What a meticulous, thought out review by Leonard Tillman,for my thriller, Overdue. Leonard is an Educator, Author, Book Reviewer, Book Blogger, Writer, and most importantly... Animal Lover! Find him at leonardtillerman.com.
Reviewed in the United States on September 28, 2022
This can be a cruel and mixed-up world we live in at times. Potential danger lurking around every corner, waiting to pounce on its latest, unsuspecting victim. It can be difficult to ever feel safe in such an unpredictable environment. In the middle of such chaos, many people will point out that at least we have ourselves and family. Nobody can take away our family and personal identity they profess. Oh really???
In her novel, Overdue, Uvi Poznansky clearly illustrates the flaw with such simple logic. Particularly if you mix with the wrong type of people. This is a top-notch thriller that packs a powerful punch!
Overdue is Book 4 of the Ash suspense thrillers, Vlad, the leader of a Russian crime organization, is lying comatose in the hospital after being grazed by a bullet fired by our protagonist, Ash. However, is he really comatose like he seems? Or is this a clever scheme to escape and avoid paying the consequences of his actions? Ash believes it is the latter and is not about to let him escape her grasp. Unfortunately for her, life has a way of throwing unexpected curve balls our way. In this case, it comes in the form of a brutal pandemic. This forces Ash to step away from her plans and "guard duty." In the process, Vlad (who was indeed playing possum) escapes and is soon back to his evil ways. Shortly thereafter, Ash finds herself smack-dab in the middle of a personal identity theft and health insurance fraud scheme. Having had her identity stolen, Ash, and numerous other individuals who have suffered the same fate, are at risk of complete ruin. This has Vlad written all over it, and Ash will stop at nothing to bring him to justice.
Without a doubt, this novel puts the word thrill in thriller! It is full of action, suspense, mystery, and intrigue. The author does not throw all of this at the reader right off the bat, however. No, it is gradually unraveled as the novel progresses. Bit by captivating bit. This allows us as readers to truly engage in the tale as we try to figure out for ourselves what is coming next. Just when we think we know...BAM... something nobody saw coming hits us from behind. Poznansky truly knows how to weave her tale, so the reader becomes part of the entire experience, as opposed to an impartial bystander.
In regards to characters, we are once again treated to a literary gem. As the protagonist, Ash could actually be any one of us. She is put into a terrible scenario through no fault of her own. This scenario is so identifiable for so many of us in today's world. This authenticity works to draw us in even further to this clever tale. As an added bonus, the novel presents Michael as Ash's love interest. He is an entirely loyal and likable character who, in many ways, is the complete opposite of Ash. He is much more easygoing and lighthearted. This allows us not only to see his genuinely positive traits but gives us a real glimpse into Ash's vulnerable side as well. Very intelligent writing!
In contrast to Ash and Michael, Vlad and his team of antagonists are presented as truly despicable individuals. Willing to destroy and feed upon any poor soul as long as it fits their particular purpose. I felt an intense dislike for them, which is needed to make a story like this work so well. Characterization at its best!
Unquestionably, I was really able to identify and relate to this novel. While it was an explosive fictional thriller... it all seemed so real! The smooth flow of the writing certainly helped put all the exceptionally great story elements together into one cohesive and enthralling package.
In her novel, Overdue, Uvi Poznansky clearly illustrates the flaw with such simple logic. Particularly if you mix with the wrong type of people. This is a top-notch thriller that packs a powerful punch!
Overdue is Book 4 of the Ash suspense thrillers, Vlad, the leader of a Russian crime organization, is lying comatose in the hospital after being grazed by a bullet fired by our protagonist, Ash. However, is he really comatose like he seems? Or is this a clever scheme to escape and avoid paying the consequences of his actions? Ash believes it is the latter and is not about to let him escape her grasp. Unfortunately for her, life has a way of throwing unexpected curve balls our way. In this case, it comes in the form of a brutal pandemic. This forces Ash to step away from her plans and "guard duty." In the process, Vlad (who was indeed playing possum) escapes and is soon back to his evil ways. Shortly thereafter, Ash finds herself smack-dab in the middle of a personal identity theft and health insurance fraud scheme. Having had her identity stolen, Ash, and numerous other individuals who have suffered the same fate, are at risk of complete ruin. This has Vlad written all over it, and Ash will stop at nothing to bring him to justice.
Without a doubt, this novel puts the word thrill in thriller! It is full of action, suspense, mystery, and intrigue. The author does not throw all of this at the reader right off the bat, however. No, it is gradually unraveled as the novel progresses. Bit by captivating bit. This allows us as readers to truly engage in the tale as we try to figure out for ourselves what is coming next. Just when we think we know...BAM... something nobody saw coming hits us from behind. Poznansky truly knows how to weave her tale, so the reader becomes part of the entire experience, as opposed to an impartial bystander.
In regards to characters, we are once again treated to a literary gem. As the protagonist, Ash could actually be any one of us. She is put into a terrible scenario through no fault of her own. This scenario is so identifiable for so many of us in today's world. This authenticity works to draw us in even further to this clever tale. As an added bonus, the novel presents Michael as Ash's love interest. He is an entirely loyal and likable character who, in many ways, is the complete opposite of Ash. He is much more easygoing and lighthearted. This allows us not only to see his genuinely positive traits but gives us a real glimpse into Ash's vulnerable side as well. Very intelligent writing!
In contrast to Ash and Michael, Vlad and his team of antagonists are presented as truly despicable individuals. Willing to destroy and feed upon any poor soul as long as it fits their particular purpose. I felt an intense dislike for them, which is needed to make a story like this work so well. Characterization at its best!
Unquestionably, I was really able to identify and relate to this novel. While it was an explosive fictional thriller... it all seemed so real! The smooth flow of the writing certainly helped put all the exceptionally great story elements together into one cohesive and enthralling package.
No comments:
Post a Comment