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Showing posts with label mystery/suspense. Show all posts
Showing posts with label mystery/suspense. Show all posts
Saturday, April 20, 2013
Review: Children of the Underground by Trevor Shane
Children of the Underground
Author: Trevor Shane
Release Date: April 2, 2013
Publisher: NAL Trade
Children of Paranoia #2
ISBN: #978-0451239297
Genre: Suspense
Format(s): Paperback (400 pgs), e-book
Book Source: Publisher
About the book:
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Even if you have choices, sometimes you have only one worth taking.
The war had been raging for as long as anyone could remember. The secret, endless war between two opposing sides—one good, one evil. Neither side knows which is which; it is kill or be killed in an invisible conflict where assassination is the weapon of choice.
When she was just seventeen, Maria was pulled into this secret war and they killed her lover and stole her child. Now they are telling her to go home. To ignore what she knows is going on in the shadows all around her. They told Maria to forget all she’d lost. The trouble is, some things simply can’t be forgotten.
Now, with a loose-cannon killer at her side, Maria is going to do whatever it takes to get back what belongs to her. And that means starting a war of her own…
What B is talking about:
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When we first met Maria in Children of Paranoia, she was a seventeen year old girl who’d fallen in love with a dangerous man, gotten pregnant, and realized, too late, that the world wasn’t what she thought it was. Instead of the rules she was used to (flirting with an attractive man, attending university, growing up), she discovered that a secret war, perpetuated by fear and vengeance, was being waged all around her, and had been for so many generations that no one could say for certain why the killing began in the first place. This war was dictated by an entirely different set of rules. Rules that quickly and brutally destroyed everything that she loved. No longer an innocent in “the War,” she’s now determined to take back what was stolen from her so long ago, no matter the cost.
Although this isn’t a genre I typically choose for myself, I have very much enjoyed the novels in the Children of Paranoia series so far. Children of the Underground was even more clever and intricate than its predecessor, the characters’ stories unfolding via dual storylines playing out simultaneously, offering the reader a view of the future unfolding alongside the present, and tying both together within each chapter. It isn’t nearly as confusing as it sounds. By telling Maria’s story via her journal entries to her son, Mr. Shane continues what he began in Children of Paranoia, while opening the door for her son, Christopher, who may be a messiah in the making, to tell his story in the next book.
Children of the Underground is not light reading. Nor should it be read as a standalone. There is simply too much story contained in the first novel in the series to fully appreciate the second without, and I wholeheartedly recommend starting this series from the beginning. Both sides of “the War” believe in their own righteousness, as well as the other side’s inherent evil, yet neither really knows which is which anymore. Innocence is lost. The “good guys” don’t always survive. There is plenty of death, and blood, and pain, yet there is always an undercurrent of determined hope. Maria’s hope for her son is pervasive, and is, in itself, a kind of salvation for those who are touched by it. And that salvation, while it doesn’t guarantee a happy ending, makes life worth living again for as long as it lasts. In the end, Maria’s story is one of sacrifice and love, and I will be eagerly awaiting the next novel in the series.
B’s Rating:
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Enjoyed - strongly recommend (A-)
Purchase Info:
Thursday, December 6, 2012
Review: Dying Art by Shirley Wells
Dying Art
Author: Shirley Wells
Release Date: Nov. 12, 2012
Publisher: Carina Press
Dylan Scott Mystery #5
Genre: Mystery
Format(s): e-book
Book Source: Author
About the book:
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Dylan Scott vowed never to return to the dreary town of Dawson's Clough. But one visit from a beautiful ex-lover and he's back in Lancashire, investigating a possible murder. The police think Prue Murphy died during a burglary gone wrong, but her sister isn't so sure—and neither is Dylan. After all, the killer overlooked the only valuable thing in Prue's flat.
So who could have wanted the quirky young woman dead, and why? Dylan's search for answers takes him to France, where he discovers Prue's family didn't know her as well as they thought they did. And the more he digs, the more secrets he unearths—secrets someone would kill to keep buried…
What I’m talking about:
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Ex-police office Dylan Scott is an amazing detective with a proven track record. Unfortunately, there isn’t a high demand for solving mysterious deaths. That is until Dylan’s old flame, Madeleine “Maddie” Murphy comes tumbling into his office looking for help with the investigation into her sister Prue’s murder.
Back in Dawson’s Clough, Dylan sifts through the clues, meeting the main players, including Prue’s shady landlord, the owner of a not-very-successful wine bar, and the widow of a renowned artist, who may or may not have been friends with Prue. And as always, Dylan must juggle solving the crime with his family life, and this time, an ex-lover who wants to win Dylan back into her bed.
Oh, I LOVE the Dylan Scott Mysteries! There is just something about the almost anti-hero that has me cheering for him all the way. Dylan is a good man, and we’ve seen this time and time again, over the course of five stories. His life is far from perfect, but he makes the most of it. He loves his wife and kids and works hard.
I’ve said this before, but one of my favorite things about the Dylan Scott books is that we view the crime scene and plot development from multiple points of view. One would think that this would “give away” the murderer, but it actually has the opposite effect. The reader is left wondering “whodunit,” because everyone either seems to be hiding something, or totally innocent. The multiple POVs are never confusing and help move the story forward in such an interesting and exciting manner.
This time around, the case appears fairly straight forward. Prue was killed in her home, and not by a burglar as the police believe. As Dylan uncovers the facts, he discovers that Prue is in possession of a very valuable piece of art, painted by a recently deceased, extremely famous artist. He figures that someone may have wanted to steal the art for profit, but it would have to be someone that knew Prue had the painting. Part of the mystery is figuring out how Prue came to possess something so valuable. I was captivated by the unfolding plot and desperate to solve the crime myself (which I did, but not until almost the end!).
Another thing I adore about Ms. Wells’ mysteries is that we get personal story with the detective work, and Dying Art is no exception. First, we are privy to Dylan being tempted by the memories of his gorgeous ex, Maddie. Oh, and is she a bit loony! I was on edge the entire book, wondering what, if anything, would happen between the two. Let’s just say I love the way Ms. Wells’ wrote the storyline, and am very satisfied with how it went down.
We also continue to follow Dylan’s family life. One of the things I enjoyed immensely in the previous full-length story, Silent Witness, was the deeply touching look at postpartum depression through the eyes of both Dylan and his wife, Bev. I was a bit disappointed that we didn’t see more from Bev’s POV this time around. However, she was front and center, and one of my favorite scenes involved a discussion between Bev and Dylan at a dinner party hosted by Maddie. She provides a fantastic emotional edge to the thrill of murder. We also get more from Dylan’s pot-smoking, hippy mom, who has a few surprises of her own. This subplot was well executed, and I hope it continues into the next book!
Without spoiling the story, I want to mention that there is a twist at the end involving Maddie’s family. I did not see it coming. The resulting revelations felt a bit coerced, but not contrived. I’m okay with what happened, and see the reasons for it, but I sure hope that’s the last we see of the Murphy family.
Dying Art is another great Dylan Scott Mystery. Ms. Wells has a way of immediately hooking me and keeping me invested until every rock has been turned, and the puzzle is solved. But it's more than just a fantastic whodunit… the personal side of Dylan and his family add depth and warmth - just enough to enjoy Dylan, but never too much to turn the mystery into a drama. The multiple POV adds complexity and depth without confusion. You really should pick up Dylan Scott for a great reading escape!
My Rating:
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Enjoyed - strongly recommend (A-)
Reviews in the Series:
Friday, November 30, 2012
Review: City of Dark Magic by Magnus Flyte
City of Dark Magic
Author: Magnus Flyte
Release Date: Nov. 27, 2012
Publisher: Penguin
ISBN: 978-0143122685
Genre: Paranormal Romantic Suspense
Format(s): Paperback (464 pgs), e-book
Book Source: Publisher
About the book:
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Once a city of enormous wealth and culture, Prague was home to emperors, alchemists, astronomers, and, as it’s whispered, hell portals. When music student Sarah Weston lands a summer job at Prague Castle cataloging Beethoven’s manuscripts, she has no idea how dangerous her life is about to become. Prague is a threshold, Sarah is warned, and it is steeped in blood.
Soon after Sarah arrives, strange things begin to happen. She learns that her mentor, who was working at the castle, may not have committed suicide after all. Could his cryptic notes be warnings? As Sarah parses his clues about Beethoven’s “Immortal Beloved,” she manages to get arrested, to have tantric sex in a public fountain, and to discover a time-warping drug. She also catches the attention of a four-hundred-year-old dwarf, the handsome Prince Max, and a powerful U.S. senator with secrets she will do anything to hide.
What VampBard’s talking about:
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Feeding the musician with her favorite composer? Yes, please! Sure, the blurb talks about Beethoven, but I never dreamed that Magnus Flyte would create such a compelling plot surrounding the mystery of Beethoven's Immortal Beloved!
I took notes on the characters in this novel. I wanted to make sure that I didn't get my wires crossed. Eventually, I did stop taking notes; I figured that I would be able to keep things straight because I had fallen completely in love with the characters created in City of Dark Magic.
I adore Sarah. This tenacious heroine of our story had more guts than I initially gave her credit. Beginning the story, she appeared to be an insecure music historian, trying to find her own way in the shadow of her mentor. When she received her invitation to curate the Beethoven collection in Prague, I felt she began coming out of her shell. Sarah, however, was no prude. The girl likes sex, and she's adventurous!
Nico. A little person. He's positively ancient, too. His teasing bites of snark kept me chuckling and on my toes. No. There wasn't anything kinky about Nico.
Max, however, began the story shielded in mystery and intrigue. Sure. He's the heir to the prince-dom. He's not the stuffy type, however. I do have to say that I truly appreciated Max after a surprise event near the beginning of the title.
I really like the fact that Flyte brought in The Golden Fleece. I had to squee just a little bit; here I am, reading a book about both Beethoven and some mythology. **Boggle** Additionally, we have espionage on the world level. KGB, CIA, and assassination. Yup. It's all here.
Lest you're thinking this is a stuffy, academic book, think again. The light humor made my day, even when dealing with a difficult topic:
“The way across has been revealed to me, and I intend to cross over tonight.” … “That doesn't even sound like him,” Sarah frowned. “Shabotsky was fusing traditional musicology with brain science. He definitely did not talk like Professor Dumbledore.”
Even though City of Dark Magic started off a whole lot like The Historian for me, it definitely had a lighter feel, along with some fun and hot sex. Even though most people would never believe that a LSD-type trip would make for interesting reading, I was riveted. Yup. That's a tease. You'll have to pick up a copy of City of Dark Magic to solve the mystery of the meds, and the other intrigue laced expertly throughout the story. I look forward to reading future installments from Flyte.
VampBard’s Rating:
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Purchase Info:
Monday, August 20, 2012
Review: The Last Victim by Karen Robards
The Last Victim
Author: Karen Robards
Release Date: Aug. 7, 2012
Publisher: Ballantine
ISBN: 978-0345535405
Genre: Paranormal Romance / Suspense
Format(s): Hardcover (336 pgs), e-book
Book Source: Publisher
About the book:
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Dr. Charlotte Stone sees what others do not.
A sought-after expert in criminal pathology, Charlie regularly sits face-to-face with madmen. Obsessed with learning what makes human monsters commit terrible crimes, Charlie desires little else from life—no doubt because when she was sixteen, she herself survived a serial killer’s bloodbath: A man butchered the family of Charlie’s best friend, Holly, then left the girl’s body on a seaside boardwalk one week later.
Because of the information Charlie gave police, the Boardwalk Killer went underground. She kept to herself her eerie postmortem visions of Holly and her mother. And even years later, knowing her contact with ghosts might undermine her credibility as a psychological expert, Charlie tells no one about the visits she gets from the spirit world.
Now all-too-handsome FBI agent Tony Bartoli is telling Charlie that a teenage girl is missing, her family slaughtered. Bartoli suspects that after fifteen years, the Boardwalk Killer—or a sick copycat with his M.O.—is back. Time is running short for an innocent, kidnapped girl, and Bartoli pleads for Charlie’s help.
This is the one case Charlie shouldn’t go near. But she also knows that she may be the one person in the world who can stop this vicious killer. For Charlie—whose good looks disguise a world of hurt, vulnerability, and potent psychic gifts—a frantic hunt for a madman soon becomes a complex test of cunning, passions, and secrets. Aiding Dr. Stone on her quest to catch a madman is a ghostly presence with bad intentions: the fiery spirit of seductive bad boy Michael Garland who refuses to be ignored, though in his cat and mouse game they may both lose their hearts.
Dr. Charlotte Stone sees what others do not. And she sees the Boardwalk Killer coming for her.
What VampBard’s talking about:
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The Last Victim was definitely not a predictable read! Chock full of suspense, murder, and some freaky ghost stuff, my interest level was high throughout the story. You know you're hooked when there's a self-talk monologue going through your head about where the story is headed. You know you're immersed when that self-talk comes out of your mouth. I would be deeply immersed in this title.
Dr. Charlotte Stone, a.k.a. Charlie or Doc, is our gutsy, ghost-seeing heroine. Besides seeing the ghosts of the recently, violently deceased, she's a psychiatrist studying serial killers in a special housing unit for some of the country's most warped and notorious criminals. Her current assignment has her working with prisoner, Michael Garland. Charlie has been called upon to bring her own brand of expertise to the FBI's investigation of the slaughter of a girl's family and her disappearance. Charlie, the sole survivor of the Boardwalk Killer fifteen years ago, not only can identify the killer from her past, but has the education and experience to be of great aide to the authorities working around the clock to try to find the recently missing girl before she winds up a corpse, buried beneath a boardwalk. To make matters worse, just as the FBI were about to take her to pack some things and whisk her off to the crime scene, the current subject of her study, Garland, was murdered by a fellow inmate. He died while Charlie was trying to save his life, and is 'attached' to her throughout the story.
The FBI agents, Tony Bartoli, Kaminski and Crane, were interesting characters. Besides providing protection and leading the investigation to catch the serial killer, I'm not quite sure what purpose they all served. If I had to venture a guess, I'd classify them in the following manner: Tony Bartoli, the dark, well-dressed hottie in charge of the FBI team present was probably meant to be our romantic hero. Charlie's love interest. Kaminski was probably meant to provide female kinship – a girlfriend figure – as Charlie seemed utterly alone in that arena. Crane? Yeah, besides arguing with Kaminski, I don't really see his purpose. The romance vibes between Tony and Charlie were lukewarm. They definitely had the opportunity to get busy...but Charlie didn't let things go that far. Tertiary characters were the spirits of the recently slain. None of these ghosts were threatening, and did provide information that would help nab the killer. Hopefully before another girl died.
I am fairly certain that our ever-analytical heroine has a thing for a ghost. Yeah. Based on the 'dreams' and the inner monologue we got, extolling the virtues of a convicted serial killer that died, Charlie is hot for him. This 'relationship' sort-of creeped me out for awhile. I couldn't wrap my head around how this was ever going to result in a 'happily ever after'. With the spirit of Michael Garland randomly hanging around, Charlie probably won't be engaging in anything of a romantic nature as long as he remains tethered to her. After all, who wants a completely hot, charismatic ghost that was a convicted serial killer in life, ticked off? The way Charlie describes Michael, I pictured Sawyer from Lost. With the drawl, too. You may drool. It's OK. Even though our Ghost Whisperer shrink tried to 'vanquish' Garland to the afterlife, that was an epic fail. Personally, I don't think she wanted him to leave all that much. The part of me that likes to psycho-analyze characters thinks that Garland has mommy issues, and that Charlie represents the stable female presence he never had. I think that is why he attached himself to her – she set limits for him, just like good parents do with their kids.
As for the whole 'whodunit' thing, Ms. Robards did a great job creating interest, inserting foreshadowing as well as other literary devices to assist her reader in following the story. There are two significant story arcs to follow, and they're pretty unique. Only once did I go back and re-read for clarity. That COULD be one of those 'just me' things. I'm also unconvinced that Charlie is going to find a “happily ever after” when this is all said and done. I don't believe for one minute that Tony is going to hang around while Charlie works out her little ghost problem. I'm definitely in the “HEA” camp when I read a romance title. That's WHY I choose to read romance. I LIKE the 'HEA'. Alright, Charlie was alive at the end. I suppose that is kind-of like a 'HEA'. **shrug**
Over all, Karen Robards' novel, The Last Victim, definitely had an active plot, complete with romance, suspense, and danger. I look forward to reading more about Charlie...and whomever she is to be romantically involved.
VampBard’s Rating:
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Liked it - recommend (B+)
Purchase Info:
Friday, July 6, 2012
Quickie Review: Dead Calm by Shirley Wells
Dead Calm
Author: Shirley Wells
Release Date: June 4, 2012
Publisher: Carina Press
Dylan Scott Mystery #4
ISBN: #978-1426893889
Genre: Mystery, Novella
Format(s): e-book
Book Source: Author
About the book:
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Detective Dylan Scott thinks cruising well above the Arctic Circle in November is nothing short of madness. He has zero interest in seeing the elusive aurora borealis, but agrees to the Norwegian holiday to keep his wife and mother happy. At least the biggest problem he'll have to deal with is boredom. But that boredom quickly dissipates when the unpleasant elderly woman in the neighboring cabin is found dead.
Everyone thinks Hanna Larsen had a heart attack. Everyone except Dylan. Dylan is convinced there's a killer aboard the Midnight Sun—a killer who may strike again…
What I’m talking about:
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The story opens with our reluctant hero, Dylan Scott, having a late night run in with the irritable woman staying in the cabin next to his aboard the cruise ship, Midnight Sun. Much to his (and everyone else) surprise, the miserable old woman, Hanna Larsen, is found dead the next morning in her cabin. Everyone assumes it was her heart problems and the stress of traveling that caused her death, but Dylan’s inner private eye sees it differently, especially after he knows he heard someone leaving her cabin at 3:00 AM. Soon Dylan has a fairly long list of suspects and is determined to prove there is more going on than appears.
Once again, Ms. Wells offers a wonderful whodunit with the most lovable Dylan Scott. Dead Calm has all of the ingredients that make each of the full-length Dylan Scott Mysteries engrossing and exciting. Even in this shortened format, the mystery is packed with viable suspects, multiple points-of-view, and a few surprising twists.
I have really grown to love Dylan over the course of reading three (of four) of his stories. He is truly a likable guy - he’s an average “joe,” complete with his own flaws and bad habits. He is annoyed by his mother, doesn’t want to be on this trip, and is obsessed with a dead woman, yet we know he loves his family and does what he can to make them happy. I enjoy reading his point-of-view and seeing how he works out the mystery. I find that I am always trying to solve the case before he does. And while I may guess the correct suspect, there are always doubts planted so that I really am uncertain right up until the end.
For those who have not yet tried one of the Dylan Scott Mysteries, Dead Calm is a great taste of the author’s writing style in a novella-length story. It is offered as a stand alone book, or in a four-author anthology from Carina Press. Although each of the stories are completely stand alone, we do witness wonderful character development from book to book. I also enjoy watching Dylan and wife Bev go from separated to happy once again. SO - if you enjoy a great mystery coupled with stupendous characters and thrilling plots, I highly suggest starting at the beginning with Presumed Dead.
My Rating:
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Enjoyed - strongly recommend (A-)
Purchase Info:
Reviews in the Series:
Thursday, April 26, 2012
Review: Silent Witness
Silent Witness
Author: Shirley Wells
Release Date: March 5, 2012
Publisher: Carina Press
Dylan Scott Mystery #3
Genre: Mystery/Suspense
Format(s): e-book, audio
Book Source: Author
About the book:
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After his ex-wife bled to death in a bathtub covered in his fingerprints, the case against Aleksander Kaminski seemed open and shut. Though sentenced to life in prison, he swears he's innocent, a claim supported by his current wife.
Private investigator Dylan Scott finds himself drawn back to dreary Lancashire in a search for justice. The evidence against Kaminski is damning, but having been unjustly jailed himself, Dylan is compelled to peruse the case; if there's even a small chance the man is innocent, he has to help. The other obvious suspect - the victim's second husband - has a watertight alibi. But Dylan has a strong hunch that as usual, there's more going on than meets the eye in Dawson's Clough.
The deeper Dylan digs, the more secrets he unearths. The question remains: If Kaminski didn't murder his childhood sweetheart, who did?
What I’m talking about:
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Dylan Scott, ex-police officer and current private investigator, is looking into the murder of Carly Walsingham. Currently, her ex-husband, Alek Kaminski is serving time for her death, but he claims innocence. Alek’s parents (along with current wife, Sue) have hired Dylan to discover the truth and get Alek out of jail. Among the list of suspects: Carly’s second husband: Dr. Neil Walsingham, Jamie Tinsley: a vet at Sue’s animal shelter, Neil’s current mistress: Megan Cole and Neil’s former mistress: Sonia Trueman. Although all evidence points to Alek’s guilt, Dylan Scott is compelled to take the case.
This is my second Dylan Scott Mystery and once again, I am captivated! Ms. Wells has a knack for story-telling that keeps me on my toes and fully engaged until the very end! One of the best things about this story (and series) is that it is told from multiple points of view. This not only gives the reader insight into Dylan’s sleuthing, but paints a different portrait of the victim and events depending on who’s doing the thinking. I never really knew who was guilty until the very end. It is a very effective and suspenseful way to present the story.
Second, I adore Dylan Scott. He is a reluctant "hero," who is human and flawed, but a good man. I enjoy going through his thought processes and watching him interact with suspects. He is still bitter because of his dismissal from the police force (and subsequent incarceration for being too rough with a convict), and it impacts his interactions with everyone. Yet, I think it drives him to be a better detective. He has a way of putting me at ease.
Another wonderful thing about this book is Dylan’s relationship with his family. His interactions with his wife, Bev, are touching and real. There is just enough of his personal life to give the story a compassionate touch, but not overrun the central plot. In addition, we are treated to sections of the story told by Bev. She has a newborn baby and is clearly suffering from postpartum depression. As a mom of two, I understand those feelings and fears, and it is these sections that make Silent Witness something special.
I really don’t have anything negative to say about this book. I am a bit baffled as to why the victim (Carly) had a bruise and what was up with the heightened anxiety Alek experienced. It was the one loose end not wrapped up. Everything else found its place by the end of the tale, and I look forward to more Dylan Scott stories!
Silent Witness is and exciting and at times suspenseful murder mystery. I was left guessing whodunit until close to the end. It's funny that my first inclination was correct. I enjoy how Ms. Wells builds the case and gives her story a human touch.
My Rating:
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Enjoyed - strongly recommend (A-)
Purchase Info:
Other Reviews in the Series:
Presumed Dead (Dylan Scott #1) Saturday, July 30, 2011
Review: Vision Impossible
Vision ImpossibleAuthor: Victoria Laurie
Release Date: July 5, 2011
Publisher: NAL
Psychic Eye Mystery #9
ISBN: #978-0451234063
Genre: Paranormal Suspense
Format(s): Hardcover (358 pgs), e-book
Book Source: Publisher
About the book: |
Abby Cooper's next mission may truly be impossible...
Abby Cooper, the FBI's newest Civilian Profiler, is adding Spy to her resume. The military's digital photography software that captures one's aura- just like Abby can-sits in a drone aircraft that's been stolen. It's a major breach in security as every country's leader can be identified by their aura...
Abby springs into action to stop the criminals before they set their diabolical plan into motion, while making herself a prime target.
What G & U are talking about: |
Vision Impossible is the ninth book in the Psychic Eye Mysteries. Gikany and Una did not read the previous books (nor do we anticipate picking them up) so we have jumped into this one blind. However, that being said as we did our research for this book to put together our review, we noticed that (besides fans either loving or hating this novel) this book was a departure from the previous books in the series. Abby’s usual friends and crew were not featured, except for her fiancé Dutch. Therefore if you want to pick up this series with this book, it might be a good starting point. We do not feel we had missed out on anything by starting here (unless you want to know how Abby and Dutch got together).
We had a very difficult time thinking of how to review and rate this book. Gikany has come up with a great illustration. This book is like being on a rollercoaster…the first part is torturously slow, the middle is interesting and the last part is a thrill. That being said, we must admit to skimming parts of the first third of Vision Impossible (okay, Una skimmed, Gikany was good and didn’t... gold star for her) where the “spy training” occurs. The plot picks up once they are put in the field, doing the spy work and the drama begins to unfold. Then at the end where the action explodes, it is fantastic… the end could be taken from a James Bond movie.
One overwhelmingly difficult element that Una faced is her dislike of our main character, Abby the psychic. We must note: Gikany didn’t find her as annoying as Una did. Maybe it was reading this book so soon after Burning Down the Spouse (review HERE), but Una felt the main character (who is the voice of the novel) was a bit similar (though not nearly as bad or frustrating as the above referenced book). But it is hard to truly enjoy a novel when you feel your main character, a professional and mature women, talks about a swear jar, pinky swears, and whose speech reminds you of a high school student. What saved the book for Una was the spy drama, the intrigue of who stole the device and the mysterious character Maks.
Sadly, this is not a series we can see ourselves picking up. It is meant to be a lighthearted paranormal mystery type series. For Gikany and Una, there is too much fluff for our liking. This book is a departure from that typical storyline, but we assume Ms. Laurie may go back to that. That being said, Vision Impossible is a good starting place for those that would like to start the series and not feel the need to read the previous books.
Their Rating: |
Liked it, but we had some issues - recommend (B)
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
Review: Presumed Dead
Presumed DeadAuthor: Shirley Wells
Release Date: July 26, 2010
Publisher: Carina Press
Dylan Scott Mysteries Book #1
ISBN: #978-1426890444
Genre: Mystery/Suspense
Format(s): e-book
I received a e-copy of this book from the author for the purposes of an honest review.
From the author’s website:
Dylan Scott has problems. Dismissed in disgrace from the police force for assaulting a suspect, he has no job, his wife has thrown him out and—worse luck—his mother has moved in. So when Holly Champion begs him to investigate the disappearance of her mother thirteen years ago, he can't say no, even though it means taking up residence in the dreary Lancashire town of Dawson's Clough for the duration.
Although the local police still believe Anita Champion took off for a better life, Dylan's inquiries turn up plenty of potential suspects: the drug-dealing, muscle-bound bouncer at the club where Anita was last seen; the missing woman's four girlfriends, out for revenge; the local landowner with rumored mob connections—the list goes on. But no one is telling Dylan all they know—and he soon finds that one sleepy Northern town can keep a lot of secrets.
What I’m talking about:
Heads up and note: THIS IS NOT A ROMANCE. THIS IS NOT A PARANORMAL-THEMED BOOK! *shock* I know... I can expand my horizons!
Okay, so now that I have that out of the way, I want to tell you about this great mystery I just read... First of all, we have our hero, Dylan Scott. The poor man has had a bit of a tough run and we catch him trying to pull his life back to some normalcy. After being kicked off the police force and spending time in jail, his self-esteem and pride have taken a huge hit. His wife is tired of his attitude and kicks him out. Dylan’s chance to turn himself around falls to Holly Champion. He is contacted by Holly to find her missing mother and she persuades him by insisting he is the only one for the job. In order to repair some of the problems in his life, Dylan decides to take on the case, even though he is convinced that nothing good will come of it.
I like Dylan. He’s a good man. His investigative technics are not unusual, but he is so personable that he gets the information he needs from complete strangers. I enjoyed following him around as he searched for the truth. In addition, he is convinced that his wife, Bev, will see the errors of her ways and allow him back into the marital home. His ignorance of their problems, his honest desire to return home and his interactions with his son, Luke, helped shape Dylan and create a lovable character. I found myself pulling for this poor, deluded man the whole time. I shared his enthusiasm for his work and his desire to return home.
The mystery itself is captivating. The story pulled me in quickly, using multiple point-of-views to tell the tale. We are not only privy to Dylan’s thought-process, but we are able to see what the suspects and other players are up to with this very effective writing style. Each turn of events had me guessing and re-writing theories in my mind.
The side characters are also enjoyable. Dylan’s mom doesn’t make much of an appearance, but she is a hoot (or at least how she bothers Dylan is). Simple Stevie is one of those observant, mis-treated, pleasant characters that everyone overlooks except Dylan. And again, Dylan shines in his relationship with Stevie. All of the suspects are plausible and interesting. All-in-all, this is an enjoyable story!
My Rating:
Really enjoyed - strongly recommend (A-)
READERS: Don’t forget... The author, Shirley Wells, has generously donated an electronic copy of her book, Presumed Dead to giveaway to you. Please leave a comment on this review or on yesterday’s interview with Ms. Wells. The contest is open to everyone (international). Comments must be posted by Thursday October 14, 2010 at 9:00PM EDT.
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