Book: A Circle of Souls

Genre: Suspense/Thriller

Julia Rating: 7

Comments:  Mr. Grandhi provided me with a review copy of his debut novel, A Circle of Souls.

This book involves several different characters and different points of view.  It’s about the investigation of a young girls kidnapping and subsequent murder.  An FBI agent is investigating the case and she, along with her police counterparts, is completely stumped.  In comes Peter, a young psychiatrist working to help a child with sleepwalking and nightmares.  The child has become a threat to herself while sleeping and Peter needs to solve the case.

One really wonderful thing that Preetham Grandhi does in this book is describe culture and backstory of the child in detail. However, Peter and pretty much all the other characters fell a little flat for me and I had a hard time staying interested while reading this book.

That said, there is a great twist ending, which I always love. I really thought I had everything all worked out by the middle, but at the end I found I was wrong.

I reason I gave this book a “7″ is because while I had a hard time getting through the first half of the book, the last half  was really well written and enjoyable.  So, if you’re okay with having a slow and slightly disjointed beginning, this book has a great ending.

Sci Fi
For those friends and loved ones who love Science Fiction, try getting these books/book-like items:

- Old Man’s War or any other book by John Scalzi 
I reviewed Old Man’s Wara while back and now I’m getting it for several of my guy friends. Though it’s about seventy five year olds, I have to warn you there are blood, guts, sex and emotional trauma in this book. It is, after all, a book about war. Withthat said, I think this book is set at a wonderful pace and it really allows you to empathize with the characters and their strange circumstances.

- 7th Son: Descent by J.C. Hutchins
I admit I have not read the published version of Seventh Son: Descent, but I listened to the podiobookand I love J.C. Hutchins’ writing and his style. This is an extremely fast paced and violent sci-fi thriller. You’re welcome.

- The Ultimate Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams
I got this book one year for Christmas and I love it. It’s got all the Hitchhicker’s books in one big fat book, plus a fun short about Zaphod Beeblebrox. Guaranteed to put a smile on Hitchhiker’s fans everywhere.

- I Will Fear No Evil or any other books by Robert Heinlein
I Will Fear No Evil is the first Heinlein book I ever read and is still my favorite to this day. As is normal for Heinlein, there is lots of free love in this book, but it’s also got some neat spiritual issues it addresses. Basically, if you were ever leery about the idea of a brain transplant, this book is for you.

- The Adoration of Jenna Fox (which I reviewed) by Mary Pearson
I reviewed this book sans spoilers. So, this is your spoiler alert. Don’t read on if you don’t want a spoiler. The Adoration of Jenna Fox is about a teen who wakes up after a year long coma to find that she not only doesn’t remember what simple words mean, but her body is over 50% synthetic. She has to overcome the normal emotional issues one would have a) being a teen and b) having been in a coma for a year. She also has to figure out for herself if she is, in fact, human.

- Brave New World by Aldous Huxley
Brave New World is a classic. It’s a bit like George Orwell’s 1984 set in the future. It involves a society which has banned history, books and bearing children (all babies are made in a bottle and – depending on where they go in society – their growth is aided or retarded). Also, the society refuses to allow its denizens to be unhappy by providing constant access to a pleasant, mostly side effect free drug so the citizens may forget their troubles. But, when a human from the “wild reservations” comes into this new, carefree society, how does he cope? Does he adapt, or reject this new society? This book is a very real look into human misery and the tendency for people to simply hide their problems, rather than deal with them openly. Spoiler is: this book does not have a happy ending.

- The Halo Books by Eric Nylund
If your kid or friend are into the wildly popular Halo video games, get them hooked on the book series. I actually did this with my ex-boyfriend who didn’t read and he really liked them – so much so that I picked up the book I bought him and read it myself. They are actually pretty darned good!

- The Immortals by Tracy HickmanThe Immortals is a book about the 10 second decision making society opting to put disease victims into massive concentration camps for them to die off in while a cure is being searched for. However, what the people of the short attention span don’t realize is there’s something much deeper going on, something which shows the world why politics and religion don’t mix and why some decisions need thought and research put into them. 

- Look Into the Sun by James Patrick Kelly
A wonderful Sci Fi story ultimately about a young man who has to go to another planet to come into his own and truly belong. If you want to get a taste of the story – check out Jim Kelly’s Free Reads podcast, wherein he reads the whole book to you in several episodes. This book is actually out of print, but the author (and humble Nebula and two time Hugo award winner), Jim Kelly, bought out the overstock of the book and is offering to sell a signed copy to you direct. Email him at Jim (@) JimKelly (dot) net to get your book, or contact me at JuliaScottDouglas (@) Gmail (dot) com and I’ll get you two in touch. I’m going to order one just for me – I love signed books.

-Escape Pod CDs
No Sci Fi fan’s collection of books would be complete without a subscription to Escape Pod(which is free). Barring that, get them one of the cds of this fantastic podcast of short fiction. I happen to love all three of the podcasts in the Escape Pod/Pseudopod/Pod Castle network, but Escape Pod is what any sci fi fan needs to accompany them through thier journey through short fiction. (I don’t get paid to recommend these guys, I just love them and the short stories they provide really are awesome.)

I hope these books/book-like items cover all bases on your friends and family who are sci fi fans! 

If you have any suggestions of books I should read or recommend, let me know!

Also, remember that if you shop at Amazonfrom the links I provide, I get a little commission if you buy something, so help a sister out!

Book: Acceptable Risk

Genre: Medical Thriller/Horror

Julia Rating: 8

Comments: Acceptable Risk is my first Robin Cook novel. He writes medical thrillers about truely terrifying medical situations, which could actually happen.  That is what Acceptable Risk is about.  A medical doctor (Edward) decides to create a new mind-altering drug from a mold found in the basement at his girlfriend’s (Kim) ancestor’s home.  Kim’s ancestor was declared a witch (named Elizabeth) during the Salem witch trials and there appeared to be irrefutable evidence that she was, in fact, a witch. 

While Edward goes ahead with his research on the drug, Kim finds out more and more disturbing things about Elizabeth.  Kim thinks some of the things Elizabeth did was because of the mold which she was eating in her food.  Then, Edward decides to take the drugs himself to test efficacity.  It seems to work, but a series of attacks in the neighborhood make one wonder – are there acceptable risks to the new wonder drug?  If so, how acceptable are they?

I really liked the story, but I think it started out far too slow, there was too much explaining and the dialog was strained.  But, the book dragged me along and made me want to know what was going on.  So, all in all it was a decent thriller.

Also, I found this book has been made into a movie.  If anyone has seen the movie, let me know if it’s any good.

Book: The Darkest Evening of the Year

Genre: Horror/Suspense/Thriller

Julia Rating: 9

Comments: I have to make an admission to start out with. I’ve never read Dean Koontz before horror month, so if I am missing some kind of a theme (aside from an affinity for golden retrievers) that is obvious to his long-time readers, please let me know.

I really liked The Darkest Evening of the Year, but from the beginning to about half way through it reminded me of an evaluation my boyfriend gave one of my short stories: “You got confused there in the middle, but you made it in the end”.  At the beginning of this book, Koontz introduces several major characters: the mysterious but lovable Amy Redwing, the boyfriend – Brian McCarthy, Nickie the golden retriever and a mysterious person introduced as Moongirl.  It takes a while for you to realize that they all have something to do with each other.  Maybe I’m just slow – and I don’t think I am – but the story didn’t delineate what was important and what wasn’t at the beginning.

Later in the book you find Amy Redwing has a history.  She currently saves golden retrievers, but she once was a young orphan raised by Catholics and has even had a relationship  with a man before Brian – the boyfriend.  Boyfriend Brian also has baggage, and once that is explained, the connections make sense.  Nickie the golden retriever also seems to have a history – supernatural though it is.

I think the other problem I had with this book is that Moongirl is such a cruel b**** that I could hardly read the sections with her.  You just want to take a knife to her and save everyone else the trouble.  That’s a good thing, of course, because it means Mr. Koontz did fantastic characterization and made a true villain, but it was hard to read.

All in all I recommend The Darkest Evening of the Year. If you’d like to purchase The book through Amazon, buy it here, via my blog. Since I don’t get paid to do this, each purchase from Amazon helps me spend more time reviewing books for you!

Book: In The Woods

Genre: Suspense/Thriller/Detective

Julia Rating: 7 (for writing skill)

Comments: Sorry, this book isn’t really horror. I thought it was, but it turned out to be a psychological thriller.

In the Woods is a book that showed great promise in the beginning, throughout the middle and failed (in my opinion) at the end. Tana French is a fantastic author. She keeps you interested, keeps the characters in constant upheaval and has you guessing what will happen next through the whole book. Sounds pretty good, right? The only problem that I encountered is that from the beginning Ms. French opens with a certain promise which, by the end, she fails to fulfill. (If I said more, this review would simply be a big fat spoiler, so I’m not going to say more. If you want to know what the promise is, or simply experience some of Ms. French’s fabulous writing, buy the book.)

This book is a very well written, though very depressing, psychological thriller that has a small element of horror in it (there are some horrible disappearances and murders – and a really repugnant psycho in there), but I was very disappointed and left frustrated by the ending.  There are some who may like endings that don’t answer every question, that leave you hanging a bit, but that’s not generally me.  I know real life doesn’t often tie everything up in a pretty bow, but I read partially to get away from real life. 

If any of you have read In The Woods and/or has an opinion about the book, by all means comment. And, please remember that this blog is a labor of love – but is something I’d eventually like to make me some money, so if you want to buy a book at Amazon.com , please use the links provided on my blog, or use the Amazon.com link provided right here.

Book: Devil Bones

Genre: Murder Mystery/Thriller

Julia Rating: 10

Comments: I screwed up on this one… it’s not horror at all! However, I recommend it if you like the TV series Bones, because it’s a Temperance Brennan novel (she’s the main character of the TV show). Temperance is a forensic anthropologist that helps solve murders by examining dead bodies, reconstructing them as needed and discovering how they were killed, how long they were dead, etc.  She comes across two strange cases – one is a young lady’s skull found in a cauldron in the basement of a home that is “for sale”.   She also comes across a dead man with a pentacle imprinted on his back.  He’s found next to a coven of Wiccan witches. 

Temperance must discover who is involved in these two deaths – are they linked?  Is there satanism going on?  To top it off, a detective friend of hers who is working the case gets shot.  She has to find out why.

This novel has it all, witches, bible thumpers, dead bodies and more.  I don’t consider it horror, but some may.  Either way, it’s a fun read.

Book: Infected: A Novel

Genre: Horror/Sci Fi/Thriller

Julia Rating: 10

Comments: Scott Sigler is one of those “new” authors who has actually been kicking around on independent channels for years. His newest book (the first he’s released with a major publisher) is Infected.  This is the story of a terrible infection contracted by normal Americans which uses their bodies natural hormones to turn them into raving psychotics.  The cause of the infection is unknown, and a super-secret team of CIA and CDC members are trying to find out what it is and how to stop it, before it’s too late. 

What I liked about Sigler’s work was that he uses hard science to back up his thriller/horror/science fiction story.  It makes everything that much more realistic and allows the reader to jump right in with minimal suspension of disbelief.  He also keeps the pace of the novel up at a thriller-like rate, which makes it that much more riveting.

Scott Sigler has been podcasting his books over the years, so I recommend buying the audio version of Infected over reading it via a traditional paper book.  Sigler himself reads the audio version, does voices and special effects much like the old radio shows of the forties and fifties, which makes the listening experience that much more fun.

10/07/08: Check out this interview with Scott Sigler about his novel, Infected.

Book: Dexter in the Dark

Author: Jeff Lindsay

Genre: Thriller/Serial Killer

Julia Rating: 10 (for humor)

Comments: Obviously I’m on a roll with the Dexter stories. Jeff Lindsay has a pattern – much like a serial killer does – of formatting his books. In the beginning, there is some commenting on Dexter or his dark passenger, next comes a killing, then on to the story. A compelling, interesting and predictable beginning. Predictable only if you have read the previous Dexter books, of course.

I am in a bit of a quandary about how to rate this book.  It was much funnier than the previous books – filled with dark humor – however it is also kind of fantastic – which bothered me a bit.  I was actually tempted to put “Fantasy” as a genre for this book.  Here’s the deal, Dexter has a “dark passenger” riding along in the back seat of his mind all the time.  This passenger is what tells him to kill. One day, his passenger gets scared and disappears.  Dexter has to find out why and how… finally asking himself “What is my dark passenger – where did he come from?”  The answer to these questions is located in the realm of fantasy.

Adding to Dexter’s disquiet – he is getting married and becoming a stepfather and mentor to his fiancee’s two children – one of whom carries a dark secret of his own.  To boot, he’s starting to dream and sleepwalk – both firsts for Dexter.

Dexter’s sister, Deborah, is less involved in this one – though she appears once in a while just to shake things up – and there are two surprise appearances of Sergeant Dokes, but as the old characters are featured less, Dexter’s new stepchildren are featured more.

Author: Jeff Lindsay

Genre: Thriller/Serial Killer

Julia Rating: 10

Comments:
As you may be able to tell, I am a Dexter fan.  I’ve started to read the series in spite of the fact that I am not usually a series reader. 

 In Dearly Devoted Dexter, Dexter has a problem.  His arch nemesis, Sergeant Dokes, is cramping Dexter’s style by following him constantly.  This stops our favorite serial killer from doing what he does best… finding that special someone to play with on a bright, moonlit night.  The situation is intolerable, unbearable even, and like all things in this universe, it must come to an end. 

Along comes a serial… dismemberer, who leaves his victims very much alive after doing some terrible things to them.  Dexter is disapproving, but intrigued.  What would drive a person to do such a thing?  And, how is this going to get Sergeant Dokes off his back so he can have some real fun?

Dearly Devoted Dexter is another masterpiece by Jeff Lindsay.  I can see why it got turned into a TV Series - Jeff Lindsay is brilliant at creating Dexter, our favorite “inhuman monster” as he liked to call himself.  Yet, Dexter is not a monster.  He turns out to be very human, and very helpful to his poor dear sister, Deborah. 

I recommend this book to anyone who likes murder mystery, the TV show and anyone who enjoys a good read, but isn’t extremely squeamish (the book is about dismemberment after all).

Genre: Thriller/Suspense/Detective

Julia Rating: 6 out of 10

Comments:  John Sandford writes the Prey series, which I just discovered.  I liked the book, it was interesting.  However, I found that the format it was written in is sometimes confusing and it really didn’t have to be written that way.  Maybe it’s just me, but I’m not a two year old with the attention span of a paragraph.  I like when writers delve in there and give me a good, solid page that doesn’t jump between two or three characters.  I would rather a chapter per character or something.

I read it on the plane flying home, and I recommend it as a great plane book.  It’s fast paced enough that you don’t nod off on the plane and interesting enough that you look engrossed, so you don’t have to talk to the person next to you.