What do you think?
Rate this book
Master
Master invades Phil Gordon's dreams and burns his real life down to hell - Wife and daughter abducted, Master claims responsibility. He threatens to slaughter them unless Phil drives an RV loaded with explosives into the city. Complicating everything is Phil's ex-girlfriend, who's stuck with him for the trip. The only way he can save his family is to figure out who Master is, where he can find him, and whether he even exists...
"Clock is ticking, Mr. Gordon."
"Clock is ticking, Mr. Gordon."
139 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 20, 2015
4 people want to read
About the author
Thomas M. Watt
2 books10 followers"Clock is ticking, Mr. Gordon."
MASTER is coming - Nov. 20th, 2015.
MASTER is coming - Nov. 20th, 2015.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
November 22, 2015
This review was also posted on my blog, Fiddler Blue.
I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
Master was one hell of a ride. It's only 139 pages long, but it's also 139 pages crammed with anticipation and horror. It's an action-packed thriller designed to seize the reader's attention, from the time Phil met Master until the very last scene back in Phil's bedroom. I felt like I was racing against time along with Phil, the novel had a sense of urgency and desperation that hypnotized me to keep on turning the pages, wondering (and dreading) what was going to happen next.
There were things left intentionally vague, like the setting or the history between Loretta and Phil, and there were things that are so out-there, like Phil's dreams and the character interactions. The author's style of writing was effective for this type of story, though there were times I had to re-read chapters because I keep getting lost in the action or in the dialogue.
At first, I thought it was going to be a story similar to the movie Taken, or maybe a bit like Ted Dekker's novel Three. However, as the plot began to unravel, I realized my assumptions were quite far from the truth. I won't talk very much about the story itself, since there is no avoiding spoilers if I do. The whole agenda was clouded in mystery, which at times can be frustrating (since the narrator is clueless about everything and hence, unhelpful) and also very satisfying when the surprises were finally revealed. There were a number of violent scenes that made me feel appalled and troubled, at the same time reminded that such evil do exists in the world *shudders*.
I thought Phil was an okay central character; his need to make something of himself while keeping his family together was commendable. He's reckless and he doesn't think much, but he do things. He decides based on instinct, and he either does something really, really good or he ends up blowing everything out of proportion. But what's a guy to do when someone kidnaps your family? Panic, right? So I think his actions were justified by his predicament.
I feel much less convinced about Ashley. She was like the stereotypical dumb blonde to me, the way she keeps switching from cursing Phil's existence and then seducing him made me grit my teeth from exasperation. Not even learning about her true intentions changed my feelings. Master himself was superbly fleshed out: 20% rational, 80% psycho, he's the stuff of adult nightmares. It's very traumatic to meet his acquaintance.
I definitely enjoyed this novel, but I also can't understand the motivation behind it, but people have killed for something less before so there is no question about our ability to inflict harm on other people.
This heart-pounding book is a must-read for all thriller novel enthusiasts. It would make you think about what one is capable of doing when pushed to the very edge.
I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
Master was one hell of a ride. It's only 139 pages long, but it's also 139 pages crammed with anticipation and horror. It's an action-packed thriller designed to seize the reader's attention, from the time Phil met Master until the very last scene back in Phil's bedroom. I felt like I was racing against time along with Phil, the novel had a sense of urgency and desperation that hypnotized me to keep on turning the pages, wondering (and dreading) what was going to happen next.
There were things left intentionally vague, like the setting or the history between Loretta and Phil, and there were things that are so out-there, like Phil's dreams and the character interactions. The author's style of writing was effective for this type of story, though there were times I had to re-read chapters because I keep getting lost in the action or in the dialogue.
At first, I thought it was going to be a story similar to the movie Taken, or maybe a bit like Ted Dekker's novel Three. However, as the plot began to unravel, I realized my assumptions were quite far from the truth. I won't talk very much about the story itself, since there is no avoiding spoilers if I do. The whole agenda was clouded in mystery, which at times can be frustrating (since the narrator is clueless about everything and hence, unhelpful) and also very satisfying when the surprises were finally revealed. There were a number of violent scenes that made me feel appalled and troubled, at the same time reminded that such evil do exists in the world *shudders*.
I thought Phil was an okay central character; his need to make something of himself while keeping his family together was commendable. He's reckless and he doesn't think much, but he do things. He decides based on instinct, and he either does something really, really good or he ends up blowing everything out of proportion. But what's a guy to do when someone kidnaps your family? Panic, right? So I think his actions were justified by his predicament.
I feel much less convinced about Ashley. She was like the stereotypical dumb blonde to me, the way she keeps switching from cursing Phil's existence and then seducing him made me grit my teeth from exasperation. Not even learning about her true intentions changed my feelings. Master himself was superbly fleshed out: 20% rational, 80% psycho, he's the stuff of adult nightmares. It's very traumatic to meet his acquaintance.
I definitely enjoyed this novel, but I also can't understand the motivation behind it, but people have killed for something less before so there is no question about our ability to inflict harm on other people.
This heart-pounding book is a must-read for all thriller novel enthusiasts. It would make you think about what one is capable of doing when pushed to the very edge.
November 30, 2015
Review by Goodreads Author Marian Thorpe
.
What happens when dream and reality become one and the same, and you have no control over either?master
Ex-footballer Phil Gordon has chosen a life as husband, father, and pool cleaner over the possibility of NFL fame and fortune. He's doing ok with the inevitable negative comments this decision engenders, but when a figure calling himself Master invades his dreams, making the same negative comments and threatening Phil's wife, he begins to be frightened. In quickly escalating action, it becomes clear that Master has control of Phil and his family in his waking life as well as in his dreams, but is he real, or a construction of Phil's subconscious, channelling repressed doubts and regrets about his life choices?
Master is a short book, 139 pages, with rapid, sometimes violent action, told from the first-person viewpoint of the protagonist. Its tone fits the confusion and fragmentation of Phil's sudden immersion into a world gone mad, a writing style that is the equivalent of the hand-held camera effects of various recent films. In many ways, the book reminded me of a film script, strong on dialogue and descriptions of action, brief in descriptions of setting and characters, and bringing the action to a finale that completes the story but allows for a sequel.
Phil's actions – and those of Master – unfortunately do not strain credibility in today's world; the almost casual violence Master demands of Phil and practices himself exists in headlines weekly. Phil's insistence that he is not a man of violence has little influence on his actions when his family is threatened; his motivation is clear. I had more difficulty fully understanding the motivation and behaviour of Ashley, an old girlfriend of Phil's who is enmeshed in the unfolding events.
SPOILERS BEYOND THIS POINT!
My niggles? The technology that lies behind Master's manipulation of Phil's dreams is not really fully explained, and I felt was glossed over; a more detailed explanation of the technology and its effects could have added to the tension and drama of the narrative. The first half of the penultimate chapter reads more as an epilogue, tying up loose ends in brief explanatory paragraphs, before returning to the story. In addition, there were a few small production errors in the copy I was sent, but no more than are found in many books, both traditionally and electronically published.
Master will appeal to readers who like fast-paced thrillers with a strong psychological aspect. My rating is three stars. Master is available from Amazon.
The author provided me with a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are mine alone.
.What happens when dream and reality become one and the same, and you have no control over either?master
Ex-footballer Phil Gordon has chosen a life as husband, father, and pool cleaner over the possibility of NFL fame and fortune. He's doing ok with the inevitable negative comments this decision engenders, but when a figure calling himself Master invades his dreams, making the same negative comments and threatening Phil's wife, he begins to be frightened. In quickly escalating action, it becomes clear that Master has control of Phil and his family in his waking life as well as in his dreams, but is he real, or a construction of Phil's subconscious, channelling repressed doubts and regrets about his life choices?
Master is a short book, 139 pages, with rapid, sometimes violent action, told from the first-person viewpoint of the protagonist. Its tone fits the confusion and fragmentation of Phil's sudden immersion into a world gone mad, a writing style that is the equivalent of the hand-held camera effects of various recent films. In many ways, the book reminded me of a film script, strong on dialogue and descriptions of action, brief in descriptions of setting and characters, and bringing the action to a finale that completes the story but allows for a sequel.
Phil's actions – and those of Master – unfortunately do not strain credibility in today's world; the almost casual violence Master demands of Phil and practices himself exists in headlines weekly. Phil's insistence that he is not a man of violence has little influence on his actions when his family is threatened; his motivation is clear. I had more difficulty fully understanding the motivation and behaviour of Ashley, an old girlfriend of Phil's who is enmeshed in the unfolding events.
SPOILERS BEYOND THIS POINT!
My niggles? The technology that lies behind Master's manipulation of Phil's dreams is not really fully explained, and I felt was glossed over; a more detailed explanation of the technology and its effects could have added to the tension and drama of the narrative. The first half of the penultimate chapter reads more as an epilogue, tying up loose ends in brief explanatory paragraphs, before returning to the story. In addition, there were a few small production errors in the copy I was sent, but no more than are found in many books, both traditionally and electronically published.
Master will appeal to readers who like fast-paced thrillers with a strong psychological aspect. My rating is three stars. Master is available from Amazon.
The author provided me with a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are mine alone.
January 2, 2016
I ran across this book on Thomas Watt’s blog. He had just released it, and was looking for honest reviews, so I figured, why not. He is a new author and this is his second book. Not a full length novel, mind you, but at only 149 pages, it’s a quick and easy read. There are some formatting problems, at least on my kindle. But that’s something a lot of new authors have trouble with. There is no active TOC, which I don’t like as I use them to jump around in the book, if I have too.
This is a fast-paced story, and I found myself racing to the end. Thomas Watt does a great job at capturing the reader’s attention. There is a lot of action, drama, and confrontations. We have the drama between Phil and Ashley, Phil and the Master, and then Phil and his wife and daughter. The characters were not one-dimensional, though I thought there could’ve been more internal dialogue for Phil. Most of what we find out about him is through conversations with the other characters. The best scene was when Phil woke up with the fingers in his mouth. That was kinda of the turning point in the story.
What I didn’t like, was the story read like an outline, not a polished book. I hate over descriptive writing, as it will bog down a story, but this one was lacking in it. As a reader, we still need to get a feel for the surroundings, the sights, sounds and smells. How those elements impact the characters. So I felt the characters were existing in a vacuum. From Thomas Watt’s blog, I know he’s a screenwriter, so I’m sure he hasn’t quite got the difference between screenwriting and books. I also thought there was a little too much drama with Ashley and her character didn’t seem very realistic.
I did enjoy the story, it kept be entertained, but for the above reasons, I have to give it 3 feathers.
This is a fast-paced story, and I found myself racing to the end. Thomas Watt does a great job at capturing the reader’s attention. There is a lot of action, drama, and confrontations. We have the drama between Phil and Ashley, Phil and the Master, and then Phil and his wife and daughter. The characters were not one-dimensional, though I thought there could’ve been more internal dialogue for Phil. Most of what we find out about him is through conversations with the other characters. The best scene was when Phil woke up with the fingers in his mouth. That was kinda of the turning point in the story.
What I didn’t like, was the story read like an outline, not a polished book. I hate over descriptive writing, as it will bog down a story, but this one was lacking in it. As a reader, we still need to get a feel for the surroundings, the sights, sounds and smells. How those elements impact the characters. So I felt the characters were existing in a vacuum. From Thomas Watt’s blog, I know he’s a screenwriter, so I’m sure he hasn’t quite got the difference between screenwriting and books. I also thought there was a little too much drama with Ashley and her character didn’t seem very realistic.
I did enjoy the story, it kept be entertained, but for the above reasons, I have to give it 3 feathers.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews