Another entry in the Pendergast series, and it continues to intrigue. The more we find out about Agent Pendergast, the more puzzles and secrets seem tAnother entry in the Pendergast series, and it continues to intrigue. The more we find out about Agent Pendergast, the more puzzles and secrets seem to exist. Will definitely continue the series!...more
OMG, I LOVE this book!! It's yet another entry in the fascinating Pendergast series, so it has that in its favor, right at the outset. It brings back OMG, I LOVE this book!! It's yet another entry in the fascinating Pendergast series, so it has that in its favor, right at the outset. It brings back D'Agosta, from the first couple of books--I love how the character continuity is maintained, even when they don't appear in every book. But this book completely stole my heart when it introduced none other than Count Fosco!! For the uninitiated, Count Fosco is the villain in the book The Woman in White by Wilkie Collins, and he is one of my FAVORITE literary villains. I have seen some reviews dissing him because his manners hearken back to a past time, but that is because he is a creation of another time. I love that these authors honored his impact on their reading journeys by including him in this story. I also love that they included a significant plot point from another classic work that I love (IYKYK)!
It sets up nicely for the next book, and introduces a new member of the Pendergast clan. All in all, I was pretty sure I was going to like this book just based on the other books in the series, but once I got into it, it just made my little English teacher heart all warm and fuzzy! Highly recommended!...more
Another Pendergast book, and this one takes place in cornfields. Do I really need to say any more? I mean, when has ANYTHING good, (well, other than cAnother Pendergast book, and this one takes place in cornfields. Do I really need to say any more? I mean, when has ANYTHING good, (well, other than corn, which I love!), come out of a cornfield? As much as I love corn, I would gladly live without it rather than venture into a cornfield!! God only knows what you will find there, and this book is no exception. Truly terrible things are happening in these cornfields, and it takes all of Pendergast's ingenuity to solve the mystery.
If you haven't started this series yet, what are you waiting for??...more
This is the third in what is becoming one of my favorite series. It is a crime thriller series and has all the suspense and excellent twists a truly gThis is the third in what is becoming one of my favorite series. It is a crime thriller series and has all the suspense and excellent twists a truly good book of that genre possesses, but it also has a dollop of paranormality included. Whether it ends up being explained by science or not, there is always some sort of other-worldly weirdness involved, and I love that!
Also, the main character of these books, Aloysius Pendergast, is able to remain shrouded in mystery even as he controls the investigations. In each book, he adopts a local figure, whether it be a law-enforcement officer or some other figure, to aid him in his quest for the truth. In this installment, he has Nora Kelly, an archeologist from the museum, and Bill Smithback, a newspaper reporter. Smithback is a familiar figure to fans of the series, as he appears in the other two books, as well.
I have been listening to these on audio, but whenever I run across books that I love and do not own, I simply must have them, so I have ordered the first six books in hardback. However, I don't think I can give up listening to Pendergast's languid drawl, so I guess I'll follow along in my paper copy as I listen to the audio version! :)...more
I went into this book blind and listened to it on audio. In hindsight, I think that was a mistake. Had I known ahead of time the convoluted plot strucI went into this book blind and listened to it on audio. In hindsight, I think that was a mistake. Had I known ahead of time the convoluted plot structure, I would have stuck to a physical copy. For me, audio is difficult for anything with a complicated plot and lots of loose ends to keep track of. Rounded up to 3 stars because I feel that the fault is mine in choosing the wrong format for maximum comprehension and enjoyment....more
I thought this was a cute, sweet YA story dealing with loss, grief, and the resilience of the human spirit. Victoria and her dad both love vampires, sI thought this was a cute, sweet YA story dealing with loss, grief, and the resilience of the human spirit. Victoria and her dad both love vampires, so when her dad is diagnosed with terminal cancer, she determines to find one and use it to save her father.
She travels to New Orleans because, let's face it--if they're anywhere in the U. S., it will be there! She is accompanied by her childhood friend, Henry, she sets out to snag herself a vampire and persuade it to turn her. She meets Nicholas, who promises to help her out if she first accomplishes a series of challenges.
I LOVED all the vampire lore and the quotes from vampire stories and movies! I also thought it was a great way to show the gradual acceptance of hard life lessons. Highly recommended for fans of vampiric YA!...more
I thought this was very well done and I did not see the twists coming. I'm not going to rehash the plot; suffice it to say that I was all in and enjoyI thought this was very well done and I did not see the twists coming. I'm not going to rehash the plot; suffice it to say that I was all in and enjoyed it!...more
I love Ania Ahlborn, but this is not her best. Unlikeable characters that were not interesting (they can be as unlikeable as all get out, but they HAVI love Ania Ahlborn, but this is not her best. Unlikeable characters that were not interesting (they can be as unlikeable as all get out, but they HAVE to be interesting!) and an implausible plot. I didn't like it, but it doesn't cancel out the brilliance of Brother or The Shuddering, so it's all good! If you haven't read her yet, start with one of those, not this one!...more
This is one of those thrillers like Colleen Hoover's Verity--thinking about the twists and trying to make them work just gives you a headache. Throw iThis is one of those thrillers like Colleen Hoover's Verity--thinking about the twists and trying to make them work just gives you a headache. Throw in lots of repetition and unnecessary explanations and it didn't work for me. Two stars because I did read to the end and it didn't make me mad like my last book did!...more
An entertaining thrill ride! I thought I had it figured out several times but always had the rug pulled out from under me. Recommended if you like lotAn entertaining thrill ride! I thought I had it figured out several times but always had the rug pulled out from under me. Recommended if you like lots of action and twists! Four stars, Taylor Adams! No need to show up at my door! :)...more
Overall, I enjoyed this. A budding romance between serial killers, complete with eye-gouging and cannibalism? Count me in! It was heavier on the romanOverall, I enjoyed this. A budding romance between serial killers, complete with eye-gouging and cannibalism? Count me in! It was heavier on the romance than I expected (more on that later), which is not my usual fare.
Things I liked:
1. The whole dark premise--two serial killers who, a la Dexter, only seek out and kill human monsters. 2. They have the weirdest meet-cute EVER! 3. Rowan's character reminded me of Cassidy from Preacher, whom I LOVE!! Their whole vibe, the casual acceptance of each other's gory proclivities, had a Preachery feel to me. I love that show, so that was definitely a plus! 4. The humor and dialogue really worked for me, with one exception (I'm getting to that).
Things I didn't like:
1. Weirdo that I am, I was fine with the eye-gouging and cannibalism. What grossed me out were the sex scenes! Sorry, but popping an eyeball out is one thing--(view spoiler)[having to read about their . . . juices . . . being smeared all over their faces is a whole different thing. Am I a Puritan? Maybe, but I still think that I'm not the only woman who read those passages and thought, not no, but hell no! *barf emoji* 2. The narration of their sexcapades didn't help AT ALL! Listening to Rowan (still enjoying the Irish accent) detail what he was going to do, complete with descriptions of body parts was just . . . TMI. I mean, I've read a million bodice-rippers in my day, but those were mostly historical, so maybe I'm just not up with the times. To me, listening to him make her "spread herself open" for him and then tell her "I'm going to do this, and this is going to go here, and then that will go there," all in the crudest language imaginable, just had me thinking, this is romance? I get that their characters are about as far from traditional as it is possible to be, but still, it just seemed like a mood-killer. This started at about 65% in. Once they got going, they didn't want to stop! It finally ended at about the 80% mark. So not much of the book, but I confess that I did hit the fast forward a few times because I was just over it. 3. This is minor, but the whole night of seduction was over the top (in oh so many ways!) but also in believability. I mean, this guy Rowan is apparently the energizer bunny in the bedroom! They seemed to have gone at it for literally seven or eight hours straight, all while Sloane has a dislocated shoulder! Then, after countless orgasms, with Rowan passed out on her, she tries to masturbate? Like, what the hell?? Apparently, Rowan is secretly superhuman in the sex department to be able to perform that many times, and I think Sloane may have some sort of sex addiction if she still needs to pleasure herself after a night like that. She should be trying to figure out how she's going to walk the next day instead of adding to the problem! (hide spoiler)]
Anyway, that's it! I liked everything but the sex. I would like to read the next book since this one ends with a teaser that leads into it. Hopefully, it will be like Outlander where they were going at it like rabbits in the first book (honeymoon period) but calmed down a little after that. I don't mind romances in books, but I stopped being interested in books that read more like sex manuals once I left my teens. That's just me, though. Everyone is different, and that's okay....more
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