My GRL

by John W. Howell

John J. Cannon, a successful San Francisco lawyer, needs some well-deserved time off. He takes a leave of absence from the firm and buys a boat he names My GRL. His short-term plan is to become a charter fishing boat captain. John is unaware his craft has been targeted by a terrorist group to be used to destroy a class of Annapolis Midshipmen on their summer cruise. John’s first inkling of trouble is when he wakes up in the hospital and learns he was unconscious next to the body of the young woman who sold him the boat in the first place. To further complicate the situation, he was lying on the gun that killed her John now has a more critical plan than charter fishing. He needs to convince law enforcement that he is innocent of the woman’s murder and to figure out why he was in the position of taking the fall. John’s quest for answers takes him from the small fishing village of Port Aransas to eventually confront those who are holding him prisoner on the cargo ship carrying My GRL in the hold. The answers come fast and not to John’s liking. The chief terrorist has decided to lash John to the wheel of My GRL which is packed with C4 explosives and by remote control steer them to certain death at the Port of New York. The plan is to destroy the Midshipmen and the Intrepid museum. All this to satisfy the terrorists need for revenge on perceived grievances against America and the leader’s hatred for John. If you like your heroes’ to be regular people and you want your thrillers to be exciting with plenty of twists and turns this is the book for you. It is the first in the John Cannon Trilogy.

Genres: Thriller, Fiction, Adventure

275 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 30, 2013

About the author

John W, Howell began his writing as a full-time occupation after an extensive business career. His specialty is thriller fiction novels, but John also writes poetry and short stories. His first book, My GRL, introduces the exciting adventures of the book's central character, John J. Cannon. The second Cannon novel, His Revenge, continues the adventure, while the final book in the trilogy, Our Justice, launched in September 2016. Circumstances of Childhood in October 1st 2017. The fifth book, The Contract co-authored with Gwen M. Plano was launched the week of June 4th, 2018.
John’s sixth book, Eternal Road – The Final Stop, launched in September 2020. In search of their eternal home, Sam and James discover a threat to human existence. They also encounter the prince of darkness. The question is, can they save humankind and their eternal souls? John’s latest book is The Last Drive, a sequel to The Eternal Road. Once again, James and Sam must confront Lucifer in order to save not only their souls but those of two others. Lucifer tests them to the limit, and the challenge they face may be more than they can handle.

John’s latest is Detour on the Eternal Road where Sam an James are called into action to thwart Lucifer’s designs on making Sam his Queen, as well as, save the world from a devastating war that would mean the end to humankind. All books are available on Amazon in paperback and Kindle editions.All books are available on Amazon in paperback and Kindle editions.

John lives in the Austin, Texas area with his wife and their spoiled rescue pets.

Reviews

[Victoria Ray · Rating 5 out of 5]

The thriller My GRL is well-layered, intelligent, and intense suspense, where the buying of the boat is only the beginning. From there, the story races through stunning twists & turns – all the way to its revelation. Emotional and deeply satisfying prose narrated from a first-person (very engaging!) + reads like a diary or as you see it from outside, still being inside at the same time. John W. Howell is a masterful storyteller who has perfected the art of suspense in his books. Don’t miss it!

The full review (or fun part) - read on my blog https://raynotbradbury.com/book-revie...

[Clare O'Beara · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a brisk read told in first person present tense. The lawyer we meet is taking a year out from life and buys a boat in a Texas harbour town. He just plans to mess around and maybe charter for fishing tourists when he gets competent. But the agent who helped him buy his boat, which he renamed My Grl, comes under pressure to resell it to others. She is shot dead one evening as the two of them leave a hostelry. This begins a crime investigation which continues to become a thriller.

I liked the tale but the focus is quite narrow; and I thought the bad guys were very obliging to brag all their evil plans. Also it seems too much of a coincidence that a Navy Seal is on the scene, but after all, I don't know and maybe Texas is heavily populated with such people. Certainly it's worth a read for anyone interested in thrillers about ship mechanics, container ships and the legal issues arising from being involved in a crime scene. The author has thought his story through and presented a chilling worst-case scenario.

I was sent an e-ARC from the author and the publisher. I chose to review, at a time that suited me, and this is an unbiased review.

[Robbie Cheadle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don’t often read thrillers. The reason is that I can often work out the plot before the end of the book which ruins the story for me. I decided to give this book a try as I had read so much about it and I certainly wasn’t disappointed. John Howell has a great style of writing and keeps the story moving along at an interesting and fast pace. The plot was unpredictable and I most certainly did not work it out before the end.

John Cannon has embarked on a new chapter in his life. He has made the decision to give up his lucrative career as a San Francisco lawyer and opted instead for a complete break away from city life and to follow his idyllic dream of peace and quite on the beautiful island of Corpus Christi.

When John’s life starts to become a threatening nightmare, he discovers that evil can appear anywhere and before he knows it, he is fighting to understand a series of impossible happenings, which will effect his life forever. That is, if he survives!

[Jacqui · Rating 5 out of 5]

John Howell's My GRL (Amazon Digital Services 2017) is the story of John Cannon, a man who retires from the rat race to live the life of no worries, no deadlines, and no one to answer to. He's wealthy enough to make that happen and decides a boat--the My GRL--would be perfect for his new lifestyle. What starts out as a stress-free new lease on life ends up a fight for his life as he tangles with terrorists who decide My GRL is the last piece of their America-defeating terrorist plot.  Cannon is knocked unconscious and finds out when he comes back that he's the lucky one: The broker who sold him his boat (Gerry) and recently arranged a subsequent sale of My GRL at a significantly increased price, has been killed. Shortly after, John gets a message from her parents that if something happened to her they must tell John not to sell the boat. This advice takes on context when John is contacted by the FBI who suspects that the boat's sale is part of a terrorist act against America and they'd like his help. 

From there the action never stops. It is always tight and well planned, always clever and intriguing. John comes across as somewhat naive for a high-powered attorney but that works well for the stories action. Overall, this is a great read. I wonder if there's a sequel. Hmmmmm.

[Greg Spry · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall, I enjoyed MY GRL. The beginning pulled me in enough to convince me to read on, the author kept me mostly engaged throughout the story, and I couldn't put it down throughout the climax. This novel is a solid murder mystery/thriller that should appeal to most readers. I could even see it on the big screen. On a ten-point scale, I'd give it a seven, but out of five stars, it deserves the bump up to four.

The areas I noted for potential improvement were the dry prose, over-explaining, and convenient or cliche aspects of the plot.

The prose often consisted of very short, simple sentences to the point that someone reading it aloud might sound like a robot. I took this to be the author's style, and for the most part, it worked well enough. The important thing was that I was able to comprehend the story without getting pulled out. I've read a lot of writers who get too cute with colorful metaphors and convoluted sentences, and I'll take this author's style over wannabe poets any day of the week. Don't allow form to get in the way of content, I always say. Still, there's room for the author to improve his flow and sentence structure.

At times, the author spent too much time explaining things of little significance. For example, I didn't need to know every detail about what the main character ordered for breakfast. Again, this issue wasn't a huge problem, but there were numerous opportunities to trim unnecessary information (it's actually more appropriate to tell rather than show in cases where the details aren't critical to moving the story forward). Then the author could devote more page space to showing and expounding upon what was actually important. For instance, the main character ended up in the water, yet not one word was mentioned about him feeling cold or wet or his clothes getting soaked. I'd rather know what he's experiencing during a critical juncture of the climax than that he ate eggs Benedict during a low point in the tension.

There are certain aspects of the plot that could certainly happen (no actual plot holes) but nevertheless seem far too convenient and/or boneheaded on the part of the bad guys. The last thing terrorists should do is put their two hostages in position to help each-other escape. Also, the main character's ally just so happens to have the specific skills necessary to help foil their nefarious agenda? Furthermore, instead of simply killing the hero, the terrorists place him in convenient position to be able to circumvent their plan, all based on irrational motivation. This is what happens in practically every big budget action movie. Whenever I encounter this cliche, I hear Dr. Evil from Austin Powers in my head saying, "I'm going to place him in an easily escapable situation involving an overly elaborate and exotic death." Still, this aspect was no worse than any Hollywood flick, and it kept me entertained.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book introduces you to John J. Cannon, lawyer on leave, owner of an impressive boat. The woman who sold it to him is killed right beside him - the beginning of a series of troubling events.

With My GRL, John W. Howell has created a steady-paced thriller with a quite normal protagonist. I automatically fell in love with the boat and really liked her owner. The story comprises a variety of craftily elaborated characters with sufficient depth and interesting interactions until the final page. I had a great time reading My GRL - it is a very intriguing read; it turned me into an invisible ally of the believable protagonist. I was drawn into the story right away, cheering John on. In these days, some of the situations make you think; similar stuff might happen.

I am looking forward to reading more of this series.

This is for you if you like steady-paced thrillers, interesting characters, series and - in this case - boats.

A compelling read in a series to watch out for.

Highly recommended!

[D.G. Kaye · Rating 4 out of 5]

John Cannon is taking a year off from his law practice for a little leisure time to a coastal town in Texas. He leases himself a cozy home, buys a reliable car and a dream boat, he names My GRL.

The story unfolds with John going for a celebration drink with his new friend Gerry who hooked him up with the people he bought his boat from, and the action begins. And soon, John's plans for rest and relaxation turn into nightmares on what becomes a cat and mouse chase that we experience through John's perspective in this unusual but intriguing story told in first person accounting. This allows us to get right into Cannon's mind and follow his thoughts, fears, intermittent humor, and finally his plans for his mission to survive as he and his 'GRL' are used as pawns and instruments in an international terrorist plot.

The story is full of action, deceit, and will keep you wondering who are the bad guys from the good till the end. Great action thriller and I look forward to reading the other books in this John Cannon series.

[Staci Troilo · Rating 5 out of 5]

I often find work written in first person/present tense to be jarring. Overuse of “I” and “me” coupled with an awkward reveal of the POV character’s name and appearance usually work against an author’s intent and keep me from engaging in the story.

That’s not the case with John Howell’s MY GRL.

Mr. Howell penned a story that, while written in first person/present tense, actually sucked me into the story. I thought what main character John Cannon thought, I felt what he felt. Howell is to be commended for his ability to immerse the reader into his story world through his protagonist.

This thriller captured me not only for the reason listed above, but also because the author crafted a realistic hero. John Cannon isn’t the thirty-year-old alpha male, Navy Seal, superhero. He’s a regular guy, with realistic fears and logical fallacies. He’s so likable because he could be your uncle, your neighbor, your coworker. We all know John Cannons, and we all love them.

While I found this novel to be character-driven, there’s no shortage of action in the plot. This was a quick read because both the character was relatable and the pace was full-throttle.

This is book one of three in the series. I’ll be looking for the next installment and highly recommend this one.

[Charles · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was my first time reading a mystery/thriller and I expected there to be tons of action and intrigue. Instead, I found a lot of suspense and colorful characters that kept me wanting to read more. The pacing is fast at most points and there’s very little lingering on scenes. A plot point is hit, suspicions are raised, twists occur, and then off to the next leg of the adventure.

I know from that description it sounds like I’m saying this is rushed, but it’s the opposite. The speed of the story is one that tickles your nerves because you’re always wondering what something means. A few times you even wonder if there’s a hidden significance to an event, so your mind keeps going back to it for reference. Thankfully, My GRL is written in a way that you tend to remember everything.

One thing that took a little getting used to is the author’s habit of going into extreme descriptive detail. His knowledge of boats, cars, and several other things is extensive and he lets you know that. There are also points where it is a play-by-play of events. It is a little jarring at first, but the first person narrative helped me adapt. I figured the main character is a nervous talker and he sure has a lot to be nervous about in this story. A few chapters in, I barely noticed because I got the feeling that every word could hold a clue as to what would happen. It also managed to extend the suspense because I never knew when the description would lead to an ‘ah-ha!’ moment.

One of the only issue I had with the book was that the main character was overshadowed by most of the several characters. I can’t really go into detail without spoilers, but John Cannon seems like a fish out of water for most of the book. He is routinely overwhelmed even though he shows signs that he could probably talk or smile his way out of trouble. It’s just that he never really pushes this ability to an effective level, so the more capable and skilled characters appear to be doing most of the legwork. I really enjoyed Police Chief Ned and a later character that helps John. In fact, I’d love to see them get their own books because I found them more interesting. Maybe a sequel will occur since there is a good set up for the characters that make it to the end.

The other issue I had is more of a personal pet peeve. One of the main villains had a really bizarre reason for getting John involved. I kind of understand the rationale (or insanity), but I really couldn’t connect with it after having characters with such depth. The other main villains came off as more dangerous and cunning. This guy was intimidating and gave off a sense of being powerful, but his reasoning for hating John made him oddly petty and out of place among the terrorist villains. Then again, he did set up a few impressive scenarios, so maybe it’s simply a case of the man behind the curtain should have stayed there.

Overall, I loved this story and hope the author has another planned. This is his debut novel and it’s very impressive with high levels of suspense, which is what I think a thriller should have. I highly recommend this book. Also, I ask the author if we could get a Ned book. I really liked Ned.

[D. Peach · Rating 5 out of 5]

John Cannon is on a sabbatical from his high-powered attorney job and decides to spend a year on Mustang Island off the coast of Texas working on his used 65’ boat. Then his friend ends up shot, and the sheriff suspects that he’s keeping secrets. Add to that, it turns out that terrorists want his boat.

This book moves along at a good clip as John deals with the sheriff and then gets embroiled in the terrorists’ plot. He’s a great character, and for me, he brought the book to life. He’s kind of an average guy, but he’s smart and resourceful (for the most part), and he has some attitude. I had a great time watching him deal with all the problems while completely out of his element.

The story didn’t bog down with description or backstory, and it had just the right amount of shipboard detail to lend authenticity to the setting, John’s capabilities, and the story’s resolution. I would definitely read more of this character and author. Though a thriller, the book was also a lot of fun. Highly recommended for readers of action novels and thrillers, and book-lovers who enjoy great characters.

[Mae Clair · Rating 4 out of 5]

A story about an everyday sort of guy caught up in extraordinary circumstances, My GRL starts off with a bang and keeps the twists and suspense coming. The lead character, John Cannon finds himself the target of terrorists after purchasing a boat (My GRL) from a friend who is killed within the opening pages of the book. The story is told in first person POV present-tense, which gives the reader great insight into John’s character. A quick read and a page-turner, this is an engaging thriller with a likable lead character.

If I have any quibbles, it’s that the dialogue often comes across as stilted. The author rarely uses contractions (which is how most people talk). As a result, I found myself focusing on that lack and being drawn out of the story. Otherwise, nicely told!

[C.S. Boyack · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fabulous story

I read across a broad spectrum, and it's been a while since I grabbed a thriller. My Grl did not disappoint. I appreciate the use of an ordinary guy as the main character. There are plenty of twists and turns, and this held my attention all the way. So many of these stories wind up with a Chuck Norris type lead, that this was a refreshing approach.

I also appreciate that the author knows when to bring down the curtain. Too many stories expand into future happiness and success. I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys thrillers, or to those more like me who grab a bit of everything.

[Bette Stevens · Rating 5 out of 5]

MY GRL by John Howell is a well-written contemporary thriller that caught my interest on page one and kept my head spinning through to its climax. Protagonist John Cannon is a likable guy who is looking for a break from the humdrum of the legal world and takes time off from his career with the intention to relax and regenerate. From day one of his getaway, Cannon unintentionally enters a world plagued by mystery and murder. MY GRL brings international terrorism to new heights and John Cannon takes us along for a sobering ride. Kudos to author John Howell.

[T. A. Peters · Rating 5 out of 5]

John Cannon is a thirty-eight-year-old partner in a law firm in California who decides to take a twelve month leave from the practice in order to decide if he is truly happy with the “comfort of the routine I had come to know and hate” or if he would prefer a different lifestyle now that he has the financial means to live as he pleases. At first, everything proceeds wonderfully with a relocation to Port Aransas on the Texas Gulf Coast. The quick acquisition of a twelve-month lease on a home and purchase of a car and sixty-five-foot boat, which he names My Grl, all point to a positive future, only when John becomes implicated in the murder of the broker through whom he bought the boat he finds his reality turned upside down. John’s life now appears to be in enough of a tangle when he discovers himself caught between the local police, the FBI and a possible love interest, but the plotlines become further knotted when a terroristic agenda, in which an enemy from his past has placed John and My Grl at the center, is revealed, and John finds that he is the only person who can prevent a massacre.

There are several key concepts to achieve when writing a novel from the first-person perspective, arguably chief among them is creating a character with a distinctive voice who the reader can not only “hear” as being an actual person but who is someone the reader would like to know in real life. Howell’s character John Cannon exemplifies these goals through his stream of consciousness inner monologues in which he reveals himself to be an ordinary man with everyday concerns and fears, not some superhero with radioactively-induced mutant gifts that the average reader can only have described in graphic novel imagery or with incomprehensible technical jargon. Cannon is a man not unlike ourselves who, though in the end having some high-level support, is put into a position where he is the only person who can connect the dots and prevent a terrorist attack. In addition to the crafting of the protagonist himself, the plotting of “My Grl” is to be commended. Unlike the thrillers produced by the major publishing houses, “My Grl” provides a true to life reveal of the big picture where the reader, seeing the world through the eyes of John Cannon, learns every detail in tandem with the man who by the end of the novel would become a hero. More than just an exciting read, as a piece of literature, “My Grl” proves the worth of independent publishing in allowing Howell to provide a quality storyline that wilfully neglects the formulaic in the interest of pulling the reader directly into the middle of an exciting, ever-developing, complex plot.

[Ted Halstead · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Credible, Exciting Thriller

First, I'll note that I've written three thrillers myself that have sold thousands of copies. So, when it comes to books like this, I know what to look for in the writing.

First, does the writing hold my interest? Well, here's an example of the author's dry sense of humor:

"I appreciate your belief that you’re covered by the right religion, but think whoever survives this mission will have chosen the right religion in the end."

Next, are the characters and their dialogue intelligent and coherent? Here's an example from the lead villain that I think says yes:

"So, this ‘life by the sword’—as you call it—is the only course left to us if we are to achieve a just resolution for centuries of injustice. We have no voice other than that of the terror that we inflict. We also believe that members of our faith will join us once they see the effectiveness of our methods. I envision sitting down with Western governments for the purpose of drawing out the terms of lasting peace."

Finally, unlike many reviewers, I thought the plot was credible. Why? Well, I recall a good friend who told me he'd stopped reading a Tom Clancy book when he was a few pages from the end. Because a man had flown a commercial aircraft into the Capitol Building.

He said he thought that was just too ridiculous and unbelievable. And yes, this was before 9/11. And yes, planning for the 9/11 attack was well underway before Clancy's book, so don't blame him for 9/11, please.

My point is that thriller writers are supposed to come up with unlikely scenarios. As long as the plot is not literally provably impossible, allow a thriller author at least the same latitude you give scriptwriters for Bond films.

In short, I enjoyed it! I think you will too.

[Stevie Turner · Rating 4 out of 5]

It took me weeks of on-off reading to get into this story, as the first half of the book was rather slow-moving. Main character, lawyer John Cannon, seems to be in the middle of a murder he didn’t commit, and people he’s never met before want his new boat (named My GRL) for reasons unknown. He doesn’t know who to trust, especially when his boat disappears.

However, after I’d eventually got to around halfway through where John wakes up from a drugged sleep handcuffed and shackled and wonders where the hell he is, I found the story picked up pace to the point where I spent one whole afternoon sitting on our swinging patio chair and reading the rest of it.

It’s one of those ‘well-mannered’ thrillers where yes, there are bad guys who have kidnapped John in order to help them facilitate their dastardly plan, but there’s not a lot of graphic violence or bad language, and just a couple of spelling errors. I like books like that. I’ve taken off just one star for the slow-burn, but IMHO I’m going to recommend it as a four star thriller.

[Balroop Singh · Rating 4 out of 5]

My GRL by John Howell places the protagonist in a dangerous situation, thereby capturing the attention of the readers right in the beginning. The plot gets murkier when John Cannon falls into the trap of unknown persons who take advantage of his goodness. A thought that I dismissed while reading this book was how could a lawyer be that naïve to trust strangers! The story does spring some surprises but is predictable at many places.

Howell’s style of writing is engaging and keeps you guessing. His characters know how to work out the minutest details to be successful; some of the technical jargon is jarring and slows down the story but realism does step in to add some more spice. Survival of Cannon and his friend seems improbable the way the situation is built up and the nail-biting finish has been handled astutely. I liked this book but it could turn into a superb thriller if it is placed in the hands of an adroit editor.

[TMDGReviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

My GRL's main character, John Cannon made an impression; likable, funny, and obsessive at points, I could relate to him. I'm glad the author explained a lot of the technical aspects of the yacht because I'm unfamiliar with boats and sailing terms. In one of my favorites scenes, John drove his FJ across the beach fleeing from the terrorists and thought he'd succeeded, but things aren't always what they seem. Sometimes the pace slowed too much, for example, the many pages devoted to the cotter pin and if it could be helpful, but for the most part, the story held my interest and kept me turning the pages. While John planned to escape and save the day, the story came alive again and I didn't want to stop reading until I discovered the outcome of his plight. The motivation for the terrorist attack seemed strange to me, but these kinds of things often seem crazy or mindless when they happen in real life. I would like to read the next book in the series.

[Colleen Chesebro · Rating 4 out of 5]

“My Grl,” is a mystery thriller with a cast of interesting characters. I spent some time in Port Aransas, Texas, visiting my grandchildren one year, so this story piqued my interest. I stayed up too late reading this book through to the end…

John Cannon, a San Francisco lawyer, leaves his practice to move to Port Aransas, Texas, where he buys a boat he names, My Grl. His plan is to become a charter fishing boat captain.

He wakes up in the hospital and finds out the woman who sold him the boat was murdered, while he lay unconscious next to her body. To make matters worse, the police inform they found him lying on the gun that killed her.

The story unwinds slowly. Once you pick through the details, you learn of a terrorist plot to blow up My Grl at the Port of New York to destroy the Intrepid Museum. The last few chapters will keep you glued to the action.

[Brigid Gallagher · Rating 4 out of 5]

John Cannon has embarked on a well earned sabbatical from his career as a lawyer, and purchases a yacht called "My GRL". He visualises life in the slow lane with a yacht charter business. However, his friend Gerry is murdered and John wakes up in hospital with concussion. He soon learns that the murder weapon was found under his unconscious body.
John unwittingly becomes embroiled in a complex terrorist plot with many unexpected twists and turns. My GRL moves slowly at first but picks up pace and keeps the reader gripped until the end.
The main character is well developed and likeable with a marvellous sense of wit.
I plan to read more of his adventures.

[Guy Portman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Successful lawyer John D. Cannon is taking a sabbatical on an idyllic island off Texas, in the Gulf of Mexico. Any hopes for a relaxed break from the grindstone are dashed when John is knocked unconscious and his female companion is shot dead. And this is just the start of his problems. He soon finds himself embroiled in a terrorist-related plot. What will be John’s fate?

My GRL is a maritime thriller whose themes are terrorism and patriotism. As for its agreeable, analytical and apologetic protagonist, he is something of a reluctant hero; an ordinary person unwittingly forced into extraordinary circumstances. This is John W. Howell’s debut novel.

[T.W. Dittmer · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a well-written adventure/thriller with an engrossing plot, strong characters, and believable dialogue.

I was hooked very early in the story, as the main character, John Cannon, finds himself in the hospital after a friendly meeting with a woman he is attracted to. The plot thickens gradually and I, quite willingly, let it draw me along.

All John Cannon wanted to do was live the life he'd dreamed of. He took time off from his job and bought a boat, which he named My GRL. But Cannon eventually discovers he and his boat are being used in a terror plot.

The story's climax is action-packed and consuming.

I highly recommend this book for anyone who enjoys adventure/ thrillers.

[Kim Cox · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thrilling Mystery With an Unlikely Hero

The unlikely hero is a corporate lawyer looking for a comfortable life outside the world of business. The obstacles he faces will blow your socks off. There's a terrorist plot afoot and they involve John Cannon. John can't understand why they're interested in him but he soon finds out.

This is a well-written, edge-of-your-seat thriller that keeps you turning the pages. I look forward to reading Mr. Howell's next thriller.

[Gracie Bradford · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great weekend read!

[Marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

John W. Howell's new novel, My GRL, is a pleasantly different kind of thriller. The hero, John D. Cannon, lacks a few of the standard hero qualities that you might expect in a thriller novel. He doesn't seek out danger. In fact, at one point, danger has to literally run him off the road and onto the beach to get his attention. Cannon is somewhat naive as well, especially when it comes to women. He takes them at face value, trusting them in spite of all the red flags they wave in his face. [Ahem, Mr. Cannon, when a woman tells you she had great fun infiltrating another company while pretending to be someone else, in effect, SPYING, you might want to put your trust in her on hold for a bit.] Cannon is also one of the most polite, respectful, and well-adjusted heroes I've ever met, and he's a lawyer to boot! He also has a wry sense of humor which carried through the novel quite well. (Some of my favorite lines: "I get dressed and wait for the wheelchair which is the requisite mode of transport out of a hospital. (If you are still alive that is, if not, then it is a gurney."; "I think he believes I have a good memory and no brains.")

So what is John D. Cannon doing in a thriller novel? The reader gets to work on that out early on, since the opening scene involves Cannon getting knocked out and his lady friend murdered. Talk about being thrown into the cold, deep lake without a chance to get one's toes wet! But the pace of My GRL is slower than most thrillers, much as once you get used to the cold water of the lake, you might float for awhile, ponder the clouds in the sky, drag your toes around the sandy bottom. Cannon takes some time to fully grasp the extent of the danger he is in: once released from the hospital, he attempts to go about his business, which is to enjoy a sabbatical from a law firm and entertain a possible future running a charter business on a rather large (65-foot) boat in the Gulf of Mexico. Much of the tension derives from Cannon butting heads with Police Chief Tranes who has no reason not to suspect Cannon of murder, but simply not enough reason to actually charge him.

Much of the action, the white-knuckled kind of action, occurs in the last third of the novel, when Cannon is kidnapped and forced to consort with the terrorists, the evil people whose goal is to blow up Cannon's boat next to the Intrepid as it sits in the New York harbor, causing unimaginable death and destruction. And here is where Cannon's right to be called a hero is most manifest. The man keeps his cool, constantly analyzing and triangulating his situation. He is a lawyer, after all; in the end, his analytical mind (and some physical stamina) is his only hope.

The downside to Cannon's analytical mind is that he tended to go over the more mundane aspects of his life, step by step, a bit too much. I couldn't tell how much of this was Cannon's actual thought process, and how much might just be the author providing a transition from one scene to the next. I would argue that such transitions are not necessary, but they do provide some insight into Cannon. He is a very methodical man, someone not used to having his routine disturbed. Cannon had lived a rather charmed if uneventful life up to this point, and he was totally caught unaware. That he tries to wrest normality out of an abnormal situation makes sense and makes him very sympathetic.

I do have some nit-picking to make with the editing of the novel. While it is not uncommon to find typos even in bestsellers produced by one of the Big Five publishing houses, I was disappointed that the editors for My GRL allowed quite a few to slip through. For example, compliment and complement are two different words with very different meanings; yet, they are used interchangeably. This is reflection on the publisher, not the author, however. I only point this out because it is the publisher's responsibility to ensure that nothing detracts from the author's storytelling. I give kudos to John W. Howell for writing a story compelling enough to make me skip over these little bumps in the narrative.

This novel was more character-driven than what I'm used to reading in thrillers, and I really enjoyed that aspect of it. I like getting to know people. Plots are secondary, devices best used to move the character development along. And that is what I enjoyed most about My GRL: getting to know, to like, and to admire John D. Cannon. I'm looking forward to getting to know him better in the sequel to My GRL.

[Vivian · Rating 5 out of 5]

A real page-turner

I was not sure I would like this book, but once I started it, I could hardly bear to put it down. Now I must find Books Two and Three in this series!

[Mike Billington · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's not easy to write a thriller about a terrorist plot.
A lot of people think it is, but it's not.
The reason it's so difficult: Very few of us are terrorists and so we do not know what truly motivates them, how they actually think, how they choose their targets, how they are financed and what - if anything - they hope to achieve beyond spreading death and destruction. We THINK we know, but we really don't because all of our knowledge about them comes second - or even third - hand.
Not knowing what actually goes on in the mind of terrorists, therefore, makes writing about a band of them plotting a major strike against an American target very challenging.
John W. Howell's "My GRL" tries hard to meet that challenge but falls a bit short, in my opinion. His idea for the plot is solid and the target is not a typical one, which is a plus. His hero, a successful lawyer who decides to take a year-long leave of absence from his San Francisco firm, is nicely drawn and the setting, on a Texas island in the Gulf of Mexico, is off the beaten path - another plus in my opinion. Howell is also very knowledgeable about the setting and knows a lot about boats, which is critical since the action revolves around the use of a yacht in his fictional terrorist plot. That adds some real authenticity to his novel.
But, for me, there were some problems with the book that I found hard to ignore.
The dialogue, for example, seemed stiff. Americans speak in contractions but Howell's characters do not. That caused me some problems because it seemed unnatural. Then, too, there were some continuity errors that I found distracting. For example, early in the book his hero buys an old SUV and makes a point of saying he removed the doors and roof. Later, he rushes around the vehicle to open the passenger-side door for a woman he is taking out to dinner. Did he put it back on for the date? If so, I'd have liked to have been told that. There were also some awkward word choices in the novel. At one point, for example, his hero sees the sun coming up in the morning. He remarks that he is watching it "assent" into the sky. I think he meant too say "ascend."
Howell does a nice job of leading his hero astray in one memorable scene in which he thinks he's doing something good for his country at the behest of government agencies. (I thought this was his best scene in the novel. It had a real feel of authenticity.) Unfortunately, when he is writing about the terrorists later he makes some critical errors. The lead terrorist, for example, is painted as a committed Muslim but Howell has him drinking cocktails and smoking cigars before and after dinner. Observant Muslims do not drink alcohol and they do not smoke tobacco. I also had difficulty with the fact that a small-town police chief would suddenly - and very conveniently - turn out to be a retired FBI agent who served as a liaison to a SEAL team in a war zone and that an asthmatic hostage would also - conveniently - turn out to be a highly-skilled combat veteran.
Finally, the reason for the attack on an American target struck me as artificial. Howell's fictional terrorist talks about forcing the U.S. and Israel to cave in to Palestinian demands after the attack but recent history does not support that premise. In fact, recent history suggests that the response would be quite different.
To sum up: "My GRL" is full of action and even has some humor worked into the narrative. The hero is an interesting - and appealing - character who does not suddenly transform into some kind of super ninja when he is threatened and I consider that to be a major plus. He's an ordinary guy caught up in an extraordinary situation and he acts like it. I only wish the other characters were as believable.

[Ionia · Rating 4 out of 5]

John W. Howell is a new author with a mission: Entertain his readers and give them a wild ride. Mission accomplished.

If you are looking for a book that will both keep you guessing and keep your heart rate booming, this would be a good one to choose. Mr. Howell's main character reminded me somewhat of a Jason Bourne/Macgyver combo in the regard that he can go anywhere and find trouble, but he is smart enough to get himself out of the situations he finds himself in, creatively.

If you have no ability to suspend belief, you must teach yourself to have one before the end of this book. There are a few places where things seem a bit convenient and in the favour of the main character, as well as a couple of spots where you may shake your head and wonder if that could really happen to anyone. This didn't take away from the joy of reading this work for me though. In a book where so much is going on and so many serious events are taking place, finding a few far-fetched ideas in there made it more exciting and feel less technical.

This story starts off interesting and as the central characters are introduced, quickly becomes a complex tale full of intrigue and questions that won't be answered until the very end.

This author has a way of telling his story through the eyes of the main character that allows the reader to grasp the feelings, thoughts and intentions of said character as the story progresses. This was a nice change from many books that tend to give you a removed view of the story.

The author has a strong voice as a narrator, and includes a certain brand of humour that I believe will make him recognisable and set his work apart from others on the market.

My favourite thing about this book is the personality of the main character. He is funny, smart and determined to succeed no matter how bad the odds are. I did notice that in some sections there is quite a lot of explaining and details from the author, but this is a debut novel. It will be exciting to watch him grow as an author throughout future books.

I recommend this book to those who enjoy action filled tales where the characters must outwit those who intend to do them harm. Smartly written and worth the time to read.

[S.K. Nicholls · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am a serious boat person and love crime fiction so this book had me intrigued from the start. John J. Cannon is an average Joe, an attorney, trying to escape the stress of the Courtroom and office, when he heads to the Texas coast and buys a yacht from a broker who is not entirely on the up and up with him. She ends up dead. Poor John, absorbed with minutia and afflicted with OCD, gets sucked into the middle of a criminal catastrophe. There is one dilemma after another placed in front of him.

This is only the second book I have read that is written in present tense, so it took some adjustment. It is also written in first person, which I felt allowed me to get really close to the protagonist. He’s an endearing fellow who tries to make all that’s going wrong right, trying to save both his boat and innocent people from a group of terrorists. There is subtle humor tucked into every chapter. The story takes us through some crazy situations that John never expected he would have to face and is ill equipped to handle alone.

Enter Ned, the Chief of Police, and Jason, who incidentally becomes a sailing companion. Teased by action throughout the book, the intensity at the climax had me biting my nails. Howell does an excellent job creating characters and scenarios we can care about. You can’t help but become invested in the outcomes. The suspense is also as thrilling as one would expect. I would be remiss not to mention both the line and copy editing could have been tighter before publication. That issue aside, it is a most enjoyable debut crime novel. I look forward to future works by this author.

I give this book 4 out of 5 stars!

[Katie Cross · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is definitely more of 3.5 stars, first of all. I think the best way to summarize this book is that I haven't read anything quite like it before!

Howell's take on the perspective (first person present) was so interesting that I wasn't sure if I was more fascinated with the story or the stream-of-consciousness approach to writing. Truly, it's a one-of-a-kind find, and not necessarily in a bad way.

The character had personality and spunk: I liked him. He had my loyalty from the beginning. Howell added some definitely unexpected twists and turns, which kept me on my toes and wondering what he'd change next. He had a forward momentum almost the whole time. In regards to the whole book, I can think of only one instance when it felt lagging and slow, and that was due to the descriptions/flow. Howell takes care to describe just about everything :)

What I struggled with was the stream of consciousness. Howell takes care to explain everything, and at points it became very cumbersome (as I mentioned above.) Sometimes I really liked it because it was funny. At other times I felt like he was over explaining things, like rationale behind why something was stated, or explaining something that was obvious to me as a reader. I'm not sure if it's a writing style, or if he just wants to make it overly clear what his intention was.

At any rate, I looked forward to reading this book, enjoyed it while I read it, and continue to look forward to more from Howell. I'll definitely read his books in the future.