Published: July 28, 2011
Words: 90,854 (approximate)
Language: English
ISBN: 9781465970244

Short description

For his first case, Detective Roger Stark has 42 hours to find a kidnapped child, but his adversary plays by a different set of rules and continually raises the stakes until someone has to pay the price.

Extended description

Roger Stark, Marshfield's newest detective, is paired with ex-NYPD detective, Ed Jones, "...fresh from a boring retirement...," to investigate the abduction of a volatile CEO's five-year-old daughter. Despite past entanglements with the CEO, Stark promises him that he'll find his little girl by the 42-hour deadline imposed by the kidnapper. However, Stark doesn't count on an elusive schizophrenic suspect or that the kidnapping is a ruse to divert attention from another far-reaching crime by a vengeful person playing by a different set of rules.

Told from Stark's and the schizophrenic's point-of-view, the story explores the collision of styles between Stark and Jones as the stress of the investigation intensifies. It shows the struggles of the schizophrenic as his hold on reality slips away while trying to solve the kidnapping the police suspect him of having committed, and his uncertainty about whether or not he could have done it. "One Promise Too Many" also demonstrates the depths.. (Read more) Roger Stark, Marshfield's newest detective, is paired with ex-NYPD detective, Ed Jones, "...fresh from a boring retirement...," to investigate the abduction of a volatile CEO's five-year-old daughter. Despite past entanglements with the CEO, Stark promises him that he'll find his little girl by the 42-hour deadline imposed by the kidnapper. However, Stark doesn't count on an elusive schizophrenic suspect or that the kidnapping is a ruse to divert attention from another far-reaching crime by a vengeful person playing by a different set of rules.

Told from Stark's and the schizophrenic's point-of-view, the story explores the collision of styles between Stark and Jones as the stress of the investigation intensifies. It shows the struggles of the schizophrenic as his hold on reality slips away while trying to solve the kidnapping the police suspect him of having committed, and his uncertainty about whether or not he could have done it. "One Promise Too Many" also demonstrates the depths to which someone will go to extract revenge on people once loved, regardless of who gets hurt.

"One Promise Too Many" combines strong elements of a police procedural with the soul of a literary classic that should keep readers turning pages fast enough to create a breeze.
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Tags

fiction, thriller, crime, suspense, murder, mystery, kidnapping, revenge, conspiracy, novel, detective, pennsylvania, schizophrenia, whodoneit, cops, ransom, paranoia, williamsport, procedural, embezzlement, wellsboro, roger stark, marshfield

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Reviews

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Review by: Terri Risdon on Oct. 09, 2011 :
This is a terrific mystery! I love Roger Stark and I'm so glad this is the beginning of a series. Twists and turns, and surprises through-out the book await the reader. Can't recommend this new book and author highly enough!
(reviewed long after purchase)

Review by: Beth Camp on Sep. 22, 2011 :
One Promise Too Many follows the attempts of newly appointed, red-haired Detective Roger Stark as he tracks down clues to find a missing girl – and exactly who murdered the wife of a prominent businessman. As the mystery unfolds, expect conflict. Stark’s training and his innate tendancy to heroism cause him to protect a prime suspect who struggles with schizophrenia, and Bylina’s writing skills twist the story and add depth to the characters with insight and sensitivity. I liked the good guys and the bad guys in this story, brought to life with telling details. There might just be another book about Detective Stark. Bring him on!
(reviewed long after purchase)

Review by: Ron D. Voigts on Aug. 13, 2011 :
Junior Detective Roger Stark shines in "One Promise Too Many" as he keeps the investigation on track in a race against time to save a kidnapped girl. Author Rick Bylina presents an empathetic, but no-nonsense detective ready to do what it takes to save 5-year-old Shelly before it’s too late. With tough action and mounting plot twists, I give this gripping police procedural my five-star stamp of approval.
(reviewed within a month of purchase)

Review by: Walter Thompson on Aug. 11, 2011 :
I loved how Rick Bylina has cast regular people as the key characters in his fast moving forty-two hour mystery. Detective Stark is not the typical high powered gun toting law enforcement officer with uncanny reasoning skills. Stark and his partner are often led the wrong way and must delve the truth from their wide ranging clues. I look forward to Stark's next case.
(reviewed within a month of purchase)

Review by: Gabriella Papic on Aug. 10, 2011 :
I thoroughly enjoyed One Promise Too Many. I'm a huge police procedural fan, and I was reminded of Ed McBain's 87th Precinct series as I quickly became absorbed in the details of the story.

Richard Bylina's novel hits all the right notes: instant action, real-world characters, smart dialogue, and deft pacing that makes the reading experience deeply satisfying right through to the nail-biting finish.

I'm looking foward to reading the next story in the series.
(reviewed within a week of purchase)

Review by: Peter Bernhardt on Aug. 06, 2011 :
Rick Bylina has created a memorable character in Detective Roger Stark whose desperate race against time to save a kidnapped girl will grip the reader from start to finish. Stark not only must work with a new partner who has his own issues, but he must also overcome his own past as a cop who failed to prevent a boy's drowning and a murder. Bylina has made the detective so human and likeable that the reader will instantly pull for him as the twists and turns of the fast moving plot keep Stark and his partner off balance. The characters are vividly drawn, the settings are well painted, and the story line advances at breakneck pace toward a climactic finale. Bylina is a master at creating tension, conflict and drama without having to resort to gratuitous violence and obscenities. If you like a story that compels you to turn the page, this book is for you.
Peter Bernhardt, Author: The Stasi File - Opera and Espionage: A Deadly Combination, Quarter Finalist 2011 Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award Contest. Sequel: Teya's Kiss.
(reviewed within a month of purchase)

Review by: AshleyMemory on Aug. 06, 2011 :
A self-described scapegoat whose hesitation may have let a killer escape, junior Detective Roger Stark is determined to keep a growing list of promises—including a vow to rescue a kidnapped 5-year old girl named Shelley. The fast-paced world he must navigate includes an unusual assortment of potential villains—a schizophrenic, a femme fatale, even Shelley’s own father, a greedy CEO caught in a hotbed of financial intrigue. The action and plot twists escalate until it’s sink or swim for Stark, who finds himself fighting both villain and nature in the vortex of a grinding whirlpool. It’s a fast and gritty tale that will ensnare you from the beginning and have you counting the days until Bylina’s next, A Matter of Faith, is finally released. -- Ashley Memory, author of Naked and Hungry
(reviewed within a month of purchase)

Review by: EdithParzefall on Aug. 01, 2011 :
I thoroughly enjoyed following Roger Stark's efforts to find a kidnapped child and redeem himself. Unexpected but credible twists and turns hooked me from the start. As Rick Bylina weaves his intricate plot he thwarts reader expectations without mercy and great skill. If you think you've read it all, you're wrong. Happy guessing!
(reviewed within a week of purchase)

Review by: Shelia Rudesill on July 31, 2011 :
A spellbinding page-turner! Rick Bylina has created a menagerie of believable characters in realistic circumstances. I look forward to future escapades with Detective Roger Stark.
Shelia Bolt Rudesill, Author: Child of My Heart
(reviewed within a week of purchase)

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