Review of System Failure

[Laura Ungureanu]

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "System Failure" by Roy Voss.]

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3 out of 4 stars

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When a tornado kills Ethan and Regan Archer, the owners of a profitable company, their infant daughter is reported missing. Fourteen years later, the orphan Ruth Anne Lopez runs from her abusive foster family and the Child Protection Services. She meets a retired airman, Billy Moody, who takes her under his protection and hires a private investigator to dig into her past. But the question remains, is Ruth Anne the missing girl, heir to the Archer fortune? Many people seem to believe she is and would kill her for it. System Failure by Roy Voss is a fast-paced thriller that will keep the reader guessing until the end. Enter the intriguing world of private investigators and find out who Ruth Anne really is.

The author alternates between more than four narratives, all equally appealing. This keeps things in motion and assures the reader doesn’t get tired of the same perspective. The story is not predictable and will surprise the reader with a lot of unexpected twists. The scenes are action-packed with chasings, shootings, and hackings, so there is never a dull moment. But even in the middle of all that action, the characters find time to appreciate the small things and form durable relationships with each other.

I loved the way the characters were built. First of all, the book has an impressive number of complex characters with vivid backstories. Even the side characters have a story and a purpose, such as Anita Job, who ended up working for an assassin because he showed her kindness when no one would. I especially loved that the female characters were portrayed as strong and independent. Second of all, there are good and evil characters, but I loved how the boundaries between them faded when the evil characters started having moral conundrums. This made them feel real to me. I began to like them and actually root for their redemption.

I was happy with the ending because it answered all my questions. I can’t say anything bad about the book, but I do wish that the story focused more on Ruth Anne and her personality. I felt like I didn’t get to know her very well, even though she is supposed to be the main character. However, this won’t affect my rating because I still enjoyed the book.

Based on all the qualities I mentioned, I gladly give System failure 3 out of 4 stars. I deducted a star because the editing is not the best, as I found more than ten errors. There were two instances where Ruth Anne’s name was written as “Ruth Ann.” The errors didn’t interrupt the flow that much, but the book deserves professional editing.

The book has very few profanities and no erotic scenes. There is mention of abuse, but it’s not explicitly described. The reader is left to guess what happened behind those closed doors, so it’s not disturbing. Thus, the book is safe for younger audiences. I recommend this book to lovers of action-packed thrillers. Since I’m not usually a fan of action books, I was surprised at how much I liked this, so every reader is welcome to try it, as I think the book is actually for everyone.

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System Failure
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[Amy Luman]

I’m extremely curious about what happens to Ruth Anne. She seems like a genuinely likable character.

[Elendu Ekechukwu]

The writer kept me in suspense. I can't wait to know what became of Ruth.

[Amenrodion]

Not usually my cup of tea but I just might try it based on your urging us to do so

[Janelydia Mwangi]

Great review that creates suspense on if Ruth survived to inherit it. It portrays our world today full of greed that is causing death of so many people.

[Aisha Yakub]

A lot of suspense. I'll like to know how Ruth navigates her way around. Great review.

[Adelle v]

I love the cover of this book. The story sounds intriguing with a lot of twists and turns. I also love the fact that the evil characters grow a conscience.

[NetMassimo]

This seems like a well-constructed thriller with a sophisticated storyline and three-dimensional characters, so I hope the author does another round of editing to make it excellent. Thank you for your great review!