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Jack
Victorian austerity – Fear of God – Lack of ambition – Something has to change.
An only child, Jack is also a choirboy and an altar boy. But what will eight years of daily beatings and brainwashing turn a bright student into? And how long will it be before he questions God’s existence?
He loves his parents, his only family. But the world is modernising after WWII, and rationing is ending. When you are closeted in a place a hundred years behind the times, you are bound to revolt at some point.
But will it be too late for Jack. Will he keep on heading in the wrong direction, or will he awaken before it is too late?
Could this be the last company party he attends? And will the castle in the sky be the catalyst that sets him free? Will it put him on a new path leading to danger and the mind-blowing world of international crime? Or will he stay put?
This imaginative short story will launch you headlong into the roller-coaster life of Jack Kenright.
Fans of Paula Hawkins and Karin Slaughter will enjoy this moving psychological thriller series.
An only child, Jack is also a choirboy and an altar boy. But what will eight years of daily beatings and brainwashing turn a bright student into? And how long will it be before he questions God’s existence?
He loves his parents, his only family. But the world is modernising after WWII, and rationing is ending. When you are closeted in a place a hundred years behind the times, you are bound to revolt at some point.
But will it be too late for Jack. Will he keep on heading in the wrong direction, or will he awaken before it is too late?
Could this be the last company party he attends? And will the castle in the sky be the catalyst that sets him free? Will it put him on a new path leading to danger and the mind-blowing world of international crime? Or will he stay put?
This imaginative short story will launch you headlong into the roller-coaster life of Jack Kenright.
Fans of Paula Hawkins and Karin Slaughter will enjoy this moving psychological thriller series.
Kindle Edition
First published July 1, 2021
26 people are currently reading
21 people want to read
About the author
James King
19 books27 followersAn Englishman who emigrated to South Africa in 1995, James King’s work took him all over the Country, visiting Cities, townships and rural areas, gaining valuable insight into the culture and lives of the people, post-apartheid.
In 2011 James left South Africa for Thailand, where he writes novels – Literary fiction thrillers, which focus on - suspense, mystery, and romantic drama. Poetry and Short Stories.
His character-driven stories are dramatic, suspenseful, thrilling and emotional. There are always romantic and sinister elements at play in his plots.
James’ poetry drifts from the romantic to fear for the survival of our world, human rights and the darkness of death. Inspired by music, film, and literature. Shakespeare, Dickens, Hesse, Leonard Cohen and Bob Dylan, among others, have all had a profound influence on his life, his writing, and the messages within.
Leading a well-travelled but somewhat fractured and unconventional life, James has mixed with politicians, sports stars, creatives, music impresarios, business tycoons, murderers, fraudsters, and even hired assassins. They have all provided rare material which he uses to great effect in his writing.
In 2011 James left South Africa for Thailand, where he writes novels – Literary fiction thrillers, which focus on - suspense, mystery, and romantic drama. Poetry and Short Stories.
His character-driven stories are dramatic, suspenseful, thrilling and emotional. There are always romantic and sinister elements at play in his plots.
James’ poetry drifts from the romantic to fear for the survival of our world, human rights and the darkness of death. Inspired by music, film, and literature. Shakespeare, Dickens, Hesse, Leonard Cohen and Bob Dylan, among others, have all had a profound influence on his life, his writing, and the messages within.
Leading a well-travelled but somewhat fractured and unconventional life, James has mixed with politicians, sports stars, creatives, music impresarios, business tycoons, murderers, fraudsters, and even hired assassins. They have all provided rare material which he uses to great effect in his writing.
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
July 13, 2021
Jack Kenright begins by explaining who he is, and how he changed his path in life. Jack talks a lot about his early childhood in Catholic school and that he just could not make himself believe what he was being told regarding a vengeful God. One minute loving you and the next minute you are being threatened with the pits of hell. He cared little for school, or the prehistoric ideals reminiscent of Oliver Twist, still his performance was average and graduated and was released from those ties that strangle you.
Jack gets a job, a boring job he has no intention of remaining for the rest of his life just to end up with a stupid watch. To me the watch was perhaps just a reminder of all the time you wasted on this boring job. Looking around the office, Jack much preferred tracking and analyzing loss of efficiency, and that means a loss of money for the company. Why hadn’t anyone thought of that?
Jack is at a party and realizing how people are aging quickly and still getting nowhere. He drinks more and knows this is not the life for him. Jack is a keeper of notebooks, chronicling his life, good and bad. He knows he has made mistakes, but as a human that is to be expected. How else do you know you’re on the wrong road? He also knows he has only has himself to blame for those mistakes. He knows he can’t go back and undo them, so the only answer is to go forward and to discover the life he is meant for. He will learn along the way.
I applaud Jack for his analytical thinking. This is a prequel and perhaps gives us some insight to Jack and his road to a better life, one that doesn’t end with a gold watch.
Jack gets a job, a boring job he has no intention of remaining for the rest of his life just to end up with a stupid watch. To me the watch was perhaps just a reminder of all the time you wasted on this boring job. Looking around the office, Jack much preferred tracking and analyzing loss of efficiency, and that means a loss of money for the company. Why hadn’t anyone thought of that?
Jack is at a party and realizing how people are aging quickly and still getting nowhere. He drinks more and knows this is not the life for him. Jack is a keeper of notebooks, chronicling his life, good and bad. He knows he has made mistakes, but as a human that is to be expected. How else do you know you’re on the wrong road? He also knows he has only has himself to blame for those mistakes. He knows he can’t go back and undo them, so the only answer is to go forward and to discover the life he is meant for. He will learn along the way.
I applaud Jack for his analytical thinking. This is a prequel and perhaps gives us some insight to Jack and his road to a better life, one that doesn’t end with a gold watch.
September 8, 2021
Musings of a young man growing up bored, smart, and selfless - 3.5 stars
When you grow up and find that what you have been taught might not be factual, what do you do?
Jack Kenright wrote out his thoughts. He added no conclusions. He excels at routine jobs but has no apparent drive for self-improvement. He studies business inefficiencies but does not know what to do about them or even enough to try to envision the business as a whole.
The best takeaway is that the story is short. Jack has not shown an affinity for anything aside from avoiding boredom.
When you grow up and find that what you have been taught might not be factual, what do you do?
Jack Kenright wrote out his thoughts. He added no conclusions. He excels at routine jobs but has no apparent drive for self-improvement. He studies business inefficiencies but does not know what to do about them or even enough to try to envision the business as a whole.
The best takeaway is that the story is short. Jack has not shown an affinity for anything aside from avoiding boredom.
September 12, 2021
This is short (about 40 pages) but is it a story?
The Kenright Chronicles focus on Jack Kenright and this, Book 1, introduces Jack. We learn about his parents, unusual childhood, religion, first job and relationships. Rather than resolving anything, “Jack” does what an introduction should—it makes us want to continue the story.
Luckily, “Picton Street”, the novel-length Book 2 is now available.
My medium rating is based on its value as a stand alone story, but I highly recommend it as a prequel to the next in the series.
The Kenright Chronicles focus on Jack Kenright and this, Book 1, introduces Jack. We learn about his parents, unusual childhood, religion, first job and relationships. Rather than resolving anything, “Jack” does what an introduction should—it makes us want to continue the story.
Luckily, “Picton Street”, the novel-length Book 2 is now available.
My medium rating is based on its value as a stand alone story, but I highly recommend it as a prequel to the next in the series.
August 12, 2021
I read it all the way through but while there was nothing unpleasant about it there was also nothing to make me really care for the main character or get excited to read more. It is a short story with mostly just background character information so it also doesn't really show what the author has to offer as far as ability to write good, thrilling stories. I feel like story and character wise there is nothing to really pull a reader in.
September 9, 2021
Jack is a short but very thorough story of Jack’s early life. Mr. King does an excellent job of bringing Jack Kenright to life and making him a not only likeable but believable character. Jack is the prequel to the Kenright Chronicles which should be an interesting series if the rest are written like this story.
February 1, 2025
This book is a prequel to The Kenright Chronicles. I’m going to be absolutely honest and say I have no idea what this series is about! This prequel did nothing to tell me anything about the series other than to describe Jack and I’m guessing to help you understand how he got to where the actual series starts from where he began as a child.
August 15, 2021
A short story to introduce us to Jack Kenright - the central character of this series. We get his youth, his education, his religious orientation, and the start of his working career. All background and of some interest, but ...
August 16, 2021
James is a new author to me. I Can honestly say as a Prequel "Jack" drew me straight away. The characters are portrayed, in such a way that the book flows with each one. The read is smooth and unfolds really well. I'm looking forward to reading the next instalment.
Highly recommended.
Highly recommended.
August 29, 2021
I read this book. And I was hooked from first chapter. I felt I was reading my story because of "The Almighty God."
Honestly, I like this book because of realistic story and characters' and good plotting.
Honestly, I like this book because of realistic story and characters' and good plotting.
March 17, 2022
Jack Kenright is providing us a look into his life story of growing up in boarding school and how his belief's changed along the way. How he took a job in an Assurance company and how bored he felt in the years he spent there. Drama, Book 1. I purchased this book. I volunteered an honest review.
October 21, 2021
Loved learning about the early life of Jack
November 21, 2021
Interesting prequel. I loved the other series written by Mr. King. Looking forward to reading the rest of the series.
November 1, 2021
Enter Jacks Kenrights World and get to know his complex charachter. A gripping prequal to the KENRIGHT CHRONICLES SERIES, a mystery suspense thriller about financial crime, international art fraud and devious trickery.
July 28, 2024
Poor Jack abandoned to a Catholic school for most of the year, explains what happened in that time. Parents who loved him, their only child thought they were doing the right thing. Hopefully most parents know they are the best role models and care for their children more than anyone else. Jack was not a great student or even more than middling motivated. Eventually he came up with a plan to change his life. He did work at an extremely boring job for awhile before hatching his plans.
I look forward to reading the next novel, Picton Street.
Mini novella sized introduction of Jack to this series. I had this buried in my TBR list. Never ending. It took me about an hour to read and I don’t think I missed much by not reading this first.
Picton street is the next in the series followed by the third book, Enemies of Justice.
I just finished that before I read this one. Then I will head to Picton Street to catch up the series.
James King also has a series of short stories about Alphie in Thailand that I really liked. Try his books you will enjoy. I was given an ARC of this series from the author in return I am posting my honest review.
I look forward to reading the next novel, Picton Street.
Mini novella sized introduction of Jack to this series. I had this buried in my TBR list. Never ending. It took me about an hour to read and I don’t think I missed much by not reading this first.
Picton street is the next in the series followed by the third book, Enemies of Justice.
I just finished that before I read this one. Then I will head to Picton Street to catch up the series.
James King also has a series of short stories about Alphie in Thailand that I really liked. Try his books you will enjoy. I was given an ARC of this series from the author in return I am posting my honest review.
September 12, 2021
Jack: Prequel - A Short Story The Kenright Chronicles Book 1 This imaginative short story will launch you headlong into the roller-coaster life of Jack Kenright. This novel gives the insight into Jack’s life and allow the reader to have the depth and understand to draw you into the following novels. Fans of Paula Hawkins and Karin Slaughter will enjoy this moving psychological thriller series. This is the second novel I have read by James King. This is a brilliant read ... well written plot and story line that had me engaged from the start. Love the well fleshed out characters and found them believable. Great suspense and action with and wonderful world building. I gave this honest, voluntary review after being given a free copy of the book with no monetary compensation
December 13, 2021
This is a very short read, very short, yet a good introduction to Jack Kenright and his youth and how it influences his motivations. It would probably have made a good preface in Picton Street (a book of the Kenright Chronicles) without being a short story of its own.
It only stands to reason in my mind Picton Street is the next book on my TBR list now.
It only stands to reason in my mind Picton Street is the next book on my TBR list now.
July 15, 2021
I enjoyed this short prequel, set in post WW2, to the moving chronicles about Jack Kenright and am eager to discover what he plans to do next, in Book 2, Picton Street.
August 31, 2021
A PG quick-read introduction to the boyhood of Jack Kenright up to age 22 with a preface by the author and the rest of the book in Jack's voice.
August 4, 2022
A strange tale of this young man who does not believe in God . He goes to work and finds a friend in his boss. It is a unusual story and the first book in the series. Enjoyable but unusal read
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews