judeinthestars's review
5.0
Whether it’s because of the pandemic or just that the time was right for some adrenaline, I found myself a couple of days ago in need of something to deeply engage my mind. I’ve had my eye on Jessica L. Webb’s Dr. Kate Morrison series for a while (I read [b:Repercussions|32072906|Repercussions|Jessica L. Webb|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1497075683l/32072906._SY75_.jpg|52720394] a year ago and loved it), and after watching the author read from the second book, Pathogen, during the Bold Strokes Books Bookathon last April, it felt like a good idea. And it so was!
When a terrified man enters the ER of a Vancouver hospital, chief resident Kate Morrison is the first to notice him. Despite his pleas for her not to touch him, she catches him when he falls. Almost immediately the police arrive and they too insist she not touch him. Not one to abandon a patient in need, Kate Morrison disobeys the intriguing Sergeant Andy Wyles’ order, unaware that she walked right in the middle of an investigation of human beings being used as weapons. More specifically, as bombs triggered by touch. Kate agrees to join the investigation, as a doctor but also as the only person who seems to be able to touch the initial patient, then others. As they work together, assisted by sweet nerd Jack Sharpe, Kate and Andy learn to trust each other, their connection going beyond the investigation.
While not absolutely perfect, Trigger is an amazing debut by Jessica L. Webb, a complex, clever, fast-paced thriller, which made my heart race many times, both with the human bomb arc and the very slow-burn yet incredibly exciting romance. The focus is on the investigation, the proceedings, the medical challenges, not on the romance, but the rare moments there are are remarkably tender and subtle, the undercurrent of chemistry between Kate and Andy ubiquitous.
Trigger is told in third person, exclusively from Kate’s point of view. We feel her confusion, her fear, her doubts but also her logic, the easy brilliance of her mind, her certainty, her strength. Andy is almost as mysterious to the reader as she is to Kate, which makes the budding feelings even more thrilling in the midst of all the extremely nerve-racking action.
I have too many soon-to-be-released books to read to allow myself to move straight on to book 2 of this series, but I will get to it very very soon.
When a terrified man enters the ER of a Vancouver hospital, chief resident Kate Morrison is the first to notice him. Despite his pleas for her not to touch him, she catches him when he falls. Almost immediately the police arrive and they too insist she not touch him. Not one to abandon a patient in need, Kate Morrison disobeys the intriguing Sergeant Andy Wyles’ order, unaware that she walked right in the middle of an investigation of human beings being used as weapons. More specifically, as bombs triggered by touch. Kate agrees to join the investigation, as a doctor but also as the only person who seems to be able to touch the initial patient, then others. As they work together, assisted by sweet nerd Jack Sharpe, Kate and Andy learn to trust each other, their connection going beyond the investigation.
While not absolutely perfect, Trigger is an amazing debut by Jessica L. Webb, a complex, clever, fast-paced thriller, which made my heart race many times, both with the human bomb arc and the very slow-burn yet incredibly exciting romance. The focus is on the investigation, the proceedings, the medical challenges, not on the romance, but the rare moments there are are remarkably tender and subtle, the undercurrent of chemistry between Kate and Andy ubiquitous.
Trigger is told in third person, exclusively from Kate’s point of view. We feel her confusion, her fear, her doubts but also her logic, the easy brilliance of her mind, her certainty, her strength. Andy is almost as mysterious to the reader as she is to Kate, which makes the budding feelings even more thrilling in the midst of all the extremely nerve-racking action.
I have too many soon-to-be-released books to read to allow myself to move straight on to book 2 of this series, but I will get to it very very soon.
the_readingduck's review
adventurous
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
claudia_is_reading's review
4.0
Well, this was a surprisingly good read. You need a little bit of suspension of belief when it comes to science, but other than that, this was a superb read.
The storyline advanced slowly at the beginning, which suited the story perfectly. But once that it picked speed? It was impossible to stop reading. The suspense was thick and the stakes high, holding me glued to the book.
And for a romance, the characters didn't spend too many time together *laughs* But I liked how organically it develops. Andy and Karen are both women used to stressful situations, albeit in different circumstances, both competent, smart and resourceful. They are strong in different ways, and although Andy has all that strong-and-silent thing going on, you can feel how she begins to get drawn to Karen.
The secondary characters, Jack and Althea particularly, are fully fleshed and more than literary devices. Their personality comes through with clarity and they are interesting and easy to understand. As a matter of fact, I would like to see a bit more of Jack myself :P
I think this is a series, and if it so, I'll get the next book ASAP.
The storyline advanced slowly at the beginning, which suited the story perfectly. But once that it picked speed? It was impossible to stop reading. The suspense was thick and the stakes high, holding me glued to the book.
And for a romance, the characters didn't spend too many time together *laughs* But I liked how organically it develops. Andy and Karen are both women used to stressful situations, albeit in different circumstances, both competent, smart and resourceful. They are strong in different ways, and although Andy has all that strong-and-silent thing going on, you can feel how she begins to get drawn to Karen.
The secondary characters, Jack and Althea particularly, are fully fleshed and more than literary devices. Their personality comes through with clarity and they are interesting and easy to understand. As a matter of fact, I would like to see a bit more of Jack myself :P
I think this is a series, and if it so, I'll get the next book ASAP.
blackindiaink's review
4.0
I love a good mystery and this book took me for a ride. When I pick up a book placed in the lesbian romance genre I expect to mostly be there for the interplay between the protag and their love interest but I was very into the plot of this book. I won't spoil a thing but it there was a great balance between the feelings between the two characters and the story of the human weapons. I very much appreciated that. All of the characters were lovable aside from the villain, of course. Jack won me over from the first instant.
wc4's review
5.0
4.5* A doctor and a cop teaming up to solve a mystery involving humans who explode when touched. Set in my neck of the woods, Vancouver and Seattle, which is not that common. The story was well-written. The plot was interesting and unique. The romance is slow-burn, but their chemistry is oh so palpable. Not sure how believable that inter-agency cooperation between US and Canada would be so friendly and efficient. But maybe that's just the cynic in me. I would've been happy without that little plot twist at the end, but it did not make me enjoy this story any less. I cannot wait to get to the next book in the series.
lezreviewbooks's review
5.0
gger
I received this book for free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
This is the first book by Jessica Webb which I started to read without big expectations, just interested in the book description. I have to say that I was pleasantly surprised by Ms. Webb's original plot, proficient writing skills and knowledge on how to tell a story.
Even if the story can be categorised as science fiction, the author makes the events plausible and from the start the reader is taken into a plot full of twists which keeps you turning the pages.
The main characters are multifaceted and likable, their slow burn romance a good addition to the thriller. I really liked the way the book has been written from the Doctor's point of view but in third person. In my opinion, this provides with a sense of mistery and aloofness to the cop character as we don't know what's on her mind and the reader only get clues of her feelings by her behaviour or what other characters say. The secondary characters are multilayered and well described which add interest and complement the plot nicely.
Overall, a very good thriller with a little bit of romance story. I'll definitely read another book from this author. Highly recommended.
I received this book for free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
This is the first book by Jessica Webb which I started to read without big expectations, just interested in the book description. I have to say that I was pleasantly surprised by Ms. Webb's original plot, proficient writing skills and knowledge on how to tell a story.
Even if the story can be categorised as science fiction, the author makes the events plausible and from the start the reader is taken into a plot full of twists which keeps you turning the pages.
The main characters are multifaceted and likable, their slow burn romance a good addition to the thriller. I really liked the way the book has been written from the Doctor's point of view but in third person. In my opinion, this provides with a sense of mistery and aloofness to the cop character as we don't know what's on her mind and the reader only get clues of her feelings by her behaviour or what other characters say. The secondary characters are multilayered and well described which add interest and complement the plot nicely.
Overall, a very good thriller with a little bit of romance story. I'll definitely read another book from this author. Highly recommended.
apostrophen's review
5.0
I reviewed this for Out in Print. Link below.
https://outinprintblog.wordpress.com/2017/03/06/nathans-audio-corner-trigger-jessica-webb-bold-strokes-booksaudible-narrated-by-ruby-rivers/
https://outinprintblog.wordpress.com/2017/03/06/nathans-audio-corner-trigger-jessica-webb-bold-strokes-booksaudible-narrated-by-ruby-rivers/
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