Member Reviews
wow! what a book. This is the second book I have read by this author and I loved it so much. This book was fast paced and the flow of the book was amazing. His writing is amazing and a real good page turner. I could not put it down and the ending was really good. This author is a real hidden gem his books are that good I can see them becoming films easily. independent publishing authors need so much help to get these books out to the wider public so please help him READ THIS BRILLIANTLY WROTE BOOK AND RECOMMEND IT TO ALL YOUR FRIENDS.
So far posted it to amazon, goodreads, Instagram and twitter. I add to other once my phone cooperates as its playing up right now
Author J.K. Kelly (https://jkkelly.com) published the novel “Deadly Driver” in 2021. The author has thus far published six books. I was able to interview Mr. Kelly in September of 2019. You can read that interview here.
I categorize this novel as ‘R’ because it contains scenes of violence. The story is set in contemporary times at locations all around the world.
The primary character is Bryce Winters a world-class Formula One driver. He has a darker side as a CIA operative. He didn’t want to be a spy, but they had evidence against him. He had little choice but to comply.
His celebrity status from F1 racing gets him near many powerful people. This lets him make hits for the CIA without drawing too much attention to himself. He is willing to serve his country, but not while under the CIA’s thumb. He struggles to find a way to leave them behind. He travels around the world from one Formula One race to another. Beyond his work for the CIA, he faces danger from racing and those associated with it.
I enjoyed the 7+ hours I spent reading this 265-page thriller. The book reminds me a lot of Flemings’s ‘James Bond’ thrillers. The main character is repeatedly ending up in trouble. He also falls into bed with beautiful women and dispatches his foes. The Winters character is far from a hero wearing the white hat. While he repeatedly comes to the aid of damsels in distress, he is ruthless. Author Kelly mixes his interest in racing with writing thrillers in this novel. This is the fifth book by Kelly that I have read. They are consistently enjoyable, though a little rough around the edges. They are an entertaining and fun read! The selected cover art is engaging and has the feel of the story. I give this novel a 3.8 (rounded up to a 4) out of 5.
You can access more of my book reviews on my Blog ( https://johnpurvis.wordpress.com/blog/).
My book reviews are also published on Goodreads (https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/31181778-john-purvis).
Another fast paced,well researched book from this author,full of intrigue,plot twists and turns and a less than perfect main character
The author obviously has a love for the sport and this shows in the amazing detail within the book
I enjoyed this story, it was well written, had good narrative and good pacing and the characters were well developed and relatable. I read this quickly and would definitely recommend it
I made it 20% through, but could not finish this book. The teaser that I saw about the book seemed interesting, but there was nothing that hooked me early once I started reading, nothing that made me wonder what was coming next. I also could not get engaged with the main character.
While sitting and reading this book, I felt like I needed to buckle up a seat belt. There is no pace car; the story is non-stop, full speed with plenty of twists and turns along the way. Behind the scenes and on the course the author keeps the plot and characters moving in a very entertaining story.
My Thanks to NetGalley and publisher, J.K.Kelly Books, for the ARC.
What an excellent read this is! The author's phenomenal research transports the reader across the globe into the glitz and glamour of Formula One racing and all the wealth and luxury accompanying it. However, Bryce Winters, a one-time world champion, has a secret world of his own - one in which he, together with his friend Jack Madigan are being blackmailed into carrying out clandestine operations for the CIA, using their legitimate F1 travels across continents to gain access to their targets.
Bryce, the son of a policeman, was raised in New England by his father's twin brother Pete. Pete was a Marine and taught Bryce all he knew about fighting and killing. Both have no qualms about delivering appropriate justice in order to help people - but that philosophy can get them both into trouble. Bryce is desperate to get the CIA off his back. He planned to retire at the end of the season, thereby negating his travel advantages for the CIA's purposes: only he is offered the chance to renew his contract and the lure of another championship is too great - he has to come up with a plan to get both Jack and himself out of the CIA's claws.
The narrative moves seamlessly between past and present as we learn of Bryce's humble racing beginnings before coming under the wing of his mentor, billionaire Max Werner. Bryce can take or leave the high life - he's doing something which he enjoys and which he is very, very good at - he's a talented race driver. But as well as being immersed in the glamourous F1 locations we are able to follow Bryce during his "down-time" where he explores his own country as well as picturesque global locations and landmarks whilst, at times, he becomes introspective; questioning himself and the actions he has taken.
This is well-written, fast-paced and action-packed, with excellent characterisation and dialogue. Lots of twists and revelations - and shocks!
If you haven't read J.K.Kelly's previous two books entitled "The Export" and "The Export's Revenge" then I would urge you to do so because Matt Christopher - the star of those books -is mentioned in this one and there are several similarities running through the two series, I'm rather intrigued to find out whether, in the future, these two protagonists - Matt & Bryce - actually ever meet up!
Great one - thoroughly recommended.
4.5 stars
Deadly Driver is indeed a deadly read about intriguing conspiracy plots, crimes that are covered so well and so many twisted stories and villains to uncover.
The writing is flawless and I find the pacing so high, I could barely take a break from everything that was happening. Just like our male character, Bryce, a formula one driver, his and his own family and friends’ life is at stake with every turn of the page in this race to the end line for finding the brains in the intricate spy web of lies and villainy minds.
I thought in many moments that everything will end in an enormous crash along the way but I’m happy that I was wrong.
Suspenseful, pulse racing story that I highly recommend.