Joe Kenda’s debut novel, All Is Not Forgiven, is a gritty and compelling police procedural that blends elements of true crime with fictional storytelling. Inspired by a real case from Kenda’s early career as a homicide detective, the novel transports readers to 1975, where rookie Detective Kenda and his seasoned partner, Lee Wilson, investigate the murder of Kathryn Montgomery, a wealthy Colorado socialite. The case quickly spirals into a labyrinth of hired assassins, mob connections, and international intrigue, drawing the attention of agencies like the FBI, CIA, and Interpol.

Kenda’s narrative style is conversational and authentic, reflecting his years of experience recounting cases on television shows like Homicide Hunter. His voice resonates throughout the book, making readers feel as though they are sitting across from him as he relives the investigation. The plot is gripping, with twists that keep readers engaged as Kenda uncovers layers of deception and violence. The inclusion of flashbacks to other cases adds depth to the story while showcasing the detective’s analytical approach.

While the novel excels in its realism and attention to detail, some critics have noted its shortcomings. The dialogue occasionally feels stilted, particularly when attempting to recreate 1970s slang or female voices. Additionally, the book’s pacing can be uneven due to frequent detours into background information about Kenda or tangential cases. These elements may distract readers from the central narrative but will likely appeal to fans familiar with Kenda’s storytelling style.

Thematically, All Is Not Forgiven explores dark subjects such as violence against women and the moral complexities of law enforcement. Its graphic descriptions and violent undertones may not suit all readers but add authenticity to the grim realities of homicide investigations.

Overall, All Is Not Forgiven is a solid debut that bridges true crime and fiction seamlessly. While it may cater most strongly to fans of Joe Kenda’s television work, it offers enough intrigue and suspense to captivate newcomers to his storytelling. For those who enjoy gritty police procedurals with a personal touch, this novel provides an engaging glimpse into the mind of one of America’s most renowned detectives.

Not too shabby for his first fiction. I absolutely love all of Joe Kenda's non-fiction books, and as I read this one I had to keep reminding myself that this one was fiction. The only thing that I would change, if I could, would be having Joe narrate it. I did miss not hearing his voice when I grabbed the audiobook. I can't wait for his next book.

Wow, I really hope Joe Kenda decides to write more fiction books! This was a great debut and I have always been fond of Joe Kenda, from his shows to his real-life experience books. He draws from so many years of experience and seeing humanity at its worst. Any book he writes is going to be an awesome read. Don't miss it!

This was an interesting book but really didn't keep my interest. I think I expected more out of it, maybe his next one will be better. It was an okay book but nothing to really say I have to have for me.

2* - It was okay.

I’m a big fan of Lt. Joe Kenda and love Homicide Hunters and American Detective. You would think that someone with as much experience would knock this out of the park. A fictional story loosely based on a real case he worked as a rookie? What could go wrong?

The character development. That’s where it went wrong. There’s so many characters and no one seems fleshed out.

Shockingly, I was bored. It was a big effort to finish.

Thank you to NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoy watching Joe Kenda on TV. I was very excited for this book to come out. The beginning of the book was very good and I could not stop reading it. By the end of the book, I felt myself skipping pages and trying to speed read just to get through it. Some books just aren't meant to be.

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC of this book. I couldn't even finish this book. The writing is so drawn out and boring. There was way too much rambling and reminiscing throughout.

I dropped the ball and thought this novel was a nonfiction. It is not. I was surprised to have so many POVs and how many turns the plot took. I enjoyed the storyline and characters but it felt overly complicated. It was quick and easy but I was left overloaded at the end. I think many people will enjoy this even though I struggled to keep everything straight.

I received an arc via Netgalley in exchange for a honest review.

A true crime book with extra paunch and punch. This is a must read for anyone who loves true crime. I didn't have high hopes for this book but I have to admit it was much better than I thought it would be. Typically, a book of this sort is a monotonous retelling of events, much like reading a really long news article. This read isn't anything typical, the psychological thrill of Kenda's experiences combined with the horror of real life people dealing with real life hardships and even murder makes this an utterly audacious tale of courage and wit.

Thanks so much to the publisher and to Netgalley for providing me with an e-ARC copy of this book! I will get to writing and doing a full review of this soon on my primary platforms once my thoughts are finalized.

This book felt like I was watching a detective TV show or movie. I think Kenda made the transition to fiction from writing non fiction quite well. It felt like a cohesive story and didn't use too much of the dry fact you would find in non fiction.


Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!

Joe Kenda is not only a good detective , but a good author . I had the pleasure of meeting him personally and he doesn't disappoint including in this novel. He writes from the heart and makes the reader interested in the subject matter . True crime is his passion and this book encompasses it all. The first chapter we meet Bruno and just reading that chapter , I got chills particularly at the gun show. This book will pull you in to try to find out what happens next in this adventure with Joe . I would give this 5stars ! You won't be disappointed .

In this mix of fact and fiction, retired Colorado Springs detective Joe Kenda took a non-publisized case he worked that left him with many unanswered questions, expanded it and filled in the blanks, and writes it out from his own perspective as a rookie detective in 1975. While based on a true case, many if the details and characters aside from Joe Kenda himself and his wife Kathy have been fictionalized.
In 1975, Detective Joe Kenda investigates the murder of a beloved philanthropist and socialite in her own home. Other similar murders have taken place throughout the western United States, implying a connection. Sure enough, what seems like several unrelated threads tie together under a ruthless villain, whose perspective we see throughout the book.
Content warnings: lots of swearing, clinically-described sexual implications, detailed murder scenes. Kenda reflects his gritty knowledge of human nature in all its depravity without holding back. Unfortunately, it's realistic. This is what investigators deal with. Great story-line. Some redundancies in the descriptions. Great character development, though he is the main character. Much of the book is written in a style reminiscent of non-fiction, which is generally Kenda's wheelhouse.

I’m a big fan of homicide hunter but honestly this book didn’t work for me. It was a lot of rambling, reminiscing, and awkward stunted conversations.
Joe writes how he talks, which is not always how you want it.
I wish he had hired a ghost writer because I could tell that this story was interesting but I just didn’t feel like he know how to write it.
It was fine if you’re looking for a confusing story with a lot of cop talk.

Thank you to NetGalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an home opinion.

I have a long history of supporting Detective Joe Kenda in his creative endeavors and have been a longtime fan of his Investigation Discovery show. When I saw that Detective Kenda had written a fiction detective story, I knew I had to read it! After reading this book, I was slightly disappointed. The jumps from past to present were at times downright confusing and the plot seemed to be a little too big for its britches at times. While I wasn't the biggest fan of this book I would likely recommend it to someone who likes old-school cop books.

A Joe Kenda fiction book was too interesting to pass up.

And for the most part, I think it lived up to what I thought it would be. The book is undoubtedly at its best when Kenda is writing for the fictional Kenda. He "sounds" like the same witty, slightly pompous (but lovable!) guy I watched dozens of times on <i>Homicide Hunter</i> and thus is a pretty easy, likable protagonist (in as much as a character that's in as little of the book can be called that.)

The story itself is a lot of fun as well. It's not a mystery, which you might expect after watching the show, but it's also not written to be one. It's a crime thriller that definitely has some [author:James Patterson|3780] hints, and a pretty well-constructed one at that.

The book could definitely be longer, and some of Kenda's dialogue for the non-Kenda characters (especially the bad guys) is heavyhanded, to the point of resembling AI. But for a first crack at fiction, its not book-killing or anything, and I thought it kind of started to get better by the end. Or I got used to it. Either way, it kinda worked.

I'm definitely looking forward to another Kenda fiction book.

I'd like to thank NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing for my ARC copy

I love Joe Kenda on tv. He's a sly, old-school detective with a distinct vocabulary and intonation that's pretty funny at times. I tried this out and found that the voice and intonation don't translate too well. It was frustrating and frankly, boring. DNF. Sorry. But thats to NetGalley for the chance. Maybe someday I'll come back to Joe.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I actually loved this book. The writing style, the characters, character depth, the plot line.

There was a little unfinished business in the story but otherwise I still absolutely loved it

Alright, I have to say that Detective Wilson has a terrible sense of dry humor. How Kenda put with him during his early years of training we will never know. I must spill the beans that I am a big fan of Detective Lieutenant Joe Kenda. I have watched his crime show for a few years now. I’m sad to see that he’s retired and I’m happy that he’s retired so that he can enjoy his life.
With that said, I thought this book was good. Please come after me Detectives for this, but Captain is my favorite character. He always seems to stay ahead of the game even though he’s hundreds of miles away. The story moves at an alright pace, but I would have like to read more intense scenes, such as the police force cracking down on the culprits. Perhaps some face to face meetings of interrogations.
Possibly more action scenes as the good guys go on the hunt for the bad guys. The stories narrative was filled with information or the bio of the characters. I appreciate that the writers provided a lot of information on the gun artillery as well as the military special detail. This helped with giving the reasons to why the main characters do what they do. The story is a page turner and entertaining moments.
I received a copy of this book for a voluntary honest review

All Is Not Forgiven by Joe Kenda

216 Pages
Publisher: Blackstone Publishing
Release Date: July 25, 2023

Fiction (Adult), General Fiction (Adult), Mystery, Thriller, Serial Killer, True Crime, International

There is a twisted killer on the loose leaving body parts in his wake. This is the first case Joe Kenda is assigned as a detective. It looks like a mob killing but how are the victims connected. They must determine if they are looking for one or several killers. With multiple jurisdictions involved, the organizations need to work together to solve the case before more bodies are found.

The story has a fast pace, the characters are well developed with multiple perspectives. The murders are gruesome and may be too descriptive to some people. Although this is fiction, the situation is believable and written as only someone experiencing a similar situation can write. Joe Kenda writes as he talks. You really get a feel for the locations and the personalities. If you like gritty murder stories, this is a book for you.