A Reason to Live (Marty Singer Mystery #1) [Kindle Edition]

Matthew Iden (Author)

Book Description

"...a riveting and entertaining read. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED."

- Karen Cantwell, author of the Barbara Marr mystery series (Take the Monkeys and Run)

"...several nights I read until I couldn't keep my eyes open."
- Misha Crews, author of Still Waters and Homesong

"That was a hell of a ride! I loved it!"
- Angie H., Goodreads 

In the late nineties, a bad cop killed a good woman and DC Homicide detective Marty Singer got to watch as the murderer walked out of the courtroom a free man.

Twelve years later, the victim's daughter comes to Marty begging for help: the killer is stalking her now.

There's just one problem: Marty's retired...and he's retired because he's battling cancer. But with a second shot at the killer--and a first chance at redemption--Marty's just found A Reason to Live.

The Marty Singer detective series:

A Reason to Live (Marty Singer #1)

Blueblood (Marty Singer #2)

One Right Thing (Marty Singer #3)

Please note One Right Thing was formerly promoted under the title Signs.

Editorial Reviews

From the Author

In writing A Reason to Live, I wanted to develop the main character, Marty Singer, in such a way that the reader could see him as walking, talking, living human being. Super-human protagonists who can do no wrong are the norm in the thriller business these days and--while I'm a big fan of many of those books--that's not what I wanted to write.

 

My hero has problems--romantic, physical, and emotional--that are not of his own making, but they don't disappear just because he's in the middle of stopping a vicious killer and saving a young woman's life. In fact, his personal issues often get in the way of reaching his goals. 

 

It's this interplay of Marty's personal life, mixed with plenty of action and suspense, that I think will make A Reason to Live appealing to lovers of thrillers, suspense, and crime fiction.

Product Details

• File Size: 610 KB
• Print Length: 360 pages
• Page Numbers Source ISBN: 1475283334
• Simultaneous Device Usage: Unlimited
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
• Language: English
• ASIN: B0081MW9LM
• Text-to-Speech: Enabled
• X-Ray: Enabled
• Lending: Enabled
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,718 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)
  • #16 in Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Literature & Fiction > Genre Fiction > Mystery & Thrillers > Mystery > Hard-Boiled
  • #17 in Books > Mystery, Thriller & Suspense > Mystery > Hard-Boiled
  • #29 in Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Literature & Fiction > Genre Fiction > Mystery & Thrillers > Crime

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

74 of 74 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Compelling Mystery, Entertaining Read May 24, 2012

By Karen Cantwell

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

Ex-DC cop, Marty Singer, is facing an uphill battle against cancer. When graduate student Amanda Lane, the daughter of a homicide victim from twelve years earlier approaches him, worried that her mother's killer is now stalking her, Marty decides he must, despite his own health concerns, help her. His reasons are bigger than just helping a young woman in need -- as the lead detective on the mother's case, he feels responsible for the fact that her killer went free.

Soon enough, Marty agrees that someone is stalking Amanda, the question is, is the stalker her mother's killer? And if so, how can they find him before he harms or possibly kills Amanda?

Those two questions, along with some very fine writing and character development, make A Reason to Live, a riveting and entertaining read. I've said this in other reviews: I don't have time to read a book that doesn't catch and hold my interest. I practically devoured A Reason to Live, so I can say easily that it did both - the book caught my interest immediately with an intriguing mystery and held it with characters I cared about and wanted to see succeed. I will definitely be reading more books by Mr.Iden. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.

27 of 27 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Great story June 28, 2012

By Nancy J. Arnold

Format:Paperback

This was a very good book and a quick read. The storyline was interesting and just when you thought the author was going the route of predictability, he would throw in a twist that kept you guessing.

As an advocate for American Cancer Society, I liked the twist on his cancer and how it may have slowed him down, but didn't stop him from doing what he felt needed to be done. Shows that you can live with cancer without giving up on your life.

I am anxiously awaiting Marty's next adventure. Keep it up Matt!

22 of 22 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Don Collier's take July 4, 2012

By Don Collier

Format:Kindle Edition

What a delightful, gut-wrenching tale of mystery and surprise! Finally, a middle-age protagonist who still has enough moxie to kick butt now and then. I enjoyed the style, language and clever metaphors. Dialogue was abundant and entertaining. Surprises are in store re the leading bad guy; and Iden drops a hint at the end about the possible future return of a despicable killer who was thought to be put away forever.

More About the Author

Matthew Iden writes fantasy, science fiction, horror, thrillers, crime fiction, and contemporary literary fiction with a psychological twist.

An eclectic resume--he's held jobs with the US Postal Service, international non-profit groups, a short stint with the Forest Service in Sitka, Alaska and time with the globe-spanning Semester at Sea program--has given him inspiration for short stories and novel ideas, while trips to Iceland, Patagonia, and Antarctica haven't hurt in the creative juices department, either. A post-graduate education in English Literature wasn't necessary, but it helped define what he didn't want to do with his life and let him read a great deal of good books.

Please visit him on the web at matthew-iden.com, Tweet @CrimeRighter, or find him on Facebook, http://www.facebook.com/matthew.iden.

Matthew lives in Alexandria, Virginia.