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Silent Echo
Not much could drag Jim Booker out of a peaceful, if lonely, retirement and back to late nights, crime scenes, and chases. Jim Booker is done with detective work and would just like to enjoy a cup of coffee on a sunny day. But when an old friend shows up with a case about an old flame, Booker can’t say no.
What starts as a missing persons case soon delivers more than he bargained for, and when Booker’s own past offers clues, it’s clear that no one else can solve this mystery. But there’s a catch: Booker was given six months to live eight months ago.
J.R. Rain shows us that when it seems there’s nothing left to live for, there’s also nothing left to lose. His characters will take a chance on danger, doubt, even an unlikely romance—as long as they get a cup of coffee first.
What starts as a missing persons case soon delivers more than he bargained for, and when Booker’s own past offers clues, it’s clear that no one else can solve this mystery. But there’s a catch: Booker was given six months to live eight months ago.
J.R. Rain shows us that when it seems there’s nothing left to live for, there’s also nothing left to lose. His characters will take a chance on danger, doubt, even an unlikely romance—as long as they get a cup of coffee first.
5 pages, MP3 CD
First published October 22, 2013
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About the author
J.R. Rain
686 books1,728 followersJ.R. Rain is the author of 110 novels and counting. He lives on an island in the Pacific Northwest, where he's hard at work on his next novel... and fighting off sparkly vampires.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 268 reviews
November 23, 2013
I feel as though some readers have become the most harsh of critics and have forgotten how to simply read for pleasure. This book was good. Another reviewer pointed out that the author didn't focus enough on the mystery, but the fact is that the case and the investigator share the same story. Its written in first person, which was a problem with another reviewer because they felt as though the investigators thoughts were too redundant. Well, they were redundant, but honestly, if I were stricken with his condition, death and how I view life because of it, would always be on my mind. It only felt natural. Sure, the case was pretty simple and not grand in scope (most cases in real life are not), but it was fitting for our dying main character to take on near the end of his life for reasons I wont mention.
This is an enjoyable afternoon read. Its emotional and compelling, and is a testament to the enduring strength of love when you think you've lost everything. Check it out.
This is an enjoyable afternoon read. Its emotional and compelling, and is a testament to the enduring strength of love when you think you've lost everything. Check it out.
August 17, 2014
The promotional blurb for this book was quite simple – a private investigator with a terminal illness takes on one last case.
Now I read for escapism. I don’t usually buy heartbreaking tearjerkers since that wouldn’t escape from anything I have to deal with daily. And reading a book in which I know the main protagonist is going to die in the last chapter is definitely not in keeping with my personal mantra on escapism.
But something in that simple blurb apparently pricked my subconscious. Not only did I buy the book immediately, I mentally pushed it to the forefront of my to-read list. And what a read it was!
This book is probably the most brutally honest account of a man’s last days alive, struggling to breathe, to even nod his head as the untreatable cancer eats away at his lungs. It is a story of how he got the lung cancer (no, not from smoking) and why he is still alive two months after the expiration date pronounced by his doctors. It is a story of guilt and self-hatred, not only over his present circumstances but also over an unsolved murder that occurred 22 years in the past.
Above all, it is a story of true friendship, a friendship that transcends the fear of an infectious disease. And It is the story of an unconditional love that gives our protagonist one last chance to redeem himself – to solve that murder that so shaped his life and his self-destruction.
To me, this book is very atypical for JR Rain. Yes, it is a murder mystery with supernatural and paranormal aspects, but the scope truly transcends all that genre hype. I don’t know what circumstances or whose circumstances drove him to write it, but the result is a work of art – a heartbreaking, mind bending, soul warping work of the heart.
Now I read for escapism. I don’t usually buy heartbreaking tearjerkers since that wouldn’t escape from anything I have to deal with daily. And reading a book in which I know the main protagonist is going to die in the last chapter is definitely not in keeping with my personal mantra on escapism.
But something in that simple blurb apparently pricked my subconscious. Not only did I buy the book immediately, I mentally pushed it to the forefront of my to-read list. And what a read it was!
This book is probably the most brutally honest account of a man’s last days alive, struggling to breathe, to even nod his head as the untreatable cancer eats away at his lungs. It is a story of how he got the lung cancer (no, not from smoking) and why he is still alive two months after the expiration date pronounced by his doctors. It is a story of guilt and self-hatred, not only over his present circumstances but also over an unsolved murder that occurred 22 years in the past.
Above all, it is a story of true friendship, a friendship that transcends the fear of an infectious disease. And It is the story of an unconditional love that gives our protagonist one last chance to redeem himself – to solve that murder that so shaped his life and his self-destruction.
To me, this book is very atypical for JR Rain. Yes, it is a murder mystery with supernatural and paranormal aspects, but the scope truly transcends all that genre hype. I don’t know what circumstances or whose circumstances drove him to write it, but the result is a work of art – a heartbreaking, mind bending, soul warping work of the heart.
November 14, 2013
I do not think I've ever read a mystery more depressing than Silent Echo. P. D. James writes some depressing mysteries but she's a load of laughs compared to J. R. Rain.
I guess if your main protagonist has terminal AIDS related cancer and six months to live, you're not going to be writing a comedy. But P. I. Jim Booker is really depressing. He crapped out in the game of life. He blames himself for his brother's death, the love of his life is married to his best friend and now she's missing. So his last goal in life is to solve the mystery of her disappearance...and perhaps the mystery of his brother's death.
Silent Echo, despite the downbeat vibes, is a good novel. Booker never sinks into the abyss of whiny and depressing and he is surrounded by caring concerned friends. The strength of this novel includes a realistic depiction of Booker's dilemma(s) and a nice gumshoe atmosphere throughout. The main weakness is a mystery that is too easy to predict, mainly due to the lack of reasonable suspects. But there's no doubt that Rains is an accomplished writer in the modern crime noir style a la Huston and Lansdale.
I guess I like my Rain a little softer, as in the case of the warm and witty Elvis Has Not Left the Building. Yet this is a good novel and does give me a view of a slightly harder and more contemplative Rain.
Three and a half stars.
I guess if your main protagonist has terminal AIDS related cancer and six months to live, you're not going to be writing a comedy. But P. I. Jim Booker is really depressing. He crapped out in the game of life. He blames himself for his brother's death, the love of his life is married to his best friend and now she's missing. So his last goal in life is to solve the mystery of her disappearance...and perhaps the mystery of his brother's death.
Silent Echo, despite the downbeat vibes, is a good novel. Booker never sinks into the abyss of whiny and depressing and he is surrounded by caring concerned friends. The strength of this novel includes a realistic depiction of Booker's dilemma(s) and a nice gumshoe atmosphere throughout. The main weakness is a mystery that is too easy to predict, mainly due to the lack of reasonable suspects. But there's no doubt that Rains is an accomplished writer in the modern crime noir style a la Huston and Lansdale.
I guess I like my Rain a little softer, as in the case of the warm and witty Elvis Has Not Left the Building. Yet this is a good novel and does give me a view of a slightly harder and more contemplative Rain.
Three and a half stars.
dnf
November 11, 2013I received this through an Amazon ARC program, but I honestly just couldn't get into it. I felt like I was in some weird version of Groundhog Day: every time I advanced the pages in my Kindle, I felt like I was reading the EXACT same thing I read on the last page. No one seems particularly likable, either.
Also, the AIDS situation could have been handled less awkwardly.
Also, the AIDS situation could have been handled less awkwardly.
November 9, 2013
I felt like I was dying a slow death as I read this book.
November 8, 2013
Jimmy is a ex-PI suffering from end-stage lung cancer related to AIDS. The novel tells of his determination in solving one last case-who murdered his best friend's wife. Complicating things, this is a woman whom Jimmy has always loved, AND her body is discovered in the same area Jimmy's brother's murdered body was found years earlier.
I liked the storyline, but the writing kept to the same theme ad nauseam. The reader is shown that the main character, Jimmy, has a serious self hatred issue from the first chapter on. The reader also understands that Jimmy owes his current state of being to his best friend and constant companion, Numi. Numi, unfortunately, has to take a lot of unnecessary abuse from Jimmy while caring for him. Jimmy's anger and hatred are repeated in every single chapter. Every single chapter.
Pros to Rain's latest novel are that it ended satisfactorily with nothing hanging. It was also short, which is good because it wasn't great in the telling.
Cons are the predictable "curves" through the denouement. The constant reminder that Jimmy had AIDS related lung cancer didn't help. We got it. He's suffering. We're clear on that. Tell me a couple times, I promise I'll remember. The manner in which Jimmy treated Numi throughout the tale didn't warm me to the book either.
I liked the storyline, but the writing kept to the same theme ad nauseam. The reader is shown that the main character, Jimmy, has a serious self hatred issue from the first chapter on. The reader also understands that Jimmy owes his current state of being to his best friend and constant companion, Numi. Numi, unfortunately, has to take a lot of unnecessary abuse from Jimmy while caring for him. Jimmy's anger and hatred are repeated in every single chapter. Every single chapter.
Pros to Rain's latest novel are that it ended satisfactorily with nothing hanging. It was also short, which is good because it wasn't great in the telling.
Cons are the predictable "curves" through the denouement. The constant reminder that Jimmy had AIDS related lung cancer didn't help. We got it. He's suffering. We're clear on that. Tell me a couple times, I promise I'll remember. The manner in which Jimmy treated Numi throughout the tale didn't warm me to the book either.
September 8, 2014
I got this book for free from Amazon and wished I had passed. It just was not a good book. The author could not decide if he was writing a straight guy dying of AIDS book or a murder mystery and therefore fails at both.
There was no path to follow on the murder mystery part. You get almost to the end, he sees one clue and blam! solves the mystery. The result is completely unbelievable and frankly kind of pathetic. Like the author suddnly remembered he had a crime to solve and then just took someone and tied a ribbon around them.
The straight guy who's uncomfortable with the gay guy was pounded out into every other page of this book. Jeez! We get it. Straight guy isn't into the man love until he has aboiut 10 seconds left to live. The first two times, I was okay with it but after the 30th instance of the character telling us how uncomfortable with the touch of the gay man, I thought I was going to scream.
Just not a good book and one I would not recommend - even to my worst enemy.
There was no path to follow on the murder mystery part. You get almost to the end, he sees one clue and blam! solves the mystery. The result is completely unbelievable and frankly kind of pathetic. Like the author suddnly remembered he had a crime to solve and then just took someone and tied a ribbon around them.
The straight guy who's uncomfortable with the gay guy was pounded out into every other page of this book. Jeez! We get it. Straight guy isn't into the man love until he has aboiut 10 seconds left to live. The first two times, I was okay with it but after the 30th instance of the character telling us how uncomfortable with the touch of the gay man, I thought I was going to scream.
Just not a good book and one I would not recommend - even to my worst enemy.
December 1, 2013
This book was amazingly odd. I felt really bad for Jimmy as he suffered through every day trying to find his friend's killer knowing he really wasn't up to snuff. The fact that he should have been dead two months ago lends a certain frenetic energy to the story.
Mystery and suspense abound along with a touch of the supernatural. The (at times trippy and psychedelic) visions Jimmy experiences are signs that even though his death is fast approaching he will get to the bottom of the murder that has haunted him for most of his life...and that deep down he has always suspected who really killed his little brother.
There are uncoventional love stories hidden in the book that made me almost tear up. The flow was kind of twitchy but it led me to appreciate how impossible the goals he set for himself truly were. It has been a long time since I read a first person narrative that actually made me feel like I WAS actually living in the main character's head and I really enjoyed the experience immensely .
The true beauty of this book was seeing though the eyes of a dying man trying desperately to make up for the sins of the past. He refused to go quietly or leave unfinished business. That in and of itself creates a beautiful and heartbreaking story.
** this book is suitble for adult readers
Mystery and suspense abound along with a touch of the supernatural. The (at times trippy and psychedelic) visions Jimmy experiences are signs that even though his death is fast approaching he will get to the bottom of the murder that has haunted him for most of his life...and that deep down he has always suspected who really killed his little brother.
There are uncoventional love stories hidden in the book that made me almost tear up. The flow was kind of twitchy but it led me to appreciate how impossible the goals he set for himself truly were. It has been a long time since I read a first person narrative that actually made me feel like I WAS actually living in the main character's head and I really enjoyed the experience immensely .
The true beauty of this book was seeing though the eyes of a dying man trying desperately to make up for the sins of the past. He refused to go quietly or leave unfinished business. That in and of itself creates a beautiful and heartbreaking story.
** this book is suitble for adult readers
November 24, 2013
If you're having a bad day, are in a funk or on the verge of depression - and you're counting on a good book to pull you back into the sunshine - then don't read this book. It will just kick your butt over the edge you're trying to avoid. However, if you're on somewhat stable ground and are looking for a mystery written from a different perspective than most, Silent Echo won't disappoint. J.R. Rain has written an improbable, poignant piece that blends a more superficial "private detective solves a mystery" story line with a much more developed introspective look into the dying detective. Easily a can't-put-down, one-day read that will leave you pondering your own finite life.
February 18, 2015
To be perfectly honest this book was a freebie from Amazon. I was excited to read and review it. It is about a man who is asked to help solve a murder but here is the catch, he is dying of aids/cancer and has very little time left to solve the mystery. I liked the idea of adding a completely new twist to an old murder mystery. But it's clear the author had an agenda so it ends up being very preachy. Exactly what his agenda was I'm not sure. I didn't mind the fact that his best friend is gay and is the ONLY person in the world who is willing to care for him as he is dying. But the author continually assures the reader over and over in practically every chapter, he is not gay and is in fact very uncomfortable having Numi so close. Hello! Why is he is so worried that the world know he isn't gay? think the reader is smart enough to understand this without having it repeatedly drilled in. Because of this he will snap at Numi which just made me dislike him even more. Numi is his best friend and is caring for him 24/7. Even his relationship with his therapist seems contrived to positively let us know he is not gay. Sheesh I wanted to say, either come out of the closet or shut the door already! I accepted this book because I was intrigued with how he would solve the crime considering his circumstances. I made it 60% of the way through and the murder case seemed to be almost an afterthought.
All in all I think J.R. Rain is not a bad writer so I'm giving this book 3 stars.
All in all I think J.R. Rain is not a bad writer so I'm giving this book 3 stars.
April 6, 2019
A moving tale of a terminally ill detective working to solve a very personal cold case from 22 years earlier along with a very recent murder with similiar features
December 3, 2013
'I got this book for free in exchange for an honest review'
Jimmy is dying. He has AIDS and Lung Cancer and he is living on borrowed time. He should have been dead 2 months ago. His best friend is a Nigerian Artist named Numi. He is the Only person who has stuck by Jimmy through everything. Jimmy used to be a PI and his old friend comes to him asking him to find his wife Olivia who came up missing. Jimmy and Olivia have always had feelings for each other. It turns out Olivia was found that very night. She was taken from the same park and found in the same park that his brother was 22 years earlier.. Murdered in the same way also. So now Jimmy is on a Mission before he dies. To find the killer.
I don't often look through other reviews. I did for this book for some reason. I was curious about other peoples opinions because to me this book was so different from anything I have read from J.R. and I was highly disappointed from most of the reviews that I had read. Yes. In the book Jimmy continuously stated that he was dying but how would you react if you were dying and you resented it and you resented your best friend taking care of almost your every need and you resented the fact that you finally found the love of your life and you are in fact dying. My father died of Cancer. So this book actually touched a very close place for me. I often wonder about the things that went through my fathers head when we had to take care of him in ways like Numi had to take care of Jimmy. What actually went through his head when we had to feed him food through a tube through his stomach. I imagine it would be a lot like the things that went through Jimmy's head. There is another person extremely close to me with cancer although I cannot say who as she does not want it broadcasted. And I again wonder what actually goes through her head.
I am giving this book a 5 star rating because I liked this book so much because of how different it was and because of how personally it did touch me. I loved Jimmy's determination no matter how weak he felt and how close he felt to death to push on until he found out who the killer was. I love that he finally see's Numi for the friend and Angel that he is. I Love that he finds forgiveness in his heart. I found this book very emotional at the end. Every person will not like every book. True. Every book will not touch every person the same way. True. But for me, these are the main reasons why I loved this book. I thought that it was very touching and very different. I think people will enjoy the book more if they read it just for the enjoyment of reading it. Not if they are reading it just for the sake of analyzing it. I would definitely recommend reading it.
'Reviewed by L.S.K. Sweetheart Reviews'
Jimmy is dying. He has AIDS and Lung Cancer and he is living on borrowed time. He should have been dead 2 months ago. His best friend is a Nigerian Artist named Numi. He is the Only person who has stuck by Jimmy through everything. Jimmy used to be a PI and his old friend comes to him asking him to find his wife Olivia who came up missing. Jimmy and Olivia have always had feelings for each other. It turns out Olivia was found that very night. She was taken from the same park and found in the same park that his brother was 22 years earlier.. Murdered in the same way also. So now Jimmy is on a Mission before he dies. To find the killer.
I don't often look through other reviews. I did for this book for some reason. I was curious about other peoples opinions because to me this book was so different from anything I have read from J.R. and I was highly disappointed from most of the reviews that I had read. Yes. In the book Jimmy continuously stated that he was dying but how would you react if you were dying and you resented it and you resented your best friend taking care of almost your every need and you resented the fact that you finally found the love of your life and you are in fact dying. My father died of Cancer. So this book actually touched a very close place for me. I often wonder about the things that went through my fathers head when we had to take care of him in ways like Numi had to take care of Jimmy. What actually went through his head when we had to feed him food through a tube through his stomach. I imagine it would be a lot like the things that went through Jimmy's head. There is another person extremely close to me with cancer although I cannot say who as she does not want it broadcasted. And I again wonder what actually goes through her head.
I am giving this book a 5 star rating because I liked this book so much because of how different it was and because of how personally it did touch me. I loved Jimmy's determination no matter how weak he felt and how close he felt to death to push on until he found out who the killer was. I love that he finally see's Numi for the friend and Angel that he is. I Love that he finds forgiveness in his heart. I found this book very emotional at the end. Every person will not like every book. True. Every book will not touch every person the same way. True. But for me, these are the main reasons why I loved this book. I thought that it was very touching and very different. I think people will enjoy the book more if they read it just for the enjoyment of reading it. Not if they are reading it just for the sake of analyzing it. I would definitely recommend reading it.
'Reviewed by L.S.K. Sweetheart Reviews'
November 3, 2013
This started out as a very typical J.R. Rain book for me. Like many others of his I have read, it is about a PI in California investigating a missing person. It definitely has his typical writing flare, which is so wonderful. But the story soon became less about the detective story, the mystery surrounding the murder, and more about the life of the PI, Jimmy. Usually that would bother me, but this was so well written, intertwined with the investigation, that it just made sense. This book is a murder mystery, yes, but it is also about a man who is dying and trying to resolve some issues before his death. Both stories are very good and each has the reader involved and wanting to see what happens next. Nothing ever gets preachy as some books about death do. Again, typical Rain-- this book just flew by as I read it within 1 day(unlike some other reviewers, I don't think the length of a book is a reason to give or not give stars- when did that ever count??). I would have given it 4 stars because I wanted more of the murder mystery, but since the story was so fast moving and the relationship between Jimmy and Numi was so well written, this deserved the total 5 stars. Great read and a story that will stay with you.
November 9, 2013
A mystery wrapped in an enigma. The enigma is, what is life, what is dying, where is the line between.
The protagonist shares with us his dying. It is an honest sharing. He is trying to solve a mystery, but being that he is not fully on this plane due to dying, the mystery solving moves to the back seat.
Altogether a captivating story, told in a true, believable voice. The friendship between the protagonist and the man who has chosen to care for him in his end days is truly the centerpiece of the story. There is tension there because the caregiver is a gay man who openly loves the dying narrator. The narrator has great difficulty navigating those waters, not because he does not care deeply for his caregiver, but because he does, and he is heterosexual and has confusion. It is as if in dying, the lines of love are blurred, just as the lines between life and death. He cannot quite find a way to graciously accept that love, so stumbles about.
In many ways, this is a love story.
The protagonist shares with us his dying. It is an honest sharing. He is trying to solve a mystery, but being that he is not fully on this plane due to dying, the mystery solving moves to the back seat.
Altogether a captivating story, told in a true, believable voice. The friendship between the protagonist and the man who has chosen to care for him in his end days is truly the centerpiece of the story. There is tension there because the caregiver is a gay man who openly loves the dying narrator. The narrator has great difficulty navigating those waters, not because he does not care deeply for his caregiver, but because he does, and he is heterosexual and has confusion. It is as if in dying, the lines of love are blurred, just as the lines between life and death. He cannot quite find a way to graciously accept that love, so stumbles about.
In many ways, this is a love story.
December 2, 2013
edit it here.
Product Image
Silent Echo
~Thomas & Mercer
3.9 out of 5 stars (674)
5.0 out of 5 stars AMAZING!, December 1, 2013
By cjr
This review is from: Silent Echo (Kindle Edition)
I borrowed this book from Prime because there's a contest going on and, I thought, what the heck, I'll read it, then enter the contest. Having said that, I am a bibliophile who reads 4-6 books and I have been doing that for 50 years. I don't usually read mysteries, but I read this one for the reasons already stated. I had heard of Mr. Rain. I have one of his books on my kindle, but haven't read it yet. I'm definitely reading it now.
This was a short read. I read it in a few hours and, I have to tell you that it destroyed me. It ripped my heart out!. The storyline and the character development were exceptionally well done. Mr. Rain is a highly talented author and I will definitely read more of his books.
November 6, 2013
This was a great story told in the first person like many favored detective stories. But it is so much more! There is much hurt, disillusionment, betrayal, suffering, death. But there is also great friendship, love, honesty, resolution, restoration, forgiveness and hope in this story of the last days of a very ill detective trying to solve his first as well as his last mystery of of a triad of murder.
Each of the main and other close characters in this book are very well developed. I cried and could barely read the ending but somehow did.
J.R. Rain, thank you so much for writing such a wonderful story.
Must read in my opinion.
Each of the main and other close characters in this book are very well developed. I cried and could barely read the ending but somehow did.
J.R. Rain, thank you so much for writing such a wonderful story.
Must read in my opinion.
November 11, 2013
How did this book earn the label 'Mystery'?
There were very few characters and the 'mystery' was criminally simple to unravel.
The protagonist played no significant role in the evolution of the story.
The author has, dare I say it, wasted chapters and too much of my time by frequently portraying the protagonist as an ailing, homophobic narcissist.
Further, the author has exhibited questionable judgement in introducing characters who serve no purpose but to pander to the wanton desires of the movie brain-washed modern reader.
Uncensored profanity has not place in literature and frequent use of the same is deplorable.
There were very few characters and the 'mystery' was criminally simple to unravel.
The protagonist played no significant role in the evolution of the story.
The author has, dare I say it, wasted chapters and too much of my time by frequently portraying the protagonist as an ailing, homophobic narcissist.
Further, the author has exhibited questionable judgement in introducing characters who serve no purpose but to pander to the wanton desires of the movie brain-washed modern reader.
Uncensored profanity has not place in literature and frequent use of the same is deplorable.
November 10, 2013
Living on borrowed time, Jimmy Booker works a gruesome murder case of a longtime friend.
To me, this book was less about solving a murder mystery; it's about examining traditional masculine gender norms, its debilitating impact on forming relationships and even how it affects ones health. I found myself drawn in Jimmy's scarred past and dealing with his illness. Especially interesting was the dynamic between Jimmy and his gay friend/volunteer caretaker.
It's a quick yet emotional read.
This review has been posted on Amazon. I received the book for free through Amazon Prime.
To me, this book was less about solving a murder mystery; it's about examining traditional masculine gender norms, its debilitating impact on forming relationships and even how it affects ones health. I found myself drawn in Jimmy's scarred past and dealing with his illness. Especially interesting was the dynamic between Jimmy and his gay friend/volunteer caretaker.
It's a quick yet emotional read.
This review has been posted on Amazon. I received the book for free through Amazon Prime.
November 26, 2013
I was promised a book about a detective coming out of retirement, what I got was a book about man dying of AIDS/cancer held loosely together by a mystery I solved within the first few chapters. I may not mind the AIDS/cancer story if that's what I was buying into when I read the summary.
I will say that I thought it was creative and unique at first but the only thing consistent through the book was him whining and after the first several chapters it just got old. I hung in there and can say it could have been worse, but I wouldn't recommend it.
I will say that I thought it was creative and unique at first but the only thing consistent through the book was him whining and after the first several chapters it just got old. I hung in there and can say it could have been worse, but I wouldn't recommend it.
November 17, 2013
I picked this book from Amazon’s Kindle First program where Prime members can pick from a selection of books new to Kindle. It looked interesting and a mystery seemed a change of pace from what I had been reading. The very first thing I have to say about this book is it really isn’t a mystery. There is one big plot element that is definitely a mystery but the book in my opinion is about exploring relationships and I don’t mean romantic relationships. Relationship of the human connection and covers questions “like what is a friend?” and “what is love?” This book also covers responsibility, compassion and forgiveness.
The main character has AIDS which caused cancer in his lungs and was supposed to have been dead before the book even starts. He is living on borrowed time and can barely do anything himself as he is too weak from his illness. He knows he is going to die but when the mystery starts it gives him a chance to reopen a piece of his past and solve a very old case. He assisted by his gay friend Numi who is one of the principal elements in what the book really is about. Numi has a compassion and love for the main character that is different than romantic love, it is something that perplexes the main character and provides a depth to the story that was interesting. The next character of importance is the woman that Jim falls in love with. Something that seems sudden and in some ways is but there is a history between the two before the book starts. These two characters are very important to the overall theme of the book but in my opinion are somewhat flat. Numi’s dialogue didn’t always match his actions and felt out of character, the love interest only really seemed there to help the main character overcome personal problems and didn’t feel like a real person.
I would say this book as something experimental for the author perhaps, which is good but it feels like cement foundation was improperly poured and didn’t set right which caused cracks to appear. Characters and dialogue seemed off at times and plot elements didn’t quite all seem there. I don’t know if the end had quite the impact on me that the author was attempting but it should come as no surprise as to what that ending is but I won’t write any further about it.
In the end this book is classified as a mystery and I feel that mystery lovers might be disappointed by this book. The overall mystery was not very shocking and I feel fans of genre would have it figured out by the end of the first few chapters and to me what the book really is about just didn’t have the depth it required. It isn’t a long read and I don’t feel my time was wasted reading this but I do feel it might disappoint people.
Verdict: Sixes
The main character has AIDS which caused cancer in his lungs and was supposed to have been dead before the book even starts. He is living on borrowed time and can barely do anything himself as he is too weak from his illness. He knows he is going to die but when the mystery starts it gives him a chance to reopen a piece of his past and solve a very old case. He assisted by his gay friend Numi who is one of the principal elements in what the book really is about. Numi has a compassion and love for the main character that is different than romantic love, it is something that perplexes the main character and provides a depth to the story that was interesting. The next character of importance is the woman that Jim falls in love with. Something that seems sudden and in some ways is but there is a history between the two before the book starts. These two characters are very important to the overall theme of the book but in my opinion are somewhat flat. Numi’s dialogue didn’t always match his actions and felt out of character, the love interest only really seemed there to help the main character overcome personal problems and didn’t feel like a real person.
I would say this book as something experimental for the author perhaps, which is good but it feels like cement foundation was improperly poured and didn’t set right which caused cracks to appear. Characters and dialogue seemed off at times and plot elements didn’t quite all seem there. I don’t know if the end had quite the impact on me that the author was attempting but it should come as no surprise as to what that ending is but I won’t write any further about it.
In the end this book is classified as a mystery and I feel that mystery lovers might be disappointed by this book. The overall mystery was not very shocking and I feel fans of genre would have it figured out by the end of the first few chapters and to me what the book really is about just didn’t have the depth it required. It isn’t a long read and I don’t feel my time was wasted reading this but I do feel it might disappoint people.
Verdict: Sixes
February 8, 2014
'I got this book for free in exchange for an honest review'
Jimmy is dying. He has AIDS and Lung Cancer and he is living on borrowed time. He should have been dead 2 months ago. His best friend is a Nigerian Artist named Numi. He is the Only person who has stuck by Jimmy through everything. Jimmy used to be a PI and his old friend comes to him asking him to find his wife Olivia who came up missing. Jimmy and Olivia have always had feelings for each other. It turns out Olivia was found that very night. She was taken from the same park and found in the same park that his brother was 22 years earlier.. Murdered in the same way also. So now Jimmy is on a Mission before he dies. To find the killer.
I don't often look through other reviews. I did for this book for some reason. I was curious about other peoples opinions because to me this book was so different from anything I have read from J.R. and I was highly disappointed from most of the reviews that I had read. Yes. In the book Jimmy continuously stated that he was dying but how would you react if you were dying and you resented it and you resented your best friend taking care of almost your every need and you resented the fact that you finally found the love of your life and you are in fact dying. My father died of Cancer. So this book actually touched a very close place for me. I often wonder about the things that went through my fathers head when we had to take care of him in ways like Numi had to take care of Jimmy. What actually went through his head when we had to feed him food through a tube through his stomach. I imagine it would be a lot like the things that went through Jimmy's head. There is another person extremely close to me with cancer although I cannot say who as she does not want it broadcasted. And I again wonder what actually goes through her head.
I am giving this book a 5 star rating because I liked this book so much because of how different it was and because of how personally it did touch me. I loved Jimmy's determination no matter how weak he felt and how close he felt to death to push on until he found out who the killer was. I love that he finally see's Numi for the friend and Angel that he is. I Love that he finds forgiveness in his heart. I found this book very emotional at the end. Every person will not like every book. True. Every book will not touch every person the same way. True. But for me, these are the main reasons why I loved this book. I thought that it was very touching and very different. I think people will enjoy the book more if they read it just for the enjoyment of reading it. Not if they are reading it just for the sake of analyzing it. I would definitely recommend reading it.
'Reviewed by L.S.K. Sweetheart Reviews'
Jimmy is dying. He has AIDS and Lung Cancer and he is living on borrowed time. He should have been dead 2 months ago. His best friend is a Nigerian Artist named Numi. He is the Only person who has stuck by Jimmy through everything. Jimmy used to be a PI and his old friend comes to him asking him to find his wife Olivia who came up missing. Jimmy and Olivia have always had feelings for each other. It turns out Olivia was found that very night. She was taken from the same park and found in the same park that his brother was 22 years earlier.. Murdered in the same way also. So now Jimmy is on a Mission before he dies. To find the killer.
I don't often look through other reviews. I did for this book for some reason. I was curious about other peoples opinions because to me this book was so different from anything I have read from J.R. and I was highly disappointed from most of the reviews that I had read. Yes. In the book Jimmy continuously stated that he was dying but how would you react if you were dying and you resented it and you resented your best friend taking care of almost your every need and you resented the fact that you finally found the love of your life and you are in fact dying. My father died of Cancer. So this book actually touched a very close place for me. I often wonder about the things that went through my fathers head when we had to take care of him in ways like Numi had to take care of Jimmy. What actually went through his head when we had to feed him food through a tube through his stomach. I imagine it would be a lot like the things that went through Jimmy's head. There is another person extremely close to me with cancer although I cannot say who as she does not want it broadcasted. And I again wonder what actually goes through her head.
I am giving this book a 5 star rating because I liked this book so much because of how different it was and because of how personally it did touch me. I loved Jimmy's determination no matter how weak he felt and how close he felt to death to push on until he found out who the killer was. I love that he finally see's Numi for the friend and Angel that he is. I Love that he finds forgiveness in his heart. I found this book very emotional at the end. Every person will not like every book. True. Every book will not touch every person the same way. True. But for me, these are the main reasons why I loved this book. I thought that it was very touching and very different. I think people will enjoy the book more if they read it just for the enjoyment of reading it. Not if they are reading it just for the sake of analyzing it. I would definitely recommend reading it.
'Reviewed by L.S.K. Sweetheart Reviews'
June 9, 2014
A Rainy Monday Morning Review for you ....."Not much could drag Jim Booker out of a peaceful, if lonely, retirement and back to late nights, crime scenes, and chases. Jim Booker is done with detective work and would just like to enjoy a cup of coffee on a sunny day. But when an old friend shows up with a case about an old flame, Booker can’t say no.
What starts as a missing persons case soon delivers more than he bargained for, and when Booker’s own past offers clues, it’s clear that no one else can solve this mystery. But there’s a catch: Booker was given six months to live eight months ago."
Silent Rain By J.R. Rain: Wow I don't even know how to start! This book had me from the get go. J.R. Rain takes us on a case with Retired Private Detective, Jimmy Booker and his AMAZING, Caring, and True to the end, Friend, Numi, Jimmy's little brother was murdered when he was a child, Jimmy blames himself , years later another murder of a dear friend , links the two murders together and brings our ailing with aids driven cancer, very sick friend Jimmy out of retirement to work on this case. This story is told in the first person and we get to know Jimmy's thoughts as he struggles minute by minute to stay alive to try and solve who did this to TWO people he loved. I also have to say the sentiment and caring of Jimmy by Numi and the very vivid descriptions of how someone with aids related cancer is treated , touched my heart in a BIG way! How EVERY minute of EVERYDAY you KNOW you are dying.. What would get YOU to find the strength to live on months more than you were given? Very emotional and well written book. Made me think a lot about my own mortality, and relationships and how very important they are. I give this book 5 final sunsets... VERY well done Mr. Rain!
What starts as a missing persons case soon delivers more than he bargained for, and when Booker’s own past offers clues, it’s clear that no one else can solve this mystery. But there’s a catch: Booker was given six months to live eight months ago."
Silent Rain By J.R. Rain: Wow I don't even know how to start! This book had me from the get go. J.R. Rain takes us on a case with Retired Private Detective, Jimmy Booker and his AMAZING, Caring, and True to the end, Friend, Numi, Jimmy's little brother was murdered when he was a child, Jimmy blames himself , years later another murder of a dear friend , links the two murders together and brings our ailing with aids driven cancer, very sick friend Jimmy out of retirement to work on this case. This story is told in the first person and we get to know Jimmy's thoughts as he struggles minute by minute to stay alive to try and solve who did this to TWO people he loved. I also have to say the sentiment and caring of Jimmy by Numi and the very vivid descriptions of how someone with aids related cancer is treated , touched my heart in a BIG way! How EVERY minute of EVERYDAY you KNOW you are dying.. What would get YOU to find the strength to live on months more than you were given? Very emotional and well written book. Made me think a lot about my own mortality, and relationships and how very important they are. I give this book 5 final sunsets... VERY well done Mr. Rain!
April 21, 2014
Yep, I cried like my 2 year does when I take her favorite blankee to wash or that scene from CSI, when Grissolm holds Warrick in his arms, - pouting- I hate heart owie's.
Anyway...
The author created a superb story with characters that were well developed and was impossible not to care for.
I appreciated the love interest wasn't a supermodel looking female, which so many authors choose as love interest in their stories. the main character was more attracted to her flaw and that was awesome!
I love when authors think outside the box with the characters they create and the world they paint for us with their words for our imagination. And the author has done this beautifully.
I've never read a story in this genre where the main character is so sick and so close to death.
I appreciated that his best friend was a gay African with a heart of gold. I also appreciated that Jim was somewhat uncomfortable with Numi helping or touching him at times, not out of disgust but being straight, some men aren't ok with another man helping them, especially when being completely bare emotionally and physically. But those moments when he accepted Numi's help and leaned on him for support; that was just absolutely beautiful to me.
It added to the realism of the situation and their relationship.
This story is pretty much focused on Jim, his sickness, and his friendship with Numi. The mystery was fairly easy to figure out and the repetitive nature through out the story is the only reason I gave 4 stars instead of 5 stars. -sigh-
Anyway...
The author created a superb story with characters that were well developed and was impossible not to care for.
I appreciated the love interest wasn't a supermodel looking female, which so many authors choose as love interest in their stories. the main character was more attracted to her flaw and that was awesome!
I love when authors think outside the box with the characters they create and the world they paint for us with their words for our imagination. And the author has done this beautifully.
I've never read a story in this genre where the main character is so sick and so close to death.
I appreciated that his best friend was a gay African with a heart of gold. I also appreciated that Jim was somewhat uncomfortable with Numi helping or touching him at times, not out of disgust but being straight, some men aren't ok with another man helping them, especially when being completely bare emotionally and physically. But those moments when he accepted Numi's help and leaned on him for support; that was just absolutely beautiful to me.
It added to the realism of the situation and their relationship.
This story is pretty much focused on Jim, his sickness, and his friendship with Numi. The mystery was fairly easy to figure out and the repetitive nature through out the story is the only reason I gave 4 stars instead of 5 stars. -sigh-
February 2, 2014
Jimmy Booker was a private detective until he was diagnosed with AIDS-related cancer. Now, in his last days, he's approached by an old friend whose wife (and also Jimmy's long-time friend) has gone missing. He wants Jimmy's help in finding her. Although Jimmy is physically in no condition to take on a case, because of who is involved, he agrees, however before he can even really begin Olivia's murdered body is found in Laurel Canyon just feet away from where, twenty-two years earlier, Jimmy's nine year old brother's body had been found. Not only that, but many similarities between the two killings lead to the conclusion that the same killer murdered both. Although weak and barely able to get around, Jimmy becomes determined to find this killer, and so starts an investigation with his only remaining friend and self-appointed caregiver, Nigerian born Numi to help.
I probably shouldn't have like this book because about all Jimmy seems to talk about is his dying body, how he hates being dependent on Numi who is gay, how much he's uncomfortable having a man touch him especially a gay man, how he got his AIDS from unprotected sex with a woman and so he's not gay, y'all. He just doesn't seem like he'd be a sympathetic character, and yet, I was totally into this book. The mystery was interesting, but it was Jimmy's story that held me. The writing is just that good. This is my first book by J. R. Rain. It will not be the last.
I probably shouldn't have like this book because about all Jimmy seems to talk about is his dying body, how he hates being dependent on Numi who is gay, how much he's uncomfortable having a man touch him especially a gay man, how he got his AIDS from unprotected sex with a woman and so he's not gay, y'all. He just doesn't seem like he'd be a sympathetic character, and yet, I was totally into this book. The mystery was interesting, but it was Jimmy's story that held me. The writing is just that good. This is my first book by J. R. Rain. It will not be the last.
June 14, 2014
I chose this book based on the editor's review (Terry Goodman) on Amazon.com and didn't preview any of the readers' reviews and I'm glad I didn't.
If you're reading this one, here's my advice: read Silent Echo with no expectations about plot, genre or characters and let the story and characters take you where they want to go. Open your mind to accept the written words and let the author's story pull you along. That's why we love to read, right?
And the story will pull you. For a writer that started out self-publishing, J.R. Rain's prose, story structure, character development, sense of location, movement and emotions is top-notch. I would describe his style close to Stephen King's. Rain is an artful storyteller - he gives you crisp, timely descriptions of action or feelings that flow smoothly with the dialog that carries you forward, building to the climactic scene and then letting go at the very satisfying end.
A novella is defined by word count (varies, but generally 7,500-40,000). At 200 pages, this is a quick read and definitely fits the subjective definition which is longer and more complex than a short story and shorter than a long story (that definition is ironically unclear to describe a product of the writing profession. :) ) I mention this because this feels like a novella - a quick, intense read that is ideal for story-lovers because the pay-off far exceeds the time investment.
If you're reading this one, here's my advice: read Silent Echo with no expectations about plot, genre or characters and let the story and characters take you where they want to go. Open your mind to accept the written words and let the author's story pull you along. That's why we love to read, right?
And the story will pull you. For a writer that started out self-publishing, J.R. Rain's prose, story structure, character development, sense of location, movement and emotions is top-notch. I would describe his style close to Stephen King's. Rain is an artful storyteller - he gives you crisp, timely descriptions of action or feelings that flow smoothly with the dialog that carries you forward, building to the climactic scene and then letting go at the very satisfying end.
A novella is defined by word count (varies, but generally 7,500-40,000). At 200 pages, this is a quick read and definitely fits the subjective definition which is longer and more complex than a short story and shorter than a long story (that definition is ironically unclear to describe a product of the writing profession. :) ) I mention this because this feels like a novella - a quick, intense read that is ideal for story-lovers because the pay-off far exceeds the time investment.
November 4, 2013
I got this book with the Kindle First Read's program and definitely have mixed feelings about it. It was billed as a mystery, and there was an element of mystery to the story. But mostly, it was the story of a man in his last days of dying from AIDS related lung cancer. The inner thoughts and emotions of the character would have been more welcome if that was what I had been looking for in this book. Though the writing was very well done and flowed nicely. I found a good bit of the action did not ring true to me. Our dying man could hardly breath, stand up by himself, or perform many other functions, yet he could climb stairs and have a reasonable fight with another man just days before death. Just can't buy that.
On the other hand, the relationship between the main character and his very compassionate, caring and loving friend was well done. His thoughts about contracting AIDS was well stated and reasonable. His dealing with guilt was also well done. But again, the "mystery" was rather simplistic and only comprised a small portion of the book in the solving of the crime. In all honesty, this book might very well appeal to others, but the good writing was not enough to overcome the less than excellent mystery plot line for me.
On the other hand, the relationship between the main character and his very compassionate, caring and loving friend was well done. His thoughts about contracting AIDS was well stated and reasonable. His dealing with guilt was also well done. But again, the "mystery" was rather simplistic and only comprised a small portion of the book in the solving of the crime. In all honesty, this book might very well appeal to others, but the good writing was not enough to overcome the less than excellent mystery plot line for me.
June 27, 2014
Eight months after being given six months to live, Booker (an investigator) comes out of 'retirement' to work on one final case. His friend's wife (who is also an old friend of the investigator) has been found dead - under very similar circumstances to Booker's younger brother's unsolved murder nearly 20 years earlier. Drawing on his last bit of strength to try to solve the case, he is assisted by his long-time friend Numi, who has been acting as his unofficial 'caretaker'. Booker reflects on his life, his illness (AIDS from unprotected sex with a previous girlfriend who was a carrier, then lung cancer that is incurable), and his relationship with Numi (who is gay, while Booker is not). The crime thriller is well-written, and the self-revelation of Booker is too. Really enjoyed this book.
November 29, 2014
Having read the author's Bio, I'm tempted to say this novel reflects many of his personal experiences and feelings about facing death, understanding love on many levels, and the unrelenting need to check off the final bucket list entry ~ exposing a murderer. As is often the case, as one faces his own demise, his personal world shrinks and the simple act of staying alive is all-consuming.. all day, every day. I found the interactions/relationships to be very human. Guilt trips, unrequited love, slayings.. the best and the worst of humanity are laid bare here. Damn, how I longed to offer air-starved Booker an oxygen hit and an understanding hug. A moving storyline for anyone who's seen chronic illnesses take their final tolls, and understands the need for questions answered. Recommend.
December 8, 2013
Wow, really hard to describe the awfulness of this book. If I didn't know better, I would have thought this was somebody self-publishing in their basement. It was repetitive. It was formulaic. (PI Dude's got a week to live, doesn't have the strength to stand on his own feet, and yet he still has chicks throwing themselves at him.) It was repetitive. It was nonsensical. (Explain the purpose and presence of Numi--Gay Merit Badge?) It was repetitive. And all of a sudden, IT'S SOLVED! IT'S A MIRACLE! And it was repetitive. And there's a nice little bow on everything at the end.
The only redeeming thing about this book is that I got a review copy free from Amazon Firsts.
The only redeeming thing about this book is that I got a review copy free from Amazon Firsts.
June 20, 2014
If you want to read a book about a man dying of AIDS related Cancer then read this book. This book is nothing short of depressing (which I can handle if there's also a good story going on). The mystery takes a huge back seat in this book and I feel, focuses more on the has been detective and his feelings of dying. A very quick read if that's what you're looking for but I feel like the characters and actual mystery could have been built up so much more which would've made for a much better story.
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