Teaser Tuesday - Crime

Teaser Tuesday time with MitzB...........

My Teaser on Kindle from 13%

Jon wasn't convinced.  Every obstacle had a solution.  The trick was to discover it.


I am reading this one for a review.  I am enjoying it so far, everyone is a back stabber.

Book Summary

World renowned neurosurgeon Jon Ritter is on the verge of a medical breakthrough that will change the world. His groundbreaking surgical treatment, using transplanted non-human stem cells, is set to eradicate the scourge of Alzheimer’s disease and give hope to millions. But when the procedure is slated for testing, it all comes to an abrupt and terrifying halt. Ritter’s colleague is gunned down and Ritter himself is threatened by a radical anti-abortion group that not only claims responsibility, but promises more of the same.

Faced with a dangerous reality but determined to succeed, Ritter turns to his long-time colleague, corporate biotech CEO Richard Stillman, for help. Together, they conspire to conduct a clandestine clinical trial in Seoul, Korea. But the danger is more determined, and more lethal, than Ritter could have imagined.

After successful surgical trials, Ritter and his allies are thrown into a horrifying nightmare scenario: The trial patients have been murdered and Ritter is the number one suspect. Aided by his beautiful lab assistant, Yeonhee, Ritter flees the country, now the target of an international manhunt involving Interpol, the FBI, zealous fanatics and a coldly efficient assassin named Fiest.

Dead End Deal is a fast paced, heart-pounding, and sophisticated thriller. Penned by master neurosurgeon, Allen Wyler—who often draws from experience, actual events and hotbutton issues when writing—Dead End Deal is unmatched as a technical procedural. Its medical and scientific details can impress even the most seasoned medical practitioners. And yet, the technical expertise is seamlessly woven into a riveting plot, with enough action and surprises to engross even the most well-read thriller enthusiast.

A smart, unique, page-turner, Dead End Deal delivers

Review - The Hollow City by Dan Wells

Book Summary from Amazon

Michael Shipman is paranoid schizophrenic; he suffers from hallucinations, delusions, and complex fantasies of persecution and horror. That’s bad enough. But what can he do if some of the monsters he sees turn out to be real?

Who can you trust if you can't even trust yourself? The Hollow City is a mesmerizing journey into madness, where the greatest enemy of all is your own mind

My Review - 3 More Sugar Please

Dan Wells is a master at characters, you are totally on their side when you truly should be scared of them.  John from I am not a Serial Killer trilogy an all time favourite character of mine was trying not to become a serial killer and Michael Shipman, wow, a brilliant mind with a twist of crazy, trying to convince everyone including himself he wasn't crazy.

Michael was an unreliable character, this was what made the book, he was delusional with paranoia tendencies, scared off all electronics.  You didn't know what was reality, is it just in his mind or is he trying to manipulate everyone.  You also start to believe in the science fiction futuristic possibilities he discusses.  I also enjoyed that there were numerous characters, all playing a huge part.  We have the police detectives following the Red Line Killer story, Michael's Doctors, the reporter, his father and girlfriend.  Different parts of everyone's story was totally unexpected, great twists thrown in.

I was enjoying The Hollow City almost as much as I am not a Serial Killer trilogy but once we got to the last 25%, the meaning of The Hollow City,  I was hit with science fiction/dystopian style and it killed the story for me.  I was MAD, why ooh why, sigh.  I was deflated by the ending.

I am still a fan and will always recommend the trilogy but this one just didn't do it for me at the end.  And I love psychological thrillers, which this is, Dan Wells totally messes with our mind.  I recommend you still try it.

The question if Michael is truly insane or has been setup is a brilliant suspense journey.

I love Dan Wells mind, the way he thinks and puts those creative thoughts on paper, an author I will always try.  I didn't read Partials, but it has been labeled Dystopian which I have tried a few times, it is just not for me.


Here are my reviews of the I am Not a Serial Killer trilogy.  LOVED IT.

I am not a Serial Killer (Book 1)
Mr. Monster (Book 2)
I Don't Want to Kill You (Book 3)

Wilkie Collins (Moonstone or Woman in White)

                            


The Moonstone

Stolen from the forehead of a Hindu idol, the dazzling gem known as "The Moonstone" resurfaces at a birthday party in an English country home — with an enigmatic trio of watchful Brahmins hot on its trail. Laced with superstitions, suspicion, humor, and romance, this 1868 mystery draws readers into a compelling tale with numerous twists and turns.



The Woman in White

Considered one of the first mystery novels, "The Woman in White" is Wilkie Collins's epistolary novel that tells the tale of Walter Hartright, who encounters a woman all dressed in white on a moonlit road in Hampstead. Hartright helps the woman to find her way back to London. The woman warns him against an unnamed baronet and when they part he discovers that she may have escaped from an asylum. Hartright travels to Cumberland where he takes up as an art tutor and meets two half-sisters, Laura Fairlie and Marian Halcombe, who are somehow entangled with this mysterious "woman in white".


Friends, I enjoyed Rebecca by Daphne Du Maurier so much that I wanted to try another Classic that is popular across the blogosphere, these 2 by Wilkie Collins has continued to come up. 
 
Which one would you recommend?  And if you haven't read them, which one has piqued your interest?
 
Have a great weekend.
 
 

Teaser Tuesday - Mystery

My Teaser


On Kindle at 19%


Claire's expression intensified.  "I keep getting the same conflicting vibes.  Darkness and light.  Resolve and hesitation.  And pain. Not just physical pain, emotional pain.  Regret - and yet, purpose.  




My Review 4 1/2  The Line Between Here and Gone


I look forward to reading yours, I haven't participated in TT in a few months now, it used to be my favourite meme.  Real life takes over though.

Review - The Line Between Here and Gone by Andrea Kane

Book Summary from NetGalley


THE MAN SHE LOVED IS GONE FOREVER.

THE CHILD SHE LIVES FOR COULD BE NEXT.

Each day is a struggle for Amanda Gleason’s newborn son as he battles a rare immune deficiency. Justin’s best chance for a cure lies with his father, who was brutally murdered before Amanda even realized she carried his child.

Or was he?

One emailed photo changes everything, planting a seed of doubt that Amanda latches on to for dear life: a recent photo of a man who looks exactly like Paul. Could Justin’s father be alive? The mother in her is desperate to find out. But tracking down a ghost when every second counts is not for amateurs.

Forensic Instincts is the one team up for the challenge.

My Review - 4 1/2 Great to the Last Drop

It is confirmed, Andrea Kane is my new favourite suspense/mystery author.  This is my 4th book read by her and I have gave all 4 stars and above.  I read her first book in the Forensic Instincts series, here is my review of  The Girl who Disappeared Twice.  I was looking forward to more of this unorthodox team, the banter between them was great, sarcastic and humorous, a refreshing edgy group.  Andrea Kane knew her fans wanted more and she allowed us to really get to know them, professionally and personally.  In the first book it was the banter between the Police and the FI team I enjoyed but the change was that it was between them this time.

The main thing I love about Andrea Kane's books, they are rapid, definite page turners and they always make me want to be a part of the team investigating the crime.  All the books have had the constant go go go flow, without being convoluted, great execution with the balance of it all, description, dialogue, great plot and interesting characters.

The Forensic Instincts team consist of a Behaviorist, a former Navy Seal, a technowizard, an intuitive, retired FBI agent and a human scent-evidence dog. They may be unorthodox in the way they get the information but they get the job done and in a hurry.  They put themselves in danger because they are getting to close to forbidden information which make it exciting.  Is it the FBI and cops they are competing with and making angry or is it the bad guys, and are the good guys bad or truly good.  These twist are exciting and keep you entertained and engaged.  At times you even had to ask yourself if the father truly existed or what part he played, bad guy or good guy.

Many secrets are uncovered including political ties and the higher up you go you realise the intensity of numerous people covering up something, but what and why?  Forensic Instincts is the team you want when you want answers, no matter what. 

The emotional pull about the baby was evident and at times I felt pushed in the readers face with repetition as evidence of urgency but I felt it was a little over done, where it could have been executed more as a roller coaster emotional tragedy.  Was it a race to save the babies life absolutely and the overall plot was fast, definitely a page turner.

When you read this genre all the time you can figure out the outcome, what is fantastic is feeling like you are part of the investigation and getting to the end.

Andrea Kane is known as a Romantic Suspense author.  She has some hot scenes but they fit completely with the story and are a bare minimum, executed to perfection, just enough to add the hot appeal to her books.

I highly recommend, a go to author for me, when she comes out with a new one I will be reading and I am working my way through her previous.

It's Monday, book check in day.........

Sheila over at Book Journey has an incentive for networking so go over and have fun while continuing to add to your 2012 Wishlist


I am going to start Hollow City by Dan Wells.  Some of you may remember I LOVED his trilogy I am not a Serial Killer.  All reviews in this link here.

Dan Wells won instant acclaim for his three-novel debut about the adventures of John Wayne Cleaver, a heroic young man who is a potential serial killer. All who read the trilogy were struck by the distinctive and believable voice Wells created for John.

Now he returns with another innovative thriller told in a very different, equally unique voice. A voice that comes to us from the realm of madness.

Michael Shipman is paranoid schizophrenic; he suffers from hallucinations, delusions, and complex fantasies of persecution and horror. That’s bad enough. But what can he do if some of the monsters he sees turn out to be real?

Who can you trust if you can't even trust yourself? The Hollow City is a mesmerizing journey into madness, where the greatest enemy of all is your own mind.


I completed Lovely Bones, a sweet memorable story.  My review

I completed and really enjoyed the 2nd in the Forensic Instincts series by Andrea Kane, I will review this week.

Next, I think will be Dead End Deal.

Friends, my last 2 books have been great, yaaaaaay, here's to a better 2nd half of year in the reading department.

Review - Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold

Book Summary from Amazon - Published Aug 2002


My name was Salmon, like the fish; first name, Susie. I was fourteen when I was murdered on December 6, 1973."

     So begins the story of Susie Salmon, who is adjusting to her new home in heaven, a place that is not at all what she expected, even as she is watching life on eath continue without her - her friends trading rumors about her disappearance, her killer trying to cover his tracks, her grief-stricken family unraveling.

     Out of unspeakable traged and loss, The Lovely Bones succeeds, miraculously, in building a tale filled with hope, humor, suspense, even joy.


My Review 4 Great to the last Drop


I have 2 words that I think describe this book perfectly, Sweet and Memorable.

Juju, recommended I read a book about Grief to see if it helps with my reading slump due to personal life which included grieving.  Well, Lovely Bones was perfect, couldn't come at a better time.  I have had this on my Wishlist to read for 3 years now, timing is everything. (Thanks Juju)

Susie was such a sweet character, she is telling the story and so we see what is important to her and what she thinks as a child.  I enjoyed reading the journey of her in Heaven and the transition.  I thought it was sweet that she watched over her loved ones.  It was creepy but in a special way.  I found it suspenseful  to see her response to the man that murdered her and not knowing the outcome, will he get charged, found, killed, what will happen.  Finding out that he was a serial killer was the scary thought, when in such a small community.

When someone dies, it affects everyone and when someone is murdered it involves even more.  I really enjoyed how the consequences of Susie's death was portrayed.  Will time and being busy with other things really help with moving on?  Grief really affects everyone differently, this came across in a genuine, emotional, direct way.  Susie's mom, father, siblings, friends and neighbours, all done so well.

Susie's father was my favourite character, intuition, he knew who killed his daughter but without proof what can he do but make himself look foolish and crazy which in the end the police and his wife thought he was.  How frustrating for him and the reader but we see Susie taking it in stride, patiently waiting.

The 2 issues I had with the book.  What happened to the Murderer and the paranormal scene with Susie's boyfriend.  Both were not break it or make it concerns but I could have done without them.

The title The Lovely Bones, how it came together in the end, beautiful, the foundation of family and love.

Lovely Quotes

Heaven wasn't perfect.  But I came to believe that if I watched closely, and desired, I might change the lives of those I loved on Earth.  5% on Kindle


When Lindsey and I played Barbies, Barbie and Ken got married at sixteen.  To us there was only one true love in everyone's life; we had no concept of compromise, or retrys.   20% on Kindle


No one could have predicted how my loss would change small moments on Earth.  But I held on to those moments, hoarded them.  None of them were lost as long as I was there watching.  69% on Kindle

Have any of you read one of her other books, would you recommend it?

Thrill Week Announcement - 2nd Year

Are you a fan of the genre(s) Thriller, Mystery, Suspense and/or Horror............. than this event is for you.

Thrill Week 2

What is Thrill Week

It is all about Networking with Bloggers and Authors who love to read and write Thrillers, Mystery, Suspense and/or Horrors.  The goal is to find new blogs and bloggers with similar interest in those genres and of course add to our huge TBR and Wishlists.

We will highlight authors that write in these genres or new authors with amazing debuts.   

There will be a 'Thrill Ride/Blog Hop' to start off the event,  I would like to request only those that review minimum of twice a month in the above genres to participate.

Would you like to participate as a Featured Host?  Please comment here and leave your email or you can email me at marceblogspot(at)hotmail(dot)com

Thanks again to the amazing bloggers who were Featured Host last year.

red headed book child

Mental Foodie - A Book and Food Lover

Cafe of Dreams Book Reviews

Tell Me a Story

The Book Whisperer

Best O'Books

Here was The Thrill Ride Questionnaire from last year. 

I look forward to your participation, I'm sure it will be a Thrill - To Thrill means to excite greatly, I hope this week will be that for all of you.

7 weeks away..........

Monday's come to fast.....

Sheila over at Book Journey has an incentive for networking so go over and have fun while continuing to add to your 2012 Wishlist.

I never use to feel like time got away from me but goodness gracious, it must be age, lol.  The year, where has it went, it sneaks up on us with these Monday's coming so fast :-)

I just completed Lovely Bones, what a Sweet story, review coming this week.

I completed Bloodman, review here.

I'm going to start the next in Andrea Kane's series, should be great.

Review of 1st book The Girl who Disappeared Twice

How has your week been?

WoW - More from Dan Wells - The Hollow City

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event spotlighting upcoming releases we are highly anticipating. It is hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine.

Many may remember my fascination and love of Dan Wells trilogy I am not a Serial Killer.  I would consider my top 5 trilogy's.  The main character John, an all time favourite also.

He then wrote The Partials, I did not read this one because I am not a dystopian fan but when I saw the new one, The Hollow City, I knew I had to get it.  Can't wait to read this one.

Book Summary from Amazon - released yesterday July 3, 2012

Dan Wells won instant acclaim for his three-novel debut about the adventures of John Wayne Cleaver, a heroic young man who is a potential serial killer. All who read the trilogy were struck by the distinctive and believable voice Wells created for John.

Now he returns with another innovative thriller told in a very different, equally unique voice. A voice that comes to us from the  realm of madness.

Michael Shipman is paranoid schizophrenic; he suffers from hallucinations, delusions, and complex fantasies of persecution and horror. That’s bad enough. But what can he do if some of the monsters he sees turn out to be real?

Who can you trust if you can't even trust yourself? The Hollow City is a mesmerizing journey into madness, where the greatest enemy of all is your own mind.

I look forward to networking and seeing your WoW, Waiting on Wednesday.

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