by Jason Joyner | Apr 25, 2008 | Blog, CFBA, fiction, reviews, suspense
Athol Dickson won a lot of acclaim and awards for his last book, River Rising. I didn’t read that one, so when his latest work, Winter Haven, was available for review, I didn’t want to miss out.
Winter Haven is the name of an island off the coast of Maine. Vera Gambles, a 24 year old accountant, travels there because the body of her long-lost brother, Sigmund or “Siggy”, had washed up on the north shore of the island. In the midst of the opening of old wounds, the question of how an autistic savant made it from Texas to the Atlantic is her main concern.
When she sees his body and finds he hasn’t aged from thirteen years ago, new questions arise.
What is the connection between this appearance, the strange fog over the north part of the island, the legend of a lost Puritan colony, a figure clothed in black, and Siggy’s body? Vera struggles with the strangeness of the island, her own demons, and the mysterious Captain Evan Frost in her journey to discover the secret of Winter Haven.
The characterization is probably the strength of the book. Vera is mousy and flawed – she’s not the gorgeous and confident heroine we see in so many other books, and to me, the change is welcome. She has a lot to overcome, and you’re not sure if she can rise to it. Evan Frost is very hard to pin down, and even the cranky widow has her moments of sympathy.
The book is an easy read, and it is fairly engaging. The book is written in first person, from Vera’s perspective. This allows the author to introduce a lot of suspense that she has problems figuring out, but some sections where she is wrestling with her past were confusing. I got bogged down a couple of times in these spots. The suspense is gripping at times, and overall I enjoyed the book, but it wasn’t my favorite in this genre.
I recommend the book, but honestly I would wait for paperback if I were to buy it for someone.
by Jason Joyner | Apr 25, 2008 | Blog, CFBA, fiction, reviews, suspense
Athol Dickson won a lot of acclaim and awards for his last book, River Rising. I didn’t read that one, so when his latest work, Winter Haven, was available for review, I didn’t want to miss out.
Winter Haven is the name of an island off the coast of Maine. Vera Gambles, a 24 year old accountant, travels there because the body of her long-lost brother, Sigmund or “Siggy”, had washed up on the north shore of the island. In the midst of the opening of old wounds, the question of how an autistic savant made it from Texas to the Atlantic is her main concern.
When she sees his body and finds he hasn’t aged from thirteen years ago, new questions arise.
What is the connection between this appearance, the strange fog over the north part of the island, the legend of a lost Puritan colony, a figure clothed in black, and Siggy’s body? Vera struggles with the strangeness of the island, her own demons, and the mysterious Captain Evan Frost in her journey to discover the secret of Winter Haven.
The characterization is probably the strength of the book. Vera is mousy and flawed – she’s not the gorgeous and confident heroine we see in so many other books, and to me, the change is welcome. She has a lot to overcome, and you’re not sure if she can rise to it. Evan Frost is very hard to pin down, and even the cranky widow has her moments of sympathy.
The book is an easy read, and it is fairly engaging. The book is written in first person, from Vera’s perspective. This allows the author to introduce a lot of suspense that she has problems figuring out, but some sections where she is wrestling with her past were confusing. I got bogged down a couple of times in these spots. The suspense is gripping at times, and overall I enjoyed the book, but it wasn’t my favorite in this genre.
I recommend the book, but honestly I would wait for paperback if I were to buy it for someone.
by Jason Joyner | Apr 10, 2008 | Blog, CFBA, fiction, reviews, suspense
I have a special place in my heart for Brandilyn Collins’ Kanner Lake Series. First of all, I started following her blog in early 2005, and heard about the conception of the series and various tales from its development throughout reading her blog. Then in 2006 I had the great opportunity of being chosen as one of the
“Scenes and Beans” bloggers. We would blog as the characters from Kanner Lake, telling humorous stories from their perspectives. I was one of the writers for Pastor Hank, which was good fun as well as a writing challenge. It is hard to keep up with one of CBA’s top suspense writers!
This being said, I am saddened in a way to be participating in the blog tour for
Amber Morn, the 4th book in the Kanner Lake series. Since I had a tiny part in helping it along, I’m bummed that the ride is almost over. The good news, for fans of suspense in general and Brandilyn in particular, is that the end of the ride is a catch yer breath, hold on to your seat, not gonna stop fer nuthin’ thrill that will keep your heart pumping until the end. Her trademark is is “Seatbelt Suspense,” as in you better fasten yours. And she’s not kidding in this one.
Amber Morn again features Kanner Lake, but instead of focusing on one person, it is an ensemble piece. The Scenes and Beans bloggers are gathering at the local coffee shop Java Joint for a special celebration. However, three desperate men have other plans, and soon a hostage crisis unfolds. The men want the truth told, and the only way Police Chief Vince Edwards can communicate with them is through the comments on the blog itself.
Brandilyn is a great teacher. She has poured herself out on her blog
Forensics and Faith, spending a lot of time helping aspiring writers with their craft. The proof is in the pudding though, and she proves herself as such a strong suspense writer through this series and in particular this book. Her last book,
Crimson Eve, was very well received, but it was a little more character driven.
Amber Morn, with its multiple viewpoints, can’t quite match that intimacy. It makes up for it with white knucle action. There were several times when I had to put the book down very reluctantly to do things like go to work. Just when you think there’s a little hope, she turns a different screw to put pressure on her characters, and when you think it can’t get worse…oh ho ho! You have to read it for yourself.
All of the books of the series (#1 was
Violet Dawn, #2
Coral Moon) were very good reads and fascinating suspense. Brandilyn Collins closes the series with a real bang in
Amber Morn. This book does rely on the past books more than any of the others, although you can still pick it up and read it alone. However, I would simply suggest buying the whole series! Just be careful that you don’t forget to b r e a t h e…
Oh, and check out the very special dedication at the front of the book. Thank you Brandilyn. You are truly a gracious and special woman, and such a gift to the world of Christian fiction.
by Jason Joyner | Apr 10, 2008 | Blog, CFBA, fiction, reviews, suspense
I have a special place in my heart for Brandilyn Collins’ Kanner Lake Series. First of all, I started following her blog in early 2005, and heard about the conception of the series and various tales from its development throughout reading her blog. Then in 2006 I had the great opportunity of being chosen as one of the
“Scenes and Beans” bloggers. We would blog as the characters from Kanner Lake, telling humorous stories from their perspectives. I was one of the writers for Pastor Hank, which was good fun as well as a writing challenge. It is hard to keep up with one of CBA’s top suspense writers!
This being said, I am saddened in a way to be participating in the blog tour for
Amber Morn, the 4th book in the Kanner Lake series. Since I had a tiny part in helping it along, I’m bummed that the ride is almost over. The good news, for fans of suspense in general and Brandilyn in particular, is that the end of the ride is a catch yer breath, hold on to your seat, not gonna stop fer nuthin’ thrill that will keep your heart pumping until the end. Her trademark is is “Seatbelt Suspense,” as in you better fasten yours. And she’s not kidding in this one.
Amber Morn again features Kanner Lake, but instead of focusing on one person, it is an ensemble piece. The Scenes and Beans bloggers are gathering at the local coffee shop Java Joint for a special celebration. However, three desperate men have other plans, and soon a hostage crisis unfolds. The men want the truth told, and the only way Police Chief Vince Edwards can communicate with them is through the comments on the blog itself.
Brandilyn is a great teacher. She has poured herself out on her blog
Forensics and Faith, spending a lot of time helping aspiring writers with their craft. The proof is in the pudding though, and she proves herself as such a strong suspense writer through this series and in particular this book. Her last book,
Crimson Eve, was very well received, but it was a little more character driven.
Amber Morn, with its multiple viewpoints, can’t quite match that intimacy. It makes up for it with white knucle action. There were several times when I had to put the book down very reluctantly to do things like go to work. Just when you think there’s a little hope, she turns a different screw to put pressure on her characters, and when you think it can’t get worse…oh ho ho! You have to read it for yourself.
All of the books of the series (#1 was
Violet Dawn, #2
Coral Moon) were very good reads and fascinating suspense. Brandilyn Collins closes the series with a real bang in
Amber Morn. This book does rely on the past books more than any of the others, although you can still pick it up and read it alone. However, I would simply suggest buying the whole series! Just be careful that you don’t forget to b r e a t h e…
Oh, and check out the very special dedication at the front of the book. Thank you Brandilyn. You are truly a gracious and special woman, and such a gift to the world of Christian fiction.
by Jason Joyner | Feb 23, 2008 | Blog, CFBA, fiction, reading, reviews, suspense
Ted Dekker doesn’t need much introduction in the realm of Christian fiction. If any readers here think that a book from Christian fiction authors aren’t worth checking out, then his new book Adam is very likely to change your mind.
I’ve enjoyed the other books of his that I’ve read (Blink, Thr3e, and Showdown). I have been busy enough with reading that I’ve haven’t managed to read every one of his books. He has a powerful imagination and loves to explore the tension between good and evil.
Adam is the latest book to examine this theme. From the back cover:
FBI behavioral psychologist Daniel Clark has become famous for his well-articulated arguments that religion is one of society’s greatest antagonists. What Daniel doesn’t know is that his obsessive pursuit of a serial killer known only as “Eve” is about to end abruptly with an unexpected death-his own.
Twenty minutes later Daniel is resuscitated, only to be haunted by the loss of memory of the events immediately preceding his death.
Daniel becomes convinced that the only way to stop Eve is to recover those missing minutes during which he alone saw the killer’s face. And the only way to access them is to trigger his brain’s memory dump that occurs at the time of death by simulating his death again…and again. So begins a carefully researched psychological thriller which delves deep into the haunting realities of near-death experiences, demon possession, and the human psyche.
I’m not a person who reads a book in one sitting, but I really wish I could have with Adam. He knows how to capture an audience and hold them to their seats, knuckles white from gripping the book. The main characters all suffer from some obsession, and the individual reactions to the scenario are intriguing. As they work together to hunt down the serial killer “Eve”, the tension ratchets up to a surprising turn of events that throws the book from being a taut thriller about tracking a murderer to something much more haunting and personal.
Dekker’s writing is fast-paced, and there is not a lot of flowery exposition – he hits the action hard and keeps the plot moving. He uses an interesting technique in this book. There is a fictional Crime Today magazine serial of 9 articles discussing how a serial murderer comes to be. Basically he gives away who the bad guy is from the get go, but is still able to keep the suspense at high levels in tracking the path throughout the serial articles and the narrative. Very challenging to pull off, yet he does it very well.
My only critiques lie with the medical aspects, which play into the plot prominently. He has done his research well, and it is all written well and believably. My problem is that I am a physician assistant, so I can see a few minor inaccuracies. Aren’t I picky? I’m sure that it won’t be a problem for any other readers.
Overall, this book has reminded me of why Ted Dekker is the premier Christian suspense author today. He deftly handles issues of darkness and light and is a master of drawing his reader into the the battle that ensues. I highly recommend this book, and I’ve got a new itch to read more of Dekker’s work.
by Jason Joyner | Feb 23, 2008 | Blog, CFBA, fiction, reading, reviews, suspense
Ted Dekker doesn’t need much introduction in the realm of Christian fiction. If any readers here think that a book from Christian fiction authors aren’t worth checking out, then his new book Adam is very likely to change your mind.
I’ve enjoyed the other books of his that I’ve read (Blink, Thr3e, and Showdown). I have been busy enough with reading that I’ve haven’t managed to read every one of his books. He has a powerful imagination and loves to explore the tension between good and evil.
Adam is the latest book to examine this theme. From the back cover:
FBI behavioral psychologist Daniel Clark has become famous for his well-articulated arguments that religion is one of society’s greatest antagonists. What Daniel doesn’t know is that his obsessive pursuit of a serial killer known only as “Eve” is about to end abruptly with an unexpected death-his own.
Twenty minutes later Daniel is resuscitated, only to be haunted by the loss of memory of the events immediately preceding his death.
Daniel becomes convinced that the only way to stop Eve is to recover those missing minutes during which he alone saw the killer’s face. And the only way to access them is to trigger his brain’s memory dump that occurs at the time of death by simulating his death again…and again. So begins a carefully researched psychological thriller which delves deep into the haunting realities of near-death experiences, demon possession, and the human psyche.
I’m not a person who reads a book in one sitting, but I really wish I could have with Adam. He knows how to capture an audience and hold them to their seats, knuckles white from gripping the book. The main characters all suffer from some obsession, and the individual reactions to the scenario are intriguing. As they work together to hunt down the serial killer “Eve”, the tension ratchets up to a surprising turn of events that throws the book from being a taut thriller about tracking a murderer to something much more haunting and personal.
Dekker’s writing is fast-paced, and there is not a lot of flowery exposition – he hits the action hard and keeps the plot moving. He uses an interesting technique in this book. There is a fictional Crime Today magazine serial of 9 articles discussing how a serial murderer comes to be. Basically he gives away who the bad guy is from the get go, but is still able to keep the suspense at high levels in tracking the path throughout the serial articles and the narrative. Very challenging to pull off, yet he does it very well.
My only critiques lie with the medical aspects, which play into the plot prominently. He has done his research well, and it is all written well and believably. My problem is that I am a physician assistant, so I can see a few minor inaccuracies. Aren’t I picky? I’m sure that it won’t be a problem for any other readers.
Overall, this book has reminded me of why Ted Dekker is the premier Christian suspense author today. He deftly handles issues of darkness and light and is a master of drawing his reader into the the battle that ensues. I highly recommend this book, and I’ve got a new itch to read more of Dekker’s work.
