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Martin Hill Ortiz
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Never Kill a Friend Kindle Edition

by Martin Hill (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.1 4.1 out of 5 stars 12 ratings
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At six-foot-four, Detective Shelley Kreig is the giantess of DC Metro--a tough cop who's paid her dues. But when Rafael Hooks is arrested for killing his brother, Shelley finds herself not only fighting the system but also questioning her relationships with her co-workers and her closest friends.

It seems like an open-and-shut case: Raffi confesses to murdering his drug-dealing brother. But nothing is as it seems. Each time Shelley finds evidence to exonerate Raffi, new evidence arises out of thin air to confirm his guilt.

With no allies left at DC Metro, Shelley turns to her estranged friend Yasmira Tamer for help. Together Shelley and Mira uncover a web of deceit and corruption that links a Russian assassin, a high-paid DC call girl, and an urban Robin Hood who renovates his crack houses before donating them to the poor.

Never Kill a Friend is a taut, suspenseful novel of conflicting loyalties, friends found and lost, and power in the wrong hands. It is a finely wrought tale of one woman's quest to do the right thing for an innocent man.
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  1. Print length
    206 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Sticky notes
    On Kindle Scribe
  4. Publication date
    June 26, 2015
  5. File size
    868 KB
  6. Page Flip
    Enabled
  7. Word Wise
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  8. Enhanced typesetting
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Editorial Reviews

Review

"Detective Shelley Krieg, a Washington, D.C., native, is a standout in many ways ... The fast-moving plot tells the story of a strong young woman trying to stay true to herself while dealing with powerful, corrupt people and her own conflicting loyalties. This has the makings of a strong series." --Barbara Bibel, Booklist

"Sharp, tough heroine Shelley Krieg drives the plot of this fast-paced mystery ... Hill writes with an awareness that brings emotional depth to the interactions of his characters in this well-told mystery ... Those who enjoy suspenseful mysteries will be well entertained by Never Kill a Friend." --Margaret Cullison, ForeWord

From the Inside Flap

Detective Shelley Krieg has lived her entire life in the Lincoln Heights neighborhood of Washington, DC. At six-foot-four, she s the giantess of DC Metro a tough cop who s paid her dues on her long path to becoming a detective in the city she loves. She can get a confession out of anyone. And she always plays by the rules. But when Rafael Hooks is arrested for killing his brother, all the rules change. Shelley finds herself not only fighting the system but also questioning her relationships with her co-workers, her closest friends, and even her partner, Kent Bellotti. It seems like an open-and-shut case: Raffi confesses to murdering his drug-dealing brother. But nothing is as it seems. Each time Shelley finds evidence to exonerate Raffi, new evidence arises to confirm his guilt. Fingerprints tying Raffi to multiple murders in both DC and neighboring Maryland suddenly appear out of thin air. And on his first night in lock-up, Raffi is nearly killed. With no allies left at DC Metro, Shelley turns to her estranged friend Yasmira Turner for help. Together Shelley and Mira uncover a web of deceit and corruption that links a Russian assassin, a high-paid DC call girl, and an urban Robin Hood who renovates his crack houses before donating them to the poor. Never Kill a Friend is a taut, suspenseful novel of conflicting loyalties, friends found and lost, and power in the wrong hands. It is a finely wrought tale of one woman s quest to stay true to herself and to do the right thing for an innocent man.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0103CGHUQ
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Ransom Note Press (June 26, 2015)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ June 26, 2015
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 868 KB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 206 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.1 4.1 out of 5 stars 12 ratings

About the author

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Martin Hill Ortiz

Martin Hill Ortiz

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Martin Hill Ortiz originally hails from New Mexico. He received a BA and BS from New Mexico State and his doctorate from George Washington University. He lives and writes, not in that order, in Ponce, Puerto Rico, where he teaches pharmacology to medical students at the Ponce School of Medicine and Health Sciences.

In his various walks of life he has been a mad scientist, a mad social worker, and a miffed theater director. He has a wife who brings him inspiration and a son who brings him perspiration.

He has published short stories and poetry in the science fiction, thriller, comedy, horror and western genres. His first novel, A Predatory Mind, a thriller that follows the consequences of a meeting between inventor Nikola Tesla and serial killer, H.H. Holmes, was published in fall of 2013 by Loose Leaves Press.

Over the years he has maintained a website, jivepuppi.com, dedicated to the case that has been come to be known as The West Memphis Three.

Customer reviews

4.1 out of 5 stars
4.1 out of 5
12 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Bob Ritchie
5.0 out of 5 stars A great book - Might there be a sequel in the works?
Reviewed in the United States on September 15, 2015
Verified Purchase
After reading Martin Hill's "A Predatory Mind," I put his name on my list of authors to follow. When I saw this recent release, I snapped it up. This book starts with the title--I mean "Never Kill a Friend," who could resist? From first page to last, it is a book that lives up to that title's implied promise. Witty and exciting, this fast-paced book will race you to the end. And it'll win. Ready, set, go!
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crimereader
3.0 out of 5 stars A good summer read.
Reviewed in the United States on August 11, 2015
I might have had some reservations with the by-the-book detective going rogue like she did but it proved warranted in the end. The female friendship was endearing. I find interesting how Shelley will reconcile her feelings for the not-so-bad "drug dealer". A good summer read.
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Theresa de Valence
5.0 out of 5 stars A satisfying treat!
Reviewed in the United States on August 4, 2015
Detective Shelley Krieg’s actions as a bad cop give me a bad taste and I wonder whether to quit the story, having little stomach for bullies. But then, neither does Shelley.

NEVER KILL A FRIEND (©2015) by Martin Hill is slow to start but my interest keeps building. Detective Krieg doesn’t do what I’m expecting. Neither does author Martin Hill Ortiz.

Some of the language is lyrical. The crimes are gruesome. Banter between friendly workmates is titillating. Carping by adversaries intrigues.

Some stories swoop the reader into becoming a character in the story. NEVER KILL A FRIEND maintains a mile high view watching the dance of flawed humans trying to steer events with self-interest, compounded by conceit. An elusive conundrum.

Friends are definitely tested in this story. And you can’t turn your back on a single one.

Satisfying.
One person found this helpful
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Gloria Feit
4.0 out of 5 stars Never Kill a Friend
Reviewed in the United States on June 13, 2016
From the publisher: Detective Shelley Krieg has lived her entire life in Washington, D.C. At six’4”, she the giantess of DC Metro - - a tough cop who’s played by the rules on her long path to becoming a detective in the city she loves. But when Rafael Hooks is arrested for killing his brother, all the rules change. Shelley fids herself not only fighting the system, but also questioning her relationships with her co-workers, her closest friends, and even her partner. It seems like an open-and-shut case: Raffi confesses to murdering his drug-dealing brother. But nothing is as it seems. Each time Shelley finds evidence to exonerate Raffi, new evidence arises to confirm his guilt. Fingerprints tying Raffi to multiple murders in both DC and neighboring Maryland suddenly appear out of thin air. And on his first night in lock-up, Raffi is nearly killed. With no allies left at DC Metro, Shelley turns to her estranged friend, Yasmira Tamer. Together Shelley and Mira uncover a web of deceit and corruption that links a Russian assassin, a high-paid DC call girl, and an urban Robin Hood who renovates his crack houses before donating them to the poor.

Shelley, a 31-year-old African-American, works out of the Third Police District of Washington Metro, which extends “from embassies and gentrified townhouses to stretches of urban decay.” The book opens with Shelley being called to the scene of a gruesome murder, the details of which I will kindly omit. The young man who called 911 is 19-year-old Rafael Hooks, the aforementioned brother of the dead man, and Shelley is convinced of his innocence, his confession notwithstanding. Her investigation leads her along unexpected paths, at times putting her in the cross-hairs of the assassin, being drugged in her own home, and not knowing who to trust, including her fellow police officers. But she has to follow her conscience, and won’t stop till she gets to the truth. The various plot lines did have this reader a bit confused at times (although not for too long). The writing, although I did not feel it was particularly elegant, nevertheless pulled me along to the point that, surprisingly to me, I found myself at the end within forty-eight hours of opening it up to the first page.

This is the first in a new police procedural mystery series featuring Shelley Krieg, who is both a fascinating protagonist, and one tough gal. I for one can’t wait for the next one!

Recommended.
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Lynn Demsky
3.0 out of 5 stars ok mystery!
Reviewed in the United States on July 14, 2015
This one took me a long time to read – the story was not very believable – the characters not very real life. Didn’t enjoy how her connections kept popping up whenever she needed help. The mystery was o.k. – the killings were psychotic but, I kept drifting off to sleep reading it.
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David Madara
5.0 out of 5 stars DC Detective Shelley Kreig is on the Case!!
Reviewed in the United States on August 31, 2015
Great start to a new Police Procedural series. Detective Shelly Krieg works for the Washington DC Police Force and doesn't beleive that the person who was blamed for a murder did it. This gets her involved way over her head... But it is compelling. Very well done and I am eagerly awaiting the next book in the series... Most of the chapters end in cliff-hangers and that makes for a great reading experience.

I was provided an advance reading copy for my honest review.
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felice hubbard
5.0 out of 5 stars Enjoyed the characters and the story
Reviewed in the United States on August 27, 2015
Enjoyed the characters and the story. I read Martin Hill's book "Predatory Mind" and liked it a lot so I to check this one out. Definitely a fan.
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Eric Keith
4.0 out of 5 stars A Well-Balanced Mystery
Reviewed in the United States on July 24, 2015
NEVER KILL A FRIEND is a mystery novel that combines elements from different mystery formats: whodunit, hardboiled detective thriller, and police procedural. This serves not only to keep the interest level up throughout, but it also offers something to enjoy to mystery readers with different personal preferences within the umbrella of mystery fiction.

At the same time, the novel strikes a balance between character-driven and plot-driven mysteries. The plot has a number of twists and surprises (not the least of which being that the main character, Detective Shelley Krieg, does not remain a personally uninvolved investigator, but herself becomes a victim), but these twists grow out of the characters’ personalities: not only the personality of the protagonist, but of all of the major players. This balance keeps NEVER KILL A FRIEND fresh and entertaining.
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