Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this eARC.

In the third installment of the Lewis Cole Series, author Brendan DuBois takes readers on a heart-pounding journey through a sleepy coastal town plagued by arson and violence. "Shattered Shell" is a hard-hitting crime fiction novel that keeps you on the edge of your seat from start to finish.

When a mysterious arsonist sets fire to hotels in the quiet town of Tyler Beach, the local police are left baffled. Enter Lewis Cole, a retired Department of Defense analyst and a familiar face in the town. Lewis is no stranger to solving critical cases, and this time, he's up against a fugitive pyromaniac who leaves destruction in their wake.

But the fires are just the beginning. When a brutal act of violence rocks the community, Lewis dives headfirst into a high-profile hunt to unmask the culprit. His thirst for justice and determination to prevent further assaults lead him to enlist the help of old friends, including the enigmatic Felix Tinios, a Boston mob-connected "security consultant."

DuBois masterfully weaves themes of justice, loyalty, and resilience throughout the narrative. Lewis Cole is a compelling protagonist—a flawed yet relentless investigator who refuses to back down. His interactions with Felix Tinios add depth to the story, revealing layers of intrigue and hidden alliances.

DuBois's prose is crisp and evocative. He paints vivid scenes of the coastal town, capturing both its idyllic charm and the underlying tension. The pacing is relentless, propelling readers forward as they piece together clues alongside Lewis.

"Shattered Shell" is a rollercoaster ride of suspense, with unexpected twists and a pulse-pounding climax. DuBois's ability to blend intricate plotting with authentic characters makes this novel a standout in the genre. If you're a fan of James Patterson or Michael Connelly, buckle up—you're in for a thrilling read.

This is a double mystery, as there are two felonies afoot: firstly an arsonist burning down local hotels. Is this a crazy, or someone with other motives? Local columnist Lewis Cole and journalist friend and ex-date Paula start to do their homework.

Then there is the rape, of Local cop's partner. Lewis fears. However, the good cop wants more from Cole than just to find the felon here. She seeks justice - of the eye-for-the-eye kind. A new moral quandary for Cole.

All of this set against a deeply unforgiving winter. The wrecked shells of the budng-down buildings say something about the lives of some of the main characters - some kinds of damage are almost impossible to set aside. The ambience for what proves to be a whodunit too, with reveals aplenty is resolutely noir.

Cole has resourceful friends of a somewhat morally grey disposition. He himself has seen action too, from what seems to be a deep and murky past as a special agent (while this is a standalone, it seems there are other novels featuring Cole Lewis).

The end brings a fell-good factor in being surprisingly upbeat. Recommended, this one won't disappoint.

This was the second Lewis Cole mystery I have read. The main character is shrouded in enough secrecy to keep him interesting from book to book. I found the read compelling enough to have to finish it in three days..

I've been looking for a new mystery author to pick up -- one who has a series of books that I can wade through and enjoy. So, I saw a book by this author on the New Books shelf at the library, and decided to go back and try some earlier ones of his.I enjoyed this one. It's a little reminiscent of Kathy Reichs in the sense that the hero gets himself into a sticky situation by apparently not thinking too deeply about things, and, especially, by not telling anyone where he was going to be. (Reichs' hero[ine], Temperance Brennan, seems to make a habit of that in every book.)

The characters are reasonably interesting, the dialog somewhat, and the mystery not so easy to figure out. So, I'll continue with this author for a while to see how he does...

Brendan DuBois's SHATTERED SHELL is a solid mystery. Lewis Cole is a likeable protagonist--he's tough but good natured, and one of his strengths is his ability to form friendships. His investigation into the rape of his friend's lover takes him down some dark roads, and there are some genuinely exciting moments. Sometimes it felt like Lewis did too much sitting around, but overall, the pace was good, and I enjoyed the book. The resolution to the mystery felt somewhat unsatisfying, but I enjoyed the novel as a whole.

Lewis Cole, a man who can’t talk about his past, is back for another installment of this excellent series.Two of his female friends come to him for help: one is looking for an arsonist who is setting hotels ablaze, and the other is looking for her girlfriend’s rapist. With a variety of characters added to the seemingly unrelated cases, Cole continually leaps from case to case until their paths get close enough for him to take action.

I enjoyed this latest book in the Lewis Cole series by Brendan DuBois. This style of solving mysteries is unusual and quirky but always entertaining.

Thanks to NetGalley and Severn River Publishing for the opportunity to read this ARC.

Great book! This book had a bit of everything! It had suspense, intrigue, action packed, murder, serial arsonist, rape, some great detective work and plenty of crazy twists and turns! The storyline was very interesting and had me glued to my Kindle! The only weird part was that the main character, I had thought through most of the beginning of the book was a girl! I was very shocked when I found out it was a man?! It didn't really take away from the storyline but through the rest of the book I just couldn't think of this character as a man?! It was very weird and has never happened to me before?! I guess the way the author wrote this character I just thought it was a female?! Still a great read! But I just kind of thought it was interesting to me lol I highly recommend reading this book as it was well worth reading! I would be interested if anyone else felt this way? it was different! Great book though! Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for sharing this book with me!