Buckle up, because danger lurks in the shadows of innocence and in the rugged Wyoming-Colorado borderlands, as the line between victim and predator blurs with heart-pounding ferocity.
Jacob’s Bully by David Brandt is a relentless plunge into a world where a boy’s dreams collide with a nightmare of violence, betrayal, and dark secrets. This gripping thriller grabs you by the throat and doesn’t let go, dragging you through a tempest of emotion and suspense that will leave you breathless.
Meet Jacob, a soccer-obsessed teen whose passion for the game fuels his days as he weaves past makeshift wooden defenders in his rural yard, his sweat-soaked Messi jersey a badge of defiance. The mountains loom, a stark backdrop to his quiet life, but beneath the surface, chaos brews.
His aggressive mother, Michelle, is fighting to keep his family together as his father, Reed, a war-haunted veteran who is drowning in alcohol, drifts farther away. Then there’s the trio of tormentors—Damon, Nick, and Alex—bullies whose cruelty escalates from taunts to a savage pursuit that threatens Jacob’s very survival. Brandt crafts these characters with raw intensity: Jacob’s grit burns bright, Michelle’s love is a ferocious shield, and Reed’s brokenness cuts deep.
Then there is also Daniel, the quiet butcher and fair vendor, whose chilling duality—mentor one moment, menace the next—twists the tale into a vortex of dread.
The story’s heart pounds with themes of bullying, trauma, and the razor-thin edge of morality. Brandt doesn’t hold back, creating a realistic rural scene where the smells of cattle and greasy funnel cakes at the county fair conceal a sinister undertone. Although the bullies’ abuse intensifies like a storm, a terrifying, fast-paced pursuit is what turns the story into a full-fledged conflagration. Jacob, roaring on his 4-wheeler, flees for his life as Damon’s truck closes in, tires screeching, gravel flying, and the air thick with malice.
The collision is brutal: metal crunches, dust chokes the sky, and Jacob’s world shatters in a violent tumble into a ditch. But this is not the end; instead, it was the beginning of a much-needed break that will completely change the trajectory of this story. It is a crucible, forging Jacob’s resilience and unleashing a chain of events that spiral into a dark, uncharted abyss. Here, the stakes skyrocket, and the true cost of vengeance, loyalty, and survival comes into razor-sharp focus.
Brandt’s prose is a blade. It is sharp, direct, and unrelenting, cutting through the quiet of rural life to expose raw human struggle. The fair buzzes with deceptive charm, only to unravel into a battlefield where innocence is hunted. Daniel’s barn, with its sterile concrete and frosty coolers, becomes a house of horrors, hinting at unspeakable acts that chill the bones. The pace is a runaway train, accelerating from Jacob’s desperate flight to a confrontation that will test every ounce of his courage. With every chapter further escalating the tension, you can only expect more thrill and tension with each passing moment. And just when you thought that you might have figured it out, another twist will completely turn the tables.
Jacob’s Bully is a gut-punch of a debut. It is a thriller that sears the soul and keeps you guessing. It’s a stark mirror to the scars of bullying, the weight of broken families, and the shadowy dance of justice. Brandt delivers a story that’s not for the faint-hearted. With its intensity and thrill, this book is perfect for readers craving a raw, intense journey through a small town’s darkest corners.
Hold tight; this one’s a storm you won’t forget.
Order your copy on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1967109605.