Comfort Zone
A Tale of Suspense
by Stephen Bentley
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Pub Date Aug 03 2020 | Archive Date Sep 20 2020
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Description
There’s a killer lurking in all of us. Sometimes you just don’t know it.
Take Phil Mercer, for example, what dark secret from his past changes a decent man, and respected professional into a man with murder on his mind?
Down to earth Northerner, Phil Mercer, begins to question why so-called university friends failed to help him establish a practice at London’s Criminal Bar.
Despite that and colleagues’ professional jealousy, he goes on to achieve success as a fearless defender of society’s less fortunate until his career is threatened by events triggered by something completely out of his control.
Figuring his life and career are about to change forever, Mercer strives to find a way to right wrongs by inventing a new parlour game called ‘Comfort Zone.’
At a dinner party surrounded by colleagues he insists they all play the game. He introduces it after dinner as a ‘storytelling game.’
He adds – “the easy choice is not an option at all. What terrifies you? What scares you shitless? Be brave. Be reckless. You are among friends. What can possibly go wrong? It’s just a parlour game, right?”
Get this dark suspense noir crime novella now.
Advance Praise
"Advance Praise - 5* Goodreads Reviews
""Phil Mercer is one of the most intriguing characters I've read about in a long time. Mercer is a British veteran who returns home from the war in Afghanistan and studies law, then becomes an attorney in London... The author writes about the humanity of a person who has taken the lives of other people. Like when watching a tragic play, I felt sympathy for Mercer at various times and then cringed at the murder scenes... The opposing roles of Phil Mercer, a murderer given in to the temptation to kill, and an attorney, driven by order, logic, and law, make for a unique protagonist. Bentley does a great service in the way he writes about Mercer's interior dialogue, hallucinations, depression, and memory problems. He does not make Phil Mercer a stereotype of a mentally ill person. Mercer is a sympathetic character; one who is approachable for the reader. I liked Phil Mercer so much that I can visualize his character in further novels by the author... Told through flashbacks, dream sequences, and various points of view, Comfort Zone is a first-rate story. Crime novel fans will be entertained by Comfort Zone. I highly recommend reading this book.""
""Not the usual genre of book by this author but wow what a story, it had more twists and turns then a formula 1 racetrack. Well worthy of the 5 stars and in fact I'd go as far as saying 5+Star rating.""
""Comfort Zone was anything but that and as a result a brilliant read... ""
""A complex, thought-provoking novel with the protagonist a tragic war vet suffering from PTSD. Mr. Bentley pulls no punches and proves he can write a heart-breaking, haunting novel second to none. BRILLIANT. Highly Recommended."""
Available Editions
| ISBN | 9786219619066 |
| PRICE | $3.99 (USD) |
Links
Featured Reviews
Janice L, Educator
After an eerie prologue, the reader is thrust into the life of Phil Mercer. Phil had worked 14 years as a barrister. Now, he has "voices" that are directing him as to what he needs to do. Inner thoughts, perhaps?
There are a number of people who have taken advantage of Phil or just outright turned on him. It is Phil's turn for revenge! Phil is not sure if he does/does not want to kill these people, yet revenge sounds sweet. The "voice" tells Phil it is a MUST! These people (mostly solicitors/barristers) NEED to be taken care of. soon.
First Phil visits a Russian at a car boot sale as he pieces his plan together. He invents a game - Comfort Zone- and a dinner party to go with the game. Sounds just fine to Phil...
A different kind of read, I enjoyed the story very much!
Many Thanks to BooksGoSocial and NetGalley for a very good read.
Louise G, Reviewer
Perhaps the most intriguing character I have “met” in a long time. Phil Mercer is a deeply damaged man and I was inclined to sympathise with him. A veteran, Phil Mercer has suffered greatly and this book really gives visibility to the impact which killing people must have on a man’s psyche. And then the dark depths of his character were revealed and it was so shocking! The story was chilling and gripping but, if I am being honest, everything was secondary to the compelling creation which is Phil Mercer.
Nicki R, Reviewer
The main character and narrator of this enthralling thriller is a complex individual who had various mental health issues. Even though we are now living in the 21st century and despite the fact that mental health issues don't carry as much stigma as they did in the past. There are still people that scoff at and ridicule others whose brains refuse to work properly. Intrusive thoughts are one of the terrifying aspects of mental health, add onto that the shocking treatment that Phil Mercer had apparently experienced in the past then you have a ticking time bomb that is bound to explode at some point. There have been a number of cases where people who have mental health issues have gone into a dissociative fugue and murdered their loved ones. Is this what happened to Phil and if it was then it's very unfair if we readers judge him as unlikable when he had no control over his behaviour and actions. Were we being cleverly manipulated by the author and Phil into feeling sympathy for someone who was really insane or a cold blooded killer and was hiding behind a mask. What really happened in Afghanistan in 2002? We all know that terrible atrocities are carried out in war torn countries and sometimes the truth is locked away by the powers that be and never divulged to the public.
This is a well written, thought provoking story that keeps the reader guessing and causes you to experience a wide range of emotions. The plot definitely took the reader out of your comfort zone at times especially during some of theocrats that were set in Afghanistan. This is the first of this author's books that I have read and I would happily read more of his books in the future.
darren m, Reviewer
I enjoyed reading this book. It had a good story to it. I liked the variety of characters in it. It is my first book read by this author. I hope to read more books by this author.
Kathy P, Educator
What a unique book. The Prologue eally grabbed me and the story kept me reading. It came together beautifully near the end. The characters were well written and I loved Phil Mercer.
Rainnbooks☔☔ R, Reviewer
Many Thanks to Net Galley, BooksGoSocial and the author for a chance to read and review this book. All opinions are expressed voluntarily.
Where do I begin with this book? 120 pages of goosebump raising, anxiety inducing, dread filled thriller that makes one sit down and think, empathize and commiserate about the effects of mental illness, war crimes and brain-washing.
The opening chapter with almost an emotionless robotic cruelty was utterly gripping and then Phil Mercer and VINCENT walks into the picture enumerating the grievances that have been doled out to him by his so-called friends. The parlor game was just that, a revenge against all the wrongs but Phil is himself astounded by the discoveries he makes in the course of the events that follow.
The chapters are short and snappy but the author keeps the reader glued to its pages dishing out twisty surprises piecemeal by piecemeal and it is quite an amazing feat to convey such a thought-provoking subject in the length of a novella.
Comfort Zone is definitely not a comfort read especially with the chapters that transpires in Afghanistan/Pakistan that makes a reader feel the whole gamut of emotions. The book highlights PTSD with dissociative amnesia without too many frills and that in itself is quite admirable.
I would like to thank Shalini who recommended this brilliant book.
This review is published in my blog https://rainnbooks.com/; Amazon India, Goodreads, and Twitter.
Dianne B, Reviewer
Think you have the suspense/thriller/crime genres down pat? Not sure anything can surprise you? Hang on for Stephen Bentley’s COMFORT ZONE and I do mean HANG ON! Ready yourself for unexpected twists, dark and terrifying turns and be prepared to face everything Phil Mercer must face.
What is reality, what is a game, what is going on in Phil Mercer’s mind? Is it real? Dark, gritty, filled with the unexpected, this tale of crime will have you reeling!
I was invited to receive a complimentary copy from Hendry Publishing via NetGalley! This is my honest and voluntary review.
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