Paris Singer's "The Skull Collector"

Title: Eerie and Engaging

“The Skull Collector” by Paris Singer

Reviewed by M. Windholtz

8/22/16

11:20 a.m.

“The Skull Collector” follows an unnamed little girl who becomes the assistant of a sinister Doll-Maker. In exchange for her work, the Doll-Maker promises that he will bring her missing parents back to life. During the day, she cooks and cleans for her new master. At night, she goes to the cemetery to collect skulls for his dolls. Throughout the novel, the little girl becomes engaged in a war against the unnatural forces that haunt the night, leaving the reader to anxiously turn pages until the very end.

Despite the cliché opening scene, author Paris Singer writes with a dark tone that ensnares the reader, forcing them to read on even as the story turns chilling. “The Skull Collector” is filled with colorful characters that enhance the air of mystery at every introduction, making the reader want to know more while simultaneously wishing to put the book down and run far, far away.

However, it is difficult to place the time or setting of the novel. It mostly seems like a standard medieval fantasy tale, but several mentions of the main character going on “auto-pilot” continuously throw the reader off. The author also has the tendency to over describe with unnecessary adjectives attached to every other noun. Yet, the careful attention to detail and the balance between character thoughts and plot makes these problems easy to ignore.

Overall, “The Skull Collector” is an enthralling, fantastic read. From its fast-paced plot to its eerie mood artfully set by the author, this is a book that readers will not be able to put down. The reader unwraps the back stories of the war and the little girl’s place in it, each plot thread carefully woven by the author. Even if thrillers might not be a reader’s first pick, this is a book that anyone would enjoy.

I give “The Skull Collector” 4 out of 5 stars.

Yours in Words,

M. Windholtz

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

Jason Parent's "Seeing Evil"

Title: What is in Your Future?

Seeing Evil by Jason Parent

Reviewed by K. Royce

9/27/15

7:00 p.m.

How do you stop a crime that has not been committed? That is the issue for Detective Samantha Reilly when she receives information about a murder that has not happened; especially when that information comes from high school freshman, Michael.

Seeing Evil is a suspense thriller that will keep you turning every page. After a traumatic event, author Jason Parent’s main character, Michael, awakens with a strange new talent. The teen’s new ability enables him to assist Samantha in solve a missing person’s case. He is deeper into darkness when a shy and abused girl, Tess Masterson, asks him to look into her future. What he sees sends him right to Samantha. Together Samantha and Michael will try to prevent one murder. Meanwhile, Michael tries to save the woman that had rescued him.

You will be drawn into the struggle that Samantha faces between serving her community as a detective and fighting to stay alive. In addition, Michael is a character that most can relate to, the severely misunderstood kid who just wants to make it through high school. This well-written book is a quick read, seeing, as you do not want to set it down. It is perfect for a cold day with some hot cocoa.

I give Seeing Evil 5 out of 5 stars.

Enjoy!

K. Royce

Peter Bailey's "Walk in the Flesh"

Title: Nanobots Gone Wild

Walk in the Flesh by Peter Bailey

Reviewed by S. Davis

September 29, 2015

4:00 p.m.

Walk in the Flesh by Peter Bailey is a science-fiction/action thriller that will keep the reader on the edge of their seat throughout the duration of the novel. The book follows Neil, a troubled, ex-military man who has become the government’s secret weapon in order to carry out tasks that no individual could do. The very essence of Neil’s being has been “imprinted” into nanobots, which are then planted into the minds of different individuals to carry out specific tasks. However, once these tasks start to go awry, people on the outside of the government start to notice, including an Iranian pathologist named Ariana.

The novel centers on a futuristic World War III that begins with the bombing of London. The reader goes along with Neil as he carries out top-secret missions in various bodies, or “hosts,” in order to help his country win the war.

Bailey keeps the reader hooked right from page one and keeps the pages turning all the way until the end. One never knows what will happen next in the novel, as is proven by the ending which is left open for a possible sequel to the book. This read is not lacking in the action or graphic descriptions departments. Bailey offers the reader his specific visions of all of the gory details so that the reader can easily step into the story. Bailey also did not disappoint with medical and technical terminology throughout the novel, which pushes Walk in the Flesh into a higher intellectual category of science-fiction. It reminds the reader of old books and movies in which the impossible has become reality.

There were, however, many technical errors. The story itself was good, but it was shadowed by the mistakes.   

I would give Walk in the Flesh 3 ½ out of 5 stars.

Until next time,

S. Davis  

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