Things Left Behind

by James Glass

When Lieutenant Mark Wheeler of the South Carolina Police Department arrives at a possible murder-suicide, he realizes almost immediately things are amiss. The crime scene is brutal, but upon further investigation, he unveils a sadistic killer at play who will stop at nothing to get away. As the case unfolds and takes a few hard turns, nothing can prepare Wheeler for the gauntlet of turmoil and trouble. Relentlessly pursuing a psychopath who has flown under the radar for years Mark fights to keep control-driven to bring this monster to justice. Will the sadistic killer finally be caught or will his instincts which have helped him so far see him through to the end?

Genres: Fiction

ebook

First published January 9, 2014

About the author

James Glass retired from the United States Navy. After retiring, he exchanged his rifle for a pen. He and his family moved back to the Florida Panhandle. He’s married and has two children. James is also the President of the Panhandle Writer's Group.

Reviews

[Cher · Rating 5 out of 5]

Police Lieutenant Mark Wagner is a man who has lived a difficult life. He still suffers from PTSD after having served in Viet Nam. Now over sixty years old, Mark must deal with his wife of many years being diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. All of this weighs on his mind as he gets a complicated murder case that is reminiscent of the loss of his younger sister. Being the Lead Investigator of this particular case does not make his life easier. He must work with some inept people and the press, none of which makes the solving of this crime easy.
The author makes excellent use of descriptive phrasing when discussing scenes and characters. The dialogue moves the story along well and is credible. James Glass gives this case an unexpected turn, and that part, especially, is what makes this book an outstanding read. If you like crime stories, this book, Things Left Behind, will not disappoint.
Things Left Behind

[Joseph Swope · Rating 5 out of 5]

James Glass' "Things Left Behind" is a fast-paced, intense hunt for a serial killer that is a healthy does of "Criminal Minds" with a touch of "NCIS" thrown in for good measure. Glass' knowledge of both criminal investigation techniques and naval operations is on full display as a contingent of investigators, police and naval officers track down serial killer Jack Spielman as he leaves a swath of bodies across the country. While Jack's decision to board a naval ship under false pretenses halfway through the tale is a bit curious and under-explained, it does provide the author with a platform to give his readers a glimpse inside the inner workings of the U.S. military. Perhaps the most haunting aspect of the book is the collection of quotes Glass has assembled for actual serial killers that introduces each chapter of "Things Left Behind." Those quotes remind us that fact is not so far from fiction as we might like.

[Veronica Theriot · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lt. Wheeler is now up there with my favorite detectives, right along with Alex Cross, the detail in Things Left Behind by the author James Glass left me with no questions left unanswered. Loved the book, could not put it down for long!

[barbara pint · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review

I enjoyed reading this book! Liked the author's way of telling the story. I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good detective mystery.

[Tina O'Hailey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely enjoyed this read. I kept having to return to it during my lunch breaks
(which I usually don't read in) 'cause I just had to see how it turned out.

[Tim Freeman · Rating 5 out of 5]

James Glass as crafted a great serial killer. Jack Spielman is one sick bastard who knows how to blend in, like a chameleon. I'm not sure where hoe found the inspiration to write this character but I loved and hated Jack. And LT. Mark Wheeler is a great protagonist who will stop at nothing to find Jack and bring him to justice. Mark's character reminds me a lot of Joe Kinda from the Homicide Hunter. I couldn't put this book down. I read it through the night an finished the following day. I also thought using a quote from a serial killer to start each chapter was brilliant. If you love crime thrillers, you'll want to read this book. And if you enjoyed Stone Cold by James Glass, we get to meet Sergeant Rebecca Watson for the first time. man I loved this story. Can't wait t read the next one.

[Margaret Walker · Rating 5 out of 5]

I must admit, I fell in love with Mark Wheeler. If I weren't married to my soulmate, he'd be my first choice. But don't tell my husband. He's a bit jealous, but not as jealous as the killer in this story, Jack Spielman. I'm not sure how James Glass came up with this character, but he's scary. The killer, not James Glass. I hope everyone enjoyed this crime thriller as much as me.

[Vernon Frost · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great story with some interesting plot twists. I found the characters to be very interesting. I loved Mark Wheeler and Jack Spielman was definitely a great bad guy. I also thought a minor character, Mace Bruggeman was hilarious. His stories made me laugh. What an original character.

[Robert Clark · Rating 5 out of 5]

In James Glass’s novel, Things Left Behind, Police Lieutenant Mark Wheeler has a problem. The investigation of a seeming murder/suicide is enough to tell him what seemed to be obvious was not. He wasn’t looking at a murder/suicide, but at a double murder set up to look like one. The obvious suspect is Jack Spielman, the lover of one of the victims, but Spielman is nowhere to be found. As he looks deeper into the case, and into Spielman, Wheeler realizes he is dealing with a serial killer, but one not fitting the usual profile of such psychopaths. Convinced Spielman is the murderer; Wheeler stays on the man’s trail with dogged determination.
The body count increases as Spielman leaves fresh corpses behind him. Wheeler finds not only the recent kills, but much earlier victims in the cold cases of several states. He enlists the aid of officers from several police departments and, reluctantly, from the federal government. Sometimes he feels Spielman is almost in his grasp. At other times the murderer seems to disappear, but Wheeler refuses to give up his pursuit. Too say much more would be almost sure to introduce a spoiler, because the question of which adversary will emerge as victor when Things Left Behind ends isn’t answered until the last few pages of Glass’s novel.
Some readers may find the details of the crime scene examinations and laborious pouring over detail tedious, and the asides into personalities, including those of some minor characters, irrelevant, but both give Things Left Behind a greater impression of realism. Personally, I found the careful descriptions of the police investigations my favorite part of Glass’s novel.
The portrayals of the police in Things Left Behind were some of the best and most realistic I’ve seen in a novel. They weren’t paragons of virtue, but, more important, they weren’t the foul-mouthed bullies trampling people’s rights and feeling they were above the law in the way they are too often presented in crime novels. Glass shows the street cops as hard-working men and women trying to do the right thing while being forced to deal with inadequate resources. This is not a novel where the reader will start sympathizing with the criminal and wondering who the real bad guy is. Spielman is despicable, a complete monster, and the people hunting him are good guys, period.

[Jill · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Great Gritty Read!! This story was a real page turner! This is a gritty serial murder novel which not really what I usually read but I found it fascinating. Seeing inside the serial killer's head was both scary and fascinating. Mr. Glass obviously did his homework when creating this character. I was pulled forward in each chapter to find out what happened next. I was impressed when several times I was surprised by the turn of events. I found this a fast and exciting read!

[Demetrius Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

I tried this book because it was recommended to me by another reader. They thought I would enjoy the story and man were they wrong. I absolutely loved the story. I fell in love with Mark Wheeler, who for his age is a real bad ass. He also has a quirky sense of humor I thoroughly enjoyed.
When Lieutenant Mark Wheeler of the South Carolina Police Department arrives at a possible murder-suicide, he realizes almost immediately things are amiss. The crime scene is brutal, but upon further investigation, he unveils a sadistic killer at play who will stop at nothing to get away. As the case unfolds and takes a few hard turns, nothing can prepare Wheeler for the gauntlet of turmoil and trouble. Relentlessly pursuing a psychopath who has flown under the radar for years Mark fights to keep control-driven to bring this monster to justice. Will the sadistic killer finally be caught or will his instincts which have helped him so far see him through to the end?
I'd highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys crime thrillers. I've already started his next novel.

[Gino Cox]

Things Left Behind pits a determined detective against a brilliant and remorseless psychopath who is careful to clean up all trace evidence and stages his victims to suggest entirely different crimes. The investigation is hindered by internecine conflicts and competition between various military and civilian law enforcement agencies in four states and aboard a Navy warship, the involvement of influential politicians, and unreliable witnesses who are determined to keep their own indiscretions private.

[James Glass · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I began writing Things Left Behind, it was my intention to tell a story. A story that would capture the reader's attention on the first page and keep them engaged until the last word was read. Hopefully, I have accomplished this.

[Caytlyn Brooke · Rating 3 out of 5]

I want to start off by saying that unfortunately I did not finish this book. It started off strong. I loved that it jumped right into the murder scene and you could tell the author did a lot of research regarding crime scene protocol and forensics analysis. However, the information was relayed in a very rudimentary way through the dialogue. It wasn't believable that a detective who'd been on the force for over 5 years would be treated like someone straight out of the academy.

As the story progressed, the lack of professionalism that the many homicide detectives exhibited was startling. In numerous scenes, they were cracking jokes and pulling pranks on one another and unfortunately it brought the whole serious, tense tone of the book down to an almost juvenile level and I stopped taking it seriously.

I liked the quotes from the actual serial killers and I enjoyed the chase the killer created for the detectives. However, I ultimately think the story and the amount of characters got away from the author and it became too farfetched to follow.

[John Hinchliffe · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an excellent listen with a very well-crafted story and a great plot. The pacing keeps you hooked, and the mystery unfolds in a most compelling way. John Lee Payton delivers an outstanding narration, bringing the characters to life with distinct voices. His performance really enhances the story, and the use of sound effects is well done. Overall, this is a highly enjoyable audiobook. I would definitely recommend it, and I’m looking forward to continuing the Mark Wheeler series.

[Georgia Tumbleweed McNabb · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a story from the detectives point of view through most of this book. You know who the killer is right from the start. Though the detective knows it too, he has to have physical evidence to be able to arrest the killer. The killer is very smart and keeps one step ahead of all of the people trying to catch him. Narrator does a very good job with the entire storyline.

[One Sentence Audio Critic · Rating 5 out of 5]

Engaging Multilayer Mystery, Good Narrator Characterization

Excellent narrator characterizations are the highlight of this intriguing not-quite cozy mystery from this new-to-me author. I recommend.

[John Payton · Rating 2 out of 5]

I performed the narration for this audiobook:
https://www.audible.com/pd/B0CWS6XH1S...

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

Police Lieutenant Mark Wheeler, the protagonist of this enjoyable novel, fairly quickly comes up with a suspect in gruesome murders that were meant to look like a murder/suicide between two gay men. It is tracking down that elusive suspect, Mark Spielman--who cleverly assumes different identities--that drives this book.

I particularly liked the way the author very smoothly went from the investigation and chase, to the life the suspect was leading while the chase was on. Mr. Glass's bio tells us he was a highly-ranked U.S. Navy officer, and his background comes into play when the suspect takes on another identity that puts him on a ship. The author did a great job of making Jack a truly scary psychopath. He did a lot of good research on a number of subjects that enhanced the story, for the most part. Some of the descriptions, as well as the stories told by fellow seamen, were a bit long, which at times slowed down the action, but ultimately, there was plenty enough action and intrigue to keep me turning the pages. The book itself was a pleasure to read in terms of good formatting and good copy editing, which I have come to appreciate more and more. I hope there is another Police Lieutenant Mark Wheeler book in the works, because the author has developed a likable and interesting character.

[John Hardin · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a new author, James Glass shows a remarkable mind for detail. In THINGS LEFT BEHIND he takes us on a journey through the eyes of caffeine addict, Police Lieutenant Mark Wheeler as he sifts through a maze of clues. Only through intensive detective work does he ultimately out smart his seemingly cleaver prey.

If you like crime dramas, then you owe it to yourself to curl up with this one. Find your favorite chair, buckle up, and get ready for a wild mind ride.

Outstanding work for a first time author.

[Mark Wheeler · Rating 5 out of 5]

What was great about reading this crime thriller is the detective and I shared the same name. How cool is that. What's even better is the story, which I found to be very intriguing and full of plot twists. Just when you think I ... um ... I mean LT Wheeler is about to apprehend serial killer, Jack Spielman, things take a change. I also found it interesting the title of the book represented the killer's idea that his victims were basically Things Left Behind. Brilliantly done James Glass.