Murder leads to the White House Marko Zorn, a Washington, D.C. homicide detective with expensive tastes in art, classic cars, and women, must take on extra work—not always strictly legal, often unorthodox and usually dangerous—to supplement his income—work which requires his special combination of skill and steel nerves. Although he’s adept at navigating the corridors of law enforcement and the … enforcement and the world of criminal gangs, he’d prefer to stay home and watch old movies, enjoy his art collection, and listen to cool jazz.
When Zorn discovers the body of a Secret Service agent—a supposed drowning victim—it leads him to a domestic terrorist group with tentacles in the White House—a White House that does not want this death investigated. As the demands of his professional life escalate, Zorn’s alternate career heats up, placing him in the middle of competing D.C. crime bosses feuding over a shipment of illegal arms—making Zorn the hunted and the hunter. He needs to avoid becoming the victim as he navigates the twin forces of evil closing in on him from his legitimate job—facing down political power—and his secret side job.
Perfect for Grisham and Patterson fans
Headshot, the next Marko Zorn novel, coming December 2021
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Rough and ragged as the world it so vividly creates, The Reflecting Pool crackles with twists and turns, making for a fun and heady combination of suspense and intrigue.
The Reflecting Pool by Otho Eskin is the best crime thriller I’ve read in years, and homicide Detective Marko Zorn is a character I’d like to have a beer with — so long as he’s on my side. Bravo!
Otho Eskin shows readers the dark side of politics, domestic terrorism and gang wars in this taut, tense and suspenseful novel.
When a female secret service agent is found dead in the Reflecting Pool by the Washington Monument in Washington D.C., homicide detective Marko Zorn of D.C.’s Metropolitan Police Department immediately finds himself at odds with governmental agencies which try to block his investigation of the crime. The more he investigates, the higher the government officials who try to stop him. What is the truth behind the murder, and why does the government not want this case solved? Zorn is determined to get to the truth, even at his own risk.
As if the investigation doesn’t keep him busy enough, he is also wrapped into a domestic terrorism threat, and finds himself in the middle of a four-way gang power struggle. Lies, deception, betrayals, maneuvering, machinations and murder fill the pages of this well-written novel.
The only negative to this novel is that there are so many characters readers might want to keep a “cheat sheet” to remember who’s who.
My thanks to NetGalley and Oceanview Publishing for allowing me to read a digital copy of this book in exchange for an unbiased review. All opinions stated here are my own.
Otho Eskin’s “The Reflecting Pool” Is a Fast-Paced Crime Thriller Set in the Nation’s Capital. I enjoyed interviewing the author on Charlotte Readers Podcast.
First time I have read this author. Great book!
Slow moving. Unreliable characters.
Kept me up reading!
I just read this awesome, action packed detective thriller. It involved multiple government agencies in a realistic terrorist thriller. I’m going to look for other books by this new to me author!
I liked this book a lot. Very cinematic. I could see Sam Rockwell play Mario Zorn with an ironic delivery. You should read this book.
Loved this book!! Look forward to more from this author! Literally couldn’t put it down til I got to the end!!
Unexpectedly, one of of the best detective novels I’ve ever read. Wonderful characters!
Like the authors style and content
Marko Zorn is my new favorite homicide detective. Truly unique as he travels among the different worlds of Washington DC. You never know what he’ll do next! I recommend that you do not miss this “experience”.
This amazing cover is so magnetizing, I had to enter the GoodReads giveaway. And I was thrilled when I won! This dramatic thriller reads like a Dick Tracy crime novel. It’s full of action…a plot to assassinate the President, a domestic terrorist group and a murder investigation keep the story moving along at a steady pace.
Marko Zorn is a sarcastic and abrasive detective, who routinely breaks the rules. I thought he was too irritating and insolent to be convincing. And how many detective drive a Jag and wear expensive suits…own their own tux and don’t carry a gun?
”What did you say your name was?” Captain Fletcher demands angrily, trying to preserve as much dignity as he can.
“Marko Zorn.”
“I’ve heard of you, Zorn!” He doesn’t make it sound like that’s a good thing.
“Then you should know to stay out of my way.”
BUT, the writing is excellent and I was entertained to the end. If this is your type of story, there are plenty of plot twists to make it worth reading. I’m with the minority on this one and just didn’t care for the writing technique and dialogue.
Thank you to GoodReads, Otho Eskin and Oceanview Publishing, for this free digital ARC in exchange for my honest opinion!
My Rating: 3.25 ’s
Published: June 23rd 2020 by Oceanview Publishing
Pages: 352
Recommend: Yes
@othoeskin @oceanviewpub @Goodreads
#crimethriller #NoRulesJustThrills #InExchangeForReview #JustFinished
Marko Zorn is unlike most detectives in the Washington D.C. homicide, he doesn’t try to fit in with others and follows his own rules to get the answers he is looking for. Zorn has made a lot of enemies along the way but he keeps which has him a target for criminal gangs in the cities.
Zorn finds himself investigating a woman who is suspected of drowning but the mystery surrounding her unlocks an unsettling investigation. She was Secret Service, now he finds himself wading between the political ties she had and also dealing with at from a gang member who is calling in her favors.
What a wicked web that is woven in this fast paced intense story. I thought it had a very retro vibe to this, kind of like John Wick meets Nice Guys. Zorn was intense in his actions and I liked that he does what he needs to do. Captivating read.
The Reflecting Pool is a mystery-thriller constructed along classic lines. In unorthodox homicide detective Marko Zorn, Otho Eskin has created the best crime hero this side of Michael Connelly’s Harry Bosch and the result is a slam-dunk success. Woven from the fabric of masters like Ross McDonald and Robert Crais, this riveting page-turner is never afraid to cut its own cloth to terrific results.