Chasing the Pain: A Marty Singer Mystery (#8) by Matthew Iden

Meet Author Matthew Iden:

"Matthew Iden is the author of the psychological suspense novel The Winter Over, a half-dozen books in the Marty Singer detective series, and several acclaimed stand-alone novels. His eclectic work resume includes jobs with the US Postal Service, an international nonprofit, the Forest Service in Sitka, Alaska, and the globe-spanning Semester at Sea program. His latest, Birthday Girl, is a suspense novel featuring Elliott Nash, a former forensic psychologist who is now homeless but is recruited to save a young girl from a serial kidnapper (March 2018).

Get in touch via e-mail at matt.iden@matthew-iden.com, Facebook at www.facebook.com/matthew.iden, Twitter @CrimeRighter, or visit www.matthew-iden.com for information on upcoming appearances, new releases, and to receive a free copy of the Marty Singer short story "The Guardian"--not available anywhere else." ~Amazon

From the author of the thrillers The Winter Over and Birthday Girl comes the eighth book in the best-selling Marty Singer Mystery series.

“If you’re reading this, then you haven’t heard from me in three weeks, maybe more. If that’s the case, call Marty Singer. He’ll know what to do.”

That’s the note Karen Reynolds, ex-wife of friend and former US Marshal Karl Schovasa, hands retired cop Marty Singer. Schovasa’s missing after trying to guide a young addict away from being exploited by a fake rehab center, and all signs point to foul play. In a bid to save both of them, Marty heads south to Palm Beach to take on a cabal of crooks, con men, and drug dealers that operate at will up and down the East coast. They’re the masterminds of a scam worth millions...a scam they’re willing to kill for if it stops Marty from Chasing the Pain.

◆ READ FOR FREE: THE GUARDIAN ◆

If you'd like a taste of my writing before you buy, you can download The Guardian, a 60-page novella, for free by downloading my newsletter at http://eepurl.com/rQTE1. It's quick, delivered to your inbox, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

★ MARTY SINGER: THE SERIES ★

The Marty Singer Mysteries are hard-boiled novels for readers who like humor, action, and heart. If you keep going back to well-thumbed copies of Robert B. Parker, Elmore Leonard, John Sandford, Brett Battles, John Mefford, Brian Shea, and L.T. Ryan, consider adding these to your list, too: 

A Reason to Live

Blueblood

One Right Thing

The Spike

The Wicked Flee

Once Was Lost

The Bitter Fields

Chasing the Pain (coming Feb 2021)

Numeric Breakdown:

1: didn't like it/skip it
2: it was okay/it wasn't for me
3. liked it/worth a read
4. really liked it/loved it
5. it was amazing/must read!

Cops turned private detectives make the most of their retirement. 

Crooks, con men, and drug dealers, can retired cop Marty Singer find the truth and his friend before it's too late? 

Chasing the Pain is the eighth and most current book in the Marty Singer series. Within we get a first person perspective in the form of Marty and learn a small snapshot of his life as a former DC homicide detective. Retired, Marty seems to fall into cases needing his outside expertise and experience. When former US Marshal Karl Schovasa (appeared in book six - Once Was Lost) goes missing, Marty gets a phone call from Karl's ex-wife Elizabeth Reynolds. 

While not having read the first seven books in this series, I was quickly able to adapt to the characters, current storyline, and background information. Although some information is given about their past work experience and present-day situations, we're given just enough to help us understand and continue reading but not an overload of narrative. This helps ease the reader in and not bombard them with an overabundance of unnecessary info. 

Marty strikes out to find the missing Karl and starts with a sweep of his house and personal effects. This leads him to a clinic Karl appears to have visited. Slowly, our main character works out the puzzle pieces and finds himself on his way to Florida and another addiction clinic. Along the way, he meets a few colorful and quirky individuals who provide him with information, support, and assistance in his mission to locate his almost-old-friend. 

Madame Cormier is a fun character who runs the place where Marty ends up staying and isn't at all what you expect. Don D'Amelio is an ex-insurance fraud agent who has insight into the locals. Meredith Kelly, the missing girl Karl was searching to find, turns out to be an ally with the inside track but hasn't seen Karl since DC. 

The diverse crew come together to gain answers and find out what's going on in this corner of Florida where drugs are a way of life for many, and only a few have the hope to get clean. Chasing the Pain brings together comical reminisces, steady conspiracy, consistent action, good deductions, a realistic and intricate plot, as well as what appears to be solid background knowledge - or speaks with the authority - on police work, interagency relations, and insurance fraud. 

Marty becomes a likeable character as you read, and although I never felt a deep and abiding connection to him - as one hopes to with a character, I liked his grit and determination. He was a worthy personality with relatable stories and qualities. Another enjoyment in the story was how it didn't quite end with a bow wrapped around it. It held a twist, that while I saw it coming, didn't strike me fully until the scene before it was revealed. Overall, I couldn't put this book down. Did I mention I'm already downloading the first seven as I speak? 

And did I mention the eye-catching cover? Someone should. It caught my attention! 

All in all, if you enjoy noir-esque, hard-boiled, private investigator mysteries with a Philip Marlowe meets Jack Reacher type of vibe, then this series will be your cup of tea. I encourage you to read it and find out why I rated it a 4/5 "really liked it." I'm sure you'll find several reasons of your own. 

Thanks to the author and Reedsy Discovery for the ARC copy of Chasing the Pain to provide a honest review. 

Thank you for joining me, and as always, Happy Reading!! :)

~Rebecca Reddell, Author