Status
Available
Collections
Publication
Post Mortem Press (2015), Edition: Unabridged eBook, Kindle format, 358 pages
Description
"What do wounded warriors do when they return from war missing a leg or two? These tough guys start The Purple Heart Detective Agency. Using battle-tested skills, laughing all the way, when others have turned their backs, these sleuths solve mysteries. Rock Neelly's novel is easy to pick-up, hard to put down." - Robert Beattie, author of Nightmare in Wichita: Hunt for the BTK Strangler "Rock Neelly hands the reader well-defined, believable characters, caught up in a deft blend of old-school detective noir and modern technology." - Brian Dobbins, author of The Witch's Cartel and Corryville The sudden disappearance of a magician isn't usually cause for alarm, but it's a different story when the disappearance isn't part of the act. Clay and Roddy are two war veterans - both amputees - trying to rebuild their shattered lives through their struggling Purple Heart Detective Agency. Then the beautiful Angela Thayer enters the picture, asking for their help in finding her missing friend and employer, Trevor Baker - stage name, Merlyn the Magician. The high profile case promises to jumpstart their careers...until the search leads to betrayal, intrigue and mind control. And then the murders begin... A hard-boiled detective story of murder and mayhem, a war story of pathos and survival, an action story of intrigue and violence, a love story of abandon and betrayal, a stick in the eye of the entertainment industry, wry social commentary on how America treats its veterans of war, but mostly a rousing tale of brotherhood in war and beyond. And of course, a foul-mouthed monkey named Jerry.… (more)
User reviews
LibraryThing member DrLed
Synopsis: Clayton and Roddy, veterans of Fallujah and amputees, have a struggling detective agency. Struggling, that is until Angela Thayer walks in and asks them to find her partner, Merlyn the Magician. This rather straight forward missing person's case turns weird when Angie reveals that Merlin
Review: I was intrigued by this book. There is a nice mix of science, pseudoscience and a police procedural that keeps the story moving right along. If you're into the technicalities of weapons, you'll enjoy the descriptions of the firepower used; if you're not, there are several pages you can skip without missing any of the story. I do like the glimpses into the relationships of soldiers who have been to hell and back together and how this shapes their dependence upon each other. The negatives comments I have about this book are all technical: a good editor needs to read carefully with an eye to deleting the number of redundant words and phrases. The editor also needs to pay attention to the continuity within and between chapters. Another technical issue appears in the ebook presentation: text wrapping is not working in certain places, leaving words hanging out of the reader's view; this may or may not be apparent when one changes text size.
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was a devotee of Edgar Cayce and that he was working with a defense contractor on a project to relieve phantom limb pain through mind control. As the weirdness quotient rises, so does Clay's interest in Angie. This tale will keep you on the edge of your seat.Review: I was intrigued by this book. There is a nice mix of science, pseudoscience and a police procedural that keeps the story moving right along. If you're into the technicalities of weapons, you'll enjoy the descriptions of the firepower used; if you're not, there are several pages you can skip without missing any of the story. I do like the glimpses into the relationships of soldiers who have been to hell and back together and how this shapes their dependence upon each other. The negatives comments I have about this book are all technical: a good editor needs to read carefully with an eye to deleting the number of redundant words and phrases. The editor also needs to pay attention to the continuity within and between chapters. Another technical issue appears in the ebook presentation: text wrapping is not working in certain places, leaving words hanging out of the reader's view; this may or may not be apparent when one changes text size.
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LibraryThing member Vesper1931
Too much time information about the war and guns not enough detecting for me
LibraryThing member Judiex
Members of the military during wartime learn how to kill. Some of them are killed in return. Others, however, are seriously injured and return home and expected to return to normal civilian life. Not all are able to do so.
Clay Grace returned from Iraq missing a leg. His friend, Rod was missing
Clay was hired by Angela, a rich, beautiful woman, to help locate her missing boss, a famous magician who had disappeared rather suddenly. Their hunt for him led them to locations in California and Las Vegas and into situations they hadn’t anticipated. The story also interweaves their experiences in Iraq.
Their search revealed questionable real estate deals, an old notebook written by psychic Ed Cayce, information about phantom limb pain, and a medical project with unexpected consequences. It also led them to several unusual deaths within a small circle of acquaintances.
While it starts our somewhat ploddingly, THE PURPLE HEART DETECTIVE AGENCY becomes very fast-paced as it moves. The trite similes and metaphors present early on disappear as the plot builds. Some of the situations seem impossible, but they do make for interesting reading.
I received this book through LibraryThing Early Reviewers.
Clay Grace returned from Iraq missing a leg. His friend, Rod was missing
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both of his. Using their talents, they opened The Purple Heart Detective Agency and hired other wounded veterans whom they knew to help them at times.Clay was hired by Angela, a rich, beautiful woman, to help locate her missing boss, a famous magician who had disappeared rather suddenly. Their hunt for him led them to locations in California and Las Vegas and into situations they hadn’t anticipated. The story also interweaves their experiences in Iraq.
Their search revealed questionable real estate deals, an old notebook written by psychic Ed Cayce, information about phantom limb pain, and a medical project with unexpected consequences. It also led them to several unusual deaths within a small circle of acquaintances.
While it starts our somewhat ploddingly, THE PURPLE HEART DETECTIVE AGENCY becomes very fast-paced as it moves. The trite similes and metaphors present early on disappear as the plot builds. Some of the situations seem impossible, but they do make for interesting reading.
I received this book through LibraryThing Early Reviewers.
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LibraryThing member SusieH5
Roddy O'Malley and Clayton Grace, were both seriously injured during a tour of Iraq. Both amputees, they set themselves up as The Purple Heart Detective Agency. They are called in to find a missing person - an illusionist, who must appear soon for a show at a Vegas casino, or else forfeit a large
Trevor/Merlin has mind-reading abilities which seem more than the usual stage illusions. Why?
Roddy and Clayton investigate, and find the answers to this and other questions. Thanks to their activities, their lives are put in danger time and again.
A tense, exciting thriller - highly recommended
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fee. Trevor Baker, stage name Merlin the Magician, has been missing for more than two weeks, intensely worrying because of the timing, albeit something he has done before.Trevor/Merlin has mind-reading abilities which seem more than the usual stage illusions. Why?
Roddy and Clayton investigate, and find the answers to this and other questions. Thanks to their activities, their lives are put in danger time and again.
A tense, exciting thriller - highly recommended
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LibraryThing member pmarshall
On August 7, 1782, George Washington, General and Commander-in-Chief of the Continental Army stated:
“LET IT BE KNOWN THAT HE WHO WEARS THE MILITARY
ORDER OF THE PURPLE HEART HAS GIVEN OF HIS BLOOD
IN THE DEFENSE OF HIS HOMELAND AND SHALL FOREVER
BE REVERED BY HIS FELLOW COUNTRYMEN.”
Clayton
“The Purple Heart Detective Agency” is written at two levels, the plot is the main level but it is accented by the dreams/memories of Clay and Roddy’s time in Iraq. This provides insight into the characters and how their time in Iraq and their injuries shaped them for civilian life.
The plot is intricate and kept my interest, although occasionally I got some of the lesser characters confused. I didn’t like the level of violence, especially the final ‘showdown’ which left thirteen men dead. If this were to become a series I don’t think I would read another.
Washington may have hoped that those who wore the Purple Heart would be revered by their countrymen but, as is evident in “The Purple Heart Detective Agency,“ this is not the case. Unfortunately.
This is an Early Reviewers book.
Posted review
March 15, 2015
“LET IT BE KNOWN THAT HE WHO WEARS THE MILITARY
ORDER OF THE PURPLE HEART HAS GIVEN OF HIS BLOOD
IN THE DEFENSE OF HIS HOMELAND AND SHALL FOREVER
BE REVERED BY HIS FELLOW COUNTRYMEN.”
Clayton
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Grace and Roddy O’Mallery were veterans of the war in Iraq and each had been awarded the Purple Heart and were the owners of the Purple Heart Detective Agency. Their first big case involved finding a missing magician, except it wasn’t that simple. It involved a multi-million dollar swindle, murder, research into drugs for phantom limb pain, the use of the drug for mind control, monkeys used as test animals, and today’s version of the O.K. Corral gun fight with military level weapons. Oh, and a love affair which became a double cross.“The Purple Heart Detective Agency” is written at two levels, the plot is the main level but it is accented by the dreams/memories of Clay and Roddy’s time in Iraq. This provides insight into the characters and how their time in Iraq and their injuries shaped them for civilian life.
The plot is intricate and kept my interest, although occasionally I got some of the lesser characters confused. I didn’t like the level of violence, especially the final ‘showdown’ which left thirteen men dead. If this were to become a series I don’t think I would read another.
Washington may have hoped that those who wore the Purple Heart would be revered by their countrymen but, as is evident in “The Purple Heart Detective Agency,“ this is not the case. Unfortunately.
This is an Early Reviewers book.
Posted review
March 15, 2015
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LibraryThing member tbrennan1
Two wounded Veterans home from Iraq, have difficulty finding work due to their disabilities. Clay ,who is an ex-cop and his partner Roddy decide to start a detective agency. The going is difficult until Angie walks into their lives and asks them to track down her "meal ticket" ,Merlin the magician
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, who has tied up a large deal in Las Vegas and is now missing! What follows is a mixture of evil companies developing medicines ,which can enable the user to control other peoples minds ,mayhem and killing involving a heady mix of ex-military ,criminals ,drug users and retired cops. Entertaining novel and in its own way a page-turner. Congrats to the author and to Early Reviewers. Show Less
LibraryThing member musichick52
Two Iraqi war veterans with missing limbs find themselves unemployable upon returning to the states. They start a detective agency in California but business is not booming until a magician's beautiful stage assistant walks in to report her magician has vanished. In real life, not just in their
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act. The reader is swept up in the intrigue of an evil drug company that is conducting experiments on phantom limb pain. This is a very quick read with non-stop action and intrigue. My thanks to the author and LibraryThing for a complimentary copy of this book. Show Less
LibraryThing member kekauoha
Thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. All the elements of an engaging story, i.e., action, mystery, romance, conflict (internal and external) and humor.
LibraryThing member larkspur4000
Roddy O'Malley and Clayton Grace, amputees due to a tour in Iraq started up the Purple Heart Detective Agency. Clayton takes on a case to find a missing person-an illusionist. The illusionist will forfeit a large amount of money if he doesn't appear for a schedule show at a Vegas casino. That's
I enjoyed the first half of the book. What disappointed me about the remainder of the book was I found it hard to give credulity to the illusionist's mind-reading abilities and a Corporation making pills that gives you (or a monkey) abilities to get into your mind and make you do things. I also felt the author spent to much verbiage on Roddy's upper-body mass. I got that message and didn't need to read it over and over again.
I'll admit I started this book believing it would be a book on detection---instead it turned out to be a book on how to thrill by killing. Just not my cup of tea.
The author has great writing skills and I believe has the capability to write a tense and action packed story with credulity.
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what gets this book rolling along.I enjoyed the first half of the book. What disappointed me about the remainder of the book was I found it hard to give credulity to the illusionist's mind-reading abilities and a Corporation making pills that gives you (or a monkey) abilities to get into your mind and make you do things. I also felt the author spent to much verbiage on Roddy's upper-body mass. I got that message and didn't need to read it over and over again.
I'll admit I started this book believing it would be a book on detection---instead it turned out to be a book on how to thrill by killing. Just not my cup of tea.
The author has great writing skills and I believe has the capability to write a tense and action packed story with credulity.
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LibraryThing member LarryMicheli
Neat Story, lots of action. The story moves quickly. Nice to see a story about wounded vets making a difference in the world. Clay Gracer, Roddy O'malley and others in their platton were injured in Iraq and lost limbs due to their wounds. Clay was a cop but couldn't get back on the force so he
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started the Purple Heart Detective Agency. He and Roddy worked together in the agency. They were hired by Angie to find Trevor the Magician. Trevor was able to control people because of some pills which enabled him to get into the minds of others. Interesting concept. Show Less
LibraryThing member Aileen3403
Just finished reading Purple Heart Detectve Agency by Rock Neelly, an Early Reviewer Book from Librarything. I enjoyed reading this novel as I'm sure most will, however, this just isn't my cup of tea. I found it very hard to get into with so much of the going back and forth in time. I don't recap
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these books when reviewing because the Author can do that much better than I can. I prefer other and surprising. I think men would enjoy this book more than a lot of women. Thanks for the opportunity to read and review this book. Show Less
LibraryThing member SydneyEditor1
I wish I knew what this book was trying to be. There’s a storyline involving a touch of “powers” and another involving a more straightforward mystery/search for a missing man, but while the two are supposed to mesh, they didn’t.
For me, this was a stronger mystery, a search for a magician
The story lost a lot of steam for me as it progressed. I wanted more of Roddy and Clay investigating, of them telling us about their past and not having to read about it in flashbacks. I didn’t quite understand why there was such a focus on Clay and Angela, given he’s firmly, irrevocably not her type. And the pills and “powers” bit stuck out like a sore thumb in what was otherwise a strong mystery.
For me, this was a stronger mystery, a search for a magician
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by two men battling demons themselves. Clay and Roddy are veterans, and both returned from the war as amputees. What attracted me to this story, was that the blurb offered a character-driven tale, entwined with a mystery. I didn’t need to know as much as the book offered me about their pasts in the army – that didn’t matter to me as much as their present and who they were now. The story lost a lot of steam for me as it progressed. I wanted more of Roddy and Clay investigating, of them telling us about their past and not having to read about it in flashbacks. I didn’t quite understand why there was such a focus on Clay and Angela, given he’s firmly, irrevocably not her type. And the pills and “powers” bit stuck out like a sore thumb in what was otherwise a strong mystery.
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LibraryThing member djchase
I received this as a free book. It sounded like something I would like. It has veterans and detectives, so what's not to like. For some reason I just couldn't get into the story. But give it a try, you might like it.
LibraryThing member JeffMcDonald
Chapter 1 of "The Purple Heart Detective Agency" opens with many of the trademarks of a classic Dashiell Hammett whodunit ... it's a sun-drenched day on the streets of L.A. and hard-boiled detective Clayton Grace is sitting across the desk from a beautiful dame who is offering him what appears to
Fans of detective fiction will know, of course, that there's bound to be much more to the case ... you know there will be a colorful and entertaining array of supporting characters popping-up in the chapters that follow ... and there will be speculation that the dame may be offering Grace more than a retainer at some point.
It isn't long, though, before author Rock Neelly begins following his own path, and taking us along for a journey that will have more than its share of surprising twists and unexpected turns. In fact, he first sets foot on that path BEFORE the start of Chapter 1 ... whatever else you may skip in your reading, do NOT pass over the prologue.
It will go a long way to understanding Grace and his partner, Roddy O'Mallery. A pair of Iraq War veterans, wounded in body and spirit, they have lost so much in the course of their service ... but they have also gained much of what they will need to see an increasingly-complex, increasingly-dangerous case to the end
I say 'complex' ... perhaps 'bizarre' might be more appropriate at times. More than once, I was reminded of the fiction of Arturo Pérez-Reverte as our protagonists must deal with the something that may be more than charade or showmanship, but may actually be supernatural.
If I have a complaint, it may be that there is too much of a good thing ... to many plot lines, too many characters, too many back stories and flashbacks to the war, too much time taken to get to the story's conclusion.
My recommendation? Read every page, start to finish ... go ahead and speculate about what awaits you down that path, before you arrive at the denouement ... and enjoy the journey whether you're right or wrong about the final destination.
__________
NOTE: I received a copy of this work through LibraryThing in exchange for a review.
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be a simple and straightforward 'missing person' case.Fans of detective fiction will know, of course, that there's bound to be much more to the case ... you know there will be a colorful and entertaining array of supporting characters popping-up in the chapters that follow ... and there will be speculation that the dame may be offering Grace more than a retainer at some point.
It isn't long, though, before author Rock Neelly begins following his own path, and taking us along for a journey that will have more than its share of surprising twists and unexpected turns. In fact, he first sets foot on that path BEFORE the start of Chapter 1 ... whatever else you may skip in your reading, do NOT pass over the prologue.
It will go a long way to understanding Grace and his partner, Roddy O'Mallery. A pair of Iraq War veterans, wounded in body and spirit, they have lost so much in the course of their service ... but they have also gained much of what they will need to see an increasingly-complex, increasingly-dangerous case to the end
I say 'complex' ... perhaps 'bizarre' might be more appropriate at times. More than once, I was reminded of the fiction of Arturo Pérez-Reverte as our protagonists must deal with the something that may be more than charade or showmanship, but may actually be supernatural.
If I have a complaint, it may be that there is too much of a good thing ... to many plot lines, too many characters, too many back stories and flashbacks to the war, too much time taken to get to the story's conclusion.
My recommendation? Read every page, start to finish ... go ahead and speculate about what awaits you down that path, before you arrive at the denouement ... and enjoy the journey whether you're right or wrong about the final destination.
__________
NOTE: I received a copy of this work through LibraryThing in exchange for a review.
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LibraryThing member Conkie
At the start of reading this book, its premise of a struggling P.I. and Iraq War veteran/amputee being hired by beautiful woman for his next case, made me think that Cormoran Strike of "The Cuckoo's Calling" had a secret double living in Northern California. Alas, he doesn't, but I found this P.I.
This story is alternately told from first-person and third-person perspectives, mostly in the present day, but includes well-placed vignettes of how these two veterans became life-long friends during their military deployment. Included in its plot are many "issues of today." Phantom Limb Pain, self-medicating, mafia-owned casinos, illegal drug sale and usage, mental health issues, Alzheimer's, medical testing of animals, bisexuality, "good" bad guys and "bad" good guys...
I found this book to be a satisfying read, and looked forward to reading it every night while on my treadmill. Halfway into the story, I found out the author is also from the Cincinnati, Ohio area and recently recommended to the award-winning Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County library to add this book to its vast collection. PLEASE read this story; you won't regret the choice. Meanwhile, I am hopeful the author will endeavor to publish another Grace/O'Malley story.
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appealing just the same. Clayton Grace "Gracer" and fellow solider (and double amputee) Rodney "Roddy" O'Malley are true brothers in all ways that matter. Roddy teaches Gracer what it means to "have someone's back" while in Iraq, and Clay pays it back by providing a reason for Roddy not to "eat" his gun when back in the states. This story is alternately told from first-person and third-person perspectives, mostly in the present day, but includes well-placed vignettes of how these two veterans became life-long friends during their military deployment. Included in its plot are many "issues of today." Phantom Limb Pain, self-medicating, mafia-owned casinos, illegal drug sale and usage, mental health issues, Alzheimer's, medical testing of animals, bisexuality, "good" bad guys and "bad" good guys...
I found this book to be a satisfying read, and looked forward to reading it every night while on my treadmill. Halfway into the story, I found out the author is also from the Cincinnati, Ohio area and recently recommended to the award-winning Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County library to add this book to its vast collection. PLEASE read this story; you won't regret the choice. Meanwhile, I am hopeful the author will endeavor to publish another Grace/O'Malley story.
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LibraryThing member TeriA-M
The Purple Heart Detective Agency is not my usual choice for a mystery. Ex-GIs dealing with fitting back into society is a far different storyline than what I normally read. With that being said, I was pleasantly surprised at hiow the characters and the story drew me in. Throw in a twist at the
Come meet Clayton, Roddy and the rest of the gang. They have a great story to share with you.
I received a free copy of this book for an honest review.
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end, and you have a great read.Come meet Clayton, Roddy and the rest of the gang. They have a great story to share with you.
I received a free copy of this book for an honest review.
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LibraryThing member LoriAnnK
This is a modern hard-boiled detective story, complete with femme fatale, and a war story. Roddy O'Malley and Clayton Grace served together in Iraq, where they were both seriously injured. Now they're home, trying to reestablish their lives by running The Purple Heart Detective Agency. Business
I enjoyed this story. Clay and Roddy are good characters with an interesting relationship. The story moved along at a good pace and had enough twists and turns to keep things interesting until the end. I look forward to the next adventure from the The Purple Heart Detective Agency.
I received my copy of this book for free in exchange for an honest review.
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isn't good until Angela Thayer hires them to locate her missing boss, the illusionist Trevor Baker. They have a show opening in Vegas soon and if he doesn't show up he and Angela will both forfeit the large advances they received. What starts out as a simple missing persons case soon gets much more complicated, and Roddy and Clay find themselves up against a powerful corporation, a client they may not be able to trust, and their own demons with nothing but their wits and some old friends to get them through. I enjoyed this story. Clay and Roddy are good characters with an interesting relationship. The story moved along at a good pace and had enough twists and turns to keep things interesting until the end. I look forward to the next adventure from the The Purple Heart Detective Agency.
I received my copy of this book for free in exchange for an honest review.
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LibraryThing member kirathelibrarian
Interesting, well-developed plot and enjoyable character. The flashbacks to Iraq, however, were hard at times to follow. Fans of former military mysteries will enjoy reading this book.
Language
Original language
English
Physical description
292 p.; 5.5 inches
ISBN
0692369694 / 9780692369692