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Manipulation
On a Sunday morning, Florida couple James and Bethany Fenner discover they have won the $161-million state lottery. The middle-aged city auditor and his 31-year-old trophy wife dream of exquisite homes, high-performance cars, and lavish vacations. In order to collect, they must first make the three-hour drive from Jacksonville to the state capital, Tallahassee. Fearful that someone might rob them of the winning ticket, they tell no one and hire 29-year-old limousine driver, Riley Lake, to chauffeur them across the state in style. But Lake harbors a secret that he’s hidden since his childhood; a secret that will soon be exposed.
As Jacksonville Detective Kay Larsen investigates a series of gruesome murders where the female victims overdose from a powerful hallucinogen, the clues begin to mount against Riley Lake. Yet the evidence is circumstantial, and there is no motive. When she discovers Lake is driving the Fenners, Larsen fears for the couple’s safety.
For the Fenners and Riley Lake, the journey will take them down a dark road fraught with sex, greed, and murder. Only when Detective Larsen digs deeper into Riley Lake’s past will a disturbing question arise: Who is the hunter and who is the prey?
As Jacksonville Detective Kay Larsen investigates a series of gruesome murders where the female victims overdose from a powerful hallucinogen, the clues begin to mount against Riley Lake. Yet the evidence is circumstantial, and there is no motive. When she discovers Lake is driving the Fenners, Larsen fears for the couple’s safety.
For the Fenners and Riley Lake, the journey will take them down a dark road fraught with sex, greed, and murder. Only when Detective Larsen digs deeper into Riley Lake’s past will a disturbing question arise: Who is the hunter and who is the prey?
195 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 14, 2013
About the author
Gary Williams
13 books36 followersLibrarian note:
There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name
There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
May 26, 2013
Gary Williams & Vicky Knerly once again bring to life a story that is filled with intrigue introducing scheming characters that pull you into their world filled with lust, greed and betrayal.
James and Bethany Fenner have hit the mother lode. They hold the winning ticket to the Florida lottery worth $161 million dollars. They immediately make arrangements to travel from Jacksonville to Tallahassee Florida to claim their prize. As they embark on their travels they encounter unforeseen bumps in the road that make for a truly unexpected and suspenseful excursion.
The characters are so well developed and portrayed that you will find yourself immersed in their drama and emotions. I found myself feeling compassion for one character only to transfer that compassion to another as the twists and turns of the story unfold.
`Manipulation' is a fast-paced all engrossing read bringing to the forefront the effect that a great deal of money can have on a relationship already immersed in betrayal. The collaboration of Williams and Knerly is seamless as the story unfolds, their writing brings you into the story in a way that keeps you fixated until the end.
James and Bethany Fenner have hit the mother lode. They hold the winning ticket to the Florida lottery worth $161 million dollars. They immediately make arrangements to travel from Jacksonville to Tallahassee Florida to claim their prize. As they embark on their travels they encounter unforeseen bumps in the road that make for a truly unexpected and suspenseful excursion.
The characters are so well developed and portrayed that you will find yourself immersed in their drama and emotions. I found myself feeling compassion for one character only to transfer that compassion to another as the twists and turns of the story unfold.
`Manipulation' is a fast-paced all engrossing read bringing to the forefront the effect that a great deal of money can have on a relationship already immersed in betrayal. The collaboration of Williams and Knerly is seamless as the story unfolds, their writing brings you into the story in a way that keeps you fixated until the end.
July 19, 2017
Wow
Gary Williams never cease to make me wonder what's happening till the last word of the book.
Still to cover many books of him... Impatient.
Gary Williams never cease to make me wonder what's happening till the last word of the book.
Still to cover many books of him... Impatient.
May 20, 2013
To see my full review:
http://wp.me/p1jhaj-3qF
This latest thriller from Gary Williams and Vicky Knerly keeps readers enthralled as the many twists and turns make it an epic adventure that you won’t want to miss! The characterization and deceit are perfect, making it a whodunit style mystery that will blow readers’ minds when the truth is revealed.
I really enjoyed this novel—it’s the perfect length to include depth of character and plotline, but not so long that the reader becomes bored with the scenarios. It’s extremely fast-paced with only minimal downtime, and it’s also quite interesting because each character, as we learn about them, becomes despicable in one way or another, making them the type of characters we love to hate. By the end, there isn’t one main character for which I felt sorry, and, while I certainly don’t wish bad things on them, they do get their due… karma definitely strikes back in this novel.
I am always floored when I read a murder mystery of this magnitude as I can’t fathom how the authors were able to create such a perfect, seamless plot. I believe it takes much expertise, planning, and exact execution for a novel to unwind to perfectly, and Williams and Knerly certainly know how to design and write a gripping novel. If you haven’t read Manipulation or any of their other novels, I highly suggest you pick them up stat. These novels are amazing.
http://wp.me/p1jhaj-3qF
This latest thriller from Gary Williams and Vicky Knerly keeps readers enthralled as the many twists and turns make it an epic adventure that you won’t want to miss! The characterization and deceit are perfect, making it a whodunit style mystery that will blow readers’ minds when the truth is revealed.
I really enjoyed this novel—it’s the perfect length to include depth of character and plotline, but not so long that the reader becomes bored with the scenarios. It’s extremely fast-paced with only minimal downtime, and it’s also quite interesting because each character, as we learn about them, becomes despicable in one way or another, making them the type of characters we love to hate. By the end, there isn’t one main character for which I felt sorry, and, while I certainly don’t wish bad things on them, they do get their due… karma definitely strikes back in this novel.
I am always floored when I read a murder mystery of this magnitude as I can’t fathom how the authors were able to create such a perfect, seamless plot. I believe it takes much expertise, planning, and exact execution for a novel to unwind to perfectly, and Williams and Knerly certainly know how to design and write a gripping novel. If you haven’t read Manipulation or any of their other novels, I highly suggest you pick them up stat. These novels are amazing.
May 19, 2013
This is an excellent book that I would highly recommend to anyone who loves a book that keeps you guessing until the very last chapter."Manipulation" is a real page turner that grabs a hold of you from the very first page and won't release you even after you finish it. If you won $161 million in the lottery, what would you do to make sure you collected it? "Manipulation has more twist and turns than a pretzel. It's full of suspense, sex, greed, and oh yes, a serial killer! You'll think you know who the killer is, but guess again, because you'll be wrong. You won't know for certain until you get to the very last chapter!!
May 19, 2013
As a suspense author and thriller lover, I read a lot of books in those genres. I like to think I've gotten pretty good at unraveling the most intricate plots and guessing "whodunnit" long before the final turn of the page. But even veteran suspense readers will be kept guessing in Williams and Knerly’s gritty new thriller. With more turns than a mountain switchback, “Manipulation” plunges the reader into the blackest depths of the human soul, showing exactly how far some people are willing to go for sex, love and money. A truly twisty -- and twisted -- read, I highly recommend this book for those who love a good puzzle.
April 12, 2016
Disappointed
Nothing like other books. It was like someone else plotted, schemed to ghost write. No evidences of any prior relationship to the research and in depth provision of historical adaptation to the local demographics of the surrounding areas normally experienced. Please go back to the type of storyline's like your series. If something word, sells, why would you change it. The graphic, sexual connotations turned your writing into a cheap version of the old romantic moves, you are normally so , so far above.
Nothing like other books. It was like someone else plotted, schemed to ghost write. No evidences of any prior relationship to the research and in depth provision of historical adaptation to the local demographics of the surrounding areas normally experienced. Please go back to the type of storyline's like your series. If something word, sells, why would you change it. The graphic, sexual connotations turned your writing into a cheap version of the old romantic moves, you are normally so , so far above.
November 28, 2014
Mediocre at best
After reading the reviews I was very excited to read "Manipulation." The book was able to capture my interest for a life while until it became somewhat predictable. I also felt it didn't have much depth and character development as I typically enjoy with mystery novels. With that, I give it two stars. It was a rather short and easy read.
After reading the reviews I was very excited to read "Manipulation." The book was able to capture my interest for a life while until it became somewhat predictable. I also felt it didn't have much depth and character development as I typically enjoy with mystery novels. With that, I give it two stars. It was a rather short and easy read.
January 31, 2015
A plot twist that costs
A tale about mostly nasty people that mostly come to a nasty end. There were too many lascivious descriptions of the female characters, including some gratuitous sex scene, that detract from the book.. The details of North Florida and the basic storyline were well-written.
A tale about mostly nasty people that mostly come to a nasty end. There were too many lascivious descriptions of the female characters, including some gratuitous sex scene, that detract from the book.. The details of North Florida and the basic storyline were well-written.
March 27, 2015
An okay book
I liked this book pretty well. It was easy to follow and interesting but I felt like about three quarters of the way through it went a little off course and lost me with a lot of violence that I thought was unnecessary. Then just before the end it came back around and I enjoyed the ending.
I liked this book pretty well. It was easy to follow and interesting but I felt like about three quarters of the way through it went a little off course and lost me with a lot of violence that I thought was unnecessary. Then just before the end it came back around and I enjoyed the ending.
August 19, 2015
This book was a quick read that was full of interesting plot twists. The characters were quite entertaining, and the storyline kept me highly entertained. I always enjoy the NE Florida references in the books by this duo, and this story was exceptionally interesting as it involved my hometown of Jacksonville. This was a fun read from start to finish!
May 18, 2013
Keeps you guessing! This is an ending you'll never see coming! The body count keeps growing all along the way - they're dropping like flies! If you really want to know what a person is capable of, throw in $161,000,000 and a serial killer! Hard to put down once you start reading!
February 16, 2015
Outstanding
Keeps you guessing till the very end! Fast paced yet easy to follow, with just enough lust to keep it interesting and not too much death to make it scary. Thoroughly enjoyed it.
Keeps you guessing till the very end! Fast paced yet easy to follow, with just enough lust to keep it interesting and not too much death to make it scary. Thoroughly enjoyed it.
March 22, 2015
Hard to put down
This book starts out as a wonderful simple, fun and exciting adventure and pretty quickly goes south. A study in the depths of depravity that can result from acting on greed. The story is very well told and too consistently exciting to lay it down.
This book starts out as a wonderful simple, fun and exciting adventure and pretty quickly goes south. A study in the depths of depravity that can result from acting on greed. The story is very well told and too consistently exciting to lay it down.
August 2, 2015
Worth a read
Only gave a four star because the story line has been done many times before. But on the up side it's full of unexpected twists and turns. Give the book a read you won't be disappointed.
Only gave a four star because the story line has been done many times before. But on the up side it's full of unexpected twists and turns. Give the book a read you won't be disappointed.
May 24, 2013
They lost me with the lesbian twist
January 9, 2015
Crazy!
So many unexpected twists! I loved the plot twists and mystery! Never would have thought the characters had personality disorders.
So many unexpected twists! I loved the plot twists and mystery! Never would have thought the characters had personality disorders.
March 31, 2015
Perfect for a summer read
A definite page turner..full of suspense and sexy at the same time .. highly recommended.. incredibly well written ..must read
A definite page turner..full of suspense and sexy at the same time .. highly recommended.. incredibly well written ..must read
August 7, 2015
Manipulating To the Very End
If you like whodunnits with lots of excitement, I recommend Manipulation. Each time I picked it up to read it was almost impossible to put down.
If you like whodunnits with lots of excitement, I recommend Manipulation. Each time I picked it up to read it was almost impossible to put down.
October 13, 2015
Filled with lots of twist and turns.
This story was filled with twist and turns. Just when I thought I had it figured out there was another bend in it. Totally five star reading.
This story was filled with twist and turns. Just when I thought I had it figured out there was another bend in it. Totally five star reading.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews