One False Move

by Alex Kava

Melanie Starks and her son, Charlie, have been running petty con jobs for as long as either can remember. Now, just as Melanie is ready to pull out and settle down, Jared Barnett re-enters their lives with a ballsy plan for the ultimate heist. Recently released from a life sentence on a murder charge, Jared is frighteningly high on the feeling of invincibility that comes from getting away with murder. Melanie and Charlie agree to Jared's plot to rob a local Nebraska bank, but during the hold up, everything goes terribly wrong and innocent people end up dead. Suddenly Melanie, Charlie and Jared are on the run, and more lives are at stake--now that the three have nothing left to lose.

Genres: Thriller, Mystery, Fiction, Crime, Suspense, Mystery Thriller, Action

384 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published February 1, 2004

About the author

ALEX KAVA IS A NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLING AUTHOR of the critically acclaimed Maggie O’Dell series and a new series featuring former Marine, Ryder Creed and his K9 dogs. Her stand-alone novel, One False Move, was the 2006 One Book One Nebraska. Published in over thirty countries, Kava’s novels have made the bestseller lists in the UK, Australia, Germany, Japan, Italy and Poland. Her novel Stranded was awarded both a Florida Book Award and the Nebraska Book Award. She is a member of the Nebraska Writers Guild and International Thriller Writers. Kava divides her time between Omaha, Nebraska and Pensacola, Florida.

Reviews

[K.D. Absolutely · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had a nice time reading this easy-to-read book. It's good for a weekend light read. I chose to read this book because it had so many copies in the second-hand bookstores and when I checked its average GR rating, it was 3.83 so it must not really be bad.

I thought that Alex Kava was a male and I so I thought that this book belonged to my category of guy literature in the same league as Robert Ludlum, Jeffrey Archer, John Grisham, etc. I was surprised to realize that Alex Kava was a she and this book, although could still be classified as guy lit has more drama (family drama to be specific), than the usual books.

The family drama is provided by the main characters: the mother, Melanie, her son Charlie and her brother Jared. The mother and son have been living on money they generate as small-time con artist (or petty thieves). When Jared comes out from the penitentiary, he gets himself and Charlie some guns and suggests to his sister that they rob a bank in Nebraska. During the said robbery, 4 people die from gunshot wounds. Jared and Charlie come out from the bank empty handed. They don't want to tell Melanie what has happened inside the bank. The title of the book "One False Move" actually refers to the incident that led to the incidental death of the people inside the bank. The revelation at the end of the book is very dramatic.

The prose is ordinary but there are some nice quotable quotes particularly Kava's effective use of Emily Dickenson's line Hope is a thing with feathers. I did not know this line but it immediately created a picture of a white dove trying to fly out from a box or a cage. Kava really knows how to write particularly on how to engage her readers with meaningful metaphors and imagery that imprint scenes in their minds.

Quite a nice piece of work. I don't think the publisher over-printed this book because if this was marketed properly, this should not have been flooding the second-hand bookstores with unsold old copies. What a waste. Tsk tsk.

[Alex is The Romance Fox · Rating 3 out of 5]

Alex Kava's stand-alone novel, ONE FALSE MOVE begins with an evil convicted murderer, Jared Barnett having his death sentence repelled with the assistance of a very shady attorney.

A story of a damaged family, who go on a murder rampage. The mix of personalities and situations. The characters development is very well done and you just never know what they will do next.....keeps you guessing from page to page. Nothing seems to be what you think it is.

Fast paced plot reaching a totally unexpected climax.

[Thomas · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading this thriller and rate it 4 out 5 stars. The book starts with Jared Barnett, a truly evil, twisted killer being released from prison. He was convicted of a brutal murder, but his defense attorney has persuaded the only witness to recant his testimony and a judge orders a new trial. The prosecutor declines to prosecute with only circumstantial evidence. Jared then enlists his sister and her son in his new crime spree. There is a bank robbery where 4 people are killed, plus other murders, and a crime author taken hostage. The book builds to a satisfying climax, with a surprise ending.

The author lives in Nebraska, and based part of the book on an actual bank robbery, in Norfolk, Nebraska, in 2002, in which 5 people were killed. The bank, US Bancorp, responded with sensitivity. The physical branch location was torn down, a new branch built and a memorial erected in the shape of a star with five points (one for each of the victims).
I am counting this book for Nebraska in my US state challenge.

[Aneca · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had only read Alex Kava's Maggie O'Dell books before I decided to try this one. I found this one to be a very different type of story but also very enjoyable.

The story opens with a convicted criminal, Jared Barnett, being freed from prison on a technicality. The cops, the DA, his lawyer, everyone knows he is guilty but since the case against him is dismissed he walks out. The story follows Jared moves from then on, killing the man, whose testimony had put him behind bars, harassing the DA who prosecuted him and finally planning and executing a bank robbery with the help of his sister and nephew.

We know all this because the story follows the criminal’s actions most of the time. The police are in the dark, first about who has been robbing some neighbourhood stores and then who committed the bank robbery. So at the same time that we see Jared take hostages, kill everyone who gets in his ways and change cars to elude the police force we also see the detectives putting two and two together to try to identify the murderers and the victims and understand what really happened.

From the beginning it is fairly obvious that there is some obscure deal between Jared and his lowlife attorney, what that deal was will lead to the unraveling of the mystery but that we only find out in the end, where Kava doesn't resist adding an unexpected twist.

I did like the sense of suspense, the fast paced action and how she slowly provides the clues to solve the final puzzle. While I do prefer the Maggie O'Dell stories I found this one an interesting read and was fascinated by the fact that two real events where the basis for this plot.

Grade: 4/5

[Anne Peachey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Melanie Starks has run scam after scam to survive as a single parent trying to get by with a teenage son.
Her brother is released from Prison after serving only 5 years of a life sentence for Murder. He is set free on a technicality.
Melanie has always done what her brother Jared has asked of her. When he comes up with a fool proof plan to rob a Bank, she agrees and decides this will be her last job.
It all goes terribly wrong.
One false move and it all unravels.
Gunfire, a Police chase and ending up hiding out in a remote cabin, they take the occupant hostage.
Melanie cannot see any way out.
Kava has researched Crimes and Killers and this shows in his uncanny knowledge of how a Criminals mind works.

[Ashlei A.K.A Chyna Doll]

I read this book in 4 hours!!!
It was terrific, it had everything! Action,suspense, thrilling parts, edge of your seat "what's gonna happen next"??
I orginaly ordered this because I like the author and it was a very good price.. But it was just great. Good story-line, Great characters, A TWIST ENDING I DON'T THINK ANYONE WILL SEE COMING!!!! (After I read it, I had to read that last last page 3xs I just could not BELIVE it!!!! But it was truly a good book. The author Alex Kava is most known for her series (Maggie O Dell) but if you like good books...


PICK THIS UP!!!!!

[Revlin · Rating 5 out of 5]

“One False Move” by Alex Kava is a thriller that contains multiple character points of view that help build up suspense for the main plot. I like that it gives the reader multiple views because it allows characters to interject their thoughts into the story. It gives readers multiple characters to agree with or disagree with. I liked how it circled a family being chased by the cops. The story tugged at my heartstrings. When the family fought, you could feel their bond dissipating. I also like how they kept Andrew Krane with them during the chases. He gave the readers a trustworthy narrator whose judgment wasn’t crowded. I would recommend this book to everyone. It is a fantastic thriller that includes a handful of plot twists.

The main thing I didn’t enjoy was that we never knew if the money was in the truck stop. Maybe it was a bag of marked bills or the cops were the stop’s employees? I also didn’t like how Melanie just shot Jared. It would mean more if Charlie did it because Jared made him do all the dirty work. I also didn’t enjoy that the group didn’t suffer major injuries when the car flipped into the ditch. They all just groaned got out of the car and started walking. The main thing they needed was food, not Ibuprofen. Sometimes I found it difficult to remember some side characters and their purposes for the book. They were either witnesses to certain crimes or clients that were introduced for a short period.

One thing I learned from this book is that you shouldn’t make loved ones help with a dangerous task. This can tarnish relationships. This causes fighting and grudges. Another thing I learned was the importance of living your own life. You shouldn’t be forced to do things you don’t want to like Melanie and Charlie who were being controlled by Jared. Living your own life can let you stay out of trouble and not be someone’s pawn in their game.

[Conner Sperling · Rating 5 out of 5]

I gave Alex Kava’s “One False Move” five stars. I thoroughly enjoyed this novel from cover to cover. One of my favorite aspects of this novel was how it was written. Lots of chapters were contained in this novel; however, each chapter was short and sweet. Furthermore, each chapter focused on a different character or group of characters if they were together. Each chapter also had a time stamp signaling to the reader when the events in the chapter were happening. This is important because of how much the novel bounces around. Without these time stamps, the reader would have a difficult time deciphering what is happening and when specific events are happening. I enjoyed the employment of these time stamps because they add another aspect of certainty. I’m not left guessing if I’m correct about what I’m reading. Similarly, I can understand exactly what is happening and when the events occur. The constant suspense was another aspect of this novel I enjoyed. Specifically, the suspense surrounding the two opposing forces of Grace and Jared was my favorite part. As always, I enjoyed the action and its consistency throughout the novel. At every point in this novel, suspense or action is always present. Sometimes, both are present. Next, I enjoyed the ending of this novel, as I felt closure, and the novel came full circle from back when Jared and Melanie were children. The setting of the novel was another aspect I enjoyed, as I know most if not all the locations visited in the story and can relate to the numerous locations. Finally, I enjoyed the background behind the novel. It was interesting to read that Kava wrote this novel based on a true story, and she made the rest up. I also found it interesting that Kava wrote herself into the novel as Andrew Kane. Learning about Kava’s background made it very easy to recognize the parallels between Andrew Kane’s character and Alex Kava. If the parallels weren’t enough, both Andrew and Alex have the same initials as well. Lots of positive aspects are present in this novel. I would recommend this novel. This novel would be most suitable for young adult readers; however, many readers of all ages would enjoy this book. Readers who enjoy action, suspense, murder mysteries, and any other similar aspects would enjoy this novel.

Despite being rated five stars, every piece of literature can be critiqued and improved. A couple negative aspects were present in Kava’s novel. The first aspect of this novel I didn’t enjoy too much was the limited amount of interaction between Grace and Jared. As I mentioned above, the suspense between Grace and Jared was one of my favorite aspects. I would have liked to see more of what happened between their two characters. More of an interaction would have made this novel even better than it already is. The first aspect I found difficult in Kava’s novel was understanding different sections of the novel. Despite all the time stamps and other signifying factors, at times, I found it difficult to follow along with the events occurring. This was likely due to how jumpy the novel was. While bouncing around covers many perspectives, it can also lead to confusion for the reader. I also found it difficult to understand what was going on between Max Kramer and Jared. I understood Max was corrupt, but I didn’t fully understand the plan between Max and Jared. This plan could have been more clear and explained. As shown, there aren’t many negative and difficult aspects of Kava’s novel, and that’s why I gave the novel such a high rating.

I learned a lot from reading this novel. I learned that corruption is present everywhere in the world. If corruption is present in a person of power, such as Max Kramer, in a town in the Midwest state of Nebraska, then corruption is in all parts of the world and society. Corruption likely dwindles even further into even lower parts of society than those in Kava’s novel. I learned the importance of family. While Jared committed some horrific actions, he still tried to take care of Melanie, employing the same phrase over and over again. I also learned family dynamics can be complicated. As most others, I presume most family dynamics to be similar to my own. However, reading about Jared and Melanie's family dynamic with their father and mother, I learned that not all family dynamics are similar to my own. These family dynamics can impact children throughout their lives just as they did in Kava’s novel. Violence was common in Melanie and Jared’s family, and it has continued to be part of the family, dwindling down to the youngest known child, Charlie. Finally, I learned the importance of thinking before acting. Charlie doesn’t think much before he acts. This idea is exhibited during the botched bank robbery as well as when he steals cars. If Charlie had been calm and thought before he acted, many of the atrocities that occurred in Kava's novel could have been avoided. As shown, a lot can be learned from Kava’s novel.

[Charlie Johnson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an interesting topic to write a book about and was nice for Nebraska, my home state, to finally be in the limelight a bit. I really enjoyed the fact that it took place in Nebraska. I could make references to places and living here made me understand some of the situations. For example, when the robbers stopped at the Farmer’s house, the farmer came out and was willing to help them. This action represents Nebraska well. It was what most Nebraskans would do. I also enjoyed the part about Cracker Barrel because it brought back memories from being a kid and going there on special occasions. I also enjoyed the jumping around in the book. It made it so I wouldn’t get bored with one situation and made me piece together multiple parts of the book. I would recommend this book to Noah Wittwer and Tyler Wilson. They are two of my friends who are also from Nebraska. I think they would enjoy this book because, like me, I believe they could find references that they could connect to within the book.
I didn’t enjoy the amount of cussing in this book. While I am fine with cussing, it made it hard to read at times because I listened to an audiobook that would constantly be screaming the f-bomb in my ear. It just wasn’t my favorite part of the book. Another area I didn’t enjoy was the sexual parts of the book. One of the main ones I can think of was when Kramer went to the crackhead's house. It just wasn’t pleasant to read about. Also, it was difficult at first to get used to the jumping around of the story. It just was a bit slow with the introduction of the characters after the first introduction of Jared. As stated above, however, the jumping around eventually would become pleasant.
I learned a lot about the mind of a sociopath from this book. Jared was most definitely a candidate for an insane asylum. He used his family and everyone around him to better himself. This can be seen in his murders which he felt no remorse for and in the fear he put in everyone around him. This fear especially affected Mel and Charlie. They would do anything he said just so they wouldn’t die. While there seemed to be a protective sense about Jared, there was also an insane, murderous, and chill deminer about him too. This was interesting because he would murder someone and then casually crack a joke about it.

[Maddie Starr · Rating 4 out of 5]

One False Move by Alex Kava was a thrilling read from start to finish. Even though I was forced to read it for a class, I found myself looking forward to reading the next assigned bit every week. Overall, I would rate it as a four star book. Unlike most mystery novels, Kava wrote the book from several different perspectives, including the perspective of criminals on the run from the law. This fact made the book more entertaining than any mystery novel I have ever read, and it allowed me to see into the minds of those who commit such acts. On top of this, Kava added several plot twists that kept me on my toes. On the whole, I would definitely recommend this book to anyone of high school age and above if they are looking for a fast-paced and exciting book.
However, there are still ways that Kava could have improved the mystery novel. For example, when I finished reading, I had several unanswered questions that I wished would’ve been resolved in the ending of the book. The story ended on an almost awkward note, and I didn’t feel like I was given closure on the characters. Besides this, I also found it difficult to understand exactly what was happening near the beginning of the book. Kava switched perspectives too quickly, and I had to read about 100 pages before I finally understood what exactly was happening. Nevertheless, the book was still fun and entertaining.
In the same way, the book was also highly educational and informative. Kava based the book off of a real-life experience and an actual bank robbery that went awry. Knowing that this happened previously and that events like it happen almost every day, the novel felt more realistic and made me want to pay attention. Kava showed the perspectives of the criminals committing the crime, and it forced me to think about the effects of illegal activity. Overall, the book was informative and entertaining, and I would definitely read it again!

[Danyshia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like pretty much everything about One False Move by Alex Kava. I read this book for a class in school and I was glad that I was given a very interesting book, it made me want to keep reading until I reached the end. My favorite thing about One False Move is that Kava used true events and incorporated them into her mystery novel. It was also set in my home state, Nebraska, which is also where Kava grew up. Altogether i was an amazing book, told in many different perspectives you are able to know the whole story and not just the story of one person, but everyone involved in the crazy criminal manhunt. I would personally give this book four starts and would definitely recommend especially if you like books about law enforcement, serial killers, family struggles and murder.
No matter how good a book can be there can still be flaws, nothing is perfect and that was the case with Kava's novel. Even though I found this book to be interesting and intriguing I was not an an of all the unanswered questions I was stuck with by the end of the book. Another problem was I got lost with all the characters, yes the different perspectives made the book the amazing book it is I was still confused at the beginning. So to help with that I had to write down the names of each character and their role in the story and after doing that I was able to enjoy the book even more.
I learned a few things from this book, like how some children end up being just like their parents even when they don't want to and how little family matters to some people. While reading One False Move my teacher assigned us to research the author and considering that Kava used many experiences from her life I learned that it wasn't all fiction and books are much more interesting when they stem from true stories even if the book is fiction. I also learned names of some towns within my home state, Nebraska, that I never heard before.

[Shayna Lincoln · Rating 5 out of 5]

this book has to be one of the most enveloping books I have ever read. maybe it's just because I really enjoy crime and mystery, but I still believe anyone could enjoy this book. the author wrote it in a way that includes the readers as if they're right next to the characters, following their every move and every thought. I also really enjoyed how every chapter was from a different character's point of view. even though it was confusing at first, I think it really helped with learning the true mindset and ideas of every character.

however, I believe there are some areas of improvement that need to be addressed. for example, I feel as though the book was moving kind of fast. I understand everything was moving a little fast for the characters. that being said, the pace at which it was written feels a little rushed. I also spotted a few spelling and grammar errors, even though it doesn't really affect me at all, I just thought id mention it.

I would highly recommend this book to anyone who is into crime and mystery, especially getting into the mindset of the murderer themselves. while reading this, I truly felt like I was in the situation of each character. I felt as though I was the detective trying to figure out who robbed the bank and murdered every victim. I felt like I was Melanie, having to drive the murderer in the passenger seat of the car with a hostage in my back seat. I felt like Andrew, the panic of being held hostage and having to do anything you could to outthink the murderer with the little research I had about murderers. I really felt like every single character.

definitely a 5/5 rating. highly recommend this book to really anyone.

[Gavin Novotny]

This book was out of my usual genre, and one that I enjoyed. When reading a book for class, I generally do not enjoy it. However, in the case of this book, I found myself enjoying it once I had gone through the first half of it. As a lot of books go, the facts and backgrounds of the characters must be addressed and given to the reader. This is something that I find boring but is an integral part of the story. This is generally why I do not have patience for this type of book.

The plot and storyline of this book is very interesting. There are lots of clashes between Jared, Melanie, and Charlie along their journey of murder and escape. Their conflicts lead to lots of entertaining scenes and sections throughout the book. Being that they are constantly on the run, things change often and keep me interested. I am someone who doesn't love crime novels because of how long the plot takes to develop. The action begins very early in this book, which allowed me to enjoy a large part of the book.

This is a book I would recommend to any of my friends looking for a daily quick, good book. When you get into the thick of the book, the action comes quickly and keeps you intrigued throughout the book. . As most crime novels do, this book takes the first few chapters to introduce the main characters and set the stage for their behavior the rest of the book. Once the book starts and you allow to to get rolling, anyone will enjoy it.

[Joseph Sobtoka · Rating 4 out of 5]

I gave this book 4 stars because I really enjoyed Alex Kava’s writing style. Her speed kept me engaged from start to finish. She knows how to build suspense without becoming boring. The short chapters made it easy for me to stay engaged. Furthermore, the way she mixed in perspectives together kept me wanting to see how the story would end. I didn’t give it the full five stars because there were times I felt she could have expanded on the side characters. I would have enjoyed learning more about the background of some characters.
One of the best parts of Kava’s style is how she blends action and psychological warfare. For example, the first scene puts the readers into an intense situation that sets the tone of the book. Along with this, her ability to imagine dialogue makes the interactions between characters feel real.
Getting into some of the connections I made to this book from Thomas C. Foster’s How to Read Literature Like a Professor, politics play a big role in the plot, showing personal conflicts and clashing values. Power struggles between characters boost tension. Second, Kava uses weather to set the mood and also build tension. By using storms as a symbol of impending doom in characters’ lives, she adds another level of suspense to the already dangerous situation. For example, when Jared Barnett is about to reveal his plan to his sister Melanie Stark, she notices a storm building on the horizon, leaving the readers to predict the outcome. Finally, violence in this book is not only physical, but mental. Kava does an excellent job showing how violence affects not only victims but law enforcement, too. This connects to Foster's idea that violence always means more than aggression and thickens the plot.
I would recommend One False Move to anyone who enjoys thrillers and fast-paced crime stories. Also, fans of suspense and mystery will especially like it. This book is best for adults or teenagers because of the violence and darker themes.

[Corbin Fix · Rating 4 out of 5]

One False Move by Alex Kava was a great book to read. I was a little skeptical when I first started it because of the constantly changing point of view, but in the end, I really like how she wrote it from multiple characters. It gave the reader a full picture of every event and offers multiple sides to a story. I didn't have much experience in reading mystery novels. After reading this one, I'm left wanting to read more books on this genre. I would definitely recommend this book for high schoolers especially if you need to read a book for an assignment.

However, there weren't only just good things about this book. In my opinion, the ending was really bad and only confused me as the reader. She ends the book by saying that Melanie ended up killing her dad instead of Charlie. Since the death of her father didn't play a big role in the book, this statement isn't needed. It just felt awkward being there at the end of the book. Some other reviews say that there was a major plot twist at the end of the book, but I just feel like it was underwhelming and shouldn't have been included at all. Even though I liked the switching perspectives, I found it difficult to understand at the beginning of the book. The first few chapters were all different characters and it was hard to remember what role they played in the story.

I learned from this book that there are good books that are set in Nebraska. In my own experience, every book I read that was based in Nebraska wasn't very good. This book exceeded my expectations. It also helped me learn what criminals might be thinking. With some of the story being told from their perspectives, it really allows you to think like them. Besides those two reasons, Alex Kava showed how important switching perspectives in a story plays. It gives a reader a full grasp of the situation. Overall, I really liked the book and would like to read more books by Alex Kava.

[Jordan Tilford · Rating 4 out of 5]

In One False Move by Alex Kava, I liked the suspense and thrill that went on throughout the book. Also, it is great in the fact that she keeps the reader engaged the whole time with what is going on. I would recommend this to anyone who loves suspense and mysteries. The reason I gave this book 4 out of 5 stars is because it was sometimes hard to follow along, especially if you are using audio and reading with it. Finding audiobooks for this book is difficult, and even when I found one, and it skipped over some of the details. If you like a book that has a good audiobook with it this is not the one for you. What I mainly liked about this book is the formatting and how the titles of the chapters give you where and what time the chapter occurs. For readers, I feel like this formatting makes it easy to understand and know what is going on. One thing I have learned from reading this book is a lot more places in Nebraska that I didn’t know were there, and some of the places I did know but others not so much. The author does an overall great job with the details and the plot line of this story.

[Baron Grosshans · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would give One False Move four out of five stars. I enjoyed reading this book because it was very thrilling and made me want to keep reading. The book used lots of gore and intense crimes to keep the read interesting. Also, I liked the different point of view switching between the characters, which allowed the chase between the main characters to be shown. I disliked the lack of detail into the past of the characters and what brought the characters together. After reading through Foster’s Guide, I was able to understand 3 writing elements used in my story. I realized violence when Jared continues his criminal behavior by killing and robbing people without reason. He also demonstrates the literary elements of a vampire, using others to grow his power. This story uses point of view to show the relationship between the criminal and the detective and the chase between the two. This book has a target audience of high schoolers, and those who enjoy reading thriller and crime writing would like this story. I would compare aspects of this book to the tactics used by the mafia in literature and in real life, using scare tactics to get their way and give out lessons. They also have a way to control being convicted of a crime and dismissing cases.

[Cal Olmer · Rating 3 out of 5]

While being a lesser known novel, that doesn't stop One False Move from being a fast-paced and entertaining read for those who enjoy the crime genre. Being only 313 pages, One False Move lacks a clear look into the characters, but makes up for it with a incredibly speedy plot line that makes the reader's heart race.
I personally like long novels much more because they delve deeper into the personality of the characters, which One False Move doesn't do very well, but I still enjoyed the novel. Being from Nebraska, which is where the novel takes place, I can relate to quite a bit of the text and easily visualize the setting of the plot.
Overall, I had an alright time reading the novel, as it is an entertaining quick-read that hits home for me since it is in Nebraska. While it was tough at times to read because of the less detailed characters, I still liked it as it opened me up to a less common genre.

[Nathan Bell · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book is set in Nebraska. To me, this was the best part of reading it. It was nice to see familiar landmarks come up in the story. To me, this was one of the few positive things about this book. I would not recommend this book to anyone that has not been to the mid west, or even people that are from here.
There were many things I did not like about this book. The first one is the constant jumping around to different characters. It made the entire book confusing and hard to understand, especially in the first couple of chapters, when the readers do not know the characters that well. Another thing I didn't like was the constant violence. It seemed like every chapter someone was getting killed.
Something I learned from this book was a new way to format books. With the focus of each chapter being on a different character. Another thing I learned indirectly was some Nebraska history. I learned a little about the bank robbery and string of crimes after ward that it was based on. This was my personal favorite part, as I found it the most interesting.

[Brian O'Leary · Rating 2 out of 5]

disappointing effort after really liking some of her other stuff

[Bob Hernandez · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not a book I would have picked up this book has a lot of murder in it. I think the story line could have been written with out so much murder and mayhem in it. Was picked out mini book drop ugh. For something to read.

[Lillianna · Rating 5 out of 5]

One False Move by Alex Kava was enticingly thrilling from cover to cover. I absolutely loved the brutally realistic aspects that left me craving more. The characters Kava brought to life are greatly relatable, and interesting to "watch" develop throughout their journey. I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a page flipping, realistic ride; though due to the violence and topics mentioned in the book you should be at least high school aged to pick this book up.
There wasn't any aspect of this book that I absolutely "dis-liked" per say, but I do have a love-hate relationship with a couple of points. The way the antagonist treats the other main characters makes me squirm in disbelief. the youngest main character really needs a therapist based off of his reactions at the end of the book towards the events that took place. I found it difficult to read about how the antagonist reacted towards other's "missteps".
I had several take aways from this title. I was able to look through lenses I hadn't experienced in the past. this book emphasizes that there are reasons that the world isn't black and white. Most importantly, I was shown that the first side of a story you here or assume likely isn't how the story went.

[Anna · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Nadzieja to mały ptak, który śpiewa gdzieś w nas i którego nie można uciszyć - Spojrzał jej w oczy - To ona podtrzymuje nas na duchu i nie pozwala się poddać, nawet jeśli sytuacja wydaje się beznadziejna. Tylko coś naprawdę strasznego może przerwać tą piosenkę (...) Ona pomaga nam przetrwać chorobę i śmierć bliskich."

2,5/5. Trochę rozwleczona, mogłaby być krótsza i lepiej napisana.

[Grada (BoekenTrol) · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I picked up this book yesterday, I didn't realize it had been on my TBR for 13 years...
I really have no idea why it took me so long to get to it, other then giving other books priority. And this one didn't really stand out in the crowd🤪

But, I finished today. It took me less than a day. It was that compelling. I just couldn't put the book down, not knowing what would happen next. What would be the next step, who would be the next victim, what would happen to the group on the run...

On the contrary to others, I didn't find the very end unsuspected. It only explains the strong hold Jared has over his sister.

[Dad · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an intriguing novel and centered around a shady lawyer, a serial killer on death row who gets released from prison and one of my favorite FBI agents, Maggie O. I have a real appreciation for the depth that Alex Kava gives her characters which makes them closer to the reader and puts one on the edge of the chair as drama happens. Great story, well written and an ideal book for the daily commute.

[Linda Kidd · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pretty suspenseful, lots of challenging characters to keep track of, but a great read nonetheless.

[Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

very quick read.

[Louise · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent Story...read it in one day.

From back cover:

"Melanie Starks and her seventeen-year-old son, Charlie, have been running one con job or another for as long as she can remember. Worried about Charlie, though, Melanie is ready to start over. Then her brother, Jared, reappears in her life.

Released on a technicality, Jared Barnett is just out of prison and feeling more invincible than ever. He has the perfect plan to rob a local Nebraska bank, but he needs Melanie's and Charlie's help. Feeling that she owes the brother who saved her from an unspeakably violent childhood, Melanie agrees to Jared's plan.

But within seconds, shots are fired and Jared and Charlie run out of the bank. They are empty-handed and four people are dead. When they refuse to tell her what happened in those few desparate moments, Melanie realizes her brother and son have formed a silent bond. And now they are all on the run from the police, taking a hostage with them and willing to do anything to survive."

[Jim · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow what a thriller! Could not put book down for last 150 pages. Non stop action and suspense throughout. Some really good characters to root for & incredible dialog to go around. Did not really expect the few twists at ending. Which was okay because they added a nice finality to story. Hopefully writer Andrew Kane gets another adventure so he may write more novels. 5 stars out of a possible 5 stars, this one really delivers. I'd highly recommend " One False Move" to anyone who loves a good thriller. Check it out !

[Monika · Rating 4 out of 5]

Idealna książka na lato. Przeczytałam ją wyjątkowo szybko, ale to akurat dlatego, że wciągnęła mnie fabułą (niezbyt skomplikowaną jednak), wartką akcją i dobrą narracją. Polecam czytać w trakcie urlopu, dla relaksu.