Creager

The War Paint Killer Saga

Fiction - Crime
376 Pages
Reviewed on 06/13/2023
Buy on Amazon

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    Book Review

Reviewed by Rabia Tanveer for Readers' Favorite

Creager: The War Paint Killer Saga by Larry Hanson is an action-packed, humor-filled crime novel that will have you sitting on the edge of your seat. Detective Creager of the Bedford P. D. had his work cut out for him. The crime level in the once-sleepy town was at an all-time high, and it looked as if things wouldn’t calm down anytime soon. As more and more people arrived in the town searching for jobs, the crime rate soared higher than ever. The real trouble began when Bedford P. D found the bodies of two women almost naked and adorned with feathers and war paint. When news of similar bodies being found in other states reached Bedford, the FBI became involved, and the hunt to find the killer began. But the dead women were not the only crimes taking place in the town. Drugs, hooliganism, kidnapping, and other crimes were at an all-time high. Did Creager have what it takes to protect Bedford and its people?

From the moment I read the introduction, I knew I was in for a treat. Detective Creager was a dream. He was funny, intuitive, sharp, and remarkably intelligent. He planned, adapted, and looked for opportunities to solve the case rather than waiting for things to happen. I really enjoyed Ritch and his banter with Creager. The story was fantastic. I loved the chaos, action, and the intensity. There was never a moment when I felt the story’s pace was slowing or the story was stuck at any particular point. Larry Hanson worked hard on the plot building. There were plenty of role players in the story, and at first, I thought I would have a hard time remembering them all. The ending was satisfying for both Sheri and Creager, and I expected nothing less from them all. I highly recommend Creager: The War Paint Killer Saga to anyone who enjoys action with plenty of plot complexity.

Keith Mbuya

Bedford Township, Denver was suddenly bustling with life after the launch of a multi-million dollar project in the town. While this was good for the town’s business, it left the local authorities’ hands full. Smash and grabs, shootings, and murder were the order of the day. One particular murder case caught the attention of Detective Creager of Bedford PD. Two nude bodies of women with war paint and feathers were found dumped in the local mountains. Similar murders had been reported in other states. Before Detective Creager can make anything out of the case, an anonymous caller to a show on a local radio station confesses to being responsible for the murders. With crime on the rise in Bedford, few people to trust, and a serial killer on the loose, Detective Creager is determined to nab the perpetrator and bring him to justice. Find out more in Larry Hanson’s Creager: The War Paint Killer Saga.

If you love slow-burn crime mystery novels laced with a tale of drug dealers, thugs, serial killers, sleuths, politics, money, dangerous love triangles, secrets, trust, and deceit, Larry Hanson’s Creager: The War Paint Killer Saga will have you hooked from cover to cover. Hanson unfolds the plot with insight while maintaining a subtle tone. Just when I thought I knew where the story was headed, another mystery popped up. The vivid depictions made the reading experience feel like watching a movie. Hanson develops the qualities of the role players firmly. This made it easy to connect with them and understand their motivations and choices. You will find suspense, adventure, and thrills in this murder mystery.

Anne-Marie Reynolds

Creager: The War Paint Killer Saga is a crime thriller by Larry Hanson. With Bedford township dying off, some older council members built a dam, creating the state’s largest lake. The cost was huge, but it brought jobs and people back to the township and a wave of crime. The police control things until two bodies are found near the lake—two nearly naked women covered in feathers and warpaint, the same as other bodies found in other states. With the help of the FBI and a computer genius, Detective Creager discovers all the women fell foul of a gambling site on the dark web, and a drug cartel started flooding the schools with designer drugs. When one of their own is kidnapped, it becomes a race against time to stop this crime wave. Can Creager succeed?

Creager: The War Paint Killer Saga by Larry Hanson is an interesting read. Part crime thriller, part suspense, the plot is steady with plenty of action and some humor scattered throughout to break up the story's seriousness. The characters were well-developed, with some backstories provided to give us insight into who they are. Despite being a crime story, there isn’t too much violence; it’s more about the procedural side of things, and it builds on the suspense gradually, working through several crimes and tying them together. There are some twists and turns along the way, and the ending may come as a surprise. Overall, a good read if you want a long, busy crime story to lose yourself in.

Asher Syed

In Creager: The War Paint Killer Saga by Larry Hanson, Detectives Creager and Ritch investigate a series of crimes in Bedford Township. Their drug investigation is interrupted by a shooting on Main Street. Ritch becomes a suspect in the murder of Samantha Mason but Creager clears Ritch's name and uncovers Lucas Ziegler's involvement. A connection to a local whiskey order and a drug cartel emerges. Investigations intensify with a witness linking Annie Ziegler to Samantha's murder. Creager and Ritch obtain a search warrant for the Ziegler Mansion to find the murder weapon and uncover the truth. Bedford Township prepares for its 4th of July event, marred by a shocking shooting. More information comes into play connecting the recent murder to the War Paint Murder Organization and betting slips found in a previous case. As the detectives race against time, the town faces challenges, celebrations, and unexpected twists. With determination and support, Creager and Ritch navigate intrigue and danger to uncover the truth behind the crimes in Bedford Township.

You know that an author isn't afraid to throw in the kitchen sink when an FBI agent guarding an asset, with said asset armed only with parts from a hospital toilet, is murdered. Surprisingly, that isn't even the most interesting thing that happens in the crime novel Creager: The War Paint Killer Saga by Larry Hanson. Creager is not just a book about murder, deception, and the relentless pursuit of justice, it also homes in on the human element and, more specifically, Creager's personal life, which is haunted by a traumatic accident, his partner seeking guidance on how to live with it, and the bond between Ritch and Creager that extends beyond professional and is super unexpected. I liked the nod toward police corruption, the inclusion of hitmen, and the action scenes, which are well executed. I could have done without inferred references to ANTIFA and Black Lives Matter regardless of how they pan out, and the writing itself is less polished than a novel this complex requires. Still, the connecting of dots that Hanson manages and the overall character arcs are good, making this entry into the crime fiction genre worth a read.

Alma Boucher

Creager: The War Paint Killer Saga is a crime novel by Larry Hanson. Crime had increased in the Bedford area, and the dead bodies of two young women, both covered with war paint and feathers, were found in the local mountains between Bedford and Denver. There were bruises on their knees and elbows and whip marks on their backs and shoulders. The women had tried to escape, as their fingers and nails were bloody. There are no reports that these women were missing, and the police had trouble identifying the bodies. There were reports of several deaths from neighboring states with the same modus operandi, and the FBI was called in to help. Detective Creager and the FBI discover that these women were kidnapped and were the prey of a dark web gambling site.

Creager has all the winning elements of crime, mystery, and suspense to provide an outstanding crime novel. Larry Hanson had my attention from the beginning. The use of humor lightened the dark side of the increased crime, drug abuse, and kidnapping of women. Several events were taking place at the same time, and they all came together in the end. The chapters flowed into each other, and it was an interesting read. The characters were brilliantly developed. They were introduced with a full description of them and their backgrounds, and it was fun getting to know them. With all the twists and turns, I never knew what to expect next. This was an amazing story, and it exceeded my expectations.