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The Jonathan Flite Series #1
The Confessions of Jonathan Flite
Jonathan Flite claims to have memories he can’t explain. Seven layers of them, to be exact, all belonging to a group of teenagers who disappeared from a place called Idle County in 2010—ten years before his birth. Seventeen years of anxiety, violent outbursts, and refusal to admit he is lying have landed him at Crescent Rehabilitation Center, a seaside juvenile center for rich kids, and nobody has ever dared to believe his memories might be real.
Until now. On a blustery November day just three months after a nuclear terrorist attack in Geneva, Switzerland, ex-CIA psychiatrist Thomas Lumen arrives at Crescent to interview Jonathan for a book about Idle County. Fueled by his personal connection to the disappearances three decades earlier, he asks Jonathan to share what he knows—anything and everything.
By reigniting this thirty-year-old mystery, however, Jonathan inadvertently becomes a target of the very same religious terrorists who attacked Geneva, and they’ll stop at nothing to keep the secrets of Idle County under wraps. Jonathan must then make a choice: to continue telling his story, or risk the safety of everyone he loves.
Until now. On a blustery November day just three months after a nuclear terrorist attack in Geneva, Switzerland, ex-CIA psychiatrist Thomas Lumen arrives at Crescent to interview Jonathan for a book about Idle County. Fueled by his personal connection to the disappearances three decades earlier, he asks Jonathan to share what he knows—anything and everything.
By reigniting this thirty-year-old mystery, however, Jonathan inadvertently becomes a target of the very same religious terrorists who attacked Geneva, and they’ll stop at nothing to keep the secrets of Idle County under wraps. Jonathan must then make a choice: to continue telling his story, or risk the safety of everyone he loves.
428 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2014
28 people are currently reading
126 people want to read
About the author
Matthew J. Beier
4 books17 followersMatthew J. Beier is a novelist, screenwriter, video producer, and visual artist based in the San Francisco Bay Area. In 2012, Matthew published his first novel, The Breeders, and in 2014, he began publishing his seven-book Jonathan Flite series, which thus far includes The Confessions of Jonathan Flite, The Release of Jonathan Flite, and The Rise of Jonathan Flite. In 2003, he attended film school at Chapman University, where he studied screenwriting, film production, and English before spending a final semester abroad at Victoria University in Wellington, New Zealand. When Matthew isn’t working, he enjoys drinking tea, exercising, watching films and streaming television shows, and spending time with his friends and family. He’s currently hard at work on the last four books of the Jonathan Flite series, along with multiple TV and film scripts. He would love to hear from you via email at info@matthewjbeier.com, on his Facebook author page, on Twitter @MatthewBeier, or on Instagram @matthewjbeier. You can also join Matthew’s exclusive Patreon fan community at here.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 47 reviews
November 13, 2021
Jonathan believes that he has the memories of a group of teenagers who disappeared before he was born. Nobody believes him, they think that he is obsessed with the incident and he gets all his information from the internet and news articles.
I enjoyed reading parts of this book but be I found it a complicated story because of the multiple time frames.
Thank you to NetGalley and BooksGoSocial for my e-copy in exchange for an honest review.
I enjoyed reading parts of this book but be I found it a complicated story because of the multiple time frames.
Thank you to NetGalley and BooksGoSocial for my e-copy in exchange for an honest review.
September 26, 2021
A teenage boy just might be at the center of two historical events: the disappearance of seven kids in the Moon Woods that was never solved and happened years before he was even born and the nuclear bombing of Geneva that happened in the boy's present life--being locked up in a juvenile detention center. He claims, and has claimed since he was very young, that he holds the memories of one of the kids who went missing. Does he have some sort of past-life connection; reincarnation? A psychiatrist writing a book on the unsolved case seeks to find out. Some pieces line up while others do not. But what makes it all the more pertinent is the boy's memories or visions of Geneva, seemingly just before the bomb exploded. The FBI has connected that bomb to a Catholic clergy member with a militant outlook and an open wound of the world turning its back on organized religion. This Catholic terrorist also has a connection to Victor Zobel, who is another key player at the center of these two historic events. Zobel was not only the founder of the cult that drew people away from churches but his stepdaughter was one of the seven missing kids.
Can you sing dun, dun, duuuuunnnnnn?!
This story is complex, webbed, tangled, layered, interwoven. You must pay attention not only to follow along but to catch the hints and clues. Each character is complex with their own little piece to add to the bigger puzzle. The timeline stretches from 2037 to way back in 1910! So, new and unknown-to-us tech is used as well as relics from our history books. Despite all this, I didn't struggle following along, I never got confused. In fact, I quite enjoyed tagging along and working to solve the mystery.
The writing was superb! Smart, individualistic, and flowed like a mountain stream. The characterization was believable. The plot, with all its twists, landslides, and explosions was absolutely gripping in every conceivable way. It was chilling, goosebump-inducing, and it had the little hairs on my arms and the back of my neck standing straight up. This story was a masterpiece from start to finish and Beier is an instant favorite from who I look forward to reading more.
Can you sing dun, dun, duuuuunnnnnn?!
This story is complex, webbed, tangled, layered, interwoven. You must pay attention not only to follow along but to catch the hints and clues. Each character is complex with their own little piece to add to the bigger puzzle. The timeline stretches from 2037 to way back in 1910! So, new and unknown-to-us tech is used as well as relics from our history books. Despite all this, I didn't struggle following along, I never got confused. In fact, I quite enjoyed tagging along and working to solve the mystery.
The writing was superb! Smart, individualistic, and flowed like a mountain stream. The characterization was believable. The plot, with all its twists, landslides, and explosions was absolutely gripping in every conceivable way. It was chilling, goosebump-inducing, and it had the little hairs on my arms and the back of my neck standing straight up. This story was a masterpiece from start to finish and Beier is an instant favorite from who I look forward to reading more.
April 10, 2022
I had not realised that this was book one of a series when I began reading it. It is somewhat complex and travels between 2010 and 2034. At age seventeen, Jonathan Flite is sent to a facility for troubled wealthy children. His mother has had enough of his violent outbursts and what she sees as his continual lies. Jonathan swears that he has memories of seven children who went missing ten years before he was born.
His mother researches his stories and finds that they link to a cold case in Idle back in 2010. When Jonathan kills a nurse at the facility, he is transferred to a rehab centre where he will serve a life sentence.
Thomas Lumen enters the story and shows an interest in what Jonathan has to say about the missing children. But he isn’t the only one that wants to know just how much Jonathan knows. A group of terrorists are drawn into the mix, and things become very deadly for anyone close to Jonathan.
It is a strange and fascinating story aimed at a teenage audience, but I was hooked. I liked how the characters developed through the story. The core of them is still recognisable but changed with the years too. Not everything was as first thought, and I had an uneasy feeling about how things were developing. It will be fascinating to see where this is going in the coming series. It is an excellent introduction.
I wish to thank Net Galley and the publisher for an e-copy of this book that I have reviewed honestly.
His mother researches his stories and finds that they link to a cold case in Idle back in 2010. When Jonathan kills a nurse at the facility, he is transferred to a rehab centre where he will serve a life sentence.
Thomas Lumen enters the story and shows an interest in what Jonathan has to say about the missing children. But he isn’t the only one that wants to know just how much Jonathan knows. A group of terrorists are drawn into the mix, and things become very deadly for anyone close to Jonathan.
It is a strange and fascinating story aimed at a teenage audience, but I was hooked. I liked how the characters developed through the story. The core of them is still recognisable but changed with the years too. Not everything was as first thought, and I had an uneasy feeling about how things were developing. It will be fascinating to see where this is going in the coming series. It is an excellent introduction.
I wish to thank Net Galley and the publisher for an e-copy of this book that I have reviewed honestly.
July 10, 2014
A few months ago I received an advance reader’s copy of The Confessions of Jonathan Flite. Having been captivated by Matthew J. Beier‘s dystopian novel The Breeders, I was excited and curious to read more by this author. Excited because I knew his writing to be strong and smart, and curious because by the end of the first paragraph of ...Jonathan Flite I knew Beier had stepped into a different genre than that of his first book, and I couldn’t wait to find out how he would tell this particular story.
Beier weaves a mystery that is more than a mystery; it’s a path into lives that intertwine, and into puzzling questions with seemingly inexplicable answers—all of which appear to feed into a conspiracy to keep the world from finding out what happened to Molly Butler, Elijah Bryce, and the five others who disappeared from Idle County decades previously. I want to know what connection exists between their disappearance and Victor Zobel, how their disappearance is related to the Geneva terrorist bombing, and how Jonathan Flite knows what he knows about the Idle County Seven. I’m beginning to see why there will be six more books in this series: it will take that many pages for the tale to unwind!
Yes, Beier’s stories are intriguing and creatively told, and I love that about his books. And I have tremendous appreciation for him as a writer because he doesn’t underestimate the intelligence of young readers. I am an “older adult” who often reads YA literature, and many times I have been disappointed by the over simplification of language in what I consider a misguided attempt to engage adolescent readers. Beier has the magical ability to write deep and complex stories with great clarity, using powerful language to deliver action and excitement, share quiet internal moments as well as emotional interactions between characters, and to keep the reader wanting more—whether the reader is 14 or 64.
Beier weaves a mystery that is more than a mystery; it’s a path into lives that intertwine, and into puzzling questions with seemingly inexplicable answers—all of which appear to feed into a conspiracy to keep the world from finding out what happened to Molly Butler, Elijah Bryce, and the five others who disappeared from Idle County decades previously. I want to know what connection exists between their disappearance and Victor Zobel, how their disappearance is related to the Geneva terrorist bombing, and how Jonathan Flite knows what he knows about the Idle County Seven. I’m beginning to see why there will be six more books in this series: it will take that many pages for the tale to unwind!
Yes, Beier’s stories are intriguing and creatively told, and I love that about his books. And I have tremendous appreciation for him as a writer because he doesn’t underestimate the intelligence of young readers. I am an “older adult” who often reads YA literature, and many times I have been disappointed by the over simplification of language in what I consider a misguided attempt to engage adolescent readers. Beier has the magical ability to write deep and complex stories with great clarity, using powerful language to deliver action and excitement, share quiet internal moments as well as emotional interactions between characters, and to keep the reader wanting more—whether the reader is 14 or 64.
July 2, 2021
In the year 2034, Jonathan Flite is labeled a nurse killer and sent to a home for boys of super rich parents. During his time at the home, there is a bombing in Geneva and a retired CIA psychiatrist believes that Jonathan may hold the answers to what happened in Geneva as well as solve the mystery of the Idle County 7 who disappeared back in 2010 - before Jonathan was even born. Dr. Lumen hopes to uncover the answers to all of his questions thanks to Jonathan stating that he has the memories of the Idle County 7 in his mind. Now the only question left to be answered is whether Jonathan is to be believed or is he quite simply a delusional teenager.
The book is formatted so that each chapter is essentially focussing on either the year 2004 or the year 2034. While this can definitely be tricky in regards to flow, Beier nailed it. There was no confusion and even though the years were different, there were clear tie ins between them. Not only did Beier nail the flow & tie in of the year’s, he also managed to give each character a significant story line without overshadowing the other characters. In the case of 2004, Molly and Jacob were without a doubt the central characters but that never took away from the impact Mrs. Grime and Max Pope also had on the storyline. In the case of 2034, Jonathan’s character was central to the other characters’ storylines, yet it was written in a way where you didn’t feel as if it was all about Jonathan. You got to know the backstory for each of the other characters and then learned how Jonathan had come into their lives and the effect that he had on them.
At first glance, The Confessions of Jonathan Flite can be perceived as a book dealing with psychology, paranormal occurrences, and solving mysteries, but in the end there is so much more to it. It’s a story about family & friendships, loyalty, and gaining closure. It keeps you intrigued from beginning to end and constantly guessing what happened to the Idle County 7.
Before I became aware that this was actually part of a series, I was disappointed in the fact that you never get to fully hear Jonathan’s story. I’m hoping that the next two books in the series wrap up what Jonathan knows and how this has effected so many people.
The book is formatted so that each chapter is essentially focussing on either the year 2004 or the year 2034. While this can definitely be tricky in regards to flow, Beier nailed it. There was no confusion and even though the years were different, there were clear tie ins between them. Not only did Beier nail the flow & tie in of the year’s, he also managed to give each character a significant story line without overshadowing the other characters. In the case of 2004, Molly and Jacob were without a doubt the central characters but that never took away from the impact Mrs. Grime and Max Pope also had on the storyline. In the case of 2034, Jonathan’s character was central to the other characters’ storylines, yet it was written in a way where you didn’t feel as if it was all about Jonathan. You got to know the backstory for each of the other characters and then learned how Jonathan had come into their lives and the effect that he had on them.
At first glance, The Confessions of Jonathan Flite can be perceived as a book dealing with psychology, paranormal occurrences, and solving mysteries, but in the end there is so much more to it. It’s a story about family & friendships, loyalty, and gaining closure. It keeps you intrigued from beginning to end and constantly guessing what happened to the Idle County 7.
Before I became aware that this was actually part of a series, I was disappointed in the fact that you never get to fully hear Jonathan’s story. I’m hoping that the next two books in the series wrap up what Jonathan knows and how this has effected so many people.
April 10, 2019
The confessions of Jonathan Flite by Mathew J Beier.
Jonathan Flite claims to have memories he can’t explain. Seven layers of them, to be exact, all belonging to a group of teenagers who disappeared from a place called Idle County in 2010—ten years before his birth. Seventeen years of anxiety, violent outbursts, and refusal to admit he is lying have landed him at Crescent Rehabilitation Center, a seaside juvenile center for rich kids, and nobody has ever dared to believe his memories might be real.
Until now. On a blustery November day just three months after a nuclear terrorist attack in Geneva, Switzerland, ex-CIA psychiatrist Thomas Lumen arrives at Crescent to interview Jonathan for a book about Idle County. Fueled by his personal connection to the disappearances three decades earlier, he asks Jonathan to share what he knows—anything and everything.
By reigniting this thirty-year-old mystery, however, Jonathan inadvertently becomes a target of the very same religious terrorists who attacked Geneva, and they’ll stop at nothing to keep the secrets of Idle County under wraps. Jonathan must then make a choice: to continue telling his story, or risk the safety of everyone he loves.
A good read with likeable characters. This was not what I thought it would be. But I did like the story. 4*.
Jonathan Flite claims to have memories he can’t explain. Seven layers of them, to be exact, all belonging to a group of teenagers who disappeared from a place called Idle County in 2010—ten years before his birth. Seventeen years of anxiety, violent outbursts, and refusal to admit he is lying have landed him at Crescent Rehabilitation Center, a seaside juvenile center for rich kids, and nobody has ever dared to believe his memories might be real.
Until now. On a blustery November day just three months after a nuclear terrorist attack in Geneva, Switzerland, ex-CIA psychiatrist Thomas Lumen arrives at Crescent to interview Jonathan for a book about Idle County. Fueled by his personal connection to the disappearances three decades earlier, he asks Jonathan to share what he knows—anything and everything.
By reigniting this thirty-year-old mystery, however, Jonathan inadvertently becomes a target of the very same religious terrorists who attacked Geneva, and they’ll stop at nothing to keep the secrets of Idle County under wraps. Jonathan must then make a choice: to continue telling his story, or risk the safety of everyone he loves.
A good read with likeable characters. This was not what I thought it would be. But I did like the story. 4*.
February 19, 2020
The strange fact is not how long it took for me to get to this and read it completely but that the deeper I got into the story. It went from a book I almost gave up on to one that I enjoyed the twists and turns of. Now that I have a strong grasp of the main plotline, I can brave the adventure into the next book in the series. The only reason I give this one three stars is because of the time it took for me to get used to the spinning of the narrative and the fact that we encounter so many people at so many different 'times' that it is hard to keep track.
Jonathan Flite was planned, or his mother thought he would be. However, he is born with the weight of memories which he cannot appropriately deal with. Things just get worse before they get any better. There are a lot of intersecting lives and the story sets a dizzying pace between decades and individual narratives. Once you get used to the style, however, it is worth pursuing. There is a global terrorist extremist group who seem to want Jonathan Flite dead before he reveals something. Parts of that 'something' revealed in the first instalment were quite intriguing and I look forward to knowing more as he grows and has more people around who believe him.
Jonathan Flite was planned, or his mother thought he would be. However, he is born with the weight of memories which he cannot appropriately deal with. Things just get worse before they get any better. There are a lot of intersecting lives and the story sets a dizzying pace between decades and individual narratives. Once you get used to the style, however, it is worth pursuing. There is a global terrorist extremist group who seem to want Jonathan Flite dead before he reveals something. Parts of that 'something' revealed in the first instalment were quite intriguing and I look forward to knowing more as he grows and has more people around who believe him.
February 27, 2019
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Summary:
First part of a supernatural series, dated in 2037, where seven Idle Country children disappeared in mysterious circumstances almost thirty years ago (2010). A teenager, now incarcerated in a mental rehabilitation home for the past ten years or so, relates first-hand memories of these children, though it is impossible to know how he came by them.
Main Characters:
Jonathan Flite: The protagonist, he is an unwanted child, the result of a decision by a selfish rich woman to defy society norms. He possesses inside information on the disappearances that he has no way of knowing, and is declared insane, and incarcerated.
Winifred Flite: Jonathan’s wealthy mother, spoilt, selfish, and psychologically abusive, she believes money can buy her whatever and whomever she wants.
Molly Butler: One of the children around whose memories the novel revolves, and whose half-sister Kara tries to find the truth about what happened to her.
Dr Thomas Lumen: The psychiatrist who takes up Jonathan’s case, but he is none-too-honest about his own connections with the history of the children.
Minor Characters:
Mason Witzel: He becomes Jonathan’s best friend in the Crescent Rehabilitation centre.
Mrs Grime: Ancient librarian who is still as sharp as a tack – she holds secrets as well as books within the library walls.
Victor Zobel: Founder of the New Naturalism religion, fabulously wealthy, yet a shadowy figure for all his public persona.
Plot:
Jonathan Flite was born into a privileged, wealthy US world, with nannies and every conceivable advantage. However, he was essentially a trophy baby, whose mother preferred that the nanny raised him.
He did not speak for years, nor played as such with other children, but then conversed in fluent French when he did speak at about the age of seven. He also began drawing images that made no sense, talking of times and people that bore no relation to his life. Over time, he was assessed as unstable, and put into a home.
Winifred googles her son’s statements, and discovers uncanny similarities to the disappearance of seven children in Idle county just over ten years previously. Confronting him, and through psychiatrists, Winifred believes her son has become insane, and incarcerates him, and effectively washes her hands of any responsibility. After then killing a nurse, he was incarcerated into a Rehab Centre (for life, effectively).
We now meet Dr Thomas Lumen, a divorced psychiatrist who becomes interested in Jonathan’s story, for more than just academic reasons.
We now move to the timeline of young, 13-year old Molly Butler, one of the seven who is to disappear. She has had her own share of troubles, with her mother dying and her father’s reactions, and this sparks her interest in the supernatural. Using a school project as a cover, she begins to investigate ghost sightings around her townland, with her friend (and burgeoning but innocent love interest Jacob Jenkins). Through her research, she meets quite a cast of characters, from the twinkly-eyed librarian Mrs Grime to a more intriguing Max Pope. She also comes across several town legends, which point to the townland having an unsuspected high level of unexplained phenomena.
These three storylines merge and intertwine over the course of the novel, with other characters such as Kara Butler and Dr Freede, charismatic religious leaders like Simon Villiard and their acolytes, and events such as a nuclear explosion in Geneva adding to the mystery and suspense, and the sense that there is more at stake here than is immediately obvious.
The tension builds, as the author expertly switches between the timelines, allowing just enough information through to give the reader a few more pieces of the puzzle to click together.
The final chapters build to an intense climax, as we get our first glimpse into the shadowy players that seem to be manipulating events behind the scenes, and setting the stage for the next in the series.
What I Liked:
- The writing is excellent. Fast-paced, yet descriptive, the author builds different worlds which are believable and coherent (the future has a few new gadgets).
- The narrative is told from different points of view in the timelines, and the author manages to keep a distinct voice for his characters.
- There are a lot of unexplained items, which I’m sure will be developed over the series, but this builds the interest and suspense (e.g. why did the cult experience a resurgence?).
- Character development was excellent. We see them as they grow, or deeply understand why they feel the frustration they do.
What I Didn’t Like:
- Some of the “unexplained” items seemed like inventions to move things along. I hope the author has a strong contextual background narrative planned for them over the series.
Overall:
A thoroughly recommended read, good for adults as well as a YA audience. The story has strong elements of suspense, mystery, sleuthing, and even life-after-death themes.
Acknowledgements:
Thanks to NetGalley and the author for giving me a free copy of this book, in return for an honest and objective review.
Summary:
First part of a supernatural series, dated in 2037, where seven Idle Country children disappeared in mysterious circumstances almost thirty years ago (2010). A teenager, now incarcerated in a mental rehabilitation home for the past ten years or so, relates first-hand memories of these children, though it is impossible to know how he came by them.
Main Characters:
Jonathan Flite: The protagonist, he is an unwanted child, the result of a decision by a selfish rich woman to defy society norms. He possesses inside information on the disappearances that he has no way of knowing, and is declared insane, and incarcerated.
Winifred Flite: Jonathan’s wealthy mother, spoilt, selfish, and psychologically abusive, she believes money can buy her whatever and whomever she wants.
Molly Butler: One of the children around whose memories the novel revolves, and whose half-sister Kara tries to find the truth about what happened to her.
Dr Thomas Lumen: The psychiatrist who takes up Jonathan’s case, but he is none-too-honest about his own connections with the history of the children.
Minor Characters:
Mason Witzel: He becomes Jonathan’s best friend in the Crescent Rehabilitation centre.
Mrs Grime: Ancient librarian who is still as sharp as a tack – she holds secrets as well as books within the library walls.
Victor Zobel: Founder of the New Naturalism religion, fabulously wealthy, yet a shadowy figure for all his public persona.
Plot:
Jonathan Flite was born into a privileged, wealthy US world, with nannies and every conceivable advantage. However, he was essentially a trophy baby, whose mother preferred that the nanny raised him.
He did not speak for years, nor played as such with other children, but then conversed in fluent French when he did speak at about the age of seven. He also began drawing images that made no sense, talking of times and people that bore no relation to his life. Over time, he was assessed as unstable, and put into a home.
Winifred googles her son’s statements, and discovers uncanny similarities to the disappearance of seven children in Idle county just over ten years previously. Confronting him, and through psychiatrists, Winifred believes her son has become insane, and incarcerates him, and effectively washes her hands of any responsibility. After then killing a nurse, he was incarcerated into a Rehab Centre (for life, effectively).
We now meet Dr Thomas Lumen, a divorced psychiatrist who becomes interested in Jonathan’s story, for more than just academic reasons.
We now move to the timeline of young, 13-year old Molly Butler, one of the seven who is to disappear. She has had her own share of troubles, with her mother dying and her father’s reactions, and this sparks her interest in the supernatural. Using a school project as a cover, she begins to investigate ghost sightings around her townland, with her friend (and burgeoning but innocent love interest Jacob Jenkins). Through her research, she meets quite a cast of characters, from the twinkly-eyed librarian Mrs Grime to a more intriguing Max Pope. She also comes across several town legends, which point to the townland having an unsuspected high level of unexplained phenomena.
These three storylines merge and intertwine over the course of the novel, with other characters such as Kara Butler and Dr Freede, charismatic religious leaders like Simon Villiard and their acolytes, and events such as a nuclear explosion in Geneva adding to the mystery and suspense, and the sense that there is more at stake here than is immediately obvious.
The tension builds, as the author expertly switches between the timelines, allowing just enough information through to give the reader a few more pieces of the puzzle to click together.
The final chapters build to an intense climax, as we get our first glimpse into the shadowy players that seem to be manipulating events behind the scenes, and setting the stage for the next in the series.
What I Liked:
- The writing is excellent. Fast-paced, yet descriptive, the author builds different worlds which are believable and coherent (the future has a few new gadgets).
- The narrative is told from different points of view in the timelines, and the author manages to keep a distinct voice for his characters.
- There are a lot of unexplained items, which I’m sure will be developed over the series, but this builds the interest and suspense (e.g. why did the cult experience a resurgence?).
- Character development was excellent. We see them as they grow, or deeply understand why they feel the frustration they do.
What I Didn’t Like:
- Some of the “unexplained” items seemed like inventions to move things along. I hope the author has a strong contextual background narrative planned for them over the series.
Overall:
A thoroughly recommended read, good for adults as well as a YA audience. The story has strong elements of suspense, mystery, sleuthing, and even life-after-death themes.
Acknowledgements:
Thanks to NetGalley and the author for giving me a free copy of this book, in return for an honest and objective review.
February 14, 2022
*Copy provided by netgalley in exchange for an honest review*
I don't exactly know how to classify this book, and personally don't care about it. Its brilliant plot speaks for itself.
Matthew Beier crafted a multi-genre sensational story that keeps you reading from page one, with low key discussions of science and religion, walking the verge of questioning what happens when we die and most importantly: what choices and actions impact our lives and others'. Masterfuly managing different time narrations and engrossing the reader in every character tale, Beier crafts a fast pace tale of wonder, ghosts and schemes, presenting you with and undeniable truth: you will be hooked until the end.
I don't exactly know how to classify this book, and personally don't care about it. Its brilliant plot speaks for itself.
Matthew Beier crafted a multi-genre sensational story that keeps you reading from page one, with low key discussions of science and religion, walking the verge of questioning what happens when we die and most importantly: what choices and actions impact our lives and others'. Masterfuly managing different time narrations and engrossing the reader in every character tale, Beier crafts a fast pace tale of wonder, ghosts and schemes, presenting you with and undeniable truth: you will be hooked until the end.
October 20, 2014
Synopsis:
Jonathan Flite claims to have memories he can't explain. Seven layers of them, to be exact, all belonging to a group of teenagers who disappeared from a place called Idle County in 2010-ten years before his birth. Seventeen years of anxiety, violent outbursts, and refusal to admit he is lying have landed him at Crescent Rehabilitation Center, a seaside juvenile center for rich kids, and nobody has ever dared to believe his memories might be real. Until now. On a blustery November day just three months after a nuclear terrorist attack in Geneva, Switzerland, ex-CIA psychiatrist Thomas Lumen arrives at Crescent to interview Jonathan for a book about Idle County. Fueled by his personal connection to the disappearances three decades earlier, he asks Jonathan to share what he knows-anything and everything. By reigniting this thirty-year-old mystery, however, Jonathan inadvertently becomes a target of the very same religious terrorists who attacked Geneva, and they'll stop at nothing to keep the secrets of Idle County under wraps. Jonathan must then make a choice: to continue telling his story, or risk the safety of everyone he loves.
Cover:
The cover looks great and it feels somehow like rubber.
Title:
The title fits very good. But I am not going to tell you much because it would spoil the story. The boy, Jonathan, has memories he isn't supposed to have.
Writing style:
I love his writing style. Seriously, I couldn't stop reading. It is captivating like thriller, creepy like a horror move and has a lot of depth. The book jumps between different story lines and times to tell Jonathans, the Idle County sevens and Thomas Lumen. Sounds confusing? Surprisingly it's not, so good job!
Characters:
The main character might be Jonathan. He would have been a normal kid if there wouldn't be the memories in his head. Memories that aren't his own. He is the only one who knows what happened to the seven kids which vanished 10 years before his birth. His mum thinks he is a liar and the psychiatrists don't know what to do with him. Jonathan becomes an outsider and I, as a reader, should feel sorry for him. But I can't because he is soooo creepy. Seriously I wouldn't want do be alone in a room with him! The other characters are well developed too but I guess we have to wait for the second book to get to know them better.
Noteworthy:
It is the first of a series.
Stuck in my Head:
„What happened on those ghost hunts, sister?" Kara thought, watching the raincoats zipping around on the sidewalk below. "What did you see?“ (p. 150)
What I didn't like:
Nothing to complain!
Quick and dirty:
A great thriller that won't let go of you until you've read the last page! Well done! Looking forward to read the second book. However, people who are afraid of creepy things might want to read something else.
Thank you to ...
... Matthew J. Beier, who gave me this review copy in exchange of a honest review!
Jonathan Flite claims to have memories he can't explain. Seven layers of them, to be exact, all belonging to a group of teenagers who disappeared from a place called Idle County in 2010-ten years before his birth. Seventeen years of anxiety, violent outbursts, and refusal to admit he is lying have landed him at Crescent Rehabilitation Center, a seaside juvenile center for rich kids, and nobody has ever dared to believe his memories might be real. Until now. On a blustery November day just three months after a nuclear terrorist attack in Geneva, Switzerland, ex-CIA psychiatrist Thomas Lumen arrives at Crescent to interview Jonathan for a book about Idle County. Fueled by his personal connection to the disappearances three decades earlier, he asks Jonathan to share what he knows-anything and everything. By reigniting this thirty-year-old mystery, however, Jonathan inadvertently becomes a target of the very same religious terrorists who attacked Geneva, and they'll stop at nothing to keep the secrets of Idle County under wraps. Jonathan must then make a choice: to continue telling his story, or risk the safety of everyone he loves.
Cover:
The cover looks great and it feels somehow like rubber.
Title:
The title fits very good. But I am not going to tell you much because it would spoil the story. The boy, Jonathan, has memories he isn't supposed to have.
Writing style:
I love his writing style. Seriously, I couldn't stop reading. It is captivating like thriller, creepy like a horror move and has a lot of depth. The book jumps between different story lines and times to tell Jonathans, the Idle County sevens and Thomas Lumen. Sounds confusing? Surprisingly it's not, so good job!
Characters:
The main character might be Jonathan. He would have been a normal kid if there wouldn't be the memories in his head. Memories that aren't his own. He is the only one who knows what happened to the seven kids which vanished 10 years before his birth. His mum thinks he is a liar and the psychiatrists don't know what to do with him. Jonathan becomes an outsider and I, as a reader, should feel sorry for him. But I can't because he is soooo creepy. Seriously I wouldn't want do be alone in a room with him! The other characters are well developed too but I guess we have to wait for the second book to get to know them better.
Noteworthy:
It is the first of a series.
Stuck in my Head:
„What happened on those ghost hunts, sister?" Kara thought, watching the raincoats zipping around on the sidewalk below. "What did you see?“ (p. 150)
What I didn't like:
Nothing to complain!
Quick and dirty:
A great thriller that won't let go of you until you've read the last page! Well done! Looking forward to read the second book. However, people who are afraid of creepy things might want to read something else.
Thank you to ...
... Matthew J. Beier, who gave me this review copy in exchange of a honest review!
May 30, 2015
I was given this book by the author for an honest review.
Wow, this was a fantastic read!! I am so excited for the next book :-D
This was the first book I've read by Matthew Beier and it was great. I really enjoyed his writing style. He has a phenomenal way of writing in first person. All of the characters (there are many of them) are well developed and have unique thought processes. I honestly would give this book 20 stars if I could. The story was really well thought out. It is intricate with characters intertwining into each others lives at different stages in the story. I've read a few books that try to do this and it can be terrible but Mr. Beier does it terrifically. His transitions to each chapter (each chapter is from a different character's perspective) work well. It's not choppy where something important is missing, if anything it gives you something to think about. The story's fluidity is well done because even though each chapter is a different character telling their point of view, the story itself keeps going from where the previous character left off.
Another aspect of this story that I loved were the topics that it touched. It brings in politics, religion and psychological issues. I didn't think that Mr. Beier held back on his writing because of a younger audience which I really appreciated. This story makes a reader think about all these issues with an open mind. I haven't picked up a story like this in years. As you read into the book, it's hard to put down because there are many unanswered questions and questions that make you ponder about life. There were a few times where I had to stop reading to think about what a character just said or did and how I really felt about it.
There are lots of events that happen, so I would suggest highlighting and book marking so you can go back and read them again. It's nice that Mr. Beier created a time line of events so you can go back and keep track of the events that occured. I read this book in a few weeks, I think I would have grasped the story better, with the many events and characters, if I would have read a little bit every day. I've already started re-reading this book again.
I would highly recommend this book to anyone! This will open your mind if don't already have an open mind. Oh and if I were to categorize this book, I would say that it is a horror-suspense; I watched a lot of Forensic Files and the events that happen in this book are as creepy as the stories on this show.
I would like to thank Matthew Beier for sharing his work with me. It was a pleasure reading your work, and I am very much looking forward to the next book!
Wow, this was a fantastic read!! I am so excited for the next book :-D
This was the first book I've read by Matthew Beier and it was great. I really enjoyed his writing style. He has a phenomenal way of writing in first person. All of the characters (there are many of them) are well developed and have unique thought processes. I honestly would give this book 20 stars if I could. The story was really well thought out. It is intricate with characters intertwining into each others lives at different stages in the story. I've read a few books that try to do this and it can be terrible but Mr. Beier does it terrifically. His transitions to each chapter (each chapter is from a different character's perspective) work well. It's not choppy where something important is missing, if anything it gives you something to think about. The story's fluidity is well done because even though each chapter is a different character telling their point of view, the story itself keeps going from where the previous character left off.
Another aspect of this story that I loved were the topics that it touched. It brings in politics, religion and psychological issues. I didn't think that Mr. Beier held back on his writing because of a younger audience which I really appreciated. This story makes a reader think about all these issues with an open mind. I haven't picked up a story like this in years. As you read into the book, it's hard to put down because there are many unanswered questions and questions that make you ponder about life. There were a few times where I had to stop reading to think about what a character just said or did and how I really felt about it.
There are lots of events that happen, so I would suggest highlighting and book marking so you can go back and read them again. It's nice that Mr. Beier created a time line of events so you can go back and keep track of the events that occured. I read this book in a few weeks, I think I would have grasped the story better, with the many events and characters, if I would have read a little bit every day. I've already started re-reading this book again.
I would highly recommend this book to anyone! This will open your mind if don't already have an open mind. Oh and if I were to categorize this book, I would say that it is a horror-suspense; I watched a lot of Forensic Files and the events that happen in this book are as creepy as the stories on this show.
I would like to thank Matthew Beier for sharing his work with me. It was a pleasure reading your work, and I am very much looking forward to the next book!
September 24, 2014
(I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a review).
(This review may contain spoilers).
So, I originally had this book come through at a time I'd told myself I really couldn't take on any more books to read. And then I made the mistake of reading the blurb... and that pretty much hooked its claws into me and wouldn't let go.
I was really intrigued by the blurb of this book and although I still had some questions by the time I reached the end, I found it quite an entertaining read. The switching between different times wasn't as confusing as I'd originally thought it might be and I found the book fairly easy to follow.
I did feel that some of the character motivations weren't explored as thoroughly as they could have been in this book, but I suppose it did set it up for the next book/s to follow on. There were some moments in this that really drew me in and although I only understood bits and pieces of what was going on here, I think it was enough to make me want to read more and find out all the answers to the questions I still have at the end.
Some parts of this book made me think of the film My Soul to Take. There are differences, too, but I couldn't help comparing the two different things inside my mind.
I felt that this book did do a good job of being multi-genre. I would have liked some more details about the later year, though... there were some advances mentioned, but not enough details (in my opinion) about the different technology available.
There was quite a lot happening in this book, but I didn't feel that the author made things confusing. This kept me reading throughout and having reached the end, I have found myself wanting to read the next book in this series. It would be interesting to see where the author takes the characters next and I'd like to have some of the questions floating around in my head answered.
(This review may contain spoilers).
So, I originally had this book come through at a time I'd told myself I really couldn't take on any more books to read. And then I made the mistake of reading the blurb... and that pretty much hooked its claws into me and wouldn't let go.
I was really intrigued by the blurb of this book and although I still had some questions by the time I reached the end, I found it quite an entertaining read. The switching between different times wasn't as confusing as I'd originally thought it might be and I found the book fairly easy to follow.
I did feel that some of the character motivations weren't explored as thoroughly as they could have been in this book, but I suppose it did set it up for the next book/s to follow on. There were some moments in this that really drew me in and although I only understood bits and pieces of what was going on here, I think it was enough to make me want to read more and find out all the answers to the questions I still have at the end.
Some parts of this book made me think of the film My Soul to Take. There are differences, too, but I couldn't help comparing the two different things inside my mind.
I felt that this book did do a good job of being multi-genre. I would have liked some more details about the later year, though... there were some advances mentioned, but not enough details (in my opinion) about the different technology available.
There was quite a lot happening in this book, but I didn't feel that the author made things confusing. This kept me reading throughout and having reached the end, I have found myself wanting to read the next book in this series. It would be interesting to see where the author takes the characters next and I'd like to have some of the questions floating around in my head answered.
April 10, 2019
The confessions of Jonathan Flite by Mathew J Beier.
Jonathan Flite claims to have memories he can’t explain. Seven layers of them, to be exact, all belonging to a group of teenagers who disappeared from a place called Idle County in 2010—ten years before his birth. Seventeen years of anxiety, violent outbursts, and refusal to admit he is lying have landed him at Crescent Rehabilitation Center, a seaside juvenile center for rich kids, and nobody has ever dared to believe his memories might be real.
Until now. On a blustery November day just three months after a nuclear terrorist attack in Geneva, Switzerland, ex-CIA psychiatrist Thomas Lumen arrives at Crescent to interview Jonathan for a book about Idle County. Fueled by his personal connection to the disappearances three decades earlier, he asks Jonathan to share what he knows—anything and everything.
By reigniting this thirty-year-old mystery, however, Jonathan inadvertently becomes a target of the very same religious terrorists who attacked Geneva, and they’ll stop at nothing to keep the secrets of Idle County under wraps. Jonathan must then make a choice: to continue telling his story, or risk the safety of everyone he loves.
A good read with likeable characters. This was not what I thought it would be. But I did like the story. 4*.
Jonathan Flite claims to have memories he can’t explain. Seven layers of them, to be exact, all belonging to a group of teenagers who disappeared from a place called Idle County in 2010—ten years before his birth. Seventeen years of anxiety, violent outbursts, and refusal to admit he is lying have landed him at Crescent Rehabilitation Center, a seaside juvenile center for rich kids, and nobody has ever dared to believe his memories might be real.
Until now. On a blustery November day just three months after a nuclear terrorist attack in Geneva, Switzerland, ex-CIA psychiatrist Thomas Lumen arrives at Crescent to interview Jonathan for a book about Idle County. Fueled by his personal connection to the disappearances three decades earlier, he asks Jonathan to share what he knows—anything and everything.
By reigniting this thirty-year-old mystery, however, Jonathan inadvertently becomes a target of the very same religious terrorists who attacked Geneva, and they’ll stop at nothing to keep the secrets of Idle County under wraps. Jonathan must then make a choice: to continue telling his story, or risk the safety of everyone he loves.
A good read with likeable characters. This was not what I thought it would be. But I did like the story. 4*.
May 31, 2015
I have just finished reading this book and all I can say is WOW. I really wish someone had read it with me because I feel a desperate need to discuss it. I have so many theories and questions, this would be an awesome read for a book club for sure. There is just so much going on, it will undoubtedly give you plenty of food for thought.
I normally don't re-read books but I think I might just have to re-read this one. I'm sure that if I do, I will find more details that I missed the first time around. The author has done such a great job at building this intricate web of interconnected lives and events, that reading it only once won't do it justice.
The Confessions of Jonathan Flite is a stimulating, thought-provoking mystery. I love how it doesn't shy away from possibly controversial topics (like religion, life after death, etc..) but instead, dares the reader to explore them with an open mind. I see so much potential for this series as it is not only entertaining but also intellectually challenging.
*I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*
October 5, 2014
I had been waiting for a book that was a page turner, a book you can't put down. I had heard The Confessions of Jonathan Flite was such a book, so I waited to read it until I had a "free" day. I was not disappointed. I read it, cover to cover, 382 pages, in two sittings. I have since purchased three copies to give as gifts, to readers I know will find it, too, a mesmerizing tale to the end. The author has imagined and tells quite a story: a "place kids in Minnesota mentioned in tree-house sleepovers, with flashlights under their eyes, always in the direst of midnight tones", we read in the first pages. And, Jonathan: "a photographic memory at three...reading at four...completing thousand piece puzzles", who knows about people in that place in Minnesota, even though they disappeared ten years before he was born. Intriguing, to be sure, throughout. This is Book One in a series, the author says, and we who have read it anxiously await Book Two.
September 4, 2014
Have you ever seen a ghost or at least felt one? Do you believe in memories that are not your own-but you have them anyway? This is what happens to Jonathan Flite who is deemed "crazy" and sent off to a private psychiatric hospital for the very rich. His Mom has not exactly been the best Mom and has no idea what to do with this son. What will it take to prove that Jonathan is completely sane? I really liked this book!! I am going to let "about the book" explain a little more--but you have to decide for yourself!The Confessions of Jonathan Flite
March 18, 2022
ARC provided by NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
“The Confessions of Jonathan Flite” is part paranormal, part sci-fi, and part mystery. In the year 2037, we are introduced to the main protagonist, Jonathan Flite, a teenager who has claimed throughout his life to have the memories of a group of children who disappeared in Idle County many years before he was even born. Naturally, no one really believes him, and he spends a good deal of his life in juvenile facilities with apparent behavioral problems.
Over thirty years before, we follow the story of Molly, one of the doomed Idle County Seven, one of the group of children who disappear under mysterious circumstances, never to be found. During Molly’s timeline, we are introduced to what happened prior to her disappearance as she and her best friend begin the search for a ghost. Their search gives them far stranger results than either of them expected and place them in danger.
The timelines flip back and forth between Jonathan’s present and Molly’s past lives. After a terrorist attack in Geneva in Jonathan’s present, events unfold that begin to give credence to his claims of memories of the Idle County Seven, and, most specifically, Molly’s. As Jonathan’s truth is slowly revealed and Molly’s story begins to unfold, the story begins to intertwine with the very real terrorist attack that has rocked the world. How is it all connected? Is Jonathan lying, or does he really know what happened to the Idle County Seven? What really happened to Molly?
The questions pile up in this book. As more of the story is revealed, more questions are posed. The stories become tangled, weaving a web of mystery that, unfortunately, is left hanging in the balance at the end of the novel. Yes, I entered this book knowing that this was part one in a series. However, I didn’t expect the book to leave everything open with a question mark. Nothing was resolved or even partially resolved. With seven books in this series, I am guessing that nothing will really be resolved until book seven based on this author’s writing.
Don’t get me wrong, I did enjoy the book. The characters were flushed out nicely, and the multiple timelines crisscrossed with ease. It was easy to follow along and intriguing enough to keep me reading. This first book has set up a captivating storyline with a lot of interconnected parts. I was just left frustrated by the lack of any resolution at all at the end of the book. Did it leave me wanting more? Possibly. Frankly, the book has me torn.
Overall, the book has an interesting, original premise as the first in a series of seven novels. The reader is left with major cliffhangers and an unresolved storyline, pushing the need to continue with the series to hopefully eventually reach a satisfying conclusion. I think this first book has left me with enough questions that I will pick up the next book in the series to see how it is. However, it has left me frustrated enough that I felt compelled to give it three stars. Is every book in the series going to leave me with the same mixed feelings? I don’t know. Will the ending be worth it? I hope so.
All in all, this book would be ideal for a young adult reader, as long as that reader is prepared to read the whole series (I’m guessing at that at least based on this first book). The storyline is original enough to intrigue some adult readers as well, but be prepared to go the distance or face some frustrating disappointment. I’m just curious enough to at least pick up the next book in the series. I’ll just have to wait and see if Jonathan Flite keeps me intrigued enough to follow along with him to the very end.
“The Confessions of Jonathan Flite” is part paranormal, part sci-fi, and part mystery. In the year 2037, we are introduced to the main protagonist, Jonathan Flite, a teenager who has claimed throughout his life to have the memories of a group of children who disappeared in Idle County many years before he was even born. Naturally, no one really believes him, and he spends a good deal of his life in juvenile facilities with apparent behavioral problems.
Over thirty years before, we follow the story of Molly, one of the doomed Idle County Seven, one of the group of children who disappear under mysterious circumstances, never to be found. During Molly’s timeline, we are introduced to what happened prior to her disappearance as she and her best friend begin the search for a ghost. Their search gives them far stranger results than either of them expected and place them in danger.
The timelines flip back and forth between Jonathan’s present and Molly’s past lives. After a terrorist attack in Geneva in Jonathan’s present, events unfold that begin to give credence to his claims of memories of the Idle County Seven, and, most specifically, Molly’s. As Jonathan’s truth is slowly revealed and Molly’s story begins to unfold, the story begins to intertwine with the very real terrorist attack that has rocked the world. How is it all connected? Is Jonathan lying, or does he really know what happened to the Idle County Seven? What really happened to Molly?
The questions pile up in this book. As more of the story is revealed, more questions are posed. The stories become tangled, weaving a web of mystery that, unfortunately, is left hanging in the balance at the end of the novel. Yes, I entered this book knowing that this was part one in a series. However, I didn’t expect the book to leave everything open with a question mark. Nothing was resolved or even partially resolved. With seven books in this series, I am guessing that nothing will really be resolved until book seven based on this author’s writing.
Don’t get me wrong, I did enjoy the book. The characters were flushed out nicely, and the multiple timelines crisscrossed with ease. It was easy to follow along and intriguing enough to keep me reading. This first book has set up a captivating storyline with a lot of interconnected parts. I was just left frustrated by the lack of any resolution at all at the end of the book. Did it leave me wanting more? Possibly. Frankly, the book has me torn.
Overall, the book has an interesting, original premise as the first in a series of seven novels. The reader is left with major cliffhangers and an unresolved storyline, pushing the need to continue with the series to hopefully eventually reach a satisfying conclusion. I think this first book has left me with enough questions that I will pick up the next book in the series to see how it is. However, it has left me frustrated enough that I felt compelled to give it three stars. Is every book in the series going to leave me with the same mixed feelings? I don’t know. Will the ending be worth it? I hope so.
All in all, this book would be ideal for a young adult reader, as long as that reader is prepared to read the whole series (I’m guessing at that at least based on this first book). The storyline is original enough to intrigue some adult readers as well, but be prepared to go the distance or face some frustrating disappointment. I’m just curious enough to at least pick up the next book in the series. I’ll just have to wait and see if Jonathan Flite keeps me intrigued enough to follow along with him to the very end.
September 11, 2021
This is a great book I love sci fi particularly the concept of multiple universes and was attracted to the book because of this element in the story .I was not initially aware that this book is part of a planned 7 book series snd did not discover this until I was 90% of the way through and it began to dawn on me that there was no way that all the multiple threads of the book were going to be tied up satisfactorily by the end .I did find this frustrating as I’m a person who likes explanations but I suppose I will have to look for the next book and vomit for the long term !
The book is complicated but not impossible to follow ,I occasionally got some of the characters confused and needed to double my concentration.
The central characters Jonathon Flite and his mother were interesting quirky people well described and with lots of potential for further development in future books
The book zips along at a fast pace with some very exciting scenes such as the raid on the special unit housing troubled boys
I loved the concept of Jonathan holding memories of others who had lost their lives decades before and see the potential here for the 7 planned books in the series .I’m hoping that this special skill is explained more in future books as I was left feeling rather cross that I hadn’t discovered even a little piece of the puzzle by the end of the book
I read a copy on NetGalley Uk and having now read a good selection of books on this format icon my kindle I was expecting formatting errors as this is usual with early copies .I was however pleased to find the book beautifully formatted ,I particularly liked the circular image at the beginning of each chapter which remains on your retina as you move to the next page on your kindle and makes you feel like you were falling into the story .I don’t know if this was deliberate but found it fitted the circular imagery in the book rather satisfactorily
The book is complicated but not impossible to follow ,I occasionally got some of the characters confused and needed to double my concentration.
The central characters Jonathon Flite and his mother were interesting quirky people well described and with lots of potential for further development in future books
The book zips along at a fast pace with some very exciting scenes such as the raid on the special unit housing troubled boys
I loved the concept of Jonathan holding memories of others who had lost their lives decades before and see the potential here for the 7 planned books in the series .I’m hoping that this special skill is explained more in future books as I was left feeling rather cross that I hadn’t discovered even a little piece of the puzzle by the end of the book
I read a copy on NetGalley Uk and having now read a good selection of books on this format icon my kindle I was expecting formatting errors as this is usual with early copies .I was however pleased to find the book beautifully formatted ,I particularly liked the circular image at the beginning of each chapter which remains on your retina as you move to the next page on your kindle and makes you feel like you were falling into the story .I don’t know if this was deliberate but found it fitted the circular imagery in the book rather satisfactorily
September 11, 2021
This is a great book I love sci fi particularly the concept of multiple universes and was attracted to the book because of this element in the story .I was not initially aware that this book is part of a planned 7 book series snd did not discover this until I was 90% of the way through and it began to dawn on me that there was no way that all the multiple threads of the book were going to be tied up satisfactorily by the end .I did find this frustrating as I’m a person who likes explanations but I suppose I will have to look for the next book and vomit for the long term !
The book is complicated but not impossible to follow ,I occasionally got some of the characters confused and needed to double my concentration.
The central characters Jonathon Flite and his mother were interesting quirky people well described and with lots of potential for further development in future books
The book zips along at a fast pace with some very exciting scenes such as the raid on the special unit housing troubled boys
I loved the concept of Jonathan holding memories of others who had lost their lives decades before and see the potential here for the 7 planned books in the series .I’m hoping that this special skill is explained more in future books as I was left feeling rather cross that I hadn’t discovered even a little piece of the puzzle by the end of the book
I read a copy on NetGalley Uk and having now read a good selection of books on this format icon my kindle I was expecting formatting errors as this is usual with early copies .I was however pleased to find the book beautifully formatted ,I particularly liked the circular image at the beginning of each chapter which remains on your retina as you move to the next page on your kindle and makes you feel like you were falling into the story .I don’t know if this was deliberate but found it fitted the circular imagery in the book rather satisfactorily
The book is complicated but not impossible to follow ,I occasionally got some of the characters confused and needed to double my concentration.
The central characters Jonathon Flite and his mother were interesting quirky people well described and with lots of potential for further development in future books
The book zips along at a fast pace with some very exciting scenes such as the raid on the special unit housing troubled boys
I loved the concept of Jonathan holding memories of others who had lost their lives decades before and see the potential here for the 7 planned books in the series .I’m hoping that this special skill is explained more in future books as I was left feeling rather cross that I hadn’t discovered even a little piece of the puzzle by the end of the book
I read a copy on NetGalley Uk and having now read a good selection of books on this format icon my kindle I was expecting formatting errors as this is usual with early copies .I was however pleased to find the book beautifully formatted ,I particularly liked the circular image at the beginning of each chapter which remains on your retina as you move to the next page on your kindle and makes you feel like you were falling into the story .I don’t know if this was deliberate but found it fitted the circular imagery in the book rather satisfactorily
September 11, 2021
This is a really different kind of story, a little sci fi, a little paranormal, a little family drama, just a good mix of several genres. Good thing I like them all. This is the first book in a planned seven volume series. A good author saacrifices some pacing and action in the first book of a series to build and develop the back story and all of the main characters. Matthew Beier managed to execute his eye opening back story, populate it with some very memorable characters and still keep the story moving quicker than most stand alones. That alone is one sign of a skilled writer with a fantastic story to work with.
THE CONFESSIONS OF JONATHAN FLITE is told in two time periods, 2010 and 2034-37. In alternating chapters, we learn how the unexplained, unsolved disappearance of seven teenagers from Idle County, Minnesota will influence the actions of a large group of people in 2034 and beyond. While Jonathan Flite is the central character, he is born in 2020, ten years after the teenagers disappearance. As he grows, he begins to tell his mother stories that belong to the Idle County 7. Refusing to believe her son, she has him hospitalized where his actions will eventually have him declared incompetent and committed. Into this setting comes a doctor, seeking to treat Jonathan but also insuring the past remains in the past.
Running along side Jonathan's story, we will be introduced to the family of one of the missing teenagers. The first is sister to Molly Butler. Beier gives her character a solid story and we will see the lengths she will go to find her sister.
All in all, this is an excellent start to a series to follow. Im sure I will.
THE CONFESSIONS OF JONATHAN FLITE is told in two time periods, 2010 and 2034-37. In alternating chapters, we learn how the unexplained, unsolved disappearance of seven teenagers from Idle County, Minnesota will influence the actions of a large group of people in 2034 and beyond. While Jonathan Flite is the central character, he is born in 2020, ten years after the teenagers disappearance. As he grows, he begins to tell his mother stories that belong to the Idle County 7. Refusing to believe her son, she has him hospitalized where his actions will eventually have him declared incompetent and committed. Into this setting comes a doctor, seeking to treat Jonathan but also insuring the past remains in the past.
Running along side Jonathan's story, we will be introduced to the family of one of the missing teenagers. The first is sister to Molly Butler. Beier gives her character a solid story and we will see the lengths she will go to find her sister.
All in all, this is an excellent start to a series to follow. Im sure I will.
January 13, 2022
Seven teenagers disappeared in 2010. No one knows what happened to them. Idle County can only say that they disappeared in the Moon Woods. A decade later a woman bears a baby which she named Jonathan. After turning seventeen years old he is committed to a Crescent Rehabilitation Center for troubled youth. His mother did this as he would violent outbursts and refusal to admit he’s lying. He knows what happed to the seven teenagers. He has memories that adults think are impossible for him to have. Three months after a nuclear terrorists attack in Geneva,, Switzerland, an ex-CIA psychiatrist, Dr. Lumens arrives at Crescent to interview Jonathan about the Idle County seven teenagers disappearance. He wants anything and everything Jonathan knows. As Jonathan tells what he knows, he reignites the same group of terrorists from Geneva deciding that Jonathan must stop telling about it or else.
The author weaves characters and and plots together". The stories paranormal elements are fascinating. The many shifts in perspective and time are disorienting at times. The story is engrossing. I kept wanting to know the answers to questions I had but did not answer in this book. I liked the mystery of the story even though it’s not solved in this book. I can’t wait to read the next one! This is a book that can be enjoyed by enjoyed by young
adults and adults.
Disclaimer: I received an arc of this book from the author/publisher from Netgalley. I wasn’t obligated to write a favorable review or any review at all. The opinions expressed are strictly my own.
The author weaves characters and and plots together". The stories paranormal elements are fascinating. The many shifts in perspective and time are disorienting at times. The story is engrossing. I kept wanting to know the answers to questions I had but did not answer in this book. I liked the mystery of the story even though it’s not solved in this book. I can’t wait to read the next one! This is a book that can be enjoyed by enjoyed by young
adults and adults.
Disclaimer: I received an arc of this book from the author/publisher from Netgalley. I wasn’t obligated to write a favorable review or any review at all. The opinions expressed are strictly my own.
November 23, 2021
The Confessions of Jonathan Flite was not what I expected. It was intruding and suspenseful and a book that was hard to put down. Wow.
Synopsis
Jonathan Flite claims to have memories he can’t explain. Seven layers of them, to be exact, all belonging to a group of teenagers who disappeared from a place called Idle County in 2010—ten years before his birth. Seventeen years of anxiety, violent outbursts, and refusal to admit he is lying have landed him at Crescent Rehabilitation Center, a seaside juvenile center for rich kids, and nobody has ever dared to believe his memories might be real.
Until now. On a blustery November day just three months after a nuclear terrorist attack in Geneva, Switzerland, ex-CIA psychiatrist Thomas Lumen arrives at Crescent to interview Jonathan for a book about Idle County. Fueled by his personal connection to the disappearances three decades earlier, he asks Jonathan to share what he knows—anything and everything.
By reigniting this thirty-year-old mystery, however, Jonathan inadvertently becomes a target of the very same religious terrorists who attacked Geneva, and they’ll stop at nothing to keep the secrets of Idle County under wraps. Jonathan must then make a choice: to continue telling his story, or risk the safety of everyone he loves.
Synopsis
Jonathan Flite claims to have memories he can’t explain. Seven layers of them, to be exact, all belonging to a group of teenagers who disappeared from a place called Idle County in 2010—ten years before his birth. Seventeen years of anxiety, violent outbursts, and refusal to admit he is lying have landed him at Crescent Rehabilitation Center, a seaside juvenile center for rich kids, and nobody has ever dared to believe his memories might be real.
Until now. On a blustery November day just three months after a nuclear terrorist attack in Geneva, Switzerland, ex-CIA psychiatrist Thomas Lumen arrives at Crescent to interview Jonathan for a book about Idle County. Fueled by his personal connection to the disappearances three decades earlier, he asks Jonathan to share what he knows—anything and everything.
By reigniting this thirty-year-old mystery, however, Jonathan inadvertently becomes a target of the very same religious terrorists who attacked Geneva, and they’ll stop at nothing to keep the secrets of Idle County under wraps. Jonathan must then make a choice: to continue telling his story, or risk the safety of everyone he loves.
November 14, 2021
Im not really sure how to describe what I loved about his book.. Except to say that I loved all of it!
This story has so many layers, its like we are peeling an onion.. The more layers we travel through, the closer we are getting to the truth.. The truth about what happened to the Idle County 7.. The only person who knows what happened to them other than their killer, is a boy named Jonathan Flite.. We follow him as he grows up.. He tells his mother that he has a bunch of people in his head.. Of course she doesn't believe him, and he is sent to a psychiatrist.. After an angry outburst that leads to Jonathan killing his nurse, he ends up in an institution.. Only one person on the outside seems to believe that he actually knows what happened to these missing teens.. Dr. Lumen.. He grew up in Idle county, whose claim to fame isn't only the missing kids.. Alot of strange things happen there.. Not only the people missing, but cults, murder, and even ghosts..
We get to see quite a few perspectives throughout this story, but mostly we follow Jonathan, and Molly.. Molly is one of the kids who went missing and we get to see through Jonathans eyes what happened in the time leading up to her going missing.. Jonathan and Mollys story sucked me in completely, and I can't wait to see what new things we are going to learn in the next book!
This story has so many layers, its like we are peeling an onion.. The more layers we travel through, the closer we are getting to the truth.. The truth about what happened to the Idle County 7.. The only person who knows what happened to them other than their killer, is a boy named Jonathan Flite.. We follow him as he grows up.. He tells his mother that he has a bunch of people in his head.. Of course she doesn't believe him, and he is sent to a psychiatrist.. After an angry outburst that leads to Jonathan killing his nurse, he ends up in an institution.. Only one person on the outside seems to believe that he actually knows what happened to these missing teens.. Dr. Lumen.. He grew up in Idle county, whose claim to fame isn't only the missing kids.. Alot of strange things happen there.. Not only the people missing, but cults, murder, and even ghosts..
We get to see quite a few perspectives throughout this story, but mostly we follow Jonathan, and Molly.. Molly is one of the kids who went missing and we get to see through Jonathans eyes what happened in the time leading up to her going missing.. Jonathan and Mollys story sucked me in completely, and I can't wait to see what new things we are going to learn in the next book!
December 3, 2021
I was intrigued by the publisher’s summary describing a group of missing teens and a young man who claimed to have memories from them, young people gone before he was even born. Mystery and the supernatural — what could be better? The story unfolds in different time periods so we get snatches from the time of the missing teens, other events in the present ( 2034) and still others from the experience of an ex-CIA psychiatrist who has personal connections to the case.
Unfortunately, the disjointed recounting of the story led to some confusion on my part. Every time I took a break and then returned, I wasn’t sure if I had forgotten pertinent information or it just had not been revealed yet. It is the nature of nonlinear storytelling to run this risk and by using multiple time periods, it becomes even more chaotic.
I did push through and found myself content with the ending. There are two more books in the series, but I think I will stop with Confessions. My connection to the characters was not deep enough to want to dig any deeper into the mystery.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Unfortunately, the disjointed recounting of the story led to some confusion on my part. Every time I took a break and then returned, I wasn’t sure if I had forgotten pertinent information or it just had not been revealed yet. It is the nature of nonlinear storytelling to run this risk and by using multiple time periods, it becomes even more chaotic.
I did push through and found myself content with the ending. There are two more books in the series, but I think I will stop with Confessions. My connection to the characters was not deep enough to want to dig any deeper into the mystery.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
September 20, 2021
I have mixed feelings on this book.
I liked the writing - I could picture the story and the characters. I could feel myself sympathizing with Jonathan and wanting to shake the people who didn't understand him. I was emotionally involved.
What I didn't like - I thought it was a bit confusing. Jonathan held the memories of others - I get that. But the book chapters changed characters, changed timelines... At times i wanted to scream - who the heck is this now? What is going ON?
Now that being said, I realized it was part of a series. Way too many questions left open. I am off to find the rest of the story - I guess that's enough of a recommendation, right?
Thank you to the author, the publisher and #netgalley for the copy to review - this did not impact my review. 3.5 stars - rounding up to 4!
I liked the writing - I could picture the story and the characters. I could feel myself sympathizing with Jonathan and wanting to shake the people who didn't understand him. I was emotionally involved.
What I didn't like - I thought it was a bit confusing. Jonathan held the memories of others - I get that. But the book chapters changed characters, changed timelines... At times i wanted to scream - who the heck is this now? What is going ON?
Now that being said, I realized it was part of a series. Way too many questions left open. I am off to find the rest of the story - I guess that's enough of a recommendation, right?
Thank you to the author, the publisher and #netgalley for the copy to review - this did not impact my review. 3.5 stars - rounding up to 4!
November 20, 2021
I got a newsletter from Netgalley saying I should really get the Jonathan Flite books while they were still available, so I did and I'm really glad I did. I wasn't expecting much because I barely read the summary, trusting that if other Netgalley readers were making it a best-seller it must be worth it. Wow, the plot is twisted but the story-telling is very well done and all the strings of past present and future weave together without forming knots, everything flows into place flawlessly. I loved that the characters ranged so widely from kids looking out for ghosts to various kinds of doctors, people aging with or without sickness, most characters holding deep and painful memories that give them ground and volume to hold their spot in the story. Now this was a promising start, I'm excited to read the next ones!
November 15, 2021
This book is amazing! I really had no idea what I was getting into and was blown away. I have no idea how this book snuck under the radar from me all these years. The story is top-notch. It really has a bit of everything. It's a thriller that has ghosts, cults, murder, and more. The characters are very well-written and even though there was kind of a lot to keep track of, the core group was easy to remember. After the first half, I went and sought out the next two books right away. There was no way I could let this story drop knowing there was so much more. The writing style is really fantastic and keeps you locked in. I can't wait to get into book 2 later today. This author is massively talented and I am so glad that I stumbled across their books.
March 1, 2022
I received a copy of this book via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. I have to say I struggled womanfully with at least 50% of this book before getting my head around just what was happening.
For me the chapters were too short and felt broken in some way and there were just too many timelines to capture fully the complexity of the narrative, and the narrative was indeed, complex, novel and ultimately worth getting through. This is the first in the series and perhaps suffers from the need to build characters and storylines that can be taken onward.
I will read the other two that I have (again from Netgalley) but I feel like i will need to do that soon or i might forget just who is who.
For me the chapters were too short and felt broken in some way and there were just too many timelines to capture fully the complexity of the narrative, and the narrative was indeed, complex, novel and ultimately worth getting through. This is the first in the series and perhaps suffers from the need to build characters and storylines that can be taken onward.
I will read the other two that I have (again from Netgalley) but I feel like i will need to do that soon or i might forget just who is who.
September 29, 2018
I hadn't realised this was part of a series,despite being clearly labelled #1.
This left me a bit "what????" at the ending.
However the whole way through,it had me turning pages,creeping out,guessing what came next.
It skipped around different time lines a lot,but each was clearly defined with strong characters that I always knew where I was.
I don't think I've EVER read a book that combines terrorism,murder,psychology,ghosts,cults and serial killers before... and if I had,would have expected it to be a mess.
This does,and it isn't.
I'll be looking for book 2,3,4,5,6 and 7eagerly if they continue like this.
This left me a bit "what????" at the ending.
However the whole way through,it had me turning pages,creeping out,guessing what came next.
It skipped around different time lines a lot,but each was clearly defined with strong characters that I always knew where I was.
I don't think I've EVER read a book that combines terrorism,murder,psychology,ghosts,cults and serial killers before... and if I had,would have expected it to be a mess.
This does,and it isn't.
I'll be looking for book 2,3,4,5,6 and 7eagerly if they continue like this.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 4, 2022
The Confessions of Jonathan Flite by Matthew J. Beer.
The Jonathan Flite Series Volume .
Jonathan Flite claims to have memories he can’t explain. Seven layers of them, to be exact, all belonging to a group of teenagers who disappeared from a place called Idle County in 2010—ten years before his birth. Seventeen years of anxiety, violent outbursts, and refusal to admit he is lying have landed him at Crescent Rehabilitation Center, a seaside juvenile center for rich kids, and nobody has ever dared to believe his memories might be real.
A very good read. 4*.
The Jonathan Flite Series Volume .
Jonathan Flite claims to have memories he can’t explain. Seven layers of them, to be exact, all belonging to a group of teenagers who disappeared from a place called Idle County in 2010—ten years before his birth. Seventeen years of anxiety, violent outbursts, and refusal to admit he is lying have landed him at Crescent Rehabilitation Center, a seaside juvenile center for rich kids, and nobody has ever dared to believe his memories might be real.
A very good read. 4*.
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