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Resolve
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In the Pittsburgh Marathon, 18,000 people from all over the world will participate. Over 9,500 will run the half marathon, 4,000 will run brief stretches as part of a relay. 4,500 people will attempt to cover the full 26.2 miles. Over 200 of the participants will quit, realizing it just wasn't their day. More than 100 will get injured and require medical treatment. And one
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It takes serious resolve to run a marathon, to solve a crime, or to kill someone, and the 26.2 miles of this Pittburgh race provide a perfect framework for the murder to come in J. J. Henlsey’s Resolve. But what drives a runner to push his body so far? And what makes a former police officer turned criminology professor turn so far from the rule of law?
The route twists and turns through wide streets of clean modernity down into poverty and shame. Meanwhile the plot twists through Dr. Cyprus Kelle ...more
Resolve has all of the elements that I love in a book. It is a mystery/thriller with an intelligent, often quite funny protagonist in a great setting, the Pittsburgh marathon.
As a runner, I love the detailed mile-by-mile account of the marathon. Each chapter is a mile of the marathon - what a creative way to organize a book. As a reader, the flashbacks and twists and turns of the book are outstanding. The author successfully combines the non-fiction aspects of running a marathon with a well-con ...more
As a runner, I love the detailed mile-by-mile account of the marathon. Each chapter is a mile of the marathon - what a creative way to organize a book. As a reader, the flashbacks and twists and turns of the book are outstanding. The author successfully combines the non-fiction aspects of running a marathon with a well-con ...more
Fabulous! A must read. Murder at the Pittsburgh marathon. I listened to the book three times and purchased it on audible. I love the storyline and the narrator does a beautiful job reading J.J. Hensley's words. I look forward to reading more of Hensley's books
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One of my Top Ten reads this year.
Marathon running meets fun twisty (if a little unrealistic) thriller. What's not to like?!
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I don't usually like murder mysteries, but this one was a quick read and involved lots of running, so it was ok.
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This book was amazing. Great story, twists and turns galore, written in a style that is unique and brilliant.
The story involves a professor who teaches at a Pittsburgh university, and ran the Pittsburgh 26.2 mile marathon. His tale is about the race and so much more. He is the narrator and says "8,000 people will enter this contest, half of them won't run the entire race, 200 runners will have some sort of injury and drop out, and one person is going to die... How do I know that one person is go ...more
The story involves a professor who teaches at a Pittsburgh university, and ran the Pittsburgh 26.2 mile marathon. His tale is about the race and so much more. He is the narrator and says "8,000 people will enter this contest, half of them won't run the entire race, 200 runners will have some sort of injury and drop out, and one person is going to die... How do I know that one person is go ...more
A professor of criminology at Three Rivers College, Dr. Cyprus Keller, is caught in a web of murder and intrigue when a student, with an apparent crush on the ol' professor, is found murdered shortly after being turned down by Dr. Keller. The next day his teaching assistant assaults him in the parking lot and soon Dr. Keller finds himself as the primary suspect of multiple crimes. The twists and turns of the story are doled out to the reader in a rather unique fashion. The story of Resolve is br
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I really, really liked this! I knew this was a first-time novelist so I wasn't sure what to expect, but the premise is fantastic. Each chapter is one mile of a marathon, and you know from the very beginning that someone will die during the race, because the main character is going to kill them.
I love that the beginning of each chapter described what the runner was seeing and feeling during the race, including the great descriptions of Pittsburgh (this is where the race takes place). It's obviou ...more
I love that the beginning of each chapter described what the runner was seeing and feeling during the race, including the great descriptions of Pittsburgh (this is where the race takes place). It's obviou ...more
I will state upfront that if all the posts people make about running on FB annoys you, then don't read this book! It is a suspenseful mystery with lots of great twists and turns but it is also full of great running references. In fact, a newbie could learn a thing or two about running while trying to figure out "who done it."
The main character is a former police officer who finds himself in the middle of a murder and an even greater mystery. Cleverly formatted, the book takes 26 point 2 chapter ...more
The main character is a former police officer who finds himself in the middle of a murder and an even greater mystery. Cleverly formatted, the book takes 26 point 2 chapter ...more
For a first time author this is a genuinely impressive novel. It not only has credible characters but a great sense of intelligence in the way the plot is put together. This is definitely an author to watch.
http://opionator.wordpress.com/2013/0... ...more
http://opionator.wordpress.com/2013/0... ...more
Won this one on First reads. I liked this one quite a bit. Story held me all the way through, and I liked how the narrative jumped back and forth between the race and the events leading up to it. Makes me want to get back in to running regularly.
running and higher education and murder all in the same book; what is there not to love?
I adore this book. I always enjoy a good crime thriller. Yet this murderous tale is interwoven and framed by another of my favorite interests--running. Instead of chapters, Resolve constructs its narrative through flashbacks along each mile of the race. I really enjoyed the construction of the story, but even beyond this innovation, the story itself is captivating. I liked the character of the narrator. I cared about him and what was happening to him, all of it drawing me in. Marathon pace is pe
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It will not seem like a grueling marathon to read this book. Instead it will be a sprint to the finish as you will want to find out how the race and the book ends! I'm not a huge fan of crime novels but this one made me a believer. Filled with interesting characters, twists and turns, and a compelling plot line- I enjoyed this read each step of the way. Now I am anxious to read more from this author.
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Just finished listening to this book on Audible. I would highly recommend it! It was a totally gripping and very smart thriller. It definitely motivated me to get out for my morning walk each morning, because I wanted to keep listening. I can't wait to read more by J. J. Hensley!
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This book held my interest from the first page and kept me guessing as to whom would be the victim. As a first offering, I think J.J. did excellent and recommend this book even to those who are not your typical crime mystery fan.
I liked this book a lot. The story was interesting, the characters were believable, and since I ran a marathon once (once only!) I could identify with the description of training and running the course.
Just like the book this one will keep you on yr toes You start reading it & you don't wanna put it down
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If you've run the half or full Pittsburgh marathon, you'll like it
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This is a high-paced thriller set in Pittsburgh. The back drop for the story is the Pittsburgh Marathon and the story races around the whole city. Resolve is a thrill ride from the beginning to the end.
A central theme here is jogging. No. Actually, it's marathon running. Right off you learn that cement is unforgiving as compared with blacktop or gravel. Here we have running university professors. Yep. Back in my college daze, these guys were barely walking, let alone running.
It doesn't take long before our M/C (Criminology Prof.) is over his head, in the soup (metaphorically speaking) and facing a real quandary over one murder after another. He tries his best to figure it all out, which was th ...more
It doesn't take long before our M/C (Criminology Prof.) is over his head, in the soup (metaphorically speaking) and facing a real quandary over one murder after another. He tries his best to figure it all out, which was th ...more
This is not your typical murder mystery. J.J. Hensley has crafted a novel that races ahead of the average. Not only is "Resolve" a quick and fun read, it is enthralling. I've run a couple marathons elsewhere, but a couple shorter races in Pittsburgh and the mystery-thriller is my genre, so this was right up my alley. I just wasn't expecting such a gem. I was very sorry the ride had to end after only 248 pages. If you like escape thrillers give this gripping story a go. All of J.J. Hensley's book
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The Permanent Press (March 15, 2013)
249 pp
"It wasn't always the loudest. It wasn't always the smartest. It wasn't always the meanest, the most popular, or the most daring. The last man standing was always the one who had the most belief. Right or wrong didn't matter."
Marathon's are killer to run in. For one runner in particular, this marathon will be...literally.
J.J. Hensley's first book Resolve was rightfully nominated for the Best First Book award at this years Thrillerfest that was held in Ne ...more
249 pp
"It wasn't always the loudest. It wasn't always the smartest. It wasn't always the meanest, the most popular, or the most daring. The last man standing was always the one who had the most belief. Right or wrong didn't matter."
Marathon's are killer to run in. For one runner in particular, this marathon will be...literally.
J.J. Hensley's first book Resolve was rightfully nominated for the Best First Book award at this years Thrillerfest that was held in Ne ...more
Back in 2014, J.J. Hensley joined the inaugural #30Authors event. He was, and is, quite a fan favorite and has joined in every year since. Even so, I hadn’t read any of his books until recently. This was mostly because I like him as a person and was afraid that, because he writes a genre I don’t read a lot of, I wouldn’t connect with the book. It’s a thriller that uses a marathon to propel the story forward and as someone who doesn’t love most thrillers or run (at all), I was nervous.
Turns out, ...more
Turns out, ...more
March 15th was the publication date for this debut novel and I just couldn't wait to review it. It's a different type of plot than I've ever read, set during the Pittsburgh Marathon with flashbacks to fill in the storyline.
Each chapter is a mile of the marathon. Protagonist Dr. Cyprus Keller is running the race. He explains that 18,000 people are participating. Some will drop out for various reasons, others are running relays or just a half-marathon, and one person won't finish the race because ...more
Each chapter is a mile of the marathon. Protagonist Dr. Cyprus Keller is running the race. He explains that 18,000 people are participating. Some will drop out for various reasons, others are running relays or just a half-marathon, and one person won't finish the race because ...more
As a runner and a lover of crime/mystery novels, I was looking forward to Resolve. I was not disappointed. It was a page turner right to the end.
We are always told to write what we know and that is exactly what Hensley does here, writes about running (amazingly well with some descriptions that can’t be faked) Pittsburgh, and law enforcement. All done beautifully and sewn together to create an irresistible page turner that will keep you entertained and intrigued until the very end.
Resolve is one seriously good debut. Seriously good!
Set during the course of the Pittsburgh marathon, the story evolves in real race time, switching between current and the story behind it, almost as though the lead character, Cyprus Keller, is churning the events over in his mind, going over them again, making sure he hasn't missed anything, justifying to himself what he is about to do, because he is about to commit murder.
Cyprus is a professor at Three River University and a former police offi ...more
Set during the course of the Pittsburgh marathon, the story evolves in real race time, switching between current and the story behind it, almost as though the lead character, Cyprus Keller, is churning the events over in his mind, going over them again, making sure he hasn't missed anything, justifying to himself what he is about to do, because he is about to commit murder.
Cyprus is a professor at Three River University and a former police offi ...more
First I only wanted to read this book because it's set in Pittsburgh, and I was pleasantly surprised. I fully went in thinking it would be just okay, or worse. I'm really picky about mystery novels, and don't read many mysteries for that reason, but the author made this interesting with his infusion of dry humor, writing style, and execution. I could tell I was going to like this before I was finished with the prologue. It continued stringing you along until the very last page. I would have read
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| topics | posts | views | last activity | |
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| Literary Lightening: A mystery that revolves around a marathon! | 8 | 6 | Mar 29, 2013 04:17PM |
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J.J. HENSLEY is a former police officer and former Special Agent with the U.S. Secret Service. Mr. Hensley is the author of the novels RESOLVE, MEASURE TWICE, CHALK'S OUTLINE, BOLT ACTION REMEDY, RECORD SCRATCH, FORGIVENESS DIES, and several shorter works. He is originally from Huntington, WV and currently resides near Savannah, GA.
RESOLVE was a Thriller Award finalist and was named one of the Bes ...more
RESOLVE was a Thriller Award finalist and was named one of the Bes ...more
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