The first book in Jay’s Braxton Campus Mysteries, Academic Curveball, looked interesting. I had already read his first book, Watching Glass Shatter, see below this series. In this series, James writes cozy mysteries and offers six books so far. This was my 5-Star Review for the first book, though I have read and reviewed them all.
The Review
College Was Never Like This
Academic Curveball, by James John Cudney IV, has a contorted plot, to say the least. The story is told in 1st Person point of view, through the mind of the protagonist, Kellan Ayrwick. So many great points exist in this story and the way it’s written that I don’t know where to begin.
Regarding this plot – what a contorted story it is. Many characters people this plot but I had no difficulty keeping track partly because the reader sees the action from inside Kellan’s mind and that provides the understanding of how the characters mesh. So many twists and turns happen and just when it looks like the perpetrator(s) could easily be identified, attention is thrown to others as the plot takes yet more shocking turns.
The story flows smoothly, even as this reader finds herself inside Kellan’s mind. The reader being so, we not only have a unique viewpoint of the action, the author is able to weave in the main character’s back story, ideals, thought processes—we learn just who Kellan Ayrwick is and the details progress without stopping the story or slowing it down. Just as any person may have extraneous thoughts throughout their days, so we experience Kellan’s mental gymnastics. However, all of these sometimes seemingly disassociated thoughts feed into the plot and quickly move it forward seamlessly.
Overall, this story flowed very fast, held together by experiencing the action through Kellan Ayrwick’s mind. I have read Cudney’s first two books and loved them. But I must say this is Cudney at his best. This is great writing and storytelling, with a fascinating plot. Since this is the beginning of a series, if you like cliffhangers that move you onto the next book in the series, you will love the delicious ending of this story.
I’ve also read and reviewed Jay’s other books. These are psychological mysteries. Jay is known for his cliff hanger endings. Yes, the stories conclude nicely, but the endings leave us saying, “Wow! I didn’t see that coming!”
His Website: https://this is my truthnow.com
Jay’s Author Site: https://jamesjcudney.com
Jay’s Amazon Author Page – where you will find some books translated into other languages.
Two Synopses
Book 1: Watching Glass Shatter
After 40 years of marriage, Olivia Glass thought she could handle the unexpected death of her husband. But when Ben’s will reveals a life-altering secret, she suffers a blow no widow should ever experience. While an attorney searches for the answers, Olivia visits each of her sons to share a final connection before facing a truth that will change their family. Then she discovers that each of them has been harboring a painful secret just like their father. Olivia challenges herself to re-assemble and save their relationships. But will the secrets destroy their family beyond repair?
Book 2: Father Figure
Between the fast-paced New York City, a rural Mississippi town, and a charming Pennsylvania college campus filled with secrets, two young girls learn the consequences of growing up too quickly. Struggling to survive in a claustrophobic, unforgiving world, they embark on a journey to overcome all the pain, disappointment, and horror of their experiences. Through alternating chapters set two decades apart, each girl’s plight unfolds revealing the parallels between their lives and the unavoidable collision that is bound to happen. In an emotional story filled with mystery, romance, and suspense, fate intervenes forcing someone to make a dreadful decision that will leave permanent scars.
Personal Bio
James is my given name; most call me Jay. I grew up on Long Island and currently live in New York City, but I’ve traveled all across the US and various parts of the world. After college, I spent fifteen years working in technology and business operations in the sports, entertainment and media industries. Although I enjoyed my job, I left in 2016 to focus on my passion: telling stories and connecting people through words. I write in the contemporary fiction and mystery genres, but there will always be elements of family drama, suspense, humor, and romance.
I’m an avid genealogist (discovered 2K family members going back about 250 years) and cook (I find it so hard to follow a recipe). I love to read and have written over 575 book reviews which provide a full flavor for my voice and style. On my blog, I started the 365 Daily Challenge, where I post a word each day that has some meaning to me, then converse with everyone about that aspect of my life. There is humor, tears, love, friendship, advice, and bloopers—lots of bloopers where I poke fun at myself all the time.
Everything doubles as something else when you live in NYC. For me, it’s the dining room, my favorite space in the apartment where more than just my cooking is on display. As I look out the windows onto a 12th floor terrace, various parts of nature (trees, bushes, flowers, bugs, and animals) inspire me to write. A muse and inspiration is always necessary when it comes to writing; how else can you pen the best story possible without these things by your side?