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LAST STRAW
If you cheat a man out of his future, be prepared to pay the price. Vengeance is not always the province of the Lord.
LAST STRAW tells the story of such a man -- tough, resourceful Thomas Pickering, robbed of his future by unscrupulous financiers and betrayed by an unfaithful wife -- who finally snaps. He makes it his mission to punish those who wronged him in very creative and ugly ways. He finds he is good at dispensing justice and begins to enjoy the game.
Mike Kingman and Tess Brogan, two young police officers, themselves embroiled in an escalating affair, are assigned to investigate his crimes and discover enough evidence to arrest and convict him. In the human chess game they are playing, Pickering has the advantage. They have rules they must follow -- he does not.
From the Berkeley hills, to the Ghost Fleet of ships in Suisun Bay, to the towering Campanile in the center of the University of California campus, Pickering is always one step ahead, in a race that challenges his considerable intellect and skill, and tests the relationship of the two young officers.
LAST STRAW tells the story of such a man -- tough, resourceful Thomas Pickering, robbed of his future by unscrupulous financiers and betrayed by an unfaithful wife -- who finally snaps. He makes it his mission to punish those who wronged him in very creative and ugly ways. He finds he is good at dispensing justice and begins to enjoy the game.
Mike Kingman and Tess Brogan, two young police officers, themselves embroiled in an escalating affair, are assigned to investigate his crimes and discover enough evidence to arrest and convict him. In the human chess game they are playing, Pickering has the advantage. They have rules they must follow -- he does not.
From the Berkeley hills, to the Ghost Fleet of ships in Suisun Bay, to the towering Campanile in the center of the University of California campus, Pickering is always one step ahead, in a race that challenges his considerable intellect and skill, and tests the relationship of the two young officers.
- GenresPsychological Thriller
540 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 9, 2014
1 person is currently reading
46 people want to read
About the author
David Rheem Jarrett
2 books25 followersDavid Rheem Jarrett Biography
David Rheem Jarrett was born and raised in Berkeley, California. He attended Berkeley High School, graduating in 1959. He attended several different colleges and universities, ultimately graduating from the University of California San Francisco School of Dentistry with a D.D.S. degree.
Jarrett was first encouraged to write by his senior-class high school English teacher, and later by family and friends. He writes for himself, as he enjoys creating and telling a good story, and he knows a brain that is kept active through writing will continue to function well into one’s later years. He is not too proud, however, to accept money from book sales should readers enjoy his writing and purchase his books. Neither is he shy about interjecting moral, social and political issues into his novels, as he believes readers can learn and think about these issues just as easily and probably more enjoyably through reading a well-researched work of fiction as they can by reading the news articles of today.
He feels that many of today’s novels, including those by many well-known novelists, are not only unrealistic, but are so plot-driven that they ignore the inner thoughts and feelings of the characters in them. This is why he writes believable plots, and why his novels are written in third person omniscient – in order to allow the reader to “get inside” the heads of the characters and experience the range of emotions there. This is also why his average novel takes two or three years to complete!
Jarrett spends as much time outdoors as he can, on the golf course or in the woods. He worked at many different jobs during the ascent of the academic ladder, most of them physically challenging, unskilled labor, and this work and the people he met doing it have proven invaluable to his life and in his writing, as has the interaction he had with his patients during the thirty-five years he practiced dentistry. Now retired from private practice, he volunteers as a part-time dentist in a faith-based free clinic in Sparks, Nevada.
He met his wife, Kathie, after coming off the fire line while fighting a forest fire in Northern California in 1959. They have enjoyed fifty-four years of marriage, and their union has resulted in three grown children and seven grandchildren. They make their home in Reno, Nevada, along with one very spoiled feral cat that “adopted” them over twenty years ago!
He is an unapologetic aficionado of fast cars, golf, fly-fishing, and firearms. The wide open spaces of Northern Nevada provide him with a perfect place to exercise these pursuits.
His web site is http://highdesertlit.com
David Rheem Jarrett was born and raised in Berkeley, California. He attended Berkeley High School, graduating in 1959. He attended several different colleges and universities, ultimately graduating from the University of California San Francisco School of Dentistry with a D.D.S. degree.
Jarrett was first encouraged to write by his senior-class high school English teacher, and later by family and friends. He writes for himself, as he enjoys creating and telling a good story, and he knows a brain that is kept active through writing will continue to function well into one’s later years. He is not too proud, however, to accept money from book sales should readers enjoy his writing and purchase his books. Neither is he shy about interjecting moral, social and political issues into his novels, as he believes readers can learn and think about these issues just as easily and probably more enjoyably through reading a well-researched work of fiction as they can by reading the news articles of today.
He feels that many of today’s novels, including those by many well-known novelists, are not only unrealistic, but are so plot-driven that they ignore the inner thoughts and feelings of the characters in them. This is why he writes believable plots, and why his novels are written in third person omniscient – in order to allow the reader to “get inside” the heads of the characters and experience the range of emotions there. This is also why his average novel takes two or three years to complete!
Jarrett spends as much time outdoors as he can, on the golf course or in the woods. He worked at many different jobs during the ascent of the academic ladder, most of them physically challenging, unskilled labor, and this work and the people he met doing it have proven invaluable to his life and in his writing, as has the interaction he had with his patients during the thirty-five years he practiced dentistry. Now retired from private practice, he volunteers as a part-time dentist in a faith-based free clinic in Sparks, Nevada.
He met his wife, Kathie, after coming off the fire line while fighting a forest fire in Northern California in 1959. They have enjoyed fifty-four years of marriage, and their union has resulted in three grown children and seven grandchildren. They make their home in Reno, Nevada, along with one very spoiled feral cat that “adopted” them over twenty years ago!
He is an unapologetic aficionado of fast cars, golf, fly-fishing, and firearms. The wide open spaces of Northern Nevada provide him with a perfect place to exercise these pursuits.
His web site is http://highdesertlit.com
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
January 26, 2015
Read the complete review at Last Straw: Vengeance is not always the province of the Lord > Review
Once a man gets cheated out of his entire future, there is no telling how far he will go to avenge the injustice. The Last Straw is an amazing thriller showing how far a man can go once he has started clutching the absolute last straw of his life.
The story line and the flow is done perfectly. The story shifts between Pickering and the detectives, thereby giving us both the sides of the story as it proceeds. There are many moments when the crimes do not feel as much criminal as it would have been if the crime's background was not explained. A beautiful captivating thriller, not at all to be missed.
August 15, 2014
If you cheat a man out of his future, be prepared to pay the price. Vengeance is not always the province of the Lord.
A tough, resourceful, middle-aged man, Thomas Pickering makes a dangerous adversary. Hammered by the Great Recession, betrayed by his new wife, and robbed of his retirement by men he trusted, he uses his experience and talent to exact his vengeance upon them in unique and creative ways. In the human chess game they are playing, his victims and the police have no chance -- they have rules to follow -- he does not.
Mike Kingman and Tess Brogan, the detectives assigned to capture him, have their own issues. Not only do they wrestle with problems of a developing love affair while trying to remain focused on the job, but Tess also finds she has a strange attraction to the killer.
From the Berkeley hills, to the Ghost Fleet of ships in Suisun Bay, to the towering Campanile in the center of the University of California campus, Pickering is always one step ahead, in a race that challenges his considerable intellect and skill, and tests the relationship of the two young officers.
I really liked this book - the storyline was great and well written, the chapters short and to the point without detracting from the unfolding plot. It rocks along at a good pace, and has a few good twists.
Pickering is a cold and calculating killer - but he has an achilles heel, which Tess Brogan discovers and exploits.
I would like to see this as the first book in a series, and I think (hope!)the ending is constructed to facilitate this.
I would have given it 4 1/2 stars but for the fact that there are rather a lot of grammatical errors (silly things like The all instead of All the, and and, a Heinekens, etc, etc) which should have picked up and corrected by the proofreader.
And yes, I will definitely be recommending this book!
A tough, resourceful, middle-aged man, Thomas Pickering makes a dangerous adversary. Hammered by the Great Recession, betrayed by his new wife, and robbed of his retirement by men he trusted, he uses his experience and talent to exact his vengeance upon them in unique and creative ways. In the human chess game they are playing, his victims and the police have no chance -- they have rules to follow -- he does not.
Mike Kingman and Tess Brogan, the detectives assigned to capture him, have their own issues. Not only do they wrestle with problems of a developing love affair while trying to remain focused on the job, but Tess also finds she has a strange attraction to the killer.
From the Berkeley hills, to the Ghost Fleet of ships in Suisun Bay, to the towering Campanile in the center of the University of California campus, Pickering is always one step ahead, in a race that challenges his considerable intellect and skill, and tests the relationship of the two young officers.
I really liked this book - the storyline was great and well written, the chapters short and to the point without detracting from the unfolding plot. It rocks along at a good pace, and has a few good twists.
Pickering is a cold and calculating killer - but he has an achilles heel, which Tess Brogan discovers and exploits.
I would like to see this as the first book in a series, and I think (hope!)the ending is constructed to facilitate this.
I would have given it 4 1/2 stars but for the fact that there are rather a lot of grammatical errors (silly things like The all instead of All the, and and, a Heinekens, etc, etc) which should have picked up and corrected by the proofreader.
And yes, I will definitely be recommending this book!
August 7, 2014
LAST STRAW is D.R. Jarett's debut novel, and it's a page-turner! His characters have issues, they are real people struggling with their problems, and they are believable. The plot never slows down. He writes in short chapters, and there's always something interesting awaiting. I was pleasantly surprised how adept he is, since this IS a thriller, at creating fear/suspense, almost Stephen King-like hide-in-the-closet scary scenes. It is a well-crafted, well-thought out story which I thoroughly enjoyed from start to finish.
You meet Thomas Pickering whose backstory pictures this loving, devoted husband taking care of his sick wife who dies of cancer, who served his country in Vietnam, who is smart and has a well-respected job for a big electric/gas company. But there is a Mr. Hyde side to his personality as he has been badly burned by the 2008 stock market tumble, losing half his retirement income and feels the need to seek revenge of the most awful kind on those in the financial community who abused his trust and took advantage of him.
The book opens with a bang as he puts two bullets into his 2nd young, trophy wife's temple because he simply SNAPPED one morning, finally reaching his "last straw", and the killings escalate from there, one in a VERY heinous manner, one abduction tapping into our worst nightmare with rats but .... all are planned and carried out cleverly and methodically without a trace of evidence, witnesses, ballistics = nothing that the police can use to arrest their prime suspect. Enter the two officers, Tess and Mike, assigned to the case as partners, a very likeable pair who do their jobs well while clearly lusting after one another, both with their own interesting backstories and with Tess, a story that connects her personally to one of the dead women and both she and the woman back to Pickering.
The book poses some thought-provoking questions: Pickering's sanity = is he or isn't he? The financial community, are they truly protectors of our money and acting in our best interests or out for their own personal gain? The ethical question: is it ever "right" to take the law into one's own hands to get a "just" revenge? Do we all have our "last straw" ? And, the thought of a perfect crime comes up because Pickering seemingly has gotten away with a few.
If you enjoy psychological thrillers, this one has all the makings of one that will consistently entertain you. It is our Goodreads August BOTM, and to date, there have been no negative comments. Try it; I think you'll like it !
You meet Thomas Pickering whose backstory pictures this loving, devoted husband taking care of his sick wife who dies of cancer, who served his country in Vietnam, who is smart and has a well-respected job for a big electric/gas company. But there is a Mr. Hyde side to his personality as he has been badly burned by the 2008 stock market tumble, losing half his retirement income and feels the need to seek revenge of the most awful kind on those in the financial community who abused his trust and took advantage of him.
The book opens with a bang as he puts two bullets into his 2nd young, trophy wife's temple because he simply SNAPPED one morning, finally reaching his "last straw", and the killings escalate from there, one in a VERY heinous manner, one abduction tapping into our worst nightmare with rats but .... all are planned and carried out cleverly and methodically without a trace of evidence, witnesses, ballistics = nothing that the police can use to arrest their prime suspect. Enter the two officers, Tess and Mike, assigned to the case as partners, a very likeable pair who do their jobs well while clearly lusting after one another, both with their own interesting backstories and with Tess, a story that connects her personally to one of the dead women and both she and the woman back to Pickering.
The book poses some thought-provoking questions: Pickering's sanity = is he or isn't he? The financial community, are they truly protectors of our money and acting in our best interests or out for their own personal gain? The ethical question: is it ever "right" to take the law into one's own hands to get a "just" revenge? Do we all have our "last straw" ? And, the thought of a perfect crime comes up because Pickering seemingly has gotten away with a few.
If you enjoy psychological thrillers, this one has all the makings of one that will consistently entertain you. It is our Goodreads August BOTM, and to date, there have been no negative comments. Try it; I think you'll like it !
May 6, 2015
While reading this book I was constantly in two minds. I enjoyed part of the book immensely, but really disliked other parts. I downloaded the sample and it drew me in enough to download the rest of the book, especially the beginning. I did not expect what happened so early in the book which was a pleasant surprise.
What I liked about the book
The story line was good and the character development spot on. There were quite a few twists and turns which I enjoyed for the most part. The book was well written and I loved the descriptions and the way in which the writer dragged me into the story.
I liked being in the killer’s mind and reading his thoughts. His justification for his actions were fascinating but warped.
What I didn’t enjoy that much
Throughout the book I had to remind myself that the characters were not hormonal teenagers. Most of the characters were so sex obsessed that it became off-putting and unrealistic.
There was only one character I liked in the story – Trent Willoughby. The rest I struggled to identify with. Between their overly sexual nature and strange way of viewing the world I had a hard time finding common ground.
Final thoughts
Apart from the above niggles, this was a good story. There were plenty that kept my attention and I wanted to know how it would all end up. Overall this is a well executed thriller.
STAR RATING: 3 Stars
Will also be posted on my blog on 20 May 2015:
https://jackiegmills.wordpress.com/
What I liked about the book
The story line was good and the character development spot on. There were quite a few twists and turns which I enjoyed for the most part. The book was well written and I loved the descriptions and the way in which the writer dragged me into the story.
I liked being in the killer’s mind and reading his thoughts. His justification for his actions were fascinating but warped.
What I didn’t enjoy that much
Throughout the book I had to remind myself that the characters were not hormonal teenagers. Most of the characters were so sex obsessed that it became off-putting and unrealistic.
There was only one character I liked in the story – Trent Willoughby. The rest I struggled to identify with. Between their overly sexual nature and strange way of viewing the world I had a hard time finding common ground.
Final thoughts
Apart from the above niggles, this was a good story. There were plenty that kept my attention and I wanted to know how it would all end up. Overall this is a well executed thriller.
STAR RATING: 3 Stars
Will also be posted on my blog on 20 May 2015:
https://jackiegmills.wordpress.com/
July 30, 2014
Well, the book was better than what I thought. When I read the title of the book, I wondered just what it meant. This book is about a unit of police officers, and 2 who seem to be in love, and a man on a killing spree. This man came up with some ways to knock off some folks. What I liked about this book is the way that every page was a thriller, it made me wonder just what the heck is Pickering going to do this time. I really loved the part about the chop-shop and what went down there. Haha, what a scene. I don't want to put spoilers on this book, but this is a MUST-READ. so 2 thumbs up for David.
December 4, 2014
A tanking economy, the death of a beloved wife and his own personal choices each work to provide the "last straw" for Thomas Pickering, making the law-abiding citizen and patriot an outlaw.
Tess Brogan and Mike Kingman, police officers on loan to the detective bureau, work together to piece together Pickering's trail. Their discoveries include known and unknown attachments.
A well-paced story with believable characters and strong plotting provide an excellent reading experience. Wish I could add a half star, it's that good.
Tess Brogan and Mike Kingman, police officers on loan to the detective bureau, work together to piece together Pickering's trail. Their discoveries include known and unknown attachments.
A well-paced story with believable characters and strong plotting provide an excellent reading experience. Wish I could add a half star, it's that good.
August 9, 2014
BOTM for August, 2014 in the Goodreads Group Psychological Thrillers.
Strong beginning, and a cold one, like toilet-paper, use and discard.
I still wonder, how they deliver the mail-order-brides, wrapped in jiffy-bag or packed in a cardboard-box?
And COD? Do you have to pay customs or declare them for tax?
Took me some time to get to the end, slow month reading, and me being tired.
The most interesting person was Thomas the main character, but no one you could (or should) like.
Despite what others think ( see discussion in the Psychological Thrillers with maybe spoilers ) I think he was trained to kill by the military and had his problems brewing inside for a long time, till last drop happened and he set his plans in motion.
The collecting and copying of master-keys during is job shows me, he planned ahead.
One scene could have played different or at least faster, although I am not sure.
The flexi cuff could would have melted I think (!) if the Bic flame was applied long enough.
Although he would have risked burn hickeys, the speed with which plastic melts would have offset this, I would have risked it.
May it would not have worked, but he should have tried.
I did not want to go into spoiler-territory here, but if you read the book you know the scene.
Tess and her partner still have a lot to learn, and the ending was just plain stupid from them, although I guess, they where lucky to have lived.
What I really liked was that the chief of police and the police in general where trying to stay within the box the law confined them in, not bending it or breaking it. But that stands in stark contrast to the ending, which was just plain wrong from Tess as it was planned.
And some explanations, like the police-procedures read like an "I must explain that word for word, so the readers know why this happens".
Not dumping down, but more like a teacher, tacked on, not like it would really play out. But thats just me, other people may see that differently.
This is more 3.5 than 4 stars, but as this is the first book by this writer I read, I lean to 4 stars.
Also some plain, non-kinky sex-scenes to lighten the mood where ok, not boring and not too much boring romance.
Why? The characters where ok, but I did not like any one of them, nor could I relate to them.
Strong beginning, and a cold one, like toilet-paper, use and discard.
I still wonder, how they deliver the mail-order-brides, wrapped in jiffy-bag or packed in a cardboard-box?
And COD? Do you have to pay customs or declare them for tax?
Took me some time to get to the end, slow month reading, and me being tired.
The most interesting person was Thomas the main character, but no one you could (or should) like.
Despite what others think ( see discussion in the Psychological Thrillers with maybe spoilers ) I think he was trained to kill by the military and had his problems brewing inside for a long time, till last drop happened and he set his plans in motion.
The collecting and copying of master-keys during is job shows me, he planned ahead.
One scene could have played different or at least faster, although I am not sure.
The flexi cuff could would have melted I think (!) if the Bic flame was applied long enough.
Although he would have risked burn hickeys, the speed with which plastic melts would have offset this, I would have risked it.
May it would not have worked, but he should have tried.
I did not want to go into spoiler-territory here, but if you read the book you know the scene.
Tess and her partner still have a lot to learn, and the ending was just plain stupid from them, although I guess, they where lucky to have lived.
What I really liked was that the chief of police and the police in general where trying to stay within the box the law confined them in, not bending it or breaking it. But that stands in stark contrast to the ending, which was just plain wrong from Tess as it was planned.
And some explanations, like the police-procedures read like an "I must explain that word for word, so the readers know why this happens".
Not dumping down, but more like a teacher, tacked on, not like it would really play out. But thats just me, other people may see that differently.
This is more 3.5 than 4 stars, but as this is the first book by this writer I read, I lean to 4 stars.
Also some plain, non-kinky sex-scenes to lighten the mood where ok, not boring and not too much boring romance.
Why? The characters where ok, but I did not like any one of them, nor could I relate to them.
October 16, 2014
Thomas Pickering is a man at breaking point – his beloved wife is dead, his children have moved on, his new marriage is falling apart and his finances are in freefall. As the title suggests, all it takes is one last straw to tip Pickering over the edge – and over he goes with horrific results.
Last Straw is a little like the movie Falling Down, starring Michael Douglas as a nameless wage slave who one day decides he’s had enough and makes his presence felt with a bang, or two, or three. In the case of the movie, Douglas’s character’s actions become increasingly violent, in Last Straw Pickering pretty much goes nuclear from the off.
He plots an extravagant revenge on those who have made his life a misery, and Rheem Jarrett describes these acts of retribution in a convincing manner, as he does the hunt to stop Pickering, which is led in the main by two young police officers, Brogan and Kingman.
These two aren’t your classic police pairing – Brogan is a beauty, who has Kingman chasing after her like a puppy. Their personal dynamic works with the rest of the story and is convincing.
In fact, description across the board is well done, with the author obviously putting the hours in to research his subject matter. From police procedure to firearms, Rheem Jarrett clearly knows his stuff.
He has set up a strong plot with a few twists along the way. I have to say, though, that I could see the big ‘surprises’ coming fairly early on. However, that didn’t detract too much from what is a good story.
I would have given this five stars, but I think the writing could have been tightened up a tad and the speed with which Pickering loses the plot slowed down to make the escalation of his crimes more effective.
If you like police procedural tales with strong characters and a whiff of romance then you won’t go far wrong with this.
Last Straw is a little like the movie Falling Down, starring Michael Douglas as a nameless wage slave who one day decides he’s had enough and makes his presence felt with a bang, or two, or three. In the case of the movie, Douglas’s character’s actions become increasingly violent, in Last Straw Pickering pretty much goes nuclear from the off.
He plots an extravagant revenge on those who have made his life a misery, and Rheem Jarrett describes these acts of retribution in a convincing manner, as he does the hunt to stop Pickering, which is led in the main by two young police officers, Brogan and Kingman.
These two aren’t your classic police pairing – Brogan is a beauty, who has Kingman chasing after her like a puppy. Their personal dynamic works with the rest of the story and is convincing.
In fact, description across the board is well done, with the author obviously putting the hours in to research his subject matter. From police procedure to firearms, Rheem Jarrett clearly knows his stuff.
He has set up a strong plot with a few twists along the way. I have to say, though, that I could see the big ‘surprises’ coming fairly early on. However, that didn’t detract too much from what is a good story.
I would have given this five stars, but I think the writing could have been tightened up a tad and the speed with which Pickering loses the plot slowed down to make the escalation of his crimes more effective.
If you like police procedural tales with strong characters and a whiff of romance then you won’t go far wrong with this.
May 6, 2015
Free book for honest review. juliesbookreview.blogpsot.com
“Write what you know.” Some writers hear that and take it seriously, some
do not. With David Jarrett it’s almost a religion. He grew up in Berkeley,
CA. and his novel makes extensive use of what he knows. I know he knows
Berkeley because I lived a couple of miles away for 5+ years and reading
this novel brought back many memories.
The serial killer in this novel is Thomas Pickering. He’s a retired Pacific Gas
and Electric project manager. After his wife dies he marries a young sexy
woman he finds on the Internet from Eastern Europe. That is not the
scenario you would expect to give rise to flipping out the way Thomas
does.
What’s the problem? Marja, the wife, starts cheating. His investments take
a beating. The value of his home is affected by a shrinking housing market.
He’s been hoodwinked by stock brokers and financial planners. Tom is a
man of action. He has a solution. He kills his wife, his financial advisers and
others over the course of 300+ pages.
The Berkeley PD is understaffed so 2 patrol cops, Tess Brogan and Mike
Kingman, are assigned as detectives. They’re young, ambitious and
attracted to each other. They know the streets and people of Berkeley but
Thomas P knows them better. He is not an easy killer to catch. The novel is
about Berkeley as much as it is about crime.
The plot twists and turns like Berkeley’s streets while Tess and Mike learn
some things about themselves and each other they would rather not know.
Catching this serial killer takes its toll on Berkeley PD.
3 stars
William S
“Write what you know.” Some writers hear that and take it seriously, some
do not. With David Jarrett it’s almost a religion. He grew up in Berkeley,
CA. and his novel makes extensive use of what he knows. I know he knows
Berkeley because I lived a couple of miles away for 5+ years and reading
this novel brought back many memories.
The serial killer in this novel is Thomas Pickering. He’s a retired Pacific Gas
and Electric project manager. After his wife dies he marries a young sexy
woman he finds on the Internet from Eastern Europe. That is not the
scenario you would expect to give rise to flipping out the way Thomas
does.
What’s the problem? Marja, the wife, starts cheating. His investments take
a beating. The value of his home is affected by a shrinking housing market.
He’s been hoodwinked by stock brokers and financial planners. Tom is a
man of action. He has a solution. He kills his wife, his financial advisers and
others over the course of 300+ pages.
The Berkeley PD is understaffed so 2 patrol cops, Tess Brogan and Mike
Kingman, are assigned as detectives. They’re young, ambitious and
attracted to each other. They know the streets and people of Berkeley but
Thomas P knows them better. He is not an easy killer to catch. The novel is
about Berkeley as much as it is about crime.
The plot twists and turns like Berkeley’s streets while Tess and Mike learn
some things about themselves and each other they would rather not know.
Catching this serial killer takes its toll on Berkeley PD.
3 stars
William S
October 4, 2014
Last Straw is a fast paced thriller with more twists and turns than the 11-mile Tail of the Dragon. Jarrett writes, "Pickering was not normally impulsive, except the morning he had" . . . . . "when he had simply snapped". Although you won't condone Pickering's method of seeking justice for himself, his circumstances are presented in such a way that you can empathize with his need for it. That is until his "method" becomes second nature. Jarrett tells a story that will keep you guessing until the very end. Each time a new character is introduced, you will find yourself trying to figure out the connection, and believe me there will be a bizarre connection. Jarrett weaves an intricate tale of revenge that just might have you looking for cover the next time you hear someone say, "I'm about to snap". Definately a very good book you will not want to miss, expecially since Pickering could be that disgruntled handyman that lives next door.
November 13, 2014
We all have a breaking point, but we don’t all seek revenge as Thomas Pickering does in Last Straw. This book opens on the day he murders his second wife with two bullets to her head. Thomas has lost everything and his young, mail-order bride is anything but loving and supportive.
Once Thomas commits the murder of his wife, he goes after others he blames for his predicament. He is a cold-blooded killer who is smart enough to commit his crimes without leaving DNA or other evidence. He stays a step ahead of the police, a male/female team, who are also dealing with the chemistry between them.
The characters are well developed with interesting connections to each other. This is a fast-paced, suspenseful read with twists and turns that will keep you guessing until the end. I recommend this book to all who enjoy reading psychological thrillers. Keeping my fingers crossed for a sequel.
Once Thomas commits the murder of his wife, he goes after others he blames for his predicament. He is a cold-blooded killer who is smart enough to commit his crimes without leaving DNA or other evidence. He stays a step ahead of the police, a male/female team, who are also dealing with the chemistry between them.
The characters are well developed with interesting connections to each other. This is a fast-paced, suspenseful read with twists and turns that will keep you guessing until the end. I recommend this book to all who enjoy reading psychological thrillers. Keeping my fingers crossed for a sequel.
July 24, 2014
This story gets you to wondering if there is a Last Straw in all of us. Where is our breaking point, that tender spot which when poked too many times disintegrates into an unidentifiable mass of pure anger, evident only in the bodies we leave behind? Could Pickering be any one of us; years after losing the love of your life and your life savings thanks to your financial "expert" flushing most of the money away and then walking away with the remainder, your current wife stretches all your patience to the breaking point and then snaps the wire?
So many people to blame, so many people to pay ... so little time.
David Rheem Jarrett keeps his reader coming back for more until the end ... so unexpected.
A most enjoyable read.
So many people to blame, so many people to pay ... so little time.
David Rheem Jarrett keeps his reader coming back for more until the end ... so unexpected.
A most enjoyable read.
September 10, 2016
I found the novel Last Straw gritty, good paced account about a questionable road undertaken by a middle aged man, cheated out of his luck, future and pushed over his limits to endure what others and not fate had served him.
The work doesn't employ subtleties to seduce the reader, from the beginning it presents what it is about and does so faithfully, often in vividly merciless manner, and to the end. Language is strong, character behavior unsparing, much akin to the situation we find observing every day when we look on the street through the window. Writing could be better, but considering the plot I didn't mind some coarseness in descriptions.
If looking for a bit of revenge one dares only think about, look no further.
The work doesn't employ subtleties to seduce the reader, from the beginning it presents what it is about and does so faithfully, often in vividly merciless manner, and to the end. Language is strong, character behavior unsparing, much akin to the situation we find observing every day when we look on the street through the window. Writing could be better, but considering the plot I didn't mind some coarseness in descriptions.
If looking for a bit of revenge one dares only think about, look no further.
May 22, 2015
Intriguing!
From the moment the reader is introduced to Thomas Pickering, you feel sorry for him, his bitterness, his life, past and present. Then, he surprises you. His vengeance that he moves forward with captures the suspense of the story. I was truly engaged and even rooted for Pickering to find peace with himself.
Life is not always black and white, right or wrong. The characters are brought to light with great detail, and the only thing that I could complain about is that some things were overly detailed, but that is my own personal preference. I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves a good thriller.
From the moment the reader is introduced to Thomas Pickering, you feel sorry for him, his bitterness, his life, past and present. Then, he surprises you. His vengeance that he moves forward with captures the suspense of the story. I was truly engaged and even rooted for Pickering to find peace with himself.
Life is not always black and white, right or wrong. The characters are brought to light with great detail, and the only thing that I could complain about is that some things were overly detailed, but that is my own personal preference. I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves a good thriller.
May 20, 2015
Last Straw by David Rheem Jarret is a well-written, intricately plotted, study of human beings pushed to the edge. While it is a crime novel, and much of the action concerns the commission and investigation of a series of homicides, the story revolves around the central character and his descent from respectability to murder.
The story contains interesting, and mostly unpredictable, twists. The interaction between the supporting characters is excellent.
I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys a good crime story without any unbelievable nonsense one finds in much of the genre.
This is a great read
The story contains interesting, and mostly unpredictable, twists. The interaction between the supporting characters is excellent.
I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys a good crime story without any unbelievable nonsense one finds in much of the genre.
This is a great read
August 4, 2014
I read this book because it was the August Book of the Month for the Goodreads group, Psychological Thrillers. It was quite well written, with good characters and motivation for the actions taken by the main character. Probably most readers would agree with his treatment of the victims. It takes place in Berkley, California with the bell tower playing a key role. He has lost his wife to cancer, and unfortunately picks a very poor choice for her replacement.
August 17, 2014
Great read. Book seduced me. The main character experiences total loss in this down economy facing corruption, the loss of his wife, his fortune, his children etc. When he methodically begins to strike back, the author opens up a can of worms which allows the reader to ponder just how much it would take for any one of us to experience The Last Straw and just what would we do. This book is a page turner. I raced to the end but the questions I am asking of myself continue..
July 5, 2015
A fast-paced, thrilling read. Rheem Jarrett really knows his stuff. He provides a lot of interesting detail about police procedure, and I feel like I already know Berkeley, CA (where the novel takes place) really well even though I've never been there. Interesting characters and plot. Highly recommend.
August 4, 2014
A non-stop, bloody-good action suspense story. Sharp dialogue, strong characterizations, and a cat-and-mouse game that you will not be able to stop reading. If you are looking for a hard-to-put-down, well-written novel, LAST STRAW should be on your to-read list.
August 8, 2014
I think Jarrett is the new Patterson of crime and revenge. He delves into the motives and feelings of a man driven over the edge by a series of events. The multiple twists and turns, the character development and the final pages leave you wanting his next novel. Bravo Jarrett!
July 24, 2014
This was a great read! It kept my interest and left me wanting more. My only regret is that it left me wanting to know what happened to the characters. There has to be a sequel!
August 26, 2014
Interesting in that empathy and compassion for the killer is aroused in the reader...He's not just a stone-cold killer/sociopath/psychopath, but an average man who has reached his "last straw".
November 27, 2015
Lots of twists and turns in this one! I enjoyed this book a lot and will look for more by this author.
September 28, 2014
The topical content of Last Straw by David Rheem Jarrett is good. Many people can relate to the desperation surrounding the loss of financial security when the market tanks. The overall plot is interesting and Jarrett did a decent job developing his main character, Thomas Pickering.
There are issues with Jarrett’s supporting characters, Mike Kingman and Tess Brogan. It was tough to swallow that an educated and ambitious officer, such as Kingman, would frequently present himself as an unprofessional, hormonal adolescent. This secondary storyline dragged the pacing and took away from the suspense.
Although the novel appears to be written in 3rd person subjective narrative, in a number of places, Jarrett switches from one character’s POV to another mid-scene. This interfered with reading ease, as did multiple grammatical and spelling errors.
There are issues with Jarrett’s supporting characters, Mike Kingman and Tess Brogan. It was tough to swallow that an educated and ambitious officer, such as Kingman, would frequently present himself as an unprofessional, hormonal adolescent. This secondary storyline dragged the pacing and took away from the suspense.
Although the novel appears to be written in 3rd person subjective narrative, in a number of places, Jarrett switches from one character’s POV to another mid-scene. This interfered with reading ease, as did multiple grammatical and spelling errors.
August 13, 2014
Unbelievable
I found this book to be highly unbelievable. In a crime with a missing spouse the other spouse is always suspected until cleared. I had a hard time with the news conference being that way to much info was released by the police. Although the story line was pretty good, I had a hard time reading the whole thing because of those two salient points. I could only give this book 3 stars but it only deserved 2 1/2 stars.
I found this book to be highly unbelievable. In a crime with a missing spouse the other spouse is always suspected until cleared. I had a hard time with the news conference being that way to much info was released by the police. Although the story line was pretty good, I had a hard time reading the whole thing because of those two salient points. I could only give this book 3 stars but it only deserved 2 1/2 stars.
July 29, 2014
Original plot scenario with good characters but the pace dragged, I thought.
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