Lieutenant Trufant

by Jeff Shaw

Lieutenant Marcus Trufant sits alone in his apartment waiting for his phone to ring, and praying it won't. It's April, 11th and just like the April before, he knows a United States veteran will be slaughtered in the next several hours. Each year a veteran is killed on April 11th, and another on December 1st. The first two occurred in Chicago, but the last four have been on his streets.

The killer leaves no clues and no trace evidence, but after each homicide a cryptic letter arrives. A hand written quote from Shakespeare, always with a hint of revenge, but revenge for what?

The case has already ruined his marriage and it is slowly destroying Trufant as well. Only catching this killer will save him, and losing is not an option.

Jeff Shaw's fascinating first novel pits the seasoned detective against a methodical serial killer that leaves nothing but dead men in his wake.

375 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 8, 2022

Reviews

[Alexis · Rating 4 out of 5]

A police procedural like no other. Lieutenant Trufant ties together a disparate cast of characters with a disturbing series of homicides involving veterans.
I purchased this novel at an event where I got to meet the author. Hearing Jeff speak about how he learned to develop his characters and provide them with an arc helped me to focus on what he was trying to accomplish in his writing. At times, the story feels a bit disjointed, but everything ties together in the end. I’m looking forward to trying the next book in the series, Leann and the Clean Man.

[Kim Gardner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book! Exciting from start to finish-it's a crime book-a little scary-and I could hardly put it down. Great writing. Enjoyed the characters and with his writing, you could really feel their emotion and pain. Would love this to be a movie!

[Laurie Bower Lupin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lieutenant Marcus Trufant is a detective who knows there’s a killer out there killing veterans 2 days a year. Every April 11th & December 1st, another veteran will die and probably in San Francisco. As the story unfolds, there’s more twists and turns than any cop show I’ve ever seen. There’s no clues or trace evidence, yet he can count on these carefully timed, senseless killings. Trufant and the reader can expect to be on the edge of their seat for the entirety of the book. Although Jeff Shaw is a fairly new author, I hope to read more from this author. This was my first Jeff Shaw book, and due to its page turning nature, it won’t be my last.

[K.J. Fieler · Rating 5 out of 5]

So well written, it transcends the genre. Armstrong, a homeless veteran, and his dog, Travis, pull us into the story on page one: two souls struggling to get by, and they've seen something they weren't meant to see. Now, as if life isn't hard enough, they're in danger. Enter Lieutenant Trufant, a homicide detective working the case: a complex character that you'll hate, but only for a few paragraphs. Shaw paints a 3D picture of the man in short order and, if you aren't already hooked, you are now. You care about these characters and can't wait to find out what happens to them. One of the many twists is how their journeys intersect. A truly gifted author, Shaw forces us to rethink our initial hatred even for the villains. Yes, they're evil, but the backstory makes us understand how why they're like that. We still want the good guys to win, but we wish the bad guys could overcome their tragic past. I read this book in a single sitting, so be forewarned. I highly recommend the Audible version for that reason.

[Lisa S · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jeff Shaw’s first novel, Trufant, is a storytelling triumph. He masterfully builds tension and a sense of doom as the main character, Lt. Trufant, and his colleagues race to find the killer of homeless veterans before the killer strikes again. Interwoven throughout this thriller are multiple threads of PTSD, survivor’s guilt, addiction, alienation, and ultimately, choosing either to succumb to the abyss or to face one’s demons and live. Shaw’s multi-layered, imperfect characters transform his novel into a complex, hard-to-put-down page-turner that has a satisfying ending, yet leaves the reader craving for more. Indeed, there is Shaw’s second novel in the series, Leann and the Clean Man, which this reader is eager to begin.

[Martie Nabut-Dee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thoroughly enjoyed reading "Lieutenant Trufant" by Jeff Shaw. Suspenseful storyline with plenty of plot twists and interesting characters. At times the story feels a little disorganized, but it keeps one engaged long enough for Shaw to skillfully connect all the characters and cruise to a thrilling conclusion. The story deals with some dark sh*t and broken people, but Shaw's writing style made it an easy read. My favorite characters were Armstrong and Travis the Lab. I've already started reading the second book in the Bloodline series, "Leann & The Clean Man."

[John J Ireland · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well written, kept my attention all the way through!

Great storyline, great character development, kept us engaged all the way through the book. Digs into the effects of trauma and how they affect people differently.

[William Judge · Rating 5 out of 5]

A page turner for certain. This is one that will draw you in and keep you there. From a flawless, well written story with flawed characters who you can't help but like.
William C. Judge author of "The Wonder of It All"

[GW · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lieutenant Ttufant -

This was a good read though at times it seemed slightly disjointed. There was a lot of blood and killing.

[Sharon Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

A gripping police thriller about Lieutenant Marcus Trufant a police detective on the case of a serial killer who strikes two times a year, on April 11th and December 1st. The case has destroyed his family and battered his life with the inability to track down the killer. The victims, all U.S. veterans, have haunted Trufant since the beginning. Shaw's ability to grab reader's attention in the first few lines gets readers ready for a wild ride all the way through the novel.

[Brendan Moore · Rating 5 out of 5]

What can I say about Lt. Trufant? What I admired in this book is that Jeff Shaw has created a central character who is deeply flawed, like all of us, and who has struggled to overcome those flaws. For a time, Trufant's succumbing to his demons was counterbalanced by Armstrong's recovery, which had me rooting for Trufant's recovery. Jeff has produced a work that is capturing and demands an emotional investment. I'm looking forward to the next instalment!

[Jennifer Clayton · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was a truly enjoyable read for me. After meeting the author at a small town festival and purchasing the book from a local authors booth, I felt fortunate to have discovered his work. The writing style and subject matter were exactly what I appreciate in a book. Fans of Michael Connelly, Karin Slaughter, and David Baldacci may enjoy this series for its similar blend of style and substance.