Title: Extreme Malice
Author: J.T. Tierney
Publisher: Curtiss Street Press, LLC
ISBN: 979-8-9904171-9-9
Pages: 266
Genre: Thriller
Reviewer: Arthur Thares

Read Book Review

Extreme Malice by author J.T. Tierney comes at a time when political tensions couldn’t be higher as it hammers the nail right on the head. It doesn’t make sense to approach it with any bias because, while it does lean in a clear direction, the author has done a magnificent job telling both sides of the story. Extreme Malice shows that while the worst of COVID-19 is behind us, the scars are still fresh.

 Extreme Malice doesn’t follow a traditional book structure. Instead, it jumps between characters, so there are a handful of main characters to keep tabs on. Each character plays a significant role in the story as it all comes together. You get inside the minds of the antagonists and protagonists as the author tells the all-too-real tale of feuding ideologies through the COVID-19 pandemic. The structure of this book prevents it from having the traditional three-act format, which is a breath of fresh air. Instead of feeling like you are progressing through the book as the author intends, it feels like you are living the story. There is much that a first-time reader should experience, and it would be a shame to give it away in a review. Readers should know that the book is full of thrills and suspense, but everything ends up wrapped in a neat little bow.

Extreme Malice isn’t short by any stretch of the imagination, but it does feel like it flies by. The idea of bouncing around to differing points of view keeps the story continuously fresh, so it’s almost like reading multiple short stories which all intersect. Beyond that, the story is further segmented between different conflicts, some of which abruptly stop mid-book, which wrap up the plot point but leaves you feeling like something is missing. This may also come down to personal preference, as many readers may feel like this storytelling style is a unique departure from the standard. Ultimately, J.T. Tierney did an unbelievable job creating fictional characters and situations that feel too real for comfort in today’s political climate.

Saying this book is in a class of its own is an unfettered compliment. Any perceived flaws of Extreme Malice are a reflection of the story being told. Much like life, especially in the Covid era, things aren’t always perfect, and there are a lot of gray areas. This book perfectly frames that idea with the lives of ordinary people whose decisions get them in some messy situations, but much like in real life, everything works out in the end. A book like this can’t skip politics, but while Tierney leans toward one side of the argument, he’s done a fantastic job representing both sides. This book may not be for everyone, especially if you are burnt out from the pandemic, but it’s worth the read if you are willing to give it a chance.   I would highly recommend  Extreme Malice for readers who enjoy suspenseful, thought-provoking fiction that resonates with current events.