Into the Gray

Michael Kelly—a man shackled by duty—is hell-bent on taking down Boston’s most untouchable gangster.

His adversary? Connor Walsh, the brutal Irish mob boss who has dominated the city's underworld, untouched and unchallenged, for decades.

Kelly is no stranger to danger. This mission, to dismantle the kingpin's empire from the inside out, requires him to shed his badge, cross the blue line, and plunge headfirst into the city's gritty underbelly. But first, Kelly must survive a sham prison sentence to complete the first act of his dangerous a ninety-day stint in MCI-Cedar Junction, the prison better known as Walpole.

With just two days left to freedom and each heartbeat counting down the seconds until he reunites with his daughter, Kelly's plans derail dramatically. A new inmate stokes the fires of rebellion, throwing the prison into violent chaos. When a guard is taken hostage, Kelly is faced with a harrowing seek sanctuary...or risk his life for the endangered guard.

In the heart of Walpole, where every corner promises a deadly game of survival, Kelly makes the only choice he can live with.

As the riot spirals out of control and a punishing Nor'easter bears down on the state, Kelly charges headlong into the belly of the beast. Every second counts. Every decision could be his last.

The question is, how far will he go to save the guard...and himself?

From the corridors of power to the cellblocks of Walpole, Into the Gray is a nerve-racking journey into the darker corners of crime and retribution. A gripping exploration of loyalty, sacrifice, and the thin line between law and chaos. Prepare to be captivated by this intense, atmospheric thriller.

More of a thriller than a gangster epic, this one tells the tale about how far a man will go to catch the bad guy. Interesting plot, intriguing characters, and a fast paced writing style will have you on the edge of your seat from page one!

What a fast-paced, action-packed story! Well-written. Great characters. I already loved this series, but this latest installment cemented that opinion!! Definitely for fans of Robert Parker's Spenser series. I can't wait to read the next one. Hint- Read them in order. You won't be disappointed.

Thank you #netgalley and #severnriverpublishing for the eARC.

Michael Kelly goes undercover into Walpole prison to set up his plan to take down the Irish mob leader that he is determined to bring to a bad end. Just before he is due to end his time at Walpole he is notified by his ex that she wants full custody of their only child. He is knocked to the deck with this shot.
And as he is processing his paperwork to leave the prison a full on riotous rebellion takes place and is soon completely out of control. A guard that had shown him some measure of kindness and compassion is savagely beaten and taken hostage. Kelly must rescue the guard and to escape this madness. It is a race to the finish and only one can survive.

Michael Kelly is no Spenser. But there will never be another, so we got that out of the way. If you need a “Spenser Fix”, this series may be your best choice. The latest installment doesn’t disappoint, but it would help if you read the previous books first. Fighting a mob foe is tough enough, but when you have to battle life in prison on a bogus charge, the job is even harder,

I can’t believe this series is on it’s sixth installment! I’ve always enjoyed stories set in Boston with it’s historic mob connections. Mr. Shea delivers another tension filled installment featuring Kelly, a tough police Homicide officer undercover in prison. It’s dark and gritty with a very strongly written portrayal of not just the inmates but the guards. The perspectives of all the characters was gripping. Kelly is continually torn between his devotion to law enforcement and love for his family. His involuntary connection to a crime boss puts him danger but can also have advantages. The setting and events in this story made it one of Shea’s best yet. It gives a glimpse of what the prison employees face every day. Can’t wait to see what’s next for Kelly.
An advance reader copy of “Into the Gray” Boston Crime Thriller #6, by Brian Shea, Severn River Publishing, expected publication 04/23/2024, was provided by NetGalley. These are always my own honest personal thoughts and opinions given voluntarily without any compensation.

Connor Walsh has been a man to be feared for many years, he has remained an unreachable figure as the man who has had hold of Boston’s underworld, untouchable it seems, and no one has been game to try to take this title from him or if they have tried, they have not succeeded.

Along comes Michael Kelly who cares nothing for Walsh’s reputation, he wants to bring him down while risking his life as he goes undercover to reach his desired goal, this will not be an easy feat and he is fully aware that he may not come out of this unscathed or even alive.

Brian Shea writes another gripping story in this series, one that makes the reader feel like they are there right in amongst the horrors that are occurring. This is a brutal life and only the strong will survive, will Michael be able to infiltrate this group and reach the top in taking down a person he detests?

I highly recommend that you start this series from the beginning, this will allow you to be privy to the character development throughout the books so far. It will also provide further insight as to what makes men like this tick. This is one of those books that I devoured in one sitting, there is something fascinating about lives like this that capture my attention and more so, successfully hold it for the duration of the book. I already can’t wait for the next book the author will present us with.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of the book, all opinions expressed are my own.