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Frank Shaw #1
Bad Penny
Frank, an Army Special Forces veteran, screwed up, went to prison, and is now out, living in small-town Wyoming and trying to go straight.
But then some old "friends" from the big house come to collect on a favor, and everything goes totally nuts, forcing Frank to go outside the law to save the one thing he cherishes most.
Bad Penny is the first in the Frank Shaw series of action thrillers which combine action, mystery, and a healthy dose of humor.
But then some old "friends" from the big house come to collect on a favor, and everything goes totally nuts, forcing Frank to go outside the law to save the one thing he cherishes most.
Bad Penny is the first in the Frank Shaw series of action thrillers which combine action, mystery, and a healthy dose of humor.
369 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 11, 2013
190 people are currently reading
204 people want to read
About the author
John D. Brown
20 books117 followersJOHN D. BROWN writes action-packed thrillers and epic fantasies with characters you want to cheer for. He lives with his wife and four daughters in the hinterlands of Utah where one encounters much fresh air, many good-hearted ranchers, and the occasional wolf. If you want to be notified when he releases his next book, sign up at his website johndbrown.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 67 reviews
October 16, 2014
Outstanding. Inhaled it like it was the world’s last oxygen. This book is worth ten times the $.99 Amazon Kindle price.
Frank Shaw, a Green Beret vet who probably should have stayed in, went to prison for seven years for manslaughter. While he sported the orange his nephew kept the faith, sending him letters and drawings. Now living in the-middle-of-nowhere Wyoming, Frank has to go rogue to rescue that nephew from one of his old cellies who came calling for return of a favor.
Frank goes on a heady pursuit using a minivan, a Cessna 182, snowmobiles without snow, and involving a fence post launched at a pick-up truck, blowing a farm house several hundred feet in the air using the old turn-on-the-gas-and-wait-for-the-pilot-light ignition trick, impossible escapes from human traffickers, a “Matanarcos” vigilante woman, and (believe it) a potato gun. But the best part for me is the author’s wise-cracking language. “So much for bringing bricks to a car fight.” “Saint Peter would pull our man cards for having bought it in a baby blue minivan with unicorn stickers.” On “looping in The Man” for divine assistance, “Did you just pray for roadkill?” I doubt there is a single boring sentence in the whole book.
Thankfully, there will be at least one more Frank Shaw book from Brown. His website shows that title as “Awful Intent” and says it is “in development.” I predict at least a dozen installments. If he can maintain this level of intensity throughout a series, Brown will join Lee Child as a lead producer of good hearted bad boy thrillers.
Frank Shaw, a Green Beret vet who probably should have stayed in, went to prison for seven years for manslaughter. While he sported the orange his nephew kept the faith, sending him letters and drawings. Now living in the-middle-of-nowhere Wyoming, Frank has to go rogue to rescue that nephew from one of his old cellies who came calling for return of a favor.
Frank goes on a heady pursuit using a minivan, a Cessna 182, snowmobiles without snow, and involving a fence post launched at a pick-up truck, blowing a farm house several hundred feet in the air using the old turn-on-the-gas-and-wait-for-the-pilot-light ignition trick, impossible escapes from human traffickers, a “Matanarcos” vigilante woman, and (believe it) a potato gun. But the best part for me is the author’s wise-cracking language. “So much for bringing bricks to a car fight.” “Saint Peter would pull our man cards for having bought it in a baby blue minivan with unicorn stickers.” On “looping in The Man” for divine assistance, “Did you just pray for roadkill?” I doubt there is a single boring sentence in the whole book.
Thankfully, there will be at least one more Frank Shaw book from Brown. His website shows that title as “Awful Intent” and says it is “in development.” I predict at least a dozen installments. If he can maintain this level of intensity throughout a series, Brown will join Lee Child as a lead producer of good hearted bad boy thrillers.
July 11, 2016
4.5 stars!
I bought this because of a book bomb for the second book. This was only 99 cents so I grabbed it. I haven't started the second book so I can't say whether this one is necessary.
I can say that this is a non-stop ride. It's stressful and even a little exhausting, but entertaining throughout. I liked the banter between the characters and the high octane adventure. It was very diverting even though the base subject matter is very dark.
Frank Shaw is an ex-con who has just passed his parole obligations and moved to Wyoming to start a new life. He's made a special effort to distance himself from anyone and everything he had anything to do with in prison. His 17-year-old nephew is visiting and Frank is running low on money, trying to find a second job to help launch his "five year plan" to his better life. Unfortunately, things don't go as planned.
Kind of a "boy book" if you're someone who's concerned about that kind of thing. There are few women involved (although one that is makes a powerful impression), but I don't care about that so it was all good for me.
I'll pick up the second one when I have some straight time to get through it. If this one is a sign of things to come, I won't want to put it down.
I bought this because of a book bomb for the second book. This was only 99 cents so I grabbed it. I haven't started the second book so I can't say whether this one is necessary.
I can say that this is a non-stop ride. It's stressful and even a little exhausting, but entertaining throughout. I liked the banter between the characters and the high octane adventure. It was very diverting even though the base subject matter is very dark.
Frank Shaw is an ex-con who has just passed his parole obligations and moved to Wyoming to start a new life. He's made a special effort to distance himself from anyone and everything he had anything to do with in prison. His 17-year-old nephew is visiting and Frank is running low on money, trying to find a second job to help launch his "five year plan" to his better life. Unfortunately, things don't go as planned.
Kind of a "boy book" if you're someone who's concerned about that kind of thing. There are few women involved (although one that is makes a powerful impression), but I don't care about that so it was all good for me.
I'll pick up the second one when I have some straight time to get through it. If this one is a sign of things to come, I won't want to put it down.
October 29, 2014
Bad Penny was one of the most surprising reading experiences of my year, to date, and in all the right ways.
John D. Brown, who is otherwise known for his fantasy writing, has written a story that is both compelling and entertaining, not to mention viscerally realistic.
Bad Penny's hero, Frank, is a nice guy. He's a felon, the result of a few poor choices, but he's trying to make things right, live life clean, and start anew and all that. Not unlike Liam Neeson's character in the film Taken, Frank is a trained warrior, the product of his service in the US Special Forces. When his former cell mate from prison shows up and then disappears with Franks nephew, Frank takes to the road after them. He is assisted by what is perhaps the least likely of sidekicks I've ever seen in the thriller genre: a do-gooder Mormon dad in a not-so-souped up minivan and a coterie of Wyoming ranchers with more heart than muscle.
It's an unlikely group, but Brown makes it feel authentic, taking them from bad to worse as they race against time and villains across the Wyoming and Colorado mountains and prairie.
Without any remorse, I willingly admit that I had a hard time putting the book down the few nights that it took me to read Bad Penny. Each scene seemed to beg me to read just a little further.
What made the read perhaps most interesting was how real it felt. As I closed the book on the last page, I couldn't help but go to the internet for more research into human trafficking and prostitution, two of the felonies that get raised by the baddies in Frank's hunt for his nephew.
Bad Penny was not what I was looking for when I met Brown at a con earlier this year, but it was by far one of the best reads of my summer reading list. I look forward to seeing what Brown spins out for Frank next.
John D. Brown, who is otherwise known for his fantasy writing, has written a story that is both compelling and entertaining, not to mention viscerally realistic.
Bad Penny's hero, Frank, is a nice guy. He's a felon, the result of a few poor choices, but he's trying to make things right, live life clean, and start anew and all that. Not unlike Liam Neeson's character in the film Taken, Frank is a trained warrior, the product of his service in the US Special Forces. When his former cell mate from prison shows up and then disappears with Franks nephew, Frank takes to the road after them. He is assisted by what is perhaps the least likely of sidekicks I've ever seen in the thriller genre: a do-gooder Mormon dad in a not-so-souped up minivan and a coterie of Wyoming ranchers with more heart than muscle.
It's an unlikely group, but Brown makes it feel authentic, taking them from bad to worse as they race against time and villains across the Wyoming and Colorado mountains and prairie.
Without any remorse, I willingly admit that I had a hard time putting the book down the few nights that it took me to read Bad Penny. Each scene seemed to beg me to read just a little further.
What made the read perhaps most interesting was how real it felt. As I closed the book on the last page, I couldn't help but go to the internet for more research into human trafficking and prostitution, two of the felonies that get raised by the baddies in Frank's hunt for his nephew.
Bad Penny was not what I was looking for when I met Brown at a con earlier this year, but it was by far one of the best reads of my summer reading list. I look forward to seeing what Brown spins out for Frank next.
February 28, 2014
This book, to me, read like a season of episodes of "Burn Notice," a show I love and am sad is now off the air. Rather than a former spy, there's a former Special Forces agent. Rather than Miami, you have the rural West--Wyoming, Utah, and Colorado. But it's the same kind of explosive action, the same kind of fully-fleshed characters just trying to make a life for themselves.
In addition to being former Special Forces, the protagonist is an ex-con trying to improve his life, and the first time we see him, his attempts are comical. He’s begging for a job at a doughnut place. I think a less human author would treat that with bitterness. But John Brown has made a character with drive and optimism for the future. Frank Shaw is the kind of man you’d want to be in that situation. He’s done bad things, and he’s willing to do what it takes to turn his life around. When an old cell-mate shows up, you cringe with Frank as that imagined life comes crashing down.
The “sidekick” in the story is an example of how Brown injects the story with sizzles of uniqueness. Sam is a Mormon accountant, a father, and an all around nice guy. And yet when Frank calls him for help, Sam throws in without questions. Bullets start to fly, stuff starts blowing up, all Hell breaks loose, but still this guy stays the course. He doesn't have combat skill. He's just there because it's the right thing to do. He’s not Mormon just to provide a quirk or some one-off jokes (though there are some of those). His faith defines him.
This book has a lot of other things going for it too. A well-researched treatment of a real-world problem provides the backbone of the story. A tight, energetic plot provides all the thrills of an action movie (a snowmobile chase over a dirt road!), while still maintaining realism and believability (there are no endless clips of bullets for the good guys, the bad guys are not morons, and breaking the law has consequences even if you do it for the right reasons). Some typos, and a couple instances where the description of the setting confused me were the only reasons I could not rate it five stars.
Conclusion: if you are looking for an action thriller that's not a worn-out retread of the show "24," this is the book for you.
I am waiting excitedly for the next installment.
In addition to being former Special Forces, the protagonist is an ex-con trying to improve his life, and the first time we see him, his attempts are comical. He’s begging for a job at a doughnut place. I think a less human author would treat that with bitterness. But John Brown has made a character with drive and optimism for the future. Frank Shaw is the kind of man you’d want to be in that situation. He’s done bad things, and he’s willing to do what it takes to turn his life around. When an old cell-mate shows up, you cringe with Frank as that imagined life comes crashing down.
The “sidekick” in the story is an example of how Brown injects the story with sizzles of uniqueness. Sam is a Mormon accountant, a father, and an all around nice guy. And yet when Frank calls him for help, Sam throws in without questions. Bullets start to fly, stuff starts blowing up, all Hell breaks loose, but still this guy stays the course. He doesn't have combat skill. He's just there because it's the right thing to do. He’s not Mormon just to provide a quirk or some one-off jokes (though there are some of those). His faith defines him.
This book has a lot of other things going for it too. A well-researched treatment of a real-world problem provides the backbone of the story. A tight, energetic plot provides all the thrills of an action movie (a snowmobile chase over a dirt road!), while still maintaining realism and believability (there are no endless clips of bullets for the good guys, the bad guys are not morons, and breaking the law has consequences even if you do it for the right reasons). Some typos, and a couple instances where the description of the setting confused me were the only reasons I could not rate it five stars.
Conclusion: if you are looking for an action thriller that's not a worn-out retread of the show "24," this is the book for you.
I am waiting excitedly for the next installment.
November 8, 2014
I don't know much about this author, John D. Brown, but I am glad I stumbled across him. I read the book on the recommendation of one of my Goodreads friends - thank you Rex! I have to echo his comments, I got the book for ninety-nine cents and it was worth at least five times more.
The main character of the book is Frank Shaw, an ex-military guy who spent seven years in prison for manslaughter. Throughout the time he was incarcerated, his nephew Tony supported his innocence and sent him pictures and letters. Now living in a remote area of Wyoming trying to get back on his feet, He is haunted by his past prison life. While Tony is staying with Frank, an old prison cell mate, Ed, stops by Frank's home uninvited trying to collect on a favor. Things go bad and the Ed kidnapped his nephew. Trying to live on the straight and narrow, Frank chases Ed across the country trying to save Tony. Frank's is faced with jeopardizing his freedom to get Tony back. Frank finds out that Ed is working for a mob family - the Goroza's - who are into some very unsavory dealings. The chase becomes deadly when he finds out Tony is being held on the Goroza's property. He has to fight for both Tony's life, as well as, his own.
The book grabbed my attention at the very beginning and kept it all the way through. Brown did a good job painting the picture of the story line through his words. I hope he continues writing about Frank Shaw. I could see this character developing into great series. If you get the opportunity to read this one, I would recommend it. It was easy and enjoyable reading that flowed fast. I was at the end before I knew it. And while it was somewhat predictable, there were enough twists and turns to keep it exciting and engaging.
The main character of the book is Frank Shaw, an ex-military guy who spent seven years in prison for manslaughter. Throughout the time he was incarcerated, his nephew Tony supported his innocence and sent him pictures and letters. Now living in a remote area of Wyoming trying to get back on his feet, He is haunted by his past prison life. While Tony is staying with Frank, an old prison cell mate, Ed, stops by Frank's home uninvited trying to collect on a favor. Things go bad and the Ed kidnapped his nephew. Trying to live on the straight and narrow, Frank chases Ed across the country trying to save Tony. Frank's is faced with jeopardizing his freedom to get Tony back. Frank finds out that Ed is working for a mob family - the Goroza's - who are into some very unsavory dealings. The chase becomes deadly when he finds out Tony is being held on the Goroza's property. He has to fight for both Tony's life, as well as, his own.
The book grabbed my attention at the very beginning and kept it all the way through. Brown did a good job painting the picture of the story line through his words. I hope he continues writing about Frank Shaw. I could see this character developing into great series. If you get the opportunity to read this one, I would recommend it. It was easy and enjoyable reading that flowed fast. I was at the end before I knew it. And while it was somewhat predictable, there were enough twists and turns to keep it exciting and engaging.
April 22, 2016
This story was interesting and really kept me reading. I liked the characters. There were times I scan-read which is usually an automatic two stars in my world. To just name two, here goes. Once Tony was kidnapped, it kind of became a road trip book for a while (scan reading) instead of action/suspense. Also, discussions of weaponry were a bit long (scan reading). However, I felt the story had more going for it then it had detracting from it. So the guts of the story would rank a four and all the wordy side trips (scan reading) would rank two, so I have rounded it to an even three stars. Now I need to read book two!
One aside that I have come back a while later to note: this is written in present tense. Like German. "We go to the store. We see the food. We think about the food." I can't really explain it but it was hard to overlook and it was a bit disconcerting.
One aside that I have come back a while later to note: this is written in present tense. Like German. "We go to the store. We see the food. We think about the food." I can't really explain it but it was hard to overlook and it was a bit disconcerting.
July 20, 2016
One of those thrillers that after the initial setup is relentless in action. Half-way through I was wondering how this level could be maintained, but it did.
The setup is Frank an ex-con with Special Forces training is recently out of prison with a plan to get his life back together willing to take any normal job. His plans take a big detour when non-friends of his from prison demand a favor and everything goes pear-shaped after that.
What I really admired was that action hero level suspension of belief was not required. Frank is not an anti-hero and is willing to put himself at risk for others time and time again.
I am halfway through the second novel and this level of intensity is maintained. Intensity without delving into gore or hard crime aspects.
I previously read his fantasy trilogy, which was solid - but this is a masterful thriller.
The setup is Frank an ex-con with Special Forces training is recently out of prison with a plan to get his life back together willing to take any normal job. His plans take a big detour when non-friends of his from prison demand a favor and everything goes pear-shaped after that.
What I really admired was that action hero level suspension of belief was not required. Frank is not an anti-hero and is willing to put himself at risk for others time and time again.
I am halfway through the second novel and this level of intensity is maintained. Intensity without delving into gore or hard crime aspects.
I previously read his fantasy trilogy, which was solid - but this is a masterful thriller.
July 28, 2017
Bad Penny is a frenetic chase thriller seasoned with dark humor. Hard to imagine any human being no matter how hardened, skilled, or experienced surviving even an hour of this kind of action...not to mention a day plus of running around Wyoming and Coloado blowing things up; killing bad guys; being beaten, wounded and severely abused by gravity ; and for whatever reason being an accessory to torturing a long string of automobiles. Besides the crazy superhero action Bad Penny has human trafficking, the "Mormon Air Force", a gaggle of psychotic Latino gang bangers, cookie recipes and some corrupt cops. Maybe the most impressive thing in the book, however, is Frank the protagonist's cell phone which appears to have a battery with infinite capacity and a case molded from Kryptonite.
The action was too over-the-top for me... reminiscent of Patrick Lee's absurd action orgies. Also, the sad details on human trafficking in children for prostitution, was really hard to stomach. Not the kind of realworld nightmare scenarios you want haunting your thoughts while reading escape fiction.
Loved the spudzooka.
The action was too over-the-top for me... reminiscent of Patrick Lee's absurd action orgies. Also, the sad details on human trafficking in children for prostitution, was really hard to stomach. Not the kind of realworld nightmare scenarios you want haunting your thoughts while reading escape fiction.
Loved the spudzooka.
February 4, 2018
The protagonist is a former Green Beret that, upon release from the military took a personal security gig that somehow led to a 5 year sentence in a California prison. We have hints as to what happened but it is never really explained. However, this prison time gives the basis of the relationship between the hero and the villains.
Brown deliberately keeps some of the back stories of his characters hidden, maybe to flesh them out in later works starring Shaw. However, this is the first time that the cooperation of the Mormon community has been placed front and center to the main device to move the story forward. Best advice, be wary of Mormon accountants bearing cookies.
Brown deliberately keeps some of the back stories of his characters hidden, maybe to flesh them out in later works starring Shaw. However, this is the first time that the cooperation of the Mormon community has been placed front and center to the main device to move the story forward. Best advice, be wary of Mormon accountants bearing cookies.
April 12, 2018
3.5 stars and gets an extra .3 points for being amusing. I like the main character, and other characters are well developed.
Frank Shaw makes you want to believe in all ex-cons...in their desire to change directions and stay out of trouble. Unfortunately for Frank, he just finds trouble, but also stays out of trouble. oI could see where the book was going to lead, but it was still enticing enough to read on and finish the first Frank Shaw story.
So, 3.8 stars, rounding up to 4 stars...and the writing is good enough to pull me in to the next Frank Shaw book.
Frank Shaw makes you want to believe in all ex-cons...in their desire to change directions and stay out of trouble. Unfortunately for Frank, he just finds trouble, but also stays out of trouble. oI could see where the book was going to lead, but it was still enticing enough to read on and finish the first Frank Shaw story.
So, 3.8 stars, rounding up to 4 stars...and the writing is good enough to pull me in to the next Frank Shaw book.
July 29, 2017
Wow!!
I bought the second in the series and when I realized it was the second I bought the first one "Bad Penny" , and was hopeful I would enjoy it enough to not regret my purchases. It was amazing. I loved the book, and since I already have "Awful Intent", I was able to move right into the second book. All I need to say about Bad Penny is hang on, you will enjoy the wild ride.
I bought the second in the series and when I realized it was the second I bought the first one "Bad Penny" , and was hopeful I would enjoy it enough to not regret my purchases. It was amazing. I loved the book, and since I already have "Awful Intent", I was able to move right into the second book. All I need to say about Bad Penny is hang on, you will enjoy the wild ride.
September 5, 2017
Un freakin awesome!
Best thing I' read all summer! Not enough words in English to let you understand how damnn great this author can write. Recommend it highly, best damn swordsmith I have read in as lomg while . Now gotta buy the sequel - no damn sleep tonight! Jack Reacher you have a a clone!
Best thing I' read all summer! Not enough words in English to let you understand how damnn great this author can write. Recommend it highly, best damn swordsmith I have read in as lomg while . Now gotta buy the sequel - no damn sleep tonight! Jack Reacher you have a a clone!
September 3, 2017
Frank Shaw rocks!
Great book, engaging story. Frank keeps getting in perilous situations, biting my nails to see how he solved the problems. I definitely want more Frank...I've read the second book already, looking forward to more!
Great book, engaging story. Frank keeps getting in perilous situations, biting my nails to see how he solved the problems. I definitely want more Frank...I've read the second book already, looking forward to more!
June 2, 2018
This book is full of adventure, terrifying events, and good men helping each other. This is the first book in the series. It grabs you and you just cannot put the book down. I do recommend that you read this book first and then read Awful Intent next. I can hardly wait for Frank Shaw Book 3!
October 8, 2025
2.5 Stars✨
Definitely action, start to finish w a superhuman hero. If you love discussing weapons in detail and blowing up as many things as possible and don’t mind suspending disbelief, this book is for you.
It’s just not my cup of tea.
Definitely action, start to finish w a superhuman hero. If you love discussing weapons in detail and blowing up as many things as possible and don’t mind suspending disbelief, this book is for you.
It’s just not my cup of tea.
June 7, 2017
I liked the main character Frank, but the entire book was about one incident and I thought that Frank should have been done with the bad guys much sooner than the author did.
March 27, 2018
Fast- paced. Suspenseful.
This book has likable heroes and despicable villains. The action is fast-paced and the plot left me worried that Good might not triumph in the end.
This book has likable heroes and despicable villains. The action is fast-paced and the plot left me worried that Good might not triumph in the end.
September 20, 2020
Pretty exciting. Parts were funny and parts were a bit horrific (violence level and subject matter), so it gave me a bit of whiplash that way.
August 27, 2021
Fast-moving thriller. Nonstop action and impossible odds face our team of protagonists. In other words: Fun!
May 7, 2016
A new series I started after a recommendation from another author on FB. There was a comparison of the lead character to Jack Reacher. As a huge Reacher fan, I was intrigued and saw that it had good rating so I bought it.
The story line follows Frank Shaw who is trying to move on with his life after a series of bad choices that ended up with him in prison. Our introduction to Frank opens with a scene that readers can easily imagine and those with Frank's record can understand. During this scene we get our first real look at Frank the person and what his world has turned into as he struggles to find life as an ex-con.
The scene also gives us a glimpse of Frank the family man and how his action affected his family when his nephew enters the story. It is this role that will prove pivotal for Frank as the story progresses.
Life as an ex-con comes with a lot of baggage, some deserved and some not. The inability to leave that previous life behind to start new is part of that baggage and it comes home to roost. The ensuing events will be felt across the country, families, and law enforcement agencies.
This is the second series from author John D. Brown. The first is a 4 book fantasy series which I have not read and there is a second book for this series available.
Opening the book we're thrust into a disturbing scene that fills you with dread and sets the stage for the book. Frank's involvement starts as a personnel struggle but as the events unfold he discovers, along with us that the stakes are much higher then just his family.
Mr. Brown does a very good job of setting the stage and priming readers with really well written characters. It only takes a few chapters to already know who the bad guys are and who the good guys are. His characters are defined quickly with motivations and personalities. Mr. Brown also does two of the most important things early in the story that an author in this genre needs to do. He gave me a character to root for, one that had plausible skills, character defects, and morals. He then gave me characters to hate and root against. In a book like this the second, for me, is very important. I want to hate the bad guys with a vigor and passion so when the good guys inevitably have to blur the lines between human's law and nature's law, I can support him without feeling like all the characters are really bad, it's just a matter of degrees of evil.
Mr. Brown also does a good job with injecting humor into the story with a few of the most unlikely characters you would expect to find in a story like this. They also add a anchor to the moral line of the story, grounding and balancing Frank so that he doesn't reach too far into the darkness.
I did feel like there could have been some more action as the middle section is somewhat slow as the suspense builds towards the final confrontation. I don't think the Jack Reacher comparison holds but there is potential. It will be fun to see how Frank grows through the series.
The story line follows Frank Shaw who is trying to move on with his life after a series of bad choices that ended up with him in prison. Our introduction to Frank opens with a scene that readers can easily imagine and those with Frank's record can understand. During this scene we get our first real look at Frank the person and what his world has turned into as he struggles to find life as an ex-con.
The scene also gives us a glimpse of Frank the family man and how his action affected his family when his nephew enters the story. It is this role that will prove pivotal for Frank as the story progresses.
Life as an ex-con comes with a lot of baggage, some deserved and some not. The inability to leave that previous life behind to start new is part of that baggage and it comes home to roost. The ensuing events will be felt across the country, families, and law enforcement agencies.
This is the second series from author John D. Brown. The first is a 4 book fantasy series which I have not read and there is a second book for this series available.
Opening the book we're thrust into a disturbing scene that fills you with dread and sets the stage for the book. Frank's involvement starts as a personnel struggle but as the events unfold he discovers, along with us that the stakes are much higher then just his family.
Mr. Brown does a very good job of setting the stage and priming readers with really well written characters. It only takes a few chapters to already know who the bad guys are and who the good guys are. His characters are defined quickly with motivations and personalities. Mr. Brown also does two of the most important things early in the story that an author in this genre needs to do. He gave me a character to root for, one that had plausible skills, character defects, and morals. He then gave me characters to hate and root against. In a book like this the second, for me, is very important. I want to hate the bad guys with a vigor and passion so when the good guys inevitably have to blur the lines between human's law and nature's law, I can support him without feeling like all the characters are really bad, it's just a matter of degrees of evil.
Mr. Brown also does a good job with injecting humor into the story with a few of the most unlikely characters you would expect to find in a story like this. They also add a anchor to the moral line of the story, grounding and balancing Frank so that he doesn't reach too far into the darkness.
I did feel like there could have been some more action as the middle section is somewhat slow as the suspense builds towards the final confrontation. I don't think the Jack Reacher comparison holds but there is potential. It will be fun to see how Frank grows through the series.
September 21, 2016
Ezsy read
The plot line at times was a stretch to beleave. Enjoyable easy fast read.The shaw situations were often beyond beliveable.
The plot line at times was a stretch to beleave. Enjoyable easy fast read.The shaw situations were often beyond beliveable.
February 3, 2014
I read this on a 4-hour flight. It's a breezy read that provides enough depth to its characters to make them plausible, but doesn't go much further than that.
The scenarios posited are unlikely but nonetheless highly entertaining. The author has clearly spent some time in Wyoming, and manages to capture the sparseness and spirit of this part of the country. Some of the in-jokes (namely, to author Larry Correia as a Portuguese farmer-philosopher) made me chuckle. There is verisimilitude in abundance; it's clear Brown has spent some time in the Rocky Mountain west and has captured the spirit of the people that live there.
The book wastes little time, plunging our unlikely protagonist into the middle of a kidnapping plot when a former cellmate comes to call. From there, it's a more or less a series of hijinks as he ropes his nice guy neighbor (complete with minivan, natch) and an old bush pilot into helping him recover his nephew.
Is it highbrow literature? Not a chance in hell. Entertaining enough to be worth the price of admission? You bet. When I'm in an uncomfortable seat on a shaky aircraft, I'm not in a mood to be thinking; I just want to be entertained.
John Brown is a promising author.
The scenarios posited are unlikely but nonetheless highly entertaining. The author has clearly spent some time in Wyoming, and manages to capture the sparseness and spirit of this part of the country. Some of the in-jokes (namely, to author Larry Correia as a Portuguese farmer-philosopher) made me chuckle. There is verisimilitude in abundance; it's clear Brown has spent some time in the Rocky Mountain west and has captured the spirit of the people that live there.
The book wastes little time, plunging our unlikely protagonist into the middle of a kidnapping plot when a former cellmate comes to call. From there, it's a more or less a series of hijinks as he ropes his nice guy neighbor (complete with minivan, natch) and an old bush pilot into helping him recover his nephew.
Is it highbrow literature? Not a chance in hell. Entertaining enough to be worth the price of admission? You bet. When I'm in an uncomfortable seat on a shaky aircraft, I'm not in a mood to be thinking; I just want to be entertained.
John Brown is a promising author.
October 17, 2016
The book was really good, but the content isn't something I normally choose to read. The real world tends to be a horrible place--especially when you get into the dark recesses of society--and I mostly look for something more escapist. I wish I'd known a little more what I was getting into when I started, so I could be prepared. Mormon accompanies ex-con/ex-military into kidnapping plot seemed kind of fun.
I was thinking Commando.
I don't think this is really a spoiler since I'd wished I'd known it, but when I realized I was actually reading a book about the reality of child slavery and prostitution in present-day United States, it became a lot less fun.
It became Taken rather than Commando.
Excellent, intense, realistic, and frightening. But no longer fun.
I'm not sure I'd read it a second time--solely based on the subject matter, nothing to do with Brown's excellent writing--but I definitely think this is an important book and worth reading once. Just maybe not quite so naively as I went in.
I was thinking Commando.
I don't think this is really a spoiler since I'd wished I'd known it, but when I realized I was actually reading a book about the reality of child slavery and prostitution in present-day United States, it became a lot less fun.
It became Taken rather than Commando.
Excellent, intense, realistic, and frightening. But no longer fun.
I'm not sure I'd read it a second time--solely based on the subject matter, nothing to do with Brown's excellent writing--but I definitely think this is an important book and worth reading once. Just maybe not quite so naively as I went in.
February 13, 2017
The characters were quite good. Especially Frank Shaw.
The main issue with the book is that it took too long to tell the story. I'd recommend it. Giddyup
The main issue with the book is that it took too long to tell the story. I'd recommend it. Giddyup
June 27, 2016
This book wasn't what I expected it to be, and I'm glad because it was a damned good read. Frank is an ex-crim who just wants to get on with and improve his life. Ed is Frank's ex-cellmate who wants to make fast money, and ends up kidnapping Frank's nephew to get Frank to help.
There's action aplenty, chases, shootouts, a possible romance (left open at the end of the book, so my hopes are up), a heroine of mysterious means, hacking, slavery rescue and planes.. Ohh, and a dog that loves flying!
I loved John Brown's Fantasy books, and I knew a couple of Authors I liked advised on the book, so I had high hopes going in. I can now say I'm eagerly awaiting the sequel (already released) when I can afford it.
There's action aplenty, chases, shootouts, a possible romance (left open at the end of the book, so my hopes are up), a heroine of mysterious means, hacking, slavery rescue and planes.. Ohh, and a dog that loves flying!
I loved John Brown's Fantasy books, and I knew a couple of Authors I liked advised on the book, so I had high hopes going in. I can now say I'm eagerly awaiting the sequel (already released) when I can afford it.
July 23, 2016
A very entertaining book in an unusual way. It's really a movie book, with the same plot and conventions as an adventure movie. The writing is OK. The characters are really pretty interesting. I really liked that the hero, Frank Shaw, is not super-competent; he makes many mistakes and most of the things he tries to do turn out badly. It made the book feel more real to me; Shaw is no James Bond or Jason Bourne. I liked the Christian influence in their lives: one man explains his actions thus: "A man went down from jerusalem to Jericho...", and Frank recognized the reference to the Good Samaritan.
I'm happy with the book's ending (in the court system)... so many adventure books (and movies) seem to take place in a parallel United States with no police force and no judicial system.
I'm happy with the book's ending (in the court system)... so many adventure books (and movies) seem to take place in a parallel United States with no police force and no judicial system.
April 22, 2016
If you read the first paragraph in the description for the book, that pretty much nails it. Frank Shaw is an Army Special Forces vet recently out of prison. His nephew, Tony, comes to visit and is promptly abducted by Frank's cell mate. With the help of Sam, his Mormon, cookie making neighbor, the race is on to get him back. They land smack in the middle of a human trafficking ring. Excellent page turning action as Frank and Sam tick off law enforcement in two different states to accomplish their goal.
March 25, 2015
The "former soldier who has to call upon his skills to save the day" is a pretty tired trope...but you know what? John Brown pulls it off. Bad Penny grabbed me by the end of the first chapter and kept me gripped to the very end. Sure, it pushed realistic action past all credulity, but who cares? It's a thriller in the best sense of the word, so it comes the the territory. Brown knows his pacing, and Bad Penny is a page turner. At $0.99 for the ebook it's a more than a bargain.
April 27, 2015
Human Trafficking Is Happening in the USA
JOHN BROWN does a good job in his first novel centered around an ex-military sniper/ex-con. When his old cell mate takes his nephew hostage, Frank goes into action to get him back. With the help p of a neighbor, and two good Samaritans he takes you through the lives of children being enslaved in prostitution and abuse. The twists and turns enlighten you to this true life tragedy; keeping your interest and concern throughout the book.
JOHN BROWN does a good job in his first novel centered around an ex-military sniper/ex-con. When his old cell mate takes his nephew hostage, Frank goes into action to get him back. With the help p of a neighbor, and two good Samaritans he takes you through the lives of children being enslaved in prostitution and abuse. The twists and turns enlighten you to this true life tragedy; keeping your interest and concern throughout the book.
August 23, 2016
I read an offer of the author's second book, Awful Intent, on BookBub.com and looked at the reviews of his first book in the series, Bad Penny. I quickly decided to read Book 1 first. Glad I did. It's a real "page-turner". Didn't get much else done over the past two days. i hadn't even finished Bad Penny before I purchased Awful Intent. So now it's next in line. If you want a fast-moving thriller with variety, read the Frank Shaw series.
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