Review: Over Her Dead Body

Over Her Dead Body by Susan Walter
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Well, I almost DNFd this after the first twenty pages. Unfortunately, I ignored my better angels and pushed through. Blessedly, it was short.

This is my first journey into the work of Susan Walter, and it also be my last. The work was tedious, repetitive and not as clever as she clearly thought. The characters were each abhorrent and wholly unlikable as well. Additionally, the unbelievable specifics in which the reader was asked to invest bordered on parody or satire—which, even if intended, was a hearty miss.

The structure of the novel led directly to the tedium experienced as a reader. The narrator shifts from chapter to chapter, which is a technique I’ve seen used quite effectively by other authors. Walter, however, has put her own spin on cycling narration by retelling a single series of events over and over, from each character’s “unique” perspective. As the detail changes between those chapters were subtle, the result is reading what were nearly identical consecutive chapters. I suppose it is a way to fill pages, but furthering the action with each narration shift would have been far more entertaining. 

As for the characters, I found each (save Jordan) to be flawed beyond redemption. Their life choices, as well as their circumstantial choices, revealed them as selfish, morally reprehensible people without a single saving grace. It would have been nice to have a single character to invest in and cheer for. That just didn’t happen.

Finally, the plot reminded me of Verity by Colleen Hoover—just so far reaching as to be ridiculous. I didn’t believe a single page. Again, it read as almost a parody of the suspense genre, like Walter was writing the extremes to show the banality of common themes and plot details. I have to repeat myself here, though—even as a parody it just doesn’t work.

I’m so glad I received this on First Reads. Had I purchased it, I’d be doing a slow burn about money wasted. As it is, the only thing I lost was time. Two stars for decent editing. Choose something else!

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Review: Such a Beautiful Family

Such a Beautiful Family by T.R. Ragan
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

T.R. Ragan’s Such a Beautiful Family just wasn’t, for me, a hit. Whilst the prologue drew me in, from there things just never coalesced into an enjoyable read.

The story begins with a teenage girl receiving a phone call from her best friend—Allina. Allina is panicked and needs a ride home from a party-gone-bad. The friend races to help, though the results of her efforts lead to catastrophic consequences. When the first chapter begins, that fateful evening is long passed, and the identity of the driver, as well as her fate and that of Allina, remain a mystery. We are, however, introduced to Nora and her family. Nora has recently been offered a new job, and though the woman extending that offer, Jane, is sending out “hell-no” vibes, Nora reluctantly accepts the position. Jane wastes no time insinuating herself into every aspect of Nora’s life, befriending Nora’s daughter and flirting shamelessly with Nora’s husband. As Jane devolves into even more of a nuisance and becomes a threat, Nora is forced to face the fact that she should never have accepted the job that now threatens to cost her her career, her family and perhaps even her life.

So the prologue connection is, I’m assuming, initially intentionally vague. The transition from it to the first chapter is so abrupt, however, that it is disorienting. I found myself turning back pages to make sure I hadn’t missed something. I then struggled through the next few chapters trying desperately to identify the thread that surely stitched the two storylines together. That intersection, however, takes FOREVER to emerge, and when it does, it’s so far-fetched that I resented having tried to make sense of it.

As for the writing itself, it struck me as far too informal and formulaic. Chapter 10 begins with “Nora sat”; 11 with “Nora sat”; 13 “Nora stood”; 18 “ Nora walked”; and the list goes on. This simplistic formula for a narrative was made worse by the repeated use of the word “look”, as it appears no less than 243 times. I desperately wanted to send Ragan a thesaurus.

Overall, this was clearly not one I’d be comfortable recommending without a total revamp. As publication isn’t set until December of 2022, Ragan still has a small window of opportunity through which to fix the deficits.

Thanks to Net Galley and Thomas and Mercer Publishing for providing me an ARC copy for review.

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Review: The Last Storm

The Last Storm by Tim Lebbon
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The Last Storm, by author Tim Lebbon, is a beautifully brutal collision of horror, science fiction, fantasy and environmental awareness. The characters are rich and complex, the plot is unique, and the structure is engaging.

In the Last Storm, the reader is first introduced to Jesse—a man who, through genetics and a hand-made apparatus, is able to conjure rain. His power is a reflection of the world at large, so unlike his mother and grandmother (who were able to produce gentle showers in a kinder world), Jesse’s creations are fraught with scorpions and spiders that accompany a rain of water and blood. The world is succumbing to climate change, and the power of the rainmaker has become destructive and angry. Jess realizes he can no longer allow himself the luxury of practicing his craft, but his daughter, Ash, has inherited the ability. In a time that is increasingly dangerous, when earth is warming on a global scale, Ash’s belief that she can control the rain and save those in peril leads her into a storm that threatens to envelope her and the world at large.

Lebbon’s characters are well developed, with rich backstories that bring them to life. Jesse and Ash are believable even in the throes of something as far-fetched as making the heavens cry. Jesse’s almost hermit existence and the touch of madness that inhabits the mind of Ash, are revealed through the consistent integrity of their behaviors. Jesse reacts to life and those around him in ways that remain constant; Ash moves through life growing in her self-awareness. Neither ever offer any dialogue or actions that betray who Lebbon has groomed them to be. It is in this consistency that the reader loses a sense of needing to suspend disbelief and falls into the story with a conviction that yes, there ARE rainmakers. Of course there are. It’s a brilliant technique that garners and maintains reader investment.

As a reader of post-apocalyptic lit, Lebbon’s approach is a refreshing change. This isn’t an EMP taking out the grid, or a nuclear blast poisoning the earth. It’s a gorgeous, almost poetic retelling of a time in the future when death is a casual occurrence that strikes increasingly more often and with utter disregard for the sanctity of life. The devolution happens so slowly that it’s accepted as the new normal—a sobering look at a terrifying scenario resulting from global warming. The single distraction, for me, was the narrative that led to the construction of Ash’s rainmaking apparatus. It felt forced and was the only point in the book where a fourth wall came down and removed me from the action. On the other hand, the horror Lebbon unleashes through the conduit of Ash is absolutely numbing in its grotesque depiction. I actually had goosebumps and felt the need to look over my shoulder on more than one occasion.

Finally, the structure here is built in chapters that rotate between perspectives of various characters. When their stories finally intersect, the tension is positively palpable. It’s always a risk when an author attempts to build a number of storylines that eventually come together. Readers can find it difficult to follow and keep track of the changing narrative. Lebbon doesn’t suffer in his approach, as it is meticulously built in a way that makes the transitions seamless.

This is a definite must-read for those looking for something innovative, frightening and fantastical. Thanks to NetGalley and Titan Books for providing me with an ARC for review. Publication is slated for July 19, 2022.

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Review: Below

Below by Kev Harrison
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Below by author Kev Harrison is a delicious slice of horror that will have readers all over the world sleeping with the lights on.

The story is that of Nick Jones, a man whose life has been in many ways shaped by the grandfather he knew only through the stories told to him. Nicholas Jones was a twenty eight year old miner when he heroically spirited fellow workers to safety during a mine collapse. As his turn to exit the mine arrived, the entire shaft disintegrated, burying he and two other miners alive. Nick has heard the stories all of his life, stories that sparked his own interest in mining and led to his pursuit of a PhD in mining engineering. The mine where Nick’s grandfather perished was never reopened, and Nick is on a funded mission to reopen the entrance and retrieve his grandfather’s remains—remains that have been in the collapsed mine for over sixty years. Nick is accompanied on his journey by upwardly mobile influencer Jess and camera operator Sophia.  Together they descend into the darkness, where they discover that they are not alone.

Harrison’s strength is in creating a setting that is claustrophobic, dark and disturbing. The reader is immersed in this underground world, and it isn’t difficult to feel as if the walls are closing in. As the three explorers descend into the bowels of the mine, the tension builds in an edge-of-the-seat way that is physically experienced by the reader.

The weakness in this book, however, destabilizes reader engagement. The characters are two-dimensional—never fully explored or developed enough to warrant investment. I wanted to know more about Nick particularly, and of the specifics in the stories he had been told. I wanted his background so that I could feel some sort of emotion regarding his experiences in that mine. I also felt like the relationship between Jess and Sophia was forced as a way to make the story seem “woke” and on pointe with contemporary culture. It just wasn’t organic enough to be believable, a shortcoming that would be easily remedied by the inclusion of their back stories.

Overall, an atmospheric book that is a quick read—preferably with the lights on.

Thanks to NetGalley and Brigids Gate Press for providing me a free copy for review. Below is available now at major booksellers.

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Review: Movieland

Movieland by Lee Goldberg
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Movieland is one of those books that requires a solid block of time in which to read, as you will not want to put it down until the final page is turned. The characters are familiar, the plot is rife with suspense and the path to the conclusion is one of enough twists and turns to keep even the most veteran readers of the genre guessing.

Lee Goldberg has once again breathed life into Detective Eve Ronin, an LASD detective who was catapulted to popularity when video emerged of her single handedly taking down a well known arrogant and abusive actor who had built his reputation through a series of movies in which he played the “invincible Deathfist”. Ronin’s story continues here in Movieland, this time battling the thin blue line she once courageously exposed for widespread corruption, whilst also attempting to solve murders that may be the work of a serial shooter. Her jaded and bristly partner Duncan is back as well, winding down to retirement and giving Eve parting advice and support as they tackle what is to be their final case together.

Goldberg is the master of character development, and Movieland provides a sparkling showcase of this particular strength. In spite of this being the fourth of the Eve Ronin series, Goldberg lifts each character off the page and stands them in front of you, even if you are meeting them for the first time. The necessary background is seamlessly integrated into the storyline, so followers will appreciate seeing familiar faces, while newcomers will also be instantly engaged and invested. If you’ve read other serial novels, you know this is a difficult tightrope walk, but Goldberg makes it look as easy as a walk in the proverbial park.

The plot itself does become a bit convoluted as it unwinds, and at times it was distracting to see Goldberg straying with minutiae that adds to the flavor but not the storyline. Cameos by Eve’s mother and father seemed forced, as did the inclusion of several other bit players. In the long run, however, it was more a minor irritation than a dealbreaker. Goldberg’s ability to grab you by the collar truly makes the pages seem to turn themselves.

I hope this won’t the last we see of Ronin, as the trajectory for her growth has been forged—loose threads that demand further attention and will leave the reader longing to find out what’s next. Four bright stars for an author who is quickly becoming a favorite.

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Review: Fatal Rounds

Fatal Rounds by Carrie Rubin
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Carrie Rubin’s Fatal Rounds was a delicious novel, rife with suspense and intrigue that, for me, found its feet just a little too late in the game.

Protagonist Liza Larkin is entering her residency in pathology at the Titus McCall Medical Center. She’s smart, driven and experiences the world through the lens of her self-described “schizoid personality disorder”. She relies on lifelong lessons from both her psychiatrist and her parents regarding appropriate social behaviors to guide her daily interactions, though Liza still misses important cues and is often perceived as “odd” and quirky. Additionally, she has had to learn to control her angry and sometimes violent outbursts, and long standing relationships for Liza are few and far between. Her mother resides in a private mental health facility, her father is deceased and her musician brother survives in a cloud of depression. When Liza’s mother experiences a particularly alarming “episode”, Liza discovers a shadowy man who appears in the background of a number of family photographs—photos that seem to have triggered her mother’s angst and most recent decline. Liza’s mission to discern the man’s identity is quickly realized, at which time she commits to discovering why he, Dr. Sam Donovan, is seemingly stalking her family. In the process, she finds far more than she bargained for, placing her career, her family and her own life in jeopardy.

Liking Liza as a character is a difficult ask. Her strengths and “humanity” are revealed so slowly that, for the first half of the book, there seems to be no context to who she is. Rubin opens by placing Liza in a setting that would have been far more powerful had the reader been given an opportunity to invest in her and understand her actions and reactions. It took too much of a concerted effort, and an inordinate number of pages, to unwind her motivations and situate them in terms of her own mental health challenges. Additionally, while her close relationship with her father appears to eclipse his death, neither his life, their connection, nor his passing are explored to the extent necessary to make Liza’s behaviors believable. Finally, the reader is, throughout, expected to buy into Liza’s constantly recalibrating moral compass—something I was never quite comfortable simply attributing to her personality disorder. The echoes of psychopathy in Liza reverberated far too loudly for her to be sympathetic.

Character challenges aside, the pages turned quickly, and I found myself invested in the outcome—which, for me, makes this a worthwhile read.

Thanks to Net Galley and Indigo Dot Press for providing me with an ARC for review. Fatal Rounds is slated for publication September 20, 2022.

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Review: The Deluge

The Deluge by Stephen Markley
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

When I sat down to pen this review, I found myself somewhat stymied. Did I enjoy the book? Honestly, not so much. I am a post-apocalyptic fan and have stepped into some fairly treacherous trenches as far as the genre is concerned. At first blush, I assumed that this would be another in an extensive line of end-of-the-world fluff. Consider me schooled. This was a terrifying long haul journey through years of ignored climate change and devastating consequences, as author Stephen Markley pushes his foot on the gas and belts through intersecting narratives that, at their heart, document the earth’s demise. Did I mention it was terrifying? Dust bowl conditions, widespread global flooding and never before seen high temperatures take their toll on life as we know it and infect the very fabric of what it is to be human.

As for the quality of Markley’s writing, well that depends upon the criteria to which you hold the piece accountable. At just under 1,000 pages, it takes determination and patience to wade through the dense text in search of that pullable thread. It’s definitely there, but to find it requires wading though page after page of extraneous “stuff”. The snapshot narratives, interspersed with news stories, press releases and shared memos, are all arranged in a chronological(ish) format that deviates at will and the bemusement of the speaker-of-the-moment. It feels at times that the reader is stuck tumbling in the wheel that must never stop spinning in Markley’s head, as both the left and right are eviscerated and exposed for their over-sold dog and pony shows that amount to absolutely nothing in terms of meaningful change. The research behind these pages must be measurable only in mountains.

The author introduces an almost unwieldy cast of characters to deliver his warning—characters who cross paths then veer in distinctly different directions, though to eliminate even one would tear at the integrity of the story being told. Perhaps, as mentioned previously, making more judicious use of the minutiae would have made the text more approachable to the masses who need to read it. Often I’ve complained of other books that an author chooses either breadth or depth, one often at the peril of the other. Here, Markley makes no such concessions, insisting on tiny details, caught beneath a widely cast net, to the final page.

With all of that said, clearly exposing my prejudice for easy beach reads, this is a book that is of great import and a must read eye-opener for everyone—regardless of the tenacity one may have to muster to do so. Above all, Markley consistently drives home the urgency of our attention and, most importantly, our ACTION, before it’s too late to address and reverse the incomprehensible damage we are inflicting upon our world.

I believe in the not so distant future, we will look back at this cautionary tale and hail Markley a prophet, though of our successes or failures lies at the crux of the action he is able to mobilize.

Thanks to Simon and Shuster and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC for review. Publication is set for January 10, 2023. The sooner the better.

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