Tag Archive: Mystery & Suspense 2011

Review: Slide

October 14, 2011

Summary (from Goodreads): Vee Bell is certain of one irrefutable truth—her sister’s friend Sophie didn’t kill herself. She was murdered.

Vee knows this because she was there. Everyone believes Vee is narcoleptic, but she doesn’t actually fall asleep during these episodes: When she passes out, she slides into somebody else’s mind and experiences the world through that person’s eyes. She’s slid into her sister as she cheated on a math test, into a teacher sneaking a drink before class. She learned the worst about a supposed “friend” when she slid into her during a school dance. But nothing could have prepared Vee for what happens one October night when she slides into the mind of someone holding a bloody knife, standing over Sophie’s slashed body.

Vee desperately wishes she could share her secret, but who would believe her? It sounds so crazy that she can’t bring herself to tell her best friend, Rollins, let alone the police. Even if she could confide in Rollins, he has been acting off lately, more distant, especially now that she’s been spending more time with Zane.

Enmeshed in a terrifying web of secrets, lies, and danger and with no one to turn to, Vee must find a way to unmask the killer before he or she strikes again.

My Thoughts: Overall, Slide by Jill Hathaway is a good book. I enjoyed the story, and felt that the characters were (mostly) believable and well-developed. And the ending, well, that was perfect. I felt that the whodunnit parts, though, were a bit melodramatic. The perpetrator didn’t seem very believable – well, did but didn’t. Just parts of it were farfetched. And, frankly, one of the deaths I just don’t know if it was necessary. But, still I really enjoyed reading Slide. It had my interest from the very beginning, held it, and left me with a smile on my face.

Source: Received through Around The World Tours for review.

Read It: Slide is scheduled for release on March 27, 2012. You can pre-order your own copy HERE. (This is a Book Depository link, and purchase through this link will result in my receiving a small commission at no cost to you. Your support is appreciated!)

Challenges: Counts for 100 Books in a Year Reading Challenge 2011 and the Mystery & Suspense Challenge 2011. (I actually finished the Mystery & Suspense Challenge, but still want to share my reviews.)

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Tags: 100 Books in a Year Challenge 2011, 4 stars, ARC, Around the World Tours, Jill Hathaway, mystery, Mystery & Suspense 2011, review, YA

Review: Between

September 14, 2011

Between by Jessica Warman

Summary: Elizabeth Valchar – pretty, popular, and perfect – wakes up the morning after her eighteenth birthday party on her family’s yacht, where she’d been celebrating with her six closest friends. A persistent thumping noise has roused her. When she goes to investigate, what she finds will change everything she thought she knew about her life, her friends, and what lies in between. As Liz begins to unravel the circumstances surrounding her birthday night, she will find that no one around her, least of all Liz herself, was perfect – or innocent.

My Thoughts: The above description is what is on the back cover of the ARC I just finished. And I like it so much better than any other descriptions I’ve found – because it allowed me to fully get into the story. (Others say way too much.) And that’s all I’m going to say here in plain view. The rest of this review is going to be in my spoiler boxes, because I feel this book is impossible to say much of anything about without sharing things I’m glad I didn’t know going into it. (Long story short: Yes, it was very good. Yes, I could see myself reading it again. Yes, I would recommend it. Finally, I liked it enough to add it to my Favorites shelf on Goodreads.)

Big Spoilers

For me, the biggest shock was right at the end of the first chapter. And, unfortunately, I can’t really talk about the rest of the book without mentioning it. But, let’s just say, that’s what immediately had me hooked on the story. I am not going to outright say what it is, but in my discussion, you’ll quickly figure it out. As I stated above, the description from the back of the ARC I had gave me very few details. I am EXTREMELY grateful for that. Because of the shock at the beginning of the book, I think my enjoyment was MUCH greater than it would have been.

Why do I think that? Because as things begin to come together, the predictability is almost annoying. I figured out some of the biggest pieces of this “puzzle” rather easily. No super-surprising, didn’t-see-it-coming twists – except the very beginning. I am so, SO glad I hadn’t read the description on Goodreads until after I read the book!

Despite this, I actually really enjoyed Between by Jessica Warman! It was very well-written and a pleasure to read. And, as I said above, it had me hooked from the very beginning. Add to the mix very likable characters (for the most part), and, well, it’s a great book. I can almost overlook the predictability.

I liked Liz a lot. Yes, she was a spoiled, snotty rich girl during her life, but she was quickly humbled by the memories that surface. She realizes that she’s not as great as she thinks she was, and that she had some major mean-girl quality to her. But, as the story progresses, she matures. She sees where she was wrong, apologizes when appropriate, and regrets her mistakes. I like that. In many ways, this book really reminded me of Here Lies Bridget, except that Liz is a great character who LEARNS FROM HER MISTAKES. Unlike Bridget, she’s not upset out of selfishness as she discovers the ways she’s wronged others. Liz is genuinely appalled by her own behavior, and she’s genuinely sorry for having done as she did. She’s embarrassed by her actions, and doesn’t try to lay the blame on the others. Doesn’t try to offer excuses for herself. She had a HUGE tragedy as a child, but she doesn’t use that as justification – just explanation. And it’s plausible. She’s very believable and very likeable. I found myself sad that she’s dead, and wishing that she could have a second chance. Because, also unlike Bridget, she deserved a second chance. But, alas, that is not the case. Still, I was happy with how it played out. In short, Between by Jessica Warman is what Here Lies Bridget could have been; it was very good.

I felt bad for Richie and Liz’s dad. And I despised Nicole and Josie. I was quite happy with how everything played out. I felt the ending was satisfactory – and it is so NICE to have a stand-alone book! Loose ends are tied, and in such a way that I was happy.

Favorite Quotes: I almost hid these, but then realized they really don’t spoil much. Two really resonated with me and one made me chuckle. Can you guess which one that was?

A person’s character, I realize, is never black-and-white. There is so much gray. ~ pages 412-413 (ARC)

Cops, I’ve learned, are like vampires; they can’t come in unless you invite them. ~ page 413 (ARC)

Every moment is precious; every day a blessing. To see life for what it truly is: a series of endless possibilities, not just for great pain, but for great joy. ~ page 453 (ARC)

Source: Received through Around The World Tours for review.

Read It: Get your own copy HERE. (This is a Book Depository link, and purchase through this link will result in my receiving a small commission at no cost to you. Your support is appreciated!)

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Tags: 100 Books in a Year Challenge 2011, 4.5 stars, ARC, Around the World Tours, Jessica Warman, mystery, Mystery & Suspense 2011, review, suspense, YA

Review: The Summoner

August 28, 2011

The Summoner by Layton Green

Summary: A United States diplomat disappears in front of hundreds of onlookers while attending a religious ceremony in the bushveld of Zimbabwe. Dominic Grey, Diplomatic Security special agent, product of a violent childhood and a worn passport, is assigned to investigate. Aiding the investigation is Professor Viktor Radek, religious phenomenologist and expert on cults, and Nya Mashumba, the local government liaison. What Grey uncovers is a terrifying cult older than Western civilization, the harsh underbelly of a country in despair, a priest seemingly able to perform impossibilities, and the identity of the newest target. Himself.

My Thoughts: The Summoner by Layton Green is chock-full of suspense, intrigue, and interesting characters. There were times I found myself holding my breath, sitting restlessly, and fully falling victim to the suspense. I can’t tell you the last time a book had me so much on the edge of my seat! It is a fabulous story.

Dominic Grey is a mostly positive character, despite his less-than-positive upbringing. Having grown up in a violent home, he ran away as a teenager – and hasn’t seen his father since. (His mother died when he was younger.) Despite the horrific things he’s been through (of which we only see small bits), Grey is actually a guy with a moral compass. Sure, he could kick anyone’s butt – and easily kill someone with his bare hands – but he doesn’t necessarily like doing it. And he has a heart for those in need.

I couldn’t decide how I felt about Nya. I don’t feel we know her as well as we know Grey, so I didn’t find myself as concerned over her as I could have been. And I found her and Grey together not quite right. I’m not entirely sure what it was, but something about it didn’t work for me. Not even after it’s explained. I can swallow it a bit better after the explanation, but it still seems off. Again, I can’t quite figure out why.

Viktor is quite mysterious, and I half expected him as having something to do with the disturbing events in this book. What transpired between him and Grey toward the end of the book was a nice surprise for me, and I hope we see more of him and get to know more about where he comes from.

The plot, as I stated above, is full of suspense and intrigue. While there was a tiny bit of predictability, it didn’t in any way detract from the suspense. There were many more surprising twists and/or revelations, which I found pretty much negated anything I was able to guess.

I would definitely recommend this book to fans of the mystery/suspense genre. If you like Dan Brown, Brett Battles, Robert Browne, etc., then give Layton Green a try. You won’t be disappointed!

I very much look forward to more Dominic Grey novels – including the just-released The Egyptian (look for my review soon).

Source: Sent by the author in exchange for an honest review.

Read It: Get your own copy HERE. (This is a Powell’s link, and purchase through this link will result in my receiving a small commission at no cost to you. Your support is appreciated!)

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Tags: 100 Books in a Year Challenge 2011, 4 stars, Dominic Grey, Layton Green, mystery, Mystery & Suspense 2011, review, suspense

Review & GIVEAWAY: The Paradise Prophecy

July 22, 2011

The Paradise Prophecy by Robert Browne

Summary: The Myth

When God cast the archangel Satan into Hell, ending the War in Heaven, peace prevailed on Earth. Until the fallen angels took revenge in the Garden of Eden. Ever since, mankind has been in a struggle between good and evil, paradise and apocalypse: the fall of Rome, The Crusades, World Wars, nuclear proliferation, the Middle East Crisis… The War in Heaven never really ended-it just changed venues. For millennia, God’s angels have been fighting Satan’s demons on Earth, all in hopes of bringing about Satan’s greatest ambition, the Apocalypse.

The Reality

Satan has never been closer to his goal than right now.

Agent Bernadette Callahan is a talented investigator at a shadowy government organization known only as Section, on the trail of a serial killer with nearly supernatural abilities. Sebastian “Batty” LaLaurie is a religious historian who knows far too much about the other side- and that hard-earned knowledge is exactly what Callahan needs. This unlikely duo pair up for a race across the globe, decoding clues left in ancient texts from the Bible to Paradise Lost and beyond. In the process they stumble upon a vast conspiracy-one beyond the scope of mankind’s darkest imagination.

My Thoughts: Robert Browne’s The Paradise Prophecy is an excellent read. There were a few small typos here and there, which I found quite surprising for Dutton! None were too big, nothing that hurts the story – just a minor annoyance for a grammar purist like myself!

If, like me, you have read some (or all) of John Milton’s Paradise Lost and enjoyed it, I think you’ll find this book quite interesting. And the illustrations throughout are just fantastic, adding a visual that I just love. (They’re at the beginning of each section, and in no way disrupt the flow of the narrative.)

I must admit that for the first several chapters, I felt like I was re-reading some of The DaVinci Code. Not that the subject matter is exactly the same, but the premise is quite similar. An ancient myth proves to be more than just a myth; a secret society officially thought to be just fiction turns out to be real; members of said society wind up dead; the works of a genius from a few centuries ago hold the key to it all. Yes, that did sound somewhat familiar. But, well, there’s so much more to it. Fallen angels, evil armies, war between factions of angels – the fallen and the fallen-with-a-conscience. It is played out very nicely, crafted together beautifully, and lots of fun to read. I love how The Paradise Prophecy breaks from the mold with the addition of angelic and demonic forces, plus people who have given themselves over to those forces for whatever reason.

I think because of the way that this started, reminding me so much of The DaVinci Code, I expected the end to be tidy and neat. I expected Callahan to be right – that there was some much more human explanation to what was going on. I expected a conspiracy of sorts, something like that. I’m happy to say, that was nowhere near the way the book went. Very quickly, I found that The Paradise Prophecy was not a rewriting of The DaVinci Code, and is quite different. It stands on its own, is quite unique. The characters are relatable – well, at least the human characters are! There is some witty banter, some thought processes of some of the characters, and other such things that made me chuckle at times, smile in agreement at others, etc. For example,

“You’ve gotta know I’m clinging to the lifeboat right now – one with the letters WTF stamped on the side.” ~ page 152

One of many conversational bits that cracked me up. And,

It suddenly occurred to her that this is how we wind up.

All of us.

Some leave behind a legacy, as Milton had, a piece of themselves that will be remembered for centuries to come. But most of us die in obscurity. A pile of bones that lay forgotten in some grave, our lives no more important to the world at large than the quarter-inch column of ink that announces our departure from it.

One day we’re here, then we’re gone. And unless you get lucky, a couple hundred years later nobody knows who the hell you were. ~ pages 339-340

Wow. Sobering, and so very true.

I would highly recommend this book to anyone who loves a good mystery, but loves the idea of a unique story with very interesting plot development. As I stated before, The Paradise Prophecy starts out reminiscent of The DaVinci Code, but it quickly separates itself. Still, I think those of you who like Dan Brown’s works will love this one, too!

Source: Thank you to Anne Staszalek with Authors on the Web for providing me a free copy in exchange for my honest review.

Read It: Get your own copy HERE. (This is a Book Depository link, and purchase through this link will result in my receiving a small commission at no cost to you. Your support is appreciated!)

This review is part of Book Review Party Wednesday.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

WIN IT

I am able to offer 1 copy to one lucky reader! I do not require anything in order for you to enter. Simply leave a comment to this post. ONE ENTRY PER PERSON.

Entries will be accepted until 11:59 p.m. (Central) Saturday, August 6, 2011. The winner will be chosen randomly with the help of And the Winner Is …, a WordPress plugin. I will send the lucky winner an e-mail notification. (It will come from proudbooknerd(at)gmail(dot)com, so make sure to add this address to your safe list or address book so doesn’t get lost in junk/bulk mail.) If I do not get a response within 48 hours, a new winner will be chosen. Unfortunately, this giveaway is only open to readers in the U.S and Canada.

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Tags: 100 Books in a Year Challenge 2011, 4.5 stars, Authors on the Web, giveaway, mystery, Mystery & Suspense 2011, review, Robert Browne, suspense, thriller

Review: Evil at Heart

May 24, 2011

Evil at Heart by Chelsea Cain

Summary (from Goodreads): Homicide detective Archie Sheridan has somehow survived the ordeals recounted in Heartsick and Sweetheart and is resting not so comfortably in an Oregon hospital, attempting to cure his addiction to Vicodin and his obsession with serial killer Gretchen Lowell. Meanwhile, “Beauty Killer” Gretchen is still on the run and rapidly becoming an improbable folk hero, complete with fan websites and slay site fan tours. As if all that is not tasteless enough, new murders begin to surface that raise an ominous question: Are these tribute killings by a copycat or is Gretchen back on the prowl?

My Thoughts: Very good. On par with Sweetheart in so far as keeping the reader guessing and being full of suspense. There were surprises, things I just hadn’t seen coming. There was some predictability. Still, it was a wild ride that made me start thinking that maybe I should re-read The Night Season. Now I just have to find the time.

My Rating: 4 stars

Source: My local library.

Read It: Get your own copy HERE. (This is a Book Depository link, and purchase through this link will result in my receiving a small commission at no cost to you. Your support is appreciated!)

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Tags: 100 Books in a Year Challenge 2011, 4 stars, Chelsea Cain, Gretchen Lowell, library, mystery, Mystery & Suspense 2011, review, suspense, thriller

Challenges: Two Down

May 22, 2011

I’m too excited to wait for the monthly wrap-up to share this! As of today, I have finished TWO challenges. The Mystery & Suspense Challenge and the 2nds Challenge! I have considered shooting for more with the 2nds Challenge, but have decided against it. I still have other challenges to complete, so for now I’m going to concentrate on them. (I, of course, very well could end up changing my mind as the year progresses. Time will tell! )

Anyway, I just had to share! My other challenges are coming along, just a bit more slowly than these two, obviously. But, I’m excited and wanted to share that excitement.

And now I’m off to read some more …

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Tags: 2nds Challenge 2011, Mystery & Suspense 2011, reading challenge

Review: Sweetheart

May 22, 2011

Sweetheart by Chelsea Cain

Summary (from Goodreads): When the body of a young woman is discovered in Portland’s Forest Park, Archie is reminded of the last time they found a body there, more than a decade ago: it turned out to be the Beauty Killer’s first victim, and Archie’s first case. This body can’t be one of Gretchen’s—she’s in prison—but after help from reporter Susan Ward uncovers the dead woman’s identity, it turns into another big case. Trouble is, Archie can’t focus on the new investigation because the Beauty Killer case has exploded: Gretchen Lowell has escaped from prison.

Archie hadn’t seen her in two months; he’d moved back in with his family and sworn off visiting her. Though it should feel like progress, he actually feels worse. The news of her escape spreads like wildfire, but secretly, he’s relieved. He knows he’s the only one who can catch her, and in fact, he has a plan to get out from under her thumb once and for all.

My Thoughts: Now, this is more like it. More suspenseful, more unpredictable, more screwed up than anything I’ve read in a long time. This is a very good story. I felt it was much more riveting, and couldn’t read it fast enough.

I’ve gotta say, though, that Archie has me frustrated to no end. I still think he’s an awesome character – flaws and all – but I just cannot get over his addiction to Gretchen Lowell. Is it infatuation? Love? Lust? I dunno, but it’s so sick and twisted and just awful. I wanna smack him around and yell at him. I feel for Debbie, his wife.

The part at the school had me so nervous, so worried, so sucked in. From that point on, it was all I could do to stop reading. I even stayed up well into the night – er, I mean early morning – to read as much as I could.

And now I gotta go. Evil at Heart is waiting, and I cannot wait to get started!

My Rating: 4 stars

Source: My local library.

Read It: Get your own copy HERE. (This is a Book Depository link, and purchase through this link will result in my receiving a small commission at no cost to you. Your support is appreciated!)

Challenges: Counts for 100 Books in a Year Reading Challenge 2011, the 2nds Challenge (second book in the Gretchen Lowell series), and the Mystery & Suspense Challenge 2011.

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