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Exit Strategy

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Roderick Malone has a problem...a big one. That’s what happens when you con bad people and your con mysteriously falls apart. On the run, with five million dollars in tow, and a pair of hired guns hot on his trail, he encounters a young woman who just might prove to be the answer to his problems.

Meanwhile, a woman with advanced Alzheimer’s witnesses a hit-and-run accident involving a young mother and her infant son. Dark politics and family wealth pave the way for a hit man to clean up the problem.

But things don’t always go as planned.

An unlikely nexus emerges and all paths lead to Rockhead Island, an opulent resort off the coast of North Carolina. As a hurricane approaches, it becomes clear to Roderick Malone that other forces are in play - and that maybe he was the one being conned almost from the beginning.

A riveting thriller by F.B. Robinson, 'Exit Strategy' is a tale of lust, greed, and revenge. Just when you think you have it figured out - you don’t. Jump in and hang on. The knot in your stomach will dissipate in time.

467 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 29, 2012

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5 stars
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
Profile Image for Shawn Remfrey.
194 reviews9 followers
November 16, 2016
In this book, Jonas has been wrongfully arrested for murder. Seeing no way out, he hops a boat and heads for help from an old friend.

What I love most about Falconer's work is that she's probably the sweetest lady you could meet, but she's not afraid to pull out her dark side when she's writing. Whether it's her horror or fantasy, I'm always guaranteed to be shocked and pleasantly appalled.

When I first started reading this book, I was really confused. Where's the Falconer I know and love? I was greeted with a smarmy character I didn't like and a looooooooot of graphic sex. We're talking, graphic enough I had to pull my little fan down off the wall. My goodness!

Then I kept reading, and I started to see the Falconer I love so well. All of that in the beginning is absolutely necessary to set the tone for the rest of the book. This is NOT for chilren! It's NOT for the faint of heart! But it will sure mess with your mind!

I found myself, once again, completely lost in a world that I didn't understand, not having a clue what was coming around the bend. I could, didn't want to, escape. I had to stick it out for the entire ride. If a train leaves Boston, how far will it make it in the book???

Reading this for me was reminiscent of the first time I watched Identity. You start watching and you're a little confused because you don't like all of the characters and everything is dull and you're not sure why you're watching, and then all of a sudden..BAM! Whoa! It's not even like a light switch turns on, because you have an inkling that you're going ot flip the switch. It's like you're in the middle of your favorite video game and the power goes out and there's not even a storm to warn you. All of a sudden you just get what's going on. And all the pieces are starting to fit together and you're thinking 'Hey! I like this!' and then you know what? BAM! BAM! You're lost again because all of those pieces you had started to put together have been ripped apart and scattered to the wind and new pieces from an entirely different puzzle have just jumped in to play. It's a trip!!! By the end, you finally figure out which puzzle pieces you're using and which puzzle you're trying to put together. It's hard won and worth the effort!

I can't say this is my favorite Falconer book, but I can say that if Literary Litter was giving out an award for 'Most F'd with My Mind' this book would be winning hands down. I'd have to call it a psychological suspense, because you don't know if you're own sanity is going to survive the book.
Profile Image for K.P. Ambroziak.
Author 19 books73 followers
December 11, 2019
This is one of those reads that sneaks up on you. You begin, you delve in, then you plummet into some dark chasm of chaos so delicious you can’t seem to pull yourself out. I find page-turners difficult to come by because I’m a slow reader who laps up every word, especially when prose is written as clippingly as L. F. Falconer’s. She knows characters, she knows voice, she knows the deeps of the human psyche, and she has this magical way of spinning them into a story so achingly good, you find yourself gasping as you read.

I didn’t like Jonas Dumar at first. He’s an arrogant, misogynistic creep … but I suppose I wasn’t seeing all of him in the beginning. Once I got to “know” him, I grew to love him. It’s difficult to review this psychological thriller without giving something away, and I don’t really like to discuss plot anyhow. But let me say I’ve experienced the fantastic (le fantastique, as the French have coined it) in depth in literature, and this reaches the cavernous profundity of Maupassant, Poe, and Hoffman, who know how to take their reader to the place where science fiction, horror and fantasy come together, effortlessly and breathlessly. You, the reader, will be put on your toes, but also brought to your knees, where you’ll hope the supernatural is not the real, despite your knowing it very well is.

But Falconer’s true talent lies in her ability to draw characters with such a fine outline, their edges seem to bleed into the seams. In no work of hers is this more prevalent than this one. She introduces us to Jonas Dumar at once (the creep I mentioned earlier), but then we meet Gabriel and Isabel, who are sexy and riveting and appealing in so many ways, then Billy and Danny, and all the smaller players who seem to appear and disappear as readily as she—their creator, goddess of the quill—desires. And of course I can’t forget Alex T. Slade, and Sam, who is every bit a living soul birthed onto the page as all the others. To say this read takes you on a voyage is not giving it enough credit. It transports you into another dimension, a personal facet that lives on another sphere, from where you will return not only changed, but perhaps a bit more compassionate, too. I know I am and …
Profile Image for L.F. Falconer.
Author 24 books78 followers
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September 28, 2014
A brief sampling of what others have said:

"LF Falconer has done a supurb job taking the reader down the twisted roadmap of perceived reality versus reality."--westerngal, on Amazon

"Exit Strategy...combines adult language, aberrant sexual fixations and palpable tension into a unique story that is definitely not for the faint of heart...well-written and the words fly by."--Ian Miller for Readers' Favorites

"A terrifying trip into the mind and sole of one very twisted individual. Could not put this one down. Not your regular "WHO DONE IT"--Barbara C., on Amazon

My writings do not always comport with the mainstream, yet while writing this, I often stopped to ask myself, "Girl, what are you thinking?" I seriously debated whether to publish this dark, deviant side-trip of my imagination, or to simply lock it away. Though I do invest a great deal of myself and my life experiences into my novels, I would like to establish that this book is in no way autobiographical! And I do believe the more than 500 hours of research time I pursued for it's creation is sound.

At times, I have been castigated for numerous things in this book, most commonly, the paranormal aspect. I would like to offer in defense, simply enough, that while Jonas truly is insane and holds a warped view of women and sex, the true Jonas is really not that bad of a guy. In his life, he had basically been abandoned by everyone except himself. He needed a thread of hope, so in a roundabout manner, I gave him one.

I do believe certain people fail to look beneath the surface to see the real story that lurks beneath the story, for what a truly horrifying story it is. Perhaps too much so for some. But there are those who do see, and it is those readers that have shown it the appreciation it might merit.
Profile Image for Angel Lepire.
Author 1 book16 followers
April 3, 2013
I don't know how much you can tell by how someone 'usually' rates the books they read, but let me just say, this was definitely five stars all the way! It was an engaging book, and although it took me a few days, it was all I was reading whenever I had the chance! The characters were interesting, and the suspense was great. You could see little things being hinted at throughout the book that made you think, 'maybe he did...' It was so well written & edited, which I greatly appreciate as a reader & an a writer. I HIGHLY recommend this book if you are at all into mystery/thrillers or just like being sucked into a story. Excellent read!
Profile Image for Lance Carney.
Author 15 books178 followers
August 13, 2015
If a train leaves Sanity at 6am, how long before the train arrives in-Sanity?
Exit Strategy is written in first person from Jonas Dumar’s point of view and through his eyes (and mind) we take a dark, harrowing, trip on the Atlantic Ocean and the sea of paranoia. L.F. Falconer weaves a twisted tale of a tormented soul and leaves you guessing as to what will happen next. The characters of Gabriel and Isabel are especially interesting; angels, illusions, hired guns? And the secluded foreign ports of call were very intriguing, practically right out of a Twilight Zone episode.

This was the last L.F. Falconer book I had left to read and I enjoyed it. Her other books are part adult fantasy while this one was more of an adult thriller. I can’t wait to read more from the author. I am anxiously awaiting her new book The Legacy of Skur, Volume One!

Profile Image for Kaylie.
9 reviews12 followers
May 8, 2013
Overall, I liked the book. It did take me a while to get through it mostly because it isn't the type of book I typically read. The last ten chapters are probably what held my attention the most and are probably my favorite part of the book.
23 reviews24 followers
February 6, 2022
This book is not for the faint of heart. Has very adult themes. But WOW can it pack a punch!!!

The writing excellent. The flow superb. The story... a complete WTF! and I loved every second of it. The author has such a way of pulling you in and getting lost in the story, and this had me confused, intrigued, and need to know that answer to the very end. I thought I had it figured out half-way through the book, and I was sorta right, but there were great surprises that kept popping up that made things earlier in the book make more sense.

This is a very hard book to review because I hate giving spoilers and it's hard to make a point on this without it. This book is very graphic, and she detailed the psyche so well that at moments I was getting into the mind frame a little bit. Which really drove me to get to the end of the book just so I could finally have all the answers.

I would classify this as a psychological thriller that really can keep you on your toes.

Profile Image for Gayle Pace.
1,110 reviews22 followers
February 16, 2013
CONTAINS MATERIAL THAT MIGHT BE UNSUITABLE FOR SOME READERS!

If a train leaves Boston, does it ever stop screaming?

OVERVIEW:

Caught in a web of sex, lies, and murder, Jonas Dumar wants out, and finds himself running for his life in a journey of desperation. But are Gabe and Izzy, who seem hell-bent on driving him insane, assassins, angels, or something else altogether? Take a wild voyage across the North Atlantic with a man in possession of too many secrets as Jonas soon come to learn that a man really can learn more about himself than he ever wants to know.

REVIEW:

Enters Jonas Dumar. He faces a murder charge he says he didn't commit.
He has a lot of problems, a lawyer who is a bit flaky, a "Little Brother" who gets into trouble and so much more. More than Jonas even knows. Jonas decides to run, leaving behind not only the problems but the woman he professes to love and marry. The one true friend in his life, Sam, he takes with him.

He takes to the seas across the North Atlantic with more passengers than he realizes. As he tries to ease the loneliness of the trip, he takes on two passengers. Soon he wishes he hadn't, but was it just paranoia or reality setting in? Jonas has kept inside for so many years, secrets upon secrets that he has become possessed by them. He has created several personalities of himself. He is Billy, the bad ass kid. Don't hurt Jonas or you'll pay. There's Danny, the college do-gooder and there's Jonas. Jonas had tried the doctors, the pills, but nothing helped the panic and the pain. To think it started from childhood and a simple goldfish. Billy had rescued him so many times, but now Billy's true personality came to life. The goldfish died because it was taking too much of Jonas' time.

As the excursion continues, unknown forces appear as Gabe and Izzy. The clue to their reality or un-reality is a simple white feather. What does it mean? As time passes Jonas becomes more and more aware of the past and the present. The past has always haunted him but now it's become more so. It's almost to the point where the paranoia is with him constantly. He's finding out more and more of what Billy and Danny have done. He discovers he knows more than he wants to.

As the story progresses, Jonas is faced the fact that some things are better left unknown and buried. But Jonas has brought it all out, every little dirty detail and it's killing him, or should I say, his alias is killing him?

The author wrote one fantastic, fictional mystery. One story that could actually take place in reality. Maybe? The book was fast paced at the right times and casually paced when needed. She left a lot to the imagination and then on the next page, you'd find out if you were right or not. She led you on a voyage between sanity and insanity. You would wonder at times, was Jonas imagining the things that were happening or were they real. This is one trip everyone should take, because it could happen to you. It may be happening now.

AUTHOR BIO:

Raised on a ranch in rural Nevada, L.F.Falconer has lived in various places throughout the West, including Portland, OR, Santa Cruz, CA, and Reno and South Lake Tahoe NV. Now back in her hometown of Fallon, she enjoys getting off the beaten path and exploring the back roads whenever possible. Her first novel, HOPE FLIES ON BROKEN WINGS, was released in 2012.

I give this book 5 out of 5 STARS. Kudos to the author for this wonderful work of fiction. Fiction?

You must look at this wonderful cover. Such simplicity can tell so much.

I received a complimentary copy of this book, EXIT STRATEGY by F.L.Falconer for this unbiased review.

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Profile Image for Lauren.
125 reviews2 followers
April 16, 2013
I wasn't sure how much I was going to like this book. When I started reading it seemed to drag on a little bit, until I realized it was just how the main character thought. It was sort of easy to guess early on what the big plot twist was going to be, which is fine because I do that with most books. However, there was a bit more to it in the end, which did surprise me.

The only real problem I had with the book was the paranormal aspect of it. I just didn't see the need for it. I mean, **SPOILER ALERT** the guy was a nut case with multiple identities, two of which he didn't even know about. So why add that little "twist" at the end of the story. It kind of made it a bit too much for the conclusion. The story could have ended exactly like it did without that small aspect of it. Very few things would have needed to be changed, if any at all. I mean, Jonas was crazy, and could have seen any of those things thinking they were real.

One of my favorite things about this book what Jonas' thought process. Leana really did an amazing job creating the inner workings of someone who is mentally ill. I loved the random "if a train leaves boston..." bits, and his random commentary on his own thoughts actually had me laughing quite a few times throughout the whole book.

I did enjoy reading the book, and I did enjoy the twist at the end with the forth identity (sans the paranormal aspect). I would recommend this book to anyone that likes a good mystery.
Profile Image for Gigi Frost.
Author 2 books11 followers
February 23, 2013
The story is about Jonas Dumar, a fugitive accused of murder, who sets sail to start a new existence. Only, there's a catch, how far can a person outrun himself?

A stroke of desperation.

Jonas decides to venture across the Atlantic, away from the accusations of murder and deceit, he sets off with his trusty dog to find haven in a different land. In the silence of his journey, his mind is his greatest friend and enemy. As he grapples with the emergence of new and old acquaintances, he is pushed to the brink of restraint.

Enter Gabe and Izzy. They are two free spirits trying to work their way back to Spain. Jonas takes the couple along on his vessel, hoping to circumvent the long, quiet hours spent on the open sea. But nothing is as it seems. The ominous and hellish journey has only begun, Jonas risks his very existence as he attempts to outrun his own demons.

Exit Strategy is a fantastic, hair-raising story that will keep the reader guessing.

Read the entire review here:
Bookend Chronicles
Profile Image for Elizabeth Good.
Author 2 books46 followers
July 24, 2016
I had finally gotten around to reading this first book written by L.F. Falconer and I'm glad I did. I couldn't put this psychological thriller out of my mind once I dabbled in the first few pages. Actually, I'd been halfway through another book written by Elena Ferrante but had switched reading gears to devour this one.
Note: I love all of L.F Falconer's books; she's become my favorite author.

When I first met the protagonist, Jonas Dumar, I thought, This poor guy needs a break. Wrongly accused of murder, a victim of terrible legal advice, a man who deserved better, and I cheered his decision to disappear, to leave his old life behind.

But then, I met "Billy", and eventually was introduced to the others, and I thought, Wow, this book is a mind f*ck.

Exit Strategy is a wild ride into the psyche of a presumably innocent man on the run.

Brava, Ms. Falconer. I highly recommend this book.





Profile Image for Stéphanie Desnoyer.
Author 2 books7 followers
May 21, 2013
I'm really in two minds about this book. There are parts I really enjoyed, and others I found hard to get through. The fact that the main protagonist is a man and I did not take to his personality, had a lot to do with it. But although I didn't like Jonas, I was intrigued by where the story would go. The book is very well written, and the story arc flows perfectly with nice surprises along the way. The end surprised me a little but not in the sense of discovering who are Gabriel and Isabel; more the rest... but I don't want to spoil anything. So I want to say it's a very good book, which it is in many ways, it is just not my kind of book in terms of subject matter.
Profile Image for The Talent Cave Reviews.
76 reviews13 followers
May 27, 2013
Title: Exit Strategy
Author: LF Falconer
Publisher: Outskirts Press
Genre: Thriller
Novel
Reviewed by: Javier

4 Stars – Recommended Read!

This book is really well written, keeps you guessing the whole time. It’s the story of a delusional, schizophrenic, trying to find freedom. As the story unfolds, you start to get a sense of what may be going on, but…you’ll have to read it for yourself.

For more go to: http://thetalentcavereviews.weebly.com
Profile Image for Kay.
1,721 reviews18 followers
May 11, 2013
Maybe one of the most unusual books I have ever read. Unlikable main characters although I did enjoy the Shetland scenes.
5 reviews
December 7, 2022
Don’t walk off with someone else’s money. Don’t hide away on an island off the Carolina coast, especially one in the path of a hurricane. And for sure, don’t pick up a good looking woman whom you think might help you escape the many and various bad guys. If you’re tempted by any of this, be sure to read F. B. Robinson’s Exit Strategy and keep your wits about you. A super engaging fun read.
2 reviews
April 15, 2023
Exit Strategy

Excellent read with wonderful character development. The intricately woven plot and subplots keep you wondering how and where the story will end with additional “reveals” that you do not anticipate. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys intrigue and integrity.

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