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The Melville Consulting Series #1
Project Onion
Kathryn "Kat" Jensen’s new audit consulting job quickly becomes extremely dangerous. Investigating a notorious drug trafficker’s bank accounts can lead to life-threatening complications!
When Kat Jensen, an out-of-work internal auditor in New York City, joins Melville Consulting, a friend’s secretive investigative firm, she unravels the elaborate money-laundering scheme used by a notorious drug lord nicknamed El Rey, or The King. Based on her analysis, the banks freeze his accounts. Furious, El Rey storms their office, threatening to kill her boss. The drug czar gets arrested, but Kat is badly shaken and wants to quit. Except auditing jobs aren’t easy to find after she took a year off to go on an unusual bucket-list voyage, and now she is broke. Memories of Kat’s brother, who lost the battle against drug addiction, and the much-needed paycheck convince her to try again. But when Kat unexpectedly meets El Rey, her life is in danger, since now he wants revenge.
PROJECT ONION features an unexpectedly resilient businesswoman who decides to fight back. This suspense novel blends in some crime, time travel, and romance with multiple twists and turns.
When Kat Jensen, an out-of-work internal auditor in New York City, joins Melville Consulting, a friend’s secretive investigative firm, she unravels the elaborate money-laundering scheme used by a notorious drug lord nicknamed El Rey, or The King. Based on her analysis, the banks freeze his accounts. Furious, El Rey storms their office, threatening to kill her boss. The drug czar gets arrested, but Kat is badly shaken and wants to quit. Except auditing jobs aren’t easy to find after she took a year off to go on an unusual bucket-list voyage, and now she is broke. Memories of Kat’s brother, who lost the battle against drug addiction, and the much-needed paycheck convince her to try again. But when Kat unexpectedly meets El Rey, her life is in danger, since now he wants revenge.
PROJECT ONION features an unexpectedly resilient businesswoman who decides to fight back. This suspense novel blends in some crime, time travel, and romance with multiple twists and turns.
294 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 1, 2021
12 people are currently reading
530 people want to read
About the author
Karen Stensgaard
3 books21 followersKaren Stensgaard has published three novels: AQUAVIT and BLUENESS in the Aquamarine Sea series; and PROJECT ONION in the Melville Consulting series. Her latest novel taps into her former career as an internal auditor and consultant in New York City. Karen’s a member of the Authors Guild and the Alliance of Independent Authors.
Stay in touch on social media and via karenstensgaard.com with a monthly travel photo blog or join her Facebook Novelist page. On YouTube, she has some videos and music playlists for her books. Photos illustrate some characters and scenes in her novels on Pinterest. Karen is also on Instagram and Twitter.
Stay in touch on social media and via karenstensgaard.com with a monthly travel photo blog or join her Facebook Novelist page. On YouTube, she has some videos and music playlists for her books. Photos illustrate some characters and scenes in her novels on Pinterest. Karen is also on Instagram and Twitter.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
August 27, 2021
Project Onion penned by the author Karen Stensgaard is an intriguing suspense novel. Main character of the story is Kathryn Jensen aka Kat. She has recently joined at Melville Consulting as an internal auditor in New York. There are total four persons in that investigation company: Kat's boss Jackson, a former CIA Spy, Anita, an ex-NYPD Detective and Shantelle, an in-house lawyer.
Kat has been assigned on Project Onion, a code word. She has tracked main bank account of a Puerto Rican drug Lord El Rey. The bank freezes the account of El and therefore, he threatened Jackson to kill him. Jackson and his employees stayed hidden under the office table and Kat decided that she will quit this job that involves so much danger.
I was amazed to know about Kat's year off from work for a vacation and visiting family and friends. This is not something everybody can do. Reading about Nathan and Kat's brother made me emotional. No matter how bad a situation is, nobody should even think about suicide. Read this book to know will Kat decide to continue her job. Language used in the book is lucid. Storyline is unique and interesting. The twists and turns in the story kept me on the edge and I couldn't put this book down until I finished it.
I am highly impressed with Karen's writing and I am curious to read more of her work.
Kat has been assigned on Project Onion, a code word. She has tracked main bank account of a Puerto Rican drug Lord El Rey. The bank freezes the account of El and therefore, he threatened Jackson to kill him. Jackson and his employees stayed hidden under the office table and Kat decided that she will quit this job that involves so much danger.
I was amazed to know about Kat's year off from work for a vacation and visiting family and friends. This is not something everybody can do. Reading about Nathan and Kat's brother made me emotional. No matter how bad a situation is, nobody should even think about suicide. Read this book to know will Kat decide to continue her job. Language used in the book is lucid. Storyline is unique and interesting. The twists and turns in the story kept me on the edge and I couldn't put this book down until I finished it.
I am highly impressed with Karen's writing and I am curious to read more of her work.
August 24, 2021
When Kat accepts a job offer from Jackson Chow at Melville Consulting, she expects nothing more exciting than her experience as a financial auditor. But she needed the job as well as the income. Following an extended cruise from Copenhagen to Hong Cong, followed by a trip to Texas and the West Coast it was time to return to reality and more mundane life. Project Onion is her first assignment and is anything but mundane. Between trying to escape the increasing demands of her boyfriend Charlie and realizing the dangerous nature of her new job, Kat doesn’t have much time to mourn her ex-husband’s death or establish a new routine. Alone in her apartment with a stone gargoyle for conversation, Kat’s life takes a chilling turn. As the target of drug kingpin El Rey, Kat realizes she will never be truly safe again.
PROJECT ONION: Book 1 in The Melville Consulting Series by Karen Stensgaard opens a spectrum of plot possibilities for this female hero crime series. With moving dialogue and bigger-than-life conflicts, author Karen Stensgaard creates a whole new investigative mystery full of relatable characters and exotic antagonists. Set in New York, the landscape reflects fast times and bustling activity. Following in the style of Sue Grafton and Janet Evanovich, Project Onion deserves recognition as the next bestselling binge-worthy series. Karen Stensgaard incorporates an internal theme of seaworthy influences between Herman Melville’s Moby Dick and Kat’s initial unusual historical re-enactment cruise, adding a nostalgic attitude to the overall story.
PROJECT ONION: Book 1 in The Melville Consulting Series by Karen Stensgaard opens a spectrum of plot possibilities for this female hero crime series. With moving dialogue and bigger-than-life conflicts, author Karen Stensgaard creates a whole new investigative mystery full of relatable characters and exotic antagonists. Set in New York, the landscape reflects fast times and bustling activity. Following in the style of Sue Grafton and Janet Evanovich, Project Onion deserves recognition as the next bestselling binge-worthy series. Karen Stensgaard incorporates an internal theme of seaworthy influences between Herman Melville’s Moby Dick and Kat’s initial unusual historical re-enactment cruise, adding a nostalgic attitude to the overall story.
July 27, 2024
OK folks, if you're interested in intrigue, some nonfiction/real-life facts sprinkled into a fictional setting, and a hybrid of crime stopper, espionage, adventure, mystery, suspense, and thriller, all wrapped up in a real life business-oriented story written by someone who knows what she's talking about because she lived that career, this is for you. Amazing creativity and story line. I'm not a visual person, but the book is written well enough that even I saw every scene in my mind's eye! How can an author like Karen fill so many pages with all this imagination!
August 28, 2021
This fast paced book is part of a female hero crime series. With great dialogue and characters it will keep you reading without pause and wanting for more...
September 12, 2021
Here are 3 independent reviews which are all 5 star:
5 Star Review by Anne-Marie Reynolds for Readers' Favorite:
Project Onion by Karen Stensgaard is book one in The Melville Consulting Series. Kat Jenson has a new job as an audit consultant at an investigation company called Melville Consultancy. Assigned to Project Onion, Kat's job is to investigate the bank accounts of a drug lord known as El Rey and when she uncovers a money laundering scheme, things turn dangerous for her. His bank accounts are frozen, prompting him to pay a visit to the consulting company and threaten the boss. The police arrest El Rey but Kat is scared and wants out. But, because she took a year out of employment to go off on a trip, jobs are hard to come by. With no money, she is tempted to keep going but when she comes face to face with El Rey, her life is in danger once more. El Rey wants revenge and he will stop at nothing to get it. Will Kat succeed in bringing him down for good or is her life in peril?
Project Onion by Karen Stensgaard is an engrossing read, packed with suspense, a little romance, and even some time travel for good measure. It has a very strong female lead, plenty of action, and no small amount of stunning twists and turns that will leave you dizzy. The characters are real people, entirely believable and relatable, and that includes the antagonists. The dialogue is snappy and descriptive, drawing you in from the start, and the pacing is just right - not so slow that you lose interest and not so fast that you can't keep up. The main character is the kind of woman that others might dream of being - a sophisticated, smart decision-maker who isn't afraid to stare danger in the face and the thrilling plot marks the start of what looks to be a great new series. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this and am looking forward to more of Kat Jenson's adventures.
5 Star Review by Romuald Dzemo for Readers' Favorite:
Project Onion is the first entry in The Melville Consulting Series by Karen Stensgaard, a compelling narrative with an intense conflict and a sophisticated female protagonist. Kathryn "Kat" Jensen lands a new consulting job. Her investigation into a drug lord's account reveals money laundering and other dubious activities that lead El Rey's accounts to be frozen. El Rey is not a man to cross, and he threatens Kat's boss. Although El Rey gets arrested, Kat doesn't feel safe anymore. When she musters up the courage to continue in the consulting business, it leads her to face the man bent on revenge. Will Kat flee for her life or stand up and fight?
An incredible story from a great storyteller with realistic and elaborately developed characters, Project Onion is a spellbinding opening that will create a lot of anticipation in readers as they wait for the next installment in the series. The novel has strong plot points, and getting involved with a vindictive and vicious drug trafficker is a compelling premise. Kat has a terrible experience with drug addiction, and thoughts of her brother's demise are still fresh in her mind. Apart from Kat and El Rey, there are interesting characters that readers will want to follow, including Charlie and Heather. The narrative is enriched by the beautiful prose and Karen Stensgaard's deft creation in setting and atmosphere. The writing features detailed descriptions, and I enjoyed how some of these details fit into the daily experience of the characters, driving realism and humanity in the story. Overall, Project Onion was an enjoyable reading experience.
5 Star Review by Vincent Dublado for Readers' Favorite:
Project Onion: Book 1 in The Melville Consulting Series by Karen Stensgaard is bound to give you a warm feeling for its heroine Kathryn Jensen. She may appear to be your stereotypical fickle-minded chick, but she is a fighter, one who is willing to try again and will not put up with any nonsense, even when it means going up against a big-time drug kingpin. She works as an audit consultant for Melville Consulting, an investigative firm that stays off the grid with client projects that have secretive names. Her first assignment is strictly off-limits with the pre-assigned codename Project Onion. This begins her exploration of the flow of money management, leading to a money-laundering scheme by a notorious drug lord who goes by the name of El Rey (The King). This will put Kathryn in a life-threatening situation. But she needs the job, and she will have to decide whether to fight back or be broke.
Project Onion may be a vicarious action-packed experience, but it is never superficial. Karen Stensgaard knows when to slow down and look carefully at moments showing how Kathryn gets herself into sticky situations, and she uses Kathryn's keen, observant POV well. Dialogue moves the story forward as Kathryn operates in a world where she is surrounded by many friends and colleagues, and the way they speak reveals plenty about their personalities. It is deeper than most suspense novels as it is based on courage and hope. There will always be cravings for messages of resilience and hope, and Project Onion offers a new suspense series well worth reading.
5 Star Review by Anne-Marie Reynolds for Readers' Favorite:
Project Onion by Karen Stensgaard is book one in The Melville Consulting Series. Kat Jenson has a new job as an audit consultant at an investigation company called Melville Consultancy. Assigned to Project Onion, Kat's job is to investigate the bank accounts of a drug lord known as El Rey and when she uncovers a money laundering scheme, things turn dangerous for her. His bank accounts are frozen, prompting him to pay a visit to the consulting company and threaten the boss. The police arrest El Rey but Kat is scared and wants out. But, because she took a year out of employment to go off on a trip, jobs are hard to come by. With no money, she is tempted to keep going but when she comes face to face with El Rey, her life is in danger once more. El Rey wants revenge and he will stop at nothing to get it. Will Kat succeed in bringing him down for good or is her life in peril?
Project Onion by Karen Stensgaard is an engrossing read, packed with suspense, a little romance, and even some time travel for good measure. It has a very strong female lead, plenty of action, and no small amount of stunning twists and turns that will leave you dizzy. The characters are real people, entirely believable and relatable, and that includes the antagonists. The dialogue is snappy and descriptive, drawing you in from the start, and the pacing is just right - not so slow that you lose interest and not so fast that you can't keep up. The main character is the kind of woman that others might dream of being - a sophisticated, smart decision-maker who isn't afraid to stare danger in the face and the thrilling plot marks the start of what looks to be a great new series. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this and am looking forward to more of Kat Jenson's adventures.
5 Star Review by Romuald Dzemo for Readers' Favorite:
Project Onion is the first entry in The Melville Consulting Series by Karen Stensgaard, a compelling narrative with an intense conflict and a sophisticated female protagonist. Kathryn "Kat" Jensen lands a new consulting job. Her investigation into a drug lord's account reveals money laundering and other dubious activities that lead El Rey's accounts to be frozen. El Rey is not a man to cross, and he threatens Kat's boss. Although El Rey gets arrested, Kat doesn't feel safe anymore. When she musters up the courage to continue in the consulting business, it leads her to face the man bent on revenge. Will Kat flee for her life or stand up and fight?
An incredible story from a great storyteller with realistic and elaborately developed characters, Project Onion is a spellbinding opening that will create a lot of anticipation in readers as they wait for the next installment in the series. The novel has strong plot points, and getting involved with a vindictive and vicious drug trafficker is a compelling premise. Kat has a terrible experience with drug addiction, and thoughts of her brother's demise are still fresh in her mind. Apart from Kat and El Rey, there are interesting characters that readers will want to follow, including Charlie and Heather. The narrative is enriched by the beautiful prose and Karen Stensgaard's deft creation in setting and atmosphere. The writing features detailed descriptions, and I enjoyed how some of these details fit into the daily experience of the characters, driving realism and humanity in the story. Overall, Project Onion was an enjoyable reading experience.
5 Star Review by Vincent Dublado for Readers' Favorite:
Project Onion: Book 1 in The Melville Consulting Series by Karen Stensgaard is bound to give you a warm feeling for its heroine Kathryn Jensen. She may appear to be your stereotypical fickle-minded chick, but she is a fighter, one who is willing to try again and will not put up with any nonsense, even when it means going up against a big-time drug kingpin. She works as an audit consultant for Melville Consulting, an investigative firm that stays off the grid with client projects that have secretive names. Her first assignment is strictly off-limits with the pre-assigned codename Project Onion. This begins her exploration of the flow of money management, leading to a money-laundering scheme by a notorious drug lord who goes by the name of El Rey (The King). This will put Kathryn in a life-threatening situation. But she needs the job, and she will have to decide whether to fight back or be broke.
Project Onion may be a vicarious action-packed experience, but it is never superficial. Karen Stensgaard knows when to slow down and look carefully at moments showing how Kathryn gets herself into sticky situations, and she uses Kathryn's keen, observant POV well. Dialogue moves the story forward as Kathryn operates in a world where she is surrounded by many friends and colleagues, and the way they speak reveals plenty about their personalities. It is deeper than most suspense novels as it is based on courage and hope. There will always be cravings for messages of resilience and hope, and Project Onion offers a new suspense series well worth reading.
July 8, 2025
Excellent and exciting story.
Interesting characters who are like the layers of an onion, revealing their real selves slowly. The pace of the story kept me glued to the screen , right up to the end. It ended on a cliffhanger, so I can't wait to read the next one.
Interesting characters who are like the layers of an onion, revealing their real selves slowly. The pace of the story kept me glued to the screen , right up to the end. It ended on a cliffhanger, so I can't wait to read the next one.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews