H.L. Leroy's "Remember the Dead"

Title: Not Your Typical Bottle of Jack

“Remember the Dead” by H.L. Leroy

Reviewed by B. Smart

10/29/15

7:58 p.m.

Have you ever wanted to get inside the head of a famous detective? Well you’ll get the chance to if you pick up H.L. Leroy’s novella Remember the Dead, a mystery thriller that takes place in the world of author J.A. Konrath. The story follows Lieutenant Jacqueline “Jack” Daniels and Jillian Varela, a private investigator from California, who work together to catch a sadistic serial killer known only as the “Parkside Strangler.” With her job on the line and Chicago politicians breathing down her neck, Jack races against time to solve the case before it’s too late.

Author H.L. Leroy weaves together an incredibly entertaining cast of characters together to tell a riveting story about drugs, sex, and murder. His witty dialogue, unforgettable scenes, and fascinating plot twists make it impossible to put the story down and leave you hungry for more. At times piece is outrageously funny, disarmingly clever, and yet deadly serious which is how it’s able to grip the reader’s attention and not let go. Featuring a strong female protagonist with enough sass to blow up the city, this novella has the reader hanging on Jack’s every word and rooting for her until the very end.

Remember the Dead is heavily cliché at times, but still enjoyable because of the snappy storyline. From time to time it is difficult to read because, although it’s intended for a mature audience, it reads like a YA fiction due to its simple, concise writing. Moreover, the reader is often told what is happening instead of shown the scene through detailed imagery. Additionally, the characters come off as caricatures which is why some of their mannerisms come off as unbelievable at times.

However, this novella is still a fun and intriguing read.

I give “Remember the Dead” 3 out of 5 stars.

Cheers,

B. Smart

Joan Donaldson-Yarmey's "Illegally Dead"

Title: Traveling with Murder

“IllegallyDead” by Joan Donaldson-Yarmey

Reviewed by Camie Keets

07/31/2015

2:48 p.m.

Travel writer, Elizabeth Oliver, tends to run into mystery wherever she goes. One, short year after discovering a body along a wooded path, Elizabeth gets pulled into another murder. When being shown to her bed & breakfast, she runs across a man who has newly discovered a bunch of bones in a septic tank; leading to an investigation. Can Elizabeth keep her goal in mind and complete the research for her first commissioned article?

The way that Donaldson-Yarmey sets up the novel is intriguing. In the beginning, the novel seems as if it will be told in a simple third person point-of-view. However, after the first four pages, she switches it up and tells the novel in a third-person unlimited omniscience point-of-view. For the entire first chapter, Donaldson-Yarmey bounces back and forth between two characters. Just when the reader gets into the groove, she switches it up again and throws in another character. This is where things started to get confusing. But, once every character’s backstory and part in the novel is established, switching from character to character becomes much easier and makes more sense. It helps the reader put the pieces together and keeps them on their toes. However, I believe that providing as many characters and backstories as she does, leads the reader on too much and leaves them no room to wonder.

Donaldson-Yarmey’s novel is not as similar to other mystery novels. It is more playful, and the point-of-view is interesting. And, the main character, Elizabeth, is not a central player in this mystery. She is on the outside looking in and attempting to piece it together herself, along with the readers.

In improvements, there is always room for the readers to discover more on their own. However, if you are looking for an interestingly mysterious yet playful read, Illegally Dead is a good place to start.

I give Illegally Dead 3 out of 5 stars.

Thank you for this new and different read.

Camie Keets

S.M. Freedman's "The Faithful"

 Title: Faithful to This Series

 S. M. Freedman  “The Faithful”

Reviewed by Kelsey Britt

1/1/2015

9:30am

Written with the complexity of a mystery and the amiability of a Young Adult novel, The Faithful is definitely one of the most interesting books I have read in a while.  It’s as complicated as it is intriguing, leading me to absolutely blow through it in just a few days. Freedman makes the characters completely relatable, even though they have these other worldly powers or obsessions that seem like they would make them pretty far from your average person. The ease with which she writes is amazing and engrossing, though at times can feel a bit too conversational and Young Adult for me. 

It has some great twists and turns that are bound to leave any reader guessing - which is what makes this book the page turner that it is. The stories interweave in a great way, though sometimes can feel a bit jarring when you haven’t seen a character in a really long time. After taking a second to refocus on where they have been it’s easy to get back in the swing of the novel; though I find myself wishing a few of the smaller characters’ perspectives were left out. 

While not a book that is going to change your life or the way you see things, it’s definitely one that I would say is worth the money. I have great expectations for the rest of the series and am excited to see these books really take off.

*  I give The Faithful 4 out of 5 stars!

Kelsey Britt