4 stars

Murders at New Orleans’ Mardi Gras

Quentin Archer is ‘on the run’ in New Orleans from a bent copper who he knows killed his wife, and from his two brothers, all of whom are extremely involved in the narcotics industry.

Archer (aka ‘Q’) is also an active homicide detective who is thrust into a series of seemingly unconnected brutal murders, where an aerosol can has been left at the scenes of crime. The can is used to quickly chill wine and also as a quick thrilling and chilling – and possibly fatal – nasal spray. Hence the media headlines of ‘The Chill Thrill Kills’.

Archer is a dedicated officer who has total faith in police procedures and justice, but this being New Orleans, he finds himself attracted to Solange Cordray, a voodoo lady who uses tarot cards and casts bones.

Although this is the second book in the series, it holds up well as a ‘standalone’, and the personalities, plot and pace are all admirable. The descriptions of New Orleans at Mardi Gras time were such that the reader feels as though he is in the middle of all that madness and mayhem.

This book was a pleasure to read and I highly recommend it.

Sméagol

Breakaway reviewers received a copy of the book to read.

My review of this title has been posted on the Fresh Fiction website. It can be accessed at:
http://freshfiction.com/review.php?id=62910
I would like to thank Severn House and NetGalley for the opportunity to view this ARC.

Don Bruns skillfully brings New Orleans to life, giving readers a sense of the true colors and true dangers in this vibrant city. Having lived in New Orleans, I can testify to the authenticity of Bruns’s depiction. Thrill Kill is the second Quentin Archer mystery and is easily as good as the first.


Quentin Archer is a clean cop in a dirty city, a rarity amidst the corrupt. Although he left Detroit, he still pursues the corrupt cops that instigated his wife’s murder. Many want him dead, and that is before he is assigned to the Thrill Kills. Someone is committing murders. The method varies, but in each case a can of spray gas - Chill is left at the scene. While the murders seem random, several of the victims are prominent residents. Meanwhile a gang war is beginning. Two groups involved in human trafficking and drugs are getting greedy, making the powerful figures in the background uneasy. Once again Quentin needs the help of voodoo queen Solange Cordray - but will it be enough to limit the bloodshed…


Thrill Kill was almost impossible to put down. Don Bruns knows how to write a compelling story. Knowing what both sides are doing in no way detracts from the reader’s eagerness to discover what happens next. The issue of human trafficking is a troubling one, as it is a severe problem in the US - one that is likely to become worse. These modern day slaves have little to no opportunity to escape, and no protection if they do. It’s heartbreaking, and definitely needs to be addressed. Thrill Kill is an impressive novel, and Bruns series is one of the best mystery series set in New Orleans.


5 / 5


I received a copy of Thrill Kill from the publisher and Netgalley.com in exchange for an honest review.


--Crittermom

I like this author and think have read all of his books, from the Caribbean series, to the stuff series, and now this series, so I obviously like his writing, but I had a hard time getting into this book and then staying interested. I like the characters well enough and I love the setting of New Orleans, because I think it brings a unique flavor to the story, but I just couldn't get into this one. It really focused on the dealing between 2 gangs in NOLA and I just don't think that subject matter was interesting to me. I really kind of wish he would go back to writing about James and Skip because there was an element of humor in those books that I really enjoyed. That said, I will likely read the next book in this series, hoping the subject matter is of greater interest to me.

After enjoying the first in the New Orleans series, I decided to read the sequel. Detective Quentin Archer is still grieving the loss of his wife, Denise, although is becoming ever more aware of his inner attraction to the beautiful Solange Corday, who has a strong familial lineage of gifted voodoo practitioners. The problems he was forced to run away from in Detroit are a continuing concern and danger for him. It is Mardi Gras parades and celebrations, and this year, evil spirits hover over it. There are the rising spikes in the sex trade fuelled by tourists as illicit activities sky rocket and there are a growing number of sinister murders. Bodies are discovered with a can of Chill beside them and the media have dubbed the perpetrator, The Chill Thrill Killer.

Quentin and his partner, Josh Levy, are struggling to find a connection between what appears to be randomly chosen victims. In absolute desperation, Quentin turns to voodoo specialist, Solange, who had provided critical help to him before. Solange's trade in prayer, gris gris bags, crystals and spells does well at Mardi Gras with customers in search of answers and desires for particular outcomes. Solange provides the only leads in the case and much more. In a story that takes in the sordid trade in human trafficking aiming to supply the sex industry and local businesses, drugs, and ambitious gangs vying to increase their ill gotten gains, Quentin finds himself in danger that lurks from numerous quarters as the killings continue.

In a well plotted tale with a strong sense of location in New Orleans, the narrative is gripping and tense. Quentin is a man with a traumatic history who is slowly settling into his new city and the police department. He is a sceptic when it comes to Solange's powers but at the same time cannot dismiss how critically important they have been in saving his life and in solving major cases. I enjoyed this book, although the story occasionally feels uneven. I would suggest reading the first in the series as this book makes continual references to events and characters to it. Many thanks to Severn House for an ARC.

Spell-binding. How can you lose when you combine Mardi Gras with Voodoo? Full of intrigue and surprising twists, this is a tough book to lay down; it's got all the ingredients necessary to cook up a heck of a story, with characters both heroic and chilling. Thoroughly enjoyable, and highly recommended.

This is the second book in this series starring Detective Quentin Archer (Q), now in the murder capital of the country, New Orleans. Q is a good guy. A good man who was forced out of Detroit under tragic circumstances.

When bodies start showing up and there is nothing the police can see linking them to each other except the can of Chill found at each site.

Now with three dead bodies, and no leads or motive or even witnesses, as horrible as it sounds there seems to be nothing they can do but wait until this killer strikes again.

With nothing to lose, Q contacts Solange Corday, a psychic, who hopefully can help them find something.

Set in a city I know very well, New Orleans, this author didn't bother to romanticize the city but showed the side the tourists don't notice in their frenzied partying. The ugly, dirty side. The one with gangs and all kinds people without good intentions prowling the streets unnoticed in the Mardi Gras crowds.

Really good book. I would definitely read it again!

Thanks to Netgalley and Severn House for this early copy!

3 and 1 / 2 stars

Detectives Quentin “Q” Archer and Josh Levy are investigating a series of murders called “thrill kills.” These murders have no apparent reason, and the victims are random. The only clue that ties the victims together is an aerosol can of “Chill” that was left at each scene. Chill is has many uses, but one of them is to get a cheap high.

Solange Cordray, a renowned psychic is asked to assist with the case.

This book has it all: suspense, drama, gang members, and a human trafficking ring. Together Solange and Q follow the clues and track down the killer.

I liked the increase in tension as the novel went along. The characters are colorful and given in-depth backstories. This is a well written novel and I enjoyed it very much. I will read more of Don Bruns’ novels.

I want to thank Netgalley and Severn House/Severn House Publishers for forwarding to me a copy of this good book to read.

I would like to thank Netgalley and Severn House for an advance copy of Thrill Kill, the second New Orleans based police procedural to feature displaced Detroit Detective Quintin "Q" Archer.

New Orleans is the murder capital of the States but a particular series of murders with a body every couple of days is getting everyone hot and bothered because there is no apparent motive and no clues. There are different methods of killing but the one consistent is a used, wiped down can of Chill left under the body. Q is struggling to find answers and finally consults psychic Solange Corday for some help.

I enjoyed Thrill Kill. Mr Bruns really captures the atmosphere of New Orleans with its non stop partying and seedy service industry. Disappointingly the novel is set around Mardi Gras so there is no sense of heat to warm the reader on a cold day. I also liked the voodoo aspect of the novel as it is not overwhelming enough to put you off, rather it is informative and interesting.

The plot has a bit of everything with murder, danger, gangbangers and the revolting trade in human trafficking which, again, is informative but difficult to read. Mr Bruns does not overegg his descriptions and this understatedness makes me believe everything he has written. This background aside he has written a good, absorbing novel as Q and his partner slowly hunt down their quarry.

Q is a good protagonist. He is a decent man, hounded out of Detroit for hunting down the rogue cops, including his 2 brothers, who killed his wife. He has made a new, if solitary, home for himself in New Orleans. Unfortunately for him one of his brothers and the ringleader of the Detroit gang have escaped justice and are constantly threatening him. These characters do not have a big role in Thrill Kill but their threats add to the tension.

Thrill Kill is a good read and I have no hesitation in recommending it.