jbronderbookreviews

Pushback by John Stith

Dave goes to his high school reunion for his very small school where he knew everyone… and nobody at the party was in his class, nor is he shown in the photo of everybody in the graduating class. He’s brought his new girlfriend with him, who’s understandably now wondering about if he’s right in the head. He knows he is (PTSD notwithstanding) but he doesn’t know what’s up… or who shot holes in his car… Things turn even more deadly as someone seems to have it in for him, but he has no idea who or why.

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Praise for Pushback

“Some people dream about going to their high-school reunion in their underwear. Dave Barlow goes to his and finds himself worse than naked — unrecognized. A lovely, twisty thriller that moves like a roller coaster — racheting up the suspense, then plunging into crisis, or doing a swift loop-the-loop through flashbacks of PTSD before the climb stars again.” — Diana Gabaldon, New York Times bestselling author of the Outlander series.

“PUSHBACK is a fast-paced crime novel guaranteed to keep you reading into the night. Accelerating through enough twists and turns to keep you guessing, PUSHBACK ramps up to a heart-pounding ending that will leave you breathless. Stith, known for his award-winning science fiction, really brings it home in his debut mystery. Bring on the next installment!” — Chris Goff, author of RED SKY

Author’s Bio

Science fiction and mystery author John E. Stith writes across many worlds. His books have been translated to French, German, Italian, Japanese, Portuguese and Russian and are even available in braille for the sight-impaired.  His science fiction stories have been categorized as “Hard science fiction,” a label given to those stories thoroughly researched to play fair with the rules of science; something any die-hard SciFi fan can appreciate. PUSHBACK is his debut into the mystery, though readers will find both suspense and thrills in his SciFi novels, as well.

Stith holds a B.A. in physics from the University of Minnesota, has served as an Air Force Officer, where he worked at NORAD Cheyenne Mountain Complex. The passion for science runs in his family, as his father George worked at the White Sands Missile Range on such projects like the rocket sled.

He has appeared on a live nationwide PBS broadcast or Science-Fiction Science-Fact (SF2) and his work has also been sold to film and television. His novel Reckoning Infinity was chosen as one of Science Fiction Chronicle’s Best Science Fiction Novels,  Redshift Rendezvous was picked as a Nebula Award nominee and Manhattan Transfer received an honorable mention from the Hugo Awards and a nomination from the Seiun Award in Japan.

Stith is a member of Science-Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America (SFWA), Mystery Writers of America (MWA), Writers Guild of America (WGA), International Thriller Writers, Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers (RMFW), Colorado Author’s League and Mensa.  He currently lives in Colorado Springs.

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My Review

3 Stars

Dave Barlow is an investment counselor and discovers two bullet holes in his new car. But before he really can look into them, he takes his girlfriend to his ten year college reunion. But something strange is going on. He doesn’t recognize these people and they don’t know him either. His girlfriend takes this badly and breaks up with him. Thinking things couldn’t get worse, they do. It seems someone is out to get Dave. They want to destroy him completely.

Dave has some issues but is piecing his life back together after the death of his girlfriend in a car accident. He has found another girl and plans of going to his reunion. But things take a turn for the worse as it seems someone is determined to end him. From here Dave goes through hell trying to figure out who is after him and why.

This story has a rough feel to it. It’s not bad but there are a couple places that it just seems to stick. There are some descriptions that are way over done and then there is the whole Bolivia obsession. If the story would have been smoothed out I think that I would have liked it better. But that doesn’t mean that it’s a bad book. Although I might not have been as excited about this book doesn’t mean that it won’t be someone else’s top read.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. I voluntarily chose to read and post an honest review.

I would like to thank Sami at Roger Charlie for the opportunity to read and share this book.