Description
Book SynopsisBest-selling author of the Bruno Johnson Crime Series
High Octane—Urgent—Authentic Bruno Johnson, ex-detective with Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department and an ex-convict, is hiding out from the FBI in Costa Rica, tending bar to support eight children he illegally rescued from abusive homes.
Partway through a normal day, Barbara Wicks, a former colleague and the chief of police for Montclair, California, walks into his bar. Bruno is shocked to the core. Is she there to arrest him and take him back to California? Turns out she’s there to request Bruno’s help—two children have been kidnapped.
The kidnapper, Jonas Mabry, was himself a victim whom Bruno rescued as a small child. Now Mabry demands a fool’s retribution—a million-dollar ransom and that Bruno must put his own life on the line to secure the money.
In this twisted turn of fate, Bruno returns to California as a wanted criminal. Despite the risk of arrest and jeopardizing his life, he cannot turn his back on these kids.
Perfect for fans of Robert Crais and Michael Connelly While all of the novels in the Bruno Johnson Crime Series stand on their own and can be read in any order, the publication sequence is:
The Disposables
The Replacements
The Squandered
The Vanquished
The Innocents
The Reckless
The Heartless
The Ruthless
The Sinister Trade Review"Putnam's thrilling sequel to 2014's The Disposables finds Bruno Johnson, a former L.A. sheriff's cop, settled in Costa Rica with his wife, Marie, and the eight abused children they rescued and took (illegally) from the U.S. Early in his career, Johnson intervened in a violent domestic case and managed to save the life of five-year-old Jonas Mabry. Now an adult, Jonas has kidnapped two young girls and will deal only with Johnson. Johnson is unable to resist the appeal of Montclair, Calif., police chief Barbra Wicks, and returns to California to track down Jonas. Jonas proves to be a diabolically clever opponent as he runs circles around Johnson, leading him down one blind alley after another and forcing him to make desperate moves. Putnam steadily ratchets up the tension, while memorable supporting characters, like the courageous Marie, help engage reader interest." -- Publishers Weekly
The hero of this rowdy novel made his first appearance two years ago in The Disposables. The sequel makes quick mention of the earlier adventure in an opening chapter, then gets down to the violent life of ex-cop, ex-con Bruno Johnson. The plot motor is a twist on a detective-story standby: a long-forgotten crime surfaces to haunt the hero. But here it's Johnson's good deed that sets things off. In a stunning opening, we flashback to a day when Johnson rescued a child shot by his mother. Now the child is grown up and mean, and he's seeking, for reasons the author withholds till the finale, a nutty revenge. Johnson had hoped for the tamer life of a bartender, but he must go rogue again and, this time, battle thieves and killers before bringing the story home. The narrative charges ahead full tilt, like a bullet train. Readers may find the plot overcomplicated, and the good-hearted heels a bit of a stretch, but that hardly matters when the action won't slow down, and we're with the story all the way. -- Booklist
The Replacementsis listed as a thriller. And it is just that. As the plot thickens, Bruno's heart is racing as will yours as you read of his exploits. You know that he is wanted by the FBI. But on realizing that he is giving his kids a life free of fear and torture, you just have to be on his side. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and am anxiously awaiting the next episode. -- Bookloons.com
The three-dimensional characters (especially the villain) turn this urban jungle sequel toThe Disposables into a fantastic cat and mouse thriller. Loaded with suspense that intensifies throughout, Jonas proves a very competent puppeteer pulling the strings of valiant desperate Bruno and equally brave Marie. -- The Midwest Book Review
The novel is fast paced and entertaining. At some points, the plot does become a bit tangled and more complex than it needs to be, but the book's saving points are always its adventure and characters. Unlike most action novels, the narrative does not shy away from being emotionally complicated, delving into the mental repercussions of kidnapping and murder. This allows the book to carve a unique identity for itself in a genre riddled with similar plots and characters. Fans of action novels will get the most out of this book. While it is a sequel, reading the first in the series is not necessary to enjoy the second book. -- ForeWord Reviews
