What do you think?
Rate this book
The Reckless Engineer
The aftershocks of an affair reverberate out to those in the lives of the lovers, who will not take it lying down. Jack Connors lives an idyllic life by the Portsmouth seaside married to Caitlin McAllen, a stunning billionaire heiress, and working at his two jobs as the Head of Radar Engineering of Marine Electronics and as the Director of Engineering of McAllen BlackGold, his powerful father-in-law's extreme engineering company in oil & gas. He loves his two sons from his first marriage and is amicably divorced from his beautiful first wife, Marianne Connor. Their delicately balanced lives are shattered when the sexy and alluring Michelle Williams, who Jack is having a secret affair with and who is pregnant with his child, is found dead and Jack is arrested on suspicion for the murder. Jeremy Stone brings in London's top defence attorney, Harry Stavers, to handle his best friend's defence. Who is the bald man with the tattoo of a skull seen entering the victim's house? Who is the "KC" that Caitlin makes secret calls to from a disposable mobile? Has the powerful Douglas McAllen already killed his daughter's first partner, and is he capable of killing again? Is Caitlin's brother's power struggle with Jack for the control of McAllen Industries so intense that he is prepared to kill and frame him? Is the divorce from his first wife as amicable on her part as they believe it to be? Are his sons prepared to kill for their vast inheritance? Who are the ghosts from Caitlin's past? What is the involvement of Jack's manager at Marine Electronics?
334 pages, Paperback
First published October 19, 2013
3 people are currently reading
403 people want to read
About the author
Jac Wright
3 books27 followersJac Wright is a published poet, a published author, and an electronics engineer educated at Stanford, University College London, and Cambridge who lives and works in England. Jac studied English literature from an early age of three, developing an intense love for poetry, drama, and writing in Speech & Drama classes taken every Saturday for fourteen years, and in subsequent creative writing classes taken during the university years. A published poet, Jac's first passion was for literary fiction and poetry writing as well as for the dramatic arts. You will find these influences in the poetic imagery and prose, as well as the in the dramatic scene setting and deep character creation.
These passions - for poetry, drama, literary fiction, and electronic engineering - have been combined to create the first book in the literary suspense series, The Reckless Engineer. There are millions of professionals in high tech corporate environments who work in thousands of cities in the US, the UK, and the world such as engineers, technicians, technical managers, investment bankers, and corporate lawyers. High drama, power struggles, and human interest stories play out in the arena every day. Yet there are hardly any books that tell their stories; there are not many books that they can identify with. Jac feels compelled to tell their stories in The Reckless Engineer series.
Jac also writes the literary short fiction series, Summerset Tales, in which Wright explores characters struggling against their passions and social circumstances in the semi-fictional region of contemporary England called Summerset, partly the region that Thomas Hardy called Wessex. Some of the tales have an added element of suspense similar to Roald Dahl's Tales of the Unexpected. The collection is published as individual tales in the tradition of Geoffrey Chaucer's Caterbury Tales, Charles Dickens' The Pickwick Papers and Thomas Hardy's Wessex Tales. The first tale, The Closet, accompanies the first title in the author's full-length series, The Reckless Engineer.
Author Q&A Forum: Read With Jac Wright
These passions - for poetry, drama, literary fiction, and electronic engineering - have been combined to create the first book in the literary suspense series, The Reckless Engineer. There are millions of professionals in high tech corporate environments who work in thousands of cities in the US, the UK, and the world such as engineers, technicians, technical managers, investment bankers, and corporate lawyers. High drama, power struggles, and human interest stories play out in the arena every day. Yet there are hardly any books that tell their stories; there are not many books that they can identify with. Jac feels compelled to tell their stories in The Reckless Engineer series.
Jac also writes the literary short fiction series, Summerset Tales, in which Wright explores characters struggling against their passions and social circumstances in the semi-fictional region of contemporary England called Summerset, partly the region that Thomas Hardy called Wessex. Some of the tales have an added element of suspense similar to Roald Dahl's Tales of the Unexpected. The collection is published as individual tales in the tradition of Geoffrey Chaucer's Caterbury Tales, Charles Dickens' The Pickwick Papers and Thomas Hardy's Wessex Tales. The first tale, The Closet, accompanies the first title in the author's full-length series, The Reckless Engineer.
Author Q&A Forum: Read With Jac Wright
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 50 reviews
November 15, 2013
How could I have missed it? How could I be so blind? The signs were all there. I should have known. I should have been able to figure it out. Kudos to you Mr. Wright, you slipped one past me.
The story starts out with Jeremy Stone (and associate/lawyer Harry Stavers) being called on to prevent his friend, Jack Connor, from spending the rest of his life in prison for the murder of his mistress Michelle Williams. Then the mystery murder theater begins.
Jeremy is awesome! He sneaks, he spies, he climbs walls, and he makes awesome machinery. I might like Jack from a distance. While I feel bad for him and he seems like a good person, he really brought all this trouble on himself by cheating in the first place. Didn’t you learn anything the first time? Then there’s Michelle. I’m surprised she made it as far in life as she did. It seems that people were waiting in line to kill this woman!
I can’t go on without mentioning Magnus Laird, the clumsy attorney. He made me giggle, but don’t think he’s going down in court without a fight. Let me stop here before I end up giving too much away.
Jac makes made a novel that revolves around highly qualified electrical engineers work beautifully. The novel moved at a nice pace and didn’t feel weighed down with technical jargon. The more I read, the more I became interested in what these engineers do professionally, in addition to whom they were killing.
I had fun trying to figure out who stabbed Michelle in the back with a pitchfork (they were in the kitchen overlooking the garden). Jac did an excellent job of keeping that very well hidden until the end. So, if you want to know who did it, read the book!
For more reviews check out Officially Jennifer
The story starts out with Jeremy Stone (and associate/lawyer Harry Stavers) being called on to prevent his friend, Jack Connor, from spending the rest of his life in prison for the murder of his mistress Michelle Williams. Then the mystery murder theater begins.
Jeremy is awesome! He sneaks, he spies, he climbs walls, and he makes awesome machinery. I might like Jack from a distance. While I feel bad for him and he seems like a good person, he really brought all this trouble on himself by cheating in the first place. Didn’t you learn anything the first time? Then there’s Michelle. I’m surprised she made it as far in life as she did. It seems that people were waiting in line to kill this woman!
I can’t go on without mentioning Magnus Laird, the clumsy attorney. He made me giggle, but don’t think he’s going down in court without a fight. Let me stop here before I end up giving too much away.
Jac makes made a novel that revolves around highly qualified electrical engineers work beautifully. The novel moved at a nice pace and didn’t feel weighed down with technical jargon. The more I read, the more I became interested in what these engineers do professionally, in addition to whom they were killing.
I had fun trying to figure out who stabbed Michelle in the back with a pitchfork (they were in the kitchen overlooking the garden). Jac did an excellent job of keeping that very well hidden until the end. So, if you want to know who did it, read the book!
For more reviews check out Officially Jennifer
November 4, 2013
Firstly, and as usual, I didn't pay anything for this book but instead received it free from the author in exchange for a review. To thicken the plot a bit, the author also offered a chance to win a gift card to those who review the book within the first week of its release. Despite both these kind considerations I give my candid opinions below.
On the positive side, the book is coherent and sufficiently written. It goes through the paces of a fairly standard plot-line for a mystery novel and its characters are fairly unusual in that they're engineers. Not the railroad sort of engineers but rather those that go around building things. That alone is worth a raised eyebrow.
To the negative side, the book doesn't read like something a poet would put to paper. The author labels himself a poet yet his writing is structured more like a computer program than a novel. His approach is rigorous but not especially literary as it resorts to trite dialog and mundane repeated phrases. Further, the plot is formulaic and predictable and at times plodding. It was difficult to remain upright and alert in my chair during its perusal. Lastly, the author's portrayal of engineers was surprisingly unreal. As a software engineer, I know full well that if you tell your QA person that they're "just there to test" then they're likely to smack you. Since the author is an engineer I'm sure there's some thread of truth to his depiction but it does strike me as overly romanticized.
In summary, this is a weak three-star novel. I don't give out any less than three stars unless a novel is unreadable or socially irresponsible in some way so it remains at three stars out of five. The easiest sum-up-ance I can give is that it's a novel written by an engineer. Generally they earn great points for structure and theory but just fall short of the Dickensian standard for weaving together a narrative. Doubtless this take on the work won't win me anything in the drawing, but that's my honest look at the book. Approach it with caution and perhaps take a look at some of the author's short fiction instead.
On the positive side, the book is coherent and sufficiently written. It goes through the paces of a fairly standard plot-line for a mystery novel and its characters are fairly unusual in that they're engineers. Not the railroad sort of engineers but rather those that go around building things. That alone is worth a raised eyebrow.
To the negative side, the book doesn't read like something a poet would put to paper. The author labels himself a poet yet his writing is structured more like a computer program than a novel. His approach is rigorous but not especially literary as it resorts to trite dialog and mundane repeated phrases. Further, the plot is formulaic and predictable and at times plodding. It was difficult to remain upright and alert in my chair during its perusal. Lastly, the author's portrayal of engineers was surprisingly unreal. As a software engineer, I know full well that if you tell your QA person that they're "just there to test" then they're likely to smack you. Since the author is an engineer I'm sure there's some thread of truth to his depiction but it does strike me as overly romanticized.
In summary, this is a weak three-star novel. I don't give out any less than three stars unless a novel is unreadable or socially irresponsible in some way so it remains at three stars out of five. The easiest sum-up-ance I can give is that it's a novel written by an engineer. Generally they earn great points for structure and theory but just fall short of the Dickensian standard for weaving together a narrative. Doubtless this take on the work won't win me anything in the drawing, but that's my honest look at the book. Approach it with caution and perhaps take a look at some of the author's short fiction instead.
November 5, 2013
Check out more reviews at:
Detailed Review: << review copy received from the author himself >>
For me, this book was actually quite good but I found it quite relaxed as in the tone of the book. It kinda gave of a 'boring' feeling because this genre was not much of a YA. Well, it isn't - so it didn't really suit my taste in story.
But the quality of storyline was amazing and the characters were expectedly detailed and not too complex. His style of writing is quite compelling if you're into psychological crime and murder stories. Moreover the story had a style of quick witted characters and characters that I have come to love.
Putting aside my feelings of the book, I think The Reckless Engineer was written in really reality-based and proved to be very realistic. In other ways, the book was pretty good and I enjoyed it as well :)
The author (Jac Wright) has an excessive knowledge and a clear understanding of the underworld and reality that has made me rethink and reread his book! Clearly, this book has made an impact to some readers who enjoy thriller and suspense genres.
But what made me enjoy the book the most was it's detailed storyline!
Wright has developed a clear understanding yet equally as confusing and thought-bearing that made me think and question the likes and dislikes of the characters and plot. But in the end I wish the book was more bending to the YA genre...
I'd give it 4.5 or 5 stars but my rating system is designed to give a fair rating - but due to it's imaginative quality, it deserves to have a better rating. The only down side to this book was it's slow development from the start but it definitely picked off later on.
Brief Review: The Reckless Engineer was interesting and fantastically developed. Jac Wright (the author) has used such a provocative style of writing that had finally won me over to the very end of the book! This book is definite lover to readers who enjoy a suspense and thriller story!
My Rating: 4/5 "Really Liked it!"
Detailed Review: << review copy received from the author himself >>
For me, this book was actually quite good but I found it quite relaxed as in the tone of the book. It kinda gave of a 'boring' feeling because this genre was not much of a YA. Well, it isn't - so it didn't really suit my taste in story.
But the quality of storyline was amazing and the characters were expectedly detailed and not too complex. His style of writing is quite compelling if you're into psychological crime and murder stories. Moreover the story had a style of quick witted characters and characters that I have come to love.
Putting aside my feelings of the book, I think The Reckless Engineer was written in really reality-based and proved to be very realistic. In other ways, the book was pretty good and I enjoyed it as well :)
The author (Jac Wright) has an excessive knowledge and a clear understanding of the underworld and reality that has made me rethink and reread his book! Clearly, this book has made an impact to some readers who enjoy thriller and suspense genres.
But what made me enjoy the book the most was it's detailed storyline!
Wright has developed a clear understanding yet equally as confusing and thought-bearing that made me think and question the likes and dislikes of the characters and plot. But in the end I wish the book was more bending to the YA genre...
I'd give it 4.5 or 5 stars but my rating system is designed to give a fair rating - but due to it's imaginative quality, it deserves to have a better rating. The only down side to this book was it's slow development from the start but it definitely picked off later on.
Brief Review: The Reckless Engineer was interesting and fantastically developed. Jac Wright (the author) has used such a provocative style of writing that had finally won me over to the very end of the book! This book is definite lover to readers who enjoy a suspense and thriller story!
My Rating: 4/5 "Really Liked it!"
November 6, 2013
This book sooooo brings to mind the old saying:
“Oh! what a tangled web we weave
When first we practice to deceive!”
-Walter Scott’s Marmion
Jac Wright’s poetic background comes through in this book. This book truly weaves the story around you until you can’t stop until you have all the answers!
It is easy for me to see that I will be a Jac Wright fan for life. This book had so many twists and turns! Just when you think you have the culprit figured out, something else comes to light that damns a different person. The author gives you some background on each character, but just enough. Jac Wright has a knack for dropping clues in your lap at just the right moment and really keeping you on the edge of your seat.
Another thing I loved about this story was how believable it was. It seemed like real people that ended up in some ugly situations. I don’t think we realize how “suspicious” every day things can be when taken in the wrong context. Jeremy’s dialogue to himself while some people were being interviewed was so entertaining and I really enjoyed his personality. He is someone you would like to know in real life.
Also, yes we had the rich people that always have everything in order, but they worked for it. They weren’t lounging around all day spending money on anything and everything, they were working hard and putting in a lot of hours to keep the company’s running smoothly.
Overall, this was a GREAT mystery/suspense that will keep those pages turning as fast as you can read!! Grab your copy today!!
Read more at http://joecoolreview.com
“Oh! what a tangled web we weave
When first we practice to deceive!”
-Walter Scott’s Marmion
Jac Wright’s poetic background comes through in this book. This book truly weaves the story around you until you can’t stop until you have all the answers!
It is easy for me to see that I will be a Jac Wright fan for life. This book had so many twists and turns! Just when you think you have the culprit figured out, something else comes to light that damns a different person. The author gives you some background on each character, but just enough. Jac Wright has a knack for dropping clues in your lap at just the right moment and really keeping you on the edge of your seat.
Another thing I loved about this story was how believable it was. It seemed like real people that ended up in some ugly situations. I don’t think we realize how “suspicious” every day things can be when taken in the wrong context. Jeremy’s dialogue to himself while some people were being interviewed was so entertaining and I really enjoyed his personality. He is someone you would like to know in real life.
Also, yes we had the rich people that always have everything in order, but they worked for it. They weren’t lounging around all day spending money on anything and everything, they were working hard and putting in a lot of hours to keep the company’s running smoothly.
Overall, this was a GREAT mystery/suspense that will keep those pages turning as fast as you can read!! Grab your copy today!!
Read more at http://joecoolreview.com
October 14, 2013
I was given an advanced e-book copy of The Reckless Engineer by the author and asked to honestly post a review. Before I do that, I have a small rant.
What the feck is up with people posting negative reviews of books they haven't read, because they don't like the subject matter, characters, and/or the author? Are you twelve? Did the mean girls in high school pee in your cornflakes? Did your parent forget to teach you common decency? Seriously people, it's embarrassing.
Okay, I feel better. Now on to my review.
The Reckless Engineer is the story of Jack Conner, the cheating husband of Caitlin McAllen, the only daughter of a very wealthy Scottish oilman. The story opens with Jack's phone call to Jeremy Stone because Jack has been arrested for murdering his current mistress, Michelle, and Jack needs a solicitor. Jeremy is not an attorney, but he shares a suite of offices (and receptionist) with Harry Stavers, solicitor for the rich and famous and Jeremy's best friend from college
As Harry works on Jack's defense, Jeremy investigates what happened and tries to untangle the mess Jack has put himself and his family in by having multiple affairs with women at work. The action follows Jeremy to the McAllen English estate and Scotland where Caitlin's family still lives and works.
The premise of the book is very interesting and the mystery is solid. Jeremy who is an engineer by trade, attempts to find the murderer before Jack is convicted and sent to prison. Jeremy is also trying to keep his engineering firm solvent, reconcile with his ex-wife, be loyal to Jack's ex-wife and his current wife, and keep a good working relationship with the McAllens, who have hired him to run the company in Jack's absence.
The mystery is good, but the engineering stuff was over my head and not as interesting to me as a good murder mystery. I could do without Jeremy's attempts to reconcile with the ex-wife, in fact, I could have done without that part of the book, because I thought it didn't fit well with the whole premise of the book. Of course, as this is the first installment in a series, I feel sure that the relationships will be fleshed out and the reader will learn much more about Jeremy's relationship with his ex and why he is having such a hard time letting go.
In closing, I think The Reckless Engineer will be an engaging series and I look forward to learning more about Jeremy and Harry and where they go from here.
What the feck is up with people posting negative reviews of books they haven't read, because they don't like the subject matter, characters, and/or the author? Are you twelve? Did the mean girls in high school pee in your cornflakes? Did your parent forget to teach you common decency? Seriously people, it's embarrassing.
Okay, I feel better. Now on to my review.
The Reckless Engineer is the story of Jack Conner, the cheating husband of Caitlin McAllen, the only daughter of a very wealthy Scottish oilman. The story opens with Jack's phone call to Jeremy Stone because Jack has been arrested for murdering his current mistress, Michelle, and Jack needs a solicitor. Jeremy is not an attorney, but he shares a suite of offices (and receptionist) with Harry Stavers, solicitor for the rich and famous and Jeremy's best friend from college
As Harry works on Jack's defense, Jeremy investigates what happened and tries to untangle the mess Jack has put himself and his family in by having multiple affairs with women at work. The action follows Jeremy to the McAllen English estate and Scotland where Caitlin's family still lives and works.
The premise of the book is very interesting and the mystery is solid. Jeremy who is an engineer by trade, attempts to find the murderer before Jack is convicted and sent to prison. Jeremy is also trying to keep his engineering firm solvent, reconcile with his ex-wife, be loyal to Jack's ex-wife and his current wife, and keep a good working relationship with the McAllens, who have hired him to run the company in Jack's absence.
The mystery is good, but the engineering stuff was over my head and not as interesting to me as a good murder mystery. I could do without Jeremy's attempts to reconcile with the ex-wife, in fact, I could have done without that part of the book, because I thought it didn't fit well with the whole premise of the book. Of course, as this is the first installment in a series, I feel sure that the relationships will be fleshed out and the reader will learn much more about Jeremy's relationship with his ex and why he is having such a hard time letting go.
In closing, I think The Reckless Engineer will be an engaging series and I look forward to learning more about Jeremy and Harry and where they go from here.
November 1, 2013
The second I have read by this author, his short The Closet was a clever and unique read and I appreciated the author’s style and voice that was developed in his character. In Reckless Engineer, the author uses similar characterization tools to bring the main characters of Jack and Jeremy to light. Unfortunately, I found it difficult to like Jack: married to one woman, cheating on her with another who is found pregnant and dead, and now leaning: not so gently on a friend who he supported during a rough patch, Jack feels manipulative and duplicitous. A perfect set up for the whodunit that follows, as Jeremy is scouring England and Scotland looking for information that will exonerate his friend.
Funny that Jeremy, for all of his intelligence, feels manipulated through a large part of the story, his belief in Jack seemed to be less based in reality than in loyalty and debt owed. Fortunately, as the tale unfolds, Jeremy starts to unravel the several tangled threads as he tries to discover just who killed Jack’s longtime mistress and unborn child.
Twists and turns abound, with several dead ends thrown in for good measure, not to mention the likelihood of some disgruntled encounter in Jack’s past or present coming to remove the source of conflict and difficulty from everyone’s lives by having him jailed, the final ‘aha’ moment was a complete surprise to me, and I am sure it will be to many readers.
A nice mix that blends a life gone pear-shaped, a mystery and one man’s search to find the truth for his ‘friend’ as he negotiates a long list of ‘what not to do’ based on Jack’s choices, this was a fun read that holds great descriptions and scenes, moments that come alive with the author’s facility with words and unusual combinations of twists that make this an engaging and thought provoking read.
I received an ARC copy from the author for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.
Funny that Jeremy, for all of his intelligence, feels manipulated through a large part of the story, his belief in Jack seemed to be less based in reality than in loyalty and debt owed. Fortunately, as the tale unfolds, Jeremy starts to unravel the several tangled threads as he tries to discover just who killed Jack’s longtime mistress and unborn child.
Twists and turns abound, with several dead ends thrown in for good measure, not to mention the likelihood of some disgruntled encounter in Jack’s past or present coming to remove the source of conflict and difficulty from everyone’s lives by having him jailed, the final ‘aha’ moment was a complete surprise to me, and I am sure it will be to many readers.
A nice mix that blends a life gone pear-shaped, a mystery and one man’s search to find the truth for his ‘friend’ as he negotiates a long list of ‘what not to do’ based on Jack’s choices, this was a fun read that holds great descriptions and scenes, moments that come alive with the author’s facility with words and unusual combinations of twists that make this an engaging and thought provoking read.
I received an ARC copy from the author for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.
December 20, 2014
This is the first book in the Reckless Engineer series by Jac Wright. I was contacted by the author with an offer of an ARC of the book in exchange for an honest review. I had not hear of the author before, but after reading the blurb, I thought it sounded like something I would be interested in reading and I was correct.
The story starts with main character, Jeremy sitting down with Harry, his best friend & attorney at the end of the day. They are getting ready to head out to a pub for a drink when Jeremy's old friend and fellow engineer calls asking for his help. It seems Jack's long time mistress Michelle, who is now pregnant with his child, has been murdered. Jack has been arrested for the crime and is looking for not only an attorney, but a friend to assist him. Since Jack was such a good friend to Jeremy during a trying time in his life, Jeremy feels that he should return the favor. As Jeremy begins to the process of finding evidence to exonerate his friend, Jeremy travels around England and Scotland, dons disguises and flirts with the boundaries of the law looking for clues to answer the questions: Who killed Michelle and why did they frame Jack?
This was a cleverly written mystery. I will admit that I never guessed who-done-it, right up to the reveal. The author did a wonderful job of dropping enough red herrings and false trails that I simply didn't see the subtle clues for what they were until it was all over. It was an entertaining story, made more interesting by the all the bold and vivid characters throughout the story. I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys Stuart Woods novels, it had a very similar tone and intellectual level. I gave the book 3 stars on Goodreads.
The story starts with main character, Jeremy sitting down with Harry, his best friend & attorney at the end of the day. They are getting ready to head out to a pub for a drink when Jeremy's old friend and fellow engineer calls asking for his help. It seems Jack's long time mistress Michelle, who is now pregnant with his child, has been murdered. Jack has been arrested for the crime and is looking for not only an attorney, but a friend to assist him. Since Jack was such a good friend to Jeremy during a trying time in his life, Jeremy feels that he should return the favor. As Jeremy begins to the process of finding evidence to exonerate his friend, Jeremy travels around England and Scotland, dons disguises and flirts with the boundaries of the law looking for clues to answer the questions: Who killed Michelle and why did they frame Jack?
This was a cleverly written mystery. I will admit that I never guessed who-done-it, right up to the reveal. The author did a wonderful job of dropping enough red herrings and false trails that I simply didn't see the subtle clues for what they were until it was all over. It was an entertaining story, made more interesting by the all the bold and vivid characters throughout the story. I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys Stuart Woods novels, it had a very similar tone and intellectual level. I gave the book 3 stars on Goodreads.
November 7, 2013
I received a free copy of this book for an honest review.
The Reckless Engineer is a good whodunit with a colorful cast of characters. Jac Wright has done a good job of bringing the characters to life and making them all realistically flawed. There were many characters and many suspects, all described in detail. My favorite character was the McAllen family lawyer, Magnus Laird. Right in the middle of this murder drama was this strange man who had to make me laugh.
I really liked the character and story development. I quit trying to figure out who the murderer was and just let the story flow. I did question, however, why Jeremy, an engineer, was able to figure things out before the police or Harry, his lawyer friend.
This is one of the best murder mysteries I’ve read in a while. I definitely recommend The Reckless Engineer.
The Reckless Engineer is a good whodunit with a colorful cast of characters. Jac Wright has done a good job of bringing the characters to life and making them all realistically flawed. There were many characters and many suspects, all described in detail. My favorite character was the McAllen family lawyer, Magnus Laird. Right in the middle of this murder drama was this strange man who had to make me laugh.
I really liked the character and story development. I quit trying to figure out who the murderer was and just let the story flow. I did question, however, why Jeremy, an engineer, was able to figure things out before the police or Harry, his lawyer friend.
This is one of the best murder mysteries I’ve read in a while. I definitely recommend The Reckless Engineer.
January 14, 2014
This was recommended by someone on Goodreads. It has a strong opening and was a good story line but the writing needs some work. It starts off really well, but halfway through it got a little loose with one scene in particular making me scratch my head and say "what?!", trying to figure out how we got from point A to point B with no lead-in. It's a mystery, and it did keep my interest with a surprise 'who' in the 'whodunnit'. I had to laugh at some of the typos which I am now beginning to think are caused by the process of converting books to Kindle form - i.e. San Hose for San Jose, and using the Heinrich maneuver. It was an ok read, but I'd have been unhappy if I'd purchased it. It was an Amazon PRIME loan, so no worries!
November 6, 2013
First Paragraph:
"Harry and Jeremy were just about to call it a day and head over to the pub for a drink when the call came through. Harry had gathered the files and papers spread over the round table that stood diagonally opposite the large polished oak desk that dominated his office. There they liked to sit in the afternoon, take stock, and mull over matters at hand once every few days. The London sky, turning a misty orange-red through the window behind Harry, was being served to them lukewarm and sliced finely into stripes by the blind. Jeremy didn't envy Harry and his large west-facing office. He liked his sun served whole, with a black Americano and two sugars, early in the morning."
The Reckless Engineer is a murder-mystery story, and the first full-length novel by Jac Wright. To celebrate its release today, here's my review.
PLOT
Jeremy is an engineer who started his own company after being made redundant last year. He shares an office with his old school friend, Harry, who runs a law firm. So when Jeremy gets a call from his old colleague and friend, Jack- claiming he's been arrested on murder charges- Harry is the first person he turns to. Together, the pair do their best to solve the murder- hopefully proving Jack's innocence in the process.
However, the task is a daunting one. The victim was Michelle- another employee at Jeremy's old company- though in this case she was a secretary. Jack and Michelle have been having an affair. Jack is somewhat of a heartbreaker. He left his first wife and two sons to marry his current wife- the daughter of a very wealthy man (who also happens to be his boss). He then had an affair with another engineer at the same company, before he replaced her with Michelle. More than that, Michelle had just told him she was pregnant with his child, and served him an ultimatum- divorce his current wife and marry her (taking half the very wealthy Mrs. share with them) or else. And she wasn't the only one handing him ultimatums. His father-in-law is none too happy about the affair. His wife certainly isn't. His ex stands to lose his child support. And that's just the tip of the iceberg.
So when Michelle ends up dead, Jack is the first person everybody points to. Michelle's presence threatened his job, his marriage and his money. But with more suspects than a game of Clue (and growing), Jeremy and Harry have their work cut out for them.
REVIEW
A more intellectual than intense, action-packed mystery, with an ending that will keep you guessing. There are so many different suspects, with so many different motives and means, that keeping track of them all was a challenge. Not in an my-goodness-this-is-overly-complicated way, but more in a maybe-I-should-just-call-it-an-Orient-Express-job kind of way.
When the murderer is revealed, and the how and the why explained, it is one of the few cases where I could actually understand why they would go to such extremes, as well as the conditions that put them there. The clues are all there, and I was kicking myself slightly that I didn't think more of them, or really even notice them at the time.
I do have a couple criticisms though. My major one is, unfortunately, Jeremy- our main character. For a large portion of the story he acts as more of a viewer, and as a source of exposition than as a character with any real personality. He does occasionally go all 'Mission Impossible', but then immediately returns to his almost background character behaviour. And the ratio of action-to-non-action is so strongly on the side of the latter, that it causes a lack of tension throughout the book. Mostly we are given a lot of information, and not a lot else. Only about three quarters of the way through the story does Jeremy actively grab the momentum and keep it going. So while he does step-up his almost background character level of interesting, I still think of him as a secondary character on the main premise that we don't really learn much about him. We are overloaded with information about the rest of the characters, and yet the main character's info sheet is strangely sparse. However, I have it on good authority (from the author himself) that there will be a sequel, so hopefully Jeremy will get a little more development there. I just wish we'd had more here.
Another issue is that some of the dialogue is a little clunky. Something about is just doesn't fit right, it doesn't quite work. It just seems a little off. It's not throughout the entire book- more certain sections of the text.
On a similar note, the subject of race is a little poorly described too. It's nothing too offensive, but maybe just a little un-PC? For instance, a Mexican boy is described as "that brown boy". Perhaps that doesn't seem that bad, but something about it just doesn't sit right.
OVERALL
A little slow-paced, and lacking tension, but with a well thought out story and believable character reactions, as well as an understandable chain of events that could eventually lead someone to murder. I'd say that if you're going to read it, read it for that reason. It's refreshing to have a murderer who has more than superficial or exaggerated reasons for killing.
If you'd like to learn a little bit more about the story and the author, I'll have a Q&A up with Jac Wright himself later on. As well as that, there's a competition hosted by the author too- so make sure to keep your eyes peeled for that.
Disclaimer: I received this book from the author. This is not a sponsored review. All opinions are 100% my own.
"Harry and Jeremy were just about to call it a day and head over to the pub for a drink when the call came through. Harry had gathered the files and papers spread over the round table that stood diagonally opposite the large polished oak desk that dominated his office. There they liked to sit in the afternoon, take stock, and mull over matters at hand once every few days. The London sky, turning a misty orange-red through the window behind Harry, was being served to them lukewarm and sliced finely into stripes by the blind. Jeremy didn't envy Harry and his large west-facing office. He liked his sun served whole, with a black Americano and two sugars, early in the morning."
The Reckless Engineer is a murder-mystery story, and the first full-length novel by Jac Wright. To celebrate its release today, here's my review.
PLOT
Jeremy is an engineer who started his own company after being made redundant last year. He shares an office with his old school friend, Harry, who runs a law firm. So when Jeremy gets a call from his old colleague and friend, Jack- claiming he's been arrested on murder charges- Harry is the first person he turns to. Together, the pair do their best to solve the murder- hopefully proving Jack's innocence in the process.
However, the task is a daunting one. The victim was Michelle- another employee at Jeremy's old company- though in this case she was a secretary. Jack and Michelle have been having an affair. Jack is somewhat of a heartbreaker. He left his first wife and two sons to marry his current wife- the daughter of a very wealthy man (who also happens to be his boss). He then had an affair with another engineer at the same company, before he replaced her with Michelle. More than that, Michelle had just told him she was pregnant with his child, and served him an ultimatum- divorce his current wife and marry her (taking half the very wealthy Mrs. share with them) or else. And she wasn't the only one handing him ultimatums. His father-in-law is none too happy about the affair. His wife certainly isn't. His ex stands to lose his child support. And that's just the tip of the iceberg.
So when Michelle ends up dead, Jack is the first person everybody points to. Michelle's presence threatened his job, his marriage and his money. But with more suspects than a game of Clue (and growing), Jeremy and Harry have their work cut out for them.
REVIEW
A more intellectual than intense, action-packed mystery, with an ending that will keep you guessing. There are so many different suspects, with so many different motives and means, that keeping track of them all was a challenge. Not in an my-goodness-this-is-overly-complicated way, but more in a maybe-I-should-just-call-it-an-Orient-Express-job kind of way.
When the murderer is revealed, and the how and the why explained, it is one of the few cases where I could actually understand why they would go to such extremes, as well as the conditions that put them there. The clues are all there, and I was kicking myself slightly that I didn't think more of them, or really even notice them at the time.
I do have a couple criticisms though. My major one is, unfortunately, Jeremy- our main character. For a large portion of the story he acts as more of a viewer, and as a source of exposition than as a character with any real personality. He does occasionally go all 'Mission Impossible', but then immediately returns to his almost background character behaviour. And the ratio of action-to-non-action is so strongly on the side of the latter, that it causes a lack of tension throughout the book. Mostly we are given a lot of information, and not a lot else. Only about three quarters of the way through the story does Jeremy actively grab the momentum and keep it going. So while he does step-up his almost background character level of interesting, I still think of him as a secondary character on the main premise that we don't really learn much about him. We are overloaded with information about the rest of the characters, and yet the main character's info sheet is strangely sparse. However, I have it on good authority (from the author himself) that there will be a sequel, so hopefully Jeremy will get a little more development there. I just wish we'd had more here.
Another issue is that some of the dialogue is a little clunky. Something about is just doesn't fit right, it doesn't quite work. It just seems a little off. It's not throughout the entire book- more certain sections of the text.
On a similar note, the subject of race is a little poorly described too. It's nothing too offensive, but maybe just a little un-PC? For instance, a Mexican boy is described as "that brown boy". Perhaps that doesn't seem that bad, but something about it just doesn't sit right.
OVERALL
A little slow-paced, and lacking tension, but with a well thought out story and believable character reactions, as well as an understandable chain of events that could eventually lead someone to murder. I'd say that if you're going to read it, read it for that reason. It's refreshing to have a murderer who has more than superficial or exaggerated reasons for killing.
If you'd like to learn a little bit more about the story and the author, I'll have a Q&A up with Jac Wright himself later on. As well as that, there's a competition hosted by the author too- so make sure to keep your eyes peeled for that.
Disclaimer: I received this book from the author. This is not a sponsored review. All opinions are 100% my own.
January 14, 2014
A playboy engineer, his billionaire heiress second wife, his controlling and very powerful father-in-law, a new hot and sexy secretary, his two sons and their over protective mother (his first wife), an angry and jealous ex...And then there is a murder where everyone has the means and the motive to commit it!
Jack Connor, a successful engineer in a prestigious company and married to the very beautiful and very wealthy Caitlin, had everything one could ask for yet he had one weakness. He was attracted to beautiful women and had no qualms in having extra marital affairs. Our story starts with his current mistress's murder who was also pregnant with his child. The very sexy Michelle Williams is found murdered in her home one morning with all evidence pointing towards Jack. Jack calls his friend Jeremy and asks for his help. Jeremy has known Jack all his life and had been a first hand witness to his affairs when Jeremy had been working with Jack in the same company. He agrees to help but is Jack truly innocent?
London's top defense attorney, Harry Stavers is called to take on Jack's case and as the investigation begins it seems like nothing is as it seems.
Who had sent Caitlin and her father, Douglas McAllen those compromising photos of Jack and Michelle?
Why did anyone feel the need to make them aware of Jack's affair with Michelle?
Is Sally, Jack's ex-mistress, involved in all of this?
Who is the mysterious man with a skull tattoo, who was seen entering Michelle's house?
Who is mysterious K.C., Caitlin talks to and sends money to? And what is his role in Michelle's murder?
What is the role of Douglas McAllen in all this?
Douglas had been the one to quickly arrange Jack's divorce from his first wife, Marianne when it became known that he was involved with his daughter, Caitlin!
Could Marianne have murdered Michelle when it became known that Douglas would cut all his monetary support to Jack's two sons (Peter and Marc) if he didn't break up from Michelle?
Is Peter's anger and frustration just an innocent act of a young man whose future depends on Douglas McAllen's funding or is there a deeper meaning to it all and a connection to the sudden death of the only person standing in between his dreams of his future?
Was the divorce between Jack and Marianne as amicable as it seemed at that time or is there more to the matter than meets the eye?
Jeremy is faced with situations he has no control over and is suddenly more in tune with the real nature of the people he thought he knew completely. Being a good friend he feels responsible towards his friend who had once saved him in his hour of need but can he help Jack this time? Will he be able to solve this murder mystery and get to the real killer in time to save Jack?
Or is Jack the true murderer and Jeremy is blissfully blind to his friend's true character?
The Reckless Engineer is Jac Wright's first full length literary suspense and psychological, legal thriller due to be released soon and is very intricately plotted story which is expertly executed. I got engrossed in the story hook, line and sinker. :)
There are so many questions the reader wants answers to and is intrigued more and more as the story progresses. It's a battle of power between people who are influential, powerful and have no qualms in venturing into the grey area. They can and will do anything to get something they want, done.
The characterization is admirable and the characters vivid and each one as different as the day from the night. Although this story revolves around Jack but the true hero of the story is Jeremy who is loyal, a good friend, a passionate lover and overall a sincere person. Jack, on the other hand, is a loose character and even though he is great at his job, he could not make himself dear to me. I disliked everything about him. The way he kept on having affairs despite being married was totally wrong on his part. He left his first wife, Marianne, who had always loved him, for Caitlin's money and connections. Then he cheats on Caitlin. First by having an affair with his co-worker Sally and then after two years leaves her also to go chasing after Michelle, the secretary in his company!
He is a self -centered character.
I was amused and had some fun moments with Douglas McAllen's attorney Magnus Laird, who is an unpredictable character and totally endearing with his clumsy habits and childish activities but who is also very shrewd and an expert in his field.
I liked Jeremy's black gay friend who helps him in disguising himself.
There are so many things I feel should be included and shared with people who read my review but my vocabulary feels inadequate to include everything. So I conclude with saying that The Reckless Engineer is a great and a beautifully written book which will engage you until the end and even after that will leave an impact on you.
I give it a 4.5 out of 5 and strongly recommend that you read this intense mystery.
The book will soon be available in the market so save up to buy this awesome book. :)
Kudos to Jac Wright for attempting to write such a deeply thought of and executed story with multiple layers of mystery. I look forward to reading more from him.
I received an ARC from the author, Jac Wright and am very thankful to him for introducing me to this great book. The above review is my personal and unbiased opinion and in no way influenced.
This review is also available on my blog http://njkinny.blogspot.in
Jack Connor, a successful engineer in a prestigious company and married to the very beautiful and very wealthy Caitlin, had everything one could ask for yet he had one weakness. He was attracted to beautiful women and had no qualms in having extra marital affairs. Our story starts with his current mistress's murder who was also pregnant with his child. The very sexy Michelle Williams is found murdered in her home one morning with all evidence pointing towards Jack. Jack calls his friend Jeremy and asks for his help. Jeremy has known Jack all his life and had been a first hand witness to his affairs when Jeremy had been working with Jack in the same company. He agrees to help but is Jack truly innocent?
London's top defense attorney, Harry Stavers is called to take on Jack's case and as the investigation begins it seems like nothing is as it seems.
Who had sent Caitlin and her father, Douglas McAllen those compromising photos of Jack and Michelle?
Why did anyone feel the need to make them aware of Jack's affair with Michelle?
Is Sally, Jack's ex-mistress, involved in all of this?
Who is the mysterious man with a skull tattoo, who was seen entering Michelle's house?
Who is mysterious K.C., Caitlin talks to and sends money to? And what is his role in Michelle's murder?
What is the role of Douglas McAllen in all this?
Douglas had been the one to quickly arrange Jack's divorce from his first wife, Marianne when it became known that he was involved with his daughter, Caitlin!
Could Marianne have murdered Michelle when it became known that Douglas would cut all his monetary support to Jack's two sons (Peter and Marc) if he didn't break up from Michelle?
Is Peter's anger and frustration just an innocent act of a young man whose future depends on Douglas McAllen's funding or is there a deeper meaning to it all and a connection to the sudden death of the only person standing in between his dreams of his future?
Was the divorce between Jack and Marianne as amicable as it seemed at that time or is there more to the matter than meets the eye?
Jeremy is faced with situations he has no control over and is suddenly more in tune with the real nature of the people he thought he knew completely. Being a good friend he feels responsible towards his friend who had once saved him in his hour of need but can he help Jack this time? Will he be able to solve this murder mystery and get to the real killer in time to save Jack?
Or is Jack the true murderer and Jeremy is blissfully blind to his friend's true character?
The Reckless Engineer is Jac Wright's first full length literary suspense and psychological, legal thriller due to be released soon and is very intricately plotted story which is expertly executed. I got engrossed in the story hook, line and sinker. :)
There are so many questions the reader wants answers to and is intrigued more and more as the story progresses. It's a battle of power between people who are influential, powerful and have no qualms in venturing into the grey area. They can and will do anything to get something they want, done.
The characterization is admirable and the characters vivid and each one as different as the day from the night. Although this story revolves around Jack but the true hero of the story is Jeremy who is loyal, a good friend, a passionate lover and overall a sincere person. Jack, on the other hand, is a loose character and even though he is great at his job, he could not make himself dear to me. I disliked everything about him. The way he kept on having affairs despite being married was totally wrong on his part. He left his first wife, Marianne, who had always loved him, for Caitlin's money and connections. Then he cheats on Caitlin. First by having an affair with his co-worker Sally and then after two years leaves her also to go chasing after Michelle, the secretary in his company!
He is a self -centered character.
I was amused and had some fun moments with Douglas McAllen's attorney Magnus Laird, who is an unpredictable character and totally endearing with his clumsy habits and childish activities but who is also very shrewd and an expert in his field.
I liked Jeremy's black gay friend who helps him in disguising himself.
There are so many things I feel should be included and shared with people who read my review but my vocabulary feels inadequate to include everything. So I conclude with saying that The Reckless Engineer is a great and a beautifully written book which will engage you until the end and even after that will leave an impact on you.
I give it a 4.5 out of 5 and strongly recommend that you read this intense mystery.
The book will soon be available in the market so save up to buy this awesome book. :)
Kudos to Jac Wright for attempting to write such a deeply thought of and executed story with multiple layers of mystery. I look forward to reading more from him.
I received an ARC from the author, Jac Wright and am very thankful to him for introducing me to this great book. The above review is my personal and unbiased opinion and in no way influenced.
This review is also available on my blog http://njkinny.blogspot.in
December 22, 2019
Good book overall
November 6, 2013
Jack Connor is accused of murdering his mistress Michelle Williams. To help get him out of his predicament, he calls on his old friend Jeremy Stone, a fellow engineer who shares an office with a criminal lawyer Harry Stavers.
This was a most intriguing mystery that had me guessing right from the beginning. While I knew that Jack Connor didn’t commit the murder, there were so many people who had the motive and opportunity. What a tangled web we weave when we practice adultery.
I don’t condone adultery, and I think that most of the problems of the individuals in the novel wouldn’t have had half the problems they had if they didn’t, however, it seems like all the money in the world that they had available to them wasn’t enough to keep them happy, so they went looking for satisfaction somewhere else. If that’s the way it truly is in real life with the wealthy, I’d rather not be wealthy. That said, we all know that people aren’t perfect and adultery happens.
I think the author did a marvelous job of developing the characters and showing their interactions with one another. I think using the theme of adultery as the basis for many of the actions in the book shows that people are creatures of passion. Passion isn’t good or bad in itself; it’s the decisions we make based on it that are good or bad. And many of the characters made bad decisions when they were passionate about something or someone. I was quite upset for Jack’s wife Caitlin, when her father forced the man she loved, Gavin, to disappear from her life because he wasn’t “good enough” for her.
It seemed a little strange to me that an engineer would become involved in solving a murder mystery, but given that it was his friend who was accused of murder, I could understand why he would want to do what he could to help his friend. I was totally blown away by the person who actually committed the murder. I thought that Jac Wright did an excellent job of working it out how the individual had the opportunity to perform the deed.
This was a book that I did not want to put down. It kept me up late into the night reading so I could find out what new evidence Jeremy and Harry would turn up. I found it quite humorous at one point at the number of people under arrest for the murder, and the number of people surveilling the people surveilling the people being surveilled.
I thought that the pace of this book was good and I would be quite happy to read another book by this author. I gave this book 4 stars!
Thank you to the author Jac Wright who provided me with a copy of the book in exchange for a fair an honest review. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions are my own.
This was a most intriguing mystery that had me guessing right from the beginning. While I knew that Jack Connor didn’t commit the murder, there were so many people who had the motive and opportunity. What a tangled web we weave when we practice adultery.
I don’t condone adultery, and I think that most of the problems of the individuals in the novel wouldn’t have had half the problems they had if they didn’t, however, it seems like all the money in the world that they had available to them wasn’t enough to keep them happy, so they went looking for satisfaction somewhere else. If that’s the way it truly is in real life with the wealthy, I’d rather not be wealthy. That said, we all know that people aren’t perfect and adultery happens.
I think the author did a marvelous job of developing the characters and showing their interactions with one another. I think using the theme of adultery as the basis for many of the actions in the book shows that people are creatures of passion. Passion isn’t good or bad in itself; it’s the decisions we make based on it that are good or bad. And many of the characters made bad decisions when they were passionate about something or someone. I was quite upset for Jack’s wife Caitlin, when her father forced the man she loved, Gavin, to disappear from her life because he wasn’t “good enough” for her.
It seemed a little strange to me that an engineer would become involved in solving a murder mystery, but given that it was his friend who was accused of murder, I could understand why he would want to do what he could to help his friend. I was totally blown away by the person who actually committed the murder. I thought that Jac Wright did an excellent job of working it out how the individual had the opportunity to perform the deed.
This was a book that I did not want to put down. It kept me up late into the night reading so I could find out what new evidence Jeremy and Harry would turn up. I found it quite humorous at one point at the number of people under arrest for the murder, and the number of people surveilling the people surveilling the people being surveilled.
I thought that the pace of this book was good and I would be quite happy to read another book by this author. I gave this book 4 stars!
Thank you to the author Jac Wright who provided me with a copy of the book in exchange for a fair an honest review. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions are my own.
June 7, 2014
A well written mystery thriller driven by both plot and characters.
A new author for me and I got both his short story and this novel together - finished the short story first and started this one right away. I am one happy reader. The author is a master of the language - its vocabulary, rhythm, nuances, and imagery - and his background as a published poet comes through in his prose everywhere. This novel is set in Portsmouth on the south coast of England and the surrounding Hampshire countryside, whereas the short story is set in beautiful Bath and Wiltshire. The author constantly draws from the scenery to enhance the story and its mood in these works of atmospheric suspense fiction.
The situation is already tense and precariously balanced because of the affairs of the playboy millionaire, Jac Connor, and Wright compare this to the Portsmouth sea on a scorching hot summer day where "the waters lay out in the sun and made light ripples, too lazy and too content to get up and make even the occasional wave." Then enter the catalyst, Michelle Williams, who is periodically compared to a wild cat or a "golden tigress" with "hot pink claws that were so long they were surely retracted in for typing," and the troubles start up. The escalating troubles that ensue are drawn for us by the imagery of a turbulent sea: "In the distance, rough waves of a now stormy sea had begun thrashing the stone walls of the bay with a newfound reckless vigour." I could go on and on because the prose unexpectedly light up with vivid imagery and descriptions like this and it is clear that this is the work of a skilful writer and poet, though it is in the author's short story where his effortless talent with prose shows up to greater effect.
It is not surprising that Michelle Williams ends up getting killed for all the trouble she stirs up. When Jack Connor is then arrested for her murder it is our hero Jeremy Reid (who may also be a "Reckless Engineer" in his own way) who comes to his friend's defence, bringing with him the top London criminal defence attorney to the rich and famous, Harry Stavers. We find Jeremy walking a tight rope, trying to balance his loyalty to an old friend who could well be guilty of murder. Jeremy is also trying to reconcile with his ex, keep his engineering firm solvent, and stay loyal to a number of characters both professionally and personally. Driven by both a cracking plot and a deeply formed and varied cast of characters, this is a superb mystery by a talented newcomer with great potential.
A new author for me and I got both his short story and this novel together - finished the short story first and started this one right away. I am one happy reader. The author is a master of the language - its vocabulary, rhythm, nuances, and imagery - and his background as a published poet comes through in his prose everywhere. This novel is set in Portsmouth on the south coast of England and the surrounding Hampshire countryside, whereas the short story is set in beautiful Bath and Wiltshire. The author constantly draws from the scenery to enhance the story and its mood in these works of atmospheric suspense fiction.
The situation is already tense and precariously balanced because of the affairs of the playboy millionaire, Jac Connor, and Wright compare this to the Portsmouth sea on a scorching hot summer day where "the waters lay out in the sun and made light ripples, too lazy and too content to get up and make even the occasional wave." Then enter the catalyst, Michelle Williams, who is periodically compared to a wild cat or a "golden tigress" with "hot pink claws that were so long they were surely retracted in for typing," and the troubles start up. The escalating troubles that ensue are drawn for us by the imagery of a turbulent sea: "In the distance, rough waves of a now stormy sea had begun thrashing the stone walls of the bay with a newfound reckless vigour." I could go on and on because the prose unexpectedly light up with vivid imagery and descriptions like this and it is clear that this is the work of a skilful writer and poet, though it is in the author's short story where his effortless talent with prose shows up to greater effect.
It is not surprising that Michelle Williams ends up getting killed for all the trouble she stirs up. When Jack Connor is then arrested for her murder it is our hero Jeremy Reid (who may also be a "Reckless Engineer" in his own way) who comes to his friend's defence, bringing with him the top London criminal defence attorney to the rich and famous, Harry Stavers. We find Jeremy walking a tight rope, trying to balance his loyalty to an old friend who could well be guilty of murder. Jeremy is also trying to reconcile with his ex, keep his engineering firm solvent, and stay loyal to a number of characters both professionally and personally. Driven by both a cracking plot and a deeply formed and varied cast of characters, this is a superb mystery by a talented newcomer with great potential.
January 8, 2014
I will freely admit that the genre of mystery is not usually my cup of tea, but it is a New Year and I decided to give it another go with The Reckless Engineer. This group of people has so many relationships with each other and as many deceptions among them, that it made this book quite entertaining to keep up with it. Jeremy Stone is the best friend who is called in to help Jack when he is arrested on suspicion of murder of his mistress, Michelle, who is pregnant. Nothing is at appears, however, and Jeremy has to figure out who killed Michelle and framed Jack. Is it a jealous lover? His angry wife? Her wealthy and powerful family? You'll have to read The Reckless Engineer to find out!
This book did not lack characters, nor characters with lots and lots of flaws. I enjoyed the fact that they were all a little messed up in their own ways, it made the book grounded in real problems with what seemed like real people. Of course with flaws comes characters that you have zero sympathy for, such as Jack. He was obviously the focus of attention for most of the book but he sort of got himself into this predicament by having AFFAIRS. I felt bad for him that he was getting a murder rap for something he didn't seem to have done, but again, not exactly hero material here. In fact the character I had least sympathy for the victim herself, Michelle. She was mean, she knew Jack was married and she did it anyway! The way she treated people, I thought, was awful and I really couldn't bring myself to actually care about what happened to her....which is generally a problem. To sum up the characters in a few words, I'd have to call them a bunch of rich brats who clearly have no regard for anyone but themselves.
Their flaws, however, are not a flaw for the book. Their idiocy provided a dramatic backdrop for an exciting murder mystery that has several twists and turns throughout the story and kept it moving. Because they were people I couldn't stand, the way everything fit together was brilliant and in turn the book was a very smart read. It can be difficult at first to understand who everyone is and how they relate to each other, but once it all gets sorted out and moving it really takes off. It will keep you guessing and surprise you a number of times, which in my opinion is the tell of a great mystery read.
This book did not lack characters, nor characters with lots and lots of flaws. I enjoyed the fact that they were all a little messed up in their own ways, it made the book grounded in real problems with what seemed like real people. Of course with flaws comes characters that you have zero sympathy for, such as Jack. He was obviously the focus of attention for most of the book but he sort of got himself into this predicament by having AFFAIRS. I felt bad for him that he was getting a murder rap for something he didn't seem to have done, but again, not exactly hero material here. In fact the character I had least sympathy for the victim herself, Michelle. She was mean, she knew Jack was married and she did it anyway! The way she treated people, I thought, was awful and I really couldn't bring myself to actually care about what happened to her....which is generally a problem. To sum up the characters in a few words, I'd have to call them a bunch of rich brats who clearly have no regard for anyone but themselves.
Their flaws, however, are not a flaw for the book. Their idiocy provided a dramatic backdrop for an exciting murder mystery that has several twists and turns throughout the story and kept it moving. Because they were people I couldn't stand, the way everything fit together was brilliant and in turn the book was a very smart read. It can be difficult at first to understand who everyone is and how they relate to each other, but once it all gets sorted out and moving it really takes off. It will keep you guessing and surprise you a number of times, which in my opinion is the tell of a great mystery read.
November 6, 2013
Who Dun It By the Dozen
This novel is set in England and Scotland and should be read with that information in mind because of the legal problems entailed in this story. The plot encompasses many characters and the author has narrated in the first two chapters the important ones: Harry Stavers is a criminal defense attorney representing Jack Connor who has been charged with the murder of Michelle Williams, who worked at Marine Electric as a Quality Assurance person. She had died the day before and it appeared Jack was the last one to see her. Jack Connor has a Ph.D. in electronics and is a genius in visualizing new products. Jack is not a big man, but charismatic and cannot stay loyal to one woman. He first married Maureen and had two sons by her, the oldest, Peter, being 17.
Then he met Caitlen, who had been in love with Gavin Hunter, having a son by him. But her father John didn’t approve and drove Gavin away. John did approve of Jack and wanted him as his prime engineer and pushed Jack into divorcing Maureen and marrying Caitlen, who was an officer in John’s company. But then for two years Jack became involved with Sally Trotter, an excellent electronics engineer until he met Michelle Williams and had a truly hot affair with her. Michelle saw to it that Sally was fired and Sally then had a breakdown and ended up in a mental hospital. Michelle got pregnant and Jack felt it incumbent on him to raise this baby, but was unaware of the dirty tricks Michelle was playing on the side.
Unbeknownst to Harry, Caitlen and her father John had hired private detectives to investigate the affair of Jack and Michelle. John McAllen had a gang of thugs who intimidated anyone he chose and he used them loosely. John’s love was wealth and power, plus Caitlen. Caitlen and John hid all information they could from the police. Jeremy Stone was a consulting engineer who worked closely with and for Harry and an important figure in this story.
So who done it? The plot thickens with new insights and surprises to keep the reader glued. I enjoyed it immensely.
This novel is set in England and Scotland and should be read with that information in mind because of the legal problems entailed in this story. The plot encompasses many characters and the author has narrated in the first two chapters the important ones: Harry Stavers is a criminal defense attorney representing Jack Connor who has been charged with the murder of Michelle Williams, who worked at Marine Electric as a Quality Assurance person. She had died the day before and it appeared Jack was the last one to see her. Jack Connor has a Ph.D. in electronics and is a genius in visualizing new products. Jack is not a big man, but charismatic and cannot stay loyal to one woman. He first married Maureen and had two sons by her, the oldest, Peter, being 17.
Then he met Caitlen, who had been in love with Gavin Hunter, having a son by him. But her father John didn’t approve and drove Gavin away. John did approve of Jack and wanted him as his prime engineer and pushed Jack into divorcing Maureen and marrying Caitlen, who was an officer in John’s company. But then for two years Jack became involved with Sally Trotter, an excellent electronics engineer until he met Michelle Williams and had a truly hot affair with her. Michelle saw to it that Sally was fired and Sally then had a breakdown and ended up in a mental hospital. Michelle got pregnant and Jack felt it incumbent on him to raise this baby, but was unaware of the dirty tricks Michelle was playing on the side.
Unbeknownst to Harry, Caitlen and her father John had hired private detectives to investigate the affair of Jack and Michelle. John McAllen had a gang of thugs who intimidated anyone he chose and he used them loosely. John’s love was wealth and power, plus Caitlen. Caitlen and John hid all information they could from the police. Jeremy Stone was a consulting engineer who worked closely with and for Harry and an important figure in this story.
So who done it? The plot thickens with new insights and surprises to keep the reader glued. I enjoyed it immensely.
November 13, 2013
Without repeating the plot from the blurb of the book, I will say that I enjoyed the author's style of writing, passion for the characters and the unique storyline itself. We have Jeremy Stone who is a successful engineer who had previously worked for Jack Connor. Jack is arrested for the murder of his mistress and unborn child. Jeremy is going to do whatever it takes to find the real killer.
Jeremy is a nice guy, who wants to do the right thing by his friend. He is a little bit unscrupulous in how he goes about it, sneaking around in disguises, but his tenacity pays off.
Michelle, the victim, was a vindictive and bullying woman who intended to have Jack no matter what. She was pregnant with his child and Jack was going to do the right thing by her.
Jack Connor is a man who is flawed, he is successful, married to a wealthy woman but still has affairs, the last of which may very well be his undoing. His wife Caitlin is, in my mind a conniving spoiled woman. On the outside she appears to be a faithful, loving wife, but she has secrets.
Then there is Douglas McAllen, Caitlin's billionaire father. His character is one that is more in the background but a definite part to the plot of the story
There are other minor characters in the story that further enrich the mystery.
Then there is the larger than life lawyer friend of Jeremy's, Harry Staver, who Jeremy recruits to represent Jack in his trial. A lawyer who definitely knows his stuff and one that Jeremy trust implicitly.
Now put all these characters together and you have the makings of a great murder mystery, I think a mystery is good when you are sure of who the culprit is, but when it comes to the end you find that you are completely blown away when you find out who really did the murder and why. So all that said, I think this book will appeal the the crime thriller/mystery lover out there.
I received a copy of the book from the author for review and was not monetarily compensated for said review.
Jeremy is a nice guy, who wants to do the right thing by his friend. He is a little bit unscrupulous in how he goes about it, sneaking around in disguises, but his tenacity pays off.
Michelle, the victim, was a vindictive and bullying woman who intended to have Jack no matter what. She was pregnant with his child and Jack was going to do the right thing by her.
Jack Connor is a man who is flawed, he is successful, married to a wealthy woman but still has affairs, the last of which may very well be his undoing. His wife Caitlin is, in my mind a conniving spoiled woman. On the outside she appears to be a faithful, loving wife, but she has secrets.
Then there is Douglas McAllen, Caitlin's billionaire father. His character is one that is more in the background but a definite part to the plot of the story
There are other minor characters in the story that further enrich the mystery.
Then there is the larger than life lawyer friend of Jeremy's, Harry Staver, who Jeremy recruits to represent Jack in his trial. A lawyer who definitely knows his stuff and one that Jeremy trust implicitly.
Now put all these characters together and you have the makings of a great murder mystery, I think a mystery is good when you are sure of who the culprit is, but when it comes to the end you find that you are completely blown away when you find out who really did the murder and why. So all that said, I think this book will appeal the the crime thriller/mystery lover out there.
I received a copy of the book from the author for review and was not monetarily compensated for said review.
November 15, 2013
2 Stars out of 5 - Did not finish
I recieved this book free from the author in exchange for an honest review.
OKay, so this is a difficult review for me to write. I did not get very far through this book. I do not often read crime anymore and when I do, I am usually very picky about which authors I read. I probably should have said no to reviewing this book but it looked really good. Like I said I did not get very far. I was trying to read it for about a week, trying to make sure it wasn't me, not in the mood etc, which it might have been, once I get it in my head I am not in the mood for a book, it is very hard to get back into the mood.
I think the story line was excellent, the parts that I did not like, were my issues, why I am saying this, because it was little things that put me off, not the story line. I am a big believer in "each to their own". On a different day I may have loved this book.
I liked the start, it was nice writing style and flowed well. It was straight to point, which I really liked for a crime novel. After a few pages I felt it was not so much a story as "here's all the background you need to know in one info dump" Not very exciting and my cup of tea. I like learning bits and bobs as I go along the storyline. There were two sets of couples mentioned, both the males started with J and both the females started with M, I kept getting confused as to who belonged with who, (I was reading this late at night, but still).
I hate giving DNF reviews as I feel it's not fair to the author especially with how little I read, (I did try for over a week though). I know how much work people put in and I think Jac Wright should be commended for a book that has gotten some great reviews, but sorry it is not for me.
Who would I recommend it to?
People who like crime, mystery and are not as fussy as me.
I recieved this book free from the author in exchange for an honest review.
OKay, so this is a difficult review for me to write. I did not get very far through this book. I do not often read crime anymore and when I do, I am usually very picky about which authors I read. I probably should have said no to reviewing this book but it looked really good. Like I said I did not get very far. I was trying to read it for about a week, trying to make sure it wasn't me, not in the mood etc, which it might have been, once I get it in my head I am not in the mood for a book, it is very hard to get back into the mood.
I think the story line was excellent, the parts that I did not like, were my issues, why I am saying this, because it was little things that put me off, not the story line. I am a big believer in "each to their own". On a different day I may have loved this book.
I liked the start, it was nice writing style and flowed well. It was straight to point, which I really liked for a crime novel. After a few pages I felt it was not so much a story as "here's all the background you need to know in one info dump" Not very exciting and my cup of tea. I like learning bits and bobs as I go along the storyline. There were two sets of couples mentioned, both the males started with J and both the females started with M, I kept getting confused as to who belonged with who, (I was reading this late at night, but still).
I hate giving DNF reviews as I feel it's not fair to the author especially with how little I read, (I did try for over a week though). I know how much work people put in and I think Jac Wright should be commended for a book that has gotten some great reviews, but sorry it is not for me.
Who would I recommend it to?
People who like crime, mystery and are not as fussy as me.
November 6, 2013
"The Reckless Engineer" by Jac Wright is one of the most provocative and intriguing murder mysteries I have read in a long time. The story begins when the seductive mistress of a brilliant engineer is found poisoned. When Jeremy Stone's friend Jack Connor is indicted for her murder, he enlists the help of a top criminal defense lawyer, Harry Stavers and starts his own slow, methodical and dangerous investigation. This is a story where everyone is a suspect and has a motive for the killing.
The plot is well-written, the intrigue and mystery growing as the story heats up. The characters are realistic and as colourful as they are complex, and some are a stark contrast in personality. Charming and amiable Jack Connor is a genius and a philander with a weakness for manipulative, sexy women who flatter his ego while his friend Jeremy is steadfast and loyal even in a relationship that once left him broken and adrift. He's an indomitable sleuth who puts hesitation and fear aside to try and uncover the murderer's identity. Catlin Connor, the daughter of the ruthless businessman Douglas MacAllen is elegant, powerful but aloof, haunted by a lost love, while Jack's ex-wife, the angry, self-sacrificing, Marianne still harbours love for the adulterous rascal. Into this mix of characters add; a cloying, gold digging seductress Michelle Phillips; an abused, mathematical genius and scorned ex-lover, Sally Trotter; a wronged ex-boyfriend Gavin Hunter and a brilliant criminal lawyer Harry Stavers.
The story juxtaposes the worst of men's weaknesses - hunger for power, greed, betrayal and deceit -against their strengths- friendship, justice and the indomitable human will to overcome shame and defeat. This is a novel filled with twist and turns , as well as heart-pounding moments when Jeremy narrowly misses being killed. I thoroughly enjoyed it.
The plot is well-written, the intrigue and mystery growing as the story heats up. The characters are realistic and as colourful as they are complex, and some are a stark contrast in personality. Charming and amiable Jack Connor is a genius and a philander with a weakness for manipulative, sexy women who flatter his ego while his friend Jeremy is steadfast and loyal even in a relationship that once left him broken and adrift. He's an indomitable sleuth who puts hesitation and fear aside to try and uncover the murderer's identity. Catlin Connor, the daughter of the ruthless businessman Douglas MacAllen is elegant, powerful but aloof, haunted by a lost love, while Jack's ex-wife, the angry, self-sacrificing, Marianne still harbours love for the adulterous rascal. Into this mix of characters add; a cloying, gold digging seductress Michelle Phillips; an abused, mathematical genius and scorned ex-lover, Sally Trotter; a wronged ex-boyfriend Gavin Hunter and a brilliant criminal lawyer Harry Stavers.
The story juxtaposes the worst of men's weaknesses - hunger for power, greed, betrayal and deceit -against their strengths- friendship, justice and the indomitable human will to overcome shame and defeat. This is a novel filled with twist and turns , as well as heart-pounding moments when Jeremy narrowly misses being killed. I thoroughly enjoyed it.
November 9, 2013
The Reckless Engineer made me remember how much I enjoy a good mystery. I had forgotten the thrill of trying to pick up the clues and the challenge of trying to outsmart the author. Alas, Jac Wright outsmarted me once again. The brilliant part with this novel, as with all successful mysteries, is that once the mystery is revealed, the clues all align themselves and make you realise that the flawless plot was right there infront of you if only you'd noticed it!
I had stopped reading mysteries because there were far too many crime novels flooding the genre. Too much gory detail and all that forensics really detracted from the stories in my opinion. The Reckless Engineer involves a murder and intrigue, however, it does not involve any gore or gruesome details. As the protagonist is an amateur sleuth, the story avoids boring police protocol and forensics. When I read that this story was about engineers, I was concerned that there would be technical aspects that I couldn't understand. Jac Wright writes about the engineering components in a way that the lay person can understand. He also ensures that they do not detract from the story or dominate it.
I've really enjoyed getting to know the characters in The Reckless Engineer. Each character, from the main players to the household staff, was individual, well rounded and believable.
I am hoping that there will be some future adventures of amateur sleuth, Jeremy.
Try your wits and see if you can unravel the mystery in The Reckless Engineer.
I had stopped reading mysteries because there were far too many crime novels flooding the genre. Too much gory detail and all that forensics really detracted from the stories in my opinion. The Reckless Engineer involves a murder and intrigue, however, it does not involve any gore or gruesome details. As the protagonist is an amateur sleuth, the story avoids boring police protocol and forensics. When I read that this story was about engineers, I was concerned that there would be technical aspects that I couldn't understand. Jac Wright writes about the engineering components in a way that the lay person can understand. He also ensures that they do not detract from the story or dominate it.
I've really enjoyed getting to know the characters in The Reckless Engineer. Each character, from the main players to the household staff, was individual, well rounded and believable.
I am hoping that there will be some future adventures of amateur sleuth, Jeremy.
Try your wits and see if you can unravel the mystery in The Reckless Engineer.
November 8, 2013
This murder mystery is a page turner with a wonderful plot. The story is well thought out and written in a way that all questions that may arise in the reader's mind will be answered. The story starts off in the present and supporting information about past events are provided as and when required. This provides a good understanding of the story.
The hero of the series, Jeremy Stone, an engineer receives a phone call from his best friend Jack Connor, who has been charged with murdering Michelle, his co-worker with whom he was having an affair. Jeremy asks his friend Harry Stavers, an attorney, to step in as Jack's lawyer. The story follows the mystery surrounding the murder as Harry and Jeremy work to prove Jack's innocence.
Every character we are introduced to in the story becomes a potential suspect with a strong motive to have killed Michelle, and just when you think you have figured out who the murderer is, a new twist is brought in so subtly that your entire focus shifts to another character.
The scenes are described vividly making it easy for us to recreate the image in our mind and follow the story as it progresses.The characters are well thought out and give us a sense of reality. They are all described in shades of grey and no one person is perfect. I really liked the way each character had a definite reason to be in the story. There were no unnecessary deviations from the plot either.
Overall this is a wonderful fast paced story which is definitely worth a read!
The hero of the series, Jeremy Stone, an engineer receives a phone call from his best friend Jack Connor, who has been charged with murdering Michelle, his co-worker with whom he was having an affair. Jeremy asks his friend Harry Stavers, an attorney, to step in as Jack's lawyer. The story follows the mystery surrounding the murder as Harry and Jeremy work to prove Jack's innocence.
Every character we are introduced to in the story becomes a potential suspect with a strong motive to have killed Michelle, and just when you think you have figured out who the murderer is, a new twist is brought in so subtly that your entire focus shifts to another character.
The scenes are described vividly making it easy for us to recreate the image in our mind and follow the story as it progresses.The characters are well thought out and give us a sense of reality. They are all described in shades of grey and no one person is perfect. I really liked the way each character had a definite reason to be in the story. There were no unnecessary deviations from the plot either.
Overall this is a wonderful fast paced story which is definitely worth a read!
June 16, 2014
I received this book to give an honest review.
I enjoy a good mystery book. One that has you going hmmm who did it? Was it the butler or the wife? You know those type of books. With The Reckless Engineer you really do not find out who did it, and how by the end of the book and that I enjoyed. The reason I am giving this a 4 is because I felt that sometimes things were too descriptive, I felt the author could have left some things out or just describe them quickly and move on. Also some of the talk about their jobs kind of lost me as I had no clue about any of it. Even though I am sure most people would understand what the characters jobs were I felt a bit like umm okay. Cool type job I suppose with a lot of stress.
You have this man name Jack who pretty much has it all. Beautiful wife, lots of money, an awesome job. And of course he throws it all away! He has affairs, he pushes his closest friends away but is it all worth it in the end?
Now Jack ends up asking his friend Jeremy to help him out. So Jeremy with the help of others go and start investigating Jack's family. The shady deals going on. It truly is a race of finding out the truth before Jack is convicted. You get some back stories of those involved, and secrets from the past come to light. Overall a really good story that I would recommend to those that like a mystery book to read. So many questions and finger pointing going on in this book.
I enjoy a good mystery book. One that has you going hmmm who did it? Was it the butler or the wife? You know those type of books. With The Reckless Engineer you really do not find out who did it, and how by the end of the book and that I enjoyed. The reason I am giving this a 4 is because I felt that sometimes things were too descriptive, I felt the author could have left some things out or just describe them quickly and move on. Also some of the talk about their jobs kind of lost me as I had no clue about any of it. Even though I am sure most people would understand what the characters jobs were I felt a bit like umm okay. Cool type job I suppose with a lot of stress.
You have this man name Jack who pretty much has it all. Beautiful wife, lots of money, an awesome job. And of course he throws it all away! He has affairs, he pushes his closest friends away but is it all worth it in the end?
Now Jack ends up asking his friend Jeremy to help him out. So Jeremy with the help of others go and start investigating Jack's family. The shady deals going on. It truly is a race of finding out the truth before Jack is convicted. You get some back stories of those involved, and secrets from the past come to light. Overall a really good story that I would recommend to those that like a mystery book to read. So many questions and finger pointing going on in this book.
March 1, 2014
Superb and Captivating Literary Mystery
“The Reckless Engineer” is an excellent story of a complex modern family with very modern issues that everybody can relate to. The patriarch, Douglas McAllen, is a man you fear, respect, and admire all at once. There are men like Jack everywhere who forget themselves when it comes to beautiful women. I mean just look at the sex scandals involving our politicians alone; this could have easily been the story of one of them. And then some women take unfair advantage of their sexuality in the workplace and bully others who are more honest hard workers in most workplaces – sexual politics that happens every day. For her unabashed pursuit of self-interest this victim, Michelle, deserved her lot (though I should not say she deserved to die). The characterizations are wonderful and the characters stand out as real, strong, and memorable.
This is a fast-paced read that will have readers guessing all the way to the very end. Jac Wright paints a logical case for nearly every suspect and follows several red herrings to their logical ends. The ending is unique and sinister and not quite what one would expect. When the surprise ending occurs, one is shocked and yet, on careful reexamination, must admit that all the clues were clearly there. And everything is tied together with very strong literary writing done just right.
“The Reckless Engineer” is an excellent story of a complex modern family with very modern issues that everybody can relate to. The patriarch, Douglas McAllen, is a man you fear, respect, and admire all at once. There are men like Jack everywhere who forget themselves when it comes to beautiful women. I mean just look at the sex scandals involving our politicians alone; this could have easily been the story of one of them. And then some women take unfair advantage of their sexuality in the workplace and bully others who are more honest hard workers in most workplaces – sexual politics that happens every day. For her unabashed pursuit of self-interest this victim, Michelle, deserved her lot (though I should not say she deserved to die). The characterizations are wonderful and the characters stand out as real, strong, and memorable.
This is a fast-paced read that will have readers guessing all the way to the very end. Jac Wright paints a logical case for nearly every suspect and follows several red herrings to their logical ends. The ending is unique and sinister and not quite what one would expect. When the surprise ending occurs, one is shocked and yet, on careful reexamination, must admit that all the clues were clearly there. And everything is tied together with very strong literary writing done just right.
February 6, 2015
A very good thriller with multiple layers that appear to be not connected only to turn out to be the links of a jigsaw puzzle. The book opens with the married playboy engineer landing in jail for murder of his pregnant girlfriend. Slowly every body comes in as suspect as almost every body had a motive and opportunity to kill the murdered women. Also every chapter makes you believe you have found the murder before moving on to the next suspect, who comes out to be even more sinister than the previous one, now you are forced to rework on your conspiracy theories.
I think Jac Wright has built a great drama and suspense in layers in the book and you have a page turner. The story takes you to the oil boom town of Aberdeen near North Sea where one of the prime suspects a henchman of billionaire McAllen clan patriarch is running his seedy activities from his cozy den, while the police in UK are searching for him.
Read “
The Reckless Engineer ” for a steady paced thriller which keeps the suspense alive till the end and forces you to review on your theories about “Who did it”. Remember every character connected with Michelle had a motive and opportunity to kill her so everybody is a suspect.
I think Jac Wright has built a great drama and suspense in layers in the book and you have a page turner. The story takes you to the oil boom town of Aberdeen near North Sea where one of the prime suspects a henchman of billionaire McAllen clan patriarch is running his seedy activities from his cozy den, while the police in UK are searching for him.
Read “
The Reckless Engineer ” for a steady paced thriller which keeps the suspense alive till the end and forces you to review on your theories about “Who did it”. Remember every character connected with Michelle had a motive and opportunity to kill her so everybody is a suspect.
September 13, 2016
In the league of a good guys who have to become sleuths out of necessity I hold Jeremy Reid in the highest esteem. He is smart, charming, kind, loyal, and passionate. A lot of people reading detective type books AND every character in the book try to outsmart the detective, but I am willing to bet no one can outsmart Jeremy Reid (and Jac Wright). Even though the actual killer did cross my mind, I quickly dismissed it because I couldn't put it all together. Instead I just ended up going with the flow because I was so into the characters and the story that I didn't even care about finding the culprit myself.
I'm big on characters and character development, and the characters in The Reckless Engineer are wonderful and superbly developed with detailed descriptions. I love their very realistic flaws and that not one of them is a stereotype or cliche. If you don't care about and enjoy the characters, you don't care about the mystery. I found myself staying up late to finish the book and so engrossed with them ...a sure sign that I'm hooked and enjoying both the characters and the story. Upon finishing the book I found that my first thought was that I couldn't wait for Jac Wright's second novel.
I'm big on characters and character development, and the characters in The Reckless Engineer are wonderful and superbly developed with detailed descriptions. I love their very realistic flaws and that not one of them is a stereotype or cliche. If you don't care about and enjoy the characters, you don't care about the mystery. I found myself staying up late to finish the book and so engrossed with them ...a sure sign that I'm hooked and enjoying both the characters and the story. Upon finishing the book I found that my first thought was that I couldn't wait for Jac Wright's second novel.
November 7, 2013
Jack is a bit of a dunce. He has everything. Great career and a very wealthy wife. And even something all successful men seem to need to have. A long time mistress. All of a sudden the entire world starts tumbling around him when his mistress is found dead. He calls on the help of Jeremy who in turns bring in Harry Stavers a top criminal defense lawyer to help them unravel what is actually happening.
So things have been going really hectic at home and I only managed to pick the book up 2 days ago kinda worried that I wouldn’t be able to finish it.
Alas – that was not a problem. It was such a catchy book that once I picked it up I really couldn’t put it down. For two days straight I was up until 3 am trying to find out what was happening with who and who did what to whom. The story line was so fascinating that I was talking it through with friends at work when I couldn’t read it and trying to talk through the plot twists with them to see if we could figure out what was going to happen. And never were we able to do it actually get it right.
Twisting turns, very fascinating characters and insights into a world I was not familiar with before.
So things have been going really hectic at home and I only managed to pick the book up 2 days ago kinda worried that I wouldn’t be able to finish it.
Alas – that was not a problem. It was such a catchy book that once I picked it up I really couldn’t put it down. For two days straight I was up until 3 am trying to find out what was happening with who and who did what to whom. The story line was so fascinating that I was talking it through with friends at work when I couldn’t read it and trying to talk through the plot twists with them to see if we could figure out what was going to happen. And never were we able to do it actually get it right.
Twisting turns, very fascinating characters and insights into a world I was not familiar with before.
November 11, 2013
I received this book for free from the author in exchange for an honest review.
Right off the bat, I'll admit that I'm not a big fan of mysteries. All the possibilities and the presentation of evidence that makes EVERYONE the suspect drives me loony.
The first quarter of the book was exactly what I expected a mystery book to be like. However the last three quarters changed my mind. Jac Wright is gifted in jostling the reader around blindly in their attempt to pinpoint the murderer. Wright surprisingly had me interested even with the loonyness of giving everyone a reason to have murdered Michelle.
As for the murderer. Completely unpredictable-at least for me. The clues were given at appropriate intervals and emphasis.
The love complications (what I'm choosing to call the tangle) were wonderful! I was cheering for them almost as much as I wanted to break them apart.
Overall a good book. Jack was an amazingly faithful friend that I'm sure everyone would love to have in a time of crisis. I will definitely be reading more mystery books on account of the impression of this one.
Right off the bat, I'll admit that I'm not a big fan of mysteries. All the possibilities and the presentation of evidence that makes EVERYONE the suspect drives me loony.
The first quarter of the book was exactly what I expected a mystery book to be like. However the last three quarters changed my mind. Jac Wright is gifted in jostling the reader around blindly in their attempt to pinpoint the murderer. Wright surprisingly had me interested even with the loonyness of giving everyone a reason to have murdered Michelle.
As for the murderer. Completely unpredictable-at least for me. The clues were given at appropriate intervals and emphasis.
The love complications (what I'm choosing to call the tangle) were wonderful! I was cheering for them almost as much as I wanted to break them apart.
Overall a good book. Jack was an amazingly faithful friend that I'm sure everyone would love to have in a time of crisis. I will definitely be reading more mystery books on account of the impression of this one.
December 2, 2013
Jeremy's friend Jack has been charged with the murder of his mistress and their unborn baby. Being a well known Engineer, Jack has a lot to lose including two sons, a wife and a career one can only dream of. Can Jeremy along with their friend Harry prove Jack's innocence and find the real murderer before it's too late?
It has been a very long time since I read a suspense/mystery book (I mean a VERY long time) and boy am I glad that I took the time to read this one! As a person who works with engineers on a daily basis, I understand how their mind works and their drive to find the answer. Jeremy was no different. He would do anything to prove his friend's innocence and uncover the real murder as their was just too many things that didn't seem right to him.
The book itself progressed at a great pace with no real hint of who could've done it beside Jack (he of course was the most likely subject) and then BAM you get your "aha moment" and totally get what happened and who did it.
I definitely would recommend this book to anyone and again I'm glad to have had the chance to read/review it for Jac
It has been a very long time since I read a suspense/mystery book (I mean a VERY long time) and boy am I glad that I took the time to read this one! As a person who works with engineers on a daily basis, I understand how their mind works and their drive to find the answer. Jeremy was no different. He would do anything to prove his friend's innocence and uncover the real murder as their was just too many things that didn't seem right to him.
The book itself progressed at a great pace with no real hint of who could've done it beside Jack (he of course was the most likely subject) and then BAM you get your "aha moment" and totally get what happened and who did it.
I definitely would recommend this book to anyone and again I'm glad to have had the chance to read/review it for Jac
April 30, 2015
The reality of the powerful world of an engineering firm with all the players brought The Reckless Engineer to life and made it a truly interesting story. Powerful men and women, each wanting to stay in a power position kept the twists and turns coming in this one from every direction. Jack is accused of murdering his mistress, who was expecting his child. His wife is having an affair and expecting her lover's child. Her powerful father and brother get involved in the case. Jack's friend Jeremy that he calls when he is first arrested believes he didn't do it and sets out to prove it as the case moves to court and at the last another suspect is found and proven guilty. This surprise at the end with the motive of revenge was proved with a pair of climbing boots. The engineers I knew from college were all quiet geeky guys and not extroverted lady's men, so my picture of an engineer just changed to a brilliant hunk with a powerful drive to design something important. The Reckless Engineer is a great mystery and a good story too.
January 25, 2014
This is a superbly written traditional mystery set in the charming British countryside.
What a ride! Jeremy, an electrical engineer, gets news of the murder in the very first paragraph. His old-time friend, Jack, who has gotten himself arrested for murder, calls him from the police station. The clock starts ticking instantly as Jeremy takes his friend and top London criminal defense attorney Harry, and leaves for Guildford to defend his friend. Harry takes charge of the legal defense, but Jeremy just wants to get to the truth.
We meet the cast of varied and colorful characters with Jeremy. They all have secrets and nothing is what it seems at first sight. I got so engrossed in the story while reading, and then I went back and read parts again. The charming countryside and the people are described with lovely phrases that you find yourself drawn in and emotionally involved in the story. The story kept me captivated right through, wanting to know what happened next. At the end all the clues are there and you think: I should have seen that.
What a ride! Jeremy, an electrical engineer, gets news of the murder in the very first paragraph. His old-time friend, Jack, who has gotten himself arrested for murder, calls him from the police station. The clock starts ticking instantly as Jeremy takes his friend and top London criminal defense attorney Harry, and leaves for Guildford to defend his friend. Harry takes charge of the legal defense, but Jeremy just wants to get to the truth.
We meet the cast of varied and colorful characters with Jeremy. They all have secrets and nothing is what it seems at first sight. I got so engrossed in the story while reading, and then I went back and read parts again. The charming countryside and the people are described with lovely phrases that you find yourself drawn in and emotionally involved in the story. The story kept me captivated right through, wanting to know what happened next. At the end all the clues are there and you think: I should have seen that.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 50 reviews