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One on One
Vengeance is an Act of Justice Revenge is an Act of Passion Corrections Officer Emil Sorn believed the inmates at Larsan State Prison were coddled by the system, had too many rights, and never received any real punishment for their crimes. As sergeant in charge of the evening shift, disrespect or disobedience in any form was dealt with swiftly, severely, and quietly. The idea started in a bar after a couple of drinks, and like most ideas so conceived, it should’ve stayed there. If the accused is granted the right to face their accuser, then the victim should have the right to confront the perpetrator. An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth, a life for a life. There is a fine line between Justice and Revenge. Emil Sorn is about to cross it.
278 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 13, 2017
4 people are currently reading
22 people want to read
About the author
Michael Kelso
38 books57 followersAuthor of books and Creepypastas. Former corrections Officer. My newest book, (Dark Tales of the Strange and Bizarre) is my latest short horror story book. I’ve also published 2 crime/mystery novels based in a prison, a YA novel, a children’s horror book ALA Goosebumps, 2 domestic thrillers, along with several short horror story collections. My most popular books are ‘Misadventures of a Cryptid Hunter’ (which won the 2024 Hollywood Book Festival in the Wild Card category) and my 'Dark Tales of Cryptids' series. Currently working on my upcoming series of zombie novels. Some of my stories have been narrated by YouTubers, garnering over 6 million views.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
March 14, 2020
CRIME OR MYSTERY LOVER? - Put This One on Your Read Next List
This novel greatly impressed me. Sounding as though it is a true crime account, it delivers the perspective of one young man, Emil Sorn, who follows his father's footsteps in upholding the rules in a state prison. The rules say the guard's duty are to care for the prisoner's and keep them under control while they serve their sentence as directed by the judge and jury. This story looks at another aspect of justice, what is fair? Are a few years or a decade or two behind bars comparable to the loss of a life? What about rape? What about other crimes that leave the victim traumatically altered because of the selfishness of another? These are matters that not only do victims struggle with but those charged with the responsibility to see the guilty are held accountable. Despite my review sounding like it is an intellectual exercise, it is nothing of the sort.
The story leads the reader to consider these questions as they are "witness" to the interactions between guard and prisoners. Especially, Emil's struggle to process the personal impact this area of law enforcement has had in his childhood. He sees himself as an extension of true justice.
Kelso delivers a well executed story (pardon the pun). The main characters are flawed individuals with reasonable values and expectations in life. However, their experiences working in the justice system continue to challenge the ideal versus reality. The story provides insights into the day to day frustration at observing the pride and arrogance expressed by some of the guilty. Then, asking what happens when someone decides that they want to ensure that the criminal understands the true implications of their actions? Well, you need to read this story to discover some answers.
This debut novel was a serious page-turner for me, keeping me up the entire night. The word compelling sums it up nicely. I am looking forward to reading Michael Kelso's future stories.
Trigger warning, though there were mentions of violent crimes with modest details. I did not think it was gratuitous nor overly graphic. Others may not agree.
Thank you to the author for providing a copy of this story in exchange for my honest opinion.
This novel greatly impressed me. Sounding as though it is a true crime account, it delivers the perspective of one young man, Emil Sorn, who follows his father's footsteps in upholding the rules in a state prison. The rules say the guard's duty are to care for the prisoner's and keep them under control while they serve their sentence as directed by the judge and jury. This story looks at another aspect of justice, what is fair? Are a few years or a decade or two behind bars comparable to the loss of a life? What about rape? What about other crimes that leave the victim traumatically altered because of the selfishness of another? These are matters that not only do victims struggle with but those charged with the responsibility to see the guilty are held accountable. Despite my review sounding like it is an intellectual exercise, it is nothing of the sort.
The story leads the reader to consider these questions as they are "witness" to the interactions between guard and prisoners. Especially, Emil's struggle to process the personal impact this area of law enforcement has had in his childhood. He sees himself as an extension of true justice.
Kelso delivers a well executed story (pardon the pun). The main characters are flawed individuals with reasonable values and expectations in life. However, their experiences working in the justice system continue to challenge the ideal versus reality. The story provides insights into the day to day frustration at observing the pride and arrogance expressed by some of the guilty. Then, asking what happens when someone decides that they want to ensure that the criminal understands the true implications of their actions? Well, you need to read this story to discover some answers.
This debut novel was a serious page-turner for me, keeping me up the entire night. The word compelling sums it up nicely. I am looking forward to reading Michael Kelso's future stories.
Trigger warning, though there were mentions of violent crimes with modest details. I did not think it was gratuitous nor overly graphic. Others may not agree.
Thank you to the author for providing a copy of this story in exchange for my honest opinion.
November 16, 2017
Amazing book! If you love prison stories (Shawshank, Escape from Alcatraz, Prison Break), you'll love this. It's dark, brutal, honest - simply captivating. The story is so rich, spanning the whole life time of the main character Emil Sorn, who has a child grows up with a father working in a prison, and eventually ends up working there himself. But Emil isn't satisified with how the prison operate, he doesn't see the correctional system as properly functioning, and start to take matters in to his own hands.
One of the best books I've read in a while, recommended!
One of the best books I've read in a while, recommended!
April 9, 2019
While we are all familiar with the crime genre it always deals with them before, what I mean is that once the perpetrator has justice served on them that is the end of there story. We all give little thought to what happens when they are locked up in prison. Corrections officers are the backbone of our justice system. But we never give them any thought, these are the men and women who make sure that our criminals serve the time they have been given. They have a thankless job and we only ever hear about them when something goes terribly wrong. with that said this book is not about these people who clock in each day and do the best they can for not only our society but also those who are bang up behind bars.
Whilst this is a short book its scope is much bigger than you would first imagine. This is a book of a family's saga. Our lead Emil Sorn is only a young boy when this authors tale starts out but is within these brief moments that the seeds of who he will become are sown. We are lead to believe that once a criminal is locked up that it should be a matter of them serving out there time in peace and quiet. But for Emil, he has to bear witness to events that will tear his young world apart. With his father working as a corrections officer he ends up being apart of one of those moments that flash up on the news. It is the murder of his father that send Emil on path that no one can stop him from. He is an interesting and well-plotted character. As we follow him through his life we get to see how pain and revenge can twist a person into something they where never suppose to be. I like the way the author does this in small increments. There is no big flip from one Emil to another but a slow twisting of the screws inside his head. It is a corrupting force that once it has a hold of him will never let go.
The author does an amazing job as he brings us into a world not many of us can imagine. His landscape is carefully crafted to give us the uninitiated a glimpse into the world of prisons, all the while giving himself scope to tell the plot he set out to do. This is a book that does not hang around and with so much to tell there is always the worry of becoming lost between the pages. But Kelso managed to keep me where I need to be with enough information that the time jumps didn't jolt me out of the headspace. He shows us the horrors of what can take place behind the wall of any prison in the world. Within these pages, we get to see what can happen when things go very wrong. Like I said before this is also the story of what happens to a man who is consumed with hate and revenge. I'm always drawn in by tales of these nature. I realize we all have these things within us if someone hurt a family member or someone we love what length we not go to, to get revenge. For most though this would be a fevered dream that we would not act on. So in seeing Emil's story, it is this dream acted out on those who have hurt us. But this is not wish fulfillment, the author shows the dark side of such noughts. The toll it takes is a debt that no one can pay for no matter what the may say.
This is a book that kept me on my toes and times made me hold my breath. As the reader, you can see what is going to happen but there is no way to stop this runaway train. As with all stories of revenge, it is the damage done by that person on the way that they never account for. For me, this was handled in a very professional way. the author displays his skill as a writer and keeps you locked in never wanting to turn away no matter how bad things get. He has delivered a fast-paced story that is sure to keep any reader wanting more and ending that manages to keep within the realms of possibility whilst still being shocking. I look forward to seeing what else he has to offer.
Whilst this is a short book its scope is much bigger than you would first imagine. This is a book of a family's saga. Our lead Emil Sorn is only a young boy when this authors tale starts out but is within these brief moments that the seeds of who he will become are sown. We are lead to believe that once a criminal is locked up that it should be a matter of them serving out there time in peace and quiet. But for Emil, he has to bear witness to events that will tear his young world apart. With his father working as a corrections officer he ends up being apart of one of those moments that flash up on the news. It is the murder of his father that send Emil on path that no one can stop him from. He is an interesting and well-plotted character. As we follow him through his life we get to see how pain and revenge can twist a person into something they where never suppose to be. I like the way the author does this in small increments. There is no big flip from one Emil to another but a slow twisting of the screws inside his head. It is a corrupting force that once it has a hold of him will never let go.
The author does an amazing job as he brings us into a world not many of us can imagine. His landscape is carefully crafted to give us the uninitiated a glimpse into the world of prisons, all the while giving himself scope to tell the plot he set out to do. This is a book that does not hang around and with so much to tell there is always the worry of becoming lost between the pages. But Kelso managed to keep me where I need to be with enough information that the time jumps didn't jolt me out of the headspace. He shows us the horrors of what can take place behind the wall of any prison in the world. Within these pages, we get to see what can happen when things go very wrong. Like I said before this is also the story of what happens to a man who is consumed with hate and revenge. I'm always drawn in by tales of these nature. I realize we all have these things within us if someone hurt a family member or someone we love what length we not go to, to get revenge. For most though this would be a fevered dream that we would not act on. So in seeing Emil's story, it is this dream acted out on those who have hurt us. But this is not wish fulfillment, the author shows the dark side of such noughts. The toll it takes is a debt that no one can pay for no matter what the may say.
This is a book that kept me on my toes and times made me hold my breath. As the reader, you can see what is going to happen but there is no way to stop this runaway train. As with all stories of revenge, it is the damage done by that person on the way that they never account for. For me, this was handled in a very professional way. the author displays his skill as a writer and keeps you locked in never wanting to turn away no matter how bad things get. He has delivered a fast-paced story that is sure to keep any reader wanting more and ending that manages to keep within the realms of possibility whilst still being shocking. I look forward to seeing what else he has to offer.
October 20, 2017
This is a fascinating crime fiction novel written by a former prison corrections officer. I wasn't sure what to expect, but I was definitely not disappointed. The hero (or anti-hero) is a young man named Emil Sorn who becomes a corrections officer years after he loses his father during childhood. His father had also worked as a guard and died on the job. His mother strongly disapproves, but he goes on to become a conflicted and dangerous man. I wasn't sure how the ending would turn out, but Mr. Kelso tied the story lines together and came up with an appropriate ending. I am not usually a fan of books containing violence and harsh language, but this was a well-written exception.
December 11, 2017
Intense!
Kelso writes with the attention to detail of an insider and the confidence of a seasoned pro. If this is what prison is like, it's a great incentive to walk the straight and narrow.
Highly recommended
Kelso writes with the attention to detail of an insider and the confidence of a seasoned pro. If this is what prison is like, it's a great incentive to walk the straight and narrow.
Highly recommended
July 27, 2020
My rating: 3.75 out of 5 stars
Thank you to author Michael Kelso for a copy of this book for review.
One on One is a crime fiction novel about a boy, Emil, whose father dies on duty as a corrections officer. As Emil grows, he follows in his father's footsteps, however, he has different beliefs about how the justice system should.
The overall plot of this novel was good and engaging, however, for me, it had a few problems. I'll start with the good aspects of this book. The plot was well thought out, and there were few characters that didn't serve a bigger purpose (and if they didn't appear more than once or twice, that didn't affect the story). There was no added extras in the story just to write more words, and the plot moved at a good and engaging pace. Character personalities could be clearly shown in the first few pages of them appearing, which made it easier to understand some of their thoughts and actions. I especially loved the ending of this novel (chapter 41 and on). The ending was to my liking, and I would give the whole novel a 4.5-star rating if it was all presented as the ending. Another major bonus point is the fact that you could tell the author knew everything he was writing about, and there was nothing that made you raise an eyebrow and say, 'This doesn't seem too real'. I felt like that improved the quality of the writing.
There were many parts of this novel that could be improved, however. The first thing that I personally had trouble with, was the fact that there was a lot of head jumping especially at the beginning. This improved as the novel went on, and the novel became more focused on specific characters for each part, however, it was a huge problem at the beginning. This also posed the problem on not being able to connect with characters like you should be able to. You could connect more to the characters appearing towards the end of the story than to the ones at the beginning.
Another problem I had was the fact that there was way *too* much dialogue. I personally love dialogue as it presents deeper insight into characters, however, character insight also relies on how they perceive the surrounding environment, which is why internal thoughts are necessary. I also love imagery presented in books. I love to get the feel of the surrounding environment through the looks of the place, the smells, the feelings, and much more. I felt like these things weren't presented sometimes, and at times, I found myself wanting more imagery than dialogue. Again though, I felt as if this problem decreased and became better as the story went on. You could clearly see the improvement of writing and technique as the novel went on, which I will congratulate Author Michael Kelso for, as that made the novel more interesting.
There was one other problem I had with this book, however. The first few chapters (chapters 1-3) could be presented as flashbacks later in the story. I personally believe that books that jump right into the main action or present conflict at the beginning are very engaging, hooking you in and making you want answers. This book had the potential to do so, however, this did not happen.
I however loved a specific quote from the book (presented at the beginning).
I loved how well it foreshadowed certain events in the novel, and how it had me thinking about it throughout the events that happened in the book. It was a quote that was worth mentioning, and honestly, a very true quote to our society as well.
Overall though, I felt the book improved greatly from beginning to end in the character presentation, writing technique, and imagery. It had me hooked by the end, which is why I think this book deserves a 3.75-star rating.
Thank you to author Michael Kelso for a copy of this book for review.
One on One is a crime fiction novel about a boy, Emil, whose father dies on duty as a corrections officer. As Emil grows, he follows in his father's footsteps, however, he has different beliefs about how the justice system should.
The overall plot of this novel was good and engaging, however, for me, it had a few problems. I'll start with the good aspects of this book. The plot was well thought out, and there were few characters that didn't serve a bigger purpose (and if they didn't appear more than once or twice, that didn't affect the story). There was no added extras in the story just to write more words, and the plot moved at a good and engaging pace. Character personalities could be clearly shown in the first few pages of them appearing, which made it easier to understand some of their thoughts and actions. I especially loved the ending of this novel (chapter 41 and on). The ending was to my liking, and I would give the whole novel a 4.5-star rating if it was all presented as the ending. Another major bonus point is the fact that you could tell the author knew everything he was writing about, and there was nothing that made you raise an eyebrow and say, 'This doesn't seem too real'. I felt like that improved the quality of the writing.
There were many parts of this novel that could be improved, however. The first thing that I personally had trouble with, was the fact that there was a lot of head jumping especially at the beginning. This improved as the novel went on, and the novel became more focused on specific characters for each part, however, it was a huge problem at the beginning. This also posed the problem on not being able to connect with characters like you should be able to. You could connect more to the characters appearing towards the end of the story than to the ones at the beginning.
Another problem I had was the fact that there was way *too* much dialogue. I personally love dialogue as it presents deeper insight into characters, however, character insight also relies on how they perceive the surrounding environment, which is why internal thoughts are necessary. I also love imagery presented in books. I love to get the feel of the surrounding environment through the looks of the place, the smells, the feelings, and much more. I felt like these things weren't presented sometimes, and at times, I found myself wanting more imagery than dialogue. Again though, I felt as if this problem decreased and became better as the story went on. You could clearly see the improvement of writing and technique as the novel went on, which I will congratulate Author Michael Kelso for, as that made the novel more interesting.
There was one other problem I had with this book, however. The first few chapters (chapters 1-3) could be presented as flashbacks later in the story. I personally believe that books that jump right into the main action or present conflict at the beginning are very engaging, hooking you in and making you want answers. This book had the potential to do so, however, this did not happen.
I however loved a specific quote from the book (presented at the beginning).
"Revenge is a dangerous animal," Francis said, tossing the ball to Emil. "Once you turn it loose, it can turn on you, even consume you."
I loved how well it foreshadowed certain events in the novel, and how it had me thinking about it throughout the events that happened in the book. It was a quote that was worth mentioning, and honestly, a very true quote to our society as well.
Overall though, I felt the book improved greatly from beginning to end in the character presentation, writing technique, and imagery. It had me hooked by the end, which is why I think this book deserves a 3.75-star rating.
March 18, 2019
Reader held Captive
Revenge was on the menu in this prison story. Powerful and gripping. It tells the story of a boy who wants to follow in his father's footsteps but then starts to make his own impressions. An epic story of one man's choice between revenge and redemption.
Revenge was on the menu in this prison story. Powerful and gripping. It tells the story of a boy who wants to follow in his father's footsteps but then starts to make his own impressions. An epic story of one man's choice between revenge and redemption.
September 9, 2019
Damn this book! It made me think, it made me squirm, it made me swallow my adam's apple, made me grin, made me uncomfortable, and didn't stop the whole time. Basically, it did everything I love a book to do to me.
Set in a prison housing the worst of the worse, the author tackles the moral issues surrounding eye for an eye revenge vs. the system, and he did it so well that I felt exhausted after reading it. This is one of the highest compliments I can give. This story pulled me in so deep it exhausted me.
I don't want to divulge details because the book is more of an experience than a read. It reads with authenticity and an insider's knowledge, making the rabbit hole that much wider and deeper. I found my sympathies getting torn the deeper I read, and it tickled a very dark piece of my soul - the one that lights up at injustice.
Prison stories are always uncomfortable, even if we all have a grim fascination with them (there wouldn't be so many if we didn't) and everyone loves a story of revenge against injustice. That's all you see in Hollywood these days - heroes vs. villains. In a way, this is exactly what this story is about, only this story is different. It's like an exchange program where you get to live the life of the prison world and experience it first hand - the reality of heroes and justice vs. villains. I held my bladder for the last third of the book because I didn't want to put it down.
If you like gritty prison stories, you'll be hard pressed to find a better one. Mike Kelso is one to watch.
Set in a prison housing the worst of the worse, the author tackles the moral issues surrounding eye for an eye revenge vs. the system, and he did it so well that I felt exhausted after reading it. This is one of the highest compliments I can give. This story pulled me in so deep it exhausted me.
I don't want to divulge details because the book is more of an experience than a read. It reads with authenticity and an insider's knowledge, making the rabbit hole that much wider and deeper. I found my sympathies getting torn the deeper I read, and it tickled a very dark piece of my soul - the one that lights up at injustice.
Prison stories are always uncomfortable, even if we all have a grim fascination with them (there wouldn't be so many if we didn't) and everyone loves a story of revenge against injustice. That's all you see in Hollywood these days - heroes vs. villains. In a way, this is exactly what this story is about, only this story is different. It's like an exchange program where you get to live the life of the prison world and experience it first hand - the reality of heroes and justice vs. villains. I held my bladder for the last third of the book because I didn't want to put it down.
If you like gritty prison stories, you'll be hard pressed to find a better one. Mike Kelso is one to watch.
July 17, 2022
This review was originally posted at https://bit.ly/3RK6G4j.
Emil Sorn had felt that inmates were treated too kindly ever since his father was killed in the prison. As a guard he should have been safe from the dregs of society, but since he wasn't it became Sorn's mission to rectify that oversight. No longer would inmates get a free vacation at the people's expense just so they could get out and do it again. And the perfect place to start is the prison his father was killed in.
I received this eBook from the author in exchange for an honest review. I can honestly say that this book is the first I have read that has taken place in a prison. At least for more than a few scenes. This one takes place almost entirely in a prison.
Sorn has a very black and white mindset, but only when it applies to the inmates. Everyone else, himself included, not so much. I can't say that I agree with his policy. This could also be because I come from a family of convicts, but none of them have killed anyone. At least not in my immediate family. My great uncle is another story, but we won't get into that. He's relatively harmless now that he's in his 80s. I know that victims of crimes and their families aren't always happy with the sentence someone receives at the hands of justice and I agree that they sometimes get off easy. What happens in that room, though, goes above and beyond. An eye for an eye will make the whole world blind as the saying goes. But, I'm not here to bring morality into the plot of a book.
I enjoyed this book from start to finish. It is engaging and will make you think rather than just a mindless story that flows over you. It is something that I am sure many people have considered at some point in time or another. Frankly I hope it isn't as easy as it was made to seem in this book to implement, but still.
We get an idea of both victims that want to take revenge as well as those that just want to move past it and help those who committed the crimes be a betterment to society upon release. Because of those opposing views we book doesn't feel unbalanced. Nor does it read like a report. You are there for every second of Emil's journey through his time in Larson. My favorite character in the book was Alice. She got to see the good and the bad first hand and still wanted to help. When I first met her I have to admit I wasn't her biggest fan. She seemed shallow, but as the book continued she had the most depth and compassion.
This story is about someone in a position of power abusing that place. There is a lot of violence, sex, love, loss, and everything else within these pages which makes it all the more realistic. It feels like something that could happen or even has happened.
Emil Sorn had felt that inmates were treated too kindly ever since his father was killed in the prison. As a guard he should have been safe from the dregs of society, but since he wasn't it became Sorn's mission to rectify that oversight. No longer would inmates get a free vacation at the people's expense just so they could get out and do it again. And the perfect place to start is the prison his father was killed in.
I received this eBook from the author in exchange for an honest review. I can honestly say that this book is the first I have read that has taken place in a prison. At least for more than a few scenes. This one takes place almost entirely in a prison.
Sorn has a very black and white mindset, but only when it applies to the inmates. Everyone else, himself included, not so much. I can't say that I agree with his policy. This could also be because I come from a family of convicts, but none of them have killed anyone. At least not in my immediate family. My great uncle is another story, but we won't get into that. He's relatively harmless now that he's in his 80s. I know that victims of crimes and their families aren't always happy with the sentence someone receives at the hands of justice and I agree that they sometimes get off easy. What happens in that room, though, goes above and beyond. An eye for an eye will make the whole world blind as the saying goes. But, I'm not here to bring morality into the plot of a book.
I enjoyed this book from start to finish. It is engaging and will make you think rather than just a mindless story that flows over you. It is something that I am sure many people have considered at some point in time or another. Frankly I hope it isn't as easy as it was made to seem in this book to implement, but still.
We get an idea of both victims that want to take revenge as well as those that just want to move past it and help those who committed the crimes be a betterment to society upon release. Because of those opposing views we book doesn't feel unbalanced. Nor does it read like a report. You are there for every second of Emil's journey through his time in Larson. My favorite character in the book was Alice. She got to see the good and the bad first hand and still wanted to help. When I first met her I have to admit I wasn't her biggest fan. She seemed shallow, but as the book continued she had the most depth and compassion.
This story is about someone in a position of power abusing that place. There is a lot of violence, sex, love, loss, and everything else within these pages which makes it all the more realistic. It feels like something that could happen or even has happened.
September 6, 2020
What happens when one day you are standing up to bullies, and the next day you must face your father’s murder? What happens when you are a smart kid with a conscious, but a tragedy turns you cold and merciless? Michael Kelso tells us in his thriller One on One. This is one book you won’t want to put down.
Kelso introduces us to Emil Sorn as a kid. He worships his father but knows that he has a stressful job. He understands the warning signs that his father had a bad day, so he should be careful on those days. Yet, he believes his father can do no wrong. When the unthinkable happens, Emil refuses to believe the reason why. This refusal stays with him all his life and forms his attitude toward prisoners.
Fast forward to adulthood, and Emil becomes an officer at the same prison where his father met his end. Unfortunately, his need for “justice” outweighs his need to be a decent human being.
Yet, Emil’s need for justice is where the water gets murky. Some may agree with his methods, but are they right? Does a vigilante get to decide the fate of other human beings? If so, are Emil’s ways admirable? The decision is yours.
All I know for sure is that I couldn’t put this book down. I was so caught up in the story that time lost all meaning. I was so completely engrossed that I read the whole thing in one night. Repulsed at times, I even cried through some parts, but underlying every bit is the promise of hope. You may not see it through the cruelty, but the hope is there.
I am happy to award One on One a full 5 out of 5 stars. I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys crime dramas or thrillers. You will face harsh realities, but the end is worth it. I promise.
Many thanks to Michael Kelso for gifting me a free copy of One on One in exchange for an honest review.
Kelso introduces us to Emil Sorn as a kid. He worships his father but knows that he has a stressful job. He understands the warning signs that his father had a bad day, so he should be careful on those days. Yet, he believes his father can do no wrong. When the unthinkable happens, Emil refuses to believe the reason why. This refusal stays with him all his life and forms his attitude toward prisoners.
Fast forward to adulthood, and Emil becomes an officer at the same prison where his father met his end. Unfortunately, his need for “justice” outweighs his need to be a decent human being.
Yet, Emil’s need for justice is where the water gets murky. Some may agree with his methods, but are they right? Does a vigilante get to decide the fate of other human beings? If so, are Emil’s ways admirable? The decision is yours.
All I know for sure is that I couldn’t put this book down. I was so caught up in the story that time lost all meaning. I was so completely engrossed that I read the whole thing in one night. Repulsed at times, I even cried through some parts, but underlying every bit is the promise of hope. You may not see it through the cruelty, but the hope is there.
I am happy to award One on One a full 5 out of 5 stars. I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys crime dramas or thrillers. You will face harsh realities, but the end is worth it. I promise.
Many thanks to Michael Kelso for gifting me a free copy of One on One in exchange for an honest review.
December 10, 2022
It's clear Emil looks up to his father, but after the father's death, Emil bides his time training to become a corrections officer - the same job his father had. Emil vows to avenge his death, and uses his job to his advantage and avoid further injustice. While the story follows Emil from a young age, through education and training, and through his life as a corrections officer, readers read other characters' perspectives and get a well-rounded view on the people around the protagonist. The story is dialogue-heavy, but a page-turner.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
August 16, 2020
Wow, this book is amazing. Because of Mike's history as a Corrections Officer, his writing is so realistic. In the end I took away that our choices really matter. Every word we say, every action we take hold more weight that we may even realize at that moment. Thanks for a great book, Mike! I highly recommend it.
July 29, 2022
A must read! Read this book 5 times! Could not put the book down. Michael Kelso had me wanting more…. When I turned the last page I felt sad…
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews