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Con Test: Double Life
William Fortune is a novelist that has created spine-jolting and masterful crime thrillers that catapults him to the Best Sellers List and blockbuster films. His prismatic life is being chased down by the intricately mystifying Justice Lorenzo, a con man that has been feeding William his plots for years. All is well considering Williams earnings keep Justice Lorenzo on the run from the Secret Service for identity theft, fraud related crimes, and the murder. A problem arises when Justice demands that William write his latest novel, DOUBLE LIFE, with the exact facts that placed Justice on the run. William refuses because that may lead to Justices arrest, and maybe his too, as an accessory after the fact. As a result Williams finds his self kidnapped, tortured and his wife doing the unthinkable to get the ransom money. The action in CON TEST brings LAPD and the Philadelphia Secret Service Agency to a complete halt and readers will be baffled to find that Williams fiction nove
260 pages, Paperback
First published March 18, 2011
9 people are currently reading
216 people want to read
About the author
Rahiem Brooks
31 books126 followersRahiem Jerome Brooks is the breakout novelist and is a member of the Mystery Writer's of America. His debut thriller, LAUGH NOW won 2010 African-Americans on the Move Book Club's (AAMBC) Book of the Year & he earned 2011 AAMBC Author of the Year. LAUGH NOW also the Most Creative Plot at the DMV Expo's Creative Excellent Awards. Rahiem was also nominated at the 2011 & 2012 African-American Literary Awards for Mystery of the Year for Con Test and Murder in Germantown.
Rahiem Brooks worked on a Film/TV certificate program at University of California, Los Angeles; however, he currently studies English at Harvard University.
He permanently resides in Philadelphia, PA. with a manx.
Rahiem Brooks worked on a Film/TV certificate program at University of California, Los Angeles; however, he currently studies English at Harvard University.
He permanently resides in Philadelphia, PA. with a manx.
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
July 10, 2011
THIS is what good reading is all about!
After serving an 18 months sentence for fraudulently using stolen corporate-platinum credit cards, it seems old habits die-hard for Justice Lorenzo. Out on a one year supervised release Justice is up to his old tricks again this time incognito doing what he does best.
Stuffy William Fortune is a 29yr old author with a number of crime novels in print and a couple adapted for movies. William is married to Lundin who heads up her own modeling agency. William and Lundin are living large in their respected careers and have a very loving relationship.
William is pretty much a private person and he doesn’t share where he gets the wealth of information for his books. But one man knows…Justice. Yes, William is writing Justice’s story of his crimes with Justice calling the shots on how to write it!! A disagreement on how to end the current novel sparks a serious turn of events for William and Justice that pulls the fiction off the pages of William's manuscript and into their real lives. These two men turn against each other in the most destructive way!
A criminal mystery, suspense story with a great physiological twist and surrounded by real life facts. The characters are cunning; the authorities are left with egg on their faces lol. Even though crimes are being committed I was still cheering for the bad guys!
Sharp story telling, skillful writing, and a twist that I didn’t see coming! I love how the chapters became smaller as the story intensifies! Cutting from one scene to the next as quickly as the reader’s curiosity BRAVO Rahiem Books!!!
My most EXCITING read thus far this year!
Reviewed an edited galley copy provided by author.
Locksie July 8, 2011
ARC Book Club Inc.
Star Rating 5.0*****
After serving an 18 months sentence for fraudulently using stolen corporate-platinum credit cards, it seems old habits die-hard for Justice Lorenzo. Out on a one year supervised release Justice is up to his old tricks again this time incognito doing what he does best.
Stuffy William Fortune is a 29yr old author with a number of crime novels in print and a couple adapted for movies. William is married to Lundin who heads up her own modeling agency. William and Lundin are living large in their respected careers and have a very loving relationship.
William is pretty much a private person and he doesn’t share where he gets the wealth of information for his books. But one man knows…Justice. Yes, William is writing Justice’s story of his crimes with Justice calling the shots on how to write it!! A disagreement on how to end the current novel sparks a serious turn of events for William and Justice that pulls the fiction off the pages of William's manuscript and into their real lives. These two men turn against each other in the most destructive way!
A criminal mystery, suspense story with a great physiological twist and surrounded by real life facts. The characters are cunning; the authorities are left with egg on their faces lol. Even though crimes are being committed I was still cheering for the bad guys!
Sharp story telling, skillful writing, and a twist that I didn’t see coming! I love how the chapters became smaller as the story intensifies! Cutting from one scene to the next as quickly as the reader’s curiosity BRAVO Rahiem Books!!!
My most EXCITING read thus far this year!
Reviewed an edited galley copy provided by author.
Locksie July 8, 2011
ARC Book Club Inc.
Star Rating 5.0*****
July 4, 2011
The author (Rahiem Brooks) sets up the scene in the first chapter, a scene for disaster about to happen at Wachovia Bank, where a cunning robbery takes place right in the teller’s face without any fingerprints to leave a trail behind. Justice Lorenzo had a photographic memory and good with numbers for his line of dirty work. He’s linked to Loss Prevention for his Identity Theft crimes, but nothing can stick because no fingerprints, surveillance cameras recycle their tapes every few months and his crime happened several months back, and he’s on a roll without a trace. He’s learned the system after doing this crime for twenty-four years.
On the other hand, William Fortune points out some writing issues and choices that authors have to make because their publishers are not necessarily into a good story but one that is salable.
There are some parts of the story that are action-packed, brilliantly written and jovial, as we gather into William’s character—some parts are a tad bit slow but cleverly linking the pieces together with the fast-lane, action-thriller, identity theft criminal known as Justice (JL). We have good boy versus bad boy. We see a story weaved into a fictional story that holds some truth because his buddy feeds it to him. The creative side of the author, Rahiem Brooks, he intertwines the story within a story to see the real story of his characters as the reader waits for the mystery of the story to unleash.
Dream 4 More Reviews received an advanced reader's copy (pdf) from the author for a book review.
Dream 4 More Reviews,
Adrienna Turner, author of "God is in the Equation" and "The Day Begins with Christ"
Wooed Me Dream!
On the other hand, William Fortune points out some writing issues and choices that authors have to make because their publishers are not necessarily into a good story but one that is salable.
There are some parts of the story that are action-packed, brilliantly written and jovial, as we gather into William’s character—some parts are a tad bit slow but cleverly linking the pieces together with the fast-lane, action-thriller, identity theft criminal known as Justice (JL). We have good boy versus bad boy. We see a story weaved into a fictional story that holds some truth because his buddy feeds it to him. The creative side of the author, Rahiem Brooks, he intertwines the story within a story to see the real story of his characters as the reader waits for the mystery of the story to unleash.
Dream 4 More Reviews received an advanced reader's copy (pdf) from the author for a book review.
Dream 4 More Reviews,
Adrienna Turner, author of "God is in the Equation" and "The Day Begins with Christ"
Wooed Me Dream!
August 29, 2011
ConTest by Rahiem Brooks
Reviewed by Michele Tooles
Justice Lorenzo, an extraordinary character, a masterful felon with many tricks up his sleeve that could scare the average identity theft victim has real charisma. He undoubtedly knows his way around the criminal sector of life and has manipulated this way of life to cater to his needs and wants. As his arrogance, snappy responses and knowledge of the law make him a believably cocky character he is also smart, crafty and resourceful. Mr. Brooks did a good job getting us to believe that this man is unscrupulous.
William Fortune, another hot character who has the charm and money to swoon most women of destitute manner, but he has an award winning wife who is by no other standards a Ride-Or-Die chick. Her high profile job and beauty would cripple the ego of an insecure man, but not William Fortune. He’s a Best Selling criminal writer who happens to have a really close connection to Justice Lorenzo, whose life he is bringing to the pages of every manuscript in his writing career. No wonder the story is so good, it’s fiction based on reality.
This book is truly a gem of a plot filled with deception and mystery but the writing style of the author is quite complex. Numerous chapters ended at points that left the reader wondering what just happened, especially since it never picked up until the later chapters where Mr. Brooks pulled the loose ends together. A plus side is that each chapter was short (no more than 4 pages) which gave the reader great breakpoints and a feel that they were progressing through the book.
Another reference point to this book that I need to mention is how at times the author had so much to say about a scene that when it hit the paper, it didn’t flow as smoothly as the reader would want it to.
On page 193, “William continued to drive away from Silverstein’s in an emergency situation. Dire. In that post-9/11 society everyone had a practiced method to handle all emergencies. He responded to his alarm going off as quickly as inmates in a California pen hitting the ground when a tower guard yelled, “Yard Down!”
If that was true, why was William dragged out of his car at gun point by a masked man. A man that he didn’t not know……”
This excerpt let me asking these questions: Why do we have a post 9/11 reference? What alarm, I thought the man was driving? Why are we talking about jail calls when you just told me about 9/11? If he is driving how did he get pulled out his car? If the man was masked, how would he know who it is?
All in all, I liked the plot and what Mr. Brooks seemingly has to offer the literary community but editing and scene fluidity needs to improve.
Reviewed by Michele Tooles
Justice Lorenzo, an extraordinary character, a masterful felon with many tricks up his sleeve that could scare the average identity theft victim has real charisma. He undoubtedly knows his way around the criminal sector of life and has manipulated this way of life to cater to his needs and wants. As his arrogance, snappy responses and knowledge of the law make him a believably cocky character he is also smart, crafty and resourceful. Mr. Brooks did a good job getting us to believe that this man is unscrupulous.
William Fortune, another hot character who has the charm and money to swoon most women of destitute manner, but he has an award winning wife who is by no other standards a Ride-Or-Die chick. Her high profile job and beauty would cripple the ego of an insecure man, but not William Fortune. He’s a Best Selling criminal writer who happens to have a really close connection to Justice Lorenzo, whose life he is bringing to the pages of every manuscript in his writing career. No wonder the story is so good, it’s fiction based on reality.
This book is truly a gem of a plot filled with deception and mystery but the writing style of the author is quite complex. Numerous chapters ended at points that left the reader wondering what just happened, especially since it never picked up until the later chapters where Mr. Brooks pulled the loose ends together. A plus side is that each chapter was short (no more than 4 pages) which gave the reader great breakpoints and a feel that they were progressing through the book.
Another reference point to this book that I need to mention is how at times the author had so much to say about a scene that when it hit the paper, it didn’t flow as smoothly as the reader would want it to.
On page 193, “William continued to drive away from Silverstein’s in an emergency situation. Dire. In that post-9/11 society everyone had a practiced method to handle all emergencies. He responded to his alarm going off as quickly as inmates in a California pen hitting the ground when a tower guard yelled, “Yard Down!”
If that was true, why was William dragged out of his car at gun point by a masked man. A man that he didn’t not know……”
This excerpt let me asking these questions: Why do we have a post 9/11 reference? What alarm, I thought the man was driving? Why are we talking about jail calls when you just told me about 9/11? If he is driving how did he get pulled out his car? If the man was masked, how would he know who it is?
All in all, I liked the plot and what Mr. Brooks seemingly has to offer the literary community but editing and scene fluidity needs to improve.
May 28, 2011
Picture
Rahiem Brooks
ISBN: 978-0-578-08154-0
www.rahiembrooks.com
Once again Rahiem brings you a great mystery, suspense novel with a crime twist.
but this time you get a gift, 2 books in one. First read about criminal Justice Lorenzo, and his crime spree that is so meticulous that there just isn't any evidence left behind to finger him.
Then meet William Fortune, a author that is writing Justice's story unknown to anyone his wife and publisher included. When his publisher and Justice have two different ideas of the ending, one being what will sell the other being the truth, William is put in the middle of an impossible situation with possible dyer consequences.
I wish Rahiem had not chose to use SO MANY words that one had to refer to a dictionary to gather their meaning. That did take away from the story, having to stop to find out what said words meaning was. Other than that, great great read!
TNK REVIEWS 4/2011
Rahiem Brooks
ISBN: 978-0-578-08154-0
www.rahiembrooks.com
Once again Rahiem brings you a great mystery, suspense novel with a crime twist.
but this time you get a gift, 2 books in one. First read about criminal Justice Lorenzo, and his crime spree that is so meticulous that there just isn't any evidence left behind to finger him.
Then meet William Fortune, a author that is writing Justice's story unknown to anyone his wife and publisher included. When his publisher and Justice have two different ideas of the ending, one being what will sell the other being the truth, William is put in the middle of an impossible situation with possible dyer consequences.
I wish Rahiem had not chose to use SO MANY words that one had to refer to a dictionary to gather their meaning. That did take away from the story, having to stop to find out what said words meaning was. Other than that, great great read!
TNK REVIEWS 4/2011
May 30, 2011
Mr. Brooks has written a compelling story of crime, fraud and deceit. He clearly defined the old saying, "Do you ever really know anyone?"
I enjoyed the banter between the three characters that embodied the Protagonist, with his multi-fauceted personality syndrome. And, I found his naming of the character Justice, a paradoxical fit.
I believe that this book is a catalyst for ensuring the future securities of many identity theft victims. If you read this book, you will learn way to protect yourself that you may not have thought of before. Likewise, I believe the plot can help larger companies tighten their security measures to prevent their own assets from being liquidated by thieves and con-artists.
It was a pleasure to read out of my normal range of fiction, and find a refreshingly new voice.
I enjoyed the banter between the three characters that embodied the Protagonist, with his multi-fauceted personality syndrome. And, I found his naming of the character Justice, a paradoxical fit.
I believe that this book is a catalyst for ensuring the future securities of many identity theft victims. If you read this book, you will learn way to protect yourself that you may not have thought of before. Likewise, I believe the plot can help larger companies tighten their security measures to prevent their own assets from being liquidated by thieves and con-artists.
It was a pleasure to read out of my normal range of fiction, and find a refreshingly new voice.
August 2, 2011
This is one of the best books I've read this year! The author leaves you sitting at the edge of your seat while reading this book and keeps you eager to find out what is going to happen to next. The story line was easy to keep up with and each character was properly developed. Not only did the author give you a visual you also could guess the characters reactions to different situations like you knew them. Please don't let my last sentence fool you. There are twists in this story that will leave your jaw dropped. I don't want to give any spoilers but this is differently a good read. Thank you Author Rahiem Brooks, the story was definetly worth my time and money. I can't wait to read your next release!
May 24, 2011
Who is Justice Lorenzo and what is his hold over bestselling author William Fortune? Will William allow Justice to jeopardize his fame and extravagant life with his beautiful wife? Author Rahiem Brooks cleverly answers all of these questions in Con Test with the skill of a veteran mystery writer. Con Test, a captivating story about identity theft, will have you reading through the night. You won’t be able to put this book down until you get to the end of this page-turning thriller.
April 21, 2011
Rahiem delivers an awesome story with his latest novel, CON TEST. This was my first read by this author, but I'm sure it won't be my last. Rahiem paints vivid pictures through his storytelling, the characters are very transparent. I'm looking forward to what's next from this author.
April 12, 2012
Rahiem by far is a writer that will be number 1 on the best sellers list. He is an excellent writer but also his novels grab you and entertain you. Rahiem was born to write. His characters, his story structure is on point . Contest is an wonderful book.
August 19, 2011
Book #5 in OOSA Bookclub's 3rd Quarter Reading Challenge.
April 5, 2011
Full review will be posted on Dream 4 More Reviews (Goodreads) profile.
4.75/5 stars. Hotness.
4.75/5 stars. Hotness.
May 9, 2011
another excdellent book by author Rahiem Brooks
August 26, 2011
As submitted by me to Writer's Vibe Magazine.
Justice Lorenzo, an extraordinary character, a masterful felon with many tricks up his sleeve that could scare the average identity theft victim has real charisma. He undoubtedly knows his way around the criminal sector of life and has manipulated this way of life to cater to his needs and wants. As his arrogance, snappy responses and knowledge of the law make him a believably cocky character he is also smart, crafty and resourceful. Mr. Brooks did a good job getting us to believe that this man is unscrupulous.
William Fortune, another hot character who has the charm and money to swoon most women of destitute manner, but he has an award winning wife who is by no other standards a Ride-Or-Die chick. Her high profile job and beauty would cripple the ego of an insecure man, but not William Fortune. He’s a Best Selling criminal writer who happens to have a really close connection to Justice Lorenzo, whose life he is bringing to the pages of every manuscript in his writing career. No wonder the story is so good, it’s fiction based on reality.
This book is truly a gem of a plot filled with deception and mystery but the writing style of the author is quite complex. Numerous chapters ended at points that left the reader wondering what just happened, especially since it never picked up until the later chapters where Mr. Brooks pulled the loose ends together. A plus side is that each chapter was short (no more than 4 pages) which gave the reader great breakpoints and a feel that they were progressing through the book.
Another reference point to this book that I need to mention is how at times the author had so much to say about a scene that when it hit the paper, it didn’t flow as smoothly as the reader would want it to.
On page 193, “William continued to drive away from Silverstein’s in an emergency situation. Dire. In that post-9/11 society everyone had a practiced method to handle all emergencies. He responded to his alarm going off as quickly as inmates in a California pen hitting the ground when a tower guard yelled, “Yard Down!”
If that was true, why was William dragged out of his car at gun point by a masked man. A man that he didn’t not know……”
This excerpt let me asking these questions: Why do we have a post 9/11 reference? What alarm, I thought the man was driving? Why are we talking about jail calls when you just told me about 9/11? If he is driving how did he get pulled out his car? If the man was masked, how would he know who it is?
All in all, I liked the plot and what Mr. Brooks seemingly has to offer the literary community but editing and scene fluidity needs to improve.
Justice Lorenzo, an extraordinary character, a masterful felon with many tricks up his sleeve that could scare the average identity theft victim has real charisma. He undoubtedly knows his way around the criminal sector of life and has manipulated this way of life to cater to his needs and wants. As his arrogance, snappy responses and knowledge of the law make him a believably cocky character he is also smart, crafty and resourceful. Mr. Brooks did a good job getting us to believe that this man is unscrupulous.
William Fortune, another hot character who has the charm and money to swoon most women of destitute manner, but he has an award winning wife who is by no other standards a Ride-Or-Die chick. Her high profile job and beauty would cripple the ego of an insecure man, but not William Fortune. He’s a Best Selling criminal writer who happens to have a really close connection to Justice Lorenzo, whose life he is bringing to the pages of every manuscript in his writing career. No wonder the story is so good, it’s fiction based on reality.
This book is truly a gem of a plot filled with deception and mystery but the writing style of the author is quite complex. Numerous chapters ended at points that left the reader wondering what just happened, especially since it never picked up until the later chapters where Mr. Brooks pulled the loose ends together. A plus side is that each chapter was short (no more than 4 pages) which gave the reader great breakpoints and a feel that they were progressing through the book.
Another reference point to this book that I need to mention is how at times the author had so much to say about a scene that when it hit the paper, it didn’t flow as smoothly as the reader would want it to.
On page 193, “William continued to drive away from Silverstein’s in an emergency situation. Dire. In that post-9/11 society everyone had a practiced method to handle all emergencies. He responded to his alarm going off as quickly as inmates in a California pen hitting the ground when a tower guard yelled, “Yard Down!”
If that was true, why was William dragged out of his car at gun point by a masked man. A man that he didn’t not know……”
This excerpt let me asking these questions: Why do we have a post 9/11 reference? What alarm, I thought the man was driving? Why are we talking about jail calls when you just told me about 9/11? If he is driving how did he get pulled out his car? If the man was masked, how would he know who it is?
All in all, I liked the plot and what Mr. Brooks seemingly has to offer the literary community but editing and scene fluidity needs to improve.
August 13, 2012
Con Test is a story within a story. And, to be truthful, it took a while to adjust to Rahiem Brooks’ style of writing. This is the first book that I have read that he has authored, so I do not know if that is his normal style of writing. Having said that, it is obviously the only way to “tell” the story of William Fortune and Justice Lorenzo.
Con Test is the story of writer William Fortune and his muse named Justice Lorenzo. Fortune is a suave and sophisticated novelist who is rocketing up the charts by writing best sellers. He is so good that some of his books have already been made into movies. He is also extremely private and reclusive. In fact, no one really even knows what he looks like.
Justice Lorenzo is a con man and hoodlum. He is a crook, identity thief, con man and, maybe even a murderer. He is also the source of inspiration and plot lines for William Fortune’s blockbuster novels. Their lives are entwined. Fortune provides financial support to Lorenzo to keep him one step ahead of the Secret Service. And Lorenzo provides the stories that Fortune puts on paper. Lorenzo lives his life on the run. The Secret Service has been on his trail for years. But the trail has gone cold. At the same time, Fortune’s world could not be more perfect. He has a perfect home, a perfect wife, and a perfect life. But there is a problem.
A problem arises when Lorenzo asserts himself in the writing of the next best seller. He demands that Fortune write his latest novel, Double Life, with the exact facts that Lorenzo dictates to him. But these are the facts that put him on the run from the police, FBI and Secret Service. Fortune is conflicted by the request. He refuses for fear that it that may lead to Lorenzo’s arrest, and maybe his own arrest as well as an accessory after the fact. This would dry up his inspirational fountain and would allow the world to see that he was not the creative genius that he appeared to be. The more Lorenzo shows up and asserts his rights and authority over the plot, the greater the danger for both men. As a result Fortune becomes entangled with crooked bankers and government agents who have discovered a great secret and who are looking to take advantage of the situation.
The story crescendos as multiple law enforcement agencies close in on Lorenzo at the same time some opportunistic characters seek to take advantage of the secret that they have discovered for their own financial gain. One of Lorenzo’s partners in crime joins forces with Fortune’s wife in a desperate attempt to protect his friend and her to rescue her husband.
Con Test is the story of writer William Fortune and his muse named Justice Lorenzo. Fortune is a suave and sophisticated novelist who is rocketing up the charts by writing best sellers. He is so good that some of his books have already been made into movies. He is also extremely private and reclusive. In fact, no one really even knows what he looks like.
Justice Lorenzo is a con man and hoodlum. He is a crook, identity thief, con man and, maybe even a murderer. He is also the source of inspiration and plot lines for William Fortune’s blockbuster novels. Their lives are entwined. Fortune provides financial support to Lorenzo to keep him one step ahead of the Secret Service. And Lorenzo provides the stories that Fortune puts on paper. Lorenzo lives his life on the run. The Secret Service has been on his trail for years. But the trail has gone cold. At the same time, Fortune’s world could not be more perfect. He has a perfect home, a perfect wife, and a perfect life. But there is a problem.
A problem arises when Lorenzo asserts himself in the writing of the next best seller. He demands that Fortune write his latest novel, Double Life, with the exact facts that Lorenzo dictates to him. But these are the facts that put him on the run from the police, FBI and Secret Service. Fortune is conflicted by the request. He refuses for fear that it that may lead to Lorenzo’s arrest, and maybe his own arrest as well as an accessory after the fact. This would dry up his inspirational fountain and would allow the world to see that he was not the creative genius that he appeared to be. The more Lorenzo shows up and asserts his rights and authority over the plot, the greater the danger for both men. As a result Fortune becomes entangled with crooked bankers and government agents who have discovered a great secret and who are looking to take advantage of the situation.
The story crescendos as multiple law enforcement agencies close in on Lorenzo at the same time some opportunistic characters seek to take advantage of the secret that they have discovered for their own financial gain. One of Lorenzo’s partners in crime joins forces with Fortune’s wife in a desperate attempt to protect his friend and her to rescue her husband.
December 21, 2011
WOW....this is thrilling suspense and an adventure, for sure!! LOVED IT!!
Con Test is a novel with a story within a story, that kept my mind reeling. As the plots grew and thickened, I felt like I was plunged smack dab in to the center of this drama, thrilling suspense and adventure! Great imagery, fantastic details, masterful character development, engaging story line.....just a few descriptions for this novel written in a fastidious manner with a plot thickening to the point of "wow", repeatedly.
As this tale (these tales) of a famed writer, William Fortune, who is penning novels surrounding identity theft unfolds, I was caught up in the realism as I could "see" it happening and I remained captivated. Rahiem Brooks spun these tales around this author writing about a lead character who is an identity theft artist and the lives of them both. One is taken from the criminal acts, through the escapes, catapulted into their lives, and taken for the ride-a-longs of the chases.
During the processes of capture and evading, several policing agencies are involved and they combat each other for the "top" spot. These battles are subsequently used against them and definitely impact the outcome of the case, which only adds to the intrigue and realism of the novel. This is all made that more interesting, as the "police" don't like how William Fortune portrays them.
As readers, we are left to marvel at the plot, twists, turns and adventures of these character and the others that make up this cast of Con Test. Once we learn that the lead character is feeding the author the stories as they unfolded, the suspense is heightened....especially when these two combat each other for "writing" the stories as they as told by the infamous Justice Lorenzo, as opposed to how the author, William Fortune, wants to tell them. Then last, but definitely not least, add in greed, temptation and subterfuge on multiple levels and ....WOW!! As the reader, I found myself rooting for the "bad guy" at many points throughout this novel. Mr. Brooks, great job sir!! I definitely await your next novel. I give this novel 5 stars within 5 stars!!
Con Test is a novel with a story within a story, that kept my mind reeling. As the plots grew and thickened, I felt like I was plunged smack dab in to the center of this drama, thrilling suspense and adventure! Great imagery, fantastic details, masterful character development, engaging story line.....just a few descriptions for this novel written in a fastidious manner with a plot thickening to the point of "wow", repeatedly.
As this tale (these tales) of a famed writer, William Fortune, who is penning novels surrounding identity theft unfolds, I was caught up in the realism as I could "see" it happening and I remained captivated. Rahiem Brooks spun these tales around this author writing about a lead character who is an identity theft artist and the lives of them both. One is taken from the criminal acts, through the escapes, catapulted into their lives, and taken for the ride-a-longs of the chases.
During the processes of capture and evading, several policing agencies are involved and they combat each other for the "top" spot. These battles are subsequently used against them and definitely impact the outcome of the case, which only adds to the intrigue and realism of the novel. This is all made that more interesting, as the "police" don't like how William Fortune portrays them.
As readers, we are left to marvel at the plot, twists, turns and adventures of these character and the others that make up this cast of Con Test. Once we learn that the lead character is feeding the author the stories as they unfolded, the suspense is heightened....especially when these two combat each other for "writing" the stories as they as told by the infamous Justice Lorenzo, as opposed to how the author, William Fortune, wants to tell them. Then last, but definitely not least, add in greed, temptation and subterfuge on multiple levels and ....WOW!! As the reader, I found myself rooting for the "bad guy" at many points throughout this novel. Mr. Brooks, great job sir!! I definitely await your next novel. I give this novel 5 stars within 5 stars!!
May 20, 2016
Mixed feelings on this one. It's readable but flawed. Think I was given it by Amazon and it was certainly better than the usual standard of free internet only books. Sadly it has the usual overload of spelling and editing errors though.
The plot is convoluted, but enjoyable if you don't think too much. A good light book for a plane or train journey maybe.
Without wanting to spoil what seems to me a fairly obvious character development, let's just say the William/Lorenzo interaction is fun but fizzles out in a fairly confused and rushed ending.
It's nice to find a non-high brow novel looking at African American perspectives but even though I enjoyed that aspect, I found the many tacky nouveau riche descriptions of William's wealth to be excessive and irritating, especially in view of his classy, intelligent behaviour earlier.
The plot is convoluted, but enjoyable if you don't think too much. A good light book for a plane or train journey maybe.
Without wanting to spoil what seems to me a fairly obvious character development, let's just say the William/Lorenzo interaction is fun but fizzles out in a fairly confused and rushed ending.
It's nice to find a non-high brow novel looking at African American perspectives but even though I enjoyed that aspect, I found the many tacky nouveau riche descriptions of William's wealth to be excessive and irritating, especially in view of his classy, intelligent behaviour earlier.
October 13, 2012
There might be a good story here, but it is smothered by bad writing and shallow characters. I might forgive the wasted pages in which we learn just how unrealistically wealthy the author character is by reading a litany of designer and brand names for his clothes if the grammar didn't fail so often. I'm stunned at what made it past the editor.
In the end, the writing was so tiresome that I gave up. Sadly, I'm not the least bit curious about what happened to the characters
In the end, the writing was so tiresome that I gave up. Sadly, I'm not the least bit curious about what happened to the characters
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews