Although the fourth in a series, I found the synopsis really showcased We Were Once Killers as a stand-alone read. Of course, the other three novels within the series definitely would have given more of the backstory of Brigid Quinn, however, I don’t think any story is lost without the full knowledge of who Quinn is. What allows We Were Once Killers to stand out is the use of true crime to develop a truly alternative plot to Truman Capote’s In Cold Blood.

Author Becky Masterman uses the backdrop of Capote’s In Cold Blood and alternately lays out the story that not two, but three, murderers were responsible for the Clutter family murders and the true unsolved case of the Walker family murders. It is great storytelling as Masterman lays out the path for readers to follow the third murderer, Beaufort, as he searches for evidence that could cost him the rest of his life.

I was intrigued by how Masterman weaved true crime into a whole new story. She found potential with developing a third murderer and using the new husband of her main character, Carlos, as a possible link to Beaufort’s freedom.

The flow of We Were Once Killers led on a straight path that made sense. With viewpoints from Beaufort, Brigid, and Carlos, I clearly could navigate the story. There was no clunkiness in the reading that made it difficult to follow. The biggest drawbacks were the slow lead into the first part of reading and chunks of dialogue that didn’t seem to sit right with the story. Another point was Carlos’s first wife really wasn’t needed. I understand using distractions as side stories within the whole, however, this just didn’t seem to work.

I stuck with We Were Once Killers because it is an interesting idea put into words. I like the true crime aspect of the plot as it gives me something more to read and learn about. Becky Masterman developed a story that is quite successful. It’s definitely a read to pick-up if you like to reimagine alternate versions of real crime stories. There are a few lulls, but it’s definitely worth the read if you love true crime.

A murder mystery / thriller / character study drama.

I am a new reader to Becky Masterman’s writing and to her heroine Brigid Quinn. This novel, the fourth in the series, could be a stand-alone, though perhaps some of the characters were more fully developed in the earlier books. Unlike other series, though, a new reader can follow along by jumping in here.

Attaching her story to Truman Capote’s narrative in his masterpiece In Cold Blood, Masterman adds to that story by presuming that perhaps a third killer was involved in the 1959 Kansas crime and we are quickly caught up in a tense drama involving her husband, a former prison chaplain, and some cool characters of Masterman’s devising. Gemma-Kate is a character that quietly stole the show.

Fast paced with good dialogue, this has many enjoyable elements and was an entertaining book.

Another great thriller set in Arizona. The book has perfect detail for characters and country. I have read the preceding book in this series, but you don't need to read it to fully appreciate this story. I6 draws heavily from actual events and uses them to create both atmosphere and motivation. I could truly relate to the panic of losing brakes on a Miata on an 8% curvy and narrow road down Kitts Peak with a steep drop-off on one side. My familiarity with the area and the events definitely heightened my appreciation for this book. The suspense builds right up to the end. Don't start reading unless you are prepared to stay until the finish.

This is a quick, easy and gripping read with an interesting story line that drew from the true story of the Clutter family murders. The story is told from alternating points of view from Quinn and Beaufort which makes the read all the more intriguing. This is the first book I have read in this series and am planning to check out the first three books. Thank you to Netglley and St. Martin's Press for an ARC copy in exchange for a review.

This story weaves the facts of a real home invasion/murder case with a what-if note of fiction. The story grabs you right at the start, and it doesn't let go until long after the last page is turned. It's the kind of retelling that you keep thinking of even days later. Chilling, but so well written. If you like crime stories, you will love this one!

4 stars
This gave me Everything I wanted in a thriller type book. It played with my mind, teased with the past using real murders which had been written about by Truman Capote In Cold Blood and added more. A few sleepless nights good.

There is often a fine line between the psychopathy of violent criminals and frontline law enforcement. The characters here seem to confirm that. There is the somewhat unusual mix of a petite ex-FBI agent (Brigid Quinn), a twice-married former Catholic priest (Carlo DiForenza) and an ex-con (Jeremiah Beaufort) who thinks he is ever so much smarter than anyone else. Brigid Quinn and Jeremiah Beaufort are both killers. Brigid's husband Carlo is the fulcrum upon which they are balanced.

There are nuggets of backstory distributed here and there throughout the book to let you know that it's part of a series. They are intriguing enough to make me want to backtrack and read them all. It is usually difficult to start reading a series in the middle, but I found that WE WERE KILLERS ONCE is a compelling read on its own.

The murder of the Clutter family, in Holcomb, Kansas, in November 1959, was immortalized by Truman Capote in his non-fiction novel IN COLD BLOOD. From that book, three movies and a miniseries have been made. Even if you don't immediately know the name Clutter, chances are you read or know about the book IN COLD BLOOD. In 2016, a novel, IN COLDER BLOOD, by J. T. Hunter, in which the possibility that Richard Hickock and Perry Smith killed the Walker family, in December 1959, in Osprey, Florida, is put forth.

Keep in mind that WE WERE KILLERS ONCE is a work of fiction that is based upon the actual murders of two families. Becky Masterman has woven a very believable story around those events.

I didn't read the first 3 Brigid Quinn books and I didn't feel that you needed to. There were some questions I had about Brigids relationship with the local sheriff that seems to have been strained by something that happened in a previous book but it didn't take away from the story.

Masterman weaves her own story regarding Perry Smith and Dick Hickok who were convicted of murder and were the main characters in Truman Capote's classic In Cold Blood. Masterman imagines what it may be like if Hickok had made a confession claiming his innocence in writing prior to being put to death and given this confession to the care of a Catholic priest. What if someone else was named in that confession and now that person is out of prison and worried that if the confession comes to light he may be forced back to prison or worse sentenced to death.

Brigid Quinn's husband Carlo was a prison chaplain back when Hickok and Smith were in jail. Jerry Beaufort tracks Carlo down hoping that he can find this written confession and get rid of it before it incriminates him, what he doesn't count on is Quinn. Ex FBI with a moral compass that is just off center, a psychopath niece and excellence at defending herself and others.

This is a fast paced mystery that re imagines Smith & Perry's crimes and pits Quinn against a ruthless killer who will stop at nothing to try to hide his past crimes. I really enjoyed this book despite not having read the others. In fact I may go back and pick up some of the past books to see how Quinn's character has evolved. If you like kick ass women this may be a good series for you.

I was intrigued by this book as soon as I read the premise: What if there was another person besides Richard Hickock and Perry Smith involved in the murders of the Clutter family, made famous by Truman Capote’s “In Cold Blood”? And what if Richard Hickock had written a confession before his execution that implicated this third person, who will now do anything to prevent it ever coming to light? And there was a lot to like about Becky Masterman’s “We Were Killers Once”—she has obviously done her research on the Clutter killings and the writing of “In Cold Blood” and she is capable of producing moments of page turning suspense. But this book didn’t completely work for me. It is apparently the fourth book in the Brigid Quinn investigator series—something not noted on its cover—and there were a lot of cryptic references to events from the earlier three books that were probably intended to pique interest in them but which I found offputting and annoying and which made it difficult to get a handle on her character. Villain Jeremiah Beaufort, moreover, was so cartoonish at times that I found it hard to believe that a seasoned and brilliant former FBI investigator like Brigid wouldn’t be able to outwit him and put the pieces of the puzzle together earlier than she does. I wish I had been familiar with the other books in the series before reading this one as I think I would have enjoyed it more. Still, a serviceable summer thriller.

Thank you to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for providing me with an ARC of this title in return for my honest review.

interesting characters, believable. Hard to believe someone got away with so many murders, only to get caught at the end, trying to make sure those some murders went unsolved. Thanks netgalley..

I really enjoyed this book, and especially appreciated the references to the real life case depicted in Truman Capote's In Cold Blood. This book is told in alternating perspectives, between retired FBI agent Brigid Quinn and a man recently released from prison who will do ANYTHING to avoid going back.

I really liked the main character, Brigid Quinn, and reading this book has renewed my interest in reading the previous books in the series.

*Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my advanced reader's copy in exchange for my honest review*

I was browsing NetGalley for some books to request and the cover of this one really caught my eye. When I read the synopsis and found out it is connected with In Cold Blood by Truman Capote and the real life killers behind it, I knew I had to get it. I didn’t realize until I added the book to my Goodreads that it was the 4th book in a series but I really don’t think that you need to have read the first three books. I never felt lost at all. When previous events were mentioned, the author provided enough information that I felt like I knew what I needed to.
The book alternates between Brigid’s point of view and an ex-con named Jeremiah Beaufort. At first I couldn’t really see where the story would bring the two of them together but as it began to unfold, I could tell that it was going to be a very interesting confrontation. Jerry was written so well. I was thoroughly creeped out by him and dumbfounded how someone could be the way he was. Brigid seemed like a really spunky badass, pretty much exactly how I imagined a retired FBI agent would be. The tie-in with In Cold Blood is completely fictional BUT imagine if it wasn’t… What if one of the most well-known crimes in US history didn’t exactly happen the way everyone thought after all these years… That’s what I really loved about this book. Everything got so intense towards the end! If you enjoy thrillers with a little splash of true crime, I definitely recommend you check this book out!

One of my new favorite books! This author has such a way with words the pages flew by in no time! I can’t wait to see the next work by this author! This was such a joy to read!

I received a free copy of this book from the author. I had the opportunity to review or not.

One of the scariest books I have ever read is “In Cold Blood.” The fact that it is real is terrifying. While this book did not hit me as hard, it evoked those memories. In Capote’s book there is a mention of the Cutter family killers picking up a young hitchhicker. Masterman did a masterful job creating a third man scenario using the young boy. Her premise of a third executioner in the Clutter home, and the possibility of him as the killer of the Walker family is integrated flawlessly into the facts presented in the book.

A retired FBI agent, mistakenly believes she is being targeted for death and does not know who, or why. While she is confused, so is the unknown perpetrator. As each pursues their quarry, the mystery and danger increase for all involved. However, there is no one better than Brigid Quinn in scratching out truth. The brilliant Quinn sets out to unravel the mystery.

In the meantime, the mystery boy hitchhiker, Jerry Beaufort, is on a hunt of his own. Convinced that Hickock wrote a confession Jerry is searching for it and anyone standing in the way will be handled. Jerry must get his hands on it if he wants to have a life outside of prison. And he desperately wants that.

I was very impressed with Masterman’s writing, mood and characters. I will be reading others books she has written and highly recommend you try them for yourself.

Thank you so much to St. Martins Press, Minotaur Books, and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book for my review!

After finding out that the story behind the brutal murders of 4 people in Kansas sparked the amazing book In Cold Blood by Truman Capote I knew I had to read this. Not only is my hometown Kansas but I’ve loved Truman Capote’s books since I was young.

This was an excellent twist on a real-life murder case that immediately drew me in. I’m a huge fan of true crime books and this one didn’t disappoint. The writing style hooked me and I couldn’t put this book down. Even though it was the 4th book in the series I didn’t feel like I lost out on any information having not read the first three books.

The story was so easy to read and very fast paced for me. Great story and I enjoyed it very much!

We Were Killers Once drew me in with the In Cold Blood angle, but it didn't quite live up to my expectations. The slow beginning made it hard to get into, so much so that I set it aside several times for something that would hold my interest. To be fair, I haven't read the earlier books in the series, so I was completely unfamiliar with these characters. That said, the author does give enough back story to get a decent feel for the characters and their relationships. As the story progresses it relies on coincidence more than I cared for and it does require a certain amount of suspension of disbelief. In the end, the cons outweighed the pros, and I liked the idea of this book more than the reality of it.

Becky Masterman’s book, We Were Killers Once, is a smart, sly, sometimes funny, creepy read. Former FBI agent, Brigid Quinn, unexpectedly finds herself investigating one of the most infamous midwestern American serial killings (the brutal killings in Truman Capote’s book, In Cold Blood), when a new, elderly neighbor begins to insert himself into her family’s daily life. Jerry Beaufort seems lonely and disconnected from everything, just the type of vulnerable person intended to solicit help from Carlo, Brigid’s husband, and former priest. Jerry seems harmless to Carlo, but Brigid knows better.

Masterson’s plot deftly weaves together true mid-century American crime history, an erratic and overconfident villain, and an irrepressible investigator adrift from the her Bureau roots, who is also a newly married woman haunted by the suffocating presence of her husband’s deceased wife. The past challenges Brigid and Carlo’s personal and professional identities in both violent and subtle, but equally dangerous, ways. The couple struggles with their past and present selves amidst the bloody backdrop of long ago murders, confessions, and buried secrets., and are forced to confront their deepest questions and fears: What does it mean to act thoughtlessly,? To take a life? To confess? To forgive. And to love?

*I read We Were Killers Once in galley form in exchange for an honest review, and had no idea it was the fourth book featuring former FBI agent Brigid Quinn. I read it as a stand-alone novel and was tickled to learn I can now go back to Masterson’s backlist to read books 1-3!

I wasn’t sure where this book was going when it started because it felt like I came aboard in the middle of the characters arcs. But anyway, once it got going it went fast and furious. Bouncing between timelines, it traces a murderers path from past to present, age 14 to about 70. In fact, most of the main characters were in their 60’s or 70’s, yet they still felt young in their thoughts and actions. It just seemed odd that a 70 year old would run through an airport, fight a suspect, dive on guns and so forth. It’s all based on the confession of a long executed criminal which implicates another criminal still alive, and his journey to find and destroy that confession. I thoroughly enjoyed the flashbacks and that time period because it felt so real. I enjoyed the depth of the main characters, yet they seemed a little overdeveloped at times. I would love to have heard more about the psychotic niece and the sheriff, but perhaps that’s another book. Just read it already!

The three main characters' personalities elevated this book from good to compelling. I enjoyed the plot but equally enjoyed the interesting and flawed-but-likeable protagonists. I am hoping for more soon from this author, who is now on my favorites list. Well done.

3.25

I enjoyed Becky Masterman’s earlier Brigid Quinn mysteries. The last one was “ok”, and this one was “ok” too. This time, what tried my patience was the premise. I have never read Truman Capote’s In Cold Blood, but the premise of We Were Killers Once is that Brigid becomes aware of a confession by one of the two killers Capote focuses on that implicates a third killer. Somehow, Brigid and her husband Carlo come into contact with this third man and the story flows from there. The story itself is actually quite clever although a tad predictable. And I liked the dynamic between Brigid and Carlo. And as always I like that this series focuses on a flawed late middle aged female detective. But the connection to Capote’s book and real historical events just seemed a bit weird and unnecessary to me. I suspect that even if I had read In Cold Blood I would have had the same reaction. Grafting a fictitious mystery series onto a real crime that may or may not have been accurately reported by Capote was all a bit distracting... I will give Masterman’s next book in the series a try, but I hope that she sticks to true fiction rather than this odd true crime-fiction hybrid. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an opportunity to read an advance copy.