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Jake Scott Mystery Receives Great New Review

From The Online Book Club

Review of The Guardians of Truth

Post by Hubre De Klerk » 22 Feb 2023, 03:40

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of “The Guardians of Truth” by Barry Finlay.]

Book Cover


5 out of 5 stars



A secret organization, a missing person, a body, a police investigation, and a retired reporter—if these words don’t get you excited, I don’t know what will. This book is full of suspense, action, and a bit of romance. When Cassie tells her daughter that she must stop someone from hurting other people and then doesn’t return home, a missing person’s file is immediately opened for her. Jake is a retired reporter and a “family friend” of Cassie’s daughter through his relationship with her friend’s mom, Dani. Jake knows that the police are busy with their investigation, but he also knows that they are short-staffed. He decides to dust off his retired gloves and conduct his own investigation in order to assist. He had no idea how far he’d get himself involved or what danger awaited him.

This was such a fun book to read, and it was full of descriptions and easy-to-follow protocols. I enjoyed being part of the investigations and seeing how they unearthed new evidence. I couldn’t help but put myself in Haley’s teenage shoes and imagine the worry she had to go through when her mom didn’t come home. It was also easy to grasp Dani’s frustration when the clues to help them figure out what happened were so few and it felt like the case was at a standstill. Jake was my favorite character by far, with his empathy for others, his being a true friend, and his tenacity to help. He made me think of a bull terrier that just won’t let go after he has locked his jaw.

I enjoyed everything about this book. This book has been excellently edited, as I only found two minor errors throughout the whole book. There was nothing I disliked or would have changed. The book was fast-paced and didn’t have any slow-moving parts. I had my ideas about who the culprit was, but I was still surprised at the end of the book. I was entertained and hooked from the start of the book until the end.

I would rate The Guardians of Truth by Barry Finlay a perfect 5 out of 5 stars. There is absolutely no reason to give this book anything but a perfect score. This book also showed me how important the people in your life are and the importance of being there for each other. I know I have felt shallow when someone is going through a traumatic and emotional time, and the only words I had to offer were that it will get better and that I am here for you. This book showed me both sides, and that the person receiving those words may appreciate them a lot more than you can even imagine. Families and friends are important, and they are what keep you sane when things get tough.

I would recommend this book to people who enjoy crime, action, and mystery books. This is a fun afternoon read that immerses you completely. You feel like you are part of the investigation, and you feel all of the emotions running rampant in this book. I really enjoyed it and would love to read more of this author’s books.

Looking For Input

About two years after climbing Mount Kilimanjaro with our son, Chris, I came up with the motto that every mountain top is within reach if you just keep climbing. To my surprise, since then this simple motto has gained a lot of traction and has been quoted over 600 times on social media. It has been used on mugs, t-shirts, and posters. Part of it has been tattooed on a wrist and it will be feature on the wall of the Mountaintop Café and Coffee Shop in Kokomo, Indiana.

Many have encouraged me to write a book around the motto, but I’ve resisted until now. However, with it’s popularity and the experiences I’ve had, I feel that now is the time. But I need help to do it.

I want to include inspirational stories from a range of people, including some who have successfully chased a dream or are in the process of doing so, and those who have overcome difficult circumstances by putting one foot in front of the other.

If you have an inspirational story or know someone who does, please contact me at info@barryfinlay.com. I can’t promised I will use every story, but I will use some.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Win a digital copy of Searching For Truth

Cover Reveal and Other Exciting Announcements

Finally, I can reveal the cover of my new Jake Scott mystery, The Guardians of Truth. And here it is.

“Perfectly executed, well written, thoroughly and utterly enjoyable; I really do hope Jake doesn’t stop scratching that journalistic itch, because I’d love to spend another few hundred pages in his company.” – Cath ‘N’ Kindle Book Reviews

The official release will take place at Chapters Indigo in Nepean, Ontario, Canada on November 13. I’ll be there signing The Guardians of Truth from 1-4.

“Readers who look for engrossing mysteries that are rich in a sense of place and divided purposes will relish the solid pairing of action, tension, and disparate characters which make this mystery especially intriguing and compelling.” – D. Donovan, Senior Reviewer, Midwest Book Reviews

Preorders of the e-book for Kindle are available now from Amazon in your country.

New Book Update

The Guardians of Truth is moving along towards a November release date. Formatting is underway and the cover is being finalized. Speaking of the cover, it will be revealed to the world on October 15, so stay tuned for that. In the meantime, here’s a hint at what the upcoming season may look like. Oh, and the cover is on the phone.

My thoughts on the Queen

Reflecting on the passing of the Queen a day after the news broke, it feels like we have lost a leader at a time when the world needs one the most. She just seemed to be a source of comfort, always able to say the right thing and with the rare ability to unite, rather than divide, people. It felt like she would always be there, but of course, she couldn’t be. I think many people thought she was just like their mom, or vice versa. I did. King Charles has some big shoes to fill.

New Book Update

Another Jake Scott mystery is on the way, called The Guardians of Truth. I have tweaked and tweaked and tweaked some more. The manuscript is off to the copy editor. Now, I wait.

Also, I recently received four versions of the cover for The Guardians of Truth. It’s definitely getting real now.

Look for a November release.

eGift Cards Now Available

Want to buy one of my books for a friend or loved one for Christmas but don’t know which one to purchase? Fiction or non fiction? The Marcie Kane Thriller Collection or the Jake Scott Mystery Series? Book One or Book Two?

You can now buy eGift cards through my store. As a special incentive, receive 10% off your purchase until November 30, 2021.

How it Works:

You simply buy the gift card and when the recipient is ready to purchase, they just need to send the following information to info@barry-finlay.com

– name of the book(s) they wish to purchase;

– eCard redemption number; and,

– mailing information

The value of the gift card will be deducted from the cost of the book, plus shipping. That’s it.

Try this new feature today!

Order | Barry Finlay eGift Cards (squareup.com)