Caleb Breakey

I have to start off by saying that I did not finish this book. Due to the nature of this review, I will be writing a pros and cons list.

Pros:
the idea - the storyline sounded super interesting
the writing - the style was great and well-written

Cons:
the characters - this is where I became very confused. Each chapter would go to a different character without saying who it was going too. I eventually figured it out, but only after I was confused and reread the chapter.
the action - again, very confusing. I tried to follow it to the best of my ability, even rereading most of the book. Despite rereading, I ended up even more confused than before.

Rating: 1 Star
Content: --

*I received a complementary copy of this novel from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts are my own and a positive review was not required.… (mehr)

Well, folks, if you've wondered who will take up the mantle of the likes of Ted Dekker or Frank Peretti, the answer is here: Caleb Breakey. I will say that "The String" is similar to the more difficult books of those two authors, with heavy subject matter, some gore and lots of action that will give you heart palpitations.

Markus Haas is a university cop who dreams of more. He's on par with the local SWAT team, but never fully embraced as one of them. A few years back, Markus helped break up a sex ring operating on campus, earning himself some recognition, but not much respect. He works his job, does what he has to and has made a living for himself getting to know the students and campus he serves. He has found love with Stephanie, a woman who has escaped an abusive marriage, along with her daughters, who think the world of Markus.

But Markus will not be able to remain the stable, quiet lawman for long. A sociopath calling himself The Conductor begins to lay the foundation for his master plan, with Markus placed squarely in the middle. Once he detonates a bomb on campus, the terrifying nature of The Conductor's strategy is set in motion, and Markus finds himself unaware of just how many people it involves.

As The Conductor communicates through text messages, tablets that are delivered by messengers who are blackmailed into helping, as well as phone calls, Markus begins to realize he will have to work harder than ever to unravel the web that's been spun. But what will the cost be to those around him? To Stephanie and the girls? To his future?

The book runs at a frenetic pace, keeping the reader enthralled and repeating "Just one more page!" I absolutely loved the story, characters and the sense of urgency that I got each time I opened the book. I will say that this book can be graphic due to the nature of the sociopath involved and the fact that the villian is extremely intelligent, covering all his angles, no matter the cost. If you're interested in books or television related to criminals and their behaviors, such as "Criminal Minds" or "CSI," this book would be right up your alley. I recall feeling as though there were times I read Dekker or Peretti and was aghast at some of the behaviors of the antagonists, and "The String" was familiar in that respect. There are very clear demarkations of who is the villian and who are the heroes by the final page--even some I didn't expect.

The faith journeys of the characters are mismatched, as Stephanie is more advanced in her faith than Markus, but it leaves room for his growth throughout the challenges they face together. I understand this book is the start of a series (YAY!) and am interested to see Markus's development in the coming stories ahead. That's probably the only suggestion I could add. The book was well written, action packed and hard to put down, which I believe are the hallmarks of a great author.

Kudos, Mr. Breakey--I can't wait for the next installment of the books! I read an early review copy, thanks to #LibraryThing, Revell Books and Baker Publishing. I chose to leave a review and all opinions are my own. If you miss out on this one, it's your fault!

ALSO, when is book #2 coming? I need to know!… (mehr)