Conrad JonesRecensioni

Last night I finally finished [b: Slow Burn|18374087|Slow Burn|Nicole Christie|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1377615714s/18374087.jpg|25986432] by [a: Conrad Jones|1418164|Conrad Jones|https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1365081564p2/1418164.jpg]. I finished [b: The Child Taker|7632621|The Child Taker (Soft Target )|Conrad Jones|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/book/50x75-a91bf249278a81aabab721ef782c4a74.png|10139953] on or around the 15th of December.

I got these two books through Amazon.com on a free e-book deal. To be honest, I was not sure what I was getting. I am always interested in fictional cases where children get rescued from horrible situations. The title clued me into the possibility that this would be the case. Even if [b: Slow Burn|18374087|Slow Burn|Nicole Christie|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1377615714s/18374087.jpg|25986432] was the punishment for the "Child Taker"it was a lure.

From the start of "The Child Taker" the reader can assume that there may be a kidnapping. The title leads us there. Right off, the characters were believable. I could picture mom and dad, the kids and the other couple who were camping with them. I could imagine the creeps too.

The writing is good enough that I did not have to do any work in reading. All I had to do was ride. There were plenty of surprises, twists and turns without leaving the road of possibles.

It is my opinion that the author did a good job of marketing Detective Alec Ramsay to a wider audience.
________

[b: Slow Burn|18374087|Slow Burn|Nicole Christie|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1377615714s/18374087.jpg|25986432] by [a: Conrad Jones|1418164|Conrad Jones|https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1365081564p2/1418164.jpg] was a long book. I often chew through a book in a few days. I had several other books needing reviews. Once I started reading "Slow Burn" I could not move on.

Back in the old days before Indie and self-publishing a reader had to wait months for new books to come out. There was no Young Adult genre. I used to order, or check out the fattest books, no matter who wrote them, or what they were about. These days, with hundreds of new authors hitting the shelves, there is plenty to read. I am glad about it.

While reading "Slow Burn," not once did I skim over unnecessary descriptions or scenes. Every word and space created an excellent novel. This is good writing.

[a: Conrad Jones|1418164|Conrad Jones|https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1365081564p2/1418164.jpg] GoodReads profile listed genres of mystery, thriller, horror and Young Adult. I would recommend this only for a mature Y/A, because of content. The subject of bullying that goes to nth degree is brutal.

Content: Violence: Yes. Blood, killing, drugs, suicide, rape, etc.
Sex: Yes. It is alluded to.

Author Conrad Jones is an excellent writer. We will hear more from this writer in the future.

The Child Taker is the first novel by Conrad Jones I have read and I am not averse to reading a few more. It is a fast-paced, action-packed thriller with a lot of graphic violence that may put off a few readers. The character of Jack Howarth is quite creepy, though a bit cliched. There are a few holes in the story, as is the case with many novels of this genre. And, the end is left hanging by the author, compelling the reader to buy the next book in the series; not fair at all! Another thing I did not like is the number of mistakes the editors have missed. Surely, a book by such a prolific author should be better in this regard?

Slow Burn is the second book by Conrad Jones I've read and the thing that stands out in both of his novels is his graphic description of violence and the products of violence. It feels like watching the action unfold on a high definition screen. In fact, there is nothing slow about this book except the title.
This novel is tightly plotted and paced, with some well fleshed-out characters. I hugely enjoyed this story, never wanting to leave it waiting. There are a couple of things that dampened the fun for me though. Firstly, it doesn't look like professionally edited; there are many issues with the grammar in this book. The other thing is the names of the Asian - Pakistani, to be precise - characters; they don't sound authentic.
Apart from these issues, Slow Burn is a thrilling ride best enjoyed at one go.

When two male bodies are recovered from the sea at Trearddur Bay, DI Alan Williams is called in to investigate. Further along the headland at Porth Dafarch another male body is discovered, but with no obvious connection to the others.
But these are not the last of the murders, and what connection is there to serial killer Peter Moore or to the drug industry on the island.
An enjoyable and well-written crime story

I was lucky enough to get this as an audiobook in a giveaway. What a fantastic read it was. Very well written and the narration was great too. The story gripped me right from the start and we (hubby and I) took every opportunity to listen to it as we wanted to know what happened next. As soon as I finish what I am reading at the moment I will be reading book 2 in the Braddick series. Can't wait.

Another excellent book by Conrad Jones. Loving the DI Braddick series

The third book in the DI Braddick series and I only have 1 more to go until there is a new one. Really enjoying them all. They are very suspenseful and I certainly wasn't expecting the ending in this one. I will say no more

i won this book through good reads first reads,and wow what a read, firstly i don't want to give to much away as i feel that would spoil the journey this book takes you on,ill start with saying this book is not what id usually pick up to read,but saying that a bit of change is good and can sometimes surprise you, its written in the first person which i usually find a bit irritating but in this case fitted the story perfectly,its also pretty violent in places which i didn't mind as the story line merited this,I always judge the merit of a book by how long it takes me to finish (i read this in a day)Once i started i needed to finish, i felt like i was on a personal journey with Conrad jones and Evie and i wanted to be there to the bitter end no matter the outcome.This was a brilliant read that keeps you captivated from beginning to end,its gritty and a real page turner which currently my partner is engrossed in i would definitely recommend this book a thumbs up from me.

i won this book through good reads first reads,and wow what a read, firstly i don't want to give to much away as i feel that would spoil the journey this book takes you on,ill start with saying this book is not what id usually pick up to read,but saying that a bit of change is good and can sometimes surprise you, its written in the first person which i usually find a bit irritating but in this case fitted the story perfectly,its also pretty violent in places which i didn't mind as the story line merited this,I always judge the merit of a book by how long it takes me to finish (i read this in a day)Once i started i needed to finish, i felt like i was on a personal journey with Conrad jones and Evie and i wanted to be there to the bitter end no matter the outcome.This was a brilliant read that keeps you captivated from beginning to end,its gritty and a real page turner which currently my partner is engrossed in i would definitely recommend this book a thumbs up from me.

The Journey is about a loving family of six comfortably living in the town Monguno in Nigeria and their harrowing trek. This incredible story begins with a 10-year old boy, Beb, as he is walking with two of his friends. He recognizes a convoy approaching and warns his friends to run, as he knows from his father that it could mean only one thing. It is right here in this story when my heart jumped. The first chapter quickly identifies the rest of his family, and where they are at when the extremists enter their town. The father, Kalu, knew this day was coming. He does his best to quickly round up his family to try to get them to safety.

As a doctor Kalu is torn between the self-preservation necessary to protect his family, and trying to help others as they become injured during this horrific time. Kalu desperately tries to get his family to Morocco, and then Europe, as he has been preparing for this eventuality. The journey is not easy, and is fraught with unimaginable tragedy. As I read this book, the atrocities that took place created such intense sadness and pain in me for these people who were driven from their homes, knowing that their futures offered very little hope. Nothing I have ever read or watched about a great exodus such as this could have prepared me for what the writer conveys in the story.

As described in the blurb, this is an emotional thriller. It is written as realistic as I’ve ever experienced for a fictional tale. This is a book that kept me up until all hours because I just could not put it down! It really made me think of my life and of how easy it is. It also made me sad because of the grittiness in which the tragedies occurred. However, I did not want the book to end. I wanted more for this family. This fact alone proved to me the realism conveyed by Conrad Jones. The book finished with a twist that truly shook me. I won't be forgetting about The Journey anytime soon. Kudos to Mr. Jones.

Many thanks to Bloodhound Books and to NetGalley for this ARC to review.

Guilty Until Proven Innocent by Conrad Jones
DI Braddick Series #3

Having read only one book by this author before, THE JOURNEY, I felt compelled to read this one when given the opportunity. Why? The first book I read by Jones hooked me and though I hate to start a series in the middle I just could not resist. I am so glad I read this book even though it was rather dark and twisted and did not give me the happy ending I would have preferred.

What is the story about? It is about finding a psychopath serial murderer who loves inflicting pain on others. In addition to the murder mystery there is a case involving a pedophile vigilante group that works to expose those who prey on children and this group and the man they expose most recently will cross lines with Detective Braddick and the people he is working with to find the serial killing monster preying on the unsuspecting.

Following DI Braddick and his team as they worked to uncover the murderer’s identity was a bloody treat. The glimpses into the murderer’s mind were elucidating if disturbing. The fact that social media played has such power over individuals was disconcerting.

I came away from the story thinking about what it takes to make a person cross the line from normal to abnormal and why when that line is crossed reason seems to be lost entirely.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bloodhound Books for the ARC – This is my honest review.

5 Stars

The Journey by Conrad Jones

What if you and your family had to flee for your life? What would you do? How would you get away? Would you be prepared?

Dr. Kalu Andaku has been aware that Boko Haram was on the move and that being prepared was essential if he wanted to get his wife, son and three daughters out safely should the rebel militia arrive in town. But when the time to flee arrived it was so much worse than expected, the trip was fraught with peril and it became a nightmare of epic proportion that saw not all make it out safely.

This is a gritty story of survival that made me revisit wars I have lived through and also think about a time when my husband and I got together items to make on a trek across a dessert to get our son and daughter out safely – if we needed to – and another time when we were evacuated from a coast with one suitcase and snipers on the roofs nearby. We did not have to implement the plans we made to cross the desert but we did make them. If we had ended up like Kalu, his wife and their children…well…I don’t even want to think about what that would have been like!

Even though this story was gritty and the target is no doubt adults I had the feeling it might be a book that could be a class-read novel to be discussed with a wise teacher in a classroom. Educational and thought provoking – this was a quick read but one that will linger with me for some time.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bloodhound Books for the ARC – This is my honest review.

4-5 Stars½

Gang warfare and violence.
I volunteered to listen to the audio version of this book, expecting a thriller, but not expecting the level of violence that it contains. In fairness to the author, the violence was up-front and in-your-face right from the beginning and under all normal circumstances I would have closed the book there and then. However, I tend to complete audiobooks more often than the written word, so I persevered.

An unfortunate teenage boy from a peaceful, if poor family, becomes embroiled in a gang situation where life is cheap and revenge is all. He was in the wrong place at the wrong time and mouthed off a bit too much. As a result, he and his family become targets of a ruthless mob and find themselves fleeing for their lives.
My friends read 'body-count' books and we joke about the number of bodies eliminated by the author during the course of the book - well, I have to say I lost count with Brick, there certainly weren't many left to bring to justice by the end.

If you're looking for dark and brooding with an ominous presence, then this may be for you; if it's a frantic page-turner you're after, then, no, I didn't find that with this book, it didn't grab me and I'm sorry to say, even the ending was a bit flat.
Notable comment for the narrator, Diana Croft, who nailed the Northern accents.

Child Taker is a British action thriller focusing on the efforts of a grandfather and his pals to recover his kidnapped grandchildren. Five year old fraternal twins Sarah and Zak are abducted from their tent while on a family camping trip. Their mother, Hayley, is understandably distraught and welcomes her father's help in trying to find the children. The Major, a counter terrorism agent, and his elite team pull out all the stops in their search for Sarah and Zak.
When I began listening to and reading The Child Taker, I was leery that a female narrator could pull off a believable action thriller. In spite of my reservations, Julia Farhat does, in fact, do a splendid job with the multitude of characters in the book. The pacing of the novel and the narrative performance kept me so involved I devoured the book in a single day.
Anyone with issues regarding child and sexual abuse should look elsewhere as those themes are integral to this story.
I bought the Kindle book and received the Audible book from the author in exchange for my honest review.

I received this book for free from Early Reviewers. I have one word for this book... creepy. This is the third book within the last year that I've read about the cults. The last two were fiction and this one I believe is nonfiction, although I'm struggling to believe that all of it was based on a true story, especially the end. The premise of the book is that the author starts investigating a cult in which turns his life upside down with arrests, murder, etc.

For the rest of the review, visit my book blog at: http://angelofmine1974.livejournal.com/64973.html

a well written book that kept my interest right through to the end and kept me guessing on the out come

I received a free copy from the LibraryThing Early Reader giveaway.

Very interesting and unique story. I've never had such difficulty figuring out if a book is fiction or not. There are some pretty intense scenes that are written quite graphically, but I found they really added to the story and made it all more vivid and realistic. I liked the author's writing style and feel like this is one of the creepier books I've read in awhile.

The first book I have read by this author and it definitely won't be my last.

I had never even heard of Conrad Jones when I received this book but have to say that he appears to be a very talented if not well known writer. I will certainly be recommending him. I have recently started reading Graham Masterson books and I would say that Conrad is in a much superior league.

The book is written in the first person and apparently interlinked with Conrad's own personal life. We follow how he is introduced to case because of his knowledge of the occult. Things soon turn sinister with his credibility and eventually his life being placed in jeopardy. I love the way the story is shared with his best friend the Staffie Evie Jones. When I read the blurb my first thought was that this would hinder the storyline, but it enhanced it beautifully (wonder if he has Evie in real life?).

This is an extremely well written book that would be very hard to pigeon hole into any one singular genre. Although the main theme of the novel is Horror/Thriller it even had me laughing out loud at times (the park scene anyone?).

The best book I have read this year, I hope there is going to be a sequel.

Unable to finish reading this book. I read to page 123 which was a struggle from the beginning. Its not that the subject matter bothered me but just didn't find it interesting. It is rare that I don't finish a book. I'm unable to review this book given I haven't finished it, although that is probably a review in itself.

Loved this book. Every time I read one chapter, I'd tell myself "just one more", but end up reading for hours. It seemed like the more you learned in the book, the more questions there were. Was the cult going to catch Conrad? Would they get to his family? I could NOT put it down.

This is a sharp little horror novel that keeps it's focus. There isn't a lot of jump out of your chair scares, or any gut-wrenching terror, but there is some gore, some really uncomfortable stuff happening to characters, and a good bit of suspense and dread.

Jones is both author and main character, and that can be a tricky deal to pull off. It can be clunky and tired, and if the author is well known, kinda ridiculous. But in this case, for me anyhow, I have no idea who Conrad Jones is, so it didn't bother me in the least. Somebody familiar with Jones and his work might really dig it. I get the feeling that a familiarity with his work may somehow prove a benefit to this conceit.

Jones is an English writer, and he uses some English slang and some terms that I didn't know. It didn't detract from the story, and if I didn't know it, it was always easy to figure out.

In the end, this is a pretty quick and entertaining read that delivers as it should and has me interested in the rest of Jones's work. In my mind, that makes it a success.½

This book is truly a fast-paced thrill ride. It's is mystery with many occult references. The main character is the author who is brought in by the police because of his knowledge of occult symbols. A very good read.

I liked this book a lot. Action from the get go, and very interesting that the main character is the author.

From the very first chapter there's a real old school feeling about this novel. Think of the great horror writers of latter part of the last century (Masterton, Saul, Herbert) and Jones' style would feel at home. From the first few pages there a great sense of wrongness, which later allows Jones to grow the menace so sought after by the better writers in the genre.

There's an odd shift of perspective that somewhat breaks the fourth wall and this may upset the suspension of disbelief for some readers. It's a unique plot mechanic though and although it wasn't entirely necessary it didn't disrupt the actual story.

After the initial and shocking chapter, the story settles down and slowly unfolds as secrets spill. There is potential to create a larger story, yet Jones keeps it tightly focused and grounded because of it. It also keeps its cards very close to its chest in regards to exactly which genre it falls in to, so read with an open mind and enjoy the misdirection.

A great read which thrills, captivates and shocks in equal measure.½

Out of the books I've read lately,this is the most interesting book I have read.Its in the first person,the main character it the auther Conrad Jones.Not sure what parts are real but its a very good read.In the story he uses to be a McDonald manager,I have worked for a few in the USA. The UK made one-mean-kick-ass manager,kicking butts and NOT taking names.I would HIGHLY recommend this book.Its one of those books that I wish I had more thumbs,two-thumbs-up is not enought.