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The Joshua Effect
The rooftop reception on the skyscraper in lower Manhattan is an elegant affair right up until the moment the murders occur. With the lives of sixty-three of his friends and business associates snuffed out in one horrifying blink of an eye, the wealthy and enigmatic Jonathan Strickland boards a dangerous roller coaster ride of a lifetime in this clever, nail biting who-done-it.
Following the nebulous clues left behind at the scene of the crime, Strickland finds himself kidnapped and taken to a clandestine meeting in the middle of the Syrian dessert beneath the ancient ruins of one of the oldest civilizations known to man. The lines between good and evil blur as the suspect list narrows. Strickland races against time to find the invisible killers who have even more carnage in mind; they call their sinister plan the Joshua Effect.
Strickland also struggles with the essence of a life thrown into question by the gnawing epiphany that he is losing the one thing which actually gives his existence meaning. All of his fantastic achievements pale when compared with the desire to possess the love of the one woman who can understand him - but who can never be with the man he is.
As the clock ticks relentlessly forward to a catastrophe of truly Biblical proportions, the hunt for those responsible nears its climax. From a brazen gun battle among the rich and famous in the exotic streets of glamorous Miami Beach to the discovery of the secretive Catskills hideaway of a reclusive scientist in upstate New York, the thrilling ride never lets up.
All the while the personal war inside Strickland rages on. Who is he? More importantly, who will he end up becoming? For a man who thought he had everything, why does he suddenly find his life so empty?
For Jonathan, the revelation that a life with nothing in it worth dying for isn't much worth living shakes the very core of his being. Then why does it feel so right? The Joshua Effect is a taut, suspense filled page turner with a stunner around every corner.
Following the nebulous clues left behind at the scene of the crime, Strickland finds himself kidnapped and taken to a clandestine meeting in the middle of the Syrian dessert beneath the ancient ruins of one of the oldest civilizations known to man. The lines between good and evil blur as the suspect list narrows. Strickland races against time to find the invisible killers who have even more carnage in mind; they call their sinister plan the Joshua Effect.
Strickland also struggles with the essence of a life thrown into question by the gnawing epiphany that he is losing the one thing which actually gives his existence meaning. All of his fantastic achievements pale when compared with the desire to possess the love of the one woman who can understand him - but who can never be with the man he is.
As the clock ticks relentlessly forward to a catastrophe of truly Biblical proportions, the hunt for those responsible nears its climax. From a brazen gun battle among the rich and famous in the exotic streets of glamorous Miami Beach to the discovery of the secretive Catskills hideaway of a reclusive scientist in upstate New York, the thrilling ride never lets up.
All the while the personal war inside Strickland rages on. Who is he? More importantly, who will he end up becoming? For a man who thought he had everything, why does he suddenly find his life so empty?
For Jonathan, the revelation that a life with nothing in it worth dying for isn't much worth living shakes the very core of his being. Then why does it feel so right? The Joshua Effect is a taut, suspense filled page turner with a stunner around every corner.
351 pages, Paperback
First published August 1, 2013
24 people are currently reading
975 people want to read
About the author
P.S. Meronek
4 books79 followersP.S. Meronek is truly one of a kind. He's a writer, entrepreneur, world traveler, and adventurer. His life experiences are reflected in the characters and stories he pens; he's spent the last 30 years developing his voice and unique style of writing. He doesn't live a whole lot differently than some of the more notable characters in his books. He admits it has been a road less traveled, but worth every step along the way.
http://ponytalepress.com/authors.html
http://ponytalepress.com/authors.html
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 250 reviews
September 22, 2014
I received this book as a first-reads winner. After reading others' reviews, I was excited to get started reading it. I just finished chapter 3 and I can't do it anymore. The dialog between these characters is making me cringe.
The main character Jonathan is obviously supposed to be a big bad ass . He's a VIP builder in NYC who everyone knows and respects. But the things he says! Example - the story centers around his latest building being blown up, possibly by terrorists. His girlfriend's dad Gus is 2nd in command for Homeland Security and they have a secret meeting at one of Jonathan's offices. As they are sizing each other up Jonathan says " I've been sleeping with your daughter for Christ sakes."
He (Gus) gave me that stare again. I gave it right back to him. I wasn't buying whatever he was selling and I wanted him to know it up front. If he didn't like it, he knew where the door was.
Seriously?
The main character Jonathan is obviously supposed to be a big bad ass . He's a VIP builder in NYC who everyone knows and respects. But the things he says! Example - the story centers around his latest building being blown up, possibly by terrorists. His girlfriend's dad Gus is 2nd in command for Homeland Security and they have a secret meeting at one of Jonathan's offices. As they are sizing each other up Jonathan says " I've been sleeping with your daughter for Christ sakes."
He (Gus) gave me that stare again. I gave it right back to him. I wasn't buying whatever he was selling and I wanted him to know it up front. If he didn't like it, he knew where the door was.
Seriously?
January 27, 2014
This is the first book I have read by P.S. Meronek. The first chapter really drew me in and made me want to read more. I liked the fast paced plot and how the author wove in current events and details about how buildings are constructed. The supporting characters were a bit flat but the vivid descriptions of the places the characters traveled really stand out in my mind. Overall, this was an entertaining book that I would recommend to other readers of mystery and action/adventure stories.
March 11, 2014
This thriller starts off with a bang, motors along at a decent clip, and finishes fine. The timeliness of the story is unnerving, and tension at the secret meeting in the Syrian desert was tangible. Really tight writing with that. My grumble is that the characters didn't have a lot of depth. A good story, nevertheless.
This was a first-reads giveaway, signed by the author. Thank you.
This was a first-reads giveaway, signed by the author. Thank you.
September 12, 2014
**Check out my full review at I Turn the Pages**
Disclaimer: This book is NOT Young Adult or Teen.
This book follows the story of Jonathan Strickland, a rich, businessman who just happens to be caught in the middle of a very sensitive situation, a supposed deliberate attack. His helicopter, while meeting with his business associates, had supposedly triggered explosions - several explosions, which resulted in the loss of his friends lives - when it "crashed" into the tower. Now, Jonathan finds himself trying to track down the real culprit to the mystery. He is not alone, for he has the help of his friends, a division of the government, and his ex-girlfriend Charlie. Throughout this journey, Jonathan not only learns more about the situation at hand, but more about himself as well.
To be completely honest, I am a little bit mixed in my review. I thought that this book would be SO INTERESTING because this is the first book that I have ever read about this subject matter. I did find the story interesting, but I do feel like the story could have been executed better than it was.
As I mentioned in my disclaimer, this book is not Young Adult or Teen. From the synopsis, and the Goodreads Giveaway Description, the synopsis did sound like it would be from a Young Adult or Teen Genre. I do have to say that I believe some of my expectations for this novel did affect the rating. I was expecting this novel to be Young Adult (granted, my first clue should have been that the character was an adult) and I do think that I would have enjoyed this novel had it been tailored to this genre.
I loved most of the story, especially toward the last half of the novel, but in the first half, I was utterly confused with some parts. The first part of the novel focuses heavily on government affairs and construction of buildings, and to be honest, I wasn't particularly interested in reading these parts. I was very confused about what was going on, although I do understand that I was not the target audience for this novel. I really wanted to hear more about Jonathan himself and more of his past, rather than the government.
I did like the negotiation between Jonathan and Homeland Security. I did think that this was essential to the story, and Jonathan's character, because it really does show how much influence both Jonathan and other people in power do possess. I really thought that this scene in the novel especially, helped to set up Jonathan's character - that, yes, he is a businessman and does have quite the income, but in terms of the deliberate attack, he is completely clear of blame.
This being said, I really did like the development of Jonathan's character. I opened the book and I thought that Jonathan would be this stuck-up, rich, snobby businessman who always gets what he wants, and in the beginning of the book, he did seem like that person. But as the story goes on, I witnessed a transformation within Jonathan that I really did love to see. I was able to see the side of him that cares about the wellbeing of other people, as well as himself. I was able to see the side of him that puts others before himself, who thinks before he acts, who takes risks and who is really just like a regular person. I was able to see a change throughout the novel, and that is what I really appreciated.
There were also some adult situations in this novel, and I appreciated that none of them were spoken of too much during the story.
What I did not like about the story is that I never really got to learn as much about Jonathan as I was hoping to. I wanted to see more of Jonathan's past and more of how he envisions his life to be. I wanted to learn more about him. While I did learn a lot about him in terms of his personality, I really wanted to know about his history. That is something that I did not get.
In terms of other characters, I thought that the development within them was okay. It wasn't great, but I really would have loved to know more about them! I thought that Charlie's development was about the same level as Jonathan, and I really enjoyed getting to read more about her and how other characters perceive her to be.
Something that a lot of other reviewers for this novel pointed out as well is that the reader never really learns much about Jonathan's business friends until the very end of the novel. Jonathan never was feeling as much grief as I would have expected him to feel. The names of those who had passed away were rarely mentioned, if at all. I would have loved to see more emotions, specifically grief for those that Jonathan lost, as part of the "confusion" of the incident and carried throughout the novel.
In comparison, I thought that the second half of the novel was much more eventful and much more pleasing than the first half. If the whole book would have been similar to the structure, plot progression, as well as character development in the second half, I would have been much happier with the story in general. I learned so much more about the characters in the second half, and it was a section that I did not want to put down. The second part of the novel was action-packed!
Overall, I really do enjoy the idea of this story. I know that if I was the intended audience for this novel, I may have enjoyed the story like much more than I did. I wish that the story, the first part especially, would have been easier to read and understand.
To leave things on a positive note, I really did appreciate some of the character development and the fast-pace nature of the second part of the story.
Rating: 2.5-3 out of 5 stars
I received this book for free from the Goodreads "First Reads" Program.
Disclaimer: This book is NOT Young Adult or Teen.
This book follows the story of Jonathan Strickland, a rich, businessman who just happens to be caught in the middle of a very sensitive situation, a supposed deliberate attack. His helicopter, while meeting with his business associates, had supposedly triggered explosions - several explosions, which resulted in the loss of his friends lives - when it "crashed" into the tower. Now, Jonathan finds himself trying to track down the real culprit to the mystery. He is not alone, for he has the help of his friends, a division of the government, and his ex-girlfriend Charlie. Throughout this journey, Jonathan not only learns more about the situation at hand, but more about himself as well.
To be completely honest, I am a little bit mixed in my review. I thought that this book would be SO INTERESTING because this is the first book that I have ever read about this subject matter. I did find the story interesting, but I do feel like the story could have been executed better than it was.
As I mentioned in my disclaimer, this book is not Young Adult or Teen. From the synopsis, and the Goodreads Giveaway Description, the synopsis did sound like it would be from a Young Adult or Teen Genre. I do have to say that I believe some of my expectations for this novel did affect the rating. I was expecting this novel to be Young Adult (granted, my first clue should have been that the character was an adult) and I do think that I would have enjoyed this novel had it been tailored to this genre.
I loved most of the story, especially toward the last half of the novel, but in the first half, I was utterly confused with some parts. The first part of the novel focuses heavily on government affairs and construction of buildings, and to be honest, I wasn't particularly interested in reading these parts. I was very confused about what was going on, although I do understand that I was not the target audience for this novel. I really wanted to hear more about Jonathan himself and more of his past, rather than the government.
I did like the negotiation between Jonathan and Homeland Security. I did think that this was essential to the story, and Jonathan's character, because it really does show how much influence both Jonathan and other people in power do possess. I really thought that this scene in the novel especially, helped to set up Jonathan's character - that, yes, he is a businessman and does have quite the income, but in terms of the deliberate attack, he is completely clear of blame.
This being said, I really did like the development of Jonathan's character. I opened the book and I thought that Jonathan would be this stuck-up, rich, snobby businessman who always gets what he wants, and in the beginning of the book, he did seem like that person. But as the story goes on, I witnessed a transformation within Jonathan that I really did love to see. I was able to see the side of him that cares about the wellbeing of other people, as well as himself. I was able to see the side of him that puts others before himself, who thinks before he acts, who takes risks and who is really just like a regular person. I was able to see a change throughout the novel, and that is what I really appreciated.
There were also some adult situations in this novel, and I appreciated that none of them were spoken of too much during the story.
What I did not like about the story is that I never really got to learn as much about Jonathan as I was hoping to. I wanted to see more of Jonathan's past and more of how he envisions his life to be. I wanted to learn more about him. While I did learn a lot about him in terms of his personality, I really wanted to know about his history. That is something that I did not get.
In terms of other characters, I thought that the development within them was okay. It wasn't great, but I really would have loved to know more about them! I thought that Charlie's development was about the same level as Jonathan, and I really enjoyed getting to read more about her and how other characters perceive her to be.
Something that a lot of other reviewers for this novel pointed out as well is that the reader never really learns much about Jonathan's business friends until the very end of the novel. Jonathan never was feeling as much grief as I would have expected him to feel. The names of those who had passed away were rarely mentioned, if at all. I would have loved to see more emotions, specifically grief for those that Jonathan lost, as part of the "confusion" of the incident and carried throughout the novel.
In comparison, I thought that the second half of the novel was much more eventful and much more pleasing than the first half. If the whole book would have been similar to the structure, plot progression, as well as character development in the second half, I would have been much happier with the story in general. I learned so much more about the characters in the second half, and it was a section that I did not want to put down. The second part of the novel was action-packed!
Overall, I really do enjoy the idea of this story. I know that if I was the intended audience for this novel, I may have enjoyed the story like much more than I did. I wish that the story, the first part especially, would have been easier to read and understand.
To leave things on a positive note, I really did appreciate some of the character development and the fast-pace nature of the second part of the story.
Rating: 2.5-3 out of 5 stars
I received this book for free from the Goodreads "First Reads" Program.
February 21, 2014
The Joshua Effect was my third book to read by Author P.S. Meronek. It is by far my favorite of the three. Unlike the other two Meronek books that I have read this one does not jump back and forth to various times in the character's life, but instead follows a continuous plot or storyline. In the times that our country faces as we are involved in wars on various fronts, to me this story was believable. It was a reach to think that powers within our own country could be involved in some of the happenings that occurred as we follow the lives of Jonathon and Charlie after his building is blown up and he watched his friends die. He changes his life as he searches for "the why" for this awful event to have occurred and he tries to prevent the loss of more lives. There is an underlying love story between Charlie and Jonathon, but for the most part the story takes the reader on a seemingly continuous adventure into the world of terrorist, and the length countries will go to make events unfold the way they want them to end. The technology is maybe not there yet for the things to happen as they did in the book, but if it isn't, it can't be far away. Again, my favorite of the three P.S. Meronek books. I would definitely read another book of his in the future if it were available.
April 29, 2014
The Joshua Effect by P. S. Meronek is a thrilling political story that will leave you speechless. This stuff can happen today. It gets to the point where you don't know the enemy. Then some enemies become allies. Sound confusing. Think of a multi-millionaire who is late for an appointment for a building opening on the rooftop of his new building when just as his helicopter gets ready to land, the building collapses. Then his team and his girlfriend Charlie find out the government knew beforehand and never clued them in. Jonathon the multi-millionaire is irate. Then the perpetrators want a manifest published, free the political prisoners in Guatanemo, releave the debts of several countries, and judge in absentia the POTUS, the VP and several high ranking government officials, find them guilty and execute them before more skylines change with a two month deadline. Jonathon's team is slowly making progress. Jonathon meets with Charlie's father Gus, a former spook who is their liaison between the government and the team. Jonathon's crew heads to Syria to check on some evidence. Things really begin to heat up. Read on for more thrills and discover if they can prevent another catastrophe. This is a first read win and I have given my honest opinion.
April 15, 2014
I don't want to damn this book with faint praise, so I'll just be honest and say it wasn't my cup of tea. The plot, which centered around a billionaire who tries to find the perpetrators of a plot to blow up American skyscrapers, was tight and coherent, including several exciting scenes involving terrorists, but I just couldn't imagine this ever actually happening (I know, I know, it's fiction, but it should be believable). Billionaires and their minions generally don't run around the world acting like action heroes, do they? And if a building you own collapses and several of your friends are killed, it would be expected that you would at least mention them more than just in passing, wouldn't it? In fact, until the end of the book, I never knew exactly how many perished in the first chapter, and never were any of their names mentioned, nor were any funerals attended by this guy. Perhaps this is more of a men's book, which several other reviewers have suggested, and if so, I apologize to the author for not being the appropriate audience. But stacked up against other political thrillers I have read, this one is average.
I received my free copy from a First Reads Giveaway.
I received my free copy from a First Reads Giveaway.
February 25, 2014
I enjoy reading a book that makes you want to sprint through paragraphs. There is nothing about the main character that you can't like. Jonathan Strickland, An instant hero in the making, leads an in an adventure that spins nearly out of control...... (Not going to spoil this for you).
The Joshua Effect is filled with imaginative ideas that made me wish I thought of them. Every once in a while a book comes along that makes you feel as if it's running at the pace of your mind and every once in a while a book comes along that is destined to be a feature motion picture. I'd peg Christian Bale, Brad Pitt, or Leonardo DiCaprio for the lead role.
The Joshua Effect is filled with imaginative ideas that made me wish I thought of them. Every once in a while a book comes along that makes you feel as if it's running at the pace of your mind and every once in a while a book comes along that is destined to be a feature motion picture. I'd peg Christian Bale, Brad Pitt, or Leonardo DiCaprio for the lead role.
March 23, 2014
I think this was more of a man's book. I couldn't like the main character through much of the book. He would say he wasn't trying to be pompous, and then say something very pompous. I did enjoy reading the book however. It was interesting to see who had planted C4 in buildings as they were being built. The travels to different places were exciting and fun to read. It definitely makes you think about what could be going on that we never think about. Also, I would have liked to know more about the characters, their backgrounds, etc.
I won this book on a goodreads giveaway. Thank you.
I won this book on a goodreads giveaway. Thank you.
July 17, 2014
I really didn't care much for this book. Jonathan Strickland was not a likable character. He seemed smug, and self-important. I felt more time was spent talking about the luxuries in his world than on developing the story, and making it believable. The author just expected us to believe in this free energy theory, without bringing it to life or making it a thought provoking possibility. I was disappointed.
March 24, 2014
I won this book from GoodReads.
This book seems to be mainly a light political/economic commentary disguised as a terrorist thriller. Light on the thrills. It's slow moving with lots of self-serving speeches from the main character, Jonathan Strickland, a billionaire real estate developer. He's not a very likable character, being smug, cocky, and very impressed with his own intelligence and wealth.
The author, P.S. Meronek, seems more interesting than his literary counterpart. According to the Ponytale Press website, Meronek is "well on my way to becoming one of the world’s best selling writers, proving once again I knew a little something way back when that few others did." Who can argue with that? Especially when Meronek is the director of Ponytale Press, the sole author in their "stable" and one of the owners.
Despite the confusion about target audience, the writing in The Joshua Effect is professional and the book itself is quite well made. Twelve string tied bundles of pages in a well glued binding. That's serious quality for a paperback book.
As for the literary content, between the libertarian political content, the new age bubble headed pseudo-science, and his confusing parody for parity several times, I can't recommend this book. It's a shame because I think that Meronek can write well when he's not trying to impress everyone.
This book seems to be mainly a light political/economic commentary disguised as a terrorist thriller. Light on the thrills. It's slow moving with lots of self-serving speeches from the main character, Jonathan Strickland, a billionaire real estate developer. He's not a very likable character, being smug, cocky, and very impressed with his own intelligence and wealth.
The author, P.S. Meronek, seems more interesting than his literary counterpart. According to the Ponytale Press website, Meronek is "well on my way to becoming one of the world’s best selling writers, proving once again I knew a little something way back when that few others did." Who can argue with that? Especially when Meronek is the director of Ponytale Press, the sole author in their "stable" and one of the owners.
Despite the confusion about target audience, the writing in The Joshua Effect is professional and the book itself is quite well made. Twelve string tied bundles of pages in a well glued binding. That's serious quality for a paperback book.
As for the literary content, between the libertarian political content, the new age bubble headed pseudo-science, and his confusing parody for parity several times, I can't recommend this book. It's a shame because I think that Meronek can write well when he's not trying to impress everyone.
April 5, 2016
Won during a goodreads giveaway, thanks for selecting me to receive a copy of The Joshua Effect.
This is not the type of book that I generally read, not much on terrorism story lines.
I did enjoy all the excitement that the main character, Jonathan Strickland went through to find out who caused the collapse of his skyscraper in lower Manhattan. The Joshua Effect is a scornful, action packed, with suspense and who done it filled page turner with a twist page after page.
If you get a chance I would suggestion you take time and think about picking if up for a good read.
It changed my feelings about reading any thing that is like 9/11 or terrorism, it is a well thought out and well written book.
This is not the type of book that I generally read, not much on terrorism story lines.
I did enjoy all the excitement that the main character, Jonathan Strickland went through to find out who caused the collapse of his skyscraper in lower Manhattan. The Joshua Effect is a scornful, action packed, with suspense and who done it filled page turner with a twist page after page.
If you get a chance I would suggestion you take time and think about picking if up for a good read.
It changed my feelings about reading any thing that is like 9/11 or terrorism, it is a well thought out and well written book.
July 3, 2016
I thoroughly enjoyed the fast-paced energy in this story. This story carries the reader from New York City to Syria to upstate New York, down to Miami and back to NYC. It's a cat and mouse game with a tight life-and-death deadline. Great development of main character's self-awareness. Just couldn't put the book down and had it read in under a day. I just wish that the editing was a bit tighter. I admit to being easily distracted by improper word and grammar usage. But once I got past all that, I just went along for the thrilling ride that it was.
I am grateful to the Goodreads "First Reads" program and author, P.S. Meronek for having provided a free autographed copy of this book.
I am grateful to the Goodreads "First Reads" program and author, P.S. Meronek for having provided a free autographed copy of this book.
March 27, 2015
I won a copy of this book thru the Goodreads First Reads Giveaways. Couldn't put this one down and when I did I wanted to get back to it. Totally believed the storyline and could see this being a good action movie.
May 31, 2014
A really interesting book. One you have to pay good attention to while reading. Gives you a lot to think about when it comes to the state of our government and our relationship with other countries. There is some romance thrown in . Would highly recommend.
March 5, 2014
A great read... I was truly amazed!
May 30, 2017
Not my cup of tea I guess. Main character Strickland Is unlikable, and self centered. I found it hard to root for him even with him fighting terrorist.
August 6, 2014
First things first. I won P.S. Meronek’s The Joshua Effect in a Goodreads First Reads giveaway. It is the second book by Meronek that I have won in the giveaway program.
I don’t plan on discussing the plot of The Joshua Effect too much. The main character is Jonathan Strickland, a billionaire real estate developer. He just finished building a sixty-three story skyscraper in downtown Manhattan. Some friends, colleagues, employees gather on the new rooftop to celebrate the completion of the building. As Strickland’s helicopter approaches, the building sinks into a pile of rubble and dust. It and the people on the rooftop are victims of a terrorist blast.
The terrorists have more ambitions than just the one building. They planted explosives in an undetermined number of buildings during their construction. No one knows which buildings, but the terrorists tell the world they will destroy two buildings next time unless certain intolerable demands are met. This causes an almost immediate shutdown of the economy—the Joshua Effect of walls tumbling down.
Strickland is not going to take the death of his friends lying down. With his employees and his girlfriend, he tracks down the people who did this. The suspense is who did it, if they will succeed, and if Strickland will figure out the detonator technology in time to prevent the next attacks.
The story is entertaining. It holds together even if one is dubious that a billionaire can become an action hero. There are some flaws. Meronek describes Strickland’s state of mind throughout the book. Strickland wonders about his life, his relationship with his girlfriend, his patriotism, his development as a human being caught in an intolerable situation. Sometimes, I just plain got tired of Strickland’s inner dialogue.
I also believe, although your opinion may differ, that terrorism of this sort would not result in the rapid catastrophe Meronek depicts. On page 303 of the paperback, a character complains that the streets of America are running red with blood. The police are doing nothing as bodies rot in the street. I doubt this would happen. I think people would still work, maybe from home if possible, I just don’t see the economic and societal breakdown that Meronek depicts in The Joshua Effect. Just call me a silly optimist.
Despite my quibbles, the book is enjoyable and I will certainly read a third book by Meronek.
I don’t plan on discussing the plot of The Joshua Effect too much. The main character is Jonathan Strickland, a billionaire real estate developer. He just finished building a sixty-three story skyscraper in downtown Manhattan. Some friends, colleagues, employees gather on the new rooftop to celebrate the completion of the building. As Strickland’s helicopter approaches, the building sinks into a pile of rubble and dust. It and the people on the rooftop are victims of a terrorist blast.
The terrorists have more ambitions than just the one building. They planted explosives in an undetermined number of buildings during their construction. No one knows which buildings, but the terrorists tell the world they will destroy two buildings next time unless certain intolerable demands are met. This causes an almost immediate shutdown of the economy—the Joshua Effect of walls tumbling down.
Strickland is not going to take the death of his friends lying down. With his employees and his girlfriend, he tracks down the people who did this. The suspense is who did it, if they will succeed, and if Strickland will figure out the detonator technology in time to prevent the next attacks.
The story is entertaining. It holds together even if one is dubious that a billionaire can become an action hero. There are some flaws. Meronek describes Strickland’s state of mind throughout the book. Strickland wonders about his life, his relationship with his girlfriend, his patriotism, his development as a human being caught in an intolerable situation. Sometimes, I just plain got tired of Strickland’s inner dialogue.
I also believe, although your opinion may differ, that terrorism of this sort would not result in the rapid catastrophe Meronek depicts. On page 303 of the paperback, a character complains that the streets of America are running red with blood. The police are doing nothing as bodies rot in the street. I doubt this would happen. I think people would still work, maybe from home if possible, I just don’t see the economic and societal breakdown that Meronek depicts in The Joshua Effect. Just call me a silly optimist.
Despite my quibbles, the book is enjoyable and I will certainly read a third book by Meronek.
March 13, 2014
I won a copy from Goodreads First Reads.
The Joshua Effect is actually pretty good. It's no Alex Rider or James Bond, but there's some characters who are similar to those guys. This is more like the Q story. You know Q, right? He's that guy who makes Bond all his toys. You know what? I have an alternate title for The Joshua Effect. Chasing the Qs. How about that? But that's not really what The Joshua Effect is about. It's about this rich guy named Jonathan Strickland, with a lot of dead friends. Seventy-two or something like that. Seventy-two dead friends.
Poor guy. Revenge sounds very good right now, right? But The Joshua isn't a story of revenge (ha! suddenly reminded me of Revenge and Emily Thorn), it's a story of mystery and intrigue. Honestly, the author is a very opinionated man. I don't know what to think of it, but it's great that he talking about his thoughts and feelings. Hey! Even a guy needs to give out a little feeling. Whether it's loosing some steam after fighting with his father-in-law or picking up laundry from the dry cleaners. You have to annoyed when you find out that the dry cleaners missed a spot, right? Greasy stain, right on the pocket.
The plot goes by pretty fast. Strickland (the main character) goes around the world and escapes threats on his life many times along with his girlfriend. He's lucky since there's a lot of close run ins with Lord Death.
The most awesome part of The Joshua Effect: The part when Strickland insults the director or that leader of Homeland Security. It's kind of hilarious showdown between two little, immature, young girls. Yes, I'm calling both of them girls. It's the best name for them, you see.
The true enemy of the main character is perhaps the most shocking reveal. Even if I tell you right here, right now, you wouldn't believe me. It's the most surprising part of the story. It's a great plot twist, I admit. I didn't even see it.
Any weeds? Yes, there are some stinks and horrible parts. There are always horrible parts. Well, I can complain about how small the font is, but that's not going to help you. Well, I can complain how the author drags everything along. It's like, seriously? Can't you tell us the mastermind behind this charade? I guess not.
Rating: Four out of Five
-ofpaperandwords.blogspot.com
The Joshua Effect is actually pretty good. It's no Alex Rider or James Bond, but there's some characters who are similar to those guys. This is more like the Q story. You know Q, right? He's that guy who makes Bond all his toys. You know what? I have an alternate title for The Joshua Effect. Chasing the Qs. How about that? But that's not really what The Joshua Effect is about. It's about this rich guy named Jonathan Strickland, with a lot of dead friends. Seventy-two or something like that. Seventy-two dead friends.
Poor guy. Revenge sounds very good right now, right? But The Joshua isn't a story of revenge (ha! suddenly reminded me of Revenge and Emily Thorn), it's a story of mystery and intrigue. Honestly, the author is a very opinionated man. I don't know what to think of it, but it's great that he talking about his thoughts and feelings. Hey! Even a guy needs to give out a little feeling. Whether it's loosing some steam after fighting with his father-in-law or picking up laundry from the dry cleaners. You have to annoyed when you find out that the dry cleaners missed a spot, right? Greasy stain, right on the pocket.
The plot goes by pretty fast. Strickland (the main character) goes around the world and escapes threats on his life many times along with his girlfriend. He's lucky since there's a lot of close run ins with Lord Death.
The most awesome part of The Joshua Effect: The part when Strickland insults the director or that leader of Homeland Security. It's kind of hilarious showdown between two little, immature, young girls. Yes, I'm calling both of them girls. It's the best name for them, you see.
The true enemy of the main character is perhaps the most shocking reveal. Even if I tell you right here, right now, you wouldn't believe me. It's the most surprising part of the story. It's a great plot twist, I admit. I didn't even see it.
Any weeds? Yes, there are some stinks and horrible parts. There are always horrible parts. Well, I can complain about how small the font is, but that's not going to help you. Well, I can complain how the author drags everything along. It's like, seriously? Can't you tell us the mastermind behind this charade? I guess not.
Rating: Four out of Five
-ofpaperandwords.blogspot.com
August 21, 2014
The Joshua Effect By: P.S. Meronek
Pages. 351
Publisher: Ponytale Press
Reviewed By: tk
Copy Courtesy of Goodreads First Reads
An incredible action adventure marked by dirty politics, murder, and the almighty dollar. When Jonathan Sticklands’ building is destroyed by unknowns, he and his employee/friends become involved in a who-on-it that will determine the fate of the United States. The demands are simple. First, to eliminate the an international debt. Second, to free prisoners at Guantanamo Bay. Then the last request is to execute the President, and a number of higher ups in office. This is only the beginning. Strickland’s building is only an attention getter, more destruction will follow.
Charlene Leigh Bakersfield, Jonathan beautiful girlfriend, and best friend for this past year, has become the love of his life. However, Jonathan is self centered, egotistical jerk. Charlene a.k.a. Charlie, loves Jonathan, but tired of his attitude and selfishness. Did I mention Charlie’s’ dad works for Homeland Security? Will Jonathan be able to save his relationship with Charlie? What does Homeland Security have to do with the destruction of Jonathan building?
The story is alarming. P.S. Meronek makes you think really about the possibly of espionage, and corruption that may be currently happening in the States, and abroad. Watching the news, the internet, the radio, all have signs of a bigger story. Controversial topics as religion, greed, politics, and money. The next huge War could be right around the corner.
Meronek knocks another one out of the park. All of his novels are outstanding reads, but this one has topped the others. The originality of the plot, and believable characters will leave a lasting impression. Clear your agenda, you won’t be able to put it down.
Highly recommended. 5/5
Pages. 351
Publisher: Ponytale Press
Reviewed By: tk
Copy Courtesy of Goodreads First Reads
An incredible action adventure marked by dirty politics, murder, and the almighty dollar. When Jonathan Sticklands’ building is destroyed by unknowns, he and his employee/friends become involved in a who-on-it that will determine the fate of the United States. The demands are simple. First, to eliminate the an international debt. Second, to free prisoners at Guantanamo Bay. Then the last request is to execute the President, and a number of higher ups in office. This is only the beginning. Strickland’s building is only an attention getter, more destruction will follow.
Charlene Leigh Bakersfield, Jonathan beautiful girlfriend, and best friend for this past year, has become the love of his life. However, Jonathan is self centered, egotistical jerk. Charlene a.k.a. Charlie, loves Jonathan, but tired of his attitude and selfishness. Did I mention Charlie’s’ dad works for Homeland Security? Will Jonathan be able to save his relationship with Charlie? What does Homeland Security have to do with the destruction of Jonathan building?
The story is alarming. P.S. Meronek makes you think really about the possibly of espionage, and corruption that may be currently happening in the States, and abroad. Watching the news, the internet, the radio, all have signs of a bigger story. Controversial topics as religion, greed, politics, and money. The next huge War could be right around the corner.
Meronek knocks another one out of the park. All of his novels are outstanding reads, but this one has topped the others. The originality of the plot, and believable characters will leave a lasting impression. Clear your agenda, you won’t be able to put it down.
Highly recommended. 5/5
September 1, 2014
I received this book from the goodreads First Reads program in exchange for an honest review.
To be honest I didn't love this book from beginning to end, in fact I spent the majority of the first half reluctantly opening it up to continue. Once past the first 100 pages the writing seems to open up a bit and become somewhat more invigorated, almost as if the author was tediously introducing characters so that he could get to the part he enjoyed writing about.
The first half was difficult to read, the tone felt very forced, as if too much thought was put into making memorable quotes that feel like they're taken straight from movie scripts - all too often these quotes fall flat and end up taking the reader out of the "trance" of focused reading. Then we get to the main character, Mr. Jonathan Strickland, a billionaire who is cast to be the most amazing person in the world, magnanimous, generous, benevolent, and completely un-beholden to his money. Unfortunately he comes off to the reader as shallow, conceited, arrogant and self-absorbed, managing to display these traits without the slightest hint of understanding the he doing so. Very difficult to like and thereby read this character.
As soon as the action starts moving and the pace picks up it feels like reading an entirely different book. I went from dreading picking it up to making excuses to continue reading. The take on how the threat of multiple attacks on the U.S. would be met and the crisis that would ensue was fantastically imagined and well brought about on paper. The action sequences were riveting and everything is tied up in a fancy bow leaving no un-answered questions. A nice ending.
For all my complaints about the first half, the second half completely obliterated them, I sincerely wish the entire book was action packed, would've been 5 stars for sure!
To be honest I didn't love this book from beginning to end, in fact I spent the majority of the first half reluctantly opening it up to continue. Once past the first 100 pages the writing seems to open up a bit and become somewhat more invigorated, almost as if the author was tediously introducing characters so that he could get to the part he enjoyed writing about.
The first half was difficult to read, the tone felt very forced, as if too much thought was put into making memorable quotes that feel like they're taken straight from movie scripts - all too often these quotes fall flat and end up taking the reader out of the "trance" of focused reading. Then we get to the main character, Mr. Jonathan Strickland, a billionaire who is cast to be the most amazing person in the world, magnanimous, generous, benevolent, and completely un-beholden to his money. Unfortunately he comes off to the reader as shallow, conceited, arrogant and self-absorbed, managing to display these traits without the slightest hint of understanding the he doing so. Very difficult to like and thereby read this character.
As soon as the action starts moving and the pace picks up it feels like reading an entirely different book. I went from dreading picking it up to making excuses to continue reading. The take on how the threat of multiple attacks on the U.S. would be met and the crisis that would ensue was fantastically imagined and well brought about on paper. The action sequences were riveting and everything is tied up in a fancy bow leaving no un-answered questions. A nice ending.
For all my complaints about the first half, the second half completely obliterated them, I sincerely wish the entire book was action packed, would've been 5 stars for sure!
May 12, 2014
This book won a contest for most clichéd phrases, right? It had to. Every page is full of them, nay, every paragraph. It's the most amazing thing I've ever seen. Unless one thinks and talks this way, it would be hard work to create something like this. I would quote some but I'd have to quote the whole book. If only one character spoke that way, readers could assume it was part of the character, but it wasn't. Most of the people in the book spoke this way, leading a reader to presume the author thinks and speaks this way.
The main character and several others are insufferably arrogant and uneven. And, of course, his lady is the most beautiful and smartest woman ever. What else could she be with his attitude? The whole book brings to mind someone who is terribly insecure and has to prove something to others, despite that he thinks he's one of the richest persons in the world. This character also has no idea what he owns and leaves much of his vast fortune and holdings to others to manage. Really? The few wealthy people I've known know exactly what they have and where it is, and more.
The story is mostly one man's fantasy. The only things I liked about the book were a couple points regarding the US and life today -- not something we don't all know, but things that were stated well. That's it. The book got worse in the later chapters.
People read different things, and I know some folks will enjoy this book and this author's writing. For readers who value good writing, stay away from this book. Two stars is generous. Life is too short to read mediocre books.
The main character and several others are insufferably arrogant and uneven. And, of course, his lady is the most beautiful and smartest woman ever. What else could she be with his attitude? The whole book brings to mind someone who is terribly insecure and has to prove something to others, despite that he thinks he's one of the richest persons in the world. This character also has no idea what he owns and leaves much of his vast fortune and holdings to others to manage. Really? The few wealthy people I've known know exactly what they have and where it is, and more.
The story is mostly one man's fantasy. The only things I liked about the book were a couple points regarding the US and life today -- not something we don't all know, but things that were stated well. That's it. The book got worse in the later chapters.
People read different things, and I know some folks will enjoy this book and this author's writing. For readers who value good writing, stay away from this book. Two stars is generous. Life is too short to read mediocre books.
April 11, 2014
What would you do if you were a billionaire developer whose latest shining tower was destroyed on the very day you were set to cap it as completed? And if you had to watch as more than 60 of your friends perished in the collapse? And you had the means and determination to over come all obstacles and discover the truth behind this disaster? What would you do?
In THE JOSHUA EFFECT you can live out that fantasy as this heart pounding adventure unravels the mystery of who gains when all of America is held to ransom. In this story the building was brought down by explosives built into the foundation of the building, but it is quickly revealed that this was but one of many such towers where explosives had been installed. And the towers in question could be anywhere in the country.
This is a fast paced fantasy where the hero, our billionaire, not only puts his life in danger as he follows the trail across the globe but also is somehow allowed to do this despite what it does for the economic welfare of his companies. (Bill Gates tracking down Osama Bin Laden? Never happen!)
And along the way our hero finds his inner feelings and manages to express them to the woman he loves.
This is a wide-ranging thrill ride that keeps the sermonizing to a tolerable minimum while pacing the action with enough twists to have you holding on to your seat. In many ways THE JOSHUA EFFECT is a very Goodreads winner.
In THE JOSHUA EFFECT you can live out that fantasy as this heart pounding adventure unravels the mystery of who gains when all of America is held to ransom. In this story the building was brought down by explosives built into the foundation of the building, but it is quickly revealed that this was but one of many such towers where explosives had been installed. And the towers in question could be anywhere in the country.
This is a fast paced fantasy where the hero, our billionaire, not only puts his life in danger as he follows the trail across the globe but also is somehow allowed to do this despite what it does for the economic welfare of his companies. (Bill Gates tracking down Osama Bin Laden? Never happen!)
And along the way our hero finds his inner feelings and manages to express them to the woman he loves.
This is a wide-ranging thrill ride that keeps the sermonizing to a tolerable minimum while pacing the action with enough twists to have you holding on to your seat. In many ways THE JOSHUA EFFECT is a very Goodreads winner.
May 19, 2014
I received this book from the Goodreads First Read program in exchange for a review.
"The Joshua Effect" takes the reader on a thrill ride of epic proportion. Jonathan Strickland is racing against time to locate those responsible for the bombing of his skyscraper in lower Manhattan. He had watched helplessly as dozens of his friends plunged to their deaths when his building disintegrate before his eyes. Now his only goal is to find those responsible for this atrocity.
When Strickland learns that more buildings are about to face the same destruction that his did, he pulls together a group of very talented people to ferret out those behind the plot. His journey for the truth takes his to Syria, where he learns about a diabolical plan called the Joshua Effect. From there he follows the trail to New York and the hidden compound of a reclusive scientist and on to Miami Beach, to locate another scientist who just might be able to stop the coming annihilation.
While Strickland is in pursuit of those responsible for the attacks, he is also fighting his own personal demons. How can a man worth billions suddenly realize his life in without meaning? As Jonathan rushed headlong into danger, he suddenly realizes that he is willing to risk it all, or die trying.
"The Joshua Effect" takes the reader on a thrill ride of epic proportion. Jonathan Strickland is racing against time to locate those responsible for the bombing of his skyscraper in lower Manhattan. He had watched helplessly as dozens of his friends plunged to their deaths when his building disintegrate before his eyes. Now his only goal is to find those responsible for this atrocity.
When Strickland learns that more buildings are about to face the same destruction that his did, he pulls together a group of very talented people to ferret out those behind the plot. His journey for the truth takes his to Syria, where he learns about a diabolical plan called the Joshua Effect. From there he follows the trail to New York and the hidden compound of a reclusive scientist and on to Miami Beach, to locate another scientist who just might be able to stop the coming annihilation.
While Strickland is in pursuit of those responsible for the attacks, he is also fighting his own personal demons. How can a man worth billions suddenly realize his life in without meaning? As Jonathan rushed headlong into danger, he suddenly realizes that he is willing to risk it all, or die trying.
December 24, 2014
*Goodreads First Reads Advanced Copy*
I found The Joshua Effect to be quite an enjoyable read. The action was good. The premise was top rate.
Like his first book, A Lifetime to Die, the author showcases his knowledge of construction. The attention to details, while not overwhelming the reader is perfectly mastered. I only wish the author was able to continue this with other parts of the story. The part of the story where the author had the scientists explaining the infinite power supply and some of the theoretical machinery seemed a bit overdone to me. That part seemed to drag on and almost completely lost my interest where up until that point I was quite eager to continue reading.
While the author seems to do a great job in developing the supporting cast of characters, I found the main character to be a bit annoying. The parts where he kept trying to examine his thoughts and how he 'had changed' felt somewhat forced. It didn't get me to care more about the character.
Overall I would give The Joshua Effect 3 1/2 stars and would recommend it to all fans of thrillers with some theoretical science mixed in. They should enjoy the story.
I found The Joshua Effect to be quite an enjoyable read. The action was good. The premise was top rate.
Like his first book, A Lifetime to Die, the author showcases his knowledge of construction. The attention to details, while not overwhelming the reader is perfectly mastered. I only wish the author was able to continue this with other parts of the story. The part of the story where the author had the scientists explaining the infinite power supply and some of the theoretical machinery seemed a bit overdone to me. That part seemed to drag on and almost completely lost my interest where up until that point I was quite eager to continue reading.
While the author seems to do a great job in developing the supporting cast of characters, I found the main character to be a bit annoying. The parts where he kept trying to examine his thoughts and how he 'had changed' felt somewhat forced. It didn't get me to care more about the character.
Overall I would give The Joshua Effect 3 1/2 stars and would recommend it to all fans of thrillers with some theoretical science mixed in. They should enjoy the story.
April 14, 2014
This was a Goodreads first reads and while thoroughly enjoyable it was too preachy and wordy. The central theme of the development of a method to blow up buildings using a machine hooked into preplanted C-4 during the construction phase of the buildings was interesting and confusing at the same time. The effort to discover who had come up with the plan and to find a way to prevent the threatened destruction of two more buildings within a month kept me intrigued. I guess I should have caught on earlier with all the bemoaning the heavy handed attitude of America toward the rest of the world and the resulting resentment, if not hatred, directed our way as a result.
Though I never figured it out for myself the, I suspect, desired surprise on my part at the climatic resolution just wasn't there. Instead, it was oh, ho-hum, of course. Greed, ego, power seeking wins, or almost wins, again. Amusing to think the world will ever have totally free energy--when I was a kid TV and radio waves were free--hi, there, PBS, cable, satellite etc,etc. Not only not free, but also not free of irritating commercials. Free energy? Ah, well, this is, after all, fiction.
Though I never figured it out for myself the, I suspect, desired surprise on my part at the climatic resolution just wasn't there. Instead, it was oh, ho-hum, of course. Greed, ego, power seeking wins, or almost wins, again. Amusing to think the world will ever have totally free energy--when I was a kid TV and radio waves were free--hi, there, PBS, cable, satellite etc,etc. Not only not free, but also not free of irritating commercials. Free energy? Ah, well, this is, after all, fiction.
May 3, 2014
Disclosure: I received this book for free through Goodreads First Reads.
After reading some of the good reviews, I came away very disappointed with this book. The plot was intriguing-- high rise gets blown up, and it's a race against the clock to find out who did it and how to stop the next building from exploding. Parts of it were fast-paced, and the various exotic locales were fun to read about. I especially liked the action sequences in Palmyra.
Unfortunately, there isn’t much more positive feedback I can give The Joshua Effect. The writing was kind of obnoxious, and the main character, Jonathan Strickland, was completely unbearable. The character arc he supposedly makes throughout the book left him no more likable than before. I guess this book leaves such a bad taste in my mouth because it seems like it was written just to get the author’s very strong opinions across. So many sections were difficult to get through because they only seemed to serve this purpose, and had nothing to do with furthering the story. Although I agree with a lot of Meronek’s points, the medium in which he chose to share these viewpoints seemed dishonest to me.
After reading some of the good reviews, I came away very disappointed with this book. The plot was intriguing-- high rise gets blown up, and it's a race against the clock to find out who did it and how to stop the next building from exploding. Parts of it were fast-paced, and the various exotic locales were fun to read about. I especially liked the action sequences in Palmyra.
Unfortunately, there isn’t much more positive feedback I can give The Joshua Effect. The writing was kind of obnoxious, and the main character, Jonathan Strickland, was completely unbearable. The character arc he supposedly makes throughout the book left him no more likable than before. I guess this book leaves such a bad taste in my mouth because it seems like it was written just to get the author’s very strong opinions across. So many sections were difficult to get through because they only seemed to serve this purpose, and had nothing to do with furthering the story. Although I agree with a lot of Meronek’s points, the medium in which he chose to share these viewpoints seemed dishonest to me.
April 21, 2015
There is a very good reason it took me two months to read this "suspense filled page turner": it is neither suspense filled nor a page turner.
I've always liked thrillers, regardless of their time and place, so I was excited to receive this novel in the mail. Upon preparing to read this book, I perused the reviews and read the synopsis. I actually looked forward to diving into the story and being taken away on a "dangerous roller coaster ride." Immediately, however, I was turned off by the main character, Jonathan Strickland. Although he undergoes changes to his character throughout the book, his over-the-top machismo is sickening at times and his egocentricity is unbelievable, even for an exorbitantly wealthy individual. Aside from the very unlikable protagonist, the storyline, overall, moved very slowly and is laden with unnecessarily detailed scientific explanations. Many times I found myself skimming these sections as it reminded me of a tedious textbook.
I don't think I'd recommend this book, but I did decide to award it two stars as I could very much see the story as a basis for a movie plot.
I've always liked thrillers, regardless of their time and place, so I was excited to receive this novel in the mail. Upon preparing to read this book, I perused the reviews and read the synopsis. I actually looked forward to diving into the story and being taken away on a "dangerous roller coaster ride." Immediately, however, I was turned off by the main character, Jonathan Strickland. Although he undergoes changes to his character throughout the book, his over-the-top machismo is sickening at times and his egocentricity is unbelievable, even for an exorbitantly wealthy individual. Aside from the very unlikable protagonist, the storyline, overall, moved very slowly and is laden with unnecessarily detailed scientific explanations. Many times I found myself skimming these sections as it reminded me of a tedious textbook.
I don't think I'd recommend this book, but I did decide to award it two stars as I could very much see the story as a basis for a movie plot.
April 1, 2014
I received this book as First Reads giveaway. It is my first book by this author. Initially I entered the giveaway thinking that it was the type of book my husband would enjoy, but when it arrived I decided to give it a chance myself first.
I'd have to agree with some of the earlier reviews that in the beginning I found myself hating the main character, Jonathan. However as the book went on I started to appreciate him more. I would have liked a little more character development in some of the other people in the book, a lot of them seemed a little one-sided.
Overall, I enjoyed the plot. There were some sections when I couldn't put the book down, and some others that made me lose interest for a few days. This isn't the type of book that I would normally get into, but I liked it a lot more than I thought I would when I first read the summary.
I'd have to agree with some of the earlier reviews that in the beginning I found myself hating the main character, Jonathan. However as the book went on I started to appreciate him more. I would have liked a little more character development in some of the other people in the book, a lot of them seemed a little one-sided.
Overall, I enjoyed the plot. There were some sections when I couldn't put the book down, and some others that made me lose interest for a few days. This isn't the type of book that I would normally get into, but I liked it a lot more than I thought I would when I first read the summary.
March 23, 2014
I won this book on Goodreads and am so glad that I did!
It grabbed me on the front page and never let me go. It was action packed and no wasted words. It never got boring because there was a lot going on. I was surprised that this story was told on so few pages. P.S. Meronek in my opinion is a talented writer and tells a story well and in a unique fashion.
The whole time I was reading it I had a clear mental picture of what was going on.
The ending was not at all what I suspected but was refreshing because it could be true and not too many people have the guts to put that out there!
Bravo!!! I recommend this book to anyone that wants to read a book and not be bored but feel a sense of excitement and feel like you are right there with the characters!
It grabbed me on the front page and never let me go. It was action packed and no wasted words. It never got boring because there was a lot going on. I was surprised that this story was told on so few pages. P.S. Meronek in my opinion is a talented writer and tells a story well and in a unique fashion.
The whole time I was reading it I had a clear mental picture of what was going on.
The ending was not at all what I suspected but was refreshing because it could be true and not too many people have the guts to put that out there!
Bravo!!! I recommend this book to anyone that wants to read a book and not be bored but feel a sense of excitement and feel like you are right there with the characters!
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