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JM Mystery-thriller #1A
Past Imperfect #1
Past Imperfect #1:
Two boys.
One Murder.
Sometimes justice takes more than a lifetime.
Past Imperfect #1 is part of a two book set. Book #1 has a build up of events and characters with resolution to a number of these. However, book #2 is required for resolution to all events, which in total spans 30 years in a major crime investigation.
Book #1 is approx 280 pages and Book #2 approx 360 pages. Both editions are available on Kindle.
A car accident in California, a deadly assault in Provence, and two boys 30 years apart are left battling for their lives.
Dominic Fornier is the detective who finds himself at the heart of the investigation. A simple provincial case that becomes one of the largest and most important in French criminal history.
Fornier's only hope is to prove the link between the two boys thirty years apart. A compulsive journey through forensic, medical and psychiatric evidence between France, the USA and London; a breathless paper chase of clues from a young boy's psyche... and a desperate race against time with a killer who will stop at nothing.
Reviews for John Matthews:
John Matthews reviews:
‘Matthews maintains the suspense... an engrossing odyssey into the seamy side of a world that is so near, yet sometimes seems so far. Compulsive reading.'
- The Times
'One of the most compelling novels I've read... an ambitious and big novel which will keep you enthralled to its last page.'
- Cork Examiner
'A classy, well-written and unusual thriller.'
- Yorkshire Post
'Matthews delivers one of the best debut thrillers in years, brave, ambitious and remorselessly entertaining. Past Imperfect is a stormer.'
- Dublin Evening Herald
'Move over Grisham, your reign is over! Reminiscent of vintage Grisham, but Matthews has his own distinctive style. Strong, believable characters and a plot that grips from page one and won't let go, twisting and turning its way towards a nail-biting climax - they don't come much better than this. One of the best and most memorable thrillers I've read in years. A winner all the way.'
- Bob Burke. Mystery Readers International.
Distinctively written… all the forceful energy of the best thrillers.
- Kirkus UK.
‘A clever premise for an epic page-turner written with wit, compassion (and) highly evolved characters.
- Daily Telegraph.
‘… A chilling and thrilling novel, one in which real people start to wonder if they are insane, and have to come to terms with a terrifying reality that threatens their own life. Mesmerising.
- Books Monthly
John Matthews is a leading British thriller writer. His books span genres of crime, action, mystery and legal-thriller and include: Basikasingo, Crescents of the Moon, Past Imperfect, The Last Witness, The Second Amendment, Ascension Day, The Shadow Chaser and The Prophet.
They have been translated into 12 languages with total sales of 1.2 million. In 2007, Past Imperfect was included in a top ten all-time best legal thrillers list in The Times. He was one of only two British authors in the list.
Two boys.
One Murder.
Sometimes justice takes more than a lifetime.
Past Imperfect #1 is part of a two book set. Book #1 has a build up of events and characters with resolution to a number of these. However, book #2 is required for resolution to all events, which in total spans 30 years in a major crime investigation.
Book #1 is approx 280 pages and Book #2 approx 360 pages. Both editions are available on Kindle.
A car accident in California, a deadly assault in Provence, and two boys 30 years apart are left battling for their lives.
Dominic Fornier is the detective who finds himself at the heart of the investigation. A simple provincial case that becomes one of the largest and most important in French criminal history.
Fornier's only hope is to prove the link between the two boys thirty years apart. A compulsive journey through forensic, medical and psychiatric evidence between France, the USA and London; a breathless paper chase of clues from a young boy's psyche... and a desperate race against time with a killer who will stop at nothing.
Reviews for John Matthews:
John Matthews reviews:
‘Matthews maintains the suspense... an engrossing odyssey into the seamy side of a world that is so near, yet sometimes seems so far. Compulsive reading.'
- The Times
'One of the most compelling novels I've read... an ambitious and big novel which will keep you enthralled to its last page.'
- Cork Examiner
'A classy, well-written and unusual thriller.'
- Yorkshire Post
'Matthews delivers one of the best debut thrillers in years, brave, ambitious and remorselessly entertaining. Past Imperfect is a stormer.'
- Dublin Evening Herald
'Move over Grisham, your reign is over! Reminiscent of vintage Grisham, but Matthews has his own distinctive style. Strong, believable characters and a plot that grips from page one and won't let go, twisting and turning its way towards a nail-biting climax - they don't come much better than this. One of the best and most memorable thrillers I've read in years. A winner all the way.'
- Bob Burke. Mystery Readers International.
Distinctively written… all the forceful energy of the best thrillers.
- Kirkus UK.
‘A clever premise for an epic page-turner written with wit, compassion (and) highly evolved characters.
- Daily Telegraph.
‘… A chilling and thrilling novel, one in which real people start to wonder if they are insane, and have to come to terms with a terrifying reality that threatens their own life. Mesmerising.
- Books Monthly
John Matthews is a leading British thriller writer. His books span genres of crime, action, mystery and legal-thriller and include: Basikasingo, Crescents of the Moon, Past Imperfect, The Last Witness, The Second Amendment, Ascension Day, The Shadow Chaser and The Prophet.
They have been translated into 12 languages with total sales of 1.2 million. In 2007, Past Imperfect was included in a top ten all-time best legal thrillers list in The Times. He was one of only two British authors in the list.
640 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 1, 2012
27 people are currently reading
154 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
March 21, 2025
This story line was intriguing but it got bogged down with too much detail and time spent on the past life questioning. However, the end was worth the wait.
March 25, 2016
Darn you John Matthews. Now I have to buy another one of your books to find out what happened. I love/hate you!! You are such an excellent author, your characters are so alive and believable, and you are really good at twisting my guts out.
For anyone who is looking for a couple of books to keep them up nights this will do it. Unfortunately you have to buy both because the first ends on a cliff hanger. As for me, yes I have to know if the man who raped and murdered a little boy is finally going to get his just desserts. There is nothing more monstrous than a pedophile, I literally want to reach in and kill this guy myself.
The other characters: the little boys' mother and father, and little sister. The gendarmes who work the case. The population of the small French village...the innocent man accused of the crime. What happens to all of them? And that's only the tip of this iceberg, because it seems that another story also unfolds, is the little boy reincarnated? Another young boy suffers a terrible loss, and during his recovery he starts to speak French and remember his family from a little French village 30 years ago.
For anyone who is looking for a couple of books to keep them up nights this will do it. Unfortunately you have to buy both because the first ends on a cliff hanger. As for me, yes I have to know if the man who raped and murdered a little boy is finally going to get his just desserts. There is nothing more monstrous than a pedophile, I literally want to reach in and kill this guy myself.
The other characters: the little boys' mother and father, and little sister. The gendarmes who work the case. The population of the small French village...the innocent man accused of the crime. What happens to all of them? And that's only the tip of this iceberg, because it seems that another story also unfolds, is the little boy reincarnated? Another young boy suffers a terrible loss, and during his recovery he starts to speak French and remember his family from a little French village 30 years ago.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews