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J.S. Warner spent 33 years in education, teaching mathematics in New Jersey, American Samoa, and the Philippines, and working as a school nurse in New Jersey, before retiring in March 2026 to write full time. Since publishing his first book in October 2024, he has released the Nurse Jim children's book series in five languages and the Zoe Vega science fiction series. His debut novel, Measured Steps: The Claire Morrison Files, a psychological thriller, was published February 1, 2026. He and his wife of over forty years are parents and grandparents who currently live at the Jersey Shore.
Reviewed by Alma Boucher for Readers' Favorite
J.S. Warner’s Measured Steps introduces us to Claire Morrison, a profiler whose own troubled past gives her an unsettling advantage when investigating violent crime. After Claire’s mother’s mysterious disappearance, Claire struggled to overcome addiction. Claire is called to investigate a victim whose body is surrounded by chalk equations. These markings reveal clues to the killer’s mind, and there is a thin line between the killer's thoughts and addiction. More murders follow, and Claire and her partner, Detective Sara Martinez, uncover evidence that someone has been observing Claire closely. The investigation also forces Claire to confront painful questions about her own family. Claire knows little about her parents’ early years because her mother vanished when Claire was only nine years old.
J.S. Warner writes an outstanding psychological thriller. The plot steadily unfolds through clever clues, unexpected twists, and revelations. I was invested in Claire’s investigation and tried to connect the similarities of her addiction to the mysteries of the murders. Claire and Sara were authentic and relatable. Claire was vulnerable and resilient, and her sharp analytical mind helped her a lot. Detective Sara Martinez was loyal and gave her everything. The fine line between good and evil made me wonder how circumstances can shape our behavior without excusing it. I learned a lot from this book and had a hard time putting it down. Measured Steps is expertly written, and several plots were woven brilliantly together. I enjoyed reading the book and could not turn the pages fast enough.
