His cover: courthouse janitor. His cause: justice. But when Paul McGrath uncovers a shocking connection to a file of missing evidence, he finds the truth sometimes hits a little too close to home. An intelligence agent-turned-courthouse janitor, Paul McGrath notices everything and everyone—but no one notices him. It’s the perfect cover for the justice he seeks for both his father and the people … father and the people who’ve been wronged by a corrupt system. Now he’s discovered a missing file on Alex Pardew—the man who defrauded and likely murdered McGrath’s father but avoided conviction, thanks in large part to the loss of this very file. And what lies behind its disappearance is even worse than McGrath had feared.
Meanwhile, at the courthouse, he stumbles on the case of Len Hendrie, a small businessman who’s been accused of torching a venture capitalist’s mansion. Though Hendrie admits starting the fire, McGrath learns how the VC has preyed on average Joes to benefit himself—and his extensive wine collection. McGrath can’t resist looking deeper into this financial predator and soon finds himself in a gray area between his avenging moral compass and the limits of the law.
Then, just as the Hendrie case is heating up, McGrath receives word of the death of his father’s former housekeeper, sending him back to his family home to confront unfinished business from his past. And he’s about to find some unwelcome truths about the mother he lost as a child—and the father who hid even more secrets than he realized.
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“Too Close to Home” by Andrew Grant is a first person narrative by Paul McGrath. Grant skillfully pulls readers into the story with surprises, suspense, mystery, and hint of criminality. Paul McGrath professes to be just the janitor at the courthouse; he cleans up the messes people make, all kinds of messes, and some messes that go far beyond just sweeping up dust.
The book is filled with complex characters, some good, some innocent, some questionable, and some ordinary; readers are not always sure who is which. The events and the people all contribute to the biggest mystery in the book — the narrator.
Readers may not know whether to like Paul McGrath, or to fear him, but they certainly know they do not want to be on his bad list. Details about him emerge little by little, but many are complicated and contradictory. He skates along the edge of the law, intimidating the innocent, but then rescuing the downtrodden. He talks about his training, business, and past assignments, but readers do not know for whom he worked and are afraid to even speculate why he is no longer “employed.” His main focus is “squaring things” with those whom he feels wrongly caused his father’s death. In the process he uncovers unscrupulous market traders, corrupt judges, and a complex organization of just generally nasty people.
“Too Close to Home” ends with chronological flashbacks that detail the pivotal events in the pasts of specific characters. Telling the other side of the story adds to the intrigue and mystery of the narrator and sets up the startling climax to McGrath’s search for justice for his father. I received a review copy of “Too Close to Home” from Andrew Grant, Random House Publishing Group, and Ballantine Books. I found Paul McGrath a suspicious yet charismatic character. His past is intriguing and his current adventure is both complex and gripping.
I thought this book sounded interesting but I found to be alittle confusing. I’m not sure who everyone was or what was really going on. It just wasn’t my type of book.
This is a pop up story. Every time the reader thinks they understand the background something new pops up to throw an entirely different cast on things. The protagonist is basically a vigilante, acting to combat evil-doing, particularly when the justice system appears to fail. The story is imaginative and interesting, and the characters are unique. This book reaches a definite ending, but lays the groundwork for an intriguing series. I hope to see more from this author.
I really liked the characters, the plot, the twists and turns. I thought I knew where the story was going, but I was wrong. The author threw in some details later in the book that changed everything. I really like how Paul handled people. The good and the bad. His whole life he has been told one story and now he finds out that nothing is what he thought it to be. Even an old trusted friend wasn’t the person he thought she was. I also liked how the different threads weaved together to make it an amazing story.
Working at the New York County Courthouse as a janitor, Paul McGrath is invisible to almost everyone he encounters. That is how he likes it. While doing his job, he is also on a personal mission. Formerly Military Intelligence, he is looking for justice for his father and along the way he cannot help but step in where he sees injustice, all the while focusing on his goal. Alex Pardew is walking the streets a free man. A file of key information went missing during his trial so Pardew, the man responsible for his father’s untimely death, has been released. Righting this wrong will allow McGrath to move on.
Hooking up with a former MI veteran John Robson was a good decision. They live together in the huge old brownstone left to McGrath by his father. This allows them to work the case day and night until they find the missing evidence that will provide them with the truth in his father’s case as well as a few others. But these cases are not simple. There is an underlying conspiracy that will have to be shattered before justice will prevail.
McGrath is a complex character. At first, I thought he was a vigilante, but he is so much more then the surface look provides. He and Robson get things done in unusual ways, oftentimes with a wink and a nod to laws. These modern-day Robin Hoods stand up for those who cannot speak for themselves and get the job done.
Too Close to Home is a fast-paced page turner. The mystery of McGrath’s father’s death is only one surprise for the reader. The plot is intriguing and is laced with beautiful bits of description, such as: “…we paused at the cross streets and then were pulled back into motion as if by the city’s own heartbeat”. Along with enjoying this solid story, take time to savor the words Grant has written.
This is the second book in the Paul McGrath series, but the first one I have read. It works perfectly as a stand-alone novel, as a matter of fact, I didn’t even know it was a series until I looked it up. Fans of Michael Connelly will love this book.
DISCLOSURE OF MATERIAL CONNECTION: I have a material connection because I received a review copy for free from Netgalley in exchange for a fair and honest review. Copyright © 2020 Laura Hartman
4.5 stars raised to a 5. Paul, former Army Intelligence, works as a janitor at the Courthouse in Manhattan. He is also employing his previous experience in attempting to locate the file of the man charged with killing his father. Because of misinformation and missing information, the criminal case was declared a mistrial. Paul wants to learn the truth and do what he can to assure it prevails. He is partnered with his former Army coworker and both are a major threat. It is very well written and goes into great detail with Paul’s investigations and activities. Did I find myself speculating about other killers…yes, but it didn’t matter. There is a flashback near the conclusion that successfully explains all. Thanks to Net Galley and Ballantine Books for an ARC for an honest review.
I received a free electronic copy of this ARC from Netgalley, Andrew Grant, and Random House Publishing – Ballantine. Thank you all for sharing your hard work with me. I have read this novel of my own volition, and this review reflects my honest opinion of this work. I enjoyed the chase in Too Close to Home and the style of Andrew Grant. This is an author I will watch for.
This is a novel set in New York City present time and several other time periods, seen through the eyes of one protagonist – Paul McGrath. Paul is recently retired ex-military, serving in the 66th Military Intelligence Brigade for many years, and is currently a janitor at the New York County Courthouse. Where he cleans up several kinds of messes… Paul’s father recently died and left him the house in Westchester that he grew up in, and a complete surprise, a big old place, long empty, a classic brownstone in Hell’s Kitchen.
This was the second in a series but completely stand alone. I will be looking for more from Grant. He writes a tight mystery with personable protagonists and a clean trail of clues. Especially I enjoyed the fact that the majority of the story is told in the present, and the back story is told chronically at the end of the book. Much less confusing than some of the back and forth stories I have read lately. Also, it has about 300 pages with only 25 chapters – I don’t think I realized how much these two factors have disappeared into a more muddled storyline.
Paul McGrath appears a simple man with few needs, a lifestyle he enjoyed in the service and has patterned his retirement around, as well. He has few acquaintances left from the old days and doesn’t have much time to make new friends. Hopefully, that will all change – when he sorts out this latest series of clues to fill in the blanks of his father’s history. And though his mother died when he was very young, there may be blanks that need filling there, as well……
This was an interesting story. I liked Paul’s janitor cover story and his working at the courthouse. I was surprised by the ending.
An intriguing story about a guy who is trying to find new purpose in his life after retiring from the military. Paul is an unusual operator because of his past experiences. Throughout the story you will see him discover family secrets that will change his outlook. He looks out for the underdog and wants to see those doing evil suffer. He uses all his training as he and his friends try to solve several problems at once. He is excellent at multitasking and problem solving which makes this an even better story.
A Sherlock Holmes, wanna be? I tried to enjoy this story, found it dry and a little dull. The two main characters move in and out of criminal circumstances hunting clues and bad guys. The book is ok, just did not hold my interest. I kept jumping to other books and going back to this. If you enjoy who-done-it’s you may enjoy this one.