Arthur Coburn started his career as a Harvard-educated attorney but chose to become an editor of top-notch movies—favorites "The Mask" and the premier "Spider-Man." Coburn has recently given us his debut novel, one of the most surprising and exciting thrillers I've read in quite a while. Even the title is loaded.

Concrete is a real town in northern Washington State, where the story's action begins instantly when 19-year-old Charlotte "Charlie" Perdue introduces herself. She's on the verge of graduating from high school, whose principal advises "if anyone makes fun of your hometown, you can tell them concrete from the limestone processed here built the Grand Coulee Dam…."

It takes barely a page for us readers to know that yes, we're going to root for her all the way. She can drive a car, but she prefers her bicycle, which she propels effortlessly for miles. Taught by her dad, she's a game hunter with a crack shot. But she has problems with hallucinations—

—beginning when she comes home to a silent house. Her mother lies murdered. Her father is missing. Soon he's is found dead too, his car in the river, his body eaten by animals. But do his Vietnam dog tags prove it's him? Before long, suspicion turns to Dad as the murderer.

Charlie goes to live with her grandmother, Lottie. The two of them both love classic movies but have little else in common. Lottie is religious, but given what's happened, Charlie has little faith in deities. "Strange things keep happening in my head. I see Mom and Dad’s mutilated bodies over and over. I have to find out who killed them."

Evidence mounts that the killer isn't done yet, and Charlie herself may be the next target. Mysterious phone calls: caller says nothing. A red-haired young woman repeatedly stalks Charlie, vanishing when Charlie tries to catch her. In hopes of tracking down the stalker, and with Lottie's reluctant permission, Charlie enrolls in the university in nearby Bellingham, Washington.

With the help of her college friend Nina, who is also a movie fan, Charlie stumbles on a strange clue: in a recent low-budget noir film, named "Dead Girls Don't Lie," the face of the man playing the villain is never quite visible—but his tell-tale limp seems identical to that of Charlie's father.

Against her grandmothers hopes, Charlie heads to Los Angeles. Through a series of accidents that may not be wholly accidental, she finds herself involved with a crew of movie-makers working in the Mohave desert who knew her father. Her encounters with cantankerous actors, lecherous directors, dismissive cinematographers, editors, hairdressers, special effects experts, and others in the movie business are expertly and often hilariously depicted; given Coburn's expertise, the characters are downright authentic. As for Charlie's dad, they either refuse to talk about him, or they tell her he is dead.

What comes next is a series of thrilling and completely unexpected surprises. Not least, "Concrete" has more than one meaning.

Make your move and buy this book. Book Reviewer2,311 197

In Murder in Concrete, author Arthur Coburn delivers a riveting mystery thriller centered around the determined and headstrong Charlie Purdue. The narrative begins with Charlie's world being shattered by the traumatic discovery of her mother's body and her father fleeing the scene, an event that throws her once-ordinary teenage life into disarray. Struggling with PTSD and paranoia, she takes it upon herself to unravel the truth behind her mother's murder, leading her on an unexpected journey to a Los Angeles movie set. There, she not only finds clues to the murder but also uncovers answers to questions she hadn't even considered.

Coburn crafts a compelling investigation, effectively drawing readers into Charlie's quest. Her refusal to accept the town's prevalent theory about her father's guilt drives the story forward with urgency. The depiction of Charlie's PTSD is a notable aspect of the book, adding layers to her character and introducing an element of unreliability in her narration. This narrative choice enriches the plot's complexity and adds to the overall suspense.

Coburn successfully portrays Charlie as a convincingly relentless avenger in her quest for justice, complemented by a well-rounded ensemble of villains and allies. Although there are moments where the dialogue between Charlie and the secondary characters could be more fluid, these instances are balanced by the overall strength in character development, adding depth to Charlie's interactions and journey. While occasionally facing challenges in fluidity during scene transitions, Coburn's prose successfully maintains a brisk pace that keeps the reader thoroughly engaged. The story culminates in a notably satisfying conclusion, skillfully tying up loose ends and offering a twist that is poised to delight readers.

Murder in Concrete stands out as a solid pick for those who enjoy a fast-paced thriller that combines an intricate mystery with high emotional stakes. Coburn's narrative invites readers into a world where uncovering the truth is as perilous as it is imperative, making for an engaging and suspenseful read. N.N. HeavenAuthor 6 books1,975

Can Charlie find the answers she’s been seeking about her dad’s disappearance, or will her search lead her somewhere she doesn’t want to go? Murder in Concrete is an intriguing mystery. The descriptive narration propels the plot. The characters are shrouded in mystery and there’s a young woman searching for answers. Murder in Concrete reads a movie script and will keep your imagination engaged.

Let’s start with the descriptive narration. Every scene is very detailed, so the reader encapsulates the mood, emotion, tension, and action at the same time. The narration is also emotional, so it becomes the vehicle to connect with the characters.

The characters are well-written and emotive. I connected with Charlie right away. Her POV is deeply emotional, and the reader sees everything from her viewpoint. Her reactions are realistic.

The rest of the characters fill out the plot nicely. While some characters are complex and shrouded in darkness, other characters are easy to figure out.

The writing is un anything I’ve read before. It’s reading a movie script, which is understandable considering the author’s background. It’s different but in a good way. The writing kept me reading late into the night. This author is one to watch.

If you mind-bending mysteries in a unique style, you’ll enjoy Murder in Concrete as much as I did.

My Rating: 5 stars

Reviewed by: Nancy

This review first appeared: https://www.nnlightsbookheaven.com/po...
5-star-review mystery new-adult ...more3 s Lisa Matthews54 2

I was given this book to read by Voracious Readers Only in exchange for an honest review...

I do not know where to start with this book as it has me torn. I struggled to keep going with this book but then enjoyed the last section of it! I feel this book was a few ideas the author wanted to write about thrown together into one. I found it moved way too fast and was so rushed that the story was too far fetched and unbelievable. I just could not take to it and get into it at all.

However, I loved the characters. I feel this could have been slowed down and stretched out with more time happening between all the events. Then it would have been more believable and would have had lots more chances to delve into the characters a bit more too. I think if the story had been told over a series or at least 2 books the plot would have flowed a lot better and I would have really enjoyed it.voracious-reader-books Cara Sanders16 1 follower

This book read a polished script. The heart and authenticity of a novel are missing, as the characters lack substance and the supporting world is full of cut-scenes that don't work for a cohesive storyline. The characters feel they're waiting for actors to bring them to life, and the plot feels it belongs in its own B movie - what they're filming in the story. While the author doesn't seem familiar with the world in which he starts his character, he finds his comfort zone once he transports her to the movie world of Lalaland.

All that being said, once you make it to about Chapter 10, there's enough action going on to keep you interested. The scenarios are over-the-top and feel unrealistic, but you will find yourself rooting for there to be resolution in a positive manner. If you enjoy B-rated movies, you'll probably enjoy this book. There are moments it will endear itself to you, in the same way the cult classics pull at you. Roberta13 5

Where to start… This novel had me reading into the wee hours of the night, kept telling myself “only one more chapter” over and over! Definitely a book that you’ll plow through simply to find out what happens next. A coming of age story that came as the result of a horrific family tragedy! I absolutely loved how the story progressed and had me wondering who done it chapter after chapter… All in all a great read… just wished it went on a little bit further or had a flash forward chapter that would’ve summarized what happened to some of the characters in the future and closed some loose mini stories within the book… perhaps a book two??? JoAnne1,371 87

Well woven tale with some interesting characters - it certainly took me on an intriguing journey. I became emotionally immersed in this daughter’s quest to learn the truth and get answers about her parents while coping with her trauma and PTSD; feeling her emotions, stress, struggles, and journey. Full of twists, action, drama, suspense, mystery, and interesting situations/scenarios. Fast paced gripping mystery – kept me wondering what was going to happen next and I totally didn’t figure out the ending. Dana3 5

Overall I enjoyed this book. I think the story was good and it was well written.
My major criticism is the character development. We don't know enough about their relationships. We know the main character goes looking for the dad but we don't know much about their relationship before he goes missing. Same with the relationship with her mother.
The story does jump around a bit. But it's fairly easy to keep track of.
There are a few too many characters in the book. We could have scaled them back a bit.
I got my copy through voracious readers only Lisa Bentley100 6

A really good whoddunit with plenty of twists and turns!
Every time I thought I had it figured out I didn’t
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