My name is Diane Joyner and I am a Portland police homicide detective. I’m originally from New York City where I also worked homicides. I moved to Maine to escape my personal troubles and start anew. For the last several years my partner on murder cases has been Detective Sergeant John Byron. You may have guessed by his title that a John is also my supervisor. There is a mutual attraction between us which has led to some trouble, in that the PD has strict rules about getting romantically involved with a coworker in the same unit, specifically one’s own supervisor. We’ve been forced to try and keep our involvement a secret from our peers, although I think some of them are starting to suspect.
My interest in John Byron is easy enough to understand. He’s tall, handsome, and very smart. And he’s a cop’s cop. A second-generation badge who hates to lose. John and I are similar in our dogged pursuit of truth and justice for the victims. We work very well together, playing off each other’s strengths to close cases.
Our relationship has its challenges, though. John’s marriage of twenty years recently ended and I think he is conflicted about his feelings. Even our respective backgrounds have become an issue. You see I am an African American from the Big Apple, while John, who is ten years my senior, was raised Irish Catholic right here in Portland, Maine. He is also struggling with the bottle. And if I’m being totally honest with you, I may have a few demons of my own. Ultimately, I don’t know what will become of John and me but I’m willing to give it a shot and find out.
Well, I’ve gotta run. I’m heading to Augusta to meet John at an autopsy. We just pulled a dead attorney out of Casco Bay. Great talking with you.
You can read more about Diane Joyner and John Byron in the second book of the Detective Byron Mysteries, Beneath the Depths.
In this latest gripping mystery from bestselling author Bruce Robert Coffin, Detective Sergeant John Byron is back—and ready to prove that no one on his beat is above the law.
When the body of prominent Portland attorney Paul Ramsey turns up in the bottom of Casco Bay, following his loss of a multimillion dollar civil trial, Byron knows it’s no accidental drowning. Golden boy Ramsey had a dark side—and Byron believes the key to solving his murder lies in uncovering those secrets someone wanted buried along with him.
With the brilliant Detective Diane Joyner by his side, Byron takes on Ramsey’s former employer, the powerhouse law firm of Newman, Branch & DeWitt. But delving further into the troubled waters of Ramsey’s past only serves to lengthen the list of suspects—unleashing a perfect storm of corruption, betrayal, and murder that only Byron can stop. If he’s not too late.
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Giveaway: Leave a comment below for your chance to win a digital copy (Kindle or Nook) of Beneath the Depths. The giveaway will end August 14, 2017. Good luck everyone!
Meet the author
Bruce Robert Coffin is a former detective sergeant with more than twenty-seven years in law enforcement. At the time of his retirement, from the Portland, Maine police department, he supervised all homicide and violent crime investigations for Maine’s largest city. Following the terror attacks of September 11th, Bruce spent four years working counter-terrorism with the FBI, earning the Director’s Award, the highest honor a non-agent can receive.
Bruce is the bestselling author of the Detective Byron Mysteries from HarperCollins. The debut novel in the series, Among the Shadows, was released to rave reviews, appearing in several Amazon bestseller lists and topping the paperback fiction list in the Maine Sunday Telegram. His short stories have been featured in several anthologies including the 2016 Best American Mystery Stories.
He lives and writes in Maine. Connect with Bruce at brucerobertcoffin.com, on Facebook and Twitter.
All comments are welcomed.
Looks really good. Thank You for sharing it with us.
Thank you, Linda!
This is going to make me buy the books: Diane sounds like fun. I’ve been holding off in a snit of jealousy because our agent likes Bruce better.
Lol! No snits allowed, Jack. 😉
Definitely on my TBR list! A book about real people in real situations. Having had a relationship with my boss once, I know the stress involved. A co-worker asked if we were seeing each other. I found it’s the tone of voice. I said , Yes I was f…..g his brains out every night, in a snarky voice. She laughed and said she didn’t think so.
Thank you, CJ!
Beneath the Depths sounds like a great book, I’d love to read it. Thanks so much for the giveaway Bruce & Dru Ann!
Thanks, Celia. Good luck!
I can hardly wait to read this. We have many ties to Maine and have visited countless times in our lifetime and…we love it there. Wish we could travel more, but at this time it isn’t really possible. But reading this book will be very enjoyable I am sure. Thank you.
Cynthia.
Thank you, Cynthia!
This is a new author to me. Enjoyed the description of the book and would like to read.
Good luck!
Riveting!
Thank you, Lala!
Sounds great and am looking forward to reading this set in one of my favorite places, Maine.
Yes, A great place to live and write and have the locale of the mystery also in the great state of Maine. It all makes me want to read the book.
**** WINNER ****
Beneath The Depths by Bruce Robert Coffin is Cynthia Blain
Congratulations!