Fiction Addict

Genre: Suspense, Thriller

Publisher: Henry Holt and Company

Publication Date: January 2012

Reviewed by:  Melody Ballard
Geiger is like no man you’ve seen or will ever see again.  No one really knows who he is, or where he’s been, or where he’s going; even he doesn’t know.  He is focused and unemotional, there is no warmth, there is no joy, there is no anger. Some may know what he does, but the man himself is a mystery. Geiger just is. Geiger is the Inquisitor.

Geiger’s specialty is Information retrieval; he has his own brand of torture.  His job is to get answers, and he always gets what he wants. His strength is his extraordinary ability to gauge and interpret every movement, and nuance and movement of his victim.  He can reach into depths of their soul without maiming their body.  Geiger is a living lie detector and he is totally focused.

When Geiger refuses to extract information from a twelve year old boy his own world changes. His is given an ultimatum –  extract the information himself  or the boy will be turned over to Dalton, the torturer who’s brutality is legendary. Dalton’s specialty is pain and mutilation.  Unlike Geiger’s victims, many of Dalton’s do not walk away in one piece, or alive.

This fast-paced story is filled with action, twists, suspense and a host of unlikely characters. There’s Geiger’s psychiatrist;  he’s  working with Geiger to find the cause of his  debilitating migraines and to uncover the mysteries of Geiger’s past. He is also going through a painful divorce. There’s Harry, Geiger’s business partner who arranges Geiger’s contracts and who deals with his own demons.   Lilly is Harry’s schizophrenic sister and Ezra is the twelve year old boy who is kidnapped.  Smith has done a masterful job of blending together these implausible characters.

The Inquisitor is one of the best thrillers I’ve read in a long time. The plot is filled with  unanticipated twists and turns, the characters are vivid, and the suspense builds to a crescendo then climaxes to and unsettling end. I hope this review peaks your interest and allows you to embark upon a whirlwind journey into the world of  The Inquisitor.  To tell you more would only spoil the surprise.  I will tell you this, I have read that there is talk about making a television series based upon Geiger.  I highly recommended this novel to anyone  with a penchant for action packed thrills a minute.

Genre: Dramatic Fiction

Publisher: Dutton

Publication Date: April 12, 2012

Reviewed by Chrystal Dorsey

An interesting debut novel, indicative of a semi-autobiographical story – Melanie Thorne’s Hand Me Down is the author’s descent into fiction. This unforgettable novel depicts the intimacy of a narrative memoir of a 14-year old girl struggling to deal with the chaos of an emotionally destructive life.

Elizabeth and her younger sister, Jamie realize early on that they don’t have anyone to depend on as they try to cope with the knowledge their parents are not only incapable of caring for them, but have little or no desire to do so.  After their mother, Linda chooses a man over them, she displays an incredible degree of indifference toward her daughters and their well being. What is even more disturbing, Linda didn’t toss her daughters aside for just any man, no, she sagged a real prize when she married, Terrance a convicted sex offender. Terrance is the kind of man who takes pleasure in tormenting Liz each time he brushes against her, breathes on her, licks his lips as he speaks inappropriately to her and prances around half-dressed, knowing Liz will remain silent because he’s already threaten to approach young Jamie with the same attention, if Liz doesn’t keep quite.  After the girl’s alcoholic father who faithfully beat Linda during their marriage, notifies the parole office that Terrance is in violation of his parole by living in the house with the girls; Liz thinks she, Jamie and their mother can get back to life before Terrance and perhaps enjoy their childhood in a normal environment. Instead, loving mom, chooses the sex offender over her own offspring. While Jamie is sent to live in a trailer park with her dad, Liz is shipped off to Terrance’s brother, Gary, and his wife. Liz can’t concentrate on her studies, friends or anything a teenager should be focused on, because she is overly concerned and rightfully so, about her and Jamie’s fate, considering no one else seems to be. Though she is mature beyond her years and is forced to accept what the adults tell her – “you’ll be okay.” “it’s not that bad.” “you’re strong.” – with the exception of her mother’s sister, Tammy who lives in Utah, everyone else has conveniently forgotten Liz is a child who needs to be cared for.

As Elizabeth struggles and pleads to be reunited with her sister and even her mother, she is bounced around like hand me down luggage. From her mother, to her perverted step-father’s brother Gary, to a neighbor, and then another relative, it is clear that the adults within Liz’s circle  are incapable of managing their own lives – and are not an exemplar role model for parenting; but of all the adults, Elizabeth and Jamie’s mother is by far one of the most despicable characters, who continues to lie and pull further away from her children.

Author Throne pulls deeply from her real life experience which can be visualized through her emotional prose as she tells this tale of the devastating consequences that occur following a mother’s decision to abandon her daughters for a sex offender – at some point it’s as if you’re reading Throne’s diary when she was a teenager, a diary of a child that continually ask and doesn’t understand, “why doesn’t my mother love me? And “why won’t anybody save me?”

Hand me down Liz is finally shipped off to Salt Lake City to stay with her mother’s sister, Tammy an aunt who loves and cares for her the way a child should be cared for – but it doesn’t end there. Question is, when and where does it end, and will Liz and her sister ever  have a place to call home sweet home, some place that’s considered their haven?  You’ll want to pick up a copy of Hand Me Down to learn what becomes of these girls who’ve been tossed aside by those that should love and protect them.

Review copy provided by publisher.

Genre: Mystery, Suspense

Publisher: Simon & Schuster

Publication Date: April 2012

Reviewed by Elizabeth Olmedo 

Mariah Lyons’ life is shattered when her father is murdered and her mother, an Alzheimer’s victim, is accused of the crime. The police believe Kathleen killed her husband during one of her lucid moments because of his infidelity. Desperate to believe her mother’s innocence, Mariah sets out to uncover what happened that night.

Father Aiden O’Brien tells her that just prior to his death, Jonathan Lyons believed he had found one of the greatest religious and archeological treasures of all time — a letter written by Christ to Joseph of Arimathea. With this new knowledge, Mariah is convinced that her dad’s murder is related to the parchment and not to his affair. She finds that those in her father’s close circle of friends are harboring hidden secrets of their own.

When people who were close to the late Biblical scholar start disappearing, it becomes obvious that no one is safe. Someone is desperate to keep the truth hidden and he/she will stop at nothing — not even murder — to keep it from coming out. Mariah will rely on Alvirah Meehan, the lottery winner turned sleuth, to solve this mystery.

In The Lost Years, Mary Higgins Clark returns with another suspense-filled novel that will keep one’s heart racing until the end when the killer is finally revealed in a shocking turn of events. With plenty of suspicious characters going around, the Queen of Suspense leads her readers down one rabbit trail after another that will have their mind spinning as they try to unravel the clues.

Clark’s fans will recognize characters like Willy and Alvirah Meehan and Father Aiden O’Brien who return once again, better than ever. As always, Clark delivers another great book which I definitely recommend.

Review copy provided by publisher.

Genre: Mystery, Suspense

Publisher: Penguin Group

Publication Date: April 2012

Reviewed by Elizabeth Olmedo 

The murder of her cheating, ex-husband turned Kate Conway’s life upside down. Feeling lonely, betrayed, and hurt, the TV producer has spent the past few months dividing her time between work and sitting alone in front of the TV, eating take-out. Needing a change in her life, Kate accepts two job offers. The first is filming a documentary on convicts serving life without parole. The second is a reality show about the opening of an exclusive new restaurant — backed by none other than Vera, her late husband’s mistress.

To make matters worse, one of the investors is murdered and Vera becomes the prime suspect. Attempting to clear Vera’s name, Kate turns to the killers she’s interviewing for the documentary. She soon discovers that all of the investors have secrets and one of them is willing to kill to keep his/hers from coming out.

Clare O’Donohue’s Life Without Parole is an intriguing and edgy page-turner. This is not your typical novel with “good” and “bad” characters. On the contrary, all of them are guilty of something, ranging anywhere from lying to the police and obstructing justice all the way up to murder. No one in this book is quite what they seem. The challenge is figuring out what they are trying to hide.

Kate is an interesting character to follow. In spite of her cold and abrupt outlook on life, deep down she has a soft spot for people as proven by her attempt to help her ex-husband’s lover. O’Donohue also has a way of making even the most flawed character sympathetic — even the killers serving life sentences. I would recommend Life Without Parole to mystery and suspense fans.

Copy received via NetGalley from the publisher.

Genre: Mystery, Suspense, Thriller

Publisher: Oceanview Publishing

Publication Date: May 2012

Reviewed by Elizabeth Olmedo

Katrina Burton is driving toward a new job, town, and life. Along the way, against her better judgment, she picks up a hitchhiker. Fearing for her safety, Katrina tells a “little white lie,” but when the man in her car turns out to be another teacher at her new school, she finds herself feeding the lie with more untruths in an attempt to cover it up. The situation quickly snowballs and Katrina is trapped in a vicious cycle.

It is during this time that a handsome stranger walks into her life and Katrina dares to hope that he will bring the solution to her growing problem. However, the situation is further complicated when Katrina gets caught up in the middle of a gruesome murder. Telling the truth now, not only will put the man she’s come to care for at risk, but also expose her own lies.

The novel, White Lies, is an intense, edge-of-the-seat thriller that will keep the adrenaline pumping. Jeremy Bates expertly drags his audience onto a terrifying, and emotional roller coaster. Even though the characters make all the wrong choices, one can’t help but want to find out what will happen to them. The book demonstrates the power and consequences of our decisions. While Katrina definitely got off easy, considering the deadly effects of her choices, I was glad to see that by the end she seemed truly remorseful and understood the importance of doing right — even something as simple as telling the truth.

Bates offered very vivid descriptions.  Even though this was good because it placed the reader right in the middle of the action, it also had a down side. I found the book too graphic for my taste, especially when the violence escalated. So much gory detail was unnecessary to get the point across.

The author offers a brilliant and shocking ending that I never saw coming. If not for the graphic content and explicit details, I would strongly recommend this novel.  As is, I have to advise readers to be aware of these things before picking up a copy.

Copy received via NetGalley from the publisher.

Genre: Dramatic/Suspense

Publisher: Simon & Schuster

Publication Date: March 2012

Reviewed by Chrystal Dorsey, FictionAddict.com

In Carry The One Carol Anshaw presents her reading audience with a  very ambitious fourth novel…one which spans from a 1983 Wisconsin wedding through the 2008 Election  as it chronicles a Chicago family thrown off balance by a fatal accident. This story explores how the lives of three siblings are affected after a fatal freak accident that ends the life of 10 year old  Casey Redman late one night on a dark dirt road with Nick’s drugged out girlfriend Olivia behind the wheel.

The reason I decided to pick this one up and read it through was because the last sentence of the first chapter really caught my attention – ‘…a jumble of knees and elbows, and then her face, frozen in surprise, eyes wide open-huge on the other side of the windshield.’  -  That sentence captured me and held the promise of a thrilling and interesting read. What I found within the two hundred and sixty nine page novel was; the (key) characters are rather tragic sheepish souls wondering aimlessly through their own lives, whose relationships are forged in grief and guilt. The storytelling is simple but is considered to be well crafted. The readers will follow the characters as they go through friendships and love affairs; growing up and finding success; marriage and divorce; parenthood, and the tragedies and joys of ordinary days.

There’s Alice, a basically sound lesbian that has a deep seated obsession for Maude and is also a gifted artist competing with her egocentric father; loving judgmental Carmen, a political activist; and then there’s  their brother, Nick, a once brilliant astronomer – who  swears off drugs in order to win back Olivia after she’s released from prison. It is through Nick’s drug dependence that readers are able to see how degraded a talented person can become, and how eventually a family can become as equally exasperated with the user because of it.

As for the title it comes from Alice, who says: “Because of the accident, we’re not just separate numbers. When you add us up, you always have to carry the one.” The author’s poetic prose is rather outstanding as she casually writes about these characters without the benefit of any real action – which will keep some readers turning the pages in search of, as they fall witness to Anshaw’s exceptional gift as a wordsmith and the comfort she maintains while utilizing her extensive vocabulary with words such as coalesce (amorphous, fatuous, confluence) with ease and relevance. Nevertheless, I found the story to be rather dry – then again, that is perhaps the writer’s intended goal, considering she is telling a story of the ordinary days of a rather ordinary family following an extra ordinary event – the most exciting and entertaining aspect of this read was held hostage within the first few chapters.

My final thoughts, I wanted and needed more zest, at least something that would propel me to want to vigorously flip through the pages, fall in love with the characters and be engaged by the story, alas Carry The One did not carry me through those various stages of interest as I’d hoped. And the book’s abrupt ending did not conjure up a sense of satisfaction or the desired anticipation of more.

Genre: Dramatic Fiction

Publisher: JX Enterprises, LLC

Publication Date: September 2011

Reviewed by Chrystal Dorsey, FictionAddict.com

Miscellaneous Blues a commendable debut novel that will keep you hooked until you turn the final pages.  Sit back and meet sisters Sasha, Victoria, Mya and Lola – the Dexter Divas. Newbie author, Erica L. Crump writes with professional ease and produces a story that explores the elements of life through four sisters – it is a story that will touch on several emotions including fear, love, hate, betrayal and forgiveness.

The characters are full of life and completely believable and absolutely carry Miscellaneous Blues – plus-size Victoria makes you want to reach out and comfort her, as she struggles to get her weight down which soared to unmanageable proportions due to the abuse she is subjected to at the hands of her free loading live-in babies’ daddy of 16 years;  Mya is detestable, and not just because she’s carried on a four year affair with a married man, but because she’s an angry selfish insecure demon screaming for constant attention, and is more concerned with getting a husband by any means necessary than admitting she has a serious problem, she is also relentless when it comes to the hatred and violence she inflicts on her youngest sister; stunningly attractive, Lola the youngest is just trying to find her way back emotionally after the death of her one true love, and to steer clear of Mya’s uncontrollable wrath whenever possible,  as she raises her son alone; and finally there’s Sasha aka “Cookie” the oldest, strongest and most reliable of the four sisters, the one the other’s look up to and attempt to emulate, because from their standpoint, she and her super fine million dollar earning CFO husband have it all together, or so it seems.  However, Cookie’s OCD  and dependency on Xanax – something she’s been hiding from her sisters – is trying to take hold as she struggles to keep her perfect marriage from falling apart but behind the walls of her seven thousand square foot home of wedded bliss lie the most explosive and appalling secrets of betrayal one could imagine and will give new meaning to the word(s) emotional devastation and forgiveness -  during this turbulent time, Cookie the rock of the family, must draw heavily on her strength in God as she prepares for the possibility of divorce.

Miscellaneous Blues provides some tidy and not-so-tidy resolutions to the tough challenges the characters encounter. As the final pages were read, I found myself somewhat surprised and I’m certain that most readers may anticipate a resolution for some characters that never materialized, instead they will be shocked. Still, Crump has crafted a well written book that is ultimately attention-grabbing.  She deals with hard life issues in a painfully real manner. The subtlety in which Crump sprinkles Christianity and faith within the story is refreshing and not overly done. Miscellaneous Blues will make readers smile, think, become angry, and perhaps even cry; characteristic of a book worth reading. The conclusion of this story is a shocker that you just won’t see coming.

I anxiously await Ms. Crump’s next book, and a follow up to Miscellaneous Blues would also be a welcomed addition to my reading library.

Genre: Suspense

Publisher: Multnomah Books

Publication Date: February 2012

Reviewed by Elizabeth Olmedo 

An act of terrorism at what should have been a happy event leaves the inhabitants of Seagrove Village reeling. Sara and Beth have been best friends for years, but their relationship has been strained as of late. Beth doesn’t trust Sara’s new husband. She is convinced he’s up to no good. When the Robert goes missing, her well-known dislike of the man makes Beth a suspect.

As the investigations proceed, it becomes clear that someone they all know and trust is involved and Beth is a target. Amidst the turmoil and danger, she finds herself falling for the handsome Joe. Even though her head warns against it, her heart refuses to jump on board.

Vicki Hinze plunges her readers right into the middle of the action in Not This Time, and maintains the tension until the end. Not having read the first two books, I felt a bit confused in the beginning because there are so many characters to meet. However, once I got past that, it didn’t stop me from becoming fully engrossed in the story.

Hinze maintains a fast pace throughout the novel keeping the suspense going. Intriguing characters made me wish all the more that I’d read Forget Me Not and Deadly Ties first so that I could have better understood and known them and their background from the start. I must even admit I found myself developing a bit of a crush on Beth’s hero, Joe. The way he talks to her and looks out for her is enough to win any girl’s heart. I definitely recommend this book.

Review copy provided by publisher.

Genre: Mystery, Suspense

Publisher: Penguin Group

Publication Date: February 2012

Reviewed by Elizabeth Olmedo 

Charlene Rosalind Carter Grant has four days left to live. Her best friends were both murdered exactly one year apart. As the last remaining friend of the childhood trio, Charlie is convinced she is the next victim. However, she is determined to not go down without a fight. For that reason, she has spent the past year training and preparing for January 21. Should the worse take place, Charlie knows who she wants to investigate her own death — Detective D.D. Warren.

In her line of work, D.D. has seen and heard a lot of things, but even this seasoned detective is surprised when she hears Charlie’s story after spotting her at a crime scene. At first, D.D. isn’t sure what to believe, but when evidence seems to tie Charlene to several crimes, the detective is certain of one thing. She is sure that Charlie is in the middle of something and is resolved to find out what.

Packed with heart-pounding intrigue, Catch Me is one novel that mystery and suspense fans won’t want to miss. Lisa Gardner creates a world so gripping that it will suck the reader in as the clock steadily counts down the hours until that fateful day. In a story where one doesn’t know who to trust, the reader will feel the walls closing in as an intelligent and unknown killer masterfully isolates Charlie, taking away anything that can protect her.

Catch Me is definitely a nerve-wracking plot that will keep the reader on edge. The author has found the perfect balance, knowing how to make one’s heart speed up without pushing it to the point of discomfort. While this is not the first story with Detective D.D. Warren, I didn’t feel like I missed any crucial information even though I hadn’t read the others. I will definitely be on the lookout for more of Gardner’s novels.

Genre: Romance, Suspense

Publisher: Whittier Publishing

Publication Date: January 2012

Reviewed by Elizabeth Olmedo

Ashley Dawson can communicate with spirits. When one sends her to a stranger’s house, her life changes forever. Nathaniel Marshall opens his front door. He isn’t happy with the interruption, but when he hears the red-head’s story he becomes livid. Nathaniel is no one’s fool and he won’t put up with someone coming to his own home and treating him as such, no matter how beautiful the woman standing before him might be.

Despite their rocky beginning, Ashley soon becomes indispensable to him. When someone begins stalking her, Nathaniel will go to any length to keep her safe. But how can he protect Ashley from someone who seems like a ghost? Her stalker is little more than a shadow, coming and going as he pleases. Then several murders occur and the message is clear — Ashley is next.

Aris Whittier’s novel, Secrets, is a fast-paced mystery with interesting characters and intriguing plots that easily maintain the reader’s attention. Several twists throughout the novel keep the audience guessing; my favorite coming at the very end. Whittier cost me a late night as I found the novel next to impossible to put down. Like Ashley, the reader finds him/herself sucked into Nathaniel’s world wanting to understand his dark past while rooting for him to overcome it.

As with her debut novel, Fatal Embrace, Whittier outsmarted me. I was convinced that this time I knew who was behind everything. Alas, I was wrong — again! I’m definitely hoping for another chance to match wits with the author. Maybe the third time will be the charm.

Those who liked Whittier’s first novel will be pleased to hear that Michael Carven makes a cameo appearance in Secrets. While I enjoyed the mystery and even the main characters, I was disappointed with the increase of explicit and unnecessary sex scenes in this novel in comparison to Fatal Embrace. The reader should also be prepared for some vulgar language.

Genre: Suspense

Publisher: Tyndale

Publication Date: February 2012

Reviewed by Jen Roman

Teal Morgan-Adams experiences a series of emotional events after she is stuck in traffic during a typical L.A. earthquake. It all culminates in her fifteen-year-old daughter, Maiya, wanting to know who her biological father is. Even though she and her stepfather have an amazing and enviable relationship, she needs to have so many questions answered. In her quest to find out who he is, she learns that he did not abandon her, as previously thought; he never knew she existed because Teal never told him. During an extended visit to Teal’s small hometown in the Pacific Northwest, Teal faces all the memories and difficulties that drove her away in the first place. In the process, however, she grows closer to her half-sister Lacey and to Maiya.

In some ways, this is a contemporary drama that plays out in different and interesting twists; in others, it is a sappy novel that emphasizes the importance of family. Either way, Heart Echoes illustrates how Teal has grown both emotionally and spiritually from the time she leaves her hometown as a pregnant single woman to the professional, God-fearing, married mother she is when she faces her past. She knows she needs to have God in her life in order to do so, but it takes her a while to fully give over to Him. Once she does, it’s as if all things fall into place. Teal’s journey definitely shows her faith.

This story is not the most original one, but it is good at showing people how they can avoid major life mistakes. Teal, in thinking she is doing the right thing, actually causes more harm in the long run. Of course it ends with a sappy and happy ending all tied up in a bow, but it does maintain realism by reflecting on how families are today. Not everyone lives with two parents and a sibling in a house with a white picket fence and a dog, and Sally John make a strong case for being honest. By leaning on God and listening to her heart, Teal is able to be honest with those she loves and with herself.

Heart Echoes, with a hint of profanity, addresses premarital sex and drug use. It may not be appropriate for younger readers.

Review copy provided by publisher. 

Genre: Dramatic/Suspense

Publisher: Urban Books / Kensington Publishing Corp

Publication Date: January 2012

Reviewed by Chrystal Dorsey

D.L. Sparks, recently voted in as the newest member of the Atlanta Georgia Peach Authors, caught the attention of readers with her debut and sophomore novels is back with her latest dramatic suspense novel Between Friends, about A DEA agent and an APD Lieutenant who lock horns during a joint investigation that unearths cold-blooded corruption and heartless manipulation in this fast paced drama.

Between Friends opens as DEA Agent Orlando “Trip” Spencer has returned to his home town Atlanta to help with a complicated investigation. Trip didn’t want to take the case, he didn’t want to be back in Atlanta, but what he least wanted to do was to work with APD Lt. Lincoln Briscoe.

Between Friends, draws heavily on drug kingpins turning up dead and weapons being funneled into the county jail, but there is more than just a cat and mouse game of intrigue being played as this drama unfolds it is also packed with romantic complications and there is no telling what will happen when Trip and his closest friend, Idalis Arrington come face to face again.

Although they have been friends since early childhood, there is a wedge between Trip and Idalis’ relationship and that wedge is none other than Lincoln “Linc” Briscoe, Trip’s nemesis who’s been on a collision course with Trip since college. And just so happens to be engaged to marry Idalis, a complication that may very well affect Trip’s ability to focus on the case.

Trip learns that Idalis is in trouble and his efforts to protect her and investigate the slaughters taking place on the streets of the Dirty South take him all over the city of Atlanta – from Atlantic Station through Spaghetti Junction to a house in Cascade – a house full of secrets.

As the investigation gains speed the novel peaks up even more; emerging secrets threaten the pending marriage between Idalis and Linc. Unfortunately while trying to protect Idalis Trip’s partner, Philip “Big Phil” Porter is shot and left for dead.

Readers will appreciate that Between Friends does not disappoint once the mystery of Phil’s shoter is revealed,  as other suspense dramas tend to do. The adrenaline does not stop pumping and instead the rapid pace continues. The story does not become boring and readers will learn that the innocent aren’t always as innocent as they seem.

Sparks may not win an award of excellence (though there’s no reason she shouldn’t), she is still an author of quality that deserves recognition and merit for the realism she brings to her characterization skills. The realistic characterization of Trip comes to life while he investigates corruption, his relationship with his best friend Idalis and some childhood demons.

Some books defy expectations, some books defy critics, they are often the books readers call a darn good read – and Between Friends is one of those books. I have no doubt that Between Friends could very well become a New York Times bestseller and I’m hoping it will be adapted into a big-screen movie.

Between Friends is a must read and highly recommended for anyone who wants to become engrossed into a suspenseful entertaining storyline. It’s been a long time since I’ve enjoyed a book for the story content and the characters that come alive throughout the pages. I want to thank both the author for her talent for being able to tell a story in such an entertaining matter.

Review copy provided by publisher. 

Genre: Supernatural, Speculative

Publisher: Harper Collins

Publication Date: June 2011

Reviewed by Kaci Hill

Halloween, haunted towns, creatures that live in the dark and feed off people’s dreams—what more could a writer ask? Feast: Harvest of Dreams is the first book of Destefano’s I’ve read, a dark, otherworldly tale with a contemporary setting.  It starts out simple enough: a best-selling young adult fiction writer and divorcee named Maddie finds herself in need of inspiration for her book and relief for her soul, so she returns to a place she hasn’t been since childhood, a little cabin in a town called Ticonderoga Falls, taking her son and their dog with her.

Now, I would say that “little does she know, this is the wrong time to visit the woods,” but, to a writer, the lurking doom that awaits her really is a bit of a sadistic thrill and absolutely perfect for inspiration.  The downside, however, is that the inspiration luring Maddie is also likely to kill her. She doesn’t know what happens over Halloween weekend.  She doesn’t know about the creatures in the shadows who feed off people’s dreams and memories, or of the curse that’s settled on the town.  Nor is she aware of a childhood savior whose grief is responsible for all of this. She is, however, aware of something following her and the bodies that turned up, and she’s determined to find out what’s responsible.

Meanwhile, she’s met Ash, a strange man who claims to be the son of a man she met once as a child. We quickly learn Ash’s identity, but Destefano is very careful and very particular about how much she reveals when.  I’ll admit, it took forever, even in Ash’s point of view, to figure out exactly what kind of person he was, but I very much appreciate her care in not saying too much too quickly.  The truth is, Ash is all too familiar with the curse and its origins, and the creatures—eventually named Darklings—who feed off dreams and memories and once a year have a great hunt in which all of their marked humans are prey. Ash is master of Ticonderoga Falls and in command of the Darkling hunt, but he has a hidden wound that spells the end of the town if his enemies find it.

As a fair warning, Destefano’s story structure is different, and might it might take a few chapters for some readers to acclimate. However, she develops three-dimensional characters, even the bad guys, and her tale is steeped in rich history and various layers.  Maddie’s described as the protagonist, but in many ways, I believe that really falls to Ash, even if he’s a bit complicated and difficult to define as especially good or evil for most of the book.

I very much enjoyed this book and look forward to reading more from Merrie Destafano.

Genre: Horror, Suspense

Publisher: Quirk Publishing

Publication Date: September 2011

Reviewed by Jennifer Roman

New York City residents Susan Wendt and her growing family need to find a bigger home. When Susan sees an ad for a walk-up brownstone in a good neighborhood at a steal, she can’t believe her luck. She and her husband Alex fall in love with the home and rent it immediately from an elderly and eccentric landlady. Almost immediately, Susan hears noises and learns of the horrible fate of the previous tenants. Susan starts to see bedbugs in her bed and on her body, but nobody else can see them. She even sees bedbug bites on a person in a portrait she has painted. It’s only after she almost loses her sanity that her family believes her, but by then things have turned for the worse.

It’s been a long while since a book has been able to capture this reader’s attention by being scary. Most scary books really aren’t, but this one is an exception. Maybe it’s because it is a psychological thriller and the story affects the mind. Maybe it’s because the story deals with creepy-crawlies, and one can just feel them on the skin while reading. Many times this reader has stopped and looked at her arm to check for bugs or bug bites. In short, Winters is able to scare the reader because he grabs the imagination’s attention and sends it to wild places. Not many people can tolerate bug infestation stories, and that is part of the fun. Truly, the reader will get the willies.

Bedbugs gets at that niggling little feeling that, even though the reader knows the story is fiction, it COULD happen, and that makes things all the scarier. While it doesn’t come at the reader with blood and gore and tons of suspense, it makes up for it by planting that seed of fear in the brain. From there, the reader takes over and helps to create a wonderfully fun and creepy story. Readers who want to be given a good scare won’t be disappointed. Because of the subject content, it is suggested for mature readers only.

Review copy provided by publisher. 

Genre: Suspense, Drama

Publisher: Kensington Publishing Corp.

Publication Date:  June 2011

Reviewed by Chrystal Dorsey

Since only a handful of books are worth reading past its opening paragraph, chances are most readers will pass on a novel and perhaps opt for mindless television, unless the author manages to capture their attention, and propel them to read chapter-after-interesting-chapter, and that’s what Miranda Parker has skillfully been able to do in, A Good Excuse to Be Bad.

Miranda Parker’s debut novel, A Good Excuse to Be Bad showcases a female heroine, Angel – but don’t get it twisted, the name Angel was given to her, but not necessarily earned. This former investigative reporter has become a tough bail recovery agent, aka – Bounty Hunter, with ballistics training, a black belt, and an array of weaponry; and she’s on a mission to save her twin sister, Ava from a scandalous murder charge, and when I say scandalous, I do mean the murder of Bishop Devon McArthur was scandalous.  The action, humor, and thrills keep this fast-paced suspense intriguing while the anticipation unfolds and until the final pages are turned.

Although Angel reluctantly promised the annoying pain-in-her-side detective Salvador Tinsley, that she would not interfere with the investigation, and despite the animosity between Ava and Angel, she is still compelled to save her sister from the death penalty or at the very least, life in prison – so Angel launches a private investigation of her own.  The road to the truth, leads her on a journey of lies, deceit and more dead bodies. At the same time, Parker throws Rev. Justus Morgan, the lavender scented handsome pastor into the mix as Angel’s wanna-be sidekick with hints of a taboo romance on the horizon – to learn how far it will blossom, readers will have to follow the story to a close.

While on the trail of clues, evidence and motives – not to mention romance, readers will discover some surprising elements that will keep them perplexed and captivated to find out where and with whom the trail will end.

Ms. Parker has cleverly added some twists and turns that are sure to keep any suspense reader fascinated until they uncover every mystery, including why Angel detested her brother-in-law and what caused her, her sister and the Bishop to be on such bad terms – how does their estranged relationship and the six-year old history between Angel and the sizzling-voice Detective Tinsley fit into this web of deception and the murder investigation?  Oh and then there’s finding out who Rachel is and what if anything, is her connection to Bishop McArthur’s murder.  This story will have readers on edge as they continue to clutch the pages to find out who amongst the suspects is actually guilty of the murder(s).

Readers don’t pass on A Good Excuse to Be Bad, by talented author, Miranda Parker – if you do, you will regrettably miss out on a very interesting read of dramatic-suspense with a cultural trip through the streets of Metro Atlanta and its surrounding areas.

After reading A Good Excuse To Be Bad, I know I want to find out what happen to put Angel on bad terms with Ava and Devon – so I’m really looking forward to joining Angel on her next manhunt in the latest Angel Crawford installment, Someone Bad and Something Blue, scheduled for release in July 2012 from Dafina Books.

Review copy provided by publisher.

Genre: Drama, Suspense

Publisher: Osmyrrah

Publication Date: September 2011

Reviewed by Jen Roman

Antigone Brown is flighty and impulsive; when she gets flustered or depressed, she takes her vintage Ford Mustang and drives the open road to clear her mind. This upsets her logical, grounded husband, Sam, to no end. When Mercy hits the open road when she finds out she is pregnant, she not only frustrates Sam, as usual, but surprises him as well when she brings home a young runaway, Ryder. Ryder is from the inner city and has run away to avoid his abusive mother. Being the caring people they are, they take in Ryder as one of their own. Shortly after this, Antigone hears that a group of “concerned citizens” in her hometown of Mercy, North Carolina, has decided to ban books. Although Antigone is dyslexic and has a love/hate relationship with books, she takes a stand against this group of powerful women in Mercy. Of course, this affects not only Antigone and her family, but her friends and co-workers.
Sherry Roberts weaves an interesting story that immerses readers in the lives of the characters. We understand Antigone’s struggle and Sam’s frustration with her. We feel terrible about Ryder’s tough family situation. No matter one’s opinion of book banning, the reader is sure to understand Antigone’s standing up to the bullies in her life. It’s refreshing to see her stand up for what is right, even if it’s something that gives her grief. Reading is not Antigone’s strong suit, but she still risks so much so that students can have the freedom to read what they want.
In general, the story is tame and doesn’t have much in the way of violence. Many people do curse, however, and use some pretty vulgar language. Ryder comes from an abusive home, so those sensitive to the plight of abused children may not be comfortable reading certain sections of the book. There is also a scene in which a beloved pet dies, so anyone uncomfortable with deaths of animals may not be willing to read it. For a story on a different topic, however, Book of Mercy manages to entertain and delight the reader.

Genre: Suspense/Thriller

Publisher: Little, Brown, and Co.

Publication Date: October 2011

Reviewed by Melody Ballard

The Outlaw Album is classic noir with rural flavor.  This anthology of twelve stories is filled with the same twists and turns as an Ozark river.  Without exception, as we journey through the minds of madness, eerie and unsettling footprints mark our journey.

In “Uncle”, we feel the terror of a young girl faced with a nightmare existence as her uncle continues his rampage of rape, murder and unimaginable terror.  We look through her eyes as she journeys to her breaking point, and the inevitable conclusion of her nightmare.

In “Returning the River” we are able to relish the sweet taste of vengeance and   savor every moment of pursuit as our victim Harky desperately tries to avoid his inevitable fate.  We thrill at the chase but are left with an almost disappointing resolution upon its completion.

“The Horse in our History” leaves us curiously unsettled as calliopes of recollections converge to paint a picture that captures the disjointed events of a specific period of time.  Or do they?  The uncanny nature of this story leaves our mind churning to find semblance where none is to be found.

Perhaps the most disturbing story of all is the one presented at the beginning of The Outlaw Album. “The Echo of Neighborly Bones” is filled with a curiously calm but vengeful rage that mingles with tenderness as a husband avenges the death of his wife’s dog. The first two sentences set the tone for not only this story, but all the others.  “Once Boshell finally killed his neighbor he couldn’t seem to quit killing him. He killed him again whenever he felt unloved or blue or simply had empty hours facing him.”

Throughout these twelve tales (The Echo of Neighborly Bones; Uncle; Twin Forks; Florianne: Black Step; Night Stand; Two Things; The Horse in Our History; Woe to Live On; Dream Spot; One United; and Returning the River) runs a curious logic intermingled with desperation and violence. Somehow the dark, twisted, chilling events and the extraordinary actions of ordinary people seem curiously plausible.  The Outlaw Album is an amazing collection of eerie stories that is sure to not disappoint fans with an appetite for unnerving suspense.

Genre: Mystery, Thriller, Sci-Fi

Publisher:  Putnam Adult

Publication Dates: Sept 13, 2011

Reviewed by Lori Twitchell

Eve Dallas is a woman of strength, courage and above all, honor. These are not traits that she learned during her childhood or her formative years. Instead, they’re traits picked up, honed and sharpened to a deadly point in the years since becoming a police officer. And each and every one of them are about to be tested.

On her rookie assignment, just out of the academy, Eve had the misfortune to come across Isaac McQueen, a sick, foul and deeply disturbed man whose favorite hobby was taking young girls, using and abusing them and then killing them. He also kept careful track of each one with a number carved into their chests. Dallas was baptized by fire with the McQueen case and she was beyond relieved when she was able to put him away. Now years later, Dallas is a seasoned homicide detective –the best on the force. But it still rattles her to the core when she discovers that McQueen has escaped prison and that he’s got a personal vendetta against her. More concerned for the others in the case than herself, Dallas dives headfirst into the investigation with her team and loved ones all close around her for support. Little does she know that the case that pushed her to be the exceptional cop that she is today is about to
take an even darker and more personal turn than she’d thought possible.

McQueen, knowing just enough of Eve’s past to be dangerous, takes his talents to Dallas which requires Eve to leave behind her comfort zone and go back to the place where she earned her name. With Roarke in tow to keep her safe, Eve throws herself heavy and hard into bringing McQueen down.

Just when I think that J.D. Robb has taken me everywhere she can with Eve Dallas, another layer is pulled back, revealing more depth and history for an already complex and well beloved character. This book brought Eve, Roarke, and everyone around them to a new level of intrigue, danger.  Mixed through it all Eve has to deal with a lot of self introspection. How did she become the woman she is today? How did she evolve? Is it something wrapped in her DNA or is it choices she made along the way?

I loved this book. I had only just decided that Robb’s earlier outing Treachery in Death, was my favorite Dallas book but now, Robb has handed me a dilemma. Rich with backstory and history of Dallas and the struggles of everyone around her on how best to protect and love her, this book opened up my favorite characters and gave me even more respect for each of them. I could not read this book quickly enough and have already recommended it time and time again to people that I know would love it. Though it’s heavy in backstory, you can still enjoy the murder mystery without knowing all of the fine details of Dallas’ early life. If you have read any books though, and are a Dallas/Roarke fan like myself, this book will tear your heart out, stomp on it, and then slowly piece it back together and hand to you completely remade.

If you like murder mysteries, futuristic books or romance, this one’s for you.

Genre: Suspense / Mystery

Publisher: Penguin

Publication Date: October 2011

Reviewed By Jen Roman

Tom and Abby have a wonderful life: good jobs, good friends, and a wonderful family that includes their twelve-year-old daughter, Caitlin. All of this shatters when Caitlin is abducted while walking the dog. Tom starts a relentless campaign to find her, and Abby turns to the church, and more specifically, Pastor Chris, to deal with the pain. Four years later, Abby insists that they hold a memorial service to help them move on with their lives. Within days of the service, a young stripper contacts them with information about their daughter: Caitlin may still be alive.

Sure enough, Caitlin is found and reunited with her parents, but all is not well. She refuses to tell what happened to her and where she was, and even tries to escape and go back to where she was. She remains sullen and withdrawn, which makes her parents wonder if it is better to have her back home with them. Eventually, Tom and Abby find out what Caitlin has been doing for the past four years and why Caitlin has been acting so withdrawn.

Cemetery Girl is one of the saddest stories I have read in a long time. The story is engaging and tugs at the reader’s heartstrings immediately. After reading the story, I did some research and found out that Caitlin’s behavior is not uncommon to children who have been abducted, and Tom and Abby’s marital troubles are also common as they try to deal with a terrible tragedy. Tom blames himself, and Abby turns to religion.

While neither of these things is bad, they spend so much time trying to heal themselves that their marriage dissolves. Abby wants to move on, and Tom sees that as abandoning their child. Tom wants to keep Caitlin’s room the way it was the day she left, and Abby sees this as not accepting reality. I can’t imagine being in such a situation and feel genuine pain for people who have to deal with it. Bell manages to entertain while giving people a glimpse into how life is for people who have to live with a child being abducted. While interesting, it certainly is uncomfortable. The story is fast-paced and compelling, but the ending is not uplifting. People expecting a happy ending will be sorely disappointed.

Readers must decide if they want to read a story that is difficult to stomach. While it does not explicitly describe anything, it implies that there was a sexual relationship between Caitlin and her abductor. Earlier, the witness describes a sexual situation between Caitlin and a man in a seedy bar. There is also a smattering of profanity. If readers are able to handle the adult situations, they should be touched by Cemetery Girl.

Genre: Suspense

Publisher: Cascada Productions

Publication Date: October 15, 2011

Reviewed by Lori Twitchell

Amanda James is content in her life. She works at the Getty Museum and she has been making inroads in her career that have placed her squarely in the line of vision of some of the most prominent archaeologists in her field. When she receives a phone call from Italy asking her to come to a dig site, it doesn’t take her long to say yes. Ironically, the same night that she’s slated to leave California, she receives another job offer for a prominent position in Japan. Though it’s puzzling to receive both of these incredible offers in one day, Amanda chooses to stick with the job in Italy.

Once there, she discovers that she’s the only one who is able to solve the puzzle that will allow the doors to open, but she’s also the only one who can fit through the narrow opening to get to the doors. Within minutes, Amanda has solved the puzzle, opened the doors, and found herself in the center of an amazing room full of antiquities. Unfortunately, a misstep causes the doors to close behind her and she loses communication with the rest of her team. Now Amanda is trapped. Or is she? While waiting for her team to get to her, Amanda does some exploring of her own and suddenly she finds herself a witness to centuries and centuries of history.

Read the rest of this entry »

Genre: Magical Realism

Publisher: Howard Books

Publication Date: September 2011

Reviewed by Tim George

Sheridan Riddler is the greatest painter of modern art in the universe. We know that because he screams it to the world at every possible turn. No one can capture reality, his reality, like Riddler. His muse and subject for all of his nudes is the love of his life, Suzanna. Yet she, the most beautiful woman he can imagine, remains faceless in his paintings. Even she cannot be allowed to cause people to think of anything but the great Riddler.

When Suzanna refuses to be painted nude again and walks away, Riddler pursues her deep into a Harlem of years gone by. But, as he walks in a drug induced stupor across the bridge above the Harlem River, Riddler is struck by a car and falls into the dark waters below. What happens in those waters is both revelation and curse. From the moment he awakens on the bank of the River with a river rat of a boy attempting to rob him, Sheridan Riddler is a man obsessed. The greatest artist in the universe saw something that is so immensely beyond him he will spend the rest of his life trying to recapture what he only knows to call “the Glory.”

From Buddhist monasteries, to time with a Muslim wise man in Turkey, to Tel Aviv on the verge of Sadam Hussein’s invasion of Kuwait, to the Sistine Chapel, to the shrines of Mexico, Riddler spends the next decades of his life searching for what he thinks he saw in the now fleeting pale memories of “the Glory.” At every turn he is disappointed. Michelangelo’ s grand paintings of God and man are frauds. Nothing comes close to what he saw as he sank in the dirty waters of the Harlem.

And now, someone knows Riddler must still be alive. A daughter he never knew has seen new paintings that could have only come from the hand of her father. And, an obsessed collector/assassin is following her to find Riddler. The collector has spent those years hoarding up Riddler’s masterpieces and doesn’t want any new paintings on the market. For him that means killing the artist the world still thinks is dead. All of their lives, father, daughter, beloved Suzanna, and assassin, are bound up in the artist’ reconciling what he has spent a lifetime trying to recapture and what he must finally die to – The Opposite of Art.

The Opposite of Art by Athol Dickson is one of those rare novels I can manage such a detailed synopsis and yet have no fear of giving away the story. Any attempt to relate what is found within its pages in a review is as humbling as Riddler’s pursuit of “The Glory.” At best I can sketch a vague outline but only a writer with Dickson’s depth can paint the masterpiece.

This is magical realism at its best. Most of Riddler’s story is related through his remembrances as an aging man traveling with a quirky Mexican circus through the wilds of West Texas and New Mexico. Sometimes it is difficult to know if all that happens in the odd circus is the visions of a man with a mind rotted by drugs as a youth and addled by a fruitless pilgrimage.

One of the hallmarks of this kind of writing is that what is real is only known through the eyes and mind of its characters. What are we to think of an art collector assassin who believes justice is playing Russian roulette with himself before killing his target? Did Riddler really enter a circus trailer that in reality is an immense place of worship? Some of it seems wholly implausible but then again so is much of what we call reality. Magical Realism only works when the reader ceases to care if what they are reading could be true. It is true because that is the way the characters see it.

A synopsis barely scratches the surface of what The Opposite of Art is about. Take the time to read it. Read it slowly. Gaze at it like standing before the Grand Canyon for the first time. Ponder its images as Riddler does a canvas seeking to capture “the Glory.” My guess is a good number will grow impatient, flip a few pages in a book store, and go on to lighter fare. But for those brave and persistent enough to pursue the images and messages of this novel of a different kind the reward will prove more than worth it.

Review copy provided by publisher.

Genre: Suspense

Publisher: Revell

Publication Date: September 2011

Reviewed by Tim George

Chess is a simple and yet intensely complicated game. With just six types of pieces, each with distinct restriction on how they can be used, an older child can begin to play in less than an hour yet those same six pieces can consume the entire lifetime of a genius. And that is why it is so fitting that Steven James has carried us along on his journey of move and countermove in the Patrick Bowers Files with the continuing analogy of chess.

The Queen is the author’s latest in what has become a mainstay in late summer reading for many an adrenaline junkie in need of a thriller of just a bit different flavor than the run of the mill. One of the geniuses of Steven James’ writing is that one need not have read any of the other novels in the series to understand pretty quickly what is going on. In case you haven’t read previous installments, Patrick Bowers is a geospatial profiler who considers the Criminal Minds version of profiling to be little more than educated guess-work.

While there is a large cast of characters, this episode is very much Patrick’s story. Called away to northern Wisconsin from the case he so desperately wants to close, Special Agent Dr. Patrick Bowers must face a conspiracy of global proportions and a very personal ghost from his past that will not allow it to be ignored. This may be the most vulnerable we have seen Bowers. We see him barely overcoming childhood fears and nearly losing his life on more than one occasion. As always, there is plenty of pulse pounding action with plot twists at just the right points. But none of the dangers he confronts are as formidable as what he faces in his estranged brother and the secret that has separated them for years. Just as it seems Bowers has finally managed to sustain a relationship with fellow agent Lien-Hua, his past with both his brother and his brother’s wife threatens to derail the one mystery he has failed to crack in the past – women.

There is no way for me to review a Patrick Bowers novel without considering my favorite character. Tessa, Bower’s step-daughter, is dealing with the aftermath of events in The Bishop, and fighting demons of her own. Though she is barely present in the first half of the novel, Tessa’s search for the meaning of forgiveness and redemption intertwines itself with scenes of the basest of human character to form a contrasting tapestry of the human condition.

That doesn’t mean there aren’t some truly impressive villains. Richard Basque is back but only as an elusive shadow. Front and center is Alexei Chekov, the most interesting and multi-dimensional villain yet to spring from the creative mind of the author. Sure, there is the enigma known only as Valkyrie, a rogue CIA master hacker, and a band of misguided eco-terrorists. But Alexei Chekov stands out as what should serve as a prototype for the kind of villain that makes this kind of story rise above the ordinary.

What impresses me most is the patience the author has taken over five novels to develop the underlying themes of the nature of man’s heart, guilt, and forgiveness. Human nature, like chess, is simple at one level and utterly complex at another. James doesn’t insult our intelligence by having Patrick or Tessa resolve that complexity in some formulaic way. Instead, we are given characters with depth, hard questions and longings. And for at least one, hopefully, the only real answer to the human condition.

Review copy provided by publisher.

Listen to our recent interview with the author here. 

Genre: Drama

Publisher: Abingdon Press

Publication Date: September 2011

Reviewed by Elizabeth Olmedo

Austin and Mercy’s lives collide in the wake of September 11. Pain, anger, and regret threaten to wreck their lives. Austin Finley is a New York City cop haunted by the horrifying images of that day and the phone call he had ignored. Mercy Samara is the shrink who holds his job in her hands. When she deems him unfit for active duty, Austin resigns from the department, refusing to be trapped behind a desk.

Years later, Austin has built a new life for himself in Baltimore where he now works as an EMT. With the help of his new found faith in God, Austin has gathered the broken pieces of his life and released the hurt and hatred that held him back. While responding to a 911 call at a high school, his path intersects once more with Dr. Samara who works as a guidance counselor there. This time, the interest they feel toward the other is immediate as they embark on a somewhat unconventional relationship. While their reunion resurfaces old scars, their biggest challenge is her lack faith in his God. Despite their love for each other, this is one area neither one seems willing to compromise on.

From Ashes to Honor is a story of endurance and of rising from the ruins. Loree Lough delivers characters that are both flawed and loveable. Read the rest of this entry »

Genre: Mystery, Suspense

Publisher: Bay Forest

Publication Date: August 2011

Reviewed by Jake Chism

Bret and Sara Vreeland have always struggled to make ends meet. Fancy cars, luxurious homes, and exotic vacations were the stuff of dreams and never within their reach. Until now.

After one of Sara’s patients dies she discovers she is the heiress to his six million dollar fortune. While Bret and Sara always believed that God had blessed them with a beautiful family and the basic needs of life, they can’t help but think now that God has truly smiled upon them.  After all, doesn’t God always reward those who are faithful?

Unfortunately for the Vreeland’s, someone in the shadows is watching. Someone who wants nothing more than to bring them harm. As their adversary draws closer, they are brought face to face with the mysteries of their past and their world is turned upside down. Now they can’t help but wonder if their blessing is indeed a curse.

Eric Wilson’s eleventh novel is the perfect blend of his early Aramis Black novels and his recent film novelizations (Flywheel, Facing the Giants, and Fireproof). To both sides of his fan base Wilson offers up edgy mystery and suspense elements mixed with the relevant spiritual struggles of so many in our Christian culture. This is a modern retelling of the story of Job, and one that effectively challenges the “prosperity gospel” that runs rampant in Christian circles today.

I was hooked early on by how relatable the main characters are. Driving the old beater car, struggling with medical bills, wondering how you can afford to pay for your child’s sports team photo….most of us know exactly what that is like. One almost gets the feeling that Wilson is writing from experience, but surely that can’t be the case. It’s common knowledge that all writers are filthy rich.

Eric Wilson also treats us to one of the most unpleasant names in the history of villains: Magnus Maggart. And yes, this guy is as bad as he sounds. He brings a nice edge to the story with his twisted worldview and his unrelenting desire to wreck havoc. This is one baddie that won’t be easily forgotten.

One Step Away is the first in Eric Wilson’s By the Numbers series, and the perfect way to introduce long time fans and new readers alike to his new blend of storytelling styles. Never preachy, yet always profound and relevant, this is the kind of story that makes you ask the hard questions while you are flying through the pages.

What happens when God lets Satan test a family with a six million dollar blessing? There’s only one way to find out.

Don’t miss our podcast interview with the author here. 

Review copy provided by publisher. 

Genre: Mystery/Suspense/Romance

Publisher: Penguin Group

Publication Date: August 2011

Reviewed by Elizabeth Olmedo

Ellie Sullivan is a successful trauma surgeon who is loved by co-workers and patients alike. She has worked hard and has made many sacrifices to get this far. But when Ellie witnesses the shooting of an FBI agent, her life is turned upside down.

FBI agent Max Daniels has pursued the Landry’s for years. His hunt brings him to St. Louis and to the beautiful Dr. Sullivan. Neither one of them is looking for a relationship, but each time they are around one another the heat rises from 0 to 100 in seconds. Suddenly, keeping Ellie safe becomes very personal for Max. A task that is easier said than done, especially when her past crashes down around her.

The Ideal Man is a story of intense, whirlwind emotions—and following them, sometimes to a deadly ending. Fun and snappy banter between the characters keeps the story from becoming too heavy as the reader joins them on their emotional and terrifying ride. Garwood does a wonderful job at transferring the characters’ feelings to her audience. The reader will grip the book with anger, fear, and disappointment all before the novel is finished.

While I enjoyed the book’s fast pace, I didn’t like that it carried over to the romance. The relationship went too fast. Though Garwood tried to paint it as love, I never saw more than just plain lust. The reader should be prepared for some explicit bedroom scenes and crude conversations.

Review copy provided by publisher. 

Genre: Suspense

Publisher: Simon and Schuster

Publication Date: April 2011

Reviewed by Elizabeth Olmedo

“I confess that I am an accessory to a crime that is ongoing and to a murder that is going to happen very soon […] I don’t want to be a part of it, but it’s too late to stop.”

With those words the mysterious woman flees Father Aiden O’Brien’s confessional.  He doesn’t know who she is. He doesn’t know where she comes from or where she is going. And he is bound to silence by the seal of the confessional.

Alexandra “Zan” Moreland’s life is slowly coming together after her son vanished two years earlier. Her interior design business is on the brink of success. Maybe there is hope of her achieving some semblance of normality amidst the constant nightmare that has been her life since Mathew’s abduction. Then on what would be his fifth birthday, a witness reveals pictures showing Zan as the kidnapper.

Reeling with the shock, Zan insists she is innocent, but proving it becomes even harder when someone accesses her financial accounts and wipes her out, ruining her credibility. The police, her ex-husband, even her strongest supporters, Alvirah Meehan and Father O’Brien, all believe she is guilty. With the clock steadily ticking, Zan must prove her innocence before the police arrest her. However, the truth comes at a price. Every step she takes toward discovering it brings her closer to the person who wants her dead.

Once again, the Queen of Suspense lives up to her title. In I’ll Walk Alone, Mary Higgins Clark delves into the world of identity theft. Read the rest of this entry »

Genre: Romance, Horror, Suspense

Publisher: Atria

Publication Date: April 2011

Jake Chism’s Review:

R is a zombie, but R is so much more. He certainly looks the part with his trademark gait and rotting flesh.  Sure he loves to munch on human brains as much as the next dead guy, but something is changing inside. He just met this human girl named Julie on a hunting raid and instead of eating her, he’s decided to save her life and hide her from his friends. In this post apocalyptic world where zombies prey on human survivors, this is certainly a no-no. But R can’t help himself. Julie is causing him to do something he didn’t know he was capable of doing: to feel.   For the first time in his death R has found a reason to live.

The plot summary above does no justice to Isaac Marion’s breathtaking debut. Neither do the “zombie love story” nor “zombie Romeo and Juliet” monikers others have given it. Like its main character, R, Warm Bodies is so much more than what we see on the surface.

The story is told in the first person from R’s POV and (I can’t believe I’m saying this) I’d place this first person narration on the level of Dean Koontz’s Odd Thomas. Marion writes like a seasoned pro, making this the kind of story that will send aspiring novelists and veterans alike into fits of jealous rage. Not only is this Isaac Marion’s debut, but he sold the movie rights before the book was even written, much less published. Yeah, the kind of stuff that only happens in publishing fantasy land, but nevertheless the final product is more than worthy of the hype.

Marion infuses the well balanced plot with beautiful themes of compassion, creativity, and humility. R’s “courting” of Julie is beautiful to behold, leaving us with countless scenes that will sear in your mind long after reading. For example, I will never forget R’s Frank Sinatra record skipping serenade that is nothing short of literary genius.

Fans of the zombie mythology will find plenty here to satisfy, but Marion deftly avoids the pitfalls of gratuitousness and overindulgence that one might expect in a zombie tale. There’s more than enough gore, violence, adult content, and language here to warn sensitive readers, but the journey is more than worth it for readers who long to be moved by their fiction. Read the rest of this entry »

Genre: Military Suspense/Thriller

Publisher: Barbour Publishing

Publication Date: July 2011

Reviewed by Elizabeth Olmedo

Canyon “Midas” Metcalfe has made many mistakes. The scars on his wrist are proof to his pain, desperation — and failure. He couldn’t even take his own life without messing it up. But that was two years ago. Now he’s part of Nightshade, a covert group of men who are in the business of restoring life and peace to the broken parts of the world — if only it would work for him too.

For the past six months, Danielle Roark has lived every woman’s biggest nightmare. Taken captive by a Venezuelan war lord, she’s been raped, tortured, and broken. Managing to escape only leads her into another living hell. Her government, the people meant to protect her, accuses her of fabricating the story and committing treason — a crime punishable with death. Returning is her only option. But how can Dani survive the jungle that nearly killed her? And what does she hope to find when some of the best secret ops have returned empty handed?

Canyon and Dani’s lives intersect at her court hearing. Their connection is instantaneous.  Now it is up to Nightshade to escort her safely back to Venezuela and secure the evidence needed to prove her innocence. But can Canyon keep his focus with a beautiful, tragic woman threatening to steal his heart? He can’t afford not to, because this is one mission some will stop at nothing to make sure fails.

Ronie Kendig is brilliant in the third installment of her Discarded Heroes series, Wolfsbane. Heart-pounding suspense and adrenaline-pumping action keeps the reader pinned to the edge of the chair. Kendig carries her audience through the dangers and perils of the Venezuelan jungle as Nightshade fights to save Dani. Read the rest of this entry »

Genre: Romance/Suspense

Publisher: Penguin Group

Publication Date: June 2011

Reviewed by Elizabeth Olmedo

Dead bodies are a dime a dozen in Lucy Trask’s world. She’s a medical examiner and death holds no surprises for her. All that changes when she stumbles across the mutilated corpse of a friend while jogging through the park. When a trail of tortured bodies is left for Lucy to discover, one thing is certain. Someone is out for revenge, and Lucy is somehow at the center of the killer’s endgame.

Death and violence are nothing new to Afghanistan war veteran J.D. Fitzpatrick. He has seen his share of gruesomeness. However, the mutilated bodies that keep appearing reach a whole new realm. With each murder, J.D. is convinced the killer is reserving Lucy for his/her grand finale. As J.D. struggles to protect the beautiful and independent ME, he finds himself losing control of his heart and emotions. Protecting her becomes as much a personal task as it does his job. But how can he keep Lucy safe with all the secrets she’s keeping? Somehow, he must convince her to trust him.

You Belong to Me by Karen Rose is a gripping novel that stole my breath as my heart beat faster. Read the rest of this entry »

Genre: Suspense

Publisher: Howard Books

Publication Date: June 2011

Reviewed by Tim George

In the beginning the church was a fellowship of men and women centered on the living Christ. Then the church moved to Greece, where it became a philosophy. Then it moved to Rome where it became an institution. Next, it moved to Europe, where it became a culture. And, finally, it moved to America, where it became an enterprise.

That quote from Richard Halverson sets the stage for The Judas Gospel, yet another imaginative and intensely thought provoking novel by Bill Myers. Using the device of a supposed conversation between Judas and God we are quickly transported away from heaven to the stage of South Central Los Angeles where a cast of divergent characters offer a glimpse of the best and worst of the American church.

At the center of the story is Rachel Delacroix, a young woman with a troubled past that includes the death of her mother and sister in a terrible house fire, a stint in a mental institution and an abiding fear of anyone beyond her immediate family. Home just six months, she has backed off her medications and begun to have troubling dreams that always seem to end with the same two words, “Tell Them.” But when Rachel obeys the dreams and tries to pass what she has seen along to the police her troubles are only about to really begin.

Though her minister father does his best to protect her, Rachel comes under the influence of a new visitor to their church. Jude Miller knows Rachel has the gift of healing and he sees big things in her, and his, future. Unlike Judas of old, he doesn’t intend for this young woman’s gift to be squandered in small venues. As her notoriety grows Rachel become a star much too big for a tiny South Central LA congregation populated by the faithful few. And so, as she becomes the focus of a police investigation into the killing of a high official, thousands clamor for a healing touch. It all began as a simple dream and honest longing to serve God but becomes something beyond anyone’s control.

The Judas Gospel has many layers. On one level it is a straightforward thriller complete with distrusting police, a deranged stalker, unsolved murders and a ticking clock that foreshadows a dramatic conclusion. At a deeper level this is also a study of the American church small and great. Read the rest of this entry »

Genre: Suspense

Publisher: Zondervan

Publication Date: May 2011

Reviewed by Tim George

A church cannot be as big and influential as Diamond Point … and not harbor some ugly secrets. Immorality? Manipulation? Fraud? Abuse of its tax-exempt status? Hypocritical pastors cashing in on the gullible flock? He was looking for a new investigative project … something Pulitzer worthy. As painful as this thing … was, it couldn’t come at a better time.

The Ambition is a story about just one thing – unbridled ambition. And, the best way to introduce it is through its cast of characters and the one ambition that drives each of them.

Tom Ryan O’Sullivan – second rate attorney son of a first rate Chicago legal legend whose one ambition has come to be paying off a gambling debt to people you don’t want to be in debt to.

Gary Strider – investigative journalist whose one ambition is to get that Pulitzer that he has come so close to in the past.

Eric Snow – one time head of a software empire and now CEO of an enterprise of a different sort, Diamond Point Fellowship. Though head of a mega church, his ambition is to do have a bigger stage for his vision of the Gospel.

While The Ambition is Les Strobel’s first novel, he is certainly no newcomer to the world of writing. And his credentials for writing this kind of story are beyond comparison. Strobel was legal journalist for the flagship paper, The Chicago Tribune, of a city known for strong arm politics. He was an atheist turned staff pastor in two of the cutting edge mega churches in America, Willow Creek and Saddle Back. And he has written numerous defenses of the faith seeking to answer some of the deepest questions of the human experience. Read the rest of this entry »

Genre: Suspense, Thriler

Publisher: Berkley Prime Crime Hardcover

Publication Date: May 2011

Chrystal Dorsey’s Review:

The Edgar Award winner and author of the Gideon Oliver mystery series, Aaron Elkins, is back with The Worst Thing, an exciting new stand-alone novel of mystery and suspense that illustrates how quickly everything can go wrong when you ask—what’s the worst that can happen?

In this novel the author ventures deep into the mind of Bryan Bennett, a designer of hostage negotiation programs, and chronic sufferer of some serious panic attacks. Bryan recalls in detail about being abducted at the age of five and imprisoned in a Turkish dungeon – this resulted in Bryan harboring an unbearable fear of being kidnapped. Although it’s been over thirty years since the kidnapping, Bryan still can’t seem to deal with kidnappers in hostage situations – one would think he’d opt for a different career in a totally different field.  Instead he allows his fear of enclosed spaces to control him and refuses to travel outside the safe confines of Redmond, a once relatively sleepy little town outside of Seattle.

But with the help of a therapist, his wife’s overwhelming desire to travel – beyond the radius of their own residence, and armed with a life-time supply of Xanax, Bryan agrees to teach a corporate kidnapping seminar in the unusual setting of Iceland.

As the story takes place primary in Iceland the author allows the reader to share in the adventure of a different culture through his descriptive prose, somewhat like a visiting tourist. Learning about Icelandic delicacies – minke whale, smoked puffin, and Icelandic lamb; Getting lost on the Icelandic streets Bolstaoarhio, Braedraborgarstigur and places like Kópavegur; or stumbling over all these names – who but an Icelander could pronounce, including those of some of the characters, e.g., Stig Trygvasson and Dagnyár Eyjólfsdóttir.

The novel is fast-paced and well-plotted as the story moves to a twist-filled ending and the protagonist does confront what he imagines as “the worst thing” when a group of radical soldiers actually take him hostage – and it isn’t until nearly the bitter end, that Bryan realizes he just might be his own worst enemy.  The Worst Case is an interesting an enjoyable read that has appeal for intermediate and adult readers, alike.

P.J. Coldren‘s Review:

Bryan Bennett is a designer of hostage negotiation programs and security systems.  He comes to this profession in an unusual way: he was kidnapped as a child in Turkey, held for ransom, and tortured.  This experience left him with chronic panic attacks as well as a major jones against dealing directly with kidnappers in hostage situations.  His track record in that department is 50%; he’s unwilling to risk making it worse.

He is offered a job right up his alley.  The downside is it’s in Iceland and Bryan won’t fly.  He decides, on the advice of his therapist, to go anyway.  She tells him the best way to make the panic attacks go away is to confront them, embrace them.  The job is easy enough, once he and his wife Lori get there.  It’s a corporate kidnapping seminar; Bryan can do these in his sleep.

There is a kidnapping, a murder, and conspiracies gone wrong.  Elkins takes Bryan into his worst nightmare, and the reader gets to go along for the ride.  Bryan confronts not only his fears, but also someone from his past, someone with a grudge.  Elkins is writing at least in part what he knows here: he suffered from panic attacks for a decade.  Elkins can write a thriller with the best of them, and he has.  The real kicker is the last chapter, when Bryan is home again.

Warning: Some language issues and violence.

Review copy provided by publisher.

Genre: YA, Mystery, Suspense

Publisher: David C. Cook

Publication Date: June 2011

Reviewed by Lori Twichell

If you’re reading Gravestone, it’s likely that you will have read the book that comes before it, Solitary. If not, stop now, go the library or your closest store and get a copy. Gravestone is not the book with which you want to start. Now that said, there be spoilers for Solitary in this review, so if you haven’t read that one yet, you might want to wait on this review as well.

Now that all of the housekeeping is out of the way, let me start by saying this. Chris Buckley is in trouble. If he didn’t realize it before, he knows it now. Everyone in the town believes that his girlfriend, Jocelyn, broke up with him and moved away. They’ve even gotten emails to prove that she’s there and she wants nothing to do with him. But Chris knows different. Jocelyn was killed by a group of people right in front of his eyes. He watched her die. But no one believes him and now, he’s on their radar.

So as Chris tries to keep his head down at the same time that he tries to figure out how to get himself and his mother out of this mess. Oh and speaking of his mother, she’s in the mess too. She’s been having nightmares at night about a man coming into her room. Or are they nightmares? And what’s up with that creepy pastor of that weird church with the upside down crosses?? Why’s he suddenly hanging around so much?

As Travis Thrasher’s Solitary series presses on toward what we can only imagine is a cataclysmic battle of good and evil, this second installment to the series leaves no thrills or chills behind. Unfolding like an old fashioned Hitchcockian adventure, this book is guaranteed to leave you with goose bumps and perhaps, a desire to check all the cabinetry in your home to be sure it’s really what it’s supposed to be. Read the rest of this entry »

Genre: Suspense

Publisher: Waterbrook Press

Publication Date: June 2011

Reviewed by Tim George

Crocket Grey is a school teacher, a divorced weekend dad and a man on a collision course with his own inner demons. His story begins with his annual drunken binge held in honor of a daughter whose death a few years earlier left Crocket missing a piece of himself. But on this night before the Scotch Whiskey has had a chance to completely dull his pain or senses, he sees the ghost of his lost daughter at the window. What follows will change everything about the way Crocket Grey perceives the world and life.

In the Canary List, Sigmund Brouwer, immerses the reader in the story of a man forced to rethink everything about his life and reality. The image at his window is not a ghost but rather, Jamie, a 12 year foster child from his school class. Jamie’s request to spend one night in peace can’t be refused. And even though Crocket has the sense to have his elderly neighbor keep the girl for the night, the die is cast for his world to be turned inside out.

Jamie feels Evil. Not evil in some generic form but rather Evil personified in certain people she comes into contact with.  As a result she has come under the guidance of a psychiatrist seeking to help her and a representative from the Vatican who has answered the doctor’s call for help. Before Crocket knows what is happening he is ensnared in a web of deception, cover-up and an incredible plot that threatens to either save or destroy the Catholic Church.

What makes this story work is its ambiguity. Crocket doesn’t believe in God, the supernatural and certainly not demons. The reader can’t miss the irony of a man who memorializes his dead daughter and failed marriage by drinking himself into oblivion but dismisses the possibility of demons without a thought. When he becomes a captive of a plot within the Vatican to “fix” the selection of the next Pope, he meets Cardinals just as conflicted, including an official exorcist who doesn’t believe any more than Crocket Grey.

If you are beginning to think this is a horror tale with little girls’ heads twisting in the wind, forget it. The Canary List is not that kind of a story. Instead, it is a story of intrigue that will leave you guessing to the very last page what really happened. Read the rest of this entry »

Genre: Suspense

Publisher: Thomas Nelson

Publication Date: May 2011

Reviewed by Tim George

Nick Polchak is a forensic entomologist who understands one thing well … bugs. Everything else about life and people, not so much. And that is what has made Dr. Polchak such an interesting character in all of the novels in Tim Down’s, Bug Man series (Shoo Fly Pie, Chop Shop, First the Dead, Less Than Dead, and Ends of the Earth).

Author, Tim Downs left readers twisting in the wind at the conclusion of his last installment of his “Bug Man” series with Nick was facing the most terrifying crisis of his life. He had faced murderers and examined countless dead bodies but nothing had prepared him for that one. On the last page of Ends of the Earth, Nick asked someone to marry him. Unfortunately we didn’t know who. Nick of Time answers that question.

As we begin Nick of Time we now know Nick and Alena are preparing for their wedding. At least Alena is. Nick is still Nick. He is determined to attend a monthly meeting of experts who assist law enforcement in solving cold cases. Adding fuel to the fire of his determination is a message from an old friend that indicates there is a mystery to solve. So, amidst the protests of his wife-to-be he heads off with a promise to return in just a day. Their wedding, he reasons, isn’t until the weekend and he will be back in plenty of time. If you believe that you haven’t read the other Bug Man stories and you don’t know Nick Polchack. Read the rest of this entry »

Genre: Suspense

Publisher: Realms

Publication Date: May 2011

Reviewed  by Tim George

Sam pressed his cheek against the rifle stock … Tommy was on his knees behind Eva, one arm around her shoulders, the other holding the pistol to her head … Any hint of a threat, and he might pull that trigger … Sam would only get one shot. It was his only hope …

Sam Travers is an ordinary guy desperately trying to preserve his sense of purpose in the months following an accident at work that has left him disabled. Still his life is good with a loving wife and young daughter who adores him like only a little girl can. But one morning, an unexplained gun shot that leaves no physical evidence sets into motion a series of events that puts Sam on a collision course with a darkness that has been brooding in the quiet rural hills for at least 150 years.

In typical Dellosso style we are plunged headlong into the life of a simple man facing extraordinary and impossible circumstances. Read the rest of this entry »

Genre: Suspense

Publisher: B & H Books

Publication Date: May 2011

Reviewed by Tim George

It’s true what they say about the unknown. It’s far more frightening to have no answer than to hear one you’d never wanted. In crisis situations you need a tangible enemy. Someone or something to fight. To bull’s eye with the arrows of your righteous indignation.

Janessa McNeil, Jannie to her friends, had a perfect life: married to a highly respected research physician, mother to a loving nine year old daughter, and living in such a protected community there was little need to set home alarms unless one left on vacation. But something has changed. Jannie, though seldom sick, has had the flu for three weeks and wonders aloud if she might have Lyme’s Disease. She only thinks to ask because her husband, Brock, is one of the most respected Lyme’s researchers in the country. Then comes a day that she falls in the kitchen and later receives a fateful phone call from a mad man; he has secretly infected her with an extremely virulent form of Lyme’s and she has 48 hours to change her husband’s position on the reality of chronic Lyme’s disease.

In Over the Edge, Brandliyn Collins brings us yet another installment of her Seatbelt Suspense with an intensely personal spin. Read the rest of this entry »

Genre:  Literary, Suspense

Publisher: The Fieldnor Press

Publication Date: Nov 2010

Reviewed by Melody Ballard

The Other Side is not light reading.  E Thomas Finan’s stories are heavy and weighted.   Like binding chains, they resist every attempt the reader makes to claw out of the strangling moroseness that comprises each one.

In Motley Black you meet a young man running away from the pain of lost love.  His tortured thoughts consume him as he travels on a bus late at night. Through his eyes you see with undisguised disgust, the sight and sounds and smells of fellow travelers.  We accompany him throughout his journey to the unanticipated end as he (and you) are left without closure.

In An Aria of Windrows, you burrow into the mind of a man obsessed by a message from a stranger left on his answering machine. Where does reality end and madness begin?  You consider this as you spiral ever deeper into a rapid and claustrophobic bleakness. Read the rest of this entry »

Genre: Suspense, Drama, Supernatural

Publisher: Faith Words

Publication Date: May 2011

Reviewed by Jake Chism

Tyler Harrison is going to die on his 40^th birthday. Tyler knows because an angel named Matthew told him so.

With death imminent and uncertainty clouding his soul, Tyler sets out on a nine month journey towards inevitability and the unknown. How do you live your life when you know exactly when you are going to die? Do you change anything? Do you make amends? Do you bury your head beneath the covers of your unfulfilled life and pretend like it’s not going to happen? These are the questions that haunt Tyler, along with the hallucinations and visions that terrify him to no end.

A music producer in Chicago, Tyler has made quite a name for himself and is on the verge of making a big break with an up and coming star. In the past he’s always been able to lose himself in the music, letting his work consume his life. But with Matthew’s big birthday announcement, nothing in Tyler’s life makes sense anymore and not even his love for music satisfies. All the things he’d like to forget, things like his divorce and his rocky relationship with his evangelist father,  all of those things are staring him in the face and are demanding attention. As Tyler’s birthday draws near he is unknowingly heading towards a collision with destiny and the lack of faith that has plagued his life.

40 is Travis Thrasher’s most personal novel to date and it’s certainly no accident that this novel is being released just a couple of weeks after the author’s 40^th birthday.  This is a very emotional and brooding story filled with Tyler’s inward reflections and struggles over his past. Thrasher’s own love for music shows through in not only the setting, but in the way the plot unfolds like a mind bending concert dominated by somber ballads interspersed with the occasional bones igniting anthem.

The “detail” police will be glad to know that Thrasher doesn’t sell us short with the portrayal of a music producer’s profession. Tyler is wholly believable as both a music producer and aficionado. I’m almost convinced Thrasher has actually spent some time in the studio, possibly chewing the fat with the likes of Brian Eno as he puts forth a stellar effort here to “get it right”.

As I was reading 40, I knew there was a twist coming, but when I finally arrived I was floored by both the masterful execution leading up to it and the soul stirring implication left upon the reader. The first person narration was spot on, the suspense and drama played out just right throughout, but this twist elevates the story in such a profound way. This display of storytelling prowess is why I continue to come back to Thrasher’s writing and why I’m continually dismayed that he isn’t as widely recognized as he deserves.

40 is personal not only for Travis Thrasher, but also for readers who are willing to ask the hard questions about life, faith, and the journey that weaves them together. Wow….

Don’t miss our 40 Questions with Travis Thrasher podcast series.

Review copy provided by publisher.

Genre: Romance, Suspense

Publisher: Five Star Expression

Publication Date: October 2010

Reviewed by Elizabeth Olmedo

Tragedy pushed Detective Michael Carven into early retirement. Fleeing the pain and memories, he built a thriving horse ranch — a place to lick his wounds away from the rest of the world. Three years later, a serial killer is on the loose and the police are stumped. Leaving no evidence or clues behind, the killer is like a ghost. Chief Dan Walker, Michael’s former partner, asks him to return and help the department solve the case. Michael agrees, but needs someone to temporarily replace him at the ranch. When Michael meets his new foreman, Jess Stanson, the last thing expected was for “him” to actually be a beautiful and feisty young woman. Michael is determined to fix the mix-up and send her packing right back to where she came from.

Jessica Stanson refuses to be run off just because she’s a woman. She can do her job just as well, if not better, than any man. Overcoming their initial bumpy start, Jessica discovers a complex man hiding beneath his seemingly tough exterior. As she comes to understand this loyal and hardworking man, she finds herself falling for him, but Michael’s past prevents him from lowering his guard around anyone, especially her. Read the rest of this entry »

Genre: Suspense

Publisher: Bethany House

Publication Date: April 2011

Reviewed by Tim George

The Alarmists begins in a most non- alarming way for Brent Michaels: sociology professor with a day off, sitting in a boat and hoping for a trophy bass from his favorite fishing spot. The time is 2:33 in the afternoon, December 3^rd 2012. And the last thing on Dr. Michaels’ mind is that 18 days hence marks the infamous supposed end of the ancient Mayan calendar and to some conspiracy types, the end of the world. With his mind far from his class and still focused on his quarry, Michaels receives a phone call from his assistant with a message that will change everything about the way he views life and his certainties.

“You got a call from the Pentagon. They want you for a consult.”

That call transports Brent Michaels to a world he hasn’t visited for several years, the world of consulting about sociological probabilities for the military. And a lot has changed! Within hours Michael is introduced to Colonel Jameson Richardson, Captain Amy Madigan and the rest of the Colonel’s eclectic assortment of military scientific investigators. This is a unit assigned to investigate and seek to explain the connections between some of the oddest and most unexplainable occurrences on earth. In short, they are racing against time to clarify why the human race seems to be on accelerated course of coming apart at the seams. Read the rest of this entry »

Genre: Suspense

Publisher: The Permanent Press

Publication Date: Feb 2011

Reviewed by Melody Ballard

This is the story of one man in a particular place, at a particular point in time. It is a story of beliefs and passion, of a county and it’s people, and it is a story of truths and lies. It could be about all people, in any place at any time but it’s not. It’s the story of Ishmael and it’s the story of Africa.

Ishmael is called the Barefoot Librarian. Raised in an orphanage he soon learns that the way to freedom is  through books and stories; it is through the classics that he makes sense of the chaos that surrounds him. He learns that literature is a metaphor for life, and that life itself is only a reflection of the reality of one’s beliefs.

He believes that others can find hope within these same pages in which he finds sanctuary.   Loading books upon his back,  he travels from village to village leaving an entire book at one place, a chapter, or only a few pages at another.  Wherever people gather they fill in the missing pieces with stories of their own. Ishmael is firmly grounded in his own reality, and is resigned to the fate that he knows must surely await him.

His ordered world changes when he meets Kate.  Through Ishmael’s eyes we see the magic of discovery that can be found within ones heart. Kate is headstrong, passionate, full of optimism with a belief that if one cares enough, wrongs can be made right. Renewed meaning and hope surface when Ishmael and Kate encounter Mara, the child of a war with no name.

The chance meeting of this white woman of privilege, this black man of strength, and this lost child soon becomes a maelstrom of emotion as events find their world spiraling out of control.  The stark truths around them surge through an abyss of unimaginable horror, only to culminate into a vacuum of unreality.

Charles Davis masterfully crafts Standing at the Crossroads with vivid imagery and powerful but eloquent prose.  Davis, author of Walk on Bright Boy, and Walking the Dog, just keeps getting better.  Highly recommended for anyone who enjoys “Fiction with Feeling”.

Review copy provided by publisher.

Genre: Suspense

Publisher: St. Martin’s Griffin

Publication Date: January 2011

Reviewed by Josh Olds

Vampire ninjas.

Need any more really be said? Lawson is a hundred and fifty year old vampire known as a Fixer. It’s his job to maintain the shaky balance between humans and vampires—which most humans, of course, don’t know exist. After a prolonged time in the trenches, Lawson is finally given a reprieve for some R&R and advanced ninjutsu training in Japan, and that is where The Kensei begins.

Of course, a sanguine tale about a vacationing vampire would hardly be worth writing about—even if he is a ninja vampire. That’s probably why author Jon Merz wastes no time in messing with his protagonist’s vacation plans. From an encounter with an assassin on the train ride in, to becoming involved in a Yakusa turf war that’s a front for much more, Lawson barely has time to catch his breath as he tries to unravel the mystery and understand why the vampire known as the Kensei wants him dead. Read the rest of this entry »

Genre: Suspense

Publisher: Thomas Nelson

Publication Date: March 2011

Reviewed by Tim George

In that moment I felt pity for her, a woman whose spiritual quest was destined to circle back to hopelessness and despair. She searched without listening. She wanted truth only if it was convenient. But something bothered me even more. Who was more despicable, Claire the lost soul, are the one manipulating her?

Special Agent Raleigh Harmon has been a lot of places in her career with the FBI. Since author Sibella Giorello first introduced us to Raleigh in The Stones Cry Out, she has been shuttled from Virginia to Seattle and back again because of various issues with superiors. Now engaged, Raleigh is still battling a certain restlessness as she embarks, minus her fiancé,  on a cruise to Alaska with her mentally failing mother, her caring but misguided Aunt, and her aunt’s wacked out new age clairvoyant friend by the name of Claire. That’s right, Claire the Clairvoyant. While that and other snippets of The Mountains Bow Down are as humorous as Claire’s name, don’t mistake this story for a lighthearted adventure. As in all of Giorello’s novels, this is a tale both of an unsolved crime and of the mysteries of the human condition.

Raleigh’s vacation to see Alaska’s grandeur and escape thoughts of her approaching wedding is cut short when a woman is found hanging from the ship as an apparent suicide. To complicate matters more, the woman is the wife of an actor staring in a movie being shot on the ship. A movie for which Raleigh’s aunt is a “spiritual” consultant. What follows is a classic mystery as Raleigh races the clock to prove this was no suicide and to find a killer hiding among 2000 passengers before the ship reaches port.

At every turn Raleigh is stymied by suspects, family and the crew of the ship. The captain is so concerned with his reputation he refuses to believe there has even been a murder. The cast and crew of the movie are too caught up in themselves to care about anything else. Claire the Clairvoyant is a thorn in Raleigh’s side. And of all things, Raleigh is joined by Jack an agent who gave her nothing but grief the last time they worked together. As the case progresses Raleigh becomes more certain the killer is among them, more conflicted between her career and her mother’s failing mental health and less certain about the future to which she is committed.

Every time I begin a novel by this gifted author I always think, “This isn’t the kind of book I usually like to read.” But it never takes more than a couple of pages for me to forget such a misguided notion and find myself sucked in by Giorello’s first-person immediacy, unvarnished honesty, and determination to peel back the façade of human goodness to reveal what lies beneath. It isn’t just the vain lives of the Hollywood elite who are being exposed in this story. Raleigh Harmon, a believer, is having yet another layer of duplicity scraped away in a painful process of self-discovery. And it is the depth of her character and the power of the author’s prose that keeps me coming back.

Captain Geert’s disdainful “Arnold Swartsinagerish” pronunciation of California will amuse you. Claire the Clarivoyant’s silly predictions of the obvious will give you relief after scenes filled with painful insights into the things that unite and rip families apart. The veneer of celebrity that unsuccessfully covers the ugliness of human nature will make your shake your head. The mystery of the who, how, and why of a murder will keep you guessing. But it is Raleigh’s story that will keep you reading. She is a unique woman who is honest about her own duplicity. She wants to do the right thing, has an undying faith in the one she follows, loves her family with sincere passion and yet is still working on solving the greatest mystery of all – the mystery of the why’s of her own heart.

Review copy provided by publisher.

Genre: Thriller, Horror, Suspense, Speculative

Publisher: Marcher Lord Press

Publication Date: October 2010

Reviewed by Jake Chism

Sascha Konig has just been assigned to a mysterious Nazi torture center buried deep in a Romanian forest. Konig is a man of science possessing the skill sets needed to master the furnace used to snuff out Nazi dissenters. Indeed, he is soon dubbed “Nebuchadnezzar” for his uncanny ability to maximize the heat. As Konig tries to feel at home in this chamber of death he makes friends and enemies amongst the soldiers assigned. Despite differences they must learn to band together against the supernatural monsters that threaten to break through their defenses and tear them to pieces.

The threats from outside are nothing compared to the fears and struggles Konig faces within. Despite his faithful service to Hitler, Konig has secretly despised the infamous Führer, always struggling with how to remain faithful to Christ. As Konig bands together with his new found friends he discovers that they too are Christians, fighting the same inward battle that ensnares him. As dangers escalate this remnant of believers must find a way to survive the onslaught of supernatural terror while trying to save those they have been charged to kill.

Told in the gripping first person narrative of Sascha Konig, this novel leaps out of the gates in a rapid pace that is intoxicating to say the least. With every turn of the page I was giddy with excitement while I wondered what Schooley could possibly throw at me next. Creepy plant men, gory man VS monster battles, otherworldly characters that both haunted and enthralled…every surprise was fresh and every plot twist executed masterfully.

Marc Schooley uses his skillful pen to easily transport readers into the madness his characters are drowning in. Just when you think the story is smothered in darkness, we quickly realize that true evil is deeper than we can imagine. Fortunately, Schooley doesn’t leave us wandering around blindly in despair. In the end the light shines through in a way I never saw coming, lifting this story from great to superb.

If you long for fiction that will move you and linger long after reading, then give Konig’s Fire a try. Marc Schooley is a new name to me, but one I will follow with eager anticipation.

Review copy provided by publisher.

Genre: Suspense

Publisher: WaterBrook

Release Date: February 2011

Josh Olds’ Review:

Lisa Harper has had anything but a normal life. When she was seven she was kidnapped but thankfully managed to escape. Not long after her father died and her family went bankrupt. Her mother eventually remarried but the white knight she thought the guy was soon revealed himself as both abusive and evil. Now, some years later, she’s managed to escape her stepfather, and she won’t be satisfied until she gets her mother out as well. It’s been nearly 13 years since she’s seen her mother, but soon-to-be Dr. Lisa Harper, head of the Crossroads Crisis Center, is going to change that.

But Dutch Hauk, Lisa’s stepfather, isn’t going to let his wife go so easily. He controls everything she does, confining her to the house and away from the rest of the world. When he learns that Lisa is gunning to take her mom back, he throws everything back at her in order to make her stop. Hauk doesn’t just want to kill Lisa; he wants to see her suffer. Lisa soon finds herself in a situation far, far deeper and less hope-filled than she ever thought possible.

Luckily, she’s got security expert Mark Taylor on her side. Mark’s past as a covert black-ops spy is only known to a handful in the world, but it’ll prove to be very useful that he and his friends become involved. And as the plot progresses Lisa becomes very happy that Mark is, well, involved. The romantic aspects play out wonderfully, aren’t at all overbearing, and serve as a nice change of flavor from the core plot’s intensity.

As Lisa and Mark soon discover, their situation goes way beyond an abusive husband to the international problem of human trafficking and a multinational crime organization called NINA. Author Vicki Hinze keeps the action rolling, the tension at almost breaking point, and the plot twists spinning as Deadly Ties hurtles to its shocking conclusion.

I’m a newbie to Hinze’s work, but I assure you this won’t be the last time I pick up one of her novels. Excellent characterization and a compelling plot draw the reader in and never lets go. Every scene has a reason, every bit of character background has a purpose, but Hinze does a fantastic job of keeping it from the reader until the suspense is worked to the breaking point. The various storylines weave together seamlessly it what are truly Deadly Ties to create a web that entraps the reader in truly excellent storytelling.

Hinze hits on tough issues, bringing up things such as a Christian justification of divorce, the importance of family, and the evils of human trafficking. Perhaps most importantly, the novel addresses the universal question of the purpose of pain and the importance of faith when all hope seems lost. Evil is unapologetically painted black and bold, making the redemptive power of Christ seem all that much more powerful. Deadly Ties is absolutely magnificent.

Tim George’s Review:

Deadly ties might be hard to endure, but from them can spring ties of hope and joy. Ties of truth and of love.

The concluding line of Deadly Ties by Vicki Hinze is a fitting synopsis for this fast paced romantic suspense that revisits the Crossroad Crisis Center in the panhandle of Florida and the characters associated with it as they struggle to bring reconciliation to their lives. At the center of the story is Annie, her daughter Lisa, and an abusive husband by the name of Dutch who loves his own power and control far more than his wife. Having given up custody of her daughter to a friend years earlier, Annie and her daughter have been kept apart until recently by their fear of the man who will allow stop at no ends to posses Annie all to himself. Throw into the mix a former Special Operations officer who has loved that daughter from a distance, a group of his ex special forces buddies who call themselves the Shadow Watchers, and a nefarious anarchist organization dedicated to nothing but money, death, and power and you have a perfect recipe for a gripping story.

While the plot of an international anarchist group like NINA, Nihilists in Anarchy, and the Shadow Watchers determination to bring it down may seem like the big story it really serves as a vehicle to plunge us into the lives of characters conflicted by their own hearts. That isn’t to say this is not a rousing story of good versus evil because it is. NINA was introduced more in less detail in Hinze first story of the series, Forget Me Not, but becomes a full-blown portrait of the human heart given to nothing but greed and unbridled power in this successful sequel. One member of NINA, in particular, offers a perfect picture of what happens when people try to compartmentalize their lives in such a way they think their dark actions have no relationship to the rest of their live or the people they love.

Hinze touches on a number of themes including love, trust, faith, and hope. More than one character in Deadly Ties is trying to escape their past while all the time running headlong into it. Our main character, Annie, has real emotions, the kind that dares to show a believer in Christ questioning why God allows the terrible things that happen in her life. When Annie contemplates the events that led to her marrying her abusive husband she asks what believers have been asking since David in the Psalms – Why? “Why, God? Why didn’t you send me at least one bad feeling? Couldn’t you spare me even one piddling stomach flutter? I’ve been loyal, obedient. Why didn’t I get something?”

While romantic suspense is not my first choice in fiction, writers like Hinze, Terri Blackstock, and Robin Carrol keep me coming back because they touch on themes about the life we live from day to day. The good romantic suspense authors understand the trick to making these themes that are common to all us compelling fiction is through plot, pacing, and enough suspense to keep us wondering what will happen next while rooting for the hero to overcome the complexities of his or her life.  Hinze has all of these nailed in spades as she reminds us – deadly ties might be hard to endure, but from them can spring ties of hope and joy.

Review copies provided by publisher.

Genre: Political Thriller, Suspense

Publisher: Dutton

Publication Date: February 2011

Reviewed by Josh Olds

“I’m a meat-eater. My existence allows the plant-eater to contribute. Some plant-eaters, living in a so-called civilized world, call me evil, but at the end of the day, when the bad man comes and the plant-eater’s praying for a miracle, I’m what shows up.”

That’s Pike Logan’s worldview in a nutshell. Evil is not something to play around with. Instead you have to grab it by the face the snap its neck. As a team leader in an unofficial paramilitary organization called the Taskforce, this outlook on life and death, good and evil, is absolutely imperative. Pike’s team exists by Presidential order but isn’t subject to Congressional oversight. They are altogether necessary to thwart terrorism on a global level, yet absolutely illegal. No doubt about it, Pike Logan is One Rough Man.

But even the toughest men fold under the harshest of tragedies. While away on a mission, Pike family is murdered, leaving Pike feeling responsible for their deaths. He leaves the Taskforce and goes off the grid. But trouble has a way of finding Pike. Through a series of unlikely circumstances, he finds himself compelled to kill once more.

The situation unfolds rapidly as Pike discovers that Jennifer—a girl he’d literally just met minutes ago—had some loose ties to a major smuggling operation in Guatemala. Pike reluctantly finds himself roped in to helping her out of predicament, and finds that he’s just struck the tip of the iceberg. The story that follows races along at a breakneck pace, unveiling a terrorist plot that could have global implications. But Pike doesn’t have his Taskforce any more: it’s just One Rough Man against everyone.

Debut author Brad Taylor has a storied past that could itself be a book. Taylor spent over twenty-one years in the U.S. Army including eight as a part of the 1^st Special Forces Operations Detachment-Delta—the vaunted Delta Force. Needless to say, that experience shines through into the novel, leaving the reader wondering how many bits of conversations and events had their origins in the Taylor’s real-life past.

One Rough Man is compelling and intriguing, building the foundation for what is apparently a new series centered around Pike Logan. Taylor is at his best when he relies on his special-ops background to tell the story from the first-person perspective. Things get a bit convoluted because Taylor throws in a number of scenes from a third-person omniscient perspective that, without carefully discernment on the reader’s part, can completely throw the reader off-track. The core of the plot—that there is actually a WMD hidden in an ancient Mayan temple—could also have been developed a bit more, but the novel’s ending leads me to wonder if readers might not find that answer in the sequel.

In the end, One Rough Man is a decently-written, pulse-pounding tale of a modern day Rambo. Though written mostly for entertainment, Taylor also manages to educate his readers on current thought in terrorist as well as the bureaucracy and its involvement on clandestine affairs. While not flawless, this debut novel is a solid read.

Review copy provided by publisher.

Genre: Suspense

Publisher: Realms

Publication Date: February 2011

Reviewed by Tim George

Ruby woke more than a dead boy, and the secrets she unleashed threaten to destroy them all.

Reverend Ian Clark is in the midst of a spiritual discovery – the discovery that he is unsure of everything he ever claimed to believe. He has hidden his doubts from everyone save an ethereal uninvited guest that mocks him in the confines of his pastor’s office. Ironically, the good reverend doesn’t believe in the supernatural yet is unknowingly being pulled into a secret religious order led by his old professor from seminary days. A man who has long since given up on things he once said he believed himself.

What taunts Ian Clark in secret places is just a foreshadowing of what lies lurking in the dark corners and hidden places of the heart among the good and not-so-good people of the city of Stonetree. Overlooking the city in a graveyard looms a petrified oak reminding all who know the story of monstrous things that occurred a century earlier. Things thought buried but very much alive.

A wonderful trio of praying women led by Ruby Case don’t know it but they are about to shake things up in their town long held in the unseen hand of evil. Ruby has a limp but she is certainly no cripple. One spring morning Ruby prays for God to visit her city – to do something, anything, to wake everyone up. She had no idea how literally that prayer would be answered until she visits the casket of a dead boy at the local funeral home and he sits up, alive to all. Needless to say, The Resurrection throws the sleepy town into chaos. Some see Ruby as a celebrity while others, even within her church, are less than pleased by the event. What follows propels both Reverend Clark and Ruby on separate quests for answers. That quest will rip the town’s quaint facade to shreds and unleash a battle that has been brewing in the shadows of Stonetree for centuries

The conclusion will be satisfying to most and leave others with questions and I suspect the author intended it that way. Too much faith based fiction wraps everything up in a neat package at the end leaving no room for ambiguity. Not so with The Resurrection. Instead we are shown the lives of real people who struggle on the path much like Bunyan’s Pilgrim. Some, like Ruby, become stronger in the battle and others leave us shaking our heads wondering if they will ever rest in the arms of a faithful God.

Mike Duran’s debut novel will undoubtedly be compared to another pair of books that practically created faith-based suspense a generation ago. Many have sought to match what Frank Peretti accomplished in This Present Darkness and Piercing the Darkness but few like Mike Duran have accomplished it. The characters (in particular Ruby) are memorable, the plot never lets you rest, and the conclusion will leave you thinking long after the book is put away. Duran masterfully blends fear, evil, hope, and redemption to paint a memorable portrait of how even the least of the servants of the Light can overcome the prevailing darkness around them. The Resurrection is a debut novel that promises many more are sure to follow.

Review copy provided by publisher.

Genre: Suspense

Publisher: Waterbrook

Release Date: September 2010

Reviewed by Josh Olds

Cable news show Judgment Day with Suzanne Kidwell has been a major news sensation. Exposing politicians, businessmen, and even religious leaders as frauds, phonies, and outright criminals, Kidwell is well on her way to national celebrity as her viewers eat up her controversial and sensational style of journalism. Problem is, Kidwell’s investigative techniques aren’t all that sound, and when her own fact-twisting and outright lying is exposed, she finds herself in trouble with her employers. But that’s soon going to be the least of her worries.

First, a freak accident kills her boyfriend. Then she wakes up in her house to discover a dead body. Even worse, the fingerprints on the knife sticking out of the girl’s back belong to her. Given her recently exposed lack of credibility, cops are less than convinced at her denial of the murder. The only people that can help her now are the private investigating team of Marcus Crisp and Alexandria Fisher-Hawthorne. One small interesting tidbit there: Marcus is her ex-fiancé.

They reluctantly agree to take the case, but honestly don’t know what to think. But they soon uncover a twisted tale that interconnects many of the people Suzanne had been investigating. All of it leads to a grand scheme that’s so big they might have trouble making it out alive…Suzanne might face her own Judgment Day.

In Judgment Day, Wanda Dyson does the almost-impossible by making the readers want to root for a completely unlikable character. It takes a while, of course—at the beginning of the book I was wondering how I could like a novel when I loathed the main character—but Dyson takes us roundabout and helps the reader (and the character) discover why she acts the way she does. Events unfold one right after the other as the action rarely lets up. Great twists and tie-ins with side plots supplant the core story, keeping the reader guessing until almost the final page. I did think that Dyson revealed a little too much too soon in some areas. For instance, I’d have rather not known who the real villain of the story was so quickly or abruptly. There are also points where fast-paced melds into rushed, meaning that I wish Dyson would have taken time to flesh out some of the scenes and character’s relationship connections.

Nonetheless, the story is a solid and quick read, sure to entertain. Dyson ties her story together very well, pulling in what at first seems to extraneous pieces of background story to fit seamlessly into the overall main plot. Beginning with a couple of missing kids and an overzealous TV journalist, Judgment Day ends with a conspiracy so much greater and a journalist a bit more appreciative of life, family, and friends.

One thing to note: The back cover copy contains a major typo, accusing Suzanne of killing a character that actually remains quite alive throughout the book. As a rule, I don’t read back cover copies until after reading the book. It’s a personal quirk after having a few novels spoiled for me by overly informative back cover summaries. It not something that affects the book—back cover copy is rarely something even in the author’s control—but is something that should be noted.

Review copy provided by publisher.

Genre: Military Suspense/Thriller

Publisher: Barbour Publishing

Publication Date:  January 2010

Reviewed by Elizabeth Olmedo

Colton “Cowboy” Neely is broken. Years of faithful service to the military have shattered his mind. He can’t differentiate reality from the vivid flashbacks. When an episode ends with Colton pointing a gun at his own daughter, he knows something has to change. Hoping to save Colton, a friend recruits him into the covert group Nightshade.

While things look better, Colton has come to grips with the knowledge that he can never share his life with a woman. He is fine with that decision until he meets Piper Blum. Somehow she manages to make the war-weathered soldier’s heart melt. But who would want a broken down cowboy? Definitely, not her. Still, the harder he fights his feelings, the deeper they grow.

When things don’t turn out to be what they appear, Colton finds himself on a mission that will take him to the Promised Land — a place he never wanted to set foot in again. In Israel, Colton must battle more than just bad guys; he must fight for his heart, soul, and mind. Maybe there he’ll find the promise of hope and love.

Just when I thought Ronie Kendig’s books couldn’t get any better, she wows me once more. In Digitalis, the second book of her Discarded Heroes Series, Kendig offers a story full of suspense, love, and faith. Though faith is an integral part of her stories and characters, I never feel preached at. Saying they have faith is like saying they have brown eyes. It’s a part of who they are. Kendig is the Karen Kingsbury of Christian Suspense.

In a world where loving Israel is so unpopular, it is refreshing to find an author who truly values and respects God’s land. I also thoroughly enjoyed that some of the characters were Messianic Jews. As one myself, I could really identify with them.

While Digitalis can stand alone, you won’t want to miss any part of the series. This book is a must read for those who enjoy suspense and romance all wrapped up in one.

Review copy provided by publisher.

Genre: Suspense

Publisher: Waterbrook Press

Publication Date: October 2010

Reviewed by Kaci Hill

Tandem picks up shortly after the end of Thirsty, with characters in the same town still dealing with the fallout from Thirsty. Months events of Thirsty, Tracey Batemen’s book Tandem reenters Abbey Hills, Missouri, this time following the parallel plots of Lauryn McBride, who is with the auction house in charge of the late Markus Chisom, and Amede Dastillion, whose interest in Abbey Hills and Markus is tied to a history she’d rather not disclose.  Amede’s interests are bound up in finding her long-lost sister, and Lauryn’s found more questions than answers, as well as a new trail of mutilated carcasses.

Bateman maintains the same voice and tenor as she did in Thirsty—keeping true to her writer’s voice: A first person flashback, first person, present, third person from other key figures. It was a good “Tracey Bateman rhythm” if you will.

Moreover, I was surprised to find myself empathetic toward one particular vampire, especially after Thirsty (she’s completely sympathetic, I think, if you’re reading out of order).  Bateman has succeeded in building a world where vampires have a choice in how they live. They can be good, evil, or somewhere in between—very human, if you will, even empathetic. In Bateman’s world, even the monsters have a shot at redemption.

Plot-wise, Mrs. Bateman threw in several curves I didn’t see coming—despite that, looking back, the hints were there. I enjoyed the parallel stories of Lauryn and Amede, the recurring characters, and the rich history of each of them. Bateman has a lovely way of bringing the past back to the surface to be dealt with—and using the destructive addiction vampires have for blood to paint a portrait of human addictions, hidden demons, and the monsters lurking behind the door.

One piece of advice: If you’re getting into Bateman for the first time, the opening chapters might be a little confusing until the point of view characters are identified. But each has a unique enough personality that once the rhythm of the story sets in, it’s easy to tell.

I found Tandem equally as enjoyable as its predecessor, and am looking forward to book three.

Review copy provided by publisher.

Genre: Mystery, Suspense

Publisher: Little, Brown and Company

Publication Date:  November 2010

Reviewed by Jen Roman

Alex Cross returns from his latest crime-fighting adventure to settle down and ask Bree Stone to marry him.  Of course, just as they begin to plan the wedding, a new murderer arrives on the scene.  This one is a sure-shot sniper, who hunts down the “fox in the henhouse” as a vigilante.  He leaves little clues for Alex to find him, but he still stays elusive and hard to track down.  In the meantime, there is a copycat sniper and the return of Kyle Craig, Alex’s mentor-turned-arch nemesis.  Using a very sophisticated disguise, Kyle manages to slink around Alex’s home and work areas undetected, until he creates a showdown with Alex.  As always, Alex manages to do some pro bono counseling on the side, providing a slight side plot.

James Patterson is a prolific writer, but unfortunately, it’s just too much.  He needs to take his time to come up with solid storylines that truly are as intriguing as the book jacket would lead one to believe.  In this case there are THREE “bad guys,” and there’s no real focus on any one of them.   Compared to his earlier books, Kiss the Girls and Along Came a Spider, Patterson seems to just throw things together and hope it works.  There’s none of the in-depth psychology that makes the first books in the Alex Cross series so good, and the villains aren’t as evil as they used to be.  Alex seems to have adopted a god-like persona somewhere along the way, and he thinks he can save the world.  In his quest to do so, his family pays the price.  He claims to be a loving family man, but he puts “the job,” as he calls it, ahead of the ones he loves.  All in all, it’s apparent from reading Cross Fire that Patterson is just writing to put books on the shelves at bookstores.

Cross Fire is not the most violent of Patterson’s books, but it does contain some grisly scenes.  The murders are described in detail, as are injuries that he sustains while searching for the killers.  Of course, there is some serious profanity as well.  Alex has settled down with Bree so he is not as promiscuous as he once was, but there are still some sex scenes (out of wedlock) one must consider.  This definitely does not qualify as a “squeaky-clean, nice” book, but for those tolerant of sex, murder, and foul language, it would be fine.

Review copy provided by publisher.

Genre: Political Thriller, Suspense

Publisher: Grand Central

Publication Date: November 2010

Reviewed by Josh Olds

David Baldacci is a perennial New York Times bestselling author. The Camel Club is the series most beloved by his fans. Now after taking a year away from Camel Club stories, Baldacci has heard his fans clamoring for the return of Oliver Stone and penned a story that puts Stone the Club to their greatest test yet – dealing with Hell’s Corner.

It all begins on a peaceful night that’s way too peaceful. Stone is strolling through Lafayette Park, across from the White House. Something just seems wrong. Gunfire rattles and is quickly followed by an exploding bomb. And then chaos descends. Ostensibly, the attack was meant to take out both the American President and the British PM, and although it failed, everyone wants in on the action of finding out who was behind it.

Oliver Stone gets back in action officially and teams up with MI-6 agent Mary Chapman to get to the bottom of it all. But in this high-stakes game of chess, their opponents are always five steps ahead. Misdirection follows misdirection and people are dying in the wake. Oliver Stone and the Camel Club find themselves in the middle of their most dangerous and difficult journey yet.

In typical fashion, David Baldacci has weaved intense action scenes with great plotting to create a story that keeps you turning pages. In many novels, an abundance of unexpected twists and turns can leave the reader mentally struggling to catch up; but if the reader expects the twist then the suspense fades. Baldacci manages to make the twists completely unexpected but completely plausible. More than once I found myself going, “What the…how the…OF COURSE!”

Hell’s Corner is a rush from beginning to end. Well-written and with a plot that never lets up, it takes you through the red tape involved when the FBI, metro police, NIC, Secret Service, and a host of other agencies are all on the scene. With all the people involved, nothing is as it seems and Stone can trust no one except those he knows to be his friends. And it all comes down to a last-second harrowing conclusion.

Hell’s Corner is sure to enthrall devoted Camel Club fans and new readers alike. There are enough references to the past to sufficiently tie things in, but Baldacci does it well so that new readers won’t feel left out of the loop. Fans have long said that the Camel Club represents Baldacci’s best and – at least until next book – Hell’s Corner proves that.

Review copy provided by publisher.

Genre: Mystery, Suspense

Publisher: Little, Brown and Company

Publication Dates: August 2010

Reviewed by Lori Twichell

Miriam Walker has a problem. She’s an American living in Saudi Arabia and her husband has disappeared. She can’t go out in public alone without harassment. Her husband’s co-workers, mostly Saudi Arabian themselves, won’t speak to her. The one American she does know is angry and seems to have a chip on his shoulder when it comes to her husband. Her dilemma is frightening, horrifying and surreal for an American woman to even begin to imagine.

Katya is a police officer in Saudi Arabia. Like the rest of the country, the police force offers a completely new set of rules that women must follow, with one of the important ones being that she must be married. Katya is not, but she still wears the ring from a previously broken engagement. This helps her fly under the radar such as it is.

Populated with the most amazing characters that I’ve come into contact with in a long time, City of Veils reaches beyond mere entertainment. This is a book to be devoured and enjoyed, yet at the same time you’re delighting in the mystery; it’s also giving you insight and knowledge into a world that so many here in the U.S. do not understand. Its amazing how intricately woven the plot remains as it’s threaded with rich details and understanding that could only come from someone who understands the cultures of both America and Saudi Arabia.

I wasn’t sure what to expect when I picked up City of Veils, but a taut, thrilling murder mystery was certainly not it. Ferraris introduced me to an alien world that exists only a plane trip away yet is as different as if it were another planet. Where women must hide every part of themselves and punishable offenses are as easy to commit as looking the wrong way at the wrong time. Into this world she injected a crime of passion wrapped up in a religious mystery.

This book was amazing and stunning well beyond what you would expect from the title or the cover. With intense plotlines that move at a lightning pace, a mystery that seems impossible to solve and fantastic glimpses into Saudi society, there’s not a single thing more than one could ask from a story such as this. Highly entertaining, richly beautiful and stunningly crafted, City of Veils was a book that was difficult to imagine at the same time that it was impossible to put down.

Review copy provided by publisher.

Genre: Suspense

Publisher: Howard Books

Publication Date: October 2010

Reviewed by Tim George

Dr. Nicholas MacKenzine is a brilliant professor of philosophy, one of the last hold-outs against the onslaught of modern technology, and a man whose greatest sport is to demolish the faith of the young students who entrust their minds to him. Oddly enough, his best and perhaps only friend is Annie Brooks: professor of biological sciences, single mother, and wounded yet still faithful believer. In spite of their differences the two have a common denominator in Annie’s five-year-old son. That and the fact Annie is the only person who is not intimidated by the philosophical bullying of the man who could rightfully be nicknamed The God Hater.

When Nicholas is contacted by his computer hacker brother who has spent much of his adult life in trouble with the law, everything he has taught as philosophical theory finds a venue to become alarmingly close to reality. Bankrolled by a mega-corporation the Professor’s brother and his team of researchers have discovered a way to create an artificially intelligent community in a computer simulation. But they need help. Every scenario they run eventually finds the digital characters in their computer model coming to a tragic end. Though Nicholas is appalled at his brother’s use of technology a startling revelation about the subjects of the computer program leaves him no choice but to help. And, no matter what atheistic philosophy the Professor introduces into the program, things eventually fail. It is then when Dr. MacKenzie hits on the idea of introducing a set of guiding principles or Laws to the characters in their computer simulation. Though this runs against everything he believes, or doesn’t believe, it seems to be the only answer.

The story that follows takes place in two worlds: the real world of Nicholas MacKenzie and Annie Brooks and the cyber-world of the beings created by the Programmer of the real word. From there, reality and simulation grow increasingly blurred as Nicholas allows himself to become immersed in the computer simulation. Since I hesitate to tell any more of the story, here is part of the synopsis from Bill Myers’ web site:

The only way to save them is to create a computer character like himself to personally explain it. He does. So now there are two of him — the one in our world and the one in the computer world…(sound familiar?).

Unfortunately, a rival has introduced a virus into the computer world. Things grow worse until the professor in that computer world sees the only way to save his world is to personally absorb the virus and the penalty for breaking the Law. Of course it’s clear to all, including our real world professor, that this act of selfless love has become a complete reenactment of the Gospel. It is the only possible choice to save the computer world and, as he finally understands, our own.

I can imagine some who read this saying, “How on earth can this be Christian fiction?” My question to them is, “How could it not be?” The God Hater stands on even ground in the strong tradition of C.S. Lewis by finding an inventive way to speak to the modern world about a timeless reality. And perhaps no one has come closer to Ted Dekker’s “Circle” in weaving a modern parable of sin, the Incarnation, and redemption than Bill Myers in his latest novel. This story works on almost every level. Sure, you have to suspend belief a bit but not much. And don’t worry; there is some necessary tech-speak at places but it takes back seat to realities that are all too familiar. This is a story filled with suspense, action, introspection, and hope. Perhaps it will remind us to go back and re-read The Story of redemption with fresh eyes and tender hearts.

You can listen to our audio commentary on The God Hater here.

Review copy provided by publisher.

Genre: Military Suspense/Thriller

Publisher: Barbour Publishing

Publication Date: July 2010

Reviewed by Elizabeth Olmedo

Former U.S. Navy SEAL, Max Jacobs has lost everything to his quick and violent temper. When his wife, Sydney, files for divorce, Max becomes a threat to himself and those around him. One night, after a near fatal accident a man offers him a second chance. Someone is putting together a secret group that will silently and invisibly clean up messes the government cannot be involved with. This presents the ticket Max needs to place his life back on track — if only he can keep his temper in check.

Journalist, Sydney Jacobs loves her husband, but his tours of duty have changed him. Max is no longer the same man she married. When a brawl between her husband and one of her co-workers ends badly, Sydney finds she fears the very man meant to protect her. She requests a restraining order and files for divorce. In an attempt to put her life back together, she pursues a story with leads that take her abroad. She soon learns that uncovering the truth can prove dangerous and even deadly.

With her second novel, Nightshade, Ronie Kendig demonstrates that her first novel wasn’t beginners luck. Kendig knows how to offer page-turning suspense and characters the reader will care about. While they are flawed it is their mistakes that make them real. Nightshade provides action, romance, and suspense. For those of you who like me think those are the best combinations in novels, you will not be disappointed. As with her first novel, Dead Reckoning, a quality novel thriller doesn’t come at the expense of vulgar language or sex. I strongly recommend this book and am eagerly awaiting the second installment in Kendig’s Discarded Heroes series.

Review copy provided by publisher.

Genre: Psychological Suspense

Publisher:  Broadway

Publication Date:  July 2010

Reviewed by Jennifer Roman

Thirty-something suburban mom Gwen Raine buys a bag of pot from a former boyfriend to share with her best friend, and takes a hit off a joint in a public park before heading home to her family and a much-needed weekend away at the family’s lake house.  Unfortunately, she is in a car accident, in which the other driver dies.  Gwen is not at fault, but the police search her car and find the bag of pot in her car.  She is forced to take a blood test at the hospital and, under pressure from the local police force, gives up the name of her supplier.  The resulting series of events tests Gwen’s friendships, her marriage, and even changes the life of an innocent girl forever.

The novel Stash is written in many people’s perspectives, and gives different reasons that people do what they do.  It offers an inside look into what a “model” family deals with and how stupid decisions affect people in ways nobody sees.  It also explores what a suburban town will- and will not- tolerate in order to keep its good feeling about itself and its residents.

The characters are all fairly complex and interesting: Gwen is a mom who will do anything for her children and husband, yet she smokes pot on a somewhat regular basis and visits an ex-boyfriend on occasion.  Her husband, Brian, works too many hours and feels the pressure to perform well at work while still being there for his family.  He is currently involved in an ethical issue at work that could make or break the company.  Jude, Gwen’s ex-boyfriend and current supplier, has a college-age daughter whom he protects to the point of being overprotective.  He is a successful restaurant owner but has a growing drug business on the side.  He is considering retiring from the drug business but wants one really big sale before he retires.   Together, these characters, as well as a few auxiliary ones, make for some tough situations and interesting reading.

The book, since it is based on drugs, does have some touchy areas.  There are some brutal murders and some bloody fights.  There is a thwarted rape scene and some foul language.  There are several sexual situations, and of course, there are scenes in which characters use drugs.  It’s not the kind of book a young person or one sensitive to violence should read.  Anyone willing to look into the nasty world of the drug trade in the suburbs, however, will be intrigued by what happens and how people deal with situations.  Stash delivers with its ability to entertain and to keep the reader hooked.  It is not going to be a timeless classic, but it does manage to entertain.

Review copy provided by publisher.

Genre: Drama, Suspense

Publisher:  Atria

Publication Date:  March 2010

Reviewed by Jennifer Roman

Jodi Picoult has a reputation for making readers think while being entertained, and she has accomplished that again with House Rules.  The protagonist, Jacob Hunt, is an eighteen-year-old with Asperger’s.  He is on the high end of the spectrum, meaning he can function very well considering his situation.  He is verbal and highly communicative.  He loves CSI-type shows and never misses an episode of his favorite television show: Crime Busters.  Jacob likes to create crime scenes and have his brother or mother try to solve the “crimes.”  When his tutor’s death becomes a real-life crime scene, Jacob is arrested and put on trial for her murder.  His brother, Theo, already feels as though he is pushed out into the cold because their single mother spends all of her time taking care of Jacob’s needs.  When the trial comes, Theo is even more alone.  He struggles with feelings of guilt over resenting all of the time, attention, and money that their mother must put into Jacob’s care.  Emma, their mother, struggles to hold down a job and lead a somewhat normal life while taking care of a child with a disability.  Everyone struggles after the arrest and at the subsequent trial trying to get Jacob a fair chance when his disability makes him look guilty.  One must consider if the penal system should make any accommodations for people with special needs.

The book is entertaining because even though the reader is told up-front what happens and “who done it,” the rest of the characters don’t know and have to figure it out.  Each chapter progresses the story, but each one is told in a different person’s perspective.  Just when the reader thinks he has something figured out, someone else comes along and tells things from a different angle.  This makes the book flow smoothly while keeping the reader interested.  One may have certain opinions or preconceived notions when starting the book, but by the end the opinions may change, or at least will stop to consider someone else.  Picoult really hits the mark in this one because she gives Jacob’s perspective as well, which is very hard to do with someone who is on the Asperger’s spectrum.  Even if the reader is not interested in Asperger’s, there is enough happening throughout the story to keep one entertained.

This book has a mixture of clean and “caution” moments.  Emma is raising two boys and is trying to be a good role model for them, but now and again she slips and uses profanity.  Jacob doesn’t necessarily understand it so he repeats it.  Theo, in his rebellion, uses it frequently.  There is a murder, and the scene is described in some measure of detail.  Emma has a sexual relationship with Jacob’s attorney, and while it is not described in detail, it IS a casual relationship.  These are things that might be typical in one reader’s perspective but that may cause another reader for concern.

After reading House Rules, I am torn between my original perspective on Asperger’s and what has been shown to me.  Picoult opens up a new scenario, a new world, without being preachy or without pushing her opinions onto anyone.  She effectively makes the reader think and put himself into the shoes of the characters that could easily be the family across the street.  The book is well-written and perfect for someone wanting a good read WITH a thought-provoking insight.

Review copy provided by publisher.

Genre: Suspense

Publisher: Thomas Nelson

Publication Date: September 2010

Jake Chism’s Review:

Dylan Runs Ahead has left behind a war that maimed his body and scarred his soul. As time goes by the only solace that can be found is in pain medication and troubled relationships. The tragic past of his sister’s loss haunts him at every turn, and he is basically an outsider to the reservation he grew up on. When Dylan meets Webb, he knows he has found a kindred spirit, someone who knows the pain of loss, and more importantly someone who knows how to hide from it.

Before he knows it, Dylan is involved in a drug deal gone bad and is now the target of both local law enforcement and jilted criminals. What Dylan doesn’t know is that there is an even greater plan for his life, something beyond mortal comprehension. A mysterious girl names Quinn is also on his trail and she must reach him first to open his eyes to the unseen and the true destiny that awaits him.

T.L. Hines has always been bold in his writing, giving his audience truly bizarre characters, plot twists, and story devices. The Falling Away continues this trend and once again Hines gives us another story that really works. The strong characters carry this novel, and I was especially drawn into Dylan’s relationship with his sister, Joni. I won’t give anything away here, but the way that Joni is introduced into the novel is both unique and brilliant.

The Falling Away will spark a lot of discussion amongst Christian readers about the elements of demon possession and spiritual warfare that Hines explores here. Authors like Frank Peretti and Eric Wilson have put highly original spins on these elements in the past, and yet in typical Hines fashion he has found away to blaze his own trail through familiar territory.

The end of this novel takes bizarre to a whole new level, and I imagine some readers will see genius while others will see confusion and possibly disappointment at how easily the major conflict was resolved. While I’m not sure I completely “get” some parts of the ending, all I know is that I couldn’t put this one down. Days after reading I am still contemplating the final pages, and I’m not so sure that is a bad thing. In this case I think there is beauty behind the bizarre and I had a blast experiencing it.

Hines seems to be oozing with talent and ideas and I’m anxiously looking forward to more from this author who deserves much more attention than he has received.

Tim George’s Review:

Like so many returning from war Dylan Runs Ahead brought a lot of baggage back with him. And like some, the experience is all the worse because he was carrying much of that baggage long before he landed in Iraq taking out roadside bombs. Dylan ended up in the Army trying, unsuccessfully, to run from the inner voice of a missing sister. The sister whose loss he feels responsible for. But the ghost of her memory is not alone. He ran to the Army to escape his guilt and now he has limped home with a mangled leg and yet more guilty memories, those of a soldier who died in his place. Now, living on the outskirts of the Crow Nation reservation in Montana, Dylan and his only friend, Webb, find themselves on the wrong end of a drug deal gone bad. They are marked men with drug suppliers on both sides of the deal looking to kill them and the law hot on their trail.

So far The Falling Away sounds like a fairly standard story. But the author is T.L. Hines and ordinary isn’t in his dictionary. Enter Quinn into Dylan’s life. She tells him a story that is incredibly hard to accept yet increasingly evident to be true. She is a member of a group she calls The Falling Away and her calling in life is to root out evil of the most insidious sort imaginable. Dylan is one of “the Chosen”, something the soldier who died for him used to say. What she doesn’t tell Dylan is her job is to keep him from falling under the influence of a cult whose leader spreads evil like a virus. She must prevent that at all costs.

Hines tackles a story line that Frank Peretti used over twenty years ago in This Present Darkness and Piercing the Darkness to practically reinvent Christian fiction. Both authors make us think about things most would rather pretend belong in horror movies rather than the real world. But as always T.L. Himes does it in his own distinctive “Noir Bizarre” style. No cross waving exorcists or Bible pounding preachers in sight. Instead, we have Quinn who amounts to a female spiritual enforcer determined to carry out her mission at all costs. That mission leads her and Dylan to a cult called The Hive which just also happens to supply wind generated electricity to much of the surrounding area along with some other darker commodities.

But in the end, it is Dylan Runs Ahead who must defeat evil or be possessed by it. And in that confrontation he finally comes to understand why his friend took his place in Iraq and why he is called a “chosen”. The Falling Away is a story about facing demons both figurative and literal. In many ways, this is one of Hines’ most spiritual stories as he uses dialogue between Dylan and the friend who died for him to explore powerful truths about life, death, and redemption.  Yes, it is a strange story. Hine’s fans would be disappointed otherwise. But it is a powerful story, a tale about running to the battle rather than away from it. Only in encountering the enemy head on does Dylan find everything he has been running from.

If you have never read T.L. Hines I couldn’t think of a better place to start.

Don’t miss our recent podcast interview with T.L. Hines.

Review copies provided by Thomas Nelson.

Genre: Suspense

Publisher: Thomas Nelson

Publication Date: September 2010

Jake Chism’s Review:

Toma Nicolescu has fought many brave battles for the Russian Empress, yet nothing can prepare him for the battle on the horizon. Toma sets out with his trusted confidant, Alek, for the Cantemir estate in Moldavia. There he is charged with protecting the family at all costs, for political reasons no doubt, yet Toma concerns himself not with such things. Duty and honor drive him and he will proudly do whatever his Empress requests.  However, one look at Lucine Cantemir, one of the daughters under his charge, flings Toma head over heels into an inward war between duty and desire.

Matters spend madly out of control when the charming, yet mysterious Vlad van Valerik begins to court Lucine. This union would solidify relations between Russia and Moldavia, and it is Toma’s responsibility to ensure it happens. When Vlad and his minions begin to show their true colors, Toma finds himself in a race against time to save the one he loves and to stop darkness from sweeping the land.  Torn between duty and love, Toma rushes headlong into the greatest battle he has ever known.

Immanuel’s Veins marks a significant milestone in Ted Dekker’s illustrious career. After ten years and twenty-eight novels he is saying goodbye to Thomas Nelson and moving on to Hachette and the mainstream market.  As Dekker’s fans might expect, he refuses to leave quietly, and does so with one of the most unique and powerful stories he has ever penned.

Have you ever wondered what a Ted Dekker novel would be like written in the first person? Wonder no more! Toma Nicolescu’s first person narrative is absolutely brilliant throughout and the perfect device to effectively tell this story that is full of passion, seduction, and heartache. Toma himself might just be Dekker’s most endearing character and his fight to win Lucine’s love will have readers on the edge of their seats, ready to stand and cheer.

Dekker wastes no time in connecting Immanuel’s Veins to the massive Books of History Chronicles. The prologue alone will have die hard fans foaming at the mouth and postulating “otherworldly” theories. Fortunately, new readers will have no trouble following this story. There is plenty here to keep them churning the pages, even if a few references are lost on them. As a fan, it was fun to see the connections and get one final (?) taste of the redemptive history Dekker created years ago in the Circle Series. We even get a nice peek at a huge part of Dekker lore that some of his readers would gouge their own eyes out to behold.

Fantastic characters, gripping storylines, breathtaking imagery. Might as well go out on top right? As Dekker leaves one journey behind to start another, he leaves us with a story that will resonate in our hearts long after reading.  Immanuel’s Veins will spark much discussion amongst readers about such things as vampires, seduction, blood books, and familiar dungeons. I’ll leave that thunder for other reviewers to steal. This one is special to me (and will be for many others) as it reminds me of how great the journey has been and it assures me that the best is yet to come.

Thanks for the journey, Ted. Let’s do it again soon.

Lori Twichell’s Review:

Toma Nicolescu is a warrior for Catherine the Great. He and his friend and fellow warrior, Alec, are sent to protect two young women in a very prominent family. The family is, in fact, key to the power of Catherine’s reign, so their mission is vital. Alec is a lover more than a fighter. Toma is the other half of this equation.  When they arrive at the home of their charges, it’s to find two incredibly delightful and beautiful young sisters named Natasha and Lucine. If these were the only major characters in the book, it would be easy to see where things are headed. Unfortunately, they aren’t. There’s Vlad. And Sofia. And a whole house full of other characters that bring this book to new levels that run far beyond those of simple romance and passion.

Prim. Proper. Perfect. Toma’s always been the warrior who spent more time fighting than considering anything to do with women or romance. Much as Fitzwilliam Darcy has no idea what to do when he meets Elizabeth Bennet (Yes, I did just dare to make a Jane Austen reference in a Ted Dekker review.  And it’s well deserved. So there.) Toma is also plunged into a level of inner conflict and confusion when he meets his beautiful Lucine.  Painfully aware that his duty requires him to not only keep his beloved Lucine safe, but to also keep suitors away from her, Toma struggles with his feelings for her. At the same time, he’s confused by what’s happening with Natasha and Alek. Something very strange and very dangerous is happening. Is it something that he’s even able to fight? Or is it something from beyond this world? And how can Toma juggle his feelings, his duty, and his beloved’s safety? This is far more than just a love story. There’s something deeper and darker hiding within its depths.

Ted Dekker freely admits this is new territory for him. It’s unlike anything he’s ever done before. But honestly, this is Ted Dekker. Very little about Ted is ever like anything that’s been done before. Even when Dekker writes something that’s considered ‘inside the box’, it seems that he likes to take that box, smash it into bits and then warm his hands by the fire built from the parts. So when we venture into this new territory with him, instead of being something odd or uncomfortable, Dekker makes the journey heart achingly rich and beautiful. As Toma stumbles away from his hard line on duty and honor and begins to explore the feelings that are growing and opening within him, you can’t help but feel your own heart squeeze. As you’re reading, it makes you wonder if you, as an outside observer, are feeling this much emotion, what sort of depths could the characters possibly be feeling? At times it threatens to overwhelm the reader and yet you know that this is what Dekker wants to convey. He wants you to feel the overriding overwhelming passion that can nearly drown you with its intensity.

Dekker is a modern day master of the written word. Too often in modern literature, words are forced into creating the visual that the author wants to share. In sharp contrast, Dekker owns every word he uses. The words line up and melt willingly into his creation, eager to play their part in his vision. The story flows so smoothly through your mind that it feels as if the words have flown directly from the Technicolor depths of Dekker’s mind to the page with little effort. Dekker’s style submerges you in the story and even if it feels like you may be drowning in it at times, there’s still few other places you’d rather be.

If you have even a passing interest in Dekker’s work, don’t miss this book. If you’ve never read Dekker, this is a brilliant place to start. If you ever were a Dekker fan and got lost somewhere along the way, this is the book that will bring you back. And if you want mindless entertainment that doesn’t affect you, won’t challenge you, and that you can walk away from unchanged, move along. This isn’t the book for you.

Don’t miss our recent interview with Ted Dekker and our podcast review of Immanuel’s Veins.

Review copies provided by Thomas Nelson.

Genre: Thriller, Suspense

Publisher: St. Martin’s Press

Publication Date: July 2010

Reviewed by Jeremy Taylor

Patrick Davis had it all—a beautiful wife, a Hollywood home, and a screenplay that was picked up by a major studio and made into a movie with an up-and-coming star. But just when he’s seemingly poised on the brink of serious success, he’s suddenly on the verge of losing everything. With his marriage on the rocks, his career in jeopardy, and a six-figure lawsuit pending against him, his formerly storybook existence has turned into a horror movie. When he starts getting DVDs showing footage of him going about his daily life, he’s at first confused, then alarmed, then angry. Patrick’s entire life is being meticulously scrutinized. But why?

Then the phone calls begin. And the e-mails. And then the demands. Whoever is watching Patrick knows everything about him—what he does, where he goes, whom he talks to. He can’t go to the police, and he has no choice but to do what is asked. But when the true intentions of his stalkers finally come to light, Patrick will have to decide whether to give up or fight back. In the process, he will learn what his true priorities are and how to value what really matters most.

They’re Watching is a tightly constructed thriller. Author Gregg Hurwitz spins out the suspense in the first-person narrative little by little until the tension is so high there’s nothing to be done but stay up all night and finish the book. The plot manages to avoid being formulaic while still giving readers the twists and turns they expect. The author is to be commended for telling a great story full of intrigue, betrayal, and high stakes without resorting to the graphic sensuality and violence adopted by many of his peers. Utterly entertaining, They’re Watching is an ideal escape for mystery/thriller aficionados. With sympathetic characters, great pacing, and superb writing, this book should easily secure Hurwitz’s place among today’s premier writers in this genre.

Review copy provided by St. Martin’s Press.

Genre: Suspense

Publisher: Bethany House

Publication Date: July 2010

Reviewed by Tim George

So now I’m on the threshold, feeling like a paratrooper about to jump, knowing my chute was packed by people who don’t care how hard I land.

And so goes the life of Detective Roland March the not-so-loveable hero of J. Mark Bertrand’s debut solo novel, Back on Murder. March is a career homicide detective taking the last gasping breaths of a once stellar career. Personal problems, some poor career choices, and less that winning relationship skills have left him wondering how much longer he really has. Then along comes a gangland shooting and he gets one more chance, maybe his last chance, to regain his form and remind everyone in his department what made him such a good cop. But his keen detective’s sense lands him right where he doesn’t want to be, on a select task force looking for a kidnapped girl – the daughter of Houston’s most famous mega-church leader.

Everything about Back on Murder harkens back to the kind of cops I grew up with in detective novels, TV shows, and movies. Using a first person perspective (as all good detective stories did) we find ourselves inside the skin of a guy who honestly doesn’t like himself much more than anyone else around him. Not that he’s a bad guy; he just lives in a world that doesn’t make sense any more. Consider the following lines as Detective March struggles to understand an argument he has just had with his wife:

The kind of fight … that leaves me baffled, wondering how we ended up like this. …In a movie, I would take her in my arms, press my lips to hers, and after struggling for a second she’d give in, flinging her limbs around me … But that’s not how it happens … I want to hit rewind … I want things to be easy between us again .. the way I remember us being. But I don’t know how to get there.

Several supporting characters serve as a mirror in which both the main character and the readers can consider themselves: a new task-force partner who hasn’t forgotten her faith and a guilt-ridden youth pastor who is danger of losing his. But in the end, this is March’s story. Will he get it back together, solve the case, put his marriage back together, and find himself in the process? It’s a good thing this is just the first installment of the Roland March Mystery series because it doesn’t like there are any simple answers to our hero’s deepest questions.

J. Mark Bertrand co-authored Beguiled along with Deanne Gist to great reviews and his solo should receive the same. If you like happily-ever-after stories where the characters all wear labels on their chest telling you who to cheer and who to boo, this may not be the book for you. But if you want a story where characters talk and act like real people – some resting in their faith, some having no faith all, and some struggling to regain their faith – Back on Murder is the ticket for a really good read.

Review copy provided by Bethany House.

Genre: Suspense, Supernatural, Paranormal

Publisher: Bethany House

Publication Date: June 2010

Jake Chism’s Review:

Maia Peters hunts ghosts. Or at least she used to. The daughter of world famous paranormal investigators, Maia grew up traveling from haunt to haunt on their hit TV show.  Now she is in college and longing to leave that life behind, and the unwanted celebrity status that comes with it.

Heiress Jordin Cole wants to see a ghost and is willing to do anything and spend any amount to make it happen. After tracking Maia down, Jordin convinces her to lead the investigation and take them to the most haunted places in the U.S. As they travel to historic locales and dance with the dead, Maia begins to sense that something is very wrong with Jordin.  It’s not until Jordin disappears a year later that Maia begins to put the pieces together and uncovers a frightening reality. The nightmare is coming and Maia doesn’t know how to stop it.

Robin Parrish stands up and screams for attention with his clever and absorbing fifth novel. From page one we are treated to a new level of Parrish’s talent through the first person narrative of Maia. This style draws the reader in with ease, and gives the haunting scenes throughout more depth and emotion. While it would be a stretch to classify this is a horror novel, there are plenty of scenes that will leave you breathless and anxious for more.

As the story unfolds Parrish alternates chapters between Maia and Joridn’s paranormal investigations and Maia’s search for Jordin a year later. This type of back and forth writing might come across as confusing or distracting in lesser hands, but Parrish more than pulls it off in LOST-like fashion.  As I began to see where the story was going I was both surprised and intrigued. There have been lots of twists on the paranormal genre, but I’m not sure we’ve seen one quite like this. Luckily, Parrish knows how to weave a good story and if you pay close attention throughout, you shouldn’t be surprised at the new direction we’re led to in the end.

Nightmare is the kind of novel that will have people talking, both inside and outside the Christian market. Are ghosts real? Is there a difference between demons and ghosts? What happens when we die? Parrish tackles these hot button themes with class and an open mind, asking readers to examine their own beliefs and questions. In the end I was humbled by the poignant question Maia arrives at. What question is it? You’ll have to read the book and find out! Never fear, you’ll enjoy every moment of Robin Parrish’s latest and by the end you will be longing for more.

James Andrew Wilson’s Review:

Maia Peters has seen it all and them some. Her parents are renowned ghost hunters—paranormal investigators! She’s been with them on their popular TV show, exploring the most haunted places in the world. She is recognized virtually everywhere she goes. And getting a little tired of it. So when fellow college student Jordin Cole comes looking for a ghost buster buddy, Maia tells her to get lost. But Jordin insists, and the promise of substantial payment lures Maia back into the dark—back to the haunted life she’s been running from.

Robin Parrish has told of heroes and super powers, he’s told of space and the end of the world, now the speculative fiction writer gives us Nightmare, a spooky romp through the murky world of the paranormal. Turn out the lights, hide under the covers with your flashlight—it’s time for a good old-fashioned ghost story.

In terms of scale, Parrish has pulled back this time. This is an intimate story, much more character driven than his previous novels, and it benefits from it. Parrish does an admirable job with his use of the first person narrative, and Maia Peters is a fun character to read, even if she’s a bit snotty at times.

As for the spooks and specters, the paranormal encounters are some of the highlights of the book. In their quest for true sightings of the unexplainable, Jordin and Maia visit a number of real world locations, each of which are thoroughly researched and wonderfully detailed. Parrish knows just when to have the shadows jump out from the corners, and there’s plenty of creepy scenes here to satisfy scare junkies.

Parrish continues to hone his craft as a writer, and while Nightmare features some of his strongest writing, I’m still scratching my head at his apparent insistence on the tiresome use of adverbs and italics. He seems to be trying to hard to convey what is already clear in the dialogue. An easy fix, and I hope to see him do away with these clunky writing elements in the future.

Of all the novels Robin Parrish has written, this is the one that I think will appeal to the widest audience. There is something here for everyone to enjoy. If someone has apprehension about a “Christian paranormal” book, they should at least give Nightmare a chance. Parrish is asking the questions that we’ve all wondered at one time or another: Are ghosts real? Are they demons? What was that noise?

Nightmare is the perfect novel to keep you turning pages late into the night. It’s an escapist treat, a fine piece of work, a spine-tingler that’s sure to delight.

Don’t miss our podcast review of Nightmare and our interview with Robin Parrish.

Review copies provided by Bethany House.

Genre: Suspense

Publisher: Center Street

Publication Date: July 2008

Reviewed by Josh Olds

When a novel begins with a nun playing a game of basketball with an ex-trail lawyer, you know you’re in for an interesting story. After his fiancée’s death and his being falsely accused of the murder, Ty is laying low and offering legal aid to those who can’t afford it. In Try Darkness, James Scott Bell weaves a legal thriller in with a suspenseful whodunit to create a masterful novel filled with suspense and intrigue.

What first seems to be a simple case involving tenant laws and who can live where how long quickly escalates when Ty’s client ends up end, leaving her six-year-old daughter an orphan. Determined to bring the killer to justice, Ty throws himself headlong into a tangled web of corporate corruption and greed that draws a trail all the way back to the law firm he used to work at.

It wasn’t until after I finished Try Darkness that I realized that this is actually Ty Buchanan’s second adventure as penned by James Scott Bell. In retrospect, the reader can see where the keys fit in to Ty’s past exploits, but in no way does it detract from the story the Bell gives us here. In fact, the previous novel answers the one main unanswered question I had. Why had he been charged with his fiancée’s murder (Try Dying)?

Tightly written and with a great storyline, Bell has created a novel that keeps you compulsively turning the page and trying guess who, what, when, and where. Suspense and tension is lightened with some more humorous moments – such as the wonderful character called Disco Freddy – created a well-rounded novel that will engage you on all fronts.

One last thing that impressed me was that although Bell is writing in the mainstream ABA market, he did not feel compelled to lace his novel with profanity or suggestive material, despite treating some sensitive subjects. While I am personally not bothered by a moderate use of these things, it is a testament to Bell’s writing that he is able to convey his point fully without it. James Scott Bell has written an enjoyable novel here. This may have been the first novel of his that I have read, but it will not be the last.

Review copy provided by Center Street.

Genre: Mystery, Suspense

Publisher: Berkley Books

Publication Date: July 2010

Reviewed by Josh Olds

David Loogan has a past he’d rather not talk about. So when he finds a job editing a mystery magazine called Gray Streets that asks no questions, he finds it the perfect way to have his past life forgotten. He throws himself into his work, earning the favor and friendship of his boss, Gray Streets publisher Tom Kristoll. Their friendship runs so deep that when Kristoll asks Loogan to help him dispose of a body – yes, a body – Loogan asks few questions and helps his friend with the deed.

But not too long after that, Kristoll himself ends up dead. Death via defenestration, or in the vernacular someone hit him hard and threw him out a sixth floor window. Ann Arbor Police Detective Elizabeth Waishkey is the one investigating Kristoll’s murder, and when more bodies related to Gray Streets turn up – some killed in a way that mirrors the magazine’s most famous stories – her suspicion turns toward Loogan.

Loogan, despite his past, isn’t the killer. And he’s just as determined to find out who killed Kristoll. With his experience at editing mysteries, Loogan turns his mind towards solving a real-life one, all while trying to avoid the police and the ghosts of his past.

With his debut novel, Harry Dolan creates a thoroughly enjoyable tale of mystery and suspense, sure to appeal to most, but even more so to writers – something confirmed by the endorsements by Stephen King and James Patterson. Dolan’s tale of the murder of a publisher, with the suspects being all members of the writing community, is quite fascinating. Well written with great reversals and twists, Bad Things Happen keeps you on your toes and makes you keep guessing until the end.

Review copy provided Berkley Books.

Genre: Suspense

Publisher: WaterBrook Press

Publication Date: May 2010

Reviewed by Tim George

Jonah Westfall is Police Chief for a town where next to nothing happens – until recently. Redford, Colorado is experiencing its first growth pangs as money and drugs begin to impact his peaceful village of idyllic shops and close relationships. Even more disturbing, strange animal mutilations have begun to surface along the mountain trails pointing to cultic activity or perhaps a serial killer in the making. And those are the simplest of the problems facing Redford’s chief law officer.

Kristen Heitzmann, best known for her romance novels, proves she can handle suspense with the best of them in her latest outing. Indivisible is a tight mystery with suspense that would have made Alfred Hitchcock proud. Rather than offer a murder at every turn the author instead weaves an intricate story of family betrayal and villains of the heart. Who are what is behind the bizarre crimes serves to shine the light on the many fractured and tortured relationships hiding behind the peaceful façade of what appears to be a perfect place to live. Everyone, it seems, has a lot of baggage. At the top of the list is the Police Chief himself. He is estranged from his mother, questions still plague him about his father’s suicide, and there are two lovers in his life from which he can’t quite break away, most notably Kentucky Bourbon.

Indivisible has a large cast of characters so it is easy to lose track of who’s who in the first few chapters and there is also at least one sub-plot that might have been left out. Apart from those minor asides, Heitzmann does a great job of weaving the back stories and too-present realities of each character into a unified tapestry of regret, hope, and redemption. These are real people who act and react in very real ways. Not a cardboard cutout of a hero or villain anywhere in sight. The mystery part of the story is measured out in such a way you will find yourself hoping that no one in Redford is the villain and then finally understanding the depth the other character’s disappointments might have just as easily found given the same circumstances.

This is the kind of story that is bound to offend some. Both the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals and the Society of Easily Offended Pharisees (I made that one up) will likely share the opinion the author went too far one way or the other. Jonah Westfall battles both alcohol and past indiscretions with the woman that should have been the love of his life. A fellow officer tries to hide her pregnancy and a husband beginning to stray to the other side of the line she has sworn to protect.  Another tries to pray even as she questions whether she even believes in God. And, on the plus side, a band of church ladies that wouldn’t be caught dead with the aforementioned Pharisees. You know, like people you live and work with. Maybe like people too close to what you once were. Perhaps are.

Indivisible is the kind of novel you have to hang with at first and then won’t be able to put down. Kudos to Kristen Heitzmann for a story well told and I can only hope there will be many more like it!

Review copy provided by Waterbrook Press.

Genre: Graphic Novel, Suspense, Fantasy

Publisher: Thomas Nelson

Release Date: December 2009

Reviewed by Josh Olds

The Circle Series Visual is a hardcover 3-in-1 edition of the original graphic novels for Black, Red, and White, which are in turn adaptations of the regular novels of the same name, authored by Ted Dekker. These novels retell man’s redemptive history through the medium of Story in a powerful way.

It all begins when Thomas Hunter falls and reawakens in the colored forest. At first, he thinks he is living in a fantastical dream, but soon comes to acknowledge the reality of both this Other Earth – this dream world – and Real Earth, the world of his present. He finds that when he sleeps in one world, he reawakens in the other. And the future of both worlds has been placed on his shoulders.

With information gleaned from the colored forest, which claims to be the future of Real Earth, Thomas learns that a bioterrorist releases a virulent disease, called the Raison Strain, which ushers in The Great Deception. In the colored forest, Thomas finds an Edenic type of reality, with the saga of man finding itself retold. In three stories of two worlds only one man can bridge the realities and do what is necessary to save both worlds.

New York Times bestselling author Ted Dekker first gained major popularity when his publisher, Thomas Nelson, declared it Year of the Trilogy and released the entire Circle trilogy in the space of a year (Dekker has since added a Book Zero, Green, to the saga). Such overwhelming success led to the graphic novel versions, here repackaged in a durable and hardcover format.

The art throughout the graphic novel gets better and better with each page. Ted’s words form pictures and we see the story come to life. Graphic novels are an interesting medium when they are adaptations from regular full-length novels. Obviously, one cannot render every scene or include every bit of dialogue, so the major challenge is deciding how to stay true to the story while yet creating an exciting visual story. The adaptation and editing team – Kevin Kaiser, J.S. Earls, Matt Hansen, Bob Strachan, and Mike S. Miller – did a great job in this respect, so while ardent fans of the series will undoubtedly note what is missing, they should also appreciate that the core storyline is maintained and that Dekker’s vision shines through.

There are many pros about this version and the graphic novel concept in general. From a purely pragmatic standpoint, for those wanting to dive into the Circle in living color, this is probably your best financial option. These graphic novels are great for introducing the Circle series to younger kids who might not have the time or attention span to consume a full-length novel, but will digest works such as this. While slightly smaller in size than the original glossy soft cover editions, this 3-in-1 is just as easily read as the original version. Text size is slightly smaller but barely noticeable.

Dekker fans who do not already have the individual graphic novels will find this a must-have add to the Dekker library. Those new to the Circle will find themselves salivating for more as they close the cover. All in all a great job by a number of people to take an epic trilogy and offer it in an exciting medium.

Review copy provided by Thomas Nelson.

Genre: Romance, Suspense, Literary

Publisher: Moody Publishers

Publication Date: September 2009

Reviewed by Shaun Stevenson

I will admit I didn’t know where The Familiar Stranger was going to take me. After reading the plot synopsis on the back, I kept thinking, “Hmm… is this going to really grab me… or is it just going to play out like a Christian soap opera?” Thankfully, it didn’t take me very long before I realized that new author Christina Berry had put together some very suspenseful ideas with Melody Carlson-esque characters. And I definitely couldn’t stop reading.

The plot opens out simply enough: typical all-American family: Craig’s a dentist; Denise is a home maker caring for their two sons. They go to church, they have a nice house, and of course the marriage has its rocky moments. But then Denise gets a phone call during church saying that there’s been a terrible accident. Her husband is in the hospital and in a coma. The family rushes to his side, and that’s when things start twisting: Craig’s lost his memory completely. And as they start to figure out his life from the ground up, they both start discovering that their typical all-American family is not quite what they all thought it was…

The writing is pretty crisp and things move along at just about the right speed — Berry gives us enough mystery to keep us wanting to figure it out, and enough of the raw emotions to keep pages turning. Actually, that’s the one place Berry really shines: in the emotions. The characters are fully formed, and the pain that Craig and Denise work through as they re-discover their lives feels real. And with some truly creepy plot twists, there’s enough to keep things interesting.

The only thing I was really worried about going in was the unique story structure. Each chapter is split into scenes from His point of view and Her point of view — sometimes the same time period being covered by both of them to give us both sides of an exchange. At first, I thought I was going to be confused or annoyed reading the book that way — but after the first chapter I got used to it, and actually found myself enjoying the uniqueness of the whole idea.

Overall, The Familiar Stranger is definitely a strong debut from Berry. And if she keeps writing such vulnerable characters dealing with such real heartaches, she will be an author to keep an eye on in the future.

Genre: Romantic Suspense

Publisher: B & H Publishing Group

Publication Date: February 2010

Reviewed by Tim George

Brannon Callahan, a former member of the Coast Guard, works as a search-and-rescue pilot for the Great Smokey Mountain National Park and on this cold, stormy day she is about to find herself in a rescue like none she has experienced before. Answering a distress call from another chopper downed in the rugged terrain, Brannon and her partner realize it is a call for help from none other than a U.S. Marshall ferrying a heart destined to be transplanted in a key witness. What follows is not only a desperate race to keep the heart viable for transplant but to survive along with her partner and others she encounters along the way.

First among those others is U.S. Marshall Roark Holland, the man tasked to get the heart to its destination. The prologue does a good job of setting the scene for he and Brannon’s meeting and interaction. Roark is a man with a lot to prove after a failure he blames on himself. That insecurity shows in his unwillingness to share first place in leading the group to safety when the rescuer and the rescued both become stranded in the huge expanse of the Smokey Mountains. Throw in child trafficking, a questionable politician, some pretty dangerous mountain people, and the human heart and Robin Caroll gives the proper mixture for what makes a romantic suspense work: a lot of heat in the suspense category and just enough on the relationship side to make one care about what happens between the two main characters.

Deliver Us from Evil tackles a subject most would like to believe doesn’t exist in America. An important sub-plot follows the desperate longing of two young girls from Thailand to escape the nightmare of being sold as sex-slaves in the land they both always longed to see. Who will succeed in bringing this despicable business in the buckle of the Bible-Belt to an end? Will it be a key witness waiting in coma for that heart lost in the depths of the mountains, a heart quickly losing viability and depending on Brannon and Roark to find some way to save it? Or will it be a brave teenage girl trapped in a land she always considered a place of freedom? Only those willing to trek along with the characters will find out.

Robin Caroll leaves the familiar confines of her previous novels set in the Louisiana Bayous and offers a fast-paced adventure in a place few would expect to find the evil she uncovers there. The technique she uses to interject the spiritual aspects of the story are unique and one I am sure would drive a guy like U.S. Marshal Roark Holland running away screaming were it not for other factors – factors like the frailties of the human heart and what happens when a woman and God enter the mix.

Review copy provided by B&H Publishers.

Genre: Suspense

Publisher: WaterBrook Press

Publication Date: May 2010

Reviewed by Josh Olds

When Caitlyn Brown escaped the theocracy of Appalachia, she thought it’d be over. She wouldn’t be hunted anymore. She could rid herself of her condition—her deformity—then she could live a normal life on the Outside. But she was wrong.

With her secret exposed while trying to assimilate into life outside Appalachia, Caitlyn must go on the run from the government, who wants to know her secret. She’s been separated from her friends Theo and Billy for a while now, and they can’t really help her. Enter Razor—fast, sharp dangerous—a man with enough tricks up his sleeve to save Caitlyn, at least temporarily. But his motives are mixed and vague, and certainly cannot be trusted.

Meanwhile, the government isn’t Caitlyn’s only problem. The bounty hunter that chased her through Appalachia in Broken Angel is determined to finish the job. As Caitlyn and Razor work together to team up with Billy and Theo, Caitlyn learns a lot about life on the Outside—and about herself. It’s not just her deformity, it’s her DNA. It’s a genetic makeup that grants her ultimate power.

In a tale of science unchecked and gone awry, Sigmund Brouwer places this suspense-filled chase in the middle of an apocalyptic future where the wars have left the Americas a system of walled city-states with a rigid and harsh social system. Caitlyn must find her friends, outwit her pursuers, decide who she can trust, and finally escape to a life of freedom.

Several motifs run through Flight of Shadows and its prequel, Broken Angel. Flight of Shadows builds on the foundation of science unchecked and unmasks the horror of what man is capable of when the sanctity of life is denied. But primarily, this serves as a focus to the general theme Brouwer is presenting. In Broken Angel, Caitlyn was on the run within Appalachia, a theocracy ran by Bar Elohim where every move was monitored and personal freedoms were not allowed. Bar Elohim saw all. Flight of Shadows introduces the reader to the Outside…but we quickly discover that things are not too much better here.

Here those born in affluence—Influentials—virtually enslave the lower castes of Industrials and Illegals. Those in power can do anything to those without it—and they will do anything to retain their power. It is society taken to the extremes, a foreseeable future that should scare readers into an appreciation for what society still is, and work to make it better.

Brouwer has crafted a top-notch novel of suspense where each page deepens the plot, heightens the intensity, and broadens the action.  The page-turning action is coupled with thought-provoking concepts to create a story that pulls the reader in and doesn’t let go until the last page is turned.

Review copy provided by WaterBrook Press.

Genre: Suspense, Supernatural

Publisher: Thomas Nelson

Publication Date: May 2010

Reviewed by Josh Olds

Broken – That is probably an accurate one-word synopsis of the state of Lexi’s life. Seven years ago her sister was murdered. Then her drug-dealing husband walked out on her, leaving her to scrape out a meager existence and raise her daughter. Now Warden, a figure from Lexi’s past, someone with ties to her, her husband, and her sister’s killer has come back to haunt her. Either she testifies on behalf of the killer at his parole hearing or her daughter dies.

Never Let You Go is a story about many things, but mainly it’s a story of relationships – primarily the relationship between Lexi and her daughter Molly. Molly’s all Lexi has left. Her mother has little interest in her life; her father because mentally unstable when her sister died; her husband abandoned her. Molly is it – and now that relationship is being threatened. Lexi is a lonely, flawed, and broken soul, and Never Let You Go is her story of redeeming and restoring the relationships that were once broken.

Erin Healy, in her solo debut, crafts wonderful characters that drive this wonderful drama of redemption. The supernatural elements are subtle enough to not be overbearing but poignant and obvious enough to leave you wide-eyed with mouth gaping, leaving you with the realization that not all battles are between flesh and blood.

The back flap of the novel says it “defies easy categorization.” That’s definitely true. Supernatural thriller. Suspense. A hint of romance. Healy gives us a bit of everything and the result is a starkly realistic look into the broken relationships in the life on one troubled woman. In a culture that understands neither love nor forgiveness, Healy has created a novel that teaches us a bit about both. Both bitterness and forgiveness come at a high price, and Lexi is forced to choose between the two.

Whether you’ve been a fan of Healy since her co-authored novels (Kiss and Burn) with Ted Dekker, or are new to her name, with stories like Never Let You Go, Healy is sure to enthrall and entertain, and you might even gain some perspective along the way. This is the type of novel the world needs. Real people put in real situations stricken with doubt yet catalyzed by hope. My only caution is that once you pick this book up, you won’t be able to put it down.

Review copy provided by Thomas Nelson.

Genre: Suspense

Publisher: Fidelis Books

Publication Date: March 2010

Reviewed by Tim George

The hero of this story is a twenty-six year street agent of the FBI. During his storied career he has worked undercover helping rid the world of drug dealers, pedophiles, and contract killers. Before that he was both a Marine and a law school graduate. Did I leave out anything? Oh yes – Bob Hammer isn’t even a character in Enemies among Us; he is the author! Hammer’s personal knowledge of how the FBI works and the very real war on terror since 9/11 shines through in every single page of this thriller from Fidelis Books, the new imprint of B&H Publishing.

Now to the hero of the novel: Matt Hogan is a man’s man fighting a very unconventional war on the streets of Los Angeles. He is street smart, committed, and also has a penchant for getting in trouble with his superiors.  When he wrecks a bureau provided Harley while pursuing an Arab drug runner Hogan ends up undercover at a charity medical clinic. First convinced he is chasing shadows in a dead-end assignment he realizes something is being planned by someone using the charity as a front. But who? If you want the answer to that you’ll have to get the book.

Matt Hogan is the kind of hero faith-based fiction so desperately needs. He is a real man. Hogan’s wife is a believer that loves her husband and gently nudges him in the right direction. He is a devoted husband that worships his wife but is yet to be persuaded to follow her path. Hogan has real emotions. There’s nothing sugar coated about him or this story. The battle to thwart the attempts of terrorist cells to carry out Jihad once again on the West isn’t pretty and won’t be won with flowery speeches or good intentions and our hero knows that too well.

Bob Hammer does a great job of presenting intense action, hard boiled dialogue, and not-so-nice realities without dragging the reader through Hollywood’s usual stereotypical language and gore. He proves it requires being far more creative as a writer to paint the indelible image of evil without warping the reader’s mind at the same time. He never once uses one of George Carlin’s famous seven banned words yet leaves the reader with no doubt what the stresses of this war can do to even to the best of the good guys. We also aren’t given paper cut out bad guys. Some are driven by ideology, some by fear of what will happen to their families in other countries, and some are only bad by association. In fact, even our main character is surprised by who comes to his aid along the way.

The author weaves the story of Matt Hogan’s wife, her faith, and the demons of his past masterfully into the tapestry of the novel without seeming forced. Undercover activities against terrorism and a child having heavenly visions don’t seem a fit but in Enemies among Us it all makes perfect sense – a testament to the power of this author’s voice. I can’t express enough that this is how faith-based fiction ought to be written. The characters act like people in the real world. Though much of the mainstream media ignores it, in the real world some people are kind, some are evil, some have a deep faith in God, and some have lost their way. In the real world those people walk the streets together, work together, and at times are thrown into horrible situations together.  For our hero it is in such a situation he at last finds answers, or at least the hope of answers, to the sleeper cell within his own heart.

Review copy provided by Fidelis Books.

Genre: Suspense

Publisher: Thomas Nelson

Publication Date: April 2010

Reviewed by Tim George

Special Agent Nicole Hedges, Federal Prosecutor Allison Pierce, and crime reporter Cassidy Shaw are back in Lis Wiehl’s second installment of the Triple Threat series, Hand of Fate. If you missed Face of Betrayal, these three professional women are high school friends who reunited over a triple threat chocolate desert and now collaborate from time to time on cases of interest to each.

When radio personality, Jim Fate, is murdered in what at first appears to be a terrorist attack the three women find their careers and personal lives intertwined once again. Fate, a not-so- veiled replica of the Rush Limbaugh’s and Glen Beck’s of the real world, is murdered in his radio booth and the city of Portland is thrown into panic. The first chapters of the novel scream forward at a dizzying pace as we are given an inside view of how quickly mass hysteria can grip a city in our post 9/11 world. And, our three heroines find themselves personally sucked into the ensuing events.

As before, each of the main characters must face personal issues often more daunting than the murder they are investigating. Cassidy continues to face the reality of younger faces in the television journalism world and the consequences of how she has tried to defy age. Allison has yet to tell her friends she and her husband are finally expecting a child. Nicole is still raising a young daughter alone as she balances her FBI duties with motherhood. Issues of faith are presented through the eyes and hearts of each of these women: the shallow news reporter, the true believer, and the hardened agnostic. It is the complexities of this relationship that are most interesting about the series.

Though handled with more maturity than her debut novel, Lis Wiehl and her co-author April Henry give us an ending that still seems hurried. For such a great buildup the conclusion is a bit disappointing. Hand of Fate is what we call in my part of the world, a beach book. If you are looking for intricately woven plots and thought-provoking dialogue you may want to look elsewhere. But if you want a fun read, with strong female leads doing something more than falling for the first hunk that comes along, this one just might be the ticket.

With Heart of Ice coming next year, the Triple Threat Club isn’t finished so perhaps we will still see the satisfying ending I believe this writer is capable of. Until then, grab a chair, find something chocolate, take the afternoon off, and join Cassidy, Allison, and Nicole as they look for a killer.

Review copy provided by Thomas Nelson.

Genre: Suspense

Publisher: Tyndale Books

Publication Date: March 2010

Reviewed by Tim George

The Rio Grande was not just murky. It was toxic… To many illegal immigrants, its flowing waters signified hope and opportunity for a better tomorrow, while others viewed the river crossing as a means of smuggling drugs or spreading terrorism. But for Danika, the depths meant death, and it didn’t’ discriminate among its victims.

Danika Morales is a Border Agent, patrolling along the Rio Grande and attempting, along with other agents, to do the impossible – stem the flood of illegal immigrants and the even more dangerous influx of Mexican drug cartel activity. Though she believes her job is for the good of the country, Danika is an agent because of a far more personal reason: her husband was murdered two years earlier and the case is yet to be solved. In spite of her own efforts to move on, the unanswered questions about her husband’s murder and her Border Agent brother-in-law’s growing instability and volatility stand in the way. When attempts are made on Danika’s life and her niece disappears, the battle for America’s security becomes something more, a battle for faith and family.

Sworn to Protect is a romantic suspense that deals with a difficult and often controversial subject. DiAnn Mills does a great job of keeping the entertainment value of the story and the weight of the subject matter in balance. Through the medium of a story, Mills reminds us of how complicated the issue of illegal immigration is. On the day her husband was murdered our heroine discovered he had been an illegal immigrant activist for some time. The doctor she finds herself falling far, though not an activist, regularly treats battered illegal women with the promise of not reporting them. And, unknown to Danika, her trusted housekeeper of years is working in the country under forged papers. Even the people who seem most upstanding and legitimate in this border town are in fact holding illegals in what amounts to virtual slavery for their own financial gain.

With over one million books in print and fifteen novels, DiAnn has changed directions in her writing career from cozy mysteries and romance to the arena of suspense with good success. Readers that love Terri Blackstock and Dee Henderson will find the Call of Duty series a welcomed addition to their reading library. It’s refreshing to see seasoned authors like Robin Carroll, Vicki Hinze, and DiAnn Mills stretching their wings a bit and perhaps the wings of their readers as well. Hardcore suspense fans may find the emphasis on relationships a bit of a test but issues of family and loyalty are matters we all can relate to.

With solid characters, a convincing plot, and good story resolution, Sworn to Protect is a fine addition to the field of faith-based suspense. For those who go hay-wire when they discover a book they are reading has a hint of religion in it, be forewarned. Though far from preachy, this is definitely a novel that deals with matters of faith. Then again, when faced with the mysteries of life and death, most people in the real world struggle with what they do and do not believe about ultimate matters. Danika’s journey illustrates this well. Just compare an opening sentence of this novel with its last …

… for Danika, the depths meant death, and it didn’t’ discriminate among its victims.

… for Danika, the depths had brought back life and love.

Review copy provided by Tyndale.

Genre: Supernatural, Thriller, Suspense

Publisher: Faith Words

Publication Date: May 2010

Reviewed by Jake Chism

Laila is running from the demons of her past and they are quickly closing in. Sure, she’s made her fair share of mistakes, even bringing much of the hurt upon herself. She longs to escape and be free, but more than that she wants to be whole again, to somehow find a way to gather up the shattered pieces of her life. For too long she has tried things her way and it’s only brought her here: fleeing a mysterious stranger who knows what she did and wants to make her pay. As the demons of her past close in, Laila must decide whether to confront them or forever remain broken.

Travis Thrasher has tackled a wide range of genres in his career: romance, suspense, mystery, adventure, and more recently horror. Most publishing and marketing experts would wag their fingers at this scattershot approach, but Thrasher has managed to pull it off with his indelible talent. What I love most about Thrasher’s writing is the passion he brings to each story. He consistently creates characters that jump off the page and well defined plots that propel the story forward. This has allowed him to transcend genre and his writing always seems to reflect and celebrate the power of story. Broken is certainly no exception, and may just be his best yet.

Thrasher shifts gears a bit from Isolation and Ghostwriter, toning down the scares without losing the supernatural edge that I loved in both novels. This is a fast paced read supported by engaging dialogue, well depicted locations, and a powerful twist in the end. Each chapter begins with a journal entry from Laila and these scenes were by far my favorite.

With Laila, Thrasher has given us such a beautiful, messed up character. While you may not be able to relate to the specifics of her struggle, you will find yourself thinking about the broken pieces of your own life and the journey we all travel towards redemption. In the end I was moved by the revelations and awed by the way Thrasher pulled it off.

I’m sure Travis Thrasher has people in the “biz” constantly telling him to work on his brand, pick a genre, blah, blah, blah, etc. I applaud him for following his heart and pouring himself into every line, no matter where his books may be sorted on the shelves. If you long for memorable characters and stories that captivate then you can’t go wrong with Travis Thrasher.

Review copy provided by Faith Words.

Genre: Thriller, Suspense, Mystery

Publisher: Dutton

Publication Date: March 2010

Reviewed by Jake Chism

Dan Mercer has been caught. Reporter Wendy Tynes has just nailed him on national TV with her Caught in the Act program, as Dan shows up at a home to meet an underage girl he met online. Dan and those who know and love him plead his innocence, but incriminating evidence found in his home and on his computer claim otherwise. Before Dan’s case can go to court, a vigilante takes Dan’s life in front of Wendy’s eyes, and despite her eyewitness account, the authorities can’t find any evidence to support her claims.  An accused pedophile is put down, a killer goes free, and everyone is happy.

Everyone except for Wendy, that is. As much as she longs for justice in this case, she is appalled at the way it was carried out. As she does her own digging into the case she gets caught up in an investigation of a missing girl from her son’s school. Pieces slowly fall into place, linking both cases, and the truth that Wendy uncovers is more shocking than she could have imagined.

Harlan Coben continues to soar with his latest suburban thriller. Coben has become a master of taking the familiar comforts and perceptions of suburbia, and turning them on their head to reveal the very real fears and dangers that reside there. Caught isn’t so much a story about internet predators as it is a story about families and community responding to tragedy. As we get glimpses into how different characters are dealing with their own troubles, Coben takes us on an intriguing journey full of the mystery and suspense that he is known for.

I’ve always felt Coben’s greatest strength is his characters, and we get a lot of them here.  Authors often make the mistake of bringing too many characters into a plot, but when placed in the hands of a master storyteller like Coben, this technique only enhances the story. I have no doubt fans will be clamoring for more Wendy Tynes after this story, and rightly so. Her strength coupled with her broken past will easily draw readers in. Coben even has a bit of fun with a middle aged white rapper named Ten-A-Fly that readers will either love or love to hate. In true Coben fashion, we have some fun cameos from former characters including the always fascinating Win.

There are a lot of moving parts here, but Coben easily keeps the story woven tightly and part of the fun is knowing Coben will somehow tie it all together in the end. The twists serve their purpose, but by no means are they mind blowing. Nor do I think were they meant to be. I was moved by the final reveal, not for the clever way it was packaged, but for the emotional impact that tied all the threads together. Harlan Coben not only tells great stories, but he gets into the hearts and minds of his readers. That’s what separates this guy from the pack and the reason he is at the top of my list.

Review copy provided by Dutton.

Genre: Suspense/Fantasy

Publisher: Howard Books

Publication Date: April 2010

Reviewed by Tim George

I am cold …I am not an angel, nor am I demon … I am a Drifter, something God created in his spare time and then forgot on the fringes of reality …Do  you see me?

Drift is the story of two lost souls. One is the adopted daughter of a Mafia enforcer kept more as pet than person. The other is a being so disconnected from time and substance he exists only to be tethered to someone, anyone, more real than he himself is. In some cruel form of control Baby Doll has never been told her real name, though she has begged to be told since a little girl. And on the day, as a young woman, Baby Doll attends the funeral of the man who held her virtual prisoner her entire life everything is changed by those four haunting words, “Do you see me?”

Baby Doll sees a young man whom she can only think to name, Boy. The story he tells her is as fantastic to her as it will be to the reader. Boy has no idea what he is or how long he has existed. His life gains substance only as he remains tethered to one person. Only the person who he becomes attached to can see him and there is no guarantee how long the connection will stay intact. To tell anymore more of the story would be an injustice to both the author and the reader.

At first glance, Drift is a fantasy or perhaps an allegory. Admittedly the concept may at first scare some readers off (it almost did me). But, give yourself half a chance and you will find yourself drawn into as intense a story of redemption as fiction can offer. Boy serves as a surreal picture of what it means to feel invisible as so many people in our culture do. Baby Doll is his alter ego: wealthy, well groomed, well educated, and just as much without substance. In the end, Drift is about discovering our reason for existence.

Baby Doll watched the city roll by outside her window and found herself humming. It was an old song, a church song that told a story about a man who found a pearl and then sold everything he had just to buy it. She couldn’t remember all the words, but she wondered if she was more like that man in the song, or more like the pearl. Part of her desperately hoped to be both.

For those who don’t know, the author, Sharon Carter Rogers, is as much an enigma as Boy and Baby Doll. Ever since her earlier novels, Sinner and Unpretty, first appeared readers have been trying to figure out who Sharon is but even the publisher offers little help. Whatever her true identity, she writes in prose that literally bleed with raw emotion. Sometimes it seems as though the writer herself is whispering along with Boy, “Do you see me?”

Review copy provided by Howard Books.

Genre: Young Adult, Suspense, Thriller

Publisher: Thomas Nelson

Publication Date: February 2010

Reviewed by Jake Chism

Charlie West wakes up one day and a year of his life is gone. Mysterious thugs are after him and the police want him for the murder of his friend, Alex. As Charlie tries to makes sense of it all, he discovers he is in the middle of a major terrorist plot and he has no idea how he got involved. Reluctantly, Charlie decides to go to the only place where he might find some answers: home.

Andrew Klavan has more than left his mark on the adult thriller genre, but with this fresh new Young Adult series he is quickly proving what a multi-talented storyteller he is. While The Last Thing I Remember hooked me with it’s breakneck pace and tension, The Long Way Home has captured my imagination with the strong character development and themes of friendship and heroism that Klavan explores. The real heroes of this story are Charlie’s friends, who never doubted him and are ready to do whatever it takes to clear his name. I found much more character depth here than I anticipated and it made the book that much better. Never fear, though. Fans who are looking forward to the action and intrigue will find plenty here to cheer about.

With two more books to go in The Homelanders series, I find myself anxiously waiting what Klavan has up his sleeves. I’m buying everything Klavan is selling, from the excellent first person narrative, to the gut punching action; to the perfect doses of humor and wit…it’s all working for me.

With top notch series like The Dreamhouse Kings and The Homelanders, Thomas Nelson is blazing one heck of a trail in the Young Adult market. I can’t wait to see what’s next!

Don’t miss our interview with Andrew Klavan!

Review copy provided by Thomas Nelson.

Genre: Suspense

Publisher: Zondervan

Publication Date: April 2010

Reviewed by Time George

Natalie Sinclair went to the Republic of Dhambizao to find ways to bring healing to the African country but what she finds is a sickness far more devastating and insidious than Ebola or Malaria. Just five days before national elections, which hope to prove peaceful, Natalie meets Joseph Komboli. The young man tells her a horrifying story of “Ghost Soldiers” that raided his village and took his family away to work as slaves in the mineral mines. Somewhere near that village is the proof, a camera he used to record an evil everyone from high government officials to humanitarian workers refuse to admit even exists. Soon Natalie, Joseph, and Dr. Chad Talcott find themselves in a race for their lives to prove what no one wants to believe.

Though better known for her cozy mysteries and light romance, author Lisa Harris moves to new ground in this the first of her Mission Hope Series. Sure, there’s a budding romance and the usual relational issues one might expect from Lisa’s writing but that is where the similarities between her previous works and Blood Ransom end. Human trafficking and modern day slavery is real and too often either ignored or glossed over. Through the medium of fiction and suspense we are immersed in a world that unfortunately is far from fiction. The author is a missionary in Mozambique and it is obvious she knows what she is talking about. There is nothing cozy or romantic about a people abused by their own government and exploited by the greed of those they will never see face to face. Blood Ransom is about slavery but it focuses more on those who need to be convinced rather than those who are actually suffering. We see little of the plight of Joseph’s family mining for precious metals so we can have cheap cell phones in the Western world. Instead, the author focuses on the difficulties involved in proving such atrocities are real and in finding anyone who cares. But there is hope in this story. Good men like Dr. Talcott do exist and others who have become callous and cynical can still have their hearts pricked.

This is an excellent first suspense novel for a seasoned romance writer. The pacing is good and we are swept along with the main characters in their desperate attempt at shining the light on a great darkness. While the ending is bit rushed, all in all Lisa Harris had done a great job of telling a good story while at the same time dealing with a difficult topic. That balancing act is seldom accomplished with great success and this novel is an exception to the rule. We look forward, as this series continues, to the hope this author shines on her beloved continent and the people that live, love, and suffer there.

Review copy provided by Zondervan.

Genre: Suspense

Publisher: Thomas Nelson

Publication Date: March 2010

Reviewed by Tim George

In The Clouds Roll Away, author Sibella Giorello brings us another installment of the many trials of Special Agent Raleigh Harmon. Some things have changed for Raleigh: she’s back home in Virginia and she is being pursued by an on-again-off-again suitor. But too much is the same: her new boss at the Richmond Bureau office is determined to remind her of Raleigh’s past reprimands and she still gets the worst car in the motor pool. Added to the mix of distractions are a mother on the verge of a mental breakdown and a tenant that becomes entangled in her investigations.

At first, the plot of The Clouds Rolls Away seems to be following Giorello’s first novel, The Stones Cry Out. But hang in there; the turn this story makes is worth the buildup it takes to get there. Another author once asked me what I felt when I read his novel. He said what his readers feel is more important to him than the details they remember. Giorello’s strength is character development and mood. As to mood, one can’t help but feel the undertones that permeate the complicated culture of the old South. Southern gentility struggles to remain intact in the face of rapid changes and new residents that have no regard for accepted conventions. Good and bad are hard to distinguish beneath the prejudice of old money and the facade of new money. And don’t be fooled by those who are quickly assumed to be victims either. Nothing is at it seems on the banks of the James River.

Though the plot is well paced, character still wins out in The Clouds Roll Away. Raleigh is a person who feels certain in one aspect of her life – her training. Whenever she needs to concentrate, she resorts to thinking of the chemical structure of the dirt she is looking at. Forensic Geology is the one thing that makes complete sense. But maneuvering through the intricacies of government protocol and personal relationships baffle her. Why does she do her job so well but still find herself butting heads with everyone around her? Why does she find it so easy to deal harshly with her tenant when he messes up?

With all this character development you might wonder if there is a villain to be stopped. There is indeed a bad guy to catch – a really disgusting bad guy. In the process of uncovering that evil, Raleigh finally begins to come to grips with what is wrong with her own heart. From the death of her father the judge a few years earlier to her mother’s long regression to former times Raleigh has been living in a convoluted fog of faith and doubt. You’ll have to read to the very end to find out if, at last, The Clouds Roll Away.

Listen to our interview with Sibella Giorello.

Review copy provided by Thomas Nelson.

Genre: Historical, Thriller, Suspense

Publisher: Thomas Nelson

Publication Date: April 2010

Reviewed by Jake Chism

Gina Lazarescu is preparing for a final showdown with the Akeldama Collectors. So much has happened in her life recently, especially the revelation that her son Jacob is alive. Cal Nichols, her father, has kept this secret until now to protect Jacob from the Collectors, who will stop at nothing to destroy the Nistarim and Those Who Resist. While Gina wants to go to Jacob now, Cal insists she wait for the right time when the Nistarim can band together to destroy the Collectors. In the meantime, Gina focuses on rebuilding her relationship with her husband, Jed, and preparing for the imminent battle. Unfortunately, for Gina and the Nistarim, the Collectors have deadly plans of their own and are confident they will be victorious.

I’m always anxious to see how an author will end a series, and it seems that very few are able to really nail it. Often it’s a combination of reader expectations and the writer’s unwillingness to fully let go of the story. Admittedly, I had high expectations going into Valley of Bones. Eric Wilson blew me away with the first two installments and I was hoping he would do so again. Thankfully, my expectations were met and quickly exceeded.

All of the elements that make Field of Blood and Haunt of Jackals so appealing are on display. From the attention to historical detail, to the strong characters and crisp dialogue, to the balanced action and tension throughout, everything really comes together to hook the reader. What I wanted the most is what everyone is no doubt anticipating: an all out throw down between darkness and light. And boy do we get it. All throughout the series I’ve felt the story building toward something big and Wilson holds nothing back in giving his fans a huge payoff.

Eric Wilson’s devoted readers will of course recognize characters from his earlier novels, and they play more of a role here than in the previous Jerusalem’s Undead books. I can see where fans unfamiliar with these characters and stories might feel left out at times, but as a fan I loved spending time with Josee and Sarge again, checking up on Clay Ryker, and even getting a nice little nod towards Aramis Black. To his credit, Wilson does a great job of winking at his fans without taking any important plot details away from new readers.

In the end, I was left with a bittersweet feeling. On the one hand, I was amazed at how well the plotlines were pulled together and I was floored by the powerful conclusion. On the other hand, I was sad to see the curtain close on so many characters that have become so special to me since I discovered Eric Wilson’s writing. I’ve always thought it was a shame that these novels seemed to fly under the radar of the masses, and I can’t help but wonder how great it would be to see the Five Senses and Aramis Black series fleshed out the way Wilson originally imagined them.

Even though the Jerusalem’s Undead Trilogy has come to a close, I do hope new readers will discover these remarkable novels for years to come. I stated this in my review of Field of Blood, but I feel that it bears repeating: Nowhere else will you find the redemptive power of Christ’s blood explored so brilliantly in fiction.

This has truly been an incredible journey and I can’t wait to see what the future holds for Eric Wilson and his devoted fans.

Genre: Suspense

Release Date: November 2007

Publisher: Zondervan

Reviewed by Josh Olds

To boldly go where no man has gone before…That’s the job of Benjamin “Tuck” Tucker, Space Shuttle Commander. Problem is, his crewmates must’ve been wearing red shirts. He awakes in a daze, unsure of what knocked him out. Never a good thing while in space. With his mind clouded, Tuck realizes that something has gone horribly wrong. He launched a Space Shuttle and landed a hearse. An investigation would blame a certain medicine as the reason for his crewmates’ death

Fast forward one year. NASA has pretty much grounded Tuck, who is hailed a hero for his valiant if failed efforts. In steps Ted Roos, video game designer and head of SpaceVentures, Inc., a company poised to make the first commercial space flight. Roos asks that Tuck command the inaugural journey and Tuck agrees. But space is a dangerous place, his crewmates’ death a year ago might not have been an accident, and there could still be a killer gunning for him.

Zero-G by Alton Gansky has the right premise. Biological warfare? Check. Space travel? Check. A brilliant yet psychotic killer? Yessir. Unfortunately, I don’t think Gansky pulls this one off. Even though a major plot point is about biological warfare, Gansky says very little about it other than it kills people. The book would have benefitted from some research in this area.

Gansky also has a habit in this book of killing off random people to, I suppose, heighten the suspense of the biological warfare. Instead it comes off as a disjointed scene having little or no connection to the rest of the book. Lastly, the book, in my opinion, is a bit heavily preachy. I’m not against having a book containing Christian thematic elements, as a matter of fact I love it, but in Zero-G it’s written to an almost unnatural and awkward point. The various other side plots also seem to have very little connection to the story.

I wanted to like Zero-G, I really did. And it does have its bright points. I loved the witty banter that several of the characters engaged in. The character of Ted Roos is outstandingly written. The killer is deranged and psychotic. I just don’t think it was pulled together all that well.

If you’re in the mood to read an Alton Gansky novel, check out his J.D. Stanton mysteries, or The Prodigy, those are excellent. If space excites you, read Oxygen by John Olsen and Randy Ingermanson. If biological warfare is what you want, pick up Robert Liparulo’s Germ. Unless you’re a hardcore Gansky fan, you may want to pass on this one.

Review copy provided by Zondervan.

Genre: Suspense, Comedy, Drama

Publisher: Reagan Arthur Books

Publication Date: March 2010

Reviewed by Lori Twichell

Kevin Quinn is a man. He’s not extraordinary. He’s a liberal. He’s older. He’s on his way to Austin for a job interview. It’s a job he’s not really sure he even wants, but he knows he wants a change. He’s not married. He’s not a dad. He’s a little scared. And he’s a wealth of fantastic comedic and dramatic material. He’s so rich with observations and memories that this entire novel encompasses only eight hours of Kevin’s life. Just eight hours. And despite that, it’s an amazingly full story of a man with a very complete beginning, middle and end.

James Hynes delves into the mind of this character with such clarity that you sometimes find yourself laughing out loud and at others you’re stunned into silence. You may even find your mouth hanging open in shock as you page back and reread passages again to find out if that really happened or if it’s something just rolling around in Kevin’s vividly creative mind.  Sometimes his thoughts can seem too implausible to believe and you want to laugh out loud at the audacity. Seconds later though, Kevin’s thoughts might mirror your own and you’ll shake your head as he backtracks and apologizes in his own mind for even thinking such things.

Hynes’ descriptions are vivid, beautiful and stunning. Echoing with shades of Updike, his word choices are sweet and rich and they melt across your tongue like ice cream in the Austin heat. They beg for you to savor them, roll them around in your mouth, speak them out loud and then share them with someone else because they’re so utterly delightful. (My husband had large passages of this book either read aloud to him or forced on him as I was reading because it was just too entertaining not to share.)

The book takes a turn at one point that is so stunning it will spin you180 degrees at breakneck speed. You may even find yourself having trouble holding on to the reality in the book. It took me several times rereading passages to fully comprehend how quickly and completely everything had changed and even then I was left speechless.  Like I’d been on a rollercoaster ride, zooming toward the bottom of a long hill and then suddenly, without warning, found myself without tracks, I flailed a little at first. Then I wondered at how well Hynes managed to capture the reality of life turning on a dime and sometimes being completely out of our control.

Since Hynes dives into the deep end of a man’s mind without any filters, expect some forays into very deeply personal moments and memories. If you’re uncomfortable with frank discussion of sexual ideas or thoughts, this may not be the book for you. Though thankfully, Kevin’s thoughts do not follow the traditional understanding that men think about sex every few seconds, it is a thread of memories and description that is woven throughout the book. If you’re bothered by this, you might not want to try it. But on the other hand, if you want to know what the average American male who’s just slightly past his prime is thinking, this is definitely an interesting and adventurous read.

Review copy provided by Reagan Arthur Books.

Genre: Psychological, Literary

Publisher: Little, Brown and Company

Publication Date: January 2010

Reviewed by Marianne Peters

Tim Farnsworth seems to be a lucky man, with a wife and daughter, a thriving law practice, and a large home in the suburbs. Lucky except for one thing: periodically, inexplicably, he begins to walk.  He walks until he collapses, and then his wife Jane comes to find him wherever he has ended up, asleep, sometimes frostbitten or injured. After he sleeps, the walking starts again. He sees doctors, psychologists, even gurus, but no one can fix his problem. To explain his absences from work, he tells his puzzled partners at the law firm that his wife has terminal cancer.

Joshua Ferris, author of the novel Then We Came to the End, has penned a heartbreaking story about a family in the midst of a mysterious health crisis. Farnsworth’s illness is never named or cured. It goes into sudden remission, and then starts up again just as suddenly. While he copes with the distressing realities of walking himself into exhaustion, his wife Jane and daughter Becka cope with their own fear, guilt, anger and frustration – ambivalent feelings that would be familiar to anyone caring for a chronically ill loved one.

Tim and Jane Farnsworth also struggle to maintain their affection for each other, playing out their roles as husband and wife, but also as impaired person and caregiver. When does he decide to abandon treatment? When does she decide that enough is enough?

The Unnamed is not a cheery read, but it is a mesmerizing one. Joshua Ferris’ lucid writing lifts his characters from the page until they are flesh and blood, and we find ourselves asking, would I do the same thing? Would I give up or hang on? The walking itself is a device, the difficult circumstance that allows these characters to demonstrate their strengths and their loyalties, while simultaneously forcing them to expose their weaknesses to themselves and to each other. The truth about them – about us – is painful, but redemptive. We all have weaknesses that hardship will reveal. And once everything is revealed, the only thing left to do is to keep walking.

Review copy provided by Little, Brown and Company.

Genre: Suspense, Mystery, Supernatural

Publisher: Thomas Nelson

Publication Date: July 2009

Reviewed by James Andrew Wilson

On page 285 of Faces in the Fire, readers will finally come to chapter one. This is important because the final chapter will have already been read back on page 78. While this might sound like a lawsuit against the printing press just waiting to happen, it is in fact the deliberate and brilliant mix-up that author T.L. Hines intended.

Faces in the Fire is a difficult book to describe. At a basic level, it is the story of four characters whose lives are mysteriously connected by a ten-digit number:1595544534. Kurt is a sculptor with the odd ability to hear ghostly voices from articles of clothing. Corrine is a professional email spammer suffering from lymphoma. Grace is a tattoo artist whose arm itches for another shot of heroin. And Stan is a hit man with a gift for killing that he can’t escape.

These characters are unique and richly crafted. As the title implies, they are people who find themselves facing the fire; their stories of pain and their journeys to redemption are beautiful, mesmerizing and inspiring. And Hines writes them with an easy-to-read style that dances between off-kilter humor, insightful ponderings, and fresh plays on words that make for a nice sort of poetry in the prose.

That being said, this is a complex book that requires a patient reader to see it through to the end. Most of the suspense arises from a curiosity to know what in the world is going on. Mysteries and oddities are all over the place, some of which are never completely answered. Or maybe they are. It all depends on what you think the book ultimately means and what the mysterious numbers represent. To each of the four main characters, those ten digits are something different, something unexplainable, but ultimately magical.

I don’t think it’s any mistake that those numbers are hidden in the novel’s ISBN number. They are a good metaphor for the book as a whole. This story will mean something different to each reader. Those who are willing to trust Hines to guide them through the puzzling pages will close the book with the feeling that they have been shown something for which there is no easy explanation—something that is beyond the barriers of what we can understand.

Faces in the Fire is a daring and expertly crafted novel. It is a puzzle. It is a mystery. It is a memorable story that defies simple description and refuses to be placed in a genre box.

Genre: Romance/Suspense

Publisher: Abingdon Press

Publication Date: March 2010

Reviewed by Elizabeth Olmedo

In an attempt to flee her past, underwater archaeologist Shiloh Blake moves to Mumbai, India, hoping to put as much distance as possible between herself and her father. At a dig, tragedy strikes, leaving a colleague dead, her best friend fighting for his life, and Blake running from an unknown enemy. Searching for answers, Blake finds herself caught in the middle of a nuclear terrorist plot. Those behind it will stop at nothing to see her dead. To survive, Blake must remember everything her father taught her and even do the one thing she vowed never to do — become a spy.

Former Navy SEAL, Reece Jaxon, faces the task of keeping the feisty and stubborn archaeologist alive. But how can he make Blake trust him when every man in her life has betrayed her, including her own father? How can he show her that despite the bruises and battering the world has inflicted, God has never abandoned her?

Ronie Kendig shines with her debut novel Dead Reckoning. She seizes the reader from the beginning and doesn’t let go until the end, leading her audience through a labyrinth coated with lies and dangers. She expertly keeps the reader flipping through the pages anxious to learn what follows. Though God and faith play a part in the novel, Kendig is never preachy.

Kendig could have offered more details and provided a bit more closure in a couple areas that affect Blake’s personal relationships, but regardless, I strongly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys romance and suspense. Once started, the reader will struggle to put down the book. It is a refreshing to find a book where clean doesn’t mean cheesy and page-turning action doesn’t mean foul language or inappropriate scenes. I eagerly await many more books from Kendig.

Review copy provided by Abingdon Press.

Genre: Suspense

Publisher: Multnomah Books

Publication Date: March 2010

Reviewed by Tim George

What would you do if you were pursued on the dark streets of New Orleans by people you don’t know, for reasons you don’t understand, only to find yourself beaten and left dead hundreds of miles away? Thankfully, you are rescued by a kind man who takes you to a local crisis center where you are asked just one simple question, “Who are you?” The problem is, you don’t know. Such is the story of a woman who ends up at the Crossroad Crisis Center in the panhandle of Florida. The only clues to her past are the cross around her neck, a nagging fear of unidentified enemies, and an uncanny resemblance to the center’s founder – the founder who has been dead for three years.

In Forget Me Not, author Vicki Hinze explores issues of brokenness, trust, and faith. The main character (we’ll call her Susan for now) remembers next to nothing about her past life but she has an instinctive faith even she herself cannot explain. Benjamin Brandt, widower of the founder of the crisis center, remembers far too much but has completely forgotten what faith even looks like. He has become further jaded by one too many impostors trying to lay claim to his dead wife’s legacy and fortune. Susan and Ben must learn to work together in spite of their fears and distrust because someone is still intent on killing and perhaps far worse.

Vicki Hinze is a newcomer to faith based fiction but is by no means a newbie to writing. With over twenty-five novels in print she demonstrates her seasoned ability to develop characters and ratchet up the tension as the plot progresses. The subplot of bio-terrorism is interesting but feels almost in the way. At times it is hard to keep up with the secondary characters that come and go throughout the story. While the cast of villains seems a bit too varied, one thing comes across with clarity. None of these people are trustworthy. And for someone who can’t even remember who she is and a man who has lost his faith, that is indeed quite a problem.

The main story of a man who cannot let go of his grief and anger and a woman who wonders if anyone has ever cared about her is powerful. To further complicate their lives, both are having feelings for each other neither finds quite welcomed. And, when our mystery woman finally remembers everything she wishes she was still in the dark. What she now knows is far too great a burden to carry and far too devastating to reveal to the man who has finally come to trust her. But the one thing she never forgot, her faith in God, may still yet prove the hope for both she and Ben’s tattered hearts.

Review copy provided by Multnomah Books.

Genre: Suspense

Publisher: Faith Words

Publication Date: April 2009

Reviewer: Josh Olds

A wispy bat-like creature hovers over the darkened forest, its presence called forth by a cult of teens playing with powers they know little about. Awaiting his opportunity to attack, this Angel of Wrath knows he must be patient. His time will come. It will be soon.

On the outside, it appeared Thomas Harmon’s life was coming together for him. Pastor of an exponentially growing mega-church inherited from his father, Thomas was making his mark on the world. But things aren’t always as they seem. His work at the church leaves little time for family, and it shows in the attitude of his son Will, who is the epitome of a rebellious preacher’s kid.

But something more serves to upset Thomas’s rise to fame. People in his church are being murdered. One right after another. Quickly. Each time, the murdered were guilty of a secret (or not so secret) sin, and the killer had executed his righteous judgment upon them.

Enter in Charlie Madison, an ex Special-Ops agent, and his deaf niece, Jazmin. Charlie gets asked by friend and former co-worker, Lisa Harmon,—Thomas’s sister—to go investigate. 13 year old Jazmin gets to tag along for the ride.

As the plot thickens and tension mounts, Charlie and Lisa uncover a local cult of teens who may be responsible. But even more than the murders, the teens may have unleashed a creature that they cannot control, the Angel of Wrath.

With well-drawn out characters and great action, Myers crafts a story that not only serves as a page-turner but also as a thought-provoker. From pastoral issues, to the nature of forgiveness, to the importance of family, to spiritual warfare, Myers raises questions that will keep your mind turning long after you’ve closed the last page. What comes first, congregation or family? Can one truly forgive someone who destroyed one’s life? What would you do if a demon looked into your soul and reminded you of all those sins you thought were secret, all the evil that lies within your own heart?

Angel of Wrath is a triumph of storytelling. The crisp action sequences and murder mystery serve only as a backdrop to further this character-driven drama. Regarding the characters of Charlie, Lisa, and Jazmin, perhaps I would have been more informed as to their stories had I read Myers’ 2008 release The Voice, which introduces these three. While Angel of Wrath is a sequel, Myers does a good job ensuring that it stands alone. References to The Voice serve to intrigue the reader to salivate to know the fuller story rather than leaving one in confusion about an important piece of information.

Angel of Wrath is one of my favorite kinds of stories. Instead of merely telling a story, there is a strong sense of message. I cannot wait to see what Myers has in store for his next book, The God Hater, which he has called one of the most important things he’s written.

Review copy provided by Faith Words.

Genre: Thriller, Suspense, Mystery

Publisher: Bantam

Publication Date:  August 2009

Reviewed by Jake Chism

Tim Blake is living every father’s worst nightmare. One day his teenage daughter leaves for work and never returns home. Not only are there no leads, but the people that she supposedly worked with have never even heard of her.  Trying to hold down his job as a car salesman, Tim uses every spare moment and expense to spread the word about her disappearance, hoping that someone will have seen her. He even sets up a website for people who might have information on her whereabouts.  As Tim wallows in his despair he is overjoyed when a lead from across this country surfaces. Tim is now running full out towards the possibility of hope, never realizing that the worst is yet to come.

Linwood Barclay is quickly rising to the top of my list of favorite authors and this stellar performance only propels him higher. Once again Barclay brings us a strong first person narrative from a father in the deepest throes of anguish. As a father of a little girl I found myself torn up inside along with Tim every step of the way. This all worked together for a gut wrenching, yet engaging read that refused to release my attention until the end.

Once again, the twists just don’t stop and they consistently pack a punch. I’m amazed at Barclay’s ability to hide surprises so neatly within a story, knowing just the right time to pull back the veil and amaze his audience. The suspense drips off every page and the terror is all too real.

In the midst of the thrills, Barclay also introduces some strong characters that really sell this story. From the wild child friend of Tim’s daughter, to the ever suspicious detective, and even to the highly unstable love interest, each character takes turn adding to both the despondency Tim is swimming in and the overall depth of this story.

There is some profanity and adult content readers should be aware of, but nothing on the level of Barclay’s previous work, Too Close to Home.

We’re just weeks away from Linwood Barclay’s next release, Never Look Away, and I find myself anxiously waiting what is sure to be another high quality thriller from one of my favorite new authors.

Review copy provided by Bantam.

Genre: Thriller, Suspense, Mystery

Publisher: Bantam

Publication Date: September 2008

Reviewed by Jake Chism

Jim Cutter doesn’t miss his old job. Sure, being the mayor’s driver had its perks, but no perk was worth putting up with that man. After his boss took things too far one night, Jim walked away and never looked back. Happy to be free, he started his own lawn service with his son, Derek. It also allowed him to spend more time at home with is wife, giving their relationship some much needed attention. Things seemed to be turning around for Jim. That is until his neighbors ended up dead and his son became the main suspect in their murder.

This was my first Linwood Barclay novel and it most certainly won’t be my last. After hearing comparisons to Harlan Coben, I had to find out if such lofty claims were valid.

From the opening lines Barclay weaves a tale of intrigue, murder, and mystery that keeps you guessing. Even when I thought I knew what was coming, I was continually surprised by the number of twists and how brilliantly they were orchestrated. The first person narrative of Jim Cutter is top notch and I was easily pulled into the emotional turmoil surrounding this man and his family.

Too Close to Home might be best described as a dark suburban thriller, but I’m not even sure that accurately describes the depth of this novel. Even some of the best thriller writers often neglect character development, opting instead for relentless action and pacing. Barclay expertly balances a fast paced story with the perfect amount of character building, making this story stand out above so many others written in the same vein.

The only element that seemed off here was the complete overuse of profanity. I understand a writer’s desire to create real characters, flaws and all. However, it seems that in several instances the profanity was relied upon too much, seeming forced and manufactured. There is also a smattering of adult content that some readers might want to be aware of.

Overall I was more than impressed with the level of storytelling on display here. Indeed, if you are a fan of Harlan Coben’s work you will love what Barclay brings to the table. I predict it won’t be long before fresh new thriller writers are being compared to Linwood Barclay himself.

Review copy provided by Bantam.

Genre: Suspense

Publisher: Morrow

Publication Date:  1998

Reviewed by Jennifer S. Roman

Imagine being a 20-year-old single mom living in rural Georgia.  You have only a seventh-grade education, and your meager income is from waiting tables at the local truck stop.  You live with your baby daddy out of necessity; he has a trailer you can call “home.”  He is frequently drunk and therefore does not hold a steady job.  Suddenly, you are guaranteed to win the national lottery of $100 million, and all you have to do is leave the country for ten years.  How could someone with such a bleak future resist?

This is the situation faced by LuAnn Tyler, an intelligent and extremely beautiful girl who, originally, prepares to decline the offer until she comes home to find her baby daddy dead from a drug deal gone sour.  She walks in on the killer and becomes his next target.  Knowing there is no way the police would believe her innocence, she takes the deal.  Her benefactor, Jackson, doesn’t like the extra baggage she brings in the form of an arrest warrant, but he looks to it as a challenge and fixes the national lottery.  Getting her out of the country gets hairy at times, but finally, he puts LuAnn on a plane to Sweden.

Of course there has to be a twist: ten years later, LuAnn decides to return to the United States, and a reporter covering high bankruptcy rates of lottery winners notices that she and eleven other winners actually earn, not lose, money after winning the lottery.  That puts him on the scent of a huge story that threatens LuAnn’s family and her very life.

Baldacci really gives the reader a reason to not put the book down.  From introducing LuAnn and her situation to describing how the lottery will be fixed to watching the plan in action, he makes the characters real and the story, while a bit over the top, fun and suspenseful.  It’s a bit sad when getting to the end because there’s that desire to read more.  I was constantly wondering what would happen next.  The mastermind behind the scam is resourceful and intelligent.  What he could do today would be absolutely amazing.

There is a bit of vulgar language and a couple of mild sex scenes, but the big caution here is the graphic violence.  It is not near the top of my list of violent books, but it does describe how Jackson kills people in cold blood.  What is disturbing is that he does not show remorse or a bit of reverence toward human life.  Readers who can handle some violence should be fine.

Genre: Suspense

Publisher: Bethany House

Publication Date: July 2007

Reviewed by Tim George

There was a time when Riley Keep was a man of supreme confidence: minister, missionary, educator of New England’s finest. Then something terrible happened; he came face to face with his humanity and what he saw changed him. Now he returns home years later an abject failure, a ghost moving among the living.  By accident he catches his reflection in a mirror and he sees something far different: failed protector of an entire people, weakling of a husband, incompetent father, and drunkard.

Athol Dickson offers us the most unlikely, and to be honest, most unlikeable of heroes. Riley Keep has fallen so far that when he returns to his home town in Maine along with a dying homeless friend no one even recognizes him. Not the church people, not his former friends, and not even the mayor who just happens to be his ex-wife. Through an apparent accident Riley discovers something every person trapped by the demons of their personal sins would give anything to have, a magic bullet that would forever take away their addiction. Riley Keep has discovered The Cure.

What happens next is on one level a rousing suspense story and on another a parable of failure and despair.  It is the story of far away pagans and the pagan within us all. And in the end it is a story of ultimate hope. As always, Dickson’s characters are vivid, tragic, heroic, well-intentioned, and severely flawed. Even when Riley Keep gets his act together and appears to become a great success he is within himself a failure. In other words he is real. Perhaps this is why some found this story uncomfortable. Upon his return to his home town, Riley observes that people walk by him but never look into eyes, never see him. He guesses it is because they fear they see some of themselves. I think Riley Keep guesses right.

The Cure ends with these words: Riley was no longer dead; his ghostly days were over… here at last was something truly good to drink. The Cure is something truly good to drink.

Genre: Suspense

Publisher: Bethany House

Publication Date: February 2010

Josh Olds’ Review:

If you asked any one of the members of the historic Baxter line, if they had any political luck, they’d rival the Kennedys in terms of legacy. But without that political clout, they’re just another wealthy New York family with a better sense of history than most. Graham Baxter, grandson of Sal Baxter, seems likely to turn that around if he can secure the Senate seat. Already a State senator, he and his family have their eyes on the spot in D.C. Like any political race, you grease the right hands you get the right results, right? Just so long as you keep all those skeletons in the closet.

Meanwhile, bestselling novelist CJ Baxter—Graham’s brother—is finding his life in Tennessee collapsing around him. A lawsuit over here, a divorce settlement there, and then he gets the phone call that his grandfather Sal is dying. And after 17 years of telling himself that he would never face his family again, he finds himself staring them face to face.

To say that there was bad blood between CJ and the rest of the Baxter clan would be a gross understatement. CJ’s novels, which he claims but can’t quite convince himself aren’t autobiographical, have never portrayed those characters that might be modeled on family in a good light. But there’s more. A haunting secret that CJ has lived with since childhood, and seeing his family has kindled his desire to uncover the truth.

But digging into the closets to find the skeletons of a Senator-to-be can be a dangerous business, even if that one is your brother—perhaps especially if that one is your brother, in CJ’s case. In Hunter’s Moon, Hoesel takes the reader on a suspenseful story of a powerful family and their horrible secrets.

Unlike many authors, Hoesel takes Hunter’s Moon and really takes time to lay the foundations for the deep and complex relational storyline. Sure, it’s a little slow at first—I wouldn’t classify this as your page-a-minute thriller—but once the foundations are laid, Hoesel sufficiently fleshes out the story. Perhaps most appealing to this book for me was Hoesel’s subtlety, which really required the reader to dig down and think about what had happened. The contrasts and changes in the characters of CJ and Graham really draw the reader into the story. Moreover, mostly due to Hoesel’s subtle methods, the plot twists are both major and hard to predict.

Hunter’s Moon is a great novel. It’s a little weighty, a book to read if you want to think. And yet the charms of small-town life and the thrills of high-stakes politics make it a compelling and page-turning read.

Tim George’s Review:

CJ Baxter has managed to forge a life for himself far from his home town of Adelia in Upstate New York and the dysfunctional family he left behind there. Though a successful novelist, CJ doesn’t feel much like a success. His marriage is on the rocks and he has begun to doubt his talent as a writer. And now news has come that his grandfather, the one relative he truly related to, has died. Now CJ returns to a family he hasn’t seen in years with nothing but his dog and a newfound faith in God that he hasn’t quite sorted out the details of yet. Matters are not made any easier by the fact that everyone in CJ’s family and town is sure his novels are autobiographical.

Hunter’s Moon is a suspense story in which the characters hold center stage. Those characters include: CJ’s mother, whose own divorce and sadness has changed her, in CJ’s words, from June Cleaver to a hard drinking, chain smoking woman he hardly recognizes; a stuttering, some say simple-minded friend from the past, who coincidentally won a ton of money in the state lottery; a father who has long since lost interest in being a father; the girl he should have asked to marry him now wed to his own cousin; and a brother whose political ambitions threaten to tear down the last vestiges of hope for the family and perhaps the town.

The spiritual insights in this story work their way out in a most natural and yet powerful way. The hero of the story struggles with the tension between grace and human responsibility. Ultimately he must learn what it means to forgive and be forgiven. And, like most of us, he has to learn these lessons the hard way. There are no canned answers in Hunter’s Moon, just really good questions.

Don Hoesel does a brilliant job of drawing us into one man’s realization that most secrets, especially family secrets, have a bad habit of resurrecting themselves at the most inopportune moments. And the secret CJ holds about his family may prove to be the death of him. Or, it may just hold the key to a freedom he has yet to discover.

Review copies provided by Bethany House Publishers.

Genre: Suspense

Publisher: Morrow

Publication Date:  1970

Reviewed by Jennifer S. Roman

Dr. Judd Stevens is one of the most popular and sought-after psychiatrists in New York City.  He has many friends and wonderful colleagues.  All of that changes the day his secretary, Carol, is brutally murdered in the office.  The next day, a client is murdered.  Dr. Stevens tries to work with the police (including a cop who doesn’t seem to like him), to solve these murders, when he realizes that the murderer is actually after him.  Convinced that the police don’t like him and therefore don’t believe him, Dr. Stevens proceeds to investigate the situation on his own.  Dr. Stevens is forced to use psychological profiling in order to discover the identity of the murderer.

Written 40 years ago, the book still packs a punch.  It doesn’t contain as much of the violence and “creative” killing seen so frequently today, but it is one of the first to explore psychological profiling.  It moves quickly and is an easy read.  The characters are well-developed and are likeable.  The story situation immediately grabs the reader and makes the reader want to find out “whodunit.”  Some may be surprised to find out it is not exactly who they expect, and that is part of the fun.

There is minimal sex and swearing.  There is some graphic violence, but not nearly as bad as one reads today.  Since the story is 40 years old, it is nice to go back memory lane to see what the norms and mores were at the time.  Some may call it quaint, but in my opinion it is simply fun.  Overall, it’s worth the read for a good story and a little nostalgia.

Genre: Suspense, Thriller

Publisher: Minotaur Books

Publication date: October 13, 2009

Reviewed by Jeremy Taylor

Daniel Judson continues his series of standalone cerebral thrillers set in the Hamptons with The Violet Hour, a tense yet thoughtful tale of murder, betrayal, and sacrificial love.

Caleb (“Cal”) Rakowski is an auto mechanic working for cash at a friend’s illegal but lucrative garage in Bridgehampton. He lives inexpensively in a sparse apartment on the garage’s second floor, drives an unregistered motorcycle, and does his best to stay under the radar and out of people’s way. The problem is, his beautiful and pregnant older cousin Heather, recently estranged from her powerful and abusive husband, is secretly staying with him. When Heather gets word that her missing half-sister has been spotted at a party on nearby Shelter Island, Cal volunteers to go pick her up, little realizing that his simple act of charity will prove to be the undoing of his previously simple existence. Because Heather’s husband isn’t the only dangerous man in the Hamptons—and Cal is about to be caught up in a plot so twisted, he won’t know where to turn or whom to trust. And he’ll be lucky to escape with his life.

The Violet Hour is a location thriller, but it’s much more than the stereotypical story set in the author’s hometown. For one thing, Judson doesn’t live in the Hamptons (though he used to). For another thing, the book’s dark, gothic feel coupled with unexpectedly rich characterizations, intensely realistic dialog, and eerie, suspenseful scenes set in wonderfully creepy locations render it a literary triumph that easily transcends so-called “local fiction.” Judson is an author to take seriously.

The action takes place over three days—Mischief Night, Halloween, and the Day of the Dead—and unfolds almost in real time, adding a sense of urgency to the drama. Some of the villains might be a tad overdone (a codependent assassin who derives her self-worth from her handler, for example), but in the end whatever minor negatives exist are easily and decisively marginalized by the book’s strengths. Be prepared for a few descriptions of rather gruesome violence, but mostly be prepared to see a side of the Hamptons you never imagined existed.

Review copy provided by Minotaur Books.

Genre: Suspense

Publisher: Tyndale House

Publication Date: May 2002

Reviewed by Tim George

They Shall See God begins with one man breathing the air of freedom for the first time in 25 years as he walks away from Louisiana’s infamous State Penitentiary at Angola. But from the moment we are introduced to Solomon Cantor it is obvious neither he nor any of those in the orbit of his life are truly free. Two girls, Katy and Ruth, though both reasonably successful, still live behind the invisible bars of fear and distrust. Sol’s wife, now a prosperous real estate agent, is a virtual prisoner to the good name she has forged for herself in New Orleans’ Garden District. And one twisted soul stalks them all; on a mission he believes to be from God. His goal, to exact retribution in a way that will shock a city that rarely notices anything.

At the center of this story are Katy O’Connor and Ruth Gold. Their childhood friendship was abruptly ended on the day their testimony helped send Sol Cantor away to Angola. Now, 25 years later, their lives are thrown back together by Sol’s release and a spate of bizarre murders in the city they never left. So much has changed in that quarter century. Katy is now a lonely widow doing her best to raise two children and keep her late husband’s business afloat. Ruth is a Reformed Jewish Rabbi with a simmering anger she does not understand. Together they have many lessons to learn about suspicion, prejudice, and the greatest enemy of all – the dark corners of their own hearts.

They Shall See God, like all of Dickson’s works, has too many layers to allow it to be pigeonholed. It is suspense of the first-rate variety. The characters are three dimensional with both good and not-so-good qualities. The plot is superbly paced. The dialogue is crisp and believable. Beneath all of these layers is the foundation of a powerful parable. Just as you label the story’s villain evil and pathetic, you realize there is some of that dark killer in all of us. And the villain’s end should serve as a warning to all where the path of hatred ultimately leads.

Genre: Mystery, Suspense

Publisher: Penguin

Publication date: January, 2010

Reviewed by Jennifer Roman

Tami Hoag is known for her suspenseful novels that have plenty of twists and turns before the final reveal, and Deeper than the Dead is no exception.  In a sleepy California town in October of 1985, several children cut through a park on their way home from school.  One ends up tumbling down a hill and lands smack on a body of a young woman.  Her eyes and mouth are glued shut and her eardrums are pierced, possibly in reference to, “See no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil.”  The students’ teacher hears the commotion and rushes out to console them.  From that moment on, she is involved in a murder investigation that eventually threatens her life.  In the meantime, several students’ home lives are exposed as less than perfect and townspeople’s personal lives are made public.  What makes the investigation interesting is that since it is set in 1985, there is no access to high-tech devices and processes, even fingerprint databases.  Imagine being a police department and barely having a fax machine.  There is not a computer at each investigator’s desk; in fact, using a computer requires a wait for long stretches of time.  The police have to rely on phone calls and favors from officers in other locales.  Psychological profiling is just beginning, and many still don’t put credence in it.

Never once did I get the feeling that the story was lagging.  I was constantly on the edge of my seat, ready to turn the page, trying to get to the bottom of the investigation.  I was entertained, and best of all, my mind was engaged as I tried to figure out who could have committed the crime.  I loved that things kept moving at a good pace and just as the resolution seemed imminent, something else happened.  Nothing was as it seemed.

While this novel is highly entertaining and fast-paced, there are several grisly scenes that may upset some readers.  One woman is kidnapped and held hostage, but she is severely injured while she is held captive.  There are some very upsetting things that happen to her, and a subsequent victim, that are uncomfortable.  I know many times when I was reading a description of the torture, I had to clench my hands and take a minute to settle myself.  I was especially unnerved by another situation in which a young boy pulls a finger off the corpse and tries to shove it into another student’s mouth.  While these things may happen in real life scenarios, it is still difficult to read some of it.  In addition, there are a couple of people who are mentally unstable, and it is difficult reading some of the things they say and do.  For those who are easily unnerved, this book may not be for them.

Overall, if a reader is interested in a fast-paced, murder-mystery and can tolerate some psychological and physical torture, this is a good read.

Review copy provided by Penguin Publishers.

Genre: Suspense

Publisher: Tyndale

Publication Date: August 2009

Reviewed by Josh Olds

A coded email. A mysterious phone call. A sinister plot. A powerful cult. James Pence wastes no time throwing the reader into an intense and fast-paced story of redemption and hope. Thomas Kent had lost it all—all that really mattered anyway. His own family had been killed and he had been powerless to stop it. He had little in life to live for until one phone message changed his life. Save…the…children.

Thomas embarks on a mission that will pit him against a powerful cult whose sins are threatened to be unveiled by the children he must now protect. And there’s no choosing not to protect the children. A trained killer is already beating down the door of his cabin.

He can’t trust anybody, only God, but he and God haven’t been on speaking terms since the accident that stole his family away. Now he’s going to have to put his life back together while on the run, and in the end, Thomas must rely on the God who seemed to forsake him.

A powerful story of hope, Blind Sight takes what could have sounded ridiculous or cliché—a cult attempting to take over the world and killing those who stand in its way—and makes it sound all too plausible. From Thomas’s redemption from his broken past, to the new life brought from escaping the cult, the action rarely lets up, resulting in a great and heartfelt story.

Perhaps even more powerful is the true story connected with this fictional novel. On March 1, 2008, armed men broke into Terry Caffey’s home and killed his wife and two young sons. Terry was shot and left for dead, as the men set fire to the house. Terry’s only surviving family member, his daughter, would later be implicated in the crime. In one night, Terry had lost his entire family.

Six weeks later, as Terry stood looking at the remains of his house and thinking about the loss of his family, he noticed a scrap of paper on a nearby tree. That scrap of paper happened to be a page of Blind Sight. The page that survived recounted Thomas’s struggle with God as he too had lost his family. That single portion of a page, the lone remnant from a destroyed home, was enough for Terry to look through his pain. Terry now travels the country giving his testimony, carrying that scrap of paper with him. His story is recounted in a non-fiction title, Terror by Night.

Whether in real life or in story, this novel is a powerful testament to the sovereignty and tender mercies of God.

Review copy provided by Tyndale House Publishers.

Genre: Suspense

Publisher: Bethany House

Publication Date: July 2008

Reviewed by Tim George

Tyler Perkins has been married five years, but with his wife less than a year total, fought in both Afghanistan and Iraq, and returned home with a survivor’s guilt that is eating away at both his marriage and his life. Now a postcard from an old friend beckons him to return to his roots in Wyoming at a place called Wind River. Encouraged by his desperate wife, Tyler drives across country to fulfill a promise he made as a boy to the old man who taught him about fly fishing, the mountains, and life.

At first glance, Wind River is a gentle buddy story. It is the story of one man (Soren) who at 86 knows this is his last chance to visit the high country he has photographed and mapped for years and a boy become a man (Tyler) who in some ways wishes he had never left. If you don’t care for the rugged back country, tales of rogue grizzlies, and laying on your back with nothing but the stars for a nightlight some of the chapters may grow a bit tedious. Or perhaps it would do you well to slow down for a moment and see things through Soren’s and Tyler’s eyes. If you take the time you will discover two men whose secrets and wounds run deeper than the clear lake about to be named after the old man.

Don’t let the pace or setting fool you though. Tyler has returned from war with guilt not only for what he has done, but for what others have done for him. And just when you think this story is all about Tyler finding some kind of resolution, you discover it is the old man who has ulterior motives for returning to the mountains he so loves. Tom Morrisey’s life as a world class rock climber, cave diver, and all-around adventurer shines through in this gentle yet powerful story of self-discovery and forgiveness. So set the world aside for a few hours and join Tyler and Soren at a place called Wind River.

Genre: Suspense

Publisher: Thomas Nelson

Publication Date: January 2010

Reviewed by Jake Chism

Janeal Mikkado has lived her life among her Gypsy family and friends, but has always longed for a way out. One fateful day an answer to her dilemma arrives in the form of a mysterious man named Salazar Sanso. It seems Janeal’s father is working with the DEA to bring down Salazar, and if Janeal will do just one favor Sanso promises not to take her father’s life. He also offers Janeal the opportunity to leave once and for all to chase her dreams. Janeal seizes the opportunity, but things go horribly wrong and a fire destroys the Gypsy community and everyone she loves.

Fifteen years later, Janeal has made quite a life for herself, but nevertheless feels empty and broken because of her past. Out of the blue she discovers that her two best friends survived the fire and have recently reconnected. She fears they will discover the truth behind what happened that day and Janeal’s connection to it all. To make matters worse, Sanso once again has her in his crosshairs and will do anything to get her, even if it means destroying the lives of her friends. Now Janeal enters into a deadly game where the past and truth come face to face and her life hangs in the balance.

Ted Dekker and Erin Healy once again display their collaborative prowess and even outdo their previous novel, Kiss, in the process. Going into this story I honestly wasn’t expecting much.  For some reason the premise didn’t grab my attention, but it only took a few chapters to discover how wrong I was. The plot is masterfully executed, giving us just the right amount of suspense at the right times to keep the narrative flowing along. As in Kiss, we are treated to another strong female lead in Janeal Mikkado.  Her journey is a captivating one, often times dizzying and unsettling, but always engrossing as we delve into her hurts and secrets.

In true Dekker fashion we are treated to a nice little twist that will no doubt drive some readers crazy. Nevertheless, I found this plot device worked nicely with the overall theme that is interwoven throughout. At its heart, this is a story about the darkness and light that abides in us all and the battle that rages within. I’m excited about what this writing team has accomplished and I’m especially looking forward to Erin Healy’s upcoming solo debut, Never Let You Go.