The Reflecting Pool

A police detective with a taste for bespoke suits, vintage watches, fine art, and classic European sports cars sounds like a conundrum, doesn’t it? Not easy to afford such high-ticket items on the average police salary.

Nothing about Detective Marko Zorn is quite what you’d call “average”, though, in Otho Eskin’s debut crime thriller, The Reflecting Pool… and that fact makes for a highly-compelling read.
_______________
When a woman is found facedown in the Reflecting Pool on the National Mall, Washington, D.C. homicide detective Marko Zorn has questions… not the least of which is how could an obviously fit female—in the prime of her life, by the look of her—manage to drown in less than two feet of water?

Once the body has been identified as Sandra Wilcox, a Secret Service agent who’d been assigned to the First Lady’s detail, it seems that nearly every branch of the military, police, and government does its damnedest to shut down his investigation, leaving Marko with a larger question: what on earth did Ms. Wilcox get mixed up in, that has everyone scrambling so hard to keep the secret buried? Does it all boil down to politics… or was something else going on?

What no one fully appreciates about Marko, though, is the lengths he’s willing to go to, whether it’s solving a murder case in spite of what everyone is ordering (or downright threatening) him not to do… or funding his habit for luxurious possessions (mostly via a slew of decidedly-not-even-remotely-legal means, usually involving D.C.’s criminal underbelly).

One thing is certain: by the time Marko wraps up his investigation, a whole lot of things will never be the same, again.
_______________

There’s quite a bit going on in The Reflecting Pool, from Marko’s investigation (including dealings with the White House, the FBI, and a zealous terrorist, among others), to his various side gigs (which eventually intersect in highly-satisfying ways), but Eskin manages to keep things humming along briskly and all the plots straight, with no confusion for the reader (beyond the initial few pages, at least, when the various pieces are first introduced).

I quite like that Eskin doles out bits of backstory gradually, rather than forcing the reader to wade through it all at once; this approach adds a little extra mystery to Marko and his relationships. (Is Marko a likable character? Not precisely… but nor is he unlikable, either. What he is, is a multi-layered, very smart, schemer… which makes for a very interesting and often insightful detective, indeed.)

As for those myriad plot points and spinning wheels? They come together nicely in the end, with a conclusion I only partially saw coming… always a good thing, in my book.

Eskin has a winner on his freshman outing with The Reflecting Pool… and you can bet I’ll be snagging up the next Marko Zorn book he writes.
~GlamKitty

What is there not to enjoy in this? A hard talking, brash yet vulnerable hero who wisecracks and sleuths his way through a complex plot involving murder, counter terrorism and internal security.

This is a heady brew and for the most part it all comes together thanks to the plotting skills and writing ability of an author new to me who is surely going to have a bright future in this genre.

A exciting and exhilarating read and hugely enjoyable.

Homicide detective Marko Zorn takes on the investigation of the death of a secret service agent and continues his investigation despite being told by a number of people all the way up to the highest reaches of Washington to drop the case. Marko, a tough-guy police detective with a taste for designer clothes and fancy watches, pursues the investigation while simultaneously navigating threats from criminal gangs and looking into the victim’s brother, who appears involved in possible plot to assassinate the president. He is assigned a new partner, who promptly gets kidnapped by one of the bad guys and whose rescue needs to get worked in there somehow as well. The pace is fast, and the sense of danger makes what starts out as a police procedural take on elements of a thriller. This is fun but occasionally hard to make sense of: sometimes complications that would seem to require immediate action (rescue the kidnapped parter before he is killed!) lead to a bunch of initial frenzied running around followed by an inexplicable lessening in urgency while other matters are dealt with. It all comes together in the end, and with the help of some questionable ethics Marko manages to make everything work out. This looks like the start of a solid series.

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

Otho Eskin shows readers the dark side of politics, domestic terrorism and gang wars in this taut, tense and suspenseful novel.

When a female secret service agent is found dead in the Reflecting Pool by the Washington Monument in Washington D.C., homicide detective Marko Zorn of D.C.'s Metropolitan Police Department immediately finds himself at odds with governmental agencies which try to block his investigation of the crime. The more he investigates, the higher the government officials who try to stop him. What is the truth behind the murder, and why does the government not want this case solved? Zorn is determined to get to the truth, even at his own risk.

As if the investigation doesn't keep him busy enough, he is also wrapped into a domestic terrorism threat, and finds himself in the middle of a four-way gang power struggle. Lies, deception, betrayals, maneuvering, machinations and murder fill the pages of this well-written novel.

The only negative to this novel is that there are so many characters readers might want to keep a "cheat sheet" to remember who's who.

My thanks to NetGalley and Oceanview Publishing for allowing me to read a digital copy of this book in exchange for an unbiased review. All opinions stated here are my own.

I loved this book. It’s the first in a new series and I will anxiously await the follow up. Part noir hard-boiled detective and part suspense thriller but completely character driven. . Detective Mark Zorn is a sarcastic, rule breaking character that you can’t help but like. lot of twists and turns in the plot, which isn’t very believable but that’s not the point. Highly recommended

The Reflecting Pool (The Marko Zorn Series Book 1) by Otho Eskin is a wonderful story that I have read. This is book number in this wonderful start to a brand new series written by a brand new series. I highly recommend this series to everyone .

I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book from NetGallery

would like to thank netgalley and the publisher for this gripping book

a sniper
a murder at the reflecting pool in washington dc
fbi , secret service and the police all involved

gangs warfare

its all going on in this book with the president and his wife under threat of an assassination and a murder its all coming to a head for marko zorn who is investigating the murder at the reflecting pool but is the killer much closer to home

this book keeps you on the edge of your seat...a few times i got a bit lost with all the characters but on the whole an enjoyable read and another author to add to my ever growing list of authors to keep an eye out for...

This is a great story, well written and very interesting and entertaining. The main character doesn't follow any rules except his own, but is basically a good guy, and I like that.

Nowadays it's difficult to avoid connecting current events in Society and politics to what I read in fiction. Certainly this is the case with THE REFLECTING POOL, which is the first in the new Marko Zorn series by Otto Eskin. What seems a simple homicide at Washington D.C.'s Reflecting Pool incites jurisdictional turf wars, which soon escalate to highest-level political interference. Additionally Zorn is caught between the Scylla and Charybdis of rival criminal organizations, and must eventually face the metaphorical brick wall of the end of an investigation.

I received this book through NetGalley's reading program.

This story begins with Marko Zorn being called to the Reflecting Pool because of the discovery of a body. This body will not be the only story that is detailed, but others will also be depicted which indirectly tie back to this killing. Marko works with FBI agent Arora Lovelace in pursuing the killer of the Secret Service agent. All sorts of roadblocks are placed which are preventing him from getting support from other law enforcement agencies. It even goes so far as him being directed to drop the case by high political fellows.

With grim determination Marko is determined to bring this killer to justice.

After chasing many different leads, he is finally able to get results. If you want to find out what individuals were pressing to have the investigation stopped, why national security was involved and ultimately, who the killer was, then you must read this book. You won't be disappointed. The ending is unbelievable.

While reading of this book I constantly found myself shaking my head, each time realizing that this book could have been something more than it was. Even the plot -- the only thing that helped keep me reading until the end – fell apart in a manic imitation of an over-the-top adventure flick.

The main character Marko Zorn is portrayed as a hardboiled cop, someone with the potential to even make the men cry when he questions them. Throughout the book, every encounter Zorn has with someone else (all of them with more power and pull in Washington than Zorn will ever have) turns into a win for Marko. The other characters all fall apart and bluster when they realize they cannot stop the unstoppable force (Zorn). He is repeatedly threatened yet manages to turn a deaf ear on all of them (at the same time, I am thinking a simple call to Zorn’s bosses and threatening their jobs would have had much more power). Anyway…

New Washington D.C. Police Investigator Kenneth Blake is the cliché-ridden example of a wet-behind-the-ears rookie, placed in the story for occasional humor and to make the main character look hardened and more experienced. When Officer Blake asks if the Reflecting Pool is “…that pool in the middle of the National Mall…” it is an example of the unbelievable naivety of the character. This version of a rookie policeman is not new and has been long overused in books, TV shows, and movies. We won’t even begin to question how an officer with only 18 months (fresh off probation) under his belt would be assigned to work with a homicide detective.

There is a noirish feeling that weaves its way in and out of the story, which is a positive element. When coupled with Zorn’s personality it works well, though when paired with the Blake character the book wrestles with itself as to which direction to take. The ending, while cleverly devised, fell short of believable. Author Otho Eskin presents multiple directions he could have taken this book. Unfortunately, he incorporated a little bit of all of them and the decision not to narrow the plot path weakened the book. Three stars.

My thanks to NetGalley and Oceanview Publishing for a complimentary electronic copy of this title.

I don't read a lot of crime fiction because they usually veer towards police procedurals and less suspense/thriller. The Reflecting Pool was one of the rare crime novels that kept closer to a suspense novel and I really enjoyed it.

While I haven't read any of the books that the Amazon Original television series Bosch is based upon, but I do watch the show. Otho Eskin's main character Marko Zorn reminds me of Bosch. He is a complex character that plays in the gray areas of the law, yet his motives are just.

I had to look up if The Reflecting Pool was part of a series as it felt like there should have been at least a previous novel. Some background information is given for the main character but relationships between characters weren't well defined, though they felt well-established. According to Goodreads, it is not part of a series. However, I could see this being a series with prequels and sequels like Tom Clancy's Jack Ryan series (he published books as he finished them and not necessarily in a linear plot timeline).

The case that is the plot focus was good; it kept my attention. A secret service agent is found dead in the Reflecting Pool on the Washington Mall. The Feds close ranks around the case, but Zorn of the D.C. Metro Police department isn't going to let them stop him from finding justice for the victim. Fortunately, he has a friend or two in the federal government that also want the truth.

I'm hoping there will be more books featuring Marko Zorn. Like I said he's a complex character and this book barely touched on who he really is. He is definitely an intriguing character. He really made the story. While I liked the plot, it was really the character that kept bringing me back to the book.

My review will be published at Girl Who Reads on Monday, June 22 - http://www.girl-who-reads.com/2020/06/the-reflecting-pool-by-otho-eskin-review.html

I’m on a winning streak at the moment, that was hugely entertaining. It’s hard to believe this is an ‘almost’ debut. Slightly (very) rebellious cop with attitude - check. A case no one else can solve - check. A conspiracy - check. Gangsters with guns - check. Mario Zorn, our hero, is a most unusual detective in the Washington DC PD. At times he has a pretty loose interpretation of the laws he has sworn to uphold. The head of the largest local gang has him on speed dial. Yet when a murder victim is found in the Reflecting Pool at the Washington Monument he is quick to the scene. The victim, a young woman, reminds him of his dead sister and he swears then and their to find her killer.

Whoa, hold your horses Marko! This dead woman worked for the Secret Service at the White House and trying to get any information about anything pertaining to the murder is worse than trying to pull teeth from a live shark. Terms like “confidential”, “below you pay grade” and “national security” are bandied around. He has been working with Arora Lovelace (yes, really) from the FBI and they DO make some progress. But every alphabet agency in the beltway wants to shut down the investigation. Which begs the question - what are they hiding? Compounding his problems his gang connection has given him a dangerous and illegal job to do - or else! How is he supposed to get around that one? As it that’s not enough, word on the street is that someone is bringing in a large shipment of guns soon and plans to assassinate the President and take over Washington. And Zorn is still trying to find a killer.

Grab all these threads and twist them around and you have this story. Zorn’s character, with his legal ambiguity, is wonderful. His relentless approach to the investigation is almost frightening. He is like a dog at a bone and will not give up, even when ordered to from on high. What can I say - I loved this and I’m hoping there will be a sequel. There is some background to be filled in and there are a few unanswered questions although there is a resolution of sorts. Highly recommended - 4.5 stars.

This is the cop novel DC has always deserved. Crisp dialogue, interesting characters, a shifting narrative that keeps you guessing, and a strong sense of place. Bravo, Mr. Eskin.

Note to Publisher: The .mobi file you provided was a complete mess and nearly impossible to read on my iPad using the Kindle app. There was no paragraphing where there should have been; there was random paragraphing where there shouldn't have been; there were lines and sentences run together; and, there were words and sentences broken up in utterly incomprehensible ways. If your writer hadn't produced such a fine piece of work, I would have deleted this garbage without continuing to struggle through it. It's an insult to your writer that his publisher can't even manage to produce a decent digital file of his work for distribution as an ARC when he has done such a fantastic job for you. How hard is it, for God's sake? You should be ashamed of yourself.

What a fascinating and chilling premise! Nearly non-stop action, and enough twists and turns to guarantee a wild ride. Loved it, and highly recommend.

*My thanks to the author and publisher (via NetGalley) for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this book. It's greatly appreciated!*

A solid mystery with interesting characters and an engaging plot. Det Zorn is a great character, and the story has friendly complexity. Recommended for mystery/thriller fans.

I really appreciate the ARC for review!!

An uber-competent, likable yet flawed character, the first of what I hope will be a series and a plot with complexity that's easy to understand: What's not to like? By the time I was halfway through this one, I was hoping for the next.

This one begins as Marko Zorn, a detective with the Washington, D.C., Metro Police, fights over the rights to a body found in the Reflecting Pool with the city's park police. No, it's not a suicide; it's a homicide and it's ours, Marko asserts after he ruined his expensive clothing hauling the body out of the water. The park police back off, unwillingly, and there are no real clues as to what really happened except for a bracelet Marko spots in the surrounding grass.

Marko's expensive tastes couldn't happen with just a police department paycheck, and he supplements his income in other ways - sometimes not just skirting the law, but pretty much stomping it into the ground. As the murder happens, gang activity is picking up, with two members of one gang seemingly at odds with each other. The gang leader, an old woman named Sister Grace, occasionally asks Marko for help. This time, she has another job for him - but it's not one he's eager to take on (there are limits as to what he will do for money, it seems). As if all that weren't enough, his station boss shackles him to a new, squeaky clean partner - just about the last thing he wants to deal with right now.

Even worse, as his murder investigation ramps up, it becomes clear that unknown powers-that-be don't want Marko (or anyone else) digging in - powers that lead straight to the White House itself. The power struggle between the gang rivals heats up as well, fueled by a huge shipment of illegal guns that, depending on who ends up with them, could change the D.C. landscape entirely. Marko doesn't mind sticking to his own guns when it comes to the murder investigation, but if he screws up on the arms deal, it could "out" his side job - or even put him out of commission permanently. Can he pull everything off without losing everything, including his own life?

Well, you'll just have to read it to find out - and trust me, it's worth it. Many thanks to the publisher, via NetGalley, for the opportunity to read and review a pre-publication copy. Good job!

This is a truly fabulous story. Full of great characters, and a plot that I really enjoyed. Otho Eskin has produced a wonderful piece of writing with this tense and entertaining Thriller. For me it’s the characters that make a great story, and Marko Zorn is brilliant. I like that he doesn’t care who he upsets in his need to find the killer. I’m glad I picked this up to have a read, I loved it.
Marko Zorn is a detective for the Washington DC Metropolitan Police and his current investigation is not only giving him a headache but has become extremely dangerous as well. The victim Sandra Wilcox who was discovered in the Reflecting Pool at the National Mall was no ordinary citizen, she was a Secret Service Agent that worked at the White House. Marko wants to find out who killed Sandra, but the Secret Service and other Government officials are hell bent on keeping him away. Marko also has to deal with keeping Sister Grace happy and keeping himself from getting killed by gang members trying to take control of the streets. This is without a doubt a great story, and is well worth a read. Hopefully we will see more from the Author in the future. 5/5 Star Rating.

The Reflecting Pool is a fun read. Marko, a D.C. police detective, must fight a variety of other government law enforcement types to solve the murder of a young agent at the White House who ends up dying in the Reflecting Pool. There are plenty of people who try to stop Marko from investigating- even the President of the United States, The big question is why. Surely she didn't want the huge shipment of guns coming into town. The author has many subplots, too many in my opinion. I wouldn't have been surprised to see Jackie Kennedy show up at any point. But author Otho Eskin is keeping track of the plots and he does find a way to resolve them. Many might think his way was a bit much, including me. But, generally it's an enjoyable read.
Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC.

This book was fast-paced, action packed with likable characters. Recommend it to all those who enjoy a good mystery.

I do love a sardonic, grey-moral kind of main character.

Marko Zorn is a Washington, DC detective who dresses well, drives a Jaguar, and basically doesn't look the part in this noir-ish book. He happens to catch a case of the death of a woman in the Reflecting Pool. He's also been assigned a new, young partner who is part new guy, part puppy.

When he begins investigating the murder, he's suddenly being told to stand down by everyone from the FBI to the Secret Service - all telling him to let it go, but as he tells the mysterious Miss Shaw, the woman looked like his dead sister, and he promised to find out who killed her.

In the middle f this, a woman named Sister Grace - a local gangster, and for whom Zorn occasionally does some jobs, which allows him to wear those snazzy clothes and drive that fancy car - has another job for him. This time, though, it's murder, to take out her second in command (Cloud), who is getting a bit too full of himself. That, however, is a line Zorn has told himself he would not cross. Sister Grace doesn't care about his ethics, of course, and tells him to figure it out.

The investigation flows along nicely, without things like DNA or toxicology coming back in thirty minutes. There are times when witnesses or interviewees melt a bit too quickly under Zorn, but it's a good, fun (if murder can be fun) story that is both gritty and strangely polished at the same time, due to Zorn's personal habits and the interplay of his professional role and coming into contact with Federal offices, and the jobs he does to appease what is basically his gangster boss.

I enjoyed the dialogue. It was neither too stilted nor trying too hard to be edgy. There were some instances where it was rather snappy, and overall, it was what you'd expect if you were shadowing a detective doing their job.

In the end, Zorn does figure out a way to complete the task given to him by Sister Grace, via proxy, by setting up Cloud and Cloud's right hand against one another. That scenario was more believable than the conclusion of the mystery of the murder.

The reveal of the killer was a bit of a letdown,and I didn't think it was totally believable. But it was one conclusion that could have been reached by the investigation, and was possible, if not probable, so I didn't ding it too badly for that.

Overall: a decent read, and a solid four out of five stars. I am hopeful that Zorn becomes a series character.

Thanks to Oceanview Publishing and NetGalley for the review copy.

Right as I got this to read, we were hit with the coronavirus in our home and I was not able to immediately read this. I am so glad I was finally able to take some time and read it! Marko Zorn, a homicide detective supplements his income with some side jobs. A Secret Service agent, first suspected to be a drowning victim, leads Zorn to a domestic terrorist group connected to the White House, It was written very well, storyline popped with excitement and intrigue. A must-read!

Meet Marko Zorn, detective with the Washington DC Metropolitan Police. Zorn just happened to be the first law enforcement officer on the scene in the pre-dawn hours. A young woman who had drowned in the Reflecting Pool between the Lincoln Memorial and the Washington Monument. Sandra Wilcox is found in the shallow pool facing upwards, eyes wide open, Her deep blue eyes remind him of his older sister who was raped and murdered nearly 20 years before.

This is more than just another of the myriad of DC murders. Wilcox was part of the Secret Service having risen to serve on the protective detail of FLOTUS. Some think her rise in the Service was a little too swift. The reflecting pool is technically the jurisdiction of the US Park Service. And, obviously, it happened in DC. That means the Secret Service, the Park Service, DC Metro, and the FBI are all at each others throat arguing jurisdiction. Seeing as how DC Metro isn't federal, they have the least to say. About the only disinterested agency is the CIA.

But the truth has Zorn who is an uncompromising detective who only wants to find out the truth, jurisdiction be damned. Another thing about Zorn . . . he doesn't give a shit who he pisses off. He could care less about government officials telling him to back off. National security? Yeah, right. POTUS, FLOTUS, Chief of Staff, Secret Service, dozens of other White House staffers can seem to get through his thick skull, Justice for Sandra Wilcox matters. Truth matters. That's it. Sure, it might put his partner in someone's crosshairs.

In his singleness of purpose, he put his rookie partner in great danger, so his own entire staff was most unhappy with him.

The investigation ends up unwrapping some curious details of Sandra's life and death no to mention her rapid ascent in the Secret Service. And because no DC detective only works one case at a time, Zorn manages to douse a developing gang war over a delivery of weapons and a threat of a possible presidential assassination. It's been a busy few weeks for Zorn.

Eskin spent a career in various aspects of government. HIs literary history is as a playwright. This is his first Zorn novel. Let's hope Zorn has a long and contentious career working DC crime. This is good stuff. Really good.

If you like non-stop action in your thrillers, this is the book for you! Marko Zorn is a very unorthodox detective who is surprised by a woman who has drowned in the reflecting pool near the White House. Certain that it's a homicide (as who could drown easily in such shallow water?) Zorn is determined to find the killer. But his case is stymied by many things: the gangsters who control the city, a huge shipment of guns rumored to be coming, the Aryan Brotherhood, the Secret Service, and even the First Lady herself. Bet you didn't see that coming! But you never do in a good novel and this one demands a sequel as we definitely need to see more of Marko Zorn!

Very well done.Both the subject matter and the development of characters were excellent.The greatest praise I can give this book Is that I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough. I will follow this author, and I look forward to his next book.

Marko Zorn is unlike most detectives in the Washington D.C. homicide, he doesn't try to fit in with others and follows his own rules to get the answers he is looking for. Zorn has made a lot of enemies along the way but he keeps which has him a target for criminal gangs in the cities.

Zorn finds himself investigating a woman who is suspected of drowning but the mystery surrounding her unlocks an unsettling investigation. She was Secret Service, now he finds himself wading between the political ties she had and also dealing with at from a gang member who is calling in her favors.

What a wicked web that is woven in this fast paced intense story. I thought it had a very retro vibe to this, kind of like John Wick meets Nice Guys. Zorn was intense in his actions and I liked that he does what he needs to do. Captivating read.

Marko Zorn, a Washington, D.C. homicide detective with expensive tastes in art, classic cars, and women, must take on extra work--not always strictly legal, often unorthodox and usually dangerous--to supplement his income--work which requires his special combination of skill and steel nerves. When Zorn encounters the body of a Secret Service agent--a supposed drowning victim--it leads him to a domestic terrorist group with tentacles into the White House--a White House that does not want this death investigated.
This was a very good book and hopefully the start of a new series. There is nothing wrong with a cynical, wry, sarcastic Washington DC Detective butting heads with the powers that be and the myriad of Alphabet Agencies to solve crimes.
There is a lot going on here and Otho Eskin does a great job in tying things together and keeping the story rolling along. There are a lot of different characters and all are interesting. If there is another in this series, I’ll definitely be reading it.

Exciting story of a DC murder and the amazing characters involved.. Grips the reader from the very first chapter
and never loses the readers' attention. A very believable thriller. Can't wait to read another one of Eskin's novels!

This was a great read! I was a little skeptical at first because, you know, maybe a crooked cop in D.C. and all that jazz, but it ended up being a great read! Eskin was really good at making everything flow together and make sense, even though there was a lot going on.

All too believable. Anything that happens in Washington, D.C. is subject to spin, A good mystery and a cynical but look at a crime of passion in the city of politicos. Well written, with interesting characters.

REally enjoyed this book!
Full MurderinCommon.com review here: https://murderincommon.com/2020/06/28/otho-eskin-the-reflecting-pool/

Great book. Thoroughly enjoyed reading this one.

All about a dead secret service agent and a tenacious detective that may be slightly corrupt...

Well worth reading.