Rob's Books

“Kiss Her Goodbye is a smashing good read. It moves at such a breakneck pace that you'll scarcely have time to take a breath.”
—Tess Gerritsen, New York Times bestselling author of The Mephisto Club

"Kiss Her Goodbye is an outstanding read. A taut, edgy thriller that plumbs all the shades of gray between black and white, and all the terrifying places between life and death. Get comfortable. And get ready for one hell of a ride."
—Kay Hooper, New York Times bestselling author of Blood Dreams

"This is a metaphysical jump-start of a debut novel... Not to be missed." —Independent on Sunday (UK)

In a gripping thriller that matches one cop’s love for his only daughter against the diabolical cunning of a charismatic madman, debut novelist Robert Gregory Browne announces his presence in territory long ruled by the likes of Dean Koontz and John Sandford

ATF Agent Jack Donovan has two ambitions: take down cult leader Alex Gunderson after years of violent mayhem, and reconnect with his daughter Jessie, who has somehow managed to slip from his life. But, none of Jack's experience as a stellar cop or an absent father has prepared him for the unthinkable way these two parts of his life are about to collide.

In a desperate act of revenge, Gunderson kidnaps Jessie and buries her alive. But just as Jack’s team is closing in, fate intervenes in the form of a bullet and the secret to Jessie’s location is lost. With only a few precious hours of oxygen to sustain her, and with not a single clue pointing in her direction, Jessie is sure to die—unless Jack can somehow find her. Jack would trade anything in the world for just one shot to save his little girl—even his own life.

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When a violent and incoherent naked Jane Doe is found cowering in the street near the scene of a brutal murder, a pair of bloody scissors in hand, Detective Frank Blackburn is faced with a tough question: is she a victim or the killer herself?

Determined to get some answers, Blackburn takes the young woman to the Baycliff Hospital detention unit, to renowned psychiatrist Michael Tolan, in the hope that he will work his magic and get her to open up. But Tolan has problems of his own. One year ago today his beloved wife Abby was brutally slain by a savage serial killer named Van Gogh. And just this morning Vincent himself called Tolan, claiming his innocence, claiming he didn't kill Abby at all. He's convinced, however, that the young doctor did and promises to make him pay.

Could Van Gogh be right? Could Tolan have killed his own wife? Soon Blackburn is convinced that the murder he's investigating, the mysterious witness and the death of Abby Tolan are all somehow connected. And, above all, Jane Doe is desperately trying to communicate with the world to expose the real killer's identity -- a killer who is equally desperate ...and about to kill again.

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KILLER YEAR: Stories to Die For (Jan. 2008)

"Bottom Deal by Robert Gregory Browne [is] lean and taut, expertly crafted in the good old hard-boiled tradition."
—Kirkus

"Browne's Bottom Deal features a PI that would be at home in a lineup with Spade and Marlowe." —Publisher's Weekly

Killer Year is a group of 13 debut crime/mystery/suspense authors whose books were published in 2007. The graduating class includes such rising stars as Robert Gregory Browne, Toni McGee Causey, Marcus Sakey, Derek Nikitas, Marc Lecard, JT Ellison, Brett Battles, Jason Pinter, Bill Cameron, Sean Chercover, Patry Francis, Gregg Olsen, and David White.

Each of the short stories displaying their talents are introduced by their Killer Year mentors, some of which include bestselling authors Lee Child, Tess Gerritsen and Jeffrey Deaver, with additional stories by Ken Bruen, Allison Brennan and Duane Swierczynski. Bestselling authors Laura Lippman and MJ Rose contribute insightful essays.

Inside you'll read about a small time crook in over his head, a story told backwards with a heroine not to be messed with, a tale of boys and the trouble they will get into over a girl, and many more stories of the highest caliber in murder, mayhem, and sheer entertainment. This amazing anthology, edited by the grandmaster Lee Child, is sure to garner lots of attention and keep readers coming back for more.

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PRAISE FOR ROB AND KISS HER GOODBYE

“This debut novel by a successful screenwriter is a fast-paced thriller that you will want to devour in one sitting. Edgy suspense mixed with a touch of the supernatural keeps pushing the reader forward. ‘Kiss Her Goodbye’ makes us hope that Browne is hard at work on his next novel. This is a writer whose name will soon be a household word.”
—Bookfinds.com

“A cracking debut…This is a fast-paced action thriller that is as exciting as GM Ford and Michael Connelly… The action doesn’t let up for a second and keeps going right up until the final page. It isn’t easy to do this sort of fiction well but Browne succeeds in combining a tight plot with engaging characters and a tense finale that will delight all diehard crime fans.”
—Kate Bradley, BCA

“Robert Gregory Browne is an outstanding pulp prose stylist…”
—Jeremy Jehu, Telegraph UK

“Kiss Her Goodbye is part mystery, part soul journey and completely surprising. …Browne sketches out depth and breathes a hint of life into the enmity between these two determined men, both fighting for the people they love. What could have descended to a New Age caricature skims the surface of a very profound scrutiny of the heart, touching on the lengths to which love fuels desire and hope. …Browne’s tale rockets to warp speed after the first third of the book, ending with a surprising jolt.”
—Authorlink

“Kiss Her Goodbye is a well-written thriller, with all that one has come to expect from the genre. Browne does bring a new wrinkle to things: when Donovan goes off a bridge and almost dies, he meets Gunderson in the after-life and they somehow form a bond that Gunderson controls. This device enables Browne to do some very interesting things in terms of plot, motivation, and tension-building.”
—Crimespree

“All the elements of a terrific novel are here—a compelling, three-dimensional hero, a brilliant and evil villain, high stakes, a ticking clock, real emotion and Browne’s visceral writing style. Browne also does some fancy footwork in incorporating his twists—they twist about where you would expect them to in a thriller, but they twist in decidedly unexpected ways. It all comes together well to make for a strong, striking debut thriller.”
—Mark Terry

“Kiss Her Goodbye delivers with nonstop pacing, breathless prose, and page-turning urgency. Provocative and edgy, this book is sure to be the thriller of the year and Robert Gregory Browne the next big thing in heart-stopping fiction.”
—Kathy Mackel, author of The Hidden

“From rich characters to heart-pounding suspense, Kiss Her Goodbye explores not only the deadly terrain of murder but the nuances of the soul. It’s a first-rate novel that will glue you to your chair until you finish the last satisfying word.”
—Gayle Lynds, author of The Last Spymaster

“Kiss Her Goodbye is a taut, absorbing page-turner. Robert Gregory Browne makes his mark with a compelling thriller filled with twists and surprises. A writer to watch!”
—Carla Neggers, author of The Widow

“Provocative violence, a colorful Chicago background and a dollop of the supernatural lift Browne’s debut thriller… breathtaking pace.”
—Publisher’s Weekly

“[A] cat-and-mouse game between two desperate men… a nerve-wracking race against time…”
—KIRKUS

“The writing is wonderful. …Donovan is a strong man, tested to his limits. Gunderson is just as strong, a worthy opponent. Browne has the pacing down, the tensions down, all the twists and turns one expects from a good thriller.”
—PJ Coldren, ReviewingtheEvidence.com

“[An] adrenalin pumping thriller”
—Midwest Book Review

“Screenwriter Robert Gregory Browne knows one of the first rules of creating a compelling plot: The characters have to want something–and want it badly. … The plot takes some suspenseful and sinister turns, as Gunderson kidnaps Jessie and buries her alive, drawing Donovan into a tense race against time to rescue her. But what seems like an eye for an eye isn’t entirely so simple, and the novel’s early references to Chinese philosophy soon become central to increasingly mystical elements, including life beyond death and the transmigration of souls.”
—Mystery Scene Magazine

Recommended Thriller. “ATF agent Jack Donovan is on the hunt for Alexander Gunderson, a ruthless, charismatic arms smuggler. Gunderson, who leads a rag-tag band of malcontents bent on changing the world, vows revenge when a bank robbery gone wrong puts his soul mate in a vegetative state. Provocative and gritty, this colorful story is set in Chicago.”
—Tucson Citizen

“A classic ‘race against time’ thriller told with the originality of a very different perspective…”
—Crimesquad.com

“Part-Thomas Harris, part-Dante’s “Inferno.”
—Tampa Tribune