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Jay Davidovich #1
Jail Coach
Kent Trowbridge, bankable Hollywood bad boy actor, played late-night bumper car in his shiny new Ferrari, and now he's going to do county time. Enter Trans/Oxana's Loss Prevention specialist Jay Davidovich. Davidovich, a skilled veteran of Iraq and Afghanistan, is a dangerous man. He's also a company man, following the Trans/Oxana guidelines of loss prevention "by any legal means." Davidovich starts by hiring a jail coach Katrina Thompson to help trouble magnet Trowbridge survive incarceration and minimize the interruption to the movie project in progress. But Katrina arrives with some baggage in tow. Everyone falls for her adorable toddler. No one falls for Stan Chaladian, a ruthless hustler from ex-Marine Katrina's unorthodox past. Can Jay keep Katrina and Trowbridge from costing the company?
384 pages, Paperback
First published December 3, 2012
13 people want to read
About the author
Hillary Bell Locke
3 books5 followersHillary Bell Locke graduated with honors from Harvard Law School, worked for a prominent New York law firm, and now practices law in a city far from New York but not under that name.
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
June 14, 2015
This is a OK relaxing short book. Clearly a commercial book, intended like a motion picture type of book, aimed to entertain the reader and to bring revenue from sales. Nothing special, nothing amazing, nothing remarkable to make it unforgettable, but an OK easy book.
To me, the idea of a Jail Coach was intriguing, so I said to give it a try. However you won't find like a survival guide of some sort about how to make it if you end up in jail. Yes there are very few tips, mostly common sense mentioned someplace down the line, but noting like the title or the promo campaign suggested, witch makes me say that the tile and the promo campaign is somewhat misleading - a negative point just for that.
There is a plot, there are some well constructed characters, funny at times, but there is something about this book, or this author, that will never bring them to my top favorites.
It's maybe the fact that the author is a female trying to depict how a Jewish guy, with Ukrainian descent will act or say or do in different circumstances and it's unnatural, at least to me.
First of all most of the Ukrainian population - over 95% - is eastern orthodox and the Jews are quite a very small percent, so the chances to meet one are very slim. So this is from the start kind of pushy to me.
Then, there is plenty of humor I would say, but yet again, something is wrong with this humor, it's way out of the line, very sarcastic, very arrogant, it's the kind of humor that if displayed in real life will get your ass kicked and quite bad, at least in the neighborhood I came from.
Yes, it's a fiction book, even the author preamble makes a clear note about the fact it's a fiction book at the very beginning, witch is in itself once again a bit out of line considering the format she is delivering this message, again quite sarcastic and arrogant.
I don't usually like to jump to conclusions to fast, or to judge, or make assumptions, but all that and some more clues you'll find in this book - if you know how to read between the lines - tells me this author is not well acquitted with he real life and even if it's a fiction book, it's not realistic at all even tho' the action, the suspense, the locations, the plot, the characters and more will suggest it is as close to reality as it can be.
All that combined makes this book out of place, the foundation is there, but it lacks realism and the skills to intertwine fiction with realism.
I found someplace that this author may be a graduate from Harvard Law School and worked for a "prominent" NYC law firm and now she is still practicing law in a city far from NYC, but not under this pen name. For the record all this is unconfirmed, from unreliable sources and I tend to belie is just promotional BS. All that once again tells me this author needs a lot of polishing and coaching in writing before publishing more books. If she is a lawyer like the unconfirmed source claims, maybe she should stick with practicing law and let the writing for real professionals. If she is writing as a hobby, that's fine, but then working on improving those writing skills is a must if more books are intended for a public audience.
Now, I can't help to compare with other authors I am used to and I know this may be faulty on my part as you can't quite compare apples with oranges, but even if I don't want to, I am comparing with other authors and this one is way below the standards.
About my rating, I was tempted to give this book only one star, but then considering the time and effort involved to in fact write it, I said OK, this time I'll let it slide with two stars. A more accurate rating on my end would be 1.5 stars, but since I don't have this option, I said OK, it's worth maybe 1.55 stars so I'll round it up to 2 stars, but those 2 stars are not entirely deserved.
One thing is for sure on my end, I won't be reading more books from this author, as there are many other really good books by really good authors out there that can occupy my time. Maybe in time, this author will improve, will gain some more maturity and will come out with better books - if I'll remember, I'll revisit in 5 or 10 years from now. But for now, for this book 1.55 stars will do it.
To me, the idea of a Jail Coach was intriguing, so I said to give it a try. However you won't find like a survival guide of some sort about how to make it if you end up in jail. Yes there are very few tips, mostly common sense mentioned someplace down the line, but noting like the title or the promo campaign suggested, witch makes me say that the tile and the promo campaign is somewhat misleading - a negative point just for that.
There is a plot, there are some well constructed characters, funny at times, but there is something about this book, or this author, that will never bring them to my top favorites.
It's maybe the fact that the author is a female trying to depict how a Jewish guy, with Ukrainian descent will act or say or do in different circumstances and it's unnatural, at least to me.
First of all most of the Ukrainian population - over 95% - is eastern orthodox and the Jews are quite a very small percent, so the chances to meet one are very slim. So this is from the start kind of pushy to me.
Then, there is plenty of humor I would say, but yet again, something is wrong with this humor, it's way out of the line, very sarcastic, very arrogant, it's the kind of humor that if displayed in real life will get your ass kicked and quite bad, at least in the neighborhood I came from.
Yes, it's a fiction book, even the author preamble makes a clear note about the fact it's a fiction book at the very beginning, witch is in itself once again a bit out of line considering the format she is delivering this message, again quite sarcastic and arrogant.
I don't usually like to jump to conclusions to fast, or to judge, or make assumptions, but all that and some more clues you'll find in this book - if you know how to read between the lines - tells me this author is not well acquitted with he real life and even if it's a fiction book, it's not realistic at all even tho' the action, the suspense, the locations, the plot, the characters and more will suggest it is as close to reality as it can be.
All that combined makes this book out of place, the foundation is there, but it lacks realism and the skills to intertwine fiction with realism.
I found someplace that this author may be a graduate from Harvard Law School and worked for a "prominent" NYC law firm and now she is still practicing law in a city far from NYC, but not under this pen name. For the record all this is unconfirmed, from unreliable sources and I tend to belie is just promotional BS. All that once again tells me this author needs a lot of polishing and coaching in writing before publishing more books. If she is a lawyer like the unconfirmed source claims, maybe she should stick with practicing law and let the writing for real professionals. If she is writing as a hobby, that's fine, but then working on improving those writing skills is a must if more books are intended for a public audience.
Now, I can't help to compare with other authors I am used to and I know this may be faulty on my part as you can't quite compare apples with oranges, but even if I don't want to, I am comparing with other authors and this one is way below the standards.
About my rating, I was tempted to give this book only one star, but then considering the time and effort involved to in fact write it, I said OK, this time I'll let it slide with two stars. A more accurate rating on my end would be 1.5 stars, but since I don't have this option, I said OK, it's worth maybe 1.55 stars so I'll round it up to 2 stars, but those 2 stars are not entirely deserved.
One thing is for sure on my end, I won't be reading more books from this author, as there are many other really good books by really good authors out there that can occupy my time. Maybe in time, this author will improve, will gain some more maturity and will come out with better books - if I'll remember, I'll revisit in 5 or 10 years from now. But for now, for this book 1.55 stars will do it.
February 27, 2013
Originally posted at: http://www.longandshortreviews.com/bo...
Jail Coach by Hillary Bell Locke is a complex and unpredictable tale that takes us to the bright lights of the celebrity world and then persists in poking into dark corners.
Told in the first person, our main character is (irritatingly) not well identified immediately. However, we eventually figure out that we have dropped into the life of Jay, an ‘asset loss prevention specialist;’ aka, what seems to be a really large, well-coordinated babysitter-slash-guard. He’s also got Robert Parker-style character ego (and commentary) but without the amusing self-knowledge of a Nero Wolf character.
Jay is taxed with getting a celebrity bad-boy through jail (and more or less, through life) and to fulfilling his movie contracts. He’s assisted in this by ex-jailbird and single mom, Katrina Thompson–and both of them, outrageous characters themselves, have less-than-savory life entanglements. “Unsavory” is my sense of the whole thing: Jail Coach is loaded with cleverly done celebrity quips and sneers; it seems that nasty and humor must go hand in hand. Celebrity dirt (both invented and historical) is salted throughout, helping identify the Hollywood set as sleazy. Lawyers, mostly sleazy, represent celebrities: Ditto. The cover makes you think ‘crime novel,’ but it isn’t really.
Jail Coach is so nicely written, it drags the reader forward, frequently unwilling. Characters are powerful, conversations snappy and amusing, and the storyline is incredibly unpredictable. Locke went somehow wrong on the spicing of this one –like a gourmet treat that somehow leaves a bit of a bad aftertaste; but it’s still well-written and original. I’m not going to say you absolutely must read, but if you start reading it, you’ll absolutely want to finish.
Jail Coach by Hillary Bell Locke is a complex and unpredictable tale that takes us to the bright lights of the celebrity world and then persists in poking into dark corners.
Told in the first person, our main character is (irritatingly) not well identified immediately. However, we eventually figure out that we have dropped into the life of Jay, an ‘asset loss prevention specialist;’ aka, what seems to be a really large, well-coordinated babysitter-slash-guard. He’s also got Robert Parker-style character ego (and commentary) but without the amusing self-knowledge of a Nero Wolf character.
Jay is taxed with getting a celebrity bad-boy through jail (and more or less, through life) and to fulfilling his movie contracts. He’s assisted in this by ex-jailbird and single mom, Katrina Thompson–and both of them, outrageous characters themselves, have less-than-savory life entanglements. “Unsavory” is my sense of the whole thing: Jail Coach is loaded with cleverly done celebrity quips and sneers; it seems that nasty and humor must go hand in hand. Celebrity dirt (both invented and historical) is salted throughout, helping identify the Hollywood set as sleazy. Lawyers, mostly sleazy, represent celebrities: Ditto. The cover makes you think ‘crime novel,’ but it isn’t really.
Jail Coach is so nicely written, it drags the reader forward, frequently unwilling. Characters are powerful, conversations snappy and amusing, and the storyline is incredibly unpredictable. Locke went somehow wrong on the spicing of this one –like a gourmet treat that somehow leaves a bit of a bad aftertaste; but it’s still well-written and original. I’m not going to say you absolutely must read, but if you start reading it, you’ll absolutely want to finish.
November 6, 2017
Book Description
Jay Davidovich is a veteran of Iraq and Afghanistan because he joined the National Guard in the late 'nineties so that the taxpayers could put him through college. Nine-eleven took him by surprise - "sort of like Bush," as Jay puts it. His job at Trans/Oxana is to prevent losses that Trans/Oxana has insured against - especially losses that unpleasant people want to happen. After Hollywood pretty boy George Trowbridge plays late-night bumper-car in his Ferrari, which bought an eight-figure Trans/Oxana policy insuring performance of Trowbridge's Major Performing Artist Contract. Jay quickly realizes that Trowbrigde is going to do some county time. Because there won't be any director yelling "CUT!" when things get dicey on the inside, Jay figures that Trowbridge won't be in shape to perform anything once he gets out unless Jay finds him a Jail Coach. Enter Katrina Thompson whose past includes jail, the Marines, a daughter, and a hustler named Stan Chaladian. The first will help Jay, the second will impress him, the third will charm him, and the fourth with almost kill him - that's life in the Loss Prevention business.
My Review
This book was a very funny action-packed thriller with very likable characters and lots of laugh-out-loud dialogue. The plot is fast-paced and very humorous. It is a fun read about the insurance industry and I'm looking forward to reading the 2nd book in the series. I highly recommend this book to those who like thrillers with great humor.
Jay Davidovich is a veteran of Iraq and Afghanistan because he joined the National Guard in the late 'nineties so that the taxpayers could put him through college. Nine-eleven took him by surprise - "sort of like Bush," as Jay puts it. His job at Trans/Oxana is to prevent losses that Trans/Oxana has insured against - especially losses that unpleasant people want to happen. After Hollywood pretty boy George Trowbridge plays late-night bumper-car in his Ferrari, which bought an eight-figure Trans/Oxana policy insuring performance of Trowbridge's Major Performing Artist Contract. Jay quickly realizes that Trowbrigde is going to do some county time. Because there won't be any director yelling "CUT!" when things get dicey on the inside, Jay figures that Trowbridge won't be in shape to perform anything once he gets out unless Jay finds him a Jail Coach. Enter Katrina Thompson whose past includes jail, the Marines, a daughter, and a hustler named Stan Chaladian. The first will help Jay, the second will impress him, the third will charm him, and the fourth with almost kill him - that's life in the Loss Prevention business.
My Review
This book was a very funny action-packed thriller with very likable characters and lots of laugh-out-loud dialogue. The plot is fast-paced and very humorous. It is a fun read about the insurance industry and I'm looking forward to reading the 2nd book in the series. I highly recommend this book to those who like thrillers with great humor.
November 25, 2020
Good story I guess though I got distracted trying to listen on audio and lost track of the characters and the plot gyrations. I particularly enjoyed the lighthearted tone and the humor. About an insurance loss reduction specialist keeping tabs on a movie star insured for 4 pictures who needs a jail coach to get him through time for drugs and DUI.
April 18, 2019
I love no nonsense street saavy lead characters and Jay Davidovich is most certainly one of them. I look foward to reading more in the series.
June 23, 2020
Good listening.
June 7, 2013
This was fun. I look forward to more from Locke!
Jay Davidovich is a marine-turned-Loss-Prevention-Specialist for a major insurance company. They've insured an actor for a 3-picture deal with a studio, but he's just gotten picked up for his second DUI, and the insurance company doesn't want to pay out the policy if the actor won't be able to make the other two pictures (the first just wrapped). Enter Davidovich, who knows the actor will be doing time for the conviction. He needs to find the actor a jail coach, someone who can teach the actor how to survive doing time.
Davidovich is a likeable character, with a strong, sarcastic wit. Good dialog and plotting, along with insights into the insurance industry (who knew it would be interesting?) and behind the scenes movie production. His job allows for a variety of encounters - it will be interesting to see what Jay will have to solve next!
If you enjoy Jack Reacher, Joe Pike, or even Kinsey Millhone, give Jay Davidovich a try!
Jay Davidovich is a marine-turned-Loss-Prevention-Specialist for a major insurance company. They've insured an actor for a 3-picture deal with a studio, but he's just gotten picked up for his second DUI, and the insurance company doesn't want to pay out the policy if the actor won't be able to make the other two pictures (the first just wrapped). Enter Davidovich, who knows the actor will be doing time for the conviction. He needs to find the actor a jail coach, someone who can teach the actor how to survive doing time.
Davidovich is a likeable character, with a strong, sarcastic wit. Good dialog and plotting, along with insights into the insurance industry (who knew it would be interesting?) and behind the scenes movie production. His job allows for a variety of encounters - it will be interesting to see what Jay will have to solve next!
If you enjoy Jack Reacher, Joe Pike, or even Kinsey Millhone, give Jay Davidovich a try!
Read
February 19, 2013‘”Two tours in combat zones will hard-wire something into you: Nothing matters but the mission.“‘ page 148.
An Iraq war veteran, Jay Davidovich’s unique skill set has translated into a Loss Prevention Specialist position for an insurance company.
When movie star Kent Trowbridge receives a DUI and jeopardizes the success of his film, Davidovich, steps into action to prevent a payout on the policy. To help Trowbridge survive a possible jail sentence, Davidovich hires a jail coach, Katrina Thompson. Trowbridge is smitten with Thompson, who comes with some ultra-scary baggage in tow. Blackmail, dark humor, relationship drama, and surprising plot twists ensue.
This was an enjoyable read and I’m looking forward to the next book in the series.
An Iraq war veteran, Jay Davidovich’s unique skill set has translated into a Loss Prevention Specialist position for an insurance company.
When movie star Kent Trowbridge receives a DUI and jeopardizes the success of his film, Davidovich, steps into action to prevent a payout on the policy. To help Trowbridge survive a possible jail sentence, Davidovich hires a jail coach, Katrina Thompson. Trowbridge is smitten with Thompson, who comes with some ultra-scary baggage in tow. Blackmail, dark humor, relationship drama, and surprising plot twists ensue.
This was an enjoyable read and I’m looking forward to the next book in the series.
June 2, 2014
A bright, shining debut novel. Zingy dialogue without being self-aware or cliched. Nicely convoluted plot, a very engaging protagonist, just gruff enough to inspire respect, but human enough on the inside that we empathize readily. The antagonist is realistic, not a stereotype. Nice interplay of subplots, especially the female "assistant protagonist" who has her own agenda and makes it known from moment one that her priority is her daughter.
A nicely varied cast of supporting characters rounds out the depth of the story and provides plenty of color, and settings including Hollywood, the desert Southwest, El Paso, and on out to the east coast, provide good foundations to the plot and add to the atmosphere.
A nicely varied cast of supporting characters rounds out the depth of the story and provides plenty of color, and settings including Hollywood, the desert Southwest, El Paso, and on out to the east coast, provide good foundations to the plot and add to the atmosphere.
April 4, 2013
Entertaining—sort of Elmore Leonard-lite. I believe this might be a series, with J. Davidovich as a lead character. I listened to it over Snoqualmie Pass last weekend, and finished it off picking dead leaves off my rosebushes. The reader handled dialects and voice changes fairly effectively, although I did not know why the bad guy, who was Georgian, did not have an east European accent. I'm not giving away the story; it's worth a read/listen, if you like
January 27, 2013
One Sunday has all the key elements to a perfect story; interesting main character with a gritty back-story, sympathetic supporting cast, great female leads, exciting action, action-packed scenes worthy of any Hollywood blockbuster and yet... Maybe too edited. I want more on Rachel (the estranged wife)because for the life of me I can't figure out the draw...
April 9, 2013
Did not enjoy. Book seemed to spend all time on statistics of insurance coverage of movie star, and whether it was better to keep him sober and star in one or two movies, hope the studio would cancel the contract, or just pay out. BOOORRRRINNNGGGG!
September 30, 2014
A fun quick read. With Hollywood and finance both involved, all the characters are a bit larger than life. In this domestic thriller, good guys are sort of good; bad guys are bad, and the good guys win in the end.
If that's your kind of story, this will be your kind of book.
If that's your kind of story, this will be your kind of book.
January 22, 2013
Listening to on phone
February 19, 2013
A great thriller of the "get the bad guys before they get you" variety. I hope there's a sequel.
July 8, 2013
cannot get into this
November 12, 2015
Cleverly drawn mystery romance. Well read by Keith Sirabaka (sp?) Foul language, political rant (negative). No religious hate speech, gore or sex. ©2012 audio/hard & soft cover
April 29, 2020
Fun read
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews