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From the Author
In the News
11/11/2008 - Charlie Patton, Florida Times-Union
On April 1, 1967, Bruce Thomason, a college student, went to work as a dispatcher for the police department in his hometown of Beaumont, Texas.
At the end of his shift, he went home with a massive headache but a desire to make law enforcement his career.
Today, after 41 years as a cop, the last 17 as chief of police in Jacksonville Beach, the 62-year-old has found a new pursuit he loves as much as police work.
Thomason's first novel, Body Toll, is the story of a police hunt for a serial killer in Jacksonville Beach and was published early last month.
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11/7/2008 - Amy Tortolani, CBS47 News
TV Reporter Amy Tortolani of CBS47 News recently interviewed Body Toll author and Police Chief Bruce Thomason about his new novel, a murder mystery set in Jacksonville Beach.
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10/18/2008 - Jacksonville Beach police chief pens crime novel JOHNNY WOODHOUSE, The Beaches Leader
Bruce Thomason draws on his more than 40 years as a lawman in his debut crime novel, “Body Toll,” released recently by High-Pitched Hum Publishing. A remorseless serial killer is roaming the Sunshine State carving up homeless people and prostitutes to meet “his twisted justification for purging the weak from the human herd,” and Det. Sgt. Clay Randall has caught the redball case. Randall and his homicide team are in a rush to catch the knife-welding killer after bodies start dropping in Jacksonville Beach.
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Praise
My daughter Jo Anne gave me a gift copy of your novel that you signed for me. I can't help but wonder why you have not hit the bestseller's list with this one.
Exciting, interesting, suspenseful, intriguing, it kept my attention throughout. Not a slow yawner paragraph in it. Your technique is right on.
Good luck and write another. I'm waiting for it..
- Mike Bustamante For a first attempt in writing a thriller, I give you a lot of credit. I think you should feel proud.
I hated to put the book down, and I guess you could call it a real "page turner." It did keep my attention, and I found myself loathing some of the police guys with whom Randall had to work.
Looking forward to your second book.
Thank you for signing my FIRST EDITION.
- Estelle Chisholm I picked up your book 'cause I
thought it looked like the pier at Jacksonville Beach. You said it was and then told me what your book was about. I bought it. I am so glad I did. I liked the
characters, the story line and have been in most of the places you described. You made it feel as though the reader (me, a Jacksonville native) was there.
Thank you for a great book and I look forward to the next one. Keep up the good work!
- Rudi Holloway Bruce:
Thank you for autographing my book back in December. It is very much treasured. So far, the book has been not only in Florida, but also, Indiana, North Carolina, Maryland, Washington, DC. We have recommended it to many of our friends who I hope have purchased a copy.
For a personal review, I have read many cop novels in my time, but none, and I mean NONE, have the riveting and very descriptive story line of Body Toll. I found it to be immensely pleasing with the short chapters and the point to point events. From the beach to the backwoods, you make the reader feel as if he or she is actually right there in the middle of the action with Wilson, Randall, Cooper and others. Your description of the homeless is nothing less than superb as you describe the very real 'assumed' conditions which the homeless live under. (I think unless you have really been there, it is hard to get the feel.) I could go on and on, but I know you get the gist of this--I really liked the book. This would make a good case for a thriller movie.
- Bob Helms, PhD Finished Body Toll today - couldn't keep away from it. Liked the tension at various points - sort of a "hold your breath" moment. And it had several good twists . . . those "oh......" moments. Eagerly awaiting the sequel. Thanks for a good read. - Sue Quinlan Both Bob and I have finished the book. It was excellent. I made the mistake of starting it when I really didn’t have time to read anything. I ended up staying up late last night to finish it.
We are hoping that Bruce will continue writing stories with the same key characters – just new crimes to solve. I will be recommending this book to others and will definitely buy any future book that Bruce writes.
- Cindy Helms I finished the book about two weeks ago and couldn't put it down from the first page until the end. Great suspense novel that kept me guessing until the end. Being a native of Jacksonville, it was great to read about places that I am actually familiar with. I will be anxiously waiting for your next book.
- Lisa Sweat My dad loved the book!!! Definitely one of the better books he has read, and he has read a lot!! He usually reads James Patterson, Patricia Cornwall, or anything involving crime. This book really impressed him.
- Denise Berger I just finished reading the book and it was GREAT. I liked how it didn’t jump around from subject to subject. It was extremely hard to put down. LOVED IT. When can we expect the next one?
- Tabatha Richard 12/29/08: We met while you were having hand surgery. We had a great
conversation regarding your book, which you sold me on.
I just wanted to convey to you just how much I am enjoying the book. I can't put it down. You're very, very descriptive, that's why I am enjoying it so much......01/13/09: Just finished the book and may I just say.......... OMG!! As soon as I read a certain part, my own anxiety began to build and my hands began to tremble. Thank you so much. I love to feel all the emotions when I read a really good book.
I'm already eager for the the next one (so please hurry). I'm telling others about it and where they can get a copy; not sure I want to share my copy. After all it's signed by the author.
You're truly a talented writer and have earned a dedicated fan/admirer. Thank you so much for writing such an excellent novel.
- Laura O'Neill, RN WOW!!! It was great! Captivating characters, intrigue, suspense, twists and turns. It made the characters seem real, and the story gave a great insight into police work. I couldn’t put it down. I think Chief Thomason has truly found his second calling. I just hope he doesn’t retire from JBPD anytime soon.- Randy Greene I finished the book! OMG! I was very surprised at the end. I am going to go back to the beginning and hit some highlights to see how I missed figuring out the killer's identity. What a twist!- Sheri Burns Body Toll is a thrill ride all the way to the very last page! Thomason's portrayal of real life characters allows their individual personalities to develop seamlessly throughout the entire book. And, just when you think Thomason is done, he skillfully adds an O. Henry twist, guaranteed to keep you riveted all the way through the book until the very last page.
Thomason found his life's first calling in police work at an early age, and he has no doubt tapped into a second calling with his writing. If his first novel is indicative of his literary talents, he is clearly destined for greatness, and reading aficionados will eagerly look forward to his future literary contributions!
- Becky Thomas This novel is very interesting and quite good. I was particularly drawn by the author’s attention to making the characters real in the reader's mind. This made me want to read on, and I did not want to put it down. Having worked as a law enforcement officer for 36 years myself, I found that the storyline is representative of the events and activities occurring in real world police agencies. You will thoroughly enjoy the ride it takes you on.- Billy Carlyle Bruce Thomason is an excellent writer. I would compare him to John Grisham in the way he writes, and I especially enjoyed all the local references to the story line. You really feel like you are right there! I really enjoyed reading the book!- Barbara Harris Bruce Thomason skillfully opens a Pandora’s Box of intrigue and insanity in the pages of his thrilling novel, Body Toll. He throws the reader into the mind of a brilliant and sophisticated serial killer, a man who preys on the weak and uses the beautiful Florida beaches as his stage of blood, revenge and horror. Buckle up and prepare to meet good cops, bad cops and pure evil. Body Toll has it all.- G. W. Reynolds III, Author, Educator A great, fast paced yarn that faithfully portays life within a cop shop while realistically portraying people we care about (first responders)and the people we love to hate (the bad guys). The story is a fast moving page-turner with believable characters in real life situations. This is written by a guy who not only talks the talk but who has walked the walk making it worth your time and money. - Richard A. "Dick" Stratton Hi Chief,
Great book. Thanks for writing it. I will keep an eye out for future suspects and report back to you accordingly.
Body Toll sets the scene in the first paragraph and holds the reader in suspense for the entire ride! An in your face murder thriller that enters a killer's mind and extols police officers' efforts to track down the serial killer and keep the beach a safe, fun place to visit. - John Hull OH MY GOSH! I LOVED YOUR BOOK!
Body Toll is an exhilarating cop thriller that includes sex, murder, rape, revenge, and a touch of romance. Each chapter leaves you hastily turning pages to get to the next one. The local scenery, detailed to the "T", provides for an outstanding backdrop to the storyline. Body Toll will have you captured from the prologue until you read the words “The End.” …And it will leave you wanting more! I think I am going to read it again to see if I can catch some clues I missed during the first read! Thank you for sharing this with all of us! It was a great book! - Erin Citrullo Wow,I couldn't put the book down. I couldn't read fast enough. I don't remember when I've sat still that long in years. Hurry and write your next one because I need a rest. - Jan Naples Thoroughly enjoyed reading the prologue available online. Can't wait to read
the rest of the book. It definitely grabs and keeps the reader's interest.
It's interesting to see the police chief author write from inside a killer's
head--e.g. the portion about the thrill of killing, "By adhering to
society's rules, they deprived themselves of the most intense emotions and
pleasures a human being could ever feel." Definitely makes you want to keep
reading. It reads like a great mystery, and it's extra fun to spot the local
settings, such as the beach walkovers. It's very easy to visualize the scene
because you describe it so well.
I'm betting anyone who reads the book will give up late night strolls on the
beach.
Good luck and best wishes. Hope your book is well received--it deserves an
appreciative audience. (Senior Editor, The Beaches Leader)
- Kathleen Feindt Bailey Body Toll is an intriguing crime drama entwined with the local lore of Jacksonville Beach, Florida. The characters immediately draw the reader into the conflicting and political world of law enforcement and into the intricate stories of their lives. The book favorably rivals stories written by James Patterson and G.W. Reynolds; Body Toll is Alex Cross meets Jetty Man.- Jennifer Zdunkiewicz Body Toll shows the reader the gritty, humorous and sexy sides of police work. It is written by a cop with insight gained from being there. Join those of us who have experienced this tale and find out what it's really like.- Pete Mittleman
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