What You Break

Former Suffolk County cop Gus Murphy works security at a hotel while moonlighting as a private investigator. When a wealthy businessman hires him to look into his granddaughter's unsolved murder, Gus takes the case despite his reservations. At the same time, Gus becomes entangled in helping his friend Slava, whose past as a Soviet soldier in Afghanistan has caught up with him. The two investigations pull Gus in different directions as he navigates Long Island's criminal underbelly and confronts ghosts from the past. Violence, loyalty, and moral compromise intersect in this noir thriller that explores how trauma shapes people's lives. Through Gus's dual investigations, the story examines questions of justice, revenge, and whether some wrongs can ever truly be made right.

Readers describe this as a gritty, character-driven noir mystery that builds on the first book in the series. Many highlight Coleman's detailed prose and complex character development of protagonist Gus Murphy. Readers appreciated: - The authentic Long Island setting and atmosphere - Deep emotional depth of the characters - Multiple interweaving plot threads - Realistic portrayal of grief and trauma - Natural dialogue between characters Common criticisms: - Slower pacing compared to the first book - Some found the plot overly complex - Several readers wanted more resolution to certain storylines Ratings: Goodreads: 3.9/5 (457 ratings) Amazon: 4.3/5 (89 ratings) Reader quotes: "The writing is muscular and the characters breathe." - Amazon reviewer "Too many subplots competing for attention." - Goodreads reviewer "Coleman captures the essence of Long Island's hidden corners." - Goodreads reviewer

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🔍 Reed Farrel Coleman has been called the "noir poet laureate" and has won multiple awards, including the Shamus Award four times. 📚 The book is part of the Gus Murphy series, which follows an ex-Suffolk County cop dealing with personal tragedy while working as a hotel courtesy van driver. 🗽 The story takes place in Long Island, New York, an area Coleman knows intimately having grown up in Brooklyn and lived much of his life in Suffolk County. 🖋️ Coleman took over writing Robert B. Parker's Jesse Stone series in 2014, demonstrating his skill at continuing established detective fiction characters. 🎭 The protagonist's job as a hotel van driver was inspired by Coleman's own experience working various jobs, including driving a home heating oil delivery truck, which gave him unique insights into different social classes and neighborhoods.