Random Road

Geneva (Genie) Chase a news reporter for a local paper is waiting outside a Long Island mansion looking for a news story she heard on the police radio about several bodies being discovered at this address. Genie is the only reporter to show up so far so she wants to have the lead scoop on this tragedy. She learns six nude unidentified bodies have been found mangled and mutilated with no suspects at the moment. Genie knows a story like this could uplift her career again if she would just get a handle on her drinking since she has been fired from every newspaper she has worked for because of her excessive drinking over the years and this was the only paper left that gave her another chance and she is still skating on thin ice with them as well. Genie's personal life is also a mess, she was arrested for public drunkenness and must stop drinking for six months and attend AA along with a fine but Genie continues to drink in private not accepting the fact that she truly is an alcoholic who needs help but Genie enjoys her personal poisons and feels alcohol helps her think more clearly when she is feeling that warm buzz. Nothing could have prepared her for the twisted roads that these murders would take her on and that alcohol may not be the only evil that could end her life.<br /><br />This book was quite a pleasant surprise for me. I wasn't prepared to enjoy it so much and I just fell in love with the storytelling. Wow, this man Kevin Kies can write! I was captivated by all the characters and their roles within the story. Genie was such a complex character and so likeable even though she continuously made poor decisions in her personal life and has a trail of broken relationships behind her. She drinks to feel better which of course she feels worse when her high wears off but she is a really good person who hides inside those bottles of poison. This story had a little bit of everything, horrific murders, adultery, revenge, money, politics, romance and of course alcoholism. I laughed and I cried and had moments of holding my breath and then saying "Oh No"! This author's writing was so good that I could really feel what Genie was experiencing and that is a rare thing for me. I can't wait to read more books by this author and am very glad he is writing a series revolving around Genie Chase.<br /><br />I want to thank the publisher " Poisoned Pen Press" and Netgalley for granting my wish request and any thoughts and opinions expressed are unbiased and mine alone!<br /><br />I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to read a fantastic story with stellar writing and have given a rating of 4 1/2 Captivating ????✴ Stars!!

3+ Well-Written but Light on the Crime Stars ⭐️ <br /><br />Geneva “Genie” Chase, a crime reporter, is an appealing heroine and it is easy to see how Random Road could become Book 1 of a successful series. The blurb says the book is about the investigation of a string of serial murders. And it is, somewhat, but really more than that, this is a character study of Genie. She is witty, tough-talking, a recovering alcoholic, involved in a romance, and then also investigating and writing about the serial killer.<br /><br />I liked reading about Genie, as Kies is a great writer with obvious affection for his well-drawn protagonist. But I was disappointed in the sense that this is really only partially a crime story and more of a dramatic/romantic character study. When more focus is finally placed on the crime at the end, I liked it more (and it has a great ending!).<br /><br />Fans of strong female protagonists and well-written dramas will like this. It just wasn’t the hard boiled crime novel all the way through that I was expecting.<br /><br />3+ stars as a “not for me, but maybe for you” read by a talented writer.<br /><br />Thanks to NetGalley, Poisoned Pen, and the author for the ARC.

Random Road is the first book in the Geneva Chase Crime Reporter Mystery series. It first hit shelves in 2017 and was recently republished.<br /><br />Our main character, Geneva "Genie" Chase is a veteran reporter for the local newspaper. The story focuses on the brutal murder of three married couples who have been hacked to pieces in a Queen Anne mansion on the coast of Long Island Sound. <br /><br />Wow... was Genie ever a disaster. She was so deeply flawed and made such garbage decisions, but that's the sad reality of alcoholism. Her life was messy yet she still managed to do her job, surprisingly well. Her relationships with men, not so much. Three divorces deep and in a toxic relationship with a married man. Like I said, messy. <br /><br />Overall I enjoyed this book. I liked the fact the main character was a female reporter. The storyline has so much potential going into book two. I hope there's more focus on the crime and less about the drinking. I'm rooting for Genie in her sobriety.<br /><br />Thanks so much to Poisoned Pen Press and Sourcebooks for my gifted copy!

Random Road is a good solid debut novel. The main character is a female crime reporter who is a brilliant writer, but her constant battle with alcoholism stops her getting and holding on to the job she is more than capable of (in theory) In addition to the alcohol problem she has three marriages, behind her and is currently in love with a married man. <br />Despite all this she is a very likeable character, especially when she's making stupid, drink induced decisions - it makes her human and easy to identify with. She is definitely a tough fighter.<br /><br />The actual crime itself is the horrific murder of six people, who are found naked and hacked to death in a very rich and upscale community called Connor’s Landing. There are various other elements and social comments, discussed within the story, which moves along at a decent pace. <br />Overall this is a great debut novel well written with great development. I have already read the third book in the series and absolutely loved it. Hopefully read the second soon and many more.<br />

I would like to thank Netgalley and Poisoned Pen Press for an advance copy of Random Road, a debut novel introducing reporter Geneva "Genie" Chase.<br /><br />Genie has a drink problem and it has made her almost unemployable so her job at the local paper in her home town of Sheffield, Connecticut is the last chance saloon. She is still a good reporter so she is all over the story when 3 40-something couples are found naked and hacked to death in a mansion in a gated community.<br /><br />There is a crime and it does get solved but the main thrust of the novel is Genie's life and the mess she is able to make of it. In this case it isn't the bad news it could be. It is told in the first person and Genie's personality comes shining through. She is self aware and basically optimistic about life so she rattles through adversity, vodka-tonic and guilt in hand, grits her teeth and gets on with it. She is very likeable, especially when she's making stupid, drink induced decisions - it makes her human and easy to identify with.<br /><br />I found some of it too schmalzy for my taste, in the vein of everything happens for a reason which you can learn from and live a better, more fulfilling life. It's trite and fallacious.<br /><br />Random Road is a solid read and the force of Genie's character will hold your attention.

Read my full review and join in on the spoiler discussion here: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow" href="https://www.howdidthatbookend.com/random-road-thomas-kies/">https://www.howdidthatbookend.com/ran...</a><br /><br />In this debut novel, we meet Genie Chase--a crime reporter with a serious drinking problem. Despite her vices, she’s great at her job, and is covering a case where six naked adults were murdered in a home.<br /><br />The case was interesting, and I enjoyed the social commentary that came with the topic of the murder case (being intentionally vague to avoid spoilers). However, the case kind of took a backseat to learning about Geneva’s life and her baggage. This was a good set up novel for what I expect to be a very interesting series. Normally crime books like this are more plot-driven, but this one had a lot of character development.<br /><br />I really liked the crime reporter point of view. I’m not sure I’ve read many books from the POV of the reporter--the protagonist is usually the detective or the PI. So I found this to be a refreshing new angle.<br /><br />My biggest issue with the book was that I found Geneva’s relationship to be a little unbelievable. I’ll drop a hidden spoiler review on the blog, but the pacing just felt off to me!<br /><br />Overall, there was a lot of background to get through in this book, but it was laid out in a very compelling way. I’m interested to see where Geneva goes next!

Geneva Chase is a crime reporter and a good one. But to say she is flawed and damaged is an understatement. She has a problem with alcohol and a problem with men – three marriages and currently in love with a married man. She is barely holding on to the only job she could land with a small time paper in CT when a horrific crime occurs. Six people are found naked and hacked to death in a very rich and upscale community called Connor’s Landing. While the murders and the other crimes that are occurring in the town are a major part of the story, Genie herself is the other part. She is tough and gutsy and in spite of all she has been through in life she is optimistic and barrels through adversity like it doesn’t exist. She tends to see the world through ‘vodka’ colored glasses but in spite of that she is also a surprisingly likeable character and I can’t wait to see more of her.

Geneva "Genie" Chase is a reporter fallen in disgrace because of her drinking problem. She's back at the local paper in Sheffield, the town where she grew up, hoping for a story that will bring her back to the big leagues. And that story may be the murder of six people at a gated community, all naked and hacked to pieces. We don't get to see much of the murders investigation, being Genie's life the main focus: her alcoholism (every time she says she wants a drink I wanted to shout :P), her problems at the paper because of this, and her love life. In spite of all hew flaws, Genie is a likable character and at the end of the story she redeems herself. I found the resolution of the murders a bit dissapointing. All in all I can't wait to see Genie again.<br /><br />Thanks to Netgalley and Poisoned Pen Press for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

To give it its due, overall I found Random Road to be a page turner, but wow, was Geneva Chase's personal drama ever tiresome. I'm sure Kies was just trying to drive home the extent of her alcoholism but there was SO much drinking in this book. I'm sure that would have been fine were Chase not also somehow effortlessly seducing almost every man she came in contact with. However, the most unforgivable sin of all was the trite message of the book that "everything happens for a reason" and borderline absurd happy ending. Um, what? To be dragged through so much bleakness in the gruesome murder mystery and personal travails of Geneva Chase only for that to be the big payoff? Ack.

<strong>A wild ride</strong><br /><br />Loved, loved, loved this book. Finished it in one sitting. A great debut novel. Kept me on the edge of my seat wanting to know what would happen next. I can’t wit to read more from the author. For a male writer he sure captured the essence of his female main character. Written with a deft hand and reminiscent of some of the best books by Lee Child, Brad Taylor, Brad Parks and many more, I just couldn’t put it down.