"The Laughing Dead" Jess Lourey

 Another great “Steinbeck and Reed” novel -- 5 stars

 I have already read and reviewed the first two books in the “Steinbeck and Reed” series, and thoroughly enjoyed them both (even if they did give me the willies!). I was feeling a little guilty about not reviewing a book last month, so for July, I decided to return to Jess Lourey’s playground.

We return to cold case agent Evangeline “Van” Reid and her forensic science partner Harry Steinbeck. And Van and Harry know something is wrong the moment arrive at their latest crime scene: Van’s old police ID -- the one she hasn’t touched since she transferred to cold cases, the one she thought was buried in a box at the back of her closet -- was found here. She keeps her expression neutral as the detective explains this to her. Harry doesn’t know about the dark secrets of her past, and she intends to keep it that way. But then she sees the girl. The body is otherwise unremarkable, but the victim’s face is stretched into an enormous grin, ear to ear, like something painted on. Strange indeed!

The investigation leads Van and her team to another cold case from decades earlier: Three girls, each found in bed, each wearing the same horrific grin. The past case bleeds into the present one, and Van and Harry begin drawing lines between them. But the deeper Van digs, the more she finds threads that pull at something closer to home. The families of those three girls have waited decades for answers. Van might finally be able to give them some, if she can keep her own secrets buried in the process.

“The Laughing Dead” is yet another Lourey thriller, with more sleepless night for this reader. This book left me wrecked by the final page -- I won’t say more than that. Five stars, no hesitation! Pick it up if you have any tolerance at all for a thriller that doesn’t play fair with your expectations. 

“All Superheroes Need PR” by Elizabeth Stephens

 Decent enough, but no “Paranormals” -- 3 stars

I’ve had moderate luck with super hero books in the past. A few of the ones back on DC Comics were just okay, but I really enjoy the “Paranormals” series by Christopher Andrews. So I decided to take my chances on a super hero romance by author Elizabeth Stephens, just to mix things up a little. Sadly, the experience was more “meh” than anything.

“All Superheroes Need PR” was passable. The world building in the early chapters was sharp and immersive, the characters just compelling enough that I did find myself reading past my bed time. I kept waiting for the story to do something worthy of its own opening.

But somewhere around half way through, I noticed I had stopped caring. I’m not sure I can explain why, either. The plot held together all right, the writing stayed competent -- nothing broke, exactly. The pacing may have dragged, or perhaps the emotional stakes just didn’t deepen the way I wanted them to. It just slipped from enjoyment to feeling like a task to finish it.

There were parts that did work. The characters’ personal histories felt considered -- not in a way that made me care about them exactly, but in a way that made them feel like they could really exist. And the world itself was drawn at the right level of detail -- enough to orient me without spelling everything out, which I was grateful for in those first few chapters.

I DID finish it, though something had definitely slipped away from me by the final pages. I won’t be continuing on to Book #2, and I doubt I’ll return to this author -- not because the talent isn’t there, because it is, but because the way she tells a story and I simply don’t speak the same language. Or something.

Again, “All Superheroes Need PR” isn’t terrible. But after reading the “Paranormals” series ... well, some books just aren’t meant for certain readers, and I think this was one of those. Sorry.

“The Reaping” by Jess Lourey

Another solid entry in the “Steinbeck and Reed” series -- 5 stars

I thoroughly enjoyed the first book in the “Steinbeck and Reed” series so much that I decided to read Book #2 sooner rather than later. If author Jess Lourey keeps up with this much quality, she’ll be up there with Christopher Andrews and Dean R. Koontz as one of my favorite writers.

“The Reaping” had me shivering with unease from start to finish. As mentioned, I loved “The Taken Ones,” but I think “The Reaping” may have surpassed it entirely.

The story rejoins cold case investigator Evangeline “Van” Reed and forensic scientist Harry Steinbeck as they plunge into the enigmatic and shadowy Finnish town of Alku, Minnesota, where the threads of an old case weave together with a chilling recent murder.

I finished the book last night, and I haven’t been able to stop thinking all morning -- “The Reaping” is the kind of book that lingers on your mind. The folklore elements are woven seamlessly through out -- there’s something deeply unsettling about an insular town where everyone knows everyone else’s secrets, and outsiders are never truly welcome. Layer on top of that (get this) a nursing home for serial killers, a blood witch prowling the woods, and the quietly inhumane rhythms of daily life in Alku, and you have something genuinely creepy.

As always, I strive to avoid spoilers, so I’d rather not give away any more details about the plot. 

Suffice to say, the epilogue left my jaw on the floor, and I’m very much looking forward to Book #3. Kudos, Ms. Lourey!

“The Taken Ones” by Jess Lourey

 A Pleasant Discovery! -- 5 stars

I came across “The Taken Ones” thanks to one of those If-you-like-Dean-Koontz-you-may-like suggestions. And like it I did! I’m also pleased to learn that it’s the first book in the “Steinbeck and Reed” series. I can only hope that the sequels are just as solid.

In July of 1980, three girls ventured into Blackwood Forest. Hours later, only Melissa Carver stumbled out, her clothes torn, unable -- or unwilling -- to explain what happened to her friends. The case of the missing Holloway sisters gathered dust in county archives for decades. Flash forward to now, when Evangeline “Van” Reed stares at crime scene photos spread across her desk while her forensics partner, Harry Steinbeck, pins up a fresh murder victim’s portrait beside the faded images of the Holloway girls. The similarities are impossible to ignore.

From there, the narrative unfolds as a taut crime thriller, yet transcends the genre through its compelling protagonists, Van and Harry. These characters resonate with remarkable depth. Van’s recurring nightmares hint at her fractured childhood, leaving her wary of human connection. She navigates the world with a quiet unease, finding solace instead in the wordless company of abandoned dogs at the local shelter where she volunteers her evenings away from the precinct.

The psychological depth of the investigators unfolds with each clue they uncover. Just when you think you understand the direction of the story, a revelation at the mid point shatters every assumption you’ve built. I found myself staring at the page, breathless. The author masterfully crafts moments of genuine unease throughout -- the kind that lingers even after you’ve set the book down for the night.

“The Taken Ones” deserves the highest praise, particularly for its enigmatic conclusion that lingers in the mind. The story cries out for continuation. The unresolved fate of Van and Harry’s relationship haunts me, and I find myself craving resolution with surprising intensity. Looking forward to Book #2!

"Phantoms" by Dean Koontz

 Strong start, so-so finish -- 4 stars

After reading “Pulse of the Earth” by Christopher Andrews, I actively sought another book by my other favorite author: Dean R. Koontz!

Rather than picking up his latest, I decided to again seek out one of his earlier hits, and that’s how I ended up reading “Phantoms.”

“Phantoms” opens with an eerie setup: Dr. Jenny Paige returns to her mountain home in the Sierras with her teenage sister Lisa in tow, as Lisa was recently orphaned by their mother’s death. But what should be a bustling ski village sits unnervingly still -- no pedestrians on sidewalks, no cars moving along streets. Once inside Jenny’s house, they discover the house keeper sprawled on the kitchen floor, her skin mottled with bruises, her body distended, though bearing no obvious wounds to explain her actual demise.

Jenny and Lisa trudge back into the silent town, stepping over severed limbs and mangled corpses until they discover a functional phone. The sheriff arrives from the neighboring county with deputies in tow, but the concrete cause of all this death still eludes them -- as do the whereabouts of half the town’s residents. And as night falls, an unseen presence stalks their search party, leaving behind only screams and viscera where human beings once stood.

Koontz has a knack for pulling readers into his plots, and his talent for crafting believable characters (though they can get repetitive across multiple books) shines in “Phantoms.” However, this time the story’s trajectory eventually lost some of its grip on me, veering into increasingly implausible territory that, frankly, bordered on the ridiculous. The narrative’s descent into theological musings -- contemplating God and Satan, the eternal struggle between light and darkness, humanity’s inherent nature -- felt unnecessary.

The cosmic battle between capital-G Good and capital-E Evil can be a tricky literary device. This philosophical detour in “Phantoms,” combined with a disappointingly saccharine conclusion, diminished my appreciation for the overall novel a bit.

What began as a thrilling premise ultimately faded into a somewhat unsatisfying resolution.

"Pulse of the Earth: a Tale from the Triumvirate Universe" by Christopher Andrews

 A new angle on the Triumvirate series -- 5 stars

When I searched for my next book to read, I was pleased to discover that one of my favorite authors, Christopher Andrews, has released another novel in his Triumvirate series, “Pulse of the Earth.” But instead of its having the tag line, “A Triumvirate Novel,” like those that preceded it, this one is officially subtitled, “a Tale from the Triumvirate Universe.” And I’m here to say, this is truth in advertising.

What makes “Pulse of the Earth” so different from the rest is that it does NOT feature the Triumvirate themselves. Alistaire, Sean, and Trey -- the trio who usually star in this series -- are present within the story, especially Trey. But this book explores other aspects of this increasingly super natural world, and our hero this time is an American-Egyptian journalist named Jason Samir.

Jason works for an organization called “Watchdogs of the Weird & Unusual” -- an online news site that focuses on unexplained phenomenon that gets ignored by the main stream media (and which just happens to be run by the Triumvirate’s Trey, though Jason is oblivious to Trey’s undead aspect). He is sent to a local airport to interview a cryptic anthropologist, and from this assignment, two things happen:

1) He meets an enigmatic, tall, fellow reporter named Regina.
2) He discovers that the anthropologist, and everyone else on her plane, were savagely killed by a large, black wolf, which escapes into the rainy night.

As Jason attempts to follow up on the black wolf, and to build additional “relations” with Regina, he finds himself experiencing far more than he bargained for. It would be difficult to share many details without shortly slipping into spoiler territory, but Andrews keeps the plot chugging along at a smooth, steady pace.

Jason’s experiencing bizarre dreams, clashing with an abusive neighbor, interacting with his cop friend/source, pondering over a mysterious steamer trunk, and struggling to make heads or tails of Regina’s place in that very mystery -- all those elements interweave into an unexpected, but satisfying, entry in the series.

“Pulse of the Earth” has, arguably, a little less action than previous entries (until the climax, which is one heck of a blow out!), but it is rock solid on mood and intrigue, keeping this reader turning the page wondering what Jason will learn next. Because each big reveal proves to be a stepping stone toward the next bigger reveal, which is yet another sign of Andrews’ continual maturing as a writer.

“Pulse of the Earth” is, yet again, worth the wait, and another 5 star effort from Christopher Andrews. It is captivating, and left me urgently awaiting the next entry, which promises to return its focus to the Triumvirate (though I hope we’ll be seeing Jason again, too!). Check it out, it’s more than worth your time.

“A Plague of Demons” by Keith Laumer

We’ll call this one ... “different.” -- 2 stars

I enjoyed Laumer’s “Dinosaur Beach” well enough that I decided to check out more of his work, which is how I ended up reading 1964’s “A Plague of Demons.” Unfortunately, this one wasn’t quite so pleasurable, for me.

This book was released 7 years earlier than “Dinosaur Beach,” and it shows. Meaning that I’m glad Laumer had improved by the time I discovered him. Both works share lofty ambitions, particularly in their third acts where spectacle takes center stage. But where “Dinosaur Beach” found its balance, “A Plague of Demons” overreaches, tumbling past the line of credibility that its successor so carefully toed.

Over the course of the novel, the hero, John Bravais, transforms from hard boiled detective to mechanized monster. He begins as your typical film noir gum shoe, delivering sardonic one liners about mundane observations. Even his physical weaknesses come wrapped in witty packaging. But midway through, our hero undergoes extensive bionic enhancement, rockets away from North African intrigue, and finds himself pursued across the American heartland by extraterrestrial hell hounds intent on harvesting his cerebral matter -- and these “demons” succeed in killing him!

But then consciousness returns to John in the midst of combat, his mind now housed within a colossal war machine standing seventy feet tall upon some faraway lunar landscape. He discovers he’s been thrust centuries forward into an interstellar conflict where human minds serve as the literal cognitive engines of battle.

Later, through some unexplained mechanism, John transfers his consciousness into a feline-robotic hybrid, vanquishes a tentacled adversary, and ... these wild twists and turns go on and on. And while I won’t give any specific spoilers, I’ll note that the narrative concludes rather abruptly, without clear resolution or subsequent novels to pick up the thread.

“A Plague of Demons” reaches for the stars with its psychedelic vision, even as it stumbles over its own contradictions and over ambitions. I can see the seeds of what would later bloom in “Dinosaur Beach,” but this one just didn’t do it for me.

Still, between my 4-star experience and this 2-star dud, I might remain just curious enough to check out some of Laumer’s other works. Maybe one of those can be the tie breaker.

“Dinosaur Beach” by Keith Laumer

 Fun little time travel book -- 4 stars

I stumbled across “Dinosaur Beach” by happenstance, and decided to give it a chance. It’s a quick read from 1971 (my edition was only 151 pages), and worth your time.

The novel’s structure initially appears pretty chaotic: Ravel -- a Time Agent whose job involves repairing a time line fractured by earlier chrononauts -- completes an assignment in 1936 while falling for a “native” girl named Lisa. But before that romance can get very far, Ravel is summoned back to headquarters in the prehistoric era, the headquarters known as “Dinosaur Beach.”

Then an attack on Dinosaur Beach sends him ricocheting through various temporal coordinates. During one of these unplanned jumps, he accidentally alters a past time line, resulting in the death of his younger self -- a paradox that further complicates the narrative.

Eventually, Ravel crosses paths with another time agent, a woman whose existence threatens his own. According to the laws of temporal physics, parallel time lines cannot coexist indefinitely -- one must be erased to stabilize the other. As they circle each other warily, neither can determine which of them belongs to the primary time line and which is the aberration destined for elimination.

As the pages turn, subtle clues emerge, hinting that these seemingly disconnected incidents share invisible threads. Meanwhile, Ravel’s identity -- both to the reader and to himself -- begins to fracture and reassemble like a jigsaw puzzle with missing pieces. The narrative builds through revelation after startling revelations that cascade into a finale that rewards the reader’s patience. 

“Dinosaur Beach” (in spite of its somewhat misleading title) makes for intellectual, and satisfying, science fiction. If you get a chance, check it out.

"Icerigger" by Alan Dean Foster

 So-so start to another new Alan Dean Foster series -- 3 stars

I continue my rediscovery of Alan Dean Foster with “Icerigger,” the first in its series. It wasn’t as good as the other Foster books I’ve read of late, but it’s not bad, either.

Ethan Fortune sold vacuum cleaners for a living, and he certainly never considered himself a “hero.” Yet here he was, marooned with two dozen strangers on a planet where the air could freeze your lungs, watching them all turn to him with expectant eyes. The next thing Ethan knows, they have appointed him their leader.

“Icerigger” hurls its readers into a world where survival hangs by a thread. Foster crafts a narrative that pulses with tension, allowing only brief moments of respite before the next perilous challenge emerges from the frozen landscape.

(As a quick aside, barring some short comings I’ll get to in a moment, I can easily imagine this story translated to the silver screen as an epic science fiction spectacle. Of course, the studio would need to allocate significant resources for visual effects, considering the narrative unfolds primarily on a frozen world teeming with diverse extraterrestrial life forms.)

As he often does, Foster excels at constructing vivid universes and throwing his characters into preposterous situations with an almost child like glee. Readers seeking rigorous scientific speculation should look elsewhere, but those who enjoy their interstellar adventures with a generous splash of violence will find themselves thoroughly entertained.

Now, my primary complaint, the reason I lowered this book from 4 stars down to 3: Foster’s handling of women (and the scarcity of them). I initially appreciated the inclusion of Colette du Kane -- a wealthy, plus-sized female protagonist -- thinking the author was breaking from the science fiction convention of every woman’s physical attributes appealing to men.

Unfortunately, as the plot progressed, the author’s treatment of her character devolved into cruel mockery centered around her body size. The novel even concludes with a visual joke at her expense that feels jarringly dated, like something from a low-brow comedy film of the era. While I recognize the book is a product of its time (1974), this approach to character development left me genuinely disheartened.

Despite this glaring shortcoming, the novel’s thrilling adventure across frozen landscapes still manages to captivate. It’s worth a look see, but as they say, results may vary. 

“Spellsinger” by Alan Dean Foster

 Foster swings back to fantasy -- 4 stars

As you may have noticed, I’m on a bit of an Alan Dean Foster kick lately. After “For Love of Mother-Not” crept more into traditional Sci-Fi territory (or, at least, the super human genre), Foster’s “Spellsinger” swings things back around to the realm of fantasy. And, as with “For Love of Mother-Not,” this book is the first in a much beloved series.

In “Spellsinger,” young twenty something Jonathan-Thomas Meriweather finds himself sucked into a magical, medieval realm of anthropomorphic animals -- which includes an otter with a heavy Scottish accent, a sorcerous turtle, and a communist dragon.

Jonathan-Thomas -- nicknamed “JonTom” -- soon discovers that he is a “Spellsinger,” a legendary figure who channels magic through music. While his newfound abilities frequently land him and his companions in precarious situations rather than resolving them, the author cleverly uses these moments to weave classic songs into the narrative.

While the book overall feels as though it leans toward Young Adult territory, I was a little surprised that it does not shy away from adult elements -- characters curse when situations warrant it, romantic entanglements unfold naturally, and certain herbs known as “Mary Jane” make occasional appearances. Still, I felt the story strikes a nice balance for teen readers already navigating fantasy worlds or those ready to discover what the genre truly has to offer.

On the one hand, based on a little side research, it sounds like you won’t need a roadmap to navigate this series -- there is no labyrinth of prequels or tangled webs of spinoffs standing between the new readers and the story. Just one book after another, like stepping stones across a clear stream. On the other hand, I was also surprised that this first book is only half of the initial story -- apparently, the second book, “The Hour of the Gate,” finishes the story that “Spellsinger” begins.

Overall, I enjoyed “Spellsinger.” I wasn’t crazy about the “cliff hanger” element, but as time rolls by, I believe I’ll pick up a copy of “The Hour of the Gate” and find out what happens to JonTom next.

“For Love of Mother-Not” by Alan Dean Foster

More Alan Dean Foster, even more Sci-Fi  -- 5 stars

After reading Foster’s “Slipt,” I decided to return to another of his works, a book I read a long time ago: “For Love of Mother-Not,” also later known as the first “Pip & Flinx Adventure,” which was news to me.

Orphan Flinx is taken in (or more accurately, purchased) by a contentious elderly woman named Mother Mastiff, who runs a modest shop. This shop is situated in the sole major city on a planet known for its frequent, almost non stop rain. Mother Mastiff becomes the mother figure Flinx never had -- his “mother-not.”

One night, Flinx “hears” a solitary thought through his unpredictable ability to sense emotions. He tracks it to an unusual winged snake in a trash pile, which promptly decides to make Flinx its new owner/companion. Flinx names the creature “Pip,” and as it happens, Pip is an extremely dangerous snake capable of ejecting a potent, corrosive neurotoxin when it feels threatened.

When Flinx’s mother-not is abducted and whisked away across the largely untamed planet, he and Pip set off on a mission to rescue her.

Now, I don’t think I realized this back in the day, but “For Love of Mother-Not” is apparently the beginning of a quite expansive series. And I can see why. The writing in this books flows effortlessly without any dull moments, keeping this reader engaged throughout in spite of the fact that it was considered a “Young Adult” novel/series.

Regardless of age, I would recommend this book to any science fiction enthusiasts who enjoy stories about personal challenges and mysteries. While the reader discovers Flinx’s origins and the source of his strange abilities, Flinx himself only receives a few clues -- at least, for now.

An excellent foundation for the series. I might have to look into checking out more of these.

"Slipt" by Alan Dean Foster

 Toxic waste and super humans -- 4 stars

I picked up “Slipt” at a used book store, mainly because I remembered reading -- and enjoying -- Alan Dean Foster books when I was a younger man. While not the best book I’ve ever read (even by Foster himself), “Slipt” more than held my attention.

Written in the mid 80's, Foster weaves the story of an elderly man, his young niece, an evil corporation, and the issue of toxic waste. The corporation, driven by greed, has been disposing of their harmful waste in a valley near Riverside, out in California, and the story opens with a rushed, secretive cleanup of their mess, to try and dodge the county’s scrutiny. Above the valley in question, there are only poor citizens and immigrants. The corporation successfully bamboozles most of them by offering them jobs, to ensure that the county investigators have no one they can question about the previous dumping activities.

However, one man, Jake, a 71 year old with a heart condition, turns down a job offer. And the boss of the corporate cleanup crew, Huddy, worries that Jake might spill the beans and ruin everything.

So Huddy makes a final trip to see Jake, intending to bribe him into silence ... but during the visit, he learns that Jake possesses some extraordinary skills, such as removing bottle caps with his mind and “magically” tidying up an executive’s car (and, more secretly, Jake can communicate with his niece Amanda via telepathy!). Essentially, Jake can manipulate objects with his mind. While Jake shrugs off his own abilities, being able to “slipt” things, as mere party tricks for the local children, villainous Huddy envisions endless potential! 

Though the plot isn’t particularly original (especially for the 80's) -- toxic waste causes unusual changes in people -- Foster’s version offers a rather touching interpretation: Good ol’ Jake is simply trying to get along with everyone, and has a deep affection for Amanda ... but that darn Huddy is relentless in his efforts to have Jake subjected to “testing.”

Foster’s writing is solid and straightforward, and the story flows along smoothly. Overall, “Slipt” was an enjoyable read.

"American Gods" by Neil Gaiman

 Giving Gaiman a whirl -- 4 stars

To the best of my recollection, I’d never read any books by Neil Gaiman. Since I love fantasy and Gaiman is much beloved by his fans, I decided to give him a try with “American Gods.”

“American Gods” is based around the concept that religious belief systems and philosophies have undergone great transformations over time, and whether they want it or not, the various gods from all our collective yesteryears have experienced similar changes. Now, mere shadows of their former selves, these gods struggle to survive in a realm of accumulated, assorted beliefs.

Endangered by the emergence of the strange new “gods” of the modern era, the old ones depend on Wednesday (a.k.a. Odin) for their redemption. And Shadow, an ex-convict who is grappling with his wife’s death, becomes entangled within this supernatural conflict.

“American Gods” is both entertaining and amusing, and Gaiman delivers these doses of cleverness and humor while also imparting a touch of melancholy. The book takes you on a journey across America (circa 2001), visiting diners, motels, and small towns. This reader noted the contrasts, and everything felt familiar and yet foreign simultaneously, as if “America” is both an old acquaintance AND a mystery. And just when Shadow finally feels at ease in a particular small town, he uncovers a harsh reality.

Shadow was an interesting character. He remains haunted by the terrible mistake that sent him to prison. And yet, through this, he learns the importance of sacrifice and bravery. He begins thoughtful and introspective, but somewhat naive. As he eventually uncovers “the truth,” Shadow grows bolder in his actions.

While not one of my favorites, I found “American Gods” to be, overall, an enjoyable book. As it went on, it strayed from its main plot a bit, but by the end, Gaiman pulled it all together. I think I may check out more of Neil Gaiman’s work in the future.

"Dark State" by Jack Slater

 A solid, entertaining read -- 4 stars

After finishing “Forever Odd,” I asked Amazon to recommend an author similar to Dean R. Koontz. I’m not 100% sure that author Jack Slater quite fits that bill, but I did enjoy his Jason Trapp thriller, “Dark State.” This book’s intricate twists and turns made it a compelling read.

The story revolves around both foreign and domestic terrorists executing a series of sophisticated attacks on U.S. soil (reminiscent of the events of 9/11). Agencies like the CIA, FBI, Homeland Security, NSA, and the military find themselves at a loss, with no leads or suspects, and questioning who could orchestrate such precise attacks. Initially, they suspect all the typical adversaries -- Russia, North Korea, China -- but they soon realize none were responsible for this elaborate scheme.

And then Jason Trapp enters the scene.

Trapp was presumed dead after a CIA mission went awry, resulting in the actual death of his best friend and partner. Trapp returns to the U.S. under a new identity to uncover what went wrong with the operation, and so he accidentally stumbles upon a link between the domestic terrorist attacks and his own failed mission.

Determined to find answers and seek revenge against those responsible for this betrayal, Trapp uncovers a shocking conspiracy. The mastermind behind the plot surprises everyone, as their ultimate goal is not only orchestrating terrorist attacks but also carrying out multiple assassinations at the highest levels of government.

Will Trapp be able to stop them in time?

“Dark State” held my attention from start to finish. While it didn’t quite match the craving I had for something similar to Koontz’s work, it was a strong beginning to a series, and I enjoyed it enough that I’m considering trying the next installment at some point. So I can definitely recommend this book.

"Forever Odd" by Dean Koontz

 “Forever Odd” is even better than the first book! -- 5 stars

I know, I know, it’s been another long dry spell since I’ve written any reviews. I haven’t been reading as much, and so I just fell out of the habit. Again! But now that I’m more or less retired, I hope to return to reading AND to writing book reviews.

For my return, I decided to revisit one of my favorite authors again: Dean R. Koontz. And the book I chose is the next in his “Odd Thomas” series: “Forever Odd”

First, let me say that I thought this book was a step up from the first one. I found myself a lot more charmed by Odd in this installment, drawn to his quirky mannerisms. In “Odd Thomas,” I didn’t always care for his odd (pun intended) sense of humor. But now I love this character! He’s nice, funny, and very genuine.

I thought the plot of this second book was far more engaging, unlike the first book where I sometimes felt that Koontz was “padding the run time.” The settings Koontz established in this one were a significant factor in this.

Odd’s journey begins in the vast, cavernous drainage system beneath Pico Mundo (Koontz’s fictitious town), stretching on for what feels like miles. This environment immediately created a sense of foreboding and anticipation that persisted throughout most of the book. The eerie surroundings were unsettling for both Odd AND the reader, adding to the tension of the story.

Next up was the run down Panamint Resort and Casino, which is essentially a deserted hotel, partially ruined by an earthquake and subsequent fire, but neither restored nor demolished. As soon as Odd began recounting its history, it exuded an eerie vibe. I, personally, have always been captivated by places like this, and whenever I drive past an old abandoned house, barn, or building, I feel a strong urge to go exploring, even if (or especially!) it has an ominous DO NOT ENTER sign hanging outside. This is probably why this setting captivated me so much, and contributed to my enjoyment of the book.

The villain, Datura, was truly wicked and downright malicious, and I definitely wouldn’t want to cross paths with her, EVER. Her madness was compelling to this reader, though, because it seemed so genuine!

Overall, I found “Forever odd” extremely enjoyable, and I’m eager to dive into the next installment of this series, without waiting so long! Hopefully, I’ll keep up the reading, and reviewing, habit this time!

"Odd Thomas" by Dean Koontz

 Koontz in his element -- 4 stars

Now that I’m in review writing mode again, it was time for another of my favorite authors, Dean R. Koontz!  This time I chose “Odd Thomas,” and I’m glad I did.

Odd Thomas is a short order cook who has a unique ability:  He can see dead people.  But not only that, he can also see dark, shadow like creatures that stalk people, either to cause death or be near when they die.  He calls them “bodachs,” and he tries not to let them know that he can see them.

At age 20, Odd handles things a little better than the little boy from “The Sixth Sense.”  By the time we meet him, he’s already reached the stage of wanting to help these poor ghosts, and to thwart the bodachs when he can.  Odd tries to keep things simple, but when he encounters someone he calls “Fungus Man,” who is surrounded by these bodachs, he worries something very bad is going to happen.

The story is told from Odd’s point of view, which allows the reader to really experience his thoughts and feelings about these “lingering dead” and the disastrous bodachs.  Once the action builds to its climax, the book turns into a true page turner, Koontz at his best!  And even though the story goes on into multiple sequels, I was pleased that this book itself had a concrete ending.  The reader does not HAVE to go on to the sequels, as “Odd Thomas” stands alone on its own.

The only reason I’m not giving this book 5 stars, which was the feeling I had at the end, is that there are stretches of the novel that tend to drag.  I never lost interest, mind you, but there were whole chapters that didn’t actually contribute much.  It felt as though Koontz was “padding the run time” or something, like he was worried that the book was going to be too short (my copy was almost 450 pages, so I’m not sure why it would be a concern).

But even with that fact, I still highly recommend “Odd Thomas” for any fan of Dean R. Koontz.  And I’ll be checking out more Odd Thomas stories in the future!

"Blue Rose" by Peter Straub

 A look into a disturbed child's mind -- 4-1/2 stars

"Blue Rose" takes a look into a very dysfunctional family, with the focus on the two youngest of five brothers:  Harry and "Little Eddie."

In the Beever family, everyone seems to abuse everyone else:  The shrewish mother berates the father; the three eldest boys abuse the youngers and each other; the two oldest have left and joined the military, but the middle child, Albert, is still around to dish out physical and verbal abuse.

But even Albert spends most of his time at the local mechanic garage, so that leaves Little Eddie to Harry's tender mercies.

As the story opens, Harry is terrorizing Little Eddie with stories of his next year's school teacher having "killed" a former student; Eddie has problems with fear, and Harry plays into this until Eddie hands over his recent birthday present, a toy car.  Which Harry proceeds to destroy and discard.

But the real plot gets rolling when Harry finds a book on hypnotism in the attic where the two boys play.

The passages that followed reminded me somewhat of "Pandora's Game," a book I highly recommend.  But in "Pandora's Game," the protagonists use hypnosis to explore their inner creativity (before things go awry).  In "Blue Rose," Harry uses it to explore his inner sadism on his brother.

I won't give away the details of Harry's experiments, as "Blu Rose" is a novella that runs just 87 pages in my edition.  But I will say that they escalate out of control in very short order, leaving this reader feeling sorry for Little Eddie in a way that lingered even after the story was over.

And Straub does an excellent job of examining the experiments' fall out as it affects the whole Beever family.  He crafts an uncomfortable yet compelling yarn that kept me turning the pages, like watching an accident that just won't let you look away.

The only reason I am not giving "Blue Rose" the full 5 stars is that the ending just ... happens.  Time jumps, and the final chapter is told in the form of a letter from Harry to his girlfriend.  That letter touches on some of the elements of the main story, describes some of the consequences, but only as a sort of aside.  Otherwise, this reader was left thinking, "Well ... I guess it's over."

But overall, "Blue Rose" is a compelling, quick read.  I recommend it for a 1 to 2 day experience.

"Paranormals: Darkness Reigns" by Christopher Andrews

A great super human series takes a darker turn! -- 5 stars

My next review is the third novel in the "Paranormals" series, by one of my favorite authors.  And yet again, it was well worth the wait!

On the surface, "Paranormals" is a series about super humans (think the Avengers, but with more focus on character).  But this entry has a darker tone than its two predecessors, creepier overall.  Actually, each of the books has had their own flair:  The first book was a straight forward super hero "origin story," showing how Vortex got his cybernetic eyes after the brutal slaughtering of his family, how Takayasu and Shockwave partnered up at the Paranormal Control Agency, and how Powerhouse went from a reluctant villain to an almost as reluctant hero.  The second book, "We Are Not Alone," (which I read during one of my reviewing "dry spells," but I enjoyed it very much!) brought in extra terrestrials, focusing upon the arrival of good ... and eventually BAD ... aliens, while introducing Shining Star to the super hero group.

And now, "Darkness Reigns" introduces magic to the equation. Magic, and a disturbing new villain.

"Darkness Reigns" opens by rolling the clock back to the beginning of the first book's main story.  We see the attack on Vortex's family from the point of view of his older brother John.  Author Christopher Andrews peppered the first two books with references to fact that John's body was never recovered, that they only PRESUMED he was dead, and we now find out what really happened to him that day.  And, more importantly, what happened to him after the attack.  I won't spoil the details, but John has been somewhere else, for a VERY long time.  And John is now a kind of super hero in his right, known as the Gladius (like the sword, literally).

And the main thrust of this book's story launches when an enemy of John's, a monster called the Skygger, decides to exact revenge on Gladius by going after his brother, Vortex.

At this point, all the familiar faces return -- Vortex and Shining Star, Takayasu and Shockwave, and Powerhouse -- and we learn that things HAD been going well recently, crime wise.  Until a few weeks ago, when they began seeing a spike in more macabre crimes.  They've been trying to continue on, business as usual, but they can all feel that something just isn't right.

Soon enough, our heroes find themselves in over their heads.  And even with help from Gladius ... well, no spoilers here, but I will say that this book brings some serious consequences for our heroes.  And they may be permanent.

As noted at the beginning, "Darkness Reigns" is the most unsettling of the series so far.  The Skygger is quite the sadist, and we witness its torturing, or the end results of its torture.  It felt like the kind of villain I would have expected to turn up in Andrews' "Triumvirate" series, which deals with the super natural.

None of this is intended as a complaint, mind you.  And there is plenty of "super hero" action sprinkled through out, enough to keep the book true to its series' roots.

While the book follows its predecessors' approach as an ensemble piece -- each chapter's title indicates whose point of view will be favored at that time -- "Darkness Reigns" feels like it is mainly Gladius/John's story.  We do still see the other, familiar characters' POVs.  Shockwave, in particular, is given more time to shine than before (though the REASON for it is all part of this book's ghoulish tone).  But I was surprised by how little time VORTEX spent in the spot light this time around, especially since, if this ensemble series DOES have an overall "main character" up to this point, it would have been him.

That might be my only concrete complaint about this entry in the series:  While the REASON for his decreased attention is certainly legitimate, I still wish we had seen more of Vortex.  It would be exaggerating to say that he was "side lined," but he is definitely focused on less than I have come to expect.

But overall, the book earned a well deserved 5 stars from this reader.  The characters are strong, and the dynamics between Vortex and Gladius are poignant and satisfying.  I am curious as to where else Andrews will take this series, and look forward to the next entry.

“The Pit and the Pendulum and Other Stories” by Edgar Allan Poe

A true classic -- 4-1/2 stars

Back from another book reviewing break, I decided to start with something small, “The Pit and the Pendulum and Other Stories,” which contained 4 of Poe’s short works.

The first story, “The Pit and the Pendulum.”  What can be said about this classic?  I will say that, having read this one many, many years ago, I was shocked when [SPOILER ALERT] I found that it actually has a happy ending!  How had I forgotten that?  No details (I’ll only take the Spoiler so far), but it was a definite twist upon Poe’s usual dark tones.

The second story, “The Black Cat.”  I’d never read this one, and it was up to Poe’s reputation.  The final act shared similarities with both “The Tell-tale Heart” (which comes next) and “The Cask of Amontillado,” while providing its own unique spin on both.  It was Poe, through and through.

The third story, “The Tell-tale Heart.”  One of his most famous works, and my favorite of this bunch.  An unsettling exploration into the mind of true insanity.

The final story, “The Premature Burial.”  This was my least favorite, and the reason why I only give this collection 4-1/2 stars rather than 5.  While it was technically a short story, it was came off as more of an essay on premature burials in general.  It, like “The Pit and the Pendulum,” ARGUABLY has more of happier ending, but it just left me feeling a little, “Okay.  I guess that’s it, then.”

And that pretty much sums up this short collection.  Pick it up if you need to kill time without wanting to commit to a longer read.  It’s definitely worth your attention.

"Haunted Houses" by Larry Kettelkamp

A simple, fast read. -- 4 stars

"Haunted Houses" is a short, pleasant way to pass the time on a plane flight, which is exactly when I read it.

Seemingly aimed at a younger audience (and, interestingly, published by Xerox, the photo copy company), I picked up a used copy because the cover caught my eye.  In short, the 94 page book summarizes some of the most famous reported ghosts and poltergeists.

While author Kettelkamp does mention folklore and urban legends from time to time, he chose to focus his attention on only those reports that were recorded or corroborated in some official capacity.  For example, one story was documented in an official British court martial.  Other stories were included in police reports or University studies.  In other words, he does NOT pay attention to stories of simple hearsay.

I found the book enjoyable and interesting.  Again, the prose and illustrations felt aimed at younger readers, but this did not detract from my reading pleasure.  The only reason I'm giving it 4 stars instead of 5 is its flimsy "conclusions" in the epilogue.  Said conclusions were so "Your guess is as good as mine," the book might have been stronger without them.

Still, if you have an hour or two to kill, see if your local used book store might have a copy.  It's worth your time.