Bad Blood
by Pat Whitaker

Bad Blood is the first by Pat Whitaker. Usually with the first publication of a new writer you wonder if it is worth picking up and reading, well this one is well worth picking up. The author has penned a murder mystery like no other, it is written in present tense and contains a wealth of twist and turns. The author has the ability to draw you into the story and leaves you yearning for more.

The setting is England, and the author himself was born in England. He has the gift of vivid detail and the senses he arouses in you as you read is remarkable.

Upon finishing this one I was in awe and cannot wait to read future works from this author.

The 13th Demon: Altar of the Spiral Eye
by:  Bruce Hennigan
iUniverse (2006)
ISBN 9780595403967

Looking for a page turner that you will not be able to put down, here it is.  Once you begin this one make sure you have time to finish or be prepared to be late to school, work, or where ever you may need to be.  This is a gripping page turner page after page from beginning to end.

The story begins as a man comes crawling up the beach and finds his way to a woman’s home needing help.  He has been severely beaten and left to die by the ocean.  The man slips into a coma to awaken without any memory later in the hospital.  Upon being discharged from the hospital he has no recollection or any memory of who he is and has no where to go, he accepts a job as a caretaker for a physician and falls for his daughter April.

On the eve of their engagement, Jonathan returns to the condo to find the doctor almost dead at the hands of a madman and no sign of his fiancée.  Finding her alive and unharmed, Jonathan attempts to escape the madman who had done such violence, only to have them both caught and April killed before Jonathan is able to kill the man, who is actually a demon.  As April lay dying in his arms, she told Jonathan that the demon had said that he had to kill Jonathan before he destroyed all of his kind.  With her last breath, she begs Jonathan to fight the evil. 

And so the quest begins, but where does one look to find the demons and to prevent evil?

An excellent entertaining read that demands to be finished once the first page has been read.  An astounding 5 stars!

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.

And Another Thing! Maxine on Life, Love and Losers
by John Wagner

I love Maxine and am totally amused by her cranky commentaries on life. In this book Maxine is back at it and her cranky attitude towards life, love and losers shines through.

Maxine will always bring a smile to your face, Maxine was born in 1986 through the hand of J Wagner for Hallmark Shoebox card line and from there she has grown into ornaments, cards, books, coffee cups, paintings just to name a few. Need a bit of humor pick up one of the great Maxine books and she will turn stressful situations into a good chuckle!

Enjoy

The Bard of Bethlehem
by:  David James Trapp

David James Trapp is a master story teller. He draws the reader back in time, two thousand years, to a time when the Celts, Jews, Romans, and Greeks, were all deeply affected by the appearance of a mysterious new star.

The author draws you into the story and his character development will make you feel as if you are there and a part of the story.  Vivid details that will bring you in full circle with the plot, story line.

This is a fast paced historical fiction at its best.  The author has the ability to draw the reader in and keep the reader involved in the entire plot which has some astonishing unexpected twist.  “The Bard of Bethlehem” is an absorbing and excellent read and a must for those who thrive on historical fiction.

Tallulah Falls
by Christine Fletcher
Reviewed by Terry South for Quality Book Reviews

Tallulah Falls is a story of Tallulah Addy and her friend Maeve and the touching story of finding out who you are. Tallulah is left behind when Maeve takes off for Florida, but soon gets a message of urgency from her friend wanting her to bring her notebooks. Tallulah being the friend she is she immediately sets out to fine Maeve. Tallulah asks Derek to drive her and everything begins to fall apart, he leaves her with her bag which thankfully still holds the notebooks she is delivering to Maeve. She is broke and left on the side of the road, she is arrested and tries calling Maeve who is not answering.

The local veterinarian’s office is her link to help, she has a job at the clinic, she is staying with Ruth the receptionist and has found a romantic spark with Kyle who also works there; all of this coming from her bringing an injured dog in.

Tallulah Falls is beautifully written and I can find no faults with this wonderful story. The story is engaging, entertaining, and a true spectacular read.

I absolutely have fallen in love with this story, and have added a great new author to my favorite’s list, I look forward to many more by Christine Fletcher. It has been a honor and a delight reading and reviewing such an excellent story, thank you Christine and please keep them coming.

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

Chasing Eden
by S.L. Linnea

Chasing Eden begins with the war in Iraq.  The story leads us up to the days just before the war when some ancient artifacts have been stolen from the museum.  Army Chaplain Jamie Richards has the ability to read the ancient cuneiforms but as the story moves forward Jamie finds herself a target.

Jamie has been reunited with an old friend Adara Dunbar only later to lose her friend forever.  Adara is killed during an ambush and the assassin has a message for Jamie.  What is the message?  Will Jamie survive or will she be taken out by the assassin?

Chasing Eden is fast paced, with good characters which are believable as well as interesting.  The story contains a steady flow of action and suspense which makes this an engaging read.  The author has done her research and the backdrop involving Iraq is portrayed with vivid detail.