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The Crimes of Rooker Flynn
A fast-paced jungle adventure for the rebel in all of us, A. R. Witham weaves a story of courage, friendship, and survival inside a deadly magic school.
The Locke Institute has only three rules:
1) Obey your betters.
2) Gather at sunrise.
3) Be inside by sundown.
But some men can't be told what to do.
Rooker Flynn is a rebellious, hot-tempered pirate who never met a rule he didn’t break. He wants his freedom, and he will stop at nothing to get it.
But the Headmistress is determined to crush Rooker's spirit; she will use bounty hunters, giant poisonous spiders, and an arsenal of dark secrets to keep her pupils in line.
Good thing Rooker knows one student who is smarter than all the rest put together; a kid genius who knows strange mysteries that are not of this world.
Working together, Rooker's bravado and the kid's brains might be enough to outwit their captor and stage a daring escape...or die trying.
__________
Perfect for those who loved Red Rising, A Deadly Education, and The Great Escape, you will lose yourself inside a suspenseful page-turner that you will not be able to put down until the very last word.
The Locke Institute has only three rules:
1) Obey your betters.
2) Gather at sunrise.
3) Be inside by sundown.
But some men can't be told what to do.
Rooker Flynn is a rebellious, hot-tempered pirate who never met a rule he didn’t break. He wants his freedom, and he will stop at nothing to get it.
But the Headmistress is determined to crush Rooker's spirit; she will use bounty hunters, giant poisonous spiders, and an arsenal of dark secrets to keep her pupils in line.
Good thing Rooker knows one student who is smarter than all the rest put together; a kid genius who knows strange mysteries that are not of this world.
Working together, Rooker's bravado and the kid's brains might be enough to outwit their captor and stage a daring escape...or die trying.
__________
Perfect for those who loved Red Rising, A Deadly Education, and The Great Escape, you will lose yourself inside a suspenseful page-turner that you will not be able to put down until the very last word.
- GenresFantasy
373 pages, Paperback
Published June 24, 2024
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews
July 3, 2024
This review was originally published on Before We Go Blog
4.5 stars (rounded up)
In The Crimes of Rooker Flynn, A.R. Witham returns to the world of Keymark and weaves another transportive fantasy adventure full of majik and mayhem. Darker and more disturbing than ever before, this dangerously addictive and diabolically fun tale of survival and unlikely friendship is a true emotional rollercoaster from start to finish.
Now, this review is a special one for me, as I had the absolute honour and pleasure of alpha reading this entire trilogy last year. Does that make me biased? Maybe. But then, the entire reason I ended up being an alpha reader in the first place is because The Legend of Black Jack wasn’t entirely my cup of tea, and Andy wanted some brutally honest feedback.
Joke’s on him, I ended up loving The Crimes of Rooker Flynn, even in its rough early stages before (in Andy’s own legendary words) “the story puts her makeup on, still standing in front of the mirror wearing faded underwear and a tank top, eating a powdered donut”. And honestly, the finished product that I am reviewing here today has had a magnificent glow-up and turned out even better than I could ever have imagined.
Whereas the last adventure in Keymark showed us this world through Jack’s outsider perspective, this time we get to experience it in all its glory through the eyes of our most loveable rogue: the infamous pirate Rooker Flynn. Through a series of unfortunate circumstances, he finds himself stuck with all the most fearsome criminals at The Locke Institute, a brutal and deadly prison masking as a reformation school. All hope seems lost, until one fellow prisoner turns out to be an old familiar kid genius who just might get them out, even if they die trying.
Whether you have read The Legend of Black Jack or not, Witham does an exceptionally fine job of (re)establishing the characters and smoothing the reader (back) into the world in The Crimes of Rooker Flynn. I think it takes a very skilled storyteller to make a world feel so vibrant and alive that it immediately feels like coming home, but that is exactly what Witham has accomplished in the creation of Keymark. The imagination is off the charts, and I honestly felt like I was right there with the characters trying to survive in the brutal jungle prison and outrunning giant spiders, for better or worse.
Right from the prologue, the story just zooms along at breakneck speed with its unputdownable ‘just one more chapter’ quality, yet none of the character work or emotional impact suffers from the fast pacing. The diverse cast of characters leaps off the page with personality, providing plenty of people who you can love, hate, love to hate (looking at you, Gerba) or hate to love. Moreover, the complex interpersonal relationships that lie at the heart of this narrative are beautifully drawn, and all the conflicting emotions simply bleed off the page.
Witham goes down some shockingly dark paths in The Crimes of Rooker Flynn, almost leaning into horror territory and tackling heavy topics of trauma, mental health, and brutal emotional and physical torture. Yet because of the characters’ undying hope and defiance, combined with their devilish charm, sharp tongues, dark humour, and amusing banter, even in the darkest of times, the story never becomes draining or exhausting to read. It still has all the whimsical quirkiness that The Legend of Black Jack did, except this time the baby gloves are off and you get some delicious emotional destruction along with it.
And speaking of emotional destruction, Witham quite literally leaves both the characters and the readers hanging on a brutally devious cliffhanger that will simply demand you come back for the sequel. Fortunately for all of us, the entire trilogy is already penned, and having had the privilege of reading it already, I can confidently tell you it only gets better, wilder, darker, and more intense from here.
While some of the emotional beats might hit just a tiny bit harder if you have read and enjoyed The Legend of Black Jack, this new rip-roaring and soul-stirring adventure in Keymark stands perfectly on its own and kicks off The Locke Institute trilogy with an absolute bang. If you are looking for a fast-paced fantasy tale that strikes the perfect balance between the action and the emotion, then you seriously don’t want to miss out on The Crimes of Rooker Flynn.
4.5 stars (rounded up)
In The Crimes of Rooker Flynn, A.R. Witham returns to the world of Keymark and weaves another transportive fantasy adventure full of majik and mayhem. Darker and more disturbing than ever before, this dangerously addictive and diabolically fun tale of survival and unlikely friendship is a true emotional rollercoaster from start to finish.
Now, this review is a special one for me, as I had the absolute honour and pleasure of alpha reading this entire trilogy last year. Does that make me biased? Maybe. But then, the entire reason I ended up being an alpha reader in the first place is because The Legend of Black Jack wasn’t entirely my cup of tea, and Andy wanted some brutally honest feedback.
Joke’s on him, I ended up loving The Crimes of Rooker Flynn, even in its rough early stages before (in Andy’s own legendary words) “the story puts her makeup on, still standing in front of the mirror wearing faded underwear and a tank top, eating a powdered donut”. And honestly, the finished product that I am reviewing here today has had a magnificent glow-up and turned out even better than I could ever have imagined.
Whereas the last adventure in Keymark showed us this world through Jack’s outsider perspective, this time we get to experience it in all its glory through the eyes of our most loveable rogue: the infamous pirate Rooker Flynn. Through a series of unfortunate circumstances, he finds himself stuck with all the most fearsome criminals at The Locke Institute, a brutal and deadly prison masking as a reformation school. All hope seems lost, until one fellow prisoner turns out to be an old familiar kid genius who just might get them out, even if they die trying.
Whether you have read The Legend of Black Jack or not, Witham does an exceptionally fine job of (re)establishing the characters and smoothing the reader (back) into the world in The Crimes of Rooker Flynn. I think it takes a very skilled storyteller to make a world feel so vibrant and alive that it immediately feels like coming home, but that is exactly what Witham has accomplished in the creation of Keymark. The imagination is off the charts, and I honestly felt like I was right there with the characters trying to survive in the brutal jungle prison and outrunning giant spiders, for better or worse.
Right from the prologue, the story just zooms along at breakneck speed with its unputdownable ‘just one more chapter’ quality, yet none of the character work or emotional impact suffers from the fast pacing. The diverse cast of characters leaps off the page with personality, providing plenty of people who you can love, hate, love to hate (looking at you, Gerba) or hate to love. Moreover, the complex interpersonal relationships that lie at the heart of this narrative are beautifully drawn, and all the conflicting emotions simply bleed off the page.
Witham goes down some shockingly dark paths in The Crimes of Rooker Flynn, almost leaning into horror territory and tackling heavy topics of trauma, mental health, and brutal emotional and physical torture. Yet because of the characters’ undying hope and defiance, combined with their devilish charm, sharp tongues, dark humour, and amusing banter, even in the darkest of times, the story never becomes draining or exhausting to read. It still has all the whimsical quirkiness that The Legend of Black Jack did, except this time the baby gloves are off and you get some delicious emotional destruction along with it.
And speaking of emotional destruction, Witham quite literally leaves both the characters and the readers hanging on a brutally devious cliffhanger that will simply demand you come back for the sequel. Fortunately for all of us, the entire trilogy is already penned, and having had the privilege of reading it already, I can confidently tell you it only gets better, wilder, darker, and more intense from here.
While some of the emotional beats might hit just a tiny bit harder if you have read and enjoyed The Legend of Black Jack, this new rip-roaring and soul-stirring adventure in Keymark stands perfectly on its own and kicks off The Locke Institute trilogy with an absolute bang. If you are looking for a fast-paced fantasy tale that strikes the perfect balance between the action and the emotion, then you seriously don’t want to miss out on The Crimes of Rooker Flynn.
July 16, 2024
This just a short summary of my initial thoughts
The Crimes of Rooker Flynn was my first foray into the world of Keymark and what a fantastic roller-coaster of introduction it was.
From the first page to the last, we are treated to nefarious plots and subterfuge as our protagonists battle with their fellow “guests” at the Locke Institute. This a fast pace fantasy story with a tremendous cast of characters most of aren’t human and nearly all of whom are out for themselves. If a fellow guest doesn’t get you then the local wildlife will and by that I mean the “spiders”, oh boy are there some nasty spiders!
The level of mistrust between the characters is a central theme through out the book and really serves to keep the reader guessing as to what may come next. As the chapters progress you really feel the sense of desperation mount and as for the climax , that’s one of the most brutal finishes I’ve read for some time. I’m definitely in for Book 2!
I’d highly recommend checking this one out
The Crimes of Rooker Flynn was my first foray into the world of Keymark and what a fantastic roller-coaster of introduction it was.
From the first page to the last, we are treated to nefarious plots and subterfuge as our protagonists battle with their fellow “guests” at the Locke Institute. This a fast pace fantasy story with a tremendous cast of characters most of aren’t human and nearly all of whom are out for themselves. If a fellow guest doesn’t get you then the local wildlife will and by that I mean the “spiders”, oh boy are there some nasty spiders!
The level of mistrust between the characters is a central theme through out the book and really serves to keep the reader guessing as to what may come next. As the chapters progress you really feel the sense of desperation mount and as for the climax , that’s one of the most brutal finishes I’ve read for some time. I’m definitely in for Book 2!
I’d highly recommend checking this one out
September 18, 2024
4.5/5 Stars Rounded to 5 Stars
I recieved a physical copy of the book in exchange for an honest review. The audiobook was purchased myself.
A fast-paced adventure that will keep you guessing and leave you wanting more. The Crimes of Rooker Flynn by A.R. Witham is book one of the Locke Institute trilogy where spirits are crushed, giant spiders roam and a rebellious pirate breaks all the rules.
The Locke Institute is home to the criminals of Keymark, where three rules must be obeyed; Obey your betters, Gather at sunrise and be inside by sundown. Run by a headmistress that could rival Delores Umbridge, Rooker Flynn finds himself a student at this institute. With the help of a familiar face, student and kid genius, they work together plotting their escape from the headmistress or die trying.
A.R. Witham’s debut, The Legend of Black Jack quickly captured my heart through wonder, magic and a daring adventure. Now, he’s back with a new trilogy following a beloved character from his debut, Rooker Flynn. The beauty of this trilogy is that you don’t need to read The Legend of Black Jack in order to enjoy it. That being said, there are some references that will make more sense having read The Legend of Black Jack first. Ultimately, the choice is yours on where you begin in the world of Keymark.
Now, onto the review!
First and foremost, there's magic in A.R. Witham’s storytelling and The Crimes of Rooker Flynn is no exception. Between the developments, pacing, themes and the characters ability to jump off the page, there's an evident passion and skill woven in. There’s also a tonal difference compared with The Legend of Black Jack as The Crimes of Rooker Flynn takes on a darker and more serious tone. With this being a portal fantasy there are plenty of familiar elements to the genre, but it also blends elements from horror and thriller.
The story itself follows multiple POVs, giving readers a previously unseen perspective into the world of Keymark through the loveable rogue Rook Flynn. Now, Rooker’s story is all at once heartbreaking, endearing and maddening. As his past continues to influence his choices and relationships, it also impacts the overarching plot with intrigue and a psychological exploration I wasn’t anticipating. We really get to see what makes Rooker tick from the good to the ugly.
This is also true for the other main POV, as we get to see the psychological impacts the Locke Institute has on its students. Subsequently, it delves into the hardships these criminals face at the hands of their so-called betters.
A key combination that makes this story flow with ease is the pacing, suspense, character arcs and unknowns. All these aspects work together seamlessly and kept me wanting to read “just one more chapter”.
I was also impressed with how the story delves into heavier themes without leaving the reader feeling emotionally drained. For example, it explores themes of imprisonment, trauma, survival, manipulation and desperation while balancing it with action, scheming, hope, suspense, intrigue and a captivating cast of characters. From the charming crooks to the loathful headmistress, I couldn’t help but be invested in the characters and what awaits them.
In this magical world of Keymark you’ll also find a variety of creatures from anthropomorphic beings, giant venomous spiders, dwarves, trolls and magic wielding bounty hunters.
I also listened to the audiobook while immersion reading and the author who also narrates his books brought his characters and story to life.
A.R. Witham never fails to deliver a binge worthy read with plenty of heart. I am fully invested in what comes next, especially after that ending and can’t recommend it enough.
I recieved a physical copy of the book in exchange for an honest review. The audiobook was purchased myself.
A fast-paced adventure that will keep you guessing and leave you wanting more. The Crimes of Rooker Flynn by A.R. Witham is book one of the Locke Institute trilogy where spirits are crushed, giant spiders roam and a rebellious pirate breaks all the rules.
The Locke Institute is home to the criminals of Keymark, where three rules must be obeyed; Obey your betters, Gather at sunrise and be inside by sundown. Run by a headmistress that could rival Delores Umbridge, Rooker Flynn finds himself a student at this institute. With the help of a familiar face, student and kid genius, they work together plotting their escape from the headmistress or die trying.
A.R. Witham’s debut, The Legend of Black Jack quickly captured my heart through wonder, magic and a daring adventure. Now, he’s back with a new trilogy following a beloved character from his debut, Rooker Flynn. The beauty of this trilogy is that you don’t need to read The Legend of Black Jack in order to enjoy it. That being said, there are some references that will make more sense having read The Legend of Black Jack first. Ultimately, the choice is yours on where you begin in the world of Keymark.
Now, onto the review!
First and foremost, there's magic in A.R. Witham’s storytelling and The Crimes of Rooker Flynn is no exception. Between the developments, pacing, themes and the characters ability to jump off the page, there's an evident passion and skill woven in. There’s also a tonal difference compared with The Legend of Black Jack as The Crimes of Rooker Flynn takes on a darker and more serious tone. With this being a portal fantasy there are plenty of familiar elements to the genre, but it also blends elements from horror and thriller.
The story itself follows multiple POVs, giving readers a previously unseen perspective into the world of Keymark through the loveable rogue Rook Flynn. Now, Rooker’s story is all at once heartbreaking, endearing and maddening. As his past continues to influence his choices and relationships, it also impacts the overarching plot with intrigue and a psychological exploration I wasn’t anticipating. We really get to see what makes Rooker tick from the good to the ugly.
This is also true for the other main POV, as we get to see the psychological impacts the Locke Institute has on its students. Subsequently, it delves into the hardships these criminals face at the hands of their so-called betters.
A key combination that makes this story flow with ease is the pacing, suspense, character arcs and unknowns. All these aspects work together seamlessly and kept me wanting to read “just one more chapter”.
I was also impressed with how the story delves into heavier themes without leaving the reader feeling emotionally drained. For example, it explores themes of imprisonment, trauma, survival, manipulation and desperation while balancing it with action, scheming, hope, suspense, intrigue and a captivating cast of characters. From the charming crooks to the loathful headmistress, I couldn’t help but be invested in the characters and what awaits them.
In this magical world of Keymark you’ll also find a variety of creatures from anthropomorphic beings, giant venomous spiders, dwarves, trolls and magic wielding bounty hunters.
I also listened to the audiobook while immersion reading and the author who also narrates his books brought his characters and story to life.
A.R. Witham never fails to deliver a binge worthy read with plenty of heart. I am fully invested in what comes next, especially after that ending and can’t recommend it enough.
August 20, 2024
I’ve made it something of a tradition to read one of A.R. Witham’s books during the readathons he periodically runs, which have been so much fun to be a part of with his utterly infectious personality that I just love to death. This book was full of his trademark lively and heartfelt voice, but I found it a bit tough to really get grounded and immersed in this tale that's very playful and silly yet darkly set almost entirely within a fantastical island prison camp. There are the tropes you might expect like a scheming evil commandant, cliques among the prisoners with plenty of bullies to go around, street smart toughs scraping out advantages for themselves—and some things you wouldn’t expect, like the deadly spiders that sweep over the island at sundown every night.
I suspected during the Legend of Black Jack that I wasn’t quite the target audience for these books, but the high-stakes quest that dominated that plot won me over in the end. Here we weren’t traveling towards a goal, and I never found Rooker and Jack’s travails trying to survive the prison (when I knew they would somehow) and figure out an escape plan to be enough to get me invested just yet in the series, but I’m hopeful I’ll get there with the next book if the plot evolves towards something grander.
If you love just basking in Witham’s humor and zaniness, then I imagine this book will be a great time, but I think for better or worse I’m just not able to suspend my disbelief around the character/plot stakes with a book this silly (maybe I need to let my inner child out more? Very possible.)
I suspected during the Legend of Black Jack that I wasn’t quite the target audience for these books, but the high-stakes quest that dominated that plot won me over in the end. Here we weren’t traveling towards a goal, and I never found Rooker and Jack’s travails trying to survive the prison (when I knew they would somehow) and figure out an escape plan to be enough to get me invested just yet in the series, but I’m hopeful I’ll get there with the next book if the plot evolves towards something grander.
If you love just basking in Witham’s humor and zaniness, then I imagine this book will be a great time, but I think for better or worse I’m just not able to suspend my disbelief around the character/plot stakes with a book this silly (maybe I need to let my inner child out more? Very possible.)
August 1, 2024
Well, that was a fun read, and deliciously dark. A perfect execution of fundark fantasy in fact, if such a sub-genre exists.
I have to confess, I was transported to the world of Keymark without having read The Legend of Black Jack but I don’t think it impacted on my understanding and enjoyment of this book.
I quickly got to grips with the world setting and was soon fully engaged with the characters of Rooker and Jack, despite not experiencing their exploits in Legend.
Having read some of Witham’s other work – his Border Crossing short story and The Tale of the Border Knight novella – I knew I was in expert hands when it comes to delivering top prose, characterisation and storytelling.
Those qualities were evident again from the first few pages of The Crimes of Rooker Flynn, with a wittily entertaining introduction to the story despite the prologue’s subject matter.
There are many aspects of this book to gush about but I think my favourite element is the titular character himself.
Rooker is such an appealing POV, a rule-breaking pirate with a temper to match the fiercest of high seas storms.
But he’s also an endearingly loveable rogue, with a strong code of honour over his friendship with Chicago kid Jack Swift.
The fact that Rooker, when we first meet him, thinks of his ship as the only woman he will ever love perfectly encapsulates his personality for me.
Unfortunately for him, being under lock and key in a penal institute on the island of Huánghūn, his sinful past having caught up with him, isn’t conducive to a life of nautical adventure and brigandry.
Fortunately for him, he’s got the young genius Jack to help him try to break free and return to his beloved.
They’re a great double act and what ensues is a lovingly told tale of swashbuckling bravado, courageous derring-do, clever problem-solving and heartwarming camaraderie.
There is snappy dialogue, with humour as razor-sharp as some of the characters’ tongues, as Rooker and Jack meet the rest of the denizens of the Locke Institute and come to terms with learning about its true nature.
We’re treated to high jinks galore as our heroes go about planning their great escape from the institute’s deadly type of education. However, staying alive proves enough of a challenge, never mind trying to secure their freedom.
The rest of the cast is also interesting. We get a motley crew of diverse characters to either sympathise with and cheer for … or to wish a giant arachnid fangful of misery on.
Names such as the dastardly headmistress Gerba Whipmarples and self-important Patch Picaroon play to an occasionally whimsical tone to the book, despite the sadistic and shocking episodes of torture we witness.
That kind of violence, and the underpinning threat of it, often smothers the whimsy in a much darker tone than what I understand The Legend of Black Jack has, as a young adult fantasy.
This outing is very adult, and the island school-prison perfectly sets the scene for the atmosphere and menacing tone which often pervades the narrative. The sense of danger is palpable and I suffered in empathy with the brutalised prisoners.
Yet somehow Witham still pulls off the trick of injecting black humour, comical antics and elements of whimsy to provide many moments of light which never jars with the darkness and rising tension. He really does have an impressive authorial voice.
I also enjoy and admire how Witham creates a strong sense of place in his writing. He achieved it impressively in Border Crossing – his contribution to The Advent of Winter anthology – despite the word count constraint of the short story format.
In The Crimes of Rooker Flynn, he totally nails it, by focussing the story on the institute and its topical jungle island, a location which is anything but paradise.
The locked-in setting also enables the intriguing characterisation, compelling character dynamics and captivating plot to flourish, and I was gripped by the gradual unveiling of the island’s and its inhabitants’ secrets and the ratcheting up of the tension as we neared the climax.
The purpose of the institute is to rehabilitate and reform the offenders but Rooker is determined to prove you can’t take the pirate out of this man.
In doing so, he proved to be one of my favourite fantasy characters of recent years. He’s so colourful he’d defy an artist’s palette. His personality and antics dazzle the eyes and tickle the brain as you follow his exploits and discover his backstory through the book.
I loved the pleasure of his company and his relationship with Jack melted my heart, delivering a treasure trove of emotional impact as they faced their trials and tribulations. The fun and adrenaline-fuelled action certainly doesn’t come at the expense of character detail and complexity in this tale.
Another quality of Witham’s storytelling I adore are the positive messages he weaves through his tales, through the words and actions of the protagonists and also the epigraphs at the start of each chapter in this book.
The quote at the beginning of the prologue says: “We are changed by those near to us.” How true for Rooker, Jack and all of us. It’s wholesome stuff and rises above the horror of the institute.
As I said, the book does get particularly dark in places but this is off-set by its oodles of charm and cracking banter, and the nuggets of golden positivity and prevailing sense of hope, resilience and defiance in the face of physical and mental trauma.
It’s a quirky, imaginative and bootyful tale. An addictively fast-paced romp with creepy-crawly horror, venomous enemies - of the two and eight-legged variety – and prose as majikal as the world of Keymark.
If you’re like me, you’ll race through it faster than the Venture Brigand skates over the Deep Blue South to a breathtaking finale that will leave you teetering on the edge of your favourite reading chair.
Book one of the Locke Institute Trilogy is so good it’s a crime not to read it. Therefore, I have three rules when it comes to anyone who hasn’t yet set sail on this adventure … but they’re easier to stick to than the institute’s:
· Get this book
· Read this book
· Enjoy this book
I did, thoroughly. While I look forward to reading its sequel, I’ll be visiting Keymark again to right a past wrong and catch up on the events of The Legend of Black Jack.
* I received an eARC from the author and this is an honest and voluntary review.
I have to confess, I was transported to the world of Keymark without having read The Legend of Black Jack but I don’t think it impacted on my understanding and enjoyment of this book.
I quickly got to grips with the world setting and was soon fully engaged with the characters of Rooker and Jack, despite not experiencing their exploits in Legend.
Having read some of Witham’s other work – his Border Crossing short story and The Tale of the Border Knight novella – I knew I was in expert hands when it comes to delivering top prose, characterisation and storytelling.
Those qualities were evident again from the first few pages of The Crimes of Rooker Flynn, with a wittily entertaining introduction to the story despite the prologue’s subject matter.
There are many aspects of this book to gush about but I think my favourite element is the titular character himself.
Rooker is such an appealing POV, a rule-breaking pirate with a temper to match the fiercest of high seas storms.
But he’s also an endearingly loveable rogue, with a strong code of honour over his friendship with Chicago kid Jack Swift.
The fact that Rooker, when we first meet him, thinks of his ship as the only woman he will ever love perfectly encapsulates his personality for me.
Unfortunately for him, being under lock and key in a penal institute on the island of Huánghūn, his sinful past having caught up with him, isn’t conducive to a life of nautical adventure and brigandry.
Fortunately for him, he’s got the young genius Jack to help him try to break free and return to his beloved.
They’re a great double act and what ensues is a lovingly told tale of swashbuckling bravado, courageous derring-do, clever problem-solving and heartwarming camaraderie.
There is snappy dialogue, with humour as razor-sharp as some of the characters’ tongues, as Rooker and Jack meet the rest of the denizens of the Locke Institute and come to terms with learning about its true nature.
We’re treated to high jinks galore as our heroes go about planning their great escape from the institute’s deadly type of education. However, staying alive proves enough of a challenge, never mind trying to secure their freedom.
The rest of the cast is also interesting. We get a motley crew of diverse characters to either sympathise with and cheer for … or to wish a giant arachnid fangful of misery on.
Names such as the dastardly headmistress Gerba Whipmarples and self-important Patch Picaroon play to an occasionally whimsical tone to the book, despite the sadistic and shocking episodes of torture we witness.
That kind of violence, and the underpinning threat of it, often smothers the whimsy in a much darker tone than what I understand The Legend of Black Jack has, as a young adult fantasy.
This outing is very adult, and the island school-prison perfectly sets the scene for the atmosphere and menacing tone which often pervades the narrative. The sense of danger is palpable and I suffered in empathy with the brutalised prisoners.
Yet somehow Witham still pulls off the trick of injecting black humour, comical antics and elements of whimsy to provide many moments of light which never jars with the darkness and rising tension. He really does have an impressive authorial voice.
I also enjoy and admire how Witham creates a strong sense of place in his writing. He achieved it impressively in Border Crossing – his contribution to The Advent of Winter anthology – despite the word count constraint of the short story format.
In The Crimes of Rooker Flynn, he totally nails it, by focussing the story on the institute and its topical jungle island, a location which is anything but paradise.
The locked-in setting also enables the intriguing characterisation, compelling character dynamics and captivating plot to flourish, and I was gripped by the gradual unveiling of the island’s and its inhabitants’ secrets and the ratcheting up of the tension as we neared the climax.
The purpose of the institute is to rehabilitate and reform the offenders but Rooker is determined to prove you can’t take the pirate out of this man.
In doing so, he proved to be one of my favourite fantasy characters of recent years. He’s so colourful he’d defy an artist’s palette. His personality and antics dazzle the eyes and tickle the brain as you follow his exploits and discover his backstory through the book.
I loved the pleasure of his company and his relationship with Jack melted my heart, delivering a treasure trove of emotional impact as they faced their trials and tribulations. The fun and adrenaline-fuelled action certainly doesn’t come at the expense of character detail and complexity in this tale.
Another quality of Witham’s storytelling I adore are the positive messages he weaves through his tales, through the words and actions of the protagonists and also the epigraphs at the start of each chapter in this book.
The quote at the beginning of the prologue says: “We are changed by those near to us.” How true for Rooker, Jack and all of us. It’s wholesome stuff and rises above the horror of the institute.
As I said, the book does get particularly dark in places but this is off-set by its oodles of charm and cracking banter, and the nuggets of golden positivity and prevailing sense of hope, resilience and defiance in the face of physical and mental trauma.
It’s a quirky, imaginative and bootyful tale. An addictively fast-paced romp with creepy-crawly horror, venomous enemies - of the two and eight-legged variety – and prose as majikal as the world of Keymark.
If you’re like me, you’ll race through it faster than the Venture Brigand skates over the Deep Blue South to a breathtaking finale that will leave you teetering on the edge of your favourite reading chair.
Book one of the Locke Institute Trilogy is so good it’s a crime not to read it. Therefore, I have three rules when it comes to anyone who hasn’t yet set sail on this adventure … but they’re easier to stick to than the institute’s:
· Get this book
· Read this book
· Enjoy this book
I did, thoroughly. While I look forward to reading its sequel, I’ll be visiting Keymark again to right a past wrong and catch up on the events of The Legend of Black Jack.
* I received an eARC from the author and this is an honest and voluntary review.
June 25, 2024
4.5 - Stars
I've had my eye on The Crimes of Rooker Flynn by A.R. Witham since I initially heard he was working on another book. I've completed The Legend of Black Jack twice (visual read Sept 2022 and audio Dec 2022) as well as the novella The Tale of the Border Knight in June of last year. I've really been enjoying Witham's storytelling style. The eARC's were made available near the end of May with mention of a release in about a month so keep your eyes out for this one!
I personally felt the pacing of Rooker Flynn was on par with the author's other books. They are fairly fast paced as far as reading through the story. There isn't none stop action by any means, but I have yet to feel any kind of slog through his works. There are a lot of characters to keep up with in this one but I didn't feel overwhelmed meaning they were introduced and taking part at a good pace. We really only have the two main POV's of Jack and Rooker so that might help a bit. One thing I noticed and mentioned in a discussion with friend post reading was this was seemed a bit different as far as the overall theme. I wasn't sure how to state it as it wasn't necessarily "darker" than Black Jack but perhaps just dire. I'll touch on this a bit more in the world building.
"This story has sharper teeth than The Legend of Black Jack, but then again, so does Rooker Flynn."
I figured I'd start with a quote from A.R. Witham in the eARC email that was sent out. This seems a good example of the feel I just mentioned. The majority of this story takes place in a re-education or prison camp which really sets the tone of things. This island though still has a lot going on with different areas and factions of prisoners as well as the school itself. Environmentally there are plenty of changes between day and night, heat and drenching rains and a constant fear of the different types of arachnids on this island. Why does it always have to be spiders!?
Another mention of the brief conversation I had with my friend as that I felt the majority of this story provided us just the slimmest of hope almost the entire time. My recent reading has me constantly feeling like I can't trust characters but this time, it seems even the characters themselves don't seem to trust anyone else either.
The character development was also done well. We certainly learn more about both Rooker and Jack in this story whether that's a good or bad thing may yet to be determined in future installments of this series. One of my favorite aspects of Witham's books so far though is the sheer amount of unique characters. Whether that is different races or just the characters depth themselves. I mentioned there were a lot of characters in this story and each one is so different. There was some solid arcs on supporting characters as well. The Head Mistress is a very unique and interesting character as well as a couple of the prisoners whether they seem with or against Rooker and Jack.
All of this combined makes for such an interesting and entertaining story. This one might not be as whimsical as the previous reads from this author but it's still a truly fantastical world populated with great characters and an interesting plot to tie it all together.
Overall this read finished as quite a surprising scene but I still enjoyed this one as much as I have The Legend of Black Jack and The Tale of the Border Knight. It's a different tone this time around but it's still very easy to see A.R. Witham's style as well.
I would certainly recommend this to fans of either of Witham's previous releases, just keep in mind this might be a little less fairytale and a bit more dire compared to those. If you haven't read anything from this author I think you could still enjoy this read as an initial entry into his works. If you like a dire fantastical fantasy world with interesting characters, definitely check out The Crimes of Rooker Flynn!
I've had my eye on The Crimes of Rooker Flynn by A.R. Witham since I initially heard he was working on another book. I've completed The Legend of Black Jack twice (visual read Sept 2022 and audio Dec 2022) as well as the novella The Tale of the Border Knight in June of last year. I've really been enjoying Witham's storytelling style. The eARC's were made available near the end of May with mention of a release in about a month so keep your eyes out for this one!
I personally felt the pacing of Rooker Flynn was on par with the author's other books. They are fairly fast paced as far as reading through the story. There isn't none stop action by any means, but I have yet to feel any kind of slog through his works. There are a lot of characters to keep up with in this one but I didn't feel overwhelmed meaning they were introduced and taking part at a good pace. We really only have the two main POV's of Jack and Rooker so that might help a bit. One thing I noticed and mentioned in a discussion with friend post reading was this was seemed a bit different as far as the overall theme. I wasn't sure how to state it as it wasn't necessarily "darker" than Black Jack but perhaps just dire. I'll touch on this a bit more in the world building.
"This story has sharper teeth than The Legend of Black Jack, but then again, so does Rooker Flynn."
I figured I'd start with a quote from A.R. Witham in the eARC email that was sent out. This seems a good example of the feel I just mentioned. The majority of this story takes place in a re-education or prison camp which really sets the tone of things. This island though still has a lot going on with different areas and factions of prisoners as well as the school itself. Environmentally there are plenty of changes between day and night, heat and drenching rains and a constant fear of the different types of arachnids on this island. Why does it always have to be spiders!?
Another mention of the brief conversation I had with my friend as that I felt the majority of this story provided us just the slimmest of hope almost the entire time. My recent reading has me constantly feeling like I can't trust characters but this time, it seems even the characters themselves don't seem to trust anyone else either.
The character development was also done well. We certainly learn more about both Rooker and Jack in this story whether that's a good or bad thing may yet to be determined in future installments of this series. One of my favorite aspects of Witham's books so far though is the sheer amount of unique characters. Whether that is different races or just the characters depth themselves. I mentioned there were a lot of characters in this story and each one is so different. There was some solid arcs on supporting characters as well. The Head Mistress is a very unique and interesting character as well as a couple of the prisoners whether they seem with or against Rooker and Jack.
All of this combined makes for such an interesting and entertaining story. This one might not be as whimsical as the previous reads from this author but it's still a truly fantastical world populated with great characters and an interesting plot to tie it all together.
Overall this read finished as quite a surprising scene but I still enjoyed this one as much as I have The Legend of Black Jack and The Tale of the Border Knight. It's a different tone this time around but it's still very easy to see A.R. Witham's style as well.
I would certainly recommend this to fans of either of Witham's previous releases, just keep in mind this might be a little less fairytale and a bit more dire compared to those. If you haven't read anything from this author I think you could still enjoy this read as an initial entry into his works. If you like a dire fantastical fantasy world with interesting characters, definitely check out The Crimes of Rooker Flynn!
July 31, 2024
Standing ovation!! That was FAN TAS TIC! OMG! I was riding on the edge of my seat. I love to hate you A.R Witham! Don't leave me like this. You can't do this to a girl and make me wait till January 2025 for book two. I have to know!!
You want some great storytelling packed with action and outstanding writing? READ. THIS. BOOK! Only .99. Cheaper than a cup of coffee!
June 27, 2024
OK, I did receive this from Andy for an honest review so here it goes I give this a five star rating is this store line was totally freaking Zany
One thing I like about Andy stories is that they have their own beat 🥁! It’s like mashing together the Ramones sedated and Jerry was a racecar driver from Primus. That’s what I call ZANY
Not gonna give you much information all I’m gonna say is breathe this darn book the story starts off with a wallop , without the two main POV’s, in the book ends with another wallop I will not tell-you the who’s and what nots!
A very uncensored journey that keeps on giving so I expect another installation into the Andy Zone
One thing I like about Andy stories is that they have their own beat 🥁! It’s like mashing together the Ramones sedated and Jerry was a racecar driver from Primus. That’s what I call ZANY
Not gonna give you much information all I’m gonna say is breathe this darn book the story starts off with a wallop , without the two main POV’s, in the book ends with another wallop I will not tell-you the who’s and what nots!
A very uncensored journey that keeps on giving so I expect another installation into the Andy Zone
August 23, 2024
I’m unimaginably impressed by A.R. Witham as a writer. His pacing, his construction of a story, everything. He knows exactly what he wants from the story, and delivers exactly that. I’ll admit, when I first heard that the next Keymark book was going to be about Rooker Flynn, I was a bit disappointed. I wanted more of Jack and Nepenthe. But my disappointment rapidly changed to enjoyment. Again, as with Black Jack, this may not be absolutely “perfect” in every way, but it makes up for it in just being so fun to read. With Black Jack, I think I had 2 or 3 minor critiques, but I don’t think I had any with this, other than maybe where he chose to end the book. But even that, this is a book 1 of a trilogy, of which the next books are not going to take too long to come out. Witham just knows how to write a good cliffhanger ending. 🤷🏼♂️
I will have a full video review with more thoughts in the coming weeks, but suffice it to say, once again, A.R. Witham has written one of my favorite books of the year.
I will have a full video review with more thoughts in the coming weeks, but suffice it to say, once again, A.R. Witham has written one of my favorite books of the year.
September 2, 2024
4.5
Oh, I had a good time back in Keymark! But this is much darker than The Legend of Black Jack.
We are in a very different place. It’s a prison for dastardly criminals. Our boy, Jack, is back with Rooker Flynn. We get some backstory on Rooker, which plays an important part of his mindset throughout the book.
All kinds of vicious creatures are introduced here. Can you trust anyone?
Be prepared for torture, mental and physical, and a very cruel character named Gerba Whipmarples.
This adventure is fast paced and nail biting. I can’t believe where we are left at the end!
P.S. if you have fear of spiders, beware that there are many, many, many here.
Oh, I had a good time back in Keymark! But this is much darker than The Legend of Black Jack.
We are in a very different place. It’s a prison for dastardly criminals. Our boy, Jack, is back with Rooker Flynn. We get some backstory on Rooker, which plays an important part of his mindset throughout the book.
All kinds of vicious creatures are introduced here. Can you trust anyone?
Be prepared for torture, mental and physical, and a very cruel character named Gerba Whipmarples.
This adventure is fast paced and nail biting. I can’t believe where we are left at the end!
P.S. if you have fear of spiders, beware that there are many, many, many here.
July 15, 2024
ARC provided by the author.
"Rooker turned toward the sound. A shiny-smooth stick, rose from the undergrowth, yellow with a reddish tip. The two frosh turned to watch as the stick was joined by another, and another. Rooker took an inadvertent step back.
Mustache cocked his head. "What the hell is th--"
A yellow spider the size of a dog emerged from the jungle."
Phew!!!! WHAT A RIDE!!
Once again, Andy creates a story that you just can't put down.....even if you might want to, to get away from the spiders (seriously, SO MANY SPIDERS-the cover doesn't lie!) This story starts with a heart-wrenching prologue and then from there it is full gas to the finish. Rooker Flynn was one of my favorite characters from The Legend of Black Jack and I am so glad to be back with him again. You do not have to have read Black Jack before jumping into this story, which takes us back to Keymark and another wild adventure. Keymark is a marvel of a world, full of wonderful landscapes filled with incredible plants, and creatures both deadly and very creeptastic.
The pacing of the story is perfect, you get to spend time getting reacquainted with some familiar characters and get to know a lot of the new ones. Once Jack and Rooker are reunited, the events come fast and furious and they are thrown into some incredibly dangerous, life-threatening situations. Gerba Whipmarples is a wonderful adversary clearly willing to do anything and everything needed to get what she wants. She will be a fantastsic adversary for the rest of the series. I also quite like Cant Naysayer, it will be very interesting to see where his loyalties land as the story goes forward. And as usual, Andy pulls at your heartstrings and hits you in the feels when you least expect it, and leaves you absolutely hanging at the end, desperate for the next installment of the series. After surviving this trip to the Locke Institute, am ready to sign up for another semester of adventure!!!
"Rooker turned toward the sound. A shiny-smooth stick, rose from the undergrowth, yellow with a reddish tip. The two frosh turned to watch as the stick was joined by another, and another. Rooker took an inadvertent step back.
Mustache cocked his head. "What the hell is th--"
A yellow spider the size of a dog emerged from the jungle."
Phew!!!! WHAT A RIDE!!
Once again, Andy creates a story that you just can't put down.....even if you might want to, to get away from the spiders (seriously, SO MANY SPIDERS-the cover doesn't lie!) This story starts with a heart-wrenching prologue and then from there it is full gas to the finish. Rooker Flynn was one of my favorite characters from The Legend of Black Jack and I am so glad to be back with him again. You do not have to have read Black Jack before jumping into this story, which takes us back to Keymark and another wild adventure. Keymark is a marvel of a world, full of wonderful landscapes filled with incredible plants, and creatures both deadly and very creeptastic.
The pacing of the story is perfect, you get to spend time getting reacquainted with some familiar characters and get to know a lot of the new ones. Once Jack and Rooker are reunited, the events come fast and furious and they are thrown into some incredibly dangerous, life-threatening situations. Gerba Whipmarples is a wonderful adversary clearly willing to do anything and everything needed to get what she wants. She will be a fantastsic adversary for the rest of the series. I also quite like Cant Naysayer, it will be very interesting to see where his loyalties land as the story goes forward. And as usual, Andy pulls at your heartstrings and hits you in the feels when you least expect it, and leaves you absolutely hanging at the end, desperate for the next installment of the series. After surviving this trip to the Locke Institute, am ready to sign up for another semester of adventure!!!
June 25, 2024
This book was just brilliant. Such an enjoyable read. The Legend of Black Jack by Witham was one of my top reads in 2022. I had a lot of high hopes and expectations for The Crimes of Rooker Flynn. And Andy nails it. The writing is sharp, the pacing is perfect, and the wit, horror, and grim comes in good measure. Please please give this (and the legend of black jack) a read!
P. S. - Gerba Whipmarples says “Hello, dearies.”
P. S. - Gerba Whipmarples says “Hello, dearies.”
June 25, 2024
I thoroughly enjoyed The Legend of Black Jack by A.R. Witham so when I saw that this new novel was once again set in the fantasy world of Keymark and starring the main characters of Rooker Flynn and Jack Swift, I had to sign up for an ARC! The Crimes of Rooker Flynn is written in the same warm-hearted storytelling tone, packed with ingenious ideas, trickery, and conniving schemes. The book’s setting of a monstrous spider-infested penal colony, calling itself a school, on an otherwise uninhabited island helped to raise the chill level to eleven and being arachnophobic I found I had the raging heebiejeebies for large portions of the story!
This installment in the story of the pirate Rooker Flynn and teenager Jack sees their friendship stretched to the limit, as trust becomes a thing neither of them can count on any longer. Again and again they show stout-hearted bravery in the face of adversity. They need to escape the prison but their attempts are thwarted over and over until it seems they will never get free. The penal colony is presided over by a vicious villain. A hideous trol that resembles a rhinoceros, she wears frilly dresses and ridiculous hats. She reminded me somewhat of the Dolores Umbridge character in Harry Potter. A cruel, power-crazed individual whose protestations that she has the best interests of the prisoners at heart, and that their re-education is for reintroduction into society, fool no one.
In The Crimes of Rooker Flynn, we learn some interesting details of Rooker’s backstory and he becomes a more well-rounded character for it. Jack’s brains and Rooker’s cunning together make for the perfect partnership. Jack and Rooker love each other, but can their relationship beat that of Rooker and his beloved ship, The Venture Brigand, when pressed? Especially when it becomes clear to Rooker that Jack has been holding back a whole wealth of information about his life up to the time he met Rooker in Keymark.
The Crimes of Rooker Flynn is a fast-pased, arachnotastic YA adventure which fans of The Legend of Black Jack will love! I highly recommend it.
This installment in the story of the pirate Rooker Flynn and teenager Jack sees their friendship stretched to the limit, as trust becomes a thing neither of them can count on any longer. Again and again they show stout-hearted bravery in the face of adversity. They need to escape the prison but their attempts are thwarted over and over until it seems they will never get free. The penal colony is presided over by a vicious villain. A hideous trol that resembles a rhinoceros, she wears frilly dresses and ridiculous hats. She reminded me somewhat of the Dolores Umbridge character in Harry Potter. A cruel, power-crazed individual whose protestations that she has the best interests of the prisoners at heart, and that their re-education is for reintroduction into society, fool no one.
In The Crimes of Rooker Flynn, we learn some interesting details of Rooker’s backstory and he becomes a more well-rounded character for it. Jack’s brains and Rooker’s cunning together make for the perfect partnership. Jack and Rooker love each other, but can their relationship beat that of Rooker and his beloved ship, The Venture Brigand, when pressed? Especially when it becomes clear to Rooker that Jack has been holding back a whole wealth of information about his life up to the time he met Rooker in Keymark.
The Crimes of Rooker Flynn is a fast-pased, arachnotastic YA adventure which fans of The Legend of Black Jack will love! I highly recommend it.
August 31, 2024
Dear Mr. Witham,
You, sir, are just as talented as your heroes. Thank you for the continuation of these characters, ramping up the stakes, with no middle act slump and one hell of an ending. This feels like a Pirates of Caribbean movie (The first three) with the action, the potentials for betrayal, no-win scenarios, a detestable villain, creepy crawlies abound and an interesting play on a close-quarters environment. The scene is alive, suffocating and out to kill you! I'm sure most would love nothing than to burn it all down, but in the most satisfying way possible. The world is unique and easy to follow. I feel all the hits as I tore through this story. Very well done, A.R.
Sophomore Slumps (Or Junior Jitters if you count the novella) are someone else's literary problem. A.R. Witham writing only gets stronger from his initial Black Jack outing and this guy knows how to close! How long do I have to wait for Trials!?!
You, sir, are just as talented as your heroes. Thank you for the continuation of these characters, ramping up the stakes, with no middle act slump and one hell of an ending. This feels like a Pirates of Caribbean movie (The first three) with the action, the potentials for betrayal, no-win scenarios, a detestable villain, creepy crawlies abound and an interesting play on a close-quarters environment. The scene is alive, suffocating and out to kill you! I'm sure most would love nothing than to burn it all down, but in the most satisfying way possible. The world is unique and easy to follow. I feel all the hits as I tore through this story. Very well done, A.R.
Sophomore Slumps (Or Junior Jitters if you count the novella) are someone else's literary problem. A.R. Witham writing only gets stronger from his initial Black Jack outing and this guy knows how to close! How long do I have to wait for Trials!?!
June 25, 2024
Oh, Andy. Just so you know, you did it again. Last year The Legend of Black Jack took me out of a serious reading slump. This year has been a struggle, but this book has put me back on the right track.
The Crimes of Rooker Flynn is a thrilling ride. It keeps you guessing on what's going to happen next. I loved the setting and as a guy who is scared to death of spiders, this book got me more than a few times (Just look at that cover art!). We got to know more about Rooker Flynn and his relationship with Jack. The power of friendship.
This is a great book for Black Jack fans and Fantasy readers in general. Keymark feels vibrant and with so much life to it. Can't wait for the next one to drop.
Keep up the good work Andy! You got some serious talent.
The Crimes of Rooker Flynn is a thrilling ride. It keeps you guessing on what's going to happen next. I loved the setting and as a guy who is scared to death of spiders, this book got me more than a few times (Just look at that cover art!). We got to know more about Rooker Flynn and his relationship with Jack. The power of friendship.
This is a great book for Black Jack fans and Fantasy readers in general. Keymark feels vibrant and with so much life to it. Can't wait for the next one to drop.
Keep up the good work Andy! You got some serious talent.
August 8, 2024
An exciting and harrowing continuation.
The Crimes of Rooker Flynn is quite the follow-up to The Legend of Blackjack, and borderline if not full-on horror in terms of genre. The cover is a trigger warning of its own for those with arachnophobia.
The story beats are well handled, and the whole setup of the book feels like a combination of a heist and a prison break, both things I've always loved.
The characters are handled well; the villains are love-to-hate types, and the arguable heroes are likeable. The conclusion is well-done, and I look forward to the next one.
An absolute must read for fans of The Legend of Black Jack.
The Crimes of Rooker Flynn is quite the follow-up to The Legend of Blackjack, and borderline if not full-on horror in terms of genre. The cover is a trigger warning of its own for those with arachnophobia.
The story beats are well handled, and the whole setup of the book feels like a combination of a heist and a prison break, both things I've always loved.
The characters are handled well; the villains are love-to-hate types, and the arguable heroes are likeable. The conclusion is well-done, and I look forward to the next one.
An absolute must read for fans of The Legend of Black Jack.
June 26, 2024
Witham delivers another fantastic adventure with The Crimes of Rooker Flynn.
As is expected from Witham, this book is well written and immerses the reader in a detailed world filled with humour, danger, and amazing character development.
I adored the deeper look into previously loved characters and their past, as well as the introduction of new faces and creatures.
Witham masterfully weaves wit and banter with danger and tension, bringing this book together in a deliciously fun way that left me captivated until the very end. Another one sitting read for me!
As is expected from Witham, this book is well written and immerses the reader in a detailed world filled with humour, danger, and amazing character development.
I adored the deeper look into previously loved characters and their past, as well as the introduction of new faces and creatures.
Witham masterfully weaves wit and banter with danger and tension, bringing this book together in a deliciously fun way that left me captivated until the very end. Another one sitting read for me!
June 27, 2024
3.5 stars
Thanks to the Author. I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review
This book is the perfect blend between a middle-grade and an adult adventure book, with pirates, criminals, a school that is a jail, magic, and inventiveness. And this is a great thing if you are into this kind of thing. I am not. I am not a fan of middle grades so I didn't really appreciate this mix. And this is my main problem with this book. Or, to be more precise, the only one.
It is an adult book that reads like a middle-grade one, and if this can work for you, I have no problem recommending this book to you.
We have interesting characters, because Black Jack and Rooker Flynn are interesting, resourceful, and well-developed. We have a book full of adventures, with pirates, criminals, and creepy villains (also, spiders. Giant spiders everywhere...) and you won't get bored, that's for sure.
And let's not forget about the setting too! It is a magical place and, sure, it is not one that I really want to visit, but reading about it was fascinating! I think that the world built by this author is worthy of your time!
So, there are a lot of good things in this book, and I still enjoyed it, even if it wasn't a proper fit for me!
Thanks to the Author. I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review
This book is the perfect blend between a middle-grade and an adult adventure book, with pirates, criminals, a school that is a jail, magic, and inventiveness. And this is a great thing if you are into this kind of thing. I am not. I am not a fan of middle grades so I didn't really appreciate this mix. And this is my main problem with this book. Or, to be more precise, the only one.
It is an adult book that reads like a middle-grade one, and if this can work for you, I have no problem recommending this book to you.
We have interesting characters, because Black Jack and Rooker Flynn are interesting, resourceful, and well-developed. We have a book full of adventures, with pirates, criminals, and creepy villains (also, spiders. Giant spiders everywhere...) and you won't get bored, that's for sure.
And let's not forget about the setting too! It is a magical place and, sure, it is not one that I really want to visit, but reading about it was fascinating! I think that the world built by this author is worthy of your time!
So, there are a lot of good things in this book, and I still enjoyed it, even if it wasn't a proper fit for me!
July 17, 2024
Although THE CRIMES OF ROOKER FLYNN proved to be quite different from Witham's standalone debut, THE LEGEND OF BLACK JACK, in some key ways, I ultimately found myself having just a good a time with it as I did the original story. This adventure set in Keymark is well worth going on for both returning fans of the author and newcomers alike.
CHARACTERS
The story starts off by quickly reintroducing its two main characters: the notorious pirate, Rooker Flynn, and the young Jack Swift who has returned home to Chicago after his stint in the magical land of Keymark. Aside from brief mentions, these are really the only two characters making a return from THE LEGEND OF BLACK JACK. Having so many fresh faces may disappoint those hoping to see more of certain side characters from the original novel, which is fair, but I think the new cast helps distinguish this book as a story that is entirely distinct from its predecessor. I will also say that I think the secondary personalities in this story felt a lot stronger and more distinct. While I was certainly a fan of certain side characters in BLACK JACK, there were just as many that didn't really leave an impression on me at all. This time around, I felt as though every single character, no matter how small their role, was fascinating and memorable in their own way. I had no trouble at all believing that each of them were criminals with colorful pasts and I think that vibrancy in their personalities really made the story come alive in a big way. The precarious and persnickety, Patch Picaroon, conniving narcissist, Cant Naysayer, and girlishly wicked, Gerba Whipmarples, were particular standouts for me, but they're really just the tip of the iceberg. The dynamics between Rooker and Jack were also super interesting. Both of their characters develop in some compelling ways and I loved getting to learn more about Rooker’s backstory since that shed a lot of insights into his motivations.
PLOT/TONE
It's worth mentioning that this is a much different type of story than fans of THE LEGEND OF BLACK JACK might be expecting. Not only does it set itself apart by resetting its supporting cast, but it also shifts to a much darker tone. I was always of the opinion that BLACK JACK leaned more heavily into the adult side of things with its brief moments of graphic violence and just had a sort of nostalgic feeling to it that made it reminiscent of classic YA adventure stories. THE CRIMES OF ROOKER FLYNN sort of ends the age rating debate pretty early on. From the brutal prologue, to the violent capture of Rooker and Jack, things start off with a bang. Throw in the creepy “school” setting that quickly turns into more of a prison story and some truly sadistic stuff done by both the inmates and their jailers and you get something that is unquestionably for adult audiences. Those that only remember the adventure and whimsy of Witham's debut might be really thrown off by this, but I think it was a fairly natural progression. It's worth a trigger warning though that you probably should not read this book if you have an intense case of arachnophobia. Even as someone who does not have that, I still found certain parts to be pretty disturbing. I was a little surprised by some of the gore contained in this as well, though I think Witham did a good job of never crossing the line of it being too gratuitous or having it be there simply for shock value. He also towed a thin line for me when it came to the way tension/distrust is built between Jack and Rooker with a variant of the miscommunication trope in which they are manipulated by a third party. Normally this along with the shocking cliffhanger ending would really annoy me as a reader, but I think the way that these elements tied in thematically with the overall story made me appreciate how they were handled. I do wish that we got some sense of resolution or catharsis before the story's end with at least one of the points of conflict, but I understand why that wouldn't have worked and will await the second book in this trilogy with a begrudging enthusiasm.
As one final note on the story, I would absolutely agree that this can be read without having first picked up THE LEGEND OF BLACK JACK. There is one very minor detail regarding something that haunts Jack which might be slightly confusing, but I think there are enough context clues to piece things together. Now that said, I think the original story is absolutely worth reading, so I'd still encourage people to pick it up, even after reading this book, especially if Jack's past adventures (which are mentioned at points) sound at all interesting.
SETTING/WORLD
The third way in which this new trilogy sets it apart from Witham's debut is that it takes us to a dangerous new corner of Kemark. Our heroes find themselves in a sort of tropical island prison situation where following the three rules of their Headmistress is essential to their very survival. If you really liked the sort of globe-trotting adventure vibe of BLACK JACK, then you may find it slightly off-putting that this story is largely set in one location. Personally, I don't really mind when characters stay close to one place since it allows the setting itself to take on a little more character and also keeps the main characters in closer communication with their supporting cast. I rather like settings that feel like a sort of microcosm and I liked the mystery-lite elements of the island's secrets being unveiled one at a time as our heroes get acclimated to it and then desperately seek out a means of escape. Thematically, there's also some great tension that being bound to this apparently inescapable prison builds up. I really felt the sense of danger, isolation, and captivity that the characters in this story felt and developed a delightful hatred for Gerba as she ruthlessly manipulated her “students” in order to ensure their continued captivity and suffering. The exposure to so many criminals also provided some insight into the criminal underbelly of Keymark, adding a bit of color to it's broader lore. There are seeds of something bigger being planted here, so I suspect the scope of the sequels will broaden quite a bit, but I am also excited to see what becomes of this island and it's inhabitants next.
THE PAPERBACK
Even though Witham was very generously giving out eBook ARCs on his Discord in the weeks leading up to the release window, I really wanted to read this physically, especially because I already owned his other books in print, so I decided to pick this up in the paperback edition as well after that became available. I quite like the color scheme of this one and it looks like that might carry across the trilogy as well which would be quite nice. If you own copies of THE LEGEND OF BLACK JACK and THE TALE OF THE BORDER KNIGHT, then you will be pleased to know that this book is the same size as those (which have a great feel to them). I really appreciate how all of Witham's books have a unified sort of style to them, yet are also distinct from one another, particularly in color scheme. This makes it so that they all sit nicely together on a shelf, but don't create the false impression that they are one continuous series. There's no interior illustrations here like there were in BLACK JACK, but the chapter art and section dividers are really beautifully done. I also enjoyed the map of the island that is included at the start of the book and found myself referring back to it as I became more familiar with the landmarks it depicts. I personally think that the Amazon's printing/publishing program produces some high quality paperbacks and this title is no exception, though a large part of what makes it so nice is definitely the interior formatting and eye-catching cover art. If you prefer eBooks, then you're likely not missing out on anything, but if you're like me and appreciate the more tactile feel of a paper book, then you should absolutely pick this up in that format. Witham always includes rather wholesome Author's notes at the end of his books which is another nice touch.
CONCLUSION
If you have already taken some adventures with Witham in the magical land of Keymark, then I think it is absolutely worth it to return for this one. If you are brand new to this world, then I think this is a perfectly fine place to start, though giving the original story a read at some point is still highly encouraged.
(+) Jack and Rooker were both developed in some very interesting ways
(+) Gerba Whipmarples is a delightfully hate-able villain
(+) We get to see a strange new corner of the land of Keymark
(+) Expertly handled cast of minor characters
(+) Additional insight into Rooker's backstory and his motivations as a character
(+) A crazy (and somewhat frusrtating), but thematically fitting cliffhanger ending that makes me eager for the second book in this trilogy.
( ) If BLACK JACK was more adult-leaning, I would say that this book steers firmly into the Adult Fantasy side of things
( ) I do not have any kind of arachnophobia, but if you do, you may not want to pick this one up
(-) I was hoping for a little more resolution in terms of some of the character tensions/relationships (though this might have been an absurd expectation for a story about a bunch of criminals in an elaborate prison)
CHARACTERS
The story starts off by quickly reintroducing its two main characters: the notorious pirate, Rooker Flynn, and the young Jack Swift who has returned home to Chicago after his stint in the magical land of Keymark. Aside from brief mentions, these are really the only two characters making a return from THE LEGEND OF BLACK JACK. Having so many fresh faces may disappoint those hoping to see more of certain side characters from the original novel, which is fair, but I think the new cast helps distinguish this book as a story that is entirely distinct from its predecessor. I will also say that I think the secondary personalities in this story felt a lot stronger and more distinct. While I was certainly a fan of certain side characters in BLACK JACK, there were just as many that didn't really leave an impression on me at all. This time around, I felt as though every single character, no matter how small their role, was fascinating and memorable in their own way. I had no trouble at all believing that each of them were criminals with colorful pasts and I think that vibrancy in their personalities really made the story come alive in a big way. The precarious and persnickety, Patch Picaroon, conniving narcissist, Cant Naysayer, and girlishly wicked, Gerba Whipmarples, were particular standouts for me, but they're really just the tip of the iceberg. The dynamics between Rooker and Jack were also super interesting. Both of their characters develop in some compelling ways and I loved getting to learn more about Rooker’s backstory since that shed a lot of insights into his motivations.
PLOT/TONE
It's worth mentioning that this is a much different type of story than fans of THE LEGEND OF BLACK JACK might be expecting. Not only does it set itself apart by resetting its supporting cast, but it also shifts to a much darker tone. I was always of the opinion that BLACK JACK leaned more heavily into the adult side of things with its brief moments of graphic violence and just had a sort of nostalgic feeling to it that made it reminiscent of classic YA adventure stories. THE CRIMES OF ROOKER FLYNN sort of ends the age rating debate pretty early on. From the brutal prologue, to the violent capture of Rooker and Jack, things start off with a bang. Throw in the creepy “school” setting that quickly turns into more of a prison story and some truly sadistic stuff done by both the inmates and their jailers and you get something that is unquestionably for adult audiences. Those that only remember the adventure and whimsy of Witham's debut might be really thrown off by this, but I think it was a fairly natural progression. It's worth a trigger warning though that you probably should not read this book if you have an intense case of arachnophobia. Even as someone who does not have that, I still found certain parts to be pretty disturbing. I was a little surprised by some of the gore contained in this as well, though I think Witham did a good job of never crossing the line of it being too gratuitous or having it be there simply for shock value. He also towed a thin line for me when it came to the way tension/distrust is built between Jack and Rooker with a variant of the miscommunication trope in which they are manipulated by a third party. Normally this along with the shocking cliffhanger ending would really annoy me as a reader, but I think the way that these elements tied in thematically with the overall story made me appreciate how they were handled. I do wish that we got some sense of resolution or catharsis before the story's end with at least one of the points of conflict, but I understand why that wouldn't have worked and will await the second book in this trilogy with a begrudging enthusiasm.
As one final note on the story, I would absolutely agree that this can be read without having first picked up THE LEGEND OF BLACK JACK. There is one very minor detail regarding something that haunts Jack which might be slightly confusing, but I think there are enough context clues to piece things together. Now that said, I think the original story is absolutely worth reading, so I'd still encourage people to pick it up, even after reading this book, especially if Jack's past adventures (which are mentioned at points) sound at all interesting.
SETTING/WORLD
The third way in which this new trilogy sets it apart from Witham's debut is that it takes us to a dangerous new corner of Kemark. Our heroes find themselves in a sort of tropical island prison situation where following the three rules of their Headmistress is essential to their very survival. If you really liked the sort of globe-trotting adventure vibe of BLACK JACK, then you may find it slightly off-putting that this story is largely set in one location. Personally, I don't really mind when characters stay close to one place since it allows the setting itself to take on a little more character and also keeps the main characters in closer communication with their supporting cast. I rather like settings that feel like a sort of microcosm and I liked the mystery-lite elements of the island's secrets being unveiled one at a time as our heroes get acclimated to it and then desperately seek out a means of escape. Thematically, there's also some great tension that being bound to this apparently inescapable prison builds up. I really felt the sense of danger, isolation, and captivity that the characters in this story felt and developed a delightful hatred for Gerba as she ruthlessly manipulated her “students” in order to ensure their continued captivity and suffering. The exposure to so many criminals also provided some insight into the criminal underbelly of Keymark, adding a bit of color to it's broader lore. There are seeds of something bigger being planted here, so I suspect the scope of the sequels will broaden quite a bit, but I am also excited to see what becomes of this island and it's inhabitants next.
THE PAPERBACK
Even though Witham was very generously giving out eBook ARCs on his Discord in the weeks leading up to the release window, I really wanted to read this physically, especially because I already owned his other books in print, so I decided to pick this up in the paperback edition as well after that became available. I quite like the color scheme of this one and it looks like that might carry across the trilogy as well which would be quite nice. If you own copies of THE LEGEND OF BLACK JACK and THE TALE OF THE BORDER KNIGHT, then you will be pleased to know that this book is the same size as those (which have a great feel to them). I really appreciate how all of Witham's books have a unified sort of style to them, yet are also distinct from one another, particularly in color scheme. This makes it so that they all sit nicely together on a shelf, but don't create the false impression that they are one continuous series. There's no interior illustrations here like there were in BLACK JACK, but the chapter art and section dividers are really beautifully done. I also enjoyed the map of the island that is included at the start of the book and found myself referring back to it as I became more familiar with the landmarks it depicts. I personally think that the Amazon's printing/publishing program produces some high quality paperbacks and this title is no exception, though a large part of what makes it so nice is definitely the interior formatting and eye-catching cover art. If you prefer eBooks, then you're likely not missing out on anything, but if you're like me and appreciate the more tactile feel of a paper book, then you should absolutely pick this up in that format. Witham always includes rather wholesome Author's notes at the end of his books which is another nice touch.
CONCLUSION
If you have already taken some adventures with Witham in the magical land of Keymark, then I think it is absolutely worth it to return for this one. If you are brand new to this world, then I think this is a perfectly fine place to start, though giving the original story a read at some point is still highly encouraged.
(+) Jack and Rooker were both developed in some very interesting ways
(+) Gerba Whipmarples is a delightfully hate-able villain
(+) We get to see a strange new corner of the land of Keymark
(+) Expertly handled cast of minor characters
(+) Additional insight into Rooker's backstory and his motivations as a character
(+) A crazy (and somewhat frusrtating), but thematically fitting cliffhanger ending that makes me eager for the second book in this trilogy.
( ) If BLACK JACK was more adult-leaning, I would say that this book steers firmly into the Adult Fantasy side of things
( ) I do not have any kind of arachnophobia, but if you do, you may not want to pick this one up
(-) I was hoping for a little more resolution in terms of some of the character tensions/relationships (though this might have been an absurd expectation for a story about a bunch of criminals in an elaborate prison)
September 20, 2024
I honestly enjoyed this story. More so even that The Legend of Black Jack. A.R. Witham is really hitting his stride with this book. I can't wait to see what comes of this series!
July 17, 2024
Lord of the Flies meets the Condemned meets Pirates of the Caribbean in this fast-paced survival thriller that does get a bit dark
I started reading e-books when I got my first computer back in 2004. I have pretty much been a reader since I remember and also for lugging a book around always. E-books pretty much democratized reading else I was reliant on the kindness of friends and family to read anything new. Even in the early days of accessing e-books, reading habits were pretty random – I literally read anything I could get my hands on. That also meant that sometimes reading order went for a toss – I picked up books in a series willy-nilly trusting that the books would give me any of the context or back story I needed. One of my early gateway series to the genre of fantasy, the Song of the Lioness series by Tamora Pierce – I had read books 3 and 4 before I picked books 1 and 2 at a later point in time. As internet connectivity improved, I gradually got better at this and obviously with more information available as well, order set in, and randomness wasn’t tolerated (as much)
The reason for the above paragraph is important context as I review The Crimes of Rooker Flynn by AR Witham – the first book in the Locke Institute Trilogy. The title and the cover intrigued me first when I first saw the book and I dove into the ARC without any second thoughts or research. Within the few first pages, however, there were references to something that had already happened elsewhere and that’s where I probably felt this wasn’t the first book in this world. I mailed the author who was gracious enough to respond and let me know that was indeed the case but ideally, that shouldn’t tarnish any of my enjoyment of the book.
I dove back in and can validate now at the end of the book that the assumption is both right and wrong. I was totally able to enjoy and breeze through the book without the feeling of being kept in the dark due to past occurrences (plot point obfuscation is however par for the course). I did however feel the disadvantage when it came to character interactions between “Black” Jack and Rooker Flynn. Some of their interactions seemed to be driven by a shared history of events which made me feel like I wasn’t part of that inside clique. That did impact my enjoyment/ appreciation of certain moments that happen especially when they get to interact with each other
Set in a secondary world, the pirate Rooker Flynn and “Black” Jack who is not from that world are captured and housed in an institute run by a rather self-serving, ruthless, and enigmatic headmistress. She maintains discipline through an assortment of giant poisonous spiders, a bunch of assassins/ bounty hunters, and other captives of the institute who their best impression of “you do you” including characters from Flynn’s chequered past who would happily sell Rooker Flynn down the river.
This is a rather thrilling book that takes inspiration from a bunch of classics but shapes it imaginatively into an escapade of sorts backed by some interesting character choices. Rooker Flynn is a rather hard, cunning, and glib character who mostly is just out for himself and in the process, makes deals that he possibly cannot keep. Meanwhile, Jack, the boy out of place, is rather resourceful but also naïve for someone purporting to be a legend in this secondary world. Jack’s entire arc almost leans towards YA but then the themes of the book are decidedly darker with sequences of torture and violence finding its place in the book. There are a whole bunch of creepy creatures that do make for uncomfortable moments in the read (in fact, as attractive the cover is, you look deeper and you see it is all like some kind of bug. Ugghhh!!!!) Rooker Flynn, for all this hardness, is a victim of his past and there are enough nudges to make him do things that feel natural but are manipulations. The book ends in a pretty tight situation for the lead pair and sets up the sequel well enough
The Crimes of Rooker Flynn kicks off a fast-paced escapist thriller that isn’t afraid to take the reader into some pretty dark places even as it puts the characters through some pretty dire straits. While I did struggle with the characters past histories, the plot points work well enough to make this a quick read
Rating – 3.5 creepy crawlies on 5
I started reading e-books when I got my first computer back in 2004. I have pretty much been a reader since I remember and also for lugging a book around always. E-books pretty much democratized reading else I was reliant on the kindness of friends and family to read anything new. Even in the early days of accessing e-books, reading habits were pretty random – I literally read anything I could get my hands on. That also meant that sometimes reading order went for a toss – I picked up books in a series willy-nilly trusting that the books would give me any of the context or back story I needed. One of my early gateway series to the genre of fantasy, the Song of the Lioness series by Tamora Pierce – I had read books 3 and 4 before I picked books 1 and 2 at a later point in time. As internet connectivity improved, I gradually got better at this and obviously with more information available as well, order set in, and randomness wasn’t tolerated (as much)
The reason for the above paragraph is important context as I review The Crimes of Rooker Flynn by AR Witham – the first book in the Locke Institute Trilogy. The title and the cover intrigued me first when I first saw the book and I dove into the ARC without any second thoughts or research. Within the few first pages, however, there were references to something that had already happened elsewhere and that’s where I probably felt this wasn’t the first book in this world. I mailed the author who was gracious enough to respond and let me know that was indeed the case but ideally, that shouldn’t tarnish any of my enjoyment of the book.
I dove back in and can validate now at the end of the book that the assumption is both right and wrong. I was totally able to enjoy and breeze through the book without the feeling of being kept in the dark due to past occurrences (plot point obfuscation is however par for the course). I did however feel the disadvantage when it came to character interactions between “Black” Jack and Rooker Flynn. Some of their interactions seemed to be driven by a shared history of events which made me feel like I wasn’t part of that inside clique. That did impact my enjoyment/ appreciation of certain moments that happen especially when they get to interact with each other
Set in a secondary world, the pirate Rooker Flynn and “Black” Jack who is not from that world are captured and housed in an institute run by a rather self-serving, ruthless, and enigmatic headmistress. She maintains discipline through an assortment of giant poisonous spiders, a bunch of assassins/ bounty hunters, and other captives of the institute who their best impression of “you do you” including characters from Flynn’s chequered past who would happily sell Rooker Flynn down the river.
This is a rather thrilling book that takes inspiration from a bunch of classics but shapes it imaginatively into an escapade of sorts backed by some interesting character choices. Rooker Flynn is a rather hard, cunning, and glib character who mostly is just out for himself and in the process, makes deals that he possibly cannot keep. Meanwhile, Jack, the boy out of place, is rather resourceful but also naïve for someone purporting to be a legend in this secondary world. Jack’s entire arc almost leans towards YA but then the themes of the book are decidedly darker with sequences of torture and violence finding its place in the book. There are a whole bunch of creepy creatures that do make for uncomfortable moments in the read (in fact, as attractive the cover is, you look deeper and you see it is all like some kind of bug. Ugghhh!!!!) Rooker Flynn, for all this hardness, is a victim of his past and there are enough nudges to make him do things that feel natural but are manipulations. The book ends in a pretty tight situation for the lead pair and sets up the sequel well enough
The Crimes of Rooker Flynn kicks off a fast-paced escapist thriller that isn’t afraid to take the reader into some pretty dark places even as it puts the characters through some pretty dire straits. While I did struggle with the characters past histories, the plot points work well enough to make this a quick read
Rating – 3.5 creepy crawlies on 5
July 15, 2024
Returning to Keymark and the twinned possibilities of adventure with danger has burned inside of me since finishing The Legend of Black Jack. To be greeted with a trilogy in that world was more than I ever could have hoped for.
Book one, the Crimes of Rooker Flynn, sees Jack Swift abducted (again) from his school life, but this time without a clear idea of why or what he is supposed to do. In fact, the only thing that seems familiar to last time is the company of a certain scally pirate called Rooker Flynn. This story focuses centrally on Rooker, his colourful present and his mysterious (and possibly melancholic) past. Being a pirate, he isn’t always at the centre of doing good in the world, but it is hard to root against him as his sense of friendship and doing what is right runs strong through him.
It is not too much of a stretch or spoiler to say that Rooker’s crimes lead him to a situation where he is asked to be held responsible for these deeds. Hence, we get a story that is part Goonies and part Prison Break as he seeks to find out which crime he has been caught for, and the hope that he can get back to his one true love – his ship.
We are greeted to a cast of characters, mostly nefarious (what else would you expect) and who are interested in their own profit – but whose motivations are clouded in mystery. We spend this novel exploring these character motivations, while trying to stay alive in a place where it seems everything wants to kill you. There are real stakes in this story, and we are not spared from the odd nasty death. I don’t know if the evil plots were scarier to me than the swarms of spiders. I lie. The spiders made my skin crawl every time.
I don’t see that reading Legend of Black Jack first is in any way necessary to get full enjoyment out of this book, aside from the joy of getting to spend more time with our key characters. The world is wholly fleshed out and full of mystery and excitement. There is rich helping of humour smattered throughout the story and I guffawed more than once as I progressed my way along. And yes, you read that right. I used the word guffaw.
These books and AR Witham’s skill of storytelling, description and world building connects with me in the most primal way. There is joy and fun on every page. I could read these stories again and again, each bringing me back to the source of why I fell in love with literary story telling in the first place. I cannot wait for the next instalment.
Book one, the Crimes of Rooker Flynn, sees Jack Swift abducted (again) from his school life, but this time without a clear idea of why or what he is supposed to do. In fact, the only thing that seems familiar to last time is the company of a certain scally pirate called Rooker Flynn. This story focuses centrally on Rooker, his colourful present and his mysterious (and possibly melancholic) past. Being a pirate, he isn’t always at the centre of doing good in the world, but it is hard to root against him as his sense of friendship and doing what is right runs strong through him.
It is not too much of a stretch or spoiler to say that Rooker’s crimes lead him to a situation where he is asked to be held responsible for these deeds. Hence, we get a story that is part Goonies and part Prison Break as he seeks to find out which crime he has been caught for, and the hope that he can get back to his one true love – his ship.
We are greeted to a cast of characters, mostly nefarious (what else would you expect) and who are interested in their own profit – but whose motivations are clouded in mystery. We spend this novel exploring these character motivations, while trying to stay alive in a place where it seems everything wants to kill you. There are real stakes in this story, and we are not spared from the odd nasty death. I don’t know if the evil plots were scarier to me than the swarms of spiders. I lie. The spiders made my skin crawl every time.
I don’t see that reading Legend of Black Jack first is in any way necessary to get full enjoyment out of this book, aside from the joy of getting to spend more time with our key characters. The world is wholly fleshed out and full of mystery and excitement. There is rich helping of humour smattered throughout the story and I guffawed more than once as I progressed my way along. And yes, you read that right. I used the word guffaw.
These books and AR Witham’s skill of storytelling, description and world building connects with me in the most primal way. There is joy and fun on every page. I could read these stories again and again, each bringing me back to the source of why I fell in love with literary story telling in the first place. I cannot wait for the next instalment.
October 3, 2024
I first lost my reading soul to Keymark in The Legend of Black Jack; a soaring adventure of a teenage boy whisked away to a magical world. I adored that book. So, when the offer came to return to Keymark for the next instalment, I was eager and ready to go. And, while The Crimes of Rooker Flynn might be a different beast to Black Jack, it really didn't disappoint.
If you have read The Legend of Black Jack, you will know that it is an absolute romp of story with some dark undertones. The Crimes of Rooker Flynn, which may or may not be suggested by the title, is actually a much darker story. It does feature some of our favourite characters, including Jack Swift, and it is mostly based in the world of Keymark. But there are themes running through this that make it feel like a much more adult story. A little more grown up. Most of the story takes place in the Locke Institute, which is chock full of dangers and tribulations. Everyone's favourite pirate is sent to the Institute and does not take kindly to this loss of liberty. Fortunately (for some), there is someone there that has the brains to break them out and Rooker will do anything to get out.
Character work is always strong in A.J. Witham's work and there are several that stand out here. Obviously Rooker Flynn is central to the story and we see a lot of Jack Swift as well. But there are others that are just as central and just as strongly written here. The Headmistress of the Locke Institute is one. Just don't let those matronly rhino looks take you in. The other inmates of the Institute are as wily and dastardly as Rooker himself and I had a great time watching our heroes navigate through their schemes. There is also the addition of some terrifying wildlife thrown in, just to keep everyone on their toes (I will never look at spiders in the same way again).
Friendship and secrets are themes that run throughout The Crimes of Rooker Flynn. Some secrets we get to find out. Others, I suspect are coming in the future releases. I always try to avoid spoilers so this might seem awfully vague but there are secrets worth keeping and some that you would kill for but could friendship help our heroes find their way out of the Institute? I will tell you there that there is one banger of a cliff hanger which had my heart in my throat and makes me restless for that sequel.
I received a free copy from the Author in exchange for an honest review. Thank you.
If you have read The Legend of Black Jack, you will know that it is an absolute romp of story with some dark undertones. The Crimes of Rooker Flynn, which may or may not be suggested by the title, is actually a much darker story. It does feature some of our favourite characters, including Jack Swift, and it is mostly based in the world of Keymark. But there are themes running through this that make it feel like a much more adult story. A little more grown up. Most of the story takes place in the Locke Institute, which is chock full of dangers and tribulations. Everyone's favourite pirate is sent to the Institute and does not take kindly to this loss of liberty. Fortunately (for some), there is someone there that has the brains to break them out and Rooker will do anything to get out.
Character work is always strong in A.J. Witham's work and there are several that stand out here. Obviously Rooker Flynn is central to the story and we see a lot of Jack Swift as well. But there are others that are just as central and just as strongly written here. The Headmistress of the Locke Institute is one. Just don't let those matronly rhino looks take you in. The other inmates of the Institute are as wily and dastardly as Rooker himself and I had a great time watching our heroes navigate through their schemes. There is also the addition of some terrifying wildlife thrown in, just to keep everyone on their toes (I will never look at spiders in the same way again).
Friendship and secrets are themes that run throughout The Crimes of Rooker Flynn. Some secrets we get to find out. Others, I suspect are coming in the future releases. I always try to avoid spoilers so this might seem awfully vague but there are secrets worth keeping and some that you would kill for but could friendship help our heroes find their way out of the Institute? I will tell you there that there is one banger of a cliff hanger which had my heart in my throat and makes me restless for that sequel.
I received a free copy from the Author in exchange for an honest review. Thank you.
June 25, 2024
The sequel series to The Legend of Black Jack begins with a bang in The Crimes of Rooker Flynn. It looks like Keymark fans have a lot to look forward to with this series. Certainly, in this first book, we do.
Fair warning: if you read The Legend of Black Jack as YA, you might be thrown by where this book goes. Personally, I thought that Black Jack's niche was more the all-ager category (like The Neverending Story or The Princess Bride)--appropriate for a YA audience, to be sure, but not exactly YA. That distinction isn't necessarily relevant, but The Crimes of Rooker Flynn is a prison story and a horror novel--and maybe some readers would find that tonally inconsistent with a whimsical YA portal fantasy.
But that's just the thing: it isn't tonally inconsistent at all. The Tale of the Border Knight's Seven Samurai/Western vibe already established that Keymark is a genre-spanning setting--but you don't have to go to the prequel novella to establish that. Right from the beginning, I felt that Black Jack's approach to portal fantasy was more Dark Tower than Narnia. I thought I detected a certain Stephen King-type flavor to Witham's writing, and thus, it was hardly jarring to see the series turn to full-fledged horror.
While this is very much a positive aspect of The Crimes of Rooker Flynn, it may well be a negative for readers who are looking for a more standard epic fantasy experience. Right when a fan of heroic fantasy might expect a moment of fist-pumping triumph, instead, the monster pops out and eats someone. Witham really puts his characters through the wringer, but he pulls off a delicate balance. We feel the characters' defeat and despair without feeling defeated by the book or despairing of ever getting through it. It may go darker than what some readers are looking for, but I think it hits exactly the tone it is aiming for and does it very well.
Now, this first book does end on a cliffhanger--a pet peeve of some folk--but rumor has it that the sequels are already written and should be released quickly enough. I can't wait to see where the story takes us in The Trial of Rooker Flynn.
Fair warning: if you read The Legend of Black Jack as YA, you might be thrown by where this book goes. Personally, I thought that Black Jack's niche was more the all-ager category (like The Neverending Story or The Princess Bride)--appropriate for a YA audience, to be sure, but not exactly YA. That distinction isn't necessarily relevant, but The Crimes of Rooker Flynn is a prison story and a horror novel--and maybe some readers would find that tonally inconsistent with a whimsical YA portal fantasy.
But that's just the thing: it isn't tonally inconsistent at all. The Tale of the Border Knight's Seven Samurai/Western vibe already established that Keymark is a genre-spanning setting--but you don't have to go to the prequel novella to establish that. Right from the beginning, I felt that Black Jack's approach to portal fantasy was more Dark Tower than Narnia. I thought I detected a certain Stephen King-type flavor to Witham's writing, and thus, it was hardly jarring to see the series turn to full-fledged horror.
While this is very much a positive aspect of The Crimes of Rooker Flynn, it may well be a negative for readers who are looking for a more standard epic fantasy experience. Right when a fan of heroic fantasy might expect a moment of fist-pumping triumph, instead, the monster pops out and eats someone. Witham really puts his characters through the wringer, but he pulls off a delicate balance. We feel the characters' defeat and despair without feeling defeated by the book or despairing of ever getting through it. It may go darker than what some readers are looking for, but I think it hits exactly the tone it is aiming for and does it very well.
Now, this first book does end on a cliffhanger--a pet peeve of some folk--but rumor has it that the sequels are already written and should be released quickly enough. I can't wait to see where the story takes us in The Trial of Rooker Flynn.
July 3, 2024
3.5 rounded up
I received the ARC for this book from the author in exchange for consideration of an honest review.
This book was quite the adventure. In the same world as The Legend of Black Jack, with some of the same characters - new story!
I thought that the characters were great, the plot was well written, and the story was engaging. I think the writing could use another round of edits in some places, though - a bit more polish. Overall, well done, though.
CAWPILE Breakdown:
Characters: 4/5 - Loved the characters! Wanted a little bit more from each.
Atmosphere/Setting: 3/5 - Our setting in this book was great. I wanted more atmosphere as we travered between the different camps. IMO, each one should feel different and it didn't to me.
Writing Style: 3/5 - I loved how engaging the story was, the plot was well written. I'd just like to see it have one more pace with an editor's eye. There were some (grammatical) things that I caught while reading it, which distracted me slightly. I recognize that this was an ARC and may have further editing before it was released to the public, however as I write honest reviews, I felt it worth mentioning here.
Plot: 4/5 - I thought the plot was well written. Told really well.
Intrigue: 4/5 - Intrigue was done well. I felt it throughout the whole story.
Logic/Relationships: 3.5/5 - Our logic and relationships shifted throughout the book, I'd have liked them to be a little steadier.
Enjoyment: 3.5/5 - Overall, I enjoyed this book and would probably continue with the series.
CAWPILE Total: 25/7 = 3.5 = 3.5 stars
I received the ARC for this book from the author in exchange for consideration of an honest review.
This book was quite the adventure. In the same world as The Legend of Black Jack, with some of the same characters - new story!
I thought that the characters were great, the plot was well written, and the story was engaging. I think the writing could use another round of edits in some places, though - a bit more polish. Overall, well done, though.
CAWPILE Breakdown:
Characters: 4/5 - Loved the characters! Wanted a little bit more from each.
Atmosphere/Setting: 3/5 - Our setting in this book was great. I wanted more atmosphere as we travered between the different camps. IMO, each one should feel different and it didn't to me.
Writing Style: 3/5 - I loved how engaging the story was, the plot was well written. I'd just like to see it have one more pace with an editor's eye. There were some (grammatical) things that I caught while reading it, which distracted me slightly. I recognize that this was an ARC and may have further editing before it was released to the public, however as I write honest reviews, I felt it worth mentioning here.
Plot: 4/5 - I thought the plot was well written. Told really well.
Intrigue: 4/5 - Intrigue was done well. I felt it throughout the whole story.
Logic/Relationships: 3.5/5 - Our logic and relationships shifted throughout the book, I'd have liked them to be a little steadier.
Enjoyment: 3.5/5 - Overall, I enjoyed this book and would probably continue with the series.
CAWPILE Total: 25/7 = 3.5 = 3.5 stars
August 13, 2024
In this adventurous, fast paced tale, we return to Keymark and we once again follow Jack and Rooker Flynn as they are whisked off to the Locke Institute, a labour camp of sorts, where they have to get creative in order to survive!
I want to start off by saying that though this is connected to The Legend of Black Jack, you do not have to have read that (or remember much about it) in order to read and really enjoy this book!
If you are an existing fan of A.R. Witham's, expect a big tone shift in this one; while The Legend of Black Jack was fun and whimsical, The Crimes of Rooker Flynn veers more towards adventurous with a balance of lighthearted and more dark, serious moments. I really appreciated the more dark content in here (horror elements woohoo!) and thought that it helped ratchet up the tension and therefore my intrigue as well.
I enjoyed following both Jack & Rooker Flynn and was dazzled by all the creativity that went into how they attempted to overcome the obstacles they encountered! This was definitely an interesting ride with some unexpected turns & I'd recommend checking it out! You may want to wait until the second book is released before picking it up though as the ending leaves you hanging for sure!
Many thanks to the author for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
I want to start off by saying that though this is connected to The Legend of Black Jack, you do not have to have read that (or remember much about it) in order to read and really enjoy this book!
If you are an existing fan of A.R. Witham's, expect a big tone shift in this one; while The Legend of Black Jack was fun and whimsical, The Crimes of Rooker Flynn veers more towards adventurous with a balance of lighthearted and more dark, serious moments. I really appreciated the more dark content in here (horror elements woohoo!) and thought that it helped ratchet up the tension and therefore my intrigue as well.
I enjoyed following both Jack & Rooker Flynn and was dazzled by all the creativity that went into how they attempted to overcome the obstacles they encountered! This was definitely an interesting ride with some unexpected turns & I'd recommend checking it out! You may want to wait until the second book is released before picking it up though as the ending leaves you hanging for sure!
Many thanks to the author for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
August 14, 2024
If you thought Legend of Black Jack was good but just a bit too YA for your taste (or even if you didn't), this should be next on your list.
You do NOT have to have read LBJ to read this, but it will enhance the experience (also, go read it, it was great).
This is definitely a darker story with bigger obstacles, higher stakes, bigger failures, and more severe consequences. Rooker Flynn and Jack share center stage in this tale of friendship and trust between a fairly unlikely set of partners.
The worldbuilding is sufficient but this isn't a worldbuilding story, and it's not really an epic story. This is an adventure story about some people who get into some very interesting trouble and try very hard to get out of it. Less saving-the-world and more saving-our-skins (though, obviously, we might get to saving the world in the other parts of this trilogy).
The writing is smooth as butter, so if you're one of the people offended by grammatical mistakes and typos, you're safe here.
Genre is secondary world high fantasy adventure story. I would say it's adult, not YA, but not quite grimdark (though it's a bit grim).
You do NOT have to have read LBJ to read this, but it will enhance the experience (also, go read it, it was great).
This is definitely a darker story with bigger obstacles, higher stakes, bigger failures, and more severe consequences. Rooker Flynn and Jack share center stage in this tale of friendship and trust between a fairly unlikely set of partners.
The worldbuilding is sufficient but this isn't a worldbuilding story, and it's not really an epic story. This is an adventure story about some people who get into some very interesting trouble and try very hard to get out of it. Less saving-the-world and more saving-our-skins (though, obviously, we might get to saving the world in the other parts of this trilogy).
The writing is smooth as butter, so if you're one of the people offended by grammatical mistakes and typos, you're safe here.
Genre is secondary world high fantasy adventure story. I would say it's adult, not YA, but not quite grimdark (though it's a bit grim).
July 13, 2024
Dear Mr. Witham,
Let me first start off by saying I hate you for putting me through that! Secondly, when can I get my hands on book 2? I need to continue the story!
Sincerely,
A fan of Keymark
Clearly, I really enjoyed reading The Crimes of Rooker Flynn and was ecstatic to go back to Keymark!
When I saw the title, I assumed the story would be completely different from The Legend of Black Jack and that we wouldn’t see Jack at all. Thankfully, I was wrong about seeing Jack! Rooker and Jack are quickly reunited and their loyalty to each other, while simultaneously distrusting each other, makes them one of my favorite bromances in fantasy.
I was not wrong however about it being very different from The Legend of Black Jack. In TLoBJ, the duo runs into problem after problem and come up with solution after solution. There’s constantly a feeling of hope throughout the story. No matter how bad things get, they’re gonna find some way out, over, or through it! The Crimes of Rooker Flynn is much different. There aren’t countless problems there’s just one problem. One problem with no solution, called the Locke Institute. Like a maze with no openings, Jack and Rooker must work together, overcome the feeling of despair, use every tool at their disposal, and use Jack’s endless store of knowledge to create an exit that doesn’t exist.
But even the strongest relationships can break under too much pressure. Will their relationship, built upon lies, mistrust, and convenience be able to hold up against the pressure and get them both to safety, or will it bend and break to the ruin of them both?
Let me first start off by saying I hate you for putting me through that! Secondly, when can I get my hands on book 2? I need to continue the story!
Sincerely,
A fan of Keymark
Clearly, I really enjoyed reading The Crimes of Rooker Flynn and was ecstatic to go back to Keymark!
When I saw the title, I assumed the story would be completely different from The Legend of Black Jack and that we wouldn’t see Jack at all. Thankfully, I was wrong about seeing Jack! Rooker and Jack are quickly reunited and their loyalty to each other, while simultaneously distrusting each other, makes them one of my favorite bromances in fantasy.
I was not wrong however about it being very different from The Legend of Black Jack. In TLoBJ, the duo runs into problem after problem and come up with solution after solution. There’s constantly a feeling of hope throughout the story. No matter how bad things get, they’re gonna find some way out, over, or through it! The Crimes of Rooker Flynn is much different. There aren’t countless problems there’s just one problem. One problem with no solution, called the Locke Institute. Like a maze with no openings, Jack and Rooker must work together, overcome the feeling of despair, use every tool at their disposal, and use Jack’s endless store of knowledge to create an exit that doesn’t exist.
But even the strongest relationships can break under too much pressure. Will their relationship, built upon lies, mistrust, and convenience be able to hold up against the pressure and get them both to safety, or will it bend and break to the ruin of them both?
June 25, 2024
This second installment in the Black Jack saga fleshes out Rooker Flynn, a good friend of Jack and, apparently, a hero. But Rooker is no hero, not by a long shot. He often wields the phrase "you and me" as a weapon meant to protect his comrades, just to turn around and betray them when things get hairy.
Rooker Flynn is a criminal, and that's where this story shines because he's written as a very well-liked criminal.
A. R. Witham does a fantastic job at keeping the reader on his toes with non-stop action.
A must-read for fantasy fans!
Thank you for the advanced copy!
Rooker Flynn is a criminal, and that's where this story shines because he's written as a very well-liked criminal.
A. R. Witham does a fantastic job at keeping the reader on his toes with non-stop action.
A must-read for fantasy fans!
Thank you for the advanced copy!
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