Maine Sunday Telegram #1 Bestseller“A first-rate novel. Suspenseful and highly entertaining.” — New York Times bestselling author Gayle LyndsFall in Portland, Maine usually arrives as a welcome respite from summer’s sweltering temperatures and, with the tourists gone, a return to normal life—usually. But when a retired cop is murdered, things heat up quickly, setting the city on edge.Detective … murdered, things heat up quickly, setting the city on edge.
Detective Sergeant John Byron, a second-generation cop, is tasked with investigating the case—at the very moment his life is unraveling. On the outs with his department’s upper echelon, separated from his wife, and feeling the strong pull of the bottle, Byron remains all business as he tries to solve the murder of one of their own. And when another ex-Portland PD officer dies under suspicious circumstances, he quickly realizes there’s much more to these cases than meets the eye. The closer Byron gets to the truth, the greater the danger for him and his fellow detectives.
This taut, atmospheric thriller will appeal to fans of Michael Connelly and John Sandford.
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Among the Shadows is the first book in the Detective John Byron series. I’ll be back for more. Detective Sergeant is on the Portland, Maine force. At the moment things aren’t going all that well. He’s at odds with his superiors. He’s recently separated from his wife and he’s trying to stay off the booze. When a retired Portland cop is murdered, Byron is assigned the case. In short order, a second cop is found dead under suspicious circumstances and Byron is wondering if there isn’t a serial killer out there. An excellent read, written by an author who knows details. I’m locked into this series.
Great police procedural. A good old fashioned whodunit. Had a few cliches–guy about to divorce his wife, drinks too much, cares too much, but the murder mystery is excellent and the cliches either stayed in the background or moved there. Good place for them as it allowed the story to really shine. Highly recommended if you like thrillers or police procedurals. The pacing and characterization is spot-on. Safe for cozy mystery readers although it is not a cozy and there is some bad language.
I am looking forward to the next book, this was a great read
I will probably remember the climax/conclusion for a long time.
First in a terrific series featuring John Byron, a detective in Portland, Maine. In addition to solving crimes, he’s dealing with some personal demons. Highly recommended.
I only recently discovered this author, and I am glad I did. As a former homicide detective, his police procedural mystery writing is spot-on. As a former homicide detective-turned-author myself, I am always searching for other cops-turned-authors who have the experience to really get it right, to make it authentic, and to keep it entertaining. Trust me, this is the real deal.
I have already purchased the second book in the series and am looking forward to starting it tonight!
Lover this seties! Loaded with local Portland flavor.
Best murder mystery book I have read recently. Will definitely read more of Mr. Coffins books.
New author… I will read their next book.
Enjoyed this one! I’m from Portland, ME, the setting of this one, enjoyed picturing where the characters were~
Great read!
excellent read, can’t wait to start the next
The author’s long career in law enforcement shows in the authenticity of this book. The plot is tight and complex, and the life and thinking of a police detective are bare-bones real. Call it Maine Noir—there are no truly light moments, no breaks from the stress and the threats, even in the romantic subplot. Though I didn’t like Detective John Byron, I came to understand him. The crime he investigates is personal to him, since it involves not only his police department, but events that took place when his late father was on the force. To say much more would be a spoiler. And in this spare, fast-paced book, there are no components that don’t play a role in the plot.
This debut novel from retired Detective Sergeant Bruce Coffin of the Portland (ME) PD is a page-turner from the start. Det. John Byron is, as expected, smart, tough, and determined; but his human failings are raw and real, making him the kind of character you want to meet up with again, if for no other reason than to see if he’s going to make it. Are his demons going to consume him? Will decisions made on passion and principle be his undoing? The ending here was more surprising than I anticipated. I’m hoping for many more Byron novels to come.
Fast paced, kept my attention until the end.