A discharged U.S. serviceman is found dead on a Philadelphia street and a pair of homicide detectives struggle to solve a crime with no witnesses, no leads, and no family to speak for the victim. Only Son takes you through the streets of Philadelphia, from the violent streets of Kensington, to the vibrant business district of South Philly. From the courtrooms of the Criminal Justice Center, to the hallways of Police HQ, and many places in-between.
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Book Description
Editorial Reviews
About the Author
Pam Meister graduated from Western Connecticut State University with a degree in communications. An online political and social commentator since 2005, she has also been a lover of the true crime and crime novel genres for over a decade. She lives in Connecticut with her family. Shawn Goodwin has been a member of the Philadelphia Police Department since 1994. He is a graduate of Saint Joseph’s University, and during his college career, he proudly served as a writer, features editor, and editor-in-chief of the university newspaper, The Hawk. He was the official satirist at Family Security Matters for nearly three years and has been blogging since 1995. Shawn lives in Philadelphia with his wife and four children.
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More About the Author
Shawn Goodwin has been a member of the Philadelphia Police Department since 1994. He is a graduate of Saint Joseph's University, and during his college career, he proudly served as a writer, features editor, and editor-in-chief of the university newspaper, The Hawk. He was the official satirist at Family Security Matters for nearly three years and has been blogging since 1995. Shawn lives in Philadelphia with his wife and four children.
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
First, this book is quite worth your time. The crime is murder; the plot is solid; the investigation holds together; the characters are workmanlike; and the ending satisfies. A very sound entry in the world of police procedural.
That said, this is a first novel by two authors, and there are some issues.
A better job of proofreading would have helped, but I'm notoriously nit-picky on that point. The other issues are mostly hand-over of viewpoint (a common weakness, these days, even in best-selling authors); somewhat wooden characterization; and a few absolutely clanking writing choices. There is a reason for avoiding cliches - and unless one is making a joke, please, Pamela and Shawn, don't use "like the plague". Please?
All in all, a good first effort. Experience will improve the work, and I'd like to see more.
That said, this is a first novel by two authors, and there are some issues.
A better job of proofreading would have helped, but I'm notoriously nit-picky on that point. The other issues are mostly hand-over of viewpoint (a common weakness, these days, even in best-selling authors); somewhat wooden characterization; and a few absolutely clanking writing choices. There is a reason for avoiding cliches - and unless one is making a joke, please, Pamela and Shawn, don't use "like the plague". Please?
All in all, a good first effort. Experience will improve the work, and I'd like to see more.
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
For a first book, ONLY SON was a good read. I loved it. I loved the relationship between Bell and Nicole. I didn't solve it, but I rarely do. It was very believable, which is more than I can say for a lot of mysteries I read. The ending was a big surprise, which means Shawn Goodwin and Pam Meister will have to write a sequel.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This writing team does a great job of bringing out the reality of a detectives job while introducing us to some interesting main characters. A couple of easy to overlook errors do not spoil at all from the story and I am looking forward to follow-ons!
Most Recent Customer Reviews
3.0 out of 5 stars
Only Son is a good first book.
I'm not good at reviews, so take that to heart when reading this. The story was good and held my interest, enough that I finished the book in only two days. Read more
Published 4 months ago by Warren
4.0 out of 5 stars
A New Cop on the Block
I really enjoyed this book, I thought the characters were well described & the action seemed true to life. Read more
Published 5 months ago by Joan M. Squiccimarra
4.0 out of 5 stars
Good Store - hard to read
ONLY SON was a good story. It had good characters, good action, as other reviewers have said. The only problem with me was the way it was written for Kindle, at least. Read more
Published 7 months ago by Wayne
5.0 out of 5 stars
Only Son
Excellent first novel, true to life and written by someone in the know. Highly recommended! Good plot and interesting story arc, well paced and delivered!!!
Published 10 months ago by Old NFO
3.0 out of 5 stars
Interesting read
I purchased this book as a Kindle E-book at the request of the author, whose blog I follow regularly. (Support Your Local Gunslinger. Read more
Published 13 months ago by Kenneth B. Nelson
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great Start
All I can say is: Read this book if you're in to police procedurals. Seriously. While there are enough rough edges to remind you that these are first time authors, the plot and... Read more
Published 13 months ago by Ben Blatt
4.0 out of 5 stars
A Good Read
I really enjoyed this book, and was thinking "Ed McBain" after the first few chapters. If you don't know who he was, look him up. Great cop/crime novels. Read more
Published 13 months ago by K. Wagner
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Diamond in the Rough
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and await more from the authors.
It was an "in the trenches" examination of a murder investigation by two likeable and more importantly,... Read more
It was an "in the trenches" examination of a murder investigation by two likeable and more importantly,... Read more
Published 13 months ago by JT
