Kent Holloway
An AMAZING book. Like many people, it was from watching the movie Bullet Train that put me onto this author. Since I saw the movie, I'm putting off reading the book because I don't want the reading experience to be tainted by memories of the movie. So, I chose Three Assassins to begin with.
As many have pointed out, the translation is a bit stilted. From my limited knowledge of linguistics, however, this is to be expected as Japanese is not an easy language to translate. Despite some clunky phrases here and there though, the overall experience was a refreshing, highly entertaining crime fiction read.
The book is more of a character study than an action novel. And trust me, there are so many interesting characters to study in this one. Each of the assassins in the story are a joy to ‘watch' and learn their particular personality traits. The protagonist, Suzuki, is the cardboard ‘Everyman' with which everything happens. The REAL stars of the show are the assassins and they were worth every moment of the read in my opinion.
I'm a very slow reader by nature. I have a tendency to read every word of a book. If I don't comprehend a sentence, I usually go back and re-read it. That's why it usually takes me so long to read a book. But this one, I finished in less than 48 hours. That is a sign of an excellent book for me. I simply couldn't put the thing down.
I'll be reading The Mantis as soon as it's out, then will tackle Bullet Train. Can't wait for the ride!
I read this in black and white!
I'm a huge fan of old Hollywood mysteries. You know, the old black and white ones. Pretty much anything that stars William Powell, actually. And if he hadn't retired from acting at a relatively young age, I could totally see Powell in the role of Specter. So, as I read this wonderful mystery, I harkened back to those old black and white pictures and reveled in it.
As mysteries go, this is probably one of the most multifaceted and complex multi-mysteries I've ever read. The puzzles were sublime and I found myself, for a change, not wanting to solve it myself ahead of time, but rather to simply follow along for the enjoyment of the reveal. The sheer complexity of constructing the locked room scenarios described in this book shows a genius and extreme patterns of the author.
Specter is one of my new favorite sleuths and I look forward to seeing more of him in the future (I hope!)
What a few of the more negative reviewers, I believe, have failed to grasp is that this book is neither ‘horror' nor ‘true crime' (it's fiction, after all). It is, however, a great example of paranormal mystery. Was it scary? No, but it wasn't intended to be. Was it creepy in places? I'd say yes. But we also need to remember the ‘real' monster in this story is living and breathing, not necessarily the ethereal occupants of the motel.
I've read some complaints about the shifting of points of view, from Viv in the past to Carly in the present. Okay, so you don't like that approach. That's fine. But I see no reason to discount the story entirely based on your personal preference and give it a negative review. Honestly, the shifts in points of view quite simply worked. And they worked very well to weave the over-arcing story together in a fun and dynamic way.
If I had any complaints (as a few have mentioned already) is that it seems Ms. St. James spends a little too much time describing the clothing and hairstyles of every character every single time they appear in a scene. I get the need to the supply descriptions of hairstyles and clothing when establishing the differences in fashion between 1982 and 2017, but once or twice is really all you need. I got to where I'd skip the descriptions of people entirely (which in a mystery novel could potentially be an issue if something they're wearing is a clue). This foible, however, is personal preference on my part and doesn't take away from the story.
In truth, this is my first St. James novel and I was thoroughly impressed. It was a great mystery with great atmosphere and with great paranormal presence. It did what a book of this kind is intended to do: let me veg out for a while and escape from day to day life while entertaining me thoroughly. Absolutely enjoyed this book!
Okay, can I just say...as a 49 year old male...that this was one of the most delightful, hilarious, and entertaining books I've read in a long time? I'm not ashamed to admit it. I absolutely loved this silly parody of Hardy Boys (with a hint of Venture Bros thrown in, I think). Granted, I'd say it was even made more entertaining with the audiobook narrated by ‘Dr. Cecil H.H. Mills' himself. The narrator's OWN character just added even more fun to the story in my opinion.
Look, I have seen a lot of reviews saying that this book probably works better for fans of Game Grumps. I'll be the first to tell you, although I do love video games, I've never seen the YouTube show. I have no plans to see it. Just not my kind of thing. But I know one thing, the guy who wrote this knows how to tell a really fun (and funny) yarn.
Maybe you don't have to be a fan of Game Grumps to appreciate it. But maybe you DO need to be a fan of the Hardy Boys and looking for a bit of nostalgia with a silly twist. I don't know. I just know I've not laughed with a book this much in a very long time. I hope there's a sequel. Dr. Mills does have those gambling debts to consider, after all. ;)
Meikle has always been one of my favorite authors and this book is perfect testament as to why. While I'll admit, I was expecting a bit more of a Hollow Earth adventure, Willie Meikle has woven together something much more unexpected. The possibilities of a well-known legend (I won't spoil it here). And its climax brought memories to mind of another favorite tale of mine, other than those written by Verne or Doyle. All in all, a most satisfying tale! Loved it!
Dang it! I just don't think John Gaspard can write a bad Eli Marks book. Thought book 4 was the best in the series. Now, I'm torn. Book 5 was amazing with probably one of the BEST murders I've ever read in a mystery in it. The bad news is, I've got not more Eli Marks to read until he writes book 6, I guess. Get to writing, Gaspard! We're a waiting!
Edit: Oh wow! Totally forgot about The Zombie Ball (Book 6). Woo hoo! Off the read more Eli Marks!
Okay, by now I've become a HUGE fan of John Gaspard and his Eli Marks series. I'll admit, I've loved them all so far, but there was something about this one that truly hit all the right chords for me. By far, my very favorite book in this series. I'm not sure if it was the location (London), the great cast of characters, the plethora of suspects, or the motive for the murders, but this one completely hit it out of the park.
As for the mystery itself, I managed to figure out some of it. Some of it caught me by surprise, but as always, Gaspard made sure that all the necessary clues are sprinkled in throughout the story, which is a must for a great mystery.
Even better, the Eli Marks series doesn't have to be read in any sort of order. So if you haven't read one yet, you can easily start here and know why I'm raving so much about it. Just a completely satisfying read.
A man's man of a cozy!
I love cozy mysteries a lot, but one of the things about them that drive me kind of crazy is the lack of any masculinity in them. It's why as an author myself, I'm working on creating a brand new subgenre called a brozy mystery...a cozy with a bit of a kick to it. And after reading this book, I'd say that Cozy Up to Death is probably the broziest brozy of them all.
If I hadn't already developed the term, I would have originally said this is an “anti-cozy”, because it takes all the cozy tropes and turns them upside down (maybe even dumps a few of them in the ocean and a dumpster or two along I-95), all the while paying beautiful tribute to those same tropes along the way.
I mean, here you have a guy who runs a bookstore (cozy trope, check), which has an adorable cat (cozy trope, check), in an idyllic small town (cozy trope, check), finds a little non-sexual romance along the way (cozy trope, check), and begins looking into the disappearance of a beloved town person that might have been murdered (cozy trope check). But let's pull back the curtains just a bit (don't worry! No spoilers here!) and we'll find that that bookstore owner? Yeah, he's an ex-bike club hatchet man with a heart of gold who happens to be in witness protection. He also hasn't read a book since high school. The cat? Yeah, our hero isn't a big fan of cats. But all bookstores need cats, right? So he's got a cat (and the cat is very very awesome, I might add). The romance remains true no matter how you want to turn it up on its ear. In fact, the romance is rather amazing, and makes you see this big bad biker with the heart of gold (who loves his grandma) with even more adoration.
This book, I have to say, hit all the right notes for me. I absolutely loved it. In fact, it ties at my number 1 favorite cozy mystery along with John Gaspard's Ely Marks series. Needless to say, on to book two with great anticipation. I should also point out that my comments about it being an ‘anti-cozy cozy' shouldn't be taken too literally. Conway takes great care to show a deep love and respect to the genre. It in no way diminishes the cozy genre, but in reality lifts it up. Builds it up. And makes it a force of good that will change even the hardest of career biker criminals into a sweet, good natured man who grew to love the small quiet little cozy town he was forced to move to by the US government.
And if you're ever curious as to what a brozy mystery is...this is one for you to check out!
I was never a fan of Doctor Who when I was a kid. It came on PBS after school every day, but I just couldn't get past the melodramatic acting and poor special effects back then. Plus, as a kid who loved superheroes, I expected someone named Doctor Who (that's what we all thought he was called back in those days), he should have super powers like Doctor Strange or Doctor Fate or Doctor Doom. Since he seemed like just a normal guy, I wasn't all that interested. Then came New Who and like many Americans, I became a huge fan. Oddly enough, even though I wasn't a fan of the show as a kid, I identified Tom Baker as my Doctor because he was the one I saw on PBS as a kid. As an adult, I've grown to be a huge fan of his. So, I was excited to hear he was writing a Doctor Who story on his own.
I wasn't disappointed. I wondered from time to time whether the book was ghost-written because it was so well thought out and the prose was magnificent. Then, I thought about Tom Baker the man and his eloquence, and could truly see him writing as brilliantly as the prose of this novel. In the end, it doesn't matter who wrote it. It was fantastic. And you really got a sense of the 3rd Doctor's time in the TARDIS. It was even more so since I listened to it on audiobook with Tom Baker narrating it in a way that only Tom Baker could possibly pull off. His performance was amazing, and even if you're not a fan of audiobooks, I strongly suggest giving this one a try. I'm sure reading the story would be just as satisfying, but hearing the Doctor laugh his boisterous laugh, and hearing the Doctor give little asides to the text...it was invigorating. And nostalgic.
But not only was the writing and the performance great, the story itself was wonderful too. It was multilayered. Deep. Witty. And smart. Everything one would expect from a Doctor Who story. I just can't recommend this book enough. I hope you'll pick it up and give it a try...especially if you're a fan, but even if you're not. You'll thank me later.
In a world where cozies seem to be flooded with estrogen, cats, and caterers, Eli Marks' first mystery is a breath of fresh air for the guy who loves whodunnits. Although there are a few ‘F' bombs scattered here and there (not many), I still consider this book to be very much a cozy with a fun and unique amateur sleuth in the form of a professional magician.
The writing and editing were strong. The mystery was quite enjoyable, with enough clues to allow the reader to solve it (which to me is a must in any whodunnit). The use of a magic trick as a framework for the series of killing was inspired, in my opinion.
I'm looking forward to reading the next book in the series!
A DEATH AT EASTWICK by L.C. Warman can be described, simply (in my opinion) as brilliant. Ingenious. Extremely well-written and thought out. The characters were rich and multi-dimensional, and while some were almost caricature's reminiscent of Harry Potter's Aunt and Uncle, the similarities really worked. Very well, in fact. But I'm getting ahead of myself.
The story starts out with the presumably natural death of John Eastwick, Sr. John Junior is summoned home from a prestigious college to their sprawling ancestral mansion in St. Clair (the state is never expressly mentioned that I can recall, but that's okay despite the fact that you're given the sense that St. Clair is a character all in itself). As if the death of his father wasn't bad enough, scandal breaks out soon after the funeral home regarding accusations that John, Sr. had bribed officials to get his son into college. This revelation is the beginning of John, Jr's doubts about the type of man his father was from the start (John, Sr had a reputation for being hardworking, honest, and rigid in his integrity, so with news of the bribe, John, Jr is now wondering what sort of man his father really was).
Then, comes the reading of the will. And there's a HUGE surprise revealed. John, Sr's estate is to be distributed evenly among his wife and son, as well as his chef, his secretary, his attorney, and his greedy, conniving brother, sister-in-law, and (very likable) nephew. With everyone in shock and the hour getting late, the guests who were there for the will reading are invited to spend the night in the luxurious mansion that now, according to the will, belongs to each of them equally.
Since this is a murder mystery at heart, naturally, someone is murdered, and the rest of the occupants of Eastwick are now suspects. Now, the fun really begins!
But this is where the story gets absolutely brilliant as well. I don't know how Ms. Warman did it exactly. My mind boggles at it, honestly. You see, unlike most cozies or mysteries in general, this book did not have a centralize sleuth trying to solve it. Even more amazing is that you had numerous scenes from the points of view of every cast member (remember, every cast member was suspect). When I first noticed this, I thought to myself, “Oh, this isn't going to end well. This is going to be one of those stories I hate where you know who the killer is right away and follow the detective as he/she pieces the story together.” I couldn't have been more wrong. The brilliant thing about this story is that Ms. Warman allowed us to be inside the heads of each suspect throughout the tale, and provide us with nuggets of data (some legit and some red herrings), and yet not overtly give the killer away at all.
Yes, you can indeed solve this mystery as you read (I did...at the perfect time, by the way (although I had my suspicions earlier on, I wasn't sure until one critical piece of information was obtained...which is the way ALL mysteries should be written)), but you have to pay attention. You have to think, question, and discard weak theories.
Technically, I can't really view this as a ‘cozy mystery' per se due to the lack of a central amateur sleuth. In fact, it's more of a traditional mansion murder mystery reminiscent of Agatha Christie, but unlike any she has ever written (to my knowledge).
Seriously, this book might just have moved up to the top 10 of my favorite murder mysteries of all time, and I can't wait to read book two.
Okay, I absolutely LOVED this book! It had everything you could hope for in a pulpy noir private eye tale written in 1956. A tough as nails P.I. Three beautiful dames whose motives and actions were almost always in question. A villain straight out of a James Bond novel. And voodoo!
Anyone who knows anything about me knows voodoo's one of my areas of interest. Granted, the view of voodoo in this book is typical of the time. Very Hollywood. Not very accurate at all. But good and scary and logically explained.
This was my first Ed Noon adventure. I highly doubt it'll be my last.
Once again, as with all the other E.J. Copperman/Jeff Cohen books I've read, I loved this story. Love the characters. Loved the wit and humor. And the mystery was quite a head-scratcher to boot.
I won't go into detail because reviews of these kind of books tend to give away unintentional spoilers. Let me just say that I highly recommend this series and can't wait to read book #3.
It's official. I am now an absolute fan of Jeff Cohen...er, E.J. Copperman, I mean. Seriously though, if you're not aware, E.J. Copperman is the pen name for mystery author Jeffrey Cohen. The only difference is that his Cohen titles have no ghosts in them. But they're all great mysteries with lots of laugh out loud humor. I've been reading his Comedy Tonight series lately, so I thought I'd give his Haunted Guesthouse series a try as well. I'm glad I did!
I'm becoming a huge fan of cozy mysteries because of their lighthearted, easy-breezy style. Murder is serious business as it is and since I do it for an actual living, I'd rather my reading experience be as light-hearted as it can be. But I still love a good mystery, so I'm glad to know that there are writers like Cohen/Copperman out there who provide just that.
What's more, ever since I can remember, I've liked my stories to have at least a bit of a supernatural element to them. It's not a hard and fast rule for me, but it certainly adds to the pleasure of my reading.
That being said, Night of the Living Deed fills all the criteria I need for a great mystery. First and foremost, it's just plain fun. From page 1 to the final reveal, I read with a smile on my face most of the time. Second, his characters (as usual) are so likable. So relatable. Cohen amazes me in this one because he told the story from the POV of a 30-something year old single mother...and he did it so well. It was hard to imagine a man writing the dialog and thoughts of Alison in this story. Her reactions as a mother just seemed to authentic.
Then, of course, there are the ghosts, Paul and Maxie (I'll admit to having a little bit of a fictional crush on Maxie. I'm not ashamed to admit it). Paul is a world class private detective. He's focused (almost to the point of obsession) and all business. But he genuinely cares about Alison and her daughter, as well as Maxie. He wants to make the most of this situation of co-habitating with three women (two living and one dead). Maxie is a bit of a vixen. And she can be a handful. I've seen a few reviews mention that she was annoying, but the fact is, she was dead. Murdered in her prime. And that would make pretty much anyone bitter. But Maxie's relationship with Melissa (Alison's daughter) really tugged at my heart and the potentially two-dimensional ghost character took on full-blown personality as their relationship grew. She wasn't annoying at all to me. In fact, she was probably the most tragic and soulful character of the book.
As to the mystery itself...like all Cohen mysteries, it was well done. The killer (or killers) could have have been almost anyone, but as usual, the author keenly laid out the clues necessary to put the pieces together yourself if you're astute enough. Apparently, I wasn't as astute as I'd like to think because I was still pretty much baffled up until the big reveal. I'd missed a couple of ‘Aha!' moments in my reading, but when the killer was brought to light, it made so much sense. As anyone who's read any of my recent reviews know, this last bit is my most important criteria. I don't care if I solve it or if I don't. The only thing that matters is that I'm ABLE to solve it. And with Cohen/Copperman, I'm beginning to believe the answer to that question will always be an emphatic “yes!”
I truly loved this book. Karin Kaufman definitely knows how to spin a great mystery.
First of all, the technical stuff: the writing itself was fantastic. It flowed really well with vivid and picturesque language. The characters were fun and engaging. You truly cared for each of them (or truly disliked them depending on who they were). I've seen another reviewer mention what I'm about to say right now: it's probably the best edited (both copy and content edited) indie published book I've ever seen. I don't believe I saw a single typo in the whole book.
As for the mystery itself...it was twisty and turns enough to keep you guessing until the end. You had several great suspects and each of them could very well have been the culprit right up until the very end. But, as is my litmus test of such books, all the clues are there necessary to solve the case yourself if you're observant enough. But Kaufman did something else with this book that I've rarely, if ever seen in a mystery. The lead character solved the crimes not by just gathering the clues and letting the answer solve itself. No, Rachel (the lead character) used plain old common sense. She was a student of human nature and instead of searching crime scenes for forensic evidence, she spent her time questioning. “Why?” “Why would they do this?” Why would someone do that?” And in the end, that good ol' common sense paid off.
Great book. Looking forward to reading the rest of the series as well!
Once again, Jeffrey Cohen's wonderful mysteries surrounding the Comedy Tonight Theater and crew did not fail to entertain. From start to finish, the story had me chuckling, while my brain worked in overtime to try to figure out what was going on. Like the first book, this one had two separate mysteries as well...one major and one minor. The minor mystery had me puzzled all the way to the reveal. I have to admit, I was embarrassed I didn't see it coming...but it totally made sense.
The major mystery was a different story. I did catch on to what was going on pretty quick, but I was thrilled to discover I was right at the star-studded culprit reveal. Look, let's face it. Writing mysteries is hard. You've got to come up with clever twists while sprinkling in clues and red herrings here and there. You can't make the clues too obvious, but you also have to be sure the essentials are there. It's a tricky thing. So I don't fault Mr. Cohen at all for me figuring it out earlier. Like I said, I was just as thrilled to discover I had been right all along.
And let's face it, Elliot Freed and gang are just plain fun to hang out with. Jeffrey Cohen has created a wonderful, laugh-filled world in which we can spend some time each day. Light-hearted and breezy escapism at its purist. I'm becoming a huge fan of both the author and this series. Now onto book three!
This was my first Jeffrey Cohen book and let me tell you, I couldn't have been more satisfied with it. First of all, as far as mysteries go...it was a good one. As a matter of fact, it had two or three different good ones in it. I figured out some stuff. Was totally surprised at others. And it followed my own steadfast rule that all the necessary clues be present in the book before the solution.
But this book was more than just a great mystery...it was a fantastic comedy as well. Mr. Cohen has a great sense of humor. The narrator (it's told in first person) is witty at his cores and there were definite laugh-out-loud moments in some of the things he says through the course of the investigation. What's more, often books like this tend to try a little too hard. They lose sight of what they are. Is it a mystery or is it a comedy? In this book, Mr. Cohen did a fantastic job balancing the two. I never got the impression that this book was a comedy first. It was most definitely a mystery. But it just happened to have the perfect amount of humor poured on top like a dollop of hot butter over an incredibly tasting bag of theater popcorn.
Well done, Mr. Cohen. On to book 2 for me!
A super fun cozy with a perfect Irish setting. I have to admit, the tale was laced with plenty of suspects who could have equally been the killer. I didn't figure it out until just before the reveal. Even better, the story had all the clues needed to figure it out. So often, that isn't the case...but with this book, I can happily say it's quite possible to solve the mystery with the information provided.
I had just a really great time reading this.
I've only read a few Bernie Rhodenbarr books in the past, but always enjoyed them. Now, I'm older. Wiser. Decided to start from the beginning. With Burglars Can't Be Choosers, I'm now hooked. A rabid fan even. I can't tell you how hard it is to find fun, light-hearted true whodunnits these days without them involving cats or bakers. Not that there's anything wrong with that, but I'm a guy. Who wants a manly whodunnit every once in a while. And Bernie is manly. A refined man, of course. An honest man...for a burglar. A lady's man too. But he sure can solve a frolicking fun case in witty burglar fashion. I've already loaded up book two and will start tomorrow.
Simply magical. I've loved many of Gaiman's books. Up until now, it was a toss up between NEVERWHERE, THE ANANSI BOYS, or THE GRAVEYARD BOOK for the top favorite. But I might just have to say that The Ocean at the End of The Lane has solidified itself on my top tier for Gaiman.
Why? It's perhaps as difficult to explain as the nature of the Hempstock women themselves. There was just something very profound...something that tapped deep into the heart of my inner seven year old boy. It was, as Gaiman said, just as children are different from adults: adults always follow an established path, whereas children explore and seek out hidden ways to things unknown. That's precisely the way this book made me feel. I was branching away from the safe, properly constructed roads of modern fiction, and moving in and out of mulberry bushes and shadows and upgrown vegetation to discover a world–within our very own–that is magical and full of wonder.
I loved the main character. I felt so much for that poor boy. That good boy, who only wanted to be happy, but never seemed to get what he wanted until his nose was in a book or if he was holding the hand of the 11-year-old Hempstock girl/woman/entity/ancient one. I was saddened by the fact that he had forgotten and had forgotten once again (if you've read it, you'll know what I mean). But also happy that he had forgotten for the trials he'd endured by the dark creatures.
I loved the mystery of the Hempstock women. Of where all the men had gone? Of the untold Hempstock men's adventures. Of the very nature of what the Hempstock women were. Were they the Fates? Were they some re-arranged version of the Morrigan? Or something else entirely. Thankfully, Gaiman believes in letting the imaginations of his readers get carried away with these things long after the book is finished.
Which brings me to my last point. It's not very rare for me to finish a book, offer a sigh of satisfaction, and then go on to prepare dinner and live my life as normal. It's much rarer when I finish with a sigh, and sit for untold clicks of the clock, absorbing what I'd just read. Marveling in it. Exploring the possibilities of it in mind. Wondering what became of the characters after the book is closed. This book was most definitely one of those.
It's simply a magical tale that will stay with you for a long time afterwards...that is, if you enjoy stories of whimsy and magic.
I've read most of Mr. Robinson's books and have loved them all. His Last Hunter series holds a very special place in my heart for a variety of reasons. Island 731, however, always held the highest position on his thriller list for it's dark, gritty feel...and sense of dread. How interesting that a book about creatures dubbed the ‘Dread” would take it's place as my Number One favorite book of Robinson's thrillers. But it does. Easily.
First of all, the character of Crazy is, hands down, the most intriguing of Robinson's creations, in my opinion. A man without memory or fear from the start of the book. How on earth can an author take a character like that and possible make him likeable? Human even? But Robinson does it and he does it with style. As a matter of fact, Crazy becomes even more interesting as a human the further certain changes in his body go (trying to avoid spoilers there). Plus, he's funny (of course, R.C. Bray's narration might have had something to do with that as well).
But how amazing this story is goes beyond the character of Crazy, or his co-stars in this book. The story itself is just...altogether genius. Not only is it an incredible story with some crazy cool (and brilliant) layers (explanations for ghosts, the Mothman, and monsters of old are given and it makes total sense), but it can't help but make the reader ponder the mystery of fear in all its forms. Ponder how many nuances of our lives are governed by fear. And ponder ways to allow fear to work for us, instead of hindering us in our daily lives. Fear, in many ways, has driven humanity and its advancement far more than ambition ever could, and this story helps to expose the dreaded emotion to the light of day in such a way that it becomes much more palpable...and ultimately, controllable.
Bravo, Mr. Robinson. My favorite of your books so far!
Okay. Let's get one thing clear. I'm a HUGE Sherlock Holmes fan. Always have been. As a matter of fact, besides being an author myself, I am also a forensic death investigator. The inspiration for that chosen profession? Sherlock Holmes, of course (I've been doing this job a whole lot longer than CSI ever thought of being on the air). No, for me...though I love shows like Monk, Psych, the Mentalist, and Castle...Sherlock Holmes, to me, is the quintessential detective. So, whenever I see new material about him by modern day authors, I'm a bit skeptical. I'm even MORE wary when the material being written carries with it more of a paranormal feel. After all, though Doyle was an immense spiritualist, his most famous creation never showed the slightest hint of belief in anything paranormal. Still, there have been some pretty decent stories out there involving “weird” Sherlock Holmes tales...and I believed that if anyone was capable of pulling one off, it would be William Meikle.
I can tell you right now...I was not wrong in my own deductions on tht account. Another disclaimer should go here...I'm a huge fan of William Meikle's as well. His Midnight Eye Files novels ranks among my top 10 favorite book series of all times, as a matter of fact. So it really isn't a surprise to me how much I enjoyed Sherlock Holmes: Revenant. But what is a surprise is just HOW much I enjoyed it. To be honest, I couldn't put the book down. Finished it in two sittings. Devoured it. And I'm a notoriously slow reader.
I'm not going to go into detail in regards to what this book is about. You can see the product description to get a clue on that. What I will say is this: Meikle truly captured the feel of a Sherlock Holmes story. His Watson narration seemed so fluid. So authentic. Yes, there were a few touches to the narration that was distinctly Meikle, but for the most part, I had a difficult time telling myself that Doyle himself wasn't penning this supernatural tale. Second, the mystery was fantastic. The villain in the story (I won't give it away here) was up to something sinister to say the least. You, the reader soon become privy to some new informtion and think the evil plot is going in one direction until you discover a new branch along the road of the story, which completely throws your theories out the window. As it unfolds, you soon discover that even the red herrings in the story had their express purposes (two-fold purposes, in fact...one to lead Holmes and the law in the wrong direction and another purpose known only to the villain). It was simply brilliant. The third thing I loved about this book is how it ties in so flawlessly to another William Meikle masterpiece...The Concordances of the Red Serpent (which actually makes an appearance in this story, by the way). You see, Meikle has his own mythos he uses...certain key players and elements that seem to appear in a number of his stories. The Seton clan (as seen in the Concordances story) is an example of this mythos. Quite frankly, I love it when an author does this. It's like finding little Easter eggs everywhere...though in the case of Revenant, the Seton clan appearance is far from an Easter Egg. It's intregral to the plot! And it works so beautifully and seamlessly.
Here's the thing...take a chance on this book. Get it. If you're a fan of great mysteries, I guarantee you will be thoroughly pleased. If you like a touch of the supernatural in your mysteries, you are going to absolutely love it. If you're a Sherlock Holmes fan, just read with an open mind...you're going to love it too. In a literary world of mediocrity, William Meikle stands out as an author of almost arcane talents. I couldn't recommend Revenant enough!
I absolutely LOVED this book. To be honest, this was my first David Golemon book I'd ever read...but it has certainly made me one of his biggest fans. If anyone has ever read one of my own books, they know I'm into paranormal investigations. Granted, mine tends to be more on the cryptozoological side of things, but I also enjoy ghost hunting too. And that's what this book is about. A team of ghost hunters, led by a disgraced psychology professor, investigates the ultimate haunted house...with the ultimate evil residing within its ancient walls.
And let me tell you...the book is plenty scary! There were parts that I definitely would not have felt comfortable going to bed too soon after reading. But it's not just horror. The beauty of this book is that it appeals to a large number of people. There is plenty for the mystery and adventure lover too. As a matter of fact, the book reads like an amazing adventure novel in regards to the diverse and complex characters that comprise the team. Besides the professor, you also have a Native Americam shaman, a clairvoyant with major personality issues, an insomniac with her own personal “uninvited guest”, a gangster computer genius, a homicide detective with a chip on his shoulder, and a journalist who's trying to blow the lid off on what she perceives as one of the biggest scams of the century.
The book is multi-layered, let me tell you. There's so much more to this than a simply ghost story. I highly recommend it to anyone who loves a great shiverfest!