Over 15 Years of Delighting Mystery and Historical Fiction Readers Worldwide

Book Reviews

Author Neil Low values feedback from readers and critics alike. Here are some book reviews of my different novels.
  • "Excellent reading! I'd love to get this defendant in the courtroom and put her butt on the stand. She'd have a lot of explaining to do. Well done!"— Anne Bremner
  • "Combining a lifetime's experience of law enforcement with the narrative instincts of a born storyteller, Neil Low delivers another winner with his thrilling and disquieting Crazy Love."— Peter Atkins, Author of Morningstar
  • "Low's calculated police procedural brings a sense of sanity to Crazy Love." — Don Roff, Author of Snowblind
  • "Vera Deward and Alan Stewart are reminiscent of Hammett's Nick and Nora Charles in the Thin Man series. As characters, they are endearing and occupy a comparable class. Unholy Alliance's prose bangs with the authenticity of a veteran detective on a blood-soaked ride through the foreboding criminal underworld of a Seattle that time forgot. The yarn is made genuine because Low uses police tactics that only a real-life cop would know. Unholy Alliance, an alliance of Low's earlier historical novels, in another dynamic advance in crime fiction." — Don Roff, Author of Zombies: A Record of the Year of Infection
  • "Vera Deward and Alan Stewart are reminiscent of Hammett's Nick and Nora Charles in the Thin Man series. As characters, they are endearing and occupy a comparable class. Unholy Alliance's prose bangs with the authenticity of a veteran detective on a blood-soaked ride through the foreboding criminal underworld of a Seattle that time forgot. The yarn is made genuine because Low uses police tactics that only a real-life cop would know. Unholy Alliance, an alliance of Low's earlier historical novels, in another dynamic advance in crime fiction." — Don Roff, Author of Zombies: A Record of the Year of Infection
  • "Here's the first thing I can tell you about Neil Low's new novel: There are strong women herein. If you don't like strong women or stories about them, find another book. The mood of this tale reminds me of the foggy, black and white crime movies of the period before World War II, and that's not accidental. It's clear that the author has extensively researched the Seattle of that era and makes that time real to his readers with deft, subtle touches. This story may humor you, and it's likely to get your juices flowing. But perhaps most importantly, it's going to make you think, because it has more twists and turns than the catacombs under Chinatown, which Low describes so vividly. And here is something else I can tell you: You will have to wonder if Low's catacombs (underneath Seattle's Japan Town) are real or if they are stuff of legend and myth. "Aye, there's the rub," as someone else who knew a thing or two about telling a good story once wrote."— Lowen Clausen, Author of River, First Avenue, Second Watch, and Third & Forever
  • "No one can write about cops-and robbers- like a real police officer. When they are good, they are very, very good, and Captain Neil Low IS VERY GOOD as he magically captures another era in his new book: Thick as Thieves. Reading it is akin to stepping into a film noir, shadowy, smoky, and shocking. No one is whom he seems to be, and each unveiling heightens the pace of high tension. How could the Lindbergh kidnapping be connected to Seattle? Low's vivid imagination makes one wonder...Why did a loyal son, bent on revenge, allow himself to sink into the enemy's quagmire of betrayal and violence? This is a great book, alive with action, sometimes shocking in its scenes of forbidden sex, and unremittingly true in its characterizations. Set aside a few days to read it because you won't want to stop!" — Ann Rule, Author of Too Late to Say Goodbye, The Stranger Beside Me, and Green River, Running Red
  • "Unreasonable Persuasion is a great detective novel. Set in the 40's the main characters are PIs investigating a disappearance of a family friend. The Seattle setting is refreshing and serves as a great back drop for the unfolding mystery. The main characters, Alan and Vera are fleshed out and interesting, although much of their development relates to the two previous novels I have not read. That said, on the strength of this book and the characters I will be hunting down the first two in the series soon. I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys mysteries, noir and hard-boiled detective novels. The writer's Seattle police background can be felt in the pages, providing legitimacy to his prose."— Matt, Goodreads Reviewer
  • "Unreasonable Persuasion is a great detective novel. Set in the 40's the main characters are PIs investigating a disappearance of a family friend. The Seattle setting is refreshing and serves as a great back drop for the unfolding mystery. The main characters, Alan and Vera are fleshed out and interesting, although much of their development relates to the two previous novels I have not read. That said, on the strength of this book and the characters I will be hunting down the first two in the series soon. I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys mysteries, noir and hard-boiled detective novels. The writer's Seattle police background can be felt in the pages, providing legitimacy to his prose."— Matt, Goodreads Reviewer
  • "An inside look at the dark side of law enforcement from a bygone era." — Chief R. Gil Kerlikowske, National Drug Czar During the Obama Administration and Former Chief of Police at Seattle PD
  • "I read your book last week while in Mexico. Very entertaining!!! Your intertwining of three different stories was interesting and unexpected. Your knowledge of some of the arcane facts (assuming they're true) was awe inspiring. I will treasure my signed copy for eternity, or death if it comes first."— Al, Online Fan
  • "I read and absolutely loved Neil Low's first book Thick as Thieves. I couldn't wait for his new book Sign of the Dragon and it was worth every single minute of the wait. His character Alan Stewart returns in Sign of the Dragon. It isn't necessary to read Thick as Thieves first but hey, you are going to miss one great book. Sign of the Dragon literally grabbed me from the first page. I started while waiting in my doctor's office and for once, was glad they were running behind schedule. This book has two women spies who are both strong and sexy. They remind me of Black Widow spiders...once they get their men in their 'web' they are hers. This book has lots of twists and turns- which I love. I have lived in Seattle my whole life and there were so many things I didn't know about Seattle until I read these two books. Neil Low obviously did a lot of research. I love the references to the Seattle area in his books. The book cover illustration is absolutely awesome. In fact, I was sitting in a cafe in Ballard, and had the book with me. People were attracted to the cover, asked to look at it, read the back, and asked me about it and said they were going to buy it! I told them, of course, about Thick as Thieves. Now the hard part begins--waiting for Neil Low to write another book!!" — Ballard Girl, Fan From Seattle, WA
  • "I am almost done reading Thick as Thieves... 25 more pages to go. I must say that I have enjoyed reading it and think it would be appropriate for me to give you an 'attaboy' for whatever it is worth. As I am an avid reader, I can't wait to start on the other book. Please let me know when it is available!"— Bill, Online Fan From Fairbanks, AK
  • "I am almost done reading Thick as Thieves... 25 more pages to go. I must say that I have enjoyed reading it and think it would be appropriate for me to give you an 'attaboy' for whatever it is worth. As I am an avid reader, I can't wait to start on the other book. Please let me know when it is available!"— Bill, Online Fan From Fairbanks, AK
  • "I have not yet read your books (I just ordered them a few minutes ago) but I saw a piece about you on television and decided to check out your website. I enjoy mysteries, and especially ones set near where I live. I like knowing a location and picturing the story happening there. Your reviews are great, so I am looking forward to sharing them with my niece." — Patti, Fan From Seattle, WA
  • "I just finished Alan and Vera's saga with the metal shipments. I was young but remember my folks talking with disgust about us shipping scrap to Japan. I did not realize the value of brass until I read your book. I'm looking forward to your next Alan and Vera saga."— Lee, Fan From Seattle, WA
  • "I grew up in downtown Seattle, Pill and Capital Hills, and about a block East of Westlake and Denny. I really identify with the local of your mysteries. I also loved J.A. Jance's Detective Beaumont for the same reasons. You two authors hit my feelings, Alan in the late 30's, my youth just before the War, and Beau for my adult period. A friend asked me to describe your style and I said "It's like Mickey Spillane had dinner at Tai Tung and lost Mike Hammer somewhere between there and Ivar's where they were headed for late night clam chowder! And now, I gotta get back to Alan and Vera". — Lee, Fan From Seattle, WA
  • "My husband has read your books three or four times each. He loves them. We also purchased them for each set of our parents and they are also fans. Anyway, we can't wait for your next book."— Shari Cotes, Fan From Federal Way, WA
  • “Again, Neil Low spares no expense in a gripping yarn for Wages of Sin. A darker and more sinister mystery than his previous novels - and inspired in part by a shocking true crime - the detective work of Alan Stewart and Vera Deward makes us glad they're on our side. As I kept reading, I wished these literary detectives were real. The book has an authentic feel for police procedural-which comes as obvious since a full-time cop wrote it. From Wages of Sin's opening pages, Low binds us tighter than a murderer's knot.” — Don Roff, Author of Zombies: A Record of the Year of Infection
  • “Again, Neil Low spares no expense in a gripping yarn for Wages of Sin. A darker and more sinister mystery than his previous novels - and inspired in part by a shocking true crime - the detective work of Alan Stewart and Vera Deward makes us glad they're on our side. As I kept reading, I wished these literary detectives were real. The book has an authentic feel for police procedural-which comes as obvious since a full-time cop wrote it. From Wages of Sin's opening pages, Low binds us tighter than a murderer's knot.” — Don Roff, Author of Zombies: A Record of the Year of Infection
  • “Leave it to Neil Low to bring us Depression-Era Seattle, steeped in the Wobblies labor movement, seasoned with the prophecies of The Man Who Knows All, stirred with the not-distant history of the Russian Bolshevik Revolution and its controversial and cruel murder of the Russian Czar and family, and strained through the milieu of the now lost spectacle of magnificent and opulent theaters. I won’t speculate on the mind that brings us this scintillating combination of entanglements, except to say that it creates a fine story.” — Lowen Clausen, Author of River
  • “Once again, Vera Deward and Alan Stewart are on the case, this time solving brutal crimes in Seattle’s historic Paramount Theater, Orpheum Theater, and Moore Theater. As it is with all of Low’s fatal fables in the series, they crack with the verisimilitude of a real-life police detective. It’s like he’s taking dictation from Hell. On the boards or off, Low’s Theater of the Crime is a show-stopper!” — Don Roff, Author of Zombies: A Record of the Year of Infection
  • “A new high for Low! With Deadly Attraction, Neil Low offers up another fine mystery with master sleuths Vera Deward and Alan Stewart scoping out corrupt, World War Two-Era Seattle. Each successive chapter draws a bead on the reader, fires round after round of adrenaline-packed action and mystique, and delivers a final kill shot with unbearable, cliffhanging suspense. Low’s mastery of prose and detective-like attention to detail makes this deadly yarn a unique edition to the hard-boiled genre. No other author could ever write this book quite like Low does.” — Don Roff, Author of Zombies: A Record of the Year of Infection
  • "Grab your fedoras, Raymond Chandler fans, there's a new noir fiction writer in town!" — Don, Staff Pick at Everett Mall Borders Store (2009)
  • "I absolutely LOVED, LOVED, LOVED this book!! The plot and the story grab the reader from page one, and the characters are captivating. Neil Low is right up there with some of the best, like James Patterson, Lisa Scottoline, and Daniel Silva."— Linda Rose, Amazon Reviewer
  • "...A morality play in which the line between right and wrong is as blurred as gray rain at twilight over Seattle's somber hills. Neil Low, a veteran Seattle cop, has seen it all."— Lowen Clausen, Author of First Avenue, Second Watch, and Third & Forever.
  • "An intriguing and well-developed plot with interesting and well-designed characters." — Writer's Digest Magazine.
  • "Well folks!!! I finished the book in one sitting. Could not put it down. Read it like I was on a stake out. Much coffee and a box of donuts. The books is amazing. So insightful and brought up things I hadn't thought about before. Highly recommend. Neil Low Author incredible read, love Barnett's character and Kim Darling was spot on. The name of her brand made me laugh so much. Y'all need to read this book. " — Beverley Ireland.
  • Having just finished reading Crazy Love and seeing the autopsy report shared by Tom Grant, I am 100% sure that this young man is finally going to get the justice he so rightly deserves. Captain Neil Low and our Tom Grant together are going to be an absolute power house together. Respect and so much gratitude to Tom for tirelessly persevering in the pursuit of justice and respect and admiration for Captain Neil Low for getting on board. This is the year it breaks wide open and those who have thought they got away with murder will be punished to the fullest extent of the law. No sensationalism, drama or shenanigans just stone cold facts xxXXX — Beverley Ireland
  • “Think Quentin Tarantino Meets Philip Marlowe in an LA Confidential kind of way”— 5-Star Reviewer
  • "Simply put, this is a great Noir-style Mystery set in 1940's Seattle." — Matthew Arnold, Author, Fan, and Amazon Reviewer
  • "Excitement and Suspense like no other. This is a book you cannot put down — a fascinating look at crime, law enforcement, family loyalty, and a spellbound journey of rich characters and powerful events."— Maris V. Catalano, Amazon Reviewer
  • "Absolutely one of the finest murder mysteries I have read in a long, long time. I could not put the book down once I started to read." — James C. Geiser, Amazon Reviewer