Book Review: The Hour of Predators by Lane Stark

All I can say is, “WOW!” I could not put down The Hour of Predators by Lane Stark. It is well-written, engaging and nail-biting. Grab your copy now!

The Hour of Predators is a fascinating murder mystery that takes place in a tiny, isolated Canadian community with some Native American residents and some “white” ones. There is constant conflict between the two races. Things really get stirred up when gruesomely murdered men are discovered. Even creepier, the causes of death are not what they appear and circumstances scream of Native American sorcery.

The only family practicing sorcery, the townspeople and Natives say, are the Lesters. Ancient, house-bound Mary Grace Lester is the only one who knows about the death rituals performed on each victim. Her breathtakingly beautiful granddaughter, Claire, is the one tie that connects the three men and the teen accused. Or is she?

A delightful blend of mysticism, old-fashioned detective work, love and mayhem wend their way through this exciting story. Lane Stark has created  a world both intriguing and repulsive. A great read!

Book Review: While I’m Still Myself by Jeremy Mark Lane

I typically don’t read short stories. I was reminded of why I don’t usually like short stories after reading While I’m Still Myself by Jeremy Mark Lane. Each of the stories was so compelling and interesting that they all could be developed into full-length books. I wanted more!

I loved how each story incorporated a different take on ”while I’m still myself.” The characters were all likeable and, while every story was different, floated along the same basic theme.

This is a definite “must read” if you like short stories – and even if you’re not a big fan. The cover art is wonderful and I appreciated the cover references for each story. Way to go, Jeremy!

Book Review: The Wicked Wives by Gus Pelagatti

The more I read The Wicked Wives by Gus Pelagatti, the more my mouth dropped open. The lengths to which some women will go to “off” their husbands and collect the insurance! What makes this book even more delicious is that it is based on a true story.

The Wicked Wives is a great book and a pleasure to read. The characters are believable (even if what they do is almost unbelievable) and the story fantastic. For a real dose of escapism – read it!

Book Review: The Earthquake Machine by Mary Pauline Lowry

The Earthquake Machine by Mary Pauline Lowry is a beautifully told story of a young teenage girl named Rhonda. Largely ignored by her father and drugged-up mother, Rhonda’s only real friend is the family’s Hispanic gardener, Jesus.

Jesus is deported back to Mexico by immigration officials and Rhonda’s mother commits suicide. Utterly lost, Rhonda runs away to Mexico to find Jesus. To aid her in her quest, she “becomes” a boy named Angel, travels throughout Mexico and has a variety of interesting adventures. Denying her female sexuality is her driving force.

The Earthquake Machine is a very unique and compelling book from which I learned a great deal about Mexico and its culture. I admire Rhonda/Angel, who is a sad but believable creature. Her courage and daring and coming-of-age tale is definitely worth a read.

Book Review: Drift by Andrew Hudson

Drift, by Andrew Hudson, is an intriguing story of Travis Benson. Travis seemingly has a simple life working at a marketing firm in Connecticut. As the book progresses, however, the reader realizes Travis’s life is actually quite complicated.

The book opens with a brutal murder in Colorado. There is no reference to that murder again until Chapter 18. The suspense builds page by page as the reader wonders what this terrible thing has to do with Travis.

Each chapter rotates from past to present circumstances involving Travis’s friends and family. We learn that there is a connection with the murder but I won’t spoil the surprise. The book is well-written and a compelling read. I really enjoyed it.

Book Review: Reel Life Crime by Cary Pepper

I was intrigued by Reel Life Crime by Cary Pepper when I was approached to review it.

Private detective Ed Sampas is approached by an “odd couple” for an interesting case. Aristocratic Thelonius Noble and 300 pound Pago Mundy have a problem. Their authentic movie prop (one of only two that exist), the Maltese falcon, has been stolen and they want it back. The recovery must be done quickly and quietly. No police involvement.

Complicating matters are Sampas’ two totally different friends. McNulty, an up-and-up cop, is on the law side and Hank, the gay antiquities dealer, sometimes operates on the other side. Both become intricately meshed in the case.

Comic relief comes with two doped up computer geeks, a beautiful young photographer named Phoebe and Sampas’ nephew Ralph. There is mystery, plot twists and turns, revenge and near-death experiences. The ending is not what one would expect.

I thought this was a great read and highly recommend it. I enjoyed the suspense and the characters were believable and likeable. I have never read The Maltese Falcon or seen the movie but I will now.

Book Review: Thinner by Richard Bachman aka Stephen King

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It is no secret that I’m a “number one fan” of Stephen King’s (Richard Bachman‘s) books. I have read and re-read quite a few of the books over the years. What a wonderful escape from reality!

I have read Thinner a number of times and lately have been wanting to do so again. Unfortunately, my library does not carry it. Fortunately for me, though, I was able to check it out on my Kindle. Yeah!

It took me less than a day to re-read this book and not just because I’ve read it before. The suspense and fast pace carried me quickly along.

Thinner is about an overweight lawyer named Bill Halleck. One day as he is driving with his wife, she decides that this is the perfect first time to jerk him off in the car. Understandably distracted, Bill hits and kills an ancient Gypsy jaywalker. Somehow, the policeman involved and the judge in the case dismiss it.

The Gypsy’s father, Taduz Lemke, however, does not dismiss it. He touches Bill’s face and whispers “thinner.”  And so, Bill begins to get thinner – and thinner – and downright gaunt – with no other explanation than the Gypsy’s curse.

Reluctant to believe that anyone could be cursed, Bill seeks out the judge and police officer to see if anything has happened to them. It has. Bill begins his search for the Gypsy caravan up the New England coast. What happens when Bill finds him has to be read to be believed (if even then).

Book Review: Street Creds by Zach Fortier

StreetCreds, the latest crime drama from former policeman, Zach Fortier, is just as compelling as CurbChek, his first book. This book explores the frightening and real world of gangs and is a fictionalization of real events in Zach’s time on the Gang Task Force.

It was fascinating to learn of the intricacies and twisted loyalties of gangs. It is understandable why young people identify with these groups because their sense of “family” is palpable.

I highly recommend StreetCreds for an in-depth look at how gangs operate and the law officers deal with them. It’s a gritty world.

I received a complimentary copy of StreetCreds in exchange for an honest review.

Book Review – The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold

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The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold was the first library book I checked out on my Kindle! I just love free stuff. It took two weeks to get it but I’ve been busy reading other things.

This beautiful story is about fourteen-year-old Susie Salmon who is brutally raped and murdered by her serial killer neighbor, George Harvey. Her body is chopped up into little pieces, put into a safe and dropped into a deep sinkhole in town.

Susie narrates the story, first on earth and then in her heaven. She watches her family and friends fall apart over her death and how each copes – or doesn’t. Able to travel between heaven and earth, Susie comes to accept her situation with the help of some new friends.

Susie sees her parents drift further apart, each dealing with the unspeakable situation in a destructive way. Her sister, Lindsey, focuses on becoming the family geek and her baby brother, Buckley, withdraws into his fort in the yard. The one boy she ever got to kiss dreams of her and even in heaven, Susie dreams of what might have been. An acquaintance, Ruth, feels a strange connection to Susie after her death and knows she is near.

Susie watches her killer hide his tracks and her father follow his suspicions of their neighbor. Friends all handle her death in a different way.

The story is tragic but full of hope at the same time. I can’t wait to see the movie.

 

Book Review: Frankenstein by Mary Shelley

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I love FREE Kindle e-books! Otherwise, I probably would not have read Frankenstein by Mary Shelley. After reading Dean Koontz’s Frankenstein series, I had thought about reading the original but too many other books “called my name.”

I have never seen any of the Frankenstein movies that have been released over the years. Bits and pieces, here and there, but never a whole movie. From my understanding the original Frankenstein is night and day different from all of those.

I absolutely loved this book. It has mystery, suspense, greed, love, hate, murder, guilt and every other feeling you could have thrown in for good measure.

Victor Frankenstein is obsessed with creating a human being from scratch. He studies hard, gathers what he needs at the most unusual places and finally realizes his dream. But – the monster he creates is a nightmare. Victor flees, leaving the creature to fend for himself.

Victor attempts to live a normal life but the memory of what he has done haunts him. Then he discovers that the creature has been following him. It is angry and it kills.

The reader learns that the monstrosity was able to gain speech and understanding but never love and that was what he wanted most of all. He seeks revenge on his creator and seeks to destroy everything and everyone Victor holds dear.

The two meet and the creature wants Victor to create a mate for him. At first, Victor reluctantly agrees but part-way through he cannot complete the terrible task. The monster vows vengeance and Victor follows him to kill him. Their travels take them all over Europe.

I won’t give away the ending but it’s a good one. This is a great classic that I’m glad I finally read.