“An incredibly dark crime is just the start of the complex twists and turns which make this book so gripping. I loved the almost noir feel of the town and its inhabitants and really enjoyed the way the plot developed. The writing style is crisp and tight, meaning no unnecessary melodrama around a storyline which can stand strong without embellishment.”
TORMENT
Available Now
"Darkness has gripped a heart... and it's descending on Wolf Hollow"
On an early fall morning, the sleepy oceanside town of Wolf Hollow wakens to a gruesome crime.
Alison Newton, a nameless young woman, senselessly murdered six months ago, has been dug up and violated.
Veteran Detective Harper Jones, who was the lead investigator in her murder, is called upon to track down
the offender, and he quickly realizes that this isn’t some random act. Instead, he finds that a ruthless
serial killer has descended upon Wolf Hollow with his own cruel motives.
Now Harper, along with his new partner, must track him down quickly before he strikes again, all the while
slowly learning that not everything and everyone in this unsuspecting paradise are what they seem.
Reader Reviews
“This book had me gripped from the beginning! It's straight into action, no messing about. I found the characters fascinating and wouldn't have minded a deeper dive into the serial killers' past. Lots of twists and turns on the way. Loved it. Definitely recommending!”
“While this wasn't my normal sort of novel, I was VERY excited to get out of my comfort zone and try something new. Jeffrey Butler delivered. This was my first introduction to Harper Jones, and I wasn't disappointed. Twists and turns. A good mystery. Detective work at its finest. I would read more of this. Thank you to NetGalley for letting me read the ARC of this.”
BAIT
AVAILABLE NOW
"The past always leaves a mark."
It’s mid-summer. The oceanside town of Wolf Hollow is well into tourist season, with its glittering
beaches
and bustling boardwalk acting as the playgrounds of families celebrating their summer vacation.
Detective Harper Jones has a new protégé to break in, Officer Mary Lou Perkins.
Suddenly, over the course of a few days, local citizens begin to be randomly terrorized. But as the number
of victims increases, Detective Jones starts to realize that they all have one particular thing in common.
Him.
As the terror reaches closer to home, Harper discovers that the past consequences of Peregrine are clawing
their way into his life today, and to stop them, he must confront an enemy that he thought he’d left far
behind.
From the sun-kissed boardwalks of Wolf Hollow to the Mediterranean lair of his tormentor, Harper must race
to confront his nemesis before he’s forced to choose between his past and his present.
Reader Reviews
“Bait was a great read for me. The first-person narrative voice was cleverly executed, making the POV unmistakably clear and delivering focused scenes. I loved the characters. Harper is well-sculpted as a man whose past still haunts him… Jeffrey Butler delivers a thriller with unforgettable characters, a finely drawn setting, and a twisty plot that is packed with action.”
“Bait by Jeffrey Butler was full of surprises and kept me guessing until the end. I was hooked from the start… The writing style was engaging, and the events were easy to visualize. The big twist at the end was fantastic. I did not see it coming.”
“Bait: A Harper Jones Novel is a thriller that reminds the reader why the genre is worth losing sleep over… It is a book that delivers on all fronts, and one that will richly reward fans of police procedurals that spiral into something darker.”
PAWNS
Expected Early 2027
"The next move is already being made."
Pawns is planned as the next Harper Jones novel, continuing the saga of crime, suspense,
and buried secrets surrounding the seaside town of Wolf Hollow.
More details will be revealed as publication approaches.
Coming Next
Pawns is currently expected in early 2027 and will continue the Harper Jones series.
Check out what readers are saying about Jeffrey Butler
Reviews and reactions from readers and reviewers.
“Jeffrey Butler's style is fast-paced with lots of dialogue, but along the way, he provides readers with beautifully descriptive settings that contrast sharply with the violence of the plot. His characters, both victims and villains, are realistic. Fans of the genre will love Torment.”
Jeffrey Butler’s debut Torment is vivid detective fiction at its most disturbing... Torment is solid detective fiction that can boast an impressive ability to build chilling suspense that, by the end, leaves the reader hungry for the next book.”
“Butler’s writing is vivid and unsettling, capturing the reader’s attention from the first page. The narrative is punctuated with unexpected twists and turns, keeping readers captivated.”
“Jeffrey Butler's Torment skillfully combines the intensity of a crime thriller with the allure of a psychological mystery. The novel's cat-and-mouse chases are interwoven with a foreboding atmosphere, drawing readers into a world where danger and suspense simmer beneath the surface.”
“Butler expertly crafts a taut narrative... Through intricate plotting and richly drawn characters, Torment captivates the reader's attention, drawing them into a web of suspense intertwined with the characters' shared history. This twisty tale is hauntingly arresting and will have you turning the pages nonstop.”
“The author's style — command of the English language, descriptive writing that paints a scene, control of continual rising and falling plot climax — combined with a story that twists and turns, leaves the reader enthralled. I could not put this down until I reached the UNPREDICTABLE end. Can't wait for the author's next read!”