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A Smudge of Gray

Jonathan Sturak (Goodreads Author)

3.35 · Rating details · 495 ratings · 95 reviews

Detective Brian Boise is about to embark on the biggest case of his career. After being thrust into law enforcement on the footsteps of his father, Detective Boise finds himself on the trail of a murder suspect he could never have imagined, the mysterious businessman, Trevor Malloy. Trevor is an irresistible hitman with everything going for him, while Detective Boise is a ...more

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Paperback, 194 pages

Published January 3rd 2012 by Pendan Publishing

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· 495 ratings · 95 reviews

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Feb 08, 2018 Selene rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: assassins-enforcers-mercs, crime-spree, you-can-keep-him, gritty, dark, first-reads, suspense, psychological-thriller, married-couples, adultery

Forty-three year-old businessman Trevor Malloy is an independent contractor. He’s CEO of his consulting firm and travels frequently, but he treasures his family and they are the apple of his eye.

Detective Brian Boise is under tremendous stress at work and rarely spends time with his family. A new homicide case is handed to him soon after he tells his wife and son that they should take a family vacation. They don’t end up taking that well needed break and the outcome of the homicide investigation ...more

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May 30, 2012 Misty Baker rated it it was ok

When I started KO a few years ago I knew no one in the book industry. Authors, publisher and agents were in an entirely different stratosphere than myself. They lived in solitary confinement in areas of the world I was not privy to. They held secret meetings and plotted characters demises behind closed doors.

I would like to chalk this up to being naive and not just plain moronic, but hell…that’s exactly what it was. Moronic.

Since then I have learned a new lesson. Authors, publishers, agents…etc. ...more

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Apr 03, 2012 Jason Pettus rated it liked it

Shelves: mystery-crime, contemporary, dark

(Reprinted from the Chicago Center for Literature and Photography [cclapcenter.com]. I am the original author of this review, as well as the owner of CCLaP; it is not being reprinted illegally.)

For those who don't know, whenever I finish reading a book I plan on reviewing, I actually wait two or three weeks before writing that review, because hindsight and contemplation almost always tends to bring out nuances in my write-up that wouldn't have otherwise existed; but every so often I'll sit down (Reprinted from the Chicago Center for Literature and Photography [cclapcenter.com]. I am the original author of this review, as well as the owner of CCLaP; it is not being reprinted illegally.)

For those who don't know, whenever I finish reading a book I plan on reviewing, I actually wait two or three weeks before writing that review, because hindsight and contemplation almost always tends to bring out nuances in my write-up that wouldn't have otherwise existed; but every so often I'll sit down to write that review and realize that I have completely forgotten everything about that book in just those two to three weeks, always a bad sign because it doesn't designate a bad book but merely a bland, generic one. And so it is with Jonathan Sturak's A Smudge of Gray, which I want to reiterate is not terrible at all, a competently written crime thriller about a cop and the criminal he's trying to catch, both of them genial middle-aged fathers whose lives sometimes accidentally intersect in interesting ways (both their sons are in the same basketball league, for example), even while both of them remain oblivious to the fact that the other is the subject of their antagonism. And that's what makes reviews like these so painful, because I hate having to pan novels that aren't actually that bad; but in a world that now sees the release of 50,000 new novels at Amazon every single year, it's becoming of greater and greater importance to an artist now to ask themselves not just whether their own book is well done, but whether it has even a chance of standing out amongst those other 49,999 books it's directly competing against in just that year alone. And the simple fact is that this one doesn't, no more than a random April 1993 episode of Law & Order does when compared to every other episode of Law & Order ever made; and that's a shame, because Sturak is a decent writer and I'd love to see him do something a lot more memorable than this. A middle-of-the-road score for a middle-of-the-road book, it comes with only a limited recommendation, to diehard crime fans who find themselves burning through a book a day and don't mind that many of them are only mediocre.

Out of 10: 7.5 ...more

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Feb 07, 2012 Jonathan Sturak added it · (Review from the author)

Shelves: books-by-jonathan-sturak

My new psychological thriller for 2012! Detective Brian Boise versus the mysterious hitman Trevor Malloy. Who will win?

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Jan 25, 2013 Martyn Halm rated it it was ok · review of another edition

Shelves: stopped-reading

I'm conflicted about writing a negative review of this book. I stopped reading, which is usually a 1-star (I didn't like it) review, but the merits of this book still pushed me towards a 2-star rating (It was OK).

The reason for my conflict is that I dislike the style of Sturak's writing, but I acknowledge that he has a way with words and that there are almost no mistakes in his prose.

Let me first state what I liked about the book:
The cover is brilliant, I think. Ominous and eye-popping despite ...more

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Apr 07, 2012 Roger DeBlanck rated it it was amazing

Shelves: fiction

Jonathan Sturak’s novel A Smudge of Gray does more than deliver page-turning suspense and a stunning revelation in its final pages. Imagine traits of Patrick Bateman in Ellis’s American Psycho merged with the psyche of Tyler Durden in Palahniuk’s Fight Club and then combine them with plot twists reminiscent in the better screenplays by M. Night Shyamalan, and you have an idea of how Sturak’s storytelling will play out. The influence of these writers and their works are evident in Sturak’s novel, ...more

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Mar 29, 2012 Renny rated it it was ok

I really wanted to like this book as the title and the short synopsis of the book (you can see it on Amazon) were intriguing and promised good read. Unfortunately my enthusiasm for the book started to crumble not long after I started reading the book. Don’t get me wrong, the story is very decent for a thriller but it isn’t one of those that will catch your imagination and keep you glued to the book throughout the night. And by saying that, I think I have exhausted all the remotely positive I really wanted to like this book as the title and the short synopsis of the book (you can see it on Amazon) were intriguing and promised good read. Unfortunately my enthusiasm for the book started to crumble not long after I started reading the book. Don’t get me wrong, the story is very decent for a thriller but it isn’t one of those that will catch your imagination and keep you glued to the book throughout the night. And by saying that, I think I have exhausted all the remotely positive remarks I have about the book.

Few pages in and I started to question whether this is really the final product or whether I am reading a first draft. For me, the characters felt flat and unlikeable and there are many actual errors! For example - on one page Trevor Malloy wears his coat open but right on the next one he unbuttons his coat to impress the first victim with his Burberry attire. There is also quite a few spelling mistakes which any decent proofreader could spot miles ahead (know x now) and the same characters are described and introduced over and over again. I also was under the impression that the author is mildly obsessed with some words like ‘dapper’ and ‘yuppie’. There is nothing wrong with these words and they can clearly describe certain trade of the character but to use them frequently in space of several pages is just excessive and irritating. Not to mention that they were always linked to the same characters. Why doesn’t the author use the characters’ names instead?! Author also has a certain way of using phrases and metaphors. They are just odd phrases that never properly sit within the situation or scenario. I even caught myself guessing what ridiculous blurb the character is going to say next to further trash any good parts that the book has left. One example for all of them - and don’t worry it is not what it seems! Don’t say I didn’t warn you!

‘He sat down as the woman dropped to the floor, opened the box, and caressed Trevor’s legs removing this oxblood boat shoes. Then, she guided his appendage into the hole. ‘

This passage describes Trevor testing new shoes in a shoe shop…

All in all, this book is in a desperate need of some TLC from a good editor and proofreader. Then it will have the potential to be developed into a decent and readable book.

(review copy) ...more

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Feb 04, 2012 Sarah rated it really liked it

Shelves: kindle, kbr

Shades of Gray follows a hitman who, on the surface appears as the perfect family man and the Detective, desperate to catch the hitman, so much so that it’s affecting his home and family life. Two contrasting characters described in exquisite detail with an intriguing connection.

This book starts brilliantly, and had me hooked by the end of chapter one – it is probably one of the best starts to a book I’ve read for a long time. The story begins with a charming man flirting with a woman, then ...more

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Jun 08, 2012 Shay Williams rated it it was ok

Shelves: ebook, thriller

Before I put my name in the hat for this book, I did read a few reviews to see if this was a book that I could do justice too. And most readers gave it high marks. I am only sorry that I don't agree fully with them.

This book is all about connections. The connections between the police detective and the killer and where the lives of their family intersect. I found this part of the story to very interesting. The strange ways that lives interweave even without our knowledge.

There were a few things ...more

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Mar 12, 2012 Diane rated it really liked it

Shelves: 2012-books

I received this book as a free copy in exchange for a review. The book is short-ish so was a quick read. The story was fast paced and the main characters were well drawn out. There's a twist that I didn't see coming but looking back, there are clues to it. I never seem to catch on!

The story is about a police detective tracking a serial killer/hit man who gets his targets via a phone call. Both men are married and have families. The police detective's family is suffering because he spends so ...more

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May 06, 2012 Liane Manso rated it did not like it

I won this book in a Goodreads giveaway and couldn't wait to read it. Unfortunately that feeling only lasted two pages. I tried on several occasions to get into this story but could not get past the overly exaggerated descriptions. There was an extreme amount of run-on sentences. And Sturak made the common mistake of telling instead of showing. Page after page of telling me what I should think, feel or get from a scene makes me feel as if the author believes I am too stupid to figure something ...more

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Feb 24, 2012 Benjamin rated it liked it

Brian Boise and Trevor Malloy are both family men. Both have lives that revolve around their wives and children. Their sons even play together on the same basketball team. But these men are very different as one is an assassin and the other is a detective. And of course the case of Trevor's murders falls on the desk of Brian to solve.

To a certain extent, I did enjoy this novel. However I did have to keep telling myself, "It's okay if there are inconsistencies in the story, it's a work of ...more

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Apr 23, 2019 Tony Parsons rated it it was amazing

Trevor Malloy (43, Malloy Consulting Service; president, Harvard, MBA) persuaded April to take the same commuter train.
His family is: Kevin Malloy (9, twin son/brother), & Katie Malloy (9, twin daughter/sister), & Laura Malloy (36, wife/mother).
News flash: guess who was on TV?
Happy Birthday to you…Detective Brian Boise.
Anne Marie Boise (39, wife) called him at work & told him about Jonathan Boise (9, son).
Trevor next contract is for April Benko. 12 8th St. # 4C.

Would Detective ...more

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Jul 04, 2018 Jennifer Greider rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Not what is expected

This was a very interesting read right from the beginning. I don't feel like it any point the book lost you. The ending was definitely something I did not see coming and I really enjoyed the plot twist

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Aug 04, 2017 Michelle rated it it was ok · review of another edition

Good book

You people should just read this book yourselves and write your own review on this novel yourself and I really enjoyed reading this book very much so. Shelley MA

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Jan 24, 2018 Denise Closser rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Was a fast read, not what you would of thought.

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Apr 22, 2012 Mirrani rated it really liked it

Shelves: finished-and-reviewed

A Smudge of Gray was as it sounds, a blending of two colors to make one whole... though I don't mean this in the typical way one would expect. I found my emotions toward the book blended from confusion over some of the character or plot points to absolute rapture with some of the descriptions.

The words flow easily in most areas, in some instances there are paragraphs of absolute beauty, where the flow and construction of each sentence really helps you to visualize what is happening and feel the A Smudge of Gray was as it sounds, a blending of two colors to make one whole... though I don't mean this in the typical way one would expect. I found my emotions toward the book blended from confusion over some of the character or plot points to absolute rapture with some of the descriptions.

The words flow easily in most areas, in some instances there are paragraphs of absolute beauty, where the flow and construction of each sentence really helps you to visualize what is happening and feel the emotion of the situation within yourself. There were a few clumsy times where this didn't happen, but overall, it was a very well described work.

What threw me were elements of the lives of the family members. For an example, I found myself often flustered that a 9 year old child would be clueless as to the actual types of people who are brought in to a police station, have no real concept of a criminal investigation or be unable to comprehend the title "murder suspect." His basketball team also seemed a little mature for the age of 9 as well, but I am not as much an expert on youth sports and I could be misjudging that. I also felt as if the the set up and portrayal of the two families involved in this novel were not quite settled in their presentation. I would have liked to have seen more of why each wife thought the way she did, beyond one wife being a devoted, stay at home mom and the other being a disgruntled, lonely woman who loses her husband to work all the time. There were hints of family order there that I felt got missed, was one wife being forced into her stay at home role... was an action happening because /she/ wanted the husband to be in charge or because /he/ wanted to be? There can be a big difference in there, especially when dealing with a murder mystery like this one.

At first you start this book and wonder where the mystery is because you meet both families, you see the cop and you see the murderer. There is no question as to who is guilty, but if you are picking it up thinking you will solve the case in the first few pages, this book is about to throw you for a loop. I was impressed with the continuity in the end, enough to look over the stumbles throughout and give this book a place of value within my library.

Note: Though this book was a free gift from the author, the content of my review was in no way influenced by the gifting. The book speaks for itself and my review would have been worded just this way even if I'd gone out and bought it. I also give bonus points for Text To Speech enabling on Kindle format.... but that also wasn't a factor in the above review. ...more

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May 28, 2012 Julie rated it liked it

Shelves: first-reads

*3.5 Stars*

A Smudge of Gray is a quick, interesting thriller. The story is told through third person perspective allowing the reader to see the plot unfold while flashing between two characters, Brian Boise and Trevor Malloy. Brian Boise is a man who decided to follow in his father’s footsteps ten years ago and is now a Detective. But being a detective has taken a toll on his personal life as he hardly sees his family anymore. After connecting a few murder victims he is investigating, the trail *3.5 Stars*

A Smudge of Gray is a quick, interesting thriller. The story is told through third person perspective allowing the reader to see the plot unfold while flashing between two characters, Brian Boise and Trevor Malloy. Brian Boise is a man who decided to follow in his father’s footsteps ten years ago and is now a Detective. But being a detective has taken a toll on his personal life as he hardly sees his family anymore. After connecting a few murder victims he is investigating, the trail leads him to a suspect known as Trevor Malloy. Trevor leads a similar life to Brian’s. The only difference is that Trevor has secrets. He is a hitman among other things and now the two men must face each other.

Jonathan Sturak has a way of describing and portraying things in his writing. I feel this is both the strength and the weakness of this novel. A Smudge of Gray is presented as a psychological thriller but I wonder if it would be better classified as literary fiction. Expecting something different automatically lowers your initial opinion. This is a good story for people who can appreciate deeper internal meanings instead of constant action. What I mean by this is if you are expecting an action packed story with a detective and hitman going at it, than this is not the story.

This story is full of metaphor and symbolism. An example of this is the reoccurring symbol of a man’s shoes as they travel throughout the story. The shoes seem to represent the man’s life as well as reflect inside his mind. The symbolism is this story was great and will have you thinking outside of the box to connect the dots.

I do not know if it is because of the type of books I read but I had the story figured out pretty early on. However, I do not think everyone will and the ending will be a treat for those who do not see it coming. I would like to say more about the characters, story and climax but I do not want to give anything away.

Overall, I think the author has great potential and the only real weakness of this novel is that it is labeled wrong or fits half in half out of two different genres.

Recommend to fans of Literary Fiction and Thrillers.

*Although I won a free copy of this book through a Goodreads first reads giveaway, my review is not altered. This is my honest opinion.
...more

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Mar 07, 2012 Carol rated it it was amazing

A Smudge of Gray follows 2 similar yet very different men. Trevor Malloy is a fastidious dresser, great husband and father, excellent provider, but travels quite a bit so isn't home as much as he would like. Did I mention that he kills people? He does have a tastefully decorated office with a secretary to keep up appearances. Detective Brian Boise, up for a promotion to Lt, works day and night and wants to be a better husband and father but never seems to find the time. Brian is determined to ...more

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Apr 22, 2012 TJ rated it liked it

"A Smudge of Gray" is a solid psychological thriller from Jonathan Sturak that features crisp writing and well-developed characters. Sturak creates a plot that spotlights two vastly different family men; one, a severely-stressed detective who feels he's losing touch with his family because of his commitment to his job, and the other, a charming, nattily-dressed businessman with a perfect wife and kids - who just happens to be a contract killer.

Sturak does a wonderful job changing perspective ...more

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Dec 18, 2015 Joan rated it it was ok · review of another edition

Shelves: abandoned

This author has the strangest writing style I've read in a very long time. He writes in structurally-correct form but with very odd word choices. I wondered if English were the author's second or third language - many word choices were just not those that would be made by a person comfortable with the English language.
Examples:
The word "smirked" is repeatedly used when "smiled" or grinned" would have been much more accurate (smirk implies disdain.)
Characters (sometimes even objects) "slinked" ...more

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Feb 14, 2012 Grady rated it it was amazing

Jonathan Sturak Can Spin A Web

Having had the privilege of reading CLOUDED RAINBOW, the first book by Jonathan Sturak and sensing the powerful promise in his writing, reading this immaculately conceived and executed thriller came with a sense of reassurance that promises made in early works DO often result in progressive success. Sturak has a knack for painting characters so clearly, with such attention to detail, that while on first reading the reader may wonder why he is dissecting these ...more

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Feb 14, 2017 Lauren Vogt rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Decent writing. Page Turner. Twist ending somewhat implausible.

Decent almost poetic writing. Page Turner which kept my attention almost throughout. Twist ending somewhat implausible. May read author again.

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Jul 04, 2012 Kristina rated it liked it

I won a copy of this book in a Goodreads giveaway and while not oligated to comment, I did feel compelled to opine about this book. I apologize in advance for any typos or mis-spellings

While I do enjoy a good crime story, this was just a bit of a twist that I am not sure I was comfortable with. I found that while the premise was good, the book was, for lack of a better description, verbose and a bit convoluted like a jigsaw puzzle missing a couple of pieces, not enough to make the picture ...more

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Mar 10, 2012 Christina (Ensconced in Lit) rated it really liked it

I won this book from librarything in exchange for an honest review.

This book stars two main characters, Trevor Malloy and Brian Boise, that we see in opposing chapters. Trevor Malloy is the more fascinating of the two-- here we get a picture of the ideal husband and father, who also is a cold-blooded killer. Brian, on the other hand, is an overworked policeman, who is endlessly nagged by his wife that he doesn't spend enough time with her and their son. The book chronicles both of their lives, ...more

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May 10, 2012 Angie ~aka Reading Machine~ rated it really liked it

Shelves: first-reads-review-books

Trevor Malloy is a family and business man who is not what he appears to be. Trevor is a hitman and he's very good at his job. Detective Brian Boise is a homicide cop wanting to be home with his family. His wife Anne Marie is disappointed in him but can't admit it to him. A new case has Brian working more hours than ever before. Three lawyers have been murdered with seemingly no connection to one another. Detective Boise is up for a promotion if he makes good effort on this case. He wants to be ...more

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Nov 27, 2012 Quentin Stewart rated it it was amazing

A police detective is handed a case that very little evidence is available for finding a suspect. The reader follows the suspect and how he carries out the murders without leaving a trace of himself behind and the detective who becomes obsessed with tracking down this killer. Both are family men with the suspect's family being a happier unit even though he is away a lot while the detective's family life appears to be rocky because of the hours he spends trying to track down the killer.

A little ...more

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Jun 13, 2012 Rhonda rated it liked it

A Smudge of Gray by Jonathan Sturak review
3 STARS i am so tired of foul language. I remember the saying that swearwords show a lack of creative words or something like that. So thats why I only give 3 stars. Sorry the more books I read with so much strong language the more intollerance I have. Detective Brian Boise is handed a new case of a serial killer. Brian is up for a promotion. Brian family is getting tired of his always at work and never takes the time off. He promises to go to his sons ...more

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Mar 09, 2013 Patricia Scholes rated it really liked it

Detective Brian Boise is very good at his job. He has an astounding eye for detail, such as the smudge of gray found at the crime scene. At the next one he also found the same smudge of gray. And he knew they had a serial killer.

But Brian’s wife is not as impressed with his accomplishments as his department. He spends long hours on his job, rarely coming home, missing out on the family he loves and supports with his job. But there seems to be no cure for it. He comes home late, after a long ...more

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Mar 05, 2012 Shell rated it really liked it

It starts with the cover of the book. I couldn't stop touching it. It was soft and smooth and almost supple. I realized soon after I began reading that I was feeling Trevor's leather shoes. At least, I like to think so.
I was offered this book as a free copy from the author himself. I had read his previous work, Clouded Rainbow, and found myself almost mesmerized by the world he brought to life. A Smudge of Gray didn't disappoint.
He writes in such a way that inanimate objects, like buildings and ...more

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About Jonathan Sturak

Jonathan Sturak

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Jonathan Sturak grew up in the Pocono Mountains of Pennsylvania. He is a Penn State University graduate and holds degrees in Computer Science and Film. He currently lives in Las Vegas where he uses the energy of the city to craft stories about life and the human condition. "The Place Called Home," Sturak's essay about Eastern European heritage in Northeast Pennsylvania, was featured on Glass ...more