Book Review: Brothers, Bullies and Bad Guys by ND Richman

Brothers, Bullies and Bad Guys: First in the Boulton Quest Series

By N.D. Richman

Publisher: ND Richman

Published: Apr. 10, 2013

ASIN: B00CC0XBZW

Amazon Synopsis:

Honourable Mention, 2013 Hollywood Book Festival Awards. 

Their parents kidnapped in a home invasion, Christopher and Michael must unite or die in their quest to find them. Adventure turns to mystery when the brothers follow a hunch leading them over the Pacific Coast Mountains, across the ocean, and to a fortified island where they fight for their lives with tragic results.

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 My Thoughts:

Christopher and Michael are two brothers who just don’t get along. Michael is the younger of the two and he is a terrible bully. He does awful things like puts gopher snakes in the toilet so his brother gets a terrible, painful surprise when Christopher sits down.

Their parents are mostly absent, working all hours at a lab and so it falls on Chris to keep Michael in line which he finds impossible to do. As absent in their lives as their parents are, both boys still love them very much.

One night Christopher and Michael’s parents are kidnapped in a home invasion and the boys narrowly escape being taken because they were awake when the ruckus started and surprisingly Michael had a secret door in their bedroom that even Chris knew nothing about. In the room below was an amazing array of technology and equipment that Chris couldn’t believe that Michael knew how to operate because he could barely get passing grades in school.

Working together, both boys knew that this was the only way they could get their parents back.

I really liked that these two boys who couldn’t get along had to find a way to work together to achieve a goal. I liked the twist that Michael was seen in a new light with these skills that Chris never knew he had.

The pacing and suspense of this novel was perfect. No wonder reluctant readers want to read it! From dangers of the environment to bullets and bombs, anything can happen. There are lots of unexpected twists and turns, even a little romance.

The characters were well developed. The reader gets a good sense of both boys and the fears of each of them. I really felt for them when tragedy struck.

The twist at the end was the ultimate surprise for me. I really didn’t see that one coming. I thought that was excellent.

Brothers, Bullies and Bad Guys was an excellent read. While geared for middle school and teens, virtually anyone who enjoys action, adventure and suspense books should enjoy this book. I rated it 5 stars out of 5.

Thank you to the author for providing a copy of the book in exchange for a fair and honest review. A positive opinion was not required. All thoughts are my own.

About the Author:

I started to write for my son, a reluctant reader. I set out to write a series of books that captivated from the first chapter and pushed the reader through with a solid plot, relentless action and adventure, and humour.

Comments received from parents and teachers indicate I've accomplished my goal. I'm very proud of the Boulton Quest Series. It has captivated the hearts of reluctant readers around the world, boys and girls alike, and is entertaining their brothers, sisters, parents, and grandparents.

Camping, hiking, fishing, hunting, and getting into trouble. What a great way to grow up. One of my favourite memories is sitting on the handlebars of my brother's bike, my dog on my lap, as he careened down the steep mountain trails above our home in Kamloops, BC. My brother and I had caves, tree forts, frog filled ponds, and cactus patches to play in, and sling shots for protection. Somehow I survived my childhood and proudly moved on to fatherhood. My children, Christopher, Michael, Thomas, and Katherine, kindly donated their names, characters, and ideas to this series of books. Together, we created a gut-wrenching life and death adventure that has brought sparkles to the eyes of those who have read it.

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