About the Book
The Face on the Other Side (Thomas O’Shea Mysteries)
Mystery/Suspense/Thriller
3rd in Series
Setting – Iowa
FPS (February 10, 2018)
Paperback: 340 pages
ISBN-13: 978-1945338946
He’d promised Sheriff Payne that he wouldn’t take any more matters into his own hands. So, when on a leisurely morning drive, SEAL-trained Thomas O’Shea sees two girls attacking a boy on a sidewalk, he opts not to intervene. When the boy is later murdered in the local hospital, though, all promises are off. What seems at the start to be a simple case of gang activity turns out to be far more. Even O’Shea, who has seen more than his share of evil, could not have guessed what is about to transpire…
Dollycas’s Thoughts
I am so excited to tell you about this book. I reviewed the 2nd book in this series back in 2015 and have been waiting for this next story.
Thomas O’Shea is a special man, a Christian man, and ex-Navy Seal. He has been caught in some dangerous situations in the past and has vowed to stay out of trouble. When he witnesses two girls beating the heck out of a boy on the sidewalk just outside the school grounds he tries to do the right thing by contacting the police. He quickly sees they are not going to arrive in time and has to step in. The boy survives the beating but is later killed in the hospital. Mr. O’Shea feels he owes the boy justice and he convinces the sheriff to let him help with the case. Neither one ever imagined the evil they were going to face.
This story is not for the faint of heart. This is riveting, gritty, suspense-filled story that you will not be able to put down. The author has created a small Iowa town and brought big-city problems up close and personal.
Thomas O’Shea and his schoolteacher girlfriend are taking things slow, his choice, not hers. He wants to get married but she is afraid of getting that call that he has been hurt or killed. These characters and all the rest including the sheriff and O’Shea’s friend Lunatic Mooning, are so well crafted. It is so easy to picture them so clearly and be drawn in by them.
I saw in the last book that the author’s very descriptive way of telling a story made it feel as if you were watching a movie. That is even more evident in this story. It is fast paced and full of intensity. Every time a door was opened or Thomas tracked down a suspect I was almost fearful of what was going to happen next. I knew Thomas’ heart was always in the right place but his head puts him in some dire situations. The action and drama build up to a scene that had my heart racing. I was holding my breath the whole time to see how the scene would play out. When it ended I had to set the book down and take a few deep breaths before I could read the final chapters. Wow!! What a story!
I want to stress you do not need the previous books in this series to enjoy this story. Each book can stand on their own. If you enjoy books by Harlan Coben
In my opinion, this story deserves more than 5 stars. It is a story I will not forget!
About the Author
John Carenen, a native of Clinton, Iowa, graduated with an M.F.A. in Fiction Writing from the prestigious University of Iowa Writers Workshop and has been writing ever since. His work has appeared numerous times in Reader’s Digest (including a First Person Award), McCall’s, Dynamic Years, and other periodicals. He has been a featured columnist in newspapers in Morganton, North Carolina and Clinton, South Carolina. His fiction has appeared in regional literary magazines. A novel, Son-up, Son-down, was published by the National Institute of Mental Health. He is happily married to (long-suffering) Elisabeth, and they have two grown daughters, Caitlin and Rowe. When he isn’t writing, he thinks about getting in shape, cheers for the Iowa Hawkeyes and Boston Red Sox, and takes frequent naps. He has traveled extensively, having visited 43 states and 23 countries. He is a USAF veteran, having served in the Philippines and Massachusetts. A retired an English professor at Newberry College in Newberry, South Carolina, he is hard at work on another novel.
Author Links
Purchase Links
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Praise for The Face on the Other Side (Thomas O’Shea Mysteries)
by John Carenen
What I liked about this story are characterization and the narration . . . I loved the suspense and guessing on the culprit till the end.
~Fantastic Feathers
The characters are well rounded and well developed. The author creates characters that will stay with you long after you have finished the book.
~MJB Reviewers
Wow, what a ride you are about to embark on as you begin turning the pages of this book.
~Maureen’s Musings
. . . this one had me on the edge of my seat and turning the pages until the end.
~My Reading Journeys
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May 15 – Mysteries with Character – AUTHOR INTERVIEW
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Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. Receiving a complimentary copy in no way reflected my review of this book. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
Thanks for the fabulous review! I would love the opportunity to read “The Face on the Other Side” by John Carenen.
2clowns at arkansas dot net
This series sounds amazing. Love to have my socks scared off, and it sounds like this is just the series to accomplish this! On my wish list!!
Sounds like a great scary series. Can’t wait to read it!
What a fascinating series! Thanks for sharing the great review.