The Gray Line

B.J. Cyprian

A Crime Thriller

$5.00 - $ 13.99

Author: B.J. Cyprian

Print Length: 282 Pages

ISBN-10: 1735570109

Publisher: Divergent Expressions Publishing

Publication Date: October 6, 2021

Language: English

Description

Angel Lamb has overcome many obstacles in her three decades of life. Rescued from an abusive environment at a young age, Angel has a realistic and cynical outlook on life, yet a strong sense of right and wrong. After she loses her wife in a tragic automobile accident, Angel seeks out the assistance of a local support group to help her deal with the crushing grief. When violence begins to find members of the group, Angel is forced to face her painful past as well as an uncertain future. In order to survive, she will have to challenger her own black and white view of good and evil.

Description

Book Reviews

The Gray Line by B.J. Cyprian is a thrilling read for those who enjoy character-driven tales that are psychologically rich and emotionally engaging. B.J. Cyprian writes about gay themes with confidence and respect, creating characters that readers will care about. They are genuinely flawed and believable. Angel’s relationships with her father and the people she interacts with are intelligently crafted and readers will love to watch as the bond grows stronger between them. I loved this character that evolves from having clear-cut views about good and evil to someone who steps into the gray line, considering other possibilities. The dialogues are sparkling and they greet the reader right off the bat. Yes, I loved the drama, which is confidently written to unveil the inner worlds of the characters while amping up the plot. The prose is beautiful and the plot features compelling moments that are unexpected and gripping, even from the prologue. The author has the gift of creating anticipation in readers and then throwing them off unexpectedly. It feels real and utterly absorbing. The Gray Line is like meeting people from real life

There are many pivotal moments in life. In The Grey Line, we experience many of them vicariously as the author finds a unique balance between loss and the search for light at the end of grief’s dark and painful tunnel. And along the way there are many micro and macro decisions that Grey Line’s rich, well-developed characters must explore. Over and over, our characters are faced with existential questions about who we are, who we want to be, and how we perceive others who are making decisions that differ from, or resonate with, our own. In this richly dialogued piece of inclusive fiction, readers will be forced to question their core values, the darkness of grief, and the love and levity of friendship and companionship. The genius of this story is that the grey lines are many, but subtle. The shades of grey never overwhelm us with platitudes or preferences, they simply allow us space to watch life unfold in all of its miraculous, painful, loving, sad, tragic, and unforgettable imperfection. As we read about their lives and their experiences, it forces us to ask ourselves many questions about who we are and who we want to be—particularly when we encounter the unpredictable realities of life in spaces where we don’t always get to make the rules, nor control the choices made by our peers and friends. Ultimately, The Grey Line challenges us to think about what it means to understand people who don’t live by the same rules that we value and the difficulty of reconciling our beliefs in the face of change and uncertainty. I hope this book is the beginning of a series, as there is so much this book ignites in my mind and heart about the difficult choices we make daily, and how they change us…even when we don’t want to change.

The Gray Line is a captivating character study that explores the protagonists critical thinking, which characterizes her worldview and beliefs about the world and its inhabitants. Author B.J. Cyprian’s work is colored with suspense, depravity, and a critical sensibility. The author leads us through tortuous paths between right and wrong and shows readers how the lines blur with each new situation, and makes us question what our perception will be when facing such delicate situations? This complex book also explores loss and how we deal with it and move on. It is a heavy theme that allows for much deliberation, especially for the character Angel Lamb. Besides the painful loss of her wife in a tragic car accident, we are given many other details that define her personal growth and ensures readers will be empathetic. The plot of The Gray Line unfolds through easy flowing dialogue between characters. Its primary focus is on the torrid and complicated experiences of each of them, while the development of the setting is almost an afterthought. In addition to all the previously mentioned themes, the book also deals with issues such as sexual gender and black intolerance – even though they are not the most striking factors in this work, I felt that they were discussed in authentic ways. The events that unfold lures the reader into a story that seems prosaic at first, due to its casual conversations and uncomplicated language, but this only makes it easier for readers to become close to the characters, and because of that their hardships are felt deeply. This also made it easy for me to visualize the problems and allowed me to form my own judgements about certain scenarios. The Gray Line is an emotionally charged novel that will appeal to readers looking for a dramatic mystery story that is as thrilling as it is thought-provoking. This is a book that will stay with you long after you have put it down.

The Gray Line by B.J Cyprian is a well-crafted tale of loss, love, and the undeniable pain of living in a gray zone. This book offers an immersive entertainment experience for readers who enjoy strongly appealing and intelligently written lesbian romance and while readers won’t get anything steamy in this narrative, they will be thrilled by the perfect portrait of two souls that care deeply about each other. When death separates them, the question that lingers in the minds of readers is: Will Angel survive without the love of her life? This is a book about survival after a devastating loss, and the author writes the emotions and the psyche of the protagonist with extraordinary care, filling the pages with her humanity and crafting internal dialogues that make the protagonist an authentic character. The prose is dazzling and the dialogues are real, a reflection of conversations that happen in real life. The enthralling and complex characters ensnared me and captured my full attention and the vivid language offered the music I always want to hear in good writing. The Gray Line presents a plot that is loaded and characters that are unforgettable.

An edgy, thought-provoking thriller filled with suspense and tension throughout, The Gray Line follows B J Cyprian’s release of Shadow Resistance and it’s one you are sure to remember. A dark and powerful narrative that radiates intrigue, Cyprian takes her readers on a harrowing journey, underpinned by a captivating plot, taught prose and a notable sense of timing as she blunts the edge of certainty to deliver a host of inspired cliff-hanger scenes. The subject of grief is central to Cyprian’s story and it is empathically manifested in her key characters who find themselves compromised by secrets, loyalties and allegiances both professional and familial. And Cyprian is, as she proved with Shadow Resistance, a deft and compelling crime novelist, who once again has crafted a provocative story that is grounded firmly in the current moment. “How do I get to the gray?” asks Angel. “The place where I’m able to go as far as taking another life to protect myself and still sleep at night.” It’s a question intended to solicit reflection but more importantly it zeros in on the difficulties of “moving on” and articulating the despair felt by those who have violently lost loved ones at the hands of another. It puts our moral compass under the spotlight but also heralds the promise of hard-won hope for life ahead. Another highly enjoyable and well-crafted novel that showcases Cyprian’s distinctive style of writing, The Gray Line rivals the best in Thriller and Suspense fiction and is recommended without reservation.

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4.5 Review from our book reader

Follow Angel Lamb’s harrowing journey as she navigates grief and loss after the tragic death of her wife. Colored with suspense, depravity, and a critical sensibility, B.J. Cyprian leads us through tortuous paths between right and wrong as the lines begin to blur. What will your perception be when faced with such delicate situations?

 5/5