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Crashers: A Tale of "Cappers" and "Hammers"
A riveting story of love and desperation, greed and redemption.
Fraudulent car accidents is a multi-million dollar racket, involving unscrupulous medical providers, personal injury attorneys, and the cooperating passengers involved in the accidents—and who also receive a portion of the illegal proceeds. Such is the fate of newly engaged, Nathan and Shari, whose joy is tempered by the dark cloud of mounting debt.
A chance encounter with a stranger in whom Shari confides her troubles proves fortuitous: he tells her of a get-rich-quick scheme that will put her and her fiancé on easy street. Seduced by the chance to move from hard times to good times in no time, Sheri finds herself acting as a “stuffed passenger”—the victim in a staged auto accident. The act goes according to plan and Shari gets her payday, but getting out and breaking free of the insurance fraud underworld will take nothing short of a miracle.
A modern day cautionary tale, Crashers is a true-to-life novel that uncovers how the innocent get lured into the scheme of “cappers” and “hammers.”
Fraudulent car accidents is a multi-million dollar racket, involving unscrupulous medical providers, personal injury attorneys, and the cooperating passengers involved in the accidents—and who also receive a portion of the illegal proceeds. Such is the fate of newly engaged, Nathan and Shari, whose joy is tempered by the dark cloud of mounting debt.
A chance encounter with a stranger in whom Shari confides her troubles proves fortuitous: he tells her of a get-rich-quick scheme that will put her and her fiancé on easy street. Seduced by the chance to move from hard times to good times in no time, Sheri finds herself acting as a “stuffed passenger”—the victim in a staged auto accident. The act goes according to plan and Shari gets her payday, but getting out and breaking free of the insurance fraud underworld will take nothing short of a miracle.
A modern day cautionary tale, Crashers is a true-to-life novel that uncovers how the innocent get lured into the scheme of “cappers” and “hammers.”
290 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 27, 2012
About the author
Lindy S. Hudis
26 books98 followersI am an author and mom from California. I grew up in Tennessee, but studied the arts at NYU - I love to write, tell stories, and read new books from interesting new authors.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 53 reviews
October 27, 2024
Crashers is a psychological thriller sure to leave you with your mind spinning.
Need some money? Join Shari, Nathan, and Bryce for some hair raising, spine tingling moments cashing in on car crashes that are purposely staged, with no thought of the consequences, or what could possibly go wrong.
I’m not sure where to even start talking about Crashers.
Immoral. Unethical. Greed. Desperation. Corruption.
Shari goes down a dark path when she agrees to become a Crasher. Desperation drove her to it, but greed and easy pickings will twist her morals out of existence. She loses herself.
I must say, there wasn’t much to like about any of the characters. though the story kept me turning the pages, having to know what comes next. If Karma raises its ugly head, these three are in for an ugly future. Will they end up in prison? Will they lose more than their freedom? I mean, doing something so despicable, I can’t imagine them being able to walk away scot free.
See more at http://www.fundinmental.com
Need some money? Join Shari, Nathan, and Bryce for some hair raising, spine tingling moments cashing in on car crashes that are purposely staged, with no thought of the consequences, or what could possibly go wrong.
I’m not sure where to even start talking about Crashers.
Immoral. Unethical. Greed. Desperation. Corruption.
Shari goes down a dark path when she agrees to become a Crasher. Desperation drove her to it, but greed and easy pickings will twist her morals out of existence. She loses herself.
I must say, there wasn’t much to like about any of the characters. though the story kept me turning the pages, having to know what comes next. If Karma raises its ugly head, these three are in for an ugly future. Will they end up in prison? Will they lose more than their freedom? I mean, doing something so despicable, I can’t imagine them being able to walk away scot free.
See more at http://www.fundinmental.com
October 12, 2012
Crashers by Lindy S. Hudis is a high energy book centered around car insurance fraud and a seemingly innocent couple who is really down on their luck. After losing both of their jobs in one day and getting into a car accident, they meet a mysterious man in dark sunglasses who offers easy money. But when LAPD catch on things start going terribly wrong and people start getting careless. I loved this book, it is a non-stop page turner. The ending leaves you wanting more, so I can only hope for a sequel.
I now find myself paying more attention as I drive...wondering what would happen with the guy preoccupied on his phone behind me if I suddenly slammed on the brakes.
I now find myself paying more attention as I drive...wondering what would happen with the guy preoccupied on his phone behind me if I suddenly slammed on the brakes.
August 16, 2012
Crashers, an intense page turner that you will not want to put down. Nail biting to the very end. Thrilling, exciting, heart pounding. All of these barely touch the surface of what Lindy S. Hudis delivers on a shiny, blue car hood. That's right, car hood.
Everyone dreams of being rich as we go to and from our mundane jobs and lead our boring lives. Nothing could be truer for Shari and Nathan when due to unforeseeable events they find themselves unemployed and neck high in debt. Too make matters worse Shari rear ends a very snooty woman, though it wasn't her fault the law states otherwise.
You see, in California, if you rear end someone it is automatically your fault. Even if a small child or animal ran out in front of the car you hit and they slam their brakes to avoid hitting it. It's even your fault if the whole accident was staged in order to commit insurance fraud.
So when the opportunity presents itself in the form of a smoking hot, handsome stranger (Bryce) who just happens to be seeking new “crashers” Shari all but jumps on the chance to get back on top. Nathan is a bit more reluctant, but he timidly goes along with his fiance's plan to jump into the driver's seat. After all he had promised her the world, but lately all he had become was a failure, and he didn't trust Bryce alone with his woman.
Crashers really brings a lot to the table, and it makes you think. If you were in their shoes, would you knowingly risk your life, break the law, and collect a huge sum of money? Could you commit murder, or irreversible harm if the cops and insurance investigators get to close? Would you take out someone you spent endless hours training just because they messed up a little, not too much, just a tad?
I literally read this cover to cover in four hours. I only took a break to cook meals. It sucked me in, disrupted my life (I was supposed to clean today, and do a ton of other things).
I thoroughly enjoyed the multiple points of view. This is how I prefer my stories that are suspense driven as it really adds this extra layer. You know what each hand is doing, but you also realize that the other party doesn't. It was also enjoyable that the Big Kahuna wasn't really revealed until the end, and it was a huge surprise. I was honestly thinking it would be someone else...It's difficult to get one over on me with a mystery like that. I'm the kind of girl who can usually pin point the bad guy within moments of them being introduced.
The characters were well-developed. I could feel what they felt, sense how they felt about others. There is a bit of a surprise with the development too, but I don't want to give too much away. All in all though I found myself really liking bad guy Bryce, and our intelligent police detective as she outsmart them all. I hope she finds some love. But really these characters bleed emotion that feels real, just like we would talk in real life. Dialogue is a toughy, especially when you try to convey that sense of fear, anguish, or even thrill.
Overall I recommend Crashers to all the thrill seeking, suspense loving, mystery lovers. Of course due to language this is best read by an adult audience. Even if you don't care for foul language, it is used tastefully, heat of the moment type thing. It brings reality to the world of insurance fraud.
Everyone dreams of being rich as we go to and from our mundane jobs and lead our boring lives. Nothing could be truer for Shari and Nathan when due to unforeseeable events they find themselves unemployed and neck high in debt. Too make matters worse Shari rear ends a very snooty woman, though it wasn't her fault the law states otherwise.
You see, in California, if you rear end someone it is automatically your fault. Even if a small child or animal ran out in front of the car you hit and they slam their brakes to avoid hitting it. It's even your fault if the whole accident was staged in order to commit insurance fraud.
So when the opportunity presents itself in the form of a smoking hot, handsome stranger (Bryce) who just happens to be seeking new “crashers” Shari all but jumps on the chance to get back on top. Nathan is a bit more reluctant, but he timidly goes along with his fiance's plan to jump into the driver's seat. After all he had promised her the world, but lately all he had become was a failure, and he didn't trust Bryce alone with his woman.
Crashers really brings a lot to the table, and it makes you think. If you were in their shoes, would you knowingly risk your life, break the law, and collect a huge sum of money? Could you commit murder, or irreversible harm if the cops and insurance investigators get to close? Would you take out someone you spent endless hours training just because they messed up a little, not too much, just a tad?
I literally read this cover to cover in four hours. I only took a break to cook meals. It sucked me in, disrupted my life (I was supposed to clean today, and do a ton of other things).
I thoroughly enjoyed the multiple points of view. This is how I prefer my stories that are suspense driven as it really adds this extra layer. You know what each hand is doing, but you also realize that the other party doesn't. It was also enjoyable that the Big Kahuna wasn't really revealed until the end, and it was a huge surprise. I was honestly thinking it would be someone else...It's difficult to get one over on me with a mystery like that. I'm the kind of girl who can usually pin point the bad guy within moments of them being introduced.
The characters were well-developed. I could feel what they felt, sense how they felt about others. There is a bit of a surprise with the development too, but I don't want to give too much away. All in all though I found myself really liking bad guy Bryce, and our intelligent police detective as she outsmart them all. I hope she finds some love. But really these characters bleed emotion that feels real, just like we would talk in real life. Dialogue is a toughy, especially when you try to convey that sense of fear, anguish, or even thrill.
Overall I recommend Crashers to all the thrill seeking, suspense loving, mystery lovers. Of course due to language this is best read by an adult audience. Even if you don't care for foul language, it is used tastefully, heat of the moment type thing. It brings reality to the world of insurance fraud.
September 3, 2025
CRASHERS is filled with unexpected twists and turns that left me astonished and speechless on numerous occasions, questioning what was unfolding. The tension was palpable, keeping me glued to each sentence as I hurried to uncover the mystery.
The narrative features a rich array of characters, each with their own dilemmas. First, we have Nathan, who has dedicated over a year of hard work to secure a contract that would guarantee him a significant promotion. Just when he believed he was on the verge of landing the deal and achieving his career milestone, it was taken away in an instant. One moment he was confident about the new position, and the next, it vanished along with his credentials.
Then there's Nathan's girlfriend, Shari, who juggles her studies and job. Shari's employer sells the café where she works, and on her second day with the new management, she is let go. On her way home, Shari gets into an accident, and the woman she collides with decides to sue her. One day, Shari and Nathan seem to have it all, living life at its peak, and the next day, their lives are thrown into chaos.
Some plot twists were easy for me to figure out quickly, while others completely caught me off guard. CRASHERS stands out as one of the best stories I've encountered in quite some time. If CRASHERS is any indication of her writing, I am eager to explore more works by Lindy S. Hudis. I intend to delve into her other stories in the near future.
I found CRASHERS incredibly enjoyable, and I wholeheartedly recommend it to all fans of crime thrillers! Be sure to grab a copy of CRASHERS today!
The narrative features a rich array of characters, each with their own dilemmas. First, we have Nathan, who has dedicated over a year of hard work to secure a contract that would guarantee him a significant promotion. Just when he believed he was on the verge of landing the deal and achieving his career milestone, it was taken away in an instant. One moment he was confident about the new position, and the next, it vanished along with his credentials.
Then there's Nathan's girlfriend, Shari, who juggles her studies and job. Shari's employer sells the café where she works, and on her second day with the new management, she is let go. On her way home, Shari gets into an accident, and the woman she collides with decides to sue her. One day, Shari and Nathan seem to have it all, living life at its peak, and the next day, their lives are thrown into chaos.
Some plot twists were easy for me to figure out quickly, while others completely caught me off guard. CRASHERS stands out as one of the best stories I've encountered in quite some time. If CRASHERS is any indication of her writing, I am eager to explore more works by Lindy S. Hudis. I intend to delve into her other stories in the near future.
I found CRASHERS incredibly enjoyable, and I wholeheartedly recommend it to all fans of crime thrillers! Be sure to grab a copy of CRASHERS today!
September 24, 2025
interesting
Crashers is an interesting story about how ordinary people can become pulled into a life of crime. The characters changed tremendously throughout the story which was awful to see.
There was lots of information about insurance fraud and how these types of criminal groups operate. I found that eye opening since it was not something I was familiar with. Overall a very interesting crime story. My first book by this author but I would read others.
Crashers is an interesting story about how ordinary people can become pulled into a life of crime. The characters changed tremendously throughout the story which was awful to see.
There was lots of information about insurance fraud and how these types of criminal groups operate. I found that eye opening since it was not something I was familiar with. Overall a very interesting crime story. My first book by this author but I would read others.
August 21, 2012
I can just about assure you that you will never read another book quite like this one. I have only heard about car scams that are the central focus of this book, but I now have a much better idea of what these people do. And it is absolutely despicable! To see what simple lying could lead to was quite unnerving to me.
The story of the book was extremely fast-paced, and the author put in some fantastic twists and turns that will definitely keep you guessing. While the book does not have the kind of ending you may want, at least there is a conclusion where justice is served--mostly. It was quite realistic and also somewhat surprising.
My struggle with the book was the profanity. I am not a prude, but I do grow tired of unnecessary profanity that appears on almost every page of the book. I am sure that is part of the realism in the book, but I do not feel that it is necessary to drop these words so often. At least there were no bedroom scenes.
The violence in the book is not descriptive, but there are a few scenes/lines that stick with me even as I am writing this review. I sometimes forget how depraved humanity can be. The subject matter of this book is definitely worth the read, but only you can weigh if the language of the book will be a problem. I think the author has brought something to light within today's society of which most of us never think or even know about.
I was sent a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. I was not financially compensated, and all opinions are 100 percent mine.
The story of the book was extremely fast-paced, and the author put in some fantastic twists and turns that will definitely keep you guessing. While the book does not have the kind of ending you may want, at least there is a conclusion where justice is served--mostly. It was quite realistic and also somewhat surprising.
My struggle with the book was the profanity. I am not a prude, but I do grow tired of unnecessary profanity that appears on almost every page of the book. I am sure that is part of the realism in the book, but I do not feel that it is necessary to drop these words so often. At least there were no bedroom scenes.
The violence in the book is not descriptive, but there are a few scenes/lines that stick with me even as I am writing this review. I sometimes forget how depraved humanity can be. The subject matter of this book is definitely worth the read, but only you can weigh if the language of the book will be a problem. I think the author has brought something to light within today's society of which most of us never think or even know about.
I was sent a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. I was not financially compensated, and all opinions are 100 percent mine.
August 25, 2012
I was a little unsure what to expect from Crashers. Truthfully I wasn't sure how interested I would be in insurance fraud, but I'm glad I gave it a chance. Lindy S. Hudis took the world of insurance fraud and turned it into an excited fictional read.
Shari and Nathan were an interesting couple. Starting out struggling, but seemingly still on the rise to fortune. When their whole world crashed down you got a major look into who they were as people. Let me tell you they had some major flaws.
Bryce was a great character. He started so mysterious, but as the book went on you got to see into his thoughts about everything. He was pretty laid back about how illegal their work of insurance fraud was.
Louise was my favorite. I was rooting for her the whole way. She was a very brave woman and cop, to take on the huge ring surrounding the insurance fraud. She seemed very intuitive and very self reliant.
This book was very non-stop. There was constantly some element of thrill going on the whole time. I never once found myself bored and waiting for something interesting to happen. Hudis did an excellent job with this book!
I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are 100% my own.
Shari and Nathan were an interesting couple. Starting out struggling, but seemingly still on the rise to fortune. When their whole world crashed down you got a major look into who they were as people. Let me tell you they had some major flaws.
Bryce was a great character. He started so mysterious, but as the book went on you got to see into his thoughts about everything. He was pretty laid back about how illegal their work of insurance fraud was.
Louise was my favorite. I was rooting for her the whole way. She was a very brave woman and cop, to take on the huge ring surrounding the insurance fraud. She seemed very intuitive and very self reliant.
This book was very non-stop. There was constantly some element of thrill going on the whole time. I never once found myself bored and waiting for something interesting to happen. Hudis did an excellent job with this book!
I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are 100% my own.
August 29, 2012
Crashers is a very informative and interesting story. I will be honest and say the book started a little slow, but I knew it just had to get better. It had potential, and I was right. After the first couple of chapters, the book started to get pretty interesting. I kept wondering what would happen next, if this couple would continue on this dangerous journey they had fallen into. I also learned I need to be a lot more careful when out on the road. I would definitely want to end up in a situation the characters in Crashers ended up going through. It also opened up my eyes to see how mch Fraud is really out there and being committed. Crashers is not only riveting, it is life-touching. It shows how, no matter how great or crappy your Life is, one small event has potential to turn your Life upside-down and inside-out!
August 31, 2012
Crashers is an important and informational novel. It was a little bit of a slug in the beginning but it got a whole lot better by the end of the book. Your life may be a whole lotta fudgey yuckies, but think about those who are victims of fraud and how fudgey and yucky their lives are! Crashers kept me guessing what was going to happen next throughout the book.. It was a very wicked awesome story and I thought it was very full of facts that everybody seems to think is pointless and useless up ‘till they are the victims of fraud then they they ask themselves “Why didn’t I listen?”. Don’t let yourself be a victim of fraud, be aware and do your research to find out more about fraud and how to keep from being a victim.
Lotsa Love,
Alice
Lotsa Love,
Alice
March 18, 2013
Mercy me! I don't think I ever want to drive in LA again. Lindy S. Hudis scares the ever-lovin' insurance payment out of you with her newest book, "Crashers". I was riveted to the story line here, which is sparse and film-worthy. Hudis has a keen way of making the reader get the visuals. Background story lines could benefit from more integration or more "show me, don't tell me" and for me the lead character's transition wanted a bit more fleshing out, (don't worry Producer Hudis will get it out of her actress), but as a long-time resident of LA, the sense of place and story involved me.
September 10, 2019
5 Questioning Your Integrity Stars for Crashers
Life is looking like a rose garden in full bloom for Nathan. A great job with a major promotion so close on the horizon he can taste it. A stable, loving relationship with the woman he has just asked to be his wife. A woman finishing up her degree while happily waiting tables at a diner for decent tips with an understanding and flexible boss. Not just the American dream, the dream of all men.
What if, in almost a single moment, through absolutely no misdeed on your part, everything comes crashing down? Unemployed, unemployable, economic downturn, only thing coming in reliably are more bills. Then the fiance's place of business is sold, promptly leaving them both unemployed. She drops out of school because she is unable to finance her final project. Then, in an awful case of being in the wrong place at the wrong time, she becomes the target of an unhinged woman and her ambulance chasing lawyer.
Now we are perfectly posed to raise the question this thriller centers on: When bad things happen to good people, how fragile is the line between morality and survival? Is a little unprovable insurance fraud a victimless crime, or the gate to unfathomable legions of dark decay? Against the fast paced, infamous Hollywood backdrop you won't be able to believe what is happening all while a tiny voice is zinging nagging quesions at you about what you would do in their shoes. Add in sex, drugs, owners of houses of ill repute, the profession that has earned every filthy stereotype with less faith than you would offer the sleaziest used car saleman (attorneys at law, of course), a young cop eager to make a name with a personal vendetta, and all the innocent (and not so innocent) bystanders, plenty of surprising plot twists, this is a book you won't be able to put down.
Life is looking like a rose garden in full bloom for Nathan. A great job with a major promotion so close on the horizon he can taste it. A stable, loving relationship with the woman he has just asked to be his wife. A woman finishing up her degree while happily waiting tables at a diner for decent tips with an understanding and flexible boss. Not just the American dream, the dream of all men.
What if, in almost a single moment, through absolutely no misdeed on your part, everything comes crashing down? Unemployed, unemployable, economic downturn, only thing coming in reliably are more bills. Then the fiance's place of business is sold, promptly leaving them both unemployed. She drops out of school because she is unable to finance her final project. Then, in an awful case of being in the wrong place at the wrong time, she becomes the target of an unhinged woman and her ambulance chasing lawyer.
Now we are perfectly posed to raise the question this thriller centers on: When bad things happen to good people, how fragile is the line between morality and survival? Is a little unprovable insurance fraud a victimless crime, or the gate to unfathomable legions of dark decay? Against the fast paced, infamous Hollywood backdrop you won't be able to believe what is happening all while a tiny voice is zinging nagging quesions at you about what you would do in their shoes. Add in sex, drugs, owners of houses of ill repute, the profession that has earned every filthy stereotype with less faith than you would offer the sleaziest used car saleman (attorneys at law, of course), a young cop eager to make a name with a personal vendetta, and all the innocent (and not so innocent) bystanders, plenty of surprising plot twists, this is a book you won't be able to put down.
August 20, 2025
Sometimes it happens that people have a very unhappy childhood, or that later in life they are struck by misfortune. At that point, you can choose between two possibilities: you try to make the best of it and earn money honestly, or you let yourself be tempted by shady figures who offer you maximum money for minimum effort. Which would you consider?
Bryce chose the criminal path, and he and his boss are always on the lookout for suitable people to work for them. And that happens to be Shari and Nathan, who are drowning in debt. Perfect victims to tempt and turn into crashers…
But things don’t exactly go smoothly…
I thought the idea behind the story was brilliant, and it could indeed be the perfect scenario for an exciting film. Still, I had a few small reservations here and there, which for me personally reduced the quality of the book a bit. The planning of the schemes should have been more detailed and better prepared to give it a greater chance of success. It felt a little too amateurish to truly become a multimillion-dollar fraud. How many times can the same person be involved in a fender bender, and how much can you really “earn” from that?
What I did find fascinating was how Shari became enthralled by the idea of having lots of money. She changes from a quiet young woman into someone who can’t get the dollar signs out of her eyes and becomes increasingly reckless. Nathan is much more cautious, but he can’t rein her in—with all the consequences that follow.
I found the ending moving and shocking. I’m still not sure if it was a calculated move gone wrong or an act of desperation.
I had high expectations, but I was left feeling a little unsatisfied. 3.5 stars.
Thank you
Bryce chose the criminal path, and he and his boss are always on the lookout for suitable people to work for them. And that happens to be Shari and Nathan, who are drowning in debt. Perfect victims to tempt and turn into crashers…
But things don’t exactly go smoothly…
I thought the idea behind the story was brilliant, and it could indeed be the perfect scenario for an exciting film. Still, I had a few small reservations here and there, which for me personally reduced the quality of the book a bit. The planning of the schemes should have been more detailed and better prepared to give it a greater chance of success. It felt a little too amateurish to truly become a multimillion-dollar fraud. How many times can the same person be involved in a fender bender, and how much can you really “earn” from that?
What I did find fascinating was how Shari became enthralled by the idea of having lots of money. She changes from a quiet young woman into someone who can’t get the dollar signs out of her eyes and becomes increasingly reckless. Nathan is much more cautious, but he can’t rein her in—with all the consequences that follow.
I found the ending moving and shocking. I’m still not sure if it was a calculated move gone wrong or an act of desperation.
I had high expectations, but I was left feeling a little unsatisfied. 3.5 stars.
Thank you
September 19, 2025
Crashers by Lindy S. Hudis is a great thriller and suspense read about what would happen if things go horribly wrong in your life and you had nothing left really and needed money and wanted to get rich, what would you do? Well enter the world of Shari, Nathan, and Bryce. These 3 characters go through some tough job losses and then get involved in the world of staging car accidents so that they can get payouts from insurance companies so that they can live and pay rent, etc. This is absolutely something I could see people in society doing. So the premise is Shari becomes a crasher out of desperation and greed, she needs money to pay bills and such and she along the way loses who she is as a person. This is a great message overall as it can happen to anyone, if you become too greedy you can become a bad person or someone that you do not recognize. You can not stop turning those pages to the end of the book as you want to find out what happens to all of these characters at the end of the book, so excellent suspense and writing by the author! I highly recommend this one to fans of thrillers, specifically psychological ones and also suspense fans alike!
May 23, 2023
i really liked the idea of this book because auto insurance fraud interests me but the execution was done poorly. there were some parts in the middle that just dragged and it got quite boring. i also wasn’t a huge fan of the writing style.
however, i did like how we were able to see shari and nathan’s life before and what dragged them to this life of conning insurance companies. it was also interesting to see how two people deal with desperation. on one hand, nathan is against being a “capper” and his position maintains the same throughout the book. on the other hand, shari becomes a completely different person at the end of the book. she went from a sweet innocent girl that i was rooting for to a despicable person. this may be an unpopular opinion but i loved how the author didn’t give shari a redemption arc. she got sucked into the con life and realistically she’ll continue until she gets thrown in prison or dies.
however, i did like how we were able to see shari and nathan’s life before and what dragged them to this life of conning insurance companies. it was also interesting to see how two people deal with desperation. on one hand, nathan is against being a “capper” and his position maintains the same throughout the book. on the other hand, shari becomes a completely different person at the end of the book. she went from a sweet innocent girl that i was rooting for to a despicable person. this may be an unpopular opinion but i loved how the author didn’t give shari a redemption arc. she got sucked into the con life and realistically she’ll continue until she gets thrown in prison or dies.
June 30, 2023
Nathan and Shari are boyfriend and girlfriend that live together in Los Angeles trying to grind a living out. They soon find themselves in need of making some more money and they find an opportunity in a unique way when Shari is involved in an automobile accident that really is not an accident but a setup to cause an accident. The premise of this book set it up to be a good storyline but unfortunately in my opinion the book did not deliver. The writing felt loose and rushed amongst other issues. I left some of this vague so i did not give the story away, but I will say one bit, I could not believe Shari would be surprised she lost her position at the restaurant. I know this is a work of fiction.
June 10, 2024
***2.5 ⭐️ ***
Shari and Nathan have stars in their eyes - he is a stockbroker, she is a struggling student (waitressing to pay the bills) - they're newly engaged and can't wait for their bright future in Los Angeles, until something drastic derails all their plans.
While this brief synopsis may be intriguing, the execution was far from hitting a home run. The characters were annoying and bratty in their behaviours, the supporting "crime ring" characters were mafia wanna-be's, and the police were bumbling idiots. This would be more appealing as a comedy or errors than it was as a mystery/thriller.
This ARC was provided by the publisher, via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.
Shari and Nathan have stars in their eyes - he is a stockbroker, she is a struggling student (waitressing to pay the bills) - they're newly engaged and can't wait for their bright future in Los Angeles, until something drastic derails all their plans.
While this brief synopsis may be intriguing, the execution was far from hitting a home run. The characters were annoying and bratty in their behaviours, the supporting "crime ring" characters were mafia wanna-be's, and the police were bumbling idiots. This would be more appealing as a comedy or errors than it was as a mystery/thriller.
This ARC was provided by the publisher, via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.
July 12, 2023
How far would you go to get rich?
For sure an age old question that I’m always curious about and this book caught me with that catchline.
The main problem I had with the characters in this books was that they were be pretty 2D. Unimaginative, basic and just not depth what so ever. Shari & Nathan’s relationship was the definition of toxic and for sure made me root for them to get caught.
Overall a pretty basic book that you could’ve guessed how it ended from the get go. Not really worth the read.
Thank you NetGalley for a copy in exchange for honest review.
For sure an age old question that I’m always curious about and this book caught me with that catchline.
The main problem I had with the characters in this books was that they were be pretty 2D. Unimaginative, basic and just not depth what so ever. Shari & Nathan’s relationship was the definition of toxic and for sure made me root for them to get caught.
Overall a pretty basic book that you could’ve guessed how it ended from the get go. Not really worth the read.
Thank you NetGalley for a copy in exchange for honest review.
September 8, 2025
Thank You to Pump Your Book Tours and Author for this free book in exchange for my honest review of Crashers by Lindy S. Hudis.
What happens when two people end up getting tempted to make more money by doing insurance fraud scams just because of a lot of debt? Well in this read we find out how that happens and what happens when Nathan and Shari end up needing money in this page turning read. The author wrote this well. I enjoyed this one and would recommend it to any reader who likes thrillers.
What happens when two people end up getting tempted to make more money by doing insurance fraud scams just because of a lot of debt? Well in this read we find out how that happens and what happens when Nathan and Shari end up needing money in this page turning read. The author wrote this well. I enjoyed this one and would recommend it to any reader who likes thrillers.
March 15, 2013
In a word: over-the-top, cringe-inducing, shocking and thrilling
When Lindy asked me to read and review Crashers, I was a little hesitant at first, because it’s not the type of story I usually enjoy reading. Accident fraud? It sounds boring, right? I was prepared to settle down with a very dry book about insurance companies, but what I got was something completely different. Crashers deals with the subject from the perspective of the perpetrators and the victims, and thrusts the reader into the ugly underbelly of the accident fraud business. This book turned out to be more of a horror story than a realistic tale of the corrupt people who make their money by cheating innocent people, and I was pleasantly surprised by this fact. But make no mistake: Crashers is not for the faint-of-heart. While I found myself greedily turning the pages as fast as possible, I did so with dread. Because the characters you will meet here are not necessarily the kind of people you want to be friends with.
Shari and Nathan are a young up-and-coming couple who live in trendy Studio City. Shari is a struggling student and works as a waitress while trying to save enough money to fund her student film project. Nathan is a successful stock broker who is about to be promoted at work (or so he thinks). Their future seems rosy, especially after Nathan proposes to Shari one night. But that happiness is short-lived when Nathan is suddenly fired from his job, accused of misappropriating funds from one of his clients. Knowing he’s been set up by a sleazy coworker, he has no choice but to resign from his job.
Shortly after, Shari also loses her job, but unfortunately for the couple, the worst is yet to come. Driving home after being fired, Shari gets in a fender-bender on the freeway, and she is unwittingly plunged into a horrible nightmare. Shari, you see, was in the wrong place at the wrong time, and has become an innocent player in a high-stakes game of accident fraud. Broke, desperate and terrified, Shari and Nathan are forced to choose between losing everything, or becoming players themselves in the big business of staging car accidents.
The author very smartly switches back and forth among all the different characters in the story, which not only builds the suspense, but paints a terrifying picture of just how complex this scheme seems to be. There’s the attractive and enigmatic Bryce who recruits Shari and Nathan, but has his own boss to deal with, a man who is trying to push him to do unthinkable things; Louise, a young detective who is hot on the trail of the accident fraud ring; Charlie, an innocent man who gets sucked into the game out of desperation; and John Nastic, the lawyer who facilitates the bogus lawsuits. This story is filled with larger-than-life characters that would do well on the big screen, and the cinematic quality of the story is probably due to Hudis’ film background.
What really worked in this book, and what I loved, was the pacing and tension of the story. Reading Crashers is like watching a bad car accident: you’re afraid to look, but you just can’t help it. Hudis keeps the reader turning pages by ending her chapters in such a way that you’re compelled to keep going. Most of the time I thought the dialog was well done and believable, but there were times when it veered off and became clichéd and stiff (but in the author’s defense, even the clichéd dialog seemed to fit with the exaggerated story). According to Hudis, driving in L.A. is one of the most dangerous things you can do. The story focuses on continuous bumper-to-bumper traffic, angry road rage-fueled drivers, and frequent car accidents, not to mention a city filled with people losing their jobs from the bad economy and desperate folks from all walks of life who will seemingly do anything to get by, even lie, cheat and kill. Crashers has a doom-and-gloom mentality that bothered me at first, but I did get caught up in the drama and was able to put that negativity aside for the sake of the story.
And you really do have to suspend your disbelief. It was hard to believe that two upstanding citizens like Shari and Nathan would become so desperate that they would agree to participate in criminal activity. Shari in particular was a tough character for me. I honestly hated her, as she went from a sweet and innocent girl who has a positive attitude about the future, to a completely out-of-character criminal who takes up smoking, cheats on her fiancé, and in a short period of time, becomes addicted to staging car accidents.
I live in Los Angeles and I’ve driven on the L.A. freeways for years. I know what Hudis is talking about when she describes the frustrating conditions of trying to commute in this city. I know accident fraud is real and is probably happening as I write this, but I hope it’s not as prevalent as the author makes it out to be. And although I might not share the angry attitude of her characters, she’s taken a facet of city life and blown it up into a rollicking story that works despite the “ick” factor. You may never want to drive again after reading Crashers, but I can guarantee you won’t be able to stop reading until the final, horrifying page.
Many thanks to the author for supplying a review copy.
This review originally appeared on Books, Bones & Buffy.
When Lindy asked me to read and review Crashers, I was a little hesitant at first, because it’s not the type of story I usually enjoy reading. Accident fraud? It sounds boring, right? I was prepared to settle down with a very dry book about insurance companies, but what I got was something completely different. Crashers deals with the subject from the perspective of the perpetrators and the victims, and thrusts the reader into the ugly underbelly of the accident fraud business. This book turned out to be more of a horror story than a realistic tale of the corrupt people who make their money by cheating innocent people, and I was pleasantly surprised by this fact. But make no mistake: Crashers is not for the faint-of-heart. While I found myself greedily turning the pages as fast as possible, I did so with dread. Because the characters you will meet here are not necessarily the kind of people you want to be friends with.
Shari and Nathan are a young up-and-coming couple who live in trendy Studio City. Shari is a struggling student and works as a waitress while trying to save enough money to fund her student film project. Nathan is a successful stock broker who is about to be promoted at work (or so he thinks). Their future seems rosy, especially after Nathan proposes to Shari one night. But that happiness is short-lived when Nathan is suddenly fired from his job, accused of misappropriating funds from one of his clients. Knowing he’s been set up by a sleazy coworker, he has no choice but to resign from his job.
Shortly after, Shari also loses her job, but unfortunately for the couple, the worst is yet to come. Driving home after being fired, Shari gets in a fender-bender on the freeway, and she is unwittingly plunged into a horrible nightmare. Shari, you see, was in the wrong place at the wrong time, and has become an innocent player in a high-stakes game of accident fraud. Broke, desperate and terrified, Shari and Nathan are forced to choose between losing everything, or becoming players themselves in the big business of staging car accidents.
The author very smartly switches back and forth among all the different characters in the story, which not only builds the suspense, but paints a terrifying picture of just how complex this scheme seems to be. There’s the attractive and enigmatic Bryce who recruits Shari and Nathan, but has his own boss to deal with, a man who is trying to push him to do unthinkable things; Louise, a young detective who is hot on the trail of the accident fraud ring; Charlie, an innocent man who gets sucked into the game out of desperation; and John Nastic, the lawyer who facilitates the bogus lawsuits. This story is filled with larger-than-life characters that would do well on the big screen, and the cinematic quality of the story is probably due to Hudis’ film background.
What really worked in this book, and what I loved, was the pacing and tension of the story. Reading Crashers is like watching a bad car accident: you’re afraid to look, but you just can’t help it. Hudis keeps the reader turning pages by ending her chapters in such a way that you’re compelled to keep going. Most of the time I thought the dialog was well done and believable, but there were times when it veered off and became clichéd and stiff (but in the author’s defense, even the clichéd dialog seemed to fit with the exaggerated story). According to Hudis, driving in L.A. is one of the most dangerous things you can do. The story focuses on continuous bumper-to-bumper traffic, angry road rage-fueled drivers, and frequent car accidents, not to mention a city filled with people losing their jobs from the bad economy and desperate folks from all walks of life who will seemingly do anything to get by, even lie, cheat and kill. Crashers has a doom-and-gloom mentality that bothered me at first, but I did get caught up in the drama and was able to put that negativity aside for the sake of the story.
And you really do have to suspend your disbelief. It was hard to believe that two upstanding citizens like Shari and Nathan would become so desperate that they would agree to participate in criminal activity. Shari in particular was a tough character for me. I honestly hated her, as she went from a sweet and innocent girl who has a positive attitude about the future, to a completely out-of-character criminal who takes up smoking, cheats on her fiancé, and in a short period of time, becomes addicted to staging car accidents.
I live in Los Angeles and I’ve driven on the L.A. freeways for years. I know what Hudis is talking about when she describes the frustrating conditions of trying to commute in this city. I know accident fraud is real and is probably happening as I write this, but I hope it’s not as prevalent as the author makes it out to be. And although I might not share the angry attitude of her characters, she’s taken a facet of city life and blown it up into a rollicking story that works despite the “ick” factor. You may never want to drive again after reading Crashers, but I can guarantee you won’t be able to stop reading until the final, horrifying page.
Many thanks to the author for supplying a review copy.
This review originally appeared on Books, Bones & Buffy.
September 17, 2025
Whew, this book definitely will rear end a reader!
I felt sorry for Nathan and Shari because they both lost their jobs through no fault of their own.
That led them down the path of desperation and crime.
I thought Louise had the tenacity to prevail and I was right.
The ending was appropriate for many of the characters.
I’ll gotten earnings can crash and burn a person.
Thanks to the author for the complimentary copy.
I felt sorry for Nathan and Shari because they both lost their jobs through no fault of their own.
That led them down the path of desperation and crime.
I thought Louise had the tenacity to prevail and I was right.
The ending was appropriate for many of the characters.
I’ll gotten earnings can crash and burn a person.
Thanks to the author for the complimentary copy.
September 8, 2026
Crashers sounds like a gripping thriller with a fascinating look at desperation and easy money. Shari’s decision to get involved in staged accidents seems like the kind of choice that starts small and quickly gets out of control. I like how the story takes a seemingly simple scheme and turns it into something much darker as she becomes deeper involved with Bryce and the world of “crashers.” Definitely sounds like a suspenseful read with plenty of twists and danger.
August 9, 2023
A young couple struggling financially turn to a fraudulent activity hoping to make tons of money.
They enter a world of danger and corruption.
I liked this book, the characters and the plot. But I wasn't 100% satisfied with the ending, which happened quite abruptly. I feel like there's not enough closure on the characters' stories.
They enter a world of danger and corruption.
I liked this book, the characters and the plot. But I wasn't 100% satisfied with the ending, which happened quite abruptly. I feel like there's not enough closure on the characters' stories.
August 26, 2025
This book would definitely make a great movie. I was entirely captivated by it and found it fascinating all the way through, which was truly incredible. Insurance fraud is a high-risk business, and Shari has experienced it firsthand. It was the most thrilling, quick-moving thriller I've read in a long time. I can't recommend it enough!!!
August 2, 2022
Good read. Well written. The characters, however, come across as not too bright, over-the-top.
February 21, 2020
Life in the fast lane is not short of collisions, as Crasher$ introduces you to Shari Barnes, a girl with dreams about to shatter in Los Angeles, a city where dreams come true only for the lucky few. With aspirations of being a filmmaker, her plans come to a halt when she loses her waitressing job and has credit cards to the hilt, student loan debt, household bills, and short the five figures she needs to shoot a thesis film to graduate from the University of Southern California’s prestigious film school. Her last glimmer of hope snuffs out when her fiancé Nathan loses his job too because of a deceptive backstabbing coworker.
Shari has a dilemma because she needs money quick. Can things get any worse for her? Yes! On top of it all, Shari has a rear-end auto collision resulting in a minor fender-bender with Mary Potter, a scamming woman who turns the unfortunate incident into a forty-thousand dollar car insurance payout for herself because Potter claims personal injury such as whiplash, deep-tissue damage, everything she can concoct, hogwash that’s actually hilarious. Potter’s lawsuit taxes Shari’s patience with yet another setback leading to desperation, serving as a pretext for hasty decision-making. This is where author Lindy S. Hudis takes the story into overdrive.
Down on her luck and almost at the brink of insanity, Shari turns to crime to survive by staging car accidents so that she can benefit financially, thereby finding a way to use the law against itself because in California, if your car rear-ends another, you are automatically at fault. And it sounds so easy to cause a fender-bender involving little property damage to the vehicles with no injuries or fatalities. However, Shari soon learns that there is no way to predict the result of an accident before it happens. Even so, she becomes an addict to danger and the “accident” itself, where her sanity is questionable as she is heading toward the downward spiral.
Things can only get worse for Shari and others participating in an insurance fraud ring that is under investigation by rookie Detective Louise Holley, the most likable character in the story. You can’t expect this scheme to go without notice by the FBI, the Los Angeles Police Department, and insurance companies which will draw suspicion from a series of outlandish claims.
The emotions of the characters are too real, exactly what you expect because of the circumstances, and this is where Hudis comes into her own, intricately making it believable because you feel every moment of their inner struggles. Action-pounding all the way through, Crasher$ is a book that you can’t miss reading.
Shari has a dilemma because she needs money quick. Can things get any worse for her? Yes! On top of it all, Shari has a rear-end auto collision resulting in a minor fender-bender with Mary Potter, a scamming woman who turns the unfortunate incident into a forty-thousand dollar car insurance payout for herself because Potter claims personal injury such as whiplash, deep-tissue damage, everything she can concoct, hogwash that’s actually hilarious. Potter’s lawsuit taxes Shari’s patience with yet another setback leading to desperation, serving as a pretext for hasty decision-making. This is where author Lindy S. Hudis takes the story into overdrive.
Down on her luck and almost at the brink of insanity, Shari turns to crime to survive by staging car accidents so that she can benefit financially, thereby finding a way to use the law against itself because in California, if your car rear-ends another, you are automatically at fault. And it sounds so easy to cause a fender-bender involving little property damage to the vehicles with no injuries or fatalities. However, Shari soon learns that there is no way to predict the result of an accident before it happens. Even so, she becomes an addict to danger and the “accident” itself, where her sanity is questionable as she is heading toward the downward spiral.
Things can only get worse for Shari and others participating in an insurance fraud ring that is under investigation by rookie Detective Louise Holley, the most likable character in the story. You can’t expect this scheme to go without notice by the FBI, the Los Angeles Police Department, and insurance companies which will draw suspicion from a series of outlandish claims.
The emotions of the characters are too real, exactly what you expect because of the circumstances, and this is where Hudis comes into her own, intricately making it believable because you feel every moment of their inner struggles. Action-pounding all the way through, Crasher$ is a book that you can’t miss reading.
September 15, 2012
Just when life should be all roses for newly engaged couple Shari Barnes and Nathan Townsend, life takes a downward turn and sends it into a tailspin. Shari and Nathan both lost their jobs and with mounting debt, Shari gets into a car accident, which was staged by the other party as part of a car insurance fraud scam. A chance encounter with a stranger named Bryce will lead this couple to being seduced by his get-rich-quick scheme and join the insurance fraud underworld. Joining may have been easy for the couple, but trying to break free from this group will be costly.
Crashers is an intriguing true-to-life crime tale that takes an informative look into the underworld of fraudulent car insurance scams. This riveting, intense and fast-paced suspense thriller has enough twists and turns that will captivate you from the start and keep you guessing. This story will make you sit up and take notice, it will make you think about how to change the way you drive, teach you to be more careful, and how to maintain focus on everything around you when you are travelling down the road. It will open your eyes to the fact that there are shady people in the world that prey on the vulnerability of others in order to commit car insurance fraud, and that a car accident may in fact be more than what it seems.
The author weaves a fascinating tale set in the fast-paced highways of Los Angeles, it is rich in detail and vivid descriptions that are simply astounding. When illegal get-rich-quick schemes and greed come together, it provides an intoxicating motivation for desperate people to take desperate measures that breeds corruption and could turn innocent lives upside down or destroy them.
The author has created an intriguing cast of characters who are realistic and complex. I enjoyed reading the story from the multiple character points of view. Each character added another layer of suspense to the story, the interactions and dialogues made the story that much more of a powerful and compelling read. I couldn't help but feel for the naive couple, Shari and Nathan, but the circumstances that they put themselves into showed their flaws. I was fascinated by Bryce, he is one slick dude who knew how to work the illegal scam perfectly, well almost. I would be remiss if I didn't mention my favorite character, Louise the police detective. Her intuitive style of investigating the insurance fraud ring kept me riveted and cheering for her.
Crashers is a riveting eye-opener of a true-to-life crime thriller that will send chills down your spine. This informative tale will change the way you drive, and it will make you more aware of your surroundings and the other drivers on the road. Protect yourself, don't fall victim to a potential car insurance scam!
Disclaimer: I received a copy of the book from the author in exchange for my honest review and participation in a virtual book tour event hosted by Pump Up Your Book! Virtual Book Publicity Tours.
http://jerseygirlbookreviews.blogspot...
Crashers is an intriguing true-to-life crime tale that takes an informative look into the underworld of fraudulent car insurance scams. This riveting, intense and fast-paced suspense thriller has enough twists and turns that will captivate you from the start and keep you guessing. This story will make you sit up and take notice, it will make you think about how to change the way you drive, teach you to be more careful, and how to maintain focus on everything around you when you are travelling down the road. It will open your eyes to the fact that there are shady people in the world that prey on the vulnerability of others in order to commit car insurance fraud, and that a car accident may in fact be more than what it seems.
The author weaves a fascinating tale set in the fast-paced highways of Los Angeles, it is rich in detail and vivid descriptions that are simply astounding. When illegal get-rich-quick schemes and greed come together, it provides an intoxicating motivation for desperate people to take desperate measures that breeds corruption and could turn innocent lives upside down or destroy them.
The author has created an intriguing cast of characters who are realistic and complex. I enjoyed reading the story from the multiple character points of view. Each character added another layer of suspense to the story, the interactions and dialogues made the story that much more of a powerful and compelling read. I couldn't help but feel for the naive couple, Shari and Nathan, but the circumstances that they put themselves into showed their flaws. I was fascinated by Bryce, he is one slick dude who knew how to work the illegal scam perfectly, well almost. I would be remiss if I didn't mention my favorite character, Louise the police detective. Her intuitive style of investigating the insurance fraud ring kept me riveted and cheering for her.
Crashers is a riveting eye-opener of a true-to-life crime thriller that will send chills down your spine. This informative tale will change the way you drive, and it will make you more aware of your surroundings and the other drivers on the road. Protect yourself, don't fall victim to a potential car insurance scam!
Disclaimer: I received a copy of the book from the author in exchange for my honest review and participation in a virtual book tour event hosted by Pump Up Your Book! Virtual Book Publicity Tours.
http://jerseygirlbookreviews.blogspot...
September 4, 2012
In these hard economic times, it's hard sometimes to stay on the straight and narrow, especially when people are out to get you and get ahead, no matter what it takes. Take Shari Barnes, your average hard working waitress who is barely making enough to make ends meet, not to mention trying to get to work on time at a diner named Milts in downtown Los Angeles. No matter how many times she attempts to use the excuse of traffic, she is perpetually late. Now she learns that her former boss, Milt has sold his business to a new owner that is willing to keep her on board while learning the ropes, but Milt is retiring.
Thankfully she returns home to find her boyfriend Nathan Townsend's planned a wonderful dinner surprise. He finally feels the big promotion he has waited for his entire life as Vice President for his firm is just hours away from becoming a reality and he proposes to Shari, promising her a life of nothing but desserts from now on. Only this is when life is about to be turned upside down for the both of them. One by one, the brass ring slips further out of their hands, first Nathan losing his job, then Shari and finally Shari gets into a car accident on the way home which is her fault.
But life is about to through them a curve ball when it turns out the accident has been staged and the players except for Shari are all involved in insurance fraud. Shari and Nathan realize that revenge for what has happened to them is best served cold and in the form of paybacks. But will they make enough money or will life suddenly take a complete turn for the worse?
In the novel Crashers by Lindy S. Hudis we are taken inside the illegal operations of insurance fraud and how people and their driving habits in Los Angeles are just the ticket to make fast money for all the players involved. Knowing how much drivers are stressed out, in a hurry and often take out their rage on the road, just makes the gamble for an accident that much more likely to happen. In this suspense thriller, the author shows the reader what can happen when greed becomes the only motivator for a get-rich-quick scheme and the results are more than you ever bargained for.
I received this novel compliments of Pump Up Your Book Tours and Bettie Youngs Books for my honest review and have to say it was a thrill ride. I could see how easily Shari and Nathan could be enticed into this world of easy money especially when the bills are mounting up and everyone else around you is moving ahead that don't deserve it. This book does have a considerable amount of profanity in it that some readers may find offensive but over all the author does the story line justice and keeps it moving all the way to the end. This does give the reader an inside look at what scams some people actually run, both on the insurance side, the legal attorneys as well as the medical doctors all being involved. For that reason, I rate this one a 4 out of 5 stars.
Thankfully she returns home to find her boyfriend Nathan Townsend's planned a wonderful dinner surprise. He finally feels the big promotion he has waited for his entire life as Vice President for his firm is just hours away from becoming a reality and he proposes to Shari, promising her a life of nothing but desserts from now on. Only this is when life is about to be turned upside down for the both of them. One by one, the brass ring slips further out of their hands, first Nathan losing his job, then Shari and finally Shari gets into a car accident on the way home which is her fault.
But life is about to through them a curve ball when it turns out the accident has been staged and the players except for Shari are all involved in insurance fraud. Shari and Nathan realize that revenge for what has happened to them is best served cold and in the form of paybacks. But will they make enough money or will life suddenly take a complete turn for the worse?
In the novel Crashers by Lindy S. Hudis we are taken inside the illegal operations of insurance fraud and how people and their driving habits in Los Angeles are just the ticket to make fast money for all the players involved. Knowing how much drivers are stressed out, in a hurry and often take out their rage on the road, just makes the gamble for an accident that much more likely to happen. In this suspense thriller, the author shows the reader what can happen when greed becomes the only motivator for a get-rich-quick scheme and the results are more than you ever bargained for.
I received this novel compliments of Pump Up Your Book Tours and Bettie Youngs Books for my honest review and have to say it was a thrill ride. I could see how easily Shari and Nathan could be enticed into this world of easy money especially when the bills are mounting up and everyone else around you is moving ahead that don't deserve it. This book does have a considerable amount of profanity in it that some readers may find offensive but over all the author does the story line justice and keeps it moving all the way to the end. This does give the reader an inside look at what scams some people actually run, both on the insurance side, the legal attorneys as well as the medical doctors all being involved. For that reason, I rate this one a 4 out of 5 stars.
October 25, 2012
If you had reached a point of financial desperation, how far would you go to turn things around?
Shari Barnes is a college student who has been making ends meet by waitressing. Her live-in boyfriend, Nathan Townsend, has it a tad better working as a stockbroker.
Unfortunately, within a very short period of time, both find themselves unemployed. Accused of wrongdoing, Nathan has a tough job search ahead of him. Prospects in L.A. aren’t much better for Shari. To make matters worse, Shari inadvertently causes a chain reaction car crash which just happens to involve a very handsome customer from Shari’s former job.
The fired-up female driver at the head of the crash claims she’s hurt. Facing a lawsuit for the lady’s injuries, Shari & Nathan meet the defendant’s unscrupulous attorney. While there, she runs into Bryce, the handsome customer from the accident scene.
Bryce isn’t an ordinary citizen & Shari’s accident wasn’t very accidental. When Bryce offers her a way out of her despair, it isn’t a legal way. Will the insurance fraud game prove too much of a gamble? Or will the allure of financial independence be too much of a golden ticket to pass up?
Our villain, Bryce, is a pretty realistic portrayal of someone who’d be in an activity such as this. Those committing fraud tend to be slick & dapper- which he is both.
Shari is high-strung & emotional. Readers may shake their heads at such naivety in Los Angeles. Nathan, too, should have been much wiser, being a stockbroker & all.
Although it’s fiction, the book’s realism can easily mimic a headline news story. Fraud is big business. It’s easy to see how desperate people can fall into the trap. Shari, especially, feels real by being in such a hardworking, but low Totem pole career.
Coarse language is present. It doesn’t diminish the fantastic plot. Besides, with some of the folks in Bryce’s inner circle, you’d be surprised to not hear these things!
All the action is fast-paced. It’s not clouded with excessive dialogue or unnecessary scenery descriptions. I found myself quite invested in the plot. Actually, I was genuinely concerned with what decision Shari would make & I wanted to see what would become of her.
Lindy Hudis did a fabulous job blending fact with fiction. Thorough research is evident. Her characters are strong & she’s woven quite a captivating read. I read through it quickly due to its smooth yet fast pace.
We’re sure to see more fantastic offerings from our author. I rate it a 5 of 5 stars.
I received 1 print copy of the book for review. No other compensation was provided. I was not under obligation to write a positive review.
Shari Barnes is a college student who has been making ends meet by waitressing. Her live-in boyfriend, Nathan Townsend, has it a tad better working as a stockbroker.
Unfortunately, within a very short period of time, both find themselves unemployed. Accused of wrongdoing, Nathan has a tough job search ahead of him. Prospects in L.A. aren’t much better for Shari. To make matters worse, Shari inadvertently causes a chain reaction car crash which just happens to involve a very handsome customer from Shari’s former job.
The fired-up female driver at the head of the crash claims she’s hurt. Facing a lawsuit for the lady’s injuries, Shari & Nathan meet the defendant’s unscrupulous attorney. While there, she runs into Bryce, the handsome customer from the accident scene.
Bryce isn’t an ordinary citizen & Shari’s accident wasn’t very accidental. When Bryce offers her a way out of her despair, it isn’t a legal way. Will the insurance fraud game prove too much of a gamble? Or will the allure of financial independence be too much of a golden ticket to pass up?
Our villain, Bryce, is a pretty realistic portrayal of someone who’d be in an activity such as this. Those committing fraud tend to be slick & dapper- which he is both.
Shari is high-strung & emotional. Readers may shake their heads at such naivety in Los Angeles. Nathan, too, should have been much wiser, being a stockbroker & all.
Although it’s fiction, the book’s realism can easily mimic a headline news story. Fraud is big business. It’s easy to see how desperate people can fall into the trap. Shari, especially, feels real by being in such a hardworking, but low Totem pole career.
Coarse language is present. It doesn’t diminish the fantastic plot. Besides, with some of the folks in Bryce’s inner circle, you’d be surprised to not hear these things!
All the action is fast-paced. It’s not clouded with excessive dialogue or unnecessary scenery descriptions. I found myself quite invested in the plot. Actually, I was genuinely concerned with what decision Shari would make & I wanted to see what would become of her.
Lindy Hudis did a fabulous job blending fact with fiction. Thorough research is evident. Her characters are strong & she’s woven quite a captivating read. I read through it quickly due to its smooth yet fast pace.
We’re sure to see more fantastic offerings from our author. I rate it a 5 of 5 stars.
I received 1 print copy of the book for review. No other compensation was provided. I was not under obligation to write a positive review.
August 29, 2014
Okay, so I have to be really honest when it comes to this book. It made me angry. I probably better clarify before people reading this think it is a bad book and decide to not read it. It made me angry in a GOOD way. I love books that make me react, that make me feel something. Because if an author can invoke that kind of emotion from me, then I know they are definitely worth checking out.
When the book starts out, its two main characters, Shari and Nathan, seem to have it all. Or at least they hope to have it all in the very near future. Nathan is up for a big promotion, and if that happens, which to Nathan seems a distinct reality, all their troubles will just go away. They won't want for anything. Nathan has their lives all planned out: proposal, house, kids, etc. The whole she-bang. The only problem is that his dream, their dream, suddenly poofs out of existence with just a few clacks on a keyboard. Yeah. Nathan is stabbed in the back by one of his co-workers and suddenly finds himself out of a job. Even worse, he cannot even get a job at another company because his license is revoked. Sucks, huh? The couple's situation gets even more dire when Shari loses her own job. But a fender-bender on the day she is fired could very well be their only salvation.
A lawsuit turns into a single idea which pretty much turns into a sudden job offer, and suddenly Shari and Nathan are thrust, willingly on her part and not so much on his, into a world of easy money...or so they think.
But this story is not just about Shari and Nathan's rise from the ashes, and the threat of falling again hanging in the background, it also tells the story of a cop searching for the head of this whole escapade. She knows about the world Shari and Nathan have suddenly got themselves into, and she's bound and determined to catch all involved, even if it means putting her life in danger to do it.
This is a heart-pounding read. We get to see what people who have nothing to lose will do just to survive in a dog-eat-dog world. We get to see every single point of view. From Shari, to Nathan, to the man who recruits them, to the Big Kahuna who started it all, to the cop getting closer and closer. Every single chapter connects the characters together and gives the book a completeness to it. And while it may not be perfect, yeah there were some grammar issues, it was still an exciting story that just made me not want to put it down.
January 4, 2013
Let me start off by saying, I finished this book several months ago, before I started publishing reviews on my blog. I felt like it deserved a proper review.
Crashers tells the fast paced often exhilarating story between Nathan and Shari, a couple who suddenly finds themselves down on their luck, and the men responsible for staging numerous car accidents. Shari, overtaken with the need to make ends meet and the sweet sound of the "good" life ahead, agrees to be a part of the cap and hammer scheme. It's a revealing story of what desperation and greed can do to a person.
The cover captured my attention right off the hop, as well as the blurb on the back of the book. The couples' struggles, their desperation, their "do-good" attitudes, all these things made me feel for the characters. I really got into the storyline, and wanted to know what happened next. I had to pry myself away from it. The ending was definitely not what I expected. I love that! I appreciate a book that can surprise you, even when you think you know what's going to happen. I could see this being turned into a movie. It is one that I will be watching for.
I enjoyed this novel a lot. Lindy has done a great job combining action, crime and love. I understood Shari and Nathans' reasoning behind jumping into such a dangerous scam, but at the same time I wanted to jump into the pages and tell them to just say NO! I read through it in a short time period because of how easy it was to get caught up in the action.
I didn't much care for Bryce's character. He was well-written, don't get me wrong, but if I were to see or talk to him on the streets, there would have been so many scumbag flags flying. He seemed very full of himself right from the start. i definitely would not have gotten into any sort of agreement with him. I guess that's just how innocent Shari was. She seemed very easy to manipulate.
I would recommend this book to readers who like a quickly paced, action/crime combo. It's gotten lots of great reviews and was very eye opening. I rated this one a 5/5.
I got lucky and won a signed copy of the book from someone's blog (can't remember which one for the life of me)
Crashers tells the fast paced often exhilarating story between Nathan and Shari, a couple who suddenly finds themselves down on their luck, and the men responsible for staging numerous car accidents. Shari, overtaken with the need to make ends meet and the sweet sound of the "good" life ahead, agrees to be a part of the cap and hammer scheme. It's a revealing story of what desperation and greed can do to a person.
The cover captured my attention right off the hop, as well as the blurb on the back of the book. The couples' struggles, their desperation, their "do-good" attitudes, all these things made me feel for the characters. I really got into the storyline, and wanted to know what happened next. I had to pry myself away from it. The ending was definitely not what I expected. I love that! I appreciate a book that can surprise you, even when you think you know what's going to happen. I could see this being turned into a movie. It is one that I will be watching for.
I enjoyed this novel a lot. Lindy has done a great job combining action, crime and love. I understood Shari and Nathans' reasoning behind jumping into such a dangerous scam, but at the same time I wanted to jump into the pages and tell them to just say NO! I read through it in a short time period because of how easy it was to get caught up in the action.
I didn't much care for Bryce's character. He was well-written, don't get me wrong, but if I were to see or talk to him on the streets, there would have been so many scumbag flags flying. He seemed very full of himself right from the start. i definitely would not have gotten into any sort of agreement with him. I guess that's just how innocent Shari was. She seemed very easy to manipulate.
I would recommend this book to readers who like a quickly paced, action/crime combo. It's gotten lots of great reviews and was very eye opening. I rated this one a 5/5.
I got lucky and won a signed copy of the book from someone's blog (can't remember which one for the life of me)
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