Editorial Review

Humans are the warheads in a lethal contest of missiles vs. long-range beams in deep space.

The desperate Homo sapiens of Earth launch their experimental beamship. It’s ultra-tracking and breakthrough technology allows it to out-range the Doom Stars.

The Highborn want that ship. They send swarms of missiles, knowing few will reach it. In the nosecones are their secret weapons—Free Earth Corps heroes from the Japan Campaign.

Launched from the giant missiles like shells in a shotgun, Marten Kluge and his friends must ride their torps into the particle shields and storm aboard the beamship or die in the cold vacuum of space.

BIO-WEAPON is the story of a suicide-ride to hell through a techno blizzard. BIO-WEAPON is a full novel, 85,000 words in length by Vaughn Heppner, Writers of the Future winner, Vol. IX.
... Read more

Reviews

A Great Space Opera, July 19, 2010
I just finished reading both the first book Star Soldier, and this book, Bio-Weapon in two days. They were so good I could not put them down. What surprised me the most about them is that I was expecting some sort of generic military scifi novel (based solely on the titles). Instead, I found an excellent space opera with some very interesting characters.

The only disappointment I have is that the third book, Genus Cyborgus, is not available yet.

An author to watch, September 10, 2010
The second book is better than the first. If you have read the first, this review is meaningless as you will buy the second. This author in just plain good. I am going to buy some of his other books that do not appear on the surface to be something I would like but will purchase just on the strength of these two good reads. I hope the author is not a flash in the pan!! Decent SF writers are just too darn rare.

A great continuation from the first in the series, August 22, 2010
This is a great sequel that continues that fast pace and action of the first book. It gets grander and grittier. But be warned, to fully appreciate the book, start of with the first in the series. Needless to say a great page turner that draws you in.

A Fun Read, August 28, 2010
This book and the first were book fun to read, and I look forward to the third (and hopefully last -- I hate it when writers draw out a series forever). This was not a great book, and Marten, the main character, is not the strongest character in the book. In fact, the ancillary characters add a great deal of value to this reading, which I why I want to read the next text. The author intentionally left a lot of unresolved storyline.

I read for relaxation, and these two books were great in that respect.

Better Than The First, September 22, 2010
i couldnt stop reading love the story cant wait for the next one in the series.

Good, but not great, August 2, 2010
A good book and I enjoyed reading it. However some ideas could have been better fleshed out and the use of acronyms began to wear on me.

The characters were ccompelling, although a bit hollow. In short this book is almost great, but the "almosts" continually assert themselves taking away from the story. ... Read more

Editorial Review

Wendi Stratford's job as an accident reconstructionist is just one more enviable reflection of her ideal life. She's got it all---perfect career, perfect looks, perfect husband, perfect home, perfect faith. There's just one problem: it's all a sham, right down to her bleached-blonde hair.So Wendi hatches an impulsive and exhilarating plan to break free of the lie she's been living---only to watch her hopes die in a terrible accident. But as she sifts through the wreckage, Wendi comes to a shocking conclusion. This was no accident.The quest is on to learn the truth, but the truth could be deadly. And now someone is leaving Wendi clues at accident scenes, clues that could lead her straight into a killer's hands. With her life on the line, Wendi must find strength in a faith that until now had been merely an accessory to her storybook life.With engaging characters swept into a millrace of mystery and suspense, Harry Kraus' new novel is. . .perfect. ... Read more

Reviews

Great book!, August 19, 2008
I couldn't put this book down! It was suspenseful and emotional and grabbed my attention from the very beginning. I think all of us can relate to feeling "fake" sometimes and the desire to break free from our "perfect little images" and be real. Wendi has to put on a "show" to a level where it makes her feel like it is killing her to be so pefect all the time. Wrapping herself in blame and shame and feeling that God is disappointed with her. She has no concept of grace. Her world begins to unravel as strange events begin to occur around her. But it is in the unravelling of her life that she finally finds the answers she's been looking for. A terrific book that spoke to my heart and my own longings to drop the masks and live with freedom in God's love. So not only was it a good suspense and story, it was a story that packed in a powerful message of grace.

A Great Read!, June 14, 2008
I just finished reading Perfect. What a fantastic book...full of suspense, as well as speaking of God's grace. I just want to encourage everyone to read his books....they are all great. I can't wait to read his next book!

Suspense and themes of grace and forgiveness wind throughout Kraus's latest thriller, July 14, 2008
The talented Harry Kraus (COULD I HAVE THIS DANCE?) crafts this absorbing, suspense-filled story of a doctor's wife who has the perfect life and everything money can buy --- but finds it is not enough to quell her guilt over her past.

Trophy wife Wendi Stratford is the daughter of a minister who works as an accident reconstructionist. She is frustrated with her high-driving surgeon husband, Dr. Henry Stratford, and in love with her piano teacher, Jack Renner. She's also carrying a boatload of guilt over an incident in her past that helped land her mother in a wheelchair in a nursing home. Add to that her pressure over being the perfect child, and Wendi is about to leave everything and do what she wants --- and have the man and the adulterous fling she desires.

But events intercede. After Jack is hospitalized in a horrific accident and slips into a coma, Henry does the surgery necessary to bring him back from the brink of death. Then, Jack's parents and fiancée, Yolanda Pate, show up and end up bunking at Wendi's home while Jack recuperates. Jack wakes from his coma but seems to suffer from amnesia. When Jack's fiancée dies in Wendi's bed --- from an overdose of pills prescribed by Henry --- evidence begins to point to Wendi, or possibly Henry, as the murderer.

Henry has his own set of problems. Frustrated by his wife's lack of attention, and vulnerable to temptations that lurk right around the corner, he's ripe for an affair. When his resident physician, a sultry blonde, flirts with him and then is killed under mysterious circumstances, the plot thickens further. Do we really know who Henry is? Drugs, affairs, amnesia and guilty cover-ups all wind throughout the plot until its chilling conclusion.

One complicating theme is Wendi's sister Rene, the typecast rebellious daughter, who shows up pregnant and HIV-positive on Wendi's doorstep. Wendi, who is unable to bear a child of her own, must decide if she wants a new start with Henry and adopt her sister's child, or continue to wait and see if Jack regains his memory --- and if they'll renew their fledgling affair. And her marriage is not easily dismissed. Henry's attentions toward her prove confusing. She muses during one scene, "Yes, he worked late and made me fight for second place, but he was compassionate and thorough with his patients, something that gave me comfort since he was the one in charge of Jack. The pendulum of my heart stood still, threatening to arc in the opposite direction from the one I'd been on: an arc towards loneliness, emotional isolation, and divorce."

Point-of-view changes are smooth, and there are some surprises lurking in every chapter. Kraus portrays Henry as a multi-faceted character impossible to dislike, even when he's covering up his myriad mistakes and obsessive compulsive in his mannerisms. The author does a great job showing, not telling. One interesting way he does that is to have Henry check himself in the mirror every morning in the same sequence (hair, tie, jacket, pants and zipper. Then his zipper again.) It's these kinds of scenes that tell us more about the characters than if he spelled out all the details for us about their personalities.

When Wendi gets involved in the investigation of Jack's crash, it unleashes a hornet's nest of troubles. Right up until the end, we're never quite sure if Henry is a sympathetic figure, or something more sinister. The ending is complicated in that it neither wraps up all the loose ends neatly nor leaves us hanging in a satisfactory or unsatisfactory way --- you decide. Faith fiction readers who enjoy a good tale of suspense will find plenty to like in Kraus's latest novel.

--- Reviewed by Cindy Crosby

good story for cheap, November 18, 2010
i bought this book when it was free a few weeks ago and i loved it! it was definetly very good especially for being free... but i think its still worth the $6 it is now. its about a "perfect" family that keeps up this image of having no problems whatsoever, when in reality, they have more problems then most families. the husband ends up having an affair with his co-worker & the wife feels like she cant keep the image any longer & decides she wants to run away her slightly younger piano teacher. but right after she tells the piano teacher her plans... he gets in an accident & has amnesia. so the rest of the story is her trying to figure out whos trying to kill her.

Good suspense, November 11, 2008
I picked this book up not realizing it was Christian literature. When I did realize it in chapter 2, I was disappointed because I had recently finished another Chistian novel which had prejudiced me against this type of writing. What I didn't want was a story where the author used the hand of God to resolve the story's problems rather than have the characters manage using their own resources. Fortunately, no magic tricks were needed as the protagonist worked through the events in a realistic manner and came to a new understanding about her faith. Good writing and high on the can't-put-it-down scale.

Far from Perfect, November 19, 2010
Perfect is far from it. The story is really contrived and stretches the boundaries of believability. Wendy Stratford discovers that her husband is having an affair and her response is to launch an affair with her piano instructor and run off to the Caribbean (at least it wasn't the pool boy). But when her boy toy is in a terrible accident that leaves him with amnesia, she launches her own investigation into the accident and discovers someone may be trying to kill her. Yes, this is a weird plot. And it gets weirder because it seems like the author can't decide if she is writing Christian fiction, chick lit, or a cheesy Lifetime Network movie of the week. The husband is a surgeon, so of course he is the one who heroically saves the piano instructor's life after the accident. Wendy's day job is as an accident reconstructionist. How very convenient for her.

Entertaining read., November 17, 2010
This is not your typical Christian book - most of which are sappy romances. I liked it as it was set not far from were I live in Virginia - a nice treat. The two main characters have long been more concerned with their perfect facades - perfect looks, perfect clothing, perfect house in a perfect neighborhood across the street from the perfect church. The story concerns what happens when cracks form in the perfectly constructed lives and how God's forgiveness and Grace can heal all.

That being said, most of the reason for a 4-star is for the slopping Kindle formatting. There wasn't even a few lines separating totally different parts in a chapter. Suddenly the next paragraph skips to different people doing different things and it required a major mind jerk to reorient.

Good book, recommended read, sloppy in Kindle.

ho-hum, November 16, 2010
I read various reviews which said "riveting" "suspenseful" "fantastic" . . . I think I must have been reading a different version. The book had its moments but unfortunately it was more predictable and poorly written than any of the other descriptions.
One reviewer said it was a bit monotonous- I can agree with that.
My biggest issue was with the page layout, or editing. Often there would be a change in perspective (different character) without even a change in paragraph, I found this quite distracting and it didn't allow a smooth flow of the story.
I'm glad it was free, even a dollar would have been too much. I felt like I was reading a High School kids extended creative writing project.

Almost Perfect, November 6, 2010
Since this was a Kindle freebee, I wasn't expecting a lot. However, it was a page turner. I love mysteries. As a Christian, I did like the Christian message, but as an avid reader I enjoyed the author's writing style. This is a novel with complex characters, a plot that moves things forward, and no simplistic answers. The fact that the author is a physician adds realism to the medical settings and characters when they appeared in the book. A good read for Christian and non-Christian alike. I recommend it. There is no question that I will be reading other novels by Harry Kraus, MD--even if I have to pay for the pleasure.

Exciting page turner, November 3, 2010
Just downloaded this as a kindle freebie. It is an exciting pageturner that you just don't want to put down till it is finished. I had never read any books by this author before, but will definitely be buying more by Harry Kraus. A medical thriller that keeps you on edge till the very end. ... Read more

Editorial Review

What if the best morning of your life suddenly turned into your worst nightmare? Sam Case is about to find out. Saving Rachel is the story of what happens when killers force a man to choose between his wife and his mistress...and the one he rejects must die. But wait--all is not as it appears to be. In fact, nothing is what it appears to be!

Saving Rachel is a scary, funny, roller coaster ride through hell, with twists, and turns that will slap your face and suck you in!
... Read more

Reviews

Great Mystery Book, April 6, 2010
Saving Rachel (A Donovan Creed Crime Novel) (Kindle edition) by John Locke is a great read. I recommend it to anyone that enjoys a good mystery novel. I also recommend it to you if you have read the first Donovan Creed novel by John Locke.

Donovan Creed is a tough guy. He is not the nicest guy in the world. However, he does have some good sides to him.

The character Donovan Creed has been in a John Locke novel before. In this book the author elaborates on the character of Donovan Creed. In this book we see Donovan through the eyes of Sam Case, another character in the book. We also see Donovan through the eyes of Donovan in this book. Donovan sees himself much differently than Sam Case sees him.

This book is great. I downloaded it and read it on my kindle. I really enjoyed reading it. I did not want to put it down. When I was not reading it I was wondering what was going to happen next. I really got lost in this book and the characters.

I recommend reading this book if you enjoy a good mystery and a good book. It truly is a great mystery book.

A Wild Rollercoaster Ride, May 24, 2010
This was one of the best books I have read in a long time. I could not put it down. I read these 200 pages faster than any of the last 20-30 books I have read. The plot has so many twists and turns I could not keep count of them. That, it turns out, was part of the plot of the book.

The central player, Sam Case, was put through so much that he could not keep track of everything himself. Of course, through it all, Donovan Creed was masterminding the action so there could be a happy ending for all the players that he thought to be important.

Sam Case is in the business of hiding money. He hides money for several very rich very nasty people. He has come up with a way to keep the government form finding out about billions of dollars. Most of this money belongs to mobsters, terrorists, and other people you don't want to cross like Donavan Creed ( a terrorist assassin for the government and general killer for hire). Now someone has found out and wants to pressure Sam into giving them information so they can steal all that money.

Saving Rachel A Donovan Creed Novel by John Locke is the third in the Donovan Creed series and the fastest passed yet.

I Enjoyed this Book, April 6, 2010
Saving Rachel (A Donovan Creed Crime Novel) (Kindle Edition) by John Locke is a great book. I enjoyed reading it very much.

I love mysteries and I love action books. This book is action and mystery. It delivers me both the action that I crave and the mystery that I find interesting.

The book is the second in a series by John Locke. John Locke has developed a character named Donovan Creed in a past book and now with Saving Rachel he has developed the character even more.

If you enjoyed the first Donovan Creed novel by John Locke than you will like this one. The author goes into more deliberate detail about the character in this book.

This book also has the character Sam Case in it. Sam Case tells much of the story through his eyes. He explains much about Donovan Creed through Sam's eyes. However, Donovan also explains how sees things through his eyes. You will find that Donovan may not see things as they really are.

This is a great book. I downloaded it and read it on my Kindle. It was well worth it. I enjoyed it very much. I did not want to put my Kindle down.
... Read more

Editorial Review

Danielle Steel sweeps us from a Manhattan courtroom to the Deep South in her powerfulnew novel—at once a behind-closed-doors look into the heart of a family and a taleof crime and punishment.

Eleven years have passed since Alexa Hamilton left theSouth behind, fleeing the pain of her ex-husband’s betrayal and the cruelty of hisprominent Charleston family. Now an assistant D.A. in Manhattan, Alexa has finallyput her demons to rest, making a name for herself as a top prosecutor, handling thecity’s toughest cases while juggling her role as devoted single mom to a teenagedaughter.

But everything changes when Alexa is handed her latest case: the trialof accused serial killer Luke Quentin. Sifting through mountains of forensic evidence,Alexa prepares for a high-stakes trial…until threatening letters throw her privatelife into turmoil. The letters are addressed to her beautiful seventeen-year-olddaughter, Savannah, whom Alexa has been raising alone since her divorce. Alexa iscertain that Quentin is behind the letters—and that they are too dangerous to ignore.Suddenly she must make the toughest choice of all—and send her daughter back to thevery place she swore she would never return to: the place where her marriage endedin heartbreak…her ex-husband’s world of southern tradition, memories of betrayal,and the antebellum charm of Charleston.

Now, while Alexa’s trial builds to a climaxin New York, her daughter is settling into southern life, discovering a part of herfamily history and a father she barely knows--from the ice-cold stepmother who stolehim away to a fascinating ancestry and a half-sister and half-brothers she comesto love. As secrets are exposed and old wounds are healed, Alexa and Savannah, aftera season in different worlds, will come together again—strengthened by the challengesthey have faced, changed by the mysteries they have unraveled, and with Savannahnow at home in the southern world her mother fled.

In this masterfully told tale,Danielle Steel creates a stunning array of contrasts: from the gritty chaos of Manhattan’ s criminal court system to the seductive gentility of the South, from the rage ofa hardened criminal to the tender bond between a mother and daughter—and a lovingfather who has welcomed Savannah home at last. A novel that will catch you off guardat every turn, Southern Lights is Danielle Steel at her electrifying best.


From the Hardcover edition. ... Read more

Editorial Review

The “Dexter” series—bestselling books, acclaimed TV show, worldwide phenomenon—continues with Dexter’s deadliest case yet.
 
After his surprisingly glorious honeymoon in Paris, life is almost normal for Dexter Morgan. Married life seems to agree with him: he’s devoted to his bride, his stomach is full, and his homicidal hobbies are nicely under control. But old habits die hard—and Dexter’s work as a blood spatter analyst never fails to offer new temptations that appeal to his offbeat sense of justice.  Not to mention that his Dark Passenger still waits to hunt with him in the moonlight.  The discovery of a corpse (artfully displayed as a sunbather relaxing on a Miami beach chair) naturally piques Dexter’s curiosity and Miami’s finest realize they’ve got a terrifying new serial killer on the loose. And Dexter, of course, is back in business.

Reviews

Diabolically, delicious, Dexter, September 8, 2009
Yummy.

I think fans of the first two Dexter books, but not so much the third, will be happy with this book. Not ecstatic, but happy.

Dexter has just gotten married, and by the time he gets home from his honeymoon, his dark passenger is rearing to go. He seems to be playing a little more fast and loose with the code of Harry and we see a bit of cat and mouse in this book, and I was somewhat reminded of book one.

I'm generally happy with whatever form of Dexter I can get (I even liked book three) so I was entertained. A few things grated on me a bit, however. The book lacked the humor of the first three, perhaps the novelty has worn off, but mostly I think Lindsay beat the horse dead on both Miami traffic, and Dexter's supposed lack of emotion. If Dexter had no emotion, he'd be a dull character nobody liked. So to be reminded like 100 times during the book that he doesn't have emotions, was overkill (ha!). Dexter might not be "human" but he definitely has strong feelings about things. (Food, justice, Doakes, himself, etc.)

I don't know if I have "book Rita" confused with "TV Rita", so I may have this wrong, but the minute they got married, she seemed to turn into this unlikeable simpering character. And finally, there were several times where I declared "That would never happen." So all in all, I enjoyed it, I was entertained, I love Dexter, but it was a tinge flawed.

Dexter the television show is among my favorites on TV. They've done a phenomenal job with the character, and all the characters on the show really. I give Lindsay all the credit in the world for having created this magnificently loveable serial killer, but for me, the television shows have surpassed the books. In spite of that, I definitely plan to keep reading the books.

Dreadfully Dull Dexter, October 21, 2009
There is only one thing worse than Lindsay taking his series in a completely un-foreshadowed direction (DEXTER IN THE DARK), and that is going back to the way it was before without even a comment. The situation is like the terrible ending of the novel SPHERE by Michael Crichton. (Let's all hold hands and say it NEVER happened! Wee! Horrible. Just horrible.) Simply put, going back to the "status quo" made DEXTER BY DESIGN...boring and predictable. Those are two words the Dexter novels should never be associated with.

Let's start at the beginning. Dexter and Rita are married and on their honeymoon in Paris--hooray for them. They go to the Louvre and make comments on how the "Mona Lisa" is overrated. (As an aside, I felt the same way when I visited the "Mona Lisa" display in the Louvre. You know what the "Mona Lisa" is mysteriously smiling about? The fact that she duped everyone into thinking the tiny painting was worth looking at.) The newly-married couple then go to an "exhibit" of one of those "artists" that hack into themselves and call it art. It was pure shock-value writing used to set up the displays of death that would be there to greet Dexter when he returned to Miami--but there is no connection between the "art" in Paris and the displays in Miami other than "Hey, the bodies are gonna be like THIS!" It was heavy-handed, coincidental, and tasteless.

And then we get to the formula. Dexter goes home to Miami. Dexter sees a body at a crime-scene. It intrigues him. His sister, predictably, runs around screaming like a foul-mouthed banshee while accomplishing, exactly, nothing. Rita bursts into tears every four chapters or so. With five pages left, like usual, Lindsay wraps everything up as quickly and as rushed as possible. The end.

Seriously, the formula has gotten old, but I didn't realize it until reading this novel. But you know what really bothers me about these novels now? The lack of character development. This is where the TV show has pulled ahead of the novels. In the show, the characters have been growing and learning over the course of three and a half seasons. The novels? No change. Deborah is the same as she was from sentence number one in the first novel. Same with Rita. The other side characters? They may as well be cardboard cut-outs. Dexter can only carry the novels by himself for so long. There comes a point where the other characters need to exert some influence on Dexter and the flow of the novels. After all, isn't a PoV character also a product of the side-characters? This is what the Showtime series realized after their Season 1, and it's why it has been enjoyable and fresh from season to season.

The whole reason the Dexter novels were successful is because they were so different. With Lindsay following an easily discernible formula, that differentiating factor has been neutralized. I want Lindsay to get these novels back on track...really, I do. He (Lindsay) needs to do something different without resorting to stupidity-inducing shock value. Do I think he will come up with something original to freshen up the series? No, because he poorly executed his "brilliant" plan in book 3 and panicked by going back to the standard formula in book 4. Also, in DEXTER BY DESIGN, Lindsay took some of the filler plot-lines from the TV show and used them as "new stuff" in the book. I figure he will soon continue this trend and have the fifth book follow the Second Season of the TV show where Dexter is covering his tracks from an FBI agent. At this point, Dexter feels like a paycheck generator.

DEXTER BY DESIGN is nothing more than a terribly mediocre entry into the series, and the genre.

For a slightly more detailed review, head over to my blog, Elitist Book Reviews.

Dark and Dismal Dexter, September 8, 2009
The infamous Dexter Morgan is now married and settled down... but of course, that hasn't really changed anything inside him. Or has it?

And "Dexter By Design" is a solid fourth entry in Jeff Lindsay's thriller series, about a serial killer who focuses his efforts on serial killers. While there's still a bit too much focus on Dexter's new home life and stepkids, Lindsay still laces the story plenty of incisive wit, weird and grotesque serial killings, and a general aura of overhanging darkness. And coq au vin, occasionally.

After a brief and mostly idyllic (except for some gruesome performance art) honeymoon in Paris, Dexter has returned to Miami as a devoted husband and family man, yada yada. He also returns just in time for a string of gruesome new murders: four people who are eviscerated, filled with weird stuff (fruit and sunscreen, among other things), and artfully arranged. When it causes a media storm, a reluctant Deb asks Dexter to please help her out with the investigation.

His own experiences (and the Dark Passenger) tell Dexter that this isn't an ordinary serial killer, but someone who seems to have a strange grudge against the tourist trade of Miami. Or something like that. Whatever But things get far more personal for our soulless anti-hero when Deb is viciously stabbed, and Dexter's killing of the serial killer only end up causing more trouble... because he got the wrong guy. The next murder is someone close to his family, and Dexter ends up on a race against time to keep them from being the next round of victims.

"Dexter By Design" is neither the best nor the worst of the Dexter series -- while it's better than the story that precedes it, it's not quite up to the brilliance of the first couple books. But it's a fairly solid thriller story taken on its own merits, laced with Jeff Lindsay's dark wit and macabre goings-on (as well as some bizarre new problems associated with being a stepdad -- such as the whole "poop van" scenario).

Lindsay juggles and eventually intertwines the two different sides of Dexter's bizarre life, in a style that mingles tongue-in-cheek wit with a sort of mellow sociopathy. He has a knack for weird descriptions (at one point Deborah looks like "a large and very angry fish, all teeth and wide eyes"), and Dexter's cool internal observations glide through the increasingly frenzied plot like a swathe of black silk ("... while the rest of the world went on its merry way, killing and brutalizing each other without me").

The most pressing flaw? Well, the first half's focus on Dexter's new family is a bit on the dull side, primarily because we're told rather than shown that Astor and Cody are disturbed kids. Fortunately Lindsay seems to realize this (as does Dexter) and things start smoothing out after that, with criminal investigations, kidnappings, revenge and ghastly performance art.

But the fascinating aspect of this book is Dexter himself -- he claims to be soulless and feel nothing, like a demon made flesh, and the Dark Passenger still revels in death and pain. But he seems to be developing some personal feelings for his new stepchildren ("I had a large and wonderful responsibility in taking charge of these two and keeping them safely on the Harry Path") and his distrustful sister Deborah, and even the flickerings of an embyronic conscience. These developments trouble and confuse him, while changing him enough that the character doesn't stagnate.

While not the best of the Dexter series, "Dexter By Design" is an interesting thriller that pushes his bloodstained anti-hero into some intriguing new dilemmas. Worth reading if you've enjoyed what came before it.

Dark Dashing Dexter no more?, March 1, 2010
I bought all the four existing Dexter novels two weeks ago and just finished with the last, "Dexter by Design". While it was still fun and enjoyable to read I had the feeling that Darkly Dreaming Dexter evolved from the first novel to the last to Dopey Dumb Dexter. In the first two novels Dexter is a sharp, intelligent and calm killer, but what's left of him in Dexter by Design is a protagonist that is more human then ever. And not a smart one. It may be a change of pace with Dexter being somewhat more human and stupid, but what I liked about the other novels was, that Dexter and his Dark Passenger were so clever and smart. In the end he outwitted his enemies and stood triumphant. None of this takes place in the 4th novel. Dexter is outsmarted by nearly everyone in this book. The most disappointing part of this book, was the ending. The events are so unbelievable(and not in a good way) and Dexter stumbles more or less in and out of these. Poor Dark Dexter lost his wit and intelligence and comes out of it unharmed because of the help from others. The role of Dexter feels more like a bystander who is unable to change anything.


I still enjoyed the book for the most time and wanted to read on, but was very disappointed by the ending.
For fans of Dexter and Jeff Lindsay's writing, this book is still a good choice, just dont expect good ol' Dark Dashing Dexter and be prepared for Dull Dopey Dexter.
If you liked the first three novels, you will propably like this too, but don't set your expectations too high.

A real disappointment, September 14, 2009
I can only assume that some of the more positive reviews for this book are from people who have yet to read it.

** Spoiler Alert **

I am a big fan of the books and TV show but this is easily the weakest of the books. Here Dexter is more of a fumbling idiot than the homicidal genius we're so used to. He is outsmarted at almost every turn and is really just a spectator at the books climax. His trip to Cuba (which could have been a good twist) just fizzles and we left with him just.. well him leaving the country and going back to work to 'wait to see what happens'. His only kill in the book is an unplanned, spur of the moment act, against a man he has misidentified in a room which he knows appeared in a prior video and, even when the man gives him the hint, Dexter still doesn't realize he is being video taped (something most readers would have known 10 pages ago). And his nemesis here is half superman, half moron himself - he can pull off the most complex operations one second (detecting Dexter in Cuba, kill in Cuba, kill of Scout Master) but then tries to grab the kids from their car and gets stabbed with a pencil (while Dexter is falling on an ant mound)!!!

This book is worth a skip - only the last line is needed to go from the last book to the next.

Better than "In the Dark", But Not as Good as "Dearly Devoted" or "Darkly Dreaming", March 3, 2010
Jeff Lindsay once again lovingly lavishes his fans with wonderfully, woe-filled alliteration. His wit and wonderful descriptions of death make this Dexter tale deliciously delightful. It ore than makes up for the stellarly lackluster last installment "Dexter in the Dark". Dexter and is demonic Dark Passenger once again go out into the magnificent moonlight to maim his way through Miami.
This time Dexter must do battle with an artist with a modus operandi for death and dismemberment. "By Design" is certainly designed better than the poor predecessor, but this is by no means the best novel. While the first two stand as a wonderful work about a psychotic serial killer, the fourth is a mere runner up.
Still wonderfully written, as only Jeff Lindsay can, it is worth getting for any dearly devoted Dexter fan.

Happy that ol' Dexter survived in Lindsays head, January 30, 2010
I very much enjoyed listening to the audio book, again very well read by Nick Landrum.

Mainly due to two reasons:
#1, Jeff Lindsay ist back to normality. No more mystic trash spoiling Dexters narrative.
#2, Dexter is as hilarious as in the first two books, may be even more so. His self-mockery is really amusing.
And isn't it a perfect turn of events, that Ritas hip becomes more dangerous for the super villain than Dexters dark passenger? ;-)

The story is not as horrible and thrilling as in the first two books. That's why I rate it only 4 stars compared to the legendary start of Dexters career. But I'm really happy that good old Dexter is back, and I'm looking forward to the next episode!

Martin Weiss, Munich, Germany

Really Good, but not Great., November 2, 2009
Having read all 3 of the previous Dexter books, I was expecting this one to be a step up from the 3rd one (Dexter in the Dark). The first book was incredible, the second was even more incredible, and the third was average (a huge let down after the success of the first two). I wanted this to be a redemption of sorts, and it was. Now, it's not as good as the first or second, but it's much better than the third. It's still quite a good read, it just didn't have the same affect on me as the first two. You'll recommend it to people if they ask, but you won't be urging people to read this, either. All in all, I'd recommend this book and give it about 8 out of 10.

What happens when a manuscript is due., October 2, 2009
Dexter by Design it one of the rare publishing franchises that have been surpassed in quality by its TV version. Thoughout this Dexter I developed the idea that a manuscript was due by the writer's publisher and this was all he could come up with. I have three primary complaints. 1. Dexter actually accomplished very little personally in this book-it was all done for Dexter by his sister, her boyfriend, his stepchildren, and his wife while he was led around, largely in a stupor. 2. I lost count of how many times Dexter touted the abilities of his huge brain, contrasted by the many instances he stated that he was outsmarted, again by all around him. 3. I detect a harsh representation of women in this book-he treats both his wife and his sister as second class intellects-it seems the author does not understand or appreciate women. It hurts me to say these things because I love the novels and the video version, but I felt like I wasted my time reading Dexter by Design.

Fun but formulaic, August 15, 2010
I feel like I shouldn't criticize a thriller for being formulaic since you don't expect them to be that great at the plot twists. The plot twists will come but they will have a set pattern and by the end you will have a story wrapped up. The television show for Dexter tends to hit all the familiar beats as well.

Still, there is something a little frustrating about a book where the main plotline is little more than a cat-and-mouse chase with Dexter and the killer trying to outdo each other. The opening bits in the book where Dexter is on a honeymoon with Rita and they see a performance art piece involving mutiliation are entertaining. The first few chapters in the book are also fascinating as an alternate universe version of the show where some characters that are dead on the show are still kicking around in the book. Some characters know a lot more about Dexter and some characters are less interesting in the books than the show. Vince Masuka is pretty dull in the books and I find him to be very fun in the series.

The plot is also frustrating in that you know that Dexter isn't going to even come close to catching the killer until the end so the points where it looks like he's getting somewhere - you know that something is going to get messed up. And also the plot seems to revolve around Dexter making assumptions about one character and acting upon them that seem rather reckless by Dexter standards. He's supposed to be a thorough serial killer and yet he just goes off and acts impulsively. It doesn't work well.

Anyhow, enjoyable book but the television show has given me higher expectations and I feel that there are better Dexter novels waiting in the wings. ... Read more

Editorial Review

New York Times bestselling author Vince Flynn returns with his most explosive political thriller yet. A tour de force of action-packed suspense, Protect and Defend delivers an all-too-realistic and utterly compelling vision of nations navigating the minefield of international intrigue. A true "heavyweight in the political thriller arena" (Minneapolis Star Tribune), Vince Flynn has created a flesh-and-blood hero that readers can cheer for and a "finger-blistering page-turner" they won't dare put down.

In Protect and Defend, the action begins in the heart of Iran, where billions of dollars are being spent on the development of a nuclear program. No longer willing to wait for the international community to stop its neighboring enemy, Israel launches one of the most creative and daring espionage operations ever conceived. The attack leaves a radioactive tomb and environmental disaster in the middle of Iran's second largest city. An outraged Iranian government publicly blames both Israel and the United States for the attack and demands retribution. Privately, Iran's bombastic president wants much more. He wants America and Israel to pay for their aggression with blood.

Enter Mitch Rapp, America's top counterterrorism operative. Used to employing deception, Rapp sees an opportunity where others see only Iranian reprisals that could leave thousands of Americans dead. Rapp convinces President Josh Alexander to sign off on a risky operation that will further embarrass the Iranian government and push their country to the brink of revolution. As part of the plan, CIA director Irene Kennedy is dispatched to the region for a clandestine meeting with Azad Ashani, her Iranian counterpart.

But Rapp isn't the only one hatching plans. Iran's President Amatullah has recruited Hezbollah master terrorist Imad Mukhtar to do his dirty work. For decades Mukhtar has acted as a surrogate for Iran, blazing a trail of death and destruction across the Middle East and beyond. When Kennedy's meeting with Ashani goes disastrously wrong, Rapp and Mukhtar are set on a collision course that threatens to engulf the entire region in war. With the clock ticking, Rapp is given twenty-four hours, no questions asked, to do whatever it takes to stop Mukhtar, and avert an unthinkable catastrophe. ... Read more

Reviews

Vince Flynn is back on his game., October 30, 2007
After "Act of Treason," which I found disappointing, I was concerned that Vince Flynn's newest offering might also fall short of his earlier Mitch Rapp novels. Fortunately, Vince Flynn is back in the saddle and has delivered yet another good book - not up to his best efforts, but good nonetheless.

I just love Mitch Rapp. He's a terrific character unburdened by PC constraints. The remarkable thing about Mitch Rapp is that this outrageously un-PC protagonist was conceived BEFORE 9-11!! Mitch Rapp was killing Islamic terrorists in at least three books before 9-11. While most of us were contentedly sitting back and enjoying our lives oblivious to the extremes to which Islam and its adherents would eventually take us Vince Flynn's Mitch Rapp was fighting the good fight. To say that Vince Flynn was prescient would be an understatement.

In Flynn's previous novel, "Act of Treason" there were a few loose ends that needed to be wrapped up. "Protect and Defend" begins with the simultaneous resolution of those loose ends as well the present day conundrum of what to do with the Iranian nuclear capability. Flynn's writing style is engaging as always and draws the reader rapidly into the story line. If you like Jack Bauer from "24" you will love Mitch Rapp.

In "Protect and Defend" the indomitable Mitch Rapp is enlisted by CIA director Irene Kennedy to investigate the destruction of Iran's nuclear production facility. The usual intrigue ensues and Kennedy and Rapp end up traveling to Iran to defuse a geopolitical crisis. Kennedy is abducted, and in Rapp's indomitable manner she is rescued. Rapp, as is usual, is willing to do anything to protect his country and those with whom his loyalties lie.

Again, absolutely no sop to PC aficionados in this book or from this character who Flynn has developed over several books. I guess you could argue that Flynn's books and Rapp are somewhat predictable, but I don't care one iota.

The book is a relatively short read and the story moves at a rapid pace from beginning to end. Due to its brevity, you kind of get the idea that Flynn is once again mining the Rapp franchise for all it is worth, but in this case the book manages to deliver. While not quite as good as his earliest efforts it is a good read.

Top Of The Line, September 30, 2008
Vince Flynn delivers a powerful thrill ride once again. Great insight on Middle East politics, espionage, and terrorism. Mitch Rapp is at it again and he's badder than ever. I usually rip through a book in record time; however, Protect And Defend was worthy of a well paced read. I had to soak in every word.

One beef with the book: the ending was abrupt. It was as if Flynn was tired of writing and just wanted to wrap things up so he could move on to other things. This story called for a little more attention to the final chapters. Still, Protect And Defend is a must read.

Mitch Rapp Rules!, November 13, 2007
This book begins in Iran. The United States and Israel are very concerned about Iran gaining nuclear power. With the crazy leadership in Iran the two countries feel a nuclear attack would be imminent. Israel
has a source working in the Isfahan Nuclear Facility. This inside source
who is also a Mossad agent has a plan to destroy the facility. The agent
sets off an explosion that utterly destroys the facility. There is a
nuclear and enviromental disaster left behind.
The Iranians are screaming bloody murder and blaming Israel and the
United States for the destruction of the nuclear facility. CIA director
Irene Kennedy and Iran's intelligence chief Azad Ashani agree to meet in Mosul Iraq and try to resolve their differences. Mitch Rapp accompanies
Kennedy to the meeting. Iran calls upon Hezbollah master terrorist Imad
Mukhtar to kidnap CIA ditector Irene Kennedy. After the kidnapping Iran sinks an Iranian ship and blames the United States. The two countries are perched on the edge of war. Mitch Rapp holds no barriers in his search
for Irene Kennedy.
This is an exciting book from beginning to end. Once again Vince Flynn
has written an outstanding book. Be sure to read it.

Flynn's back, and delivers the goods, November 5, 2007
Flynn has a great facility for writing political thrillers that are also rip-snorting action-adventures, featuring his signature Mitch Rapp character. He also has an uncanny knack for dealing with the hot topics of the day -- in this case a nuclear-armed Iran and torture -- which is quite a feat when you consider the lead time involved in writing and publishing a novel.

In "Protect and Defend", Flynn's pulled it off yet again, as these are two of the hottest topics on the political scene today.

This book moves like a runaway train, fast paced, exciting, and very involving for me; I enjoyed it very much.

The action is covered, from the Oval Office to the Supreme Council of Iran, to the gritty backstreets of Mosul in Iraq, to naval engagements in the Straight of Hormuz.

One of the great things about Flynn's books is that you're not just involved in the front-line action, taking place in a vaguely-defined crisis, but like in Tom Clancy's works you're reading about all the political decisions and ramifications right up to the top.

Rapp is also a delight, kind of a modern American James Bond, except more lethal and brutal, a character more suited to today's era than the created-in-the-50s Bond.

I read this book almost in one non-stop sitting. I really enjoyed it and always look forward to the new Flynn book.

Get it.

Felt Rushed..., February 1, 2008
I've enjoyed the Mitch Rapp series but this book felt rushed. Most of the book was a setup for an obvious ending. There were no twists or unseen action as the book continued.

Not quite good enough, December 18, 2007
This is the first time I have read a book by this author. First, I must say, that the proof reading on this book is the worst I have seen, such as words misspelled, missing words, jumbled phrases, and one instance of referring to the wrong character in a back and forth dialog. This sloppy editing process detracts from the story being told. The story is good, but lacks supporting detail. The book could have easily been twice as long. It just seems to me the book was "pumped out", just not enough meat to it! I'll try another book by Mr. Flynn. Maybe I am just too picky. There is nothing like a thriller like "The Charm School" by Nelson DeMille!! I guess I'm spoiled, but I know good books can be written.

Now, in all fairness I must followup by giving the reader a mini-review of another book by Vince Flynn. I have just finished "Term Limits". Now, this book is much, much better. This book has a very captivating story line, has plenty of detail to make it convincing, and the book is well edited (no glaring punctuation or spelling errors). I am pleased to see that Mr. Flynn can write a really good thriller. I realize that I have not "reviewed" the book "Term Limits", however, I simply want the reader to know that it is worth the time to read and far better than "Protect and Defend".

P&D felt rushed...., November 5, 2007
I finished this book in record time and man, did it feel rushed. It built up a bit of a backstory, but the ending just seemed to have no real thrill to it.

I don't know if Flynn rushed this out, but in comparing it to my HC of Executive Power, the fonts were double the size making the book seem even shorter.

Is Vince slipping a bit?, November 1, 2007
I just finished P&D on the plane from Portland, I must say it seemed much shorter than Vince's other works. While the editorial review mentions "the backstory full of loss..." it seemed to disappear rather quickly. I'm a huge fan of both Mitch Rapp and Vince Flynn, but it felt like this one was rushed, either by the author or the publisher.

It's a great read, full of adrenaline, and a great story but left me feeling a little short changed. A great book, just not one of Vince's best works.

I sincerely hope Vince isn't falling victim to the same affliction that dropped Patricia Cornwell from my "must read" list.

It was ok ..., December 4, 2007
An entertaining, predictable candy for the brain page turner. Nothing more - nothing less. If you're a fan you'll "like" it not "love" it.

we need more Mitch Rapps!, January 9, 2010
A Vince Flynn novel is a very special thing. It is a very guy thing; but most especially, it is a very American thing. If you love your country, and you want to see it strong in the world - if you want to see the bad guys get theirs - Vince Flynn is definitely for you.

With `Protect & Defend', CIA Counterterrorism Specialist, Mitch Rapp (a type of American James Bond), is called upon by the President. After the destruction of Iran's nuclear facility, and their incessant blaming of the U.S. and Israel, the President, using a football analogy, is tired of playing defense. He wants to go on offense.

Unfortunately, there are more parties involved here than the U.S. government is aware, leading to a disastrous kidnapping of CIA director Irene Kennedy. This action was hard for me to swallow, as I personally can't see the terrorists sharp enough to pull off such a feat. However, once I began looking at Kennedy as Rapp's boss and friend, rather than as the CIA Director, the reality of is was easier to believe. It also pushed the truth of what the fight against terrorism entails - and how dearly the country needs more Mitch Rapps involved to lead that fight
... Read more

Editorial Review

Editorial Review

Meet twenty-two-year-old Cherry Pye (née Cheryl Bunterman), a pop star since she was fourteen—and about to attempt a comeback from her latest drug-and-alcohol disaster.

Now meet Cherry again: in the person of her “undercover stunt double,” Ann DeLusia. Ann portrays Cherry whenever the singer is too “indisposed”—meaning wasted—to go out in public. And it is Ann-mistaken-for-Cherry who is kidnapped from a South Beach hotel by obsessed paparazzo Bang Abbott.

Now the challenge for Cherry’s handlers (über–stage mother; horndog record producer; nipped, tucked, and Botoxed twin publicists; weed whacker–wielding bodyguard) is to rescue Ann while keeping her existence a secret from Cherry’s public—and from Cherry herself.

The situation is more complicated than they know. Ann has had a bewitching encounter with Skink—the unhinged former governor of Florida living wild in a mangrove swamp—and now he’s heading for Miami to find her . . .

Will Bang Abbott achieve his fantasy of a lucrative private photo session with Cherry Pye? Will Cherry sober up in time to lip-synch her way through her concert tour? Will Skink track down Ann DeLusia before Cherry’s motley posse does?

All will be revealed in this hilarious spin on life in the celebrity fast lane.


From the Hardcover edition. ... Read more

Editorial Review

From New York Times bestselling author Stephen King comes the haunting story of Blockade Billy, the greatest Major League baseball player to be erased from the game.   

Even the most die-hard baseball fans don't know the true story of William “Blockade Billy” Blakely. He may have been the greatest player the game has ever seen, but today no one remembers his name. He was the first--and only--player to have his existence completely removed from the record books. Even his team is long forgotten, barely a footnote in the game's history.

Every effort was made to erase any evidence that William Blakely played professional baseball, and with good reason. Blockade Billy had a secret darker than any pill or injection that might cause a scandal in sports today. His secret was much, much worse... and only Stephen King, the most gifted storyteller of our age, can reveal the truth to the world, once and for all.

Originally published through Cemetery Dance Publications on April 20, 2010 as a $25.00 limited-edition hardcover, Stephen King and Cemetery Dance have made an arrangement with Scribner to make available a less expensive hardcover edition of Blockade Billy, with an on-sale date of May 25th, the same date the audiobook goes on sale. The Scribner edition will be available in all U.S. and Canadian retail outlets. Both the Scribner book and the Simon & Schuster audiobook will feature a bonus short story ("Morality"). ... Read more

Reviews

Blockade Billy: Publication info and spoiler free review, April 22, 2010
I'm going to keep this as spoiler free and as informative as possible.

"Blockade Billy" is the latest release from Stephen King. Its announcement in March 2010 was a surprise for everyone, and I know that I wasn't expecting any new King for another six months or so.

First, some info about the book itself:
Overall, this book is a novella, the physical book clocks in at a little over 100 pages with some excellent Alex McVey illustrations (in the Cemetery Dance and Lonely Road Books versions only).

There are a few editions of this book (some forthcoming). Cemetery Dance Publications had the 1st edition 1st printing of Blockade Billy with only 10,000 dust jacketed copies that was officially released April 20, 2010. This came shrink wrapped with a bonus William "Blockade Billy" Blakely baseball card (that looks like a Topps 1957 card, very cool). They also had a limited slipcase available at an additional cost. Cemetery Dance will also be doing a second printing of 10,000 that is for libraries only.

Scribner's version of Blockade Billy will be a non-dust jacketed trade hardcover edition and it will be coming out at the end of May, 2010. Sadly, it will not have the awesome Alex McVey illustrations, but they are adding Stephen King's short story "Morality" that was released last year in Esquire magazine.

In the summer of 2010, Lonely Road Books is releasing a Signed Limited Edition and a Lettered Edition of Blockade Billy. Both of these will come with the same William "Blockade Billy" Blakely baseball card that came with the Cemetery Dance Publications version, and they will also come with a SIGNED Stephen King baseball card (how cool is that!?)!

There will also be an audio book read by Craig Wasson (Blockade Billy Audiobook), a Kindle version (Blockade Billy for Kindle), and other e-reader versions.

Now, to the story.... Yes, this is a baseball story. If you aren't a fan, some of the passages will go over your head like a foul ball, but the thing is, you won't care. You'll be too engrossed in the story. The next thing you'll know, the story will be over and you will feel a sense of satisfaction and completion.

This novella is a very fun and very fast read. For sports fans that love King, this book will probably be a dream come true. For King fans that don't like sports... it is a new King story! I'll admit, I don't really care too much for baseball. I know it. I've played it, but I don't watch it. Yet, I still really enjoyed this story. In the end, it is a story about the people, not just the game.

Yes, the book is short, but you will enjoy it. This is a lot more than can be said for many much longer books out there. Stephen King told the entire tale that he wanted, and ended it where it ended. There are no rabid beasties, Dark Towers, or possessed cars, but you will revel in the telling of this tale as if your grandfather were telling you a story about his childhood (one of the good ones that make all the grandkids gather round).

I don't want to give away the plot, but here are the basics: A baseball team loses their catcher. They gain a new one. He is kind of an odd duck, but he plays really well. But... he has a dark secret. Hey, it is Stephen King, you know. That is all I'm going to give you. Buy it and read it. If you like King, you HAVE to get this. I think this book goes beyond King-lovers though. It isn't so... gruesome... as some of his other tales, and I could see people of all ages enjoying this one... well... maybe no under 13 should be admitted without their parent or guardian. Ha ha.

Minor Addition to the King Canon, April 23, 2010
Though I consider this "book" to be a minor addition to Stephen King's vast literary canon, I found myself enjoying it. Some of King's books could be a bit of a slog trying to get through. This novella is definitely not one of those. I enjoyed the descriptions of the old time baseball scenarios. The story centered on the super-talented catcher "Blockade" Billy Blakely, whose name was inexplicably removed from the records book (the constant reader does not learn why until near the end of the story). It is a fairly straightforward baseball fantasy up to the time it arrived to its Stephen King trademark twist ending. I really enjoyed it for the fast reading and the thrills. I also read this story from the standpoint of being a potential movie script. I was able to see this story fitting nicely as a cinematic offering. If handled correctly by the right director and actors, it will be a viewing experience that few will forget.

Good Story - Obscene Price, April 20, 2010
To get it out of the way early, it is best to know that Blockade Billy is a short story. It is not a short novel or even a novella, it is a short story. Weighing in at only 730 locations on the Kindle, it is extremely hard to justify the eight dollar price tag. It is more than twice the price of King's UR while less than half the length.

The good news is that if are a King completist, Blockade Billy is another nice addition to his baseball stories. The narrator, Granny, a former third base coach and equipment manager for the New Jersey Titans is a funny narrator and tells the story well. He is apparently telling this story to King himself while sitting in a nursing home after a life in baseball.

After losing their first two catchers in spring training, Billy is called up from their Double A squad to fill in until a seasoned pro can take over the catching position. But Billy puts in a great month, making numerous stops during plate collisions (hence the name Blockade Billy) while hitting at a good pace as well. The team's ace pitcher thinks Billy is his good luck charm.

Billy is also either dumb, crazy or both. He talks to himself in the third person and players get injured while playing against him. Eventually, as in all great stories, the little incidents add up and boil over, but you can discover that for yourself.

It's a good if minor addition to King's work. But it remains hard to justify the high price for such a slim work.

Hardly wort the price, May 16, 2010
I read this Novella in one sitting. consider it a short story, interesting but
certainly not edge of the seat, page turning, grab you by the gut, wishing it would not
end interesting. It was nice reading for a long flight but hardly worth the price.

Love Stephen but..., April 22, 2010
I love almost everything by Stephen King - especially his short stories since hardly anyone seems to promote or even write in this genre anymore with much consistency. His short story anthologies have some of the best I've ever read (and occasionally happily re-read).

However, this was advertised as being a new "novella". The length hardly qualifies, as many have mentioned here. I read it in about an hour - maybe less. Also, I have a feeling it will show up in the not-too-distant future in one of his aforementioned short-story anthologies - which would, indeed, be worth at least the $7.99 currently being charged for this one "entry".

If this is merely another of his somewhat adventurous forays into the currently somewhat "fledgling" electronic and other newer forms of publishing (which I also admire his doing in many instances), then I think it was a big mistake to allow it to be promoted as a "novella". I hope he (or his publisher or WHOEVER) seriously reconsiders the way these things are put forth in the electronic-reading arena from now on.

We love ya, Steve, but don't try this on your "Constant Readers" too much more or we may not be quite so constant and instead be much more circumspect about how we acquire and what we are willing to spend for what you have to offer from now on. I, for one, will research and wait for more reviews before I feed my SK addiction so quickly again.

That being said, the story was OK. Not one of my favorites, but definitely has the right King "flavor". The reason I gave it 2 stars is that the "price to entertainment-length ratio" was just way out of line.

Play Ball!, May 10, 2010
Another great story by Stephen King, I enjoy baseball and as a former catcher from New Jersey I found the storyline to be personally appealing. I think this story would make for a great screenplay of an episode for the Twilight Zone or some other 30 min tv mystery type show. It's easy to read, keeps you interested and if you are a fan of baseball you will recognize some of the old time names used in the story. It's a short story so I dont want to give away too much in a review.

However as others have noted, I think the price was entirely too high for a story that could not have been more than 50 printed pages. I read the story in about 45 minutes. I have bought 400+ page kindle books for less. I think the price point for this story should have been around $3.

Limited Edition Novella, April 20, 2010
I have to agree with the previous reviewers that $7.99 is a bit steep for such a short story. I've been looking forward to getting it from Cemetery Dance publications but I wasn't excited about paying their $25 asking price for a limited edition hard cover (and based on the length I'm glad I didn't). Still, being one of King's more Constant Readers, I knew I had to get my hands on it and was delighted to be able to read the story for 66% less than I thought I was going to have to shell out--especially since I know this won't be reprinted in any of King's future collections.

As far as I know, this is the first Cemetery Dance exclusive that has made its way into the eBook world. I'm hoping that the price tag was a gross mistake on their end that they will reconsider if future works wind up on the Kindle store.

That being said, the story itself is a quick read (I doubt it hits the standard 45,000 word count of a true novella) about an old time equipment manager recounting the story of William "Blockade Billy" Blakely to Mr. King himself. It's a decent, very straight forward story made enjoyable by a colorful narrator and King's expert knowledge and love of The Game. Personally, I cannot stand baseball--it's just not for me. I can appreciate why others love it so much and, to his credit, King held my interest throughout. I think it could've been expanded further but for what it is, it's quite enjoyable.

The star rating was penalized once for price. Better luck next time, CD.

Not at all good, June 27, 2010
I have been reading SK since the paperback version of Carrie came out in the 70s. I think I have read 98% of what SK had published. I can say without a doubt that this is the weakest thing he has written that I have read. I pretty much figured out the "truth" was before I even read it! This isnt even very good if you consider it a short story. It's just pretty bad.

A marginally interesting, glorified short story, May 31, 2010
I love Stephen King and for decades I've been purchasing his books the moment they come out. I even ordered the limited edition of this book from Cemetery Dance so I could get the bonus baseball card. I am sad to admit that Blockade Billy is a huge disappointment. As some have noted, this is first and foremost a short story, not a novella. The trade edition comes with a "bonus" short story called "Morality", which was featured in Esquire magazine and is 52 pages long (Blockade Billy is 80). It is a tiny book with large font, which is the oldest trick in the proverbial book. I read both stories in about 40 minutes. Surprisingly I found Morality to be a lot more engaging than the titular Blockade Billy, which is a lot of build up for a mildly interesting punch-line. I'm sure King will include Blockade Billy in some future anthology and I would recommend waiting until then to read this story.

Rip-off Amazon.com purchase for the Kindle, April 20, 2010
Content is good but there is not much of it. For the price charged you end up with much less than anticipated, and that is a big bone of contention. There is no indication as to how large this "book" is until you make the purchase. The term "book" is rather a poor term, since as another reviewer stated, this is more of a short story and should belong in a book as part of a collection of short stories.

It should be interesting to see how the upcoming printed version will sell, since with that the customer will see what he/she is actually getting for the price. ... Read more

Editorial Review

From New York Times bestselling author and Pulitzer Prize winner Stephen Hunter comes a thriller that plunges deep into the world of high-tech national security, the hearts and minds of those who kill for duty, and the latest mission for veteran sniper Bob Lee Swagger— who may have finally met the only man who can outshoot him.

Who killed Whiskey 2-2?

And why won’t it stay dead?

A marine sniper team on a mission in tribal territories on the Afghan-Pakistan border, Whiskey 2-2 is ambushed by professionals using the latest high-tech shooting gear. Badly wounded, the team’s sole survivor, Gunnery Sergeant Ray Cruz, aka “the Cruise Missile,” is determined to finish his job. He almost succeeds when a mystery blast terminates his enterprise, leaving a thirty-foot crater where a building used to be—and where Sergeant Cruz was meant to be hiding.

Months pass. Ray’s target, an Afghan warlord named Ibrahim Zarzi, sometimes called “The Beheader,” becomes an American asset in the region and beyond, beloved by State, the Administration, and the Agency. He arrives in Washington for consecration as Our Man in Kabul. But so does a mysterious radio transmission, in last year’s code. It’s from Whiskey 2-2.

MISSION WILL BE COMPLETED.

CONFIDENCE IS HIGH.

Is Ray Cruz back? Has he gone rogue, is he insane, or just insanely angry? Will he succeed, though his antagonists now include the CIA, the FBI, and the same crew of bad boys that nearly killed him in Zabol province? Not to mention Bob Lee Swagger and a beautiful CIA agent named Susan Okada who gives Swagger more than just a patriotic reason to take the case.

Swagger, the legendary hero of seven of Hunter’s novels from Point of Impact to last year’s bestselling I, Sniper, is recruited by the FBI to stop the Cruise Missile from reaching his target. The problem is that the more Swagger learns about what happened in Zabol, the more he questions the U.S. government’s support of Zarzi and the more he identifies with Cruz as hunter instead of prey.

With its hallmark accuracy on modern killing technologies, Dead Zero features an older, more contemplative Swagger, but never lets up on the razor-sharp dialogue, vivid characterizations, extraordinary action scenes, and dazzling prose that define Hunter’s landmark series. And with this installment, the stunning revelations— both political and private—will leave readers begging for more long after the last bullet finds its way home. ... Read more

Editorial Review

In this eagerly awaited follow-up to The Lion's Game, John Corey, former NYPD Homicide detective and special agent for the Anti-Terrorist Task Force, is back. And, unfortunately for Corey, so is Asad Khalil, the notorious Libyan terroristotherwise known as "The Lion."Last we heard from him, Khali had claimed to be defecting to the US only to unleash the most horrific reign of terrorism ever to occur on American soil. While Corey and his partner, FBI agent Kate Mayfield, chased him across the country, Khalil methodically eliminated his victims one by one and then disappeared without a trace.

Now, years later, Khalil has returned to America to make good on his threats and take care of unfinished business. "The Lion" is a killing machine once again loose in America with a mission of revenge, and John Corey will stop at nothing to achieve his own goal --to find and kill Khahil. ... Read more

Editorial Review

A man named Mohammed sits in a café in Vienna, about to propose a deal to a Colombian. Mohammed has a strong network of agents and sympathizers throughout Europe and the Middle East, and the Colombian has an equally strong drug network throughout America. What if they were to form an alliance, to combine all their assets and connections? The potential for profits would be enormous—and the potential for destruction unimaginable.In the Brave New World of terrorism—where anybody with a spare AK-47, a knowledge of kitchen chemistry, or simply the will to die can become a player—the old rules no longer apply. No matter what new governmental organizations come into being, the only truly effective ones are those that are quick and agile, free of oversight and restrictions...and outside the system.Way outside the system.In a nondescript office building in suburban Maryland, the firm Hendley Associates does a profitable business in stocks, bonds, and international currencies, but its true mission is quite different: to identify and locate terrorist threats, and then deal with them, in whatever manner necessary. Established with the knowledge of President John Patrick Ryan, "the Campus" is always on the lookout for promising new talent, its recruiters scattered throughout the armed forces and government agencies—and three men are about to cross its radar.The first is Dominic Caruso, a rookie FBI agent, barely a year out of Quantico, whose decisive actions resolve a particularly brutal kidnap/murder case. The second is Caruso's brother, Brian, a Marine captain just back from his first combat action in Afghanistan, and already a man to watch. And the third is their cousin...a young man named Jack Ryan, Jr.Jack was raised on intrigue. As his father moved through the ranks of the CIA and then into the White House, Jack received a life course in the world and the way it operates from agents, statesmen, analysts, Secret Service men, and black ops specialists such as John Clark and Ding Chavez. He wants to put it all to work now—but when he knocks on the front door of "the Campus," he finds that nothing has prepared him for what he is about to encounter. For it is indeed a different world out there, and in here...and it is about to become far more dangerous. ... Read more

Editorial Review

"Hold onto your pants, because Nicholson is about to scare them off."--J.A. Konrath, Origin

THE RED CHURCH

For 13-year-old Ronnie Day, life is full of problems: Mom and Dad have separated, his brother Tim is a constant pest, Melanie Ward either loves him or hates him, and Jesus Christ won't stay in his heart. Plus he has to walk past the red church every day, where the Bell Monster hides with its wings and claws and livers for eyes. But the biggest problem is that Archer McFall is the new preacher at the church, and Mom wants Ronnie to attend midnight services with her.

Sheriff Frank Littlefield hates the red church for a different reason. His little brother died in a freak accident at the church twenty years ago, and now Frank is starting to see his brother's ghost. And the ghost keeps demanding, "Free me." People are dying in Whispering Pines, and the murders coincide with McFall's return.

The Days, the Littlefields, and the McFalls are descendants of the original families that settled the rural Appalachian community. Those old families share a secret of betrayal and guilt, and McFall wants his congregation to prove its faith. Because he believes he is the Second Son of God, and that the cleansing of sin must be done in blood.

"Sacrifice is the currency of God," McFall preaches, and unless Frank and Ronnie stop him, everybody pays.
-------
A Stoker Award finalist and alternate selection of The Mystery Guild Book Club, my spiritual thriller "The Red Church" explores a boy's struggle with faith when his mother attends a haunted church. Inspired by real-life legends in the Southern Appalachian Mountains where I live, the novel mirrors my own search for faith, love, and deeper mysteries. I hope you'll try my other novels DRUMMER BOY, THE SKULL RING, and SPEED DATING WITH THE DEAD. I invite you to contact me at Amazon Central or www.hauntedcomputer.com. Thanks for sharing this journey with me.

----------------------
"Scott Nicholson is the kind of writer who always thrills and always entertains." --Jonathan Maberry, Patient Zero

"Scott Nicholson understands that the best horror novels achieve primal fear through a combination of sustained atmosphere, richly drawn characters, and believable if uncanny evils that draw unholy power from everyday lives.The Red Church is a damn scary story well told." --Christopher Ransom, author of the international bestseller, The Birthing House

"A master of atmospheric suspense." --Eric Wilson, NY Times bestselling novelist

"Scott Nicholson knows the territory. Follow him at your own risk."--Stewart O'Nan, Boston Noir

"Like Stephen King, he knows how to summon serious scares."--Bentley Little, His Father's Son

"Scott Nicholson writes with a mixture of H.P. Lovecraft, Manly Wade Wellman, and Clive Barker."--Kevin J. Anderson, The Dune series

"A wonderful storyteller."--Sharyn McCrumb, The Ballad novels ... Read more

Reviews

It Was a Dark and Stormy Night..., March 21, 2010
...when I started to read Scott's book on my Kindle. I should have known better. This is not the genre I typically read. But since he had a recommendation from another author I recently discovered (J.A. Konrath) and he has really impressed me on the discussion boards here on Amazon, I thought I would give it a go. Good decision; bad timing!

Lights aglow (cause I am a scaredy-cat), I hunkered into my fluffy featherbed, covered with my warm comforter, listening to the wind howl and the rain dance across the tin roof, 'The Red Church' grabbed my attention and didn't let go! As the storm raged on, the hours flew by, and I was completely entranced.

And then, almost at the end, when the action in the book was reaching a new high...a large bang outside and my power went out!!

I kid you not! Convinced evil forces were now in play (vs just blaming the storm outside), I carefully hid my Kindle under the pillow next to me, closed my eyes so tight, and faded off to a fitful sleep.

By morning, the sun was shining and I was able to finish the book without further incident.

I highly recommend this book and will look for more by Scott. And next time, I will have a flashlight handy. :)

Suspenseful, dark, and moving, January 19, 2010
I am not exactly a "thriller" or "horror" fan, so when I came across The Red Church by Scott Nicholson I hesitated at first, thinking I probably wouldn't like it. After the first few pages into the book, I realized how limiting and inaccurate such labels really are. To be sure, there is plenty of blood-curdling and scary stuff in the novel. However, there is much more to the book than "blood and gore." A tight, fast-moving plot, vivid, psychologically complex characters that jump off the page and are so real you remember them long after you finish reading the book, and a very accurate depiction of the emotional and mental powers that religious fanatics or new-age gurus can yield over their trusting victims make this book a truly fascinating read. I can only recommend it. Christa Polkinhorn, writer, California.

A book with scares, depth, and livers for eyes, June 30, 2010
Red Church begins with two boys, Ronnie and Tim, discovering a playboy in the graveyard. This brief beginning of boys will be boys and brotherly squabble is both fun and real, and I'd recommend enjoying it as much as possible because a scene like that won't appear in the book again. This book isn't just about the Red Church: it is obsessed with it.

The story is clearly in the vein of Stephen King, and saying so is really just stating the obvious. The similarities are sometimes striking. The writing will often switch to interior monologues that ramble on and on in incomplete sentences, carrying more a stream of thought designed to convey the character's horror. Sometimes it is effective, sometimes not. At times it worked, while other times it felt obligatory. "Must be a scary part," I'd mutter to myself. "Another italicized monologue."

But the Stephen King similarities are also in Scott's overlaying of both religion and worldly problems upon his characters amidst the supernatural. Ronnie's parents are struggling, with divorce looming in the distance more frightening to Tim than the monster living in the bell tower. Unlike King, however, these matters seldom trump the actual supernatural. In many of King's stories (say, Pet Sematary for example) how the main character deals with the mundane in his life drives him to the supernatural and decides the strength of its power over him. In this, the obsession with the Red Church reduces that.

I guess I should explain what I mean by obsession. We're given the viewpoint of many different characters, and with every one, we gain glimpses to their thoughts. Barring the very beginning, everyone is thinking of the Red Church. They worry about the monster in the bell tower. They worry about the returned son that has taken over the congregation. They discuss the murders. They discuss sacrifice over and over and over. This might not seem a problem, but what this means is that at no point do we see any glimpse of a normal life. Ronnie goes to school, he talks about the bell monster there. When the cop is investigating the case, he's remembering the death of his brother at the Red Church. When we hop into Ronnie's father's head, he's worrying about his wife...but not his relationship to her. Not anything I can relate to: just her involvement with the Red Church.

What precious detours we might get outside this narrow focus tends toward backstory only. So while all this kept the dread of the Red Church omnipresent, it also made it take far, far longer to get a feel for the characters and bond to any of them. Even now, I feel a little fond for Ronnie...and that's it. And maybe Mama Bet, but that's because I'm a little sick in the head (just like Mama Bet).

But despite this (rather shockingly wordy review, my gosh) I haven't touched on the true star of the book, and it ain't the Red Church: it's Archer McFall. The second son, the shapeshifter, master of the bell monster, a messiah of blood and sacrifice so delightfully twisted that if another book were written with him as villain I'd snap it up and vault it to the top of my TBR pile. He's the creature form It, only with a god complex this time. It doesn't matter to me that he swayed people too easily, or that his seeming invulnerability removed a bit of tension from certain scenes. While his true form at the very end may lack grandeur or near as much horror as his earlier renditions, his sweet words remained. For him alone I recommend this book.

Just one complaint: be ready to read the phrase "livers for eyes" about 500 times. It just isn't scary. Nothing at all is scary about the word 'liver' unless the phrase "eat your" is before it. But you'll see it, again and again and again and again, and every time I tried to see it, I saw big gooey human livers glued to a man's face like some goofball let loose in a meat locker playing a practical joke.

Bah. This is long enough as is. If you want psychological horror, where faith matters as much as bullets, where your own mother is tempted to deliver you as a blood sacrifice, and the goals of the Evil are far beyond a few simple killings, then I whole-heartedly recommend Red Church. Or if you like Stephen King. But that should be obvious by now.

Enjoyable and creepy, June 17, 2010
This is the second of Scott Nicolson's books I have read (Skull Ring was the other). The Red Church is a similarly creepy book.

The story centers around a red church that has been abandoned. The rural community says it is haunted by the ghost of a preacher that was hanged by his congregation for heresy. Because this is static rural community the family of both the preacher and his community are still here about six generations later.

The heresy is unique (at least to me.) The preacher said that Jesus was the older of two sons and failed to redeem the world, so God allowed his younger son to come to Earth to redeem what was messed up by Jesus.

Like many cults there is a distortion of Christian faith by the community that continued on the original preacher's legacy. The sacrifice of Jesus is seen as insufficient and the body and blood of the Eucharist are taken as a literal need for body and blood. (Early Christians were often thought to be cannibals because those around the church, but not actually in the church heard the language of the Eucharist, but did not participate in it.) There is also a central idea of sacrifice (like Abraham sacrificing Issac.)

Like I said with Skull Ring, I have not read a lot of horror genre. But I enjoyed the writing and the voice of the book. My internal discussion around the book really centered around the horror genre. I have read Dracula and a variety of Vampire books. Those do not seem "dangerous" for lack of a better word to the Christian faith. But this book was directly discussing heresy. And like many vampire books, the Christian faith discussed in this book was real and very present. In many ways, it was more present than in some Christian fiction books. There is power in the Christian faith and in Jesus that is not of the "self-help" variety.

I need to read some more horror genre books to really explore the ideas that this brings up for me.

Frightening and frighteningly well written, January 22, 2010
I am a fan of Mr Nicholsons writing and had read this book a few years ago and I loved it, when I saw it was on Kindle I automatically loaded it to reread on a plane trip. Still fantastic. Mr. Nicholson like King before him creates an entire world in his books with fully realized characters, which is not to say that he cant scare the hell out of the reader, becaue he can and does, it is just that the level of his writing makes the reader more involved and therefore able to care more about the characters, so it doesnt get much better than that.

The best book I have read in years!, February 19, 2010
I rarely review books, but I honestly have to write about this one. It is a book I could not put down. I had no idea where this book was going when I started, but I so enjoyed getting there. This is the best book I have read in many years and I will be looking for more books by this author.

Nicholson's Writing Blows me Away...Great stuff as usual!, October 20, 2010
This book was absolutely gripping.

I loved the plot.... an old town with a dark, dark history. Characters with a pretty horrid past. Revenge. The search for religious "truth". Family dynamics. And alot of scary scenes.

Just wait until you meet the character, ARCHER MCFALL. I cringe as I think about him! Truly frightening!

Nicholson is one of the best horror writers out there. His descriptive style is part of his charm. I can read excerpts like this forever! For instance:

"His laughter echoed through the trees, as deep as the glacier-cut and time-eroded valleys, the human vocal cords vibrating strangely as he threw back his head and chilled the spine of the forest"

"Only the river mist remained, like the shroud of a final burial"

Honestly, I love this guy's style, and have become a big fan.

I highly recommend this book to anybody who likes "scary". This tale certainly WAS.

Awesome Read, September 14, 2010
This is really a great read and much better than I expected. Looking forward to getting more of Scott's books.

Original - A Unique Voice, May 21, 2010
Sometimes I feel as if I've wasted way too much time reading various novels, by various authors. More often than not, I can't escape the feeling of deja vu because too many writers fall prey to "going with the flow," whether its accidental or purposely done through laziness.

Scott, on the other hand, dispenses of cliches and trite storylines. Don't expect to find very many in his books.
If you like reading about the same character over and over again, in book after book, then walk away. You won't find that here either.

Quite often I appreciate Scott's fresh descriptions and visuals. I always enjoy seeing original similes and metaphors, whether they are being used to describe a landscape, a building, or a used toothbrush. Sometimes, it can be hard not to repeat certain visuals. I've seen one author use the same descriptive prose in virtually every single one of his books. Ugh...

But more importantly, Scott's characters are not perfect Ken and Barbie dolls, with perfect looks, perfect personalities, and perfect fakiness. He makes them flawed and human, which makes them far more real to me.

I'm not saying that everyone shares my tastes, but if you like creepy and original content, then I dare to say you are looking in a pretty good direction here.

The Red Church by Scott Nicholson is Awesome., April 5, 2010
I just finished reading The Red Church by Scott Nicholson, and it's 3 a.m.. Probably not the best book to read if you are an insomniac. Lovers of horror fiction will appreciate this story. There is an undercurrent of the battle between biblical good and evil throughout. I enjoyed the characters, good or bad, and found them believable. As is my custom now that I have found a good author, I will probably read everything Scott has written. If you like Stephen King or Bentley Little, you will like Scott Nicholson.
The Red Church was especially good because much of the point of view was through a young preteen boy. He is trapped between his two parents, his mother who is caught up in a cult and his father who is desperately trying to save his family from an apparent evil threatening harm. I also liked the setting of the story which takes place in what fans of the movie Deliverance will recognize immediately.
This novel has everything. Ghosts, huge winged devil like character, and even a mud monster. I also liked the interaction between the damaged sheriff and his overzealous prot�g�. The sheriff is old school, while the prot�g� is CSI smart.
There's not much more I can say about this novel except if you choose to read it, make time for it and realize it will haunt you for a long time.
... Read more

Editorial Review

Sherlock Holmes, Hercule Poirot, Miss Marple, even the gruff Sam Spade all owe a great deal to G.K. Chesterton's beloved amateur detective Father Brown.Through five books armchair sleuths have followed the frumpy little priest through a jubilee of stories, near half a hundred delicious mysteries perfectly suited to lazy mornings, warm afternoons -- or dark and stormy nights.Chesterton's plots never fail to satisfy his readers, and in this collection of the entire original Father Brown library you will find hours of enjoyment.

Chesterton never stooped to mere violence to advance his stories, making this collection as suitable for younger mystery fans as it is for older fans.Like his creator, Father Brown combines practical wisdom with a sparkling sense of humor.If you love a mystery, you owe it to yourself to spend some time with Father Brown. ... Read more

Reviews

A classic that is great fun, December 11, 2009
G.K. Chesterton was a writer with theological and philosophical leanings. He wrote several serious tombs as well as fiction. The Father Brown series is of course one of his fiction endeavors. If you like mysteries, lighthearted story telling or both, than you will enjoy this book. This Kindle download contains the entire collection of short stories that are the Father Brown Mysteries, and therefore is a bargain. Chesterton was a brilliant writer and thinker, and this is a great introduction to him.

good read, January 27, 2010
These are nice mystery short stories. It is really good to be able to read these on my Ipod Touch.

Great Quick read., December 14, 2010
Though these short stories are not to the level of Agatha Christie's work, they are well developed and well written.

good stories but be warned, November 24, 2010
These aren't classics for nothing but be warned if you have a low tolerance for bees in authors' bonnets - Chesterton has an agressive one about his dedicated Catholicism and it can wear a little thin due to sheer repetition. Most of these stories have at least one pointed exchange about it and his biting satires of groups with different ideas don't exactly come off as even-handed. That said, i just read these stories two or three at a time so i don't miss out on these ingenious mysteries. ... Read more

Editorial Review

An original full-length horror novel, not available in print, on sale for a limited time.

WELCOME TO THE RUSHMORE INN

The bed and breakfast was hidden in the hills of West Virginia. Wary guests wondered how it could stay in business at such a creepy, remote location. Especially with its bizarre, presidential decor and eccentric proprietor.

ONCE YOU CHECK IN...

When the event hotel for the national Iron Woman triathlon accidentally overbooked, competitor Maria was forced to stay at the Rushmore. But after checking into her room, she quickly realized she wasn't alone. First her suitcase wasn't where she put it. Then her cell phone was moved. Finally, she heard an odd creaking under the bed. Confusion quickly turned to fear, and fear to hysteria when she discovered the front door was barred and the windows were bricked over. There was no way out.

...YOU'LL BE DYING TO LEAVE

One year later, four new female athletes have become guests of the Inn. Will they escape the horrors within its walls? Or will they join the many others who have died there, in ways too terrible to imagine?

ENDURANCE by Jack Kilborn
Are you brave enough to finish?


A Word of Warning:

Originally scheduled to be released in paperback in 2010, the publisher read the final version of the manuscript and refused to release it.

This is a disturbing, terrifying book. You may think you're brave enough to handle it. But you're probably not...

Also includes excerpts from TRAPPED by Jack Kilborn and AFRAID by Jack Kilborn, as well as LOCKED DOORS by Blake Crouch.


About the Author:

J.A. Konrath has written six Jack Daniels thrillers (Whiskey Sour, Bloody Mary, Rusty Nail, Dirty Martini, Fuzzy Navel, and Cherry Bomb.) The seventh, Shaken, will be available this October.

Under the name Jack Kilborn, he wrote the horror novel Afraid,
and the ebook SERIAL with Blake Crouch, which has been downloaded more than 250,000 times. ... Read more

Reviews

Even MORE than AFRIAD!!!, June 21, 2010
Although I was greatly anticipating the next Jack Kilborn release after reading AFRAID, I really didn't expect it to reach the same level of unabashed terror that AFRAID did.

I was wrong.

ENDURANCE absolutely floored me! The story was executed so flawlessly, with an atmosphere so unsettlingly REAL, that I actually felt the horror as if I was physically there! The pace never lets up long enough for you to take a breath. The characters were so vivd that I was able to effortlessly switch between the scenes into their respective points-of-view. The terror simply NEVER lets up!

JA Konrath (the author's real name) is known primarily for his Jack Daniel's thriller novels, but that could soon change. This man writes some serious horror! His next Kilborn novel, TRAPPED, is due to be released this week.

I'm already terrified!

Scarier and yes, BETTER, than AFRAID, June 19, 2010
When I first read Afraid several years ago, I thought that Konrath/Kilborn had set the bar too high for himself on his first outing into pure horror. Then I read Endurance.

This book is so $%$@#! scary, you might miss how perfectly constructed it is, how beautifully the characters are created just for this story. You'll be caught up imagining you're at a big, creepy inn out in the backwoods of West Virginia, and you've just checked in on a late night. Strange things are happening in your hotel room, and as you lie in bed trying to fall asleep, you suddenly realize that someone is underneath the bed. The Shining's Overlook Hotel is like a Sandals Resort compared to The Rushmore Inn. I'm not even kidding. They don't compare.

Endurance is a prime example of how Konrath/Kilborn shines at horror like no one else.

Scarier and yes, even better than AFRAID....what else do you need to know?

T-E-R-R-I-F-Y-I-N-G, June 21, 2010
Very, very frightening and edge-of-your-pants horror. It starts right away, too--

"Did she put her suitcase on the bed?... Was that just the wind behind the curtains?"

Paranoia, Paranoia, Paranoia!

I bought this yesterday and started reading it late into the night-- I had to stop because it was so scary and I knew I wouldn't be able to sleep. My heart was actually pounding when I was reading it, and then of course, every little noise after I put the book down was terrifying. Was someone in the house trying to kill me?

Damn you, Jack Kilborn! Damn You! I won't be able to sleep without a night light for the rest of the month.

This is probably Jack Kilborn's most frightening horror novel yet.

Scary As Hell, June 20, 2010
What terrifying secrets does the Rushmore Inn hold?

It's worse than you could ever possibly imagine...

I've known Konrath for years, and have read all of his work. This is, no doubt, his very best.

Filled with scene after scene of sheer, uncompromising terror, with some of the most frightening villains ever to grace a horror novel.

Be careful you don't short out your Kindle, because your hands will be sweating so much by the finale that you might give yourself an electric shock.

Should be a movie!, August 15, 2010
Jack Kilborn (aka JA Konrath) is selling himself short by writing novels. He should really be writing scripts for horror films. I mean that in the most compimentary sense, of course.

Endurance has all the elements that good contemporary horror films require. It's Deliverance meets the Texas Chainsaw Masacre, complete with eerie unsettling scenes, creepy noises, and moving dark shadows...
On top of that, it's fast paced, without any dull scenes. The protagonists are ones you can empathize with; you want to see them survive and escape...

Yes, there are some commonplace elements (like the sheriff on the wrong side of the law) but there is enough originality to keep you turning pages, anxious to see what happens next.

If you are fans of the films The Last House on the Left, Deliverance, Texas Chainsaw Masacre, Saw, Nightmare on Elm Street (the original)....then you will love this book, and keep hoping someone will offer Konrath a movie deal for Endurance.

guilty pleasure, June 29, 2010
Endurance is so over-the-top as a horror movie type thriller that it's almost innoffensive in its torture, rape, murder storyline. Did I like it? Well, I read it almost non-stop from page one until the finish if that tells you anything. This type of book (see Richard Laymon if you loved Endurance) is a guilty pleasure. I enjoy books like this sometimes. And yes, I did enjoy Endurance.

Jack Kilborn/J.A. Konrath is not for me, July 1, 2010
"Endurance" is J.A. Konrath's second offering in the horror genre, written under his pseudonym Jack Kilborn. After reading "Afraid", "Serial Uncut" and this book, I have come to this conclusion: no more reading books by this author, despite I have never read any of his mystery Detective Jack Daniels books. The reasons why I have chosen not to read any more books by him will be revealed as I go over my views on the book.

"Endurance" mainly takes place at a motel, the Rushmore Inn, in a secluded, remote location out in the woods in West Virginia that no one knows about, except for certain people who has ties to the motel. Anyone that checks in at that motel are never checked out, never to be seen again. The story opens with Maria, in town for the triathon, checking in at the Rushmore Inn after finding that the event hotel was full. In her room, she quickly discovers she is not alone and vanishes. A year after Maria's disappearance, five guests - Mal, Deb, Florence, Letti, and Kelly - checks in at the Rushmore Inn. All five are in town for the triathon. Mal is a journalist, Deb is an athletic who have lost her legs to a rock-climbing accident, and Florence, Letti and Kelly are women of three generation from the same family. As soon as they checked in, they discover they are now trapped within the walls of the motel and in desperation of escaping, the secrets within the motel unfold before them. Secrets so horrible that they are kept within the walls of the motel by ensuring the guests will never see the daylight again.

I was not impressed with the book. Considering it is of the horror genre, it didn't scare me at all. I felt that the writer failed to install fear into me as a reader and instead focused on writing the most sickest, goriest scenes he could think of. Like a pig in a mud pen, the book rolled itself deeply in gratitious gory and violence. And that did nothing for me. I have nothing against authors creating stories dripping with blood, gory, and violence (and it doesn't bother me), it simply isn't my bag of tea. What would define a scary book for me is a story dealing with the unknown, alongside with gradual build-up of the mystery, and this book isn't that type. Sure, in the beginning, I was as clueless as the characters of the story were on the secrets the motel harbored and who or what was behind them, but that quickly dissolved as the story progressed. It just simply blantly showed you all the horrific things happening in the story. As for the characters, they were difficult to empathize with due to lack of character developments except for Florence, the mother of Letti and grandmother of Kelly. As for the writing, it was written with simple, straightfoward language. While there was definitely creativity with how the story unfolded, it lacked any creativity with the written words. The author, in my opinion, is just telling me what's happening instead of showing me. The only advantage in reading with this type of writing is that it certainly kept the pages turning.

I could simply stop reading any of the Jack Killborn books and instead try out the Jack Daniels mysteries, but because of the author's lack of creativity with the written words, I chose not to.

If you wanted a book that resembles to movies such as the "SAW" series, check this book out. Otherwise, I'd suggest you to give this book a pass.

I had to cover my eyes!, December 12, 2010

This was a great read! I love horror stories and this one delivered! The next book from Mr. Kilborn should be "How to sleep after you read one of my books". This book scared the piddle out of me!

The country/redneck language was not quite "polished" and Mal's puns were a tad bit over the top but the action was great and the birth defects were awesome!

Is it safe to come out yet?

Very Intense at the start..., September 9, 2010
This story had a beginning that was one of the most intense that I have read recently. I felt the thumping of my heart as I continued into the story. The first 1/3 of the book is excellent, heart-pounding terror. Unfortunately, it's hard to maintain that sustained level of terror, and though the book is well-written and is an interesting story that kept me captivated throughout, it kind of became more of an adventure story then a "terror" story. Overall, I was very satisfied with the story and am eagerly looking forward to reading Trapped. Again, the first 1/3 of the book is incredible and put me on the edge of my seat like no other book I have read recently. Definitely recommended!

Even Scarier Than Afraid!, September 2, 2010
I think that the scariest thing Jack Kilborn has written is the opening chapter of Afraid. In second place is Endurance. I do most of my reading in bed late at night, and this book actually caused me to get up and check the basement because I was 100% sure that I heard something down there. Suddenly my bedroom was a creepy inn way out in the back country, with something scary moving through the walls. I haven't been so freaked out late at night since the time I read Children of the Corn at 3AM with some minor insomnia! I was reading this on my Kindle 3, so I basically had a built-in nightlight - and that didn't really help at all.

The characters are great: an athletic with no legs, a charming reporting, a mother-daughter-granddaughter combo, and a whole bunch of freaks. You'll be cheering for the good guys every step of the way. The action is fast, the book is a real page turner, and it is SCARY and SATISFYING. You'll be scared along the way and relieved when it is all over. An overall great experience. ... Read more

Editorial Review

In the very first novel in the #1 New York Times bestselling series, Eve Dallas gets involved with Roarke, a suspect in her latest murder case. But passion and seduction have rules all their own. ... Read more

Reviews

A truly wonderful series!, May 15, 2001
Naked in death starts out a really great series! Nora Roberts writes these under the name of JD ROBB. I did just start this series as I read everything I can get my hands on from Nora. If you are a new reader, you do need to start with this book and work your way through. I didn't start here first and she really builds the characters through each story that if you don't start from the beginning you miss a lot. I went back and am now starting from the beginning. This series is not Nora's romance format. Of course there is romance in there! This series is a mystery style. It takes place in NYC in the year 2058. When people do travel " off planet" and prostitution is legal. Your car drives you and you have " auto chefs " in house, car , even your office. The way ROBB writes about the future this is truly believable. Lt. Eve Dallas is a tough woman. She is strong, independent, and she truly fights and believes in her job as homicide detective. In this book she finds her main suspect a billionaire name Roarke. He is very charming, Irish, has lived a little on the edge, rich, and good-looking! Eve has now found her match. Roarke didn't have the ideal childhood either and they make the most wonderful couple. This is an excellent series, and keeps you entertained and you don't want to put the book down. Robb does a great job in making the who done it a total surprise! I highly recommend this entire series you will truly be delighted It is awesome!!!

The beginning of a great series, October 14, 2000
The "...in Death" series starts with Naked in Death a futuristic series set in New York City in the year 2058. The star of the series is Lt. Eve Dallas a tough as nails female homicide detective who fights for the rights of the victims of murder.

Eve finds the main murder suspect, a billionaire named Roarke who walks a fine line between legal and illegal, to be just a little bit too attractive for her comfort. He's Irish, gorgeous, and very charming.

This series is written by Nora Roberts under the name J.D. Robb. Don't confuse the romance novels usually written by Ms. Roberts with this series. The "...in Death" series is a far cry from her usual romance story. The series is excellent and I would recommend you read all the books beginning with this one, Naked in Death.

Fabulous start to a series, October 31, 2001
Roberts starts her "Death" series with this book. This is a great series for people who like good mysteries with a little emotion thrown in. While I am not normally into futuristic novels, this series about Detective Dallas set 50 years in the future is great. This particular book in the series does a fabulous job at establishing the main characters, the setting, and the tone for the entire series. While each book can be read individually, I think its important to read them in order.

In this book, Eve Dallas is assigned to a high profile murder investigation that encompases politics, prostitution, and blackmail--engrossing right from the beginning. The chemistry between Dallas and Roarke-- one of the suspects--is aparent from their first meeting. More importantly, the mystery is well constructed and left nothing up in the air.

Overall, these are my favorite characters from all of Nora Roberts novels. I'm glad she chose to use them for a series.

This book is unbelievable!, August 5, 1999
I could not put this book down. Eve and Roarke are the hottest couple in print today. I love the mystery but I love the romance even more. These two are so hot I'm surprised the book doesn't go up into flames in my hands. I have reread Naked In Death at least three times and it never gets old. The whole series is great but start with Naked and go in order because it's better that way. Roarke is the ideal lover. Rich, powerful, dangerous, sexy and totally in love with Eve Dallas. Now that is one lucky woman! Eve is a great heroine. She is smart, brave, independent and loyal. At the same time she has a past that makes her vulnerable, too. She is a real person not some flat character. I can not wait for Loyalty In Death to come out. The only bad thing is I finish them so fast. Keep writing about Eve and Roarke, Nora Roberts. Your fans will be forever grateful.

Great Start For Futuristic Mystery Series!, January 5, 2005
"Naked In Death" is the first book in J. D. Robb's Eve Dallas mystery series. I have been hearing positive things about these books for a long time, and now, after reading this terrific novel, I understand why.

New York City, 2058 CE, are the time and setting of "Naked in Death." Robot drones and voice activated machines do menial work, i.e., clean house, serve meals; there is a total ban on guns, (the police use lasers); major improvements have been made in medicine and technology, with advancements in genetics (and strong genetic control); airbuses for public transportation have replaced subways; tele-links replace telephones - it's not a "brave new world," yet...but there are definite pluses midway into the 21st century. Minor armed skirmishes have taken place between China and the US, and France had another revolution which lasted for a few years. The overpopulated world has more limited resources - real coffee is rare and way too expensive, as is beef and other fresh meat. Robb has not written a sci-fi series, however. Far enough into the future to make the storyline more interesting, 2058's world is still easily recognizable.

Lieutenant Eve Dallas of the NYPSD is called to a murder scene where a young licensed companion, (a legalized prostitute ), has been brutally murdered with an antique handgun from the 20th century. The victim, Sharon DeBlass, is from a very prominent family - her grandfather is a US senator. An angry man who preaches morality and leads an ultra conservative branch of his party, the senator would like to totally suppress the case, and perhaps even run the investigation himself. According to friends and relatives, Ms. DeBlass apparently chose her career not only because she liked sex, she did not need the money, but because she was rebelling against her family and strict upbringing. A note was found under her body with the printed words, "ONE OF SIX." So, was the perpetrator a serial killer warning that there were to be five more murders? One of the prime suspects is a sexy Irish billionaire named Roarke. We never learn whether this is his first or last name. Perhaps if one is a billionaire, especially a tall, dark and handsome, with an Irish brogue, billionaire, it doesn't matter. He is quickly cleared of suspicion, and he and Eve embark on a stormy, intense romance - but not before murder #2 occurs.

Eve, although a tough cop who made Lieutenant before the age of 30, is also very vulnerable. She doesn't remember the early years of her life, but knows that she was sexually, physically and emotionally abused by her father, then abandoned at age eight and left to the mercies of Children's Services. She has made her work her life, and letting Roarke get close to her is a first.

Happiness is discovering another excellent series - and from what I have read, this looks like a winner! The writing is tight, as is the plot - an excellent and complex mystery. I really like the characters, Eve, definitely, Roarke - who lives up to his description, Feeney, Eve's partner, and Eve's chanteuse friend Mavis. I can't wait to pick-up book two, "Glory In Death."
JANA

A Great Beginning to A Great Series, June 21, 2001
Naked in Death is the first of several titles in this terrific series and I highly recommend you read the books in order. (If not, it can get confusing trying to understand progressive storylines and relationships.) Set in the not too distant future, the main character Eve Dallas is a tough NY city cop investigating the murder of a female licensed companion (prostitution is now legalized). Complicating her investigation, is her growing attraction to the prime murder suspect - the enigmatic, handsome billionaire Roarke.

The book has something for everyone: murder mystery and action, romance and a healthy dose of comedy thrown in to keep things from getting too heavy. Robb's fleshing out of vivid and likeable secondary characters adds to the book's appeal. Makes for great beach reading and you'll want to continue the series to learn more about what happens next to Ms. Dallas and company.

Eve Dallas Should Be Cloned, September 22, 2003
Eve is one incredibly tough and sexy police lieutenant in NY City and I want her to move to Virginia and have my baby. Eve won't back down from anyone and she has everything this male dreams about...smarts, strength, looks, and is an animal in the bedroom in two very sexy scenes without being pornagraphic. Nora Roberts is an incredible writer and really makes you feel for the characters and root for Eve. This was my first book in the series and I can't wait to join the sexy lady cop as she kicks butt in the other books.

Introduction to an Addictive Series!, December 21, 2001
"Naked in Death" is the first book in J. D. Robb's "In Death" series and it starts the series off with style! We are introduced to Eve, the independent and no-nonsense cop and Roarke, the charismatic billionaire who sweeps Eve off her feet.
The mystery/suspense elements are exciting and well thought out. Eve is investigating the disturbing murders of female licensed companions (prostitution is legal in the year 2058) and Roarke is her main suspect! These two meet as a result of her investigation, and as Eve gets to know Roarke, she becomes quite sure that he is not a cold-blooded killer. Eve cannot resist the lure of this mysterious and sexy man and they soon end up in the midst of a passionate romance.
The romance elements of this book blend perfectly with the murder mystery elements, to provide the reader with a wonderfully imaginative, provocative and thrilling story. The futuristic setting is completely believable, and provides an intriguing backdrop for the story without detracting from it.
The main characters, Eve and Roarke are both complex and well-developed, and the dynamics of their rocky relationship will keep readers turning pages.
This is a truly great read and I am quite sure that readers everywhere will want to read more of Eve and Roarke after finishing this first instalment. Enjoy!

Romantic Murder, February 21, 2001
The book Naked In Death, by J.D. Robb is the first book of a futuristic series, taking place in New York City in the year 2058. Lt. Eve Dallas, a cop for 10 years, has dedicated all of her energy and most of her time toward bringing justice to those who are murdered and finding their ruthless killers. Eve has been put on a code five-murder investigation. One of the murder suspects is a suductive Irish billionaire, Roarke. Eve finds herself in a situation that she has never been in before. She has fallen in love. This causes a great deal of confusion and mixed feelings. Dallas is constantly jumping through hoops trying to get one step closer to cracking the case. She has to meet with the senator, interview suspects, go through testing, and deal with personal problems. Naked In Death is one of the best books that I have ever read. It fascinated me to learn that a female played the role of a very well respected homicide dective. The book is full of mystery and romance, which makes it a definite page-turner. It moves at a fast pace leaving no space for boredom. I strongly advise everyone who loves romance entwined in suspence to read this inviting novel.

Eve Dallas is my hero!, October 31, 1999
I just finished the first four books in the series, and I've enjoyed them all. Nora Roberts has created some wonderful characters in this series. Eve is great--a dedicated cop who is haunted by her past; prickly, wary, a loyal friend to those few she calls friend, and surprised she's in love with Roarke. HE is gorgeous (I keep seeing Pierce Brosnan), rich, shady, totally dedicated to Eve, and indulges her shamelessly despite her protests. Peabody is a refreshing addition to the cast of characters. The stories are great, the bad guys not TOO easy to figure out, and the characters have depth and believability, as well as suprising flashes of humor that leaves the reader chuckling delightedly. Keep 'em coming, J.D. Robb! ... Read more

Editorial Review

#1 New York Times Bestselling Author

Navy SEAL turned covert operative Scot Harvath is called to action once again in Brad Thor’s hottest political thriller yet.

  Buried within the black ops budgets of the Department of Defense, a new spy agency has been created.  Unfettered by the oversight of self-serving politicians, it reports only to a secret panel of military insiders.  Its job is to target America’s enemies - both foreign and domestic - under a charter of three simple words: Find, Fix, and Finish.

Recruited as a field operative, Scot Harvath has just returned from his first assignment abroad when a bombing in Rome kills a group of American college students. The evidence points to a dangerous colleague from Harvath’s past and a plan for further attacks on an unimaginable scale. 

Harvath is tasked with leveraging his relationship to lure the man out of hiding and kill him on the spot.  But what if it is the wrong man?

Simultaneously, a young woman is struck by a taxi in a hit-and-run in Chicago.  With only two intoxicated witnesses and over five thousand cabs in the city, the Chicago Police have given up on their investigation.  But when the family’s attorney digs deeper, he will uncover a shocking connection to the bombing in Rome and the perpetrators’ plans for America.

As the story rockets to its conclusion, the plots intersect in a race to prevent one of the most audacious and unthinkable acts of war in the history of mankind. ... Read more

Reviews

Brad Thor is Awesome!, June 29, 2010
FOREIGN INFLUENCE is a fast paced, thrill ride into the world of covert ops. Former Navy SEAL Scot Harvath is back, and in fine form. After a bus loaded with American college students is bombed in Rome, Harvath shifts into high gear. It's a horrific crime that can't go unanswered and Harvath is the man for the job. Clear across the world in Chicago, a second, less spectacular crime is committed--a seemingly random hit and run.

Harvath is no stranger to violent terrorism or the fanatical minds behind it, but Harvath can't know the depth of the evil in play.

In a brutal pursuit that will test his knowledge of justice and mercy, Harvath must also confront his own inner demons, and they're as dangerous as the people he's pursuing. FOREIGN INFLUENCE rocks the house with Thor's best effort yet! We would expect nothing less from the New York Times #1 bestselling author of THE LAST PATRIOT.

Cheers for Brad Thor!

Brutal, yet entertaining as ever., July 1, 2010
Was it me or was Scot Harvath incredibly brutal in this one? While Thor's books do strike an emotional chord, it struck a very different one in the beginning of this book. We all know what cowards and hypocrites terrorist are, but when Scot happens upon a terrorist camps that holds and tortures children... chilling. I was ready to grab a rifle and march over there myself. Vindication is had in an incredibly poignant and heartbreaking scene. And that scene sets the tone for this book. Scot doesn't usually hold back but there was something... different... about the type of needed brutality and the method in which it was dispensed.

The chickenhearted "my religion is about peace" terrorists are tossing bombs around like candy and innocent people are, of course, the unwitting targets. The horrors described are brutal and graphic. There are a number of storylines that swirl around in this book but Brad being Brad brings them together in one explosive "ending".

I read this one with the same fervor that I read ALL of Thor's books. I find that I have "reader's remorse" when I read his work. I get it, I devour it, and then I hate myself because now I have to wait even longer for his next work. Whoever said "patience is a virtue" has never read a good... GREAT book. Luckily Brad will put out another one at the end of this year. The surprise is how he works that one in this one. Brad Thor is an author whose work I love reading, love talking about, and love spending my time reading.

An exciting thriller, July 9, 2010
Brad Thor and Vince Flynn are my two favorite authors who write political action thrillers with protagonists who take a no nonsense approach in dealing with terrorists. In this novel former Navy Seal Scot Horvath, who is Thor's protagonist, is assigned by the highly covert government agency for whom he works to capture the Troll, with whom Horvath has dealt in other novels, because the agency suspects the Troll of committing certain terrorist acts. But Horvath soon realizes that the Troll has been framed, and actually enlists his help in trying to prevent terrorist acts of destruction in Europe and America.

Thor is at the top of his game in this action packed, fast moving, and well crafted story. Horvath uses some particularly gruesome enhanced interrogation techniques, though he never loses his humanity. Indeed, without giving anything away, Thor nicely explores the tension that Horvath has in the relationship with his fiancee Tracy. Thor also highlights the role of women in combatting terrorists by having an elite Delta Force team comprised solely of women assist Horvath as he races literally all over the globe to uncover and prevent certain planned terrorist attacks.

This novel is fast reading and very entertaining. Most of the negative reviews do not deal with the novel, but with ordering problems with Amazon. If like me you are a Brad Thor fan, you will not be disappointed. And if you are new to Brad Thor, you can easily understand what is going on without having read his earlier novels. I really liked this novel and recommend it.

Better than the last, not as good as the early ones, September 13, 2010
Lots of people making political statements as reviews around here. These novels are escapist fantasy stuff. Think "24" in novel format. And there is nothing wrong with that. Is torture employed? You bet. But almost always it's the "bomb is about to go off" variety rather than an on-going policy thing. Is the protagonist turning into a sadist? Well, now, that's an interesting question. As a matter of fact, I kind of wish the author would go there. Because lately these books have been very cookie cutter with absolutely no character development. Hey, Scot is getting older. When he gets kicked in the groin it still bothers him in the next chapter. That's the character development. Oh,the book didn't start with a couple of throw away lines about Scot and the girl from the last book went there separate ways. That is a change of pace. Although she's not in it, so not much difference, really. The protagonist going down a dark path with some redemption towards the end (or not) would be a nice change.

That being said, the novel does what it sets out to do. Keep you on edge of your seat. Earlier novels did it better but that may be more because they were fresher. It's a decent summer read. It's not great literature and it is not horrid right-wing propaganda, either.

What evil lurks in a jihadist mind, November 18, 2010
This is the best Brad Thor/Scot Harvath novel I have read. Good intertwined plots, lots of action, and he is the second author that I have read that included women Deltas.

What impressed me about this book was the way Thor cut through the PC hype and got to the heart of Islamic teaching. In the last few paragraphs of Chapter 27, Nicholas (the Troll) is lecturing Peio about Islam and Mohammed. These few pages are worth the cost of the book. The chapter ends with Harvath wondering if what the Troll said was true. It is.

Once again Scot Harvath demonstrates that: torture works; Islamic terrorists have no qualms about abusing and torturing children; and are totally dedicated to killing nonbelievers.

Another author that writes political techno-thrillers is Lee Boyland. His trilogy is based upon a successful nuclear attack destroying Washington DC and the government. A statutory president forms an appointed government, pull the shattered nation together, and then goes after the Islamic Empire, formed after the attack. I keep Behold, an Ashen Horse (Award-winning Clash-of-Civilizations trilogy) nearby because Boyland devotes a chapter (30) to Islam, which provides an excellent explanation of Islam and Mohammed, giving credibility to the Troll's remarks.

Another similarity is women Deltas. Here I give Boyland more credit because in America Reborn (Award Winning Clash-of-Civilizations Trilogy) he carefully develops his two women characters, providing a believable path for them to become Deltas.

Foreign Influence is a great read. I plan to read the Athena Project as soon as it is released.

Foreign Influence = Brad Thor at his best!!, June 30, 2010
I have read all of Brad Thor's books and enjoyed them, some more than others. This one is possibly one of his best. The story flows so well you will find yourself finishing yet "another" or "just one more" chapter. Very entertaining. My only complaint is that I wish there was more of Scot Harvath, though the other characters are intersetesting especially the Athena Project. Can't wait for the next one.

Brad Thor Does It Again!, November 8, 2010
I've read all of Brad Thor's books in his Scot Harvath series, and I loved every one of them. I will say that Foreign Influence added a group of terrorist-fighting women into the mix that from what I understand, will be the focus of Brad's next book. I'm not sure how I feel about that as I've never been into the Charlie's Angels-type of characters, and that is exactly what was going through my mind as I was reading this book.

However, as for this book, it was fantastic. I've always pictured Harvath as a cross between Jack Bauer and James Bond. If you love action and suspense along with storylines that mesh with today's volatile terrorist headlines, then you will surely enjoy this book (along with all of the others in this series).

My only fear is that Harvath is getting older, and it feels like Brad Thor is ready to "retire" him. However, I'm hoping that it is later...much later. Keep up the great work!

getting better all the time, October 27, 2010
To set the record straight, I abhor professional book reviewers! Amateurs to me, present a far more balanced (and dare I say, intelligent, viewpoint. I always feel that the reviewers for the big media organisations have either an axe to grind with the author (hence they give the book a poor rating), or are getting a generous back hander to write something favourable (hence the book gets a good, or great review). Or maybe I'm just plain cynical! Who knows? However, when I read comments like "The Master of Thrillers", or "Quite Possibly the next coming of Robert Ludlum", I cringe! Comments like these are Bull****! They say and mean nothing. And the are about as useful in a review, as tits are on a bull! Yet both of these ridiculous statements appear on the back cover of Brad Thor's new book, "Foreign Influence", sadly detracting the reader from what is quite genuinely, a well-plotted, pacy thriller. I must confess, Thor's first 4-5 titles did little to impress me. I had grown up with the likes of LeCarre, McCarry, Forsyth, Littell, Ludlum, etc., and frankly, Thor's first outings simply did not make the grade of these exceptional writers, despite what the media critics said! BUT, from Takedowm onwards, I have noticed a great maturing in this young author, exhibited by stronger story lines, more in-depth characters, tighter plotting, and more importantly, that rare ability to produce a story that grabs the reader & doesn't let go, but instead impels him/her forward, chapter after chapter, until the final denouncement, when all is explained & the loose ends are tied up. This is, in my humble opinion, what makes a superior thriller writer. "Foreign Influence" is such a story, and Thor carries it well, right through to it's most satisfactory conclusion. Thor is not the "master of Thrillers", but he is getting better all the time, & if he continues with books such as this, he will certainly make the cut very soon. Highly recommended escapism!

Not Thor's best book, but still entertaining, August 11, 2010
This book is predictable in that in the end the reader knows that the U.S. and special agent Scot Harvath are going to win. But, like everyone else, I read the book for the action along the way. As someone who has been on the front lines, Thor describes the war on terror with great detail, including various and creative methods of torture. Some readers, however, may be under the impression that all Muslims are terrorists the way they are described in this book, although I am sure that was not the intent. I also would have liked more information on Site 243, but hope that his next story starts anew and doesn't merely pick up where this one ended. This was not Thor's best book, but it was an action-packed thriller that entertained me on the train for the week.

"Foreign Influence" lays the groundwork for a bigger story to come, July 21, 2010
"Foreign Influence" is not a story for the weak of heart in matters of national security, or squeamish in the matters of intelligence gathering. If you are the person that turns from the screen when Jack Bauer holds an ink pen to the eye of a terrorist on "24" - this is not the book for you. It takes an unflinching look at situations and people that many folks, sleeping in their warm beds at night, want to believe don't REALLY exist in the world. Well - these people do exist - and without them, the warm beds would be few and far between. It is unapologetically conservative, and takes on both radical Islam and Liberal groupthink alike, without concern for political correctness. In short - it's a great book. You can read more of my thoughts on the book at - thewordzombie.

... Read more

Editorial Review

As richly complex and brutal as the terrain it depicts, here is the mesmerizing, darkly original novel that heralded the arrival of Dennis Lehane, the master of the new noir -- and introduced Patrick Kenzie and Angela Gennaro, his smart and tough private investigators weaned on the blue-collar streets of Dorchester.

A cabal of powerful Boston politicians is willing to pay Kenzie and Gennaro big money for a seemingly small job: to find the missing cleaning woman who stole some secret documents. As Kenzie and Gennaro learn, however, this crime is no ordinary theft. It's about justice. About right and wrong. But in Boston, finding the truth isn't just a dirty business ... it's deadly.

Editorial Review

The tough neighborhood of Dorchester is no place for the innocent or the weak. A territory defined by hard heads and even harder luck, its streets are littered with the detritus of broken families, hearts, dreams. Now, one of its youngest is missing. Private investigators Patrick Kenzie and Angela Gennaro don't want the case. But after pleas from the child's aunt, they open an investigation that will ultimately risk everything—their relationship, their sanity, and even their lives—to find a little girl-lost.

Editorial Review

Murder is not a spectator sport.

Chuck Chandler has choked on more than one occasion—first as a pro tennis player at Wimbledon, then as a womanizing coach at posh tennis clubs around the country. Now at Key West's Old Racquet Club, Chuck gets involved with the wrong married woman—the enticing Clare Carras, married to an enigmatic older man—and soon he is in way over his head.

Enter Tommy Sculley, a retired New York homicide detective who has just joined the Key West force, and his young green partner, Daryl Haynes, who turns out to be smarter than he looks. Up to their necks in an investigation of a bizarre apparent homicide, the two detectives barely keep afloat in murky waters. Events take them from the Florida Keys to Los Angeles and back, as a plot emerges that involves not only the dangerous Clare, but a furious West Coast mob boss determined to get back what is his at any cost.

Reviews

Woods at his best, November 15, 1999
In the novel CHOKE, Woods displays the main character, Chuck Parish, desperate and eager for a new job. Little does Chuck know that he will soon be mixed up in the biggest scandal of his life. Parish soon finds it extremely difficult trying to prove his innocence to the police and at the same time trying to figure out who the real culprit of the crime is. Woods defines the word page-turner in this excellent novel that will leave the reader guessing until the end. CHOKE is a great and easy read that will intrigue and leave the reader spellbound by the time he or she is finished. These are just a few of the many reasons that I give this book all of the five stars and highly recomend it.

An Unexpected Surprise, April 4, 2000
I first discovered Stuart Woods almost 2 years ago; an off-handed recommendation from a co-worker. Since that time, I have become somewhat of an, obsessed or possessed or one of those "est" words, fan.

I read through all of his 19 novels in record time. (during my Stuart Woods feeding frenzy.) I did however leave Choke for last, for as much as I adore Mr Woods, I have very little interest in tennis and I didn't think this would be my favorite book by any means. I was unexpectedly surprised! (as Mr. Woods continues to do to me.)

This is in no way a "tennis" book, it is Mr. Woods at his most relaxed and fun. It is filled with suspense, drama, loads of sex, (of course)and humor. All of the things that make him so appealing.

If you haven't read Stuart Woods before, you will become a fan with Choke. If you have read Mr. Woods before, you will fall in love with him in Choke. Either way, you can't lose. Enjoy!

It Wont Choke You Up, August 21, 2001
The book begins with Charles, a professional tennis player, choking during the final match at Wimbledon. What could be worse then that? He's about to find out when he meets Harry and Claire while teaching tennis for a small resort in Key West, FL. What are they hiding?

In typical Stuart Woods fashion, this book is gripping from the start. With boats blowing up and fast action, it was a good audio book. This is the first book in a month that kept me riveted to my car to a point I didn't want to get out when I arrived at work or at home.

Mr. Sanders (Narrator) did a fantastic job. He was able to use his voice to give characters different accents, and personalities. In addition, he is one of the few narrators I have heard in audio books who could actually do a fairly decent female voice. I truly believe this added to the book.

Fast paced with lots of twists and turns, this is a gripping novel. This is only the second book I have ever had by Mr. Woods. The other was Dead In The Water. Though being relatively new to Mr. Woods works, I found this book to be exciting, fast paced and hard to pull away from just as I did with Dead In The Water.

If you like mysteries or suspense drama, then this is a book for you. For other new comers to Mr. Woods works, don't hesitate to read or listen to this book.

Just OK..., March 5, 2009
This book is typical Stuart Woods. It is good and enjoyable as a day read kind of book. Lots of sex, money and power, and then more casual sex. There was enough suspense to keep my interest, just not much character depth.

"Choke" Loses Its Grip..., July 27, 1999
Easy to read, but wow: talk about flat. Character development is almost non-existent. This is summer- beach reading at its trashiest. Inhabitants of the vaguely-described Key West village are too perfect, even with their authored "flaws". I would love to have friends like the men in the story: all handsome, womanizing ne'er-do-wells with hair that never musses on the windy boats Woods writes about. Fact-giving scenes are interspersed with sex-scenes that read as if the Publisher wrote "Put sex here, here and here" on the manuscript.

The Choke of the title is both the name of the hero's boat and his life-long demon; the expected pay-off of the title dribbles air like a forgotten balloon with a slow leak. So why was I satisfied when I finished the story? Maybe it was the goofy- cop pairing, reminiscent of so many TV detective shows. Maybe it's because the so-obvious plot twists actually twisted back in the latter part of the book, relieving my fear that I knew the answer at page 75. Maybe it's because I read it on the beach in hot sunshine, with the waves rolling ashore, while on vacation. Who knows. Maybe I'm one of the great unwashed, after all. ... Read more