Gerry Boyle

I'd forgotten how good a writer Gerry is. This is a pedal to the metal police tale set in Portland. Brandon's off the force due to a shooting that should have been by the book in terms of investigation, but he didn't have his body camera activated, raising questions about whether or not his shots were justified. Add in sketchy behavior by the dead boy's parents, escalating protests, and a pretty nasty TV reporter, not to mention someone taking shots at him. In addition, there's a diary that show more leads to a completely different case and you have a dandy mystery set in a Maine city. show less

Hard Line is sadly the final book in the terrific Jack Mc Morrow series. I've been devouring each book since the first volume came out in 1993. Each book painted a vivid picture of small town Maine and how its problems mirrored those of its nearby bigger towns: drugs, domestic abuse, crime, corruption, and all sorts of mischief and mayhem Jack found himself in. Hard Line is a follow-up to Robbed Blind with many of the same characters and final resolution on cases Jack was following. There show more was a sadness throughout the book as Jack reflected on his past experiences, many life threatening, current dangerous situations needing a solution so he can move on, and anxiety as he and close friends Louis and Claire come under siege from a motorcycle gang. Jack and Claire's wives also come to the forefront as both simply want a "normal" life devoid of outside forces disrupting their small town lives and putting their lives in danger. Gerry Boyle does a masterful job of wrapping up the Jack McMorrow series in an unexpected but satisfying way that surprised me but was in keeping with Jack's moral character. Jack will be missed. show less

Brandon Blake lives aboard his late mother’s boat in Portland, Maine, studies criminology, and wants to be a cop. On a police ride-along he invokes the wrath of career criminal and schemer Joel Fuller, who vows revenge.

Brandon’s mother was lost at sea seventeen years earlier and when one of the crew she was with, Lucky, turns up in town with a beautiful Polish woman Brandon befriends him as a link to his lost mother. Lucky has money and a mysterious background and when Fuller, with more show more determination than sense, gets wind of this while stalking Brandon he decides a big score holds priority over revenge – for now.

Port City Shakedown has some crisp observations and dialogue. Kelvin, Fuller’s sidekick who’s married to a slovenly woman named Crystal observes that Lucky’s girl is “five inches taller than Crystal, half as wide.” When he talks with her Kelvin realizes he doesn’t know what to say, “not having thought of Poland in a long time, maybe not ever.”

This is an entertaining and fast paced book with some fascinating descriptions of boats and sailing. I’m looking forward to a second in the series.

In a related but strange note, the Library of Congress cataloging data in this edition erroneously indicates the location is Portland, Oregon, not Maine. show less

I've been a big fan of the McMorrow series by Gerry Boyle, and Damaged Goods does nothing to change that. Love the cast of recurring characters: Jack McMorrow of course, but also his neighbor and dark ops mentor Clair, along with Clair's wife Mary, Jack's wife Roxanne and his young daughter, the very charming Sophie. Seems to me many mystery/crime writers stay away from families for their protagonists, but Boyle doesn't and I think that adds depth. McMorrow is still reckless and tough, is show more still tempted by bad girls, but he's allowed to be a husband and a daddy also. It's different and cool.

Damaged Goods puts McMorrow and his family under siege from two directions: a deadly Satanist who blames Roxanne (a social worker) for taking his children away, and a young woman (the "damaged goods") who may or may not be a hooker, or even a murderer, who latches onto McMorrow as her possible savior. Boyle weaves the threads together masterfully, grounding the whole thing in a Maine that feels, smells and sounds just like the one I live in. show less