kbranfield's review against another edition
4.0
A Long Way Down by Randall Silvis is a perplexing mystery. Although this newest release is the third installment in the Ryan DeMarco Mystery series, it can be read as a standalone (but I do recommend books one and two as well).
During a visit to his long estranged wife, Laraine, Ryan DeMarco runs into his old high school buddy and current Sheriff Ben Brinker. After hearing about a series of recent murders that bear an eerie resemblance to still unsolved cases from 1988 and the 1930s, Ryan agrees to help with their investigation. With his girlfriend and private investigator partner Jayme Matson by his side, Ryan battles troubling memories while the duo try to find the killer.
Ryan is still a bit brooding and uncommunicative about his emotional wounds. Returning home is not as easy he thinks it will be and he is besieged by long ago memories that are rather dark. Shaking off his somewhat grim mood, Ryan is soon embroiled in trying to figure out who murdered Jerome Hufford, Justin Brenner and college student Samantha Lewis. Ryan is certain there is no connection to the previous unsolved cases despite the similarities so they exclusively work on the current murders.
Jayme is frustrated by Ryan's lack of communication but she tries to remain patient with him. She is hoping to move their relationship in a new direction but she is unsure of Ryan's reaction to her suggestion. Jayme is troubled by Ryan's dark moods but she is hopeful he will confide in her about what is troubling him. But personal issues take a backseat to their investigation into the three current murders.
Jayme and Ryan decide their best chance in catching the murdered is to concentrate on the victim whose murder is a bit of an outlier. Certain aspects of the murder are quite different than the others and their research leads them to a popular college professor. There is something about the arrogant professor that raises both Jayme and Ryan's suspicions, but will they unearth a connection between him and the other two victims?
In their downtime, Jayme and Ryan are both quite contemplative as they sort through Ryan's murdered author friend Thomas Huston's unpublished writings. Huston's mother has requested his assistance in selecting additions for an upcoming publication. Will Ryan come to terms with his emotional baggage as he reads his friend's wise words?
A Long Way Down is a cleverly written and engrossing mystery. Ryan is still a work in progress as he attempts to come to terms with his troubled past. Jayme is optimistic their relationship will survive the emotional battering from Ryan's tumultuous past but will he be able to fully embrace the changes she is hoping for? Their investigation into the three murders is quite interesting and moves a slow but realistic pace as they track down clues and follow leads. With a very shocking twist, Randall Silvis brings this suspenseful mystery to an action-packed, poignant conclusion. With one thread left dangling, readers will be anxiously awaiting the next installment in the Ryan DeMarco Mystery series.
During a visit to his long estranged wife, Laraine, Ryan DeMarco runs into his old high school buddy and current Sheriff Ben Brinker. After hearing about a series of recent murders that bear an eerie resemblance to still unsolved cases from 1988 and the 1930s, Ryan agrees to help with their investigation. With his girlfriend and private investigator partner Jayme Matson by his side, Ryan battles troubling memories while the duo try to find the killer.
Ryan is still a bit brooding and uncommunicative about his emotional wounds. Returning home is not as easy he thinks it will be and he is besieged by long ago memories that are rather dark. Shaking off his somewhat grim mood, Ryan is soon embroiled in trying to figure out who murdered Jerome Hufford, Justin Brenner and college student Samantha Lewis. Ryan is certain there is no connection to the previous unsolved cases despite the similarities so they exclusively work on the current murders.
Jayme is frustrated by Ryan's lack of communication but she tries to remain patient with him. She is hoping to move their relationship in a new direction but she is unsure of Ryan's reaction to her suggestion. Jayme is troubled by Ryan's dark moods but she is hopeful he will confide in her about what is troubling him. But personal issues take a backseat to their investigation into the three current murders.
Jayme and Ryan decide their best chance in catching the murdered is to concentrate on the victim whose murder is a bit of an outlier. Certain aspects of the murder are quite different than the others and their research leads them to a popular college professor. There is something about the arrogant professor that raises both Jayme and Ryan's suspicions, but will they unearth a connection between him and the other two victims?
In their downtime, Jayme and Ryan are both quite contemplative as they sort through Ryan's murdered author friend Thomas Huston's unpublished writings. Huston's mother has requested his assistance in selecting additions for an upcoming publication. Will Ryan come to terms with his emotional baggage as he reads his friend's wise words?
A Long Way Down is a cleverly written and engrossing mystery. Ryan is still a work in progress as he attempts to come to terms with his troubled past. Jayme is optimistic their relationship will survive the emotional battering from Ryan's tumultuous past but will he be able to fully embrace the changes she is hoping for? Their investigation into the three murders is quite interesting and moves a slow but realistic pace as they track down clues and follow leads. With a very shocking twist, Randall Silvis brings this suspenseful mystery to an action-packed, poignant conclusion. With one thread left dangling, readers will be anxiously awaiting the next installment in the Ryan DeMarco Mystery series.
mrsboyko's review against another edition
5.0
such great stories. such real, flawed characters. recommend.
zzzrevel's review against another edition
2.0
I did not find this one to have very much of a
detective-investigative intensity to it. First
there was way too much personal baggage
explored in the two protagonists. I'm all
for character development, but most of this
was really boring. And then to add life
lessons "from the papers of Thomas Huston"
made it all the more excruciating. Especially
since that character came from an earlier
book in the series and I had not read it (and
will not now).
There is a sad twist at the end, or at least a
surprise I did not see coming although I
should have. That brought some emotion to
it for me as a reader. But then there is more
ending after that to "explain things" and it
all seems too too superfluous.
Just an okay read but again could have been
much shorter and more hard hitting on the
investigative side.
detective-investigative intensity to it. First
there was way too much personal baggage
explored in the two protagonists. I'm all
for character development, but most of this
was really boring. And then to add life
lessons "from the papers of Thomas Huston"
made it all the more excruciating. Especially
since that character came from an earlier
book in the series and I had not read it (and
will not now).
There is a sad twist at the end, or at least a
surprise I did not see coming although I
should have. That brought some emotion to
it for me as a reader. But then there is more
ending after that to "explain things" and it
all seems too too superfluous.
Just an okay read but again could have been
much shorter and more hard hitting on the
investigative side.
andreapaaz's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
onceupon_a_bookdream's review against another edition
5.0
4.5/5⭐
I was a bit nervous to start this since it's been almost three years since I read books one and two in this mystery series but I remember loving the authors writing. As soon as I started reading everything from the first two books pertaining to the main characters came back to me. These characters are so complex and layered and there's just so much emotion involved. I was also invested in the crime they were trying to solve every step of the way. I am bouncing between a four and a five star for this one because I don't know if I want to give it five stars purely because it's been so long since I was generally excited to be reading a mystery book.or becuase it was actually a five star read.
I was a bit nervous to start this since it's been almost three years since I read books one and two in this mystery series but I remember loving the authors writing. As soon as I started reading everything from the first two books pertaining to the main characters came back to me. These characters are so complex and layered and there's just so much emotion involved. I was also invested in the crime they were trying to solve every step of the way. I am bouncing between a four and a five star for this one because I don't know if I want to give it five stars purely because it's been so long since I was generally excited to be reading a mystery book.or becuase it was actually a five star read.
annarella's review against another edition
5.0
A very good, engaging and entertaining mystery.
I liked how the plot was developed, the well written cast of characters and the style of writing.
The mystery was good, non plot hole, full of twists and turns and it kept me guessing till the end.
An interesting reading experience and a very good series.
I look forward to reading other books in this series.
Recommended!
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.
I liked how the plot was developed, the well written cast of characters and the style of writing.
The mystery was good, non plot hole, full of twists and turns and it kept me guessing till the end.
An interesting reading experience and a very good series.
I look forward to reading other books in this series.
Recommended!
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.
slashysatch's review against another edition
3.0
A decent mystery
In my opinion this book was better than the first two in the series, but it had its flaws. I have trouble with Ryan & Jayme’s relationship. It progressively gets worse, as does Ryan’s progress. Both of them are constantly suppressing their feelings and it gets a little annoying to read. I love the mystery aspects of these novels but the characters make me not want to read them anymore.
In my opinion this book was better than the first two in the series, but it had its flaws. I have trouble with Ryan & Jayme’s relationship. It progressively gets worse, as does Ryan’s progress. Both of them are constantly suppressing their feelings and it gets a little annoying to read. I love the mystery aspects of these novels but the characters make me not want to read them anymore.
slashysatch's review against another edition
3.0
A decent mystery
In my opinion this book was better than the first two in the series, but it had its flaws. I have trouble with Ryan & Jayme’s relationship. It progressively gets worse, as does Ryan’s progress. Both of them are constantly suppressing their feelings and it gets a little annoying to read. I love the mystery aspects of these novels but the characters make me not want to read them anymore.
In my opinion this book was better than the first two in the series, but it had its flaws. I have trouble with Ryan & Jayme’s relationship. It progressively gets worse, as does Ryan’s progress. Both of them are constantly suppressing their feelings and it gets a little annoying to read. I love the mystery aspects of these novels but the characters make me not want to read them anymore.
annarella's review
5.0
A very good, engaging and entertaining mystery.
I liked how the plot was developed, the well written cast of characters and the style of writing.
The mystery was good, non plot hole, full of twists and turns and it kept me guessing till the end.
An interesting reading experience and a very good series.
I look forward to reading other books in this series.
Recommended!
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.
I liked how the plot was developed, the well written cast of characters and the style of writing.
The mystery was good, non plot hole, full of twists and turns and it kept me guessing till the end.
An interesting reading experience and a very good series.
I look forward to reading other books in this series.
Recommended!
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.
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