Precipice

by J. Robert Kinney

A trail of murders, an unexpected enemy, and a web of betrayal and deceit plague a pleasant, suburban town. A sinister conspiracy with national consequences brews. And that quiet façade might just be hiding a mystery.A series of murders catches the attention of a local government agency, but it’s soon apparent that those deaths are only the tip of the iceberg and this is no ordinary case. The town of Greenlake is hiding something and a mysterious figure is determined to find it.A young government agent has a personal interest in the case and is determined to solve the mystery at any cost, but remains haunted by his own demons. He’s teamed up with a new partner, an icy woman with a murky past and hidden secrets. They’re joined by an aging ex-military man thrust back in the middle of the danger, but determined to atone for his mistakes, and a grief-stricken widower who gets dragged into the crosshairs and on the run for his life.With time ticking away and lives on the line, they must band together to stay alive and thwart the looming threat. But with each twist and turn, the stakes get higher and the web grows thicker. Assumptions are tested, stakes get higher, beliefs flipped upside down, and not everyone is who they appear to be. As secrets unravel, can they unite to stop the threat before it’s too late?

Genres: Mystery

353 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 19, 2016

About the author

Dr. J. Robert Kinney is an award-winning mystery/suspense author. He has four published novels, including the newly complete Volya Series. The second of the series, Ring of Conspiracy, was named the Best Suspense Book of 2020, winning the Silver Falchion Award from the Killer Nashville International Writers Conference.

Born and raised in North Carolina, Kinney has a PhD in political science, with specialties in international relations & terrorism studies, as well as degrees in psychology and forensic science. Kinney has spent time working in research for a government contractor, in federal public policy in Washington DC, taught university courses on global politics, and lectured on crime scene investigation. Currently residing in Tennessee, he enjoys reading, playing basketball and tennis, traveling the world, and teaching on international politics, foreign policy, and terrorism. He also enjoys podcasting on international political topics & current events, having hosted a show called Nutshell Politics, which can be found on Spotify, iHeartRadio, Apple Podcasts, and more. Check it out!

Killer Nashville Silver Falchion Award winner - 2021 (Ring of Conspiracy)
ScreenCraft Cinematic Book competition semifinalist, 2021 (Splintered State)

Reviews

[Jay Arekay · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great debut novel by Kinney. Complex & well-developed characters. A moving plot that kinda weaves between mystery and suspense genres. Multiple story lines that run side-by-side, twisting around each other before coming together at the end in a way that is satisfying. Its CSI scenes feel realistic and there are enough twists to keep you turning the page. There is a slight religious bent, but is handled very well (better than most Christian fiction). It's a story of faith and redemption, but doesn't hit you over the head with its evangelism. I'm not sure I'd even classify it as Christian fiction, but rather just a good mystery/suspense with some Christian characters and themes interwoven. The type of book that straddles the religious/secular line pretty well and should appeal to both sides.

[Kim Kinney · Rating 5 out of 5]

Suspenseful and riveting. A fast-paced mystery thriller with Christian undertones and references. Written from several vantage points. I enjoyed his indepth descriptions of people, places, and situations which made them jump to life in a tangible way! I hated for the book to end, although the ending was surprising and satisfying. Clean language. No compromising scenes. Just action and suspense. Would love it to follow with a sequel!

You will enjoy this book if you like NCIS or CSI. You won't be disappointed!

[Denise · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! This was amazing! This author is brilliant the way he weaves different story lines together in a masterful way! I was intrigued from the get go!

The characters are believable and very well-developed. The story is fascinating and complex. Suspense infiltrates the book throughout all the pages.

A great read for anyone who likes mysteries! Language is clean which I appreciated! I strongly recommend this book to my friends!

A+++++

[Bruce · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great character development. Excellent scene descriptions. You feel like you are there. Interesting plot with lots of twists and surprises. A great read for anyone who likes mysteries along the line of NCIS or similar genres.

[Bob Rivera · Rating 1 out of 5]

Meh. Very convoluted story line. After a while, the bouncing back and forth between vignettes began to bore me. I won't be rereading this one.

[Lillie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Complex characters and plots. Suspense and mystery. Faith and redemption. All melded into a story that comes together in the end.