Dying Eyes (Brian McDone Mysteries, #1) by Ryan Casey

Dying Eyes (Brian McDone Mysteries, #1) Reviews

• 
  Cheryl (Takin' It Easy This Year!)

  Loved it! Gripping read. My first read of this author and it won't be the last.
• 
  Katie

  *I 'purchased' this book for free from Amazon*
  
  This book was interesting, but it just seems to go on and on and skips back and forth so much it's exhausting. I feel that a big chunk of the end could have been left out. McDone's character is a little ridiculous, he's trying to hide his self-harming by pretending to be an alcoholic, which is supposedly okay to be if you're a police officer. I just don't understand why he has to commit so fully to being a smelly, gross drunk to cover up his cutting, can't he just wear long sleeves? and if he's constantly hungover from passing out drunk every night, then how can he be so sharp at his job?
  
  I really enjoy murder mysteries, who done it's, etc. but this book was too much about everyone else but the murdered girl, and yet there wasn't successful character building of any of the main characters.
  
  
• 
  David Freas

  This had the potential to be a good story. However, several things negated that potential.
  
  1/ The main character wasn’t engaging. The only good thing about him was his love for his son, but that’s not enough.
  
  2/ None of the other characters were likeable either. All were rude and abrasive to each other and much of what passed for conflict between them was merely bickering.
  
  3/ Much of the book was overwritten with the author trying too hard to find different ways to say the same thing but failing. One example: a character ejected instead of unbuckled her seatbelt. The two are not synonyms.
  
  Those failings reduced what could have been a 3 or 4 star book to a 2 star one. Actually, 1½ stars would be a more accurate rating because the book did nothing for me.
  
  So, I won’t be reading more of this author’s books.
• 
  Stephanie

  NO SPOILERS
  
  Wow I had to struggle through this. More read it out of amusement for how dreadful it was. Sorry Ryan Casey I do always try not to give bad reviews but I would be not doing my brain justice if I didn't allow it to vent just a bit about how much you just stole some hours of my life.
  
  Really don't bother reading this.
  
  Obvious story, obvious back story. The one twist on the usual story really isn't covered up terribly well so the reveal is dreadful as is the twist on the back story.
• 
  Joan

  My word this was depressing. And what's with the Americanism? Preston Police Department? Surely it's Lancashire Constabulary??
  
  I couldn't find one thing to like in the characters, or the depiction of the city. DNF when the language got too much. (why do writers always depict policeman as being foul-mouthed?)
  
  Not rating for personal reasons.
• 
  Hanne

  ...and yet another free book on amazon
  
  WHY DID THE AUTHOR NOT MAKE THE PROTAGONIST LIKEABLE????
  also it was very technical and just not great???
  so uh yeah
  
  the mystery part was fine i guess
  but it wasn't anything particularly great
  
• 
  Black Butterfly

  I HAVE SUCH MIXED EMOTIONS ABOUT THIS SERIES (starter bk#1), THE STORY LINE IS VERY GOOD BUT THE CHARACTERS UGH. I DID NOT LIKE ANY OF THEM THE MAIN LEAD (mc morbid) IS A TROUBLED DISGUSTING PERSON AND THE REST ARE JUST UNLIKABLE AND FORGETTABLE. BECAUSE OF DC MCDONE’S DEPRESSING BEHAVIOR IT MADE ME VERY ANGRY (in the next bk) I HOPE HE REALLY GETS HIS SH*T TOGETHER. MAYBE THE AUTHOR WAS TRYING TO MAKE HIM MORE LIKE A REAL PERSON A LITTLE TOO MUCH. WELL IT DID NOT WORK FOR ME IT MADE ME KINDA DEPRESSED, THERE WAS'NT ANYBODY TO REALLY ROOT FOR. I’M TRYING TO DECIDE IF I WANT TO READ MORE OF THE SERIES OR IF I’M DONE WITH DC MCDONE. BUMMER! ;\
• 
  Ted Tayler

  More of a case of who didn't do it, rather than a who dunnit. Nevertheless, it was a thoroughly enjoyable tale, written in a style that lifts it above the norm. I look forward to more Brian McDone stories, I believe Ryan Casey is onto a winner!
• 
  Beth

  FREE ON AMAZON 07/08/14
• 
  Tony Parsons

  Interview room. DS Brian McDone (son, Lancashire PD) & DS Cassy Emerson went to tell Mr. Trevor Watson & Mrs. Shenice Watson the bad news.
  Nicola “Nicky” Watson (22, daughter/sister) had been murdered.
  
  DS McDone & DS Emerson were interviewing Ms. Stocks (grandmother).
  Daniel “Danny” Stocks (23, Nicky’s BF) was nowhere to be found.
  Scott Watson (son/brother) was next on their list.
  DS “Fatty” McDone & DS Emerson interrogated Daniel “Danny” Stocks accompanied by Jonny Marsden (solicitor).
  DS Robert Luther (leader), accompanied by his solicitor Kayleigh Wallbridge (solicitor) was also being interrogated by Brian, DS Kayleigh, & DS Cassy (f).
  Will the murderer be caught & brought to justice?
  
  I did not receive any type of compensation for reading & reviewing this book. While I receive free books from publishers & authors, I am under no obligation to write a positive review. Only an honest one.
  
  A very awesome book cover, great font & writing style. A very well written who-dunnit murder mystery book. It was very easy for me to read/follow from start/finish & never a dull moment. There were no grammar/typo errors, nor any repetitive or out of line sequence sentences. Lots of exciting scenarios, with several twists/turns & a great set of unique characters to keep track of. This could also make another great who-dunnit murder mystery movie, or better yet a mini TV series. A very easy rating of 5 stars.
  
  Thank you for the free author; Higher Bank Books; Amazon Digital Services LLC.; book
  Tony Parsons MSW (Washburn)
  
• 
  Nikki

  CONTAINS A SPOILER
  
  This wasn't the best, honestly. I actually expected more out of it. During the first few chapters, I wasn't really liking the way it read and it got quite annoying when the characters couldn't finish their sentences. "How - Wha - Why - But how - how could - " and it goes on and on. I think the author has more potential and can write better. The story line was....okayyyy. It was interesting all the plot twists and, as some of the people who reviewed this book said it was more of a who-didn't-do-it book, I thought that was what made the book kinda interesting. When you're only on page 120 out of 209 (I read the Nook version), you're automatically going to assume a plot twist is coming. There's no way the killer was found with another 89 pages to go... I also have to admit, the ending was pretty good. I'm glad Brian got a good ending. Although, I was a little sad that Cassy died only because she seemed like a real badass and that's just awesome.
  
  
  Overall, I would have to give it a 3.5 star rating. I think the main issue I had was the language used and the style of writing. I wouldn't turn away another Ryan Casey book, though :)
• 
  Lirisha Tuladhar

  To say this book was totally awesome wouldnt be so appropriate.. The book waa somewhat quite a twist and turn.. and like it had said.. you dont know whom to trust and whom not..
  The murder framing as a prostitute was quite good and the way the investigation smoothed on was grasping somehow.. Like the characters felt.. well here is the culprit! but then again it comes with a twist and again it starts the hunt of whos the culprit.. well that was something to keep the story going...
  a bit of romance mixed along with the realiatic game with time... The way story also portrayed the hardship of the work and the balance between the family.. The burning frustrations and depressions.. it was commendable..
  i really enjoyed the book and it surely did make me awake.. started reading and couldnt put it down, until.. it all reached the end.. started with a death.. ended with death.. the IRONY!!
• 
  R.L.

  I thought the suspense was killer in this novel. Loved it.
  
  After the young lady is found, it is assumed that she is a prostitute. She is not. They soon discover that there are several cover-ups going on, and most of them involve a personal empowerment group trying to uplift people in the small town and cause the town to improve itself. Surely nothing could be wrong with that?
  
  But there is a lot wrong with people in this mysterious group. Who are the bad guys? Are there several? Or just one? And could the top people in the police department be involved in cover-ups, too?
  
  The only nit I have is that the cover looks like covers I've seen elsewhere.
  
  The story line doesn't lag. The characters are believable. Recommended read.
• 
  Will Decker

  Getting to the end turned into a real struggle. At what point do you cut bait? Character development was almost weird; I can't say it was non-existent, it just didn't bring the characters to life in a way that made them relate-able. Except for Cassy, there isn't a likable character in the story. Nor do the characters interact with each other like real people. They're off (weird). And what's with constantly repeating things? Going for a higher word count? There's a lot of potential in this story, but it needs a lot more work in the delivery, and that's after cutting the author slack for being English.
• 
  Mrs M V Goodall

  Keeps you guessing until the end.
  
  Thought I had it worked out! The twists & turns made it an interesting glimpse into the twisted reality of the perpetrators mind & although I did get the right person I had the motive not completely right. I found myself feeling as frustrated as the main characters must have been, with dead ends & leads going nowhere!! The main characters were both flawed individuals, which made it easier to relate to them. Definitely a good read.
• 
  Uwe

  Boring story, boring characters, the conversation is sometimes out of a comic book or something. A detective who cuts himself and is using whisky as a deodorant and his boss is just an idiot, not to talk about the rest of the so called police department which obviously got only drunks, fat ones or dumb ones....... who thought about this ?
• 
  Barrie

  New to this author
  
  I usually don't enjoy books written in a foreign country. Slow going at first but in a few chapters I was hooked! I recommend this book to those that love a great cop book!
• 
  Jerry Walch

  I’m not a fan of the English style of mystery writing. Perhaps someone who’s a fan say of Agatha Christie would enjoy this book, but that’s not my cup of tea. Too slow! Too long and drawn out. I will not read this book again and I will not be reading any more books in the Brian McDone series.
• 
  MelMon Sanchez

  I was hoping for more with the length of this book. There were too many investigative mistakes, too many suspects, too many people accused. It was a total back and forth and getting nowhere kind of story.
• 
  Linda

  Didn't much care for this -- not terrible, just not my style. Won't be continuing the series. At least the author finally satisfied my curiosity as to why McDone was pretending to be an alcoholic, and what had happened to separate him from his wife and son.
• 
  david gordon

  Excellent Read
  
  Took me a day and a half to finish it, highly recommended to mystery lovers. Will be reading more from Ryan Casey.