Really good. I'm a sucker for a smartass dog, though, so Waldo made this a fun read for me. Good pacing and a couple of twists and great characters were also a plus. I also loved the relationship between Maria & Bruno and his kids. This was my first Bruno book but I'm looking forward to reading more.

I liked the pace, the language, the humour. Good plot, good characters. Not the kind of book I usually read, but I enjoyed this one.

The Diabolical is David Putnam’s 11th Bruno Johnson Novel. ECD, my fellow blogger and great friend of 52 years since we were beginning our post-college degrees, reviewed the 9th book, The Scorned about one year ago, and the eighth The Sinister about two years ago. All three books have been published by Oceanview Publishing, one of our very favorite publishing houses. At some time, were going to have to do a deeper dive to get all of Bruno’s background stories. In ECD’s review of The Scorned, he described that much of the first half was devoted to backstory and especially about feelings. He wrote, “More discussion about feelings than you might find in a romance novel.” I’ve never known ECD to admit that he spent any time reading romance novels.
This novel takes place in Costa Rica where Bruno Johnson and his wife, Marie, have moved with their 14 children to find a better location to raise the kids. Bruno had apparently lost two of his own kids to LA’s gang and drug culture. He acknowledged that the kids with him in Costa Rica are not all legally his, noting that he had rescued most of them from at risk home in South Central Los Angeles. Bruno has found a job at the Lido Cabana bar where he can keep his eye on anyone who might be approaching him for extradition back to LA for both kidnapping and murder charges. The Johnson’s have also arrived with friends. Bruno depends on generous tips from his customers in order to clothe and feed his kids, and he can’t turn down an offer from Otis Brasher to watch out for people that want to harm him (for reasons that Otis would not fully explain). Otis spent his time sitting at the bar and consuming a 13 to 20 grasshoppers per day, thus getting totally drunk. Otis was an abrasive character, but Bruno certainly liked the $1,000 per day that he was receiving for escorting Otis to and from the bar every day.

Things started to go south when there was a mass shooting at another bar which took out some of Bruno’s friends. It turns out some people, including Otis, think there are stolen diamonds in the area – the problem being, the diamonds were stolen from the mob. There were good cops and corrupt cops, more murders, more love with the elegant Marie. Especially there was the struggle that Bruno continued to have with himself from allowing the very dark side of himself to emerge. The author lightened up some of the moments with the dog, Waldo, who was wonderfully portrayed.

It's an excellent story, another winner for Oceanview Publish.

Thank you Net Galley and Oceanview for an ARC of this book. I have read some of the other books about Bruno and they are very violent and just not my cup of tea. This was an honest review to review this book.

This is the first book I have read by this author and it won't be the last

This book kept my attention and I could not put it down!
The twists kept me turning the page.

Such a realistic telling and I wanted more

This is my first book by David Putnam, but it will definitely not be my last. I thoroughly enjoyed The Diabolical. Although it is part of a series, it was a great stand alone read. I did not feel lost or like I was missing anything because I had not read the previous books in the series. The fast pace of the book, with all its twists and turns, kept me guessing. I particularly loved the banter between Bruno and Marie. I was fascinated by the two sides of Bruno - loving and gentle with his family, but ruthless when he needed to be.

I was drawn to this book because of its setting in Costa Rica, but was at a disadvantage having not read any other books in the series. Although this crime story can stand on its own, the back story of Bruno's large adopted family and his need for a new identity and escape from the US law were not clear to me although they were an important part of the story. The pace of the action is fast, but I wanted to know more about Bruno's wife and family, whom he was trying to protect from danger that seemed to surround him.

Fast-paced Crime Thriller.

Bruno Johnson is a former LAPD officer who got in serious trouble (and spent time in jail as a result) but who is now happily married to Marie, and they live together with their 14 children.
Bruno lives by his own creed and relentlessly pursues justice for the ones he loves—even if it means breaking the law. Chief Hernandez, who is aware of Bruno’s skills, requests his assistance at the scene of Tamarindo’s first-ever murder – a brutal shootout at the nightclub El Gato Gorda.
Brunno Recognises two of the victims, and is quickly drawn into the investigation, offering his insights to help solve the case. I Recommend this book to anyone who loves to read fast-paced crime thrillers that have plenty of twists and turns that you will never see coming. A good mystery with great characters. Thanks to NetGalley and to the publishers of this book for giving me a free advance copy of the book to preview and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I hadn’t realized this was book 11 in a series but it wasn’t difficult at all to get into the book without having read the others. So my opinion is it’s definitely readable as a standalone. There were tons of twists and turns that had me guessing.

Life has been great for ex-cop Bruno Johnson where he lives in Costa Rica. Wanted in the USA, he has to lie low, while caring for his kids and wife.

But trouble seemed to follow him to his very own neighborhood. Six people, some friends of his, have been murdered at a party in cold blood, and when more bodies turn up his beautiful but micro-managing employer is not amused.

Meanwhile a local cop tries to blackmail him into loyalty, and a shady customer at the hotel where he works, also demands his protection. And the bodies continue to pile up as Bruno tries to work out who the real killer is.

Bruno Johnson is a highly engaging character, though it is to be wondered if he will ever be able to feel the same about his new home again.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for this read.

This is a good addition to the ongoing saga of Bruno. He is a complex character, rescuer of endangered children, among other pursuits. Bruno's location in Costa Rica is a hide out for many evading the law. Many of the people he knows are not who they claim to be. Trouble seems to follow him around and in this novel Russian agents play a part. My favorite character, though, was Waldo, a helpful canine sidekick.

Putnam writes from his own experiences on the force and I really like his Author's Note at the end explaining that. There is lots of violence, blood and death in this novel. While it is part of a long running series, it reads pretty well on its own. The are enough bits of backstory included to understand Bruno's history and current actions.

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

The Diabolical by David Putnam

This is a Bruno Johnson Crime book. Bruno, whose solution to every negative issue is blood and bone, has mellowed. He may still be a little crusty on the outside but he is a major marshmallow on the inside for his fourteen kids. His job as a bartender at the Punta Bandera Hotel and Beach Club in Costa Rico is impacted when some friends are slaughtered at a local nightclub.
A diamond heist, philandering, a hot psychotic manager, and Waldo the not-so-wonder dog add to the eclectic mix.
Putnam puts together an entertaining story with some unusual trappings for the hotel golf course.
I enjoyed the story and recommend it.

Not my cup of tea! I love a mystery but this felt unrealistic and I would have preferred a more indepth analysis of the mystery itself. It felt very repetitive plot-wise and I wasn't drawn in to the characters or their motivation.

Wedding Bells For Joy, A Death Knell For Paradise

These books featuring Bruno, Marie, and the rest of the Johnson family are addicting. I'm a law-abiding citizen, but I admit that if I were ever to meet a vigilante like Bruno, I’d help him to escape with any poor kid he’d rescued.

This particular story begins with a wonderful celebration, so satisfying and heartwarming if you already know the bride and groom from the last book. But, after the happy couple have slipped away for their honeymoon, Bruno’s good time is derailed in a catastrophically gruesome way. Luckily, Waldo the Rottweiler has been assigned to watch over the family in his owner's absence, because Bruno needs all the help he can get.

David Putnam writes with a confident voice and displays ample and authentic street experience. He knows all about the world of “blood and bone,” but also provides his readers with scenes of tropical paradise and loving family life. He's imbued Bruno and Marie with generous hearts, integrity, and courage. He makes you care deeply about his characters.

If you like your thrillers gritty and suspenseful, with characters as vivid as they are shady, and sudden chaotic developments that can be both funny and appalling, you'll love the Bruno Johnson series.

Thank you so much to author David Putnam, Oceanview Publishing, and NetGalley for a free advance reader's copy of The Diabolical. I'm under no obligation to make a favorable review, so I'm giving a rave review instead! I loved this book and can't wait for the next! I hope there's even more Waldo, and Eddie, too.

Bruno and his family are living in Costa Rica. Bruno is a fugitive running from the law in America. He has a job as a bartender at a hotel. But when his close friend is shot at a local club, Bruno realizes his own life, and that of his family, may be in severe danger.

I have reviewed another in this series, The Scorned. And I rated it three stars as well. I think this series is just not for me. I like Bruno. But, this story is just a bit choppy and complicated. It just doesn’t not seem to fit well together. Now, this is rated very high among other readers. So, that is why I say this series is just not for me. Y’all give it a shot and let me know what you think.

I received this novel from the publisher for a honest review.

Book #11 in the Bruno Johnson series. Each book can be read as a stand alone and enjoyed. While Bruno's back story has developed with each book, there's enough build up in each book to keep up with this fast paced story.

A man with a history of standing up for what he believes, Bruno just wants the world to let him be. Living in Costa Rico with his wife and children, Bruno is blackmailed into working on the investigation of a club shooting that killed a friend of his. As he searches for the shooter, he'll find too many connections to his life, insuring extreme action to keep his family safe. As the tension builds, Bruno will make sure these bad guys understand the consequences of their actions. 5 easy stars.

3.5 Stars

The Diabolical is definitely a rip-roaring ride! Bruno and his wife, Marie, are living in Costa Rica, along with their 12 rescued children. They are also hiding out from US law enforcement.

Mr. Putman was a street cop and he says: "Bruno goes around the law to champion the rights of children and rid the world of the villains who continue to haunt my dreams." In The Diabolical he uses a harrowing event from his past to create one of the last scenes of the book.

Although The Diabolical isn't the style of writing I usually enjoy reading, I found the story to be compelling and the characters to be well-developed. (Of course, my favorite character was the dog, Waldo.) I felt as though I were actually there, petting Waldo, and waiting for Bruno to mix my drink!

Many thanks to both #OceanviewPublishing and #NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review an early copy of The Diabolical.

I thank NetGalley, the publishers and the author for this ARC.
This review is based on my reading of this book and is an honest feedback about it.

I had read about the author David and his books but had never got around to reading one. This was a new experience and over the last couple of years I have been trying out books from authors whose works I've never read before but experimenting mostly in the realm of Thrillers.

This book is a part of a long series the 11th in fact in the Bruno Johnson series. I started the series with this book and can safely say that it can be read as a standalone book. Where there are nods to earlier books or situations a compact background is provided which helps in keeping the flow of the story intact. Bruno is a complex character, an ex-cop and now ex-con living in a foreign country (Costa Rica) under an assumed name to escape detection with the proverbial Damocles sword of deportation back home to face the music always hanging over his head. His character throughout this story comes out as a contrast of personalities with one version being a family man with a huge family of children, own and rescued and now keeping his head down and away from any kind of news.

But as luck would have it or as they say bad luck follows you around, he becomes involved indirectly in a murder investigation where people have been shot dead and one just happens to be a friend. Working as a bartender he suddenly finds himself caught between the Mob and the Police department (a classic rock and hard sea analogy) and there is a huge stolen loot at the centre of the circle. Bruno reminds me of several action heroes from the reel world and he doesn't disappoint balancing his way with his job, an extremely difficult boss, the police who want him to solve the case, the threat of extradition, threat of loss of employment and a credible threat to his life too.
All in all a nice days work and he dives into the mess with ruthless abandon and bodies start tumbling everywhere left, right and center with comic relief being provided by a Rottweiler.

David has spun a nice yarn and reading this story made me want to know more about Bruno and his adventures. Best thing that a writer could possibly do to a reader is put him/her under the spell. Loved this and want to read more.

There are some caveats here, For people who love the sprinkling of romance it may seem fine but it does seem to crop up in unexpected places and it does in any way add to the story, almost like the perennial song and dances that seem to crop up in Indian movies at the drop of the hat. It rankled but did not make me want to drop the novel, the story was that good.

Recommended reading.

This is the 11th book wherein them main character is Bruno. After attending the wedding of his best friend in Costa Rico Bruno is approached by the local PD to look into a massacre that happened at an ill repute bar. When he arrives at the scene to scope out there are people dead that he is friends with. He says he will look into it but things aren't as they seem. While reading the book I was trying to figure out who were really the good and bad guys. There are so many twists in the story which kept me on the edge of my seat.

I've never read any of the other titles in this series so I approached this one as a stand-alone. I'm happy to say that it worked just fine that way.

On the other hand, I'm less happy to say that I really didn't enjoy it very much. The narrative had a strong 'Florida Man' vibe to it in which a jumble of weird characters just got weirder and weirder as the book went on and engaged in weirder and weirder behavior. It wasn't long before it all got downright tedious. Maybe I'm just old fashioned, but I much prefer a narrative that doesn't strain so self-consciously to be cool.

A Not So Idyllic Life At A Tropical Resort

This novel has the most eclectic start I have read in a novel. The author introduces all the major characters in the first two chapters. This takes place at the wedding reception for Bruno Johnson's best friend and the daughter of his doctor, who recently delivered Johnson’s baby girl. The reception was held where Johnson is a bartender in the cabana bar in a seaside resort hotel on the west coast of Costa Rica. All is fun and joy until after the reception when the local police chief asks for Johnson’s help in a multiple murder in town at El Gato Gordo. A complex mystery starts from here.

The main storyline consists of three threads. The first is the investigation into the multiple murders in a café in town. The local police chief, who knows Johnson’s real identity and that he used to be a detective before his life of crime, coerces him to solve the multi-murders. The second thread is protecting a hotel guest with security services as he fears for his life. The third thread is his job as a bartender at the hotel's cabana bar. This thread provides the base for the other two threads. There are many obstacles that Johnson must deal with. First, both he and his wife are wanted in the States for murder and kidnapping and are under constant threat of deportation. John works for an authoritarian supervisor at the hotel. Finally, when the Judicial Investigation Agency becomes involved, Johnson’s thread of deportation is greatly heightened.

The flow of this novel flows well between the three threads. Johnson, being the almost sole narrator, made following the action easy. In both the murder investigation and protecting the hotel guest, the nature of the threads changed with the twists and turns that kept me engaged with the novel. The tension increases as more characters want Johnson out of their way, want more extensive help from him, or need information he usually does not have. My interest was quickly captured and lasted to the end.

The Johnson character, for most of the time, is a level-headed and easy-going guy. When he senses danger, he has a very low threshold to shift into his “blood and bone” mode. His character is provided in his interactions with all the other characters. He always looks out for his family, friends, and coworkers. Several of these interactions are so extensive that I consider them B-storyline threads. The most prominent thread is with his boss, Darla Figueroa. Their relationship is very adversarial initially, illustrating how Johnson deals with people he does not like. This relationship changes over time, which shows how relationships mature with him. This aspect of the novel contributed to my enjoyment of reading.

Some aspects that can cause some readers to stop reading are present in this novel. There is a definite level of intimacy. It is not the depth but the frequency of their occurrences. This novel aspect did not add to my enjoyment of reading it. The use of vulgar, rude, and impious language is also present, but the level did not bother me. There is some use of the Spanish language. A translation is provided if the meaning is not apparent in its use. This is the eleventh novel in this series, but the first I have read. There were many short explanations of what had happened in the previous novels, but I did not feel I was missing something by not reading them.

There were no specific aspects that I did not like about this novel. There were plenty of aspects that I liked. Most was the light nature of Johnson in most of his interactions with friends and foes. I particularly liked Waldo, a 130-pound Rottweiler, whom Johnson is dog-sitting for the groom while he and his bride are on their honeymoon. Many times, I had to smile at Waldo’s antics. Lastly, there was one last loose end I was waiting to be tied up. It was in the very last sentence of the novel. This novel left me smiling.

I have read only one previous novel in a different series. Based on the quality of this book, I have assigned this author to my Must-Read category. Also, I have purchased the previous ten novels in this series. I do recommend this novel. I enjoyed reading it and rated it with four stars.

I received this novel's free prepublication e-book version through NetGalley from Oceanview Publishing. My review is based solely on my own reading experience of this book. Thank you, Oceanview Publishing, for the opportunity to read and review this novel early.