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The Yards
Git O’Rourke is from the wrong side of the tracks—even if, in the depressed Rust Belt town of Baxter, it’s not always clear where that designation begins. A single mother, she works hard to support her daughter Charlie, but still finds time to cut loose every once in a while, to go to a local bar, drink martinis and find a companion for the night. Which is exactly how she ends up in a hotel room with a strange man passed out on heroin, and how she comes to possess the bag of money and guns that he left open as he got his fix.
When the dead body is discovered at the Skyview Motor Court, a bullet through its forehead, officer Delia Meriola is one of the first on the scene. She recognizes the victim as the perpetrator in an earlier crime—a domestic violence call—but that does little to explain how he ended up in the situation in which they find him. She knows he’s connected to the local mob, but the crime scene doesn’t exactly resemble their typical hit. Instead, all signs point to a pick-up gone wrong. Which means that all signs point to Git.
A twisted tale set in a tough town, The Yards is a multiple-voiced mystery with two unforgettable women at its core; its suspenseful, thrilling, and unpredictable plot will keep the reader guessing until the very last page.
When the dead body is discovered at the Skyview Motor Court, a bullet through its forehead, officer Delia Meriola is one of the first on the scene. She recognizes the victim as the perpetrator in an earlier crime—a domestic violence call—but that does little to explain how he ended up in the situation in which they find him. She knows he’s connected to the local mob, but the crime scene doesn’t exactly resemble their typical hit. Instead, all signs point to a pick-up gone wrong. Which means that all signs point to Git.
A twisted tale set in a tough town, The Yards is a multiple-voiced mystery with two unforgettable women at its core; its suspenseful, thrilling, and unpredictable plot will keep the reader guessing until the very last page.
308 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 7, 2021
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368 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 88 reviews
January 24, 2023
4.5⭐
Two weeks after I read The Hostage, I had to read The Yards because Lt. Delia Mariola of Baxter PD is such a strong and intriguing character. I had to bump this up ahead of other books I already planned to read because I'm lovin' this series!
Git O’Rourke wants to move up and out of the trashy side of the railroad tracks for Charlie her eight-year-old daughter. To do that, she needs to complete nursing school but money is tight from nursing home salary. Her ex-husband was abusive, one day when Git finally had enough and fought back, he ran off.
Git has sworn off men, but every few months she has an itch. Tonight, she's dolled up to hook up at Randy's. Git is seasoned and cautious about who she goes with. She left the bar with Bradley, a regular according to the bartender, for his cabin at Skyview Motor Court. Later, Bradley was acting weird and very stoned. Git just wants to get the hell out and while searching for her fancy underwear she found drugs, a gun, and a lot of cash!
Bradley's dead. Lt. Delia Mariola wants to question the mysterious woman who went into his cabin. Connor Schmidt, a local drug lord wants his money back.
This crime thriller is well written in a gritty way with believable characters and dialog. Told from three POVs Git, Delia, and Connor. I love the pace as well. Not only did I get to know Delia better but Git is another strong character. Git is far from perfect but I was rooting for her from the very beginning. A great cat-and-mouse thriller!
Great audio too! Got this one from Hoopla.
Two weeks after I read The Hostage, I had to read The Yards because Lt. Delia Mariola of Baxter PD is such a strong and intriguing character. I had to bump this up ahead of other books I already planned to read because I'm lovin' this series!
Git O’Rourke wants to move up and out of the trashy side of the railroad tracks for Charlie her eight-year-old daughter. To do that, she needs to complete nursing school but money is tight from nursing home salary. Her ex-husband was abusive, one day when Git finally had enough and fought back, he ran off.
Git has sworn off men, but every few months she has an itch. Tonight, she's dolled up to hook up at Randy's. Git is seasoned and cautious about who she goes with. She left the bar with Bradley, a regular according to the bartender, for his cabin at Skyview Motor Court. Later, Bradley was acting weird and very stoned. Git just wants to get the hell out and while searching for her fancy underwear she found drugs, a gun, and a lot of cash!
Bradley's dead. Lt. Delia Mariola wants to question the mysterious woman who went into his cabin. Connor Schmidt, a local drug lord wants his money back.
This crime thriller is well written in a gritty way with believable characters and dialog. Told from three POVs Git, Delia, and Connor. I love the pace as well. Not only did I get to know Delia better but Git is another strong character. Git is far from perfect but I was rooting for her from the very beginning. A great cat-and-mouse thriller!
Great audio too! Got this one from Hoopla.
September 7, 2021
The genre of declining America is the setting for small town Baxter with its failing economy, drug problems and cronyism (in local politics and police) as residents struggle for a better life. With its gritty start, The Yards is the second standalone thriller by A F Carter. Told from the perspectives of Delia, a police detective, Git O’Rourke a nurse and single mother, and Connor the son of the local drug lord, each character has a well-developed back story. A dead body turns up in the local motel, kicking off a series of events that impact on our protagonists. With believable characters, an interlocking narrative and building tension comes this four-star read rating. So, A F Carter’s first book will now be added to the enjoyable reading lists pile. With thanks to Penzler Publishers and the author for an uncorrected proof copy for review purposes. An interestingly aside, the story has references to Covid but also describes the virus effect on the character’s families.
May 16, 2021
Once I realized this was by the author of All of Us, I didn’t even read the plot description, just hit the request button. Which should tell you all you need to know about how much all of me loved All of Us. Alas, this wasn’t the sophomore effort one might have been hoping for.
The author, to her credit, tried something different, pivoting from the mental disorders that made her debut such a blast to the white trash noir, creating a moribund nowhere town with disappearing economy and rampant small time crime, where the protagonists (all different people this time and less fun for it) find themselves involved in some murder business.
It begins with a single mom named Git who works almost twice the normal work week to get away from her white trash origins and give her and her young daughter a chance at a decent life. Git has a terrible taste in men, in fact she has all but swore off men, but every so often she gets too horny to bear, throws on $100 worth of lingerie (seriously, Git? What sort of a shopping decision is that for a woman on your budget?) and hits up a local bar to get laid. She tries to be selective, but once again fails, ending up with a guy so wrong that he literally ends up dead on the same night. Also, 18 grand worth of local crime family’s money he had with him disappears.
So now not only are the cops involved, but also the scion of the crime family who has employed the guy is looking for the money too.
The novel has three narrators, Git, Connor the criminal and Delia the cop. But it’ mainly Git and Delia show. Delia’s also a single mom. And a lesbian. And apparently a career driven masochist, because the smallness of the town and its denizens all by guarantees her no romantic life whatsoever. But Delia’s tough. And determined to solve the case. And Git’s tough and determined to get out alive. And Connor’s just fronting tough, because he has a loyal sidekick who does the heavy lifting for him.
But really most everyone in this novel is some kind of tough, because that’s the kind of life there are leading. It’s the genre, you know, they are written that way. They are all kind of like battered pickup trucks of people. And so’s the town. Everyone’s just beaten down by life, weathered, downtrodden and desperate. But scrappy, very much so, admirably so, scrappy.
So that’s essentially it. Not so much of a mystery, more of a crime drama, albeit with enough suspense and thrilleresque elements to qualify for the genre. Makes an overtly conscientious effort of having two mighty and righteous female characters. Reads easily and quickly, the author certainly does that right, establishes and maintains the immediacy of the narrative. But overall, it leaves something to be desired. Possibly because it’s just nowhere near as clever or original as the author’s first novel, it just pales in comparison. Without the comparison it’s a fine read, especially if white trash noir (if that is indeed a genre) is your thing. Sufficiently entertaining for the time it takes to get through. Thanks Netgalley.
This and more at https://advancetheplot.weebly.com/
The author, to her credit, tried something different, pivoting from the mental disorders that made her debut such a blast to the white trash noir, creating a moribund nowhere town with disappearing economy and rampant small time crime, where the protagonists (all different people this time and less fun for it) find themselves involved in some murder business.
It begins with a single mom named Git who works almost twice the normal work week to get away from her white trash origins and give her and her young daughter a chance at a decent life. Git has a terrible taste in men, in fact she has all but swore off men, but every so often she gets too horny to bear, throws on $100 worth of lingerie (seriously, Git? What sort of a shopping decision is that for a woman on your budget?) and hits up a local bar to get laid. She tries to be selective, but once again fails, ending up with a guy so wrong that he literally ends up dead on the same night. Also, 18 grand worth of local crime family’s money he had with him disappears.
So now not only are the cops involved, but also the scion of the crime family who has employed the guy is looking for the money too.
The novel has three narrators, Git, Connor the criminal and Delia the cop. But it’ mainly Git and Delia show. Delia’s also a single mom. And a lesbian. And apparently a career driven masochist, because the smallness of the town and its denizens all by guarantees her no romantic life whatsoever. But Delia’s tough. And determined to solve the case. And Git’s tough and determined to get out alive. And Connor’s just fronting tough, because he has a loyal sidekick who does the heavy lifting for him.
But really most everyone in this novel is some kind of tough, because that’s the kind of life there are leading. It’s the genre, you know, they are written that way. They are all kind of like battered pickup trucks of people. And so’s the town. Everyone’s just beaten down by life, weathered, downtrodden and desperate. But scrappy, very much so, admirably so, scrappy.
So that’s essentially it. Not so much of a mystery, more of a crime drama, albeit with enough suspense and thrilleresque elements to qualify for the genre. Makes an overtly conscientious effort of having two mighty and righteous female characters. Reads easily and quickly, the author certainly does that right, establishes and maintains the immediacy of the narrative. But overall, it leaves something to be desired. Possibly because it’s just nowhere near as clever or original as the author’s first novel, it just pales in comparison. Without the comparison it’s a fine read, especially if white trash noir (if that is indeed a genre) is your thing. Sufficiently entertaining for the time it takes to get through. Thanks Netgalley.
This and more at https://advancetheplot.weebly.com/
November 7, 2021
If you like tough grimy mysteries this is for you! Very strong character development, and I just loved Git from the start. She is only a young woman who has dreams of getting out of town, but she also has sexual needs. She occasionally dresses up and careful to hide her true identity while going to the local bar looking to score.
Git did just that and hooked up with this guy going to a hotel, which was a terrible mistake. He went to the bathroom and overdosed on heroine, which only she knows. The town is infested with drugs and completely run down. Git has been wishing to get out of town and now she finds herself caught between a rock and a hard place, and is hoping the police doesn’t find out that she was there with him at the hotel.
It was a super fast read and the ending was a a mind blowing shocker!
Git did just that and hooked up with this guy going to a hotel, which was a terrible mistake. He went to the bathroom and overdosed on heroine, which only she knows. The town is infested with drugs and completely run down. Git has been wishing to get out of town and now she finds herself caught between a rock and a hard place, and is hoping the police doesn’t find out that she was there with him at the hotel.
It was a super fast read and the ending was a a mind blowing shocker!
August 25, 2021
Thank you Scarlet Suspense for my early copy of The Yards by A.F. Carter, in exchange for my honest review. This title publishes September 7, 2021.
A tale of suspense indeed! This was a fast-paced and entertaining read and my first by this author.
The story follows Git, who is trying to make a better life for herself and her daughter and gets caught in the crossfire of a murder and drug deal gone wrong, leaving her as a primary person of interest/suspect. Talk about wrong place at the wrong time!
I thought the writing was seamless and the character development was top shelf. Git - my favourite character - was a great female lead protagonist and probably one of the strongest I have read in a long time. There is some grit in this one but nothing too crazy. It's an action-packed thrill ride more than anything.
The story goes in directions you won't see coming, so prepare yourself to be thrown for a loop by the time you finish reading. With short and engaging chapters, you will not want to put this down once you get started. The ending was quick, but satisfying and I felt like everyone sort of got what they deserved in the end.
Carter is definitely on my read list and I am already looking forward to reading what he comes out with next!
A tale of suspense indeed! This was a fast-paced and entertaining read and my first by this author.
The story follows Git, who is trying to make a better life for herself and her daughter and gets caught in the crossfire of a murder and drug deal gone wrong, leaving her as a primary person of interest/suspect. Talk about wrong place at the wrong time!
I thought the writing was seamless and the character development was top shelf. Git - my favourite character - was a great female lead protagonist and probably one of the strongest I have read in a long time. There is some grit in this one but nothing too crazy. It's an action-packed thrill ride more than anything.
The story goes in directions you won't see coming, so prepare yourself to be thrown for a loop by the time you finish reading. With short and engaging chapters, you will not want to put this down once you get started. The ending was quick, but satisfying and I felt like everyone sort of got what they deserved in the end.
Carter is definitely on my read list and I am already looking forward to reading what he comes out with next!
October 4, 2021
When you get a feeling that something is not quite right, you really should pay attention to it. Otherwise, be ready for the consequences. Git O’Rourke ignored that warning nagging at the back of her mind, and she paid dearly.
Git, a single mother, has worked hard to get to where she is, which actually isn’t very far at all. But she started at rock bottom, in the Yards, the seediest part of Baxter, a town barely holding on as its businesses keep dying. Anxious to escape a terrible home life, Git married young but quickly learned that she had made a big mistake. The only good thing to come out of the marriage was her daughter, Charlie. It didn’t take long before Git sent the guy packing. After him, she swore off men. She doesn’t need a man. Until she does.
Occasionally, Git has an itch that wants scratching --- just a one-off, nothing long-term. So, one fateful night, she gets all dressed up in a slinky dress, heels and a hat to help shield her identity, just in case. Then she heads off to one of the swankier dives in Baxter to find a suitable stranger with whom to spend a couple of hours. The encounter doesn’t go well. In fact, it’s a disaster.
The following day, Git sees the news about the murder. The man’s body has been found in Room 909 of the motel. That’s not the worst of it, though. Thousands of dollars have gone missing from the room, money that belonged to a local drug lord. Connor Schmidt and his family don’t take kindly to people stealing from them. So the hunt is on to find the thief. As for the police, they want the killer.
By now, both the police and Schmidt are on the lookout for the lady in the hat. Surveillance cameras at the bar and at the motel give them that much, but mercifully --- for Git --- they don’t show the woman’s face. All that does, though, is buy her a little more time, as she’s well aware. Living in the Yards taught her a lot about the streets and the lowlifes on them. Her mother, for instance, is one of those lowlifes, except that she now lives with Git and Charlie. The woman wouldn’t survive on her own anymore. Still, Git knows better than to trust her.
On the case are Detective Delia Mariola and her partner, Vern. That’s a lucky strike for Git because Mariola pays attention to details. She refuses to put blinders on or buy into what others may think is obvious. However, she does believe that Schmidt is involved somehow and that he’s after the lady in the hat. So who will find out the name of the lady in the hat first? No surprise, Git doesn’t trust the police, but she definitely wants nothing to do with Schmidt. It’s a game of cat and mouse at this point. All of the players are smart, but the one with the best strategy will come out the winner.
Git may be an earthy young woman, with base desires and urges she probably shouldn’t indulge in, but she’s honest --- about what she wants, where she wants to go in life, and her love for Charlie. She had a rough childhood, so she will make sure that her daughter doesn’t go through what she did…as long as she can stay alive, which she is determined to do. All of her traits, the good and the bad, make Git a very likable character.
THE YARDS is told from alternating viewpoints --- Delia Mariola, Git O’Rourke, Connor Schmidt --- very different people with very different goals. It’s the intersection of their lives that makes A. F. Carter’s novel so explosive.
Reviewed by Kate Ayers
Git, a single mother, has worked hard to get to where she is, which actually isn’t very far at all. But she started at rock bottom, in the Yards, the seediest part of Baxter, a town barely holding on as its businesses keep dying. Anxious to escape a terrible home life, Git married young but quickly learned that she had made a big mistake. The only good thing to come out of the marriage was her daughter, Charlie. It didn’t take long before Git sent the guy packing. After him, she swore off men. She doesn’t need a man. Until she does.
Occasionally, Git has an itch that wants scratching --- just a one-off, nothing long-term. So, one fateful night, she gets all dressed up in a slinky dress, heels and a hat to help shield her identity, just in case. Then she heads off to one of the swankier dives in Baxter to find a suitable stranger with whom to spend a couple of hours. The encounter doesn’t go well. In fact, it’s a disaster.
The following day, Git sees the news about the murder. The man’s body has been found in Room 909 of the motel. That’s not the worst of it, though. Thousands of dollars have gone missing from the room, money that belonged to a local drug lord. Connor Schmidt and his family don’t take kindly to people stealing from them. So the hunt is on to find the thief. As for the police, they want the killer.
By now, both the police and Schmidt are on the lookout for the lady in the hat. Surveillance cameras at the bar and at the motel give them that much, but mercifully --- for Git --- they don’t show the woman’s face. All that does, though, is buy her a little more time, as she’s well aware. Living in the Yards taught her a lot about the streets and the lowlifes on them. Her mother, for instance, is one of those lowlifes, except that she now lives with Git and Charlie. The woman wouldn’t survive on her own anymore. Still, Git knows better than to trust her.
On the case are Detective Delia Mariola and her partner, Vern. That’s a lucky strike for Git because Mariola pays attention to details. She refuses to put blinders on or buy into what others may think is obvious. However, she does believe that Schmidt is involved somehow and that he’s after the lady in the hat. So who will find out the name of the lady in the hat first? No surprise, Git doesn’t trust the police, but she definitely wants nothing to do with Schmidt. It’s a game of cat and mouse at this point. All of the players are smart, but the one with the best strategy will come out the winner.
Git may be an earthy young woman, with base desires and urges she probably shouldn’t indulge in, but she’s honest --- about what she wants, where she wants to go in life, and her love for Charlie. She had a rough childhood, so she will make sure that her daughter doesn’t go through what she did…as long as she can stay alive, which she is determined to do. All of her traits, the good and the bad, make Git a very likable character.
THE YARDS is told from alternating viewpoints --- Delia Mariola, Git O’Rourke, Connor Schmidt --- very different people with very different goals. It’s the intersection of their lives that makes A. F. Carter’s novel so explosive.
Reviewed by Kate Ayers
December 24, 2021
A good, quick read. A nice small-town noir. I really appreciate the author didn't make Git into a sloppy/junkie/drunk mess just because she lives on the wrong side of town. This genre tends to make a lot of generalizations about the sort of people who live in places like "the Yards," the kind of person who has one-night stands in bars, but Carter sidestepped it very well and made Git an actual human person rather than a caricature. Also, of interest to a lot of people following my reviews, the other main character is a lesbian cop, so if that gets it a place on your to-read list, I think you'll be pleased with the book.
Thanks to Netgalley for the advanced copy of the audiobook.
Thanks to Netgalley for the advanced copy of the audiobook.
July 5, 2021
Excellent read, my first book by this author. Twisty thrilling tale that I read in one afternoon. Likable characters that made you want to see how it would all turn out in the end. Strong plot that draws you in and keeps you turning the pages at a rapid pace. I would definitely recommend this book, five stars. Thank you to Netgalley, the author and publisher for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
March 9, 2022
I didn’t like this book at all. I wanted to call it quits a couple times but kept reading thinking it would get better. It didn’t.
March 4, 2023
Wonderful
January 28, 2022
This book is alright. The problem is the story is told from 3 points of view:
Git, a white trash female who makes bad decisions where men are concerned and is trying to better her life.
Delia, a lesbian police detective assigned to the crime.
Connor, the bad guy.
The story takes place in I think Iowa although it is never terribly clear.
The story is not much of a mystery, and all three characters are tough and hardened by life’s lessons.
Sadly what they really are is stereotyped caricatures.
I seriously doubt the author has been out of New York City.
I also have a real problem with male authors trying to write from a female perspective, and in this case a lesbian character as well. Once you strip away the stereotype behavior all three characters are flat.
Again the story was good and a few twists were enjoyable, but other than checking all the politically correct boxes for characters in a book in 2021 I don’t know why it was told by a male author using 2 main female characters.
Git, a white trash female who makes bad decisions where men are concerned and is trying to better her life.
Delia, a lesbian police detective assigned to the crime.
Connor, the bad guy.
The story takes place in I think Iowa although it is never terribly clear.
The story is not much of a mystery, and all three characters are tough and hardened by life’s lessons.
Sadly what they really are is stereotyped caricatures.
I seriously doubt the author has been out of New York City.
I also have a real problem with male authors trying to write from a female perspective, and in this case a lesbian character as well. Once you strip away the stereotype behavior all three characters are flat.
Again the story was good and a few twists were enjoyable, but other than checking all the politically correct boxes for characters in a book in 2021 I don’t know why it was told by a male author using 2 main female characters.
January 19, 2022
Told from three alternating points of view, The Yards, (Mysterious Press, $25.95, 308 pages, ISBN 978-1-61316-235-4), by A.F. Carter, is hard-boiled crime fiction at it’s best. It takes place in the imaginary mid-western city of Baxter, where the last of four meat-packing plants is on the skids and failing. It’s closure will leave the already troubled area where crime is rampant and the citizenry ravaged by poverty and drug-addiction, hopeless and destitute. That’s where we meet Git, the first narrator, and a tough, single mom who grew up on the ‘other side of the tracks’ in a place locals call The Yards . . . where the poorest of the poor live. Her full name is Bridget O’Rourke, and she’s out for a hard-earned—and scarce—night on the town, where she’s hoping for some short-term male company. She hooks up at a local bar with a guy named Brad Grieg and they head to a local motel for a quick bit of woof-woof and be gone that doesn’t turn out so well.
When Brad, who’s a heroin addict and a gopher for a local crime prince, (named Connor Schmidt, the second narrator), is found the next morning, shot dead and $18,000 in cash missing . . . a Baxter PD Lieutenant and the lead investigator . . . a woman named Delia Mariola (the third narrator) is on the hunt for the killer. And that’s only the first 75 pages of this fast-paced and well plotted yarn. As the story is told and the details become known, readers will almost smell the desperation, feel the grinding poverty and somehow, still retain a hopeful spark of redemption in this outstanding noir thriller. It’s many twists and turns come fast, unexpected and often . . . riveting your eyes to the page. It’s killer !!
When Brad, who’s a heroin addict and a gopher for a local crime prince, (named Connor Schmidt, the second narrator), is found the next morning, shot dead and $18,000 in cash missing . . . a Baxter PD Lieutenant and the lead investigator . . . a woman named Delia Mariola (the third narrator) is on the hunt for the killer. And that’s only the first 75 pages of this fast-paced and well plotted yarn. As the story is told and the details become known, readers will almost smell the desperation, feel the grinding poverty and somehow, still retain a hopeful spark of redemption in this outstanding noir thriller. It’s many twists and turns come fast, unexpected and often . . . riveting your eyes to the page. It’s killer !!
September 7, 2021
I found this to be an entertaining and twisty read! I enjoyed the alternating point of views and felt that the characters were really well developed. I also really like when books have strong female leads and Git was an admirable badass.
Carter did a great job using short chapters to continually drive the suspense and this definitely helped contribute to this being a fast paced thriller!
While I was left with a little something to be desired, this was still a good and quick noir crime drama that’s worth checking out
3.5 stars rounded to 4 for goodreads
Carter did a great job using short chapters to continually drive the suspense and this definitely helped contribute to this being a fast paced thriller!
While I was left with a little something to be desired, this was still a good and quick noir crime drama that’s worth checking out
3.5 stars rounded to 4 for goodreads
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July 29, 2021Interesting- wasn’t all that interested in this because of the cover! But I did not put it down once I started it! Great detective type story - a woman hooks up with a one night stand - who is carrying a lot of money - he ends up dead and the money gone - now a local detective - well written lesbian single mom - and some mafia type druggies (who want their money) are looking for the woman - fast paced - a book set post covid but mentions it / very good
August 28, 2021
Full review soon!
September 8, 2021
first off - a huge thanks to netgalley, penzler publishing & mysterious press for a copy of this eARC in exchange for an honest review.
ᴍʏ ᴛʜᴏᴜɢʜᴛs:
i really enjoyed this book! Git is probably my favorite book character this year so far. she’s just a young, strong, single mother, who has a past of dating scumbags. it wasn’t as suspenseful as i thought it would be, but it was just enough! i also love small town, poverty settings.
one main reason i did not rate this 5 stars is because i think Connor’s POV was a little pointless.
ᴍʏ ᴛʜᴏᴜɢʜᴛs:
i really enjoyed this book! Git is probably my favorite book character this year so far. she’s just a young, strong, single mother, who has a past of dating scumbags. it wasn’t as suspenseful as i thought it would be, but it was just enough! i also love small town, poverty settings.
one main reason i did not rate this 5 stars is because i think Connor’s POV was a little pointless.
April 18, 2023
The audiobook does a disservice to this book. The male main character's voice acting was over the top and just plain bad. My opinion of the book and author feels muddled because this is so I am being generous with the 3 star rating.
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December 18, 2021Police procedural about a murder in a hotel room. Different points of view and many characters but no depth to any of the characters and not much character personality and I just found I couldn’t get into this book. Maybe I am not into police procedurals but I just found the characters very flat. And the storyline not very exciting. Not for me.
February 2, 2022
Meh. There were a few typos which were a big turn off: Cesar was spelled Caesar at one point, and "manikin"? The story itself was decent, but not a lot of character development. And different players named Celia and Delia?
April 29, 2023
Strong female characters in this crime thriller
August 31, 2022
Baxter is a dead end town, it's factories closed and jobs difficult to come by. Two women face off when a crime is committed even though under different circumstances, they could be friends. Git O'Rourke grew up in Baxter and would like nothing better than to get out of it. She lives for her daughter, Charlie and works two jobs as a LPN to support them and her mother who lives with the two as child care. Delia Mariola is a police officer, full of vim and vigor and headed on the way up. She has a son and wants to improve Baxter for him and the other kids.
The confrontation occurs when Git has an evening out. She doesn't have time for a relationship but that doesn't mean she doesn't occasionally want male companionship and yes, sex. She goes to a local bar and picks up the best looking man there. But when they get to his motel, the sex is over quickly and the man passes out after shooting up heroin. Git looks around and finds a bag with money and drugs and decides this is her chance to get out of town and back to school to improve her life. She grabs the bag and takes off.
But something goes wrong. The next morning Delia is called out to the motel and finds the man still on the bed but not passed out. Now he has a bullet hole in his head. Delia knows the man is a low level criminal and suspects he is connected to the criminal family she has been chasing and particularly Connor, the son who will be taking over the organization when his father ages out. She knows if she can arrest Connor she will take down the biggest source of drugs and crime in Baxter. But the scene and the witnesses all point to the women who was there in the room. Delia knows that even if the women didn't do the crime she is now a target of Connor's organization. She has to find her quickly but can she do it in time?
A.F. Carter has delivered a compelling novel that explores crime and drugs in a small rust belt town through the stories of two women, both trying to create better lives for their children. The women see the side of town most folks don't want to admit exists and both find different ways to deal with the crime and general lack of opportunity in Baxter. The story of how they do so will keep the reader interested to the end. This book is recommended for thriller readers.
The confrontation occurs when Git has an evening out. She doesn't have time for a relationship but that doesn't mean she doesn't occasionally want male companionship and yes, sex. She goes to a local bar and picks up the best looking man there. But when they get to his motel, the sex is over quickly and the man passes out after shooting up heroin. Git looks around and finds a bag with money and drugs and decides this is her chance to get out of town and back to school to improve her life. She grabs the bag and takes off.
But something goes wrong. The next morning Delia is called out to the motel and finds the man still on the bed but not passed out. Now he has a bullet hole in his head. Delia knows the man is a low level criminal and suspects he is connected to the criminal family she has been chasing and particularly Connor, the son who will be taking over the organization when his father ages out. She knows if she can arrest Connor she will take down the biggest source of drugs and crime in Baxter. But the scene and the witnesses all point to the women who was there in the room. Delia knows that even if the women didn't do the crime she is now a target of Connor's organization. She has to find her quickly but can she do it in time?
A.F. Carter has delivered a compelling novel that explores crime and drugs in a small rust belt town through the stories of two women, both trying to create better lives for their children. The women see the side of town most folks don't want to admit exists and both find different ways to deal with the crime and general lack of opportunity in Baxter. The story of how they do so will keep the reader interested to the end. This book is recommended for thriller readers.
September 9, 2021
Audiobook
The Yards by A F Carter is a police procedural/story of a crime/small-town thriller, which takes place in a dying Midwest town, which used to be supported by meat packing plants, but now is down to just one of them. Employment is hard to come by as is any sort of a decent life. This story is about three people: Bridget O'Rourke (Git), a practical nurse with a small daughter; Connor Schmidt, a small time criminal, well, big-time in a small town; and Delia, a police lieutenant, not native, who is gay and has a young son. Connor is aching to take over the family drug business from his father, but sees o chance of that anytime soon; Git wants a better life, for herself and for her daughter; Delia wants to build a career and lead a decent life, hard to do with her proclivities in such a small town. They all come together in on less-than-spectacular crime.
The Yards started off to be a pretty unspectacular story, but got better as it progressed. At its core it was about a man with a huge ego and women who could take care of themselves. It built slowly, jumped from perspective to perspective, and had plenty of clever turns. Connor and his father simply wanted to take advantage of anyone they could, by selling them drugs, mostly. Git wanted more education and a better life, away from the yards. Delia liked the small town except for the scrutiny on her private life. Watching all three leading their daily lives for this short period of time was eye-opening. The story was full of surprises and wrong turns, mostly for Connor, but for all three, really. It was an enjoyable listen, worth spending one's time pursuing. I recommend it.
Amy McFadden was an excellent female reader, none of the hesitation heard too often with females and was easily able to switch from character to character without a lot of ridiculous attempts at voices. Cody Roberts was good as Connor and other male voices. They were a good duo and perfect fro this book.
I was invited to listen to a free ARC of this audiobook by Highbridge Audio, through Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own. #netgalley #highbridgeaudio #theyards
The Yards by A F Carter is a police procedural/story of a crime/small-town thriller, which takes place in a dying Midwest town, which used to be supported by meat packing plants, but now is down to just one of them. Employment is hard to come by as is any sort of a decent life. This story is about three people: Bridget O'Rourke (Git), a practical nurse with a small daughter; Connor Schmidt, a small time criminal, well, big-time in a small town; and Delia, a police lieutenant, not native, who is gay and has a young son. Connor is aching to take over the family drug business from his father, but sees o chance of that anytime soon; Git wants a better life, for herself and for her daughter; Delia wants to build a career and lead a decent life, hard to do with her proclivities in such a small town. They all come together in on less-than-spectacular crime.
The Yards started off to be a pretty unspectacular story, but got better as it progressed. At its core it was about a man with a huge ego and women who could take care of themselves. It built slowly, jumped from perspective to perspective, and had plenty of clever turns. Connor and his father simply wanted to take advantage of anyone they could, by selling them drugs, mostly. Git wanted more education and a better life, away from the yards. Delia liked the small town except for the scrutiny on her private life. Watching all three leading their daily lives for this short period of time was eye-opening. The story was full of surprises and wrong turns, mostly for Connor, but for all three, really. It was an enjoyable listen, worth spending one's time pursuing. I recommend it.
Amy McFadden was an excellent female reader, none of the hesitation heard too often with females and was easily able to switch from character to character without a lot of ridiculous attempts at voices. Cody Roberts was good as Connor and other male voices. They were a good duo and perfect fro this book.
I was invited to listen to a free ARC of this audiobook by Highbridge Audio, through Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own. #netgalley #highbridgeaudio #theyards
January 21, 2024
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this eARC.
A gripping crime novel that explores the dark side of human nature and the consequences of one night's mistake.
The book follows two women, Delia Mariola and Git O'Rourke, both connected to a violent and dangerous world in different ways.
Delia Mariola is a police officer who works in Baxter, a small town in Pennsylvania plagued by poverty, crime, and corruption. She is assigned to investigate the murder of a man named Connor Schmidt, found dead in a hotel room with a bullet wound in his head. Delia recognizes Connor as the same man who had attacked her partner's wife earlier that night, she is confused by his death.
Git O'Rourke is a single mother who works as a waitress at a diner. She lives in a rundown apartment with her daughter Charlie, who suffers from asthma and diabetes. Git has a hard time making ends meet and often resorts to drinking martinis at a local bar to escape her troubles. One night, she meets Connor at the bar and agrees to go back to his hotel room for some fun. She doesn't know that he is involved with the local mob or that he has left behind a bag of money and guns on the bed.
The Yards is told from alternating viewpoints of Delia and Git, as well as other characters such as Charlie, Connor's wife, and his boss. The book switches between past and present tense, creating suspense and mystery as the reader tries to piece together the events that led to Connor's death and Git's involvement. The book also explores themes such as class struggle, domestic violence, drug abuse, loyalty, betrayal, and redemption.
The Yards is a fast-paced and thrilling read. The author creates realistic and complex characters that you will root for or hate depending on their actions. The book also offers an insight into the harsh realities of life in small towns where everyone knows everyone else's business but no one cares about anyone else's problems.
One of the best books of the year, watch for more from this author!
A gripping crime novel that explores the dark side of human nature and the consequences of one night's mistake.
The book follows two women, Delia Mariola and Git O'Rourke, both connected to a violent and dangerous world in different ways.
Delia Mariola is a police officer who works in Baxter, a small town in Pennsylvania plagued by poverty, crime, and corruption. She is assigned to investigate the murder of a man named Connor Schmidt, found dead in a hotel room with a bullet wound in his head. Delia recognizes Connor as the same man who had attacked her partner's wife earlier that night, she is confused by his death.
Git O'Rourke is a single mother who works as a waitress at a diner. She lives in a rundown apartment with her daughter Charlie, who suffers from asthma and diabetes. Git has a hard time making ends meet and often resorts to drinking martinis at a local bar to escape her troubles. One night, she meets Connor at the bar and agrees to go back to his hotel room for some fun. She doesn't know that he is involved with the local mob or that he has left behind a bag of money and guns on the bed.
The Yards is told from alternating viewpoints of Delia and Git, as well as other characters such as Charlie, Connor's wife, and his boss. The book switches between past and present tense, creating suspense and mystery as the reader tries to piece together the events that led to Connor's death and Git's involvement. The book also explores themes such as class struggle, domestic violence, drug abuse, loyalty, betrayal, and redemption.
The Yards is a fast-paced and thrilling read. The author creates realistic and complex characters that you will root for or hate depending on their actions. The book also offers an insight into the harsh realities of life in small towns where everyone knows everyone else's business but no one cares about anyone else's problems.
One of the best books of the year, watch for more from this author!
September 12, 2021
I was pretty excited to get approved for The Yards. All of Us was a favorite book of mine last year, so when I saw the author's name, nothing got between me and my request finger!
Git O'Rourke knows what it's like to be poor and to live on the wrong side of town. Growing up with an alcoholic mother who barely kept her sheltered and fed, she wants more for her own daughter. Her terrible taste in men means that she is raising Charlie on her own, and except for an occasional harmless one-night stand, she tries to do the right thing.
Except this time, she picked the wrong guy, because he winds up dead, and Git seems to be the last person seen with him. His murder might go unsolved, but the missing $18,000 that he had belongs to a local crime family. That means that even if the cops don't figure it out, a man named Connor wants his money back. Trouble is, Git didn't kill him or take the cash, but she is going to have a hard time staying in the shadows or proving her innocence.
Delia is the cop determined to solve this case. Told from Git, Delia, and Conner's perspectives, the question is who can Git trust to help her get out of this mess. She has street smarts and is tough, but the odds are against her.
Git was a great character. Always wanting to better herself and make sure that her daughter would have choices that she never had. I enjoyed the story, though it was totally different than All of Us. Unfortunately, towns and situations like this are all too real, and I kept my fingers crossed that Git would come out of this alive.
Git O'Rourke knows what it's like to be poor and to live on the wrong side of town. Growing up with an alcoholic mother who barely kept her sheltered and fed, she wants more for her own daughter. Her terrible taste in men means that she is raising Charlie on her own, and except for an occasional harmless one-night stand, she tries to do the right thing.
Except this time, she picked the wrong guy, because he winds up dead, and Git seems to be the last person seen with him. His murder might go unsolved, but the missing $18,000 that he had belongs to a local crime family. That means that even if the cops don't figure it out, a man named Connor wants his money back. Trouble is, Git didn't kill him or take the cash, but she is going to have a hard time staying in the shadows or proving her innocence.
Delia is the cop determined to solve this case. Told from Git, Delia, and Conner's perspectives, the question is who can Git trust to help her get out of this mess. She has street smarts and is tough, but the odds are against her.
Git was a great character. Always wanting to better herself and make sure that her daughter would have choices that she never had. I enjoyed the story, though it was totally different than All of Us. Unfortunately, towns and situations like this are all too real, and I kept my fingers crossed that Git would come out of this alive.
September 3, 2021
This storyline had the makings of a good book, and while there are many other readers who are really liking it, for some reason it fell flat for me. It is done through the narrative of basically three of the important characters of the book, which that style certainly gives the reader the perspective of what's happening from the main points of view. The Yards is a rundown, poor section of the town of Baxter, and those who lived there come out of it tough, like "Git" O'Rourke and her mother did. "Git" is trying very hard to make a new life for herself, her daughter and her mother. Her desire to hook-up one night lands her right in the middle of a murder. From there the story takes off as the murder investigation, led by Lieutenant Delia Mariola. The storyline itself is good. However, I felt there was a lack of character development which meant that I did not feel invested in any of the main characters, and there were times when the direction of the telling became confusing. Overall, there was promise in the book and twists to where the investigation takes the reader. My true rating would be 3.5. Thank you to NetGalley and Penzler Books for the opportunity to read and review this advance reader copy. #NetGalley #TheYards
July 29, 2022
This book was a suspenseful and thrilling read, i wasn’t to sure when i picked the book out, as the front cover wasn’t very appealing - but the story keeps you hooked. I loved how the chapters were kept short and you were given an insight into each of the characters story, there pasts and the dreams and aspirations.
I read this book really quickly as it kept me sucked into the story, i didn’t want to put it down. It gives you a deeper insight to the people who think they can control peoples lives by committing the crimes they chose to commit and i love how murder is tied into the drug dealings that happen in Baxter and how well they tied together. I was really able to imagine each character as the descriptions were detailed making me feel like i was in the story myself which i love when i am reading a crime story. I also admired the writer for adding the struggles that COVID-19 brought to the world into this book by bringing the characters into the present with them living through it too and how people in there job fields were affected and how it affected everyone so badly.
I would definitely read this book again and more books from this author. I found the read thrilling with lots of cliffhangers and twists and turns to keep you wanting to read more…
I read this book really quickly as it kept me sucked into the story, i didn’t want to put it down. It gives you a deeper insight to the people who think they can control peoples lives by committing the crimes they chose to commit and i love how murder is tied into the drug dealings that happen in Baxter and how well they tied together. I was really able to imagine each character as the descriptions were detailed making me feel like i was in the story myself which i love when i am reading a crime story. I also admired the writer for adding the struggles that COVID-19 brought to the world into this book by bringing the characters into the present with them living through it too and how people in there job fields were affected and how it affected everyone so badly.
I would definitely read this book again and more books from this author. I found the read thrilling with lots of cliffhangers and twists and turns to keep you wanting to read more…
May 26, 2021
Git O'Rourke, born on the wrong side of town to an addicted mother, has somehow managed to rise above her rough beginnings and works 70 some hours a week to stay there. During her one day off she decides to go out and have some fun, meaning find someone to hit the sack with. She hits a local bar and turns down the first two who try to pick her up, she has caught the eye of a man that seems more to her liking. She follows him out of the bar and they quickly agree that she'll follow him to his motel. Talk about disappointed, he's done in ten minutes, throws some money at her and tells her to leave then promptly passes out. A messenger bag she peeks into holds a gun and a lotta cash, eighteen thousand she finds out later. She also finds out that the guy was a runner of sorts for a local crime family and the eighteen large is missing and she is the prime suspect in the murder and the missing money. What follows is Git's very smart steps to stay one step ahead of the police and the local crime family who very much want the money back. The story is very quick and easy to read and I found it enjoyable. I would recommend. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC.
August 28, 2021
The premise of this sounded amazing but unfortunately it kind of didn’t live up to my expectations. It wasn’t bad by any means, but it was just ok.
Git is a single mom from the wrong side of the tracks who works 2 jobs in order to give her daughter a better shot at life, but every now and then she goes to a bar to pick up a random guy for a one night stand. One of these instances, she hooks up with a guy who ends up dead the same night. Along with his death, a large amount of cash belonging to the local mob/crime family goes missing so now not only are the police looking for her, but so is the head of the family.
The story is told from 3 POV-Git, Connor from the crime family and Delia, the investigating officer. They’re all just trying to get through life in this town that seems to be beaten down as well. There are several twists and it is an entertaining story, but it was quite predictable.
I did enjoy the narration however. It wasn’t my favorite, but it was an easy way to pass the time while I worked.
Thanks to Mysterious Press and Netgalley for this eArc in exchange for my review.
Git is a single mom from the wrong side of the tracks who works 2 jobs in order to give her daughter a better shot at life, but every now and then she goes to a bar to pick up a random guy for a one night stand. One of these instances, she hooks up with a guy who ends up dead the same night. Along with his death, a large amount of cash belonging to the local mob/crime family goes missing so now not only are the police looking for her, but so is the head of the family.
The story is told from 3 POV-Git, Connor from the crime family and Delia, the investigating officer. They’re all just trying to get through life in this town that seems to be beaten down as well. There are several twists and it is an entertaining story, but it was quite predictable.
I did enjoy the narration however. It wasn’t my favorite, but it was an easy way to pass the time while I worked.
Thanks to Mysterious Press and Netgalley for this eArc in exchange for my review.
August 26, 2021
Many thanks to Netgalley and RB Media for providing me the audiobook version of Yards in exchange for an honest review.
Yards follows the story of three characters. Each point of view is written in the first person.
These three seemingly unrelated people get to meet in the strangest and definitely not the best of circumstances.
Git, a single mother, born and raised on the bad side of town has a horrible taste in men. It's so horrible that she ends up (almost) having a one night stand with a guy that was murdered right after he met up with her. This leads to her being the prime suspect in his murder.
The other two characters are a son of a drug lord and a policewoman. They are both after Git, trying to figure out who she is and whether she committed the murder.
The Yard is a fast paced thriller with lots of twists and turns. There was strong character development and the characters were well-rounded. But I couldn't get attached to any of them.
This light read was my first encounter with this author and I do enjoy her writing style.
Yards follows the story of three characters. Each point of view is written in the first person.
These three seemingly unrelated people get to meet in the strangest and definitely not the best of circumstances.
Git, a single mother, born and raised on the bad side of town has a horrible taste in men. It's so horrible that she ends up (almost) having a one night stand with a guy that was murdered right after he met up with her. This leads to her being the prime suspect in his murder.
The other two characters are a son of a drug lord and a policewoman. They are both after Git, trying to figure out who she is and whether she committed the murder.
The Yard is a fast paced thriller with lots of twists and turns. There was strong character development and the characters were well-rounded. But I couldn't get attached to any of them.
This light read was my first encounter with this author and I do enjoy her writing style.
February 18, 2023
Three stars because it was entertaining.
1. Take a shot every time a character is introduced as "That would be..."
2. A city of 103k people is not small. Why is there only one Italian pizza joint? Why does the author act like that's a small town? Why does everyone know everyone? Why is there seemingly only one hotel? I grew up in a similar-sized city that is economically depressed and there are major hotel chains, Starbucks, big box stores, etc.
3. There's only two murders a year in the city but there's a drug operating allegedly killing a bunch of people?
4. The lead detective apparently knows who really killed the dude but she hides it because it gets someone off the street? Nope. Not okay.
5. We get it. Delia is gay. The author used the d*ke word so much I wanted to puke.
6. Also, how many times did we have to read that Git's dress was halfway to her crotch?
7. What was the point of Zack?
1. Take a shot every time a character is introduced as "That would be..."
2. A city of 103k people is not small. Why is there only one Italian pizza joint? Why does the author act like that's a small town? Why does everyone know everyone? Why is there seemingly only one hotel? I grew up in a similar-sized city that is economically depressed and there are major hotel chains, Starbucks, big box stores, etc.
3. There's only two murders a year in the city but there's a drug operating allegedly killing a bunch of people?
4. The lead detective apparently knows who really killed the dude but she hides it because it gets someone off the street? Nope. Not okay.
5. We get it. Delia is gay. The author used the d*ke word so much I wanted to puke.
6. Also, how many times did we have to read that Git's dress was halfway to her crotch?
7. What was the point of Zack?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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