Father and son team, Clay and Tanner Thomas, have already used their parapsychological abilities to solve crimes, but never before to keep themselves out of trouble. After a devastating injury to his father, Clay Thomas is abandoned by two people closest to him while being pursued by the local police chief for crimes he didn’t commit. While they investigate to discover the actual culprit perpetrating a series of local robberies, the spirited ghost of Bosley Pemberton appears, seeking their help to solve his eleven-year-old murder. With unexpected assistance from a rank-smelling midget, a bad-tempered giant, a gossipy curator, and a rule-bending coroner, Clay and Tanner incorporate their unique mind-control abilities to dig up dirt on Bosley as well as the numerous suspects who had motive and opportunity to put him to death. The plot unwinds, exposing the mystery about the real thief and putting an unexpected spin on broken relationships that need mending.
Jeff LaFerney was a full-time language arts teacher in Davison, Michigan, for 30 years. After coaching basketball for most of his career, he decided to write books instead and took on his new hobby. Now he spends his free time reading, writing, and editing books. He and his beautiful wife have two adult children. His Clay and Tanner Thomas series focuses on a father and son team who use parapsychological abilities to solve mysteries. Jumper, Planer, and Warper are time-travel science fiction adventures. Lost and Found is a unique mystery/treasure hunt with ties to World War II history. His latest, The Lake House, is a detective murder mystery. He has a blog called The Red Pen where he usually infuses humor to share about himself or to give inspiration or writing tips. http://jefflaferney.blogspot.com/
A murder mystery: two murders including a feisty old ghost, Bosley - a womaniser and restless soul who move things around in the Fenton Hotel Tavern and Grille, who sings happily along with the performers and who hope someone can solve his murder.
That's where the father and son - detective team, Clay and Tanner Thomas, comes in when they also have to sort out another murder. They both have special abilities - really special, believe me, including communicating with ol' Bosley, read minds and basically do what has to be done to get this murder mystery on the road.
Meet Jasper, their midget lawyer, who would get sprayed by a skunk, 'accidently' lands on the female prosecutor's lap(which makes his day!) and has the ability to super-charge a certain cop to look like an overly-blown-up red balloon.
Poor six foot ten and overweight Sherman Septic Tankersley, the plumber, has his hands full with confined spaces, ghosts who open taps and switch off lights, metal steps that bends under his weight and have him captured by the handrails closing in on him. Life is not a good one for this giant. His temper is severely tested by his fright of ghosts and people who just do not understand him.
In the mix is also Zander Frauss, the neuroscientist ....need I say more?
Mix all these characters, and quite a few interesting ones more, with science, the paranormal, romance, intrigue, humor and excellent writing skills, and you get "Bulletproof" by Jeff LaFerney: a riveting, fast-moving who-dunnit that will keep you awake!
I feel so honored and happy to have met the characters and read this third book in this series. I will definitely read the other two as well. It will be shear bliss!
A very special thank you to Books4tomorrow and Jeff LaFerney!
Heart-warming, compelling, unforgettable – a novel which never loses its hold on the reader – “Bulletproof” is a perfect blend of humor, intrigue, drama, mystery and the paranormal. Early on in the book, I fell in love with the characters, their world, the endless questions and the stunning plot twists. With characters you’ll love to love and others you’ll love to hate, the author effortlessly created a mystery where nothing is quite what it seems.
Having also read the author’s second novel, “Skeleton Key”, meeting up with Clay, Tanner, Erika and Jasper felt like being with old and well-loved friends again. This beautifully-crafted novel introduces the reader to a diverse array of characters caught in situations in which the odds are staggering; but at the heart of it all are a father and son who would go to great lengths to help the people they love, as well as the ones who unknowingly need them.
Jeff LaFerney’s breathtaking new novel will have readers falling in love with the ingenuity of an author who once again wrote from the heart to get to the heart. The author pays careful attention to well-researched detail; and delivers dialogue with a punch - succeeding in making the characters utterly believable.
A powerful plot with an unexpected and brilliant climax, building up to its knee-jerking final twists, this book is impossible to put down. It stayed in my mind long after I had finished reading it.
“Bulletproof” is another exciting adventure by author Jeff LaFerney, focusing on the father-son due of Clay and Tanner Thomas, men whose cranial capacity affects their lives (and the lives of others) in totally unexpected ways. Each has a second opening in the medulla oblongata of the brain, and has developed what would otherwise be considered “psychic” abilities, such as thought projection, mind control, and telekinesis.
If you liked the previous Thomas & Thomas novel, “Skeleton Key,” you are surely going to rave over “Bulletproof.” If you haven’t read “Skeleton Key,” well, what are you waiting for? Get them both, and you will quickly see why I am such a fan of this series, which gently and subtly blends paranormal with science, emotion with skepticism, adventure and thrills with mystery and suspense. There’s always a good guy, but they’re never perfect; and some of the secondary characters demonstrate serious failings, in a very human way. In any event, you’ll find yourself racing through enjoying these exciting novels.
This is the first of Jeff LaFerney's books I have read. Bulletproof is the 3rd installment in the series but you don't have to read the first two in order to read this one. I enjoy a good mystery and this book delivered that plus so much more (a touch of humor, some drama, and the paranormal). The twists and turns in the plot kept me guessing. What an array of characters! Some you will love and others not so much and others will just make you laugh. I enjoyed getting to know Clay and Tanner and look forward to reading more about them in future books. This is a book you will enjoy from cover to cover.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author in return for an honest review.
This is the third book in the Clay and Tanner Thomas Series. I absolutely LOVED it!
Clay and Tanner Thomas are both fantastic characters. Clay has become more at ease with using his special abilities of telekinesis and being able to communicate with the dead. His son, Tanner, also has special abilities such as being able to hypnotize people or influence them just with a thought. These abilities are caused through a genetic anomaly within their brain and come in handy when solving mysteries, but this one becomes personal when a robbery goes wrong and Clay's father is accused of committing it.
I have been wanting to read this book for some time, but due to the length of my reading list, haven't been able to until now. I am kicking myself for not reading it sooner, because I really love this series and the characters within the pages. I picked up the book and started to read; I did not put it down until I had finished it in one sitting. The story is told through various points of view, but as Clay and Tanner are the main characters, they have the most say. I am not a huge sports fan, but I love the way the author has woven his love of sport into this story. His attention to detail made the games come alive and I felt like I was there, watching the games from the bleachers too. I also love the paranormal (or is it supernatural) aspects of the tale; I love a good ghost story!
It was also wonderful to meet some old faces again, as well as some new ones. Jasper, Clay's friend and lawyer, happens to have a short temper to go with his short stature (he's one of the little people or, if you want to be politically incorrect, a midget). In a way, this character is one of my favourites, because he's more bark than bite, though he can get rather violent when riled. This also leads to almost comical events that made me smile and, on occasion, giggle over. Zander Fauss is a character I liked from the start. He is a neurosurgeon and one of Clay's friends. He has been studying the Thomas's abilities in the hopes of understanding why they have manifested. There are more than a couple of new characters introduced, but I really liked Sherman "Septic" Tankersley. He's a plumber, who happens to be a little intimidating due to his large size. He has many issues, but as I got to know this man a bit better, I realised that he is a gentle giant hiding behind a gruff facade to hide his loneliness.
This story is another fantastic mystery/thriller, full of twists and turns to keep a reader guessing. There are some quite dark moments within the story that made me shiver, but the author also added some lighter moments which had me giggling or laughing out loud. There is mention of religion which may upset some readers, but it is not written in a preachy way. This is a fast paced, roller coaster ride from beginning to end. I hope that there will be more books in this series in the future.
Jeff LaFerney has written a fantastic mystery/thriller. I love his writing style, which is fast paced and exciting, and the flow is wonderfully fluid; each scene flows into the next seamlessly. He is one of the few male authors who has made it onto my favourite authors list and I am looking forward to reading more of his books in the future.
I highly recommend this as a "MUST READ" to everyone who loves paranormal thrillers or mysteries. This book can be read as a stand-alone, but I highly recommend reading the first book, Loving The Rain, first. - Lynn Worton
Bulletproof is the third instalment in the Clay and Tanner Thomas mystery/suspense series. Clay and Tanner find themselves in more trouble when Clays father is seriously injured in an armed robbery and Clay is accused of the crime. Coming together the pair try to solve two separate mysteries and are turning into quite competent detectives without always using their powers to get the answers.
As in the two previous books the ‘special powers’ are still kept to a minimum, making me think this series fits more into the mystery genre than any genre with a paranormal tag. The story is steady paced and filled with emotion as Clay has to deal with the loss of someone else close to him. He still suffers with feelings of guilt over his powers; guilt that he used the power on his wife making him feel he is responsible for her death, and guilt that he kept his secret from his father when he now realises there was no need.
After reading all three books in this series I feel like I know Clay and Tanner quite well, both these and the secondary characters are fully developed with stand out personality traits. Their relationship with each other has grown so much closer since that first book and it has been enjoyable to watch. The interaction between the pair is natural and the dialogue flows easily. The rhythm of Jeff LaFerneys writing is comfortable to read and his often humorous comments make it pleasurable too.
They say that the third time is the charm, and in this installment of the Clay and Tanner Thomas series, it holds true!
I have read all of the books in this series and this one, well, Jeff topped them all. Not only is there elements of the paranormal, but dual mysteries to solve, romance, self-discovery, humor and plenty of Christian perspectives on life and loss, all rolled into one fantastic story.
There were a few times I had to stop reading since my eyes were full of tears. I won't share which scene they arose from since that would spoil the plot, but I will say that the scenes were so real that I felt the passion and pain in the words.
Jeff writes with clarity and conviction, setting the stage expertly for his characters as they struggle with life issues that we all face, plus interesting paranormal aspects that are written so well, they are believable.
I hope that there will be more escapades coming for Clay and Tanner, because I can't wait to see what masterpiece Jeff writes next!
Exciting, thrilling, gripping - exactly the kind of book i really like. Bulletproof is about a father and his son, their special abilities, and their daily life problems. It convinced me from the very first moment and I really enjoyed to read it! Everything that a good book needs is in there: Robberies, thiefs, murders, guns and a giant man. I recommend it for everyone who likes a little fantasy (especially ghost) and a gripping crime story. There was not even one part in at that I`d consider as faint. I really enjoyed reading it and I must say that the author made his researches pretty good (especially about the part in the OR). I am impressed! Just a great story! Thank you Jeff LaFerney for giving me the possibility to read it and give you an honest review!
This is my 2nd book I've read of Jeff's and I absolutely loved it. It had a great story line and was a great mystery. Everytime I thought I knew who the criminals were something would happen and I would start second guessing myself. It was nice reading a mystery that had a lot of humor in it as well. This is definitely a must read for others!
Clay and Tanner bring on the intrigue and mystery again!
As mentioned in my review of Skeleton Key, I was more than ready to move on and read Clay and Tanner #3, Bulletproof. I jumped right in because I simply had to have more of this father and son duo. I definitely got what I asked for in this installment.
First, I have to mention Jasper. I failed to mention him in my review of Skeleton Key, which is the book in which he first appears. Jasper is a-FREAKING-mazing. He cracks me up, but he also turns out to be a great friend to Clay and Tanner. He’s a self-proclaimed “little person” with some intense acrobatic skills! Seriously, readers will not find another character like Jasper out there – he is supporting character GOLD!
Now, I cannot mention Jasper without also mentioning Sherman who first appears in this novel and he is the absolute perfect counterpart to Jasper. Just wait. When you read it, you’ll get it. Sherman, like Jasper, starts out a little rough (though funny), but this story wouldn’t be what it is without him.
As for Clay, Tanner, Zander, and Erika, they are on point. Again, their stories are so interesting and fun to read that I had a hard time putting my book down. When I did, I often found myself thinking about them as I went about my day. Honestly, I’ll probably have them in my head for quite a while.
Even after all the growth from the previous two books, readers will find that Clay and Tanner are still learning to navigate the world with their abilities and as they figure it out, they simply become more and more loveable. These two make me smile from ear to ear. Erika and Clay face some conflict in this story, which I was happy to see. Every couple, no matter how perfectly they seem matched, will face conflict and LaFerney weaved some into this story for them. Additionally, Clay and Zander face their own set of conflicts. Again, I love to see this. When a novel has so many good-hearted characters, it can be a bit of a letdown (for me) if they are always “perfect”, so I greatly appreciate LaFerney’s gift for writing mistakes and major mess-ups with these otherwise squeaky clean characters without turning them into sleazy bad guys!!
The mystery – oh, let’s talk about the mystery!! I’ve heard it said that Bulletproof is the “best” of the Clay and Tanner novels. I think it really might be the best. This story had me guessing and wondering the entire way through. I don’t know where LaFerney gets these ideas, but his mystery-building mind is unbelievable. AND, he’s offered up another ghost story component in this novel. There are a few ghosts looking for resolutions and readers won’t be disappointed with their stories!
At this point, I have no idea if the Clay and Tanner series is complete or not, but I can say that I will jump at the opportunity to read more of their stories should LaFerney write them.
I received this book from the author to give an honest review.
This review is for the ebook not the paperback.
First let me say this is the third book in the Clay and Tanner series. The first book is Loving the Rain, and the second book Skeleton Key. If you have read the two previous books and enjoyed them you know Jeff's writing style. It is unique his books have no explict language too them, no graphic scenes.
Bulletproof has another mystery for us to figure out. Clay and Tanner can not get away from the mysteries that seem to find them. When Clay's father is injured and Clay is the prime suspect he must work on proving he is innocent with the help of his son and friends. New characters are introduced along with characters from the previous books. While Clay is figuring out the mysteries his love life takes a wild turn and he has to deal with that also. The relationship between Clay and Tanner is an amazing father/son relationship which Jeff describes perfectly in his writing. Of course there is the humor that will keep you laughing, and the mystery going on that will keep you guessing as you try to figure out who-dun-it.
Jeff brings back the character Jasper, which if you have read my previous reviews you will know I love this little guy. (He does not like to be referred to as a midget) When Jasper is brought in on this book * NOW THIS IS A SPOILER* he is sprayed by a skunk and just the way that everything is described just had me giggling and re-reading it over just for the laugh. I do hope there is another book in this series, because I want to see what exactly is going to happen between Clay and Erika.
If you like to read a good heart-warming story, with suspense, mystery, paranormal powers, love, family, friendship. Then I suggest you go out and get this book. I do not think you would be disappointed.
My favorite quotes: " He'll never give us more than we can bear." "When God begins a work in us, He'll carry it on to completion." "Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the judgement that something else is more important than fear." Those 3 quotes that are the ones that stood out to me, because they are so true. I use the first quote a lot when myself or someone I know is going through a hard time. I know that God will never give us more than we can bear, he knows how much we can take.
Looks like I'm always late to the table when it comes to writing a review for Jeff LaFerney's novels. Again, lots of the storyline has been rehashed by other reviewers and I'm basically left to give my personal reasons for rating this 5 stars. Bulletproof is an edge-of-your-seat mystery spiked with humor, chaos, a smidgen of paranormal, and a hefty tugging of the heartstrings.
LaFerney throws in a buttload of bait to heighten your suspicion of various characters, but his plot twists take you back to square one. Or two. Either way, it's highly unlikely you'll figure out this masterfully shocking ending.
I had not read other books in the Clay and Tanner Thomas series, however did read and review "Jumper" after downloading the sample, and then buying due to appreciating Mr. LaFerney's writing ability. This guy is a bona fide writer, and Bulletproof is a novel you'll urge friends to read. Not being a Mensa member, I don't easily get through LaFerney's initial chapters, but this book took hold of me quickly and I was champing at the bit (or chomping, your choice) to discern the correlation between the two crimes in this story. That intrigue alongside matchless wit kept me turning pages and wanting to jump inside to help Clay and Tanner. The father-son duo warmed my heart and inveigled me into reading the other books in this series.
With a knack for transporting readers into his richly woven worlds, this author brought me into a small town scenario where I felt certain I had traveled the same paths as many of these characters. Kudos to Jeff LaFerney for this novel. I cannot recommend it highly enough!
{my thoughts} - I have not had the pleasure of reading the first two books in this series. I was told however, that you didn't need to read them in order to read this book. I am glad that information was correct. This book was breathtaking on many different levels. I started reading it not really knowing if I was going to enjoy it or not. I was hooked completely after chapter five. I couldn't put my phone down, I had to finish the book. I had to know what happened. This book revealed the conclusion to two different crimes that had taken place. One of those crimes was a present day robbery spree and the other was an elven year-old murder case. When I finally finished the book I was surprised to see that I honestly had not see that ending coming. It was well written and threw you at different individuals throughout the book in relation to who could have done each crime, however once you find out who committed both crimes I am sure you will be as shocked as I was. This was a fantastic read for anyone that enjoys paranormal mystery books.
{reason for reading} - I was given a copy of this book by the author in return for an honest review.
This was a great book. Most of the stuff I read is YA, so it was a refreshing change to pick up an adult book and get thoroughly absorbed. I found myself thinking about it throughout the day and wondering who did it.
Bulletproof is one of those books that starts with lots of tiny pieces and the further you get into the book, the clearer the picture becomes. Small connections between all the characters begin to form. It's like seeing a jigsaw puzzle come to life. It was so awesome, as the book progressed, finding out little nuggets that would then send your theories on a totally different path.
This book kept me guessing until the very end. I so enjoyed the mystery.
The characters are great. I loved Tanner and the relationship he had with his dad was awesome. I found myself empathising with Clay straight away and I so wanted him to prove his innocence.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and would recommend it to anyone who likes a mystery that keeps you guessing until the last couple of pages :)
I was given this book in return for an honest review. Clay and Tanner are back with some new and some old friends. Clay's father is gravely injured and he is the prime suspect. On the run he will still try to solve the problem of the local roberies and also try to make good on a promise he made to a ghost. This isn't your typical mystery, Clay and Tanner have a gift of mind control and it makes the task of investigating and solving crimes a tish easier, if you will. The relationship between the family members is so fantastic and yet still sometimes rocky, which I love because that's how real families are. I am in love with the character Jasper, he's a midget and I want to take him home with me. I could read a book with just him in it. This is the third book in this series and they just get better and better. I would catagorize them as Humorous paranorml mysteries, so they span severl genres. I am also partial to the books because I'm from Michigan and so is the author. Definately reccomend. WaAr
Author Jeff LaFerney has done an amazing job, yet again, with his latest murder mystery story Bulletproof.
Clay and Tanner Thomas use their supernatural abilities to help solve a double murder mystery in the town of Fenton, Michigan. This father and son team took me on a roller coaster ride of emotions ranging from sadness to elation. This book is fast paced, easy to read and very exciting with many unexpected twists and turns. Get ready to make a list of the facts and suspects as you read to see if you can guess the murderer in both crimes!
What I love the most about Mr. LaFerney's writing style is that he embeds real life lessons in his stories that everyone can relate to. Trials and tribulations affect all of us and his characters are no different. They rely on family, friends, faith, and love to overcome the many obstacles that life may give us.
Here is my favorite partial quote from the book. "...The trials make us mature and complete, but they're never more that we can bear and we can always know that until we get to that point, we're bulletproof."
I really think they should go into detective work, the team of Tanner and his father Clay. The duo have psychic abilities that they use to solve mysteries but they don’t let their talents go to their heads and the mysteries involve some good detective work with some very interesting characters. This book has Clay dealing with some deep emotions yet trying to solve two crimes at one time while still doing his job as a basketball coach at the U of M and being a father. Yes, he has a lot on his plate. The local police place the blame on Clay for the string of robberies that have taken place in town and Clay and Tanner need to prove his innocence. This is the third book in the series but this book can stand alone as the author does a great job explaining any details you might need from the previous books. This fast-paced book will keep your attention from the beginning and doesn’t let up until you get to the end.
A MYSTERY LOVER’S BLISS! Bulletproof has everything a mystery lover could ask for. First, you get two mysteries with plenty of twist and turns to keep you guessing. Then you have psychics and ghost that keep you backtracking looking for clues you've missed, because every time you think you have it figured out . . . you are wrong! Clay and Tanner’s abilities are expertly handled. I never thought they were fake or strange; The Thomas’ are very real and moral people. I also found it very refreshing to have a double mystery with an accidental death, multiple robberies, and a murder, yet the violence and gore weren't so graphic they gave me nightmares! Thank you, Jeff. This was my first Clay and Tanner mystery, but it won’t be my last! I recommend this to anyone that likes mystery or paranormal novels.
This is the third book in the series but it's the first book I've read by Jeff LaFerney and it definitely stands on its own. I really enjoyed it and plan on reading the first two when I get the chance. This is a heartwarming mystery with a dab of paranormal so it's just a little different enough to make it stand out. There's also a little humor which is always fun.
The main characters are well developed and easy to empathize with. Clay and Tanner also have a good father/son relationship which is enjoyable to read. I definitely recommend this book.
The thrill keeps coming in Bulletproof, the real life lessons that are played out puts you right in the book with the characters. I have enjoyed all three books and can't wait to see what comes in the fourth one. Clay is being blamed for a string of robberies, so him and Tanner have to try and prove that he's innocent all while trying to solve a double murder and deal with every day life. I really like how Mr. Lafreney keeps the plot real and ties so many emotions into the book. This is a very compelling book that you will get lost in.
If you are looking for a read to keep you on the edge of your seat this is it. The mystery's keep showing up in this book that make you wonder who is behind all this mayhem that is going on. The book kept my attention the whole way through. It didn't hurt that he used my favorite college team in here as well the University of Michigan. It keeps tugging at your heart wondering what is going to happen next. How can they keep calm during all the chaos that is going on around them? This book has a little something for everyone a definite must read.
5***** Perfect combination of suspense and action that keeps you turning the pages. Excellent writer. The combination of crime solving abilities with a touch of fantasy add a special mix to this one. A definite MUST READ.