The Insider

Charlie McCabe #2

by Craig Schaefer

Move over, Jack Reacher and Kinsey Millhone: cast-iron bodyguard Charlie McCabe is back in Craig Schaefer’s gritty sequel to The Loot.

Hard-bitten bodyguard Charlie McCabe is lucky to be alive after her recent foray into Boston's criminal underworld. She she's taking no chances with this next job: protecting Hayden Cobb, key witness in the trial against a trio of murderous cops known as the East Boston Three. If Cobb drops dead, the Three walk.

After an attempt on Cobb's life, Charlie suspects the Three have somehow put a hit on him from behind bars, and the assassin's still at large. An when the notorious loan shark Jimmy Lassiter is dragged into the mix, he retaliates the only way he knows how - by striking at the heart of her family.

Now it's personal. With her father held hostage and her client in profound danger, Charlie must act fast. Far too many lives are at stake, and though she knows she can't protect everyone, she's gonna try.

Genres: Thriller, Mystery, Audiobook, Mystery Thriller, Fiction, Suspense

329 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 7, 2020

About the author

Craig Schaefer's books have taken readers to the seamy edge of a criminal underworld drenched in shadow (the Daniel Faust series), to a world torn by war, poison and witchcraft (the Revanche Cycle), and across a modern America mired in occult mysteries and a conspiracy of lies (the Harmony Black series).

Despite this, people say he's strangely normal. Suspiciously normal, in fact. His home on the Web is www.craigschaeferbooks.com.

Reviews

[✘✘ Sarah ✘✘ (former Nefarious Breeder of Murderous Crustaceans) · Rating 4 out of 5]

💥 Oct. 1, 2020: only $1.99 today!!!

“It was a con from the start, Spoiler Spoiler Spoiler fooled everybody—”

Not sure about everybody, but bloody shrimping hell of the stinking fish, did Spoiler Spoiler Spoiler fool my nefarious little self! It’s officially official, Craig Schaefer went to the Glen Cook School of How To Make Your Readers Feel Like Complete Morons. Rarely have I felt as much of a ludicrously brainless sea cucumber as when I reached the 80% mark of this book.



Pretty much, yeah. Okay, so it wasn’t that big of a surprise to find out that my IQ is lower than the average lethargic barnacle’s, but it still hurts pretty badly to be so ridiculously deceived, tricked, swindled, duped, outfoxed, and generally bamboozled.

Anyhoo and stuff, let’s pretend my intellect surpasses good old Bertie Einstein’s and that this incident ↑↑ never happened, shall we? So. Moving on and stuff. As you might or might not have noticed, this is the second installment in Craig Schaefer’s new, shockingly NOT-Fantasy series. I won’t lie, I was kinda sorta reluctant to read it at first. I mean, I wasn’t a super fan of book one. (I’m the most ungrateful Schaeferette ever. Shame on me and stuff.) I don’t know if it’s because I expected my boyfriend Daniel Faust to show up at every turn of the page I found the lack of fantasy elements unsettling or whether the book is simply a bit weaker because it’s the introduction to the series. In any case, I wasn’t super extra excited at the thought of picking this one up. But. Once again, some of my Friends of Despicable Book Taste (FoDBT™) 👋 waves at Karen and Gavin 👋 corrupted my soul, and here we are.

So. For those Clueless Barnacles who missed the previous episode, this series centers around Charlie McCabe, an ex-military-explosive-specialist-turned-bodyguard. And oh my fish, is it Super Extra Fun (SEF™) to be a bodyguard in a Craig Schaefer world! You get bedazzled (hot pink is such a sexey color) and Grey Pouponed (don’t ask) on a daily basis. You get wonderful opportunities to babysit watch over scumbags with complete asshole tendencies (yay!). You sometimes moonlight as a trash panda (fun times!). You also get to learn the difference between a resting bitch face and a resting murder face (the latter obviously being my personal favorite). You have super cool, science-savvy colleagues who beat police detectives with sacks of oranges will teach you all about the power of vitamin C. Not to mention that some of said colleagues also happen to be missionaries of the Goddess of Superior Firepower, which is Slighty Very Shrimpy (SVS™), if you ask me. All in all, I’d say it’s pretty damn groovy to be Charlie McCabe. Sometimes.



Indeed.

Sorry, what? Oh, you’re waiting for me to tell you what the shrimp this story is about? Well there are blurbs for that, you know. And other reviews. Besides, all you really need to know about this book is that it was written by Craig-Schaefer-Is-Slightly-Awesome. Which quite obviously means that:

a) Characterization is slightly very brilliant.
b) No good guys! Fished up moral compasses! Yay!
c) Things are never what they seem (I have it on good authority that Craig Schaefer rubs his hands with evil glee and cackles maniacally while writing his books).
d) The mystery is mysterious, there’s non-stop action and the pace is super extra fast.
e) Your past will always come back to kick you in the exoskeleton.
f) There’s a hint of No BS No Tropes No Drama Romance (NBSNTNDR™).
g) All of the above.

And that’s all you’ll get from me because murderous crustaceans to unleash and puny human territories to conquer and all that. So bye now and stuff.



➽ Nefarious Last Words (NLW™): As one of the greatest Italian mobsters philosophers of our time once said, “Bullet karma is real.” I rest in my case and stuff.

• Book 1: The Loot ★★★



[Pre-review nonsense]

Most beautifully had I have been. Thank thee kindly, Evil Evil Mr Schaefer.



Right. Let's not dwell on that, shall we?

➽ Full review to come and stuff.

P.S. Mustard. It's a lethal weapon, just so you know. And so is hot pink glitter.

[Gavin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm a big fan of Craig Schaefer's books in general. This is the 22nd one I've read and I've enjoyed them all! With that in mind I feel a little bit bad about the fact that I consider this to be the weakest of the various series of his that I've read. The truth is the Charlie McCabe series is a pretty good and very readable thriller series and I've quite enjoyed reading the first two books in the series but despite that I cannot help but feeling a little disappointed in the series as I compare it to what we get in Schaefer's other book series! This series feels like a cheap Harmony Black clone at times and the very worst thing is it shares a lot of Harmony's flaws but not a lot of its strengths and that always leaves me feeling that this series pales in comparison to that one.

I've complained a lot in that opening paragraph but I did actually quite enjoy this one. Schaefer always delivers a fast paced tale and he has a super engaging writing style so it is always very easy to get caught up in his stories!

This second book probably matched the first book in the series for quality and basically had the same strengths and weaknesses. Charlie is a likeable character who is super easy to root for so it is easy to get sucked into the drama of her daily life as a professional bodyguard for hire. The only flaw with Charlie as a character is the fact that she is pretty indistinguishable as a character from Harmony Black.

The biggest weakness for this series compared to Schaefer's other series is the fact that the lack of paranormal elements in the story seem to have hindered his ability to deliver the sort of fun secondary characters and scene stealing crazy villains that we are used to in his other series. The secondary characters in this one have still not managed to make much of an impact on me and I have to admit that Dull Cop being reincarnated in a second series as a love interest is still a total bust the second time around! Schaefer does well with writing likeable female lad characters but really seems to struggle when it comes to rustling up adequate male romantic partners for them. It is a real pity as I feel a bit of slow burn romance for Charlie and a cool new romantic interest in the next book would really help this series get onto the next level. Charlie is just not enough on her own to carry this tale and Dom and Beckett are still far too dull to offer much in the way of help. Charlie needs a Jessie or Caitlin of her own to help her!

I actually liked the story in The Insider. Charlie and the team were bouncing between protecting a right wing shock jock nut from protestors and protecting a police witness from being taken out by the corrupt cops he is due to testify against. The story delivered a good mix of action, mystery, drama, and humour.

All in all I enjoyed this second book in the series and will definitely be reading the next one. I just wish it felt less like a poor mans Harmony Black!

Rating: 4 stars.

Audio Note: I feel like Susannah Jones did a decent enough job with the audio.

[Fiona Knight · Rating 5 out of 5]

The man himself says it best in the acknowledgements: "The first book in a new series can be tricky. There are a lot of introductions: getting to know new characters, the challenges they face, and the streets they live on. Book two is where we can pick up the pace. The mysteries get twistier and the stakes grow higher. And of course, looming on the horizon, the specter of an inevitable showdown yet to come."

And boy does The Insider (and Craig Schaefer) deliver! The Loot wasn't quite a stumbling block for me, but I hadn't warmed all the way up to this series by the end of it. Now though? Absolutely ride or die. There's something incredibly authentic about every book this man writes; he's tapping some universal truths and no matter the universe he's writing in, it'll be believable, have an amazing spectrum of characters, and entertain the absolute shit out of the reader. Oh, and there might be Mean Girls references, because the man knows his audience.

This is the second book in the first non-supernatural-of-any-kind maybe Nina's got a touch around the edges and believe me when I say I'm really looking forward to seeing where that goes series from Craig Schaefer, and as subtly hinted above, it's a much more comfortable read than the first. There's more certainty in how Charlie, Beckett and Dom interact with each other and the wider world of potential threats; despite the ratcheted tension, there's more banter and camaraderie to let the reader get a breath between the high-stakes moments (all hail the Goddess of Superior Firepower). Even the action, which in most books bounces my eyes right back off the page, is readable and followable; another Schaefer consistency.

All in all yet another brick in the road of my increasingly rational and reasonable journey to absolute Craig Schaefer fan-girl - thank god the author is as prolific as he is, because I really cannot wait to see what's coming up next.

[Erth · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a really good follow up book from a great author. I just couldn’t put it down. Lost of twists, turns and tons of suspense. I am now looking for the next tittle from this author

[Adah Udechukwu · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Insider is good, really good. It has the right amount of action

[Alissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another enjoyable read. Looking forward to more installments of this series.

[Lukasz · Rating 4 out of 5]

A strong entry in Charlie McCabe series. Schaefer creates fantastic and ultra-competent female characters. I'd love to read anything from Nina's POV one day, even though it could be an alien vision of the world.

[Karen ⚜Mess⚜ · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Craig Schaefer, and even though this novel is a non-paranormal he stilled nailed it.

Although I haven't read the first book of this series, I had no problems following the story. Filled with action and fantastic characters. The storyline moved forward at a good pace. Even though this is mystery/thriller involving bodyguards, politics and police, I was still left with that nagging feeling of some sort of paranormal aspect hidden in the story.

I had such a fun time reading THE INSIDER that I had to give it a 5 star rating. Well done, Schaefer! I hope we'll see more of Nina in the future? Wink wink!

I was provided with a complimentary copy of this book, so I could give an honest review.

[Lou Jacobs · Rating 5 out of 5]

Being a professional bodyguard is one dangerous task .... filled with tension and intrigue without the benefit of a badge but the possibilty of needing deadly force. This is the second compelling tale of Charlie McCabe (Charlene) a retired sergeant who has returned from fighting in Afghanistan with the hopes of leaving the war behind. She has found her natural skill set helpful in civilian life working as a bodyguard for Boston Asset Protection ... a private security firm managed by the quirky brother-sister duo of Jake and Sofia Esposito. She finds herself teamed with "Beckett" ... a "Shaft-like" stud, menacing and dangerous but who has taken Charlie under his wing .... his "little duck." Also an integral part of the team is "Dom" (Dominque DaCosta) ... an Italian savvy ex-cop .... also dangerous and extremely capable . The "Team" is tasked with the protection of Lincoln Gable ... an abrasive, loud-mouth author of many contentious books ... his latest being - "You Know I'm Right". His publicity director reaches out to Boston Asset after a rifle round is put through Lincoln's windshield. Shortly after, they are confronted with the task of protecting the low level drug dealer, Hayden Cobb. He reportedly is the sole witness needed to take down the corrupt cop cabal, known as the East Boston Three. Who have graduated from shakedowns to the heinous execution slaughter of multiple victims at "The Saratoga Street House."
Craig Schaefer weaves a complicated and twisted narrative with escalating tension and suspense rendering the speed of reading to a breakneck pace. This gem can be enjoyed as a standalone because of Schaefer's ability to seamlessly supply back story. He continues to flesh-out with aplomb the characterization of the beloved members of the team. Out of necessity, they find themselves utilizing their investigative skills to protect their charges . Thanks to NetGalley and Thomas and Mercer for providing an Uncorrected Electronic proof in exchange for an honest review. ( at readersremains.com )

[Mihir · Rating 4 out of 5]

Full review over at Fantasy Book Critic

OVERVIEW/ANALYSIS: The Insider marks a return to Craig Schaefer’s reading roots and we return to the gritty, blue collar areas of New England. Set a few weeks after the events of The Loot, Charlie finds herself fitting in really well with Boston Asset Protection Ltd. Company. Things start out on a mild note as Charlie, Dom and Beckett are takes with the protection of Lincoln Gable, a provocateur in the making. Lincoln however wants the publicity so Charlie and company just have to bear the brunt of the protestors.

To add to that, based on their exploits (as detailed in the previous book), the local DA has approached them with the security for their most valuable witness for the East Boston Three case. In it, a gang of police officers were systematically looting gangs and now three members have been caught. The fourth (possibly a cop) is unknown and still at large. The DA wants to convict the rogue officers and needs Boston Asset Protection to keep their star witness safe until the trial. Things are never simple as Charlie finds out as there’s more than one entity who wants to kill their witness. Plus there’s also the matter with Lincoln Gable and Charlie’s father, these subplots are what power The Insider and make it a thrilling read.

Right off the bat with this sophomore volume, things are off to a rushing start and this is really prominent as the characters and setting have already been established. The characters are Craig Schaefer’s bread and butter and here again with Charlie, we are treated to a complex but heroic character whom we can easily root for. Charlie is trying to fit in within the civilian world and she’s definitely doing a better job than most military folks however her PTSD is still there. She has faced the realities of her father’s situation and is also comfortable with the grey complexities of her job. There’s also the other professionals such as Dom and Beckett who have equally complex pasts and are able to provide Charlie with foresight to do what’s necessary.

The main plot of the story deals with subterfuge and its present on all sides. Clients not necessarily telling the truth, the local law enforcement having leaks and the potential of one of BAP’s member’s past coming back in a deadly way. Craig Schaefer nimbly handles all the threads and keeps the tension even throughout the story. I enjoyed this second outing a lot more than its predecessor as the author nimbly keeps escalating the stakes and there’s quite a few plot misdirections aimed at the reader which were fun to negotiate. The pace of the story is also very streamlined and the characters are constantly kept on the backfoot as they along with the readers try to figure what is truly happening.

One of the key features of this book is how someone’s past comes back to haunt the whole team and this was definitely a solid plus. One of the book’s antagonists is a very curious person and it brought to my mind this line from Craig’s website which he uses to describe this series:

The Charlie McCabe series from Thomas & Mercer Publishing (starting with The Loot, in August 2019) is a pure crime/thriller series with no fantasy elements. As such, technically it doesn’t fit into either of the above continuities. Technically!

I think this book deals with a curious feature that perhaps knocks on that “technicality” and I’ll be curious to ask Craig about it when we interview him. There’s something here and I think this mirrors what Craig did in the first four Harmony Black books wherein each title would reveal the past of a certain team member. Another aspect which I think the author is handling really well is that he’s not shoehorning a romance subplot into the story for Charlie. I feel this is crucial from the story’s perspective as Charlie as a character is very focused on her job and her father. There’s very little space for anyone else and the author smartly provides a story that keeps these factors in mind. I’m not saying that a romance is never on the cards but so far the author hasn’t provided much details and hopefully will do so when it makes sense for the character and the world settings.

Drawbacks there are a couple. Firstly the story draws on a lot of tropes for the side characters, fiery Italian female sidekick, cool black character who has a mysterious past, and I hope that there’s more details provided rather than for those characters to remain as they are. Secondly I would have liked to see Charlie’s inner emotions at work. She’s such a buttoned down person and I would like to see more of that into play or at least learn specifically what made her this way.

CONCLUSION: The Insider is a twisted story that plays the readers on every front. With a multitude of misdirections, plot twists and grey characters, this second offering in the Charlie McCabe series is a refreshing take and makes me very excited for what’s to come next.

[Abibliofob · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a new series for me although it's book 2 about Charlie McCabe. It was very entertaining with twisting plots and lots of humor. I will defineitely read more in this series by Craig Schaefer. I must thank #ThomasandMercer and #Netgalley for giving me this Arc.

[Wendy Nelson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Now if only we could put Charlie and Harmony together

Loved it! 5 stars...totally entertained! Didn't want it to be over but couldn't put it down. Can't wait for the next one!

[Ben · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I began to read Craig Schafer’s “ The Insider” I had hope that it would not suffer a second novel slump that sometimes happens when the first novel in a series is excellent . No worries, it is very good.
On again featuring Charlene McCabe, a.k.a. Charlie, the reader is immediately drawn into an exciting story that tests the Army vet’s instincts for danger honed in eight years of deployments in our foreign adventures. Working for a personal security company, Charlie and her colleagues are assigned to bodyguard a controversial talk show host who is known and admired or despised depending on whom he insulted that day. He is a outrage magnet sure to draw mobs.
But that is only a sub plot, with main theme of the book surrounding a multiple murder in a drug venue. The policemen have been arrested for the crime, with a fourth still at large. It seems that the bad cops had a side career- that of holding up drug dealers, beating them and taking the proceeds their crimes. This time , however, a family of four was murdered.
Charlie’s employer is contacted by the Boston D.A. to provide Overwatch and protection to a vital witness in the few days before the trial begins. The DA does not trust the police because she wonders how deep the rot goes. This turns out to be a dangerous and complex job.
That is a quick plot summary. One does not have to have read the first novel in the series . Necessary background is provided. Also provided are a well- constructed plot and a sympathetic main character in Charlie, as well as her co- workers. Things move swiftly and logically to a taut ballistic climax ( I. e., shoot out) .
Mr Schafer is a rising, or risen , star right up there with men like Connolly and Coyle. I recommend his books to all who like crime thrillers with interesting characters , both good and bad, believable action scenes without super- heroics and a sensible ending. There is an indication of further adventures of Charlie and her fellow security officers. I will definitely be on hand for the next book .
( Note: after I finished the book I wrote this review and then , when I went back to my Kindle to delete i the book, I read the author’s afterword. There Mr. Schafer writes of of the writer’s challenge of following up a a well- received first book in a series and not flubbing the second. No worries ,sir,
none at all.)
Oh he’s: the talk show host ? Let’s simply says that he gets the treatment a hotdog deserves.
Snowflake cautions: no language problems, no sexual interludes, nothing offensive. Dramatic violence, yes, of course.

[Brittney · Rating 5 out of 5]

This might sound a tiny bit dramatic but I don’t care. Craig Schaefer, will you be my Yoda? You, sir, consistently allow me to escape into the worlds you create and have so many amazing plot twists, characters that grow and in general fantastic writing and it makes me stare at my own writing and wonder how I can be more like you.

ANYWAY…. now for my much more professional review of the upcoming second book for The Insider. In this installment we see Charlie, Beckett and Dom return to protect the clients that hire Boston Asset Protection. The story starts of with Lincoln Gable as the client, a run of the mill idiot who enjoys talking crap and stirring up drama on his book tour. Soon (and I cannot stress how relieved I was that I wasn’t going to spend the whole book with Gable) Charlie and her team are brought on to the protection detail of Hayden Cobb, a key witness in the trial against three cops. These three cops are on trial for murder and are known as the East Boston Three but there is a problem. It seems like there may have been a fourth member to the group and the trio aren’t talking. Maybe I was relieved by the new distraction in the form of Cobb too soon.

It’s up to Charlie, Beckett and Dom to find answers while protecting both of these idiots. Gable has paid for protection and is using every mob attack for media coverage and Cobb isn’t sharing the full truth which may end up getting him, or others, killed.

If life couldn’t get more complicated we also see the return of Jimmy Lassiter through some chaotic plot twists that put Charlie and her father on the line once again. You’d think three problems (two bad clients and Lassiter in the wings) Charlie would be at her wits end. Well, she is. We go one step further into Charlie understanding that life is an insane, twisted merry-go-round when she simply states; “I’d say one crisis at a time, but life never really cooperates.”

However that didn’t stop Schaefer from introducing us to one other new player in the game and honestly Nina reminds me of some of Schaefer’s other chaotic characters, specifically she reminds me of Caitlin from Schaefer’s Daniel Faust series, so if you’re looking for yet another character in this series to have on your radar and watch out for, Nina is Schaefer’s gift to us readers.

With a great pace, incredible plot and further character development not only for Charlie but for Dom, Beckett and even to a lesser extent Charlie’s father and Jimmy Lassiter, you won’t be disappointed with book two.

Thank you NetGalley, Thomas & Mercer and Craig Schaefer for the ARC.

[Belinda (Belle) Witzenhausen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a complimentary ARC copy of The Insider by Craig Schaefer from NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer in order to read and give an honest review.

I’m a recent fan of Craig Schaefer having been introduced through his book, Ghosts of Gotham, which I reviewed here. Although I haven’t read The Loot the first book in the series, however I found this perfect as a stand-alone as well.

In book two, Charlie McCabe is working with Dom and Beckett as part of the Boston Asset Protection Agency as a bodyguard hired on two separate cases. The first case revolves around protecting an author and all-around narcissistic jerk, Lincoln Gable, who is on a promotion tour for his controversial book. The second case is a bit more complex involving keeping alive the prime witness, Hayden Cobb, a witness to a murder case involving three dirty cops known as the East Boston Three. While under Boston Asset’s protection in a secret location an attempt is made on his life. To Charlie and crew it appears there is a leak somewhere in the DA’s office and rumours of a fourth dirty cop who could be the one trying to silence Cobb forever. When a member of mob boss’s Jimmy Lassiter’s crew is falsely imprisoned as the hit man, he blackmails Charlie to exonerate him,putting one of her loved ones in danger. Running out of time Charlie is almost pushed too far. Along the way there are so many intriguing and interesting players that show up at the race this book is definitely one wild ride.

I absolutely loved everything about this book, the strong, intelligent, resilient yet flawed female characters, the pacing, his twisty plot turns that draw you in and keep you voraciously reading until the end. Filled with murder, mayhem and amazing plot twists which will throw you for a loop this is a fantastic book which I highly recommend!

[Adam Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is the second in the Charlie McCabe series. She is an ex-military bomb disposal specialist who returns home to start civilian life and gets a job as a bodyguard.

There are two protected in this story, one the main story is set around, the other a side story t hat shows that not everything about being a bodyguard is easy. The characters are likeable and the main three have a very good connection, as can be read in the conversations between them. Even though this is the second book in the series, it can be read as a stand-alone. Personally I’m at an advantage as I have read the previous book so some of the references make a bit ore sense to me, but that shouldn’t matter to new readers to the series.

Overall, the story is well paced, and there are enough little cliffhangers at the end of a chapter to make you want to continue reading. A thoroughly enjoyable novel, and I look forward to seeing if there will be any more in the future.

This review is based on a free digital ARC copy provided by NetGalley. My views are provided based on the book content only.

[Samantha Campbell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Even better than the first!

I was so excited to see this downloaded on my kindle app. I have a few other books to be read, but I opened this immediately.

You don't HAVE to read the first Charlie McCabe book to enjoy the mystery and action in this book, but why would you skip that gem? It also does give character backgrounds that this book does not so I highly recommend starting there.

I think Charlie is getting better at detective work (even though that's not really her job) and at strengthening her relationships. Beckett is still a mystery but we learn some big details about his life. Dom is a big player in this book but her character didn't grow or diminish at all. Detective Glass shows some vulnerability and it's anyone's guess where things with Charlie and him will go.

I look very much forward to the next book in the series!

[SD · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have to remember "Goddess of Superior Fire Power" :-)

Charlie's poor dad keeps getting in the middle of some not so nice situations. I say "poor" a little tongue-in-cheek. I hope that in the next one, he is not in another one. The man would have some seriously bad luck if that were the case.

I am a bit disappointed that in this second book we still only have glimpses of the other characters, Beckett, Dom and Riley. While we did get a bigger glimpse of Beckett, still only a glimpse. Also, Jake and Sophia, Beckett, Dom, and Charlie's bosses never seem to be in the loop.

The second protection job provided some levity to the story. Dom is right, one should never underestimate the power of Vitamin C.

A good story, likable characters and great setup for another installment without an annoying cliffhanger.

Happy Reading!

[Charles · Rating 2 out of 5]

First of all, Craig Schaefer is my favorite author. I've read all 25 (so far) of his published novels and have given nearly each one 4 or 5 stars. I'm amazed that he publishes 2 and 3 great books in a single year, again and again. 'The Insider' is only one of two of his books that I didn't really care for. I hate giving a poor review for an author I really like.

I think maybe the story had too many plot threads, sub-plots, surprise villains, and plot reveals that I began to lose interest about two-thirds the way through the book. But, that's just my opinion and I still look forward to whatever Craig Schaefer writes next.

[oohlalabooks · Rating 3 out of 5]

MC Charlie McCabe, a bodyguard, is lucky to be alive after her recent foray into Boston's criminal underworld. So she's taking no chances with this next job: protecting Hayden Cobb, key witness in the trial against a trio of murderous cops known as the East Boston Three. This is fast paced filled with action and it read like a movie! I haven’t read book #1, it dI’d mention Charlie’s last client and the outcome but i didn’t feel lost if anything it makes me want to read it. Thanks to Amazon Publishing for an ebook ARC. This is my honest review.

[Elizabeth Edwards · Rating 5 out of 5]

i always go into reading a book thinking have i read this author before ... i have so many authors that have very similar names ... or at least in my mind they do??! maybe they are not just that similar but to me ... well i have no clue why my mind hooks onto their names like i do??! any who ... great book cover. i got this as a Goodreads giveaway win ... very cool. love a good mystery. must read. i will read more from this author soon ... very soon!!

[Just Jese · Rating 5 out of 5]

Soooooooo good why can’t this be more than 5🌟?

Schaefer strikes gold again!
I’m absolutely loving this McCabe series, Dom and Beckett round it out for a solid trio who have each other’s backs and we’re not bogged down by rules or how certain scenes are meant to play out. I. AM. HERE. FOR. ALL. OF. IT.
Please please continue to focus on these newer characters, I don’t need to read about Faust anytime soon if we can continue this series and Ghosts of Gotham.

[Rina Di Raimo · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wanted to like this book more than I did. Everyone else seemed to love it, which made me feel like I’d missed something. It was my first Charlie McCabe novel, so maybe I didn’t know what to expect, but I wasn’t prepared for a lead character who felt so flat, so one-dimensional. By the time I reached the end, I just felt like I’d wasted my time. I don’t think I’ll pick up another book in the same series.

[Marney · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this one, but there was a lot going on in the plot, a bit too much perhaps. The author did a great job of bringing it all together though. The character of Nina had a hint of the supernatural about her, which I didn't think fitted with this series. Nevertheless, that won't stop me from buying any future Charlie McCabe books.

[Derek · Rating 5 out of 5]

A perfect second entry in the series. The author really finds his footing in figuring out and developing what's best about his main characters and the world they live in. I really enjoyed the first Charlie McCabe book, but I loved this one. Craig Schaefer has done it again bringing in an exciting new series into his already impressive line-up of unforgettable stories.

[Paul · Rating 4 out of 5]

This author has quite the imagination, and he knows how to effectively tell a tale! This is a solid bet for those that like action, interesting characters, and an unpredictable plot. Great ending too. Recommended.

Thanks very much for the ARC for review!!

[T Olsen · Rating 2 out of 5]

The writing isn't bad, but I'm glad the author is trying to write books and not running a protection service, because the main characters are really doing a bad job. They can take a look at bullet, however, and see if it's a .38 or a 9mm, which I have never been able to (hint: they are the same).

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the second book in the series. It was an ok book was a bit disappointed as some of it was just not realistic. The storyline was good and the characters well written but I'm afraid if I need a body guard I would use a different company. All in all was a good book to pass the time with.

[Sasha · Rating 4 out of 5]

First time reading anything by this author and I can’t wait to read another in this series. The book had the right amount of intrigue and action to keep you interested and wanting to find out The Who, what and why of the story.

[Gale Costa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this Series!

I enjoyed this series more with this book than the first. As the characters histories are revealed to us, the more interesting their lives become. Great job on these characters! Lots of action and unexpected things are happening!