All These Ashes by James Quelly

Great book. A lot of violence and blood. I liked that it took place in Newark as I live near there. Lots of good, strong characters. I recommend this book.

Thanks to Net Galley for sending me an advanced copy for my review.

Great read. I'm loving Russell Avery and hope to read more of him. Speaks to my Jersey girl roots!

Thanks to the folks at NetGalley for a chance to read an advanced reader's copy.

All These Ashes by James Queally.
Russell Avery needs a story to tell.
The laid-off reporter turned private investigator is almost out of clients after he stood up against the Newark police officers whose problems he used to fix for a paycheck, exposing a scandal that left him on the wrong side of one of those thin blue lines. Desperate for work, Russell is as elated as he is skeptical when a detective shows up on his doorstep, asking him to look into one of the Brick City's most haunting mysteries: The Twilight Four killings.
The detective tells Russell a story almost too good to be true, but maybe good enough to save his otherwise doomed journalism career if it is true. Supposedly, the wrong man was convicted in the brutal arson-murders that claimed four teenagers' lives, and if Russell finds the right one, he'll have the inside track on the kind of story that most reporters stake their careers on.
But things worth knowing don't make themselves easy to find. As Russell starts untangling the complications of a decades-old murder that never even had a crime scene to start from, he runs into opposition from City Hall and finds himself drug into the middle of a contentious Mayoral race that could impact Newark for generations to come, all while trying to stay one step ahead of the real Twilight Four killer, who wouldn't mind reducing Russell to ash.
I really really enjoyed this book. This is a new author for me. Great story and characters. Good cover. 5*.

Thank you for my early review copy. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I believe this book will be a huge bestseller.

All These Ashes by James Queally
Rating: 5 stars

Summary: A down and out somewhat loser reporter and now a PI, making bad choices is asked by a rival down on his career homicide detective in the fine city of Newark New Jersey to look into a nagging 25 year old homicide. Together they must decide how far to push old wounds to find the real killer and help the dying accused find justice in the much corrupted Newark.

Comments: Quite a marvelous crime noir by quite a marvelous writer. Highly recommended, and I expect this fine series to get even better. Must read for old school crime lovers.

In this sequel to Line of Sight, Russell Avery is now a laid-off reporter working as a private investigator. Desperate for work Russell is asked to look into one of Newark's most haunting mysteries, The Twilight Four killings. Once again he is thrown into the battle between good and evil, bad cops and good cops and right and wrong.

I loved the first book in the series. It was a very timely, relevant and thrilling book so my expectations on the sequel was very high. Now that I have finished it, I can really say that it exceeded all my expectations. It's a fantastic gritty crime novel with non-stop action and witty dialogue. It's well-written, fast-paced and very intelligent with well developed characters, especially the protagonist Russell Avery. The moral quandaries he constantly is facing feels so real and relevant and it's quite obvious that James Queally knows his stuff. His writing feels very authentic and his knowledge about media, politics and police procedures is really an asset here. He reminds me a lot of Michael Connelly, one of my all-time favorite authors. I really hope there will be more books about Russell Avery.

I highly recommend this book. It works as a standalone book, but to really appreciate it you should start with the first book. Thanks to the author, the publisher and NetGalley for this advanced copy.

Politics, good. cops, bad cops, and a protagonist who fights diligently no matter the cost are the ingredients for a good story.

All These Ashes by James Queally is excellent and an engrossing read with well-developed characters and plot. Well worth the read!