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The Victims' Club
Snap. Upload. Ruin a reputation.
In this page-turning short story from international bestselling author Jeffery Deaver, senior detective Jon Avery inherits a deeply troubling case. At an off-campus party, university professor Rose Taylor is drugged, undressed, and photographed on a burner phone. In seconds her humiliation is uploaded, and millions of JPEGs are zipping like immortal wasps through the internet. But why would someone target her? She has no vengeful exes or rival academics, no stalkers or unhinged students. Jon Avery, the sharpest, most experienced investigator in the sheriff’s office, is determined to find out who’s behind this horrific invasion of privacy. But soon he runs into a wall of silence at Preston College—an academic mecca whose reputation one doesn’t dare tarnish. The message is clear: if he pursues the case, he’ll pay for it.
44 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 29, 2018
5149 people are currently reading
1438 people want to read
About the author
Jeffery Deaver
509 books11.7k followers#1 international bestselling author of over thirty novels and three collections of short stories. His books are sold in 150 countries and translated into 25 languages. His first novel featuring Lincoln Rhyme, The Bone Collector, was made into a major motion picture starring Denzel Washington and Angelina Jolie. He's received or been shortlisted for a number of awards around the world.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 546 reviews
November 5, 2022
The Victims' Club by Jeffery Deaver
Narrated by Scott Merriman
For such a short story, the author does a really good job of setting the scene and making me like the main character. I liked his partner, too, and wouldn't mind reading a full book taking place in this world, watching Jon Avery wow me with his smarts again. This guy seems to be doing what he enjoys doing and he's dogged and clever enough to make a difference.
Published March 29th 2018 by Amazon Original Stories
This Kindle Unlimited audiobook is part of a six short story Amazon Originals collection, all by Jeffery Deaver.
Narrated by Scott Merriman
For such a short story, the author does a really good job of setting the scene and making me like the main character. I liked his partner, too, and wouldn't mind reading a full book taking place in this world, watching Jon Avery wow me with his smarts again. This guy seems to be doing what he enjoys doing and he's dogged and clever enough to make a difference.
Published March 29th 2018 by Amazon Original Stories
This Kindle Unlimited audiobook is part of a six short story Amazon Originals collection, all by Jeffery Deaver.
May 19, 2021
Detective Jon Avery temporarily takes over the case of Rose Taylor, a professor at Preston College, who was drugged and photographed in a revealing fashion at an off-campus party. As if that wasn’t bad enough, someone uploaded the photos to the World Wide Web.
Rose is well-liked, has no enemies, and is in a casual-ish relationship. She has no idea who could do this to her, and the folks on campus clam up. How could nobody have seen anything?
Gee...I wondered if somebody actually did see something 🤔 (as I put on my detective ensemble 🕵️♂️)...
This short story is a quick read that has an entertaining reveal. In addition, it has a beginning, middle, and end...something that is sometimes lacking in these quick reads. Definitely intriguing, but I still would have liked to have known what happened NEXT when all was said and done.
3.5 stars
Free for Amazon Prime members.
Rose is well-liked, has no enemies, and is in a casual-ish relationship. She has no idea who could do this to her, and the folks on campus clam up. How could nobody have seen anything?
Gee...I wondered if somebody actually did see something 🤔 (as I put on my detective ensemble 🕵️♂️)...
This short story is a quick read that has an entertaining reveal. In addition, it has a beginning, middle, and end...something that is sometimes lacking in these quick reads. Definitely intriguing, but I still would have liked to have known what happened NEXT when all was said and done.
3.5 stars
Free for Amazon Prime members.
December 15, 2020
Indecent pictures of a female professor are uploaded on the internet. Who did it and why? Can Det. Avery find a solution to this case? Cleverly done internet crime story based around university environment with a nice twist at the ending. Evolves like a short movie. Convincing characters and a likable police man. Recommended!
July 11, 2023
Another good short story from Jeffery Deaver.
There is a hard week in the sheriff's office. Usually, there are 5-6 crimes per week, but this time they have 9 crimes. and on top of this, a detective had to take a few days off on personal matters. This is why Detective Jon Avery had to take a troubled case about a woman that was drugged, undressed and her picture uploaded to the Internet.
Jon Avery is a sharp detective and he is doing everything to find out what happened, but he is faced with a wall of silence built by Preston College trying to protect its athletes.
The case is not solved directly, but guilty people get what they deserve.
The story is easy to read and the characters are very likable. Recommend it to everybody who wants to see justice done.
There is a hard week in the sheriff's office. Usually, there are 5-6 crimes per week, but this time they have 9 crimes. and on top of this, a detective had to take a few days off on personal matters. This is why Detective Jon Avery had to take a troubled case about a woman that was drugged, undressed and her picture uploaded to the Internet.
Jon Avery is a sharp detective and he is doing everything to find out what happened, but he is faced with a wall of silence built by Preston College trying to protect its athletes.
The case is not solved directly, but guilty people get what they deserve.
The story is easy to read and the characters are very likable. Recommend it to everybody who wants to see justice done.
February 23, 2020
"Her conclusion-and Detective Sarah Bennet's- was what happened to her was motiveless, an opportunistic prank. Which, Taylor had said to Bennet, was almost worse than revenge".
The Victims' Club by Jeffery Deaver
solid read. A police officer inherits a case where a female professor was drugged at a college party.
This lady, Rose Taylor, has no idea who would want to do this to her. The detective, Jon Avery, starts to investigate and becomes angrier an d angrier at the stonewalling of the college who does not want its precious reputation tarnished and gives the police no help during the investigation.
I enjoyed this story. I liked Officer Avery greatly and could not stand the uppity jerks at the college. This was a short read but with well developed characters and a storyline that grips the reader from the start.
I sort of wish it had been longer because I think so much more could have been added. At the same time, to write such a short book and have such developed characters really shows talent. I would recommend this book if you like short stories.
The Victims' Club by Jeffery Deaver
solid read. A police officer inherits a case where a female professor was drugged at a college party.
This lady, Rose Taylor, has no idea who would want to do this to her. The detective, Jon Avery, starts to investigate and becomes angrier an d angrier at the stonewalling of the college who does not want its precious reputation tarnished and gives the police no help during the investigation.
I enjoyed this story. I liked Officer Avery greatly and could not stand the uppity jerks at the college. This was a short read but with well developed characters and a storyline that grips the reader from the start.
I sort of wish it had been longer because I think so much more could have been added. At the same time, to write such a short book and have such developed characters really shows talent. I would recommend this book if you like short stories.
September 30, 2020
After reading Buried in the Hush Collection, I thought I might read a little more by this author who was previously unfamiliar to me. I found this clever standalone short story on Kindle Unlimited. Detective Jon Avery and three fellow detectives are temporarily taking on the workload of a fifth fellow detective, who is on a short leave. Her workload has been divvied up among the remaining four and Avery ruminates on how that increases his workload – 20% he ponders?
Of course, I stopped right then and there to do the math and by my reckoning if the workload was 100% before and divided between five then her absence should increase his workload from 20% to 25% or by 5% but then 5% of 20 % would be only 1%....so you see where I’m going here? This is totally unacceptable!!! I can’t have math problems thrown at me while I’m reading – these are two different subjects!!!!
However, it transpires that Avery is a better detective than mathematician (or I am a better reader than mathematician), and with a great deal of procedural (in just 40 pages) he manages to solve the mystery of who slipped Professor Rose Taylor a Mickey and uploaded a photograph of her boobs to the internet.
There is a great twist at the end, which I did not see coming – even though it smacks you in the face, right at the start of the story! Justice is meted out WITH INTEREST to compensate Professor Taylor for the humiliation she suffered (yay).
P.S. After 40+ years, this story motivated me to search for the answer to a question that has plagued me since primary school - How fast must each of two trains travel in order to arrive together at the same station, if departing from two different distances?
Of course, I stopped right then and there to do the math and by my reckoning if the workload was 100% before and divided between five then her absence should increase his workload from 20% to 25% or by 5% but then 5% of 20 % would be only 1%....so you see where I’m going here? This is totally unacceptable!!! I can’t have math problems thrown at me while I’m reading – these are two different subjects!!!!
However, it transpires that Avery is a better detective than mathematician (or I am a better reader than mathematician), and with a great deal of procedural (in just 40 pages) he manages to solve the mystery of who slipped Professor Rose Taylor a Mickey and uploaded a photograph of her boobs to the internet.
There is a great twist at the end, which I did not see coming – even though it smacks you in the face, right at the start of the story! Justice is meted out WITH INTEREST to compensate Professor Taylor for the humiliation she suffered (yay).
P.S. After 40+ years, this story motivated me to search for the answer to a question that has plagued me since primary school - How fast must each of two trains travel in order to arrive together at the same station, if departing from two different distances?
December 5, 2019
An interesting short story with a solid twist. A must read for detective fiction fans.
March 29, 2018
A stand alone short story set around a university campus where a professor is drugged, undressed & photographed. When her image is released online a small town detective investigates. It's normally the twists in his stories that make me a fan of Jeffery Deaver, but this time I found the story & characters far more compelling than the twist itself.
July 25, 2019
THE VICTIM’S CLUB is a standalone short story by international bestselling author Jeffery Deaver.
The novel is set around a small-town university campus, at an off-campus party, a university professor Rose Taylor is drugged, undressed and photographed on a burner phone, and the photos displayed online.
Experienced senior detective Jon Avery is assigned to the case. Why would someone do this? He must determine who was behind this horrific act.
But soon he runs into a wall of silence at Preston College—nobody is talking for fear of tarnishing the school’s reputation.
A quick satisfying read.
The novel is set around a small-town university campus, at an off-campus party, a university professor Rose Taylor is drugged, undressed and photographed on a burner phone, and the photos displayed online.
Experienced senior detective Jon Avery is assigned to the case. Why would someone do this? He must determine who was behind this horrific act.
But soon he runs into a wall of silence at Preston College—nobody is talking for fear of tarnishing the school’s reputation.
A quick satisfying read.
January 17, 2022
Good, short story
This appears to be one of 6 standalone novellas by Deaver. Available on Kindle Unlimited at the time of this review.
At an off-campus party, Professor Taylor is drugged and photographed in compromising poses. The photos are then uploaded and spread on the internet. This story follows the detective to determine who was responsible.
Even though it is a short story, it was a nice mystery that had me puzzled. Enjoy!
This appears to be one of 6 standalone novellas by Deaver. Available on Kindle Unlimited at the time of this review.
At an off-campus party, Professor Taylor is drugged and photographed in compromising poses. The photos are then uploaded and spread on the internet. This story follows the detective to determine who was responsible.
Even though it is a short story, it was a nice mystery that had me puzzled. Enjoy!
July 11, 2025
Deaver doesn't hit a home run every time, and this was one time he missed. THE VICTIMS' CLUB isn't bad; it's an average one-hour short story, but Deaver usually does better than average when writing a short story.
A female college instructor ingests roofies and, while she is drugged, her top is removed and pictures of her boobs are taken. Then these pictures are circulated on the internet. She is devastated. I didn't feel connected to her at all; it was just photos of her boobs, not pictures of her performing embarrassing sexual misdeeds. She overreacted, when she should have laughed it off.
The only criminal act, as far as I could see, was administering the roofies in the first place, and this crime was solved early in the story. The balance of the story focused on how upset the instructor was by having her photos seen by others, and eventually, in a much-too-short ending, on how this collage prank was avenged.
A female college instructor ingests roofies and, while she is drugged, her top is removed and pictures of her boobs are taken. Then these pictures are circulated on the internet. She is devastated. I didn't feel connected to her at all; it was just photos of her boobs, not pictures of her performing embarrassing sexual misdeeds. She overreacted, when she should have laughed it off.
The only criminal act, as far as I could see, was administering the roofies in the first place, and this crime was solved early in the story. The balance of the story focused on how upset the instructor was by having her photos seen by others, and eventually, in a much-too-short ending, on how this collage prank was avenged.
December 9, 2018
A good solid short read from top selling author Jeffery Deaver. This is a quick read but it does have more substance than a lot of short stories resulting in a satisfying read.
Senior detective Jon Avery investigates a case where st an off-campus party, a university professor Rose Taylor is drugged, undressed, and photographed on a burner phone. In seconds her humiliation is uploaded, and millions of JPEGs are zipping like immortal wasps through the internet. What is more of a mystery is what is the motive, she has no vengeful exes or rival academics, no stalkers or unhinged students. Jon Avery is determined to find out who's behind this horrific invasion of privacy. But soon he runs into a wall of silence at Preston College - an academic mecca whose reputation one doesn't dare tarnish. The message is clear: if he pursues the case, he'll pay for it.
Senior detective Jon Avery investigates a case where st an off-campus party, a university professor Rose Taylor is drugged, undressed, and photographed on a burner phone. In seconds her humiliation is uploaded, and millions of JPEGs are zipping like immortal wasps through the internet. What is more of a mystery is what is the motive, she has no vengeful exes or rival academics, no stalkers or unhinged students. Jon Avery is determined to find out who's behind this horrific invasion of privacy. But soon he runs into a wall of silence at Preston College - an academic mecca whose reputation one doesn't dare tarnish. The message is clear: if he pursues the case, he'll pay for it.
November 2, 2019
Rose gets drugged at a party and someone takes an inappropriate picture of her and uploads it to the internet. Detective Jon Avery catches the case and must find the perp in this new digital age- a seemingly impossible task.
"Nobody ever chooses to be a victim."
A nice easy read that I would recommend.
www.thebeautifulbookbreak.com
"Nobody ever chooses to be a victim."
A nice easy read that I would recommend.
www.thebeautifulbookbreak.com
January 4, 2023
My Rating System: 1⭐️ very disappointing, boring, lonely star!!!
This was my second short story of the day (no synopsis recap) and I have never read any of Jeffery Deaver’s work before so I thought what a good way to test it out…
Holy hell, talk about fit more descriptions into this less than 60 page story!!! I found myself SKIMMING for real!!! I literally cannot believe that in a book this short I was skimming to get through the labour intense descriptions of architecture and trees and colours of things. HOLY MOLY SNOREFEST!!!!
This had so much potential and the twist well that was really cool but as Amy from Brooklyn 99 would say to Jake …. BUT YA BORING!!!! Even the cool ending was like a balloon that was let out slowly and in the most unfun way!!
Sorry Mr Deaver but this was just so … well you know what I think - BORING!!!!
This was my second short story of the day (no synopsis recap) and I have never read any of Jeffery Deaver’s work before so I thought what a good way to test it out…
Holy hell, talk about fit more descriptions into this less than 60 page story!!! I found myself SKIMMING for real!!! I literally cannot believe that in a book this short I was skimming to get through the labour intense descriptions of architecture and trees and colours of things. HOLY MOLY SNOREFEST!!!!
This had so much potential and the twist well that was really cool but as Amy from Brooklyn 99 would say to Jake …. BUT YA BORING!!!! Even the cool ending was like a balloon that was let out slowly and in the most unfun way!!
Sorry Mr Deaver but this was just so … well you know what I think - BORING!!!!
August 24, 2020
Nice!
I really enjoyed this. Wasn't expecting that ending, but then isn't that one of the marks of a good story teller?
I really enjoyed this. Wasn't expecting that ending, but then isn't that one of the marks of a good story teller?
January 13, 2024
Sometimes the victim isn't
This was a change from my usual read by Jeffery Deaver. This time there is very little forensic evidence to sift through just good old fashion legwork by a determined detective. I wanted more to happen, but like all good short stories less was more. So I guess I will just have to satisfied with ending and be left wanting more.
This was a change from my usual read by Jeffery Deaver. This time there is very little forensic evidence to sift through just good old fashion legwork by a determined detective. I wanted more to happen, but like all good short stories less was more. So I guess I will just have to satisfied with ending and be left wanting more.
March 31, 2018
Anyone who knows my reading habits knows I'm not a fan of the "glorified short story" format - such as prolific author James Patterson's "Bookshots" and Kindle Singles like this one. But in large part because I get so many freebies to read - most of them advance review copies through NetGalley - I also tend to feel a bit guilty for buying so few books through Amazon (I swear, at one time I bought enough for CEO Jeff Bezos to buy a well-tricked-out BMW). And since I AM a huge Jeffery Deaver fan, when I saw this one for $1.99, the guilt kicked in and I caved.
And it was perfectly good (but then I've read just about everything Deaver has written, and the worst anything ever got was good). It's set in New England's Monroe County, perhaps best known for the ritzy Preston College. Local sheriff's deputy and detective Jon Avery has been assigned a case formerly in the hands of a colleague who took an unexpected leave. A female college researcher, it seems, has been humiliated by Internet publication of half-naked photos via a burner phone - photos taken at a campus party after she was drugged, half-undressed and splayed out in totally nonprofessorial fashion.
The motive, though, is virtually nonexistent; the lack thereof, plus the use of a burner phone, make the case difficult to solve. Then too, Avery quickly runs afoul of the college powers-that-be, who are less than enthusiastic about the possibility of a scandal that could tarnish the school's hallowed halls, ivory towers and (gasp!) highly successful athletic programs.
The ending, which obviously comes rather quickly, answers a few questions including the reason behind the title. But even with a partial conclusion (perhaps this is the launching pad for a new series???), the whole thing makes for an engrossing story. Is it worth $1.99? Well, I polished it off in about 42 minutes. At 4424 KB, that's roughly...oh fuhgettaboutit. Avery complains about the difficulty he has helping his young son with math homework, and trust me, my skills in that department are way worse. You'll have to decide for yourself.
And it was perfectly good (but then I've read just about everything Deaver has written, and the worst anything ever got was good). It's set in New England's Monroe County, perhaps best known for the ritzy Preston College. Local sheriff's deputy and detective Jon Avery has been assigned a case formerly in the hands of a colleague who took an unexpected leave. A female college researcher, it seems, has been humiliated by Internet publication of half-naked photos via a burner phone - photos taken at a campus party after she was drugged, half-undressed and splayed out in totally nonprofessorial fashion.
The motive, though, is virtually nonexistent; the lack thereof, plus the use of a burner phone, make the case difficult to solve. Then too, Avery quickly runs afoul of the college powers-that-be, who are less than enthusiastic about the possibility of a scandal that could tarnish the school's hallowed halls, ivory towers and (gasp!) highly successful athletic programs.
The ending, which obviously comes rather quickly, answers a few questions including the reason behind the title. But even with a partial conclusion (perhaps this is the launching pad for a new series???), the whole thing makes for an engrossing story. Is it worth $1.99? Well, I polished it off in about 42 minutes. At 4424 KB, that's roughly...oh fuhgettaboutit. Avery complains about the difficulty he has helping his young son with math homework, and trust me, my skills in that department are way worse. You'll have to decide for yourself.
December 12, 2020
Jeffery Deaver has been one of my great discoverings for this year at Goodreads..
I'm happy about it!!
This is an author I will come again and again for sure..
And I have only read his short stories, but I eagerly do look forwards to his novels as well!!
Anyway this is another good read by Jeffery Deaver, it will not dissapoint the expectations at all!!
The story dealt with the poison of ruining the reputation of innocent people via social media..
And I think this is a very serious crime, which can lead even to suicide and do much harm in the lives of families and local communities as well..
Dean;)
I'm happy about it!!
This is an author I will come again and again for sure..
And I have only read his short stories, but I eagerly do look forwards to his novels as well!!
Anyway this is another good read by Jeffery Deaver, it will not dissapoint the expectations at all!!
The story dealt with the poison of ruining the reputation of innocent people via social media..
And I think this is a very serious crime, which can lead even to suicide and do much harm in the lives of families and local communities as well..
Dean;)
June 29, 2021
3.5 Stars
The Victims' Club was an intriguing story following a detective after he takes over a case from the local university.
With a colleague on leave, senior detective Jon Avery takes over some of her cases including the case of a university professor who was drugged, undressed, and photographed with the pictures uploaded online. Rose Taylor has no idea who would target her, leaving Jon with few leads. As the university closes ranks around their own to save their reputation, Jon will have his work cut out for him to find the persons responsible.
This book highlights the problem prevalent at universities today where the administration cares more about their reputation than cooperating with police investigations. As Jon interviews people who were at the party where Rose was violated, everyone claims they didn't see anything and were reluctant to even name anyone else who attended the party. Ultimately the investigation went in a few directions I didn't see coming and I was surprised by how it was wrapped up. I do wish the story was a bit longer so it could have gone more in depth with the ending.
Overall The Victims' Club was an enjoyable read and I would recommend it if you're looking for a quick mystery to read.
The Victims' Club was an intriguing story following a detective after he takes over a case from the local university.
With a colleague on leave, senior detective Jon Avery takes over some of her cases including the case of a university professor who was drugged, undressed, and photographed with the pictures uploaded online. Rose Taylor has no idea who would target her, leaving Jon with few leads. As the university closes ranks around their own to save their reputation, Jon will have his work cut out for him to find the persons responsible.
This book highlights the problem prevalent at universities today where the administration cares more about their reputation than cooperating with police investigations. As Jon interviews people who were at the party where Rose was violated, everyone claims they didn't see anything and were reluctant to even name anyone else who attended the party. Ultimately the investigation went in a few directions I didn't see coming and I was surprised by how it was wrapped up. I do wish the story was a bit longer so it could have gone more in depth with the ending.
Overall The Victims' Club was an enjoyable read and I would recommend it if you're looking for a quick mystery to read.
July 20, 2019
Listened to this with my husband while driving home from Kansas City. We both liked it okay. I'd definitely check out more by this author
His Rating: 3 stars
My Rating: 2.5 stars
His Rating: 3 stars
My Rating: 2.5 stars
February 9, 2023
Book Blog | Bookstagram
A professor at a large university (with a football program that generates $75+ million a year in revenue for the school,) is drugged and sexually assaulted, pictures were taken and shared online. Detective Jon Avery takes over the case to track down the douchebag responsible, but finds himself roadblocked by city officials and the school board because , of course, the untouchable football players may have been involved. And we can't have anything interfering with all that football money.
Honestly, this could have been any real-life story that has come out in the news lately. It's a serious fucking issue. Whether it's high school football or not, there is a trend of protecting the Brock Turners School Athletes of the world, over finding justice for sexual assault victims.
My rating reflects the fact that I don't think a short story is the best format in which to explore something so deeply pervasive in our culture. Jeffery Deaver is obviously a talented and successful writer, so the writing itself was good and flowed with the ease of someone who has totally honed his craft, but the execution of the plot missed the mark for me in tone and care.
Deaver was obviously trying to make a point, and he definitely almost got there. But because it's only about an hour-long read, a lot of the triggering issues that should have been explored with intention were stunted or tossed out entirely.
This should have been longer, considering the magnitude of the issues used by the plot.
⭐⭐⭐ | 3 stars
A professor at a large university (with a football program that generates $75+ million a year in revenue for the school,) is drugged and sexually assaulted, pictures were taken and shared online. Detective Jon Avery takes over the case to track down the douchebag responsible, but finds himself roadblocked by city officials and the school board because , of course, the untouchable football players may have been involved. And we can't have anything interfering with all that football money.
Honestly, this could have been any real-life story that has come out in the news lately. It's a serious fucking issue. Whether it's high school football or not, there is a trend of protecting the Brock Turners School Athletes of the world, over finding justice for sexual assault victims.
My rating reflects the fact that I don't think a short story is the best format in which to explore something so deeply pervasive in our culture. Jeffery Deaver is obviously a talented and successful writer, so the writing itself was good and flowed with the ease of someone who has totally honed his craft, but the execution of the plot missed the mark for me in tone and care.
Deaver was obviously trying to make a point, and he definitely almost got there. But because it's only about an hour-long read, a lot of the triggering issues that should have been explored with intention were stunted or tossed out entirely.
This should have been longer, considering the magnitude of the issues used by the plot.
⭐⭐⭐ | 3 stars
May 22, 2018
Jeffrey Deaver writes great suspense thrillers, and just so-so short fiction. This book falls into the second category, and as such is an interesting diversion with a typical Deaver twist but not one of his better works.
September 25, 2019
Overall good story and ending. A perfect quick read.
March 29, 2021
The procedural aspect of this was well written, but the wrap-up was rushed and almost too convenient.
May 16, 2023
Unimpressive. This short story by Jeffery Deaver is just okay. It felt phoned in. Or, maybe these are characters that are established in Deaver's books and they'll be better received by his regular fans and I'm missing out because I'm not? It's possible.
It's a quick case with a lot of unnecessary (or at least uninteresting) fluff. The best part about this was that it was over in 52 pages.
It's a 2 star story for me and I wouldn't recommend anyone go out of their way to read it.
It's a quick case with a lot of unnecessary (or at least uninteresting) fluff. The best part about this was that it was over in 52 pages.
It's a 2 star story for me and I wouldn't recommend anyone go out of their way to read it.
January 6, 2020
This was a short story offered through Amazon Prime. I have not read anything by this author before. It was a good story about a detective investigating a "modern" crime, a woman drugged and photographed with her bra pulled up, then the photograph distributed everywhere on the web. The detective was dogged and clever in finding the culprit.
August 21, 2025
Wanting to fill my summer with a mix of novels and short stories, I came upon some stuff by Jeffrey Deaver. I have read some of his short works before and have promised to delve into the full-length stuff. For now, this short piece captured my attention. A party off-campus leads to a scandalous photo of a professor. Detective Jon Avery is filling in during the investigation, but is captivated by all the digital crumbs left to be gathered. While nothing makes sense, Detective Avery is keen to sift through things and pin this breach of privacy on someone, but how will he do so with ease? Deaver delivers another strong bit of mental gymnastics.
When he was handed control of the local police force for a time, Senior Detective Jon Avery was not aware what awaited him. He’s the most intuitive detective on the force and likely for three counties over. At an off-campus party, Professor Rose Taylor is apparently drugged and has compromising photos taken of her, which hit the internet soon thereafter. Detailed study of the metadata, an area with which Detective Avery is not well-versed, point to servers in Europe and a burner phone. With no clear understanding of who might want to harm Professor Taylor, it is sure to be a baffling case. Detective Avery vows to find the perpetrator and get this case solved as soon as he can, even with all that stands in his way. Jeffrey Deaver delivers a great story and fast-paced read!
I enjoy short stories that entertain and get to the point all at once. Jeffrey Deaver does well with a narrative that keeps the reader uncertain. There is little time for character development, as the story clips along. The plot heats up when surprises emerge and the reader is left to wonder what Deaver is trying to convey. Another great short story by an author whose full-length work is on my agenda to attempt.
Kudos, Mr. Deaver, for a story that left me thinking.
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
When he was handed control of the local police force for a time, Senior Detective Jon Avery was not aware what awaited him. He’s the most intuitive detective on the force and likely for three counties over. At an off-campus party, Professor Rose Taylor is apparently drugged and has compromising photos taken of her, which hit the internet soon thereafter. Detailed study of the metadata, an area with which Detective Avery is not well-versed, point to servers in Europe and a burner phone. With no clear understanding of who might want to harm Professor Taylor, it is sure to be a baffling case. Detective Avery vows to find the perpetrator and get this case solved as soon as he can, even with all that stands in his way. Jeffrey Deaver delivers a great story and fast-paced read!
I enjoy short stories that entertain and get to the point all at once. Jeffrey Deaver does well with a narrative that keeps the reader uncertain. There is little time for character development, as the story clips along. The plot heats up when surprises emerge and the reader is left to wonder what Deaver is trying to convey. Another great short story by an author whose full-length work is on my agenda to attempt.
Kudos, Mr. Deaver, for a story that left me thinking.
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
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June 20, 2020
A Deaver tale, with a modern crime
A great tale, told about a modern crime - a woman is drugged, and a modern crime is committed against her.
The detectives are on the case, and this one takes a few turns.
Great tale!
A great tale, told about a modern crime - a woman is drugged, and a modern crime is committed against her.
The detectives are on the case, and this one takes a few turns.
Great tale!
February 18, 2019
Small town community mentality, dominates this short story. Trouble is, it is the prestigious college and the sports department that closes ranks and presents a wall of silence. The sorry state is, it is another faculty’s professor that is the victim and no-one seems prepared to help one of their own.
The local deputy who inherits this case finds it frustrating that no-one comes forward, witnesses have sketchy memories and their is little evidence to get a conviction. Convinced a jock is involved he not only gets threaten off with unemployment the college even goes through with the threat. Fortunately the Sheriff recognises a good detective and ignores the clamour to dismiss him.
It is despicable on another level that a woman’s reputation and a sexual crime against her, is treated so lightly and passed off as inconvenient. This strays into the area of banter and high jinks, cyber bullying and young lads just having a laugh. This area isn’t fully addressed in the story and although the author has a detective team that will not give up easily, the true moral outrage seems to be held for the drug dealer involved.
I liked the story, the ease and pace the plot is revealed. I liked the investigation and how the clues were pieced together. What I did not feel was that justice was not universally sought and that a crime against a respected professor could be ignored predominately by a male dominated faculty, where sport seems more important than morals. Guess that is the American way but it is not a dream surely.
The local deputy who inherits this case finds it frustrating that no-one comes forward, witnesses have sketchy memories and their is little evidence to get a conviction. Convinced a jock is involved he not only gets threaten off with unemployment the college even goes through with the threat. Fortunately the Sheriff recognises a good detective and ignores the clamour to dismiss him.
It is despicable on another level that a woman’s reputation and a sexual crime against her, is treated so lightly and passed off as inconvenient. This strays into the area of banter and high jinks, cyber bullying and young lads just having a laugh. This area isn’t fully addressed in the story and although the author has a detective team that will not give up easily, the true moral outrage seems to be held for the drug dealer involved.
I liked the story, the ease and pace the plot is revealed. I liked the investigation and how the clues were pieced together. What I did not feel was that justice was not universally sought and that a crime against a respected professor could be ignored predominately by a male dominated faculty, where sport seems more important than morals. Guess that is the American way but it is not a dream surely.
April 18, 2018
This short story by the prominent American crime writer Jeffery Deaver, the author of the best-selling Lincoln Rhyme book series, consist an excellent choice for the reader who desires to delve into a short, but well crafted and narrated, crime story and indulge in the well-known and universally acknowledged Deaver's thrilling, full of amazing plot twists, writing style. It is a simple story and for once it doesn't involve a murder but a case of public humiliation of a Preston University professor, Rosie Taylor, who after being drugged with Rohypnol pills in a university party wakes up with her clothes half-torn and unable to recollect what happened the crucial time period. The next day she finds nude pictures of her in vulgar poses from the previous night. At first, detective Jon Avery, regards the incident as a typical ''revenge porn'' case but he soon realizes that the truth is a bit more complicated. ''The Victim's Club'' is a very short book, which you will finish reading it in one sitting but nevertheless, it is highly enjoyable and it is certainly worth the low Amazon price.
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