One Bad Apple by Blake Valentine
Book 1 in the Trent Rivera series
Narrated by Lee Beddow
Genre: military veteran thriller / crime fiction
Format: ebook & audiobook
Book 1 in the Trent Rivera series
Narrated by Lee Beddow
Genre: military veteran thriller / crime fiction
Format: ebook & audiobook
About One Bad Apple:
Trent Rivera is an ex-soldier torn between dropping out of society and trying to atone for his past sins. His home: a dilapidated campervan. His companions: Rosie (a tabby cat), and the ghosts of his past.
When he arrives in the picture-perfect seaside town of Saltmarsh Cove, he’s intent on avoiding people.
But Trent Rivera doesn’t go looking for trouble. It finds him…
A journalist has disappeared. A violent biker gang is operating with impunity. And, everywhere he looks, it seems darker forces are at play. Soon, Rivera finds himself embroiled in battling a brutal organisation whose reach stretches far and wide.
There are many of them, and only one of him.
Will he be enough?
Source: Info in the "About One Bad Apple" was taken from amazon on 10/06/2025.
Buy Link(s):
My Thoughts:
The theme of this book is not new. It has been around the block a few times already. Like Lee Child's Jack Reacher which started with the Killing Floor. John Corwin's Amos Carver series which started with Dead Before Dawn. Robert Enright's Sam Pope series which started with The Night Shift. Nathan Burrows's Preacher series which started with The Preacher. Cameron Curtis' Breed Thriller which started with Danger Close. All ex-military. All hard-ass. All vigilante justice.
Or maybe I am just reading too many military veteran thriller/crime fiction.
The thing I like about Lee Child's Killing Floor is that he explains things and so it makes sense to the reader. It does not matter whether it's true or not, just so long as it sounds plausible to the reader. Like for example, Lee explained away the head-butting action. I do not know if it is true that head-butting someone is easier than it looks, or not. But the way Lee explained it sounded plausible to me. And that kind of writing hooked me up to the Jack Reacher series. I know that Safia has lots of tentacles and people working for her. So, it could be that it is one of these many tentacles who told her about Rivera being in Saltmarsh Cove. However, it was not stated in the story as to who. It probably wasn't Hakeem because in chapter 44, the narrative said that "the two men's appearance matched the descriptions he'd been given exactly". The two men being Spice and Grizzly, because Hakeem's specific instructions were to take out these two. And then the text message from Safia to take out Rivera too, came. So, where did Safia got the information that Rivera is in Saltmarsh Cove?
I really do not like this kind of holes in the story. So, even though I like the story telling quality, I am not sure about following this series or this author...
This is not my first Lee Beddow audiobook and I do not like his slight singsong kind of reading. However, once you get immersed into the story the singsong disappears from your ears. So, it is not too bad.
Quantitative Evaluation:
Story telling quality = 4
Character development = 4
Story itself = 4
Writing Style = 3.5
Ending = 4
World building = 4.5
Cover art = 4
Pace = (8 hrs and 23 mins listening time)
Plot = 3.5
Narration = 4.5
Character development = 4
Story itself = 4
Writing Style = 3.5
Ending = 4
World building = 4.5
Cover art = 4
Pace = (8 hrs and 23 mins listening time)
Plot = 3.5
Narration = 4.5
Books In The Trent Rivera Series:
Meet The Author
About Blake Valentine:
Blake Valentine is the author of the TRENT RIVERA MYSTERY SERIES. Prior to becoming a writer, he worked in the music industry as both performer and producer before moving into various roles in education. He has lived in Osaka, Japan and San Diego, California, and now resides on the south coast of England with his wife, 2 children, and a cat.
The Narrator
About Lee Beddow:
Lee Beddow has been in and around audio recording for nearly forty years. He started with his own studio, AbbeySound, a music recording facility that he set up when he was eighteen. The studio is situated in a former convent, and AbbeySound currently resides in what was once the nun's dormitories!
For many years, teaching was Lee's regular work, but he continued to do voice-over work. Now, he has decided to make his voice and production skills his focus. Lee can narrate scripts, audiobooks, master the audio with correct levels, chapter marks and spacing, as well as produce bespoke music for authors that want that extra touch in their productions. He has narrated a wide variety of audiobooks, with many series utilizing his ability to mimic lots of both British and world accents, with work ranging from mysteries and sci-fi to comedy and all-action thrillers, plus children's, romance, and instructional titles.
Lee is married to Jackie with two children, James and Holly, and an American Cocker Spaniel called Reuben.
FTC Disclosure:
The ebook and audiobook were purchased with private funds.
No money received for this review.
The ebook and audiobook were purchased with private funds.
No money received for this review.
