Crime Exploded

CBI agent Buck Taylor is back in book 8 of the CRIME series by Chuck Morgan.

Fiction - Crime
323 Pages
Reviewed on 12/10/2021
Buy on Amazon

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    Book Review

Reviewed by Viga Boland for Readers' Favorite

When readers decide to tackle a lengthier action novel, the author had better know what he/she is doing. Well, that’s one thing fans of award-winning novelist Chuck Morgan never have to worry about. Here’s an author whose action-filled plots leave you breathless, ever wondering what will happen next and keep surprising you. In Crime Exploded, all the action takes place over one traditionally peaceful week: Christmas. Family festivities are suddenly shattered by multiple bombings, including a mosque. Presuming this is the work of terrorists, the police, the FBI, and Buck Taylor of the Colorado Bureau of Investigation spring into action. Taylor’s team senses that the evidence isn’t pointing to whom the FBI suspects. When all the surprising connections emerge to the surface, Morgan hurtles readers toward an explosive and satisfying conclusion.

While Crime Exploded is more plot than character-driven, one realizes just how easily love and brotherhood within mob families can be destroyed by greed and the desire for power. Personal motivations are a key part of this novel, yet it is only after the exciting action ends that you find yourself thinking more about the characters than the plot. Impeccable writing skills, no unnecessarily long backstories, and truly clever plotting make Crime Exploded a read worth every minute of your time. Don’t be surprised if, after you’re done, you find yourself checking out the previous seven novels in the Buck Taylor series. They all look really good!

Rabia Tanveer

Crime Exploded is the eighth novel in the series by Chuck Morgan. It was a peaceful Christmas morning when everything went to hell. No one was expecting it when a series of bombs exploded in Colorado, with apparently no link. With the casualties rising, the CBI asked Agent Buck Taylor and his team to figure out why this was happening and who was behind it. However, their work was cut out for them due to the roadblocks. To make matters worse, the FBI had taken a special interest in the case, and a specific agent was hellbent on making the investigation impossible and trying to derail it. It was up to Buck and his team to make sure no one else died. Who was really behind all these bomb blasts, and why did they start attacking unsuspecting people at Christmas?

Action-packed and fast-paced, I was sucked into the story the moment I opened the novel. The author built the story to perfection. Chuck Morgan gave just the right amount of suspense, mystery, and action to keep readers’ attention on Buck and his team. There was never a dull moment in the story. The narrative ran smoothly until the end; it followed the development of the story and the pace set by the characters. I enjoyed the twists and turns. What I loved more than anything else in the plot was how calculating Buck was. He was smart; he didn’t let the FBI discourage him and kept his head in the game. The action gave me an adrenaline rush. Absolutely brilliant!

Foluso Falaye

After several explosions on Christmas morning, respected and feared investigator Buck Taylor finds the perpetrator and brings them to justice. Due to a cancer diagnosis, Connor O'Connor is released from two life sentences to live his last days peacefully outside prison walls. Wronged by those he worked with as a killer before his imprisonment, Connor might have other plans for his "peaceful" last days on earth. Crime Exploded brings these two characters on opposite sides of the law together with other characters on both sides in a battle of intellect and grit. Will Buck complete his journey to discover the truth or get blown to pieces along the way? Chuck Morgan creates a greatly addictive and mentally stimulating crime narrative involving prison attacks, clashes between policemen and the FBI, intelligent and eccentric criminals, organized crime, and a tough, street-smart investigator.

A Christmas crime treasure! All the different parts of Crime Exploded fit perfectly well like a jigsaw puzzle, and I couldn't wait to unravel the plot. The protagonist is portrayed as strong and physically capable of knocking his enemies out before making a single move. I enjoyed the intensity of the scenes immensely: the possibility of exploding at a wrong turn and the tension between the different groups. Even with all these different characters, the narrative is understandable and easy to follow. It was an engaging and rewarding experience to search for clues by examining the protagonist's and the antagonists' mindsets and mental health. Finally, Chuck Morgan's use of multiple viewpoints to create one beautifully interwoven story is one of the best I've seen out there! Crime enthusiasts should grab a copy of this gem right now.