Only the Holy Remain

This is generally not my genre but read the first three chapters and thoroughly enjoyed it. I plan on returning for further read. Well done!
Red

I had to come back and read again some of these well-done scenes that take place my hometown. They read just as fresh and engaging the second time around. That's good writing.
Best to you, Alverne.
JBC

I quite liked this. I admit I am not a crime fan but the fact that it is about an ex Marine Chaplain caught my interest. I think you can go places with this idea, which is certainly original. Starred, regards, Mark

Hi there...I just read Chapter 1 and am thoroughly impressed--you sound like a former Marine (?) (My story is about a former Marine, too.) I love some of your turns of phrases...'like molasses in a moonshine jug.' rap rap of my calloused knuckles." Highly rated and will back in the next couple of days. I love your voice.

Great first chapter. Like the first person perspective of the detective. I'm enjoying your story and will continue to read.
Dina of Halo of the Damned and 33

Alverne,
I once lived in Chicago and have many fine memories of it, its vibrancy and potential for excitement, which, of course, you capture here via this classic detective story. My brother, John Campbell, recommended this to me. And I'm glad he did. I am please to offer this six stars. Best wishes.
Regards,
Bea

Alverne,
Your book is well polished. You surely have a future before you. Of course the odds of any of us getting published via a commercial publisher is small. Literary agent Jeff Herman said 2% break through the system. Nonetheless, I'm sure you are going to get noticed somehow. I read chapter 10 today and loved it. I felt like I was in (and the outside) a Chicago cathedral. The interchange handled vividly. Such good dialogue. I'll come back for more.
JBC

Alverne,
"Good morning, Sunshine," Lopez said. Your dialogue is suitably redolent of your setting and the real life characters you have here. Crisp, clean prose. Only the Holy Remain is true to its genre. Starred highly and WL'd for now.
We're from Chicago and are pleased to read of it in your well-written work. Best wishes.
John Campbell (Walk to Paradise Garden--also Chicago-based, historically). Cheers!

Thank God for the comments! Ploughing through all to see what it was I liked - doing the ratings via the "stars" and as and when I can, will re-back all the books I really enjoyed or which showed promise, in my humble opinion. The Tails of Willie Gusty.

Only the holy remain
You tell the story as a detective story should be told
Backed
Eveleen
(Turning a new leaf)

Excellent - very competent writing. Just a few nitpicks. Ch 1 Blvd & Ave - you trying to save ink? Spell 'em out in full (especially 'Ave' - that's in dialogue and I don't think anyone would actually say that). Ch 2: laying -> lying. Great hook at the end of that chapter, by the way. But Father Pantone, I guess he's Italian-ish, with an invisible accent on the E, but I'm a graphic designer, and to me I can't read that word without thinking about a proprietry colour definition system.

Backed.

Sure to appeal to your target audience. Competent writing, would read on if this was not a computer screen. Good luck with this. The title is both good and misleading, insofar as thought, mistakenly, religeous... glad I read further. Good luck The Tails of Willie Gusty

Most impressive. A true thriller and one to watch rise in the charts, for sure. Backed with delight.
Barry
LITTLE KRISNA AND THE BIHAR BOYS

Backed Only the Holy Remain. This is the kind of story that should be made into a movie. There is loads of action in all the chapters we’ve read so far. Good luck with this; it is a pleasure to back you!
CC Brown
Dark Side

Alverne -

Only the Holy Remain - Being the son of a cop killer is not a fame demanding respect from colleagues, and considering the supiciuos circumstances Calhoun finds himself in after the discovery of his former Lieutenant, Father Pantone murder, this promises to be a tense read. Good touch, how Cahoune reads Pantone's last gesture different on the train, and returns to the crime scene. On his second train ride home after being beaten up I expected him to draw some attention. He must have looked a bloody mess. That stretch of time seemed a bit rushed. The writing is vivid so and I had to stop myself reading by chapter 5

Backed, Pia (Course of Mirrors)

Sorry it's taken so long to get round to reading this book...work, work, work etc ha-ha.
Have enjoyed what I@ve read so far and will be reading more.
Backed with pleasure.
Lizzie Scott :-)

Alverne, your first chapter was powerful enough to sweep me into the second. Good job on that opening section.

Happy to back your work.

Joffrey (The Silver Spoon Effect)

A very interesting premise. I have read only the first few chapters so far but I know that I am into a well structured and well written book. Well done.

Philip John

No problems backing this one:-))
A whole series of small bombshells laid to catch the reader, cop who was both a soldier and a chaplin, a body before you've had time to get your head around that; then the same cop is the son of a cop killer! Wow!
Then, just as you get your breath back the dead partner is a half brother!
A rollercoater of a read, visually good with some very sound dialogue and hooks enough for a dozen books.

You provide us a gritty thriller with an intelligent plot and fascinating characters. Rich imagery. Polished writing. Backed.

Also.....terrific title!

Justis

Great intrigue right off the bat - makes the reader want to know more about Frank and his life story. Excellent descriptions, I can feel Frank's emotions and the manner in which he is 'measuring words.'

Backed!
Justis Call
Prestidigitations

Great title, great cover, strong pitch and an intelligent grasp of genre. The narrative crackles from the outset and the dialogue has a vernacular sharpness which is not only convincing but, at times, genuinely thrilling (Chandleresque, almost). There is a fantastic film to be made here but the book - which I must admit is not my usual kind of thing - has a quality that even the best filmmakers would struggle to reproduce. Best of luck!

Ivan

Love the premise and the opening chapter....will read more as soon as time allows.

I am supporting my friend DP Walker's book "Five Dares" whilst he's on holiday and would be grateful if you could give it the once over.

Backed with pleasure.
MrDog

I read a few chapters and will get back to it as soon as I can. This is well written and is a great story.

Sarah Louise

This has an excellent start. I am sure that I will read the entire book. Great book. Backed

John Green
The Dakota Principle

Chaplain turned detective? Now that is original. Loved this and happily backed it. Best of luck.

The details in the first chapter definitely bring the story to life, especially the "smells." The sense of smell can trigger very strong memories. Nicely done.

The details in the first chapter definitely bring the story to life, especially the "smells." The sense of smell can trigger very strong memories. Nicely done.

Alverne....WOW is all I can say I just finished this Amazing book...You will be published many times my friend. First let me start by saying there is no published writer that doesn't need an edit and your editing in comparison to your skills and talent are minimal.

This is gripping, action packed and paced to perection. There is so much detail in a short amount of pages it pays homage to your gift. Your characters are so engaging and natural you immediately feel a bond and are so invested in the outcome of his circumstances that you can't put this down.

Twist and turns and intrigue everything one can possibly want in a crimanal murder mystery. I truly LOVED this book and would buy anything you write in the future...You should be very proud of yourself and whatever you do NEVER stop writing...BRAVO Backed 1000 % Patricia aka Columbia Layers of the Heart

A great start. I have only had time to read the first three chaps but I am hooked. Found it a bit of a leap how he reasoned that the chaplain had tried to bring his attention to his collar. However the pace was excellent and I hav backed your book. Regards, Anne

A wonderful narrative and after reading the first thre parts I can say that your writing is professional, polished and crafted.

BACKED

This intro is great - makes me want to read it sooner than later. Watchlisted.

Justis Call
Prestidigitations

When I read the first chapter I knew that I had to continue reading, and I did. I'm pleased I did. Great read for me and I think your writing style wil will attract many more like me. I can back this book with pleasure

Frank James (The Contractor)

When I read the first chapter I knew that I had to continue reading, and I did. I'm pleased I did. Great read for me and I think your writing style wil will attract many more like me. I can back this book with pleasure

Frank James (The Contractor)

Hi Alverne, Truly sad and yet the writing is redolent with odors and similes. It sounds as if Father Pantone became a priest after the military. You've portrayed well the wrenching sight of him dying. And you've begun other strings - the psychiatric leave and the war memories. It's a strong start. Shelved - Katherine (The Swan Bonnet)

Hi Alverne, Truly sad and yet the writing is redolent with odors and similes. It sounds as if Father Pantone became a priest after the military. You've portrayed well the wrenching sight of him dying. And you've begun other strings - the psychiatric leave and the war memories. It's a strong start. Shelved - Katherine (The Swan Bonnet)

Alverne, there is some good writing here. You are a gifted descriptive writer. I think you do a very good job giving each character distinct voices. The premise is strong; the pace is steady and characterizations compelling. It feels real and not forced. You should be very proud
I wish you the very best
Scott
The Esrevinu Chronicles/Secrets of the Elephant Rocks

Alverne, there is some good writing here. You are a gifted descriptive writer. I think you do a very good job giving each character distinct voices. The premise is strong; the pace is steady and characterizations compelling. It feels real and not forced. You should be very proud
I wish you the very best
Scott
The Esrevinu Chronicles/Secrets of the Elephant Rocks

What a wonderful 'voice' to this! I think this has great commecial potential.
backed on behalf of Jim darcy who is on holiday. Please take a look at The Firelord's crown. Thank you! :)

hullo Alverne I know Chicago a little bit and avoid it when I can. Ha-ha. You have started this book by writing it in a type format that takes many of us back to the past when this was one of the few fonts used. That setting the stage your MC tells us about the Father in a different scenario. this is great and so realistic. Very good. Please give my book a look. thanks
Linda Lou Long
Southern dis-Comfort
http://www.authonomy.com/ViewBook.aspx?bookid=11421

I love crime fiction and often listen to audio books by American authors when I'm working in the kitchen. I would love to hear this read as it is shaping up nicely. As soon as I read - clung like molasses in a moonshine jug - I knew I wouldn't be disappointed at your narrative. Good strong characters with a protagonist who has an underlying problem or two in the shape of his father and his ex- partner-cum half brother. Backed. K.J. Rabane - According to Olwen

It's an evocative cover which I would pick up anyway, the shadows suggesting all sorts of things within. the opening is strong and you show the gift of writing us right into a scene. I was really there with him. I can see from later chapters this is a really finished novel.
Backed
Lara
Good for Him

Alverne: I jumped in on Chapter 33 and this is good stuff. I am biased as I write in the same genre. Both pitches work well. Nothing to niggle you on. BACKED!

I can use your comments on my book when you get the chance. Cheers!

JC
The Obergemau Key

Came to take a look after seeing you on a few shelves - I'm so glad I did! Not my usual genre but good writing is good writing, and after three chapters I'm hooked. On my shelf.
Joanna Carter
Fossil Farm

Hi
Nice premise and good beginning.
It has all the makings of a good crime and thriller, and when I've read more (and I will), I'll give you more of my thoughts.
Kind Regards and backed with pleasure.
Neil

Great beginning to the story, with the tragic reunion of these two military men. I like that they are both men of religion and I would be intrigued to see how religious themes play out in the story. Great description and dialogue at the start. I like that we find out about Father Pantone through Frank, and that we find out bits and pieces about Frank in subtle ways. An original crime story, very well done.

---Mary
The Qualities of Wood

Good plot, excet that you slightly overwrite. If he can see his reflection in his shes, then it's obvious they are polished . . . so delte polished. The 1st paragraph is too long. It's a tense storyline so make the prose sharper. Shorter sentences will achieve this.

Thanks for the observations and advice.

Good plot, excet that you slightly overwrite. If he can see his reflection in his shes, then it's obvious they are polished . . . so delte polished. The 1st paragraph is too long. It's a tense storyline so make the prose sharper. Shorter sentences will achieve this.

You are an extremely skilled author and I’m pretty sure before long you will be a published author. Your writing is slick and you manage to underwrite rather than over very skilfully you tell us a lot in very few words that’s a sign of a true writer. Best of luck but you wont need it

Wilma1
Knowing Liam Riley – I hope you can spare a moment to take a look