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Jim Heskett
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Wounded Animals (Whistleblower Trilogy Book 1) Kindle Edition

by Jim Heskett (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
3.9 out of 5 stars 1,159 ratings
They kidnapped his wife and left a corpse in his bathroom. Can a corporate grunt battle a vast conspiracy?

Soon-to-be father Tucker Candle is headed for unemployment. Desperate to provide for his family and salvage his job, he leaves town for one last business trip.

But when he returns home, he finds his pregnant wife gone and his coworker’s blood covering the walls.

Horrified, Candle discovers a cryptic warning in a note left atop the corpse. He sets out to rescue his missing wife, despite finding danger around every corner and a rising body count.

Can this normal guy become a hero and bring his baby’s mother home?

Wounded Animals is the first book in the explosive Whistleblower Trilogy thriller series. If you like intense action, jaw-dropping surprises, and David vs. Goliath stories, you’ll love Jim Heskett’s twisted tale.

Buy Wounded Animals to begin the hunt today!
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  1. Book 1 of 4
    Whistleblower Trilogy
  2. Print length
    246 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Accessibility
    Learn more
  5. Publication date
    May 7, 2015
  6. File size
    5.6 MB
  7. Page Flip
    Enabled
  8. Word Wise
    Enabled
  9. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
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Editorial Reviews

Review

  • "The interesting characters, the action-packed scenes and unpredictable turns of events definitely keep the readers in turning the pages and guessing till the last page."-Shin Lae, The Bookish Ailurophile
  • "Heskett's ability to depict scenes with such rich details immerses the reader right in there with Tucker and his constant unfolding of truths and lies in his own life. Not one to mince words, Heskett masterfully creates a tale that moves along at a good clip."-Nick Rossi, Reading Other People
  • "The attention to detail and the author's style of writing made this amazing and totally captivated me. It's packed with suspense, action, intrigue and was at times emotionally intense." - Natalie Cleary, Book Lovers Life
  • "The story moves along quickly and kept me guessing, which I really like. It had humour, action and intrigue and I could have read on for much longer." -Laura Nazmdeh, Snazzy Books

From the Author

2015 Foreword Reviews  INDIEFAB Book of the Year Award Finalist

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B00VQL7LOA
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Royal Arch Books
  • Accessibility ‏ : ‎ Learn more
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ May 7, 2015
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 5.6 MB
  • Simultaneous device usage ‏ : ‎ Unlimited
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 246 pages
  • Page Flip ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Book 1 of 4 ‏ : ‎ Whistleblower Trilogy
  • Customer Reviews:
    3.9 out of 5 stars 1,159 ratings

About the author

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Jim Heskett

Jim Heskett

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Jim Heskett writes stories about outsiders who fight crime.

The author was born in the wilds of Oklahoma, raised by a pack of wolves with a station wagon and a membership card to the local public swimming pool. Just like the man in the John Denver song, he moved to Colorado in the summer of his 27th year. He's never looked back. Aside from a wild year traveling the world, he hasn't let the Flatirons mountains out of his sight.

Jim fell in love with writing at the age of fourteen inside a copy of Stephen King's Carrie. Poetry provided his first outlet for teen angst, then later a smattering of mediocre screenplays, and eventually crime thriller fiction a la Elmore Leonard. In between, he worked a few careers that never quite tickled his creative toes.

He hasn't ever forgotten about Stephen King.

You can find him currently huddled over a laptop in an undisclosed location in Colorado, dreaming up ways to kill beloved characters.

Finally, and perhaps most importantly, he believes the huckle is the king of berries and he refuses to entertain any arguments to the contrary.

He writes award-winning crime thrillers seasoned with a dash of snark. Sometimes he writes these books with co-authors like Nick Thacker.

Details and FREE, exclusive books at www.jimheskett.com

Customer reviews

3.9 out of 5 stars
1,159 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book well-written and easy to read, with a good pace that keeps them turning pages. The story receives mixed reactions - while some find it intriguing and suspenseful, others consider it silly. The character development and explanations also receive mixed feedback, with some praising the characters while others find them hard to follow. The violence level gets mixed reactions, with some appreciating the graphic violence while others find it excessive.

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82 customers mention "Readability"73 positive9 negative

Customers find the book engaging and fun to read, with one customer noting there are no moments of boredom or redundancy throughout the story.

"...This author knows how to write cliff-hanger chapters that keep you reading. Great character development. Great dialogue...." Read more

"'Wounded Animals' was nonstop action and very thrilling. The storyline was well written and well thought out...." Read more

"This is a quirky sort of book. It was interesting and I did read it though though I didn't like it as much as I thought I would...." Read more

"...This is a good choice to read for the sole purpose of entertainment." Read more

44 customers mention "Writing quality"38 positive6 negative

Customers find the book well written and easy to read.

"...free sample of the follow-on book at the end and it's got the same writing style that leaves you asking, "What's going to happen next?"..." Read more

"'Wounded Animals' was nonstop action and very thrilling. The storyline was well written and well thought out...." Read more

"...Still, nice effort by the author in an unusual formatted story. Might appeal more to those who like Science Fiction or Fantasy...." Read more

"...The unbelievably unique and interesting plot and characters grabbed me from the first word...." Read more

17 customers mention "Pacing"14 positive3 negative

Customers enjoy the pacing of the book, with one mentioning it kept them up at night turning pages.

"I really enjoyed this story. My reading time for this week went up. It was door bustin action on every page...." Read more

"...I was glad that it worked out well in the end, but it requires reading the next two books in the series to find out what this whole episode was all..." Read more

"I enjoyed the pace and the main character. This was not a story where you could say I knew that was going to happen...." Read more

"...This novel has so many moving parts, but they all manage to work together harmoniously...." Read more

11 customers mention "Page turner"11 positive0 negative

Customers find the book engaging, describing it as a real page-turner that kept them turning the pages.

"...Great characters, great story line, with a twist at the end. Must read." Read more

"This was a quick and good book. It kept me turning the next page. I don't know if I liked the ending? It didn't quite end...." Read more

"I have enjoyed reading this short story. It was a page turner until the last page. Thank you very much." Read more

"...in the plot as much in the third as I was in thr first, A page turner I had difficulty putting down" Read more

92 customers mention "Story quality"64 positive28 negative

Customers have mixed opinions about the book's story, with some finding it intriguing and suspenseful, while others describe it as unfinished and silly.

"...This book is part of a series and I like how he still gave it a satisfying conclusion. This book would make for a fantastic movie...." Read more

"'Wounded Animals' was nonstop action and very thrilling. The storyline was well written and well thought out...." Read more

"...Somehow believable, somehow unbelievable. All a strange mix, or maybe not so strange. Worth the read." Read more

"...Still, nice effort by the author in an unusual formatted story. Might appeal more to those who like Science Fiction or Fantasy...." Read more

29 customers mention "Character development"20 positive9 negative

Customers have mixed opinions about the character development in the book, with some finding the characters marvelous while others report issues with plot coherence.

"...: If you want a real page-turner with an intriguing story and interesting characters, you should try this book." Read more

"...The characters were quite an array of personalities and it seemed that they each had their own agenda. Candle surprised me the most...." Read more

"...Characters die, we don't know why, but all the loose pieces come together at the end. Somehow believable, somehow unbelievable...." Read more

"...The unbelievably unique and interesting plot and characters grabbed me from the first word...." Read more

13 customers mention "Explanations"4 positive9 negative

Customers have mixed reactions to the explanations in the book, with some finding it kept them guessing, while others describe it as bewildering.

"...Somehow believable, somehow unbelievable. All a strange mix, or maybe not so strange. Worth the read." Read more

"...So that’s fine – but at the end it will not answer all questions – sorry but that just does not fly with me. So the good, the bad and the ugly...." Read more

"This story grabs you from the first sentence...." Read more

"...There was no coherence to the plot, no denouement with resolutions and explanations...." Read more

10 customers mention "Violence level"6 positive4 negative

Customers have mixed reactions to the violence in the book, with some appreciating its graphic nature and palpable menace, while others find it excessive.

"...The sense of menace is palpable, and you really feel main character Tucker Candle’s pain, frustration, and confusion...." Read more

"...With that said, there are several scenes of violence, some graphic (but quick)...." Read more

"...Graphic violence at it's best. I'm on to the next in this series! Keep 'em coming Mr. Heskett!" Read more

"Dreadfully dark and violent without any WHY or HOW. Complete waste of my time. Yours too, even if you enjoy it while it's going nowhere." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • JJ
    5.0 out of 5 stars A real page-turner that takes off like a rocket and doesn't stop.
    Reviewed in the United States on December 19, 2015
    Verified Purchase
    "Wounded Animals" was a blast. I stumbled upon it by accident, checked out the sample chapter, and I was hooked. This author knows how to write cliff-hanger chapters that keep you reading. Great character development. Great dialogue. The settings are interesting - it partially takes place in the Dallas/Fort Worth area where I live and he's got the details down right. It has a lot of great humor and sarcasm too. And action! Almost forgot, it has some very cool action scenes.

    With that said, there are several scenes of violence, some graphic (but quick). There is some harsh language, but it's not overly done - it's used appropriately. With that said, I do not recommend this book for kids.

    This book is part of a series and I like how he still gave it a satisfying conclusion. This book would make for a fantastic movie. The book comes with a free sample of the follow-on book at the end and it's got the same writing style that leaves you asking, "What's going to happen next?"

    Summary: If you want a real page-turner with an intriguing story and interesting characters, you should try this book.
    4 people found this helpful
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  • Denise G.
    4.0 out of 5 stars Non-stop action and quite the thriller
    Reviewed in the United States on February 14, 2016
    Verified Purchase
    'Wounded Animals' was nonstop action and very thrilling. The storyline was well written and well thought out. The way the story unfolded had me wondering which way the author was going to go, but I was pleasantly surprised. The characters were quite an array of personalities and it seemed that they each had their own agenda. Candle surprised me the most. With his current job, I wasn't expecting him to be a kick-ass lead. He definitely dealt with a series of unfortunate events and did so with a headstrong will. I look forward to reading more of the 'Whistleblower Series' and learn the reasoning behind this story. Especially with the secretive Kareem. A good add to your tbr list.
    Helpful
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  • JP Folkes
    3.0 out of 5 stars Quirky Choice for Fantasy Readers
    Reviewed in the United States on April 25, 2016
    Verified Purchase
    This is a quirky sort of book. It was interesting and I did read it though though I didn't like it as much as I thought I would. Still, nice effort by the author in an unusual formatted story. Might appeal more to those who like Science Fiction or Fantasy. I read it on a flight and it certainly passed the time.
    3 people found this helpful
    Helpful
     Report
  • T. Lawrence
    5.0 out of 5 stars This is a good choice to read for the sole purpose of entertainment
    Reviewed in the United States on April 30, 2015
    Verified Purchase
    This is part one in what I would describe as an action/suspense trilogy. It is heavy in both action and suspense. I had a hard time putting it down. In fact, I wouldn’t have stopped reading if my schedule had allowed me more freedom. The unbelievably unique and interesting plot and characters grabbed me from the first word.

    This is the story: Tucker Candle is a young employee of a tech firm. He meets an unusual man at a bar, Kareem. This unleashes a series of catastrophic events:

    His wife, Grace, disappears.
    The dark side of his co-workers is revealed.
    An acquaintance from his company shows up dead in Candle’s own bathtub.

    The reader can’t help but question the meaning and origin of events. Also, we wonder what where everything is leading and how it will end.
    Congratulations to Mr. Heskett on his ability to craft a gripping, alternative world to our everyday existence! This is a good choice to read for the sole purpose of entertainment.
    31 people found this helpful
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  • Unknown
    4.0 out of 5 stars Every body dies
    Reviewed in the United States on December 7, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    I really enjoyed this story. My reading time for this week went up. It was door bustin action on every page. I would recommend this book to anyone that enjoys action,intrigue,mystery and people beating each other up. I chose this rating because I liked everything about it. Looking forward to reading more from this author .
    Helpful
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  • Walt
    5.0 out of 5 stars Strange, infectious, fast-paced
    Reviewed in the United States on September 9, 2017
    Verified Purchase
    This story moves quickly thru insane events that keep unraveling the story line. Characters die, we don't know why, but all the loose pieces come together at the end. Somehow believable, somehow unbelievable. All a strange mix, or maybe not so strange. Worth the read.
    Helpful
     Report
  • Don Petersen
    3.0 out of 5 stars Requires Suspension of Disbelief
    Reviewed in the United States on January 25, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    I was a huge professional wrestling fan, which requires one to suspend disbelief -- you believe it's really true despite knowing that the outcome is pre-determined. This book was just so unbelievable. Way too many plot jumps. The missing wife -- you never even really care for her. You never get to know her.

    It's not a "bad" book, and I read it all. And I've read worse, and I kind of liked the main character. But it requires some real leaps of faith.-------------------
    Helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

  • Kathy
    5.0 out of 5 stars Book
    Reviewed in Australia on November 16, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    Happy with my purchase
    Report
  • Norma Miles
    5.0 out of 5 stars "water into wine"
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 13, 2017
    Verified Purchase
    Tucker Candle knew that his life is about to change and he's not sure he likes it. His wife, Grace, is expecting their first baby and his comfortable job as a software trainer will end in a couple of months when his firm closes the Denver office. But he had no idea just how great that change would be when, sitting in a bar nursing his worries, he sees a man turn water into wine, raise a dead rat back to life, and then tells him he must not go to Dallas the next day even though his boss will tell him to do so.Sure enough, next morning he receives the last minute order to fly to Dallas to train four new software hopefuls for the company. Unable to think up a suitable excuse, he goes...

    So begins this intriguing and very quirky mystery thriller. When Candle returns home after completing the training session, everything is changed. His wife's car is there but she isn't. Instead, in the bathroom is - well, you'll need to read this exciting story about an ordinary man trapped in extraordinary circumstances, and always the question, why? Well written with good characterisation, action and dialogue, it has an increasingly surreal feel as Candle struggles to regain his wife, his life and make sense of what is happening.
    A good read.
    Report
  • Amazon Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars Wounded Animals
    Reviewed in Canada on August 18, 2018
    Verified Purchase
    Really good.
    Report
  • Tina
    4.0 out of 5 stars 😊
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 4, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    Miracles and prophecies. A warning to abandon a planned trip gets Candles attention. Huckster or truth teller?
    Next day Candle gets on with normal life, if normal is working for a company who wants to sack him. A warning the night before that he doesn't take seriously. Take the trip and there will be no more protection from mysterious stranger.
    On his return Candle finds his wife missing and a man dead and bleeding all over his home. Trusting no one he goes on a hunt for his pregnant wife. Anyone and everyone he comes into contact with ends up dead though. But where is his wife and what part in all this door s his neighbour play?

    Jim Heskett knows how to keep your attention and how to write an excellent page Turner. Plenty of action and mystery to keep you guessing.
    Report
  • Kindle Customer
    4.0 out of 5 stars Four Stars
    Reviewed in Canada on July 29, 2018
    Verified Purchase
    good
    Report

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