Past The Line

by E.T. Milligan

Fiction-Police Detective Drama-1ST IN A DETECTIVE SERIES! "A good cop never goes Past The Line in pursuit of truth and justice." But when Miami Police Detective Blake Cutter's wife is blown up in a Mafia-planted car bomb intended for him, revenge will take him past the line. As obsession with tracking his wife's killer jeopardizes the investigation, he is transferred to a rehabilitative assignment with an FBI field office in a small Georgia town. His investigation of the suspicious drowning of real estate investor Phillip Drummond leads him into a tangled web of intrigue and deceit. Within days, the drowning turns into a homicide investigation with multiple suspects. One of the suspects, a mysterious woman who happens to be the spitting image of his late wife, becomes the only link between Drummond and the Mafia head responsible for his wife's death. Keeping her safe from both the mob and prosecution is his only chance to bring his wife's killer to justice. To save her, he must risk his career and take down the mafia organization. It's a desperate race against time. He has less than forty-eight hours before the case is commandeered by a federal agent with a hidden agenda.

403 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2005

About the author

Biography
E.T. MILLIGAN is an accomplished speaker, published author and award-winning poet. A native of Leesville, Louisiana, he went on to earn a Bachelors’ Degree in News-Journalism from Northwestern State University in 1981 and a Masters’ Degree in Administration from Central Michigan University in 1995. He is a veteran of the Armed Forces. He served 23 years in the U.S. Army and retired in 2004 at the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. As a published author, Milligan has three novels in print; a fiction young-adult novel entitled The Looking Glass Self, a non-fiction biographical novel entitled On Linda: Love, Loss and Renewal, The Case For Human Organ Sharing and his most recent novel, a fiction detective drama, entitled Past The Line, which is the first in a detective book series. He is currently authoring the second book in the detective series entitled Forbidden Rescue, which is planned for release in 2019. He has also excelled in poetry, having self-published a book of poetry entitled Images of Life. He is the recipient of the International Pen Award for his poem I’ll Never Die and the Editors’ Preference Award for his childrens’ poem, If I Were A Tree. His poetry has been published in nine national and international anthologies. Milligan founded his own book publishing company, ETM Publishing Company, in August 2005. He has been the recipient of numerous recognitions including Who’s Who Among Students in Colleges and Universities, Outstanding Young Men in America and Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Citizen of the Year. He is a member of the Association of the United States Army and the Independent Book Publishers of America. Through sponsorship by PMG International and Barnes and Noble, he has conducted numerous book signings throughout Germany and the United States. He has been a guest speaker and lecturer for numerous church, youth, and civic groups and has served on a variety of charitable and educational committees and organizations.

Reviews

[Vigilant Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

Title – Past The Line
Author – E. T. Milligan
Genre – Police Detective
Word Count 66,500
Rating 5 stars out of 5
No. 34 - 2019
Posted 10/18/2019

My Impressions: A strong story of corruption and its consequences.

Main Characters:
Blake Cutter – Miami homicide detective.
Phil Drummond – Bullet, Georgia, real estate developer.
Dorothy Drummond – Phil’s wife.
Penelope Lane – Phil’s girlfriend
Olivess Norton – A mulatto waitress who learns of Phil’s slave owner ancestor’s barbaric actions.


Past The Line opens with Miami Policeman of the Year Blake Cutter leaving an awards ceremony with his wife Jeannie. She goes to their car while he lingers inside the hotel. Minutes later his car explodes, and Jeannie is killed. Blake knows the bomb was intended to kill him for his successful investigations of organized crime in the area. He suspects criminal boss Bennie DeSalvo is behind his wife’s death.
Move forward one year to Bullet, Georgia. Blake Cutter is now a federal agent with the SBI investigating criminal activity in that area. His is assigned to investigate the murder of Phillip Drummond, a local real estate developer.
Phil was murdered late at night on a beach while waiting to meet with Bennie DeSalvo. While waiting, he became nauseous and wondered if the mulatto waitress who served him a drink might have put something besides alcohol in it.
Weeks prior to Phil’s death he visited his casual girlfriend Penelope Lane She’s an easy lay but is tired of being taken for granted. She decides to inform Dorothy Drummond of the affair and the shenanigans her husband Phil is pulling.
When Dorothy learns Phil has forged her signature on land transfer papers, she is livid and determined to stop him at any cost.
Then we have Olivess Norton, a young African American woman who hates Phil for the lack of respect he shows her and other people of color. When she learns of his ancestor’s barbaric actions to her slave ancestors she is determined to get even with the racist pig.
Three people have serious grudges against Phil Drummond. But did one of them hate him enough to kill him? That’s the question Blake strives to answer while fighting his own personal demons.

The editing and sentence structure are very good.
Character Development is thorough and in-depth.
Details are plentiful and the plot is complex and entertaining.


This review was provided in exchange for a free book.
Vigilant Reader Book Reviews.

[Tiffany · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thrilling to the very end!

What a great first novel for this series! Blake Cutter is a fascinating main character, and there are enough twists and turns that I was interested and engaged from start to finish. I had a hard time putting this one down, often finding myself sneaking in a few pages whenever I had a spare minute. Excellent! Can’t wait for the next one!!!

[Tony Parsons · Rating 5 out of 5]

Miami FL. Detective Blake Cutter (40+, Caucasian/Cuban, husband, BPD Homicide) & Jennie Cutter (30, wife) were running late to the Wyndham Hotel & Convention Center as they parked their ’65 Ford Fairlane.
He was to receive the law Enforcement Officer of the Year award.
Bal Harbor village. Then it was to be a romantic evening at the Café Pastis French bistro.
Jennie went to get the car as Detective Cutter finished thanking the guests.
BOOM! Their car was a burning inferno.
Jennie’s funeral was held, the ashes were in an urn, the eulogy was read, followed by the dinner.

Everyone gave their condolences to Detective Cutter.
The video camera tapes showed a person-of-interest crawling under the car for about 5-minutes.
Forensics determined the explosive Pentaerythritol tetranitrate (PETN) had been planted.
5-days earlier. Bullet, GA. Plaza Drummond real estate offices. Penelope Lane was going to tell Dorothy Drummond (45+, wife) about the affair.
1-week earlier. Phillip & Penelope Lane (on-off again lover) had sex.
4-days earlier. Devil Island Boat Club Restaurant. Olivess Norton (A/A, 21) was never thrilled about Phillip’s racial remarks.
Devil's Island GA. Phillip “Phil” Drummond (Catholic, Real estate developer) aboard his Ocean Paradise (180’ luxury clipper) was waiting patiently for his guest.
He received a call to meet at the Moss Point Pier.

Moss Point Recreation Area. Phillip never saw who killed him.
His body was found washed up on the shore beach.
Bullet Towers penthouse. Later, FBI SA Blake Cutter (GA, former Miami PD Homicide Detective) went to interview Dorothy.

St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church. Phillip’s funeral was held. Archbishop Matthew Best read the eulogy, hail Mary’s, the sacrament presided, then the burial at Palmetto Cemetery, followed by the dinner. Everyone gave their condolences to Dorothy (widow).
It seems Penelope taking a fancy to FBI SA Cutter.
The 2 of them were off to the Cayman Islands British Overseas Territory (W. Caribbean Sea).

Will FBI SA Cutter solve the murder case & bring someone to justice?

I did not receive any type of compensation for reading & reviewing this book. While I receive free books from publishers & authors, I am under no obligation to write a positive review. Only an honest one.

A very awesome book cover, great font & writing style. A very well written who-dunnit murder mystery book. It was very easy for me to read/follow from start/finish & never a dull moment. There were no grammar/typo errors, nor any repetitive or out of line sequence sentences. Lots of exciting scenarios, with several twists/turns & a huge set of unique characters to keep track of. This could also make another great murder mystery movie, or better yet a mini TV series. A very easy rating of 5 stars.

Thank you for the free author; Goodreads; MakingConnections; Making Connections discussion group talk; Amazon Digital Services LLC.; book
Tony Parsons MSW (Washburn)

[E'Who'Reads'a'Thousand'Mysteries · Rating 5 out of 5]

Layered and complex mystery

The myriad of characters and layers of mystery are well written, perfect for the folks who want a huge book to last the whole weekend!