Wednesday, May 30, 2018

Plum Island [Book Review]

If you enjoy murder mysteries, then Plum Island is for you! It is filled with great characters and is chock-full of hysterical one-liners.

I have been familiar with DeMille's name, however this is the first book of his that I have read (and it definitely will not be the last!) You feel as if you are solving the crime right along with the main character. DeMille is extremely descriptive, creating images perfectly in the mind's eye. (Yes, this book would make for a fantastic movie!) The ending accelerates like a bullet fired from a gun, barely giving you enough time to turn the next page.
Highly recommended!

Jason

Thursday, May 10, 2018

Trouble's Child & The Girl in the Moon [Book Reviews]

Terry Goodkind returns to the Thriller genre with a vengeance! If you have already read NEST then you know what to expect with these two stories, though if you thought NEST was intense, The Girl in the Moon increases it ten-fold!! (If you have not yet read Nest, it is not necessary to read first, though I do suggest doing so.)

Trouble's Child is a short novella [64 pgs] that is the perfect introduction to the character Angela Constantine. It is not necessary to read before reading [the full-length novel] The Girl in the Moon though it might be a good idea to try it first - if you like it, then you should have no issues with The Girl in the Moon.

The Girl in the Moon could very well be the best thriller/suspense novel of the decade! It has a real, scary premise, and it keeps you on the edge-of-your-seat!  It is darker than any of Goodkind's prior novels, so be prepared. Angela Constantine is a sick/twisted/demented heroine (until you understand her past). There are certain (gruesome) parts that are hard to read, but if you can push through the graphicness, you will be rewarded.

This book contains several intense, riveting, nail-biting, suspenful sequences. It took all of my will power, in certain parts, to not turn the pages and scan ahead. This book reads like a movie! (When you get to the Border Crossing, you will desire to see it on a big screen, rather than just in your head.) If you have read Goodkind's epic fantasy The Sword of Truth series, you will recall Richard's "Dance of Death" with his sword. Angela achieves the same feat, except with guns (think of the "Gun Kata" sequences from the film Equilibrium).

If you plan on reading only one novel this year, I would make it this one!

5/5 Skulls (for both stories)

Tuesday, May 1, 2018

The Cimmerians [Novella Review]

Theresa Jacobs' follow-up to The Followers

Genre - Horror/Novella(?)
Year Published - 2018
Length - 150 (digital) pages
Written by +Theresa Jacobs

Plot Summary:
When Emersyn fled the big city for a quieter life in the Midwest, she left all her troubles behind – or so she thought. She quickly discovers her quaint new home has a past of its own. Ten years prior a young woman killed herself inside the front door. Since that fateful day, the locals avoided the house. Not one to believe in the supernatural, Emersyn, along with a new friend, take it upon themselves to conduct a seance for answers.
They get much more than they bargained for when they awaken an ancient evil. The same evil that haunted the past resident. 
Now they must scramble with little time to stop it. When Emersyn's past comes back to haunt her, and innocent people get hurt, she has nowhere to turn. Until a police officer inserts himself into her life, together they will do what they can to put an end to the deadly shadows forever.
Can evil this powerful ever truly die?

Review:
Theresa Jacobs has done it again! Her short story The Followers is my favorite story that she has written. (Do not worry - it is included at the end of the book. In fact, I recommend jumping to the back of the book and reading the short story before diving into The Cimmerians)

From the excellent poem that opens the book to the cliffhanger ending - this is one that should not be missed!

You will connect with Jacobs' characters right away, making the fear that they feel much more tangible. This is a tense, atmospheric story and the way that it ends leaves you wanting more!

Rating: 5/5 Skulls