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Mackley and Lassiter #1
Blind River
Curtis Mackley was born in Blind River. He never expected to die there. . . FBI Agent Curtis Mackley never wanted to return to Blind River, the crime-infested town where he was raised. But when four young girls are kidnapped and presumed dead, Curtis and his partner, Frankie Lassiter, are sent to investigate. However, every moment in Blind River seems to make the situation worse, from the reporter with an impossible amount of inside knowledge to the incarcerated crime boss who claims to know exactly who the kidnapper is. Curtis and Frankie will need to muster every ounce of skill, knowledge, and luck they have if they want to save the girls, not to mention get out of Blind River alive. With over 170 5-star reviews, find out why readers have fallen in love with Curtis and Frankie's quest! Get your copy now!
304 pages, Paperback
First published May 23, 2017
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 211 reviews
March 16, 2018
Don't waste your time.
Small town full of people with many secrets. Good plot but author needed a editor. Hopefully he'll get the help for his second book.
Small town full of people with many secrets. Good plot but author needed a editor. Hopefully he'll get the help for his second book.
March 5, 2018
FBI Agents Curtis Mackley and Frankie Lassiter are assigned to the small town of Blind River to assist the local PD searching for four missing teenage girls. Not coincidentally, Agent Mackley was born and raised in Blind River but has no desire to ever return. His backstory gets complicated by the failing health of his father, a former police chief, the disappearance of his older brother and the incarcerated cartel middleman Curtis testified against as a teenager. His sister Monica desperately wants Curtis to reconcile with their father before he dies which forces him to confront his own complicated family history, an active serial killer and the ghosts of Blind River.
A solid mystery/thriller but incredibly depressing. It's like a string of unending dark, overcast winter days where the sun never shines and nobody ever smiles!
A solid mystery/thriller but incredibly depressing. It's like a string of unending dark, overcast winter days where the sun never shines and nobody ever smiles!
Want to read
December 27, 2017💝 FREE on Amazon today (12/27/2017)! 💝
Blurb:
Curtis Mackley left Blind River the moment he turned eighteen, fleeing to Manhattan to follow his dream of being an FBI agent. Fourteen years later, he's a respected member of the Bureau, married to the woman of his dreams, and soon to be a father. He's inches away from everything he ever wanted.
Then he and his partner, Frankie Lassiter, are sent to Blind River to investigate the disappearances of four young women, and Curtis's visceral hatred for the town are the least of their problems.
There are almost no clues, the chief is clueless, a reporter is exploiting the disappearances to further her own career, and the prison looming over the treetops is a constant reminder of the criminals who ruled Blind River during Curtis's childhood.
When Sam Marino, the man who plunged Blind River into darkness once before, escapes from prison, Curtis and Frankie find themselves in a battle for the soul of Blind River itself.
Blurb:
Curtis Mackley left Blind River the moment he turned eighteen, fleeing to Manhattan to follow his dream of being an FBI agent. Fourteen years later, he's a respected member of the Bureau, married to the woman of his dreams, and soon to be a father. He's inches away from everything he ever wanted.
Then he and his partner, Frankie Lassiter, are sent to Blind River to investigate the disappearances of four young women, and Curtis's visceral hatred for the town are the least of their problems.
There are almost no clues, the chief is clueless, a reporter is exploiting the disappearances to further her own career, and the prison looming over the treetops is a constant reminder of the criminals who ruled Blind River during Curtis's childhood.
When Sam Marino, the man who plunged Blind River into darkness once before, escapes from prison, Curtis and Frankie find themselves in a battle for the soul of Blind River itself.
Read
May 16, 2018DNF
Too much foul language, punctuation errors galore, clunky sentence structure. I'm bailing.
Too much foul language, punctuation errors galore, clunky sentence structure. I'm bailing.
June 25, 2017
Very poorly written. The grammar errors alone were distracting, and some of the sentences just didn't make sense. Once I got past that, the story seemed to be very disjointed, with too many characters, most of whom were not well developed at all. When I was in grad school, I wrote a paper on which my advisor commented in several places: "this is a thesis; this is a thesis; this is a thesis." That's the way this book struck me. The author seemed to be trying to offer too many plot lines, some related, and some not. I think the story had the potential to be interesting, but it just didn't flow. I finished it, merely to see how it would end, and was sorely disappointed in the conclusion.
March 1, 2018
Quick, easy to read thriller!
This book hooked me from the first page, due to so many mysteries within the main storyline. Why was FBI agent Curtis Mackley so reluctant to return to his hometown, Blind River, to help solve a series of kidnappings of four local teenage girls? Why had he stayed away so long? Why didn't he want his father, the retired police chief, or his sister, a police officer herself, to know about his marriage to Melanie, or that she was pregnant? Who was Amber, why had he left her, and was that why Melanie was so fearful he wouldn't come back to her? What had caused his brother's disappearance so many years before? Why had his sister's brief marriage ended in divorce? Who was leaking info about the case to the local newspaper? Why was the nosy, ambitious, female reporter being so nasty towards the FBI and the police, and so unsympathetic towards the families of the missing girls? What does the former crime boss, now in prison, know about the missing girls, or about Mackley's brother's disappearance, and why does he want to kill Curtis? What are Curtis and his female partner, Frankie, missing? These questions, and many more, kept me turning the pages to find the answers. I enjoyed this one, and could easily see this becoming a continuing series about this particular pair of FBI agents! If you're looking for a fast paced, mystery thriller, this one could be the one!
This book hooked me from the first page, due to so many mysteries within the main storyline. Why was FBI agent Curtis Mackley so reluctant to return to his hometown, Blind River, to help solve a series of kidnappings of four local teenage girls? Why had he stayed away so long? Why didn't he want his father, the retired police chief, or his sister, a police officer herself, to know about his marriage to Melanie, or that she was pregnant? Who was Amber, why had he left her, and was that why Melanie was so fearful he wouldn't come back to her? What had caused his brother's disappearance so many years before? Why had his sister's brief marriage ended in divorce? Who was leaking info about the case to the local newspaper? Why was the nosy, ambitious, female reporter being so nasty towards the FBI and the police, and so unsympathetic towards the families of the missing girls? What does the former crime boss, now in prison, know about the missing girls, or about Mackley's brother's disappearance, and why does he want to kill Curtis? What are Curtis and his female partner, Frankie, missing? These questions, and many more, kept me turning the pages to find the answers. I enjoyed this one, and could easily see this becoming a continuing series about this particular pair of FBI agents! If you're looking for a fast paced, mystery thriller, this one could be the one!
August 29, 2017
A book that really thrills
I liked the storylines and the characters . Curtis was a complex character who had built a shell around himself. A FBI Agent, he was assigned a case in the small town that he had left years ago. His partner, Frankie, was in the dark about his past, but found that Curtis had a sister and father in Blind River. Curtis found his past was intertwined in the present case of four young girls who had disappeared over a matter of weeks.
I am usually very good at solving fictional murders, but this one stumped me. It is a good who done it and an enjoyable read.
I liked the storylines and the characters . Curtis was a complex character who had built a shell around himself. A FBI Agent, he was assigned a case in the small town that he had left years ago. His partner, Frankie, was in the dark about his past, but found that Curtis had a sister and father in Blind River. Curtis found his past was intertwined in the present case of four young girls who had disappeared over a matter of weeks.
I am usually very good at solving fictional murders, but this one stumped me. It is a good who done it and an enjoyable read.
July 13, 2017
Yes this book needed better proof reading as there were a few errors in terms of words missing in sentences. However, I found that easy to ignore. The book was a non-stop thrill ride from start to finish! Many plot twists and I never guessed at all who the killer was right up until the end! Loved it and can't wait to read more from this author!! 🙂
July 7, 2017
Small town serial killer...
Curtis Mackley and his FBI partner Frankie are headed to a small town to help in the investigation of an abduction of 4 teenage girls. The only problem? Blind River is Curtis's hometown which he left years ago & swore he would never go back. Now he's back...to face his family & the problems he left behind. Is there a serial killer in his hometown or is it someone from his past?
For a first time author the storyline was interesting, the characters likeable and the book flows at a decent pace. Some minor issues with editing but nothing major. I enjoyed this book & look forward to another..😉
Curtis Mackley and his FBI partner Frankie are headed to a small town to help in the investigation of an abduction of 4 teenage girls. The only problem? Blind River is Curtis's hometown which he left years ago & swore he would never go back. Now he's back...to face his family & the problems he left behind. Is there a serial killer in his hometown or is it someone from his past?
For a first time author the storyline was interesting, the characters likeable and the book flows at a decent pace. Some minor issues with editing but nothing major. I enjoyed this book & look forward to another..😉
June 25, 2017
A thrilling ride that keeps you guessing until the end.....
Blind River is a superb thriller by author Ben Follows that will grab you and not let go. Four missing girls, a town living in terror and an FYI agent coming to terms with his past.
This book had it all and is definitely one of the best I've read in a while. I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a great psychological thriller.
Blind River is a superb thriller by author Ben Follows that will grab you and not let go. Four missing girls, a town living in terror and an FYI agent coming to terms with his past.
This book had it all and is definitely one of the best I've read in a while. I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a great psychological thriller.
February 1, 2020
Omg. This was laughably horrible. I cannot say enough bad things about it. The story is cliche, the action is juvenile, the dialogue is ridiculous. It’s full of one dimensional characters and poor grammar. The author has zero understanding of any branch of law enforcement and even less of human psychology. I only finished this because I couldn’t believe how bad it was. Is the author very young? Even so, I can’t believe this was published. “Who’s there?” “It’s an old friend.” “Oh, it’s you.” “Is that any way to greet an old friend?” (And that’s just one example. There’s something equally terrible in every chapter, of not on every page.) This might possibly be the worst book I’ve ever read. If you want to be a writer, and you feel like maybe you aren’t good enough, read this and know that if this book is in print, there is hope for you!
December 15, 2018
This book provides a lot of action as two FBI agents are called into a small upstate New York town to investigate the serial murders of 3 young girls. One of the agents grew up in the town, a fact which both helps and hinders the case. If you enjoy a suspenseful mystery, you should like this book.
July 24, 2020
A solid four stars!
Mackley and Lassiter are FBI agents brought back to Mackley’s home town because of four missing teenage girls. The story is basically a procedural filled with the day to day humdrum every missing persons case entails, however, two of the police officers working with them are siblings of two of the missing girls. Mackley’s estranged sister is one of the detectives and is also caring for his father who is in the early stages of dementia. Obviously, the plot is complex and will engross the reader. It is also filled with action, both mental and physical. Good reading and a fine series start. Thanks to the author and publisher for an e-galley for an honest review.
Mackley and Lassiter are FBI agents brought back to Mackley’s home town because of four missing teenage girls. The story is basically a procedural filled with the day to day humdrum every missing persons case entails, however, two of the police officers working with them are siblings of two of the missing girls. Mackley’s estranged sister is one of the detectives and is also caring for his father who is in the early stages of dementia. Obviously, the plot is complex and will engross the reader. It is also filled with action, both mental and physical. Good reading and a fine series start. Thanks to the author and publisher for an e-galley for an honest review.
December 19, 2018
This was a good book.
September 1, 2017
A book that should have been 5*
Great story, the characters were mostly believable, if not entirely likeable. A whodunit that didn't giveaway the big reveal too soon. Though some of that may be do to the fact that we don't "interact" with that character much as we're mostly following Curtis and/or Frankie around.
I really didn't like Natasha, she's representative of the worst of the bottom feeder reporters out there, and exactly the type of person who has no qualms using another's misfortune to further there own agenda/career.
It was a fun read, I would tell others, if you can try and ignore the issues it's worth it.
As to the reasons for knocking off two stars:
1- So many typos
2- Changing facts e.g. ages of characters, what characters are in a "scene"
3- Many dropped/missing words.
Great story, the characters were mostly believable, if not entirely likeable. A whodunit that didn't giveaway the big reveal too soon. Though some of that may be do to the fact that we don't "interact" with that character much as we're mostly following Curtis and/or Frankie around.
I really didn't like Natasha, she's representative of the worst of the bottom feeder reporters out there, and exactly the type of person who has no qualms using another's misfortune to further there own agenda/career.
It was a fun read, I would tell others, if you can try and ignore the issues it's worth it.
As to the reasons for knocking off two stars:
1- So many typos
2- Changing facts e.g. ages of characters, what characters are in a "scene"
3- Many dropped/missing words.
January 24, 2019
Four teenaged girls disappear in Blind River, the crime-infested town where FBI Agent Curtis Mackley grew up, where his father was sheriff, and where his sister is a detective. Mackley isn’t too happy when he and his partner, Frankie Lassiter, are sent to investigate. He left Blind River as soon as he could, and never looked back. Plus, the assignment takes him away from his very pregnant wife and he’s not liking that either.
The situation is complicated by a local newspaper reporter who has inside information, almost before Mackley and Lassiter do, and a jailed crime boss (whom Mackley, as a child, was instrumental in sending up the river) who claims to know who is doing the killing.
This decently written, dark, gritty, graphic story was a surprisingly good read for me (I saw a few bobbles, but not the amounts in several one-star reviews I read; maybe we were reading different books, I don’t know).
I liked the relationship between Mackley and Lassiter, between Mackley and his estranged sister, and between Mackley and his dad, who is in the final stages of life. The interplay between his home life and his work life kept me glued to the book. I was sad when it ended and I found out it may be a stand-alone. Generally, if I’m going to make an emotional commitment to characters (and I did with Lassiter and Mackley), I want them to be around for a while. Kudos to the author, ‘tho, for getting me so thoroughly hooked in one shot. I hope there are more stories featuring Mackley and Lassiter – I could see some interesting outcomes if Mackley were to return home as a lawman and clean the place up, with assistance from Lassiter, while he repairs his family life.
The situation is complicated by a local newspaper reporter who has inside information, almost before Mackley and Lassiter do, and a jailed crime boss (whom Mackley, as a child, was instrumental in sending up the river) who claims to know who is doing the killing.
This decently written, dark, gritty, graphic story was a surprisingly good read for me (I saw a few bobbles, but not the amounts in several one-star reviews I read; maybe we were reading different books, I don’t know).
I liked the relationship between Mackley and Lassiter, between Mackley and his estranged sister, and between Mackley and his dad, who is in the final stages of life. The interplay between his home life and his work life kept me glued to the book. I was sad when it ended and I found out it may be a stand-alone. Generally, if I’m going to make an emotional commitment to characters (and I did with Lassiter and Mackley), I want them to be around for a while. Kudos to the author, ‘tho, for getting me so thoroughly hooked in one shot. I hope there are more stories featuring Mackley and Lassiter – I could see some interesting outcomes if Mackley were to return home as a lawman and clean the place up, with assistance from Lassiter, while he repairs his family life.
September 9, 2017
This is a really good story that keeps you guessing from the minute you get to the town until the surprising conclusion. The characters are well developed and you do get a good sense of who they are. With that said, the reason our main character does not return to town until this horrific series of crimes is kind of lamely explained. The main character's distaste for his home town is not as clear as it could be. I mean I understand that there was a crime lord there for some time and yes it would have shaped the way his town was run but this is all changed long before he even leaves as an older teen. So his clear reluctance to return home to see his family is unclear. It is the knowledge of his home town though that helps in solving this awful series of events.
I like the story the author told us, and would really like to see the partnership solve some more crimes of such caliber. I do think though a little more time spent explaining some background helps us in connecting with our characters (which is something I really look forward to when reading these types of stories). One last pet peeve to mention is: does anyone actually "edit" books anymore? There were many misspelled words and wrong words at times it was a bit annoying. Other than that I do actually recommend the story itself! It is a good story and a very suspenseful crime thriller that it is worth the time to read it. Again I hope to read more from this author, I feel his books do have a lot to offer in the thriller genre.
I like the story the author told us, and would really like to see the partnership solve some more crimes of such caliber. I do think though a little more time spent explaining some background helps us in connecting with our characters (which is something I really look forward to when reading these types of stories). One last pet peeve to mention is: does anyone actually "edit" books anymore? There were many misspelled words and wrong words at times it was a bit annoying. Other than that I do actually recommend the story itself! It is a good story and a very suspenseful crime thriller that it is worth the time to read it. Again I hope to read more from this author, I feel his books do have a lot to offer in the thriller genre.
March 30, 2018
I liked the overall structure of the book and the pacing and much of the character interactions. The way the whodunit process was staged worked for me. The problem with this book is in the details. There are lots of mechanical errors in word use, grammar, quotes, etc. I'm personally not too bothered by this.
What did throw me off are the many errors in facts, logic, and motives. This book shows the FBI Director to be based in NYC, not DC, and personally assigning a case to agents. WTH? The assignment of an FBI Agent to a hometown case where he knows many witnesses and suspects personally, and is a sibling of a local detective, is absolutely ludicrous. A small town with 5,000 population is shown to have a police force of at least 50 members? Baloney. Basic research on Wikipedia would help. The FBI and police procedures used are ridiculous. Halfway through the book, one investigator suddenly realizes (without much reason) that one of the supposed serial crimes is unlike the others, and eliminating that one shows a pattern among the remaining crimes? The real FBI would have considered that possibility immediately. And no sensible reason is given why a tiny town like Blind River became a major drug transport hub. Perhaps most silly, a professional prison guard leaves unlocked the cell door of the most dangerous convict??? Not to mention a modern prison not having automatic locks and fail-safes? My BS meter went to maximum.
I did like the main body of the book. More care in writing mechanics and looking at plausibility could have made this a very good book.
What did throw me off are the many errors in facts, logic, and motives. This book shows the FBI Director to be based in NYC, not DC, and personally assigning a case to agents. WTH? The assignment of an FBI Agent to a hometown case where he knows many witnesses and suspects personally, and is a sibling of a local detective, is absolutely ludicrous. A small town with 5,000 population is shown to have a police force of at least 50 members? Baloney. Basic research on Wikipedia would help. The FBI and police procedures used are ridiculous. Halfway through the book, one investigator suddenly realizes (without much reason) that one of the supposed serial crimes is unlike the others, and eliminating that one shows a pattern among the remaining crimes? The real FBI would have considered that possibility immediately. And no sensible reason is given why a tiny town like Blind River became a major drug transport hub. Perhaps most silly, a professional prison guard leaves unlocked the cell door of the most dangerous convict??? Not to mention a modern prison not having automatic locks and fail-safes? My BS meter went to maximum.
I did like the main body of the book. More care in writing mechanics and looking at plausibility could have made this a very good book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 11, 2019
Reading this book was like watching a movie in black and white, rather than color. Just kind of lack luster and flat.
Ben Follows has written a mystery thriller about an FBI agent who must go back to his hometown to investigate the disappearance of four teenage girls, while facing demons from his past. Curtis Mackley left 13 years ago and has not been in touch with his father or sister since. Paired with a seasoned partner Frankie, they begin uncovering the town's secrets.
The story was somewhat interesting, but the characters were flat. I suppose Curtis Mackley's back story is written to give insights into his character, but it was sparse on details. We know he left town because he wanted to get out, but there was never a defining moment where we understand why he didn't stay in touch with his family. We don't know what he looks like, or what goes on in his head. He seems to lack any color. Even in his marriage, he seems to lack passion. Follows set the scenes without much description. Grammatical errors were distracting.
I read it to the end, where there was a lot of macabre action. Mackley finally shows some of what he's made of, but it was too late in the story to make much of a difference.
I probably won't read the next book in the series because too much black and white is kind of boring.
Ben Follows has written a mystery thriller about an FBI agent who must go back to his hometown to investigate the disappearance of four teenage girls, while facing demons from his past. Curtis Mackley left 13 years ago and has not been in touch with his father or sister since. Paired with a seasoned partner Frankie, they begin uncovering the town's secrets.
The story was somewhat interesting, but the characters were flat. I suppose Curtis Mackley's back story is written to give insights into his character, but it was sparse on details. We know he left town because he wanted to get out, but there was never a defining moment where we understand why he didn't stay in touch with his family. We don't know what he looks like, or what goes on in his head. He seems to lack any color. Even in his marriage, he seems to lack passion. Follows set the scenes without much description. Grammatical errors were distracting.
I read it to the end, where there was a lot of macabre action. Mackley finally shows some of what he's made of, but it was too late in the story to make much of a difference.
I probably won't read the next book in the series because too much black and white is kind of boring.
August 5, 2018
Curtis Mackley left Blind River the moment he turned eighteen, fleeing to Manhattan to follow his dream of being an FBI agent. Fourteen years later, he's a respected member of the Bureau, married to the woman of his dreams, and soon to be a father. He's inches away from everything he ever wanted.
Then he and his partner, Frankie Lassiter, are sent to Blind River to investigate the disappearances of four young women, and Curtis's visceral hatred for the town are the least of their problems.
There are almost no clues, the chief is clueless, a reporter is exploiting the disappearances to further her own career, and the prison looming over the treetops is a constant reminder of the criminals who ruled Blind River during Curtis's childhood.
When Sam Marino, the man who plunged Blind River into darkness once before, escapes from prison, Curtis and Frankie find themselves in a battle for the soul of Blind River itsel
Then he and his partner, Frankie Lassiter, are sent to Blind River to investigate the disappearances of four young women, and Curtis's visceral hatred for the town are the least of their problems.
There are almost no clues, the chief is clueless, a reporter is exploiting the disappearances to further her own career, and the prison looming over the treetops is a constant reminder of the criminals who ruled Blind River during Curtis's childhood.
When Sam Marino, the man who plunged Blind River into darkness once before, escapes from prison, Curtis and Frankie find themselves in a battle for the soul of Blind River itsel
May 6, 2018
3.5 Stars. Fast paced and a quick read. Mystery around the main character.
I am guessing the author hasn’t been around a possible death watch in the hospital. Also, for a cop and an FBI agent to suspend all investigation for hours and days because of a hospitalization isn’t realistic. One goes back and forth to the hospital back to work.
For a small town one can forgive a small town police mentality, but FBI would be sharper. Also, spitting on an agent can be argued as attacking a federal officer.
Also, the handling of the reporter, in the end, was very hard to swallow. Wouldn’t have been hard for her co workers to weigh. And, aiding and abetting a murderer, come on.
These are minor problems, enjoyed the book.
I am guessing the author hasn’t been around a possible death watch in the hospital. Also, for a cop and an FBI agent to suspend all investigation for hours and days because of a hospitalization isn’t realistic. One goes back and forth to the hospital back to work.
For a small town one can forgive a small town police mentality, but FBI would be sharper. Also, spitting on an agent can be argued as attacking a federal officer.
Also, the handling of the reporter, in the end, was very hard to swallow. Wouldn’t have been hard for her co workers to weigh. And, aiding and abetting a murderer, come on.
These are minor problems, enjoyed the book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 22, 2018
An FBI agent is sent back to his old home town to investigate the disappearance of 4 local girls. He left the town under less than happy circumstances, being estranged from his father and sister, who still live there. On his return he finds that the shadowy figures of his past still lurk. So he must try to solve the current problems while protecting himself from the past.
This isn't a bad book at all if you don't think about it too hard, but it needs a good editing. There are misspellings and missed words everywhere that got annoying. And i got the idea that the author never lived in a small town. The idea of a crime lord running a small rural town is laughable. Maybe in the old west. Not now.
This isn't a bad book at all if you don't think about it too hard, but it needs a good editing. There are misspellings and missed words everywhere that got annoying. And i got the idea that the author never lived in a small town. The idea of a crime lord running a small rural town is laughable. Maybe in the old west. Not now.
October 8, 2017
I thought the book was very satisfying for what I was after. It reminded me a bit of True Detective. I would reccomend this book to anyone who enjoys a good whodunit, or fans of serial killer/kidnapper books that involve cops as the main characters. There was lots of action and twists and enough mystery to keep you interested the whole time.
THE SPELLING MISTAKES ARE NOT ENOUGH TO MAKE THE BOOK NOT ENJOYABLE. The people who overly complain on here about the spelling mistakes are from the grammar police and just have a stick up their butt. There was only a few and they were usually far between each other.
THE SPELLING MISTAKES ARE NOT ENOUGH TO MAKE THE BOOK NOT ENJOYABLE. The people who overly complain on here about the spelling mistakes are from the grammar police and just have a stick up their butt. There was only a few and they were usually far between each other.
March 1, 2018
Going home again, damn!
Excellent book! I just couldn't put it down. When I started the book I was very surprised that it caught my attention right away. All the characters were believable and real. This could have been any small town, hopefully not, but not unimaginable. I truely liked many of the characters and of course every story needs a love to hate person, which this had. The killer was not obvious to me at all, one of the reasons I enjoyed it from beginning to end. Great job. I'll have to read more of your work if this is any indication of your writing abilities. Thanks so much for this captivating story.
Lynn
Excellent book! I just couldn't put it down. When I started the book I was very surprised that it caught my attention right away. All the characters were believable and real. This could have been any small town, hopefully not, but not unimaginable. I truely liked many of the characters and of course every story needs a love to hate person, which this had. The killer was not obvious to me at all, one of the reasons I enjoyed it from beginning to end. Great job. I'll have to read more of your work if this is any indication of your writing abilities. Thanks so much for this captivating story.
Lynn
March 22, 2018
This is the tale of Curtis Mackley, an FBI agent who returns to his hometown of Blind River to solve the case of four missing teenagers. Mackley had not been back home in over 15 years, and he must deal with the ghosts of his past while trying to save the girls. The sins of the past sometimes don't remain in the past.
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Ben Follows has created a gripping thriller, with the twists expected in the best of the genre. The story is nicely paced, with the suspense kept at a steady rate. The characters are finely drawn, with realistic fallacies and weaknesses of any real person. There are no superheroes in this book, which makes this novel much more of an enjoyable read.
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Ben Follows has created a gripping thriller, with the twists expected in the best of the genre. The story is nicely paced, with the suspense kept at a steady rate. The characters are finely drawn, with realistic fallacies and weaknesses of any real person. There are no superheroes in this book, which makes this novel much more of an enjoyable read.
March 23, 2018
I would like to give it more stars. The story has potential, with a good and unique plot that would work well as a movie. There were some typos, but not a remarkable amount so possibly it’s been re-edited. The characters are interesting, though I had trouble keeping track of so many names that start with M: Mackley, Marshall, Monica, Marino, Miriam, Miranda, Melanie, Matheson, Martha. For me this book’s big downfall is the lack of knowledge of police and FBI procedure. There were so many unbelievable – outlandish - scenarios, I almost stopped reading several times. I decided to continue to find out who the killer was, and it was definitely a surprise.
August 19, 2018
FBI agent Chris Mackley is sent back to his hometown, along with his partner,Frankie, to solve the case of the disappearance of four young women. He left years ago, the friends, family and memories he wanted to forget. All these things come rushing back again as he tries to solve the mystery. He must face a convict he had put away, when he was just a boy, his dying father, he hadn't seen or spoken to in two decades, a sister he had left behind and the disappearance of his brother twenty years earlier. His father's last words to him, give him the answer to solving the crime and lead him to the killer.
September 5, 2018
I liked the plot, good premise and overall storyline. The author did well in regards to giving you just enough info to keep you guessing versus being able to figure out who the kidnapper was. I think the family dynamic could have been better developed as it was central to the main character. It certainly have been written with a bit more attention to detail and better proofreading, as noted in other reviews, there are some errors that should have been caught. I also don't think the ending needed such a big bang, it did not totally fit with the nature of the crimes and how the villain had been previously operating. Good enough for a quick read on my way to another book.
November 16, 2021
Interesting premise and caught my eye through the synopsis but the literal style of the author did not catch my attention enough to continue. A nice classic of a small town with big secrets, with a protagonist successfully leaving the situation but finding himself back to the problems; the story had a good lead-in, but failed to follow through. The pacing of the story seemed like it wanted to present a lot more than the allotment of a single book.
Character design was a bit stiff. I get it, hardened detective who needs to steel himself to get through the hardships. But a heavy character will remain heavy throughout the whole story and exhaust your imagination.
Character design was a bit stiff. I get it, hardened detective who needs to steel himself to get through the hardships. But a heavy character will remain heavy throughout the whole story and exhaust your imagination.
April 27, 2018
Loved this!
Curtis is a complex man from a small town who has escaped to better things.. his life is just falling into place, when a serious case drags him back to his old stomping ground and the scene of many past and current crimes.
What follows is a thriller that takes the whole town and chews it up as the local police and FBI work together to find four missing girls.
The characters are real, the tension and suspense builds and layers up as more and more things go wrong.
An exciting read and even better, I was not able to suss out the perp!
Excellent story
Five Stars
Curtis is a complex man from a small town who has escaped to better things.. his life is just falling into place, when a serious case drags him back to his old stomping ground and the scene of many past and current crimes.
What follows is a thriller that takes the whole town and chews it up as the local police and FBI work together to find four missing girls.
The characters are real, the tension and suspense builds and layers up as more and more things go wrong.
An exciting read and even better, I was not able to suss out the perp!
Excellent story
Five Stars
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