Someone I Used to Know by David J. Bell

Release Date: July 7, 2015
Publisher: NAL/Penguin
Author Website: http://www.davidbellnovels.com

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars.

Synopsis:
Nick Hansen's live was never the same after the loss of his college sweetheart in a terrible accident on campus. His only marriage fell apart, his connection to his step-son was lost and the only companion who withstood him was his dog. All this filled his time until the day he saw a young woman in the grocery store who was a carbon copy of his lost love. When he moved to talk to her, she bolted from the store and left him with a thousand different questions.

When the police arrived on his doorstep the following morning, Nick realized he was now in the middle of something far bigger than he ever imagined. As he followed his own leads, more pieces to the puzzle showed Nick that he may not have known the people he loved as well as he first thought. New questions about events in the past sent him into situations that threatened his mind and body. Can he discover who the mysterious woman in the grocery was before it's too late? Will he be able to free his name and reputation from the suspicions?


Review:
A good friend of mine introduced me to the author's work a year or so before NetGalley offered this title for reading and reviewing. Once I read the notice that this book was open for reviews, I immediately requested a copy. I honestly didn't know what to expect as the story unfolded with the main character, Nick Hansen, walking through his local grocery store after work. A regular, average person living a fairly boring life, Nick knew his day would end with a few brews and some quality time with his dog. That plan flew out the window when he noticed a young woman who was the spitting image of his college sweetheart. Now, that wouldn't be such a shock to the system except for the fact that his old college love had been dead for two decades.

Right away Nick's past came alive, impacting the present day in such a way that everything he experienced became a character itself. The ghost of his college love made her presence known in nearly every interaction that Nick had with someone else. Whether by name or recollection, she became central to the story in almost a "Six Degrees of Bacon" kind of way. Nick's attachment and reluctance to move on played major roles in his relationships. Most of the characters reacted as I expected they would, but a few of them felt a little flat. I'm not sure if I expected too much of them or if they were written that way on purpose. Possibly a bit of both.

Alongside the baggage Nick brought to the table, this book explored the depths of young love, its impact on the lives it touched, and how the effects last well past the expiration of the relationship. The way Nick's mind locked certain memories into place colored how he viewed the world and people around him. His outlook shifted into a black or white type of thinking. There was right and wrong, no matter what the circumstances that surrounded the choices. With such a narrowed world view, the new revelations shook his world and his confidence. Dark secrets revealed themselves and showcased how the consequences of a single action cascades over everyone tied to those involved. Those consequences came full circle as the book directed the reader through its maze of right or wrong choices.

Overall, I thought the book was really engaging from the first chapter. Once I started reading, I wanted to know more with the end of each chapter. Fewer principal characters made this story tight and kept it on course. For a majority of the book, I had an uneasy feeling that something major was hiding from view. It's similar to watching scary movies late at night with no lights on while you're alone. You just know someone's lingering in the shadows, but you can't quite make them out. There was a point when I began to suspect that I knew what was going to happen. Some of the theories I had in mind presented themselves, but I couldn't predict everything in the end. If you like a book full of twists and turns or want something to keep you guessing until that last paragraph, take a chance on this book!

Someone I Used to Know by David J. Bell is currently available in various forms at many online retailers and local bookstores. Copies can be purchased in paperback, audio-book and digital (Kindle) formats. The following link provided below brings up the book's page at Amazon.
Someone I Used to Know by David J. Bell

Go Down Hard by Craig Faustus Buck

Release Date: May 5, 2015
Publisher: Brash Books
Author Website: http://CraigFaustusBuck.com

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars.

Synopsis:
Nob Brown left his police job for the insecurity of freelance writing, found himself on the wrong end of a bad divorce, and came to the realization that his best friend/sometimes lover, Gloria Lopes, had her own definition of monogamy. In order to cheer him up, she lets him borrow the police file covering the homicide of Lana Strain, the smokey-voiced lead singer of Nob's teenage dreams. He accepted the file and began following leads in order to wring a story or two out of the anniversary and pay off his ex-wife.

What began as routine examination of the facts led deeper than anyone, including Nob, expected. Shady underworld characters, reformed rockers and more did their best to lead Nob astray from the truth. As he pushed to follow the trail, Nob found the truth was more disturbing than anything he could imagine. Could he figure out who really killed Lana? Will it cost him everything in the process?

Review:
Once again, late night cruising of NetGalley's genre tabs lead me to find this book among the Mystery & Thriller section. Not a book with a 'G' rating, this book included several adult situations, adult language and plenty of violence. Somehow everything clicked, creating an action-packed thrill ride on the darker side of Los Angeles and surrounding areas. I think part of the reason the story worked so well was based on the fact that the book was told by Nob in a first person point-of-view. This gave a front row seat to all of his thoughts, emotions and inner conflicts as the story unfolded.

So many eccentric characters filled out the cast and each had a corner market on a particular kind of crazy. Nob Brown first appeared as the typical down-on-his-luck guy who spent his days fighting to make ends meet by writing tabloid articles and running from the clutches of his best friend, a hard-as-nails detective with an overactive libido. Throw in several characters who partied like the rock stars they were decades earlier, and you've got a heady mix of ego, paranoia and self-loathing that made it difficult to uncover the truth about the victim, Lana Strain. Even her family members featured a certain level of anxiety. Both of her daughters were polar opposites. One was obsessed with maintaining her mother's image in a very distinct and different way. The other daughter chose to ignore the past and focused on the present. While Lana portrayed herself as a rock-n-roll goddess with a gritty voice and body to match, her father displayed an Ivy league lifestyle, complete with golf games and civil service to boost his credibility in the society pages.

The opening chapter left no doubt that this book was an in-your-face type of novel. Those first pages laid the foundation of Nob's inner circle and launched the struggling writer's investigation. Even with so many different characters to juggle, the structure of the book allowed the author to reveal the various twists and secrets at a steady pace and without losing my attention. Because the story was set in California, the author used the various landmarks in and around Los Angeles and its weather to both enhance the story and create situations that often showed Nob in a world of trouble.

Overall, this story was a wild ride from beginning to end. From ballsy characters to action-packed scenes, there seemed to be something for everyone in the novel. I found it entertaining because of the outlandish nature of the characters and the heartbreaking idea that someone could hurt their family so much that death was the only option. The murder of Lana Strain wasn't the only crime on tap to solve. As Nob delved further into his investigation, several more crimes floated to the top of the pile. Each had their time in the spotlight, but the focus remained on Lana. While there were the usual twists scattered throughout the novel, I felt happy when I didn't guess everything that was going to happen. If you like brash, in-your-face characters or multi-level mysteries, then I definitely recommend this book for your reading list.

Go Down Hard by Craig Faustus Buck is currently available at various online retailers in either paperback or digital (Kindle) formats. Click the link below to order from the book's page at Amazon.
Go Down Hard by Craig Faustus Buck

Ask the Dark by Henry Turner

Release Date: April 7, 2015
Publisher: Clarion Books
Author Website:  http://www.askthedark.com/

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars.

Synopsis:
In his short time on earth, Billy Zeets did everything to get into trouble. Whether it was egging cars, stealing things from houses in his neighborhood or being an all-around menace, everyone knew he was no good. After back to back traumatic events shifted everything in his world, Billy knew it was time to change. He had responsibilities no fourteen year-old kid should, and he'd be damned if he didn't try to make ends meet.

Since many of the adults in town had long given up on him, Billy was able to slink around, noticing things that others might not. He noticed boys his age going missing, a strange car prowling around the neighborhood, and no one wanted to hear it unless he had proof. When the opportunity came to get that necessary proof and take care of his responsibilities, Billy didn't waste time in thinking things over because the decision was made for him. Can he escape the fate of the other boys? Can he do so and keep the vow he made so long ago?

Review:
This was one of those late night finds while searching through the Mystery genre at NetGalley. From the description and look of the cover, I figured it was going to be something akin to a haunted house story with a twist. What I found instead was a first person point-of-view account of one teen's survival against every parent's nightmare. The story took place in a rural town where jobs were hard to come by, but neighbors knew everyone and their business. Billy and his family were one of many that fell on hard times and faced some hard decisions after their lives took some dramatic turns.

Billy was a fourteen year-old boy who was left to raise himself after their family suffered a devastating loss and his father was involved in an accident. He shared the burden with his sister, Lezzie, in the beginning. However, she soon found a way out, leaving Billy to find a way to save the family home. As Billy scours the town for odd jobs to raise whatever money he can, he introduced several types of characters to the reader. The junker who prowled the alleyways for anything to sell for a buck, the drugstore delivery driver with a bum foot that let Billy help, the crazy old lady who rarely answered her door and wore tin foil under her clothes - they all had a role in the town. Even the kids knew their place in the town, so it was common for fights to break out among the boys. All the boys around Billy's age came under a spotlight the moment that two local boys went missing and one turned up in a creek.

The book's pacing and dialogue was determined by Billy's dictation. The words on the page became a transcript of what he was speaking, something reinforced by him in the last chapter. At times I had trouble understanding what Billy tried to say because a lot of the words featured the local 'twang' that he used. The story started slow, but ramped up as decision-making was taken from him. Like in many mystery books, certain elements of surprise and distraction appeared in their appropriate places. Though some were predictable, I did like that Billy's personality and stubbornness created a few unexpected surprises during the peak of the action.

To be honest, this book wasn't exactly what I expected to read. Now that I've finished the book, I don't think the story could've been told any other way than through Billy's experiences. He spoke with a child's honesty about everything, contrasting sharply with the adults in the town who held tightly onto their secrets. One more positive point to add to the book's column was the implied violence on the missing boys at the hand's of the suspect. Billy told how the boys looked before they went missing, and later related some of the injuries found on their bodies. While Billy mentioned all that he endured, the entirety of the evil done to them wasn't put into words. Overall, this book was a fairly quick read with a good amount of entertainment to keep me turning the pages. I'm curious to see if anything else happens to Billy in the coming years as the ending left a few doors open. Definitely put this on your reading list if you like a book which uses your imagination as a tool or simply need something creepy to fill those late night hours before dawn arrives.

Ask the Dark by Henry Turner is currently available at several online retailers. It can be purchased in either hardcover, audio-book or Kindle (digital) editions. The link below provides the book's Amazon page.
Ask the Dark by Henry Turner

Dark Prayer by Natasha Mostert

Release Date: October 16, 2014
Publisher: Portable Magic, Ltd.
Author Website: http://www.natashamostert.com/

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars.

Synopsis:
Eloise Blake knew someone was after her, but couldn't explain the weird things happening to her. She saw phantom figures, heard whispered conversations that made no sense to her and saw rows upon rows of numbers again and again. Whatever meaning they hold, she needed answers without the help of man who claimed to know her as someone else.

Jack Simonetti was your average trust-fund baby, a guy who played hard and loose with his father's money, until he was caught on camera for the umpteenth time. As punishment he must travel to England and help his father's friend find someone. Along the way he discovered people are sometimes the cruelest to those they profess to love.

Review:
Finding this in the Mystery & Thriller section at NetGalley, I wondered how a young rich playboy could be a good detective if he had no such skills. I mean, he didn't do much at all except make his father angry at his antics. How did that translate into being a super sleuth and finding the lost person? Not to mention the fact I was intrigued by Eloise's plight. The poor woman felt like she was going crazy from all of the weird things happening. These separate lines coming together was something I needed to read for myself.

Much of the book focused on the two characters mentioned above. In a way both of them were trying to find their true selves, but Eloise's condition worsened to the point that it became the primary focus. Several secondary characters moved the story forward and cemented their places in the action as their skill set became needed. I liked the fact that each character remained independent of one another despite sharing some similarities. Case in point, Jack's father and a group of friends began a secret society which they talk about in the first few chapters of the book. Every member of this society had his or her own specific field of study and yet, some of the areas overlapped. To keep the members from becoming muddled, each of them have distinct characteristics such as physical singularities, mannerisms or merely the way they pronounce their words. All of these things made it easy to believe that they could have been real people in a present day situation - though that would be a terrible reality for a person if it were true.

Once the story began, the pace was steady and consistent. There was a sense of urgency and need lying barely below the surface and initiated a lot of the character's actions. Of course, the lingering feeling that someone was out to stop Jack and Eloise from discovering the truth helped as well. I thought it interesting how Jack's initial feelings about Eloise shifted from something akin to annoyance into a sense of protection as he delved deeper into the reason behind her current state of mind. As everything unraveled and revealed who all had ownership in the horrible deed, I knew a few of the answers that the duo would find, but not everything. There was a factor that I didn't see coming until it was right in front of me. That was a pretty pleasant surprise, but I was also repulsed that the deed was even conceived in the first place. No, I won't be more specific. This is a spoiler-free zone!

Overall, I really liked this book. There were several different elements that came together and created an interesting and intelligent story that wasn't weighed down by lots of scientific terms that I couldn't understand. The author inserted the necessary information and explained the complicated matters through her characters in such a way that I thought it was simply a part of a conversation or a bit of book left open to the right page. The story had a bit of everything to take me on a thrill ride and a few surprises that left me happy at the end. From action sequences to sinister motives, there's a lot of ground for the book to cover, but it does it well. If you're looking for a book with a twisted mind, devious friends and soul-shattering revelations, then pick this book up!

Dark Prayer by Natasha Mostert is currently available for purchase at many online retailers in hardcover, paperback or digital (Kindle) editions. The following is a link for the book's Amazon page.
Dark Prayer by Natasha Mostert

The Great Zoo of China by Matthew Reilly

Release Date: January 27, 2015
Publisher: Gallery Books
Author Website:  http://www.matthewreilly.com

Rating: 4 out 5 stars.

Synopsis:
For over forty years, the Chinese government kept a secret while building what would be the rival of any great tourist attraction in the world. With their sights set high, the preeminent zoo officials invited journalists to view the zoo complex ahead of its grand opening. Dr. Cassandra Cameron was among those invited, due in part to her expertise in reptiles. She and the others were astounded the moment the true Great Zoo of China was revealed.

All too soon the excitement shifted to terror as the long-forgotten animals in the zoo launched their own type of welcoming party for the group. Secrets and hidden agendas pushed the limits of cooperation between CJ's group and the zoo staff and resulted in more pain and failed plans. Using all her wits and wisdom, she survived the first brushes with death at the animals' hands, but can she get out of the zoo alive? Will the animals find a way to free themselves and unleash their power upon the entire world before she can find a way to stop them?

Review:
Every so often I look through the titles offered at NetGalley and find something a little out of my comfort zone that still intrigued me. When I stumbled upon this book, I figured it would have some action mixed with a surprise or two inside the covers. Right from the first page, the author let loose a big secret. The zoo which China based its hopes to surpass the cultural impact of the US was no ordinary zoo at all. At the beginning of the novel, zoo officials covered up a disturbing incident. This opened the door for the author to introduce one of the strong lead characters, Dr. Cassandra Jane Cameron, commonly known as CJ. Her arrival on behalf of the National Geographic magazine coincided with another tour group of VIPs. Midway through her own tour, all heck broke loose as the animals attempted to take over the zoo.

As an expert on reptiles, CJ was both excited by the prospect of a newly discovered animal to research, but hesitant with so many unknown variables. She and her brother, Hamish, joined another journalist as well as the US Ambassador to the zoo for a informative tour of the zoo. The group arrived at the zoo in style where they met the zoo officials and other scientists. They were given the specifics of how the zoo came to be built and the basics behind the revival of a long-forgotten animal. It was clear from the beginning who had ulterior motives and hidden agendas, but the way the devious characters maneuvered people to do their bidding was subtle and effective. It all added up to a war between two sides, but not the sides you'd expect. These discovered animals were intelligent, fast and ruthless with plan of attack years in the making. Once put into action, the attack tested both animal and human alike.

Many of the characters seemed realistic, especially in the face of such overwhelming odds (or animals the size of jetliners). Some were resourceful and relied on their expertise or specialized training to help them through the various scenarios that they encountered. Others did little more than cower in the corner or follow the lead of the stronger characters. Much of the action really took off once CJ's group began the second leg of their tour. As I mentioned before, the animals were both intelligent and ruthless. Therefore, there weren't a lot of scenes where CJ and those with her could catch their breath. Staying too long in one place was often a very, very bad thing. One event after another kept the story moving forward until the end. The maps and diagrams included in the book helped me to keep track of what was happening and why it mattered.

Overall, I liked this book more than I thought for a couple of reasons. I was happy to see a strong female lead character that relied on her brains and training more than her being a woman. There was a scene toward the beginning of the book where the guests of the tour were given gift bags by the zoo staff. Each bag contained items that the zoo thought would be appropriate in a stereotypical fashion - blue bags with masculine-themed items for the men, pink bags with make-up and other such items for the women. CJ's reaction mirrored mine as I continued to read. The other reason I liked this book was due to the plausibility of something of its kind actually happening. A few months after this edition of the book was published, there was a discovery made in China of several dinosaur eggs. Could life imitate art in their building an actual Great Zoo of China? Time will tell. With believable characters, surprising discoveries and tons of action to keep your pulse racing, this book should be on your TBR list.

The Great Zoo of China by Matthew Reilly is currently available at various online retailers and local bookstores. It can be purchased in either hardcover or Kindle (digital) formats. The following is a link to the book's page at Amazon.
The Great Zoo of China by Matthew Reilly

The Bullet: A Novel by Mary Louise Kelly

Release Date: March 17, 2015
Publisher: Gallery Books
Author Website:  http://www.marylouisekellybooks.com

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars.

Synopsis:
Caroline Cashion lived a normal life, taught French literature at Georgetown University, and went home often to see her parents and older brothers. They had the perfect life. That was before a constant, throbbing pain her wrist sent Caroline to the doctor. Tests discovered that she had a bullet buried in the tissue of her neck. With no memory as to how it got there, she pressed her family for information and stumbled on a dark secret buried for over thirty years.

Once the truth was told, she traveled to Atlanta to find answers. Everywhere she went, she was met with more questions than answers. Slowly truths began crawling from the past and laid to waste everything Caroline had known to be her life truth. The more she searched, the more risk she posed to a killer that didn't like loose ends. Will she be able to get what she needed for closure in her life? Will the events of the past pose too much of a threat for the present and future?

Review:
I saw this book as I looked through the offerings at NetGalley and immediately requested it. The synopsis sounded intriguing and a little different. I mean, how would you deal with a surprise such as finding a bullet in your neck after thirty-some years? I was about fifty pages into the story when I realized something seemed familiar with the tone and style of writing. It took me a minute longer than it should to remember that I read the author's debut novel, Anonymous Sources, during 2013. I liked that one a lot and hoped this current offering would make me feel the same way. Not long into the book, I was hooked by the secrets and a few of the characters themselves.

Caroline Cashion told her story through first person point-of-view. We, the readers, were privy to her thoughts, reasoning, and inner emotional battles as she went on this adventure to figure out what happened to her as a child. Along the way some key supporters revealed themselves and reaffirmed their relationship to her in the midst of the chaos. Her brothers, Tony and Martin, made me tear up when they each had a chance to show or tell Caroline how much she meant to them after a traumatic revelation nearly tore the family apart. It was refreshing to see that sometimes love and the word 'family' didn't have one meaning. Many of the secondary characters increased the believability of the story. Sometimes real people made really bad or really dumb decisions. These characters did the same thing. There were some actions that even I had a hard time rationalizing, but they worked to push the story forward and created a sense of drama on top of everything else.

The book started a little slow, like a gently rising amusement park ride. It took a little while to get you to the top of the ride before everything came crashing down around you, only to speed back up again. That's exactly how this novel operated. In the beginning all the foundation knowledge was presented as well as a likely problem that wouldn't go away. A short time later that problem tipped the story into an unknown piece of land that the characters must negotiate in order to resolve issues or serious consequences follow. Then the earth-shattering bit of information fell into their laps. Our ride took its first nosedive, picking up momentum and rising to another peak within seconds. Poor Caroline never really had much to think about everything she discovered or to deal with the sudden introduction and withdrawal of people in her life. That also came across very clearly in the writing.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book. There was a surprise visit partway through from a familiar face in the author's previous book. Not a huge difference maker in this particular story, but it was nice to see her come around again. Towards the end of the book, I thought I had a sense of how the story was going to tie everything together and Caroline was going to have a life - one way or another. But I did not see the very end coming. What I thought was the end would have tied everything up with a nice bow and sent the characters on with their lives. The author chose to add one more thrill ride at the reader at the last possible second. I have to admit, that last swerve definitely added more layers to the story. So many unanswered questions now. I wonder if the author planned to revisit Caroline at some point. Will the surprise visitor help to make things okay? So many questions!  For readers of mystery and suspense or for those who love face-paced books with many layers to discover, put this book on your TBR pile and pick up a copy today!

The Bullet: A Novel by Mary Louise Kelly is currently available at many online retailers and local bookstores. It can be found in a variety of formats including hardcover, paperback, audio-book and digital (Kindle, MP3, etc.). Below is a link to the Amazon page for the book.
The Bullet: A Novel by Mary Louise Kelly

Shadow Ritual (Antoine Marcas #2) by Eric Giacometti, Jacques Ravenne

Release Date: March 25, 2015
Publisher: Le French Book
Translator: Anne Trager
Series: Antoine Marcas series, Book 2

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars.

Synopsis:
After giving a presentation at a lodge in Rome, Antoine Marcas accepted his friend's invitation to attend an elite-rich, celebrity-filled party at the Farnese Palace. With the gala in full swing, a murder took place upstairs in a manner few would recognize. Thousands of miles away in a high-tech lab, a similar murder occurred and the contents of the man's research stolen. Antoine Marcas was drawn into the mix by sheer luck of being present at the gala and being a detective in his native country, France.

Back on his home turf, Antoine was assigned to figure out who was behind the killings alongside Special Agent Jade Zewinski, a battle-hardened agent determined to avenge one of the deaths. Leads, more murders and ancient clues buried in long-forgotten manuscripts sent both of them on a hunt that collided paths with an underground society hell-bent on bringing about racial purity. What they discovered put them directly in the line of fire.

Review:
Another good find from NetGalley, this book piqued my interest from its synopsis. I'm a sucker for symbols, mysteries and adventure. This book had all of that and more. There were quite a few twists and turns that I didn't expect and some that I knew were coming from having read other similar stories in the past.  However, this book did a good job of stepping down other avenues while retelling familiar tales. It was refreshing to have another element added to the usual mystery or suspense type novel. There was a definite French and international flavor to the novel, due in large part to the authors, as well as many layers and conspiracies which played upon myths or legends within several regions of France.

Much of the story followed Antoine Marcas, a French detective and Freemason, who found himself saddled with a partner who didn't like his fraternal order much. Jade Zewinski had experienced a lot in her young life and it all began with some bitter dealings with Freemason. This particular conflict gave way to some good dialogue as well as opened doors for further information to be put into the novel without weighing the conversation or reader down. Other characters filled the ranks on both sides of the chase, each one a little more disturbed/sane than the next. I liked the fact that the book had both a male and a female character that could not only take the lead but seemed strong, resilient even without the other present. In truth there were a couple of characters on the "bad" side that made me feel the same way. With their deep-rooted likes or dislikes, many of the characters seemed as real as you or I.

There were plenty of action scenes within the novel. While much of the book took place in modern or present day places and time, a few important scenes occurred in the past to set the stage for the book as a whole. With so much information to impart to the reader, the authors did a great job of sliding it into conversation or within manuscripts that the characters read on their own. The combination of the usual thoughts and feelings about one secret society versus another also added a new dimension to the novel. I really liked how they took what has become standard in regards to Freemason theology and put a new twist on their myths and legends. Though I could guess where the story led a few times, I was pleasantly surprised more often than not by the events that took place in the book.

Overall, this book wasn't a run-of-the-mill type of mystery novel that centered around symbols and myths. The authors took information that had been used many times before and displayed it in such a way that made it seem fresh and new. I did enjoy the fast-paced excitement of the chase as well as the slow unearthing of information as a few characters dug through ancient archives. While the book does lean toward French audiences, anyone can enjoy the hunt and the terror the authors put into the pages. If you're a lover of ancient myths and secret societies or simply enjoy a good mystery surrounded by the past, this book should be on your TBR pile!

Shadow Ritual (Antoine Marcas #2) by Eric Giacometti and Jacques Ravenne is currently available at many online retailers. It can be purchased in hardcover, paperback or Kindle (digital) formats. The link below will take you to the book's Amazon page.
Shadow Ritual (Antoine Marcas #2) by Eric Giacometti and Jacques Ravenne

Revival: A Novel by Stephen King

Release Date: November 11, 2014
Publisher: Scribner
Author Website: www.stephenking.com

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars.

Synopsis:
Jamie Morton lived an uneventful childhood in a small, rural town in Maine until the moment his path crossed that of Charles Jacobs, a man whose faith was tested and his hobby turned into obsession. A cruel twist of fate launched them both down a dark path for many years until they reunited again in Tulsa. This time Jamie had a growing drug addiction and Charles had an electrical addiction. Little by little the secrets Charles harbored concerning his secret electricity trickled into Jamie's world, distorting and discoloring everything around him.

Years later after Charles led a revival show around the country and claimed to cure millions, Jamie realized there was something wrong with those miracle cures. The aftereffects became too much for many, putting fear into Jamie's own heart that he might be next. His devil's bargain with Charles came to bite him in the end as Charles needed Jamie for one last revival - one to know the secrets of the afterlife.

Review:
Given this book as a gift, I had to wait a little while to begin reading. Once I was able to crack it open, I knew that I would take every opportunity to delve into whatever world the author created in the pages. At first the world looked very much like the one in which you and I are currently wasting time. True to form the author threw in a twist or two, and the world was somehow completely different. He has a way of making me believe that what happened in the book took place in a parallel universe. Though many of the same events took place in the book as in the real world, there's always an undercurrent of something strange or otherworldly running through the world of whichever book I read.

From the very beginning the main character, Jamie Morton, divulged to the reader that the events he wrote about were his truth as he experienced them. The book became a biography of sorts for the Morton family, but particularly for the youngest son, Jamie. Jamie chronicled his life from early childhood until late adulthood, including several traumatic events that were punctuated by visits from what he called 'his fifth business', otherwise known as an agent of change in the form of Charles Jacobs. Each time that their paths crossed, something drastic happened to both of their lives. In the first third of the book, King used realistic situations in which to test the characters. For me this made the characters and their reactions genuine and real, especially in their reactions. I could understand how some of the traumatic events caused a few of the characters to self destruct, even though I'd never imagined one to go to the lengths he did in order to achieve his ultimate goal.

The fact that a large portion of the book dealt with circumstances and outcomes that very well could happen lulled me into a state of believing that the "Big Bad" in this book was going to be humankind itself. Oh, was I wrong. While humans and their poor decision making did play their parts as bad guys throughout the book, it was at the very end when the other shoe dropped and the real evil revealed itself. Not going to ruin the book for others, but I didn't really expect that type of ending after such an easy introduction into Jamie's world and steady descent into his personal version of Dante's Inferno. Once the tide began to turn against him, one thing after another had Jamie crawling back into Charles's clutches. Even when it was all said and done, there was a lasting hold that they had on each other which affected all those around them as well. No one was safe from the bad luck that followed either of the two characters.

All in all, I enjoyed the book from beginning to end. I was shocked by some parts because the depths the author visited to present the downfall of the characters was more than I expected at times. Just when I dared to hope that I'd seen the lowest Jamie or Charles could go, the next chapter brought something else to the table. I was easily sucked into the book by the second chapter. The grip didn't loosen until the last few moments of the final chapter. By the time I realized that some of the events were to fantastic to really happen, the trap had already sprung. I had to believe that it could happen in order for Jamie and his loved ones to survive. If you're a fan of Stephen King who relishes his depravity or simply a lover of books that twist and shape you with each cliff-hanger, then this is the book you should pick up next.

Revival: A Novel by Stephen King is currently available in many retailers, both online and stores where books are sold. It can be purchased in several formats including hardcover, paperback, audio-book and digital (Kindle). The following link is to the book's page at Amazon.
Revival: A Novel by Stephen King

What Jennifer Saw by Hal Schweig

Release Date: November 7, 2013
Publisher: Black Rose Writing
Author Website: http://www.halschweig.com/

Rating: 3 out of 5 stars.

Synopsis:
In a time when old-fashioned families seemed to be dying out, the Harris family was a jewel of Monroeville. Jim led by example, being an honest, hard-working father while Mary Beth took care of the home and children, deferring to her husband in the event of major decisions. The children were well-behaved and very well-mannered, something out of place in many cities throughout America, but praised by the older residents of Monroeville.

The family and the community's sense of safety shattered the night Jim Harris was murdered in his home. Clues and secrets twisted the investigation every which way, but most of all, it weighed heavily on Jennifer, the only daughter of Jim and Mary Beth. Buried deep within a trauma psyche, the answer to who killed her beloved father stayed locked as she descended into madness. As her doctors sought to recover the information and help the girl repair her broken mind, the killer lurking in the shadows wanted to make sure she never revealed what she knew. Can Jennifer break through the layers protecting her fragile mind before it's too late? Will the killer continue to destroy Monroeville one person at a time?

Review:
I saw the book's blurb while looking through the offerings at NetGalley and decided to give it a try due to the dark, mysterious scenario it presented. It took a little while to settle into the rhythm of the book and to figure out which time period it took place. The setting wasn't present day but it was after the 1950s because of the various references to WWII and the clashing of cultures within the United States. I went back and reread the beginning of the book to see if I missed a sentence where it had been pointed out, but didn't find an exact time frame. That left me somewhat puzzled until I was more than halfway through the book when the stereotypes, dialogue and the fact that psychologists were in the beginning stages of understanding multiple personality disorder (MPD).

As with many books, there were a number of characters that made up the whole of the book. The spotlight was split between Jennifer, the poor daughter who found her father; Kay, an ambitious reporter stuck in a field dominated by men; Lt. Braun, a man haunted by his past which collides with the present during the investigation; and Dr. Tim Adler, once renowned child psychologist who abruptly quit when his own daughter lost her life. Each of these and the secondary characters were well-described and had their own distinct personalities and reactions to the world around them. They certainly didn't blend with on another or lose the reader in the dialogue or action.

The book began with a portrait of the Harris family as the patriarch came home from work and greeted the others who had waited for his arrival before eating dinner. When the murder occurred a short time later, its impact on the family and community appeared quickly. An undercurrent of gossip flowed through the people of Monroeville as the investigation took months to reach its conclusion. For me the book began at a steady, but slow pace. It began to build in intensity and speed after the murder, but I found some scenes slowed the pace akin tapping the brakes on one's car. With the action, mystery and even some romance, a little something for everyone was available between the cover pages. Be advised that graphic violence and sexual scenes were including within the book. While they did serve to advance the plot at times, I thought some of the others were too over-the-top to match the tone of the book as I found it.

All in all, I felt the story was interesting and pretty good. There was a solid foundation to the story, but I felt it went away from the heart of the novel. The build-up to the reveal of the killer focused on a couple of suspects, one a little more obvious than the others. Before the end I guessed what happened, but I still enjoyed the ride and being proved right. If you're looking for a book that's one part dark, one part mystery or simply something a little different, this book is one you should consider.

What Jennifer Saw by Hal Schweig is currently available at many online retailers as well as the publisher's website ( http://www.blackrosewriting.com/ ). It can be purchased in either paperback or Kindle format. The link below will open the book's page at Amazon.
What Jennifer Saw by Hal Schweig

Mr. Mercedes (Bill Hodges Trilogy #1) by Stephen King

Release Date: January 6, 2015
Publisher: Gallery Books
Series: Bill Hodges Trilogy, Book 1
Author Website: http://www.stephenking.com

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars.

Synopsis:
Before his retirement, Detective Bill Hodges and his partner caught the case of a lifetime. Early one morning someone decided it would be an awesome idea to drive a Mercedes through the foggy streets and into a crowd of people waiting for a job fair. As difficult as investigating such a case was, there was little evidence to lead them to the person responsible. Thus, the case remained open and active when Bill was handed his retirement award.

It wasn't until a special message arrived in the mail months after the party that Bill woke from the afternoon tv-induced coma. The person responsible for the live lost at the job fair wanted to clear his conscience to Bill, but the message also hinted that more tragedy might be in store for the people in Bill's town. That's something he couldn't have on his own conscience. Alongside two unlikely helpers Bill followed the bits of clues left by the killer until they reached the ultimate showdown with thousands of lives in the balance.

Review:
Many of my friends and relatives know of my love for books. Certain authors became my favorite over the years. Stephen King has always been one of them, a constant from an early age. There were only a few books of his that I can't read more than a handful of times. I didn't know what this book was about before it was given to me. Once I read the blurb on the back, I was hooked by a few things. Why would the killer want to mess around with a cop from his past when the killer had gotten away with murder? In reality the killer didn't escape punishment for a small number of murders, but also escaped punishment for a massive trauma to the city through the people injured and the psychological repercussions to the citizens after the event.

I was also intrigued by some of the characters themselves because the monster I needed to fear was an ordinary schmuck that could be anyone around us. They and their reactions carried this story forward without any supernatural interference or otherworldly poking and prodding. Bill Hodges remained old-school throughout the book, preferring to use pen and paper when thinking through the case or following up leads on foot when the need arose. When it came time for him to venture further into the technological world, he called upon the teenager who helped him around the house from time to time. Jerome was able to navigate the cyber world with less effort than Bill as well as help the older guy understand this generation's way of thinking. Then there was Mr. Mercedes himself, both an evil phantom and a regular guy. He was an odd blend of Bill and Jerome in the fact that he was young enough to employ the resources of today well and old enough to know that you have to put some muscle into things if they're going to work as well. In true King form, there were a number of fringe characters who provided necessary information, comedic relief and even became the voice of reason when it all became too much.

The characters weren't solidly within the good or bad guy columns either and this sort of grey area played as much a part in the book's events as the characters did. In a sense that's how people in the world are today. They had moments of goodness that made me want to cheer. Within a page, sometimes less, their actions placed them in the bad column. Whether it was morally or legally ethical, Bill and all the other characters did what needed to be done. Even when it caused further pain or distress, they didn't shy away from plans already put in place. Some of these plans pushed the story forward at a decent pace. As much as I like a lot of King's work, there were some moments that seemed to drag out the action. Thankfully, I didn't find too many of the slower passages and was pretty happy at how rapid the pace became once the ball truly began rolling.

Overall, I really liked this first step into the world of Bill Hodges. Action, a bit of romance and a lot of crazy combined quite well to make a good read. For me, that's a pretty decent recipe that I hope continues throughout the rest of the trilogy. A few doors were kept open a crack toward the end of the book which gave me chills because I had hoped things would settle. Underdogs and morally-ambiguous characters kept me intrigued in this installment. I can't wait to see what they get into during the next book. If you're looking for a thrill ride into the world of crazy with average looks or simply want to enjoy a creepy story without the supernatural flair, take a drive into Mr. Hodges' neighborhood.

Mr. Mercedes (Bill Hodges Trilogy #1) by Stephen King is currently available at many online retailers and local bookstores. It can be purchased in a number of formats, including hardcover, paperback, Kindle (digital) or audio-book. The link provided below leads to the book's Amazon page.
Mr. Mercedes (Bill Hodges Trilogy #1) by Stephen King

  

The Resurrection Maker: A Thriller by Glenn Cooper

Release Date: November 14, 2014
Publisher: Lascaux Media
Author Website: http://www.glenncooperbooks.com

Rating: 3 out 5 stars.

Synopsis:
In his everyday life Arthur Mallory worked at a prestigious company as a chemist, but his passion was searching for treasure - especially the Holy Grail. His father and grandfather held the same passion as well as an extra rib, a gift descending from Thomas Malore, one of many who searched for the Holy Grail in order to protect it. A series of tragic events pushed Arthur to accept the challenge of finding the answers and maybe even the grail itself in order to keep it from the hands of those who would do otherwise.

Following his every move was a mysterious order who wanted the Grail. They occupied stately occupations and possessed a vast network of underlings who could their bidding without question. As they pursued Arthur, they relished each advance he made. Can Arthur thwart this cabal and retrieve the greatest of all treasures before they do? Will he be alive long enough to do so?

Review:
This title was one of three by the author offered through a special offer given to members of NetGalley. I was always a sucker for a good treasure adventure and quickly scooped up all three of them. This particular title dealt with Arthur Mallory and his search for the Holy Grail across Europe. Not only did the author present an exciting tale of adventure fraught with danger, but he humanized the search by using familial ties and emotions through the character of Arthur.

It was easy to root for Arthur because he seemed like the typical, everyman type of character who worked and played hard, but kept his emotions close to the vest on most occasions. Once he was on the hunt, the kid-like glee and excitement drove him further down the line and pushed until he reached the end of the line. There were his friends, The Loons, who met with him often to discuss the Grail and try to solve the puzzles surrounding it. Only one person really didn't fit until the last few chapters. I wasn't sure about her involvement at all, going back and forth on which side she truly stood. I still didn't know for certain and will have doubts. But out of all the characters, I think I liked Arthur's relative, Elizabeth, the best. She was sharp, witty and didn't let anyone or anything hold her back.

Right away the reader was introduced to Arthur and his Grail-seeking passions. From that moment the adventure began. Layer upon layer of intrigue and action moved the story along at a steady clip. What set this story apart from other such books that I've read was the chapters in which the past was explored. Those chapters brought a sense of humanity to the origin stories that people have heard over the ages. Though we really can't know for certain what occurred with those specific people, it added an interesting, enjoyable flavor to the entire book.

Overall, I enjoyed the first title by this author and look forward to the other titles that are on my TBR list. Some might see this book as predictable or run-of-the-mill, but I liked the little things that separated the book from the others. Even as it used many of the well-known clues, the story lingered over little phrases or actions that could've been overlooked. Using these to weave everything together, the author brought forth a nicely entertaining story. For those who love myths and legends from long ago or enjoy a treasure hunt, this book should be on your list to read.

The Resurrection Maker: A Thriller by Glenn Cooper is currently available in either Kindle or paperback versions. It can be found at many online retailers including Barnes & Noble and Amazon. The following link will lead you to its Amazon page.
The Resurrection Maker: A Thriller by Glenn Cooper
 

Essence of Betrayal by Damien L. Malcolm

Release Date: August 24, 2014
Publisher: Damien L. Malcolm

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars.

Synopsis:
When Allison Becker went missing, an entire town searched for her, including Jack Mullens. Handyman by day and secret P.I. by night, Jack found himself in the midst of the search after a late night phone call dropped the case squarely in his lap. It was from that moment that his entire life shifted.

Between conflicting stories, lies and false leads, Jack soon realized that not everything was what it seemed. He followed each lead and often found himself faced with danger. Not something he couldn't handle himself, but when the lives of his loved ones were on the line, Jack must act quickly to solve the case. Will he find Allison Becker or those responsible for her disappearance before it's too late? Will there be anyone he cared about left to greet him when the dust settles?

Review:
In exchange for an honest and fair review, I received a copy of this book from the author. Previously writing only science fiction novels and stories, this book marked the author's debut in the mystery section of fiction. There was a little apprehension as I began reading the book. A few chapters into the book confirmed my feelings that the book was going to be a good one. In fact, there were many events and characters that made the book enjoyable.

The book was written from the point of view of the main character, Jack Mullens. His thoughts and emotions were front and center throughout the novel. Though he was a bit slow at times, it was evident that he truly cared about the individuals in his inner circle. As the story progressed, the cast of characters increased in number, but I was happy to see that they each had their own personality and way of doing things. It's quite easy to lose that with a large number of secondary characters. Between those who had a hand in the main action like Walter and Sara to those who lent a helping hand when it was needed like Mrs. Johnson, there's a character for nearly everyone. I do have to admit that I have a favorite among the fringe characters. There's a cheeky, older lady who wasn't ashamed to announce what she liked in a man. I could almost see Jack blushing during that exchange. It was just one of the many interesting people in Jack's town.

Action and intrigue drove this story from point to point, whether it's following a lead or finding a place to clear his head. Once the first bombshell was dropped, the pace was quickly set. There weren't a lot of places where I found a lull in the action or plot. In fact, it seemed to me like this was twist after twist. When I thought I had a handle on where the book was going, another bombshell was dropped. Before the ending I didn't know what to think about who was on which side. Even the setting of the book provided a few twists of its own. The dialogue and clues didn't give much away before it was time and made the book enjoyable to read.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book and was glad the author contacted me. There were a lot of head-scratching moments that made it a treat to read. The author did a great job of putting subtle clues and major reveals in the story without making it a heavy read. Only small drawback to the novel was the distinct Australian flavor throughout the book including the descriptions of items to the slang used in the dialogue. Let me be clear, it didn't take away from the story as a whole. For those unfamiliar with the terminology, it may be a little difficult to get used to at first, but should ease as the story progress. Nevertheless, it was a great story with tons of "what the heck" type of moments. I wholeheartedly recommend this book for anyone who loves a multi-twisting mystery or an action-packed thrill ride through an Australian town.

Essence of Betrayal by Damien L. Malcolm is currently available at many online retailers in either paperback or digital formats including Kindle. Click the link below to visit the book's Amazon page.
Essence of Betrayal by Damien L. Malcolm

Prime Deception by Carys Jones

Release Date: April 7, 2014
Publisher: Carina UK

Rating: 3 out of 5 stars.

Synopsis:
Falling in love can be a dangerous thing, especially when it involves someone important. The night before she was to reveal her forbidden affair to the reporter of one's of the nation's biggest tabloid newspapers, John Quinn, a tragic car accident claimed the life of Lorna Thomas. Much to John's dismay, the story that could have made him a star reporter died with her - until her sister came to London looking for answers.

Laurie Thomas knew her sister better than most ever would. With death of her twin looming over her, Laurie set out to find the answers behind the so-called accident. She moved to London, began exploring her sister's last moments and enlisted the help of the very man involved in the secret affair. Will Laurie be able to process the truth behind the actions? Will she suffer the same fate as her sister for digging too deep?

Review:
Having received a request from the author to read and give an honest, fair review, I was more than happy to download a copy from NetGalley. The premise of the book fell into one of my favorite categories - Mystery. Right away there's a huge story about to break within the UK about a Deputy Prime Minister and his illicit affair. Initially I thought the book was going to focus on the reporter as he uncovered the truth about the affair and what happened to the players. Instead the twin sister became one of the main characters in which the story followed. The other was Charles, the Deputy Prime Minister, himself.

Given the details that the author included about Charles, it was easy to believe that a man in his position could find himself disenchanted by the pressures and scrutiny of political life. While his wife and other secondary characters reveled in the perks of being part of the elite, he seemed more down-to-earth and homey in ways. Laurie, the twin, was the complete opposite of everything Charles knew about Lorna. It showed well in the pages where she was the focus in the story. There was plenty of good description and exploration of the secondary characters such as Elaine, wife of Charles; Faye, his assistant; and Henry, the driver. However, I thought that Arthur, Laurie's boyfriend, needed to have some of his background explored earlier in the book. It was a little jarring to know so much about him so late in the game.

The book started off well, in my opinion. I was a little taken aback that the story shifted gears so soon after the beginning and went into a different direction than I expected. I truly thought the reporter and the twin sister would be on the hunt and found it entertaining that the ex-lover was driven to investigate instead. I found plenty of action within the pages of this book. In all honesty, there were a couple of times where I found some of the conversations and descriptions to be a little much, but they really didn't impact the story in a negative way for me. There were a few twists that I wasn't expecting, so I would have to say that the author did a good job of keeping me interested until the very end of the book.

Overall, I did enjoy this book more than I anticipated after getting past the first couple of chapters. Plenty of ups and downs to follow through to the end, I was hoping that we'd know the truth behind the death of Lorna. Thankfully the answers are given - though I won't say because SPOILERS! I think the best part of the book for me was the fact that we really got to know more about Charles than anything else. It's not an easy task to bring a character to life when it's the opposite of you, the author. I felt for him when it was all said and done. I do recommend this book to those of you that enjoy mysteries with a dash of romance mixed with a hint of thriller.

Prime Deception by Carys Jones is currently available for purchase at many online retailers in Kindle or digital format. Clicking the link below to visit the book's Amazon page.
Prime Deception by Carys Jones

Killer Ambition (Rachel Knight #3) by Marcia Clark

Release Date: June 18, 2013
Publisher: Mulholland Books
Series: Rachel Knight series, Book 3

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars.

Synopsis:
When Hayley Antonovich, teenage daughter of a famed and beloved director, went missing, D.D.A Rachel Knight knew the case would be tough. But this time, the case wouldn't just push her to the limits of her abilities, it tested everyone in L.A.'s Special Trials Unit and the LAPD. Each lead forced Rachel down a different avenue, bringing out revelations that were darker than the one before it.

In the midst of their investigation, grim reality revealed that they weren't dealing with a simple kidnap and ransom. Now it was murder. Trials within Hollywood were always messy, but this one was Rachel's messiest by far. Would she be able to see that justice was served? Will she be forced to admit defeat before the opening gavel?

Review:
To celebrate the release of Marcia Clark's fourth book in the Rachel Knight series, NetGalley offered all of the books for reading. Killer Ambition is the third book in the series in which Rachel Knight is the Deputy District Attorney who worked in the Special Trials Unit in Los Angeles. This story was much longer than the previous two books, but the extra pages were necessary to relay the complete story to the reader. With so many players involved in this case, whether on Rachel's side or against her, I was glad to see that the author included a little bit of "refresher" information whenever reintroducing a past character.

Nearly everyone we've met in the previous books made some sort of appearance in this particular book. With it being the biggest case of Rachel's career to-date, it was easy to see why everyone was included. There were some fresh, new faces introduced into the mix as well. It will be interesting to see how Rachel sweeps them off their feet and into her side pocket for later contact. Much of the focus in this book was split between Rachel and the family of the missing teen for the first part of the novel. For me it was easy to see how well the characters related to one another because I've read the books almost back to back. However, the characters came alive on their own enough to allow this book to be read on its own.

The story had a rocky start, both in terms of the actual events and the pacing. However, it quickly righted itself and began a steady climb, building suspense as the pacing rose. There weren't a lot of action scenes outside of the courtroom in this book. All the fireworks were seen inside the legal arena as Rachel led the prosecution team against the suspect. Since it was a high profile case, she was under a lot of scrutiny before the actual trial began. It was interesting to get a glimpse inside the mind of a prosecutor all the while not knowing exactly how the scene was going to play out in terms of the plot.

In my opinion, this book was a really good read. Not because it was an over-the-top production, but because the author played to her strengths. Sometimes when I read these types of books, I can guess where and how it will end. While reading this one, I wasn't sure because just when there was break, something pulled that victory a little further away. Was I happy with the ending? Yes and no. I know that Hollywood has a brand of justice in and of itself, but I couldn't help feeling like something slipped through the cracks. Overall, it was a good read and one that I'd recommend to anyone who enjoys crime dramas or legal thrillers.

Killer Ambition (Rachel Knight #3) by Marcia Clark can be purchased at many online retailers and wherever books are sold locally. They are currently available in hardcover, paperback, audio-book and Kindle versions. Click the link provided below to visit the Amazon page for this title.
Killer Ambition (Rachel Knight #3) by Marcia Clark

Guilt by Degrees (Rachel Knight #2) by Marica Clark

Release Date: April 30, 2013
Publisher: Mulholland Books
Series: Rachel Knight series, Book 2

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars.

Synopsis:
L.A. prosecutor by day and investigator by night, Rachel Knight saw a number of high profile cases over the years as a part of the Special Trials Unit. When the case of a murdered homeless man nearly slipped through the cracks of the system, Rachel's fury prompted her to pick up the case. What began as a fruitless search for a killer turned into something more dangerous than she anticipated.

With her trusted circle at her side, Rachel continued to pursue the truth despite the warnings to back away from the case. She was up against a ruthless opponent who knew how to dig for dirt just as deeply as she did. Faced with danger at every turn, can she survive to bring the man's killer to justice?


Review:
Guilt by Degrees by Marcia Clark was the second book in her Rachel Knight series to be offered at NetGalley for review. In my opinion, this book seemed more like the first in a series than the original first book did. Maybe the first one was too cut-and-dry. Maybe she worked on her writing in the interim between the two books. Either way, I have to admit that this book was an improvement over the first novel.

As with the first book, the main character was Rachel Knight. She's a feisty D.A. who has her own way of doing things that weren't always by the book or without pain. Also returning for this book were her core group of friends and colleagues - Toni, co-worker in the Special Trials Unit; Baily, detective and sometimes bodyguard; Graden, newly-found love interest; and Drew, hot bartender at the hotel where Rachel lived. New characters were introduced throughout the book as well as more of Rachel's history. It seemed as though the characters had more personality and were more real in this book than the previous one because of how closely they interacted with one another. That made for a smoother ride through the story's landscape.

Much of the story followed the investigation of one case which we see in the beginning of the book. In what is fast becoming Rachel's style, it quickly became apparent that the first case was tied to one case, if not more, that led the group into a dangerous predicament. The pacing of the story was pretty steady from beginning to end, due in large part to the many sneak attacks that occur throughout the investigation. They really did leave me wondering if the particular targets were going to make it through unscathed or wind up in the morgue themselves. Action, both in the courtroom and outside the office, helped move the story along as well as reveal certain plot points instead of being mindless filler.

Because this book was such an improvement over the first one, I enjoyed it a lot more than I thought I would. I was pleasantly surprised by how well events of the first book were acknowledged without overwhelming the current story. Some of the old questions were answered but were soon replaced with new ones after some of Rachel's background was finally revealed. I'm actually a little excited to read the next book in order to find out more about Rachel and her new and equally obsessive opponent. Though it is the second in a series, the story did well enough to stand on its own. You can definitely enjoy it without reading the first book. If you are a crime thriller lover or just want a wild ride through the streets of L.A. alongside a tough-as-nails prosecutor, take a gamble on this book. It's worth a shot!

Guilt by Degrees (Rachel Knight #2) by Marcia Clark is now available at your local bookstores and online retailers in hardcover, paperback, audio-book and Kindle formats. Click the link below to see the book's page at Amazon and pick up your copy today!
Guilt by Degrees (Rachel Knight #2) by Marcia Clark

Guilt by Association (Rachel Knight #1) by Marcia Clark

Release Date: March 1, 2012
Publisher: Mulholland Books
Series: Rachel Knight, Book 1

Rating: 3 out of 5 stars.

Synopsis:
Not only did Rachel Knight call Los Angeles home, but she worked her way up the chain in the D.A.'s office until she became part of the special unit assigned to try high profile cases. She and her colleagues compared notes, critiqued arguments for one another, and shared both wins and losses. Nothing she encountered could have prepared her for the shocking death of someone so close to her.

Rachel found herself buried under an extra heavy caseload while secretly investigating a case that could end her career. Each discovery drew her deeper into a world of drugs, gangs and danger, but it's a price she'd pay to find the truth. Will she be able to solve both cases before it's too late? Will she still have her job - and her life - at the end?

Review:
This book was offered for a limited time at NetGalley and was the first work of fiction published by Marcia Clark, a prominent attorney in Los Angeles that has handled some high profile cases as well. Within its pages was a fiesty prosecutor named Rachel Knight who found herself mixed up in a whole lot of trouble after a colleague wound up dead. Not one to go by the book unless forced, Rachel pursued her case while secretly trying to find answers about her friend and his life. After everything that Marcia Clark's seen and heard during her time in the D.A.'s office, it didn't surprise me to see the characters and settings in her book.

Much of the action revolved around Rachel and her search for the truth in more than one case and was told from her point of view. There was definitely a core group of people who rotated in and out of the picture, each with their own quirks. Because the story was set in Los Angeles, I wasn't surprised to see familiar names and places within the story. I also wasn't surprised to see time and attention given to what clothes Rachel and others were wearing or the constant dieting that was thrown into the mix. The book delivered on those assumptions, if I'm honest. That's not to say that the characters were one-dimensional at all. There was a bit of depth to each one. With this being the first of a series, it provided a good amount of groundwork for whatever comes next.

I did have to fight to finish this book in a few spots. The pace began steadily and maintained its movement until I was nearly a third of the way into the story. For whatever reason, I felt the story slow and struggle to pick back up. Once it did, the action and revelations began to help push it along until it hit another slow patch for me. I was happy to find that the book did end on a high note in terms of pacing and storytelling. Honestly, I'm not sure if it was the many layers of the case that threw me off or if it was simply a lull in action that made it seem slow. Maybe it was the lack of drama in the courtroom that threw me off. At times it seemed like Rachel was more of a cop than your typical image of a prosecutor.

All in all, the story was complete, engaging in many areas and giving a glimpse of the other side of Los Angeles. Not a bad offering at all for her first book, I am hopeful for the others in this series which will be coming up over the next few weeks. There's a lot of layers in this book but it does reward those who stick with it to the end. I am glad to have taken a chance on this one. If you're looking for a different type of prosecutor that's tough as nails or someone who doesn't just go with the flow of the system, then Rachel Knight is your kind of prosecutor. Pick up your copy and enjoy her sassyness!

Guilt by Association (Rachel Knight #1) by Marcia Clark is currently available at many local and online retailers. It can be purchased in hardcover, paperback, audio-book and Kindle versions. The link below will bring up the book's page at Amazon.
Guilt by Association (Rachel Knight #1) by Marcia Clark

The City: A Novel by Dean Koontz

Release Date: July 1, 2014
Publisher: Bantam

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars.

Synopsis:
Jonah Bledsoe grew up in a time of turmoil and upheaval that the country shared during the late 1960s. Not only was this a distressing time for him and his family, but it was also a time of wonder and magic for the young boy. As a young black boy being raised by a single mother, Jonah was happy to share a talent for music with her and his grandfather.

He grew more aware of the strangeness of his surroundings after a visit from a mysterious woman who claimed to be something much more than human. Her visit awoke something inside the young boy and lead him down a path too dangerous for an adult, let alone a ten year-old child. But his connection to the events that unfolded grew deeper with each revelation. Will he escape the fate presented to him in dreams? What will his story hold for us?


Review:
A longtime lover of Koontz's books, I was excited to see this novel being offered for review at NetGalley. I was thrilled to have been given the chance to read it. From the first chapter it became clear that this wasn't the usual book one would expect from Koontz. Aside from the fact that there is little in the way of actual horror or other themes routinely present in his works, this novel was more like the transcript of a man telling a remarkable story from his past. The reader was given a seat next to the storyteller himself instead of learning the information third-hand from another person's point of view.

The novel centers around a young boy named Jonah Ellington Basie Hines Eldridge Wilson Hampton Armstrong Kirk Bledsoe, or simply Jonah as I will call him. Yes, the long name was explained within the book and it added to the character instead of hampering him in any way. Both music and a person's beliefs were characters as much as Jonah and his family were in this story. The passion and childish innocence helped shape the events that came to pass. I believe that the mystical or supernatural element within the story was very real for Jonah and therefore, it allowed him a certain degree of fearlessness to know that something so large and with such deep knowledge would be there with him. I felt that the characters central to the story, Jonah's core group of family and friends, were well fleshed out and added another emotional layer to the story overall.

For much of the book, the pacing was slow but steady. There wasn't a large buildup with a huge letdown for me. I think that knowing this was being written as a transcript of events which happened to Jonah as he spoke them helped me to keep pushing my way through the story when the action began to slow. A lot of the action was psychological for a great deal of the book. Things came in dreams for Jonah or intuitive feelings whenever he was around something or someone. When events unfolded in the physical realm, they were executed in real time. By that I mean they didn't drag on for pages as some would have it do. Instead the action happened and the consequences followed in short order.

Many people didn't like this book, but I have to say that I did. While keeping in mind that it was a record of events being spoken by Jonah, the sense of "rambling" that I got was easily explained. It didn't dampen the story for me. It took a few chapters for me to become engrossed with the story, but once it had its hooks in me, I wanted to see how things ended. It was a solid story from beginning to end. If you like a bit of history mixed with excitement and the thrill of childhood wonder mixed together, this book will satisfy that need!

The City: A Novel by Dean Koontz is currently available at all major retailers, both online and local bookstores. It can be purchased in a variety of forms including hardcover, audio-book and Kindle formats. Use the link below to visit the book's Amazon page.
The City: A Novel by Dean Koontz

One of Us by Tawni O'Dell

Release Date: August 19, 2014
Publisher: Gallery Books

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars.

Synopsis:
Sheridan Doyle, aka Danny, was used to obstacles. He overcame them to escape the poor, broken home he was born into and to climb the tower of success as a forensic psychologist. Putting the past behind him gave him the freedom to explore the complexity of the human mind, a fascination that never left him.

When his beloved grandfather fell ill, Danny made the decision to return to his hometown, Lost Creek. Among the expected onslaught of memories, secrets waited their turns to be unearthed and threw his world into chaos. Can he decipher the clues around him before it's too late?

Review:
Receiving permission to read this from NetGalley, I wasn't sure what to expect from this book. From the description, I knew it would have elements of a paranormal and a thriller. I wasn't sure how it would play out. The further I read, the more enjoyable the book became. With the book's setting and subject matter, the story was dark, twisted and an interesting twist on the idea of secrets always finding a way to the surface, no matter how deeply they're buried.

The book introduced Danny first, carrying the story through his point-of-view. The reader was given his thoughts, feelings, and emotions as the past and present collided for him. As he returned to his hometown, it became clear how the isolation and bleakness of the town played a major role in many of Danny's decisions later in his life. Ingrained traditions from his childhood followed him whether he acknowledged them or not. The author presented Danny's family in such a way that the reader both empathized with his plight and cheered as he moved beyond the clutches of the small town.

Lost Creek was a major character in the story as well. The town's own history bled into everything that the townspeople did, mirroring the way the coal dust settled onto and into everything. The actions of early settlers brought consequences upon their descendants. About a third of the way into the book, the point-of-view shifted from Danny to another character and a whole new perspective was added to the small town. I admit, the change was a little confusing at first because I missed the subtle way it was announced. As with nearly everything else in the story, the two characters were nearly complete opposites of each other and provided another layer of intrigue to the mix.

Despite the confusion with the change in characters, the only other drawback I found with the story was in its pacing. There were several chapters were it sailed smoothly at a pretty steady pace. I didn't want to stop reading and kept going until I hit a patch where the pace lagged. The weight of the town's history seemed to bog down the pace, even though it added depth to the overall story. I dreaded the revelations that came out and how they impacted others. All in all, I enjoyed the twists and turns as well as the darkness of the characters. If you're looking for a book with polar opposites mixed with layers of intrigue and ghosts, then definitely pick up a copy of this book!

One of Us by Tawni O'Dell will be available at major retailers upon its release in August 2014. It can be pre-ordered in either hardcover or Kindle format. Click the link below to reserve a copy from Amazon.
One of Us by Tawni O'Dell

The Butcher by Jennifer Hillier

Release Date: July 15, 2014
Publisher: Gallery Books

Rating: 3 out of 5 stars.

Synopsis:
The Beacon Hill Butcher terrorized the Seattle area for decades until the Chief of Police, Edward Shank, confronted and killed Rufus Wedge back in the 1980s. It seemed the city released a collective sigh of relief. But even deeply buried secrets find a way to come back to the surface. The next generation usually pays the price for what others do before them.

Matt, grandson of Edward, is a talented chef with a meteoric career and caring girlfriend, Sam. In the middle of their personal struggles, both find out answers to long-held questions and it twists the way in which each of them view life. Combine that with new and disturbing murders taking place in their own backyard, each finds their homes aren't as safe as they first thought. Will they be able to keep their relationship intact? What kind of peace will the answers bring?


Review:
This book was one of three previews that NetGalley sent my way in their mystery newsletter. Let me preface this review by saying that it is NOT your typical murder mystery or thriller. The action began in the first chapter and let the reader know right away what was going to be happening. I admit that I scratched my head a little in the beginning chapters because I wasn't expecting so many bombshells in the first five chapters. With that kind of reveal, I was worried about the rest of the book and whether it was worth finishing.

Some of the characters were truly fleshed out. I will warn you. When two of the characters say they are "dicks," they truly mean that they are jerks on the extreme end of the spectrum. They are the living example of the definition of jerk and then some. In addition to these guys, there are a couple "positive" characters who aren't as bad, but they also have some faults. It's these small flaws that made them a bit more believable to me. The only thing that bothered me was the amount of coincidences within this book. So many threads tied a few of these characters together. I'm not sure if the author intended them to be this tightly woven together or if the story naturally took that turn and didn't look back.

The story did start off with a bang. Literally. From there, the pace was more of a roller coaster. Some chapters were a breeze to read through due to the action or conversations taking place. Others seemed to drag the story along. At one point I was struggling to get through a couple of the early chapters because it felt like the characters were being forced into a situation they might have ended up in later. There were some very good chapters that I didn't want to end and kept the story moving toward the climax.

All in all, I did enjoy the story despite the many coincidences and sometimes slow-moving pace. The author gave an unique approach to the story. That did help me keep reading whenever I began to struggle. She laid out an evil killer and what havoc he wreaked on those around him had repercussions for generations beyond his. And truthfully, that ended was a good one. No, I won't spoil it. However, if you're looking for a bit of a different take on the murder/thriller genre, this book would be a great place to start.

The Butcher by Jennifer Hillier will be available at many online retailers on July 15, 2014. You can pre-order a copy in harcover, Kindle or audio-book editions. Clicking the link below will take you to the book's Amazon page.
The Butcher by Jennifer Hillier