Wrong Light, the latest iteration of the travails of Rick Cahill, continues to solidify Matt Coyle's place among the masters of the crime fiction genre. Cahill fights a continuing battle against the prevailing allegation that he murdered his wife, causing almost everyone to distrust and dislike him, including many of his very few friends. Flying under this cloud, he continues to grind out his PI trade against all odds. The result is unflinchingly tense and delightful.

I flip flopped on how I felt about this book. It kept my interest for certain but time and again I found myself disappointed. I do not want to input any spoilers, so I will need to be vague. This Rick Cahill is a train wreck. Who would ever hire him as a private dectective, escapes me. He creates more damage than he repairs! The insertion, of the Russian mob into the plot, only served to make this novel even more convoluted than it was.
Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this ARC.

This was a great example of modern noir and unique take on the often overdone "hard-boiled" detective angle, the grizzled Rick Cahill makes for a compelling protagonist and I think many will find this book hits a sweet spot for them if they're inclined towards mystery novels that wink towards the past of the genre.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read and review this book.
I love the tough PI main character and the setting.
I felt that this was a fast paced easy to read thriller

Naomi at Night - in San Diego; a soothing voice on the radio from 9PM till studio. Rick Cahill was called by Chip Evigan to that station because he believed that Naomi had been threatened. A six page letter was shown by Chip to Rick (a PI) who was hired to work out the case. The threat became a possible truth, "Don't disappoint me and awaken my rage." This, if Naomi did not mention "Pluto" by name on her broadcast once in the following week. She was told nothing of any threat or letter. This, likely, due to the station wanting her to sign her new contract? Chip wanted to flush out this Pluto - but no cops and everything had to be on the QT.

Eventually, after Naomi's show that evening, Rick went with Naomi to a bar where he showed her a copy of the letter. She does not think it is a credible threat. Later, she calls Rick to tell him that someone stole her gun! He went to her house to find out what was going on.


No gun permit so she insists - no cops. He asked her when she did time in prison. She runs to her room and slams the door. Rick stands vigil the whole night. During that time, Rick checks Naomi out on the internet and finds that she has a clean record. This is when the reader wonders if Naomi is REALLY Naomi.


The following morning, Naomi tells Rick about her background. she was in an arranged married when she was 14 - the groom was 25!


Just when you think all of the plot is in front of you; the Russian Mafia are involved, Naomi gets a bodyguard, Rick is sent on a nightly mission, Rick gets in trouble with the cops and FBI, Alicia (who worked at Sonic drive-thru) disappears, Rick's friend Moira is in the picture and everything goes upside down. We find out that Rick owes the Russians a favor (and 10,000) and a nightly stake out. Also they bring in some stem cell research and a trip to a Gentlemen's Club.


Just when you think that TOO MUCH has been folded into the story, pieces fall together and with a number of twists and turns, you cannot put the book down'


Praise to Matt Coyle for a superb read. Never dull or boring. Lots of suspense and adventure! RECOMMEND!


Many thanks to Quarto Publishing and NetGalley for a rollercoaster ride!!!

I was given a ARC copy of this book for an honest option. First Matt Coyle once again delivers with his Rick Cahill story. This time we find Rick doing under cover work for a local radio station. One of it's evening personality's has been getting some not so good fan mail, phone calls and so on. Rick has to take on the job of protecting her and finding out who the mystery man is and what he want's with the beautiful Naomi. But Naomi has secrets of her own that she doesn't want brought to the light. Along with the Naomi case Rick is also having to deal with the Russian Mafia. Will Rick survive or will this be his final down fall. This is a very exciting and riventing book that will keep you on the edge of your seat till the end!

This is my first book in the Rick Cahill series by Matt Coyle. Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for allowing me the opportunity to read about this imperfect detective. The flow was good and characters were developed. There was a bit of mystery and some suspense but not as much as I had expected. There were two situations occurring at the same time for the detective to follow, but I think it would have been more interesting and better fleshed out if it had focused on the Naomi storyline. I'm considering reading some of the earlier books in this series, and maybe I would have been more in tune with the characters if I had read the series in order. It's an okay read but had the potential to be much more and the ending seemed a bit rushed as both situations needed to be wrapped up.

Wrong light by Matt Coyle.
Rick Cahill has come to 1350 radio station to see Chip Evigan. He has contacted Rick about threats to Naomi. He is the program director. Naomi is Naomi at heart  on the radio from 9 til midnight. She has been sent a letter. The police don't think it's a threat. But it has been sent by someone who named themselves pluto. A fantastic read.  I loved the story and the characters especially Rick. He got things done. Didn't see that coming. Loved the ending too.  5*.

This is my introduction to the Rick Cahill series by Matt Coyle. Many thanks to NetGalley and the Publisher for introducing me to this hard-boiled detective and I hope to read some of the previous books in the series to learn more about his troubled past.

This is a brilliant example of modern noir, reminiscent of the detectives in 1940’s fiction by Dashiell Hammett or Raymond Chandler. This could be an old fashioned film noir movie starring Humphrey Bogart except for the laptops, GPS, surveillance cameras, smart cel phones and stem cells. There is a beautiful, seductive lead female plus other damsels in distress needing rescue by our hero. Rick plays by his own rules and has no fans in the police department where he worked for a couple of years.

Late at night Naomi Hendrix’s sultry voice echoes through the airwaves giving solace to all the lonely souls out there, and listening to their problems. One seems to be a dangerous psychopath who may be stalking her. Rick is called on by the radio stations’ management to protect her, but they don’t seem very concerned that it is an actual threat. They want to keep her as a valuable employee who is bringing them high ratings. Like all femme fatales in noir fiction she has a mysterious past. Is there really a stalker and is he connected with her past? Rick is forbidden to contact the police, but may break these rules to protect Naomi. As he carries out his investigation two other women with only slight connection to the case may be in mortal danger. Rick feels responsible.

There was plenty of suspense and action. There was a second plot involving medical fraud and the Russian Mafia. Rick is forced to carry out surveillance for them under threat for his life. This was an interesting and informative plot, but I felt the story focusing on Naomi and the possible stalker was strong enough to stand on its own. Perhaps if I had been familiar with the previous books it wouldn’t prove so distracting to me. Rick was now in danger on both fronts as well as being warned by the police not to interfere. He may be arrested himself before solving the cases.
3.5 stars.
Recommended to anyone interested in noir detectives and their investigations.

Ok.... to put it as simply as possible, there is no better Private investigator series than Matt Coyle's Rick Cahill series. He's just the most flawed and interesting character in the genre. This series gets better with every book, but I'm really worried about Rick"s sanity and how much more loss and disappointment he can take. All I know is, I will definitely be there for the long haul. Excellent,once again Matt Coyle!