The Woods
by: Harlan Coben
ISBN: 0525950125

Story of four teens who attend summer camp take off into the woods one evening to never return.  Two are discovered dead, two have vanished and presumed dead.  Were all four of the teens victims of the serial killer?  As the story plays out, the two discovered dead teens are placed to rest and funeral services held, but what of the other two missing teens, where are their bodies?  Are they really dead or hiding for their lives?

Harlan Coben has  penned a whopper of an action packed thriller which is evident by the strong story line.  There are many twists and the story tends to delve into other avenues that may at times take you away from the main theme, so pay close attention for the astounding end to this one.  Not to be missed, an overall excellent read.

Cut To The Bone
By Shane Gericke
http://www.shanegericke.com
Pinnacle Books
ISBN 978-0786018147, 384 pgs.
Reviewed by Terry South, Quality Book Reviews

Cut to the Bone is a non-stop thriller, one that the reader will not be able to put down.

Governor Covington has built his “Justice Center” in Naperville, a place where they execute death row prisoners in the electric chair. The world is watching Naperville prior to the upcoming execution of Corey Trent. Also, the Executioner is particularly paying attention, he is the man who starts by killing a receptionist at a spa where Emily and Martin Benedetti are members. The police department and Sheriff’s office put together a joint task force following the murder of a police officer. As suspicions begin to build about a serial killer, the Naperville forces are on the hunt for the killer before Friday which is the Governor’s target date for Cory Trent’s execution.

The serial killer known as “The Executioner” is a twisted psychopath, he attacks his victims and the his victims bear precision cuts by a man with no conscious that remains calm, collected and completely in control. If you are looking for a fast paced thriller with edge of your seat impact then look no further, this was a thrilling and engaging read. The author has done an excellent job and has done his research, once you start you will not be able to put this one down. An excellent read from the first page to the last.

Shane Gericke became a professional writer while in high school, since he has polished his writing as both an editor and reporter for newspapers and national magazines. He currently resides in Naperville, Illinois with his wife.

Visit the authors website at http://www.shanegericke.com

The Daemon in Our Dreams
John F. Rooney
Senneff House Publishers
PO Box 11601, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33339
ISBN: 9780975275672, $14.95
http://www.senneffhouse.com
Reviewed by Quality Book Reviews

The Daemon in Our Dreams is a suspenseful tale, the author has integrated a mix of characters and a strange mix of travel fiction and ghost stories.

The stories opening begins with the cold-blooded assassination of three people in a London pub by a Indian man, the novel outlines the prequel to this seemingly senseless triple killing. Three travelers, whom are strangers and are connected only by a shared Asian itinerary, and each have begun to have eerie, frightening dreams involving this Indian man. As it becomes apparent to each of these individuals that the others are also haunted by the same man, each begin to see the man from their dreams manifest in broad daylight. As they make their way from one port to another, this man, whom they have come to call “Ramesh,” is able to keep pace with them.. These three people, none of whom know each other, all meet on a cruise that ends up, in India. They discover that they’ve been haunted by the same visions, and they attempt to figure out what it all means. The tension escalates as they start seeing the actual dream man in all the different ports, and the appearances seem to be more threatening. What will become of the three travelers? Will the dreams come true or are they truly dreams, I think they are nightmares that I would not want to live in.

Pick up a copy to see how the above issues are resolved, and enter the nightmare yourself.

Protector

 

Protector
By Laurel Dewey
ISBN: 978-1884820-85-4
June 2007,  $19.95
Reviewed by Quality Book Reviews

Laurel Dewey has penned an outstanding debut novel, Protector, which is an exciting crime thriller that has a mix with the paranormal. Detective Jane Perry is a disturbed individual, she is struggling with demons from her past.  Recently a family was mysteriously murdered while under her protection and her partner Chris. The incident left Jane with a damaged hand and a jumble of nightmare images that combine the burning death of the little girl with events connected to a different child, someone she has never met. Jane tends to take her job too seriously, and it hits her hard when the family  dies in front of her eyes. Jane begins having serious doubts about her sanity, doubts that are furthered by her suspension from the department due to booze and refusal to accept help.

Jane is slowly spiraling out of control when she is saved by nine-year-old Emily Lawrence. The child is put under Jane’s protective care after both her parents were found brutally murdered in their home. Believed to have witnessed her parents’ murders, Emily is in danger when the killer makes another attempt on her life. What follows is an excellent tale of suspense that intensifies as the bond between Jane and Emily grows stronger and the killer takes more desperate measures.

Protector takes both traditional crime drama and metaphysical to become an intensifying debut novel.  Dewey’s characters are well defined and believable as well as realistic personalities of the characters in which you can identify.  Protector is a crime thriller that is both powerful and emotional with the basis of growing into adulthood from a past of being an abused child.

Laurel Dewey was born and raised in Los Angeles, California.  She currently resides in Colorado with her husband.  Dewey has also penned two non-fiction books as well as a western novella that was nominated for a Silver Spur Award.

 Want to know more then please check out the dramatic book trailer at http://www.laureldewey.com

Ricochet
by pm Terrell
ISBN: 0978563204
Reviewed by Terry South for Bookpleasures

Ricochet is a compelling all engrossing story that includes murder, terrorism, illegal immigration and espionage all rolled into a powerful engaging story line.  If you are looking for a fast paced story that will have you hooked and glued to each page then look no further, Ricochet will have you turning page after page from the beginning to the end.  The story begins as Shelia and her friend Margaret go shopping at the mall before Shelia starts her academy training for the FBI.  While Shelia and her best friend are at the mall they stop to grab a bite to eat, while standing in line Shelia becomes suspicious of a someone who is acting strangely and then there is an explosion and Shelia is knocked out.  When she awakes she finds herself buried and is short of breath due to the fire from the explosion, as for Margaret she is not as lucky, she is in a coma.

Later a reporter comes to Shelia and she informs her that she will never forget that face, a terrorist amongst us, and a face that she will soon wish she had not seen.  Her talking with the reporter has now put Shelia in more danger and it could mean life or death.  Shelia joins forces with her instructor Steve Moran to piece together the events and to solve the case, but what she finds leads to more questions and unanswered questions, and the trail that may uncover that her parents deaths were no accident.

Where will all this lead Shelia?  Will she find herself involved in another attack?  Will she find the truth behind her parents deaths?  You will have to pick up a copy of Ricochet to find out the answers and you will be glad you did, this is a great story that is highly recommended.  Fans of suspense, mystery and action will be raving about this book.  I look forward to reading more from this highly talented author who is a great storyteller.

The Screaming Room
by Thomas O’Callaghan
Reviewed by Terry South for Quality Book Reviews

Dave Driscoll is the commander of the New York Police Departments homicide division, he buried his daughter six years ago after she was killed by a drunk driver, his wife had been at home in a coma, now he has buried his wife. Getting back to his life after trying to put the ghosts from his past aside there is a serial killer lose that is killing tourists in New York City, there are very bizarre killings as the victims are scalped and then posed at tourist sites, including a Ferris wheel, Brooklyn Bridge, and the zoo. And to add to all the twist and turns, the serial killer is not one person but a set of twins, identical twins that are of different genders, they are brother and sister.

If you are looking for a fast paced thriller with edge of your seat impact then look no further, this was a thrilling and engaging read. The author has done an excellent job and has done his research, once you start you will not be able to put this thriller down.  An excellent thrilling and engaging read from the first page to the last.  A must read and an astounding 5 stars!

Ghostwalk
by Rebeccca Scott
Reviewed by Terry South for Quality Book Reviews

Ghostwalk is Rebecca Scott’s debut novel which combines both fact and fiction.  Ghostwalk is set in present day and the 17th century Cambridge, that mixes a beautiful love story as well as a historical investigation.

The story begins as Elizabeth Vogelsang is found floating in the river just below her garden with a prisim in her hand.  Elizabeth was a Cambridge University historian, she was working on a manuscript involving Isaac Newton and the 17th century alchemists.  Elizabeth’s son recruits Lydia to move into Elizabeth’s place and into finishing his mothers book.  You will be amazed at the events that follow and at the discoveries Lydia makes along the way.

If you are looking for a thriller with romance, mystery, murder, and the supernatural this one will surely fill your desires.  I found this one to be beautifully written and it is apparent that the author has done her research.  I found that with Ghostwalk you must read with comprehension as it may leave you reading back through again to assure nothing was missed the first time.

IM
by Rick R Reed
Quest
ISBN: 1932300791
http://www.rickrreed.com

Reviewed by Terry South for Quality Book Reviews

IM is a psychological thriller about an online community where a predator has been and continues the hunt for his next victim. Gay men looking for partners via the world wide web are now being hunted by this predator and he has a way of seducing his prey that no man can refuse. What does IM stand for exactly? Is it instant messaging or instant murder? Maybe it means inevitable murder once you have been seduced by this madman.

Ed Comparetto is a gay Chicago police officer and is called in to investigate the first discovered murder. Timothy Bright is the victim’s friend and the one who reported the murder and Ed takes his statement only to later receive a call from his boss, and when this happens especially in the early morning hours and his day off can only spell trouble. Ed is fired for falsifying statements, seems as if Timothy Bright has been dead for two years and could not have been the one listed on Ed’s report as having given a statement. Now Ed must prove his innocence in order to get his job back, but will he be able to solve this before it is all too late? Now that Ed is off the case and off the job is the predator free to continue his lust of murdering gay men?

IM is one intense and super wild thrilling ride so hold on tight, I guarantee you will be on the edge of your seat. IM is superbly written with an intense plot line, great characters and is detailed and moves forward with astonishing speed taking you places you wish only existed in the movies. Reed delivers a novel that is engaging and thrilling while dealing with dark issues that reveals his true talent and a story that will stay with you long after reading the last page. While there were some typos in the book this should not deter you, this is a super entertaining and thrilling read and well worth overlooking a few typos.

A definite and astounding 5 stars! I must caution that the story is vivid in detail and gore and is not for the faint hearted.

See QBR’s Interview with Rick R. Reed:  Author Interview of Rick R. Reed

Acacia: Book One: The War With The Mein

Acacia, Book One: The War With The Mein
by David Anthony Durham
ISBN-13: 978-0-385-50606-9
http://www.davidanthonydurham.com
Doubleday
A Division of Random House, Inc.
Reviewed by Terry South for Quality Book Reviews

The Acacian has ruled the Known World for twenty-one generations.  Leodan Arkan is the ruler of the Known World and a widower; he has lived his life in the shadows of his ancestors and is bound by their actions.  Now the Mein, the race that was exiled and vanquished to the frozen northern reaches of the empire plan to take over the Acacian empire.

Hanish Mein leads his people and launches surprise attacks across the Acacian empire.  Hanish Mein will lead his people out of exile and back into Acacia.  Leodan is assassinated and his four children must be separated and are scattered to different corners of the empire.  The Mein triumph and win over acacia.  Now Leodan’s children Aliver the former heir to the throne, Corinn the eldest daughter, Mena the youngest sister and Dariel the youngest brother begin their quest to avenge their fathers’ death.  They will unite and rise to free Acacia and restore the Acacian empire.

Durham weaves an intricate web among all of his characters.  The story has a steady flow of action and suspense which makes this an engaging and exciting read.  He has an immense writing skill of incorporating a fantasy that is in a sense historical and a political thriller.  Acacia is the first in this new trilogy.

Durham has penned an incredibly engaging story, if you crave an imaginatively crafted story that will grab you and not let go, this is it.  I anxiously await the next in this new trilogy.

Rant

 

Rant: An Oral Biography of Buster Casey
by Chuck Palahniuk
Doubleday
ISBN:  978-0-385-51787-4
$24.95   319 pages
Review by Terry South for Quality Book Reviews

 I am having a really rough time writing a review for this one.  I could sum the review up in 2 words or 20 pages.  The 2 words are: Mind Blowing, this is one book that I will keep and add to my collection.  Words just really cannot describe how I felt reading this.  I have never read anything by Chuck Palahniuk and really had never heard of him until requesting this one for review, needless to say I am adding him to my favorite author list, and will be dishing out some major bucks to get all of his earlier books. (lol)

***And you have got to check out this new website from Random House /Double Day on Rant it is so cool!!!!

Will try to have the review up by this weekend, even if it is the two words above MIND BLOWING as this was one mind blowing experience and my head is still spinning and the wheels in my brain are ever so constantly turning.

As you can see the cover art is intriguing and enticing which originally drew me to read the blurb in the catalog before requesting this one for review.