Wow! eBook
The Boys Are Back in Town: A Brody James Mystery
Author(s): Karl Kling (Author)
- Publication Date: October 31, 2023
- Language: English
- Print length: 316 pages
- ISBN-10: B0CN2M835R
- ISBN-13: 9798987656518
Book Description
“He smoked that pretty good,” Bullock said as he looked down the ravine at where the car landed. “Autopsy said he didn’t have a heart attack or anything, so the impact must have killed him. Hell of a way to go.”
“Every way is a hell of a way to go,” I said as I knelt closer to the road looking in both directions.
My name is Brody James. After 15 years I’ve returned to the hometown I swore I’d never return to.
This is my first case since coming back, and one thing I’m sure of is that Gary Hutchins didn’t kill himself.
My partner Bullock isn’t so sure. He’s young, he’s passionate, can be annoying as hell sometimes, but he’s a good cop. I like him.
With Gary’s death one month after Rebekah Wertheimer overdosed, I know there’s a connection.
Bullock thinks I might be too personally involved in the case since I went to school with both victims. To be honest, I didn’t really like either of them or their friend Joseph Agam.
I’m willing to bet he’s in danger too. Bullock is willing to bet that I’m trying to solve these cases to impress Chloe Brown, who smells of lilacs and roast beef.
I have to remember that Bullock is young, he’s passionate, can be annoying as hell, and sometimes, I just want to punch him in the face.
Editorial Reviews
Review
I liked
The Boys Are Back In Town, by Karl Kling — it is compelling, and a lot of fun! It’s part police procedural, part you can’t go home again, part mystery, and part buddy book.The main character, Brody James, has returned to his hometown of Stonington, Michigan, as a police detective. Fifteen years earlier he left town under less than friendly circumstances — he essentially gave the town the finger with no intention of ever returning. But now he’s back, and he’s looking into the deaths of two former high school classmates.
Brody believes that there has to be a link between the two deaths. The manner of death is different, the locations are different, their lives were different, and both deaths were deemed accidental. But he’s sure it’s murder. What were the chances that two classmates who were best friends, would die a month apart? What links them together other than the fact they were part of a mean clique in high school? It has him stymied, but Brody is a dedicated cop — he needs to find the truth. As he delves into the deaths, he searches for a motive, and is surprised by what he finds. Could these murders be linked back to high school? Improbable. Coincidental. But possible?
As he tries to solve the mysteries, we are introduced to the people of Stonington. There are people Brody has reconnected with from high school, like love-interest Chloe, and new people as well, such as his supremely annoying partner Bullock.
The relationship between Bullock and Brody is one of the best parts of the book. They are very different people, but they seem to gel — begrudgingly, on Brody’s part, enthusiastically on Bullock’s. It’s the bickering and the back-and-forth that really brings their relationship together. Brody’s pessimistic, almost world-weary outlook creates a relatable narrative voice. Couple that with Bullock’s absolute confidence in himself and his life, and you have a very enjoyable read.
The whole premise is solid. Murder or accident? Who did it? There are red herrings, foreshadowing, and romance. There are unexpected allegiances, and mysterious neighbours.
If you like mysteries, or “buddy” relationships, then you’ll like
The Boys Are Back In Town. If you like trying to figure out “who done it,” you’ll enjoy this book. It’s well worth your time.Tess Quinn, Reedsy Discovery
