EYE FOR EYETalion Series #1byJK Franko
Genre: Crime & MysteryPublisher: Talion PublishingDate of Publication: June 22, 2019Number of Pages: 400
Genre: Crime & Mystery
on Tour July 22 – September 20, 2019
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Roy and Susie are on a skiing holiday, trying to take a break from the constant reminders of their daughter, tragically killed by a careless driver. Out of the blue they meet Deb and Tom, another couple with a tragic past and a shocking proposal to put things right. As the bodies accumulate, secrets are revealed and alliances crumble. Ultimate survival depends on following the rules for a perfect murder. And the first rule is…leave no singing bones.
“NEW TWIST ON STRANGERS ON A TRAIN”~ THE SUNDAY TIMES
I received a copy of this book for free. This is my honest and thoughtful review.
Wow! This book! THIS. BOOK. I don’t believe that there is any way for me to do this story the justice it deserves, but as with any thriller or mystery, it’s best to go into it with as little information as possible in order to feel the complete impact this book has to offer. And with every ounce of bias I have, let’s just say that I was so blown away! It’s smart, perceptive, riveting, fast paced, and incredibly hard to put down. I’ve read a lot of good books this year, but this one has stood out as my favorite!
I thoroughly enjoyed how the author used his experience and background with the law and involvement with law enforcement to craft a convincing dilemma that spotlighted characters from all facets of the investigation. From victims to perpetrators and witnesses to detectives, the story unfolds in such a compelling way as to provide a front row seat to its entirety.
Ultimately, this is a deftly crafted character study on morality that is engaging and deeply enhanced with literary references and connections. Each mention is a skillful homage that stirs an understanding with readers. Books make us feel, and while you’ll already be running the gamut of emotions while reading this cautionary tale, the author’s use of classics in literature at key moments will only heighten the rawness you’ll feel from within. The author has an understanding of human nature that makes these characters come alive.
“What would YOU do?”
I thoroughly enjoyed how the author used his experience and background with the law and involvement with law enforcement to craft a convincing dilemma that spotlighted characters from all facets of the investigation. From victims to perpetrators and witnesses to detectives, the story unfolds in such a compelling way as to provide a front row seat to its entirety.
“There was no doubt in his mind that this act, as callous and as outrageous as it might seem to an outsider, had brought them together in a way that nothing else ever could. The would be bonded together forever, come what may.”
“Leave no singing bones…”
The many twists and turns throughout are masterfully done, making it difficult to trust anyone or predict where the story is going to go. And combined with the fast-paced chapters, the tension and suspense kept mounting until the very end. At one point, and you’ll know it when you read it, my mouth dropped open and I had to take a moment to fully comprehend what I had just learned. And let’s not even get into the ending! You’ll just have to read for yourself to find out how amazing this book truly is! I was flying through the pages so fast that I am absolutely looking forward to a future reread to take my time and take in the subtleties that I missed along the way.
Overall, this is a riveting read that will satisfy any fan of crime or mystery thrillers. High expectations have been set for this series, and I will definitely be waiting with anticipation for the next installment.
When I try to piece together how this whole mess began, a part of me thinks it may have started over thirty years ago. At least the seeds were planted that far back, in the early 1980s. What happened then, at that summer camp in Texas, set the stage for everything that was to come.
Odd, how something so remote in time and geography continues to impact me here, today.
Sometimes I try to imagine her, how she felt—that eleven year-old girl—as she ran, stumbling and tripping through the woods that night. I try to put myself in her shoes. When I do, I wonder if she was frightened.
Did she understand the consequences of what she’d gotten herself into? I imagine it felt otherworldly to her, like a dream. But not a good dream. No, one of the bad ones—the ones that make your heart machine-gun as you try to outrun some dark thing that’s chasing you. But the faster you try to run, the slower you go, your legs feeling leaden, clumsy, useless.
Panic sets in. Tears of frustration form. Fear takes hold and won’t let go. You open your mouth to scream but realize, to your horror, that you’re paralyzed. It’s not that you can’t scream; you can’t even breathe. Not a dream—a nightmare.
Then again, all that may simply be my imagination. It could just be me projecting what I might have felt onto Joan. Maybe she wasn’t scared at all.
True, it was dark out. The night smelled of rain, but there was no lightning, only the far-off rumble of thunder hinting at a distant storm. There were no trail lights, no visibility but for the moon peeking out intermittently from behind a patchwork of clouds. But, Joan had been down this trail before. She was running toward the main cabin.
She had been at Camp Willow for almost two full weeks. She had been up and down that trail at least ten times a day, every day. Of course, that was during the day, and always with her buddy, or a camp counselor (the children called them troop leaders). Joan had never been on the trail at night. And never alone.
Maybe I imagine Joan was scared because, as an adult, I believe that she should have been. I would have been terrified.
***
Excerpt from Eye For Eye by JK Franko. Copyright © 2019 by JK Franko. Reproduced with permission from JK Franko. All rights reserved.
Odd, how something so remote in time and geography continues to impact me here, today.
Sometimes I try to imagine her, how she felt—that eleven year-old girl—as she ran, stumbling and tripping through the woods that night. I try to put myself in her shoes. When I do, I wonder if she was frightened.
Did she understand the consequences of what she’d gotten herself into? I imagine it felt otherworldly to her, like a dream. But not a good dream. No, one of the bad ones—the ones that make your heart machine-gun as you try to outrun some dark thing that’s chasing you. But the faster you try to run, the slower you go, your legs feeling leaden, clumsy, useless.
Panic sets in. Tears of frustration form. Fear takes hold and won’t let go. You open your mouth to scream but realize, to your horror, that you’re paralyzed. It’s not that you can’t scream; you can’t even breathe. Not a dream—a nightmare.
Then again, all that may simply be my imagination. It could just be me projecting what I might have felt onto Joan. Maybe she wasn’t scared at all.
True, it was dark out. The night smelled of rain, but there was no lightning, only the far-off rumble of thunder hinting at a distant storm. There were no trail lights, no visibility but for the moon peeking out intermittently from behind a patchwork of clouds. But, Joan had been down this trail before. She was running toward the main cabin.
She had been at Camp Willow for almost two full weeks. She had been up and down that trail at least ten times a day, every day. Of course, that was during the day, and always with her buddy, or a camp counselor (the children called them troop leaders). Joan had never been on the trail at night. And never alone.
Maybe I imagine Joan was scared because, as an adult, I believe that she should have been. I would have been terrified.
***
Excerpt from Eye For Eye by JK Franko. Copyright © 2019 by JK Franko. Reproduced with permission from JK Franko. All rights reserved.
J.K. FRANKO was born and raised in Texas. His Cuban-American parents agreed there were only three acceptable options for a male child: doctor, lawyer, and architect. After a disastrous first year of college pre-Med, he ended up getting a BA in philosophy (not acceptable), then he went to law school (salvaging the family name) and spent many years climbing the big law firm ladder. After ten years, he decided that law and family life weren’t compatible. He went back to school where he got an MBA and pursued a Ph.D. He left law for corporate America, with long stints in Europe and Asia.
His passion was always to be a writer. After publishing a number of non-fiction works, thousands of hours writing, and seven or eight abandoned fictional works over the course of eighteen years, EYE FOR EYE became his first published novel.
J.K. Franko now lives with his wife and children in Florida.
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jkfranko.com, Goodreads, Twitter, & Facebook!
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This is a rafflecopter giveaway hosted by Partners in Crime Virtual Book Tours for JK Franko. There will be 6 winners. Two (2) winners will each win (1) Amazon.com Gift Card. Two (2) winners will each win a signed copy of EYE FOR EYE by JK Franko (Open to U.S. addresses only) and Two (2) winners will each win a Knife set (Open to U.S. addresses only). The giveaway begins on July 22, 2019 and runs through September 22, 2019. Void where prohibited.
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That's What She's Reading 
I have seen nothing but rave reviews for this book, which is why it is waiting for me on my Kindle.
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