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Thirst
The Girl, the Drugs, and the Man Who Could Not Drink, set in the Nation’s Capital, brings together protagonist Colin Marsh, a one-time reporter; his lover and Josie’s mother, Catherine; and Mamadou Dioh, a Senegalese immigrant and former policeman.
The kidnapping of Josie launches Colin and Dioh into the realm of murder, revenge, arson and betrayal in the meanest neighborhoods of the Nation’s Capital. Colin and Dioh battle the Zulu and his henchmen in a war where quarter is neither given nor expected. Their survival depends on daring, strength, street smarts and the help of Aunt Mim, a doyenne of Black Washington who once helped engineer the jailing of the city’s Mayor.
Wasted Miracles is an intimate look at the darker side of Washington, DC, once known as the crime capital of North America, and a glimpse into the deadly business of addiction.
The kidnapping of Josie launches Colin and Dioh into the realm of murder, revenge, arson and betrayal in the meanest neighborhoods of the Nation’s Capital. Colin and Dioh battle the Zulu and his henchmen in a war where quarter is neither given nor expected. Their survival depends on daring, strength, street smarts and the help of Aunt Mim, a doyenne of Black Washington who once helped engineer the jailing of the city’s Mayor.
Wasted Miracles is an intimate look at the darker side of Washington, DC, once known as the crime capital of North America, and a glimpse into the deadly business of addiction.
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First published July 10, 2011
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About the author
Thierry Sagnier
13 books44 followersI've been a writer most of my life. I've done a few books, radio, documentaries, online stuff, magazines and newspapers. Can't imagine doing anything else although it's feast or famine, with the emphasis on famine.
Still, writing (and playing music)are the most fun things one can do with pants on.
According to my late mother, I was conceived in an army truck and born on the radio.
Well, almost.
I was actually born in the freight elevator of the American hospital just outside of Paris, France. A rookie policeman delivered me between the third and fourth floor during a rare snowstorm in the City of Lights.
My parents met at the end of World War II. Both were soldiers with the Free French, the breakaway remnant of the French military that refused to surrender to the Germans after the capitulation of France. Their eyes met and that same evening—or so I was told—they consummated their union in a US Army truck. The one-night stand would last a lifetime.
After the war, both found jobs as actors in a soap opera aired on Radio France. My father, who spoke English, portrayed a not-too-bright American GI married to my mother, a wily French maiden. The show was live, wildly popular, and broadcast daily. One evening as they were reciting their lines to the microphones, my mother went into labor. She never quite made it to the delivery room.
My mother was an artist, a musician and an author. My father was a journalist who had studied violin at the Versailles conservatory. I was destined to write or play music. I do both.
My first literary work was an out-and-out theft. I was six years old and envious of a child celebrity, Minou Drouet, a little girl whose poems had been published in French magazines. Her name was on everyone’s lips. She was a genius, an enfant prodige, and the decorated pride of the nation
I decided to be the same. I copied some poems from a book in my parents’ library, appropriated authorship, and proudly showed the works to my mother. She was thrilled and immediately summoned the media. My subterfuge failed and a fiasco ensued. I was seriously chastised and I’m not sure my mother ever really forgave me for not being the wunderkind she thought she deserved.
My family moved to the United States when I was ten. By age sixteen I had written a series of short stories in English—my chosen writing language—on the unfairness of society and the tribulations of being an immigrant. I wrote songs, poetry, essays, fiction, a play, and complicated letters to an imaginary friend who, I think, got bored. One day he left.
I struggled through both American high school and the curriculum of a French lycée. I went on to attend Georgetown University’s Foreign Service School but dropped out when offered a copyboy position with the Washington Post.
In time I became an in-house free-lancer specializing in the nascent hippy movement. I wrote about radicals, Yippies, Black Panthers, drug dealers, thieves and scammers, bikers and rock stars. I was in the newsroom during Watergate. I participated ever-so-slightly in the scandal’s coverage by fielding telephone calls from Martha Mitchell, the demented wife of Richard Nixon’s duplicitous Attorney General, John Mitchell. I left the paper after a noisy disagreement with the then-editor, Ben Bradlee, who did not approve of a story I had written for the Sunday Post about being a conscientious objector to the Vietnam War.
By then, I had written Bike! Motorcycles and the People Who Ride Them. Harper & Row published it, but unfortunately,
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March 22, 2015
In full disclosure, Thierry is a member of the Arlington Writer's Group, a organization I attend from time to time. While I've only met him on a few occasions the group always critiques is works with an enthusiastic amount of praise. That combined with the fact that he's a Pushcart Prize Nominee was enough to get me interested to give his book a try. And I'm definitely glad I did.
People who know me well, know that I don't often offer blurbs of people's books, so when I do it is a testament to quality writing and a really good read. I had no reservations at offering Thierry one for this book. So here goes.
"Sagnier builds characters as solid, gritty, and as broken as a DC street, with prose that lights up like monuments on a starry night." — Michael J. Sullivan, best-selling author of The Riyria Revelations
If you like suspense thrillers than I highly recommend you check out Thirst, and if you do, please let me know what you think.
People who know me well, know that I don't often offer blurbs of people's books, so when I do it is a testament to quality writing and a really good read. I had no reservations at offering Thierry one for this book. So here goes.
"Sagnier builds characters as solid, gritty, and as broken as a DC street, with prose that lights up like monuments on a starry night." — Michael J. Sullivan, best-selling author of The Riyria Revelations
If you like suspense thrillers than I highly recommend you check out Thirst, and if you do, please let me know what you think.
Read
May 4, 2015So I'm reviewing my own book. That's frankly a little odd; it feels like I'm cheating. Luckily, I don't have to assign it Goodreads stars...
I waited until I had more than 35 reviews, mostly from people I don't know. If the reviews were bad, I was going to pull the book and rewrite it. But they're not.
So here is how Thirst happened.
In its first incarnation, it was titled Wasted Miracles. It died on the vine. A couple of years later, a friend read it and said, "This is a really good book. I like the characters but the title stinks." So I re-titled it, The Girl, the Drugs, and the Man Who Could Not Drink. A long title, but it described the book nicely. The same friend said, "You know, that title may be even worst than the first one." Dang!!
Enter Michael Sullivan and his wife Robin whom I knew from a writers' group. If you read fantasy, then you know Michael; he's one of the genre's bestselling authors. Robin is his muse, editor, business manager, and bicycle partner.
Michael read the book and suggested chopping about 60 pages from the front. Since he's an artist as well as a writer, he designed the cover of the book, and he even came up with the title.
Robin told me in no uncertain term that she wouldn't touch the book until I sent it to an editor, so I did. Then she proceeded to put everything together--the cover, the end note, the blurb, the pagination, the ISBN number, and all the other minutia necessary to go from a manuscript to a publishable book. I spent many hours at her dining room table watching her work. I took notes. I followed her advice and voila, a work I'm pretty proud of.
Honestly, I think it's good.
So read Thirst, and please tell me what you think. Send questions; I promise I'll answer them ASAP. Mostly, enjoy.
I'm at work on the sequel.
I waited until I had more than 35 reviews, mostly from people I don't know. If the reviews were bad, I was going to pull the book and rewrite it. But they're not.
So here is how Thirst happened.
In its first incarnation, it was titled Wasted Miracles. It died on the vine. A couple of years later, a friend read it and said, "This is a really good book. I like the characters but the title stinks." So I re-titled it, The Girl, the Drugs, and the Man Who Could Not Drink. A long title, but it described the book nicely. The same friend said, "You know, that title may be even worst than the first one." Dang!!
Enter Michael Sullivan and his wife Robin whom I knew from a writers' group. If you read fantasy, then you know Michael; he's one of the genre's bestselling authors. Robin is his muse, editor, business manager, and bicycle partner.
Michael read the book and suggested chopping about 60 pages from the front. Since he's an artist as well as a writer, he designed the cover of the book, and he even came up with the title.
Robin told me in no uncertain term that she wouldn't touch the book until I sent it to an editor, so I did. Then she proceeded to put everything together--the cover, the end note, the blurb, the pagination, the ISBN number, and all the other minutia necessary to go from a manuscript to a publishable book. I spent many hours at her dining room table watching her work. I took notes. I followed her advice and voila, a work I'm pretty proud of.
Honestly, I think it's good.
So read Thirst, and please tell me what you think. Send questions; I promise I'll answer them ASAP. Mostly, enjoy.
I'm at work on the sequel.
April 16, 2015
On occasion, an author will offer me a free copy of his or her book on the condition that I share my opinion of it (for better or worse). Quite often, I respectfully decline - mostly because the topic just doesn't interest me much and partly because, as the saying goes, too many books, too little time. But when Mr. Sagnier offered this one, he made a strong case for saying yes; the book description and his writing creds gave the push I needed to say bring it on.
At the outset, I worried a bit as new characters were introduced one after the other. There's nothing much wrong with that from a writing standpoint, but the fact that I'm old and have trouble remembering why I'm suddenly standing in the middle of the kitchen (coupled with having to put any book down for sometimes a whole day because life interfered) means it's really, really hard for me to pick up where I left off. That said, by the time I'd finished the first eight chapters or so, things (and people) started to come together - and I was hooked.
The plot begins with a drug theft and the search for Josie, a recovering crack addict who's gone missing. The main character, Colin - himself a recovering alcoholic - is asked to help by the young woman's mother (who also happens to be Colin's girlfriend). Colin brings in his friend Joe, a policeman, and meets Mamadou, a former police officer in Senegal who now drives a limousine in Washington, D.C., and has an agenda for revenge against whoever caused the death of his daughter.
Fairly early on, it's learned that Josie's boyfriend, Herbie, stole a rather large amount of drugs and paid for it with his life. Now Josie's life may be in danger because the baddies - led by a guy known as the Zulu - think she knows where Herbie stashed the drugs. There's more action on the high seas involving a couple of enterprising young women traveling on a cruise ship, on which passengers suddenly become almost deathly ill for no apparent reason.
There's plenty of action, of course, as Colin, Joe and Mamadou follow the trail mostly through the streets of the nation's capital city, that will lead to finding Josie alive and returning her to her frantic mother. Along the way, readers get to know most of the characters inside and out. Honestly, I can't say I found anyone to be all that likable (even Colin) simply because, I suppose, they're all flawed - some more than others. When one or two bite the dust (no, I won't reveal who, but this is a thriller, after all), let's just say I wasn't crushed.
The writing, BTW, is outstanding; I might quibble over a couple of run-on sentences, perhaps, but overall, the author has more than proved his talent for turning a phrase (or thousands). I did notice an issue I assume to be a result of the Kindle format - in more than one spot, chapter headings were missing (meaning the text from Chapter 7 continued nonstop to Chapter 10 with no 8 or 9 in between). That was a bit bothersome to me simply because except in an emergency, I refuse to put any book down until I've reached a new chapter; I kept wondering why some chapters were like the Energizer Bunny - going and going and going - while my long-suffering husband kept waiting for me to reach a stopping point and start dinner.
Now that I've finished the book (and we've finally finished dinner), I'm happy to give it a thumbs up. In the acknowledgements, the author says that writing is "the only endeavor where I refuse to indulge in false modesty. I think I'm pretty good."
That you are, Mr. Sagnier - that you are.
At the outset, I worried a bit as new characters were introduced one after the other. There's nothing much wrong with that from a writing standpoint, but the fact that I'm old and have trouble remembering why I'm suddenly standing in the middle of the kitchen (coupled with having to put any book down for sometimes a whole day because life interfered) means it's really, really hard for me to pick up where I left off. That said, by the time I'd finished the first eight chapters or so, things (and people) started to come together - and I was hooked.
The plot begins with a drug theft and the search for Josie, a recovering crack addict who's gone missing. The main character, Colin - himself a recovering alcoholic - is asked to help by the young woman's mother (who also happens to be Colin's girlfriend). Colin brings in his friend Joe, a policeman, and meets Mamadou, a former police officer in Senegal who now drives a limousine in Washington, D.C., and has an agenda for revenge against whoever caused the death of his daughter.
Fairly early on, it's learned that Josie's boyfriend, Herbie, stole a rather large amount of drugs and paid for it with his life. Now Josie's life may be in danger because the baddies - led by a guy known as the Zulu - think she knows where Herbie stashed the drugs. There's more action on the high seas involving a couple of enterprising young women traveling on a cruise ship, on which passengers suddenly become almost deathly ill for no apparent reason.
There's plenty of action, of course, as Colin, Joe and Mamadou follow the trail mostly through the streets of the nation's capital city, that will lead to finding Josie alive and returning her to her frantic mother. Along the way, readers get to know most of the characters inside and out. Honestly, I can't say I found anyone to be all that likable (even Colin) simply because, I suppose, they're all flawed - some more than others. When one or two bite the dust (no, I won't reveal who, but this is a thriller, after all), let's just say I wasn't crushed.
The writing, BTW, is outstanding; I might quibble over a couple of run-on sentences, perhaps, but overall, the author has more than proved his talent for turning a phrase (or thousands). I did notice an issue I assume to be a result of the Kindle format - in more than one spot, chapter headings were missing (meaning the text from Chapter 7 continued nonstop to Chapter 10 with no 8 or 9 in between). That was a bit bothersome to me simply because except in an emergency, I refuse to put any book down until I've reached a new chapter; I kept wondering why some chapters were like the Energizer Bunny - going and going and going - while my long-suffering husband kept waiting for me to reach a stopping point and start dinner.
Now that I've finished the book (and we've finally finished dinner), I'm happy to give it a thumbs up. In the acknowledgements, the author says that writing is "the only endeavor where I refuse to indulge in false modesty. I think I'm pretty good."
That you are, Mr. Sagnier - that you are.
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August 8, 2018
I received this e-book from the author in return for an non-biased review.
I've been on a crime thriller kick recently: it started with my mother and her Ian Rankin and Patricia Cornwell books. She had some others, too, ones I didn't like: Kathy Reichs, Michael Connelly and Sue Grafton, which I didn't like. Then along came Jo Nesbo and Stuart MacBride and suddenly the world of crime fiction is looking pretty good.
Thirst concerns a drug dealer who is accidentally stabbed and then shot and dumped. His girlfriend is then kidnapped, because the dead man apparently stole some drugs, but nobody knows where they all are. The kidnapped girl's mother is so distraught she asks her lover, Colin, to help find her, along with his buddy Joe the Cop.
It was a decent enough yarn. I thought it actually started off pretty strongly and I found myself intrigued in the whole scenario. There was enough mystery to keep me guessing until around half way, when it petered out and just became a story about nothing much at all, really. It stalled just after and never really picked up pace again.
There were also quite a few typos and I wasn't a fan of the dialogue, but that's all me and nothing to do with the book-more to do with my dislike of American slang and the like.
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I've been on a crime thriller kick recently: it started with my mother and her Ian Rankin and Patricia Cornwell books. She had some others, too, ones I didn't like: Kathy Reichs, Michael Connelly and Sue Grafton, which I didn't like. Then along came Jo Nesbo and Stuart MacBride and suddenly the world of crime fiction is looking pretty good.
Thirst concerns a drug dealer who is accidentally stabbed and then shot and dumped. His girlfriend is then kidnapped, because the dead man apparently stole some drugs, but nobody knows where they all are. The kidnapped girl's mother is so distraught she asks her lover, Colin, to help find her, along with his buddy Joe the Cop.
It was a decent enough yarn. I thought it actually started off pretty strongly and I found myself intrigued in the whole scenario. There was enough mystery to keep me guessing until around half way, when it petered out and just became a story about nothing much at all, really. It stalled just after and never really picked up pace again.
There were also quite a few typos and I wasn't a fan of the dialogue, but that's all me and nothing to do with the book-more to do with my dislike of American slang and the like.
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May 17, 2015
The most difficult thing in life is to find a good balance, in almost every aspect. This book has it. The plot is interesting and characters are picaresque. There are no dull or tiring descriptions, only great info to keep you thinking about the story. It is written with a lot of knowledge and objective attitude. The best thing of all, there will be more!
March 21, 2015
The author follows in the path of Raymond Chandler and others who marry the energy and thrills of crime fiction with high quality prose. Sagnier tells a good tale and also respects the language---a nice combination.
May 10, 2015
Loads of characters, suspense and somehow, it's all woven into one cohesive story. Sometimes you read a book with a lot of characters and points of view and it feels choppy and you wonder what each chapter has to do with the overall book. Thirst is not like that. Chapters were presented from various points of view, from multiple characters, but Sagnier writes so straightforward, there is little confusion and somehow it all culminates into the aha moments appropriately and brilliantly. Maybe that occurred for me because I did complete the read in two sittings. I was hooked immediately.
The story twists and weaves between the lives of the multiple characters.....all of whom are as troubled as real people.....all of whom are consumed with the fails of humanity. Colin is a recovering alcoholic and has been sober for 10 years, but what he encounters in helping his lover find her daughter is enough to cause serious falling from the wagon. For every individual encountered, there is an agenda, be it hidden or exposed.
I feel inadequate to convey what I felt about this story. I appreciated the grip the book provided, enjoyed the twists and turns, never saw the outcome coming and felt character development was a really strong feature. I look forward to reading more of Sagnier's work.
The story twists and weaves between the lives of the multiple characters.....all of whom are as troubled as real people.....all of whom are consumed with the fails of humanity. Colin is a recovering alcoholic and has been sober for 10 years, but what he encounters in helping his lover find her daughter is enough to cause serious falling from the wagon. For every individual encountered, there is an agenda, be it hidden or exposed.
I feel inadequate to convey what I felt about this story. I appreciated the grip the book provided, enjoyed the twists and turns, never saw the outcome coming and felt character development was a really strong feature. I look forward to reading more of Sagnier's work.
April 19, 2015
I'm not a big fan of fiction where the hero is an alcoholic--such as Jo Nesbo's Harry Hole series--but I was pleasantly surprised by Thirst. Leonard Elmore and James Lee Burke might have written this book together. Colin Marsh is a sobered up drunkard who relapses while trying to solve the kidnapping of his girlfriend's daughter. You wonder who or what is the greatest threat--the Bad Guys or the thirst for vodka?
Thirst's characters are all too human. They're mostly not very likeable, they screw up and muddle through, or, occasionally, fail to in epic manner.
Mr. Sagnier knows his addicts; the author's page at the back of Thirst tells us he worked in rehabs, so his familiarity with addicts, alcoholics and other miscreants is not surprising.
I was hoping this book might be part of a series but apparently not. I hope Sagnier is hard at work on the sequel. There's still a lot I want to know about Marsh and his hard-bitten colleagues.
Thirst's characters are all too human. They're mostly not very likeable, they screw up and muddle through, or, occasionally, fail to in epic manner.
Mr. Sagnier knows his addicts; the author's page at the back of Thirst tells us he worked in rehabs, so his familiarity with addicts, alcoholics and other miscreants is not surprising.
I was hoping this book might be part of a series but apparently not. I hope Sagnier is hard at work on the sequel. There's still a lot I want to know about Marsh and his hard-bitten colleagues.
April 8, 2015
If I hadn't already been reading another book when I started "Thirst", I would have finished much quicker. I loved the characters, especially 10 plus year recovering alcoholic Colin. Reminds me of me. And let's not forget Josie, Mamadou, Mollie Catfish, and Comfort. A twisty, curvy tale that I thought was going one way, and promptly turns. I enjoyed the dialogue between believable characters, with an honest inspection of addiction. I swear I know some of these people, especially the ones who have self destructive behavior they can't or won't control.
March 19, 2015
I know the author slightly so I'm biased. This being said, I thought this was an excellent book. I don't read a lot of fiction and this was more or less an introduction to the genre. I do, however, know addicts, as I've worked in a rehab, and Sagnier's portrait of folks both in and out of recovery is spot on. The more I read, the more I felt I'd had clients like Colin Marsh and Josie. Also, as a once-a-week or more movie goer, I think this book would be a great film!
May 5, 2015
Sagnier's prose is wonderful to read. Like so many of his characters - it flows in a seemingly carefree way - but there is something else lurking just below the surface. His portrayal of the world of addiction is skilled and rings all too true - with just the right mix of tragedy and gallows humour.
The story in Thirst unfolds subtly and then suddenly explodes in places - Sagnier plays with his readers and the overall experience is fun and exciting.
The story in Thirst unfolds subtly and then suddenly explodes in places - Sagnier plays with his readers and the overall experience is fun and exciting.
May 13, 2015
This is one of those books you don't put down. The characters are frighteningly real--you probably know a Colin or a Catherine--and the situations sometimes make you hold your breath in anticipation. Great and gritty dialogue and an oh so satisfying denouement! I like the book so much I bought a paperback copy! Sagnier's author page says he's at work on the sequel. Hope he's a fast writer!
March 19, 2015
This was a great book that I thoroughly enjoyed. Fast-paced, great characters (I really liked Molly Catfish), an ideal read for a winter or summer day. There's insight on addiction and the recovery process, as well as the frightening toll of drugs. Read and enjoy!
April 8, 2015
You'll never look at DC the same way. Loved this book! Tore through it in record time. The twisting story lives and breathes the quirky character of DC. Full of memorable characters, and a thrilling, along-for-the-ride plot. Definitely a 5-star recommendation from me.
April 15, 2015
The Thirst in the title refers to addictions and their cravings. This is a fast paced read with well developed characters- I especially liked Colin, the protagonist and Molly, an exotic dancer. Highly recommend- I'll be seeking out more from this author!
April 27, 2015
I received this as a complimentary ebook from the author for review.
Thirst is a good read. It has interesting characters, a finely woven story, and great pace. Thierry has done good research and it reflects.
Bring on more, Thierry.
Thirst is a good read. It has interesting characters, a finely woven story, and great pace. Thierry has done good research and it reflects.
Bring on more, Thierry.
May 6, 2015
Thirst is a fast moving, tightly woven, action packed thriller. Sagnier combines his agile writer's instinct with his intimate knowledge of the nation's capital to pull it all together. Compelling stuff!
March 27, 2015
Rich and compelling!
March 3, 2019
I'll just go ahead and start with this: I hate the description of this book. I wasn't totally sure what it's about from that at all and wasn't especially interested in reading it, but I also haven't reviewed a book in a while, so I decided to read it anyway.
Basically: Herbie is dead, leaving Josie reeling. Josie's mom is concerned when Josie disappears, and seeks help from her friend Colin. Colin turns to his friend Joe, a cop, and meets Mamadou, a Senegalese police officer who is now a DC limo driver. Zulu, the drug lord, is angry, and not afraid to injure or kill again.
I don't know how to write a plot summary without mentions of a list of characters, because that's basically what this story was.
The good: Great writing, good character development, excellent plot weaving. Although I was incredibly confused who some of these people were it all wove together into a fairly satisfying conclusion.
The bad: So. Many. Characters. At times I was struggling to stay focused on this book because I didn't know who these people were that kept getting mentioned.
I did end up enjoying the book, but just had moments where I couldn't keep everyone straight. If you are into crime fiction/mysteries, I'd say check this one out. Just note: it is not PG.
I'll go 7 of 10 for enjoyment and 3 of 5 for readability. Not my favorite book ever, but a read worth my time. I'm not sure I'd pick up a sequel but it also just isn't my usual genre choice either.
**I was given a copy of this book for free in exchange for an honest review.
For more reviews, check out bedroopedbookworms.com!
Basically: Herbie is dead, leaving Josie reeling. Josie's mom is concerned when Josie disappears, and seeks help from her friend Colin. Colin turns to his friend Joe, a cop, and meets Mamadou, a Senegalese police officer who is now a DC limo driver. Zulu, the drug lord, is angry, and not afraid to injure or kill again.
I don't know how to write a plot summary without mentions of a list of characters, because that's basically what this story was.
The good: Great writing, good character development, excellent plot weaving. Although I was incredibly confused who some of these people were it all wove together into a fairly satisfying conclusion.
The bad: So. Many. Characters. At times I was struggling to stay focused on this book because I didn't know who these people were that kept getting mentioned.
I did end up enjoying the book, but just had moments where I couldn't keep everyone straight. If you are into crime fiction/mysteries, I'd say check this one out. Just note: it is not PG.
I'll go 7 of 10 for enjoyment and 3 of 5 for readability. Not my favorite book ever, but a read worth my time. I'm not sure I'd pick up a sequel but it also just isn't my usual genre choice either.
**I was given a copy of this book for free in exchange for an honest review.
For more reviews, check out bedroopedbookworms.com!
May 31, 2018
Good quick read
Spoilers: Thirst was a good, quick read. I didn't understand what the food poisoning on the ship had to do with anything, if it did. I also felt a little let down that the drugs turned out to be fake and thus the oomph was taken out of the good guys' efforts to get rid of it. I was also a little confused about who was where and why during all that -- meeting up with the ship, in the airports, etc. I couldn't understand why Oren was such an ass to Colin after he just went through hell to save a girl he didn't even really know. But overall I did enjoy the book. I appreciated the level of detail. The AA/NA aspects were really interesting. The woman (whose name I've now forgotten) who knows everyone and everything happening around her without getting out of bed -- and her partner -- fabulous characters!
Spoilers: Thirst was a good, quick read. I didn't understand what the food poisoning on the ship had to do with anything, if it did. I also felt a little let down that the drugs turned out to be fake and thus the oomph was taken out of the good guys' efforts to get rid of it. I was also a little confused about who was where and why during all that -- meeting up with the ship, in the airports, etc. I couldn't understand why Oren was such an ass to Colin after he just went through hell to save a girl he didn't even really know. But overall I did enjoy the book. I appreciated the level of detail. The AA/NA aspects were really interesting. The woman (whose name I've now forgotten) who knows everyone and everything happening around her without getting out of bed -- and her partner -- fabulous characters!
March 6, 2019
I read this book in two days - I am not sure how I classify it - but it is engaging and intense. There are many characters with lots of different personalities - lots of moving parts.
A local drug dealer steals drugs from his boss. The boss takes his revenge and kidnaps his girlfriend. The girlfriend's mom enlists a friend to find her, and so on, and so on.
This is crazy and take the reader into the drug and criminal world. YOu start to care about these characters - Sagnier is a good writer and this is a character driven book. Fast paced with plenty of action.
I liked it. 3.5 stars.
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A local drug dealer steals drugs from his boss. The boss takes his revenge and kidnaps his girlfriend. The girlfriend's mom enlists a friend to find her, and so on, and so on.
This is crazy and take the reader into the drug and criminal world. YOu start to care about these characters - Sagnier is a good writer and this is a character driven book. Fast paced with plenty of action.
I liked it. 3.5 stars.
(less)
April 15, 2019
This revised book by Thierry Sagnier is a very good crime adventure to read from start to finish, and boy, what a twist to the end of the book. The characters are definitely all struggling with something in their lives, be it recovering from drugs and alcohol, to infidelity, to kidnapping, and to murder. The book flows smoothly from first page through the last, taking the reader on a very dark, deadly, and rather ugly ride into the world of the underworld, where drugs and violence rule. This is a voluntary review of this free book.
April 27, 2019
Gritty, fun private eye novel with surprise ending
Sagnier has a great feel for the Washington D.C. underbelly, the dialogue is spot on, and his characters come to life. Read it straight through.
Sagnier has a great feel for the Washington D.C. underbelly, the dialogue is spot on, and his characters come to life. Read it straight through.
May 18, 2015
Author sent me a copy for review especially on the Amazon site but I thought I would share my thoughts with Goodreads members. This is a first author asked review and I hope its not the last as this request had me reading a book I normally would not. Why because I spent many years working on a PhD in Addiction Science & then many years after working at a Research & Education Center until I finally crashed &burned leading to early retirement at age 50 so why would I want to read about it?
This book is extremely accurate with an excellent title & cover that draws you in & then its real language/behaviors associated with different types of addictions--that seedy underbelly that is rarely exposed. I did see some typos & grammatical errors but that's computer versus man, even the classics have errors. It's a quick read but can seem wordy at times even confusing because of the style this author is attempting reminding me of Mary Higgins Clark how she jumps from character/plot to another character/plot within every chapter but hey look how successful she is? Lots & lots of characters with different backgrounds and histories some I did not believe to be relevant to the story so I read the book.again to be fair to the author and here are my thoughts:
Was it important to give 2 paragraphs to Johnny D the driver? Was all the talk about Josie & Collin having or not having sex all that important given that in the end she does not remember him? Was all the history on every character, even minor ones necessary? For example, Mollie was a major character but was given less pages than some minor characters. Did the ending have to be so rushed especially when the middle was a bit flat? The begininning was very strong inviting you in, then the middle was a bit long & dragged in some spots but then the end was Bam its done! I was left wanting more and with many questions--good or bad, I say Good!
I loved Aunt Mim and want more. While I enjoyed hearing about all the different countries social/political battles I do not think you needed to have all the foreigners because stereotyping comes to mind, perhaps sympathy?
Excdllent twists and turns in the plot reminding me of Jefferey Deaver. I love how some characters seemed dumber than they should have been or were they--the "neighbors" that Aunt Mim had watching the house must have known that Zulu survived or did he & what about at the docks did he or didn't he survive? The girls on the ship--once they knew what they were carrying why did they sell so quickly and for so little? Why didn't Mollie check the package or did she think she could fool Zulu after all she made the call? Zulu knew girls were on ship then why did he take Josie or were we fooled into thinking that was the reason? So many questions...
This is why I enjoyed this book because I would rather be left asking questions than just left. I don't know where the author plans on taking this but I am glad that he invited me on this journey. Now for the hard part rating it...
This book is extremely accurate with an excellent title & cover that draws you in & then its real language/behaviors associated with different types of addictions--that seedy underbelly that is rarely exposed. I did see some typos & grammatical errors but that's computer versus man, even the classics have errors. It's a quick read but can seem wordy at times even confusing because of the style this author is attempting reminding me of Mary Higgins Clark how she jumps from character/plot to another character/plot within every chapter but hey look how successful she is? Lots & lots of characters with different backgrounds and histories some I did not believe to be relevant to the story so I read the book.again to be fair to the author and here are my thoughts:
Was it important to give 2 paragraphs to Johnny D the driver? Was all the talk about Josie & Collin having or not having sex all that important given that in the end she does not remember him? Was all the history on every character, even minor ones necessary? For example, Mollie was a major character but was given less pages than some minor characters. Did the ending have to be so rushed especially when the middle was a bit flat? The begininning was very strong inviting you in, then the middle was a bit long & dragged in some spots but then the end was Bam its done! I was left wanting more and with many questions--good or bad, I say Good!
I loved Aunt Mim and want more. While I enjoyed hearing about all the different countries social/political battles I do not think you needed to have all the foreigners because stereotyping comes to mind, perhaps sympathy?
Excdllent twists and turns in the plot reminding me of Jefferey Deaver. I love how some characters seemed dumber than they should have been or were they--the "neighbors" that Aunt Mim had watching the house must have known that Zulu survived or did he & what about at the docks did he or didn't he survive? The girls on the ship--once they knew what they were carrying why did they sell so quickly and for so little? Why didn't Mollie check the package or did she think she could fool Zulu after all she made the call? Zulu knew girls were on ship then why did he take Josie or were we fooled into thinking that was the reason? So many questions...
This is why I enjoyed this book because I would rather be left asking questions than just left. I don't know where the author plans on taking this but I am glad that he invited me on this journey. Now for the hard part rating it...
April 11, 2015
Thirst is the first Thierry Sagnier book I've read, but I'll be looking for others. Sagnier does a great job creating real characters, and he has a wonderful ear for how different people speak. In this he reminds me of Elmore Leonard. This tale involves the theft of ten pounds of heroin by a somewhat inept thief named Herbie, who's accidentally killed (in a comic scene reminiscent of Pulp Fiction) before he can be properly questioned regarding the whereabouts of the drugs. The rightful owner of the drugs, a nasty piece of work named the Zulu, figures that Herbie's girlfriend will know where the drugs are. So he kidnaps her. The girlfriend, Josie, is a recovering addict whose mother is a recovering alcoholic named Catherine. She knows her daughter's missing but doesn't know where she is, and can't go to the police because if Josie is using and dealing she could end up in jail. So Catherine, whose husband is a complete jerk, enlists her lover to help find Josie. Colin, the lover, is another recovering alcoholic who Catherine met in rehab years ago.
I won't say much more about the plot - there are many twists and turns and more than a few surprises along the way. There is a wonderful cast of characters in Thirst, including strippers, cops, drug dealers and a memorable West African immigrant living the life of a successful first generation entrepreneur. Several of the main characters are in AA or NA, so there's a lot of talk about the step program, sponsors and the battle to stay sober. The action - and there's plenty of action - occurs mostly in the Washington D.C. area, though Sagnier works in a plot twist that takes us aboard a cruise ship for several scenes.
There may be some plot points that don't ring quite true, but this holds together pretty well. The characters are well drawn and very believable and the dialogue is really well written. The comparison to Elmore Leonard extends not just to the dialogue but also to the author's wonderful sense of humor which is on display in almost every chapter.
I won't say much more about the plot - there are many twists and turns and more than a few surprises along the way. There is a wonderful cast of characters in Thirst, including strippers, cops, drug dealers and a memorable West African immigrant living the life of a successful first generation entrepreneur. Several of the main characters are in AA or NA, so there's a lot of talk about the step program, sponsors and the battle to stay sober. The action - and there's plenty of action - occurs mostly in the Washington D.C. area, though Sagnier works in a plot twist that takes us aboard a cruise ship for several scenes.
There may be some plot points that don't ring quite true, but this holds together pretty well. The characters are well drawn and very believable and the dialogue is really well written. The comparison to Elmore Leonard extends not just to the dialogue but also to the author's wonderful sense of humor which is on display in almost every chapter.
May 19, 2015
Disclosure: Thierry Sagnier contacted me & offered me a copy of Thirst to read & review. I'm always down for a free book.
I didn't know what to expect when I started this book. I glanced through previous reviews and most seemed positive. The negative points didn't mention anything that would turn me off from a book, so I figured this would be a decent experience.
I'm going to go ahead & throw out my biggest issue with Thirst - it wasn't long enough. I do feel like it just ended and I feel like many of these characters have bigger stories to share. I hope Thierry will build upon these characters in future books.
Although this is a crime drama, the vibe of the book reminds me of some of Jimmy Buffett's books. This is not an insult. I greatly enjoy Jimmy's writing. There's a down-to-earth feel to it. The language isn't flowery. The descriptions are realistic & gritty. The dialogue between the characters sounds true to life and there's some dark humor along the way.
I was concerned, at first, with some of Thierry's characters falling into stereotypes, particularly African/African-American stereotypes and I was worried that I would be put off by a white man producing racist caricatures. As the story developed, my unease settled down. It's still something I plan to think about some more but, again, he fleshed out some really interesting characters with interesting backgrounds & lives. I still want to see more from them.
There is some decent action, but that's not the crux of the book. The characters are all struggling with their own demons and those demons come in several different forms. The AA imagery is heavy throughout the book and I can see where that might be off-putting to some readers, so consider yourself warned.
Overall, this was a good read and it kept me interested. I definitely want to see more fiction from Thierry Sagnier.
I didn't know what to expect when I started this book. I glanced through previous reviews and most seemed positive. The negative points didn't mention anything that would turn me off from a book, so I figured this would be a decent experience.
I'm going to go ahead & throw out my biggest issue with Thirst - it wasn't long enough. I do feel like it just ended and I feel like many of these characters have bigger stories to share. I hope Thierry will build upon these characters in future books.
Although this is a crime drama, the vibe of the book reminds me of some of Jimmy Buffett's books. This is not an insult. I greatly enjoy Jimmy's writing. There's a down-to-earth feel to it. The language isn't flowery. The descriptions are realistic & gritty. The dialogue between the characters sounds true to life and there's some dark humor along the way.
I was concerned, at first, with some of Thierry's characters falling into stereotypes, particularly African/African-American stereotypes and I was worried that I would be put off by a white man producing racist caricatures. As the story developed, my unease settled down. It's still something I plan to think about some more but, again, he fleshed out some really interesting characters with interesting backgrounds & lives. I still want to see more from them.
There is some decent action, but that's not the crux of the book. The characters are all struggling with their own demons and those demons come in several different forms. The AA imagery is heavy throughout the book and I can see where that might be off-putting to some readers, so consider yourself warned.
Overall, this was a good read and it kept me interested. I definitely want to see more fiction from Thierry Sagnier.
June 11, 2015
My View:
When is a detective not a detective? When he is a ten years sober recovering alcoholic researcher.
The pages will simply fly by as you devour this fast paced, hard boiled modern detective novel, the first in the Colin Marsh series.
But when is a detective story not really a detective story? When the detective is a ten years sober recovering alcoholic researcher who suddenly finds himself obligated to help out his married lover in her search for her missing daughter. Colin Marsh experiences research of a different kind – the practical, nose to the grindstone, talk to your sources, search the internet, and trace leads kind of research that sees him morph into a modern day hero. A hero – of sorts - Colin would not refer to himself in this way – he is flawed, he is human and he is just doing the best he can, one day at a time.
Speaking of heroes, when you have read this book – tell me what you think of the character Mamadou? Hero or anti- hero? I really liked this character- his polite ways, his insights, his sense of responsibility and his determination to avenge the death of his sister. But look past the surface, Mamadou has hidden talents; guile, patience, discretion, a fantastic memory and the ability to manipulate those around him for his own purposes, a great friend but look out if you are an enemy. This character has a few secrets I want to discover.
This is a fast paced, action packed thriller that delights with language that flows, is conversational, realistic and not at all verbose, in fact Sagneir keeps a very tight reign on his use of words, this is pared back, minimalist kind of work – not a word is wasted, not a word is over used or spoken just for the sake of it yet the plot is well developed as are the characters and the settings come alive on the page. Sagnier can write!
When is a detective not a detective? When he is a ten years sober recovering alcoholic researcher.
The pages will simply fly by as you devour this fast paced, hard boiled modern detective novel, the first in the Colin Marsh series.
But when is a detective story not really a detective story? When the detective is a ten years sober recovering alcoholic researcher who suddenly finds himself obligated to help out his married lover in her search for her missing daughter. Colin Marsh experiences research of a different kind – the practical, nose to the grindstone, talk to your sources, search the internet, and trace leads kind of research that sees him morph into a modern day hero. A hero – of sorts - Colin would not refer to himself in this way – he is flawed, he is human and he is just doing the best he can, one day at a time.
Speaking of heroes, when you have read this book – tell me what you think of the character Mamadou? Hero or anti- hero? I really liked this character- his polite ways, his insights, his sense of responsibility and his determination to avenge the death of his sister. But look past the surface, Mamadou has hidden talents; guile, patience, discretion, a fantastic memory and the ability to manipulate those around him for his own purposes, a great friend but look out if you are an enemy. This character has a few secrets I want to discover.
This is a fast paced, action packed thriller that delights with language that flows, is conversational, realistic and not at all verbose, in fact Sagneir keeps a very tight reign on his use of words, this is pared back, minimalist kind of work – not a word is wasted, not a word is over used or spoken just for the sake of it yet the plot is well developed as are the characters and the settings come alive on the page. Sagnier can write!
April 24, 2015
23 apr 15
first from sagnier for me, kindle version, a captivating story...about 50% into it now...just started this...late morning. thought i was going to work but the snow put the keebosh on that idea. meh. work will get done, eventually. tomorrow. or the next day.
did this start slow? i dunno. perhaps. coming off quite a few chandler reads...couple hammetts...steinbeck...macdonald. but it is a captivating story...want to know how things turn out for a number of characters herein. more later.
later...by a few minutes.
and heh! so i glance at a few reviews...was it one, two? say that the e-book was offered by sagnier, hoping for a review. yes...sagnier and i communicated and some thingies were sent to me...but i'm not adept like most people. hammer? shovel? no problem. if digging a ditch makes you happy, dig it. anyway...though an e-book was offered i had problems, this that the other...so i bought it at amazon...pretty good deal, i think...was it 4.99? 3.99? something.
the first review mentions pushcart...that caught my attention, too. so...good read so far. later gator.
update, finished
24 apr 15
good story.
some of what this story has going for it...what i liked:
1. nicely written, believable
2. i liked how aa/na elements played in this story...there is more than one conflict herein
3. i liked the characters, people who came to the u.s. from other countries...africa mostly...and are now here doing this that the other...added some flavor to the story not seen...as in, so many stories of this caliber have-to-do with americans...nobody makes a point about that...it is a given...so this one with a cast that includes many from around the globe make this a good read.
i'll be looking for more from sagnier...he writes a good yarn. onward and upward.
first from sagnier for me, kindle version, a captivating story...about 50% into it now...just started this...late morning. thought i was going to work but the snow put the keebosh on that idea. meh. work will get done, eventually. tomorrow. or the next day.
did this start slow? i dunno. perhaps. coming off quite a few chandler reads...couple hammetts...steinbeck...macdonald. but it is a captivating story...want to know how things turn out for a number of characters herein. more later.
later...by a few minutes.
and heh! so i glance at a few reviews...was it one, two? say that the e-book was offered by sagnier, hoping for a review. yes...sagnier and i communicated and some thingies were sent to me...but i'm not adept like most people. hammer? shovel? no problem. if digging a ditch makes you happy, dig it. anyway...though an e-book was offered i had problems, this that the other...so i bought it at amazon...pretty good deal, i think...was it 4.99? 3.99? something.
the first review mentions pushcart...that caught my attention, too. so...good read so far. later gator.
update, finished
24 apr 15
good story.
some of what this story has going for it...what i liked:
1. nicely written, believable
2. i liked how aa/na elements played in this story...there is more than one conflict herein
3. i liked the characters, people who came to the u.s. from other countries...africa mostly...and are now here doing this that the other...added some flavor to the story not seen...as in, so many stories of this caliber have-to-do with americans...nobody makes a point about that...it is a given...so this one with a cast that includes many from around the globe make this a good read.
i'll be looking for more from sagnier...he writes a good yarn. onward and upward.
June 12, 2015
A Review Copy
From the very first words in the prologue you can notice that Thierry Sagnier does not spoon
and stall, he takes you straight to action. You came here for trouble? You shall get what you asked for.
I loved Thierry’s smooth style and how he simplifies the chain of events for the readers in Thirst. Some writers under the same genre twirl around in their narrative to build up suspense but they end up creating a tangled mishmash of bore which throws off the reader. However, Thierry Sagnier proved that such intense plots don’t have to be labyrinthine and knotty; on the contrary, I was reading with a daunting, nerve-wrecking ease because I had no idea what to expect.
The plot takes place in a thrilling drugs-tainted atmosphere and, literally, begins on a knife-edge. Herbie’s death got a ball of troublesome events rolling and readers will surely like the characters because they seem too real for a fictional story---especially Colin, Cat and Josie.
It’s a “Thirst”-driven anxiousness. To quench it, read Thirst.
P.S. Thank you Thierry for the free copy and your wonderful email.
From the very first words in the prologue you can notice that Thierry Sagnier does not spoon
and stall, he takes you straight to action. You came here for trouble? You shall get what you asked for.
I loved Thierry’s smooth style and how he simplifies the chain of events for the readers in Thirst. Some writers under the same genre twirl around in their narrative to build up suspense but they end up creating a tangled mishmash of bore which throws off the reader. However, Thierry Sagnier proved that such intense plots don’t have to be labyrinthine and knotty; on the contrary, I was reading with a daunting, nerve-wrecking ease because I had no idea what to expect.
The plot takes place in a thrilling drugs-tainted atmosphere and, literally, begins on a knife-edge. Herbie’s death got a ball of troublesome events rolling and readers will surely like the characters because they seem too real for a fictional story---especially Colin, Cat and Josie.
It’s a “Thirst”-driven anxiousness. To quench it, read Thirst.
P.S. Thank you Thierry for the free copy and your wonderful email.
May 5, 2015
I received a copy of this novel from the author in exchange for an honest review. Thank you, Thierry Sagnier!
Possible minor spoilers ahead...
What a fantastic novel! With complex characters, a tight plot and an ending that I didn't see coming, Thirst kept me at the edge of my seat. When Herbie, a second-rate drug dealer steals from his boss, the Zulu, and is later killed, he starts a chain reaction that will change the lives of many people. In an attempt to get back his stash, the Zulu kidnaps Josie, Herbie’s girlfriend and a recovering addict. Her mom asks Colin, an ex-alcoholic, to find her. Colin asks Mamadou for help. Mamadou was a cop in his native Senegal, but in DC he drives a limo. Other characters also get involved in both sides. The effects that the actions of one character have on others are unforeseen, but inevitable. Thirst is so well written and compelling, that I couldn’t put it down but, even more than the action, I enjoyed the characters. They are not perfect; they are flawed and carry their guilt over past actions like a heavy load. They have all done despicable things but they still have redeemable qualities, even the bad guys (well, most of the bad guys). It also made me think about how hard is must be for recovering addicts to keep going and stay sober. Thirst is a great read and I highly recommend it.
Possible minor spoilers ahead...
What a fantastic novel! With complex characters, a tight plot and an ending that I didn't see coming, Thirst kept me at the edge of my seat. When Herbie, a second-rate drug dealer steals from his boss, the Zulu, and is later killed, he starts a chain reaction that will change the lives of many people. In an attempt to get back his stash, the Zulu kidnaps Josie, Herbie’s girlfriend and a recovering addict. Her mom asks Colin, an ex-alcoholic, to find her. Colin asks Mamadou for help. Mamadou was a cop in his native Senegal, but in DC he drives a limo. Other characters also get involved in both sides. The effects that the actions of one character have on others are unforeseen, but inevitable. Thirst is so well written and compelling, that I couldn’t put it down but, even more than the action, I enjoyed the characters. They are not perfect; they are flawed and carry their guilt over past actions like a heavy load. They have all done despicable things but they still have redeemable qualities, even the bad guys (well, most of the bad guys). It also made me think about how hard is must be for recovering addicts to keep going and stay sober. Thirst is a great read and I highly recommend it.
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