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LAPD Detective Tully Jarsdel #2
What Waits for You
A serial killer lurks in people's homes for hours or days before he strikes...
The nightmare descends on a Tuesday. An elderly couple's home is transformed into a scene straight out of a horror film, their mutilated bodies the only clue left behind by the killer--and they are only the unlucky first in a series of impossible murders. Soon dubbed the Eastside Creeper, the murderer stalks Hollywood, camping out undetected in his victims' homes until he's ready to strike. After killing, he vanishes like smoke.
Considered an expert in the grotesque, Detective Tully Jarsdel lands this seemingly unsolvable case. Jarsdel, an academic-turned-cop, is intrigued by the Eastside Creeper. His methods are vicious, his path untraceable--nothing about this killer makes sense. But as the murders become more gruesome and the clues more inscrutable, widespread panic sets in. And amid the terror-induced chaos, Jarsdel's unconventional methods may be the only thing left between a killer and a city about to descend into chaos.
What Waits For You is the story of a terrified community, the only cop in LA who might be able to put a stop to the hysteria, and a murderer with nothing left to lose.
The nightmare descends on a Tuesday. An elderly couple's home is transformed into a scene straight out of a horror film, their mutilated bodies the only clue left behind by the killer--and they are only the unlucky first in a series of impossible murders. Soon dubbed the Eastside Creeper, the murderer stalks Hollywood, camping out undetected in his victims' homes until he's ready to strike. After killing, he vanishes like smoke.
Considered an expert in the grotesque, Detective Tully Jarsdel lands this seemingly unsolvable case. Jarsdel, an academic-turned-cop, is intrigued by the Eastside Creeper. His methods are vicious, his path untraceable--nothing about this killer makes sense. But as the murders become more gruesome and the clues more inscrutable, widespread panic sets in. And amid the terror-induced chaos, Jarsdel's unconventional methods may be the only thing left between a killer and a city about to descend into chaos.
What Waits For You is the story of a terrified community, the only cop in LA who might be able to put a stop to the hysteria, and a murderer with nothing left to lose.
384 pages, Paperback
First published January 5, 2021
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 55 reviews
January 18, 2021
What Waits for You
by Joseph Schneider is a different take on a contemporary police procedural set in the Los Angeles, California area and is the second book in the series. Rookie Detective Tully Jarsdel and his partner, Detective Oscar Morales work murder cases as part of a new homicide squad. The first sentence of the prologue pulls you into the story immediately. Tully and Oscar catch a case where the mutilated bodies of an elderly couple and some unknown DNA are the only clues. But when this becomes the first of several murders, and the killer is known as the Eastside Creeper, panic sets in for the residents of LA.
The novel is much more than a police procedural. Tully brings a unique perspective to his job. He is an ex-college history professor that was working on his PhD when he decided to change careers. It’s about loneliness even when surrounded by others. It’s about not fitting in with your colleagues even though you went through the same training regimen. It’s about deciding to change careers and dealing with parents who feel you made a mistake.
Tully is a compelling character that you can root for, but definitely has flaws as well as virtues. His internal and external conflicts and struggles were well defined. Oscar plays a much smaller role in this book. While there were secondary characters that were vital to this story, I felt the lack of discussions and interactions between Tully and Oscar reduced one of the key elements that made book one of the series so enjoyable.
The plot in this story was more complex that one might initially think. It had a twist that added to that complexity. The author did a great job of world-building. Discussions of movies, physics, office politics, and crime prevention added additional elements to the book. However, the pacing felt too slow at times; especially after a prologue that was outstanding. The pace did pick back up in the last quarter of the book and rose to a dramatic conclusion. Readers should be aware that the crime scenes are gory and described in detail.
Overall, this was unique and fresh. I enjoyed this novel and recommend it to those that enjoy police procedurals with a twist and an unusual protagonist. To better understand Tully’s background, this series should be read in order. This is an excellent novel, and I look forward to reading Schneider’s next one.
I received a complimentary physical ARC from Shauneice Robinson and Poisoned Pen Press / Sourcebooks. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own and are not biased in any way. This review was originally posted at Mystery and Suspense Magazine.
The novel is much more than a police procedural. Tully brings a unique perspective to his job. He is an ex-college history professor that was working on his PhD when he decided to change careers. It’s about loneliness even when surrounded by others. It’s about not fitting in with your colleagues even though you went through the same training regimen. It’s about deciding to change careers and dealing with parents who feel you made a mistake.
Tully is a compelling character that you can root for, but definitely has flaws as well as virtues. His internal and external conflicts and struggles were well defined. Oscar plays a much smaller role in this book. While there were secondary characters that were vital to this story, I felt the lack of discussions and interactions between Tully and Oscar reduced one of the key elements that made book one of the series so enjoyable.
The plot in this story was more complex that one might initially think. It had a twist that added to that complexity. The author did a great job of world-building. Discussions of movies, physics, office politics, and crime prevention added additional elements to the book. However, the pacing felt too slow at times; especially after a prologue that was outstanding. The pace did pick back up in the last quarter of the book and rose to a dramatic conclusion. Readers should be aware that the crime scenes are gory and described in detail.
Overall, this was unique and fresh. I enjoyed this novel and recommend it to those that enjoy police procedurals with a twist and an unusual protagonist. To better understand Tully’s background, this series should be read in order. This is an excellent novel, and I look forward to reading Schneider’s next one.
I received a complimentary physical ARC from Shauneice Robinson and Poisoned Pen Press / Sourcebooks. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own and are not biased in any way. This review was originally posted at Mystery and Suspense Magazine.
November 28, 2020
Review published in: https://diagnosisbookaholic.blogspot....
How did a book with such a creepy and terrific prologue ended up being so disappointing? Seriously, I'm so mad right now! That first description of the crime scene, the sense of menace, gave me chills, so I don't know what happened to the rest of the book but from there it all went downhill for me.
I found the first book in the series so refreshing, with an academic/historian turned police detective as the lead and not your usual tortured detective, but everything I liked about him then it turned irritating now. If you behave like a pompous ass you're gonna be treated like one by your colleagues! So many pretentious dialogue and pedantic language. Ugh!
One of the things I loved about the first book was Tully's relationship with Morales, but in this case Morales is just a guest star, so another let down.
Why would you create such a great villain, the Creeper, and such atrocious crimes, to not take off the investigation until so far into the story? Instead there were pages and pages of side plots that didn't contribute anything to the main plot. I found Dr. Varma's plot and all her explanations about security, the environment and criminals quite boring.
The end was only mildly surprising, but the motive THAT character gave for its crimes and its actions while committing them was so ridiculous! I won't go into details about the actual ending cause I don't wanna give away spoilers, but I thought it was a complete scam. Almost 400 pages and you can't bother to give a real explanation?
It pains me to say that my relationships with Detective Tully Jarsdel ends here.
Thanks to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
How did a book with such a creepy and terrific prologue ended up being so disappointing? Seriously, I'm so mad right now! That first description of the crime scene, the sense of menace, gave me chills, so I don't know what happened to the rest of the book but from there it all went downhill for me.
I found the first book in the series so refreshing, with an academic/historian turned police detective as the lead and not your usual tortured detective, but everything I liked about him then it turned irritating now. If you behave like a pompous ass you're gonna be treated like one by your colleagues! So many pretentious dialogue and pedantic language. Ugh!
One of the things I loved about the first book was Tully's relationship with Morales, but in this case Morales is just a guest star, so another let down.
Why would you create such a great villain, the Creeper, and such atrocious crimes, to not take off the investigation until so far into the story? Instead there were pages and pages of side plots that didn't contribute anything to the main plot. I found Dr. Varma's plot and all her explanations about security, the environment and criminals quite boring.
The end was only mildly surprising, but the motive THAT character gave for its crimes and its actions while committing them was so ridiculous! I won't go into details about the actual ending cause I don't wanna give away spoilers, but I thought it was a complete scam. Almost 400 pages and you can't bother to give a real explanation?
It pains me to say that my relationships with Detective Tully Jarsdel ends here.
Thanks to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
February 8, 2021
I was sent this book by Sourcebooks and it is from their Poisoned Pen Press imprint. Thank you Sourcebooks.
This story sucked me in from the first. I found time before work to get it read.
This modern police procedural is a must for fans of the genre. It also threw in elements of horror and true crime. I can just see this story getting optioned for a film right off the bat.
I want to say more about it, but I don’t want to spoil it. Get a copy and savour this one.
This story sucked me in from the first. I found time before work to get it read.
This modern police procedural is a must for fans of the genre. It also threw in elements of horror and true crime. I can just see this story getting optioned for a film right off the bat.
I want to say more about it, but I don’t want to spoil it. Get a copy and savour this one.
December 25, 2020
"What Waits For You" is an engrossing police procedural along the lines of Connelly's Bosch series. Indeed, it also is set in Los Angeles. But, make no mistake Schneider's Tully Jarsdel is an original. Jarsdel is a former professor who has brought his intellectual acumen to bear on Los Angeles' mean streets. Those streets just got a little meaner. The Eastside Creeper has the city on edge like the city hasn't been since the days of the Night Strangler, Richard Ramirez. But this one nests in people's homes, plotting, planning, and creeping. And, what he leaves behind is a terrifying bloody mess that would make lesser serial killers rather jealous.
The heart of the story here is the day to day work on special squads and the elite task forces set up to bring a multitude of different skills. Jarsdel is not quite a fit-in and go with the program kind of guy and butts heads now and then. Moreover, the city is keen on using new scientific techniques to combat crime such as installing bright lights, no-relaxing bus benches, and the like, all state of the art, computer planned upgrades. And, binging in psychology consultants. None of that means too much as the story really revolves around putting the clues together.
This is the second book in the series and both books in the series are filled with realism in the interactions between the officers and the life of the main character.
The heart of the story here is the day to day work on special squads and the elite task forces set up to bring a multitude of different skills. Jarsdel is not quite a fit-in and go with the program kind of guy and butts heads now and then. Moreover, the city is keen on using new scientific techniques to combat crime such as installing bright lights, no-relaxing bus benches, and the like, all state of the art, computer planned upgrades. And, binging in psychology consultants. None of that means too much as the story really revolves around putting the clues together.
This is the second book in the series and both books in the series are filled with realism in the interactions between the officers and the life of the main character.
December 29, 2020
What kind of demented killer holds up in the victims house, lurking for days or weeks in the cellar, crawl-space or attic … listening to their conversations, secrets, and intimate details of their lives, before he quixotically decides to obliterate and brutally murder all occupants, man, woman and child alike. This monster is known for his overkill tactics and is not afraid to leave clues and DNA behind. As the murder scenes mount, the most vile and depraved crimes in the history of Los Angeles, the panic and palpable terror of the city escalates. This tale is a commentary on the nature of mankind. Naturally there are those who are innately evil, and shrouded in darkness and mayhem. But, there are others, like our main protagonist, Detective Tully Jarsdel, whose goal is to seek out sanity and justice, and provide order and end chaos.
Joseph Schneider proves to be a masterful storyteller and unspools a twisted and complex police procedural that features are intrepid hero, Detective Tully Jarsdel, a modern-day Sherlock Holmes. Tully is not your usual macho figure. No one would mistake him for James Bond, MacGiver or even Harry Bosch. He is sensitive, and somewhat charming in an unobtrusive manner. His skill set varies from the customary grinding and following usual procedures in a relentless fashion. He is sometimes thought of as “Rain Man” smart. On the threshold of receiving his Ph.D in history, he quits to join the police academy for a more purposeful and useful life. He is part of an elite homicide unit. Although having six years of experience in homicide he is still derided by some of his jealous colleagues, and not just behind his back, but to his face. He frequently will weather comments referring to him as: “the Professor” … “Dudley-Do-Right” .. and at times, “Dad.” Tully’s backstory is unique. He has two dads, being the product of the marriage of two gay professors. His fathers, Robert and Darius were heartbroken when Tully abandoned academia. They never miss an opportunity to point out their dissatisfaction.
Tully is assigned to the Murder Task Force, with the goal of ending the relentless scourge to the city by the monster, that the media has appointed as the “Eastside Creeper”. As the bodies pile up Tully detects discrepancies in the killer’s signature and MO. He is met with some disdain as the other task force members trivialize his concerns. The killer sticks his thumb in the eye of the task force by brutally killing someone close to the investigation. Tully ponders the discrepancies with his rumination … “Who benefits”. This is the central theme behind every act that our species commits. There is a boogeyman out there. With each murder Tully feels a profound misery, that is amplified by a sense of helplessness.
Joseph Schneider provides mounting excitement and pace as Tully starts to put the pieces together, effortlessly the reader finds the pages flying by. In a rather elegant manner the full measure of cruelty and depravity is experienced without providing a litany of grueling detail.
Intricate characterization of Tully and other eclectic supporting characters are provided in a layered, efficient manner. Even the city of Los Angeles proves to be an important character in this cinematic noir narrative. Few people in the US are aware of the presence of the Watts Towers , an artistic jewel located off the beaten path and in a somewhat dangerous part of town. A collection of 17 interconnected sculptured towers created by Simon Rodia over the course of 30+ years … made from discarded items of steel, pottery, glass … and without aid of machinery, scaffolding, bolts, rivets or welds. A testament to the genius and love of one immigrant in dedication to his new country.
Thanks to NetGalley and The Poisoned Pen Press for providing an Uncorrected Proof in exchange for an honest review. This is the second novel in the series, but can certainly be enjoyed as a stand alone. All the necessary backstory is seamlessly provided by the author.
I look forward to the continuing investigations of the unassuming Tully Jarsdel.
Joseph Schneider proves to be a masterful storyteller and unspools a twisted and complex police procedural that features are intrepid hero, Detective Tully Jarsdel, a modern-day Sherlock Holmes. Tully is not your usual macho figure. No one would mistake him for James Bond, MacGiver or even Harry Bosch. He is sensitive, and somewhat charming in an unobtrusive manner. His skill set varies from the customary grinding and following usual procedures in a relentless fashion. He is sometimes thought of as “Rain Man” smart. On the threshold of receiving his Ph.D in history, he quits to join the police academy for a more purposeful and useful life. He is part of an elite homicide unit. Although having six years of experience in homicide he is still derided by some of his jealous colleagues, and not just behind his back, but to his face. He frequently will weather comments referring to him as: “the Professor” … “Dudley-Do-Right” .. and at times, “Dad.” Tully’s backstory is unique. He has two dads, being the product of the marriage of two gay professors. His fathers, Robert and Darius were heartbroken when Tully abandoned academia. They never miss an opportunity to point out their dissatisfaction.
Tully is assigned to the Murder Task Force, with the goal of ending the relentless scourge to the city by the monster, that the media has appointed as the “Eastside Creeper”. As the bodies pile up Tully detects discrepancies in the killer’s signature and MO. He is met with some disdain as the other task force members trivialize his concerns. The killer sticks his thumb in the eye of the task force by brutally killing someone close to the investigation. Tully ponders the discrepancies with his rumination … “Who benefits”. This is the central theme behind every act that our species commits. There is a boogeyman out there. With each murder Tully feels a profound misery, that is amplified by a sense of helplessness.
Joseph Schneider provides mounting excitement and pace as Tully starts to put the pieces together, effortlessly the reader finds the pages flying by. In a rather elegant manner the full measure of cruelty and depravity is experienced without providing a litany of grueling detail.
Intricate characterization of Tully and other eclectic supporting characters are provided in a layered, efficient manner. Even the city of Los Angeles proves to be an important character in this cinematic noir narrative. Few people in the US are aware of the presence of the Watts Towers , an artistic jewel located off the beaten path and in a somewhat dangerous part of town. A collection of 17 interconnected sculptured towers created by Simon Rodia over the course of 30+ years … made from discarded items of steel, pottery, glass … and without aid of machinery, scaffolding, bolts, rivets or welds. A testament to the genius and love of one immigrant in dedication to his new country.
Thanks to NetGalley and The Poisoned Pen Press for providing an Uncorrected Proof in exchange for an honest review. This is the second novel in the series, but can certainly be enjoyed as a stand alone. All the necessary backstory is seamlessly provided by the author.
I look forward to the continuing investigations of the unassuming Tully Jarsdel.
January 1, 2021
2.5 stars, rounded up
I didn't read the first book in the series, so this was my first introduction to these characters. I honestly thought this book was a bit of a mess.
The overarching mystery of the Creeper was grisly and made me very intrigued at who this person was and why they were committing these crimes. Yet the book meanders into this weird side story of Varma and endless paragraphs of her pontificating about stopping crime and her ways to do it. I wanted more of the Creeper story and more investigating, but after the beginning pages, the reader gets a peripheral look at the crimes, but only from a distance. The investigation was really haphazard as well, I never got a sense of them moving towards a solution. And it doesn't come until the very bitter end, the last page as kind of an aside.
There was some promise throughout, one good twist that made the reading of the book worthwhile, but overall it was too muddled and went too many different directions for me.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book, all opinions are my own.
I didn't read the first book in the series, so this was my first introduction to these characters. I honestly thought this book was a bit of a mess.
The overarching mystery of the Creeper was grisly and made me very intrigued at who this person was and why they were committing these crimes. Yet the book meanders into this weird side story of Varma and endless paragraphs of her pontificating about stopping crime and her ways to do it. I wanted more of the Creeper story and more investigating, but after the beginning pages, the reader gets a peripheral look at the crimes, but only from a distance. The investigation was really haphazard as well, I never got a sense of them moving towards a solution. And it doesn't come until the very bitter end, the last page as kind of an aside.
There was some promise throughout, one good twist that made the reading of the book worthwhile, but overall it was too muddled and went too many different directions for me.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book, all opinions are my own.
January 3, 2021
Thanks to Poisoned Pen Press/Sourcebooks for an advanced copy for honest review.
Wavering here between 4 and 5 stars, so we will call this a rounded up 4.5 stars. Reader, beware: there is nothing cozy about this story. This is a police procedural that, in great description, shows us the darkest sides of humanity through unimaginable crimes. The descriptions of the Creeper's acts in this are detailed and horrifying. If you have read the first Tully Jarsdel book, this will be unsurprising (don't start with this one, go back and read One Day You'll Burn First).
In the year or so since One Day You'll Burn came out, I've frequently thought about that book and been haunted by the story. I was somewhat surprised to see this one coming out and that Tully was still working as a detective after the horrors he experienced in the first book. Like that one, this will definitely be a story that will stay with me. Over the days I read this, I definitely found myself having to put some space between the story and myself before bed because this story definitely proves that we're never as truly safe as we'd like to believe.
Tully is an incredibly interesting character to follow. He's an unrepentantly pretentious individual, and it understandably makes it hard for him to get along with his fellow officers. I felt that this isolation and his personality were more well explored in this book than the previous. He's almost aggresively annoying, but somehow I still find him endearing and am hoping this is a series that will continue.
As a librarian, I would definitely be cautious in to whom I'm recommending this book (or the previous book). This will not be a universal recommendation- the level of gore described in the crime is not going to be for everyone. In an interview with the author at the end, he mentions wanting to write "a murder mystery that is just as much horror", and I think keeping that in mind as to what readers will enjoy this book is a good place to start.
Wavering here between 4 and 5 stars, so we will call this a rounded up 4.5 stars. Reader, beware: there is nothing cozy about this story. This is a police procedural that, in great description, shows us the darkest sides of humanity through unimaginable crimes. The descriptions of the Creeper's acts in this are detailed and horrifying. If you have read the first Tully Jarsdel book, this will be unsurprising (don't start with this one, go back and read One Day You'll Burn First).
In the year or so since One Day You'll Burn came out, I've frequently thought about that book and been haunted by the story. I was somewhat surprised to see this one coming out and that Tully was still working as a detective after the horrors he experienced in the first book. Like that one, this will definitely be a story that will stay with me. Over the days I read this, I definitely found myself having to put some space between the story and myself before bed because this story definitely proves that we're never as truly safe as we'd like to believe.
Tully is an incredibly interesting character to follow. He's an unrepentantly pretentious individual, and it understandably makes it hard for him to get along with his fellow officers. I felt that this isolation and his personality were more well explored in this book than the previous. He's almost aggresively annoying, but somehow I still find him endearing and am hoping this is a series that will continue.
As a librarian, I would definitely be cautious in to whom I'm recommending this book (or the previous book). This will not be a universal recommendation- the level of gore described in the crime is not going to be for everyone. In an interview with the author at the end, he mentions wanting to write "a murder mystery that is just as much horror", and I think keeping that in mind as to what readers will enjoy this book is a good place to start.
January 8, 2021
Aah, a really good exciting read given by the author and Goodreads! Tully is not the popular guy in the detective's group. He is smart and very good at his job. He is also tenacious and thorough. There is a terrible murderer on the loose. The Eastside Creeper does horrible things to his victims. Tully is assigned to a special task force to find the fiend. The story kept me guessing and wondering, were there two bad guys or one? Well done Joseph Schneider.
January 5, 2021
Well he did it again. Joseph Schneider’s second Tully Jarsdel novel, What Waits For You, is another slam dunk for me! This book releases today!!!
I really enjoyed the first book in this series and I couldn’t put this one down either!
@sourcebooks gifted us this book through @goodreads and we are so thankful!
This time Tully, an LAPD cop, is on the hunt for a gruesome serial killer nicknamed The Eastside Creeper...first of all, what a creepy serial killer name!!! This guy is whacked out of his mind and Tully is up to the challenge. If you are a psycho and love serial killer books like me then you will love this one! Visit our Amazon Storefront through the link in our bio for easy access to this perfectly creepy novel!
I really enjoyed the first book in this series and I couldn’t put this one down either!
@sourcebooks gifted us this book through @goodreads and we are so thankful!
This time Tully, an LAPD cop, is on the hunt for a gruesome serial killer nicknamed The Eastside Creeper...first of all, what a creepy serial killer name!!! This guy is whacked out of his mind and Tully is up to the challenge. If you are a psycho and love serial killer books like me then you will love this one! Visit our Amazon Storefront through the link in our bio for easy access to this perfectly creepy novel!
December 21, 2020
Detective Tully Jarsdel is back again, with a completely LA weird murder case. There is a new serial killer loose in lower California who is so grotesque it's unlikely he could be anywhere else. Not to say that crime from California is so horrific we couldn't imagine it anywhere else, but the truly strange seems more likely to be from that little section of the country. Now, Tully himself is a little different from the standard LAPD officer. He was an academic on the PhD path to eventual professorship when he decided he'd rather do concrete things to improve the world instead. His family does not approve.
The serial killer gets the name "The Eastside Creeper". He also gets a task force made up of a detective from each of the precincts the killer has worked in. Tully suspects, after meeting his comrades, that the task force is a place those precincts used to dump their troublesome detectives. This way, when the task force fails to catch the Creeper, those officers can be let go without recourse. Tully does not plan to fail.
After several vicious murders, the Creeper changes tactics. He kills the wife of the leader of the task force in a blitz attack. This seems strange to Tully. Serial killers, in Tully's experience and study, don't do that. So Tully changes his suspect list.
During the madness that settles on LA while the Creeper is loose, Tully meets a charming woman who is working on environmental changes to mold and focus behavior. Special lightbulbs and bus shelter benches designed to make people want to be elsewhere are the first of her plans. Tully is taken with her, but she only sees him as a resource to be used. It's an interesting distraction from the task force. I have followed the rise and fall of hostile architecture as it is called in various places.
This is the second in a new series about our Detective Tully. The first book was interesting. This one is even more fascinating. I look forward to more intriguing adventures. You really want to watch Tully confirm his suspect.
I received the copy of the book that I read for this review from the publisher.
The serial killer gets the name "The Eastside Creeper". He also gets a task force made up of a detective from each of the precincts the killer has worked in. Tully suspects, after meeting his comrades, that the task force is a place those precincts used to dump their troublesome detectives. This way, when the task force fails to catch the Creeper, those officers can be let go without recourse. Tully does not plan to fail.
After several vicious murders, the Creeper changes tactics. He kills the wife of the leader of the task force in a blitz attack. This seems strange to Tully. Serial killers, in Tully's experience and study, don't do that. So Tully changes his suspect list.
During the madness that settles on LA while the Creeper is loose, Tully meets a charming woman who is working on environmental changes to mold and focus behavior. Special lightbulbs and bus shelter benches designed to make people want to be elsewhere are the first of her plans. Tully is taken with her, but she only sees him as a resource to be used. It's an interesting distraction from the task force. I have followed the rise and fall of hostile architecture as it is called in various places.
This is the second in a new series about our Detective Tully. The first book was interesting. This one is even more fascinating. I look forward to more intriguing adventures. You really want to watch Tully confirm his suspect.
I received the copy of the book that I read for this review from the publisher.
December 30, 2020
Excellent!! Even better than the first one!
December 22, 2020
What a strikingly engaging masterpiece! The characters and textures of the book were so gripping it was difficult to put the book down. Schneider takes you just far enough down uncomfortable paths then lets you fill in the remaining detail - he deftly moves the imagery from surreal to vivid with precision timing. He demonstrates masterly control of language without letting you see what he’s doing; like the magician’s slight of hand. The book is nearly unbound by its genre, Schneider lets his brilliance shine beyond it using cleverly placed characters and sub-plots. You may learn something unwittingly while you’re entertained. I highly recommend it.
January 10, 2021
ARC received courtesy of Sourcebooks
This is the second novel in the "Tully Jarsdel LAPD" series. I did not read the first novel but didn't feel like I needed to have read it to enjoy this one. I found the novel a strange combination of science, police procedural and personal story of Tully Jarsdel. Although there were a couple of tedious scientific parts to wade through and a few parts that did not serve to move the story along, I did enjoy it.
Tully Jarsdel is a brilliant man who joined the LAPD from academia as a detective. As such, he doesn't always fit in well with his co-workers. When horrific murders begin to happen in people's homes, Tully and his partner are on the case. The murderer is dubbed the Creeper by the press as he lives, undetected, inside of the homes of his victims. As the incidents continue, Tully is assigned to a task force to find the Creeper.
As this is happening, Tully is also pulled into the new public policies being created by Alisha Varma. She is a consultant charged with lowering the crime statistics in LA. Her ideas are controversial so she would like Tully on her side. She specializes in manipulating the environment with lighting, paint, and concrete to create uncomfortable spaces where criminals won't want to hang out.
Both stories happen happen side-by-side and are easy to separate. The characters are well-written and believable. The city of Los Angeles also became a character in the novel. I would go back and read book one and read others that are written in the series.
This is the second novel in the "Tully Jarsdel LAPD" series. I did not read the first novel but didn't feel like I needed to have read it to enjoy this one. I found the novel a strange combination of science, police procedural and personal story of Tully Jarsdel. Although there were a couple of tedious scientific parts to wade through and a few parts that did not serve to move the story along, I did enjoy it.
Tully Jarsdel is a brilliant man who joined the LAPD from academia as a detective. As such, he doesn't always fit in well with his co-workers. When horrific murders begin to happen in people's homes, Tully and his partner are on the case. The murderer is dubbed the Creeper by the press as he lives, undetected, inside of the homes of his victims. As the incidents continue, Tully is assigned to a task force to find the Creeper.
As this is happening, Tully is also pulled into the new public policies being created by Alisha Varma. She is a consultant charged with lowering the crime statistics in LA. Her ideas are controversial so she would like Tully on her side. She specializes in manipulating the environment with lighting, paint, and concrete to create uncomfortable spaces where criminals won't want to hang out.
Both stories happen happen side-by-side and are easy to separate. The characters are well-written and believable. The city of Los Angeles also became a character in the novel. I would go back and read book one and read others that are written in the series.
May 21, 2022
I didn't think I would return to this series as quickly as I did, but I think I've been bitten by some kind of "murder bug" at the moment. Can't get enough of cops and murder cases.
In many ways I thought this book was better than the first, but the murderer was also really, really evil. Some really sick content there. In a very well crafted way.
I'm not sure I like Tully Jarsdel 100%, but he did grow on me. As did his partner.
I missed Morales during a long stretch of the book, while Tully worked for the Eastside Creeper taskforce.
The squabbling between the taskforce members was a bit irking. And I suspected one particular character very early on. The details turned out to be way wilder than anything I could have imagined, but it was still the right person.
I also turned out to be right about Dr Varma. Too many red flags too early, that the poor Tully didn't see. I found it a little off. A little too obvious.
But I was happy to see she wasn't another place-holder female throwing herself at Tully simply "because", like in the first book. This woman at least had a solid, if twisted, motive.
This series is not in the top tier for me, but it is good.
In many ways I thought this book was better than the first, but the murderer was also really, really evil. Some really sick content there. In a very well crafted way.
I'm not sure I like Tully Jarsdel 100%, but he did grow on me. As did his partner.
I missed Morales during a long stretch of the book, while Tully worked for the Eastside Creeper taskforce.
The squabbling between the taskforce members was a bit irking. And I suspected one particular character very early on. The details turned out to be way wilder than anything I could have imagined, but it was still the right person.
I also turned out to be right about Dr Varma. Too many red flags too early, that the poor Tully didn't see. I found it a little off. A little too obvious.
But I was happy to see she wasn't another place-holder female throwing herself at Tully simply "because", like in the first book. This woman at least had a solid, if twisted, motive.
This series is not in the top tier for me, but it is good.
March 2, 2021
First, thank you to the publisher and to Goodreads for the free copy!
I did not read the first book in this series, so was unfamiliar with some of the characters, but was still able to enjoy the book. It was thrilling and caught my attention from the beginning.
The book was about the main character, Tully, and the team who is trying to catch a killer, The Creeper. There are lots of little side stories also, which kept it interesting. The ending was not the greatest, many unanswered questions. But overall, I enjoyed it.
I would have liked to have read the first book prior to this one.
I did not read the first book in this series, so was unfamiliar with some of the characters, but was still able to enjoy the book. It was thrilling and caught my attention from the beginning.
The book was about the main character, Tully, and the team who is trying to catch a killer, The Creeper. There are lots of little side stories also, which kept it interesting. The ending was not the greatest, many unanswered questions. But overall, I enjoyed it.
I would have liked to have read the first book prior to this one.
December 13, 2020
The second book in the series and in some ways better than the previous book. The positives are the plot, the investigation, the suspense. What I felt as negative was the narrative veering off too much with the sub plot, the pedantic prose and excessive gore with no explanation supporting it in respect to the subject. The plot holes were the failure of the task force to correlate the murder interval to the earthquake, nobody figuring out the evidence until the epilogue. All things said, I did like this book and would recommend it. Looking forward to the next one in this series.
December 11, 2020
I loved it. I stayed up late reading it and then wanted to get right back into it when I woke up. It was hard to put down.
December 31, 2020
This is the second in the Detective Tully Jarsdel series. I read the first and enjoyed it. I thought the main character, a former academic with an almost completed PhD in history was unique and interesting; the different slant on the protagonist, refreshing. In this book, not so refreshing….in fact, a bit of a boor.
The grisly background story is the pursuit of a serial killer dubbed the Eastside Creeper who does grotesque things to his victims. Unfortunately, the novel got bogged down with lots of digressions into other subplots as well as the psyche of Jarsdel. These threw off the rhythm of the novel and interrupted the suspense.
The grisly background story is the pursuit of a serial killer dubbed the Eastside Creeper who does grotesque things to his victims. Unfortunately, the novel got bogged down with lots of digressions into other subplots as well as the psyche of Jarsdel. These threw off the rhythm of the novel and interrupted the suspense.
March 22, 2021
What Waits For You: A Tully Jarsdel LAPD Novel by Joseph Schneider is the second read in the series that began with One Day You’ll Burn. While an interesting read, for this reader, it was not the same level as the first book.
A serial killer is at work in Los Angeles and getting massive media attention. Dubbed “The Eastside Creeper” by the media, it is believed the killer lives undetected in the home of his intended victims for days before he attacks. He studies their habits before he unleashes a brutal attack on everyone in the house regardless of their age. Each kill is itself its own gruesome story as each body is brutalized and mutilated in some horrific way.
Tully Jarsdel still works in HH2, The New Hollywood Homicide, at Hollywood Station. He still is not fitting in with his fellow officers and detectives. Not only is he still resented for the way he was fast tracked into the job, the former academic is far more comfortable with books than people. A major source of annoyance is his pretentious boss.
Lieutenant Gavin’s idea of bringing in Dr. Varma, who has some radical ideas to address the rising murder rate and other crime stats, does not sit well at first with Jarsdel. Her ideas could work, if the department as well as the people they serve and protect, accept them as necessary and worthy. Beyond her ideas for engineering the environment, she is a person of intellect and somebody who can make Jarsdel think while also personally and directly breaking him out of his academic shell.
The personal and professional situation with Dr. Varma runs a parallel track with the chase for “The Eastside Creeper.” As the kills mount and politics in the station work against him, he is assigned to “The Creeper Task Force” downtown at Homicide Special. Not only is it a way to get him out of the Hollywood Station, it very well could be the first step in disbanding HH2 like Lieutenant Gavin has long wanted to do. Jarsdel is also aware that task forces are often made up of not the best and the brightest, but a way to get rid of officers others perceive to be a problem.
What Waits For You: A Tully Jarsdel LAPD Novel by Joseph Schneider is an interesting and often slow moving read. Academic theory makes up a large part of this read where multiple discussions of various people and events as well as psychological concepts and environment engineering regarding crime policy, while interesting, slow down the action and the hunt for a killer. In addition to being a slow moving read, it seems to be a read that is, at times, designed to gross out the reader in unnecessary ways.
While I very much enjoyed the first book, One Day You'll Burn, this read was a struggle to finish. How much of that was due to an actual sophomore slump, the ongoing mindset of the reader, or something else, I do not know. If the same thing persists with the next book in the series, I will be done.
What Waits For You: A Tully Jarsdel LAPD Novel
Joseph Schneider
https://jschneiderbooks.com/
Poison Pen Press
https://poisonedpenpress.com/books/
January 2021
ISBN# 978-1-4926-8447-3
Paperback (also available in audio and eBook formats)
384 Pages
My read was an ARC provided by the publisher via Goodreads.
Kevin R. Tipple ©2021
A serial killer is at work in Los Angeles and getting massive media attention. Dubbed “The Eastside Creeper” by the media, it is believed the killer lives undetected in the home of his intended victims for days before he attacks. He studies their habits before he unleashes a brutal attack on everyone in the house regardless of their age. Each kill is itself its own gruesome story as each body is brutalized and mutilated in some horrific way.
Tully Jarsdel still works in HH2, The New Hollywood Homicide, at Hollywood Station. He still is not fitting in with his fellow officers and detectives. Not only is he still resented for the way he was fast tracked into the job, the former academic is far more comfortable with books than people. A major source of annoyance is his pretentious boss.
Lieutenant Gavin’s idea of bringing in Dr. Varma, who has some radical ideas to address the rising murder rate and other crime stats, does not sit well at first with Jarsdel. Her ideas could work, if the department as well as the people they serve and protect, accept them as necessary and worthy. Beyond her ideas for engineering the environment, she is a person of intellect and somebody who can make Jarsdel think while also personally and directly breaking him out of his academic shell.
The personal and professional situation with Dr. Varma runs a parallel track with the chase for “The Eastside Creeper.” As the kills mount and politics in the station work against him, he is assigned to “The Creeper Task Force” downtown at Homicide Special. Not only is it a way to get him out of the Hollywood Station, it very well could be the first step in disbanding HH2 like Lieutenant Gavin has long wanted to do. Jarsdel is also aware that task forces are often made up of not the best and the brightest, but a way to get rid of officers others perceive to be a problem.
What Waits For You: A Tully Jarsdel LAPD Novel by Joseph Schneider is an interesting and often slow moving read. Academic theory makes up a large part of this read where multiple discussions of various people and events as well as psychological concepts and environment engineering regarding crime policy, while interesting, slow down the action and the hunt for a killer. In addition to being a slow moving read, it seems to be a read that is, at times, designed to gross out the reader in unnecessary ways.
While I very much enjoyed the first book, One Day You'll Burn, this read was a struggle to finish. How much of that was due to an actual sophomore slump, the ongoing mindset of the reader, or something else, I do not know. If the same thing persists with the next book in the series, I will be done.
What Waits For You: A Tully Jarsdel LAPD Novel
Joseph Schneider
https://jschneiderbooks.com/
Poison Pen Press
https://poisonedpenpress.com/books/
January 2021
ISBN# 978-1-4926-8447-3
Paperback (also available in audio and eBook formats)
384 Pages
My read was an ARC provided by the publisher via Goodreads.
Kevin R. Tipple ©2021
January 3, 2021
What Waits for You is the second Detective Tully Jarsdel novel. It can be read and enjoyed without having to read the first novel, One Day You'll Burn. However I recommend reading the first book so that the reader can see the evolution of Detective Jarsdel's character.
What Waits for You opens with a gruesome crime centered around a serial killer who unknowingly lives in his victims homes before killing them in the most horrendous ways. This opener gave me the chills! I literally had to put the book down and catch my breath after the first chapter. The rest of the novel is a slow burn that follows Jarsdel's search for the killer as he tries to find his place in the police force and balance in his personal life.
I wish there had been more chapters like the first one, but overall this is a great book. Schneider is a master at placing clues within the storyline, allowing the reader to play detective.
What Waits for You opens with a gruesome crime centered around a serial killer who unknowingly lives in his victims homes before killing them in the most horrendous ways. This opener gave me the chills! I literally had to put the book down and catch my breath after the first chapter. The rest of the novel is a slow burn that follows Jarsdel's search for the killer as he tries to find his place in the police force and balance in his personal life.
I wish there had been more chapters like the first one, but overall this is a great book. Schneider is a master at placing clues within the storyline, allowing the reader to play detective.
April 30, 2021
Academic turned detective Tully Jarsdel is back in the second book of the series. After reading One Day You'll Burn, I was thrilled to read this next one, and a great addition it was.
Tully is loaned out to a special task force to help find a serial killer. The East Side Creeper, as he is dubbed, is wreaking havoc across the city of Los Angeles.
The monster responsible lives in the homes of his victims, undetected until he strikes out with a gruesome force and extreme savagery.
As terror sets in the community, the murderer suddenly changes his m.o. Tully is compelled to use his intellect to solve the twisted puzzle, before more suffering and horror is experienced.
This true to life police procedural was sinister and terrifying. I tried not to read it close to bedtime as it was so unsettling.
The characters were vivid and well defined. Tully can still be quite annoying with his superior intellect, but remains a sympathetic personality. I missed the bond between him and his regular partner Morales in this one, and look forward to them teaming up again.
I really enjoyed the distinctive story and was fascinated throught to the unexpected and shocking ending.
Thank you Poisoned Pen Press for the gifted copy to review.
Tully is loaned out to a special task force to help find a serial killer. The East Side Creeper, as he is dubbed, is wreaking havoc across the city of Los Angeles.
The monster responsible lives in the homes of his victims, undetected until he strikes out with a gruesome force and extreme savagery.
As terror sets in the community, the murderer suddenly changes his m.o. Tully is compelled to use his intellect to solve the twisted puzzle, before more suffering and horror is experienced.
This true to life police procedural was sinister and terrifying. I tried not to read it close to bedtime as it was so unsettling.
The characters were vivid and well defined. Tully can still be quite annoying with his superior intellect, but remains a sympathetic personality. I missed the bond between him and his regular partner Morales in this one, and look forward to them teaming up again.
I really enjoyed the distinctive story and was fascinated throught to the unexpected and shocking ending.
Thank you Poisoned Pen Press for the gifted copy to review.
February 1, 2021
I wish I would’ve realized this was the second book in a series before I started. Great story, super interesting. Reminds me of the Bosch series. Off to read the first book!
November 28, 2020
This is the second in the Tully Jarsdel mystery series, and I liked it even more than the first which I thought was wonderful. The book is smart, layered and full of great characters and plot turns -- all supported by lean, engaging prose. The book satisfies on every level. I highly recommend it.
May 21, 2022
Okay, I was enjoying this book except for Varma’s character. Tully was sort of a smart and quirky character like Sherlock Holmes, which I liked. Then halfway through the book, I figured out one of the murderers. It’s like Agatha Christie’s “The A.B.C. Murders.” Then wouldn’t you know, the the Acknowledgments, the author specifically mentioned two staged crime scenes, using the name of the supposed victims! So the author actually pointed out spoilers in his own Acknowledgements!
January 5, 2021
This was a Goodreads Giveaway win. This one was just all over the place. The actual serial killer storyline takes up about 75 pages and the rest just seems to be random ramblings that have nothing to do with the story. Really strange read.
April 26, 2021
Fair to midlin book- nasty gruesome murders- very PC too- (2 fathers)- but in general,not very likable characters,including Tully,lots of long winded chapters that slowed things down- I thought it was a little too cute to not name the “ creeper “ in the end.
February 28, 2021
Fasten your seatbelt for the the latest from Joseph Schneider: What Waits for You. If you are not yet familiar with Joseph Schneider, his Los Angeles police detective books are perfect for fans of Michael Connelly, Michael Crichton, and J.D.Robb .
Be prepared for plenty of gruesome details as Detective Jarsdale sets out to solve the creepy crimes committed by the so-called Eastside Creeper, a ruthless and blood thirsty killer who has set everyone’s nerves on edge in the Hollywood Hills. Even people who said they didn’t believe in the death penalty are saying this Creeper deserves no less.
Although the Bureau of Street Lighting begins begins installing much brighter lighting in parks, freeway underpasses, all publicly maintained bathrooms and then exteriors of large buildings, the harsh lights do not stop the killings. Yet some of the grisly murders do not seem to fit the Creeper’s pattern. Jarsdale also must deal with suspicions about one of his own – a lieutenant whose wife’s death leaves her double indemnity life insurance to him alone.
This second book by the author book is not for the faint of heart. Gory details, victims of all ages- from young children to the elderly, a taunting letter from the alleged Creeper… you name it and this book has it. Leave the lights on when you go to bed after this one! I received a complimentary copy from Poisoned Pen Press, and this is my honest review.
Be prepared for plenty of gruesome details as Detective Jarsdale sets out to solve the creepy crimes committed by the so-called Eastside Creeper, a ruthless and blood thirsty killer who has set everyone’s nerves on edge in the Hollywood Hills. Even people who said they didn’t believe in the death penalty are saying this Creeper deserves no less.
Although the Bureau of Street Lighting begins begins installing much brighter lighting in parks, freeway underpasses, all publicly maintained bathrooms and then exteriors of large buildings, the harsh lights do not stop the killings. Yet some of the grisly murders do not seem to fit the Creeper’s pattern. Jarsdale also must deal with suspicions about one of his own – a lieutenant whose wife’s death leaves her double indemnity life insurance to him alone.
This second book by the author book is not for the faint of heart. Gory details, victims of all ages- from young children to the elderly, a taunting letter from the alleged Creeper… you name it and this book has it. Leave the lights on when you go to bed after this one! I received a complimentary copy from Poisoned Pen Press, and this is my honest review.
June 27, 2021
This book is seriously creepy!
As a crime/thriller, this novel really pushes the boundary of fiction. The researched details are so vivid it is difficult to pinpoint where fact ends and fiction begins, and I found myself learning quite a bit about police procedures, the L.A. area, psychology, etc. while reading. Like his first novel, Schneider reveals an intimate understanding of L.A. in all its glory and shortcomings. The insights on human motivations, aspirations, and limitations are astute and make for believable, colorful characters. Schneider really plums the depths of human depravity in this book but also explores more noble characteristics to create much-needed balance.
The plot development is complex and interesting. Overall, I preferred the first novel because it was less graphic of a thriller and because I felt the plot was a little tighter, but this book was compellingly written. I would recommend this novel to anyone interested in crime genres as it offers all the required ingredients: intrigue, police procedure, plot twists, shocking crime scenes, a protagonist you can get behind, and a gritty, believable setting...but this novel also offers insight, wisdom, and a possible context for all the horrid events that take place. That is what makes Schneider's work unique.
As a crime/thriller, this novel really pushes the boundary of fiction. The researched details are so vivid it is difficult to pinpoint where fact ends and fiction begins, and I found myself learning quite a bit about police procedures, the L.A. area, psychology, etc. while reading. Like his first novel, Schneider reveals an intimate understanding of L.A. in all its glory and shortcomings. The insights on human motivations, aspirations, and limitations are astute and make for believable, colorful characters. Schneider really plums the depths of human depravity in this book but also explores more noble characteristics to create much-needed balance.
The plot development is complex and interesting. Overall, I preferred the first novel because it was less graphic of a thriller and because I felt the plot was a little tighter, but this book was compellingly written. I would recommend this novel to anyone interested in crime genres as it offers all the required ingredients: intrigue, police procedure, plot twists, shocking crime scenes, a protagonist you can get behind, and a gritty, believable setting...but this novel also offers insight, wisdom, and a possible context for all the horrid events that take place. That is what makes Schneider's work unique.
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