Unforeseen

Thomas Prescott #1

by Nick Pirog

Retired homicide detective Thomas Prescott is reluctant to read the best selling book Eight in October, a true-crime thriller based on a string of murders occurring throughout October of the past year. After all, it was his case, and he doesn t need to be reminded of the gruesome details. The book dubbed the serial killer, Tristen Grayer, The MAINEiac. Grayer is allegedly dead, but only Prescott knows the truth, Grayer is alive and lurking in the shadows. On October 1st, the anniversary of the first murder, Tristen resurfaces, killing someone special from Prescott's past. Suddenly, it s deja vu for Prescott except this time the women closest to him begin to fall victim at the hands of Grayer. With the help of former flame, medical examiner Dr. Caitlin Dodds, and Eight in October author, Alex Tooms, Prescott must race against the clock to stop Tristen from completing his encore.

Genres: Mystery, Thriller, Crime, Fiction, Mystery Thriller, Audiobook, Ebooks

298 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 14, 2008

About the author

Nick Pirog is the bestselling author of the Thomas Prescott series, the 3:00 a.m. series, and The Speed of Souls. He lives in South Lake Tahoe with his other half, Stephy, and their pup, Potter.

Reviews

[TXGAL1 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hold on to your hat..and your lunch—this is one fast-paced, gruesome story about Thomas Prescott, FBI consultant, on the trail of a previous acquaintance.

This read won’t take long and the thrills will be nonstop! It is first in the Thomas Prescott series by author Nick Pirog.

[Heather · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hard to say what to rate this. Plot's a good solid 3.5. But the writing? Even for a cheap/free Kindle download, this sucked.

Look, Nick. You have a foreword about how this book is your baby. Yeah? How in hell do you think a baby should be treated? Would you feed it, give it clothing?

Two suggestions:

1. BUY A FUCKING DICTIONARY. I have never seen so much unintentionally misused vocabulary in one volume. The one that really stuck with me was "...if either Caleb or I had been poignant enough to remove our cell phones before plunging into the Atlantic", but there was something similar every 10 pages or so.

2. Shell out a few hundred bucks, or even a coupla grand, for a goddam proofreader. The vocabulary errors really pissed me off, but the lack of understanding of basic principles of comma usage didn't help. Shit, I'll do it if you can't use a simple web search to locate copyediting services online. I could use the cash.

I've said this before, and I'll say it again. NOTE TO E-BOOK AUTHORS: THE PRINT INDUSTRY HAS EDITORS FOR A REASON. IF YOU BYPASS THIS BY PUBLISHING AN E-BOOK, GET YOURSELF A FUCKING EDITOR.

[Deb Mj · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm pretty conflicted about this. It's not a bad story, and the writing is more than adequate. I'm a huge fan of sarcasm and dry wit, and Pirog is good at it, but there's way too much of it here. Almost every page has a "witty" or sarcastic comment, and it stops being amusing and begins to feel snarky and forced.

[Bandit · Rating 2 out of 5]

The edition I read is the tenth anniversary one (not really dated except for celebrity references, so this book is one of those early embarrassment works. I mean the author seems to be proud of it and apparently wrote more of them. Pirog's writing has certainly improved. His Henry Bins 3 am book (which is how I found out about the author) was quite good. Looks like he's learned to fine tune his sense of humor to something appropriate and a thing or two about plot/character originality. Unforeseen, however, is something of a crapfest. It's a detective/serial killer novel set in Maine, because apparently it's where all the terrible things happen despite the fact that it's one of the statistically safest places to live in. Then again when did statistics stand a chance against fiction. Thomas Prescott, the main protagonist(in actuality tragically obnoxious, annoying, vain egotist) is handsome and funny. He tells you so himself. Repeatedly. It makes his irresistible to cartoonishly attractive females, enough to keep him in a love triangle worthy of a chickflick. He's funny because he can't stop making jokes, at all. He can't help it, he was written that way and Pirog's back in the day apparently wasn't able to stop humoring up the book. Sometimes genuinely funny, but for the most part just juvenile. It's all over the place too, there is so much levity on so many varied and occasionally inappropriate times (example to follow) that were these jokes balloons, the story would just float away on them. As it does, really. It's pretty much impossible to take seriously and it crosses into insipid territory too often for enjoyment as a comedy. I'm not a prude and I appreciate an author with a good sense of humor (someone like Jeff Strand), but when someone refers to 7 year old girl's missing eyeballs as chocolate fudge brownies that's just...wrong. Coben is one of my favorite mystery/thriller authors and I remember listening to an audio book of his debut after being familiar with his more recent body of work. It was amateur, preposterous and silly and Coben, aware of the fact, wrote his foreword accordingly, urging the readers to not have the book serve as an introduction to his work. Pirog should have probably use similar technique, instead of proclaiming his love for the shiny turd that Unforeseen is. Then again, no parent talks sh*t about their babies. SO I'll say what Pirog won't...don't let this be your introduction to the author. There was a blind person doing a composite sketch of a killer. That's just so...Anyway, that's the book. If you like your thrillers really light on plot and coherence and your humor really overdone, you might enjoy this. Otherwise not so much.

[Sandra Mazliah · Rating 1 out of 5]

i gave this a 1 because it was free audible as part of my membership. I was hoping to discover a new series and author. i’d be a LOT less generous if I had paid good money.

First, i had to look up when this book was written... i was trying to give the sexist narrative (excessive commentary on women’s bodies, etc,), a break, but it was written in 2004. No excuse.

“Men hate when women come into their house and act like they own the place. Women on the other hand view it as a smidgen below a marriage proposal. i had the distinct impression Caitlin’s overies were huddledI together in her fallopian tube watching my every move like an episode of Sex in the City”

Yuck.

i wanted to like the main character but he was a characture of other “detectives” who did it better. He WASN’T charming, or funny, just cringe worthy. The character has different names for his penis, used ridiculous “witticisms”, And there was WAY too much of it- He wanted to be Spenser, instead he was Andrew Dice Clay.

i thought it was a good premise, ruined by bad writing. Also a bad ending. The “twist” was convoluted and unbelievable.

Also I HATE when bad things happen because a character can’t be bothered to tell other characters important information.

[Greg Tymn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reading Nick's bio helped me put this book in better perspective. He wrote this book while in his early 20's, which explains some of the adjectives and adverbs (sometimes archaic, sometimes wrong), a lot of the high-school level humor (although I laughed out loud very late at night over 2 of the witty observations), much of the hormonally-infused introspective dialogue and the cheap shots at the FBI.

The plot was put together pretty well, with some weak spots toward the end of the novel. The descriptions of Maine were well-done, with easy visualization of the characters, action and scenery.....and a bit too bloody at times. The book had problems, but I couldn't put it down. I read it in an evening and enjoyed it. And it was free on Kindle. I went on to purchase Gray Matter this morning.

[Erth · Rating 5 out of 5]

All power to your writing elbow, Mr Pirog, you have a super fan here! Oh, I need more Thomas Prescott, please!

[Laur]

This one was hard to rate, I also didn’t care for the narration, as I felt the narrator was trying to mimic Humphrey Bogart in his delivery.

I had problems with the writing style. Short choppy sentences, over-the-top character sarcasm, the attempt to try to be constantly witty, and a whole lot of profanity. At first, I didn't mind the sarcasm and wit, then it just started to get on my nerves as I was reading it, and listening to it, page after page. No, thanks. Just wasn’t for me. LTS.

[Angus Mcfarlane · Rating 2 out of 5]

An introductory free ebook by someone who has gone on to bigger, and I assume better, things. I rarely give 2 stars to a book I finish, but felt obligated in this case. It's not that it is written poorly, rather that for me it was generally unpleasant. The story is supposed to be an investigative crime/thriller, but it has all the features of a teen horror. Clues are suddenly discovered by the protagonist, who otherwise had no idea what was happening, but usually only in time to be the first to find the grisly remains of the latest victim. Furthermore, the guy is unlikable, unable to care for or respect the women in his life and says little that is not sardonic and devoid of any wit. And then, there's the setting of the story as a follow up to a previous incident - after this one I don't have much interest in reading a prequel or sequel.

[Joni Fisher · Rating 4 out of 5]

Serial Killer Noir

Testosterone tale of guns, guts, and girls. Thomas Prescott can’t sail worth spit, but he’s good at tracking serial killers and following his primal urges.

[Lynda Kelly · Rating 2 out of 5]

Another not right for me though it merits an extra star as I hadn't spotted a single mistake when I packed it in. I saw in some reviews before I started it that they mentioned the humour and hoped it wasn't going to be too funny...but unfortunately it is. All I'd read when I gave up with it was the male lead wise-cracking his way through life, even after discussing a girl hacked into 30 pieces. I prefer my murders to be taken more seriously, and yes, I'm aware it's fiction but still....
I packed it up when he mentioned he'd left an FBI report in the seat-pocket on the plane and only remarked it would be some leisure reading for the next incumbent. No way would this happen, that information not being retrieved and it was enough for me.
I'm not humourLESS but if I want to read funnies I'd buy a comedic story.

[Desiree · Rating 4 out of 5]

I NEVER miss my stop on the train, not even when I'm sleeping. This book made me miss my stop twice in one day, once on the way to work and then again on the way home. A bona fide page turner!

[Thom Karmik · Rating 1 out of 5]

When women complain about how poorly men write women characters, this ought to be exhibit A. Add the horrible humor--apparently Panda Express is better if the employee is vaguely Asian; hilarious? The plot might have been interesting in more skilled hands, but no one could have saved the "twist" at the end, so obvious and so hacky. Audible provided this title free with membership, and I still feel like I overpaid.

[Warren Webb · Rating 2 out of 5]

i'll keep it simple for this one, i truly enjoyed the flow and beat of this book in the genre of crime thriller or whatever you wish to assign it. i really enjoyed listening to it and the plot kept me interested enough throughout, but while listening ( i got this free from audible, as i assume most others did too), i just assumed it was from like the late 90s or thereabouts, the overt sexism and generally douchebag tone of the lead character and the writer were prettty hard to ignore. i actually enjoyed this book, and im certainly not the PC police but i left thinking, the main character is a huge asshole and the person who wrote this might consider personal therapy, or just consulting anyone who wasn't a straight white dude for some perspective

[Vfields Don't touch my happy! · Rating 3 out of 5]

Unforeseen sometimes made me happy and sometimes made me sad.
Unforeseen sometimes made me laugh out loud and sometimes it really made me downright mad.
I honestly cannot tell you where it fits in my Mystery world. I’m going to give it one more try to see if The Thomas Prescott books are a series I’m interested in giving up my precious time on.

[Aղցela W. · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a pretty good suspense thriller. This was the first book in the "Thomas Prescott" series. Thomas Prescott is a former homicide detective and an FBI consultant who was part of a team that investigated a series of eight murders the previous year. The team thought the murderer was dead. Until the anniversary of the murders came around and more victims appeared victims whose lives intersected with Prescott’s. I loved how the author used humor in his writings in such serious genre. I also loved the secondary characters in this book like Prescott’s sister Lacy who suffers from multiple sclerosis and one of its complications, temporary blindness due to inflammation of the optic nerve which lasts for most of the story but doesn’t slow her down much, even from painting or treading water in the bay. Caitlin Dodds brother Connor is Lacy’s boyfriend and was also part of the team. This was my first time reading or listening to this author. I loved the narrator of this book. I am looking forward to reading or listening to the next book in this series.

[Dan Banana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Action, bad humor, good characters, murder, mayhem, dismemberment and enjoyable.

[Wal.li · Rating 3 out of 5]

Knapp entkommen

Im Oktober vor einem Jahr ist der FBI-Berater Thomas Prescott bei einem Einsatz nur knapp dem Tod entronnen. Und nun hat ein Autor über die damalige Mordserie ein Buch geschrieben, das nach Prescotts Meinung nicht den Tatsachen entspricht. Der Serienkiller, der ein Jahr zuvor acht Frauen getötet hat, gilt als tot. Prescott jedoch ist sich sicher, der Killer ist noch am Leben und auf der Flucht. Doch niemand glaubt ihm. Und Prescott ist drauf und dran, die Ermittlungen auf eigene Faust wieder aufzunehmen. Die Lage ändert sich als eine Frau aus Prescotts Umfeld grausam zerstückelt wird.

Bei diesem Buch handelt es sich um eine Neuauflage dieses Erstlingswerks zum 10-jährigen Jubiläum. Der Autor war beim Schreiben des Romans Anfang zwanzig. Zwar ist sein Charakter Thomas Prescott bereits Anfang dreißig, doch das jugendliche Alter des Autors scheint sich in den Eigenschaften seines Protagonisten widerzuspiegeln. Als nämlich Frauen aus Prescotts Umfeld geschützt werden sollen, fallen ihm auf die Schnelle 27 Personen ein. Darunter befindet sich selbstverständlich auch seine Schwester Lacey, die an Multipler Sklerose erkrankt ist. Um sie kümmert sich Thomas wirklich rührend. Wie er seine Frauengeschichten verwaltet, ist dagegen schon etwas gewöhnungsbedürftig.

Die Idee einen Fall nach einem Jahr wieder aufleben zu lassen, ist allerdings spannend ausgearbeitet. Wenn man auch manchmal nicht richtig nachvollziehen kann, wie Prescott zu seinen Lösungsansätzen kommt, bleibt dieser Thriller doch fesselnd und zügig zu lesen. Ob es der etwas reichlichen Anzahl an Toten bedarf, mag dahin gestellt bleiben. Bis zum Schluss bleibt man neugierig, dem Täter das letzte Geheimnis zu entreißen.

Ein insgesamt angenehm zu lesendes Erstlingswerk, dessen Humor einem Nicht-Muttersprachler nicht immer ganz leicht zugänglich ist, dass aber nie an Spannung vermissen lässt.

[Kimberly Adams · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thomas Prescott is an arrogant asshole, racist, sexist, chauvinistic pig. You can tell this book was written quite a while ago (probably sat on a hard drive for many years before publishing). The technology is dated and I certainly hope Prescott evolves from his ape-like caveman mentality. Even though the way he thinks of women drives me nuts, I like his spunky sister and their loving and prankish relationship. They are both extremely sarcastic, which I love. Thomas uses every one liner ever used by men who think a relationship is just about the sex, no strings attached, bucks all authority and judges all other enlightened men due to his own immaturity. I liked the action and mystery enough to stick with it. I really thought this was written in the 70s, based on the main characters good ol boy, locker talk blabber. The women who he was involved with rolled over way to easy. I want to see him meet a woman that kicks his caveman dumbass right into the 21st century.
Interesting and engaging murder mystery, but puh-lease, let Thomas grow up! I bought this as an audio box set for a really good deal, otherwise I'd be pissed.

[Jan Mcclung-short · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really had a hard time reading this book. I made a vow to never not finish a book after starting one. If the author took the time to write it, then I would take the time to read it. I so wanted to break the rule with this book. The book dragged for me. The plot and story line are exciting and don't clash. One of the things that turned me off immediately is all the little sarcastic jabs the main character has to say in every scene. It was so immature. I just wanted to slap him and yell. As a person, I would have walked away and had absolutely nothing to do with him again. As a reader, I struggled through. I never had a problem with the plot or story line. It was exciting. The monolog from the main character is immature: especially,for a college professor, you would expect more professionalism. No cliffhangers which is great. A full novel, not these little under 100 page teasers....where you just get into the book and its over. The ending is great and so unexpected.

[Will Decker · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book! I am well aware that most people will find the main character obnoxious, sexist, uncaring, and a real smart ass, but I found his wit, attitude, and honesty very entertaining. Although a bit of editing wouldn't hurt, I accepted the grammar errors, misused words, and sentence structure as just part of the character's flaws, and he has a lot of flaws. Still, he has a knack for attracting women, even if he can't keep them once his personality wears on them, and an even bigger knack for solving crimes. A good book, but I would be hesitant to recommend it to just anyone. You're either going to love it or hate it; it's one of those books.

[Patricia Green · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book is why I have now vowed to stop buying those free or 99 cent books - you get what you pay for and this was a pretty dreadful book. I didn't really finish it - just skimmed through to the end.
The writing was the hardest thing to deal with - the atrocious grammar and the misuse of words.
None of the characters seemed even vaguely realistic and the protagonist - Thomas Prescott - is an odious character, his constant wise cracking just got tedious and made the book even harder to get through.
The plot was too ridiculous and far fetched.
Apparently Nick Pirog has improved his writing skills but my time is too precious to even attempt to find out if this is true

[Louise Pledge · Rating 4 out of 5]

As another reviewer stated: Not sure how to rate this. Several things bothered me: 1. (language--pretty objectionable) 2. Over the top humor (yes, it is possible to get too much of a good thing). 3. Editing (or lack of)--lots of errors that I couldn't believe weren't caught by anyone but the readers.

That said, I really got hooked about 70% through the book & had to stay awake till I finished. Oh, and there's, also, a #4 that I forgot: the main character's excessive drinking (and I do mean excessive)!

Despite all these criticisms, I am now on the third one in the series! :)

[Linda Look · Rating 5 out of 5]

This may be one of my new top authors. Retired detective Thomas Prescott knows a serial killer, Tristen Grayer, is alive while the public think he was killed. Thomas is an FBI consultant. On the anniversary of his first murder, the killing begins again and involves women known to Thomas. While protecting his blind sister, current girlfriend and students, he must stop the killer. Very fast read, good plot. I really enjoyed this book. I rate it a 5.0

[Anastasia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Unforseen by Nick Pirog is the first book in the Thomas Prescott Mystery series. Retired homicide detective Thomas Prescott was responsible for bringing down serial killer Tristen Grayer, but now it appears he has returned and killing women close to Thomas. It is hard to rate this book. It wasn't bad but I thought the humour and sarcasm a bit overdone and inappropriate. The main character seemed to be too full of himself. Otherwise the mystery was interesting and moved along at a quick pace.

[Angel Graham · Rating 1 out of 5]

DID NOT FINISH

don't mind sarcasm, heck, I do sarcasm myself, but just about every sentence in the first paragraph read with both biting and outright rude sarcasm. The endnote for me was the sexual quip, when the main character begins objectifying the flight attendant.

My second problem with this is it being first person. Seems like every book I bought this week is first person. Sigh.

[Sharon · Rating 1 out of 5]

I started this book, but stopped after three chapters because I couldn't stand the writing...misogynistic attempts at humor and wit that were grating, and other unimaginative stylistic tricks that ruined the story line for me. The plot sounded interesting, but I didn't get very far into it before deciding to find something better to read.

[Sue Boiarsky · Rating 5 out of 5]

Unforeseen Enjoyment should have been the title of this novel!

Anyone with a sense of humor will thoroughly enjoy this. Author keeps you guessing and involved all the way through even though it's being slightly gory.

[Sheldon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Simply put super! Thomas Prescott is a combination of Stephanie Plum and Andy Carpenter. Humor, toughness and crime solving. Ok, so this Pilog writes a much gorier mystery than Evanovitch or Rosenfelt but he creates a wonderfully evil case for his dick to solve. Yummy!

[Bonnye Reed]

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