Thank you for the opportunities to read this book. I have attempted it on a number of occasions but unfortunately I haven’t been able to get into it.

After watching Joe Kenda on Investigation Discovery, I was definitely intrigued when I saw that he had written a book. I loved both of his books, even though there is some overlap in his cases and stories he tells about his life. I love his personality and it translated very well on paper. I look forward to more from him.

I enjoyed listening to Joe Kenda when he was on the Detective podcast so when I saw he had a book I had to get it. It was an interesting look at his career from his first day on the job, how he got into homicide, his retirement, and life after retirement. He included little anecdotes from his family member and stories of some of his cases. A well written book!!

Well my, my, my…it’s not a surprise that I am a sucker for true crime. I love reading true crime stories and books. I love watching true crime TV shows and documentaries on TV/Netflix. I love listening to true crime podcasts. Detective Lt. Joe Kenda happens to be one of my favorites and I love watching his show “Homicide Hunter” on the Investigation Discovery channel. When I seen I Will Find You up on Netgalley, there was no way I was going to pass it up.

On Joe Kenda’s TV show he talks about all the different cases he’s worked on during his career as a homicide detective. In his book I Will Find You, he talks about the cases that are too gruesome to even air on TV. In his book, Joe Kenda also talks about crime scenes and what he does to determine the who, what, where, when, and how the victim died along with the motive and find out who the killer is. He also talks about life as a homicide hunter and how he became one. I also love that he talkes about himself and his family. I loved learning about other sides to him aside from just his homicide hunter days. Even his family members pop in from time to time to recount a story.

I Will Find You is creepy, scary, and it’s one of the most realist books that you’ll ever read. If you love true crime, this book is definitely for you. The world is a scary place (it seems so even more these days) and humans are the scariest of all. Joe Kenda talks about how animals kill each other for need (hunger & danger, basically to survive), but some humans kill just to kill. That’s really terrifying to think about and it’s true. In this book you’ll see different reasons and scenarios why humans kill, which none of them are ever justifiable. Then there are some humans that kill just because they like killing.

“Even today, humans are the most ruthless, aggressive, and dangerous of species.”

There’s a lot of triggers and gory things in this book, so proceed with caution. There were even a few things that freaked me out and I don’t get freaked out by these things easily. I mean, I can watch a TV show about a murder, see the reenactments, bloody bodies, and still eat my dinner like I was just watching a normal TV show. 😛 Even though this book is quite serious, I like that Joe Kenda throws in a little humor too. You kind of have to have a dark sense of humor though. I love Joe Kenda’s personality on TV and as he comes across in his book and because of that, this book was easy to read and hard to put down in a writing stand point. The subject matter isn’t always easy to read, but it’s written in a way that it’s hard to put down.

Like I said earlier, it is the realist book you will ever read. It has it’s good moments and a couple happy stories, but a lot of it is not. This isn’t like the TV show “CSI”, this is real life. It’s terrifying and shocking. As dark as I Will Find You is, I thought it was a very good book and really eye opening. I think after having read this book, I will be looking over my shoulder a hell of a lot more than I already do. I will leave you with this quote from the very beginning of the book, because it’s 100% true about this book and you should be prepared if you plan to pick this one up.

“If you have an interest in the truth, you are reading the right book. If you don’t think you can handle the darkest aspects of human nature, then you might want to put this book down, because it will get real in a hurry.”

I'm an avid watcher of the ID channel, and love "Homicide Hunter: Detective Joe Kenda," so when I heard he had a book coming out that delved deeper into his life of finding out "whodunit," especially to those who have no family or a name to match who they are. Kenda's no-nonsense approach to those who commit such crimes, and especially his regard when those folks who commit these abhorrent crimes think they can get away with it. This book takes you deeper into Kenda's world, and also to many more homicides that were much more brutal than what was featured on his show.

This book also reads a lot like Kenda's personality on the show; humorous, engaging, comical, yet serious when he needs to be. I highly recommend this book for any ID, Kenda and Homicide Hunter fan!

RATING: 4 STARS
​​(I received an ARC from the NETGALLEY​)​
(Review Not on Blog)

I started watching Detective Lt. Joe Kenda: Homicide Hunter when our cable service had Investigation Discovery channel (in Canada) as a part of our package. When we had to pay extra I decided not to get it, but my ex-boyfriend had it. I might have dated him longer because of it...and that he let me PVR shows when I wasn't there. Even he got into this show. His dry humour -Kenda, I mean (not my ex) - just makes his quips all the more entertaining. When I saw that he had a memoir I requested the book and was SO happy to get it. I found the stories of his job and personal life much like the show but with a bit more information. It is an easy read without too much grit and graphic details. I am not sure if you have to be a fan to like the book, but I think it does add to the book knowing what to expect.

If you watch Joe Kenda on tv, you will love this book. He tells it in the same tone he uses on tv. Very interesting!

This is the story of Joe Kenda, a homicide detective in Colorado Springs. The book is more than just a look at his cases but also his life and the consequences being a police officer has on him and his family.
Being a cop isn't easy and this book gives you an insight into the horror people are capable of and how it can wear on you as a human. Some of the cases will make you think but most will make you realize how fragile life is and how easy it is for someone to take a life.

I found this a really interesting book to read - a good blend of case files and personal experience of working in American law enforcement. The author has a quirky sense of humour that comes through well in the book, giving it a very personal feel.

Full disclosure...I received this book for free from Netgalley in exchange for a review. That being said, I LOVED this book. I am a huge Joe Kenda fan and was thrilled to see that this book was written in the same manner he speaks. It was a decent read that took me about a day and change only because I had things to do. If you like true crime and are a fan of Investigation Discovery then this would be a great book for you.

(This review is also posted on Goodreads)

I picked this up in hopes of being entertained for a while and my dear friends, was I in for an entertaining read!

Those of you looking for a crash course in criminal investigation should turn away from this book now and head for a more academic title. What you’ll find here is the musings of a veteran homicide detective evincing some his most memorable incidents on the job while throwing around casual ramblings on the judiciary system and criminal investigation in general. Although, repetitive at times and not perfectly worded nor structured (looking at you editor person), it is always nice to read another person’s experience in homicide investigations, especially if that person displays humbleness, a great deal of knowledge on the matter and most importantly, and unlike other investigators/writers who come off as self-centered and unpleasant, deep respect for the job and the victims he has encountered over the years.

I took two stars off because the stories felt like overviews and most could’ve been a little more detailed; also aforementioned, the lack of decent editing which took a lot away from the book, technically speaking. Still, it is an enjoyable read for those of you who enjoy a dark humored and an entertaining read.

I am a huge fan of Lt. Kenda's and always watch his TV show so I was so excited to get to read this book. It was very interesting with him going over several cases. I like that he also put humor in so it was not all just sad stuff. It was also interesting to hear about his life after he retired from the police force. I would highly recommend reading this book, especially if you are a fan of his show.

Book received from NetGalley.

Most people know former Detective Joe Kenda from his Investigation Discovery show, Homicide Hunter. He worked for many years on the Colorado Springs Police Department and retired with a very high solve rate. This book while touching on some of his harder cases that didn't make it on the show so far, also gives you some background on why he decided to become an officer and the reasons he decided to retire from a job he enjoyed. While I think any fan of True Crime would enjoy the book, I think fans of the show will get the most out of it.

This is a book by Detective Joe Kenda and his 19 years in homicide in all its glory.

In his book, there is sadness, happiness, gore, and loud out laugh moments. He warns you in the beginning that if this is not the kind of book for you, put it down now. Some parts I did have to skim over but I did love his wit and his comments and the parts that had me busting a gut. I also love how he never gave up and really still hasn't. He has so much compassion for the victims and their families. I can't imagine what he has seen if all those years. His wife is a firecracker, I enjoyed hearing about his wife and children.

Thank you Net Gallery for choosing me to review this heartwarming read.

Cherie'

This book was great, but I knew it was going to be. When I saw that I could request Joe Kenda's book from Net Galley, I waited impatiently to hear whether or not I was chosen.

I love Homicide Hunter on Investigation Discovery - not just for the interesting cases, but also for Lt. Joe Kenda. While the consummate professional, there is a dry wit there that I was hoping to see more of in the book. And boy was it evident in spades. In I Will Find You, I feel like we get to really know Kenda. We learn of his mistakes and missteps, but also of his triumphs. And some really weird shit in between. (I shared a certain story about a man and his mangled genitalia with my boyfriend and while he was not impressed, I thought it was hilarious.) There were several times where I had to laugh out loud, like when Kenda told his wife after his mother's funeral: "You are in luck: Your mother-in-law no longer hates you, because she is dead." Or the story about how the patrol officer who was familiar with Kenda's wife pulled her over for her repeated speeding and provided her incentive to never ever do it again.

This book was well-written and entertaining. A terrific read.

If you have a weak stomach, can't handle real life situations or bad language - then this book is not for you! This book gets down to the real life, dirty, heinous side of life that police officers deal with on a daily basis. This book will not sugar coat, give you warm feels, or wrap you in teddy bear hugs. Lt. Joe Kenda breaks it down, and takes you on an inside view of what his life on the police force was like.

I will start off with saying, I admire Lt. Kenda. I have been watching his show on TV for the past couple of years, and have enjoyed each and every case that he has presented. I like his honesty, and the brutal assessment that he uses. He has a no bar hold view and for me that says something. This is a person where you know where you stand, and if he is coming after you - you can run but you will not get far. He is relentless, and he will do whatever it takes to bring you in.

We see the glamorized view of police work on television all the time. Life must be good, right? Well, think again. Each of these cases stick with the police officer. Each face, each horror show is different. As you work through the book, you are confronted with many different facets of life. Homeless victims, murdered children, suicides, and so much more. This book takes you on a walk that is much different than many that have been published, and it is definitely not for the squeamish. Each smell, each fear, each new scene is described so you feel as though you are walking through the crime scene yourself. You will also experience many different emotions through this book. Anger is the one that you are going to experience the most. Many of these cases leave you wondering WHY. They are finished, closed, and put away. But the motives, the cause and effects can leave you scratching your head at times. There are cases where they for sure had it coming, and you are almost cheering for the person who finally took them off the street, or out of the way, but the innocent victims are the ones that stay with you.

Toward the end of the book, Lt. Kenda briefly describes some of his nightmares. I read through them, walked away, and then came back and read through them again. I laughed at the reaction of the doctor that he went to see (and I hope he got his money back from that visit), but I sat back and had to combat the "mom feels." The terror, the horror, and the relentless feeling of pursuit is something that won't go away, but hopefully through the telling of these stories, and the gut-honest truth portrayed on these pages, some peace of mind will be found.

I absolutely LOVED this book. I loved each case, each moment, each "GOTCHA" scene. Like I stated at the beginning - this book is NOT for everyone. This is very much a mature audience only read, and one that should not be taken lightly. Read at your own risk!

I requested this book because I love the show. It was engrossing and a very good read. I really enjoyed the book.

I've never watched the TV show, so don't know how it compares. This is my first experience with this author and his tales. Obviously, a very dark book of true stories, told with dark humor at times. I think they only thing I would have liked to see was perhaps a few of the cases examined in more detail. It was a lot of death to take in, page after page.

I watch Lt Kenda's show faithfully and this book is just as great. He cares about the cases he gets and makes sure he does all he can to solve them quickly. Lt Kenda is great at getting the job done and making sure the guilty party pays for their crimes.

Delightfully true to Kenda’s TV personality, just with more cursing.