Book One: Why 319?
|
A serial killer is on the loose in metro Detroit. Three female victims have been discovered in motel rooms in different suburban cities surrounding Motown. The only connection is that each body is found in Room 319, and the killer leaves the taunting message “Why 319?” on the bathroom mirror, written with the victim’s lipstick.
Detective Jefferson Chene heads up an elite squad of detectives assigned to the case. With no home life, he devotes every waking moment to catching killers. But this one is more elusive than most. With no clues and no apparent link between the victims, Chene is at a dead end. But a startling revelation busts the case wide open. He’s closing in on the murderer, but will it be before another young woman loses her life? 
What Readers Are Saying!
Kept Me Guessing Right UP To The End!
I love a good police procedural, and this one fit the bill. Lots of twists and turns and head-scratchers, and the person I was afraid might have "dun" it, turned out to be the wrong choice. Enjoyed the relationships between the police officers, and the Detroit setting. Thanks! Great book! ~Luv2Read 
Wow Mark Love did a great job writing this book. I didn't want to put it down. It was a real page turner and I can't wait to read another book by him.
~Nancy Brutsche 
Unique And Captivating!
I swear, picking up this book was like falling into an incredibly unique episode of Law and Order SVU. I’m a mystery fan, but usually I know who did it early on. Not this time! It focused on all the details and every snag they hit along the way in the investigation. The characters were unique, the crime was interesting, and I loved the twist at the end. Very fun read. ~Amazon Customer 
Detroit Cops!
First time reading this author and the book was a rather quick read. The police detectives are likable characters and I enjoyed learning about the different backdrops of Detroit and their speak-isms. It was a more difficult case and the procedures followed at times are tedious, which seemed very true to life. All in all this was a great read. ~Sharon Spring 
"WHY 319?" is suspenseful reading. The first line of the opening paragraph wraps itself around the reader and does not let go. Word by word, sentence by sentence, the author coaxes the reader to take another step into the mystery.The reader obliges, Her curiosity becomes a raft carrying its passenger closer and closer to the deepest part of the story until the point of no return is reached, From here on, she must finish reading the story. She must learn whether the killer will strike again. And if so, why? She wants to know what bits of wisdom and experience that "Pappy" will pass on to Jefferson Chene and his team of crime busters. And, where will the relationship developing between Jefferson and Simone take them?
Author, Mark Love, skillfully unravels and sorts the clues. Some of them advances the team toward the answers to its questions. Others lead nowhere. They are dead.. Just as dead as the killer's victims. WHY 319? is a fitting book for mystery story fans to read,,, even if you are new to the genre of mystery stories. Especially if it happens to be a dark and stormy night... ~Peg Cook 
Why 319? A Don't Miss It, Detroit Detective Thriller!
Mark Love's gripping murder mystery winds and twists and leads the reader down a maze of dark alleys as a team of hardened detectives pursue a slippery serial killer with a maddening penchant for taunts and teases. Characters are drawn in Dick Tracy colors as sleek detective Jefferson Chene teams up with the brash, sexy Megan under the command of chain smoking, southern style, Captain "Pappy" Cantrell. This novel has all the plot twists, blind corners, romance and action sequences to keep the pages turning. I gave it a 4 instead of a 5 because of its status as a classic whodunit. While not exactly serious literature, this novel provides some serious fun. I devoured the thing whole in a single afternoon. So will you. ~Theresa Rose 
A Fast-Moving Police Procedural, Crackling With Authenticity
A fast-moving police procedural, Why 319? crackles with authenticity. The author knows his investigative methods, and pulls the reader along at breakneck speed as Jefferson Chene leads a team of detectives in a race to catch a serial killer before the body count rises. The chase is suspenseful, sexy, deadly, and always engaging. Highly recommended. ~Donald Levin, PhD, Author of The Martin Pruess Mystery Series 
Gripping And Fast-Paced
Why 319? Is a taut, well-written story about an elite squad of detectives tracking down a serial killer before it's too late and another victim shows up at the morgue. From the title through to the last page, the book is a police drama of the highest order that keeps the reader guessing. The art and science of good solid police work comes alive in Mr. Love's narrative as the cops follow the clues and evidence wherever they may lead. Even the dead-ends are done well. The characters--especially the three lead detectives, Chene, Pappy and Megan--are all flesh and blood characters with real personalities, strengths and flaws. And there is no need to worry about twists, turns and misdirections that keep a story interesting; there are plenty of those. I thoroughly enjoyed Why 319? and look forward to Mark Love's next installment. ~John Hazen 
Page Turning Mystery
Fun page-turning, a mystery set in the Detroit area. I thoroughly enjoyed Mark Love's Why 319? I grew up in metro Detroit and recognized a number of locations in the story. Love kept me guessing and I will look for more of his books. ~Big Tech Alum 
Really Good Narrator In The Audio Version!
Fast moving story, likable characters. Really good narrator in the audio version. I found myself rooting for Jefferson, which makes it hard to stop listening. ~Kevin Larabee 
Best Book Yet!
This is a great story with lots of twists. I thought I knew who the killer was, but boy was I wrong. This is Mark Love's best book so far. I can't wait to see what he writes next. ~KC 
Well-Developed Characters And Excellent Dialog. Well Worth!
Interesting plot, well-developed characters and excellent dialog. Well worth reading. ~Jasper |
What Readers Are Saying!
Great Detective Novel!
Very much looking forward to reading the rest of this series! ~Jess Brownell 
Kept Me Guessing!
Loved the book. All mystery lovers should read this book, it’ll keep you guessing to the end. Five stars for sure. ~Melvin Reynolds 
Very Good Book, didn't see whom the killer was.
~Megan 
Good Book!
Interesting, well-written mystery. I don't know much about Detroit, but it was a good setting. ~Amy Section 
Why 319 Is Well Written And Structurally Sound!
Detective Jefferson Chene is on the trail of a serial killer. His only clues are the bodies of the killer’s female victims, all found sprawled on the beds of hotel rooms numbered 319, the cryptic message “Why 319?” written on the bathroom mirror in lipstick. Can Chene and his task force find the killer before they find the next body? I liked Mark Love’s Why 319? Detective Chene is tough and vulnerable at once. His relationship with partner Meagan is endearing and believable. Love’s prose is easy to read and descriptive. The story is interesting by way of a police procedural in that it doesn’t read like an episode of CSI, but in a good way. In CSI (in most police procedurals on television, in fact), the team always interviews the perpetrator at some point in the investigation. By contrast, Why 319? may be a more realistic glimpse into police investigation, especially when the killer’s agenda is nothing personal with respect to the victim. Undaunted, Chene and his task force slowly collect and piece together the murderer’s puzzle. I wasn’t surprised by the killer’s identity, mind you, but rather, by the story-web Love weaves in order to reveal it. When reading for review, I often form my opinion of how many gummies (or stars) I will ultimately award the book long before I finish. This opinion always wavers as I read, sometimes several times. For the first 2/3 of Why 319? I was set to give it five stars. Then the narrative changed inorder to give the reader 2 or 3 glimpses into the mind of the killer. As a writer, I understand why Love might want to do this–to show the murderer sweating as the police grow near, taunting and chiding them all the while–but in this case, Love should have resisted as the scenes, though brief, were out of place and unnecessary to Chene’s narrative; Love should have found an alternate route for imparting this information. That observation aside, I recommend Why 319?, especially to those avid mystery and police procedural junkies. If you are a fan of CSI, Criminal Minds, Stalker, and the like, you will not be disappointed by Why 319? 
This Is A Must Read!
This was one of the best mystery novels I have ever read!! It grabbed me from page one and didn't let go until the very shocking end. This is a must read!!! ~Mike 
I Have Never Heard Of Him Before And Figured I Loved Luster, Why Not
I met him at a local author event and he sold me on the book. I have never heard of him before and figured I loved mystery, why not? I couldn't put the book down! It really helped to kill time on the drive from Michigan to Pennsylvania. I would recommended this page turner to those that love a good mystery. ~Stephanie 
A woman is killed in a hotel room. Scrawled across the bathroom mirror in the victim's own lipstick are the words, "Why 319?" Intriguing enough, but when two more victims turn up—same MO, same baffling message—it begins to smell like a serial killer. Detroit detective Jefferson Chene and a hand-picked team are assigned to find the answers.
Mark Love writes in a style reminiscent of Dashiell Hammett or Robert Parker, projecting a smoky, dark, cool atmosphere. The Detroit setting is unusual and provocative and his detective Jefferson Chene a brooding man, clearly hefting significant baggage. Which makes the back love story even more tantalizing. Will he let her in? Will he keep her at arm's length? I hope to see more of not only this tentative romance, but of Jefferson Chene and Detroit in subsequent novels. ~Petunias. 
An Edgy, Captivating Police Drama!
If you like Michael Connelly, you will like Mark Love! Why 319? is a captivating police drama. When it appears a serial killer is on the loose, the state police step in to find the killer, hopefully before another woman loses her life. Love's deft writing draws you in and never lets you go. Every discovery, every twist, every question makes you feel like part of the action. The characters are well drawn and interesting, the story fast-paced, and the writing excellent. ~Brauth 
Can you guess the killer? This book caught me up in the mystery. I enjoyed it very much and yes a theme for me serial killer books again. I enjoyed it still. It was different from others I have read before. I like when authors can be different from the rest. This book to me was believable. To me, that is what makes them good.
~Aly 
A Very Good Read!
A very good read. I enjoyed it. ~Andy Hall 
Nice Twists And Relatable Characters!
Very engaging police procedural! Nice twists and relatable characters! ~B. Cohen |
