ZACH GRAHAM
This Is for Jazz is a fast-moving revenge thriller where Connor and Jazz take justice into their own hands after the town’s power system makes it clear the truth will never matter. The story is intense and emotionally charged, with scenes that keep raising the stakes and pushing things forward. The tone stays dark and serious, and the pressure never really lets up, which gives the book a strong sense of momentum. The writing can be heavy at times, and the narration sometimes explains more than it needs to, but the drive behind the story, the anger, the urgency, and the need to keep going stays strong. Readers who enjoy dark thrillers will likely find it hard to put down.
The Goods
– The story is intense and keeps your attention
– There are big surprises and twists
– The stakes feel serious and dangerous
– Connor and Jazz’s relationship feels important to the story
– Some scenes feel like a movie in your head
The Bads
– Some parts are too wordy and could be shorter
– The scenes can feel jumpy and a little confusing
– Some dialogue doesn’t sound realistic or goes on too long
– Too much “telling” instead of “showing,” especially with emotions and explanations
– The author sometimes over-explains obvious things (like stating who reacted when it’s already clear, or re-clarifying details the reader already knows), which breaks the flow and slows the pace
For readers who like dark revenge thrillers, I’d recommend This Is for Jazz. It has high stakes, has an emotional rollercoaster, and is really intense. The story has a fast buildup of tension, has great cinematic descriptions, and keeps Jazz and Connor’s relationship at the forefront, which gives the story a lot of depth. It also has a strong theme about the rage that comes from the feeling of being ignored and the broken system surrounding the characters. It’s too wordy in many areas and would benefit from tighter editing, still, the story keeps you engaged. The killing scenes are very graphic, and while there is a bit of romance, the book is an intense dark revenge (vigilante) thriller. The descriptions are a bit much at times and do be warned, they can be quite difficult to read.
Every book hits differently for every reader.
Thanks for reading my review.
– Corey
