Kill Me Instead

“The Good Guy” by Dean Koontz
Publisher: Bantam
ISBN: 978-0-553-80481-2

As a writer, Koontz is improving. I found that this novel had very little rambling about his characters and scenes. His development of characters was amazing. I found that even though I despised the evil character, Krait, I was just as attached to him as I was the main characters, Tim and Linda.

This novel had a very interesting and scary plot. What made this Novel so intensely frightening was that it was a plausible situation. It is a plot that could very well be happening or could happen to anyone that unknowingly was in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Krait had received payment by his “people” numerous times previously to kill. This time, the payment was for Linda. In a strange mix-up, Tim was given the money to perform the hit on Linda and refused to give it to the killer, Krait. Instead, Tim took it upon himself to save Linda from the determined killer. A cat-mouse chase ensues where Tim and Linda are unable to escape Krait and eventually they must face him.

I do not think the reader is totally surprised by the ending, but what is surprising is what we learn about the characters and why the mission to kill Linda took place. Anyone that enjoys crime novels, mystery, and suspense will find this a very entertaining read.

Digital Photography Review

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The Digital Photography Encyclopedia may have been a more appropriate title. This site has all the information you need to start or extend a long-lasting relationship with digital cameras and imaging. Get the latest news about upcoming product releases, read reviews on the newest gear and check out galleries of photos taken from cameras featured on the site. Then head to the forums to discuss it all with fellow enthusiasts.

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From research to purchase, Digital Photography Review's got you covered.

Dark and Cold.... always

“The Road” by Cormac McCarthy is a very strange, post-apocalyptic novel with unconventional dialogue, gruesome details and nearly stagnant plot line. Although I read this novel very quickly, I found this both easy and difficult to read. Easy in the sense of following a very minimal story line, but difficult due to the negative feeling it left within me as I read.

One very strong theme presented in this novel was love. The characters in this story were nameless. However, I felt a deep and strong connection to the father and son as they traveled to find the good people and a better place. I was disappointed in the end as there was no clear resolution of finding a warmer, safer environment.

In reflection, I guess all books and stories do not have resolutions or happy endings. However, being human, we yearn for stories that give us hope and make us feel good. This book did not do that, it left me depressed and prayerful that this will never be a world in which myself or my children will have to live or try to survive.

Skipper's Revenge by Julie Teahan

Skipper's Revenge, Julie Teahan's debut novel, is a perfect read for anyone who has ever felt less than perfect. Follow intently as the story's star, Paige Sheehan, copes with the fact that she'll never have the perfect job, the perfect man or the perfect wardrobe. And how does she cope? By embracing her plain-Jane appearance and strutting her stuff.

Paige has a theory: In this world there are Barbies and there are Skippers. Like that famous doll from Mattel, a "Barbie" is glamour personified. You know, the girl who always gets what everyone else can only dream about. And then there is Skipper, Barbie's flat-chested, tagalong little sister. Guess which one Paige is? That's right.

And Paige is okay with that. That is, until her gorgeous boyfriend (who just happens to be named Ken) dumps her for a specimen of proportionate improbability — a Barbie. She's had enough. But can she get over her jealousy of the Barbies of the world enough to believe that she is as deserving of her life's desires as the most immaculate of beauty queens?

Well, I don't want to spoil anything. But if you're hungry for more, stop by Julie Teahan's site for Barbie trivia, excerpts and press about Skipper's Revenge.

Visit Julie Tehan's novel "Skipper's Revenge"

A Fiery Historical Novel

“Fire Bell in the Night”
By: Geoffrey Edwards
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
ISBN: 978-1-4165-6424-9

Crime, conspiracy, manipulation, racism, slavery, honesty, and mystery are all themes dealt with in this page turning novel. The setting is pre-civil war in the US. The mix of detailed history and research provides a rich learning experience about America of the past through the telling of a unique historical trial in the South. North-South divisions are debated through the perspectives of southern plantation owners, residents and a northern reporter, John Sharp.

Throughout this story, we learn about a simple man, Darcy Calhoun, who is charged with harboring a slave. We learn about this man’s history and fate through the investigative reporting of John Sharp. John uncovers many secrets that are held by the plantation owners throughout his adventures.

Angry mobs and fires are common occurrences in this normally quant city of Charleston, SC. John’s little friend Samuel helps to research the fires and disturbances around the city which lead to further discoveries and several near death experiences for John.

At the end of the trial, John struggles with the information he uncovers about his new friend Darcy Calhoun. John must decide how to handle this information as he will have to live with these decisions that will impact the rest of his life. These life changing experiences make John a stronger character as he has grown from a novice questioning reporter to a decisive strong man at the conclusion of the novel.

A Murder Mystery with Fishing on the Side

“Blue Heron Marsh” by Douglas Quinn
ISBN: 978-0-595-45822-6
Publisher: iUniverse

“Blue Heron Marsh” is a unique mystery told from the perspective of a loner Webb Sawyer, who must deal with his difficult past to bring him into today’s world in order to solve a series of murders.

We learn about quiet life and fishing though Webb’s life. He lives for fishing and shares this passion with all that touch his life throughout this novel. We also see a transformation in Webb Sawyer as he deals with the difficult situation presented to him while serving the US. His closest friend looses trust in Webb and he is forced to reconnect with an old friend Bly after making several bad decisions. Bly helps to ground Webb, bringing him into the technological age and finds him the perfect fishing and hanging out buddy that he desperately needs.

Begrudgingly, Webb assists a soon to be Private Investigator, Amanda, as she hunts down clues across the state of NC trying to free her friend Clara from jail and find the true murder of a well known business man. Amanda believes that she has found convincing clues that prove her friend is innocent and seductively begs for Webb to help her and present her case to her former boss and an old friend of Webb, the prosecutor, Randy Fearing. After reviewing Amanda’s research and following her lead, Webb gives in and agrees that something is not right about this case.

After Amanda leaves the case, Webb continues to follow his gut feeling and seek additional information about other murders around the state that occurred in the same fashion. His research leads him to confront the killer and he finds that he is perplexed as to what to do once he knows the past and truth.

The twists and turns and unexpected events in this novel will continually make you second guess who is at fault and what should be done about the evidence that is uncovered.