If you’re craving a fast, exciting crime thriller, grab a copy of Graffiti Creek by Matt Coleman and get stuck into it. I dare you to be able put it down with thoughts of coming back to it later. Just make sure you have a few hours free to read it in one go…and not before bed…or you will be running down alleyways, climbing through windows, wading through Graffiti Creek or finding yourself locked in a car trunk all night long!

What a plot Coleman has woven around his female protagonist, Cary, whose survival skills and physical condition sometimes border on unreal. She learned all her tricks from her brother. Just as well too! After receiving a text message not meant for her, she finds herself in a never-ending run to elude desperate and crooked cops who believe Cary has something that will expose their criminal activities. Therefore, Cary must be captured and killed.

As Cary runs for safety, hijacks cars and their drivers, her fear is real but she’s incredibly clever and resourceful. She finds some friends in unlikely places along the way, but reaches that point where she no longer knows who is on her side and who isn’t. Don’t be surprised if you find yourself holding your breath along with Cary as footsteps come up the stairs or walk overhead. The tension jumps right off the page. With bodies being knifed, shot and brutalized all over the place, this is one intense read. A crime thriller’s delight. Don’t miss it. A great read!

When law enforcement goes bad, everyone is at greater risk, as Matt Coleman illustrates in Graffiti Creek. In this story, readers meet a wide range of characters, from a number of crooked cops, to those who follow the straight and narrow, to a now-dead witness who had filmed evidence that could put the bad cops behind bars, to another now-dead witness who, as a journalist, had been following the story. Fortunately, Cary Ann Trubody proves to be a heroine of the truest kind. Although running scared—and even though she mourns the death (by murder) of her love interest, Johnna—Cary doesn’t give up. Having been schooled as a pre-teen by her older brother in survival skills, Cary knew what it meant to use “muscle memory.” With it, she slips through zip ties, sends the car she is in down a hill and into the water, and escapes from it before her pursuers can catch her. Thereafter, she keeps both the good cops and the bad busy, as she determines who to trust, and how to get her hands on the evidence she requires to prove her own innocence and to uncover those who are truly guilty.

There are a number of interesting characters in Graffiti Creek by Matt Coleman, but my two favorites were Cary and her part-time cohort, Marlowe. Each of them has a keen sense of humor that added just the right bit of comic relief from time to time. Best of all, in Cary Matt Coleman has created a believable heroine, capable of tough physical acts, but who also exercises quick thinking—a necessary survivalist tactic if she is to evade capture. Cary brings out a spirit of daring and an almost a “devil-may-care” attitude that encourages others to work with her, even in the face of danger. As a reader, I found myself cheering her on!

Graffiti Creek by Matt Coleman is a thrilling crime novel that would appeal most to a mixed audience made up of young adults and adults who enjoy reading about mistaken identities in criminal fiction and who do not mind a bit of explicit language and graphic violence. Cary Trubody’s life is forever changed when, on her way back from a party, the police pull her over for running a red light. What should have been a ticket or a warning quickly leads to Cary finding herself framed for murder and on the run from every crooked cop in the city. Meanwhile Sameer’s husband and Marlowe’s brother have both gone missing after working on a journalism story. Cary might just hold the key to answering all of the unanswered questions, yet how can she provide the answer that she does not know?

Graffiti Creek by Matt Coleman is a well-written crime novel with elements of mystery, suspense, and action all equally intertwined in one plot. I loved how the author brought all of the characters together, even though it seemed as if they were all looking for answers to different questions. The plot was a lot like a puzzle in that the story could only be solved when all of the puzzle pieces were in their correct places. I truly enjoyed trying to untangle and solve the plot myself throughout the story, even though I never managed to guess correctly what was going on. Overall, I greatly enjoyed reading about all of the characters and their stories, though it was Cary Trubody that was by far my favorite character, and it was her that kept me turning page after page to find out her fate!

In Graffiti Creek by Matt Coleman, on her way home from a successful poker game, Cary and her partner are stopped by the police in what seems to be a simple traffic violation. What follows plunges Cary into a horrific ordeal that involves murder and police corruption. She has to run for her life while trying to fathom out why she is being hunted, and who she can trust to help her. Meanwhile, Sameer is searching for his missing boyfriend who was last seen investigating police corruption. The trail leads to an entangled web of mystery surrounding the film industry and documentary maker Do-Right. Sameer, Cary, and Do Right’s brother's paths cross and together they hunt for answers, followed closely by Bright Hudson, a determined and gritty detective. Graffiti Creek is a place of murder and the only witnesses are the blood splattered trees.

If you enjoy a story that has twists, turns and suspense throughout, then Graffiti Creek by Matt Coleman is a perfect book for you. The way the writer has woven such detail into his characters and story lines is a fantastic treat for any reader. Each character is well constructed, and the dialogue is authentic and realistic. The strong female character of Cary is rich and three dimensional. I enjoyed the relationship she has with Marlowe when they first meet; the dialogue between them was great. The author can build a scene full of tension and apprehension so much that it touches every one of your senses. A superb story from start to the climactic finish. The ending was perfect and not what I was expecting, because the plot constantly led you down one path and then took you in another direction, which shows superb storytelling ability. I loved the fact that a male author would make the lead protagonist such a strong female. This is a perfect story for anyone who likes a good thriller and whodunit.