Loved this from first page to the last! Great characters and a storyline that keeps you guessing and engaged with the plot. I hope there will be many more books in this series.

Brian Kavanagh (preferring his nickname Brick) enjoyed visiting Ireland in the first 3 months of retirement, recovering after trauma from his last case as a homicide detective. Brick never anticipated that his time on return home to Washington, D.C., would include a job offer investigating a cold case and helping his former partner Ron Hayes through an almost unfathomable personal experience.

Moving beyond a police procedural, the storyline illustrates the complexities of life for a newly retired officer. It also simultaneously elucidates whether, in the official capacity of a job using law enforcement experience and in the case of his partner Ron Hayes, there is the drama and tension created by schedules when personal and professional priorities overlap and are competing priorities.

I enjoyed the 2nd book in the series even more than "Relentless." The short chapters assist in ratcheting the suspense and twists in the cases. I’m ready to read Book 3 whenever available.

Although I enjoyed the novel, I found a few points to require too much explanation. There are no intricate details that overwhelm you with the plot. I enjoyed the character development, so far, so nice. That crime/mystery was solved so well.

This is Shawn Wilson’s second novel in this series with homicide detective Brick Kavanagh (but these books could easily be read alone). Brick resigned from the police department to train criminology students in cold case solving techniques but his plans are turned upside down. His partner’s wife and children are kidnapped and so although he resigned from the police department, he is back in an effort to solve the case. The plot is very engaging and a page turner that will keep you guessing. I highly recommend this book and the author.

"After the trauma of his last case, and after three months spent recovering in Ireland, life is looking up for newly retired homicide detective Brian (Brick) Kavanagh. Back home in Washington, D.C., a new job shows promise when he's asked to train criminology students in cold case techniques. Then he's off to a whirlwind weekend in Chicago with Nora, an Aer Lingus flight attendant he'd met in Ireland. There he receives shocking news that his former partner's wife and twin infants have been kidnapped.
Started off good but little slow afterwards but good storyline, I will try more of the authors books.
Thanks to Oceanview Publishing, netgalley and the author in exchange for a review.
Published Oct 18, 2022

Duplicity is a well written thriller with a multitude of action and mysterious events. The characters and situations are believable with the story taking the reader to Ireland, Washington DC, Chicago and Las Vegas. The pace is nonstop acceleration and the reader is constantly wondering where it will lead next — whether it is investigating a cold case ,a current disappearance/kidnapping or a budding romantic encounter.

I highly recommend this novel to all who enjoy this genre and I thank NetGalley and Oceanview Publishing for the opportunity to read and review this novel prior to publication.

First, I want to thank Netgalley for the ARC copy of this book, in exchange for which I’m giving my unbiased opinion.

I thought this would be a formulaic cop story. But, instead, it was 2 plot lines that didn’t intersect & had very little in common, except for the hero, Brick. The story was choppy, disjointed & the ending was rushed & dissatisfying. I felt I knew more about Brick’s microwave than I did about him. The author annoyingly kept referring to an incident that happened (in his 1st book & this is the sequel), but never says what it was. It ended his career, so I think it should’ve been stated what it was. The book starts with Brick in Ireland, recovering from “something “, but we don’t learn what. When he returns home, we find he was all his meals out, mostly at a local bar, whose owner dispensers cryptic advice which Brick questions in his head, but never asks the guy about. The guy is totally 1 dimensional, sadly.

I just have to say that having a kidnapping of his friend & former partner’s babies & his wife was very emotional. They were having problems & there were lots of red herrings. It was too much emotional baggage from the husband who stayed with Brick. Then there was a thin, hard to buy resolution of that situation, which was three quarters of the book.

Finally, the other plot came into focus, but it was resolved in a very rushed manner. Plus the cop who’d just been through his kids & wife being kidnapped & was on his first day back to work, has to shoot the suspect to save his partner. It’s highly traumatic to him, but glossed over.

Instead, the author focuses on Brick having lunch with a fired colleague, (love interest?) then traveling to Chicago again. As he waits for his original love interest, he debates moving there & starting a new career. Then it’s over. Sounds like more of a hook for book 3.

This book felt like an ad for book 1, then a hook for book 3. I almost didn’t finish this book, so I won’t be reading either book. Guess I’ll never find out what caused Brick to quit his cop career, & why he was in Ireland. Oh well, no loss.

I don’t recommend this book.

Detective Brick Kavanagh is just back from a 3 month trip to Ireland, where he was recovering from an injury related to his last case. He feels things are looking up for him, as he is offered a new job teaching criminology students how to work on cold cases.

He's also on cloud nine due to his upcoming trip to Chicago to visit Nora, a flight attendant he met in Ireland.
During the trip to Chicago, he receives a call that his former partner's wife and twin girls have been kidnapped.

Brick returns to DC to stand by Ron, the man that has always been there for Brick. Soon things with the kidnapping are not adding up and Brick has to figure out if he really knows his former partner.

This is a great story with lots of suspense. I highly recommend giving it a read.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Brick Kavanagh, a recently retired detective from the D.C. police force, has been asked to look into a hit-and-run cold case. Meanwhile his ex-partner’s wife has disappeared, along with their infant twins.

While this is the second book in the series, I found it easy to read as a stand-alone. The characters are believable, the plot is well-done, and the conclusions are satisfactory. However, there is also a budding romance between Brick and a flight attendant that I didn’t find particularly interesting or germane to the story. it was more of a distraction than anything else.

Duplicity is an easy read, but a bit slow at times. Since the two investigations are unrelated it was a little disjointed in some parts and the cold case often took a backseat. But, all in all, it was an enjoyable read, with a sympathetic protagonist. I give it 3.5 stars.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing a copy of this book for review.

This is the second novel in a series and while it reads relatively well on its own, the earlier one should be read first to fully appreciate this one. Brick has retired from the police after a traumatic event found in the first novel. He's been away from Washington, D.C. for months, trying to understand his life and his future. The first third of the book tells of Brick's life upon his return. The narrative moves at a methodical pace before anything exciting happens. It isn't until about half way through he book that the plot solidifies and the novel becomes engaging.

Brick is a good hero. That's good because most of the book is about him. There are very few suspenseful scenes. This is a novel for readers who like emphasis on character rather than suspense or investigative procedure.

I like Brick as a character although he is not very aggressive. I do hope he comes into his own, finding a new career after police work. I'll be watching to see if Wilson provides readers with more of Brick.

I received a complimentary egalley of this book from the publisher. My comments are an independent and honest review.

In Duplicity, book two of the Brick Kavanagh Mystery Series, author Shawn Wilson transports the reader back to Washington D.C., for another intriguing mystery story that will keep the reader guessing and turning the pages.

After spending three months in Ireland, retired Homicide Detective Brian "Brick" Kavanagh returns to Washington D.C. to contemplate the next phase of his life. Brick is offered the opportunity to train criminology graduate students on how to investigate cold cases. A specific case investigating the three year old hit-n-run cold case of Lincoln University student Henry Yang intrigues Brick, and he agrees to investigate the cold case. Before starting the investigation into the cold case, Brick travels to Chicage to meet up with Nora Breslin, an Aer Lingus flight attendant that he met while in Ireland, but a frantic call from Brick's former partner, Homicide Detective Ron Hayes sends him back to Washington D.C. to help investigate the kidnapping of Ron's wife Jasmine and their twin babies. The two cases leads Brick on a complicated investigative journey when the hit-n-run cold case may have political implications, while the search for his former partner's family is intense and baffling, as he tries to put the pieces of the puzzle together for both investigations.

Author Shawn Wilson weaves a slow-building and suspenseful tale that follows Brick's investigations to uncover the truth behind the hit-n-run cold case, and the complicated kidnapping case of his former partner's family. I loved reading this action-packed story. Brick's observations and detail to the police procedure used within the investigations kept me intrigued as he slowly put the pieces of the mystery puzzle together for both cases, especially when there is complications, intensity, and danger around every corner.

The reader will be easily drawn into this richly descriptive plot that will keep them guessing as Brick's no nonsense and determined investigations uncovers a growing list of possible suspects, motives, and clues, while it will also leave the reader completely shocked by the surprise ending.

Duplicity has enough drama, tension, action, intrigue, and unexpected twists and turns that will take the reader on one heck of a thrilling roller coaster ride.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of the book from author / publisher via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review and participation in a virtual book tour event hosted by Partners In Crime Tours.

https://jerseygirlbookreviews.blogspot.com/2022/11/duplicity-by-shawn-wilson-vbt-book.html

Duplicity is a solid procedural with an appealing former-detective protagonist who doesn’t hesitate to step in and help his old friend. “Brick” Kavanagh is back from three months is Ireland and trying to figure out what to do next. He is invited to teach a university class using a cold case as an example, and though he quickly learns that the specific proposed cold case might be a poor fit for that purpose, it’s clear that gaping holes in the initial investigation make it worth pursuing now. Meanwhile, when Rick visits an intriguing new love interest in Chicago, he sees on TV that the wife and twin daughters of his ex-partner have disappeared, and he immediately heads back to DC to help out. There’s plenty going on here at many levels, and the various storylines are all individually interesting. The pace is not quite as fast as that of Relentless, Brick’s previous outing, but things move along engagingly and end in a satisfying way. I would not hesitate to read future books in this series.

Thanks to Netgalley and Oceanview Publishing for a digital advance review copy.

This was a DNF for me. The plot has so much potential and as someone from DC, I was extra intrigued, but the writing style is just not my favorite. I found it mundane and boring and couldn't force myself through it.

This is my first book from this author.
Duplicity is book 2 of the Brick Kavanagh Mystery series and I feel I needed to have read book 1 of the series "Relentless" to properly enjoy the book and understand Brick's background.
This book has infused me enough to make me purchase the first book of the series and look out for any follow on mysteries. Yes, it was a bit slow to start for the characters are solid and well developed to the point where you want to get to know them further.
The cold case mystery is well written and easy to follow.
Looking forward to the next book in the series.

This is the first book I've read by Mr. Wilson and I enjoyed reading it. The story flows easily, it's well-written, the characters are solid and Brick stands to support his ex-partner even though he never stops thinking like a policeman and has his doubts. Brick also needs to take quite a few decisions regarding his personal life, as he is now retired, just over 40 years old. Working cold cases might be an option - a good one, as the story showed.

As he adjusts his life to his recent retirement, Brick must make some choices, work, where to live, romance or no, etc. He accepts an offer to lecture on the procedures in reviewing cold cases....and his first one is surrounded by so many limiting factors, he is challenged from the beginning. When he recieves a call for help from his old partner and still friend, Brick drops his new life to work in his old neighborhood, Washington DC. He must use his considerable investigative talents to find his partner's wife and children.
The story line here is good, Brick is trying to move on with his life when he gets pulled back into the hostile environments that led to his retirement. He must flex his skills to teach his students what a cold case search really means. Both events are an excellent chance for Shawn Wilson to flex his writing skills and keep us hooked into the story. As the layers of each story line spread, the mystery, suspense, thriller becomes ever more engrossing and kept me reading much longer than the "couple of chapters" I intended.

Duplicity by Shawn Wilson is the second of Brick Kavanagh mysteries series. Kavanagh, recovering from his prior case, has spent three months in Ireland and is just returning to Washington, DC.

This novel relies too much on back history and descriptions of the local scenery as the real story starts in Chapter Sixteen. At the same time, there is no clarification of why Kavanagh needs to recover from the traumas of this past case, so it’s difficult to place this book as the second in a series. In addition, there are two story lines which are not interrelated; as such, neither gets the full attention it deserves. Too much time is spent on his hiatus in Ireland and on two potential love interests that go nowhere. There isn’t a lot of “detecting” going on, either. The ending seemed rushed and abrupt. The plot had some twists, but those none of those were unexpected. That said, the characters are well-rounded and believable.

Duplicity is the second book in Brick Kavanagh series. Brick returns to Washington after taking break in Ireland from his last case. When he returns, he is asked to take a new job to train criminology students in cold case techniques. Saying he will think about it he asks for the case that want him to start with in order to be more familiar. He is invited to the baptism of a friend for the twins. He observes odd behaviors but files them away.

Brick then jets off to Chicago to get to know a flight attendant better. While in Chicago, there is a breaking report on tv about the mother and her twins being missing. Just happens to be his friend's family.

The majority of the book deals with the missing wife and twins, with Brick and the husband investigating and then circles back to the cold case. The book is fairly straight forward, a little wordy but enjoyable just the same. The writing style is a little different than what I usually read. I felt as if I was being led with a very detailed step by step of a day in the life. That may not have been the idea but that is how I felt.

I liked the story, and I would like to read the previous book. Once I got the rhythm of the writing style it felt easier to read and enjoy the story.

Always in search of new authors too me, Duplicity by Shawn Wilson fit this bill. The second book of the series, I had no trouble reading it as a stand-alone book. I found this to be a good read, but not a excellent read. The storyline was interesting and I found the characters to be believable. I do feel it was have been better if the storyline only centered on one of the storylines not both at the same time. I would still suggest this book to others, even though it wasn't one of my favorites I do know not everyone enjoys the same books.

I received an ARC from NetGalley and Oceanview Publishing, I have voluntarily read and reviewed it the opinions expressed here are my own.

A Cold Case Hit-And-Run Murder Turns Quite Hot

This novel has an interesting start as it is a B-storyline thread. Brick Kavanagh has just retired from the Washington DC police department because he had a very serious problem with his boss. Brick now is spending a 90-day vacation in Ireland to recuperate. He knows he must find a job, but he has only one offer to assist a professor teach a class of graduate students on as an assistance in a class learning about cold case investigations on a real cold case. From this start the novel emerges.

There are two main storyline threads. The first is very complex and is split into phases. First is to obtain permission from his old homicide division to conduct the investigation. At this point the complexity begins. The case is a hit-and-run that was dropped soon after the investigation started. The first of many indications that something was significantly wrong with this investigation. The novel is structured to lead the reader along the investigation. The who was discovered, and then why he was not prosecuted. Each step solves the next issue but delivers another issue. When Brick discovers that his former boss had a role, Brick’s desire for retribution starts to boil in his blood. The second thread involves his ex-partner’s wife leaving with their twin’s days after their baptism. While the first thread is basically straight forward investigation, this thread has many twists and turns that kept the suspense up on whether the departure was voluntary or forced. These aspects of the novel solidly laid hold of my interest. I could not stop reading.

The B-storyline is very extensive in this novel. Besides the usual method of his interactions with other characters and his thoughts at the time, there are two threads devoted to this storyline. The first centers on a woman with whom he became friendly in Ireland who regularly travels to Chicago. The second is centered on old friend who owns a bar by an employee who is Brick’s nephew. He opens his inner thoughts to them. Both threads provide much insight into Brick’s personal side. My reading enjoyment was enhanced by them.

For the aspects that turn off some readers, first is that there are not any intimate scenes. Vulgar, rude, and impious language is at a low level. Violence is described in the less edgy after the fact, but their implications signal tragedy, real or potential. There is one violent incident portrayed as it occurs, but it is over in a few words. The last aspect is that this is the second novel in this series and Brick’s quick retirement occurred in that novel. The only aspect that reaches by to the previous novel was Brick’s loathing for his old boss. That fact is explained in this novel, so this there should not be a problem reading this novel first. Therefore, I do not believe that most readers will not have any problems reading this novel.

The major issue I had with the novel that the start is slow, so do not give up too early. I liked the two main storylines that took very different paths to their conclusions. I was quite happy all the threads with their believable action and the endings of all the threads. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this novel. Due to that, this author solidified his position in my Will-Read category. I do recommend reading this novel, but make sure you get past the slow start. I am looking forward to reading further books from this author. I rate this novel with five stars.

I received a free prepublication e-book version of this novel through NetGalley from Oceanview Publishing. My review is based only on my own reading experience of this book. I wish to thank Oceanview Publishing for the opportunity to read and review this novel early.