5 stars – A must-read for those looking for a good page-turner
By my nguyen on January 6, 2019
Format: Kindle Edition – Verified Purchase
Unlike the overcrowded conditions of the cities and the cramped situation of the suburbs, the rural township of Morrilton contains sprawling country-sides and heavily wooded areas. Like in every rural parts near it, crime is near to non-existent in the small town.
It came as a surprise one night towards the end of summer as Grace Owens and her daughter Jessi Owens were out at the local Piggly Wiggly to do some shopping for school supplies that a lone gunman by the name of Machine Man shot Jessi’s mother and the shopkeeper Becca Hart and abducted Jessi.
Jessi, an avid Taekwondo student, was about to start the fifth grade and she was all fired up and ready for the start of the new school year. The turn of events forced her to dredge up every available knowledge of what father figure Master Pastor had taught her.
Neither a master nor a pastor, the moniker was given to Devin James because he served as both pastor of Morrilton Baptist Church even though he wasn’t ordained and taught Taekwondo in the same church at night although his rank was below that of a master.
Drawing from both experiences equally, he found that each life pursuit brought equilibrium to the other. His martial arts experience helped illustrate the finer spiritual points in his sermon and he found that the mat was an excellent platform for enlightenment.
Yet everywhere Devin went, he carried with him his demons. One day, while digging through some videotapes, he came across footage of a masterful martial arts student parleying in a tournament rally. Never has he witnessed in all of his life a more graceful and fluid fighter. Devin was filled with envy.
But as the announcer revealed the name of the winner of the tournament, Devin was shocked to hear his name being called out. The crush of the realization overwhelmed him. He replayed the tape, but this time instead of relishing in his fight, he was instead distraught by the futility of it all. Instead of focusing on the positive points of the fight, he now instead was trained on its flaws and inaccuracies.
Devin had been offered a mirror that reflected what others saw in him. But unable to appreciate himself for what he truly was, he instead chooses to shower this love onto his students, hoping to instill in them self-confidence and self-respect. Everyone in the town loved him for this.
But Devin isn’t the only one with a monster in his closet. Tim Loveless, who went by Machine Man in high school (nicknamed thus by his football coach for being ruthless and brutal on the fields) was adamant that he find his ‘Mary’. Evoking the features of his childhood love, Tim thinks he sees his Mary in Jessi, hence dubbing her Lil’ Mary.
But Jessi wasn’t about to go down without a fight. She reaches within everything that Master Pastor has taught her and a strength that surpasses her 10 years on this earth. With everything she’s got, Jessi fights for her life. And Devin, with his faith on the line, hopes beyond hope that he is there in time to save Jessi’s life. Tim is resolute that Lil’ Mary is the one. If he can’t have her no one can.
An all-out battle of life and death hashes out between Jessi, Devin, and Tim. Will Jessi come out alive? Or will she be among the countless victims to have fallen under the Machine Man’s hand? Will Devin have come out in time to save her?
‘Finding Nowhere’ by Jeff Wade is marked by sharp observations and tight writing. The descriptions sing with spot-on portrayals of several characters who are tied together by a series of small crimes that ravage a small town. The choppy language in certain in the moment scenes also goes on to serve the action better. Wade’s arresting command of language makes ‘Finding Nowhere’ a riveting and moving suspenseful thriller.
Not only that, but Wade also does a spectacular job of fleshing out Tim’s character. Tim Loveless really comes alive as the villain. Wade writes him not just as a one-dimensional character, but one with a vivid backstory. Readers will get a rare look into his life and see the reasons behind his actions.
This carefully crafted psychological thriller is filled with suspense and edge of your seat action. Recommended for those who love a good suspenseful thriller, ‘Finding Nowhere’ is a must-read for those looking for a proper page-turner.
5 stars – Great Character Development!
By Gina Kristie on January 5, 2019
Format: Kindle Edition – Verified Purchase
This is a must have for your psychological thrillers collection. From the beginning the author sets up an abduction and heads right into the psychological make up of the abductor and the stories other characters that go through much reflection and journey. The details and hints of character defects intertwined with their revelations about themselves, who they mean to each other is quite fascinating and mind stimulating. This is a well-developed story, and from beginning to end you feel a sense of anticipation for the next step in the scenes. There is a parallel story line that makes you wanting resolution for these characters that builds until the end of the book. The ending is an anticlimactic ending but leaves the reader at peace with the wrap up from the author.
The author is very skilled at making the reader feel present in the story and brings to life the characters and situations. I was pleasantly surprised at the depth of self-reflection that was represented in the characters and that one could also identify with throughout this story. Not only was I intrigued by the make up of the characters but became inspired by the transformation over time. The character Jessi was constructed as a child being abducted but presents a courage and grit to survive that surpassed all the other characters in the book. The abductor is a psychopath that we can feel a definite line of delineation from and highlighted by the upright character of Devin. The story moved along at a steady pace and easily followed. I give this book five stars!
5 stars – Criminal Minds Meets Existential Preacher
By Kaurie Albert on January 4, 2019
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The headline really says a lot–Master Pastor, a taekwondo instructor and haphazard pastor finds himself in a terrifying race against time. He sets off after a pedophilic sociopath without a plan, just trying to save his favorite ten year student in time. Jessi proves herself to be an incredibly smart and savvy girl, her harrowing adventure demonstrating her resourcefulness again and again. There are disturbing moments when we are brought inside “Machine Man” Tim’s head and his depressing childhood. It is very clear how he developed his fetishes and how he continued to cultivate them. The backdrop of small town Arkansas adds to the scenery and the culture and the speech patterns of creepy Tim. I especially enjoyed the Pastor’s spiritual ramblings and existential crisis that led him to ultimately finding Jessi. The constantly switching point of views creates interesting and diverse perspectives. Finding Nowhere was incredibly suspenseful and engaging!
5 stars – Well written suspense filled ride!
By Ezela Salazar on January 2, 2019
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“Finding Nowhere” was a great suspenseful story. The main story line is a serial killer kidnapping his next victim. He thinks he gets rid of all of the witnesses, but Jessi’s pastor/TaeKwando instructor sees what happens and follows. The author really did a great job of developing Tim/Machine Man as a villain and giving him a proper back story that made sense. The way he writes Tim’s reactions, thoughts, etc, you really could see where it came from, especially when it came to his obsession with Mary.
My only complaint is that I had a hard time seeing Jessi as such a skilled fighter. If she was really in the 5th grade that’d make her about 10-11 years old. Now I know I was a precocious 11 year old, but the way Tim is described she’d have to be one heck of a fighter to cause him pain. Maybe it’s empowering to hope that she could have, and that any girl put in that situation could get a good fight in. Aside from that, I thought the story moved well. Each of the scenes had excellent description so you could visualize what was happening.
I don’t want to give away too much, but I did enjoy the ending between Jessi and Vivian. It was a peaceful and hopeful resolution to all of the sadness.
I’ve read Jeff Wade before, and he’s an author you can truly enjoy. He does an excellent job of writing conversationally. He expresses the spoken word in such a way where you can really hear a characters accent, vocation, and education level. His action scenes are well described and the psychology of his characters are very clear and thorough.
4 stars – Certainly a suspense thriller read
By Kellylynn on January 2, 2019
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The story takes place in a small redneck town in Arkansas. Its about the sheer will of a young girl who witnesses her mother’s murder and the store clerk, who is taken captive by a psychopath killer. The other main character is Deven James, a local citizen who teaches Taekwondo and serves as the little towns paster.
Unknown to the young girl who idolizes Deven was also shot but spared by the bullet hitting the bible in his pocket. When he comes to, Deven realized that the little girl Jessi has been kidnapped and the mother and clerk murdered. It is now a race against time for Deven, to try and catch up with the psychopath that took her. The psychopath, a young man who grew up poor with abusive parents fell in love with a childhood girl is snubbed by her and only wants to be friends. After killing her he searches for years for what he calls “his Mary.” So time being of the essence to say the life of yet another young girl, can Deven get to her in time? You’ll have to read it to find out.
The book starts out slow and does a lot of jumping from current to past with the three main characters, but does speed up making it difficult to put down. Good detail in all three main characters in their past and present. Definitely keeps you in suspense.
5 stars – Moving Thriller
By JoJo on December 29, 2018
Format: Kindle Edition – Verified Purchase
Finding Nowhere—Jeff Wade
Reading this novel was like watching a suspenseful Lifetime Movie. It was so well written and moving I couldn’t wait to finish each page to find out what’s next on other chapters.
A trip to the grocery store turns into a tumultuous experience for ten-year-old Jessi Owen. She is kidnapped and thrown in the back of a trunk and must fight with her whilst power to survive. Jessi is a very sharp character and she is also a strong independent little girl. She reminds me of a 10 year old me, I didn’t let things I couldn’t control, control me. I fought hard. I became encouraged and inspired. She endured the horror on her own. But what she doesn’t know is the team of support she has including Devin-a black belt pastor.
After Devin witnesses Jessi’s abduction, Devin follows the car, unbeknownst he could track the abductor. But he knows the killer is armed. If Jessi is dead, there’s no good in what he’ll do for her.
Devin is a great character, and he has a life that is defined by the conflict of the book.
He hated it when his wife Vivian forgot her cell phone. But now on this event-turning day, he has also forgotten his. Makes you think about what the turnout story would’ve been if one of the characters had their cell phone. There’s so much endless questions of what ifs. As a reader I very much liked this plot because the author guides his readers to look at Cause & Effect which then does lead to the Climax of the book.
My favorite character is Devin, his character in the book is very complicated based on the events handed to him throughout the book. His core values which are optimism, courage and his Christian values are embedded in the book which connotes the Author’s real life.
Jeff Wade is very on point with this novel. Finding Nowhere keeps readers on their feet! From page one to the last page. Each words speaking and keeping the reader in interested and satisfying the need to know what’s next!
5 stars – A Dean Koontz-style thriller
By Raven Corinn Carluk on December 27, 2018
Format: Kindle Edition Verified Purchase
This book is an absolute page turner. From the prologue, I was locked in and could barely put Finding Nowhere down. It’s intense and tight, and I read it in an evening.
Early on, Master Pastor mentions that he reads Crichton and Dean Koontz, and I felt it was the author hinting at his personal inspiration. Koontz is a great writer, and Jeff Wade follows well in his footsteps. The only thing missing, really, is a Golden retriever and a Mossberg.
Jeff Wade changes the narration between the three main characters, and he skillfully uses different slangs and words to make each section feel different. You can’t mistake Jessi’s chapters for Devin’s, and the parts from the antagonist really make your skin crawl. The action is brutal and intense, but not graphic or gratuitous, and it really shows you the crazy horror of the bad guy.
Devin is a great character, and he definitely has a dynamic life that isn’t simply defined by the conflict of the book. He expresses great philosophy, and balances Christian values with martial art teachings. Makes me really wonder about the author’s life, because there is an authentic feel to everything Master Pastor says.
Jessi is such a remarkable little girl. She reminds me so much of how my parents tried to raise me, and she is absolutely not a victim. She fights every step of the way, and keeps her wits about her. She’s easily the best young character I’ve read in a long time.
I did feel the last chapter/epilogue didn’t fit the tone of the rest of the novel. Yes, it wrapped up the overall arc, but I found it weak in comparison to the intensity of the preceding drama.
Even with an arguably anti-climatic ending, Finding Nowhere is still a must read.
5 stars – Could Not Put this Book Down!!!
By Cynthia on December 26, 2018
Format: Kindle Edition Verified Purchase
Finding Nowhere by Jeff Wade hooked me from the first page. The suspense filled thriller has you on the edge of your seat. Many times, I needed to put this down, only to say “1 more page”. It’s a dual tale of a young girl’s will to survive her abduction by a madman Tim Loveless, AKA Machine Man, and her unlikely mentor and father figure, Master Pastor, and his quest to understand God. The tale of Machine Man is creepy, yet sad. Wade brings you to the brink thinking you are about to find a solution to one of the tales, but then eases you back to mesh them together. He goes into the mind of the monster and how his warped sense of love is developed. You are drawn into the fight for survival of Jessi who is a young, innocent girl with natural instincts and Taekwondo training. Then you flash over to Devin James, Master Pastor. He goes against all odds to save the girl that lost both of her parents and wormed her way into his heart. Devan’s spiritual journey is just as exciting as Jessi’s survival journey. Tim’s journey deeper into the darkness and his ultimate end with old Battle Axe is fitting. Then, Wade ties it all together in a bittersweet finale of sacrifice and Justice between a teacher and pastor and his student. The ending was surprising to me – but then after finishing this book – I realized it shouldn’t have been so surprising after all. I absolutely loved this book and highly recommend it to anyone who likes to escape into a psychological thriller.