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The Eddie Barrow Series
Chill Run
Sometimes publicity stunts go bad...Real Bad!
Starving author Eddie Barrow, Jr., will do anything to get a book deal with a NYC publisher. Even if it means getting caught by the media while engaging in S&M with a female celebrity as a publicity stunt. What Eddie gets instead are details of a billion dollar fraud scheme from a suicidal client who's fatally shot minutes later. Now on the run from the law and the killers, Eddie seeks help from two unlikely friends--an alcoholic and a dominatrix. With few resources, Eddie races to clear his name, unveil the fraud scheme, and expose the killers before he becomes their next victim.
Starving author Eddie Barrow, Jr., will do anything to get a book deal with a NYC publisher. Even if it means getting caught by the media while engaging in S&M with a female celebrity as a publicity stunt. What Eddie gets instead are details of a billion dollar fraud scheme from a suicidal client who's fatally shot minutes later. Now on the run from the law and the killers, Eddie seeks help from two unlikely friends--an alcoholic and a dominatrix. With few resources, Eddie races to clear his name, unveil the fraud scheme, and expose the killers before he becomes their next victim.
Kindle Edition
First published December 11, 2011
81 people are currently reading
524 people want to read
About the author
Russell Brooks
6 books115 followersRussell Brooks is the author of the thrillers Pandora's Succession, Unsavory Delicacies, Chill Run, and The Demeter Code.
Jam Run, Russell's sequel to Chill Run, was released on March 31, 2023.
Russell has been compared to a young Robert Ludlum in the way that he wrote Pandora's Succession and Unsavory Delicacies.
After having read an excerpt of Chill Run, here's what one British reader had to say:
"If you like Elmore Leonard, you will love 'Chill Run.' Its snappy dialogue evokes 'Rum Punch' (filmed as Jackie Brown) and 'Get Shorty', and the plot carries the same tonal qualities of the Donald E Westlake thriller 'The Hunter' (filmed as Payback). As ever with Brooks, you can expect meticulous plotting and surprising twists. And, as with 'Pandora's Succession' and 'Unsavory Delicacies,' the end will have you going straight back to the beginning to ride the rollercoaster again." -www.fringescientist.com.
Russell is also a former Indiana Hoosier Track Champion and Canadian Track Team member in the 100 and 200 metres. He has written several essays on his blog, The Big Picture, one of which was published in the online Op-Ed section of the National Post in early 2009. He has also produced his own poetry/novel-themed show, The Russell Show, on YouTube. He currently lives in Montreal, Quebec.
Jam Run, Russell's sequel to Chill Run, was released on March 31, 2023.
Russell has been compared to a young Robert Ludlum in the way that he wrote Pandora's Succession and Unsavory Delicacies.
After having read an excerpt of Chill Run, here's what one British reader had to say:
"If you like Elmore Leonard, you will love 'Chill Run.' Its snappy dialogue evokes 'Rum Punch' (filmed as Jackie Brown) and 'Get Shorty', and the plot carries the same tonal qualities of the Donald E Westlake thriller 'The Hunter' (filmed as Payback). As ever with Brooks, you can expect meticulous plotting and surprising twists. And, as with 'Pandora's Succession' and 'Unsavory Delicacies,' the end will have you going straight back to the beginning to ride the rollercoaster again." -www.fringescientist.com.
Russell is also a former Indiana Hoosier Track Champion and Canadian Track Team member in the 100 and 200 metres. He has written several essays on his blog, The Big Picture, one of which was published in the online Op-Ed section of the National Post in early 2009. He has also produced his own poetry/novel-themed show, The Russell Show, on YouTube. He currently lives in Montreal, Quebec.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 88 reviews
January 25, 2021
Chill Run was quite contradictory to the the Ridley Fox & Nita Parris trilogy. This story had a rocky start wherein Eddie Barrow decides to pull off a publicity stunt to get his book deal by NYC publishers. Some parts of this novel were daunting but the story seemed to pick off after the beginning. It was an entertaining tale with amazing characters but the plot was not upto my expectations. Overall, a fun spin off and a plausible ending which I'd rate 3 stars. Thank you to the author for proving a digital copy for this book in return for an honest review. I'll be happy to pick up his works again.
April 18, 2022
3.5/5
This one is a fun Hitchcockian thriller as unpublished author Eddie gets rooked into a publicity stunt that goes very wrong and gets him and his best friend mixed up in international intrigue. What sets this one apart from the pack is it's location. Centered in Montreal during the weather, it places you about as far from the sun kissed locals that these kind of story typically take place. Also clever is basing this around Eddie's Barbadian sub-culture within the city instead of relying on French-Canadian stereotypes. The "otherness" and innocence/kindness of the characters made this one a novel read in a genre that can kind of feel the same with all the tough guys and sleaze. There's a second book on it's way, I'll be curious to read it.
This one is a fun Hitchcockian thriller as unpublished author Eddie gets rooked into a publicity stunt that goes very wrong and gets him and his best friend mixed up in international intrigue. What sets this one apart from the pack is it's location. Centered in Montreal during the weather, it places you about as far from the sun kissed locals that these kind of story typically take place. Also clever is basing this around Eddie's Barbadian sub-culture within the city instead of relying on French-Canadian stereotypes. The "otherness" and innocence/kindness of the characters made this one a novel read in a genre that can kind of feel the same with all the tough guys and sleaze. There's a second book on it's way, I'll be curious to read it.
July 21, 2023
Wow great book. Time to get the others.
November 28, 2011
When you pour your heart and soul into your work, you find it greatly disheartening when success does not immediately follow. To what lengths are some people willing to go to become the success they believe they are meant to be.
In Chill Run by Russell Brooks, we follow the escapades of Eddie Barrow Jr. as his life begins to unravel. A writer, he is on his last bit of hope, his family does not believe in him, and the rejection letters are coming fast and furious. It seems only his best friend Corey, and his girlfriend Jordyn are his only real fans. His life is takes a turn for the worse as his rent comes due and his car begins to act up. If that were not bad enough, he is laid off from his job and his girlfriend leaves him. Life really begins to suck. If he could only get a break, he knows he would do well.
With the input from his friends and in an effort to get publicity in any way he can, he agrees to get caught in a compromising situation with someone of importance. He needs a publicity stunt to get people’s attention, look at all the celebrities who made their fortune and fame in such a way. The plan they have in mind is just a bit mind boggling, certainly nothing he thought he would ever consider. Unknown to him Jordyn also has another career, one as a femdom, a dominatrix. She has a friend who is maledom, and can set him up with one of his jobs. He deals with many important and well-known public figures, and he owes her, she is sure she can get him to give up one of his marks for the deal. Then as soon as Eddie is situated and in a compromising situation with this figure, Corey can call in the news. As with any great news worthy story, Eddie will become famous.
When persons unknown murder the mark during their session, Eddie sees everything. Now he is on the run for his life. Blamed for the murder, he and his friend are tagged as the culprits. As other people they know show up dead, they find themselves in the middle of a massive manhunt. They prepare to turn themselves in for their own safety but even now they are being hunted as killers, who do they trust. Who can they turn to in this deadly game of chase. Can they survive long enough to clear themselves? Who can they turn to for help?
In Chill Run, Brooks has given us characters rich in charm and full of fun. Their friendship holds them together, and they are willing to help each other regardless of the danger it puts them in. He has done a great job in making the characters real, taking you through their sadness and despair, as well as sharing their humor. There is a solid core of steal built in, and while they poke fun at themselves and enjoy their camaraderie, no one else can mess with them. They are in over their heads, and yet they stick together doing the best they can to find answers. Eddie often uses the character of his own book as a foil, trying to think like him when looking for a way out of their mess.
The humor and the action set the pace for this thriller, yet the characters themselves draw you in. They remind you of people you know through your own friends and family. This realism has a way of putting you into the story, envisioning the scenes as they occur. The lengths to what Eddie is willing to go for publicity almost seem surrealistic, and yet we do see such things in the news and on the internet almost daily. Using the things that occur in life and putting them to paper, Brooks has created events with a touch of pragmatism.
The scenes are set in Canada, and the antics are at once dangerous and thrilling with a dose of humor. Brooks does a great job of describing the scenes as they occur and keeps you on the hook, wondering how it will all work out, or even if it will.
I would recommend this book for the suspense and thriller fan, it is fast paced and full of action. There is humor and danger, and weaved throughout the backdrop is a story of friends that give their all for each other. This would be a great gift for your thriller fan for the holiday.
This book was received as a free download from the author. All opinions are my own based off my reading and understanding of the material.
In Chill Run by Russell Brooks, we follow the escapades of Eddie Barrow Jr. as his life begins to unravel. A writer, he is on his last bit of hope, his family does not believe in him, and the rejection letters are coming fast and furious. It seems only his best friend Corey, and his girlfriend Jordyn are his only real fans. His life is takes a turn for the worse as his rent comes due and his car begins to act up. If that were not bad enough, he is laid off from his job and his girlfriend leaves him. Life really begins to suck. If he could only get a break, he knows he would do well.
With the input from his friends and in an effort to get publicity in any way he can, he agrees to get caught in a compromising situation with someone of importance. He needs a publicity stunt to get people’s attention, look at all the celebrities who made their fortune and fame in such a way. The plan they have in mind is just a bit mind boggling, certainly nothing he thought he would ever consider. Unknown to him Jordyn also has another career, one as a femdom, a dominatrix. She has a friend who is maledom, and can set him up with one of his jobs. He deals with many important and well-known public figures, and he owes her, she is sure she can get him to give up one of his marks for the deal. Then as soon as Eddie is situated and in a compromising situation with this figure, Corey can call in the news. As with any great news worthy story, Eddie will become famous.
When persons unknown murder the mark during their session, Eddie sees everything. Now he is on the run for his life. Blamed for the murder, he and his friend are tagged as the culprits. As other people they know show up dead, they find themselves in the middle of a massive manhunt. They prepare to turn themselves in for their own safety but even now they are being hunted as killers, who do they trust. Who can they turn to in this deadly game of chase. Can they survive long enough to clear themselves? Who can they turn to for help?
In Chill Run, Brooks has given us characters rich in charm and full of fun. Their friendship holds them together, and they are willing to help each other regardless of the danger it puts them in. He has done a great job in making the characters real, taking you through their sadness and despair, as well as sharing their humor. There is a solid core of steal built in, and while they poke fun at themselves and enjoy their camaraderie, no one else can mess with them. They are in over their heads, and yet they stick together doing the best they can to find answers. Eddie often uses the character of his own book as a foil, trying to think like him when looking for a way out of their mess.
The humor and the action set the pace for this thriller, yet the characters themselves draw you in. They remind you of people you know through your own friends and family. This realism has a way of putting you into the story, envisioning the scenes as they occur. The lengths to what Eddie is willing to go for publicity almost seem surrealistic, and yet we do see such things in the news and on the internet almost daily. Using the things that occur in life and putting them to paper, Brooks has created events with a touch of pragmatism.
The scenes are set in Canada, and the antics are at once dangerous and thrilling with a dose of humor. Brooks does a great job of describing the scenes as they occur and keeps you on the hook, wondering how it will all work out, or even if it will.
I would recommend this book for the suspense and thriller fan, it is fast paced and full of action. There is humor and danger, and weaved throughout the backdrop is a story of friends that give their all for each other. This would be a great gift for your thriller fan for the holiday.
This book was received as a free download from the author. All opinions are my own based off my reading and understanding of the material.
October 1, 2018
Set in Quebec Canadian winter, about an indie author of Caribbean descent caught up in circumstances that have him running for his life. I really liked the characters. Well written thriller with humour and heart.
March 31, 2023
I'd read this book before, but I read it again after finishing its sequel Jam Run. It was great to read this page turner and relive the lives of the characters when they were all a bit younger.
December 23, 2011
This is the story of Eddie, a struggling author who lives in Montreal. A struggling author who is desperate for his work to become known. His father doesn't support him in his venture and thinks he should get a proper job, so this causes a lot of conflict within his family. Things go from bad to worse when his girlfriend leaves him and he loses his job. Life cannot get any worse ........ or can it?
He lives with his friend Corey, who's lifestyle is what you might call chaotic, and Eddie is always chasing him for his rent money. Along with Corey's girlfriend Jordyn, who works in a bar, Corey comes up with an idea that could potentially get Eddies name well known and help with his book sales, by trying to persuade him to get involved in something scandalous. Sounds like a good plan, until someone gets murdered and Eddie ends up on the run, helped by Corey and Jordyn. He is running from both law enforcement and the people actually involved in the murder.
The threesome try to prove Eddies innocence whilst also trying to avoid the killer.
I absolutely LOVED this book. I think it is one of the best Kindle books I have read from a less well known author. I loved the fast pace of the book, and the way it kept you guessing. I didn't want to put it down. It is very well written, albeit with some typos, with well described characters and a great story line. The way the author wrote the relationship between the main characters was well done too, and quite humourous in places.
It was a great ending and without giving spoilers, quite unexpected.
Yes there were problems with some of the editing, and it needs a good proof reader on it. There may also have been some errors in the French interpretations in places as another reader has mentioned, but most English speaking readers would not really notice. I certainly wouldn't lessen my rating because of it.
If Mr Brooks continues to write books like this, then I for one, would definately be buying them.
He lives with his friend Corey, who's lifestyle is what you might call chaotic, and Eddie is always chasing him for his rent money. Along with Corey's girlfriend Jordyn, who works in a bar, Corey comes up with an idea that could potentially get Eddies name well known and help with his book sales, by trying to persuade him to get involved in something scandalous. Sounds like a good plan, until someone gets murdered and Eddie ends up on the run, helped by Corey and Jordyn. He is running from both law enforcement and the people actually involved in the murder.
The threesome try to prove Eddies innocence whilst also trying to avoid the killer.
I absolutely LOVED this book. I think it is one of the best Kindle books I have read from a less well known author. I loved the fast pace of the book, and the way it kept you guessing. I didn't want to put it down. It is very well written, albeit with some typos, with well described characters and a great story line. The way the author wrote the relationship between the main characters was well done too, and quite humourous in places.
It was a great ending and without giving spoilers, quite unexpected.
Yes there were problems with some of the editing, and it needs a good proof reader on it. There may also have been some errors in the French interpretations in places as another reader has mentioned, but most English speaking readers would not really notice. I certainly wouldn't lessen my rating because of it.
If Mr Brooks continues to write books like this, then I for one, would definately be buying them.
July 11, 2023
Eddie, a down and out author who is struggling to get his book published and needs some quick money to live on for a while. His friend Jordyn tried to help him out with a rather unusual job (male dominant) that he just was not really fit for. But he needed the money and things went badly quick, he and his best friend Corey were being accused of murder. They fled the scene and kept moving to avoid capture. They went to a home where they felt they may get some answers and was first sent away but later the owner went looking for them realizing she needed answers, and they were her best lead to find them. They soon found out they all were being doble crossed and had to with the help of the owner and her guard dog able to subdue the guilty parties. This was a really good book, just the mix of language threw me off occasionally and I had to re-read things to make sure I was clear. But really loved the auntie from the islands who took no prisoners in her discussions and said exactly what everyone needed to hear. She was definitely a strong and wonderful character in the book. It was about a 2-day read as the pacing was fast and well done. The interaction between the 3 main characters is very well done you can see the friendships are tested to the max but still survive the intense pressure of the man hunt.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Read
January 22, 2012Good fast read! Murder, scandal, embezzling, mystery. Everything you'd want in a good thriller.
The dialog felt a little forced and the translations (added for the benefit of the reader) took a little away from the pacing but neither were so off putting that they ruined the story flow for me.
Kept thinking this book would make an excellent episode on CASTLE! =D
Kudos to Russell Brooks, for this book was very entertaining!
*Language warning: cussing including gd and the f-bomb. Its ok though, this book is adult thriller genre not YA.
The dialog felt a little forced and the translations (added for the benefit of the reader) took a little away from the pacing but neither were so off putting that they ruined the story flow for me.
Kept thinking this book would make an excellent episode on CASTLE! =D
Kudos to Russell Brooks, for this book was very entertaining!
*Language warning: cussing including gd and the f-bomb. Its ok though, this book is adult thriller genre not YA.
April 21, 2025
This book kept me laughing. I'm glad Eddie finally got a break. He had to go through a lot to get there, but like they say, anything worth having is worth fighting for. This man's struggle was real and sometimes funny.
October 22, 2012
Review posted on Kindles & Wine
When I was reading the summary, I found myself wondering whether the author was the character in the book. Thanks to the wonders of Google, it sounds like it is indeed fiction. Whew, because I wouldn’t really want anyone to experience what the main character, Eddie, went through…or do the ends justify the means? (You’ll have to read to find out…)
Chill Run starts midway through Eddie’s story, and the author does a great job of immediately immersing you in the mystery. What the heck did Eddie do to get himself shot, of all things? After the brief prologue, the story goes back in time 4 days so we get the backstory. I call this time jumping the “Lost” effect, LOL, but I think in this book it’s a very effective story-telling technique.
There are actually three main characters in Chill Run: Eddie, the struggling novelist, and his friends Corey and Jordyn (Jordyn is Corey’s girlfriend). The 3 of them have a fantastically dysfunctional relationship that’s fun to read, yet they clearly are devoted to one another and are true best friends. Corey and Eddie actually go wayyyyy back, but I don’t want to spoil the story of how they met.
So imagine you’re Eddie and sitting around with your friends, bemoaning the fact that no publishers are accepting your latest book (gee, *that’s* hard to imagine, right?!). Being that they’re your best friends, they support you and want you to succeed. Hmmm, how to get published, how to get published…wait, celebrities write books that aren’t very good. Why not become famous somehow, and then publishers will be knocking down your door?!
Given that Corey’s girlfriend, Jordyn, works in the sex business, they concoct a plan that involves catching someone famous with their pants down, with Eddie. Yes, you read that right—with the struggling author, who has no previous experience in the profession of the night. The thing is, no plan is foolproof and this plan has many, many ways it could go awry. Before he knows it, Eddie is framed for murder and on the run from the (Canadian) law. He wanted to be famous, not in jail. Who can he trust?
Chill Run has a bit of everything: action, humor, and friendship. The action pauses in the right places to give glimpses into Eddie’s history, especially with his family (expect more dysfunction!), and the humor in the interactions between the three main characters is at times priceless. I also found the preface to be a shining moment of brilliance. While I don’t think the author intended to be funny, it really tickled my funny bone (in a “why don’t ALL authors write a disclaimer like this” sort of way!).
I largely enjoyed Chill Run, but I wish the author would have slowed things down a bit in places in order to provide more descriptions or to link scenes together. I was occasionally confused as I wondered what I missed when the story jumped around. I also found that the reason behind the murder got lost within the larger story, but this was something I was willing to overlook because I was just enjoying the ride.
All in all, between the action, the mystery, the bits of humor, and the enjoyable main characters, there’s a lot to like about this book. I’ve read a fair amount of mysteries in my day, and I loved that there was a plot turn or two that I didn’t see coming. I always have to applaud an author when they’re able to do that!
If you start to read this book, you should know two things: First, be forewarned that you may not want to put it down, and second, just a heads-up that there is some adult language. If you find that offensive, either read those words quickly or skip this one. I found it added to the believability of the characters. I’m sure I’ve let a bad word or two slip from my mouth (I think my husband just snorted from the other room).
Bottom Line
If you like neat and tidy mysteries that get wrapped in a bow at the end and don’t mind adult language, give Chill Run a chance!
Rating: Solid B+
Review copy courtesy of the author in exchange for an honest review
When I was reading the summary, I found myself wondering whether the author was the character in the book. Thanks to the wonders of Google, it sounds like it is indeed fiction. Whew, because I wouldn’t really want anyone to experience what the main character, Eddie, went through…or do the ends justify the means? (You’ll have to read to find out…)
Chill Run starts midway through Eddie’s story, and the author does a great job of immediately immersing you in the mystery. What the heck did Eddie do to get himself shot, of all things? After the brief prologue, the story goes back in time 4 days so we get the backstory. I call this time jumping the “Lost” effect, LOL, but I think in this book it’s a very effective story-telling technique.
There are actually three main characters in Chill Run: Eddie, the struggling novelist, and his friends Corey and Jordyn (Jordyn is Corey’s girlfriend). The 3 of them have a fantastically dysfunctional relationship that’s fun to read, yet they clearly are devoted to one another and are true best friends. Corey and Eddie actually go wayyyyy back, but I don’t want to spoil the story of how they met.
So imagine you’re Eddie and sitting around with your friends, bemoaning the fact that no publishers are accepting your latest book (gee, *that’s* hard to imagine, right?!). Being that they’re your best friends, they support you and want you to succeed. Hmmm, how to get published, how to get published…wait, celebrities write books that aren’t very good. Why not become famous somehow, and then publishers will be knocking down your door?!
Given that Corey’s girlfriend, Jordyn, works in the sex business, they concoct a plan that involves catching someone famous with their pants down, with Eddie. Yes, you read that right—with the struggling author, who has no previous experience in the profession of the night. The thing is, no plan is foolproof and this plan has many, many ways it could go awry. Before he knows it, Eddie is framed for murder and on the run from the (Canadian) law. He wanted to be famous, not in jail. Who can he trust?
Chill Run has a bit of everything: action, humor, and friendship. The action pauses in the right places to give glimpses into Eddie’s history, especially with his family (expect more dysfunction!), and the humor in the interactions between the three main characters is at times priceless. I also found the preface to be a shining moment of brilliance. While I don’t think the author intended to be funny, it really tickled my funny bone (in a “why don’t ALL authors write a disclaimer like this” sort of way!).
I largely enjoyed Chill Run, but I wish the author would have slowed things down a bit in places in order to provide more descriptions or to link scenes together. I was occasionally confused as I wondered what I missed when the story jumped around. I also found that the reason behind the murder got lost within the larger story, but this was something I was willing to overlook because I was just enjoying the ride.
All in all, between the action, the mystery, the bits of humor, and the enjoyable main characters, there’s a lot to like about this book. I’ve read a fair amount of mysteries in my day, and I loved that there was a plot turn or two that I didn’t see coming. I always have to applaud an author when they’re able to do that!
If you start to read this book, you should know two things: First, be forewarned that you may not want to put it down, and second, just a heads-up that there is some adult language. If you find that offensive, either read those words quickly or skip this one. I found it added to the believability of the characters. I’m sure I’ve let a bad word or two slip from my mouth (I think my husband just snorted from the other room).
Bottom Line
If you like neat and tidy mysteries that get wrapped in a bow at the end and don’t mind adult language, give Chill Run a chance!
Rating: Solid B+
Review copy courtesy of the author in exchange for an honest review
November 27, 2011
Chill Run – Review by Martha A. Cheves, Author of Stir, Laugh, Repeat and Think With Your Taste Buds Desserts
Eddie bit down hard to avoid himself from trembling. The finger that his father used to point at him came from the same hand that used to spank him. Wait a minute. Why am I being scared? This is why I’m always on the ropes, because my father always instilled fear in me. Edward’s eyes narrowed as he spoke. “You quit school, left this house on your own, and got that little job at the bookstore. Now you’re living from paycheck to paycheck, running around like a hamster in a wheel. Running around and not going anywhere – that’s you. You squandered everything that your mother and I invested in you. Once you decide to do something meaningful and stop writing nonsense, then I’ll help you.” He then finished off the last of his sweet potato. The tightness at the back of Eddie’s throat suddenly went away. He felt his pulse beating hard in his neck, something he never felt before. It was bad enough to be kicked when he was down. But now his dad had crossed the line. I stood up to Patrick at the bar, why shouldn’t I stand up to you? “Dad, all I have to say to that is that I can respect you all the way. You came from nothing and you became a pharmacist. You faced an uphill battle to become what you wanted.” His father didn’t appear to hear what he said. He wasn’t landing his punches. “And that’s why you are so wrong, in every way.” Eddie felt the shock and awe around him at the table as everyone simultaneously stopped eating.
Eddie Barrow, Jr. has finally confronted his father and stood up for himself. Eddie had always wanted to be a writer but that wasn’t what his parents, especially his father, wanted him to become. The lack of support from his family is what caused him to move out of their home and seek a life of his own. But, of course, independence came with its own ups and downs.
Eddie’s best friend Corey, who had once saved his life, became his roommate but he had his own problems, mainly the lack of a job. So when Eddie lost his own job there was nothing else to do but find another way to make himself known and stop the rejection letters that were coming in from the publishers after reading his manuscript. Through the help of Corey’s girlfriend Jordyn, the perfect publicity stunt was set up and put into action. They would never have guessed that this best laid plan would end up in murder with Eddie, Corey and Jordyn all three running for their lives.
Chill Run is a fitting name for this book. The twists and turns will keep the chills running as the trio has no choice but to find the real killers and expose them. But how do you make that happen when the person in the background pulling the strings has people in his pocket that can prevent you from reporting what you know to the police?
Not only does Chill Run have the action, suspense and a laugh now and then, it also speaks to the reader. Eddie’s family has shown no support for his choices in life. They insist that he follow their dreams for him and not his own. For a determined person like Eddie, this gave him no choice other than to do something he would have never even considered otherwise. And now his only goal is to keep himself and his two best friends alive, again without the support of his parents. Chill Run is a story that will keep you turning the pages to see what happens next.
To enter Russell's contest to win a free copy of his book simply write a comment and leave your email address with your post, but hurry because the contest ends 11/30/2011. Russell will be giving away 10 copies of his book Chill Run.
Russell Brooks
Author
Pandora's Succession
Read Now - http://bit.ly/97ZcmI
Twitter - @AuthorRussell
Review Stir, Laugh, Repeat at Amazon.com Stir, Laugh, Repeat
Eddie bit down hard to avoid himself from trembling. The finger that his father used to point at him came from the same hand that used to spank him. Wait a minute. Why am I being scared? This is why I’m always on the ropes, because my father always instilled fear in me. Edward’s eyes narrowed as he spoke. “You quit school, left this house on your own, and got that little job at the bookstore. Now you’re living from paycheck to paycheck, running around like a hamster in a wheel. Running around and not going anywhere – that’s you. You squandered everything that your mother and I invested in you. Once you decide to do something meaningful and stop writing nonsense, then I’ll help you.” He then finished off the last of his sweet potato. The tightness at the back of Eddie’s throat suddenly went away. He felt his pulse beating hard in his neck, something he never felt before. It was bad enough to be kicked when he was down. But now his dad had crossed the line. I stood up to Patrick at the bar, why shouldn’t I stand up to you? “Dad, all I have to say to that is that I can respect you all the way. You came from nothing and you became a pharmacist. You faced an uphill battle to become what you wanted.” His father didn’t appear to hear what he said. He wasn’t landing his punches. “And that’s why you are so wrong, in every way.” Eddie felt the shock and awe around him at the table as everyone simultaneously stopped eating.
Eddie Barrow, Jr. has finally confronted his father and stood up for himself. Eddie had always wanted to be a writer but that wasn’t what his parents, especially his father, wanted him to become. The lack of support from his family is what caused him to move out of their home and seek a life of his own. But, of course, independence came with its own ups and downs.
Eddie’s best friend Corey, who had once saved his life, became his roommate but he had his own problems, mainly the lack of a job. So when Eddie lost his own job there was nothing else to do but find another way to make himself known and stop the rejection letters that were coming in from the publishers after reading his manuscript. Through the help of Corey’s girlfriend Jordyn, the perfect publicity stunt was set up and put into action. They would never have guessed that this best laid plan would end up in murder with Eddie, Corey and Jordyn all three running for their lives.
Chill Run is a fitting name for this book. The twists and turns will keep the chills running as the trio has no choice but to find the real killers and expose them. But how do you make that happen when the person in the background pulling the strings has people in his pocket that can prevent you from reporting what you know to the police?
Not only does Chill Run have the action, suspense and a laugh now and then, it also speaks to the reader. Eddie’s family has shown no support for his choices in life. They insist that he follow their dreams for him and not his own. For a determined person like Eddie, this gave him no choice other than to do something he would have never even considered otherwise. And now his only goal is to keep himself and his two best friends alive, again without the support of his parents. Chill Run is a story that will keep you turning the pages to see what happens next.
To enter Russell's contest to win a free copy of his book simply write a comment and leave your email address with your post, but hurry because the contest ends 11/30/2011. Russell will be giving away 10 copies of his book Chill Run.
Russell Brooks
Author
Pandora's Succession
Read Now - http://bit.ly/97ZcmI
Twitter - @AuthorRussell
Review Stir, Laugh, Repeat at Amazon.com Stir, Laugh, Repeat
December 2, 2011
If there is a possibility of several things going wrong, the one that will cause the most damage will be the one to go wrong. - Murphy's Law
Eddie Barrow Jr. is an author who dreams of making it big but his books are not selling. his relationship with his parents and sister is strained. to make matters worse, not only does Eddie lose his job but also his girlfriend. together with the help of his two friends, Eddie stages a publicity stunt and gets the fame he craves for albeit in a very very bad way.
author Russell Brooks latest novel explores what drives a man in desperate times to undertake desperate measures and the consequences of those acts.
the first thing i noticed while reading was that the author's writing style here was a far cry from his previous two thrillers. there are still lots of action scenes and the requisite twists and turns which Russell Brooks' fans will recognize and enjoy. something was different though and i later realized that this difference was presented appropriately.
in Pandora's Succession and Unsavory Delicacies , most of the author's main characters are covert agents who are highly skilled in hand-to-hand combat and firearms.
in Chill Run, the main characters do not have those qualities or resources. they are ordinary citizens caught in a chain of events that spiral out of control. they only have each other and their wits to rely on to survive as they run from the law. what the author did in this book was that he allowed the characters to speak for themselves using language sans the technical jargon. this made sense and gave the whole story more credibility and a it-could-happen-in-real-life feel to it.
the main protagonist Eddie is an example of Murphy's Law in action. when something goes wrong in Eddie's life, it does not stop. it triggers more unfortunate events. it would have been ironic and comedic at best if Eddie's last name were Murphy instead of Barrow.
everything, however, is not all downhill for Eddie. how he and his friends managed to get out of the vicious cycle they were trapped in and what happened afterwards to each of them are some of the highlights of this book that readers should look forward to.
overall, i was impressed to see a different side of Russell Brook's writing skills and i loved the fact that he treated his readers and fans to something new.
Disclosure of Material Connection: i received an eARC of Chill Run from the author himself. i did not receive any payment in exchange for this review nor was i obligated to write a positive one. all opinions expressed here are entirely my own and may not necessarily agree with those of the author, the book's publisher and publicist or the readers of this review. this disclosure is in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255, Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.
Eddie Barrow Jr. is an author who dreams of making it big but his books are not selling. his relationship with his parents and sister is strained. to make matters worse, not only does Eddie lose his job but also his girlfriend. together with the help of his two friends, Eddie stages a publicity stunt and gets the fame he craves for albeit in a very very bad way.
author Russell Brooks latest novel explores what drives a man in desperate times to undertake desperate measures and the consequences of those acts.
the first thing i noticed while reading was that the author's writing style here was a far cry from his previous two thrillers. there are still lots of action scenes and the requisite twists and turns which Russell Brooks' fans will recognize and enjoy. something was different though and i later realized that this difference was presented appropriately.
in Pandora's Succession and Unsavory Delicacies , most of the author's main characters are covert agents who are highly skilled in hand-to-hand combat and firearms.
in Chill Run, the main characters do not have those qualities or resources. they are ordinary citizens caught in a chain of events that spiral out of control. they only have each other and their wits to rely on to survive as they run from the law. what the author did in this book was that he allowed the characters to speak for themselves using language sans the technical jargon. this made sense and gave the whole story more credibility and a it-could-happen-in-real-life feel to it.
the main protagonist Eddie is an example of Murphy's Law in action. when something goes wrong in Eddie's life, it does not stop. it triggers more unfortunate events. it would have been ironic and comedic at best if Eddie's last name were Murphy instead of Barrow.
everything, however, is not all downhill for Eddie. how he and his friends managed to get out of the vicious cycle they were trapped in and what happened afterwards to each of them are some of the highlights of this book that readers should look forward to.
overall, i was impressed to see a different side of Russell Brook's writing skills and i loved the fact that he treated his readers and fans to something new.
Disclosure of Material Connection: i received an eARC of Chill Run from the author himself. i did not receive any payment in exchange for this review nor was i obligated to write a positive one. all opinions expressed here are entirely my own and may not necessarily agree with those of the author, the book's publisher and publicist or the readers of this review. this disclosure is in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255, Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.
December 1, 2011
Chill Run
By Russell Brooks
For those of you who read Pandora's Succession and, like me, would be prepared for a similar, new thriller...
You're in for a real surprise...and a treat...once you adjust to the story line. I admit that at first, as I started to read about "sexual doms" I didn't know what was coming, but soon I started to smile, laugh, and imagine just how an idea like this could be born--our world thrives on such things after all!
For Eddie Barrow wanted to become a published author. His first novel had been sent out and rejected so far, but he was still optimistic, even though his family had never supported his chosen profession, other than one aunt, and had never even asked to read any part of his manuscript. Eddie had left home because of the constant turmoil and lived with his best friend. However, Corey was going through a major depression because he had tried out for a Canadian idol contest and had been judged and publicized across the world as the world's "worst"... (You can see how readers are quickly smiling and feeling sympathy for the characters!)
Behind on the rent, Eddie first loses his girl and his job. And Corey hasn't been able to pay for his share of rent for months. After having dinner at home and getting even more negative feedback, he had left swearing he'd never returned. Perhaps if none of Eddie's financial troubles had happened, Corey's girlfriend, Jordyn, wouldn't have introduced an idea to him. In doing so, she identified herself as a fem dom, while quickly explaining that there was no sex involved in the activities. She suggested that Eddie act as a dom and, perhaps with a little whipping and smacking around, his client would be pleased and he would be paid big bucks.
Eddie was extremely hesitant, but finally agreed to meet with a woman who was supposedly a CEO of a major corporation. But, their plan was to have the press be notified, break it up--and, of course, Eddie would gain lots of notoriety as a "sex scandal" broke! Reluctantly, Eddie agreed...
I had to share all of this because the circumstances was just too good, not to pull me in. By this point, I was hooked and hoping Eddie could get through this without too much pressure.
But before he left that hotel room, his "client" had been murdered...
Eddie and Corey quickly decided they had to turn themselves into the police and explain what had happened. That is, until Eddie saw all of them already on the news...
Eddie, Corey and Jordyn wind up on the run... Though the chase is hot and heavy, Eddie knows that if they don't try to solve the case, and gain sufficient evidence, they will never be free...but the twists and turns seem to be ending, only to start over!
Russell Brooks has given us another great ride--thrills galore, but this time, with a very sympathetic wannabe novelist as the main character, together with two close friends who support him throughout. Loved the characters, the concept, and the thrills of this Chill Run! Highly recommended!
Book Received Via
Facebook Reviewers Roundup
GABixlerReviews
By Russell Brooks
For those of you who read Pandora's Succession and, like me, would be prepared for a similar, new thriller...
You're in for a real surprise...and a treat...once you adjust to the story line. I admit that at first, as I started to read about "sexual doms" I didn't know what was coming, but soon I started to smile, laugh, and imagine just how an idea like this could be born--our world thrives on such things after all!
For Eddie Barrow wanted to become a published author. His first novel had been sent out and rejected so far, but he was still optimistic, even though his family had never supported his chosen profession, other than one aunt, and had never even asked to read any part of his manuscript. Eddie had left home because of the constant turmoil and lived with his best friend. However, Corey was going through a major depression because he had tried out for a Canadian idol contest and had been judged and publicized across the world as the world's "worst"... (You can see how readers are quickly smiling and feeling sympathy for the characters!)
Behind on the rent, Eddie first loses his girl and his job. And Corey hasn't been able to pay for his share of rent for months. After having dinner at home and getting even more negative feedback, he had left swearing he'd never returned. Perhaps if none of Eddie's financial troubles had happened, Corey's girlfriend, Jordyn, wouldn't have introduced an idea to him. In doing so, she identified herself as a fem dom, while quickly explaining that there was no sex involved in the activities. She suggested that Eddie act as a dom and, perhaps with a little whipping and smacking around, his client would be pleased and he would be paid big bucks.
Eddie was extremely hesitant, but finally agreed to meet with a woman who was supposedly a CEO of a major corporation. But, their plan was to have the press be notified, break it up--and, of course, Eddie would gain lots of notoriety as a "sex scandal" broke! Reluctantly, Eddie agreed...
I had to share all of this because the circumstances was just too good, not to pull me in. By this point, I was hooked and hoping Eddie could get through this without too much pressure.
But before he left that hotel room, his "client" had been murdered...
Eddie and Corey quickly decided they had to turn themselves into the police and explain what had happened. That is, until Eddie saw all of them already on the news...
Eddie, Corey and Jordyn wind up on the run... Though the chase is hot and heavy, Eddie knows that if they don't try to solve the case, and gain sufficient evidence, they will never be free...but the twists and turns seem to be ending, only to start over!
Russell Brooks has given us another great ride--thrills galore, but this time, with a very sympathetic wannabe novelist as the main character, together with two close friends who support him throughout. Loved the characters, the concept, and the thrills of this Chill Run! Highly recommended!
Book Received Via
Facebook Reviewers Roundup
GABixlerReviews
November 11, 2012
I liked Eddie. He's this regular guy that is struggling to make his dream of becoming a published author one day. His strongest supporters are his unemployed best friend and his best friend's girlfriend who happens to be a dominatrix. This trio is written with a strong bond that goes far beyond what most friends would probably do for you. This makes me like them all the better! I mean seriously friends that do everything they can while you're a fugitive on the run from the cops and risking their lives while the killers are chasing you down to keep you quiet!! Well where can I sign up for friends like that! ;)
Eddie and his friends come up with a scheme to get his name out in the world so he can get his books sold. Reluctantly, Eddie agrees and ends up with a whole lot more then he bargained for! When he walks into a hotel room hoping to do one thing and finds something way off his radar he basically put himself in one of those wrong place at the wrong time situations. 'Chill Run' is like one of those horror films you're watching and you're screaming at the girl NOT to go outside to check on the ''noise''...yup! Screaming ''Eddie, no! Dude! Don't do that!'' Then the author magically with all his wonderful writing goes in and fixes it. *sigh* Goodness Russell Brooks great job on the suspense!!
Russell Brooks builds a great premise and he carries it all the way through. I enjoyed the suspense and mystery that is found throughout this book. He even throws a little twist there at the end that leaves you saying, ''What! What?'' Thing to remember with this book...it's not all as it seems!
Another great couple of parts this book had was the relationship Eddie has with his family. He struggles even as an adult to stand up for himself and we get to watch him ''grow'' and learn to defend himself and actions. We are able to watch this family learn and come together with faith and love for each other. Pretty awesome! If you're a fan of suspense at every corner and you like to solve a little mystery then you will really enjoy 'Chill Run' by Russell Brooks! I give this book my thumbs up!
Eddie and his friends come up with a scheme to get his name out in the world so he can get his books sold. Reluctantly, Eddie agrees and ends up with a whole lot more then he bargained for! When he walks into a hotel room hoping to do one thing and finds something way off his radar he basically put himself in one of those wrong place at the wrong time situations. 'Chill Run' is like one of those horror films you're watching and you're screaming at the girl NOT to go outside to check on the ''noise''...yup! Screaming ''Eddie, no! Dude! Don't do that!'' Then the author magically with all his wonderful writing goes in and fixes it. *sigh* Goodness Russell Brooks great job on the suspense!!
Russell Brooks builds a great premise and he carries it all the way through. I enjoyed the suspense and mystery that is found throughout this book. He even throws a little twist there at the end that leaves you saying, ''What! What?'' Thing to remember with this book...it's not all as it seems!
Another great couple of parts this book had was the relationship Eddie has with his family. He struggles even as an adult to stand up for himself and we get to watch him ''grow'' and learn to defend himself and actions. We are able to watch this family learn and come together with faith and love for each other. Pretty awesome! If you're a fan of suspense at every corner and you like to solve a little mystery then you will really enjoy 'Chill Run' by Russell Brooks! I give this book my thumbs up!
October 13, 2011
Russell Brooks afforded me the opportunity to read his new book, Chill Run, which is due to be released in December 2011. I was asked to review the book and was not compensated in anyway for my review. Chill Run is an interesting face paced thriller. I read the book in a few hours, as I was eager to see what happened at the end. It was a thrilling page-turner that grabbed my attention from the first few pages. The book was written in English with a little French sprinkled in which I felt added to the mysteriousness of the book.
Chill Run is about an aspiring author, Eddie Barrow, Jr., who sets out on a
scheme to acquire fifteen minutes of fame. Eddie wants to become an author by any means necessary and sets out to do so by creating a publicity stunt. With the plans set in place, Eddie dons his leather outfit to begin the night of S & M with the celebrity he’s planning to set up. When he gets to where the scene is set to unfold, Eddie is thrown into a world that’s unknown to him. The joke, albeit a murderous one, is now on him. He becomes involved in a dark world that provides him with more than the fifteen minutes of fame he was seeking. He's tossed into a world of darkness where he and his best friend are accused of murdering his wealthy client that he witnessed being murdered. Eddie’s zealousness put him in the wrong place at the wrong time not it’s up to him to get out of the situation he’s been placed in.
Thrust into a world of corruption with knowledge a billion dollar fraud scheme, Eddie gets his fame when their faces end up on the front page of all of the newspapers, and plastered on every news channel in Canada and the USA. At each point in the book when you thought you knew what was going to happen next, Brooks' storytelling ability took the story into an entirely different direction.
If you like reading thrillers and mysteries this is the book for you. It is well written. The characters and situations seem real. I highly recommend this book to readers interested in this genre.
Chill Run is about an aspiring author, Eddie Barrow, Jr., who sets out on a
scheme to acquire fifteen minutes of fame. Eddie wants to become an author by any means necessary and sets out to do so by creating a publicity stunt. With the plans set in place, Eddie dons his leather outfit to begin the night of S & M with the celebrity he’s planning to set up. When he gets to where the scene is set to unfold, Eddie is thrown into a world that’s unknown to him. The joke, albeit a murderous one, is now on him. He becomes involved in a dark world that provides him with more than the fifteen minutes of fame he was seeking. He's tossed into a world of darkness where he and his best friend are accused of murdering his wealthy client that he witnessed being murdered. Eddie’s zealousness put him in the wrong place at the wrong time not it’s up to him to get out of the situation he’s been placed in.
Thrust into a world of corruption with knowledge a billion dollar fraud scheme, Eddie gets his fame when their faces end up on the front page of all of the newspapers, and plastered on every news channel in Canada and the USA. At each point in the book when you thought you knew what was going to happen next, Brooks' storytelling ability took the story into an entirely different direction.
If you like reading thrillers and mysteries this is the book for you. It is well written. The characters and situations seem real. I highly recommend this book to readers interested in this genre.
December 7, 2011
Russell Brooks have woven mystery, suspense, murder, betrayal and even loyalty throughout his story Chill Run.
An enjoyable suspenseful thriller that will take you on Roller coaster ride with Eddie, Corey and Jordyn. After the threesome plan to expose the female Ceo to gain stardom hoping to snag a book deal, Eddie finds himself being accused of murder, with friends at tow. Running for their lives.
Eddie has a knack for unleashing mystery, along the way he makes discoveries no normal person would, I think with having his writer skills in place he easily sees things that a normal person would not. This helps him to uncover certain aspects throughout this murder and helps to expose the entire plan.
I really enjoyed the character development. Close nit friendships that are bound and loyalty hard to find. The characters easily likable and funny and other moments friendship shown through !
A smooth flowing storyline, filled with all the goodies one could want in suspenseful thriller. Moments that will send Chills down your spine and others where you grasping at your reader in hope that Eddie survives the ordeal to become the successful writer that originally got him into this mess.
Chapters run smoothly from one till the next, curve balls thrown in and twists and turns you certainly won’t see coming! Russell has created a thriller that will certainly keep you guessing the entire read, from beginning to end and even have you left wanting more.
An ending a reader loves to see, but an overall storyline that has filled every query, question or aspect of a read.
Recommended to all who enjoy action, adventure, murder, mystery and suspense and even a little added extra for a laugh.
** Russell created scenes where you could easily envisage - aka poor Eddie in his attire!! That would’ve been a site for sore eyes lol! But definitely was put forth well. Male Dominitrix was just not for Eddie ! ** grins **
Short read at only 200 pages but a story to add to your reader for a quick afternoon filled with suspense.!
An enjoyable suspenseful thriller that will take you on Roller coaster ride with Eddie, Corey and Jordyn. After the threesome plan to expose the female Ceo to gain stardom hoping to snag a book deal, Eddie finds himself being accused of murder, with friends at tow. Running for their lives.
Eddie has a knack for unleashing mystery, along the way he makes discoveries no normal person would, I think with having his writer skills in place he easily sees things that a normal person would not. This helps him to uncover certain aspects throughout this murder and helps to expose the entire plan.
I really enjoyed the character development. Close nit friendships that are bound and loyalty hard to find. The characters easily likable and funny and other moments friendship shown through !
A smooth flowing storyline, filled with all the goodies one could want in suspenseful thriller. Moments that will send Chills down your spine and others where you grasping at your reader in hope that Eddie survives the ordeal to become the successful writer that originally got him into this mess.
Chapters run smoothly from one till the next, curve balls thrown in and twists and turns you certainly won’t see coming! Russell has created a thriller that will certainly keep you guessing the entire read, from beginning to end and even have you left wanting more.
An ending a reader loves to see, but an overall storyline that has filled every query, question or aspect of a read.
Recommended to all who enjoy action, adventure, murder, mystery and suspense and even a little added extra for a laugh.
** Russell created scenes where you could easily envisage - aka poor Eddie in his attire!! That would’ve been a site for sore eyes lol! But definitely was put forth well. Male Dominitrix was just not for Eddie ! ** grins **
Short read at only 200 pages but a story to add to your reader for a quick afternoon filled with suspense.!
November 21, 2011
Russell Brooks places immigrant Canadians Eddie and Corey in some intriguingly dangerous situations in his new novel Chill Run. Eddie wonders why his family ever moved from Barbados. He wonders why he paid four thousand dollars for a car that barely runs. And he wonders why his best friend and room-mate won’t get a job and pay the rent.
Eddie’s world in the back streets of Montreal is very convincingly portrayed, from French speaking policemen, to the difference between Trinidadian and Barbadian accents, to slang, to the desperate need for money and acceptance. Eddie’s parents don’t understand why he moved out from their comfortable home, but now he’s had enough. If they can’t accept his dreams, he’s moving on.
Beautiful Jordyn has her own way of raising money to finance her dreams. Best friend Corey’s big chance ended in disaster. But Eddie just plugs away sending out novels and taking in rejections. He knows in the end luck’s the biggest thing that determines a writer’s success, but how can he make luck?
Soon Eddie, Corey and Jordyn are on the road, fleeing a nightmare of dominatrices, dead bodies, police hunts and corruption in high places. Eddie’s last chance at reconciliation with his family seems doomed, and his hopes of being a writer might end with him writing his memoirs in jail.
Russell Brooks creates a classic action tale with this novel. Likeably inept characters are pursued by violent criminals. The only black guys outside of town, their pictures splashed over TV screens, the whole world against them, they race to solve the mystery of a dying man’s words. Well-written dialog, convincing point of view, and some clever twists and turns make this an enjoyable read, with occasionally over-introspective explanations easily forgiven. It’s a fast-paced story with a nice sense of right and not-quite-wrong, good character development, gritty danger, and satisfying conclusion.
Disclosure: The author gave me a free eARC of this novel prior to the Dec 1st publication in exchange for an honest review.
Eddie’s world in the back streets of Montreal is very convincingly portrayed, from French speaking policemen, to the difference between Trinidadian and Barbadian accents, to slang, to the desperate need for money and acceptance. Eddie’s parents don’t understand why he moved out from their comfortable home, but now he’s had enough. If they can’t accept his dreams, he’s moving on.
Beautiful Jordyn has her own way of raising money to finance her dreams. Best friend Corey’s big chance ended in disaster. But Eddie just plugs away sending out novels and taking in rejections. He knows in the end luck’s the biggest thing that determines a writer’s success, but how can he make luck?
Soon Eddie, Corey and Jordyn are on the road, fleeing a nightmare of dominatrices, dead bodies, police hunts and corruption in high places. Eddie’s last chance at reconciliation with his family seems doomed, and his hopes of being a writer might end with him writing his memoirs in jail.
Russell Brooks creates a classic action tale with this novel. Likeably inept characters are pursued by violent criminals. The only black guys outside of town, their pictures splashed over TV screens, the whole world against them, they race to solve the mystery of a dying man’s words. Well-written dialog, convincing point of view, and some clever twists and turns make this an enjoyable read, with occasionally over-introspective explanations easily forgiven. It’s a fast-paced story with a nice sense of right and not-quite-wrong, good character development, gritty danger, and satisfying conclusion.
Disclosure: The author gave me a free eARC of this novel prior to the Dec 1st publication in exchange for an honest review.
October 3, 2012
This was a fun thriller by Russell Brooks: This was a fun thriller by Russell Brooks. The story, set around Montreal, Canada, revolves around Eddie, a struggling writer. He is disheartened by his poor e-book sales and even more despondent when his novel is rejected by two publishing houses. His parents are unsupportive, his girlfriend has cheated on him and his best friend (and flatmate), Corey, owes him rent. Could it get any worse? Oh, indeed it could—he gets laid off from his job at a book store. Corey’s girlfriend, Jordyn is a ‘femdom’, a dominatrix, when she is not waitressing; a lucrative side-line which will enable her to save up enough money to buy her own café. As this little side-line introduces her to all sorts of high-profile people, she suggests that Eddie could do worse than be a ‘maledom’ for one night. A publicity stunt can bring attention to both participants…what better way to get his name ‘in lights’?
When he is finally persuaded, poor Eddie finds himself with more than just public exposure. He's on the run with Corey and Jordyn; the pursuant ‘police’ are determined to catch up with them with more than handcuffs and a slap on the wrist in mind.
This is an enjoyable, fast-paced thriller with likeable characters set in the cold harshness of a Canadian winter. The dialogue between Eddie, Corey, and Jordyn is just what you would expect from three best friends who have known each other for a long time—it’s jovial banter which often raises a smile. Hapless Eddie is easy to empathise with, and the brotherly bond between him and Corey goes back to when they first met, as young teenagers, in an incident which could have ended considerably less than happily for Eddie. The action and characters were all well-described and portrayed. Russell’s style is light and easy to read. I liked the use of French dialogue—it helped to integrate the setting into its French-Canadian backdrop.
A lively and entertaining story.
When he is finally persuaded, poor Eddie finds himself with more than just public exposure. He's on the run with Corey and Jordyn; the pursuant ‘police’ are determined to catch up with them with more than handcuffs and a slap on the wrist in mind.
This is an enjoyable, fast-paced thriller with likeable characters set in the cold harshness of a Canadian winter. The dialogue between Eddie, Corey, and Jordyn is just what you would expect from three best friends who have known each other for a long time—it’s jovial banter which often raises a smile. Hapless Eddie is easy to empathise with, and the brotherly bond between him and Corey goes back to when they first met, as young teenagers, in an incident which could have ended considerably less than happily for Eddie. The action and characters were all well-described and portrayed. Russell’s style is light and easy to read. I liked the use of French dialogue—it helped to integrate the setting into its French-Canadian backdrop.
A lively and entertaining story.
January 21, 2012
Chill Run is an action packed thriller with a captivating and complex story that keeps the reader on the edge of their seat.
Eddie the main character is the average guy he’s struggling in his twenties and getting a lot of flak from family about his ambitions. He’s a writer who is finding it hard to break the glass ceiling to get his book published. His parents think he’s wasting his time writing and should go to school like his sister Denise whose is going to Harvard medical in January.
Eddie’s friend and roommate Corey, and Corey’s girlfriend Jordyn; think he should stage an event to get publishers interested in publishing his book. Eddie at first thinks it is a foolish idea but when Eddie loses his job, fights with his parents, and worries about rent money he is much more receptive to Corey and Jordyn's idea to get his book published. Jordyn uses her connections to set Eddie up with a celebrity, however things go horribly wrong for him when the client turns out to be suicidal and ends up revealing to Eddie details of a billion dollar financial fraud scheme.
Remorseful Eddie confesses all about his media idea and goes in the washroom to cancel the expose but while he’s there two men kill his client. The next thing Eddie know he is on the run with Corey and then Jordyn from cops and the bad guys. To prove his innocence and save their lives he must remember a five minute conversation with the dead client and unravel secrets. I just could put this book down as I wanted to find out what would happen next to Eddie.
I fell in love with the main character and his friends Corey and Jordyn and hope that the writer will choose to make these characters into a series of books as they are exceptional rich characters I’d like to get to know even better. I have a new favourite thriller writer.
Eddie the main character is the average guy he’s struggling in his twenties and getting a lot of flak from family about his ambitions. He’s a writer who is finding it hard to break the glass ceiling to get his book published. His parents think he’s wasting his time writing and should go to school like his sister Denise whose is going to Harvard medical in January.
Eddie’s friend and roommate Corey, and Corey’s girlfriend Jordyn; think he should stage an event to get publishers interested in publishing his book. Eddie at first thinks it is a foolish idea but when Eddie loses his job, fights with his parents, and worries about rent money he is much more receptive to Corey and Jordyn's idea to get his book published. Jordyn uses her connections to set Eddie up with a celebrity, however things go horribly wrong for him when the client turns out to be suicidal and ends up revealing to Eddie details of a billion dollar financial fraud scheme.
Remorseful Eddie confesses all about his media idea and goes in the washroom to cancel the expose but while he’s there two men kill his client. The next thing Eddie know he is on the run with Corey and then Jordyn from cops and the bad guys. To prove his innocence and save their lives he must remember a five minute conversation with the dead client and unravel secrets. I just could put this book down as I wanted to find out what would happen next to Eddie.
I fell in love with the main character and his friends Corey and Jordyn and hope that the writer will choose to make these characters into a series of books as they are exceptional rich characters I’d like to get to know even better. I have a new favourite thriller writer.
December 6, 2011
Full Review: http://thetbrpile.weebly.com/1/post/2...
So, the good? This is an enjoyable, fast-paced thriller with likeable characters set in the cold harshness of a Canadian winter. The dialogue between Eddie, Corey and Jordyn is just what you would expect from three best friends who have known each other for a long time – it’s jovial banter which often raises a smile. Hapless Eddie is easy to empathise with and the brotherly bond between him and Corey goes back to when they first met, as young teenagers, in an incident which could have ended considerably less than happily for Eddie. The action and characters were all well-described and portrayed. Russell’s style is light and easy to read.
And now… the bad… it’s such a shame when a good book is let down by slapdash editing. I’m sorry, Mr. Brooks, but this book was seriously lacking. There were tense inconsistencies, some serious grammatical blunders (he instead of him outside of dialogue), punctuation and spelling mistakes (please, please learn the difference between ‘your’ and ‘you’re’ and if you are going to mention Jack Nicholson’s brilliant film, get it right– it’s not The Shinning, it’s The Shining) and Robert morphed into Richard. I did like the use of French dialogue - it helped to integrate the setting into its French-Canadian backdrop, but the English translation was pointless and unnecessary. More importantly, however, if you are going to use French, for goodness sake get it right – there were accents missing, incorrect adjective agreement and worst of all…..the auxiliary verb that goes with the past tense of ‘venir’ is ‘etre’, not ‘avoir’.
In summary, a lively and entertaining story, but needs a good polish.
So, the good? This is an enjoyable, fast-paced thriller with likeable characters set in the cold harshness of a Canadian winter. The dialogue between Eddie, Corey and Jordyn is just what you would expect from three best friends who have known each other for a long time – it’s jovial banter which often raises a smile. Hapless Eddie is easy to empathise with and the brotherly bond between him and Corey goes back to when they first met, as young teenagers, in an incident which could have ended considerably less than happily for Eddie. The action and characters were all well-described and portrayed. Russell’s style is light and easy to read.
And now… the bad… it’s such a shame when a good book is let down by slapdash editing. I’m sorry, Mr. Brooks, but this book was seriously lacking. There were tense inconsistencies, some serious grammatical blunders (he instead of him outside of dialogue), punctuation and spelling mistakes (please, please learn the difference between ‘your’ and ‘you’re’ and if you are going to mention Jack Nicholson’s brilliant film, get it right– it’s not The Shinning, it’s The Shining) and Robert morphed into Richard. I did like the use of French dialogue - it helped to integrate the setting into its French-Canadian backdrop, but the English translation was pointless and unnecessary. More importantly, however, if you are going to use French, for goodness sake get it right – there were accents missing, incorrect adjective agreement and worst of all…..the auxiliary verb that goes with the past tense of ‘venir’ is ‘etre’, not ‘avoir’.
In summary, a lively and entertaining story, but needs a good polish.
December 5, 2013
I received a free download of "Chill Run" by Russell Brooks through indiegalley, in exchange for an honest review.Chill Run is an action packed thriller, set in Montreal, where the main protagonist was at the wrong place at the wrong time. The story keeps the reader on the edge of their seat.
Eddie the main character is a want to be writer struggling in his twenties to get his book published and getting a lot of rejection from family about his ambitions. His parents think he’s wasting his time writing and should go to school like his sister Denise whose is going to Harvard medical in January.
Eddie’s friend and roommate Corey, and Corey’s girlfriend Jordyn, think he should stage an event to get publishers interested in publishing his book. At first this is crazy, but when Eddie loses his job, gets dumped by his girlfriend,fights with his parents, and worries about rent money he is much more receptive to Corey and Jordyn's idea to get his book published. Jordyn uses her connections to set Eddie up with a celebrity, however things go horribly wrong for him when the client turns out to be suicidal and ends up revealing to Eddie details of a billion dollar financial fraud scheme.
While Eddie is in the washroom... two men kill his client. And then things go downhill and Eddie is on the run with Corey and Jordyn from cops and the bad guys. To prove his innocence and save their lives he must remember a five minute conversation with the dead client and unravel secrets.
The characters are very believable, and the plot is fast paced with a good sense of humor. It is a race against time to figure out this puzzle.
Eddie the main character is a want to be writer struggling in his twenties to get his book published and getting a lot of rejection from family about his ambitions. His parents think he’s wasting his time writing and should go to school like his sister Denise whose is going to Harvard medical in January.
Eddie’s friend and roommate Corey, and Corey’s girlfriend Jordyn, think he should stage an event to get publishers interested in publishing his book. At first this is crazy, but when Eddie loses his job, gets dumped by his girlfriend,fights with his parents, and worries about rent money he is much more receptive to Corey and Jordyn's idea to get his book published. Jordyn uses her connections to set Eddie up with a celebrity, however things go horribly wrong for him when the client turns out to be suicidal and ends up revealing to Eddie details of a billion dollar financial fraud scheme.
While Eddie is in the washroom... two men kill his client. And then things go downhill and Eddie is on the run with Corey and Jordyn from cops and the bad guys. To prove his innocence and save their lives he must remember a five minute conversation with the dead client and unravel secrets.
The characters are very believable, and the plot is fast paced with a good sense of humor. It is a race against time to figure out this puzzle.
December 1, 2011
Chill Run centers around an aspiring author, Eddie Barrow, Jr. He's been sending out manuscripts but getting only rejections back so far. He hasn't given up on his dream, though, and when his friends suggest trying a risque publicity stunt with the idea of getting publishers to take notice of his manuscript, he decides to give it a go. Then the stunt backfires and Eddie and his friends end up on the run, trying to solve a murder that's been falsely pinned on them. We learn about Eddie's family and friendships, and follow his group along as they investigate the murders in order to exonerate themselves.
Overall, this is good read. As with Brooks' first novel there are twists in the plot, a lot of details to give the book some depth, and good dialogue. The book moves right along, and you want to know what happens next. I liked Eddie and his friends but I also was very annoyed at Eddie and his family at times. And then I felt Eddie had matured by the end of the book. This all means he's realistic, someone you might meet sometime; his world is the everyday one we live in, despite his getting caught up in a fantastic episode. That is a testament to the writing.
A brief aside: the novel features a fictional governor of New Hampshire and his wife. Just to be clear, our governor is not that sensational here in the Granite State. And I'm not sure we want one that is :-).
Note: I was sent an advance copy to review but I wasn't compensated or pressured about what to write.
Overall, this is good read. As with Brooks' first novel there are twists in the plot, a lot of details to give the book some depth, and good dialogue. The book moves right along, and you want to know what happens next. I liked Eddie and his friends but I also was very annoyed at Eddie and his family at times. And then I felt Eddie had matured by the end of the book. This all means he's realistic, someone you might meet sometime; his world is the everyday one we live in, despite his getting caught up in a fantastic episode. That is a testament to the writing.
A brief aside: the novel features a fictional governor of New Hampshire and his wife. Just to be clear, our governor is not that sensational here in the Granite State. And I'm not sure we want one that is :-).
Note: I was sent an advance copy to review but I wasn't compensated or pressured about what to write.
November 15, 2013
***I received a free copy in exchange for a book review***
I loved this 26 chapter book. My favorite lines: 1) “That’s what makes me better than you, because I can steer my own path, not have someone else do it for me.” 2) “You’re on Canada’s most wanted list, along with me…why wouldn’t she be moody?”
As a writer myself, I could relate to Eddie. I felt bad that his family (besides his aunt) didn’t support his writing. I enjoyed the inside jokes of what some self-publishers go through–like only selling 40 ebook copies, getting rejection after rejection. It really hit home. I admired Eddie and Corey’s friendship. Corey was a musician who sucked during a Canadian Idol audition. Eddie always stuck up for him while Corey always defended Eddie’s writing dream. I thought that was sweet. Corey’s girlfriend, Jordyn, was very supportive too.
The author had a great talent with dialogue. The accents sounded authentic. The arguments and heart-to-hearts were very engaging. In a way, I could see this story as a screenplay while I was reading because the characters’ speeches flowed so nicely and I got lost in the moment.
I really enjoyed the pop culture references as well. My favorite scenes: 1) when Eddie gave up and wanted to freeze to death at the lake 2) in the car, Eddie, Corey, and Jordyn let all their aggression out because the stress got to them
This novel had a good balance of drama, suspense, comedy, and action. It even had a cool twist of who the other killer was.
I RECOMMEND this book to read.
I loved this 26 chapter book. My favorite lines: 1) “That’s what makes me better than you, because I can steer my own path, not have someone else do it for me.” 2) “You’re on Canada’s most wanted list, along with me…why wouldn’t she be moody?”
As a writer myself, I could relate to Eddie. I felt bad that his family (besides his aunt) didn’t support his writing. I enjoyed the inside jokes of what some self-publishers go through–like only selling 40 ebook copies, getting rejection after rejection. It really hit home. I admired Eddie and Corey’s friendship. Corey was a musician who sucked during a Canadian Idol audition. Eddie always stuck up for him while Corey always defended Eddie’s writing dream. I thought that was sweet. Corey’s girlfriend, Jordyn, was very supportive too.
The author had a great talent with dialogue. The accents sounded authentic. The arguments and heart-to-hearts were very engaging. In a way, I could see this story as a screenplay while I was reading because the characters’ speeches flowed so nicely and I got lost in the moment.
I really enjoyed the pop culture references as well. My favorite scenes: 1) when Eddie gave up and wanted to freeze to death at the lake 2) in the car, Eddie, Corey, and Jordyn let all their aggression out because the stress got to them
This novel had a good balance of drama, suspense, comedy, and action. It even had a cool twist of who the other killer was.
I RECOMMEND this book to read.
January 29, 2014
Review to come 28/01 on http://woodsadrienne.wordpress.com
I got a copy from the author for my personal opinion.
Chill Run is a novel I can personally relate to. Eddie is the MC, that struggles as an author. He went through everything I can relate to. Numerous rejection letter, lack of support and only a handful of fans. It’s not the ideal start for an author. So, I just want to begin with that and congratulate Russell Brooks for getting those type of emotions right on. I certainly relate.
When Corey, Eddie’s best friend, with Corey’s girlfriend Jordan came up with a plan how to increase his book sales, everything went down wards. What Eddie thought would be a get famous fast sceme, it turns out into a murder with him being the main suspect. Now on the run the trio tries their very best to get Eddie free from this crime, at the same time they need to run as they are being tracked as killers.
I’m not much of a THRILLER fan, but the blurb immediately caught my interest and decided to take a chance. I really enjoyed this novel and I would recommend it to anyone that loves reading Thrillers. The suspense left me at the edge of my seat the entire time, the story line was amazing, I tried to guess throughout the novel who the killer was and
the fact that I couldn’t just show you how beautiful this story was. The characters are developed in such depth and the pace of the novel made it an enjoyable read.
Thank you for asking me to read this Russell and I wish you all the luck with CHILL RUN.
I got a copy from the author for my personal opinion.
Chill Run is a novel I can personally relate to. Eddie is the MC, that struggles as an author. He went through everything I can relate to. Numerous rejection letter, lack of support and only a handful of fans. It’s not the ideal start for an author. So, I just want to begin with that and congratulate Russell Brooks for getting those type of emotions right on. I certainly relate.
When Corey, Eddie’s best friend, with Corey’s girlfriend Jordan came up with a plan how to increase his book sales, everything went down wards. What Eddie thought would be a get famous fast sceme, it turns out into a murder with him being the main suspect. Now on the run the trio tries their very best to get Eddie free from this crime, at the same time they need to run as they are being tracked as killers.
I’m not much of a THRILLER fan, but the blurb immediately caught my interest and decided to take a chance. I really enjoyed this novel and I would recommend it to anyone that loves reading Thrillers. The suspense left me at the edge of my seat the entire time, the story line was amazing, I tried to guess throughout the novel who the killer was and
the fact that I couldn’t just show you how beautiful this story was. The characters are developed in such depth and the pace of the novel made it an enjoyable read.
Thank you for asking me to read this Russell and I wish you all the luck with CHILL RUN.
February 16, 2012
Eddie Barrow needs a break. Laid off from his job, dumped by his girlfriend, and misunderstood by his family--who seem more interested in his sister's academic achievements and traditional goals than his attempts at writing and publishing his novel--Eddie is getting desperate. So he agrees to a cockamamie publicity scheme cooked up by his unemployed, depressed best friend and his waitress girlfriend, who moonlights as a dominatrix: Eddie will purposely get caught by the media engaged in an illicit sex act with a corporate bigwig. All that collapses when the bigwig confesses to financial shenanigans that include fraud with prominent politicians and proceeds to get killed while Eddie peeks out from an adjacent room. Now Eddie's a witness on the run from the police, who think he's a killer, and from the bad guys, who want to keep him quiet, as he tries to figure out the meaning of the some cryptic comments and unravel the plot before the blame settles on him.
The Montreal, Quebec, and Canadian countryside settings work perfectly in this chill-and-thrill-a-minute novel that never lets go from page one. Eddie is a sympathetic yet quick-witted character, and his friend Corey is a laughable yet worthy sidekick. The plot gels well, and I enjoyed how Eddie not only gets the publishing fame he longs for, but he does so by writing the story that is at the core of this one. All in all, Chill Run is a cool read! Highly recommended.
Review copy provided by author.
The Montreal, Quebec, and Canadian countryside settings work perfectly in this chill-and-thrill-a-minute novel that never lets go from page one. Eddie is a sympathetic yet quick-witted character, and his friend Corey is a laughable yet worthy sidekick. The plot gels well, and I enjoyed how Eddie not only gets the publishing fame he longs for, but he does so by writing the story that is at the core of this one. All in all, Chill Run is a cool read! Highly recommended.
Review copy provided by author.
May 23, 2012
Grade: B
L/C Ratio: 20/80
(This means I estimate the author devoted 20% of his effort to creating a literary work of art and 80% of his effort to creating a commercial bestseller.)
Thematic Breakdown:
45% - Action thriller
35% - Corporate corruption
20% - Life of a struggling writer
Canada is a freaky place. Or at least that's how it's portrayed in Brooks' latest novel, which tells the tale of an aspiring writer who volunteers for a kinky job, hoping to launch himself into literary fame. Instead, he gets framed for murder and tossed into the middle of a corporate conspiracy.
Chill Run is a solid thriller with snappy dialogue. Just when the plot appears to reach its climax, Brooks delivers a final act that ties up some loose ends and deepens the story's complexity. Like a lot of other books in the genre, Chill Run requires a dose of awkward exposition to keep the action moving – but Brooks' characters are more than strong enough to carry the plot to a satisfying conclusion.
Noteworthy Quote:
"Geez, it’s amazing how guys always use sports analogies when it comes to anything remotely sexual."
L/C Ratio: 20/80
(This means I estimate the author devoted 20% of his effort to creating a literary work of art and 80% of his effort to creating a commercial bestseller.)
Thematic Breakdown:
45% - Action thriller
35% - Corporate corruption
20% - Life of a struggling writer
Canada is a freaky place. Or at least that's how it's portrayed in Brooks' latest novel, which tells the tale of an aspiring writer who volunteers for a kinky job, hoping to launch himself into literary fame. Instead, he gets framed for murder and tossed into the middle of a corporate conspiracy.
Chill Run is a solid thriller with snappy dialogue. Just when the plot appears to reach its climax, Brooks delivers a final act that ties up some loose ends and deepens the story's complexity. Like a lot of other books in the genre, Chill Run requires a dose of awkward exposition to keep the action moving – but Brooks' characters are more than strong enough to carry the plot to a satisfying conclusion.
Noteworthy Quote:
"Geez, it’s amazing how guys always use sports analogies when it comes to anything remotely sexual."
October 17, 2013
Eddie Barrow Jr. is broke and struggling to get his first book published. His girlfriend has just broken up with him and he has been laid off work. Things couldn't get any worse. He is sick of his parents criticizing him and comparing him unfavourably with his sister. His best friends, Corey and Jordyn come up with a preposterous plan to get his face in the papers, which they think will help him get noticed. Jordyn is a dominatrix and suggests that she can persuade her boss to let Eddie become a maledom for one night - taking the place of the usual one to meet a particular woman client. Eddie is shocked when he hears what the plan is and turns it down, even though he is assured that no sex is involved and the police will be tipped off before anything untoward happens. He changes his mind and agrees to the plan after a furious row at his parents' house leads him to walk out. What follows is an entertaining read about a plan that backfires and a complicated plot with many twists and turns.
I could picture the three main characters immediately, which is always a good sign, and I thoroughly enjoyed the story
I could picture the three main characters immediately, which is always a good sign, and I thoroughly enjoyed the story
November 29, 2011
Desperation creates inspiration in Russell Brooks’ CHILL RUN.
When Eddie Barrow, Jr. decides to use a publicity stunt to get a book deal, everything that can go wrong with it can and will. His client is murdered, and he is framed for it. Now he’s on the run with his two friends, but he soon learns that real life can be stranger—and more dangerous—than fiction.
CHILL RUN is a slow-starting thriller which picks up once the blood and bullets fly. The characters are intriguing from wannabe author Eddie Barrow, Jr. to his family and friends, and I found myself cheering them on and worrying about them. Without giving anything away, the villains contain some surprises within them. Brooks knows how to keep the twists and turns coming, and while reading, I was caught in several delightful surprises.
There’s no chilly reception here, and readers will run to the end along with Eddie and his friends. Writers will also definitely get a kick out of reading Russell Brooks’ CHILL RUN, although I recommend it to all.
When Eddie Barrow, Jr. decides to use a publicity stunt to get a book deal, everything that can go wrong with it can and will. His client is murdered, and he is framed for it. Now he’s on the run with his two friends, but he soon learns that real life can be stranger—and more dangerous—than fiction.
CHILL RUN is a slow-starting thriller which picks up once the blood and bullets fly. The characters are intriguing from wannabe author Eddie Barrow, Jr. to his family and friends, and I found myself cheering them on and worrying about them. Without giving anything away, the villains contain some surprises within them. Brooks knows how to keep the twists and turns coming, and while reading, I was caught in several delightful surprises.
There’s no chilly reception here, and readers will run to the end along with Eddie and his friends. Writers will also definitely get a kick out of reading Russell Brooks’ CHILL RUN, although I recommend it to all.
August 17, 2014
Chill Run by Russell Brooks is the story about a writer who just can’t catch a break. Eddie Barrow, Jr. wishes for more. But as they say, be careful for what you wish for. Eddie and his friends hatch a plan to expose a celebrity in a compromising position -literally. That should make Eddie’s book sell, right?
There’s only one other instance where I thought a fiction book was a memoir. And all that comes to mind is this Nathaniel Hawthorne quote, “Easy reading is damn hard writing.” The writing is on point.
The pace is pretty fast. There were a few spots where I felt like something was lacking, but I can’t quite put my finger on it. I think it’s just me, my personal preference.
What can I say about the characters? I love them. How many books have you read about a self-published author? How about a Canadian with Barbadian roots? The characters are unique, amusing, and very likeable.
I enjoyed the read. I don’t get to read many Canadian authors, not to mention Canadian characters. And I love a good crime novel. Yet another great book!
There’s only one other instance where I thought a fiction book was a memoir. And all that comes to mind is this Nathaniel Hawthorne quote, “Easy reading is damn hard writing.” The writing is on point.
The pace is pretty fast. There were a few spots where I felt like something was lacking, but I can’t quite put my finger on it. I think it’s just me, my personal preference.
What can I say about the characters? I love them. How many books have you read about a self-published author? How about a Canadian with Barbadian roots? The characters are unique, amusing, and very likeable.
I enjoyed the read. I don’t get to read many Canadian authors, not to mention Canadian characters. And I love a good crime novel. Yet another great book!
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