Slovo Ne Vorobey

A Word Is Not a Sparrow

Fiction - Crime
327 Pages
Reviewed on 04/19/2024
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    Book Review

Reviewed by Alma Boucher for Readers' Favorite

In Slovo Ne Vorobey: A Word Is Not a Sparrow by Philip Scholz, Detective Joseph Conway has witnessed countless horrific crime scenes with the Metropolitan Police Department. However, his first thought was that this murder was excessively brutal. Sasha Copeland was always interested in learning about the police's activities and was the first reporter on the scene. Joseph informed her that the killer had sexually posed the victims to elicit a response. While Sasha and her fiancé, Christian Becker, were working to identify the killer, more and more secrets came to light. An event from long ago changed everything. Christian and Sasha discovered the grave truth of the Russian saying, "A loose sparrow can be recaptured," but "once something is said, it cannot be taken back."

Slovo Ne Vorobey had me on the edge of my seat from the very first page. Philip Scholz created a world filled with brutality, murder, and suspense. It was a page-turner filled with non-stop action. I just kept flipping the pages because I had to know what would happen next. I was hooked from the start and could not put it down. With all the twists and turns, I was guessing until the very end. The events were descriptive and brutal and left nothing to the imagination. The characters were authentic and relatable. Sasha was a very good reporter, and she got the information for her articles without being intrusive. The book was masterfully crafted, a thrilling read that went well beyond what I had anticipated. I was completely taken aback by the ending and did not see it coming.

Anne-Marie Reynolds

Slovo Ne Vorobey: A Word Is Not a Sparrow is a crime thriller by Philip Scholz. Sasha Copeland and her new fiancé, Christian Becker, are about to find out that an old Russian proverb has pinpoint accuracy. Newly employed by the Washington Post, Sasha hears a homicide call go out over the radio and races to be the first reporter on the scene. Detective Conway attends the scene, shocked by the brutality of the crime. But this isn’t the first. A violent killer is on the loose, leaving a devastating trail behind him. Christian and Sasha get involved, not just as writers trying to bring the crimes to the public’s attention but also to find the killer. Not everyone is happy with their involvement, but the deeper they delve, the worse it gets as secrets unfold and the body count rises. Can they identify the killer, or will a long-hidden secret change everything?

Slovo Ne Vorobey: A Word Is Not a Sparrow by Philip Scholz is a captivating crime story that will keep you hooked all the way through. This book is quite violent in some places, but that’s only to be expected with a story of this nature. Once you start reading, you will not want to put it down as you follow the main protagonists on their journey to unmask a killer. The narrative features a strong female lead and a visually impaired male lead, quite a unique combination that really works. This story has everything you need in a good crime thriller: appealing characters, a fantastic plot, plenty of action, and a satisfying ending. This is the kind of story I enjoy watching as a TV series or movie, a real heart-pounding story that holds your attention. Thoroughly enjoyable and one that you won't forget in a hurry.

K.C. Finn

Slovo Ne Vorobey is penned by author Philip Scholz in the crime, thriller, and murder mystery subgenres. It is best suited to the adult reading audience owing to the presence of violence and sexual scenes. Christian Becker and Sasha Copeland, newly engaged, find themselves entangled in a chilling murder spree in Washington, D.C. As they investigate freelance and through the Washington Post, they face resistance from authorities while uncovering dark secrets. The Russian proverb, ‘A Word Is Not a Sparrow,’ becomes a haunting truth as they navigate the deadly consequences of words spoken and actions taken.

Author Philip Scholz has crafted an intense thriller where the tension mounts with each page turned, mirroring the protagonists’ urgency until we too are chasing information and the next twist in the plot at a breakneck pace. The strong narrative enables perfect timing to occur, with clues and hints placed at just the right moments and tense exposition-filled conversations that allow us to discover revelations at the same time as our leading pair. The concept of words being irreversible is a unique foil for this tension to play out, and as the characters grapple with the consequences of their actions, the secrets they unearth become all the more unsettling. The narrative was filled with atmospheric touches to enhance the mood and blend a suspenseful mystery plot with emotive personal stakes. Overall, I would certainly recommend Slovo Ne Vorobey for crime fiction fans everywhere seeking a compelling, original mystery novel with a lot to offer.