MRC RECOMMENDS: The Bystander by John David
“This debut novel hit it out of the park…“
— The Mystery Review Crew
The Bystander
By John David
Genre: Political Thriller, Thriller
Series: The Lemaster Files Book 1
It wasn’t just another live shot …
TV reporter Pete Lemaster anticipates nothing more riveting than filming a short lifestyle segment for an upcoming college football rivalry when he arrives at the Jacksonville Waterfront pregame tailgate party. Then chaos erupts as a bystander stops an active shooter with an act of stunning bravery. And Pete suddenly holds a golden career opportunity in his hands-an exclusive video that goes viral.
With the citizen hero’s star rising among the Second Amendment folk, Pete, too, enjoys the perks of fame. But something about that now-famous moment feels off, so he uses his journalism skills to poke around. Suddenly, he’s not sure what he captured is the truth.
And now opportunistic political and media figures are threatening Pete’s life if he doesn’t back off. Can he blow the whistle on a coverup, out the real villain, and stay alive?
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Review of The Bystander by John David
Conspiracy, Corruption, Veterans, and Second Amendment rights are at the crux of this new novel.
If you were somewhere and an active shooter was on the scene, could you shoot them if your life depended on it? That is what happened, and several lives were impacted forever.
Pete Lemaster is a journalist for a local television station, and with technology as it is, he is both a cameraman and a reporter. But when coverage at a pre-football rally gains him the scoop of the week, his life will never be the same.
From the beginning of this book, or close to it anyway, I could tell something was going on regarding this shooting. I didn’t know what exactly, but I knew I was in for a ride with the rest of the book. The truth isn’t revealed until halfway through the book, and even then, more twists kept me engaged in the book until the end.
I felt for the victim after learning more about his situation. I don’t want to spoil anything, but the situation angered me. The same goes for the politicians in the novel; they are truly smarmy and not who I would want representing me or fulfilling an office for their own gain.
The bystander who kills the shooter, is he a hero? Some would say he is, but others may not. But not to worry, things don’t go quite as he plans either.
There is even some humor with Pete’s mother. She is wise but nosy, and wants to know everything about Pete’s life. I even liked his agent, Evan, even though we don’t see much of him.
This debut novel hit it out of the park for this reader, and I can only imagine what might happen in future installments in this series. Possibly even a little romance for Pete and Rebecca.
About John David
John David is a long-time public relations and crisis communications consultant, author of a non-fiction business book, and a corporate ghostwriter. His debut novel, The Bystander (The Lemaster Files Book 1), was longlisted for the BPA First Novel Award and was named a finalist for the 2025 Story Trade Book Award for traditional mysteries. It will be released by Tule Publishing in September of 2025. Though not a big joiner, he is a member of the International Thriller Writers Debut Author program. When not working or writing, he enjoys fishing, talking about politics, and following the Florida Gators. He and his beautiful wife Pamela live in Pinecrest, Florida.
Subscribe to his Substack at: https://byjohndavid.substack.com/
