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Abby Mullen Thrillers #2
Скрытые намерения
ВСЕ МЫ В ЗАПАДНЕ. НО ВЫХОД ЕСТЬ…
Так считают участники интернет-сообщества бунтарей «Стражи». Они убеждены, что общество задыхается в железной хватке насквозь коррумпированных влиятельных чиновников. По малейшим намекам и оговоркам в СМИ Стражи способны вычислить этих преступников. Да, те сильны. Но и на них найдется управа…
ПРИШЛО ВРЕМЯ ДЕЙСТВОВАТЬ.
И вот вооруженная группа Стражей проникает в одну из школ Нью-Йорка. По их данным, именно здесь высшие чины полиции организовали тайную торговлю детьми. Задача группы — вывести извращенцев на чистую воду. Но что-то идет не так, стройный план рушится… В итоге Стражи баррикадируются в кабинете директора, захватив заложников. Уже пролилась первая кровь.
ВСЕ ОНИ ПОГИБНУТ…
Цель Эбби Маллен, офицера-переговорщика полиции Нью-Йорка, сделать так, чтобы все остались в живых. Она пытается спасти и заложников, и преступников, не доводя дело до штурма здания. Но проблема в том, что именно в этой школе учится ее дочь Саманта. И сейчас она там, внутри…
Так считают участники интернет-сообщества бунтарей «Стражи». Они убеждены, что общество задыхается в железной хватке насквозь коррумпированных влиятельных чиновников. По малейшим намекам и оговоркам в СМИ Стражи способны вычислить этих преступников. Да, те сильны. Но и на них найдется управа…
ПРИШЛО ВРЕМЯ ДЕЙСТВОВАТЬ.
И вот вооруженная группа Стражей проникает в одну из школ Нью-Йорка. По их данным, именно здесь высшие чины полиции организовали тайную торговлю детьми. Задача группы — вывести извращенцев на чистую воду. Но что-то идет не так, стройный план рушится… В итоге Стражи баррикадируются в кабинете директора, захватив заложников. Уже пролилась первая кровь.
ВСЕ ОНИ ПОГИБНУТ…
Цель Эбби Маллен, офицера-переговорщика полиции Нью-Йорка, сделать так, чтобы все остались в живых. Она пытается спасти и заложников, и преступников, не доводя дело до штурма здания. Но проблема в том, что именно в этой школе учится ее дочь Саманта. И сейчас она там, внутри…
416 pages, Hardcover
First published March 20, 2022
1879 people are currently reading
5713 people want to read
About the author
Mike Omer
21 books2,307 followersMike Omer is the author of the Zoe Bentley Mystery Series, the Abby Mullen Thrillers, and more. In the past, he's been a journalist, a game developer, and the CEO of the company Loadingames. He lives in Ireland, and is married to a woman who diligently forces him to live his dream. He is the father of an angel, a pixie, and a leprechaun.
Mike loves to write about true-to-life people who are perpetrators or victims of crimes. He also likes writing funny stuff. He mixes these two loves quite passionately into his mystery books.
You can contact Mike by sending him an e-mail to mikeomerauthor@gmail.com
Mike loves to write about true-to-life people who are perpetrators or victims of crimes. He also likes writing funny stuff. He mixes these two loves quite passionately into his mystery books.
You can contact Mike by sending him an e-mail to mikeomerauthor@gmail.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 451 reviews
December 1, 2021
Mike Omer shows how to build suspense, add action, and keep readers on the edge of their seats in the second book featuring Abby Mullen. She’s a lieutenant with the New York City hostage negotiation team, a mother of two children, divorced, and a survivor of the Wilcox Cult Massacre in North Carolina when she was seven. Armed conspiracy theorists called the Watchers enter a local NYC high school and take hostages. How many hostages are there and what does the armed group want? Why did they enter the school?
While the book is mainly from Abby’s point of view (POV), it does switch to a few additional characters from time to time. Her character is well developed and shows both her strengths and vulnerabilities. Readers get insight into both her personal and professional lives. They also get great insight into Caterpillar, the screen name used by one of the armed Watchers, as well as Abby’s 14-year-old daughter. Other characters vary in depth, but provide support, conflict, or interest.
An intriguing and memorable opening scene will immediately pull most readers into the story. That scene is vivid and painful to imagine and leaves readers wondering how it fits into the puzzle. The suspense is built slowly initially as characters are introduced and readers begin to get a sense of what is to come. When the action started, this reader eagerly turned the pages with nervous anticipation. Who will survive? How will the situation be resolved? As Abby and her team work to resolve the situation, additional layers of mystery and deception are uncovered. What an ending! Will you guess what happens? While the main case comes to an end, there are plenty of threads that could be featured in future books.
A creative, complex, and well-paced plot with layers and twists will keep a reader guessing. High stakes and an all-too-real situation kept me engaged throughout the story. There are some shocking and disturbing scenes as it unfolds. The people in the story came to life, and I was cheering on the police as they worked desperately toward a resolution. Themes include work relationships, conspiracy theories, family relationships, PTSD, death, and hostage situations as well as how social media can influence people.
Overall, this was a gripping story with complex characters that kept me on tenterhooks. It’s intense and kept me turning the pages. There was enough background in this novel that it worked well as a standalone, but I have book one and can’t wait to read it while waiting on the next one in the series. Those who enjoy police procedurals and crime thrillers may want to check out this series.
Thanks to Thomas & Mercer and Mike Omer for a digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley and the opportunity to provide an honest review. Opinions are mine alone and are not biased in any way. Publication date is currently set for March 22, 2022. This review was originally posted at Mystery and Suspense Magazine.
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My 5 star review of this police procedural and crime thriller will be posted 3-4 days after it appears in Mystery and Suspense Magazine.
While the book is mainly from Abby’s point of view (POV), it does switch to a few additional characters from time to time. Her character is well developed and shows both her strengths and vulnerabilities. Readers get insight into both her personal and professional lives. They also get great insight into Caterpillar, the screen name used by one of the armed Watchers, as well as Abby’s 14-year-old daughter. Other characters vary in depth, but provide support, conflict, or interest.
An intriguing and memorable opening scene will immediately pull most readers into the story. That scene is vivid and painful to imagine and leaves readers wondering how it fits into the puzzle. The suspense is built slowly initially as characters are introduced and readers begin to get a sense of what is to come. When the action started, this reader eagerly turned the pages with nervous anticipation. Who will survive? How will the situation be resolved? As Abby and her team work to resolve the situation, additional layers of mystery and deception are uncovered. What an ending! Will you guess what happens? While the main case comes to an end, there are plenty of threads that could be featured in future books.
A creative, complex, and well-paced plot with layers and twists will keep a reader guessing. High stakes and an all-too-real situation kept me engaged throughout the story. There are some shocking and disturbing scenes as it unfolds. The people in the story came to life, and I was cheering on the police as they worked desperately toward a resolution. Themes include work relationships, conspiracy theories, family relationships, PTSD, death, and hostage situations as well as how social media can influence people.
Overall, this was a gripping story with complex characters that kept me on tenterhooks. It’s intense and kept me turning the pages. There was enough background in this novel that it worked well as a standalone, but I have book one and can’t wait to read it while waiting on the next one in the series. Those who enjoy police procedurals and crime thrillers may want to check out this series.
Thanks to Thomas & Mercer and Mike Omer for a digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley and the opportunity to provide an honest review. Opinions are mine alone and are not biased in any way. Publication date is currently set for March 22, 2022. This review was originally posted at Mystery and Suspense Magazine.
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My 5 star review of this police procedural and crime thriller will be posted 3-4 days after it appears in Mystery and Suspense Magazine.
January 14, 2022
As someone with a relative that believes the QAnon theories, Damaged Intentions hit a little close to home. Because “the Watchers” in the story are obviously based on the QAnon nut jobs. And Omer totally gets how they think. I’ve heard some of the exact same phrases that are used here in the book.
But the real draw of this story is Abby Mullins. She’s overcome a past that also centered on a cult of nut jobs. And now, she’s not only a police detective, she’s the mother of a high schooler being held hostage by a few Watchers. She is just a great main character - doing her best and stressed to the max that every decision is the wrong one. Sam is another great character. She’s her mother’s daughter. Scared but able to maintain a level of cool.
This was a well crafted mystery with some great twists. I will be looking forward to the next in the series. The way the book ends, I’m thinking the next book may include Zoe Bentley. I would advise starting with the first book in the series to get the full flavor of Abby’s background.
My thanks to Netgalley and Thomas &Mercer for an advance copy of this book.
But the real draw of this story is Abby Mullins. She’s overcome a past that also centered on a cult of nut jobs. And now, she’s not only a police detective, she’s the mother of a high schooler being held hostage by a few Watchers. She is just a great main character - doing her best and stressed to the max that every decision is the wrong one. Sam is another great character. She’s her mother’s daughter. Scared but able to maintain a level of cool.
This was a well crafted mystery with some great twists. I will be looking forward to the next in the series. The way the book ends, I’m thinking the next book may include Zoe Bentley. I would advise starting with the first book in the series to get the full flavor of Abby’s background.
My thanks to Netgalley and Thomas &Mercer for an advance copy of this book.
March 30, 2022
Thank you Thomas & Mercer and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book before it is published.
FYI - I might get slightly ~political~ in this review. Full disclaimer: I did not read the first book in this series, but that didn't impact my understanding of the characters or plot.
THE PLOT
NYPD Hostage Negotiator Abby Mullens is back. Her mission: get her daughter Sam back from a group of unhinged conspiracy theorists who have kidnapped Sam and are holding her hostage at her school. To free her daughter, Abby must dig deep into the ring leader's background and discover what's REALLY going on. And while all this is going on, Abby is still dealing with keeping her ties to the Wilcox cult in the past, but someone doesn't want her to let go.
MY OPINNI
When I finished this book, I wanted to kiss my Kindle. Bravo Mike Omer. I'm usually not a fan of books by male authors (idk why... the writing style doesn't appeal to me), but this book was fantastic. My original rating was to give it a 4.5/5, but I couldn't decide if I wanted to round up or down, so I slept on it. And when I awoke after a crazy dream, I decided to round down.
Before I get into why I rounded down, let me focus on what the author did well—really well.
1. Storyline. I'll admit, that scene at the old cop's place had a bit discouraged when two entire pages were used to describe his dog's behaviour, but the book quickly found its pace from there. The storyline was executed beautifully; I loved the alternating POVs in ONE scene to describe how everyone felt. It was like watching a movie. This is tricky to do, but Omer somehow made it clear who's POV it was without using sub-headers. Props to him... This is proof he created specific voices/behaviours for each character that were discernible; not an easy task by any means.
2. SOCIAL COMMENTARY ON POINT. I lived in the US when Trump got elected/alt-right really started gathering momentum, so reading about the Watchers (fictional QAnon) was a treat. He nailed it. Without SAYING it, Omer artfully revealed WHY people get involved in conspiracies. For example:
"...Then he found the videos. Talking not just about FEMA but about Big Pharma and child slavery and rising unemployment, and it struck a cord with him. His mom had died from cancer. He'd lost his job because it had been outsourced to India. Things clicked together. It all made sense."
Also... without giving too much away, but one of the final scenes aptly demonstrated how suffocating it is to believe in conspiracy theories. It's an endless black hole... You suspect one thing will happen, and then when it doesn't, your reaction is to think up ANOTHER conspiracy theory to explain why your first conspiracy theory didn't materialize. Omer did a FANTASTIC job at getting in the head of conspiracy theorists and explaining their behaviour. The social commentary alone is 5 stars.
3. Writing quality was good. Well above average. He cracked some jokes, and the dialogue between characters was efficient and effective. No monologuing or using overly flowery language that no regular degular person would use. I loved how he used dialogue to show personality... NYPD cop Mitch is a great example. I could just picture Mitch without having to read 10 lines describing his appearance. Kudas, Omer.
4. The ending wasn't annoying. Most authors seem to walk toward the ending and then sprint through it, leaving much to be explored and explained. Omer wrapped it all up nicely, and then took a sharp left turn to set up a cliffhanger for the third instalment of this series. I will definitely be picking up book #3 because of the cliffhanger.
Whoaaaa Nelly, this review is turning into a book report. Anyways. Here's why I knocked this down to 4 stars:
1. Sam is 14 but had her shit way too together. She was going all Abby Mullen, and it was just too unrealistic. Also, one of the final scene was a little too Rambo for me. I hope she gets some therapy.
2. The underlying storyline with Wilcox cult seemed like an afterthought until the very end. When Abby received a concerning message from fake Isaac... maybe you want to share that with your colleagues??? No??? Ok, cool. Good choice. Also, the revelation of fake Isaac's identity felt a little anti-climatic and flat, considering.... No spoilies so you're gonna have to read for yourself.
3. Not major but the gratuitous sex scene at the end. K. Unnecessary and just felt like I was reading some teenager's wet dream fantasy. It was awkward and I skimmed through it.
WHEW. We're almost there... It's time for...
PROS AND CONS
Pros: Main storyline, characters, social commentary, ending
Cons: Sam's character being a little TOO mature for 14, underlying storyline barely touched on until the end, some male gaze-y scenes
If you've made it this far... READ THIS BOOK!!!!!
FYI - I might get slightly ~political~ in this review. Full disclaimer: I did not read the first book in this series, but that didn't impact my understanding of the characters or plot.
THE PLOT
NYPD Hostage Negotiator Abby Mullens is back. Her mission: get her daughter Sam back from a group of unhinged conspiracy theorists who have kidnapped Sam and are holding her hostage at her school. To free her daughter, Abby must dig deep into the ring leader's background and discover what's REALLY going on. And while all this is going on, Abby is still dealing with keeping her ties to the Wilcox cult in the past, but someone doesn't want her to let go.
MY OPINNI
When I finished this book, I wanted to kiss my Kindle. Bravo Mike Omer. I'm usually not a fan of books by male authors (idk why... the writing style doesn't appeal to me), but this book was fantastic. My original rating was to give it a 4.5/5, but I couldn't decide if I wanted to round up or down, so I slept on it. And when I awoke after a crazy dream, I decided to round down.
Before I get into why I rounded down, let me focus on what the author did well—really well.
1. Storyline. I'll admit, that scene at the old cop's place had a bit discouraged when two entire pages were used to describe his dog's behaviour, but the book quickly found its pace from there. The storyline was executed beautifully; I loved the alternating POVs in ONE scene to describe how everyone felt. It was like watching a movie. This is tricky to do, but Omer somehow made it clear who's POV it was without using sub-headers. Props to him... This is proof he created specific voices/behaviours for each character that were discernible; not an easy task by any means.
2. SOCIAL COMMENTARY ON POINT. I lived in the US when Trump got elected/alt-right really started gathering momentum, so reading about the Watchers (fictional QAnon) was a treat. He nailed it. Without SAYING it, Omer artfully revealed WHY people get involved in conspiracies. For example:
"...Then he found the videos. Talking not just about FEMA but about Big Pharma and child slavery and rising unemployment, and it struck a cord with him. His mom had died from cancer. He'd lost his job because it had been outsourced to India. Things clicked together. It all made sense."
Also... without giving too much away, but one of the final scenes aptly demonstrated how suffocating it is to believe in conspiracy theories. It's an endless black hole... You suspect one thing will happen, and then when it doesn't, your reaction is to think up ANOTHER conspiracy theory to explain why your first conspiracy theory didn't materialize. Omer did a FANTASTIC job at getting in the head of conspiracy theorists and explaining their behaviour. The social commentary alone is 5 stars.
3. Writing quality was good. Well above average. He cracked some jokes, and the dialogue between characters was efficient and effective. No monologuing or using overly flowery language that no regular degular person would use. I loved how he used dialogue to show personality... NYPD cop Mitch is a great example. I could just picture Mitch without having to read 10 lines describing his appearance. Kudas, Omer.
4. The ending wasn't annoying. Most authors seem to walk toward the ending and then sprint through it, leaving much to be explored and explained. Omer wrapped it all up nicely, and then took a sharp left turn to set up a cliffhanger for the third instalment of this series. I will definitely be picking up book #3 because of the cliffhanger.
Whoaaaa Nelly, this review is turning into a book report. Anyways. Here's why I knocked this down to 4 stars:
1. Sam is 14 but had her shit way too together. She was going all Abby Mullen, and it was just too unrealistic. Also, one of the final scene was a little too Rambo for me. I hope she gets some therapy.
2. The underlying storyline with Wilcox cult seemed like an afterthought until the very end. When Abby received a concerning message from fake Isaac... maybe you want to share that with your colleagues??? No??? Ok, cool. Good choice. Also, the revelation of fake Isaac's identity felt a little anti-climatic and flat, considering.... No spoilies so you're gonna have to read for yourself.
3. Not major but the gratuitous sex scene at the end. K. Unnecessary and just felt like I was reading some teenager's wet dream fantasy. It was awkward and I skimmed through it.
WHEW. We're almost there... It's time for...
PROS AND CONS
Pros: Main storyline, characters, social commentary, ending
Cons: Sam's character being a little TOO mature for 14, underlying storyline barely touched on until the end, some male gaze-y scenes
If you've made it this far... READ THIS BOOK!!!!!
March 7, 2022
4+ stars.
I’m sure most of you remember a few years ago when there was a Qanon theory doing the rounds that Hilary Clinton was running a paedophile ring from the basement of some pizza place. One guy went so far as to head over there with a gun to save the children! I think that’s what inspired this book. Only in the book the conspiracy theorists call themselves the Watchers and the bad guys are the Circle. The Circle has infiltrated all levels of government, the police, you name it - so nobody can be trusted.
One day a watcher sees a tweet from a police officer (if I remember correctly) with what looks like 2 deliberate mistakes. He spreads the word and soon the circle, beavering away at potential meanings, is convinced that two children are to be sold at a New York high school. This cannot be tolerated! Three of them, codenamed Hatter, Caterpillar and Red Queen (from Lewis Carroll books) take it upon themselves to go to the school and rescue them.
They blag their way in and things rapidly escalate. Soon it is a hostage situation, a teacher has been shot and badly injured and police surround the school. Abby Mullen, herself a survivor of a horrific cult mass killing as a child, is the chief negotiator and she is doing a great job calming things down. Until three students, who were in the music room when the watchers arrived, attempt to escape and are also corralled with the adult hostages in the admin wing. They have been seen fleeing on the school’s CCTV network. One of those students is Sam (Samantha) Mullen - Abby’s daughter. After that it gets pretty fraught.
This was an excellent illustration of the dangers of conspiracy theories. The Watchers absolutely believed they were doing a good thing. All they wanted was to be told where the child victims were being held. Of course this couldn’t happen because there were no child victims there. It was a nightmare scenario and I was gripped by the story as I had no idea how it would end. The story explained how easily many people get recruited to these causes and how telling them they were stupid was not helpful. The characters felt real and believable and the pace never lagged.
This is the second Abby Mullen book. I don’t know how I missed the first one but this can absolutely be enjoyed as a stand-alone. Ive read a few of Mike Omer’s books so far and he never disappoints. Many thanks to Netgalley and Thomas & Mercer for the much appreciated arc which I reviewed voluntarily and honestly.
I’m sure most of you remember a few years ago when there was a Qanon theory doing the rounds that Hilary Clinton was running a paedophile ring from the basement of some pizza place. One guy went so far as to head over there with a gun to save the children! I think that’s what inspired this book. Only in the book the conspiracy theorists call themselves the Watchers and the bad guys are the Circle. The Circle has infiltrated all levels of government, the police, you name it - so nobody can be trusted.
One day a watcher sees a tweet from a police officer (if I remember correctly) with what looks like 2 deliberate mistakes. He spreads the word and soon the circle, beavering away at potential meanings, is convinced that two children are to be sold at a New York high school. This cannot be tolerated! Three of them, codenamed Hatter, Caterpillar and Red Queen (from Lewis Carroll books) take it upon themselves to go to the school and rescue them.
They blag their way in and things rapidly escalate. Soon it is a hostage situation, a teacher has been shot and badly injured and police surround the school. Abby Mullen, herself a survivor of a horrific cult mass killing as a child, is the chief negotiator and she is doing a great job calming things down. Until three students, who were in the music room when the watchers arrived, attempt to escape and are also corralled with the adult hostages in the admin wing. They have been seen fleeing on the school’s CCTV network. One of those students is Sam (Samantha) Mullen - Abby’s daughter. After that it gets pretty fraught.
This was an excellent illustration of the dangers of conspiracy theories. The Watchers absolutely believed they were doing a good thing. All they wanted was to be told where the child victims were being held. Of course this couldn’t happen because there were no child victims there. It was a nightmare scenario and I was gripped by the story as I had no idea how it would end. The story explained how easily many people get recruited to these causes and how telling them they were stupid was not helpful. The characters felt real and believable and the pace never lagged.
This is the second Abby Mullen book. I don’t know how I missed the first one but this can absolutely be enjoyed as a stand-alone. Ive read a few of Mike Omer’s books so far and he never disappoints. Many thanks to Netgalley and Thomas & Mercer for the much appreciated arc which I reviewed voluntarily and honestly.
December 22, 2023
To jedna z tych książek, której zakończenie mniej więcej da się przewidzieć (żeby nie było tak łatwo, momenty zaskoczenia nieco nam to utrudniają), a jednak sama lektura dostarcza tak niesamowitej rozrywki, że pałaszujecie każdą kolejną stronę bez obaw o nadprogramowe kalorie. Otrzymałam pełen wachlarz motywów, których nie spotykam zbyt często w czytanych przeze mnie thrillerach - teorie spiskowe, sekty, policyjni negocjatorzy... Każdy kolejny wątek tylko przyspieszał tryby w emocjonalnej machinie.
Nie wiem jaki specyfik stosował autor, ale "Fałszywe intencje" mają to do siebie, że ani się obejrzycie, a już jesteście 200 stron dalej, niż miało to miejsce przed godziną. Absolutnie fantastyczny czasoumilacz na te ostatnie grudniowe wieczory. Mam nadzieję kontynuować przygodę z twórczością p. Omera, bo gdzieś na horyzoncie czai się miano ulubieńca...
Nie wiem jaki specyfik stosował autor, ale "Fałszywe intencje" mają to do siebie, że ani się obejrzycie, a już jesteście 200 stron dalej, niż miało to miejsce przed godziną. Absolutnie fantastyczny czasoumilacz na te ostatnie grudniowe wieczory. Mam nadzieję kontynuować przygodę z twórczością p. Omera, bo gdzieś na horyzoncie czai się miano ulubieńca...
January 22, 2023
Mike Omer returns with another Abby Mullen thriller, sure to keep the reader thinking as they speed through this tense novel. Dealing with a number of important issues in this newer series, Omer takes the reader on a ride like no other and keeps them in the driver’s seat throughout. Abby has a lot to discover about herself in this novel with situations that would test the mettle of any typical individual. How the reader handles this will surely be a part of the excitement of the novel, as this is by no means a passive read.
Abby Mullen spent her early childhood within the Wilcox cult, still scarred by how it all went down in flames. She’s back in North Carolina to get answers, though this does not go as well as he would have liked. She’s got a full life in front of her now, so lurking in the shadows does not make much sense. Still, she needs answers in order to put that part of her life in the past.
As a mother and one of the best hostage negotiators the NYPD has on their payroll, Mullen cannot let distractions cloud her judgment, This becomes even more important when a local conspiracy theorist group calling themselves, The Watchers, decides to strike once Abby returns home. Looking to the local high school, where they are sure sex trafficking is rampant, The Watchers take a number of hostages, including Abby’s own daughter, Sam.
Trying to keep her wits about her as she deciphers the expectations of this group, Abby remains laser focussed and intent on getting everyone out without bloodshed. However, The Watchers have their own narrative and ideas, none of which can be derailed with a simple negotiation tactic. Abby will have to talk her way through this one, while also unravelling the truth behind a myriad of secrets. How does this all tie into her past with Wilcox? Abby will have to use all the resources at her disposal to get answers before Sam or the others face a grisly end to this tense stand-off. Mike Omer dazzles as he ups the ante with this novel, sure to keep the reader gasping with every page turn.
It was a few years ago that I discovered the work of Mike Omer, which is full of great narrative style as well as superior storytelling. Pushing a strong theme throughout his novels, Omer weaves a story that is sure to keep the reader guessing until the final page and even then, he offers cliffhangers or questions that cannot be easily put to rest. Great characters who all live their intense lives along differing paths, Omer produces stellar novels that are sure to be the talk of those who read them for months. A great find and an even greater reading experience.
The Abby Mullen series demands fast narrative development to stand on point and Mike Omer delivers. There is little time for lollygagging, especially with all that Omer wishes to cover, forcing the reader to strap in as the adventure begins. Adding to this, many characters find their way into the tale, including Abby Mullen herself. There’s so much to discover about this woman and how she can be cool under pressure with all that she has lurking in her personal closet. The plot twists that emerge throughout prove to help the already strong story, allowing the reader to be an active bystander to everything that is taking place throughout this piece. Omer has crafted a tale that is sure to garner a great deal of praise, while also pointing out just how angering conspiracies can be when fuelled by misinformation and a delusional leader who dictates the line between truth and fantasy. Sobering in its delivery and depiction, making this one of the best Mike Omer novels that I have read!
Kudos, Mr. Omer, for keeping me intensely involved in this read and all others you have published.
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Abby Mullen spent her early childhood within the Wilcox cult, still scarred by how it all went down in flames. She’s back in North Carolina to get answers, though this does not go as well as he would have liked. She’s got a full life in front of her now, so lurking in the shadows does not make much sense. Still, she needs answers in order to put that part of her life in the past.
As a mother and one of the best hostage negotiators the NYPD has on their payroll, Mullen cannot let distractions cloud her judgment, This becomes even more important when a local conspiracy theorist group calling themselves, The Watchers, decides to strike once Abby returns home. Looking to the local high school, where they are sure sex trafficking is rampant, The Watchers take a number of hostages, including Abby’s own daughter, Sam.
Trying to keep her wits about her as she deciphers the expectations of this group, Abby remains laser focussed and intent on getting everyone out without bloodshed. However, The Watchers have their own narrative and ideas, none of which can be derailed with a simple negotiation tactic. Abby will have to talk her way through this one, while also unravelling the truth behind a myriad of secrets. How does this all tie into her past with Wilcox? Abby will have to use all the resources at her disposal to get answers before Sam or the others face a grisly end to this tense stand-off. Mike Omer dazzles as he ups the ante with this novel, sure to keep the reader gasping with every page turn.
It was a few years ago that I discovered the work of Mike Omer, which is full of great narrative style as well as superior storytelling. Pushing a strong theme throughout his novels, Omer weaves a story that is sure to keep the reader guessing until the final page and even then, he offers cliffhangers or questions that cannot be easily put to rest. Great characters who all live their intense lives along differing paths, Omer produces stellar novels that are sure to be the talk of those who read them for months. A great find and an even greater reading experience.
The Abby Mullen series demands fast narrative development to stand on point and Mike Omer delivers. There is little time for lollygagging, especially with all that Omer wishes to cover, forcing the reader to strap in as the adventure begins. Adding to this, many characters find their way into the tale, including Abby Mullen herself. There’s so much to discover about this woman and how she can be cool under pressure with all that she has lurking in her personal closet. The plot twists that emerge throughout prove to help the already strong story, allowing the reader to be an active bystander to everything that is taking place throughout this piece. Omer has crafted a tale that is sure to garner a great deal of praise, while also pointing out just how angering conspiracies can be when fuelled by misinformation and a delusional leader who dictates the line between truth and fantasy. Sobering in its delivery and depiction, making this one of the best Mike Omer novels that I have read!
Kudos, Mr. Omer, for keeping me intensely involved in this read and all others you have published.
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
June 1, 2024
Pradžioje skaitėsi kiek lėtokai, jau nerimavau, kad gal šį kartą M. Omer bus mažumėlę "pasišiukšlinęs", bet ne - kuo toliau, tuo buvo įdomiau, įtraukiau ir įtempčiau. O pabaigoje autorius pateikė pora netikėtų ir labai vykusių siužeto posūkių, kas neleido knygos padėti į šoną, kol neperskaičiau iki pabaigos.
October 7, 2024
Labai įtaigiai atskleista šiais laikais aktuali sąmokslo teorijų tema, jų kūrėjų ir šalininkų mąstymo logika, kuri net protingiausius žmones gali nuvesti pavojingais minčių klystkeliais.
Žinia apie vienoje mokykloje vykdomą vaikų pardavimo į sekso vergiją ir
bandymas stebėtojų grupei padėti ir užkirsti tam kelią, ir nemalonus įvykiai po to - įkaitų drama,derybos, paslapčių įminimas, bei įkalintų žmonių bejėgiškumas ir siaubas bandant išsivaduoti iš pragaro.
Įtampos ir veiksmo netrūko, įtraukianti knyga.
Žinia apie vienoje mokykloje vykdomą vaikų pardavimo į sekso vergiją ir
bandymas stebėtojų grupei padėti ir užkirsti tam kelią, ir nemalonus įvykiai po to - įkaitų drama,derybos, paslapčių įminimas, bei įkalintų žmonių bejėgiškumas ir siaubas bandant išsivaduoti iš pragaro.
Įtampos ir veiksmo netrūko, įtraukianti knyga.
October 27, 2021
My thanks to Thomas & Mercer, as well as to NetGalley, for the opportunity to read and review an early copy of Damaged Intentions.
This book focuses on Abby Mullen, one of NYPD's finest hostage negotiators. In Damaged Intentions Abby finds herself caught between her past, which she wants to remain buried, and saving her daughter's life - no matter what that entails. I haven't yet read the first book in the series but feel this one can be read as a stand-alone.
To call the Watchers delusional is to take them too lightly. They TERRIFIED me and reminded me a lot of what's been going on in our country for the past few years. Damaged Intentions is a well-written and suspenseful story, with more than a few heart-stopping moments!! I recommend it!
This was my first Mike Omer book, but definitely won't be my last.
This book focuses on Abby Mullen, one of NYPD's finest hostage negotiators. In Damaged Intentions Abby finds herself caught between her past, which she wants to remain buried, and saving her daughter's life - no matter what that entails. I haven't yet read the first book in the series but feel this one can be read as a stand-alone.
To call the Watchers delusional is to take them too lightly. They TERRIFIED me and reminded me a lot of what's been going on in our country for the past few years. Damaged Intentions is a well-written and suspenseful story, with more than a few heart-stopping moments!! I recommend it!
This was my first Mike Omer book, but definitely won't be my last.
November 27, 2024
Excellent second in a series: intense, vivid, engrossing.
Abby has to negotiate for the life of several hostages, her own daughter among them, trapped in a high school with three "Watchers" (think QAnon) who believe "the Circle" is conspiring with the government and police to traffic children.
I learned a great deal about conspiracy theorists, but not in a lecture/soapbox kind of way. It's fascinating stuff.
Nearly everyone vaguely believes at least one conspiracy theory (e.g., Lee Harvey Oswald did not act alone, Princess Diana's death was not an accident, Marilyn Monroe was murdered). The difference is that we don't let these theories consume us. Sure, they're fun to discuss, but they don't take over our daily lives.
For true conspiracy theorists, nothing else matters. It's an obsession that blinds them to everything else. And there's no reasoning with a person like that because if you disagree, you're automatically an enemy, one of "Them."
Anyway, yeah, I really enjoyed this book.
The romance stayed on the backburner, minus one unfortunate fade-to-black scene. Why is it that a female protagonist has to be involved romantically with a man? I would love to see a badass lesbian as the lead!
Abby has to negotiate for the life of several hostages, her own daughter among them, trapped in a high school with three "Watchers" (think QAnon) who believe "the Circle" is conspiring with the government and police to traffic children.
I learned a great deal about conspiracy theorists, but not in a lecture/soapbox kind of way. It's fascinating stuff.
Nearly everyone vaguely believes at least one conspiracy theory (e.g., Lee Harvey Oswald did not act alone, Princess Diana's death was not an accident, Marilyn Monroe was murdered). The difference is that we don't let these theories consume us. Sure, they're fun to discuss, but they don't take over our daily lives.
For true conspiracy theorists, nothing else matters. It's an obsession that blinds them to everything else. And there's no reasoning with a person like that because if you disagree, you're automatically an enemy, one of "Them."
Anyway, yeah, I really enjoyed this book.
The romance stayed on the backburner, minus one unfortunate fade-to-black scene. Why is it that a female protagonist has to be involved romantically with a man? I would love to see a badass lesbian as the lead!
February 27, 2022
Three Conspiracy Theorists Collide With Reality
A character named Caterpillar just killed an agent of the pedophile cabal known as the Circle that controls the government, police, media, etc. He starts removing the teeth as a mic and GPS tracker are embedded in them. He’s not sure if the removed are the correct teeth, so he starts pulling a third tooth. Also, he is being bugged with texts from the Red Queen. He becomes frustrated and realizes a hammer would be quicker to destroy the mic and GPS tracker. From this strange start, the novel proceeds.
There two main storyline threads. The first thread has two sides. The first side is from the aspect of the Watchers primarily, Caterpillar, Red Queen and Hatter, and each has a voice in telling their side of the story. The second thread is primarily told by Abby Mullen in three roles, negotiator, investigator, and mother. Once I finished the start that seem to be a puzzling and dystopian start with persons named based on Lewis Carroll characters, the above watchers arrive at a local high school with guns to rescue the young children being auctioned off. Their situation goes south very quickly, and hostages are taken. The tension and danger go off the chart that quickly tighten the grip on my interest. The cat and mouse interaction between the Watchers and the police added an additional layer of tension and danger that ensured that I could not stop reading until the end of the novel.
The storyline threads within the high school are narrated by each of the three watchers and Samantha, Abby’s daughter. This slowed the progress of the storyline but gave me a better picture by seeing what was happening from several aspects that provided a rich view of the unfolding events and the actions of the participants. The voice switching back and forth did not hinder my understanding the action in this novel. Samantha plays a significant role in this novel that increased my reading enjoyment. As the storyline proceeds, there are several what I call literary grenades that dramatically changed my understanding of the events and how they fit together.
Besides the usual thoughts, conversations, actions to portray the B-storyline, there is one major thread that is a continuation from the first novel and will continue into the next novel. It involves Abby Mullen’s childhood survival from the Wilcox Cult Massacre where she was one of three surviving children while 59 others died in the fire. This aspect adds to her being a full rounded character. This thread did intersect with a main storyline thread in an interesting way and had a surprising literary grenade in it also. As the novel ends, this thread rises to a crescendo and is essential the main thread at the end of the novel.
This novel can be read as a standalone as adequate background is provided. Even the multi-novel thread can stand alone. If you have read the first novel, this thread brings a new understanding to this thread in that novel.
For the aspects that can turn some readers off, there are not any intimate scenes, but there were attempted assaults on women. There were only two vulgar words but mostly rude language mixed with some low-level impious language. Violence is presented in the more edgy as it occurs, but they are not over-the-top. I do not believe that most readers will not find any issues with this book.
What contributed to my thorough enjoyment in reading this book was the high level of suspense due to the constant threat that mortal danger could erupt and endanger the hostages. The author used the view from both the perpetrators and victims. The storyline even evoked some sympathy from me for one of the watchers. By the end, all loose ends were tied up except the continuing multi-novel thread. I have read some of this author’s works before, including his Zoe Bentley series and the first in this series. Reading this novel has kept Mike Omer in my highest category as a Must-Read author. I recommend reading this novel and am looking forward to reading further books and series from this author. I rate this novel with five stars.
I received a free e-book version of this novel through NetGalley from Thomas & Mercer. My review is based only by my own reading experience of this book. I wish to thank Thomas & Mercer for the opportunity to read and review this novel early.
A character named Caterpillar just killed an agent of the pedophile cabal known as the Circle that controls the government, police, media, etc. He starts removing the teeth as a mic and GPS tracker are embedded in them. He’s not sure if the removed are the correct teeth, so he starts pulling a third tooth. Also, he is being bugged with texts from the Red Queen. He becomes frustrated and realizes a hammer would be quicker to destroy the mic and GPS tracker. From this strange start, the novel proceeds.
There two main storyline threads. The first thread has two sides. The first side is from the aspect of the Watchers primarily, Caterpillar, Red Queen and Hatter, and each has a voice in telling their side of the story. The second thread is primarily told by Abby Mullen in three roles, negotiator, investigator, and mother. Once I finished the start that seem to be a puzzling and dystopian start with persons named based on Lewis Carroll characters, the above watchers arrive at a local high school with guns to rescue the young children being auctioned off. Their situation goes south very quickly, and hostages are taken. The tension and danger go off the chart that quickly tighten the grip on my interest. The cat and mouse interaction between the Watchers and the police added an additional layer of tension and danger that ensured that I could not stop reading until the end of the novel.
The storyline threads within the high school are narrated by each of the three watchers and Samantha, Abby’s daughter. This slowed the progress of the storyline but gave me a better picture by seeing what was happening from several aspects that provided a rich view of the unfolding events and the actions of the participants. The voice switching back and forth did not hinder my understanding the action in this novel. Samantha plays a significant role in this novel that increased my reading enjoyment. As the storyline proceeds, there are several what I call literary grenades that dramatically changed my understanding of the events and how they fit together.
Besides the usual thoughts, conversations, actions to portray the B-storyline, there is one major thread that is a continuation from the first novel and will continue into the next novel. It involves Abby Mullen’s childhood survival from the Wilcox Cult Massacre where she was one of three surviving children while 59 others died in the fire. This aspect adds to her being a full rounded character. This thread did intersect with a main storyline thread in an interesting way and had a surprising literary grenade in it also. As the novel ends, this thread rises to a crescendo and is essential the main thread at the end of the novel.
This novel can be read as a standalone as adequate background is provided. Even the multi-novel thread can stand alone. If you have read the first novel, this thread brings a new understanding to this thread in that novel.
For the aspects that can turn some readers off, there are not any intimate scenes, but there were attempted assaults on women. There were only two vulgar words but mostly rude language mixed with some low-level impious language. Violence is presented in the more edgy as it occurs, but they are not over-the-top. I do not believe that most readers will not find any issues with this book.
What contributed to my thorough enjoyment in reading this book was the high level of suspense due to the constant threat that mortal danger could erupt and endanger the hostages. The author used the view from both the perpetrators and victims. The storyline even evoked some sympathy from me for one of the watchers. By the end, all loose ends were tied up except the continuing multi-novel thread. I have read some of this author’s works before, including his Zoe Bentley series and the first in this series. Reading this novel has kept Mike Omer in my highest category as a Must-Read author. I recommend reading this novel and am looking forward to reading further books and series from this author. I rate this novel with five stars.
I received a free e-book version of this novel through NetGalley from Thomas & Mercer. My review is based only by my own reading experience of this book. I wish to thank Thomas & Mercer for the opportunity to read and review this novel early.
January 11, 2025
“Pasitikėjimas nėra privilegija. Pasitikėjimas nėra tai, ko esi automatiškai vertas. Jei žmonės nori, kad jais pastikėtų, jie turi to nusipelnyti.”
May 28, 2022
This is the second book in the Abby Mullen series but my introduction. Having read this I definitely plan on reading the first book, A Deadly Influence. The timing of having read this book comes at a meaningful time as there once again has been a mass shooting at a school. As has happened everytime there is such a tragedy there is a lot of talk but no indication that any meaningful change will be taken.
As a child Abby Mullen was one of the few survivors of the Wilcox cult. Today she is a mother and hostage negotiator with the NYPD. One of the best. The story opens with Abby visiting the memorial at the site of the former Wilcox compound in North Carolina. At first it would seem this book is going to be about the Wilcox cult and who survived that day. But things change when Abby returns home.
A group of armed conspiracy theorists called the Watchers have entered the local high school and taken hostages. Among the hostages is Abby's daughter, Sam. The Watchers are obviously based on QAnon. To call them delusional is an understatement. Abby is brought in to start negotiations but as soon as it is learned that her daughter is one of the hostages she is removed from involvement. Officially.
The Watchers holding the hostages had never met before. They only knew each other from a chat room. It was interesting to see how this played out in the hostage drama. Abby may not be allowed to handle the negotiations but she can still work behind the scenes. Secrets are revealed. When you only know someone from an internet chat room you really don't know who you are chatting with.
The story alternates between the police outside the school trying to end the situation (negotiate or storm the school) and inside the school with the hostage takers and the hostages. Things devolve as the hours go by. The ending was satisfactory and hinted that Abby and Zoe Bentley may work together in a future story. Looking forward to that.
As a child Abby Mullen was one of the few survivors of the Wilcox cult. Today she is a mother and hostage negotiator with the NYPD. One of the best. The story opens with Abby visiting the memorial at the site of the former Wilcox compound in North Carolina. At first it would seem this book is going to be about the Wilcox cult and who survived that day. But things change when Abby returns home.
A group of armed conspiracy theorists called the Watchers have entered the local high school and taken hostages. Among the hostages is Abby's daughter, Sam. The Watchers are obviously based on QAnon. To call them delusional is an understatement. Abby is brought in to start negotiations but as soon as it is learned that her daughter is one of the hostages she is removed from involvement. Officially.
The Watchers holding the hostages had never met before. They only knew each other from a chat room. It was interesting to see how this played out in the hostage drama. Abby may not be allowed to handle the negotiations but she can still work behind the scenes. Secrets are revealed. When you only know someone from an internet chat room you really don't know who you are chatting with.
The story alternates between the police outside the school trying to end the situation (negotiate or storm the school) and inside the school with the hostage takers and the hostages. Things devolve as the hours go by. The ending was satisfactory and hinted that Abby and Zoe Bentley may work together in a future story. Looking forward to that.
March 20, 2024
#perskaičiau
Mike Omer "Subjauroti ketinimai"
Antroji serijos knyga su įkaitų derybininke Abe Malen.
Pirmoji serijos knyga man buvo kiek vangoka, tačiau neabejotinai pasėjusi smalsumą sužinoti kas bus toliau. Abės praeitis išties nėra lengva, ji ištrūko iš kulto ir deja tas lemtingas įvykis pareikalavo 59 gyvybių. Iki šiandien Abę persekioja praeitis ir neapleidžia mintys, kad viskas buvo kitaip, nei ji prisimena. "Subjauroti ketinimai" šį kartą mažiau kastėsi praeityje, nes turėjo labai stiprią šių dienų įkaitų dramą. Stebėtojais pasivadinę asmenys įsiveržia į mokyklą ketindami sutrugdyti organizuojamą vaikų pardavimą į seksualinę vergiją, geri ketinimai pasisuka kiek kitokia linkme ir nuaidi šūviai, įkalinami įkaitai ir "užverda" tikrai beprotiški įvykiai.
Labai labai labai puikiai perteikiama kibernetinių forumų esmė, sąmokslo teorijų kūrimas, sąmoningas baimės ir paranojos ugdymas. Žmonių pamišimas dėl savo įsitikimų ir kova siekiant juos apginti. Išties patiko, kaip detalė po detalės sudėliojamas galutinis Stebėtojų portretas. Labai džiaugiuosi perskaičiusi antrą serijos knygą, ji pranoko mano lūkesčius 👌👏 Tikiuosi knygos pabaigoje sušmėžavęs Zojos Bentli vardas reiškia, kad sekančioje serijos dalyje išvysime ir ją 🤞
⭐⭐⭐⭐/5
Mike Omer "Subjauroti ketinimai"
Antroji serijos knyga su įkaitų derybininke Abe Malen.
Pirmoji serijos knyga man buvo kiek vangoka, tačiau neabejotinai pasėjusi smalsumą sužinoti kas bus toliau. Abės praeitis išties nėra lengva, ji ištrūko iš kulto ir deja tas lemtingas įvykis pareikalavo 59 gyvybių. Iki šiandien Abę persekioja praeitis ir neapleidžia mintys, kad viskas buvo kitaip, nei ji prisimena. "Subjauroti ketinimai" šį kartą mažiau kastėsi praeityje, nes turėjo labai stiprią šių dienų įkaitų dramą. Stebėtojais pasivadinę asmenys įsiveržia į mokyklą ketindami sutrugdyti organizuojamą vaikų pardavimą į seksualinę vergiją, geri ketinimai pasisuka kiek kitokia linkme ir nuaidi šūviai, įkalinami įkaitai ir "užverda" tikrai beprotiški įvykiai.
Labai labai labai puikiai perteikiama kibernetinių forumų esmė, sąmokslo teorijų kūrimas, sąmoningas baimės ir paranojos ugdymas. Žmonių pamišimas dėl savo įsitikimų ir kova siekiant juos apginti. Išties patiko, kaip detalė po detalės sudėliojamas galutinis Stebėtojų portretas. Labai džiaugiuosi perskaičiusi antrą serijos knygą, ji pranoko mano lūkesčius 👌👏 Tikiuosi knygos pabaigoje sušmėžavęs Zojos Bentli vardas reiškia, kad sekančioje serijos dalyje išvysime ir ją 🤞
⭐⭐⭐⭐/5
December 30, 2022
Abby Mullen is a NYPD hostage negotiator. She’s also the mother of a teen daughter. Abby’s work and personal lives collide when a group of conspiracy theorists attack the high school, and Abby’s daughter is a hostage.
Damaged Intentions is the second book in the Abby Mullen thriller series. Abby has a dark past. She escaped a cult when she was younger, and she’s trying to keep that part of her life in the past. With Abby’s job, her daughter, and her past, a lot is happening in this novel, and it makes for a suspenseful story.
Damaged Intentions is a gripping read with complex characters. Recommended for fans of crime thrillers.
I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Damaged Intentions is the second book in the Abby Mullen thriller series. Abby has a dark past. She escaped a cult when she was younger, and she’s trying to keep that part of her life in the past. With Abby’s job, her daughter, and her past, a lot is happening in this novel, and it makes for a suspenseful story.
Damaged Intentions is a gripping read with complex characters. Recommended for fans of crime thrillers.
I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
March 3, 2025
4.5 ⭐
Jakie to jest dobre! Od razu biorę się za ostatni tom 💕
Jakie to jest dobre! Od razu biorę się za ostatni tom 💕
July 17, 2022
"These are statistics that you can easily find online if you know where to look. You don’t have to take my word for it. In fact, you shouldn’t. Do your own research. Dig it up."
3.5 rounded up. This was very compelling. It has a lot of the buzz words of today. Conspiracy theories, cabal, secret pedophile rings, and a school shooting. It was easy to see how this could all play out, easy to see how it could go so so wrong. It was hard to read about the innerworkings of this group of conspiracy theorists and to hear them chant over and over to "do your own research" and how they would just run circles of self-fulfilling prophecies. But their circles and their chants and their mania felt very real and was a perfect tension on the page.
I enjoyed the twists and turns that kept my head spinning. I liked getting to know Samantha/Sam, Abby's daughter more. Getting to know Abby's history a bit more was reasuring as well and I'm hoping we get more details and some conclusions in the next installment. I look forward to reading it!
A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.
3.5 rounded up. This was very compelling. It has a lot of the buzz words of today. Conspiracy theories, cabal, secret pedophile rings, and a school shooting. It was easy to see how this could all play out, easy to see how it could go so so wrong. It was hard to read about the innerworkings of this group of conspiracy theorists and to hear them chant over and over to "do your own research" and how they would just run circles of self-fulfilling prophecies. But their circles and their chants and their mania felt very real and was a perfect tension on the page.
I enjoyed the twists and turns that kept my head spinning. I liked getting to know Samantha/Sam, Abby's daughter more. Getting to know Abby's history a bit more was reasuring as well and I'm hoping we get more details and some conclusions in the next installment. I look forward to reading it!
A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.
October 7, 2024
Wawavivava kaip gerai buvo!
April 25, 2022
I'm impressed by this writer and plan to read more of his books. This book started out a little more slowly than the previous one, but once I understood the trajectory I was hooked.
This suspense/thriller takes on the terrifying, dizzying path of conspiracy theorists and school shootings. It hits close. I don't think the third book in this series is out yet, but I will definitely read its conclusion. Compelling characters and complex choices.
File Under: I Dig It
This suspense/thriller takes on the terrifying, dizzying path of conspiracy theorists and school shootings. It hits close. I don't think the third book in this series is out yet, but I will definitely read its conclusion. Compelling characters and complex choices.
File Under: I Dig It
June 8, 2024
Няма как да дам по-малко звезди! Майк Оумър отново разбива всякаква представа за трилър! А финалът на този е... Тръпна в очакване на следващата история, защото краят на тази обещава най-доброто досега!
December 6, 2022
Mike Omer knocked this one out of the park. I’ve sat around a lot wondering how the hell people believe QAnon or other out there conspiracies and Damaged Intentions not only handled this question exceptionally well, it manages to make understanding the how a critical part of the plot.
The story picks up the story of Abby Mullen, a cult survivor and current NYPD hostage negotiator, and brings a new case to her lap. A conspiracy group, the Watchers, have broken into a school and taken a bunch of kids and staff hostage because they believe there is sex trafficking ring taking place at the school. Unfortunately for Abby, the school they’ve picked is where her daughter goes and now she has to negotiate with a group of conspiracy theorist while trying to keep her daughter alive in there.
I love that this book spends time with Sam because she’s a great character and brings a ton of value both to the plot but also to the overall series. The twists were good, the ending leaves you wanting to read the next one but still satisfies the need for a happy ending.
The story picks up the story of Abby Mullen, a cult survivor and current NYPD hostage negotiator, and brings a new case to her lap. A conspiracy group, the Watchers, have broken into a school and taken a bunch of kids and staff hostage because they believe there is sex trafficking ring taking place at the school. Unfortunately for Abby, the school they’ve picked is where her daughter goes and now she has to negotiate with a group of conspiracy theorist while trying to keep her daughter alive in there.
I love that this book spends time with Sam because she’s a great character and brings a ton of value both to the plot but also to the overall series. The twists were good, the ending leaves you wanting to read the next one but still satisfies the need for a happy ending.
March 19, 2022
Mike Omer!!!
Hats off to you!!
Wow, just wow. A mystery and thriller story with an unexpected twist that left me speechless. I was at my job when I was like Shut the front door!
It was unexpected and amazing. It has you hooked since the beginning.
Abby Mullen is what you would expect of a dectective and more. I have to say I want to read the next book already cause this will get intense, and things will turn even more interesting as Abby goes uncovering the truth.
Also I want to say... THIS BOOK NEEEEEDSS to be turned into a Series. Would definitely want to see this on Netflix. It would be a damn good series.
I have to say I even feel inspired to write something so thrilling and intriguing like this!
Amazing work Mike Omer! Thanks for the Advance copy!
Remember it comes out March 22nd!!!!
Hats off to you!!
Wow, just wow. A mystery and thriller story with an unexpected twist that left me speechless. I was at my job when I was like Shut the front door!
It was unexpected and amazing. It has you hooked since the beginning.
Abby Mullen is what you would expect of a dectective and more. I have to say I want to read the next book already cause this will get intense, and things will turn even more interesting as Abby goes uncovering the truth.
Also I want to say... THIS BOOK NEEEEEDSS to be turned into a Series. Would definitely want to see this on Netflix. It would be a damn good series.
I have to say I even feel inspired to write something so thrilling and intriguing like this!
Amazing work Mike Omer! Thanks for the Advance copy!
Remember it comes out March 22nd!!!!
March 24, 2022
This is way too long, way too convoluted, and expects the reader to suspend their disbelief at astronomical levels. I really enjoyed the first in this series so this was a huge let down. It was physically painful to get through this book.
November 7, 2024
Tej części słuchało mi się o wiele przyjemniej, niż pierwszej (co zaskakujące, bo u Omera zawsze drugi tom podoba mi się najmniej!). Wartka akcja, dużo się działo i do tego strasznie ciekawi mnie ta sekta w tle - liczę, że w trzecim tomie w końcu wysunie się to na pierwszy plan, bo to najciekawsze wątki tutaj. Nie ma co, idea od razu w finał!
February 15, 2024
5 ⭐️ Mike Omer doesn’t miss. This series is gripping, psychological and wild.
March 23, 2022
As soon as the first book finished I went searching for a second book, and I was so glad that there was a book in the wings - at the time there was no title and no cover on Goodreads. I patiently waited and then sure enough a title popped up and a cover.... I got more excited. What I wasn't excited about was waiting until March 2022, however I know that great books take time so I set in for the long haul.
So then you can imagine my excitement when I find this advanced copy on NetGalley and get approved for this book I have been impatiently waiting for. I was not disappointed in the slightest. WOW what an amazing follow up. Abbey Mullen NYPD Lieutenant Hostage Negotiator is back and action packed drama is about to land in her lap in a huge way.
There are bad guys and gals galore in this book and Abbey and her kids are in for a super rough ride, there were moments there I totally thought I would actually chew my fingers off. I started and finished this book in under 24hours and I regret nothing!!!! THAT ENDING!!! I will say nothing to anyone about the ending because if I spoilt it not one reader would forgive me... ever!
All the characters are there - but the story centres around a group of weirdos who call themselves the Watchers and a hostage situation that goes from bad to worse to the absolute worst in so many ways, oh and wait Sam (Abbey's daughter is caught up in it). It was very stressful but I couldn't stop reading.
I loved the writing, I loved the story, I loved the twists, I loved it all. Bring on more of these books.
I want to thank NetGalley, Mike Omer and Thomas and Mercer for the advanced copy for my honest review, it was truly my pleasure.
So then you can imagine my excitement when I find this advanced copy on NetGalley and get approved for this book I have been impatiently waiting for. I was not disappointed in the slightest. WOW what an amazing follow up. Abbey Mullen NYPD Lieutenant Hostage Negotiator is back and action packed drama is about to land in her lap in a huge way.
There are bad guys and gals galore in this book and Abbey and her kids are in for a super rough ride, there were moments there I totally thought I would actually chew my fingers off. I started and finished this book in under 24hours and I regret nothing!!!! THAT ENDING!!! I will say nothing to anyone about the ending because if I spoilt it not one reader would forgive me... ever!
All the characters are there - but the story centres around a group of weirdos who call themselves the Watchers and a hostage situation that goes from bad to worse to the absolute worst in so many ways, oh and wait Sam (Abbey's daughter is caught up in it). It was very stressful but I couldn't stop reading.
I loved the writing, I loved the story, I loved the twists, I loved it all. Bring on more of these books.
I want to thank NetGalley, Mike Omer and Thomas and Mercer for the advanced copy for my honest review, it was truly my pleasure.
November 4, 2021
Beware the fire that burns within you, my child. For it will consume you whole."
3.5 stars.
Damaged Intentions took way to long to get going. Almost 30% in, I was pulling my hair out, bored out of my brain. A lot of what happened in the first book was rehashed, with Abby investigating her dark past in the Wilcox cult. I know it was set only two months after book one, but it still felt too fresh for me. Quite frankly, I didn't care. Get to the negotiating!
Finally, Sam's school was taken hostage and Abby focuses on saving her daughter's life. A trio of crazy conspiracy theorists invade the high school believing a mysterious organization known as The Circle are planning to sell underage children into sexual slavery. Finally, something I can sink my teeth into. The pace increased but I still felt there wasn't enough substance to justify 390+ pages. The ending dragged on a bit and was unnecessarily padded, but did set up a nice cliffhanger for book three.
**Thanks to Thomas and Mercer and Netgalley for my ARC.
3.5 stars.
Damaged Intentions took way to long to get going. Almost 30% in, I was pulling my hair out, bored out of my brain. A lot of what happened in the first book was rehashed, with Abby investigating her dark past in the Wilcox cult. I know it was set only two months after book one, but it still felt too fresh for me. Quite frankly, I didn't care. Get to the negotiating!
Finally, Sam's school was taken hostage and Abby focuses on saving her daughter's life. A trio of crazy conspiracy theorists invade the high school believing a mysterious organization known as The Circle are planning to sell underage children into sexual slavery. Finally, something I can sink my teeth into. The pace increased but I still felt there wasn't enough substance to justify 390+ pages. The ending dragged on a bit and was unnecessarily padded, but did set up a nice cliffhanger for book three.
**Thanks to Thomas and Mercer and Netgalley for my ARC.
October 13, 2021
You could probably feel the wind off my request for this book. I slammed that button. It would be really awkward then if I had to be like, and then it disappointed me. But it didn't, so disappointment avoided. I thought this book was intriguing enough, but then came that reveal at the end and boom, it got even better. We love a [spoiler], don't we, folks?
March 22, 2022
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
(4/5 stars)
When I first read the synopsis of Damaged Intentions I was IMMEDIATELY sold!! A thriller based on hostage situation by a cult? I’m so in!
And absolutely it didn’t disappoint.
We met Abby, who escaped a cult as a child, and is living a “normal” successful life as a mother & NYPDs best hostage negotiator. Until a cult called “The Watchers” storms the local high school, taking Abby’s daughter hostage.
Full of mystery & intrigue, Abby is forced to Negotiate with those holding her daughter captive. The watchers are an extremely paranoid and delusional group, and reading about their views was pretty unreal. The paranoia was so extreme, and it hit different knowing groups like this actually exist in our society today.
Abby & Sam (her daughter) were really solid characters, both were realistic and believable, and I could easily see why they made the decisions they did thru out the story. This was a Fast paced story that I was quickly drawn into.
If you enjoy:
✨ Redemption stories
✨ Cults
✨ Mysteries
✨ Suspense
✨ Plot Twists
✨ Hostage Situations
Then check out DAMAGED INTENTIONS!
(4/5 stars)
When I first read the synopsis of Damaged Intentions I was IMMEDIATELY sold!! A thriller based on hostage situation by a cult? I’m so in!
And absolutely it didn’t disappoint.
We met Abby, who escaped a cult as a child, and is living a “normal” successful life as a mother & NYPDs best hostage negotiator. Until a cult called “The Watchers” storms the local high school, taking Abby’s daughter hostage.
Full of mystery & intrigue, Abby is forced to Negotiate with those holding her daughter captive. The watchers are an extremely paranoid and delusional group, and reading about their views was pretty unreal. The paranoia was so extreme, and it hit different knowing groups like this actually exist in our society today.
Abby & Sam (her daughter) were really solid characters, both were realistic and believable, and I could easily see why they made the decisions they did thru out the story. This was a Fast paced story that I was quickly drawn into.
If you enjoy:
✨ Redemption stories
✨ Cults
✨ Mysteries
✨ Suspense
✨ Plot Twists
✨ Hostage Situations
Then check out DAMAGED INTENTIONS!
October 30, 2021
This is the first book I could read and comment on before it was published, thanks to Netgalley. A good and exciting story, a worthy sequel to the first book in the series. Yet I am not completely satisfied. In part, it may be because I just received my third booster Covid vaccine, and that’s why I was awake all night, struggling with the pain in my arm. But that way at least I could read the book.
From the media, the same conspiracy theory and attitude to see everything negatively flows to us as what Watchers represent. I couldn’t identify with them, their thinking was too poor and naive for me. That’s why they were pretty uninteresting, I didn’t feel them authentic, and their actions were illogical. I would be much more interested in the other story, which is related to Abby’s childhood, but it seems we have to wait for the next book to find out what the truth is about the cult.
From the media, the same conspiracy theory and attitude to see everything negatively flows to us as what Watchers represent. I couldn’t identify with them, their thinking was too poor and naive for me. That’s why they were pretty uninteresting, I didn’t feel them authentic, and their actions were illogical. I would be much more interested in the other story, which is related to Abby’s childhood, but it seems we have to wait for the next book to find out what the truth is about the cult.
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