I really enjoyed this book. The authors know how the police work when working a murder case and was very detailed and portrayed what they have to go through to catch a murderer and how the department sometimes gets in the way. This showed a racial basis in how people perceived others. You have two murders in the same night, it doesn’t appear to be the same murderer so it is treated differently, one is given full coverage by the news and the police and the other is not really looked at. I really liked how the author has each person involved looking inside themselves and their basis’s. A really good read that I would recommend. I received a free book and my views and opinions are my own. ( )

The story is set in NYC following the murder of a female college student. We witness the aftermath of the police investigation (as in a usual crime novel) but the book goes a step further and we see how the media deals with the information, and the subsequent public response to it. It is an interesting look at how the media influences public opinion, but also how public opinion drives what is (and what isn’t) covered by the media. Naturally racism comes into play here. A related side story deals with police brutality. The book feels very topical. I found it interesting and well-written.
I was provided with an ARC (thanks to the author & publisher!) and I am voluntarily posting my honest review. ( )

This book is thrilling, captivating, and gives a lot of insight into how much one event can shape and connect the lives of many different people. This book provides a much more complete and well-rounded perspective than the average mystery novel which I greatly appreciate! While it was a tad bit confusing to try to sort out who was who at first, it was absolutely worth it for the depth of the two murders in the book. (At least seven different characters all get the spotlight put on their perspective throughout the book). There were a few moments that were startlingly in the modern present which took me out of the case for a brief moment so do keep in mind this book does briefly discuss the pandemic. ( )

The Other Murder by Kevin G. Chapman is an excellent police/journalism procedural novel. One team of police investigators, Dru and Mariana, and another team of investigative journalists, Paulo and Hannah, set out to solve a double murder one night in Washington Square Park in New York City. The two murders involve very different victims (Angelica and Javier) in terms of racial and socioeconomic characteristics. Initial assumptions about the crimes are made by the teams using these assumptions. Both teams are interested in details that will help solve the murders. The cops focus on carrying out the procedural orders of their law enforcement and political leaders. The journalists are more interested in following the direction of their editors to get the news out to the public via television and print media. Interaction of personality characteristics of the teams, their bosses, the victims, and the perpetrators determine priorities of investigations and actions. The novel is very well-written for good character development and exciting action. ( )

Review of eBook

Basketball player Javier Estrada, on his way home after a pick-up game, hears a scream. He looks around; hearing a second scream, he turns and heads toward whoever it is that is in need of help.

Retired from the New York Police Department, Joe Malone, a security guard at New York University, heard the bang and decided to investigate. He knew the sound of a gunshot. Hearing a second gunshot, he called the local police precinct before heading out of the guard shack. At the clearing around the Hangman’s Elm, he found the girl.

Hannah Hawthorne, covering the story of the young girl’s shooting, finds herself in the midst of heightened media coverage and hopes her work will redeem her from the disastrous results of a previous story. At the same time, reporter Paulo Richardson, covering the story of the young basketball player’s death, soon finds himself teamed up with Hannah as they both search for a killer . . . and for the truth.

Will they be able to find the truth of what happened, of who murdered Angelica Monroe? And will their investigation reveal the reason for Javier’s murder?

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Anchored by a strong sense of place and nuanced, believable characters, the compelling narrative pulls the reader into the telling of the tale from the outset. The swift pace keeps the tension building as the plot takes some unexpected turns; they keep interest high as each of the characters exposes new information as the media story evolves.

Police investigations, story proposals, dark secrets, and surprising revelations change everything the readers think they know about the murders. The writing is first-rate; the danger, palpable. Readers will find it difficult to set this one aside before turning the final page.

Readers who enjoy thrillers will find much to appreciate here as the narrative races toward a denouement readers will find immensely satisfying.

Highly recommended.

Also included are thoughtful questions for book club discussions.

I received a free copy of this book through the LibraryThing Early Readers program and am leaving this review voluntarily. ( )

This is a fast-paced police drama pitting the investigative work of the police force against two young journalists, anxious for a story. I enjoyed the pace of the novel and how the storylines, while already intertwined, came together in the end. I wish there had been a more clear ending but sometimes it just cannot be. I loved the ending with epilogues for all the main characters, and also the book club questions. ( )

I am grateful to the author and publisher for providing me with an advance copy of the book to read and review. The level of suspense was great and kept me interested in reading and finding out what transpired. I identified with the characters in this book. They were likeable, and I enjoyed watching them struggle to balance acting on impulse, looking at the big picture, and making the best choice considering the situation. The book was very detailed, and I felt like I was right there with the characters. This was a nice element, but at times the details were a bit drawn out. The book club discussion questions at the end of the book are a chef’s kiss! Overall, this book is the perfect police procedural read! ( )

This book involved themes of how media shapes events and how even law enforcement panders to the politics of the time. Two journalists approached reporting in different ways. Hannah was more involved in respecting the hierarchy at the media based companies she worked for while Paulo saw journalism as a reflection of the community he lived in. The only criticism I have is the repetition by the characters in discussing socio economic matters. Overall interesting read ( )

The Other Murder was well thought out and after a slow beginning the pace picked up and had me on the edge of my seat. There were a lot of characters, but each one was interesting and well written. There might have been too much editorializing about race in media and law enforcement, but it was still secondary to the story. Fans of mysteries that make you think will love this on. ( )