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Solving Cadence Moore
How much will one man risk to solve the unsolvable? Ten years ago, famous young singer Cadence Moore disappeared without a trace on a remote highway in western Pennsylvania. To this day her fate remains unknown. Was she kidnapped or murdered? Or did she simply run away in search of a new life, leaving behind the abuse and heartbreak that haunted her? Charlie Marx, host of the popular conspiracy radio show “Underground Broadcast,” is obsessed with Cadence. Desperate to find her after deceiving his boss to save his job, he launches an investigation of his own, digging deep into the missing woman’s past and uncovering her darkest secrets. Working feverishly for weeks, he claims to have solved the mystery and promises to reveal Cadence’s fate at the end of a groundbreaking podcast series and live radio special. But is it all a lie? As years of twisted details slowly unravel, Charlie races to solve the biggest mystery of the decade. If he succeeds, it will mean closure for Cadence. If he fails, his entire world will come crashing down live on air—and the truth may be lost forever.
- GenresMystery
370 pages, Paperback
First published November 7, 2017
3 people are currently reading
50 people want to read
About the author
Gregory Sterner
1 book4 followersI am an author who enjoys mystery novels, philosophy, conspiracy theory stories, and true crime. My debut mystery novel "Solving Cadence Moore" was released on November 7th, 2017. I have learned so far in my brief membership in the worldwide club of published authors that it is wise to listen to feedback, especially from publishers or agents who have had more success than you. One has to be flexible and open to collaboration in order to move forward in the process of getting your novel published. I think it's important to embrace inspiration when it comes and don't be afraid to take risks, as long as you do so in the parameters of good writing and good reading. It can be easy to push things too far if you don't have in mind what a potential wide readership might enjoy. I'm still learning and feel lucky to have been granted the opportunity to get a novel published, in my case by Aperture Press, LLC in Reading, PA.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
July 13, 2019
Check out all of my reviews at: https://www.avonnalovesgenres.com
SOLVING CADENCE MOORE by Gregory Sterner is a mystery written in the form of a radio podcast series intertwined with intervals of the background workings and relationships of the main character. The podcast scripts reveal the mystery and interviews in an attempt to solve a ten-year-old murder mystery.
Ten years ago, Cadence Moore, a talented but troubled young singer disappeared. After a drunken altercation with her college friends, she was left on the side of the road while returning from a party and was never seen again.
Charlie Marx is the host of a popular conspiracy radio show. After the huge popularity of a movie about the disappearance of Cadence reignites public interest, Charlie’s boss wants a special series of podcasts on the subject. He launches his own investigation into the disappearance and claims to have solved the mystery which he will reveal in a groundbreaking live radio special after the podcasts run.
But is it really solved? Is there finally closure for Cadence?
If Charlie has succeeded and truly solved this mystery, he will be acclaimed, but if he fails and everything he is promoting are lies, his entire career will be destroyed live on air.
I liked the mystery and the podcasts revealing the information, speculation and characters involved. It was a unique way to let each character reveal their versions of Cadence and the case. It was a fictional case, but the author made feel you feel as if you were following a true-crime case which pulled you into the mystery. Charlie Marx is a flawed character that has everything on the line and you feel equal parts empathy and revulsion for him. I find the sections of the book where Charlie interacts with others outside of the podcasts realistic, but drawn out and slow. I also found the lead section into the climax slow and unnecessary. That said, it was not enough to stop me from reading until the end to find out both the solution to the mystery and the resolution of Charlie’s career.
I would like to thank Kelsey Butts from bookpublicityservices.com for the copy of this book for review.
SOLVING CADENCE MOORE by Gregory Sterner is a mystery written in the form of a radio podcast series intertwined with intervals of the background workings and relationships of the main character. The podcast scripts reveal the mystery and interviews in an attempt to solve a ten-year-old murder mystery.
Ten years ago, Cadence Moore, a talented but troubled young singer disappeared. After a drunken altercation with her college friends, she was left on the side of the road while returning from a party and was never seen again.
Charlie Marx is the host of a popular conspiracy radio show. After the huge popularity of a movie about the disappearance of Cadence reignites public interest, Charlie’s boss wants a special series of podcasts on the subject. He launches his own investigation into the disappearance and claims to have solved the mystery which he will reveal in a groundbreaking live radio special after the podcasts run.
But is it really solved? Is there finally closure for Cadence?
If Charlie has succeeded and truly solved this mystery, he will be acclaimed, but if he fails and everything he is promoting are lies, his entire career will be destroyed live on air.
I liked the mystery and the podcasts revealing the information, speculation and characters involved. It was a unique way to let each character reveal their versions of Cadence and the case. It was a fictional case, but the author made feel you feel as if you were following a true-crime case which pulled you into the mystery. Charlie Marx is a flawed character that has everything on the line and you feel equal parts empathy and revulsion for him. I find the sections of the book where Charlie interacts with others outside of the podcasts realistic, but drawn out and slow. I also found the lead section into the climax slow and unnecessary. That said, it was not enough to stop me from reading until the end to find out both the solution to the mystery and the resolution of Charlie’s career.
I would like to thank Kelsey Butts from bookpublicityservices.com for the copy of this book for review.
June 28, 2019
*https://theburgeoningbookshelf.blogsp...
Solving Cadence Moore is a uniquely plotted mystery written around a radio podcast series.
With podcasts becoming increasingly popular Sterner’s idea of writing a mystery with a radio personality, not a detective, as the main character and centering it on a podcast series is modern and brilliant.
The disappearance, ten years ago, of popular, young college singer Cadence Moore is back in the headlines after a documentary was recently screened about it.
Charlie Marx, radio personality, thinks he can do a better investigation of the facts of her disappearance. His boss assigns him podcast time and Charlie starts to build the momentum. The podcast becomes a major hit when Charlie declares he will let his listeners in on the truth of Cadence Moore’s disappearance. A truth he doesn’t have, but why let that get in the way of a good story.
The podcast goes through interviews with all the witnesses and friends of Cadence’s last days. It’s ten years on and some recollections may be hazy; some may even be lying!
The mystery of Cadence’s disappearance really pulled me in and throughout the interviews I made, and changed, my own conclusions many times.
The main focus of this story is Cadence and we get a lot of background on her and her friends. However there is not much on Charlie Marx, the producer of the podcast, and his boss, Tyler Ruebens. Both men came across as egotistical fast-talking conmen. Their personalities leapt from the page and brought the characters to life. As unlikeable as they were, they were extremely real.
Gregory Sterner’s debut novel Solving Cadence Moore, a modern day noir, will draw you in and keep you hooked until the very last page.
4.5 stars
*My thanks to the author for my copy to read.
Solving Cadence Moore is a uniquely plotted mystery written around a radio podcast series.
With podcasts becoming increasingly popular Sterner’s idea of writing a mystery with a radio personality, not a detective, as the main character and centering it on a podcast series is modern and brilliant.
The disappearance, ten years ago, of popular, young college singer Cadence Moore is back in the headlines after a documentary was recently screened about it.
Charlie Marx, radio personality, thinks he can do a better investigation of the facts of her disappearance. His boss assigns him podcast time and Charlie starts to build the momentum. The podcast becomes a major hit when Charlie declares he will let his listeners in on the truth of Cadence Moore’s disappearance. A truth he doesn’t have, but why let that get in the way of a good story.
The podcast goes through interviews with all the witnesses and friends of Cadence’s last days. It’s ten years on and some recollections may be hazy; some may even be lying!
The mystery of Cadence’s disappearance really pulled me in and throughout the interviews I made, and changed, my own conclusions many times.
The main focus of this story is Cadence and we get a lot of background on her and her friends. However there is not much on Charlie Marx, the producer of the podcast, and his boss, Tyler Ruebens. Both men came across as egotistical fast-talking conmen. Their personalities leapt from the page and brought the characters to life. As unlikeable as they were, they were extremely real.
Gregory Sterner’s debut novel Solving Cadence Moore, a modern day noir, will draw you in and keep you hooked until the very last page.
4.5 stars
*My thanks to the author for my copy to read.
September 27, 2019
Solving Cadence Moore by Gregory Sterner is a mystery novel. The readers are introduced to Charlie Marx. He is the host of a podcast that focuses on conspiracy theories. He decides to his own investigation into the disappearance of Cadence Moore. She was a lively, popular, college student and vanished without a trace. Charlie Marx says he has solved the mystery, but is he just deceiving everyone to save his job and make his podcast more popular?
*Sigh* I love mysteries. I am always looking for a good investigation show to watch or true crime novel to read about. This fictional mystery fell short for me. First of all, it started off slow. The writing is extremely repetitive. I just wanted the story to get to the point. In fact, the pace never picks up. I just didn’t connect with the story at all. Don’t get me wrong. I love the idea of it! A host of a podcast trying to solve a disappearance? This should have engaged me from the very beginning.
Then there is the issue with the characters…I did not like Charlie Marx. Usually I could get past that, not this time. He is selfish, rude, arrogant, etc… It wasn’t just him. I couldn’t connect with any of the characters. I wanted to know more about Cadence Moore. There is a definite lack of emotion in this book. For this, I have to rate this book 2 out of 5 stars.
Thanks to Kelsey Butts and the author for a copy of the book.
*Sigh* I love mysteries. I am always looking for a good investigation show to watch or true crime novel to read about. This fictional mystery fell short for me. First of all, it started off slow. The writing is extremely repetitive. I just wanted the story to get to the point. In fact, the pace never picks up. I just didn’t connect with the story at all. Don’t get me wrong. I love the idea of it! A host of a podcast trying to solve a disappearance? This should have engaged me from the very beginning.
Then there is the issue with the characters…I did not like Charlie Marx. Usually I could get past that, not this time. He is selfish, rude, arrogant, etc… It wasn’t just him. I couldn’t connect with any of the characters. I wanted to know more about Cadence Moore. There is a definite lack of emotion in this book. For this, I have to rate this book 2 out of 5 stars.
Thanks to Kelsey Butts and the author for a copy of the book.
July 15, 2019
Want to see more bookish things from me? Check out my youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfer...
*I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest review*
Over a decade ago, young singer Cadence Moore went missing from the small town she was attending college in. No one knows what became of her but everyone has their theories. Podcast producer Charlie Marx decides to dig up the cold case and solve it, once and for all.
I really did not enjoy this book. Charlie Marx was a terrible man and so obnoxiously full of himself he made me angry. Every word out of his mouth was derogatory, racist or sexist and I was NOT A FAN of him in any way. Each line of any given paragraph was just a repeat of the previous line said in a different way. The book was so slow and boring I had to put it down several times because I was just getting annoyed of going around in circles.
*I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest review*
Over a decade ago, young singer Cadence Moore went missing from the small town she was attending college in. No one knows what became of her but everyone has their theories. Podcast producer Charlie Marx decides to dig up the cold case and solve it, once and for all.
I really did not enjoy this book. Charlie Marx was a terrible man and so obnoxiously full of himself he made me angry. Every word out of his mouth was derogatory, racist or sexist and I was NOT A FAN of him in any way. Each line of any given paragraph was just a repeat of the previous line said in a different way. The book was so slow and boring I had to put it down several times because I was just getting annoyed of going around in circles.
June 21, 2020
Solving Cadence Moore is the first novel by American author, Gregory Sterner. Cadence Moore went missing at the start of May, 2002, and was never seen again. No body was found and, while theories flourished and a man was found guilty in the court of public opinion, the case of her disappearance was never solved.
Ten years later, two amateur film-makers released a documentary which accused but didn’t solve. An entertaining lie, it was said. A year on from that, Charlie Marx’s long-time friend, mentor and boss at WHHW radio, Tyler Reubens pitches an idea for a set of podcasts culminating in a live two-hour radio special. Charlie is reluctant, concerned that heavy promotion of a program that isn’t going to solve the case will severely damage his credibility. But Tyler gives him no choice. Charlie commits to solving Cadence Moore.
The podcasts that Charlie prepares include a summary of the events surrounding Cadence Moore’s disappearance, and diary entries from both Cadence and her older brother, as well as interviews with many people close to the case. Intimate friends of Cadence, her boyfriend and his friends, others who may have been the last to see the young woman, police and the film makers: all contribute.
Narratives from Tyler and Charlie interspersed with transcripts of the podcasts and the live radio special. As might be expected from a radio host, Charlie Marx draws out the story of Cadence Moore, what happened to her and the aftermath, drip-feeding known and surmised facts and clues at a pace slow enough to frustrate, to test the limits of the patience of most readers.
While the combative conversations that Charlie has with Tyler, with Dillon, with Bill, may seem clever and sometimes amusing, concise does not apply and they begin to feel repetitive, like padding, as do the descriptions of behind-the-scenes machinations, the in-depth analyses and second-guessing, tempting the reader to skim, to exhort the author to “just get on with it!”
It doesn’t matter that the characters are unappealing when the plot is good; sadly, the execution is excessively wordy with more anti- than climax arriving at a point where the reader may be beyond caring. While a reader’s patience is often rewarded with a brilliant lightbulb moment, that’s unfortunately not the case here.
This unbiased review is from a copy provided by the publisher.
Ten years later, two amateur film-makers released a documentary which accused but didn’t solve. An entertaining lie, it was said. A year on from that, Charlie Marx’s long-time friend, mentor and boss at WHHW radio, Tyler Reubens pitches an idea for a set of podcasts culminating in a live two-hour radio special. Charlie is reluctant, concerned that heavy promotion of a program that isn’t going to solve the case will severely damage his credibility. But Tyler gives him no choice. Charlie commits to solving Cadence Moore.
The podcasts that Charlie prepares include a summary of the events surrounding Cadence Moore’s disappearance, and diary entries from both Cadence and her older brother, as well as interviews with many people close to the case. Intimate friends of Cadence, her boyfriend and his friends, others who may have been the last to see the young woman, police and the film makers: all contribute.
Narratives from Tyler and Charlie interspersed with transcripts of the podcasts and the live radio special. As might be expected from a radio host, Charlie Marx draws out the story of Cadence Moore, what happened to her and the aftermath, drip-feeding known and surmised facts and clues at a pace slow enough to frustrate, to test the limits of the patience of most readers.
While the combative conversations that Charlie has with Tyler, with Dillon, with Bill, may seem clever and sometimes amusing, concise does not apply and they begin to feel repetitive, like padding, as do the descriptions of behind-the-scenes machinations, the in-depth analyses and second-guessing, tempting the reader to skim, to exhort the author to “just get on with it!”
It doesn’t matter that the characters are unappealing when the plot is good; sadly, the execution is excessively wordy with more anti- than climax arriving at a point where the reader may be beyond caring. While a reader’s patience is often rewarded with a brilliant lightbulb moment, that’s unfortunately not the case here.
This unbiased review is from a copy provided by the publisher.
May 8, 2020
Solving Cadence Moore by Gregory Sterner is a mystery novel.
First, let me thank Kelsey at Book Publicity Services, the publisher Aperture Press, and of course the author, for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
My Synopsis: (No major reveals, but if concerned, skip to My Opinions)
Charlie Marx, host of a popular conspiracy radio show is obsessed with Cadence Moore, a promising young musician who disappeared ten years ago. He convinces his station that he can solve this disappearance. Charlie is going to start his own investigation.
Charlie interviews the key players, and others. He digs deep into Cadence's past, which was not always pleasant. He debunks all the popular theories, and promises his audience that he will finally produce the answer as to what really happened to Cadence so many years. ago. Is she alive? Is she dead? He is determined to answer those questions.
My Opinions:
I really struggled with this one. Wanted to quit so often....but I don't do that. I will admit, that this is the closest I have ever come to really giving up on a book. I always wait for that "turn-around" minute. That minute when I'm finally involved in the book, turning the pages to find out what happens next.... It never happened. It was just a very long book that I kept setting aside. I often skimmed.
I could not relate, and did not like any of the characters. Their egos were enormous, their thoughts and words senseless, and when they weren't yelling at each other, they were boring....and very repetitive. Unfortunately, it dragged out so long, and was so convoluted with arguments between the characters, that Cadence often got lost in the shuffle.
On the plus side. The actual plot was good, and using a podcast to solve an age-old missing person's case was a fresh way of looking at a mystery.
Anyway, I am sorry to say that this one just did nothing except frustrate and anger me. Oh, the hours wasted....
This, of course, doesn't mean that someone else may not be thrilled with it....
July 2, 2019
Actual Rating 3.75
I received a paperback from the author and Kelsey Butts from book publicity service in exchange for an honest review.
Charles Marx, a radio celebrity is convinced by his mentor to make podcasts on a closed-case which is a decade old and come into the light again after a movie is released, which claims to solve it. It is a case of Cadence Moore, a young college singer who disappeared one night and no one was able to find out what happened to her.
This book is written in podcasts and usual format, I liked the writing style and the way we got to know about Cadence, her life is also a mystery like her disappearance. Marx who is trying to solve this case by pulling all the strings.
The story also tackles the difficulties Marx is facing, how his life is struggling, his career is on stake, too much mind game is going on.
The first 3 quarters of the book totally hooked me but the last quarter of the book really bored me, the pace was too slow.
Also too much abusive language, drugs and drinks were also a big NO for me.
I received a paperback from the author and Kelsey Butts from book publicity service in exchange for an honest review.
Charles Marx, a radio celebrity is convinced by his mentor to make podcasts on a closed-case which is a decade old and come into the light again after a movie is released, which claims to solve it. It is a case of Cadence Moore, a young college singer who disappeared one night and no one was able to find out what happened to her.
This book is written in podcasts and usual format, I liked the writing style and the way we got to know about Cadence, her life is also a mystery like her disappearance. Marx who is trying to solve this case by pulling all the strings.
The story also tackles the difficulties Marx is facing, how his life is struggling, his career is on stake, too much mind game is going on.
The first 3 quarters of the book totally hooked me but the last quarter of the book really bored me, the pace was too slow.
Also too much abusive language, drugs and drinks were also a big NO for me.
January 17, 2020
I bloody love a podcast, and I particularly love a true crime podcast. This story fascinated me, particularly as I noticed some similarities to real cases I’ve heard of.
Charlie Marx is a radio host who is releasing a series of podcasts culminating in a live radio special. These offerings will explore the mystery of Cadence Moore, a young woman who went missing more than a decade ago. Marx claims he has solved this crime and listeners can tune in to the radio special finale to find out exactly what happened to this woman many years ago.
I’d just like to begin by saying if someone actually did this, I’d gobble it up. As mentioned above, I’m a true crime fanatic, and have a few unsolved mysteries under my podcast listening belt. If someone claimed to have solved one of these and released something similar to Charlie Marx, I would be living.
Both Sterner’s writing style and choice of format are excellent - we are narrated to mostly via Marx’s podcasts, as he explains the story of Cadence, and his journey in discovering the truth. I did find the pace to be quite inconsistent; when Sterner drives the plot, he really can drive it, an example of which is the story of Cadence, and the last night she was seen. This was all-consuming, a podcast on paper, and I inhaled every word. In contrast, Sterner then chooses to include superfluous details of conversations and situations Charlie Marx becomes embroiled in, which I felt either had little relevance, or could have been shortened considerably.
This truly was enthralling, just with a bit of drag to it in certain areas. Sterner’s talent is clear, and I enjoyed his plot and characters; I’d just have liked it to be snappier, with a bit more drive.
Charlie Marx is a radio host who is releasing a series of podcasts culminating in a live radio special. These offerings will explore the mystery of Cadence Moore, a young woman who went missing more than a decade ago. Marx claims he has solved this crime and listeners can tune in to the radio special finale to find out exactly what happened to this woman many years ago.
I’d just like to begin by saying if someone actually did this, I’d gobble it up. As mentioned above, I’m a true crime fanatic, and have a few unsolved mysteries under my podcast listening belt. If someone claimed to have solved one of these and released something similar to Charlie Marx, I would be living.
Both Sterner’s writing style and choice of format are excellent - we are narrated to mostly via Marx’s podcasts, as he explains the story of Cadence, and his journey in discovering the truth. I did find the pace to be quite inconsistent; when Sterner drives the plot, he really can drive it, an example of which is the story of Cadence, and the last night she was seen. This was all-consuming, a podcast on paper, and I inhaled every word. In contrast, Sterner then chooses to include superfluous details of conversations and situations Charlie Marx becomes embroiled in, which I felt either had little relevance, or could have been shortened considerably.
This truly was enthralling, just with a bit of drag to it in certain areas. Sterner’s talent is clear, and I enjoyed his plot and characters; I’d just have liked it to be snappier, with a bit more drive.
July 19, 2019
(originally reviewed at
thelibraryladies.com
)
Thank you to Book Publicity Services for sending me a copy of this book!
There are two types of true crime podcasts that I find myself listening to, and I think that they span the majority of the genre. There are the stand alone or limited series episodes, like “My Favorite Murder”, “Casefile”, or “Last Podcast on the Left”, which cover a wide array of cases over time and don’t have one central focus, nor do they do any deep investigating. Then there are podcasts like “Serial”, “In the Dark”, and “Dirty John”, which either focus on one case for each season, or just have the one series with the one case, and do involve themselves in the investigations, or at least connect with those involved. I’m more inclined to listen to the shows that cover many cases, but definitely have dabbled in the latter. As podcasts become more popular, it’s no surprise that we see fiction books that hope to tap into the theme and use it as their structural narrative. “Solving Cadence Moore” by Gregory Sterner is one such book, which follows the latter kind of podcast: a radio host finds himself investigating a missing girl and dedicating an entire series to it. It’s a plot that I figured with hit all the checkboxes in terms of things that I’d like, but unfortunately “Solving Cadence Moore” didn’t click in the way I hoped it would.
I will start with what I did like and what did work. The disappearance of Cadence Moore is definitely a compelling mystery, similar to other missing women stories like the case of Maura Murray that have garnered podcast and intrigue. Cadence is young, she’s beautiful, she’s tragic, she’s talented, and she disappeared without so much as a trace after a fight with her boyfriend. Sterner knows all the right beats to hit and all the qualities that would make a convincingly tantalizing show that would gain a huge following. The host, Charlie Marx, is also convincing as someone who has a lot on the line when it comes to how successful the show is. There are definitely building blocks in place that have a lot of potential in terms of plot and story progression. But ultimately, the big reason that this didn’t work is because we didn’t get to see much of the investigation aspects that Marx was participating in. The majority of the book is transcripts from each podcast episode, but written not as transcripts but in a long form narrative. We read what’s going on in the episode, and we read how the story slowly unfolds, and while that is fascinating to a point I didn’t feel like there were many stakes when done this way. There are some parts that take place in ‘real’ time, for lack of a better word, but most of that was Charlie fighting with his boss about whether the podcast was going to garner results. I think that since we didn’t get to see much of the actual investigating on Charlie’s part, I didn’t find myself terribly invested in whether or not he was going to solve it by the end. In turn, I also didn’t find it terribly suspenseful, for either Cadence OR Charlie. At the end of the day I didn’t feel like we got to know very much about Cadence outside of her superficial qualities that are parsed out because of her victim status, and by the time the ultimate solution came around I was feeling less satisfied or wowed and more ‘well, okay then.’ It went very slow overall, and the part that had me MOST intrigued had less to do with Cadence’s story and more to do with two characters who get put on the hot seat for their popular, but problematic documentary about the case. Hell, that part had the most passion for me, and I really enjoyed seeing the breakdown of an ego clash. But that was one part of a long book.
“Solving Cadence Moore” definitely has some good and bright aspects to it, but overall it didn’t take me in the way that I had hoped that it would. Try this mystery out of you are fine with a mystery without fast paced thrills. Ultimately, I need a little more oomph.
Thank you to Book Publicity Services for sending me a copy of this book!
There are two types of true crime podcasts that I find myself listening to, and I think that they span the majority of the genre. There are the stand alone or limited series episodes, like “My Favorite Murder”, “Casefile”, or “Last Podcast on the Left”, which cover a wide array of cases over time and don’t have one central focus, nor do they do any deep investigating. Then there are podcasts like “Serial”, “In the Dark”, and “Dirty John”, which either focus on one case for each season, or just have the one series with the one case, and do involve themselves in the investigations, or at least connect with those involved. I’m more inclined to listen to the shows that cover many cases, but definitely have dabbled in the latter. As podcasts become more popular, it’s no surprise that we see fiction books that hope to tap into the theme and use it as their structural narrative. “Solving Cadence Moore” by Gregory Sterner is one such book, which follows the latter kind of podcast: a radio host finds himself investigating a missing girl and dedicating an entire series to it. It’s a plot that I figured with hit all the checkboxes in terms of things that I’d like, but unfortunately “Solving Cadence Moore” didn’t click in the way I hoped it would.
I will start with what I did like and what did work. The disappearance of Cadence Moore is definitely a compelling mystery, similar to other missing women stories like the case of Maura Murray that have garnered podcast and intrigue. Cadence is young, she’s beautiful, she’s tragic, she’s talented, and she disappeared without so much as a trace after a fight with her boyfriend. Sterner knows all the right beats to hit and all the qualities that would make a convincingly tantalizing show that would gain a huge following. The host, Charlie Marx, is also convincing as someone who has a lot on the line when it comes to how successful the show is. There are definitely building blocks in place that have a lot of potential in terms of plot and story progression. But ultimately, the big reason that this didn’t work is because we didn’t get to see much of the investigation aspects that Marx was participating in. The majority of the book is transcripts from each podcast episode, but written not as transcripts but in a long form narrative. We read what’s going on in the episode, and we read how the story slowly unfolds, and while that is fascinating to a point I didn’t feel like there were many stakes when done this way. There are some parts that take place in ‘real’ time, for lack of a better word, but most of that was Charlie fighting with his boss about whether the podcast was going to garner results. I think that since we didn’t get to see much of the actual investigating on Charlie’s part, I didn’t find myself terribly invested in whether or not he was going to solve it by the end. In turn, I also didn’t find it terribly suspenseful, for either Cadence OR Charlie. At the end of the day I didn’t feel like we got to know very much about Cadence outside of her superficial qualities that are parsed out because of her victim status, and by the time the ultimate solution came around I was feeling less satisfied or wowed and more ‘well, okay then.’ It went very slow overall, and the part that had me MOST intrigued had less to do with Cadence’s story and more to do with two characters who get put on the hot seat for their popular, but problematic documentary about the case. Hell, that part had the most passion for me, and I really enjoyed seeing the breakdown of an ego clash. But that was one part of a long book.
“Solving Cadence Moore” definitely has some good and bright aspects to it, but overall it didn’t take me in the way that I had hoped that it would. Try this mystery out of you are fine with a mystery without fast paced thrills. Ultimately, I need a little more oomph.
May 17, 2019
Solving Cadence Moore by Gregory Strener is one of the most intriguing mystery novels I have read. The suspense is so great, I was at the edge of my chair. I kept wondering what would happen next. It was not predictable like most novels in this genre. It was a breath of fresh air. A mystery within another mystery. Each page was thrilling as the previous one. One man digs deep into an unsolved mystery of a woman who disappeared. No one knows what happened to her. A singer whose life will be dug into by a radio conspiracy host. This only deepened the plot even more so. The big question was what was real? Did she really disappear or was it all not as it seemed? So many questions...Gregory Strener held my full attention from page one. Overall, I recommend it to all readers. This was one book I could not put down.
I received this copy from the publisher. This is my voluntary review.
I received this copy from the publisher. This is my voluntary review.
October 12, 2019
I loved the format of this book--we follow Charlie around as he is obsessively trying to save his career, and the mystery plays out in the form of a podcast, which is a refreshing way to read it. Personally, I never really connected with Charlie. I thought he was overly confident, and someone who I most certainly would not get along with in real life. He seemed sexist and obsessed with himself and his career, and thought he was smarter than everyone else in the world.
Which, to be fair, he may be one of the smartest, most manipulative characters I've read in a while. When you have the balls to completely lie to your boss under a deadline that is already insane, you must be really confident--or just downright stupid.
There were good and bad things about this book, in my opinion. I would have liked to see more characteristics and connections with Candence, the girl that was missing. However, I think the point of it is tht you can't really connect with someone who has been missing, you do the best you can through the interviews you get--and those are even half truths. Also, I thought the book was a little slow. However, I also get this because it really read more like a true crime novel than a fiction book, which seems like it might have been what Sterner was going for.
All in all, this was a pretty good novel, but not my typical fast-paced novel. There are some triggers in it that I feel obligated to warn of: incest, abuse, rape, and obviously some description of violence. If you're a fan of true crime podcasts, I would say that you'd probably enjoy this book a lot more than I did!
Thank you to Kelsey Butts for the free copy of Solving Cadence Moore in exchange for my honest review.
Read more reviews at Amy Reads It!
Which, to be fair, he may be one of the smartest, most manipulative characters I've read in a while. When you have the balls to completely lie to your boss under a deadline that is already insane, you must be really confident--or just downright stupid.
There were good and bad things about this book, in my opinion. I would have liked to see more characteristics and connections with Candence, the girl that was missing. However, I think the point of it is tht you can't really connect with someone who has been missing, you do the best you can through the interviews you get--and those are even half truths. Also, I thought the book was a little slow. However, I also get this because it really read more like a true crime novel than a fiction book, which seems like it might have been what Sterner was going for.
All in all, this was a pretty good novel, but not my typical fast-paced novel. There are some triggers in it that I feel obligated to warn of: incest, abuse, rape, and obviously some description of violence. If you're a fan of true crime podcasts, I would say that you'd probably enjoy this book a lot more than I did!
Thank you to Kelsey Butts for the free copy of Solving Cadence Moore in exchange for my honest review.
Read more reviews at Amy Reads It!
June 15, 2019
Solving Cadence More-Gregory Sterner
I have been trying to wrap up my mind on this novel. It was such a ride of a book for this novel.
I have some cons and some pros. First, I have to say that this was one of the first adult fiction in a long, long time, so I feel like I am a bit rusted on how I like them. It was a slow read since I am really used to YA (young adult) books. For me I found it super slow and felt like the book was never going to end.
1- I love how this book felt like it could have been a real story. With real people. It really felt like I was there with cadence and was watching the news with everything that was going on with her.
2- I really loved the characters, they maybe had flaws to them, but I loved how if they were awful people at first they evolve to be good at the end.
3- It really did keep me interested. I wanted to know what happened to cadence. So maybe that is why I got frustrated, I wanted to know NOW!!!!
But all in all I really loved this novel. For this debut novel for Gregory sterner he really did a good job. I can see him being a big fiction author down the road. And would more than gladly pick up another book by him.
I have to point out these trigger warnings: with incest, rape, abuse, this is not the novel for you.
All in all, I did give this novel a 3.75 Star rating.
Let me know down below if you have read this book and what you thought of it 😊.
I have been trying to wrap up my mind on this novel. It was such a ride of a book for this novel.
I have some cons and some pros. First, I have to say that this was one of the first adult fiction in a long, long time, so I feel like I am a bit rusted on how I like them. It was a slow read since I am really used to YA (young adult) books. For me I found it super slow and felt like the book was never going to end.
1- I love how this book felt like it could have been a real story. With real people. It really felt like I was there with cadence and was watching the news with everything that was going on with her.
2- I really loved the characters, they maybe had flaws to them, but I loved how if they were awful people at first they evolve to be good at the end.
3- It really did keep me interested. I wanted to know what happened to cadence. So maybe that is why I got frustrated, I wanted to know NOW!!!!
But all in all I really loved this novel. For this debut novel for Gregory sterner he really did a good job. I can see him being a big fiction author down the road. And would more than gladly pick up another book by him.
I have to point out these trigger warnings: with incest, rape, abuse, this is not the novel for you.
All in all, I did give this novel a 3.75 Star rating.
Let me know down below if you have read this book and what you thought of it 😊.
June 23, 2023
Solving Cadence Moore tells of the fictional unsolved disappearance of singing star Cadence Moore. It's been ten years since she mysteriously disappeared from the face of the earth and nothing has been heard of her since then. Podcast host Charlie Marx gets the challenge of solving this mystery. But Charlie has secrets of his own, and if he doesn't come clear soon it will end badly for him as well.
When I first heard of Solving Cadence Moore I was immediately intrigued by its plot. I've never heard of this setting in a thriller before and that was what mainly got my attention: Charlie hosts the conspiracy show "Underground Broadcast" and he may just be the one to solve this case. Crime thrillers are not my favourite kind of thrillers, so I love it when it's someone else than the police that solves a mystery. If Charlie is able to solve this case or not, I obviously won't tell, but this book will keep you in its grip from start to finish. It's detailed, original and definitely hard to put down.
* I received a paper copy in exchange for an honest review. Thank you Kelsey, from Book Publicity Services, for sending me a copy! *
When I first heard of Solving Cadence Moore I was immediately intrigued by its plot. I've never heard of this setting in a thriller before and that was what mainly got my attention: Charlie hosts the conspiracy show "Underground Broadcast" and he may just be the one to solve this case. Crime thrillers are not my favourite kind of thrillers, so I love it when it's someone else than the police that solves a mystery. If Charlie is able to solve this case or not, I obviously won't tell, but this book will keep you in its grip from start to finish. It's detailed, original and definitely hard to put down.
* I received a paper copy in exchange for an honest review. Thank you Kelsey, from Book Publicity Services, for sending me a copy! *
November 6, 2019
Here's the thing about Solving Cadence Moore - my belief is that people will either love it, or really hate it. I'm somewhere in the middle. While it wasn't my favourite read this year, I think the author has talent and imagination, and I almost wish someone had cut this novel to pieces and told him to re-write it from the vast edits. Something tells me that Sterner has never heard Stephen King's "kill your darlings" advice. The book is bloated in length, consistently repetitive, and with a huge amount of extraneous bracketed information that didn't add anything to the tale.
Further, I don't think the synopsis helps - it's killer, and it's very tough for the book to live up to its promise.
Sterner was clearly inspired by the true-crime story of Maura Murray, who disappeared over 15 years ago on a snowy road in New Hampshire, late at night, alone, with a broken-down car and booze in the backseat. Murray has never been found, and the theories are a tangled, wild mess. Did she run away to Canada? Did she have the colossal bad luck as to encounter a serial killer or rapist on that backwoods road? Was she fighting with her family? Did she die of exposure? Why did she lie to so many people before she vanished? And so on, and so on, for fifteen years. The wondering, the questions, the articles and books, and still at the centre, a person-shaped mark. A blot on the landscape. We still don't know what happened to Maura, and that seems like an unlivable thing.
How could a person just disappear?
Charlie Marx asks that question on his podcast, over and over. Desperate to solve the mystery of Cadence Moore, a young lady who vanished years before, and emboldened by the recent interest in the case due to a blockbuster movie, Marx takes on the challenge to finally, 100%, tell the world what happened to her. On air.
If he's successful: instant fame, fortune, notoriety. If he's unsuccessful, it's the end of the road. Notoriety of a different kind. And so Marx decides to do it. Try and solve Cadence. Much of the novel is written as if we're listening to Marx on the radio. I'm not sure this lends itself well. There's just so much vocalizing - so much information and chatter. When you spend your time reading text that mirrors how people actually talk, it's amazing how much blather there is. It's frankly exhausting, and I wished for an Editor as I've never wished for one before.
Still, the mystery of Cadence is intriguing. I wanted to know much more about her, though I think that's the point. I also want to know so much about Maura Murray, because the very fact of her disappearance is what makes her fascinating. Because that person is not there to answer questions, the answers are tantalizingly out of reach. I think that's what Sterner is getting at here - in some ways, we can only know Cadence through the recollections and memories of others. She will forever remain a question mark in the truest sense of the phrase - because she is no longer there to put a voice to her innermost thoughts, motivations or reasonings. Much as we cannot ask Maura why she was traveling with open alcohol and had lied about leaving school, we also cannot ask Cadence Moore about her dreams or aspirations or fears.
Those answers vanish along with the person, into the dark.
In the end, I think this book has a lot of promise, but as I said, a brutal edit would be needed before this lived up to its synopsis. This is Gregory Sterner's debut novel, so I think there's obviously so much room for him to grow as a writer - maybe he'll come back to this someday and "kill his darlings"! Either way, I look forward to exploring his future work because I think the premise of this book is stellar, and the imaginative way its told bodes well for Sterner's career.
Thank you to Kelsey from Book Publicity Services and to the author, for the complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest and unbiased review. I appreciate it!
Further, I don't think the synopsis helps - it's killer, and it's very tough for the book to live up to its promise.
Sterner was clearly inspired by the true-crime story of Maura Murray, who disappeared over 15 years ago on a snowy road in New Hampshire, late at night, alone, with a broken-down car and booze in the backseat. Murray has never been found, and the theories are a tangled, wild mess. Did she run away to Canada? Did she have the colossal bad luck as to encounter a serial killer or rapist on that backwoods road? Was she fighting with her family? Did she die of exposure? Why did she lie to so many people before she vanished? And so on, and so on, for fifteen years. The wondering, the questions, the articles and books, and still at the centre, a person-shaped mark. A blot on the landscape. We still don't know what happened to Maura, and that seems like an unlivable thing.
How could a person just disappear?
Charlie Marx asks that question on his podcast, over and over. Desperate to solve the mystery of Cadence Moore, a young lady who vanished years before, and emboldened by the recent interest in the case due to a blockbuster movie, Marx takes on the challenge to finally, 100%, tell the world what happened to her. On air.
If he's successful: instant fame, fortune, notoriety. If he's unsuccessful, it's the end of the road. Notoriety of a different kind. And so Marx decides to do it. Try and solve Cadence. Much of the novel is written as if we're listening to Marx on the radio. I'm not sure this lends itself well. There's just so much vocalizing - so much information and chatter. When you spend your time reading text that mirrors how people actually talk, it's amazing how much blather there is. It's frankly exhausting, and I wished for an Editor as I've never wished for one before.
Still, the mystery of Cadence is intriguing. I wanted to know much more about her, though I think that's the point. I also want to know so much about Maura Murray, because the very fact of her disappearance is what makes her fascinating. Because that person is not there to answer questions, the answers are tantalizingly out of reach. I think that's what Sterner is getting at here - in some ways, we can only know Cadence through the recollections and memories of others. She will forever remain a question mark in the truest sense of the phrase - because she is no longer there to put a voice to her innermost thoughts, motivations or reasonings. Much as we cannot ask Maura why she was traveling with open alcohol and had lied about leaving school, we also cannot ask Cadence Moore about her dreams or aspirations or fears.
Those answers vanish along with the person, into the dark.
In the end, I think this book has a lot of promise, but as I said, a brutal edit would be needed before this lived up to its synopsis. This is Gregory Sterner's debut novel, so I think there's obviously so much room for him to grow as a writer - maybe he'll come back to this someday and "kill his darlings"! Either way, I look forward to exploring his future work because I think the premise of this book is stellar, and the imaginative way its told bodes well for Sterner's career.
Thank you to Kelsey from Book Publicity Services and to the author, for the complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest and unbiased review. I appreciate it!
November 27, 2019
* This book was sent to me for review. However, all thoughts and opinions are 100% my own. *
Pros:
I really thought the concept for the novel was very original. I haven't read any mysteries in this format or style of writing. For me, the modern twist, the solving of the mystery via a podcast show was intriguing. I really enjoyed the podcast portions of the story. The mixture of interview and narrative style writing kept me interested in continuing reading the novel.
Cons:
One of the biggest downfalls to this book/novel, was the length of each of the chapters. There were only 9 chapters total. Most of the chapters were around 50+ pages. There were one or two that were over 100 pages. I had a really difficult time slogging my way through the meat of this book. Most of the chapters took 3-5 days to get through. There was so much information to absorb and process, that I found myself burning out after each reading. I would take a couple days before returning to it to give myself time to really understand what was taking place and being ready for another info dumb when I did pick it back up.
The second con for this book is the inclusion of the sub plot. I didn't really understand why the author included such a convoluted disputatious relationship dynamic relationship between Marx and his mentor/boss. I didn't feel that it really added anything other than maybe a sympathetic feeling towards the main character and all the shady things he had to do in order to meet the impossible deadlines he was cornered into.
Recommendations:
I cannot really recommend this book. I did not particularly enjoy my experience with this book. This could have been an awesome book, however, the actual execution of the story left much to be desired. The format choice of only 9 chapters was really odd. I understood the podcast format, and they were the parts I enjoyed before the length of the chapters dimmed my enjoyment. I lost interest as the chapter continued on and on with no obvious ending.
Pros:
I really thought the concept for the novel was very original. I haven't read any mysteries in this format or style of writing. For me, the modern twist, the solving of the mystery via a podcast show was intriguing. I really enjoyed the podcast portions of the story. The mixture of interview and narrative style writing kept me interested in continuing reading the novel.
Cons:
One of the biggest downfalls to this book/novel, was the length of each of the chapters. There were only 9 chapters total. Most of the chapters were around 50+ pages. There were one or two that were over 100 pages. I had a really difficult time slogging my way through the meat of this book. Most of the chapters took 3-5 days to get through. There was so much information to absorb and process, that I found myself burning out after each reading. I would take a couple days before returning to it to give myself time to really understand what was taking place and being ready for another info dumb when I did pick it back up.
The second con for this book is the inclusion of the sub plot. I didn't really understand why the author included such a convoluted disputatious relationship dynamic relationship between Marx and his mentor/boss. I didn't feel that it really added anything other than maybe a sympathetic feeling towards the main character and all the shady things he had to do in order to meet the impossible deadlines he was cornered into.
Recommendations:
I cannot really recommend this book. I did not particularly enjoy my experience with this book. This could have been an awesome book, however, the actual execution of the story left much to be desired. The format choice of only 9 chapters was really odd. I understood the podcast format, and they were the parts I enjoyed before the length of the chapters dimmed my enjoyment. I lost interest as the chapter continued on and on with no obvious ending.
October 22, 2019
Firstly I would like to thank Kelsey from Book Publicity Services for supplying me with a free copy for an honest and fair review. I'm always in the market for a good thriller or mystery novel. But lately, I have read an abundance of police-based novels in this genre. So I was looking for something a little different. When it comes to Solving Cadence Moore I think it hit the mark taking on an older genre and giving it a more recent going over. With podcasts and mini-series all the rage it only feels at home to deliver a book in the former style. I was very curious to see how this format word transfer over to the written word.
Much like the style, it is pulled from we a story in pieces, it one getting us a little closer to the truth. It's an interesting way to deliver the story to me. More often than not I'm given a story in as if being told it from start to finish. On occasion, we flip back and forward within flashbacks. But here our podcast host gave more blocks of information. Much like its source genre each on pulls apart an aspect of the lives of the people involved in Cadence's disappearance. In this way, we get a lot of information given to us and for me gave a good all-round view of the events that took place. I like that each of them has a different view not only of how she disappeared but also who she was as a person. As with real-life, the opinion people have of us changes a great deal. Maybe this is down to what certain people mean to us. It is the face we show them and how much of the real us we want to show them.
Overall I thought this was a well-written book. The author set his bar high and knew what he was going for. for me he brought a sense of realizing to the book and the style he was going for. The narrator much like his real-life counterparts tends to bring a lot more of themselves to the story than they would like you to believe. With there own bias coming up to the surface whether they want it to or not. We are only human and it is a hard thing to go into such a topic and not do so. especially in the case of Charlie who has everything riding on the outcome. This book for me delivered a solid mystery that kept my brain going from start to finish. He has also captured the world of true crime podcasts and all there little quirks and foibles, much like its cast of characters.
I think if you are looking for a thriller that is a bit of the beaten path then Sterne's book will definitely peak your interest. The hole true-crime angle adds a lot of weight to the story and also gives us a few more layers to dig into. It is that fine balance between the crime that may or may not have happened but also what the narrator has invested in it. It for me ticked all the boxes I was looking for.
Much like the style, it is pulled from we a story in pieces, it one getting us a little closer to the truth. It's an interesting way to deliver the story to me. More often than not I'm given a story in as if being told it from start to finish. On occasion, we flip back and forward within flashbacks. But here our podcast host gave more blocks of information. Much like its source genre each on pulls apart an aspect of the lives of the people involved in Cadence's disappearance. In this way, we get a lot of information given to us and for me gave a good all-round view of the events that took place. I like that each of them has a different view not only of how she disappeared but also who she was as a person. As with real-life, the opinion people have of us changes a great deal. Maybe this is down to what certain people mean to us. It is the face we show them and how much of the real us we want to show them.
Overall I thought this was a well-written book. The author set his bar high and knew what he was going for. for me he brought a sense of realizing to the book and the style he was going for. The narrator much like his real-life counterparts tends to bring a lot more of themselves to the story than they would like you to believe. With there own bias coming up to the surface whether they want it to or not. We are only human and it is a hard thing to go into such a topic and not do so. especially in the case of Charlie who has everything riding on the outcome. This book for me delivered a solid mystery that kept my brain going from start to finish. He has also captured the world of true crime podcasts and all there little quirks and foibles, much like its cast of characters.
I think if you are looking for a thriller that is a bit of the beaten path then Sterne's book will definitely peak your interest. The hole true-crime angle adds a lot of weight to the story and also gives us a few more layers to dig into. It is that fine balance between the crime that may or may not have happened but also what the narrator has invested in it. It for me ticked all the boxes I was looking for.
November 18, 2019
A long unsolved crime. And a podcast claiming to be the one who'll solve it.
Solving Cadence Moore sounds exactly like the kind of thing I would love, doesn't it?
Unfortunately, it missed the mark for me in a few ways. I think maybe because of the premise, I expected this story to be more than it was. And don't get me wrong, Sterner can craft a good mystery. I think the novel was just hampered down by self-conscious writing, leading to many instances where I felt that the story "told" me things rather than showed. And the podcast transcripts themselves don't add much to the story, in my opinion. They felt stilted and (again) self-conscious- not sounding like how an experienced radio personality would sound.
I never really felt immersed, but I do think that the plot itself is the high point of the book. Given some more experience, I can only see Sterner improving in his writing style, and I see a lot of potential. If my complaints don't sound like they'd bother you, still do give this book a go.
Thank you to Book Publicity Services for providing me a copy for free in exchange for an honest review.
Solving Cadence Moore sounds exactly like the kind of thing I would love, doesn't it?
Unfortunately, it missed the mark for me in a few ways. I think maybe because of the premise, I expected this story to be more than it was. And don't get me wrong, Sterner can craft a good mystery. I think the novel was just hampered down by self-conscious writing, leading to many instances where I felt that the story "told" me things rather than showed. And the podcast transcripts themselves don't add much to the story, in my opinion. They felt stilted and (again) self-conscious- not sounding like how an experienced radio personality would sound.
I never really felt immersed, but I do think that the plot itself is the high point of the book. Given some more experience, I can only see Sterner improving in his writing style, and I see a lot of potential. If my complaints don't sound like they'd bother you, still do give this book a go.
Thank you to Book Publicity Services for providing me a copy for free in exchange for an honest review.
May 24, 2019
Solving Cadence Moore by Gregory Sterner reads like a REAL story. At first I was hesitant because it’s not like anything I have read before. It reads like a person, Charlie Marx, talking recapping a disappearance of a young college student who also was a one-hit wonder with a song called “Goldfish Chaser” on his radio podcast. I wasn’t sure how it was going to capture my attention, let alone keep in throughout the entire book…..
However, I was completely wrong !! I was thoroughly engrossed in the story and everything that Charlie had to say. I actually stopped midway through the book to look online to make sure it wasn’t actual a true story. Sterner not only grabs the readers attention, he has you in a killer grip that you cannot get out of….and once you start reading you won’t want to stop !!
Throughout the story I was taken to so many places…. I was with Cadence and friends on that drunken college night all those years ago…I was taken back to my own college partying days…..I was sitting with Charlie and his producer Dillon as they interviewed and worked out how the podcasts were going to go down…..I was invested !! I wanted to know what happened to Cadence….NO I needed to know !!
I will admit that I was getting a little upset with Charlie at the end of his final podcast…..I know he had to wait for that final special guest to connect all the dots that he had been laying out throughout the story and I know Charlie does things his way no matter what…. but I was getting desperate myself !!! And that is exactly what a reader wants in a good book….. Sterner writes the reader a GREAT story that will have the reader turning pages as fast as you can read the words……and the outcome will leave you breathless !!!!
However, I was completely wrong !! I was thoroughly engrossed in the story and everything that Charlie had to say. I actually stopped midway through the book to look online to make sure it wasn’t actual a true story. Sterner not only grabs the readers attention, he has you in a killer grip that you cannot get out of….and once you start reading you won’t want to stop !!
Throughout the story I was taken to so many places…. I was with Cadence and friends on that drunken college night all those years ago…I was taken back to my own college partying days…..I was sitting with Charlie and his producer Dillon as they interviewed and worked out how the podcasts were going to go down…..I was invested !! I wanted to know what happened to Cadence….NO I needed to know !!
I will admit that I was getting a little upset with Charlie at the end of his final podcast…..I know he had to wait for that final special guest to connect all the dots that he had been laying out throughout the story and I know Charlie does things his way no matter what…. but I was getting desperate myself !!! And that is exactly what a reader wants in a good book….. Sterner writes the reader a GREAT story that will have the reader turning pages as fast as you can read the words……and the outcome will leave you breathless !!!!
September 20, 2019
This was a very unique and effective way to write a mystery novel. The podcast transcripts made it feel like you were following a real murder investigation. Many times I completely forgot this was Fiction and caught myself about to Google information on the crime.
I could not wait to see how this mystery and Charlie's career turned out. Charlie was one of those characters I kind of loved to hate. It all kept me turning page after page, long after I should have out it down.
*Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of the book mentioned above in the hope that I would review it on my blog. A positive review was not required. All opinions are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.*
I could not wait to see how this mystery and Charlie's career turned out. Charlie was one of those characters I kind of loved to hate. It all kept me turning page after page, long after I should have out it down.
*Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of the book mentioned above in the hope that I would review it on my blog. A positive review was not required. All opinions are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.*
June 22, 2019
I have never read a mystery written in this format, but I can certainly understand the appeal for the author to write this story in the way he did. In this story, a radio station decides to do a series of podcasts about a 25 year old mystery involving an up and coming singer in her late teens who disappears one night. Was she murdered? Did she simply decide on a different path? The police have found nothing. Along the way the reader is entangled in a web of intrigue, jealousy and a surprising amount of manipulation from various angles. One can not help but try to figure out what happened to this talented musician and why has it taken so long to find the answers. This one will keep you interested and anxious.
September 18, 2019
Good book couldn't put it down. Loved it.
December 15, 2020
Full disclosure - I was provided an advanced reader’s copy of this book by the author or their representative but have voluntarily provided a review.
What happened to Cadence?
She was young, beautiful, and talented. A star whose meteoric rise to fame was unprecedented, but in the blink of an eye, she was gone. Vanished without a trace, Cadence Moore has not been seen for almost twenty years. Many theories and exposes have been written over the years, but does anyone know the truth? Maverick podcast host Charlie Marx puts everything on the line as he sets out to solve the unsolvable. Employing unscrupulous and often unconventional means, Marx practically lies, cheats, and steals to bring this decades-old cold case to a close. With everything hanging in the balance he sets out on a collision course with destiny. The only question is when the live special is done, will Cadence Moore’s disappearance be clarified or will this all have just been a huge publicity stunt.
Solving Cadence Moore is the debut novel by author Gregory Sterner and the overall novel is written in a style that I have never experienced before. The narrative centers around bombastic podcast host Charlie Marx as he orchestrates and produces a “tell-all” series of podcasts surrounding the mysterious disappearance of a young singer in her prime. With the bulk of the narrative consisting of accounts of conversations between Marx, his producer, various interviews with the major players and witnesses in the Cadence Moore events, and even the transcripts of the “podcasts” themselves; at times I felt a bit overwhelmed with the information. When this happened, I decided that instead of reading in large chunks or marathon sittings I would read in episodes … treating each section or “podcast” as a stand-alone read, putting the book aside for a few days or even weeks and then returning for a new update in the storyline. Reading in this manner had me taking longer than usual to complete the book, but in this instance, I think It worked to keep my attention and not become completely burned out on the unfamiliar style. As a novel with a subject and a method of delivery that could very well be something taking place in the present time, I think that also added an element to the story that made Cadences story seem more real, and I would be lying to say that I was not secretly waiting for some final chapter or final sentence suggestion or reveal that would leave the reader stunned and wanting more. Even with that wishful element missing, however, Solving Cadence Moore was an enjoyable read. If you like a unique writing style, over the top characters, and a plot that could have been ripped from today’s headlines, I recommend Sterner’s debut novel and I am also looking forward to reading future books from this author
What happened to Cadence?
She was young, beautiful, and talented. A star whose meteoric rise to fame was unprecedented, but in the blink of an eye, she was gone. Vanished without a trace, Cadence Moore has not been seen for almost twenty years. Many theories and exposes have been written over the years, but does anyone know the truth? Maverick podcast host Charlie Marx puts everything on the line as he sets out to solve the unsolvable. Employing unscrupulous and often unconventional means, Marx practically lies, cheats, and steals to bring this decades-old cold case to a close. With everything hanging in the balance he sets out on a collision course with destiny. The only question is when the live special is done, will Cadence Moore’s disappearance be clarified or will this all have just been a huge publicity stunt.
Solving Cadence Moore is the debut novel by author Gregory Sterner and the overall novel is written in a style that I have never experienced before. The narrative centers around bombastic podcast host Charlie Marx as he orchestrates and produces a “tell-all” series of podcasts surrounding the mysterious disappearance of a young singer in her prime. With the bulk of the narrative consisting of accounts of conversations between Marx, his producer, various interviews with the major players and witnesses in the Cadence Moore events, and even the transcripts of the “podcasts” themselves; at times I felt a bit overwhelmed with the information. When this happened, I decided that instead of reading in large chunks or marathon sittings I would read in episodes … treating each section or “podcast” as a stand-alone read, putting the book aside for a few days or even weeks and then returning for a new update in the storyline. Reading in this manner had me taking longer than usual to complete the book, but in this instance, I think It worked to keep my attention and not become completely burned out on the unfamiliar style. As a novel with a subject and a method of delivery that could very well be something taking place in the present time, I think that also added an element to the story that made Cadences story seem more real, and I would be lying to say that I was not secretly waiting for some final chapter or final sentence suggestion or reveal that would leave the reader stunned and wanting more. Even with that wishful element missing, however, Solving Cadence Moore was an enjoyable read. If you like a unique writing style, over the top characters, and a plot that could have been ripped from today’s headlines, I recommend Sterner’s debut novel and I am also looking forward to reading future books from this author
May 17, 2019
This was the first time that I read a book like this where it was set up in a documentary style with a plot that was revealed through a set of podcasts. So right there, it wins with originality on my eyes.
I liked the book because it had a lot of build up with explanations into backstory so you were able to have all the pieces of the puzzle while trying to figure it out yourself.
The whole time you are wondering yourself if this girl actually survived or if she has been dead the whole time and who murdered her if she was even murdered. It really makes you think the entire way through. She is very much a mystery and you follow along with the podcast as they figure her out.
I will say that at parts of the book, it felt like they were going a bit far into the descriptions. It was a book I could put down if I needed to do something else but was still gripping when I picked it back up. A slow burn I as one would say.
And the cover of this book is just so beautiful! Props to the designer who draws the eyes to this book with their great design.
There was a point about 3/4 of the way through the book where the characters condoned drinking and driving which I get was part of the scene but I didn't think that was necessary. I mean why put this as the action of a "good" character and then let them do it (or at least allude to them doing it)? It may just be me but I find that a big subject like that shouldn't be shown as a thing to be OK with. I will say that this and some other derogatory terms they used when describing other characters was what brought it down to a 4 star instead of 5 star read.
Everything else I thought was fantastic and it really progressed well to a thrilling conclusion! I would recommend this to someone that wants a murder mystery that is given to you in a different style than usual but just as captivating.
I liked the book because it had a lot of build up with explanations into backstory so you were able to have all the pieces of the puzzle while trying to figure it out yourself.
The whole time you are wondering yourself if this girl actually survived or if she has been dead the whole time and who murdered her if she was even murdered. It really makes you think the entire way through. She is very much a mystery and you follow along with the podcast as they figure her out.
I will say that at parts of the book, it felt like they were going a bit far into the descriptions. It was a book I could put down if I needed to do something else but was still gripping when I picked it back up. A slow burn I as one would say.
And the cover of this book is just so beautiful! Props to the designer who draws the eyes to this book with their great design.
There was a point about 3/4 of the way through the book where the characters condoned drinking and driving which I get was part of the scene but I didn't think that was necessary. I mean why put this as the action of a "good" character and then let them do it (or at least allude to them doing it)? It may just be me but I find that a big subject like that shouldn't be shown as a thing to be OK with. I will say that this and some other derogatory terms they used when describing other characters was what brought it down to a 4 star instead of 5 star read.
Everything else I thought was fantastic and it really progressed well to a thrilling conclusion! I would recommend this to someone that wants a murder mystery that is given to you in a different style than usual but just as captivating.
August 28, 2019
Radio host Charlie Marx had an idea and a pitch: to find out what happened to Cadence Moore. The Cadence was case was truly one of the classics...and the most unsolved.
"Even if this thing is the ultimate cold case… even if we’re barking up a dying tree, if we carve out the right story we will succeed. We will accomplish what I’ve promised my bosses we can accomplish." (9)
But, for Charlie, this was more than a chance for good ratings, since he's been obsessed with the Cadence case. Cadence Moore was a singing sensation, on the brink of stardom, and, on one tragic night, she just disappeared without a trace.
This was an interesting spin to the traditional murder mystery mainly because this whole thing was being aired as a miniseries for a radio show. The whole scheme behind it was to boost ratings, make careers, and ultimately cash in. Part of the narrative is written as radio podcasts with Charlie reciting the myths, mystery, and the climactic conclusion to the disappearance. The podcasts were written in a way to obviously drum up anticipation for the audience. To me, it sounded more like a lot of reporting, which didn't make for very compelling reading. The writing was pretty good, but I just didn't connect to the story very much.
"Even if this thing is the ultimate cold case… even if we’re barking up a dying tree, if we carve out the right story we will succeed. We will accomplish what I’ve promised my bosses we can accomplish." (9)
But, for Charlie, this was more than a chance for good ratings, since he's been obsessed with the Cadence case. Cadence Moore was a singing sensation, on the brink of stardom, and, on one tragic night, she just disappeared without a trace.
This was an interesting spin to the traditional murder mystery mainly because this whole thing was being aired as a miniseries for a radio show. The whole scheme behind it was to boost ratings, make careers, and ultimately cash in. Part of the narrative is written as radio podcasts with Charlie reciting the myths, mystery, and the climactic conclusion to the disappearance. The podcasts were written in a way to obviously drum up anticipation for the audience. To me, it sounded more like a lot of reporting, which didn't make for very compelling reading. The writing was pretty good, but I just didn't connect to the story very much.
did-not-finish
September 26, 2019Sadly, I will not be finishing this book. The idea is really cool, but the writing is pretty rough. This is Sterner's first novel, so I won't write him off forever, but I don't think he was ready for publishing yet. The characters in this novel have extremely volatile reactions to events that don't warrant such an extreme reaction, making it very difficult for me as a reader to empathize with them. The other big problem I had was that they characters tool three times as long as necessary to say what they wanted to say. Conversations seemed to loop in circles, and I found myself skipping paragraphs because I knew I wasn't missing anything new.
I wish the author would have waited to get this published until his skills were further developed because, with a little more experience, this book could have been really good. The setup is a true crime podcast/book nerd's dream.
I wish the author would have waited to get this published until his skills were further developed because, with a little more experience, this book could have been really good. The setup is a true crime podcast/book nerd's dream.
October 8, 2019
Isn’t that tempting? I think we should start recognizing the art of synopsis writing, and name the talented writer behind this one and others. A cold case, a radio show investigating, promising to solve the mystery of the century, and risking his whole career in it? This sounded really good, and I accepted to receive the book and review it.
I’m not going to keep you hanging to the very last paragraph of my review, that would be too much like the book itself. I’m just going to be blunt about it: I totally wasted my time. The only reason I kept reading to the very end is that I usually commit to read and review a book I requested.
My full review is here: https://wordsandpeace.com/2019/10/08/...
I’m not going to keep you hanging to the very last paragraph of my review, that would be too much like the book itself. I’m just going to be blunt about it: I totally wasted my time. The only reason I kept reading to the very end is that I usually commit to read and review a book I requested.
My full review is here: https://wordsandpeace.com/2019/10/08/...
January 20, 2020
I love mysteries! I love listening to and watching things about unsolved cases. I had such high hopes for this book!
It's not that I hated it. I found it simply ok. I guess that's the problem... I was underwhelmed. It didn't have what I was hoping for! I can't exactly put my finger on what it is that I felt that it was lacking, I just needed something more!
Like I said, this isn't a bad book, it just isn't great.
*Note: I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
It's not that I hated it. I found it simply ok. I guess that's the problem... I was underwhelmed. It didn't have what I was hoping for! I can't exactly put my finger on what it is that I felt that it was lacking, I just needed something more!
Like I said, this isn't a bad book, it just isn't great.
*Note: I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
June 18, 2019
A very interesting look at solving a mystery in using a radio show and podcasts to do so. I did enjoy this book on the whole, but at some points, in the book, I found I could not stay focused on the book but managed to overcome this to enjoy the book again. This is a strong debut novel by Gregory Sterner.
December 10, 2019
About the book: It’s a standalone novel revolving around a cold case. Ten years ago, a young singer in Cadence Moore disappeared, and no one has been able to prove exactly what happened to her. Charlie Marx is the host of a podcast that tries to solve the mystery, but initially he lies about knowing the truth.
I received a free copy of the novel from Book Publicity Services in exchange for an honest review.
First impressions: I love a good mystery as much as the next person. I was expecting shorter chapters and sentences, but the author goes into a lot of detail, describing scenes thoroughly.
Characters: The characters are different and dynamic. Many of them face their share of challenges or obstacles. No one’s perfect, everybody has flaws.
“I’m just trying to make you understand the biggest reason why your short-term goal may not be worth the long-term consequences.”
Writing: The story of Cadence Moore gets told in podcast transcripts, which was interesting. Also, the language is very mature.
Final thoughts: I’m glad the ending answers lingering questions and gives readers closure.
Solving Cadence Moore combines mystery and podcasts to create a crime podcast in book form.
I received a free copy of the novel from Book Publicity Services in exchange for an honest review.
First impressions: I love a good mystery as much as the next person. I was expecting shorter chapters and sentences, but the author goes into a lot of detail, describing scenes thoroughly.
Characters: The characters are different and dynamic. Many of them face their share of challenges or obstacles. No one’s perfect, everybody has flaws.
“I’m just trying to make you understand the biggest reason why your short-term goal may not be worth the long-term consequences.”
Writing: The story of Cadence Moore gets told in podcast transcripts, which was interesting. Also, the language is very mature.
Final thoughts: I’m glad the ending answers lingering questions and gives readers closure.
Solving Cadence Moore combines mystery and podcasts to create a crime podcast in book form.
January 2, 2020
This book only just kept my interest. It's a very slow burner, but curiosity kept me going as the story itself is very good.
The dialogue and the way it's constructed is great and some of the interviews during the podcasts really drew me in.
Not bad 3*
The dialogue and the way it's constructed is great and some of the interviews during the podcasts really drew me in.
Not bad 3*
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