Book Reviews | Stacy Alesi's BookBitch.com™

THE BEST HORROR OF THE YEAR edited by Ellen Datlow

July 19, 2014

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Volume 6

From nightmarish visions to vengeance of the worst kind, editor Ellen Datlow’s latest anthology features new horror of every possible imagining.

In “The Fox” by Conrad Williams, a family vacation takes a dark and treacherous turn. Priya Sharma’s “The Anatomist’s Mnemonic” features a character whose fetish becomes an obsession he can no longer ignore. Neil Gaiman’s “Down to a Sunless Sea,” which first appeared in The Guardian and later in the Fearie Tales collection edited by Stephen Jones, is a chilling tale of death at sea. Hitchcock himself makes an appearance of sorts in Kim Newman’s “The Only Ending We Have.” And Brian Hodge takes readers back to Lovecraft’s Innsmouth in “The Same Deep Waters as You.”

Each of the twenty-four tales appearing in the anthology were new in print in 2013 and interestingly eleven of the authors included are completely new to this anthology series. Some of the stories are horrifying while others are more eerie and quiet and some are downright bizarre. Whatever your particular horror taste may be, though, this latest Best Horror of the Year is sure to have something perfect for you and may even turn you on to a few new authors as well.

Table of Contents:
“Apports” by Stephen Bacon
“Mr. Splitfoot” by Dale Bailey
“The Good Husband” by Nathan Ballingrud
“The Tiger” by Nina Allan
“The House on Cobb Street” by Lynda E. Rucker
“The Soul in the Bell Jar” by KJ Kabza
“Call Out” by Steve Toase
“The Tiny Flutter of the Heart I Used to Call Love” by Robert Shearman
“Bones of Crow” by Ray Cluley
“Introduction to the Body in Fairy Tales” by Jeannine Hall Gailey
“The Fox” by Conrad Williams
“The Tin House” by Simon Clark
“Stemming the Tide” by Simon Stranzas
“The Anatomist’s Mnemonic” by Priya Sharma
“The Monster Makers” by Steve Rasnic Tem
“The Only Ending We Have” by Kim Newman
“The Dog’s Paw” by Derek Künsken
“Fine in the Fire” by Lee Thomas
“Majorlena” by Jane Jakeman
“The Withering” by Tim Casson
“Down to a Sunless Sea” by Neil Gaiman
“Jaws of Saturn” by Laird Barron
“Halfway Home” by Linda Nagata
“The Same Deep Waters as You” by Brian Hodge

7/14 Becky Lejeune

THE BEST HORROR OF THE YEAR edited by Ellen Datlow. Night Shade Books (June 3, 2014). ISBN 978-1597805032. 448p.

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EVERYONE LIES by A.D. Garrett

July 18, 2014

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Nick Fennimore nearly lost his mind when his wife and daughter went missing, and allowing him to overstep his bounds earned DCI Kate Simms a demotion. She fought her way back and when heroin overdoses start multiplying in a seedy part of town, no one really cares until a pop star joins their ranks.

The case is dumped on Simms, who quietly enlists Fennimore’s help. Then another prostitute turns up dead, brutally beaten, tortured and raped, and Fennimore really needs to put his skills to the test. Misogynistic bosses and lying witnesses are thwarting Simms in her investigation, but she soldiers on, until her family is threatened, and then things really come to a head.

Working around the clock puts her family life in shambles, and there is some definite tension between Fennimore and Simms, but their back story is tantalizingly glossed over, adding more intrigue to these characters.

This is not your cozy British mystery but rather a gritty urban thriller like those of Jeffery Deaver, Ken Bruen or George Pelecanos.

A.D. Garrett is a pseudonym for author Margaret Murphy and forensics Professor Dave Barclay.

7/14 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

EVERYONE LIES by A.D. Garrett. Minotaur Books (July 15, 2014). ISBN 978-1250045720. 432p.

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ONE HUNDRED NAMES by Cecelia Ahern

July 17, 2014

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Kitty Logan is one misstep away from unemployment. A disastrous feature story has landed her in court for libel and now no one in journalism will touch her. No one except her longtime friend Constance.

Constance gave Kitty her first job and has been her friend and mentor ever since. Even in the wake of the current disaster, Constance hasn’t given up on her. But Constance is sick and doesn’t have much time left. On her one and only visit, Kitty asks her if there was ever a story she wished she’d written but never had the chance – the one that got away. Constance tells her there is and instructs Kitty to retrieve a file titled “names” from her home, promising to tell her all about it on their next visit. Sadly, Constance passes away never having explained the story.

Now, Constance’s magazine wants to put together a special edition to honor their founder and Kitty is given the opportunity to write Constance’s last story. Unfortunately for Kitty, all she has to work with is a list of one hundred names. With time running out, she knows this story is her chance to redeem herself while also paying tribute to the one person who never lost faith in her. But first, she’ll have to figure out what the story is really meant to be.

Each new book by Cecelia Ahern is a gem, and while I’m sure to love every new release, I know I can expect something completely different with each new book.

In One Hundred Names, Kitty not only has a lot to learn about herself but also has a ways to go to earn back the respect of her friends and colleagues. Her infamous story cost a man his reputation and could have been avoided if she’d not lost sight of the essential wisdom Constance imparted on her at the start of her career. It is relearning her passion and how to appreciate the things around her that become important in teasing out Constance’s story.

One Hundred Names is a charming tale, one that will stay with you long after you finish.

7/14 Becky Lejeune

ONE HUNDRED NAMES by Cecelia Ahern. William Morrow Paperbacks (May 6, 2014). ISBN978-0062248633. 496p.

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ALIAS HOOK by Lisa Jensen

July 16, 2014

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For two centuries, James Benjamin Hookbridge has been trapped in Neverland. Forced into battle after battle with the eternal boy Pan, Hook has long since tired of the life. Unfortunately for Hook, there seems to be no way out of the curse that has left him here. Until now.

Lisa Jensen’s Peter Pan retelling is so much fun. Not only is it for adults but it’s told completely from Hook’s perspective. Jensen’s version of the tale paints the nefarious villain in a truly new light giving him new depth via a backstory and history.

I liked, too, that Jensen kind of turns the story on its head without really going too far. Here Pan is actually a dark character, the Lost Boys age out, and there are many Wendys. In spite of all of that, Jensen does manage to stick closely to the essence of the original while deftly and convincingly adding her own spin on the story.

7/14 Becky Lejeune

ALIAS HOOK by Lisa Jensen. Thomas Dunne Books (July 8, 2014). ISBN 978-1250042156. 368p.

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THE CATCH by Taylor Stevens

July 15, 2014

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In this sequel to The Doll, Vanessa Michael Munroe is utilizing her gift for learning languages, living in Djibouti as Michael, a man, working as an interpreter for a private maritime security company. Her boss, Leo, forces her into working on a ship, which she quickly discovers is running guns.

The ship is attacked by pirates off the Somali coast, but Munroe escapes, taking the captain with her. Turns out the captain is really what the pirates were after, and she hides him in a small private hospital while she tries to figure out her next move. She contacts Leo’s wife, who is desperate to get her husband back and Munroe agrees to help. They figure out that they are going to have to hijack the ship back, and those negotiations are complicated and deadly.

This action adventure thriller moves along at breakneck speed with the requisite violence peppering most pages. Munroe is a smart, fiercely strong yet damaged woman in the vein of Lisbeth Salander, who could hold her own with Robert Ludlum’s Jason Bourne or Barry Eisler’s Rain.

7/14 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

THE CATCH by Taylor Stevens. Crown (July 15, 2014). ISBN 978-0385348935. 352p.

1 Comment | Book Reviews, Crime Fiction, Fiction | Tagged: Thriller | Permalink
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THE QUEEN OF THE TEARLING by Erika Johansen

July 13, 2014

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A #1 Indie Next Pick and LibraryReads Selection

Book 1

Kelsea Raleigh Glynn has been living in anonymity for nineteen years. She is the heir to the Tearling monarchy and keeping her safe until she can claim her throne has been of the utmost importance. In that time Kelsea has been trained for her role as queen, but nothing can truly prepare her for the realities of Tearling.

Kelsea never knew her mother but couldn’t imagine the state in which she left the kingdom at the time of her death. One of her few accomplishments was a treaty with the nearby kingdom of Mortmesne. And while the treaty protected Tearling as a whole from the Red Queen’s wrath, the terms of the treaty were unimaginably horrific. What’s more, Kelsea’s uncle has allowed corruption to seep into every corner of the kingdom while enjoying a base and luxurious existence as ruler in her stead, a position he has no intention of giving up to the rightful queen.

I loved this debut! What at first seems like a medieval based fantasy quickly becomes something much more unique. The world the Tearling exists in is much like our own but was settled during an event called the Crossing when travelers from America, England, and Europe left their land behind to create a new life for themselves.

The specifics of the Crossing are still to be revealed and while I find this part of the tale incredibly intriguing, it is just one piece of what I thought was pretty fantastic world building all around.

The Queen of the Tearling is the first installment in a new series and already set to become a movie. (Rumor has it Emma Watson has been tapped to star.)

7/14 Becky Lejeune

THE QUEEN OF THE TEARLING by Erika Johansen. Harper (July 8, 2014). ISBN 978-0062290366. 448p.

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THE MOUNTAIN PLACE OF KNOWLEDGE by Marshall Chamberlain

July 12, 2014

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The Ancestor Series of Adventure-thrillers, Book 1

I recently read the second book in this series and was fascinated by the theme, the descriptions and the plot. I, therefore, accepted this book from the publisher and was as fascinated as with the other. The theme is actually one that should be Science Fiction, which it incorporates very well with logical action and motives.

The opening depicts a young Mayan girl living in what is now Belize about 1100 years ago coming upon a cache within a tree when fleeing a Jaguar hunting her. She climbs the tree finding a control panel which in desperation she operates and enters a passage which opens into a chamber containing marvels unknown to the world. She uses the tools found that she masters and becomes a priestess to her people, and sets up a diary of her actions and discoveries.

Shifting to present day, the diary is translated and gives enough information to direct a team of UN investigators to go to the area and attempt to open the chamber. The problems encountered by the team consisting of Mary Ellen Rollins and Dr John Morgan are logical and don’t depend on any super human abilities of the two. They find a way into the chamber discovering marvels placed there by aliens that visited the earth about 180,000 years ago. Interludes in the story indicate that these aliens are still monitoring our planet, and it is unclear if they are benevolent or enemies.

Representatives from China become aware of the tree and the material within it. They decide that they must be the ones to acquire it, and attempt to steal it using advanced cloaking technology and weapons.

The book is engrossing, a fast read and is notable in that it uses “normal” situations stretched only with materials that are currently being developed in the world as well as the devices left by the aliens.

I will certainly read the other books in the series, and recommend this as an interesting and well written book.

7/14 Paul Lane

THE MOUNTAIN PLACE OF KNOWLEDGE by Marshall Chamberlain. CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform; 2 edition (November 26, 2013). ISBN 978-1493554355. 458p.

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HOW TO LOSE A DUKE IN TEN DAYS by Laura Lee Guhrke

July 10, 2014

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Laura Lee Guhrke is the latest author in my quest for good romance writers, but I haven’t decided whether or not to continue reading her. Guess it will depend on what the next book is about.

This book had an interesting premise; an American heiress engages in a marriage of convenience to an English Duke. Edie’s loaded, but her reputation has been besmirched back in New York, so if she doesn’t marry in England she’ll have to go home a spinster. Stuart, the Duke of Margave, has inherited his title and his family’s enormous debt. Properties are going to have to be sold unless he can marry money.

These two come together with the understanding that this is strictly a business proposition. Edie willingly offers to pay off the debt and take care of the family and their property – all she asks in return is that Stuart leave England, go back to Africa and never return.

They agree and he goes off, until he is mauled by a lion and almost loses his life. He realizes then that there is more to life than adventure and he returns home. Edie is not happy to see him, to say the least, but women have no rights to speak of in Victorian England, so she makes him a deal; if he can get her to kiss him in 10 days, than he can stay. He has a few demands of his own, including that she spends at least 2 hours a day in his company, and take meals with him.

This is all well and good, but it turns out her baggage from New York is quite a bit heavier than her husband anticipated. Not all of this story rang true for me, especially the sex scene and the revenge story, which is the downside here. I did like seeing a strong, smart woman running this massive estate, and a Duke who was more concerned with his wife than with convention. I would think this would be good for fans of Downton Abbey.

7/14 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

HOW TO LOSE A DUKE IN TEN DAYS by Laura Lee Guhrke. Avon (April 29, 2014). ISBN 978-0062118196. 384p.

2 Comments | Book Reviews, Fiction, Romance | Tagged: Historical | Permalink
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CRIME ALWAYS PAYS by Declan Burke

July 9, 2014

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Madge’s husband Frank has her kidnapped in hopes of collecting on an insurance policy, but she finds out, shoots him in the knees, and takes off with the $200,000. She plans on taking a Greek cruise with her best friend Karen, but Karen’s crazy one-eyed wolf-dog bites the ear off a man, so she takes the dog on the lam. Several characters, including Madge’s ex-husband, the kidnapper, a cop on suspension, a narcoleptic driver and more are following the money from Ireland to Greece.

This is screwball comedy at its most complicated, with super short chapters told from the viewpoints of myriad characters. These characters would be right at home in a comic book, but none are very sympathetic or believable, so it’s hard to find one to root for. The book is dialogue heavy, which helps move it along at a frantic pace. It’s not dark enough to be considered noir, but should appeal to Tim Dorsey fans and readers who like comic capers.

This is the sequel to The Big O and picks up right where that book left off, so it’s probably better to start there.

7/14 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

CRIME ALWAYS PAYS by Declan Burke. Severn House Publishers; Sew edition (July 1, 2014). ISBN 978-0727883759. 256p.

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THE SWEET SPOT by Stephanie Evanovich

July 8, 2014

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This is the sequel to Big Girl Panties, which I really enjoyed. In the grand tradition of the romance genre, the sequel doesn’t follow the happily ever after of the first book, but rather is the back story of two of the minor but definitely interesting characters in that book. So really it is more of a prequel, with the possible setup of two more characters spinning off into their own book as well.

Amanda owns a very successful suburban restaurant. She comes from a politically influential and wealthy family, and her parents are very supportive. When baseball superstar Chase Walker’s nasty, supercilious agent makes a dinner reservation, she is prepared to hate Chase on sight. Instead, he falls for her and she finds him intriguing, but won’t admit to it.

He becomes a regular at the restaurant, always kind to his fans, and hanging around every night just watching Amanda. He finagles a meeting with her parents, who like him. And after a few weeks, her staff finally convinces her to give him a chance.

Their relationship sizzles from the first date, but Chase has a secret he is hesitant to reveal. He likes spanking women, but Amanda never gives him any indication that she is also into it and he finds himself in a dilemma until the night she mouths off at him. One thing leads to another, and she finds that she does like it but is afraid to admit it to herself.

This is another great romance from Evanovich, with a little humor and a lot of kinky sex. Fans of the 50 Shades of Gray trilogy should enjoy this – the writing is far superior.

7/14 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

THE SWEET SPOT by Stephanie Evanovich. William Morrow (July 8, 2014). ISBN 978-0062234810. 272p.

1 Comment | Book Reviews, Fiction, Romance | Permalink
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