From USA Today Bestselling Author, P.D. Workman!Too many missing menZachary Goldman, PI is deeply flawed, unable to overcome much of his traumatic past, yet he is always ready to defend the underdog and right injustices.When Pat asked him to look into the disappearance of an illegal, Zachary agreed to take it, but didn’t expect to find anything more than a man who had returned to his family or … returned to his family or fled immigration officials. But the more he digs, the more missing men Zachary discovers, and it quickly becomes apparent that the disappearance that was deemed by the police not to be suspicious was just the tip of the iceberg.
As the body count grows, so does Zachary’s determination to bring the killer to justice, no matter what the cost.
The trouble is, this case might cost him dearly.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Having a serial killer targeting a vulnerable segment of the population should give you an idea that this is not a “cozy” murder mystery but be assured that, despite its gritty subject matter, there is no graphic violence, no explicit sexual material, and no excessively coarse language. This completely captivating story held my attention throughout and offered more than enough thrills and chills to ensure that I will absolutely go back and read the previous installments as well as follow this series as it moves forward. Without reservation, I recommend this book to any enthusiast of the detective/private investigator type of mystery stories.
Zachary Goldman, Private Investigator, is flawed with a capital F. Shattered by the tragedies of his own life, he will somehow still manage to pick himself up and dig just a little bit deeper than anyone else to find the vital clues.
Maybe being broken makes it easier for others who have faced tragedy to trust him. Walk with Zachary as he solves cases that will stretch his abilities to the limit.
Even with his own life in shambles, Zachary Goldman is still the one you want on the case.
Investigate this P.I. mystery now!
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A totally spellbinding detective story…
This is the 5th book in the Zachary Goldman series but is the first one I have read. While it is obvious that the previous books would provide additional background information on the main character, Zachary Goldman, I felt this book gave enough information about his complicated and difficult childhood to prevent a first-time reader from feeling lost and, at the same time, explaining why he is so psychologically scarred. Despite his personal demons, Zachary is an effective private investigator with an admirable tenacity, despite all adversity, who is driven to find the serial killer preying on gay illegal immigrants. Having a serial killer targeting a vulnerable segment of the population should give you an idea that this is not a “cozy” murder mystery but be assured that, despite its gritty subject matter, there is no graphic violence, no explicit sexual material, and no excessively coarse language. This completely captivating story held my attention throughout and offered more than enough thrills and chills to ensure that I will absolutely go back and read the previous installments as well as follow this series as it moves forward. Without reservation, I recommend this book to any enthusiast of the detective/private investigator type of mystery stories.
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I received an ARC from the author at my request and this is my honest opinion. What a roller coaster ride!!! The action starts right at the beginning and never lets up. This is one of those books that I wanted the whole world to go away while I read; it’s that good. Zachary has many issues with his anxiety, poor impulse control, ADHD, PTSD, and depression, and he doesn’t always want to fight his way through them, but with the help of “family” and friends, he seems to land on his feet more often than not. Of course, the twists and turns he takes in trying to land on his feet can be very stressful and painful. This is one of my favorite things about Zachary; he isn’t larger than life. He’s just a normal guy (aside from his mental health issues) who wants to do a good job and take care of the people around him. However, I must admit that there are times when Zachary drives me nuts; when I want to shake him because he can’t see that he’s headed down a dead-end road that unfortunately, he’s been down before. But that is just a sign of how good Ms. Workman is at character development. I feel like Zachary is someone I know from real life; even though I know he’s not.
Ms. Workman has created an awesome character in Zachary and I always look forward to seeing what he gets himself into this time. There is plenty of pulse-pounding action, twists, turns, and even a couple of red herrings. Another favorite thing about Ms. Workman’s novels is that I can never be sure I have worked out who the “perp” is. I enjoy the fact that she keeps me on my toes and guessing. I don’t enjoy a book where I have figured out the mystery before I’m even halfway done. Also, Ms. Workman can create an atmosphere of violence without getting all graphic and explicit. I like that better than having it all up in my face!
If you haven’t read any of the Zachary Goldman mysteries, make sure you do. The majority of them are stand-alone, but my recommendation is that you be sure and read this one (They Thought He Was Safe) before you read He Wasn’t There. You will enjoy book 6 much better that way. Check them all out. They are terrific!!!
They Thought He was Safe is Book 5 in the Zachary Goldman Mysteries Series but it is written in such a way that it can be read as a standalone. I have read other books in the series, so I am acquainted with the characters, but I could have easily read this book and enjoyed it without having had read the other books first. Having said that, I did enjoy the first books and would definitely recommend that you read those as well.
Zachary Goldman is a Private Investigator with quite a history of his own. He has a trail of abuse and mental issues that have followed him from childhood into adulthood. Somehow, he has managed to survive and turn his life around, becoming an accomplished photographer and starting a business as a Private Investigator. But his demons can come out at the worst of times and the challenges he faces can be his undoing.
In this book, Zachary’s foster dad asks him to look into the disappearance of a friend of his, a gay man who had moved from South America and lived nearby. He worked in landscaping and sent money home to his family, but nobody knew how to contact them to see if he had returned home. Zachary visited his home, where he found that the man was living in a house with about 30 or 40 other men, with up to 8 or 10 men in each room. They slept on pallets and really had no place to call their own. Zachary soon found details that led him into a nightclub and the seamier side of the city. After an attack that left Zachary badly injured, his foster parents implored him to drop the case. But things continued to point to the man’s disappearance having been a bad outcome, and Zachary soon began to see a pattern emerge. A pattern that could cause him to lose more than he was willing to lose if he did not back down, and soon.
This is a serious book, with a gritty storyline. It is intended for a more mature reader. It is very well written and the plot and characters are very intense and believable.
This is a fast-paced action-packed fabulous read with wonderful characters and a compelling storyline. Zachary is thought to be broken but he has what I find compelling – perseverance to find the killer. I highly recommend this book!
This is the first book that I’ve read in the Zachary series. Although it’s clear that previous books exist, it in no way diminishes the story or the readability of this book because the author very capably brings the reader up to speed. Zachary decides to take on an investigation of the whereabouts of a missing gay man who is in the US illegally. As he starts digging, he uncovers some uncomfortable truths. He is attacked by skinheads but he isn’t deterred by the attack. This story is well developed and interesting. There is no explicit sexual content. I would recommend it for readers who enjoy a good detective story.
Riveting! A family member asks Zachary to look for a friend who has gone missing, leading to more danger than anyone anticipated. The writing is very skillful, with a tight plot and believable characters. Highly recommended! I received this book free and chose to make a voluntary, unbiased review.