As I was reading The Sinister, my fourth Bruno Johnson book but the ninth in the series, I kept wondering: why on earth is this series not on the best-seller lists? It’s got everything: non-stop action, emotional family scenes, a main character who will do what he has to do to right a wrong. Bruno Johnson tells the story himself, so you get inside his head. His love for his wife Marie and the children they take care of shines through everything. The author has a law enforcement background and you can definitely tell. He also is very familiar with the “mean streets” of Los Angeles, which come to life in his stories.

In this book, Bruno is recovering from a bad injury that occurred in The Vanquished, and Marie is pregnant. He is healed enough to be able to leave Los Angeles to head back to their new home in Costa Rica when an FBI friend of Bruno’s begs him for help in locating his kidnapped granddaughter. The action never lets up after that, with lots of twists and turns and some great characters along the way. I especially loved “Whitey.”

You can definitely read this as a standalone because Putnam does an excellent job of filling in what you need to know. As with any series, your reading experience will be richer if you’ve read at least some of the other books in the series, but it’s not necessary. (If you do want to read others in the series first, keep in mind that books 5-8 are prequels, so the action in this one, #9, follows the action in book #4, The Vanquished.)

Thank you to the author, Oceanview Publishing and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advance readers copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

CW: Violence, kidnapping, child abuse, drug abuse

Blood, Bone, and Bullets

The Sinister is by turns suspenseful and action-packed, and introspective and loving. Be warned, there's a bookful of violence and mayhem, and there's scenes of child abuse. There's also child rescue. In fact, the entire plot revolves around rescuing children. A former cop, Bruno Johnson has become the kind of vigilante who in-the-know members of law enforcement call for help.

Bruno is a fascinating character. His relationship with Marie is one I'd wish for every husband and wife -- though I'd never wish hiding out from both the law and from gangsters on anyone.

All of Putnam's characters are well-developed: quirky; but authentic. I especially loved Waldo. His role in the plot wasn't large, but he provided a lot of the humor. He's a very good boy.

All the characters are quite vivid and author David Putnam has a flair for imbuing dreadful events with humor. His world-building reminds me of Ed McBain's 87th Precinct, with sun and palm trees, and a modern, West Coast feel.

I was lucky to be gifted a free advanced review copy of The Sinister, courtesy of the author, Oceanview Publishing, and NetGalley. My review is entirely voluntary. Sinister is an absorbing, exciting read and I heartily recommend it! I'm looking forward to reading the rest of the books in the series.

Bruno Johnson is a wanted man. The former LAPD cop, who also spent some time in jail, has been hiding out from the law in a hotel with his pregnant wife, Marie; they're waiting to return to Costa Rica to rejoin the children they rescued from lives of almost unimaginable horror. He's also wrestling with PTSD after delivering his kind of justice to a motorcycle gang during which he was seriously injured - and during which he lost a son he never knew he had.

Marie can't wait to get back to the kids and Bruno's elderly father, who is dying of cancer; Bruno is hot to trot as well, at least until he gets a call from FBI Deputy Director Dan Chulack, who begs him to find his recently kidnapped granddaughter. Despite Marie's protests, Bruno reluctantly agrees - it's an offer from an old friend he can't refuse. It'll just take a day or two, Bruno counters. Then we'll be on our way, he insists. Enter that old "best-laid plans" expression.

In fact, it enters in more ways than one. The second hitch in the gitalong comes with the out-of-the-blue appearance of a woman who claims to be Bruno's long-gone-missing mother; now in a wheelchair, she insists she wants to make up for lost time and accompany him and Marie when they return to Costa Rica and the ailing husband she left in the lurch. That encounter, BTW, led to one of the best lines I've read in a book in quite some time (hint: It's his impression of his mother the first time he sees her).

Problem is, Bruno's search for the kidnapped child and his mother's past indiscretions (some of which landed her in jail) get twisted up, requiring him to head into dangerous gang territory even though he's not fully healed. But he's got help from his big old pal Karl Drago and his uber-capable dog Waldo. I don't remember Drago from the only other book I read in this series, "The Heartless," is the seventh (somehow I must have missed the eighth, in which I'm pretty sure Drago made an appearance). At any rate, he's an impressive character - and if anything, his dog is even more impressive.

For the most part, everything works out in the end - but you'll just have to read it for yourself to find out how. I'll be watching for the next installment - hope I don't miss another one. Thanks to the publisher, via NetGalley, for allowing me to read and review a pre-release copy of another one.

This is a dark mystery with unforgettable characters…the story has so many red herrings that it is fun trying g to determine the outcome. The author weaves a story that makes the reader want more with this character. What will happen next? This book was sent to me electronically for review by Netgalley. Although the story does slow down, it comes to a promising end.

Ex-cop, ex-con Bruno Johnson and his wife Marie hide in plain sight from the law in an upscale L.A. hotel as Bruno heals from a run-in with a brutal outlaw motorcycle gang—and the loss of his son—a son he didn’t know he had until it was too late.

Marie, now pregnant with her first child, fears Bruno may never fully recover. She knows that soon they must return to Costa Rica to rejoin their large family of rescued children—kids who owe their lives to Bruno and Marie’s intervention.

I always can't wait to dive into the next Bruno Johnson book. Putnam's characters are textured with depth and he always brings a plot that has plenty of twists and turns.

Thank you to Netgalley and the author for allowing me to read this!

I was instantly intrigued by the synopsis of this book. This book instantly drew me in, I got to explore through the eyes of our main character and this is always my favorite way to discover these details of the story and, it was done very well in this book. I really enjoyed this book and the plot. This author did amazing. I loved the writing style.

Brilliant!! There is so much to like about this book. The plot is riveting, and very edgy, with some great characters. I really enjoyed the Authors easy and fluid writing style.
Bruno Johnson was lucky to be alive after being shot twice, however it had taken him months to recover. His wife Marie had saved his life, and she was happy to be by his side while he his body continued to mend, although she was looking forward to getting back home. So, she wasn’t thrilled when FBI Assistant Director Dan Chulack showed up at their door. Law enforcement hadn’t had any luck in tracking down Emily Mosley, the young girl who had been recently kidnapped. Chulack knew how good Bruno was at tracking people down, and he also knew that Bruno had no qualms in using what ever methods were needed to achieve this. Whether Emily was dead or alive, they needed to find her.
From start to finish this is an exceptional book, and I would certainly recommend it. 5/5 Star Rating.

As always, pure brilliance and a story that never lets up. Grips the reader from the get go and never lets up. I read it in one setting and immediately recommended it to my uber picky dad for next winter.

After being injured and in hiding, Bruno Johnson takes on a case for a friend...will he be successful in time? A gripping novel with a page turning story.

Well written realistic characters. Intriguing story that grabbed me at the start and didn't let up. Bruno is my favorite reluctant hero these days.

Another strong entry in the series with a dominating protagonist who fights for what he feels is right no matter what may be thrown in his way.

The Sinister by David Putnam -- 5 Stars
Oceanview Publishing
ISBN: 9781608094264

The Sinister is the ninth book in the Bruno Johnson series and like the others it is filled with great characters and plenty of action. No one knows the mean streets of Los Angeles like Bruno and he will go there to do whatever it takes to help a friend, especially if it involves a child in danger. It is a great story by an author who has experienced the world of law enforcement.


Reviewer: Nancy