Review of Out Of Time

[Stephanie Runyon]

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Out Of Time" by Cathi Stoler.]

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5 out of 5 stars

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A violent terrorist group has tied Nick Donahue to the world's tallest building, the Burj Khalifa, and is holding him captive. His intention was to take a break from his gambling career to spend more time with Marina, his girlfriend, who is a professional investigator. It all started with the bachelor party he was holding for his brother Alex. Nick encountered Adnan bin Haddad at the local Founder's Club after a forced venue change. After the party, Adnan insists on Nick and Marina joining him for drinks at their hotel’s bar.

Adnan tells the couple that he's been receiving threats from an unknown person. Adnan informs the couple that someone has been maiming his horses and demanding one hundred million dollars. He presents them with a letter and a picture of his prize colt, Devil Spirit, with its eyes cut out. His prize racehorse, Devil Wind, was in contention for the Triple Crown and was racing in the upcoming Kentucky Derby. Marina agreed to take on the case. Nick was suspicious of Adnan’s motives. Adnan had the money to hire an army of top investigators instead of seeking a small firm. The letter didn’t state anything about money. The message declared, “Give us what we want, or Devil Wind will be next.” What was Adnan keeping a secret from Marina and Nick?

Cathi Stoler’s Out of Time is an investigative story seen through Nick Donahue’s perspective. Nick is a seriously flawed character, claiming he earned his living as a Black Jack player. He had gained the unwelcome attention of Tommy Bonnannaio, a mob boss. Marina is a devoted investigator, but she doesn’t quite follow the law completely. Adnan’s employees were all over the place with personal issues, making it difficult to see who could be the extortionist. The vivid setting details make it easy to imagine each location.

The pace of the story was a little slow at the beginning, but it picked up after Marina and Nick went to Louisville to start the investigation. Since this is not the first book in the Nick Donahue Adventure series, the references to past stories didn’t seem necessary.

I rate Out of Time five out of five stars. I didn’t deduct the story’s starting pace because I haven't read the previous books in the series. The transition between scenes was easy to follow, and Nick’s information gathering was intriguing. The suspense builds as the deadline to keep Devil Wind safe for the Kentucky Derby approaches.

Fans of mystery thrillers will enjoy Out of Time. Descriptions of terrorist acts, some profanity, and sexual innuendos may be offensive to some people. This book will suit mature readers who enjoy detective stories that involve an unpredictable plot with hidden clues popping up in the oddest situations.

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Out Of Time
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[Mojisola Omowunmi Omotosho]

Based on your review of "Out of Time" by Cathi Stoler, it sounds like a thrilling investigative tale with complex characters and a gripping plot. Your detailed description of Nick Donahue's perspective and the suspenseful elements has piqued my interest—I'll definitely check out this book! Your insights into the pacing and scene transitions were particularly helpful in understanding what to expect from the story.

[Sandre Lamar]

This book reviews a gripping mystery through Nick Donahue's eyes, blending flawed characters and high-stakes suspense.