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The Thing Speaks for Itself
Special Agent Gracie Stratis wants nothing more than to see the world one embassy at a time. Assassins have other plans and catch her in a storm of bullets. Injured, she returns home to Oakland with a hobbled mind and body. Weeks into Gracie’s recovery, her best friend, Noah, mysteriously disappears. Gracie determines to find him, but every angle oozes trouble. Each step she takes pulls her closer to facing the dragons that lurk in her past and haunt her deteriorating mind. Time is running out for Noah, Gracie’s recovery, and what was once a bright future.
268 pages, Paperback
Published November 19, 2016
82 people are currently reading
318 people want to read
About the author
A.S.A. Durphy
2 books10 followersBorn in 1977, A.S.A. Durphy wrote Poems and Stories from a young age. "Prove it," you say. Well, okay then. Here is The Wizard from first grade, circa 1983:
I am a wizard.
I do not walk on the land, I walk in the air.
I do not jump over streams, I fly over waterfalls.
I can tame raccoons.
I can ask the hawk to fly.
I can ask the fish to swim.
I can turn the sky green and the ground blue.
I can turn stone to gold and gold into a stone.
Did he just share one of his earliest poems with you? He did. A little bit of humanizing never hurt a bio.
A.S.A. Durphy published his first novel, The Thing Speaks for Itself, in 2016. When he's not jogging around the Oakland Hills, you'll find him puzzling through home projects, building furniture, or hard at work in the garden with his lovely wife and daughters.
I am a wizard.
I do not walk on the land, I walk in the air.
I do not jump over streams, I fly over waterfalls.
I can tame raccoons.
I can ask the hawk to fly.
I can ask the fish to swim.
I can turn the sky green and the ground blue.
I can turn stone to gold and gold into a stone.
Did he just share one of his earliest poems with you? He did. A little bit of humanizing never hurt a bio.
A.S.A. Durphy published his first novel, The Thing Speaks for Itself, in 2016. When he's not jogging around the Oakland Hills, you'll find him puzzling through home projects, building furniture, or hard at work in the garden with his lovely wife and daughters.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews
December 18, 2017
I struggled with this one. I picked this book up to read and repeatedly put this book down to read other books which grabbed and held my attention.
Former Special agent, Gracie Stratis was wounded and returns home to Oakland to recover from her life-threatening injuries. Although she may be healing physically, mentally she is not doing so well. Then one of her and her brother's friends, Noah, goes missing and Gracie is on the hunt. Not only is Gracie on the hunt, but so is Detective Walter Wuhl. He and Gracie are on a collision course to find the missing "rich kid."
Along the way, Gracie learns about deception from those she once trusted, bribery, and those willing to do anything for money. If those are enough issues to go up against, Gracie is having visions/hallucinations which make things more difficult for her.
I love action books, I love mysteries, I love strong female characters so this book should have been up my alley, right? Well, I found Gracie to be impulsive, she acted without thinking, and was unstable at times. Let's face it, if you can't trust what you see or hear, how do you distinguish between reality and your hallucinations.
The plot was good but, I am finding that if I can't connect with any of the characters it greatly diminishes my enjoyment level. I would say this is a good attempt. With more writing, I believe this Author will become more polished. As I stated, I struggled with this one. It wasn't a fast or an easy read for me.
This book is a very unconventional detective/missing persons story.
I received a copy of this book from the Author in exchange for an honest review.
See more of my reviews at www.openbookpost.com
Former Special agent, Gracie Stratis was wounded and returns home to Oakland to recover from her life-threatening injuries. Although she may be healing physically, mentally she is not doing so well. Then one of her and her brother's friends, Noah, goes missing and Gracie is on the hunt. Not only is Gracie on the hunt, but so is Detective Walter Wuhl. He and Gracie are on a collision course to find the missing "rich kid."
Along the way, Gracie learns about deception from those she once trusted, bribery, and those willing to do anything for money. If those are enough issues to go up against, Gracie is having visions/hallucinations which make things more difficult for her.
I love action books, I love mysteries, I love strong female characters so this book should have been up my alley, right? Well, I found Gracie to be impulsive, she acted without thinking, and was unstable at times. Let's face it, if you can't trust what you see or hear, how do you distinguish between reality and your hallucinations.
The plot was good but, I am finding that if I can't connect with any of the characters it greatly diminishes my enjoyment level. I would say this is a good attempt. With more writing, I believe this Author will become more polished. As I stated, I struggled with this one. It wasn't a fast or an easy read for me.
This book is a very unconventional detective/missing persons story.
I received a copy of this book from the Author in exchange for an honest review.
See more of my reviews at www.openbookpost.com
April 27, 2017
Check out all of my reviews at: http://www.avonnalovesgenres.com
THE THING SPEAKS FOR ITSELF by A.S.A. Durphy is a unique thriller, gritty detective mystery and a psychological journey all rolled into one page-turning unstoppable read. Serious, violent and comedic all intertwined with characters that stick with you.
Gracie Stratis has moved on from the mayor’s office to training for the Diplomatic Security Service to fulfill her need to travel the world. When her current diplomatic security detail gets attacked, Gracie is seriously wounded and almost dies. She returns to her home in Oakland for months of rehab and recovery. Gracie believes in just pushing through and while this may help with her physical recovery, it leads to some interesting moments in her mental recovery.
Gracie’s family consists of her younger brother and three of his friends. They all grew up together and are all happy that even under the terrible circumstances that Gracie is home. When one of their group goes missing, Gracie is determined to find him.
As Gracie digs deeper into the disappearance, she discovers deception from those she trusted. She is pitted against a corrupt corporation, bribery of government officials and a security team willing to do anything for money. All she has is her skills, with a recovering and still untrustworthy mind and body, a private detective hired by the missing friend’s parents and her ragtag group of a family.
I love a strong female lead. Gracie just doesn’t investigate, she throws in a figurative grenade to see what happens and moves forward from there, no matter the devastation to herself. All of the characters are fully fleshed out and make the story come alive. This story is written in a fast paced format that has each family member narrating at different times throughout the story. This style is a little different, but the story and action pull you in and make the narration changes interesting rather than annoying. I am definitely looking forward to reading more about Gracie and her future adventures.
THE THING SPEAKS FOR ITSELF by A.S.A. Durphy is a unique thriller, gritty detective mystery and a psychological journey all rolled into one page-turning unstoppable read. Serious, violent and comedic all intertwined with characters that stick with you.
Gracie Stratis has moved on from the mayor’s office to training for the Diplomatic Security Service to fulfill her need to travel the world. When her current diplomatic security detail gets attacked, Gracie is seriously wounded and almost dies. She returns to her home in Oakland for months of rehab and recovery. Gracie believes in just pushing through and while this may help with her physical recovery, it leads to some interesting moments in her mental recovery.
Gracie’s family consists of her younger brother and three of his friends. They all grew up together and are all happy that even under the terrible circumstances that Gracie is home. When one of their group goes missing, Gracie is determined to find him.
As Gracie digs deeper into the disappearance, she discovers deception from those she trusted. She is pitted against a corrupt corporation, bribery of government officials and a security team willing to do anything for money. All she has is her skills, with a recovering and still untrustworthy mind and body, a private detective hired by the missing friend’s parents and her ragtag group of a family.
I love a strong female lead. Gracie just doesn’t investigate, she throws in a figurative grenade to see what happens and moves forward from there, no matter the devastation to herself. All of the characters are fully fleshed out and make the story come alive. This story is written in a fast paced format that has each family member narrating at different times throughout the story. This style is a little different, but the story and action pull you in and make the narration changes interesting rather than annoying. I am definitely looking forward to reading more about Gracie and her future adventures.
June 4, 2017
This book headed for a downhill slide in the beginning chapters. While questioning a suspect, Gracie and her partner Charles have the door slammed in their faces. Rather than attempting a quick entry, the book rambles for pages on seemingly witty repartee before Gracie kicks the door down. I’m barely 4% into the book and the substitution of cuteness for realism has already disappointed me.
I realize most people (including me) enjoy a lot of action. Additionally, I look for that realism I mentioned previously, and reality vanishes quickly if the author ventures into unknown areas without performing the necessary research. Most glaring are the times the author mentions using a clip for a gun (the correct word, magazine, was used on some occasions, and research would have shown these words are not interchangeable).
As I do not wish to add spoilers I will only say that it is possible to suspend disbelief for a while, but if the fights and gun battles are unrealistic, I lose interest quickly. I will also add that the constant barrage of books featuring detectives battling psychological demons have glutted the market, although Mr. Durphy does approach the treatment of Gracie's issues with some originality.
The writing could have been much better. There are tons of incomplete sentences, phrases certainly meant as emphasis but losing strength when used so frequently. The author also has a habit of dividing the chapters into subheadings named after different characters. Unfortunately, many times the expected focus on that character is missing, and the subheading becomes meaningless and distracting. It would have been more cohesive to simply employ third person omniscient and omit the chapter divisions.
On a positive note, I found the supporting character Marx to be an interesting villain. I learned more about what made Marx tick in his short appearances than I did about some of the major characters. The author performed admirably with this character, right down to the mannerisms and way of speaking. Sharing the same attention with the rest of the cast would have made the book much more interesting. This is unfortunate, because the overall plot is sound and believable, and may have been the main reason I read the book until the finish. Plot alone, though, was not enough to award this story more than three stars.
I realize most people (including me) enjoy a lot of action. Additionally, I look for that realism I mentioned previously, and reality vanishes quickly if the author ventures into unknown areas without performing the necessary research. Most glaring are the times the author mentions using a clip for a gun (the correct word, magazine, was used on some occasions, and research would have shown these words are not interchangeable).
As I do not wish to add spoilers I will only say that it is possible to suspend disbelief for a while, but if the fights and gun battles are unrealistic, I lose interest quickly. I will also add that the constant barrage of books featuring detectives battling psychological demons have glutted the market, although Mr. Durphy does approach the treatment of Gracie's issues with some originality.
The writing could have been much better. There are tons of incomplete sentences, phrases certainly meant as emphasis but losing strength when used so frequently. The author also has a habit of dividing the chapters into subheadings named after different characters. Unfortunately, many times the expected focus on that character is missing, and the subheading becomes meaningless and distracting. It would have been more cohesive to simply employ third person omniscient and omit the chapter divisions.
On a positive note, I found the supporting character Marx to be an interesting villain. I learned more about what made Marx tick in his short appearances than I did about some of the major characters. The author performed admirably with this character, right down to the mannerisms and way of speaking. Sharing the same attention with the rest of the cast would have made the book much more interesting. This is unfortunate, because the overall plot is sound and believable, and may have been the main reason I read the book until the finish. Plot alone, though, was not enough to award this story more than three stars.
December 11, 2016
My favorite detective story of the year, no question. On par with books like Alive in Necropolis and the Claire DeWitt series. It's psychologically sophisticated, yet so well-written and easy to read, and doesn't offer the simple answers or cliches that so often plague this genre. Durphy takes a stab at some big questions about the nature of reality, recovery, friendship, trust, politics, and the dragons that lurk in the darkest corners of our minds, but does so with a wry humor and with characters who are so real and who grow over time in fascinating and unexpected directions.
Like his protagonist Gracie, Durphy isn't afraid to take risks in the book, in ways that are alternately haunting and hilarious. By doing so, he adds to the tension and the emotional resonance of this story, making it one that will definitely stick with me for a long time. Already looking forward to the sequel. :)
Like his protagonist Gracie, Durphy isn't afraid to take risks in the book, in ways that are alternately haunting and hilarious. By doing so, he adds to the tension and the emotional resonance of this story, making it one that will definitely stick with me for a long time. Already looking forward to the sequel. :)
December 5, 2016
I loved this fast-paced and tautly written thriller. Gritty and unflinching at times, it nevertheless manages to combine hip humour and wry observations that will make you smile. Gracie is a tough cookie who has issues and can be awkward to handle but, if she can be hard on the bad guys, she is even harder on herself. Although a Scot, I once lived in San Francisco many years ago and this excellent tale accurately evoked my memories of the city and it's environs. I can see hard-headed Gracie being played by a younger Jodie Foster perhaps and many of the characters were well-rounded and believable. A fine read which kept me hooked until the end. I will wait for more from A.S.A. Durphy.
November 20, 2016
This is a great read filled with action, humor, and poignant moments. I love a tough woman, and Gracie, the federal agent at the center of the book, takes a beating, but gives as good as she gets. The other characters, from slacker Russell to techie Paige to fun loving Dario to the odd Dr. Ipsa, give the book depth and bring it to life. The book starts with the suspense of a page-turner crime noir and goes on to become a truly original piece of work as Gracie starts losing her mind.
February 18, 2018
https://www.amazon.com/Thing-Speaks-I...
Stratis Detective Book Series: Book 1
Special Agent Gracie Stratis takes front stage in this mystery novel and much to the surprise of this reader, A.S.A. Durphy is not shy in killing off his characters. They endure suffering, emotional turmoil — real life stressors that with his style of writing make the book a page turner.
Durphy hits his stride in chapter five and from there his pace never stops. The author has an amazing vocabulary that sent me to the dictionary and I like this. Too many authors today write down to the reader. Durphy gives his reader credit for at least some education.
Durphy uses exceptional descriptive words and phrasing. Examples:
* ...a fractionally faded youth. Thirty ...felt young. = double F :). Here the adverb works.
* ...cooke cutter suburban monotony = double C : :)
* ...scars raked across his... forearm
* ...an astronaut crammed in a rocket
* Each foot fall slapped the asphalt and the road pressed back at the soles of her worn shoes.
* ...lobby cradled...hushed tones and gentle echoes
* Walker's hulking form hung from a chair = double H: :)
* Rainclouds...beading the windows with droplets
* ...craned her neck...swiveled her head
* ...bounded off the slick stones...clanged off a sign.
* Walker stuck a stout finger in his ear and rummaged around.
There is a great line in chapter nine. Gracie has visited the bad guys and as she gets on the elevator she "stared back and hit the L button. 'Going down,' she said as the elevator doors closed."
Durphy uses a lot of double descriptive words. But his word choices are so good, the double dipper isn't necessary to get his point across and in some instances are redundant and distracting. Expample's:
* brittle dead grass = brittle and dead redundant
* packed in ... without any gap = packed infers no gap
* neutral tan = how can you have a neutral tan?
Overuse of the word "bright" and "probable bathroom."
* bright...smile
* bright-eyed
* bright, cool (how can and LED light be both bright & cool?)
* ...probable bathroom door
* ...probable bathroom
* ...probable bathroom door
* ...probable bathroom
Like any published work, additional editing would tighten his story. Example's:
* I just didn't get the descriptive connection with a 7' man with scar tissue ringing his eyes having to be more careful around doorknobs?
* ...the brittle [dead] grass [made an audible] crunch[ed] under their feet = either brittle or dead and delete [made an audible]
* Charles had drawn his P229 [at some point too...}
There were discrepancies in descriptions like chapter one when Durphy is describing the fire:
* ...smoke thickened with each stair of elevation... = yet...
* Charles stopped...below the top step, SCANNED what was beyond = through thickened smoke?
Then...
* Smoke hung in WHISPS just below the ceiling. It was getting harder to breathe = but would WHISPS of smoke at ceiling level cause respiratory problems?
* In another reference the "crackle of Berber combusting" to me indicates a raging fire, yet the two agents are still searching through rooms. From Fire Science and Technology, Inc. a typical room fire will commonly be 900~1000°C. and the fire Durphy is describing sounds in this temperature range.
* ...smoke thickened steadily...filtering under the door, swirling into the hallway... . Smoke surged ... into the hallway...through the haze...Waves of heat...Smoke swirled...a dark roiling fog...It was smoke.
With all of this going on Charles is able to look down the hall, which is long.
This scene, although jam-packed with action, lacks credibility in fire technology. Another reason for taking a second look at chapters one through four after he reaches his stride. Though action packed, chapters one through four are sluggish. He's getting into his story but doesn't quite get there until chapter five. Keep reading because the pace and forward thrust are coming.
There is a great twist toward the end of the book. No clues, but I didn't see it coming and that's unusual for me.
The Kindle edition is well done. Fits each page exactly. And in the entire book I noted only two grammatical mistakes in chap. 14: a plural when Gracie should have been singular, and type O, probably from auto spell check: We'll should have read Well.
I like A.S.A. Durphy and look forward to seeing other novels. With some polishing Durphy's Stratis Detective Book Series has the potential of a Woman's Murder Club popularity .
---------------------------------------
Audible Audio Edition
Listening Length: 10 hours and 22 minutes
Paperback: 274 pages
Publisher: Sneaky Quiet Publishing; 1 edition (October 19, 2016)
ISBN-10: 0997905514
ISBN-13: 978-0997905519
Stratis Detective Book Series: Book 1
Special Agent Gracie Stratis takes front stage in this mystery novel and much to the surprise of this reader, A.S.A. Durphy is not shy in killing off his characters. They endure suffering, emotional turmoil — real life stressors that with his style of writing make the book a page turner.
Durphy hits his stride in chapter five and from there his pace never stops. The author has an amazing vocabulary that sent me to the dictionary and I like this. Too many authors today write down to the reader. Durphy gives his reader credit for at least some education.
Durphy uses exceptional descriptive words and phrasing. Examples:
* ...a fractionally faded youth. Thirty ...felt young. = double F :). Here the adverb works.
* ...cooke cutter suburban monotony = double C : :)
* ...scars raked across his... forearm
* ...an astronaut crammed in a rocket
* Each foot fall slapped the asphalt and the road pressed back at the soles of her worn shoes.
* ...lobby cradled...hushed tones and gentle echoes
* Walker's hulking form hung from a chair = double H: :)
* Rainclouds...beading the windows with droplets
* ...craned her neck...swiveled her head
* ...bounded off the slick stones...clanged off a sign.
* Walker stuck a stout finger in his ear and rummaged around.
There is a great line in chapter nine. Gracie has visited the bad guys and as she gets on the elevator she "stared back and hit the L button. 'Going down,' she said as the elevator doors closed."
Durphy uses a lot of double descriptive words. But his word choices are so good, the double dipper isn't necessary to get his point across and in some instances are redundant and distracting. Expample's:
* brittle dead grass = brittle and dead redundant
* packed in ... without any gap = packed infers no gap
* neutral tan = how can you have a neutral tan?
Overuse of the word "bright" and "probable bathroom."
* bright...smile
* bright-eyed
* bright, cool (how can and LED light be both bright & cool?)
* ...probable bathroom door
* ...probable bathroom
* ...probable bathroom door
* ...probable bathroom
Like any published work, additional editing would tighten his story. Example's:
* I just didn't get the descriptive connection with a 7' man with scar tissue ringing his eyes having to be more careful around doorknobs?
* ...the brittle [dead] grass [made an audible] crunch[ed] under their feet = either brittle or dead and delete [made an audible]
* Charles had drawn his P229 [at some point too...}
There were discrepancies in descriptions like chapter one when Durphy is describing the fire:
* ...smoke thickened with each stair of elevation... = yet...
* Charles stopped...below the top step, SCANNED what was beyond = through thickened smoke?
Then...
* Smoke hung in WHISPS just below the ceiling. It was getting harder to breathe = but would WHISPS of smoke at ceiling level cause respiratory problems?
* In another reference the "crackle of Berber combusting" to me indicates a raging fire, yet the two agents are still searching through rooms. From Fire Science and Technology, Inc. a typical room fire will commonly be 900~1000°C. and the fire Durphy is describing sounds in this temperature range.
* ...smoke thickened steadily...filtering under the door, swirling into the hallway... . Smoke surged ... into the hallway...through the haze...Waves of heat...Smoke swirled...a dark roiling fog...It was smoke.
With all of this going on Charles is able to look down the hall, which is long.
This scene, although jam-packed with action, lacks credibility in fire technology. Another reason for taking a second look at chapters one through four after he reaches his stride. Though action packed, chapters one through four are sluggish. He's getting into his story but doesn't quite get there until chapter five. Keep reading because the pace and forward thrust are coming.
There is a great twist toward the end of the book. No clues, but I didn't see it coming and that's unusual for me.
The Kindle edition is well done. Fits each page exactly. And in the entire book I noted only two grammatical mistakes in chap. 14: a plural when Gracie should have been singular, and type O, probably from auto spell check: We'll should have read Well.
I like A.S.A. Durphy and look forward to seeing other novels. With some polishing Durphy's Stratis Detective Book Series has the potential of a Woman's Murder Club popularity .
---------------------------------------
Audible Audio Edition
Listening Length: 10 hours and 22 minutes
Paperback: 274 pages
Publisher: Sneaky Quiet Publishing; 1 edition (October 19, 2016)
ISBN-10: 0997905514
ISBN-13: 978-0997905519
February 9, 2018
The Thing Speaks for Itself – Written by ASA Durphy – Reviewed 2/8/18 – Read 2/1/18
When all you have left is the dragons in your past, your only option is the face the all head on. Or, or what?
Special Agent Gracie Stratis wants nothing more than to see the world one embassy at a time. Assassins have other plans and catch her in a storm of bullets. Injured, she returns home to Oakland with a hobbled mind and body. Weeks into Gracie’s recovery, her best friend, Noah, mysteriously disappears. Gracie determines to find him, but every angle oozes trouble. Each step she takes pulls her closer to facing the dragons that lurk in her past and haunt her deteriorating mind. Time is running out for Noah, Gracie’s recovery, and what was once a bright future.
What did I like? This was a really interesting book filled with the most intriguing ups and downs in a very new Special Agent. She is shot up and watches in front of her the death of the man that she looked up to. Her mentor!
What will you like? Mystery, Murder, Intrigue, Gun Battles, Emotional stress, Political Corruptions and just plain down to earth GRIT! If you go to the author's web page you can download the prequel to this story which is really awesome and explains a lot! Especially where she got her GRIT from. Well written, lots of descriptions but not overwhelming, lots of details but again only as needed. Great read and I hope the author has plenty of Gracie’s stories to follow!!!! I received this from the author for an honest review with no other compensation.
When all you have left is the dragons in your past, your only option is the face the all head on. Or, or what?
Special Agent Gracie Stratis wants nothing more than to see the world one embassy at a time. Assassins have other plans and catch her in a storm of bullets. Injured, she returns home to Oakland with a hobbled mind and body. Weeks into Gracie’s recovery, her best friend, Noah, mysteriously disappears. Gracie determines to find him, but every angle oozes trouble. Each step she takes pulls her closer to facing the dragons that lurk in her past and haunt her deteriorating mind. Time is running out for Noah, Gracie’s recovery, and what was once a bright future.
What did I like? This was a really interesting book filled with the most intriguing ups and downs in a very new Special Agent. She is shot up and watches in front of her the death of the man that she looked up to. Her mentor!
What will you like? Mystery, Murder, Intrigue, Gun Battles, Emotional stress, Political Corruptions and just plain down to earth GRIT! If you go to the author's web page you can download the prequel to this story which is really awesome and explains a lot! Especially where she got her GRIT from. Well written, lots of descriptions but not overwhelming, lots of details but again only as needed. Great read and I hope the author has plenty of Gracie’s stories to follow!!!! I received this from the author for an honest review with no other compensation.
February 11, 2018
A lead character about whom you will want to read a lot more.
This thriller has it all. The main characters share a love and loyalty that should set the standard for any of us who claim to be “human”. The lead character, Gracie Stratis is convincingly real. She has the skill set and courage to make the plotline to the story drive ahead with unstoppable force. But she is also vulnerable and can be hurt physically and emotionally. You can feel her pain.
A. S. A. Durphy has a gift of being able to write powerful descriptions of place with the fewest words to achieve the maximum impact.
If you do enjoy this book, you might want to check out Seeley James’ series about Pia Sabel. There are two novels in the “Sable Origins” set, and four in the “Sable Security set. I have read tall of them, and posted reviews to five of them.
This thriller has it all. The main characters share a love and loyalty that should set the standard for any of us who claim to be “human”. The lead character, Gracie Stratis is convincingly real. She has the skill set and courage to make the plotline to the story drive ahead with unstoppable force. But she is also vulnerable and can be hurt physically and emotionally. You can feel her pain.
A. S. A. Durphy has a gift of being able to write powerful descriptions of place with the fewest words to achieve the maximum impact.
If you do enjoy this book, you might want to check out Seeley James’ series about Pia Sabel. There are two novels in the “Sable Origins” set, and four in the “Sable Security set. I have read tall of them, and posted reviews to five of them.
March 6, 2017
Imagine a world where you see people and things that may or may not be there. This is the world of Grace Stratis after a brain injury. Grace pursues a battle to work within her demons to locate a missing friend. The characters are very realistic, even those that aren't real. The story is told with just the right level of detail to build images while keeping the plot moving. The suspense builds through the story as Grace faces many dangers while pursuing her investigation. I truly enjoyed this story.
May 22, 2017
This is quite a thriller. A well written detective story that will have you page turning for sure. Lots of tension, action and suspense in this book. Starting with Gracie who is a special agent with the US State Department who in injured from an attempt on her life. While recovering one of her friends turns up missing and Gracie forces herself to get back to work. Weakened from her injuries and the resulting PTSD, it's a struggle. Lots of turmoil and action will keep your attention. Was an enjoyable book. I received a copy of this book and voluntarily chose to renew it.
March 19, 2018
Special Agent Gracie Stratis is recovering from injuries she received while working. She goes home to Oakland to rest and recoup.Then her best friend Noah disappears. Gracie is determined to find him, but doing so may cost her dearly. She will have to face things in her past better left alone. Can she do it or will both Noah and Gracie disappear? This is a very well written psychological story that is funny at times, and then very mind blowing the next. I would like to thank the author and The Choosy Bookworm Team for an ARC of this book. I voluntarily read and the review is my own opinion.
January 18, 2018
Unfortunately this book didn't quite grab my interest as I hoped it would. I got extremely tired of the smoke and how much the book delved into the main character's mind. Perhaps my enjoyment lies in a pure mystery and this didn't do it for me. I doubt I will read the next in this series as it was hard for me to finish this book. I received this ARC in return for a fair and honest review. I wish I could have enjoyed it more.
March 20, 2017
"Living Life Through Imagination"
This is a hard-boiled detective thriller, one you'll not be able to put down. It will grab your interest right from the beginning when a new special agent for the State Department, Gracie Stratis, is excited about her new career. But her new dreams are shattered when she takes a bullet from an assassin. It will take time for her to mend so she returns home to Oakland. Her brother and his friends help her heal and support her. But then, one of the friends has disappeared. Though weak, Gracie sets out to find him but what she finds are secrets of deception and her life may again be threatened. It has a bit of humor since Gracie seems to be very accident prone, as well as having a talent for chaos, but nothing will stop her from rising to her feet and solving the mysteries. An excellently written story of intrigue and a woman empowered.
This is a hard-boiled detective thriller, one you'll not be able to put down. It will grab your interest right from the beginning when a new special agent for the State Department, Gracie Stratis, is excited about her new career. But her new dreams are shattered when she takes a bullet from an assassin. It will take time for her to mend so she returns home to Oakland. Her brother and his friends help her heal and support her. But then, one of the friends has disappeared. Though weak, Gracie sets out to find him but what she finds are secrets of deception and her life may again be threatened. It has a bit of humor since Gracie seems to be very accident prone, as well as having a talent for chaos, but nothing will stop her from rising to her feet and solving the mysteries. An excellently written story of intrigue and a woman empowered.
May 31, 2017
The Think Speaks for Itself by A.S.A. Durphy is an exciting thriller and a good read. Gracie, the lead character, is a tougher-than-nails woman. Without a certainty of a happy ending, Gracie willingly subjects her body and her sanity to danger for her family and friends. the story is definitely a page-turner.
January 17, 2018
First from this author and honestly it took some time to finish it and not only because of the holiday season but also because I really like the way the book start but I encounted some issue later in the book and push myself to finish it! I like the way it end but the reason why I was having hard is probably all the reading about the visions of the main character!
March 20, 2017
A Gripping Page-Turning Crime Story
This riveting story begins with Special Agent Grace Stratis, a sharp-shooter with a mind of her own and doesn’t back down from any hazardous situation, and Special Agent Charles Davis going after a criminal who sells stolen passports abroad, but the undertaking goes haywire, and as the story slowly progresses, dangerous and strange scenarios begin to unfold, where nothing is what it seems, exposing the reader to an attempted assassination, murder, high-tech surveillance, and political intrigue. The versatile characters, the scenes, and events are very significant, helping to move the story with its twists and turns, betrayal, shocking revelations, secret and lies, terror, and uncertainties. This edge-on-your-seat plot will take you on a high-octane ride, which will keep you speculating to the very end.
This riveting story begins with Special Agent Grace Stratis, a sharp-shooter with a mind of her own and doesn’t back down from any hazardous situation, and Special Agent Charles Davis going after a criminal who sells stolen passports abroad, but the undertaking goes haywire, and as the story slowly progresses, dangerous and strange scenarios begin to unfold, where nothing is what it seems, exposing the reader to an attempted assassination, murder, high-tech surveillance, and political intrigue. The versatile characters, the scenes, and events are very significant, helping to move the story with its twists and turns, betrayal, shocking revelations, secret and lies, terror, and uncertainties. This edge-on-your-seat plot will take you on a high-octane ride, which will keep you speculating to the very end.
September 23, 2017
I kept reading cause the smoke intrigued me. Violent. I don't know how that woman kept moving.
October 17, 2017
Delightful prequel and short story
December 30, 2017
Interesting book, with plenty of action and twists and turns in the plot. The characters are well visualised, and their innermost thoughts are well described...
All in all, recommended reading
All in all, recommended reading
June 2, 2019
The story started off strong but then slowed down.
February 12, 2017
"...sometimes we are our own blindspot."
Some people might call her feisty but Special Agent Gracie Strasis is more than that - she is driven, delusional and, with disregard for her own safety or that of her beloved 'family', she "never asks for help."
Following yet another agency operation gone wrong, which sees her partner killed and leaves her seriously wounded, Gracie is forced to take a protracted leave to recover and rest before her reinstatement as a member of the Diplomatic Mission. But she doesn't know how to rest. Then, shortly after she gets home to her kid brother and the tiny group of friends she calls her family, one of them goes missing, Noah, who had tried to confide in her and she'd ignored. So, distaining help from the police or anyone else, she takes it upon herself to find him, despite warnings, and with dire results.
Well written with short, stacato sentences which keep pages turning with an immediacy of action, this is an unusual story with an even more strange main protagonist. Her earlier injuries and grudges from the past carried with her, the world she occupies is also peopled with smoke and figures not really there. The action is fast, if often I'll conceived on Gracie's part, and the reader cannot help but feel sorry for the little cotterie of friends who stick with her, whatever happens, in their search for the missing youth, and this despite their fears and the.chaos that ensues. It is a measure of the author's power of characterisation that she could so instill a feeling of annoyance and disbelief at the carelessness of her actions in this reader.
Plenty of gun play and life threatening fist fights, and constant, ongoing injury, this is a viscerally physical thriller. But far more than that, it is a peek inside the head of a stubborn woman with something to prove, who thinks herself always right and the only one she can trust. It's a book well worth reading, from the opening pages of comparative normalcy to the ending - and the rather scary prospect of more to come. Definitely recommended for readers who like something just a little different mixed with their action. My thanks to Book Review 22, for gifting me my copy of The Thing Speaks for Itself.
Some people might call her feisty but Special Agent Gracie Strasis is more than that - she is driven, delusional and, with disregard for her own safety or that of her beloved 'family', she "never asks for help."
Following yet another agency operation gone wrong, which sees her partner killed and leaves her seriously wounded, Gracie is forced to take a protracted leave to recover and rest before her reinstatement as a member of the Diplomatic Mission. But she doesn't know how to rest. Then, shortly after she gets home to her kid brother and the tiny group of friends she calls her family, one of them goes missing, Noah, who had tried to confide in her and she'd ignored. So, distaining help from the police or anyone else, she takes it upon herself to find him, despite warnings, and with dire results.
Well written with short, stacato sentences which keep pages turning with an immediacy of action, this is an unusual story with an even more strange main protagonist. Her earlier injuries and grudges from the past carried with her, the world she occupies is also peopled with smoke and figures not really there. The action is fast, if often I'll conceived on Gracie's part, and the reader cannot help but feel sorry for the little cotterie of friends who stick with her, whatever happens, in their search for the missing youth, and this despite their fears and the.chaos that ensues. It is a measure of the author's power of characterisation that she could so instill a feeling of annoyance and disbelief at the carelessness of her actions in this reader.
Plenty of gun play and life threatening fist fights, and constant, ongoing injury, this is a viscerally physical thriller. But far more than that, it is a peek inside the head of a stubborn woman with something to prove, who thinks herself always right and the only one she can trust. It's a book well worth reading, from the opening pages of comparative normalcy to the ending - and the rather scary prospect of more to come. Definitely recommended for readers who like something just a little different mixed with their action. My thanks to Book Review 22, for gifting me my copy of The Thing Speaks for Itself.
November 29, 2016
I blame Durphy for my current state of exhaustion, having stayed up way too late reading his debut novel "The Thing Speaks for Itself." I couldn't put it down! I was offered the opportunity to review an advanced copy of the novel in exchange for an honest review and was worried, because I tend to avoid the thriller genre. I now question my aversion, as I thoroughly enjoyed the novel! The heroine, Gracie, is strong, capable, and inspiring and I found myself genuinely concerned about her psychological well-being, her recovery from life-threatening wounds, and her ability to find her lost friend, Noah. Moreover, as a Bay Area native, I loved reading a novel set in my home community and was impressed by how well Durphy captured the feel of different neighborhoods and towns. "The Thing Speaks for Itself" is a highly engaging debut novel and I truly look forward to reading forthcoming books by Durphy.
December 5, 2016
An Enjoyable Read
Along with several sidekicks Gracy Statis goes on a quest to find a missing friend. Gracy is a special agent who takes a leave of absence from her new job in LA to remain in Oakland where Noah disappeared. The flawed characters give this book a realistic, down-to-earth feel. An enjoyable read.
Along with several sidekicks Gracy Statis goes on a quest to find a missing friend. Gracy is a special agent who takes a leave of absence from her new job in LA to remain in Oakland where Noah disappeared. The flawed characters give this book a realistic, down-to-earth feel. An enjoyable read.
November 29, 2016
The Thing was an exciting read with lots of action, witty dialogue, and a couple clever twists. It also delivers some real poignancy. I had a ton of fun with this novel.
April 6, 2017
To get the disclaimers out of the way, I received a copy of this book as a gift for joining A.S.A. Durphy’s Author Newsletter. There was no other compensation or any expectation of a positive review. I don’t think book reviews should be an expanded description or synopsis of the book, so I will try to limit any specific spoilers as the pertain to the writing of the story.
This was an interesting book that tied the criminal procedural and the paranormal genres together in a new and interesting way. Similar to Dean Koontz’s style, the paranormal does not take over the storyline but is simply an integral part of it. To start with, it was well written, with a fast-paced and interesting storyline that a reader does not have to suspend disbelief to believe that it is possible. The characters are strong and credible, with authentic back stories. The dialogue is believable, without contrived accents and vocabulary. From the way the story is written, Mr. Durphy does not tell you if the main character is suffering from extreme psychosis or has a connection with the nether world. Either is possible and leaving it up to the reader to decide is an interesting author’s decision.
All-in-all, The Thing Speaks for Itself is an excellent book on its own, but coming from a first-time author is extraordinary. In years past, most authors had a shelfful of unpublished novels and a drawer full of rejection notices that helped hone their craft to the point that a book could be published. With the ease and lessened expense of self-publishing, many authors bring forth tomes that were better left on the author's bookshelf, since there are no more cancellation letters to deter them. A.S.A. Durphy has not made the mistake so many authors make, relying on MS Word as their book’s sole editor and proofreader. This was a well written, well edited and well-proofed book that has me looking for more. If this is the first in a series (as it appears to be), the author also did something most first-time authors can’t do, he tied up the loose ends of this storyline, leaving a place for sequels to follow.
This was an interesting book that tied the criminal procedural and the paranormal genres together in a new and interesting way. Similar to Dean Koontz’s style, the paranormal does not take over the storyline but is simply an integral part of it. To start with, it was well written, with a fast-paced and interesting storyline that a reader does not have to suspend disbelief to believe that it is possible. The characters are strong and credible, with authentic back stories. The dialogue is believable, without contrived accents and vocabulary. From the way the story is written, Mr. Durphy does not tell you if the main character is suffering from extreme psychosis or has a connection with the nether world. Either is possible and leaving it up to the reader to decide is an interesting author’s decision.
All-in-all, The Thing Speaks for Itself is an excellent book on its own, but coming from a first-time author is extraordinary. In years past, most authors had a shelfful of unpublished novels and a drawer full of rejection notices that helped hone their craft to the point that a book could be published. With the ease and lessened expense of self-publishing, many authors bring forth tomes that were better left on the author's bookshelf, since there are no more cancellation letters to deter them. A.S.A. Durphy has not made the mistake so many authors make, relying on MS Word as their book’s sole editor and proofreader. This was a well written, well edited and well-proofed book that has me looking for more. If this is the first in a series (as it appears to be), the author also did something most first-time authors can’t do, he tied up the loose ends of this storyline, leaving a place for sequels to follow.
April 11, 2017
Rookie Diplomatic Security Special Agent Gracie Stratis and her veteran partner, senior Special Agent Charles Davis, are assigned to the Los Angeles field office, where they investigate passport and visa fraud and provide protective details to foreign VIPs visiting the city. Gracie is looking forward to a career of travel and adventure until assassins attempt to kill a Mexican official she and her colleagues are guarding, Davis is killed, and she’s severely injured.
Back home in Oakland, recuperating from her injuries, she reunites with her brother and friends, the only family she’s known for a long time. The long and difficult rehabilitation process is impeded by strange visions of smoke and fire, and messages from her dead father. Then, Noah, one of her friends who is employed by the mayor’s office on a special community development project, goes missing.
Gracie and her friends pull out all the stops, and start turning over rocks in search for Noah, in the process irritating some dangerous people, including a crooked businessman with visions of grandeur, and a drug dealer with a thing about people wearing shoes in his house. When she starts getting too close to the truth, political payoffs on a large scale, attempts are made on her life, and another of her friends is killed, which is a mistake for the bad guys—Gracie Stratis doesn’t like it when people hurt her friends. With help from a grizzled old PI, and her father’s . . . spirit, Grace kicks butt all over Oakland.
The Think Speaks for Itself by A.S.A. Purphy is a fun read. Tons of white-hot action and a female main character that makes Jason Bourne look like a wimp. Some of the events strain credulity; it’s unlikely that the Secretary of State would become involved in the hiring of a junior Diplomatic Security agent, for example, but that bit of literary license can be forgiven, because the reader’s taken on an entertaining ride.
I received a free copy of this book.
Back home in Oakland, recuperating from her injuries, she reunites with her brother and friends, the only family she’s known for a long time. The long and difficult rehabilitation process is impeded by strange visions of smoke and fire, and messages from her dead father. Then, Noah, one of her friends who is employed by the mayor’s office on a special community development project, goes missing.
Gracie and her friends pull out all the stops, and start turning over rocks in search for Noah, in the process irritating some dangerous people, including a crooked businessman with visions of grandeur, and a drug dealer with a thing about people wearing shoes in his house. When she starts getting too close to the truth, political payoffs on a large scale, attempts are made on her life, and another of her friends is killed, which is a mistake for the bad guys—Gracie Stratis doesn’t like it when people hurt her friends. With help from a grizzled old PI, and her father’s . . . spirit, Grace kicks butt all over Oakland.
The Think Speaks for Itself by A.S.A. Purphy is a fun read. Tons of white-hot action and a female main character that makes Jason Bourne look like a wimp. Some of the events strain credulity; it’s unlikely that the Secretary of State would become involved in the hiring of a junior Diplomatic Security agent, for example, but that bit of literary license can be forgiven, because the reader’s taken on an entertaining ride.
I received a free copy of this book.
April 15, 2017
Special Agent Gracie Stratis is excited about her new job with the State Department's Diplomatic Mission. But when her partner is killed and she gets shot, she is forced to take leave to recover. She goes back home to Oakland to rest. But Gracie just can't rest. Not long after she gets home to her younger brother and their friends she calls her family, one of them goes missing. Even though she's weak, Gracie sets out to find him but finds dangerous situations and corrupt men in power first.
I found this story slow moving and a bit hard to follow. Mainly because Gracie had hallucinations due to her brain injury and they made it hard to figure out what was real or a hallucination. The location descriptions were very well written - just a bit long. I didn't connect with Gracie and I think that was because she wouldn't rest as she was told to but kept investigating her friend's disappearance, finding more bad guys along the way. She appeared to be a magnet for trouble and injuries.
I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
While this book wasn't for me, many other reviewers really enjoyed it so you should give it a try.
I found this story slow moving and a bit hard to follow. Mainly because Gracie had hallucinations due to her brain injury and they made it hard to figure out what was real or a hallucination. The location descriptions were very well written - just a bit long. I didn't connect with Gracie and I think that was because she wouldn't rest as she was told to but kept investigating her friend's disappearance, finding more bad guys along the way. She appeared to be a magnet for trouble and injuries.
I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
While this book wasn't for me, many other reviewers really enjoyed it so you should give it a try.
April 17, 2017
Finally a thriller where the witty bits actually make me laugh without utterly deflating the tension. I don't want to give anything away, but I really cherished my time with Gracie & co--I want to read more about her, and I'm down for a prequel where she solves mysteries with her siblings.
April 22, 2017
The Thing Speaks For Itself is interesting. After an unfortunate incident at work, Gracie is sent home to heal and recover. But once home, she's thrown back into things pretty quickly when her friends need her.
A.S.A Durphy has written a believable story with well developed characters.
A.S.A Durphy has written a believable story with well developed characters.
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