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Phil Mahood #1
Diamond Run
A bloody diamond heist in New York City leads a mobster killer to Canada to find hidden keys to a previous haul. Cutting down anyone in his way, he targets Sue Jensen, whose former jeweler-boyfriend gave her the clue the mobster needs: it’s in her haunted Ontario farmhouse. Organized Crime Investigator Phil Mahood, his judgment clouded by being Sue’s new boyfriend, can’t warn her of the violent danger she is in because he’s leading the investigation. He is also skeptical of paranormal experiences she’s had in her home. Will Phil or the ancient ghost protect Sue and her home from the mob?
232 pages, Paperback
First published July 22, 2015
About the author
Michael Croucher
2 books24 followersMichael (Mike) Croucher is an independent author. His publisher closed when the industry went through its major downsizing a few years back. He has two published novels: Bravo's Veil and Diamond Run and is working on his third. He is putting together a collection of short stories and narratives, 40,000 words that will be released in 2023. Some of his short stories have appeared in various anthologies, the two latest being in Hill Spirits IV published by Blue Denim Press
An award–winning writer, he is a member of the Toronto Writers and Editors Network and the Spirit of the Hills Writers Group. When he’s not writing, Mike reads a great deal of fiction.
Mike served on the Metropolitan Toronto Police Department for 18 years, and was an original member of The Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit investigating organized crime.
Over the years, he has travelled extensively for business and pleasure. When possible, he has enjoyed museums, art galleries, and historic sites around the world. Mike has kept notebooks faithfully since 1963. They trigger memories that inspire much of his writing.
An award–winning writer, he is a member of the Toronto Writers and Editors Network and the Spirit of the Hills Writers Group. When he’s not writing, Mike reads a great deal of fiction.
Mike served on the Metropolitan Toronto Police Department for 18 years, and was an original member of The Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit investigating organized crime.
Over the years, he has travelled extensively for business and pleasure. When possible, he has enjoyed museums, art galleries, and historic sites around the world. Mike has kept notebooks faithfully since 1963. They trigger memories that inspire much of his writing.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
July 26, 2015
Wow, a vicious, hardened criminal will stop at nothing to get any diamonds he knows of as his last job. Anyone helping him is dead after the job is done. He leads a bloody path everywhere he goes, and has been at it for five years. Can he be caught? How many more victims will there be?
And this is also a ghost story! I have never read a book that had both of those genres until now. And this ghost actually plays a major role in the story.
What a great book it was! The beginning was a little slow while introducing all the characters, but after that, the story took off with a flourish. I so wanted to finish it in one reading, but I was so tired I HAD to go to sleep. No matter, I had a nice little start to my morning today.
This was my first book by Michael Croucher, it won't be my last.
Thanks Library Thing for providing me with this free e-galley in exchange for an honest review. I was thoroughly entertained!
And this is also a ghost story! I have never read a book that had both of those genres until now. And this ghost actually plays a major role in the story.
What a great book it was! The beginning was a little slow while introducing all the characters, but after that, the story took off with a flourish. I so wanted to finish it in one reading, but I was so tired I HAD to go to sleep. No matter, I had a nice little start to my morning today.
This was my first book by Michael Croucher, it won't be my last.
Thanks Library Thing for providing me with this free e-galley in exchange for an honest review. I was thoroughly entertained!
May 27, 2015
I loved this wonderfully written story of passion and crime, murder and intrigue. My eyes danced , raced across the pages to discover the next move in the game that is played by Marco and his pawns, with Phil and Ernie and the crew of blue fast on his trail.
From the onset we are taken on a ride by mysterious and "nasty" Marco- His greed and sense of mastery of crime let us know early in, this aloof character will not be an easy catch. The world turns upside-down across borders as we become entangled in a weave of criptik characters from New York, Florida, Toronto to Hamilton, Stoney Creek. As a Hamiltonian, how delightful to read about our beloved city, beautiful buildings , century homes and battles fought on lands about us.
A sense of duty quickly emerges from our lead cops and "Sue" , an unmitting relief for Detectative Mahon. Within minutes we are caught up in the reality of the enimit danger and restless spirits of those who have a story to tell. Our Phil and Ernie are the tried and true bluebloods, as the body count rises, the clever pair cover every angle, follow every lead on the heels of our sinister Marco. As Marco leads us on the journey, Phil and Ernie are shoring up the details -all the while mindfully aware of the procedures they must/may follow-orchestrated, a by the book manner in which they operated with a beautiful twist for bending the rules when required.
I loved Croucher's unfolding of Sue, a welcome innocent for Dectative Mahon, with the story blending Sue's friends , Charles and Gloria into a realm of danger-Diamonds indeed!.. Spirits arrive in the nick of time! I laughed , grimsped and cried with the love of characters both in this world and the next.
A sense of duty from the cop on the beat, to Marco the "Cleaner" grip us as the mystery unfolds. I am lost in a world where time and space are upside-down and am compelled to hang on tight , I cannot let go of the ride.
Loved this book!
Mary Marrin-Cross
From the onset we are taken on a ride by mysterious and "nasty" Marco- His greed and sense of mastery of crime let us know early in, this aloof character will not be an easy catch. The world turns upside-down across borders as we become entangled in a weave of criptik characters from New York, Florida, Toronto to Hamilton, Stoney Creek. As a Hamiltonian, how delightful to read about our beloved city, beautiful buildings , century homes and battles fought on lands about us.
A sense of duty quickly emerges from our lead cops and "Sue" , an unmitting relief for Detectative Mahon. Within minutes we are caught up in the reality of the enimit danger and restless spirits of those who have a story to tell. Our Phil and Ernie are the tried and true bluebloods, as the body count rises, the clever pair cover every angle, follow every lead on the heels of our sinister Marco. As Marco leads us on the journey, Phil and Ernie are shoring up the details -all the while mindfully aware of the procedures they must/may follow-orchestrated, a by the book manner in which they operated with a beautiful twist for bending the rules when required.
I loved Croucher's unfolding of Sue, a welcome innocent for Dectative Mahon, with the story blending Sue's friends , Charles and Gloria into a realm of danger-Diamonds indeed!.. Spirits arrive in the nick of time! I laughed , grimsped and cried with the love of characters both in this world and the next.
A sense of duty from the cop on the beat, to Marco the "Cleaner" grip us as the mystery unfolds. I am lost in a world where time and space are upside-down and am compelled to hang on tight , I cannot let go of the ride.
Loved this book!
Mary Marrin-Cross
July 28, 2015
Wow what a great book and an author I knew nothing about- I was asked to review Diamond Run by Librarything.com.
This is the author's second novel, the first was Bravo's Veil which I am just about to read.
I was totally engrossed in the book, and ideal as the weather at the weekend was so wet for June, so I snuggled up and started this action packed story. There is murder, mystery, a bit of spookiness and some passion thrown into the mix.
As the rain fell I was lost in this strange world, with Sue and he haunted house, and Sergeant Phil with his undercover quest for the mobster who will stop at nothing for diamonds.
The two unlikely investigations are intertwined (the reader may think far fetched but believe me it works) and will eventually run into each other.
The author writes well and in a way pulls the reader into this world effortlessly.
One of the best books I have read in 2015 so far.
This book is due for publication July 8th 2015. The reader has not got long to wait. Pack this in your suitcase for a great holiday read.
This is the author's second novel, the first was Bravo's Veil which I am just about to read.
I was totally engrossed in the book, and ideal as the weather at the weekend was so wet for June, so I snuggled up and started this action packed story. There is murder, mystery, a bit of spookiness and some passion thrown into the mix.
As the rain fell I was lost in this strange world, with Sue and he haunted house, and Sergeant Phil with his undercover quest for the mobster who will stop at nothing for diamonds.
The two unlikely investigations are intertwined (the reader may think far fetched but believe me it works) and will eventually run into each other.
The author writes well and in a way pulls the reader into this world effortlessly.
One of the best books I have read in 2015 so far.
This book is due for publication July 8th 2015. The reader has not got long to wait. Pack this in your suitcase for a great holiday read.
June 25, 2015
I received a PDF copy of this book for free via LibraryThing Early Reviewer program. I found this book hard to follow at first, but as I got further into it the story line became clearer. However, it does combine a combination of genres, including thriller, paranormal, romance, and mystery. At times it can seem that there is too much or too many genres in one story, but it does all come together in the end.
One thing I would recommend, is that the Author's Note be in the front of the book, and not at the end. It really helps to explain what this book is and why it is all in this one story.
It took some getting used to, but turned out to be a pretty good read for a first book and I think the second book will be even better .
One thing I would recommend, is that the Author's Note be in the front of the book, and not at the end. It really helps to explain what this book is and why it is all in this one story.
It took some getting used to, but turned out to be a pretty good read for a first book and I think the second book will be even better .
November 14, 2015
This book was very entertaining once it really got started. The first couple chapters it was hard to get into, but I promise it gets better. I loved how the author mixed up the real world with the supernatural world, but not enough that it will turn off the reader of the crime/suspense genre. It moved at a very steady pace. I also enjoyed how it tied up everything so neatly in the end. I do look forward to seeing how Mr. Croucher develops his character of Off. Mahood as time progresses. He is off to a great start with it. I hope Gloria and Charles stick around since I would like to see them more utilized in the future as Phil continues to shed his skepticism. All in all, it's a great read.
June 15, 2015
Diamond Run by Michael Coucher
This book was a true action-oriented novel. The dialog flowed into the content of the book as the reader imagined the voices speaking the words. The plot was rich with sound based on the words in the story. The reader experienced the action in the story as if they were in the same space as the characters. The descriptions in the book were vivid and real enabling the reader to see into the world of the character. I received an ARC. I really loved the book and would highly recommend reading it!!
This book was a true action-oriented novel. The dialog flowed into the content of the book as the reader imagined the voices speaking the words. The plot was rich with sound based on the words in the story. The reader experienced the action in the story as if they were in the same space as the characters. The descriptions in the book were vivid and real enabling the reader to see into the world of the character. I received an ARC. I really loved the book and would highly recommend reading it!!
October 11, 2015
A fantastic book! I loved the gritty detail that the main character Phil provides as an organized crime investigator in the late '70's and the hunt for the bad guys will have you unable to put the book down. The paranormal side story was a unique twist that hooked me in even further! I definitely plan to read other works by this author.
March 5, 2023
Terrible editing. Several dozen very odd errors of various types. Words misspelled, misused, left out, etc. throughout. Maybe this was self-published with no regard for editing.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews