One Shot

by Brian Gates

“Man cannot see the future, but once in a blue moon, the future calls out to man.”

Meet Jack Shot, a bartender with a happy-go-lucky attitude, content to drift through life at his leisure…until one night a strange man pulls up a seat at the bar and flips his life on end.

Now the 23-year-old, whose biggest concern to that point had been asking out a hot blonde coworker, is charged with stopping tragedies before they occur. It starts with a riddle that inexplicably materializes on a single sheet of paper placed on his desk. After deciphering it, Jack is shocked to find they predict impending, man-made catastrophes. The necessary details of these future events are buried in the cryptic riddles, and the lives of many hinge on Jack’s ability to decipher them and stop the devastation before it occurs. Aided by his crush, Abby, and Larry, the old man who runs the bar, Jack takes on the impossible task.

Jack is forced to question his own sanity whilst striving to save as many people as possible, even as the riddles become progressively more lethal and drag him further and further down the rabbit hole.

In a shocking twist, Jack must reckon with the most perilous threat yet, and is forced to confront an evil that hits closer to home than ever before. He must race against time to prevent losing everything, because when the future whispers your name, you only get One Shot.

269 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 21, 2017

About the author

Brian Gates grew up in a small country town in North East Ohio with a younger brother and sister. He had a passion for writing from a young age, and spent countless hours in and out of class writing stories, and he even gave his senior speech on various writing concepts. His love of stories eventually led him to pursue an English Degree in college. During his time there, several professors were impressed by his writing ability and encouraged him to pursue writing as a career. He graduated from Kent State University in 2014, and continued to pursue his passion for writing. Brian prefers a handful of literary genres, but two of his personal favorites are psychological thrillers and works set in post-apocalyptic worlds. Two of his biggest influences are Dean Koontz and D.J. MacHale.


Facebook: www.facebook.com/briangatesbooks
Twitter: @BrianGatesBooks
Email: briangatesbooks@yahoo.com

Reviews

[Alexandra McCann · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am not usually a paranormal or mystery person but I was pleasantly surprised by this book. The story is very well-written and the plot moves at a smooth pace. There is certainly no predictable ending, which makes it a very engaging read and definitely a page-turner. The voice of Jack Shot is relatable and interesting, and his friends Larry and Abby are easy to connect with as well. This book will appeal to any supernatural/paranormal fans, and even if you aren’t usually a fan of these genres you may find yourself changing your mind after reading this book!

[Ammar Habib · Rating 5 out of 5]

As many reviewers have already mentioned, this is a very unexpected and fun read! I found the character of Jack Shot to be extremely relate-able. The choice of having a first person POV quickly drew me into the story and I appreciated Jack's sarcastic and witty tone, especially since it mirrors my own internal voice.
To say the story is an unexpected one is an understatement (it's tempting not to spoil it here!). The plot flows smoothly and doesn't lose its reader, which some "supernatural" genre novels tend to do. I'm looking forward to follow-up works to this novel!

[Ted Berner · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fun story! With the flavor of Dean Koontz’s "Odd Thomas," Brian Gate’s "One Shot" kept me on the edge of my set until the very end. When mysterious poems begin to show up, it doesn’t take Jack Shot long to figure out they contain a hidden message regarding future tragic events and he is the only one who can possibly change the outcome. Where are the poems coming from and why is he the lucky recipient? The twists and turns of the story kept me so engaged, I didn’t want to put it down. I’m looking forward to more adventures with Jack Shot.

[Sarah Molder · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received a free PDF file for an honest review. I would give this book a 3.5. It wasn’t a bad book, I just don't really read Thrillers. It had lots of intense moments and interesting characters. It did feel like it had some fantasy mixed into or magical realism, which I wasn’t expecting. I recommend this book to those who like Thrillers.

[Alice4170 🌙 · Rating 5 out of 5]

5/5 ⭐

This book was so amazing! I loved every minute of it! I loved Jack and his sense of humor and all the events and him and Abby and Larry... It was so so so good! I wasn't sure about how it would be bit when I started reading the story sucked me right in. Definitely pick this one up if you're into mysteries.

[Candace Wondrak · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hmm. I was up and down with this book, depending on the chapter. I'm going to settle for 3.5 stars, round it up to four since normally I'm a harsh reviewer. I don't keep my opinions to myself. If there was something about a book that I liked, I'll write it in the review. If there was something that bothered me, I'll write that down, too.

What I liked: Jack's run-of-the-mill average life. He seemed like a very relatable guy; nothing too special about him, other than when things start happening. And boy, did things happen. This book was full of action; no slow or meandering plot here! And, at the end, Azrael? Did not see that coming, at all. Bravo .

What kinda bothered me: At first, I found the writing a little distant. I like to read and, for lack of a better word, become one with the hero. I just couldn't do that with Jack. It seemed a little cold, though that wasn't so much an issue once the first few chapters were under my belt. And, of course, I have to mention his love interest, Abby. Maybe because I'm a woman, I just did not find her likable, nor was I such a fan of the mention of her breasts every time she came into the picture. Of course, that could be because the MC's a dude who has the hots for her, but still. Just one of my pet peeves, I think.

All in all, this is a decent novel, especially for an indie read. It's action-packed, and I think if you're interested in books with a lot of thrills, this will appeal to you.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving this review. It in no way influenced my opinions. (Plus, can I say, a fellow Ohioan? Hello!)

[Charles Ray · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jack Shot is a young man without a care in the world. He has a job as a bartender, lives in one room above the bar, and his biggest challenge is whether or not to let his beautiful co-worker know that he has the hots for her. Then, his life takes a left turn and is never the same. A poem he wrote for his co-worker has changed into an enigmatic riddle. When the riddle later is shown to correspond to real life events, Jack finds that he’s somehow been tapped to be made privy to future events, which he must stop, or people will die. As the mystery deepens, he finds that he must confront demons of his past to stop the most horrific event, and he only gets one shot at it.

One Shot by Brian Gates is, in a word, entertaining and amusing—no, wait, that’s three words, or two if you ignore the ‘and.’ Confused? This story will do that to you. Funny and frightening in turn, it’ll keep your interest right up to the last word of the last page (actually, the period, which is the last thing in the book). Gates knows how to pique your interest and keep you guessing—and reading.

Received a free copy of this book. Loved it.

[A.R. Rivera · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love a good mystery and was not disappointed.
One Shot is told in a first-person narrative, which is unusual for this genre, but it's my favorite style of story-telling. It really lets you into the character's head and makes the action more exciting. The riddles that the main character, Jack, was trying to solve were unique, complicated, and wholly unusual (I haven't read a book with riddles since The Hobbit), but they make the plot so much more interesting.
I read a lot of Detective-type novels (Johnathan Kellerman, Lisa Scottaline, and James Patterson, specifically) because I love a good mystery and One Shot definitely held up to my standards.
The conversational tone of writing makes the character's voice really stand-out. And Gates really can string a sentence together. More than once, as I read One Shot, I found myself thinking, "Wow, that's a great line."
If you're looking for a well-constructed, immersive mystery with believable characters (peppered with a little wit) then you'll enjoy this book.

[Heidi Lynn’s BookReviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

First, I want to thank Brian Gates for providing me with this book so I can bring you this review.

One Shot by Brian Gates interested me from the very beginning. I was getting a very in-depth look into the heart and soul into Jack Shot. But often wondered how much of this character was really based on Brian Gates the author. The character I could relate to and some of the things he said made me crack up laughing.

I loved the mystery part of the book as well. Unfortunately, this was a very quick read. I was getting into the character and the story and I didn’t want the book to end.
I want to read more of Brian Gates material!

[T.F. Gray · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jack Shot thinks about a lot of things: good, evil, the purpose of life, why he can't get the cute waitress he works with to date him, what the hell is going on, why is this happening to me? I like Jack's voice and his relationships with the other characters. There are plenty of mind-bending mysteries along the way, and fast-paced action among the more philosophical musings. An enjoyable read that hints at becoming a series.

[Russell Bittner · Rating 4 out of 5]

“‘I didn’t realize the sandwich making industry was so cutthroat,’ I said” (p. 64). Yes, the declaration is sarcastic—as you may’ve guessed. But the context in which it was said is anything but.

This story is an interesting psychological portrait of Jack Shot—the hero of our novel. Jack is really just your average bartender. But events occur and congeal in a way that permits Jack to become extraordinary—and that’s where the story becomes interesting.

Apart from that, murders abound—and they’re always pre-announced with poems that find their way mysteriously and randomly to sit at the helm of Jack’s writing desk. Poems as riddles, riddles as poems … it’s an interesting way to introduce a bit of bedlam into an ordinary life.

On p. 143 (in the digital version), Brian quotes Albert Einstein: “The world is a dangerous place to live; not because of the people who are evil, but because of the people who don’t do anything about it.”

I won’t tell you what occurs on p. 153, because that would once again constitute a spoiler. But what I can tell you is that it’s a most intriguing revelation!

And then, on p. 190, we read: “(e)verything I have written thus far sounds incredible enough to be the ravings of a mad man: magic poems, a mysterious stranger in black, upcoming tragedies. It all sounds crazy, and I would not berate or argue with a person who accused me of being a liar or a nut. However, I will attest to the fact that it's real. All of it.”

On p. 193, we find that a kind of pseudo-reality is slipping into a never-never land: “(a)s it continued its slow-fall, my attention became totally fixated on it. I reached out my hand, palm extend upwards, and caught it. Once in my hand, one would never guess there was something more to the shard than met the eye.
“I looked back up from my palm, and what I saw next made me drop it; my whole body went limp as my brain seemed be reaching information overload.
“All around me, the room proceeded to break apart. Everything seemed to be shattering, eroding into tiny pieces. And through it all, not one solitary sound was made.
“The drywall along the roof and sides broke apart into fragments, none of which were bigger than my hand. The windows seemed to all implode but, like the falling shard, in slow motion. I could clearly see each individual piece of debris as it broke, few, or fell.
“What on earth had just happened to me? Where was I? Had falling through that duct been akin to Alice entering the rabbit hole? Everything that was going on was all impossible. I wondered, no, I hoped that all of this was a bad dream.”

I must confess that the story left me somewhat at this point. Supernatural literature is, admittedly, not a genre I’m generally attracted to. But then, on p. 201, Brian Gates offered some clues as to what one central (if also only occasionally present) character—almost an apparition, I should say; but in fact, the “mysterious stranger in black” I mentioned earlier—had suggested from the very outset: “‘Does one stare at the ocean and assume there is nothing more than its wavy surface? Of course not. Life and activity abounds deep below. Just because you cannot see it, does not mean it doesn't exist. The world is the same way, only it is not sea life that thrives beneath the surface, but evil.’
‘Evil?’
‘In its purest form, unopposed, it can run rampant, destroy everything.’
‘So what the hell am I supposed to do?’
‘Stop it.’
‘But why me? Why do I have to stop it?’
‘Only a man content with his life can fight the evil that would destroy so many others, and succeed.’”
In the Epilogue (namely, p. 234 – 235), we get another glimpse of this mystical character as he chats with Jack at Jack’s bedside in the hospital: “(t)he great evil that inhabits this world has been at war since time itself was set in motion. It is a never ending battle, but one that must be fought nonetheless. Some men choose to fight, many ignore the battle all together, and some even aid the enemy. Everyone takes one of these three sides whether they like it or not.
“You, Jack, chose to fight against it.”

That is indeed what the hero of One Shot did—and won.

RRB
Brooklyn, NY
18 April 2018

[Bruce Perrin · Rating 5 out of 5]

A familiar theme, very well-done in an enjoyable book

A man finds clues about the future, then puts himself in the line of fire to save the day. That’s the crux of One Shot, and I’ve been there, done that…well, at least, I’ve read that. But while it’s a familiar theme, it’s one that Brian Gates, the author, does it quite well with a likeable hero and an interesting writing style.

Jack Shot, the main character, is described as ‘content,’ but aimless might be more appropriate; he seems to have few goals beyond keeping his job and getting a date with an attractive coworker, Abby. That all changes, however, with the first clues into the future, and suddenly, he is thrust into heroic action. That action takes a toll, as suffers injuries that would put a mere human down for the count – concussions and third-degree burns among them – but he keeps fighting. Realism might suffer a bit at these points, but the tension was there. These exploits also turned Abby’s head, making her seem a bit shallow, but subsequently, she shows herself to be gritty and determined.

The book is written as a narrated memoir – also familiar and also well done. The tone is easy, conversational, and largely, about Jack’s life. The chapters, however, often begin with a quote, a bit of folksy philosophy, or a platitude, like ‘love’s a bitch’. It might sound strange, but it consistently encapsulated the story and provided a transition back to the action. And despite the informal, storytelling tone of the story in general, Gates pens numerous clever turns of a phrase. I found this mixture of the unique and the informal both engaging and often, quite funny.

For me, the book gets a bit heavy-handed on the fantasy and philosophizing about the battle between good and evil at the end. And after reading it, I wasn’t certain if it was actually a call to end our moral indifference, or just a segue to a possible book 2. But either way, it detracted little.

Overall, One Shot is an excellent read. The theme may seem familiar, but the characters, the mix of writing styles, and the turns of a phrase made it a pleasure to read.

[Tristen Kozinski · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed One Shot. The characters are solid, the prose generally good and the story moves along at a nice pace to conclude with an excellent bit of action. (Although the ending explanation felt a little too cosmic/ancient Goods vs Evil battle for a story that felt more 'mundane people being thrust in an preternatural situation'.)
For me, the characters' strength lay in how normal they felt throughout the book, both through their interactions and history. All of these feel natural, Larry and Jack's relationship in particular. The one minor exception is Abby who comes across a little more generic than the other two, lacking the subtle gray-area nuance of their chracters. She's also the only one we don't really get a history for. Still, there's nothing particularly wrong with her character.
The prose is strongest at the beginning, where Jack (our main protagonist) introduces himself and the story to the reader. The author writes in Jack's voice through most of the book, but it's especially prevalent here at the beginning. The prose is written in a very friendly, familiar style, just like someone telling a verbal story (though with a lot more detail.) This makes for a very engaging read and instantly built me an attachment for Jack. As the story progresses and events come to a head, the personable style fades into the background (probably necessarily) leaving good but less engaging prose.
Finally, the progression of the story. It moves well, smoothly introducing the characters and transitions to the meat of the book without delaying too long or rushing in. The first event occurs and is resolved with an appropriate amount of duress and then leads into the only poorly paced section of the story. The narrative takes a break here, sending the characters on a brief emotional/romance hiatus and recovery spell. The problem is that as a reader, I wasn't ready for a break from the action, so this section dragged for me. I also thought the romance occurred too-prematurely. Yes it was evident/inevitable, but I would have liked it to take longer before hurling the couple into relationship limbo.
So, excluding some minor qualms, very enjoyable.

[litandcoffee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jack Shot is your average everyday young man. He works as a bartender and lives an ordinary life until he finds a poem he wrote for his love interest, Abbey turns into a baffling riddle. The riddle eventually comes to corresponds to a real-life event and Jack learns he is special, after all. He starts to find more riddles in his room pertaining to devastating future crimes. With his boss and friend, Larry and his love interest, Abbey, he embarks on a journey of mystical adventures and action and must confront the evil before it destroys everything.

Supernatural genre is something I’m not interested in much, but One Shot kept me intrigued until the very end. The characters are commonplace and the author sketches their ordinary daily lives so efficiently that I kept hoping for some sort of conventional explanation to emerge out of this whole cosmic phenomenon. I loved Larry’s character. The Irish brothers have a short part to play but they are true darlings. Jack could be anybody; he is just so commonplace - this nice, sweet guy who lives next door. Abbey’s character would have done with little bit of more background.

The story is definitely unique and moves at a good pace. Jack’s first-person narration is engaging, though, at times, it loses its momentum, especially, around the middle.

Each chapter begins with a quote that beautifully sums up the upcoming happenings in the story. The crimes are introduced through poetry cum riddles and I found myself trying to solve them out along with Jack and Abbey. The riddles are complicated; I completely failed at solving them. The ending was unexpected and satisfying.

The book is easy read, entertaining, and a page turner. If you love supernatural genre or mysteries and looking for a quick aborning read, this is the book for you.

[E. Billups · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fast-paced paranormal thriller with a lovable, heroic protagonist.

Jack Shot - what a great name for this lovable, normal, and introspective protagonist. One Shot? I’d say Jack Shot has many shots at life after facing several dangers. I love the author’s use of famous quotes scattered throughout the story which determines the theme for most chapters. Jack lives life simply as a bartender until one day a mysterious stranger clad in black enters his bar and asks, “Mr. Shot, are you content?” This question, undoubtedly, sets the story’s ominous tone, hinting at imminent troubles Jack will encounter. The story picks up momentum when mystifying riddles alluding to ill-omened events appear out of nowhere. “One must be truly content with himself before he can see.” Is Jack content enough to understand what’s thrown in his path? With time constraints, Jack scrambles to decipher the riddles and save lives with the help of his trusty friend, Larry and love interest, Abby.

Jack is a hero in every sense of the word, venturing a dangerous path to stop disasters, throwing himself into risky situations, regardless of harm to himself. One Shot held my interest to the end, wondering how Jack will stop disasters, and anticipating the next puzzling riddle. Who is Jack shot and why does he have this special ability? The reader senses other facets of Jack not yet defined as the story ends. The mysterious black-clad stranger appears later in the story with cryptic revelations, and I sense Jacks trials are just beginning. I hope Mr. Gates will explore lovable Jack Shot further in a second installment.

I would recommend One Shot to anyone looking for a fast-paced paranormal thriller that will have you cheering for the heroic protagonist.

[Michel Cloutier · Rating 5 out of 5]

I would like to thank Brian Gates for making available to me a free copy of his novel “One Shot” so I could bring to you this honest review.

Grab yourself some munches and your favorite drink, and then brace yourself for an action-packed thriller with “One Shot”, a mystery, thriller and suspense novel by Brian Gates.

Right from the start I was drawn to Jack Shot, the down to earth bartender who was about to get pulled into a series of mysterious events. The adventure begins when Jack and his friends become unwilling detectives after they discover a poem that predicted a near future event. From this point on, I was kept guessing how Jack would survive through the series of life menacing circumstances he found himself in. I was about two thirds through the novel when I began to relate to Jack and could no longer put the book down.

Brian Gates did a fine job of keeping the story moving and the reader guessing. I found the character Jack Shot engaging. I especially enjoyed Jack’s journey of self-awareness when forced to connect to deeply carved emotions from his youth. This is a great book for anyone who enjoys an easy to read, action-packed, mystery thriller with a great plot twist in the end.

[Sherry Brown · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jack Shot tells us a story about one remarkable week in his life and (un)remarkable things about himself at the same time in this novel. As a bartender, he is content in life. His budding romance to his coworker leads him to write a poem in celebration of her birthday - only the poem he gives her is not what he wrote (!)- it’s something much more sinister. Kicking off a sequence of predictive poems and good guy action, Jack spins his world around preventing evil from happening.

I was torn about One Shot. I liked the premise, thought it was well written, had a well-driven plot line, likeable characters, and plenty of action. But I also felt a few more details - characters, places, situations, emotions, and deepened inner dialogue (from Jack) could’ve really pushed this from good to great. To be fair, I’m huge on character development in books, and feel that characters drive a story and action/events are almost secondary, and this book was all action!

Overall, I think it hints at huge potential - something about it reminded me of religious mystery thrillers such as Constantine (movie) and Dan Brown’s Da Vinci Code series. I’m very curious to see how it’ll develop the first person memoir/autobiographical/conversational style into a second book - if there is one?

[Lucy Anne Holland · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a captivating read! At times I found myself gripping the edge of my seat in anticipation. As a whole it was well-written - the plot flowed smoothly and the voice used to narrate, fit admirably with the story. I was rather surprised to find myself liking the main character Jack Shot. I am not usually a huge a fan of male characters since I find it harder to relate to them and thus get pulled into the story. However, in this case, that was not true, and I discovered Jack to be a man who was kind and honest and had good morals. I think the main thing that bothered me in this read was the language. I am a stickler for that, though.
Altogether, I recommend this book to those who love thrilling mystery novels.

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Ruth B · Rating 4 out of 5]

As soon as you start reading "Jack's memories" you know this one is no ordinary tale. A man who claims to have a particular luck and can see the future is not someone you encounter every day.

It all begins with a mysterious poem he gives by mistake to his coworker, which seems a simple strange riddle. However, when the words in the paper become true Jack and his friend realize that maybe the riddles are some kind of premonition.

This one is an engaging reading, with an excellent writing style and words thought carefully to create a solid story with very interesting twists and action in every chapter.

I enjoyed reading about Jack and his attempts to save people from different tragedies. Little by little we see how it all is connected to reach a mind-blowing end.

*** I received a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review. ***

[Robert Donohue · Rating 4 out of 5]

Like a B movie you just can't turn off, this book had me turning pages like a classic even though I felt...oddly as if it wasn't finished yet. Outside my normal genre I took a flyer on it and two days later here I am. The writing holds your attention although it is clearly a book written by a young person and for younger audience. The story line is original and the characters simple yet clearly defined. I can see that as this author finds his way, the writing will improve and he could be in the early stages of a best selling career. Clearly, a good first effort, and given the polish of a quality editor and a high end marketing effort this book could go places. Surprisingly for me, I enjoyed the experience and believe anyone who enjoys a good Sam Spade type story, here it is.

[Deanna Jewel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jack Shot is a normal man minding his own business as a bartender when he begins receiving anonymous messages about future events that he feels he must try to stop. The character development is slow in letting the reader know more about him but once I got into the story, I couldn't put it down.

Brian Gates has a knack for threading his mystery throughout the novel, giving the reader only a hint of what's to come. His secondary characters are necessary for the story to show more of Jack's personality. I'm not a fan of books written in the first person, so this was a different read for me. I hope future books of Brian's will continue the story of all of his characters and give Jack more issue to solve. The plots could be interesting and I'll watch for more books from Brian Gates.

[Joshua Landeros · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a very different type of read, which I think is the book’s greatest strength. The prose is well-written, weaving somewhere between the thriller and supernatural genres. This balance is superb and shrouded in mystery all the way through. Helping it along are some interesting characters, and you truly feel like you are seeing the world from Jack Shot’s eyes. I’m normally not a fan of the first person POV, but here it is used quite well. For readers looking for a fast-paced read that leaves you guessing, I’d highly recommend the book.

My only real qualm with the book is the climax. There are some unanswered questions, which I’m hoping leads to a follow-up in the near future.

[Holly Dawson · Rating 5 out of 5]

An interesting thriller which had me reading until the very end. The supernatural undertones were a pleasant surprise while Jack Shot is simply an enigmatic main character. He starts off as the everyday young man with his everyday relatable problems like falling for a beautiful work colleague and whether she liked him back as well. But then life takes a mysterious turn where he suddenly gains the ability to foresee events. This is that point in the plot which really draws the reader in as the pace quickens and the action begins. If you're looking for a great mystery/thriller, One Shot won't disappoint you.

[Joseph Minart · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Great Read
Reviewed in the United States on May 12, 2018

What I most liked about One Shot by Brian Gates is the story itself. We follow the main character, Jack Shot, who tries to solve strange mysteries behind riddles on notes and trying to find the meaning behind his future visions. This in itself takes the readers to enjoy the journey which takes him, his friends such as Abby and Larry, to tackle these mysteries that keeps you guessing what lies ahead. The characters are very relatable that you want to care about what actually happens to them.

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed the story.

[Rosetta Overman · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars, rounded to 4.

One Shot started off strong, with an engaging opening that, in speaking directly to the audience, was successfully gripping. It began to lose steam as the narrative went on due to redundant statements and unnecessary explanations. I wasn't sure I could finish, but was pleasantly surprised that it ended even stronger than it began. While I would've liked more of the supernatural element supplied at the end, this was a satisfactory read.

I recieved a free copy in exchange for an honest review.

[David Reiss · Rating 4 out of 5]

In general, I loathe stories written in the first person in which the narrator directly addresses the reader. As such, it was with some surprise that I found myself very much enjoying this book! Any minor issues are more than offset by how intensely likable and engaging the main characters are. I adore the interplay between the main characters and their relationships. The 'mysteries', too, are intriguing and the tension well-maintained.

This book isn't perfect, but it is FUN! And that counts for a lot. Highly recommended!

[Lorna Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

One Shot is full of suspense and intrigue. The characters of Jack, Larry, and Abby connect very nicely throughout the story. I truly enjoyed the hints of humor displayed in some of the bar scenes as well as the mysterious nature of events that take place. To that end, there is poetry riddled with clues that often serves as a second sight into events to come. Yet, Jack and his friends share in solving mystery with a selflessness and regard for life that is extraordinary, engaging, and totally entertaining!

[Ember · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was fantastic. From the moment we meet Jack Shot the audience is drawn into his world. Jack is content and there is a lot to be said for contentment. When the mysterious stranger comes into the bar that Jack works at the plot really starts to get rolling. If you like a good mystery, some supernatural, and action this is the book for you! It has a great plot twist and is not an easily forgotten read.

[Martin D. · Rating 5 out of 5]

With so many thriller and mystery books out there, it's hard to know which are worth loading into your beach bag. I've unexpectedly found this book in Amazon and immediately been attracted to it. Although thrilling but it is a real entertaining mystery and it is easy to read, informative and very exciting. For me, this book is worth reading. I will definitely recommend this book to my friends.

[A.H. Wallace · Rating 4 out of 5]

A solid mystery / thriller that is mostly made by an extremely likable main cast. The narrator, Jack Shot, is relatable and entertaining, and the interactions with the supporting characters feel very natural. The plot is mostly compelling, although it does drag in a couple of chapters, and the book is fairly well written. In all, it is definitely worth a read, and I hope to see more from this author in the future.