Because I self-published Seduction, all of the reviews came from Amazon readers. I submit them here, the good with the bad.

5.0 out of 5 stars An Imaginative Political Thriller|

Reviewed January 17, 2014

“I have to admit that as soon as I read the summary for “The Seduction of Braulio Jules” I was hooked, it’s such an imaginative idea that I couldn’t help but find myself diving into the novel with an eagerness I hadn’t had in quite a while… and the novel didn’t disappoint. Tim Treanor brings this unique political thriller to life with memorable characters (both good and bad), strong dialogue that captures the voices of the characters perfectly, vivid imagery that paints the scenes with a fine brush, and a plot that keeps you coming back for more.

“The story centers around a country soon to be in crisis as the government’s debts come due, in a last ditch effort to see the country and to weed out the undesirables a select few decide to take fate and political judgment into their own hands with a virus that would decimate the senior generation. In comes Braulio Jules, a young man with a lot of dreams and a special blood type that makes him the key to success for the virus… but is he willing to play their game?

“What I liked about the book was that it has a strong, sharp writing style that really sets the tone for this novel. The author writes with an assurity and a clear flair for the intriguing as he weaves the plot and characters into a stunning dance of political intrigue, drama, emotional bouts of humanity and a witty subtle commentary on the government as a whole. The novel is well written, exciting and engaging from the very first page until the last. Overall, I had a great time reading this and would definitely recommend it to other readers.”
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Coker  5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic novel
September 17, 2014

“One thing that really stands out in The Seduction of Braulio Jules is the fantastic character development. You get the bad guys – including politicians and scientists – that you love to hate.
Then of course there’s Braulio Jules – a man who appears to be just coming out of his shell. I have a feeling we’ll be seeing more of his evolution in the next novel!

“These are characters that would fit right in to an HBO series – you just want more of them.

“Treanor, thanks to his past, has an extensive knowledge of the government and its internal workings. This only adds to the realism of the story. What better way to control the population than through wars or disease – or both? And who better to target than the aging population, which is a drain on the economy rather than a support?

“Treanor also has an obvious knowledge of science. This novel has the feel of Michael Crichton all throughout. The fiction world lost an excellent, talented author when Crichton passed away. I’m looking forward to Treanor filling that hole. Like Crichton, this book is based on a situation that is extremely plausible and, knowing our government, even likely.

“The Seduction of Braulio Jules certainly left you hanging for the next novel. I’ll be sure to read all of Tim Treanor’s work.
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DsrtRosy  2.0 out of 5 stars Don’t write what you don’t know
February 26, 2014

“As a real horse person I can’t get past the very detailed, very ignorant chapter about the horses. Real breeders don’t call a stallion the “house stud”. Nor do they discuss a breeding horse as “having sex”. A surgeon doesn’t remove a horse’s “stallionhood”, but rather he is gelded by a vet. And you are never “in control” of a 1500 pound animal–the approach the idiot in the story made to the dangerous horse would get someone killed.

“Seriously, people who don’t know horses should not write about them.”
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Baltimore Writer4.0 out of 5 stars A real grabber!
January 9, 2014

“I am not a huge fan of political thrillers but as a former DC resident I love books about the potboiler life Inside the Beltway. Tim Treanor’s novel fulfills my jones for DC-themed books but is also a fascinating and disturbing look into the Machiavellian machinations of both presidential politics and the goings-on in the more small-potatoes environs of Buffalo, NY. My knowledge of Buffalo begins and ends with the chicken wing, so the insider look at the city, its politics, food and culture, was a real treat to read and smacks of authenticity. As I said political thrillers are not my thing, but “The Seduction of Braulio Jules” (a play on “The Seduction of Joe Tynan” I assume) adds a layer of paranoia and intrigue with a plot concerning a deadly virus intending to solve that pesky problem of Baby Boomers draining Social Security, Medicare and other resources dry. The apocalyptic scenario posed by Treanor concerning the Baby Boomer glut is all the more terrifying because it not only sounds doable, but reasonable. It makes you want to eye up every Millenial you meet on the street. Treanor’s debut novel is impressive, as he has given us memorable characters, a sound plot and an insider’s view of the political scene in two cities. Well done!”
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Margaret W. Paroski  5.0 out of 5 stars  Gripping tale
February 3, 2014

“In an intriguing mix of politics, psychology, economics and medicine, Treanor shows us how insidious the slippery slope to selling one’s soul can be. To what depths would you sink to achieve your dream? How many lives would you destroy to win? How long would you be able to rationalize it before you realized that winning the game meant losing yourself? “I have become the sort of man who would frighten me were I a child…who frightens me now”. This riveting tale couples a fast paced, ever twisting plot with moments of insightful reflection on human nature. The author’s understanding that no matter how much one accomplishes, we are all, at the bottom, just a “puddle of fear” takes this story a level up from the standard political thriller. As I anxiously await the next book in this series, I can’t help but envision a Dorian Gray type portrait of Braulio sitting in an attic somewhere…
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James Rincon 5.0 out of 5 stars An intriguing page turner
February 5, 2014

“Within the first few sentences of this quick-paced thriller, Mr. Treanor’s wraps readers in a well-written and suspenseful narrative that begs the constant question “What will happen next?”. The Seduction of Braulio Jules is as thought-provoking as it is spellbinding and challenges readers to philosophize on nature, science, technology, politics and the human condition, all while maintaining a welcome velocity that is well managed through a series of interesting plot twist. A great read for anyone looking to be stimulated on both visceral and intellectual levels.”
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D A Bale  3.0 out of 5 stars Timely Subject Matter
June 12, 2014

“Don Delano rubs shoulders with some of the most powerful people in Washington D.C. He’s also secretly working behind the scenes with a small group of very important people – powerful businessmen and women and political leaders who are trying to resolve the looming crisis that threatens the very fabric of the Union.

“How to account for the mass retirement of Baby Boomers. Expectations are certain that this generation will overwhelm the already taxed Social Security and Medicare systems. Chaos is coming and no one wants to accept responsibility.

“Dr. Gary Sanders is working on a solution – an unorthodox solution that, if discovered, would threaten the delicate sensibilities of the populace. He’s run into problem after problem trying to get his formula right, but time is running out and his benefactor only has so much patience – even though money is no object.

“Amidst the crisis, a sudden shift in succession brings the one man into the Oval Office who just might be willing to do whatever is necessary to avert financial Armageddon – by causing one of his own.

“The beginning of the story had me immediately enticed. The stakes were high. The possible solutions to the crisis had the potential to create a firestorm no matter which side of the fence people hung onto. It presented a clear case of no-win scenarios for our characters. I liked that.

“However, about halfway through the story began to nosedive. The excitement dwindled. The pace crawled. The whole story felt bogged down. The characters did not seem to stay true to themselves, particularly in the case of Don Delano’s stepson, Ned. Motivations became disjointed. The entire story shifted away from D.C. to upper-state New York and the cast of characters I’d enjoyed up to that point pretty much disappeared from the narrative and were replaced by caricatures. Then I came to the end and it was like having the book jerked out of my hands and slammed into a wall.

“I realize this is a trilogy and sequels are planned, but most tend to have at least a smidge of resolution or come down from the cliff before enticing the reader to wait for the next in the series. This door slam basically made me put my Kindle down and go what was that all about? I felt no sense of desire to continue on with the story by that point and really only finished this one for the sake of review.

“There were several situations within the political sphere that did not ring true for me, notably the suspicious activity surrounding the President and his physician while in a foreign country and the rapid appointment of a successor (and I don’t want to say anything more specifically to avoid spoilers). So many things that would have taken months and months in reality seem to take mere days here. The political machine is a very, very slow-moving wheel. I realize this is fiction, but these things were just too far beyond realistic for me to swallow, even in a novel.

“However, point-of-view remained fairly tight within scenes. Mostly showing of the events as they were happening with very little telling, which is a plus in my book. This helped keep the beginning moving along at a very nice pace. The politics of the characters were grayed, without either side of the aisle being all praised or conversely demonized, which I found to be refreshing and more realistic to the D.C. scene. I think it would help this novel appeal to a broader audience than the typical political thriller. And like most thrillers, there’s a heavy dose of rough language at times – just an FYI.

“For the exciting beginning, timeliness of subject matter, and fairly clean structure I’d rate The Seduction of Braulio Jules a three star. Oh, and I really love the cover!

“I received a copy of this novel in exchange for a review and was not financially compensated in any way for my honest opinion.”
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Maureen A. Brady 5.0 out of 5 stars Political Junkies will love it!
March 9, 2014

“If you love politics you will love this book. Even if you don’t love politics, there are plenty of interesting characters and inventive plot twists to keep you reading. My only complaint is that I have to wait for the next book in the series to find out what happens next.”
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Ann Rincon  5.0 out of 5 stars Both mesmerizing and terrifying – especially for baby boomers.
February 28, 2014

“Think it couldn’t happen? Think again. Treanor takes you on a ride filled with plot twists and characters that are even more twisted. I found the interplay of politics, technology and human nature fascinating and frightening. Can’t wait for the next installment!”
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Daniel Osborn  5.0 out of 5 stars Well written page-turner
August 15, 2014

“A well written political thriller, Treanor has made characters that you care about and woven together a page turner. I thoroughly enjoyed it.”
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AKHI Jeni  4.0 out of 5 stars Well Written First Novel!
April 9, 2014

“This book went around the world with me! I had just started it, when I had to leave for Japan, so I packed it in my carry on, and read my way through Taiwan and Okinawa!

“I liked this book because I was constantly surprised, and impressed. The plot line is creative and well developed, the characters are believable and diverse, and the writing style is genuine, and easy to read, conversation-pace. I am really impressed that this is Treanor’s first novel.

“The story flowed nicely from chapter to chapter, and really kept me interested from beginning to end. There really wasn’t any dead space in the middle, which I often find with first-time novelists. There are lots of characters, but its easy to keep them straight, and understand their relevance in the plot.

“I especially liked the Jules family dynamics. The relationships seemed very real and down to earth.

“The politics aren’t tedious, as politics can be.

“Well worth the 2-3 hours it’ll take to read it. Not best seller worthy, but thankfully not a waste of time like so many books are! Entertaining and well done.”
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4.0 out of 5 stars Intriguing and Terrifying
March 25, 2014

“Tim Treanor has written a real page turner here that got me thinking, could this really happen? With Medicare and Social Security costs rising out of control and the outrageous debt our government keeps adding to every minute of every day, I have to wonder is there a way out? In this book, a virus, that can be transmitted by dogs too, is created that is supposed to kill people born before 1962 thus keeping them from drawing on the social security fund that is quickly running out since not enough workers are paying in to it to keep it afloat. The thought of people doing this, scares me beyond belief. Personally, I think less government regulation and lower taxes on small businesses who create jobs, along with cracking down on all the waste, fraud, and abuse in government would be a good way to start, not actually killing off the sick and elderly. What an imagination Tim must have to write such a political, medical thriller. I will definitely read the next book in the series to see what happens next.”
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4.0 out of 5 stars Good Book
March 23, 2014

“I’m not a fan of political books, but being that this book was a polical thriller, made it all the more interesting. The author had much of an imagination when writing this book. Intersting plot and great character development.”
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Kaitlyn Turner 5.0 out of 5 stars A captivating political view
May 27, 2014

“As soon as I read the summary of this book, I knew I would be hooked. And, true to my expectations, Tim Treanor had me stuck in the book within the first few sentences.

“If I’m being honest, I usually HATE books centered around politics, but I couldn’t help being intrigued by Treanor’s approach to the story. I’ve heard tons about the problems with Baby Boomers and Social Security, but I had never seen it put in a way quite like this. I probably would have stopped reading this, but the layers of paranoia and intrigue, as well as the threat of a deadly virus being released, made me NEED to find out. I couldn’t have stopped reading this if I wanted to.

“Treanor is obviously an extremely talented author and I’m very happy that I read his book. There’s been many times where I read the first book of a series and never even think about reading the second one, but this is not one of those times. Treanor’s sharp and powerful writing style fits the story perfectly, and on a whole, is very intellectually stimulating. People need to read this book.”

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
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wogan 3.0 out of 5 stars A harsh solution
April 28, 2014

“`The Seduction of Braulio Jules’ is definitely a part of a series. First of all, if not having a complete story in the book you are reading is an irritation, you might want to skip this, or wait until you have the complete series in your hands.

“The plot is an extreme one. There are too many baby boomers, and a solution has to be found to solve the problem of the expenses these aging retirees have on the American economy.

“There are random streams of thought from the characters that can be confusing. At one point, Sanders who has been hired to create a solution thinks back to a commercial for mustard. It doesn’t become completely clear until their next meeting what is really happening. In another scene we read that a panel truck stops and three kids pounded on it with baseball bats, then left and it was stolen from a car in a driveway.

“**a possible spoiler**There is also a major question left in my mind…would a foreign government actually be permitted to perform an autopsy on an American president if he died in their country? It really would not happen; the Secret Service alone would not allow it; especially when the president’s physician also dies. Then there is no immediate hue and outcry from the American people, especially when the president’s body is cremated instantly too. Sometimes the events in here are a bit far out in believability.

“There is a cynicism in much of the book from everyone. It is even present when a new member of the president’s team enters the White House and his first thoughts are that it is old and the names of the rooms are strange. There is no sentiment at all when he wonders why people would even gather in front of it in times of trouble.
The cynicism is endemic and the story is to be continued.”

I was asked to review this book and given a copy for examination. The opinion and details written here, are mine alone and were not dictated or ordered.
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Megan Darlene  3.0 out of 5 stars Good if you like Political Thrillers
April 7, 2014

“Right away I will admit that Political Thrillers aren’t usually my first choice when choosing a book to read, however I will say that in spite of that it was an interesting book to read. The book was fast paced and fun without being too trite and predictable. The subject matter is scary and has that “could-be-real” quality which makes it a better read and it also makes a person think. My complaint would be that the characters seem a bit predictable and follow the basic Action/thriller outline. Over all a nice read and I recommend this book to all those people who enjoy curling up with a good thriller.”
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bd  5.0 out of 5 stars A Gripping Political Thriller for Uncertain Times
January 12, 2014

“Tim Treanor’s assured debut novel blends timely political drama and international intrigue to create a dark vision of the USA in the not too distant future. As shadowy figures at the levers of power race to prevent disaster and shape the country’s future, idealistic congressional aide Braulio Jules gets caught up in their shadowy plot. What unfolds is a first rate thriller that will satisfy readers inside the Beltway and out. Treanor uses the utmost care to populate grand political plots and doomsday scenarios with believable characters and meticulous detail. Think David Baldacci meets Dan Brown with a dose of “Hot Zone”. Treanor has burst out of the gate with the first installment of his Life and Death Series, and his first book promises even greater things just around the bend.”
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ebomb143  5.0 out of 5 stars Fast paced political thriller
April 24, 2014

“I have to admit this was my first time reading a political thriller, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. The plot is outstanding and made me wonder if it could possibly happen in the future, which is one of the reasons I found the book so interesting. The first chapter draws you in with the introduction of the “evil scientist”, Dr. Sanders. Let me tell you Dr. Sanders is not a person I would want to cross paths with. Treanor tells a gripping story from start to finish, and leaves you wanting more. I can’t wait to read the second book of the series as I am sure it will be just as captivating as the first.”
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WolfessRose  5.0 out of 5 stars Well-written.|
March 26, 2014

“I was quite surprised while reading this book that this is Tim Treanor’s debut novel. The context in which this book is written, as well as the plot and characters, is very well done. I have enjoyed this book thoroughly and am anticipating the second and third book greatly.
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Thanks to all the reviewers.  And while I am not sold on the sovereign judgment of artificial intelligence, I herewith reproduce Amazon’s AI’s summary of the reviews, since it’s favorable to me.

Customers say

Customers find the plot twists inventive and interesting. They also appreciate the intelligently written characters that come to life. Readers describe the writing style as well-written and suspenseful. They find the book brilliant and timely.