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hschoneberger's review
While the initial premise is far fetched, it became more ridiculous as I listened.
It’s a bit of a stretch, but I can understand why the officers did the initial release of inmates to save their families. However, under further review, it doesn’t pass the sniff test. The US marshal even calls it out - the same event, on the same day every year, with one unarmed bus carrying all of the families of all the officers is just a recipe for disaster.
As I read further, the FMC Celine becomes my biggest pain point. I understand she had experienced the horrors of a family annihilator as a child, but she made Krandle out to being worse than LITERAL terrorists. That much emotional baggage most likely would not let a CO get onto the death row in a prison due to CLEARLY clouded judgement and poor priority management.
It’s a bit of a stretch, but I can understand why the officers did the initial release of inmates to save their families. However, under further review, it doesn’t pass the sniff test. The US marshal even calls it out - the same event, on the same day every year, with one unarmed bus carrying all of the families of all the officers is just a recipe for disaster.
As I read further, the FMC Celine becomes my biggest pain point. I understand she had experienced the horrors of a family annihilator as a child, but she made Krandle out to being worse than LITERAL terrorists. That much emotional baggage most likely would not let a CO get onto the death row in a prison due to CLEARLY clouded judgement and poor priority management.
litwithleigh's review against another edition
4.0
Writing: solid | Plot: OTT fun | Ending: two thumbs up
SYNOPSIS
600 prisoners, including death row inmates, are released in a hostage situation. As a mac daddy manhunt begins, death row supervisor makes it her mission to bring back the man she considers the most evil: John Kradle, family annihilator.
MY OPINION
I've read some reviews saying the plot was too implausible or ridiculous and respectfully, what were you expecting? The synopsis straight-up says SIX HUNDRED inmates are released. You cannot read this and expect it to depict the absolute clusterfuck and mass panic this would cause if it actually happened IRL. Right away, you know this is gonna be REDONK. Take your disbelief, bundle it up nice and tight, and drop kick that sucker into another dimension. It has no place here.
This is my seventh book by Candice Fox, and while it's certainly not her strongest, it's still enjoyable. Without a doubt, she's one of my highest rated authors. Out of the seven I've read I've tossed out three 5-stars, three 4-stars, and only one 3 star. Not only is she a WRITER, but she knows how to weave a captivating and entertaining story. If I'm going to yeet my disbelief, make it worth it by whipping up a unique premise. I'm not going to yeet my disbelief for a regular degular domestic thriller where *gasp* the husband was cheating!
In my travels (reading reviews) I've learned that some people don't like more than two POVs max. If that's you, stay far away. There's several POVs in this tale, and no, not all of them are necessary. In fact, if you axed Axe (heheheheh) from the lineup, it would make no difference to the outcome of the story. However, I enjoyed these lil snippets of different character, as I found them all entertaining. It's not often you can make me chuckle about a 70+ yr old serial killer on the lose doing what he does best (hint: it starts with a k and is NOT knitting).
Like I said, this book will only work if you're willing to lean into the ridiculousness. There's a lot of 'well ain't that convenient' moments or scenes that seem ripped from the silver screen, but it fits the vibe of the novel. I wouldn't recommend this to everyone, but if you're hankering for an action movie-esque, fun, unique book with a cast of colourful characters, give this one a whirl. If you want something a little more toned down but still interesting, opt for her Crimson Lake trilogy (blanket banger alert was issued!!!!). FYI if you've read [b:Fire with Fire|61885120|Fire with Fire|Candice Fox|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1671335637l/61885120._SY75_.jpg|97563970], I'd be very surprised if you didn't enjoy this one.
PROS AND CONS
Pros: fun and funny, interesting characters, unique premise, fast-paced
Cons: extreme yeetage of disbelief required — yes some parts aren't flushed out
____________________________
For some sick reason, do you want to hear more of my nonsense? Check out my podcast: Novels & Nonsense streaming everywhere.
SYNOPSIS
600 prisoners, including death row inmates, are released in a hostage situation. As a mac daddy manhunt begins, death row supervisor makes it her mission to bring back the man she considers the most evil: John Kradle, family annihilator.
MY OPINION
I've read some reviews saying the plot was too implausible or ridiculous and respectfully, what were you expecting? The synopsis straight-up says SIX HUNDRED inmates are released. You cannot read this and expect it to depict the absolute clusterfuck and mass panic this would cause if it actually happened IRL. Right away, you know this is gonna be REDONK. Take your disbelief, bundle it up nice and tight, and drop kick that sucker into another dimension. It has no place here.
This is my seventh book by Candice Fox, and while it's certainly not her strongest, it's still enjoyable. Without a doubt, she's one of my highest rated authors. Out of the seven I've read I've tossed out three 5-stars, three 4-stars, and only one 3 star. Not only is she a WRITER, but she knows how to weave a captivating and entertaining story. If I'm going to yeet my disbelief, make it worth it by whipping up a unique premise. I'm not going to yeet my disbelief for a regular degular domestic thriller where *gasp* the husband was cheating!
In my travels (reading reviews) I've learned that some people don't like more than two POVs max. If that's you, stay far away. There's several POVs in this tale, and no, not all of them are necessary. In fact, if you axed Axe (heheheheh) from the lineup, it would make no difference to the outcome of the story. However, I enjoyed these lil snippets of different character, as I found them all entertaining. It's not often you can make me chuckle about a 70+ yr old serial killer on the lose doing what he does best (hint: it starts with a k and is NOT knitting).
Like I said, this book will only work if you're willing to lean into the ridiculousness. There's a lot of 'well ain't that convenient' moments or scenes that seem ripped from the silver screen, but it fits the vibe of the novel. I wouldn't recommend this to everyone, but if you're hankering for an action movie-esque, fun, unique book with a cast of colourful characters, give this one a whirl. If you want something a little more toned down but still interesting, opt for her Crimson Lake trilogy (blanket banger alert was issued!!!!). FYI if you've read [b:Fire with Fire|61885120|Fire with Fire|Candice Fox|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1671335637l/61885120._SY75_.jpg|97563970], I'd be very surprised if you didn't enjoy this one.
PROS AND CONS
Pros: fun and funny, interesting characters, unique premise, fast-paced
Cons: extreme yeetage of disbelief required — yes some parts aren't flushed out
____________________________
For some sick reason, do you want to hear more of my nonsense? Check out my podcast: Novels & Nonsense streaming everywhere.
kaitlyn_iss's review
fast-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I finished this in one night. I wanted to find out what happened. Great book, picked it up at random to read, nor regrets.
lizziepagereads's review against another edition
4.0
The Chase is a mystery/thriller/action movie in book form. That's the best way I can describe it. It's fast-paced from the beginning and had me hooked from the first paragraph. I started reading and then looked up 30 minutes later wondering where the time went (yes, one of THOSE books, don't you love 'em?!).
I found the premise to be both unique and realistic - at least for a book, I don't watch a lot of action movies. The story follows a bunch of different characters that go their separate ways after a mass breakout from a maximum-security prison, but this comes at the expense of real character depth and development. The two main characters, John and Celine, both feel slightly more extreme and less nuanced than I'd expect from this author. The more prominent of the many side characters are VERY extreme with little to no development or depth. Normally I'm okay with this for side characters, but in this case, the two characters I'm referring to (not naming for spoiler reasons) had more air time and significant roles in plot development. At times, their lack of depth distracted me from getting lost in the story. Not a deal-breaker by any means, but definitely keeps this a 4 rather than 5-star read for me.
Overall, I really enjoyed reading The Chase. It's a great read for the pool, for travels, or just to escape the humdrum of a long week.
Thanks to NetGalley for the eARC!
I found the premise to be both unique and realistic - at least for a book, I don't watch a lot of action movies. The story follows a bunch of different characters that go their separate ways after a mass breakout from a maximum-security prison, but this comes at the expense of real character depth and development. The two main characters, John and Celine, both feel slightly more extreme and less nuanced than I'd expect from this author. The more prominent of the many side characters are VERY extreme with little to no development or depth. Normally I'm okay with this for side characters, but in this case, the two characters I'm referring to (not naming for spoiler reasons) had more air time and significant roles in plot development. At times, their lack of depth distracted me from getting lost in the story. Not a deal-breaker by any means, but definitely keeps this a 4 rather than 5-star read for me.
Overall, I really enjoyed reading The Chase. It's a great read for the pool, for travels, or just to escape the humdrum of a long week.
Thanks to NetGalley for the eARC!
judithdcollins's review against another edition
4.0
My first book by the talented Candice Fox was the introduction of [b:Hades|22245474|Hades (Archer & Bennett, #1)|Candice Fox|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1421712519l/22245474._SX50_.jpg|25965002] (Archer & Bennett #1) back in 2014, and then I could not wait for #2 and #3—[b:Eden|53551806|Eden (Hades-Trilogie, #2)|Candice Fox|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1590655181l/53551806._SY75_.jpg|42461528] and [b:Fall: Thriller|53551805|Fall Thriller (Hades-Trilogie 3) (German Edition)|Candice Fox|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1590655180l/53551805._SY75_.jpg|45852037].
Once you read her books, you know she has a unique style of delving deep into the darkness of humanity. I adore her dark humor and how she balances it all to make her characters test their limits. But there is always some goodness in her character's brokenness and tragedy.
PRISON BREAK! Her latest, THE CHASE is yet another explosive wild ride. A chilling, propulsive suspense thriller that will keep you turning the pages. What an opening! The mood set for high adrenaline and action.
650 of the world's most violent human beings pour out from Pronghorn Correctional Facility, a maximum-security correctional facility, into the Nevada Desert, the most extensive manhunt in US history begins.
It was a day for families and sports. The families of those imprisoned are held on a bus unless the prisoners are let loose.
John Kradle sees this as a chance to prove his innocence. He was sent to prison for the murder of his wife and child twenty-six years earlier. His story is the most intriguing.
Next, the death row supervisor, Celine Osbourne, has a fixation on John Kradle due to her traumatic past. With this many hazardous criminals set loose to do ultimate damage, she is focused on this man.
The prison break includes serial murderers, pedophiles, rapists, terrorists, and a neo-Nazis. US Marshall Trinity Parker thinks Osbourne could be a little obsessed with Kradle.
With alternating chapters, side storylines provide the background of many prisoners. However, as a reader, you are interested in the whodunit.
It was also interesting to see how the prisoners reacted to the outside world. Some just wanted to enjoy their short-lived freedom, others slipped out, and some had a driving purpose. Without money or transportation, their choices are limited.
Fox taps into some critical issues we experience today in our prison system: budgets, overcrowded, understaffed, and innocent prisoners behind bars and on death row.
The author's character development is highly creative, showcasing the different personalities. My favorite part of the story was seeing how this wrapped up with Kradle and Osborne. Also, the two women (Trinty and Celine) are strong-willed and tenacious. It was also fun to hear the dialogue and banter between these two. LOL.
There is more than one driving force, but the Osbourne/Kradle is the most intriguing. Highly entertaining! I was glued to the audiobook and did not want to put it down.
Candice Fox is a brilliant writer with fifteen books, including her co-authored work with James Patterson.
A special thank you to #NetGalley and #MacmillanAudio for an ARC audiobook narrated by David de Vries and Lisa Negron for a highly entertaining performance.
Review Blog Posted @ www.JudithDCollins.com
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
My Rating: 4 Stars
Once you read her books, you know she has a unique style of delving deep into the darkness of humanity. I adore her dark humor and how she balances it all to make her characters test their limits. But there is always some goodness in her character's brokenness and tragedy.
PRISON BREAK! Her latest, THE CHASE is yet another explosive wild ride. A chilling, propulsive suspense thriller that will keep you turning the pages. What an opening! The mood set for high adrenaline and action.
650 of the world's most violent human beings pour out from Pronghorn Correctional Facility, a maximum-security correctional facility, into the Nevada Desert, the most extensive manhunt in US history begins.
It was a day for families and sports. The families of those imprisoned are held on a bus unless the prisoners are let loose.
John Kradle sees this as a chance to prove his innocence. He was sent to prison for the murder of his wife and child twenty-six years earlier. His story is the most intriguing.
Next, the death row supervisor, Celine Osbourne, has a fixation on John Kradle due to her traumatic past. With this many hazardous criminals set loose to do ultimate damage, she is focused on this man.
The prison break includes serial murderers, pedophiles, rapists, terrorists, and a neo-Nazis. US Marshall Trinity Parker thinks Osbourne could be a little obsessed with Kradle.
With alternating chapters, side storylines provide the background of many prisoners. However, as a reader, you are interested in the whodunit.
It was also interesting to see how the prisoners reacted to the outside world. Some just wanted to enjoy their short-lived freedom, others slipped out, and some had a driving purpose. Without money or transportation, their choices are limited.
Fox taps into some critical issues we experience today in our prison system: budgets, overcrowded, understaffed, and innocent prisoners behind bars and on death row.
The author's character development is highly creative, showcasing the different personalities. My favorite part of the story was seeing how this wrapped up with Kradle and Osborne. Also, the two women (Trinty and Celine) are strong-willed and tenacious. It was also fun to hear the dialogue and banter between these two. LOL.
There is more than one driving force, but the Osbourne/Kradle is the most intriguing. Highly entertaining! I was glued to the audiobook and did not want to put it down.
Candice Fox is a brilliant writer with fifteen books, including her co-authored work with James Patterson.
A special thank you to #NetGalley and #MacmillanAudio for an ARC audiobook narrated by David de Vries and Lisa Negron for a highly entertaining performance.
Review Blog Posted @ www.JudithDCollins.com
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
My Rating: 4 Stars
marilynw's review against another edition
3.0
The Chase by Candice Fox
David de Vries (Narrator), Lisa Negron (Narrator)
After enjoying Fox's Crimson Lake series, I wanted to try another of her books. Fox has a wonderful way of writing animals into her books and I love that about her four books that I've heard. But The Chase wasn't a good fit for me for several reasons.
When 600 of the world’s most violent criminals are released from Pronghorn Correctional Facility, due to a hostage situation, no one is safe. For personal reasons, Death Row Supervisor Celine Osbourne is determined to catch family annihilator, John Kradle, putting his crime of murdering three family members above the crimes of convicts that murdered many more people. This puts her at odds with US Marshal Trinity Parker, who is in charge of the round up of these criminals and who has a much more clear headed plan of action. Sadly, both women are presented as if they are cat fighting young teens, childishly sniping at each other until Trinity punches Celine in the gut to show her who's boss.
My favorite character was John Kradle, who is determined to prove his innocence by ferreting out who really did kill his family. His already impossible task is made even harder when one of the escaped serial killers latches onto him and won't go away. Now John has to keep others from being killed by this leech while trying to avoid capture and being killed himself. I wish the book could have focused more on Kradle and less on all the other characters that are thrown into the mix because I think that would have made a tighter and more interesting story.
The audiobook has two narrators and that decision just made the book even harder to follow. With way too many characters, we also have to deal with the characters having two different people narrating their lines. The female narrator handled things from Celine and Trinity's POV and the male narrator handled things from the viewpoint of the convicts. Once these people start interacting with each other, the characters literally have two voices. For instance, Kradle sounds like a rough voiced old guy for most of the book until the female narrator has to voice him and then he sounds like a soft voiced young guy. The audiobook would have worked much better, for me, with one narrator.
Publication: March 8th 2022
Thank you to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for this ARC.
David de Vries (Narrator), Lisa Negron (Narrator)
After enjoying Fox's Crimson Lake series, I wanted to try another of her books. Fox has a wonderful way of writing animals into her books and I love that about her four books that I've heard. But The Chase wasn't a good fit for me for several reasons.
When 600 of the world’s most violent criminals are released from Pronghorn Correctional Facility, due to a hostage situation, no one is safe. For personal reasons, Death Row Supervisor Celine Osbourne is determined to catch family annihilator, John Kradle, putting his crime of murdering three family members above the crimes of convicts that murdered many more people. This puts her at odds with US Marshal Trinity Parker, who is in charge of the round up of these criminals and who has a much more clear headed plan of action. Sadly, both women are presented as if they are cat fighting young teens, childishly sniping at each other until Trinity punches Celine in the gut to show her who's boss.
My favorite character was John Kradle, who is determined to prove his innocence by ferreting out who really did kill his family. His already impossible task is made even harder when one of the escaped serial killers latches onto him and won't go away. Now John has to keep others from being killed by this leech while trying to avoid capture and being killed himself. I wish the book could have focused more on Kradle and less on all the other characters that are thrown into the mix because I think that would have made a tighter and more interesting story.
The audiobook has two narrators and that decision just made the book even harder to follow. With way too many characters, we also have to deal with the characters having two different people narrating their lines. The female narrator handled things from Celine and Trinity's POV and the male narrator handled things from the viewpoint of the convicts. Once these people start interacting with each other, the characters literally have two voices. For instance, Kradle sounds like a rough voiced old guy for most of the book until the female narrator has to voice him and then he sounds like a soft voiced young guy. The audiobook would have worked much better, for me, with one narrator.
Publication: March 8th 2022
Thank you to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for this ARC.
sunshinebrite81's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0