Review by scaryeyes_25 -- Shifting Sands

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scaryeyes_25
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Review by scaryeyes_25 -- Shifting Sands

Post by scaryeyes_25 »

[Following is a volunteer review of "Shifting Sands" by Barry Litherland.]
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4 out of 4 stars
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As a journalist, what would you do if you received an intriguing scoop but from a nonreliable source with a very scrupulous background? Would you follow the unseemingly true story and follow your instinct that there’s gold behind this unbelievable story or would you stop after encountering few roadblocks and deadends? Follow Philip’s quest of the truth behind the story of a nudist, a missing person, and behavior manipulation with the help of his unreliable source, his retired Detective friend, and his formidable editor. Thrown into the mix is his childhood heartbreak, intimidating people from the government, and the high & mighty Logrum Research.

Shifting Sands by Barry Litherland will take you to a quest of the truth where you will question the sanity and reliability of every character most especially of Phil. It’s a story of trust, betrayal, manipulation, greed, friendship, and love. Join Phil as he questions all events thrown his way even his perception of the truth.

With strange leads and stranger occurrences, I was thrown off track every few turn of events. When I thought that I already know the most likely ending of the story a new twist will take place that is so unlikely but will seamlessly stitch itself to the story and that will throw you in a curveball. I crave what Phil and his friends will do next or what the antagonist will do against them next. It was a nerve cracking and edge of the seat experience from top to bottom.

What I like most in this book is its ability to make me question Phil and even my analysis of the story. At one point I had to go back to certain parts of the story to review if I were right all along or if I was also manipulated to believe what the antagonist suggested. Ultimately this is a story of manipulation that even we readers will feel the confusion of being manipulated. It was a superb experience. Barry penned his characters in a way that it represents the different class of our society making it more real life. The oddity of each character adds reliability to the story. I can’t pinpoint what I don’t like about it. There’s some profanity but it just adds to the rightness of its characters. I only found one typo error.

All in all, I give 4 out of 4 stars because I feel it deserves it. I love the flow of the story and I think it was edited professionally. Because of the presence of profanity and nudity, I don’t recommend this book to youngsters but to mature readers that like the thrill of crime and mystery. It also has a bit of a sexy scene but without being vulgar or graphic. It has a good rush that adrenaline junkies like me will surely enjoy. After reading I found myself imagining what Phil will stumble upon and who will join him next in a rollercoaster ride of finding truth in the middle of the false of life?

******
Shifting Sands
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NDeMeer
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Post by NDeMeer »

This seems like such an intriguing mystery! I love that as a reader you still feel the confusion and the being manipulated. That's some great writing. Thanks for the wonderful review!
Happy reading! :techie-studyingbrown:
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scaryeyes_25
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Post by scaryeyes_25 »

NDeMeer wrote: 17 Aug 2020, 03:50 This seems like such an intriguing mystery! I love that as a reader you still feel the confusion and the being manipulated. That's some great writing. Thanks for the wonderful review!
Thank you. It was really a wonderful read. I hope you also enjoy it as much as I did.
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Post by derialist »

I'm glad that it was a satisfying reading experience for you, and I hope I also get my hands on it soon too. Nice review!
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scaryeyes_25
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Post by scaryeyes_25 »

derialist wrote: 19 Aug 2020, 10:15 I'm glad that it was a satisfying reading experience for you, and I hope I also get my hands on it soon too. Nice review!
Yay! Tell me about it once you read it. I hope it will be a satisfying experience as well.
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Post by DyanaFl »

Who doesn't love a good twist? I would like to be thrown into the this roller coaster. Hope I enjoy it!
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scaryeyes_25
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Post by scaryeyes_25 »

DyanaFl wrote: 20 Aug 2020, 06:04 Who doesn't love a good twist? I would like to be thrown into the this roller coaster. Hope I enjoy it!
You should try this book. Then tell me what you think 😊
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Post by Honest-reviewer »

Wow! This book seems interesting. I surely want to read this one. Thanks for your wonderful review!
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Post by scaryeyes_25 »

Honest-reviewer wrote: 22 Aug 2020, 11:16 Wow! This book seems interesting. I surely want to read this one. Thanks for your wonderful review!
Thank you for dropping a comment. Try it and tell me about your own experience.
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Post by xsquare »

Sounds like a very exciting thriller! It almost seems to have an unreliable narrator from the way you've described it. Thanks for the great review!
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Post by scaryeyes_25 »

xsquare wrote: 23 Aug 2020, 04:00 Sounds like a very exciting thriller! It almost seems to have an unreliable narrator from the way you've described it. Thanks for the great review!
Thank you for dropping by. Why not read it yourself then you can tell me about it. :D
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Post by Hazel Arnaiz »

Ultimately this is a story of manipulation that even we readers will feel the confusion of being manipulated.
Nice! The author was effective in achieving this purpose. Thank you so much for the insightful review.
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scaryeyes_25
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Post by scaryeyes_25 »

Thanks for dropping by.
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Post by Chizioboli »

Only cowards take a bow in the face of stress and troubles. I love how suspense filled your review sounded. I wonder how the book would be. It would be more exciting and mystery filled. Hope to read the book in the near future
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scaryeyes_25
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Post by scaryeyes_25 »

Chizioboli wrote: 02 Feb 2021, 14:45 Only cowards take a bow in the face of stress and troubles. I love how suspense filled your review sounded. I wonder how the book would be. It would be more exciting and mystery filled. Hope to read the book in the near future

Hi. Thanks for the kind words. I also hope you will find time to read it.
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