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Brigid Quinn #4
We Were Killers Once
Retired FBI agent Brigid Quinn returns in Becky Masterman's fourth stunning thriller.
In 1959, a family of four were brutally murdered in Holcomb, Kansas. Perry Smith and Dick Hickok were convicted and executed for the crime, and the murders and their investigation and solution became the subject of Truman Capote's masterpiece, IN COLD BLOOD. But what if there was a third killer, who remained unknown? What if there was another family, also murdered, who crossed paths with this band of killers, though their murder remains unsolved? And what if Dick Hickok left a written confession, explaining everything?
Retired FBI agent Brigid Quinn and her husband Carlo, a former priest and university professor, are trying to enjoy each other in this new stage in their lives. But a memento from Carlo's days as a prison chaplain--a handwritten document hidden away undetected in a box of Carlo's old things--has become a target for a man on the run from his past. Jerry Beaufort has just been released from prison after decades behind bars, and though he'd like to get on with living the rest of his life, he knows that somewhere there is a written record of the time he spent with two killers in 1959. Following the path of this letter will bring Jerry into contact with the last person he'll see as a threat: Brigid Quinn.
In 1959, a family of four were brutally murdered in Holcomb, Kansas. Perry Smith and Dick Hickok were convicted and executed for the crime, and the murders and their investigation and solution became the subject of Truman Capote's masterpiece, IN COLD BLOOD. But what if there was a third killer, who remained unknown? What if there was another family, also murdered, who crossed paths with this band of killers, though their murder remains unsolved? And what if Dick Hickok left a written confession, explaining everything?
Retired FBI agent Brigid Quinn and her husband Carlo, a former priest and university professor, are trying to enjoy each other in this new stage in their lives. But a memento from Carlo's days as a prison chaplain--a handwritten document hidden away undetected in a box of Carlo's old things--has become a target for a man on the run from his past. Jerry Beaufort has just been released from prison after decades behind bars, and though he'd like to get on with living the rest of his life, he knows that somewhere there is a written record of the time he spent with two killers in 1959. Following the path of this letter will bring Jerry into contact with the last person he'll see as a threat: Brigid Quinn.
320 pages, Hardcover
First published June 4, 2019
About the author
Becky Masterman
12 books333 followersBecky Masterman created her heroine, Brigid Quinn while working as an editor for a forensic science and law enforcement press. Her debut thriller, Rage Against the Dying, was a finalist for the Edgar Awards and the CWA Gold Dagger, as well as the Macavity, Barry, ITW and Anthony awards. Becky lives in Tucson, Arizona, with her husband.
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August 6, 2023
3 "entertaining but middle-of-the-road" stars !!
The 2019 Most Average of Average Award
Thank you to Netgalley, Minotaur books and the author for an advanced copy of this thriller that is slated to be released on the 4th of June, 2019.
I rarely (if ever) start any kind of book series in the middle but the fictional premise of this book lured me right in. There was a third person that assisted Hicock and Smith of "In Cold Blood"that killed the family in Kansas and then what really happened to the Walkers in Florida ?
Brigid Quinn is retired FBI and newly married to former priest Carlo who also happens to be linked to Hicock through a former spiritual mentor. Jerry Beaufort is released from prison, an old man, due to a long history of drug dealing and wants his involvement to remain secret.....
There are no real twists and turns in this novel but rather we have the story told through Brigid's and Jerry's perspective and how their two lives collide or rather explode !!
The writing is fairly simple and quick and easy to read. There is a logical story arc. There is also enough back history of both the murders and the detective so that it can be read as a standalone.
The action moves at a fairly quick clip and is mostly interesting throughout. The dialogue is mostly pretty natural. I struggled, however, with the psychological congruence of both Brigid and Jerry and I felt that at times their motives and decisions needed to be more carefully constructed. Gemma-Kate, who is Brigid's niece, is a sociopath-savant and I did not find her very believable but to be fair I have not been privy to her development in previous installments. The ending was also very quick and very tv detective drama and rather unsatisfying.
All in all, I am very glad to have read this one despite my reservations. I am not sure however if I will read any earlier installments or tune into any future ones.
Good for a beach vacation but somewhat lacking as a serious and exciting thriller.
The 2019 Most Average of Average Award
Thank you to Netgalley, Minotaur books and the author for an advanced copy of this thriller that is slated to be released on the 4th of June, 2019.
I rarely (if ever) start any kind of book series in the middle but the fictional premise of this book lured me right in. There was a third person that assisted Hicock and Smith of "In Cold Blood"that killed the family in Kansas and then what really happened to the Walkers in Florida ?
Brigid Quinn is retired FBI and newly married to former priest Carlo who also happens to be linked to Hicock through a former spiritual mentor. Jerry Beaufort is released from prison, an old man, due to a long history of drug dealing and wants his involvement to remain secret.....
There are no real twists and turns in this novel but rather we have the story told through Brigid's and Jerry's perspective and how their two lives collide or rather explode !!
The writing is fairly simple and quick and easy to read. There is a logical story arc. There is also enough back history of both the murders and the detective so that it can be read as a standalone.
The action moves at a fairly quick clip and is mostly interesting throughout. The dialogue is mostly pretty natural. I struggled, however, with the psychological congruence of both Brigid and Jerry and I felt that at times their motives and decisions needed to be more carefully constructed. Gemma-Kate, who is Brigid's niece, is a sociopath-savant and I did not find her very believable but to be fair I have not been privy to her development in previous installments. The ending was also very quick and very tv detective drama and rather unsatisfying.
All in all, I am very glad to have read this one despite my reservations. I am not sure however if I will read any earlier installments or tune into any future ones.
Good for a beach vacation but somewhat lacking as a serious and exciting thriller.
October 22, 2019
”’Stupidity is a more dangerous enemy of good than malice,’ he read, and kept going. ‘One may protest against evil; it can be exposed and, if need be, prevented by the use of force.’ Here he looked up and nodded at me as if I represented said use of force. Then he looked down at the book again. ‘Evil always carries within itself the germ of its own subversion in that it leaves behind in human beings at least a sense of unease. Against stupidity we are defenseless.’ Carlo looked up at me and finished the quote by heart. ‘For that reason, greater caution is called for when dealing with a stupid person than a malicious one.’
‘What if the person is both stupid and malicious?’ I asked.
‘Then I believe you’re screwed,’ Carlo said mildly.”
The famous Clutter murders so vividly, indelibly imprinted on the American public by the Truman Capote classic In Cold Blood have always been of particular interest to the retired, but still very active, ex-FBI agent Brigid Quinn.
She has a theory, one completely unsubstantiated by any evidence. You might call it a hunch or a gut instinct that comes from analyzing hundreds of crime scenes. She believes there was a third perpetrator involved with the Clutter murders. The music of the murder scene is playing discordantly. There seems, in her mind, to be an instrument missing from the crescendo moments of the symphony of blood.
This is my fourth adventure with Brigid, and though I’m sceptical of her theory, I have learned to trust that a string that she can’t resist tugging is usually a string attached to something substantial that will change the course of an investigation.
The other niggling concern is the murder of the Walker family, shortly after the Clutter murders, that has similarities to the murders in Kansas. This happened in Florida, Quinn’s old stomping grounds, and Richard Hickock and Perry Smith just happened to be in the area at the time. The Walker case remains to this day unsolved. There was no tangible evidence to put Hickock and Smith in the frame of the Walker murders, and they had more than enough evidence, including confessions, to convict them in Kansas. You can’t execute men twice, but then if they did kill the Walkers, wouldn’t it be nice to give the friends and families, not to mention suspects, in the Walker case closure?
Truman Capote mentions the Walker murders in his book, but those murders have a relatively brief appearance considering the magnitude of the crime and the real possibility that Smith and Hickock had some connection. As a writer, the circumstances begged to be investigated, but Capote was more than half in love with Perry Smith and was more concerned about presenting a sympathetic view of Smith to the detriment of the thuggish view he presented of Hickock.
Carlo DiForenza, ex-priest and current husband of Brigid, has a six degrees of separation connection to the Clutter murders. He was the protege of the priest who read Hickock’s last confession.
Wait a minute. Read it, as in a written last confession?
Anybody else feel the little hairs tingling on the back of their neck?
Brigid has had a lifelong obsession with the Clutter and Walker murders, and here finally is the potential for a groundbreaking clue in what really happened. Will Hickock confirm her crazy theory?
Does that confession still exist?
As Brigid starts to investigate the real possibility that there may exist a document that will explain the gaps in the original investigation, her car brakes quit functioning on a winding road, and their house in Tucson is burgled. Brigid is starting to believe that her theory is right and that the third person is intent on keeping her from finding and revealing the truth. What is unnerving is, the person is proving to be malicious and stupid in equal measure.
The previous three Brigid Quinn novels had more humor entwined within the serious moments of the plot. In the acknowledgements in the back, Becky Masterman mentions that she had the help of three editors from different publishing houses in editing the book. This book certainly has a different feel than the other books. I still enjoyed the book very much, but felt like Masterman’s normal witty asides had been toned down somewhat. I missed those moments where I’d be grimacing/laughing at something irreverent that Brigid was thinking or saying. Maybe the mixing of a nonfiction event with fictional events changed the tone of the novel as well.
You can read this book by itself, as many reviewers have done, but you would certainly be missing out on an opportunity to really get to know Brigid. I had this feeling that I should read the books in order, and I am so glad I did. I want to thank St. Martin's Press/Minotaur Books for sending me an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. The publicist targeted me to review this book because I’d read and reviewed In Cold Blood. Your enjoyment of this book will definitely benefit from having read In Cold Blood. If you don’t have time or interest in reading Capote’s book, I would suggest that you at least read the wikipedia entries for the Clutter and Walker murders before reading this book. I don’t mean to give readers of this book homework, but I do want you to fully appreciate the nuances and significant reveals of the case as it unfolds.
If you wish to see more of my most recent book and movie reviews, visit http://www.jeffreykeeten.com
I also have a Facebook blogger page at:https://www.facebook.com/JeffreyKeeten
‘What if the person is both stupid and malicious?’ I asked.
‘Then I believe you’re screwed,’ Carlo said mildly.”
The famous Clutter murders so vividly, indelibly imprinted on the American public by the Truman Capote classic In Cold Blood have always been of particular interest to the retired, but still very active, ex-FBI agent Brigid Quinn.
She has a theory, one completely unsubstantiated by any evidence. You might call it a hunch or a gut instinct that comes from analyzing hundreds of crime scenes. She believes there was a third perpetrator involved with the Clutter murders. The music of the murder scene is playing discordantly. There seems, in her mind, to be an instrument missing from the crescendo moments of the symphony of blood.
This is my fourth adventure with Brigid, and though I’m sceptical of her theory, I have learned to trust that a string that she can’t resist tugging is usually a string attached to something substantial that will change the course of an investigation.
The other niggling concern is the murder of the Walker family, shortly after the Clutter murders, that has similarities to the murders in Kansas. This happened in Florida, Quinn’s old stomping grounds, and Richard Hickock and Perry Smith just happened to be in the area at the time. The Walker case remains to this day unsolved. There was no tangible evidence to put Hickock and Smith in the frame of the Walker murders, and they had more than enough evidence, including confessions, to convict them in Kansas. You can’t execute men twice, but then if they did kill the Walkers, wouldn’t it be nice to give the friends and families, not to mention suspects, in the Walker case closure?
Truman Capote mentions the Walker murders in his book, but those murders have a relatively brief appearance considering the magnitude of the crime and the real possibility that Smith and Hickock had some connection. As a writer, the circumstances begged to be investigated, but Capote was more than half in love with Perry Smith and was more concerned about presenting a sympathetic view of Smith to the detriment of the thuggish view he presented of Hickock.
Carlo DiForenza, ex-priest and current husband of Brigid, has a six degrees of separation connection to the Clutter murders. He was the protege of the priest who read Hickock’s last confession.
Wait a minute. Read it, as in a written last confession?
Anybody else feel the little hairs tingling on the back of their neck?
Brigid has had a lifelong obsession with the Clutter and Walker murders, and here finally is the potential for a groundbreaking clue in what really happened. Will Hickock confirm her crazy theory?
Does that confession still exist?
As Brigid starts to investigate the real possibility that there may exist a document that will explain the gaps in the original investigation, her car brakes quit functioning on a winding road, and their house in Tucson is burgled. Brigid is starting to believe that her theory is right and that the third person is intent on keeping her from finding and revealing the truth. What is unnerving is, the person is proving to be malicious and stupid in equal measure.
The previous three Brigid Quinn novels had more humor entwined within the serious moments of the plot. In the acknowledgements in the back, Becky Masterman mentions that she had the help of three editors from different publishing houses in editing the book. This book certainly has a different feel than the other books. I still enjoyed the book very much, but felt like Masterman’s normal witty asides had been toned down somewhat. I missed those moments where I’d be grimacing/laughing at something irreverent that Brigid was thinking or saying. Maybe the mixing of a nonfiction event with fictional events changed the tone of the novel as well.
You can read this book by itself, as many reviewers have done, but you would certainly be missing out on an opportunity to really get to know Brigid. I had this feeling that I should read the books in order, and I am so glad I did. I want to thank St. Martin's Press/Minotaur Books for sending me an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. The publicist targeted me to review this book because I’d read and reviewed In Cold Blood. Your enjoyment of this book will definitely benefit from having read In Cold Blood. If you don’t have time or interest in reading Capote’s book, I would suggest that you at least read the wikipedia entries for the Clutter and Walker murders before reading this book. I don’t mean to give readers of this book homework, but I do want you to fully appreciate the nuances and significant reveals of the case as it unfolds.
If you wish to see more of my most recent book and movie reviews, visit http://www.jeffreykeeten.com
I also have a Facebook blogger page at:https://www.facebook.com/JeffreyKeeten
May 2, 2022
**3.5-stars**
Like many retired Agents before her, Brigid Quinn, has found it hard to leave behind her life in the FBI.
Now living in Arizona, with her husband of 2-years, Carlo, a former Priest and University Professor, Brigid works as a Private Investigator and is slowly adjusting to this new chapter of her life.
Jerry Beaufort is starting a new chapter as well. He has been locked behind bars for years, as the world around him changed and progressed.
Once free, Jerry sets out on a quest to find a document that ties him to a set of killings, one little known and one made famous by Truman Capote's masterpiece, In Cold Blood.
That's right. In 1959, Jerry spent some time with Perry Smith and Dick Hickok, the two men sentenced to death for the Clutter killings. There was another family killed during that time, the Walkers, and Jerry was there too.
When he learns Hickok may have left a written confession behind with a Priest, pointing the finger at him, he knows he needs to track it down at any cost. His investigation leads him to the door of Brigid and her unsuspecting husband, Carlo.
Thus begins a game of cat and mouse where you are really unsure of who is the cat and who is the mouse.
Brigid is on to Jerry and she is not going to let some criminal steamroll her. We read both perspectives so there really isn't much by way of mystery, but it is compelling nonetheless.
Although this is the fourth book in Masterman's, Brigid Quinn series, like many Adult Mysteries, you can read them out of order or as stand-alone novels.
As a lead, I liked Brigid a lot. She is a bit older than the protagonists I generally read, but some of my favorite mystery series do involve older sleuths.
There is something more believable about reading from an experienced detective's point of view. Brigid is a no nonsense woman and I really enjoyed that about her.
I could definitely picture myself picking up more books in this series as some point.
I also really enjoyed the premise behind this. The whole, what if there was a 3rd person involved in the Clutter killings?
It was interesting to take a true life case and add a twist to it. Obviously, you wouldn't want to do that with newer cases, but I think here it worked quite well.
Overall, this was solid. There were some parts I think could have been edited out, but it was a smooth read and a good story. It didn't knock my socks off, but I had a fun time reading it nonetheless.
Thank you so much to the publisher, Minotaur Books, who knew of my love for In Cold Blood and offered to send me a copy of this to read and review. I truly appreciate the opportunity and know I will pick up more Brigid Quinn books in the future.
Like many retired Agents before her, Brigid Quinn, has found it hard to leave behind her life in the FBI.
Now living in Arizona, with her husband of 2-years, Carlo, a former Priest and University Professor, Brigid works as a Private Investigator and is slowly adjusting to this new chapter of her life.
Jerry Beaufort is starting a new chapter as well. He has been locked behind bars for years, as the world around him changed and progressed.
Once free, Jerry sets out on a quest to find a document that ties him to a set of killings, one little known and one made famous by Truman Capote's masterpiece, In Cold Blood.
That's right. In 1959, Jerry spent some time with Perry Smith and Dick Hickok, the two men sentenced to death for the Clutter killings. There was another family killed during that time, the Walkers, and Jerry was there too.
When he learns Hickok may have left a written confession behind with a Priest, pointing the finger at him, he knows he needs to track it down at any cost. His investigation leads him to the door of Brigid and her unsuspecting husband, Carlo.
Thus begins a game of cat and mouse where you are really unsure of who is the cat and who is the mouse.
Brigid is on to Jerry and she is not going to let some criminal steamroll her. We read both perspectives so there really isn't much by way of mystery, but it is compelling nonetheless.
Although this is the fourth book in Masterman's, Brigid Quinn series, like many Adult Mysteries, you can read them out of order or as stand-alone novels.
As a lead, I liked Brigid a lot. She is a bit older than the protagonists I generally read, but some of my favorite mystery series do involve older sleuths.
There is something more believable about reading from an experienced detective's point of view. Brigid is a no nonsense woman and I really enjoyed that about her.
I could definitely picture myself picking up more books in this series as some point.
I also really enjoyed the premise behind this. The whole, what if there was a 3rd person involved in the Clutter killings?
It was interesting to take a true life case and add a twist to it. Obviously, you wouldn't want to do that with newer cases, but I think here it worked quite well.
Overall, this was solid. There were some parts I think could have been edited out, but it was a smooth read and a good story. It didn't knock my socks off, but I had a fun time reading it nonetheless.
Thank you so much to the publisher, Minotaur Books, who knew of my love for In Cold Blood and offered to send me a copy of this to read and review. I truly appreciate the opportunity and know I will pick up more Brigid Quinn books in the future.
May 1, 2019
With the fourth Brigid Quinn book, the locale has moved back to Tucson, although the story goes back to a cold case murder in 1959 Florida. I found this plot to be a stretch for me. Drawing on the Clutter family murders that Truman Capote detailed in In Cold Blood, Masterman posits that there was a boy along with Hickok and Smith, one that was never identified. And that this trio also killed a family in Florida.
This third man is now released from jail for other crimes and is worried a dying confession given by Hickok might implicate him.
The book starts off slow. It gives us two narratives - Beaufort’s, the killer looking for the confession, and Brigid’s, which seems to focus more on the jealousy she is experiencing for Carlo’s deceased first wife. It does pick up speed as the book progresses. In one instance, very literally. Later in the book, a third viewpoint enters the picture.
My problem is that the plot relied on way too many coincidences, especially for a crime committed in Florida that ties into Carlo’s time as a priest in Kansas. And it’s also a crime that Brigid has been fascinated by for years.
It’s not a bad read. It kept my interest and I appreciated how both Carlo and Brigid had to navigate through some hard issues within their new marriage. It’s just that I have been less than impressed with the last two books in the series compared to how much I enjoyed the first two.
My thanks to netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for an advance copy of this book.
This third man is now released from jail for other crimes and is worried a dying confession given by Hickok might implicate him.
The book starts off slow. It gives us two narratives - Beaufort’s, the killer looking for the confession, and Brigid’s, which seems to focus more on the jealousy she is experiencing for Carlo’s deceased first wife. It does pick up speed as the book progresses. In one instance, very literally. Later in the book, a third viewpoint enters the picture.
My problem is that the plot relied on way too many coincidences, especially for a crime committed in Florida that ties into Carlo’s time as a priest in Kansas. And it’s also a crime that Brigid has been fascinated by for years.
It’s not a bad read. It kept my interest and I appreciated how both Carlo and Brigid had to navigate through some hard issues within their new marriage. It’s just that I have been less than impressed with the last two books in the series compared to how much I enjoyed the first two.
My thanks to netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for an advance copy of this book.
February 14, 2021
We Were Killers Once by Becky Masterman is a 2019 Minotaur publication.
Interesting spin on the Clutter murders and ‘In Cold Blood’.
This fourth installment in the Brigid Quinn series sends our favorite retired FBI agent directly into the path of a diabolical killer bent on keeping his crimes hidden.
Brigid’s husband, Carlo, a former priest, may have a copy of a confession written by Dick Hickcock, which tells a different story about the infamous Clutter murders, one that includes a third party.
That third party is Jeremiah Beaufort, who has just been released after a lengthy stint in prison. His biggest fear is that DNA technology might uncover evidence of his other crimes, and that after all these years a written confession might resurface- which means he must find Carlo and retrieve it.
Jeremiah eventually locates his target, but his plans are complicated when he comes face to face with Brigid Quinn.
Okay, I’ll admit this was not exactly what I was looking for in a Brigid Quinn thriller- but as the story developed, the more I began to see the genius in it. A tense psychological mind game emerges between Jeremiah and Brigid- one killer to another, so to speak.
This may or may not be the first time someone has speculated about the possibility there was a third person present at the Clutter murder, but Masterman’s theory is not half bad- maybe not probable- but hey, Truman Capote took a few liberties too- so there’s that.
The Yin and Yang of Carlo and Brigid continues to flourish as Brigid continues to struggle with her competition with Carlo’s deceased first wife.
Not only that, because Jeremiah is after her husband, Carlo experiences first- hand the parts of Brigid she’s tried to warn him about. The question is, how will that effect their marriage going forward.
Overall, this one doesn’t quite equal up to previous installments, but it was still a pretty solid addition to the series.
3.5 stars
Interesting spin on the Clutter murders and ‘In Cold Blood’.
This fourth installment in the Brigid Quinn series sends our favorite retired FBI agent directly into the path of a diabolical killer bent on keeping his crimes hidden.
Brigid’s husband, Carlo, a former priest, may have a copy of a confession written by Dick Hickcock, which tells a different story about the infamous Clutter murders, one that includes a third party.
That third party is Jeremiah Beaufort, who has just been released after a lengthy stint in prison. His biggest fear is that DNA technology might uncover evidence of his other crimes, and that after all these years a written confession might resurface- which means he must find Carlo and retrieve it.
Jeremiah eventually locates his target, but his plans are complicated when he comes face to face with Brigid Quinn.
Okay, I’ll admit this was not exactly what I was looking for in a Brigid Quinn thriller- but as the story developed, the more I began to see the genius in it. A tense psychological mind game emerges between Jeremiah and Brigid- one killer to another, so to speak.
This may or may not be the first time someone has speculated about the possibility there was a third person present at the Clutter murder, but Masterman’s theory is not half bad- maybe not probable- but hey, Truman Capote took a few liberties too- so there’s that.
The Yin and Yang of Carlo and Brigid continues to flourish as Brigid continues to struggle with her competition with Carlo’s deceased first wife.
Not only that, because Jeremiah is after her husband, Carlo experiences first- hand the parts of Brigid she’s tried to warn him about. The question is, how will that effect their marriage going forward.
Overall, this one doesn’t quite equal up to previous installments, but it was still a pretty solid addition to the series.
3.5 stars
May 30, 2019
Have you read the first three books in the Brigid Quinn series?
Have you read Truman Capote's IN COLD BLOOD?
No? Well, you may want to, but it's NOT necessary as both stories are very well depicted here....with a kicker.
So....What REALLY happened in the Cutter home that awful night back in 1959? What if there was a third man present....Someone worse than the others?
And....who REALLY killed the Walker family?
Retired FBI agent Brigid Quinn is obsessed with finding out what truly happened so long ago. She grew up listening to gruesome tales in a cop household and is still a tough old broad given her petite stature and personal demons....an old gal who can still kill a man with her bare hands so they say; and niece Gemma-Kate is pretty much a bad-ass too....when it comes to mixing potions!
But....as for 6'3" Italian born, x-priest - turned philosophy professor- husband Carlo....I have serious doubts. He came across as a big wuss and dense for an educated man....with loose lips to boot! He killed the seriousness right out of the story (for me) along with the idiotic actions and comments from old x-con Jerry Beaufort who is on a mission to locate a secret document that could ultimately destroy his chance for a new life....or what's left of it.
But WAIT!....oh the Hickock confession. Now, this is what I was waiting for....this fear inducing part of the narrative that makes your blood run cold. Well done Becky Masterman!
WE WERE KILLERS ONCE was a decent 3 star read for me. The novel has an intriguing plot with connective ties to IN COLD BLOOD (a must read) which is a big plus in my book, but unfortunately had a down side too consisting of foolish actions and some bizarre unnecessary dialogue that nearly negated the bone-chilling aspect of the gruesome historic event.
***Many thanks for the early reading opportunity from the publisher Minotaur Books/St. Martin's Press via NetGalley in exchange for review***
May 29, 2023
Finishing off this series about a retired female FBI agent that always finds trouble wherever she goes. This is my least favorite of the author’s 4 Brigid Quinn novels.
3 out of 5 stars
3 out of 5 stars
May 30, 2019
Thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Random House Canada for a digital galley in exchange for an honest review.
Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for a digital galley in exchange for an honest review.
I seem to be having a bit of a two star type of week that might give the illusion that it's the only type of rating I give out. Coming in as my 188th read of the year, We Were Killers Once is the twenty eighth 2 star of my 2019 reading year. Some of my most eagerly anticipated books have already hit the market and they have left me very satisfied . The book synopsis is elaborate in detail and I don't want to rehash it all here.
But I was lured in by the connection to Truman Capote's In Cold Blood and was hoping for a solid thriller. Unfortunately, the story was just way too slow in beginning and as I am not familiar with the first three books in the series, Brigid Quinn's side focus on her husband's first wife didn't seem that relevant.
However, I like that Brigid Quinn is an older protagonist and the what if premise that Perry Smith and Hickock didn't act alone and may be connected to another murder in Florida was intriguing. In fact, the author's note was extremely interesting and I wish the story had lived up to it.
Goodreads review 30/05/19
Publication Date 04/06/19
Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for a digital galley in exchange for an honest review.
I seem to be having a bit of a two star type of week that might give the illusion that it's the only type of rating I give out. Coming in as my 188th read of the year, We Were Killers Once is the twenty eighth 2 star of my 2019 reading year. Some of my most eagerly anticipated books have already hit the market and they have left me very satisfied . The book synopsis is elaborate in detail and I don't want to rehash it all here.
But I was lured in by the connection to Truman Capote's In Cold Blood and was hoping for a solid thriller. Unfortunately, the story was just way too slow in beginning and as I am not familiar with the first three books in the series, Brigid Quinn's side focus on her husband's first wife didn't seem that relevant.
However, I like that Brigid Quinn is an older protagonist and the what if premise that Perry Smith and Hickock didn't act alone and may be connected to another murder in Florida was intriguing. In fact, the author's note was extremely interesting and I wish the story had lived up to it.
Goodreads review 30/05/19
Publication Date 04/06/19
July 27, 2022
This is the kind of book that started strong and then slowly the story just got more and more uninteresting...which as a bummer since I quite liked the characters and the story at first.
READ THE REST OF THE REVIEW OVER AT FRESH FICTION!
READ THE REST OF THE REVIEW OVER AT FRESH FICTION!
April 16, 2019
A murder mystery / thriller / character study drama.
I am a new reader to Becky Masterman’s writing and to her heroine Brigid Quinn. This novel, the fourth in the series, could be a stand-alone, though perhaps some of the characters were more fully developed in the earlier books. Unlike other series, though, a new reader can follow along by jumping in here.
Attaching her story to Truman Capote’s narrative in his masterpiece In Cold Blood, Masterman adds to that story by presuming that perhaps a third killer was involved in the 1959 Kansas crime and we are quickly caught up in a tense drama involving her husband, a former prison chaplain, and some cool characters of Masterman’s devising. Gemma-Kate is a character that quietly stole the show.
Fast paced with good dialogue, this has many enjoyable elements and was an entertaining book.
*** A free copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review, thanks to Minotaur Books.
I am a new reader to Becky Masterman’s writing and to her heroine Brigid Quinn. This novel, the fourth in the series, could be a stand-alone, though perhaps some of the characters were more fully developed in the earlier books. Unlike other series, though, a new reader can follow along by jumping in here.
Attaching her story to Truman Capote’s narrative in his masterpiece In Cold Blood, Masterman adds to that story by presuming that perhaps a third killer was involved in the 1959 Kansas crime and we are quickly caught up in a tense drama involving her husband, a former prison chaplain, and some cool characters of Masterman’s devising. Gemma-Kate is a character that quietly stole the show.
Fast paced with good dialogue, this has many enjoyable elements and was an entertaining book.
*** A free copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review, thanks to Minotaur Books.
June 6, 2019
Holcomb, KS. 1959. An entire family murdered. The Clutter Family killings were immortalized by Truman Capote. Two killers were put to death for the crime. But just imagine if a third killer was there that night....and was never caught. In fact, what if another family was murdered, but the second crime was never solved. Flash forward several decades and a freshly released long-time convict is afraid that a death bed confession by one of the executed killers might reveal that he is that third killer. He's willing to do just about anything to remain a secret....
In Cold Blood is a rough read for me. I read it for the first time in college. It was just an incredibly creepy read for me (since I grew up in Kansas in a small town pretty much like Holcomb where rural families didn't lock their doors or worry about crime) and made me paranoid about walking around campus for several weeks. In Cold Blood was the first book I ever read about a crime that really happened. It made it a bit too real for me. I don't care for the book even now....just because the crime was so gruesome and unnecessarily cruel. This fictional story adds another layer on top....a what if that just chilled me to the bone. What if there was another murderer there that night....someone who was never caught? *Shiver*
We Were Killers Once is the fourth book in the Brigid Quinn series. Brigid is a retired FBI agent who is trying to get used to her retirement. It's a losing battle, as a series of coincidences line up to pull Brigid and her husband into the cold case of a family killed in Florida in 1959, just after the Clutters. I love how the author weaved this fictional story in with the true crime details described in Capote's book. But, the string of coincidences necessary to get there were just a bit much for me. I think part of the problem is that I jumped into this series on the fourth book....these characters obviously had a lot of background and detail that built up through the first three books. There was a bit of a disconnect for me because I didn't start this series from the beginning.
The story starts off a bit slow....but once the case revs up, there is great suspense and story-telling. The plot is interesting, engaging and very creative. I just didn't connect with the characters very well. Brigid's husband is a former priest...that seems a bit weird from the start. And Brigid is jealous of her husband's deceased first wife. Just a strange mix....then all the coincidences to tie them in with this unsolved murder and the Clutter murders.....it just didn't really gel for me. But.....I might have liked it better if I had read the first three books first. Or it might have been that the Clutter killings are a crime that just really bothers me. Not sure.
Solid 3.5 stars for the interesting plot. I'll round up to 4. I don't think I will be reading more of this series....it doesn't seem to really be one for me. Not every story is for every reader. It's a good story and very well-written....just not my cup of tea.
**I voluntarily read an advanced readers copy of this book from St Martins Press via NetGalley. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.**
In Cold Blood is a rough read for me. I read it for the first time in college. It was just an incredibly creepy read for me (since I grew up in Kansas in a small town pretty much like Holcomb where rural families didn't lock their doors or worry about crime) and made me paranoid about walking around campus for several weeks. In Cold Blood was the first book I ever read about a crime that really happened. It made it a bit too real for me. I don't care for the book even now....just because the crime was so gruesome and unnecessarily cruel. This fictional story adds another layer on top....a what if that just chilled me to the bone. What if there was another murderer there that night....someone who was never caught? *Shiver*
We Were Killers Once is the fourth book in the Brigid Quinn series. Brigid is a retired FBI agent who is trying to get used to her retirement. It's a losing battle, as a series of coincidences line up to pull Brigid and her husband into the cold case of a family killed in Florida in 1959, just after the Clutters. I love how the author weaved this fictional story in with the true crime details described in Capote's book. But, the string of coincidences necessary to get there were just a bit much for me. I think part of the problem is that I jumped into this series on the fourth book....these characters obviously had a lot of background and detail that built up through the first three books. There was a bit of a disconnect for me because I didn't start this series from the beginning.
The story starts off a bit slow....but once the case revs up, there is great suspense and story-telling. The plot is interesting, engaging and very creative. I just didn't connect with the characters very well. Brigid's husband is a former priest...that seems a bit weird from the start. And Brigid is jealous of her husband's deceased first wife. Just a strange mix....then all the coincidences to tie them in with this unsolved murder and the Clutter murders.....it just didn't really gel for me. But.....I might have liked it better if I had read the first three books first. Or it might have been that the Clutter killings are a crime that just really bothers me. Not sure.
Solid 3.5 stars for the interesting plot. I'll round up to 4. I don't think I will be reading more of this series....it doesn't seem to really be one for me. Not every story is for every reader. It's a good story and very well-written....just not my cup of tea.
**I voluntarily read an advanced readers copy of this book from St Martins Press via NetGalley. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.**
May 19, 2019
A clever twist on a classic real-life murder case makes this book - the fourth featuring former FBI agent Brigid Quinn - a standout. I've not read any of the preceding books, but the excellent writing and tough but likable lead character have convinced me this one won't be my last.
The gruesome real-life murder of the Clutter family was chronicled in the late Truman Capote's "In Cold Blood" (and for the record, I'm old enough to remember both the murders and the almost astonishing success of the book). Here, though, the author explores the possibility - discussed and mostly discounted at that time - that at least one other person was involved besides the two men who were later apprehended, found guilty and executed. Further, she posits that those two men, and whoever was with them, may have committed similar murders of a family in Florida not long before the attack on the Clutters.
It is from that premise that this book develops, beginning with the somewhat early release of long-time prisoner Jerry Beaufort from the same prison at which the Clutter murderers were housed. Now an old man, he wants to live out the rest of his life in relative anonymity - but there could be a fly in that ointment: One of the executed killers, he believes, named him in an eleventh-hour confession to the Catholic priest who was the prison chaplain at the time. Beaufort's goal is to find that priest and make sure his secret stays secret. After all, times have changed; if his actions come to light, DNA and other evidence not available 30 years ago could be used to determine his guilt.
As the plot would have it, Brigid and Carlo, her philosophy professor husband of three years, are living not far from the prison. A former Catholic priest, Carlo not incidentally spent time as an assistant chaplain there. The details I'll leave for you to read for yourself, but it's pretty clear early on that the lives of Beaufort, Brigid and Carlo will become entwined in some pretty scary ways.
It's a well-written, easy-to-read story; but aside from the unique tie-in with the real-life murders, the basic plot isn't too different from other books I've read (but for the record, I enjoyed those, as I did this one). As a senior citizen myself, reading about strong characters who aren't young whippersnappers made for a refreshing change.
One thing that struck me, though, is that I found myself more "connected" to Brigid's husband, Carlo, than to Brigid herself. That's reminiscent of J.D. Robb's Eve Dallas; I like Eve, but her hunky husband with a dark past, Roarke, is one of my all-time favorite characters (now that I think about it, Brigid shares quite a few similarities with Eve). Likewise, on one of my favorite TV shows, "Madame Secretary," I'm more drawn to Elizabeth McCord's husband, Henry - played by Tim Daly - than to Tia Leoni's title character.
As I said at the beginning, though, I'm really looking forward to the next installment, and I hope to see it soon. Meantime, I heartily thank the publisher, via NetGalley, for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this one.
The gruesome real-life murder of the Clutter family was chronicled in the late Truman Capote's "In Cold Blood" (and for the record, I'm old enough to remember both the murders and the almost astonishing success of the book). Here, though, the author explores the possibility - discussed and mostly discounted at that time - that at least one other person was involved besides the two men who were later apprehended, found guilty and executed. Further, she posits that those two men, and whoever was with them, may have committed similar murders of a family in Florida not long before the attack on the Clutters.
It is from that premise that this book develops, beginning with the somewhat early release of long-time prisoner Jerry Beaufort from the same prison at which the Clutter murderers were housed. Now an old man, he wants to live out the rest of his life in relative anonymity - but there could be a fly in that ointment: One of the executed killers, he believes, named him in an eleventh-hour confession to the Catholic priest who was the prison chaplain at the time. Beaufort's goal is to find that priest and make sure his secret stays secret. After all, times have changed; if his actions come to light, DNA and other evidence not available 30 years ago could be used to determine his guilt.
As the plot would have it, Brigid and Carlo, her philosophy professor husband of three years, are living not far from the prison. A former Catholic priest, Carlo not incidentally spent time as an assistant chaplain there. The details I'll leave for you to read for yourself, but it's pretty clear early on that the lives of Beaufort, Brigid and Carlo will become entwined in some pretty scary ways.
It's a well-written, easy-to-read story; but aside from the unique tie-in with the real-life murders, the basic plot isn't too different from other books I've read (but for the record, I enjoyed those, as I did this one). As a senior citizen myself, reading about strong characters who aren't young whippersnappers made for a refreshing change.
One thing that struck me, though, is that I found myself more "connected" to Brigid's husband, Carlo, than to Brigid herself. That's reminiscent of J.D. Robb's Eve Dallas; I like Eve, but her hunky husband with a dark past, Roarke, is one of my all-time favorite characters (now that I think about it, Brigid shares quite a few similarities with Eve). Likewise, on one of my favorite TV shows, "Madame Secretary," I'm more drawn to Elizabeth McCord's husband, Henry - played by Tim Daly - than to Tia Leoni's title character.
As I said at the beginning, though, I'm really looking forward to the next installment, and I hope to see it soon. Meantime, I heartily thank the publisher, via NetGalley, for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this one.
June 2, 2019
We Were Killers Once is the fourth book to feature former FBI agent turned private investigator, Brigid Quinn, but each instalment can be read independently of one another as the main plot is self-contained. The only parts you will not be privy to is Brigid's family matters but they are rather boring, and that continues here as she compares herself to her husband and ex-priest Carlo's dead wife; it was a tad irritating and quite unnecessary. Nevertheless, this is a rather intriguing fact-meets-fiction thriller, and Ms Masterman has done a great job of amalgamating the two sides.
The murder of all four members of the Walker family in Florida in 1959 shocked America to the core, and to this day it remains a cold case with no one convicted despite there being close to 600 suspects. Quinn recognises that this case bears extensive similarities to another brutal family murder, this time of Herbert and Bonnie Clutter and their two children in the same year in Kansas. The investigation and eventual justice for this crime were captured in Truman Capote's masterpiece In Cold Blood. Two people were eventually convicted of the Clutter murders but could a third killer have managed to get away with it?
Well, that is very much what Masterman explores in this novel. It is the perfect crossover of crime fiction and true crime and will appeal to fans of both genres. It's well written, believable and compelling and the possibility of a third person was never discounted from the real-world investigation they just could never identify this person. It's definitely more slow and steady as opposed to anything fast-paced and frenetic, however, this allows the time to build up the characters as well as the tension which is ratcheted up nicely as the story progresses. Many thanks to the publisher for an ARC.
The murder of all four members of the Walker family in Florida in 1959 shocked America to the core, and to this day it remains a cold case with no one convicted despite there being close to 600 suspects. Quinn recognises that this case bears extensive similarities to another brutal family murder, this time of Herbert and Bonnie Clutter and their two children in the same year in Kansas. The investigation and eventual justice for this crime were captured in Truman Capote's masterpiece In Cold Blood. Two people were eventually convicted of the Clutter murders but could a third killer have managed to get away with it?
Well, that is very much what Masterman explores in this novel. It is the perfect crossover of crime fiction and true crime and will appeal to fans of both genres. It's well written, believable and compelling and the possibility of a third person was never discounted from the real-world investigation they just could never identify this person. It's definitely more slow and steady as opposed to anything fast-paced and frenetic, however, this allows the time to build up the characters as well as the tension which is ratcheted up nicely as the story progresses. Many thanks to the publisher for an ARC.
Read
October 27, 2019Suffice it to say that I thoroughly enjoyed this 4th in the Brigid Quinn Series delivering all the excitement and rush of the first, Rage Against the Dying. I loved how Masterman wove a story including a nod to Truman Capote's In Cold Blood putting her own spin on the possibility of a third killer in the Clutter Family murders.
I have waited patiently for more on the dynamics of the marriage of such opposites; Quinn, a woman who has lived with so much violence and her husband, Carlo, a former Priest, a man who sees goodness in much of the world and trusts everyone. The case at center of this novel, tests their beliefs as well as their relationship and threatens its stability. Oh, and the pugs play their part once again.
Unlike some reviewers here, I feel this has been a strong addition to the series and I can't wait to see what happens next.
I have waited patiently for more on the dynamics of the marriage of such opposites; Quinn, a woman who has lived with so much violence and her husband, Carlo, a former Priest, a man who sees goodness in much of the world and trusts everyone. The case at center of this novel, tests their beliefs as well as their relationship and threatens its stability. Oh, and the pugs play their part once again.
Unlike some reviewers here, I feel this has been a strong addition to the series and I can't wait to see what happens next.
June 9, 2019
{60-second video review at http://bit.ly/WoW_WWKO }
It didn’t take me long to get hooked on the plot of author Becky Masterson’s novel “We Were Killers Once.” The constant flip-flop of POV between retired FBI agent Brigid Quinn and killer Jerry Beaufort works well to slowly build the tension and then start the race toward the climax.
The premise of the book was interesting. It is built upon the murders of members of the Clutter family by former prison buddies Richard Hickok and Perry Smith. The question posed is whether there was a third person present, one who could also link the pair with the murders of the Walker family. That person is Jerry Beaufort, who wants the past to remain buried and will do whatever it takes to accomplish that goal.
I did not realize until I had completed the book that it was the fourth in the Brigid Quinn series. The author’s deftly built up the necessary back story without waving the previous books in our faces. There was enough information shared to allow us to understand what was happening at that moment in the book while never spoiling the storylines of the previous tales. This will make it easier for me to backtrack and read the first three books.
To me, it seemed obvious that Ms. Masterman does not command a solid knowledge of the FBI, police work, or semi-automatic handguns. To her credit, she steered away from trying to insert items into the book that might expose this lack, and the few times she did introduce them to the story, she never dwelled on them. Even though I felt, “Well, it could have happened that way, but…” her references were so brief that I was able to quickly get back into the story.
Bottom line, that was a good effort and one that will encourage me to check out one (or more) of Ms. Masterson’s books. Four-and-a-half stars.
My thanks to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, and Minotaur Books for an advance complimentary ebook of this title.
It didn’t take me long to get hooked on the plot of author Becky Masterson’s novel “We Were Killers Once.” The constant flip-flop of POV between retired FBI agent Brigid Quinn and killer Jerry Beaufort works well to slowly build the tension and then start the race toward the climax.
The premise of the book was interesting. It is built upon the murders of members of the Clutter family by former prison buddies Richard Hickok and Perry Smith. The question posed is whether there was a third person present, one who could also link the pair with the murders of the Walker family. That person is Jerry Beaufort, who wants the past to remain buried and will do whatever it takes to accomplish that goal.
I did not realize until I had completed the book that it was the fourth in the Brigid Quinn series. The author’s deftly built up the necessary back story without waving the previous books in our faces. There was enough information shared to allow us to understand what was happening at that moment in the book while never spoiling the storylines of the previous tales. This will make it easier for me to backtrack and read the first three books.
To me, it seemed obvious that Ms. Masterman does not command a solid knowledge of the FBI, police work, or semi-automatic handguns. To her credit, she steered away from trying to insert items into the book that might expose this lack, and the few times she did introduce them to the story, she never dwelled on them. Even though I felt, “Well, it could have happened that way, but…” her references were so brief that I was able to quickly get back into the story.
Bottom line, that was a good effort and one that will encourage me to check out one (or more) of Ms. Masterson’s books. Four-and-a-half stars.
My thanks to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, and Minotaur Books for an advance complimentary ebook of this title.
June 9, 2019
3.25
I enjoyed Becky Masterman’s earlier Brigid Quinn mysteries. The last one was “ok”, and this one was “ok” too. This time, what tried my patience was the premise. I have never read Truman Capote’s In Cold Blood, but the premise of We Were Killers Once is that Brigid becomes aware of a confession by one of the two killers Capote focuses on that implicates a third killer. Somehow, Brigid and her husband Carlo come into contact with this third man and the story flows from there. The story itself is actually quite clever although a tad predictable. And I liked the dynamic between Brigid and Carlo. And as always I like that this series focuses on a flawed late middle aged female detective. But the connection to Capote’s book and real historical events just seemed a bit weird and unnecessary to me. I suspect that even if I had read In Cold Blood I would have had the same reaction. Grafting a fictitious mystery series onto a real crime that may or may not have been accurately reported by Capote was all a bit distracting... I will give Masterman’s next book in the series a try, but I hope that she sticks to true fiction rather than this odd true crime-fiction hybrid. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an opportunity to read an advance copy.
I enjoyed Becky Masterman’s earlier Brigid Quinn mysteries. The last one was “ok”, and this one was “ok” too. This time, what tried my patience was the premise. I have never read Truman Capote’s In Cold Blood, but the premise of We Were Killers Once is that Brigid becomes aware of a confession by one of the two killers Capote focuses on that implicates a third killer. Somehow, Brigid and her husband Carlo come into contact with this third man and the story flows from there. The story itself is actually quite clever although a tad predictable. And I liked the dynamic between Brigid and Carlo. And as always I like that this series focuses on a flawed late middle aged female detective. But the connection to Capote’s book and real historical events just seemed a bit weird and unnecessary to me. I suspect that even if I had read In Cold Blood I would have had the same reaction. Grafting a fictitious mystery series onto a real crime that may or may not have been accurately reported by Capote was all a bit distracting... I will give Masterman’s next book in the series a try, but I hope that she sticks to true fiction rather than this odd true crime-fiction hybrid. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an opportunity to read an advance copy.
May 7, 2019
We Were Killers Once (Brigid Quinn #4) by Becky Masterman, is the first book I’ve read from this author. The book was well written and researched, but sadly it left no impression on me. I’ve been thinking for 5 days now wondering why and all I can think is it read more like a documentary or a biography. There wasn't enough suspense, edginess or surprise in the story for me. The primary characters (Brigid, Gemma Kate, Carlo & Beaufort) were well developed with backgrounds but still seemed flat to me. The search for the confession and the info it yielded about Beaufort was interesting but not enough to save the book for me.
I wish to thank the Author, the publisher - Minotaur Books, and NetGalley for the advanced readers copy in exchange for an honest review.
The Expected publication date is June 4th, 2019. The book is expected to be released in multiple formats.
For me, this was a 2 out of 5-star read.
I wish to thank the Author, the publisher - Minotaur Books, and NetGalley for the advanced readers copy in exchange for an honest review.
The Expected publication date is June 4th, 2019. The book is expected to be released in multiple formats.
For me, this was a 2 out of 5-star read.
May 3, 2019
Minotaur Books sent me an ARC that immediately lured me in: a modern crime novel inspired by the actual murders of the Clutter family in 1959, which was the focus of Truman Capote's true-crime masterpiece,In Cold Blood.
I realized this was book four in a series (and ohhhhh how I've whined in the past about picking up in the middle of a series) but crossed my fingers that We Were Killers Once would work as a standalone because the premise is fascinating.
When the four Clutter family members were brutally murdered in their Kansas home, it left the country in fear. It wasn't long before Perry Smith and Richard (Dick) Hickok were captured, convicted, and eventually executed for the crime. The men were at one point suspected of murdering the Walker family in Sarasota, Florida while they were on the run but were never charged.
We Were Killers Once takes a look at the possibility that an unknown third person was involved in the Clutter family murders and was also responsible for the Walker family murders. The even bigger what-if: What if Richard Eugene Hickock left behind a written confession before his execution that cleared up all doubt and lingering questions?
Jerome Beaufort's life sentence has been commuted after 33 years in Central Mississippi Correctional Facility. He's led a life of crime though he's only been arrested on drug charges. No one knows his involvement with Perry Smith and Dick Hickok.
"When Hickok and Smith were still alive he had lived in fear that they would rat him out. Then he stopped worrying when they died. Then he started worrying again with this whole forensic science business." *
Beaufort's too old to return to prison and the possibility his DNA at the Walker crime scene will eventually be revealed keeps him up at night. Before he can enjoy the rest of his life he has to make sure he has nothing to worry about.
When he sets up a "chance meeting" with Detective Ian Meadows, the cold case investigator assigned to the Walker case, he learns that there's rumor of a confession Hickok wrote right before his execution to a priest. A priest that Detective Meadows has tracked down and plans to visit.
"He had gone into the bar thinking he was following up on the Walker case, and come out knowing that there might be a document that linked him not only to the Walkers, but to the Clutters, too. He couldn't be sure he was safe unless he got to Hickok's priest before Meadows did." *
Beaufort does in fact make it to the priest's deathbed before Meadows and is able to kill him without arousing suspicion, but only after he's certain he has the name of the man who may now possess Dick Hickok's confession.
Retired FBI agent Brigid Quinn has settled into a quiet life with her husband Carlo, a former Catholic priest. She's told Carlo about her fascination with the Clutter murders, which she heard her father discuss with other policemen around their kitchen table when she was a girl.
Brigid has no idea that Carlo was chaplain for a time at the prison where Hickok served his time. He has a memento from that time that will greatly interest his wife and realizes it will make a perfect anniversary gift.
Unfortunately, Carlo doesn't know what's hidden within the memento and that there's a dangerous man on his way to collect it.
We Were Killers Once has an exciting premise but unfortunately the delivery relies too much on coincidence and convenience. The "what if" is endlessly fascinating, but it didn't feel realistic that this unknown third person would check on the case after 50+ years, I'd think he'd stay as far away as possible to remain under the radar. His meeting with the detective who happens to have a new lead after all these years seems waaaaay too convenient.
Brigid marrying someone who has a small link to the case she's most fascinated with seems like too big of a coincidence, not to mention the fact that the link puts them in the direct path of Beaufort.
Brigid Quinn is an interesting character; we're given a brief look into her past as an agent as well as her strengths: she's a small woman so criminals will not consider her a threat but she has a sharp eye, reads people well, and knows how to use a weapon or two. There are characters that have obviously appeared in previous books and enough details are given that readers will not feel completely lost but vague enough you may want to go back and read the first three books.
This story was poorly constructed around an exciting "what-if". It was an average thriller with a weak plot thanks to the way too convenient circumstances. However, I'm curious about Brigid Quinn and may pick up the first book eventually just to find out more about her.
Thanks to Minotaur Books for sending me a digital ARC via NetGalley for review. We Were Killers Once is scheduled for release on June 4, 2019.
*Quotes included are from a digital advanced reader's copy and are subject to change upon final publication.
For more reviews, visit www.rootsandreads.wordpress.com
I realized this was book four in a series (and ohhhhh how I've whined in the past about picking up in the middle of a series) but crossed my fingers that We Were Killers Once would work as a standalone because the premise is fascinating.
When the four Clutter family members were brutally murdered in their Kansas home, it left the country in fear. It wasn't long before Perry Smith and Richard (Dick) Hickok were captured, convicted, and eventually executed for the crime. The men were at one point suspected of murdering the Walker family in Sarasota, Florida while they were on the run but were never charged.
We Were Killers Once takes a look at the possibility that an unknown third person was involved in the Clutter family murders and was also responsible for the Walker family murders. The even bigger what-if: What if Richard Eugene Hickock left behind a written confession before his execution that cleared up all doubt and lingering questions?
Jerome Beaufort's life sentence has been commuted after 33 years in Central Mississippi Correctional Facility. He's led a life of crime though he's only been arrested on drug charges. No one knows his involvement with Perry Smith and Dick Hickok.
"When Hickok and Smith were still alive he had lived in fear that they would rat him out. Then he stopped worrying when they died. Then he started worrying again with this whole forensic science business." *
Beaufort's too old to return to prison and the possibility his DNA at the Walker crime scene will eventually be revealed keeps him up at night. Before he can enjoy the rest of his life he has to make sure he has nothing to worry about.
When he sets up a "chance meeting" with Detective Ian Meadows, the cold case investigator assigned to the Walker case, he learns that there's rumor of a confession Hickok wrote right before his execution to a priest. A priest that Detective Meadows has tracked down and plans to visit.
"He had gone into the bar thinking he was following up on the Walker case, and come out knowing that there might be a document that linked him not only to the Walkers, but to the Clutters, too. He couldn't be sure he was safe unless he got to Hickok's priest before Meadows did." *
Beaufort does in fact make it to the priest's deathbed before Meadows and is able to kill him without arousing suspicion, but only after he's certain he has the name of the man who may now possess Dick Hickok's confession.
Retired FBI agent Brigid Quinn has settled into a quiet life with her husband Carlo, a former Catholic priest. She's told Carlo about her fascination with the Clutter murders, which she heard her father discuss with other policemen around their kitchen table when she was a girl.
Brigid has no idea that Carlo was chaplain for a time at the prison where Hickok served his time. He has a memento from that time that will greatly interest his wife and realizes it will make a perfect anniversary gift.
Unfortunately, Carlo doesn't know what's hidden within the memento and that there's a dangerous man on his way to collect it.
We Were Killers Once has an exciting premise but unfortunately the delivery relies too much on coincidence and convenience. The "what if" is endlessly fascinating, but it didn't feel realistic that this unknown third person would check on the case after 50+ years, I'd think he'd stay as far away as possible to remain under the radar. His meeting with the detective who happens to have a new lead after all these years seems waaaaay too convenient.
Brigid marrying someone who has a small link to the case she's most fascinated with seems like too big of a coincidence, not to mention the fact that the link puts them in the direct path of Beaufort.
Brigid Quinn is an interesting character; we're given a brief look into her past as an agent as well as her strengths: she's a small woman so criminals will not consider her a threat but she has a sharp eye, reads people well, and knows how to use a weapon or two. There are characters that have obviously appeared in previous books and enough details are given that readers will not feel completely lost but vague enough you may want to go back and read the first three books.
This story was poorly constructed around an exciting "what-if". It was an average thriller with a weak plot thanks to the way too convenient circumstances. However, I'm curious about Brigid Quinn and may pick up the first book eventually just to find out more about her.
Thanks to Minotaur Books for sending me a digital ARC via NetGalley for review. We Were Killers Once is scheduled for release on June 4, 2019.
*Quotes included are from a digital advanced reader's copy and are subject to change upon final publication.
For more reviews, visit www.rootsandreads.wordpress.com
March 22, 2019
My first book by Becky Masterman, but not my last. I really liked the fact that this book was unique and original in its story line. The main character ex-FBI agent Brigid was likable and her husband Carlo was extremely likable-especially when compared to the featured criminal in the book, newly released ex-con Jerry. Brigid's niece, Gemma-Kate, was quite a character. The writing flows fast and you want to find out just what the heck is happening. The author leads you to believe certain things about Jerry- but, in my case, boy did I read things incorrectly. Some parts were hard to follow but not enough that it would deter me from reading this book.
Thank you to NetGalley for the chance to read and give an honest review.
Thank you to NetGalley for the chance to read and give an honest review.
March 18, 2019
PARTS WERE INTENSE! Ex- FBI agent Brigid Quinn and her Ex-Priest husband Carlo find how hard it is to escape your PAST!! Becky Masterman has written an excellent crime drama that can be read as a stand alone even though it is fourth in a series. Combine a Cold Case MURDER of the Walker family from decades ago with a murder publicized by Truman Capote's book IN TRUE BLOOD and find that questions are still unanswered. A copy of this book was provided by Mintour St Martins Press via Netgalley with no requirements for a review. Comments here are my honest opinion." COULD HAVE GIVEN MORE THAN FIVE STARS!!
April 22, 2019
We Were Killers Once - Brigid Quinn #4 by Becky Masterman (2 Stars)
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advance copy of this book in return for an honest review.
Truman Capote’s masterpiece In Cold Blood details the murders of the Clutter family in 1959 and gives a comprehensive look at the killers (Hickok and Smith) behind the massacre. Absolutely chilling classic.
There has been a more recent publication, In Colder Blood: True Story of the Walker Family Murder by JT Hunter, which makes the case for Hickok and Smith also being behind the massacre of the Walker family in Florida. The two were in the area, and there are eerie similarities to the Clutter murders. Circumstantial evidence, but a very interesting read nonetheless. The book is short, very well written and mostly speculation, but it will leave you wondering. It is not in the same class as Capote’s book, but it was still a worthy read.
My hope was that We Were Killers Once would continue along the same vein, introducing the possibility of a third killer into the mix. While I made it halfway through the book, I decided I needed to skip to the end, but I couldn’t even finish it. First, I had a very hard time with the writing style. It is told from two perspectives, Brigid Quinn and the Jeremy Beaufort/Jerry Nolan, the third killer. It becomes convoluted when first person and third person for each is used interchangeably. Second, the characters were extremely flat. Brigid is a retired FBI agent who comes across as hardboiled and childish at the same time, her husband, Carlo, is a former Catholic priest who she likens to a saint, and they two just don’t mix. There are some crass marital encounters thrown in, which just seemed so out of place in the context of the story. Jeremy/Jerry has spent most of his 70 years in prison, and while he was in prison and out of society, he comes across as naive and unworldy. Third, the plot line just didn’t ring true. Jeremy/Jerry is looking for Hickok’s deathbed confession, naming Jeremy/Jerry as the third killer. Problem is, he made this confession to a Catholic priest. I found it hard to suspend belief that the priest would have kept a written confession, that he would have kept it for so many years and that he would have passed it along to someone. Fourth, there are so many coincidences in the story it gets to be old. It seems like it is much easier to explain it away by coincidence than actually write a storyline. Fifth, this moved so slowly. It was not thrilling in the least.
My recommendation is to pass on this one.
www.candysplanet.wordpress.com
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advance copy of this book in return for an honest review.
Truman Capote’s masterpiece In Cold Blood details the murders of the Clutter family in 1959 and gives a comprehensive look at the killers (Hickok and Smith) behind the massacre. Absolutely chilling classic.
There has been a more recent publication, In Colder Blood: True Story of the Walker Family Murder by JT Hunter, which makes the case for Hickok and Smith also being behind the massacre of the Walker family in Florida. The two were in the area, and there are eerie similarities to the Clutter murders. Circumstantial evidence, but a very interesting read nonetheless. The book is short, very well written and mostly speculation, but it will leave you wondering. It is not in the same class as Capote’s book, but it was still a worthy read.
My hope was that We Were Killers Once would continue along the same vein, introducing the possibility of a third killer into the mix. While I made it halfway through the book, I decided I needed to skip to the end, but I couldn’t even finish it. First, I had a very hard time with the writing style. It is told from two perspectives, Brigid Quinn and the Jeremy Beaufort/Jerry Nolan, the third killer. It becomes convoluted when first person and third person for each is used interchangeably. Second, the characters were extremely flat. Brigid is a retired FBI agent who comes across as hardboiled and childish at the same time, her husband, Carlo, is a former Catholic priest who she likens to a saint, and they two just don’t mix. There are some crass marital encounters thrown in, which just seemed so out of place in the context of the story. Jeremy/Jerry has spent most of his 70 years in prison, and while he was in prison and out of society, he comes across as naive and unworldy. Third, the plot line just didn’t ring true. Jeremy/Jerry is looking for Hickok’s deathbed confession, naming Jeremy/Jerry as the third killer. Problem is, he made this confession to a Catholic priest. I found it hard to suspend belief that the priest would have kept a written confession, that he would have kept it for so many years and that he would have passed it along to someone. Fourth, there are so many coincidences in the story it gets to be old. It seems like it is much easier to explain it away by coincidence than actually write a storyline. Fifth, this moved so slowly. It was not thrilling in the least.
My recommendation is to pass on this one.
www.candysplanet.wordpress.com
March 13, 2019
This is a well-written novel, five-star material, with characters who are unique and memorable, not the cardboard cutouts that can be typical of this genre. The "sociopath" niece is particularly interesting.
That said, I find Carlo the former priest supremely annoying, but entirely believable. I read this while in the throes of Influenza A, so maybe that's why everything about this novel annoyed me in spite of it being tautly crafted and richly imagined.
Of course the killer is an idiot. So many criminals have low IQ in common, along with the delusional belief that they know more than anyone else.
The story is engaging and it kept me turning pages, in spite of the mounting body count. Normally I boycott this genre because I hate crime stories, because my sister is a cold case, and I've wasted years of my life trying to solve it. Stupid narcissists and sociopaths kill and kill again and get away with it, and only in fiction do we get to see them taken down by bad^ss FBI agents (retired or otherwise).
We all know Carlo is dumb enough to open the door for the killer, but it just sent me over the edge all the same.
The plot twist at the end involving plastics (I'm trying to avoid a spoiler here) struck me as ridiculous. The canceled flights, the logistics of gaining a spot on a plane on this urgent mission to save Carlo the former priest. Hollywood and novels would not exist if not for human stupidity, I know. Romeo and Juliet would not exist if not for people making incredibly stupid decisions.
Ironically, this story is full of smart, clever people. The stupid ones drive the plot.
Someone prevent me from reading any more thrillers. No matter how masterfully they are written, I hate this genre.
That said, I find Carlo the former priest supremely annoying, but entirely believable. I read this while in the throes of Influenza A, so maybe that's why everything about this novel annoyed me in spite of it being tautly crafted and richly imagined.
Of course the killer is an idiot. So many criminals have low IQ in common, along with the delusional belief that they know more than anyone else.
The story is engaging and it kept me turning pages, in spite of the mounting body count. Normally I boycott this genre because I hate crime stories, because my sister is a cold case, and I've wasted years of my life trying to solve it. Stupid narcissists and sociopaths kill and kill again and get away with it, and only in fiction do we get to see them taken down by bad^ss FBI agents (retired or otherwise).
We all know Carlo is dumb enough to open the door for the killer, but it just sent me over the edge all the same.
The plot twist at the end involving plastics (I'm trying to avoid a spoiler here) struck me as ridiculous. The canceled flights, the logistics of gaining a spot on a plane on this urgent mission to save Carlo the former priest. Hollywood and novels would not exist if not for human stupidity, I know. Romeo and Juliet would not exist if not for people making incredibly stupid decisions.
Ironically, this story is full of smart, clever people. The stupid ones drive the plot.
Someone prevent me from reading any more thrillers. No matter how masterfully they are written, I hate this genre.
July 3, 2019
We Were Killers Once
by Becky Masterman
This is my 1st by this author and I have got to say I was not disappointed! It is a quick good read and the author does a phenomenal job of weaving this story in with Capote's In Cold Blood which I read many years ago, very interesting premise! Thank you Netgalley and the Publishers for this book and leaving my review!
by Becky Masterman
This is my 1st by this author and I have got to say I was not disappointed! It is a quick good read and the author does a phenomenal job of weaving this story in with Capote's In Cold Blood which I read many years ago, very interesting premise! Thank you Netgalley and the Publishers for this book and leaving my review!
May 3, 2019
A slow moving tale with its roots in murders made famous by the writer Truman Capote in his book, "In Cold Blood".
In 1959, the Clutter family were murdered in their home in Holcomb, Kansas. One month later, a similar murder of the Walker family took place in Florida. Two men - Perry Smith and Dick Hickok - were found guilty and executed for the Clutter family killings. But what if there was a 3rd man involved in the deaths of the Clutter family and the still unsolved murder of the Walker family?
The story opens with the release of an elderly man, Jeremiah "Jerry" Beaufort, who has spent several decades behind bars for drug crimes and is worried about modern forensics discovering that as a 15 year old boy, he had met up with Smith and Hickok and took part in their killing spree.
In Tucson, retired FBI agent Brigid Quinn is enjoying newly married life with her husband Carlo, a former priest and university professor. Unbeknown to her, Carlo had worked as a prison chaplain and among his possessions is a sketch, a self portrait by Dick Hickok, which he plans to give to Brigid as part of their upcoming wedding anniversary, knowing that she has always been fascinated by the Clutter murder case.
Meanwhile, Jerry Beaufort believes a dying confession made by Hickok to a Catholic priest might implicate him, so. he decides to track down a police detective and others still living who were involved in the Clutter case.
The paths of Jerry Beaufort and Brigid Quinn will soon cross as Beaufort is determined to ensure any evidence which might connect him with the Clutter and Walker murders will be destroyed.
In the early parts of the book, the plot meanders along with no great sense of urgency and half way through we are treated to a lengthy diversion dealing with the major insecurities felt by Brigid concerning Carlo's dead wife Jane. Brigid constantly measures herself against Jane who she describes as "a saint". I felt this only served to slow the plot still further. Despite this, the book did hold my interest and the tension finally mounts as Jerry plans to kill anyone who might link him to those long ago killings.
My thanks to NetGalley and Orion Publishing Group Limited for a copy of this book in return for an unbiased review.
In 1959, the Clutter family were murdered in their home in Holcomb, Kansas. One month later, a similar murder of the Walker family took place in Florida. Two men - Perry Smith and Dick Hickok - were found guilty and executed for the Clutter family killings. But what if there was a 3rd man involved in the deaths of the Clutter family and the still unsolved murder of the Walker family?
The story opens with the release of an elderly man, Jeremiah "Jerry" Beaufort, who has spent several decades behind bars for drug crimes and is worried about modern forensics discovering that as a 15 year old boy, he had met up with Smith and Hickok and took part in their killing spree.
In Tucson, retired FBI agent Brigid Quinn is enjoying newly married life with her husband Carlo, a former priest and university professor. Unbeknown to her, Carlo had worked as a prison chaplain and among his possessions is a sketch, a self portrait by Dick Hickok, which he plans to give to Brigid as part of their upcoming wedding anniversary, knowing that she has always been fascinated by the Clutter murder case.
Meanwhile, Jerry Beaufort believes a dying confession made by Hickok to a Catholic priest might implicate him, so. he decides to track down a police detective and others still living who were involved in the Clutter case.
The paths of Jerry Beaufort and Brigid Quinn will soon cross as Beaufort is determined to ensure any evidence which might connect him with the Clutter and Walker murders will be destroyed.
In the early parts of the book, the plot meanders along with no great sense of urgency and half way through we are treated to a lengthy diversion dealing with the major insecurities felt by Brigid concerning Carlo's dead wife Jane. Brigid constantly measures herself against Jane who she describes as "a saint". I felt this only served to slow the plot still further. Despite this, the book did hold my interest and the tension finally mounts as Jerry plans to kill anyone who might link him to those long ago killings.
My thanks to NetGalley and Orion Publishing Group Limited for a copy of this book in return for an unbiased review.
May 2, 2019
I like the idea of a spin-off of another book and honestly, that was the only reason I picked this book this far in the series. The book is based on the true crime of a family of four killed in 1959 in Kansas, The Clutter family murder. The investigation and solution of that crime was the subject of Truman Capote's In Cold Blood. Although I have not read In Cold Blood, I was curious about Masterman's new theory that perhaps there was a third killer that got away.
Brigid Quinn is the retired FBI agent married to a former priest, Carlo. Now, Jerry Beaufort has just been released from jail. Could he have been the third killer?
I enjoyed this book. This is not the type of story full of twists and turns, but I liked Brigid and Carlo--their relationship and tribulation.
I would like to thank Minotaur Books and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Brigid Quinn is the retired FBI agent married to a former priest, Carlo. Now, Jerry Beaufort has just been released from jail. Could he have been the third killer?
I enjoyed this book. This is not the type of story full of twists and turns, but I liked Brigid and Carlo--their relationship and tribulation.
I would like to thank Minotaur Books and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
July 16, 2019
Becky Masterman's latest book, We Were Killers Once, is the fourth in her Brigid Quinn series, but can absolutely be read as a stand-alone.
Masterman has come up with an absolutely fascinating premise for We Were Killers Once. What if.....there were three men at the Clutter killings? Yes, those murders - the ones that inspired Truman Capote's 'In Cold Blood.' And what if that third man is freshly out of prison - and determined to make sure that the evidence he knows it out there is destroyed. And what if Brigid and Carlo end up in this killer's path......
Brigid and her husband Carlo are seemingly opposite personalities. The relationship between the two is well written and believable. As individuals, they are written with lots of depth. Brigid has a most interesting background - and a fascination with killers that served her well in her FBI career. She's now retired n- I like that she is an 'older' lead character. Carlo is a former priest. They are light and dark - and prove to be excellent foils for each other's thoughts, leanings and actions.
I loved Masterman's idea of this third person. He too is very well drawn - ruthless, though he doesn't believe so. His ideas of how to blend and behave gave me chills. We Were Killers Once is told in two voices - the killer and Brigid. The reader is aware of what is going to happen, but can only helplessly turn pages, keeping up with the cat and mouse game being played. (And I had a moment where I wanted to flip ahead.....but didn't) But who is the cat and who is the mouse? Again, this was my first introduction to Brigid - and I am very, very intrigued. She's a complex protagonist - on the side of the law, but with very dark thoughts and tendencies. Her niece Gemma-Kate seems to have the same, umm, personality.
Masterman's writing is excellent, driving the reader forward with each new chapter. There's action, but there's also some thoughtful bits exploring the relationship between Carlo and Brigid, as well as some philosophical discussions.
The plot moves along at a good pace, culminating in a final scene that was just right. My only question was whether this antagonist would have pursued this elusive piece of evidence, having his role in the killings go unnoticed for many, many years.
I enjoyed We Were Killers Once and I will indeed be looking forward to further work from Masterman.
Masterman has come up with an absolutely fascinating premise for We Were Killers Once. What if.....there were three men at the Clutter killings? Yes, those murders - the ones that inspired Truman Capote's 'In Cold Blood.' And what if that third man is freshly out of prison - and determined to make sure that the evidence he knows it out there is destroyed. And what if Brigid and Carlo end up in this killer's path......
Brigid and her husband Carlo are seemingly opposite personalities. The relationship between the two is well written and believable. As individuals, they are written with lots of depth. Brigid has a most interesting background - and a fascination with killers that served her well in her FBI career. She's now retired n- I like that she is an 'older' lead character. Carlo is a former priest. They are light and dark - and prove to be excellent foils for each other's thoughts, leanings and actions.
I loved Masterman's idea of this third person. He too is very well drawn - ruthless, though he doesn't believe so. His ideas of how to blend and behave gave me chills. We Were Killers Once is told in two voices - the killer and Brigid. The reader is aware of what is going to happen, but can only helplessly turn pages, keeping up with the cat and mouse game being played. (And I had a moment where I wanted to flip ahead.....but didn't) But who is the cat and who is the mouse? Again, this was my first introduction to Brigid - and I am very, very intrigued. She's a complex protagonist - on the side of the law, but with very dark thoughts and tendencies. Her niece Gemma-Kate seems to have the same, umm, personality.
Masterman's writing is excellent, driving the reader forward with each new chapter. There's action, but there's also some thoughtful bits exploring the relationship between Carlo and Brigid, as well as some philosophical discussions.
The plot moves along at a good pace, culminating in a final scene that was just right. My only question was whether this antagonist would have pursued this elusive piece of evidence, having his role in the killings go unnoticed for many, many years.
I enjoyed We Were Killers Once and I will indeed be looking forward to further work from Masterman.
March 24, 2019
A chilling tale cold casing a murder based on the In Cold Blood killers. Inconsistent information in the police investigation and Capote' s notes capture the attention of retired FBI agent Brigid Quinn's niece. Brigid is hot on the trail of an Exxon who has entered their lives when the two queries meet. I love Brigid and that she is sixty and still kicks while trying to live a civilian life only enhances this imaginative novel.
Copy provided by the Publisher and NetGalley
Copy provided by the Publisher and NetGalley
May 6, 2019
I enjoyed this book but it is definitely not the best thriller around.. It is based on the Truman Capote book about the massacre of a family in Kansas. Two men were arrested and jailed for the crime. The premise is that there was a third killer and that they had all participated in a similar killing of a family in Florida before Kansas. The idea was based on a confession that one of the killers wrote, that there was a third and was given to a prison priest on his deathbed. The priest happens to be the husband of a retired FBI agent who is interested in the Kansas case. Strangely husband (the priest) would forget this note and not pass it on to officials that could look into the accusation. Instead he thew it in a box when he left that job! There are many kind of strange coincidences like that in the book.
The book has many likeable and interesting characters that the author makes plausible. My problem was that the story itself was not plausible. It relied on too much on coincidence. Good "what if" story and i would recommend it to others that like thrillers and murder.
Thank you to Netgalley, Minotaur books and the author for an advanced copy
The book has many likeable and interesting characters that the author makes plausible. My problem was that the story itself was not plausible. It relied on too much on coincidence. Good "what if" story and i would recommend it to others that like thrillers and murder.
Thank you to Netgalley, Minotaur books and the author for an advanced copy
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March 28, 2020
From my Reading Activity:
November 3, 2019 –
1.0% "Audiobook - 11:39 Hours - Narrator: Kate Harper
I had started listening to this Brigid Quinn #4, but was side-tracked by several other novels while doing so, so I intend to start again from scratch."
March 18, 2020 –
28.0% "Audiobook - 11:39 Hours - Narrator: Kate Harper
I had started listening to this Brigid Quinn #4, but was side-tracked by several other novels while doing so, so I intend to start again from scratch.
Nov 03, 2019 10:19PM -
Starting from scratch:
Listened to: 03:17 Hours - Balance: 08:22 Hours"
March 23, 2020 –
30.0% "End of chapter 16, balance 08:09 hours - "On Hold"
I am afraid I have to put "Brigid Quinn, #4" on hold again, at pretty much the same place I stopped listening to it earlier. I do not wish to make this a "DNF" because I am a fan of Brigid Quinn, but I am finding that this book has not securely captured my imagination even the second time around."
March 27, 2020 –
100.0% "I decided to "DNF" this book because it sits at the top of my "Currently Reading" list, mocking me most ungraciously!"
March 27, 2020 – Finished Reading
"Abandoned - Try Again"
November 3, 2019 –
1.0% "Audiobook - 11:39 Hours - Narrator: Kate Harper
I had started listening to this Brigid Quinn #4, but was side-tracked by several other novels while doing so, so I intend to start again from scratch."
March 18, 2020 –
28.0% "Audiobook - 11:39 Hours - Narrator: Kate Harper
I had started listening to this Brigid Quinn #4, but was side-tracked by several other novels while doing so, so I intend to start again from scratch.
Nov 03, 2019 10:19PM -
Starting from scratch:
Listened to: 03:17 Hours - Balance: 08:22 Hours"
March 23, 2020 –
30.0% "End of chapter 16, balance 08:09 hours - "On Hold"
I am afraid I have to put "Brigid Quinn, #4" on hold again, at pretty much the same place I stopped listening to it earlier. I do not wish to make this a "DNF" because I am a fan of Brigid Quinn, but I am finding that this book has not securely captured my imagination even the second time around."
March 27, 2020 –
100.0% "I decided to "DNF" this book because it sits at the top of my "Currently Reading" list, mocking me most ungraciously!"
March 27, 2020 – Finished Reading
"Abandoned - Try Again"
March 15, 2019
I could not get into this book. Did not like the author's style of writing. Others will probably enjoy it, but not me.
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