Thriller, Paranormal - novel
 TBR Reviewer: Kim

Review

This is the story of William Chandler. Disillusioned with his life after the death of his husband he turns into a vigilante and starts killing anyone connected to child abduction. He has a police officer after him about the murders but she isn't as disgusted by his behaviour as she should be. Together they must try and save a young girl who has been abducted by an entity known only as 'The Devourer'.

This story started off really well. I liked the idea of a vigilante serial killer taking out anyone connected with child abduction. It made serial killing seem almost honourable! The side story of the police officer chasing him, but not really trying too hard was engaging. Then ghosts were introduced and I thought things were getting a little strange but it was still enjoyable and I carried on page turning to find out what happened next. Then vampires and
werewolves were added. It all got a little bit silly and went downhill from there. It seemed as though the author had decided to throw in every cliched monster and go from there. The last quarter of the story didn't make much sense and created more questions than answered them. The author kept getting their characters muddled up. I wish I could recommend this as it started off so well, but sadly I can't as it just didn't hold up to it's early promise.

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Thriller, Horror - novel
TBR Reviewer: Mark

Review

For several decades now, two local serial killers have possibly been working alongside each other in the Portvale area; killing prostitutes and slaughtering the indigenous homeless who are unlikely to be missed. One of these is known as The Dockside Ripper, the other is referred to only as The Portvale Slasher. But Police also suspect that at least one other killer may or may not be working alongside them, copy-catting their crimes.  

The notorious Cunningham family have long been suspected of their involvement in the killings but nothing has ever been proven. Until now......suddenly, pieces of the jigsaw begin to be put together as the truth about this very scary family finally comes to light.....

This is an interesting book and a quite compelling read that quickly pulls you in and gets you hooked pretty much even from the opening chapters. Starting with an account by an esteemed Clinical Psychologist detailing her unique experiences of the Cunningham clan, and more specifically twin brothers, Charlie and Caleb. The book then goes on to tell the main part of the story from Caleb Cunningham's perspective as he regales the reader with the truth (?) behind his crimes and the true history of his disturbed family and his very dark
beginnings!

 At times, this book is a difficult one to read. It quickly becomes apparent that Caleb is a Sociopathic Psychopath suffering from chronic delusions and possible hallucinations and, as such, this makes him a very untrustworthy narrator at times as the edges between what is real and what is only perceived swiftly become blurred. But that said, there are equally moments when this book is impossible to put down!

 Unfortunately, by the time we reach the books climax, the whole thing has begun to get a little stale and tired. Without giving anything away, there is no real resolution to the novel, no attempt at closure and the whole thing just kind of..well....ends.  This is okay but, with a book such as this, it doesn't really leave the reader with any real sense of satisfaction. 

This book kind of reminds me, in places, of Bret Easton Ellis' American Psycho but not as well written and nowhere near as clever. That said, it was enjoyable but the flat ending inevitably made me reduce my rating from a 4 down to a 3! For all the things I did like about it, there were an equal amount of things I didn't but I wouldn't say it was a bad read just rather a bit of a disappointing one. To my mind, for a book about serial killers, there just  wasn't enough blood, there wasn't enough gore and there certainly wasn't enough nastiness! And the whole blurring between reality and delusion only served, for me, to muddy already cloudy waters.

 This was one of those books that I really wanted to like but instead, ended up feeling rather neutral about. It was alright while it lasted then, but wasn't something I would feel compelled to read again.

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Thriller - novel
TBR Reviewer: Kim

Review

This is the story of Emely Donnovan. she is kidnapped and then buried alive. She is rescued at the last minute by a man who imprisons her and forces her to play the stock exchange to make money for him. she is imprisoned for many months and over time her feelings for him change.

 On the face of it, this was an interesting thriller. There was plenty of action and the pace was good. We flipped between Emely's situation and her back story told by members of her staff and her close friends. The trouble was it was just so unbelievable. One minute Emely's captor is intent on raping and abusing her and the next he's so in love with her he can't live without her.  Emely, supposedly a strong and independent business woman, she ends up
having similar feelings for him. I know there is a condition called Stockholm Syndrome, where the prisoner ends up falling in love with their captor but it just didn't feel realistic to me. That being said it was a good read but I would hesitate to recommend it for the reasons already mentioned.

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Paranormal, Thriller - novel
TBR Reviewer: Shyla

Review

Conner is a private investigator with a painful past. His life was once decimated by the paranormal , and now he does his best to avoid anything supernatural. Problem is , the other world has their sights set on him When people close to him begin to disappear and spirits show up to give him warnings. Connor is forced to face the horrendous event he’s been struggling to forget. It’s a race for him to  figure out what’s after him and how to stop it, before he loses the person who means the most to him. 

Nightfall had a great concept, but it was so background, and detail heavy I had a hard time wading through it. The story jumped a lot between past memories, and events to the present which really threw me off. It prevented me from getting lost into the complex world P.W. created, the way I wanted to.  On the upside there were plenty of twists, and turns, and I was kept  guessing, till the very last.

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Thriller, Romance - novel
TBR Reviewer: Christine

Review

I’m a fan of Lisa Jackson. All her books have gotten high ratings form me and this one is high on that list. Shay is a troubled kid that gets sent to Blue Rock Academy. She makes a fuss, saying it’s not safe, something horrible is going on. No one believes her but Jules, her sister. Jules joins the under cover cop and former lover, Trent. Together they’re stranded by a snowstorm in a school that has a major secret and dead bodies piling up. 

Two words: Loved it! Jules is fantastic. All she cares about is keeping her sister safe, despite Shay being a brat most of the time. Trent is delicious. The main focus of the story is the mystery, the secrets in this school and let me tell you, what a ride Without Mercy is! I was up until three am reading this, I could not put it down. The story progresses and theory’s of truth come together in an shocking explosion. Some parts were long winded and could have been trimmed. That’s the only issue I have with this novel. 

Then I got to the end and Oh. My. God! No freaking way and that is how I’m ending this review. I’m not telling the huge, unbelievable bomb that Ms. Jackson dropped. Get your butt out of that chair and go buy this book.

Without Mercy is a terrifying look into disturbed children. A must read!

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CONTEST: The TBR Pile is giving away a paperback copy of Without Mercy to one lucky winner! Comment below to enter. Contest ends March 7th. (Note: the paperback cover is different from the one above.)
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Thriller, Mystery - novel
TBR Reviewer: Mark

Review

 Fresh-faced lawyer, Ben Kravner, is placed in charge of handling a recently deceased Newspaper Editor's last Will and Testament. He stumbles across an intriguing and interesting poem amongst his Client's effects that seems to suggest the possibility of a conspiracy that has spanned almost a Century. Every Twenty years or so, an American President has been assassinated with the exception of Ronald Reagan upon whom the attempt failed. Individually, these assassinations appear completely unconnected but when taken all together, suddenly it seems as though one single power is behind the attacks; the descendants of an old family who would like nothing better than to see America descend into the midst of another Civil War.....
 
From the author of King Of Paine, Larry Kahn, comes this clever and often convoluted thriller set at the turn of the last Millennium. A gripping read, I really enjoyed this despite the fact that, at times, the plot did stretch credibility and the villains of the piece did suffer from the usual conventions of not really being all that accomplished. The idea of connecting such a random series of events into an ongoing historical conspiracy is a neat one and Kahn
pretty much manages to pull it off with some convincing twists and some well thought out characters. Though it is perhaps not quite as good as King Of Paine, this can be excused since The Jinx was Kahn's first novel and hence his style here is more of a work in progress that is closer perfected in his much later thriller.That being said, for a first novel, this is pretty good stuff and easily as good as say The Da Vinci Code or other similar conspiracy novels.

I would certainly recommend this if you want a bit of harmless hokum and are prepared to not take this TOO seriously. It's good as a source of playful suspension of disbelief but if you are looking for something you can get your teeth into more and have a good gnaw at then chances are this might not quite be for you.

Overall, The Jinx is certainly enjoyable and definitely worth picking up, especially if you enjoyed his other book, King Of Paine!

Excerpt

He watched helplessly as the distance between Fritz and his attacker closed, then was overcome with grief when the two figures disappeared behind a clump of trees near the southern tip of the lake. 

He buried his face in his gloved hands. He had opened the sealed envelope. He had tried to be the hotshot lawyer, taking on the most powerful men in the nation on his own. Why? The answer sprang to his mind instantly—to impress Fritz Fox, a man who was more like a grandfather to him than a mentor. He had saved him once; now he had killed him.
 
Ben sat there, stunned, motionless, contemplating his fate.There was nowhere for him to turn. His parents, his friends, his colleagues were all incommunicado. There were apparently no limits to what The Royal Order would do to stop him.

A siren pierced the morning stillness. Surrender to the police was an option. He would be charged with various drug offenses, any remaining shred of credibility would be destroyed, but he would live. It was not his responsibility to save the world. That was for great men with white hair.

Great men. One had died today. Would Fritz Fox have surrendered if faced with adversity? No! The Old Man would have dueled with the devil until justice was done or his last drop of blood had been spilt. And he wanted to be like Fritz.

He felt his despondency lift as an icy gust slapped him in the face. There would be no surrender. Fritz’s death would not be in vain. There was still one last card to play.

Ben sucked in a deep breath, then metamorphosed as he expelled it, the steaming mist rising high into the air before dissipating. His eyes blazed. His nostrils flared. His jaw set firmly. The anger and sorrow that moments ago had almost conquered him were now the fuel that stoked the fire within. Passion overcame fear. The Royal Order of the Millennium Knight beware—Benjamin Franklin Kravner, Hawkeye, was on the warpath.

Ben gave one final hard look at the clump of trees where he last saw Fritz alive. “They don’t know the meaning of vengeance,” he said out loud, then bolted east, along the lake’s southern shore.

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Thriller, suspense - novel
TBR Reviewer: Kim

Review

This is almost two stories in one but they do converge at the end in an astounding way. On one hand we have Nate (9years old), newly dead - murdered in fact, living out his death in Under-heaven (a sort of pre-heaven where souls come to terms with their death). Then we have Jesse (5 years old), very much alive, but gets caught up in his dads and things don't go so well for him.

This was very much a poignant story. It started off slowly but I think that was essential as the two tales were being told simultaneously. It certainly picked up after about 15% and ran away with itself! Nate's story was one of indecision. He didn't know how to resolve the fact that he had been murdered. After many years, with the help of various relatives (as angels) he makes a momentous decision.

Jesse's story is profoundly sad, he loves his dad with a passion but sadly his dad is a terminal screw up and just keeps letting Jesse down. Where does this leave him? At first it was hard to see what each story had to do with each other but then -bang- it hits you between the eyes. The merging was very cleverly  done and when I came to the dramatic end I was in tears.

I totally recommend this book. Under Heaven is a moving and well written story.

Excerpt

I had been in that strange place for two weeks and almost daily had flashes of memories that churned my emotions like ocean waves breaking against a rocky shore. I was tormented by recollections of children teasing me and throwing things at me, but they were nothing compared to the reoccurring memory of a bearded man whose breath smelled like chewing tobacco and whose powerful visage left me gasping in terror. 

How could I ever make sense of these bits and pieces of my life when I was too frightened to hold any one image in my mind long enough to understand? Just thinking about the man with a bulldog thick neck and arms like tree limbs sent chills sweeping up and down my spine. Each time I envisioned him, it was as though my imaginary monster reaching a clawed hand through prison bars for me. 
 
Nerves already frayed to the breaking point, I didn’t know how much more I could take. As much as I feared answers, I resigned myself to finding out more. Though Grandma Clara usually wore some version of a nurse’s outfit, the one she wore that day was longer than usual with a high frilly collar and lacey cuffs. It made her look both elegant and professional, which seemed proper given what I had to talk to her about. 

“Is this Heaven?” I asked.

“No, Nate.”

“Then where?”

“There are many names, but I like the term Under-Heaven.”

“How did I die?”

“I don’t think that’s for me to say.” Her eyes squinted in sympathy.

“Why?”

“Because you already know.”

My monster rocked viciously back and forth. It was like all the terrible people from my past, or what I thought was my past, wrapped into one horrifying body, and it wanted out. The key to its cage was in my hand again. As though it was scalding hot, I dropped it and forced the vision away. 

“Why don’t I remember?” I asked. Just voicing the question made my chest tighten and my throat constrict.

“You will, little one,” she said. “But it has to be at your own pace.”

“I hate not knowing, but I’m also terrified of what I might learn.”

Grandma Clara drew me into a tight embrace. “I’m so sorry I can’t help you with this.”

“It’s not fair,” I said, pushing her away. “I have to get this over with.” Even as the words left my lips, I knew it was a lie. I knew I didn’t have the courage to face that monster, and I doubted I ever would.

“You have to choose your own timing, Nate. That’s part of growing as a soul. I have faith you’ll remember when the time is right.”

 I closed my eyes and was suddenly overcome with the image of my mother. I hadn’t realized before then how much she looked like my grandmother only younger. My body clenched at the sight of her tear-filled eyes.

Why were you crying, Mom?

What a horrible past I must have had!

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Horror, Thriller - Novel
TBR Reviewer: Kim

Review

This is the story of a world set in the future. Water is seriously contaminated and food heavily genetically modified. An intrepid submarine crew are tasked to go on a search and rescue in an uncharted region. They are assigned five new crew members to help them in this task. There is hostility on both sides and neither crew trust each other. Soon it becomes obvious that the trip is doomed and everyone has their own hidden agenda....

 Set in a submarine that spends most of the novel underwater, the claustrophobia and paranoia were very evident and tangible. It was a zombie novel essentially but the zombie action didn't come in until very nearly the end. The first three quarters of the book were getting to know the characters and their various agendas. I loved the dynamics of the two crews open hostility towards each  other, until the end when they had no choice but work together towards a common goal. The action was slow paced to begin with but that was alright because it gave me time to sort out the characters and who was who before it then took off, and boy did it take off! The last quarter of the book was relentless and left me gasping at the explosive ending. I recommend this for zombie lovers and non lovers alike as the zombies are somewhat secondary to the rest of the story.

I really enjoyed Z Boat, this is a highly Recommended novel!

Excerpt

"Ivan made his way up the stairs, the blood loss slowing his progress greatly. Behind him, he could hear footsteps, though they didn’t sound rushed. He pushed on, the control room within his view. 
            
He heard a loud pop and then a splashing noise. Ally released the emergency seal. He needed to hurry. They needed to destroy this sub. Sinking it wasn’t enough. He pulled himself up a few more steps and made it to the landing. Marcus and Ally were talking. He yelled in an attempt to get their attention. “Marcus, Ally we need to sink Betty …” Ivan’s voice gave out, and he slumped against the wall.

He heard someone approaching him, and Ally came into his line of sight. She held a gun and
stared at him with hard eyes.
             
“You bit?”

“I don’t know, but it does not matter right now. You need to blow the sub. Sinking it will not be enough.”
             
“Where’s Iain?” Marcus stood behind her in a protective stance.

“I don’t know. I think, in all the chaos, they might have gotten him.”
   
Ivan watched as Ally stood up and wrapped her arms around Marcus. Part of him wanted to ask her to shoot him now, before he turned. He couldn’t do it, though. A miniscule part of him hoped he just had a bad injury and would make it out of this alive.

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Mystery, thriller - novel
TBR reviewer: Mark

Review

Frank Paine is an ex-Hollywood actor, turned recent FBI Agent, with a rather seedy, secret past. In his former life, Frank had an addiction to online BDSM chat rooms ~ something which now threatens to be revealed when he attends a call to a Motel room and walks in on a scene that could have been taken straight from one of his role-play scenarios. Someone appears to be targeting Frank and trying to trip up his new career but is there something deeper and more malevolent at work than just a personal vendetta?
 
Meanwhile washed-up, alcoholic, former Pulitzer prize winning journalist, Roger Martin is at his wits end trying to find a story that will restore him to former glory. Investigating a series of mysterious, apparently unlinked disappearances of eccentric rich millionaires over a period of several years, Martin accidentally stumbles across a conspiracy that has so far gone unnoticed. And the further he delves, the more his and the FBI's investigation begin to link... 
 
This is a highly enjoyable and engaging thriller that grips you very early on and refuses to let go! Don't let yourself be put off by the mentions of BDSM either because there is nothing very explicit in the text and in fact much of what Mr. Kahn mentioned is very tame, carrying only the merest hint of eroticism. The characters are well conceived too and the way the two plot threads eventually string together is very cleverly done. I'll be honest, this wasn't my first choice of book to review but in hind sight, this was a mistake on my part as I found myself enjoying this far more than I ever expected to! Within only a few chapters, I was hooked and couldn't stop reading right up until the end!
 
One thing I always ask myself when discovering a new writer is would I read anything else by this author and here, the answer is a definite yes. This novel is by no means perfect but has very few faults and Larry Kahn has an accomplished style that helps the story to flow to its natural conclusion, pulling you along in its stream almost without you realizing you are hooked! If you like strong mystery thrillers with plenty of tension and suspense, then this
novel is for you and is a far better read than many of the mass-market thrillers that you can normally pick up from your local supermarket shelf!
 
King of Paine definitely comes recommended!

Excerpt

Frank found Reyes studying the contents of an open folder in one of a dozen cubicles dotting the blue-carpeted bullpen. After getting his attention with a knock on the vinyl doorframe, Frank skipped the bull. “Woody’s out today, but I want in on this rape case. It’s a better fit for Violent Crimes than the Kiddie  Porn Unit, don’t you think?”

Reyes set the folder down on his desktop, gesturing for him to sit in the lone chair opposite his gray metal desk. “Maybe even a better one for the Atlanta police. I don’t see the federal issue.”

As Frank sat, he recognized one of his old headshots on top of the open folder—wavy, golden brown hair, sun-baked skin, dimpled chin, blue eyes, and that ridiculous smirk his fans seemed to adore. Rugged good looks that translated well on film, less impressive in a locker room full of linebackers. It did not bode well that Reyes was studying his personnel file.

He clenched and unclenched his clammy fists to collect himself. His nerves always acted up before a first take but, with Reyes already suspicious, he sensed there would be only one chance to get this right. Lee Fields’s voice echoed in his head.Play it with emotion, Frankie Boy. He summoned a memory from his early days in Hollywood, when he lost a role after a kick-ass audition to a jerk who was the director’s second cousin’s kid or some other convoluted relation.

“Give them Ralston for the rape if you want,” he began. “But some lunatic is working the Internet, setting up sex crimes. I researched this last night and think we can prosecute under federal law for criminal use of a communication facility or cyberstalking. He may have struck before, and he may strike again, in Atlanta or elsewhere. It’s not a local issue.”

Reyes’s eyebrows arched up. “Why the sudden interest in this case, my friend? Low profile. No terrorists. No serial killers. Not exactly Hollywood stuff, no?”

Frank averted his eyes, unable to hold the Cyber agent’s penetrating gaze. No matter how hard he worked to fit in, these guys would only see that grinning idiot playing G-Man on the big screen. Were they so wrong? When did the acting stop and Frank Paine begin? He unclipped the shield from his jacket pocket, slowly twirling it in his hand.

“You’ve got the wrong idea about me. I don’t want publicity. I’m not proud of some things I’ve done, but one day I’d like to be able to look myself in the eye when I stare into the mirror. This badge stands for principles I want to live by. Fidelity. Bravery. Integrity. I can’t do that if you treat me like a joke.”

Reyes closed the folder, studying Frank intently. “Our UNSUB—the unknown subject—sent you a personal invitation to this fiesta, my friend. You want to recite the Bureau motto for me? Stop acting and spill the frijoles. I googled the nickname your tipster used and did not get any hits referring to you. Tell me about The King of Paine.”

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Contest

Mr. Kahn is giving away an ecopy to one lucky winner! Comment below to enter. Contest ends Jan. 27th.
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Thriller, Mystery - Novel
TBR reviewer: Kim

Review

This is the story of Jack. A basically good guy who got put away for 5 years after an armed robbery. He bides his time in jail, reading and deciding on going straight. On coming out however Fate has other ideas. He is put in the path of an old friend who persuades him to do one last job. He agrees, and via a love triangle and meeting up with an old school friend the job begins....

This started off very slowly, almost to the point of me giving up but being the tenacious type of person I am, I stuck with it. I am glad I did because about a third of the way through it grew wings and flew along. The development of Sandra and Jacks relationship was quite sweet, with them keep meeting by chance and then losing touch again. His regret at having to do the job, since he met her was tangible. The meeting with Carla, and her interference
in his relationship with Sandra, and regret because his heart was with Sandra was real.

Once the job starts that was when everything starts getting good. The action from that point on was unrelenting and I found it really hard to put the book down. The ending was explosive and very exciting! A good thriller that I recommend for readers who like a slow build up and an explosive ending!

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