Ashley
BLUF: This isn't a self-help book, it's an OpEd/Pop Science piece.
“Success is not a random act. It arises out of a predictable and powerful set of circumstances and opportunities ...”
Plot: Outliers follows the premise that people only became successful because of the opportunities provided in their life. This includes anything from the time of the year or era they were born to family background to the lucky breaks. While there is a controllable factor in success (practice), Gladwell argues that it must be coupled with other factors in order for success to occur.
My thoughts: After reading this, I'm not really sure why my father recommended this to me to read. I feel like the success of books like Freakonomics has us (my father and I included) excited for any book that explains social science in a readable and entertaining manner. Many readers (ahem.. me) take this information at face value and fail to realize any skews or dissents as they are not discussed. My point: take this with a grain of salt.
While this book's emphasis is on successful people being formed by group effort, I think it's unfortunate in the sense that it causes readers to say “Ahh, THIS is why I must not be successful.” Why try to be successful if success is based on factors outside of your control? It's a demotivator and a concept that can be used to justify one's lack of effort.
Concepts Discussed: Opining aside, Outliers presents an interesting argument about success. Malcolm Gladwell offers some ideas that seem pretty self explanatory: high general intelligence doesn't take you far if you don't have practical intelligence, practice in a trade or skill is necessary for mastery, and culture plays a major part in who we are and how we behave. Other ideas you may be hearing for the first time: how you were raised, arbitrary cutoff dates (schools, sports, etc.), and “what your parents do for a living, and the assumptions that accompany the class your parents belong to” matter.
Summary of Examples: Gladwell discussions include Bill Joy, Bill Gates, The Beatles, Steve Jobs, Chris Langan, Lewis Terman, Oppenheimer, Joe Flow, Alexander Bickle, Maurice and Mort Janklow, Regina and Louis Borgenict, the Howards and Turners, Gert Hofstede, Alan Schoenfield, and himself. Arguments are detailed with the use of sports and school advantages, Jewish immigrants, cultural legacies, rice farmers, and the KIPP Academy along with brief life bios for some of the individuals listed above.
Oh, BTW: When asked, “What do you want people to take away from Outliers?” Gladwell answered “My wish with Outliers is that it makes us understand how much of a group project success is”.
BLUF: Good for its target age, not so good if you're any older.
I re-read this as a part of the 2015 Popsugar Challenge as a book from my childhood. I loved Goosebumps as a kid. They scared me, entertained me, and I read all the ones I could. I was pretty excited to revisit this one as it's the most familiar Goosebumps from my childhood.
Stay Out of the Basement is about a family who's breadwinner recently lost his job at the laboratory. Dr. Brewer continues his work at home in the family's basement. His work has turned into an obsession and he rarely surfaces from the basement except to sleep. When the mother needs to take a trip due to a family emergency, the kids are left at home to care for themselves. Curiosity gets the best of the kids and, when dad's out, they sneak in to figure out what exactly he is doing down there. Curiosity soon turns into fear as the kids struggle to deal with their dad, his changes, and his work.
I don't know if I simply cannot put myself in a mindset to appreciate children's books or if I don't enjoy the writing, but re-reading this book was very unsatisfying. The story was light and quick, but it was also choppy and predictable.
BLUF: Pass on this... This book is for those already familiar with Odd Thomas, but, even then, the plot is lacking.
Plot: This story has your main characters of the first book, Odd Thomas, Stormy Llewellyn (Odd's girlfriend), Chief Wyatt Porter (Odd's father figure), and Terri (Odd's mother figure). Odd Thomas is a 20-year-old manboy who sees ghosts. These ghosts cannot move on from this world until their murderer is caught and/or they have accepted their death. Odd Thomas helps those who have stayed, including a recently murdered young boy. This is where we come in.
The Good: The book is short and sweet. I was looking for a quick read and this was it.
The Bad: This just wasn't interesting to me. I'm not sure how much of this is due to the format and how much was due to the illogical plot. I mean.. Odd finds the killer, talks to him, and just lets him get away. This is after the police are onto the guy and wanting to arrest him. Excuse me? What? No. That's ridiculous.
Overall: This passed the time well, but, if you are compelled to read it, I would recommend renting it rather than buying. I was not impressed.
BLUF: Pick this up.
Plot: A Short History of Nearly Everything is exactly as its' title suggests. This text takes us from the beginning of time to our current position – all in laymen terms.
Topics include: The solar system, geology, all things Earth, atoms, plants, dinosaurs, extinction of dinosaurs, Darwinism, quantum physics, global warming, and everything in between.
I almost DNF'd: I listened to the audiobook and quickly thought it would become a book that I would DNF. The Introduction was very difficult to process. It tried to make the book mysterious and appealing by describing what it took to make the reader, and continues on about atoms before it starts into why Bill Bryson decided to write this book.
Thankfully, I didn't: Believe me, I am thrilled that I made it past that first chapter. Bryson writes nonfiction in the form of stories. It's impressive. I have a hard time with nonfiction books because they tend to be dry and I tend to be unable (unwilling?) to retain the information, but Bryson is able to transitions from one topic to another in a seamless manner.
The iffy: I had a good time reading this book. It constantly made me stop and think about the information provided, as well as research the topics to understand a little more about what I was learning. (Don't get me wrong, the book gives enough information, but I have a need to verify and ponder.) Well... one of the things I researched, the idea that “all glass on Earth is flowing downward under the relentless drag of gravity”. Turns out, this isn't true. When one thing isn't true, it makes me wonder what else was written that was not true.
Oh, btw: The book talks about the Swine Flu. Specifically, how it reoccurs often without known reason. I thought this was awesome (erm.. timely) given that this ended up reoccurring soon after the book was published. I love seeing something I read prove relevant.
So... What are you waiting for? Buy it, rent it, read it, enjoy it, reread it! I know I will (preferably with more fact checking, for fun).
BLUF: Short stories aren't my thing, but I enjoyed the twisted humor.
Button, Button: Short and sweet instant karma. I would be happy with a full-length novel on this concept. 3 Stars. (Plot: Couple gets a button that, if pushed, would award them a large amount of money in exchange for the death of somebody they do not know.)
The Girl Of My Dreams: Good concept, but only an okay story. I would like a full-length novel based on the woman in this story. 3 Stars. (Plot: About a woman who sees the deaths of others in her dreams and a boyfriend who uses this information maliciously.)
Dying Room Only: It's interesting as you know something is going on, but the end is rather uneventful. 1 Star. (Plot: A woman's husband disappears at a pit stop. Hysterics ensue.)
A Flourish of Strumpets: Cute, but not very entertaining. 2 Stars. (Plot: About a door-to-door escort type service. Not really sure the proper term lol.)
No Such Thing as a Vampire: Ehh. 2 Stars. (Plot: About a woman who is visited by a vampire during the night.)
Pattern for Survival: Um... okay? 2 Stars. (Plot: Follows a day in the life of the main character.)
Mute: This is one of the longer stories, but very interesting. 2 Stars. (Plot: About a boy whose parents die and who was never taught how to speak.)
The Creeping Terror: Cute, but long winded. 2 Stars. (Plot: About the plague of Los Angeles.)
Shock Wave: I don't understand the significance of this story. 1 Star. ((Plot: About a church organ that is about to be replaced and the man who has been playing her since the beginning.)
Clothes Make the Man: The story made me LOL. 2 Stars. (Plot: About a man who could not function without his suit.)
The Jazz Machine: The whole poem/jazz writing was hard for me to read. 2 Stars. (Plot: About a bluesman who was approached by another who claimed to understand his song.)
'Tis the Season to Be Jelly: WTF. Another one that was hard for me to read. (Plot: About hillbillies with missing parts.)
BLUF: This book is exactly how you think it will be. Good, but dated.
Plot: Eccentric Billionaire, John Hammond, owns a bioengineering firm which ventures into the re-creation of dinosaurs with the purpose of creating a zoo – the first of its' kind. It's not entertaining to have only omnivores; Hammond creates the carnivores too. Due to investor concerns (specifically, the deaths of some workers due to “construction accidents”, EPA investigations, and lizard attacks on nearby islands), Hammond's lawyers advises that outside experts be brought in as a test trail for the park. What should have been an enlightening weekend trip soon turns into a nightmare when the park's system crashes.
My Apathy: I'm disappointed in myself for not liking this book more than I did. I have read Michael Crichton outside this series and enjoyed it, but there is something about horror books with animals as the scare factor that just doesn't work for me. Ghosts, paranormal, etc. scare me. Dinosaurs, killer insects, etc. do not. That said, if you are a person who does get scared by man-eating dinosaurs, you will love this book. There are many close calls and enough tension to keep you on edge.
As for the rest: The story is pretty darn good. It's everything you could want: there are those in the shop trying to bring the park back on line, those in the field fighting for their lives and to get back in the resort, and many deaths in between the groups. The characters were realistic in their flaws and personality, but I don't really have anything to say about them. (Three weeks later and they don't stick in my head. Hmm...)
Comparison to the movie: The movie does not majorly deviate from the story until after the car crashes down the tree. This is perfect for those of us who cannot envision a book after seeing a movie, as it allows us to view the book from our perspectives. (I hate the feeling of déjà vu that comes when this happens.)
My real only complaint: As with The Lost World, Ian Malcolm drove me up the wall. This character will talk your ear off and it is absolutely painful. I'm not sure if this is because he is into himself or if it is simply the content of his speech. Thankfully, he has much less of a role in this book than he does in The Lost World.
BLUF: Quick read involving heart wrenching emotional decisions. (aka.. What extent would you go to save your loved one(s)?)
I was provided a copy of this book from netgalley.com in exchange for an honest review
Plot: One to Go follows Tom Booker who, after an accident that would have killed his sister-in-law, daughter, and daughter's three friends, is approached by the devil for a deal.. The lives of those he loves in the van for the lives of five strangers (by his hand), with a deadline of one body every two weeks. Booker tries to find the high road in killing, but naturally, taking one's life isn't easy.
The plus: I love plots like these because they require so much from the main character. There is the moral dilemma of killing a person, there is the heartbreak of having to do so in order to save those you love, and then the combination of these two aspects while training to maintain normalcy of your day-to-day life.
The minus: I wasn't a big fan of the main character, to be honest, but it wasn't so bad that I didn't like the book. He's awkward, only really cared about his daughter after striking the deal, and makes loads of stupid decisions.
The other: Some of this story was a bit harder to believe, even with the general suspension of disbelief you decide to make upon picking the book up. Other parts (um. P-chugging? really?) should have never come to mind.
BLUF: Well written story that is more about the journey than the destination.
I was provided a copy of this book from netgalley.com in exchange for an honest review
Plot: The Quality of Silence follows a woman and a daughter who travel to Alaska, with the hopes of persuading her husband to come home. These hopes are soon shattered when she is solemnly informed that the village her husband was staying in was burnt in an accident, with no survivors and all bodies (including her husband) accounted for. Undeterred and hopeful, the woman and he daughter embrace on a trip through Alaska, to the burnt village in search of her husband.
POV: I was terrified when I started this book because the first perspective we are introduced to is the daughter. I can't remember the last time I read a book from a child's point of view, especially one where the child actually speaks from their age, rather than from the POV of an adult. But it was good. Really good. Granted, I may be blinded from the fact that she is deaf – which is another POV I have never read from, but quite appreciated. There are other POVs, but I found the daughter to be the most enjoyable.
Attention to Detail:I'm not knowledgeable on Alaska, sign language, or any of the other concepts in the book, but reading this, it felt as if the author put in the extra effort to make this story as honest as possible. I'm sure I will find out if my feelings on this are true or not, but the effort showed and added to the story.
Plot: I wasn't thrilled for the plot. I was hoping for a murder mystery, but this book was more about the journey across Alaska above everything else. I should have expected this, but, for whatever reason, I didn't. I'm sure this isn't a problem for most of you because you likely read the book's plot synopsis thoroughly, unlike me...
The end is neat and tightly pulled together, but rather abrupt. It's not necessarily a bad thing, but I wanted a little more.
BLUF: This is a worthwhile read, but contains some odd (but infrequent) sexual content.
I was provided a copy of this book from netgalley.com in exchange for an honest review
Plot: The Black Tongue surrounds a neighborhood's urban legend. The story is intertwined around a few different individuals. We follow a young girl who is being introduced to the legend for the first time, an older woman who remembers the story from her childhood and decides to return to her hometown to write about the legend, and an older man (grew up with the woman) who returns to the neighborhood after the death of his father and reminisces on his childhood.
Pre-warning!: The first chapter is told from a teen's point of view and IS NOT reflective on how the book is written. Please, trudge through it – it's worth it.
Let's start with the good...: I can't tell you how good of a job the translator did against the original, but the story here flowed as if it was originally written in English, with the obvious exceptions of Finnish names. I didn't struggle to read through the translation at all.
It's interesting to see how everything ties together. At first, it really makes no sense on why we are following these different people, but it becomes much more complex as the story continues. I adore the story for this.
Another plus is that this book scared me. I'll admit, I am a wimp, but I haven't read a book that scared me in a while. This one did it. I slept with the light on for a couple nights.
...and then the bad: Awkward, awkward sexual moments. I'm not a fan of sexual moments anyways, but the ones in this book were exceptional strange.
Oh, and here is the stuff that doesn't matter, but I'm going to tell you about anyways: The translator changed a few names to be English, but not the majority. I can only assume it is because, at one point, the book refers to Samuel being named after the Bible. It would have made more sense to change all or change none, IMO.
BLUF: Cute, quick read – great for those who enjoy a little supernatural mixed into their mystery stories.
I was provided a copy of this book from netgalley.com in exchange for an honest review
Plot: The Witches Protection Program is exactly what you think it's about. It's a witness protection program for witches. After failing his first assignment within a highly regarded federal police branch, Wes Rockville is reassigned to the Witches Protection Program. Although Wes thinks the reassignment is an elaborate joke, (c'mon, witches don't actually exist) Wes has little choice but to play along. Soon enough, and a rude awakening later, Wes finds himself fighting for the survival of humanity.
Okay, okay.. I exaggerate, but the level of action definitely reflects a good vs. evil battle.
Let's start with the good...: The plot wrapped together quite well. Starting from a main character who doesn't believe in the witches he is now hired to protect, continuing to the witches stirring up trouble, and ending with a successful thwarting of plans – the plot ramps up in a way that will keep your attention. Also, I can see this book being a good series – maybe episodic in nature?
... and move to the awkward...: Oh my, awkward relationships. The main relationship between Wes and Morgan was strangely developed. From distrust to sparks of chemistry to making out in inopportune moments to an actual relationship – it just didn't flow naturally. The other awkward relationship was between Alastair and Morgan. Alastair creeps Morgan out for the majority of the book. Then, at the end, she's very excited to be a daughter to him – no questions asked. I did not understand this at all. There were a couple others, but, for the most part, the relationships weren't too questionable.
... and finish with the rest.: I know this doesn't matter, but I am going to vent anyways. The book kept introducing one character as Junie “Baby Fat” Meadows, but, she was consistently referred to as Junie in the text. Why introduce a person with a nickname if you don't use the nickname more than half the time? But.. maybe that was my perception. If not, it's definitely just a pet peeve.
BLUF: Good start to a new series. This book emphasizes character development and the development of the team, but worry not – the murder and mystery mixes well.
I was provided a copy of this book from netgalley.com in exchange for an honest review
Plot: Dark Murder follows Detective Stephen Greco, a new lead for the team, in the case of a mutilated body found in a canal. Greco is brought in to pull the team together as a functional unit. Between the suspicious circumstances around the murder and the awkward dynamics around leading a new team, Dark Murder is a good start to a new series.The Good: I enjoyed the characters and their interactions: the team has an interesting dynamics and we have insights to the faults of the employees, the family and coworkers of the victims lead to interesting drama, and we gain insight on the killer by seeing through his eyes, although it's a bit disturbing. Another aspect I liked is that we figure out who the killer is around three quarters of the way in, but not the why until ~90%. The Bad: The ending was very quick and anti-climatic.I was very excited when I realized that the main character is not only a side character in another book of Durrant's (Dead List), but also that he was not a well liked character in this other book.
In comparison to Dead List: Dead List was upfront with the murderer, while Dark Murder allows the reader to guess. Dead List was all about the characters and their relationships with each other while Dark Murder has a healthier mix of relationships and murder mystery.
This book is very informative and is aimed to educate elementary school children about bats.
There was a strong influence on the ways that humans can accidentally cause bats to die in this book and my 9 year old nephew was a little sensitive to these facts (although his 8 year old sister wasn't), but, overall, it's essential for kids to know how our inadvertent actions can affect these animals.
This book also touched on what to do if a bat flies into one's house. This isn't a common problem where I live, but it's very good information to have stored just in case.
Overall, the kids enjoyed learning about what and how much bats eat, how bats find their way around, and the roles of bats in relation to humans. I found this book perfect for the kids' age group and that the book gave enough information for me, as the reader, to answer any of the kid's extra questions.
BLUF: Good way for those who prefer murder mysteries, but want to branch out into the post-apocalyptic genre. (Enjoy!)
I was provided a copy of this book from netgalley.com in exchange for an honest review
Plot: Salt is set three years after our world has flooded due to solar flares and earthquakes. Our survivors are aboard a flotilla, which is (essentially) many ships secured together. Among the battles to keep the various clans civil and cooperative, the flotilla's residents must also be weary of a fatal sickness. Not everything goes as well as the flotilla's captain hopes, and when murders begin occurring on the ship he puts Eva, a former police detective, on the case. As she tries to find the killer, the tension between clans rises to an all-time high.
Overall: I really enjoyed this book, but I'm not sure I can do it justice in this review. All I can say is that it hooked me quick and I'm still thinking about how the characters are doing even though I finished the book. (I would definitely read the sequel!)
“Genre”:This book was part conspiracy, part murder mystery, and part survival. I'm a big fan of murder mystery, but new to the post-apocalyptic concept. I was afraid of disliking this book for the sci-fi factor, but I found that the day-to-day happenings in a post-apocalyptic world were well mixed with the murder mystery. The story is smooth and will keep you entertained.
Characters: I was impressed with the character development and how human they were (for lack of better words). Some books seem to make the narrators omnipresent when it doesn't make sense or for them to be over-aware of themselves and their surroundings. I didn't find that here. The characters were intriguing, and as much of a mystery as they would be in real life.
BLUF: If you can get past rough main character, pick this one up.
I was provided a copy of this book from netgalley.com in exchange for an honest review
After reading the description of this book, I had to read it.
Series: This book is third in the D.I. Kim Stone series, but can be read as a standalone. That said, the characters are not introduced and the reader is expected to understand them from previous novels. For me, this wasn't a major issue, but it did negatively affect the amount I enjoyed this book.
Plot: Nine-year-old best friends are kidnapped. The families of these girls are very close and are prepared to do whatever it takes to get both their daughters back. Well.. they were until the kidnapper determined that only the girl whose parents bid the highest will be freed. Can D.I. Stone and her team deter the parents from giving in long enough to try and save both daughters?
The bad: Because this is a series, the characters aren't introduced in this book and, as a result, felt a little flat in comparison to the characters new to the series. I wasn't able to pick up the personality of Stone's team and I wasn't exactly fan of Stone's bad attitude. The other thing I really didn't enjoy was that a crude sexual act was used to help build the evilness behind the kidnapper. I know many authors use this tactic, but I really hate it. The evilness is well described without this incident. Another minor concept, but there weren't many clues leading up to figuring out who/where the kidnapper was. It was like one minute they knew nothing, then the hypnotism happened, and suddenly they are at the barn.
The good: I couldn't put this book down! Despite disliking Stone's attitude it didn't stop me from enjoying the book or her role in it. I enjoyed the dynamics between the new characters and adored the dialogue. This book is fast paced and I definitely will be reading more from this author and this series – preferably from the start so I can better understand Stone's selfishness.
BLUF: Skip this one.
I was provided a copy of this book from netgalley.com in exchange for an honest review
Okay, okay.. I will fess up. I only downloaded this book from netgalley because my boyfriend's son said the cover looked stupid and I disagreed. I'm sorry – I should have never agreed to review a YA novel as this is one of my least liked genres.
That said, it's not going to stop me from provided an honest review..
This book is part of the Red Eye series, but is very much a standalone.
The plus side: I enjoy the author's writing style. I found that this style moved the story forward and there's a good chance I would enjoy his books under different circumstances
The not-so-good side: I didn't care about the characters in this book. The main character makes so many poor choices - it's unreal. (I don't know anybody who would feel comfortable taking jewelry off of a dead person, even if that dead person is now a skeleton. That is just the start of his poor decisions that I truly cannot understand.) The lead female character is left as a mystery. She is somewhat explained, but she seemed apathetic towards the main character despite being there for him. The best friend is completely ignored, but showed more emotion and caring than the other two characters, which is a shame because he was the least mentioned.
As for my boyfriend's son.. I wouldn't be opposed to him reading this book, but I know it would absolutely drive him crazy. He would yell at the main character for his stupid decisions while, at the same time, criticize him for not punching the bad guy in the face. (Take this with a grain of salt: He's ten, thinks he can take out a bear up with a knife, prefers non-fiction, and only reads if you absolutely force him to.)
Overall, I didn't enjoy the story or make sense of the characters.
BLUF: I really enjoyed certain aspects of this book, but, as a whole, the book didn't do much for me.
I received this ebook free from storycartel.com in exchange for an honest review
Let's start with the good..
This is one of the first books I have read that tells the story through multiple perspectives. I don't know if this classifies as the omniscient narrator or if it's something entirely different, but it works for this book. I enjoyed knowing what all characters were feeling and thinking and it kept the book interesting to me.
Despite not being thrilled with the story or the characters, I didn't think once about putting the book down.
Now with the bad..
I didn't grow attached to any character in this book and, as a result, wasn't invested in their actions or potential death.
I expected this book to scare me. It didn't.
Lastly... The professor and secondary character decide to go back into the forest again to collect the bodies and find specimens... Really? After everything? That's just ridiculous.
BLUF: Great book for those who enjoy science fiction mixed in with their murder mystery.
I was provided a copy of this book from netgalley.com in exchange for an honest review
Sirens in the Night follows two individuals: Samantha Ballard and Jack Allyn. Samantha is an experienced detective who is “mentoring” the homicide division rookie. In reality, she faces a need to prove herself as a strong detective and tries to lead the case ahead of her FBI counterparts, while being very impatient and unforgiving towards her rookie. Jack is a radio DJ. Once famous for his on-air personality, Jack now finds himself at the lowest of lows in the business. Unfortunately for Jack, he hits a new low as mummified corpses begin appearing around him.
At first, Samantha seems like your typical police harda** who doesn't care about anyone and doesn't play by the rules. Reading on, she sheds this initial judgment and becomes very likeable (It's interesting how getting to know somebody sheds light on their actions.) She remains too hard on her partner, but it reads well. Usually, I am the first to whine about a character that feels pushed down by the man, but, at the same time, is rude to those around her and shuts her station out. In Samantha's case, these aspects didn't bother me. She doesn't act as a lone wolf and she calls her partner in on all discoveries. For me, her desire to prove herself as a woman detective didn't have a whine to it; it was just a fact of her position.
Jack is likeable from the start. His career is past its' prime and he is unhappy, but he has his routines and a good personality.
As for the murders and investigation in these books, we discover the “who” and the “how” very quickly in this book, but not the “why”. In general, I don't like knowing the “who” upfront, but really, we only see who it is, not know who it is. This allows the book to retain mystery despite knowing our murder's pattern.
The only downfall of this book (unless you count not having a second book!) is that some of the descriptive phrases are reused. That is, one person describes somebody in very specific words and, much later in the book, another character uses the exact same words. It might be purposeful, but it gives the reader a sense of déjà vu and essentially disrupts the current story to reflect on parts of the story that has already passed.
Overall, I enjoyed this very much!
BLUF: Steady paced murder mystery with realistic characters and relationships.
I was provided a copy of this book from netgalley.com in exchange for an honest review
Zane, a recovering alcoholic, was fired from work. After a night of being black out drunk, Zane wakes to learn that his mother has been killed in a fire. Shortly after, Zane receives a strange text suggesting that his mother was not who she said she was. Zane and his sister, Lettie, search to find the truth surrounding their mother and uncover more than they bargain for.
I chose this book because I enjoy narrators who are try to uncover the truth, even if the truth shows that they are at fault for something unthinkable. This book is so much more than what its' (or my) overview can convey.
I found this book to hold a perfect pace. It's not fast or slow – its realistic. The pace unfolds the story in a natural, unrushed way. The relationships between characters were very realistic as well. Because of this, the reader will quickly feel familiar with and root for the characters.
I definitely recommend this book for those who are looking for a murder mystery with loveable, but realistic characters. The author writes in a way that will keep your attention and I plan on reading more from her in the near future.
The downfalls of this book, and please understand that these take little to nothing away from the book, are that the end is wrapped up very quickly. It's well done and leaves the reader feeling complete and content, but it would have been nice for something more drawn out. Also, it felt like the surprises were evenly spaced in the book, leaving the reader to realize that a twist was coming shortly, even if they weren't certain what it would be. I realize these factors will be turnoffs for some readers so I figured I would be honest and give those readers a warning. If these two concepts don't phase you, well, you're in for a treat!
BLUF: I really enjoyed certain aspects of this book, but, as a whole, the book didn't do much for me.
Back of Beyond is the first in the Cody Hoyt series. Cody Hoyt is your typical, angry lone wolf who doesn't play well with others. I've been having a hard time with this type of character lately, but, for whatever reason, came to an acceptance with Hoyt after he exposes that he's a recovering alcoholic. (This may have to do with the last book I read, whose main character was presumed guilty after a relapse from alcoholism, but was a very caring family-oriented man.)
I'm not sure what went wrong with this book, but it lost me when Cody jumped from the murder of his mentor to the idea that the murderer now journeyed on a pack trip with his son and was, somehow, an imminent threat. This was too far of a stretch for me. While I understand that no one wants their child on a trip with a murderer, I don't understand how a threat was felt so instantly after the determination that the murderer was on the same trip, especially when the murderer's victims were all alcoholics – not teenage boys.
In all, I enjoyed the interactions between characters, but wasn't fond of how the mystery unfolded
I was provided a copy of this book from netgalley.com in exchange for an honest review
To be completely honest, I picked this book primarily based on its cover and because the plot seemed ok.
I didn't grow any attachment to this book or its characters. I find the characters interesting – the lead character that thinks he's slick (and is somehow irresistible to the ladies?), the gullible sister, the hot older neighbor, the absence of parents – but there wasn't enough action to keep the reader entertained.
I enjoyed the writing and appreciated that the sex wasn't detailed (yes, I'm one of those people!), but, overall, this book lacks excitement and direction.
Thank you to Pen and Picture for the opportunity to read this book through netgalley!
BLUF: Good book for those who like to love their characters and for those who are able to remove their Dean Koontz expectations. (Good book, but not the Dean Koontz most of us adore.)
I was provided a copy of this book from netgalley.com in exchange for an honest review
My Background: I love Dean Koontz. He is all I read during high school and I kept reading him until Relentless, which I fully believe wasn't written by the bestseller and turned me off enough that I have been fearful to read Dean Koontz since. (Then, after five years, I picked up By the Light of the Moon, which made me even more fearful to revisit the books I absolutely adore from him.) I'm trying to say that, while Koontz is my first love, or relationship has been distant for quite some time now. Yet, I couldn't resist wanting to revisit our relationship.
Plot: Ashley Bell follows the story of Bibi Blair. Bibi (pronounced BeeBee) is a lover of life and an avid writer. Bibi suffers a stroke, which leads to a diagnosis of a very rare, very malicious strain of cancer. Two days and a visit from an unknown being later, and Bibi is inexplicably clear of cancer. As a gift, her parents present her a reading from a psychic, who soon shares that Bibi was spared in order to safe the life of another, Ashley Bell.
Review: Ashley Bell is a good book, but it doesn't live up to the standards we hold for Dean Koontz. Although one could argue that there are too many run-on sentences, Ashley Bell is well written and keeps the reader entranced. The story itself is interesting, but it lacks the suspense, horror, and mystery that we love and have come to expect from Koontz.
Bibi should be a likeable character, but I wasn't a big fan. That said, I can't pinpoint what exactly bothered me. Honestly, it could even be the fact that every character was focused on her and her only. I realize this is stupid of me. Given that we are taken through this book on her thoughts, it's not a surprise and is very realistic that everything is about her, and I understand that. Like I said, I can't quite explain my feeling. I felt that she thought she was smarter than everyone else and that she expected information from other people without offering anything in return (even when they asked). My tweaks aren't likely to be your tweaks though and, which it bothered me in certain portions of the book, it didn't take away from my fondness of the story.
Like I mention above, the story doesn't have the suspense, horror, or mystery that a reader would expect when picking up a book by Dean Koontz. This book isn't a thriller and it won't scare you. There are times were your heart is paused, hoping that the characters will soon know what we know, but overall, there is little suspense. There is mystery in Ashley Bell, but there is nothing for the reader to guess about – we can only continue through the story and be directed through the mystery.
For all these complaints against the “Dean Koontz Standard”, I found the story itself is intriguing. I dreaded the face that I only had an hour or two at a time to read this story – I wanted to finish it all in one sitting. I enjoyed the few twists in the book and, for the most part, I enjoyed the balance between realism and paranormal.
Overall, I think this is a compelling read and good for those who like to love their characters.
BLUF: Good for those who enjoy a focus on the relationships in their murder mysteries. (Can be read as a standalone.)
I was provided a copy of this book from netgalley.com in exchange for an honest review
Dead List follows two stories: the one of the killer and the one of the detectives. The killer, near death, murders out of a need for retribution. She starts as a sincere killer, leaving a calling card at the murder scenes in order to avoid implicating an innocent person, but soon realizes the thrill of killing and a never-ending list of people who deserve death. The detectives, on the other hand, find themselves at odds with changes on the force, new developments in their relationships, and, of course, figuring out who is murdering seemingly random individuals. On top of the murders, there are two young girls missing. Will the detectives be able to save the girls and find the murderer before it's too late?
I'm not a big fan of knowing who the killer is upfront as it takes away any thriller aspect the book may have otherwise have, but it's easy to forgive this novel for it given the motives of the killer and her logic surrounding the kills. Not to mention, the killer is very likeable. (How many times have you said that when reading a murder mystery?)
As for starting the series in the middle, there is always the fear that reader will miss key aspects from the previous books – especially when it comes to the characters and their relationships. In Dead List, this wasn't the case. The character's personalities are well written and their interactions are fluid. I felt like I entered into a new group of friends. They are intriguing, quirky, and digging themselves into holes - just like in real life. I love it.
The downfall of this book is that it emphasizes the characters and their relationships over the murder or the missing girl cases. Given that we know the murderer upfront, this wasn't a problem for me, but I hope that this series moves forward with increasing focus on the murderer(s) over the individual characters.
All-in-all, I enjoyed this book and look forward to reading the first two books in the series. It was a good, light read.
Side note: The author includes a glossary at the end of the book for those of us who are unfamiliar with British slang. I gave up looking up British slang in other books and am SO thankful for the consideration.