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The Patchwork People #2
Patchwork People
Lawrence Juste is the perfect QC - with the not so perfect past. But with his meddling wife about to be laid to rest and his long term enemy silenced by the threat of exposure as her killer, the judge's mantle is almost round his shoulders. What could possibly go wrong for the brightest star of the courts?
Plenty.
A series of blackmail notes implicating him in murder – together with the ever-present threat of joining the murder victim if he doesn't pacify his blackmailer – keep Juste in suspense to the brink of desperation. No-one is what they appear to be, especially not him. And no sooner does he patch one hole in his fraying life than another appears. It seems it can only end one way; disaster – unless his dead wife can help...
Patchwork People is the 2nd book in the compelling Patchwork People trilogy series of murder, mystery and lethal romance.
Plenty.
A series of blackmail notes implicating him in murder – together with the ever-present threat of joining the murder victim if he doesn't pacify his blackmailer – keep Juste in suspense to the brink of desperation. No-one is what they appear to be, especially not him. And no sooner does he patch one hole in his fraying life than another appears. It seems it can only end one way; disaster – unless his dead wife can help...
Patchwork People is the 2nd book in the compelling Patchwork People trilogy series of murder, mystery and lethal romance.
- GenresThriller
281 pages, ebook
First published September 29, 2014
23 people are currently reading
545 people want to read
About the author
D.B. Martin
13 books210 followersDebrah Martin writes adult fiction as Debrah Martin/ D.B. Martin and a Young Adult teen detective series under the pen name Lily Stuart. Debrah’s novels examine real people in real – but unexpected – situations, and the way their life transforms because of them. Her work has been described variously as intriguing, poignant, irreverent, quirky and page-turning.
D.B. Martin also writes as Debrah Martin.
You can find more about her work on http://www.debrahmartin.co.uk
You can also follow her on @StorytellerDeb or find her on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/DebrahMartin...
D.B. Martin also writes as Debrah Martin.
You can find more about her work on http://www.debrahmartin.co.uk
You can also follow her on @StorytellerDeb or find her on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/DebrahMartin...
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
October 1, 2014
`Un-grief-stricken Juste joshes at wife's funeral ...'
Popular British author DB Martin/Debrah Martin aka Lily Stuart is widowed, has two daughters and moved to Wantage, Oxfordshire in 2013, describing it as the friendliest place she's ever lived. She is also Chair of the Wantage (not just Betjeman) Literary Festival. As DB Martin and Debrah Martin she writes adult mystery suspense thriller novels, but as Lily Stuart, the pen name she uses for her YA novels, she has found a new niche - Young Adult stories that actually use the contemporary language, bodily metamorphoses and hormonal changes that YA readers are experiencing. No fantasy lightheaded silliness here, just solid writing on a quite grand scale that `examines real people in real - but unexpected - situations, and the way their life transforms because of them. Her work has been described variously as intriguing, poignant, irreverent, quirky and page-turning.' Before settling into writing as a full time career she was a teacher and ran the business networking for the University of Winchester and social event management. And when asked why she writes on the edge, she states, `Stories that will have you on the edge of your seat. Go inside a killer's mind, balance on the edge of insanity, face the point of no return and go beyond it. I'm fascinated by all aspects of the human mind and behaviour as well as the dimensions we can't see in the real world. Consequently in my books you might equally well find yourself sharing in a domestic dilemma which leads to nightmare, or a nightmare that leads to a dilemma - real or imagined, possible or incredible, actual or supernatural.'
And so back into her adult mystery suspense thriller category D.B. Martin coninues her series - a Trilogy of books she calls Patchwork People (Book 1 already established - Lawrence Juste, the QC [Queen's Counsel] with a conscience - privileged, reputable and emotionally frozen) and she continues to propel her ideas with this patchwork concept of a world where image is everything and substance is a punishable offense in Book 2 -PATCHWORK PEOPLE. She is building a story empire that is as discretely layered as baklava. Again she present enough information in her Prologue to establish the tenor of her story: `The original cheesy article about my historic revelations in court had sung my praises for the courage to admit to a less than praiseworthy past. Temporarily I was the darling of the courts, but this editorial was bad news. Didactic diarrhoea - but also catapulting me into the spotlight for the caustically curious and enthusiastic mud-flingers amongst the public at large. `Who would have thought it? The white knight of the courts, Lawrence Juste, has a murky past! A family from hell␣ including an ex-con, a childhood in care and an unusually lucky find in the man originally prepared to fund his studies to get him on to the legal ladder. Lord Justice Wemmick was no doubt an altruist of the first order to bankroll not only Juste's studies, but the charity Finding Futures for Families (FFF) which later came to the rescue of the young client Juste has recently and miraculously cleared of a charge of manslaughter. The boy has haemophilia and so, of course, couldn't possibly have done it - according to Juste. Ironically, we now find that Danny Hewson is also a relative; one of the Juste clan that he's so studiously concealed until ... One has to wonder why Juste was originally chosen as the beneficiary of such generosity from Wemmick. So much goodwill flying about - one would think it was Christmas! Will Juste be revealing all about that too? Perhaps not. But however that came about all those years ago, sources claim that it was Juste's deceased wife, Margaret, who put him and the boy together. Sadlyshe's not here to see the happy result after her tragic death in a hit and run accident only weeks ago, but in the meantime we watch with interest the man most tipped for the top to make High Court Judge this year and his erstwhile family, complete with its very own Blackbeard in his brother Winston - amusingly named after one of our greatest leaders, apparently. What will the future now hold for our embarrassingly honest or profligately careless Lord-Justice-Juste in-waiting? Publically acclaimed as potentially one of the most `squeakily-clean' lawmen of the current legal world, will he become a fighter for the underdogs that he - by his own admission - is one of? Or will he return to his lofty eyrie to continue fighting expensive battles on behalf of the rich and privileged until he swaps his black silk for the scarlet? As my learned colleague so rightly said, the jury's still out on that!'
If the reader is astute then the clues have been placed well and the rest of the story is, while full of mystery and intrigue, laid out before us. We will discover is `a series of blackmail notes implicating him in murder - together with the ever-present threat of joining the murder victim if he doesn't pacify his blackmailer - keep Juste in suspense to the brink of desperation. No-one is what they appear to be, especially not him. And no sooner does he patch one hole in his fraying life than another appears. It seems it can only end one way; disaster - unless his dead wife can help... !'
D.B. Martin has a flair for building layer upon layer of meanings in dosages individually tolerable until the entire story comes to an end. And so the immensely successful trilogy continues.
Popular British author DB Martin/Debrah Martin aka Lily Stuart is widowed, has two daughters and moved to Wantage, Oxfordshire in 2013, describing it as the friendliest place she's ever lived. She is also Chair of the Wantage (not just Betjeman) Literary Festival. As DB Martin and Debrah Martin she writes adult mystery suspense thriller novels, but as Lily Stuart, the pen name she uses for her YA novels, she has found a new niche - Young Adult stories that actually use the contemporary language, bodily metamorphoses and hormonal changes that YA readers are experiencing. No fantasy lightheaded silliness here, just solid writing on a quite grand scale that `examines real people in real - but unexpected - situations, and the way their life transforms because of them. Her work has been described variously as intriguing, poignant, irreverent, quirky and page-turning.' Before settling into writing as a full time career she was a teacher and ran the business networking for the University of Winchester and social event management. And when asked why she writes on the edge, she states, `Stories that will have you on the edge of your seat. Go inside a killer's mind, balance on the edge of insanity, face the point of no return and go beyond it. I'm fascinated by all aspects of the human mind and behaviour as well as the dimensions we can't see in the real world. Consequently in my books you might equally well find yourself sharing in a domestic dilemma which leads to nightmare, or a nightmare that leads to a dilemma - real or imagined, possible or incredible, actual or supernatural.'
And so back into her adult mystery suspense thriller category D.B. Martin coninues her series - a Trilogy of books she calls Patchwork People (Book 1 already established - Lawrence Juste, the QC [Queen's Counsel] with a conscience - privileged, reputable and emotionally frozen) and she continues to propel her ideas with this patchwork concept of a world where image is everything and substance is a punishable offense in Book 2 -PATCHWORK PEOPLE. She is building a story empire that is as discretely layered as baklava. Again she present enough information in her Prologue to establish the tenor of her story: `The original cheesy article about my historic revelations in court had sung my praises for the courage to admit to a less than praiseworthy past. Temporarily I was the darling of the courts, but this editorial was bad news. Didactic diarrhoea - but also catapulting me into the spotlight for the caustically curious and enthusiastic mud-flingers amongst the public at large. `Who would have thought it? The white knight of the courts, Lawrence Juste, has a murky past! A family from hell␣ including an ex-con, a childhood in care and an unusually lucky find in the man originally prepared to fund his studies to get him on to the legal ladder. Lord Justice Wemmick was no doubt an altruist of the first order to bankroll not only Juste's studies, but the charity Finding Futures for Families (FFF) which later came to the rescue of the young client Juste has recently and miraculously cleared of a charge of manslaughter. The boy has haemophilia and so, of course, couldn't possibly have done it - according to Juste. Ironically, we now find that Danny Hewson is also a relative; one of the Juste clan that he's so studiously concealed until ... One has to wonder why Juste was originally chosen as the beneficiary of such generosity from Wemmick. So much goodwill flying about - one would think it was Christmas! Will Juste be revealing all about that too? Perhaps not. But however that came about all those years ago, sources claim that it was Juste's deceased wife, Margaret, who put him and the boy together. Sadlyshe's not here to see the happy result after her tragic death in a hit and run accident only weeks ago, but in the meantime we watch with interest the man most tipped for the top to make High Court Judge this year and his erstwhile family, complete with its very own Blackbeard in his brother Winston - amusingly named after one of our greatest leaders, apparently. What will the future now hold for our embarrassingly honest or profligately careless Lord-Justice-Juste in-waiting? Publically acclaimed as potentially one of the most `squeakily-clean' lawmen of the current legal world, will he become a fighter for the underdogs that he - by his own admission - is one of? Or will he return to his lofty eyrie to continue fighting expensive battles on behalf of the rich and privileged until he swaps his black silk for the scarlet? As my learned colleague so rightly said, the jury's still out on that!'
If the reader is astute then the clues have been placed well and the rest of the story is, while full of mystery and intrigue, laid out before us. We will discover is `a series of blackmail notes implicating him in murder - together with the ever-present threat of joining the murder victim if he doesn't pacify his blackmailer - keep Juste in suspense to the brink of desperation. No-one is what they appear to be, especially not him. And no sooner does he patch one hole in his fraying life than another appears. It seems it can only end one way; disaster - unless his dead wife can help... !'
D.B. Martin has a flair for building layer upon layer of meanings in dosages individually tolerable until the entire story comes to an end. And so the immensely successful trilogy continues.
January 19, 2015
D.B. Martin's "Patchwork People" Is a Novel You Have to Read
How can you improve on success? If you want to see an author who knows exactly how to achieve this lofty goal, read D.B. Martin's "Patchwork People," the second book of the Patchwork trilogy.
In the first novel, "Patchwork Man", we meet Lawrence Juste, QC, noted British counselor whose sterling record before the bar is about to catapult him to the Queen's Bench, the culmination of the dreams of many lawyers in the United Kingdom. The unsuspecting Juste devastated by the untimely death of his strictly proper wife Margaret, killed by a hit-and-run driver. She has carefully crafted Lawrence's life so his path to the bench will be free of obstacles. Margaret is, by all accounts, the perfect wife for Lawrence. She seems coldly flawless, but was she?
As he takes time to prepare for her funeral, he is unwittingly drawn into the case of a boy who is unjustly accused of a crime. His late wife seems to be reaching out from the grave to direct his steps in this effort. In this world, Juste is reacquainted with a family he has pushed aside and a nemesis he has tried not only to forget but also banish from all aspects of his life. Juste wins but at what cost?
In the first novel, Martin brilliantly paints a word picture that challenges you to follow and then provides the equivalent of a literary trail of crumbs to ensure that you do. From cover to cover, "Patchwork Man" is the equivalent of a novel-length trail of crumbs that leads you, quite willingly, to "People."
In "People," the past does rear up to ensnare the unwitting counselor-at-law. Indeed, his carefully constructed world -- built on a tissue of half-truths -- begins to crumble as a blackmail scheme threatens to put him behind bars. In the first novel, we found that Lawrence's real name is Kenny Juss and that he comes from a rather large, and not to respectable, family. We also found that Kenny may have known his sister Kimmy quite intimately at a rather debauched legal victory party a decade earlier. That party resulted in the birth of a boy who could be the Lawrence/Kenny's son, but is he? Indeed, did he really do his sister or was it someone else? If so, who was it?
Again, Martin pulls you into a world of shadows where the truth, half-truth and outright lie merge and separate only to merge again in a new pattern. For instance, is Lawrence/Kenny's new main squeeze Kat, an alluring social worker who is supposedly looking out for the young Danny -- the result of the party -- really who she says she is? Or, was Margaret really who Lawrence/Kenny believed her to be -- cold and calculating -- or was she something else? And, how about Win, his older brother, or even Heather, his law partner, were they really who they seemed? They are all patched together of many pieces that Lawrence/Kenny must arrange and rearrange to make any sense of things.
Everyone in Martin's fascinatingly well-written psycho-mystery has more facets than an expensive diamond, even the seemingly bumbling detective chief inspector. The characters are so well-crafted that, while you are in this patchwork world, they seem real. It is a world where you become concerned about the chief character and worry as his life tumbles down around his ears.
The very capable author, a master of words and writing, carefully builds a new lattice for Lawrence, as she sculpts the story through many intricate twists and turns. Martin has a real gift that she, thankfully, has chosen to share with her readers. Her gift is the ability to literally pull you into "Patchwork People" and keep you there as you hope that Lawrence will triumph.
Martin's ability to foreshadow and then build to the penultimate moment of denouement is exciting and a tribute to her ability. She is one of very few mystery writers whom I have read that has this ability that harkens to the masters of the craft. If you want to see a modern master at work in a highly enjoyable work then take the time to read "Patchwork People," as you will be glad you did. I would suggest making this enjoyable experience last by reading "Patchwork Man" first and then "People" second. You will quickly find out that not everything is what it seems, or is it?
How can you improve on success? If you want to see an author who knows exactly how to achieve this lofty goal, read D.B. Martin's "Patchwork People," the second book of the Patchwork trilogy.
In the first novel, "Patchwork Man", we meet Lawrence Juste, QC, noted British counselor whose sterling record before the bar is about to catapult him to the Queen's Bench, the culmination of the dreams of many lawyers in the United Kingdom. The unsuspecting Juste devastated by the untimely death of his strictly proper wife Margaret, killed by a hit-and-run driver. She has carefully crafted Lawrence's life so his path to the bench will be free of obstacles. Margaret is, by all accounts, the perfect wife for Lawrence. She seems coldly flawless, but was she?
As he takes time to prepare for her funeral, he is unwittingly drawn into the case of a boy who is unjustly accused of a crime. His late wife seems to be reaching out from the grave to direct his steps in this effort. In this world, Juste is reacquainted with a family he has pushed aside and a nemesis he has tried not only to forget but also banish from all aspects of his life. Juste wins but at what cost?
In the first novel, Martin brilliantly paints a word picture that challenges you to follow and then provides the equivalent of a literary trail of crumbs to ensure that you do. From cover to cover, "Patchwork Man" is the equivalent of a novel-length trail of crumbs that leads you, quite willingly, to "People."
In "People," the past does rear up to ensnare the unwitting counselor-at-law. Indeed, his carefully constructed world -- built on a tissue of half-truths -- begins to crumble as a blackmail scheme threatens to put him behind bars. In the first novel, we found that Lawrence's real name is Kenny Juss and that he comes from a rather large, and not to respectable, family. We also found that Kenny may have known his sister Kimmy quite intimately at a rather debauched legal victory party a decade earlier. That party resulted in the birth of a boy who could be the Lawrence/Kenny's son, but is he? Indeed, did he really do his sister or was it someone else? If so, who was it?
Again, Martin pulls you into a world of shadows where the truth, half-truth and outright lie merge and separate only to merge again in a new pattern. For instance, is Lawrence/Kenny's new main squeeze Kat, an alluring social worker who is supposedly looking out for the young Danny -- the result of the party -- really who she says she is? Or, was Margaret really who Lawrence/Kenny believed her to be -- cold and calculating -- or was she something else? And, how about Win, his older brother, or even Heather, his law partner, were they really who they seemed? They are all patched together of many pieces that Lawrence/Kenny must arrange and rearrange to make any sense of things.
Everyone in Martin's fascinatingly well-written psycho-mystery has more facets than an expensive diamond, even the seemingly bumbling detective chief inspector. The characters are so well-crafted that, while you are in this patchwork world, they seem real. It is a world where you become concerned about the chief character and worry as his life tumbles down around his ears.
The very capable author, a master of words and writing, carefully builds a new lattice for Lawrence, as she sculpts the story through many intricate twists and turns. Martin has a real gift that she, thankfully, has chosen to share with her readers. Her gift is the ability to literally pull you into "Patchwork People" and keep you there as you hope that Lawrence will triumph.
Martin's ability to foreshadow and then build to the penultimate moment of denouement is exciting and a tribute to her ability. She is one of very few mystery writers whom I have read that has this ability that harkens to the masters of the craft. If you want to see a modern master at work in a highly enjoyable work then take the time to read "Patchwork People," as you will be glad you did. I would suggest making this enjoyable experience last by reading "Patchwork Man" first and then "People" second. You will quickly find out that not everything is what it seems, or is it?
January 30, 2017
Patchwork People” by D.B Martin read by Rob Groves
“Patchwork People” by D.B Martin is a continuation of “Patchwork Man.” While “Patchwork People” starts with a short summary of the events of the previous book, one should really read “Patchwork man” to fully grasp the plot details. The author, D. B. Martin, does not waste the reader’s time by retelling and rehashing the events of the first book. Not a second is misused; and the action jumps right in where book one left off.
I listened to the audio version read by Rob Groves. My review will be mostly about the audio, so if you want a plot summary, look at one of the content reviews.
“Patchwork People” unpeels layer after layer of the past and dumps the past right onto the stage of the present. As the past is revealed, one would think that the present would become clearer, but it remains as murky as ever, in fact it becomes even more complicated. The characters become more complex as their past miscalculations are revealed. It is a fast-paced book with twists and turns at every juncture.
Rob Groves did a great job with the audio as he did with book one. The narration was easy to follow, and his articulation and intonation were excellent. He was able to produce the different voices and expressions needed for the varied characters. He did a nice job with the voices of the female characters as well, which is often difficult for male narrators. I listened both on a portable device with headphones and with an external speaker attached to my device. The dynamic range of the production was appropriate for both listening devices. There were no distortions or other difficulties that interfered with listening.
I really enjoyed the book as well as book one. The final books in this series on audio and I will certainly be listening and reviewing it as well. A big “Thank you” goes out to D.B. Martin for giving me the opportunity to listen to this great series.
“Patchwork People” by D.B Martin is a continuation of “Patchwork Man.” While “Patchwork People” starts with a short summary of the events of the previous book, one should really read “Patchwork man” to fully grasp the plot details. The author, D. B. Martin, does not waste the reader’s time by retelling and rehashing the events of the first book. Not a second is misused; and the action jumps right in where book one left off.
I listened to the audio version read by Rob Groves. My review will be mostly about the audio, so if you want a plot summary, look at one of the content reviews.
“Patchwork People” unpeels layer after layer of the past and dumps the past right onto the stage of the present. As the past is revealed, one would think that the present would become clearer, but it remains as murky as ever, in fact it becomes even more complicated. The characters become more complex as their past miscalculations are revealed. It is a fast-paced book with twists and turns at every juncture.
Rob Groves did a great job with the audio as he did with book one. The narration was easy to follow, and his articulation and intonation were excellent. He was able to produce the different voices and expressions needed for the varied characters. He did a nice job with the voices of the female characters as well, which is often difficult for male narrators. I listened both on a portable device with headphones and with an external speaker attached to my device. The dynamic range of the production was appropriate for both listening devices. There were no distortions or other difficulties that interfered with listening.
I really enjoyed the book as well as book one. The final books in this series on audio and I will certainly be listening and reviewing it as well. A big “Thank you” goes out to D.B. Martin for giving me the opportunity to listen to this great series.
October 14, 2014
Filled with tragedy, dark and gritty events, D B Martin knows how to write a great book that deals with the side of life that most of us hope and pray we never have to confront ourselves.
As the second book in the series it is a great follow up to Patchwork Man. Though I am glad I read the books in order as the importance of Lawrence’s development from a boy to a man and seeing that reflecting in a client seems to have shaped and affected how he reacts to the latest events in his tragic life.
Saying that, this book is fairly slow to start as it deals with depression and anxiety that Lawrence feels over the loss of his wife, but as Martin hits her stride in writing, the plot and characters soon move the narrative along.
As a first person narrative, this book has a narrow field through which you are allowed to experience the story and it helps a great deal when it comes to understanding why things seem to unravel around Lawrence when you see the world through his eyes.
As in Patchwork Man, the characters are very well rounded and avoid the trap of merely being two dimensional plot devices. There are moments when the more practical minded would act differently in similar circumstances to Lawrence, but equally that’s what makes this book so good – Lawrence isn’t the every man character that you are used to seeing that is devoid enough of his own personality that the reader can superimpose their own personality on top of him.
There are some great elements of the psychological thriller genre that have been incorporated into Patchwork People and it is wonderful to read something where dialogue between characters doesn’t feel stilted and staged in order to simply move along part of the plot.
As the second book in the series it is a great follow up to Patchwork Man. Though I am glad I read the books in order as the importance of Lawrence’s development from a boy to a man and seeing that reflecting in a client seems to have shaped and affected how he reacts to the latest events in his tragic life.
Saying that, this book is fairly slow to start as it deals with depression and anxiety that Lawrence feels over the loss of his wife, but as Martin hits her stride in writing, the plot and characters soon move the narrative along.
As a first person narrative, this book has a narrow field through which you are allowed to experience the story and it helps a great deal when it comes to understanding why things seem to unravel around Lawrence when you see the world through his eyes.
As in Patchwork Man, the characters are very well rounded and avoid the trap of merely being two dimensional plot devices. There are moments when the more practical minded would act differently in similar circumstances to Lawrence, but equally that’s what makes this book so good – Lawrence isn’t the every man character that you are used to seeing that is devoid enough of his own personality that the reader can superimpose their own personality on top of him.
There are some great elements of the psychological thriller genre that have been incorporated into Patchwork People and it is wonderful to read something where dialogue between characters doesn’t feel stilted and staged in order to simply move along part of the plot.
October 20, 2014
REVIEW
Mystery Novels are one of my favorite genres. There have been some I dnf, they were boring. I didn't find this one boring at all. Patchwork People is among the best mystery novels I've read in a while. This is Book Two of the series but it is a stand alone, so don't worry if you haven't read Book One.
The character, Lawrence Juste, I find very enjoyable. He jumped the gun when he thought all was well because it ended up it wasn't. Blackmail letters start arriving early on in the book. Once that started, I knew I was in for a real ride with this one. This was a mystery that I got so attached to, that I couldn't put it down. I couldn't turn the pages fast enough. I was trying to come to a conclusion of what was going on. My only problem with this book was it finished too soon. That to me is a sign of a good book. You want more and this is how the book ended. The reader wanting a third book. It can't come soon enough.
I was given a complimentary copy of THE PATCHWORK PEOPLE from the author, Deborah Martin for my view of the book. No other compensation took place.
Mystery Novels are one of my favorite genres. There have been some I dnf, they were boring. I didn't find this one boring at all. Patchwork People is among the best mystery novels I've read in a while. This is Book Two of the series but it is a stand alone, so don't worry if you haven't read Book One.
The character, Lawrence Juste, I find very enjoyable. He jumped the gun when he thought all was well because it ended up it wasn't. Blackmail letters start arriving early on in the book. Once that started, I knew I was in for a real ride with this one. This was a mystery that I got so attached to, that I couldn't put it down. I couldn't turn the pages fast enough. I was trying to come to a conclusion of what was going on. My only problem with this book was it finished too soon. That to me is a sign of a good book. You want more and this is how the book ended. The reader wanting a third book. It can't come soon enough.
I was given a complimentary copy of THE PATCHWORK PEOPLE from the author, Deborah Martin for my view of the book. No other compensation took place.
October 13, 2014
I received this book for a fair review.
Overview: Lawrence Juste is all set to cremate Margaret Juste. Then it’s time to figure out how to handle Jaggers. But who is sending these notes signed only as J? And why is someone trying to get Lawrence to take the fall for a murder, one that has taken place in his house? Above all, where has Danny got to?
Likes: There were a lot of questions answered in this book. Everything from why Kimmy didn’t seem to care about Danny’s predicament, to what is Margaret trying to do? We even found out what Danny is to Lawrence.
Dislikes: I really can’t stand Jaggers. How does this man get to keep breathing?
Conclusion: It’s a great dread. I hope you enjoy it.
Overview: Lawrence Juste is all set to cremate Margaret Juste. Then it’s time to figure out how to handle Jaggers. But who is sending these notes signed only as J? And why is someone trying to get Lawrence to take the fall for a murder, one that has taken place in his house? Above all, where has Danny got to?
Likes: There were a lot of questions answered in this book. Everything from why Kimmy didn’t seem to care about Danny’s predicament, to what is Margaret trying to do? We even found out what Danny is to Lawrence.
Dislikes: I really can’t stand Jaggers. How does this man get to keep breathing?
Conclusion: It’s a great dread. I hope you enjoy it.
October 2, 2014
This book by D.B. Martin is an excellent follow up to the first one, Patchwork Man. Have no fear, you won’t be lost if you did not read the first one. However, getting the first book and reading it in order will make for a much more pleasant experience.
After the events of the first book came to a conclusion, Lawrence probably figured he could sit back and relax. Not so fast. A string of provocative notes, new dangers, and new mysteries all smack Lawrence in the face once again! Lawrence past is about to catch up with him. How will it all end this time? The author made the second book even more enjoyable than the first one.
After the events of the first book came to a conclusion, Lawrence probably figured he could sit back and relax. Not so fast. A string of provocative notes, new dangers, and new mysteries all smack Lawrence in the face once again! Lawrence past is about to catch up with him. How will it all end this time? The author made the second book even more enjoyable than the first one.
October 5, 2014
2nd book in the Patchwork People murder mystery trilogy, Lawrence Juste has a serious problem. Murder, blackmail, and desperation to close out this horrible nightmare of his wife’s murder leaves Juste a wreck and on the brink of joining his wife’s fate. As the blackmail letters start to come in Juste finds himself in yet another situation where his past could come back to haunt him. What will he do to silence his blackmailer? Will his secrets be exposed? This intense thriller was a really, really good read. An average length book that only took me a few days to read because of the edge-of-your-seat content. Highly recommend This 2nd book.
February 7, 2017
( Format : Audiobook)
""Twisty, twisty, like the cap on a bottle sealing""
Another death in the large family of once respected barrister, Lawrence Juste. And this time it's even closer to home - in his own home, in fact! Still caught in the complex web of lies and relationships he desperately needs to unravel the facts if he is not to be held for the murder of his sister. But who can he trust to tell him the truth? Who, other than the murderer, knows it anyway? Mysterious parcels arrive with cryptic clues. Who is sending them? It can only be Margaret, his wife. But Margaret is dead, killed in a hit and run accident. And then there is Danny ...
This is a stunning book of twists and turns, a tapestry of interwoven lives, once left behind but now returned with devastating consequences. The second in the Patchwork People trilogy, it excels even the first book for intrigue and mysteries. Told in the first person by Lawrence Juste himself we are confused and conflicted, desperate and terrified along with him as no one seems to be what they appeared. And having only recently redound his lost, very large, family he can only take them at face value until proven wrong. The writing is good the characterization excellent and all is enhanced by Bob Grove's narration. He becomes the embattled barrister, confused and drawn into something he thought left behind: emotional feeling. Mr. Grove's voicing of all the other protagonists is also distinctly individual and recognizable, making their identification easy. And his soft English voice is very easy on the ear.
This is a book I would most definitely recommend to anyone who enjoys a well crafted mystery to untangle, heavy on interesting chapters each acting on their own motivation. Be prepared to make assumptions only to have them dashed away soon after as other facts are revealed - or are they lies, too? Wonderful. The second in the trilogy, I would recommend also that the reader starts with the first book, Patchwork Man, to get the fuller understanding of both Juste's background and character, and the predicament in which he is trapped. It will also help with the identification of the. numerous characters involved here, especially family members. It will not disappoint.
An immensely enjoyable series so far. Now the final book of the trilogy awaits me. I purchased it as soon as I finished listening to this one, so completely involved am I in this twisting, intriguing, fascinating tale.
""Twisty, twisty, like the cap on a bottle sealing""
Another death in the large family of once respected barrister, Lawrence Juste. And this time it's even closer to home - in his own home, in fact! Still caught in the complex web of lies and relationships he desperately needs to unravel the facts if he is not to be held for the murder of his sister. But who can he trust to tell him the truth? Who, other than the murderer, knows it anyway? Mysterious parcels arrive with cryptic clues. Who is sending them? It can only be Margaret, his wife. But Margaret is dead, killed in a hit and run accident. And then there is Danny ...
This is a stunning book of twists and turns, a tapestry of interwoven lives, once left behind but now returned with devastating consequences. The second in the Patchwork People trilogy, it excels even the first book for intrigue and mysteries. Told in the first person by Lawrence Juste himself we are confused and conflicted, desperate and terrified along with him as no one seems to be what they appeared. And having only recently redound his lost, very large, family he can only take them at face value until proven wrong. The writing is good the characterization excellent and all is enhanced by Bob Grove's narration. He becomes the embattled barrister, confused and drawn into something he thought left behind: emotional feeling. Mr. Grove's voicing of all the other protagonists is also distinctly individual and recognizable, making their identification easy. And his soft English voice is very easy on the ear.
This is a book I would most definitely recommend to anyone who enjoys a well crafted mystery to untangle, heavy on interesting chapters each acting on their own motivation. Be prepared to make assumptions only to have them dashed away soon after as other facts are revealed - or are they lies, too? Wonderful. The second in the trilogy, I would recommend also that the reader starts with the first book, Patchwork Man, to get the fuller understanding of both Juste's background and character, and the predicament in which he is trapped. It will also help with the identification of the. numerous characters involved here, especially family members. It will not disappoint.
An immensely enjoyable series so far. Now the final book of the trilogy awaits me. I purchased it as soon as I finished listening to this one, so completely involved am I in this twisting, intriguing, fascinating tale.
March 24, 2017
This series is so good! It will keep you guessing even if you think that you've figured out what the characters haven't. I could see this being made in to a movie series. The characters are so multidimensional, the story so complex with twist & turns. Also if you are a fan of To Kill a Mockingbird you'll love how often it is referenced & how it pays homage to the book.
I'm ready for the next one!
I was voluntarily provided this review copy at no charge by the author, publisher and or narrator.
I'm ready for the next one!
I was voluntarily provided this review copy at no charge by the author, publisher and or narrator.
March 26, 2019
I received a free copy of this book in return for an honest review. This 2nd book continues to intrigue the reader as they piece together the patches Lawrence is dealt. I think you should read the 1st book for the groundwork and I cannot wait for the 3rd.
June 13, 2017
Who Are WE
The story opens up and the characters are finding they places. Family relationships being reestablished. Great story with a nice easy flow.
The story opens up and the characters are finding they places. Family relationships being reestablished. Great story with a nice easy flow.
April 27, 2018
Interesting
The book was very interesting and engrossing.My only complaint is it was a little too wordy and long.I would recommend this book.
The book was very interesting and engrossing.My only complaint is it was a little too wordy and long.I would recommend this book.
March 7, 2017
Good enough to get me to buy the third and final book in the series.
I gave the first book in the series rave reviews. I liked it enough to purchase the second book. This second book has taken a highly bizarre turn that bothered me initially. It's about the hit and run that killed Margaret, wife of the Patchwork man. It is twist that is very improbable, but the author redeems herself by explaining it away with reasons that ALMOST make it seem possible, IF. the reader is willing to suspend belief and allow some slack on the basis of "creative license". The book was. Letting me down, when the writers clever watching words and intricate plot brought me back in the fold. I will probably buy the third book to see how it all plays out.
I gave the first book in the series rave reviews. I liked it enough to purchase the second book. This second book has taken a highly bizarre turn that bothered me initially. It's about the hit and run that killed Margaret, wife of the Patchwork man. It is twist that is very improbable, but the author redeems herself by explaining it away with reasons that ALMOST make it seem possible, IF. the reader is willing to suspend belief and allow some slack on the basis of "creative license". The book was. Letting me down, when the writers clever watching words and intricate plot brought me back in the fold. I will probably buy the third book to see how it all plays out.
October 13, 2014
This is the second of a trilogy, and I feel you should have read the first. In the first book, Kenneth Lawrence Juss has survived a poor childhood, has become a successful lawyer, but then his world has fallen down around his ears. This book starts when he cremates his dead wife, but soon questions whether it was her. Now it turns out that the body was identified by Lawrence based on a ring; otherwise the body was unrecognizable. I reviewed the first book, and wrote "we get an excellent description of a man descending into a trough of depressing self-made misery. I would have expected such a senior and successful person to put up slightly more of a fight."
This second book makes the situation increasingly complicated, although by the end the reader starts to get explanations. No spoiling, but nevertheless I have to say I found the complexities so bad that the story started to unravel. Very little happens in the first fifty odd pages, other than Lawrence increasingly feeling sorry for himself. The book is written in the first person, so we follow Lawrence's thoughts, but later, when legal issues arise, he has no legal sense at all. As an example, suppose your wife's body was found, totally unrecognizable, but her card to your bank account was missing, as was the front door key, what would you do? You don't have to be Brain of Britain to suspect they have been stolen, so you would cancel the card and change the lock, right? Not Lawrence. He wanders around, seemingly aimlessly, things happening to him, and without a pattern. Similarly, if a body were found that was essentially unrecognizable, would not the police check DNA? The argument in the book is they cannot find any of the wife's DNA for reference, but you cannot live in a house for years without leaving traces. Finally, the characters' behavior at the ending made little sense to me, bearing in mind what had come before. The writing is generally clear, but the plot really does not hold together. It is very complex, but most of the complexities are in Lawrence's mind, because the facts are thin and far between. Accordingly, as a mystery, this fails. It is not a thriller. It might be a psychological drama, showing the failing mind descending into misery, but in my view the character does not hold up. The book was easy enough to read, but I found it difficult to get any emotional hold on any of the characters, or any significant interest in the plot.
This second book makes the situation increasingly complicated, although by the end the reader starts to get explanations. No spoiling, but nevertheless I have to say I found the complexities so bad that the story started to unravel. Very little happens in the first fifty odd pages, other than Lawrence increasingly feeling sorry for himself. The book is written in the first person, so we follow Lawrence's thoughts, but later, when legal issues arise, he has no legal sense at all. As an example, suppose your wife's body was found, totally unrecognizable, but her card to your bank account was missing, as was the front door key, what would you do? You don't have to be Brain of Britain to suspect they have been stolen, so you would cancel the card and change the lock, right? Not Lawrence. He wanders around, seemingly aimlessly, things happening to him, and without a pattern. Similarly, if a body were found that was essentially unrecognizable, would not the police check DNA? The argument in the book is they cannot find any of the wife's DNA for reference, but you cannot live in a house for years without leaving traces. Finally, the characters' behavior at the ending made little sense to me, bearing in mind what had come before. The writing is generally clear, but the plot really does not hold together. It is very complex, but most of the complexities are in Lawrence's mind, because the facts are thin and far between. Accordingly, as a mystery, this fails. It is not a thriller. It might be a psychological drama, showing the failing mind descending into misery, but in my view the character does not hold up. The book was easy enough to read, but I found it difficult to get any emotional hold on any of the characters, or any significant interest in the plot.
February 2, 2017
Lawrence closed one case but his life hangs in the balance as more and more of his past comes forward. At the same time he learns answers to secrets swept under the rug. My opinion of Lawrence is I don’t so much like him but I do feel for the life he carefully stitched together in an effort to progress and fulfill his career. Sometimes though he’s a bit blind and uncaring. That changes through the progress of this series.
D.B. Martin tightly weaves the plot and while it thickens beware of the twists. That’s my favorite part of the series is I don’t know what to expect. Each puzzle piece is dropped one at a time and they don’t immediately fit. When I think of the name Patchwork to me it relates to not only how “patched” the characters’ lives are but the story is like laying out hundreds of patches and fitting and piecing them together one at a time.
Rob Groves narrates this second book giving the series verbal consistency. Overall his performance is good.
Well done!
D.B. Martin tightly weaves the plot and while it thickens beware of the twists. That’s my favorite part of the series is I don’t know what to expect. Each puzzle piece is dropped one at a time and they don’t immediately fit. When I think of the name Patchwork to me it relates to not only how “patched” the characters’ lives are but the story is like laying out hundreds of patches and fitting and piecing them together one at a time.
Rob Groves narrates this second book giving the series verbal consistency. Overall his performance is good.
Well done!
August 7, 2016
Everything you need 2 lose yourself in a great book!
I've just finished this the 2nd book in the trilogy, straight after reading book 1. I mean that literally, cover to cover and back to back in about 12ish hrs. . I haven't slept and I don't think I'm going to again tonight because I'm gagging to find out what happens next.
The complexity involved in creating these books, the characters and how their lives intertwine and the progression of the story is genius. A true thriller that builds with suspense and intrigue creating a web with so many strands I feel like applauding the author when it all starts coming together and still manages to be full of unexpected twists.
And finally (no pun intended) Phew cliffhangers, don't ya just love em... Nuff said! Moving swiftly on to book 3. X
I've just finished this the 2nd book in the trilogy, straight after reading book 1. I mean that literally, cover to cover and back to back in about 12ish hrs. . I haven't slept and I don't think I'm going to again tonight because I'm gagging to find out what happens next.
The complexity involved in creating these books, the characters and how their lives intertwine and the progression of the story is genius. A true thriller that builds with suspense and intrigue creating a web with so many strands I feel like applauding the author when it all starts coming together and still manages to be full of unexpected twists.
And finally (no pun intended) Phew cliffhangers, don't ya just love em... Nuff said! Moving swiftly on to book 3. X
July 6, 2015
Only one problem
I enjoy this series very much. The only problem is the author uses so much English (British) slang that I am not familiar with , that I have to guess what she is trying to say, which can be distracting from the story when I have to re-read sentences to figure out their meaning. The actual storyline is fascinating though with so many twists and turns that my head is still spinning!
I enjoy this series very much. The only problem is the author uses so much English (British) slang that I am not familiar with , that I have to guess what she is trying to say, which can be distracting from the story when I have to re-read sentences to figure out their meaning. The actual storyline is fascinating though with so many twists and turns that my head is still spinning!
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