Black Jack (Jack Ryder #4) (2024)

another enjoyable read in my binge read

Black Jack was a very convoluted book in which there was a little bit of everything, there were police and criminals, ghosts, delusions and the story circled around a family that had moved to Savannah, Georgia because they had inherited a house from an aunt they never knew. Along with all these different themes, the author tried at the end to pull them all together by traveling back and forth in time, so it was left up to the reader to conclude whether anything that happened had been real or paranormal, or simply a delusion. At the end of the novel, I was simply disappointed with a very weak plot or plots if there were any, and a title to a book that had a very weak connection to anything in the book. This author's editor in my opinion, needed to help pull the story together in a more concise way, where the reader didn't have to work so hard to figure out what the author was trying to convey. I gave it a two for trying so hard, but it simply didn't come through in my opinion.

Holy $hit. I didn't think 'Black Jack' could be more intense than the first 3 books in the 'Jack Ryder Series', but man was I wrong. This storyline was for real creepy. What. A. Ride. I literally didn't put it down once I started reading it. The characters were incredible. The book had such a real life feel to it. And yes, I've been to Savannah and it will either intrigue you or creep you out. I had both reactions. Definitely the perfect setting for this story. The way it played out was super thrilling and suspenseful. Jack is still one hell of a father, fiancé and detective. Shannon had quite the heart pounding crap scared out of her, and for good reason. And then there's Abigail, I love her honesty. She's straightforward and brutally honest. I have to read the next book now! I love/hate how this one ended. A great add to your tbr list.

Alot of characters to keep track of. Gave up on it after a few chapters.

Whew!

It was impossible to put this book down. Talk about a lot of crazy things in one book! Loved it!

I was excited to read this, based both on the description and the author's moniker as the "Queen as Scream." I was sorely disappointed on both counts, as I found the whole thing uneven. I haven't read the other Jack Ryder books, so I can't say whether the protagonists were acting out of character, as other reviews have complained. I can say that the heroes spent a lot of time being not particularly likable, which added to my frustration with the book; it's hard to care about the life and death of people that you're not interested in.

The plot alternated between very interesting and draaaagging along. Sometimes I couldn't put it down, and other times I was flipping pages, going "come on already, give me something to work with." I wasn't really expecting screams, but at least some adrenaline pumping would have been nice. The few times I got really hooked, my attention was soon squandered by wasted pages, wandering all over the map with things that didn't really matter or paragraphs on side plots that didn't affect the main story. I didn't care about Emily's anorexia for example, and it didn't seem like it had anything to do with the plot, except for a brief detour at the end when everything else was all wrapped up. Talk about wasted energy.

I didn't mind the time jumps, as that did build up suspense as it became clear early on that the "haunted" house in the early parts of the book was still around and causing issues in the current timeline. It was obvious that whatever evil surrounded "the chair," it was still going strong in present day.

I did have real issues with the author's inability to decide if she was writing a supernatural horror novel or a hardbitten detective story. There were elements that were never clearly explained either way, and rather than being ambiguous elements of a ghost story, they were just loose ends that never went anywhere. I would be okay with some of the more supernatural elements not being explained if I felt like she was doing it on purpose, leaving the question of what was real and what wasn't up to the reader, a la The Turn of the Screw. Instead, it just made the story seem uneven and unfinished, like two distinct plots were mashed together and made to stick. And the final scene, rather than being a cliff hanger or a plot twist, made even less sense.

Maybe if I'd read some of her other books this style would make sense to me, but I haven't, so all it did was annoy. Pick your genre and stick to it--if you want to write a thriller where people are sick bastards and do crazy things because they're just evil, I will follow you there. Or you write a horror novel with ghost possessions and haunted houses and I will read that with evil glee. But if you're going to try to do both, don't half ass it, get lost in the middle and then back away without ever really committing to either device. It just leaves the reader (or at least me) frustrated.

The premise of this book seemed promising but unfortunately the ending just didn't deliver. Halfway thru the book I found myself just skimming through just to find out who The Doctor was and finish the book. The ending was anti-climatic, and turned into a pamphlet about eating disorders, which was completely unnecessary to this storyline. The dialogue was unrealistic; repeatedly I found myself thinking "who speaks this way?" Jack's dialogue sounded more like a woman speaking than a man. The Shannon character is completely unlikeable because of her constant whining.

Lastly, I read this on my Kindle so the book ends around 75%. Not sure what the other 25% contains, but when the story wrapped up around 70% I kept thinking "what else could they possibly add to this mess?" Eating disorders. I was so frustrated once I got to the end I deleted the book instead of seeing what the remaining 25% was. That's how bad this book is.

Really two and a half stars.

Learned more about Savannah, I will like to visit one day. This story isn't anything like the other Jack Ryder books. Ghost and little innocent children suffering. Parts was little confusing.

What ever you do don't read this book at home in the dark at night but read it . It will keep you on the edge of your seat and scary you half to death. I can't wait for another jack Ryder book to come out.

Okay still don't know what to think about this book and a little bit freaked out. I think I would call this more of a sci-fi or horror story than a mystery. I did like it but that is because this is the four Jack Ryder book I have listened to and know the characters, not sure what I would have make of it if this had been the first. Like the previous books the story jumps in time and tells the story from a number of perspectives but this book seemed a lot darker. Not necessarily the manner of the deaths (which have been quite painful) but In the telling of the story and tension it builds. I hope the next books returns to more of a mystery, don't get me wrong I did like it but it wasn't what I was expecting and I am now ducking when birds fly by.
A family is brutality murdered, a father driven in sane and a room set up with a chair of torture these are all happenings in on house, a house that is on the ghost tour in Savannah. Jack and Shannon trying to duck away from the press decide to have there wedding in Savannah, away from prying eyes and a simple ceremony with just family. Before the big day and after taking the ghost tour Jack finds a young girl all on her own and acting strangely. With no choice Jack takes her home with them to get to the bottom of her story and reunite her with her parents. Everything seems new to her and it is not long before Jack and Shannon work out that something isn't right and the girl clams up every time someone else tries to talk to her. What happened to this little girl? And who is the doctor she talks about ? Or the ghosts she has to consult with before she does anything? The more they can get her to talk the more they learn that she might not have been alone in her suffering. They reunite the girl with her parents but In doing so tragedy hits there family and they find they need the help of one strange little girl. One that might just be able to help them find there son and lay some of the ghost story's to rest once and for all.
The author changed the narrator for this book and I think he did a much better job than the previous one and I found I didn't need to speed him up to enjoy. I hope he sticks around for the next book.

Jack Ryder #4

In Savannah lies a house about which is said that all who have ever lived there have gone insane. When Kimberley and Joseph inherit the house from an unknown aunt, they don't know the house's murderous history. They move in, and soon a series of strand events occur. It's like the house doesn't want them there. Little by little, Joseph starts to change, and soon Kimberley starts to wonder: is the house haunted, or is her husband just going mad?

Jack Ryder and Shannon King have run away to Savannah to get married. They are preparing for their wedding when they stumble across a young girl sitting alone at the docks at the harbour at night. She doesn't seem to have any parents, nor does she know where she lives. They take her in for the night, but as they try to pull out information from her, bizarre stories are revealed.

Some readers might find this book a little bit creepy. This book is more of a horror story than a mystery. It's more of a horror story than a mystery. The story jumps back and forward in time, and once again there are lots of characters to keep track of. The story is told from multiple points of view. I'm still not sure that I like Shannon, she does things no sensible mother/woman would do. There are two storylines taking place - 2011 and twenty-five years previous, 1991. This is a good mixture of make-believe and reality.

#kindleBook

While Jack and Shannon are in Savannah preparing for their wedding, they come across a little girl sitting by the water, alone. Not wanting to leave her by herself they bring her home with them so that Jack can contact his colleagues at the local police department. Something seems off about the little girl. Something isn't right.

Betsy Sue turned out to be a child that had gone missing five years earlier. While her parents were elated, the little girl wouldn't show any emotion. In fact, she wouldn't say anything at all. She would only speak to Jack and Shannon. Soon, they would learn more than they cared to and find themselves in their own nightmare. One they were afraid they'd never wake from. "If only...there is always an if only..."

~ 86 chapters! That's how I like my books. Fast and fierce chapters. Book 4 of this series is particularly haunting and gruesome. Willow Rose is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors!

Black Jack has a super intriguing premise, and the author does a great job tying up all the loose ends. The story is sound, and there are no super outrageous twists that leaves the author grasping at straws to make it work.

The digital version has a few grammatical/vocabulary errors, but it is mostly quite sound, so that is not distracting.

What is keeping me from eating the story higher is the characters and their interactions. I found Shannon to be incredibly unlikeable from the moment you meet her, and I couldn’t help but read Jack as tho he were a woman. Jack’s personality also fell really flat for me.
The children were also hard to read as their ages indicated in the novel: they were using vocabulary that is unusual not only for their age, but also for conversation between familial relations.

Because I hated Shannon so much, and this was my first read of the series, I don’t think I will read any others of this series.

I've been enjoying reading the Jack Ryder series and I think this is the best so far. Jack and Shannon have gone to Savannah to get married. Their kids are with them and more family is on the way. They stumble upon a strange girl who isn't giving them a full story about who she is and where she came from. There are two story lines, one from 25 or so years ago and the one going on in 2016. Their lives get even more frazzled and scary as the story progresses.

This story is so well told and the characters are great. I think the author has done a fine job weaving the historical story with the current one. It's suspenseful and I wanted to complete the book in one session. I listened to the audio version and I think the narrator did his best job yet with this series. I highly recommend it for a mature audience because of the subject matter.

Holy $hit. I didn't think 'Black Jack' could be more intense than the first 3 books in the 'Jack Ryder Series', but man was I wrong. This storyline was for real creepy. What. A. Ride. I literally didn't put it down once I started reading it. The characters were incredible. The book had such a real life feel to it. And yes, I've been to Savannah and it will either intrigue you or creep you out. I had both reactions. Definitely the perfect setting for this story. The way it played out was super thrilling and suspenseful. Jack is still one hell of a father, fiancé and detective. Shannon had quite the heart pounding crap scared out of her, and for good reason. And then there's Abigail, I love her honesty. She's straightforward and brutally honest. I have to read the next book now! I love/hate how this one ended. A great add to your tbr list.

There were times I really loved this book. And there were times I was so frustrated with it I almost gave up on it. I guess you have to believe that everything will eventually turn out all right. Jack Ryder can be very frustrating. It's sometimes hard to believe that he is a successful detective. He makes so many foolish decisions in his personal life.

Anyway, back to this story. I found it very fascinating the way that "make believe" blended so well with reality. Sometimes I had difficulty differentiating one from the other. And then there was the evil that permeated so many chapters. Sometimes very difficult to stomach. But then there were the touching, loving moments, too. Overall the story is well-written. I just find myself disappointed in the man that I thought was supposed to be the hero.

Black Jack: A nail biting, hair-raising thriller (Jack Ryder Book 4)

This book deserves more than five stars . As usual, Willow Rose knocked this one out of the park. Her characters were spot on, well developed, very believable with an awesome story to back them up.
I usually have no problems figuring out who the “bad guy” is; but I had a difficult time with this story, Ms. Rose had me guessing until almost the end. And to me that’s a number one author that can keep the reader from figuring out who the protagonist is till almost the end of the story.
I totally recommend this book and can’t wait to get the next one in the series. I know you will enjoy these books as much as I did.

Slowly making my way through the Jack Ryder books (I save them as rewards), and I have to say it's so nice to read something that I chose myself, rather than the usual "reading for reviews" that I usually do. I adore Willow Rose, but a few of her stories are "really out there", and this was one of those. Not usually a fan of the supernatural, Ms Rose makes it okay, and even enjoyable, to read.

Jack and his fiance, Shannon, travel to Atlanta where they have chosen to hold their wedding, when, of course, they run into a mystery. When Shannon goes alone to do an investigation and is critically injured, will they still be able to get married, or not?

Stayed up most of the night to finish it!

"Sitting On The Dock Of The Bay ..."

This fourth book of the series involves the haunted Blackwood House in Savannah, Georgia. Kimberly and Joseph inherit the house from an aunt and do not know about the murderous history. Jack and Shannon King are in Savannah to get married. Just before the nuptial ceremony, they find a young girl sitting alone at night on the harbor dock. As they question her, bizarre stories are revealed. Thus, the reader is swept into another chilling suspense of twists and shocking revelations. Don't scream too loud as you read ... some people may believe you are going mad!

The book held my attention throughout. It was an intriguing - though definitely a creepy - story. (A bit of advice - do not read this book late at night in your brand new house). The writing was good- it did take me a little while to get used to the back and forth timeline, but once I got used to it, the book made sense.

The ending, however, was disappointing and unbelievable to me. It seemed rushed, and it jumped around the characters so much that I lost interest and ended up skimming. I think the ending could have been a lot better.

To end my review, as a parent, this book definitely gave me a powerful urge to hold my daughter close.

Is Jack Ryder the most unobservant detective ever? I'm sorry but it's hard for me to believe anyone would have a child kidnapped 3 times? First Shannon loses Angela, then Jack loses Austin, now they lose Tyler together. After the first time, you would think you would be constantly in fear, and never turn your back on any of your children. Then there is Jack's blindness to Emily's illness.

As for the plot with Betsy Sue, it was really good. Adding in the possibility of ghost and haunted houses, a bit hokey but I am into that stuff so I liked it. The family twist at the end was a bit of a bummer.

😊

A bad house or a bad family? What lies in store for the houses occupants that has a murderous history? Does the house really change people for the worse or does it just bring out their deepest fantasies?
Babies go missing and turn up dead years later until one Betty-Sue escapes when it's her turn. Suddenly the events begin to unfold and cop Jack Ryder and his soon to be wife are drawn into the chaos when their son, only months old
Disappears right under his mother's nose.....

I found this book really interesting and captivating. I haven't read the previous books in the series, it can be read as a standalone I think. Writing is good and flows extremely well.

Wonderful!

With Shannon and Jacks' wedding coming up at the end of the week, there wasn't much time for anything else but the planning and the waiting. Both were excited and couldn't hardly wait. So Shannon was a bit upset with Jack when he insisted on checking about a child they noticed sitting on the dock watching the water. She had bare feet and looked a bit pale. She spoke with Jack and told him the lie that she was awaiting her doctor friend to be coming back to get her and go back home. Jack, being a detective knew a lie when he heard one. So they took the girl back to the rented house in Savannah. And now the mystery begins.

Yep! I’m an idiot! Downloaded yet another Jack Ryder thinking surely this one will flesh out the characters, give them some strength & character. Nope! The storyline similar to the others, the incompetency of all the characters involved is astounding. Again the writing, the sentence structure, the tone is just all wrong. I’ve read books where English is not the Author’s first language & their books have still flowed & engaged & pulled the whole thread of the story together that made sense. Not Willow Rose’s books. I returned all of mine for a refund. I can not keep reading book where the Author constantly writes sentences where the words don’t connect correctly.

Great storyline takes place in Savannah, Georgia. The author had visited there recently and gives a great narrative about the Spanish Moss, the scary old houses and about all of the tunnels under Savannah. She retells the story of one haunted house where a Confederate General had supposedly killed his daughter and the daughters Ghost haunts the house. The storyline takes place in Savannah for a wedding ceremony and takes off from there. Again the main theme is about Traumatic Events can lead to tragedy.

Enjoyed - Recommend
This was a great read. Enjoyed it and it had a lot of unexpected moments, keeping you in suspense all the way . The ending was “very unexpected “ had no idea of what was coming and still not sure being I’m into the next one. Am I to find “MORE “ kids? Isn’t 6 enough already? If they keep coming, you’ll lose me. They’re getting boring, constantly trying to find a sitter so he can play detective is getting old. Love the books, just let up on the kids, ok? “Sorry “ just one persons opinion...
Tweety 🦜

Kidnapped children. Ravens in the attic. Ghosts. If those sorts of things creep you out too much this book probably isn’t for you... but if you like a good, intense mystery that has you guessing til the end this one may be right for you! I was grossed out, creeped out and totally intrigued by this story... Willow Rose amazes me... her stories are never predictable and I wonder how in the world she comes up with these stories that are so completely messed up?! Once I read one of her books I want to read others right away.

Entertaining mystery listening 🎶🔰

Another will written murder mystery romantic family relationship adventure thriller novel by Willow Rose 🌹 (Jack Ryder book four). Jack and his fiance are in Savannah, Georgia to get married with their children and families. But the baby 🚼 is taken and the investigation begins leading to a number of kidnappings and murders. They get the baby back and get married. I would recommend this series and author to 👍 readers of mysteries. Enjoy the adventure of reading. 2022 😮👒😈

This is a story of terror as infants are kidnapped in old Savannah. Jack and his fiancé have come to Savannah for their wedding, and are drawn into the problem when they find a lone girl sitting on the docks late at night. The many characters are unique and developed through flashbacks for individual families. The feeling of dread is overwhelming as the various threads come together. The book is a quick read, but increases in suspense up to the end.

Jack and Shannon take a trip to savannah to get married. With a new baby and the 3 A's it get crazy. While out on a rare night together Jack finds a little girl sitting on a ledge watching the ocean, Jack decides to take the girl home with them so they can find her family. That was a major mistake it ends up the girl was kidnapped and the person who done it is watching. Tragedy ensued when baby Tyler is kidnapped himself.