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Too Far
One night. One date. What have you got to lose?
Jack Harper isn’t a bad man, but he’s stuck in a loveless marriage with a mediocre job just trying to keep sober. The only good thing in his life is his son. When an old college friend introduces him to a new extramarital dating website, he tentatively reaches out to find a distraction from his misery. But when he goes to meet up with his steamy online date, he quickly realises it was a dire choice.
Soon, Jack finds himself desperately trying to prove his innocence for crimes he did not commit, and the life he once had – unhappy as it was – is nothing but a dream. Now, he’s living his worst nightmare. . .
Gripping and packed with shocking twists and turns, this intense psychological thriller plays with a basic anxiety we all harbour: What if one reckless decision could ruin your life forever?
Jack Harper isn’t a bad man, but he’s stuck in a loveless marriage with a mediocre job just trying to keep sober. The only good thing in his life is his son. When an old college friend introduces him to a new extramarital dating website, he tentatively reaches out to find a distraction from his misery. But when he goes to meet up with his steamy online date, he quickly realises it was a dire choice.
Soon, Jack finds himself desperately trying to prove his innocence for crimes he did not commit, and the life he once had – unhappy as it was – is nothing but a dream. Now, he’s living his worst nightmare. . .
Gripping and packed with shocking twists and turns, this intense psychological thriller plays with a basic anxiety we all harbour: What if one reckless decision could ruin your life forever?
308 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 6, 2018
70 people are currently reading
924 people want to read
About the author
Jason Starr
116 books248 followersJason Starr is the international bestselling author of many crime novels and thrillers, including Cold Caller, The Follower, The Pack and The Next Time I Die. He also writes comics for Marvel (Wolverine, The Punisher) and DC (Batman, The Avenger) and original graphic novels such as Red Border and Casual Fling. In addition, he writes film and TV tie-in novels including an official Ant-Man novel and the Gotham novels based on the hit TV show. His books have been published in sixteen languages and several of his novels are in development for film and TV. He has won the Anthony Award for mystery fiction twice, as well as a Barry Award. Starr lives in New York City.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 88 reviews
November 2, 2018
This is a darkly intense and deeply unsettling psychological thriller from Jason Starr set in New York. 44 year old Jason Harper is a struggling real estate agent in dire financial straits having not made a sale for some time. He is hoping to make a substantial commission from a old college mate, Rob McEvoy, a man who has made it big in the music business, but is not a man that Jack likes. Jack had to give up the music business after failing to make it, despite being a talented guitarist. Marriage and family meant he was pushed into more mainstream work. His wife, Maria works full time in PR in a financial services company, and Jack does most of the caring of their son, Jonah, the light of his life. Jack's marriage is a millstone around his neck, it has been emotionally and physically dead for quite a while, and it is only Jonah that keeps Jack sane. His dream is to be shot of his marriage but keeping Jonah.
The obnoxious Rob makes the argument that cheating is a virtue that ensures his marriage survives in the longterm. He says he cannot be caught because he makes use of websites such as Discreet Hook Ups, providing a forum for married people to cheat with other married people. Jack's unhappiness has him curious and he cannot help himself as he peruses Discreet Hook Ups. To his surprise, he finds himself emotionally connecting with a married woman, Fugitive Red, and becoming upbeat and optimistic about life for the first time in years. Fugitive Red makes him feel attractive, sexy and fun, and despite trying not to get further ensnared, he cannot resist the opportunity of meeting the woman that has lit a long forgotten fire within him. However, his actions have Jack's life spiralling out of control, his life becomes a nightmare of a horror story as he loses everything, his marriage, Jonah and his job. Where will it all end?
Jason Starr knows how to write an utterly compelling psychological thriller, full of suspense and tension as he documents Jack's life unravelling. There are twists galore as Jack finds himself tested to the limits of his ability to endure as he sinks to the edges of insanity and begins to doubt his ability to survive the desperate circumstances he finds himself. The bleak atmosphere and the underlying sense of menace ensured that the novel is a chilling but gripping read. A thoroughly entertaining and twisted read for fans who love disturbing psychological mysteries. Many thanks to Oldcastle Books and No Exit Press for an ARC.
The obnoxious Rob makes the argument that cheating is a virtue that ensures his marriage survives in the longterm. He says he cannot be caught because he makes use of websites such as Discreet Hook Ups, providing a forum for married people to cheat with other married people. Jack's unhappiness has him curious and he cannot help himself as he peruses Discreet Hook Ups. To his surprise, he finds himself emotionally connecting with a married woman, Fugitive Red, and becoming upbeat and optimistic about life for the first time in years. Fugitive Red makes him feel attractive, sexy and fun, and despite trying not to get further ensnared, he cannot resist the opportunity of meeting the woman that has lit a long forgotten fire within him. However, his actions have Jack's life spiralling out of control, his life becomes a nightmare of a horror story as he loses everything, his marriage, Jonah and his job. Where will it all end?
Jason Starr knows how to write an utterly compelling psychological thriller, full of suspense and tension as he documents Jack's life unravelling. There are twists galore as Jack finds himself tested to the limits of his ability to endure as he sinks to the edges of insanity and begins to doubt his ability to survive the desperate circumstances he finds himself. The bleak atmosphere and the underlying sense of menace ensured that the novel is a chilling but gripping read. A thoroughly entertaining and twisted read for fans who love disturbing psychological mysteries. Many thanks to Oldcastle Books and No Exit Press for an ARC.
July 1, 2019
This book took me totally by surprise.. I loved it! How have I never heard of Jason Starr before... will be seaking out more books by him. That ending blew me away.. did not see that coming!!!
Life is not always greener on the other side. Jack Harper is a struggling real estate agent in a loveless marriage. When he meets up with an old college mate he find out about an extra marital relationship website and after a fight one night he decides to give it a shot. If only he could go back in time and stay well away!! He sneaks away one night to meet up with his first online friend, only to get caught up in a massive mess!!! He is suddenly on the run, his life turned upside down while he tries to prove his innocence.
An absolute page turner and a book that I shall be telling everyone about. Thanks to No Exit Press and NetGalley for my advanced copy of this book to read. All opinions are my own and are in no way biased
Life is not always greener on the other side. Jack Harper is a struggling real estate agent in a loveless marriage. When he meets up with an old college mate he find out about an extra marital relationship website and after a fight one night he decides to give it a shot. If only he could go back in time and stay well away!! He sneaks away one night to meet up with his first online friend, only to get caught up in a massive mess!!! He is suddenly on the run, his life turned upside down while he tries to prove his innocence.
An absolute page turner and a book that I shall be telling everyone about. Thanks to No Exit Press and NetGalley for my advanced copy of this book to read. All opinions are my own and are in no way biased
November 17, 2018
Too Far, one of many thrillers from popular writer Jason Starr, far exceeded my initial expectations, and so long as you can forgive the lack of realism, you should enjoy this freewheeling suspense-fest. It follows the demise of Jack Harper who, after struggling to make enough money to survive, decides to try his hand at conducting an extra-marital affair. The book explores the old proverb "the grass is always greener on the other side" and proves that this is rarely, if ever, true. By the time Jack realises that his yearning for a better life has caused him spectacular and irreparable damage it's much too late to stop the ball rolling.
Starr's writing is engaging and easy to get into, and the plot and characters are intriguing enough to keep you reading. However, I did find Jack a little annoying at times as he certainly liked to complain about everything from the small things right through to his loveless marriage and issues surrounding his sobriety. From the incident that precipitates the unravelling of his life right through to the conclusion the author cultivates and nurtures an underlying feeling of menace and ratchets up the tension to nail-biting proportions. There are a plethora of twists which add to the unpredictability of this disturbing and incredibly entertaining psychological thriller. Be careful what you wish for!
Many thanks to No Exit Press for an ARC.
Starr's writing is engaging and easy to get into, and the plot and characters are intriguing enough to keep you reading. However, I did find Jack a little annoying at times as he certainly liked to complain about everything from the small things right through to his loveless marriage and issues surrounding his sobriety. From the incident that precipitates the unravelling of his life right through to the conclusion the author cultivates and nurtures an underlying feeling of menace and ratchets up the tension to nail-biting proportions. There are a plethora of twists which add to the unpredictability of this disturbing and incredibly entertaining psychological thriller. Be careful what you wish for!
Many thanks to No Exit Press for an ARC.
November 8, 2018
There's just something about a Jason Starr novel that separates his writing from the rest. Be it the personal narrative surrounding his characters, the easily plausible accidental murder of his killers, or the intense family centered dynamic - all of it jells just right to form a unique blue-collar domestic noir - with a twist.
Fugitive Red is perhaps one of the best yet.
Jack Harper is a struggling New York real estate agent, married to Maria, a successful corporate worker. Their son Jonah is the glue which keeps them together.
When Jack shows an apartment to a former band buddy, his thoughts of a bountiful commission give way to the lure of infidelity. Jack's onetime friend plants the seed of escaping the daily marriage grind by indulging in internet hookups - specifically, hookups for unhappily married people.
The first time is the last time for Jack as his life spirals out of control after finding the woman going by the internet handle 'Fugitive Red' naked and very dead at their designated meet-up spot.
Prime suspect, deadbeat husband, homeless, and attempted kidnapper are just some of the labels he dons during the course of the novel - but nothing is worse than the twist which turns everything on its head.
My rating: 5/5 stars. I can't recommend this book highly enough.
Fugitive Red is perhaps one of the best yet.
Jack Harper is a struggling New York real estate agent, married to Maria, a successful corporate worker. Their son Jonah is the glue which keeps them together.
When Jack shows an apartment to a former band buddy, his thoughts of a bountiful commission give way to the lure of infidelity. Jack's onetime friend plants the seed of escaping the daily marriage grind by indulging in internet hookups - specifically, hookups for unhappily married people.
The first time is the last time for Jack as his life spirals out of control after finding the woman going by the internet handle 'Fugitive Red' naked and very dead at their designated meet-up spot.
Prime suspect, deadbeat husband, homeless, and attempted kidnapper are just some of the labels he dons during the course of the novel - but nothing is worse than the twist which turns everything on its head.
My rating: 5/5 stars. I can't recommend this book highly enough.
October 31, 2018
Jack is not happy with his marriage. He and Maria have grown apart. She's not interested in anything he does .... he's not happy in his job. He only stays because of his young son. They both love their son, but they're living like roommates .. or brother and sister.
When a friend of Jack's tells him about a new dating site for married cheaters, Jack visits the web site just to see what it's all about.
But Jack is roped in by a woman who calls herself Fugitive Red. He's intrigued ... they have so much in common. He's not happy with his marriage, she says her husband is abusive.
They make plans to meet face to face .... but Jack decides he just can't go through cheating on his wife. But he does want to meet this wonderful sounding woman and tell her face to face.
What he finds is going to turn his whole life upside down. Fugitive Red is waiting ... on the bed ... strangled by a red tie. Jack instantly becomes the prime suspect.
This was quite a roller coaster ride. With more bodies being found that are linked to Jack have him wondering if he IS the killer. He is a recovering alcoholic, but is he having black outs? Is someone trying to frame him? Can the investigating cops be involved?
This is a real hand wringer, full of action and angst watching as Jack's life falls apart. There are twists and turns leading to an OMG ending that seemed to come out of nowhere.
Many thanks the to the author / Oceanview Publishing / Edelweiss for the advanced digital copy of this psychological thriller. Opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
When a friend of Jack's tells him about a new dating site for married cheaters, Jack visits the web site just to see what it's all about.
But Jack is roped in by a woman who calls herself Fugitive Red. He's intrigued ... they have so much in common. He's not happy with his marriage, she says her husband is abusive.
They make plans to meet face to face .... but Jack decides he just can't go through cheating on his wife. But he does want to meet this wonderful sounding woman and tell her face to face.
What he finds is going to turn his whole life upside down. Fugitive Red is waiting ... on the bed ... strangled by a red tie. Jack instantly becomes the prime suspect.
This was quite a roller coaster ride. With more bodies being found that are linked to Jack have him wondering if he IS the killer. He is a recovering alcoholic, but is he having black outs? Is someone trying to frame him? Can the investigating cops be involved?
This is a real hand wringer, full of action and angst watching as Jack's life falls apart. There are twists and turns leading to an OMG ending that seemed to come out of nowhere.
Many thanks the to the author / Oceanview Publishing / Edelweiss for the advanced digital copy of this psychological thriller. Opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
December 23, 2020
⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2
Noir is sometimes defined by the terrible decisions that our loser "hero" makes. In this latest book by crime author Jason Starr, our protagonist stands out, making some of the dumber decisions I've read in a while. But that's not a terrible thing as it was fun reading about this dumbass flounder with every decision he tries to make, digging himself deeper and deeper into the shit, after he tries to spice up his love life by cheating on his wife on a dating app and then subsequently getting caught up in a murder plot.
It's an entertaining, if modest, thriller that takes interesting turns and moves at a great pace. But it doesn't really go far with its drama, chickening out at the end and missing exciting opportunities to take advantage of its cool twists in favor of a disappointingly tidy ending. It was all a little too safe and I wish it was a bit more courageous in its choices.
Noir is sometimes defined by the terrible decisions that our loser "hero" makes. In this latest book by crime author Jason Starr, our protagonist stands out, making some of the dumber decisions I've read in a while. But that's not a terrible thing as it was fun reading about this dumbass flounder with every decision he tries to make, digging himself deeper and deeper into the shit, after he tries to spice up his love life by cheating on his wife on a dating app and then subsequently getting caught up in a murder plot.
It's an entertaining, if modest, thriller that takes interesting turns and moves at a great pace. But it doesn't really go far with its drama, chickening out at the end and missing exciting opportunities to take advantage of its cool twists in favor of a disappointingly tidy ending. It was all a little too safe and I wish it was a bit more courageous in its choices.
May 4, 2018
Starr has given us a story about self-destruction and desperation. Jack once had a drinking problem. Now he sort of has an infidelity issue, and somehow you know that meeting someone, no matter how provocative she texts, meeting some stranger online just ain't the smartest idea. No matter how rough his marriage looks right now, this meetup is going to send Jack crashing over the cliff edge and bouncing off the cliff walls like some crazy pinball out of control. And once you go over that edge, well, it just sort of all unravels and everything falls apart and everything you thought you could rely on disappears.
November 21, 2018
Jack Harper is of that age where it can make you panic and do daft things. At 44 he isn’t getting any younger and as the years go by he will have even less chance of happiness. Poor Jack was putting up with marriage rather than being part of it and he had been ok about that. Then Jack bumps into an old college mate who has an enviable life style but like everything else even he wants more. Jack is a realtor and is showing him round a two million dollar apartment that he wants to use just to sleep with women on the quiet. All in all it leaves Jack restless with his humdrum life and so he begins to dabble on a website his college buddy told him about. A real simple arrangement, chat to a woman who is also in a rut, meet up, sleep together, I say that very loosely, and move on!
Now I aren’t in agreement with this sort of thing but really you need to meet his wife. Oh wow can she put poor Jack in his place. So I am thinking, ‘you go for it son’, ‘go and grab a bit of human friendship and possibly more’. Now in the pages that follow it is almost like you can hear Jack’s happiness. He is glowing from these pages. But when things go belly up Jack has to do the right thing, while I am shouting at my book run Jack, run! Now things don’t go from bad to worse, they go from bad to you don’t have a life left! Now this story really takes off.
How can doing the right thing be so wrong? I hated the so-called good guys and wanted to kill the bad ones. I was revved up, I was ready to shake some people and would have gladly served time to sort others out! I really had to finish this book in one sitting, with watch the hand gestures to any interruptions while I was reading.
I just love a book that gets me so worked up and angry at characters for me this is job well done for any author. Just when I think I have everything sussed I was thrown in this story, mouth open sort of thrown. Talk about pushing someone’s buttons the wrong way, well these ones really did pop big style, as it just keeps doing the twist like a 1960’s dancing champion, with every single page more shocking than the one before. A super read and perfect end for me.
Now I aren’t in agreement with this sort of thing but really you need to meet his wife. Oh wow can she put poor Jack in his place. So I am thinking, ‘you go for it son’, ‘go and grab a bit of human friendship and possibly more’. Now in the pages that follow it is almost like you can hear Jack’s happiness. He is glowing from these pages. But when things go belly up Jack has to do the right thing, while I am shouting at my book run Jack, run! Now things don’t go from bad to worse, they go from bad to you don’t have a life left! Now this story really takes off.
How can doing the right thing be so wrong? I hated the so-called good guys and wanted to kill the bad ones. I was revved up, I was ready to shake some people and would have gladly served time to sort others out! I really had to finish this book in one sitting, with watch the hand gestures to any interruptions while I was reading.
I just love a book that gets me so worked up and angry at characters for me this is job well done for any author. Just when I think I have everything sussed I was thrown in this story, mouth open sort of thrown. Talk about pushing someone’s buttons the wrong way, well these ones really did pop big style, as it just keeps doing the twist like a 1960’s dancing champion, with every single page more shocking than the one before. A super read and perfect end for me.
August 20, 2020
Jack Harper steckt fest: in einem Job, der ihn nicht erfüllt, in einer Ehe, in der er sich nicht mehr wohl fühlt, kurz in einem Leben, das er so nie wollte. Früher war er ein Rockstar, spielte Gitarre und war ständig auf der Bühne, heute ist er Immobilienmakler und redet kaum noch mit seiner Frau. Einziger Lichtblick ist sein Sohn. Als ein früherer Freund Jack von einer Online-Dating-Seite für Verheiratete erzählt, zögert Jack zunächst - doch was hat er zu verlieren? Sehr, sehr viel wie sich herausstellt...
"Seitensprung" von Jason Starr war so ein Thriller, bei dem ich leider von Anfang an wusste, wie er ausgeht. Mir war sofort klar, wer hinter den Morden und den Versuchen, Jack das Leben schwer zu machen, steckt, selbst das kleinste Detail war mir schon bewusst - und sowas macht mir ein Buch, das eigentlich spannend sein soll, total kaputt. Vielleicht hätte man hinten auf den Klappentext nicht drucken sollen, dass das Buch an "Gone Girl" von Gillian Flynn erinnert, für mich war das nämlich schon ein Hinweis zu viel.
Selbst wenn man aber nicht gleich eins und eins zusammenzählt ist dieser Thriller in meinen Augen ziemlich nichtssagend. Der Protagonist hat mich kalt gelassen, ich fand ihn sehr unsympathisch und auch irgendwie naiv. Auch alle anderen Figuren im Buch waren entweder zu überzogen oder zu blass, von der Frau von Jack über sein Kind bis zu den Officers, die ihn verhören. Auch das Potential des Settings New York wurde nicht genutzt.
Ein mittelmäßiger Schreibstil kann das Ganze dann für mich auch nicht mehr retten. 1,5 / 5 🌟 gibt es trotzdem, weil ich ich das Buch nicht abgebrochen habe und mich der Fall zumindest an ein, zwei Stellen ein bisschen fesseln konnte. Ich werde wohl keinen Thriller von Jason Starr mehr lesen.
"Seitensprung" von Jason Starr war so ein Thriller, bei dem ich leider von Anfang an wusste, wie er ausgeht. Mir war sofort klar, wer hinter den Morden und den Versuchen, Jack das Leben schwer zu machen, steckt, selbst das kleinste Detail war mir schon bewusst - und sowas macht mir ein Buch, das eigentlich spannend sein soll, total kaputt. Vielleicht hätte man hinten auf den Klappentext nicht drucken sollen, dass das Buch an "Gone Girl" von Gillian Flynn erinnert, für mich war das nämlich schon ein Hinweis zu viel.
Selbst wenn man aber nicht gleich eins und eins zusammenzählt ist dieser Thriller in meinen Augen ziemlich nichtssagend. Der Protagonist hat mich kalt gelassen, ich fand ihn sehr unsympathisch und auch irgendwie naiv. Auch alle anderen Figuren im Buch waren entweder zu überzogen oder zu blass, von der Frau von Jack über sein Kind bis zu den Officers, die ihn verhören. Auch das Potential des Settings New York wurde nicht genutzt.
Ein mittelmäßiger Schreibstil kann das Ganze dann für mich auch nicht mehr retten. 1,5 / 5 🌟 gibt es trotzdem, weil ich ich das Buch nicht abgebrochen habe und mich der Fall zumindest an ein, zwei Stellen ein bisschen fesseln konnte. Ich werde wohl keinen Thriller von Jason Starr mehr lesen.
September 24, 2018
Outstanding shocker of a thriller with enough sudden twists to give a reader whiplash.
Jack Harper is a real estate agent and a member of AA.
He's abstained from alcohol for almost 6 years after a series of black-out drunks and a few violent episodes.
He's married to a woman -Maria- who is the mother of the son he adores.
Jack only stays with Maria because of his love for his young son.
Jack & Maria haven't had sex in over 4 and 1/2 years.
Maria's the family breadwinner. Jack's success as a real estate agent in Manhattan is less than stellar.
One night, after learning of a website "Discreet Hook-Ups" or "D-Ho", a site that allows unhappily married men and women to hook-up with other unhappily married men and women, a woman who calls herself "Fugitive Red" initiates a hot and horny chat session with Jack.
They chat back and forth for several weeks.
Finally they decide to meet up for a bit of the old in-n-out.
It is then that Fugitive Red tells Jack that's she's sort of a kink -she likes being tied up and engaging in rough sex.
Very rough sex.
You see where this is going, right?
Of course you do ...Jack goes to Fugitive Red's condo for a night of extra-marital sex and darn it to heck, wouldn't you know it? She's been MURDERED!
And guess who the homicide detectives' only suspect is?
But this is a Jason Starr novel so abandon all the usual expectations.
It's a harrowing, dread inducing, thrill ride all the way to the final page.
Highest Possible Recommendation.
Note:
I received an advanced epub copy of this novel from the publisher in exchange for a review.
Jack Harper is a real estate agent and a member of AA.
He's abstained from alcohol for almost 6 years after a series of black-out drunks and a few violent episodes.
He's married to a woman -Maria- who is the mother of the son he adores.
Jack only stays with Maria because of his love for his young son.
Jack & Maria haven't had sex in over 4 and 1/2 years.
Maria's the family breadwinner. Jack's success as a real estate agent in Manhattan is less than stellar.
One night, after learning of a website "Discreet Hook-Ups" or "D-Ho", a site that allows unhappily married men and women to hook-up with other unhappily married men and women, a woman who calls herself "Fugitive Red" initiates a hot and horny chat session with Jack.
They chat back and forth for several weeks.
Finally they decide to meet up for a bit of the old in-n-out.
It is then that Fugitive Red tells Jack that's she's sort of a kink -she likes being tied up and engaging in rough sex.
Very rough sex.
You see where this is going, right?
Of course you do ...Jack goes to Fugitive Red's condo for a night of extra-marital sex and darn it to heck, wouldn't you know it? She's been MURDERED!
And guess who the homicide detectives' only suspect is?
But this is a Jason Starr novel so abandon all the usual expectations.
It's a harrowing, dread inducing, thrill ride all the way to the final page.
Highest Possible Recommendation.
Note:
I received an advanced epub copy of this novel from the publisher in exchange for a review.
January 31, 2019
Jason Starr tells a tale of internet hookups gone wrong and its...wrong. The book is extremely predictable and strange. There are definite ideas here that could have worked but it is just bizarre how off the rails things go and how the characters react to these events. The main character is not likable. The ending was atrocious and a letdown for what could have been. Overall, an underwhelming read, to say the least.
November 28, 2018
Why have I never read books by Jason Starr before?! I have to admit to never having heard of him before reading Too Far but I was tempted to read this “unknown to me” author as the blurb sounded right up my street. And now that I’ve finished my first ever Jason Starr book, I want to read another one!! And then another one!! Yes, Too Far really did impress me that much-I bloody loved it and read it in one night whilst suffering from a bout of insomnia (note for insomniacs-do NOT read Jason Starr novels if you are trying to read yourself to sleep! NOT GOING TO HAPPEN!!)
This thrillers starts off by introducing the reader to Jack. Now Jack is an okay guy! Yes, he’s not exactly the best realtor or husband but he’s a brilliant father to his son. He attends regular AA meetings as a recovering alcoholic but is proud of his sobriety. His marriage is staler than the crusts in my bread bin but after a conversation with an old friend Jack decides to spice his life up a little by trying a dating app for married people looking for a little extra “fun” in their lives. Big mistake! And now Jack is fighting to prove his innocence after being accused of a crime he didn’t commit…
I did feel really sorry for Jack! He was stuck in a marriage where he hadn’t had a physical relationship with his wife for years but what in the hell was he thinking by signing up to that website?! I wasn’t sure if he was just naive or desperate to be wanted for himself rather than a husband/father/provider. His old friend Rob was a brilliant character with some of the best lines in the book even though I felt embarrassed for him with most of them! And I loved how Jack got his own back later on for introducing him to thoughts of online extramarital naughtiness! Nice touch!
This was a fast paced, thrill a minute read that was easy to get engrossed in and extremely difficult to put down! The tension was kept high throughout as the reader cheers on the likeable Jack, hoping that he can work out how to prove his innocence. And that ending!! Just the perfect way to bring this enjoyable thriller to a close.
If you’ve not read anything by this author before, you really must give him a go! Highly recommended by me!
This thrillers starts off by introducing the reader to Jack. Now Jack is an okay guy! Yes, he’s not exactly the best realtor or husband but he’s a brilliant father to his son. He attends regular AA meetings as a recovering alcoholic but is proud of his sobriety. His marriage is staler than the crusts in my bread bin but after a conversation with an old friend Jack decides to spice his life up a little by trying a dating app for married people looking for a little extra “fun” in their lives. Big mistake! And now Jack is fighting to prove his innocence after being accused of a crime he didn’t commit…
I did feel really sorry for Jack! He was stuck in a marriage where he hadn’t had a physical relationship with his wife for years but what in the hell was he thinking by signing up to that website?! I wasn’t sure if he was just naive or desperate to be wanted for himself rather than a husband/father/provider. His old friend Rob was a brilliant character with some of the best lines in the book even though I felt embarrassed for him with most of them! And I loved how Jack got his own back later on for introducing him to thoughts of online extramarital naughtiness! Nice touch!
This was a fast paced, thrill a minute read that was easy to get engrossed in and extremely difficult to put down! The tension was kept high throughout as the reader cheers on the likeable Jack, hoping that he can work out how to prove his innocence. And that ending!! Just the perfect way to bring this enjoyable thriller to a close.
If you’ve not read anything by this author before, you really must give him a go! Highly recommended by me!
January 19, 2019
Jason Starr is one of my favorite neo-noir writers in the biz today. This one is a classic setup wherein a relatively good guy (given that he's tempted to cheat on his wife) makes bad choices that kick open a chain of events that threaten to drown him. You want to feel sorry for characters like this, but you reserve your empathy because maybe, just maybe...well, you have to read it for yourself. I think of this novel as a companion to Savage Lane, also by Jason Starr. Recommended!
December 27, 2018
Wow wow and WOW!! This is how I was feeling after discovering Jason Starr- I can’t believe I haven’t discovered him sooner, I absolutely devoured this book in three days I was completely hooked, when I managed to tear myself away I was thinking about the main character Jack and what events will next unfold?? The opening chapters grab your attention immediately, we are introduced to jack Harper a real estate agent who is desperate to make a good retail sale to receive some good commission, he’s showing a multi million deal property to an old acquaintance Rob who jack knows from his days when he was younger and had a love and passion for music and they were in a band together, however Rob is now a millionaire and pretty arrogant, he brags to Jack about meeting various women on a cheating website calling discreet hookups, jack is disgusted at first but things aren’t going well between jack and his wife Maria, Maria is quite cold towards jack and patronising there’s no love or chemistry between them, not something jack would normally do but feeling down about his life he decides there would be no harm in having a look on discreet hookups what has he got to loose if no one knows & it’s some harmless flirting?? Little does jack know it will turn his entire life on it’s head.. I really liked and empathised with Jacks character he is a fantastic doting dad to his ten year old son, I don’t agree on infidelity at all but I couldn’t help but understand why jack felt desperate enough to sign up for discreet hookups to feel some attention after his wife Maria is pretty awful to him. I absolutely couldn’t let go of this book, the developments were so unexpected when I thought I had the twists figured out I’d be hit with another unexpected turn, each chapter ends with a cliff hanger which makes you extremely eager to read more, I LOVED this novel, I think it would make a fantastic screen production. I can’t wait to read this authors other reads. *I purchased with my own money*
January 23, 2022
Es stand mal wieder ein Thriller aus dem Diogenes Verlag an. Diesmal habe ich mich für „Seitensprung“ von Jason Starr entschieden. In dem Buch geht es um Jack Harper, der zurzeit in einer Midlife-Crisis steht. Seine Ehe zu seiner Frau Maria steht auf Eis – nur sein Sohn Jonah gibt ihm noch halt. Aufgrund eines fehlenden Liebesleben entscheidet er, sich bei einer Dating-Plattform anzumelden. Er lernt eine Frau kennen und zu spät merkt Jack, dass er damit den größten Fehler seines Lebens begangen hat. Er wird in eine Spirale voller Skandale gewickelt, aus der es kein Entrinnen gibt.
Durchaus kann ich behaupten, dass der Thriller hervorragend geschrieben worden ist. Er hat sich sehr leicht gelesen und die ab und zu auftauchenden Chats zwischen Jack und weiteren Personen erleichtern den Lesefluss.
Leider war die Handlung für mich persönlich sehr vorhersehbar. Wenn man schon den ein oder anderen „Gossip-“ bzw. Familienthriller gelesen hat, kann man schon nach dem ersten Drittel des Buches vorausahnen, wie sich die Handlung weiterentwickeln wird. Hier könnte ich mir vorstellen, dass der Autor noch die ein oder andere unvorhersehbare Wendung einbauen könnte.
Auch wenn Jack als Figur recht naiv war, konnte ich dennoch seine Gefühlslage nachvollziehen, da der Autor seine Gedanken authentisch entworfen hat. Teilweise tat mir sein resultierendes Schicksal leid, auch wenn er selbst irgendwie schuld daran ist. Ich hätte mir in Bezug auf die anderen Figuren noch eine viel intensivere Thematisierung gewünscht. Figuren wie sein Sohn Jonah, seine Frau, der Officer, Arbeitskollegen usw. waren für mich leider nicht greifbar. Somit nahm ich ein nicht genutztes Potential in der Figurengestaltung wahr. Zudem ging das Setting der Großstadt-Metropole New York irgendwie unter. Ich fühlte mich eher, als ob ich vom Setting her in einer Kleinstadt war.
Fazit: Der Thriller „Seitensprung“ wird meiner Meinung nach für Thriller-Fans sehr antizipierbar sein. „Thriller-Neulinge“ werden eventuell mit diesem Buch die ein oder andere spannende Lesestunde verbringen können. Die Charakterdarstellung war nur bei Jack gut ausgearbeitet worden – andere Figuren bleiben blass. Deswegen kann ich im Allgemeinen das Buch nur mit 2,5 Sternen, Tendenz nach oben, bewerten.
Durchaus kann ich behaupten, dass der Thriller hervorragend geschrieben worden ist. Er hat sich sehr leicht gelesen und die ab und zu auftauchenden Chats zwischen Jack und weiteren Personen erleichtern den Lesefluss.
Leider war die Handlung für mich persönlich sehr vorhersehbar. Wenn man schon den ein oder anderen „Gossip-“ bzw. Familienthriller gelesen hat, kann man schon nach dem ersten Drittel des Buches vorausahnen, wie sich die Handlung weiterentwickeln wird. Hier könnte ich mir vorstellen, dass der Autor noch die ein oder andere unvorhersehbare Wendung einbauen könnte.
Auch wenn Jack als Figur recht naiv war, konnte ich dennoch seine Gefühlslage nachvollziehen, da der Autor seine Gedanken authentisch entworfen hat. Teilweise tat mir sein resultierendes Schicksal leid, auch wenn er selbst irgendwie schuld daran ist. Ich hätte mir in Bezug auf die anderen Figuren noch eine viel intensivere Thematisierung gewünscht. Figuren wie sein Sohn Jonah, seine Frau, der Officer, Arbeitskollegen usw. waren für mich leider nicht greifbar. Somit nahm ich ein nicht genutztes Potential in der Figurengestaltung wahr. Zudem ging das Setting der Großstadt-Metropole New York irgendwie unter. Ich fühlte mich eher, als ob ich vom Setting her in einer Kleinstadt war.
Fazit: Der Thriller „Seitensprung“ wird meiner Meinung nach für Thriller-Fans sehr antizipierbar sein. „Thriller-Neulinge“ werden eventuell mit diesem Buch die ein oder andere spannende Lesestunde verbringen können. Die Charakterdarstellung war nur bei Jack gut ausgearbeitet worden – andere Figuren bleiben blass. Deswegen kann ich im Allgemeinen das Buch nur mit 2,5 Sternen, Tendenz nach oben, bewerten.
August 12, 2019
This book was great! It was full of shocks and twists that I never saw coming and had such a gripping, original plot.
In Too Far we follow Jack, a family man living in New York who is desperately unhappy with his marriage and his life in general. After meeting up with an old friend, he decides to join an extramarital dating site and that’s where all of his problems begin...
I really loved Jack’s character, I felt like he was portrayed in a realistic way and the first person narrative made the whole book feel like I was inside his head, experiencing the story through his life. The New York setting worked really well with the plot and I liked how I could pinpoint exactly where the events were taking place throughout the story with the specific street and avenue references.
The only criticism I have is that I felt some aspects of the text and plot were repeated several times in the same way which did make the reading slightly disjointed.
Overall, this was a really intriguing, gripping and original thriller novel and I thoroughly enjoyed it! - 4 stars🌟🌟🌟🌟
Thank you to No Exit Press for gifting me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
In Too Far we follow Jack, a family man living in New York who is desperately unhappy with his marriage and his life in general. After meeting up with an old friend, he decides to join an extramarital dating site and that’s where all of his problems begin...
I really loved Jack’s character, I felt like he was portrayed in a realistic way and the first person narrative made the whole book feel like I was inside his head, experiencing the story through his life. The New York setting worked really well with the plot and I liked how I could pinpoint exactly where the events were taking place throughout the story with the specific street and avenue references.
The only criticism I have is that I felt some aspects of the text and plot were repeated several times in the same way which did make the reading slightly disjointed.
Overall, this was a really intriguing, gripping and original thriller novel and I thoroughly enjoyed it! - 4 stars🌟🌟🌟🌟
Thank you to No Exit Press for gifting me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
November 8, 2018
This book was not for me.
Jack is stuck in a loveless marriage with a job he hates and is just trying to stay sober for his son. An old friend introduces him to an extramarital dating site and one night he checks it out. When he goes to meet up for a date his life quickly goes downhill. He has to fight to prove his innocence and risks losing everything. He longs to go back in time to the life he once hated.
I struggled with pretty much all of it. I found Jack a really annoying character. He was just super moany and I could not connect with him at all. The lead detective guy was super unrealistic as well. His attitudes just switched halfway through and he became a completely different guy.
I also found the book pretty long-winded and I found myself switching off and skim reading. I just wanted it to end so I could find out what happened and get on with my life. Unfortunately, I saw the supposed “twist” coming a mile off which meant the ending was a bit disappointing.
Thank you to Jason Starr and the publishers for a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review
Jack is stuck in a loveless marriage with a job he hates and is just trying to stay sober for his son. An old friend introduces him to an extramarital dating site and one night he checks it out. When he goes to meet up for a date his life quickly goes downhill. He has to fight to prove his innocence and risks losing everything. He longs to go back in time to the life he once hated.
I struggled with pretty much all of it. I found Jack a really annoying character. He was just super moany and I could not connect with him at all. The lead detective guy was super unrealistic as well. His attitudes just switched halfway through and he became a completely different guy.
I also found the book pretty long-winded and I found myself switching off and skim reading. I just wanted it to end so I could find out what happened and get on with my life. Unfortunately, I saw the supposed “twist” coming a mile off which meant the ending was a bit disappointing.
Thank you to Jason Starr and the publishers for a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review
November 18, 2018
Fast-moving quick read from Starr that offers thrills and mystery.
4.5 stars.
Savage Lane was a memorable read a couple of years ago, and on the strength of that I decided to read this from the same author. That novel is also referenced a couple of times in here, which didn't go unnoticed.
This almost feels like a novella, but with all the action of a full-length novel. It moves quickly from scene to scene, ratcheting up the horror and mess every few minutes. It starts with a bad decision and quickly escalates into a nightmare 'what if' that shows how fast a life can unravel.
Jack Harper is a recovering alcoholic, he adores his son but his marriage is somewhat stale. Not happy in his work as an estate agent either, he is tempted to look into an extramarital 'cheating' website but a client he knows from his music days, and soons forms a connection with a like-minded married woman that he uneasily agrees to meet.
But when the meeting goes as badly as it is possible to go, Jack quickly finds himself a wanted man, with more than he realised to lose.
Of course, as a reader you will most likely, like me, be telling Jack not to use the website, not to talk to the woman, not to meet the woman. So when he goes against our 'advice' and does so, you know he's asking for trouble. But still, you do feel for Jack. He's flawed, but he's human. He may be slightly naive:
"Soon things would return to normal. I'd get another chance, and this time I wouldn't make the mistake I'd made before."
His naivety becomes a little annoying actually, lasting a long way into the book.
We don't see as much of the wife and son for the majority of the book to think of them as much other than background, so it's Jack and a zealous police officer who command our time and attention. The hunter and the hunted. Jack keeps digging his own grave a little deeper, making bad decisions and exasperating me somewhat.
But of course, his situation leaves him with few options. It's a rollercoaster ride, fast and furious, a life changed in minutes, a mystery for Jack to solve whilst trying to rebuild his fractured existence, and as a parent, I did identify with his desperate need to see and reassure his son.
Not as biting as Savage Lane, entertaining though and darkly humorous, a good popcorn thriller with psychological elements and surprises that would play well on a screen.
With thanks to Netgalley for providing a sample e-copy.
4.5 stars.
Savage Lane was a memorable read a couple of years ago, and on the strength of that I decided to read this from the same author. That novel is also referenced a couple of times in here, which didn't go unnoticed.
This almost feels like a novella, but with all the action of a full-length novel. It moves quickly from scene to scene, ratcheting up the horror and mess every few minutes. It starts with a bad decision and quickly escalates into a nightmare 'what if' that shows how fast a life can unravel.
Jack Harper is a recovering alcoholic, he adores his son but his marriage is somewhat stale. Not happy in his work as an estate agent either, he is tempted to look into an extramarital 'cheating' website but a client he knows from his music days, and soons forms a connection with a like-minded married woman that he uneasily agrees to meet.
But when the meeting goes as badly as it is possible to go, Jack quickly finds himself a wanted man, with more than he realised to lose.
Of course, as a reader you will most likely, like me, be telling Jack not to use the website, not to talk to the woman, not to meet the woman. So when he goes against our 'advice' and does so, you know he's asking for trouble. But still, you do feel for Jack. He's flawed, but he's human. He may be slightly naive:
"Soon things would return to normal. I'd get another chance, and this time I wouldn't make the mistake I'd made before."
His naivety becomes a little annoying actually, lasting a long way into the book.
We don't see as much of the wife and son for the majority of the book to think of them as much other than background, so it's Jack and a zealous police officer who command our time and attention. The hunter and the hunted. Jack keeps digging his own grave a little deeper, making bad decisions and exasperating me somewhat.
But of course, his situation leaves him with few options. It's a rollercoaster ride, fast and furious, a life changed in minutes, a mystery for Jack to solve whilst trying to rebuild his fractured existence, and as a parent, I did identify with his desperate need to see and reassure his son.
Not as biting as Savage Lane, entertaining though and darkly humorous, a good popcorn thriller with psychological elements and surprises that would play well on a screen.
With thanks to Netgalley for providing a sample e-copy.
February 17, 2019
Welcome to Fatal Attraction for the AshleyMadison age. Any male readers harboring adulterous fantasies are in for an acute case of ED. This is aversion therapy at its finest, but a flawed book in other respects. "Fugitive Red" aka Too Far's Jack Harper is one clueless dude. If he were not a fictional character he would be too stupid to live in Manhattan. Getting manipulated by a random person on an online extramarital hookup site, is probably enough to get your residency permit revoked in digitally sophisticated NYC. As a consequence of his stupidity, his life gets systematically destroyed. You’d think author Jason Starr would be able to use this disassembling of a life to evoke some sympathy, but it swings the other way.
There is something innately unsympathetic about a character whose problems are exacerbated by poor impulse control. It’s so hard not to be a bit self-righteous and think he is an idiot for not just reining it in. Stop digging ... and all that. The book's blurb says, "What if one reckless decision could ruin your life forever?" Were that it was just one reckless decision. But Harper seems to be one of those people who struggles to get his emotions under control and seems addicted to making frequent impulse purchases at the bad decision boutique. This 40 something Dad acts like a hormone-addled teenager most of the time. I got tired of his behavior early on and it just got more and more exasperating with every turn of the page. The constant lying to everyone about everything is exhausting. Maybe it’s the daily barrage of lies from our First Fabulist, but I am discovering I have zero tolerance for someone who can’t seem to grasp the essential value of truth. I don’t know about this book. It has a certain oddly appealing hackish quality about it. And its propulsive pacing pulls you along. Never a dull moment. I was entertained but also frequently annoyed by the poor writing and the daytime-tv shallowness of the characters.
There is something innately unsympathetic about a character whose problems are exacerbated by poor impulse control. It’s so hard not to be a bit self-righteous and think he is an idiot for not just reining it in. Stop digging ... and all that. The book's blurb says, "What if one reckless decision could ruin your life forever?" Were that it was just one reckless decision. But Harper seems to be one of those people who struggles to get his emotions under control and seems addicted to making frequent impulse purchases at the bad decision boutique. This 40 something Dad acts like a hormone-addled teenager most of the time. I got tired of his behavior early on and it just got more and more exasperating with every turn of the page. The constant lying to everyone about everything is exhausting. Maybe it’s the daily barrage of lies from our First Fabulist, but I am discovering I have zero tolerance for someone who can’t seem to grasp the essential value of truth. I don’t know about this book. It has a certain oddly appealing hackish quality about it. And its propulsive pacing pulls you along. Never a dull moment. I was entertained but also frequently annoyed by the poor writing and the daytime-tv shallowness of the characters.
December 9, 2018
How to commit a crime and get away with it? Frame someone else and watch as their life implodes and that someone hits rock bottom. That’s what’s happened to our main man Jack – well he’s the one who is being framed!
Jack has got himself in a right pickle and is desperate for the police to believe him. So Jack where do you think it all went wrong? And yes Jack, it’s gone horribly horribly wrong…
I thought there was a brilliant build between Jack and Fugitive _red to a sexual charged “conversation” only for Jack to be left high and dry when he goes to met this sexy woman. Jack’s life starts to crumble around him and there is little he can do to stop it! The author has created a scenario that was only ever going to end in tears but nothing was quite what I imagined when Jack initially registers with the dating website.
I found Too Far very easy to read, slipped in to Jack’s unhappy marriage. I devoured this book over two evenings. The writing drew me in to Jack’s dilemma trying to find him a way out. Jason Starr isn’t an author I’d heard of before but I’ll definitely be looking up his other books. He writes a cracking crime story!
Jack has got himself in a right pickle and is desperate for the police to believe him. So Jack where do you think it all went wrong? And yes Jack, it’s gone horribly horribly wrong…
I thought there was a brilliant build between Jack and Fugitive _red to a sexual charged “conversation” only for Jack to be left high and dry when he goes to met this sexy woman. Jack’s life starts to crumble around him and there is little he can do to stop it! The author has created a scenario that was only ever going to end in tears but nothing was quite what I imagined when Jack initially registers with the dating website.
I found Too Far very easy to read, slipped in to Jack’s unhappy marriage. I devoured this book over two evenings. The writing drew me in to Jack’s dilemma trying to find him a way out. Jason Starr isn’t an author I’d heard of before but I’ll definitely be looking up his other books. He writes a cracking crime story!
December 3, 2019
2.5 ... First page in I thought I was going to love this book but unfortunately that feeling stopped after 1/3 way in and the ending ? Meh!
May 31, 2020
Schon länger kriselt es in der Ehe des Immobilienmaklers Jack Harper und seiner Frau Maria. Als ihm ein alter Kumpel die Dating App Discreet Hookups empfiehlt, kann er schließlich nicht widerstehen und meldet sich an. Schnell lernt er dort eine Frau kennen, die ihn offenbar versteht und sich in einer ähnlich verfahrenen Ehe zu befinden scheint. Sie vereinbaren ein Treffen, doch als Jack am Townhouse der mysteriösen Unbekannten ankommt, macht er eine böse Entdeckung: Sophie Ward wurde ermordet. Er versucht noch, sie wiederzubeleben und wählt dann erst den Notruf, nicht ahnend, dass er selbst nun als Hauptverdächtiger bei der Polizei gilt. Während Jack noch darüber grübelt, wie er seine Frau den nicht erfolgten Seitensprung beibringen kann, zieht sich die Schlinge um seinen Hals langsam zu und die Illusion, dass er Maria die Situation erklären könnte, muss er schon bald begraben, als er nämlich vor verschlossener Wohnungstür steht, zu der seine Schlüssel nicht mehr passen. Er beginnt zu verzweifeln, denn er kann nur noch mit ansehen, wie sein komplettes Leben – Ehe, Beruf, einfach alles auseinanderbricht und ihm zugleich die Polizei seine Version nicht glauben will. Doch dies ist nur der Anfang einer unheilvollen Serie von Ereignissen.
Jason Starrs Romane sind vielfach ausgezeichnet worden, neben seinen Krimis ist er in den vergangenen Jahren vor allem in der Zusammenarbeit mit Marvel und deren Comic-Universum erfolgreich gewesen. „Seitensprung“ ist die Rückkehr zum Spannungsgenre. Neben der clever konstruierten Handlung hat mich vor allem die Figur des Protagonisten überzeugt. Jack Harper ist sicher kein Held, Starr verpasst ihm mit dem Beruf des „Immobilienmaklers“ auch ein besonders zweideutiges Profil, dass er darin zudem nicht erfolgreich ist, komplettiert das Bild nur noch. Als trockener und geläuterter Alkoholiker und gescheiterter Rockstar, hat er jedoch eine interessante Vergangenheit, die maßgeblich zu seinem Abstieg beiträgt. Schritt für Schritt entgleitet ihm das Leben, mit jedem neuerlichen Rückschlag verliert er mehr die Kontrolle und seine ansonsten unterdrückten Aggressionen übernehmen. In seiner Verzweiflung weiß er sich nicht zu helfen und verschlimmert seine Lage, egal was er tut, bis er schließlich den Tiefpunkt erreicht und nur noch der Suizid als Lösung im Raum steht.
Die Spannung entsteht nicht nur aus der Frage, wer den Mord begangen hat, sondern vor allem daraus, welche falsche Entscheidung Jack als nächstes treffen und wie diese ihn weiter in die Tiefe ziehen wird. Seine Angst, sich nicht mehr aus dem Chaos befreien zu können, nimmt zunehmend mehr Raum ein und schließlich muss er sich fragen, ob er nicht derjenige ist, der sich etwas vormacht, vielleicht ist er ja doch schuldig und hat die Tat nur verdrängt. Obwohl er nur wenig offenkundig Sympathisches an sich hat, ist man doch irgendwie auf seiner Seite, allein schon, weil man wie er die große Ungerechtigkeit der falschen Beschuldigung empfindet. Am Ende ist doch als ganz anders als man dachte und auch wenn man irgendwann vorhersehen kann, wie sich die Ereignisse tatsächlich zugetragen haben, tut dies der Spannung keinen Abbruch, denn nur, weil man weiß, wer die Fäden zieht, ist das noch lange nicht das Ende der Geschichte.
Jason Starrs Romane sind vielfach ausgezeichnet worden, neben seinen Krimis ist er in den vergangenen Jahren vor allem in der Zusammenarbeit mit Marvel und deren Comic-Universum erfolgreich gewesen. „Seitensprung“ ist die Rückkehr zum Spannungsgenre. Neben der clever konstruierten Handlung hat mich vor allem die Figur des Protagonisten überzeugt. Jack Harper ist sicher kein Held, Starr verpasst ihm mit dem Beruf des „Immobilienmaklers“ auch ein besonders zweideutiges Profil, dass er darin zudem nicht erfolgreich ist, komplettiert das Bild nur noch. Als trockener und geläuterter Alkoholiker und gescheiterter Rockstar, hat er jedoch eine interessante Vergangenheit, die maßgeblich zu seinem Abstieg beiträgt. Schritt für Schritt entgleitet ihm das Leben, mit jedem neuerlichen Rückschlag verliert er mehr die Kontrolle und seine ansonsten unterdrückten Aggressionen übernehmen. In seiner Verzweiflung weiß er sich nicht zu helfen und verschlimmert seine Lage, egal was er tut, bis er schließlich den Tiefpunkt erreicht und nur noch der Suizid als Lösung im Raum steht.
Die Spannung entsteht nicht nur aus der Frage, wer den Mord begangen hat, sondern vor allem daraus, welche falsche Entscheidung Jack als nächstes treffen und wie diese ihn weiter in die Tiefe ziehen wird. Seine Angst, sich nicht mehr aus dem Chaos befreien zu können, nimmt zunehmend mehr Raum ein und schließlich muss er sich fragen, ob er nicht derjenige ist, der sich etwas vormacht, vielleicht ist er ja doch schuldig und hat die Tat nur verdrängt. Obwohl er nur wenig offenkundig Sympathisches an sich hat, ist man doch irgendwie auf seiner Seite, allein schon, weil man wie er die große Ungerechtigkeit der falschen Beschuldigung empfindet. Am Ende ist doch als ganz anders als man dachte und auch wenn man irgendwann vorhersehen kann, wie sich die Ereignisse tatsächlich zugetragen haben, tut dies der Spannung keinen Abbruch, denn nur, weil man weiß, wer die Fäden zieht, ist das noch lange nicht das Ende der Geschichte.
January 3, 2019
Crime mystery set in NEW YORK / MANHATTAN
I picked this novel to read on a long journey and it kept me reading right until the end. The hours flew by.
Hapless Jack (is he really hapless, though?) works on commission in real estate and he is desperate for a new sale. In walks old friend (friend is probably a misnomer) Rob McEvoy from way back who regales him with stories of the encounters he has had on Discreet Hookups. Cheating apparently saved Rob’s marriage. Jack isn’t in the least bit tempted, as he is married to Maria, although it turns out they are actually rather unhappy.
It couldn’t do any harm to take a peak at the site, surely? However as Jack is a recovering alcoholic, someone with an addictive personality, he is bound to get in deeper than he anticipates and he soon finds himself hooked up with Fugitive_Red (interestingly, red – the colour of love – is the pigment in a painting at the Met by Van Gogh. It is “fugitive”, in other words, it has lightened considerably and is now pink…. just like love bleaches over time). Their dialogue soon degenerates into discussing bondage and more and it is clear that this is not going to end well.
There is murder down the line and Jack ends up running for his life, hounded by the NYPD and in particular detective Barasco who has it in for Jack. He tries hard to stop the chain of events but he stumbles on as everything comes crashing down. Does the reader have sympathy? Maybe at first but then, as he really loses his moral compass, it is hard to avoid a bit of Schadenfreude, anticipating what might happen to him next. And yet…. the panic is palpable and one can kind of see why he responds as he does.
The novel is at times darkly humorous and it is well written. There is a neat and easy ending, but wait! There is more to come and the storyline switches tack several times before it draws to an end.
New York gets a good look in, so this is definitely a novel to get you in the mood for a visit to the city as you fly towards JFK! It will certainly keep you engrossed for the length of the journey.
I picked this novel to read on a long journey and it kept me reading right until the end. The hours flew by.
Hapless Jack (is he really hapless, though?) works on commission in real estate and he is desperate for a new sale. In walks old friend (friend is probably a misnomer) Rob McEvoy from way back who regales him with stories of the encounters he has had on Discreet Hookups. Cheating apparently saved Rob’s marriage. Jack isn’t in the least bit tempted, as he is married to Maria, although it turns out they are actually rather unhappy.
It couldn’t do any harm to take a peak at the site, surely? However as Jack is a recovering alcoholic, someone with an addictive personality, he is bound to get in deeper than he anticipates and he soon finds himself hooked up with Fugitive_Red (interestingly, red – the colour of love – is the pigment in a painting at the Met by Van Gogh. It is “fugitive”, in other words, it has lightened considerably and is now pink…. just like love bleaches over time). Their dialogue soon degenerates into discussing bondage and more and it is clear that this is not going to end well.
There is murder down the line and Jack ends up running for his life, hounded by the NYPD and in particular detective Barasco who has it in for Jack. He tries hard to stop the chain of events but he stumbles on as everything comes crashing down. Does the reader have sympathy? Maybe at first but then, as he really loses his moral compass, it is hard to avoid a bit of Schadenfreude, anticipating what might happen to him next. And yet…. the panic is palpable and one can kind of see why he responds as he does.
The novel is at times darkly humorous and it is well written. There is a neat and easy ending, but wait! There is more to come and the storyline switches tack several times before it draws to an end.
New York gets a good look in, so this is definitely a novel to get you in the mood for a visit to the city as you fly towards JFK! It will certainly keep you engrossed for the length of the journey.
November 20, 2018
What would you do if your life feel senseless, with no purpose; a marriage with no love and a boring job, that’s how Jack Harper feels about his life, the only thing that matters to him is his son. He feels that he is the only thing that brings happiness to his life. But when an old friend appears telling the “great” advantages of having an affair, he can not resist to take a look at a dating website and try to connect with someone… Of course everything will start getting to the wrong direction when he meets this woman, because he will find her dead and he will be the main suspect! Really, I don’t think Jack can have worst luck even if he was searching for it!
Since the beginning Jack is not a nice character, is not easy to like or to understand, having an affair to make you life happier is not a good choice, if you don’t love your wife divorce, but don’t start an affair, is never the best idea. But as we enter to the story we start feeling pity for Jack, he is not a lucky man, everything he does seems to be wrong, his choices are not the best, but he doesn’t have bad intentions. He just wants to be with his son and try to repair his marriage, even if his wife is not really good, or seems to be interested in him at all.
On the other hand, there’s the detective that is investigating the murder, he is not interested in discovering what has really happened, but to make Jack’s life worse than he is, complicating his marriage and job, simply because he can. I do really hope that the real detectives are much more centred in the investigation than bothering the suspects!
This had been an addictive read, it was easy to know what was really happening, so the twist at the end was not really a twist, but the book was interesting and it kept you glued to the story since the first page. If you are searching for an interesting read, addictive and twisted, this is your next book!
Since the beginning Jack is not a nice character, is not easy to like or to understand, having an affair to make you life happier is not a good choice, if you don’t love your wife divorce, but don’t start an affair, is never the best idea. But as we enter to the story we start feeling pity for Jack, he is not a lucky man, everything he does seems to be wrong, his choices are not the best, but he doesn’t have bad intentions. He just wants to be with his son and try to repair his marriage, even if his wife is not really good, or seems to be interested in him at all.
On the other hand, there’s the detective that is investigating the murder, he is not interested in discovering what has really happened, but to make Jack’s life worse than he is, complicating his marriage and job, simply because he can. I do really hope that the real detectives are much more centred in the investigation than bothering the suspects!
This had been an addictive read, it was easy to know what was really happening, so the twist at the end was not really a twist, but the book was interesting and it kept you glued to the story since the first page. If you are searching for an interesting read, addictive and twisted, this is your next book!
December 26, 2018
Started this thinking I'd just read for a little bit before bed. Five hours later, it's finished. WOW! Could NOT stop! Excellent read! Starts off building the story, then crescendos nonstop into action, suspense, and mayhem. Outstanding!
May 20, 2021
Schade ich hatte mir mehr erhofft. Die Geschichte ist teilweise viel zu übertrieben und wird dadurch unglaubwürdig. Wie die Geschichte am Ende aufgeklärt wird, war mir auch ziemlich früh klar.
October 21, 2024
How many books by Starr do I have to read before I can admit to myself they lowkey slap.
October 17, 2020
The positive about this book is that it was a very easy and straight-to-the-point read. However, the main character is dumb. Really dumb. I don't know whether this was intentional or just bad character development. Everything he was supposed to do, he didn't and everything he wasn't supposed to do, he did. The storyline reminded me slightly of Gone Girl, but not as good. The story is very overly dramatic, predictable and unbelievable. There also isn't a strong or convincing enough build up to the main event that occurs. The ending was rushed and disappointing.
March 21, 2019
Very fun, quick read. I didn’t quite know how this was going to end up but the ending was good and surprising. I have a few other books from this author that I’m looking forward to reading.
November 25, 2018
I wasn't sure that I was going to like Too Far from the opening pages, as the world of real estate is not something that interests me, but I'm so pleased that it didn't put me off as there's an absolutely gripping story to discover within the pages of this thrilling book. I absolutely raced through it and, although I had some suspicions, I loved the way the story played out. The writing is so visual that I wouldn't be surprised to see this story on our tv screens at some point.
I actually really liked the character of Jack; I felt as if he was just going through the motions of life. Doing a job in real estate that he hates and with a marriage that is barely holding together, I don't know how he managed to stay sober. When he meets up with an old friend whose life seems illicit and exciting, Jack doesn't see the harm in logging on to an website for married people to hook up. He doesn't plan to register but when he gets a message from a woman who seems to be made for him, he can't resist. The moment he inputs his credit card details, wheels are set in motion that could see him lose everything he ever held dear and there's nothing as dangerous as a man who has nothing left to lose.
I'm sure many of us have dabbled in online dating (for singles though, not married people), there really is nothing as exciting as making that connection with someone who feels just right for you. Then you hear the horror stories of catfishing, where people pretend to be somebody they're not, and you wonder if the person you are connecting with really is too good to be true. It's a real minefield, as Jack found out in this book, and I really loved the way the author showed the two sides of the online dating coin.
Too Far is a very current thriller in this day and age of online dating; it's a gripping, fast-paced page-turner that I thoroughly enjoyed.
I chose to read an ARC and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.
I actually really liked the character of Jack; I felt as if he was just going through the motions of life. Doing a job in real estate that he hates and with a marriage that is barely holding together, I don't know how he managed to stay sober. When he meets up with an old friend whose life seems illicit and exciting, Jack doesn't see the harm in logging on to an website for married people to hook up. He doesn't plan to register but when he gets a message from a woman who seems to be made for him, he can't resist. The moment he inputs his credit card details, wheels are set in motion that could see him lose everything he ever held dear and there's nothing as dangerous as a man who has nothing left to lose.
I'm sure many of us have dabbled in online dating (for singles though, not married people), there really is nothing as exciting as making that connection with someone who feels just right for you. Then you hear the horror stories of catfishing, where people pretend to be somebody they're not, and you wonder if the person you are connecting with really is too good to be true. It's a real minefield, as Jack found out in this book, and I really loved the way the author showed the two sides of the online dating coin.
Too Far is a very current thriller in this day and age of online dating; it's a gripping, fast-paced page-turner that I thoroughly enjoyed.
I chose to read an ARC and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.
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