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Echo From a Bayou
Imagine awakening from a skiing accident, only to find yourself plagued by vivid recollections from a past life that is not your own. Such is the captivating dilemma John Bastian faces in Echo From a Bayou, the latest novel by J. Luke Bennecke. This thought-provoking narrative delves into John’s struggle to comprehend the enigma surrounding a mysterious red-haired woman who relentlessly haunts his thoughts and, more pressingly, his desperate quest to unravel the truth behind the murder of his past self, Jack Bachman. Time is of the essence as danger looms ominously, threatening not only John’s well-being but that of his loved ones. The ghost of Jack’s demise looms, and John must take every measure to avert a similar fate.
Adding to the weight upon John’s burdened shoulders is a tragic incident that unfolds during the ill-fated skiing trip. Witnessing the untimely death of Blake Lynds in a harrowing gondola accident, John finds himself tormented by the haunting visage of the departed soul each day. In the company of our protagonist, the reader embarks on a gripping odyssey as John embarks on an unrelenting quest for answers. Was Jack Bachman a tangible existence, or did John’s post-coma state spawn a realm of hallucinations? Who harbors ill intentions towards him and his kin? And when will the burden of guilt for failing to rescue Blake dissipate?
All these burning questions find resolution within the pages of this masterfully crafted thriller. Though the initial chapters may seem calculated in their pacing, gradually acquainting us with the intricacies of the characters and their world, the narrative’s allure gradually intensifies. Soon enough, readers find themselves wholly engrossed in the lives of both John and Jack, entangled within the enigmatic tapestry they share. Echo From a Bayou presents a well-executed and immersive tale. While not pioneering new frontiers within its genre, the novel remains a delightful and compelling read, fueling curiosity towards its vividly rendered characters. Its charm lies in its ability to captivate, entertain, and effortlessly draw the reader deeper into its intricately woven narrative.
Immersing oneself in the pages of Echo From a Bayou is a gratifying experience characterized by its irresistible allure, gripping pace, and accessible prose. This suspenseful novel undeniably possesses the power to hold you spellbound until the final page is turned.
Pages: 409 | ASIN : B0C4CQVL3K
Echo From a Bayou
In the gripping narrative of Echo from a Bayou, penned by J. Luke Bennecke, readers meet John Bastian, a middle-aged protagonist wrestling with personal and professional dilemmas. In pursuit of escape and resolution, he, along with his unwavering confidant Kevin, embarks on a seemingly innocuous ski trip, which takes a harrowing turn leading to a life-altering accident. Waking up in a hospital bed, John discovers he’s become a repository for alien emotions and memories. The mystifying recall of a brutal death, a captivating woman, and a concealed fortune hidden in the wilds of the Louisiana bayou invades his consciousness.
Compelled by a potent mix of curiosity and urgency to unravel the story behind these mysterious memories, John convinces Kevin to join him in a trip to Louisiana. This expedition spirals into a thrilling tale laced with mystery and high-stakes suspense. Echo from a Bayou is a captivating, fast-paced thriller that engrosses readers in an intricate web of perspectives. The characters traverse perilous paths in the pursuit of a forgotten treasure while being pitted against supernatural elements that challenge conventional reasoning.
Bennecke’s narrative is a riveting blend of high-octane action and suspense that keeps readers on the edge of their seats. As they journey with John and Kevin, readers will find themselves eagerly piecing together clues to the treasure and a looming threat. The author’s robust characterization breathes life into a collection of formidable adversaries, stoking the readers’ anticipation for their inevitable downfall. The supernatural dimensions, particularly the theme of reincarnation, add a fascinating layer to the narrative, further enhanced by the vivid landscapes of New Orleans and the mystical Louisiana bayou.
While I enjoyed the novel, the narrative occasionally dips into expository narration, which disrupts the otherwise fluid sequence of events. This over-reliance on explicit storytelling at times breaks the immersive experience.
Nonetheless, Echo from a Bayou stands out as a thrilling literary experience that adeptly weaves supernatural elements into the narrative fabric, making them both compelling and relatable. The overall appeal of this exhilarating tale remains undiminished. Immerse yourself in this riveting journey for a suspense-filled exploration of the supernatural and a relentless quest for redemption.
Pages: 404 | ASIN: B0C4CQVL3K
At The Mercy Of A Computer
“Civil Terror: Gridlock” follows a visionary entrepreneur as he must stop a terrorist group from using his self-driving vehicle system to carry out a deadly attack, while also clearing his name as the falsely accused architect of the plot. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
Real life traffic congestion. Seriously. I was stuck in traffic one day on the I-210 in Pasadena, CA, moving at a snail’s pace when I thought, “This is 2015, why are we still having to deal with so much traffic congestion?” Then I let my mind wander . . . what if robots/computers were in charge of the driving instead of humans? That would be good, right? Like autopilot for cars? No more accidents. No more congestion. Perfect efficiency on the freeways at last! But then my negativity bias kicked in . . . with so many people at the mercy of a computer, what if somebody hacked in? Terrorism, right? What if the agency implementing millions of self-driving cars was run by engineers so blinded by the “good” the could do, they got blindsided by the “bad”?
Jake Bendel is an intriguing and well-developed character. What were some driving ideals behind your character’s development?
Jake Bendel’s development was driven by several key ideals. Firstly, I wanted to create a unique protagonist in the thriller genre by making him a civil engineer. While there are many books about police, FBI, and crime, I thought it would be exciting to center the story around an unsuspecting hero forced to go on a thrilling journey.
To create a compelling character arc, I started Jake off at the top of his game before quickly plunging him into emotional turmoil with the loss of his wife, imprisonment, wrongful accusations from the media, and being forced to operate outside of his comfort zone. To further complicate matters, I also gave him motion sickness, which added an additional layer of challenge to his character.
However, I didn’t want Jake’s story to be solely focused on his struggles. I also wanted to tap into the love, inspiration, and strength that his deceased wife would want him to have in order to fight the bad guys. Through all of this, Jake was able to learn valuable lessons, gain newfound maturity, and develop a sense of humility that he didn’t have before.
Overall, I wanted Jake to be a relatable and realistic character with a strong character arc that would keep readers engaged throughout the story.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
- Friendship and Loyalty: Gridlock highlights the importance of true friendship and loyalty as Bendel and the other main characters remain committed to helping each other despite the challenges they face.
- Courage and Perseverance: I’d like to think that Bendel displays courage and perseverance in the face of adversity, refusing to give up or be defeated by his circumstances.
- Family and Love: Bendel and his daughter bond over their experiences, emphasizing the importance of family and love, as they go to great lengths to protect and support each other.
- Pursuit of Dreams: The story highlights the importance of pursuing one’s dreams, as Bendel strives to achieve his new goals despite the many obstacles he faces.
What is the next book that you are working on and when will it be available?
I’ve recently finished writing and fully editing two more novels:
1) Blackout – The third installation of the Jake Bendel universe, where a grieving Bendel teams up with FBI agent Kristy Konnors to stop a sociopathic cabal leader from taking down the US power grid and allowing foreign militaries to invade, while also uncovering the truth about his wife’s supposed death.
Blackout is currently under evaluation by several agents whom I pitched at last year’s PitchFest in New York (as part of ThrillerFest) with the goal of getting a publishing deal with one of the Big Four.
2) Echo From A Bayou, a mind-bending psychological thriller where a man awakens from a coma speaking with a Louisiana accent, convinced he’s the reincarnation of a man who was murdered over a billion-dollar treasure, and must navigate through dangerous obstacles to uncover the truth.
Echo From A Bayou is scheduled to be published August 8, 2023 and ARC’s are available for review.
I’m also nearly finished with a draft of a sci-fi thriller tentatively titled “Time Goggles”, where an MIT doctoral student’s invention, the Time Goggles, reveals a brutal murder from the past, and when her FBI dad disappears, she uses the device to uncover the truth, but a global crime syndicate will stop at nothing to get their hands on it.
Author Links: GoodReads | Twitter | Facebook | Website
You’ll be forced to consider how you would react if you were cornered and trapped in a terrifying life-threatening situation.
Fed up with slogging through the treacherous LA traffic to get to work, Jake Bendel and a cunning team of experts create a roadway system for self-driving cars — preventing thousands of traffic deaths and reducing commute times from hours to minutes. For three months, no traffic congestion. No accidents. No fatalities. People finally feel safe in their cars. But should they?
Especially when the dark side of humanity sees this as a chance to destroy the United States. A terrorist group weaponizes the system and devises a scheme to kill more Americans in one day than all the U.S. soldiers killed in World War II.
Viktor, a tormented psychopath and the mastermind behind this ruthless attack, is driven by the voices in his head who guide his every move. While he and his brothers mercilessly annihilate Americans, Viktor plants evidence that convinces the public Jake is the architect behind the most heinous terrorist attack in U.S. history.
But one rogue FBI agent believes Jake is innocent. Together they unearth a mole deep inside the FBI, go off the grid, and hash through a trail of hidden clues to stop Viktor from slaughtering millions of unsuspecting American drivers in a matter of minutes.
The clock is ticking. Can they stop him in time to prevent another savage bloodbath?
Civil Terror: Gridlock will grab you by the throat and pull you into a vicious struggle that will define the fate of the world for generations to come. If you like Dan Brown, Tom Clancy, or Jon Grisham, you’ll love J. Luke Bennecke.
Civil Terror: Gridlock
Dr. Jake Bendel, a pioneering civil engineer, and his team of experts embark on a colossal project to create self-driving cars, aiming to eliminate traffic congestion and accidents. With billions of dollars invested, the groundbreaking technology was widely accepted and integrated into all road networks. However, devastating terrorist attacks soon claimed the lives of thousands of innocent people, leaving Jake to question what went wrong.
As evidence surfaces incriminating Jake as the mastermind behind the attacks, he finds himself imprisoned for his alleged involvement. Jake was part of a team of expert engineers known as the Super Six, of which he is the only surviving member. In time, the team realizes that their technology has been hijacked by terrorists to cause severe damage to the country. An ingenious individual had penetrated the software and was responsible for the catastrophic mishaps. The FBI collaborates with Jake to uncover the root cause of the problem and neutralize any further attacks, faking Jake’s death to facilitate their investigation.
J. Luke Bennecke’s Civil Terror: Gridlock is a thrilling work of fiction that provides insight into the future of advanced AI. The novel explores the pros and cons of utilizing self-driving vehicles and depicts the intelligent and patriotic Jake as its main character and protagonist. While he sometimes struggles with his emotions, his overall goodness shines through.
Viktor, the intriguing and malevolent genius and antagonist of the story, captured my attention the most. I was surprised by how someone could be brainwashed into committing heinous crimes in the name of religion. His intelligence could have been better utilized if not for his association with the wrong people. The characterization is top-notch, and while I enjoyed the novel, I feel that the plot accelerated too quickly in the middle.
Civil Terror: Gridlock is a gripping technothriller that boasts exceptional editing, a good story, and an engaging plot. I highly recommend this book to anyone who fancies a thrilling, action-packed read filled with conspiracy theories and terrorist plots unfolding.
Pages: 494 | ASIN : B07B8LK9XG
LITERARY TITAN 