A Cross to Bear (A Jack Sheridan Mystery Book 1)

The hero is not without his flaws, but you'll find yourself eager to stick with him and learn what happens next. Difficult relationships are explained bluntly, so the picture is clear who Sheridan is and why he's where he is. That doesn't get in the way, it sets the scene and bubbles along in the background, occasionally boiling over. George, the sidekick, is a bit sketchy and perhaps under-utilised, but there's enough going on that lessens the need to know any more about him.I started reading the book late one evening and was eventually forced to put it down, as it was getting well into the early hours. The following night, I again picked it up late and noticed the clock said 05:23 when I'd finished the book.A good story, written well, is one of life's great pleasures and this book is all of that. Heartily recommended, I'm off to order Book 2...

This is good. It moves with pace throughout. There, is also good character development.As previously, highlighted by other reviewers. It could do without the use of Americanism’s in a story that is set in the London area.Taking that aside. I enjoyed this and highly recommend it.Jack Sheridan is a former soldier. He had a short army career which included the Falklands war in 1982.Now, an experienced police officer, far away from his halcyon days at New Scotland Yard. He now works from a station in the east end of London.His latest case finds a young woman crucified. The lady in question was the daughter of a police officer. A man Sheridan was in liaison with but had never met.Detective Sergeant John Dorring was murdered some fifteen years ago. His fate was also being nailed to a cross. Is there any connection why father and daughter should be killed in this way?Or was nineteen-year old Rebecca Dorring, just the latest victim of a current serial killer using the same modus operandi. Who is the bastard doing this?Sheridan, has his own way of working. It may not be written in the text book. However, someone else wants justice and their ways are more direct.Are these two men going to join forces and work together? Or would they get in each other’s way?

It all began with the murder of a cop years ago. This is the incident that entwined Jack, Alex and his sister. Alex was 14 and his sister only 8 years old when they saw the body of their father being thrown from a moving vehicle displayed on a cross.Fast forward and a series of murders are now being committed. Young girls drugged and crucified. A serial killer on the loose. It's Jack's job to solve the crime as it lands on his patch, Scotland Yard isn't too happy about the idea of Jack heading the investigation though as there is bad blood between the!selves and Jack. Jack was once their star.Alex now a grown man is a MI6 agent only known as agent 192. Once told of his sister's death, the sister he left behind and cut all contact with he went rogue seeking out the killers. He learns that might be the Doyle brothers, the same brothers that were suspected of killing his father many years ago.This book is superbly written. Very good background story and proper depth to the characters, main and otherwise. Basically two stories in one. Jack and Alex, although fighting for the same cause these two main characters don't come together till near the end of the book. Plenty of twists and turns that keep you on the edge of your seat. Definitely a 👍.

Thrill

I read a *lot* of murder and mystery novels and this will stay with me for a long time. Vince Vogels "A Cross to Bear" is my first book by this author and, yes, it won't be the last. He writes clearly and with a deep understanding of the human psyche....random as they are, battered as they are, unique as they are. I have found his writing absorbing and compulsive, at a good pace and the story has been believable. Sheridan is the protagonist and has demons on earth and in his heart ...He is led down various paths and we go with him. We learn lots about the other characters too and each of their histories gradually unfolds. Gang warfare, the sex industry, a lone wolf and love all feature here. But it's dark and uncomfortable to think that any of this could have been real, so familiar become the characters, thanks to the writing.