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millennialbookreview's review
3.0
I received an advanced review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I enjoyed the pacing and alternating POV style of this story. The plot had plenty of twists and turns, which kept me guessing until the very end. I'll admit that I wasn't able to guess who the real "bad guy" was until the very end of the story, and the complicated story that was being unraveled kept me guessing as to both what was going on, what the real motivations of characters were and how everything would conclude.
There were a few plot contrivances that I found to be slightly annoying or obvious, like only named characters seeming to ever pay attention, but they didn't distract from the story too much.
Overall, a very good thriller.
I enjoyed the pacing and alternating POV style of this story. The plot had plenty of twists and turns, which kept me guessing until the very end. I'll admit that I wasn't able to guess who the real "bad guy" was until the very end of the story, and the complicated story that was being unraveled kept me guessing as to both what was going on, what the real motivations of characters were and how everything would conclude.
There were a few plot contrivances that I found to be slightly annoying or obvious, like only named characters seeming to ever pay attention, but they didn't distract from the story too much.
Overall, a very good thriller.
hugbandit7's review
5.0
I enjoy a good suspense/thriller novel and this one did not disappoint. The interactions, secrets, and the devious nature of multiple characters will keep the reader on their toes.
This story is woven together with insights from multiple characters and no one character knows everything or the how and why events play out as they do in this tale. But the tale they tell all comes together in the end and it all makes sense. It may not be right, but the answers fall together.
Liam seems to have his life in order until he discovers his girlfriend dead in her apartment. That triggers the first domino to fall and life gets out of control for Liam in ways he cannot even imagine. I won't spoil it but some of the revelations at the end shocked me because I didn't expect those answers. I'm surprised that Liam was able to investigate as much as he could, even with the help of some unlikely characters.
When we learn the why of this story, it saddens me a bit because of the motive of those behind Liam's downfall. While I understand their reasoning, it doesn't make it right and perhaps a different result could have happened with a different approach.
We truly enjoyed this book and will have to look at this author's other works to see if they are just as suspenseful to this reader.
We give this book 5 paws up.
This story is woven together with insights from multiple characters and no one character knows everything or the how and why events play out as they do in this tale. But the tale they tell all comes together in the end and it all makes sense. It may not be right, but the answers fall together.
Liam seems to have his life in order until he discovers his girlfriend dead in her apartment. That triggers the first domino to fall and life gets out of control for Liam in ways he cannot even imagine. I won't spoil it but some of the revelations at the end shocked me because I didn't expect those answers. I'm surprised that Liam was able to investigate as much as he could, even with the help of some unlikely characters.
When we learn the why of this story, it saddens me a bit because of the motive of those behind Liam's downfall. While I understand their reasoning, it doesn't make it right and perhaps a different result could have happened with a different approach.
We truly enjoyed this book and will have to look at this author's other works to see if they are just as suspenseful to this reader.
We give this book 5 paws up.
mommasaystoread's review
3.0
The Redwood Con is a quick read and a pretty entertaining story overall. The suspense is a bit of a mixed bag for me. There's a line at the end of the blurb that claims this story will 'keep you guessing until the very end.' Umm, not quite. In fact, I can tell you the exact spot where I knew at least part of the whodunit, and the other part wasn't far behind. I also figured out at least some of the motivation. Some, definitely not all. That gets a bit more complicated and the story gets somewhat convoluted toward the end with a lot of rapid-fire back and forth between the characters as Liam figures things out. There are several players in this twisted game, and the lines are clearly drawn between good guys and bad guys for the most part. There are a couple of characters who are kind of in the middle, but it's still easy to see which side they're on as the story unfolds. I do like the way the author laid this one out in terms of style. The chapters are relatively short, and they bounce from character to character with Liam getting the lion's share of page time. There are a couple of characters who only get one or two brief chapters, which can be a tricky business when it comes to story flow, but it works well for this one. In the end, this book was a little too predictable for me, but the author does give us a likable guy to root for in Liam, and the story is great for whiling away a rainy afternoon or weekend. Reagan Keeter is certainly talented and I would check out future books by him.
sarareadsromance's review
4.0
Overall, I thought this book was really good. The characters were very well developed and I was able to vividly picture everything that was going on. So some parts of this book did seem to move along a little slowly, but the overall pace of the book was good and didn’t rush into anything. The one and only thing that really bugged me about this book was that it had so many points of view. I was often confused on who I was reading and often had to go back and re-read paragraphs or sentences to remind myself which person we were on. I always enjoy dual points of view, but when it becomes any more than three for me personally it gets a little too confusing. Other than that, I thought this book was very well thought out. It had great characters and really left me wanting more each chapter. It was a solid read that had lots of twists and turns and that kept me on my toes.
⭐⭐⭐⭐
I received an eARC of this book in exchange for a review!
⭐⭐⭐⭐
I received an eARC of this book in exchange for a review!
frominktopaper's review
3.0
Original review posted on my blog From Ink to Paper
I received this book as an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I am always up for a good mystery/thriller and was glad when I had the chance to read this. I like that each chapter was broken up into a different character so you had multiple versions of what was happening and they all flowed together nicely. I liked that from the beginning of the book you are thrown into the mystery of what happening and who killed Elise. Then you find out a twist about who Elise really was (or was she?).
I thought over all the story was good, some of the twists I expected, some I didn’t. I thought there might could have been a few more surprises that would have made the story really stand out. However, even with my thoughts on what the twist might be I was still intrigued to find out if I was right and how it was all going to play out.
I thought the main character was pretty good, he was likable and you wanted him to win, especially for his children. Elise was interesting because she was the victim and had some secrets and you learned them along the way. I thought the supporting characters were well written and helped the story move along.
Overall I thought this was a good read, it wasn’t my favorite mystery/thriller but I still enjoyed it and am glad I got to read it. I would say it is a good quick read if anyone is looking for a mystery/thriller.
I received this book as an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I am always up for a good mystery/thriller and was glad when I had the chance to read this. I like that each chapter was broken up into a different character so you had multiple versions of what was happening and they all flowed together nicely. I liked that from the beginning of the book you are thrown into the mystery of what happening and who killed Elise. Then you find out a twist about who Elise really was (or was she?).
I thought over all the story was good, some of the twists I expected, some I didn’t. I thought there might could have been a few more surprises that would have made the story really stand out. However, even with my thoughts on what the twist might be I was still intrigued to find out if I was right and how it was all going to play out.
I thought the main character was pretty good, he was likable and you wanted him to win, especially for his children. Elise was interesting because she was the victim and had some secrets and you learned them along the way. I thought the supporting characters were well written and helped the story move along.
Overall I thought this was a good read, it wasn’t my favorite mystery/thriller but I still enjoyed it and am glad I got to read it. I would say it is a good quick read if anyone is looking for a mystery/thriller.
popthebutterfly's review
4.0
Disclaimer: I received an e-arc from the author. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: The Redwood Con
Author: Reagan Keeter
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 4/5
Publication Date: May 5, 2020
Genre: Thriller
Recommended Age: 17+ (suicide TW, murder, gore, violence, language, mystery)
Publisher: Irresistible Publishing
Pages: 312
Amazon Link
Synopsis: After a divorced Chicago father is charged with killing his girlfriend and unexplainable secrets about her come to light, he’ll have to figure out how much he’s willing to risk to find out the truth . . . and how much of it he wants to know.
Liam Parker finds his girlfriend, Elise, dead in the bathtub, wrists cut. Suicide, he figures. But the truth turns out to be more complex than anyone might expect. While trying to clear his name, Liam uncovers clues that suggest Elise was not who he thought she was: she was living under an alias, has a record, and lied about where she worked and where she grew up.
Making matters worse, his relationship with her has tied his fate to those of a conman and a stock broker, neither of whom he has ever met. And as these three men’s lives hurl unexpectedly toward each other, Liam learns he’ll have to do more than just prove he’s innocent—he’ll have to unravel a mystery that threatens to destroy everything he cares about.
The Redwood Con is the kind of thriller that will keep you guessing until the very end.
Review: This book was pretty good overall! The characters were well developed throughout the novel. The world building was done well and the writing was impressive. I really liked the story and the plot.
However, I did think the book was a bit slower paced than what I would have liked it and I figured out the ending fairly early on in the book, but it was a good book overall.
Verdict: It was a good book!
Book: The Redwood Con
Author: Reagan Keeter
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 4/5
Publication Date: May 5, 2020
Genre: Thriller
Recommended Age: 17+ (suicide TW, murder, gore, violence, language, mystery)
Publisher: Irresistible Publishing
Pages: 312
Amazon Link
Synopsis: After a divorced Chicago father is charged with killing his girlfriend and unexplainable secrets about her come to light, he’ll have to figure out how much he’s willing to risk to find out the truth . . . and how much of it he wants to know.
Liam Parker finds his girlfriend, Elise, dead in the bathtub, wrists cut. Suicide, he figures. But the truth turns out to be more complex than anyone might expect. While trying to clear his name, Liam uncovers clues that suggest Elise was not who he thought she was: she was living under an alias, has a record, and lied about where she worked and where she grew up.
Making matters worse, his relationship with her has tied his fate to those of a conman and a stock broker, neither of whom he has ever met. And as these three men’s lives hurl unexpectedly toward each other, Liam learns he’ll have to do more than just prove he’s innocent—he’ll have to unravel a mystery that threatens to destroy everything he cares about.
The Redwood Con is the kind of thriller that will keep you guessing until the very end.
Review: This book was pretty good overall! The characters were well developed throughout the novel. The world building was done well and the writing was impressive. I really liked the story and the plot.
However, I did think the book was a bit slower paced than what I would have liked it and I figured out the ending fairly early on in the book, but it was a good book overall.
Verdict: It was a good book!
stephbookshine's review
4.0
*I received a free ARC of this book, with thanks to the author. The decision to review and my opinions are my own.*
The Redwood Con is a gripping suspense thriller with, as the title suggests, a few surprises up its sleeve.
The main character is Liam Parker, who stands accused of the murder of his girlfriend, and finds his efforts to clear his name just tangle him further in a complicated web of thieves, gamblers and confidence tricksters. And, of course, one of them is apparently not averse to a bit of murder on the side.
As the net tightens around Liam and he struggles to prove his innocence against an increasingly clever frame job, we start to build a picture of the lies and subterfuges all around him and it becomes ever clearer that Elise was not all she seemed.
Reagan Keeter tells the story from a variety of different character viewpoints, which allows the reader access to information that Liam doesn’t have and lets us feel very clever as we keep one step ahead of the characters in piecing the clues together. Until suddenly he turns a cup and the dice we thought we were following isn’t there!
I was fascinated by the various con trick details scattered throughout the book and it certainly made me feel more wary about everything from walking down a busy street, to how I choose my security passwords. The world of confidence tricksters is one of smoke and mirrors, and exceedingly unnerving.
I really felt for Liam too; it was nerve wracking watching the trap inexorably close in on an innocent man, with no obvious way for him to escape it. Similarly, it was great to see the plot ‘from above’ almost, and be able to see the threads of the individual characters crossing back and forth before eventually converging for the climax and reveal.
Recommended for fugitive thriller fans who enjoy tight-spun plot patterns and an intimate cast of characters.
From the window, Elise could see the quiet, tree-lined street that ran in front of her building. The old three and four-story condominium buildings lining most of it were charming. The neighbours were friendly, and she could walk to a grocery store and a coffee shop.
She hoped that after tonight she wouldn’t have to leave. She hoped that by being honest with Liam her life would become something new and better than it was now. But if he didn’t take the news well, she knew she’d have no choice. She’d pack up the things she could as soon as everyone was gone and disappear.
– Reagan Keeter, The Redwood Con
Review by Steph Warren of Bookshine and Readbows blog
https://bookshineandreadbows.wordpress.com/2020/05/05/the-redwood-con-reagan-keeter/
The Redwood Con is a gripping suspense thriller with, as the title suggests, a few surprises up its sleeve.
The main character is Liam Parker, who stands accused of the murder of his girlfriend, and finds his efforts to clear his name just tangle him further in a complicated web of thieves, gamblers and confidence tricksters. And, of course, one of them is apparently not averse to a bit of murder on the side.
As the net tightens around Liam and he struggles to prove his innocence against an increasingly clever frame job, we start to build a picture of the lies and subterfuges all around him and it becomes ever clearer that Elise was not all she seemed.
Reagan Keeter tells the story from a variety of different character viewpoints, which allows the reader access to information that Liam doesn’t have and lets us feel very clever as we keep one step ahead of the characters in piecing the clues together. Until suddenly he turns a cup and the dice we thought we were following isn’t there!
I was fascinated by the various con trick details scattered throughout the book and it certainly made me feel more wary about everything from walking down a busy street, to how I choose my security passwords. The world of confidence tricksters is one of smoke and mirrors, and exceedingly unnerving.
I really felt for Liam too; it was nerve wracking watching the trap inexorably close in on an innocent man, with no obvious way for him to escape it. Similarly, it was great to see the plot ‘from above’ almost, and be able to see the threads of the individual characters crossing back and forth before eventually converging for the climax and reveal.
Recommended for fugitive thriller fans who enjoy tight-spun plot patterns and an intimate cast of characters.
From the window, Elise could see the quiet, tree-lined street that ran in front of her building. The old three and four-story condominium buildings lining most of it were charming. The neighbours were friendly, and she could walk to a grocery store and a coffee shop.
She hoped that after tonight she wouldn’t have to leave. She hoped that by being honest with Liam her life would become something new and better than it was now. But if he didn’t take the news well, she knew she’d have no choice. She’d pack up the things she could as soon as everyone was gone and disappear.
– Reagan Keeter, The Redwood Con
Review by Steph Warren of Bookshine and Readbows blog
https://bookshineandreadbows.wordpress.com/2020/05/05/the-redwood-con-reagan-keeter/
daniellestarredpages's review
5.0
There was never a dull moment while reading this book. Even in parts where there was no actual action happening, I was still enthralled because it was obvious that those little mundane details are going to come together in the end for something big. While most of my predictions where incorrect (much like the predictions of the characters in this novel) I wasn't upset because the reveal in the end wasn't pulled out of thin air and the twists make perfect sense once you get to them. The multiple point of views definitely added to the story. We follow one character solving this little mystery but then switch over to following this other character during a mundane moment but there was no feeling of being overwhelmed. Overall The Redwood Con is worth the read.
I was provided a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I was provided a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
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