The Betrayers

Lieutenant George Hastings #1

by James Patrick Hunt

On a busy suburban street at almost nine o'clock on a misty November evening, two beat cops are machine-gunned down in one of the most brutal crimes St. Louis has ever seen. Did Deputy Chris Hummel and Deputy Wade Childers simply pull over the wrong reckless driver, or did someone target these two for a more sinister reason?
Lieutenant George Hastings is the primary investigator on the case, along with his detective Bobby Cain, an inexperienced but connected detective who is ambitious and impolitic. Hastings and Cain dissect the lives the two murdered officers, focusing in on Hummel after they learn that he did a year-long stint with narcotics undercover and helped put away one of the biggest meth dealers in the area. But what they uncover is much bigger than one bitter dealer's revenge, and much more personal.
With The Betrayers, James Patrick Hunt decisively marks his territory as a crime novelist to rival the best writers on the shelf today.

Genres: Thriller, Fiction, Mystery

240 pages, Hardcover

First published March 6, 2007

About the author

James Patrick Hunt is the author of several books and e-books. He was born in Surrey, England in 1964 and graduated from St. Louis University with a degree in aerospace engineering in 1986. He graduated from Marquette University Law School in 1992. He lives in Tulsa, Oklahoma where he writes and practices law.

Reviews

[Emily McConville - Author · Rating 2 out of 5]

It wasn't that good of a story. I just finished it for the sake of wanting to finish it before I start my next read. The way the detectives were trying to solve the crimes just didn't feel realistic to me.

[Joop · Rating 3 out of 5]

Gewoon om even vlot weg te lezen.

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Don't get me wrong, this was a good read. For me it had way too many named characters to keep track of while not having the time to sit and read with quality time to remember who was who. Started to keep track of characters on paper and ran out of room. The one I failed to note had a major part in the end. IMHO, it was like reading a made-for-tv script. I am sure it deserves a better rating.

[Gerard · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book kept me guessing. Tied up nicely at the end, quick read.

[Charlotte · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was true to its title, but there were far too many characters. It was difficult to keep them straight and I had to work too hard at it.

[Bree · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn't really expect much out of this book, seeing how I hadn't heard of it but was desperate for something to read and grabbed it cause it was on the "new" shelf at the library. I was pleasantly surprised, though...I did enjoy it. Though right off the bat it tells you who the "bad guy" is, there were still lots of surprises in it. Quite a few subplots running together but it's what made the story interesting.

[Audrey · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is Hunt's first book. I picked up this book from the library because it's about a detective solving a crime in St. Louis (where I grew up). I enjoyed reading a book that described locations in St. Louis as part of the narrative.

While Hunt is no Michael Connelly (my favorite) and his protagonist, Detective George Hastings, is no Harry Bosch, The Betrayers is a good read, though somewhat formulaic. I'm interested in seeing how Hunt develops Hastings in his next novel.

[Michelle Connell · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the first in the George Hastings mystery series that takes place in St. Louis where Hastings is a policeman/detective. I didn't care for the language but the plot was good enough to keep me reading. It wasn't a page turner, but wasn't overly slow either. The case Hastings worked on involved two local cops getting machine gunned down and trying to figure out the reason for it and who was responsible.

[Erik · Rating 2 out of 5]

[Dutch]
Soms hoor je van tevoren zoveel goeds over een boek dat je licht gespannen zelf aan het lezen slaat. Je hebt hier tenslotte een potentiële klassieker uit het genre in handen. Maar te hoog gespannen verwachtingen kunnen ook verkeerd uitpakken.

Lees meer op 8WEEKLY

[Ted · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow. I haven't read a crime fiction author who impressed me so much in a long while. James Patrick Hunt is an engaging storyteller and a very good writer--a combination not common enough in this genre.

I look forward to reading more of Hunt's work. If it holds up to this novel, I'll put him alongside George Pelecanos and Don Winslow.

[Xroldx · Rating 4 out of 5]

The mob, a couple of hitmen, corrupt policemen and one smart detective. Nothing you haven't read before but oh so well written. Fast hard boiled suspense nothing more and surely nothing less.

[Kelley Short · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wasn't sure of this book at first, but the more I read it grew on me. While it wasn't my favorite book, it was a good murder mystery.

If your looking for suspense, action, mystery, thriller, or anywhere in between, then this is your kind of book.

[Toesnorth's mom]

fair

[Sandy Kell · Rating 4 out of 5]

I recently 'discovered' this author who writes really first-rate police procedurals. I'm happily making my way through his earlier books and haven't been even slightly disappointed!

[Karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good