I gave On Lucky Shores by Kerry J Donovan 4* out of 5*
The Book Blurb:
In an action-packed tale of secrets and lies in small town America, Chet Walker is a man forced to make decisions that will affect his future and the life of the woman he loves.
Witness to a car crash and in receipt of a cryptic message from a dying man, traveling musician, Chet Walker, reaches the picturesque lakeside town of Lucky Shores. He faces hostility and suspicion from the locals and learns that the information he carries could unlock an eight-year-old mystery—it could also get him killed.
Josephine Dolan, owner of the Lucky Shores diner, wants to bury her past. When Walker arrives with a message from her father, she doesn’t want to hear it. She cuts him cold.
When his life is threatened, Chet Walker learns the truth behind the saying, “no good deed goes unpunished.”
And what Advance Review Copy readers say:
“…great humour throughout and the romance was handled really well … the plot resolution was fantastic…” Ashley Capes author of The Bone Mask Trilogy.
“…more twists and turns than an Agatha Christie whodunit, and more surprises than a box of Cracker Jacks. Lee Child will blanch with envy,” Deforest Day, author of A Cold Killing.
“…keeps you up at night, turning the page, wanting to know what happens next. A nice mix of scenery, relationships and action, with plenty of mysterious twists and turns, keeps the pace of the story moving.” Suzanne Pherigo, ARC reviewer.
“…action-packed adventure I greatly enjoyed … superb …” Sophie Bristow Harris, host of ‘Kindle Suggestions’
The above reviews say it all really. But here are my thoughts.
Kerry Donovan’s writing style is admirable; his method of telling a story is easy to read but gives a depth to a plot that keeps the reader interested.
The book is set in a small town called Lucky Shores in the Colorado Rockies, a town struggling in poverty. But rich in disparate characters.
I loved the protagonist Chet Walker, a musician travelling around the country, looking for gigs to perform in wherever he can find them. The author has created a many-sided character with a mysterious background that if deftly revealed as the story progresses. And Joey (Josephine) Dolan is a perfect foil for him; yet another rounded character. In fact there isn’t one character in the book, whether I liked them or not, that I didn’t believe in.
The dialogue differentiates all these characters, it’s easy to work out who is speaking without the attributions and although the author uses American euphemisms, syntax and slang it was easy for me to read; in fact it would have been wrong not to stay true to the setting of the book.
And the descriptions of the settings are evocative and full of imagery. All create a picture for the action.
I don’t easily follow fight scenes; they’re as difficult for me to envisage as they seem to be awkward to write for many authors. But Kerry Donovan makes them both visible and (dare I say?) funny. The descriptions of the protagonist’s use of martial arts are brilliantly depicted
The pace of the plot moves steadily but with many surprising twists and turns, building the tension as the story reaches the denouement. Yet is this the end of Chet Walker? Somehow I think not.
This is a thrilling mixture of adventure, crime, mystery, romance; a real cross genre of a book. I enjoyed the read and don’t hesitate to recommend i
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review as a member of Rosie’s Book Review Team #RBRT
Buying links here:
Amazon.co.uk:
Amazon.com:
Judith Barrow 