Phoenix Island

by John Dixon

320 pages - 22.99 $

Gallery Books (7 janvier 2014)

I've received a mail from NetGalley informing us that a new book was available. Then I've read that that book inspired a TV show, so I looked on the Internet what was that TV show, it sounded promising and knowing that books are always better that TV... So I must say, between the cover (really cool) and the story around that book... I was intrigued enough to decided to give it a try. Thanks Gallery Books !

The blurb

The story that inspired CBS TV’s Intelligence. Phoenix Island was supposed to be a boot camp for troubled children. But as one boy learns, the secrets of this jungle are as vast as they are deadly.

When sixteen-year-old boxing champ Carl Freeman jumps in to defend a helpless stranger, he winds up in real trouble—a two-year sentence at an isolated boot camp for orphans. Carl is determined to tough it out, earn a clean record, and get on with his life. Then kids start to die.

Realizing Phoenix Island is actually a Spartan-style mercenary organization turning “throwaway kids” into super-soldier killers, Carl risks everything to save his friends and stop a madman bent on global destruction.

What I think of it

I can't think straight... so much was I blown away by that book! It's brilliant. The writing, the pace, the characters, everything was great. In fact, I've started this book at 3 am one night, thinking that it would help me go back to sleep and I stop reading because of my alarm clock: I had to go to work (duh). As I've already said to John Dixon on Twitter, he should include some excuses in his book that we can bring to our boss not to go to work (what with not being very effective...) I must say that I'm not into YA books, in fact I didn't notice that Phoenix Island is a YA book. As the TV show is about adult, I thought it was an adult book (lame I know). Then, I went back to check the book more seriously after an all night session of reading it and discovered it's YA. Well, that book is so much darker than I thought a YA was! 

Well, so what's so good about that book? For starter, the characters. You'll love Carl, one of the toughest and bravest guy possible. OK, he did get into trouble a lot of time, he did hurt people, but always to defend the weaker and fight the bullies. Who wouldn't love that kind of guy? (well, the bullies obviously!) Granted his young age, he's still got a lot of wisdom and keeps deeply rooted in reality. Then, there's Ross who fights his way through life with his humour which gives us some very good replies. Octavia, the girl in the trio, is more enigmatic but she's still able to fight for what's right. These are the good guys. Then, there's Drill Sergeant Parker, Stark, Decker and his gang. Those, you don't want to know them nor to meet them! Parker is one of the most loathsome character you'll met. The worst part is that a lot of us have meet that kind of guy: a bully who reach some authority and overuse it. In any case, I've met some Parker in my life, maybe that's why I could relate to Carl. 

Then, it's not all good vs evil in Phoenix Island (some of the bad guys turn good). Stark can be good for his people, in his wicked way. In any case, it sure is a dark book! Dixon, like George R. R. Martin, is that kind of author who's able to kill one character you'd love to see to the end. So, in some way, it's realistic. In an island where bullies are kings, you can't expect the good guys to win without some casualties, right? Still, it's heart breaking to read some part of the book. And there, I've said too much already! 

Furthermore, John Dixon is a former Golden Gloves boxer and it's easy to see how he relates to his character, Carl, also a boxer. All the feelings expressed by Carl about the fighting are too well described not to be first hand experiences. I'm not a big fan of boxe but I must say that it's so cleverly writen I appreciated those parts. The fighting scene are thrilling and chilling and the reason I read all night... so that might not be a good point (just kidding!) Other than that, the pace is incredible alterning between action, fight and contextualization, I've never grew tired or bored. As for the end, I found it intelligent and incredible (talk about taking rough decisions!) 

In a nutshell

One hell of a book, suspenseful, chilling and thrilling that will keep you awake at night but guess what? You'll ask for more! I give it a 5/5. 

Saints of the Shadow Bible

by Ian Rankin

Orion (7 novembre 2013)

Vendu par Hachette Book Group Digital, Inc.

352 pages - 27.78 $

Ian Rankin came to QuébeCrime Festival and that's how I've learned about him. His main character, Rebus, even has his own TV series. So when I saw that his last book was on NetGalley, I jumped at the chance to FINALLY  know his character. Thanks NetGalley and Little Brown and Company for the book! 

The blurb

Rebus and Malcolm Fox go head-to-head when a 30-year-old murder investigation resurfaces, forcing Rebus to confront crimes of the past

Rebus is back on the force, albeit with a demotion and a chip on his shoulder. He is investigating a car accident when news arrives that a case from 30 years ago is being reopened. Rebus's team from those days is suspected of helping a murderer escape justice to further their own ends.

Malcolm Fox, in what will be his last case as an internal affairs cop, is tasked with finding out the truth. Past and present are about to collide in shocking and murderous fashion. What does Rebus have to hide? And whose side is he really on? His colleagues back then called themselves "The Saints," and swore a bond on something called the Shadow Bible. But times have changed and the crimes of the past may not stay hidden much longer -- and may also play a role in the present, as Scotland gears up for a referendum on independence. 

Allegiances are being formed, enemies made, and huge questions asked. Who are the saints and who the sinners? And can the one ever become the other?

What I think of it

It was a real favourite for Rebus! Saints of the Shadow Bible is the kind of book where the characters are so well written, realistic and sympathetic they take precedence over history. The atmosphere is also excellently written. Through this book, it was like I've always known Edinburgh inside out and particularly pubs! Add to this the excellent music listening by Rebus... The context of the book is a character in itself!

The story combines several investigations in which Rebus is involved by far, never being entirely integrated into a team because of the suspicion hanging over him and his former colleagues, the Saints. Investigations are influenced by the referendum on Scottish independence, topic  highly current since the referendum will normally take place in September 2014. They are also influenced by fears of change in the organization of the police. As for the investigation on Rebus, it's the result of the questioning of the "double jeopardy". Rankin therefore incorporates elements of Scottish life in this book that allows us to understand the society in which the characters live, but also the reality of Scots's lives.

We follows Rebus who tries, despite being thrown a spanner in his works, to investigate an accident. Who even insists to complete his investigation, while the political and the internal services investigation get involved. He must team up with Malcolm Fox and eventually even rub a little on him! Rankin manages to make us appreciate Fox, whereas initially he's here to inquire about Rebus. And that is something! 

Saints of the Shadow Bible is a book to read for several reasons. First, for the quality of the writing. Rankin is an excellent storyteller. His characters are hyper realistic and we appreciate them very quickly. The story is complex and believable at the same time. The dialogues are also super smooth and realistic. In some books the writer can overdo it and even if it makes some tasty dialogues, we can say that in real life, it wouldn't be the same. However, here all is credible and yet it's a story! The pace of the book never wanes, we follow in turn Rebus, Shiobhan, Fox and other characters, from a point of view to another, without ever catching our breath but never losing our head.

In a nutshell

A great discovery for me ... and it's a shame having waited so long to read one of Rankin's book! A book that takes you into a plot well done, an excellently transcribed context, hyper credible and sympathetic characters, why one would ask for more? So now, if you won't (re)discover Ian Rankin, the shame is on you! I give it 5/5 .

The Corpse-Rat King

de Lee Battersby

Angry Robot; Original édition (28 août 2012)

416 pages - 8.99 $

Again, It's the cover that caught my eye... and the fact that it comes from Angry Robot, a publishing house that does not stop to pleasantly surprise. This is a real chance, in my opinion, to find a publishing house that suits you so that even without knowing an author, you expect to enjoy the book. I received this book via NetGalley, so thanks! NetGalley and Angry Robot. I get a lot of book for to review but the fellow blogger who comes here knows that I give my unbiased opinion, be it good or bad...

The Blurb

Marius dos Hellespont and his apprentice, Gerd, are professional looters of battlefields. When they stumble upon the corpse of the King of Scorby and Gerd is killed, Marius is mistaken for the monarch by one of the dead soldiers and is transported down to the Kingdom of the Dead.

Just like the living citizens, the dead need a King - after all, the King is God's representative, and someone needs to remind God where they are.

And so it comes to pass that Marius is banished to the surface with one message: if he wants to recover his life he must find the dead a King. Which he fully intends to do.

Just as soon as he stops running away.

What I think of it 

Honestly, I was a little hesitant to read it, because of the dead thing. Zombie stories are not really my cup of tea but the adventurous side that the book offered overcame my resistance. And so much the better! This book is really cool.

Marius is the anti-hero in all its splendor. He's wily, liar, thief but also cunning, clever and very funny. This book is the story of his personal journey, because if originally when he's caught red-handed, he tries to escape, the misadventures he lives make him aware of his responsibilities. From there, he will demonstrate that his qualities as much as his faults, are very useful to carry out his task. Gerd, young naive who had the misfortune to trust Marius initially eventually gains confidence in himself and becomes a man. It's after all an initiatory trip for both, one to take his responsibility, the other towards maturity. The two partners complement each other perfectly, despite their differences, and their exchanges in the book bring a freshness and a pleasant lightness.

The story begins badly... the two accomplices find themselves in the realm of the dead with a mission to bring a king for Marius and for Gerd to monitor Marius. Marius fled, only to realize that it's better to fulfill his mission if he wants to regain his life. All his journey to his awareness is fraught with challenges, adventures and especially misadventures. This is probably one of the most epic initiatory trip story I've read! I didn't get bored in this book: initially because I was glad to see Marius in trouble (well done, you big coward!), then because there are funny adventures and finally, because the pace is accelerating.

A word about a part of this book that I really appreciate in books, it's its humour: impertinent, pungent and grotesque found throughout the story. Whether in dialogue or in situations, there is always something to smile or laugh.

In a nutshell

This is not just a book of undead (or living dead for Marius) but a true adventure book, funny and epic. I give it 4/ 5.

The Murder Code (Dark Room)

by Steve Mosby

368 pages - 18-17 $

Pegasus - 2013 

I decided to give a try to Mosby's first book in USA (but not in Europe as he's written many books already!) because I didn't know him but I already heard his name and because I've got a soft spot for serial killers books (and only books...) 

Thanks to Open Road Media and Netgalley for the book! 

The blurb

Detective Inspector Andrew Hicks thinks he knows all about murder. However horrific the act, the reasons behind a crime are usually easy to explain. So when a woman is found bludgeoned to death, he suspects a crime of passion and attention focuses on her possessive ex-husband. But when a second body is found, similarly beaten, Hicks is forced to think again.

When more murders arrive in quick succession, Hicks realizes he is dealing with a type of killer he has never faced before, one who fits nowhere within his logic. Then the letters begin to arrive ...

As the death toll rises, Hicks must face not only a killer obsessed with randomness and chaos, but also a secret in his own past. If he is to stop the killings, he must confront the truth about himself ...

What I think about it 

A very good book that reads quickly, you'll be carried away by the rhythm, the story and the dialogues. The characters are well written, realistic and not caricatural. Hicks is the central character but he's highlighted by his partner who doesn't hesitate to bring him back to earth with her ironic remarks. He must revise his ways of thinking, he who has always believed (and for good reasons) that there's always a reason behind every crime, at least for the criminal. I liked seeing his path between his stubbornness to seek the reason to then let go. I don't want to reveal too much not to spoil the fun but we discover a part of his past that allows us to understand his way of understanding the crime, hence his difficulty to detach from his paradigm.

The investigation is well built. You can see the police behind the scenes, their dark room, the viewing room, how it works. This is a team effort and the police station looks like an anthill once the list of victims too graphically demonstrates the severity of the investigation. We realize the demanding and required work an investigation of this kind demand and how long it may take to find a single clue. The police are drowning in various details to check, leaving a big lead to the killer who carries on his killing spree.

Some scenes may be disturbing, it's after all about people beaten to death to the point of being unrecognizable. We are seeing some of the murders through live action, video or story witnesses. There's also the cruelty to animals. However, the book is not all about the cruel exhibition of the murders. It's about the characters, their thinking, their history and especially that of Hicks who goes through a difficult period.

In a nutshell

A story well done, characters that you appreciate, a questioning of good and evil, in short, a great discovery for the beginning of the year ! I give it 4/5.

Game

(The Game Trilogy, Book 1)

by Anders de la Motte

384 pages - 11,99 $ (kindle)

Atria/Emily Bestler Books

I heard about this trilogy based on a game and technology. Not just any game, of course, a global game and a game master who pulls the strings and plays with the lives of his players. Anders de la Motte is a former cop, a consultant in international security and now a recognized and honored author for this trilogy. Thanks Netgalley and Atria Books for this book.

Synopsys

Follow the rules and everybody gets hurt . . . 

One Sunday morning after a long night of partying, Henrik “HP” Pettersson, a slacker with a lot of ego and very little impulse control, finds a cell phone of an unfamiliar make on a commuter train. Through insisting and slightly uncanny messages that refer to him by name, the phone invites him to play a game. HP accepts without hesitation. 

The rules are that HP must complete tasks that range from childish pranks to criminal acts, as allocated by the mysterious Game Master. HP is the perfect contender—alienated from society, devoid of morals, and desperate for fame. His completion of the assignments are filmed and uploaded onto a protected server where viewers rate the Players’ performances. 

The Game starts out innocently enough and then becomes increasingly risky, threatening the safety of someone close to HP. He is determined to become a superstar, but when the dark and tragic secrets of his family’s past are at stake, HP must make a choice. Will he suffer the humiliation of defeat, or will the need to win push him to the limit—no matter the cost? 

First in a fast-paced and riveting trilogy, Game will leave you guessing. Follow the rules, andeverybody gets hurt . . .

What I think of it

The story mostly follows Henrik (HP) and his sister Rebecca who are very different from one another. HP is a very intelligent waster but a rotten family history has left traces in him, as in his sister. The result is that he has a fundamental need for recognition. It's this need that the game master uses to get him into the game. Rebecca has a need to control everything in her life up to leave messages on her answering machine not to forget to do something and finds herself drawn into the game. We don't really know why these two are targeted by The Game at the end of the book but it's clear that there is an underlying reason which will undoubtedly clear at the end of the trilogy. I confess that I have not really hung out with the two characters. HP lacks a bit too much moral for my taste to make him friendly. As for Rebecca, she is too much aloof so I really appreciate her.

The coolest in this book is to explore the many a time discussed theme of international conspiracy but from the (almost) inside said plot. Of course, we don't know who pulls the strings in the first book but to know how it works, it's interesting. Each stunt is the result of a multitude of actions issued by the players. Everything is very well explained in the book and it makes the game credible. Finally, the book end with a cliffhanger and answers a question (who recruited HP?) but that answer is just what you need to want to read the other books (if you didn't already).

The pace and way of writing are well chosen to reproduce the idea of ​​a game. We move on to each character, one after the other like in a game. Paragraphs are sometimes very short, there are emails and texting. This gives the impression of being live, which reinforces the impression of being a spectator of The Game.

In a nutshell

While it's unfortunate that the two main characters are not the friendliest, game enthusiasts or international conspiracy lovers will love this book. I give it 3/ 5.