Three words I would use to describe this début thriller by Thomas Holgate are seedy, dark and violent.

Paul Czarcik is an experienced and seasoned Detective with Chicago Police Department. He spends his free time drinking and in the company of call girls, until a string of grisly murders forces him to hunt for a killer, zealously determined on achieving his own demonic goals before it becomes too late. The reader is made aware from the start that Czarcik is ruthless and deeply flawed, without being privy to the knowledge of precisely why this is.

A fascinating game of cat-and-mouse, Rain Will Come had me on tenterhooks all the way through. A wonderfully compelling début... I can't wait to read more from Thomas Holgate.

I received a complimentary digital copy of this novel, at my request, from Thomas and Mercer via NetGalley and this review is my unbiased opinion.

In this detective vs serial killer, cat and mouse crime thriller we find a deeply flawed protagonist, Paul Czarcik pursuing the vigilante Daniel Langdon. Although there is no mystery as to who the 'bad guy' is the character development of the two main subjects is such that I enjoyed reading about each of them and their motivations. Neither of the two are wholly good or bad but both are living on the edge. There are some very gruesome scenes in this one that might bother some but I for one wasn't put off by them. I think they just go to show the depravity and conviction that the killer holds for his victims. The writing is cinematic in nature, fast paced and well plotted. The interactions between the two are what built the suspense and the only question is how badly will this end, for both of them. The ending was satisfying even if it was a little predictable and schmaltzy.
I really enjoyed this one and recommend it to those who like a good character study and aren't too squeamish when it comes to graphic descriptions.

Thanks go to Thomas & Mercer and NetGalley for ARC to read, review and enjoy.

There was a lot to like about Rain Will Come, a debut novel by Thomas Holgate. There was a villain with a strong moral code, and a detective with many quirks but few to no scruples. There were classic elements of noir including a seductive, manipulative woman.

Holgate has the knack for suspenseful plotting. The detective, who has seen and done too much over his career, catches what turns out to be his final case -- and what a doozy! He ferrets out a link between a bizarre double murder in his hometown of Chicago with an even grislier execution in Texas. Even before readers meet the detective, Paul Czarcik, Holgate shows us the killer, a vigilante who is avenging crimes against children.

All these things were overshadowed by the extreme level of violence, in scenes zealously portrayed. They seemed to be the sections of the book that came alive, the ones that the author had loved and labored over. Everything else was conveyed in a monotone, flat-affect voice (shades of noir, again?)

I'm not a squeamish reader, but I believe the better a writer is at portraying violence, the harder he has to work at balancing the other elements of a story. For instance, the romance -- which was superficial and one-dimensional. It served as a plot device, but did no favors to either character.

A note from the publisher said that Holgate has written feature films, television movies and series, nonfiction books, and countless magazine pieces published under a different name. Rain Will Come begs to be adapted for film – but it’s not a film I’m longing to see. How could it be made visual without being sickening?

Thanks to NetGalley and Thomas and Mercer for an advance readers copy.

Everything about this book seemed like it would be up my alley. I love mysteries, though this one was more of a study of the crime than a mystery about the crime. I love Chicago, my second favorite city. But I never got that much into it. It was OK. It felt familiar and that I was just reading through to the end instead of devouring it and immersing myself in it. Something was just missing for me.

This is a fast-paced police procedural/thriller, with a no-holds barred approach to the storytelling. Detective Paul Czarcik is fighting retirement, and is the epitome of the experienced, jaded police officer. After being called in on a double homicide, Czarick’s sixth sense, the Rush, kicks in, and he sees an underlying truth that is eluding the rest of the officers. Daniel Langdon, a self-proclaimed Angel of Death, is racing against time and his own destiny to make things right before it’s too late. As the bodies start to stack up, will Czarick be able to stop Daniel, and maintain his own integrity?

This is the ultimate cat-and-mouse story. The reader knows the murderer from early in the story, and is privy to the competing sense of right and wrong for both men. Holgate has written a book that will have you questioning whether murder is always wrong.

This book has some graphic and disturbing violence, and readers should be well-informed before picking this one up. Definitely not a light-hearted read.

I received a free electronic ARC of this police procedural from Netgalley, Thomas Holgate, and Thomas & Mercer publishers, and a Kindle copy also from Amazon Prime. Thank you all for sharing your hard work with me. I have read this novel of my own volition, and this review reflects my honest opinion of this work. This may perhaps be a debut novel from this author. He will go right on my must-read authors list, however. There are some nasty crime scenes, so Thomas Holgate may not appeal to everyone. The good vibes by far outnumber the bad, however.

As a second-generation New Mexico desert dweller, the expression 'Rain Will Come' is a cry of joy and a promise that better times are coming. But from my 30 years 30 miles from the Texas Gulf Coast with an average of 30-50 inches of rain per year, I know it is also a threat. Thomas Holgate gives us both relief and closure in this excellent mystery.

Thomas Holgate's Rain Will Come is a romp through the - let us say 'unusual' - the mind of Detective Paul Czarcik of the Illinois Bureau of Judicial Enforcement. Paul Czarcik (ZAR-ick) is an ex-Chicago police officer, a loner, a man who's mind works in a unique way, and so far he has always gotten his man. He now works for BJE because they don't expect him to follow any rules, and he will close a case if left to work it his way. People who have escaped the law through judicial error or simply not caught by regular means, people responsible for torturing the vulnerable are on Czarcik's radar. Occasionally these are considered one-off crimes, but usually, if you look hard enough you can find their trail of abuse, and once Czarick is on the trail, they will face retribution. I am vaguely reminded of 'Dexter', although the comparison to 'Monk' is one that Czarcik finds offensive. Whomever you compare Paul Czarcik to, this is a binge read and a character I hope to see more of

Overall Rating:
7 out of 10

Plot:
8 out of 10

Characterization:
6 out of 10

Primary Element:
8 out of 10 for its thrill (how will this end??!)

Writing Style:
6 out of 10

Part of a Series:
Maybe, maybe not. As of now, not.

Highlighted Takeaway:
The end – did not see that coming.

What I Liked:
Although the story is pretty linear and as such doesn’t allow for too many twists, the author – Thomas Holgate – manages to get a few in, all of which are fun and relatively unexpected.

What I Didn’t Like:
The characterization was too clichéd. Every character was the textbook version of what it should be, without enough shades of gray (think typical anti-hero with a heart of gold).
Also, there were these random words that pivoted from the general, casual flow of the language. They really pull you out of the story, unfortunately, and I definitely could have done without the abruptness.

Who Should Read It:
Anyone who enjoys relatively gory thrillers. This has a real ‘how is he going to hurt this one?’ vibe going. Definitely a plus for those who don’t mind some (and occasionally, a lot) bloodshed.

Who Should Avoid:
Anyone who can’t stand too much violence. Rain Will Come is not for the faint-hearted.

Read It For:
The anti-hero with a heart of gold. Yes, really! It may be clichéd but, for the most part, it works. Would have helped to have Czarcik be just a bit more… empathetic, though.

Rain Will Come releases on 1 April 2020 by Thomas & Mercer. It’s the debut novel of Thomas Holgate who has, as per his NetGalley bio, written television movies, series, and feature films, along with nonfiction books and magazine pieces under a pseudonym.

While the book has its drawbacks, I would definitely read more of Thomas Holgate’s work, especially for its dark themes and theoretically justifiable violence. If you like that kind of stuff, I’d recommend picking up Rain Will Come.

Detective Paul Czarcik of the Illinois Bureau of Judicial Enforcement is not your usual detective. When he wants company, he hails an escort. No funny business, just some conversation, watch a movie. He also takes a smoke and a snort here and there. But he manages a daily regimen of weightlifting and running. He has a brain that never stops working, making him a huge asset to law enforcement. He's received multiple commendations and awards for his prowess in getting the bad guys.

Judge Jeral Robertson has been followed and chosen. Entering his empty house, he finds its not as empty as he thought. When he next awakes, he finds he's tied hands and feet to a kitchen chair. A young man is sitting there with a very ferocious looking knife ... ready to exact vengeance for a crime the judge committed .... and which the whole world watched as he did it.

Closer to home, a woman is beat to death and her headless husband is in another room. Looks like he's been tortured, covered in cigarette burns. Were they also chosen for their crimes? Why does the crime scene look staged?

And the bodies keep falling .....

These slayings aren't the open-and-shut case of urban crime he’s used to. This killer is inviting Czarcik to a game of catch me if you can ... while he goes on a country - wide killing spree. Nothing—not the killer, the victims, or the rules—is what it seems in this bloody game of cat and mouse.

Although previously published under another name, this one is his first novel. It's well written with surprising twists and turns. It's action packed with riveting characters .. a true page turner. The ending came as quite a shocker.

Many thanks to the author / Thomas & Mercer / Amazon Publishing / Netgalley for the digital copy of this crime fiction. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.

This is a very well written crime thriller full of twists and turns. Very suspenseful and entertaining. Some of the storyline is hard to read ! I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving this review

Loved this book. Detective Paul Czarcik is a strange one, so much so, that he is now working for the Illinois Bereau of Judicial Enforcement which seems to be a section of law enforcement for those officers who like to do things their own way!

He is a loner whose social life differs from what would be expected of a police officer, but he gets the job done.
Czarcik links two seemingly unconnected crimes and believes there is a serial killer out there.

A fast paced tale, sometimes gory in its description, always keeps you interested,

Wow! I love a grisly detective novel and this one delivered! Czarcik was a flawed hero, trying to do the right thing no matter how much he annoys the rest of his department. Daniel, a really messed up dying man who doesn’t mind killing others. I loved watching their cat and mouse game. Very fast paced. Just what I needed!

You know from the start that Daniel Langdon is a serial killer- a vigilante- who is dying of a brain cancer. His story, his effort to do what he sees as righting wrongs, is entwined with that of Paul Czarcik, a deeply deeply flawed law enforcement officer. Paul has burned a lot of bridges along the way and now he sees this case (or multiple cases) as redemptive (well, he might not entirely but that's what it is). It's a chase, it's cat and mouse, and it's clever. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. A page turner for fans of the serial killer genre.

Thank you to Netgalley for this advanced reader's copy in return for my honest review. Twisty and twisty. Enjoyed this thriller immensely.

Thomas Holgate’s debut novel is not pretty. All sorts of depravity is uncovered, not the least of which is found in his hero, detective Paul Czarcik, a boozer and drug abuser, who is focused on stopping a serial killer’s deadly campaign against those who harm children. One would think that the torture and slaughter of other humans who commit terrible abuses against the helpless might be justified, but the detective begs to differ. He is dedicated to putting a stop to the killings. If you don’t care for gore you might want to look at another book.

The wife of the depraved man who turns out to be somewhat untrustworthy, a quality he discovers even as he beds her in joyous adultery, assists him in his quest. As the mad killer, a renowned and brilliant researcher with an inoperable brain tumor weaves his way through his victims, Czarcik seems always a step behind and the victims start stacking up with no relief in sight. Daniel Langdon, the crazed murderer, believes himself to be morally justified in his revenge because of the depravity of his victims and the detective is blinded by his sense of justice while seemingly inept in his desperate chase.

The reader is caught up in this game and the author does some good things in his novel. First, he keeps the character list small. There are not a lot of characters which keeps the storyline fairly straightforward. There’s not a lot of confusion created by trying to keep the characters aligned with his plot. The dialogue is well constructed, clear and concise, a trait not always followed by some current authors. This makes the reading more enjoyable, in my opinion, and a trait worthy of applause. Thank you, Thomas Holgate, for giving me a book I didn’t have to stumble over to enjoy.

I recommend this book and look forward to future writing from the author.


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Thank you for the opportunity to read this. I will be posting a full review to Goodreads, Amazon, and Instagram.

A cop you'll find it difficult to like

Detective Paul Czarcik of the Illinois Bureau of Judicial Enforcement is not a nice man. He's a great investigator but he lacks people skills. He's a loner, he drinks on duty and snorts cocaine, he frequents shady motels and hires escorts but he tends to solve the cases assigned to him so he's pretty much left alone.

He's now on the trail of a serial killer who is also a vigilante. The killer is going around killing off people who have established raped the court system and are harming, or have harmed, children.

I enjoyed this police procedural and this unconventional detective. He has to make difficult decisions and venture from his comfort zone.

I recommend this book for those who like police procedural, murder mysteries or stories about serial killers. This book is different in a good way.

I received this book from Thomas & Mercer (Amazon Publishing) through Net Galley in the hopes that I would read it and leave an unbiased review.

Fast-paced thriller! 4 out of 5 stars!

Paul Czarcik, a seasoned and unconventional detective with the Illinois Bureau of Judicial Enforcement, is called into a brutal Chicago double murder. He quickly makes a connection to a case in Texas. Czarcik is then hot on the trail of a vigilante serial killer as his victims have committed heinous crimes. In this cat and mouse game, can Czarcik stay one step ahead of the killer and get to the bottom of this?

A quick read that will keep your attention with non-stop action against a solid plot line.

Thank you Thomas Holgate, Thomas & Mercer, and Netgalley for providing me with an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

#RainWillCome #NetGalley

Virtually every character in this fast-paced game of cat-and-mouse between a serial killer and the longest-tenured detective in the Illinois Bureau of Judicial Enforcement is seriously flawed. Killer Daniel Longdon, a self-ascribed avenger of injustice, is dying of a glioblastoma and hoping to get to the last person on his hit list before the tumor gets him. Detective Paul Czarcik, a basically good cop, struggles with injustice as well; but his method of dealing with it is through smoking, alcohol and, in a pinch, snorting drugs. On the other hand, he tends to experience real physical reactions to certain words and phrases (perhaps as a result of his drug habit, perhaps not) that turn out to be helpful investigative clues.

Czarcik, who isn't on the best of terms with his superiors, is called to the scene of a double homicide in which the male victim's head is missing. Sensing that the scene may have been somehow staged, he notices a clue he suspects may tie in with a previous case - and turns out he's right. But when a man confesses to the double homicide, the police powers-that-be are satisfied and want the investigation to go away; not so Czarcik, who's certain this is the work of a serial killer who isn't likely to stop. Off he goes on his own, then, to get to the truth.

Along the way, he gets help from an unlikely - and potentially untrustworthy - source. Readers, meanwhile, get a glimpse of what's in the killer's mind (besides the tumor) through interspersed chapters that shift to his perspective. All told, it's an exciting - and for whom it may make a difference - and fairly gory game of who will win the chase that's being played out in both psychological and physical ways; can Czarcik out-think Longdon and track him down before Longdon does the same to him?

Overall, it's entertaining and well worth reading, and I'm looking forward to the next one. But note to myself: next time, be sure to check the stack of pre-release review books from publishers before coughing up a couple of bucks for an Amazon First Reads book that turns out to be already in said stack from NetGalley!

3.5 stars rounded up to 4

Paul Czarcik is the Detective trying to find a vicious serial,killer. They've already killed two people. The serial killer is a vigilante, out to get justice for people who can't get it for themselves. Paul is your average Detective. He drinks, takes drugs and hires escorts just to talk to them. He's also near the end of his career. The vigilante killer is dyijn5and wants revenge on some people before he dies.

This story is told from the serial killer and Paul Czarcik point of view. Paul works for the Bureau of Judicial Enforcement. The book is quite graphic so might not be suitable for some readers. The pace is fast but I did not like any of the characters. There was something addictive about the story though. A good cat and mouse thriller that's well written. A really good debut novel. I will look out for this author in future.

I would like to thank NetGalley, Random House UK, Cornerstone and the author Thomas Holgate for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.

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

Hooked by the dust jacket blurb, I eagerly read this novel by Thomas Holgate, which mixes a sadistic serial killer with a cop whose process is a tad unorthodox. While Paul Czarcik was once a proud member of the Chicago PD, his time there came to an end prematurely. However, he accepted a role in the Illinois Bureau of Judicial Enforcement, an experimental group of detectives whose skills are a little too unique for the CPD. When a couple is found brutally tortured and murdered, Czarcik takes the case. He cannot understand the brutality he sees before him, but there is something more. When he is able to see a link between this killing and the brutal murder of a judge in Texas, Czarcik thinks that he may be on the path of a serial killer. Meanwhile, the killer, one Daniel Langdon, is plotting his next murder. He has the files and knows his victims, but must plan things effectively. When not gathering the needed information for his next kill, Langdon is dealing with crippling headaches, all a part of the tumour that is growing inside his head. When Langdon sees Czarcik is on the case, he decides to pay the detective a visit. Letting Czarcik in on his plan, Langdon all but baits the detective to follow and catch him. After Czarcik is contacted by Langdon’s wife, who fills in many of the gaps, they work together to find and save the ‘victims’ before their heinous acts receive the vengeance that Daniel Langdon feels is his to offer. It will be a race across America to catch a killer, but Czarcik has nothing to lose. A twisted story that pulls the reader in on many levels, as Holgate entertains throughout. Recommended to those who love a police procedural that follows none of the rules, as well as the reader who enjoys something a little more gruesome than the usual crime thriller.

I always love reading a new author and discovering that their work is right up my alley. I find that Thomas Holgate writes in such a way that I cannot help but want more in short order. The detailed writing is not only helpful in building up the crimes, but creates a series of wonderful characters the reader will enjoy throughout the novel. Paul Czarcik seems quite the odd character as the novel begins, with his penchant for cocaine and his predilection for escorts, whom he pays to have deep conversations. However, the detective has deep-rooted connections to his work and seems always to find the unique approaches to solving crimes. As the novel progresses, the reader sees much growth in Czarcik, both in the current-day narrative and the flashback case from his time as a CPD officer. One can hope Holgate will be able to create a series from this and that reader can see more Czarcik growth. Other characters prove as enticing and curious as the protagonist, all of whom help the story develop and the narrative move at a quick pace. The story has some typical police procedural aspects, as well as great uniqueness, which sets Holgate apart. The reader can bask in both worlds and determine what they think of the overall presentation. With a mix of mid- to full-length chapters, the story progresses slowly, but never lacks the momentum to fully enthral in a mystery where both good and evil are known throughout, playing a game of cat and mouse that will leave only one winner, or perhaps two strong losers. Thomas Holgate is an author to watch and I have added him to my literary radar.

Kudos, Mr. Holgate, for this fabulous debut. I will ensure the world knows all about your work and cutting style!