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The Catastrophe Test
Kennedy Logan is smart, and strong. And she will judge you.
When Kennedy Logan arrives for an interview with the mysterious organisation known only as TUBE, her eyes are wide open.
Her reward for passing the tests, and she will pass the tests, is her first assignment. A man is being blackmailed. But his story doesn't quite hang together. Kennedy must uncover the truth.
And, once she knows everything, only then will she be ready to be his judge and jury.
When Kennedy Logan arrives for an interview with the mysterious organisation known only as TUBE, her eyes are wide open.
Her reward for passing the tests, and she will pass the tests, is her first assignment. A man is being blackmailed. But his story doesn't quite hang together. Kennedy must uncover the truth.
And, once she knows everything, only then will she be ready to be his judge and jury.
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Published December 1, 2023
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
January 11, 2025
Kennedy Logan arrives for a job interview with a mysterious organization called the TUBE. They have her go through a series of tests and then they give her her first assignment. Marcus is being blackmailed and it’s her job to take care of it. Only, his story isn’t adding up and Kennedy will stop at nothing to uncover the truth.
This is such a great short story! It presents as a prequel to the series, and it’s a great way to start it off. The series of tests that Kennedy has to go through were well thought out; the first one gave me an instant flashback to the first Saw movie, just without the gore. I enjoy psychological tests like that!
Kennedy is clever and strategic, which are my favorite things about her. TUBE thinks that they are one step ahead of her, but really she is one step ahead of them. The same thing when it came to her investigation Marcus’ claims.
I enjoyed this one so much, I can’t wait to read the next on in the series!! I can’t wait to see what else Barker comes up with!
This is such a great short story! It presents as a prequel to the series, and it’s a great way to start it off. The series of tests that Kennedy has to go through were well thought out; the first one gave me an instant flashback to the first Saw movie, just without the gore. I enjoy psychological tests like that!
Kennedy is clever and strategic, which are my favorite things about her. TUBE thinks that they are one step ahead of her, but really she is one step ahead of them. The same thing when it came to her investigation Marcus’ claims.
I enjoyed this one so much, I can’t wait to read the next on in the series!! I can’t wait to see what else Barker comes up with!
January 9, 2025
Riveted from the moment I started!
"Think of us as a kind of moral authority. We collect the evidence, and then we make our ruling.
And then, we enforce it."
Plot:5 📍
Tension: 4 🧨
Mystery:4 🔍
Overall: 4.5⭐
I stumbled across this in a chat group I’m a part of and I’m supremely happy I did!
Short and sweet at only 82 pages, this novella introduces us to a tiny glimpse of the motivation behind Kennedy Logan’s desire to and literal testing to join TUBE. TUBE, a mysterious organization only whispered about, sets right moral and ethical breaches. But beware the outcome of your request – TUBE doesn’t work FOR you. They investigate the issue, determine who’s wrong, and act appropriately.
Kennedy was a really fun FMC – we don’t know much about her yet. We know she has a wonderfully unique sense of style with a bright orange asymmetrical bob, a brilliant mind, and her motivations to join TUBE are… complicated… But her desire to do the work, to relish in the challenge provided, is genuine. But TUBE may not fully be what it seems. What is a test? What is real? The choices seem simple but the ramifications are endless.
What really made this story stand out was the incredible amount of classic and historical references. Colors, numbers, if you’ve read widely, you’ll recognize some of the symbology and eagerly decipher the meanings behind them right along with Kennedy.
There was a teensy bit of unfinished business that I was DYING to see just how TUBE does their enforcing. But ya know what? It's okay! Because ...
I’m so excited to read the first full length novel in this series and dive into Kennedy’s work with TUBE!
"Think of us as a kind of moral authority. We collect the evidence, and then we make our ruling.
And then, we enforce it."
Plot:5 📍
Tension: 4 🧨
Mystery:4 🔍
Overall: 4.5⭐
I stumbled across this in a chat group I’m a part of and I’m supremely happy I did!
Short and sweet at only 82 pages, this novella introduces us to a tiny glimpse of the motivation behind Kennedy Logan’s desire to and literal testing to join TUBE. TUBE, a mysterious organization only whispered about, sets right moral and ethical breaches. But beware the outcome of your request – TUBE doesn’t work FOR you. They investigate the issue, determine who’s wrong, and act appropriately.
Kennedy was a really fun FMC – we don’t know much about her yet. We know she has a wonderfully unique sense of style with a bright orange asymmetrical bob, a brilliant mind, and her motivations to join TUBE are… complicated… But her desire to do the work, to relish in the challenge provided, is genuine. But TUBE may not fully be what it seems. What is a test? What is real? The choices seem simple but the ramifications are endless.
What really made this story stand out was the incredible amount of classic and historical references. Colors, numbers, if you’ve read widely, you’ll recognize some of the symbology and eagerly decipher the meanings behind them right along with Kennedy.
There was a teensy bit of unfinished business that I was DYING to see just how TUBE does their enforcing. But ya know what? It's okay! Because ...
I’m so excited to read the first full length novel in this series and dive into Kennedy’s work with TUBE!
August 1, 2023
The first of hopefully many Kennedy Logan stories!
When I was offered a review copy of the audiobook for The Catastrophe Test, I wasn’t sure what I was in for. Without reading the story’s description I settled in to start listening and promptly got interrupted by events that demanded more than my partial attention. After experiencing that three more times I chose an evening to listen and stuck in my earbuds and started the story over for the fourth time.
Wow, this story was really good, Kennedy Logan comes across as a very smart young lady who has compassion and seems to have an excellent sense of right and wrong, not to mention excellent problem-solving skills. The overall story is one where Kennedy must undergo a test for a job, and then what I took to be a job try-out. While there wasn’t any blood and gore, murder or the like, what is in this story is more than enough to provide plenty of interest and suspense as to how she will resolve the job tryout or for that matter if she will pass the overall test for the job. Of course, to get the answers to how she does, you really need to either read or listen to the story, it will be well worth your time.
Since I listened to the audiobook, Johny Walsh’s narration bears some discussion. This is the first audiobook I have not had to listen to at 1.5 or 1.7 speed to enjoy the narration. Johny’s delivery made it a pleasure to listen at 1.0 in fact at 1.5 it was too fast. Her ability to bring Kennedy to life and deliver the story in a compelling manner was excellent. I’ll be looking for more audiobooks narrated by Johny Walsh.
December 15, 2023
Thank You N.J. Barker
This is a very well written tight short story that gives the main character three different options on a choice to make during her job interview. This is the first of several stories involving the main character. I was very hooked into the character's deducting abilities to figure out puzzles.
Prequel
This is a very well written tight short story that gives the main character three different options on a choice to make during her job interview. This is the first of several stories involving the main character. I was very hooked into the character's deducting abilities to figure out puzzles.
Prequel
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 5, 2025
An intense start to a series, Kennedy is out through a series of tests by a mysterious group called TUBE, and, when she passes them, is given her first assignment. All is not as it appears, though. Kennedy seems like a very capable character, figuring out both what her target is truly up to and the tricks to all her tests, and I can't wait to find out what she works on next!
August 5, 2023
Got me out of my slump
This is such a fast-paced and jam-packed novella. So much happened in so few pages, but it kept me hooked from start to end. A great balance of mystery and suspense. I can't wait to read more from this author.
This is such a fast-paced and jam-packed novella. So much happened in so few pages, but it kept me hooked from start to end. A great balance of mystery and suspense. I can't wait to read more from this author.
August 23, 2023
Nice short novella
Imagine a job interview on lets make a deal. Choose door number one, door number two or door number three. Except you can deduce what is behind each door. Engaging story.
Imagine a job interview on lets make a deal. Choose door number one, door number two or door number three. Except you can deduce what is behind each door. Engaging story.
July 20, 2023
This is a great teaser for what everybody wants - a full length Kennedy Logan novel. There’s so many places to go with character and plot and this fab escapade sets the author up nicely.
December 19, 2023
Justice
It is indeed a short read but very well done. I love the mystery right from the very first paragraph and the author never let's up in the pace to keep me reading.
It is indeed a short read but very well done. I love the mystery right from the very first paragraph and the author never let's up in the pace to keep me reading.
February 22, 2024
Good series start
Short quick read. Very interested to learn more about Kennedy Logan. Definitely a history and secrets to be found. Highly recommend.
Short quick read. Very interested to learn more about Kennedy Logan. Definitely a history and secrets to be found. Highly recommend.
March 13, 2024
Intriguing short story. Would you want the Moral Authority making decisions on your life actions. I loved the writing. It makes you think het actions and the client actions. What is TUBE really about. The characters have an air of mystery. I’m looking forward to reading more of this series. I’m hooked.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews