A Smudge of Gray: A Novel [Kindle Edition]

Jonathan Sturak (Author)

Book Description

Synopsis:
Detective Brian Boise is about to embark on the biggest case of his career. After being thrust into law enforcement on the footsteps of his father, Detective Boise finds himself on the trail of a murder suspect he could never have imagined, the mysterious businessman, Trevor Malloy. Trevor is an irresistible hitman with everything going for him, while Detective Boise is a cutthroat detective going against the grain. These two men, both breadwinners and keystones of their families, play a deadly game of cat-and-mouse. They are a contrast of each other and as their game progresses, their worlds contort and the line between black and white blurs.

If you like CSI and Law & Order, then you will love A Smudge of Gray. Read the exciting new novel of 2012 today!

Praise for A Smudge of Gray:

• "A twist ending no one will see coming. M. Night Shyamalan take note!" - DV Filmworks

• "Jonathan Sturak is a psychological genius!" - Goodreads Member

• "Trevor is a villain you will love to hate!" - SG Press

• "It would be difficult to imagine that Jonathan Sturak's novels not being noted by screenwriters. There is a wealth of cinematic detail built in." - Amazon Top 50 Reviewer

• "I really enjoyed the writer's style...it reminded me a bit of Ray Bradbury." - Amazon Reviewer

• "Absolutely thrilling story" - Goodreads Member

• "Sturak has everything a great author needs." - Goodreads Member

• "...one of the best starts to a book I've read..." - The Kindle Book Review

• "The story was fast paced and the main characters were well drawn out." - Goodreads Member

• "The end packs a punch that makes the whole book worth it." - LibraryThing Member

• "If you love suspense and mystery, then this book is totally for you." - Goodreads Member

• "A book worth reading..." - LibraryThing Member

• "Wow I was immediately drawn into the book and found it hard to stop reading." - Goodreads Member

• "The ending is amazing" - LibraryThing Member

• "A finely descriptive, fast-paced mystery" - LibraryThing Member

• "Hard to put the book away." - LibraryThing Member

• "I liked the suspense and pace of the story. Good book." - Goodreads Member Review

• "An ultimate thriller" - Amazon Reviewer

• "The ending is really a surprise" - Goodreads Member

Editorial Reviews

From the Author

The first page from A Smudge of Gray:

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

A subway station bustled, infected with morning commuters. Some walked; some ran; some stood; some slept. Trains zipped by in every direction, screeching from the forced steel-on-steel contact. Chaos engulfed the dwelling, yet everyone seemed to have a plan. Burgundy tiles lined the floor, abused by the soles of humans. Overflowing blue trash barrels littered the walkways next to benches. Red digits from clocks stabbed the stuffy, sweat-soaked air. It was five minutes after seven o'clock in the morning.

A particular train slowed. It was not unlike the others as its stainless steel exterior displayed its share of graffiti. As the train's speed diminished, its moan echoed off the concrete walls and entered the ear canals of the thousands of busy animals. The sound from the train was just as ear-piercing as the others in the fleet of speeding metal, but there was something different about this particular train--something not about the way it looked, but rather the occupant it held. The train finally stopped. The doors burst open and the crowd waiting to embark fought those struggling to exit.

Just as it seemed the deck had shuffled, a pair of charcoal gray shoes stepped from the train. They were made of calf leather with a hand-sewn Goodyear construction for exceptional durability, comfort, and support. Synthetic shoelaces were snaked through five holes with a small piece of white leather sewn into their faces, which accented the reflecting shoes as they coolly clumped on the tile. A pair of black dress slacks swished on top of the polished leather. The pants were made of 100% virgin wool that virgin hands had carefully stitched. They were 34 inches in the waist and had an inseam of 34 inches as well. They had one-inch cuffs, a traditional inflection, and were pressed with a hint of starch to keep the crease prominent, no matter where the wearer took them. The bottom of a black trench coat rested just below the knee, enough to keep it from hindering the movement of its occupant. A stout black briefcase hung from the right side of the man as one of his black leather gloves gripped its steel-hinged handle. The trench coat was open and allowed others to see a black suit coat, size 42 long. A black and white tie hung proudly and covered the six ivory buttons of the man's fitted white dress shirt. The clothes that cloaked the man ended at his face, or rather, the man who cloaked the clothes began there. He was tall, standing at six feet two inches, and had a cunning face ripened to the age of forty-three. His hair was black and styled like a Wall Street millionaire, perfectly parted to the left. He had the power to tickle any woman's libido and the stature to make any man envious of his style. The dapper gentleman who walked through the crowd had something about him, something nonchalant, something that begged further inspection. His name was Trevor Malloy.

....

Read A Smudge of Gray today!

About the Author

Jonathan Sturak grew up in the Pocono Mountains of Pennsylvania. He is a Penn State University graduate and holds degrees in Computer Science and Film. He currently lives in Las Vegas where he uses the energy of the city to craft stories about life and the human condition. "The Place Called Home," Sturak's essay about Eastern European heritage in Northeast PA, was featured on Glass Cases, associate literary agent Sarah LaPolla's pop culture blog at glasscasesblog.blogspot.com. Sturak is also a contributing editor at NoirNation.com, the premier location for international crime fiction. His debut thriller novel Clouded Rainbow was published in December 2009 and has over 100,000 downloads on the Amazon Kindle. New for 2013 is his crime thriller novel Vegas Was Her Name published by Noir Nation Books. Sturak keeps updated information on his website at sturak.com

Product Details

• File Size: 354 KB
• Print Length: 194 pages
• Page Numbers Source ISBN: 0982589441
• Simultaneous Device Usage: Unlimited
• Publisher: Pendan Publishing; 1st edition (January 31, 2012)
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
• Language: English
• ASIN: B00746WF4C
• Text-to-Speech: Enabled
• X-Ray: Enabled
• Lending: Enabled
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #348,551 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Jonathan Sturak Can Spin A Web February 14, 2012

By Grady Harp HALL OF FAMETOP 50 REVIEWERVINE™ VOICE

Format:Paperback

Having had the privilege of reading CLOUDED RAINBOW, the first book by Jonathan Sturak and sensing the powerful promise in his writing, reading this immaculately conceived and executed thriller came with a sense of reassurance that promises made in early works DO often result in progressive success. Sturak has a knack for painting characters so clearly, with such attention to detail, that while on first reading the reader may wonder why he is dissecting these characters under a microscope. But read on and it becomes obvious that every character who enters his pages is equally defined and the inventive glow that his novels take on is one that is the result of carefully interlacing these descriptions: nothing is extraneous material - everything has its place and purpose.

We first meet Trevor Malloy, immaculately dressed and assured and the perfect businessman and husband and father until it becomes shocking clear that he is a man of profound mystery. Then enter Detective Brian Boise who descriptors are at the other end of the spectrum - or so it seems. Boise is a workaholic detective and becomes obsessed with the chase of hitman Malloy. Their personalities have been so carefully explored by Sturak that the race becomes one of breathtaking propulsion.

It would be difficult to imagine that Jonathan Sturak's novels not being noted by screenwriters. There is a wealth of cinematic detail built in. Sturak is well on his way to becoming one of our major creators of intrigue and suspense stories. Jump on board - if you dare! Grady Harp, February 12

12 of 14 people found the following review helpful

2.0 out of 5 stars Distracting errors. April 1, 2012

By Jody Darden

Format:Kindle Edition

I won this as a LT Member Giveaway. The synopsis sounded good and the story itself is good despite the use of a tired plot device as twist at the end. This twist makes sense in the case of one character but not the other.
The biggest problem with the book is the lack of editing or proofreading. There are grammar, spelling and continuity errors throughout. Distracting. I have found this common in alot of the member giveaways.
This was a quick read and I did enjoy the story itself.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Warning: Finish during daylight March 7, 2012

By Carol Donaho

Format:Kindle Edition

A Smudge of Gray follows 2 similar yet very different men. Trevor Malloy is a fastidious dresser, great husband and father, excellent provider, but travels quite a bit so isn't home as much as he would like. Did I mention that he kills people? He does have a tastefully decorated office with a secretary to keep up appearances. Detective Brian Boise, up for a promotion to Lt, works day and night and wants to be a better husband and father but never seems to find the time. Brian is determined to find the killer.

Mr Sturak has everything a great author needs. The first of which is an ability to describe people, events and surroundings that make it not only interesting to read but leaving the reader wanting more. This isn't your everyday description that you can skim through - this is an amazing attention to detail that makes you sit back and just enjoy the ride.

Character development is superb. You actually feel as if you know Brian and Trevor, think you understand their motivations and feel badly for them when they miss their son's basketball games because they have to work. The reader is drawn into the lives of these two even getting angry at their absences with their wives and children.

A Smudge of Gray gives a whole new meaning to the words, fast paced and page turner. I found it very hard to put down for even a few minutes. Just when you think you can put it down, Trevor's phone rings and you are off and running again.

The first part of the ending is mildly surprising but not jaw dropping. The ending? Warning: Don't finish at night if you are buy yourself unless you want to see smudges of gray everywhere.

If you like a thriller with a twist that will knock your socks off - this book is for you. I highly recommend this book for mystery/thriller fans everywhere. It is one you will remember long after you finish it.

More About the Author

Jonathan Sturak grew up in the Pocono Mountains of Pennsylvania. He is a Penn State University graduate and holds degrees in Computer Science and Film. He currently lives in Las Vegas where he uses the energy of the city to craft stories about life and the human condition. "The Place Called Home," Sturak's essay about Eastern European heritage in Northeast PA, was featured on Glass Cases, associate literary agent Sarah LaPolla's pop culture blog at glasscasesblog.blogspot.com. Sturak is also a contributing editor at NoirNation.com, the premier location for international crime fiction. His debut thriller novel "Clouded Rainbow" was published in December 2009 and has over 100,000 downloads on the Amazon Kindle. New for 2013 is his crime thriller novel "Vegas Was Her Name" published by Noir Nation Books. Sturak keeps updated information on his website at sturak.com