BOOK REVIEW #WHAT GOES AROUND #MICHAEL WENDROFF #CRIME &THRILLER #BLOOMSBURY / HEAD OF ZEUS PUBLISHERS #BOOK TOUR
MY THOUGHTS AND BOOK REVIEW
Book Review: What Goes Around by Michael Wendroff
"Evil has many faces"—and in Michael Wendroff's What Goes Around, each one is more horrifying than the last. This compelling thriller hooks you from the first scene and doesn't let the reader go, weaving a taut narrative of murder, distrust, and moral reckoning in the underbelly of modern America.
Set in a small town plagued by a series of brutal killings, the novel brings together two unlikely allies: Jack Ludlum, a tough, no-nonsense detective who prefers action over analysis, and Jill Jarred, Jack's intellectual foil and long-time rival whose razor-sharp mind cuts through even the most cryptic of clues. They are compelled into an uneasy alliance, the two of them must manage not only an increasing body count, but also their own deep-seated enmity, one that threatens to implode their investigation at every turn.
As the investigators peel back layers of hate-fueled subcultures—including incels networks and white supremacist cells—the story is rife with social commentary and current relevance. Wendroff does not shy away from challenging themes, but confronting them front on with a careful yet unwavering gaze. The tension between local law enforcement and the FBI, along with a hungry media circus, adds another layer of strain as Jack and Jill get under further pressure as they get closer to a more perverse reality than they ever could have imagined due to the conflict.
What Goes Around, however, is more than just a procedural thriller; it is also a story of connection, loss, and the inexplicable endurance of love in the darkest situations. As the border between life and death becomes increasingly blurred, the novel delves into the unusual reality, culminating in an emotionally poignant and unexpected climax.
With less written dialogue, compelling characters, and a pulse-pounding pace, Wendorff crafts a thriller that’s both intelligent and deeply human. Fans of dark mysteries with psychological and supernatural edges—think True Detective meets The X-Files—will find themselves hooked. I truly enjoyed enjoyed this one.
Thanks to Partners in crime Tours and Head of Zeus -- an Aries Book Publishers for an advance copy for my honest review.
BOOK DESCRIPTION
EVIL HAS MANY FACES
Chilling murders terrorize a town and bring together two detectives to face the hardest task of their lives.
Jack Ludlum, who relies on his brawn to get things done, is now paired with Jill Jarred, a brilliant investigator with keen intuition. As they delve into the secret world of incels and white supremacists, and conflict between local authorities and the FBI rages, a media frenzy further complicates the mission.
Is there a serial killer on the loose? Or something entirely different? Will their clashing personalities be their undoing, or can they unite to stop the killer before they kill each other?
What Goes Around is a dynamic thriller that examines the intricacies of love, loss, and the unbreakable bonds that transcend time. With its pulse-pounding pace, captivating characters, and a revelatory twist that challenges the boundaries of life and death, this novel will keep you hooked from the first page to the last, and thinking long afterwards.
Praise for What Goes Around:
“Relentless and gritty, Wendroff expertly weaves a narrative that begs, ‘just one more page…'”
~ J.D. Barker, NY Times bestselling author
“What Goes Around starts off at a breakneck pace and doesn’t let up until it reaches its unexpected conclusion.”
~ Lisa Black, NY Times bestselling author
“An adrenaline-fueled novel, the action breathlessly driven by two detectives-Jill Jarred and Jack Ludlum–relentlessly pursuing the bloody trails left by a serial killer with a dark sense of justice, deadly groups of white supremacists, and one lonely, alienated boy caught up in the violence.”
~ Kathleen Kent, NY Times bestselling Author
“What a twist! This book grabs you from the first chapter, and doesn’t ever let you go. A brilliant debut!”
~ L.M. Chilton, Author and Journalist
“Gripping and chilling…relentless…includes very up to date issues…with an original revelatory twist.”
~ Crime Fiction Magazine
Book Details:
Genre: Contemporary Psychological Thriller, Domestic Thrillers, Suspense Thrillers
Published by: Bloomsbury/Head of Zeus
Publication Date: October 10, 2024
Number of Pages: 414
ISBN: 9781035900084 (ISBN10: 1035900084)
Book Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | BookShop.org | Goodreads
AUTHOR
Michael Wendroff
Michael Wendroff has an MBA in marketing from NYU, and was inducted into their Hall of Fame. His MBA thesis was on “Marketing in the publishing industry,” and it was excerpted in the industry trade journal, “Publisher’s Weekly,” so he actually got paid to write his thesis. While interviewing publishing executives for the thesis, he met Truman Capote.
He has spent many years since as a global marketing consultant. It was the Covid pandemic that finally got his to write his novel, as he was cooped up at home. The impetus for the novel was something his mother said the moment he was born: “Oh! So nice to see you, Again.”
He grew up in a publishing/author milieu, as his mother was an editor at NYC publishing houses (watching his mother scribbling in red ink on manuscript pages at home on weekends prepared him for his own editor’s comments!). Plus she remarried a literary agent, Henry Morrison, so Michael was friendly with many authors (Dean Koontz, Lawrence Block, Joseph Finder, Eric Van Lustbader, etc), and even spent a vacation with Robert Ludlum. Watching Ludlum hand-write his 450 page novels on yellow legal pads didn’t dissuade Michael from trying to write a novel (though he’s thankful for his PC).
Michael’s debut thriller novel, What Goes Around, was launched in the USA, UK, and Australia, and foreign language rights have thus far been sold in Italian, Japanese, and Hungarian.
Fun fact: Michael’s great-grandfather was brought over by Thomas Edison from the University of Copenhagen (Denmark) to work with him in his New Jersey labs. He holds a number of patents, including for plastic buttons (he became known, and rich, around town as “The Button King”). Michael proudly wears button-down shirts whenever he can.
Catch Up With Michael Wendroff :
MichaelWendroff.com
Amazon Author Profile
Goodreads
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