The Buried Life by Carrie Patel - an early review

North American Print

Date: 29th July 2014

ISBN: 9780857665218

Format: Mass Market Paperback

R.R.P.: US$7.99 CAN$9.99

I mostly read thrillers that happen in today's reality, but that doesn't stop me from enjoying a change of scenery from time to time. The crime fiction world is vast and we can read historical, scientific, medical, and so on thrillers as well as SF crim fiction. When I saw this novel published by Angry Robot, which I must say, publishes excellent writers, I said "bingo". Although science fiction is not what I read, why not try it? I also had the chance to have Carrie Patel, the author, in an interview on my blog, here it is!

The blurb

The gaslight and shadows of the underground city of Recoletta hide secrets and lies. When Inspector Liesl Malone investigates the murder of a renowned historian, she finds herself stonewalled by the all-powerful Directorate of Preservation – Recoletta’s top-secret historical research facility.

When a second high-profile murder threatens the very fabric of city society, Malone and her rookie partner Rafe Sundar must tread carefully, lest they fall victim to not only the criminals they seek, but the government which purports to protect them. Knowledge is power, and power must be preserved at all costs…

What's good about that book

I like to discover new worlds, worlds that could be real, a little post-apocalyptic but interesting and that's what offers Carrie Patel who has imagined an underground world in a dystopian universe. The construction of her world is well done: we easily imagine ourselves underground, we picture the many different factions (the rich, the workers, the middle class) more pronounced than in reality, as they are more physically separated. The grip on all the knowledge by the government and the way people are manage are very typical of a dictatorship. I enjoyed the rivalry between the two law enforcement agencies (much like the animosity between FBI and police). Who will do the investigation, who has the right to ask certain questions, who will ensure the safety of potential victims, are questions that Malone will face.  

Talking characters. Malone seems to be the main character if one sticks to the blurb and actually, in the first chapter, we discover her in pursuit of a thug. She is strong, brave, intelligent and a tad strong-headed. In short, a well presented character one wants to follow. But Malone is not the only main character. Jane Lin, a laundress, is at the heart of the investigation and it's her we follow the most. Gradually, in the novel, Malone is less present and Jane takes things in her hand and thanks to her, the investigation is really progressing. 

As for the plot, Malone and Rafe try to investigate despite various resistances they face and must continue in secret when the Commission withdraws the case. The political side of the investigation is well conducted, it's very realistic and we follow with pleasure the law blows and other tricks necessary to continue the investigation. A little drawback at the end of the book: everything happens quickly, the explanations are too easily given by the guilty party and there's a fast change of sides that I did not really understood nor appreciated. 

In a nutshell

Overall a good book, fun to read, a well-imagined world and whose strongest character, Jane Lin, is pleasant to discover. This is a 3.5 / 5 for me.

Warning: An e- galley of this title was provided to me by the publisher. No review has been promised and chronic above is an unbiased review of the novel.

Hangtown - The Second Detective Janelle Watkins Mystery

by Karen Sandler

ANGRY ROBOT Ltd - Exhibit A - 24 juin 2014

416 pages - 6.99 $ (kindle edition)

Hangtown is the second book with Janelle, ex-cop now private detective, who fight against the consequences of an injury and her demons. Demons that change radically from what we usually see in a private detective! When I read Clean Burn, the first book in the series, I already enjoyed the characters and humor distilled in the book which made ​​me want to read the second installment to follow Janelle and Ken in their investigations.

The blurb

Marooned in her despised hometown of Greenville, California, private investigator Janelle Watkins wants nothing more than to keep her head down and make enough money to move back to the City. But even in the sleepy town of Greenville, the edgy, smart-mouthed private investigator seems to attract mayhem.

It starts with the apparent suicide of a nineteen year-old off a highway bridge. Then another young man goes missing and Janelle begins to suspect that there might be a connection between the incidents. With the help of her former SFPD partner and occasional lover, Sheriff Ken Heinz, Janelle begins to follow the convoluted trail, not realizing that the darkness of her past might finally be catching up.

What's good in that book

The first advantage is that it's not necessary to have read the first book to read this one. Although the two volumes relate to the same city and the same characters, it's two independent stories. I also liked to know more about Janelle's past. In Clean Burn we learned more about Janelle's childhood and in Hangtown, her most recent past is revealed. This book talks about the secrets that can hide in a small town, the silences and unspoken. Although the plot is not the strength of this novel it's precisely the unspoken history of Greenville that allows to make it plausible. 

Again, several investigations which seem separated eventually become one, adding more victims and suspects to the list of characters involved. Janelle and Ken, who team from the begin, are investigating a suspicious death and a suspicious disappearance, Janelle also receives mysterious and aggressive texting from a person from her past that she does not recognize, add to this an accident that should not have taken place and another corpse... we really don't get bored reading this book! 

Janelle is THE central character of the book. She's complex and has more depth than the others. Even Ken seems fairly bland beside her, although he's the town sheriff. I love the way the author portrays Janelle and how she approaches her demons. Janelle, because of her past, sometimes needs to burn herself to calm her emotions but Ken managed - more often now - to make the need go. There's no misery in the way this issue is addressed and this is what I like. This makes the character less typical than usual ("Hello, I'm PI so I drink / play / hit on pretty girls / have problems with my ex / etc.) and more human. 

In a nutshell

Another good book from Karen Sandler, whose strength lies in her characters - mostly Janelle Watkins, a very endearing character. A book where the action never stops and where humor is always present. It's a 4/5 for me.

Warning: An e- galley of this title was provided to me by the publisher. No review has been promised and chronic above is an unbiased review of the novel.

Interview: Carrie Pattel, author of The Buried Life

Please welcome Carrie Pattel, a young author whose first book will be out on July 29 in North America and on August the 7th in print in UK. 

Carrie writes game by day and book by night. She's the kind of person who stand for what she thinks on her funny blog and who can prove that Maverick is a dick and that Iceman is the good guy! (So now you know)

Cheers for that great new author!

Will you tell us a little bit about yourself and your background?

Sure! I’m originally from Katy, Texas, and I grew up in a family of readers. My dad always has something with a library barcode on his nightstand, and my mom’s a mystery reader and recent audiobook addict. I caught the bug early (as did my sisters), so it wasn’t really a surprise when I started writing.

What about "The Buried Life" how did you came upon that idea?

I started with the underground city setting and an atmosphere of mystery, conspiracy, and disarming gentility. From there, I thought about the kinds of characters that would test the boundaries of that world and what kinds of trouble they would get into together. In retrospect, it feels like building the novel backwards, but it gave me a clear idea from the start of the kind of book I wanted to write and the kind of experience I wanted the reader to have.

Did you use your travels or stays in your book to build your setting and why?

Indirectly, yes. The name and the original inspiration for Recoletta, the fictional underground city of The Buried Life, is the Recoleta Cemetary of Buenos Aires, Argentina. I visited it on a brief study abroad trip and got a really compelling sense of place from it. It’s solemn and majestic, and it’s full of stories—so many important people from Argentina’s history are buried there. The inspiration I took was pretty impressionistic, but it was the genesis for the book.

How do you manage to combine work and writing (knowing that your job is also writing)?

It’s a pretty fantastic marriage, actually. I work as a narrative designer for Obsidian Entertainment, a game development studio, and it’s every bit as fun as it sounds. I write characters, dialogue, and other story elements for our upcoming RPG, Pillars of Eternity.

It meshes well with my novel-writing because it keeps me working on characters, plot, and prose throughout the day, but in new stories and settings. There’s a collaborative aspect to writing for games, which is a nice change of pace from the solitary nature of novel-writing. The main challenge in balancing the two is carving out time for novel-writing, especially when things pick up at the office, which is why I try to schedule regular writing time every morning.

Which subjects are more difficult to write about?

Anything technical or procedural can be a challenge, because you want to get the details right without sacrificing your freedom with the characters and plot. This was one challenge when I realized I was writing something that was, in part, a detective novel. I needed Malone to be believable as both a professional detective and as a professional detective that goes rogue.  

Which events will you attend in the next months?

I’ve just gotten back from Apollocon in Houston, and I’m headed to CONvergence for the Fourth of July weekend. Detcon (or NASFIC, since Worldcon is in London this year) will be the last convention on my schedule. I’m excited about all three of these, and I’m actually relatively new to the convention circuit—Apollocon and Worldcon in San Antonio last year were my first two conventions.

What are you reading now?

I’m double-fisting N. K. Jemisin’s The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms for some fantasy and George Wright Padgett’s Spindown for some hard science fiction.

What do you look for in a good book? Is there anything that will make you put a book down, unfinished?

Even though I’ve got a special relationship with speculative fiction, I like a pretty wide range of books, so it’s hard to talk about really specific things that I look for—I enjoy pensive character studies, fast-paced pots, fantastical world-building. So it’s probably easier to talk about what I don’t like!

The process of revising and editing my own work has made me more attentive to prose overall and more impatient when it’s weak. Writing doesn’t have to be astounding to tell a good story, but when it’s bad, it’s distracting. It makes me doubt the writer, which makes it almost impossible for me to enjoy the story, no matter how interesting it might otherwise be.

Similarly, I get bored with meandering characters. Unless they’re meandering somewhere really, really interesting, I lose interest if it doesn’t feel like there’s some sense of direction or motivation.

If you could experience one book again for the first time, which one would it be?

Dune. There are so many books I’ve enjoyed, but the world of Arrakis was so rich, and the conflicts so layered, that it would be rewarding to experience it fresh. 

What's next for you?

I’m working on Cities and Thrones, the sequel to The Buried Life. I’m having a lot of fun extending the conflict from The Buried Life and observing how the characters cope with their new situations.

Why so serious questions

What would be your desert island read?

War and Peace. I’m embarrassed to say I haven’t read it yet, and as long as it is, it would keep me busy for a long time.

Your favorite villain?

The best villains are the ones you root for (on some level) despite their roles and vices. Hannibal Lecter is a great villain because he’s so charming and intriguing that it’s easy to forget how depraved he is. You look for explanations for his brutality because it’s tempting to believe that there’s something benign (or at least predictable) in him.

Whose hero do you wish you had created?

Like everyone else, I read a fair share of Dickens in school, and while I didn’t have a particularly strong appreciation for most of it, I loved Sydney Carton. Most of the girls in my ninth-grade English class (myself included!) bawled through the end of A Tale of Two Cities. He was noble and tragic in the end, and yet he didn’t seem to care whether people thought of him that way. While I suspect I’d respond differently to his self-pity and his obsession with Lucie if I read it today, I’d love to write a character that affects others the way he affected me at the time.

Which one of you characters is more like you?

I never actually write myself into my fiction, but I suppose it’s impossible not to recognize bits of myself in some of my characters, especially when I’m telling the story from over their shoulders. With that in mind, I feel like I can see more of myself in Jane Lin, one of the perspective characters. She’s inquisitive and determined, and she’s an incurable eavesdropper, which anyone in my family could tell you is one of my worst habits!

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To follow Carrie on her blog or Twitter

The Fourth Motive (Ferrell and Kearns #2) - an early review

by Sean Lynch

ANGRY ROBOT Ltd

Exhibit A

US/CAN Print

Date: 24th April 2014

ISBN: 9781909223103

Format: Large (Trade) Paperback

R.R.P.: US$14.99 CAN$16.99

Deputy District Attorney Paige Callen is being stalked, and the man stalking her is motivated, methodical, and relentless. 

The police aren’t merely one step behind Paige’s stalker; they’re stumped. So Paige’s father, retired Judge ‘Iron Gene’ Callen, instead hires retired San Francisco P.D. Inspector turned private investigator Bob Farrell, to the dismay of the local police.

The cops know all-too-well Farrell’s reputation as a reckless wild card. Judge Callen, however, knows Farrell as a man who never lets the rules get in the way of getting the job done. 

Farrell enlists the aid of former Iowa Deputy Kevin Kearns to help him protect Paige, and to stop a madman before she becomes a statistic. But to find her stalker, Farrell and Kearns must first learn why he’s launched his crusade; a journey none of them may survive.

What I think of it

This book is a classic game of cat and mouse between the harasser and the harassed, between the harassed and the handsome guy, between Farrell and the harasser, between Farrell... and the police. There's so many people running one after the other and creating lots of trouble, it sometimes becomes confusing! This book is the second in a series and it seems it's better to have read the first (which I did not ) before reading this one, because Farrell's setbacks with police are directly associated with what happened before. There's also much hints about Farrell and Kearns' ordeal in the first book.

The stalker is ultra motivated in this story. He couldn't be more prepared, both physically, materially or in the sequences of actions. His hatred for Paige is somewhat irrational but very real. Another example of the pathetic loser who prefers to blame others for his failures. But in the same time, Paige is so detestable that one comes almost to wish him good luck! The story is relentless with - always - the threat of the stalker who can kill his prey at any time, it is maddening! I sometimes found that the stalker came back too soon when he should have tend to his wounds, as in those movies where the bad guy never stops coming back.

Talking characters. Paige Cullen has managed an exemplary career with the help of her father, which she refuses to see, and shows a very annoying arrogance insurance. Even when she's almost killed/rape/kidnap (your choice), she continues to refuse to be help because she believes she can fend for herself. Farrell is the typical private detective, always a smoke in his mouth and a glass of whiskey in his hand. He demonstrated a realism bordering on cynicism regarding the rules, which justifies - in his eyes - his unorthodox methods. Kearns is the good guy, always ready to defend the widow and the orphan (or spoiled rotten DDA in this case). He's always there at the right time and doesn't try to get ahead.

The weak point of the novel concerns the love story that ends up happening (and it is not difficult to guess between whom). I sometimes had the impression of being in a Harlequin novel where the virile guy finally coax the temperamental young woman to the point of making her as gentle as a lamb. It's a bit too caricatural and unnecessary in a story that should be fast paced.


However, what I liked about the book is it's highlighting of the police shortcomings in cases of harassment. The protection of a person calls for swift action that does not allow the justice due to very lengthy and costly procedures - thus used sparingly. The author is a former cop and this is reflected in the narrative, especially in Farrell's quips when attacking the limits of justice. We feel the frustration of a cop who knows and hates to see his system helpless against evil and heavy and unnecessary procedures.

In a nutshell

A book that reads quickly, characters that won't leave you indifferent, an interesting critisism of the judiciary system in cases of stalking, but a useless love  story. This is a 3.5 / 5 for me.

Disclaimer: An e-galley of this title was provided to me by the publisher. No review was promised and the above is an unbiased review of the novel.

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.

Between Two Thorns

by Emma Newman

Split Worlds series (book #1)

Urban Fantasy

Angry Robot - 26th February 2013

400 pages - 16.99 $

ISBN: 9780857663207

I must admit, this is once again the cover that first caught my attention. Then the story: a magical world and a mystery, what more should I want?


The blurb

Something is wrong in Aquae Sulis, Bath’s secret mirror city.

The new season is starting and the Master of Ceremonies is missing. Max, an Arbiter of the Split Worlds Treaty, is assigned with the task of finding him with no one to help but a dislocated soul and a mad sorcerer.

There is a witness but his memories have been bound by magical chains only the enemy can break. A rebellious woman trying to escape her family may prove to be the ally Max needs.

But can she be trusted? And why does she want to give up eternal youth and the life of privilege she’s been born into?

What I think of it

A very enchanting novel (in all senses). If at the beginning, I thought the idea of ​​a world parallel to ours strongly resembled Harry Potter, the author knows very quickly how to make us forget Hogwarts to transport us into a world of her own, much more mature and complex (it is no longer a duality of good / bad, but a conflict between different groups).

What are the Split Worlds? I admit it's the complex part of the book. It took me some time to be able to get a picture of this organization of a world so different from ours. The world is divided into two worlds, one is Exilium, " one of the finest prisons " where sorcerers have sent Fae to prevent them from interfering in the lives of Mundanes (humans) who live in the other world, in Mundanus (our reality). Between the two worlds is the Nether where live Fae-touched (humans affected by the Fae grace so to speak...)

So there are several groups in this book: the Fae-touched governed by Fae, Sorcerers who ensure that the Fae behave well, the Mundanus, we humans and finally Arbiters sent by Sorcerers, whose role is to defer any problems between Fae and humans.

The grand master of ceremonies disappeared from Nether and Cathy, a rebel fae-touched must find him, helped by Max an arbiters and Sam, a mundane. In parallel to this story, another mystery unfolds (which Max would prefer to investigate). So there is a small element of mystery, which always pleases me! There are also tensions between factions, problems of "ethnic" affiliations, a hint of struggle for women's rights (in the Nether! Do not worry, this is not a feminist novel!) This is thus a multifaceted  book that should touch different person.

What make this a good story? Mainly for the magic of these parallel worlds. The author has created a new reality and explains it without seeming to. Eventually, all become obvious and logical! Then the atmosphere. If Mundanus lies in our time, the Nether is stuck in the Victorian era it. The characters are dressed in the fashion of the time... and do not know electricity or modern amenities. Moreover, these differences are discovered with Cathy who had to return home after some years in our reality and who rebels against social norms and lack of modernism. This stilted atmosphere typical of the era adds a touch of Victorian novel that reinforces the magic of the book... as do the gargoyle serving as sidekick for Max. But the story is also excellent for the quality of writing, the boundless imagination of the author, the mystery that reveals itself progressively and ends resoundingly.

In a nutshell

A very good book, very pleasant and enjoyable, a magical world that carries you and endearing characters. I warmly recommend it and especially for lovers of fantasy... and Downtown Abbey !

Letters from a murderer

by John Mathews
Angry Robot - Exhibit A
A Jameson and Argenti case

US/CAN Print

Date: 24th September 2013

ISBN: 9781909223370

Format: Large (Trade) Paperback

R.R.P.: US$14.99 CAN$16.99

ARC

En français ici

I must admit it, I've got a soft spot for stories (in books or TV) about the Ripper. Ripper Street and most recently Withechapel immediately caught my attention, as do the books taking up the mood, style and the blackness of any good book revolving around that story. So naturally, when I saw this book on NetGalley... how to say... I could not miss it! And again, thanks to the excellent house Exhibit A I had the pleasure of reading Letters from a Murderer.

Description

New York, 1891. A new breed of cop for a new breed of killer…

The first in a series of hard-boiled New York Victorian mysteries, featuring Finley Jameson & Joseph Argenti.

If Arthur Conan Doyle had been asked to write a sequel to Gangs of New York, then this would be it.

“One genius criminal profiler. One ruthless, streetwise cop. Both will need all their wits to capture the most notorious killer of all time.”

New York, 1891. A prostitute is found brutally murdered. The victim bears the same hallmarks as a notorious recent killing spree in England. Could it be that killer has crossed the Atlantic to fresh killing grounds? Or is this simply a copycat murder? Fear spreads through a city already rife with cut-throat gangs, corruption and vice. Aristocratic English pathologist, Finley Jameson, is teamed up with Joseph Argenti, a streetwise New York cop, to solve the case. But as the body-count rises and the killer taunts his pursuers in open letters, Jameson & Argenti find themselves fighting not just to prevent yet more victims, but also to save the city’s very soul.

What I think of it

What's about that book? The two main characters Jameson and Argenti, united for better or for worse. Worse, because Argenti, American copper, has some difficulty understanding Jameson, the English aristocrat, to the point where he began to suspect him. All opposed the street cop to the English pathologist. However, the duo works very well, helped by Lawrence, another great character who brings the better out of the two detectives. We like to follow their pilgrimage, we want to be part of their trio.

The secondary characters are also very present, we learn to know the bandits, we know that when Brogan arrives, it will go wrong, that when Tierney comes, it will end badly for someone. So there are heroes on one side, the bad guys on the other side and in between the victims. Again, the author presents them - very briefly for some of them (just the time to die, in fact) - some girls we learn to know better. We get to know the "girls", to like them and fear for them, which makes the murders of the unknown ones more tragic because it could have happened to one of the girls that we know. This is a range of well thought and well written characters you learn to appreciate - or not when it comes to Tierney or Brogan...

The atmosphere: cold, hard and filthy. We are not always in the most exclusive neighborhoods in New York. The docks are very presents, the shallows in background, taverns and brothels provide the framework for the novel. Of course, prostitutes being the victims, the poorest neighborhoods are affected, where crooks of all kinds reign. The contrast is even greater than when we follow Jameson and Argenti at the opera or in the best restaurants in New York.

The investigation was initially conducted by an incompetent lined with dirty cops. Given the lack of results, Argenti takes over the investigation but it doesn't  serve the purpose of some who resent the fact that the upright cop could gain prestige. Argenti and Jameson are launched on false leads in order to harm them, which also hinders the investigation when the killer continues to kill. This is a fight against the killer and against scammers and rogue cops in the city that the two detectives must lead.

The pace accelerates as we go along traps and the progress of the investigation. When Argenti and Jameson find who is the culprit, he does everything to escape them. We are then entitled to some spectacular scenes of chases and attempted murders. The latter being orchestrated by both the killer who will not be taken and by the local ringleader, who wants Argenti to fail.

In a nutshell

For lovers of TV shows, I would say that this novel is a beautiful blend of Ripper Street and Copper, as much for the atmosphere as for the characters. A very good book, full of action, chases and twists. This is the first novel about Argenti and Jameson and I can not wait to read more! I give it a 4/5.

My thought on closing the book: That was some fun!

Here's another great review by Josh on the book. 

Clean Burn

de Karen Sandler

Exhibit A - 2013 (Angry Robot)

304 page - 16.99 $

ARC

En français ici

I got this book through Netgalley and more specifically thanks to Exhibit A (A for Arson!) A new branch of Angry Robot (excellent publisher and guarantee of quality!). I wanted to discover this author and her heroine, a newcomer in the world of crime fiction.

Synopsis

“No child should ever stay missing…”

Wry, smart, tough private eye Janelle Watkins swore off investigating child abductions four years ago, when she left the San Francisco PD.

But when two clients with missing children beg for her help, Janelle can’t say no. Even though it means returning to the scene of her nightmares – her hometown of Greenville.

Forced to enlist the help of her ex-partner and ex-lover, Greenville County Sheriff Ken Heinz, Janelle soon finds herself playing with fire in more than one way, and in a race against the clock to find the missing children before it’s too late.

If Janet Evanovich and the Cohen Brothers ever sat down to collaborate on a story, then this is exactly the kind of incredible novel they might come up with – one full of twists and turns and memorable characters…

Isn’t it about time you met the unforgettable Janelle Watkins?

What I think of it

An excellent first crime fiction - because Sandler is a prolix author in other kind of book - with a heroine with multiple injuries and flaws, but very endearing.

About the characters: Janelle Watkins, ex-cop, private detective, tortured (in every sense of the word) by his past. A heroine not too girly nor too tomboy, a nice mix - which is not always the case for female detectives or cops, I must say. There is also Ken Heinz, ex-partner (in every sense of the word), honest, straightforward and sincere. Two characters very sympathetic to follow. Then there is a lot of secondary characters, well thought out, which gives the impression of being part of the town and to know its inhabitants.

The narrative. Two parallel investigations, one on fire and the other on child abductions bring two former partners together again. The pace does not falter, either because a new lead opens to find the children or because another fire raged. We are taken by the adventures to a burning final (in every sense of the word!)

The author knows how to transcribe Janelle's demons and her worries. We are really feeling her emotions - and they are not all pleasant! - which leads us to understand her reactions - and they are not all pleasant either! I suspected several different people and many times the right one, but I was never really sure until the end. Latter (but not the least in my case), the humor - often cynical - is very well distilled through the story, which makes it more enjoyable to read.

In a nutshell

A very good first crime fiction by Karen Sandler. A heroine to love, despite her shortcomings (or perhaps because of them, I do not know). A story whose rhythm does not slow down. I gave it 4/5!

My thought on closing the book: some great characters!

The Big Reap

by Chris F. Holm

The Third Book in the Collector Series

Angry Robot - 2013

283 pages - 9.99 $

En français ici 

Why this book

There are some authors you know you'll follow no matter what and Chris F. Holm is one of them. When I saw on Twitter that his latest book what available on Netgalley long before its publication I became a member and I received an Advanced Reading Copy (ARC) that I can review now! I even bought a Kobo to read the book whenever and wherever I want - even if I always said that I'll never buy one of them (guess it tooks me that incentive to change my mind!). So first of all, my thanks to Angy Robot for providing me with The Big Reap - but don't worry fellow readers, I'll give an unbiased review!

Synopsis

Sam Thornton has had many run-ins with his celestial masters, but he’s always been sure of his own actions.

However, when he’s tasked with dispatching the mythical Brethren – a group of former Collectors who have cast off their ties to Hell – is he still working on the side of right?

What I think of it

I loved it! The best of the three books. Holm better controls his characters, his universes and his collector, Sam. 

Speaking of Sam. We feel that he distances himself from his human side: he finds it more and more easy to "wear" a living human, whereas in the first books he sought only corpses (I recall that Sam is a damned soul who can't live by himself, but must have a body). We follow his questioning because he doesn't want to lose his humanity, but we also follow his discoveries about the ease with which he possesses the living. There is an internal struggle between the facilities that brings him a living body (credit cards that work, relatives who do not believe you're dead and scream when they saw you ...) and his intransigence of the beginning when he only sought bodies not to traumatize people and not to risk getting them killed (which is easily done in his occupation). So we learn a little more about what he thinks and feels, about who he is actually!

As for the other characters, it was a pleasure to meet back some of the protagonists of the previous books - I won't give their name in order not to screw the pleasure of discovering who returns - even if they're easily guess (because ultimately there is few people we really want to see again, right?) We also learn a lot about Lilith and her story, which I really enjoyed because it allows a better understanding of her actions and reactions.

Let's talk about the humor, because one thing is for sure, this book is stuffed of it - as in the previous two books, which makes these über cool books to read. There is a certain ferocity and cynicism in the dialogues that make them as funny as addictive - dialogues that are often followed by action and hordes of hemoglobin! The fact that Sam possesses human gives way to spread very funny quips for those who like black humor (which I love).

Finally, the story itself and the action, because this book is full of action. I enjoyed the flashbacks of the first collection of Sam and his introduction by Lilith as a collector because it allows us to see the progress made by Sam who is doing better and better. The flashbacks are found in some places in the text and are so well written that the fact that they cut the story do not interfere at all, on the contrary, because they provide a better knowledge of Sam and Lilith. Some might believe that the act of collecting souls might be a bit deja-vu (in the previous two books) and that it is difficult to make it an interesting concept but Holm yet manages to make a breathless story and not at all boring, because each collecting is different. And action ... Action! By reading this book, I thought several times that it would make a great action movie, a kind of blockbuster that would move!

Finally, the weak point of the book (it has to have one right?) Sam is the only collector in charge of collecting the souls of the Brethrens and then I thought, "but why just him. It's not like Hell has shortage of labor, it does not make sense. Ha ha, I have found a flaw in the story? "And well no, the explanation will be given and all will become clear because, dear reader, Chris F. Holm will not let you down, nor leave anything on the sidelines, you'll have the answers to your questions and more. So, no weak spot? Ha! Yes: the book is too short!

Well, I guess my review is totally subjective after all, cause I really like that book! 

In a nutshell

A real page-turner to devour without moderation! I highly recommend this book if you like urban-fantasy, black humor and action. This is undoubtedly the best in the series and it will probably not be the last (at least I hope). A must read! I give it a 5/5.

My thought on closing the book : Yes! There will be another one! (right?) Oh gosh, that would be something!

The Wrong Goodbye

de Chris F. Holm

The Collector Book Two

Urban fantasy

Angry Robot - 2012

387 pages - 8.99 $

En français ici

Why this book

After reading the first one (Dead Harvest), I could only read more. I love Holm's writing style that mixes so well thrillers, fantasy, pulp and a humor ... very dark. 

Summary 

Because of his efforts to avert the Apocalypse, Sam Thornton has been given a second chance – provided he can stick to the straight-and-narrow.Which sounds all well and good, but when the soul Sam’s sent to collect goes missing, Sam finds himself off the straight-and-narrow pretty quick.

A small part

My feet cast wild shadows as they scrabbled for puchase, but it wasn't any use. "I didn't -  I swear!"

He slammed me into the rock wall behind me. My head hit so hard I thought I'd puke. Then I did puke, so, you know, yay for being right.

"I think you're lying to me, Sammy," he said, and slammed me into the wall again, so hard my vision swam. Not that I minded much. In the best times, Dumas wasn't much to look at, and these weren't the best of times. 

My opinion

I have not been disappointed, once again, by the quality of the story and the writing of Chris F. Holm. He really has a knack for creating an atmosphere of his own and to make endearing characters, while at the base ... who wants to  befriend a collector?

I love the dark humor he distills throughout the book that enhances the dark side of the book and at the same time makes Sam more human and sympathetic.

I liked to meet up Sam and discover with him his new ​​colorful friends, but also to learn more about two people crucial in his life - his own collector Dumas and Lilith her boss.

Finally, I appreciate the nervous rhythm of the book that does not weaken. The book is packed with action, so you'll never have time to get bored. I wonder what those book would give on screen but I bet that'll blow one away!

Let's be brief

A book and a writer I highly recommend for who loves pulp, fantasy or both! 

Dead Harvest

by Chris F. Holm
Urban fantasy

Angry Robot; Original edition 2012

384 pages – 8.99 $

En Français ici

Why this book 

I've met Chris F. Holm at the QuebeCrime festival and I immediately liked his humor and humility as an author. He wondered what he was doing in the middle of so many great writers of thrillers and other crime fiction. His first book Dead Harvest was released in February, the second The Wrong Goodbye in October. I did not know his books, but he was so nice that I wanted to encourage him by buying his first novel.

Summary

Meet Sam Thornton. He collects souls.

Sam’s job is to collect the souls of the damned, and ensure they are dispatched to the appropriate destination. But when he’s sent to collect the soul of a young woman he believes to be innocent of the horrific crime that’s doomed her to Hell, he says something no Collector has ever said before.

“No.”

What I think of it 

I loved it! The black humor sprinkled over the story, the story itself and the villain (collector of souls) that you come to love. Is there more anti-hero than a collector of souls? But it works! It's fast-paced, a lot of action, twists, doubt (is the girl really innocent?). When starting the book, I was afraid that it would be too preachy, too religious - good versus evil and the whole shebang. But not at all, there are bad guys in angels and good guy in demons, all of which is a matter of choice.

About the story. I'm not a big reader - or was not until that book - of urban fantasy and I've never read anything about a collector of soul who investigates and it's brilliant. Like in George R. R. Martin I find interesting that good or evil is a matter of choice. The characters can choose to do right or not.

The tone of the book is also something you'll soon learn to love. It's cynic, funny and witty. There are some dialogues in the book which made me burst out laughing - which is not a good thing when you're reading next to someone sleeping!

Let's be brief

I highly recommend it for those who love thrillers and urban fantasy, because it's a perfect mix of those genres. One of the best book I've read this year. I now know why he was invited to QuebeCrime Festival: because he truly is one great author!