A Book Review by Kajori: “Do Nothing” by Miguel Angel Hernandez Jr.

Do Nothing is the first book in Miguel Angel Hernandez Jr’s The Griffin Knight Series. It follows Detective Griffin Knight as he does his best to catch an unbeatable serial killer. It is the recipient of the BREW Book Excellence Award 2023 – Novella and the BREW Seal of Excellence.

Review

Murder, mystery, and mayhem. If you are interested in any of this, you should definitely get your hands on Miguel Angel Hernandez Jr’s Do Nothing. The first book in The Griffin Knight Series, Do Nothing follows our relentless detective, Griffin Knight, as he does his best to solve a seemingly unsolvable case. The story starts off with the brutal murder of District Attorney Natalie Rosalie Costa. Her mutilated boy is found in her upscale Manhattan penthouse apartment. For all intents and purposes, she was a hardworking and honest person working for the law. Naturally, her death does not sit well with the investigators. Griffin Knight is assigned as the lead detective of the case. He takes it upon himself to solve the murder at any cost. Yet, things are not easy for him. The only lead he has leads him to a serial killer whose last victim was found a decade ago. The MO of Natalie’s murder matches the Judge’s gruesome methods perfectly. However, there is nothing to link him to Costa. Moreover, nobody knows the identity of Judge, the serial killer who vanished ten years ago. 

How is Judge connected to Natalie’s murder? Is a serial killer out on the loose? If yes, will Griffin Knight be able to catch him before more lives are lost? What about Natalie Costa? Will Griffin be able to find her murderer? 

Do Nothing is Miguel Angel Hernandez Jr’s debut novel. However, it is so well-written that you would never be able to guess it if you are not aware of it. Divided into fifteen chapters, the book takes us on a gripping journey wherein we are all fired up to catch the elusive killer. Miguel Angel Hernandez Jr. is an excellent wordsmith. The way he paints the beauty of the Manhattan skyline is amazing. From the glitz and glamor of upscale New York to the grittiness of the docks and warehouses, Hernandez brings to us all. He seamlessly switches perspectives in every chapter. This way, we, as the readers, are able to get in the heads of all the different characters. We not only get the point-of-view of Griffin Knight but also get to know the thought processes of the victim, Natalie, and the serial killer himself. All the characters have distinct voices. So, there is never a question of being baffled. The book is well-edited to boot. 

Miguel Angel Hernandez Jr. is an amazing creator of characters as well. Griffin Knight is a no-nonsense cop who is dedicated to his cases. Once he gets his hands on a case, he gives it his all to solve it. I could literally imagine a leather jacket-clad James Dean playing Knight. Though Kalyx had a small role to play in the story, her presence was felt. She seemed to be a brilliant hacker who any detective would love to have in their corner. Dean Mackintosh was a man who came out stronger after all the hardships life threw at him. I loved the way Knight supported him in his decision about his love interest. Knight was not judgemental. In very few words, he gave him some valuable advice that we all can use. I have to mention Hubert Tran, Dean’s boss, here. I enjoyed his easy banter with Knight. Hernandez’s references to pop culture make the story all the more relatable. 

Do Nothing is an action-packed novella. Miguel Angel Hernandez Jr. writes quite a number of amazing fight scenes. The serial killer’s run-in with Matt Dennigson and his final confrontation with Griffin Knight gave me the chills. 
With his very first novella, Miguel Angel Hernandez Jr. proves himself to be an author of immense caliber. I highly recommend Do Nothing to fans of murder mysteries, thrillers, and suspense novels. I can’t wait to get my hands on the second book of the series, A Colossal Injustice.

Book Details

• Title: Do Nothing
• Author: Miguel Angel Hernandez Jr.
• Genre: Suspense Novella
• Theme: Suspense, Mystery
• Publication Date: September 6, 2022
• ISBN or ASIN: B0BDJ8LZY8 / B0BW6M2TKH
• Number of Pages:
• Minimum Audience Age: 12

Book Themes

(Note: 0=none, 1=a few, 2=considerable, 3=pronounced, 4=excessive)

• Sexual themes: 0
• Religious themes: 0
• Violence, self-harm, etc.: 2
• Crude language, expletives, swearing, etc.: 1
• Other adult themes: 1

Rating

• Content: 5 stars
• Writing Style: 5 stars
• Appeal to Target Audience: 5 stars
• Uniqueness: 5 stars
• Editing: 5 stars
• Other factors: 5 stars
• Overall: 5 out of 5

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