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Sydney Jones #1

Primed For Revenge

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Practicing law in a large partnership, Sydney Jones was primed for making partner. Then her life turned upside down after a disagreement with her boss at Birdman & Birdman.

Leaving the office, she was swiftly kidnapped and taken to her assailants’ hideaway, beaten, and raped. With no memory of whom she was put her at a disadvantage with her captors. Through gritted teeth, she promised a day of repercussions for their actions while mentally visualizing her revenge.

Warned by her assailants to keep her mouth shut or else, she was delivered to her home. Not recognizing her former living quarters, she was careful in exploring her options for regaining her memory.

Piecing together the reasons for her kidnapping brought her into contact with people, some she could trust and others risky. The problem was the amnesia prevented her from recognizing the difference.

Tapped for crime once nudged her toward caution for something afoul was going on at Birdman & Birdman. She prepared for a fight. With a vision of fury she made a chilling decision – never to be a victim again.

210 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 2, 2019

5 people are currently reading
6864 people want to read

About the author

Carolyn M. Bowen

17 books646 followers
CAROLYN BOWEN is a mystery author who calls on her life escapades and an adventurous, imaginative spirit to inspire and entertain. Bowen uses travel as a muse to explore cultures and dialogue to bring her stories to life. Her writing credits include Cross-Ties, a romantic adventure; The Long Road Home, a contemporary crime fiction mystery; The Sydney Jones Mysteries, and The Family Legacy Series.

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5 stars
29 (44%)
4 stars
23 (35%)
3 stars
7 (10%)
2 stars
5 (7%)
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1 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
Profile Image for John Olson.
232 reviews3 followers
February 16, 2019
I read this twice. It had a very interesting lead in. The middle part was a bit of who was doing what and where. The ending wasn't quite what I was anticipated. I thought maybe the lead character needed a little more of a highlighting role. I felt it was a good read.
Profile Image for Grady.
Author 51 books1,822 followers
September 16, 2020
‘It wasn’t like Sydney Jones to just up and disappear…’

Author Carolyn M. Bowen has a background in life planning and career development with advanced studies in psychology, adult learning, and career development, Her initial publication was CROSS-TIES (an historical romance), followed by THE LONG ROAD HOME (romance mystery) and CROSS-STEPPING YOUR WAY TO SUCCESS (life coaching short book), and now she concentrates her scriptive gifts on writing mysteries. She has created a strong female protagonist in Sydney Jones, a lawyer, and PRIMED FOR REVENGE is Book 1 of her Sydney Jones Series of novels.

Using her depth of experience in examining people’s behavior in addition to her keen sense of place (likely due to her extensive travels to other cultures), Carolyn presents in this book a well sculpted central character in Sydney Jones, and from the impetus of this initial book, the series merits our full attention.

The incident that is the core of this thriller is discovered in the opening paragraphs – ‘‘She awakened not knowing where she was or how she got there…She’d kill to remember her past and what brought her to this place and time, but she figured she wasn’t a killer, as she was the one beaten beyond recognition. She felt a lump growing on the side of her head peeking out from the blood-smeared follicles, The stench of blood was something she could never grow accustomed to…She had no idea how long she’d been there and when, if ever, anyone would return, especially her accosters…’

How this kidnapping plays such a key role in the story is explained in the synopsis; ‘Practicing law in a large partnership, Sydney Jones was primed for making partner. Then her life turned upside down after a disagreement with her boss at Birdman & Birdman. Leaving the office, she was swiftly kidnapped and taken to her assailants’ hideaway, beaten, and raped. With no memory of whom she was put her at a disadvantage with her captors. Through gritted teeth, she promised a day of repercussions for their actions while mentally visualizing her revenge. Warned by her assailants to keep her mouth shut or else, she was delivered to her home. Not recognizing her former living quarters, she was careful in exploring her options for regaining her memory. Piecing together the reasons for her kidnapping brought her into contact with people, some she could trust and others risky. The problem was the amnesia prevented her from recognizing the difference. Tapped for crime once nudged her toward caution for something afoul was going on at Birdman & Birdman. She prepared for a fight. With a vision of fury she made a chilling decision – never to be a victim again.’

This is a ‘hold your breath’ quality mystery, well written and well paced, an adventure that introduces a fine series. Highly recommended.
Profile Image for Thomas.
4 reviews
February 26, 2019
Bowen raises the bar for mystery writing. Her complex plot is brought together brilliantly with a lifetime of observations in the details. A must read! Primed For Revenge
Profile Image for Karen.
Author 19 books132 followers
July 22, 2019
PRIMED FOR REVENGE (SIDNEY JONES MYSTERY BK 1) CAROLYN M. BOWEN

Sidney was working on a case for her law firm but was abducted and now doesn’t remember her life before that. This novel starts off with a bang and does not slow down. There are elements of mystery, suspense and what’s a book with out a little romance? Throw in murder and some shady characters and you have a first class read to enjoy by the fire with cocoa or the beach with a cool cocktail!!! I enjoyed Primed for revenge immensely and anticipate the next installment. 5 stars for this exciting novel!!!!
Profile Image for P.S. Winn.
Author 105 books367 followers
April 2, 2019
Thinking she was going to be a partner in a law office, Sydney Jones instead finds her life turned upside down and her memories a blur. This is a great mystery thriller that adds more than one genre to the tale. I like the character of Sydney who is a fighter and stronger than she knows, I also loved the way this writer wraps this mystery around a bit of a conspiracy.
Profile Image for Carolyn Bowen.
Author 17 books646 followers
July 24, 2020
5 Stars for Primed for Revenge by Carolyn Bowen
Reviewed by Ruffina Oserio for Readers’ Favorite

Primed For Revenge: Sydney Jones Novel Series by Carolyn M Bowen is a spellbinding psychological thriller with a rock-solid female protagonist: Sydney Jones works for Birdman & Birdman and at the time she is looking for bigger engagements in the firm, there is fallout with her boss. As if this wasn’t enough to rattle her nerves, she is abducted as she leaves the office. She is badly beaten and raped and sent home with warnings to never talk about the kidnapping. What is worse is that she has lost a great deal of her memory, but she hasn’t forgotten her resolve for revenge.

This is an interesting story about a character who is deeply hurt and damaged and who must navigate a very dangerous landscape to determine who kidnapped and hurt her and why. Her biggest challenge is identifying the right people to talk to. The reader follows her, feeling her pain and seeing her struggle with her options. Primed For Revenge is a sophisticated, deftly written thriller with a protagonist that instantly captured my attention. The pathos is strong as the reader watches her go through the rough experience. Her inner transformation and the quest for revenge are so real, reflecting the abuse she has experienced.

The writing is wonderful, and Carolyn M Bowen comes across as a perfect wordsmith. Primed for Revenge: Sydney Jones Novel Series is very engaging, emotionally rich, and fast-paced. The kind of book you read in one sitting. A highly recommended read – 5 Stars

Profile Image for Kate.
691 reviews18 followers
October 23, 2019
Primed for Revenge by Carolyn M. Bowen has a kidnapping, rape, embezzlement, murder, deception, and even romance. Sydney Jones is a lawyer in a large firm. She is kidnapped, raped, drugged and finally released and she has no memory of who she is or of being kidnapped. The events that bring her memory back and the people who helped her make for a suspense filled story. Sydney is able to deal with many problems and maybe she will even find romance and love along the way.

I received this book as a gift and I always review every book that I read. I found the plot and characters to be well developed. There are no cliff hangers in this book, but there is potential for additional follow-on stories. If you enjoy legal procedures, court trials and suspense, this book is for you. Enjoy.
Profile Image for T.S..
93 reviews
May 23, 2019
In Primed for Revenge, Sydney Jones, a lawyer working in a large law firm, becomes the target of a brutal kidnapping and rape that leaves her suffering from amnesia. As she slowly regains her memories and tries to build her life, deceit comes disguised in the form of friendship. For gullible Sydney, who has always lived a sheltered life, it is about time she learns to protect what’s her own.

Bowen paints a compelling picture of good, everyday people becoming victims of financial frauds; the consistent gullibility and lack of caution on Sydney’s part create an imagery that will resonate with many readers. The plot is a bit muddled, but characters are interesting while Bowen explores a larger question: how far should a woman go to protect her dignity?
Profile Image for Kathleen Jones.
Author 2 books30 followers
February 24, 2021
Very Entertaining Read

This is a fast-paced, riveting thriller with an interesting main character. Sydney Jones has spent her life in a privileged environment, sheltered from the real world by her parents’ wealth. After she’s kidnapped and raped then, later on, deceived by people she had thought of as friends, she’s forced to toughen up and to learn how to take care of herself. The author peppers the novel with colourful and complex secondary characters, and she fills the plot with enough twists and turns to hold the reader’s attention. A very entertaining read!
Profile Image for Rhonda Garman.
5 reviews1 follower
February 11, 2019
Excellent on the edge of the seat book! The author pulls you in as if this is your life you are experiencing. What must you do? I don't have the words to give the author do diligence. This is a must read!
Who is she? How do the lawyers fit in? Are there two guys to watch out for or possibly more? How does the P.I. fit in?
Profile Image for Sunshine_45.
26 reviews177 followers
October 5, 2020
I thought Primed for Revenge was fantastic. The plot was great; very dark and twisted. I was gripped from the start and had a need to know why this had happened to Sydney and what she was going to do about it. The characters were brilliant and inspired the right about of hate and affection. A very high quality crime thriller.
Profile Image for Carole Rae.
1,618 reviews43 followers
August 16, 2019
A random find on Netgalley for this one. It seemed like we would get a good story and a kickass heroine.



The story follows Syndey who was kidnapped leaving her office. Beaten and raped to the point of having memory loss. Slowly piecing together her memory and the reason why she was attacked she is ready for a fight and to never be a victim again.



This had all the makings to be a great story filled with crime and drama and a kickass heroine. It was intriguing for sure. I enjoyed the mystery and the slow-build-up and uncovering of information. But the narrative was sooooooooo slow.



I liked Syndey and I felt sooooo bad for her. She had SO many bad things happen to her even outside of the beating and rape. Poor girl. I can see her snapping a bit there. Any normal person would.



Super bummed by her one friend (no spoilers) but I was so upset.



That Walker was interesting. Didn't trust Walker....but it was so hard to trust anyone in this novel.



I did enjoy the story overall even though the narrative was SO slow and I felt like nothing was going to happen. I wanted Sydney to go off the rails right away!



Overall, pretty interesting and I was intrigued in the story and the characters even though it dragged on and on. It took forever, but when things did happen I was hooked. I'll give this 3 stars.
Profile Image for _sassy_39.
2,584 reviews158 followers
October 25, 2020
Primed For Revenge by the author Carolyn M Bowen is the first book in the Sydney Jones Series. It is a crime fiction. Protagonist of the story is Sydney Jones. She is an employee of Birdman & Birdman. She went into an argument with her boss. When Sydney was leaving the office, she was kidnapped, beaten and raped.

One thing Sydney learned that day was that as a woman, she is the weaker sex. She was sent home but she wasn't allowed to reveal any details about her kidnapping to anyone. Even though Sydney don't remember how and when she got kidnapped, she was determined to find it and take revenge.

The plot of the story is very intriguing. Once I started reading it, I couldn't put it down. Language of the book is simple and easy to understand. Narration is smooth and I really appreciate Carolyn's storytelling skills. Cover page of the book is eye catchy and has the power to attract readers. Looking forward to read more books by Carolyn. If you love reading mystery thrillers, then you can't afford to miss to read this one.
Profile Image for Kathleen Van Lierop.
271 reviews20 followers
February 11, 2021
From time to time, I enjoy reading a thriller and the author again didn't let
me down.

Primed for Revenge is the first book in these wonderful psychological thriller
series of Sydney Jones.

It is a fantastic mix between storytelling and dialogues, which I really like!
It is written very clear, easy reading and with great characters. I absolutely
wanted to know the end of the story so I read it twice :-)

I would recommend "Primed for Revenge" to all people who enjoy reading
(psychological) thrillers.

To conclude: I want to give "Primed for Revenge" with lots of pleasure a
5* rating!
2,519 reviews42 followers
April 2, 2019
Sydney Jones has made a success of her law career, but when she disagrees with her boss her life is upended. She is kidnapped, raped and beaten and has no idea why. When she is finally dumped back at her home, she has no idea who she is or if this is her home as she is suffering from amnesia. Judith, from her law firm, has been trying to find Sydney and hires a private investigator. At first, Sydney rebuffs Judith, but then realizes that she needs someone who knows who she is and allows her in to her home and life. Installing a gym in her home and practicing at the gun range, Sydney is now stronger and can protect herself as her memories begin to resurface. In my opinion, the whole plot was questionable in that she would go through what she did and not contact the police, especially since she was suffering from amnesia. Why did she trust Judith? Why did she trust the private investigator? For a smart lawyer and supposedly out for revenge, she seems to accept what she is told by people that she does not know or remember. I had too many questions as the story and the characters seemed impossible for me to believe. I received an advance review copy at no cost and without obligation for an honest review. (by paytonpuppy)
262 reviews7 followers
November 7, 2020
My heart was racing.. I was taken to the moon.. I think I was going to the zénith...
This was a gripping tale.
But the book carries a lots of spelling mistakes and other errors. The book is evident for its poor editing.
Practicing law in a large partnership, Sydney Jones was primed for making partner. Then her life turned upside down after a disagreement with her boss at Birdman & Birdman.
Leaving the office, she was swiftly kidnapped and taken to her assailants’ hideaway, beaten, and raped. And she remembered nothing. She felt only a vacccum.
Warned by her assailants to keep her mouth shut or else, she was delivered to her home. Not recognizing her former living quarters, she was careful in exploring her options for regaining her memory.
The book has a lots of conspiracy theory and other discussions! The book is good. The characterisation is well. Everyone is detailed, but it would be great if author spend a little more effort to make it more beautiful.
What happened to her memory?
What made them to kidnap her.?
Who is she to them?
Binding together all the plots and threads author put forward a great thriller that can take the reader into a world of twists and turns.
Trust me, you will never feel bored! Nor your money or time would be a loss.
Don't miss this.
Profile Image for Shiny  Jain.
319 reviews30 followers
September 5, 2020
💌‘Primed For Revenge’ is a mystery novel about a powerful woman succeeding against the odds written by Carolyn M. Bowen.

💌It’s a crime thriller full of twist and turns and is highly recommended to all the book reader. A story about a strong practising lawyer named Sydney Jones whose life takes a turmoil on disagreeing with her dominant boss. She suffered a pain of being kidnapped, beaten and raped but she pledges to take a revenge with her faded memory.

💌How the plot grows and how she manages to teach the culprits a lesson will reveal as you read the entire novel. The character is so impressive and powerful. I loved the writing and imaginative skills of the Author.

💌CAROLYN M. BOWEN is a mystery author who has gained lot of fame with her writing and her Sydney Jones series is a hit.

💌I am the kind of person who is always up for this kind of crime and mystery novel and after reading this first part of this series, I can't wait to read the next part😍
Profile Image for Shannon.
759 reviews7 followers
May 11, 2019
Primed for Revenge has a wonderful plot and workable storyline, but the biggest problem I had with it was the constant usage of formal names.

I liked the idea of having a female as a protagonist and supporting female antagonist. Don’t worry, there are plenty of male characters, including one male protagonist who becomes a antagonist. That doesn’t happen very often and it was refreshing

Aside from the usage of formal names repeatedly, the story was a bit wordy. I do plan to read the second book and hope the writing is smoother. As the first book in the series, this one’s isn’t too bad, just needs a bit more polishing.
1,690 reviews12 followers
March 22, 2019
The book has potential. It just is not there yet. I felt like I was reading an outline with a few sentences to flush out the thought. As the book progressed the story did get better. But the book needs warmth. I liked the story line and the ending was a fabulous twist. It just lacks the something that makes the readers keep turning the page.

I read the book on NetGalley
1,276 reviews
February 22, 2019
Won this in a Goodreads Giveaway. The plot seemed a little complicated, kidnapped and raped, parents killed, PI involved, law cases. A little hard to follow
1,331 reviews44 followers
March 17, 2019
Story started strong with lots of promise but slowed down as the romance heated up. A good plot that kept moving only to bog down as the protagonist falls in love with her bodyguard.
1,265 reviews29 followers
April 4, 2019
There is a story here, but it's badly written and the plot is rather naive. The characters are strange and the dialogue is very unnatural.
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews

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