A REVIEW OF THE FIERCEST ENEMY BY EVANSVILLE’S OWN RICK REED

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A REVIEW OF THE FIERCEST ENEMY BY EVANSVILLE’S OWN RICK REED

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Xavier Hugonet‘s review

Jan 19, 2020
The Fiercest Enemy is the ninth novel in the Jack Murphy series by author Rick Reed. It was also my first foray into this series, which means I now have to read the first eight books.
No previous knowledge of the series is required to enjoy this story. Rick Reed does a good job of giving us enough information about Jack Murphy and his partner, Liddell Blanchard, their current occupation (detectives on loan to an FBI task force against unsolved serial and organized crime), and the state of their personal lives. Along with the pages, some previous cases are even referenced so we know what these two have been up to so far (and are even more coerced into buying the previous entries).
Angelina Garcia, computer wiz consulting for the task force, has developed a new algorithm to detect serial patterns. Testing it randomly on unsolved murders and missing persons in Indiana, she uncovered several seemingly connected deaths, some ruled accidental at the time of the investigation. This brings Murphy and Blanchard to two little mining towns sharing jurisdiction over a lake from which several bodies have been recovered, including a new one on the very day of their arrival.

All victims have in common the fact they were quite unsavory characters but, as Harry Bosch often states in his own series: « Everybody counts or nobody counts »

Soon enough, a shadowy vagrant character appears to be the main suspect. However, Jack Murphy has doubts about his involvement in the serial deaths, and so does the reader, thanks to events witnessed in the opening chapter.

The book is well crafted, and gives that vibe of authenticity that comes from authors who have been cops themselves, or have done extensive field research (Author Rick Reed is a former detective). Murder is always a serious business but humor is omnipresent in the book, mainly stemming from the interactions between Murphy and his partner who constantly act like an old couple. All characters are well defined, each with a personality of their own, and the same can be said about the locales described, helping to immerse the reader in the story.

As we follow the detectives and the local police gather clues about the aforementioned vagrant, and about the victims, we can play the guessing game. And, if we pay enough attention, we can figure out what really happened a few paragraphs before the author let us know Jack Murphy has figured it out himself. This reinforces the feeling of authenticity. No miracle clue, happy coincidence, or godsent informer in this story. All the cards are on the table.

Most thrillers would end there with an explosive confrontation, but Jack Murphy is a detective who leaves no stone unturned when it comes to building an airtight case. Do not worry, though. There is an explosive final confrontation, but not before all plot points have been neatly resolved, and a few side twists have been thrown our way.

If you have read my review that far, it must appear obvious I have greatly enjoyed that book. I’m flabbergasted at having never heard of this series before, and I certainly won’t miss future installments.

Thanks to Kensington Books and Netgalley for the ARC provided in exchange for this unbiased review.

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