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Under Your Skin
With small town journalist Cal Murphy quickly losing his big city dreams of writing for a metro newspaper, his passion is reignited when three star prep athletes are found dead in a 24-hour period.
As he and fellow photographer Kelly Mendoza attempt to make sense of bizarre circumstances that led to the teens? deaths, Cal makes a chilling discovery, uncovering a vast conspiracy that grows darker with every twist and turn.
With a mastermind determined to silence Cal and Kelly for good, the young reporters ultimately must decide if their lives are worth the risk to reveal the truth.
As he and fellow photographer Kelly Mendoza attempt to make sense of bizarre circumstances that led to the teens? deaths, Cal makes a chilling discovery, uncovering a vast conspiracy that grows darker with every twist and turn.
With a mastermind determined to silence Cal and Kelly for good, the young reporters ultimately must decide if their lives are worth the risk to reveal the truth.
266 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 29, 2011
30 people are currently reading
198 people want to read
About the author
J.R. Chartrand
3 books3 followersJ.R. Chartrand is an award-winning journalist and fiction writer living in the Pacific Northwest. He cut his writing teeth on covering college football in the south and later professional sports. Then he moved West to chase adventure and the great outdoors.
"Under Your Skin" released in December 2011 and was his first fiction novel.
"Under Your Skin" released in December 2011 and was his first fiction novel.
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
February 18, 2012
Rating: 3.5* of five
The Book Report: Statenville, Idaho, is that rarest of things: An economically healthy small town. It's got Cloverdale Industries to thank for that, and thank them the town does, by electing Cloverdale's president to the Mayor's chair.
Until, one sad day, three high school football stars, the pride of the town's team, die within twenty-four hours of each other. Gruesome, horrible deaths, scratching themselves into exsanguination, all from doing tainted drugs. Mayor Gold's son is the first to die, such a sad sad sad end to a promising life.
The Register, the local weekly fish-wrapper, is strangely incurious about the deaths, in the opinion of reporter Cal Murphy, fresh out of journalism school and so desperate for a job that he's taken on the task of writing up the local doin's and the grip-and-grin meetings of small Mormon Statenville. I mean, what kind of excitement is there in this podunk burg for a reporter who longs to cover Seattle's sports universe?
Cal, and photographer Kelly Mendoza (who happens to be The Register's publisher's niece), find out quickly as the questions they start asking make some very powerful people with a very dark secret they all share very very very nervous. Murdering nervous. And guess who's in the firing line.
Cal and Kelly start a North by Northwest-worthy race across southern Idaho's cornfields and canyons, into Salt Lake City's canyons, along the way running afoul of local police, FBI sting operations, and one supremely dangerous man for whom murder is all in a day's work...Mafia bigwig Carmine Deangelo.
My Review: This thriller was a Kindle freebie I found through Pixel of Ink on Facebook. I downloaded it without any serious expectations, and started reading because I couldn't hold up a normal book in my arthritic fingers.
How's that for an inauspicious start?
As soon as I read about Cody Murray's death, I was completely hooked and had to know what was going to happen next. For three hours, I was riveted to my seat and could not turn the cyberpages fast enough. Cal and Kelly aren't the most fully realized of characters, but the author has a mean streak about a mile wide and puts the two of them through quite some horrible ride. Which makes for good reading, of course.
The book is marketed as a mystery, but the identity of the perp and the reason for the crime spree that Cal and Kelly set off with their investigation are not at all well-hidden. What makes up for that is the sheer velocity of the action, which is why I label it a thriller. I mentioned before that the characters aren't particularly well drawn, but that is a common flaw in first novels, and it isn't as if the main couple are wooden...just not nuanced, and some back story opportunities are whiffed. At ~256pp, the book is too short (and how weird it feels to type *those* words!) by about 50pp, almost all of which could be spent on backstory.
HURRY to get a free copy today, 2/18/2012, or pay about $5 for the book...either way, it's good entertainment value.
The Book Report: Statenville, Idaho, is that rarest of things: An economically healthy small town. It's got Cloverdale Industries to thank for that, and thank them the town does, by electing Cloverdale's president to the Mayor's chair.
Until, one sad day, three high school football stars, the pride of the town's team, die within twenty-four hours of each other. Gruesome, horrible deaths, scratching themselves into exsanguination, all from doing tainted drugs. Mayor Gold's son is the first to die, such a sad sad sad end to a promising life.
The Register, the local weekly fish-wrapper, is strangely incurious about the deaths, in the opinion of reporter Cal Murphy, fresh out of journalism school and so desperate for a job that he's taken on the task of writing up the local doin's and the grip-and-grin meetings of small Mormon Statenville. I mean, what kind of excitement is there in this podunk burg for a reporter who longs to cover Seattle's sports universe?
Cal, and photographer Kelly Mendoza (who happens to be The Register's publisher's niece), find out quickly as the questions they start asking make some very powerful people with a very dark secret they all share very very very nervous. Murdering nervous. And guess who's in the firing line.
Cal and Kelly start a North by Northwest-worthy race across southern Idaho's cornfields and canyons, into Salt Lake City's canyons, along the way running afoul of local police, FBI sting operations, and one supremely dangerous man for whom murder is all in a day's work...Mafia bigwig Carmine Deangelo.
My Review: This thriller was a Kindle freebie I found through Pixel of Ink on Facebook. I downloaded it without any serious expectations, and started reading because I couldn't hold up a normal book in my arthritic fingers.
How's that for an inauspicious start?
As soon as I read about Cody Murray's death, I was completely hooked and had to know what was going to happen next. For three hours, I was riveted to my seat and could not turn the cyberpages fast enough. Cal and Kelly aren't the most fully realized of characters, but the author has a mean streak about a mile wide and puts the two of them through quite some horrible ride. Which makes for good reading, of course.
The book is marketed as a mystery, but the identity of the perp and the reason for the crime spree that Cal and Kelly set off with their investigation are not at all well-hidden. What makes up for that is the sheer velocity of the action, which is why I label it a thriller. I mentioned before that the characters aren't particularly well drawn, but that is a common flaw in first novels, and it isn't as if the main couple are wooden...just not nuanced, and some back story opportunities are whiffed. At ~256pp, the book is too short (and how weird it feels to type *those* words!) by about 50pp, almost all of which could be spent on backstory.
HURRY to get a free copy today, 2/18/2012, or pay about $5 for the book...either way, it's good entertainment value.
May 17, 2012
Excellent thriller!
This is Chartrand's first novel, and it's an excellent first salvo into the thriller genre from him. I read a lot of Baldacci and DeMille thrillers, among others, and while Chartrand isn't ready to be listed among those names as an equal (YET), his story has many similarities with their work. Like Baldacci, he uses lots of short chapters which I really like as a here-and-there reader. Many of those chapters end with you very anxious to get to the next chapter. Like both of the previous authors I referenced, he has created main characters that are very likable and relate-able. Hopefully they will have future adventures I can read about. If you like Baldacci or DeMille, or you like fast paced fun thrillers with interesting main characters, you'll like this story. Enjoy!
This is Chartrand's first novel, and it's an excellent first salvo into the thriller genre from him. I read a lot of Baldacci and DeMille thrillers, among others, and while Chartrand isn't ready to be listed among those names as an equal (YET), his story has many similarities with their work. Like Baldacci, he uses lots of short chapters which I really like as a here-and-there reader. Many of those chapters end with you very anxious to get to the next chapter. Like both of the previous authors I referenced, he has created main characters that are very likable and relate-able. Hopefully they will have future adventures I can read about. If you like Baldacci or DeMille, or you like fast paced fun thrillers with interesting main characters, you'll like this story. Enjoy!
May 8, 2012
Good book! It grabbed at the beginning and pulled me till the very end. =D
Granted, there were a few times where things just seemed to work too well for the characters or where a character was introduced only to disappear forever without an explanation… But overall, I would recommend the book for those looking for fun thriller to enjoy on a lazy summer day.
Granted, there were a few times where things just seemed to work too well for the characters or where a character was introduced only to disappear forever without an explanation… But overall, I would recommend the book for those looking for fun thriller to enjoy on a lazy summer day.
May 18, 2012
This is a really good book a murder mystery of 3 high school football players and when the news reporters try to find out what dirt is going on in this small little town things get dirty and they try to investigate and keep from getting killed by a ring leader of a drug cartel
February 24, 2012
I really enjoyed this story line. The characters were like down to earth real people you meet every day. The story was good, the characters were real, just a real good mystery. Great job.
May 30, 2012
There are two kinds of people who get paid to write – authors and journalists. Then there are some who are both. J. R. Chartrand is one of the latter. My grouse is I wish he wasn’t.
Under Your Skin is set in a small town in Southern Idaho where one day the town wakes up to the deaths of three teenagers. While the town reporter, Cal Murphy, is all set to earn that Pulitzer with his in-depth coverage, he seems to be the only one who is interested. Turns out, the entire town is under the control of one man and it is in his interest and theirs for the deaths to go unnoticed. Cal, the intrepid reporter, along with his love interest/sidekick, Kelly Mendoza unravel the secrets but not without danger to their lives. Throw in the FBI and the machinations of a rouge agent and the story is complete.
The book was bad at so many levels, that I don’t know where to begin. At the outset, the plot has nothing to itself. There is no element of surprise in the novel and from the very beginning, it is spelled out clearly as to who is responsible for the act. The book plays out like a bland movie where all one can do is wait out the end. The characters are insipid and the action, forced. As if the ploy of a town so under the control of one man and yet known to none outside is not outlandish enough, there is the FBI twist nearing the end. In a book where murder, drugs, and conspiracy theories happen, happily ever after is not left out either with Cal getting his dream job of sports writer right after his award deserving coverage of the drug ring cover up (go figure) and his dream lass (with a job offer for her too). The writing style itself is not so bad, though one does wonder when the word phone is replaced by ‘iPhone’ everywhere.
Not every journalist turned author need be a Stieg Larsson or a Bruce DeSilva but not even sports writers turned authors are expected to churn out such tepid fiction, specially for $3.99. These are $3.99 best spent elsewhere.
Under Your Skin is set in a small town in Southern Idaho where one day the town wakes up to the deaths of three teenagers. While the town reporter, Cal Murphy, is all set to earn that Pulitzer with his in-depth coverage, he seems to be the only one who is interested. Turns out, the entire town is under the control of one man and it is in his interest and theirs for the deaths to go unnoticed. Cal, the intrepid reporter, along with his love interest/sidekick, Kelly Mendoza unravel the secrets but not without danger to their lives. Throw in the FBI and the machinations of a rouge agent and the story is complete.
The book was bad at so many levels, that I don’t know where to begin. At the outset, the plot has nothing to itself. There is no element of surprise in the novel and from the very beginning, it is spelled out clearly as to who is responsible for the act. The book plays out like a bland movie where all one can do is wait out the end. The characters are insipid and the action, forced. As if the ploy of a town so under the control of one man and yet known to none outside is not outlandish enough, there is the FBI twist nearing the end. In a book where murder, drugs, and conspiracy theories happen, happily ever after is not left out either with Cal getting his dream job of sports writer right after his award deserving coverage of the drug ring cover up (go figure) and his dream lass (with a job offer for her too). The writing style itself is not so bad, though one does wonder when the word phone is replaced by ‘iPhone’ everywhere.
Not every journalist turned author need be a Stieg Larsson or a Bruce DeSilva but not even sports writers turned authors are expected to churn out such tepid fiction, specially for $3.99. These are $3.99 best spent elsewhere.
July 30, 2012
Today's review is on Under Your Skin by: J. R. Chartrand
Under Your Skin is Chartrand's debut into the world of fiction writing, and though I do not imagine it jumping to the top ten any time soon, as far as a debut goes, it's not entirely bad. Sure the plot is a bit weak, and the character development is lacking, but it reads quickly and offers some entertainment value.
Statenville, Idaho is like most every small town in America. Everyone knows everyone, the local paper has but a few employees, and there's next to nothing much happening. But when three high school athletes turn up dead everything changes, and reporter Cal Murphy and photographer Kelly Mandoza are on the case.
Unknown to Cal and Kelly, their small town holds a big secret, and some are willing to do anything to protect it. Even kill. The more Cal and Kelly dig up, the bigger the conspiracy get. But finding the truth may cost the two too much. It's already cost them the life of their friend and boss Guy Thompson and two FBI agents. It could also quite possibly cost them their own lives as well.
I usually love a good mystery, but Under Your Skin gave away many of the answers to soon, which left nothing to the imagination. But not all writers can come up with a number one book on the first try. At the very least I'm hopeful that with his next book, Chartrand will grow in his writing ability.
An okay read that just needs a bit more work.
2 of 5 stars
Available at Amazon
Under Your Skin is Chartrand's debut into the world of fiction writing, and though I do not imagine it jumping to the top ten any time soon, as far as a debut goes, it's not entirely bad. Sure the plot is a bit weak, and the character development is lacking, but it reads quickly and offers some entertainment value.
Statenville, Idaho is like most every small town in America. Everyone knows everyone, the local paper has but a few employees, and there's next to nothing much happening. But when three high school athletes turn up dead everything changes, and reporter Cal Murphy and photographer Kelly Mandoza are on the case.
Unknown to Cal and Kelly, their small town holds a big secret, and some are willing to do anything to protect it. Even kill. The more Cal and Kelly dig up, the bigger the conspiracy get. But finding the truth may cost the two too much. It's already cost them the life of their friend and boss Guy Thompson and two FBI agents. It could also quite possibly cost them their own lives as well.
I usually love a good mystery, but Under Your Skin gave away many of the answers to soon, which left nothing to the imagination. But not all writers can come up with a number one book on the first try. At the very least I'm hopeful that with his next book, Chartrand will grow in his writing ability.
An okay read that just needs a bit more work.
2 of 5 stars
Available at Amazon
June 9, 2014
I was completely hooked in the very first page and had to know what was going to happen next. A good read for a first novel. The plot was full of interesting twists, full of actions and excitements. I am sure it was written with a series in mind because the end of the book kind of leave you on your appetite; or was written for you to make your own end, maybe. Since it was published in 2011 I wonder when is the next one due for, if there is a next one. If so I can't wait to read what will happend next.
September 24, 2016
Great Book !
I have to say that I don't normally read about sports, but this one turned out to be so much more than that ! The content was great, the lingering questions of were Cal and Kelly going to get together, and then throw in a dirty official and what the true story is really about...AWESOME !!! Definitely a new author I will be following.
I have to say that I don't normally read about sports, but this one turned out to be so much more than that ! The content was great, the lingering questions of were Cal and Kelly going to get together, and then throw in a dirty official and what the true story is really about...AWESOME !!! Definitely a new author I will be following.
September 28, 2012
This book was very good. I would recommend this book to a friend. What made this book so good was that it would leave you hanging at the end of each chapter. It would also create suspense that would make you want to Continue reading the book.
June 3, 2014
Oh my goodness
Very well written and very well put together. Kept me on the edge of my seat the whole time. I can't wait to read more Cal Murphy Thrillers! Well done J.R. Heartland, well done. I love forward to reading more by this author.
Very well written and very well put together. Kept me on the edge of my seat the whole time. I can't wait to read more Cal Murphy Thrillers! Well done J.R. Heartland, well done. I love forward to reading more by this author.
May 3, 2012
It wasn't a bad read, quite easy to get through, and even better as it was a free kindle book from Amazon.
May 12, 2012
It was a good book. It had enough action to keep me turning the pages.
August 30, 2012
LOVED this book! A complete page-turner with unexpected twists. Would love to see more from this author.
January 2, 2013
Well done, Jason..I mean JR. I was immediately pulled into the story. I loved how the chapters ended forcing you to continue reading to find out more.
Read
May 24, 2013A very predictable book!! Did not like it.
July 23, 2014
This book sucked. I got 84% done and gave up. It is a bunch of clichés bundled together into a irritating repetative package.
June 13, 2014
I was a small town reporter so I really enjoyed this thriller!
May 22, 2015
Gripping
Very good story about small town corruption. Many twists and turns.
Somewhat of a surprise ending.
Mild love story included..
Very good story about small town corruption. Many twists and turns.
Somewhat of a surprise ending.
Mild love story included..
February 8, 2016
Clever story line. I enjoyed trying to separate the good guys from the bad guys. There were many twists and turns.
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews