult-like dialogue, smoother transitions or more fleshed-out characters - before I can call the result delicious and, perhaps more importantly, truly be eager to read the next installment.
The main character's real name is Brian Kavanagh; at age 42, he works with his partner Ron Hayes in Washington, D.C. (somewhere I read that Ron's hair is in "dark dreads," so I'm gonna go out on a limb and guess that he's African-American). Early on, they get called in when the body of a young woman turns up in the Tidal Basin; her ID can't be determined at the scene, but she's got a birthmark that may prove relevant. Not long after, Brian (yes, I really do refuse to call him Brick) and Ron get involved with the case of a missing immigrant worker at their favorite watering hole. Not long after that, the officers realize that his case and that of the murdered woman may be linked. As if all this weren't enough to keep them busy, they have to deal with a pair of police partners known to be in cahoots with a high-level muckety-muck who will stop at nothing to get his next promotion - prompting Brian to take an action that could forever change the course of his life.
Then another body turns up in another jurisdiction, making Brian suspect that a serial killer may be on the loose. That's underscored by a couple of chapters seemingly written by said serial killer, although they're inserted rather haphazardly and really don't add anything to the plot. When a man unexpectedly pleads guilty to a couple of the murders, Brian gets even more suspicious and teams up with the man's beautiful, intelligent defense attorney (oh gosh, can you guess where that will go)? Compounding the confusion, a medical examiner overlooks a crucial clue that would have stood out like a sore thumb to even the most inexperienced newbie. All that said, everything gets resolved in the end - most things satisfactorily, one not so much.
As I said early on, taken as a whole this book really is quite readable and definitely, positively shows promise - but it's sort of like a steak without much sizzle. Admittedly, this one won't make my Top 20 list of favorites for 2019, but I do thank the publisher for offering it to me to read and review.
August 11, 2020
Homicide Detective Brick Kavanagh and his partner, Detective Ron Hayes are assigned to investigate when a young woman is found floating in the Tidal Basin. Although no ID is found, Brick learns the victim was connected to another homicide. The case becomes very personal.
Ultimately a person of interest is arrested, but Brick is convinced that they have the wrong person. His attempts to find the real culprit is hampered by departmental policies and a rush to judgment by a senior officer not that interested in finding the truth and seems more worried about tourism.
The complex plot is intricately woven around many, and varied, characters. It was easy to get lost in trying to keep everyone straight in my mind. Add ICE, Park Police, several other detectives and the water is muddied. There are twists and turns that are interesting, I found the conclusion to be not-so-satisfying.
The author spent more than 30 years working for the U.S. Marshals Service, the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the Federal Bureau of Prisons and the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts. RELENTLESS is her first novel. Because of her background I expected a more credible story line. That being said, I hope to have the opportunity to read Book 2 in this series.
Many thanks to the author / Oceanview Publishing / Netgalley for the digital copy of this crime fiction/mystery. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
December 20, 2019
I would like to thank Netgalley and Oceanview Publishing for a review copy of Relentless, the first novel to feature Washington Metro PD detective Brian “Brick” Kavanagh.
When the body of a young woman is found floating in the Tidal Basin Brick and his partner, Ron Hayes, are assigned the case. The discovery of a second body links the cases together and suddenly Brick is involved in a task force, but not for long as a quick arrest seems to resolve the case although he’s not so sure.
I enjoyed Relentless which I was keen to read, having seen it recommended in an American newspaper article. I wouldn’t say that it lives up to the hype, being rather low key until the action packed ending and slightly too American for me, among other things the constant references to baseball went way over my head. Nevertheless I found the plot interesting enough to keep turning the pages. It is a gradual accumulation of knowledge, although not in the sense of a straightforward investigation as the plot takes an interesting turn I’m not going to reveal, rather than a series of dramatic reveals until a final explosive flurry of action and reveals at the end. I had no idea of the perpetrator until then but a few chapters from his point of view over the course of the novel hint at the motive.
I don’t know anything about the author but this has the feel of a debut about it. It isn’t slick and tends to get bogged down in minutiae, like what Brick eats and drinks to the detriment of the investigation. I did, however, enjoy the storyline and would be interested in reading a follow up to see not only where Brick goes next but if it has a little extra polish.
Relentless is a solid novel and an easy way to pass a few hours.
When the body of a young woman is found floating in the Tidal Basin Brick and his partner, Ron Hayes, are assigned the case. The discovery of a second body links the cases together and suddenly Brick is involved in a task force, but not for long as a quick arrest seems to resolve the case although he’s not so sure.
I enjoyed Relentless which I was keen to read, having seen it recommended in an American newspaper article. I wouldn’t say that it lives up to the hype, being rather low key until the action packed ending and slightly too American for me, among other things the constant references to baseball went way over my head. Nevertheless I found the plot interesting enough to keep turning the pages. It is a gradual accumulation of knowledge, although not in the sense of a straightforward investigation as the plot takes an interesting turn I’m not going to reveal, rather than a series of dramatic reveals until a final explosive flurry of action and reveals at the end. I had no idea of the perpetrator until then but a few chapters from his point of view over the course of the novel hint at the motive.
I don’t know anything about the author but this has the feel of a debut about it. It isn’t slick and tends to get bogged down in minutiae, like what Brick eats and drinks to the detriment of the investigation. I did, however, enjoy the storyline and would be interested in reading a follow up to see not only where Brick goes next but if it has a little extra polish.
Relentless is a solid novel and an easy way to pass a few hours.
October 17, 2022
I like this mystery. Brick (Brian) is a tenacious detective. The opening scenes describe him as being willing to scale a fence and commandeer a paddle boat to get a good look at a body dumped in the Tidal Basin. He is relentless at trying to solve the murders. Police department politics is not for him though, especially when naming a culprit is more important than making sure he is the guilty person.
Wilson has given us a god deal of relationship issues among the characters along with the investigative procedure. We get to know Brick and his associates quite well. In that sense the character development is good. I became engaged with several of them rather quickly. There is also quite a bit of character internal thinking.
There are a few twists in this murder mystery. Just when I thought I knew Brick's future there was a final twist that shook everything up. I am looking forward to the next in the series to see how Brick navigates his new situation in the future.
I received a complimentary digital copy of this book through Partners in Crime Book Tours. My comments are an independent and honest review.
Wilson has given us a god deal of relationship issues among the characters along with the investigative procedure. We get to know Brick and his associates quite well. In that sense the character development is good. I became engaged with several of them rather quickly. There is also quite a bit of character internal thinking.
There are a few twists in this murder mystery. Just when I thought I knew Brick's future there was a final twist that shook everything up. I am looking forward to the next in the series to see how Brick navigates his new situation in the future.
I received a complimentary digital copy of this book through Partners in Crime Book Tours. My comments are an independent and honest review.
November 3, 2022
I think I just really like crime fiction because no matter how far I stray into other genres, I always find my way back home. Relentless was fascinating from start to finish. I loved Brick's character, who he was as a cop and as a person. He didn't have "issues" like so many other cop stories insist that their characters have and that was such a welcome relief. The story itself was realistic, interesting and had a shocking and, somewhat, sad ending, one I never for a moment saw coming. I highly recommend Relentless and now look forward to reading Shawn Wilson's next book in this series.
September 30, 2021
Homicide Detective Brick Kavanagh finds the body of a young women in the Tidal Basin. He wasn’t to know this event would change his life and career. When he finds the body of the barman from his local you would not believe they were related. This thriller has it all, department politics, hostage negotiations and a man going it along to bring justice for two people who had no one. This is a fast paced story that really keeps you on the edge of your seat for the final twist.
December 21, 2019
When homicide detective Brian “Brick” Kavanagh is assigned to the case of a young woman found floating in the Tidal Pool in Washington, D.C., the last thing he expects is a second murder to suddenly create an immediate and personal tie between himself and the victim. Hamstrung by a senior officer more interested in optics than actually solving crimes, Brick isn’t about to let this one slip through the cracks.
The premise was interesting, and with victims from Guatemala and ICE agents getting involved, timely. I liked the relationship between Brick and his homicide partner, Ron, and there was a minor romance involved too with Lily Nguyen, a defence attorney. I didn’t see the solution coming at all, and looking back, it’s because there weren’t any clues planted, something which is a bit of a problem in a murder mystery. The reader likes to either solve the mystery ahead of the protagonist, which gives us something of a smug feeling when we’re ‘smarter’ than they are, or to be surprised BUT be able to look back and spot the clues we SHOULD have put together to solve it. There were no clues, and we barely got any real insight into the killer’s psyche, also something a reader likes to get in this genre.
While grammar, language and punctuation were generally good, I did spot a few changes of tense which read awkwardly… for example “When budget time rolls around maybe this would be the year for upgrades”. ‘Rolled’ would be the correct tense in this instance. These were for the most part fairly minor and I could ignore them, but I couldn’t ignore the fact that the story just didn’t grab me and, at the end, just completely fizzled out. Relentless definitely doesn’t describe Kavanagh. He literally stumbled onto the answer, mostly because the murderer inexplicably decided to hang around with him. Comparison’s to Harry Bosch are definitely premature; maybe the author can do more with this character later in the series, but I doubt I’ll be reading any more. I couldn’t bring myself to care. Two stars.
Disclaimer: I received a review copy of this book via NetGalley.
The premise was interesting, and with victims from Guatemala and ICE agents getting involved, timely. I liked the relationship between Brick and his homicide partner, Ron, and there was a minor romance involved too with Lily Nguyen, a defence attorney. I didn’t see the solution coming at all, and looking back, it’s because there weren’t any clues planted, something which is a bit of a problem in a murder mystery. The reader likes to either solve the mystery ahead of the protagonist, which gives us something of a smug feeling when we’re ‘smarter’ than they are, or to be surprised BUT be able to look back and spot the clues we SHOULD have put together to solve it. There were no clues, and we barely got any real insight into the killer’s psyche, also something a reader likes to get in this genre.
While grammar, language and punctuation were generally good, I did spot a few changes of tense which read awkwardly… for example “When budget time rolls around maybe this would be the year for upgrades”. ‘Rolled’ would be the correct tense in this instance. These were for the most part fairly minor and I could ignore them, but I couldn’t ignore the fact that the story just didn’t grab me and, at the end, just completely fizzled out. Relentless definitely doesn’t describe Kavanagh. He literally stumbled onto the answer, mostly because the murderer inexplicably decided to hang around with him. Comparison’s to Harry Bosch are definitely premature; maybe the author can do more with this character later in the series, but I doubt I’ll be reading any more. I couldn’t bring myself to care. Two stars.
Disclaimer: I received a review copy of this book via NetGalley.
January 1, 2020
This debut novel by Shawn Wilson features homicide detective Brick Kavanagh who has been in the business for quite a while. He is called to the scene of the body of a young woman floating in the tidal basin of Washington as the cherry blossoms bloom. While he and his partner puzzle out who killed her, Brick learns that a young immigrant named Jose who works part-time at a bar that Brick frequents has turn't up for several days. He decides to help his friend the bar owner by trying to locate Jose. He and his partner go to Jose's apartment and find that Jose has been nastily killed. They find out that the young woman whose murder they are investigating is Jose's sister. But another team is assigned Jose's homicide. They rapidly conclude that it is gang-related. But Brick has his doubts because a colleague in another jurisdiction has informed of another young woman found floating. There is a striking resemblance to Maria, Jose's sister. Brick and his partner begin to suspect a serial killer is at work. But this clashes with the gangland theory of the other team which is favoured by their supervisor. To complicate matters a young Hispanic is brought in for Jose's murder and during his preliminary hearing he pleads guilty. Brick approaches his gorgeous female Hispanic attorney. As they realize that the suspect has pleaded guilty to protect his family from threats, the suspect is murdered in custody, ostensibly a suicide.
Meanwhile a serial predator has access to all the crime reports and evidence. Can he be stopped before he wreaks more damage?
I recommend this novel to those who like police procedurals.
Meanwhile a serial predator has access to all the crime reports and evidence. Can he be stopped before he wreaks more damage?
I recommend this novel to those who like police procedurals.
November 22, 2022
In Relentless, book one of the Brick Kavanagh Mystery Series, author Shawn Wilson transports the reader to Washington D.C., for an intriguing mystery story that will keep the reader guessing and turning the pages.
Homicide Detective Brian "Brick" Kavanagh and partner Ron Hayes investigate a woman's naked body found floating in the Tidal Basin. What looks like a classic murder case is anything but that when Brick discovers that the young woman is connected to another homicide case that is personal to him. When the investigation is turned into a circus, Brick is tired of the departmental politics, and after twenty years he decides to abruptly retire, but he is relentlessly determined to solve both homicide cases on his own.
Author Shawn Wilson weaves a slow-building and suspenseful tale that follows Brick's investigation to uncover the truth behind both homicide cases. I loved reading this action-packed story. Brick's observations and detail to the police procedure used within the investigation kept me intrigued as he slowly put the pieces of the mystery puzzle together, especially when the real killer's intentions are not easily identified.
The reader will be easily drawn into this richly descriptive plot that will keep them guessing as Brick's no nonsense and determined investigation uncovers a growing list of possible suspects, motives, and clues, while it will also leave the reader completely shocked by the traumatic surprise ending.
I look forward to reading Duplicity, the second book in the Brick Kavanagh Mystery Series.
Relentless has enough drama, tension, action, intrigue, and unexpected twists and turns that will take the reader on one heck of a thrilling roller coaster ride.
https://jerseygirlbookreviews.blogspo...
Homicide Detective Brian "Brick" Kavanagh and partner Ron Hayes investigate a woman's naked body found floating in the Tidal Basin. What looks like a classic murder case is anything but that when Brick discovers that the young woman is connected to another homicide case that is personal to him. When the investigation is turned into a circus, Brick is tired of the departmental politics, and after twenty years he decides to abruptly retire, but he is relentlessly determined to solve both homicide cases on his own.
Author Shawn Wilson weaves a slow-building and suspenseful tale that follows Brick's investigation to uncover the truth behind both homicide cases. I loved reading this action-packed story. Brick's observations and detail to the police procedure used within the investigation kept me intrigued as he slowly put the pieces of the mystery puzzle together, especially when the real killer's intentions are not easily identified.
The reader will be easily drawn into this richly descriptive plot that will keep them guessing as Brick's no nonsense and determined investigation uncovers a growing list of possible suspects, motives, and clues, while it will also leave the reader completely shocked by the traumatic surprise ending.
I look forward to reading Duplicity, the second book in the Brick Kavanagh Mystery Series.
Relentless has enough drama, tension, action, intrigue, and unexpected twists and turns that will take the reader on one heck of a thrilling roller coaster ride.
https://jerseygirlbookreviews.blogspo...
January 4, 2020
Good Read Late
In my opinion this author is not like Michael Connelly, just my opinion.
Loose in the beginning but much better later.
In my opinion this author is not like Michael Connelly, just my opinion.
Loose in the beginning but much better later.
January 16, 2022
At page 50 I almost stopped, wasn't into it, but I'm glad I kept reading. After page 50 or so it improved and I wound up really enjoying this book.
May 17, 2020
This book lacks many of the elements you would expect in a murder mystery. There is no trail of clues or foreshadowing to assist the reader in trying to solve the crime. There is one red herring late in the story. There were two insertions that represented the killer's actions and thoughts, but they seemed so disconnected. The murderer is revealed near the end but I couldn't even remember his role in the story and it just seemed like the author pulled him out of thin air. I did not like the ending.
One of the things that really bothered me was the geographical errors the author made. All of them could easily have been checked by looking at a map. Readers familiar with DC area will probably find these mistakes quite distracting.
The reader's focus should be on following the story, not expressing bewilderment over how Wisconsin Avenue is a leisurely walk from 15th St via Pennsylvania Avenue then Washington Circle. That is a very long distance and not one most city dwellers would walk. A cab would be more appropriate since metrorail doesn't go there.
There was also the placement of the Washington Hilton in Dupont circle when it is actually north of there in Kalarama. But the one error that started the book off wrong was when the police commented that it was too bad a body had not been dumped in the Chesapeake Bay so the Baltimore police would have had to deal with it. Baltimore is not on the Chesapeake Bay. It is on the Patapsco River which eventually flows into the Bay.
The author lived in DC at one time, and she wants her protagonist to be a man of the city. She throws out names of neighborhoods, events, places, people, restaurants, and two of our five sports teams. Detective Kavanaugh is a huge Nats fan and the Nats are mentioned many times.
This is apparently the author's first book in a series. I thought the writing was good and the setting is well described. If you don't live in the DC area, you will not nitpick the settings as I did. The plotting and pacing need work.
I am curious about how this protagonist will be developed in the next few books. It definitely isn't going to be what I thought. The ending of this book changed that idea.
As an afterthought, I should add that I was also watching parts of seasons 3 and 4 of Bosch while I was reading this book. I found myself drawing parallels and making comparisons between the two. I think the author has also read the Bosch books. If you want to read a well written police procedural series, go with Michael Connelly's Harry Bosch.
One of the things that really bothered me was the geographical errors the author made. All of them could easily have been checked by looking at a map. Readers familiar with DC area will probably find these mistakes quite distracting.
The reader's focus should be on following the story, not expressing bewilderment over how Wisconsin Avenue is a leisurely walk from 15th St via Pennsylvania Avenue then Washington Circle. That is a very long distance and not one most city dwellers would walk. A cab would be more appropriate since metrorail doesn't go there.
There was also the placement of the Washington Hilton in Dupont circle when it is actually north of there in Kalarama. But the one error that started the book off wrong was when the police commented that it was too bad a body had not been dumped in the Chesapeake Bay so the Baltimore police would have had to deal with it. Baltimore is not on the Chesapeake Bay. It is on the Patapsco River which eventually flows into the Bay.
The author lived in DC at one time, and she wants her protagonist to be a man of the city. She throws out names of neighborhoods, events, places, people, restaurants, and two of our five sports teams. Detective Kavanaugh is a huge Nats fan and the Nats are mentioned many times.
This is apparently the author's first book in a series. I thought the writing was good and the setting is well described. If you don't live in the DC area, you will not nitpick the settings as I did. The plotting and pacing need work.
I am curious about how this protagonist will be developed in the next few books. It definitely isn't going to be what I thought. The ending of this book changed that idea.
As an afterthought, I should add that I was also watching parts of seasons 3 and 4 of Bosch while I was reading this book. I found myself drawing parallels and making comparisons between the two. I think the author has also read the Bosch books. If you want to read a well written police procedural series, go with Michael Connelly's Harry Bosch.
September 16, 2022
This debut novel (2019) by author Shawn Wilson impresses. She introduces us to her protagonist, homicide detective Brick Kavanaugh and his sidekick Ron working out of metro Washington DC precinct. They respond to a call of a female body floating in the Tidal Basin and they are first on the scene. Not long after they respond to another call of another bloody homicide in an apartment. When they arrive, Brick realizes he knew this victim. He is passionate about justice and his ire is up. Little did he know that these two daunting murders and an intriguing defense attorney are about to turn his life upside down.
Well plotted and well paced, this easily grabs your attention. The writing draws you in, the short chapters easily tempt you to read just one more chapter before turning out the lights.
Character development was well done. I cared about them. I loved the witty banter between the partners, Brick’s love of baseball and the loyalty to his beloved Nationals team. This can be read as a stand alone, it does have a satisfactory conclusion, but there is a secondary novel releasing soon. I have received a complimentary pre-release ARC of it that I look forward to reading and reviewing.
Happy to recommend, as a GR friend recommended this to our mystery GR group. Thank you, Matt.
Well plotted and well paced, this easily grabs your attention. The writing draws you in, the short chapters easily tempt you to read just one more chapter before turning out the lights.
Character development was well done. I cared about them. I loved the witty banter between the partners, Brick’s love of baseball and the loyalty to his beloved Nationals team. This can be read as a stand alone, it does have a satisfactory conclusion, but there is a secondary novel releasing soon. I have received a complimentary pre-release ARC of it that I look forward to reading and reviewing.
Happy to recommend, as a GR friend recommended this to our mystery GR group. Thank you, Matt.
Want to read
December 18, 2019Happy book birthday Shwan Wilson
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This book is shown in one of my polls
, give your support to the authors and give it a vote. Or vote by genre.
Most appealing book genre featuring
Book Birthdays December 17th
If you like
Fantasy, Romantic fantasy
vote Weathering With You
If you like
Thriller, Pshycological Thriller
vote Relentless
If you like
Romantic suspense
Vote
Savage Hunger
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January 12, 2020
This is a murder/mystery novel, which is also something of a whodunnit.
The main character, with the colourful.nickname Brick, is called upon to examine and investigate a floater in the nearby docks. The floater appears to be the body of a young girl. The mystery deepens when her boyfriend is traced, for he too has been murdered - this time in his flat. Yet he was known in life to have been an upstanding young citizen with everything to live for: whatever could have been the motive for this couple's death?
Brick must look deeper into his own community and circle of friends and acquaintances within the community to find out. Yet his biggest obstacles appear to among his own superiors and halfway through the novel, he is fired and must homprivate to get answers. Once a cop, always a cop.
I did not see the killer coming, other than that there was some bitterness. Possibly, their character could have been developed a little more, to make it that much more of a reveal. Revelation. It is of course, entirely possible that the writer did not intend to.be the next Christie.
Definitely a worthy edition to this genre, with an interesting new sleuth in Brick Kavanagh.
The main character, with the colourful.nickname Brick, is called upon to examine and investigate a floater in the nearby docks. The floater appears to be the body of a young girl. The mystery deepens when her boyfriend is traced, for he too has been murdered - this time in his flat. Yet he was known in life to have been an upstanding young citizen with everything to live for: whatever could have been the motive for this couple's death?
Brick must look deeper into his own community and circle of friends and acquaintances within the community to find out. Yet his biggest obstacles appear to among his own superiors and halfway through the novel, he is fired and must homprivate to get answers. Once a cop, always a cop.
I did not see the killer coming, other than that there was some bitterness. Possibly, their character could have been developed a little more, to make it that much more of a reveal. Revelation. It is of course, entirely possible that the writer did not intend to.be the next Christie.
Definitely a worthy edition to this genre, with an interesting new sleuth in Brick Kavanagh.
January 3, 2020
The first chapters of this book made me want to put it down and never see it again. The writing was the problem. Everything the characters said made me roll my eyes.
I don't know if things got better or I got use to it but after those first chapters, I started liking the book, but not loving it. The characters were meh. So was the plot. It felt familiar all the way through. Certainly not adding anything to the plethora of these types of books but enjoyable enough.
The reason I've taken two stars off my review is for the bad beginning and the end. I want endings to feel deserved. If I've been reading something for 300 pages, then those last 50 need to bring it all together and it needs to make sense. This book tried but largely failed to do so.
Spoiler Alert of sorts but the bad guy's motivations are never really dealt with to the degree I wanted them to be.
Overall, 3 stars but that is not to say it is bad. I may even check out a second one, dependent on how it sounds, of course.
I don't know if things got better or I got use to it but after those first chapters, I started liking the book, but not loving it. The characters were meh. So was the plot. It felt familiar all the way through. Certainly not adding anything to the plethora of these types of books but enjoyable enough.
The reason I've taken two stars off my review is for the bad beginning and the end. I want endings to feel deserved. If I've been reading something for 300 pages, then those last 50 need to bring it all together and it needs to make sense. This book tried but largely failed to do so.
Spoiler Alert of sorts but the bad guy's motivations are never really dealt with to the degree I wanted them to be.
Overall, 3 stars but that is not to say it is bad. I may even check out a second one, dependent on how it sounds, of course.
January 16, 2020
Shawn Wilson’s book, “Relentless,” belongs, perhaps, to a new subgenre. While mysteries tagged “cozies” ask to be read with a cup of hot tea and “hardboileds” demand gin, “Relentless” could be paired with an espresso, double shot, straight up. I have read scores of mysteries. This one is different, in an enjoyable way.
The story is, indeed, a police procedural. And, it is a mystery. (The clues are there; most are quite subtle.) But, in tone, this book is a bit chatty. Brick Kavanagh is likable, logical, and low-key—within limits. The man is passionate about justice. He will take great risks in seeing a case through, no matter who gets the credit. He is a team player; thus, the reader meets a full cast of well-developed characters.
This book is, I would say, PG-15. I truly mean “15,” due to some characters' use of salty language and to a few coarse remarks. Each instance, though, is suitable to characterization.
“Relentless” stays in one’s mind well after the last page is turned. What more could one ask?
The story is, indeed, a police procedural. And, it is a mystery. (The clues are there; most are quite subtle.) But, in tone, this book is a bit chatty. Brick Kavanagh is likable, logical, and low-key—within limits. The man is passionate about justice. He will take great risks in seeing a case through, no matter who gets the credit. He is a team player; thus, the reader meets a full cast of well-developed characters.
This book is, I would say, PG-15. I truly mean “15,” due to some characters' use of salty language and to a few coarse remarks. Each instance, though, is suitable to characterization.
“Relentless” stays in one’s mind well after the last page is turned. What more could one ask?
December 31, 2022
2013. Cherry Blossom time in Washington, D.C.
Brian Kavanagh (aka Brick) and Ron Hayes are not looking at the beauty surrounding them. They are detectives in the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD). A young woman has their attention, but she’ll never know. She’s the latest murder victim in the city.
The title "Duplicity" caught my eye while browsing on NetGalley. I learned it was Book 2 of a series and clicked over to purchase Book 1. The portrayal of the pairing of a veteran homicide detective and a younger man with a little over a year in Homicide felt realistic and added to the characterization, dialogue, and life perspective—each man contributing to the well-being of the other professionally and personally. Don’t miss meeting Brick. A relentless detective that evades law enforcement politics. He pursues justice. Justice for the victim. Justice for the family left behind.
I don’t know if I would have discovered this author independently and wouldn’t have wanted to miss her writing. Now it’s time to read "Duplicity!"
Brian Kavanagh (aka Brick) and Ron Hayes are not looking at the beauty surrounding them. They are detectives in the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD). A young woman has their attention, but she’ll never know. She’s the latest murder victim in the city.
The title "Duplicity" caught my eye while browsing on NetGalley. I learned it was Book 2 of a series and clicked over to purchase Book 1. The portrayal of the pairing of a veteran homicide detective and a younger man with a little over a year in Homicide felt realistic and added to the characterization, dialogue, and life perspective—each man contributing to the well-being of the other professionally and personally. Don’t miss meeting Brick. A relentless detective that evades law enforcement politics. He pursues justice. Justice for the victim. Justice for the family left behind.
I don’t know if I would have discovered this author independently and wouldn’t have wanted to miss her writing. Now it’s time to read "Duplicity!"
April 27, 2020
Washington, DC homicide police detective, Brick Kavanaugh, is investigating the murder of a young woman whose body is fished from the Tidal Basin. To his shock, the young woman is the sister of a hard working young Guatemalan man, Jose’, who has been working at a local pub. Then Jose’s body is discovered at his apartment, the gang symbol for MS-XIII with his body. The local ICE agents round up a few gang members, one confesses and the MPD wraps up the case. Brick has his doubts, it was too easy...will he uncover the truth before it’s too late? Great narration keeps you engaged with the protagonist and the secondary characters. Definitely recommend if you enjoy this genre.
I accepted a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I accepted a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
May 3, 2020
Gritty and timely hard-boiled detective showcasing the ominous side of the nation’s capital.
Relentless features an angst-ridden protagonist, who is very well-developed .
With a thicket of subplots, Relentess held my attention, as Wilson took me on a roller coaster ride with steep climbs and twisting turns.
Analysis: All the tropes will be familiar to those of read police procedurals. Relentless was a solid, entertaining character-driven story if rather predictable. With a slow buildup, the story started and ended strongly, but the timeline was hazy. The characters were well-written, memorable, and distinctive.
Recommended for avid police procedural readers who enjoy following detectives along as they the hunt down for murderers.
Relentless features an angst-ridden protagonist, who is very well-developed .
With a thicket of subplots, Relentess held my attention, as Wilson took me on a roller coaster ride with steep climbs and twisting turns.
Analysis: All the tropes will be familiar to those of read police procedurals. Relentless was a solid, entertaining character-driven story if rather predictable. With a slow buildup, the story started and ended strongly, but the timeline was hazy. The characters were well-written, memorable, and distinctive.
Recommended for avid police procedural readers who enjoy following detectives along as they the hunt down for murderers.
December 25, 2019
Brick and Ron catch a new case when the body of a young woman is found floating in the Tidal Basin. The style of writing makes for easy reading. The book includes great personal interactions that contribute to the entertainment value. The characters are unique and different, and they are developed in depth. The investigation leads to a murderer, but not after serious issues, which include Brick quitting his job. The descriptions match well with my knowledge of DC, and should be educational for those who have never visited. The plot is a little hokey, and the ending includes an element of sadness. I would call this good entertainment.
December 29, 2019
'Relentless' started off as a fairly ordinary crime story with significant potential. It featured likeable characters, good pacing and a touch of drama.
It is deeply unfortunate that the plot did not make all that much sense. This book could not decide if it was a serial killer suspense story, a typical cop shop / detective drama or a legal thriller. The ending was extremely disappointing and in many ways it did not make sense.
Wilson would have done better to choose one theme, focus on it and give readers a tight, plausible story that involved a cast of great characters. This one is another in the 'could have been so much better' pile.
It is deeply unfortunate that the plot did not make all that much sense. This book could not decide if it was a serial killer suspense story, a typical cop shop / detective drama or a legal thriller. The ending was extremely disappointing and in many ways it did not make sense.
Wilson would have done better to choose one theme, focus on it and give readers a tight, plausible story that involved a cast of great characters. This one is another in the 'could have been so much better' pile.
September 9, 2022
An interesting, even engaging story, but some things bothered me too much. First, the name of the central character, "Brick" was annoying, and learning it was because of his red hair just made it worse. It just goes against my sensibilities. Okay, brick-red is a thing, but calling someone a brick has overwhelming other meanings. I really liked the idea of a cup story set in DC that wasn't political, and the local color was fun. Let me just say without making a spoiler that I did not like the ending. It was good enough that I may try the next in the series, as the guy got less stiff as the story went on, so hoping the author hits his stride there.
January 5, 2020
Parts of this book are good and parts not so much. The story had promised, but wasn't totally realized as the book proceeded. It is unusual to have good guys who drink and smoke and use a bar as HQ, but that is OK.
I wanted to really like the police detective, but he was a bit one dimensional, especially when he was dealing with the attorney.
The wrap up was a bit of a disappointment, both in terms of it being a bit cliched and the how and why didn't seem to make sense to me.
I think there is possibilities here with more time and experience by the author.
I wanted to really like the police detective, but he was a bit one dimensional, especially when he was dealing with the attorney.
The wrap up was a bit of a disappointment, both in terms of it being a bit cliched and the how and why didn't seem to make sense to me.
I think there is possibilities here with more time and experience by the author.
January 6, 2020
This is a book for fans of detective stories such as the Harry Bosch series or Amos Decker series. Brick Kavanagh is one of the good guys and is very likable. He’s trying to do his job to the best of his ability just as most of us are. He works with some unsavory people who are only looking out for themselves. Brick has a small network of people he cares about and when his job and his personal life meet it makes doing the job even harder. I definitely recommend this book if you enjoy detective stories, mysteries, or police procedural stories.
February 2, 2020
I enjoyed the beginning, I thought there was good interaction between Brick and his partner and the author has a good knowledge of the story location. I felt that the other interactions in the story fell flat. The plot development seemed disjointed and didn't really flow to the conclusion of the story. Other than a couple of chuckles at the beginning of the story, I really didn't feel anything.
I received the kindle version of this book through Goodreads Giveaway which is the reason I am explaining my rating.
I received the kindle version of this book through Goodreads Giveaway which is the reason I am explaining my rating.
December 20, 2019
It took me a little while to get into the story but once I connected with the character of Brick, I wanted to know what would happen next. In many ways, this was a mystery novel like many others. In some ways, it felt like I might have read it before; but there were enough twists in the plot to keep the book interesting. Some unexpected and sad developments caught me off guard. Overall, a pretty good read.
December 23, 2019
Strong entry into a very crowded field as hard-boiled cops and murders can be found in abundance. But Wilson’s entry is welcomed. The plot development and characters are well-developed. The story moves at a a quick pace, and keeps the reader coming back for more. Hopefully there will be more stories to come as well. I received an advanced digital copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
December 29, 2019
Based on this one, I wouldn't read any others.
Some may find the one-liners charming, but it seemed that every sentence between cops ended with a one-liner--which to me, was just filler.
Nothing really happened in the book until my kindle counter read 50%, and frankly, i only finished it because of (very) mild curiosity and nothing else to do this afternoon.
If you are in the mood for Harry Bosch, go for the original.
Some may find the one-liners charming, but it seemed that every sentence between cops ended with a one-liner--which to me, was just filler.
Nothing really happened in the book until my kindle counter read 50%, and frankly, i only finished it because of (very) mild curiosity and nothing else to do this afternoon.
If you are in the mood for Harry Bosch, go for the original.
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