Sunburnt

by M D Keating

An unemployed alcoholic writer, coping with the death of his father, is unwittingly drawn into a scandal of EPIC proportions, when his estranged childhood best friend, now a very successful offshore banker, disappears with BILLION$ of dollars that don't belong to him.... Follow our unlikely hero through a collage of rogue characters into a dangerous world of CORRUPTION, GREED, DRUGS, ARMS, and WAR...."A REVOLUTIONARY NEW STYLE OF STORY TELLING!""A RAPID FIRE LITERARY STYLE!""A NON-STOP THRILL RIDE FROM BEGINNING TO END!"

Genres: Mystery

141 pages, Paperback

First published July 15, 2011

Reviews

[Patricia · Rating 1 out of 5]

I won this one on Goodreads. The premise and opinions of the book according to the giveaway are copied and pasted below.

An unemployed alcoholic writer, coping with the death of his father, is unwittingly drawn into a scandal of EPIC proportions, when his estranged childhood best friend, now a very successful offshore banker, disappears with BILLION$ of dollars that don't belong to him.... Follow our unlikely hero through a collage of rogue characters into a dangerous world of CORRUPTION, GREED, DRUGS, ARMS, and WAR....

"A REVOLUTIONARY NEW STYLE OF STORYTELLING!"

"A RAPID FIRE LITERARY STYLE!"

"A NON-STOP THRILL RIDE FROM BEGINNING TO END!"

Now to address the above:
There is nothing exceptionally original about the style of storytelling. It is written in tv script form. This style is best read by people who visualize quickly and easily. I did not have a problem with the form. It was an easy and quick read. There were a few times when I had to back track and make sure I knew what was going on, but it wasn't a big deal.

The work is peppered with cliche after cliche. Cliche characters, cliche plots, cliche themes, cliche action--felt like cliche tv. There is no real character or story development. I never got the feeling that Mickey was a struggling alcoholic or that he was trying to cope with his father's death. I don't even know why he was viewed as a hero.

The story reads and feels like a made for tv 60 minute cop movie. It wasn't very original, intriguing, or exceptionally entertaining. The story progressed in a logical---though very predicable---fashion. There are mafia type Italians, hot Latina women, druggie Latin men (none of these Latins seem to have a command of their Spanish---using the wrong verb tenses when speaking to each other: this is really bad, since there are only 3 very short scenes with dialogue in Spanish. Someone got really lazy.)

The character of Jack Sullivan is a bad guy turned good guy with a conscience, who doesn't really do anything. In fact no one really does much of anything. Add in a few guys blown away for being rats, a few boat rides, exploding boats, FBI, CIA, helicopters, and pretty women in bikinis and I guess it is every guy's rich drug dealer fantasy. Again, there is no real development, so the material will read much like what you just read.

The story is peppered with media reports that pull the political world into the story. Bad bad Republican White House dealing in illegal drugs and armaments trading with terrorist groups and less than stellar countries! Colombia of course! Corruption through and through...whatever.. Luckily, the much more moral Democrats have taken over the White House---not,...do I hear pardon or is it that I simply see a change in command in which rats are now running the dirty illegal show???

There is a wedding and a pregnancy, a bodega, a Mama who doesn't draw the line between her suffocating Latina Mama ways and the fact that her daughter is an adult and has her own career as a teacher. Lilliana still works at the bodega with la familia like a good little Latina. The good little Latina is always offering to cook for Mickey. How sweet and all Latina-ish. I found it stupid and childish. Mickey's Mama isn't any better. Mamas regularly slap and pop their adult Guido and alcoholic Irish sons upside the head. Maybe if we are lucky one will get a hold of M.D. Keating?? Knock some sense into him--try to anyway.

Finding a fugitive friend, does not a hero make. Machete wielding Rastafarian guy---I dohn't get it mahn. Leaving federal confinement, followed by the media---dumb. Being finally accepted by Lilliana's Mami and Papi---estupido. Getting Jack's hat in the end really cracked me up. The hat coming in the mail was so Christmassy and sweet and tidied up the story so nicely.

Jack is alive. He got away from the automatic rifle wielding drug dealers!---comical. Turning Mickey into a writer who gets the last laugh at his slumlord and ex-boss, by having a best selling book called SUNBURNT. It is never going to happen. Author self-serving delusion??

This story has been done and done better---almost every prime time night on television. Would I recommend this book? Why bother? It isn't totally lousy. It is just that it is JUST a tv script. TV scripts are better watched on televisions than read in between two cardboard covers. Just go watch CSI Miami instead, it will be much more entertaining as you won't have to paint the pictures in your head---they'll be painted for you on the tv screen.

While this isn't the worst book I have ever read, I find that even in its approach it got important things wrong. The end was forced, quick and kiddie comical. I really hate it when everything is wrapped up quickly in stories. Some things---many things are better left unsaid and open. The only line left out was. "...and they lived happily ever after................upstairs the bodega like a good Irish guy with a Latin Mami and Papi in law who love their Gringo Son-In-Law even though he is a Gringo. Ay que chulo!----not."

[Rose Cimarron · Rating 4 out of 5]

2012-01-30: The book arrived today! :oD I got it about 0900 when the post arrived at work, so I had to wait until I got home to look at it properly. In case you're wondering, it's a Goodreads First Read prize.

It's nicely printed and bound, with easy-on-the-eye font. When I flicked through, my first thought was "Oh heck, it's a play!", but starting at the beginning on page 5 (I've wondered since I was small why some books start numbering the story pages by counting the leaves in the book...) and by the time I got to page 7 I was hooked!

I had to stop to cook tea, feed the cats and so on, but it won't be long until I've finished and I add to this review.

Thank you M.D. for picking me to receive your book.

2012-04-06: Oh the shame! I've been distracted and just realised I didn't finish this review. I finished the book on 01 Feb! It is an excellent face paced book. I found the layout easy to read; the centre justification was different without being distracting. I really liked having different font types for speakers and narration.

The story itself was interesting; I found the change of viewpoint that came from the introduction of different interleaved characters was refreshing. I enjoyed the twists of the plot and I really cared about the characters and wanted the best for them. The ending tied up all loose ends to my satisfaction.

All in all, a great read and one I would recommend to anyone.

A longer review now appears on my blog

[Steve · Rating 1 out of 5]

I won this book in a first reads giveaway. I entered to win it because I thought it looked like a story that I would enjoy. I was wrong.

First, the format of the book was odd. It basically read like a play with lots of dialog and not much narration. I found it somewhat difficult to follow as a result. Strike one.

Second, pretty much the entire story and all of the characters lacked any kind of depth. I knew this was a short book going in, but the format of the book actually made it appear longer than it really was. This is a book that you could breeze through in a couple of hours and never think about again. Strike two.

Third, in the end the story really turned out to be left-wing political propaganda. I'm very much open to exploring both sides of the coin on any political issue, and I came away from this one feeling like the author is simply a bigot that threw this book together in an attempt to make a political statement. Hopefully I'm wrong, but strike three.

I feel badly about posting a negative review for a book that I entered to win and won in a giveaway, but this one really didn't do it for me at all. I typically only enter to win books when I expect to post positive reviews after reading them, but I completely missed on this one.

[dsneaks · Rating 1 out of 5]

I received Sunburnt by M.D. Keating from goodreads free giveaways. I don't know what to say about this book really. I read it during a break between classes read it in maybe an hour and a half or so. So this book is generally an easy read. I don't have much to say about it, the book to me wasn't that good, but that's in my opinion. It was written in like a script format. The book had no chapters and I find hard to follow at times and would lose me. Then for the majority of the book I felt like nothing was really happening that I was just reading about some random guy who no real emotional connection was developed to. This random guy did a bunch of stuff went to the find his friend. He finds his friend, they hang out for a little. Then he think his friend is dead and is held by the government for months. Then right at the end all this stuff is sprung on you. He goes home he gets married he moves into a new home and his wife is pregnant but oh no his friend isn't dead cause he gets a package with his friends hat in it.then that's it book over. Alll in all this book was not my cup of tea so to speak.

[Rebecca · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book took me a little getting into, mainly because of it's "revolutionary new style of story telling" which means that it is written like a play with inserts of Murphy, the narrator's, viewpoints on what's occurring running through it. The story seems a little light at times and the ending is a tad clichéd, but I really enjoyed it, as though it was a nice Saturday afternoon film.

The plot scampered around a bit and could have done with less switches between scenes, especially as the way the book is laid out, there is often just one line detailing the new location and when you're flying through a book, it can mean a bit of a backtrack because you missed something... or maybe that's just me.

I think I would have enjoyed this book more if it had been written traditionally, but I think it hangs on about a 3.5 star rating as I keep flip-flopping between 3 and 4 stars.

I am obliged to say that I received this book through the Goodreads First Reads programme and am grateful to M.D. Keating for giving me the opportunity to read it.

[Kell]

Alas, I have my first abandonment of the year! Sunburnt by M D Keating is purportedly "a revolutionary new style of storytelling," but is actually written in the style of a screenplay or script!

I'm not a script-reader. I do not get any pleasure from reading plays - I'd rather see them on a stage or screen. I could hardly get past the first few pages purely because of the style in which it is written (along with it being present tense, with which I always have difficulty getting to grips).

It's a real shame, because I "won" this one from Goodreads and thought it sounded rather interesting. Now I’ll never know if the story is any good because I simply cannot read it!

As a result, I cannot give it a rating of any stars, because I cannot constructively comment on the contents, only the style.

[Tami · Rating 2 out of 5]

I haven't received my copy yet, just received notice I had won. 01/21/12
I received my copy but am really backed up again. I have 7 plus my current read in front, but hope to get to it soon. 01/27/12
Started and finished yesterday. 2/12/12

Tommy's little brother is in jail. He goes with his mother to get him out and when the arrive at his mothers house, the find federal agents searching the place. They are looking for Jack, one of Tommy's old friends. Jack has run away with a lot of money after giving information that the government has been involved with drugs and weapons dealings with an assortment of criminal enterprises. Can Tommy's find Jack before the government or criminals do?

This sounds like it would be a good book, really it does. Story line is good, characters should be good, but it just didn't work for me. I didn't like how it was written more like a script than a book. It didn't really build any emotions to the characters, and I found it mostly blah.

[Cathy]

There is nothing particularly original about the plot of Sunburnt although it hangs together with its own idiosyncratic twists and turns well enough. What makes Sunburnt interesting is the writing style. The pace is fast - even frenetic at times - and the dialogue is sharp and focussed. Scenes change every couple of pages sometimes jumping starkly from one setting to another. It doesn't take long to read Sunburnt which is partly because of the style and partly because you don't want to stop reading because, implausible as it may seem, you want to know what happens next. I think it is written in a film-script format very well although the writer makes you work quite hard. You get enough detail to create the pictures of each scene in your mind but you find yourself filling them out for yourself and I thought this was rather cleverly orchestrated. Overall I enjoyed reading Sunburnt and think it would make a good holiday read.

[CATHERINE · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was fortunate enough to win this through Goodreads. It is written in the format of a screen play or play. Not very original and I thought the format meant that a depth of characterization was missing. So the "hero" started off as a down and out, but then he had this amazing girlfriend which didn't really fit his lifestyle, why did she love him, why wasn't he living with her? Then he seemed to actually be on good terms with his family so why was he living in such a hovel? Then it turns in to a conspiracy, murder/mystery, spy like thriller which is fast paced with exotic locations. The ending was extremely obvious and the whole story felt very similar to what we have read or seen before, so there was nothing new here for the reader. I can see this being turned into a movie but there was nothing especially interesting here. Short but ultimately unsatisfying read.

[R J Royer · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this book in probably two hours give or take over a few days when I had spare time after receiving it as a Goodreads Giveaway. The book was a fast read. I appreciate that.

I was pleasantly surprised to see that it was written as a script and with some small revisions it would probably make a good TV movie. I will say that I found the shortness of the book did make character development a little strained and hard to deal with in terms of some (i.e. Jack) though they do not play a major part.

I did find that I wanted more from the book. I wanted it to be longer and more fulfilling than it was. The ending felt rushed. Mickey Murphy's time in the cell seemed almost glossed over and that is sad as it could have been used to develop his character and Jack's more.

Overall I would say it is a decent fast read.

[Sue · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received this book in a giveaway sponsored by GoodReads.

Sunburnt, by M.D. Keating. The story begins with Murphy, an unemployed writer with a severe drinking problem. His life changes from this sad state to a world of government corruption, drugs and arms. Murphy learns that his best friend, Jack, an investment banker has disappeared with an estimated seven billion dollars.Mr. Sullivan who disappeared from his primary residence in the Bahamas,along with an estimated seven billion dollars, is wanted for questioning regarding his involvement in a series of deals with alleged ties leading all the way to the White House. Murphy is determined to help his friend and leaves with hope of locating Jack while avoiding federal agents. Readers will be thrilled as they enter the world of corruption.

[Kim Heimbuch · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was a little beside myself when I opened the cover of Sunburnt and saw it was written in script form, however, this didn't deter from the reading at all.

This story is about Murphy, who is an unemployed alcoholic writer who finds himself in the midst of problem when he learns his billionaire friend Jack has gone missing from his home in the Bahamas, as well as all of his money. This book is fast paced, filled with captive vigor, corruption, and all the fun stuff found when stepping foot into another country.

If you can tolerate reading script formatting and you enjoy a good game of cat and mouse, then Sunburnt might be the next book to entice to.

Received from Goodreads to review.

[Lynxie · Rating 2 out of 5]

**I won this from GoodReads First Reads giveaways**

Sunburnt was an interesting story, it was let down by the fact that it was written in script. A heads-up when applying for the book through first reads would have been useful, as I probably wouldn't have tried for it.

The format aside, the storyline was quite good. I would have liked to see it written as a traditional novel.

I found the scenes jumped around too much with nothing connecting them, which made for a rather distracting read. This was especially apparent at the beginning with all the cut scenes.

Not really what I wanted from a book, but it might be your cup of tea if you like reading in script.

[Michelle Ehrich · Rating 2 out of 5]

I received a copy of this book for free through the Goodreads first reads program.

Yes, the almost screenplay style of the book is distracting, especially since I can't tell if it is a screenplay with some awkward voiceovers, or if it's just a novel written in a strange way. However, that's not my biggest complaint.

The story seems to be set up as a typical government conspiracy mystery, but there is no mystery, except why the characters decide to go on vacation, get drunk, and get involved in the government conspiracy. There's no surprise ending and no mystery gets solved, and I'm left wondering what the point was.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Won this book on Goodreads! cant wait to receive it!
Jan 31-Got this book today. Soo fast and it came with a nice note form the author. A quick flip through has me thinking it will be an interesting read and fairly quick! I'll let ya'll know!

Was able to read this in one day (actually just a couple hours)and at first it thought the style of writing would drive me nuts but after the first 10 pages I found myself enjoying it. It still tells a great story. It is very fast paced and leaves a number of questions unanswered but that is probaly for the best as doesnt dweel on the details.

I would defiantely read another book by this author!

[Rebecca · Rating 1 out of 5]

I received this book through Goodreads First Reads program. When I started this book, I thought it was hard to follow and I didn't really know what was going on. The script format made it rather confusing, and even through the end of the book, I didn't really get why certain characters or certain pieces of the story were important. You only get to know Murphy a little bit, and his character is poorly developed throughout. Also, the homophobic undertones to certain scenes in the book were annoying. It was a quick read, but I wasn't very invested in it. All in all, I wish I hadn't wasted my time on it.

[Karen · Rating 2 out of 5]

I think there may be a short story between the pages of Sunburnt somewhere, but M.D. Keating decided to try to stretch it to book length by writing it in screen play format. That's unfortunate as the story might have been easier to follow if it had been written in a more conventional manner. The author handles dialog fairly well, but needs to remember that it's more important to show us, through the dialog and actions, rather than tell us what is going on to move the story forward. I won this book through Goodreads and did read it all the way through, but I doubt I'll remember much more then it's clumsy style, nor would I recommend it to anyone.

[Paulette · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sunburnt, by M.D. Keating. The story begins with Murphy, an unemployed writer with a severe drinking problem. His life changes from this sad state to a world of government corruption, drugs and arms. Murphy learns that his best friend, Jack, an investment banker has disappeared with an estimated seven billion dollars. Murphy is determined to help his friend and leaves with hope of locating Jack while avoiding federal agents. Readers will be thrilled as they enter the world of corruption.

I received this book in a giveaway sponsored by GoodReads and will highly recommend it to others.

[Amanda · Rating 1 out of 5]

I just received this book as I won it in a give away.

I applaud M.D. for taking the time to write this out, however I do not think this type of book is for me. It written like a script/play & those are not really books that hold my attention for long. I would like to either act this out with a group of friends or see it acted out in a movie or a theater.

This is not to say the plot isn't good & that other people wouldn't like it. I wish I had known it was written in this style, I wouldn't have entered in the giveaway and someone else might have won it that would have really enjoyed it.

[Jenee Rager · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really wanted to like this book. Unfortunately it was more of a book outline, than a "real" book. I found the plot to be interesting but not really fleshed out. The book is written more in the style of a screenplay, than a novel and it caught me off guard. I just feel like the author could have written a much better book but writing in a typical novel style instead of the quick outline style he used.

* Won through Goodreads.

[Peggy · Rating 1 out of 5]

Didn't really like the format of the book. The screenplay format placed too many holes in the story.

Even though the book cover is very appealing, it took until the end to understand why it was titled "Sunburnt". Couldn't figure it out and how it had any importance to the story.

Also, it is one of those books that you knew how it was going to end so their was no mystery at all.

I feel bad about the 1 star rating but honestly felt it didn't deserve any better than that.

[Nancy · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read Sunburnt by MD Keating as part of the Goodreads First Reads.



The book is set up like a screen play. Which was a little distracting at times and annoying at others.

The style in which it was written does make it a quick read but I think I would have liked it better if it was fleshed out with more narrative. It does have action but it didn't really pull me into the tale.

[Lacey · Rating 1 out of 5]

First off I should mention that this book is written like a screenplay. As such sure I could see it as a movie, but that is probably what I didn't like about it. I like to read descriptions about locations, characters and plot. I think as a general outline the book has a good beginning but as a reader I want more.

[Alan Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this as a Good Reads First Reads Giveaway.

I did wonder how easy this was going to be to read as it is a very unusual writing style, but I was pleasantly surprised. I soon got into the story and found it to be very fast paced and much easier to read than I thought.

Enjoyed the book and thought the storyline was well thought out and made a good read.

[Melissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quick enjoyable read, unusual format that I found difficult at first but as I progressed thru the book added to each scene more depth to what was going on. Ending of book was predictable and I wish I could know the characters in the book somewhat better. I saw this book as more of a TV show style but look forward to more tales with Murphy.

[Danielle Woodman · Rating 1 out of 5]

I received a copy of this from the Goodreads First Reads giveaways.

I have tried and tried to get into this book and I hate to admit defeat but I just cannot complete the book. As a previous review said I like to watch a play at the theatre not read a script in a book.

I really hope one day in the future I may be able to try again as this is the first time I have given up reading a book.

[Andrew · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is written, and reads like, the screenplay for a movie. The author is able to provide a lot of details in a very efficient manner using this style. I haven't read many screenplays before, but I still found this book easy to follow. The book is very short, but makes for an entertaining read, perfect for an hour or so at the beach.

[Patty · Rating 3 out of 5]

I won this book on Goodreads. The book has a good story line. I had trouble reading the book as I am not used to the format used. I had a feeling that I was reading an outline of the story, which sounded like a good story.

[Jenn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sunburnt is set up like a screenplay that tells the adventure Murphy goes on as he tries to find his estranged childhood best friend, who is now a banker, to find out the truth about the billions of dollars that has disappeared.


I received this book for free through Goodreads First Reads.

[Sky · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read Sunburnt by MD Keating as part of the Goodreads First Reads.
It has been a very long time since I have read a book of a script format. I found it refreshing to have a change but it took some getting used to. It a great mix of action, adventure and romance in a well thought storyline.