Odd Jobs

Synopses & Reviews

Publisher Comments:

What Our Readers Are Saying

Add a comment for a chance to win!

Average customer rating based on 2 comments:

Dollycas, September 8, 2011 (view all comments by Dollycas)
Kevin Davenport has worked a variety of Odd Jobs throughout his life to put himself through college. His dad and little sister were killed by a hit and run driver when he was just ten years old. His mother was never the same and Kevin became the man of the house. After he finished middle school he won a scholarship to a private high school and became friends with a very important young man. This relationship changed his life forever. Or did it really change the day his dad and little sister died?

His "odd job" during a summer break from college was working for his high school friend's dad. While there Kevin discovers some shocking news. His father's death was not an accident, it was a hit! His sister was collateral damage. Kevin is out for revenge and is going to do everything in his power to bring down his father's killer or die trying.



My Thoughts
The front of the book has praise from James Patterson. The back has praise from Donald Trump. Odd Jobs has a gritty intense plot and I did enjoy it but parts were a little unbelievable. It was a good escape for a few hours.

The plot started well, it was just hard to believe what this college student was able to pull off. Kevin was the type of underdog character you wanted to root for. The detail and descriptive writing was really good. There are some gory parts as with most books of this genre.

This is a debut novel and as with most first time authors the writing had a few peaks and valleys, but in the end it all came together. I think as the author hones his writing skills he will be very successful. This is a very good first effort. I will be watching for more stories from this author.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from The Cadence Group. 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.”

Was this comment helpful? | Yes | No

report this comment

Grady Harp, August 27, 2011 (view all comments by Grady Harp)
Pow! Up Pops Ben Lieberman!

Read even the first few pages of this debut novel by New York writer Ben Lieberman and then try to believe that this is his first novel! ODD JOBS is a quirky, entertaining, at times edge of the seat novel that is most impressive in the quality of writing that Lieberman demonstrates. He is always in the moment of the story, has created enough of a history for each of his carefully drawn characters that benefit the credibility of each of them when the asides happen, and most of all he understands architecture of knowing when to begin and end chapters that makes them like the connected cars on a moving train, a train so fast moving that the reader dares not jump off for relief. Yes, he really is that fine a writer.

The story involves a college kid, Kevin Davenport, who despite his attraction to drinking it up with the guys, is dedicated to paying his way through college: his father and sister were the victims of a hit and run accident, his mother is so depressed she cannot assist him, so Kevin must go on his own. He lands in a good paying job - hauling beef carcasses and other odious jobs at the Kosher World Meat factory - but has to prove himself (and opt for more income) by becoming the fighter for the factory. Once accepted by the workers and by the manager of the factory, Kevin climbs his way into the machinations of the truly illegal situation that entails not only the men of the Kosher World Meat Factory but the sidelines of crime involving men who he discovers are privy to the details of the accident of his father and sister. And from that point on he endures life threatening situations, uses his brain, and is driven by revenge on the order of a comic book hero.

Though stories of his type flood the screens of the movie theaters and the pulp fiction books one the stands at airports, few can compare tot he way Lieberman uses this action plot as a launching pad for his debut of his writing skills. Actually, Lieberman is better than this story: it feels as though he needed an entry into a well-loved terror drama format to get his feet wet. Unfortunately, the title ODD JOBS is followed by the designator 'A Kevin Davenport Novel' - and that usually means that the focus of his creativity will be devoted to 'the further adventures of' type books. And unfortunately he elected to have applauding quotes from James Patterson and Donald Trump on the cover of this edition. In reality, Ben Lieberman doesn't need gimmicks to launch his career - he is simply a very fine writer who doesn't need popular crutches to assist his potential as one of the rising American talents in literature. But all of this may have been publisher/editorial advice to sell this first book, and maybe they are right: endorsements and popular story tastes do a novel sell. But this reader would rate the story 4 and the skills of Ben Lieberman 5, and hope that he will branch out and rise to his potential. In that way Ben Lieberman (AKA Kevin Davenport) could make the best of the gifts given him.

Grady Harp

Was this comment helpful? | Yes | No

report this comment

View all 2 comments

Product Details

ISBN:

9781935670629

Author:

Lieberman, Ben

Publisher:

Telemachus Press, LLC

Subject:

Popular Fiction-Suspense

Publication Date:

20110531

Binding:

TRADE PAPER

Language:

English