The Concrete Kiss

by David Grace

Overview

“Set in the modern day, this straightforward, fast-paced detective novel cages a truly twisted villain.”

“The reader is thrust into a page-turning, clever narrative that continually morphs from police procedural, thriller, courtroom drama, and gritty evaluation of a serial rapist and killer.”

“...the relentless pace allows for little introspection.”

“Grace relishes the accurate and disturbing details, providing top-quality entertainment....”

“...a relentless story.”

“Well-written, engaging and sure to keep you up.”

--- Kirkus Reviews

Homicide Detective Ned Danes discovers that an ambitious Deputy D.A. has concealed evidence of an accused murderer's innocence in order to secure a headline-grabbing conviction. Danes is warned that a smart guy would keep his mouth shut. More interested in being a good guy than a smart one, Danes torpedoes the corrupt Deputy D.A.'s case, and for his honesty, Danes is exiled to the tiny basement office of the Cold Case Squad.

Working in his forgotten outpost Danes becomes obsessed with finding the real killer who the Deputy D.A.’s scheme has allowed to run free. But just as he seems to be closing in Danes receives a plea for help from an old friend.

FBI agent Phillip Abbott has been put on leave for his last sixty days before his forced retirement. He has that long to catch a drug-cartel hit man whose specialty is murdering entire families. Completely alone, Abbott needs a courageous cop like Ned Danes to back him up.

While Danes knows that Abbott has a seventeen-year-old adopted daughter named Jessica, it is only after Danes agrees to help catch the killer that he discovers that the hit man murdered Jessica's entire family.

While Danes knows that Abbott has a seventeen-year-old adopted daughter, it is only after Danes agrees to help Abbott catch the killer that he discovers that the hit man murdered the girl’s entire family. Abbott promised her that he would get the monster no matter what it took and Danes soon learns that Abbott is willing to do anything, including breaking the law and possibly going to prison, to keep that promise.

And after Danes and Abbot do all that, Ned still has a killer of his own to catch.

Product Details

BN ID:	2940044683082
Publisher:	David Grace
Publication date:	06/25/2012
Sold by:	Smashwords
Format:	eBook
Sales rank:	944,488
File size:	652 KB

About the Author

See my profile on Goodreads.com at:

http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2376305.David_Grace

See my profile on Amazon.com at:

http://www.Amazon.Com/Author/davidgrace

See my website at:

http://www.davidgraceauthor.com

Browse my books on Facebook at:

http://www.facebook.com/davidgraceauthor/app_19138777091239400000499592905

To purchase trade paperback editions of my books go to Amazon.com

I used to write under the name "David Alexander" but there were several other writers using that name and publishers and agents confused me with them, so I now use the pen name, "David Grace." My first published novel was "The Chocolate Spy" followed by "Fane" then "My Real Name Is Lisa" then "The Eyes Of The Blind."

I have re-titled Fane as "The Accidental Magician"; re-titled "My Real Name Is Lisa" as "Stolen Angel" and re-titled "The Eyes Of The Blind" as "True Faith." All are available at Smashwords, Amazon, and other ebook sellers.

All of my novels are available in trade paperback editions at Amazon.com for $9.99.

My favorite books that I wrote are "The Concrete Kiss", "Death Never Sleeps", "Death Never Lies", "Death Doesn't Care", "Shooting Crows At Dawn", "A Death In Beverly Hills", "True Faith", "Easy Target", and "Doll's Eyes" more or less in that order but the order changes from day to day. I think the best SF stories that I have written are the Tramp stories contained in SF Stories Volume 1.

I have had several Sci Fi stories published in Analog Magazine and two crime stores published in Alfred Hitchcock's Mystery Magazine. I am a long-time member of the Science Fiction Writers of America.

The legendary SF author (and friend) Jack Vance named a planet after me in "The Face" and named a lawgiver after me in "Night Lamp."

I shared a story credit (with two others) for the Outer Limits episode "Joy Ride" which starred Cliff Robertson.

My most recent novel is "The Wrong Side Of A Gun" set for release on March 1, 2016. My previous book was "Death Doesn't Care."

I often write screenplays based on my books as well as stand-alone screenplays. I have written screenplays for: "The Concrete Kiss"; "True Faith"; "Death Never Sleeps", "Stolen Angel"; "A Death In Beverly Hills", "Doll's Eyes","The Traitor's Mistress", "Daniel" and "Etched In Bone."

I have also written the non-novel related screenplays: "Dreamboat" romantic comedy; "Champion's Season" (comedy); "First Starship" (G-rated adventure).

Editorial Reviews

Set in the modern day, this straightforward, fast-paced detective novel cages a truly twisted villain. Detective Ned Danes, an honest cop and all-American family man, just made a startling discovery: A high profile murder case has been rigged--evidence was intentionally misplaced--to secure a conviction. The reader is thrust into a page-turning, clever narrative that continually morphs from police procedural, thriller, courtroom drama, and gritty evaluation of a serial rapist and killer. Blue-collar and committed to justice, instantly likable Danes finds himself at odds with the DA as well as his peers for introducing the suspect's defense lawyer to the misplaced evidence--a tape showing the defendant buying pornography at roughly the same time the murder took place. In a surprisingly realistic courtroom dialogue, Danes presses on, resulting in the defendant's release but also in Danes' demotion to the head of the cold case department. Danes' friend in the FBI, the noble but complex Phillip Abbott, assures him that he won't be forgotten. It's when Walter Plackman is introduced that the novel really takes form. Plackman, who calls himself HDP ("hunt, dominate, possess"), spends his time befriending young girls on Facebook and scanning their information for clues as to their whereabouts, his activities disturbingly similar to those of a detective. He's on the "hunt" for Amy, whom he promptly finds and abducts. In a compelling twist, a full year passes after this event, showing the often horrific consequences of crime. When the novel reforms, the heroes are different people with unfamiliar lives, and the victim for whom they want justice is unalterably changed. To be fair, though, there are some rough patches in the novel: It's cluttered with inconsequential ancillary characters, dialogue can sound wooden and the relentless pace allows for little introspection. Still, Grace relishes the accurate and disturbing details, providing top-quality entertainment that overcomes its faults with a relentless story. Well-written, engaging and sure to keep you up.

Kirkus Reviews