canadianbookaddict's review
5.0
If you are looking for a thriller that will keep you at the edge of your seat then I recommend Jam Run.
I started reading This book as soon as it arrived in my email. I have read Russell’s previous books so I knew I would love Jam Run and this book did not disappoint. Heck I this book is my favourite by Russell Brooks so far and I have to say that This book actually has made it to my top 3 favourite books I have read so far this year .
I couldn’t stop reading because I needed to see what happened next . This one is so well written and makes you feel like you are right there in the story .
Jam Run is book 2 in The Eddie Barrow Mystery Series series but you don’t have to read the first book.
I do highly recommend this book .
I started reading This book as soon as it arrived in my email. I have read Russell’s previous books so I knew I would love Jam Run and this book did not disappoint. Heck I this book is my favourite by Russell Brooks so far and I have to say that This book actually has made it to my top 3 favourite books I have read so far this year .
I couldn’t stop reading because I needed to see what happened next . This one is so well written and makes you feel like you are right there in the story .
Jam Run is book 2 in The Eddie Barrow Mystery Series series but you don’t have to read the first book.
I do highly recommend this book .
lilaclicoricetissie's review
5.0
Cover: Not really my thing because of the color palette.
Oh!
I always try to leave expectations at the door whenever I start a new book. It’s because a) I don’t want to be disappointed if it turns out to be below my standards, and b) I don’t want the hype to lead me astray and make it better than it actually is. Neutrality is what I strive for.
With Jam Run, I found it quite hard to stick to my self-imposed rule while reading, because damn, it’s good.
The plot is intricate, full of subplots and narrative tricks that come together in a beautiful way. It kept my attention from start to end without a hitch. Brooks handles current themes—homophobia on the forefront—without pulling punches, a detail I appreciate a lot. There are times and places for kid gloves, you know?
As for the characters, they’re well-rounded, even the supporting ones; no loose ties either, which is a detail a lot of authors struggle with. We have a multiple pov structure, with Eddie and Corey as main; maybe I would have sprinkled the story with minor povs a little more in the beginning, though.
From a technical standpoint, the structure, grammar, and syntax are polished to the nth. Good job!
So, are there any flaws at all? Well, yes. Jam Run is a bit too long for the thriller genre, even if I’d be hard-pressed to tell what parts Brooks could leave aside if I were to edit it. Also, the Patois used throughout the story can be a little confusing sometimes. Most of the times there’s a direct translation right below, and handled in a graceful manner, too—forget translations dumped in-text or as footnotes—but it’s still hard to read. I found myself skipping to the translations when I couldn’t figure out what they were saying, and it kicked me out of the mood.
Still, they’re negligible issues. I had a grand time with Jam Run, and I think I’ll check out the other book in the Eddie Barrow series
Oh!
I always try to leave expectations at the door whenever I start a new book. It’s because a) I don’t want to be disappointed if it turns out to be below my standards, and b) I don’t want the hype to lead me astray and make it better than it actually is. Neutrality is what I strive for.
With Jam Run, I found it quite hard to stick to my self-imposed rule while reading, because damn, it’s good.
The plot is intricate, full of subplots and narrative tricks that come together in a beautiful way. It kept my attention from start to end without a hitch. Brooks handles current themes—homophobia on the forefront—without pulling punches, a detail I appreciate a lot. There are times and places for kid gloves, you know?
As for the characters, they’re well-rounded, even the supporting ones; no loose ties either, which is a detail a lot of authors struggle with. We have a multiple pov structure, with Eddie and Corey as main; maybe I would have sprinkled the story with minor povs a little more in the beginning, though.
From a technical standpoint, the structure, grammar, and syntax are polished to the nth. Good job!
So, are there any flaws at all? Well, yes. Jam Run is a bit too long for the thriller genre, even if I’d be hard-pressed to tell what parts Brooks could leave aside if I were to edit it. Also, the Patois used throughout the story can be a little confusing sometimes. Most of the times there’s a direct translation right below, and handled in a graceful manner, too—forget translations dumped in-text or as footnotes—but it’s still hard to read. I found myself skipping to the translations when I couldn’t figure out what they were saying, and it kicked me out of the mood.
Still, they’re negligible issues. I had a grand time with Jam Run, and I think I’ll check out the other book in the Eddie Barrow series
More...