Here are this week's new reviews:
Latest Reviews:
After seeing Suzette A Hill at CrimeFest in June, I knew I had to try her series which features 'talking animals'. The first one in the series is A Load of Old Bones and didn't disappoint though most of the story is in fact told by a human;
Terry Halligan reviews the latest in the 'Mad' Carew series from Ken McCoy: Loser calling it an "enjoyable, hard to put down book";
Pat Austin, really, really didn't like Blood Lines by Grace Monroe but managed to finish it out of public duty to the rest of us;
In contrast, the pressure's being applied, first by Maxine, and now by Norman Price to find the time asap to read Johan Theorin's Echoes from the Dead - Norman writes that it was "the most gripping crime fiction novel I have read so far this year";
Maxine Clarke's now up to date (for the moment) with the English translations of Helene Tursten's Inspector Huss series with the latest, The Glass Devil, in which Huss spends a lot of time in England
and Amanda Gillies enjoys the second book from Neil White: Lost Souls and finds it as good as his debut, Fallen Idols.
My pick of the week is Anthony Flacco's "The Hidden Man: A Novel of Suspense." After reading his debut historical fiction thriller "The Last Nightingale," I immediately ran out to purchase its companion book. I’m a really picky reader, but this guy is just amazing. I find that a lot of books in the mystery/thriller genre nowadays lack the key elements that make up a good read. For example, what happened to all the humor, edginess, and multi-dimensional characters? Flacco is incredibly unique in that he makes good use of young characters. Not a lot of thrillers I’ve picked up have central characters that are young, or female. Also, I think it’s that familial dynamic (complex relationships within) that makes “The Hidden Man” so compelling because you can’t help but truly care for the characters and root for the unconventional family.
ReplyDelete“The Hidden Man” takes readers back to 1915 San Francisco reborn after the Great Earthquake and Fire. Particularly, I love the complex, flawed characters that make the book shine like a jewel. James Duncan is a famed mesmerist at the pinnacle of his career in the upcoming World’s Fair, and he must work together with equally fascinating Detective Blackburn and Blackburn’s young protégé Shane Nightingale when a fanatic stalker sets out to destroy him. My favorite character is Vignette Nightingale though, who reminds me of a female version of Huckleberry Finn; she’s definitely a character you don’t see often in mystery books these days. I find it more interesting because they must solve a murder that hasn’t even happened yet, based purely on what only the terrified (almost obsessed) intended victim can see. If you like a compelling story and complex characters, this is a book for you.
You can check out the reviews and book trailer on his website: AnthonyFlacco.com