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Darryl's Reunion
Darryl's Reunion is the story of a young boy, killed in his first year of high school. His murder goes unsolved for nineteen years. The interest of the town's newest detective is drawn because it is an unsolved murder and peaked when he finds out the victim's intended graduating class from the local high school is holding it's fifteenth year reunion. Detective Ian McLarry meets with the reunion committee and begins asking questions. "We know who did it," claim the committee members, "We just can't prove it."
As detective McLarry begins his investigation, one of the committee members begins their own plan to find justice.
As detective McLarry begins his investigation, one of the committee members begins their own plan to find justice.
314 pages, Paperback
First published January 24, 2014
1 person is currently reading
24 people want to read
About the author
John B. Wren
6 books12 followers Born in Pittsburgh, PA, raised in Western New York State, educated in Northeast Ohio and currently residing in Northern Virginia with his wife, Lois. He began his writing career in 2009, publishing the first of six novels and six short stories.He is currently working on sequels to two of his novels.
Wren worked as a design engineer in the construction industry for over 40 years and now, retired, he spends his time writing.
His writing crosses a few genres, including Thrillers, Mysteries, Historical Fiction and Science Fiction.
All of his published works are available on Amazon.
Wren worked as a design engineer in the construction industry for over 40 years and now, retired, he spends his time writing.
His writing crosses a few genres, including Thrillers, Mysteries, Historical Fiction and Science Fiction.
All of his published works are available on Amazon.
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
July 28, 2015
Thank you to the author and Net Galley for my personal copy
I can't fault this read at all. The author did such a fabulous job with this. Although you get to know early on who did what to whom, and you know how the event happened, its cleverly done.
Darryl was in his first year of high school. You always get bullies, but these guys went beyond your normal sort of known bullying tactics.
Darryl ended up dead.
This happened almost twenty years ago. We have moved on now. What we have is a cold case where there are no more leads, nowhere to go with this to solve it. Other things were "assumed" and it was laid to one side.
We get a new Detective arrive in the area. Detective Ian McLarry.
Nothing much happens in this part of the town, its quite quiet, so seeing that he's heard of the past case, he decides to open it up and re work on it. After all, stories can change over a time right? People age, people forget, others may not be on the scene now and free to speak. Who knows.
Watching Detective Ian McLarry reopen this case and different things that come to light is staggering.
The bit that kept me turning pages also was the "patient" who was he/she?
They are in this book many times, visiting the doctor. I'm thinking.....who is it. Ah it may be one of those lads years ago who killed that Darryl.
There is another reunion coming up soon and everyone is gearing towards this. Detective Ian McLarry gets invited there. He can have time to talk to people too one by one.
The investigation was enthralling. I could just hear the Detective in my ear asking question after question to different ones at different times.
I can't rave about this book enough as it certainly kept me entertained for a few hours.
Highly recommended.
I can't fault this read at all. The author did such a fabulous job with this. Although you get to know early on who did what to whom, and you know how the event happened, its cleverly done.
Darryl was in his first year of high school. You always get bullies, but these guys went beyond your normal sort of known bullying tactics.
Darryl ended up dead.
This happened almost twenty years ago. We have moved on now. What we have is a cold case where there are no more leads, nowhere to go with this to solve it. Other things were "assumed" and it was laid to one side.
We get a new Detective arrive in the area. Detective Ian McLarry.
Nothing much happens in this part of the town, its quite quiet, so seeing that he's heard of the past case, he decides to open it up and re work on it. After all, stories can change over a time right? People age, people forget, others may not be on the scene now and free to speak. Who knows.
Watching Detective Ian McLarry reopen this case and different things that come to light is staggering.
The bit that kept me turning pages also was the "patient" who was he/she?
They are in this book many times, visiting the doctor. I'm thinking.....who is it. Ah it may be one of those lads years ago who killed that Darryl.
There is another reunion coming up soon and everyone is gearing towards this. Detective Ian McLarry gets invited there. He can have time to talk to people too one by one.
The investigation was enthralling. I could just hear the Detective in my ear asking question after question to different ones at different times.
I can't rave about this book enough as it certainly kept me entertained for a few hours.
Highly recommended.
May 23, 2015
A young teenager was murdered 19 years ago. Darryl was beaten and punched, a cattle prod was even used. No one was ever charged.
Detective Ian McLarry is a new detective, transferred from a large city to a small town where things are a whole lot quieter. It's so quiet that Det. McLarry decides to look at some cold cases ---- Darryl's case being one of them.
As his boss would say ... Ian is a bulldog... gets his teeth set and won't let go. The high school's reunion is coming up and now seems to be the time to introduce himself to people who knew Darryl.
I like Ian McLarry ... he's patient and kind, but thorough in his investigation. He comes to really like so many of the people he meets in this small town. During his preliminary questioning, it comes to his attention that most people think they knew the killers ... four bullies who tormented Darryl every chance they got. A lot of these people, in one way or another, wished these killers would get the justice they deserved.
A barn fire .. blown to bits by dynamite....four bodies found inside .... shackled and very, very dead. Has justice been served?
The book is an easy read. It's written in a very precise form, easy to follow. The clues are there if the reader pays close attention. There are a few surprises along the way. The ending was not what I had expected ... but it totally fit with everything that came before.
The author has a couple of other books and I'm sure I'll be checking into them soon.
The author graciously furnished the book to me in exchange for an honest review.
March 4, 2014
"Unforgettable Story of Murder In A Small Town"
This is Author John B Wren's third novel. In this story, a young boy, small in stature all his life, is bullied in elementary school, and in his first year in high school is bullied, and finally beaten to death. No one in his class can forget this crime especially now when the 1997 graduating class is to hold their 15 year reunion, the year Darryl Zamanski would have graduated. The crime was never really investigated in depth, and the police at the time believed it to be a crime of a drifter as his wallet and watch were missing. It was a horrific crime of brutality, and the investigation ended quickly, and became a cold case. A new officer assigned to the Vaneksburg, Virginia Police Department, Detective Ian McLarry, has 10 years previous experience working as a police officer in Pittsburg. His new job in the small town was not challenging, as crime was low. However, he dives into the cold cases and reviews the file of the murder of Darryl. Slowly, he contacts all the individuals questioned previously, trying to find something new, something that had not been reported. With the impending class reunion just weeks away, he'll have a larger number of people to interview. As most of the class mates remember the death, it appears only four boys were thought to be guilty. But there is no evidence, until those four boys, now men, are killed in an explosion.
This is a very detailed story of the investigation, in many ways it often is too repetitive of questions and answers from the different people interviewed. However, this is how a bulldog detective operates if he is to solve these two cases; and Detective Ian McLarry is vigilant. I would have liked a little faster pace to this novel, or a little more action. The author does write an interesting plot in that he introduces a character right in the beginning as the Patient, and you will be engrossed until you find out who this Patient might be. Give it a try and see if you can solve the crime before Detective McLarry. The ending will definitely throw you a curve.
This is Author John B Wren's third novel. In this story, a young boy, small in stature all his life, is bullied in elementary school, and in his first year in high school is bullied, and finally beaten to death. No one in his class can forget this crime especially now when the 1997 graduating class is to hold their 15 year reunion, the year Darryl Zamanski would have graduated. The crime was never really investigated in depth, and the police at the time believed it to be a crime of a drifter as his wallet and watch were missing. It was a horrific crime of brutality, and the investigation ended quickly, and became a cold case. A new officer assigned to the Vaneksburg, Virginia Police Department, Detective Ian McLarry, has 10 years previous experience working as a police officer in Pittsburg. His new job in the small town was not challenging, as crime was low. However, he dives into the cold cases and reviews the file of the murder of Darryl. Slowly, he contacts all the individuals questioned previously, trying to find something new, something that had not been reported. With the impending class reunion just weeks away, he'll have a larger number of people to interview. As most of the class mates remember the death, it appears only four boys were thought to be guilty. But there is no evidence, until those four boys, now men, are killed in an explosion.
This is a very detailed story of the investigation, in many ways it often is too repetitive of questions and answers from the different people interviewed. However, this is how a bulldog detective operates if he is to solve these two cases; and Detective Ian McLarry is vigilant. I would have liked a little faster pace to this novel, or a little more action. The author does write an interesting plot in that he introduces a character right in the beginning as the Patient, and you will be engrossed until you find out who this Patient might be. Give it a try and see if you can solve the crime before Detective McLarry. The ending will definitely throw you a curve.
April 25, 2015
This, John Wren's third novel, is a little different from his first two, not quite so gruesome and not quite so many dead bodies ! If you've already read a Wren novel then this is typical of his style – an easy and gripping read.
A brief synopsis of the story is of Darryl, a small quiet very likeable boy, who was beaten to death by schoolboy bullies almost twenty years ago. This year is the fifteenth school reunion of his leaving class and talk amongst the reunion committee is rife with memories, blame and what they'd like to do with the bullies. One of the committee members has a terminal illness and, taking advantage of that fact, decides to 'deal' with the bullies in memory of Darryl.
The story mostly runs along the same timeline, dipping back twenty years just a couple of times to give the reader the true version of Darryl's death, and then just using two viewpoints of the same story, one of the 'patient' and one for everyone else.
Most of the characters are likeable, even the murderer, and I found this a very enjoyable whodunit. Just a shame that poor old Darryl couldn't be at the reunion to appreciate all the good that had been said and done for him. A gripping and enjoyable read.
A brief synopsis of the story is of Darryl, a small quiet very likeable boy, who was beaten to death by schoolboy bullies almost twenty years ago. This year is the fifteenth school reunion of his leaving class and talk amongst the reunion committee is rife with memories, blame and what they'd like to do with the bullies. One of the committee members has a terminal illness and, taking advantage of that fact, decides to 'deal' with the bullies in memory of Darryl.
The story mostly runs along the same timeline, dipping back twenty years just a couple of times to give the reader the true version of Darryl's death, and then just using two viewpoints of the same story, one of the 'patient' and one for everyone else.
Most of the characters are likeable, even the murderer, and I found this a very enjoyable whodunit. Just a shame that poor old Darryl couldn't be at the reunion to appreciate all the good that had been said and done for him. A gripping and enjoyable read.
January 6, 2015
This is the first time of reading a John Wren book, it was a very enjoyable mystery. The book starts with an unknown person 'the patient' visiting a doctor, then slowly moves on to events of the past, the death of a schoolboy 20 years ago whose murder was never solved. The storyline then fast forwards to a high school reunion and the characters of the past and present gradually unfold and take in a new investigation into the boy's death. Despite the slow start the characters and story come to life building up to an unexpected climax. I thoroughly recommend this book.
June 11, 2014
REVIEW
Quite a setting for a murder mystery. Maybe not so much, considering everything that happens these days. Anyway, the setting is a high school class reunion. We go back in time where a boy, Darryl, a high school Freshman, that is bullied comes up murdered, apparently beaten to death. He was a wimp, who didn't stand up for himself and was bulled continuously by Dave Branch. Most of the high schoolers liked their classmate, Dave. At the time, the police did a ship shod investigation and decided it was random by somebody passing through. Darryl's wallet and watch were never found. The town didn't know if it was one of his classmates or just a random murder. Either way, I felt this was an awful crime. Have you ever wondered how many crimes go unsolved? Interesting. Now in present day we have a new sheriff, Ian Murry, who is working on cold cases.This murder being one of them. The kids who were high schoolers 15 years ago throu\ow a high school reunion and the sheriff makes friends with many at the reunion. They say they know who the murderers are and that they are walking around Vaneksberg free as can be. One of the committee members has a terminal illness and is bound and determined to make the killers pay. Since he is terminally ill, he goes past the law. He decides to 'deal' with the bullies in memory of Darryl. I felt this was a good twist in the story but sad to think that it took Darryl's death to make them see that he was a person who may have been a little different but a person just the same. He didn't deserve what he got. Did this have something to do with the second case that the sheriff was working on?
To add to the sheriff's load, another even more tragic happens. Can this detective cover both crimes?We're talking 15 years before when the first crime happened.
The author wrote wonderful descriptions of the characters. He tells how Detective Ian McLarry has a lot of patience and brick by brick he is building his case surrounding a 15 year old crime of Darryl's murder.
Did Dave do it or was it a random killing? Was the avenger on the right path and did it lead to an arrest or arrests?
I felt that the ending left the reader fulfilled. Justice was finally served on an old crime. There are some real twists and turns in this story.
Pick up a copy and read the well written, good plot and see if you can figure out what happened to Darryl and who did it? This is a good murder mystery filled with suspense.
I was given a complimentary copy of DARRYL'S REUNION from the author, John B. Wren for my view of the book. No other compensation took place.
Quite a setting for a murder mystery. Maybe not so much, considering everything that happens these days. Anyway, the setting is a high school class reunion. We go back in time where a boy, Darryl, a high school Freshman, that is bullied comes up murdered, apparently beaten to death. He was a wimp, who didn't stand up for himself and was bulled continuously by Dave Branch. Most of the high schoolers liked their classmate, Dave. At the time, the police did a ship shod investigation and decided it was random by somebody passing through. Darryl's wallet and watch were never found. The town didn't know if it was one of his classmates or just a random murder. Either way, I felt this was an awful crime. Have you ever wondered how many crimes go unsolved? Interesting. Now in present day we have a new sheriff, Ian Murry, who is working on cold cases.This murder being one of them. The kids who were high schoolers 15 years ago throu\ow a high school reunion and the sheriff makes friends with many at the reunion. They say they know who the murderers are and that they are walking around Vaneksberg free as can be. One of the committee members has a terminal illness and is bound and determined to make the killers pay. Since he is terminally ill, he goes past the law. He decides to 'deal' with the bullies in memory of Darryl. I felt this was a good twist in the story but sad to think that it took Darryl's death to make them see that he was a person who may have been a little different but a person just the same. He didn't deserve what he got. Did this have something to do with the second case that the sheriff was working on?
To add to the sheriff's load, another even more tragic happens. Can this detective cover both crimes?We're talking 15 years before when the first crime happened.
The author wrote wonderful descriptions of the characters. He tells how Detective Ian McLarry has a lot of patience and brick by brick he is building his case surrounding a 15 year old crime of Darryl's murder.
Did Dave do it or was it a random killing? Was the avenger on the right path and did it lead to an arrest or arrests?
I felt that the ending left the reader fulfilled. Justice was finally served on an old crime. There are some real twists and turns in this story.
Pick up a copy and read the well written, good plot and see if you can figure out what happened to Darryl and who did it? This is a good murder mystery filled with suspense.
I was given a complimentary copy of DARRYL'S REUNION from the author, John B. Wren for my view of the book. No other compensation took place.
February 12, 2015
Darryl's Reunion by John B Wren
I give this book 4.5 out of 5
I really enjoyed this book, it’s a mystery and written from the perspective of a couple of people mainly. One or two other people give a little narrative, but there is no confusion. The story is about a boy who is killed just as he enters high school and he is looking forward to making new friends.
We see the death happen and are in the know who the killers are. But the police cannot find any evidence of any wrong doing on the part of the killers.
A town is split into three those who know it was the boys, the ones who believe a stranger passed through the town and killed with no apparent reason and those who don’t really care.
The boys are now men and have had lives denied Darryl. Someone has to pay.
20 years have passed and it is the 15th reunion of the class of 1997 and the reunion Darryl should have attended. Some of his friends remember him and often talk about the killing, wondering if the ones responsible will ever be arrested.
We see a number of things coming together to make our story.
A new police man joins the force in the town and he starts looking at cold cases, the one that grabs his attention is Darryl’s killing.
The 15th reunion is organised.
The patient is told that the illness they have is killing them and that there is only so much time left, the doctor suggests doing something never done before. Take life by the horns.
Ian is the new detective and he wants to sort catch Darryl’s killer, so he joins the reunion committee and starts asking questions. The committee start talking about the memories they have of school and the death of a friend.
The Patient is not getting any stronger and finally comes up with a plan for the last days of life.
I really enjoyed reading this book it is fresh as a murder book goes it has a twist you would not expect at the end. My favourite person is the Patient, followed by the detective.
I had no sympathy with the killers who even though they are possibly too young at the time of the killing to be tried as adults, they are old enough to know what they are doing.
A story that is wonderfully written and easy to read. With a twist at the end that has a really different ending to a murder book.
This book was gratefully received free from the author for an honest review.
I give this book 4.5 out of 5
I really enjoyed this book, it’s a mystery and written from the perspective of a couple of people mainly. One or two other people give a little narrative, but there is no confusion. The story is about a boy who is killed just as he enters high school and he is looking forward to making new friends.
We see the death happen and are in the know who the killers are. But the police cannot find any evidence of any wrong doing on the part of the killers.
A town is split into three those who know it was the boys, the ones who believe a stranger passed through the town and killed with no apparent reason and those who don’t really care.
The boys are now men and have had lives denied Darryl. Someone has to pay.
20 years have passed and it is the 15th reunion of the class of 1997 and the reunion Darryl should have attended. Some of his friends remember him and often talk about the killing, wondering if the ones responsible will ever be arrested.
We see a number of things coming together to make our story.
A new police man joins the force in the town and he starts looking at cold cases, the one that grabs his attention is Darryl’s killing.
The 15th reunion is organised.
The patient is told that the illness they have is killing them and that there is only so much time left, the doctor suggests doing something never done before. Take life by the horns.
Ian is the new detective and he wants to sort catch Darryl’s killer, so he joins the reunion committee and starts asking questions. The committee start talking about the memories they have of school and the death of a friend.
The Patient is not getting any stronger and finally comes up with a plan for the last days of life.
I really enjoyed reading this book it is fresh as a murder book goes it has a twist you would not expect at the end. My favourite person is the Patient, followed by the detective.
I had no sympathy with the killers who even though they are possibly too young at the time of the killing to be tried as adults, they are old enough to know what they are doing.
A story that is wonderfully written and easy to read. With a twist at the end that has a really different ending to a murder book.
This book was gratefully received free from the author for an honest review.
March 8, 2014
DARRYL’S REUNION
By John B. Wren
4 stars
Justice sometimes occurs in mysterious ways
This is a murder mystery, that might be considered a YA genre, but is enjoyable reading. Although it may not be a page turner, it is short and entertaining. Fifteen years prior a Freshman high school boy, Darryl, was found dead, appearing that he had been beaten to death. He was a wimp and bullied continuously by a high school boy, Dave Branch. Although the high school children, for the most part liked Dave, the policemen investigating the murder at the time did a poor job and decided that he had been murdered by a passerby because his wallet and watch were missing.
The high school children, who are now grownups, throw a reunion and because a new police Detective in this small town is checking out cold cases due to time on his hands, he begins investigating the murder of Darryl. In doing so, he makes friends with the leaders of the reunion and many others, and they all say that at the time of Darryl’s murder, they believed that Darryl had been hurt or murdered by this Dave Branch because it became a mission to bully Darryl.
Detective Ian Mclarry has the utmost patience and the reader sees how Ian builds the case, brick by brick. It has a surprising twist at the end, which the reader would never suspect but leaves the reader satisfied that justice has been done.
By John B. Wren
4 stars
Justice sometimes occurs in mysterious ways
This is a murder mystery, that might be considered a YA genre, but is enjoyable reading. Although it may not be a page turner, it is short and entertaining. Fifteen years prior a Freshman high school boy, Darryl, was found dead, appearing that he had been beaten to death. He was a wimp and bullied continuously by a high school boy, Dave Branch. Although the high school children, for the most part liked Dave, the policemen investigating the murder at the time did a poor job and decided that he had been murdered by a passerby because his wallet and watch were missing.
The high school children, who are now grownups, throw a reunion and because a new police Detective in this small town is checking out cold cases due to time on his hands, he begins investigating the murder of Darryl. In doing so, he makes friends with the leaders of the reunion and many others, and they all say that at the time of Darryl’s murder, they believed that Darryl had been hurt or murdered by this Dave Branch because it became a mission to bully Darryl.
Detective Ian Mclarry has the utmost patience and the reader sees how Ian builds the case, brick by brick. It has a surprising twist at the end, which the reader would never suspect but leaves the reader satisfied that justice has been done.
June 26, 2015
Even though it was obvious in the first chapter who the killer was I really enjoyed this story. The when and how was still a surprise so seeing it unfold was rather interesting. How its done is pretty grusome but I also had to wonder where they got the know-how to pull it off.
Some things are never explained about the investigation done after Darryl's murder and never will be but like in life it happens.
I really enjoyed getting to know the characters and wondering what the disease was. I'm believing it's not an actual one and just created for this story.
Honestly I loved the ending, Ian did his job even when he didn't want to.
I did have a few problems with it.
Like I said I knew from the first chapter who the killer was. I think that was meant to throw me off but it didn't really work.
Sometimes the dialogue came off as unnatural.
A lot of repetition. I understand with the questioning but Ian seemed to rethink or say the same thoughts many times.
There was a few conflicting moments. Nothing that was major or mattered to the plot but that drives me crazy.
All in all this was a good suspense story.
I was sent a book by the author through Book Review Buzz in exchange for a honest review. Thank you.
This review can also be found on my page The Fiction Fanatics
Some things are never explained about the investigation done after Darryl's murder and never will be but like in life it happens.
I really enjoyed getting to know the characters and wondering what the disease was. I'm believing it's not an actual one and just created for this story.
Honestly I loved the ending, Ian did his job even when he didn't want to.
I did have a few problems with it.
Like I said I knew from the first chapter who the killer was. I think that was meant to throw me off but it didn't really work.
Sometimes the dialogue came off as unnatural.
A lot of repetition. I understand with the questioning but Ian seemed to rethink or say the same thoughts many times.
There was a few conflicting moments. Nothing that was major or mattered to the plot but that drives me crazy.
All in all this was a good suspense story.
I was sent a book by the author through Book Review Buzz in exchange for a honest review. Thank you.
This review can also be found on my page The Fiction Fanatics
February 10, 2015
A host of interesting characters – I especially liked Detective Ian McLarry – a great small town setting and a good premise – a 15th year high school reunion becomes the catalyst that sets a cold case on fire.
The police procedural genre can be tricky. Without care, the book could easily end up reading like a report rather than a story. The use of the mysterious “patient” device in this one was cunning and did provide more than a few twists along the way.
If you want to understand in detail how a detective goes about an investigation this is the book for you. It put me in mind of what it would be like to read an episode of a popular crime drama – albeit one in which the opening scenes have told the audience who did the crime and now we trail along with the star while he or she figures it all out. That type of story provides its own tension. And kudos to the author for showing the human side of Ian McLarry as he struggled to balance the dictates of his job with the strong tug of his own emotions.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author in exchange for writing an honest review.
The police procedural genre can be tricky. Without care, the book could easily end up reading like a report rather than a story. The use of the mysterious “patient” device in this one was cunning and did provide more than a few twists along the way.
If you want to understand in detail how a detective goes about an investigation this is the book for you. It put me in mind of what it would be like to read an episode of a popular crime drama – albeit one in which the opening scenes have told the audience who did the crime and now we trail along with the star while he or she figures it all out. That type of story provides its own tension. And kudos to the author for showing the human side of Ian McLarry as he struggled to balance the dictates of his job with the strong tug of his own emotions.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author in exchange for writing an honest review.
April 8, 2014
What better backstage to a murder mystery than the high school class reunion setting? This thriller/mystery goes back to high school where a bullied boy is murdered and no one is ever charged. Rumors flow through this small town as to whether classmates or a random stranger travelling through are responsible for this horrific crime. Travel to the present where there's "a new sheriff in town" working this cold case when another more horrific case happens. How will this detective investigate both crimes while dealing with the reunion committee of the first victim's crime?
Grab this book for a summer read and enjoy journey through mystery, suspense and a touch of a love story.
The police interviews were a bit overboard for me, but I enjoyed getting to know the characters, plot and setting.
Grab this book for a summer read and enjoy journey through mystery, suspense and a touch of a love story.
The police interviews were a bit overboard for me, but I enjoyed getting to know the characters, plot and setting.
March 15, 2014
This book by Wrenn is a full bodied mystery that gathers steam from the first and moves you faster and faster to the end. It has a well thought out plot, which is very unusual, but which is interesting. I enjoyed it and you will too.
J. Robert Ewbank author "John Wesley, Natural Man, and the Isms" "Wesley's Wars" and "To Whom It May Concern"
J. Robert Ewbank author "John Wesley, Natural Man, and the Isms" "Wesley's Wars" and "To Whom It May Concern"
May 2, 2015
This book was wonderful, absolutely fantastic! I adored it!
I went into this book thinking "oh, this seems like it will be a nice story." And, wow, thought-provoking novel is a must read for any fan of fiction. A unique blend of all my favorite literary genres mystery and thriller it's no wonder I loved it. Very highly recommended.
5/5
Thanks to Netgalley for a copy!
I went into this book thinking "oh, this seems like it will be a nice story." And, wow, thought-provoking novel is a must read for any fan of fiction. A unique blend of all my favorite literary genres mystery and thriller it's no wonder I loved it. Very highly recommended.
5/5
Thanks to Netgalley for a copy!
May 28, 2015
I received this book from netgalley in exchange for an honest review. So apparently I've been missing out! Loved this...Suspenseful, dramatic, and just a really interesting storyline!! I will definitely go back and read more by this author!!
December 31, 2015
I have to say, Darry’s Reunion was a pleasantly surprisingly good book to read. The synopsis looked interesting which is why I initially reached out to the author to grab a copy but when the book came, being a judger of book covers, I became hesitant to open it. However, I am glad to say that this was an example of do-not-judge-a-book-by-its-cover. The plot itself was very fascinating – I was drawn in within the first few pages or so and couldn’t put the book down. The only downside to this book was the writing style and the character buildings.
A good mystery has always been an interest of mine and this one is a classic murder mystery. I loved how there were so many twists in the book and I was always guessing who the mysterious patient was. I also liked how it was a murder mystery within a murder mystery since the detective, Ian, was originally trying to close a cold case from about 20 years ago while at the same time, someone else in town was trying to bring justice to the four men who were obviously the killers but somehow got away. The one thing different from this book is that the killers from the cold case was always very obvious throughout the book but it was the patient that really drew my attention. I wanted to know who he/she was. And, trust me, I totally guessed this one person the entire time to find out that I had the wrong gender but once I figured the correct gender out, guessing who the patient was wasn’t that difficult.
Anyways, the two downside mentioned earlier somewhat bothered me but it wasn’t a huge deal breaker, obviously. The writing style in this book is done in a very simplistic dialogue form. In a way, I felt like I was reading a transcript rather than a book written in prose. There weren’t that many long paragraphs – in fact, most of the paragraphs were a sentence or two in a dialogue. I don’t think I’ve read any books like this in a while so this threw me off quite a bit in the beginning because I didn’t know if it would bother me enough to not finish the book. Thankfully the plot was interesting enough for me to finish it.
Also, because the book was written in a very simplistic manner, the character building was not really done properly or at all. Most of the characters were written in one paragraph of their own near the beginning of the book and that was it as background information. Because of this, I never really got involved with any of the characters and I didn’t have a character that I particularly liked nor disliked other than the four obvious murderers.
Overall, I was glad I read this book. I honestly struggled to rate this between a four and a three but I settled it as a three because there were a few aspects that were lacking and obviously, I have read better mysteries out there that did not lack the two I had mentioned. I would recommend this book to mystery lovers.
A good mystery has always been an interest of mine and this one is a classic murder mystery. I loved how there were so many twists in the book and I was always guessing who the mysterious patient was. I also liked how it was a murder mystery within a murder mystery since the detective, Ian, was originally trying to close a cold case from about 20 years ago while at the same time, someone else in town was trying to bring justice to the four men who were obviously the killers but somehow got away. The one thing different from this book is that the killers from the cold case was always very obvious throughout the book but it was the patient that really drew my attention. I wanted to know who he/she was. And, trust me, I totally guessed this one person the entire time to find out that I had the wrong gender but once I figured the correct gender out, guessing who the patient was wasn’t that difficult.
Anyways, the two downside mentioned earlier somewhat bothered me but it wasn’t a huge deal breaker, obviously. The writing style in this book is done in a very simplistic dialogue form. In a way, I felt like I was reading a transcript rather than a book written in prose. There weren’t that many long paragraphs – in fact, most of the paragraphs were a sentence or two in a dialogue. I don’t think I’ve read any books like this in a while so this threw me off quite a bit in the beginning because I didn’t know if it would bother me enough to not finish the book. Thankfully the plot was interesting enough for me to finish it.
Also, because the book was written in a very simplistic manner, the character building was not really done properly or at all. Most of the characters were written in one paragraph of their own near the beginning of the book and that was it as background information. Because of this, I never really got involved with any of the characters and I didn’t have a character that I particularly liked nor disliked other than the four obvious murderers.
Overall, I was glad I read this book. I honestly struggled to rate this between a four and a three but I settled it as a three because there were a few aspects that were lacking and obviously, I have read better mysteries out there that did not lack the two I had mentioned. I would recommend this book to mystery lovers.
June 12, 2015
As if high school isn't bad enough, Almost 20 years a ago. High school boy was murdered. Darryl's murder was never solved. It is a cold case that newly relocated officer Ian McLarry decides to look into, since the small town has very little crime on a regular basis.
As the 20 year high school reunion is coming up, detective Ian McLarry, decides it's time to interview some of the suspects, persons of interest, and friends of the deceased. He finds himself becoming friends with some of the interviewees. But refuses to let it cloud his judgement.
We meet " the patient", without knowing who this person is, we see the plot thicken through their eyes. The eyes of a vigilante, someone who wants justice served, even if it means deciding the fate of the suspects themselves.
On the night of the reunion, justice is served. Ian is determined to find the killer and solve this mystery.
Will Ian be able to prove who committed the original crime, and who committed the final crime?
I really enjoyed this book. It was hard to put down. There were twists and turns that kept me guessing.
If you like a good mystery, you should enjoy this one.
As the 20 year high school reunion is coming up, detective Ian McLarry, decides it's time to interview some of the suspects, persons of interest, and friends of the deceased. He finds himself becoming friends with some of the interviewees. But refuses to let it cloud his judgement.
We meet " the patient", without knowing who this person is, we see the plot thicken through their eyes. The eyes of a vigilante, someone who wants justice served, even if it means deciding the fate of the suspects themselves.
On the night of the reunion, justice is served. Ian is determined to find the killer and solve this mystery.
Will Ian be able to prove who committed the original crime, and who committed the final crime?
I really enjoyed this book. It was hard to put down. There were twists and turns that kept me guessing.
If you like a good mystery, you should enjoy this one.
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