Review of THE KILLING OF SIMON WEBB by A.J. Blake

 

Published: ‎ May 24, 2022
Genre: Technothriller

 

A Remarkable Treasure … A Fluid Sonnet That Takes You by Surprise

 

I had no idea what to expect from the book entitled THE KILLING OF SIMON WEBB. I’d never heard of it or its author A.J. Blake before. All I did was spot it on a book promo site and download a free copy. But you know that every once in a while, you stumble across something grand … one that releases endorphins and makes you happy that you take chances. And it’s these serendipitous moments when we fall in love with a story … one that captivates us and makes our frontal cortex tingle right down to our toes … that I love. You never know what’s contained in a book’s pages or what will spring from an author’s imagination.

 

Ostensibly this technothriller is about a man named Simon Webb. He's living out his life as an investment fund manager to a handful of mega-rich Russians, and pared things down to existing, but life rarely stays this simple. It doesn’t for Simon either, and it’s not long before a mysterious woman enters his life and blows him away with her beauty. With his marriage over, he’s ready to begin a new chapter, and so he ardently begins to pursue her, thinking that there’s a romance for the ages hidden away in her alluring body and keen mind. But in this story, nothing is as it seems to be, and the wooing of this woman is like stepping on a land mine … one that soon morphs into a battle of cold war spies, mystical divinations, and a video game that’s gone rogue and targeted him for annihilation.

 

Once the shift is set in gear, there is no looking back as this story wends its seamless way through a maelstrom of poetic words mixed with apprehension, provocative symbolism, and danger. Subjects switch out in mid-sentence and new ideas exchanged within the womb of the narrative that never ends. This is stream of consciousness writing to the max, and the reader never tires as this lotus flower tossed upon the flooding waters blossoms as it floats out to sea and becomes more entangled with living. And we go along with it, our brains imprinted with fantastical imagery explained in expert verse before presented koans for us to make sense of. The riddles are many … the paradoxes mighty. Does intimacy become any less when it’s paid for? Can you take an action without affecting others? Does anyone have the right to seek a lethal kind of vengeance over a slight? And does love ever triumph over all or does it die like the rest of us?

 

I really did love the story and the way it’s written so much. There’s something magical here that just sparks wanderlust in book form. I wanted to know everything I could about the characters that never bottomed-out no matter what secrets were revealed. They only became more elusive … and I relied on this author to hunt them down and tell me more.

 

If you love and appreciate wild, unique, imaginative swaths of dreamlike prose put to paper in telling this very complex story, THE KILLING OF SIMON WEBB is for you. The richness of the descriptions, the interplay of love and the unknown, it really is a sumptuous display that makes your mind cry out for more. I don’t know where A.J. Blake has been hiding, but I remain in gratitude that he chose to write this story and share his immense talent with the world.

 

I’m giving this totally unexpected gift from the writing gods five stars. I’m also saying a silent prayer that this book is read by those who crave good writing and nothing more.  

 

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SPOTLIGHT & REVIEW: THE CODE by SEAN KEEFER

 

Two murders in Charleston, South Carolina start attorney Noah Parks on a path toward a mystery that has been more than 200 years in the making…

By SEAN KEEFER

Title: The Code
Author: Sean Keefer
Publisher: Rivers Turn Press
Pages: 319
Genre: Mystery/Suspense/Legal Thriller

It should have been an otherwise uneventful Sunday morning for Charleston attorney Noah Parks. Perhaps a trip to the beach or a run with his new Australian Shepherd, Austin. But with a cryptic voicemail, everything changes.

A client has vanished, leaving nothing behind as a clue to where he may be. Neither his family, friends, nor neighbors are able to provide help.

Turning to his friend Emmett Gabriel, Charleston’s newest police detective, Parks can only watch as what started with a simple voicemail takes on a sinister life of its own. 

Parks soon finds himself entangled in an affair that spans centuries, going back to the time of Charleston’s birth.

With a focus on learning his client’s fate, Parks will soon find himself facing a mystery that will not only be a test of his wits but leaves him challenged in ways he never imagined.

Facing down twists, turns, betrayals, and traditions of honor, will he break The Code?

Release Date: October 7, 2022

Publisher: Rivers Turn Press

Soft Cover: 978-0998575575; 319 pages

Amazon: https://amzn.to/3IETRpM 

Rivers Turn Press: https://bit.ly/3V9725u  

 

Book Excerpt  

He looked into my eyes with something that could only be described as desperation. Suddenly, his look of despair faded as if a veil was lifted from his face. He stopped speaking and stood straight. His hands stopped moving, and he looked at each of them, turning them over, back to palm, as he examined them. He raised his head back to my eyes. As he looked at me, in an instant, the fearful look drained from his face, replacing it, a blank, expressionless gaze took hold of his features. He moved his eyes to my hand on his bicep, then shifted his gaze back to my face. He slowly twisted his arm from my slight grasp. He spoke slowly and methodically.    

“No, Cash didn’t call. No one called. There was nothing from Cash.”

“But you just said...”

“I didn’t say anything. Nothing,” he said as he turned and faced the rear of the lot. 

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About the Author

Sean Keefer is the award winning author of three legal thrillers, The Trust, The Solicitor, and The Code, all set in and around coastal South Carolina.

He is also the author of Mediation in the Family Courts of South Carolina, a legal treatise on family law mediation.

He lives and writes in Charleston, South Carolina.

In addition to his writing, Sean is a recording and performing guitarist/singer/songwriter of Americana and Alt-Country music. Watch him sing Carolina Sunset which was inspired by his latest book, The Code. Listen here!

For more information about his writing and music, visit SeanKeefer.com and ADogNamedBear.com.

Follow him on Facebook @theNoahParksMysterySeries and @SeanKeeferMusic. Follow him on Instagram @NoahParksMysteries and @1ADogNamedBear1 

Website | Instagram | Facebook | Goodreads

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REVIEW

 

A Mystery Buried in a Dark History

An unexpected Sunday morning call from Bill Sewell apprises attorney Noah Parks that Bill’s cousin, Cash, is missing. Since Cash is a long-time client of the attorney, it’s not long before Sewell enlists Parks in helping track down Cash’s whereabouts. Parks is not overly concerned. The errant playboy has made a habit out of disappearing on benders and blowing through his seemingly limitless trust fund. But the discovery of Cash’s lifeless body in a secluded woodland changes everything. Ending the search for Cash, one for the killer begins. Park’s friend Detective Emmett Gabriel heads that investigation and Gabriel is all too familiar with Parks’ inquisitive nature. It’s why he warns his friend not to become involved and to let the police do their job. Parks heeds the warning until the discovery of Cash’s cousin is made a few days later. Found in the same section of the woodlands, the similarities of the two murders makes the case irresistible. It isn’t long before Park’s amateur sleuthing skills pay off as an odd pattern of unsolved murders emerges. But his combing through the archives attracts the attention of a researcher. When he shares his theory of a serial killer being behind all the mayhem, a coalition is formed to help the attorney dig deeper into South Carolina’s hidden history. It’s all to find the solution that will prevent more murders from occurring because the next one may be his.

This is the premise of THE CODE, a slick mystery that will have you turning pages late into the evening and burning the midnight oil. The plot complex, author Sean Keefer does a great job in delivering the info in small, easily digested packets. This straightforward approach helps us in understanding all the intricacies afloat … and afoot.

The characters are lovingly crafted and thoroughly fleshed out. This most definitely applies to Austin, Noah Parks’ super adorable and precocious Australian Shepherd. The wily four-legged wonder is given center stage and a major role in this story. It was a good move on the author’s part because Austin weaves a certain charm and charisma throughout this novel. It also introduces a humaneness into the Noah Parks character that would have been lost without the interaction between the protagonist and his sweet persistent furry friend. But there was another surprise tucked neatly in the plotline. So while murder mysteries are my favorite genre of book to read, a close second (and closing) would be ones containing conspiracy theories. Imagine my delight to find a big iceberg-sized one lurking below. There’s nothing like a cabal to stoke interest and capture attention in a big way.

As for the writing, the novel is very well-written and holds together right up until the end. Lots of action happening in this one so you’ll be putting your grey matter to good use in trying to figure out who or what is behind the skullduggery. And since the plot involves the past, there’s the bonus of receiving a terrific history lesson … one that dates back to an infamous pirate named Blackbeard. A tremendous amount of atmosphere was gained by being so careful in relating details.

All of the above is why I recommend THE CODE to mystery lovers and anyone wanting an intelligent story to sink their teeth into. This one will keep you entertained and guessing right up until the end … and why I’m giving it five stars. Enjoy!