A young woman is savagely murdered on a popular beach near Forks, WA. “Interesting, entertaining, well-written. I hope there are more to come in this series.” “Twists and turns to keep you guessing.” Former homicide detective Brandon Mattson takes command of his hometown police force just one year after his brother was killed in the line of duty. Still haunted by his brother’s unsolved murder, he … Still haunted by his brother’s unsolved murder, he struggles to rein in the fledgling department while learning the ropes as a newly divorced single parent.
Brandon’s respite from homicide is short-lived when a missing woman’s body washes ashore on the nearby Quileute Reservation. Savage fang marks and a series of ominous vampire-related graffiti point to a member of a secret blood-sucking cult. But Brandon’s not so sure wannabe vampires are to blame, and it soon becomes evident that more than one person had reason to murder the young woman.
Balancing the investigation, small-town politics, and parenting his fifteen-year-old daughter, Brandon is running out of time to solve the case before the bloodthirsty killer claims another victim.
Fans of suspenseful mysteries with a twist will find a new favorite in homicide detective turned chief of police Brandon Mattson.
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“If you’re a sucker for mysteries/detective stories, I highly recommend you read Dead by Sunrise.
“Dead by Sunrise tops my charts for suspense, easy immersion, and great characters. It was a delight to read.” –David Brown, Darling Axe senior editor.
“Interesting, entertaining, well-written. I hope there are more to come in this series.”
“Great clues, good characters and interesting relationships. There is a complexity to the story, a weaving of personal issues, town issues and the mystery that kept me engaged and curious.”
“When you think you figured it out something happens and you are lost again.”
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When former Homicide Detective Brandon moved back to his home town as Chief of Police he assumed life would be a little easier in a small town than in the big city. He learned that it wasn’t so on his first day on the job.
A young woman was murdered with vampire bites on her neck. Little did Brandon know that not only did he have to solve the murder but deal with the pressure from the city mayor, newspaper reporter, town gossip and leaks in his department.
With a handful of suspects he must find the killer before they strike again.
Chief of Police Brandon Mattson is glad to take his new job Chief of Police. After being a homicide detective, he’s ready to step down and settle into his old hometown of Forks. On the first day on the job, however, he gets a call about a dead girl on the beach. Strange marks on her neck point to vampire folklore.
Well written detective novel. Plenty of suspense and twists to keep just about anyone entertained. The characters are vibrant and realistic. I liked the small town feel the story had and the way that the author made some jokes, particularly about the Twilight franchise that made the area famous.
I highly recommend this series and author to fans of murder mystery/detective/thriller novels.
Narration fit the story perfectly.
This book was given to me for free at my request and I provided this voluntary review.
I received this book for free. I am voluntarily posting this review and any opinions expressed herein are my own.
This is a murder mystery set in a small town. The MC Brandon returns to the small town and becomes Chief of Police after doing a stint as a homicide detective. A murdered woman is found on the beach. Besides the murder, he is dealing with a divorce, a teenage daughter, his brother’s murder, his angry/unsympathetic father, a former HS flame, a mayor who wants the case solved yesterday, conflict on the force, and gossipy town folk. I liked the MC Brandon – returning to his hometown and trying to figure out how to fit in again plus trying to establish a relationship with his daughter. The story definitely had the small town feel to it. The mystery was interesting – plenty of suspects who were interested in the demise of the victim – and the story moved along well. If you like mysteries with a bit of drama, you’ll enjoy this one.
The narrator, Tom Taverna, has the perfect voice for this small town mystery. He was easy to listen to and did a nice job.
*slight spoilers*
Forks’ new Chief of Police Brandon Matthews has a lot going on in his life. After ten years living away from his hometown as a homicide detective he’s returned to take up the ‘family mantle’ as head of local law enforcement, following the death in the line of duty of his brother. Meanwhile he’s undergoing a painful divorce in which he and his 15 year-old daughter Emma have to adjust to being a single parent family, while Emma undergoes the pangs from the loss of her friends and school mates etc,due to their relocation.
Then there’s the resentment felt by one of his fellow officers who thought he was a ‘shoe-in’ for the post, who wastes no time in venting his frustration and negative opinions (plus some juicy info about a current case), to a local reporter,who delights in making the thinly-veiled accusations of nepotism etc front page news in the local newspaper he works for.
As if that weren’t enough to go on with, Brandon also has to cope with solving the murder of a young woman, with two fang-like marks on her neck, as soon as possible. The stranger was washed up on the nearby beach and at first the Mayor and her chief advisor,determine that it was merely an accidental drowning.
All these two are interested in, is soon due Forks Moonbeam Darklove Festival, celebrating the author’s latest vampire heroine novel, (and all things supernatural and sharp-fanged) culminating in the attendance of the series’ author herself – as long as nothing nasty (like murder),makes her decide it’s not safe to come to Forks after all. Naturally, the Mayor violently and verbally resists Brandon’s determination to get to the bottom of things and investigate properly,in the same way his brother always did. How will things all turn out? Will the Festival fall flat without its star performer?You’ll have to get your copy of Dead By Sunrise by Richard Ryker to find out – and don’t forget the garlic, or to lock your windows and draw the curtains tonight before your go to sleep!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Brandon Mattson has moved back to his hometown and taken on the job of Chief of Police. With ten years experience of being a Homicide Detective, he’s not all that surprised when a woman’s body has washed ashore.
The only thing different he’s not seen before are fang marks on the woman’s neck. Appearing at the same time are graffiti drawings on several buildings … all pointing to the vampire inspired books in the Moonbeam Darklove series.
He’s certainly got his hands full .. being new on a job that was once held by his brother, police officers who aren’t certain about the newcomer, a fellow officer who lost out on the job that Brandon now holds, an arrogant newspaper reporter who takes an instant dislike to Brandon, a mayor who is more interested in hosting a famous author than what the murder investigation reveals. Add a teenage daughter who is spending some time with him and a father who always favored his brother, and the woman across the street with whom he has a history and Brandon is suddenly wondering if he has made the right decision in relocating.
There are plenty of suspects .. all whom seem to have had a motive for wanting the victim dead. This is a well-paced story, more mystery than suspense. The characters are finely drawn and I liked the entwining of professional and private lives.
Many thanks to the author / BookSirens for the digital copy of this crime/mystery. read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.