Stalker

Delaney & Murphy #2

by Jack Adams

Adam couldn’t wait… his Uncle Allan was coming to watch his cricket game this afternoon; Adam’s father was always too busy to get there. Uncle Allan believed Adam and Nate would one day be chosen for the state side if they kept practising… Adam’s bowling was really improving.

Adam didn’t have an Uncle Allan.

Genres: Crime, Mystery

284 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 10, 2021

About the author

Jack Adams is a Brisbane-based writer. He grew up in Toowoomba, Queensland, and has lived and worked in London, Melbourne and Sydney. He is married, shares the house with a range of pets, most who have wandered in and stayed, and hopes to have kids when he grows up.

Reviews

[Phrynne · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this second book in the Delaney and Murphy series the story takes Nathan and Adam back twenty years to when they were ten years old. At that time Adam was not getting enough support from his father and it was easy for a man to connect with him and gain his affection. Adam called him Uncle Allan and he and Nate spent a lot of time with him until disaster struck.

Twenty years later Uncle Allan is released from jail and suddenly he is back apparently pursuing the grown up Adam. The book goes back and forth into Then and Now and the situations in both the past and the present develop in a menacing way. The author knows how to write suspense but is also talented at developing likeable characters. Adam has a really strong group of friends and family to help him get through his ordeal.

I am looking forward to reading the third book Cult.

[Sharon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Stalker by Aussie author Jack Adams is the second book in the Delaney & Murphy series. I absolutely loved this book and honestly can’t wait to read the next one. If you like a good page-turner and a book you can’t put down, then this book/series is for you. Highly recommended.

[Brenda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Adam and Nate were both ten years old, playing cricket, doing the usual at school. But Adam’s circumstances were different to Nate’s. His family were well off, his mother was a well-known celebrity, while Adam had a security guard, Tom, who was supposed to never leave his side. Adam hated it. In his friendship with Nate, he had found a ‘normal’ home, with parents who came home and a friend who always had his back. Adam’s Uncle Allan always made Nate welcome, and he came to their cricket matches often. Adam was going to get a lift home with him the next afternoon.

Twenty years later and Adam and Nate ran the successful Delaney & Murphy PI Agency where they would investigate cheating spouses, embezzlement and more. But the day of a release from prison of a certain person after twenty years incarceration, was the day Adam’s life returned to the past. When he began receiving gifts, inexplicably found in inaccessible places, they knew danger had returned and something had to be done…

Stalker is the 2nd in the Delaney & Murphy series by Aussie author Jack Adams and it was chilling, nerve wracking and filled with tension. I had trouble putting it down and raced through it in a few hours. I thoroughly enjoyed Adam and Nate’s characters, and the inclusion of Jessica, Dan, Rob and Adam’s grandmother Audrey, added to the entertainment. Highly recommended.

[Angela · Rating 3 out of 5]

Stalker by Jack Adams

Synopsis /

Adam couldn’t wait… his Uncle Allan was coming to watch his cricket game this afternoon; Adam’s father was always too busy to get there. Uncle Allan believed Adam and Nate would one day be chosen for the state side if they kept practising… Adam’s bowling was really improving.

Only, Adam didn’t have an Uncle Allan.


My Thoughts /

Swimming towards outlier waters.

One Uncle. Two young boys. One cricket match. Then, 20 years later.

Stalker is book #2 in the Delaney and Murphy series written by Aussie author, Jack Adams. After reading and loving Adams' debut book of the series, Asylum; I realised I was well overdue for another catch-up.

Just like in the first book, this second instalment is written with alternating timelines of 'then' and 'now'. The 'then' is twenty years prior, when best friends Nathan Delaney and Adam Murphy were both just ten years old. Fast forward twenty years and both boys, now men in their thirties, are still very much best friends and in fact, have formed a working partnership - Delaney & Murphy PI Agency.

Then: As part of the backstory the reader learns that young Adam comes from an affluent family. His mother, Winsome, is internationally famous and worth millions and his father is a successful business tycoon. Both parents travel extensively and are away from Adam for a lot of the time. As a result, Adam spends a lot of time with either his grandmother or with Nate and his parents at their house. The other person in Adam's life is Tom. Tom was hired by Winsome to provide security for her son

As parents, it is terrifying to think that if you were not around to counsel them, your children would voluntarily go somewhere with a stranger. That's the scenario that played out here; when a man calling himself 'Uncle Allan' started turning up at Adam and Nate's cricket matches and giving the boys the impression that he was Adam's Uncle. The boys never gave a second thought as to the sincerity or otherwise of Uncle Allan's intentions. So when one day, at the end of cricket, Uncle Allan suggested he could drive the boys home, both Adam and Nate jumped at that offer. Only they were never going to make it 'home'.

Now: Still best friends, and with a thriving business, Nathan and Adam rarely look back on the past. But that's all about to change when Adam starts receiving items of his from the past. His cricket bat – the one he left in Uncle Allan's car. School books – which he'd left in his school backpack. And then there were the notes….

Adams has developed his characters well off back of his first novel, and I'm enjoying how both men have grown from children into adults. In this story we are introduced to new characters – the employees from their PI firm who Nathan and Adam look upon as family. It really is quite a close knit group. The return of Tom (Adam's old security agent) also makes sense in this scenario, and Tom is looking to right a wrong now (no spoilers – you'll just have to read this series to find out what that is).

My only criticism with this read is that I felt the story lacked somewhat in its execution. I wasn't feeling that same level of excitement as I had from reading Asylum. At times the plot was a little cliché and lacked that same freshness that came with Asylum – and I found myself wishing for more of that – originality.

This book has a near perfect rating on GR, which kind of astounds me. Yes, I'm a softie in the ratings department; but I'm not giving them away for free! So I'll give you stars for characters and character development; pacing; and writing – but you'll lose some for storyline and execution.

I am hooked enough to keep going with this series and I hope book #3 returns to its original fresh format.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was really looking forward to reading Stalker, number 2 in the series by Jack Adams and it didn’t disappoint.

I always found myself reading too late at night because I didn’t want to put it down.

It was an exciting and thrilling journey that took 20 years in the making for Adam.

Luckily Nate always will has his mate’s back.

Bring on Number 3!!!!!!

[Gary · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked the story, but not the author's style of writing. For the first ten or so chapters it was back and forth between "then" and "now". At first it was OK, but soon became tiresome. Then the story would go for awhile without back and forth, only to return to what I found annoying back and forth. Although some of it helped to explain what had gone on and gave a little insight to how the main characters had been affected by events in the past, I tired of hearing the same events described as happening now and again as recollections 20 years later.

I'm afraid I can't tell anything about the story without giving away too much. Just imagine how a stalker would operate if he was obsessed with befriending young boys to abduct them by pretending to be their uncle. Bad things happen and one boy goes missing and is presumed dead. The guy spends 20 years in prison, and when he is released he picks up where he left off. The other boy is a grown man and has a complicated and busy life. Imagine how he reacts to being stalked by this guy he met as a child. There are many side stories that add interest and flavor. I hope you enjoy!

[Emma bramley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stalker (Delaney and Murphy 2)

This is the second book in this fantastic series by this author. This story follows the same characters as the first book. This is another thrilling, gripping read from start to finish. This story is filled with tension and suspense, pulling you into the pages as you read. I enjoyed the characters Adam and Nate in this read, but the secondary characters were very well written and worked into the story well. This book will have you reading long into the night, not wanting to put it down. This is a fantastic addition to this series.

The author gave me a copy of this book, and this is my honest review.

Page length - 284 pages
Release date - 10 Dec 2010
www.obsessedbookreviews.com

[Kylie H · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the second book in the Delaney and Murphy series - in this book a man called 'Uncle Allan' who stalked Adam as a child and attempted to kidnap him, resurfaces. Along with Uncle Allan, Tom an ex-military security guard who was hired to keep Adam safe reappears too, to manage the security for Adam's mothers high profile marriage to a rock star.
The plot itself was quite intriguing, but I found parts of the story somewhat cliché and some of the language quite demeaning, especially when it came to mental health.
I'm on the fence with this one, yes it was a good read but it didn't really sit well with me, and perhaps that is just me.

[Peg · Rating 5 out of 5]

very entertaining read.

I’m loving this series. Adam and Nate are great friends and act accordingly. Their colleagues are so interesting and comes from all different cultures and you feel as if you know them. This story makes you feel like you’re involved with every aspect of their clients. I so enjoyed this and look forward to continuing the sequels.

[Gregory Trammell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Riveting

An intense mystery revolving around two lifelong friends from completely different worlds. Past & present collide when a child kidnapper/murderer is released from prison and begins stalking one of them again 20 years later.

[Tina S Savage · Rating 5 out of 5]

This series is great !

I’m really so glad I found the series of books. The author is excellent. The characters are amazing and I I’m loving each new adventure. I am on the third book now and this is one of my favorite series. I definitely suggest checking it out.

[Suzanne Hyatt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good

It emphasized how stalkers behave. Thrilling and a good read which is great. Be careful trust is sacred watch carefully.

[Cindy Jo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Captivating

I read the first two books in 3 days. Yah, my house is a mess). I’m part of the family now! On to the third. Thank you Jack Adams

[April Vincent · Rating 5 out of 5]

love

I am in love with this series. Nate and Adam’s friendship keeps my heart beating. No regrets starting this series. I’m both sad and excited to start the third.

[Shirley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really like this series. The story is good and conversation between Nate and Adam is sometimes comical.

[Faith Jenkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

good read

Intriguing, a very quick read. Good follow up to book 1. Characters were fleshed out well, but could use a little more background on some characters

[maureenmanns · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant read

Love the characters in this book especially Nat and Adam looking forward to reading more books by this author well worthy of five stars and more.

[Susan Hanson · Rating 5 out of 5]

great read!

It fell right in line where the Asylum ended and kept the boys story going. Enjoying this series very much!