Let me first say that I really do enjoy this author’s work. He’s sent me a few books for review, including this one, and I always end up buying them so I can share his books with others. This book was no different, I purchased it after reading the review copy provided by the author.

Let me start by saying that I’m a book cover snob. This one doesn’t do the content any favors. It’s uninspired and looks a bit homebrewed, especially when compared to the fabulous cover art of his last book. I can say that if I didn’t already know who Dave Conifer was, I probably wouldn’t have picked it up and read it. I’m certainly glad that I did, though!

This book, like others I’ve read from this author, was very well written. The author has a knack for bringing some serious suspension of belief into great characters and locations. It’s okay, it’s a thriller/suspense/mystery book. We’re supposed to just go with it a lot. I think I was most impressed with how easily he made me believe that this was a real location… and then I googled and realized that the bridge does exist! After looking at the photos, I must say that he did a really great job because it’s nearly exactly as I pictured it.

The story line is well laid out, if a bit slow to get going. I think we could have jumped into the action a little sooner, but it also allowed for some really nice information about his characters. Billy, the main character, is really well fleshed out. I felt like we were able to learn about it without being “told about him”, if that makes sense. It was all woven into the book so very well.

The story is engaging, you want to keep reading to find out what happens with Billy and what is going on around him. You want to know the “why” and “how”. You know something isn’t adding up, but I (at least) didn’t figure it out until he told me, to be honest. That’s usually the makings of a good novel. It’s tied up with nice bow, but it ended too soon for me. I think maybe it felt a little too pat, too rushed. It doesn’t hurt the story and it’s the journey that makes this such a great ride of a book, but it did feel as though it were missing some elements.

Overall, a very worthy read for those that enjoy suspense books and fans of this author’s work.

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Book count for 2011: 61

If you read the description for this book, it sounds great – which is probably why I ended up trying to slog through this book for my book club. It was really really good for the first third and then it just meandered and got tired. I was totally digging it until it just kind of flopped over. I did finally finish it, mainly because it wasn’t going to beat me. Yes, I finished it kind of out of spite!

One of the biggest issues I had with this book is the main character. I think this must be one of the most annoying female lead characters I’ve read in a long time. She seems wishy washy and unbelievably naive. She seems to care so little. I think some of this is because of her ordeal, but there really wasn’t a moment when she seemed to take over her life. Perhaps in the end, a little, but even that was… eh, who cares.

The storyline had such potential, it’s a shame that parts of it were drawn out too much while others were skimmed over and not fleshed out. The author tries to leave crumbs to lead us along the story and reveal things in their own time, but instead we’re left not caring.

The writing itself was really well done. The content editing needed work.

Overall, I’d recommend this to her die hard fans. This, unfortunately, was my first read by this author. It will likely be my last.

Rating: 2 out of 5 stars

Book count for 2011: 60

In “Atticus for the Undead” John Abramowitz has created a world that sings of the past, of the present, and of an alternate future. The story takes place in Austin, Texas amid racial tensions, political wrangling, a murder trial, and an organization’s bid to use all of these situations to push their own agenda.

Fifteen years prior to our story, an unexplained event unleashes a change upon the world. Creatures once only found in myth and folklore are once again unleashed, this time for real. How would you react if your neighbor suddenly gained magical powers? What if the kindly old lady down the street transformed once a month into a man-eating werewolf? These and other creatures, including vampires and zombies, are now a part of everyday life. These once normal citizens have joined a new racial class: The Arcane (or for the racially biased, the “Supernatural”).

Enter stage right: Hunter Gamble. Hunter is a new type of lawyer with old fashion sensibilities. Following on his father’s footsteps, Hunter became a lawyer. But where his father formed a huge law firm, Hunter followed his heart after reading “To Kill a Mockingbird”. His entire focus is the rights of the Arcane. He is only human though, and his small law office does what it can.

Enter stage left: Sam Pollard. Sam is a young man whose only mistake was to die. Raised from the dead by his mage father, Sam becomes the focus for a legal battle that will affect the standing of the Arcane for many years to come.

Bring up the lights: An ominous figure hangs in the background. Adrian Vorr, leader of the Austin chapter of the Salvation Alliance, wants nothing more than to see Hunter out of the way. The Salvation Alliance will go to any length to make this happen.

The author describes the book as “Legal Fiction”. I do not doubt that in many ways “Atticus for the Undead” falls in this category. However, I can think of several others that it would fit in as well. In truth, this is a cross-genre story that will appeal to many readers. There is drama, humor, action, magic, and of course “Legal Fiction” as well.

Mr. Abramowitz has crafted a great story with very believable characters. Though the story is set in a slightly future time with mages, vampires, zombies and other Arcane, the situation is something you could see in any setting where racial tensions are high. This story serves as a reminder, a reminder that even when all are created equal, someone will always try to use fear to remove that equality and use the tension in their favor.

Every character is well developed. You can feel the tension as Hunter pushes through a crowd of angry Salvation Alliance members. The hatred and menace of Vorr against the Arcane is palpable in every scene he is in. Sam is a likable guy, a good son, and pitiable as a zombie. You will want everything to work out. You will cringe with each plot twist. You will smile as things go the characters way, and mourn when they don’t.

“Atticus for the Undead” is in many ways and echo of “To Kill a Mockingbird”, updated for our times and made more attainable to the masses. However, there are many differences and is actually in many ways a more believable (sans Arcane) story. This is especially true of the ending, which I felt came way too soon. I wanted more from, and for, each of the main characters of the story. However, looking back, I can understand Mr. Abramowitz’s decisions. Rainbows do not lead to pots of gold, clouds do not have silver linings, and each and every one of use, Arcane and Natural, are all too human.

As Harper Lee’s Scout told us in “To Kill a Mockingbird”: “I think there’s just one kind of folks. Folks.” I think this important moral rings through every page of “Atticus to the Undead.”

I am rating this book with 4 stars, but a very highly regarded 4 stars. While not the best book I have ever read, “Atticus for the Undead” was one of the most engaging. Whether you are a fan of legal, sci-fi, fantasy, or supernatural fiction I think there is something here for everyone.

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Book count for 2011: 56

The author won a charity auction bid on my blog. He was generous enough to donate to one of my favorite charities so I read and reviewed this book during a read-a-thon for him. I will say that I went into this book with pretty low expectations. You see, I’m one of those folks that judges a book by it’s cover. And the current one just doesn’t grab me. It’s a book I would have completely skipped if left to my own devices because of the cover. It really needs something more interesting and less… what it is. It doesn’t do the book any favors or enough justice because the book is WAY better than the cover would lead you to believe… so ignore the cover if the description sounds interesting because it’s quite good.

The book centers around the search for Noah’s Ark and a man by the name of Jack Trader. It looks like the author intends for this to be a series, which I totally get and I can see how this work well for what he’s created here, but I also think this book may have suffered a bit because there was a huge amount character set up in the first half that could have really been woven more into the book itself and less in the beginning. I think that while around 15%, it does really well, it drops back off again until the halfway point.

The plot is really well done. So many authors in this genre of mystery/adventure get so wrapped up in the action that they forget that there’s an actual story they are supposed to be telling. The author does a really remarkable job of staying on point with the whole Ark and Nestorian thing.  Honestly, the plot really was interesting and super well done.

Sadly, while the plot is SO good, the book itself really needed a good content editor. There are large chunks of text with paragraphs that are just too long and there are times when the author really should have made the characters tell us about something instead of narrating large portions of it. It is almost too descriptive in parts and others feel a little disjointed. I think just pulling all the points together and making a cohesive book would have easily made this a four star book (it’s not bad! It’s still a 3 star, which means I liked it, don’t get me wrong!)

Where I think the book really shined is in the dialogue in the last half of the book. It felt like the author had settled in to his characters and they had some really good dialogue going back and forth between them. The first half is a bit stilted as they aren’t really sure where this whole thing is going to be meander to. But the later chapters are so well done that I felt myself getting sucked into their conversations and world because it was so natural feeling.

As I said, it took us way to long to get to our final destination, but once we are there, the author’s writing really shines. He is able to describe the area and the people and their beliefs and everything that surrounds that place with such detail and imagery that I felt like I could easy picture this as a real place in my head. The location was perfect and really made a wonderful backdrop for the plot.

Overall, I would recommend this book for those that enjoy a good adventure or thriller/suspense. It is well done and the plot alone makes it worth reading. The ending had a little surprise or two for me, I wasn’t expecting the very end to happen that way. Hmmm….

Rating: 3 out of 5 stars

Book count for 2011: 53

Demons, secret societies, and unlawful genetic manipulation join forces to change how you think about paranormal thrillers in this book!

Weaver is 1 part science fiction, 1 part paranormal fantasy, and a whole lot of fun!

Alex is a normal teenage girl with good friends, a doting father, and a nice (if a little overbearing) mother. Then, one nightmare the night before the first day of her 10th grade year turns everything inside out.

John Abramowitz has crafted a wonderful story that is truly a page turner. Each page presents a new part of the puzzle. Just what is the Wells Society? Who are the Runaways and whose side are they on? How far will Agents McBain and Hall of the FBI go to help Alex?

Weaver is obviously meant to be the first book in a new series. While many Book Ones tend to meander as new characters are introduced, Mr. Abramowitz has done an excellent job of pacing both story and character development so that the two are intertwined. There is no extra fluff in Weaver, each and every page advances the story and our relationship with the characters. I hope that subsequent titles can keep up the pace!

Other than a few curse words, I would have no problem with recommending this book to young adults. At the same time, there is enough action to keep paranormal thriller fans engaged as well.

Over all a great first title in what I hope will be an excellent series!

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

The author sent me this book and asked if I would be interested in reading it. Since I enjoyed her first book, Is It Just Me? or Is Everyone a Little Nuts!, I thought I would give it a chance. She did tell me it was completely different, but I was not prepared for just HOW different this book was. It’s a complete 180 from her first offering. And wow. What a great book!

The thing that struck me most about this book was the location. The author does an amazing job of bringing this small vacation town to life right on the page. I felt like I knew the people there, the places, the hideaways, and the “feel” that only that town can probably pull off. While reading it, I found out it’s actually a real place and it kind of makes me want to go visit, spend some time in that small beach community and soak it up.

In some ways this was a “typical” mystery/suspense/thriller in that it has all the inner workings and formulas needed to make it great. In other ways, it’s a bit atypical because of the setting, the characters and the back story. The author, again, does an amazing job of setting us up for what is to come. The characters have a wonderful depth to them; we get to know them and care about them – yes, even the one “whodunnit”.

Which leads me to the next point… this is a great “whodunnit” book. I knew who did it about 1/3 of the way through. Then I knew who REALLY did it. And then I realized that was just a red herring and I knew who REALLY REALLY did it. But then maybe not… I honestly had it whittled down to three people by the time I reached the end… not telling you if it was one of the three or not though! I was disappointed in myself though, I usually can quickly figure out who did it pretty easily, but this one kept me scratching my head a bit.

Overall, this a wonderfully written and edited book, it’s fast-paced, but detailed enough to bring the reader fully into the story.I would recommend this for a Fall beach read or to those who enjoy a good suspense mystery read.

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Book count for 2011: 50

I guess I’ve read one too many kid detective books lately. I wasn’t really expecting much from this one after reading the description. It sounded cute, but not anything to rah rah me. And then I read it.

This is an absolutely delightful well-written children’s hard-boiled mystery. Somehow the author has managed to not only give us a good story for adults and children alike, but he also managed to keep the story on pace for both age groups.

I read this myself and when I was done was telling my kids about it. Both my 8 and 10 year old read it and both thought it was really cute. My 8-year-old, in particular, was sure to tell me that it was funny and she really was trying to figure out who the bad guy was.

For myself, I really enjoyed the story and, even more importantly, I enjoyed sharing the laughs, giggles and thoughts about the book with my kiddos.

I would recommend this for 2nd graders on up to great great grandparents. Also for families of book nerds (like mine) who really want to enjoy a book together.

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Book count for 2011: 46

Janet Evanovich has finally learned the art of the cliff hanger. I must admit that I cannot wait to learn what happens next. Unfortunately, it took her until book five to figure out that we really need a reason to keep moving through a series. It has taken me a long time to make it to book five.

Having said that, the entire story line for this particular book in the series was really well done. I like that she put more of Stephanie’s family back into the book while maintaining enough of the crime story to keep my interest. The humor in this book was varied and quite a ride. We aren’t talking about highbrow fiction here, folks. This is all about having a great time while watching a crazy woman destroy vehicles and chase around bad guys. Heck, even the annoying grandmother character is starting to grow on me.

I also felt like we got to know Stephanie on a more personal level. We may have even gotten to look inside to find out what she truly is looking for out of life. I look forward to the next book in the series and learning more about what makes her tick as a person.

This series is recommended for anyone that needs something light and fun to read and doesn’t take their literature too seriously.

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Book count for 2010: 84

The title story is definitely the best of the bunch in this collection of short stories and sample chapters of another book of the author’s. It was cute, BUT from the title, I was envisioning a little more of the cozy mystery sleuth-type genre. Not a bad little short story collection, but not what I was expecting.

The other stories are well-done and edited. I read the sample chapters as well and I might look into the book, but it’s not really my cup of usual tea, but I did add it to my list to think about! I like short stories, but sometimes I feel like I’m just getting into the author’s rhythm when the story ends so I’m willing to give her work another shot for sure.

This is recommended for people that like light Westerns, I think, with a little bit of humor on top.

Rating: 3 out of 5 stars

Book count for 2010: 81

The opening premise for this book has been done so many times that I felt like I could just stop after the first 15% or so and write the rest myself… and then the author screwed with my head. Everything you think you know in this book is wrong. Then it’s wrong again. Well, crud.

The author’s writing is some of the best in the self-published world. The words flow easily through the pages and I found myself getting lost in time several times, transported into Laura’s world. If there was a grammar error in here, I certainly didn’t catch it… and as those of you who follow my reviews know, that’s a huge pet peeve of mine in the Independent world.

The story was well developed. Yes, it’s been done before, but not quite like this. The action was fast-paced, twisting and turning and I just never knew where the author was going. This last bit is the reason it loses a star though. I think if I were to go back and read the book again, I wouldn’t see it coming because there’s no real foreshadowing. I’ve had the opposite problem lately with thrillers, so it was a change, but no less annoying. It really did come out of left field.

Having said that, I would much rather have no inkling than to have it all figured out. And that doesn’t take away from the story or the great story that this is.

Just don’t think you’re all so smart and have it all figured out. Cuz you don’t. No matter how smart you think you are.

This is recommended for readers who like a good mystery/thriller. It definitely made me want to read more of her work!

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Book count for 2010: 75

Here’s part 2 from my interview with the author:

Ruth Francisco is the author of more than half a dozen published novels. I spoke with her about her thriller, Good Morning, Darkness.

Tell us about Good Morning, Darkness. What makes this a good weekend read?

When I want a good weekend read, I look for something fast-paced and utterly engrossing. Something with atmosphere and surprises. Something that will transport me to a different time, a different place. Perhaps a sexy L.A. noir, something that will conjure up images of women in red stiletto heels. Something with as many twists and turns as Sunset Boulevard.

Good Morning, Darkness is a Hitchcock-like thriller that should keep you guessing until the end. We start with Laura, a mysterious beauty, loved by every man who sees her: the Mexican fisherman who admires her through her kitchen window as he walks in the predawn darkness to the ocean; her boyfriend, Scott, a successful real estate agent who asks her to marry him and won’t take no for an answer; her martial arts instructor, LAPD Detective Reggie Brooks; and her lascivious boss.

When Laura disappears, Detective Brooks can’t stop thinking about her. Then a fisherman discovers a woman’s severed arm on the beach. Is it Laura’s? Soon Detective Brooks is driving up and down the windswept, coastal highway in search of answers, risking his job, marriage, and all he believes in.

If you like noir mysteries, you’ll like this one.
I remember reading a lot of buzz online about one of your previous books, Amsterdam 2012. What can you tell us about that novel?

I published my first Indie book on Kindle in February, after my publisher turned down my Euro thriller Amsterdam 2012 for being too controversial.  It met with great success, doing what controversial books are meant to do—stirring up readers and opening up discussion on difficult topics.  Readers have been adamant about it; several have called it a “must-read,” which is enormously gratifying.  Having this kind of interaction with readers makes a political novel, a novel that says, “Look, we need to think about these things,” perfect for Kindle.

Amsterdam 2012 starts with a college-aged woman, Anne Aulis, who goes to Amsterdam with her boyfriend Peter during their summer break. They spend the night with a friendly Dutch couple, and the next morning discover their hosts have been murdered. They flee to London only to find the murders have touched off a Muslim rebellion in Holland that spreads to England. When they return home to the US, Peter is detained at Kennedy Airport, then taken away by FBI agents.

As the dominoes of disaster fall one by one in Europe, and still no word from Peter, Ann has to decide where she stands, what is worth fighting for, what she is willing to risk.  Finally, she throws off her passivity and decides to act.

You’re fairly prolific, with at least six books now available on Kindle. What is your writing process?

I started putting up books on Kindle in February, and just recently got the rights back on my first two published books, which I’ve posted. Then I have several manuscripts that I’ve written over the years that haven’t sold. So I have a bit of a backlog. Usually I research a book for several months before starting.  Then it takes me four to six months for a first draft, which I usually let sit for several months before rewriting, which takes another few months.  Sometimes a book will take years. The Secret Memoirs of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis took me at least two years to write, and I rewrote Primal Wound three or four times over several years.

But writing for Kindle opens up new possibilities for writers, which is incredibly exciting. I wrote Amsterdam 2012 first as a free blog novel, and posted new entries every day. I edited it and posted it on Kindle. There is vitality and vigor to writing this way. My next project will be to do a blog novel written by two writers, who share posts between the antagonist and protagonist. I will invite readers to make comments, or write from a secondary character’s point of view. This kind of “novel improv” is exciting, and can only be done in epublishing.

What was your path to publication?

My first book was published in 2003, and my path was very ordinary—sending out query letters for one book, many agent rejections, writing another book, trying agents again, getting a little interest, then finally, after about a year, getting an agent. Then it was the waiting game all over again as he tried to find a publisher, another six months. Then a year after signing the book contract, the book was published. I’m not sure if this laborious, time-consuming process is even an option to new writers anymore. I think there are much better ways for new writers to enter the marketplace: 1) Polish your novel and get it up on Kindle and Smashwords; promote it; 2) Write several short pieces of fiction and sell them. Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine is very open to new writers in that genre; 3) Write a blog that will draw in readers; 4) Use the internet social network to make writer friends; join writer websites such as authonomy.com; 5) Then, send out query letters to a few New York agents; 6) If you have time and the money, go to at least one writers’ conference in your genre.

With all this self promotion, don’t forget that your writing comes first. Set aside at least two hours a day for writing—six days a week. Don’t even think about checking your emails either before or during this time.

Which authors most inspire you?

Chandler, Connelly, and Highsmith, as well as Ruth Rendell, Joyce Carol Oates, and Stephen King. I guess my tastes run to the dark side. Beyond being great storytellers, all of these writers have characters who yearn for something greater than themselves, who challenge standard ways of thinking and behaving. And they use language beautifully.

Why publish on Kindle?

I am a huge advocate for Kindle publishing both for new writers and established writers. You can immediately make some money from your writing, which makes you feel like a writer. You get immediate feedback from readers, which is exciting, improves your work, and makes you realize that, yes, you are writing for an audience. You can make changes on your published material. Traditional publishing is on its way out: it is no longer economically sustainable for publishers; it is too slow to respond to the marketplace; and people are more mobile than ever—they don’t want to lug around a library of books every time they move.

Simply put, Kindle writing is the future of writing: exciting, dynamic, and very likely more profitable for writers. It makes literature suddenly relevant to readers in a new way.

You’ve had good success with ebooks. What have you done to promote and market your work?

Since epublishing is relatively new, venues for promotion that carry critical weight—such as The New York Time Review of Books—have not been established. But they will be soon—people need help sifting through the huge volume of available books to find what they want. I’ve done little more than promote on Kindleboards, and on the Amazon Discussion forums. Building a presence through a blog, participating in other people’s blogs, book trailers, Facebook, twitter, targeting topic-specific audiences relevant to your book, are all great ways to go. They are, however, time-consuming. You have to be a bit of a huckster at this point.

What advice would you give to a first-time author thinking of publishing on Kindle?

I would advise thinking very strongly about what you are going to write first. If fiction, I would suggest writing a book that can be the first in a series. A book that has a built-in audience. I would think about how I was going to market the book. Being truly original is difficult, perhaps impossible, but displaying your true authentic voice is unique. That sounds easy, but like good acting, it requires self exploration, and a certain amount of despair. And time—don’t be in too much of a rush.