Ripcord (Billy Beckett #3), by Kelly Hodge (and Scott Pratt)

Eight stars

Continuing the series he and Scott Pratt seemingly began together, Kelly Hodge adds a new instalment to the Billy Beckett collection with another winner. Working a crime thriller angle I have not seen before, Hodge keeps the story moving along while entertaining the reader throughout. Billy Beckett is quite the sports agent, trying to get his business to gain momentum with relative success. Having found and signed Russell Mann when he was an undrafted free agent, Beckett and his client are set to negotiate a juicy new contract. Mann has taken the basketball world by storm and he is ready to ink a multi-million dollar deal. Off the court, Mann seems to still be holding onto his Bronx roots, interacting with men from the old neighbourhood. After a number of incidents on Orlando’s streets turn deadly, there is talk that Mann could have been present, though no concrete proof is ever found. This worries Beckett, but his client reassures him that he was nowhere near the scene of any crimes. Inching closer to contract negotiations, Beckett tries to see the best in his client while he worries about the other items on his plate. A former lover of his has up and disappeared, but has been sighted around the country. Her parents ask Beckett to help, but he is not entirely sure he wants to stir anything up. Beckett’s partner is looking to diversify outside the sports industry, tapping into the music scene in Nashville. Beckett remains tepid about the idea, but perhaps a rebranding is just what he needs. If that were not enough, issues in Beckett’s personal life have his focus unclear. When Beckett receives a call from a woman demanding money to stay quiet after she saw Russell Mann at the scene of a crime, he must decide if he is willing to stay quiet and guarantee himself a massive new paycheque after a contract signing, or if Mann should be outed and potentially sent away. All this weighs heavily on Beckett’s mind as he tries to do what’s best. A great new novel that keeps the high quality that Scott Pratt made popular alive, Kelly Hodge offers readers something worthwhile. Recommended to those who love a great crime thriller that is fairly light, as well as readers who have come to love Scott Pratt’s Nashville based novels over the years.

I took to this new series with ease, sensing a similar style to many of the Scott Pratt novels I enjoyed over the years. The story flows well and the characters have something captivating about them. Billy Beckett may be a sports agent, but he is also quite relatable as a protagonist. While he has an obvious focus on his work, Beckett has a softer and more pleasant side and his personality shines through. Hodge offers an emotional angle as well, with Beckett trying to come to terms with the news he is offered, seeking to balance work and personal. Others offer their own angles in this piece, flavouring the story effectively and keeping the reader wanting to know more about what is going on. The story clips along well and the reader will soon be subsumed in all that is going on, reading and enjoying the narrative as it flows. There is little doubt the short chapters help push the story forward and the reader will likely mutter ‘just a little more’ if only to themselves. Hodge has done well to keep things light, without getting silly, as he tackles some substantial issues throughout the book, which can be tackled in short order for those who have a few hours to kill. I look forward to move from Billy Beckett, through the writing of Kelly Hodge, in the near future.

Kudos, Mr. Hodge, for another greater piece. Scott Pratt would be proud at how you are keeping his legacy alive!

A Book for All Seasons, a different sort of Book Challenge: https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/248185-a-book-for-all-seasons

Deep Threat (Billy Beckett #1), by Scott Pratt and Kelly Hodge

Eight stars

Having long been a fan of Scott Pratt, I was sorry to hear of his passing last year. That being said, it would seem his family and Kelly Hodge have worked tirelessly to get some of Pratt’s final manuscripts published for his adoring fans. This books proves to be the debut in a series that could (?) span at least a few books, should Hodge and the powers that be allow it. Billy Beckett is a sports agent with a passion for the job. Having once worked in the legal field, Beckett knows the pitfalls of dealing with agreements and negotiating settlements. Beckett has been trying to pave the way towards signing college football superstar Jarvis Thompson, sure to make it in the NFL. After a decisive upset win now Saturday, Beckett’s brother, John, is found in a pool of blood and Jarvis was the last person seen with him. While John is somewhat vague about what happened, the cocaine found on his person tells quite a story. Add to that, Jarvis Thompson is nowhere to be found. Was there some drug-related skirmish or has something happened to the college star? Not wasting any time, Billy Beckett takes up the search, which leads to interesting evidence and whispers about a mob boss in New Orleans. As the country holds its collective breath, Billy must find his potential client while uncovering a larger plot that puts him in the crosshairs. An interesting launch of a new series that permits Scott Pratt to go out with a bang. Those who have come to enjoy Pratt’s work will likely enjoy the collaborative effort and want to get their hands on this piece.

It’s always troublesome for a reader to discover that an author they enjoy has passed away, particularly when there is a body of unfinished work. A few authors I follow have had others pick up the torch and ruin a series, as if they were ‘Bourne’ to act as kamikaze author. Hodge seems not to be intent on ruining much of anything, having shaped and sculpted this debut in Pratt’s image. The humour is there, as well as the quick wit and great narrative delivery. With a potential series in the making, one needs to focus some attention on Billy Beckett, who has all the tools to serve as an interesting series protagonist. He is surely dedicated to his craft and enjoys rubbing elbows with the sports elite, wooing them at every turn. However, a connection to the mob, albeit tangential, could prove to be a fallback for Beckett as the series progresses. There is much to learn about Beckett’s backstory, which I hope Hodge will develop throughout the coming novels, but the fact that I am curious serves to show that there is potential here. Others make their presence known in this series that is full of unique characters who enrich the story in their own way. Pratt’s use of Tennessee is here in spades, with many holding onto that southern passion. There are a handful of characters whose stories I hope will be built upon, as they would make wonderful supporting characters, given the time. The premise is still one that I am not sure I am sold on, though how does one use a sports agent to serve as regular investigator. I am sure Kelly Hodge has a plan and I am willing to give him a chance to show it, if for no other reason than I thoroughly enjoyed the work of the late Scott Pratt.

Kudos, Messrs. Pratt and Hodge, on a great start to the series. You will be missed, Scott, and I can only hope this will get others interested in checking out some of your solo work, as well as seeing where Kelly takes things!

A Book for All Seasons, a different sort of Book Challenge: https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/248185-a-book-for-all-seasons

The Sins of the Mother (Miller and Stevens #1), by Scott Pratt

Eight stars

Scott Pratt is back with a new series, still set in the heart of Tennessee. Pratt continues to impress readers with his strong writing. Detective Lukas Miller of the Johnson City Police Department is in the middle of a trying investigation, as the body of a prostitute is found late one night. More troubling than the fresh body is that Miller is being forced to work alongside Detective Brooke Stevens of the Kingsport PD, a surrounding community where bodies have also been appearing. While they work out the kinks, Miller and Stevens try to stay one step ahead of this killer, as they seek a motive and determine how the pattern will progress. In a case that leaves little downtime, both detectives are forced to juggle personal lives that are quite involved and can sometimes prove distracting. As a potential suspect emerges, Miller and Stevens race to get answers, only to have him found dead of an apparent overdose. Could the killer be taunting the police in this intense game of cat and mouse? It would seem that the killer has found weaknesses both detectives possess, thereby affixing crosshairs for maximum devastation. Forced to scramble to save those they love, Miller and Stevens learn the value of teamwork and swift responses, but will it be enough? Pratt does a wonderful job laying the groundwork for what could be a great series, with fresh and insightful characters. Recommended to those who have enjoyed much of Pratt’s past work, as well as readers who like detective novels read in short order.

I stumbled across Scott Pratt years ago when he was a few novel into his first series. I thoroughly enjoy the way he crafts his plot lines and develops characters who are both likeable and full of humour, while not afraid to tackle disturbing issues. In this series debut, strong characters are essential to keep the reader intrigued. Lukas Miller shows himself to be a determined detective who wants nothing more than to succeed at his job while trying to see where things are headed with his girlfriend, Gaby. Their relationship seems on-again/off-again, depending how the wind blows, which proves difficult for Miller to digest, particularly as he has little down time as it is. Brooke Stevens is also work-centred, with her role as an instructor to cadets when she is not solving cases. Her divorce is still fresh, as is the balance between violent work and being a mother to a little girl. Stevens seeks happiness, though she has little time to ponder the nuances of daily life, with a plate already overflowing. Together, they make a strong team and the attentive reader will see that Pratt should have a great timer developing their characters in the years to come. The balance of the characters that appear work to propel the story forward without getting in the way. The reader will notice a few minor characters who may return in coming novels, particularly if the police procedural theme remains. The story is strong, fuelling an interesting backstory that may have led to the killer’s need to exterminate their victims. Set in Tennessee, as many of Pratt’s works tend to be, the reader will learn a little more about the region while also being treated to a well-written narrative and decent dialogue that promotes reading the book in a few sittings. I can see great potential with this book and look forward to more novels in the series.

Kudos, Mr. Pratt, for another great novel. I am happy to see that you keep publishing such high caliber pieces time and again.

A Book for All Seasons, a different sort of Book Challenge: https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/248185-a-book-for-all-seasons

Due Process (Joe Dillard #9), by Scott Pratt

Eight stars

Scott Pratt is back with another gritty legal thriller, the ninth in the Joe Dillard series. This piece is sure to impress series fans with more legal antics that only Dillard to justify in the cutthroat world of Tennessee law. After being picked-up by the police, Sheila Self professes that her intoxication is related to being drugged and gang-raped at a party held by the local college football team. A stripper and escort, Self explains that she was hired to perform at a house and was forceable attacked in the washroom. The authorities begin an investigation into the case as defence attorney Joe Dillard watches from the sidelines, refusing to become involved for personal reasons. However, when three black players are fingered as the culprits by Self, whose identification is nudged along by a tunnel-visioned investigator, Dillard agrees to meet with one young man and learns that the evidence is not only flimsy, but that the man before him could not be guilty. Dillard’s intuition is such that he will do everything he can to help his client, feeling that this is not a ‘sports team gone wild’ case as much as one divided along racial lines. With East Tennessee still teetering on the edge of racial acceptance, Dillard is sure that no matter what the evidence shows, race will become a key factor. Can he help his client get a fair trial? Will a young black man be safe when accused of raping a white woman? How will Dillard balance a trial with a wife whose cancer is back and getting worse? Pratt explores these and many other situations within the pages of this fabulously crafted novel. Series fans will be so pleased to see Joe Dillard back and should be ready to learn much. Also recommended to those who love a quick paced legal thriller, though beginning at the start of this well-paced series may shed additional light on the nuances woven into this novel.

I have long been a fan of Scott Pratt and the Joe Dillard series, which mixes legal matters alongside life in the southern United States. Pratt is able to convey a highly entertaining story for the reader, full of interesting characters, as well as legal matters torn from the headlines, but with a twist. Joe Dillard, who has seen much transformation throughout the series, returns with even more passion, both for his work and the family he has worked hard to keep together. His dedication to his wife is second to none and Pratt is able to mould his protagonist into being a highly compassionate man while also ready to cut the throat of anyone who crosses his path. The novel brings a number of returning characters into the story, each with their own development, though some advance more than others. The one-offs, as with many novels, prove to propel the plot and make a mark, though not usually indelible, throughout. The pace of the narrative is such that the reader loses themselves in the legal and medical matters, as well as the social commentary offered to depict the ongoing racial divide in Tennessee and surrounding area. Pratt does not pull any punches, painting Eastern Tennessee as being anything but inclusive, though it is necessary to bring his point home and the reader should see this as being more than a mere soapbox rant. Fans of the series are surely pleased to see Dillard back, on a brief hiatus to allow Pratt’s development of another series, equally enthralling. The banter within this series is well-constructed and keeps the reader from getting too bogged down in legal matters. I hope Pratt has many more novels in this series, as Joe Dillard does not appear to be losing steam whatsoever.

Kudos, Mr. Pratt, for another stellar novel. A quick read, but surely memorable and the perfect addition to any reading list!

A Book for All Seasons, a different sort of Book Challenge: https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/248185-a-book-for-all-seasons

Justice Lost (Darren Street #3), by Scott Pratt

Nine stars

First and foremost, a large thank you to NetGalley, Scott Pratt, and Thomas & Mercer for providing me with a copy of this publication, which allows me to provide you with an unbiased review.

As a long-time fan of Scott Pratt and his work, I was pleased to receive an early copy of his latest Darren Street thriller. Having been through a great deal over the past few years, Darren Street is starting to revisit all the criminal acts that he’s committed, covered up just enough to keep him one step ahead of the authorities. That said, he feels a sense of vindication, having disposed of a few key figures who have left him feeling empty. Now he is able to turn over a new leaf, with his girlfriend ready to give birth to their daughter. As they arrive at the birthing centre, the doctor on call is not answering his pages and when he does arrive, he stinks of a distillery. Another doctor takes the lead with the delivery, which turns into something high-risk, as Street waits for news. Tragedy strikes and Street is again plagued with devastation, blaming the intoxicated doctor for negligence. When Street approaches the District Attorney General, his request for legal action hits a wall and soon learns that friends will cover for one another, no matter what. While his conscience is trying to tell him not to, Street must handle things in his own way. Additionally, Street is talked into challenging the District Attorney General in the upcoming election. While preparing for his big day, Street uses some strong financial and political resources at his disposal, but also realises that the county is riddled with corrupt officials. Knowing that Street will soon uncover their backroom dealings, some of these officials take it upon themselves to neutralise him. As Street seeks elected office, he must also dodge those who would see him face the verdict he has handed out many time before; death at any cost. Pratt does a masterful job in this third novel in the Darren Street series. Fans of his work and those who enjoy a darker thriller will surely find something exciting in this novel.

I thoroughly enjoy Scott Pratt’s writing and his unique approach to legal matters. He has developed a strong series that keeps the reader wondering just how far Darren Street will go to balance the scales once and for all. In Street, Pratt has created an interesting character, whose development has been quite dramatic in these three series books. While Street has faced adversity and taken things into his own hands, he begins to grow a conscience and has second thoughts about all the blood he’s shed. Building on the crimes that have plagued him before, Street comes to see how fragile life and his future might be if he does not change his tune. Filled with some interesting supporting characters, Pratt is able to shape the story in many different ways, as though there are a few mini-plots that all come together in the end. While I have criticised the vigilante lawyer presented in the first two novels, they have grown on me. A mix of legal matters and Dexter-like criminal activities, Pratt develops his story in an effective way, which entertains readers until the final pages.

Kudos, Mr. Pratt, for another stellar piece of writing. I have loved this newer series and will recommend it to anyone who has an interest in vigilante justice.

A Book for All Seasons, a different sort of Book Challenge: https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/248185-a-book-for-all-seasons

Justice Burning (Darren Street #2), by Scott Pratt

Eight stars

First and foremost, a large thank you to NetGalley, Scott Pratt, and Thomas & Mercer for providing me with a copy of this publication, which allows me to provide you with an unbiased review.

I have always loved Scott Pratt’s work, as he is able to get to the core of the issue while entertaining those who love a good legal story. Returning to add a second novel in this new series, Pratt reminds readers of Darren Street, who has been out of jail for two years. Falsely convicted after being framed by a vindictive D.A., Street found himself in the depths of despair while fighting for his freedom. During his incarceration, he encountered a man who sought to kill him, but who had the tables turned. Now, with Street free and back in Knoxville, retribution is on its way. Street learns that his mother’s home is targeted and destroyed by a massive explosion, killing her and leaving only a pile of smouldering ash. Street focuses the hated he has for the perpetrators and chases them down, killing them in a bar in West Virginia. However, Street does his best to cover his tracks, not wanting to serve any time. With this taste for revenge, Street turns his sights on some other miscreants who have done him harm and has them expunged. While he remains one step ahead of the authorities, his luck can only last so long. His son is pulled from his life, a new fiancée begins to wonder about his sincerity, and Street finds himself unable to ignore the devil on his shoulder. Every decision must be masterfully timed, but even the most wily criminals slip up, especially when they have help with their crimes. When will Street make that glaring error or push someone to rat him out? Pratt shows that he can keep readers hooked without all the fancy legalese in this novel that excels without trying to do so. Perfect for fans of legal and crime thrillers that seek to tackle the gritty rather than the silky side of the law.

Scott Pratt has proved himself to be a master in his own right. Seeking to get to the heart of the story, he offers up a wonderful cast of characters. Full of flaws, these men and women show off their true colours and allow the reader to relate. Struggles with love, life, and compassion come to the surface, while that evil vigilante spirit with whom everyone struggles emerges throughout the story. From there, a plot that feeds off the first novel and flourishes again here, Pratt does not seek to layer the narrative with high brow legal discussion, but rather a more realistic element. The ‘Clever Felon’ tactic serves this novel well, leaving the reader to potentially cheer for evading the authorities. However, one cannot completely condone the behaviour, especially as Street seems to be fuelled by his need to set things right in his own mind. Quick-paced, the story gains momentum in the early chapters and does not let go until the very end, using cliffhanging moments or ideas to push things forward. Chapters that flow easily through the reader’s fingers turns a quick reading session into hours of pure enjoyment. Pratt continues to show his fan base that they have chosen well in turning to him for their thriller fix.

Kudos, Mr. Pratt for another stellar piece of work. I thoroughly enjoy whenever I learn you have been hard at work and hope many others share my eagerness for whatever you publish.