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Firm Resolve
When an American couple vanishes in Kuala Lumpur, their teenager struggles to survive. Meanwhile, three entrepreneurs envision their Silicon Valley startup. Years later, the company relocates to Shanghai, where its members enjoy a frivolous ex-pat lifestyle. That is until an executive's wife disappears.
FIRM DENIAL - the follow-up, but a standalone novella is now available.
FIRM DENIAL - the follow-up, but a standalone novella is now available.
247 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 29, 2018
39 people are currently reading
21 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
November 6, 2019
I loved it, and recommend it to anyone who likes mystery, dialogue, and a panorama reaching across continents.
Format: Paperback
The author paints a tapestry of intrigue through quick-paced dialogue with flashbacks to Kuala Lumpur, Berlin, and the Middle East.
What appears initially as a one dimensional character enjoying the frivolous lifestyle of the affluent expats residing in Asia, eventually evolves into a far more complex story than anyone would expect.
Geo-political themes quietly underpin the book, in a manner so subtle, most readers will miss what becomes the focal point of the story.
Format: Paperback
The author paints a tapestry of intrigue through quick-paced dialogue with flashbacks to Kuala Lumpur, Berlin, and the Middle East.
What appears initially as a one dimensional character enjoying the frivolous lifestyle of the affluent expats residing in Asia, eventually evolves into a far more complex story than anyone would expect.
Geo-political themes quietly underpin the book, in a manner so subtle, most readers will miss what becomes the focal point of the story.
January 24, 2019
Intriguing story and fast paced story line. Quick read. Gave insight into life as an Eurasian expat. Hoping for a sequel!
September 28, 2018
fun and very difficult to put down. a really fast and interesting read.
August 14, 2018
Fun & flirty. I really wanted to see Lana & Aaron together. Maybe it will happen in the sequel? Super sexy interactions between them.
March 7, 2019
Very interesting world filled with complex characters! Finished it in a day.
July 5, 2018
Firm Resolve captivates the reader instantly, making it hard for one to put the book down. The story combines culture, ethics, values and adventure in a very creative way. Hoping for a sequel.
June 27, 2018
"Firm Resolve" was a fast and good read. I found the travel across continents
to add to the story. I quickly got involved in the unusual and intriguing story.
Thank you Licia Flynn for writing this novel. And, thank you for using print that
was spaced so that it was easy to read.
to add to the story. I quickly got involved in the unusual and intriguing story.
Thank you Licia Flynn for writing this novel. And, thank you for using print that
was spaced so that it was easy to read.
July 15, 2018
Firm Resolve is the type of book that moves faster with each page. It's like a roller coaster going downhill - it speeds up as the journey progresses.
There's no fat - just rich, meaty morsels of legal, business, and geo-political spices that add flavor without forcing an agenda down anyone's throat. Firm Resolve has loads of perspective from European, Asian, and American ex-pats. Also, you get several points of view: one female, two male, and a 3rd person point of view.
Be careful not to read too fast or you'll miss the breadcrumbs that stir this pot of stew. Plenty of double entendres add texture to this complex, quirky mystery that reads like a stage play with snappy comebacks.
There's no fat - just rich, meaty morsels of legal, business, and geo-political spices that add flavor without forcing an agenda down anyone's throat. Firm Resolve has loads of perspective from European, Asian, and American ex-pats. Also, you get several points of view: one female, two male, and a 3rd person point of view.
Be careful not to read too fast or you'll miss the breadcrumbs that stir this pot of stew. Plenty of double entendres add texture to this complex, quirky mystery that reads like a stage play with snappy comebacks.
March 7, 2019
This book is full of surprises, but all the characters connect and two concurrent stories merge into one. Basically, it's a story about a young woman whose parents disappeared and how she must survive without money while still trying to find out what happened to them. Then it's also a story about greedy pharmaceutical executives who plot corporate takeovers. Towards the middle there are a numerous confrontations that resolve many mysteries including what happened to the main girl --- Natalia during a decade that isn't discussed in most of the book.
Very exciting and can't wait for the sequel.
Seems like there are a lot of characters, but actually there aren't that many: Lana Hayaak, Curt Steiger, Daniel Petersen, Aaron Walker, Ben Chang, and Cindy Han are the only ones you have to pay attention to.
Very exciting and can't wait for the sequel.
Seems like there are a lot of characters, but actually there aren't that many: Lana Hayaak, Curt Steiger, Daniel Petersen, Aaron Walker, Ben Chang, and Cindy Han are the only ones you have to pay attention to.
December 10, 2019
I bought this because I wanted to learn more about China. There are Asians in the book. However, the author never fully develops Chinese culture. She never describes the history or politics. It's like these expats live in their own world & the Asians just exist to support white people.
The ending was pretty cool & unexpected.
The ending was pretty cool & unexpected.
December 10, 2019
Exciting & fast-paced. Light & dark. Crazy ending. Funny, but haunting.
September 30, 2019
Cid Herman
September 22, 2019
This book seems to be missing a crucial element: The Plot!!
I didn't "get" the novel FIRM RESOLVE by Lecia Flynn, at all. I did read the entire book, including the notes for book club discussions, but I still couldn't tell you what point (if any) the author was trying to make with this story.
It felt pointless to me, with almost no action, very little character development, and a plot that i either missed entirely or is just plain missing.
Here is what is clear to me: there is no resolution. The couple interesting things that happen in the book, just happen. We hear about them but don't know why or how... And we never learn how things eventually resolve. ..if they ever do.
The people in the story are almost entirely expats living abroad and they interact with each other almost exclusively in passing, or at frequent clubbing and party events. If you were at the same party it would be like the music was too loud to really have a conversation with any depth, so you go home not knowing anything about the people you have been introduced to. In fact it is exactly like that when you close the book. You never get to know them therefore you don't ever care about what happens to them. But nothing does happen to them anyway. Very little happens in this entire novel.
The main character is also an enigma. Natalia is prickly, easily offended by any man that speaks to her , and is very snarky. No conversation she is part of ever gets deep because she flees whenever things may get interesting. So ...we never really get to know her either. There is nothing carrying the story here -- no dialog, no action and shallow undeveloped characters who don't do much of anything except try to interact with Natalia, who basically shuts everyone down before things can get past superficial. And even though the story covers Natalia's life from age 14 to mid forties we never get to the point where she feels like a real person.
In the midst of the book Natalia ends up married, but there is no hint as to how she got intimate enough with another person to marry them. Their marriage is also an enigma because we are kept in the dark about everything that happened behind the scenes. Nothing is ever explained and since the only things that happen in this book happen behind the scenes...we never know anything at all. We know what Natasha's husband does for a living and that her cat irritates him and that she forgot his birthday. We don't know how they became a couple. We don't know if he loves her or if she loves him. We hear what they talk about, but it is all superficial.
it is a strange reading experience because it feels like the author either knows what is happening and forgot to inform us readers or she was just stringing isolated scenes together and never followed through with the plot she may have started out to write. i really do not "get" this book, and I certainly can't recommend it. i rarely give one star but this book really felt like a waste of time. I don't want to be harsh. Writing a book can't be easy. I also think the author has potential. I do think the author could make this into a decent story, with a rewrite that develops the story line that she starts in the first few pages of the book.
September 22, 2019
This book seems to be missing a crucial element: The Plot!!
I didn't "get" the novel FIRM RESOLVE by Lecia Flynn, at all. I did read the entire book, including the notes for book club discussions, but I still couldn't tell you what point (if any) the author was trying to make with this story.
It felt pointless to me, with almost no action, very little character development, and a plot that i either missed entirely or is just plain missing.
Here is what is clear to me: there is no resolution. The couple interesting things that happen in the book, just happen. We hear about them but don't know why or how... And we never learn how things eventually resolve. ..if they ever do.
The people in the story are almost entirely expats living abroad and they interact with each other almost exclusively in passing, or at frequent clubbing and party events. If you were at the same party it would be like the music was too loud to really have a conversation with any depth, so you go home not knowing anything about the people you have been introduced to. In fact it is exactly like that when you close the book. You never get to know them therefore you don't ever care about what happens to them. But nothing does happen to them anyway. Very little happens in this entire novel.
The main character is also an enigma. Natalia is prickly, easily offended by any man that speaks to her , and is very snarky. No conversation she is part of ever gets deep because she flees whenever things may get interesting. So ...we never really get to know her either. There is nothing carrying the story here -- no dialog, no action and shallow undeveloped characters who don't do much of anything except try to interact with Natalia, who basically shuts everyone down before things can get past superficial. And even though the story covers Natalia's life from age 14 to mid forties we never get to the point where she feels like a real person.
In the midst of the book Natalia ends up married, but there is no hint as to how she got intimate enough with another person to marry them. Their marriage is also an enigma because we are kept in the dark about everything that happened behind the scenes. Nothing is ever explained and since the only things that happen in this book happen behind the scenes...we never know anything at all. We know what Natasha's husband does for a living and that her cat irritates him and that she forgot his birthday. We don't know how they became a couple. We don't know if he loves her or if she loves him. We hear what they talk about, but it is all superficial.
it is a strange reading experience because it feels like the author either knows what is happening and forgot to inform us readers or she was just stringing isolated scenes together and never followed through with the plot she may have started out to write. i really do not "get" this book, and I certainly can't recommend it. i rarely give one star but this book really felt like a waste of time. I don't want to be harsh. Writing a book can't be easy. I also think the author has potential. I do think the author could make this into a decent story, with a rewrite that develops the story line that she starts in the first few pages of the book.
January 18, 2025
Licia Flynn bursts onto the literary scene with her debut novel "Firm Resolve," delivering a multi-layered mystery that keeps you on the edge of your seat from start to finish.
In "Firm Resolve," Flynn masterfully weaves together a tapestry of suspense and intrigue. The novel's protagonist, a resourceful American teenager stranded in Kuala Lumpur, must navigate a world of danger after her parents' mysterious disappearance. Parallel to this, three ambitious entrepreneurs in Silicon Valley dream of tech glory, ultimately leading them to Shanghai. The tension ramps up when an executive's wife goes missing, plunging the characters into a web of secrets and high-stakes drama.
What sets "Firm Resolve" apart from Flynn's more recent work, "Lucifina: The Belle of Hell," is its grounded realism and intricate plotlines.
While "Lucifina: The Belle of Hell" delves into supernatural and fantastic elements, exploring otherworldly realms and existential struggles, "Firm Resolve" shines as a fast-paced, globe-trotting mystery grounded in reality. The former book captivates readers with its imaginative and fantastical narrative, whereas "Firm Resolve" showcases Flynn's storytelling prowess and ability to craft an engaging, real-world thriller. Flynn's deft handling of cultural and ethical themes adds depth to the narrative, making this a must-read for fans of intelligent and thrilling fiction.
The dialogue is sharp, the pacing is relentless, and the characters are compelling. Flynn's ability to blend cultural nuances with suspenseful storytelling makes "Firm Resolve" a standout in the mystery genre. If you're a fan of intricate plots and multifaceted characters, this book will not disappoint.
In "Firm Resolve," Flynn masterfully weaves together a tapestry of suspense and intrigue. The novel's protagonist, a resourceful American teenager stranded in Kuala Lumpur, must navigate a world of danger after her parents' mysterious disappearance. Parallel to this, three ambitious entrepreneurs in Silicon Valley dream of tech glory, ultimately leading them to Shanghai. The tension ramps up when an executive's wife goes missing, plunging the characters into a web of secrets and high-stakes drama.
What sets "Firm Resolve" apart from Flynn's more recent work, "Lucifina: The Belle of Hell," is its grounded realism and intricate plotlines.
While "Lucifina: The Belle of Hell" delves into supernatural and fantastic elements, exploring otherworldly realms and existential struggles, "Firm Resolve" shines as a fast-paced, globe-trotting mystery grounded in reality. The former book captivates readers with its imaginative and fantastical narrative, whereas "Firm Resolve" showcases Flynn's storytelling prowess and ability to craft an engaging, real-world thriller. Flynn's deft handling of cultural and ethical themes adds depth to the narrative, making this a must-read for fans of intelligent and thrilling fiction.
The dialogue is sharp, the pacing is relentless, and the characters are compelling. Flynn's ability to blend cultural nuances with suspenseful storytelling makes "Firm Resolve" a standout in the mystery genre. If you're a fan of intricate plots and multifaceted characters, this book will not disappoint.
December 9, 2019
Sometimes you know exactly what your heart desires, and sometimes your heart leads you to places unknown. That interplay of certitude and ambiguity is the compelling foundation of Firm Resolve.
I find the story's strong and enigmatic protagonist to be very relatable. The story starts when she is a teenager and we see her as she deftly navigates her way through life on her own. I see my younger myself reflected in the protagonist's ambitious 20-something years, reminding me of my time as an engineer in Silicon Valley.
The story's alternating first person narratives and shifting time periods can be a bit challenging to sort through at first. But I find I really enjoy how the author fills in each puzzle piece as the story progresses.
The protagonist's somewhat ambiguous Eurasian identity allows her to fit in when she needs to, but it is clear that she prefers to work apart and alone. It's fun to watch her parry the other characters' advances and questions.
Her travels take her to the Middle East and the West Coast but the bulk of the story takes place in Shanghai and I appreciate the descriptive location details. And references to recent political events give the story a firm sense of place and realism.
It's a fun and fast paced read, and I'm definitely looking forward to the sequel.
I find the story's strong and enigmatic protagonist to be very relatable. The story starts when she is a teenager and we see her as she deftly navigates her way through life on her own. I see my younger myself reflected in the protagonist's ambitious 20-something years, reminding me of my time as an engineer in Silicon Valley.
The story's alternating first person narratives and shifting time periods can be a bit challenging to sort through at first. But I find I really enjoy how the author fills in each puzzle piece as the story progresses.
The protagonist's somewhat ambiguous Eurasian identity allows her to fit in when she needs to, but it is clear that she prefers to work apart and alone. It's fun to watch her parry the other characters' advances and questions.
Her travels take her to the Middle East and the West Coast but the bulk of the story takes place in Shanghai and I appreciate the descriptive location details. And references to recent political events give the story a firm sense of place and realism.
It's a fun and fast paced read, and I'm definitely looking forward to the sequel.
June 14, 2021
This is an excellent read. Complex and intruiging, it follows multiple character perspectives in multiple years in a number of countries. I especially found the time travel quite inventive as it is like skipping stones as the years are like memories that flow back and forth between the present and past and eluding to various futures.
The essence of feminism is consistent even in the male voices that pitter patter through the life of the main lead character. Modern China is showcased within a background of Europ, North America and Russian cultures! Thoroughly fascinating. Loved it!
The essence of feminism is consistent even in the male voices that pitter patter through the life of the main lead character. Modern China is showcased within a background of Europ, North America and Russian cultures! Thoroughly fascinating. Loved it!
August 19, 2018
Licia's Flynn's book was great b/c it hit on issues that interest me -- international community of expats from diverse backgrounds -- since I also lived overseas.
Like the main character, I have an Asian father & Western mother, so it was refreshing to read a story involving Asian & Eurasian men who were masculine, as opposed to either (1) effeminate as stereotyped in popular mainstream movies OR (2) abusive as depicted in Asian American literature.
Licia tells the story from different view points -- 1 female, 2 male, 3rd person & included dialogue from lots of different people. So you get sucked into a world that is very gray, as opposed to black & white.
Like the main character, I have an Asian father & Western mother, so it was refreshing to read a story involving Asian & Eurasian men who were masculine, as opposed to either (1) effeminate as stereotyped in popular mainstream movies OR (2) abusive as depicted in Asian American literature.
Licia tells the story from different view points -- 1 female, 2 male, 3rd person & included dialogue from lots of different people. So you get sucked into a world that is very gray, as opposed to black & white.
August 4, 2020
A winding road that leads to an amazing twist.
This is a literary version of Memento. And I meant that as a compliment. This is a complex but rich read that you'll have to read twice to piece it all together. Ms Flynn is a good author.
This is a literary version of Memento. And I meant that as a compliment. This is a complex but rich read that you'll have to read twice to piece it all together. Ms Flynn is a good author.
December 10, 2019
Fun book!
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews