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Charlie Cochet
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Hell & High Water (THIRDS Book 1) Kindle Edition

by Charlie Cochet (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.5 out of 5 stars 2,742 ratings
Action. Comedy. Romance. And that one weird guy.When homicide detective Dexter J. Daley's testimony helps send his partner away for murder, the consequences - and the media frenzy - aren't far behind. He soon finds himself sans boyfriend, sans friends, and, after an unpleasant encounter in a parking garage after the trial, he's lucky he doesn't find himself sans teeth. Dex fears he'll get transferred from the Human Police Force's Sixth Precinct, or worse, get dismissed. Instead, his adoptive father - a sergeant at the Therian-Human Intelligence Recon Defense Squadron otherwise known as the THIRDS - pulls a few strings, and Dex gets recruited as a Defense Agent.Dex is determined to get his life back on track and eager to get started in his new job. But his first meeting with Team Leader Sloane Brodie, who also happens to be his new jaguar Therian partner, turns disastrous. When the team is called to investigate the murders of three HumaniTherian activists, it soon becomes clear to Dex that getting his partner and the rest of the tightknit team to accept him will be a lot harder than catching the killer - and every bit as dangerous.
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  1. Book 1 of 10
    THIRDS
  2. Print length
    358 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Accessibility
    Learn more
  5. Publication date
    October 24, 2019
  6. File size
    1.6 MB
  7. Page Flip
    Enabled
  8. Word Wise
    Enabled
  9. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
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Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B07Z2XV3YF
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Charlie Cochet
  • Accessibility ‏ : ‎ Learn more
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ October 24, 2019
  • Edition ‏ : ‎ 2nd
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 1.6 MB
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 358 pages
  • Page Flip ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Book 1 of 10 ‏ : ‎ THIRDS
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.5 out of 5 stars 2,742 ratings

About the author

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Charlie Cochet

Charlie Cochet

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Step into a world of romance, humor, and heart-pounding action with Charlie Cochet, the international bestselling author behind the captivating THIRDS series. Embrace a fusion of Cuban flair and American charm as you dive into her stories with unforgettable characters and a dash of delightful mayhem.

Fueled by a love for classic rock and Cuban lattes, Charlie resides in Central Florida with her rascally Doxiepoo and a very opinionated German Shepherd. When she isn’t writing, she’s losing herself in a whirlwind of books and movies.

Charlie’s stories will stir your imagination and ignite your passion. So grab your favorite coffee, turn up the music, and prepare for your next adventure.

Customer reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars
2,742 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book thoroughly entertaining with a fast-paced action storyline that draws them in immediately. They appreciate the well-developed characters, particularly the charismatic MCs, and enjoy the witty banter that diffuses serious situations with humor. The romance receives positive feedback, with one customer describing it as a fascinating m/m love story, and customers praise the writing quality, with one noting the remarkable line editing.

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135 customers mention "Storyline"132 positive3 negative

Customers enjoy the storyline of the book, finding it thoroughly entertaining with humor and suspense elements that draw readers in immediately.

"...under his, and everyone else's, skin almost immediately with a sick sense of humor, elaborate pranks and tenacious determination...." Read more

"...over the people at the THIRDS unit, partially bc he is charming and funny and actually intelligent, so a case that has the detectives stumped gets a..." Read more

"...There is a lot of action and suspense with this book that was just as good as the romance and entertainment value which were both extremely high...." Read more

"...A light-hearted, fun-loving guy, he immediately notices that the team he has been placed on is unraveling, and he makes it his mission to knit them..." Read more

109 customers mention "Character development"98 positive11 negative

Customers appreciate the character development in the book, particularly noting the charismatic MCs and the intertwine of support characters in the story.

"...me instantly with the internal dialogue of 'Dex', one of the most charismatic MCs I've come across in a long time...." Read more

"...I thought he did a really good job with this one. There are a lot of characters and he did a phenomenal job balancing them all." Read more

"...Hell & High Water contains fantastic world-building, a host of memorable characters, and a happily-for-now that ensures future books and continued..." Read more

"...Dex Daley is a wise ass but one very capable guy. He surprises a lot of people with just how capable and savvy he is...." Read more

100 customers mention "Readability"82 positive18 negative

Customers find the book an amazing and interesting read, with several mentioning they love the author, and one customer noting they are eager to read the following novels in the series.

"...I thought he did a really good job with this one. There are a lot of characters and he did a phenomenal job balancing them all." Read more

"...police/military men, drama, lurve and best of all a wise-cracking, fantastic, ball of sunshine MC called Dex and a broody, smouldering, alpha male..." Read more

"and i still absolutely love it. can not wait to read the whole series again and again. give it a read!" Read more

"...What a good choice. I enjoyed reading Hell & High Water and look forward to reading more in the Therian Human Intelligence, Recon,..." Read more

85 customers mention "Love of book"85 positive0 negative

Customers love this book, describing it as an amazing opening to a series and the best of the best.

"...Winner in 1. Hooked immediately from the first page on...." Read more

"...It was a simply an all-around GREAT book. And I need to note the narrator for the audiobook...." Read more

"...An excellent start to a series, I give it 5 full stars." Read more

"Liked this one from page one. Detective Dex Daley has testified against his partner sending him to jail...." Read more

76 customers mention "Romance"62 positive14 negative

Customers enjoy the romance in the book, appreciating the sexual tension and banter, with one customer describing it as a fascinating m/m love story.

"...else's, skin almost immediately with a sick sense of humor, elaborate pranks and tenacious determination...." Read more

"...So. Here’s the deal. It’s a sci-fi detective series with gay detectives, and they work in a group called the THIRDS, which is a combo Human and..." Read more

"...is a lot of action and suspense with this book that was just as good as the romance and entertainment value which were both extremely high...." Read more

"A similar world with an interesting twist, Hell & High Water walks you through the effects of chemical warfare on an unsuspecting society...." Read more

47 customers mention "Writing quality"39 positive8 negative

Customers praise the writing quality of the book, describing it as awesomely and well done, with one customer noting the remarkable line editing.

"...Hooked immediately from the first page on. This author's writing style grabbed me instantly with the internal dialogue of 'Dex', one of the most..." Read more

"...an entire new Srs to read, nine bks to go, and clearly I like the style of writing involved...." Read more

"...The writing was alright. The book wasn't filled with huge, glaring grammar or spelling errors which was nice. The story was easily understandable...." Read more

"...It is action packed and fast paced and it reads more like a novella than a novel...." Read more

38 customers mention "Wit"34 positive4 negative

Customers appreciate the book's wit, noting how the author diffuses serious situations with humor and maintains a snarky tone throughout.

"...All I can say is that this story had me in tears of laughter and chuckles to myself throughout. I must've looked goofy to anyone watching me...." Read more

"...A light-hearted, fun-loving guy, he immediately notices that the team he has been placed on is unraveling, and he makes it his mission to knit them..." Read more

"...book is funny, and it balances the heaviness of the plot with lighthearted banter, with Dex being a warm and caring guy, with people being jerks for..." Read more

"...is paranormal, it is suspenseful but not heavy, it has action, and silliness and good friendships...." Read more

24 customers mention "Pacing"24 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the pacing of the book, with its fast-paced action that moves at a great pace, and one customer mentions it keeps readers on the edge of their seat.

"...This didn’t bother me because the plot moved fast and though the bad guy is obvious to the reader, I don’t think that the MCs “missed” him or..." Read more

"...The romance is sudden but not instant, and it doesn't feel forced...." Read more

"...from the plot so I won't go into that too much, but the story moved at a great pace and I was never bored...." Read more

"...It is action packed and fast paced and it reads more like a novella than a novel...." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • M
    5.0 out of 5 stars Alpha Shifters in a Dystopian world with an 80s Retro-Radio twist
    Reviewed in the United States on December 30, 2014
    Verified Purchase
    First off, let me say the narration is top notch in this series. The only issue I had was with his Latina female accent (that was a little odd, being from south Florida like I am, it sounded nothing like any Latina woman I'd ever heard), but the rest of the voices were spectacular, and in my opinion top notch fits for the main AND supporting cast. Looking forward to the rest of the series with this same narrator most definitely.

    Winner in 1. Hooked immediately from the first page on. This author's writing style grabbed me instantly with the internal dialogue of 'Dex', one of the most charismatic MCs I've come across in a long time. I mean, someone that's into 80s Retro Radio, loves cheesy-doodles, and risks his life and limb to hold onto the last pack, just for principle. Gotta love him.

    Dexter Daley is full of immediate comebacks to big, giant dudes that are like three times his size! And is able to make people crack up even when it looks as if he's gonna be the underdog and have the crap beat out of him. He's a scrapper, and like the Energizer Bunny, nothing seems to keep him down.

    As for Sloan Brodie, well who wouldn't love a cuddle with a big, black scary Jaguar Therian 'pussy-cat' described as 'like a nut, tough on the outside with a gooey, chewy middle'? He is one scary guy, and makes it rough for Dex to be accepted in the team, but Dex gets under his, and everyone else's, skin almost immediately with a sick sense of humor, elaborate pranks and tenacious determination.

    All I can say is that this story had me in tears of laughter and chuckles to myself throughout. I must've looked goofy to anyone watching me. That is not to say that there was not a lot of serious stuff happening, with the issues that a broken team has to go through, and how or whether they ever will accept a new teammate in Dex. Especially Sloan, who lost even more than just a teammate previous to Dex joining the THIRDS.

    The chemistry between Dex and Sloan was hot, and surprised me that I didn't even realize there wasn't a lot of sex until the last 2/3rds of the story because the action and mystery aspect had me hooked. But when it happened? OMG. Sizzle-city.

    And the underlying suspense kept me on my toes throughout. Not an easy guess as to who's behind the murders and attacks. I think the original premise of how shifters came to be, and the mix of current day with dystopian reality would make this an excellent visual to see either in a TV series or the Big Screen. The first book may seem a bit on the long side, but the details really add to the visualization of the world that now exists, and are a great setup for the continuation of the rest of the series.

    FAIR warning: This IS A CLIFFHANGER, SO have the NEXT book at the READY!

    I have to give this first installment in the series a 9.5 out of 10. I personally loved, loved, loved it, and can't recommend it highly enough.
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  • Pamela Rosen
    4.0 out of 5 stars Bigotry is bad but sometimes the end results are pretty damn awesome!!
    Reviewed in the United States on October 4, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    Very excited. Have an entire new Srs to read, nine bks to go, and clearly I like the style of writing involved.

    I wasn’t thinking about NCIS ever while reading the book but prior to finding where I could write my comment, I saw somebody else’s comment, and they compared one of the main characters to Tony on NCIS. And, obviously (I wouldn’t mention this without a reason) now that I saw that I realized it’s true! Dex is indeed very much like Tony (who, I should probably mention, was far and away my favorite character on the show and I even stopped watching it after his departure in the 13th season [I don’t feel like a fair weather viewer; that would be someone who stopped watching after Kate died in season 2] but I’ve digressed to a remarkable degree.)

    So. Here’s the deal. It’s a sci-fi detective series with gay detectives, and they work in a group called the THIRDS, which is a combo Human and Therian investigative group that is supposed to make citizens feel less anxious about who’s controlling the streets, bc there is much Therian prejudice out there. In fact, especially considering what has been happening over these last few months, if you substituted “black” for Therian, the book wouldn’t be all that different. (Well, it WOULD in the sense that Therians are Shifters and can become frighteningly strong, etc., but I just meant it wouldn’t be different concerning all the prejudice against the group and certain activists that rise up to “take care of this issue”, etc.

    Dex is a human cop who has a fantastic record up until about a yr ago when his partner shot a 15 yr old Therian informant in the back. (This comes up in the first few pages, so I don’t believe it’s really spoiler material.) Dex, being a good cop, turns his partner in, and immediately becomes a pariah in the eyes of most of his fellow officers (which, I’ll just say, is pretty creepy, bc his partner did this without any provocation, the kid was unarmed, the kid was a kid, & I’d like to believe that more cops would turn in another cop if they saw them shoot somebody without immediate threat of death.)

    Sloan, the other MC, is a Therian who lost his partner when an informant turned on him, & it quickly becomes clear that they were more than just professional partners. (Again, this comes up in the very beginning of the book. Possibly in the blurb.) In any case, as a result, his detective unit doesn’t wish for anybody to fill in the gap where Gabe used to be.

    It’s clear where this is leading. Obviously, due to the flack over Dex turning in his partner and then testifying against him, he won’t be able to continue with the general human detectives, and THIRDS not only has an opening, but his father and brother both work there, so he has a one up on all other candidates who didn’t fill the space.

    It takes almost no time at all for Dex to win over the people at the THIRDS unit, partially bc he is charming and funny and actually intelligent, so a case that has the detectives stumped gets a boost from Dex the very first day. Also, upper management has been very nice about the grieving period for the team but it’s been at least a year (a couple of years?) I definitely feel I should know this, but in any case, they want this space filled. And while Sloan and Dex are really two different people, opposites attract, etc. etc.

    Of course, things aren’t as clear cut as all that. Sloan is still grieving at the end of book one. Dex happens to be a remarkably supportive, caring, and understanding person who doesn’t push so that isn’t a problem. Sloans bff Ash has a serious issue with Dex, whom he dislikes for various reasons, the first being that he can be a goofball and second, when it became clear to Dex that Ash was easy to annoy, it became one of his favorite pastimes. Dex’s brother (adopted brother) is both Therian and is in some sort of relationship with Ash, if only a good friendship.

    I took off a star because I knew who the killer was, I knew the motive, I knew a lot that I feel I shouldn’t have known so early on in the novel. I grew up with Agatha Christie and John Dickson Carr and one might think oh! She knew bc she’s read so many mysteries! But then again, I almost never guessed anything correctly in a Jeffrey Deaver Bk, or a John Sandford novel or any Karin Slaughter Bks or Elizabeth George or Richard North Patterson (I could go on but I’m pretty sure I’ve made myself look like enough of a moron.) In any case, I just felt that a bit too much of the novel was too formulaic, perhaps.

    That worked in the sense that I wish to read the series, but I’m pretty sure it will cause problems if I solve the second murder case as easily as the first. On the other hand, I enjoyed reading about it regardless. It’s not as if I figured it out and threw the book aside and went looking for another. I remained completely invested in the novel. But, remember, Tony was indeed my favorite character on NCIS!

    I really really wish I had thought of that myself...
    6 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

  • Carolina
    5.0 out of 5 stars I N C R E D I B L E
    Reviewed in Brazil on June 20, 2021
    Verified Purchase
    Already read so many times that I lost count lol
    This book is full of police mystery and fight scenes that will make your mind work and be amazed about how well is written. The way each clue to the investigation is shown is the key point of any investigation book, and the author did a great job with that! I knew things precisely when, as reader, I should know to make the plot even more intricate and fun to follow.
    The characters are damn amazing! We have our dear Dex that starts the story in a really crappy place for just doing the right thing, of course his colleagues at work don’t agree with that. His sense for justice between Therians and Humans make him stand out because being a human, people expect some kind of prejudice against this other species, and saying the truth at the testimony puts him in a difficult position between his people (human). Because of that, it’s a little impossible to stay at his detective job in the human police force so he is “promoted” to be part of the THIRDS (basically is the police force that deals with cases that have a Therian involved, mainly with therian personnel in it). He is happy because his adoptive father works as a captain to the THIRDS and his younger brothers (a therian) will be working with him...but Dex is not so happy knowing his partner, Sloane Brodi, is famous for being a difficult person, and also because Dex is substituting Sloane’s former partner that died a few months back.
    Dex is an amazing character and I loved to know him better throughout the story, loved knowing the nuances behind his attitudes and how observant he is. He has a good heart and when he starts working for THIRDS he really wants to make a difference and help the team heal after one of their own died. As for his relationship with everyone on the team is also great, he has a simplicity and fun aura and that is something that team appreciates, especially when he take his time to mess around with Ash and Sloane and just makes fun and innuendos about everything. (really, I kept laughing throughout all the dialogues between ash/sloane/dex because Dex is a precious SINnamon roll hehehe) Sloane, I think, did a great job as a team leader and new partner of Dex because he is the one with experience and suffering so he needs to make Dex understand that this job is serious and anything that goes wrong can kill Dex, so Dex puts his also serious personality in action when in daring situations and Sloane is impressed by Dex’s intelligence and resourcefulness.

    “Now how do I access Google?”
    Was he serious? “Why do you need Google?”
    “When don’t you need Google?”
    He was serious. “How about when you have a powerful, multimillion dollar government interface linked to numerous intelligence agencies across the globe right in front of you.”
    Dex squinted at him, his lips pursed thoughtfully. “So… is that a no on Google?”
    “Are you on medication?”

    Can I also talk about their relationship? Like, SLOANE AND DEX, start to feel attracted to each other and I love how considering Dex is, because most characters judges him as being immature but when it comes to serious things he is ALWAYS a nice person and knows how to deal with a situation. He feels something for Sloane but won’t take action on it, only mess verbally with Sloane and that’s fun to read. Especially, after uncovering some secret things that Sloane kept from him, he always put others feelings above his (sometimes is bad but he doesn't in a balanced way). And this slowburning enemy to friends and now to kind of dating situations is always appreciated by me, I love these kinds of romance. Sloane is a complex and broody character that I’m SUPER excited to know more about his past? Because we hear people saying some information but nothing was confirmed or treated in an emphatical way, so I guess there is so much more to discover.

    “I like you Dex. I like who I am with you.” He looked up at Dex then, a small smile crossed his face. “I’ve felt things I didn’t think I would ever feel again.”

    Ash is a douche but an endearing one and I love his friendship with Cael and how well they get each other, also excited to see more of them in other books!
    OMG the ending of this book was just bombastic and so dark! I thought it would end in a lighter tone but BOOM something of a plot twist happens and everything goes down the drain. I’m already grabbing the next one to read because damn that was an amazing cliffhanger…
    This is such a mess of a review but I have too many feelings about this book and I tried to organize and write in a sensible way because my first draft of this was basically “I LOVE DEX” written over and over again lol
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  • Soulgal
    5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing!!!
    Reviewed in India on January 25, 2021
    Verified Purchase
    Oh my God! Why did I put off reading THIRDS for so long? I regret the time I put off in reading this masterpiece of a series!
    What a world Charlie crochet has created and I've been sucked into it and I love it!
    This has got humor and I've rolling on the floor laughing at Dex's shenanigans with his team and each of the side characters just so Interesting.
    This has got some transporter like action scenes and a very satisfying start to a romance that gives you the wholesome experience.
    Its got everything good and if you're putting of reading this series, please... Don't make the mistake I did. Just give it a chance and you will be slobbering for more...
    I loved it!
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  • Zoe
    5.0 out of 5 stars Awesome!
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 10, 2015
    Verified Purchase
    Ok...so I read a lot of m/m fiction, from the paranormal to the standard m/m romance and even bdsm..but rarely do I give full stars.
    But this book have me no choice. I had seen this on my Amazon recommendations for a while but for some reason didn't pick it up..I'm do glad I have now started the road to this series and am going straight to the second book after this.
    Book four in the series is out next month and reading the description for that was what drew me back to take another look at the series and buy the first one.
    I have spent the last few months struggling to find a book that really grabbed me..now I've read so many my standard are higher I think. But this ticked all the boxes..I really liked Dex..and quickly got attached to Sloane and some of the others in the team.
    The best bits for me was the way Dex came across to others and his humour had me every time and watching the way he made his way into the hearts of the team was really great to read. His wind ups of Ash were great and the love between Dex and his brother and father was touching.
    This had so much going for it..sexual tension between Dex and Sloane, humour and action.
    When these two did get it on..it was very hot and well worth the wait.
    I really loved the paranormal angle in this series and the way this author attracted my attention to the world she was creating. Right from the start I was intrigued and interested in the history behind this story of how 'Therians' came about. This is unlike any other shifter style books and that alone is worth taking a look.
    I did have big suspicions about a certain characters intentions and the end couple of chapters were not a surprise but I won't put spoilers in here and it didn't spoil my enjoyment of this book..Dex made it so entertaining as I never knew what he was going to do or say next! I only hope he doesn't lose that as the serious stuff happens because in the right moments he created warmth and laughs..many times I found myself grinning from ear to ear and rooting for all these guys.

    I have been reading samples before buying books and haven't found one for a while that was worth paying out to read..but I would heavily recommend this..well written, entertaining and very interesting.
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  • Petra
    5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful start to a promising series
    Reviewed in Germany on April 23, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    This book really flashed me!
    It is soooo good!
    I am in love with Sloane and Dex. They are so great together!
    The whole team is just great.
    In this story there is lots of action, humor, romance and suspense.
    This book is going on my keeper shelf.
    What a wonderful start to a series.
    I am so happy that I have quite a few more books ahead of me.
    Report
  • Amazon Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing read!
    Reviewed in Canada on February 4, 2021
    Verified Purchase
    I stumbled upon the comic of Hell & High Water and instantly fell in love with the story and art. I saw that a reader mentioned a book series, so I jumped right online to find this series. I am HOOKED! I think Dex is me in male form 🤣, and Sloane- my poor baby! I just want to protect his poor heart and soul. He's hurt for so long. I just want him to be happy with his new found love. I powered through books one and two in 3 days, and just downloaded the third book in the series. The characters are written so realistically, there's character development, and real sense of friendship, love, and bonding between the main characters. The world the author created is rich, colorful, and interesting. The storytelling is fast paced and full of adventure. I highly recommend this series to anyone even remotely interested in the synopsis. You won't be disappointed!
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