Review of Tilt Shift

[Laney K]

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Tilt Shift" by Jayne Menard.]

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4 out of 5 stars

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Lukas, an FBI agent, faces a plateau in his career. It seems that no matter what he does, he is not making any progress. His supervisor assigns him to be part of a new mentoring program. While Lukas fears this is akin to remedial training, he soon realizes that it allows him to work with a legendary FBI agent, Steve Nielson. Nielson, when taking a photography class, learned that a group of older photographers were facing potentially suspicious deaths one at a time. Nielson and Lukas team up to investigate the deaths. Follow their investigation in the thrilling novel Tilt Shift by Jayne Menard!

I appreciated the multiple subplots that were woven into the book. One involved a potential romance and another involved workplace discrimination. These helped to flesh out the characters as the investigation took center stage. The investigation included many facets, such as the use of AI to discover people from photographs and age them up to their current age. It also gave insight into Vietnam in the 1960s. Each of the photographers had been to Vietnam during the war to capture footage. Each piece of the novel worked together to keep me engaged.

At first, I struggled to keep the large cast of characters straight. The perspective changes in each chapter and the ties between all the characters are not clear at first. However, Menard did provide a list of significant characters at the beginning of the book, and their well-developed personalities helped me figure out their connections quickly.

I rate this book 4 out of 5 stars. I spotted more than 10 errors in the book; it could use additional proofreading. I am taking one star off due to the editing errors. I found the plot to be compelling once I was able to sort out the characters. The pace moved quickly, and I was never bored. For those who enjoy fast-paced murder mysteries, I suggest you check out Tilt Shift!

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Tilt Shift
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[George Bastem]

A creative mix of murder mystery, historical context, and modern tech like AI makes Tilt Shift really stand out. The editing issues are a bummer, but it seems like the story and character depth more than make up for it.

[Charles Benson]

A compelling mix of FBI intrigue, old-school detective work, and personal growth, Tilt Shift offers more than just a standard crime thriller. What struck me most was the depth of its characters—especially how Lukas' career stagnation mirrors the suspenseful unraveling of past lives and unsolved mysteries. The interplay of subplots, like the photography class with its ties to Vietnam, not only adds richness to the story but also subtly explores the broader impact of history and time on individuals. The integration of AI in the investigation feels refreshingly modern without overshadowing the emotional core. It’s a story that surprises with both heart and thoughtfulness.

[Julie Marie Basil]

This sounds like a very engaging story and I am glad that you were able to get a handle on the characters and changing narrators as the story went on. Hopefully this book goes through another round of editing to address the errors.