• 5 Star Reads
  • Audiobooks
  • Books on Screen
  • Children’s Books
  • Christian
  • Fiction
  • Giveaways

5 Minutes For Books

  • Home
  • About
    • Who Are We? Reviewer Bios
    • 5 Star Reads
    • Disclosure
    • Privacy Policy
    • About Us
  • Join In
    • 5 Minutes for Books Bookclub
    • Children’s Classics
    • Kids’ Picks
    • What’s on Your Nightstand
  • Link To Us
  • Contact
    • Advertise

The Night Watchman

June 3, 2009 by Melissa

Ray Quinn is a cop who’s lost it all…his health, his job, and the woman he loves. Nearly a year after the ambush that wounded him and killed his partner, Ray finds himself reduced to being a night watchman at a condo unit in Orlando. His nights are spent with an overeager co-worker and sudoku puzzles. His days are filled with John Wayne and Jim Beam.

When he discovers two dead bodies in one of his condos, Ray’s bitterness and self-pity stifle his curiosity. It didn’t happen on his watch, and he’s got better things to do than worry about an apparent murder-suicide involving a pastor and a prostitute. Then the pastor’s sister seeks Ray’s help. He reluctantly gives in, unaware that the search for a killer will shake the Orlando Police Department and the truth he thought he knew.

In The Night Watchman (Ray Quinn Series, Book 1), author Mark Mynheir introduces us to the gruff and wry Ray Quinn. Before his shooting, Ray had been a well-respected (though not well-liked) homicide detective. His break-the-rules, solve-the-crime attitude won him few friends, but got the job done. He’s tenacious and clever, and oddly likeable.

While the crimes aren’t original, Mynheir offers us an authentic protagonist in Ray Quinn. Justice is served, but at a price. Through it all, Ray resists God and tries to come to grips with his new reality. There is no great awakening or tidy ending, leaving room for the next book in the series.

For those who enjoy crime fiction, The Night Watchman is a welcome and clean read.

Melissa has been captivated by books for as long as she can remember. She resides in Virginia and blogs at Breath of Life

Filed Under: Christian, Fiction, Melissa, Mystery/Suspense

« Choose Your Own Adventure series
The Chosen One »

Comments

  1. hopeinbrazil says

    June 6, 2009 at 6:28 am

    World magazine recommended this book too. Sounds fascinating yet maybe a bit gritty for me.

Connect with us

  • Facebook
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter

Welcome to 5 Minutes for Books. We are a team blog dedicated to sharing reviews and information about children's lit, fiction, memoir, and more. Read More…

Reviews

5 Minutes for Books

Jennifer Donovan
Managing Editor

MEET OUR TEAM



Connect With Us


Pinterest

Community

Cybils Logo Draft 3

Disclosure:

Find out about our relationships with publishers and affiliate networks in our full disclosure statement.

Recent Posts

  • After Pearl
  • Vera Wong’s Guide to Snooping (on a Dead Man)
  • I Can’t Get No Satisfaction
  • You are Fatally Invited
  • Murder on the Steel Pier–SHOWCASE

Categories

Privacy Policy    |     Disclosure Policy
Terms & Conditions
© 5 Minutes for Mom

Let’s Socialize

  • Facebook
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter

Pinterest is Our FAVORITE!

Find and Follow Us at
pinterest.com/5min4books

Copyright © 2025 · Tasteful theme by Restored 316