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R.A.C.E.
"Move over Inspector Clouseau, the world of crime fighting has another hilarious and bumbling yet serendipitously brilliant character." (Robert Gerard).
He is a cop who is bold, funny, and ambitious.
He's also has no idea what he's doing .
RACE is a dangerous and violent group on the verge of creating an illegal drug.
Parking Officer Jon Rupre t wants desperately to move up from handing out parking tickets. An impulsive act from his past throws him into Operation Anti-RACE--a unit set up to stop RACE. He is partnered with veteran detective, Phillip Beadswort h, who doesn't much like Rupret and knows more than he reveals.
Can Rupret stop RACE before they release their deadly drug? Is Rupret in way over his head?
THE BLUE HORNET is a compelling mystery and a humorous look at Toronto through Jon Rupret's eyes.
He is a cop who is bold, funny, and ambitious.
He's also has no idea what he's doing .
RACE is a dangerous and violent group on the verge of creating an illegal drug.
Parking Officer Jon Rupre t wants desperately to move up from handing out parking tickets. An impulsive act from his past throws him into Operation Anti-RACE--a unit set up to stop RACE. He is partnered with veteran detective, Phillip Beadswort h, who doesn't much like Rupret and knows more than he reveals.
Can Rupret stop RACE before they release their deadly drug? Is Rupret in way over his head?
THE BLUE HORNET is a compelling mystery and a humorous look at Toronto through Jon Rupret's eyes.
184 pages, Perfect Paperback
First published October 31, 2006
About the author
Mobashar Qureshi
35 books19 followersMOBASHAR QURESHI was named one of the ten rising mystery writers to watch by Quill & Quire Magazine. He is the author of THE BLUE HORNET, THE OCTOBER FIVE, THE PAPERBOYS CLUB, along with several other novels. He is married and lives in Toronto, Canada.
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
May 5, 2021
A Ride With A Parking Enforcement Officer Destined For More!
Jon Rupert is a Parking Officer, a little scattered and immature, but does his job with pride and happiness...Yet he believes he really deserves to be doing more, then he is chosen to work with the Drug Unit...And realizes that maybe he was perfect where he was! A mystery with humor, family and that feeling when you may have exaggerated your past...And now it is definitely going to bite you!!
There are some funny moments, characters from all walks of life, and a quick paced story that will keep you interested from start to finish! It is fun to watch this young man in a situation way over his head, and nice to see how he handles it!
I received an ARC from the author and offer you my honest thoughts and feelings in this review.
Jon Rupert is a Parking Officer, a little scattered and immature, but does his job with pride and happiness...Yet he believes he really deserves to be doing more, then he is chosen to work with the Drug Unit...And realizes that maybe he was perfect where he was! A mystery with humor, family and that feeling when you may have exaggerated your past...And now it is definitely going to bite you!!
There are some funny moments, characters from all walks of life, and a quick paced story that will keep you interested from start to finish! It is fun to watch this young man in a situation way over his head, and nice to see how he handles it!
I received an ARC from the author and offer you my honest thoughts and feelings in this review.
January 23, 2011
If 'Nex',a new generation party drug, makes it to the streets it has the potential to create an entirely new breed of addict. Officer Jon Rupret, a Canadian Parking Enforcement Officer, is promoted to a special task force whose mission is to identify and stop the group who plans to manufacture and distribute it. Hampered by a leak in the team, and Jon's well intentioned but uninformed assistance, Operation Anti-RACE is racing against the clock to identify the mysterious Ms Zee and her gang of thugs.
The plot, a mixture of action and mystery, is simply executed and well thought out. At just under 200 pages, the novel is paced well, leading to a satisfying conclusion.
The narrative switches between Jon's first point of view and a third person perspective following the actions of Ms Zee. Jon is a mixture of naive arrogance and wishful ambition. He is not always particularly likeable but has a certain charm because he wants to do the right thing and despite his inexperience he is determined to do all he can to stop RACE. His partnership with Beadsworth provides good contrast, the more serious persona of the seasoned detective balances Jon's enthusiasm.
While the general concept and characterisation are fairly solid, I felt that the quality of writing is lacking. Sentence structure and strength are inconsistent with some awkward phrasing. The dialogue sometimes seems forced and unsuited to the character. Actual copy edit errors are minor but the first half of the novel seems to have been better edited in general, than the second.
As the author's first effort, R.A.C.E. demonstrates a potential for solid storytelling and is a short and pleasantly entertaining read.
The plot, a mixture of action and mystery, is simply executed and well thought out. At just under 200 pages, the novel is paced well, leading to a satisfying conclusion.
The narrative switches between Jon's first point of view and a third person perspective following the actions of Ms Zee. Jon is a mixture of naive arrogance and wishful ambition. He is not always particularly likeable but has a certain charm because he wants to do the right thing and despite his inexperience he is determined to do all he can to stop RACE. His partnership with Beadsworth provides good contrast, the more serious persona of the seasoned detective balances Jon's enthusiasm.
While the general concept and characterisation are fairly solid, I felt that the quality of writing is lacking. Sentence structure and strength are inconsistent with some awkward phrasing. The dialogue sometimes seems forced and unsuited to the character. Actual copy edit errors are minor but the first half of the novel seems to have been better edited in general, than the second.
As the author's first effort, R.A.C.E. demonstrates a potential for solid storytelling and is a short and pleasantly entertaining read.
May 4, 2021
Great read!
Who knew the life of a parking enforcement officer could change so drastically?
Jon Rupret likes his job, giving out tickets to keep the streets free from illegal parking. He's quite a character, who likes a tall tale to keep his days interesting. When he is transferred to the drug team, without any previous experience, qualifications or even the rank of constable, his days become very interesting indeed!
He is drawn into a web of lies, corruption and danger.
Is he out of his depth?
Will he come out of it unscathed?
A great book that I would recommend!
Who knew the life of a parking enforcement officer could change so drastically?
Jon Rupret likes his job, giving out tickets to keep the streets free from illegal parking. He's quite a character, who likes a tall tale to keep his days interesting. When he is transferred to the drug team, without any previous experience, qualifications or even the rank of constable, his days become very interesting indeed!
He is drawn into a web of lies, corruption and danger.
Is he out of his depth?
Will he come out of it unscathed?
A great book that I would recommend!
October 29, 2021
Cute story
Jonny Rupret, R before the E, is a parking officer. He spends his days giving out parking tickets and getting cars towed. He also ask his boss, frequently, for a transfer, and one day he gets one - to a special drug squad.
Jonny has history with the drug squad, and not a good history, but he tries his hardest to do the best he can. Part comedy, part police procedural, all around good read.
Jonny Rupret, R before the E, is a parking officer. He spends his days giving out parking tickets and getting cars towed. He also ask his boss, frequently, for a transfer, and one day he gets one - to a special drug squad.
Jonny has history with the drug squad, and not a good history, but he tries his hardest to do the best he can. Part comedy, part police procedural, all around good read.
May 16, 2021
This book was a little slow getting started, but once it did it was an interesting read and made me laugh out loud in places. I loved the bumbling Jon Rupret and though he makes mistakes, you still can’t help but cheer him on as he does his best to make a difference. A good story that I’d recommend to fans of crime stories with a bit of heart.
May 19, 2021
Different but a really good read.
Jon Rupret (r before e) was an interesting guy and made me laugh at all his bumbling but in the end he was pretty smart in a stupid kind of way. Entertaining read.
Jon Rupret (r before e) was an interesting guy and made me laugh at all his bumbling but in the end he was pretty smart in a stupid kind of way. Entertaining read.
March 12, 2024
The blue hornet
Honestly, this is not my favorite Thomas Fincham read. There were a lo of characters to keep track of, it bounced between points of view. I read it though and now I know. It was a quick read.
Honestly, this is not my favorite Thomas Fincham read. There were a lo of characters to keep track of, it bounced between points of view. I read it though and now I know. It was a quick read.
May 19, 2021
The blue hornet
This was a pleasant enough book but I just did not like the style it was written. Maybe next book
This was a pleasant enough book but I just did not like the style it was written. Maybe next book
May 26, 2021
Entertaining
Good story, kept my interest. Officer Rupret was irritating at times and sometimes funny. Overall it was an entertaining story.
Good story, kept my interest. Officer Rupret was irritating at times and sometimes funny. Overall it was an entertaining story.
June 2, 2021
No body is as dumb as your hero
Even trying to be funny, this story was too much! I can’t recommend it to anyone, it was tough Finnish.
Even trying to be funny, this story was too much! I can’t recommend it to anyone, it was tough Finnish.
August 6, 2021
Easy read.
Easy to read. Good characters some not too believable. Main character not believable. Book read fast without unnecessary explanation. May read more by this author.
Easy to read. Good characters some not too believable. Main character not believable. Book read fast without unnecessary explanation. May read more by this author.
October 7, 2021
Very slow to start.
Jon Rupret gives out parking tickets before being transferred to the drugs squad.
A bit unbelievable but funny in places.
Jon Rupret gives out parking tickets before being transferred to the drugs squad.
A bit unbelievable but funny in places.
February 1, 2024
Enjoyable read
Loved this. A klutz that does well classic.
Enjoyable read.
Well written with heaps of twists and turns. A great read.
Loved this. A klutz that does well classic.
Enjoyable read.
Well written with heaps of twists and turns. A great read.
December 18, 2021
book was very dull at first picked up a little at the end. hope his next one is better
May 7, 2011
RACE: the Radical Association of Criminal Ethnicities. We first learn about this organization as Officer Jon Rupret is taken off of parking violation duties and transferred into the narcotics division. An unlikely gathering of criminals from different backgrounds, the group is said to be creating a brand new drug of abuse: a combination stimulant, analgesic, and hallucinogen all rolled up into one fast-acting tablet. As a soon-to-be pharmacist, I was immediately intrigued.
As a police officer, Rupret's attitude is a far cry from both the doughnut-eating, coffee guzzling stereotype and the straitlaced man-in-uniform trope. Instead, he is sarcastic, impulsive, ambitious, but overall well-meaning. These characteristics force me to vacillate between affection and irritation as a combination of circumstances and his own poor judgment take him from the pot to the frying pan. Thankfully, the author is aware of the man's strengths and shortcomings as we are, and Rupret does not metamorphose into a likelier hero. Instead, happenstance guides just about all of his successes in a way that makes it impossible for readers to figure out the larger conspiracy until Rupret himself discovers it.
The plot itself is rather well-conceived — involved enough to maintain interest, yet simple enough to be covered satisfactorily in a medium-length novel. On the whole, I find myself pleased with the storyline; what does bother me is the believability of the scientific content. The manner in which orally disintegrating and sublingual tablets is treated makes it sound like a novel concept, when these dosage forms have been around for decades. Additionally, the analyst uses full technical terms, when most would simply say "mass spec" or "HPLC" or some other abbreviated form. In trying to be scientifically correct (and generally succeeding), the author inadvertently oversteps the line demarcating the divide between useful information and overkill.
Perhaps my greatest bone of contention with this novel is the inconsistency in writing quality. Long passages will run smoothly, and then there will be paragraphs with inappropriate shifts in tense or incorrectly used words, such as "dangled" instead of "dangling" in describing the position of Jon's legs. There are long strings of dialogue in which quotation marks are missing, and in conjunction with other typographical errors, these details break up an otherwise pleasant reading experience. Sometimes, the entire meaning of the sentence changes; I was rereading "Where you following me?" and trying to decide if Rupret was asking "Where [are] you following me?" or "Were you following me?" (It was the latter).
On the whole, RACE is an engaging, entertaining read. The text could use a bit of cleaning, but the storyline is still worth a look.
Stimulated Outlet Book Reviews
As a police officer, Rupret's attitude is a far cry from both the doughnut-eating, coffee guzzling stereotype and the straitlaced man-in-uniform trope. Instead, he is sarcastic, impulsive, ambitious, but overall well-meaning. These characteristics force me to vacillate between affection and irritation as a combination of circumstances and his own poor judgment take him from the pot to the frying pan. Thankfully, the author is aware of the man's strengths and shortcomings as we are, and Rupret does not metamorphose into a likelier hero. Instead, happenstance guides just about all of his successes in a way that makes it impossible for readers to figure out the larger conspiracy until Rupret himself discovers it.
The plot itself is rather well-conceived — involved enough to maintain interest, yet simple enough to be covered satisfactorily in a medium-length novel. On the whole, I find myself pleased with the storyline; what does bother me is the believability of the scientific content. The manner in which orally disintegrating and sublingual tablets is treated makes it sound like a novel concept, when these dosage forms have been around for decades. Additionally, the analyst uses full technical terms, when most would simply say "mass spec" or "HPLC" or some other abbreviated form. In trying to be scientifically correct (and generally succeeding), the author inadvertently oversteps the line demarcating the divide between useful information and overkill.
Perhaps my greatest bone of contention with this novel is the inconsistency in writing quality. Long passages will run smoothly, and then there will be paragraphs with inappropriate shifts in tense or incorrectly used words, such as "dangled" instead of "dangling" in describing the position of Jon's legs. There are long strings of dialogue in which quotation marks are missing, and in conjunction with other typographical errors, these details break up an otherwise pleasant reading experience. Sometimes, the entire meaning of the sentence changes; I was rereading "Where you following me?" and trying to decide if Rupret was asking "Where [are] you following me?" or "Were you following me?" (It was the latter).
On the whole, RACE is an engaging, entertaining read. The text could use a bit of cleaning, but the storyline is still worth a look.
Stimulated Outlet Book Reviews
June 7, 2011
Jon Rupret, not Rupert R before E, Rupret is a well liked Parking Enforcement Officer with a desire to move up the law enforcement ranks. Imagine his surprise when he is picked to join an elite task force in the Drug department on Operation Anti - RACE. Operation Anti - RACE is searching to stop the members of the Drug ring, RACE, before they push out the newest addiction, Nex, on to the streets.
Having little experience in the Drug Department beyond last years newspaper worthy incident involving Office Rupret breaking up a 4 month undercover sting while giving a Parking Ticket, Officer Rupret is not sure what exactly he's doing here.
Officer Rupret manages to stumble along and break the case wide open thanks to his love of Bubble Tea and the support of Michael Jordan.
Lets Talk About It:
This book was laugh out loud funny!
Officer Jon Rupret grabs you in the first few pages of this book with his personality and doesn't let go. He's quirky in his mannerisms and hilarious in his story telling. He's one of the most likable characters I've read in a long time.
The books goes beyond just being a comedy, in fact, it's not aimed to be a comedy at all. It's a mystery involving the police department and a newly formed drug 'gang' called RACE. The police department set up a task force aimed to stop RACE and it's new drug Dex from hitting the streets.
You get the best of all worlds with this book. A sturdy mystery, many shady characters, a messed up police department and a hysterical main character.
If you are looking to get a few hours of good entertainment you will not go wrong with this book!
Melissa
Reviewer for 1000 Plus Books to Read
Having little experience in the Drug Department beyond last years newspaper worthy incident involving Office Rupret breaking up a 4 month undercover sting while giving a Parking Ticket, Officer Rupret is not sure what exactly he's doing here.
Officer Rupret manages to stumble along and break the case wide open thanks to his love of Bubble Tea and the support of Michael Jordan.
Lets Talk About It:
This book was laugh out loud funny!
Officer Jon Rupret grabs you in the first few pages of this book with his personality and doesn't let go. He's quirky in his mannerisms and hilarious in his story telling. He's one of the most likable characters I've read in a long time.
The books goes beyond just being a comedy, in fact, it's not aimed to be a comedy at all. It's a mystery involving the police department and a newly formed drug 'gang' called RACE. The police department set up a task force aimed to stop RACE and it's new drug Dex from hitting the streets.
You get the best of all worlds with this book. A sturdy mystery, many shady characters, a messed up police department and a hysterical main character.
If you are looking to get a few hours of good entertainment you will not go wrong with this book!
Melissa
Reviewer for 1000 Plus Books to Read
March 3, 2011
I had to kind of mull this book over in my mind for a while before writing this review because overall, this wasn't a bad book. It just wasn't a great one, a novel to end all novels.
The author has an easy style of writing to him that really suited Rupret's narrative. I found the main character to be a fairly easygoing person that I could connect with at the beginning. I saw him as a sort of bumbling Seth Rogen kind of character that was occasionally endearing. I have to admit, his initial antics at the beginning couldn't help but make me smile & draw me in.
Unfortunately that pace just wasn't ultimately kept up here. The general story idea is a good one & the author does his best to keep us interested, but I just felt like it took a while to get where it was trying to go. I really wish that certain things (such as details about the leader of the operation, Zee) were more spaced out in the book. I was a bit surprised about the twist at the ending, but I couldn't help but feel like it was just a teensy bit overly complicated. It came across as something that would work better if it was more spaced out or had a little more development earlier in the story.
I'm aware that this was the author's first novel & that comes through in this book, so I'm optimistic that further novels will be a little less green than this one was.
Final diagnosis: It's not a bad book but it just felt a little unfinished at times. Since it's only $2.99 on the kindle, I'd recommend it as a purchase for a breezy weekend or holiday/vacation read.
2.5/5 (rounded up to 3 stars)
(Reader copy provided by author)
The author has an easy style of writing to him that really suited Rupret's narrative. I found the main character to be a fairly easygoing person that I could connect with at the beginning. I saw him as a sort of bumbling Seth Rogen kind of character that was occasionally endearing. I have to admit, his initial antics at the beginning couldn't help but make me smile & draw me in.
Unfortunately that pace just wasn't ultimately kept up here. The general story idea is a good one & the author does his best to keep us interested, but I just felt like it took a while to get where it was trying to go. I really wish that certain things (such as details about the leader of the operation, Zee) were more spaced out in the book. I was a bit surprised about the twist at the ending, but I couldn't help but feel like it was just a teensy bit overly complicated. It came across as something that would work better if it was more spaced out or had a little more development earlier in the story.
I'm aware that this was the author's first novel & that comes through in this book, so I'm optimistic that further novels will be a little less green than this one was.
Final diagnosis: It's not a bad book but it just felt a little unfinished at times. Since it's only $2.99 on the kindle, I'd recommend it as a purchase for a breezy weekend or holiday/vacation read.
2.5/5 (rounded up to 3 stars)
(Reader copy provided by author)
June 5, 2011
from Murphy's Library — http://www.murphyslibrary.com/
This book would be nothing without its main character. Jon Rupret is the one who conducts this story, in its mystery and its comedy side.
Rupret is a parking ticket officer who wants to move up the ranking. He ends in the Anti-RACE unit, with a veteran detective as a partner. Can you imagine a parking ticket officer throw in a big operation? Believe me… With Jon Rupret it can only be hilarious.
The mystery side of this story, however, loses a little bit of its charm because Jon is such a funny character. The developing of the Anti-RACE operation is overshadowed by Jon as a character, which left things a little off balance.
Don’t get me wrong. It is a good book, just a little off the mark in what genre it really is. Even if there is mystery and action you can start reading this story as a mystery or action book. You get enchanted by the main character, really, not by the plot.
This book would be nothing without its main character. Jon Rupret is the one who conducts this story, in its mystery and its comedy side.
Rupret is a parking ticket officer who wants to move up the ranking. He ends in the Anti-RACE unit, with a veteran detective as a partner. Can you imagine a parking ticket officer throw in a big operation? Believe me… With Jon Rupret it can only be hilarious.
The mystery side of this story, however, loses a little bit of its charm because Jon is such a funny character. The developing of the Anti-RACE operation is overshadowed by Jon as a character, which left things a little off balance.
Don’t get me wrong. It is a good book, just a little off the mark in what genre it really is. Even if there is mystery and action you can start reading this story as a mystery or action book. You get enchanted by the main character, really, not by the plot.
October 12, 2011
originally appeared on:Bookshelf Confessions
*I won a free copy of this e-book in a LibraryThing Member Giveaway*
a really really nice read!
the story was pack of humor and intelligence in terms of mystery and action..the author Mobashar Querishi successfully turned a nonexistent or somewhat mundane character into one which readers could honestly not get off from their minds. R.A.C.E. is filled with one simple plot that goes all intriguing and engaging..
the author has really good taste both in action and humor writing..
Parking Officer Jon Rupret, an ambitious young man with a knack for getting in trouble, wants desperately to move up from handing out parking tickets. An impulsive act from his past throws him into Operation Anti-RACE—a unit set up to stop RACE, a dangerous and violent group on the verge of creating an illegal drug.
Rupret quickly realizes he may be in way over his head.
*I won a free copy of this e-book in a LibraryThing Member Giveaway*
a really really nice read!
the story was pack of humor and intelligence in terms of mystery and action..the author Mobashar Querishi successfully turned a nonexistent or somewhat mundane character into one which readers could honestly not get off from their minds. R.A.C.E. is filled with one simple plot that goes all intriguing and engaging..
the author has really good taste both in action and humor writing..
Parking Officer Jon Rupret, an ambitious young man with a knack for getting in trouble, wants desperately to move up from handing out parking tickets. An impulsive act from his past throws him into Operation Anti-RACE—a unit set up to stop RACE, a dangerous and violent group on the verge of creating an illegal drug.
Rupret quickly realizes he may be in way over his head.
November 3, 2011
Officer Rupret is a parking meter cop who gets his car towed a lot. He wants to be a regular cop very bad. When he is offered into the drug division he is not happy. Last year he interupted a drug sting that took 4 months to set up. Rupret is not well liked over their.
Officer Rupret is likeable but not too smart. He wants to help people but things go wrong a lot for him. He even lies to his mom about what he does.
Their is a new drug comming out with faster more addictive and Officer Rupret is put on the task force and he makes lots of mistakes and some right too.
I laughed while reading this police story. I will read more books by Mobashar. I was given this ebook from Library thing.
Officer Rupret is likeable but not too smart. He wants to help people but things go wrong a lot for him. He even lies to his mom about what he does.
Their is a new drug comming out with faster more addictive and Officer Rupret is put on the task force and he makes lots of mistakes and some right too.
I laughed while reading this police story. I will read more books by Mobashar. I was given this ebook from Library thing.
December 5, 2012
An amusing novel about an unremarkable parking enforcement officer in Montreal, who is reassigned to a major narcotics case. He's a most affable character, often out of step with the world, but determined to succeed. The remaining characters -- police colleagues and a clique of drug dealers are well-sketched. The novel moves at a swift pace. There is a moderate amount of tension and surprise as everything is resolved. R.A.C.E. is quite an enjoyable read.
June 23, 2012
I have now read a couple of books by this author so far they have been very enjoyable. This one is laugh out loud funny. Poor Parking Officer Jon Rupret (that's R before the E) gets tapped to work a new drug squad since the old unit is being investigated. It is really like reading Charlie Chaplin as a police officer and was a fun way to spend an afternoon inthe sun.
July 23, 2012
It was an okay book.At times it was exciting, funny and hard to put down. It was also well researched. However, I think the author was too safe and inconsistent. At one part the story becomes exciting but it does not maintain its excitement. It was also corny at times. I think Mr. Qureshi could take more risks.
Plus one point since I also love MECHADO!
Plus one point since I also love MECHADO!
May 4, 2021
Jon Rupret is a Canadian Parking Enforcement Cop who is suddenly chosen for a discreet drug trafficking assignment. He soon finds out things are not as they seem. Jon soon realizes he’s in deep when his home is burned to the ground and people aren’t who they seemed. An authentic cast of characters, lots of action/comedy and a well written story makes this a really fun book to read and enjoy.
May 6, 2021
Another great read by Thomas Fincham. Jon Rupert is in over his head and he realizes that things are not as they seem. He goes from a parking officer to working with a veteran detective who doesn't reveal all he knows. If you are looking for action and some humor scattered throughout a book, pick this one up.
I received an ARC from the author in exchange for leaving an honest review.
I received an ARC from the author in exchange for leaving an honest review.
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January 12, 2015Good plot with a lot of humor. Enjoyable read
January 17, 2015
Male lead is funny and immature. funny is more important here. TTS-enabled eBook ©2006
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews