Tag Archives: Thriller

Review

Sense Memory

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I’ve known Brion for a few years now. He’s local to me and a great fan as well as an amazing teacher. He was a founding co-pilot of the Writer’s Round Table with Dave Robison and does great analysis. When I first learned that he had a novel, I insisted on doing a beta read for it. I wasn’t disappointed.

The story plays with the idea of memory and how – sometimes – memory plays with us. Brion does a masterful job of constructing the story, line by line. He dragged me into a place where I’m not usually prone to play. I’m not much for psychological thrillers. It’s not my basic read so this book took me outside of my comfort zone and made me glad I took the trip.

This is book one of a series that has no book two yet. Brion tells me it’s in the word processor, but he’s got a full life outside of writing. It’s understandable that it’s taking him some time to get the next book out there.

If you’re looking for something “a little different” in your Kindle, you might grab a sample and see what you think.

About the reviewer:

NathanLowell_150x150Nathan Lowell has been writing science fiction and fantasy most of his life. He started publishing in 2007 and has no intention of stopping any time soon.

Learn more about Nathan Lowell and his works at http://nathanlowell.com

[Note: You’re seeing more reviews from me because fellow authors aren’t sending reviews of the books they like. If you’re an author, consider the submitting a review about an indie book you loved. The submission guidelines link is at the top of this page.]

Review

Connected

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connectedThis stylish modern thriller interweaves quantum physics, theology, psychology, and computer science without losing either pace or the reader.

When his brother commits suicide, Peter volunteers to sort through his study; why does a musician have so many notes on religion and abstruse physics, and what did his last message that he knew everything mean? Across the country Doug’s best friend, and thesis partner, sends him a link to a file he must see but commits suicide almost immediately afterward; why did he erase all his work before he jumped? As these two men struggle to understand the last days of their loved ones, they are drawn into a race that could end in either humanity’s evolution or enslavement.

Denman includes plenty of details on the various fields that he draws upon while skilfully using point-of-view characters who are not specialists in the area, giving a sense that the plot has a solid base without either burying the lay reader under dry technical and philosophical discourse or skimping the interested amateur.

The characterisation varies between the two threads. Peter’s struggle with the death of his brother and the consequent impact on his marriage reads like a character-driven story, centred around a well-realised older man who is already burdened with the compromises and injuries of life. Conversely, Doug’s life, even before he is immersed in the plot, is a whirl of casual sex and rushing in where angels fear to tread, giving the feel of a more plot-centred narrative. Both threads are internally consistent, but they do not always sit perfectly next to each other, as if George Smiley and James Bond were investigating the same conspiracy.

A number of paragraphs are much longer than average for a thriller, some continuing for several average screens. However, these are balanced by much shorter paragraphs so would only be an issue for readers who dislike putting a book down, even briefly, in the middle of a paragraph.

Overall, as an interested amateur in both physics and metaphysics, I found the balance of theory and action most enjoyable. I recommend it to readers who like thrillers with a plausible explanation for a world-changing plot.

I received a free copy of this book.

About The Reviewer

Dave_Higgins

Dave Higgins writes speculative fiction, often with a dark edge. Despite forays into the mundane worlds of law and IT, he was unable to escape the liminal zone between mystery and horror. A creature of contradictions, he also co-writes comic sci-fi with Simon Cantan.

Born in the least mystically significant part of Wiltshire, England, and raised by a librarian, he started reading shortly after birth and hasn’t stopped since. He lives with his wife, two cats, a plush altar to Lord Cthulhu, and many shelves of books.

It’s rumoured he writes out of fear he will otherwise run out of books to read.

Learn more about Dave and his work at http://davidjhiggins.wordpress.com/

Review

Ash

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ashSometimes you want a book that’s non-stop action, without a lot of thought to deeper meanings. This is the book you want to read in that case.

So long as you’re not easily offended. The protagonist, Ash, is a jackass: highly unlikable, with his sexist, racist attitudes. But the story was pretty entertaining, in an action movie sort of way. Sure, no real human being would be able to sustain the injuries he takes and continue on. Sure, no real human being would stand beside this guy through all the crap that happens. But that’s all part of the fun. Oh, and he has telepathic abilities from a head injury (of course) and needs a lot of alcohol to block out everyone’s awful internal voices. I think the inner dialogue of other people was probably the funniest part of the book.

The story is loaded with snark, pop culture references, and action. So much action.

It’s a pretty quick read, and after finishing it, I figure this is a series that I might look into further. I’ll want to read something meaningful first, to come down from the adrenaline rush from this book … and I want to read about a character that I actually like. But some time in the future I want to see what happens next!

About the Reviewer

ToxopeusRyanmedHusband, father, and researcher, Ryan Toxopeus spends his free time working on his epic fantasy trilogy, Empire’s Foundation. He started writing the first book, A Noble’s Quest, in 2010 and fell in love with all aspects of storytelling. He focuses on fast paced, character driven plots. His motto: “If I’m bored writing it, others will be bored reading it.”

Learn more about Ryan and his work at https://prcreative.ca/ryan/

Review

Delirium

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DeliriumJolts Interest – A great story

Amazing intrigue! The reader is immediately at the edge of their seat in the opening scene, where we witness Dr. Christian Monro’s physical and emotional trauma while being murdered. We are brought into the death scene, each agonizing step of the way. The detail and the pace are excellent. The suspense is high voltage.

The protagonist Detective Sergeant Jamie Brooke once again is challenged with high stakes. As in the first book of the series, Jamie is going through hell emotionally after the loss of her child, but she is also engaged in the case and wants to understand the true crime. The heroine strives to remain objective while gathering evidence, hoping to see the truth. Along the way many twists in the case elude her, and attempt to veer her from the true crime. She follows the leads and takes the reader down a road of unexpected horrors. Jamie is not faint of heart, but a woman who makes the tough decisions; she is the protector of her co-workers and friends. There is hope – as she is faced with danger even in her most fragile hours, yet somehow finds the strength to prevail.

The subject matter of this novel immediately jolts interest – the history of mental illness treatment and the reminder of abuse done to the mentally ill. This is a topic I too have strong feelings about, and so this story truly hit my heartstrings. The research was done well, as to be expected by this author who always delivers well developed background. This story is not for those wanting a light read, because the reader will be left with some concepts to think about – maybe even choices on how to view others who may not be as fortunate as most. In this world it is too easy to forget about those who suffer with mental illness. Society has swept them from public view, but we know in our heart that more needs to be addressed. I thank the author for writing this riveting story and bringing this topic to the forefront.
To date this is my favorite of J.F.Penn’s books. I truly enjoy reading about Jamie, and this is a great series. Delirium is for anyone who enjoys detective horror thrillers, and is a definite must read.

About The Reviewer

elizabeth_zgutaElisabeth Zguta is an advocate for Independent authors and publishers and encourages all writers to learn the skills needed for today’s book markets and to keep in touch with the new technologies.

She is curious and always wants to know more about everything, and her attention goes to many places and topics. She considers herself a life learner, not only because of the courses she takes but also from the knowledge gained through life experiences. Nothing brings her more satisfaction than reading something new that sparks her imagination or connecting with other people regarding a topic. She is an Indie Author of supernatural, thriller suspense novels and writes blog posts.

Learn more about Elisabeth and her work at http://ezindiepublishing.com/

Review

Desecration

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DesecrationEmotionally Charged

This story is action packed, well researched and emotionally charged – as are all of J.F. Penn’s novels. I enjoyed the prologue peek into the murderer’s mindset. It is a jump start into the tale, a foretelling of the horror just around the corner.

This new story series contains a strong heroin, Jamie Brooke, who has a definitive unique personality. Jamie is a wonderful character, very human, with complex desires. The author did a great job getting into the head of the mother in pain, the dedicated detective, as well as the woman with needs. The other characters also have a great deal of depth to them and are very believable. I especially recognized the intense research the author did in regards to the body art community, handling her writing with respectful observance and acceptance. The novel has many original twists to a detective themed story line.

I totally recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a great adventure, with mysterious people, and anyone who has an open mind to new ideas, and likes a nibble of horror. This is a great read.

About The Reviewer

elizabeth_zgutaElisabeth Zguta is an advocate for Independent authors and publishers and encourages all writers to learn the skills needed for today’s book markets and to keep in touch with the new technologies.

She is curious and always wants to know more about everything, and her attention goes to many places and topics. She considers herself a life learner, not only because of the courses she takes but also from the knowledge gained through life experiences. Nothing brings her more satisfaction than reading something new that sparks her imagination or connecting with other people regarding a topic. She is an Indie Author of supernatural, thriller suspense novels and writes blog posts.

Learn more about Elisabeth and her work at http://ezindiepublishing.com/

Review

DEAD BEEF

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dead-beefDead Beef is a terrible title. I wasn’t too sure I’d want to read it although I’ve read Eduardo Suastegui’s books, so decided to take a chance.

It turns out the books is pretty darned good, and I’ll read Pink Ballerina (another terrible title) since it’s part of the same series called Our Cyber World.

Enough on the titles. Mr. Suastegui can title his books however he wants.

My duty as a reviewer is to assure anybody considering reading this book they will not be disappointed. I can do that. The author has an extensive knowledge of computing and hacking. While I know some of what he describes is not today’s reality, he can make it believable and I trust his future vision is pretty accurate.

I also like the main character, Martin Spencer, being surrounded by a bevy of beautiful women. But like in the later Bond movies, they’re very dangerous women and do a heck of a job protecting Martin while he goes to cyber war against his best friend, Julian. Why is Julian being the bad guy here? He might not have much to say about it, but he still dukes it out via internet, satellite, and keyboard to his best ability. Will Martin save the world despite his friend’s best efforts?

Read the book to find out.

About The Reviewer

MarvaDasef200Marva Dasef is a writer living in the Pacific Northwest with her husband. Retired from thirty-five years in the software industry, she has now turned her energies to writing fiction and finds it a much more satisfying occupation.

Marva has published more than forty stories in a number of on-line and print magazines, with several included in Best of anthologies. She has several already published print and ebooks, and is now turning them into audio books. Six audio books are currently available.

Learn more about Marva and her work at http://mgddasef.blogspot.com/

Review

Cold Comfort

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cold_comfortCold Comfort by E.W. Abernathy is a powerful story, an exploration of the intersections of mental health and law, and the ways that people are helped and harmed in the name of the public good.

John Colucci was nineteen years old when he was declared incompetent and committed to a mental institution after being involved in a violent crime. The problem is that he doesn’t actually remember what happened. The story begins when he is released after eight years of institutional life, into the care of his sister and brother-in-law. His sister doesn’t know what to do with him, and his policeman brother-in-law is convinced he’s dangerous and should still be locked away. Then, John falls in love…with a journalist. As the mystery of what happened eight years ago unfolds, Abernathy keeps the plot tense and leaves plenty of room for doubt. Red herrings had me second-guessing my own theories as I read.

I recommend it for readers who like psychological thrillers and underdogs.

About The Reviewer:

BRYANT-CroppedSamantha Bryant is a middle school Spanish teacher by day and a mom and novelist by night. That makes her a superhero all the time. Her debut novel, Going Through the Change: A Menopausal Superhero Novel is now for sale by Curiosity Quills.

Learn more about Samantha and her work at http://samanthadunawaybryant.blogspot.com/

Review

The Body Market

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body_marketVivid Entertaining & Enlightening Story.

This thriller is a great paced, exciting story that will keep you invested to turn the page. D.V. Berkom writes a great character with Leine Basso, as she continues her work saving people, now working for SHEN, (Stop Human Enslavement Now) and devoted in helping to stop human trafficking. The protagonist is a beloved bad a** woman, who’s not afraid to take on difficult assignments. She’s also an ex-assassin, fierce loving mom, and a loving partner to Santiago, as their relationship continues to grow in the series.

When Leine Basso takes on this case, she makes it her personal mission to find Elise, refusing to give up when she could easily opt out. There are many diversions and difficult situations that happen during the course, and we are shown how the protagonist overcomes the obstacles with good clear crisp writing.

I enjoyed the vivid descriptions of the terrain in the scenes, from the streets in Tijuana to the desert landscape. The various characters that the protagonist interacts with also come to life as colorful portrayals of unique people with their individualism and quirks.
Whenever a book can incite a reader to engage in tough mental thought and reflection, it is a better world. The subject matter of this story deals with a problem that is so important, yet not talked about enough today—human trafficking and the ugly side of organ trafficking as well.

The Body Market was entertaining, enlightening and a great example of good writing. Well done once again D.V. Berkom.

About The Reviewer

elizabeth_zgutaElisabeth Zguta is an advocate for Independent authors and publishers and encourages all writers to learn the skills needed for today’s book markets and to keep in touch with the new technologies.

​She is curious ​and always wants to know more about everything, and her attention goes to many places and topics. She considers herself a life learner, not only because of the courses she takes but also from the knowledge gained through life experiences. Nothing brings her more satisfaction than reading something new that sparks her imagination or connecting with other people regarding a topic. She is an Indie Author of supernatural, thriller suspense novels and writes blog posts.

Learn more about Elisabeth and her work at http://ezindiepublishing.com/

Review

The Hitler Dececption

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hitler-deceptionTracie Tanner ‘Bulldog’ CIA operative doesn’t understand the word impossible.

Another exciting Tracie Tanner thriller, where the plot keeps rolling into another dimension of impossible, keeping the strong heroine, Tracie Tanner CIA secret operative, working through dilemmas, which she must overcome to survive. She is quick to assess her surroundings and the situations she finds herself in by her resourcefulness. The other characters in the story also have deep roots and feel real, giving the book great dimension.

As always dealing with her boss, CIA Aaron Stallings is problematic. Worse, her new assignment in Wuppertal, West Germany has pitfalls from the start. She is thrown into a situation where Intel is sketchy, there’s no time for even minimal planning, and reconnaissance is nonexistent. Tanner relies on her instincts to get the job done, but with her skills, that’s enough.

Her new partner, Matthias Gruber, is an unknown in the deal, but they decide to work together, both dedicated to get the job done**spoiler alert**—Eliminate Hitler.

Even more surprises arise, and the mission keeps morphing into something new to overcome, right until the very end.

It is evident that the author researched which adds to the validity. The outrageous claims seem imaginable, once the story unfolds. The tension is well paced throughout and hooks along the way, keeping the reader riveted to the pages. There are many punches enacted in these action scenes, but still with a reverence for saving innocent lives whenever possible, which I applaud. I recommend this story for those who enjoy action-packed thrillers.

About The Reviewer

elizabeth_zgutaElisabeth Zguta is an advocate for Independent authors and publishers and encourages all writers to learn the skills needed for today’s book markets and to keep in touch with the new technologies.

​She is curious ​and always wants to know more about everything, and her attention goes to many places and topics. She considers herself a life learner, not only because of the courses she takes but also from the knowledge gained through life experiences. Nothing brings her more satisfaction than reading something new that sparks her imagination or connecting with other people regarding a topic. She is an Indie Author of supernatural, thriller suspense novels and writes blog posts.

Learn more about Elisabeth and her work at http://ezindiepublishing.com/

Review

The Minus Faction – Episode 1: Breakout

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breakoutThe Minus Faction-Episode 1: Breakout by Rick Wayne is a perfectly paced thriller-adventure with superheroic elements.

Captain John Regent is a paraplegic veteran, a favorite patient at the hospital where he now lives, the kind of guy everyone wants to talk to. Some might feel sorry for him, since his service cost him his mobility, but he’s not as limited as it might, at first, appear. He’s got an usual ability (which I won’t spoil for you in this review).

When his secret talents attract the attention of the government, he has some choices to make. Wayne’s main character is a fascinating hero, one of those men who has hidden depths and is truly willing to go to extremes for what he feels is right. It’s an action packed beginning to a series, a real page-turner with no fat or filler.

I recommend it for readers who enjoy a fast and exciting read.  

About The Reviewer:

BRYANT-CroppedSamantha Bryant is a middle school Spanish teacher by day and a mom and novelist by night. That makes her a superhero all the time. Her debut novel, Going Through the Change: A Menopausal Superhero Novel is now for sale by Curiosity Quills.

Learn more about Samantha and her work at http://samanthadunawaybryant.blogspot.com/