What do you think?
The Dolphin
Former child prodigy and aspiring psychologist Sean Jordan moves to New Orleans, putting his past behind him, until a conservative radio station in a bid for higher ratings outs him as a dangerous sex offender. When the thirteen-year-old daughter of the station’s nationally celebrated talk show host disappears, police scramble to take down Jordan, unaware that he too is a victim of the kidnapper, terrorizing the city on the eve of Mardi Gras. Jordan has a chance to save the girl but only if he meets the kidnapper’s demands. Refusing could cost him his life.
Agreeing could cost him his soul.
Agreeing could cost him his soul.
- GenresThriller
330 pages, Paperback
First published April 1, 2016
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
January 16, 2016
The story opens with a bang as we meet young Sean Jordan. All is well until tragedy occurs.
Fast forward, Sean and his best friend Doug are out having a few beers celebrating. Sometimes being festive has consequences as Doug's fallout from his Mardi Gras reveling shows.
New Orleans, America's original sin city. Cashing in on the decadence makes Mardi Gras a cash cow. When events threaten the safety of tourists just before the Big Easy gets easier, ranks close. They need a scapegoat and they need one, now.
The story has an underlying discussion of the controversial topic of sex offenders. In many ways overusing the term bullying makes it ineffectual so does the blanket use of the term sex offender combined with the sex offender registry sets up problems. Some of the instances highlighted in this book would make a person want to eat their gun.
Doug is a sex offender for public indecency charges during Mardi Gras.
Sean is a sex offender at eighteen for.... you'll have to read to find out for yourself.
There's new kid in town, and he's started a new game.
Talk radio, the abyss of humanity stirring the sh*t pot. I'm not a fan of entertainment journalism, frankly it's hard to find anything that approaches real journalism today in the media circus world of "We shovel until you push back from the table and still keep shoveling". In the more must be better mindset, LaGrange takes veteran talk radio Breneaux's conservative rhetoric one notch higher--Let's say the consequences are lethal.
Needless to say, when one tries to wag the dog and it bites, zero sympathy.
The city's ablaze with a rising body count and explosions. Mardi Gras around the corner and the city brass needs the situation dealt with, yesterday. Pressure. So many people under it, and cracks appear.
The pace steadily grows. Tension tightening with each chapter. Relentless and hunted. The last hundred pages had me glued to the book. I could easily see this as a movie, though the frank discussion and approach to sexuality defies mainstream studios and main street readers. This book highlights the importance of having a discussion about sex rather than relegating it to spectacle, and separating natural from psychopathy.
Overall, a nightmare thriller with a political agenda.
~~Copy provided by Netgalley~~
Fast forward, Sean and his best friend Doug are out having a few beers celebrating. Sometimes being festive has consequences as Doug's fallout from his Mardi Gras reveling shows.
New Orleans, America's original sin city. Cashing in on the decadence makes Mardi Gras a cash cow. When events threaten the safety of tourists just before the Big Easy gets easier, ranks close. They need a scapegoat and they need one, now.
The story has an underlying discussion of the controversial topic of sex offenders. In many ways overusing the term bullying makes it ineffectual so does the blanket use of the term sex offender combined with the sex offender registry sets up problems. Some of the instances highlighted in this book would make a person want to eat their gun.
Doug is a sex offender for public indecency charges during Mardi Gras.
Sean is a sex offender at eighteen for.... you'll have to read to find out for yourself.
There's new kid in town, and he's started a new game.
Talk radio, the abyss of humanity stirring the sh*t pot. I'm not a fan of entertainment journalism, frankly it's hard to find anything that approaches real journalism today in the media circus world of "We shovel until you push back from the table and still keep shoveling". In the more must be better mindset, LaGrange takes veteran talk radio Breneaux's conservative rhetoric one notch higher--Let's say the consequences are lethal.
Needless to say, when one tries to wag the dog and it bites, zero sympathy.
The city's ablaze with a rising body count and explosions. Mardi Gras around the corner and the city brass needs the situation dealt with, yesterday. Pressure. So many people under it, and cracks appear.
The pace steadily grows. Tension tightening with each chapter. Relentless and hunted. The last hundred pages had me glued to the book. I could easily see this as a movie, though the frank discussion and approach to sexuality defies mainstream studios and main street readers. This book highlights the importance of having a discussion about sex rather than relegating it to spectacle, and separating natural from psychopathy.
Overall, a nightmare thriller with a political agenda.
"Entertainment ends where vigilantism begins."
~~Copy provided by Netgalley~~
February 5, 2016
Sometimes, when trying to keep the sharks in one place, there may be a dolphin or two who are caught in the net.
Sean Jordan is one such man. Branded a sex offender at the age of 15, his life has been nothing but chaos. Now married with a young daughter of his own, he still carries the feeling of guilt and fear.
Now living in New Orleans, he is outed by a well-known radio personality. Sean is assaulted by the police, his best friend is murdered, and his wife is leaving him.
When the radio personality's 13-year-old daughter is abducted, all eyes are on him. And he does the only thing he knows to do ... and that is to run.
Bit by bit the reader learns what really happened to him as a young boy .... why he feels guilt. But is he really a sex offender? He is scared that he is, although he's never touched a child in a sexual way. So is Sean the shark ... or the dolphin?
This book brought back something that happened to me when my children were young. I opened my door one day to find a policeman standing on my porch. In his hand was a flyer with a young man's picture on it. He handed it to me, recited some code, then said this was my notification that a sex offender would be living in my neighborhood.
I hadn't thought of this since then, but now I wonder .... is he still a registered sex offender? How has it affected his life?
This is an extremely well-written book. The author is a psychologist himself, father to 5 sons. He brings a lot of reality to his first book of fiction. He has placed his characters against the backdrop of the Mardi Gras. The reader can hear the sounds, the yelling, see the beads, the costumes, the masks as the tension rises until it explodes. It left me reeling.
Many thanks to the author / Storyville Press, New Orleans / NetGalley who furnished a digital copy in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.
January 21, 2016
4.5 Stars
I'm a huge, huge fan of thrillers and The Dolphin did not disappoint! Sean Jordan is a registered sex offender just trying to move forward from his pretty tragic past. He's living in New Orleans with his wife and daughter, teaching and aspiring to be a psychologist. All that changes when a explosion pops off in the city and a 7 year old girl is found murdered. With the latest headlines a conservative radio station decides outing sex offenders is just the way to up rating! Not only does Sean have cops breathing down his neck, he's constantly looking over his shoulder after being outed. Things only get worse, sex offenders are being attacked and the famous radio announcer's 13 year old daughter has been kidnapped. Sean is the number one suspect and little does he know that there is a psychopath loose in New Orleans and one of his main concerns is getting rid of Sean, any way he can. The Dolphin was very well written and had me questioning things I thought I knew. It had my complete attention from page one and I didn't look up til I reached the very last page. The author did an amazing job of taking the controversial topic of sex offenders and writing a story that was gripping and informative that I would highly recommend to anyone that loves a good thriller!
(Big Thanks to NetGalley & the author for my copy in exchange for a honest review.)
I'm a huge, huge fan of thrillers and The Dolphin did not disappoint! Sean Jordan is a registered sex offender just trying to move forward from his pretty tragic past. He's living in New Orleans with his wife and daughter, teaching and aspiring to be a psychologist. All that changes when a explosion pops off in the city and a 7 year old girl is found murdered. With the latest headlines a conservative radio station decides outing sex offenders is just the way to up rating! Not only does Sean have cops breathing down his neck, he's constantly looking over his shoulder after being outed. Things only get worse, sex offenders are being attacked and the famous radio announcer's 13 year old daughter has been kidnapped. Sean is the number one suspect and little does he know that there is a psychopath loose in New Orleans and one of his main concerns is getting rid of Sean, any way he can. The Dolphin was very well written and had me questioning things I thought I knew. It had my complete attention from page one and I didn't look up til I reached the very last page. The author did an amazing job of taking the controversial topic of sex offenders and writing a story that was gripping and informative that I would highly recommend to anyone that loves a good thriller!
(Big Thanks to NetGalley & the author for my copy in exchange for a honest review.)
January 14, 2016
I didn't know what a dolphin was, but now I understand. I do agree that there needs to a different system on the rating of these sexual offense crimes. A lot of people are being unfairly punished because of the way it works now.
Now to the book. A sex offender who goes on the radio to out worse sex offenders than him? This guy is SICK! And I don't mean it in a good way. This book started off a little slow showing me a few of the pieces of the puzzle. However, when it started to show what those pieces meant and how they came together, I could not stop reading. I seriously could not put it down. I just had to know the meaning of these pieces and find the missing parts.
This was a very well written book and I loved the locale! The characters were very believable and I really felt for the main dolphin. He'd had a hard life with a lot of inner demons, but he was just as normal as the rest of us. Of course, that's not saying a whole lot. Ha!!!
A huge thanks to Storyville Press for approving my request to read this entertaining and intriguing story and to Net Galley for providing me with a free e-galley in exchange for an honest review.
Now to the book. A sex offender who goes on the radio to out worse sex offenders than him? This guy is SICK! And I don't mean it in a good way. This book started off a little slow showing me a few of the pieces of the puzzle. However, when it started to show what those pieces meant and how they came together, I could not stop reading. I seriously could not put it down. I just had to know the meaning of these pieces and find the missing parts.
This was a very well written book and I loved the locale! The characters were very believable and I really felt for the main dolphin. He'd had a hard life with a lot of inner demons, but he was just as normal as the rest of us. Of course, that's not saying a whole lot. Ha!!!
A huge thanks to Storyville Press for approving my request to read this entertaining and intriguing story and to Net Galley for providing me with a free e-galley in exchange for an honest review.
March 1, 2016
At the age of eleven, Sean Andrew Jordan delivered newspapers. He was the Go To person at school from the fourth grade on. He would leave the house early, while his parents still slept, to deliver his papers. One day after he completed his route, he was nearing his home when he saw a crowd and police. His home with his parents inside was smoldering. Through the heartache he had to endure. He went on to graduate first in his class from Darnell College and he was the first to graduate in just two and a half years. He then enrolled in the midwest School of Psychology. He met and married a woman named Laurie. Soon after, his life took a drastic turn. THANK YOU GOODREADS FIRSTREADS FOR THIS FREE BOOK!!!!
February 17, 2016
I won this ARC in a Goodreads Giveaway. This book reads like a fast paced movie! If you enjoy psychological thrillers like "Gone Girl","Girl on a Train", or "Second Life", you will be sure to enjoy this debut novel by Craig Bennett Hallenstein!
The title of this book may be misleading and I could not find a definition other than that of the mammal, so this line by Dupree sums it up:
"When the law goes fishing for sharks, it casts a wide net. Sometimes it catches a dolphin. Not supposed to. Just happens. Unfortunately after they're caught, most dolphins die in the net".
Sean, the main character, is the 'dolphin' here, involved with 15 year old at age 18, which has haunted him ever since and cast dark shadows hovering in front of his future, even questioning his own sanity. Most characters in this book have been involved with one side or the other of sexual abuse - Sean, Doug, Henry, Le Grande, Harper, Hurt, Charmaine, Mattie etc. The difference lies in the extremes of the abuse and questions the relevance of treating minor infractions on the same scale as the most extreme (LeGrande). The author also provides food for though about the consequences of "Outing" sex offenders, maintaining a Sex Offender Registry and whether we should indeed treat different kinds of sexual abuse differently - and if so, where does one draw the line? While most of us would agree that all sex offenders need to be punished - this novel brings to light the fact that are those who are judged harsher for relatively minor misdeeds than those who rape and kill - is it fair? There are certainly some loopholes the system (or 'net' if you'd rather).
Hallenstein's psychology background clearly enhances the novel and anticipates the next scenario in a way that you will not want to put this book down!
The title of this book may be misleading and I could not find a definition other than that of the mammal, so this line by Dupree sums it up:
"When the law goes fishing for sharks, it casts a wide net. Sometimes it catches a dolphin. Not supposed to. Just happens. Unfortunately after they're caught, most dolphins die in the net".
Sean, the main character, is the 'dolphin' here, involved with 15 year old at age 18, which has haunted him ever since and cast dark shadows hovering in front of his future, even questioning his own sanity. Most characters in this book have been involved with one side or the other of sexual abuse - Sean, Doug, Henry, Le Grande, Harper, Hurt, Charmaine, Mattie etc. The difference lies in the extremes of the abuse and questions the relevance of treating minor infractions on the same scale as the most extreme (LeGrande). The author also provides food for though about the consequences of "Outing" sex offenders, maintaining a Sex Offender Registry and whether we should indeed treat different kinds of sexual abuse differently - and if so, where does one draw the line? While most of us would agree that all sex offenders need to be punished - this novel brings to light the fact that are those who are judged harsher for relatively minor misdeeds than those who rape and kill - is it fair? There are certainly some loopholes the system (or 'net' if you'd rather).
Hallenstein's psychology background clearly enhances the novel and anticipates the next scenario in a way that you will not want to put this book down!
April 1, 2016
The Dolphin
Craig Bennett Hallenstein
This is one of those books that gets in your head and won't leave.
The characters are extremely well done. You will feel what Sean feels and understand how badly the justice system has failed him. Detective Lt. Owen Dupree believes in one persons guilt even though he can't prove it. Del LaGrand has his own inner demons and strikes out at the defenseless.
This is a fast paced thriller loaded with current social issues and laws that need to be reassessed. Multiple plot lines all come together, with an explosive climax, at the madness of "Mardi Gras" in New Orleans. A thriller that won't quit till the last page. I really really loved this book.
This would make a fantastic movie.
Craig Bennett Hallenstein
This is one of those books that gets in your head and won't leave.
The characters are extremely well done. You will feel what Sean feels and understand how badly the justice system has failed him. Detective Lt. Owen Dupree believes in one persons guilt even though he can't prove it. Del LaGrand has his own inner demons and strikes out at the defenseless.
This is a fast paced thriller loaded with current social issues and laws that need to be reassessed. Multiple plot lines all come together, with an explosive climax, at the madness of "Mardi Gras" in New Orleans. A thriller that won't quit till the last page. I really really loved this book.
This would make a fantastic movie.
August 29, 2021
Thanks to NetGalley for a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
After a fairly mild incident as a teenager, Sean is now registered as a sexual offender, with lots of negative repercussions. Although he's married and has a daughter and is trying to follow the rules and live a normal life, he's always at the mercy of the system. The subject matter was fascinating, with a look into the strict and often confusing laws surrounding sexual offenders and those who get caught up in the system. The term "dolphin" was explained and made a lot of sense, so the title was apt. Of course, this is an explosive subject for many, so at times the read was violent and uncomfortable. That meant that I had to put the book down from time to time so I could take a break, and sometimes it was difficult to pick it up again, not a good thing. In addition, it sometimes felt that the author went a little overboard with all the bad things that happened to Sean, creating some over-the-top drama. A little less might have been better and just as effective in telling the story. Plenty of exciting and dangerous moments, set amidst the crazy setting of Mardi Gras in New Orleans. Overall, a good read, even if out of my usual comfort zone. I'd rate this 3.5 stars, if I could.
After a fairly mild incident as a teenager, Sean is now registered as a sexual offender, with lots of negative repercussions. Although he's married and has a daughter and is trying to follow the rules and live a normal life, he's always at the mercy of the system. The subject matter was fascinating, with a look into the strict and often confusing laws surrounding sexual offenders and those who get caught up in the system. The term "dolphin" was explained and made a lot of sense, so the title was apt. Of course, this is an explosive subject for many, so at times the read was violent and uncomfortable. That meant that I had to put the book down from time to time so I could take a break, and sometimes it was difficult to pick it up again, not a good thing. In addition, it sometimes felt that the author went a little overboard with all the bad things that happened to Sean, creating some over-the-top drama. A little less might have been better and just as effective in telling the story. Plenty of exciting and dangerous moments, set amidst the crazy setting of Mardi Gras in New Orleans. Overall, a good read, even if out of my usual comfort zone. I'd rate this 3.5 stars, if I could.
February 2, 2020
Thank you for allowing me to review this book for publication in exchange for an honest review. I must tell you this book will make you think. It will follow you and you will not think the same when you are finished. It is very well written with twits and turns you won't expect. I hated it for how real it must be. Sean Jordan a convicted sex offender is shaped by the early death of his parents and grand parent Vince, a mentor to him, by the thought his parents death was his fault. Again a usual teenage encounter leave him branded for life. Trying to live with it all and be a good husband and father providing as best as possible is working until evil comes to town. Persecution of all sex offenders ensues and as one horrible event follows another Sean searches a way to save a teenage girl and then himself from the horrible events. Events that could kill not only him but his you daughter and a bright spirited teen. I promise you won't forget this book and how Dolphins are victims.
March 12, 2017
DOLPHIN...New Orleans thriller. GREAT book!
DOLPHIN brought me right back to Mardi Gras in New Orleans, with all of its sights and sounds and music and fun, AND had a great plot, keeping me reading obsessively for days!! Loved this book!!
DOLPHIN brought me right back to Mardi Gras in New Orleans, with all of its sights and sounds and music and fun, AND had a great plot, keeping me reading obsessively for days!! Loved this book!!
February 15, 2016
Things that were good:
Seth: He’s the main character, by the way. In the first chapter or so, when he’s still 8-10 is, he comes across as unbelievably skilled in psychology, and it does kind of stretch my suspension of disbelief. However, I’ll ignore perfect traits, if the universe isn’t always in the character’s favour, and in this case, despite his magic psychology skills, the universe insists upon shitting all over his life, and that’s a good thing. Plus, when faced with these hardships, he doesn’t act perfectly. He’s deeply in denial, angry, and irrational, and that’s fantastic. As bad as it sounds, I didn’t want to like him in the beginning, because I figured he was basically going to be the Dan Brown protagonist, who is 100% perfect at all times. But I couldn’t, because despite the unbelievable nature of his abilities, his reactions strike true to me, and that’s good enough.
The Idea: For me, an important part of a book is its message. That doesn’t mean it has to have a message, but I’m willing to cut a mediocre book some slack if it’s trying to make an impact. And this topic, which is about paedophilia, could have been botched so spectacularly that I’m absolutely willing to give it props. The book doesn’t try to justify adults sexually abusing children. But it does say that mistakes are made by the justice system, and that people shouldn’t be punished by a mistake for the rest of their lives. It’s a fine line to walk, and its success is kind of open to interpretation. However, regardless of its execution, it’s a pretty brave move to make, and it’s also not done too badly in my opinion.
Some scenes: Not much to say here, really. As a whole, the story kind of lacks emotional impact. But then there are some scenes that are just fantastically powerful. Hit-you-in-the-gut kind of things.
Things that weren’t so good:
Characterization: The characterization really doesn’t work as a whole. It’s not even really a hit or a miss kind of deal; even the characters I like, I don’t like all the way. The characters (hell, even the whole story) just really lack subtlety. Good or Evil, or maybe mildly questionable, but that’s about it.
The Villain: The author is apparently a psychologist, so I for all I know, this is really how people act. And I can believe that maybe someone does. But as someone who should have some knowledge of human mental conditions, why would you choose the most-cliché, the most overdone villain in history? It’s insane how insane the character is. You know how you have those villains in movies, where you can tell the actor is just having the time of their life overacting the hell out of everything? It’s worse than Eddie Redmayne in Jupiter Ascending. It’s hilarious, and terrible.
The Plot: It bores me. I have seen this before. Anyone who’s ever read a mystery novel has seen this before, and probably done better too. The characters’ motivations are all spelled out in the narrative, so the only thing holding the mystery in place is the author withholding information. There’s always something to be said for execution, but the execution here wasn’t good enough to justify a murder mystery without mystery.
Overall?
Not too bad, but it’s basically an airplane novel with a message. Which is better than an airplane novel without a message, of course.
There are plenty of better books, but I think an interesting and challenging message makes it a worthwhile read.
–charien
For more reviews like this one (and some not like this one), check out our blog at: almostelysian.wordpress.com
Seth: He’s the main character, by the way. In the first chapter or so, when he’s still 8-10 is, he comes across as unbelievably skilled in psychology, and it does kind of stretch my suspension of disbelief. However, I’ll ignore perfect traits, if the universe isn’t always in the character’s favour, and in this case, despite his magic psychology skills, the universe insists upon shitting all over his life, and that’s a good thing. Plus, when faced with these hardships, he doesn’t act perfectly. He’s deeply in denial, angry, and irrational, and that’s fantastic. As bad as it sounds, I didn’t want to like him in the beginning, because I figured he was basically going to be the Dan Brown protagonist, who is 100% perfect at all times. But I couldn’t, because despite the unbelievable nature of his abilities, his reactions strike true to me, and that’s good enough.
The Idea: For me, an important part of a book is its message. That doesn’t mean it has to have a message, but I’m willing to cut a mediocre book some slack if it’s trying to make an impact. And this topic, which is about paedophilia, could have been botched so spectacularly that I’m absolutely willing to give it props. The book doesn’t try to justify adults sexually abusing children. But it does say that mistakes are made by the justice system, and that people shouldn’t be punished by a mistake for the rest of their lives. It’s a fine line to walk, and its success is kind of open to interpretation. However, regardless of its execution, it’s a pretty brave move to make, and it’s also not done too badly in my opinion.
Some scenes: Not much to say here, really. As a whole, the story kind of lacks emotional impact. But then there are some scenes that are just fantastically powerful. Hit-you-in-the-gut kind of things.
Things that weren’t so good:
Characterization: The characterization really doesn’t work as a whole. It’s not even really a hit or a miss kind of deal; even the characters I like, I don’t like all the way. The characters (hell, even the whole story) just really lack subtlety. Good or Evil, or maybe mildly questionable, but that’s about it.
The Villain: The author is apparently a psychologist, so I for all I know, this is really how people act. And I can believe that maybe someone does. But as someone who should have some knowledge of human mental conditions, why would you choose the most-cliché, the most overdone villain in history? It’s insane how insane the character is. You know how you have those villains in movies, where you can tell the actor is just having the time of their life overacting the hell out of everything? It’s worse than Eddie Redmayne in Jupiter Ascending. It’s hilarious, and terrible.
The Plot: It bores me. I have seen this before. Anyone who’s ever read a mystery novel has seen this before, and probably done better too. The characters’ motivations are all spelled out in the narrative, so the only thing holding the mystery in place is the author withholding information. There’s always something to be said for execution, but the execution here wasn’t good enough to justify a murder mystery without mystery.
Overall?
Not too bad, but it’s basically an airplane novel with a message. Which is better than an airplane novel without a message, of course.
There are plenty of better books, but I think an interesting and challenging message makes it a worthwhile read.
–charien
For more reviews like this one (and some not like this one), check out our blog at: almostelysian.wordpress.com
April 1, 2016
I received this book via NetGalley to give an honest review.
I don't even know how to write this review. I felt for Sean and everything he was being put through. As a young child he has always been able to help people with their problems when tragedy hits his life early it almost starts a train of events in his life.
Fast forward to the present Sean is a register sex offender who was almost done with being registered when something occurred and he was given another 10 ten years. His marriage is already on the rocks because of it so when a radio host comes into town outing sex offenders his life gets turned upside down even more. With that going on there has been a young girl murdered and an explosion that has happened within New Orleans this brings trouble down on Sean but what exactly is he hiding? I really liked how we got bits and pieces of Sean's life growing up and when we got to how his uncle treated Sean I really felt for him on that. Because what happened when he was 18 has haunted him ever since and has him questioning himself on a daily basis of is he truly a sex offender. Is he a dolphin caught in the net full of sharks or is he shark caught in the net with dolphins?
It is up to Lt. Dupree to figured out who is behind it all but he seems to uncover a lot and he is on a time limit. Mardi Gras is right behind the corner and he knows something big is planned.
I never even heard of the word Dolphin being used before except to name an animal. So for me this was a new term being used but I understand it now.
Everything comes together at the end and the true murderer comes to light but will it be too late for Sean, those close to him and the young girl who has been kidnapped?
The one Lt. Dupree is hunting for is connected to Sean but will Dupree find it in time? Heck will even Sean figure it out is the question as well.
To me the plot line was steady, the characters were well developed and you either liked them or hated them. I liked this author's writing style and hope he writes more. I have to say the cover is beautiful and dark and I probably won't look at another pinwheel again without thinking of this book.
January 28, 2016
A Dolphin: An innocent person caught in the net of sex offender registration. “When the law goes fishing for sharks, it casts a wide net. Sometimes it catches a dolphin. Not supposed to. Just happens. Unfortunately, after they’re caught, most dolphins die in the net”.
Is Sean Jordan a dolphin?
Sean constantly battles the demons of his past, connecting to his dead grandfather to justify his thoughts and fears. In doing so, he remains reasonably well balanced and is able to cope with his life. That is until a radio station, in an attempt to push for higher ratings, outs him as a registered sex offender....
It took me a while to get into this book and at one point, I nearly gave up. However, I persevered with it and I’m glad I did. Slowly, the story builds and pulls you in. This book isn’t your usual run-of-the-mill mystery/thriller. It’s very dark and thought-provoking and its controversial core topic certainly makes for an interesting read.
Many thanks to Netgalley, the publisher and the author for this ARC in exchange for an honest review. I wish the author every success with this debut psychological thriller.
Is Sean Jordan a dolphin?
Sean constantly battles the demons of his past, connecting to his dead grandfather to justify his thoughts and fears. In doing so, he remains reasonably well balanced and is able to cope with his life. That is until a radio station, in an attempt to push for higher ratings, outs him as a registered sex offender....
It took me a while to get into this book and at one point, I nearly gave up. However, I persevered with it and I’m glad I did. Slowly, the story builds and pulls you in. This book isn’t your usual run-of-the-mill mystery/thriller. It’s very dark and thought-provoking and its controversial core topic certainly makes for an interesting read.
Many thanks to Netgalley, the publisher and the author for this ARC in exchange for an honest review. I wish the author every success with this debut psychological thriller.
August 2, 2016
Sean Jordan moves to New Orleans with his wife and daughter to escape his past. But when a new shock jock outs him as a convicted sex offender, his life unravels rather quickly. The police look at him for a bomb that went off at the aquarium and the murder of a seven year old girl. With Mardi Gras coming quickly, the police need to make a speedy arrest. And Sean is not making it easy for them.
A dolphin is described as an accidental capture when the law goes fishing for sharks. Every once in a while when hunting for a bad guy; a good guy gets caught in that net. But is Sean a dolphin?
There is so much about Sean that comes out in this story. He tries to overcome all obstacles and rid himself of baggage that he has been carrying. As the police investigate further; there are more murders, Sean’s wife may leave him and there may be no place to turn.
It’s is a suspenseful story to say the least. Not a mystery, but full of though provoking ideas. One has to fell not only for Sean, but also for the detective trying to solve the case(s) and also for the radio personality that as to deal with the new shock jock at his station. All around, a complex and exciting novel.
A dolphin is described as an accidental capture when the law goes fishing for sharks. Every once in a while when hunting for a bad guy; a good guy gets caught in that net. But is Sean a dolphin?
There is so much about Sean that comes out in this story. He tries to overcome all obstacles and rid himself of baggage that he has been carrying. As the police investigate further; there are more murders, Sean’s wife may leave him and there may be no place to turn.
It’s is a suspenseful story to say the least. Not a mystery, but full of though provoking ideas. One has to fell not only for Sean, but also for the detective trying to solve the case(s) and also for the radio personality that as to deal with the new shock jock at his station. All around, a complex and exciting novel.
April 5, 2016
A fast-paced thriller with a disturbing plot
Sean Jordan is introduced to us as a child with an incredible skill for psychology. Following the death of both his parents in tragic circumstances, he goes on to become a successful teacher, married with a young daughter. A fateful mistake in Sean’s past returns to haunt him, and he faces losing everything he’s worked so hard to achieve, after he is publicly outed on the radio as a sex offender.
This is a dark and troubling story, with plenty of twists and turns to keep the reader engaged. I found it slow to begin with, but once the main storyline gathered pace I was hooked. The Dolphin forces us to question whether the justice system is fair as Sean, a ‘dolphin’ caught up amongst the sharks in the net, sees his life torn apart.
Sean battles the demons of his past, dealing with guilt, shame and self-doubt. Can he put all the pieces together fast enough to clear his name, catch the real villain at large and save his daughter?
Laura
Breakaway Reviewers received a copy of the book to review.
Sean Jordan is introduced to us as a child with an incredible skill for psychology. Following the death of both his parents in tragic circumstances, he goes on to become a successful teacher, married with a young daughter. A fateful mistake in Sean’s past returns to haunt him, and he faces losing everything he’s worked so hard to achieve, after he is publicly outed on the radio as a sex offender.
This is a dark and troubling story, with plenty of twists and turns to keep the reader engaged. I found it slow to begin with, but once the main storyline gathered pace I was hooked. The Dolphin forces us to question whether the justice system is fair as Sean, a ‘dolphin’ caught up amongst the sharks in the net, sees his life torn apart.
Sean battles the demons of his past, dealing with guilt, shame and self-doubt. Can he put all the pieces together fast enough to clear his name, catch the real villain at large and save his daughter?
Laura
Breakaway Reviewers received a copy of the book to review.
April 21, 2016
This book starts off with a fast, hard hitting pace. Sean Jordan has been a brilliant psychology since childhood. He survives his parents horrific and tragic death. Eventually, he is a father, husband and teacher. Things could be going ok for him, then something happens. Sean gets touted on the radio as a sex-offender.
Sean's life is being ripped apart. He is a "dolphin" not a shark. He isn't a predator, he is a victim of exceedingly bad judgment, one time, which landed him with a label that he didn't deserve. How can a "dolphin" like him survive when he has been grouped in with all the "sharks"? Can he catch the real predator in time to save his daughter?
This book was fast paced, and full of thought provoking instances. Sean was easy to connect to, even if not always as clear minded as he was abut to be.
My copy came from Net Galley in exchange for my honest review and nothing more.
Sean's life is being ripped apart. He is a "dolphin" not a shark. He isn't a predator, he is a victim of exceedingly bad judgment, one time, which landed him with a label that he didn't deserve. How can a "dolphin" like him survive when he has been grouped in with all the "sharks"? Can he catch the real predator in time to save his daughter?
This book was fast paced, and full of thought provoking instances. Sean was easy to connect to, even if not always as clear minded as he was abut to be.
My copy came from Net Galley in exchange for my honest review and nothing more.
January 14, 2016
Complete review available: The Dolphin
The beginning held such promise, the ending delivered, but the middle was disappointing. Having been drawn in by the blurb (and then the opening few chapters), it took until around 2/3rds before the true storylines from the blurb began to be unravelled and explored. The characters, on the whole, were relatively strong, and the setting was both well-explored and well-presented. At times, however, the pacing was a little unsteady and momentum was difficult to gauge in some sections of the book. Having just finished, I feel as if it is worth a read, but I remember struggling through large sections in the middle - it's a good story, but you do have to bear with it.
The beginning held such promise, the ending delivered, but the middle was disappointing. Having been drawn in by the blurb (and then the opening few chapters), it took until around 2/3rds before the true storylines from the blurb began to be unravelled and explored. The characters, on the whole, were relatively strong, and the setting was both well-explored and well-presented. At times, however, the pacing was a little unsteady and momentum was difficult to gauge in some sections of the book. Having just finished, I feel as if it is worth a read, but I remember struggling through large sections in the middle - it's a good story, but you do have to bear with it.
August 12, 2018
Sean Jordan just moved to a new city to get a fresh start. However, there is something from his past that follows him wherever he goes and makes it almost impossible for him to move forward happily. When a talk radio hosts daughter goes missing, Sean's past- once again- comes back to haunt him. The police think he is the one who took the girl. Will Sean be able to save the girl and clear his name in the process? Or will his past be the reason he goes down for a crime he didn't even commit?
The Dolphin started off slow with all of the character introductions but it definitely ended with a bang! Once the story got going it was hard to put down. This was a great debut novel.
*I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. *
The Dolphin started off slow with all of the character introductions but it definitely ended with a bang! Once the story got going it was hard to put down. This was a great debut novel.
*I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. *
February 17, 2016
I was unsure whether I would enjoy a book about a sex offender and found the first few pages wordy and hard going. I'm glad I persevered though as I got drawn in to the story of a man who is haunted by his past and whose life is torn apart following his public outing as a sex offender by a radio presenter. The story widens into a gripping thriller when he is implicated in a number of dramatic and horrific events that take place in New Orleans during the lead up to Mardi Gras.
Note: I received this book free from Goodreads giveaways.
Note: I received this book free from Goodreads giveaways.
April 1, 2016
The Dolphin starts a little slow but as the reader continues the suspense and plot thicken. This is Hallenstein's first novel but he does an excellent job of taking the suspense and turning it into a page turner. I'm looking forward to reading more by Mr. Hallenstein. I was given an early copy of The Dolphin to review.
Want to Read
October 4, 2016I received a copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
BUDDY READ:Paranormal/Fantasy > The Dolphin by Craig Bennett Hallenstein - Starting October 5th 2016
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
BUDDY READ:Paranormal/Fantasy > The Dolphin by Craig Bennett Hallenstein - Starting October 5th 2016
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
May 5, 2016
This was a sad, thought provoking, story. Compelling reading with believable characters and a logical storyline. Conclusion was a relief and reinforced ones belief in mans humanity to man, except for the odd sociopath/psychopath.
Read
August 4, 2016A well written thriller about a thought provoking subject. It was difficult at times continue reading on because of all the failures of the justice system and my growing frustration. This book gave me a lot to think and discuss about with my friends and it will stay with me for a long time.
April 16, 2016
I received this arc from Netgalley.
Yes, this was definitely a thriller. Once it gets going it hard to put down. A well written book with lots of action.
Yes, this was definitely a thriller. Once it gets going it hard to put down. A well written book with lots of action.
May 30, 2016
Eye opening view into the world in to a wrongly accused sexual offender. Some times you can really miss the mark. Very well written would highly recommend.
Read
May 25, 2018The Dolphin is a well written book that keeps your attention. When you figure out who the villian is, you still want to find out how it unfolds. The characters are revealed to you in increments so that you continue to wonder how dark the secrets of the others are. The story is set in New Orleans for the most part and a lot of it takes place is the frenzied days leading up to Mardi Gras. It has just a touch of the supernatural as the main character is kept on track by the advice of dead relatives or the appearance of a bird. This does not detract from the tale, but was unexpected.
Personally, I did not like the subject matter. My son knows I like to read and review books so he got me a copy to read from a friend connected to the author. He felt I would like the writing even though I wouldn't appreciate the pedophilia and murder. He was right. I did not use the star system because that would be unfair to the author. I do not want to read about child abuse in any form or about porn and masturbation or the "show us your..." aspect of Mardi Gras. (I'm an educator of small children) I don't go out of my way to read murder mysteries, either. Were the subject matter different, I would have given this at least four stars, but it's hard to say "I really liked it" when a lot of it was something I'd rather not read about.
Personally, I did not like the subject matter. My son knows I like to read and review books so he got me a copy to read from a friend connected to the author. He felt I would like the writing even though I wouldn't appreciate the pedophilia and murder. He was right. I did not use the star system because that would be unfair to the author. I do not want to read about child abuse in any form or about porn and masturbation or the "show us your..." aspect of Mardi Gras. (I'm an educator of small children) I don't go out of my way to read murder mysteries, either. Were the subject matter different, I would have given this at least four stars, but it's hard to say "I really liked it" when a lot of it was something I'd rather not read about.
July 15, 2018
The Dolphin by Craig Bennett Hallenstein follows Sean Jordan, an aspiring child psychologist who had been labelled a sex offender at age 15. He's spent years wracked by guilt over the choices of his youth. But is he really a sex offender? Sean moves to New Orleans trying to put the past behind him. Sadly, that wasn't to happen. As a ploy for ratings, a radio host LeGrande outs all of the local registered 'dangerous sex offenders’, which includes Sean. Thanks to this, when the radio host’s teen daughter disappears, Sean is accused. However, he becomes just as much a victim of the kidnapper. Sean is given a devil's deal. He has the chance to save the young girl if he meets the kidnapper's demands, but doing could cost his moral integrity. Refusing could cost his life. This was an interesting read. Intellectually, I know that not all sex offenders are paedophiles or rapists, but society is trained to think so. In fact, there are a fair amount of cases that are the result of consensual teenaged encounters. Sean’s is one such case. As a result, he’s lived his life on the Registry, dealing with all the prejudice and suspicions that result. I had never heard of the term 'dolphin’ before, regarding these types of sex offenders, many of whom shouldn't even bear the label or stigma. This was certainly a controversial topic to work with, and it’ll certainly give you something to think about. The setting of New Orleans during Mardi Gras was great. It felt vivid and immediate. ***Many thanks to Netgalley, and Storyville Press for providing an egalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.
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