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HERE'S WHAT REVIEWERS
ARE SAYING ABOUT RACING THE DEVIL
"It sounds
like a nightmare, but it happens to Nashville PI Jared McKean: he wakes
up from a drugged sleep and learns he’s the prime suspect in a woman’s
murder. Now he must clear his name, and thankfully, a few people
still
believe in him. Once he is released, Jared discovers that he is being
targeted because of a child abuse case he worked on when he was still a
cop. Vengeance runs deep, and some folks won’t stop until they believe
all voices have been silenced. During all this chaos, Jared makes time
for his unique, cobbled-together family: a gay roommate with AIDS, a
young son with Down syndrome, a teen nephew struggling with his
identity—and that’s just for openers.
VERDICT
This character-driven PI debut
is intriguing because of the protagonist’s complicated family. Their
presence is important to the story line and makes for a memorable read.
Watch for a sequel soon." Library Journal
"When Jared McKean, a Nashville cop turned private eye, meets a woman in
a bar, his immediate thought is that she needs protection: her bruises
are clear evidence of an abusive relationship. When the woman takes him
up on his offer and then suggests they seal the deal in a motel room,
Jared—still hurting from a busted marriage—puts his better judgment
aside. Later, he wishes he hadn’t. When he awakens, he finds he’s wanted
for murder, and he knows two things: he didn’t kill the victim—didn’t
even know her—and the woman from the bar set him up. This all happens
within the first 30 or so pages; the remainder of the book is devoted to
Jared’s increasingly desperate attempts to extricate himself from the
frame-up. It’s a smart story, well constructed and well told. Jared is a
solidly designed lead character, and, given that the novel is billed as
“a Jared McKean mystery,” it seems likely the author intends the private
eye to anchor a series. Not a bad idea, if subsequent novels can keep
this one’s nice balance of character and story." — David Pitt,
Booklist
"Terrell’s promising debut introduces Nashville PI Jared McKean, who
finds himself caught in an almost perfect frame for murder. A day or two
after the theft of Jared’s pickup truck, his old partner in Metro
Homicide, Frank Campanella, informs him that all the evidence suggests
that he killed Amy Hartwell, a woman he’s never met, in a motel room.
Jared’s fingerprints are at the crime scene; the victim was shot with
his gun—and kiddie-porn photos of her daughter are stashed under the
seat of his pickup truck. While Jared strives to prove his innocence, he
also fulfills his responsibilities to a maimed horse; his gay,
AIDS-positive best friend in need of reassurance; his rebellious goth
nephew; and his emotionally conflicted ex-wife and her new family. Jared
comes across convincingly as a savvy and sympathetic . . . urban
detective who, despite his own difficulties, is ever ready and able to
defend people or animals in trouble."
Publishers Weekly
"Racing the Devil by Jaden Terrell is a compelling story
you know you'd like to slow down and savour, but there's no time--you
must read on. Forget laundry and gardening; once you begin the story,
your afternoon is done for. An ex-Nashville cop turned detective, Jared
McKean, the protagonist, is many things we’d like to be vicariously:
noble, chivalrous, attractive, and sexually conscious in a (mostly)
subtle, provocative way. Written in first person, we hear his thoughts,
unspoken wishes and reactions. This is the real stunner in Racing the
Devil: Jared’s voice. He has an attractive humility, with touches of
(possibly) self-deprecating humour—the kind of voice which I associate
with the best books I have read . . . Days later, Jared is still with
me. An excellent adventure." Theresa de Valence,
Reviews by T de V
"Racing the Devil is a fast ride through
modern-day Nashville. Terrell's got a real ear for dialog, the characters are
compelling, and the plot nicely twisted. What a terrific start for a talented
new writer--I recommend it highly."
Sallie Bissell,
critically
acclaimed author of In the Forest of Harm
"This is a first-rate PI novel that opens with
one of the best-constructed frame-ups I ever read -- positioning the
hero, ex-cop Jared McKean, dead center for a first-degree murder charge
-- and just gets better as it goes along. When even his former friends
on the police force doubt his innocence, McKean finds himself in a
three-hundred-sixty-degree nightmare, one that (even to a
second-guessing reader like me) seems to have no way out. The setting is
Nashville, but it's a real insider's Nashville, as far from Music Row as
it's possible to get. Written in spare, note-perfect prose, with a
knockout plot and characters who don't go away when you close the cover,
this is a terrific book. I hope there's going to be a lot more of Jared
McKean.” -Timothy Hallinan, author of the Poke Rafferty
Bangkok mysteries A Nail Through the Heart, The Fourth Watcher, Breathing Water,
and The Queen of Patpong.
"Racing the Devil is an exciting, well-written mystery full of vivid
imagery. The descriptions of Nashville locations
give you the feel of being there. And despite
his many faults, Jared McKean strikes you as a
basically decent guy you'll want to hear more of
in future books. Highly recommended.."
Chester D. Campbell, author of
the Greg McKenzie mysteries (Secret of the Scroll, Designed to Kill,
Deadly Illusions, The Marathon Murders, A Sporting Murder) and the
Sid Chance mysteries (The Surest Poison, The Good, The Bad, and the
Murderous)
“ELI
Hooked From the First Page to the
Last
I
read Racing the Devil in two evenings—kept me up past midnight. I
was hooked from the first page to the last page and the ending was
most satisfactory—a fun read [with] a lot of good twists and turns. Wow. I
know we don’t have to live the scenes to write them—God help
romance writers if we did—but [Terrell's] knowledge and command of
the language of the seamier side... was totally real and added much
to the story.
BJ Mountford, author of
the Shackelford Island Mysteries
HERE'S WHAT READERS
ARE SAYING ABOUT RACING THE DEVIL
Spend
the summer Racing the Devil!
[Terrell's] skillful
prose, extraordinary and colorful character
development, inexplicable sensitivity to issues
such as mental and physical challenges, gentle
humor and literary finesse are astounding...This novel maintains a rapid,
spellbinding pace and leaves the reader wanting
more. Now. Until then, pour a frosty brew,
slather on the sun screen, stretch out under a
shady tree and prepare to be scorched as you
spend the summer Racing the Devil!!
Janet Garey, Madison, Tennessee
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A
Wonderful page-turner I found Racing
the Devil to be a wonderful suspense novel in the vein
of good old fashion murder mystery whodunnits
that kept me guessing right up to the last page.
The author has skillfully crafted characters
that are interesting and believable, and placed
them into a plot that twists and turns with
seemingly no way out. I find it refreshing that
the author has created something new and
exciting in a genre that has been mined of
innovation to exhaustion. Racing the Devil is a
thrilling read that will leave you wanting more.
Craig Combs, Atlanta, Georgia
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A
Must Read This book grabs you right from the beginning, takes you on a
suspenseful ride full of twists and turns, and
leaves you wanting more at the end.
The story is fascinating and almost impossible
to stop reading. The characters are deep and
rich and very believable. The book itself is
extremely well written and full of detail and
ambiance.
Overall, this is an excellent book that will
appeal to a wide variety of readers. I think it
is a must read and can't wait for the next one.
Brett Bias, Nashville, Tennessee
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Great
Book, can't wait for the next one! I found
the book an easy read but captivating and
suspenseful. The characters are believable and
complicated just like real people. The author
even includes modern social issues that will
have us re-examining our positions on things
like homosexuality and family values. A must
read!
mussadiq77, Baltimore, Maryland
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This Book Rocks!
I liked this book so much I read it
twice. Racing the Devil rocks!
Bill Laffer, Nashville, Tennessee
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