Unsettle the Score

by Jeffrey L. Hollman

UNSETTLE THE SCORE tracks what happens to Maureen Jasper after husband Tom, the Kiwanis Club Man of the Year, hits and kills a beautiful naked girl running drunk on their street at night. For Maureen, an educator herself, the incident marks the start of her own re-education, a new set of lessons where she will learn that her husband is a criminal, that the police and FBI are not only useless but dangerous, and that to save her own daughter, she has to take criminal action herself against the dead girl’s father, a little old man she has seen walking dogs around the neighborhood. Problem is, he’s a major crime lord. At first, Maureen sees the accident as a tragedy she will have to help Tom overcome emotionally, but the girl’s father, Dmitri Mason, a violent criminal who takes pleasure in slaughtering animals as well as people, begins to pull the Jaspers into a long and elaborate drama of revenge culminating in the kidnapping of their daughter, a college freshman. Suave, smooth, the ultimate puppet master, Dmitri Mason recruits a brilliant serial killer, a North Korean agent, and a corrupt cop to bring about a string of final violent acts to settle scores against his enemies prior to his retirement from a life in crime. That retirement is forestalled, however, because he never reckoned that a quiet second grade teacher could be as violent, as determined, and as harsh in action as himself. After her daughter is made a sex slave, Maureen takes action to “unsettle the score” and revenge herself on the man who has wreaked such damage on her family. “It’s clear from the start that Dmitri is…an indelible villain.” –Kirkus Reviews “An ambitious thriller, successful in nearly every respect.” –Kirkus Reviews

352 pages, Paperback

First published April 27, 2014

About the author

Following thirty five years in education (English teacher, high school principal, assistant superintendent), Jeff began writing full time, for the most part plays. His first play, a full length one-act, REAL DANGER, ran for a one month run in 2006 as an Equity Showcase in NYC. BIRD WATCHING was runner up out of 38 entries in the Strawberry One-Act Festival in 2009 and was subsequently published in THE BEST PLAYS FROM THE STRAWBERRY ONE-ACT FESTIVAL, Volume Seven. OWA-TODO-PIAM was produced in the 2011 Philadelphia Fringe Festival.

His novel, UNSETTLE THE SCORE, has been called “...an ambitious thriller..." by Kirkus Reviews.

A sculptor for forty years, Jeff has exhibited sculptures in numerous galleries and shows on Long Island and in Brooklyn, and his works are in several private collections. In Summer 2014 fifteen of his wind sculptures are on display at Stone Quarry Hill Art Park in Cazenovia, NY.

Reviews

[Jola · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review also on www.jolasbookshelf.wordpress.com

"Unsettle the Score' keeps the reader invested in the story from the very beginning. It's a really good psychological thriller, with interesting plot and well written characters. It's that kind of book that you just can't put away once you start it. I recommend it to every thriller loving reader.

Thanks to Jeffrey Hollman for sending me an ebook in exchange for an honest review.

[Dennis Cardiff · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic read. I had trouble putting this book down. After I started reading I couldn't wait to find out what was going to happen next.

The plot involves the accidental death of the daughter of a crime boss and what he does to take revenge. Hollman is a master story teller. I was reminded of Robert Chandler and Dashiel Hammett, two of my favorite authors.The plot moves swiftly and in a logical organized manner. Dialog was authentic and there is great character development. The writing is flawless and draws no attention to itself. If I could give it more than five stars I would.

[Cheryl Reich · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great summer read - fast moving and action packed. Likeable, plucky Maureen has the right instincts all along about her neighbor Dmitri. Enjoyed the differences between the two houses, the alienation within her marriage, and the thread of investigation twisting throughout.

[Staci Suhy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book for free as part of a first reads promotion

[Carrie Kilgore · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a somewhat complicated thriller, with a crime lord (who has a serial killer on staff) visiting vengeance upon a family for the accidental killing of his daughter. Lots of twists and turns along the way. Many readers will find the huge cast of characters a bit of a challenge, trying to keep straight who is who and doing what. The ending is okay, but I didn't find it entirely believable. Still, the writing is competent and most readers will find it easy to sympathize with the mother.

[Rebecca McCarver · Rating 5 out of 5]

Don't mess with a mama!

Never come between a mama bear and her cub. I love the heroine and the plot twists! Excellent read! Excellent.