H.R.Kemp

A real page-turner

This well-written mystery story is well paced and ramps up the intrigue as you read, hooking the reader in to keep turning the pages to find out what happened. The shifts between past and present happen smoothly, helping the reader to understand the chain of events by a slow reveal. The main characters are strong, three-dimensional and well drawn, we feel we know them or have met them for real. Their interrelationships and group dynamics play out well both in the past, when they first get to know each other, and later, when they have not seen each other for some time but still feel their connection from long ago. The subject matter touches sensitively on troubling societal issues and handles them well.

The title works well. The references to it are scattered throughout the story and tie the different parts of the novel together. Good choice.

This was an enjoyable read, it kept me hooked and I would definitely recommend it.

An action-packed thriller

This is a terrific novel. It kept me on the edge of my seat and I couldn't read it fast enough. Like all fabulous novels, I'm also sad that I've finished it.

The multi-layered plot tackles contemporary issues, provoking questions and insight while also delivering suspense, tension and action. Greg has taken a sensitive and difficult topic and woven a story that travels through the maze with finesse and skill.

The characters are real and strong personalities. As a reader I became emotionally invested in their plight, wanting them to succeed while dreading failure. I could feel Stephanie's pain and frustration as she tried to deal with the complex problem without hurting her children. I could experience Chuck's disorientation, helplessness, anger/guilt and the sheer shock of his situation while he was trying to find a way back to his family. The teenage daughters were beautifully drawn, each responding to the shock and horror of what has happened in their own, unique way. They felt real and their teenage behaviour played out just like I would expect in real life.

The writing is classic Greg McLaughlin and carries the reader forward at a cracking pace. It flows beautifully with the story being told from different POVs that heighten the drama and tension. Greg deftly weaves in the backstory and delivers a real emotional punch. His attention to detail adds to the context and atmosphere of the story and immerses the reader in the environment.

This is a must read.

An interesting premise

This story has an interesting plot drawing on the big issues of today. The idea that the US is split in two with one half controlled by Democrats and the other controlled by Republicans is an intriguing idea and lends itself to an unusual plot, especially when the author extrapolates them into a troubling future scenario. An interesting, and quite short, read.

A multilayered tale

This novel is beautifully written with rich descriptions that summon vivid visual responses. It is the kind of story you can immerse yourself in, it's slow and gentle with pockets of drama that keep you engrossed and beckon you to take your time and peel back the layers of the story. The cast of characters are intriguing with villainous villains and well drawn, real and multi-dimensional characters. We follow their journeys and feel for them when they hurt. The backstory chapters are woven in and give depth and meaning to the storyline.

Overall I really enjoyed reading this novel. It was an interesting story with a great cast of characters whose life stories were complex and real and easy for readers to relate to. Thank you for sharing this on Inkitt.

An intensely moving story

Matthew Arnold Stern has created a complex and believable cast of characters. The main characters, Dylan and Oliver are both written in first person which brings the reader in close to their experiences and troubling thoughts, Their deeply personal struggles lead them through a series of life-changing events which build to a very satisfying ending. The supporting cast consists of both likeable and not so likeable characters, all of which are three dimensional, real and believable.
Dylan's life is uprooted when his mother and step-dad throw him out. It is the beginning of a massive learning process but also a discovery of the kindness of strangers. Oliver's struggles with his personal failures and traumatic past brings his life to a climax and eventually to realistic change, I was engrossed by their plight that I found myself cheering for these characters.
The setting is a diverse and contemporary society. The writer skilfully weaves a backdrop that resembles life as it is today, complete with political and religious hypocrisy, hardship and striving to make a good life even when the odds are stacked against them. We see the best and the worst of people .
I enjoyed this story immensely. The writing style keeps the reader involved and guessing, while eagerly wanting the characters to find what they need. It is well told, and the gentle romance is so real and touching. Overall it is a moving tale.
I highly recommend this story. It's a great read and I look forward to reading more novels by this author.

A unique book

This was an interesting read. This is a genre I don't usually read but the writing style is complex and in some places, classic. I enjoyed Talmido's story, his personal struggle and his journey. It had a strong 'human' touch which appealed to me.
Talmido is an engaging character who was very real and drawn with care and emotion. He is three dimensional and we, the reader, feel his tribulations and struggles. This is his story. However, the other characters seemed very sketchy to me. I didn't feel I knew them, or even really understood them, eg. Si-tatious is in so many scenes but we really know very little about him. This is true of most of the other characters.
The fight scenes are intense and detailed, and there are quite a few. They were strong action scenes and gave the reader a view of the blood and violence in war close up.
The omniscient POV parts, those that gave the back story and the world building views were written in a 'text-book' style and contained technical and explanatory information to add to the world we see Talmido inhabiting. This would especially appeal to the Sci-fi enthusiast, I didn't find those parts as engaging.
The writer has a fluid style, descriptive and in places the language and expression is beautiful. This book is unusual (I mean this in a good way) and I am sure it will find fans that engage with the story and go on to read the rest of the series. For me the threads only partially resolved in this book and I was left with many questions. I understand that the rest of the series will continue these threads but I felt that the first book needed something more to tie in the backstory/world building aspects,
Overall it is an interesting and intriguing book, with a thoughtful style which is generally well-written. It would appeal to sci-fi and fantasy readers and those drawn to action stories. It is well done and unique.

An intense religious thriller

This is an intensely religious thriller about a young man charged with praying for the salvation of others.
The novel is well written, the prose flows well and the vivid descriptions, especially the gruesome dream/nightmare sequences, bring the story to life.
The characters are drawn sympathetically and are real, believable and three-dimensional. Their flaws, mistakes and even their bad choices and missteps, evoke empathy in the reader and enable us to relate to them. The dynamics between the characters works well, their relationships are natural and real.. The protagonist was at times preachy but it was in keeping with his character.
The plot has intrigue, suspense and tension that builds throughout the novel. There is an urgency in the novel that is explained by the dramatic ending. The tangled romances add a nice touch and provide an additional hook. The book takes the reader on an emotional journey along with the characters.
Although the intense religious focus of this novel is an unusual read for me, I appreciated the sense of hope and the nonjudgmental approach to human frailty.
There were a few reoccurring misspelled words but otherwise the grammar and expression were of a good standard.

Gripping Psychological Thriller

This tale of two couples in different time zones starts with a curious mystery which builds in drama and tension to a crescendo of surprises, twists and action. The author has written a forceful story, stoking the tension and intrigue until the reader is compelled to read on to the end and find out what is going on.
This is well written, the story flows and is perfectly paced. The drama and intensity is supported by real and interesting characters. This is an example of impressive story telling and it had me thoroughly hooked.
It's a gripping and fascinating psychological thriller which had me guessing to the end and then it delivered a great twist to the plot.
Highly recommended.

Good start

This is a good start to a story with interesting threads and a plot that has potential with opportunities for intrigue, explosive emotional impact and tension. The main character, Nadya, is consistently drawn and interesting. She is in turmoil as she comes to terms with the revelations about her parentage and deals with the dramatic changes in her life.
Well done with this draft and good luck with the editing.

Intriguing idea

This forms the beginning of an original and interesting idea. The plot has not yet been fully developed but it is off to a good start. I don't know where Shanice Bannis is taking the story but the characters and story line have potential.
It needs a thorough edit to correct the grammar, spelling, general expression and use of language. It can get a little confusing at times, especially the transitions between the dream and reality (although that may be what you intended.)
Good luck with completing this interesting story.

Intriguing story

Very interesting and enjoyable short story with great atmosphere, local setting and mood. The characters are real complete with attitude and dialect and the protagonist gains our sympathies easily. The plot holds us in suspense until the surprise ending. Well done, this is a well written good read..

A gentle, amusing mystery

This story is a gentle mystery with an interesting cast of characters. The story has the feel of the old English murder mysteries, with a monastery complete with Father Magoon and nuns, a young man, Ben, who stumbles upon and solves the mystery. There is a gentle, tentative romance and humour along the way.
It will benefit from some editing and re-writing to sharpen the narrative.
The main character is likeable and believable and the main characters in the monastery are well drawn. The antagonist is perhaps a little obvious, but never-the-less well drawn.
This is a slow paced but enjoyable and humorous read.

Highly recommended read

This is a complex and suspenseful novel. It envisages a second coming and it's impact on the current world. The premise is bold, but the story appeals even to those who are not religious. The writer draws a strong cast of characters , giving us insight through backstory and intimate glimpses into their journey. The story builds and pulls the reader into the lives of the key characters, and then unleashes an action packed finale. It is a deep and satisfying story, the plot is complex and realistic, providing a reflection of the social fabric of our times.
The writing style is crisp and uses evocative images and analogies to bring the story to life.
Overall, this is a well-written and enjoyable read, and I highly recommend it.

White Roses

The plot is intriguing and the characters are truly evil and vicious. I've read the first 5 chapters and am intrigued about where this story is going and if the main character, Karin, can come out as a better person. The plot is introduced but we have no idea where it is leading us yet, so the hook has been laid. I think an edit would help, especially with the English expression and I'm looking forward to seeing more depth in the characters so I can understand them better. Well done so far, and I'll be interested to see how the story progresses.

A beautiful epic adventure

This story will engage and enthral lovers of fantasy. Le Clair has a beautiful writing style, one that evokes wonderful images and the prose flows easily. There is action, romance and an intriguing plot that twists and turns its way through the 600+ pages. The characters are three dimensional and engaging and both the heroes/heroines and villains are believable and elicit strong reactions in the reader.
The main character Roseleen is a strong, heroic character who is willing to risk everything for the good of her world.
I don't often read fantasy but this novel had all the elements of a wonderful story, told well. The novel is long but I'm sure editing will tighten up some of the detail and hone it to be even better.
An enjoyable read.

Interesting beginning

This is an intriguing start. It is quite harrowing especially since it is written in an up close POV. It finishes on a note of suspense and leaves us wondering where the story will go from here. The characters have an element of mystery and even the serial killer is not what we would expect. I'm interested to see where this goes.

A dramatic story for the times

The Masks of Morality covers a range of important issues for our times. The most poignant for me was Anna's story, who struggles with terrible personal losses and then battles with finding the right path between justice and revenge. It is a telling dilemma that touches on an important concept in today's world.

Claryssa's transition from high flying IT executive to mother and volunteer accompanies her awakening to the political machinations in society today and the many complex issues that have yet to be resolved. She is surrounded by friends all struggling with the same issues and trying to find a way to be good parents and care for the future and deal with the undermining influences in society.

The novel presents an interesting story which is made more personal by closely following the characters and their everyday struggles. This was an interesting and enjoyable read (if enjoyable is indeed the right word when so much of the plot is disturbing) and makes a great discussion starter.

A fabulous book

This memoir takes the reader back to the heady days of the protest movement and their fight against the Vietnam war. The action is seen vividly through the eyes of Becky, the main character, and her friends and extended 'family'. We experience first hand, her wins and her dramatic and painful losses. All the characters are very real, with their good and flawed characters beautifully drawn.

The story is beautifully told, moving, expertly written and poignant. It details the personal struggle using very real and three-dimensional characters, and accurate historical data. The Soldier tally at the end of each chapter brings home the cost of war, especially the Vietnam war, in a devastating way.

The modern-day story is only touched on, but the story of protest and drama reminds the reader that the fight is never finished, it just moves on to the next issue.

I highly recommend this novel and I hope it will be published someday. I'd love a signed copy when that happens. Thank you for sharing this extraordinary story with me (us).

A moving human interest story

This drama novel is full of very human characters, each struggling with their own secrets and inner turmoil as they try to connect with each other. The main character, a young girl, Aria, is confused and hurt and is striving to deal with her parents' abandonment as well as adjust to life in a new country with relatives she doesn't really know. Although we don't see her parents' motivations up close, we see the struggle play out as she gets to know her uncles and their wives/partners when she is abruptly brought to live with them. As a reader, I found the scenes with her uncle Kiev touching and sweet. Each uncle grows as the story progresses, finding inner strength and developing a love for their niece.
This well-written story is an enjoyable read. It is a moving story with likeable and unlikeable characters and elements of suspense and intrigue. I felt that it was really several stories rolled into the one novel, Aria's story with her secret and her parents' response and then the various characters within the family and their individual dilemmas.
A lovely story and a good read.

An intriguing fairytale.

This story has tension, intrigue and action. It keeps the reader hooked, spinning an interesting and unique mystery and interweaving it with unusual characters. The plot is original and the main characters grow as they follow their quest and try to find the special items from their late grandmother. It has a fairytale feel and I enjoyed the way the story kept introducing challenges, new characters and new worlds.
The ending leaves the reader waiting for the story to continue in Book 2 (which means it is not a stand-alone). The back story is skillfully woven in and gives us necessary and interesting insights into the present-day drama. Like most books on Inkitt, it will benefit from an edit, but it is a very enjoyable read.

A great start

This novel is a work in progress and is off to a great start.
The writing style is clean and crisp and gets to the heart of the action quickly while deftly weaving in back story. The characters have depth and are well drawn. The plot is intriguing and plays out in an interesting future world. I'll be interested to see how the story progresses.
An enjoyable and engaging read.

Fascinating story

This is a fascinating story set in Czechoslovakia in 1942 during the Nazi occupation. These beginning chapters set a strong plot building great suspense and tension. Using three different POVs we see the events unfold from different perspectives.
This story has stimulated my interest and curiosity and I look forward to reading more and finding out where the author will take this. The star ratings are based on the first 8 chapters. A good beginning.

Entertaining and fun

This novel has a strong and clever plot and pulls off a few twists as well, leaving the best until last. The author brings together the different threads, weaving them into an entertaining story which also gives the reader a few laughs along the way. An enjoyable read, especially if you can suspend disbelief, and a satisfying ending.
It so needs editing to tighten up the prose and correct the spelling/grammar but this is easily fixed.

The story is strong and well worth reading..

A terrific read

Greg McLaughlin has done it again. He has written a terrific story with stunning characters and a plot that keeps you turning the page. Well done.
This well-written novel is steeped in action and perfect pacing. The plot kept me intrigued and reading to the end (I couldn't stop long enough to add comments at the end of the chapter even!) and the conclusion was satisfying and rewarding. The writing flows and takes the reader in close to the action, keeping us on edge and delivering suspense and intrigue along the way.
The characters are three dimensional and feel very real. It is unusual to have principled politicians (perhaps that means this could fit into the fantasy genre too - ha, ha- is my cynicism showing?). Who knew a writer could create a politician that I would be cheering for? The 'bad guys' are also too real (are they based on any real life examples?) and together the story takes us on a fraught and intense ride. Your writing made me really care about the fate of the protagonist.
The only suggestion I would make (and it's only my opinion, so ignore if you don't think it's relevant) is that the first chapter is a little bogged down with back story and factual information. For me, a non-American, the US electoral process is a little confusing and hard to follow which meant I had to re-read that chapter to understand it. I'm sure the important points could easily be dispersed and threaded through the subsequent chapters and therefore avoid that confusion. Also, another edit would easily iron out the small spelling and grammatical errors.
Otherwise, the story is a terrific read, it kept me engrossed in the plot and the characters you created. Well done.

The Courage of the Cowardly Soul

This story is only 8 chapters long at the moment but has the potential to build the plot to make an engrossing and thought-provoking novel.
This very intense story is written in the first person, so we are inside the mind of the protagonist, thinking his thoughts and seeing what he sees. His experiences in the trenches in WWI have left him deeply scarred and we witness two very brutal events described in detail, that are very disturbing, not least because of Jaque's reaction.
The story poses valid questions and follows Jacque's quest to explain what he has endured and the carnage he has witnessed. It is a moving story, well written and the author deftly deals with this difficult subject matter and the complexities of the human reaction to war.
Well worth reading.

The collision

The collision has all the elements of a family drama. There are dramatic events, flawed characters and dysfunctional interrelationships. The story line is solid and the plot intriguing.
The writing style needs some editing and re-writing to take out some of the detail, and build up the characters into believable, three dimensional people. The story would benefit from a little less telling as at times the story feels like a list of what happened rather than getting the reader involved. All of these things can be ironed out by joining a writer's group and getting more detailed feedback or getting a writing coach to work one on one to hone the story telling. Good luck. This is an intriguing story that has real potential, and the writing style can only get better with some more intense feedback and learning of extra skills.. All the best.

Waves break on Unknown Shores

What a great read. I was hooked from the start and couldn't 'put it down'.
This novel is an expertly crafted thriller. It's fast paced, with building tension and suspense and a few surprises. The author seamlessly weaves the threads of a past mystery into the fabric of the contemporary plot. The author keeps us guessing and the plot is well constructed and executed.
The writing style is enthralling with stunning analogies, humour, wit and insight. The characters feel real, they have depth and breadth, and their interrelationships form part of the web of intrigue. With the writing style, we get up close and personal with the protagonist and feel the dread when we encounter the antagonists.
I can't praise this book enough. I thoroughly enjoyed it and highly recommend it.

A great potential

Against the grain is a novel with an interesting plot and seems built on real experience. The story of a young woman who joins the army without really knowing what she is letting herself in for and without being particularly suited to the discipline and difficulties she encounters has the potential to be a strong character driven tale. At the moment it has the feel of a diary and reads like a first draft. Since finishing the novel, the author has begun amending and rewriting and I am sure this will make this novel one to watch. All the best with your rewriting.