Category: Reviews

Amazon just removed two five star reviews for my books Stripper! and Revenge!, with no explanation, of course. I’m copying all of my Amazon reviews for Revenge here so I won’t lose them. I’ll put the ones for Stripper! in a different post. Of course, they won’t have the same visibility, but at least I’ll have them.

5.0 out of 5 stars Something Different (For Me)
By Some Programmer on August 21, 2018
Format: Kindle Edition Verified Purchase
This book occupies a niche outside of my usual reading, and I probably wouldn’t have given it a second glance if I’d stumbled across it on Amazon. I only discovered it because the author and I attended the same beta reader group, and I’m glad I did. Revenge! turned out to be a very enjoyable read.

First off, the writing is great. Natalie McMasters, the protagonist, has a distinct voice and a complicated personality. Most of the supporting characters have some depth to them as well, and the setting (a fictionalized version of a certain Southern city) is vividly drawn. I thought the book nailed the plot and pacing as well. The story does a great job of sprinkling in little details that turn out to be important later, and the tension level increases with almost every page up to a downright thrilling climax.

No book is perfect, and I did find a few minor elements I was less enthusiastic about. I wished that Natalie’s girlfriend Lupe had been fleshed out as thoroughly as Natalie herself. Also, there’s some very graphic sex and violence throughout the book. Given the theme, it’s kind of unavoidable, but it’s something you should be aware of going in.

These quibbles took very little away from a great book, and I’m looking forward to the sequel. Speaking of sequels, it’s worth mentioning that while Revenge! is the second book in a series, it stands on its own very well. Even though it (minor spoiler) ends on a bit of a cliffhanger, it manages to tell a complete story while still fitting into a larger plot. I wish more authors could pull this off.

3.0 out of 5 stars I look forward to the next book in this series!
By Tommy on August 19, 2018
Format: Kindle Edition Verified Purchase
What I liked:
Let me start out by saying the synopsis takes care of telling you what the story is about, so I’ll give you my thoughts about the writing.

The story itself held my interest and kept me turning pages to find out what will happen next. The pairing of characters and interaction between them is well written—Rebecca and Nattie, Danny and Nattie, Lupe and Nattie, and LeBrowne and Nattie, just to name a few. You can hear the distinction in each of their voices. They are all well-developed characters. Well done, Mr. Burns.

What did not work for me:
The overuse of the word “I” in parts of the writing slowed down the flow. For instance, a paragraph with several sentences that all begin with “I” made the writing feel like wood, telling and not showing. But, then things would begin to flow again wonderfully.

The information dump regarding immigration law is too much at one time and took me out of the flow of the story. At this point we do not know what Lupe will face in the future to fix her problem. Reveal the legal immigration process as Lupe is living it. Let the law support the action she needs to take at that moment in time. Spoon feed it to me.

The Final Say:
This author has created a refreshingly original character in Natalie McMasters. She has all the flaws of a real person, a little offbeat, quirky, roughed up edges, with a heart and soul. She has loved strongly and lost painfully for her young years. She’s a survivor and faces her challenges. She also keeps secrets and is guarded. She’s wonderful. I look forward to reading the next book in this series.

3.0 out of 5 stars A step down from book 1
By Corey Pon August 29, 2018
Format: Kindle Edition Verified Purchase
Book 1 was great. Natalie McMaster was a bada$$ and didn’t take any grief from anyone. The story kept the reader entertained throughout even enough to overlook grammatical errors. Book 2 was a let down. Natalie did a 180 and just cried and blubbered. The story just drug along and didn’t entertain enough to overlook the grammatical errors. I was glad to get to the end. Book 3 would take some consideration if I was to read.

4.0 out of 5 stars It was good
By Jeffrey Cochrane on August 24, 2018
Format: Kindle Edition Verified Purchase
I think I liked the first book better. This was good. The relationship between Nattie and Lupe grew. The premise was good. Don’t know why I didn’t enjoy this as much as the first. Strong suggestion is to read the books in order. This definitely builds on the previous one. Recommended.

4.0 out of 5 stars Keeps you captivated
By Ilia Davidovich on August 22, 2018
Format: Kindle Edition Verified Purchase
This is a sequel to the Stripper! and it further opens up Natalie McMasters world of danger, mystery, and unconventional lifestyle. Her actions in the first book come back at her as her enemies mount a revenge. The writing is superb, the plot is fast paced and never dull. A perfect novel to take with you on a long trip. Take it with you on a plane, just don’t start it if you plan to get some sleep.

4.0 out of 5 stars Good story
By Kalli on August 22, 2018
Format: Kindle Edition
The characters and plot were well written. It definitely falls on the dark side, which I love. It DOES have an overuse of certain words, but I can overlook that because of how well developed the story is.

5.0 out of 5 stars Revenge! A Great 2nd Novel in the Series
By TXB on August 21, 2018
Format: Kindle Edition Verified Purchase
I have read both novels by Thomas Burns in the Natalie McMasters Mystery series (Stripper! and Revenge!). And both books are so entertaining. Revenge! is a well written novel for the continuation of the series. I did a binge reading of the book because there was a good flow to the story and I was interested in the outcome. I find the characters believable and Natalie shines above all. Not your usual protagonist but Mr. Burns has made her to be a worthy and interesting detective. I look forward to more novels by this author. If you are a crime drama aficionado, then Revenge! is a good book for you.

5.0 out of 5 stars Something Different (For Me)
By Some Programmer on August 21, 2018
Format: Kindle Edition Verified Purchase
This book occupies a niche outside of my usual reading, and I probably wouldn’t have given it a second glance if I’d stumbled across it on Amazon. I only discovered it because the author and I attended the same beta reader group, and I’m glad I did. Revenge! turned out to be a very enjoyable read.

First off, the writing is great. Natalie McMasters, the protagonist, has a distinct voice and a complicated personality. Most of the supporting characters have some depth to them as well, and the setting (a fictionalized version of a certain Southern city) is vividly drawn. I thought the book nailed the plot and pacing as well. The story does a great job of sprinkling in little details that turn out to be important later, and the tension level increases with almost every page up to a downright thrilling climax.

No book is perfect, and I did find a few minor elements I was less enthusiastic about. I wished that Natalie’s girlfriend Lupe had been fleshed out as thoroughly as Natalie herself. Also, there’s some very graphic sex and violence throughout the book. Given the theme, it’s kind of unavoidable, but it’s something you should be aware of going in.

These quibbles took very little away from a great book, and I’m looking forward to the sequel. Speaking of sequels, it’s worth mentioning that while Revenge! is the second book in a series, it stands on its own very well. Even though it (minor spoiler) ends on a bit of a cliffhanger, it manages to tell a complete story while still fitting into a larger plot. I wish more authors could pull this off.

5.0 out of 5 stars Fast paced exciting page turner
By Peter J. Reilly on August 21, 2018
Format: Kindle Edition Verified Purchase
It was great to have Natalie McMasters back in my head. Burns has crafted one of the greatest opening paragraphs in detective fiction.
“When you kill someone, it changes you. Totally. My name is Natalie McMasters. I’m twenty, short and blonde (OK, it’s bleached) and I’m way cute. And I’ve killed three people.”
As Natalie is dealing with the psychological strain created by the events in Stripper!, the first book in the series, we learn enough to follow along without having read Stripper! (although you really should read it).
And by the end of the first chapter we are back to the races again as one or more somebodies is out to get Natalie again.
In the process we see matters develop in Natalie’s romantic and family life as the pretense with her uncle that her lover Lupe is just a roommate is uncovered and family trumps other concerns. The characters flesh out more, although I keep wanting to get more of Uncle Amos and also the setting is fleshed out more – a University city in the south.

We also get some backstory on Natalie her pre-Stripper walk on the wild side, which may now be coming back to haunt her. So character and setting are good, quite good, but it is the relentless plot that keeps the pages turning.

The biggest criticism I have is that a couple of the villains don’t quite hang together and their actions against Natalie are a little implausible. Behind the though is a villain of Moriarty quality lurking from Natalie’s past.

Although the book ties things up in a quite satisfactory manner, we are left with a new crisis that will keep us waiting for the next installment

5.0 out of 5 stars New Natalie McMasters Mystery
By Craig Chapman on August 21, 2018
Format: Kindle Edition Verified Purchase
Natalie McMasters, the heroine from Tom Burns’s novel Stripper, is back in another fast-moving mystery–Revenge. I really like this lead character. She’s a smart, sexy, hard-edged detective but the story reminds us that she’s also a naïve and vulnerable college-age girl. The plot is full of perplexity that kept me guessing about the source of the many troubles that threaten Nattie and the ones she loves. I found myself applauding her pluck and determination, while cringing at her tendency for putting herself in danger.
I appreciate authors who do their homework and Burns has certainly done his research. Besides the obvious background on police procedures, the story takes us into the ins and outs of CCTV signaling, trends in street narcotics, the arcane rules of federal deportation proceedings and the psychology of a young woman dealing with her history of violent confrontations and a same-sex relationship. These details helped make the story real and relevant.
Revenge gives us plenty to chew on while taking us through the heroine’s misadventures. Great reading for people who appreciate intelligent and exciting mysteries.

5.0 out of 5 stars Another great Natalie McMasters book
By Brian on August 21, 2018
Format: Kindle Edition Verified Purchase
Well written book. Great story. Well developed characters. This is a great read and you’ll find yourself rooting for Natalie throughout! I’m already curious to see what she’ll get into next!
4.0 out of 5 stars Fast paced, interesting characters, topical themes
By Skip Dyer on August 21, 2018
Format: Kindle Edition Verified Purchase
This story was well-written with a “keep turning the pages” pace. The plot is well-crafted, the characters interesting and well-developed. There was one minor character whose story didn’t seem to resolve by the end and I wanted the bad guys to get a more robust comeuppance. Those items aside, it was an entertaining read and kept my interest throughout. I’ll definitely continue with the series.