Category: Book Reviews

Jake Scott Mystery Receives Great New Review

From The Online Book Club

Review of The Guardians of Truth

Post by Hubre De Klerk » 22 Feb 2023, 03:40

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of “The Guardians of Truth” by Barry Finlay.]

Book Cover

5 out of 5 stars

A secret organization, a missing person, a body, a police investigation, and a retired reporter—if these words don’t get you excited, I don’t know what will. This book is full of suspense, action, and a bit of romance. When Cassie tells her daughter that she must stop someone from hurting other people and then doesn’t return home, a missing person’s file is immediately opened for her. Jake is a retired reporter and a “family friend” of Cassie’s daughter through his relationship with her friend’s mom, Dani. Jake knows that the police are busy with their investigation, but he also knows that they are short-staffed. He decides to dust off his retired gloves and conduct his own investigation in order to assist. He had no idea how far he’d get himself involved or what danger awaited him.

This was such a fun book to read, and it was full of descriptions and easy-to-follow protocols. I enjoyed being part of the investigations and seeing how they unearthed new evidence. I couldn’t help but put myself in Haley’s teenage shoes and imagine the worry she had to go through when her mom didn’t come home. It was also easy to grasp Dani’s frustration when the clues to help them figure out what happened were so few and it felt like the case was at a standstill. Jake was my favorite character by far, with his empathy for others, his being a true friend, and his tenacity to help. He made me think of a bull terrier that just won’t let go after he has locked his jaw.

I enjoyed everything about this book. This book has been excellently edited, as I only found two minor errors throughout the whole book. There was nothing I disliked or would have changed. The book was fast-paced and didn’t have any slow-moving parts. I had my ideas about who the culprit was, but I was still surprised at the end of the book. I was entertained and hooked from the start of the book until the end.

I would rate The Guardians of Truth by Barry Finlay a perfect 5 out of 5 stars. There is absolutely no reason to give this book anything but a perfect score. This book also showed me how important the people in your life are and the importance of being there for each other. I know I have felt shallow when someone is going through a traumatic and emotional time, and the only words I had to offer were that it will get better and that I am here for you. This book showed me both sides, and that the person receiving those words may appreciate them a lot more than you can even imagine. Families and friends are important, and they are what keep you sane when things get tough.

I would recommend this book to people who enjoy crime, action, and mystery books. This is a fun afternoon read that immerses you completely. You feel like you are part of the investigation, and you feel all of the emotions running rampant in this book. I really enjoyed it and would love to read more of this author’s books.

New Book Coming!

It’s been awhile since I’ve posted much and, while it is not an excuse, the reason is that I have been working on a new mystery featuring a brand new character named Jake Scott.

I have been wrestling with ideas about the best way to introduce Jake to my amazing readers. He’s not your ordinary hero. In fact, in his mind he’s not a hero at all. He’s a bored and lonely former reporter, having lost his wife to an aneurysm, his job to technology and his daughter to a boyfriend in another city.

There are many steps to go through before the book is published, so it will be a few months before you will be able to read it. But, as part of the process, Advance Reader Copies (ARCs) have been sent to a handful of readers for early feedback. The first comments arrived yesterday from Cathy S. who blogs under Cath N’ Kindle Book Reviews.

Cathy has captured the essence of Jake Scott perfectly, so there is no better way to introduce him to you than through her words. Take it away, Cathy.

Searching for Truth by Barry Finlay

“Having enjoyed my first encounter with this author (The Burden of Darkness), it was with great enthusiasm that I dived into this book, and what a joy. I was promised a new protagonist (Jake Scott), and he couldn’t be more different than The Burden of Darkness’s Marcia Kane.

Jake Scott is feeling his way around recent widowerhood and retirement. The highlight of his week: Saturday morning coffee with a motley crew:  three men and Constable Danielle Perez. As a former investigative journalist, Jake is just the chap to help Danielle look into a double murder from three years previously. The pandemic has delayed so many things, not least the legal process, and it’s taken a long time for the main suspect to be convicted. But Danielle isn’t convinced the right man is in prison. With just a grumpy cat for company and little motivation in his newfound, reluctant singledom, Jake takes up the offer to help. 

I really enjoyed this. Jake makes a refreshingly different hero. He’s not young and handsomely six-packed. He’s a bit of a Luddite, a technophobe, but there’s a steadfastness and sincerity about him. And quietly smart. It’s rather lovely witnessing his emergence from his cocoon of grief and loneliness after the tragic loss of his beloved wife. The attractive Dani and her stereotypically monosyllabic, grumpy teenager are quite the tonic. But little do the three of them know what serious danger will befall them by wanting to put right a wrong. 

Extremely well composed and observed, this is really edge-of-your-seat, hold-your-breath writing and compelling right to the very end. I consider myself quite a good guesser of whodunnits, but Mr F had me well stumped. 

Jake (and Dani) have a sequel in them, I know it. I certainly hope it.”

Book Review from Readers’ Favorite


For immediate release:

Author’s new book receives a warm literary welcome.

Readers’ Favorite announces the review of the Fiction – Crime book “The Burden of Darkness” by Barry Finlay, currently available at http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0886KNW4C.

Readers’ Favorite is one of the largest book review and award contest sites on the Internet. They have earned the respect of renowned publishers like Random House, Simon & Schuster, and Harper Collins, and have received the “Best Websites for Authors” and “Honoring Excellence” awards from the Association of Independent Authors. They are also fully accredited by the BBB (A+ rating), which is a rarity among Book Review and Book Award Contest companies.

“Reviewed By Steve Leshin for Readers’ Favorite

The Burden of Darkness (A Marcie Kane and Nathan Harris Thriller) by Barry Finlay is the latest in the Marcie Kane and Nathan Harris series and it does not disappoint. As the story begins, Nathan is a shell of his former self, sleeping all day and letting his body go. A veteran of the FBI, he is unable to deal effectively with post-traumatic stress disorder after saving the life of the president of the United States from an explosion in a Tampa, Florida hotel. His wife Marcie, who also had a role in saving the president, is worried Nathan may never recover from the traumatic experience. At the same time, a disgruntled man with a terminal brain tumor has only a short time to live. He decides to use the time left to seek revenge against certain people who have done him wrong over the years. And, he wants the world to know how he does it.

Barry Finlay does an admirable job with keen insight incorporating Nathan’s PTSD, how it affects him, and how his supportive wife Marcie is able to nudge him into seeking help. At the same time, the author takes us into the mind of Owen Strand, the terminally ill protagonist, and the unique way he seeks his revenge on the persons he perceives have done him wrong. As an author who also has used a main character with PTSD in my novels, it gives an added layer to a hero like Nathan who learns to deal with the nightmares and flashbacks that can easily be triggered by loud noises and anything resembling the traumatic event. The Burden of Darkness takes the reader inside the mind of the killer as he plans and schemes while he slowly grows weaker from his illness. The way Marcie and Nathan become involved while dealing with Nathan’s PTSD will keep the reader engaged right up to an exciting conclusion. A must-read.”

You can learn more about Barry Finlay and “The Burden of Darkness” at https://readersfavorite.com/book-review/the-burden-of-darkness where you can read reviews and the author’s biography, as well as connect with the author directly or through their website and social media pages.

Readers’ Favorite LLC
Media Relations
Louisville, KY 40202

Book Review – Last Know Contact

Last Known Contact by Phillipa Nefri Clark is a fast-paced thriller with a variety of twists and turns. When Ellie Connor returns from a business trip to find out her father has disappeared, it sets off a series of events that will have you turning the pages.

The characters are extremely well developed and the reader is left guessing to the end as to whether Ellie’s father is dead or alive and the reasons behind his disappearance.

This book has all the ingredients of a good thriller and you won’t be disappointed if you pick it up. Highly recommended.

Book Review – Farewell, My Lovely

As an author of crime and police procedural novels, I’m always interested in what and how other people write. One day I searched for the best crime books of all time. Of course, there are many lists, but one on Wikipedia included Agatha Christie, Daphne Du Maurier and three books by Raymond Chandler in the top 15.

I decided to read Farewell, My Lovely by Chandler to see what would place him on the list. The book was written in 1940 and the reader has to remember it was a different time. There are racially derogatory terms that are a bit shocking by today’s standards. There were also a few more typos than I would have expected in the e-book I read.

The story line is clever with peaks and valleys and a few murders, corrupt cops and rich women. The dialogue, while again from another time period, is excellent. Marlowe has a tough, no nonsense personality, but his flippant, and often witty remarks add to the enjoyment of the read. However, aside from being a page-turning thriller, what sets it apart, I think, is the use of descriptions. The synonyms, metaphors and descriptive terms make you feel like you are right there with Philip Marlowe. The description of the city and neighborhoods is excellent.

Farewell, My Lovely is not today’s crime thriller. With the racial epithets, I’m not even sure it would be published today. But setting that aside, it is a well written book and I will be reading more from Raymond Chandler and authors of that era.

Book Review – American Dirt

American Dirt is one of the best books I’ve read in a while. While the book has received its share of criticism for being stereotypical, opportunistic and lacking authenticity, I found it to be eye-opening and entertaining. Jeanine Cummins relates the story of Lydia and her son who are in a desperate race to get away from a vengeful cartel leader and cross the border from Mexico into the States. The cartel leader has already killed sixteen of Lydia’s family members, including her reporter husband. It leads to a compelling read that alternates between fear and hope while offering the reader some timely insight into the plight of migrants. The writing style is imaginative and interesting. American Dirt is an entertaining work of fiction that tells a story that needs to be told. I highly recommend it.

Book Review – A Year In The Life Of Leah Brand

Lucinda Clarke has created a psychological thriller that will make the hair on the back of your neck stand at attention. As if Leah Brand doesn’t have enough problems with the death of her family, a spoiled stepdaughter and a husband who doesn’t seem to care, weird things start to happen in her house. It’s enough to make anyone question their sanity. The reader will wonder whether her family is responsible for the things that are happening or if there is some other malevolent force at play. A Year In The Life Of Leah Brand is a well written psychological thriller with characters that tug at your emotions.