| Title | : | Restless Earth (Children of Karma, #1) |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | 1912361019 |
| ISBN-10 | : | 9781912361014 |
| Language | : | English |
| Format Type | : | Mass Market Paperback |
| Number of Pages | : | - |
| Publication | : | Published October 1, 2019 |
Four men scattered across the globe. . .
One seeks pleasure
One seeks purpose
One seeks redemption
And one seeks revenge.
A wind is howling around the skyscrapers of New York, through the battlefields of Iraq, and into the bustling streets of Bangkok. It carries with it the fates of these four men: men bound together by chance and history.
Which of them – if any – will survive the tempest?
Restless Earth (Children of Karma, #1) Reviews
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Having read all four books in the Time, Blood and Karma series, I was excited to read the latest offering by this very talented writer. I was not disappointed. Several of the characters were familiar, including the previous series’ protagonist, the tormented David Braddock. But instead of the storyline centering around the private detective/therapist, we follow him episodically as his path crosses other characters’, some new to Braddock’s world.
Though there were plenty of dubious and downright nasty folks in the previous installments, none were quite as chillingly portrayed as Jim Fosse, a sociopath who broadens the definition of cold-blooded lunatic. The main problem with Mr. Fosse is his uncanny ability to assimilate into any circle of humanity without giving himself or his true motivation away. The author gave us a more chilling view of his devious personality by giving Jim a first person narrative platform, allowing him to confide his most misanthropic thoughts and desires. The effect is startling, so much so, it makes me wonder how the author gained so much insight into such a frightening, too-clever-by-half mind. Eerie. Enthralling. Hard to put down.
As combustible as Jim Fosse’s internal dialog is, he is still just one of the players who cross David Braddock’s path. And Braddock isn’t even the center of the orbit, as has been the case in the previous books. Restless Earth is a very carefully orchestrated example of six-degrees of separation, a cosmic square dance in which the supporting cast swings from one partner/friend/foe to the next. The result of such intermingling is a web of intrigue, a delicious conundrum, a tour de force. Restless Earth is a WOW! -
*** RESTLESS EARTH is an addictive novel ***
I’ve read John Dolan’s ‘Time, Blood and Karma’ series and enjoyed it immensely. When I heard he had a new book out, I presumed it was part of the same series.
I should never presume with Dolan’s writing. He is wickedly unpredictable. His latest book, RESTLESS EARTH kicks off a new series called ‘Karma’s Children’ and draws upon several characters from his previous books.
The story begins in England and travels across the globe, from the USA to South Baghdad to Southeast Asia.
Private investigator and sometime therapist, David Braddock returns, but the other male characters are a real surprise. As per the author’s signature style, he also writes formidable female characters, one in particular.
The plot is presented in a way that is unlike a standard “whodunnit.” With strong emphasis on the interconnectivity of people and place, the story is able to jump from one time zone to another, informing us of events from multiple perspectives. We are invited to solve a mystery, only it’s not as simple as fitting pieces together to form a complete picture. Dolan’s world is not a flat jigsaw puzzle, after all. His is a three-dimensional one with numerous moving parts.
Despite a tautly woven and evocative plot, the author is able to infuse playfulness into his narrative. It’s a skill he has mastered and readers will appreciate.
RESTLESS EARTH is an addictive novel with plenty of surprises to keep the reader riveted to the very end. I should know, I’m already jonesing for the next book. -
A few hours ago, I finished reading John Dolan’s latest novel, ‘Restless Earth’. I did not rush to write a review and post it for others to see because I wanted to selfishly savour the tale the author had woven as though reminiscing over an exceptional meal or a fine wine. This is easily author Dolan’s most exceptional book to date.
As with all his stories, this one too is character-driven, yet unlike the others, here we are treated to four superbly drawn protagonists, two we fans of Dolan’s work have met in previous books and two new, as their lives collide with deadly consequence. With the assistance of a few additional secondary characters, all of whom are fully fleshed out and believable even though their role may be small, the author gifts us the voyeuristic pleasure of following their lives as they intermingle and eddy like the hidden currents of a river. Moreover, what a magnificent waterway it is!
Repeating another Dolan trait, almost an inside joke for his readers, the author includes a few nuggets of gold in the stream. These take the form of Sherlockian references, obvious in the case of the name of one of the protagonists, more subtle in the epithet used by another to refer to a minor character, perhaps as a tribute to Conan Doyle’s master crime writing of yore. Dolan’s storytelling is easily as outstanding as that of the aforementioned doyen, yet firmly placed in contemporary times.
The storyline is cunning and clever, peppered with perceptive reflections, and emotional engagement as events unfold. Without a doubt, the best novel, in any genre, I have read this year. Do not miss this one. Highly recommended. -
Anybody who has been following my reviews for a while will know that I love John Dolan’s writing. I discovered his books a long while back and I’ve been following his career with interest ever since. I was both sad and exhilarated when he brilliantly closed his previous series Time, Blood and Karma with the novel Running on Emptiness (you can check my review here). I bought a copy of his new book, the beginning of a new series, Karma’s Children a while back, but it wasn’t until I received the ARC for the second book that I realised I had yet to read and review the first one. Yes, I’d been busy, but I wonder if part of my reluctance was to do with starting a new series afresh, after having enjoyed the previous one so much. Could it live up to my expectations?
Having now read the first book (and started the second one straight away), it’s fair to say that it has. The new book is not a complete break. Some of the characters and the settings we are already familiar with (I don’t feel qualified to comment on how well the book stands on its own. My inkling is that it could be read and enjoyed by somebody who hadn’t read any of the previous books, but there would be quite a few lose threads and I’m sure the reading experience would be completely different). Yes, we have David Braddock, the British amateur detective-cum-therapist living in Thailand who decides to confront some of the issues pending in his life (he’s always reminded me of Hamlet, and I must say that like Shakespeare’s character, he can make me feel impatient at his dithering sometimes), but not others. We also have Jim Fosse, a fascinating villain, a psychopath or sociopath who is up to his old tricks and some newer ones. And we have two other characters that bring new concerns (some at least) and settings into the story. Sam Trask, an American Iraq War veteran, who has suffered physical injuries that he has mostly recovered from, but the same cannot be said for the mental scars from his experiences, and another American character, Reichenbach, who remains mostly in the shadows, and whom I suspect we haven’t seen the last of (and I’ll keep my peace and let you make your own minds up about him).
The story moves between the different characters, and although, apart from Sam’s military history it is mostly shown in chronological order, there are changes in setting and point of view, and a fair amount of characters, which require the reader to remain attentive at all times. Most of the story is told in third-person mostly from the point of view of the character involved (although I was more aware of the narrator in this book that I had been before. This was particularly evident in the parts of the story following Sam, who is not a bookish man, as evidenced by his dialogue and his backstory, but even when we are with him, we are provided insights and observation that go well beyond his psychological and cultural makeup), and the alternating points of view allow us to be privy to information that gives us more of an overall and multifaceted picture than that of any of the individual characters. However, the Jim Fosse’s fragments of the story are narrated in the first person and that makes them particularly chilling and at times difficult to read. A character with no moral compass and good brains, a master manipulator and plotter, his attitude reminded me at times of the main character in American Psycho (although more inclined to psychological mind-games than to out-and-out violence); and his role is central to most of what happens in the story, although I won’t reveal any details. He does not have any redeeming qualities (at least none than I’ve discovered yet), but he is witty, his observations can be humorous (if you appreciate dark humour) and accurate, and there is no pretence there, and no apology. He plays his part well for the public, but in private he does not hesitate or dwell on the consequences of his actions. If he wants something and it does not involve a high risk for him, he’ll go for it. And I find that refreshing indeed. No, he’s not somebody I’d like to meet (or rather, he’s not somebody in whose way I’d want to be), but he is a great character to read about.
These men (well, not so much Jim Fosse, although he does, at points, becomes obsessed with what seems to be his female counterpart) are obsessed by women, one way or another, and riddled by guilt (definitely not Fosse), be it by commission or by omission. But, if we truly look into it, these are men whose issues with women seem to hide some deep insecurity and doubts about their own selves. Sam Trask, in my opinion the most sympathetic of the characters, is an innocent abroad (he has been out of his country as a soldier but otherwise he is quite naïve to the ways of the world), without being truly innocent. He is tortured by the memory of something he witnessed. His difficulties made me wonder if guilt by omission is not even worse than true guilt. Because if you’ve done something terrible, you can tell yourself you won’t do it again, but if what happened was not of your own doing, how can you guarantee that it will not happen again? Yes, you might tell yourself that you will react differently next time, but you can never be sure you will be in a position to do so, or it will make a difference. You were, in a way, another victim of the situation but complicit in it at the same time. No wonder it is not something one can recover easily from.
As I said, I enjoyed meeting Sam, and felt for him and his difficulties. I’ve mentioned Jim Fosse, and I am curious about Reichenbach, who pulls some of the strings. I felt less close to Braddock than I had in the past. I am not sure if it was the narrative style, or the fact that he is less central to the story, appears less sharp (he missed quite a number of clues), and seems to spend an inordinate amount of time thinking about smoking. He remains intent on protecting himself and not fully confronting the truth about his relationship with this father and his own unresolved issues. I’m sure it’s a personal thing, but when he reflects on women and their role, I felt like shaking him and telling him to grow-up. I guess I’m coming more and more to Da’s (his faithful no-nonsense secretary/associate) way of thinking.
The writing is supple, suffused with psychological and philosophical insights, a great deal of understatement and fun, witty comments, and eminently quotable. One can’t help but wish to have such a witty internal narrator to accompany us in our adventures.
The mystery (there are several but all end up fitting into a complex scheme) is cleverly constructed and although as I said we, the readers, know more than any of the individual characters (thanks to the different points of view and the multiple story strands), it is not easy to guess exactly how things will be solved. Those of us who have been following the stories from the beginning might have an inkling (of course things are not as they seem, but that’s no surprise), but I don’t think many readers will get it 100% right. And that is one of the joys of the story. The vivid and multiple settings, the accurate psychological and sociological insights, and the fabulous characters and dialogues make for a fabulous read as well. This is the strong beginning of another of John Dolan’s masterful series. And I’ll be sure to keep reading it. -
I’ve been a fan of John Dolan for a long time now because his stories embody everything I love reading about: exotic settings that transport me into a new world, riveting plot that makes me hold my breath, and deep, complex characters that get under my skin. But what I loved most of all about “Restless Earth” was how masterfully it was constructed, bringing several pieces of a puzzle into an intricate mosaic of the darkest personal stories, interwoven fates, and karma which brings all these people together. After all, what does a former soldier, a private investigator, a crooked businessman and a few other characters, completely unrelated at first sight, have in common? Read and you’ll find out.
The psychological portraits in this new story are absolutely incredible, bringing to light every dark corner of the soul each and every one of us is trying so carefully to conceal from the outside world. If you like deep, very well thought-out stories, this one should definitely be on your must-read list. Five stars. -
Private investigator David Braddock is back in the U.K. to attend his father’s funeral, dealing with words left unsaid and family sorrows of the past. He’s pondering an uncertain future–which may or may not include a new love interest, and could involve a move from Thailand back to his British roots. Private First Class Sam Trask is haunted by the hideous memories of an appalling action committed by deranged colleagues during his wartime duty in Iraq—memories that are slowly eroding his mental state. A secret request from a retired, ailing lawmaker to trace an unscrupulous, globetrotting cad and an ironic twist of fate unites the investigative paths of these two men. As the events play out, will either live to tell the tale?
Author Dolan takes us around the world in this intriguing, suspense filled mystery to catch a conniving, psychopathic man who takes great pleasure in inflicting emotional and physical pain and anguish to the women in his life, leaving a few who pay the ultimate price. We’re on the streets of Bangkok as James Fosse continues his self-absorbed mission of hunting down unsuspecting victims to feed his cruel, manipulative urges. As the clock ticks, he’s ready to pull off his ultimate, devious scheme, but at what price? Will anyone be able to stop him?
This is a masterfully told tale that captures your interests from the beginning, filled with life story dramas, details of events and surroundings that pull you right in, and many twists and turns, page after page. The surprise ending will keep you coming back for more in this series! A captivating summer read (great any time of year), highly recommended! -
David Braddock is catnip.
Okay, that's not all. John Dolan introduces an entirely new structure for his complicated hero, and I like it. Restless Earth is cinematic in scope, moving between the London, New York, Bangkok, Greensboro and Samui as the plot thickens around Braddock. The supporting cast is full of familiar faces to readers of the Time, Blood & Karma series, but this narrative is by no means dependent on the previous series. A full complement of new faces await. As does one deliciously unpleasant acquaintance from Braddock's past.
As always, resolutions are murky and ever afters complex. Solving a case often means opening another for Braddock...
What you're hearing now is the impatient tap of my toes, waiting for another book. -
Brilliant. After a few books recently that I have struggled with, this was a welcome tonic.
So, firstly I had never heard of John Dolan and this is the first book I have read of his, but I can absolutely guarantee it wont be the last.
This book tells the story of 4 men and their respective stories, but of course there is a link that weaves all of them together. I have to say I loved all of their stories and really enjoyed a few of the characters who come in and out of the story. Braddock is probably the main character and he is fascinating, and a very strong character to write a book around. I did however find myself rooting for Sam, who has a terrible back story and you sense is used as a pawn by some of the more devious characters within the book. However as the intro to the book states, "Its not always easy to tell the good guys from the bad guys, and sometimes there no good guys"
The ending of the book clearly leaves room for further stories and I think the main character Braddock appears in some of the authors other books that I will now be looking for.
Certainly one of the best books I have read this year. -
Without a doubt, this is one of the best books I’ve read in a long time. Gorgeous prose, taut storytelling, exotic locations, well-drawn characters, and a plot that makes me want to spit out clichés like, “a real page turner.” But I won’t because I hate clichés.
Each chapter of this book focuses on one of the four men in Restless Earth who appear to be completely unconnected to one another. But they are not. Author Dolan has brilliantly ties their stories together.
This was not a passive read for me. My brain was constantly trying to put together the pieces of this elaborate puzzle while identifying and evaluating new clues. I read it in just a couple of days. Again, if I were of the mind to use clichés, I’d say this was “hard to put down.”
The only problem I have now after reading this book, is that there’s no way I can pass up the other books in this compelling series. Where will I find the time?
Seriously. Read this. -
Reading this latest novel by John Dolan was an electrifying experience, a bit like watching live opera. Everything comes together–story, actors, scenery, music– in one potent, highly-concentrated shot.
The author is a master story-teller, nourished by the intellectual humus of great writers and thinkers. ‘Restless Earth’ is a classic thriller in the tradition of Graham Greene’s novels of the same genre: suspense, intrigue, moody settings, eyeball-to-eyeball confrontations with Life’s Big Questions. It’s immediate, charged with energy, an edge-of-the-seat ride where surprises leap out like malevolent jack-in-the-boxes in a Night at the Haunted House. From thumb-nail sketches of goitered beggars and frayed middle-managers through to the psychological complexity of amoral predators and failed heroes, the characters are brilliantly drawn. They pull us into their worlds, setting our emotions swinging between pity and horror, admiration and disgust, sadness and glee, belief and disbelief. The dramatic intensity of the writing is thankfully leavened with black humour, where you’re allowed to laugh in relief and remember that this is just fiction. (Or is it? We are, after all, in Dolan-land, where nothing is what it seems.)
The settings transport us far and wide, from the watery palette of the polite British Midlands to the blood and brutality of war-torn Iraq, on to the throbbing cacophony of Bangkok, its ‘tainted nights’, its invigorating ‘edgy eagerness’. Each distinct ambience is instant, graphic, palpable. Against these varied and vivid backdrops, the actors glide to centre stage or step back into the wings in beautifully orchestrated moves. And the music? That would be the writing: the seemingly effortless modulation of tone that is a characteristic of this author, the admirable command of the English language which segues smoothly from rich, dense prose to terse minimalism, studded with the beauty of the ‘mot juste’, an accomplishment that would have had Flaubert doffing his chapeau and getting out his hankie.
Can you tell I’m a fan? The book would be a great read as a stand-alone, but Dolan fans get more, recognising familiar themes and allusions. Each new event prompts the characters to reflect on the way they fit in to an ever-more fractured world, their individual responsibility, the nature of good and evil, their actions, with ‘their resultant impacts’, their failure to act, and the potential ‘karmic payback’. The idea of connections– Indra’s web–introduced in ‘Everyone Burns’, continues. Trask in Bangkok realises that ‘everything is like an echo of everything else’ and Braddock, thinking back on what has passed, muses over ‘what common threads had orchestrated the far-flung happenings that were the subjects of his enquiries’, what ‘causal links’ bound him to the other actors in the drama. Though the main protagonists are male, women are a vital element in the pattern, appearing, disappearing, re-appearing, the living and the dead, exerting influence and shaping events. ‘Without woman, man is nothing’.
‘Running on Emptiness’, with its shock finale, left readers unsure if this was the last goodbye for totally addictive anti-hero David Braddock. ‘A cycle has ended. A circle has closed.’
So what next? Dolan gives us the answer in this stunning introduction to a second series where old and new come together: ‘Karma’s Children’.
Four men dominate Book 1. First, Braddock (hurray!), exactly where we left him, at his father’s funeral. He’s in familiar, world-weary, self-parodic mode, ‘a creature resigned to disappointment’, puffing on Marlboros ‘to ward off the evil of too-deep contemplation’. The usual female entourage dispenses advice about a ‘life re-set’. After a few false starts, things look up: ‘The heartbeat of Samui life once more synchronized with Braddock’s pulse.’ But: ‘that was not about to last.’
Another familiar character pops up. A sociopath bent on the perversion of innocence, Jim Fosse lands with a bang centre stage, flexing and unfurling into a chilling monster, ‘exploring ever-more arcane regions of the psyche’, a 21st- century Hannibal Lecter, except that Lecter is nicer and Fosse hasn’t actually eaten anybody (as far as we know). His riveting encounter and subsequent obsession with ‘That Woman’ in Bangkok (no spoilers) is a horrifying look into the abyss.
Two others complete the quartet. Sam Trask is an innocent, a man of chivalry in a brutal world. We find him in Iraq, a Private in Charlie Company, in the Triangle of Death. The horror of his experiences and his subsequent disintegration and overwhelming sense of failure leave him stranded back in the US, ‘a suit of armour held together with one rivet’.
The last of the four, Jebediah Reichenbach, sits in a motel on the outskirts of Greensboro, waiting. A figure in a Hopper painting, sick, gaunt, plotting revenge, Mr R is clad in black, and ‘his body thus melded into the gloom of the motel room, only his pale, claw-like hands, scrawny neck and haggard face catching the light. And those eyes, how they burned with some internal fire! They were the eyes of a zealot.’
All the pieces are now in place on the chess board. To one side, the Ace of Spades awaits.
Authors of successful series face the pressure of writing The Next Book. When will it be out? Will it be as good as the last?
The answer in this case is a resounding ‘yes’. And not just ‘as good’ but ‘even better’.
For readers sick at heart at having reached the end of ‘Restless Earth’, Book 2, fortunately, is in the making. -
Once there was a man who roamed the Earth in search of the meaning of life, the key to achieving satori, the chance to meet God face to face. Unfortunately, failing to find any answers, he gave up the search, took up drinking, and became a novelist. John Dolan is the man’s name, Lagavulin 16 is the drink, and whether or not he ever attains true enlightenment, he has superb taste in Scotch, and he writes a hell of a good novel.
Restless Earth is a suspense tale. Someone is murdered. Someone disappears. David Braddock, the main character, who is a private detective and amateur psychotherapist, and who resides in Thailand, must solve the murder and disappearance. I promise you a well-crafted, intricate, clever, and unnerving plot. Mr. Dolan’s writing skill has a long and solid reach which is every bit equaled by its grasp.
David Braddock has appeared in four previous Dolan novels. It’s not absolutely necessary to read the first four Braddock novels to understand the man, but they are terrific reads, and you would be missing a great deal of fine entertainment. Feel free to start with Restless Earth, but even if you do, I urge you to consider going back to “Everyone Burns” to get the full picture of David Braddock, his loves, his friends, his enemies, and his adventures. I was hooked from the beginning, and have eagerly awaited each new installment since.
In Restless Earth, Mr. Dolan introduces two major new characters, Trask and Fosse (Fosse does appear in an earlier Braddock novel, and in a very short and very funny story that Dolan published some years back called “Jim Fosse’s Expense Claim”, then disappears).
Through Trask, Mr. Dolan takes us on a journey through the hell that was the second Iraq war, and shows us how men can become depraved when driven to extremes. The trip is grueling for the reader, but necessary to understand what makes Trask tick, and how he struggles to adapt when he returns to the “real” world. Trask is every wounded combat veteran who ever came back with PTSD. Only more so.
Fosse is a creepy, narcissistic, and psychotic psychopath, and the story of his inner insanity is thrilling to read in first person and present tense. Fosse clearly has a strong sense of entitlement, and gives himself permission to commit any heinous act, well, just for the fun of it. The sexual charge that Fosse and other psychopaths often get from violence is described in an eerily disturbing way by Mr. Dolan, who has created in Fosse a truly memorable and cagey villain.
Robert Altman was the master of a style of film in which characters are introduced one by one, and their lives begin to intersect in seemingly random ways, until by the end it all makes sense. It is my favorite genre of film. Mr. Dolan does the same thing in Restless Earth. Minor characters appear, disappear, and then reappear when least expected, intersecting and then interconnecting with major characters that they had not previously ever met. It makes for a marvelous plot trajectory, one that puts the reader on his toes keeping track of all the confluences.
In Restless Earth, Mr. Dolan maintains his well-honed literate sense of humor. In fact, if anything, it has become both more refined and more sardonic. His dialogue continues to be snappy. The characters have richly developed personas. Although women are not the main protagonists in Dolan’s novels, every one of them steps to her own different drummer, adding richness to the proceedings. And this reader simply loves a writer who uses words like basilisk, anfractuous, abstemious, pullulated, larruped, and epicanthic. Folks, he’s not showing off. The words are used very precisely.
So how do Braddock, Trask, and Fosse tie together? You’ll have to read the book to find out. There are a few small surprises and one gigantic surprise that is both far-fetched and immensely satisfying. I hope I’ve piqued your interest.
About one third of the way through, it was clear to me that the complex story was going to have to be played out in more than just one novel (a clue was that the subtitle of the book is “Karma’s Children Book 1). The ending has more cliff-hangers than the Grand Canyon. Mr. Dolan, please do NOT make me wait too long for the next installment. -
Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman
Restless Earth by John Dolan brings together four men who it seems jave little or nothing in common, but somehow they are all inextricably linked. An embittered, old, sick man, Jedediah Reichenbach is just looking for revenge against his nemesis, the amoral and evil businessman, James Fosse whom Reichenbach, a former Police Officer, knows to be a murderer. Reichenbach hires out-of-work, ex Iraqi veteran, Private First-Class Samuel Trask to travel to Thailand and discover what Fosse is up to. Reichenbach is only sure of one thing - whatever Fosse is up to is just a front for the man's evil machinations. Trask was invalided from Iraq with a severe leg injury. Although the physical wounds have healed, he is haunted by what he witnessed in Iraq and the murder of a young Iraqi girl. He seeks redemption. Fosse, is a master manipulator who loves nothing better than to cause mayhem and havoc in people's lives, to no apparent end, apart from his own twisted, personal satisfaction. Throw in the mix an English Private Detective based in Thailand, who is still trying to find his real purpose in life and you have a rollicking tale of murder, mystery and mayhem, with inexplicable linkages everywhere.
Here we find four disparate characters, all seeking different things who are brought together in this wonderful story, Restless Earth, by author John Dolan. I loved the exotic location of Thailand and enjoyed the authors attempt to show us a side of Thai life and culture outside some of the popular Western misconceptions, not to say those were ignored either. All four characters were well drawn by Dolan and of special interest was the pleasure-seeking, narcissist, Jim Fosse. Nothing, it seemed, was too devious or too outlandish, in his mind, to try, to create a mess in other people's lives. There didn't need to be a purpose to his actions other than the twisted, sadistic, pleasure he would gain from inflicting suffering on someone else. A really strong character that drew me in, as a reader. Sam Trask was also a complex and needy individual that had you feeling deep sympathy for the man, at times and equally feeling like screaming at the character to; "not be such an idiot". The quintessential English detective who had left good, old England, after the death of his young wife, to find himself, was perfect in many of its characterisations, in my opinion. This is a wonderful, adventure book that will keep readers on the edge-of-their-seats and quickly turning pages to see what comes next. Great story Mr. Dolan. -
Restless Earth is the first book in the Karma's Children Trilogy and what a fantastic story to kick off a series with!
The story is told from several POV's which I liked a lot. It was a little like reading lots of books in one as the story took on new twists depending on the characters POV.
David Braddock has just lost his father, which to some would be traumatic, however to Braddock it has an extra twist, as it seems that past personality clashes have led them to become estranged from each other. But Braddock is not going to let that stop him from moving forward if he could find out what forward looked like. Luckily the PI company he owns keeps him busy, its also the very thing that leads him into danger and intrigue.
Sam Trask is a soldier suffering from PSTD, unemployed and with an aversion to violence against women he excepts a job to run surveillance on Jim Fosse, a man with psychopathic tendencies.
There are many twists in this story and I'm not going to put any spoilers in this review. But it will grip you and keep you turning the pages.
Each POV is very different and that is what makes this book come to life. Each of the characters provides a glimpse into their lives; some of which you'll want to keep an eye on ready for book two!!
John Dolan is an excellent writer. He will hook you in and you're not going to be satisfied until you've finished the book, and then like all good writers, he's going to keep you coming back to this series for more!! -
I have read all of JD's other books and found them to be exceptional. Full of plot twists and excellent, strong characters.
This latest book, which commences a new series, is equally good - No... Better...
JD's storytelling and careful weaving of plot lines have improved from excellent to sublime. The character development is written in such a way as to leave you guessing, yet believing that you already know them. This is a real skill! The new facets of characters are revealed in perfect time and the bits of the story in which you were scratching your head now suddenly come to life with a real lightbulb-over-the-head 'bing'.
I absolutely love the way that that Restless Earth develops and swings naturally from location to location and character to character. The way that the story is told from different viewpoints and with the associated knowledge of that character is nothing short of genius. Braddock continues to reveal more of himself; and Fosse... Yikes - He really is a mixture of Patrick Bateman and Francis Underwood (House of Cards). A total sociopath.
I'm not going to ruin any plot for anyone, I'm just going to say read this book - you will not be disappointed. The story is fast-paced, realistic, dark and has moments of genuine laugh-out-loud comedy.
Thank you JD for another awesome story! -
Restless Earth (Karma’s Children Book 1) picks up the characters from the ‘Time, Blood and Karma’ series superbly and mixes them with new ones. All characters deserve a book of their own and in the case of John Dolan’s excellent characterisation there’s surplus to requirement for that. You’ll not want to lose David Braddock PI and just hope that he’ll read the manuscript; but did you wonder what happened to Jim Fosse? Me too and I’m not disappointed. ‘Restless Earth’ has the thread of connectivity as before with some tantalising near misses at joining the dots making you want to read on to find out where the plot goes. A really good writer will leave just enough for the reader’s imagination, but then John Dolan goes a bit further, he makes you think you know more than his characters do. Excellent plot twists that lure you in and keep you reading – I certainly am. The only fear being I may run out of John Dolan books – eek! If you haven’t read ‘Time, Blood and Karma’ series then start at the beginning you won’t be disappointed. Another beautifully written book. (Pat McDonald British crime author)
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Restless Earth by John Dolan is an expertly crafted thriller that goes on to show you just how small the world really is and how connections exist across continents between people who seemingly have nothing to do with each other.
The story begins with John Dolan's favorite PI ~ David Braddock but soon meanders all the way to a war torn Iraq and we are introduced to a dedicated soldier, Sam Trask.
For a long time you the reader will wonder how on Earth are Sam and David connected and I won't blame you.
Have patience even when you are introduced to the life of a shrewd, manipulative man, Jim Fosse.
Now how is this man connected with David and Sam? Let me just drop a few clues. Somehow women form the pieces of the puzzle that will connect these elusive men to each other. Not one woman, more than one woman. Amazing, right?
It takes a writer of great skill to weave together pieces of a tale that seem disjointed at first glance but then slowly start coming together.
In short this thriller by John Dolan is extremely unique, nail biting, a slow burn mystery and completely worth it. -
“It’s not always easy to tell the good guys from the bad guys. And sometimes, there are no good guys. Sometimes we act out of expectancy or fear or self-interest without reference to any moral compass.”
I can’t say enough about John Dolan’s writing. I love his entertaining mystery/thriller’s situated in Thailand and other foreign and not so foreign lands. These adventures are unpredictable and layered with sarcasm and as witty as they come. While reading I am reminded of books I’ve read by Nelson DeMille, another author I admire. And Restless Earth surly does not disappoint!
I whipped through this book as I can’t get enough of the adventurous life of David Braddock and the troubles that seem to be waiting for him at every corner. Still, there is humor through the thrilling drama.
The writing is knife-like sharp and I’m in awe of the author’s ability to take you there with the characters and the far off setting.
I would read anything John Dolan puts out because his books take you right in from the start. So much so that I often find myself holding my breathe and reading way longer than anticipated.
I look forward to the next book in the Karma’s Children series. Something to look forward to. Please don’t ever kill off Braddock. -
Complexities of Restless souls…
David Braddock a private investigator-come-psychoanalyst living on the island of Kho Samui in Thailand, finds his life at a turning point when he returns to the UK to attend his father’s funeral. Should he take the advice of his stepmother and settle down into married life?
Sam Trask, a soldier discharged with serious leg injuries from a tour of duty in Iraq, also finds himself at a low point. He is plagued by Post Traumatic Stress Disorder after witnessing an atrocious war crime committed by members of his patrol against a young girl. His subsequent chivalrous attitude in defending women lands him in trouble with the law.
Jebediah Reichenbach is also restless. A retired and ailing NYPD policeman, he has a score to settle with Jim Fosse, a clever and ruthless murderer involved in a business deal in Thailand. Will Reichenbach ever get justice for a crime he cannot prove?
John Dolan melds the characters together into a brilliant novel whilst embracing the quirks and complexities of heroes and antiheros as they play their roles in a most compelling storyline—a gripping five-star thriller told through multiple points of view.
Thank you once again Mr Dolan for such an entertaining and thrilling novel! -
I've missed David Braddock, and I have to say, as I read this, I thought that perhaps this would be the last we see of him...and maybe it is. But that's for you to speculate about as you read "Restless Earth." I loved this book. The characters it follows - Braddock, a young army vet, an amoral, perhaps sociopathic businessman, and the various women who interest/seduce/love/drive them - are well drawn and come to intersect with one another in a really compelling, smart and suspenseful way. But hands down, my favorite character is still Braddock, who comes to the story from this author's Time, Blood and Karma series. Braddock is a fairly high-born English widower who reinvents himself as a private dick in Thailand. His wry humor is fun, at times twisted, and definitely has a noir flair - and I'm a noir fangirl. His sense of otherness, basic decency and overall melancholy make him a character who is hard to forget...and makes all of the novels that feature him hard to put down.
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At first glance, Restless Earth is the beginning of another series; however, it’s evolved from the previous one, Time, Blood, and Karma. As with the authors of the other books, the story draws readers in from the beginning with its intriguing plot and engaging storyline. I marvel at Mr. Dolan’s writing: he depicts the scenes vividly, crafts the main characters with life, and intertwines with humorous dialogs (verbal or internal) via his mastery of words. (By the way, his humor can be dark, satirical, or just plain funny.) It’s palpable to say that this book is a setup for another couple of installments. Look forward to their release.
(Restless Earth is a great stand-alone read. However, to get the optimal enjoyment, it is recommended to read the entire first series. At least, book 3, A Poison Tree.) -
This was another great book which carried on from where the previous series left off. New characters were introduced and many of the previous characters from the blood, time & karma series returned. The story was a real page-turner which was full of intrigue, dry wit & the theme of interconnectedness which is ever present in Dolan's books. John Dolan is a truly talented storyteller who keeps you coming back for more. It was such a relief to be able to read about Braddock's antics again. Can't wait for the next book in the series to be released!
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I read this book after I discovered the author's free short story on Amazon during a flight layover.
Enjoying the author's short story, I was eager to try one of his novels. I found this to be exceptionally well written and the multi-layered plot was very well executed. Don't have time to write a full review, but I do want to say that I really enjoyed this novel. Hope to read more by John Dolan. -
David Braddock continues, as engaging as ever.
The story line quickly pulled me in, and I was carried along happily by the finely-tuned plot.
The cast of characters is strong, with enough attractive women to keep me smiling. I do miss the old monk from Mr. Dolan's earlier work, though. -
Restless Earth
Fans of John Dolan and his detective David Braddock get more than they hoped for in Restless Earth, the first book of his new Karma’s Children series. There is the tight, intricate plot. There is plenty of action and appropriate sex. Characters are interesting, complex and three-dimensional. However, there is an even greater psychological and philosophic depth. At the beginning, Braddock is still in mid-life crisis and suffering from angst, but read on. This is a compulsory page-turner. -
Whenever I can look forward to a long spell of undisturbed reading I invariably turn to one of John Dolan’s books. If it’s about PI David Braddock and his life on the Thai island of Koh Samui, so much the better.
A continuation of the previous series, Restless Earth is the first of three Children of Karma novels. Here we find David Braddock at a turning point in his life when he returns to the UK to attend his father’s funeral.
In this gripping follow-up, we encounter the familiar faces we have come to know, with the nefarious Jim Fosses centre stage. He has all the hallmarks of a sociopath, his character made all the more chilling by Dolan’s use of the first person that allows us to see into his twisted mind and read his thoughts.
A newcomer to the scene, and the antithesis of Fosse, is US veteran, Sam Trask. Traumatised from his time served in Iraq, he takes on a mission for a retired NYPD officer to monitor Fosse’s movements in Thailand.
We first meet Trask on the battleground of Iraq. True to form, the author has done his research well. The graphic descriptions of the atrocities and the constant danger that prevailed are breath-taking – no surprise that Sam Trask is plagued with PTSD!
The action shifts to Thailand where Trask and Jim Fosse eventually cross paths. When Trask disappears from the radar, his sister enlists David Braddock’s help and we follow his quest to discover what has happened to the hapless army vet. Restless Earth is yet another riveting story that held me in thrall from beginning to end.
There is something for everyone in John Dolan’s books – a dry humour, more often black but always witty...
‘It was one of those fiendish puzzles that were purchased for the elderly in retirement homes, presumably either to occupy their faculties for long stretches or to weaken their determination to go on living.’
Poetic passages...
‘The wood directly ahead of him flowed down a hillside, twisting to the left, like a wilful river of foliage carving out a sentient path through the landscape.’
Clever little metaphors that, despite being brief, say a lot about the main characters, an example being his description of the middle-class inhabitants of the village where David Braddock’s late father lived...
‘An obsession with English heritage clogged their veins like some cultural embalming fluid.’
And always... Action-packed plots that entail travel to exotic places. What’s not to love about Dolan’s writing? I’m now looking forward to reading the 2nd and 3rd novels in this series, knowing they won’t disappoint. 5* -
Had potential, but ultimately disappointing
I liked John Dolan’s previous books that all centered around Thailand. This time, he weaves through stories of various people around the world that appear to be unrelated. Once he leaves Thailand, however, the narrative is flat and boring. The ending was abrupt and poorly done. Portions of the book are enjoyable, but overall, I cannot recommend it. -
🎁 FREE on Amazon today (11/9/2020)! 🎁
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Review coming soon
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So, the Kho Samui PI, David Braddock is back. And I am delighted. I first met Braddock in ‘Everyone Burns’ while recuperating in a Chiang Mai hospital and was instantly hooked. I went on to read, in sequence, the three novels that followed, comprising John Dolan’s ‘Time, Blood and Karma’ series, and thoroughly enjoyed them. I was surprised to find that with ‘Restless Earth’ Dolan has commenced a new phase in the Braddock saga; ‘Karma’s Children.’ For some, it’s the start of a new series, but I don’t see that. For me, it’s a continuation of the Braddock story on a different tack.
As to the plot, I’ll give nothing away other than to say it’s a tale of four men treading separate paths, leading disparate lives, pulled together by fate into a vortex: Karma’s Children. It’s a captivating yarn packed with drama, mystery, romance, intrigue and a nice sprinkle of humour.
A most talented writer, Mr. Dolan wields a mean pen. There’s no flab here, no padding, no unnecessary scenes to inflate the book. Every word counts and his work is intensely readable. I enjoyed ‘Restless Earth immensely. Strongly recommended.
