Archive for the ‘ Suspense/Thriller ’ Category

Book Review: Children of Paranoia (Children of Paranoia, #1) by Trevor Shane

Children of Paranoia (Children of Paranoia, #1) by Trevor Shane. © 2011 Dutton Books. ISBN 9780525952374. Trade Paperback. Dystopian/Thriller. 384 pages. Source: ARC provided by the publishers.

Since the age of eighteen, Joseph has been assassinating people on behalf of a cause that he believes in but doesn’t fully understand. The War is ageless, hidden in the shadows, governed by a rigid set of rules, and fought by two distinct sides—one good, one evil. The only unknown is which side is which. Soldiers in the War hide in plain sight, their deeds disguised as accidents or random acts of violence amidst an unsuspecting population ignorant of the brutality that is always inches away.” – back cover

My Review -

What an fascinating concept this was! Shane creates a terrifying hidden world within our own. One where doing trivial things in our daily life can harbor life and death consequences: paranoia is everywhere.

This book follows twenty-five year old Joseph as he chronicles his assassinations in his journal. Joseph was raised learning all about his family’s deaths and so when he turned eighteen, he began killing for his side by following the rules. When a job goes wrong and he nearly ends up killed (along with his best friends) he is sent to Montreal. Here Joe meets Maria and they fall in love. Again, his assignment nearly goes awry and an innocent life is almost lost. The couple are separated. Read more

Teresa

Teresa (nom de plume: Torrance Sené) is a self-proclaimed geek, a Janeite, a lover of werewolves and bad-ass angels, an aspiring novelist and an avid book reader who freelances as a web designer. You can follow her on Twitter at @eireannoir.

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The Sacred Blood by Micheal Byrnes

The Sacred Blood by Micheal Byrnes. © 2009 HarperCollins Publishers. ISBN 9780061781988. eBook. Suspense/Thriller. 279 pages. $10.19 US [ Purchase ] Source: Books on Board purchase.

Synopsis: When American geneticist Charlotte Hennesey examined what she believed were the bones of Jesus, the Vatican tried to stop word of her discovery from spreading. Now, her proof has vanished.

But the bones were just the beginning. In her tests, Charlotte discovers that the DNA extracted from the bones contains miraculous powers. Dying from cancer, the determined scientist uses herself as a human guinea pig to astonishing results. When she injects herself with this miracle DNA, the bone cancer that is slowly killing her doesn’t just go into remission, it vanishes completely. It seems the DNA has the ability to repair damaged genes, to heal the sick, to cure incurable diseases. And much to her surprise, Charlotte discovers that now she possesses these very powers. Read more

Maya

Maya is a mechanical engineer and an avid reader with a love of history, mythology and culture. She is a typical Aquarian with a mean streak of reality but loves books of a paranormal and supernatural nature.

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The Sacred Bones by Micheal Byrnes

The Sacred Bones by Micheal Byrnes © 2007 Simon & Schuster Ltd. ISBN 9781847370112. Paperback. Mystery/Thriller. 448 pages. $7.99 US [ Purchase ] Source: Amazon purchase.

Synopsis: At the crossroads of Christian, Islamic, and Jewish faiths, an ancient artifact is stolen from a long-hidden vault located directly beneath Jerusalem’s Temple Mount . . .

With the violent theft leaving thirteen Israeli soldiers and policemen dead, and the Palestinians up in arms over the desecration of sacred grounds, the tension between the two groups is dangerously high. Jerusalem is a stick of dynamite and the fuse has been lit. . . .

Across the Mediterranean in Italy, American forensic scientist Charlotte Hennesey has been hired by the Vatican to examine the contents of a newly discovered archeological treasure: a two-thousand-year-old ossuary containing the bones of an unidentified, crucified man—the first complete skeleton of a crucifixion victim ever found. Together with Italian anthropologist Giovanni Bersei, Charlotte makes startling forensic and genetic discoveries that lead her to wonder—could these be the bones of Jesus Christ? Read more

Maya

Maya is a mechanical engineer and an avid reader with a love of history, mythology and culture. She is a typical Aquarian with a mean streak of reality but loves books of a paranormal and supernatural nature.

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What Is Mine by Anne Holt

What Is Mine by Anne Holt. © 2007 Warner Books. ISBN 0-446-57802-9. Hardback. 391 pages. $24.99 US. [ Purchase ]

A translation of the original Norwegian novel, What Is Mine is a suspense-thriller about a child serial killer stalking a usually low-crime town in Norway. With one child missing, and another dead, lead detective Adam Stubo turns to the only help he knows, Johanne Vik, a former FBI profiler. Yet, Johanne is apprehensive to join being already absorbed in another investigation where the suspect has fled to America. But when more children go missing, Vik (a mother of a six-year old) can no longer turn a blind eye to what’s happening in her own country and joins the local police investigation. Could the cold case and the new have something in common?

This is the first suspense-thriller I’ve read, normally they are only good to me in film form, but this was a pleasant surprise. It’s fact-paced and rather enjoyable and I could over look the few seemingly short chapters (something of a peeve of mine). Her characters are believably human and fascinating. The struggle of the small girl is heartbreaking. These characters pull you in and truly make you feel as though you are a part of this well-composed story.

This is a great introduction to the genre and a sure to be pleasurable read for crime story veterans.

Teresa

Teresa (nom de plume: Torrance Sené) is a self-proclaimed geek, a Janeite, a lover of werewolves and bad-ass angels, an aspiring novelist and an avid book reader who freelances as a web designer. You can follow her on Twitter at @eireannoir.

Website - More Posts