A stunning tale from Di Dean
584962
wow..an amazing revelation and fabulous story from a gifted writer...cant wait to read more on the life of Di.
165972
I'd rate this 4.5 stars.

No one writes quite like David Mitchell. His last book, The Bone Clocks, made the list of my favorite books I read in 2014, and now I was utterly captivated by the quirky, slightly creepy, and utterly compelling Slade House.

Slade House is a bit of an anomaly. If you go looking for it most days, you won't find ityou'll simply go down the narrowest alley you've ever seen and search in vain, and if you ask passers-by whether they've heard of Slade House, chances are they'll look at you like you've gone mad. But the truth is, Slade House is only visible every nine years, and only if you've been chosen by the house's owners, a mysterious brother and a sister, will you get the chance to enter. You'll be amazed by the beauty of your surroundings, the grandeur of the houseand then you'll start to realize all is not what it seems. But by then, it's too late.

Slade House spans five decades, beginning in the 1970s, and follows an unlikely group of people as they encounter the house and its owners. A misfit teenager accompanying his musician mother for a recital, a recently divorced policeman with an eye for the ladies, a college student who joined her college's Paranormal Society to get closer to one of her fellow students, and an investigative journalist all enter the house; some have knowledge of its existence, some are totally unaware. And then it becomes difficult to distinguish what is real and what is in their minds.

I'm not going to say more about the plot for fear of spoiling it. Once again, David Mitchell has created a tremendously unique story with lots of twists and turns (and there's even a tiny overlap with a character from The Bone Clocks, but you don't have to have read that book to enjoy this one. This book has vivid imagery, fascinating characters, and even takes some trips into the territory of authors like Stephen King, Peter Straub, or Dean Koontz, but still remains completely Mitchell-ian. (If that word doesn't exist, now it does.)

Give yourself a little post-Halloween treat that won't pack on the calories, and pick up this book. Chances are, like me, you're going to want to read more of Mitchell's books afterward.
3998990
Di Morrissey has once again proved herself a tremendous story teller and has interwoven the Australian and Burmese stories impeccably. a must read for lovers of a great story with added cultural information.
673862
This book is absolutely flooring. It is difficult to choose my favorite element of this book. Ty Burdin, our protagonist, is amazingly crafted as a multi-faceted, troubled anti-hero, who just so happens to have serious demon hunting abilities (and some equally serious drinking issues). The demons of the book (who aren't always played as antagonists) are all each incredibly defined and each have distinct characteristics, some likable, others deplorable (Mephisto the bartender is a personal favorite). The scenarios are described with intensive clarity, yet the pacing remains brisk. Nader's writing style is immediately immersive and unforgettable. This book is a must-own, and a testament to the brilliance and vivacity of the book publishing underground today.
72993
Building upon his exciting novel Cyberkill, author Frank Fiore has developed a chronicle around a daring hero named Jeremy Nash. A Taste of the Apocalypse is the first book in this exciting chronicle.  Nash is an author who travels widely, investigating and debunking conspiracies.  A Taste of the Apocalypse finds Nash deeply into a stunning adventure with significant implications for religion, history, archeology, aliens and a strange grandfather.

Jeremy Nash considered his long-dead grandfather, Zed Nash, beyond eccentric.  He was Native American, yet he was also a respected archeologist and prognosticator of future events.  Long after his grandfather's apparent death, Jeremy discovers a letter from Zed that is mysterious and shrouded in cipher.  Through this letter, Jeremy uncovers a secret so stunning that it would alter our perceptions of Christianity.  Nash's sister is kidnapped and the ransom demand is the coded letter from Zed to Jeremy.

Jeremy follows the trail of the letter and his sister's kidnappers from Area 51, in The United States, to England and then to Israel.  There, he joins forces with a beautiful Mossad agent and an elderly English archeologist who long ago partnered with Zed in his archeological exploits. He assists in deciphering the coded letter.  The letter is so astounding in implications that it seems doubtful for authenticity.  But Nash is driven to follow its directions to free his sister.  Behind the scenes, the Church is adamant in preventing this colossal secret from being discovered.

Upon sacred ground where the Dead Sea Scrolls are buried, Nash is enveloped in the esoteric teachings of Kabbalah - Jewish mysticism.  Nash cannot help but fall for the beautiful and deadly Mossad agent, Sabra.  Together, they venture far into the caves.  What they discover will shake the foundations of Christianity and provide an intriguing shaft of information about the resurrection of Christ and the existence of aliens.

At times, the reader almost expects Professor Robert Langdon to burst into a room, with a lovely co-investigator in tow.  A portion of the chronicle suffers from the massive exploitation of The DaVinci Code and Angels & Demons.  Had not those two books (and films) been so widely read and seen, this chronicle would no doubt have taken their place.  Still, the concept of massive thought-changing secrets in Christianity is compelling.

Author Frank Fiore has done his research carefully.  His references to a wide-ranging world of religion, archeology, history, Area 51, Israel, Judaism, Kabbalah and the details of early Christianity are accurate and persuasive.

Fiore excels with character development.  The reader quickly becomes attached to our thrilling heroes.  The twists and turns of this fast-paced novel will excite and coerce.  This book is very difficult to put down.  The flow and plot are swift and persuasive.  Fiore is not only a talented and descriptive author; he is also a master of anecdotal information.  Through skilled use of dialog, Fiorre's characters' voices project a gripping story that streams ever forward and compels the reader to continue.

In A Taste of the Apocalypse, Frank Fiore has generated a very solid base of character development, story line and anticipation. Readers can expect the same level of excitement in the next iterations of Fiore's Chronicles of Jeremy Nash, Seed and Black Sun.

Charles S. Weinblatt
Author, Jacob's Courage
3486818
Val McDermid's latest offering, The Skeleton Road, is a tour de force.  In a brave and striking departure from her 'series' stories, this is a standalone psychological crime thriller.  It's an excellent murder mystery which draws together a number of seemingly disparate threads.

DCI Karen Pirie heads up the cold case unit in the new Police Scotland.  Strapped for resources and cash, she and her likeable sidekick have to deliver.  A long dead corpse is discovered in a disused and inaccessible tower in Edinburgh. A man dies as he enters his apartment in Crete.  Add an Oxford professor, war crime investigators, the Balkan conflict with themes of revenge, retribution, justice, loss and love, mix well and you have something of the flavour of this extraordinary story. I was absolutely gripped from start to finish.

A murder mystery moves seamlessly to an exploration of geopolitics and genocide; the breadth of this canvas is simply breathtaking.  The plot moves back and forth between Edinburgh, Croatia and Oxford.  A fascinating first person backstory is used to dramatic effect to both explain and keep the plot moving.  I was reading rapidly with no idea how the threads could possibly be drawn to conclusion.  And what an ending; I was left literally open mouthed at the final page.  The great delight in this book is the empathy that builds for a central character.  The minor players in the story are well fleshed out so people have a real feel to them.  Ms McDermid knows what makes people tick.  Her characters are strong and the psychological insights are perceptive and enthralling.  I was left wondering who was capable of what and was wrong footed at every turn.  There's a great sense of place too.  I could visualise a fraught journey down the Queensferry Road and the war ravaged village in Croatia had me close to tears.  Some very powerful writing!

This is a truly skilful and well crafted tale.  I'd love to see further stories featuring Pirie, but maybe that's part of the skill.  Knowing when to walk away leaving the reader breathless and wanting more.  Gripping, thought provoking and just downright bang on story telling.  This is one that'll stay with me for a while.

My thanks to publishers Little Brown for an early copy via Netgalley.
4792891
Well-written would be an understatement. Tosca Lee's words eloquently flow throughout the pages in an almost poetic sort of way. Although I don't fully agree with the theology, I must rate this book as fiction; and I would have to say that this is one of the best works of fiction that I have ever read.

In reality, demons have an agenda, and Tosca was able to demonstrate the cunningly manipulative ways of demons through Lucian's character. The way that Lucian jumps from one host to the next is enough to cause one to wonder about the "coincidental" things that we experience throughout our lives. When a stranger looks at you in a knowing way and says something familiar to you, could it be that they know something that they are just itching to tell you?

Demon: A Memoir is a brilliant story. I look forward to reading more of Tosca's books.
673988
I can describe this book in one word: excellence!  This book if perfect for introducing you to the spellbinding adventures of Daredevil.  This particular story, "Guardian Devil", is wonderful.  It flows nicely and has several plot twists that keep you guessing until the end.  I was nearly in tears by the last page!  So far I've read this story twice.  I'm sure those won't be the last times.  Overall, a highly recommended read.
3639405
Ali Vali is a wonderful storyteller and has a wide audience esp. for her tales of the dark side of New Orleans. Though this is not a Cain Casey (The Devil) book, The Dragon Tree Legacy is firmly set into the world of the Devil with drug dealings and drug lords darkening the doorways of the main characters and we have some overlapping of characters and story lines. One of the main characters is the Black Dragon who has to fight for the love of her life and turn the tide of evil! A page-turner which is not easy to lay down!
And the first chapter is a special bonus and the answer to all prayers about those guys mouthing off about "legitimate rape" to quote from a reader: "I think the first chapter should be compulsory reading for every rapist, every male spouting about legitimate rape and the like and every woman who can't bear to hear about legitimate rape anymore! Let the Black Dragon show them the error of their ways <evil grin>"
1159218
A fantastic and riveting read, "Redemption Song", from author Derick Parsons is an Irish tale of murder, and loyalty. Detective Inspector Jack O'Neill, a long time homicide investigator has drank himself into the basement. O'Neill's severe drinking problem has gotten out of hand and very long term. The Brass has parked him in the basement to sort through "records". To Dublin's horror a black man is brutally beaten to death with racist propaganda smeared onto wall. Superintendent Eamonn Rollins summons O'Neill from basement. He has no officers to assign case to. Also, he has a rookie detective who is nephew of big shot who wants the kid on investigating murders. Rollins pairs O'Neill with Detective Frank Carr. Jack has to solve murder, and train Carr to be top flight investigator ASAP. With some surprising twists and turns this yarn is mesmerizing reading. The Book was listed at 256 pages, however it must be closer to 450-500. With Kindle number of pages becomes crapshoot sometimes. Doesn't matter, hell of a read. The wonderfully created and developed characters carry this book from start to finish. I was really rooting for Jack O'Neill to pull himself out of the bottle and crack the case. Also, Jack and Frank's relationship solidifies very quickly. They make a good detective team. I'm already looking forward to starting the next book with these two. Second book is titled "The Journal". I will be reading in very near future. I'd highly recommend this read for those who like a quality mystery thriller. The ending was incredible ! Without a doubt five stars out of a possible five stars for "Redemption Song". This is one not to be missed. check it out.
49643
The writing is flawless. The story, while written in the classic whodunit style, is entirely original. The dialogue is natural and highly entertaining. This is an ambitious story, yet tightly written - with so many twists that a less talented author would have had a difficult time avoiding plot holes.

But the first of the two major strengths of MICHAEL LAWRENCE: THE SEASON OF DARKNESS is found in the character development. This is that rare book which is populated with characters you feel you know personally, and who stay with you after you finish reading. And while I was already hooked by Chapter Three, and thoroughly enjoyed Traynor's yarn-spinner tone for the first half of the novel, the second half of 'Michael Lawrence' takes off like it's shot from a cannon - and that's the second great strength of this novel. I read it over a span of three days, but read the second half in only a few hours. I couldn't put it down. Highly recommended.
4599528
"Fionn: Traitor of Dun Baoiscne" is the second exciting volume of Brian O'Sullivan's Fionn Series, one that describes events in the early life of Ireland's greatest hero, Fionn mac Cuhmal (Finn MacCool). In the first volume, "Fionn: Defence of Rath Bladhma", (you can read my review here on Amazon) we are introduced to Liath Luachra, a fierce female warrior, and her lover, exiled druidess, Bodhmall. In this volume, together they must spirit away Bodhmall's  young nephew, Demne, (actually the young Fionn), and his mother, Muirne, to safety, after learning of a new attempt to abduct the young boy. In their passage through The Great Wild seeking a place of refuge, the weary band encounters the weirdly supernatural and the terrifying reality of a group of predatory cannibals. Like the first volume, this book delivers edge-of-your-seat thrills and is written in a welcoming style meant to draw you in from the first page. O'Sullivan transports us back to the misty beginnings of Ireland, a land of forest and bog and sea, of  Druids and superstition, supernatural happenings and warring tribes, sequestered in hill forts. In many ways, O'Sullivan's work is evocative of Tolkein, insofar as he constructs an intricate world of his own creation and populates it with fierce warriors, both male and female, tribal conflicts and  supernatural characters. To say this book is absorbing would be an understatement. It is a terrific read, one which I highly recommend. I await the next installment impatiently.
Jonathan O'Mara, Whitby, Ontario, Canada
2660947
One dark night in November, Prince Ludovico Ruspanti falls a hundred and fifty feet to his death in St Peter's basilica in Rome. But there are a number of questions to be answered: what was he doing in the Vatican? Why was he being followed? Did he fall or was he pushed? The papal authorities contact the Criminalpol and so Inspector Aurelio Zen is put on the case.
As Zen investigated deeper into the mystery of Ruspanti's death, he finds witness after witness strangely silenced by death. Zen soon discovers that he will never crack the case until he has penetrated the most secret of all secret societies - the Cabal.
The combination between an intriguing twistiness of the mystery story and sharply angled perspectives on contemporary Italy is simply superb.
Michael Tudor Barnes's performance in this audio book is quite stunning!
3060683
For fans of American history, aviation history, or just a great story, Chasing the Demon is a must-read. As usual, Dan Hampton employs his trademark mix of exhaustive research, in-the-cockpit knowledge, and pure storytelling ability to write a groundbreaking account of one of the boldest and most fascinating attempts in U.S. history: the quest to break the sound barrier. Full of surprising and sometimes shocking revelations, gut-wrenching moments high above the earth, and unforgettable, larger-than-life characters, Chasing the Demon is a book that you'll find impossible to put down.
2770465
Absolutely fantastic. BRILLIANT. Stylo Fantome's story-telling reaches greatness with The Bad Ones. On the edge of my seat, eyes glued to the Kindle screen describes me from the first page until I reached the last. Darkness, depravity, and wicked passion perfectly describe this beautifully twisted tale.

"Such a clever boy, Constantine Masters."
Such a good girl, Dulcie Travers."

If you're looking for a typical swoony hero and loving heroine this book certainly isn't for you so, please, heed the authors warnings about the content of The Bad Ones. What you'll find instead in this wickedly delicious debase tale about two people void of emotion towards what they deem irrelevant juxtaposed with great passion for each other and the freedom they crave individually to be bad together forever. Constantine Masters and Dulcie Travers epitomize a anti-hero and his anti-heroine and they do it gorgeously. By societal standards they are not normal but to themselves they feel whole and beyond normal. However, in a lovely little twist by all outward appearances one of them is normal and only shows the darkness to the other half of themself while the other is unassumingly floating along as though the darkness isn't consuming. The battles and challenges composed of what they make themselves recognize in each other and the upheaval of emotion and deep passion from them both is remarkable. Stylo Fantome did such a remarkable job with these two characters, bottom line. No apologies, no regrets just two strong people who feed from each others strength in the dark parts of their souls.

It's so interesting to me thinking of this story and the seriously bad things that go down within the pages. Thinking about the gray areas, the dichotomy of that gray straddling black and white lines between what's right and what's wrong. Add into that mix two people clearly darker than most each with raging passions for pain, blood, and destruction becoming consumed by dark, heated erotica woven into the pages. The storytelling of Fantome deserves much praise as it's both deviously clever and devilishly good just like the characters themselves as in the quote above. The story has a huge psychological element for me that is fascinating. Devices of how the minds of these characters work, what they believe, what they feel, and how they react are deeply rooted in the narrative. This book challenges you to think outside the box, to go outside your comfort zone. If you can do that, I think you'll fall in love with the black souls of Con and Dulcie just as I did in this well constructed, deliriously twisted love story.

Every single thing about The Bad Ones I absolutely loved from it started to where it ended but most especially the journey I took with these characters. Dark and gritty lands right in my wheelhouse for favorite stories to read and Stylo Fantome took me there brilliantly. The fluid structure of this story, these two darkly compelling characters, the mesmerizing depth of depravity, the level of writing in third person points of view created a real winning combination for my own black heart. I love the dark, twisty, and manipulative. I love Con and Dulcie. The Bad Ones definite MUST READ! There's just not enough I can say to ever do the story justice. I feel like I could experience it all over again right now.
2069576
This novel is worth reading for the ending alonea shocking revelation that had me sitting straight up in bed, riveted to the explanation as it unfolded, instantly and perfectly answering all my befuddled questions that I had carried with me throughout the entire novel. I admit that the beginning of the novel was a bit slow, and though interesting, beyond confusing. As the novel unfolds, readers follow multiple characters as their stories intertwine, embarking on an intriguing, yet confusing ride as Dante attempts to make sense of his lifea life he doesnt remember. At the same time, Dantes past life haunts him, and he has no bearings on the current life he liveswith a wife, Pixie, he doesnt remember, an alcohol addiction he isn't fond of, and an obsession with finding Lucia, his love he is certain is from another lifetime, and thus, everything begins to quickly spiral downhill for Dante.

While readers find themselves both enraptured and confused alongside Dante, the story does have a pulling meritmaking it hard to set aside as thoughts of wonderment trek through the readers brain. What happened to Dante? Is his past life real? Does Lucia really exist? Will Pixie finally break and end up in the arms of her neighbor? Who is Bernie and what sinister plans does he have for Dante?

Sparked by these haunting questions, I was drawn to the novel, even though I didn't find any of the characters particularly enticing. Though juvenile in many ways, the characters still spurned me on, and I found myself interested in their story, even though I truly had little idea what was happening throughout a majority of the novel. And yet, in the end, it all comes together to make a rather intense, intriguing read. In fact, it was so mind-blowing for me that it changed my entire perspective of the novel, raising it much higher in my eyes, and making it one I highly suggest you read.
3248500
Angels & Demons by: Dan Brown was an amazing tale of mystery and suspense.

 This is a story about the renowned symbologist, Robert Langdon, and his adventures in Rome with a woman named Vittoria.  They are on the adventure of a lifetime.  While in Rome they are looking for the ancient brotherhood of the Illuminati, who are threatening to destroy the center of the Catholic religion.

 Dan Brown has a knack for using historical facts and twisting them to create an interesting story.  His knowledge of the history of the Catholic Church makes for not only a story but a lesson, as well.

 His characters are so well developed that, while reading the novel, you forget that they are not real people.  You always know what the characters would be wearing, how their hair looks, feel you know them so well.

 His descriptions of the locations where events took place were extraordinary.  Never having been to Rome myself, I felt as though I were there.  His accounts of the artwork allowed me to visualize the pieces very well.

 The story itself was superbly told.  Dan Brown definitely has a way with words.  I loved the integration of the symbolism.  The signs of the Catholic faith and the signs of the Illuminati were magnificent.  There are universally known symbols of the Catholicism that he wrote about that I found fascinating in the context of the story.

 The dialogue was great and I found myself pretending to be some of the characters.

 I can only assume his other novels are just as wonderful.  Some, I have heard are even better, though I don't know how this is possible.  I look forward to reading them.  All in all, I give Angels & Demons by: Dan Brown five out of five stars.