Review: Blind to Midnight: A Nick Ryan Novel by Reed Farrel Coleman

 

Blind to Midnight: A Nick Ryan Novel by Reed Farrel Coleman is the second book in the Nick Ryan series that began with Sleepless City. It is also another solidly good read as one always expects from the author.

 

In addition to his regular police work, Nick Ryan continues to work cases as they are assigned by the people in the shadows. He is a sort of fixer and has a wide latitude to solve problem as a NYC police detective. To achieve their goals, he has access to varied resources. He also separately has help from a variety of friends and associates that have talents and connections the average person would not. But, knowing Nick Ryan can be extremely dangerous for your own health.

 

Nick is just coming off an assignment and a very long day when he gets a phone call. Tony Angelo and his wife are dead. They have been murdered by person or persons unknown. Nick had known Tony since he was a kid. Nick’s father was a cop, friends with Ton and his wife, both were part of Nick’s life always and forever. That makes them family as far as Nick is concerned. Even though the people who control Nick want him to stay out of it and away from the investigation, he is not about to do that. They should know by now that Nick marches to the beat of his own drummer.

 

The shadowy powers that be want Nick to focus on solving a murder case from the night the towers fell. The case was believed to be a hate crime. It was something else and more than two decades later they want it solved for reasons unknown.

 

Nick does the only thing he can do. He works both cases and dodges bullets and violent mayhem along the way. His ultimate plan is to survive, keep the ex and their kid safe, and get out from under the thumb of the person or persons that are leaning on him. Easier said than done.

 

Blind to Midnight: A Nick Ryan Novel builds extensively on Sleepless City while spinning another very complicated tale of cross and double cross. Plenty of action, violence, and interesting characters blend together to make this another compelling page turning read from the master. Read the series in order and enjoy as both books are very much worth your time.

 

 

Amazon Associate Purchase Link: https://amzn.to/3YF9mWM

 

 

My digital reading copy was an ARC from the publisher, Blackstone Publishing, Inc., through NetGalley with no expectation of a review.

 

 

Kevin R. Tipple ©2024

Review: Sleepless City: A Nick Ryan Novel by Reed Farrel Coleman

NYPD Detective Nick Ryan has a mission in mind as Sleepless City: A Nick Ryan Novel begins. Ricky Corliss is a seriously bad dude and the city, even the entire planet, would be better off with him dead. Since nobody else is going to do it, Nick Ryan is going to do the job. He has a score to settle.

He is within seconds of achieving his goal when he is interrupted. In the aftermath, he has a new problem. A problem that is only barely solved by accepting the idea of working for those who interrupted his planned murder of Ricky Corliss.

It isn’t about staying a cop. It is about staying alive. If he works for them, he will have unlimited resources to address all sorts of problems. But, he will have to work the situations they assign him. They want results and expect them. Their agenda, whatever it might be, is not his own. They have made it clear that he is a tool that serves as a means to an end. They have many such tools.

The situations he will be expected to resolve will not be easy. Acting on their behalf might even get him killed. But, if he wants to live in New York, and not be on the run the rest of his life, he has no choice.

A complex character is introduced in this first book of a new series. Nick Ryan was shaped by war and is now a cop focused on his own moral code. In Sleepless City: A Nick Ryan Novel, there are no clear friends. There are a few clear enemies. Everybody else is a murky shade of grey and secrets are as rampant as the very air they all breathe.

Incredibly complicated and highly entertaining, Sleepless City: A Nick Ryan Novel by Reed Farrel Coleman is one of my favorite reads of the year. It very well might be yours too. I am sure it will be picking up awards. 

Strongly recommended.

 

In addition to a print ARC from the author, I also received the eBook ARC by way of NetGalley. There was no expectation of a review in either case.

 

Kevin R. Tipple ©2023