Fiction Addict

Genre: Thriller

Publisher: Thomas Nelson

Publication date: January 10, 2006

Reviewed by Jeremy Taylor

Tim Downs’s third novel is a mostly successful combination of character depth, plot suspense, and exhaustive research. Downs, whose other books form a series about a forensic entomologist, uses his above-average knowledge about insects to good effect in this standalone thriller.

FBI counterterrorism agent Nathan Donovan’s life is coming apart. His wife left him after his son died of cancer, his career is on the rocks thanks to his unnecessary risk-taking, and his depression is spiraling out of control. One day he gets a call that changes his life—Li, an 80-year-old Chinese man, has reason to believe the dead fleas Donovan discovered at his most recent crime scene are a portent of the most sinister terrorist plot the U.S. has ever seen. Li says New York City is about to come under a biological attack when fleas carrying bubonic plague are released into the air. The man behind the attack is a guy Li has been hunting for six decades.

Plague Maker is a solid book from a promising author. It is entertaining with just the right amount of subtle humor, yet appropriately dark in places as well, particularly when discussing the motivation behind the terrorists’ plans. Downs does a good job of weaving relational issues into the narrative, using the relationship between Donovan and his ex-wife, a psychological profiler who is pulled in to assist with the case. The biggest disappointment is the fact that certain characters who seemed key to the story early on were dropped from the plot as it developed. In spite of that, the ending is satisfying if a bit abrupt, and the characters Downs has created are strong enough to perhaps warrant a sequel.

The underlying message of the book seems to be one of human forgiveness. The book contains no significant objectionable content, though some descriptions of human biological-weapons testing during World War II are disturbing.

Overall, this is quite a good book. It’s a terrorism story that relies on suspense and character interaction rather than grotesque destruction to get its point across. The writing is strong, the characters are realistic, and the threat presented seems realistic. Tim Downs is likely to be a major player in the thriller genre for a long time to come.

We love giving away great fiction and we’ve only just begun. Beginning today (Jul7 27th) we are partnering with St. Martin’s Press for our Joseph Finder Vanished Giveaway! If you are truly a fiction addict, then this is a must read for you!

To enter send an email to contest@fictionaddict.com with the subject line “Vanished Contest”. Include the following info:

1. Your Name

2. Your mailing address

3. Tell us where you found about the contest.

That’s it!

Only 1 entry per person. This giveaway is only open to residents of the U.S. and Canada.

Winners will be announced on our website on August 10th and will be notified via email. Spread the word!

Check out our recent interview with Joseph Finder.

Genre: Mystery, Thriller

Publisher: Little, Brown and Company

Publication Date: February 4th, 2008

Reviewed by Jake Chism

Detective Lindsay Boxer just landed the lead of her career in the disappearance case of Michael Campion, the teenage son of California’s former governor. Not only has she found a suspect, but she has the murder confession to boot.  Just when everything falls into place the suspect recants the confession throwing the trial into a downward spiral.

Meanwhile, two arsonists are preying on wealthy rich couples and Lindsay and her partner, Rich Conklin, can’t seem to keep ahead of these sadistic murderers on the loose. Once again Lindsay Boxer leans on her cohorts in the Women’s Murder Club to try and save the day.

This seventh installment of James Patterson’s bestselling Women’s Murder Club series gives fans just what they want: more mystery, more murder, more romance, and thankfully a better story than The 6^th Target. Lindsay, Claire, Cindy, and Yuki are as engaging as ever and Patterson and Paetro do a great job of giving each character a fair share of the story. This series seems to be developing a pattern of following multiple cases with each new offering and this time it really works. Both cases are interesting throughout and there’s even a great little twist in the end that I never saw coming.

As always readers must be aware of the sex and profanity that Patterson deems necessary for his novels. Numerous writers in the genre have proven to us time and time again that a great story can be told without such elements. I guess Patterson and company are paying more attention to the astronomical sales numbers than to my objections.

Overall I have really enjoyed this series. The only thing not working for me is the relationship turmoil Lindsay continually finds herself in. I do realize these scenes were not necessarily written for my demographic, and I suspect Lindsay’s romantic entanglements are exactly why millions of other readers keep coming back. However, for me the mystery and fast paced storytelling are all I need and are enough to bring me back for more.

Genre: Fantasy, Adventure, Young Adult

Publisher: Scholastic

Publication Date: June 1^st, 2005

Reviewed by Lori Twichell

Mortimer Folchart (Mo) isn’t your ordinary book binder or book doctor as his daughter, Meggie, refers to him. The title fits. He cares for books as gently as any doctor caring for a patient. But Mo has a talent that sets him apart from the ordinary. He can read books to life. Literally.

Years ago Mo discovered his talent for bringing the written word to life while reading the book “Inkheart” to his young daughter. One moment he was quietly reading in the peace of his living room and the next he was surrounded by Basta, Dustfinger, and the evil Capricorn, all pulled from the pages and standing before his family, very much alive. No longer trapped by ink and paper, they were now free to roam through Mo’s world. Horrified, Mo tried to read them back into the book, but it was to no avail. Mo had no control over who came out of the book and, far worse than that, much to Mo’s horror, he discovered that when something came out of the book, something else went back in to replace it. This is when Mo decided that he would never, ever read aloud again.

Now, nearly a decade later, Mo and his now teenaged daughter Meggie cross paths with Inkheart’s characters once more. Capricorn wants Mo to read more of his evil friends out of the book and Dustfinger wants desperately to go back home and both of them need Mo to do this.

The adventure that Cornelia Funke has woven in this tale is beautiful, brilliant and one that every book lover will enjoy without a doubt. (And every author will wish they’d created.) Funke’s reverence and love of the written word fills every page. I couldn’t help but be drawn in as I followed her on this journey. Her description flows around you and pulls you into her world much as Mo’s voice pulls characters from their own world and into his.

I was delighted as I read this book and though I don’t always have as much time for reading as I’d like, I had a very difficult time putting this book down. The adventure is harrowing in places, heart wrenching in others and makes you laugh out loud often. I love the fact that Funke created her own world but that it was grounded in our own geography and great works of literature. The story takes place in Italy and Funke reintroduces us to several major characters from classic works of art, allowing us to experience them in a whole new way. Inkheart is the first in a trilogy of books followed by Inkspell and Inkdeath and I can’t wait to see what happens next.

An excerpt from VANISHED

By Joseph Finder

PART ONE

Behind every great fortune lies a great crime.

—honoré de balzac

PROLOGUE

Washington, D.C.

Lauren Heller’s husband disappeared at a few minutes after ten thirty on a rainy evening.

They were walking to their car after dinner at his favorite Japanese restaurant, on Thirty- third Street in Georgetown. Roger, a serious sushi connoisseur, considered Oji- San the best, most authentic place in all of D.C. Lauren didn’t care one way or another. Raw fish was raw fish, she thought: pretty, but inedible. But Roger— the Mussolini of maki, the Stalin of sashimi— never settled for less than the best. “Hey, I married you, right?” he pointed out on the way over, and how was she supposed to argue with that?

She was just grateful they were finally having a date night. They hadn’t had one in almost three months. Not that it had been much of a date, actually. He’d seemed awfully preoccupied. Worried about something. Then again, he got that way sometimes, for days at a time. That was just the way he dealt with stress at the office. A very male thing, she’d always thought. Men tended to internalize their problems. Women usually let it out, got emotional, screamed or cried or just got mad, and ended up coping a lot better in the long run. If that wasn’t emotional intelligence, then what was?

But Roger, whom she loved and admired and who was probably the smartest guy she’d ever met, handled stress like a typical man. Plus, he didn’t like to talk about things. That was just his way. That was how he’d been brought up. She remembered once saying to him, “We need to talk,” and he replied, “Those are the scariest four words in the English language.”

Anyway, they had a firm rule: no shop talk. Since they both worked at Gifford Industries— he as a senior finance guy, she as admin to the CEO— that was the only way to keep work from invading their home life.

So at dinner, Roger barely said a word, checked his BlackBerry every few minutes, and scarfed down his nigiri. She’d ordered something recommended by their waiter, which sounded good but turned out to be layers of miso- soaked black cod. The house specialty. Yuck. She left it untouched, picked at her seaweed salad, drank too much sake, got a little tipsy.

They’d cut through Cady’s Alley, a narrow cobblestone walkway lined with old red- brick ware houses converted to high- end German kitchen stores and Italian lighting boutiques. Their footsteps echoed hollowly.

She stopped at the top of the concrete steps that led down to Water Street, and said, “Feel like getting some ice cream? Thomas Sweet, maybe?”

The oblique beam of a streetlight caught his white teeth, his strong nose, the pouches that had recently appeared under his eyes. “I thought you’re on South Beach.”

“They have some sugar- free stuff that’s not bad.”

“It’s all the way over on P, isn’t it?”

“There’s a Ben & Jerry’s on M.”

“We probably shouldn’t press our luck with Gabe.”

“He’ll be fine,” she said. Their son was fourteen: old enough to stay home by himself. In truth, staying home alone made him a little ner vous though he’d never admit it. The kid was as stubborn as his parents.

Water Street was dark, deserted, kind of creepy at that time of night. A row of cars were parked along a chain- link fence, the scrubby banks of the Potomac just beyond. Roger’s black S-Class Mercedes was wedged between a white panel van and a battered Toyota.

He stood for a moment, rummaged through his pockets, then turned abruptly. “Damn. Left the keys back in the restaurant.”

She grunted, annoyed but not wanting to make a big deal out of it.

“You didn’t bring yours, did you?”

Lauren shook her head. She rarely drove his Mercedes anyway. He was too fussy about his car. “Check your pockets?”

He patted the pockets of his trench coat and his pants and suit jacket as if to prove it.

“Yeah. Must’ve left them on the table in the restaurant when I took out my BlackBerry. Sorry about that. Come on.”

“We don’t both have to go back. I’ll wait here.”

A motorcycle blatted by from somewhere below. The white- noise roar of trucks on the Whitehurst Freeway overhead.

“I don’t want you standing out here alone.”

“I’ll be fine. Just hurry, okay?”

He hesitated, took a step toward her, then suddenly kissed her on the lips. “I love you,” he said.

She stared at his back as he hustled across the street. It pleased her to hear that I love you, but she wasn’t used to it, really. Roger Heller was a good husband and father, but not the most demonstrative of men.

A distant shout, then raucous laughter: frat kids, probably Georgetown or GW.

A scuffing sound from the pavement behind her.

She turned to look, felt a sudden gust of air, and a hand was clamped over her mouth.

She tried to scream, but it was stifled beneath the large hand, and she struggled frantically. Roger so close. Maybe a few hundred feet away by then. Close enough to see what was happening to her, if only he’d turn around.

Powerful arms had grabbed her from behind.

She needed to get Roger’s attention, but he obviously couldn’t hear anything at that distance, the scuffling masked by the traffic sounds. Turn around, damn it! she thought. Good God, please turn around!

“Roger!” she screamed, but it came out a pathetic mewl. She smelled some kind of cheap cologne, mixed with stale cigarette smoke.

She tried to twist her body around, to wrench free, but her arms were trapped, pinioned against the sides of her body, and she felt something cold and hard at her temple, and she heard a click, and then something struck the side of her head, a jagged lightning bolt of pain piercing her eyes.

The foot. Stomp on his foot— some half- remembered martial- arts selfdefense class from long ago. Stomp his instep.

She jammed her left foot down hard, striking nothing, then kicked backwards, hit the Mercedes with a hollow metallic crunch. She tried to pivot, and—

Roger swiveled suddenly, alerted by the sound. He shouted, “Lauren!”

Raced back across the street.

“What the hell are you doing to her?” he screamed. “Why her?”

Something slammed against the back of her head. She tasted blood.

She tried to make sense of what was going on, but she was falling backwards, hurtling through space, and that was the last thing she remembered.

VANISHED. Copyright © 2009 by Joseph Finder. All rights reserved. Printed in the

United States of America. For information, address St. Martin’s Press, 175 Fifth Avenue,

New York, NY 10010.

Genre: Comedy

Publisher: Zondervan

Publication Date: March 2008

Reviewed by Tim George

Michael Snyder’s debut novel, My Name is Russell Fink, is a departure from the norm in today’s Christian fiction. Perhaps that is because “normal” isn’t a part of Russell Fink’s life. In his mid-twenties, Russell has led a mediocre life and is proud of it. His father is a fallen faith healer bent on making it back to the big time. His mother is a not-so-closet alcoholic still putting on the front of a doting minister’s wife. Peter, his occasionally con-man brother, is an aspiring novelist intent on jotting down every one of his family’s sorry secrets for a future Pulitzer Prize winning memoir. In short Russell’s family is what by any definition is normally labeled, dysfunctional.

Russell’s problems are compounded by a job he hates yet can’t seem to get fired from, a camera hound fiancée he can’t manage to dump, and the fact the only level headed member of the family is his grandfather (in prison for killing Russell’s grandmother).  It’s little surprise that faith and God have faded into the annoying fringes of our hero’s life. That is until, Sonny his psychic Bassett Hound, appears to have been murdered. That event leads Russell on a search for his best friend’s killer in which he finds more than he bargained for, including the girl he always really loved and should have married. His greatest discovery is the meaning of forgiveness and reconciliation.

This is one of the books that is, I think intentionally, hard to classify. Is it Chick Lit? Is it comedy? Is it a mystery? It’s the kind of book that a guy like me wouldn’t normally crack the front cover if paid to. And, it’s one of those books that reach a point of critical mass and you know there’s something good out there you can’t afford to miss by putting it down. If you are part of the 10 percent of the population that has lived a perfect life, My Name is Russell Fink will totally mystify you. And, if you are one of the unfortunates in life with no sense of humor this story might even offend you. But for those of us who have experienced disappointment, frustration, disillusionment, and even failure we say, “Thank you Russell Fink!”

A review in Publisher’s Weekly finds fault with the number of “crazy characters and rampant story lines” in Snyder’s hilarious novel. That is what I applaud it for. Only a few of us have perfect families. Only a few have lived lives with perfectly plotted, three-act storylines. This is a book for the rest of us.

Check out this great new contest to celebrate the release of Vanished.

Find and collect all the clues located around the Web. You’ll get an exclusive, early introduction to exciting new series character Nick Heller. Solve the mystery and you could win an iPhone 3GS and $100 iTunes gift card! Play The VANISHED Quest Game!

(From www.JosephFinder.com)

We present to you our interview with NY Times Bestselling Author, Joseph Finder. Recently Jake Chism caught up with the author to discuss Vanished, the crafting of characters, and the benefits of social networking for authors. A special “thank you” goes out to everyone who submitted fan questions via Twitter.

More about Joseph Finder:

Joseph Finder, internationally bestselling author of eight novels, launches a new series in August 2009 with the publication of VANISHED. VANISHED introduces high-level corporate security consultant Nick Heller, and will be the first in a series of at least four books to be published by St. Martin’s Press.

Finder’s most recent book, POWER PLAY (2007), debuted at #7 on the New York Times list; before that, the international bestseller KILLER INSTINCT won ITW’s Thriller Award for Best Novel of 2006. Other bestselling titles include COMPANY MAN, PARANOIA, and HIGH CRIMES, which became a hit movie starring Ashley Judd & Morgan Freeman.

A summa cum laude graduate of Yale, where he was a member of Phi Beta Kappa, Finder did graduate work at the Harvard Russian Research Center. He lives in Boston with his wife, their teenage daughter, and a neurotic golden retriever, Mia, a dropout from seeing-eye-dog school.

Fore more information about Joseph Finder and his novels please visit his website, and check out our Vanished Giveaway details here.

You can also download this interview via iTunes.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

We had so many entries in our Tosca Lee Giveaway that we decided to give away even more than we planned! The following 7 people will receive autographed copies of both Demon: A Memoir and Havah: The Story of Eve:

Christian Anders (Baton Rouge, LA)

Yvonne Olson (Puyallup, WA)

Randi Andersen (St. Marys, PA)

Brian Piersen (Lebanon, MO)

Nikki Forde (Yelm, WA)

Deidre Steain (Victoria, Australia)

Julie Gail L. Malana (Muntinlupa City, Philippines)

Thanks so much to Tosca Lee for making this giveaway possible!

Check back later today for another big FictionAddict.com Giveaway!

Genre: Mystery, Suspense

Publisher: Mira

Publication date: June 26, 2007

Reviewed by Jeremy Taylor

This satisfactory debut novel from Jason Pinter features nearly nonstop action, mostly believable and sympathetic characters, a realistic plot conflict, and a likeable first-person narrator. Armed with a formidable list of endorsers, including James Patterson, Lee Child, and Joseph Finder, the book is well written enough to make this young author successful once he irons out some of the rough areas.

Henry Parker is a fresh-faced 24-year-old reporter for the New York Gazette. Though his personal life isn’t everything he once hoped it might be, he’s thrilled with the opportunity to live out his journalistic ambitions at one of the nation’s most respected institutions. Little does he know his first big assignment could spell not only the end of his career but the end of his life.

After narrowly escaping death at the hands of a crooked police officer while researching a story, Parker finds himself framed for the cop’s murder. Now the target of a nationwide manhunt, he struggles to escape New York while trying to track down leads pointing to the real murderer. Parker spends most of the book trying to stay one step ahead of both the cops and the real criminals as Pinter builds the suspense and mystery right to the climactic final scene.

A fast-paced, entertaining read, The Mark nevertheless suffers from some avoidable rookie bloopers. A few loose connections in the story aren’t quite sewn up, and unfortunate grammatical errors, improper word usage (e.g., confidence instead of conscience), and awkward phrasing serve as obstacles to the reader’s enjoyment as well. On the positive side, the action is intense, and the newspaper backdrop allows for some intelligence behind the intrigue and mystery. Pinter adds some texture by employing a mixed narrative, switching back and forth between first-person and third-person storytelling.

The story is unfortunately marred by foul language and crass humor, and the underlying worldview is one that takes sexuality very lightly, so caution is required. Sophomoric humor and some lame analogies (“my statement sunk in like a hypodermic needle”) betray the author’s inexperience as well. Still, this is a solid first effort from an author who will undoubtedly be entertaining mystery fans for a long time.

Genre: Political

Publisher: Howard

Publication date: June 3, 2008

Reviewed by Jeremy Taylor

In today’s political climate, it seems a novel about politics might be eclipsed by the real-life drama playing out in Washington every day. Yet with surprising skill for a first-time novelist, Ralph Reed, veteran political insider and former Christian Coalition director, presents a scenario that is almost as compelling as the real thing.

California governor Robert Long is facing liberal Senator Salmon Stanley for the Democratic presidential nomination in a hotly contested race. Stanley is declared the winner, but Long is not ready to quit—especially since Stanley’s victory is marred by allegations of fraud. When Long decides to run as an Independent, all bets are off as election day approaches.

Dark Horse is a fun read plagued with only a few first-time-author errors. Probably the biggest flaw is the sheer number of characters—too many to keep track of. But the plot pacing is good, and the prose is tight; Reed does not resort to over-the-top description or the gratuitous language that makes some first novels read like vocabulary primers.

An element in the book that is either interesting or annoying, depending on one’s point of view, is the obvious similarity between characters and real-life players on the American political scene. People like Colin Powell, Matt Drudge, James Dobson, George Soros, and others make appearances under thin disguises. This technique usually works best in a parody setting (Roland Merullo’s American Savior comes to mind), but the realistic interactions between characters and Reed’s firsthand understanding of how politics works help keep any corniness to a reasonable low.

If the book has a morale, it might be, “Follow your heart, and you can achieve your dreams.” It’s not exactly the most compelling message for a political thriller, but Reed inserts enough redemptive content in the form of one main character’s spiritual epiphany to mostly make up for it. Objectionable content is minimal but not entirely absent, as certain characters behave in ways one might expect overpaid and overworked politicians and aides to act under extreme pressure.

All in all, Dark Horse is a better-than-average first novel. It’s well worth reading for anyone interested in the sometimes brilliant but often greasy and underhanded way politics is done in Washington. For anyone looking for a break from the everyday drama of our real government, Dark Horse is a recommended escape.

Genre: Suspense, Horror

Publisher: Realms

Publication Date: March 2009

Tim George’s Review:

Mike Dellosso stretches his writing wings in his sophomore tale of suspense, Scream. Offering the same intensity and smart pacing as his debut novel, The Hunted, Mike offers even better character studies in both his hero, Mark Stone and Stone’s protagonist, aptly named Judge.

Mark Stone is a hero with problems. His marriage is on the rocks and it’s his fault. What went wrong is doled out in little slices along the way but the hope of seeing things made right seems futile almost from the beginning. As though that isn’t enough to distract a man, Stone has even bigger problems. On several occasions he is talking to various people on the phone only to have the conversation interrupted by unworldly, you guessed it, screams. When he finds those he was talking with dead, our hero knows he is being plunged into a world he had believed to be behind him.

In spite of his disillusionment with the church, Mark Stone is left with nowhere to turn for answers for the hellish screams and resulting deaths except ministers. His conversations with these “men of God” reveal how little some who claim to believe in the spiritual actually do. While Stone is tempted to discount one minister’s explanation, the stakes are raised when a conversation with his estranged wife is interrupted by similar nightmarish sounds. This sets the stage for his ultimate confrontation with the reality of evil and grace.

Dellosso does an excellent job of painting the portrait of the man we know as Judge. This is no two-dimensional villain but rather a complicated man that has experienced deep tragedy in his own life. His misdirected thirst for justice has prompted him to open the door of his heart to a darkness that offers only one horrible option to satisfy that thirst. Time is taken to thoroughly develop the nature of Judge before he and Mark Stone are brought together.

In typical Dellosso style, the story begins fast and races toward its dramatic conclusion from one chapter to the next. In spite of its weighty subject matter it does it with style and suspense. It’s one scream of a ride.

Jake Chism’s Review:

Mark Stone never thought one phone call would turn his world upside down. While driving home one night he receives a call from his friend that is interrupted by a series of horrendous and piercing screams. Immediately after the screams his friend dies in a horrible car accident. As Mark searches for answers, he unwittingly finds himself involved in more similar incidents that lead to more horrible deaths. Things become even more personal when his wife is kidnapped by a madman and the same eerie screams are heard over her desperate phone call for help. Now Mark is in a race against time and evil as he desperately tries to find his wife before he loses her once and for all.

Mike Dellosso has once again brought us an engaging thriller full of gut-wrenching suspense and strong spiritual truth. In his impressive debut, The Hunted, Dellosso stormed onto the scene proving he has what it takes to scare the wits out of his audience while at the same time delivering a challenging and relevant message. Scream ups the ante on all levels bringing us even more terror, more suspense, and ultimately more heart.

Mark Stone is a fallible, yet endearing character that you can’t help but pull for from the opening chapter. His resilient search for truth and meaning provides the perfect backdrop for this incredibly creepy premise. Mark’s struggles as a husband are also effectively explored throughout and help to bring more depth to this intense thrill ride.

There is much controversy surrounding the mix of the horror genre with inspirational fiction. I’m thrilled to see that authors like Mike Dellosso are consistently churning out novels that prove how powerful this type of storytelling can be. Indeed, Scream will have you breathlessly flying through the pages and closely examining your heart at the same time. Mike Dellosso is a bright new talent that demands to be noticed.

Genre: Historical Fiction

Publisher: NavPress

Publication Date: September 15th, 2008

Kaci Hill’s Review:

I’ve been hearing Tosca Lee’s name since her book Demon: A Memoir came out.  She’s had nothing but rave reviews it seems – and that’s from a reader who only reads negative reviews. At any rate, several other writers I know personally or am familiar with through their own books only left me that much more interested. So, when her second book, Havah: The Story of Eve came out, I decided I really had better get to reading Lee’s books lest she have a stack of them I haven’t read yet.

Havah did not disappoint. There’s something striking about reading a pre-fallen world while sitting on the beach, something about the combination of quiet despite the constant movement Either way, this book is a gorgeous story with poetic prose, exploring the full range of the emotions of a couple who doesn’t even have words for those emotions yet. The book follows Havah’s first waking moments to her deception, to her and “the adam” as they struggle to raise the first family on earth. Readers follow their progression from the playful, childlike spirits of Havah and Adam to the Great Father and Mother they become. Yes, Lee covers all six hundred and thirty years of their lives, a daunting task well done. Moreover, their story becomes one of resolve to return to Eden, to the garden, the earth’s cradle where they first knew life and the One That Is.

Lee took great pains to make the story of the first man and woman and the subsequent events of their family come to life, and she explores everything from death to obedience to doubt to redemption.  She took great pains to make a pre-fallen world dynamic and alive, even within peace.

Suffice it to say, I’m definitely looking forward to Demon: A Memoir and anything else Tosca Lee deigns to write. Depth, creativity, and wit go a long way.

Jake Chism’s Review:

The story of Adam and Eve is both the oldest and most familiar story known to man. In fact, it is so familiar that we think we know all there is to know. Then along comes a story like Havah that pulls back the veil, giving us a wondrous glimpse into what life might have really been like for the first man and woman.

Havah is told from the perspective of Eve, and from the opening lines Tosca Lee hooks us with her intoxicating style and clever storytelling. All of the famous events are here: the garden, the fall, the story of Cain and Abel. But make no mistake about it: this is not the version you heard in Sunday school. Lee holds nothing back in her descriptive narrative as she explores the intimate relationship between Adam and Eve and their rugged lifestyle. Eve’s firsthand account of the fall is gut wrenching and emotional, bringing yet more vitality to another familiar aspect of this story. I was especially moved and anguished over the beautiful, yet flawed relationship of the first husband and wife.

As the story unfolds Tosca Lee gives some intriguing speculative insight into many of the questions that surround Adam and Eve. How many children did they have? How exactly was the Earth populated? What was their relationship really like? How did they interact with God? Every aspect of this story is backed by careful research and study, and even if you don’t agree with Tosca Lee’s viewpoint, you have to admire her willingness to re-explore this monumental moment in history.

Havah is a beautiful tale that will awe and inspire you at every turn. With beautiful prose and breathtaking description, Tosca Lee has breathed new life into the story we thought we all knew so well. Allow yourself to step out of the box for a moment and experience a retelling of Adam and Eve that will leave you desperate for more.

Genre: Suspense

Publisher: Realms

Publication Date: June 2008

Reviewed by Tim George

The Hunted has everything needed for a good suspense novel. A hero that has to learn how to be heroic, a small town (Dark Valley) with a mix bagged of characters for residents, a demented villain driven by forces beyond his control, unseen monsters that lurk in the darkness, and a twist ending that hits you out of right field just when you thought all the loose ends had been tied up.

When Joe Saunders’ nephew turns up missing Joe is drawn back to a place he would just as soon forget. Called by his sister-in-law, Joe returns to the site of a personal failure that has haunted him for years and the love he walked away from without looking back. To complicate matters, that love is now the Chief of Police. Whether Maggie Gill is friend or foe is a large part of the story. She is fourth generation law enforcement and part of a family that has carried a burden for nearly a hundred years known only as “the Secret.”

Something is prowling the woods and back roads of Dark Valley leaving a path of death in its wake. Something that will force Joe Saunders to use every bit of strength and courage he has and then appeal to God for what he does not have. That too is a challenge since Joe hasn’t exactly been on speaking terms with God for some time.

Mike Dellosso breaks all the rules in current Christian fiction: his stories are classic horror, he ignores the current rule of intricate pre-plotting before writing, and he is unapologetic is his direct presentation of overt spiritual themes. I can only hope others will follow his example.

Genre: Historical

Publisher: Ivan R. Dee

Publication date: April 25, 2008

Reviewed by Jeremy Taylor

Baseball legend has it that in 1942, minor league team owner Bill Veeck arranged to purchase the Philadelphia Phillies and bring in players from the Negro Leagues. When Commissioner Kenesaw Landis got wind of the plan, he vetoed the sale because he believed integrating the major leagues would be the end of baseball as we know it.

The End of Baseball tells the story of what might have happened had Veeck purchased the Philadelphia Athletics and subsequently signed an all-black team. It is essentially the story of major league baseball’s racial integration as it could have happened—and might have without Commissioner Landis’s interference.

Taking the point of view of players, owners, managers, and even a prominent heckler, the narrative weaves a path through the world of professional baseball that is for the most part easy and fun to follow. What the book does not do well is make most of its characters likeable, and the number of setbacks and tragedies the characters and their team face may turn off some readers well before the book’s finale.

Readers who aren’t already baseball fans may have trouble with this book. The sheer number of characters is enough to baffle anyone who isn’t familiar with the historical names, and Schilling for some reason placed certain key scenes out of order, so the action is hard to follow at times. Foul language is prevalent, though not gratuitous, and drug and alcohol abuse factors prominently in one character’s storyline.

Set in the early to mid 1940s, this is the story of a nation at war and its desperate search for an escape from the brutal reality of everyday life. It is the story of that nation’s struggle to come to grips with the idea that black athletes deserve not only to be recognized for their abilities but treated with dignity and respect as human beings. Above all, it is the story of America’s grandest game during a period when Americans arguably could not have lived without it.

We’re excited to present to you our recent interview with Tosca Lee, author of Demon: A Memoir and Havah:The Story of Eve. Tosca was kind enough to share her thoughts on her writing, publishing advice, Twitter, and well…Baalam’s donkey. Not to mention the inside scoop on her upcoming novel about Judas Iscariot. A special thanks to Tosca Lee for taking time out of her busy schedule. You can find out more about her at www.toscamoonlee.com and enter our contest for a chance to win autorgraphed copies of her novels.

You can also subscribe to our podcast feed on iTunes.

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Genre: Suspense, Supernatural

Publisher: NavPress

Publication Date: May 18th, 2007

Frank Redman’s Review:

I have to admit thrillers are my favorite genre. I love the action and the pacing. But even with thrillers, it’s rare when I get so lost in a novel that I’m not mindful of the page numbers as I’m turning pages. Despite the fact Tosca Lee’s DEMON: A MEMOIR is not a thriller and not action oriented, the story is so wonderfully engrossing it literally captured my imagination. I was amazed when, finally cognizant of the act of turning pages, I’d look at the current page number and realize twenty pages just flew by. The story—the writing—is mesmerizing.

The story begins as we join Clay wandering aimlessly in an earthly purgatory. He’s recently divorced, a recovering alcoholic, a failure as a writer, and in a dead-end job. Life has no meaning. Enter Lucian, a mysterious fallen angel who desires to tell his version of biblical history. “I’m going to tell you my story, and you’re going to write it down and publish it.”

DEMON was in my queue to read, but I was in the middle of another book for review. Succumbing to the temptation to look at DEMON, one night I opened it and perused through the first few pages. Just a peek. I soon found myself obsessed with finishing it.

I admired the melodic feel to the words and phrasing. The dialog is also “voiced” well. There were no instances in which I was removed from a scene because of disjointed or boring dialog. The settings are enjoyable with sufficient description to effectively imagine the background, but not so much that it impedes the flow of the story.

Never before have I read a novel that made me really think about my lifelong perceptions of religion, angels, demons, and culturally defined happiness. I gained insight into things I had previously taken for granted—new perspectives. Unfortunately, I cannot provide examples here as they would spoil the impact of the discovery for yourself as you’re engaged with the story. Just as Clay (and I) had to experience these things firsthand, you will have to as well. But let me say traveling through time with Lucian is absolutely worth the trip.

Clay is propelled face-first through spiritual realms while he desperately tries to grasp all that is happening, as best as humanly possible. Lee kills our complacency as we read, constantly changing the character manifestations of Lucian and his demeanor. This does not detract from the enjoyment of the story, but adds to it. We don’t know when or where Lucian is going to appear and we never really know what’s going to happen next. Just when you think you might have something figured out, you’re wrong.

The writing is captivating, the story is riveting, and the themes are enlightening. Lee makes you evaluate what we believe regarding grief, grace, and spiritual beings. I’m thankful I read DEMON. It has jumped high onto the list of my all-time favorite novels.

Kaci Hill’s Review:

I said in my Havah review I’ve been looking forward to reading Tosca Lee’s books since I first started hearing rumors about this demon lurking in Bosnian cafes. Well, Demon: A Memoir was hiding from me but was at last apprehended. And I have to say, again, I’m far from disappointed.  Okay, so the recently-divorced fiction editor, Clay, receives a summons from a demon named Lucian, who has a story to tell that begins one way and ends another.

Demon begins with a tone dark and tense, full of conflict, with the story of a man in transit with his life. Honestly, the demon is compelling, and I was a little unnerved at my own appreciation for his storytelling presence. This command is, in fact, Lee’s ability to combine intensity and beauty manifesting itself once again. It’s the subtle attention to detail that, once more, is full of surprises. Even Clay’s name has a purpose.

There are two stories going: Lucian’s narrative, and Clay’s life as it’s further affected by the conflict imposed on him by his personal demon, and the two quickly become one.  Unfortunately a great deal of what I would like to say is too wrapped up in spoilers. The end is definitely not what I was expecting, almost a challenge.

Once again, Lee covers an extensive amount of ground and subject matter: creation, the Fall, the nature of man, the nature of God, how they related to one another, sin and redemption, spiritual warfare – honestly, it’s all in there.  Oh, yes, and the temptation of the angels. I almost wish I’d read Demon first and Havah second, even though the order doesn’t actually matter because they’re stand-alone titles, if only because the thought of reading Lucian’s account before Havah’s is intriguing to me personally.  I’m definitely looking forward to whatever comes next.

Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy

Publisher: Thomas Nelson

Publication Date: June 2nd, 2009

Reviewed by Jake Chism

Five years after Elyon’s waters have turned red The Circle is on the verge of extinction. The only ones who know of the plot are The Scabs who are behind it, Johnis, Silvie, and Darsal. Johnis and Silvie have been fighting a war they are ultimately losing, while a newly drowned Darsal has been sent on an impossible mission to love the unlovable. In the background a sinister evil lurks, pulling all the strings and devising a plan that will annihilate the Horde as well as The Circle. Hope can only be found at the bottom of Elyon’s red water, and it’s up to Darsal to convince those she loves to dive in and drown.

Ted Dekker and Kaci Hill have done just what we hoped they would: they’ve saved the best for last. Elyon is everything I wanted in a finale complete with relentless action, gut wrenching tension, and stirring emotion all leading up to a powerhouse conclusion. Dekker has long proven that he knows how to end a story and from the opening lines we know that we are in for another treat.

Again, I was captivated by Darsal in this story as she struggles with the overwhelming task of doing the unthinkable and figuring out a way to save her friends. The villains are nastier than ever here making the journey that much more riveting and wonderfully excruciating.  Pacing is everything in a series like this, and I challenge anyone to stop reading during the final act of Elyon.

Not only has Dekker solidified his standing as storyteller extraordinaire, but he has introduced his fans to the talented writing of Kaci Hill. Together they shine as they give hungry fans exactly what they wanted and more. In the end…well, let’s just say the end has Dekker written all over it. This one is sure to have long time fans foaming at the mouth in anticipation for the highly anticipated beginning and end to The Circle Series, Green.

With only two novels under her belt, Tosca Lee has quickly established herself as an author not to be missed. Her debut novel, Demon: A Memoir, wowed us with its unique look behind the veil of spiritual warfare. Havah:The Story of Eve is a fascinating look into the life of the first Woman and Man that is simply impossible to put down.

Recently Tosca signed a three book contract with B&H publishing. Her next book will cover the life of Judas Isacriot and is scheduled for a 2011 release. More about the author:

Tosca Lee received her BA in English and International Relations from Smith College in Northampton, Massachusetts. She has also studied at Oxford University.

As a Leadership Consultant, Tosca regularly works with managers and leaders of organizations throughout the Pan-Pacific region, Europe, and the U.S.

Tosca is a former Mrs. Nebraska-America 1996, Mrs. Nebraska-United States 1998 and first runner-up to Mrs. United States and has been lauded nationally for her efforts to fight breast cancer.

In her spare time, Tosca enjoys cooking, studying history and theology, and traveling. She currently resides in Nebraska with her Shar Pei, Attila.

Tosca also enjoys modeling part time.

WHY I WRITE FICTION by Tosca Lee

The short answer: I’m not sure I can’t.

For as long as I’ve been reading or, before that, listening to stories (so basically, since I was old enough to speak), I’ve lived with one foot in this world and another somewhere in that Place Where Stories Happen. (I’ve recently named that place “Nabutabi”—blurted out one day in talking with my beau, who just nodded.)

I’ve never liked leaving that place. When I was younger, I wrote all kinds of additional scenes to Lord Valentine’s Castle and The Mists of Avalon and Star Wars (writing myself right into Luke Skywalker’s X-Wing and then his arms, in fact). I hated the feeling of being orphaned back in this world after the story was done.

Apparently (or at least, according to my family), I’ve always been a tad melodramatic. I’m not sure I really agree with that; I’d say that there’s always been some kind of amplifier on my filter, which makes things seem somehow more magical, more dangerous, more significant, or more mysterious to me than to Nabutabi non-citizens.

There’s more. There’s the Narration Thing. I tend to narrate life in my head, prose style. Sometimes I read pages in my sleep. I see conversations in paragraph form, complete with quote marks.

I know.

It gets worse; there’s the Compulsive Thing. Being without paper or pen turns me into a mumbling Rainman. That is to say, it really bothers me, because I need to get stuff on paper, even if I never use it.

When I talk to writer’s groups, students, or aspiring authors and they ask for my best writing advice, it is always: “Don’t do it.”

There are two reasons for this—first, if you can avoid it, then maybe you should. Fiction, especially, is not a good way to stay focused, remember things or chase normalcy, and definitely no way to become rich no matter what people think. Nor is it a good way to eat well, sleep well, or stay in shape.

The second is that there’s plenty of competition already. So go on, shoo.

But if you really can’t help it, if you, too, are surrounded by scrawled-upon envelopes and notes written in the margins of receipts and church bulletins, if you visualize speech and see the More in everything around you… well then. Welcome to Nabutabi.

You can find out more about Tosca Lee on her website.

Welcome to the first installment of the FictionAddict.com Author Interview Series. We’re thrilled to have Kaci Hill joining us to talk about her recent collaboration with NY Times Bestselling Author, Ted Dekker. Kaci also gives us some insight into her writing background and what she is working on now. Enjoy!

You can also subscribe to our podcast feed on iTunes.

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The fun never stops at FictionAddict.com! We love giving away great books so much that we figured, “Why stop?”.

We’re thrilled to offer a brand new giveaway in partnership with novelist Tosca Lee. If you have not read Tosca Lee, then you are truly missing out on some of the most engaging fiction around.

Contest Details:

5 random winners will receive autographed copies of both Demon:A Memoir and Havah: The Story of Eve.

To enter send an email to contest@fictionaddict.com and include the following:

1. Your name

2. Mailing address

3. Where did you find out about this contest?

That’s it! Winners will be notified by email and announced on our homepage on July 27th. Entries received after 11:59pm on July 26th will not be accepted. Only one entry per person.

Keep checking back over the next two weeks for a special guest blog from Tosca Lee, reviews of her novels, and an exclusive interview with the author.

If you think two big giveaways in a row is something, just wait. The fun is just beginning……

Congratulations to:

Matt DeWeerd (Missouri)

Frank Cole (New Jersey)

Colleen Hasselo (Florida)

Ruth Rogers (Ontario, Canada)

Pamela Shockley (Indiana)

All will receive the following Hachette titles:

Alex Cross’s Trial by James Patterson (books won’t be mailed until late July/early August)

The Scarecrow by Michael Connelly

Ghostwriter by Travis Thrasher

Robert Ludlum’s The Bourne Deception by Eric Van Lustbader

Get Real by Donald Westlake

Boneman’s Daughters by Ted Dekker

Thanks so much to everyone who entered! And guess what? We’re not even close to done! Check back later today for details on yet another giveaway!

ITW Announces the 2009 Thriller Awards Winners!

ThrillerMaster Award: David Morrell
In recognition of his vast body of work and influence in the field of literature

Silver Bullet Award: Brad Meltzer
For contributions to the advancement of literacy

Silver Bullet Corporate Award: Dollar General Literacy Foundation
For longstanding support of literacy and education

Best Thriller of the Year:
THE BODIES LEFT BEHIND by Jeffery Deaver (Simon & Schuster)

Best First Novel:
CHILD 44 by Tom Rob Smith (Grand Central Publishing)

Best Short Story:
THE EDGE OF SEVENTEEN by Alexandra Sokoloff (in Darker Mask)

Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy

Publisher: Thomas Nelson

Publication Date: June 2nd, 2009

Reviewed by Jake Chism

It’s been five years since Elyon’s lakes have turned red. Johnis, Silvie, and Darsal arrive back in Other Earth with the Books of History in tow, only to find out life has changed drastically. Thomas and The Circle are nowhere to be found and Middle has been taken over by The Horde. With their lives on the line these three warriors must find a way to thwart the Horde’s evil plans, all the while trying to keep themselves from becoming Scabs. To make matters worse, Johnis comes face to face with a whole new evil that holds power beyond belief. The Chosen One must prevail or all hope is lost.

So you’ve written a best selling series that just happens to tie in to your most beloved work. While the masses are convinced this series is over, you decide to come back in style and deliver two more final installments that no one saw coming. What’s the best way to come back with a bang? I’m not sure I know the answer, but I’m almost certain most authors would not bring on a debut novelist to collaborate with. Fortunately for us, Ted Dekker is not most authors. While this move might seem risky on the surface, I think bringing Kaci Hill on is the best move Dekker has made since he thought up The Lost Books.

Lunatic is a dark story to be sure, but a masterful tale nonetheless. We of course get to spend time with our favorite heroes and I especially loved the personal journey Darsal sets out on in this story. Johnis and Silvie are as engaging as ever as they struggle through a new battle that has the potential to destroy them both. The Horde are given more screen time in Lunatic as we get even more insight into Scab life. Dekker and Hill bring us their best work with the introduction of a new villain that is unlike anything we’ve seen in Other Earth.

In many ways Lunatic feels like The Empire Strikes Back of the series which only bodes well for the conclusion, Elyon. I love the way that Ted Dekker and Kaci Hill have taken a familiar story and upped the ante on all accounts with more action, more intrigue, and ultimately more emotion. Hill somehow manages the daunting task of bringing uniqueness to the story without taking away any of the Dekker feel we all love so much.

Risky? Maybe. A bold move? Sure. The right move? No doubt about it.

Genre: Historical

Publisher: St. Martin’s Press

Publication Date: March 3, 2009

Reviewed by Jeremy Taylor

In 1924, British climber George Mallory—famous for answering a journalist’s question about why he wanted to climb Mount Everest with the words, “Because it’s there”—disappeared after having been last seen just below the summit of the world’s tallest mountain. Whether he actually made it to Everest’s summit before perishing has remained a topic for debate ever since. With his trademark storytelling flair, Jeffrey Archer has taken a stab at the answer.

Though based on the life of a real person, the book is a novel, not a biography. One of Archer’s gifts is the ability to blend fact, fiction, and legend so that even a careful reader might have trouble differentiating between them. With the same attention to detail and expert characterization that brought to life the world of high finance in Kane & Abel and the cutthroat competition of the news business in The Fourth Estate, Archer has given readers a potential answer to the question of whether Mallory reached Everest’s summit.

But the book is far more than simple speculation on the outcome of Mallory’s final expedition. Archer explores Mallory’s life in detail, including his service in the military and his romance with Ruth Turner, who later became his wife. Through it all, Archer brings Mallory’s exploits to life in a way that allows readers to get to know not only the man but also the world in which lived.

The book contains no significant objectionable content; if Archer’s presentation of his subject’s moral character can be believed, Mallory was a man of honor and integrity, and the story happily lacks any of the less savory material found in some of Archer’s other books.

Jeffrey Archer has been called one of the top storytellers in the world, and while it seems doubtful that anyone would label Paths of Glory his best book, it will do nothing to detract from that reputation. Climbing enthusiasts and non-climbers alike will enjoy this account of one of the sport’s early pioneers by one of the world’s great novelists.

Genre: Legal, Political

Publisher: Henry Holt

Publication date: January 6, 2009

Reviewed by Jeremy Taylor

Richard North Patterson’s compelling look at the corruption caused by the oil industry in a fictional African country is thoughtful, timely, and full of the rich characterizations that readers have come to expect from this author. Difficult in places, the book presents a frankly realistic depiction of government brutality and international indifference that mirrors real life in too many places in Africa today.

When American lawyer Damon Pierce’s midlife crisis is interrupted by a frantic e-mail from Marissa Okari, an old college flame, he responds, traveling to the volatile and dangerous West African nation of Luandia. Marissa and her husband, Bobbie Okari, are witnesses to the brutal slaughter of an entire village during a human-rights protest. Now Bobbie has been arrested for the murder of three employees of PetroGlobal, the American oil company whose money has made Luadia’s corrupt dictator a billionaire. Pierce, still in love with Marissa, agrees to represent Bobbie against the trumped-up charges. Okari’s eventual trial by tribunal is at once a masterpiece of legal fiction and an in-depth look at the injustice all too often born from the dirty womb of oil money in an otherwise impoverished nation.

While Luandia is clearly modeled on Nigeria (the author admits as much in an afterword), Patterson does a good job of creating a distinct setting that adds veracity to the story while managing to avoid being a mere photocopy of an actual nation. A thoughtful mix of actual and fictional cultural details brings Luandia to life and places the reader firmly in the characters’ world. The writing is excellent, and the story, while at times infuriating to Western sensibilities, carries the reader through to the thrilling if inevitable conclusion.

Eclipse is not for squeamish readers. It includes accounts of rape, murder, kidnapping, and other atrocities that are, sadly, realities of life in parts of Africa. It also unfortunately includes an adulterous sexual encounter between Pierce and Marissa Okari that adds nothing to the story. Nevertheless, this is a worthwhile book for those able to endure some rather horrible depictions of violence and corruption (along with some leftist political leanings). It’s not exactly beach reading, but the message is important for Western readers ready to take a closer look at how our voracious appetite for oil affects the people who live in the nations it comes from.

Doubleday unveils jacket for Dan Brown’s imminent bestseller, The Lost Symbol, reveals clues to location and themes in novel.

New York NY (July 7, 2009) 8:10 a.m. EST–Following much speculation about the content of the eagerly awaited new novel from phenomenal bestselling author Dan Brown, Doubleday today released the North American jacket of The Lost Symbol, which will be published on September 15. For the first time, fans worldwide will discover the setting for the action and key themes from the forthcoming thriller. “Dan’s new novel is largely set in Washington, D.C., though it’s a Washington few will recognize,” said Jason Kaufman, Brown’s longtime editor. “As we would expect, he pulls back the veil– revealing an unseen world of mysticism, secret societies, and hidden locations, with a stunning twist that long predates America.” Since the announcement of the publication in April 2009, anticipation for the release of the new novel featuring Brown’s unforgettable protagonist, Robert Langdon, has had fans clamoring for more information about the book. To satisfy Dan Brown fans, Doubleday has launched a summer-long campaign of code-breaking and problem-solving hosted on Twitter and Facebook. Featuring an enigmatic array of codes, cryptic trivia, puzzles, secret history, maps, aphorisms, ciphers and arcane knowledge, daily posts will challenge, intrigue, educate and entertain. Links to the official Dan Brown Facebook page and to LOSTSYMBOLBOOK – the official Twitter page for the novel – can be found at www.TheLostSymbol.com. Dan Brown’s The Lost Symbol, the eagerly awaited follow-up to his #1 international phenomenon, The Da Vinci Code, which was the bestselling hardcover adult novel of all time with 81 million copies in print worldwide, has an announced first print run of 5 million copies, the largest first print in Random House, Inc. history.

The audio version of The Lost Symbol will be published in North America in September by Random House Audio.

The Da Vinci Code, published by Doubleday on March 18, 2003, spent 144 weeks on The New York Times Hardcover Fiction bestseller list, 54 of them at #1—the position at which it debuted. The novel has been translated into 51 languages. Following the publication of The Da Vinci Code, Dan Brown’s earlier novels, Digital Fortress, Deception Point and Angels and Demons have all gone on to become multi-million copy
international bestsellers.
Doubleday is an imprint of the Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group, a division of Random House, Inc. whose parent company is Bertelsmann AG. For more information about Doubleday please visit our website at http://www.doubleday.com. Contact: Suzanne Herz, Senior Vice President, Publishing 212-782-9786 or sherz@randomhouse.com.

Genre: Young Adult, Mystery

Publisher: Scholastic

Publication Date: February 10th, 2009

Reviewed by Jake Chism

Ryan McCray and Sarah Fincher always felt like something strange was happening in their hometown of Skeleton Creek. Their fears are fully realized one fateful night when they decide to sneak around in the old mining dredge in the woods. Ryan finds something that is so terrifying it sends him over a rail into the darkness below. The next thing he knows he is in a hospital bed with a broken leg and a fuzzy memory about what he saw.

Ryan and Sarah’s parents decide to separate them as punishment, but the mystery behind the dredge proves to be too much to keep them apart. Since Ryan is housebound, Sarah captures her investigation on film so Ryan can see everything she discovers about the dredge. Likewise, Ryan spends his days researching Skeleton Creek online, finding more questions than answers. Everything they find leads them back to the dredge and the dark secret hidden inside. If they go back they may find the answers, but they may not make it out alive.

When I first saw Skeleton Creek on the shelf I thought it was a DVD because of the clever packaging. I then realized it was a book and read the description. A novel that uses online videos to tell the complete story? And a ghost/mystery story at that? My interest was more than piqued and I was all in.

Patrick Carman is a storyteller extraordinaire and from the opening lines we are effortlessly sucked into Ryan and Sarah’s story. The book element of this story is written in journal form from Ryan’s perspective. Carman really nails the first person narrative here and actually makes you feel like you are reading a journal. The design of the book and the handwriting font all work together well to sell the idea.

Throughout the story we are presented actual passwords to a website where we get to see the videos Sara shares with Ryan. The video element of the story is a really fun and imaginative way to get us more involved. I was very impressed with the quality of the videos and how effective they were. Even though this is a young adult story, I’m not ashamed to admit I jumped more than once during the creepiest scenes.

While this is classified as young adult fiction, I would strongly urge parents to read the book and watch the videos before your children. The story is clean, but some of the subject matter is quite intense and the videos have some really frightening moments.

Skelton Creek is the first book in this new series and Patrick Carman leaves things wide open for Book 2. Literary purists might scoff at this new storytelling concept. All I know is how much fun I had with this whole experience. I can’t imagine how much work goes into creating a project like this. In the end, the results are what matters and Skeleton Creek works on every level.

Genre: Suspense

Publisher: Center Street/Hachette Book Group

Publication Date: April 14^th, 2009

Reviewed by Jake Chism

Ryan Evans has served his country well as an intelligence officer for the navy. On the other hand his role as a husband and a father has been lacking at best. When a mission goes wrong near Fallujah, Ryan comes face to face with a horrific reality causing him to reflect on his own personal failures. After a narrow escape Ryan vows to return home a better man for his wife and his daughter, Bethany.

Meanwhile in Austin, TX, new evidence has come to light regarding the capture of the serial killer known as Boneman. Two years ago Boneman went on a rampage capturing young girls and then torturing them by breaking all of their bones without breaking their skin. Boneman was finally captured, but the new evidence suggests they have the wrong man. Their suspicions are confirmed when the real Boneman captures Bethany Evans soon after her father returns from Iraq. Ryan will now stop at nothing to save his daughter from this monster. Unfortunately for Ryan, the FBI is convinced that he is Boneman.

Ted Dekker has sold more than three million copies of his titles and Boneman’s Daughters shows us why. With an astonishing twenty-three novels in nine years, Dekker has done what many authors fail to do after time: he only continues to get better.  This latest installment easily showcases the best writing of his short, yet illustrious career.

This well crafted plot is packed with tension and suspense. Dekker gives just the right amount of information to keep us hooked, but never enough to spoil the ride or reveal the final destination. Each of the main characters are wondrously brought to life, and the twisted glimpses into Boneman’s world are terrifying and disturbing. Dekker has crafted his share of memorable villains, but Boneman may be his darkest creation yet.

While I was effortlessly drawn in by the mystery and relentless pacing of this story, my favorite aspect was the personal struggle of Ryan Evans. This is a brilliant, yet flawed character that has completely made a mess of his life. Ryan’s resolve to make things right is the driving force that fuels this story along. In the end we are left with perfect closure and a fitting message of redemption that resonates loud and clear.

Boneman’s Daughters is Ted Dekker’s first book not published by Thomas Nelson. While that relationship continues, it’s great to see a publisher like Center Street/Hachette making an effort to get this story out to the masses. I hope this move will introduce Dekker and his writing to a whole new host of fans who have truly been missing out on some of the best storytelling around.

Genre: Suspense

Publisher: Thomas Nelson

Publication Date: April 2009

Reviewed by Tim George

Face of Betrayal co-authored by Fox News Legal Analyst Lis Wiehl and April Henry, is the first in a promised series of four called the Triple Threat Novels. And, with acknowledgments from the likes of Bill O’Riley, Sean Hannity, and Nancy Grace there is no doubt a lot of people will read this book. The question is will they find a great story once they open the cover?

There high school classmates find a common bond in their ten year reunion and a chocolate desert called, the Triple Threat. One is a Federal Prosecutor, another FBI special agent, and the third a TV reporter. As the story begins, it is apparent they have shared their resources in the past to solve various cases. When a 17 year old US Senate page disappears, the three find themselves in the center of her apparent kidnapping.

There is much to like about Wiehl’s first outing in Christian fiction. The pace is fast without sacrificing character development making for a quick and interesting read. Wiehl brings a wealth of knowledge from her experience with the Washington inside to an otherwise oft-told story: wealthy family involved in a kidnapping, powerful politician obstructing justice, etc … What brings real life to Face of Betrayal is its description of justice and journalistic procedures without becoming bogged down bogged down in needless detail.

While an excellent freshman effort, this suspense novel has a few distracting drawbacks. Most notable is the hurried up feel of the ending. Too much is introduced too late in the story and then lose ends are tied up in ways that feel more forced than necessary. The end result is a mixed bag. Perhaps by the time the sequel arrives the writing will have been tightened up. I hope so.

Pure Enjoyment signs award-winning author Tosca Lee

Nashville, Tenn., July 6, 2009 – Award-winning author Tosca Lee will release her highly-anticipated third novel in 2011 under the B&H Fiction Pure Enjoyment line. Written from the point of view of the most reviled man in Christendom–Judas–Tosca will again give readers a powerful and enlightening glimpse into the spiritual realm.

“We are thrilled to have Tosca writing for us,” said Karen Ball, executive editor for fiction at B&H Publishing Group. “She’s a true craftsman. Combine that with her remarkable ability to see inside those we most despise–a demon, Eve, and now Judas–and you get powerful stories of truth and grace that intrigue and challenge readers.”

Her two previous books, Demon: A Memoir and Havah: The Story of Eve, created quite a stir in Christian fiction. Demon: A Memoir was a 2008 Christy Award Finalist, 2008 ForeWord Magazine Book of the Year Silver Award Winner and 2008 ACFW Book of the Year, Speculative, Second Place. It earned rave reviews across the faith spectrum, including the distinction of, “The most creative, mind-twisting novel of this summer,” from Infuzemag.com.

Havah, her sophomore novel, let readers inside the heart and mind of the world’s first woman from her creation to Adam’s death.. Havah is a 2009 ForeWord Magazine Book of the Year Bronze Award Winner and ChristianFictionReviews.com Top Pick for 2008.  In a starred review, Publishers Weekly called it, “Passionate and riveting… Lee’s superior storytelling will have readers weeping for all that Havah forfeited by a single damning choice.” Historical Novels Review called it, “…a fascinating novel about human relationships at the dawn of time.”

Lee– Mrs. Nebraska-America 1996, Mrs. Nebraska-United States 1998 and first runner-up to Mrs. United States–has a deep passion for story. “I was a serious pianist from a young age, and used to practice an hour and a half every day. But when I was in the midst of a great book, I’d sneak it into the piano room and read a page between playing each piece-or as much as I could until my mom said, ‘I’m not hearing any music!’”

Lee started writing after obtaining her degree in English and Literature from Smith College in Massachusetts.

For more information regarding Tosca Lee, please visit www.toscalee.com. For more on upcoming titles in the B&H Fiction Pure Enjoyment line, log-on to www.pureenjoyment.com. Tosca’s current titles are available at booksellers everywhere and on-line.

Genre: Legal Thriller

Publisher: Tyndale

Publication Date: June 15^th, 2009

Reviewed by Jake Chism

After a tragic shooting on the set of a television news station, two lawyers from two different worlds go head to head to try a gun control case with long lasting implications. While both Jason Noble and Kelly Starling hold nothing back in their quest for justice, it seems outside influences will stop at nothing to get their verdict. Both Jason and Kelly must find a way to try a fair case in the midst of deception, conspiracy, and the public eye.

With The Justice Game, Randy Singer wasn’t content to just write another compelling legal thriller. This time around he decided to let his fans decided the verdict in an online poll taken months before publication.  An author who lets his fans determine the outcome of his novel? Surely Singer has lost his mind. Well, not only has Randy Singer not lost his mind, but he has given his fans one of his most riveting novels to date.

Singer is always at the top of his game with his ability to throw large chunks of information at his audience while somehow making each line interesting and relevant. Gun control has and always will be a hot topic in our society and Singer gives both sides of the argument equal screen time. The characters of Jason Noble and Kelly Starling are masterfully crafted helping the reader see the issue impartially through their eyes. It’s not often that you find a legal thriller where you like both the defense and the prosecution, but Singer uses this storytelling device effectively with strong character back story throughout.

In case the gun control issue isn’t enough of a catalyst for a strong story, Singer introduces us to the shady and elusive company, Justice Inc. To give too much detail would spoil the story, but let’s just say that Randy Singer has potentially thrown a major wrench into the Justice system with the creation of this fictional company. We can only hope that companies like this remain in the realm of make believe. As frightening as the implications are, Justice Inc. adds another welcome level of depth to this story.

The Justice Game is different from Randy Singer’s earlier novels because of the personal nature of this story. Early in his own career, Singer tried a very similar case after a young man gunned down a teacher at the school Randy’s kids attended. Thankfully they were not in attendance that day. I have nothing but respect and admiration for Randy Singer in this brave endeavor to tackle difficult subject matter while entertaining at the highest level.

Bestselling author Robert Liparulo just finished signing 30,000 copies of his Dreamhouse Kings novels for Scholastic. Read all about the experience in his latest blog entry:

http://www.robertliparulo.com/2009/06/signing-30000-books.html

Genre: Science Fiction

Publisher: Marcher Lord Press

Publication Date: April 2009

Reviewed by Tim George

Imagine you are born into a culture entrenched in a strict cast system and you are from the lowest possible circumstances. Your only hope to advance beyond your lowly birth is to join the military and hopefully prove yourself worthy. After years of service as little more than a prison guard your day comes to show what you can do in graduating field exercises. The problem is the judges will never overlook your origins, so you must do far better than any other soldier to even hope to be passed.

Near the end of training, you find yourself in a cave where the missing child of an important official has been taken hostage. What happens in that cave ensures your place as a soldier but also leaves you with a dark secret that will follow you from that day forward. Not long after joining your first field unit, its commanding officer volunteers for a mission to provide security for, of all things, engineers. Little could your unit know what this simple and potentially boring mission will mean for you or the entire world.

Now imagine this all happens on a distant planet whose history is shrouded in the Dread, a gnawing fear that discourages its inhabitants from digging too deeply into their past. Only a few have faith in who they believe to be the one true creator while most, like you, believe in nothing but themselves and the Karn Empire. You are a simple solider who will face extraordinary situations, enemies, and decisions you never imagined (except in your dreams). Oh did I mention? You are a Yanguch of the planet Saurin. You are eleven feet tall, eighteen feet long and have skin that is blue-green with maroon speckles.

Stockton has spent much of his life building the mythos of the Starfire world and it shows in the richness of its characters and story of his debut novel. To be honest, I haven’t read fantasy or this kind of Science fiction in many years but Stockton has wet my appetite for more. Marcher Lord Press is committed to bringing a genre of fiction authors have had great difficulty in finding a publisher for. If Stuart Stockton’s work is an indicator of this imprints future, we have much more to look forward to from Marcher Lord Press!

Genre: Legal Thriller

Publisher: Tyndale

Publication Date: May 1st, 2008

Reviewed by Jake Chism

Newspaper reporter Catherine O’Rourke has become enamored with a recent case involving a woman who has killed her husband. The woman’s brother, Quinn Newburg, is representing her in court and arguing the insanity plea. Catherine closely follows every angle of the story, becoming especially intrigued by Quinn and his pursuit of justice.

Meanwhile, in Virginia Beach a series of kidnappings and murders have caught the public eye. As Catherine follows the story she begins blacking out and having strange visions that reveal details of each crime. Reluctantly, she goes to the police and is shocked when they in turn arrest her. It seems evidence has been found linking her to the murders and the police see her “visions” as far more than coincidence. Catherine soon begins to doubt her own sanity as more and more solid evidence begins piling up. Desperate for help she hires Quinn Newburg to plead her case hoping that he can prove not only her innocence, but her sanity as well. Unfortunately for Catherine, Quinn doesn’t believe her.

Randy Singer is known for riveting legal thrillers and his latest offering does not disappoint. As always, Singer’s full arsenal of talent is on display: intense courtroom scenes, complex plotlines, and unexpected twists and turns. All of these elements work and help create an exciting read that is nothing short of intoxicating. Singer’s exploration of the insanity plea is fascinating and only adds to the richness of the story.  I love novels that keep the reader guessing and I was pleasantly surprised by a clever twist that was way off my radar. Randy Singer has proven once again why he’s one of the best thriller writers in the genre. Don’t miss this one!

Check out this great interview with Eric Wilson, author of the Jersualem’s Undead trilogy:

http://www.thrillerwriters.org/2009/06/haunt-of-jackals-by-eric-wilson.html

If you aren’t reading Eric Wilson then you are NOT reading great fiction. Stay tuned for Fiction Addict’s exclusive review of Haunt of Jackals, which hits shelves in mid-july.

Genre: Thriller

Publisher: St. Martin’s Press

Publication Date: August 2007

Reviewed by Jake Chism

Jake Landry has just been invited to join the company higher-ups on a weekend Leadership Retreat in the Canadian wilderness. Jake is only a junior executive at Hammond Aerospace Corporation and this sudden invite has him suspicious at best. The only person he knows in this elite group of big fish is his ex girlfriend, Ali, who happens to be the brand new CEO’s chief assistant.

All seems normal until a small group of hunters crashes the party at the lodge. Soon Jake and the rest of the Hammond executives figure out that the arrival of these men is no accident. Their plan is to hold all of the Hammond executives hostage until the company pays the ransom. It is obvious these men are prepared and have thought of every possible situation. The one factor they didn’t consider was Jake Landry and his dark past.

Once again Joseph Finder knocks one out of the park. Power Play is a page turning thriller that is nothing short of addictive. Finder knows how to hook readers with a deliberate pace that slowly builds up to an action packed game of cat and mouse. Jake Landry is a fun hero to root for, and the more we discover about his past the more we can’t wait to see him in action. The backdrop of corporate kidnapping gives this story a clever twist that is both original and frightening. Joseph Finder proves once again why he demands to be read.

Genre: Chicklit

Publisher: Waterbrook Press

Publication Date: June 2005

Reviewed by Kaci Hill

Betsy Blessed is an associate pastor fighting for acceptance.  It’s a tough challenge, too.   She’s been hurt before and shy about getting hurt again—understandably, and she’s lost the confidence she once had.  As if that weren’t enough, she’s abruptly launched into the role of senior pastor—which both thrills and overwhelms her. But now the main battle is brewing, swelling, closing in on her, and she may well drown if she doesn’t get her heading.

Heavens to Betsy has everything from light, sassy humor to the lightly jaded “church humor” that any kid raised in church knows.  Pattillo starts out with something you don’t see often in Christian fiction—a female pastor, then tosses in some of the famous church politics (complete with the traditional crowd), a thief, and a fellow pastor Betsy just happens to have an eye for.

Of course, the little twist at the end is . . . Well, I don’t dare write about that here lest I give something away. I read this and Dreaming in Black and White back to back, which proved to be an amazing experience, a bit of a reprieve from all the heavier books I’d been reading. Honestly, I hadn’t just laughed in a long while. The dialogue is well-executed the whole way through, and even if humor isn’t your thing, the ending is enough to appease even the skeptics in the crowd.

Admittedly, chicklit is not my usual preference. But, as you see from the Walker review and this one, there’s always an exception.  Heavens to Betsy had me in stitches.  I laughed so hard that my grandmother wanted to know what in the world I was cackling about. I felt it was too hilarious to keep to myself and read sections to her—which sparked thoughtful conversation about presumptions and universal tensions within the church.

Can Betsy reclaim her confidence while reconciling her clerical robe with high heels and the right shade of lipstick? This is a fun-loving look at a single girl’s life on the other side of the altar.

Genre: Horror

Publisher: Faith Words

Publication Date: September 2008

Most novels are written for the purpose of providing entertainment for the reader. That’s fine, of course, we like to be entertained.  We want to escape into the universe the author has created for us, to remove our cognitive self from its daily toil with life and allow our imagination to be immersed in the story. Some novels also contain solid themes or good morals, but the endgame is still about entertaining.

Every once in a while a novel comes along that has both a riveting story and also a powerful message to share. I am thankful to state ISOLATION is such a novel.

“A family on the edge… A house with too many secrets… A relentless killer…” The Miller family is taking time off after being missionaries to a small village in New Guinea. The village is struggling against an intense demonic presence and incidents that occurred before the Millers left are presented to us as the narrative unfolds.

The Millers move into an enormous, 40,000 square-foot lodge in the beautiful mountains of North Carolina, a dream home provided for missionaries on furlough. Their excitement soon begins to ebb as baleful discoveries are made, and a foreboding, dark presence bears down on them.

The Millers are thrown into a warzone involving the mind and spirit. This spiritual warfare challenges the existence of the core of their faith as they struggle to deal with what is real, what is imagined, and what they should and shouldn’t believe in. It is also a wonderful depiction of human nature, even missionaries struggle with faith.

I respect Thrasher for not attempting to answer our questions about faith. Faith by its very definition means to believe in something we cannot understand. Why isn’t God listening to me? Why isn’t He dealing in my time zone instead of some infinite, ethereal semblance of time? There are no sermons on the existence of God. Nor does Thrasher try to answer the age-old question of why God allows bad things to happen to good people.

The characters are well-developed and I quickly discovered I empathized with each one of them and their specific fears. I liked the way Thrasher bounced in and out of narration and character thought, at times even narrating in third person and interjecting a thought from the character’s perspective in midsentence. The dialog was easy and flowed well. The creepy house is a character in itself, creating a perfect setting for the novel.

Elements of the story may seem familiar to readers of Stephen King’s THE SHINING. Thrasher even jabs at the resemblance by referencing THE SHINING in the story. But ISOLATION is a much deeper and even more frightening story. If you’ve based your whole life on believing in God, then come face to face with demons whose powers claim victory on your lack of faith—that’s scary.

The horror elements in the novel are not solely faith-based fears. There is murder, gore, evidence of ritualistic sacrifice and torture… None of which is excessive, but Thrasher does a commendable job of staying true to the horror genre. The demons are terrifying and the house is disturbing. But the story is good.

Genre: Mystery, Suspense, Thriller

Publisher: Little, Brown and Company

Publication Date: May 26^th, 2009

Reviewed by Jake Chism

Jack McEvoy made headlines when he helped track down a deadly serial killer early in his career. These days he is being forced out of the Los Angeles Times because of budget cuts. It seems the world has forgotten about the hero reporter who avenged his brother’s death. Just as Jack is ready to throw in the towel, he catches wind of a story that might just allow him to go out with a bang. As Jack digs deeper he soon discovers that the newspaper may be done with him, but a deadly new killer is certainly not.

We first met Jack McEvoy in Michael Connelly’s highly acclaimed novel, The Poet. Many consider that first introduction of the character to be Connelly’s finest work, surpassing even the dearly loved Harry Bosch novels. Thankfully, Connelly decided to prove to us all that Jack McEvoy is anything but a one hit wonder.

The Scarecrow is the perfect blend of vintage Connelly with a welcome dose of tech savvy thriller. While The Poet dealt much more with the daily life of a beat reporter, this time around we get more action layered with the perfect amount of detail. One of Connelly’s trademarks is his thoroughness, giving the audience an all access pass into the lives of his characters. While that element is still strong throughout here, it almost feels like Connelly holds back just enough to let the characters tell the story. The Scarecrow has a much tighter, fast paced feel that makes for an even better read than The Poet.

Rachel Walling is of course back and Connelly does a masterful job of portraying the ache of old flames and the hope of what might be. Jack and Rachel have both matured in different ways, yet they can’t deny the spark that never died. Their relationship feels like a natural overflow of the story and even helps carry the tension along as the plot unfolds.

The Scarecrow himself is a deeply disturbing villain whose weapon is the one thing that makes us all vulnerable: technology. This is a whole new frightening breed of serial killer, and Connelly wondrously brings this character to life through some riveting third person narrative.

What sets The Scarecrow apart from the rest is the character of Jack McEvoy. Michael Connelly nails every aspect of this veteran reporter with an unyielding sense of justice. The use of the first person is second to none here and the switching from first to third person throughout works as a clever storytelling device.

Millions of Michael Connelly fans wait with bated breath for the next Harry Bosch novel, and rightly so. I, however, can’t help but hope that we haven’t seen the last of Jack McEvoy.

NEW YORK TIMES BEST SELLING AUTHOR TED DEKKER ENDS POPULAR CIRCLE SERIES WITH THE BEGINNING: NEW NOVEL GREEN RELEASING SEPTEMBER 1

April 20, 2009…Nashville, TN… The beginning is also the end in New York Times Best-Selling Author Ted Dekker’s highly-anticipated new novel, GREEN, otherwise known as “book zero,” in the multi-layered epic CIRCLE series. The suspenseful adventure will be available in bookstores across the country on September 1.

The CIRCLE series—BLACK, RED, and WHITE—has already sold more than 700,000 units. Dekker says his new novel GREEN is the preferred starting point for new readers and the perfect climax for the countless fans who have experienced BLACK, RED, and WHITE.

“Christian youth are discovering their own roots, often for the first time. Redemptive History is a heart-wrenching tale full of twists and fantastic romance. If put in the people’s language, the story is irresistible” said Dekker.

Also starting on September 1, Thomas Nelson will release a limited edition 5th Anniversary box set containing the hardcover publications of BLACK, RED, White (which have not been available from retailers for some time) and Green. Also, Thomas Nelson will release repackaged editions of the tradepaper editions of BLACK, RED, and WHITE, which will include each respective title’s graphic novel in black and white.

For more information on the popular fiction writer and to find out more about The Gathering, log on to www.teddekker.com.

Ted Dekker
The son of missionaries John and Helen Dekker, Ted Dekker was raised in the jungles of Indonesia.  He is known for novels that combine adrenaline-laced stories packed with unexpected plot twists, unforgettable characters, and incredible confrontations between good and evil.  Having more than 3 million novels in print, all of his 17 novels have been in the Top 5 on CBA Fiction Bestseller list and Sinner and Skin debuted on the New York Times Bestseller List.  Dekker currently lives in Austin, TX with his wife, LeeAnn and together they have four children. To see a complete list of Dekker’s work and for more information on the author visit www.TedDekker.com.

Genre: Chicklit

Publisher: Thomas Nelson

Publication Date: March 2005

Reviewed by Kaci Hill

Dreaming in Black and White was the first of four books I was given to read for review.  I’d seen it before—I worked at a bookstore, but my tastes tend to run toward darker suspense so I hadn’t considered trying other genres. That is until the package arrived.

Phoebe, our beloved protagonist, is an absolute riot. At age thirty she’s a witty writer who is searching for Mr. Right and her happy movie ending. Just when she thinks she’s getting her break life happens. Through a series of events, she’s forced to go to the one place she wants to avoid: home.

To add to her humiliation, the jerk who fired her shows up in her hometown and becomes everybody’s favorite person—except Phoebe’s.

If only her life was a movie, where everything is neatly wrapped in a little bow by the end. Then she’d have her dream-guy, a neat little house, and the writing job she’s always wanted. What more could a girl ask?  Instead she gets herself into awkward situations time and again–in front of the one person she wants to make disappear.

Dreaming in Black and White has a light, witty humor I found much needed in my reading life. I had a good time getting to know very loveable characters who know more about classic romance movies than any human being should be allowed.

And under the humor, Walker has woven some very subtle, but powerful, truths about life.  She gets into everything: jobs, family life, social life, the girl/guy relationships, everyday blunders, and a few classic tensions, just for grins.

I just hope you can keep up with the movie buff; she’ll keep you on your toes for certain.  Luckily, ladies and gentlemen, the author has listed many movie facts in the back.

I hate to say too much, or I spoil everything.  If you enjoy laughing, this book is a must-read. And I must say, I’m going to find the sequel.