A thrilling, page-turning debut about a twisted killer and a broken cop—both with nothing to lose.Paul Czarcik, the longest-tenured detective in the Illinois Bureau of Judicial Enforcement, puts the rest of the team to shame. Ruthless and riddled with vices, Czarcik always gets his man. And fast. Until now… used to. Connecting it to a high-profile Texas judge, Czarcik realizes something bigger is going on. It’s the work of a serial killer for whom Chicago is just the beginning. Now he’s inviting Czarcik to play catch-me-if-you-can on a cross-country murder spree.
Going rogue, Czarcik accepts the challenge. But as the bodies pile up, he must come to grips with the fact that nothing—not the killer, the victims, or the rules—is what it seems in this bloody game of cat and mouse.
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Rain Will Come is a dark, gritty story with some crazy twists. The story is well-written with fully developed characters. I didn’t particulary like them but I liked the way they interacted with each other.
All in all this was a gripping story though a gory one.
I will read more books from Thomas Holgate if I get the chance.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for my copy.
this was a good read. kept you turning the pages. read it in a day.
Paul Czarcik is a detective, par excellence. His methods may not be exactly by the book, but he gets the job done. He has a few vices, but in his book, some alcohol, a little cocaine and a heart to heart conversation with a hooker every now and then, never hurt anyone. In this excellent debut thriller, Czarcik is after a serial killer who has a list of “must kill” victims that have only one trait in common, but the connection is such that it isn’t until the killer reaches out to Czarcik, that the pieces fall into place. Then the thrill of the ride really begins.
I really enjoyed this book. It was a great story, with interesting and unusual characters, and a pace that kept me turning pages fast! I strongly recommend this book and will be looking for more from this author.
Thank you to Netgalley, the author Thomas Holgate and the publisher Thomas & Mercer for the free ARC which I read in return for an honest review, which this is.
Not for the faint of heart!!
Brutally detailed…
The sights, the sounds, the feels… ooh the feels.
Vigilante justice at its best
I received a free electronic ARC of this police procedural from Netgalley, Thomas Holgate, and Thomas & Mercer publishers, and a Kindle copy also from Amazon Prime. 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. This may perhaps be a debut novel from this author. He will go right on my must-read authors list, however. There are some nasty crime scenes, so Thomas Holgate may not appeal to everyone. The good vibes by far outnumber the bad, however.
As a second-generation New Mexico desert dweller, the expression ‘Rain Will Come’ is a cry of joy and a promise that better times are coming. But from my 30 years 30 miles from the Texas Gulf Coast with an average of 30-50 inches of rain per year, I know it is also a threat. Thomas Holgate gives us both relief and closure in this excellent mystery.
Thomas Holgate’s Rain Will Come is a romp through the – let us say ‘unusual’ – the mind of Detective Paul Czarcik of the Illinois Bureau of Judicial Enforcement. Paul Czarcik (ZAR-ick) is an ex-Chicago police officer, a loner, a man who’s mind works in a unique way, and so far he has always gotten his man. He now works for BJE because they don’t expect him to follow any rules, and he will close a case if left to work it his way. People who have escaped the law through judicial error or simply not caught by regular means, people responsible for torturing the vulnerable are on Czarcik’s radar. Occasionally these are considered one-off crimes, but usually, if you look hard enough you can find their trail of abuse, and once Czarick is on the trail, they will face retribution. I am vaguely reminded of ‘Dexter’, although the comparison to ‘Monk’ is one that Czarcik finds offensive. Whomever you compare Paul Czarcik to, this is a binge read and a character I hope to see more of.
Detective Paul Czarcik of the Illinois Bureau of Judicial Enforcement is not your usual detective. When he wants company, he hails an escort. No funny business, just some conversation, watch a movie. He also takes a smoke and a snort here and there. But he manages a daily regimen of weightlifting and running. He has a brain that never stops working, making him a huge asset to law enforcement. He’s received multiple commendations and awards for his prowess in getting the bad guys.
Judge Jeral Robertson has been followed and chosen. Entering his empty house, he finds its not as empty as he thought. When he next awakes, he finds he’s tied hands and feet to a kitchen chair. A young man is sitting there with a very ferocious looking knife … ready to exact vengeance for a crime the judge committed …. and which the whole world watched as he did it.
Closer to home, a woman is beat to death and her headless husband is in another room. Looks like he’s been tortured, covered in cigarette burns. Were they also chosen for their crimes? Why does the crime scene look staged?
And the bodies keep falling …..
These slayings aren’t the open-and-shut case of urban crime he’s used to. This killer is inviting Czarcik to a game of catch me if you can … while he goes on a country – wide killing spree. Nothing—not the killer, the victims, or the rules—is what it seems in this bloody game of cat and mouse.
Although previously published under another name, this one is his first novel. It’s well written with surprising twists and turns. It’s action packed with riveting characters .. a true page turner. The ending came as quite a shocker.
Many thanks to the author / Thomas & Mercer / Amazon Publishing / Netgalley for the digital copy of this crime fiction. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
Paul Czarcik, a hardened detective in the Illinois Bureau of Judicial Enforcement has seen it all, at least he thought he had. Called to the scene of a double homicide, a woman and man who fostered children have been brutally murdered. Paul learns that the couple had severely mistreated the children in their care and it seems as if someone has decided that they must pay. When more cases of particularly violent homicide occur, Paul knows that they have a serial killer and vigilante who is balancing the scales of justice. The killer realizes that Paul is after him and when an unexpected witness comes forth with vital information, Paul realizes that the game has just begun. An absorbing mystery that keeps you reading even through the more disturbing murders. I received an advance review copy at no cost and without obligation for an honest review. (by paytonpuppy)
A cop you’ll find it difficult to like
Detective Paul Czarcik of the Illinois Bureau of Judicial Enforcement is not a nice man. He’s a great investigator but he lacks people skills. He’s a loner, he drinks on duty and snorts cocaine, he frequents shady motels and hires escorts but he tends to solve the cases assigned to him so he’s pretty much left alone.
He’s now on the trail of a serial killer who is also a vigilante. The killer is going around killing off people who have established raped the court system and are harming, or have harmed, children.
I enjoyed this police procedural and this unconventional detective. He has to make difficult decisions and venture from his comfort zone.
I recommend this book for those who like police procedural, murder mysteries or stories about serial killers. This book is different in a good way.
I received this book from Thomas & Mercer (Amazon Publishing) through Net Galley in the hopes that I would read it and leave an unbiased review.
A tense page-turner about a seasoned detective who is trying to track down a man who is suspected of brutally murdering a Chicago couple and a Texas judge. The story gets even more interesting when the man’s wife contacts the detective and hands him a stack of folders she found hidden by her husband that contains a list of intended murders. This is a well-paced novel with smart characters and just enough background descriptions to provide a good sense of place. Giving a character an aggressive brain tumor, with limited time to live and an agenda, made this refreshing and different. Loved the twist at the end.
This is a serial killer book. I had a bit of a time getting into the story but once I did I needed to keep reading to see who it was. Paul Czarcik is a tired detective that discovers a serial killer. After attracting the killers attention they begin to play cat and mouse leaving a lot of dead behind. Ignoring all the rules Paul goes after him. an interesting take on a serial killer book.