Frightful Friday: The Seeker by R. B. Chesterton

Posted on March 7, 2014 by Jenn

Frightful Friday is a weekly meme in which I feature a particularly scary or chilling book that I’ve read that week.

This week’s featured title is The Seeker by R. B. Chesterton:

  • Hardcover: 352 pages
  • Publisher: Pegasus (March 6, 2014)
  • ISBN-10: 1605985007
  • Source: Publisher

Seeking remote solace to work on her dissertation, Aine Cahill travels to Walden Pond, the location of Henry David Thoreau’s own solitary place of retreat. When she uncovers a journal implicating a secret relationship her aunt had with Thoreau during his stay at Walden, Aine knows she has discovered the perfect topic for her dissertation.  Yet as she reads further, she releases something so powerful and dangerous, an evil that has plagued her family for generations.

Something is lurking on the woods of Walden Pond. A figure, clad in red, that darts from tree to tree, making her existence known to Aine. The evil that resides in Walden Pond isn’t new, it has lurked there, silently, for centuries. Terrible tragedy hits the village and Aine struggles to understand how her family’s dark and sordid past is related to what is transpiring at Walden Pond.  Further challenging Aine’s quest is proving her own mental stability. Haunted by a history of mental disease the Cahill family has battled a family curse for years. Now, Aine is its victim, the evil residing in the wood is determined to bring her life to an end, taking her as prisoner, like so many before her.

I’m not exaggerating when I say that The Seeker sent chills down my spine. Be it the cold chilling setting, the evil young “child,” or some combination of the two, I found myself reading this novel only by the light of day.  The author delved in to the world of madness, leaving the reader unsure of who, or what, to believe. Aine’s character, too, questions this as well: Is it madness, or something supernatural that has plagued her family for generations?

Admittedly, there was a lot going on in this novel, from the Cahill Curse to Aine’s aunt’s connection to Thoreau and an ever-pervasive Moby Dick theme (the allusive white whale). That said, I think the author greatly succeeded at pulling it all together. The ending (no spoilers) leads me to think that there will be a sequel…or perhaps this is just wishful thinking. There is no finite conclusion, no neatly-wrapped up storyline, to this dark and terrorizing tale. That may infuriate some, but for me, it simply fuels my desire to read more! I sincerely hope that this is not the last we hear of Aine and the Cahill curse. Highly recommended.

Posted in Frightful Friday, Horror, Pegasus Books, Review, Supernatural, Thriller | 2 Comments

The Revitalization of Femme Fatale

Posted on March 6, 2014 by Jenn

FemmeFataleLongtime readers may recall a web series I used to write called Femme Fatale. The point of the series was to highlight books written by female mystery/thriller writers. As I reminisced, I contemplated rejuvenating this series.

Then I read this article about the disparagingly few number of female mystery and thriller writers who get reviewed, despite making half of the population of mystery writers. Further spurred by this article, I decided the light the fire under this project and get it moving a little faster.

Consider this post a “stay tuned” as well as an APB for female mystery and thriller writers out there.  I want to feature you! I’m not looking for the standard guest posts or interviews, I want something unique and innovative to complement the review. It can be a video, a unique post idea, something that stands out from all other posts. Interested? Either comment below or send me an email (jennsbookshelfATgmail).

I know I’m just one blog and this is no means an attempt to make up for the lost attention female mystery writers receive, but instead an attempt to show you how much I, and my readers, appreciate what you do.

So, stay tuned for more information. I have my thinking cap on. I hope you do too!

Posted in Femme Fatale | 6 Comments

Review: The Accident by Chris Pavone

Posted on March 5, 2014 by Jenn

  • Hardcover: 400 pages
  • Publisher: Crown (March 11, 2014)
  • ISBN-10: 0385348452
  • Source: Publisher

Isabel Reed is a literary agent who still relishes in reading hardcopy manuscripts,   refusing to embrace the digital age. One day, a strange manuscript lands on her desk. The author, anonymous, writes an authorized biography of Chris Wolfe, a media mogul. What is revealed in this manuscript, called The Accident, alludes to a history of lies, deception, and murder.   The contents are so volatile that the manuscripts very existence puts anyone who reads it in harms way.

The Accident takes place in the span of one day. Jumping from character to character, it follows the path of those individuals who have copies of this allusive manuscript.  Once those targeted become aware of the danger that follows them, there is no means of safely or escape, not even from the local authorities.

A truly intense and mesmerizing thriller,  The Accident kept my attention from the start, refusing to relinquish until I turned the last page.  Perhaps because I have some knowledge of the publishing world and can grasp the potential and fate if (and when!?) a manuscript like this crosses the path of an agent’s desk…I found the entire plot to be incredibly terrifying.

The fact that this entire novel, 400 pages, takes place in one day is a truly astounding feat. Lives and pasts cross, fates and lives are destroyed, all in the span of one day.  What seems like so much is tucked neatly, perfectly, in this relatively compact novel.

While there are aspects of the novel that I found implausible, particularly given modern technology, I did appreciate the author’s nod to publishing in the days before email and other means of sharing files (did no one think to scan the manuscript!?).  The ending? Without giving away too much, I found the ending to be absolutely perfect and, in a sense, a bit ironic.

This is the first of Pavone’s novel I have read but, now that I have sampled his brilliance, I plan to continue.  Highly, highly recommended.

Posted in Crown Books, Review, Thriller | Tagged | 2 Comments

Review: Above by Isla Morley

Posted on March 3, 2014 by Jenn

  • Hardcover: 384 pages
  • Publisher: Gallery Books (March 4, 2014)
  • ISBN-10: 1476731527
  • Source: Publisher

At just sixteen years old, Blythe Hallowell is abducted by a survivalist, kept prisoner in an abandoned missile silo. She tries without success to escape, he captor spouting stories about the the end of the world. He believes that the two of them alone are humankind’s salvation, destined to repopulate the world after the apocalypse.  Slowly, reluctantly, Blythe understands there is no hope for her escape and she has a sudden realization about the bleakness of her situation.

It isn’t until she is expected to raise a child in confinement that she has some sense of hope.  She is determined that he have the life that was stolen from her.  It isn’t until, years later, when Blythe is able to step outside that she realizes the enormity of what has transpired since she was taken, the vast differences in the world she had in the silo, down deep in the earth, and the strange, unknown world above.

So. I am intentionally being very very vague with my synopsis of this novel!  Going in, all the reader needs to know is that this young woman, carefree and young, is abducted by a man who has been obsessed with her for most of her life. Everything that happens after that must be discovered by the reader, and the reader alone.  What happens while Blythe is held captive in that silo is bleak, it is dark, it is depressing.  Your heart will be broken. You will cry. You will yell. You will utter expletives. And then…something happens that totally changes the outlook of this book. And you will shout more expletives, but you will want to hug the author for the sheer brilliance of this novel.  For Above is a novel that I will be shouting about from the rooftops, a novel that is impossible to categorize into just one genre.  It is a novel like none other; I can’t even begin to think of a book to compare it to for it is wholly unique.

Readers of all ages, from young adult to adult will find a connection with Blythe. She starts out as a young, carefree teen and we follow her as the cruelty of being held captive wears away at her soul and willpower. Then we see her, determination regained, when she becomes responsible for another life.  And then, Morely stuns her readers as she reveals that Above is not only a novel about Blythe’s situation, but what has been transpiring in the world above, around her. It’s simply brilliant. I’m getting goosebumps thinking about it again.

I guarantee that this is a novel that people will be talking about. I’m predicting a wide range of opinions and emotions for it is a novel that induces that sort of reaction in its readers.

So…I implore you to give this book a try. When you do, come back and share your thoughts here. I haven’t seen a lot of prepublication buzz on this one and I’m dying to hear other opinions of this dynamic, truly memorable read. Highly, highly recommended.

 

Posted in Dystopian fiction, Gallery Books, Review, Thriller | 9 Comments

A Month in Review: February 2014

Posted on March 1, 2014 by Jenn


Books Reviewed

Total books read: 9

Pick up the month:  Why do I even bother?  Rarely can I ever narrow it down to just one book. Instead….my top 5!

The Troop by Nick Cutter-it’s hard to scare this girl and this book succeeded to do so!

The Headmaster’s Wife by Thomas Christopher Greene-This book succeeded at completely surprising me. This is one of the books I will be recommending to EVERYONE!

Fallen Beauty by Erika Robuck-Truly stellar historical fiction about a sexy and sassy woman who is largely unknown (Ok, to me at least).

Snowblind by Christopher Golden- Another horror that takes me back to my days of reading good, old-fashioned classic horror.

The Martian by Anthony Weir-This book is getting a lot of attention and it is so worth it. Don’t compare it to Gravity for it is so, so much more.

Check out my reviews above of these titles to learn more about why this books stood out for me.

Special Events

Spring Book Preview: March 2014, Part I
Spring Book Preview: March 2014, Part II
Book Club Discussion: Labor Day by Joyce Maynard

 

There you have it! How was your reading month? What books stood out to you?

Posted in Month in Review | 3 Comments

Frightful Friday: The Troop by Nick Cutter

Posted on February 28, 2014 by Jenn

Frightful Friday is a weekly meme in which I feature a particularly scary or chilling book that I’ve read that week.

This week’s featured title is The Troop by Nick Cutter:

 

  • Hardcover: 368 pages
  • Publisher: Gallery Books (February 25, 2014)
  • ISBN-10: 1476717710
  • Source: Publisher

Scoutmaster Tom Riggs leads his scouts on an annual trip to the Canadian wilderness.  On this trip, he leads a group of five young men to Falstaff Island, PEI.  The boys: Kent, Ephraim, Max, Shelly, and Newton, have known one another all their lives.  The camp out is relatively short; a boat will pick them up the following day to take back to the mainland.  Or so they think.

Their peaceful tranquility is severed when a strange man shows on the island. Emaciated, he appears to be quite ill. Riggs attempts to keep the strange man away from the boys, for his medical expertise tells him there is something very strong with the man. The man’s body is emaciated, he begs for food with an uncontrollable hunger raging within him. This hunger is endless and Riggs is stunned as he watches the man pick up anything he can getting his hands on and devouring it.  The troop is completely unaware that the military is hunting this man, aware of the bio-engineered horror residing within his body.

Riggs and the boys assume help will come the next morning. They don’t know that the military has established a no-fly zone over the island, the small island quarantined from the mainland just minutes away. Their hope for help is futile, only they alone have control over their survival.  Yet as the sickness spreads and the hierarchy within their group begins to collapse, they are faced with unimaginable terror, fighting for survival from not only the parasite that ravages the body of victims but also one another.

Using journal entries, magazine interviews, and military reports, Cutter provides readers with insight that the scouts themselves don’t have access to. The reader gets a unique glimpse about what is going on on the mainland, off the island, while they are fighting for their lives. A great deal of time is spent relaying  information on the science experiment gone wrong, the source of this terror, all  at the hands of a Dr. Clive Edgerton. Combined together, a novel that is so gruesome, yet so thrilling and addictive, those that have a strong stomach won’t be able to tear themselves away!

While the plot of the story alone had me sold on this book, the added dimension of the crumbling of the boys’ social structure and hierarchy added a completely unique element. The reader is an observer, watching the boys lives fall to pieces. A true story of a survival of the fittest, the conclusion left me completely stunned.

I most certainly won’t recommend this to the weak of stomach (and it would probably be best to avoid eating pasta of any sort while reading this), I would highly recommend it to fans of classic horror. Stephen King himself said “The Troop scared the hell out of me, and I couldn’t put it down. This is old-school horror at its best. Not for the faint-hearted, but for the rest of us sick puppies, it’s a perfect gift for a winter night.”

In my opinion, the plausibility of such a scenario is what makes this novel so terrifying. Science is scary, people! Nevermind the fact the first time I read this novel, about six months ago, my own fourteen year old was away on a camping trip with his Scout troop. I don’t think I slept a wink until he returned!

If you are looking for classic, terrifying horror, this is the novel for you. Highly recommended…with warning 🙂

Posted in Frightful Friday, Gallery Books, Horror, Review | 2 Comments

Review: After I’m Gone by Laura Lippman

Posted on February 27, 2014 by Jenn

  • Hardcover: 352 pages
  • Publisher: William Morrow (February 11, 2014)
  • ISBN-10: 0062083392
  • Source: Publisher

Felix Brewer sustains his family, including wife Bambi and three daughters, via a lucrative, yet not necessarily legal, business. Facing jail time, he disappears without a trace leaving his family and stripper mistress, Julie, in his wake.  Despite his lucrative business, Felix’s family doesn’t have a dime to survive on, Bambi assuming Julie has somehow obtained his fortune. Then, exactly ten years later, Julie disappears and everyone assumes she has left to meet up with Felix. Their assumptions are contradicted when, 26 years after Felix’s disappearance, Julie’s body is found in a wooded area.

Sandy Sanchez, a retired detective, decides to take on the cold case. A widower, Sandy has his own share of ghosts in his past.  He begins to interrogate anyone with any sort of involvement in the case. He soon discovers that Felix’s family members have their own secrets to hide, from both the public and one another. Slowly but surely, he is able to meld their stories together and recreate what happened that fateful day Felix disappeared.

Lippman is skilled at crafting a well-paced thriller, bits and pieces evenly and painstakingly revealed just at the right moment. This slower pacing allows her to develop and introduce a dynamic cast of characters and granting a number of voices the opportunity to tell their story. The storyline alternates between past and present, allowing characters both alive and deceased, to share their point of view without judgement.

The pain that the women in this thriller experience is quite evident and intensely moving and heartbreaking. Felix’s disappearance made a huge and lasting impact on their lives, each of them reflecting on how things could and would have been different had he not disappeared. Readers can’t help but feel for each of them, wanting to comfort them through the pain.

While After I’m Gone is a thriller at the core, it is also an intense character study. Readers learn not only about Felix and his surviving family members, including the five women in his life (wife, three daughters, and mistress) but also of Sandy and his immigration from Cuba. I’m honestly hoping we see more of Sandy’s character!

Fans of Lippman’s writing will be pleased to know that the twists and turns in plot are evident and abundant in this read.  Also apparent are characters from her other series, a real treat for long-time fans. Readers new to Lippman’s work can use this stand-alone as a jumping point into her truly talented writing. Highly recommended!

Thank you to TLC Book Tours for providing me the opportunity to review this title! Make sure you check out the other stops in this tour!

The publisher is hosting a sweepstakes for reviews of AFTER I’M GONE. Any review posted  before March 1st and submitted to TLC Book Tours is eligible for a chance to win a $100 Visa gift card! If you have reviewed this title, , please fill out this form to submit your review for the sweepstakes!

Posted in Review, Thriller, William Morrow | 4 Comments

Review: A Killing of Angels by Kate Rhodes

Posted on February 26, 2014 by Jenn

  • Series: Alice Quentin Series (Book 2)
  • Hardcover: 336 pages
  • Publisher: Minotaur Books (February 25, 2014)
  • ISBN-10: 125001431X
  • Source: Publisher

Psychologist Alice Quentin vowed to never work with the police again. Her last experience left her battered and bruised, both physically and mentally. Yet when Detective Don Burns asks for her help on a case, she can’t refuse.  Burns sat by her hospital bed as she recovered from the previous police case she worked on. Just as battered and bruised as Alice was, Burns deserved her help.

A serial killer is targeting  the Angel Group, a private bank originally created to help the less fortunate.  Victims are found brutally murdered, the only evidence left behind include white feathers and a picture of an angel. Alice is called in to profile the perpetrator. As she does, she experiences first-hand the corruption that surrounds London’s financial district.  People are willing to do anything, including murder, to get ahead…or to get even.

A Killing of Angels is the second book in a series (Crossbones Yard is the first) and while this is my first introduction to the series, I was able to pick up on the characters and their history with ease. Alice Quentin is a strong, no-nonsense individual who strives to do best for her patients despite an overbearing past of pain and suffering.  Her family life growing up wasn’t easy and, even as an adult, she still bears the brunt of that pain. Her brother, struggling to recover from addiction, lives with her after he was severely injured. Her mother goes on about her life as if she has no responsibility for her children’s pain, oblivious to the hurt they are experiencing, instead constantly reminding Alice about what she has done wrong in her life. It’s awe-inspiring to see that Alice’s character is able to rise up despite all of this and succeeds at helping her patients in dealing with their own pain.

What an addictive read! I was clueless to the identity of the killer until the end. I was certain I knew who it was, I would have bet on it! Good thing I didn’t because I was so far off! Talk about skilled pacing and reveal!  It is for this reason, and my respect and admiration of Alice’s character, that I plan on going back to the start of the series as I wait impatiently for the next book in this series!

If you are looking for a brilliant new psychological thriller series, this is the one for you. While I did start with the second book, I do recommend starting at the beginning (like I shall now!) to get an accurate grasp of Alice’s character. Highly recommended.

 

Posted in Minotaur Books, Review, Thriller | Tagged , , | 4 Comments

Review: The Headmaster’s Wife by Thomas Christopher Greene

Posted on February 24, 2014 by Jenn

  • Hardcover: 288 pages
  • Publisher: Thomas Dunne Books (February 25, 2014)
  • ISBN-10: 1250038944
  • Source: Publisher

Being a headmaster is in Arthur Winthrop’s genes. Like his father before him, he serves as the headmaster of Lancaster School, an elite private school in Vermont.  Lancaster School is his life; he grew up there, went to school there, and now serves as the setting for where his life will spiral out of control.  Arthur’s story, to the reader, begins after he is taken into custody for walking around naked in Central Park.

As he retells his story to the police, Arthur’s confusion and mental anguish are apparent. He tells of the weight being a headmaster places on him, the toll it has taken on him emotionally, his obsession with a young student, and how all of this has taken a toll on his marriage.  Arthur’s madness and obvious struggle to maintain some semblance of his life is quite apparent.  The intensity of this mental anguish is made clearly apparent in the second half of the book, in a segment certain to shock and induce jaw-dropping in the most astute of readers.

At it’s very core, however, The Headmaster’s Wife is a novel full of surprises, a novel completely unlike what this reader expected. In the beginning, it reads like a thriller, a mystery of sorts. Ultimately, however, it is a beautifully written exploration of love, of family, and how the loss of someone so dear to you can send your entire world, your very being, into a downward, out of control, spiral.

This is a novel that will capture your attention from the beginning. As I read, I was a bit wary of the path this author was taking. “Oh, it’s going to be one of THOSE books.” And then…when IT was revealed….I was in a stunned silence. Typically, I can predict when something big, a sudden revelation is about to take place. Certainly not in this case!  Instead, this shift in plot had me obsessed with reading more, devouring this book to the very end. I read it in a matter of hours, a challenging feat as of late.  Without giving much away, I will warn readers to be wary, all is not as it seems!

For the reasons listed above, this novel will, without a doubt, top my list of favorites of 2014. It will leave you speechless, stunned by how expertly this author has captured tragedy and the loss.  Greene knows loss, it serves as his inspiration for writing this novel. To learn more, please check out the video embedded below.

 

Bottom line, The Headmaster’s Wife  is an absolutely brilliant and touching piece of writing. I am now and forever in awe of this author’s talent, my heart aching for the pain he endured. Rather than becoming a victim to his pain, he used it to produce a truly remarkable, unforgettable novel. Highly, highly recommended.

 

Posted in Literary Fiction, Review | Tagged , | 6 Comments

TSS: Week in Review

Posted on February 23, 2014 by Jenn

Another week has come to an end. We’ve been teased with spring weather this week but the cold temps and snow are just around the corner again. As usual, the boys are keeping us active with all their activities: skiing trips, school concerts, basketball, & birthday parties. I really am glad they are so active!

Since our oldest was off with his scout troop skiing this weekend, i assumed I would have more time to read. Not so much. Instead, since our youngest had no one to bother or annoy, he decided to spend ALL his time with me. I know, I know, it’s time spent together that I will miss as he gets older.  So, while I didn’t get to do as much reading as I would have liked to yesterday, there’s still today, right?

Although I didn’t get a lot of reading in this week, I did have the opportunity to really outstanding historical fiction as well as look ahead to books I can’t wait to read:

How was your reading week?

Posted in The Sunday Salon | 4 Comments