71 ratings | 37 reviews | avg rating:3.97

J.L.’s Year In Books

J.L.’s 2025 Year in Books

Take a look at J.L.’s Year in Books, including some fun facts about their reading.

Go to J.L.’s 2025 Year in Books

J.L. Askew’s Followers (20)

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J.L.’s Friends (6)

Melodie Coulter-Pennington

769 books | 186 friends

Bamidele Daniel

72 books | 28 friends

Lee Askew

3 books | 1 friend

Cocoa Allen

0 books | 13 friends

Gabriella Askew

0 books | 2 friends

scarlet

330 books | 3 friends

J.L. Askew

Goodreads Author

Born

April 24

Website

https://www.jlaskew.com/

Member Since

March 2012

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Popular Answered Questions

What mystery in your own life could be a plot for a book?

J.L. Askew What mystery in your own life would make a plot for a book?
While I can think of a few mysteries in my life, those that first come to mind are deeply p…moreWhat mystery in your own life would make a plot for a book?
While I can think of a few mysteries in my life, those that first come to mind are deeply personal and not something I would readily discuss. They could be shaped into a plot for a book, but I doubt I would ever want to try.
What it really comes down to is how you define a mystery. The dictionary says it’s anything that is unknown, unexplained, or kept secret. Since life is full of unknowns and the unexplained, the potential topics for plots are endless. Any topic can be interesting in the hands of a talented writer, but every subject making a mystery may not appeal to most readers. While many unknowns in my life could be worked into a book plot, I have little interest in doing so.
Plot can be defined as a character’s motives linked to actions and consequences in clear logical progression, or as Forster put it, “complication, crisis, and solution”. Any strengths I might have as a writer are not in construction of plots. My idea of plot development is akin to making an outline or constructing Venn diagrams, things I’m not good at. I do plots like I do most of my writing, by the seat of my pants.
My second book, a debut novel, will soon be out so I suppose I can leave it to reviewers to judge my writing of plots.
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What books are on your summer reading list this year?

J.L. Askew There is only one book on my summer list, “Lies My Teacher Told Me” by James W. Loewen. Spending most of my time writing my next book (a work of ficti…moreThere is only one book on my summer list, “Lies My Teacher Told Me” by James W. Loewen. Spending most of my time writing my next book (a work of fiction), has reduced time for reading, leaving my summer list with a single title. Although I’m into chapter two, I had an opinion before I began, based on the author’s bio, the back cover blurb, and the fact my granddaughter is reading it. I want to compare notes with her once we’re both finished, although I suspect our views will be quite different. I recently published a book on a narrow segment of the Civil War, partly based on my great-grandfather’s military service, so I have settled opinion on what a history book should be. My granddaughter, not quite seventeen, also has strong views. I’m sure she will finish the book before me, if she hasn’t already done so. Although a fast reader myself, most of my current book time is devoted to my novel-in-progress. But I won’t neglect my summer list, intending to finish Loewen’s work, then discuss it with my granddaughter.

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Combine Editions
J.L. Askew’s books

Average rating: 4.13 · 162 ratings · 135 reviews · 3 distinct works • Similar authors

	ALASKA DEADLY: A Novel really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 88 ratings — published 2023 — 4 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Alaska Bloodlust 4.36 avg rating — 47 ratings — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	War In The Mountains: The Macbeth Light Artillery at Asheville, NC 1864-1865 4.15 avg rating — 27 ratings — 3 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

* Note: these are all the books on Goodreads for this author. To add more, click here.

17 posts
J.L. Askew's Blog

Connecting With the Past

I first learned of the Askew cemetery in 2016 while conducting research in Union, SC. I had begun an in depth investigation for a book about my great-grandfather’s artillery unit in the American Civil War. In Union I went to the Public Library and the Union County Museum, spending hours taking notes and photo-copying material. I also went to several church cemeteries to get pictures of the graves Read more of this blog post »

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Published on October 23, 2025 04:35

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J.L.’s Recent Updates

J.L. Askew made a comment on Jeanie’s review of Alaska Bloodlust " Thank you, Jeanie, for a very perceptive review. "
Mar 31, 2026 09:05AM · see review
J.L. Askew is now following Jeanie, Tanya, and Becca
Mar 31, 2026 09:03AM
J.L. Askew made a comment on Kimberly ’s review of Alaska Bloodlust " Thank you, Kimbery, for the nice review! "
Mar 31, 2026 08:29AM · see review
J.L. Askew and 5 other people liked Agnes Odek's review of Alaska Bloodlust: "Alaska Bloodlust, the second book in this installment, is an outstanding continuation of Alaska Deadly. The protagonist, Race Warren, in this psychological thriller is a representation of bravery and sacrifice when loved ones are faced with adversiti" Read more of this review »
Mar 31, 2026 08:18AM · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Alaska Bloodlust by J.L. Askew. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Alaska Bloodlust by J.L. Askew <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
J.L. Askew rated a book it was amazing Inferno in Chechnya: The Russian-Chechen Wars, the Al Qaeda Myth, and the Boston Marathon Bombings by Brian Glyn Williams	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Brian Glyn Williams provides historical context for the two modern Russia-Chechnya Wars. Chechnya’s enmity with Russia began centuries ago with the slavic empire’s expansion to the Caucasus where their armies waged bloody battles to subdue the Chechen ...more
Dec 26, 2025 08:23AM · like · see review
J.L. Askew rated a book it was amazing A Dirty War by Anna Politkovskaya	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
This journalistic report of the horrors of war and its aftermath is intensely graphic. The author writes a series of vignettes describing the immense suffering of Chechen civilians during the Russian-Chechen Wars of 1994 – 1996 and 1999 – 2009. The a ...more
Dec 23, 2025 09:09AM · like · see review
J.L. Askew rated a book it was amazing Fangs of the Lone Wolf: Chechen Tactics in the Russian-Chechen War 1994-2009 by Dodge Billingsley	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
This book provides in depth coverage of the tactics employed by small groups of Chechen insurgents as they fought the larger mechanized Russian army. The highly motivated resistance in Chechnya was willing to do whatever it took to punish the Russian ...more
Dec 17, 2025 09:16AM · like · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Fangs of the Lone Wolf by Dodge Billingsley. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Fangs of the Lone Wolf by Dodge Billingsley <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
J.L. Askew rated a book it was amazing The Killing Floor by Lee Child (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
The first Jack Reacher novel is gritty and blunt, a true original in the mystery/thriller genre. The hero arrives a stranger in a small Southern town and finds himself falsely accused of murder. While in jail he clears himself and is poised to leave ...more
Dec 01, 2025 09:15AM · like · see review

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