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Detective Preach Everson #2
A Shattered Lens
A detective investigates the murder of a teenage golden boy that has rocked a small town--and the chief suspect is the victim's mother.Annalise Stephens Blue has plans to become a world-famous filmmaker. As she begins filming an exposé of her small town called Night Lives, she uncovers more than she bargained on the very first night of filming, she stumbles upon a murder in the woods, and flees the scene steps ahead of the killer.Detective Joe "Preach" Everson is called to investigate. The victim, David Stratton, is the town's golden boy and high school quarterback. A modern version of what Preach used to be. Not only that, the boy's mother is Claire Lourdis, a beautiful divorcée who Preach fell for in high school--as well as the main suspect in her son's murder. As Preach delves into the secrets lurking beneath the surface of the town and searches for the missing girl who may have witnessed the crime, he must put his own feelings aside and pursue the answer to a terrible is a mother capable of murdering her own child? Praise for the Preach Everson Series"5/5 ... This smart mystery by Layton Green [is] a real page turner." - San Fancisco Book Review"Dostoevsky and Poe would be proud" - Knoxville News Sentinel*Library Journal Starred Review*Poisoned Pen Fresh Fiction SelectionMysteryPeople bookstore Pick of the Month"Written with Profound Elegance" - Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine, Starred Review"A page-turner" - Publishers Weekly"Smart, tense, and mystifying ... one of the best new mysteries I've read this year." - Critical Mass Blogspot"A fascinating new protagonist" - Kirkus Reviews"A smart page-turner, as dark and deep as the Carolina woods." - Gordon McAlpine, author of the Edgar-nominated Woman with a Blue Pencil"Fast-paced and braided with twists, it's terrific entertainment." - Andrew Pyper, bestselling author of The Only Child and The Demonologist
- GenresMystery
395 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 28, 2019
About the author
Layton Green
22 books432 followersLayton Green is a bestselling author who loves to tell powerful, edge-of-your-seat stories across a range of genres, including mystery & thriller, suspense, horror, and fantasy (and often blending them together). He is the author of the Dominic Grey series, the Blackwood Saga, the Genesis Trilogy, and other works of fiction. Layton's work has been nominated for numerous awards (including a rare three-time finalist for an International Thriller Writers award), optioned for film, published in multiple languages, and has reached #1 on many genre lists.
In addition to writing, Layton attended law school in New Orleans and was a practicing attorney for ten very long years. He has also been an intern for the United Nations, an ESL teacher in Central America, a bartender in London, a seller of cheap knives on the streets of Brixton, a door to door phone book deliverer in Florida, and the list goes downhill from there.
Layton lives with his family in Southern California. You can visit him on Facebook, Goodreads, or on his website (www.laytongreen.com).
In addition to writing, Layton attended law school in New Orleans and was a practicing attorney for ten very long years. He has also been an intern for the United Nations, an ESL teacher in Central America, a bartender in London, a seller of cheap knives on the streets of Brixton, a door to door phone book deliverer in Florida, and the list goes downhill from there.
Layton lives with his family in Southern California. You can visit him on Facebook, Goodreads, or on his website (www.laytongreen.com).
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
July 24, 2019
Book Reviewed on www.whisperingstories.com
This is the second instalment in the Detective Preach Everson series, continuing where the first ‘Written in Blood‘ book left off.
This time, Preach is investigating the murder of the high school quarterback. He can draw a lot of parallels between this kid’s life and his own at the same age, which makes the case hit particularly close to home.
During the investigation, Preach must also deal with romantic strife after reconnecting with his high school crush and finding balance with his girlfriend now that she’s qualified as a prosecutor. Personally, I felt that this aspect of the novel was unnecessary and a bit awkward as it didn’t show Preach off in a remotely good light, making it harder to root for him as a character. It also overshadowed the fact that a teenager has been murdered and his body dumped, something that nobody seems particularly distraught over!
The pacing in this novel is quite slow and leads me to think that some of the characters and issues introduced in this book will reappear in later instalments in the series as a common thread, for example the gentrification of small town America that is mentioned multiple times.
The mystery itself is quite compelling and with enough red herrings to keep you guessing. I enjoyed the different POVs in this book, giving the perspectives of characters from very different backgrounds within the narratives.
I recommend this book for fans of police procedural novels and murder mysteries.
This is the second instalment in the Detective Preach Everson series, continuing where the first ‘Written in Blood‘ book left off.
This time, Preach is investigating the murder of the high school quarterback. He can draw a lot of parallels between this kid’s life and his own at the same age, which makes the case hit particularly close to home.
During the investigation, Preach must also deal with romantic strife after reconnecting with his high school crush and finding balance with his girlfriend now that she’s qualified as a prosecutor. Personally, I felt that this aspect of the novel was unnecessary and a bit awkward as it didn’t show Preach off in a remotely good light, making it harder to root for him as a character. It also overshadowed the fact that a teenager has been murdered and his body dumped, something that nobody seems particularly distraught over!
The pacing in this novel is quite slow and leads me to think that some of the characters and issues introduced in this book will reappear in later instalments in the series as a common thread, for example the gentrification of small town America that is mentioned multiple times.
The mystery itself is quite compelling and with enough red herrings to keep you guessing. I enjoyed the different POVs in this book, giving the perspectives of characters from very different backgrounds within the narratives.
I recommend this book for fans of police procedural novels and murder mysteries.
June 2, 2019
Melissa contributed this review to Really Into This
Check out all of our reviews at https://reallyintothis.com
Happy Reading, friends!Book Review: A Shattered Lens by Layton Green
I sure do love a good detective story. In A Shattered Lens, a detective is part of a murder investigation involving an old High School friend.
Crime Story
As someone from a small town, I really relate to the idea of everyone knowing each other's business. Luckily, this comes in handy for Detective Preach. Old friends are able to give him a new insight to help solve the crime. As Preach digs deeper into the case, corruption & greed are simmering right under the surface. This town has a lot of secrets.
For Preach, there's a lot on the line for this case. Surely, he can solve the crime of a mother charged with killing her son. Especially since that mother is his old High School crush.
Thrilling, Thought-Provoking & Eye-Opening
One of the things I truly like about A Shattered Lens is the dual timelines. Honestly, it made me relive my High School Days. That feeling of walking into a crowded stadium during a game & friends calling out to you. It's a good feeling to know that even though you might have left your town & that part of your life behind. It didn't leave you.
A Shattered Lens is a quick read. While it's a story about a serious crime, it's not too dark or violent. I really love Preach. I think Preach is born to be a cop. He's got a great heart & his thought process is suited for solving crimes. He's able to see the good in people even though he often sees the dark side of humanity.
THE VERDICT
I am Really Into This book! Check it out if you're a fan of Hill Street Blues or Columbo. You're in for a great crime story. Rest assured, Preach will keep digging until he gets to the truth. I hope Layton Green continues to write stories centered around Preach. He's a great character.
Special thanks to Layton Green, Seventh Street Books & Kaye Publicity for providing our copy in exchange for an honest & fair review.
Check out all of our reviews at https://reallyintothis.com
Happy Reading, friends!Book Review: A Shattered Lens by Layton Green
I sure do love a good detective story. In A Shattered Lens, a detective is part of a murder investigation involving an old High School friend.
Crime Story
As someone from a small town, I really relate to the idea of everyone knowing each other's business. Luckily, this comes in handy for Detective Preach. Old friends are able to give him a new insight to help solve the crime. As Preach digs deeper into the case, corruption & greed are simmering right under the surface. This town has a lot of secrets.
For Preach, there's a lot on the line for this case. Surely, he can solve the crime of a mother charged with killing her son. Especially since that mother is his old High School crush.
Thrilling, Thought-Provoking & Eye-Opening
One of the things I truly like about A Shattered Lens is the dual timelines. Honestly, it made me relive my High School Days. That feeling of walking into a crowded stadium during a game & friends calling out to you. It's a good feeling to know that even though you might have left your town & that part of your life behind. It didn't leave you.
A Shattered Lens is a quick read. While it's a story about a serious crime, it's not too dark or violent. I really love Preach. I think Preach is born to be a cop. He's got a great heart & his thought process is suited for solving crimes. He's able to see the good in people even though he often sees the dark side of humanity.
THE VERDICT
I am Really Into This book! Check it out if you're a fan of Hill Street Blues or Columbo. You're in for a great crime story. Rest assured, Preach will keep digging until he gets to the truth. I hope Layton Green continues to write stories centered around Preach. He's a great character.
Special thanks to Layton Green, Seventh Street Books & Kaye Publicity for providing our copy in exchange for an honest & fair review.
July 20, 2019
When the first book in the Detective Joe ‘Preach’ Everson series landed on my desk, due to pressures of work at that time, I made a decision I now have cause to regret big time, when I chose to only select short passages for promotion, rather than read the entire story.
Perhaps I need to qualify that statement however … A Shattered Lens works fine as a stand alone story, but for me personally, I kept finding myself wanting to know why ‘Preach’ had needed to move back to policing the streets of his hometown, abandoning his promising career in the Atlanta City PD. What had made him come so close to the brink of desolation and despair?
For me though, having made that decision, there really was no turning back, as life for ‘Preach’ had already moved on, so I shall be beginning my journey with A Shattered Lens, only being certain to read any further installments in strict publishing order!
To say that this is a small town murder/mystery, whilst maybe technically true, certainly doesn’t correlate with other similar stories I have read in the same genre. Creekville may a town of modest size, but it is very much a community divided. There are two distinct areas under its one umbrella – those who have and live a comfortable, if modest life – and those who are definitely living on the margins of society in a trailer community, where they are very much isolated and forgotten, leaving them the ideal target for crime/drugs infiltration, whilst other more unscrupulous plans over which they have no control, unfold around them.
Or are things not quite what they seem? Where do the lines become blurred without anyone noticing? and who really are the true criminals here?
Just because a person lives with few belongings, a broken and divided family, leaving them susceptible and vulnerable to events, doesn’t mean that they lack the drive and ambition to improve things to try and make a better future for themselves. Annalise ‘Blue’ didn’t mean to have broken the law, then walked in on a scene which put her life in danger – she was only trying to improve the future for herself and her mother, away from the bad influences which controlled their lives.
Likewise, for those who are perceived to have the comforts and trappings of traditional family life, there is always the possibility for greed, selfishness and complacency, to cloud their judgment and cause their life to take an altogether more sinister path.
Layton has once again done what he does best. His mature and complex writing, sets up the dynamics of the scene brilliantly, giving a real sense of time and place, before he then introduces his main characters into the situation, offering them a chance to adapt and interact with the sub-cast and events, as they occur and the story unfolds.
Detective Joe ‘Preach’ Everson has recently returned to this, his hometown community, following his recent past as chaplain in the prison service, before joining the city policing of Atlanta PD. He is clearly very much a man still on the road to recovery, after events which have left him scarred, broken and fitting neither into the city life he has left behind, nor the societal norms of his roots. This inner struggle and sense of not belonging, spills over into both his professional and personal life, where he is doubting his ability protect the population, as he is now responsible for investigating his former friends and family; and is also struggling to commit completely to his girlfriend, up and coming lawyer, Ari.
The fact that both ‘Preach ‘ and Ari are both principled, complex characters, with deep emotional needs; and have complicated and intense jobs, with no real sense of normal working conditions, doesn’t help matters. Add to that, author Layton Green has then chosen to complicate matters even further, with his skillful narrative and dialogue, by having their professional lives collide with one another, causing their paths to cross in a way which is also likely to tear them apart personally if they allow it to, and you have the perfect backdrop for what is about to happen!
The unfolding story moves along at a cracking and exhilarating pace, whilst the suspense grows steadily to the final few pages, when there is time for reflection, regrouping and a reassessment of what really are the most important things in life.
Which makes this story a great combination of plot and character driven events … the complete package!
My full post with supporting material can be found here...
https://www.fiction-books.biz/reviews...
Perhaps I need to qualify that statement however … A Shattered Lens works fine as a stand alone story, but for me personally, I kept finding myself wanting to know why ‘Preach’ had needed to move back to policing the streets of his hometown, abandoning his promising career in the Atlanta City PD. What had made him come so close to the brink of desolation and despair?
For me though, having made that decision, there really was no turning back, as life for ‘Preach’ had already moved on, so I shall be beginning my journey with A Shattered Lens, only being certain to read any further installments in strict publishing order!
To say that this is a small town murder/mystery, whilst maybe technically true, certainly doesn’t correlate with other similar stories I have read in the same genre. Creekville may a town of modest size, but it is very much a community divided. There are two distinct areas under its one umbrella – those who have and live a comfortable, if modest life – and those who are definitely living on the margins of society in a trailer community, where they are very much isolated and forgotten, leaving them the ideal target for crime/drugs infiltration, whilst other more unscrupulous plans over which they have no control, unfold around them.
Or are things not quite what they seem? Where do the lines become blurred without anyone noticing? and who really are the true criminals here?
Just because a person lives with few belongings, a broken and divided family, leaving them susceptible and vulnerable to events, doesn’t mean that they lack the drive and ambition to improve things to try and make a better future for themselves. Annalise ‘Blue’ didn’t mean to have broken the law, then walked in on a scene which put her life in danger – she was only trying to improve the future for herself and her mother, away from the bad influences which controlled their lives.
Likewise, for those who are perceived to have the comforts and trappings of traditional family life, there is always the possibility for greed, selfishness and complacency, to cloud their judgment and cause their life to take an altogether more sinister path.
Layton has once again done what he does best. His mature and complex writing, sets up the dynamics of the scene brilliantly, giving a real sense of time and place, before he then introduces his main characters into the situation, offering them a chance to adapt and interact with the sub-cast and events, as they occur and the story unfolds.
Detective Joe ‘Preach’ Everson has recently returned to this, his hometown community, following his recent past as chaplain in the prison service, before joining the city policing of Atlanta PD. He is clearly very much a man still on the road to recovery, after events which have left him scarred, broken and fitting neither into the city life he has left behind, nor the societal norms of his roots. This inner struggle and sense of not belonging, spills over into both his professional and personal life, where he is doubting his ability protect the population, as he is now responsible for investigating his former friends and family; and is also struggling to commit completely to his girlfriend, up and coming lawyer, Ari.
The fact that both ‘Preach ‘ and Ari are both principled, complex characters, with deep emotional needs; and have complicated and intense jobs, with no real sense of normal working conditions, doesn’t help matters. Add to that, author Layton Green has then chosen to complicate matters even further, with his skillful narrative and dialogue, by having their professional lives collide with one another, causing their paths to cross in a way which is also likely to tear them apart personally if they allow it to, and you have the perfect backdrop for what is about to happen!
The unfolding story moves along at a cracking and exhilarating pace, whilst the suspense grows steadily to the final few pages, when there is time for reflection, regrouping and a reassessment of what really are the most important things in life.
Which makes this story a great combination of plot and character driven events … the complete package!
My full post with supporting material can be found here...
https://www.fiction-books.biz/reviews...
May 17, 2019
Shattered Lens, the second book in the Preach series, picks up right where the last novel left off. Preach and Ari, a well written couple, are still working to do right by the world. Preach is continuing to protect the sanctity of Creekville and Ari, now a full fledged prosecutor, is working to put the bad guys away. After the child of Preach's high school obsession is killed without any apparent reason, Preach must use his considerable detective skills to solve the crime and his case cunningly intersects with Ari's attempt to prosecute a murder during a theft gone wrong.
This is a wonderful detective story that continues Green's story arc of his most nuanced character to date, Preach. Green has a gift for making his characters, both good and bad, relateable and accessible. His good guys are mostly good, but have their own personal flaws. The bad guys are bad, but Green does an excellent job of giving them a backstory that makes them understandable, if not pitiable. And ultimately, this book is an investigation into what humans do to justify the good and bad in their lives, wrapped up in a neat detective story.
The Preach series is one of my favorite Green series as he really uses his setting as a fully envisioned world. It is clear from his writing that Green has an affinity for the greater Durham area, warts and all and that he has spent a great amount of time in the area. Green:s use of turn of phrase is excellent as always, without feeling forced or trite.
As to the pacing and story, Green has really nailed it in this book. His use of various narrative voices keeps us interested in each character, helps move the story along, and is all done with the calculation of getting us invested in the characters, which Green has done expertly. While the new Preach book does not offer any exceptional twists similar to what we saw in the previous book in the series, the detective story is serviceable. What I really enjoyed, is how Green uses the murder mystery to examine the characters, how death and crime affects each person, and what we all do to process tragic events in our lives.
Looking forward to the next book!
This is a wonderful detective story that continues Green's story arc of his most nuanced character to date, Preach. Green has a gift for making his characters, both good and bad, relateable and accessible. His good guys are mostly good, but have their own personal flaws. The bad guys are bad, but Green does an excellent job of giving them a backstory that makes them understandable, if not pitiable. And ultimately, this book is an investigation into what humans do to justify the good and bad in their lives, wrapped up in a neat detective story.
The Preach series is one of my favorite Green series as he really uses his setting as a fully envisioned world. It is clear from his writing that Green has an affinity for the greater Durham area, warts and all and that he has spent a great amount of time in the area. Green:s use of turn of phrase is excellent as always, without feeling forced or trite.
As to the pacing and story, Green has really nailed it in this book. His use of various narrative voices keeps us interested in each character, helps move the story along, and is all done with the calculation of getting us invested in the characters, which Green has done expertly. While the new Preach book does not offer any exceptional twists similar to what we saw in the previous book in the series, the detective story is serviceable. What I really enjoyed, is how Green uses the murder mystery to examine the characters, how death and crime affects each person, and what we all do to process tragic events in our lives.
Looking forward to the next book!
June 2, 2019
The Review
For anyone who fell in love with the first book in this series, one of the first things readers will notice about this incredible sequel is how personal the story feels in comparison to the first story. Rather than tracking a growing serial killer, the story focuses on the unsettling death of a high school student, and showcases the struggle an investigator feels in a small town setting when the victim’s mother is not only someone Preach knew, but once had deep feelings for. Exploring the personal struggles of the detective and the hardships of finding the motive for the crime makes this a truly engaging story.
On top of the murder mystery angle of the narrative, it was fascinating to explore modern day criminal organizations and shady dealings that go on in rural or small town American cities. Showcasing a growing criminal element in this small town and seeing the chaos and corruption threatening the lives of a young girl who becomes an unwilling witness to a heinous crime, the author does a fantastic job of making this story relatable and more emotionally investing than even the first book, which is not an easy feat for anyone who loved book one in the Preach Everson series.
The Verdict
This is a phenomenal murder mystery series that continues to both entertain and engage readers on a personal and emotional level. With relatable characters that instantly draw the reader into the story and a truly gripping murder mystery that will draw readers into many different directions until the shocking revelation at the books end, this is a novel that deserves your attention. Be sure to grab your copy of “A Shattered Lens” by Layton Green today.
For anyone who fell in love with the first book in this series, one of the first things readers will notice about this incredible sequel is how personal the story feels in comparison to the first story. Rather than tracking a growing serial killer, the story focuses on the unsettling death of a high school student, and showcases the struggle an investigator feels in a small town setting when the victim’s mother is not only someone Preach knew, but once had deep feelings for. Exploring the personal struggles of the detective and the hardships of finding the motive for the crime makes this a truly engaging story.
On top of the murder mystery angle of the narrative, it was fascinating to explore modern day criminal organizations and shady dealings that go on in rural or small town American cities. Showcasing a growing criminal element in this small town and seeing the chaos and corruption threatening the lives of a young girl who becomes an unwilling witness to a heinous crime, the author does a fantastic job of making this story relatable and more emotionally investing than even the first book, which is not an easy feat for anyone who loved book one in the Preach Everson series.
The Verdict
This is a phenomenal murder mystery series that continues to both entertain and engage readers on a personal and emotional level. With relatable characters that instantly draw the reader into the story and a truly gripping murder mystery that will draw readers into many different directions until the shocking revelation at the books end, this is a novel that deserves your attention. Be sure to grab your copy of “A Shattered Lens” by Layton Green today.
June 6, 2019
Highly recommend to any fans of detective fiction.
When Layton Green released the first Preach Everson novel, I vehemently advocated for it to become a series, instead of one of his one-off forays away from his Dominic Grey international thriller series or his Brothers Three modern fantasy series. Well, he came through, and did not disappoint. And if I'm correct, there may be more in the future.
A Shattered Lens is is not a fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants action-filled story, like many of Green's other novels -- but that does not at all mean that the story doesn't grab the reader and keep the plot moving. This is a slow-burn story, a thoughtful, well-paced detective novel that follows each step of the investigation gradually, slowly raising the heat until the case comes to a boil. Green is very adept at making the plot move along while interspersing lush descriptions of people, places, inner thoughts, and conflicts into the narrative. The result is a combination of character studies and intriguing story lines, sure to appeal both to readers who love deep emotional descriptions and to those who value plot above character development.
The plot is original, intertwining multiple criminal activities into a believable overarching scheme, with plenty of potential suspects, red herrings, and emotional conflicts for the reader to be kept guessing as to whodunit until the very end. And the epilogue most assuredly set up a third book in the series, and might possibly have given Preach an official nemesis to add flavor to the series. I can't wait for the next book in this series (or, quite frankly, any other series Green writes).
When Layton Green released the first Preach Everson novel, I vehemently advocated for it to become a series, instead of one of his one-off forays away from his Dominic Grey international thriller series or his Brothers Three modern fantasy series. Well, he came through, and did not disappoint. And if I'm correct, there may be more in the future.
A Shattered Lens is is not a fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants action-filled story, like many of Green's other novels -- but that does not at all mean that the story doesn't grab the reader and keep the plot moving. This is a slow-burn story, a thoughtful, well-paced detective novel that follows each step of the investigation gradually, slowly raising the heat until the case comes to a boil. Green is very adept at making the plot move along while interspersing lush descriptions of people, places, inner thoughts, and conflicts into the narrative. The result is a combination of character studies and intriguing story lines, sure to appeal both to readers who love deep emotional descriptions and to those who value plot above character development.
The plot is original, intertwining multiple criminal activities into a believable overarching scheme, with plenty of potential suspects, red herrings, and emotional conflicts for the reader to be kept guessing as to whodunit until the very end. And the epilogue most assuredly set up a third book in the series, and might possibly have given Preach an official nemesis to add flavor to the series. I can't wait for the next book in this series (or, quite frankly, any other series Green writes).
July 11, 2019
Thanks to the publisher for the free copy in exchange for my honest review
Any fans of police procedurals? A SHATTERED LENS by Layton Green follows Detective Joe Everson, aka Preach, as they try to track down a killer. The beginning of the book really set the tone and gave it an ominous feel for the reader. The murder of David Stratton, the all-star football player, has rocked the small town of Creekville. It’s up to Preach to find the killer.
The victim’s mother, Claire Lourdis, is the prime suspect and to complicate things, she also happens to be the “one that got away” in Preach’s past. As the investigation progresses his feelings for the recent divorcee could be clouding his judgement – what could that mean for solving the crime and for his budding relationship with prosecutor girlfriend, Ari?
Meanwhile, high school student Annalise is determined to follow her dreams and become a filmmaker. On her first night filming her expose she stumbles upon a murder in the nearby woods. Running for her life, she seems to have gotten away from the killer. What did she see? Did she catch anything on film?
This was a great procedural novel and you get to see the characters really grow in this one. This is part of the Detective Preach Emerson series – WRITTEN IN BLOOD is the first book. I would say that you could pick this up as a standalone but you’ll miss some backstory on Preach and Ari and where they started. Otherwise, I would highly recommend picking this one up!
Any fans of police procedurals? A SHATTERED LENS by Layton Green follows Detective Joe Everson, aka Preach, as they try to track down a killer. The beginning of the book really set the tone and gave it an ominous feel for the reader. The murder of David Stratton, the all-star football player, has rocked the small town of Creekville. It’s up to Preach to find the killer.
The victim’s mother, Claire Lourdis, is the prime suspect and to complicate things, she also happens to be the “one that got away” in Preach’s past. As the investigation progresses his feelings for the recent divorcee could be clouding his judgement – what could that mean for solving the crime and for his budding relationship with prosecutor girlfriend, Ari?
Meanwhile, high school student Annalise is determined to follow her dreams and become a filmmaker. On her first night filming her expose she stumbles upon a murder in the nearby woods. Running for her life, she seems to have gotten away from the killer. What did she see? Did she catch anything on film?
This was a great procedural novel and you get to see the characters really grow in this one. This is part of the Detective Preach Emerson series – WRITTEN IN BLOOD is the first book. I would say that you could pick this up as a standalone but you’ll miss some backstory on Preach and Ari and where they started. Otherwise, I would highly recommend picking this one up!
July 11, 2019
Decent police procedural with infobeisity
I enjoyed reading Layton Green’s “Dominic Grey series,” so I’m trying this series. I didn’t read Book #1, but “A Shattered Lens” can be read as a stand-alone, because the author adds enough backstory. The storyline is straightforward, although it has three intertwining threads. 1) Detective Joe “Preach” Everson is investigating the murder of a teenager. 2) 16 yr-old Annie “Blue” Stephens stumbles upon the murder and is on the run from the killer. 3) Ariana Hale—Durham County prosecutor and Preach’s girlfriend—is trying a case with a witness, Bentley Montgomery, who has questionable motives. As in most police procedurals, the threads are tied up, except that of Montgomery who’ll probably be a recurring character.
This book suffers infobeisity or information padding. Lawyer Ari’s POV sections feature walls of information about various aspects/facets of Durham. A secondary character indulges in scholarly and philosophical discourses. I skimmed through Blue’s unreliable monologues and often free-associated thoughts.
The secondary characters are interesting, because many are flawed, thus nudging them toward sorta-unlikable to maybe-a-suspect categories. Important antagonists have at least one redeeming characteristic. I was prepared to dislike Gigi Stephens—Blue’s mother—until the author humanized her. The author’s skillful characterizations saved this book.
3 stars.
I enjoyed reading Layton Green’s “Dominic Grey series,” so I’m trying this series. I didn’t read Book #1, but “A Shattered Lens” can be read as a stand-alone, because the author adds enough backstory. The storyline is straightforward, although it has three intertwining threads. 1) Detective Joe “Preach” Everson is investigating the murder of a teenager. 2) 16 yr-old Annie “Blue” Stephens stumbles upon the murder and is on the run from the killer. 3) Ariana Hale—Durham County prosecutor and Preach’s girlfriend—is trying a case with a witness, Bentley Montgomery, who has questionable motives. As in most police procedurals, the threads are tied up, except that of Montgomery who’ll probably be a recurring character.
This book suffers infobeisity or information padding. Lawyer Ari’s POV sections feature walls of information about various aspects/facets of Durham. A secondary character indulges in scholarly and philosophical discourses. I skimmed through Blue’s unreliable monologues and often free-associated thoughts.
The secondary characters are interesting, because many are flawed, thus nudging them toward sorta-unlikable to maybe-a-suspect categories. Important antagonists have at least one redeeming characteristic. I was prepared to dislike Gigi Stephens—Blue’s mother—until the author humanized her. The author’s skillful characterizations saved this book.
3 stars.
May 27, 2019
A Shattered Lens by Layton Green
Going for the jugular, Layton Green goes both ways! Now that I have your attention, he writes equally well in two distinct genres, urbanish fantasy and old fashioned, teeth jarring mysteries. This book features Preach, a former wild child, prison chaplain, big city homicide detective and now small town police detective. Preach is forced to confront his own past, deal with perfidy on several levels, face personal domestic unrest and solve a murder.
Green provides a wealth of color for his protagonist. Preach demonstrates realistic feelings and temptations tempered by a well-honed sense of survival cynicism. A common platitude is that you can never go home again. Preach is home and finding that although you may return, things are never the same.
Preach’s attachment to Blue rang my chord. Troubled kids seldom can find an advocate. My only dissatisfaction was Ari’s inability to overcome her own insecurities and support Preach when he needed it.
The ruthlessness of the villains is taken right out of today’s headlines. Green does a great slight of hand with the ending.
I have read, I think, all of Layton Green’s books and I have never been disappointed.
I recommend this and all his books.
This is a follow up to Written in Blood but they can be read in any order and stand alone beautifully.
Going for the jugular, Layton Green goes both ways! Now that I have your attention, he writes equally well in two distinct genres, urbanish fantasy and old fashioned, teeth jarring mysteries. This book features Preach, a former wild child, prison chaplain, big city homicide detective and now small town police detective. Preach is forced to confront his own past, deal with perfidy on several levels, face personal domestic unrest and solve a murder.
Green provides a wealth of color for his protagonist. Preach demonstrates realistic feelings and temptations tempered by a well-honed sense of survival cynicism. A common platitude is that you can never go home again. Preach is home and finding that although you may return, things are never the same.
Preach’s attachment to Blue rang my chord. Troubled kids seldom can find an advocate. My only dissatisfaction was Ari’s inability to overcome her own insecurities and support Preach when he needed it.
The ruthlessness of the villains is taken right out of today’s headlines. Green does a great slight of hand with the ending.
I have read, I think, all of Layton Green’s books and I have never been disappointed.
I recommend this and all his books.
This is a follow up to Written in Blood but they can be read in any order and stand alone beautifully.
February 6, 2024
A Shattered Lens is an excellent small town police procedural. I'm a big fan of Layton Green and I really enjoy both this series and his Dominic Grey one. Preach is a wonderful character and a great detective. He's flawed but he tries his best to do the right thing. This book is very well-written with an interesting plot and surprising twists. I had no idea who the murderer was. The only thing I didn't like was the way Ari was acting. I thought she was being ridiculous and over-dramatic. I don't know if this series will continue, but I hope it does. There is some unresolved business at the end, and it would be nice to see what happens next. I highly recommend this series!
May 21, 2019
My Review: If you like police books then this one might be for you. It's not very long and it was pretty straight forward. It had a lot of great twists and turns and I think I might pick up book one soon. The characters weren't anything new in a story like this. They didn't really stand out but they worked well for the story.
June 26, 2019
Love this series
Totally surprised by Layton’s who done it Preach Everson novels. As good as Michael Connelly’s Harry Bosch series! I can’t wait for the next one.
Totally surprised by Layton’s who done it Preach Everson novels. As good as Michael Connelly’s Harry Bosch series! I can’t wait for the next one.
July 15, 2019
I really like the character of Preach. He's flawed and he knows it, but he doesn't allow it to keep him from doing what is right. He's much more of a loner in this murder investigation. Ari has her own job and he only lets the other cops do the research. The novel felt more like a police procedural. Read my full review at Girl Who Reads
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