Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this eARC.

Bill Gormley’s Too Many Bridges is a captivating mystery that plunges readers into the heart of Pittsburgh’s labyrinthine network of bridges. This debut novel in the Radic & Mulroy series is a clever and engaging whodunit that keeps readers guessing until the very end.

This story begins with a dramatic phone call to the Pittsburgh police: an eyewitness to a murder reports the crime from one of the city’s 446 bridges, then vanishes without a trace. Detectives Branko Radic and Kathleen Mulroy are tasked with the daunting challenge of identifying the correct bridge to solve the case. Their investigation leads them to a diverse group of individuals, including a nun, a professor, a mechanic, and a tattoo artist.

Gormley excels in character development, particularly with his protagonists. Detective Branko Radic is a seasoned investigator with a sharp mind and a dry sense of humor, while Officer Kathleen Mulroy brings a fresh perspective and tenacity to the team. The supporting characters are equally well-crafted, each adding depth and intrigue to the narrative. The interactions between Radic and Mulroy are a highlight, showcasing their growing partnership and mutual respect.

Gormley’s writing is crisp and engaging, with a strong sense of place that brings Pittsburgh to life. His descriptions of the city’s iconic bridges and the atmospheric settings add a layer of authenticity to the story. The pacing is well-balanced, with suspense building steadily as the detectives navigate the twists and turns of the investigation. The dialogue is sharp and realistic, reflecting the complexities of the characters and their relationships.

Too Many Bridges explores themes of trust, deception, and the impact of past secrets on the present. It delves into the psychological aspects of crime, examining how personal histories and hidden motives can shape individuals’ actions. The novel also highlights the importance of community and the interconnectedness of people’s lives, much like the bridges that span Pittsburgh’s rivers.

Too Many Bridges is a compelling and well-crafted mystery that marks a promising start to the Radic & Mulroy series. Bill Gormley’s ability to blend intricate plotting with rich character development makes this book a standout in the genre. Fans of police procedurals and atmospheric mysteries will find much to enjoy in this engaging tale.

Highly recommended for readers who enjoy intricate mysteries, strong character dynamics, and a vivid sense of place. Too Many Bridges is a must-read for anyone looking for a fresh and intriguing detective series.

This book does indeed remind me of Ed McBain novels, but perhaps with more actual female characters. In this novel an anonymous tip is called in about a murder, but with very little information and no body. By the time the body comes into play, this book settles into a more satisfying pace and is pretty well done. What kept this book from being 5 stars for me was down to editing, most likely. The story wanders off on tangents a lot until the body shows up, and again after the case is resolved the book goes wandering off on over-long tangents when it feels like it ought to be wrapping up. I usually enjoy crime novels with nerdy tangents so I am not sure, offhand, what makes them work in other books, but in this novel they need editing. There are quite a few sections of dialogue that feel tediously long and the chapter with the entire newspaper article wrapping up the case was boring- I just read the whole story and do not need such a thorough recap at that point. That article could be a useful insert for a future novel though, maybe opening book 2 with the detective reading it or something. Anyway, not a bad book at all, needs editing, and for me a 4-star decent enough crime novel as is. I do hope this author continues his series.

Unfortunately, this book didn't work for me. Naturally, I'm not into detective's POV, but sometimes I come across a book that surprises me.
Not the case here. I just didn't mind what was going on and the mystery wasn't enough to hold my attention.
I'm sure other readers will like it better.

Too Many Bridges by Bill Gormley
Detective Branko Radic is tasked with following up with an anonymous call reporting a murder under a bridge. Who is the victim? Who is the witness? Where is the body?
Detective Branko Radic and Officer Kathleen Mulroy travel throughout Pittsburgh to track down the answers to these questions. Engrossing story filled with memorable characters. I look forward to reading more books in this debut series. Recommend.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of this work in exchange for an unbiased review.

An eyewitness to a murder calls the Pittsburgh police from one of the city’s 446 bridges, then disappears. To solve the case, the police must find the bridge. But where to start? Detective Branko Radic and Officer Kathleen Mulroy seek help from a nun, a professor, a mechanic, and a tattoo artist. They learn of a family feud, a business in trouble, some sketchy Harry Potter merchandise, and a missing young woman. If only they can find the right bridge, they might be able to put it all together! Good book!! This book had suspense, intriguing, murder, mystery, a good who done it and a few twists and turns! The story was interesting, and worth reading but it wasn’t one of my all time favorite?! Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for sharing this book with me m!

Who knew that Pittsburgh had such an abundance of bridges? Of course, that aspect forms the backbone of the novel but it’s a short lived point of interest and only remains relevant for a short period. An anonymous phone call kicks off what turns out to be an unusual case for the local Police force. Not only a missing person enquiry but an investigation into unlicensed Harry Potter merchandise.

The investigation initially offers a pleasing conundrum, bridge related of course, but as the story progresses, the suspects are paraded in front of us and the mystery elements vanish quicker than the swish of an Elder wand.

I would have liked more threat and intrigue as the Potter elements soon grew tired.