Official Review: Never Scot-Free by JC Norton
Posted: 05 May 2021, 02:14
[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Never Scot-Free" by JC Norton.]
Stone Ayers is your perfect man, almost. He is great-looking, athletic, cultured, and a talented IT consultant; enjoys a good salary and perks; and has earned his place as a confidant to his boss and his boss’s family. The only thing wrong with him is his main job, which is to eliminate his boss’s enemies. His Army experience in Afghanistan makes him equal to the task, and he likes the “thrill of the kill.”
In the Prologue, we meet Stone’s new girlfriend, Gudrun, a German naturalist he met on an expedition to Antarctica. They arrange to get together in various locations around the globe as their romance blooms, but Stone does not tell her what he really does for a living. In her eyes, he is just a very rich IT guy.
The mark this time is Peter DelBino, the brother of the boss’s wife, who is suspected of cheating the boss, Dominic Balducci, on drug money. As he is very close to Dominic’s family, including the suspect, Stone agonizes over the possibility of killing Peter. He and Peter are buddies, spending much time together sailing, playing racquetball, and building muscles at the gym. Is Peter cheating Dominic, and will Stone have to kill Peter?
Never Scot-Free is the second book in the Stone Ayers Novels series created by JC Norton. Fans of thrillers will enjoy the tense action scenes, but the hard-core ones may feel shortchanged. There are only a few such episodes, and none are particularly gory. Much of the book delves into the investigation of Peter’s guilt, outlining his computer and phone records. I appreciate that the author invests time in describing the relationships in Stone’s life. There is a tendency to overdo it, though. Much time is spent developing the characters, even down to detailing the interiors of their opulent homes and the workings of their luxurious vehicles.
The love story between Stone and Gudrun is a significant part of the book. The intimate moments are definitely there as the two take a number of “naps,” but the erotic elements are mainly left to the reader’s imagination. They decide to make “Constant Craving” by K.D. Lang their theme song. Do you get my drift?
While I am a crime story junkie myself, I found the other parts of the book generally engaging. I delighted in accompanying the characters as they gallivanted around the world, sailing, visiting high-end restos, and doing what the rich do. It was almost like watching an episode of Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous. Sadly, I don’t think I can afford to replicate the exhilarating experiences of "the one percent" in my real life.
The author narrates backstories for even the minor characters, so I presume they will continue to appear in the next books. While the book is standalone, these sections may appear unnecessary to non-fans of series. There are also superfluous dialogues in the characters’ interactions: the greetings and farewells take up more pages than necessary.
There were other things that I was not comfortable with. The author focused too much on Stone’s physical attributes, usually depicting him as a desirable male specimen. The morality issue also bordered on the unrealistic: I saw drug dealers and killers getting squeamish about minor ethical matters. However, this might just be me showing my cynicism. I found too many grammatical mishaps, as well.
Crime story fans looking for a series to follow will find this one a good candidate. Techies can debate over the hacking mechanisms described in the book. Those interested in the early stages of romance will likely relish the encounters between Stone and Gudrun. However, I have to mention that the themes of the book are for a mature audience.
Finally, considering the filler material, my personal issues, and the significant number of grammatical flaws, I am giving the book 3 out of 4 stars. I hope the next books will be more to the point. I am not averse to getting better acquainted with Stone Ayers. He may not be Jack Reacher, but I can see him developing into an interesting hero.
******
Never Scot-Free
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Stone Ayers is your perfect man, almost. He is great-looking, athletic, cultured, and a talented IT consultant; enjoys a good salary and perks; and has earned his place as a confidant to his boss and his boss’s family. The only thing wrong with him is his main job, which is to eliminate his boss’s enemies. His Army experience in Afghanistan makes him equal to the task, and he likes the “thrill of the kill.”
In the Prologue, we meet Stone’s new girlfriend, Gudrun, a German naturalist he met on an expedition to Antarctica. They arrange to get together in various locations around the globe as their romance blooms, but Stone does not tell her what he really does for a living. In her eyes, he is just a very rich IT guy.
The mark this time is Peter DelBino, the brother of the boss’s wife, who is suspected of cheating the boss, Dominic Balducci, on drug money. As he is very close to Dominic’s family, including the suspect, Stone agonizes over the possibility of killing Peter. He and Peter are buddies, spending much time together sailing, playing racquetball, and building muscles at the gym. Is Peter cheating Dominic, and will Stone have to kill Peter?
Never Scot-Free is the second book in the Stone Ayers Novels series created by JC Norton. Fans of thrillers will enjoy the tense action scenes, but the hard-core ones may feel shortchanged. There are only a few such episodes, and none are particularly gory. Much of the book delves into the investigation of Peter’s guilt, outlining his computer and phone records. I appreciate that the author invests time in describing the relationships in Stone’s life. There is a tendency to overdo it, though. Much time is spent developing the characters, even down to detailing the interiors of their opulent homes and the workings of their luxurious vehicles.
The love story between Stone and Gudrun is a significant part of the book. The intimate moments are definitely there as the two take a number of “naps,” but the erotic elements are mainly left to the reader’s imagination. They decide to make “Constant Craving” by K.D. Lang their theme song. Do you get my drift?
While I am a crime story junkie myself, I found the other parts of the book generally engaging. I delighted in accompanying the characters as they gallivanted around the world, sailing, visiting high-end restos, and doing what the rich do. It was almost like watching an episode of Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous. Sadly, I don’t think I can afford to replicate the exhilarating experiences of "the one percent" in my real life.
The author narrates backstories for even the minor characters, so I presume they will continue to appear in the next books. While the book is standalone, these sections may appear unnecessary to non-fans of series. There are also superfluous dialogues in the characters’ interactions: the greetings and farewells take up more pages than necessary.
There were other things that I was not comfortable with. The author focused too much on Stone’s physical attributes, usually depicting him as a desirable male specimen. The morality issue also bordered on the unrealistic: I saw drug dealers and killers getting squeamish about minor ethical matters. However, this might just be me showing my cynicism. I found too many grammatical mishaps, as well.
Crime story fans looking for a series to follow will find this one a good candidate. Techies can debate over the hacking mechanisms described in the book. Those interested in the early stages of romance will likely relish the encounters between Stone and Gudrun. However, I have to mention that the themes of the book are for a mature audience.
Finally, considering the filler material, my personal issues, and the significant number of grammatical flaws, I am giving the book 3 out of 4 stars. I hope the next books will be more to the point. I am not averse to getting better acquainted with Stone Ayers. He may not be Jack Reacher, but I can see him developing into an interesting hero.
******
Never Scot-Free
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
