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The Devil's Due
Doing the right thing ain’t cheap…not when you’ve got to pay the devil’s due.
After a lab explosion leaves him changed forever, wanted fugitive Jack Carson knows only one thing for certain; he’s just one wrong move away from a fate worse than death. Struggling to make sense of life on the run, Jack assumes that middle-of-nowhere, Iowa would be the safest place to lay low. But small towns can hide big secrets.
When a free drink and a misguided act of chivalry blows the town’s sleepy veneer straight to hell, Jack is left to deal with the mess. Blackmailed into criminal service by a backwoods gangster with delusions of grandeur, Carson finds himself faced with the ultimate choice…save the town or save his own skin.
Can Jack use his otherworldly powers to rescue the town’s beautiful bar owner and bring the small town mob to their knees? Or will a pair of ambitious federal agents find him before he has the chance?
The Devils Due is a heart-pounding new thriller. If you like edge of your seat thrills, harrowing suspense, and nonstop action then you will love this new installment from CM Raymond and LE Barbant—The Devils Due!
Note: The Devil's Due is a novella with 34,000 words (approx. 115 pages) of action.
After a lab explosion leaves him changed forever, wanted fugitive Jack Carson knows only one thing for certain; he’s just one wrong move away from a fate worse than death. Struggling to make sense of life on the run, Jack assumes that middle-of-nowhere, Iowa would be the safest place to lay low. But small towns can hide big secrets.
When a free drink and a misguided act of chivalry blows the town’s sleepy veneer straight to hell, Jack is left to deal with the mess. Blackmailed into criminal service by a backwoods gangster with delusions of grandeur, Carson finds himself faced with the ultimate choice…save the town or save his own skin.
Can Jack use his otherworldly powers to rescue the town’s beautiful bar owner and bring the small town mob to their knees? Or will a pair of ambitious federal agents find him before he has the chance?
The Devils Due is a heart-pounding new thriller. If you like edge of your seat thrills, harrowing suspense, and nonstop action then you will love this new installment from CM Raymond and LE Barbant—The Devils Due!
Note: The Devil's Due is a novella with 34,000 words (approx. 115 pages) of action.
3 pages, Audible Audio
Published June 20, 2017
16 people are currently reading
34 people want to read
About the author
C.M. Raymond
49 books68 followersC.M. Raymond holds a PhD in philosophy, which qualifies him to write pop fiction but not much else. His home is in a river valley of Western Pennsylvania.
Outside of reading and writing, he loves to spend time with his family in the woods and wilds or the city streets.
You can also check out his Steel City Heroes saga and fast-paced thrillers, The Jack Carson Stories (beginning with The Devil's Due).
Outside of reading and writing, he loves to spend time with his family in the woods and wilds or the city streets.
You can also check out his Steel City Heroes saga and fast-paced thrillers, The Jack Carson Stories (beginning with The Devil's Due).
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
July 3, 2017
Jack Carson just wants to find a place to lay low and stay hidden. He has little money, no ID and a watch that has stopped at 2.42. He enters Ironwood with the hopes that this will be the place, but things are never that easy!!
This is book one of A Jack Carson story but in all honesty, I felt like we were dropped into the middle of a series and were left not knowing what was going on. Now I know by the way the story was written that we will eventually find out everything, but it was a little frustrating not having a little more of the back story. I had so so many questions!!!
Other than that, this was a really good story. It's well written, with plenty of mystery and intrigue and had a cast of awesome characters. I really liked Jack and the cast of characters he meets in the bar. I'm intrigued to find out more bout the special agent trailing him!! I also can't wait to find out who the girl in the picture is!!
There is a lot to like about the book, and it points to a series that will be action packed, intriguing and very entertaining. The authors have created a very interesting world and one I can't wait to dive back into. I'm hoping book 2 will answer a lot of the questions I have!!!
In all, a solid start. It was intriguing, entertaining and held my attention throughout.
This is the first book I've listened to that was narrated by Ben Smith. He was pretty good. He had enough tones and voices to distinguish each character and knew how to increase the tenseness when needed. There were a few minor issues with the production, a few noises and a sentence repeated, but nothing to detract from the overall book. All in all, he read it well.
I was voluntarily provided this audiobook for free from the author, narrator, or publisher. This in no way affected nor influenced my thoughts.
This is book one of A Jack Carson story but in all honesty, I felt like we were dropped into the middle of a series and were left not knowing what was going on. Now I know by the way the story was written that we will eventually find out everything, but it was a little frustrating not having a little more of the back story. I had so so many questions!!!
Other than that, this was a really good story. It's well written, with plenty of mystery and intrigue and had a cast of awesome characters. I really liked Jack and the cast of characters he meets in the bar. I'm intrigued to find out more bout the special agent trailing him!! I also can't wait to find out who the girl in the picture is!!
There is a lot to like about the book, and it points to a series that will be action packed, intriguing and very entertaining. The authors have created a very interesting world and one I can't wait to dive back into. I'm hoping book 2 will answer a lot of the questions I have!!!
In all, a solid start. It was intriguing, entertaining and held my attention throughout.
This is the first book I've listened to that was narrated by Ben Smith. He was pretty good. He had enough tones and voices to distinguish each character and knew how to increase the tenseness when needed. There were a few minor issues with the production, a few noises and a sentence repeated, but nothing to detract from the overall book. All in all, he read it well.
I was voluntarily provided this audiobook for free from the author, narrator, or publisher. This in no way affected nor influenced my thoughts.
June 28, 2017
What or you are you Jack?
I received this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.This book was amazing. I was not expecting this story at all. The beginning started off fine and dandy but then it went left. (Left is good lol) I was not expecting all of these surprises from Jack. This is only 3 hours long and it felt like it. It went by to fast. There are so many questions that I need answered. What is Jack? I want to know about his past? Who is the woman in the photo that Jack carries around? What really happened that has Jack on the run? Every time that I think the authors will answer a question they seem to say, 'No thank you! you must continue on to the next book.' I will be picking up the next book because I need to have all of the questions answered.
I really wish that this book did not go by so fast. Ben Smith did a great job narrating and I will definitely listen to some of his other narrations. He brings the story to life and it is sometimes difficult to find a narrator that does that.
I received this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.This book was amazing. I was not expecting this story at all. The beginning started off fine and dandy but then it went left. (Left is good lol) I was not expecting all of these surprises from Jack. This is only 3 hours long and it felt like it. It went by to fast. There are so many questions that I need answered. What is Jack? I want to know about his past? Who is the woman in the photo that Jack carries around? What really happened that has Jack on the run? Every time that I think the authors will answer a question they seem to say, 'No thank you! you must continue on to the next book.' I will be picking up the next book because I need to have all of the questions answered.
I really wish that this book did not go by so fast. Ben Smith did a great job narrating and I will definitely listen to some of his other narrations. He brings the story to life and it is sometimes difficult to find a narrator that does that.
July 2, 2017
I enjoyed this first book in the Jack Carson series. Hunted by the authorities, changed by a lab accident and trying to come to terms with his new reality, Jack Carson finds more trouble than he bargained for when he stops in a small rural town. This story has lots of action and suspense, it is fast paced and you quickly become attached to the charcters. This is the first audiobook I have listened to by this narrator (Ben Smith) and I thought he did a great job of both the male and female voices. He moved the story along at a good pace and brought out the emotion and tension well. This is an unusual and interesting book, but I would have liked to have seen just a bit more of the back story as it felt a bit like the reader was dropped in the middle of a story. Knowing more of what actually happened to Jack and perhaps more about the women in the photo (without revealing everything) would have created better depth, while still maintaining some mystery. I look forward to seeing what happens next in Jack Carson's life.
June 30, 2017
I received this audiobook for an honest review.
I have to say that the narrator was pretty good with the pace, I really liked that.
the plot was pretty active and steady, some things were a little weird but nothing too harsh.
Jack carson as a character is pretty weird and complex he is a bad guy that is a good guy? a little confusing for me but it was cool.
the ending leave you with a sentiment of a second book, so hopefully we will be seeing a lot of jack's story down the road soon enough.
I have to say that the narrator was pretty good with the pace, I really liked that.
the plot was pretty active and steady, some things were a little weird but nothing too harsh.
Jack carson as a character is pretty weird and complex he is a bad guy that is a good guy? a little confusing for me but it was cool.
the ending leave you with a sentiment of a second book, so hopefully we will be seeing a lot of jack's story down the road soon enough.
March 5, 2017
A brilliant, exciting, action filled, adventure of fiction, at its top level of excellence. C. M. Raymond & L .E. Barbant have made this story come to life in a new action packed way. I loved it! This is a must read, get your copy today and now!
July 15, 2017
Set in a small town in Iowa, the story opens with the mysterious Jack Carson, who goes by Jack York. He’s obviously on the run from something and the local bartender, Maizey, is the first to call him on it. There’s something very odd about Jack. The Feds are very interested in finding him, believing he has the answers concerning an exploded building. Jack is also searching for something, a girl in a photo he carries with him. However, his quest is waylaid as he becomes entangled in the local illegal going-ons.
This was a fun story that reminded me of The Jack Reacher series but it has a touch of the fantastical since our Jack has some special, otherworldly abilities. The opening of the story requires some focus since the authors drop us directly into the middle of Jack’s life. We have to figure out that he’s on the run, what he’s on the run from, and what abilities he’s hiding. I was intrigued from the start and the tale held my attention all the way through.
Jack’s got quite a bit on his plate already, but he entangles himself with the local small town criminals when he defends the bartender Maizey in a little bar brawl. While this is a little cliched, it’s a useful plot device to suck our beleaguered hero into the local bad guy antics.
Mr. Hill runs most, if not all, of the town’s illegal activities and his two main henchmen take a decided interest in Jack. When they turn up rather injured, Mr. Hill makes it clear that Jack can either work for him or Mr. Hill will turn him into the Feds. So our Jack is hired on as muscle for Hill’s crew. That doesn’t go as expected, as you might imagine and Jack finds himself in an even tighter position. Now he has to decide whether to stand with the town against Mr. Hill and his crew, or flee from Iowa continuing to hide from the Feds.
There’s really only 3 female characters in this tale. There’s Maizey, who has a little mystery to her and is an interesting character. Then there’s a female Federal Agent hunting Jack who is continuously underestimated by her coworkers. She has potential but has very little time in this story. Then there’s the girl in the picture. She’s basically a place holder now. We don’t know if she’s a grown woman or an actual girl, we don’t have her name, and we don’t really know why Jack is searching for her (though I have this impression he wants to protect her). So I would have liked a better gender balance with the characters since there are plenty of male characters in this story.
The action and the twists and turns of the story were well done. They are well interspersed among quieter moments in Jack’s life, many of which were his various chats with Maizey. By the end, some things are resolved but other things are left hanging. It’s not until near the end that we learn it was a science lab that was destroyed but since that’s in the book’s description, I don’t mind mentioning it in this review. This mysterious girl in the photo is still a big question mark. The source of Jack’s special abilities and his limitations are also big question marks. While there’s plenty to build upon here in future books, I would have liked a bit more info on Jack’s personal quest to find this mystery girl.
All in all, it’s an entertaining listen and a solid start to a new action-packed series. I really like this little twist of Jack’s special powers. I look forward to learning more about his past.
I received a free copy of this book.
The Narration: Ben Smith was pretty good for this book. He had distinct voices for all the characters and his female voices were believable. He did speak a bit fast but with the Audible app, I could slow it down and it sounded normal. Occasionally, there were a few mouth noises and at least once, he repeated a short sentence. He did a really good job with the various emotions the characters had.
This was a fun story that reminded me of The Jack Reacher series but it has a touch of the fantastical since our Jack has some special, otherworldly abilities. The opening of the story requires some focus since the authors drop us directly into the middle of Jack’s life. We have to figure out that he’s on the run, what he’s on the run from, and what abilities he’s hiding. I was intrigued from the start and the tale held my attention all the way through.
Jack’s got quite a bit on his plate already, but he entangles himself with the local small town criminals when he defends the bartender Maizey in a little bar brawl. While this is a little cliched, it’s a useful plot device to suck our beleaguered hero into the local bad guy antics.
Mr. Hill runs most, if not all, of the town’s illegal activities and his two main henchmen take a decided interest in Jack. When they turn up rather injured, Mr. Hill makes it clear that Jack can either work for him or Mr. Hill will turn him into the Feds. So our Jack is hired on as muscle for Hill’s crew. That doesn’t go as expected, as you might imagine and Jack finds himself in an even tighter position. Now he has to decide whether to stand with the town against Mr. Hill and his crew, or flee from Iowa continuing to hide from the Feds.
There’s really only 3 female characters in this tale. There’s Maizey, who has a little mystery to her and is an interesting character. Then there’s a female Federal Agent hunting Jack who is continuously underestimated by her coworkers. She has potential but has very little time in this story. Then there’s the girl in the picture. She’s basically a place holder now. We don’t know if she’s a grown woman or an actual girl, we don’t have her name, and we don’t really know why Jack is searching for her (though I have this impression he wants to protect her). So I would have liked a better gender balance with the characters since there are plenty of male characters in this story.
The action and the twists and turns of the story were well done. They are well interspersed among quieter moments in Jack’s life, many of which were his various chats with Maizey. By the end, some things are resolved but other things are left hanging. It’s not until near the end that we learn it was a science lab that was destroyed but since that’s in the book’s description, I don’t mind mentioning it in this review. This mysterious girl in the photo is still a big question mark. The source of Jack’s special abilities and his limitations are also big question marks. While there’s plenty to build upon here in future books, I would have liked a bit more info on Jack’s personal quest to find this mystery girl.
All in all, it’s an entertaining listen and a solid start to a new action-packed series. I really like this little twist of Jack’s special powers. I look forward to learning more about his past.
I received a free copy of this book.
The Narration: Ben Smith was pretty good for this book. He had distinct voices for all the characters and his female voices were believable. He did speak a bit fast but with the Audible app, I could slow it down and it sounded normal. Occasionally, there were a few mouth noises and at least once, he repeated a short sentence. He did a really good job with the various emotions the characters had.
June 29, 2017
( Format : Audiobook )
"A place as good as any.""
From the very beginning of this intriguing thriller we know that Jack Carson is running away, but not why. Only that it is serious. Serious with a capital S. Blanket news coverage serious. Bad enough to have called in a Special Agents team to find him even though they don't know exactly who, or what, they are looking for. But a lot of people have died.
Jack is running away, looking for somewhere he won't be noticed. Somewhere to start again. So he gets off the bus at the small town of Ironwood with almost no money, no cards or driver's licence, just a stopped wrist watch set permanently at 2.42. And, of course, a small town is just the place not to be. He seems like a nice guy, just frightened and sad. Just what is his story? As the book progresses, the reader learns more, but never enough, because there is something very different about Jack ...
This is a great action thriller in every sense of the word, with the risks of discovery, being caught, fights and conflicts not associated with the reason he is on the run as well as some which are. There is a gentle relationship which builds up between Jack and this poverty stricken little town and couple of people within it. But there is also the mystery of why he is there, what happened to send him running, cause his nightmares and place a large reward on his head. The writing is cleverly constructed, dropping hints without revealing the full picture which slowly increases the tensions as the story progresses, right up to the explosive climax. The characters, too, are skillfully drawn, from the workaholic special agent and her less pleasant partner, through townsfolk, friendly and otherwise, to Jack himself with his wanting to do the right thing versus his need to stay hidden.
The narrator, Ben Smith, is the perfect voice for Jack. With a lightly nasal speech pattern, Mr.Smith captures the almost naive feeling radiated by him and the injuries he sustains during his time in Ironwood. Each character is given their own distinctive voice, too, in an overall excellent performance. The text is read briskly, too fast for me, actually, but by reducing the speed to 0.9 percent, I found the perfect pace without any distortion of the original track..This, however, is just personal preference.
I was both surprised and delighted by this short but incredibly well packed book, which I was fortunate enough to receive as a gift from the rights holder, via Audible Access. Thank you for introducing me to this new and enigmatic protagonist, Jack Carson, also known as Jack York. I very much hope that this is just the first in a new series and that further insights into Jack's past will emerge at a later stage. Recommended to all thriller fans, especially those who like their thrills to come with an additional twist of mystery
"A place as good as any.""
From the very beginning of this intriguing thriller we know that Jack Carson is running away, but not why. Only that it is serious. Serious with a capital S. Blanket news coverage serious. Bad enough to have called in a Special Agents team to find him even though they don't know exactly who, or what, they are looking for. But a lot of people have died.
Jack is running away, looking for somewhere he won't be noticed. Somewhere to start again. So he gets off the bus at the small town of Ironwood with almost no money, no cards or driver's licence, just a stopped wrist watch set permanently at 2.42. And, of course, a small town is just the place not to be. He seems like a nice guy, just frightened and sad. Just what is his story? As the book progresses, the reader learns more, but never enough, because there is something very different about Jack ...
This is a great action thriller in every sense of the word, with the risks of discovery, being caught, fights and conflicts not associated with the reason he is on the run as well as some which are. There is a gentle relationship which builds up between Jack and this poverty stricken little town and couple of people within it. But there is also the mystery of why he is there, what happened to send him running, cause his nightmares and place a large reward on his head. The writing is cleverly constructed, dropping hints without revealing the full picture which slowly increases the tensions as the story progresses, right up to the explosive climax. The characters, too, are skillfully drawn, from the workaholic special agent and her less pleasant partner, through townsfolk, friendly and otherwise, to Jack himself with his wanting to do the right thing versus his need to stay hidden.
The narrator, Ben Smith, is the perfect voice for Jack. With a lightly nasal speech pattern, Mr.Smith captures the almost naive feeling radiated by him and the injuries he sustains during his time in Ironwood. Each character is given their own distinctive voice, too, in an overall excellent performance. The text is read briskly, too fast for me, actually, but by reducing the speed to 0.9 percent, I found the perfect pace without any distortion of the original track..This, however, is just personal preference.
I was both surprised and delighted by this short but incredibly well packed book, which I was fortunate enough to receive as a gift from the rights holder, via Audible Access. Thank you for introducing me to this new and enigmatic protagonist, Jack Carson, also known as Jack York. I very much hope that this is just the first in a new series and that further insights into Jack's past will emerge at a later stage. Recommended to all thriller fans, especially those who like their thrills to come with an additional twist of mystery
July 1, 2017
This is what I wrote about the audiobook version of "The Devil's Due" on audible. com:
Would you listen to The Devil's Due again? Why?
Yes, I would. It's a fast-paced action thriller with quite a few unanswered questions and the main character we do not know much about except that he seems to be an honorable man (despite being the most wanted fugitive in the country:)). Equally fast-paced narration by Mr. Smith adds to the suspence and makes the listening experience similar to watching an action movie in the "Mission Impossible" style:)
What was one of the most memorable moments of The Devil's Due?
There are a few memorable scenes in the book, but I think (spoiler alert!) the most important is the one when we realize that Jack is not quite a normal human being, just after he escapes from his kidnappers and his body is described for the first time. The second one that will stay in my mind is the fight scene in the club, when Jack uses his powers against the thugs... It's full of action and perfectly described making it really easy for me to visualize the whole thing.
Which character – as performed by Ben Smith – was your favorite?
It's definitely Jack Carson. In Ben Smith's interpretation Jack really comes out as a live person, with his moral dilemmas and anxieties... The other characters in the story are also well interpreted, even though Mr Smith does not really make them sound so differently one from the other, but still I had no problem understanding who is talking to whom.
Also, I generally liked this interpretation of the book - the really fast pace of the narration was well-matched with the fast pace action packed plotline of the book itself.
Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?
As it's an action thriller, there are not many "moving" moments in the plot, but there are two scenes that I liked for their emotional load, both having to do with Jack making a decision to save somebody's life in spite of that decision having negative consequences for his own safety and well-being...
I was voluntarily provided this review copy audiobook at no charge by the author, publisher and/or narrator.
Would you listen to The Devil's Due again? Why?
Yes, I would. It's a fast-paced action thriller with quite a few unanswered questions and the main character we do not know much about except that he seems to be an honorable man (despite being the most wanted fugitive in the country:)). Equally fast-paced narration by Mr. Smith adds to the suspence and makes the listening experience similar to watching an action movie in the "Mission Impossible" style:)
What was one of the most memorable moments of The Devil's Due?
There are a few memorable scenes in the book, but I think (spoiler alert!) the most important is the one when we realize that Jack is not quite a normal human being, just after he escapes from his kidnappers and his body is described for the first time. The second one that will stay in my mind is the fight scene in the club, when Jack uses his powers against the thugs... It's full of action and perfectly described making it really easy for me to visualize the whole thing.
Which character – as performed by Ben Smith – was your favorite?
It's definitely Jack Carson. In Ben Smith's interpretation Jack really comes out as a live person, with his moral dilemmas and anxieties... The other characters in the story are also well interpreted, even though Mr Smith does not really make them sound so differently one from the other, but still I had no problem understanding who is talking to whom.
Also, I generally liked this interpretation of the book - the really fast pace of the narration was well-matched with the fast pace action packed plotline of the book itself.
Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?
As it's an action thriller, there are not many "moving" moments in the plot, but there are two scenes that I liked for their emotional load, both having to do with Jack making a decision to save somebody's life in spite of that decision having negative consequences for his own safety and well-being...
I was voluntarily provided this review copy audiobook at no charge by the author, publisher and/or narrator.
July 3, 2017
There's been a horrific bombing at a major industrial site in Pennsylvania, and two Special Agents who don't much like each other are off to hunt down the suspected terrorist behind it. They have only a grainy, black and white picture of him, and no I.D. Everyone at the site was killed; the CEO is in Europe and not back yet.
Jack Carson is on the run, and he's got only thirty bucks and a Polaroid of a beautiful woman on him. He doesn't seem like the terrorist type, or any other kind of mass murderer, but he is running from that bombing, and is determined to avoid the authorities.
We don't know why. We do find out that there's something very peculiar about his body, and he must have an interesting backstory that's only hinted at in this story.
Jack figures a small town in Iowa will be as good a place a any to stop for a day's rest. In Ironwood, he meets the town's bar owner, another beautiful woman, and a possibly unwise act of chivalry lands him in the middle of the seemingly sleepy town's internal troubles. He's soon facing the choice of saving the town from its local, rather nasty gangsters, or saving his own skin.
That's assuming, of course, that he can do either before the federal agents catch up with him.
Some things here seem just a bit too pat, but both Jack as a character and Jack's situation are interesting. A novella can't have the depth and complexity of a full novel, but there's enough here to make me interested in the next installment. The narrator reads well, and has a good, clear voice.
Recommended.
I received a free copy of this audiobook from the authors, and am reviewing it voluntarily.
Jack Carson is on the run, and he's got only thirty bucks and a Polaroid of a beautiful woman on him. He doesn't seem like the terrorist type, or any other kind of mass murderer, but he is running from that bombing, and is determined to avoid the authorities.
We don't know why. We do find out that there's something very peculiar about his body, and he must have an interesting backstory that's only hinted at in this story.
Jack figures a small town in Iowa will be as good a place a any to stop for a day's rest. In Ironwood, he meets the town's bar owner, another beautiful woman, and a possibly unwise act of chivalry lands him in the middle of the seemingly sleepy town's internal troubles. He's soon facing the choice of saving the town from its local, rather nasty gangsters, or saving his own skin.
That's assuming, of course, that he can do either before the federal agents catch up with him.
Some things here seem just a bit too pat, but both Jack as a character and Jack's situation are interesting. A novella can't have the depth and complexity of a full novel, but there's enough here to make me interested in the next installment. The narrator reads well, and has a good, clear voice.
Recommended.
I received a free copy of this audiobook from the authors, and am reviewing it voluntarily.
August 31, 2017
The Devil's Due is a short story that introduces us (but just barely) to Jack Carson. Jack was involved in a mysterious explosion at a lab that he apparently worked at. It is unclear to me after listening to this if the explosion caused his powers, or if the explosion was caused by his powers. This is just one of many questions this short story left me with. Jack is now on the run, stopping in a small town in the middle of nowhere Iowa Jack gets mixed up in some small town drama.
Overall the story was interesting and kept me wanting more. There are some issues that I would assume are editing issues with the book more than how it was narrated. One such example of this is when Jack is in the bar drinking and a news story comes on the TV, the story suddenly cuts to Jack leaving the bar and getting attacked by a random drunk who breaks a bottle and tries to stab him in the back, then later in the story it hints to an altercation where Jack steps in to help the bartender, however, it seems this scene was cut but references to this later in the story were not? It left me confused and I had to go back and listen a couple times to make sure I wasn't just missing something.
Ben Smith does a good job narrating the story. If I had to choose one weakness it would be that he could do a little better when narrating from a female voice. It is not enough of a weakness to diminish my enjoyment of the story.
**I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.**
Overall the story was interesting and kept me wanting more. There are some issues that I would assume are editing issues with the book more than how it was narrated. One such example of this is when Jack is in the bar drinking and a news story comes on the TV, the story suddenly cuts to Jack leaving the bar and getting attacked by a random drunk who breaks a bottle and tries to stab him in the back, then later in the story it hints to an altercation where Jack steps in to help the bartender, however, it seems this scene was cut but references to this later in the story were not? It left me confused and I had to go back and listen a couple times to make sure I wasn't just missing something.
Ben Smith does a good job narrating the story. If I had to choose one weakness it would be that he could do a little better when narrating from a female voice. It is not enough of a weakness to diminish my enjoyment of the story.
**I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.**
June 29, 2017
Jack Carson is on the run. The Government is searching for him, thinking he blew up an industrial complex, making hiim a huge terrorist. Theres a lot more to that story though. Jack rolls up on the Greyhound in to Ironwood, Iowa, a flea speck down on its luck town. He wanders over to the local bar, and meets the usual assortment of townies.After some drinks, he stops a local from beating the bartender, and avoids getting stabbed as the guy leaves, in an unusual way.
The bartender, the owner's daughter, agrees to put him up for the night. The next morning, he misses the Greyhound out of town and gets a job cooking in the bar. Of course, that leads to him getting jumped and captured by the brawler from the night before. This leads to the revelations of what Jack is (although its a slow reveal, and the true extent isnt revealed in this book).
This is where the the Road House similarities really kick off, as Jack has to fight the crime lord that has a piece of everything in town, and everyone lives in fear of. Its a wild, adrenaline filled thrill ride as Jack takes on the whole criminal underground in town to save the people he has come to care about, all while trying to avoid getting captured. I am interested in seeing where this series is going.
This is the first Ben Smith Narrated book I've listened to. He did a good job moving the narration along, and had a decent variety of voices for the different characters. I would listen to his narration on other work.
The bartender, the owner's daughter, agrees to put him up for the night. The next morning, he misses the Greyhound out of town and gets a job cooking in the bar. Of course, that leads to him getting jumped and captured by the brawler from the night before. This leads to the revelations of what Jack is (although its a slow reveal, and the true extent isnt revealed in this book).
This is where the the Road House similarities really kick off, as Jack has to fight the crime lord that has a piece of everything in town, and everyone lives in fear of. Its a wild, adrenaline filled thrill ride as Jack takes on the whole criminal underground in town to save the people he has come to care about, all while trying to avoid getting captured. I am interested in seeing where this series is going.
This is the first Ben Smith Narrated book I've listened to. He did a good job moving the narration along, and had a decent variety of voices for the different characters. I would listen to his narration on other work.
March 15, 2017
There isn't many books out there that I give such low ratings to, I tend to like to always give a higher rating because I know how much work goes into writing a book and I know the Author/s spend a lot of time editing etc for a book to be published.
But this book is not one I could give a higher rating to, there was very little explained in the way of what the MC was running from, or how it happened, or even why it happened. There were times when am not sure whether the author could decide on which name to call the MC whether it be by his first or his last. There were a couple of sentences throughout the book that I wasn't sure if we had switched to another character purely because of the name differences.
I really liked the premise of this story, and I really wished it had been to my liking, but it just didn't. I think (in my own opinion) I've been left with more questions than answers for a first book. Plus the whole thing in the last chapter about MCs arm, I didn't really read any build up to that, so it just kind of came out of no where and felt a bit like a plot device just to get him out of the tough spot he'd gotten into.
I won't be reading the next book in the series, but I do wish the author/s all the best in there future writing endeavours and I will actually look into reading more from them in the future.
But this book is not one I could give a higher rating to, there was very little explained in the way of what the MC was running from, or how it happened, or even why it happened. There were times when am not sure whether the author could decide on which name to call the MC whether it be by his first or his last. There were a couple of sentences throughout the book that I wasn't sure if we had switched to another character purely because of the name differences.
I really liked the premise of this story, and I really wished it had been to my liking, but it just didn't. I think (in my own opinion) I've been left with more questions than answers for a first book. Plus the whole thing in the last chapter about MCs arm, I didn't really read any build up to that, so it just kind of came out of no where and felt a bit like a plot device just to get him out of the tough spot he'd gotten into.
I won't be reading the next book in the series, but I do wish the author/s all the best in there future writing endeavours and I will actually look into reading more from them in the future.
December 12, 2017
The author has written a story that's full of suspense, action and power packed scenes. You will find yourself drawn into the story just within the first few pages.
Jack Carson, who goes by the alias of Jack Yorke, is on the run. He has left some destruction behind him. It was a lab explosion. That's all we know. One half of his body is like granite, powerful and colored like midnight blackness.
He stops by a small town called Ironwood thinking he can lay low there. But that's tough. An act of chivalry ends up in creating more enemies for him.
He carries a girl's picture in his pocket. We dont get to know who she is, in this novella. Wherever he goes problems seems to follow.
Can't wait to find out more about Jack's story. This is probably one of the biggest cliffhangers I have read. One that leaves so many questions on my mind and such a lack of back story!. If I could get answers to atleast some of those questions that I have, this story would have earned 5 stars from me. But definitely a great thriller!.
Jack Carson, who goes by the alias of Jack Yorke, is on the run. He has left some destruction behind him. It was a lab explosion. That's all we know. One half of his body is like granite, powerful and colored like midnight blackness.
He stops by a small town called Ironwood thinking he can lay low there. But that's tough. An act of chivalry ends up in creating more enemies for him.
He carries a girl's picture in his pocket. We dont get to know who she is, in this novella. Wherever he goes problems seems to follow.
Can't wait to find out more about Jack's story. This is probably one of the biggest cliffhangers I have read. One that leaves so many questions on my mind and such a lack of back story!. If I could get answers to atleast some of those questions that I have, this story would have earned 5 stars from me. But definitely a great thriller!.
June 26, 2021
Picture this: Jack Reacher with supernatural attributes. That is what this short novella reminded me of. Jack Carson arrives in a small town in Iowa on a Greyhound bus, obviously running from something. The story quickly unfolds and Jack finds himself reluctantly working for the local loan shark.
Add in a beautiful young woman trying to keep her ailing father's bar afloat, a mysterious Polaroid photo in Jack's pocket and a nationwide search for a domestic terrorist and you have an intriguing story.
I would have liked to know more about Carson, why he had his special abilities (and exactly what they were), who was the mystery girl in the photo....you get the idea. This was a good setup for a series but I would have liked to know more.
The narrator did a good job and his performance added a lot to this book. I was given the chance to listen to this audiobook by the author/narrator/publisher and chose to review it.
Add in a beautiful young woman trying to keep her ailing father's bar afloat, a mysterious Polaroid photo in Jack's pocket and a nationwide search for a domestic terrorist and you have an intriguing story.
I would have liked to know more about Carson, why he had his special abilities (and exactly what they were), who was the mystery girl in the photo....you get the idea. This was a good setup for a series but I would have liked to know more.
The narrator did a good job and his performance added a lot to this book. I was given the chance to listen to this audiobook by the author/narrator/publisher and chose to review it.
June 28, 2017
Audiobook review:
The Devil's Due is the first book I've listened to or read of L.E. Brabant and C.M. Raymond and I'll be seeking more. This short story is about a man on the run following an explosion. As the story unfolds, with action, fights, attempted murders, mystery, and inhuman abilities the listener learns that things portrayed in the media may not be exactly true (that never happens... 😉). The Devil's Due was interesting and fast paced which held my fleeting attention span! I was truly disappointed when it ended! I hope to find another story about Jack Carson! I want to know what was done to him & why! The narrator, Ben Smith, also did a great job!
The Devil's Due is the first book I've listened to or read of L.E. Brabant and C.M. Raymond and I'll be seeking more. This short story is about a man on the run following an explosion. As the story unfolds, with action, fights, attempted murders, mystery, and inhuman abilities the listener learns that things portrayed in the media may not be exactly true (that never happens... 😉). The Devil's Due was interesting and fast paced which held my fleeting attention span! I was truly disappointed when it ended! I hope to find another story about Jack Carson! I want to know what was done to him & why! The narrator, Ben Smith, also did a great job!
November 29, 2017
Audio version.
Enjoyable, reminds me of a western a bit guy comes to town saves the girl and rides off into the sunset. There's more to it than that of course, it's more of a sifi. It made me wonder what happens next, I can't wait for the next part.
The narrator brings the story to life.
This Audio book was given to me for free at my request from the publisher, author or narrator and I provided this unbiased voluntary review.
Reasons I enjoyed this book:
Easy-to-read, Entertaining, Funny, Great world building, Original, Page-turner, Unpredictable, Wonderful characters.
Enjoyable, reminds me of a western a bit guy comes to town saves the girl and rides off into the sunset. There's more to it than that of course, it's more of a sifi. It made me wonder what happens next, I can't wait for the next part.
The narrator brings the story to life.
This Audio book was given to me for free at my request from the publisher, author or narrator and I provided this unbiased voluntary review.
Reasons I enjoyed this book:
Easy-to-read, Entertaining, Funny, Great world building, Original, Page-turner, Unpredictable, Wonderful characters.
June 28, 2017
My review is based on the Audiobook. I thought The Devil's Due was a great series starter. It introduced us to the key players and gave some background but leaves the reader wanting to know more. I really want to know more about Jack Carson's abilities and the mysterious girl in the picture!! Ben Smith was a great narrator with proper inflection which made the story easy to follow. I am looking forward to listening to more from Author and Narrator!
July 29, 2017
Intriguing story with plenty of action.
I liked this story and I'm interested in getting the next in the series. I want to know more. This audiobook is short, just under 3 hours, but worth the listen. It's hard to know if Jack is a bad guy or a good one. I think he is just misunderstood. Have to get the next to see if I'm right. I voluntarily reviewed this audiobook after receiving an advanced copy.
I liked this story and I'm interested in getting the next in the series. I want to know more. This audiobook is short, just under 3 hours, but worth the listen. It's hard to know if Jack is a bad guy or a good one. I think he is just misunderstood. Have to get the next to see if I'm right. I voluntarily reviewed this audiobook after receiving an advanced copy.
July 1, 2017
This novella is worth the read. It is fast paced and full of adventure with very well written and unique characters. Jack has a plan, it doesn't work out so well for him, even though he tries his best. New friends and enemies create to many problems for him. The tale ends to quick as it absorbs you into the story.
June 29, 2017
The Devils Due by CM Raymond and LE Barbant was a good read. Jack Carson is a wanted fugitive who was changed forever after a lab explosion. This book follows Jack to a small town in Iowa. This was a good read.
July 1, 2017
The authors don't tip their hand as we piece together what's going on with Jack... All Jack wants to do is lay low and not attract any more attention, well that's not going to happen... Jack steps off the greyhound into what appears to be a sleepy burg and in doing so puts him right back into the line of sight...
Ben Smith's narration was spot on in this high octane fueled thriller.
Ben Smith's narration was spot on in this high octane fueled thriller.
November 14, 2018
Interesting story ....I found the action non stop and i really want to find out where this cliff hanger is headed. The end really isn't the end here .....
July 25, 2021
Definitely different premise. Still don't know exactly what happened to create the circumstances but action and interaction going on. Interesting.
November 16, 2023
Jack Carson man or machine? Seems to be a product of a lab experiment by government entities, but escapes to actually do some good in the world. Want to read more about these adventures.
January 13, 2017
I was pleasantly surprised by this book. I understand the author had just started publishing a year ago but this was already his fourth? book and first of a new series. This one fascinated me enough to try out and I was not disappointed. The story itself goes back to something I crave in my favorites which is to have something of the fantastic/paranormal/legendary genre happening within a, somewhat, normal setting. The author(s) did a great job of weaving in and out of the heroes mysterious back story, which we still don't fully know, while distracting the reader with a immediate issue which needs dealt with. There were a couple of typos in the middle to two-thirds area which only mildly distracted me but honestly I was too wrapped up to stop. Plus this is a fast read. I technically started it over a week ago when I was just taking a peek in passing since I didn't have my other books with me at that time. That peek turned into the first 25% in about an hour. However, I had to put it down to finish my other books before coming back to it this week which only took another two days to read. Now I'm anxious to see what takes place next and find out more of our hero's history!
February 2, 2017
The Devil's Due
A Jack Carson Story Book 1
By CM Raymond & LE Barbant
Jack Carson is an anomaly...he is like no other man...and he's on the run...
The authors did a great job with this book...keeps you on the edge of your seat... I would like to see where the next book takes Jack.
A Jack Carson Story Book 1
By CM Raymond & LE Barbant
Jack Carson is an anomaly...he is like no other man...and he's on the run...
The authors did a great job with this book...keeps you on the edge of your seat... I would like to see where the next book takes Jack.
December 21, 2016
Lee Child meets Luke Cage
Fast paced action with flair. Felt like reading a Jack Reacher book with a little dash of superhero thrown in for measure. Loved it, can't wait for the next one.
Fast paced action with flair. Felt like reading a Jack Reacher book with a little dash of superhero thrown in for measure. Loved it, can't wait for the next one.
April 17, 2017
Action Packed
Action action and more action this is a very fast-paced thrilling ride I can't wait to see where it goes going to read the second book right now
Action action and more action this is a very fast-paced thrilling ride I can't wait to see where it goes going to read the second book right now
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