Strupceļš

by Royce Buckingham, Jāzeps Springovičs (Translator)

Stjūarts ir jurists paša dibinātā firmā, viņam ir pieklājīga māja un satriecoši skaista sieva. Dzīve ir pilnībā nokārtota, jo katrs solis ir iepriekš plānots un paredzams. Viņa firmas partneris Klejs 40 gadu jubilejā noorganizē abiem ceļojumu uz Aļasku. Lieliska nedēļa tikai vīru kompānijā – kalnu namiņš, medības, atpūta pie mežonīgās dabas.
Stjū nebūt nealkst pamest ierasto rutīnu, tomēr dodas ceļojumā, pašlepnuma un spīta vadīts. Jau lidostā viņu piemeklē pirmais neparedzētais pavērsiens...
Romāns liks jūsu iztēlei mesties auļos, paātrinot sirdspukstus. Notikumi strauji ierauj lasītāju sižeta atvarā, liekot just līdzi romāna varoņu piedzīvojumiem.

Roiss Skots Bakingems ir autors ar valodnieka un jurista grādu, raksta satriecošus bestsellerus un strādā par prokuroru kriminālvajāšanas pārvaldē.

Genres: Thriller, Fiction, Mystery Thriller, Crime

400 pages, Hardcover

First published March 3, 2015

About the author

Royce Buckingham lives in Bellingham, Washington, with his wife and sons.

Reviews

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Stuart Stark is a Massachusetts lawyer, who finds that his career has stalled after he is sacked from the DA’s office, after a case which he should have made his reputation. Although he helps convict Raymond Butz for murdering his wife, he is warned against a case where there is no body and, indeed, Butz later walks free from jail – causing the DA embarrassment and costing Stark his job.

Stark finds himself in low-rent premises, in private practice with the gregarious Clayton Buchanan. Clayton and Stark’s wife, Katherine, are hoping that a personal injury case will help their luck turn. Both Stark’s wife and his business partner are selfish, money obsessed and see Stark as rule abiding – the nice guy who never makes it to the top. Katherine is resentful that their income no longer matches her intended lifestyle and Clayton uses her ambition for wealth to help him bring in richer clients.

When Stark reaches forty, Clayton buys him a surprise present – a trip staying in a remote cabin in Alaska. Stark is not keen, especially not when Clayton drops out from the week of hunting and adventure at the very last moment. Dropped off in the wilderness, Stark finds that the trip is even more dangerous than he thought – there is no cabin and nobody comes back to collect him…

This is, of course, a modern day re-working of “The Count of Monte Cristo,” and the author creates a thrilling and exciting adventure. A modern day lawyer left to die in the wilderness, who survives against all the odds and returns to wreak revenge. The events of this novel will change Stuart Stark from a mild mannered husband and lawyer, who always does his best for his clients – even against his own interests – to a man forced to face the fact that he was left for dead by the people he cared about and who he thought cared for him. This book never lets up the pace and is a very enjoyable thriller. Lastly, I received a copy of this book from the publisher, via NetGalley, for review.

[Judy Collins · Rating 4 out of 5]

A special thank you to St. Martin's Press, Thomas Dunne Books, and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

IMPASSE, by Royce Scott Buckingham a heart-pounding modern legal thriller of survival – action packed suspense with humor, adventure, betrayal, and delicious sweet revenge.

Stuart Stark became the most famous lawyer in Massachusetts ever to lose a case and his job in the same week. The elected DA of Bristol County Malloy, could not handle being blamed for having a confessed murderer walk free on his watch, especially not in an election year.

Now he practices civil law with Clayton Buchanan, a two man (Buchanan, Stark & Associates) firm in a low rent second floor space in a five story building. Not as close to the courthouse as he wants, nor particularly attractive office; however, with money for online research service and a full time secretary, this was about all they could afford.

Clay was as gregarious as Stuart was cautious. Clay brought in work and Stu did it. Stu had become the quiet workhorse, wooing clients was a game for the bold, the risk-takers. Not him. Not anymore. "Clay on the other hand could back slap a local politician, and swap profane limericks with a dockworker, and pick up a virgin in a church pew. While Clay found the clients, Stu buried himself in cases and codes".

Stu was a rule follower. He did not push the envelope. Never had. Never would. However, Clay, quite the opposite, decides to fire Stu, even though they are partners over an impasse, (Molson case), and he is approaching forty. Now he has to pretend to enjoy a surprise birthday party, plus he has to tell his wife Katherine (as she is awaiting a big score), so he needs to put off the discussion.

So for Stu’s fortieth birthday, Clay gives him an adventure. One week in the wilderness in Alaska, and he is to leave in three days, so he does not have long to make his lists, but immediately starts preparing, as everyone calls him a pussy and always questions his manhood. Stu tells Clay he will go and he needs to get this deal done. Stu thinks a week in a cabin, how hard could it be, after all it could not be as hard as law school or the bar exam. Now he is getting psyched.

A plane was supposed to pick him up in a week – no turning back. It was nothing like Clay promised. How will he survive? So much for the Edwin’s survival guide. WTF? What comes next is a terrifying and a wild adventure plus winter is coming.

One thing for sure, he has lots of time to think about living. The idea of surviving to return to work so he could fight about other people’s problems was profoundly uninspiring. No kids, but maybe he would survive for Katherine—however, Katherine is not the faithful wife, and his sadistic partner Clay is playing a risky dangerous game, and no one comes for him in seven days, as promised.

Tables are about to turn when Stu is found by a mountain man named Blake, left for dead. With his help and his time in the wilderness, and nowhere to go until spring –he becomes a different man, the man to take them all down!

Wow, what a ride! I am a huge legal thriller fan--enjoyed the mix of humor, crime, wilderness, survival, and most of all the revenge. Reminds me a little of Dwayne Alexander Smith’s FORTY ACRES (lawyers, left in the wilderness, trapped, revenge, danger, good/evil).

However, IMPASSE has more humor --an adventure, and true to the summary, a modern The Count of Monte Cristo, the classic tale-a young man, falsely imprisoned by his jealous "friends," for eighteen years, escapes and uses a hidden treasure to exact his revenge against his nemesis.

I enjoyed Buckingham's witty sarcastic contemporary banter between Stu and Blake, as well as Audry; loved “Come on, Stu, man up.” . . . well, you have to read it, to see how he manages to win big time with this complex web of deceit. Guys will devour this one. Gals will think “hilarious”. Characters you will love and hate.

Judith D. Collins Must Read Books

[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC for review.

A nice thriller where Stu, a mild-mannered lawyer is dismissed from his dream job as a prosecuting attorney when case goes horribly wrong. Disheartened and depressed, he partners with Clay, an old acquaintance from law school and they spend several years chugging along, until a big case comes in and the two disagree on how to handle it. Then for Stu's fortieth birthday Clay gives Stu an Alaskan adventure for the two of them to take together....but only one is supposed to return.

Buckingham does a good job mixing survival story with legal thriller and this definitely sets it apart from others in the genre and moving back and forth between Alaska and Stu's home town keeps the reader interested (although Stu's wife and partner are both just a little TOO awful, such that they are caricatures versus well-fleshed characters). If thrillers are your thing, this is definitely worth a read.

[Molly · Rating 1 out of 5]

This started out fine, which is why I picked it up -- I was thinking something along the lines of a grown-up version of Hatchet. But, uh, no. It got real skeevy, real quick, and the impression I got is that only red-blooded, sexin' and meat-eatin' men and women are worth anything in this world. Stu HAD a backbone at the beginning of the novel. He was a good, fair lawyer who put the client first instead of money, even though his super charismatic partner and his power-wife disagreed. He could have toughened up a little more, but not to the point where his pinnacle moment in the novel is murdering a man by ripping out the other guy's throat with his TEETH. Jesus.

You get the message the author is peddling quickly (easy to do when he's beating you over the head with it) and it was a message I found profoundly disagreeable. Sorry that this one was a dud.

[Michael Masciangelo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Attention LAWYER friends, HIGHLY recommend reading Impasse. Not only is it a thrilling, suspense mystery, but the legal references and exploration of those topics are spot on and funny at times. Two viewpoints interchange, a husband (left for a dead) and a wife (who's intentions are not clear) build to an ultimate climax, which is worth the wait. I was intrigued from the get go and couldn't book this book down until I found out the conclusion. You will be rooting for this underdog protagonist who discovers his true spirit in the wilderness of Alaska where an unlikely friendship develops. Surviving the wild - a fair, straight on fight - is nothing compared with surviving human nature, which deceives and schemes to win. Don't deny yourself this riveting, exciting read!!

[Yatish · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it!!! Its a very realistic take on Count of Monte Cristo.
You feel all the trials and tribulations of the lead character as he's left to die in the Alaska. His struggles to survive, the feelings of hopelessness,his eventual adaptation and growth and ability to overcome challenges in his path are masterfully portrayed by the author.

The beauty of the Alaskan wilderness and the dangers lurking in them is brought out beautifully by the writing. The way he brings the disparate threads of the past and present of Stu's life together leaves you with a feeling of wonder at how masterfully executed the story is.


I'd like to thank NetGalley for providing me a free review copy!

[Anita · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars because it kept me turning the pages which is about the most I ask of any novel - and as far revenge tales go, it fulfilled that promise... I guess... however, it also reinforced old gender stereotypes to a ridiculous degree. (e.g., the "pussy" word gets thrown around A LOT and there's some mischaracterizations (and hence, resentment) towards feminists, too.) I lost a lot of respect for ol' Stu (and the author) by the time it was all over. In the end, I wish I had not read this book at all. I do not recommend.

[Paula · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this book from Netgalley.com in exchange for my honest review. Thank you to Netgalley.com, to St. Martin's Press, and to Royce Buckingham.

Stu is a methodical and efficient lawyer who plays by the rules. Unfortunately, he takes on an unwinnable case - a murder without a body - and he loses. He loses not only the case, but his career as well. He starts his own law firm partnering with an acquaintance from law school and plows through life at an honest man's pace. Clay, his partner, is all about taking risks. Maybe what Stu needs is a wilderness vacation to put life into perspective. Clay buys him a trip to Alaska to brave the wild. Meanwhile, Clay can take a few risks of his own to achieve the success that was unachievable when following Stu's tightly laid rules.

Stu is devastated when he realizes that no one is coming to rescue him from Alaska. Within inches of death, he meets a hunter who informs him that there is no easy or quick way out with the winter setting in. Stu must brave the wild or die trying. He must survive to find out why he was abandoned and who was behind the scheme.

This book was fantastic. I loved every second of Stu's adventure and his evolution into a new man. I also adored the hunter who was initially reluctant to let Stu tag along. His story was rich in character development and added so much depth to the story. As much as I loved Stu, I despised his wife Katherine and pretty much everything that she thought and did throughout the story. I hated her so much that, at times, I wish the author had less of her in the book. However, in the end, her treachery made the story that much better. I loved every minute of this book and I highly recommend it.

[Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

I chose Impasse on a whim and thought listening to it whilst painting would get me through the tedious task. Boy, did it. Much like The Count of Monte Cristo, but with a modern twist, Impasse is just as gripping but much less lengthy than the classic revenge tale.

Stu is a smart attorney who has always played life safe and by the book. He's in a bit of a slump before a milestone birthday so his friend, and partner at his firm, suggests a getaway wildlife adventure in Alaska. Is Stu up for it? More importantly, is there more than meets the eye in the offer? You've got to read it to find out.

I loved the story as it progressed covering Stu's time in Alaska. It made me keen to give it a go myself... Though I doubt I could do half as well myself. This was the best bit for me as it was exciting and really drove the overall story.

Less enthralling was the plot line at home whilst Stu was away, between Clay and Stu's wife, Katherine. I was with it, to a certain point, but found the gratuitous sex a bit much. It just wasn't needed. But, don't let that put you off the book. It's well worth the time even with this unnecessary titillation.

[Kim McGee · Rating 4 out of 5]

What do you do when your law partner gives you a great surprise on your fortieth birthday- a solo wilderness trip in Alaska. Mild mannered Stu thinks he is doing ok with his new private law practice he shares with a buddy and beautiful wife who adores him and thinks he looks ok for forty. Suddenly he is dumped in the Alaska wilderness with his brand new gear, no idea where the cabin is and no idea how to survive in the wild. His partner and wife should be grieving but instead have a whole new way to grow the firm without Stu. Intense outdoor survival combined with killer behind the scenes shady legal practices. This is not the book to take with you on a weekend in the mountains!

[Ellen Mandly · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars - Unbeknownst to me prior to starting this, its set in the New Bedford/Dartmouth area with a few Providence characters tossed in, so it had that going for it! Impasse didn't blaze any new trails in the mystery-thriller category and I pretty much knew where it was going every step of the way, but I still enjoyed it. A quick, easy listen with a good main character to root for and some good supporting characters.

[Tucker · Rating 3 out of 5]

Impasse is an outstanding modern retelling of “The Count of Monte Cristo.” The author very skillfully combines the classic revenge story with action, adventure, (and humor), as we learn what it really means to “man up!”
Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book.

[Kevin · Rating 1 out of 5]

I'm thinking Count of Monte Cristo meets Hatchet and who wouldn't like that? I for one didn't. The author would have us believe a real man is a killer, a real man doesn't care about others, a real man believes in and reinforces antiquated stereotypes, a real man wants his women disgustingly skeevey... Not this man. Truly awful.

[Jessica · Rating 2 out of 5]

I have a hard time rating this one. It held my attention and I wanted to keep reading to see what happened but....the ending was totally unbelieveable. How they hell did Stu get back in court??? And how did he contact Blake to get him to court??? SO messed up. Overall, interesting, but I doubt I'll pick up anything else by this author.

[Lucy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great fun. A wonderful and dramatic reimagine of the Count of Monte Cristo. There may be no new stories but there are certainly new and interesting ways to tell the old ones. This does it in a very entertaining way.

[Kelly · Rating 2 out of 5]

The premise was great and it started off solidly. But the speed and progression was way off, which made it all seem wildly unrealistic. Quick read.

ETA: the treatment of women in this novel was atrocious and the reinforcement of outdated gender stereotypes was unnecessary.

[Johnny G. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent!

[Adam · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyable, narration was excellent. Cruised through it in a weekend.

[Marianne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Could not put this book down. Certainly different from my usual. and a stunner of an ending.
Quite good writing. First time with this author, and I will read more.

[Jean · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it. One of the few I'd recommend to my friends.

[Michael Steele · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book but a bit slow. The main character was way to naive. The book is well written an kept my interest all the way through to the end.

[Jimena · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very entertaining, definitely a light read that fulfilled my expectations. The characters are likable and easy to remember. There are funny parts, the wrapping up and end are good. I recommend!

[Michael Freeman · Rating 4 out of 5]

A nice, quick lawyer whodunit. It's an easy read without a lot of fluff and, as both a lawyer and a late thirties male, it has a spot on perspective and basis.

[Tom Boumil · Rating 3 out of 5]

Just OK

The description of this book compares it to The Count of Monte Cristo. The similarities are limited to someone wronged and gets some amount of revenge, but it's not anywhere near the same class.

Stu was a prosecutor moving up, but a setback made him give up the social climbing, open a private practice with a sleazy-smooth ex-classmate, and become much more cautious. Fast forward a bit and Stu is abandoned to die in Alaska having received an adventure vacation gift from his partner. Stu is saved and taught to survive by a trapper that finds him near death. He returns, figures out what happened, and exact some revenge.
All in all the character development could have been better. For example, Stu spends 6 months learning survival skills, but it doesn't seem to change him in any profound way. Yes, he gains some self-confidence and loses some weight, but his mindset seems the same right up until the last page. There's more time devoted to sex scenes than to character development and while I have no problem with sex scenes, some of these are a little far-fetched. The first time Kate and Clay have sex he (essentially ties her up with her dress) and can't perform until she meets his demand of talking about her sexual encounters with other men. One might think this would have her scratching her head, but no. She goes with this and other demands without batting an eye.

I got this book from the library, so the price was right. If you have to pay for it, the price is likely too high for the quality of the story.

[Andrew Lopez · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars for me. If I was taking it seriously I'd give it 2 stars but I'm not. The characters are whack and unreal but in a way that made it fun for me. This is a very sexual book so don't read it if that bothers you too much. The plot was quick and enjoyable, the characters I loved to hate except a few but I'm not going to say because of spoilers. There were plenty of twists and turns. If you are going to read the book, have a good read. Also finished it on my birthday.

[Matt · Rating 3 out of 5]

I literally had a hard time putting this book down. Read it in one day. The story was that good. Outstanding narrative, characters expertly defined, unique plot line & pace was spot on.

Why 3 stars?

I would have easily given Impasse 4 stars but the sexual content was over the top, unnecessary & frankly offensive. Going from PG to R added nothing beneficial & detracted from what could have been a GREAT read.

I would love to read more of Buckingham’s work but am sadly reluctant.

[RedThingy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wie ein kleiner John Grisham Roman. Die Charaktere sind gut dargestellt, aber nicht dramatisiert. Ich habe das Buch in Erwartung einer spannenden Naturerlebnis Geschichte gekauft - aber das Ganze war nur nebensächlich. Allerdings schmälert das nicht den Unterhaltungswert und kommt daher auf 4 Sterne meinerseits.

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just gave this 5 stars for entertainment value. Loved the initially clueless protagonist and just liked the whole story overall. Yes, it's not a brand new story idea, but overall very enjoyable nevertheless.

[Sheila Mulcahy · Rating 1 out of 5]

This is so awful I recommend that any reader of decent lit not even bother, this review is simply meant to save you the trouble of opening the cover and reading the jacket. You're welcome.

[Lulu · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found parts of this story incredible. Like how the main character even arrived in his situation. Lots of deplorable characters.