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. ( )

This was a really interesting read. The String was twisted and it was nice never knowing who was involved and who to trust, but I feel like the book could have benefited from having deeper characters. I found I wasn't too concerned about who died or not because I hadn't had time to form a connection. ( )

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! ( )

It was good, I liked it. ( )

Title: The String (Deadly Games #1)
Author: Caleb Breakey
Pages: 320
Year: 2019
Publisher: Revell
My rating is 3 out of 5 stars.
Markus Haas is a police officer at Trenton University. The students like him and think he’s cool. He is dating a single mom, Steph, with two children. Fellow officers at the local police department don’t like him as some event in the past has placed animosity between the two. His fellow officer, Cody, is a good friend though. Markus is unwittingly drawn into a complex but deadly game run by “The Conductor”, who has amassed a network of people he forces to perform unsavory, illegal or dangerous tasks in order to keep the game going. If the players do not do what The Conductor tells them to do, someone they love will suffer severe consequences. Markus enters the game when a student places a bomb in his car.
In the course of his investigation, he quickly discovers that this is no game. The threats and consequences are very real. However, Markus is not one to be subdued. He fights back, but there is a cost. He tries his best to discover the identity of The Conductor, but with each attempt, a consequence is incurred. A threat is issued toward his girlfriend and her children who Markus holds dear, but can he discover who is behind this elaborate plot before more people are killed, including Steph and her kids?
I would rate this 3.5 if half-stars were allowed. The first book in most series has to lay the groundwork/history of characters and their backgrounds in order for subsequent novels to progress the story. The suspense was off the charts and had my heart pumping. There is a definite creepy factor to this story, which may put some people off. Also, I thought this could have been a great opportunity to showcase a disciple of God’s reaction to evil, but this story just had a few mentions of prayer and God. Believers in God are under attack every day from evil spiritual forces. I hope in subsequent books the author includes more about faith in God. I plan to read the next book in the series to see the potential growth and depth of the main character in relation to his faith in God.
Note: The opinions shared in this review are solely my responsibility. ( )