I read all genre but most often, I read mystery/thrillers. If I can find a great character who happens to be the MC in a kickass series, I feel like somebody gave me a present. I would have wished for the Bruno Johnson series when I blew out the candles, but I'd not heard of this author or series. What a great surprise when I picked up The Ruthless and found it not only a great book, but #8 in a series. The book reads as a great stand alone, but I'm counting on David Putnam to have built this character into some great stories in the first seven books too.
Bruno Johnson is not your average cop. He's very good at his job, but he's a crossroads now. Undercover when his police family need him almost as much as his real family, who need him desperately. Putnam throws Bruno into one heck of a mess and builds the tension and suspense until there is no way you are setting the book for the night. Just my kind of book.

The Ruthless by David Putnam is one of my top ten books due to the authors ability to pen a freaking amazing story that kept me enthralled and entertained until the last page. It is an engrossing plot with characters that are complex, well developed and emotionally raw. This is one hell of a book and I cannot wait to read more. Bruno Johnson is a very tough cop with the Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department who put in for a resignation in order to work an undercover sting operation for illegal Guns. He also is haunted by his daughters death by suicide that most likely had something to do with her common law thug husband. His grandson has been missing and he believes his daughters husband is to blame for that also. Then his friend Judge Connor and his wife were brutally killed and he wants justice and wants it now. The stress that Bruno endures due to all of the tragedies he has experienced shows the reader just in depth the writer will go to in order to make this story perfect. A wonderful law enforcement procedural that shows how much Putnam knows and how he puts it together makes this book number 1!


5 out of 5 ⭐️

Thank you to NetGalley as well as the author/publisher for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my unbiased and honest review.

This is a deep and complex story where County Sheriff Deputy Bruno Johnson is working undercover as Karl Higgins, buying illegal guns and getting them out of circulation and off the street. Meanwhile, his family are in ruins as he seems surrounded by death and terrible secrets that are just too hard to share with his fragile father.

I have come into this story quite late on, but it was surprisingly easy to pick up. Johnson is a strong character and is at a point where the law seems to be protecting the bad guys more than the ones enforcing it. The story takes you down into the despicable depths of depravity as it unravels and opens up avenues to the real cause of the death of Johnson’s daughter and the fate of one of his twin grandson’s.

The chapters are full of frustration as Johnson’s hands are tied to bring criminals to justice. But how much heartbreak can one person take before they blow? There isn’t a let-up in this intense story as it shifts between Johnson’s undercover work and tangled personal frustration. Putnam has developed strong characters in the story, on both sides of the law. It is a hard-hitting story, not for the faint-hearted. It will be interesting to see where it will all end.

When Johnson hears that two of his close friends, a Judge and his wife, have been murdered in their home, it is the last straw, but will he cross the line? The action never stops.

I wish to thank the publisher and Net Galley for an e-copy of this book, which I have reviewed honestly.

Not having read any of the other Bruno Johnson books in this series, I was unprepared for this dark, realistic and rough police procedural/personal vengeance story. The note at the end describes the author’s experience with police cases similar to those described here, and his expertise is apparent throughout the book, especially in the way the police officers interact with one another and the criminals. The book is not for the squeamish; it’s hard to feel too sorry for any of the bad guys, but there’s a lot of violence and no small amount of collateral damage. Plenty of lives are shown ruined by addiction and the drug trade. The story is suspenseful and compelling, with Bruno constantly at risk of exposure and always having to keep secrets about his undercover operation from even his closest family. Even when it is clear where things are heading, you still want to keep reading and find out exactly how things play out. The ending is satisfying but ultimately not easy for any of the characters. Well worth reading. I plan to read other books in this series. Bonus points for Bruno's awesome dog.

Thanks to Netgalley and Oceanview Publishing for a digital advance review copy.

The Ruthless is the eighth book in the Bruno Johnson series, about a former Sheriff’s Deputy based in LA, by an author who is new to me. I generally don’t like reading series out of order, but sometimes it’s good to try a later book when it comes up on NetGalley, before deciding whether to go back and start from the beginning. As it turns out, the first four published all follow this one chronologically, while books five to eight are prequels, with this being the last, according to the author’s note, which suggests they can be read in any order. Despite plenty of backstory, I felt there were aspects I would’ve enjoyed more if I already knew Bruno as a character, and obviously I now know spoilers for the preceding instalments, but this does hold up well as a stand-alone thriller.

After the devastating death of his teenage daughter Olivia and her son, Bruno is working undercover with the LAPD on a protracted illegal weapons sting operation, but to preserve his cover, must hide this from his family and all his friends. Olivia’s killer, her boyfriend Derek, is on trial for another murder, but is unexpectedly released in exchange for information about the gunning down of a judge and his wife, who were Bruno’s friends. Reluctantly paired with his psychopathic former colleague, Robbie Wicks, to investigate their deaths off the books, Bruno must balance his thirst for vengeance with his respect for the law and his love for his remaining family, while keeping his identity secret to complete his mission to make the streets safer, but how much heartache can one man bear?

Some of my favourite series feature smart but tough-as heroes who don’t mind bending the law when the criminals deserve it, and Bruno, a grizzly on the outside but Teddy-bear at heart, looks set to join them. Him being African-American made an interesting change, and this book showcases a very different side of the City of Angels to what I’m used to (Bosch, Crais etc)
The author’s experience from a long career in law enforcement shines through, without derailing the fast paced plot with extraneous details. The side characters are vivid and believable, especially Bruno’s father, with his own heartbreaking backstory, and of course there’s their loyal dog Junior Mint!

I did guess the main twist but this didn’t spoil my enjoyment at all and I will be adding the earlier books to my “want to read” shelf and buying them once I tame my out of control “bought but not read yet” pile! Thanks to NetGalley and Oceanview Publishing for the ARC. I am posting this honest review voluntarily. The Ruthless is available now.

I found that this book dragged on too much. I really wanted more and was expecting more. I did enjoy the writing style and way the author told us this story.

The Ruthless, Volume 8 of the Bruno Johnson series packs a good punch on this eight installment and it has piqued my interest and I hope to get a hold of his earlier works. Bruno Johnson has his life running on high speed in multiple directions, working as an undercover agent for a sting operation , facing the pity and anger of his friends and colleagues who are upset by his downfall, helping on a high profile case with his ex-partner to find who killed a prominent judge and finally keeping tabs on his daughters partner whom he is convinced is involved in the disappearance of his grandson. The street level knowledge displayed by the author, the ugly side of the people behind the local crimes all have been wonderfully and clearly brought forth in this action thriller and I would have no hesitation to recommend this book to one and all.
Thank you Netgalley for providing me a copy of this book in exchange for an unbiased feedback.

The Ruthless is the first book I have read from this author. Quite short, but very well written. It was an easy read, well-crafted characters and entertaining.

Looking forward to reading more from this author

I received this book through "NetGalley ReadNow" program. This story is a definite winner, Since I never read anything by this author previously I didn't know what to expect. I definitely made a good choice.

The story begins with Karl (Bruno Johnson's alias), working a sting with LAPD. He has been loaned by the sheriff's department. All of his former partner's at the sheriff's office believe that he has left. He is also trying to recover from a major incident which happened with his family.

Karl has been working with Nigel, an informant, for bringing in people who want to sell guns to the location that has been set up by the LAPD for the sting. While this was going on, he is pulled back by his former partner, Wicks, to help find the killer of a judge and his wife. While acting in this capacity he is also working his undercover assignment. When Karl is presented with a major opportunity of a gun buy, all efforts are made to complete.

Bruno, also was following a court case of an individual who was released because he became a CI for Wicks. There was bad blood between Bruno and this individual.

Eventually a time was set up to make this major gun deal and did not go off as planned. In the end they discovered something unexpected with regards to the deal.

To find out why Bruno had an interest in the CI, who Bad Bart, RD and Junior Mint were that paly a part, then you must read this story, you won't be disappointed.

A crime thriller that is a gritty and a battle between crime and law enforcement. There is 3 stories going and I thought that I would get confused but all was good with the complex characters ensure that this novel is hard to put down. This is the eighth book in the Bruno Johnson series and while and I wish that I read the earlier ones. I don’t feel I was short-changed reading this out of order. Bruno Johnson is a Los Angeles County Deputy Sherriff, resourceful and tough, who relentlessly pursues answers and justice regardless of the cost.

This one just wasn't for me. I just couldn't get into it. Not sure why. I tried to pick it up a few times but struggled to finish.

Have you ever seen a preview for a show (trailer for a movie, etc.) that really hooked you… but when you tuned in to watch it, found yourself not enjoying it so much as wandering about in the middle of an already long-running series, hopelessly lost?

Yeah, that. That’s what happened to me for much of February [insert the crying buckets emoji here], as I struggled with (then put down, then picked up again, and rinse, repeat… repeatedly) David Putnam’s The Ruthless… which I only found out afterward was book number eight (yep, EIGHT!) in an ongoing series. Oy.

So, I’ll be breaking this experience down for you a bit differently than my norm.
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Bruno Johnson is a Sheriff’s Deputy with the Los Angeles Police Department, and has been, for… well, a reasonable amount of time, I’m guessing.

But… some utter shit has (apparently) gone down in Bruno’s life shortly before The Ruthless begins: namely, the abduction (and assumed—by Bruno—murder) of one of his young twin grandsons, and the fatal overdose of the twins’ mother, Bruno’s teenage daughter.

Bruno has ideas, it seems, as to the “whodunit”; he pretty much has a hard-on, in fact, for his daughter’s drug-dealing boyfriend (whom he has very good reason to suspect).

But [there’s always a “but”, isn’t there?]… Bruno faces a few problems between now and accomplishing any justice.

One, he’s been working a major stolen-goods sting operation, and has been deep undercover for the past several months. (Not even his elderly father, who lives with him, or any of his [former] coworkers, know that Bruno is actually still with the sheriff’s department; everyone thinks he got in trouble and was fired, after which he picked up a menial job at some sketchy warehouse.)


Another problem is that Bruno’s (dead, remember) daughter’s ex-boyfriend—nasty piece of work that he is—is pretty much untouchable, at the moment, since a court case that he was involved in has just been set aside.

Then, when a judge whom Bruno had worked under for a couple of years—and the judge’s wife—are brutally slain, and Bruno’s violent ex-partner pulls some strings to get Bruno “reinstated”, his focus is suddenly torn in three separate directions… on three jobs, each important in its own way.

But Bruno didn’t grow up—and then choose to remain—in a tough, South L.A. neighborhood for nothing; he will do literally anything to put those responsible for his grandson’s (and his daughter’s, too, since he refuses to believe she left this earth either an accidental overdose or a suicide) death(s) behind bars for a very long time… no matter the personal cost to himself.

And, if he can somehow finish the big sting operation and help solve the judge’s murder, too? Maybe then he can find some peace.
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If you’re wondering right now why I had so much trouble reading what sounds like a pretty intense ride, I get it, and you’d be right: The Ruthless is a complex, interesting story.

But… remember how I said I was dropped into a continuing saga, by picking this up? So, yeah… this is apparently the fourth book in the prequel portion of what is now an eight-book (and counting) series, but—in a Star Wars kinda way—it seems the middle portion was begun first, and then the author went back in time for some prequel action. [insert confused, head-exploding emoji, here]

In short, I found it way harder than I really wanted to, to keep up--coming into it at such a weird juncture, in the greater scheme of things--and because of that, I could never really settle in and enjoy it, as I might otherwise have done, if I’d caught the series from the beginning. For me, diving in midstream (sans instruction manual or life preserver, as it were) was a drudge.

A couple of (positive) thoughts in closing… I love that the author was, himself, a policeman (for a few decades); his experience lends an undeniable authenticity to what Bruno is going through, and to the people he encounters. I also really appreciate that Bruno is a black cop, and as such, has a very different work—and life, of course—experience, from that of the standard middle-aged white cop. Our world needs to hear genuine voices… and a series like the one which The Ruthless is a part of, can provide one such voice. ~GlamKitty

“The Ruthless” is fourth in the series of prequel books featuring a “young” Bruno Johnson, Los Angeles County Deputy Sherriff. The book does not have a soft opening, and readers are immediately plunged into the midst of a mess -- a black guy dressed as a trucker, a stolen Monte Carlo, a tweaker on meth, and a street PI searching for a child in foster care.
The story unfolds in Johnson’s first-person narrative. The tone is friendly and conversational, almost as if talking to a friend. There are significant references to actions from the previous books, so new readers must fill in the background through Johnson’s chronicling of his continuing guilt about past events. He skates along the fine edge between being “the law” and becoming a “law breaker.” He is driven by vengeance, guilt, and justice, but at least he has a dog.
Putnam creates separate, coexisting storylines as Johnson searches for his grandson somewhere in foster care and mitigates the concerns his dad has about Johnson’s life choices. These are weighed against Johnson’s work as an undercover detective, and his response to the vicious deaths of two friends. He is also deeply involved in an elaborate weapon’s sting involving a sham company set up in a local storefront. His life is a complex balancing act of opposing forces, and readers sense the rapid disintegration of that equilibrium. He is haunted by thoughts of what might have been.
“The Ruthless” is emotional, intense, raw, and realistic. The relationships are complicated; the characters are multifaceted, and the pace is frantic; people die. I was given a review copy of “The Heartless” by David Putnam and Oceanview Publishing. An interesting part is the “Author’s note” with real life examples; be sure to read it

Once again David Putnam strikes gold with a gripping and action packed thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat. What I like about Putnam's series it's that every single title feels so different from the previous one. Never a single taste or feeling of "déjà vu." The characters are very well drawn and the plot never falters. Yes it's another winner to be enjoyed without moderation.

Many thanks to Netgalley and Oceanview for the opportunity to read this wonderful novel prior to its release date

My thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for an ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
This was certainly an action-packed police thriller! Loved all the police jargon and the great local dialogue. The characters were well drawn and the dialogue, as I said before, had a ring of authenticity. David Putnam has drawn on his many years in the police force: readers don't have to suspend their disbelief - this is how true crime goes down. in L.A.

Bruno Johnson is undercover to nab a ring of gun runners, but he is hurting badly: Bruno's daughter, Olivia died by an overdose and his grandson, Alonzo, is taken away by social services when Bruno goes too far while questioning a lead. No one knows that he is still working with the LA Sheriff's department, so he has no way to stop Alonzo from going into foster care. Bruno is paying a big price for this undercover assignment. At the very end of the novel, in a shocking twist, we learn just how big of a sacrifice Bruno and his loved ones have paid because of his job.

Obviously, Bruno will be back because this ends on a bit of a cliffhanger. No spoilers here, but Bruno takes a fatal action to cover for someone else's sins. What will become of Bruno? I suppose we will all have to wait for the next installment! Well written and keeps your attention throughout. Highly recommended!

Putnam is an excellent writer who brings his characters and situations to life. Reading his books always makes me feel like I'm seeing them unfold on a movie or tv screen. Bruno is a strong character - strong yet vulnerable. This book has a nice balance of his personal life as well as his crime-fighting persona. There's plenty of action here to please readers looking for that - and yet Bruno also comes across as a real person.

I did not read the previous books in the series but that did not impair my understanding of the story. Although ´The Ruthless` is a work of fiction, there are so many similarities to the real world and the news we see on TV or news sites, and unlikely in the real world Police do not end having the good end of the bargain. A cop´s personal life gets so mixed up with his professional life that everything gets blurred and sometimes bad things happen to the ones they love the most. Friendships with partners get so troubled because of what they have to face together, not always having the same values or way of life. This is a story loaded with feelings, action, deceit, and unending loss. I look forward to reading the next (and the previous) books in the series. Really entertaining!
I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley and this is my honest review.

'The Ruthless' by David Putnam was a very satisfying read!

Bruno Johnson is an LA County Sheriff Deputy currently working undercover with the LA Police Department on an illegal gun sting. His boss and others in the Sheriff's Department believe Bruno has lost his job, gone off the rails and headed into not so good territory. They have no idea he is working undercover. Even his father is concerned about Bruno's current state of mind.

Bruno has a multitude of personal issues! He's edgy....a bit violent when pushed too far. He knows this about himself and is working hard to stay in check! He's both devoted to his work and desperately trying to hold his family and his life together. His relationship with his father brings him solace and yet he can't risk being completely honest with him.

I have to be honest, Police Procedural and Crime Thrillers are not my genres. However, my goal this year is to dip my toe in the waters outside my comfort zone. To purposely explore what's out there and be a bit (gulp)...brave!

I have learned a few something's in reading this book:
1.) Being brave is worth it!
2.) Police/Crime Thrillers are....well, thrilling!
3.) This author knows how to create stories and he knows how to develop strong characters! WOW!

My preference will always be a slow burn where there are supportive back stories and characters that are fully developed. Characters that you feel you know, become invested in and care about. I found all of this to be true of this book.

This is the eighth book in the Bruno Johnson series and it's the first one I had the pleasure to read. It's truly a standalone as I had no trouble immediately catching up to the status of this series.

Bruno Johnson is so gosh darn likeable! You understand right away he knows his stuff as a seasoned deputy. But, it's his softer side that I connected with so deeply. He seems to gain breath and life in his discussions with his father. And, who doesn't love a character who names his dog 'Junior Mint'?

It is also clear this author has leaned on his expertise from his career in law enforcement to bring authenticity to this series. I love when an author uses real-life moments as part of a story and shares those connections with the reader in an 'Afterword' section. Nice touch, David Putnam!

I highly recommend this book to everyone who reads! Everyone!
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Thank you to NetGalley, Oceanview Publishing and David Putnam for a free ARC copy of this book. This is my honest and voluntary review.

In The Ruthless, Bruno Johnson, the main character, has a LOT going on. He’s a Los Angeles County Sheriff Deputy but he’s currently undercover for a sting operation buying guns and the public story is that he’s resigned from the police force. Then there’s the death a few months ago of his daughter Olivia (suicide, accident or murder?), the disappearance of one of her two very young sons, an ongoing issue with the baby daddy Derek Sams, the sting operation, the murder of a beloved judge and his wife, and on and on. This book is the 8th in the Bruno Johnson series, but the first one I’ve had a chance to read, and it took me a little bit to feel like I understood what was going on, but that’s not the author’s fault. I always feel it’s better to read a series in order, but now and then I will jump in midway like I did this time and it worked out just fine.

The story takes place in Los Angeles, but not the glitzy LA of Hollywood. This is Compton and the surrounding areas, a gritty urban area. I got sucked into the story, which had a lot of twists and turns. We also learn Bruno’s backstory. Bruno has a lot of inner turmoil, wanting to do the right thing but also wanting revenge. I loved Bruno’s dad and the dog, Junior Mint, who provided comic relief now and then. Putnam has a law enforcement background, which lends a lot of realism to the novel.

Note: It turns out that the first four books in the series are “current day” stories and books 5 through 8 are prequels. (Therefore, in order of Bruno’s life story, this book would be number 4.) I am very curious to read book one now, which follows this one chronologically, to see how Bruno fares after all the events of The Ruthless.

Thank you to NetGalley and Oceanview Publishing for the opportunity to read an advance readers copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

The Ruthless is a crime thriller with a gritty authenticity that is born in the disquieting interface between crime and law enforcement. An engrossing plot and complex characters ensure that this novel is hard to put down. This is the eighth book in the Bruno Johnson series and while I now wish I’d read the previous books, I don’t feel I was short-changed reading this out of order. Bruno Johnson is a Los Angeles County Deputy Sherriff, resourceful and tough, who relentlessly pursues answers and justice regardless of the cost.

Bruno is working undercover as Karl Higgins on a gun sting operation that is being run out of Transworld Freightliners. The transition into this underground role has left him keeping secrets from those close to him and appearing to have broken faith with those that knew him from law enforcement. Just as things are heating up in the sting, he learns that his old friend Judge Connors and his wife are murdered in a brutal shooting. Initial investigation raises issues and now the obligation to see this through to find the killer has him hooked.

Bruno’s family situation is an unremitting stream of tragedy and heartbreak. His teenage daughter, Olivia, is found dead from an apparent heroin overdose, and one of her twins has disappeared. Bruno’s intuition is that her thug partner Derek Sams is responsible and knows where his grandson is, or what has happened to him. Sams is currently in the middle of a trial that Bruno is trying to keep tabs on.

With three main crime strands being developed I worried that it may be too much to maintain a balance, but they are wonderfully plotted and add to the sense of a relentless and committed role Bruno plays with his job. It is not surprising with the amount of stress and tragedy he endures, that psychological strain will surface. Bruno talks to his father for support and this provides the perfect counterbalance to the damage and bitterness that has dominated. The relationship Bruno and his father have brings a dimension to the story that adds colourful depth and background, with the sharing of advice, concern and the telling of how Bruno’s mother walked out on them when he was a child, resonates with his own partner and daughter.

I wasn’t surprised to learn that David Putnam had been in law enforcement for a large part of his career, as he pulls on all the authentic terminology and methods imaginable. The dialogue is clever and distinctive and creates a uniquely dark yet hopeful atmospheric thriller that captivates with great assurance in this unforgettable novel.

I would highly recommend this novel and I would like to thank Oceanview Publishing, David Putnam and NetGalley for providing me with a free ARC in return for an honest review.