Compulsion was my first novel written by Jennifer Chase. I think I might have been one of her first fans...
She won me over in this 2009 Debut!
Here's what I said about her lead character:
Emily Stone is an unusual character. She does not have a job, or at least not now. She was once in law enforcement but became a whistle blower, which essentially forced her to leave. Since then, she has never stopped her work--on her own; however, she has restricted her activities to finding pedophiles, and sometimes serial killers, gathering sufficient evidence, and turning it all over to the local police departments. She is competent, computer savvy, and has the needed instincts to research and gather sufficient evidence long before others barely get started.If you've been reading Chase like I have, and seeing the numbers steadily increase from readers of my blog, you will know that she's been getting better and better!
Sometime recently I've committed for my impression of prequels...Normally I don't see a need for them, but other fans apparently like to find out how the main character evolved. (For me I'd rather discover that within full novels, but that's Just My Personal Opinion, Of Course...)
So when I saw a short by Chase, I automatically went out to get it. My only caution is for those who are like me...you may not see a need... I'd rather you spent your time and money with her first book Compulsion, which is the same price at the time of writing this article...
You can look at this as a prequel, or just a short story that places Emily back in her teens... I plan on sharing the story with my great-niece Rachel who had considered going into law enforcement (CIA!) at one time. Although it is somewhat dark, I think it reveals how our present often affects the path that we choose later on in life.
It was warm and humid, so Emily begged her parents that she wanted to walk home alone. After careful consideration, and some hesitation, they finally agreed. Emily loved the nighttime in Valparaiso. After the warm Indiana day and sudden afternoon rain shower, the evenings offered a new look at the landscape and the entire neighborhood. Fireflies lit up the trees with a dancing display. Green grass, shrubs, and trees highlighted the sidewalk; some still had moisture droplets from the recent shower that sparkled in the evening light. The aroma was intoxicating. The feelings of fast ending summer elevated everything outside and made the ordinary seem extraordinary. At least that was what Emily imagined.
Emily’s mom and dad would come home within the next hour. They wanted to take a leisurely walk together to enjoy the evening. They were like that, still in love, and cherished their time together.
But her parents never came back. And they never found who had killed them that night...
Within a very short time, she had relocated, was in a new school, and a student she had just met was murdered...
Trauma can either change you or affect you, either positively or negatively. What it did to Emily was allow her to realize she had to be able to participate when something like this happened in the future... If you haven't met Emily Stone, this is a good starter book. But if you have, I'd recommend you go directly to one of her novels. If you enjoy Emily and have a desire for her background, check this one at that time... This is too little to quench a fan's thirst, once you've already met this formidable character...
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