Gritty, fast-paced, and relentlessly tense - that is what Dead Safe is.

Dead Safe is a razor-sharp, adrenaline-fueled thriller that drops you straight into the bloody aftermath of a heist gone horribly wrong—and never lets up. If you like your mysteries hard-boiled, your villains ruthless, and your detectives walking the razor's edge, this one will keep your pulse racing from the first brutal scene to the explosive finale.

The premise is gripping: millions in cartel cash disappear, and the bodies begin piling up starting with a vault owner in Beverly Hills and his entire family. What looks like a hit quickly spirals into something even darker, as Detective Casey Stafford and his unflinching partner Banchet Suwan find themselves tracing a trail of calculated carnage. Each chapter adds another layer of intensity, especially as YouTube influencers get swept up in the violence, tortured and eliminated one by one. It’s chilling, timely, and disturbingly plausible.

Dead Safe earns high marks for its intensity, tight plotting, and thriller-noir style. It’s a hard-hitting, high-stakes cat-and-mouse story that feels like a cinematic crime drama—taut, tense, and vividly constructed.

The book opens with a robbery from a safe in Beverly Hills and leads to a series of murders of different people. You follow along with the criminals and the police who are looking for the people who committed the robbery. Casey Stafford and his partner Banchet Suwan are the main officers you are following along with. The story is fast-paced at times and has many different characters and storylines but the author does a good job in making everything work. This is an excellent book and very much worth the read.

Dead Safe opens like a high octane summer blockbuster. That’s not hyperbole. Seriously, as I was reading the opening chapter I completely envisioned it as the opening to an action/thriller. Definitely R-rated for it’s brutality. And I mean this as a compliment. Prior’s writing has real cinematic flare. What I didn’t know when I started reading the book, however, was that this was the second book in the Casey Stafford series. I’m happy to say this in no way hindered my enjoyed of the story…only made me interested in checking out that first book when I get a chance. Back to Dead Safe and the killer opening…which includes quite a bit of killing actually. The owner of a Beverly Hills storage vault and his family are brutally murdered at their home, only days after their vault had been robbed. Are the two incidents related and if so how? That’s what Detective Casey Stafford and his partner Banchet Suwan have to figure out, and quickly as the body count continues to rise. Great characters, strong action, and a smartly plotted and well-paced story made my introduction to George Prior’s work an absolute pleasure. Glad to see we have a strong new voice in crime fiction. I’d like to thank BooksGoSocial and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review an eARC of Dead Safe.

https://www.amazon.com/review/RHKX5SFS86WPL/ref=pe_123899240_1043597390_SRTC0204BT_cm_rv_eml_rv0_rv

I received a free digital copy of “ Dead Safe” through Net Galley in return for an honest review.

George Prior has given readers a crime novel for the drug-addled, image- obsessed, money focused tic- tock age in which we live. The action takes place in the focus of the weird - sunny Southern California, a place where nothing good has ever happened, to paraphrase the last words of “ Chinatown”.
“ Dead Safe” begins like a police procedural crime story. A group of thugs, using sophisticated tech equipment bypass the security to a gated house in the Valley where they proceed to terrorize the family inside. It seems the man of the house , was the owner of a private safe deposit business ( hence the title of the book) where certain drug lords, and other shady types had stashed millions in cash. The Narco- boss employers of the thugs wanted reimbursement for their loss and identification of the thieves so they could straighten them out- , permanently. They terrorize, then shoot everyone in the family , leaving them behind on the house’s blood soaked rugs. But not everyone in the family was dead. A daughter survived a brutal rape and, though badly wounded managed to stagger down to the next house where she begged the resident to call 911. The survivor is hospitalized, but she as a living witness, she is a threat. This reads like a set up for a good cop novel. But,IMO, the book goes down from here.
You get some idea of what’s to come when one of the cops arrives at the his Maserati , wearing designer clothes and gold shades. Yeah, it’s Miami Vice time in Hollywood. The cops exchange cop humor and witty bon mots before entering the house. Yes, I understand the “ concept” of police professionals’ graveyard humor to alleviate the horror., but dialogue is forced here and has the effect of reducing the tension of a horrifying crime scene. Why did the author turn his hero cop into a dude too hip to be shocked after writing ann opening scene designed to stun the reader’s sensibilities at cold blooded violence?
The police narrative swerves away to become entangled with ridiculous story of stoners who were looking to rob the same safe deposit vaults to finance their failing on- line influencing vids. Gangs of body tattooed Salvadoran killers, slick financial manipulators and people acting out what they have watched on too many hours of bad tv populate the book. These guys are geniuses who are Dumb and Dumber. I was not sure if this story line was for comic relief, but it turned me off. The more I read , the less I liked the book. What started out as a serious crime novel became farcical, and not in a good way. Unlikable, un relatable characters in a plot rambling off the rails did not connect with this reader.
Sad to say, “Dead Safe” got too un- serious for me. I was looking for a main-stream crime novel, this was definitely not that.
This is only one person’s opinion. Read it for yourself.

This book has a very good plot and great characters, and it's entertaining enough if you are patient enough to read all the unnecessary descriptions. The language itself is good, it's just too much of it. And why specify guns when you don't know them?

Thank you to NetGalley for a review copy of this book.

Overall, I enjoyed reading this book. While there are some pacing issues at the beginning, when it gets up to speed, things tick by nicely. It may be a bit cliched at times, but that's what the cliches are for.

More of a police procedural thriller than a mystery novel, the reader sees both the point of view of the detectives and the killers. It makes for a better grasp of things, although some readers may be put off by it.

It's definitely not a book for those who are put off by descriptions of violence as there are many killings taking place in the book and while they aren't overly graphic in their descriptions, it may unnerve some.

One thing that may be a negative is that there are just so many characters in the book. While the majority focuses on one detective, the sheer number of people he interacts with and who all have a part to play is high. I sometimes found myself wondering just who was who and what role they had in the bigger picture. Dialogue is also written inconsistently, sometimes with a colon (as in a script) and sometimes using quotation marks. This is more apparent at the beginning of the novel but it does creep up at times in the latter parts.

It's definitely a book of the modern era - with multiple references to social media stars, AI, VPNs and similar technology. Shouldn't date things too much but I'm not really a fan of these overt references.

Still, I enjoyed this one and will recommend it. Not a five star classic, but a good book to get into that once past the start, was difficult to put down.

This is the second Casey Stafford novel, an LA set series of police procedural novel, which read like a bloodier modern version of the Bosch series. Prior is conversant in the modern LA world of Tik Tokers and influencers, and the Stafford character deals with the hyper violent aftermath of a crooked storage vault heist. I was a big fan of 78 Degrees and Bloody the first novel in this series, and this one works well too. Sort of Den of Thieves if someone was wiping out Mr. Beast and his friends.

I didn't like this book, unfortunately, I had to dnf it too.
1. There are way too many characters' POVs to keep track of. Everyone who's anyone in the book is giving their pov.
2. I don't like the author's style of writing. This is a murder case and it's supposed to be thrilling, but it's not because the murderers shared their pov as they were committing the acts. I already know who, why, when and where. Why would I want to read the police struggle through solving the case?

It's just not my favorite book

If you like your detective novel full of action and dark humor then this your read. Action packed from start to finish. Hope Mr Prior keeps this series going. Looking forward to
next book. Thanks to net galley and publisher for this digital arc

The only problem with stealing millions in drug money? Being tortured and killed by the cartel you stole from. The owner of a Beverly Hills private storage vault is brutally murdered, along with his family, and it looks like a cartel-style killing. Detective Casey Stafford and his partner Banchet Suwan investigate and discover that the victim’s storage vault business was recently burglarized: Are the killers looking for their stolen money, revenge on the thieves, or both?! Great read! Some brutal murders! Fantastic storyline! Great characters! It had great suspense, mystery, intrigue, action, and some crazy twists! I definitely recommend reading this book! Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for sharing this book with me!

A fantastic book! I picked it up and finished it in three days. I enjoy discovering great, new authors and am looking forward to reading more by the Prior.

Netgalley have only provided a preview of this book. What I read was fine but I’ll leave a full review if you provide me with the full book.

Dead Safe pulls readers into a shadowy underworld where violence, deception, and law enforcement collide. With its atmospheric settings, complex characters, and sharp dialogue, this story promises to keep fans of gritty crime thrillers hooked.

The opening chapters effectively set the tone, introducing a cast of morally ambiguous characters like Ravian and Felan, whose actions ooze menace. The stark contrast between their calculated brutality and the chaos of their victims' lives underscores the stakes of the narrative. Similarly, Detective Casey Stafford provides a relatable anchor, offering a glimpse into the procedural side of the story. His blend of professionalism and personal struggles makes him a compelling character to follow.

However, the graphic nature of certain scenes, particularly the violence involving Lois and her family, might polarize readers. While these moments effectively convey the dangers and stakes, the explicitness may overwhelm some audiences. A touch more subtlety could make these scenes just as impactful without alienating sensitive readers.

The pacing, while slow in the beginning, builds tension and allows for detailed world-building. Yet, there’s room to streamline certain descriptions and move more quickly to key events. Doing so would heighten the suspense and better capture readers’ attention early on.

Despite relying on some familiar crime thriller tropes—corrupt business dealings, ruthless enforcers, and traumatized survivors—the narrative shows potential for twists that could set it apart. The inclusion of a private vault heist and its repercussions adds a unique layer of intrigue.

Overall, Dead Safe is a solid crime thriller that balances suspense, drama, and moral complexity. With tighter pacing, nuanced character development, and a touch more restraint in its graphic content, it has the makings of a standout read in its genre. Recommended for fans of dark, atmospheric stories that explore the blurred lines between justice and revenge.

Strengths:
Engaging Premise: The story dives into a gritty and tense world of organized crime, suspense, and law enforcement. It holds a strong appeal for fans of noir and crime thrillers.
Atmosphere and Tone: The writing successfully creates a dark, atmospheric tone. The vivid descriptions of settings—whether the soccer fields, the Santa Monica mountains, or the crime scenes—pull the reader into a visceral, shadowy world.
Dialogue and Character Dynamics: The dialogue between characters feels realistic, sharp, and engaging. It effectively reveals their personalities and builds tension.
Areas of Improvement:
Over-Descriptive: While detail can immerse readers, there are moments when descriptions feel overly elaborate, slowing down the narrative pace. For instance, the breakdown of cars, attire, or minor environmental observations could be trimmed without losing impact.
Pacing: The story's opening scenes establish suspense but move slower than expected for a thriller. The detailed setup with characters like Ravian and Urban Lenz could be condensed to reach pivotal moments faster.
Predictability in Tropes: While the crime thriller genre often leans into familiar tropes, elements such as organized crime dynamics, "dirty cops," and a traumatized survivor might come across as overly familiar without unique twists.
Graphic Content: The vivid portrayal of violence, particularly in scenes involving Lois and her family, is deeply unsettling. While impactful, it might alienate readers who prefer subtlety or less graphic content. Consider balancing the brutality with moments of introspection or hope.
Rating:
Plot: 8/10 – Intriguing and layered, but could benefit from a fresh twist to stand out in the genre.
Characters: 7/10 – Well-drawn but somewhat trope-heavy. More depth in their motivations and nuances could elevate them.
Writing Style: 7/10 – Atmospheric and descriptive but occasionally verbose. Tightening prose would enhance the story's impact.
Pacing: 6/10 – Slow start; faster progression to key events would hook readers more effectively.
Overall: 7/10
"Dead Safe" has the potential to be a gripping crime thriller. By focusing on tightening the pacing, adding unique twists to the genre, and balancing graphic content with nuanced storytelling, it could stand out as a memorable read.