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The TimeKeepers
A fast-paced thriller, The TimeKeepers plunges headlong into the depraved underbelly of Big Law and big money where greed is king, murder is incidental, and winning is the only thing that matters.
Attorney Sarah Brockman is young, idealistic, and naïve. Having left Big Law in search of work that would make a difference, she finds herself barely scraping by running her own personal injury law firm working for clients who can’t pay and pursuing causes she can’t win. Then a random horrific car crash shatters everything. Now she’s staring into the darkest shadows of the very system she’s dedicated her life to upholding, filled with corrupt judges, dirty cops and attorneys, offshore banking, massive fraud, and twists and turns through the highways and byways of Southern California, Mexico and the Cook Islands.
Facing off against a cunning and deranged adversary, Sarah is aided by a sharp-witted socialite, a felon and occasional crackhead, and a shameless Mexican raconteur. All while kindling a tender romance with Sam, her boyishly handsome new love, who has been following the same trail but from the other end – and the wrong side of the law.
Sarah feels invisible strings pulling her ever closer to the core of the conspiracy. But if she’s just a pawn in someone else’s game, are the strings being pulled for good or for bad? Or, even, both? And will she be on the side that wins?
Attorney Sarah Brockman is young, idealistic, and naïve. Having left Big Law in search of work that would make a difference, she finds herself barely scraping by running her own personal injury law firm working for clients who can’t pay and pursuing causes she can’t win. Then a random horrific car crash shatters everything. Now she’s staring into the darkest shadows of the very system she’s dedicated her life to upholding, filled with corrupt judges, dirty cops and attorneys, offshore banking, massive fraud, and twists and turns through the highways and byways of Southern California, Mexico and the Cook Islands.
Facing off against a cunning and deranged adversary, Sarah is aided by a sharp-witted socialite, a felon and occasional crackhead, and a shameless Mexican raconteur. All while kindling a tender romance with Sam, her boyishly handsome new love, who has been following the same trail but from the other end – and the wrong side of the law.
Sarah feels invisible strings pulling her ever closer to the core of the conspiracy. But if she’s just a pawn in someone else’s game, are the strings being pulled for good or for bad? Or, even, both? And will she be on the side that wins?
334 pages, Paperback
First published May 7, 2017
2 people are currently reading
609 people want to read
About the author
Jenn Bregman
2 books66 followersJenn Bregman is a UCLA Law graduate and former Big Law litigator who practiced both in Los Angeles and on Wall Street in New York City. Published in the UCLA Law Review, and a member of Mensa, she is a closet adventurer who loves to ski, travel, and hike giant mountains. She lives in Colorado with her family and sweet Havanese dog Babalu.
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
April 10, 2017
I'm going to be kinder to a first time author, because frankly I am in awe of anyone who manages to write a book. Sarah Brockman is a former Big Law attorney who has decided to become a plaintiff's attorney for personal injury cases. She wants to help the little guy. She witnesses a terrible hit and run and is later thought to be the victim's guardian angel. Then she becomes his attorney because of the almost non-prosecution of the case (the driver turned himself in)
About the same time she runs into and old law school acquaintance, Sam, who is now working for Big Law. A love story ensues, but this is where the book loses a star. The love story is just not well written. Too sugary sweet. Need some hot pepper thrown in.
Sarah makes some startling discoveries concerning the case she has taken on, not least that Sam is working on the same case from the other side and there are terrible things going on. Both of them have allies they aren't aware of. In Sam's case they are practically tap dancing in front of him. A bit of a plot hole. Why didn't they join up? Just tell Sam. Especially since these were people who loved him.
Okay. The good. Clever and exciting plot. Clear explanations of life in Big Law, off-shore banking, and life in the plaintiff's lane. Characters I invested in. Fabulous and satisfying ending.
I would definitely read this and the next books Bregman writes.
Thank you to NetGalley for sending me this book in exhange for a fair and honest exchange.
About the same time she runs into and old law school acquaintance, Sam, who is now working for Big Law. A love story ensues, but this is where the book loses a star. The love story is just not well written. Too sugary sweet. Need some hot pepper thrown in.
Sarah makes some startling discoveries concerning the case she has taken on, not least that Sam is working on the same case from the other side and there are terrible things going on. Both of them have allies they aren't aware of. In Sam's case they are practically tap dancing in front of him. A bit of a plot hole. Why didn't they join up? Just tell Sam. Especially since these were people who loved him.
Okay. The good. Clever and exciting plot. Clear explanations of life in Big Law, off-shore banking, and life in the plaintiff's lane. Characters I invested in. Fabulous and satisfying ending.
I would definitely read this and the next books Bregman writes.
Thank you to NetGalley for sending me this book in exhange for a fair and honest exchange.
September 17, 2017
Originally posted on: The Quirky Book Nerd
*I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review*
This novel is a bit out of my normal reading comfort zone. However, I always love giving any book from any genre a try—and from the synopsis, The Timekeepers sounded like an interesting, high-stakes mystery. Unfortunately, what I ended up with was a slow-paced, confusing story, one-dimensional characters, and no mystery.
There was absolutely no suspense in the plot due to the style of narration that Bregman chose for it, and there were very few riveting plot points to grip readers. Throughout my experience with this novel, I never found myself eager to turn the next page. And rather than the book motivating me to read it, I had to motivate myself every time I picked it up.
A book that could have been fast-paced and exciting is bogged down by repetitive narration and an extensive amount of scenes that solely contain descriptions of the various workings of Big Law. It’s not that I minded learning the details about law or what goes on behind-the-scenes at law firms—it was specifically that topic which caused me to want to read this novel. But instead of mixing definitions and facts fluidly with a heart-pounding and interesting plot, the plot fell flat and facts overtook almost every aspect of the novel.
In this novel, according to the synopsis, we follow a young attorney named Sarah Brockman, who is struggling to run her own law firm specializing in personal injury cases. One day, her life changes when she begins dealing with the case of a man who has been hit by a car. This seemingly common personal injury case inadvertently throws Sarah into a world she is not prepared for—a secret side of law, where the dealings are quite suspicious and spell danger for all involved. All of a sudden, she finds herself mixed up in a risky face off with some major names of Big Law, where ethics have no place.
Now, this is where one of my biggest issues begins. The synopsis has practically nothing to do with what the novel is actually about. Sarah Brockman, the supposed main character, barely plays any part in the main storyline itself. She is primarily there to jump in and save the day at the very end of the novel and, of course, to add a touch of romance at various points. Even her love interest Sam has a bigger and more important role than she does. The main character, I would say, is the main villain of the piece, who has considerably more screen time.
The characters themselves served their purposes well; the good ones were likeable and the bad ones were detestable. However, I never truly cared about or connected with any of them. They are fairly cookie-cutter type, one-dimensional characters, and really never stray from their very predictable storylines. In the same vein, the romance between Sarah and Sam, a fellow lawyer, is exceedingly unsurprising and just far too immature and cheesy to be believed.
One of the most glaring problems character-wise is that there is not nearly enough distinction between their voices. And since the narrative jumps from person to person multiple times per chapter, it becomes very tricky to know immediately whose perspective we have just fallen in to. To add to this, very little is done to make any of the characters particularly memorable, and they are left feeling quite inconsistent personality-wise through the entirety of the novel.
And then there was the ending—the astoundingly convenient chain of events that allows the story to finally come to a predictable close. One of the most perfect examples of the term “deus ex machina”. Everything works out perfectly. All the most important pieces fall flawlessly into place. Sarah and Sam literally stumble across absolutely every piece of information they need to take down the bad guys. And in the final climactic scene, a physically impossible feat is pulled off to save the day.
The writing itself is not necessarily bad, but it definitely leaves much to be desired. As I mentioned before, each chapter of the novel jumps around between multiple characters’ points of view. However, there is barely any fluidity in how this occurs, making for a very choppy and confusing narrative that can be hard to follow at times.
The narrative is also far to wordy and repetitive, and it drags along in far too many places. There are numerous points throughout where characters chronicle the exact events that have just happened mere pages before to another character that wasn’t there to witness them. Then, there are tedious monologues about the inner workings of law that play no part in moving the plot forward nor in giving facts to the reader that might become necessary knowledge for other events later in the story.
Overall, this unfortunately did not end up being the enjoyable new read I was looking for.
One idea I had that I think could have massively increased the mystery and suspense of this novel would be leaving the villains faceless.
Since we switch between all characters’ points of view, we always know, from the start, who everyone is, how they are connected, and what part they are playing, nefarious or other. This erases all sense of intrigue and uncertainty, and really sucks the interest out of the narrative. If Bregman had left out the perspectives of the bad guys, or—better yet—kept them in but not given a name to the voice, this novel could have been remarkably more dynamic and enthralling.
*I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review*
This novel is a bit out of my normal reading comfort zone. However, I always love giving any book from any genre a try—and from the synopsis, The Timekeepers sounded like an interesting, high-stakes mystery. Unfortunately, what I ended up with was a slow-paced, confusing story, one-dimensional characters, and no mystery.
There was absolutely no suspense in the plot due to the style of narration that Bregman chose for it, and there were very few riveting plot points to grip readers. Throughout my experience with this novel, I never found myself eager to turn the next page. And rather than the book motivating me to read it, I had to motivate myself every time I picked it up.
A book that could have been fast-paced and exciting is bogged down by repetitive narration and an extensive amount of scenes that solely contain descriptions of the various workings of Big Law. It’s not that I minded learning the details about law or what goes on behind-the-scenes at law firms—it was specifically that topic which caused me to want to read this novel. But instead of mixing definitions and facts fluidly with a heart-pounding and interesting plot, the plot fell flat and facts overtook almost every aspect of the novel.
In this novel, according to the synopsis, we follow a young attorney named Sarah Brockman, who is struggling to run her own law firm specializing in personal injury cases. One day, her life changes when she begins dealing with the case of a man who has been hit by a car. This seemingly common personal injury case inadvertently throws Sarah into a world she is not prepared for—a secret side of law, where the dealings are quite suspicious and spell danger for all involved. All of a sudden, she finds herself mixed up in a risky face off with some major names of Big Law, where ethics have no place.
Now, this is where one of my biggest issues begins. The synopsis has practically nothing to do with what the novel is actually about. Sarah Brockman, the supposed main character, barely plays any part in the main storyline itself. She is primarily there to jump in and save the day at the very end of the novel and, of course, to add a touch of romance at various points. Even her love interest Sam has a bigger and more important role than she does. The main character, I would say, is the main villain of the piece, who has considerably more screen time.
The characters themselves served their purposes well; the good ones were likeable and the bad ones were detestable. However, I never truly cared about or connected with any of them. They are fairly cookie-cutter type, one-dimensional characters, and really never stray from their very predictable storylines. In the same vein, the romance between Sarah and Sam, a fellow lawyer, is exceedingly unsurprising and just far too immature and cheesy to be believed.
One of the most glaring problems character-wise is that there is not nearly enough distinction between their voices. And since the narrative jumps from person to person multiple times per chapter, it becomes very tricky to know immediately whose perspective we have just fallen in to. To add to this, very little is done to make any of the characters particularly memorable, and they are left feeling quite inconsistent personality-wise through the entirety of the novel.
And then there was the ending—the astoundingly convenient chain of events that allows the story to finally come to a predictable close. One of the most perfect examples of the term “deus ex machina”. Everything works out perfectly. All the most important pieces fall flawlessly into place. Sarah and Sam literally stumble across absolutely every piece of information they need to take down the bad guys. And in the final climactic scene, a physically impossible feat is pulled off to save the day.
The writing itself is not necessarily bad, but it definitely leaves much to be desired. As I mentioned before, each chapter of the novel jumps around between multiple characters’ points of view. However, there is barely any fluidity in how this occurs, making for a very choppy and confusing narrative that can be hard to follow at times.
The narrative is also far to wordy and repetitive, and it drags along in far too many places. There are numerous points throughout where characters chronicle the exact events that have just happened mere pages before to another character that wasn’t there to witness them. Then, there are tedious monologues about the inner workings of law that play no part in moving the plot forward nor in giving facts to the reader that might become necessary knowledge for other events later in the story.
Overall, this unfortunately did not end up being the enjoyable new read I was looking for.
One idea I had that I think could have massively increased the mystery and suspense of this novel would be leaving the villains faceless.
Since we switch between all characters’ points of view, we always know, from the start, who everyone is, how they are connected, and what part they are playing, nefarious or other. This erases all sense of intrigue and uncertainty, and really sucks the interest out of the narrative. If Bregman had left out the perspectives of the bad guys, or—better yet—kept them in but not given a name to the voice, this novel could have been remarkably more dynamic and enthralling.
May 12, 2017
Thanks to NetGalley for a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
I had so many problems with this. The only reason I haven't one-starred is that as much as I groaned and raged at what I was reading, I was hooked enough on the story itself that I finished it in a single evening.
The premise itself is pretty generic, but promising. Small-time lawyer tries to prove herself against a much larger corporation and do the right thing. I didn't hate Sarah, but I didn't like her very much either. I found her very naive (to the point that it was very difficult to buy into her being a capable lawyer), and most of her excellent lawyering comes from her actually brilliant and capable private investigator, complete and unbelievable stupidity, and sheer dumb luck. There were far too many plot points and discoveries that could be summed up by "I just couldn't believe my luck!" Most of the characters felt bland and completely lacking in personality beyond their role in the story. Sam is the sweet love interest who, despite being a supposedly excellent lawyer, is just sickeningly naive. All the lawyers in the story are either one of two types: the Good Guy(tm) who doesn't care about money and always wants to do the Right Thing(tm) no matter what, and the Bad Guy(tm) whose entire life revolves around money and will do eeeeevil things for it. Side note: so cringeworthy when characters such as lawyers and men who get their hands dirty, who are supposed to have been toughened by life and morally gray, actually say things like "We have to win, we are the Good Guys(tm)." Side note #2: Alexander Cabot, really? You couldn't be bothered to be a little bit more original than changing Alexandra to Alexander?
I hated Maurice. Not in the omg he is the Bad Guy(tm) therefore I want to see him get his comeuppance kind of way, but oh Jesus Christ we get it, he's the villain, WE FUCKING GET IT way. His characterization was the worst of all. We are explicitly told (more on that later) about all his eeeevil qualities just to hammer home the fact that he is despicable and we should hate him.
Ariel was the unsung hero of this story, and by far my favorite character. She should have gotten far more room to shine. She is the only one who actually furthers the investigations and her own agenda through cunning and intelligence. I absolutely despised that Sarah pigeonholed her as a 'black widow' immediately after meeting her, simply because she was beautiful and flirtatious. Oh, and also because she wasn't the Nice Girl(tm) kind of beauty; blonde, voluptuous and looking like an 'American Barbie' as opposed to dark-haired, dark-eyed, supposedly plain and normal but just so beautiful to everyone else.
Possibly the most annoying thing in the entire novel was the constant telling instead of showing. For example - Sarah and Sam have a fun, witty back-and-forth on the phone: instead of something like "She smiled, before quickly retorting..." there is "She smiled. She was really enjoying this banter of theirs." There's no need to explicitly spell it out! Show it to us. Snippets like this are littered throughout the entire story, where the reader is treated like a young child incapable of processing implications and subtle cues. The novel's epilogue is the most glaring example of this. Rather than multiple perspectives of events after the big ending, or a few conversations with implications and a few revelations, there is a long ass letter left by the only character competent enough to pull off the comeuppance described in it. Described in complete, excrutiating detail, explicitly telling the reader everything. No implications, no subtle revelations, no teases, nothing. Just a huge exposition.
Minor details can make or break a story. There is mention of iPhones so we know it's a contemporary setting, but when it came to the transfer of sensitive files, for example, only email was ever considered. No flash drives, no kind of encrypted external storage whatsoever. Also, I never expected to encounter what is basically a cybernuke in a legal thriller that is supposed to be serious and legitimate (when I say cybernuke, I mean the absurd kind of 'computer virus' that infects another computer and fries it completely that is seen in some fictional hacking scenes). It was emphasized how so very great and revolutionary Maurice was for making his firm cybersecurity computer-specific, but isn't that how computers fucking work? Even computers that are secured by network-based means still have the option to access the computer itself uniquely. What the fuck? Also, how in the world can a computer have two different passwords to access separate sets of content with the same username? I suppose the 'computer savant' writing a genius encryption algorithm can explain that, but can someone please explain why these fucking halfwits have guessable passwords? Any website, application or consultant responsible for data protection, that is even close to being worth its salt, will ensure that data is protected with secure passwords. Nothing that can be found in a dictionary, nothing with close enough personal ties to be guessed easily (like birthdays, anniversaries, kids' names, pets' names, FAVORITE PLACES etc), the addition of numerals and non-alphanumeric characters, letter-number substitution, and it goes on and on and on. Why in the hell does supposed embezzling and fraud mastermind who employs a 'computer savant' have a password that can be guessed from a single conversation?
This novel needed some serious editing. Not just for the many idiomatic errors (persona non grata, not persona non gratis among others), but for the plotting, characterization and general details. The events of the story were gripping enough that I read on to see it through, but there was nothing worthwhile in this novel.
I had so many problems with this. The only reason I haven't one-starred is that as much as I groaned and raged at what I was reading, I was hooked enough on the story itself that I finished it in a single evening.
The premise itself is pretty generic, but promising. Small-time lawyer tries to prove herself against a much larger corporation and do the right thing. I didn't hate Sarah, but I didn't like her very much either. I found her very naive (to the point that it was very difficult to buy into her being a capable lawyer), and most of her excellent lawyering comes from her actually brilliant and capable private investigator, complete and unbelievable stupidity, and sheer dumb luck. There were far too many plot points and discoveries that could be summed up by "I just couldn't believe my luck!" Most of the characters felt bland and completely lacking in personality beyond their role in the story. Sam is the sweet love interest who, despite being a supposedly excellent lawyer, is just sickeningly naive. All the lawyers in the story are either one of two types: the Good Guy(tm) who doesn't care about money and always wants to do the Right Thing(tm) no matter what, and the Bad Guy(tm) whose entire life revolves around money and will do eeeeevil things for it. Side note: so cringeworthy when characters such as lawyers and men who get their hands dirty, who are supposed to have been toughened by life and morally gray, actually say things like "We have to win, we are the Good Guys(tm)." Side note #2: Alexander Cabot, really? You couldn't be bothered to be a little bit more original than changing Alexandra to Alexander?
I hated Maurice. Not in the omg he is the Bad Guy(tm) therefore I want to see him get his comeuppance kind of way, but oh Jesus Christ we get it, he's the villain, WE FUCKING GET IT way. His characterization was the worst of all. We are explicitly told (more on that later) about all his eeeevil qualities just to hammer home the fact that he is despicable and we should hate him.
Ariel was the unsung hero of this story, and by far my favorite character. She should have gotten far more room to shine. She is the only one who actually furthers the investigations and her own agenda through cunning and intelligence. I absolutely despised that Sarah pigeonholed her as a 'black widow' immediately after meeting her, simply because she was beautiful and flirtatious. Oh, and also because she wasn't the Nice Girl(tm) kind of beauty; blonde, voluptuous and looking like an 'American Barbie' as opposed to dark-haired, dark-eyed, supposedly plain and normal but just so beautiful to everyone else.
Possibly the most annoying thing in the entire novel was the constant telling instead of showing. For example - Sarah and Sam have a fun, witty back-and-forth on the phone: instead of something like "She smiled, before quickly retorting..." there is "She smiled. She was really enjoying this banter of theirs." There's no need to explicitly spell it out! Show it to us. Snippets like this are littered throughout the entire story, where the reader is treated like a young child incapable of processing implications and subtle cues. The novel's epilogue is the most glaring example of this. Rather than multiple perspectives of events after the big ending, or a few conversations with implications and a few revelations, there is a long ass letter left by the only character competent enough to pull off the comeuppance described in it. Described in complete, excrutiating detail, explicitly telling the reader everything. No implications, no subtle revelations, no teases, nothing. Just a huge exposition.
Minor details can make or break a story. There is mention of iPhones so we know it's a contemporary setting, but when it came to the transfer of sensitive files, for example, only email was ever considered. No flash drives, no kind of encrypted external storage whatsoever. Also, I never expected to encounter what is basically a cybernuke in a legal thriller that is supposed to be serious and legitimate (when I say cybernuke, I mean the absurd kind of 'computer virus' that infects another computer and fries it completely that is seen in some fictional hacking scenes). It was emphasized how so very great and revolutionary Maurice was for making his firm cybersecurity computer-specific, but isn't that how computers fucking work? Even computers that are secured by network-based means still have the option to access the computer itself uniquely. What the fuck? Also, how in the world can a computer have two different passwords to access separate sets of content with the same username? I suppose the 'computer savant' writing a genius encryption algorithm can explain that, but can someone please explain why these fucking halfwits have guessable passwords? Any website, application or consultant responsible for data protection, that is even close to being worth its salt, will ensure that data is protected with secure passwords. Nothing that can be found in a dictionary, nothing with close enough personal ties to be guessed easily (like birthdays, anniversaries, kids' names, pets' names, FAVORITE PLACES etc), the addition of numerals and non-alphanumeric characters, letter-number substitution, and it goes on and on and on. Why in the hell does supposed embezzling and fraud mastermind who employs a 'computer savant' have a password that can be guessed from a single conversation?
This novel needed some serious editing. Not just for the many idiomatic errors (persona non grata, not persona non gratis among others), but for the plotting, characterization and general details. The events of the story were gripping enough that I read on to see it through, but there was nothing worthwhile in this novel.
April 18, 2017
The TimeKeepers by Jenn Bregman.
The TimeKeepers centers on a young, idealistic, naïve lawyer named Sarah Brockman. Having left Big Law in search of work that will make a difference, Sarah finds herself barely scraping by, running her own personal injury firm working for clients who can’t pay and pursuing causes she can’t win.
Then, a random horrific car crash changes everything.
Brimming with corrupt judges, dirty cops, offshore banking, massive fraud, and countless twists and turns through the highways and byways of southern California, Mexico, and the Cook Islands, The TimeKeepers follows Sarah as invisible strings pull her closer and closer to the core of a shocking conspiracy. Facing off against a cunning and deranged adversary, Sarah must navigate a kaleidoscopic landscape of characters including a sharp-witted socialite, a felon and occasional crackhead, and a shameless Mexican raconteur – all while kindling a tender romance with her boyishly handsome new love, Sam, who’s been following the same trail… but from the other end, and the wrong side of the law.
Good read with good characters. I liked the story and the characters. Little slow in places but still a good read. 4*. Netgalley and Smith publicity.
The TimeKeepers centers on a young, idealistic, naïve lawyer named Sarah Brockman. Having left Big Law in search of work that will make a difference, Sarah finds herself barely scraping by, running her own personal injury firm working for clients who can’t pay and pursuing causes she can’t win.
Then, a random horrific car crash changes everything.
Brimming with corrupt judges, dirty cops, offshore banking, massive fraud, and countless twists and turns through the highways and byways of southern California, Mexico, and the Cook Islands, The TimeKeepers follows Sarah as invisible strings pull her closer and closer to the core of a shocking conspiracy. Facing off against a cunning and deranged adversary, Sarah must navigate a kaleidoscopic landscape of characters including a sharp-witted socialite, a felon and occasional crackhead, and a shameless Mexican raconteur – all while kindling a tender romance with her boyishly handsome new love, Sam, who’s been following the same trail… but from the other end, and the wrong side of the law.
Good read with good characters. I liked the story and the characters. Little slow in places but still a good read. 4*. Netgalley and Smith publicity.
May 4, 2017
The Good:
- I really appreciated that the sex scene in this was so PG
- Every scene contributed to the story as a whole. There wasn't any fluff, which made it a decently quick read.
- Good story line. It was more thriller than mystery. You know pretty early on who the culprit is, so it's just a matter of the protagonists figuring out a way to conquer the situation. Not bad for a first book.
The Bad/Not Amazing:
- Story flow: Transitions between events could be a bit hasty and sudden, which caused confusion at times. The character POV shifted by the paragraph quite often, which was odd at the beginning. But it didn't take away from the experience once I got used to it.
- Character development: Not much of it at all, which made the characters seem shallow so I didn't really care about them. Sam seemed intelligent in some scenes and then a total airhead in others. I also was a bit nauseous over some of the interactions between Sam and Sarah ("your Royal Lusciousness"...gag me).
- Lack of detail: I usually feel like authors give way too much detail. I am all about dialogue and fast-paced stories (so many books, so little time). But I could have used more detail in this book (might have assisted with the transitions).
- Some scenes were a bit unrealistic: e.g. when Simon could supposedly see exactly what Sam was typing on Simon's computer, from behind some bins in the hall, which has to be at least 10 feet away, so the font on Simon's computer must be big enough for my grandma to see from a mile away...
- Lots of F-word. It was either the F-word or nothing. I realize that word has become normal daily speech, but I still hate it and I admire an author who can tell a story without it.
Thank you to NetGalley and Triborough Publishing for a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
- I really appreciated that the sex scene in this was so PG
- Every scene contributed to the story as a whole. There wasn't any fluff, which made it a decently quick read.
- Good story line. It was more thriller than mystery. You know pretty early on who the culprit is, so it's just a matter of the protagonists figuring out a way to conquer the situation. Not bad for a first book.
The Bad/Not Amazing:
- Story flow: Transitions between events could be a bit hasty and sudden, which caused confusion at times. The character POV shifted by the paragraph quite often, which was odd at the beginning. But it didn't take away from the experience once I got used to it.
- Character development: Not much of it at all, which made the characters seem shallow so I didn't really care about them. Sam seemed intelligent in some scenes and then a total airhead in others. I also was a bit nauseous over some of the interactions between Sam and Sarah ("your Royal Lusciousness"...gag me).
- Lack of detail: I usually feel like authors give way too much detail. I am all about dialogue and fast-paced stories (so many books, so little time). But I could have used more detail in this book (might have assisted with the transitions).
- Some scenes were a bit unrealistic: e.g. when Simon could supposedly see exactly what Sam was typing on Simon's computer, from behind some bins in the hall, which has to be at least 10 feet away, so the font on Simon's computer must be big enough for my grandma to see from a mile away...
- Lots of F-word. It was either the F-word or nothing. I realize that word has become normal daily speech, but I still hate it and I admire an author who can tell a story without it.
Thank you to NetGalley and Triborough Publishing for a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
August 1, 2017
I was immediately drawn to read this book, The TimeKeepers by Jenn Bregman, for several reasons: (1) the story is about lawyers and lawfirms (I've worked for lawyers and law firms for nearly 30 years); (2) I loved the cover; and (3) I had never heard of the author and I was curious about her since I love thrillers.
Now that I've finally read the book, I'll tell you that I am glad I followed my instinct. The TimeKeepers is very surprisingly a debut novel by Jenn Bregman, and it's a "legal thriller" you won't want to miss!
The protagonist of the story is the young and naïve attorney, Sarah Brockman, who has left a two-year career as a litigation associate in a large California firm because she wanted to do work that would "make a difference". She sets up her own practice focusing on representing plaintiffs in personal injury cases, but finds herself barely making enough money because her clients just can't pay.
Then everything in Sarah's life is shattered when there's a horrible car accident that opens the door to corrupt judges, dirty cops and attorneys, fraud, and other twists and turns that you just don't expect. Along the way, Sarah has a budding romance with a lawyer working on the wrong side of the law, Sam, who happens to be following the same trail as Sarah but for different reasons.
It's always pretty hard to write a review about a thriller of any kind without doing any kind of spoiler, so I'll try to be very tight-lipped here but I will say this: The TimeKeepers has a very riveting plot, the writing is great, the characters are well-written and fascinating, and last but not least, there's also a little bit of romance.
I received a complimentary paperback copy of this book from Triborough Publishing in exchange for this post. I was not required to post a positive review, but I chose to do so because I enjoyed the book! Thanks so much!
Now that I've finally read the book, I'll tell you that I am glad I followed my instinct. The TimeKeepers is very surprisingly a debut novel by Jenn Bregman, and it's a "legal thriller" you won't want to miss!
The protagonist of the story is the young and naïve attorney, Sarah Brockman, who has left a two-year career as a litigation associate in a large California firm because she wanted to do work that would "make a difference". She sets up her own practice focusing on representing plaintiffs in personal injury cases, but finds herself barely making enough money because her clients just can't pay.
Then everything in Sarah's life is shattered when there's a horrible car accident that opens the door to corrupt judges, dirty cops and attorneys, fraud, and other twists and turns that you just don't expect. Along the way, Sarah has a budding romance with a lawyer working on the wrong side of the law, Sam, who happens to be following the same trail as Sarah but for different reasons.
It's always pretty hard to write a review about a thriller of any kind without doing any kind of spoiler, so I'll try to be very tight-lipped here but I will say this: The TimeKeepers has a very riveting plot, the writing is great, the characters are well-written and fascinating, and last but not least, there's also a little bit of romance.
I received a complimentary paperback copy of this book from Triborough Publishing in exchange for this post. I was not required to post a positive review, but I chose to do so because I enjoyed the book! Thanks so much!
February 6, 2017
'The TimeKeepers' maintains the usual legal thriller plot. Good vs. bad, David vs. Goliath. Sarah is a likable heroine, to an extent. Her romance with Sam is a tad too convenient and distracts from the plot. It was my feeling from page one that revealing the 'villain' from the get-go was a mistake. It would have changed the entire dynamic of the novel and made it ten times better, had the reader been kept guessing for a bit.
The ending itself was good. Our author brought the epilogue to together nicely. However, I found the majority of the book to be a bit too wordy, dragging along with lulls in the action, and predictable. A word of caution for sensitive readers: there is coarse language, violence & sex throughout the novel. While the book is readable, it lacked anything majorly exciting or noteworthy. I give it 3 stars and hope the sequel surpasses this one.
The ending itself was good. Our author brought the epilogue to together nicely. However, I found the majority of the book to be a bit too wordy, dragging along with lulls in the action, and predictable. A word of caution for sensitive readers: there is coarse language, violence & sex throughout the novel. While the book is readable, it lacked anything majorly exciting or noteworthy. I give it 3 stars and hope the sequel surpasses this one.
August 2, 2017
Jean Bregman’s debut novel, The TimeKeepers, is a legal thriller built around idealistic lawyer, Sarah Brockman’s sudden descent into a dark world of greed, corruption, and murder built on insurance fraud that works both sides of the system.
After witnessing a near fatal hit and run, Sarah finds herself unable to say no when the victim’s son appeals for her help in filing a suit against the driver. It’s just the kind of personal injury case that keeps her barely able to pay her bills, but as she begins to investigate, she discovers this case is nothing like she expected. Her vicious adversary is playing for keeps and Sarah is clearly in over her head. No one can be trusted…not even, Sam, the new man in her life, who’s working the same case, but from the other side.
If you’re a Grisham fan, check this out!
After witnessing a near fatal hit and run, Sarah finds herself unable to say no when the victim’s son appeals for her help in filing a suit against the driver. It’s just the kind of personal injury case that keeps her barely able to pay her bills, but as she begins to investigate, she discovers this case is nothing like she expected. Her vicious adversary is playing for keeps and Sarah is clearly in over her head. No one can be trusted…not even, Sam, the new man in her life, who’s working the same case, but from the other side.
If you’re a Grisham fan, check this out!
November 7, 2017
Back in July I had the opportunity to interview Jenn Bregman (click here to read that post.) I am so happy I was finally able to read her book and review it for you here. It is difficult to interview and author before you've had a chance to read the book, but her answers intrigued me and I was excited to get started on this one. After reading it, I can't believe I waited this long. It was a page-turner until the very end!
For more on this book, visit: https://www.hastybooklist.com/home/th...
For more on this book, visit: https://www.hastybooklist.com/home/th...
April 8, 2023
I found this to be a decent first novel with plenty of action and some twists added to the mix. You can tell that the author understands the world of lawyers as it shows in the writing.
While there is a dash of romance added to the story, the scenes are not super steamy and off-putting. (Seriously, if I am reading something considered a "crime thriller", then I don't want a bunch of adult content added to the mix.)
While there is a dash of romance added to the story, the scenes are not super steamy and off-putting. (Seriously, if I am reading something considered a "crime thriller", then I don't want a bunch of adult content added to the mix.)
April 23, 2024
I was asked by NetGalley to reviw this book
This was a good novel, with action, twists and turns. The author has a legal background as they clearly understand lawyers and legal matters.
Recommended read.
This was a good novel, with action, twists and turns. The author has a legal background as they clearly understand lawyers and legal matters.
Recommended read.
October 8, 2018
This was a very interesting story with some twists and turns. The constant “love story” running through the story was sweet.
March 2, 2017
Wonderful book! I love it when a book combines a riveting plot, with great writing, fascinating characters, a bit of romance and leaves me wanting more!The TimeKeepersJenn Bregman
February 19, 2017
Little law firm vs. big law firm. The male characters personalities and thoughts were very feminine for me. And the villain, while it he was supposed to be scary came off as mediocre. Sam and Sara's relationship was convenient and there were a lot of coincidences that pulled in their favor. I would have much rather read Ariel Strickland point of view about how she set Maurice up.
February 21, 2017
A delicately woven love story with strong character development. The story draws you into the world of crime within the legal system with many twists and turns in the plot, intriguing right to the end with a surprise finale. Cant wait for the next gem!
February 4, 2017
Such a wonderful story of love, greed, life, and the shady dealings of a law firm. Excellent characters, who you will love an loathe. I was hooked from the first few pages. Well written, with some great twists and turns.
July 8, 2021
This is a perfectly good book, but the only reason I didn't give it the fifth star is that there was nothing particularly 'special' about this book. If you like thrillers with a bit of romance, some twists and turns in the story and would like a book based on a female lawyer, then this is the book for you.
I received a review copy and was happy to read to the end. I did find the title of the book a bit strange and really wasn't sure why it was called that.
I received a review copy and was happy to read to the end. I did find the title of the book a bit strange and really wasn't sure why it was called that.
December 2, 2017
This book is an awesome read for people like who like John Grisham novels. It keeps you on your toes as you follow the legal journey of a young lawyer trying to find justice in a corrupt world. Anyone who likes legal thrillers will surely enjoy this book!
April 28, 2017
Great characters. Some great twists and turns. I won this book through Goodreads.
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