A fast-paced adventure that will keep you guessing

4.5/5 Stars

A fast-paced adventure that will keep you guessing and leave you wanting more. The Crimes of Rooker Flynn by A.R. Witham is book one of the Locke Institute trilogy where spirits are crushed, giant spiders roam and a rebellious pirate breaks all the rules.

The Locke Institute is home to the criminals of Keymark, where three rules must be obeyed; Obey your betters, Gather at sunrise and be inside by sundown. Run by a headmistress that could rival Delores Umbridge, Rooker Flynn finds himself a student at this institute. With the help of a familiar face, student and kid genius, they work together plotting their escape from the headmistress or die trying.

A.R. Witham’s debut, The Legend of Black Jack quickly captured my heart through wonder, magic and a daring adventure. Now, he’s back with a new trilogy following a beloved character from his debut, Rooker Flynn. The beauty of this trilogy is that you don’t need to read The Legend of Black Jack in order to enjoy it. That being said, there are some references that will make more sense having read The Legend of Black Jack first. Ultimately, the choice is yours on where you begin in the world of Keymark.

Now, onto the review!

First and foremost, there's magic in A.R. Witham’s storytelling and The Crimes of Rooker Flynn is no exception. Between the developments, pacing, themes and the characters ability to jump off the page, there's an evident passion and skill woven in. There’s also a tonal difference compared with The Legend of Black Jack as The Crimes of Rooker Flynn takes on a darker and more serious tone. With this being a portal fantasy there are plenty of familiar elements to the genre, but it also blends elements from horror and thriller.

The story itself follows multiple POVs, giving readers a previously unseen perspective into the world of Keymark through the loveable rogue Rook Flynn. Now, Rooker’s story is all at once heartbreaking, endearing and maddening. As his past continues to influence his choices and relationships, it also impacts the overarching plot with intrigue and a psychological exploration I wasn’t anticipating. We really get to see what makes Rooker tick from the good to the ugly.

This is also true for the other main POV, as we get to see the psychological impacts the Locke Institute has on its students. Subsequently, it delves into the hardships these criminals face at the hands of their so-called betters.

A key combination that makes this story flow with ease is the pacing, suspense, character arcs and unknowns. All these aspects work together seamlessly and kept me wanting to read “just one more chapter”.

I was also impressed with how the story delves into heavier themes without leaving the reader feeling emotionally drained. For example, it explores themes of imprisonment, trauma, survival, manipulation and desperation while balancing it with action, scheming, hope, suspense, intrigue and a captivating cast of characters. From the charming crooks to the loathful headmistress, I couldn’t help but be invested in the characters and what awaits them.

In this magical world of Keymark you’ll also find a variety of creatures from anthropomorphic beings, giant venomous spiders, dwarves, trolls and magic wielding bounty hunters.

I also listened to the audiobook while immersion reading and the author who also narrates his books brought his characters and story to life.

A.R. Witham never fails to deliver a binge worthy read with plenty of heart. I am fully invested in what comes next, especially after that ending and can’t recommend it enough.

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