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The Bartender
Olive is a Los Angeles bartender who has been unlucky in love. She hopes that will change when one of the best-looking men she's ever seen walks into her bar. But he’s not what he seems.
Austin is tall, charismatic, and compellingly attractive. But unbeknownst to the smitten Olive, Austin is not dating her for her beauty, but merely for her usefulness. He and his childhood friend have set a depraved plan in motion.
Becca is a grifter and a con-artist looking for her one big score. She’s found out that Olive’s boss has hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash at his house in the Pacific Palisades. Becca will do anything to make it hers.
Olive becomes the unknowing intermediary and Austin her willing co-conspirator, but both are instruments in Becca’s orchestration. She will stop at nothing to get what she wants. Not even murder.
The Bartender is a twisting, multi-narrative thriller told through the eyes of a brave heroine and unforgettable villains: Olive, the strong but innocent young woman dragged into something sinister. Austin, sensing this will all end horribly, but without the gumption to stop it. And Becca, dollar signs dancing in her eyes, with no regard for human life.
Austin is tall, charismatic, and compellingly attractive. But unbeknownst to the smitten Olive, Austin is not dating her for her beauty, but merely for her usefulness. He and his childhood friend have set a depraved plan in motion.
Becca is a grifter and a con-artist looking for her one big score. She’s found out that Olive’s boss has hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash at his house in the Pacific Palisades. Becca will do anything to make it hers.
Olive becomes the unknowing intermediary and Austin her willing co-conspirator, but both are instruments in Becca’s orchestration. She will stop at nothing to get what she wants. Not even murder.
The Bartender is a twisting, multi-narrative thriller told through the eyes of a brave heroine and unforgettable villains: Olive, the strong but innocent young woman dragged into something sinister. Austin, sensing this will all end horribly, but without the gumption to stop it. And Becca, dollar signs dancing in her eyes, with no regard for human life.
280 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 6, 2021
1125 people are currently reading
5007 people want to read
About the author
Brian O'Sullivan
18 books942 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 287 reviews
October 23, 2022
didn’t finish
I couldn’t finish this book. Mostly due repetitive plot line, poor grammar and pretentious word choice. I admire you for self publishing but you need a reliable experienced editor.
I couldn’t finish this book. Mostly due repetitive plot line, poor grammar and pretentious word choice. I admire you for self publishing but you need a reliable experienced editor.
November 17, 2024
???? Did i read a different book from everyone else here????
This was… not good
This was… not good
June 2, 2024
4 and half stars! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Haven’t read a book in a few months and wanted to get back on track, I wanted something that can hold my attention without being too complicated. Well this certainly held my attention. Nice character development and was pretty evenly paced in the beginning then it was pedal to the metal cat and mouse chase. I recommend! It held my interest and kept me wondering what will happen next.
Haven’t read a book in a few months and wanted to get back on track, I wanted something that can hold my attention without being too complicated. Well this certainly held my attention. Nice character development and was pretty evenly paced in the beginning then it was pedal to the metal cat and mouse chase. I recommend! It held my interest and kept me wondering what will happen next.
January 15, 2023
3.5 stars. Points deducted for Becca constantly reminding readers what an evil genius she is and for Olive constantly reminding how pretty she is. So annoying!
July 8, 2024
Now three for three for five stars. Well done Brian O'Sullivan
November 19, 2024
After reading the summary, I wasn’t sure if this book was right for me. However, I enjoy the author so much I decided to give it a go. There are some bad people in this book especially the female who has no values at all. Her actions are truly vile. But when she decided to mess with the bartender, she met her match! There are some sad scenes, one in particular that I thought was totally unnecessary, but there is also much needed satisfaction! This book was well written, and I enjoyed it!
October 7, 2025
Diabolical
Becca is one of those characters that you love to hate. What a conniving, diabolical, just plain crazy person. This is an entertaining, page-turner that will keep you shaking your head at her schemes and hoping Olive at some point gets a win.
Becca is one of those characters that you love to hate. What a conniving, diabolical, just plain crazy person. This is an entertaining, page-turner that will keep you shaking your head at her schemes and hoping Olive at some point gets a win.
September 2, 2024
Forced and ridiculous
Disappointed. I was trying a new author I'd heard great things about but wow this book was pretty bad. There was so much poor grammar, typos, and odd wording. Some of it sounded like it had just come out of a translator app or maybe a drunk AI. The whole book is so forced and contrived. Most of it goes like this:
"I'm the killer and I'm going to do this super secret thing so I won't get caught."
MC: "Ya know what? I bet the killer is doing this super secret thing. Ope, I'm right!"
"No one would ever suspect if I hide here!"
"I bet she's totally hiding in that one place I've never thought of before."
"I wonder if this person is doing this oddly specific, random thing."
*Person indeed does do that oddly specific, random thing*
Just so annoying how everyone knew just exactly what to do. And who tf edited this? Because damn. I had high hopes for this author but I'm not sure I can try another one of his books.
Disappointed. I was trying a new author I'd heard great things about but wow this book was pretty bad. There was so much poor grammar, typos, and odd wording. Some of it sounded like it had just come out of a translator app or maybe a drunk AI. The whole book is so forced and contrived. Most of it goes like this:
"I'm the killer and I'm going to do this super secret thing so I won't get caught."
MC: "Ya know what? I bet the killer is doing this super secret thing. Ope, I'm right!"
"No one would ever suspect if I hide here!"
"I bet she's totally hiding in that one place I've never thought of before."
"I wonder if this person is doing this oddly specific, random thing."
*Person indeed does do that oddly specific, random thing*
Just so annoying how everyone knew just exactly what to do. And who tf edited this? Because damn. I had high hopes for this author but I'm not sure I can try another one of his books.
March 21, 2024
In short, it wasn't believable for me. I didn't find any of the characters likable - both Olive and Becca had me cringing. The ending was deserved at least.
March 20, 2023
This was well written and interesting. I did think the amount of money involved wasn't that large enough for Becca to consider becoming a serial killer! Also she did go on and on about how evil she was and all the evil things she did and was going to do. A more mysterious villain would have been good. I also thought the police were portrayed as quite disinterested and incompetent. I think they may have looked into Becca more in real life after she’d been mentioned a few times, and maybe at least tried to connect the pseudonyms. I did like the fact that Olive was such a strong character and managed to foil some of Becca devious plans. The ending was good too and satisfying, although poor Olive did have to experience a lot of trauma to get there.
July 10, 2019
What a great read! The format was interesting and really worked for this book! Nice to have 1st person thoughts rotating between the main characters!
I started this book on a week that turned out to be exceptionally busy for me and I was devastated that it took me a week to read! I was always so impatient to get back to where I left off the previous day!
The characters were very well developed and the plot was a real nail-biter! I particularly enjoyed his nod to Nancy Drew (a favorite character of mine growing up)!
O'Sullivan is definitely one of my new favorite authors! All of his books have been "unputdownable"! I am anxiously awaiting his next book! Hurry up there Brian!
I started this book on a week that turned out to be exceptionally busy for me and I was devastated that it took me a week to read! I was always so impatient to get back to where I left off the previous day!
The characters were very well developed and the plot was a real nail-biter! I particularly enjoyed his nod to Nancy Drew (a favorite character of mine growing up)!
O'Sullivan is definitely one of my new favorite authors! All of his books have been "unputdownable"! I am anxiously awaiting his next book! Hurry up there Brian!
June 4, 2025
3.75⭐️
October 14, 2024
I couldn’t put this down. I will say that it’s probably my first ever cat and mouse type of book. I loved it.
I’ve been shown a whole new world and I can’t wait to start reading every single other book written by this amazing author.
The ending is 🤩👩🍳💋
A MUST read…. Unputdownable, edge of your seat, legit thrill ride!!! I loved how we get a view from every character’s perspective.⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I’ve been shown a whole new world and I can’t wait to start reading every single other book written by this amazing author.
The ending is 🤩👩🍳💋
A MUST read…. Unputdownable, edge of your seat, legit thrill ride!!! I loved how we get a view from every character’s perspective.⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
September 14, 2024
I really tried to read this book and in the end I had to end my misery. The writing was overall so poor, it was like reading a long, boring essay. As a woman reading the book it was creepy how the author is obsessed with skinny and young women, that was the theme throughout. In addition to that, the racism and the language describing non-whites was appalling. Brian, please take a walk outside your backyard, the world has progressed, and the richest person in the world is a non-white. Will never read a book by a sexist and racist author again.
November 16, 2024
I really hoped I would love this book; it’s talked about so much on book forums. The story dragged on and it really felt like the author was throwing in descriptive words just to meet a word count. The story read as very juvenile writing, as if a teenager wrote this for a creative writing assignment. I skimmed the last half just to see how the book ended. For an easy read I should have been done this in a day but it took me forever to push through as it didn’t grab me. I wish I had DNF it in the first 10%.
Read
March 25, 2022Probably my favorite novel that I've written. I love the multi-narrative aspect of it.
July 27, 2024
4.5⭐️
My first book by this author and won’t be my last.
My first book by this author and won’t be my last.
August 8, 2024
Wow! This book! Halfway through I thought it was over but nope and then the ending!!! Just wow!
May 5, 2025
Terrible. Was relieved to finish it. It dragged on for so long. Almost gave up but I’m not a quitter.
January 31, 2025
I didn’t love the writing style, felt pretty shallow and hard to connect with.
October 6, 2024
Really good, lots of action. Keeps you guessing!
January 23, 2024
Go Becca! Lol
I enjoyed this story, a bit obvious in many parts, maybe too many coincidences, but I really wanted Becca to be the winner in the end! Maybe I'm as bad as she? But overall a good read.
I enjoyed this story, a bit obvious in many parts, maybe too many coincidences, but I really wanted Becca to be the winner in the end! Maybe I'm as bad as she? But overall a good read.
May 7, 2024
OMG !!! This story is crazy and the characters are super interesting! I finished it in two settings ! I love the style and how easy the writer hook you instantly! I will all the books i can put ny hand on for the writer! Loved it♥️
July 29, 2024
Oh Mr O'Sullivan
What a great imagination. I was guessing from the beginning. I rooted for Olive throughout it all. These are all new characters with great back stories. The detail in the scenes and the plot were excellent.
What a great imagination. I was guessing from the beginning. I rooted for Olive throughout it all. These are all new characters with great back stories. The detail in the scenes and the plot were excellent.
August 31, 2019
Page Turner!
This book was fun to read because it had the perspective of all of the characters in the first person, and the story was exciting. I couldn't put it down!
This book was fun to read because it had the perspective of all of the characters in the first person, and the story was exciting. I couldn't put it down!
August 2, 2024
this was completely outlandish and i loved it. all
the different POVs, shady people, ridiculous jumps - 10/10. or i guess, 5/5
the different POVs, shady people, ridiculous jumps - 10/10. or i guess, 5/5
January 16, 2025
The only reason I am not giving this 5 stars is because Rory deserved better 😭😭😭😭😭😭
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 6, 2025
Definitely better than expected and I get why I read so many positive reviews!
This is different from the other recent thrillers I have read so it was a refreshing read. A little thrill, a little love, a little emotion, and a lot of twists.
I enjoyed feeling like I could actually see all of the different settings. The bars, the homes, even the vehicles. An immersive reading experience.
The only negative from me would be all the character jumping at the beginning. I like that this wasn’t the typical back and forth narration from two views, but this was a little too much at the beginning.
This is different from the other recent thrillers I have read so it was a refreshing read. A little thrill, a little love, a little emotion, and a lot of twists.
I enjoyed feeling like I could actually see all of the different settings. The bars, the homes, even the vehicles. An immersive reading experience.
The only negative from me would be all the character jumping at the beginning. I like that this wasn’t the typical back and forth narration from two views, but this was a little too much at the beginning.
May 7, 2025
This is the first book I've read by Brian O'Sullivan. It was a good psychological thriller that kept my attention, but parts seemed drawn out to me. For a book that's only 280 pages long, that's rough. I also felt like the last 20% was anticlimactic. I feel like the actions of the characters in the end were glossed over. Maybe that was intentional. I can understand if the author didn't want those scenes to be to gory, but I just didn't feel engaged with them. I'll definitely try another O'Sullivan book though! I never judge an author on just one book.
May 10, 2025
I love a book with multiple points of view and enjoyed both Olive and Becca’s chapters. For me, the first half of the book was better, with more action/twists and I wasn’t completely sold on the ending. I really didn’t want one character to die either!! All in all though, this book was a solid 4 star read and I will be checking out more from this author.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 287 reviews