The Penitent One (Boston Crime Thriller #3) by Brian Shea

The Penitent One (Boston Crime Thriller #3) Reviews

• 
  Kathi Defranc

  A Thrilling Adventure With The Boston Homicide Unit, Searching For A Ghost Of A Killer
  
  A dead priest in the confessional at church opens a tumultuous tale, looking for a killer who leaves No evidence at his crime scenes, only a mark on each dead man ties them together. This is Detective Michael Kelly's church, where he spent much of his time growing up. Upon the sight on the priest's hand he is brought back to the killing of his partner, nine years ago...A haunting case he could never close...
  An FBI Special Agent is assigned to assist, and Kelly is shocked to learn that they have been trying to apprehend the same killer for a decade! With no evidence, no leads and fear that murders will continue, Detective Kelly must use his knowledge of the streets of Dorchester, and the folks on them, to make any headway on this headache of a case...
  The author uses his own background as a Detective to keep each scene real, as you feel yourself right there, traveling a disturbing path to hopefully keep the Unit alive and the streets clear of any more bodies...
  A 5 STAR story in a series that I can Not get enough of!!#
• 
  Rich

  I just finished a good book at that is always a good thing. This was the third book in the series and was the second best one with the first book being the best one. It was a good story , good dialogue and moved at a pretty good pace never got bogged down. I liked the characters and the secondary characters. it was a good police story in a police series but did not make me go wow. i was thinking about giving it 4 stars , but instead it gets 3.75 for two main reasons. One I am tired of main police detectives having troubled or uncetain relationships with their main squeeze. To me that is old and tried and you lose points lol. The second reason was that it had a very open ended ending setting you up for the next book. I know there is one more book to be written in the series however I felt it is cheesy when an author does this to force you to read the next book-points lost lol. I do say it is areal good book and give it a spin.
• 
  Grace Koshida

  Boston Homicide detective Michael Kelly gets a frantic phone call from childhood friend Father O'Brien about a murder at his church. Kelly arrives on scene to find newcomer Father Tomlin shot dead in the confessional. When forensics finds a distinctive X figure cut into the victim's left hand, Kelly sees a connection to the unsolved murder of his former partner Danny Rourke 8 years ago.
  
  Kelly and the rest of the homicide team are surprised when the FBI becomes involved in the case. Special Agent Gray informs them that they have been tracking a serial killer who has been at large for 15 years. The BAU profile indicates he is ex-military or police and have given him the nickname of The Penitent One.
  
  What is his motivation and who is next on the list towards his unrelenting path to justice? Kelly and Gray both have their own personal reasons for wanting to capture The Penitent One. It becomes a deadly confrontation for Kelly and his team to save long-time nemesis mobster Connor Walsh from becoming the next victim. A final bloody confrontation between Kelly, Gray and the Penitent One occurs in a remote wooded property.
  
  This book was not as good as the first two books but is another solid entry in the Boston Crime Thriller series.
  
  I received an eARC from Severn River Publishing with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book and provided this review.
• 
  M

  Recommend this novel to crime fiction fans. Can be read as a stand-alone. Best to read prior books.
  
  As a crime fiction fan, I thoroughly enjoyed this well-written police procedural. The serial killer storyline is complex and well-crafted, with good twists. The police characters are likable, as are many secondary characters. However, be warned that there are 40-50 named characters, many from earlier books and with little explanation. I made a cast list.
  
  I enjoyed following Detective Michael Kelly and his team as they investigated. It was interesting to have a helpful FBI agent in the mix, actually participating in the investigation as part of Kelly’s team. I particularly enjoyed reading the police protocols and procedures, because of the fine details about crime scenes, evidence collection, taking photos, documentation, etc.
  
  This book can be read as a stand-alone, as there are some backstories so I could make correct inferences about characters and some events. However, I recommend reading earlier books, because there are missing interpersonal backstories, ongoing police politics, and references to earlier cases. I will read the earlier books of this series.
  
• 
  Pam Cash

  I have been a fan of this series since the first book. I love the Boston setting and the interesting development of the characters, especially the protagonist, Michael Kelly.
  This book started off with a bang...a priest is murdered in the confessional of a Dorchester Catholic Church. It’s a major case with all the politics that such a case brings with it. There is very little evidence to work with, but one piece seems to link the killer to several past murders including one that has haunted Mike for years.
  Some new characters are introduced along with several reoccurring ones including Connor Walsh and Mike’s ongoing desire to end the reign of this long-time Boston mob boss. I also liked the FBI agent who joins Mike’s team for this case. Hope he appears in future books.
• 
  The Humble Jess

  I don't know what to say. Disappointed. Let down a little. The first book was good. A set up with the background of our characters and a storyline. It was good. The second book was fabulous. It was brilliant. This book....it was a downfall from the second. Any questions you had with the first and second book was solved with this third one. But it was slow. Kinda boring. I pretty much skimmed it. Skimmed 80 percent of it and got the jist. Eh. I'll give it 3 stars. It was between good and bad.
• 
  David Taylor

  This latest episode in Brian Shea’s Michael Kelly series is without a doubt the best yet. Not only is it filled with nonstop action and investigation into a couple of murders, it begins to tie loose ends from earlier books together If you are a fan of this series this is a must-read book, without providing any spoilers just grab a copy and get reading you won’t be sorry. While it would be great to have read the earlier books in this series, you could jump right into this story without having read them due to the brief coverage of former events and characters. I received an Advance Reader Copy and chose to provide this review.
• 
  Jo Ann

  Friends
  
  A terrific book, Brian Shea does it again. Filled with lots of action And A wonderful story of friends who are like brothers willing to fight to protect each other and to help make th world a better place Thank you.
• 
  James Q Small

  Satisfying
  
  The Boston Crime series is fast becoming one of my favorites. Very well written and beautifully executed. Each has been an absolute pleasure to read. Awaiting number four.
• 
  Roger

  The Penitent One (Boston Crime Thriller Book 3), my third read from author Brian Christopher Shea. Outstanding police fiction, well-written with characters & plot you can buy into with unexpected twists & turns. I look forward to Sign of the Maker (Boston Crime Thriller #4). I HAVE FOUND A NEW OUTSTANDING AUTHOR! "I received a free review copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review." (RIP Marley January 20, 2014 - July 24, 2018).
• 
  Tom S

  Good series about any Irish cop in Boston.
• 
  Jana

  Enjoyed this book. Michael Kelly reminds me of my straight arrow detective, Dave
  Robicheaux created by James Lee Burke and Joe Pickett from CJ Box.
• 
  Beth

  Another tense and suspenseful book in the series
  
  The book starts out with a bang and doesn’t slow down. The first murder strikes too close to home for Mike Kelly and he is determined to be the one to solve the case. When it becomes apparent that there are other connections and an FBI agent is brought in to help the team things ratchet up even further.
  
  Personal relationships are a big part of his story as well. Family, friends, Co-workers, romantic relationships all play intricate roles in the action. We get to know more about Kelly as a cop and as a person. There are some new people who enter the cast of characters and different angles on those we’ve seen referenced before.
  
  The story arc moves well and the action scenes are pulse pounding.
  
  The series continues to be compelling and to carry that air of authenticity that comes from being written by someone with law enforcement experience. I look forward to the next book.
• 
  Denny Howard

  If you’re not hooked yet with Kelly and his mates, you will definitely be by the early pages of this good read. If there’s any disappointment in this book I think it’s the low drag on his handling of the Barnes/Kelly relationship. Kelly is all business! No more touching fingers, legs, etc., we’d experienced before. As if Kelly’s main focus is “any case” and “everything may come later.” A life balance is missing. I’m patient with Shea’s characters just because I have to be! They are his, not mine. If Barnes is “hot” maybe Kelly…I’ll shut up; it’s Shea’s book. Onwards, everything else is definitely great stuff. Many twists around the main plot, but in the end Shea has woven a great read!
• 
  Judi

  Brian Shea's police procedural books never disappoint. Taking place in Boston, the locations are familiar, and the characters feel like familiar people. In this third of the series, Homicide detective Michael Kelly is on the search for a killer who has been on the loose for many years, but continues to murder. The latest killing is of a priest in a confessional. What do the victims have in common? Why has this person been able to avoid capture for so many years? Many questions that keep the plot moving forward quickly.
• 
  Linda

  I am really enjoying this series. I love the way the flavors of parts of Boston are depicted and how the characters are influenced by their environment. I also like the additions of the new characters, Kelly's boss and the FBI liaison. I'd like to see more romantic development between Kelly and his partner Barnes, though. On to #4al!!