Ash and Sun

Ash and Sun #1

by Jonny Thompson

After a 200-day suspension, all that Sergeant Adam Jennings wanted was a win on his return to the Global Investigation Bureau (GIB). But when a simple warehouse fire begins to look more like a homicide investigation, he is forced to watch as the entire case begins to unravel, slowly revealing the dark underbelly of a world that should not exist. Saddled with an unwanted new partner, and a tarnished reputation, Jens is forced to tread a thin line between right and wrong as he tries to discover just what the truth really is.

404 pages, Paperback

Published October 4, 2022

About the author

Jonny Thompson is an award-winning writer from Ponamogoatitjg/Dartmouth, NS. His debut novel Ash and Sun was released in 2022 and his novels Atlantis and The Limestone Manor, were released in 2023. He looks forward to following them up soon.

Reviews

[Elena Linville-Abdo]

DNF at 30%.

I hate giving up on new authors, but this book simply can't keep my interest any longer. It was slow to start, but I hung on in there, hoping that the action will pick up with the story. Well, we are 30% in, and neither the story nor the action ever picked up.

This book could have used a trim. So many useless words! That whole opening chapter could have been slashed in half if not more, and that would have made the story only better.

My other complaint is that the characters are uninteresting, and the Jens is downright unpleasant to follow. I get that the author was going for the socially awkward genius that is somewhere on the spectrum, so has issues understanding human emotions. Well, that didn't work for me, because this depiction is inconsistent. In one chapter he struggles with understanding why some of his colleagues want to be touchy-feely after he comes back, and in the next he can read the emotions of the people he interrogates like an open book.

It's also a big fail on the genius investigator part... yeah, he Jens would be a genius if all the other cops were kindergarten kids who never learned police procedures or interrogation techniques. Seriously, the way he investigates crimes scenes or talks to witnesses and suspects would have him fired from any police precinct IRL, no matter how understaffed they were. It was painful to read through.

Also, 30% in, I still have no clue where this book is going. Yes, there is a suspicious fire in a warehouse and seven bodies. Yes, it is probably murder, and there is another possible murder that may or may not be related to that case... and that's it. We are over a quarter of the book in, shouldn't we have learned a bit more at this point? In any case, I am not sticking around to find out.

PS: I received an advanced copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Sheila Samuelson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating: 4 Stars!!
Review:
Thank you to Travelling Book Tours for hosting a Spotlight for Jonny's Books this week. This was my first reading a Science Fiction Mystery by him so i wasnt sure what to expect but i have to say it was just OK for me.

I was disappointed that this book was more Science Fiction then Mystery which was why i felt i could only rate it 4 Stars since that was the only thing i didnt like about this story.

The Characters were interesting to read about. Jens was OK but Ali was definately my favorite.

The Setting was beautifully described which made me feel like i was actually in Pittsburgh while reading, especially when the scenery was described.

Overall an OK Sci FI Mystery but could of been so much better. I will read more by Jonny but i hope his other books arent like this one was.

[Nicole Dunton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Title: Ash & Sun
Author: Jonny Thompson
Release Date: October 3rd, 2022
Page Count: 414
Format: Paperback
Start Date: January 2nd, 2023
Finish Date: January 15th, 2023

Rating: 5 Stars

Review:

This book is a very quirky and fun read. There are things referenced that just blew my mind. The only issues I had with the book were the constant use of the watch name. It kind of became redundant. I think this is a personal ism for me. The other issue I had was that it ended with a cliffhanger and I don’t have access to the second book! I fully recommend the book. I’m very thankful that I was able to read it. I'm going to have to wait very "patiently" for a book two. I'm a little nervous that there might not be a second book. I haven't seen any information about it. I will keep checking. I'll also look into more books by this author as well!

[Jacqueline Nyathi · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a story that had a lot of potential, but that suffered from overwriting. So very, very overwritten, and it got worse towards the end, unfortunately. I enjoyed the concept of a futuristic police procedural of sorts, and all of the interesting things in that world. The main character was also interesting and layered. What didn’t work for me was why he had been suspended from the agency, and how that later came back into the story. Also the main plot never came round for me, and it’s sad for the reader to have to read the next book (I believe there will be one) for any kind of resolution.

So, sigh. In summary, I wish there were fewer words. I wish the writing had been tighter. I wish the plot threads were simpler, easier to follow, and more resolved. I wanted to care more about the shadowy things that were happening, but I don’t. feel like the author got me there. So much potential, but ultimately Ash and Sun didn’t make enough sense or really work for me.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and Chantry Publishing House.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you@travelling.pages.tours and @tommyjohnson04 for my signed copy of your book. My thoughts are my own.

I really enjoyed this futuristic, well-written crime mystery! Once I started, I could not put it down! I loved the fascinating glimpse of possible future technologies, including a Zen Watch (that can do everything), e-cars, and elevators that travel at the speed of a bullet! Time is measured in days, rather than years. Everyone is allotted a certain number of days, and death days are to be celebrated! This one is full of surprising twists and revelations! I really liked the characters, especially Jens. There is a satisfying conclusion, and an exciting set up for the next book. This is book 1, with 2 more to come! I definitely plan to continue reading this series!

Short Synopsis:
This story is told from the perspective of Senior Agent, Adam Jennings (Jens), a member of the GIB, Global Investigative Bureau. Jens, who is returning from a 200 day suspension, is surprised to be put on a case on his first day back. He is not happy about working with with a new, young partner, Agent Ali Hantsport, especially when he learns she is to keep an eye on him!

Soon, what appears to be a simple case turns out to be much more, involving cover-ups, murder, and ties to other cases. What’s more, Jens is not sure who he can trust, including his partner, Ali.

Read this if you enjoy well-written and carefully thought out police procedurals, likable characters, surprising revelations, and books in a series.

[Dulce · Rating 4 out of 5]

I start off by saying that this is a planned trilogy and this is the first book. So be prepared to be left wanting more. I loved the character build up and while this book does start off slow and it does have a lot of twists and turns. The whole plot was well written and at times I really thought I had it all figured out, but i was wrong. I love the futuristic feel this book gives off, especially the technology that is used and how well it is described. It is such a small detail, but it is so important in this book. I am looking forward to the second book, and can’t wait to see what is in store for this trilogy.

[BookishNerdMom · Rating 5 out of 5]

I never would have guessed this to be a debut novel by author Jonny Thompson. The writing here is fantastic. Grumpy loner investigator is teamed up with the new recruit to solve a suspicious crime. The is faced with moral dilemma, will they do the right thing? Pair this with a few fun technological and societal differences from our own current ones and things start to get interesting.

Thompson has taken a classic trope and put a fresh new spin on it. His writing style is a pleasure to read and I cannot wait to see what he produces next.

4.5/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨

[Alison Galloway · Rating 4 out of 5]

I want to thank the author and Travelling Pages Tour for my copy of this book!

This is the first of a planned trilogy and I loved it! This book is set in a futuristic world after some type of war mixed with detective work and action. There is great character development as well!

I’m excited to see where this story goes and why this world is the way it is and what happens to the main characters.

[Snoyer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyed it! Creative story that kept me guessing throughout

[Liz Sdraulig · Rating 5 out of 5]

Debut novel by Canadian novelist. Captivating read. Futuristic more than sci-fi.