Choking on the Splinters

by Jim Lively

Charles Pierce thinks he has it all figured out at last. He’s bought a building to use as an art gallery, creates new paintings almost every day, dates a smart and beautiful woman, and hired a marketing whiz to promote his upcoming gallery opening and art show. So why isn’t everything exactly what it seems? Why does he keep finding hints and clues that people who show up in his life and at his gallery aren’t completely honest with him?
And how did the guest bathroom in his gallery become the most popular spot in the entire place? What’s really going on in there? Something illegal and dangerous?
He can choose to ignore his suspicions, or he can get in touch with the detectives who saved his life last year. Either way, Choking on the Splinters isn’t an option.

Genres: Mystery Thriller, Fiction

282 pages, Paperback

Published January 19, 2022

About the author

After practicing law for many years, Jim decided to pursue his passion full time as a visual artist, film maker and author. He received the 2016 Merrimack Media Outstanding Writer Award for his second novel, Punitive Damages. Arbitrary and Capricious is the fourth novel in a series. Choking on the Splinters is the third novel in a series, a Global Book Bronze Award winner for Mystery and Suspense. Surreal Absurdity, also a Global Book Bronze Award winner, is a sequel to his novel, Aberrant Behavior. Your Brain’s Still Flashing is a sequel to Never Ignore Monica, a finalist in the Thriller genre for the 2024 Book Excellence Awards.
His artwork and art films have been recognized in numerous juried competitions, publications and film festivals. He has exhibited his artwork in several group and solo exhibitions across North America and Europe.
Eighteen of Jim’s films have been selected to various film festivals around the world. His art film, The Soul of Vinyl, Abbey Road Side 2. screened at the 2016 New York City Independent Film Festival. Jim’s film, The Case of the Deranged Sommelier won Best Experimental Film in the 2016 Directors Circle of Shorts Film Festival and the 2017 Lion’s Head Film Festival. His film, Still Mad as Hell screened at the 2017 New York City Independent Film Festival. His film, It's Gonna Disappear screened at the 2021 New York Flash Film Festival. His latest film, Top Secret and Not So Confidential was selected as a Semi-Finalist in the 2023 San Jose Independent Film Festival.
Jim’s education includes a Bachelor of Arts from The University of Texas at Austin, a Juris Doctor from Southern Methodist University in Dallas and Level One Wine Sommelier Certification from the International Wine and Spirits Guild.
His website is www.jimlivelyart.com.

Reviews

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received this book in a Goodreads giveaway. I would rate this book between three and three and a half stars. I thought the suspense was good although it was pretty obvious what was going on in the art studio bathroom. Overlooking the typos, I liked the story as a whole, but wished there was more character development. I didn’t realize this book was the last in a trilogy until I read the About the Author section in the back of the book. Maybe there’s more character development in the previous novels and at this point I should be more familiar with the main character. There’s a lot of dialogue so it is a quick read.

[Ambermonkey · Rating 1 out of 5]

The story premise is decent but predictable. The characters are one dimensional. The writing was horrible, tedious, and awkward. This book could use some serious editing.

Note to author:

1. Their is no need to mansplain hospice multiple times.
2. We don't care if you know some stuff about wine, we don't need to brand drop everytime a character drinks.
3. Professional women do not say things like "Chardonnay is yummy!"