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The Pineville Heist
The Pineville Heist is a #1 Bestselling Amazon Thriller. Seventeen year old Aaron Stevens stumbles into the aftermath of a five million dollar bank heist gone wrong. Hiding under a canoe, Aaron partially catches the murder of one of the robbers. In the chaos he sneaks away with the money and heads straight for the closest place of safety, his high school. Terrified, Aaron tells his shocking tale to Amanda Becker, his drama teacher, but it doesn’t take long for one of the psychotic robbers to show up. In the locked down school the pair are relentlessly pursued in a quest to get the money back and wipe out the evidence.
194 pages, Paperback
First published July 20, 2011
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562 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 79 reviews
March 6, 2012
The Pineville Heist is a super fast paced, action packed, to the point read. I was glued to the pages from start to finish and even managed to finish the book in one sitting. It was tense, surprising at every twist and turn and had me on the edge of my seat throughout. Lee Chambers has done an exceptional job with this thrilling read.
Aaron is the seventeen year old son of the most richest and most powerful man in Pineville. That doesn't really sit well with people as his dad is public enemy number one, he is planning to close down the Mill, the biggest employer in Pineville.
Aaron happens upon some men in the forest, when walking through with his two friends. The men are re-grouping from a muli-million pound bank robbery. The teenagers witness a shooting and are discovered by the men. They scatter in all directions, Aaron running to the closest safe place he can think of, the High-school.
Aaron belts in through the door and tells the nearest person, who just so happens to be his English teacher Miss Becker. She immediately calls the police and that's when things take a turn for the worst. Aaron and Miss Becker are relentlessly pursued for the missing money, which Aaron just so happened to take with him from the scene in the forest.
I really don't want to give too much away as the details really are shocking. The ending is fantastic, talk about a double whammy.
I loved the Pineville Heist and I think most people will too. Add it to your Goodreads shelf today or buy it on Amazon.
My favourite character has to be the main one:
Aaron - What a trooper, he went from being a boy to being a man all in the space of one night. He was strong, fearless, intelligent and he cared and looked after the people around him. He went on such a journey throughout the book.
5/5 Stars
Carly :)
*Special thanks goes out to Lee Chambers for the review copy.*
http://fictionfascination.blogspot.com/
Aaron is the seventeen year old son of the most richest and most powerful man in Pineville. That doesn't really sit well with people as his dad is public enemy number one, he is planning to close down the Mill, the biggest employer in Pineville.
Aaron happens upon some men in the forest, when walking through with his two friends. The men are re-grouping from a muli-million pound bank robbery. The teenagers witness a shooting and are discovered by the men. They scatter in all directions, Aaron running to the closest safe place he can think of, the High-school.
Aaron belts in through the door and tells the nearest person, who just so happens to be his English teacher Miss Becker. She immediately calls the police and that's when things take a turn for the worst. Aaron and Miss Becker are relentlessly pursued for the missing money, which Aaron just so happened to take with him from the scene in the forest.
I really don't want to give too much away as the details really are shocking. The ending is fantastic, talk about a double whammy.
I loved the Pineville Heist and I think most people will too. Add it to your Goodreads shelf today or buy it on Amazon.
My favourite character has to be the main one:
Aaron - What a trooper, he went from being a boy to being a man all in the space of one night. He was strong, fearless, intelligent and he cared and looked after the people around him. He went on such a journey throughout the book.
5/5 Stars
Carly :)
*Special thanks goes out to Lee Chambers for the review copy.*
http://fictionfascination.blogspot.com/
November 23, 2012
3.5 Stars
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The Three Investigators meets Die Hard
Aaron stumbles into a bank robbers hideout in the woods and while there he witnesses the murder of one of them. With their loot and on the run he heads to school where he finds himself trapped with his drama teacher while one of the robbers hunts them down.
When I was maybe 10 or 11, my father brought home an entire box of second hand Three Investigators novels. I was completely obsessed with those books, with Jupiter Jones, Pete Crenshaw and Bob Andrews. I loved their secret hide-out and their crime solving exploits.
The Pineville Heist feels very much like one of those books, although with a lot more carnage. It's very good young adult fiction. That said the level of violence might make it unsuitable for anyone under 13 or 14.
Many Thanks to Smith Publicity and Netgalley for providing me with this ARC
[image error]The Three Investigators meets Die Hard
Aaron stumbles into a bank robbers hideout in the woods and while there he witnesses the murder of one of them. With their loot and on the run he heads to school where he finds himself trapped with his drama teacher while one of the robbers hunts them down.
When I was maybe 10 or 11, my father brought home an entire box of second hand Three Investigators novels. I was completely obsessed with those books, with Jupiter Jones, Pete Crenshaw and Bob Andrews. I loved their secret hide-out and their crime solving exploits.
The Pineville Heist feels very much like one of those books, although with a lot more carnage. It's very good young adult fiction. That said the level of violence might make it unsuitable for anyone under 13 or 14.
Many Thanks to Smith Publicity and Netgalley for providing me with this ARC
April 2, 2021
I received this book from Lee Chambers. I am late on reading this book and doing my review. I really wish I had read it earlier!
The Pineville Heist was a very quick and fun read! Aaron Stevens is the son of the man that is going to destroy Pineville. Bank robbers decide to hit the local bank and steal 5 million dollars. Aaron, Mike and Steve discover a campsite and then hear gun shots in the woods. This is when things get interesting.
Aaron, Mike and Steve all hide once they hear the gun shot. Mike and Steve leave their hiding spot after the one robber is shot. Aaron is still hiding and finds the duffel bag filled with money. Aaron goes to the one place he feels is the safest, school.
This book just kept moving and I didn't want to put it down. I love when a book keeps me interested and not wanting to stop reading. The Pineville Heist did not disappoint.
The Pineville Heist was a very quick and fun read! Aaron Stevens is the son of the man that is going to destroy Pineville. Bank robbers decide to hit the local bank and steal 5 million dollars. Aaron, Mike and Steve discover a campsite and then hear gun shots in the woods. This is when things get interesting.
Aaron, Mike and Steve all hide once they hear the gun shot. Mike and Steve leave their hiding spot after the one robber is shot. Aaron is still hiding and finds the duffel bag filled with money. Aaron goes to the one place he feels is the safest, school.
This book just kept moving and I didn't want to put it down. I love when a book keeps me interested and not wanting to stop reading. The Pineville Heist did not disappoint.
June 16, 2014
I don’t feel like I know the characters. I don’t care much what happens to them initially. They are just people running around doing something which I’m supposed to care about, but don’t. A few instances occur where sentences are chopped. They should continue with a few more words but don’t. It makes following the story more difficult as I have no idea what a particular character is saying since they don’t finish their sentence.
The writing is simple; almost so simple I’m not captivated by it. I got distracted while reading and wasn’t in a rush to get back into the story during the first 30% of the book. It’s at this point I would consider quitting if I’m not drawn into a story because things probably won’t get any better. I kept waiting for the action to begin and the plot to unfold. With the novel topping off at 148 pages though, the story has to get exciting from Jump Street or readers won’t think twice about picking up the book.
The narrative jumps around too much within the space of a sentence. It can get confusing for the reader to follow along the chain of events along the timeline provided. Also, the work needs to be edited. When a person is cut off, instead of there being an em dash to show the sentence is abruptly ending, a period is in place, leaving a statement which looks incomplete. There’s extra punctuation where there shouldn’t be. The dialogue seems stilted and contrived. I don’t believe the emotions purported by the characters. The metaphors are overdone. It’s fine to compare something to give the reader a clear picture of what you want them to see, but you have to allow them to use their imagination as well.
The twist that is supposed to shock readers is predictable and can be seen from a mile away. Not even halfway through the book I know who isn’t whom they appear to be. It’s frustrating to read since the main character doesn’t see what’s going on in front of his face.
This book just isn’t for me. I’m sure it will be entertaining for others who aren’t picky like I am when it comes to sentence structure and plot, but I found myself wanting to read something else. It just didn’t hold my attention. It also reads like a screenplay, which makes sense because the book is the result of the screenplay. The Pineville Heist may work better on screen than as a novel.
I was provided an ARC of this novel by NetGalley and the publisher for an honest review.
The writing is simple; almost so simple I’m not captivated by it. I got distracted while reading and wasn’t in a rush to get back into the story during the first 30% of the book. It’s at this point I would consider quitting if I’m not drawn into a story because things probably won’t get any better. I kept waiting for the action to begin and the plot to unfold. With the novel topping off at 148 pages though, the story has to get exciting from Jump Street or readers won’t think twice about picking up the book.
The narrative jumps around too much within the space of a sentence. It can get confusing for the reader to follow along the chain of events along the timeline provided. Also, the work needs to be edited. When a person is cut off, instead of there being an em dash to show the sentence is abruptly ending, a period is in place, leaving a statement which looks incomplete. There’s extra punctuation where there shouldn’t be. The dialogue seems stilted and contrived. I don’t believe the emotions purported by the characters. The metaphors are overdone. It’s fine to compare something to give the reader a clear picture of what you want them to see, but you have to allow them to use their imagination as well.
The twist that is supposed to shock readers is predictable and can be seen from a mile away. Not even halfway through the book I know who isn’t whom they appear to be. It’s frustrating to read since the main character doesn’t see what’s going on in front of his face.
This book just isn’t for me. I’m sure it will be entertaining for others who aren’t picky like I am when it comes to sentence structure and plot, but I found myself wanting to read something else. It just didn’t hold my attention. It also reads like a screenplay, which makes sense because the book is the result of the screenplay. The Pineville Heist may work better on screen than as a novel.
I was provided an ARC of this novel by NetGalley and the publisher for an honest review.
February 28, 2012
This novel is about your average teenager caught in the wrong place at the wrong time. He might just pay with his life.
Pineville is a small town in Ontario that has seen better days. Its last remaining bit of industry, a mill, has been bought by Derek Stevens, a corporate-raider type. The expectation is that he will close the mill, turning Pineville into a ghost town. Anticipating your town's demise can make people do strange things. That makes Aaron, his son, not the most popular person at the local high school.
Cutting class one day, Aaron and a couple of friends head for the woods just beyond the high school, and come upon a bank robbery gone bad. Hiding under a canoe, Aaron sees a couple of the robbers shot point blank by an unknown person. Grabbing a knapsack full of money from the bank that was robbed, Aaron makes it back to the school. Steve, one of his freinds, wasn't so lucky.
The school day is over, so the school is deserted. Aaron runs into Miss Becker, his drama teacher, only a few years older than Aaron. She becomes convinced that he is telling the truth when "Mr. Big," the person who did the shooting, enters the school. He makes it clear that he wants the money, and that he does not plan to leave witnesses. Mr. Big has smashed the school's electrical circuit breakers, plunging the school into darkness. Earlier, the principal made the school a "no cell phone" area, so there is no way to call for help. They are also locked in for the evening.
The three fight several pitched battles all over the school. Every time Aaron and Miss Becker think that Mr. Big is no longer a threat, he wakes up, meaner and more upset than ever. Do Aaron and Miss becker survive the night? Is Mr. Big taken care of, once and for all?
I read the entire second half of this book in one sitting, it's that good. The book is somewhere in the process of being made into a movie. If it is anywhere near as thrilling as this novel, it is recommended for teens and adults.
Pineville is a small town in Ontario that has seen better days. Its last remaining bit of industry, a mill, has been bought by Derek Stevens, a corporate-raider type. The expectation is that he will close the mill, turning Pineville into a ghost town. Anticipating your town's demise can make people do strange things. That makes Aaron, his son, not the most popular person at the local high school.
Cutting class one day, Aaron and a couple of friends head for the woods just beyond the high school, and come upon a bank robbery gone bad. Hiding under a canoe, Aaron sees a couple of the robbers shot point blank by an unknown person. Grabbing a knapsack full of money from the bank that was robbed, Aaron makes it back to the school. Steve, one of his freinds, wasn't so lucky.
The school day is over, so the school is deserted. Aaron runs into Miss Becker, his drama teacher, only a few years older than Aaron. She becomes convinced that he is telling the truth when "Mr. Big," the person who did the shooting, enters the school. He makes it clear that he wants the money, and that he does not plan to leave witnesses. Mr. Big has smashed the school's electrical circuit breakers, plunging the school into darkness. Earlier, the principal made the school a "no cell phone" area, so there is no way to call for help. They are also locked in for the evening.
The three fight several pitched battles all over the school. Every time Aaron and Miss Becker think that Mr. Big is no longer a threat, he wakes up, meaner and more upset than ever. Do Aaron and Miss becker survive the night? Is Mr. Big taken care of, once and for all?
I read the entire second half of this book in one sitting, it's that good. The book is somewhere in the process of being made into a movie. If it is anywhere near as thrilling as this novel, it is recommended for teens and adults.
March 23, 2016
Once this review pitch landed in my in-box, I was intrigued. Here was a story that had so much action it could punch you in the face. I was glad that was true. This book is most definitely for boys. There’s tons of action, flirting, murder, and violence. Oh and did I mention how fast paced it was? It pretty much reads like a movie. (Think Dan Brown’s The Da Vinci Code), so I wasn’t too surprised that Lee Chambers adapted it from his screen-play. And did I mention it was also being made into a movie?!
Aaron is your typical teenage boy, trying to get by at school, trying not to be attracted to his hottie drama teacher, and trying to keep out of trouble from his father’s very demanding and sometimes bullying ways. After his dad rudely kicks him out of the car on his way to school, he witnesses a murder. A murderer running rampant on the school grounds and he has to find the killer and bring him to justice.
There’s a lot of twists and turns in this one. Mostly predictable, but it was also a very enjoyable read. I did mention there’s a lot of action right? Hardly any dialogue, very little character development and a ton of plot twists. There’s one scene where Aaron’s horny thoughts felt completely out of context, but then again hormones run wild at that age and he’s a boy. Enough said.
Pick this best-selling thriller on Kobo or Amazon if you love action-packed books, you won’t be disappointed.
Aaron is your typical teenage boy, trying to get by at school, trying not to be attracted to his hottie drama teacher, and trying to keep out of trouble from his father’s very demanding and sometimes bullying ways. After his dad rudely kicks him out of the car on his way to school, he witnesses a murder. A murderer running rampant on the school grounds and he has to find the killer and bring him to justice.
There’s a lot of twists and turns in this one. Mostly predictable, but it was also a very enjoyable read. I did mention there’s a lot of action right? Hardly any dialogue, very little character development and a ton of plot twists. There’s one scene where Aaron’s horny thoughts felt completely out of context, but then again hormones run wild at that age and he’s a boy. Enough said.
Pick this best-selling thriller on Kobo or Amazon if you love action-packed books, you won’t be disappointed.
October 11, 2011
Full, non-spoiler review at Book & Movie Dimension a Blog
Aaron Stevens an increasingly rich boy has had rocky relationship with his town because of his father, Derek Stevens, being called out for keeping all the wealth he has to himself while the town of Pineville where Aaron lives deteriorates. Aaron himself isn't the biggest fan of his dad. Even so, when Aaron overhears a murder that is over stealing his dad's money, he steps in to try to stop it. But the robbers are money greedy and will not give it up easily. Every moment in The Pineville Heist is laced with surprises that excite fans of mystery/suspense so well.
Aaron is a neat character that thinks very reasonably but does but springs on us moments of teenage problems that are understandable for a teenage boy. This adds to the realistic feel to the novel overall. As the story progresses we see Aaron learning to grow up. After all when a dangerous unknown killer is after, you hate to.
The Pineville Heist is an adrenaline spiked story urging the question of 'To Die or Not to Die' against robbers who are more than willing to murder for greed.
Aaron Stevens an increasingly rich boy has had rocky relationship with his town because of his father, Derek Stevens, being called out for keeping all the wealth he has to himself while the town of Pineville where Aaron lives deteriorates. Aaron himself isn't the biggest fan of his dad. Even so, when Aaron overhears a murder that is over stealing his dad's money, he steps in to try to stop it. But the robbers are money greedy and will not give it up easily. Every moment in The Pineville Heist is laced with surprises that excite fans of mystery/suspense so well.
Aaron is a neat character that thinks very reasonably but does but springs on us moments of teenage problems that are understandable for a teenage boy. This adds to the realistic feel to the novel overall. As the story progresses we see Aaron learning to grow up. After all when a dangerous unknown killer is after, you hate to.
The Pineville Heist is an adrenaline spiked story urging the question of 'To Die or Not to Die' against robbers who are more than willing to murder for greed.
January 2, 2013
A book full of action packed fast paced scenes. Running, fighting and near death moments that made this novel an super fast read.
When a large amount of money is stolen, Aaron takes it upon himself to find the money and get it to the rightful owner. But in his escape he is tracked down by some very dangerous men. He is able to get his teacher Amanda trapped in the school with the gunman as well. And loses some friends along the way.
The story takes many several twists as Aaron beings to learn things about his father, the family business and what that large amount of money is going to be used for. There were twists and one big wow moment that definitely makes this screen-worthy. It's going to make an awesome movie!
When a large amount of money is stolen, Aaron takes it upon himself to find the money and get it to the rightful owner. But in his escape he is tracked down by some very dangerous men. He is able to get his teacher Amanda trapped in the school with the gunman as well. And loses some friends along the way.
The story takes many several twists as Aaron beings to learn things about his father, the family business and what that large amount of money is going to be used for. There were twists and one big wow moment that definitely makes this screen-worthy. It's going to make an awesome movie!
January 5, 2013
WHY I CHOSE TO READ THIS?
THE PINEVILLE HEIST was sent to me as an e-galley for the purposes of providing a completely honest review. I noticed that other reviews of this novel were generally positive, stating that it was both thrilling and unpredictable. I generally do not gravitate towards the thriller/mystery type genre, but I am most definitely open to giving everything at least a fair shot -- especially when the reviews are so positive!
THE PLOT?
Basically, THE PINEVILLE HEIST is the story of Aaron, the son of the wealthiest man in the small town he inhabits, and the adventure he stumbles upon when he and his two friends just happen to witness bank robbers stashing millions of dollars in the woods near their homes. The reader is guided through a series of crazy twists and turns, in which one is (hopefully) completely surprised at just who can and cannot be trusted in this small town. Aaron ends up trapped in his own school with bank robbers who are willing to commit murder to make it away with their stash of millions. Everything is fast paced, action packed, and exciting -- for sure!
Backing up a bit, though, the reader is still presented with a fair amount of insight into the main character, Aaron, which prevents this from being a solely plot driven novel. We learn that Aaron's father, Derek, has invested in the mill, an important landmark that prides itself on being nearly the sole drive for employment and economics in the town. Lately, things have been rapidly plummeting in the town economy, though, leaving everyone fearful of the financial future of the town -- everyone, that is, except for Derek, who noticeably profits from the mill at a level that keeps him lavishing in a life of luxury, while the rest of the town suffers.
So, when the bank in town is robbed, with a reported loss of somewhere between four or five million dollars, it is suspected that the robbery may be somehow related to Derek's investment at the mill. Of course, Aaron hardly expects to find himself hiding in the woods, witnessing not only a confession to the robbery but also an act of murder -- right in front of his eyes! It doesn't take long, of course, for the murderers to realize that their secret is no longer safe, which results in the chaos at the school, where Aaron becomes trapped with a favorite teacher, a police officer and sheriff, one of his closest friends, and perhaps even the murders/robbers themselves!
Through the twists and turns, the reader is left not only to determine who might be responsible for the crime but to also speculate on whether or not Aaron and his friends may even come out of it all alive!
MY THOUGHTS?
Like I said, this is not normally the type of novel that catches my eye, and quite honestly I tend to feel disappointed by thriller type stories more often than not, for whatever reason. I think, at times, that stories high in action can sometimes lack in other areas -- precisely in that of character development or insight into the thoughts and emotions behind the story. Now, this novel takes place in a relatively short period of time, so there really is not as much opportunity to focus on the development of Aaron and his friends -- yet, the author does still manage to give enough sensitivity to the backstory of Aaron's family situation that it allows the reader to feel less distanced from the protagonist. If I, as a reader, feel completely detached from the main character, no amount of action can really draw me into the story enough to keep my attention until the final page, it seems.
But, I think my favorite thing about this book was that it really did keep me entertained without feeling formulaic or predictable. Now, maybe I just haven't read enough of the genre to be a master of determining the culprit, but I was surprised multiple times at which characters could be trusted and which ones were involved in the crime. Just when I had everything mapped out in my mind, the author would throw me for another loop -- and this is most definitely a quality that I enjoy in any novel, particularly those that are more focused on the action of the plotline.
I did enjoy this story much more than I expected and I'm thoroughly glad I had the opportunity to read and review the story!
WHO SHOULD READ?
If you love action packed, thrilling young adult fiction that is entertaining without being overly complicated, I think this is a spectacular choice for you. It is not a particularly long story, either, so it should appeal to those of us with shorter attention spans, for sure.
WHO SHOULD AVOID?
I can't even say that those readers who dislike thriller/action type novels should avoid this story, because I know that I find myself in that category and I did still really like this book. I suppose that if you're trying to sit down to read something of great intellectual importance, like War and Peace, that THE PINEVILLE HEIST may not be the best choice at that moment.
THE VERDICT IS?
I would give this novel four stars. It was fun, entertaining, and exciting. I only hesitated to give it a full five stars because I think some of the joy here was in the factor of the unexpected. That said, I'm not sure I would necessarily find myself rereading this story, since it does hinge so heavily on keeping the reader surprised.
THE PINEVILLE HEIST was sent to me as an e-galley for the purposes of providing a completely honest review. I noticed that other reviews of this novel were generally positive, stating that it was both thrilling and unpredictable. I generally do not gravitate towards the thriller/mystery type genre, but I am most definitely open to giving everything at least a fair shot -- especially when the reviews are so positive!
THE PLOT?
Basically, THE PINEVILLE HEIST is the story of Aaron, the son of the wealthiest man in the small town he inhabits, and the adventure he stumbles upon when he and his two friends just happen to witness bank robbers stashing millions of dollars in the woods near their homes. The reader is guided through a series of crazy twists and turns, in which one is (hopefully) completely surprised at just who can and cannot be trusted in this small town. Aaron ends up trapped in his own school with bank robbers who are willing to commit murder to make it away with their stash of millions. Everything is fast paced, action packed, and exciting -- for sure!
Backing up a bit, though, the reader is still presented with a fair amount of insight into the main character, Aaron, which prevents this from being a solely plot driven novel. We learn that Aaron's father, Derek, has invested in the mill, an important landmark that prides itself on being nearly the sole drive for employment and economics in the town. Lately, things have been rapidly plummeting in the town economy, though, leaving everyone fearful of the financial future of the town -- everyone, that is, except for Derek, who noticeably profits from the mill at a level that keeps him lavishing in a life of luxury, while the rest of the town suffers.
So, when the bank in town is robbed, with a reported loss of somewhere between four or five million dollars, it is suspected that the robbery may be somehow related to Derek's investment at the mill. Of course, Aaron hardly expects to find himself hiding in the woods, witnessing not only a confession to the robbery but also an act of murder -- right in front of his eyes! It doesn't take long, of course, for the murderers to realize that their secret is no longer safe, which results in the chaos at the school, where Aaron becomes trapped with a favorite teacher, a police officer and sheriff, one of his closest friends, and perhaps even the murders/robbers themselves!
Through the twists and turns, the reader is left not only to determine who might be responsible for the crime but to also speculate on whether or not Aaron and his friends may even come out of it all alive!
MY THOUGHTS?
Like I said, this is not normally the type of novel that catches my eye, and quite honestly I tend to feel disappointed by thriller type stories more often than not, for whatever reason. I think, at times, that stories high in action can sometimes lack in other areas -- precisely in that of character development or insight into the thoughts and emotions behind the story. Now, this novel takes place in a relatively short period of time, so there really is not as much opportunity to focus on the development of Aaron and his friends -- yet, the author does still manage to give enough sensitivity to the backstory of Aaron's family situation that it allows the reader to feel less distanced from the protagonist. If I, as a reader, feel completely detached from the main character, no amount of action can really draw me into the story enough to keep my attention until the final page, it seems.
But, I think my favorite thing about this book was that it really did keep me entertained without feeling formulaic or predictable. Now, maybe I just haven't read enough of the genre to be a master of determining the culprit, but I was surprised multiple times at which characters could be trusted and which ones were involved in the crime. Just when I had everything mapped out in my mind, the author would throw me for another loop -- and this is most definitely a quality that I enjoy in any novel, particularly those that are more focused on the action of the plotline.
I did enjoy this story much more than I expected and I'm thoroughly glad I had the opportunity to read and review the story!
WHO SHOULD READ?
If you love action packed, thrilling young adult fiction that is entertaining without being overly complicated, I think this is a spectacular choice for you. It is not a particularly long story, either, so it should appeal to those of us with shorter attention spans, for sure.
WHO SHOULD AVOID?
I can't even say that those readers who dislike thriller/action type novels should avoid this story, because I know that I find myself in that category and I did still really like this book. I suppose that if you're trying to sit down to read something of great intellectual importance, like War and Peace, that THE PINEVILLE HEIST may not be the best choice at that moment.
THE VERDICT IS?
I would give this novel four stars. It was fun, entertaining, and exciting. I only hesitated to give it a full five stars because I think some of the joy here was in the factor of the unexpected. That said, I'm not sure I would necessarily find myself rereading this story, since it does hinge so heavily on keeping the reader surprised.
November 28, 2017
I was lucky enough to get my book signed by Lee Chambers when I got his book, telling me to enjoy the ride. Well, from the first page the ride was easy, interesting, bumpy with many turns. Thank you Lee
May 22, 2012
***Originally posted to: Bookish Book Blog |YA and Adult Book Reviews, Author Interviews, Guest Posts, Giveaways and news! ^___^
The Pineville Heist is a quick and entertaining read that may raise your blood pressure just a tiny little bit with its head-spinning action and gripping suspense. The award-winning writer/director, Lee Chambers, delivers a very enjoyable story, and one that you'll easily consume in one sitting. It has its funny moments, as well as thrilling ones, and is about as action-packed as they come.
The story centres around Aaron, son of the town's richest man, Derek Stevens (the owner of the local mill). On his way to school, Aaron stumbles upon an abandoned white van. Not giving it a second thought, Aaron continues on his way to school. It isn't until he eavesdrops on school workers talking about a bank robbery that took place the same day, that Aaron realizes the suspicious-looking van he saw in the woods was a get-away car. 5 million dollars had been stolen from the local bank and Aaron is pretty sure they were hidden somewhere in the woods. Together with his two friends, Steven and Mike, he decides to skip school and go looking for the stolen cash. Little does he know how much trouble and life-threatening danger he's about to get himself, and his friends, into.
I won't lie, I had a lot of fun reading this one, although if you're expecting mind-bending intrigues and profound life messages, you're going to be disappointed. And that's perfectly fine, after all not every book you pick up has to be a life-changing one. Sometime you just want to be well entertained, and The Pineville Heist does just that. It's a great little book, in tradition of old-school heist books/movies. It's fast-paced and straight to the point. On top of that, it's definitely an action-driven story, as you'll quickly realize that the character development is just a tiny bit lacking. I liked the lead protagonist, Aaron, but at the same time wished he was a bit more fleshed out. I thought he was great, and Chambers most certainly captured his youthful spirit well, but I would so love to learn more about him! Thankfully, all the exciting events, and the thrill of witnessing a murder and then becoming the prime target of the killer, successfully make up for it. And let's not forget the clever, often even hilarious dialogues - especially the back and forth between the three teenage friends. Their conversations were priceless - spot-on and laugh-out-loud funny.
There's only one more small complaint that I need to voice. It's not a big thing and it can easily be fixed with a couple revisions, but there are many switches between characters that are not separated by any pauses in text, or anything that would hint at the change, really. Like I said, it's not anything major, but it does get a little bit confusing, and a book that should be consumed within 2 hours tops, ends up being a slightly longer and more exhausting read, as you need to constantly get back and re-read certain passages to make sure you got everything right. That could have been easily avoided by simply leaving some space in between those jumps, though, and hopefully the author/publisher will take care of that while preparing future reprints.
Overall, The Pineville Heist is a fantastic read that will keep you captivated all the way through. You'll love the old-school feel of it, as well as the intensity and the sheer thrill it provides. Your adrenaline will spike up and your heart will skip a beat at least a few times. If you're looking for a thrill ride that is neither too shallow, nor overly developed (but certainly entertaining), this is the book for you.
The Pineville Heist is a quick and entertaining read that may raise your blood pressure just a tiny little bit with its head-spinning action and gripping suspense. The award-winning writer/director, Lee Chambers, delivers a very enjoyable story, and one that you'll easily consume in one sitting. It has its funny moments, as well as thrilling ones, and is about as action-packed as they come.
The story centres around Aaron, son of the town's richest man, Derek Stevens (the owner of the local mill). On his way to school, Aaron stumbles upon an abandoned white van. Not giving it a second thought, Aaron continues on his way to school. It isn't until he eavesdrops on school workers talking about a bank robbery that took place the same day, that Aaron realizes the suspicious-looking van he saw in the woods was a get-away car. 5 million dollars had been stolen from the local bank and Aaron is pretty sure they were hidden somewhere in the woods. Together with his two friends, Steven and Mike, he decides to skip school and go looking for the stolen cash. Little does he know how much trouble and life-threatening danger he's about to get himself, and his friends, into.
I won't lie, I had a lot of fun reading this one, although if you're expecting mind-bending intrigues and profound life messages, you're going to be disappointed. And that's perfectly fine, after all not every book you pick up has to be a life-changing one. Sometime you just want to be well entertained, and The Pineville Heist does just that. It's a great little book, in tradition of old-school heist books/movies. It's fast-paced and straight to the point. On top of that, it's definitely an action-driven story, as you'll quickly realize that the character development is just a tiny bit lacking. I liked the lead protagonist, Aaron, but at the same time wished he was a bit more fleshed out. I thought he was great, and Chambers most certainly captured his youthful spirit well, but I would so love to learn more about him! Thankfully, all the exciting events, and the thrill of witnessing a murder and then becoming the prime target of the killer, successfully make up for it. And let's not forget the clever, often even hilarious dialogues - especially the back and forth between the three teenage friends. Their conversations were priceless - spot-on and laugh-out-loud funny.
There's only one more small complaint that I need to voice. It's not a big thing and it can easily be fixed with a couple revisions, but there are many switches between characters that are not separated by any pauses in text, or anything that would hint at the change, really. Like I said, it's not anything major, but it does get a little bit confusing, and a book that should be consumed within 2 hours tops, ends up being a slightly longer and more exhausting read, as you need to constantly get back and re-read certain passages to make sure you got everything right. That could have been easily avoided by simply leaving some space in between those jumps, though, and hopefully the author/publisher will take care of that while preparing future reprints.
Overall, The Pineville Heist is a fantastic read that will keep you captivated all the way through. You'll love the old-school feel of it, as well as the intensity and the sheer thrill it provides. Your adrenaline will spike up and your heart will skip a beat at least a few times. If you're looking for a thrill ride that is neither too shallow, nor overly developed (but certainly entertaining), this is the book for you.
January 28, 2012
Rich high school kid Aaron and his friends stumble upon the aftermath of a bank robbery in their small town. After narrowly escaping from the robbers, Aaron takes off with the money and ends up running for his life at his high school with his young/cute English teacher in tow.
First off, I would say that the cover for this book is really deceptive. Since it’s cartoonish you might think that it’s a book aimed at younger MG kids. It’s definitely not. There is sufficient violence and swearing in it to put it squarely into YA territory. It’s also more of a novella than an actual novel, clocking in at plus or minus 150 pages.
It’s important to know going in that this book is adapted from a screenplay, and it definitely shows. There is basically zero character development. People just are who they are and act how they act, period. If this bothers you in general it will affect your enjoyment of the book. Quite honestly this is something that would normally bother me endlessly, but for two things: A) I knew going in that it was adapted from a screenplay so I kind of figured that character development would be minimal; and B) I saw the length of the book and figured that back story and world building were going to be sacrificed. Thus, I was able to overlook it. This does make it an extremely fast read – even for a short book – because there’s zero “fluff”. The book is all business and every action taken by the characters is done in order to move the plot forward.
There are also some grammatical mistakes/spelling issues/formatting problems, but I’m always more forgiving of those kinds of things when something is self-published (and most of the formatting stuff is prob because of the ebook file). It’s only when big publishing houses make egregious mistakes that I go into full-on Godzilla city smashing ragecakes. I don’t want to give the impression that there are tons of mistakes because there really aren’t, but there are some for sure, so that’s just something to be aware of if you’re really persnickety.
It’s a good central plot and I’d really like to see what could be done with it if the characters were fleshed out and events were given more time to develop. As it stands, the book is basically one long climax – literally there is action from about page five right up until the end. Aaron is a likeable protagonist and it would be nice to more about his life, his complex relationship with his dad, etc.
Some kid from Twilight named Booboo has been cast as Aaron in the movie version. I’m unfamiliar with him but the fact that his name is awesome is almost enough to make me overlook the fact that he’s in the Twilight movies. Anyway, his presence will no doubt attract gaggles of young girls but I’ll be curious to see how they go about making this one PG-13 as opposed to R. Even if they cut a lot of the swearing there really is quite a bit of violence.
While checking out the website (pinevilleheist.com) I noticed that you can download the book free until 2/5, so if you’re curious you might want to pick it up while it’s free. I believe it’s .99 on Amazon as well.
Overall I liked it. I do think that I’d prefer the movie version, actually, just because of the abrupt nature of a book based on a screenplay. The bones of the story are really good, I just wish it had had more meat.
3.5/5 – Even Steven and a Half
**Disclaimer – this book was provided to me free of charge by the author in exchange for an honest review.
First off, I would say that the cover for this book is really deceptive. Since it’s cartoonish you might think that it’s a book aimed at younger MG kids. It’s definitely not. There is sufficient violence and swearing in it to put it squarely into YA territory. It’s also more of a novella than an actual novel, clocking in at plus or minus 150 pages.
It’s important to know going in that this book is adapted from a screenplay, and it definitely shows. There is basically zero character development. People just are who they are and act how they act, period. If this bothers you in general it will affect your enjoyment of the book. Quite honestly this is something that would normally bother me endlessly, but for two things: A) I knew going in that it was adapted from a screenplay so I kind of figured that character development would be minimal; and B) I saw the length of the book and figured that back story and world building were going to be sacrificed. Thus, I was able to overlook it. This does make it an extremely fast read – even for a short book – because there’s zero “fluff”. The book is all business and every action taken by the characters is done in order to move the plot forward.
There are also some grammatical mistakes/spelling issues/formatting problems, but I’m always more forgiving of those kinds of things when something is self-published (and most of the formatting stuff is prob because of the ebook file). It’s only when big publishing houses make egregious mistakes that I go into full-on Godzilla city smashing ragecakes. I don’t want to give the impression that there are tons of mistakes because there really aren’t, but there are some for sure, so that’s just something to be aware of if you’re really persnickety.
It’s a good central plot and I’d really like to see what could be done with it if the characters were fleshed out and events were given more time to develop. As it stands, the book is basically one long climax – literally there is action from about page five right up until the end. Aaron is a likeable protagonist and it would be nice to more about his life, his complex relationship with his dad, etc.
Some kid from Twilight named Booboo has been cast as Aaron in the movie version. I’m unfamiliar with him but the fact that his name is awesome is almost enough to make me overlook the fact that he’s in the Twilight movies. Anyway, his presence will no doubt attract gaggles of young girls but I’ll be curious to see how they go about making this one PG-13 as opposed to R. Even if they cut a lot of the swearing there really is quite a bit of violence.
While checking out the website (pinevilleheist.com) I noticed that you can download the book free until 2/5, so if you’re curious you might want to pick it up while it’s free. I believe it’s .99 on Amazon as well.
Overall I liked it. I do think that I’d prefer the movie version, actually, just because of the abrupt nature of a book based on a screenplay. The bones of the story are really good, I just wish it had had more meat.
3.5/5 – Even Steven and a Half
**Disclaimer – this book was provided to me free of charge by the author in exchange for an honest review.
September 25, 2015
Masterful Usage of the English Language : A Guide for Young Adults
By Scarlett Jensen
This review is from: The Pineville Heist (Kindle Edition)
Lee Chambers ' talent gives the reader a kaleidoscope of words fit to complete a dictionary. It is a lesson on how to write and it will serve any young adult to develop his imagination and storytelling skills, ability to display clear-cut descriptions. We know that this novel was developed from a screenplay written earlier and is now to be released as a film in 2016. I can see its merits: It has a rich texture illuminating reality with the most star - striking words and images of the best kind.
Enjoy these quotations:" The red glowing sun bounced off the roof of Tremblay's cruiser as it sharked through the streets of Pineville, with sirens in the place of a predatory fin". How well-written is this? She..."could not hide the whirlpool of panic in her eyes" and "her eyes bled mascara". Tremblay's gun is described: "its mouth angry and ready to fire."
The bank heist offers the suspense and mystery, the movement, torment, and the ripping apart of the small town community of Pineville. The hero, Aaron is a young school boy who suffers through his father's low esteem of him , but braved the evil and fought to come out on top.
Aaron finds himself in the midst of the bank robbers, the pursuit starts in the woods where bags of money and its allure motivate the good and the bad, when the bad sometimes shreds the credibility of the truth in the story. The main scenes play - off in the school with gunfights, blasts.. We experience the thrill of the chase and the efforts to save one's own skin, while searching allies of trust. Who are the masterminds behind the heist? " A sunrise washes away all sins......make everything seem clean....but some were not so clean." Who?
We live the eerie, a tornado of tension, exhaustion, the emptiness and the heart - racing events caused by greed and evil: all bred out of money. There are false reports to mislead and failing trust. We see victims lying spread - eagle on the floor, surprise attacks and surrendering of the weak. The Pineville heist was still happening in the school as robbers were in the school building to finish the job. The school turned into a war-zone. Bodies, bullet holes and shrapnel were piled up and Aaron wanted to see dawn, a ray of sunlight at the end of this darkness. Maybe his dad was right: he would never amount to nothing, never be successful like him. Aaron wanted to get away from the materialism, the expectations and boredom. He searched for a private oasis. Will he achieve that?
For some to walk away with the money- scot free was the ultimate goal and freedom is the most precious thing: denying it, would be the best punishment.
But we also see the concern for the safety of friends. We see nasty events causing shattered dreams and plans, but we also see a hero being born. Amusingly written:" Aaron ' s shirt looked like a Jackson Pollack inspired masterpiece tentatively titled "Dead Man Walking".
With little editing at some places, this book could be recognised as a literary work for scholars of English.
Scarlett Jensen
22 September 2015
By Scarlett Jensen
This review is from: The Pineville Heist (Kindle Edition)
Lee Chambers ' talent gives the reader a kaleidoscope of words fit to complete a dictionary. It is a lesson on how to write and it will serve any young adult to develop his imagination and storytelling skills, ability to display clear-cut descriptions. We know that this novel was developed from a screenplay written earlier and is now to be released as a film in 2016. I can see its merits: It has a rich texture illuminating reality with the most star - striking words and images of the best kind.
Enjoy these quotations:" The red glowing sun bounced off the roof of Tremblay's cruiser as it sharked through the streets of Pineville, with sirens in the place of a predatory fin". How well-written is this? She..."could not hide the whirlpool of panic in her eyes" and "her eyes bled mascara". Tremblay's gun is described: "its mouth angry and ready to fire."
The bank heist offers the suspense and mystery, the movement, torment, and the ripping apart of the small town community of Pineville. The hero, Aaron is a young school boy who suffers through his father's low esteem of him , but braved the evil and fought to come out on top.
Aaron finds himself in the midst of the bank robbers, the pursuit starts in the woods where bags of money and its allure motivate the good and the bad, when the bad sometimes shreds the credibility of the truth in the story. The main scenes play - off in the school with gunfights, blasts.. We experience the thrill of the chase and the efforts to save one's own skin, while searching allies of trust. Who are the masterminds behind the heist? " A sunrise washes away all sins......make everything seem clean....but some were not so clean." Who?
We live the eerie, a tornado of tension, exhaustion, the emptiness and the heart - racing events caused by greed and evil: all bred out of money. There are false reports to mislead and failing trust. We see victims lying spread - eagle on the floor, surprise attacks and surrendering of the weak. The Pineville heist was still happening in the school as robbers were in the school building to finish the job. The school turned into a war-zone. Bodies, bullet holes and shrapnel were piled up and Aaron wanted to see dawn, a ray of sunlight at the end of this darkness. Maybe his dad was right: he would never amount to nothing, never be successful like him. Aaron wanted to get away from the materialism, the expectations and boredom. He searched for a private oasis. Will he achieve that?
For some to walk away with the money- scot free was the ultimate goal and freedom is the most precious thing: denying it, would be the best punishment.
But we also see the concern for the safety of friends. We see nasty events causing shattered dreams and plans, but we also see a hero being born. Amusingly written:" Aaron ' s shirt looked like a Jackson Pollack inspired masterpiece tentatively titled "Dead Man Walking".
With little editing at some places, this book could be recognised as a literary work for scholars of English.
Scarlett Jensen
22 September 2015
April 12, 2013
High school student Aaron Stevens accidentally stumbles upon the hiding spot of five million dollars, money recently stolen from the Pineville bank. Whilst in hiding, he becomes an eyewitness to the murder of one of the robbers, and finds the money in the process. After a daring escape in which one of his friends is fatally shot, Aaron takes the money to the closest place he can think of - his own high school.
He tells his tale to the Sheriff and his deputy, both of them are less than eager to believe his story, especially when they can find neither of the bodies Aaron claims to know about, nor can Aaron lead them to the place where he stashed the backpack full of money he had brought back with him.
In fact, it seems the only person that does believe him is is drama teacher Amanda, but will she help him or hurt him when the mastermind behind the robberies shows up at the school and puts them both on lock-down?
My Rating: 3 Stars out of 5
The Pineville Heist is an fast-paced, action-packed thriller that keeps the reader glued to the pages until the very end. It has all the elements a good suspense novel should have: A bank robbery gone wrong, teenagers who are unable to mind their own business, a hero and a villain (or in this case a group of villains), and enough unexpected plot twists to keep the story moving in new, and unexpected ways.
During the course of the story, Aaron unquestionably transforms before your eyes from an unpopular, normal teenage boy into an adult and a hero overnight. He has to face some pretty scary (and not to mention deadly) scenarios, and fight to keep not only himself, but his teacher alive as they navigate the school, trying to evade a madman hell bent on getting his money, and tying up loose ends.
I was pulled into the story the first chapter, and was unable to put it down until I had finished. I didn't want to wait another minute to find out what happened to Aaron and Amanda. Would they survive? Who was behind the heist? Who could be trusted? All of these questions (and more) are answered as the story concludes in a completely unexpected ending that is sure to leave readers guessing (and surprised), right up until the very end.
Due to the graphic nature of this story, I would suggest it not be read by anyone with a weak stomach, who gets squeamish over the mention of blood and guts, and by anyone who is under the age of 13.
DISCLAIMER: I received an advanced copy of The Pineville Heist in exchange for my honest review. This has not reflected on my review in any way.
He tells his tale to the Sheriff and his deputy, both of them are less than eager to believe his story, especially when they can find neither of the bodies Aaron claims to know about, nor can Aaron lead them to the place where he stashed the backpack full of money he had brought back with him.
In fact, it seems the only person that does believe him is is drama teacher Amanda, but will she help him or hurt him when the mastermind behind the robberies shows up at the school and puts them both on lock-down?
My Rating: 3 Stars out of 5
The Pineville Heist is an fast-paced, action-packed thriller that keeps the reader glued to the pages until the very end. It has all the elements a good suspense novel should have: A bank robbery gone wrong, teenagers who are unable to mind their own business, a hero and a villain (or in this case a group of villains), and enough unexpected plot twists to keep the story moving in new, and unexpected ways.
During the course of the story, Aaron unquestionably transforms before your eyes from an unpopular, normal teenage boy into an adult and a hero overnight. He has to face some pretty scary (and not to mention deadly) scenarios, and fight to keep not only himself, but his teacher alive as they navigate the school, trying to evade a madman hell bent on getting his money, and tying up loose ends.
I was pulled into the story the first chapter, and was unable to put it down until I had finished. I didn't want to wait another minute to find out what happened to Aaron and Amanda. Would they survive? Who was behind the heist? Who could be trusted? All of these questions (and more) are answered as the story concludes in a completely unexpected ending that is sure to leave readers guessing (and surprised), right up until the very end.
Due to the graphic nature of this story, I would suggest it not be read by anyone with a weak stomach, who gets squeamish over the mention of blood and guts, and by anyone who is under the age of 13.
DISCLAIMER: I received an advanced copy of The Pineville Heist in exchange for my honest review. This has not reflected on my review in any way.
March 17, 2013
You can also read the review at My Two Cents
The Pineville Heist is a heart pounding, thrill of a read! The plot of this book is wildly propelled by money and greed, mystery and murder, and an adrenaline filled fight for life!
And I absolutely loved it from page 1!
Aaron, our main character is the son of an Uber (Ya, I just went nerd and used that word) weather business man! He's a little angst ridden, artistic, an aspiring actor. He's spoiled, but brushed aside by his to-busy-to-care dad. But that's all he wants, his a little bit of attention and affection from his dad. That is, as long as its not to degrade his efforts, or choices. (which happens quite a bit). His character, thought to be that "spoiled rich kid" that no one really liked (guilty by association) because of his father, had a strong moral being, had values, courage, and loyalty! His character, though just 17, was intelligent, quick thinking, and seemed years wiser than his age at times! He has smarts, wit, looks, attitude, and a very strong will to survive!
Trust me when I tell you there never seems to be a dull moment when you read this! There is always some thing, a little bump in the night. Just when you think there is going to be a small lull in action, the characters are going to get the chance to catch their breath, it starts all over again! And though the majority of the book takes place within the confines of a locked down school, it sure as heck is FILLED with twists, turns, scares, tricks, and quick a bit of blood!
The fact that this book takes place mainly in the locked down school isn't a hindrance to the book at all. if anything I found that locked in and fighting for your life concept to create the added feeling of adrenaline, and fear, and the need to want to read more! It was very much like that adrenaline rush and excitement you get when you ride a rollercoaster, and then the glee and excitement and WANT to do it again and again!
There were only a few moments that I stopped and went, really.... that's a little far fetched. But then again, in the real world, people do a lot of randomly weird and strange things, so really anything is possible!
It's story is definitely a heart pounding thriller, a gritty fight for survival, and a shocking who-done-it story you are sure to get lost in!
I recommend you try it out, before you see the movie!
(Coming soon! with BooBoo Stewart already linked to the project! Squee!)
The Pineville Heist is a heart pounding, thrill of a read! The plot of this book is wildly propelled by money and greed, mystery and murder, and an adrenaline filled fight for life!
And I absolutely loved it from page 1!
Aaron, our main character is the son of an Uber (Ya, I just went nerd and used that word) weather business man! He's a little angst ridden, artistic, an aspiring actor. He's spoiled, but brushed aside by his to-busy-to-care dad. But that's all he wants, his a little bit of attention and affection from his dad. That is, as long as its not to degrade his efforts, or choices. (which happens quite a bit). His character, thought to be that "spoiled rich kid" that no one really liked (guilty by association) because of his father, had a strong moral being, had values, courage, and loyalty! His character, though just 17, was intelligent, quick thinking, and seemed years wiser than his age at times! He has smarts, wit, looks, attitude, and a very strong will to survive!
Trust me when I tell you there never seems to be a dull moment when you read this! There is always some thing, a little bump in the night. Just when you think there is going to be a small lull in action, the characters are going to get the chance to catch their breath, it starts all over again! And though the majority of the book takes place within the confines of a locked down school, it sure as heck is FILLED with twists, turns, scares, tricks, and quick a bit of blood!
The fact that this book takes place mainly in the locked down school isn't a hindrance to the book at all. if anything I found that locked in and fighting for your life concept to create the added feeling of adrenaline, and fear, and the need to want to read more! It was very much like that adrenaline rush and excitement you get when you ride a rollercoaster, and then the glee and excitement and WANT to do it again and again!
There were only a few moments that I stopped and went, really.... that's a little far fetched. But then again, in the real world, people do a lot of randomly weird and strange things, so really anything is possible!
It's story is definitely a heart pounding thriller, a gritty fight for survival, and a shocking who-done-it story you are sure to get lost in!
I recommend you try it out, before you see the movie!
(Coming soon! with BooBoo Stewart already linked to the project! Squee!)
December 4, 2012
The Pineville Heist was a bit of a departure for me. I'll be the first to admit that I don't read many thrillers. In fact, I think the only thriller I've ever read was The Davinci Code.
The Pineville Heist reads like a Jason Statham movie. It's seriously non-stop action. I think this high action level comes at the cost of character development, but I think that goes with the genre. I think readers got a pretty good understanding of the main character Aaron and a decent view of Miss Becker, but beyond that the other characters didn't stand out much.
Another thing that struck me as a non-thriller-reader is the level of violence. I seriously lost track of the number of people who got shot! But it's a lot. So while our hero is 17, I wouldn't recommend this one for younger teens unless they already watch a lot of violent movies and aren't too sensitive.
To heighten the sense of action and suspense, Lee Chambers used a lot of short sentences to keep reads on high alert. However, sometimes these short sentences would break down into fragments, just as a warning to those of you who get a bit hung up on grammar. Something that weirded me out a bit was that a couple times Chambers described how cute or beautiful Miss Becker was, while her life was in danger. "Her eyes were beautiful when they were frightened." It kind of reminded me of T-Bag from Prison Break. I think that's just me though.
This book is so twisty! Just when I thought I had everything figured out, BAM, wrong again!
The Pineville Heist was written as a screenplay first, then adapted to a novel. This comes through in the book and I think The Pineville Heist will definitely work well as an action movie! Plus the book is short (only 190 pages), so very little will need to be cut, which is always the worst part about book-to-movie adaptations.
Overall, The Pineville Heist is an action-packed thriller. Edge-of-your-seat action outweighs a lack of character-building and it was an interesting change for a non-thriller reader like me. I'll definitely see the movie when it comes out (plus it stars Booboo Stewart, which should be exciting for a lot of people).
The Pineville Heist reads like a Jason Statham movie. It's seriously non-stop action. I think this high action level comes at the cost of character development, but I think that goes with the genre. I think readers got a pretty good understanding of the main character Aaron and a decent view of Miss Becker, but beyond that the other characters didn't stand out much.
Another thing that struck me as a non-thriller-reader is the level of violence. I seriously lost track of the number of people who got shot! But it's a lot. So while our hero is 17, I wouldn't recommend this one for younger teens unless they already watch a lot of violent movies and aren't too sensitive.
To heighten the sense of action and suspense, Lee Chambers used a lot of short sentences to keep reads on high alert. However, sometimes these short sentences would break down into fragments, just as a warning to those of you who get a bit hung up on grammar. Something that weirded me out a bit was that a couple times Chambers described how cute or beautiful Miss Becker was, while her life was in danger. "Her eyes were beautiful when they were frightened." It kind of reminded me of T-Bag from Prison Break. I think that's just me though.
This book is so twisty! Just when I thought I had everything figured out, BAM, wrong again!
The Pineville Heist was written as a screenplay first, then adapted to a novel. This comes through in the book and I think The Pineville Heist will definitely work well as an action movie! Plus the book is short (only 190 pages), so very little will need to be cut, which is always the worst part about book-to-movie adaptations.
Overall, The Pineville Heist is an action-packed thriller. Edge-of-your-seat action outweighs a lack of character-building and it was an interesting change for a non-thriller reader like me. I'll definitely see the movie when it comes out (plus it stars Booboo Stewart, which should be exciting for a lot of people).
August 20, 2011
Take a wealthy, seventeen-year-old kid with an attitude, a robbery, and cops with secrets, add missing bodies, a pretty teacher who may or may not be involved in the crime, stir, and you have an adventure story with twists and turns that will keep you guessing who the bad guys are until the end.
In Author Lee Chambers’ debut novel, The Pineville Heist, seventeen-year-old Aaron Stevens accidentally finds a backpack from PINEVILLE SAVINGS AND LOAN full of stolen money. When he hears Tremblay, Sheriff of Pineville, and Officer Carl discussing how someone got away with four to five million dollars, Aaron decides to return the money with the help of his friends. Well, the boys have good intentions, but they encounter major problems on the way to do their good deed. Soon Aaron, Mike, and Steve are running for their lives, pursued by a gunman determined to kill them. Aaron escapes to the school where more killing is going on, and a battle ensues between Aaron and one of the robbers. I’m not saying who because that would give away the story. However, the timid boy who was afraid to shoot a deer when he was a child, now faces a choice: kill or be killed. Will Aaron find the courage to not only protect himself but his teacher, Amanda, as well?
Readers that like a fast-paced action story will enjoy The Pineville Heist. If you’re a bit squeamish, there are dead bodies, gunfights, and some bloody scenes. This novel is better suited for older teens, 14 and up. I did have a problem with the change in point of view so often. I can see why Mr. Chambers wrote the story this way because so many characters are involved. Maybe space breaks would have warned the reader that we were in a new character’s thoughts. Nevertheless, The Pineville Heist is a good story about a young man who faces more challenges in life than most teens and how he deals with the changes in his life. Even though I’m not big on bodies lying around, I enjoyed watching Aaron tackle each situation the way only he could. I think you’ll enjoy the read as well. You might want to leave the lights on if you read the novel at night.
This would be four and a half stars, if halves were an option.
eBook courtesty of the author
In Author Lee Chambers’ debut novel, The Pineville Heist, seventeen-year-old Aaron Stevens accidentally finds a backpack from PINEVILLE SAVINGS AND LOAN full of stolen money. When he hears Tremblay, Sheriff of Pineville, and Officer Carl discussing how someone got away with four to five million dollars, Aaron decides to return the money with the help of his friends. Well, the boys have good intentions, but they encounter major problems on the way to do their good deed. Soon Aaron, Mike, and Steve are running for their lives, pursued by a gunman determined to kill them. Aaron escapes to the school where more killing is going on, and a battle ensues between Aaron and one of the robbers. I’m not saying who because that would give away the story. However, the timid boy who was afraid to shoot a deer when he was a child, now faces a choice: kill or be killed. Will Aaron find the courage to not only protect himself but his teacher, Amanda, as well?
Readers that like a fast-paced action story will enjoy The Pineville Heist. If you’re a bit squeamish, there are dead bodies, gunfights, and some bloody scenes. This novel is better suited for older teens, 14 and up. I did have a problem with the change in point of view so often. I can see why Mr. Chambers wrote the story this way because so many characters are involved. Maybe space breaks would have warned the reader that we were in a new character’s thoughts. Nevertheless, The Pineville Heist is a good story about a young man who faces more challenges in life than most teens and how he deals with the changes in his life. Even though I’m not big on bodies lying around, I enjoyed watching Aaron tackle each situation the way only he could. I think you’ll enjoy the read as well. You might want to leave the lights on if you read the novel at night.
This would be four and a half stars, if halves were an option.
eBook courtesty of the author
December 11, 2012
This was a neat book, and very different from my usual reads. For someone who doesn't read a lot of thrillers, I've read two good ones lately: The Pineville Heist and The Girl in the Wall. Both were YA thrillers, a new genre for me, and I really enjoyed them.
The Pineville Heist starts with the entire town of Pineville abuzz with the news of a bank robbery: five million dollars has been stolen from the town's only bank. While hiding in the woods, Aaron sees two of the robbers and watches them hide the money. He goes back to the site with his two best friends, but they're caught by the robbers, who turn out to be murderers as well. The three boys run, and Aaron ends up hiding under a canoe. While hiding, terrified for his life, Aaron witnesses one of the robbers murder another robber. He does not see the killer, except for his boots, since he's hiding under the canoe when it happens.
Aaron discovers the money is hidden under the canoe with him. He picks it up and runs for his life, towards his school. His hope is to get help for his friends, one of whom he knows has been shot, and to turn the money in to the authorities. But, when Aaron gets inside his school, things go awry. He can't find anyone to take him seriously and when someone finally does listen to him, no one believes his story.
What follows is one really intense night of Aaron fighting to stay alive. He is trapped in his school, with only his teacher as an ally (and really she's a burden since he feels the need to protect her) and the murderer is after them both.
What I liked about The Pineville Heist was the fast pace and the plot twists. Chambers took things in a direction I wasn't expecting and I loved that. Especially considering who the villians were---that was a nice surprise!
There were some times that Aaron did the dumbest things. He had chances to kill the murderer and didn't take them. I know that he was trying to do the right thing by maiming and not killing, but the repetition of him letting the killer get away got a little old for me.
Overall, though, I did really enjoy this book and would definitely recommend it, especially to fans of thrillers.
The Pineville Heist starts with the entire town of Pineville abuzz with the news of a bank robbery: five million dollars has been stolen from the town's only bank. While hiding in the woods, Aaron sees two of the robbers and watches them hide the money. He goes back to the site with his two best friends, but they're caught by the robbers, who turn out to be murderers as well. The three boys run, and Aaron ends up hiding under a canoe. While hiding, terrified for his life, Aaron witnesses one of the robbers murder another robber. He does not see the killer, except for his boots, since he's hiding under the canoe when it happens.
Aaron discovers the money is hidden under the canoe with him. He picks it up and runs for his life, towards his school. His hope is to get help for his friends, one of whom he knows has been shot, and to turn the money in to the authorities. But, when Aaron gets inside his school, things go awry. He can't find anyone to take him seriously and when someone finally does listen to him, no one believes his story.
What follows is one really intense night of Aaron fighting to stay alive. He is trapped in his school, with only his teacher as an ally (and really she's a burden since he feels the need to protect her) and the murderer is after them both.
What I liked about The Pineville Heist was the fast pace and the plot twists. Chambers took things in a direction I wasn't expecting and I loved that. Especially considering who the villians were---that was a nice surprise!
There were some times that Aaron did the dumbest things. He had chances to kill the murderer and didn't take them. I know that he was trying to do the right thing by maiming and not killing, but the repetition of him letting the killer get away got a little old for me.
Overall, though, I did really enjoy this book and would definitely recommend it, especially to fans of thrillers.
November 30, 2012
Aaron is the son of the wealthiest man in Pineville - who everyone in town despises, due to their own less than admirable financial circumstances. While skipping class one day with a few friends, Aaron stumbles onto a shootout between the robbers who heisted five million from the town's bank. Hidden under a canoe, Aaron watches while one of the robbers murders the two others and than goes after his friends, who aren't as well hidden. Trying to get help and return the money, Aaron tells his drama teacher, Amanda Becker (who he has a major crush on), what has happened. But when they go back to the robbers' hideout, the money is gone and so are the bodies. But it isn't too long before everyone is locked down inside the school, trying to escape the murderous bank robber and stay alive until the cops come. But not everything is as easy as it seems and when the dust settles some surprising implications will be made. Will Aaron survive to see the money returned and the killer caught, or will he be caught in the crossfire? I got through this book mainly because I knew beforehand that it's being turned into a movie. That made up for a lot of the plot holes, overusage of action/violence and predictability of the identity of the robbers. I will say one thing in it's favor was the fast pace and constant action. If it would have been slow, the book would have been completely intolerable. My main problem was the lack of character development, but I suppose that it's easily adaptable into a film with the length it is currently. Overall, I wasn't a satisfied reader but it definitely was not the worst book that I read so far this year. That honor is being saved for another.
VERDICT: 2.5/5 Stars
*I received an Advanced Reading E-book Copy from the publisher, via NetGalley. No money or favors were exchanged for this review. This book was published March 28th, 2012.*
VERDICT: 2.5/5 Stars
*I received an Advanced Reading E-book Copy from the publisher, via NetGalley. No money or favors were exchanged for this review. This book was published March 28th, 2012.*
September 23, 2012
Review 7*******
I was given a copy of this book by the author in return for an honest review.
This is an exciting and thrilling YA novel that is a real page turner!
Aaron Stevens is a typical teenager, but living in the small town of Pineville is not easy for him, especially as his father is the main employer in a town suffering in tough economic times.
He goes through huge emotional growth in this story. I loved his character development; he is challenged to use his wits, and his bravery makes him into a wonderful man.
As I read this story, I was completely swept away with the action and danger! I could actually "see" it all unfold in my mind's eye. Originally a screenplay, Lee Chambers then decided to turn it into a book. Turning a book into a screenplay for a movie is one thing, but engineering a screenplay into a book is a completely different kettle of fish! I think that Lee Chambers has done a fantastic job! This book is full to the brim with descriptions of characters and places that make the reader feel like they are actually there, standing on the sidelines, watching the events unfold. When I heard about it being made into a movie, I became very excited! The movie is set to go into production in the Spring of 2013, starring Booboo Stewart (Seth Clearwater from Twilight) as Aaron. I know that films cannot show everything written in books due to time or logistical reasons, but I'm fairly certain, in this case, that they will follow the storyline to it's exciting conclusion. I'm looking forward to watching it!
This is Lee Chambers debut novel, but because of his screenwriting and directing past, it is wonderfully executed. I am adding him to my list of favourite authors, and will read any of his books in the future.
If you are looking for a fantastic YA Thriller full of action and danger, then I highly recommend this book! - Lynn Worton (WaAR)
I was given a copy of this book by the author in return for an honest review.
This is an exciting and thrilling YA novel that is a real page turner!
Aaron Stevens is a typical teenager, but living in the small town of Pineville is not easy for him, especially as his father is the main employer in a town suffering in tough economic times.
He goes through huge emotional growth in this story. I loved his character development; he is challenged to use his wits, and his bravery makes him into a wonderful man.
As I read this story, I was completely swept away with the action and danger! I could actually "see" it all unfold in my mind's eye. Originally a screenplay, Lee Chambers then decided to turn it into a book. Turning a book into a screenplay for a movie is one thing, but engineering a screenplay into a book is a completely different kettle of fish! I think that Lee Chambers has done a fantastic job! This book is full to the brim with descriptions of characters and places that make the reader feel like they are actually there, standing on the sidelines, watching the events unfold. When I heard about it being made into a movie, I became very excited! The movie is set to go into production in the Spring of 2013, starring Booboo Stewart (Seth Clearwater from Twilight) as Aaron. I know that films cannot show everything written in books due to time or logistical reasons, but I'm fairly certain, in this case, that they will follow the storyline to it's exciting conclusion. I'm looking forward to watching it!
This is Lee Chambers debut novel, but because of his screenwriting and directing past, it is wonderfully executed. I am adding him to my list of favourite authors, and will read any of his books in the future.
If you are looking for a fantastic YA Thriller full of action and danger, then I highly recommend this book! - Lynn Worton (WaAR)
November 5, 2011
Description:
Aaron Stevens is a wealthy teen who has a very rocky relationship with his money/ business-oriented father. But business hasn't been great lately, so the Mill that his family owns may be shut down, forcing people out of jobs and killing the town's livelihood. Suffice to say, people aren't exactly happy about it. So when Aaron hears about a $5 million robbery at the local bank, he decides to find the culprits and get it back, not for him, but for the town. Unfortunately, after Aaron and his friends find the money, they become the targets of dangerous crooks who will stop at nothing, (even murder), to get the money back.
Review:
I haven't enjoyed a teen read this much since high-school! This book is a fast-paced, action-packed, thrill ride that will have the reader glued to the pages. I honestly couldn't put it down the first day I got it because I never hit a dull point that I wanted to stop at. This book has well-developed characters, a tight-knit plot that kept me guessing, believable dialogue, comedic interludes, blood, guts, dead bodies, gunfights, and it flows pretty well. The only problems I had were with the drastic, and sometimes unnoticed, point of view changes. There are many characters, so keeping tabs on who is thinking or speaking is important, section dividers may have helped. I didn't realize that it was originally a screenplay until after I read it, but I think it would make a great movie! Overall, I was very impressed with Lee Chambers first novel, and I recommend it to teens and adults who enjoy action, violence, and an unlikely hero who has to grow up to save the day.
Rating: On the Run (4.5/5)
*** I received this eBook from the author in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.
Aaron Stevens is a wealthy teen who has a very rocky relationship with his money/ business-oriented father. But business hasn't been great lately, so the Mill that his family owns may be shut down, forcing people out of jobs and killing the town's livelihood. Suffice to say, people aren't exactly happy about it. So when Aaron hears about a $5 million robbery at the local bank, he decides to find the culprits and get it back, not for him, but for the town. Unfortunately, after Aaron and his friends find the money, they become the targets of dangerous crooks who will stop at nothing, (even murder), to get the money back.
Review:
I haven't enjoyed a teen read this much since high-school! This book is a fast-paced, action-packed, thrill ride that will have the reader glued to the pages. I honestly couldn't put it down the first day I got it because I never hit a dull point that I wanted to stop at. This book has well-developed characters, a tight-knit plot that kept me guessing, believable dialogue, comedic interludes, blood, guts, dead bodies, gunfights, and it flows pretty well. The only problems I had were with the drastic, and sometimes unnoticed, point of view changes. There are many characters, so keeping tabs on who is thinking or speaking is important, section dividers may have helped. I didn't realize that it was originally a screenplay until after I read it, but I think it would make a great movie! Overall, I was very impressed with Lee Chambers first novel, and I recommend it to teens and adults who enjoy action, violence, and an unlikely hero who has to grow up to save the day.
Rating: On the Run (4.5/5)
*** I received this eBook from the author in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.
February 7, 2016
Review on blog:
Tumbling In Books
This is one helluva thriller!
Now I get why do they categorized this type of books in the thriller genre. ‘Cause it is kind of thrilling. It was so full of adrenaline rush that you can practically feel it running through your veins with the story’s pace.
I usually don’t read thriller books ‘cause they have too many suspense in it and I can’t stand suspense. They made me have that feeling in the pit of my stomach and I can’t stand that feeling. But I somehow, I’d like to give THIS book a try. And I’m SO GLAD I did!
The Pineville Heist went at a really fact pace but it doesn’t feel rushed. More like that feeling when you got an adrenaline rush and you just want to get the nightmare over with. It has lots of character development too. And nothing ends a book better than a happy ending :D
Although throughout the book, I did feel a little exasperated. And I’m so sad that I can’t tell you ‘cause it’ll lead to spoilers but I’ll tell anyway with bleeps ;)
[Rant starts]
OMG! The guy’s a ******! I mean, he ***** EVERYONE in *** ***. And gee, is there ** *** to be *******? Like, seriously. There’s ******** until the ***!
[Rant ends]
I guess that’s pretty much it. But to sum it all up, this was quite a good read. I’m kind of glad I picked this up. It’s about to turn into a major motion picture so I’m curious how it’ll all turn out in the movie. You guys might give this a try and who knows, maybe you’ll like it. ‘Cause I know I did :D
This is one helluva thriller!
Now I get why do they categorized this type of books in the thriller genre. ‘Cause it is kind of thrilling. It was so full of adrenaline rush that you can practically feel it running through your veins with the story’s pace.
I usually don’t read thriller books ‘cause they have too many suspense in it and I can’t stand suspense. They made me have that feeling in the pit of my stomach and I can’t stand that feeling. But I somehow, I’d like to give THIS book a try. And I’m SO GLAD I did!
The Pineville Heist went at a really fact pace but it doesn’t feel rushed. More like that feeling when you got an adrenaline rush and you just want to get the nightmare over with. It has lots of character development too. And nothing ends a book better than a happy ending :D
Although throughout the book, I did feel a little exasperated. And I’m so sad that I can’t tell you ‘cause it’ll lead to spoilers but I’ll tell anyway with bleeps ;)
[Rant starts]
OMG! The guy’s a ******! I mean, he ***** EVERYONE in *** ***. And gee, is there ** *** to be *******? Like, seriously. There’s ******** until the ***!
[Rant ends]
I guess that’s pretty much it. But to sum it all up, this was quite a good read. I’m kind of glad I picked this up. It’s about to turn into a major motion picture so I’m curious how it’ll all turn out in the movie. You guys might give this a try and who knows, maybe you’ll like it. ‘Cause I know I did :D
March 31, 2012
Read more of my reviews at Falling Books
The Pineville Heist is a short and shocking book. There's only about 200 pages, and in those pages contains kick-butt action and characters oozing with personality. It's a book that will make your heart, literally, stop beating.
This book is based around a bag of money and an unknown killer. When Aaron and his friends go searching through the woods, they stumble across a problem. A man is being shot. Who was the killer? Aaron doesn't know. His friends have run off leaving him alone. He runs back to school to tell his teacher, Amanda. And that's where the nightmare starts.....
This is a gripping story that you won't be able to put down. You will get lost in the story line and pure determination of the characters. As many of you may know, I am a big fan of books with unique and realistic characters. The Pineville Heist is definitely one of them books. Lee Chambers has created believable characters that you will want to read more about.
Also, I've heard that this is going to be a movie with a guy from the Twilight Eclipse film in it! I am positive that you will all love the movie and you will probably think, 'I need to read the book'. Since this book contains some heart racing action scenes, plenty of blood, killing and creepy characters, I think that many people will want to watch the movie.
Overall, The Pineville Heist is a stunning novel that mystery and thriller lovers will devour.
The Pineville Heist is a short and shocking book. There's only about 200 pages, and in those pages contains kick-butt action and characters oozing with personality. It's a book that will make your heart, literally, stop beating.
This book is based around a bag of money and an unknown killer. When Aaron and his friends go searching through the woods, they stumble across a problem. A man is being shot. Who was the killer? Aaron doesn't know. His friends have run off leaving him alone. He runs back to school to tell his teacher, Amanda. And that's where the nightmare starts.....
This is a gripping story that you won't be able to put down. You will get lost in the story line and pure determination of the characters. As many of you may know, I am a big fan of books with unique and realistic characters. The Pineville Heist is definitely one of them books. Lee Chambers has created believable characters that you will want to read more about.
Also, I've heard that this is going to be a movie with a guy from the Twilight Eclipse film in it! I am positive that you will all love the movie and you will probably think, 'I need to read the book'. Since this book contains some heart racing action scenes, plenty of blood, killing and creepy characters, I think that many people will want to watch the movie.
Overall, The Pineville Heist is a stunning novel that mystery and thriller lovers will devour.
July 11, 2012
2.5 stars
Rumor has it that this novel is going to be turned into a movie, and that Booboo Stewart (Seth Clearwater from the Twilight Saga) is going to play Aaron. Now, nothing is set in stone, but filming is supposed to start soon, fall of this year, and the movie should release in late 2013. Will I see it? Probably. In theaters? Probably not. Why? I just wasn’t that enamored with the plotline.
Yes, the story is interesting, and I liked the premise, but had this title not been free at the time I came across it, and had I not noticed it was going to be made into a movie, in all honesty, I probably wouldn’t have picked it up. Why? I found this novel to be very predictable, and while that’s okay, the fact that Aaron behaves badly throughout the story was not. I really didn’t care for him; while his relationship with his father is in fact very strained, the way Aaron talks to him, as well as his friends, really rubbed me the wrong way. He is a very arrogant young man, and his friends were actually really kind of annoying. Likewise, I didn’t make any connections with them, or any of the characters, and so when some bad things happened (no spoilers), I found that I didn’t care one way or another. Harsh, I know, but it’s the honest truth. Do I think it’s worth checking out? If the plotline interests you, then yes. The writing is decent and the story moves quickly. But if you’re on the fence, this might be one to skip.
To see my full review:
http://bookvacations.wordpress.com/20...
Rumor has it that this novel is going to be turned into a movie, and that Booboo Stewart (Seth Clearwater from the Twilight Saga) is going to play Aaron. Now, nothing is set in stone, but filming is supposed to start soon, fall of this year, and the movie should release in late 2013. Will I see it? Probably. In theaters? Probably not. Why? I just wasn’t that enamored with the plotline.
Yes, the story is interesting, and I liked the premise, but had this title not been free at the time I came across it, and had I not noticed it was going to be made into a movie, in all honesty, I probably wouldn’t have picked it up. Why? I found this novel to be very predictable, and while that’s okay, the fact that Aaron behaves badly throughout the story was not. I really didn’t care for him; while his relationship with his father is in fact very strained, the way Aaron talks to him, as well as his friends, really rubbed me the wrong way. He is a very arrogant young man, and his friends were actually really kind of annoying. Likewise, I didn’t make any connections with them, or any of the characters, and so when some bad things happened (no spoilers), I found that I didn’t care one way or another. Harsh, I know, but it’s the honest truth. Do I think it’s worth checking out? If the plotline interests you, then yes. The writing is decent and the story moves quickly. But if you’re on the fence, this might be one to skip.
To see my full review:
http://bookvacations.wordpress.com/20...
November 29, 2012
Full post: http://karenschoice-books.blogspot.no...
A book full of action? Give me a 100 of those!
In the beginning I was like "Yeah, I guess this will be an okay book" and when I was finished I was like "OMG! GIVE ME MORE NOW!"
The plot was great, and it started out like many action books, but it was the end that made this book GREAT. This book was full of action, from start to end, and it was such a shame that it had to end. This was one of the books, that you are happy to be finished with, but also sad because you didn't want it to end.
The ending was fantastic, so thrilling, it had my stomach jump. I didn't see it coming at all!
The characters were good and full of personality. They were all very likeable, even the main character. Even though, I have to admit that I started out not liking him. But he was one of the characters that grows on you. I also liked Mike very much, he wasn't one of the main characters, and was actually not a big part of the story. But I still liked him!
One of the characters I didn't like was Carl, I just hated him from the start. It was something about him that made me puke every time he said something.
I'm so glad that Pineville Heist was not one of the clique books with all the goofy love. Don't get me wrong! I love romance, but please take the kissing and stuff to either after you have saved the world or before.
The action was super awesome! I loved it and I'm so glad it lasted so long!
A book full of action? Give me a 100 of those!
In the beginning I was like "Yeah, I guess this will be an okay book" and when I was finished I was like "OMG! GIVE ME MORE NOW!"
The plot was great, and it started out like many action books, but it was the end that made this book GREAT. This book was full of action, from start to end, and it was such a shame that it had to end. This was one of the books, that you are happy to be finished with, but also sad because you didn't want it to end.
The ending was fantastic, so thrilling, it had my stomach jump. I didn't see it coming at all!
The characters were good and full of personality. They were all very likeable, even the main character. Even though, I have to admit that I started out not liking him. But he was one of the characters that grows on you. I also liked Mike very much, he wasn't one of the main characters, and was actually not a big part of the story. But I still liked him!
One of the characters I didn't like was Carl, I just hated him from the start. It was something about him that made me puke every time he said something.
I'm so glad that Pineville Heist was not one of the clique books with all the goofy love. Don't get me wrong! I love romance, but please take the kissing and stuff to either after you have saved the world or before.
The action was super awesome! I loved it and I'm so glad it lasted so long!
March 3, 2012
Pineville Heist is a fast paced action packed read, aimed at the young adult (YA) market.
When I first got this request through, I have to say I wasn’t really looking forward to it. I was, however, really pleasantly surprised; the story grabbed me from the off and very quickly developed into a brilliant who-dunnit style mystery. The front cover of the book reminds me of Scooby-Do, and I suppose the twist at the end of the ‘bad guy’ is reminiscent of a Scooby-Do mystery.
The story centres on Aaron, the son of the wealthy Pineville mill owner, a mill which provides the life support for the small town of Pineville. Rumours abound that the mill owner is selling up, and with this, Pineville will become a ghost town. Motivated by greed and a desire to get out before the town dies, we see a heist take place, with $5m stolen. Who did it and will Aaron get out alive in order to save the town’s money?
The story twists and turns, and will be enough to get any reader interested. I think that in light some of the language used and the rather gruesome nature of some of the deaths, this is probably aimed at the older end of the YA market, but, like any good YA book, it also crosses easily into the adult market too.
The ending was a little predictable, but then it should have been too - I’d have been disappointed if the final chapter hadn’t been what I had expected.
All in all, a promising debut novel by Chambers, which provides non-stop, action and adventure.
When I first got this request through, I have to say I wasn’t really looking forward to it. I was, however, really pleasantly surprised; the story grabbed me from the off and very quickly developed into a brilliant who-dunnit style mystery. The front cover of the book reminds me of Scooby-Do, and I suppose the twist at the end of the ‘bad guy’ is reminiscent of a Scooby-Do mystery.
The story centres on Aaron, the son of the wealthy Pineville mill owner, a mill which provides the life support for the small town of Pineville. Rumours abound that the mill owner is selling up, and with this, Pineville will become a ghost town. Motivated by greed and a desire to get out before the town dies, we see a heist take place, with $5m stolen. Who did it and will Aaron get out alive in order to save the town’s money?
The story twists and turns, and will be enough to get any reader interested. I think that in light some of the language used and the rather gruesome nature of some of the deaths, this is probably aimed at the older end of the YA market, but, like any good YA book, it also crosses easily into the adult market too.
The ending was a little predictable, but then it should have been too - I’d have been disappointed if the final chapter hadn’t been what I had expected.
All in all, a promising debut novel by Chambers, which provides non-stop, action and adventure.
October 27, 2012
The Pineville Heist was an action packed mystery from start to finish. Just when I thought I had figured out the plot and the "who done it", I was thrown a curve ball that had me guessing and second guessing all over again. Brilliant.
Aaron was a typical teenage boy going about his daily life, he was lucky that he came from such a wealthy family but unlucky that his father was too busy bothering with his business to even care about Aaron. despite the wealth Aaron was level headed and despised his father for reasons that are clear in the book.
When Aaron stumbles upon a bank robbery he quickly needs to learn how to out smart his would be killers and stay alive not only does he need to protect his own life but that of his drama teacher Amanda Becker too. unable to call for help as the the school is a no cell phone area there only choice is to fight there way out.
Aaron grew from a boy to man in this book as he fought against the robbers who wanted the money back and all evidence gone. That included Aaron, as long as Aaron knew what was going on he was threat and would need to be dealt with.
The characters were well developed, especially Aaron who I felt I really got to know and understand.
A brilliant read by Lee Chambers and I am excited to hear this is going to be turned into a movie staring Booboo Stewart (Seth Clearwater from twilight) I cant wait to see how it translates to the big screen. if the book is anything to go by it will hit at the cinema
do
Aaron was a typical teenage boy going about his daily life, he was lucky that he came from such a wealthy family but unlucky that his father was too busy bothering with his business to even care about Aaron. despite the wealth Aaron was level headed and despised his father for reasons that are clear in the book.
When Aaron stumbles upon a bank robbery he quickly needs to learn how to out smart his would be killers and stay alive not only does he need to protect his own life but that of his drama teacher Amanda Becker too. unable to call for help as the the school is a no cell phone area there only choice is to fight there way out.
Aaron grew from a boy to man in this book as he fought against the robbers who wanted the money back and all evidence gone. That included Aaron, as long as Aaron knew what was going on he was threat and would need to be dealt with.
The characters were well developed, especially Aaron who I felt I really got to know and understand.
A brilliant read by Lee Chambers and I am excited to hear this is going to be turned into a movie staring Booboo Stewart (Seth Clearwater from twilight) I cant wait to see how it translates to the big screen. if the book is anything to go by it will hit at the cinema
do
September 11, 2011
3.5 stars.A story about a town called Pineville,a mill business they thought going down south but truly headed up north,how a kid named Aaron save the day & his beloved town from evil doers set out & stole the money,murder,conspiracy..it’s all about the money!bloody money!
I like how the plot seems to thicken as the story progress the unexpected turn at the end left me hangin by the tread..Aaron is just like any other teenager,he knows what he wants to pursue, quite careless yet a lucky kid, grew up well provided home though not happy with his relationship with his father at the end it seems fixed and all better..This caught me out of breath and I felt cornered as well as Aaron when was stuck at school while a murderer was out to get him along with his friends..at first nobody believes him but eventually somebody did but…the hidden agenda of course came out at the latter part of all this mess.Greed has always been one of the greatest sin many of us are guilty of in this story where the end does not justify the means the truth shall always and ever will prevail!Justice!
The characters are very likeable & relatable,typical you’ll see every single day..Aaron (the lead) for me made a great portrayal of Hamlet I applauded with a standing ovation in his last performance a nice ending that of course made Aaron's day as well...good job kid & Mr. Lee Chambers.
I like how the plot seems to thicken as the story progress the unexpected turn at the end left me hangin by the tread..Aaron is just like any other teenager,he knows what he wants to pursue, quite careless yet a lucky kid, grew up well provided home though not happy with his relationship with his father at the end it seems fixed and all better..This caught me out of breath and I felt cornered as well as Aaron when was stuck at school while a murderer was out to get him along with his friends..at first nobody believes him but eventually somebody did but…the hidden agenda of course came out at the latter part of all this mess.Greed has always been one of the greatest sin many of us are guilty of in this story where the end does not justify the means the truth shall always and ever will prevail!Justice!
The characters are very likeable & relatable,typical you’ll see every single day..Aaron (the lead) for me made a great portrayal of Hamlet I applauded with a standing ovation in his last performance a nice ending that of course made Aaron's day as well...good job kid & Mr. Lee Chambers.
Read
June 12, 2020Aaron Stevens is the less than happy son of town magnate Derek and let’s just say it isn’t like ‘The Waltons’ in the Stevens household. When $5 million is stolen from the Pineville Bank, Aaron wants to recover the money. While his friends dream of fantastic cars, elaborate lifestyles etc, Aaron wants to do the right thing and return the money to its rightful owners: the town and - despite their turbulent relationship - his father.
Easier said than done though because first Aaron has to actually retrieve the money and with armed robbers running around looking to kill off those blocking their getaway this is a school day that Aaron will never forget.
The Pineville Heist was adapted from a screenplay and it does have all the elements of a great madcap comedy. There’s some enjoyable tongue in cheek humour throughout the book, which moves at a fast pace but with a steady rhythm. The characters are larger than life, almost like caricatures but not quite.
When I was reading The Pineville Heist, the thing that kept springing to my mind was ‘Scooby Doo meets Fargo’. It’s a good, fun, fast read that’s bound to make you smile and, best of all, it’s not without a twist a two to keep you guessing all the way to the end!
Please note, I received this book as a review copy from the author. All opinions are my own.
Easier said than done though because first Aaron has to actually retrieve the money and with armed robbers running around looking to kill off those blocking their getaway this is a school day that Aaron will never forget.
The Pineville Heist was adapted from a screenplay and it does have all the elements of a great madcap comedy. There’s some enjoyable tongue in cheek humour throughout the book, which moves at a fast pace but with a steady rhythm. The characters are larger than life, almost like caricatures but not quite.
When I was reading The Pineville Heist, the thing that kept springing to my mind was ‘Scooby Doo meets Fargo’. It’s a good, fun, fast read that’s bound to make you smile and, best of all, it’s not without a twist a two to keep you guessing all the way to the end!
Please note, I received this book as a review copy from the author. All opinions are my own.
September 16, 2011
A book written from a screenplay; not an order I’m used to, but I anticipated what lay within these pages.
Sure enough, the scenes were clearly set and a lot of story was told within the first chapter, certainly enough to let the story flow without having to jump back and explain what was going on. Derek Stevens is painted as a typical business tycoon, getting rich from the hard work of others. His son, Aaron, is a bit of a mystery early on; it’s clear he has every material possession he could wish for, and yet he seems to be quite level headed. The animosity he feels towards his father, and what Derek does serves to confirm this observation.
The further I delved in to this tale, the more I was enthralled; plot twists kept me hanging, and as events described on the blurb played out, I found I had no chance to resist. It didn’t take long for the drama to begin, and I was caught like a fly in a spider’s web; a web weaved from a fantastic story.
The Pineville Heist is an excellent example of no one being quite who they say they are. We all have our secrets, some bigger than others, and they make us who we are. This goes to show that you can’t always trust who you want to, and we must all take care with our hearts and our lives.
A terrific tale, I would most definitely watch this on the big screen, despite it being intended for the Young Adult audience.
Sure enough, the scenes were clearly set and a lot of story was told within the first chapter, certainly enough to let the story flow without having to jump back and explain what was going on. Derek Stevens is painted as a typical business tycoon, getting rich from the hard work of others. His son, Aaron, is a bit of a mystery early on; it’s clear he has every material possession he could wish for, and yet he seems to be quite level headed. The animosity he feels towards his father, and what Derek does serves to confirm this observation.
The further I delved in to this tale, the more I was enthralled; plot twists kept me hanging, and as events described on the blurb played out, I found I had no chance to resist. It didn’t take long for the drama to begin, and I was caught like a fly in a spider’s web; a web weaved from a fantastic story.
The Pineville Heist is an excellent example of no one being quite who they say they are. We all have our secrets, some bigger than others, and they make us who we are. This goes to show that you can’t always trust who you want to, and we must all take care with our hearts and our lives.
A terrific tale, I would most definitely watch this on the big screen, despite it being intended for the Young Adult audience.
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