"Faults" by Orion Gregory presents a suspenseful tale centered around Sydney Livingstone, a pro tennis player grappling with a stalker and a chronic injury. The novel introduces a promising premise, but a few shortcomings prevent it from reaching its full potential.

The strength of "Faults" lies in its main character, Sydney Livingstone. Gregory does a commendable job of portraying her as a multi-dimensional character with a combination of beauty, optimism, and quick wit. The challenges she faces on and off the tennis court add depth to her character, making her relatable to readers. The exploration of Sydney's struggle with a chronic injury adds an authentic layer to the narrative, shedding light on the less glamorous side of professional sports.

The tension created by the presence of a stalker and a deranged killer in Sydney's life adds a layer of suspense to the story. The author successfully builds intrigue, and the focus on a tennis tournament in Southwest Ohio serves as an effective backdrop for the unfolding events. The pacing is generally well-maintained, with the plot moving forward at a reasonable speed to maintain reader interest.

However, "Faults" falls short in some areas. The execution of the thriller elements is at times predictable, and the plot relies on certain clichés commonly found in the suspense genre. The identity of the stalker and the killer may be deduced by astute readers early on, diminishing the impact of the final revelations.

Additionally, the supporting characters lack the same level of depth as Sydney. Some relationships and interactions feel underdeveloped, making it challenging to fully invest in the emotional stakes of the story. The inner circle of characters is introduced, but their motives and connections to the main plot are not explored in sufficient detail.

While the setting of a tennis tournament adds a unique backdrop, the author occasionally delves into excessive detail about the sport, potentially alienating readers who may not be tennis enthusiasts.

In conclusion, "Faults" by Orion Gregory is a three-star read that offers a compelling protagonist and a suspenseful premise. Despite some predictable elements and underdeveloped supporting characters, the novel manages to maintain a level of engagement. Fans of the suspense genre, particularly those with an interest in the world of professional tennis, may find enjoyment in this book, but it may not fully satisfy readers seeking a more intricately woven thriller.

I did not see that one!! I figured it out just as we got to the big reveal. I had my suspicions but nothing concrete.

Very interesting story centered around tennis. I’m not much into the sports stories but I’m glad I gave this one a fair shake. It had me from start to finish.

Highly recommended if you’re looking for a twist.

i enjoyed reading this sports mystery novel, it had what I wanted from a tennis mystery. The characters were great and I enjoyed the journey.

Sydney is a middle range tennis player trying to stay in competitions. Many of the other characters in the book are also tennis players or associated with the game.
I am a tennis fan and read Faults during the US Open. That definitely helped to set the mood.
Not the most well written book I have read but enjoyable nonetheless. I would have liked to hear more of the characters thoughts rather than the author just recounting the story line.
I will say there were a few twists and turns that I did not see coming, which is always a bonus in my book.
A non tennis fan would probably find the tennis talk too in depth but I liked it.

Many thanks to netgalley and Canoe Tree Press for the arc.

This book was hard to like. The writing was clunky and unrealistic and some things written seemed like they were added to meet a word count goal because they added absolutely nothing to the story. Like when the writer tells you what a player eats:

“Her diet included seven servings of fruits and vegetables, whole-grain carbohydrates, and healthy protein sources such as chicken, fish, turkey, nuts, and legumes.” Like, what? How is this important to the story?!

And the ridiculous storyline about Syd’s friend with the spiders. Really? Her friend is quoted as saying “He treated my spiders like family.” I almost had to stop there but I had some sort of masochistic need to see what other ridiculous things would be said. I wasn’t disappointed:

-“The kiss lasted for nearly a minute, but Enzo finally pulled away to prevent choking.”
-“My intuition tells me not to trust her completely, but that may be because of her introverted way of communicating,
-“I flinched so hard that spider flew off me and onto the floor. Nicole accused me of trying to murder her best friend.”

Needless to say, I’m being generous by giving this 2 stars.

I love tennis and a good who dunnit and this book had plenty of both!

I would have preferred more doing and less telling by the author. Especially the parts concerning the baddie. I would have liked to be in his head while he committed the acts and it would have made the book so much better. As it was it all felt rather factual. It meant that I flicked through parts of it to find the basic story and learn who the killer was, rather than immerse myself in the tournament and tension.

An interesting murder mystery novel taking place in the sports arena of tennis. Sydney Livingstone is a middle of the range tennis player, who is caught in the middle of some bad crimes happening on the tennis circuit. With friends and acquaintances falling over left right and centre with surprise maladies, Sydney needs to be on the lookout for someone who might be trying to sabotage her game.

I'm not a sports fan, and I don't know a thing about tennis, but I still enjoyed the tennis match vignettes in the book. Very gripping.

The crime element has some good twists and turns, so keeps you guessing right until the end.

Overall, not bad!