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That Was Before Kindle Edition

4.1 4.1 out of 5 stars 213 ratings

"Buckle up for a full-throttle thriller drawn with full-bodied characters." –Best Thrillers

An hour after Randolph Spiers quits his job as a mechanical engineer, he finally approaches the woman he's eyed at the supermarket, only to watch it explode minutes later with her trapped inside. The old Randolph would have gone home to his adulterous wife and forgot about it.

That Was Before.

The new Randolph tracks down the woman and drives her cross-country without a plan or Midwestern destination in mind. Even with his old life in shambles, that may be the least of his problems. The enigmatic woman next to him is running from her past too, and as trouble closes in and the truth behind the explosion is revealed, he's forced to question everything he thought he ever knew and felt-and everyone.

Now he must decide whose side he's on. And he doesn't know who to trust.

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Editorial Reviews

Review

"Buckle up for a full-throttle thriller drawn with full-bodied characters." -Best Thrillers


Awards include:

The Green House

-Bronze Medalist, Adult E-Book Fiction - 2020 Independent Publisher Book Awards (IPPY Awards)

-Finalist, Fiction - 2020 Next Generation Indie Book Awards

-Finalist, Mystery - 2020 Book Excellence Awards

-Finalist, Literary Fiction - 2020 American Book Awards

Plum Springs

-Winner, Fiction - 2019 New Hampshire Writers' Project Readers' Choice Award


Connect at @danlawtonauthor and danlawtonfiction.com.

About the Author

Dan Lawton is an award-winning literary suspense, mystery, and thriller author from New Hampshire. He is an active member of the International Thriller Writers (ITW) Organization. Awards include:

The Green House
    • Winner, Fiction, 2021 New Hampshire Writers' Project Literary Awards
    • Bronze Medalist, Adult Fiction E-Book, 2020 Independent Publisher Book Awards (IPPY Awards)
    • Finalist for the 2021 Montaigne Medal (Eric Hoffer Awards) for most thought-provoking book
    • Finalist, Mystery, 2020 Book Excellence Awards
    • Finalist, Fiction, 2020 Next Generation Indie Book Awards
    • Finalist, Literary Fiction, 2020 American Fiction Awards
    Plum Springs
      • Winner of the 2019 New Hampshire Writers' Project Readers' Choice Award for Fiction
      Deception
        • Named one of the best thriller novels of 2017 by the Novel Writing Festival

        Product details

        • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B08XYFFLFS
        • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Black Rose Writing (June 3, 2021)
        • Publication date ‏ : ‎ June 3, 2021
        • Language ‏ : ‎ English
        • File size ‏ : ‎ 901 KB
        • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
        • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
        • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
        • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
        • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
        • Print length ‏ : ‎ 257 pages
        • Page numbers source ISBN ‏ : ‎ 1684336929
        • Customer Reviews:
          4.1 4.1 out of 5 stars 213 ratings

        About the author

        Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations.
        Dan Lawton
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        Dan Lawton is an award-winning literary suspense, mystery, and thriller author from New Hampshire. He is an active member of the International Thriller Writers (ITW) Organization.

        His fifth novel, The Green House, won the 2021 New Hampshire Writers' Project Literary Award for Fiction, was a Bronze Medalist in Adult Fiction E-Book for the 2020 Independent Publisher Book Awards (IPPY Awards), a Finalist for the 2021 Montaigne Medal (Eric Hoffer Awards) for most thought-provoking book, a Finalist in Fiction for the 2020 Next Generation Indie Book Awards, a Finalist in Mystery for the 2020 Book Excellence Awards, and a Finalist in Literary Fiction for the 2020 American Fiction Awards.

        His fourth novel, Plum Springs, won the 2019 New Hampshire Writers' Project Readers' Choice Award for Fiction. His first novel, Deception, was named one of the best thriller novels of 2017 by the Novel Writing Festival.

        Website: danlawtonfiction.com

        Email: info@danlawtonfiction.com

        Twitter/Instagram: @danlawtonauthor

        Facebook: facebook.com/danlawtonfiction

        Customer reviews

        4.1 out of 5 stars
        213 global ratings

        Review this product

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        Customers say

        Customers find the book readable and engaging. However, opinions differ on the suspenseful plot. Some find it thrilling and enjoyable, while others feel the plot is outlandish and repetitive.

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        3 customers mention "Readability"3 positive0 negative

        Customers find the book readable.

        "...A great read in its own right, with the added bonus that anyone who loves this book can enjoy more time hanging out with the same characters in the..." Read more

        "Enjoyed this book. Going along with the story, just trying to figure out the people and where they fit. Them boom, my mind was blown...." Read more

        "good read..." Read more

        5 customers mention "Suspenseful plot"3 positive2 negative

        Customers have different views on the plot. Some find it suspenseful and recommend it for mystery fans. Others find the plot outlandish and repetitive, with a lot of repetition of storyline and character feelings.

        "Quite the tale. Would have been nice to know how Sheila guaranteed that Randolph would seek out her teller station...." Read more

        "...Will he find love? As the story evolves, we become entangled in an unimaginable plot. I liked the ending. Read it and see if you also like it" Read more

        "...Overall, the book is charged with suspense, and I recommend it to mystery fans." Read more

        "...What made the second book even worse was the repetition of the story line and character “feelings”, rehashed in numerous ways...." Read more

        Top reviews from the United States

        • Reviewed in the United States on September 3, 2022
          Randolf, Sheila, Patricia, Benji, Shay, Cheyenne, Gary - but are these their real names? And what combination of girlfriend, nymphomaniac cougar, retired engineer, bad boyfriend, private detective, barista, hacker, incompetent assassin, law enforcement agent, wife is each of them, really? Which ones are villains, and who are the good guys (or girls)? Why did the supermarket explode? What are Sheila and Randolph really running from? (Does Randolph actually like bananas?) That was Before is full of twists and turns on the road from Cedar Rapids to Utah. A great read in its own right, with the added bonus that anyone who loves this book can enjoy more time hanging out with the same characters in the sequel, Now Was After.
          One person found this helpful
          Report
        • Reviewed in the United States on May 21, 2023
          What will happen to Randolph? Will he find love? As the story evolves, we become entangled in an unimaginable plot. I liked the ending. Read it and see if you also like it
          2 people found this helpful
          Report
        • Reviewed in the United States on June 18, 2023
          Quite the tale.
          Would have been nice to know how Sheila guaranteed that Randolph would seek out her teller station.
          Hopefully it's in the next instalment 😊
        • Reviewed in the United States on December 31, 2023
          When the story begins, Randolph, the protagonist, appears at first as a pathetic loner when he is anything but. As the narrative moves forward, the layers of his personal history and current life peel away, revealing an interesting character.

          Randolph’s unfathomable choices lead to dangerous consequences as the story builds momentum. It’s hard to believe anyone could be that naive. The other characters are bizarre and not at all credible. I got caught up in the intrigue but did not feel enough connection to the characters to continue to the next book in the series.

          As the book approaches the end with questions answered, I think the dialogue would have been better served with a bit of sardonic humor, given the ludicrous circumstances and setting. But the author implements a wonderful technique, adding continuity to the many facets of the story by interlacing the title as an underlying theme.

          Overall, the book is charged with suspense, and I recommend it to mystery fans.
          One person found this helpful
          Report
        • Reviewed in the United States on September 2, 2022
          Enjoyed this book. Going along with the story, just trying to figure out the people and where they fit. Them boom, my mind was blown. Never figured this one out.
          One person found this helpful
          Report
        • Reviewed in the United States on September 30, 2024
          As a busy working mom, I found That Was Before by Dan Lawton to be a gripping and thought-provoking read that delves into the complexities of choices and their long-lasting effects. This powerful novel follows a protagonist who reflects on pivotal moments in their life, exploring themes of regret, redemption, and the journey toward self-discovery.

          Lawton’s writing is both engaging and evocative, drawing me into the emotional landscape of the characters as they navigate their past and present. The storytelling is rich and layered, making it easy to connect with their struggles and triumphs, which resonated deeply with my own experiences.

          Final Thoughts:
          That Was Before is a compelling and insightful story perfect for moms seeking a reflective escape. It serves as a poignant reminder of how our choices shape our lives and the importance of embracing the journey, making it a must-read for anyone looking for a meaningful and impactful narrative!
        • Reviewed in the United States on August 14, 2022
          I really enjoyed the book
          One person found this helpful
          Report
        • Reviewed in the United States on July 22, 2022
          This book has the most amazing plot twists. The reader thinks one thing is happening, but it's really another. Only the main character is who he says he is. The characters keep spinning in this complex web of deceit. The ending does not quite tie up all of the loose ends. Perhaps there will be a sequel or a series? I received this Advanced copy from Net Galley and this is my honest review.
          2 people found this helpful
          Report

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