Best Occult Suspense
Jillian Guthrie, a troubled young journalist, stumbles onto a tantalizing mystery: the same man, unaged, stands alongside Ulysses S. Grant, Theodore Roosevelt, and Gandhi in three different photographs spanning eighty-five years of history. Creator of the landmark original miniseries V , he also produced The Six Million Dollar Man and created iconic Emmy-winning shows such as The Bionic Woman , The Incredible Hulk , and Alien Nation . He has presented his unique graduate-level seminar, The Filmmaking Experience , at UCLA, USC, NYU, Loyola, New York Film Academy, the National Film and Television School (UK), Moscow State University (Russia), and many others.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"It was intriguing, the writing grabbed me and pulled me through the first 150 pages."
"The author did a masterful job of weaving together the stories of the major characters with those of the minor ones. The main character was condemned to an eternity of wandering the earth, but the author did not reveal the reason until maybe halfway through the book. The true reason this man was being pursued through the centuries and across continents was also revealed in the latter chapters. I enjoyed the tales told by the main character of interactions with famous people throughout history. One last thought -- Although many people are telling their stories throughout this book, I had no trouble keeping them straight."
"Also, I'd like to say up front here that, "the start of this book was boring/confusing/you-have-to-read-past-100-pages", is a common theme, even among five star reviews. After he woke up, he almost immediately gave a description of himself by looking in a mirror--something I absolutely hate since I simply CANNOT connect with a character that way--and after that, the book launched into a literary ocean of frustration, confusion, and boredom. Seriously, I really do hate critical reviews, but at some point around page 60 all I wanted to do was start bashing my head against the wall. Honestly, how many times do you have to observe someone handing out charity money to understand that yes, obviously, he’s a good guy? I had no idea who was actually relevant to the story later on, and who was just a convenient prop for demonstrating bits of information or more of Will’s “character”. Off the top of my head I’d say like Angels and Demons, but that book had me hooked from the first chapter. This one only fed me vague hints about some mysterious darkness, in a manner that was prominent enough it was obvious I should care about said hints, but so vague and with so little information there is no way I could possibly know enough to feel genuinely disturbed as, yes, I so obviously should have. It was the fact that I was 83 pages in, and I still hadn’t been given a single legitimate reason why I should WANT to keep reading. I’m absolutely positive a lot of people will love this book, and that it will get its fair share of glowing reviews."
Shipped to Princeton University for study, the box contains mysteries that only Lucas, aided by brilliant archaeologist Simone Rashid, can unlock. His articles, essays, and reviews have appeared in prominent publications such as the Los Angeles Times , New York magazine, People , Newsday , and the Washington Post . A long-standing member of the Writers Guild of America, he has taught and lectured at colleges and universities nationwide, including the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Fortunately, I liked it a lot more than “Romanov’s” perhaps because I was more interested in the subject matter but I thought that the author did a better job of character development and in keeping the story moving. And a few times it seemed that the author was trying to work in too many historical facts to the detriment of the story. The predictability almost pushed this down to a three star for me but since I stopped expecting to find a rare treasure like “The Butcher’s Boy” or “Old Man’s War” in Kindle First a long time ago, my expectations were just for a quick interesting read."
"I enjoyed the story, and it was a fun read."
"A college professed finds an ancient relic which Hitler wants and a fantastic voyage of mystery begins."
"I enjoyed reading about Einstein, Lucas and Simone."
"The writing is good and you want to find out what happens, but there are some holes in the plot that make you wonder if the author is ever going to resolve them."
"Imagine Einstein becoming friends with a college professor specializing in antiquities who was injured in WW2 and being asked to assist in the opening of an ancient sarcophagus that he was trying to salvage from the Germans in Europe."
"An example of the clichéd writing is when the Princeton professor of classical art says, 'sure as shootin.'."
"Somewhere between pages 150-200 I began to lose interest and the only reason I finished the book was because I had to know how everything turned out."
Nate learns that the only way to save his city from these creatures is to murder his best friend…. Nate’s choice will throw the world and his own conscience into cataclysmic chaos: avenge his parents or become a murderer to save his city. Because to do either, he’s going to have to show the world that magic is very, very real, and that monsters are very, very hungry… To survive, he might just need to take a page from the book, How to Win Friends and Influence Monsters. I suggest the following sequence: Obsidian Son Blood Debts Fairy Tale – Prequel (FREE to email subscribers) Grimm Silver Tongue Beast Master Tiny Gods Wild Side. Dark Fantasy Supernatural Thriller Witches & Wizards Urban Fantasy Thriller Supernatural Shifter Angels & Demons Science Fiction & Fantasy Paranormal and Urban Romance Supernatural Mystery and Suspense Vampires and Werewolves. Anticipation abounds while fantasy meets reality in equal measure.The story unfolds as told through the eyes of its hero, the complex and funny wizard-man Nate Temple - intelligent, informed, flawed and a tad eccentric. As if character and magic were not compelling enough, the book spills much more - suspenseful drama, mystery, `spare no expense' fast paced action; it is violent, bloody, erotic, sexy and variously romantic.Harnessing a powerful combination of genres and alter-dimensions, Silvers thrives on attention to detail, and achieves it most elegantly.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Shayne eases us into the idea that there are wizards and magic in our contemporary world. The major characters are developed throughout the book, while the minor ones are painted with swift, deft strokes."
"I started this book and quickly decided what type of story it was."
"I didn't think I could still laugh this hard!"
"Goofy and detailed."
"Fantastic group of side characters that are well developed(in many ways nudge nudge wink wink you know what I mean) Very much a Macho romp thrill ride that is fun to take."
"If you are tired of waiting for the next Harry Dresden book, try this series."
"Pretty good story about a wizard in St Louis who has just lost both of his parents in a lab accident."
"beginning was mildly disjointed but by the end you're sitting on the edge of your seat waiting for the resolution."
Best Alchemy
A special 25th anniversary edition of the extraordinary international bestseller, including a new Foreword by Paulo Coelho. "My heart is afraid that it will have to suffer," the boy confides to the alchemist one night as they look up at a moonless night. "And that no heart has ever suffered when it goes in search of its dreams, because every second of the search is a second's encounter with God and with eternity." The charming tale of Santiago, a shepherd boy, who dreams of seeing the world, is compelling in its own right, but gains resonance through the many lessons Santiago learns during his adventures.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"After deciding to travel to a Romani fortune-teller in a nearby town to discover its meaning, a gypsy woman tells him that there is a treasure in the Pyramids in Egypt. Everyone, when they are young, knows what their Personal Legend is.”. The Alchemist Physical CoverAlong the journey, Santiago meets an Englishman who is in search of an Alchemist and together they continue their search for treasure. The essential message is that treasure is more worthy than gold."
"I purchased and began reading this book 2 years ago and, for whatever reason, I couldn't get into it."
"Although the Alchemist reads somewhat like a fable, a story with a moral or philosophical message - its pastoral simplicity and the constant weave of insights and wisdom with regard to a higher consciousness, is refreshing and inspiring."
"I knew I would love this book."
"It was shorter than I had thought it would be and although I enjoyed the philosophy behind it, the story seemed to just kind of meander.. maybe that was the point?"
"This is, without a doubt, one of the best books you will ever read in your life."
"This book made me want to pack up and travel all around the world to live out my own journey."
"I finally got this book and read it, now I am rereading it again."
Best Horror
“This gripping thriller grabs readers from the first few pages and sweeps them along to the rousing finale.”— Booklist. “I very much need to be dead.”. These are the chilling words left behind by a man who had everything to live for—but took his own life. In the aftermath, his widow, Jane Hawk, does what all her grief, fear, and fury demand: find the truth, no matter what. But all their power and viciousness may not be enough to stop a woman as clever as they are cold-blooded, as relentless as they are ruthless—and who is driven by a righteous rage they can never comprehend. Jane Hawk’s story continues in The Whispering Room . Koontz has created [a] wonderful character in Jane Hawk. sleek and highly realized action, developed characters, and more twists and turns than any two ordinary novels combined. amongst Dean Koontz’s finest contemporary work.” — Mystery Scene “A proven specialist in action scenes, Koontz pulls off some doozies here. Perhaps Koontz’s leanest, meanest thriller, this initial entry in a new series introduces a smart, appealing heroine who can outthink as well as outshoot the baddest of bad dudes.” — Kirkus Reviews (starred review). readers will clamor for more tales involving Hawk and her quest for justice. an inspired choice for a protagonist, by far the strongest part of a reliably entertaining book by the perennial bestselling author. Action, zippy dialogue and a winning character at the center of the book, part of a new series by Koontz.” —Minneapolis Star-Tribune “In this era of stingy text-message prose, Mr. Koontz is practically Shakespeare. The Silent Corner brims with both action and emotion.” — Pittsburgh Post-Gazette “Vintage Dean Koontz: paranoia-fueled suspense . sleek and highly realized action, developed characters, and more twists and turns than any two ordinary novels combined. Perhaps Koontz’s leanest, meanest thriller, this initial entry in a new series introduces a smart, appealing heroine who can outthink as well as outshoot the baddest of bad dudes.” — Kirkus Reviews (starred review). “This gripping thriller grabs readers from the first few pages and sweeps them along to the rousing finale.” — Booklist. The man who gave us unbelievable characters in the past has now given us a brand new one that will, hands-down, become another fan favorite. Dean Koontz, the author of many #1 New York Times bestsellers, lives in Southern California with his wife, Gerda, their golden retriever, Elsa, and the enduring spirits of their goldens, Trixie and Anna.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"I looked forward to each new book and went to second hand book stores to find ones that I didn’t have or hadn’t read. It’s been a few years since I’ve done that and when I saw this new book I remembered how much I enjoyed his books."
"Instead he’s crafted Jane Hawk, an FBI operative, who is forced to go rogue when she stumbles upon a plot conjured by a mad scientist. Jane, with her husband dead at the hands of this evil faction and her son in hiding, must singlehandedly keep one step ahead of her pursuers and the FBI who are tracking down one of their own who’s stepped over the line. This is a heart pounding chase with good being pursued by evil which is Koontz trademark metaphor and what he does best."
"Once upon a time, I read every Dean Koontz book I could get my hands on. I even went to the library and got the books under his pen name (Leigh Nichols). I’ve ventured back and have found that I liked the last couple of books."
"Jane, a FBI agent is 27 years old. Her husband was fine, happy so why? She becomes a rogue FBI agent because now she is sure her husband didn't commit suicide."
Best Metaphysical & Visionary Fiction
Louise Erdrich, the New York Times bestselling, National Book Award-winning author of LaRose and The Round House , paints a startling portrait of a young woman fighting for her life and her unborn child against oppressive forces that manifest in the wake of a cataclysmic event. Though she wants to tell the adoptive parents who raised her from infancy, Cedar first feels compelled to find her birth mother, Mary Potts, an Ojibwe living on the reservation, to understand both her and her baby’s origins. A chilling dystopian novel both provocative and prescient, Future Home of the Living God is a startlingly original work from one of our most acclaimed writers: a moving meditation on female agency, self-determination, biology, and natural rights that speaks to the troubling changes of our time. “Erdrich stuns again in FUTURE HOME OF THE LIVING GOD…She grounds her story in a kind of sharply drawn reality that makes the standard tropes of dark futurism that much more unnerving…Erdrich is a writer whose words carry a spiritual weight far beyond science, or fiction.” ( Entertainment Weekly ). “A page-turner…with lucid language and gripping scenes…Among the book’s many strengths are its urgency and suspense as well as the immediacy of its voice…Erdrich’s sense of humor manages to make the darkness fresh and plausible…She applies her stinging perspective to remind readers how much has happened, how much keeps happening and how far humans have yet to go.” ( Chicago Tribune ).
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"In Erdrich's world, the situation has developed quickly in the context of climate change and ecological collapse, rendering most of the social and economic conditions, services and institutions either inaccessible or eradicated. Another point of similarity is that Erdrich gives us a first person narrative in the form of a journal written by Cedar, addressed to the unborn child she is carrying, with occasional additions of letters and excerpts from the manuscript of a novel being written by Eddy, the husband of Cedar's birth mother. Erdrich's heroine, Cedar, is a young woman who has learned she was adopted by her parents, affluent post-hippy types, benevolent and loving. Cedar's situation develops, with a variety of complications related to her encounter with her tribal family, and the beginning of divided loyalties on the personal level as she tries to maintain her loving relationship with her adoptive family and also to cope with her relationship with Phil, the father of her baby. The more serious situation is her effort to hide until she gives birth once it is widely known that pregnant women are being rounded up. There is a sense of desperation that is not part of the narrative (though there is plenty of desperaton and tension in the events), but is a feeling that Erdrich is struggling to take control of a style and narrative form that is not her usual fictional world; it is as though the familiar dystopian tropes exercise a damaging or distorting force that distracts her from the best of her fictional instincts."
"Louise Eldrich’s FUTURE HOME OF THE LIVING GOD is a post-apocalyptic nightmarish novel that brings to mind Margaret Atwood’s HANDMAIDS TALE and MADDADAM trilogy, with bits of P. D. James’s CHILDREN OF MEN thrown in for good measure. The story is set in an undetermined future where genetic anomalies have resulted in the devolution of life on earth. As the story progresses, Cedar must figure out a way to protect her unborn child from a government now ruled by religion (the “Church of the New Constitution”), a government determined to get its hands on any pregnant women in hopes of stopping a genetic nightmare. She is Native American, but she was raised by two white liberal hippies in Minneapolis. How did genetics start working backwards, turning the earth into a mutated mess? There are definitely parts of this novel that are very much like HANDMAID’S TALE (where fertile women are enslaved by a religiously-controlled government) and like the MADDADAM novels (where genetic manipulation has decimated like on earth)."
"As she learns her own history and struggles with the fact that, as a pregnant woman, she's now horribly of interest to society - of such interest that people will do anything to take her - I was so deeply riveted that I simply couldn't stop reading. It's not one of those literary dystopic novels that's really just an excuse for bloviating about art and culture and society and connections. Here, instead, our soft apocalyptic events lead to an unmasking of the rot in the heart of humanity."
Best Ghost Suspense
To save mankind's future, the members of Sigma Force must make a devil's bargain as they join forces with their most hated enemy to stop an ancient threat in this gripping adventure from #1 New York Times bestselling author James Rollins. Strangest of all, this inexplicable threat traces back to a terrifying secret buried a century ago beneath the National Mall: a cache of bones preserved in amber. An ancient horror. ―. dormant in the marrow of those preserved bones. ―. is free once more, nursed and developed into a weapon of incalculable strength and malignancy, ready to wreak havoc on an unsuspecting world. “Rollins’ latest Sigma Force novel is one of the best in the series....The mix of science, history, and high-concept adventure is always first-rate in a Rollins novel....Devotees of Clive Cussler and Steve Berry are no doubt reading Rollins already, but if they’re not, what’s keeping them?” ( Booklist (starred review)). “Bone-chilling.” (Publishers Weekly (starred review) ). “Bestseller Rollins’s epic...features exotic locales, heroic quests, quixotic villains, action galore, and enough science and scientific curiosities to titillate even casual readers....Rollins’s characters are as large as his landscape in this vast and vastly entertaining thriller saga.” ( Publishers Weekly (starred review)). About James Rollins JAMES ROLLINS is a #1 New York Times bestselling author of international thrillers that have been translated into more than forty languages. Rollins' rare blend of action, suspense, and knowledge was also mentioned by the Huffington Post, which stated that "After Crichton passed away in 2008 he clearly passed the baton to James Rollins, who like Crichton, is a renaissance man." This hands-on knowledge of medicine and science helps shape the research and scientific speculation that set James Rollins books apart.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"He and his team of scientist were on an island off the coast of Brazil where all life has been destroyed, expended, and overcome by a species outside a mind's eye. Gray, Seichand, Kowalski, Professor Ken Matsui, Palu, and Aiko are at the site trying to stop the evil that threatens the world. Kat, Monk, Elena Delgado, and Sam Benett are putting together the missing pieces between the bit of amber and James Smithson.This threat may be more than Sigma can understand or halt. Rollins tales are epic and they feature exciting settings, daring quests, idealistic scoundrels, action abundant, and plenty science and methodical inquisitiveness to titillate even casual readers."
"I'm a long time reader of James Rollins and as good as his other Sigma Force books are, I would have to say that this is clearly his best to date."
"Would love to see new stories in the Sanguine Series!"
"I also like the fact there is more fact than fiction in Rollins' books."
"James Rollins keeps you up late hoping to find a calm space so you can put the book down."
"New twist for the Sigma team."
"JR never fails to keep you on the edge of your seat."
"As usual, Mr. Rollins delivers."
Best Horror Suspense
Now a major motion picture Stephen King’s terrifying, classic #1 New York Times bestseller, “a landmark in American literature” ( Chicago Sun-Times )—about seven adults who return to their hometown to confront a nightmare they had first stumbled on as teenagers…an evil without a name: It . But the promise they made twenty-eight years ago calls them reunite in the same place where, as teenagers, they battled an evil creature that preyed on the city’s children. The amazingly prolific King returns to pure horror, pitting good against evil as in The Stand and The Shining. Moving back and forth between 1958 and 1985, the story tells of seven children in a small Maine town who discover the source of a series of horrifying murders. But there is enough material in this epic for several novels and stories, and the excessive length and numerous interrelated flashbacks eventually become wearying and annoying.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"When I was on a school field trip in the seventh grade, I took Stephen King's "IT" with me to read. I'd gotten into reading Stephen King two years before by way of a trip over the previous summer to my uncle's house. He had a collection of Stephen King novels and I'd started reading them with Pet Sematary, which had been adapted to the big screen two years before. In the intervening time, I'd devoured Salem's Lot, Carrie, Firestarter, and Misery, and The Shining. Whereas as a kid I identified with those elements as mapping directly onto my friends and setting, I did it unconsciously. I appreciated how well King encapsulated the distance between childhood and adulthood and all the roads we travel in between. King doesn't use mere words to tell stories, he uses meanings themselves, woven seemingly seamlessly into shades of context and pigments of innuendo and occasionally bright, obvious splashes of unobfuscated emotion that jar you because...hey...in real life that's how it works. And in getting that right, King manages to make the impossible elements like the supernatural nature of IT and the relationship IT has with the town of Derry and the inhabitants there...normal."
"Seven outcasts form a bond in order to defeat It, deeming themselves The Loser’s Club. Thinking they defeated It as children, they lead a life outside of Derry until the murders start happening again. Twenty-seven years later, The Loser’s Club makes their way back to Derry to defeat the evil once and for all. With the way King goes into details, it’s like you are actually in the book right beside the characters as they go through the horrors of every day life of living in Derry. His style definitely works by making you really feel terrified as you read, as if It could actually reach out and grab you at any minute. “…she took her washcloth and leaned over the basin to get some water and the voice came whispering out of the drain: ‘Help me….’”. -Stephen King, It. I loved the way this book was formatted. The book is split up into 5 parts, alternating between childhood and adulthood in the perspective of every member of The Loser’s Club. “Can an entire city be haunted?”. –Stephen King, It. This novel wouldn’t be what it is without the addition of the Derry Interludes at the end of every part. She wasn’t a major part of the storyline; therefore, I really didn’t care to hear about her life. Also I feel the need to mention one specific scene that just did not sit well with me, mainly because the ages of the characters at this point in the novel."
"I still own the paperback edition but I went only trough several chapters because the presentation (in my opinion) was hard to read the words very tiny, so I never finished it."
"I’m not going to lie...when I first saw the thickness of this book I was a little intimidated, I like to read as much as anyone just about but I like books that can hold my attention and “It” is definitely doing a great job of that!"
Best Paranormal Suspense
#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER. A stunning new novel from the #1 New York Times bestselling author Nora Roberts— Year One is an epic of hope and horror, chaos and magick, and a journey that will unite a desperate group of people to fight the battle of their lives… It began on New Year’s Eve. As word spreads that neither the immune nor the gifted are safe from the authorities who patrol the ravaged streets, and with nothing left to count on but each other, Lana and Max make their way out of a wrecked New York City. In a world of survivors where every stranger encountered could be either a savage or a savior, none of them knows exactly where they are heading, or why. ” -- New York Times Book Review. NORA ROBERTS is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of more than 200 novels, including The Obsession, The Liar, The Collector, Whiskey Beach, and many more.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"I love all of her trilogies, and I own every single book she's written to include the JD Robb In Death Series."
"Intense story with a very probable future earth."
"Once again Nora Roberts gives us characters that you can love and cheer for as well as ones to cheer against."
"Started a little slower for me than some it about 1\4 of the way through pulled me right in."
"Not what I expected as the story played out."
"I don't usually read Nora Roberts, but the theme of this book intrigued me."
"I've always loved Nora but this book was different, had an different feel, and I loved it!"
"I read when I am walking on the treadmill and 90 minutes passed before I knew it."
Best Political Thrillers & Suspense
A decade ago, fourteen-year-old Suzanne Lombard, the daughter of Benjamin Lombard—then a senator, now a powerful vice president running for the presidency—disappeared in the most sensational missing-person case in the nation’s history. “This live-wire debut begins with a promising lead in the long-ago disappearance of the vice president’s daughter, then doubles down with tangled conspiracies, duplicitous politicians, and a disgraced hacker hankering for redemption...Hang on and enjoy the ride.” — People. “Unbridled power and relentless revenge converge in the exciting, tightly plotted The Short Drop ...The multifaceted Gibson has the makings to support a long series.” —SouthFlorida.com.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"That said, I did enjoy the second half of the book which did keep moving from beginning to end, holding my interest without my having to push myself to read it like I did for the first half of the book. So, when the central plot line in The Short Drop turned out to be the fact that a current Presidential candidate's 13 year old daughter had been kidnapped, I merely wrote that off as a coincidence."
"I’ve found that thrillers, particularly those with a political bent, can be a little light on character development and a little heavy on the unbelievable-and-over-the-top plots. The characters are well developed, complex and multi-faceted, flawed and susceptible to injury (both emotional and physical)."
"As an old retired IT guy it made sense to me where it needed to and was not written for the 17 year old."
"This book caught my attention from the sample on Kindle and held it through half a week while I told myself I had time of other already purchased books to read."
"His characters are beautifully developed and appropriately psychologically complex, so much so that the reader doesn't know who the "bad guy" is and might even fall in love with him or her in the meantime. 4.5 stars. Note: Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher, Thomas & Mercer, for providing me with a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review."
Best Psychological Fiction
Anna’s best friend, Sarah, hasn’t been telling the whole truth about what really happened that night—and her parents have been keeping secrets of their own. Someone knows where Anna is—and they’re not telling. Covering crime for so long, she watched and was deeply moved by all the ripples each case caused, and the haunting impact on the families, friends and witnesses involved.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"However, when the author moved to subsequent chapters (everything else in third person), the phrases and partial sentences continued. The other stylistic device used over and over was the introduction of a secret at the end of almost every chapter. When the guilty person is finally revealed, it was difficult to believe that the police would have neglected to perform a full investigation (the author tells us at the end that police only did a “cursory” investigation on the person). I hesitate to say more as it would potentially become a spoiler, but for me, this became a fatal flaw and made the ending feel forced."
"This story follows the perspectives of Ella, Sarah, Anna's father, and a private investigator in the year following Anna's disappearance. Although not to this extreme, I think most people can relate to being in a position where you question whether or not to say something or stay quiet and mind your own business."
"Fast-moving plot full of unpredictable twists; flawed yet sympathetic characters; realistic dialog."
"Each chapter was a cliffhanger that carried into the next chapter."
"Many POTs."
"I really enjoyed this book."
"This book grabbed me and kept me up until 3am two nights in a row, guessing until the end."
"I found this story a bit slow at first and then the tempo just building and building until I couldn't put it down."