Short pitch: A fatal mistake on a drunken night in college comes back to haunt a troubled artist after eighteen years, threatening his friendships, his sanity, and his life.
Finn Carroll is a failed artist living a marginal existence in his dead parents’ home. So why would a team of killers want to murder him and frame it as a suicide? Finn survives the encounter to discover that the killers have left behind a “suicide note” detailing a dark incident from Finn’s past no one could possibly know about. Finn escapes to Musqasset Island, his former home, to seek refuge with an old friend, but soon realizes he has trapped himself on the small island with the very people who want him dead—and with old debts that need to be settled. His only hope for survival, and redemption, is to figure out who’s trying to kill him and why they’ve waited eighteen years to act—no easy task in a raging nor’easter, where communications are shaky and relationships (and Finn’s mental state) are even shakier.
The Bottom Line: An exciting, fresh new voice in a thoughtful crime thriller. Perfect for fans of Jessica Knoll and Liane Moriarty.
By his own admission, 38-year-old Finnian Carroll doesn’t have much to live for. He still lives at home, though his parents are long dead. He survived suicide and is depressed enough to give it another try. Until three intruders try to murder him and stage his death as a suicide. Fortunately for Finnian, his attackers are hopelessly inept. They write a suicide note on his computer, then force him to drink vodka and swallow Xanax and Valium. The half-baked plan might have worked, except they don’t bother to wait until he’s dead before leaving, and are too dim to see that Finnian is playing possum.
In a clever twist crafted by gifted debut novelist Andy Wolfendon, the assault appears to be just what Finnian needs. He is filled with a desire to live, reunite with ex-girlfriend Jeanie, and seems to relish taking the criminal investigation into his own hands. Together with his best friend Miles, he unpacks the motive for the attack. There had been no prior threats or demands for ransom. Three people just wanted him dead. But why?
Despite Wolfendon’s lighthearted tone and clever dialogue, Fisherman's Court still manages to include plenty of suspenseful moments. Beneath the comic crime plot is a thoughtful novel with plenty to say about revenge, atonement and second chances.
Fishermen's Court is a suspenseful thriller written by Andrew Wolfendon... I must confess I selected this book based on its comparison to a Harlan Coben suspense. Coben has been one of my favorite authors long before his novels became Netflix series, so despite my slight skepticism of the book's blurb, I decided to take a chance and was quite glad I did. I can confirm that the comparison is accurate; the twists and turns of this fast-paced suspense kept me guessing from the opening pages until the very end. Additionally, the book is exceptionally edited.
I particularly liked the winning combination of the author's slightly sardonic writing style and his strong characterization of Finn... I found myself simultaneously glued to the suspenseful portions of the plot while laughing at Finn's comedic antics. However, as the story unfolded, Finn's character revealed hidden depth, especially when it came to protecting his loved ones. The supporting characters were also well-developed, and there were a few of the "love-to-hate" variety.
I'm pleased to rate the book 4 out of 4 stars.
Official Review #1 (excerpt):
Wow! Andrew Wolfendon is now one of my new favorite authors. Fishermen’s Court is his debut novel and it is fantastic. A thriller of epic proportions, this is one of the most suspenseful books I ever had the pleasure to read. And believe me when I say this, it really was a pleasure to read. The action kicks off on the first page in an exquisitely written story and the suspense continues to build all the way through. The twists and turns lead you on an amazing journey through the present and the past in a wonderful jigsaw; the pieces are there but it doesn’t fall into place until the very end. There are plenty of suspects and more than one story here that meld together at the very end. The characters are excellent; their stories come out through the book as you learn who they are, what makes them tick and what really happened all those years ago. With plenty of action and a great pace, this book will keep you guessing right to the very end and, like me, you won't want to put it down. Fabulous story, I really hope to read more like this from Andrew Wolfendon in the near future.
...Fishermen’s Court by Andrew Wolfendon is one hell of a psychological thriller that took me by storm.
The pièce de résistance of Fishermen’s Court is its watertight plot. I could not find a single loophole in it. Wolfendon plunged me into action from page one, and the unrelenting, brisk pace resulted in taut suspense throughout the novel. Moreover, the author did not show his hand until the end, resulting in a satisfying denouément. Seldom do thrillers have space for character development. However, Fishermen’s Court proves to be different here as well. Wolfendon, without any exaggeration, has brilliantly portrayed the metamorphosis of Finn from a dispirited, depressed man to a man with a purpose. The author has deftly dealt with the literary ploy of getting trapped on a remote island during a raging storm.
Fishermen’s Court is hugely atmospheric, thanks to the author’s vivid descriptions. Further, Wolfendon’s "delirious love affair with the English language" shines through in this novel. He has a word for every situation, every tool, and every emotion. The crisp sentences made it a breeze for me to read this novel. If you want to read a suspenseful thriller with loads of action, just grab Fishermen’s Court by Andrew Wolfendon and settle on a comfy sofa. You won't notice when the time has passed. It’s a promising debut; I will be watching out for more from him.Official Review #2:
The results of the 2018 Novel Opening Chapter & Synopsis Category are as follows:
Winner: Fishermen’s Court by Andrew WolfendonRunner-up: Behind Me Lies the Desert by Kevin Gerard Neill
Judge’s Report from Steph Patterson senior editor at Crooked Cat Books
I’m delighted to be judging this year’s Flash 500 Novel Openings Competition. I always enjoy discovering the variety and quality of the novels submitted, and this year did not disappoint at all.
Without exception, I found all submissions interesting in their own way. These included historical fiction, Young Adult, fantasy, contemporary fiction, and crime – both cozy and dark. It was fascinating to see how participating authors have designed whole worlds, made characters come alive, displayed in-depth research (historical and geographical), and created complex, intriguing plots. My compliments go to all shortlisted contestants.
It was yet another hard task to find the winner and runner-up, but my congratulations go to:
Fishermen’s Court: With its wry sense of humour, the beginning hooks you straight away. Daily chores are followed by fast-paced action, as the protagonist finds his life in danger, quite unexpectedly.
