I read two books by Hunter Morgan earlier this year and really enjoyed them, so when looking over my shelves, I decided to pick this one up. I enjoyed it and give it a B+.
Back cover:
Vineyard manager Rachel Gibson's once-blissful marriage crashed to an end with the imprisonment of her husband following a series of senseless tragedies that peaked one night on a bloody stretch of Delaware highway. Five years later, Noah's coming home, and Rachel wonders if he'll be able to piece together some kind of life, with or without her help...
But the Noah who returns is a virtual stranger, a mere shadow of the man Rachel once loved. And he may be more changed that she realizes. People around town are dying- grisly, torturous deaths- and the hands of someone making them "pay" for their secret sins. And who better to know the victims' deepest secrets than their local clergyman... the former Reverend Noah Gibson?
As body after body is discovered, Rachel can't let go of a sickening snense that the killer's twisted path is pointing in her direction. And to stop the next slaying before it begins, Rachel will have to face her worst nightmare- a terror born of the darkest power of all...
While this book is classified as a romantic suspense, I wouldn't really call it that. There are a few little romance subplots running through the story, but none of the usual cliches that bother me and not whole chapters of the romance taking over the story. It was perfectly done if you ask me. There were several red herrings thrown out throughout the story which I always enjoy and there were a lot of suspects that I kept going back and forth with. The murderer was a surprise, but once I started thinking about it, the more it made sense to me. Hunter Morgan hits another win with me, and I will continue to read more books by the author.
I am pretty sure I have finished the RYOB challenge, in which I said I wanted to read 50 books I owned. I need to count up my final tally, but I know it's over 50 and there are still slightly less than 2 weeks left in 2009. I don't think I am going to be entering any official challenges this upcoming year because I really didn't do a good job of reporting updates, but I think I will do my own little mini-challenges including reading 50 of my own books again and 50 library books. I doubt I will hit my goal of reading 135 books this year (I'm at 128 right now, so I guess it's possible, but unlikely) but I am going to shoot for that again next year. I am officially on break now, and almost have all my Christmas shopping done so bring on the books! Happy Reading everyone!
Showing posts with label challenges. Show all posts
Showing posts with label challenges. Show all posts
Monday, December 21, 2009
Saturday, September 19, 2009
Evil at Heart by Chelsea Cain
I've been a fan of Chelsea Cain since her first Gretchen Lowell book was released 2 years ago. They are such a different type of suspense book, one unlike anything else out there. I've been waiting and waiting for Evil at Heart and finally had the chance to pick it up from the library yesterday. I couldn't wait to get into it and I ended up starting and finishing it this evening. I give it an A-.
I am not going to give the synopsis or inside cover of this book because I think if you haven't read either of the other two books in the series you will be spoiled. This is a series that MUST be read in order otherwise everything becomes ruined for you. I do feel the need to warn you though... if you are at all squeamish, sensitive to descriptive language and/or violence, I would probably pass on these books. Ms. Cain is one of a few authors who can actually spook me and creep me out.
I am not sure how much further this series will continue, though I do think that Evil at Heart seems a bit more resolved than the other books were. I am somewhat grateful for this because you never know with the publishing world... one day a series that is wildly popular can be discontinued the next day. Look up this series if you love a good suspense, especially one that focuses on serial killers.
I am not sure what I'm going to read next. I have one more library book, but would like to continue to reading one library book, and then one of my own books to keep up with the RYOB challenge. I pledged to read 40 of my own books and so far, out of the 103 books I've read this year, only 32 have been my own! I love my library, but need to read more of my own books. Well, I feel like I'm coming down with the cold/flu my hubby's had the past week, so I think I'm off to bed. Happy Reading everyone!
I am not going to give the synopsis or inside cover of this book because I think if you haven't read either of the other two books in the series you will be spoiled. This is a series that MUST be read in order otherwise everything becomes ruined for you. I do feel the need to warn you though... if you are at all squeamish, sensitive to descriptive language and/or violence, I would probably pass on these books. Ms. Cain is one of a few authors who can actually spook me and creep me out.
I am not sure how much further this series will continue, though I do think that Evil at Heart seems a bit more resolved than the other books were. I am somewhat grateful for this because you never know with the publishing world... one day a series that is wildly popular can be discontinued the next day. Look up this series if you love a good suspense, especially one that focuses on serial killers.
I am not sure what I'm going to read next. I have one more library book, but would like to continue to reading one library book, and then one of my own books to keep up with the RYOB challenge. I pledged to read 40 of my own books and so far, out of the 103 books I've read this year, only 32 have been my own! I love my library, but need to read more of my own books. Well, I feel like I'm coming down with the cold/flu my hubby's had the past week, so I think I'm off to bed. Happy Reading everyone!
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
The Abortionist's Daughter by Elisabeth Hyde
I have had The Abortionist's Daughter on my shelves for probably close to two years now. I won it in a contest on an old blog I used to read and was eager to read it, but as things happen, it got shelved on the bottom and I forgot about it. I am not sure what reminded me of this book, but I decided to uncover it and read it for the Suspense and Thriller Challenge in the category of suspense drama. I am so glad that I did because I loved this book. I am going to give it a rare A.
From Amazon:
Two weeks before Christmas, Diana Duprey, an outspoken abortion doctor, is found dead in her swimming pool. A national figure, Diana inspired passion and ignited tempers, but never more so than the day of her death. Her husband Frank, a longtime attorney in the DA’s office; her daughter Megan, a freshman in college; the Reverend Stephen O’Connell, founder of the town’s pro-life coalition: all of them quarreled with Diana that day and each one has something to lose in revealing the truth. Meanwhile the detective on the case struggles for the answers — and finds himself more intimately involved than he ever could have imagined.
Everything was great about this book. The mystery was really compelling and even though I thought I had it figured out, things kept making me doubt myself. The characters were really well developed and we were allowed to get inside the heads of quite a few of them. I could relate with all of them which is usually not true in reading. The writing was really done and I kept turning the pages. I probably could have finished this book in one sitting if that little pesky thing called work didn't get in the way. I was worried about how I might react to some of the things discussed in the book and was hoping that the details of the abortions wouldn't get too graphic, and once I was a bit uncomfortable but I felt it was necessary to the story. I am now afraid the next book I read will not hold up if I keep compariing it to this one!
On that note, I have no idea what I am going to read next. Should I go for something totally opposite and pick a light romantic comedy... or perhaps a gory thriller? I am not sure, but I do know that The Abortionist's Daughter will stay with me for quite a bit. Happy Reading!
From Amazon:
Two weeks before Christmas, Diana Duprey, an outspoken abortion doctor, is found dead in her swimming pool. A national figure, Diana inspired passion and ignited tempers, but never more so than the day of her death. Her husband Frank, a longtime attorney in the DA’s office; her daughter Megan, a freshman in college; the Reverend Stephen O’Connell, founder of the town’s pro-life coalition: all of them quarreled with Diana that day and each one has something to lose in revealing the truth. Meanwhile the detective on the case struggles for the answers — and finds himself more intimately involved than he ever could have imagined.
Everything was great about this book. The mystery was really compelling and even though I thought I had it figured out, things kept making me doubt myself. The characters were really well developed and we were allowed to get inside the heads of quite a few of them. I could relate with all of them which is usually not true in reading. The writing was really done and I kept turning the pages. I probably could have finished this book in one sitting if that little pesky thing called work didn't get in the way. I was worried about how I might react to some of the things discussed in the book and was hoping that the details of the abortions wouldn't get too graphic, and once I was a bit uncomfortable but I felt it was necessary to the story. I am now afraid the next book I read will not hold up if I keep compariing it to this one!
On that note, I have no idea what I am going to read next. Should I go for something totally opposite and pick a light romantic comedy... or perhaps a gory thriller? I am not sure, but I do know that The Abortionist's Daughter will stay with me for quite a bit. Happy Reading!
Sunday, January 4, 2009
Close To You by Mary Jane Clark
As I mentioned before, I got Close To You from my local library. I thought it would be a perfect fit for two of my challenges and I had previously read a book by Ms. Clark that I really enjoyed. I had high hopes for this book, though I was left feeling a bit disappointed. I give it a B-.
From Amazon:
In front of the camera, as anchorwoman for KEY Evening Headlines, she's savvy, sexy, and sophisticated. But when she steps out of the spotlight, Eliza Blake is far more vulnerable than her devoted viewers would ever imagine. Single-handedly raising a young daughter, she's finally found a safe haven: a dream house in the suburbs, where nothing can ever threaten her again....It begins with a venomous letter. No stranger to the occasional hate mail that mingles with glowing correspondence from adoring fans, Eliza is at first unaware that this time, the writer isn't a harmless nutcase. Then come the menacing phone calls. Now, that her serene suburban life is shattered by fear, Eliza must face the chilling realization that the stalker is closer, and more lethal, than anyone ever suspected-perhaps even concealed behind a trusted, familiar face...
The first thing that disappointed me about this book was the fact that it was part of a series, which I didn't know. That doesn't take away from the book, but I was kind of disappointed because I have the book before this and now I feel like I can't read it since this book explains a bit of what happens. The second thing that disappointed me was the lack of the suspense. I pretty much figured out who the bad stalker was as soon as the character was introduced. There wasn't even a whole lot about the stalker or even some real threats made on Eliza. I felt like I was reading a fiction story about a single mom who is a famous tv anchor that had a bit of mystery thrown in to spice the book up. That isn't necessiarly a bad thing, it's just that I was expecting more thrill and less mundane. There was also a lot of unanswered questions that weren't even discussed so that kinda threw me off. Again it wasn't a bad book, just not my favorite.
I am not sure what I am going to read next, but it will be something off of my shelves. School starts tomorrow and I probably won't have to work because teachers can't call in the day after a break which is fine by me. I am working a lot on my online job-which I love- and I don't feel ready to pull out work clothes again. I swear being off of work for two weeks makes it very hard to go back in. Oh well, we got to do it! I hope everyone had a relaxing weekend and Happy Reading!
From Amazon:
In front of the camera, as anchorwoman for KEY Evening Headlines, she's savvy, sexy, and sophisticated. But when she steps out of the spotlight, Eliza Blake is far more vulnerable than her devoted viewers would ever imagine. Single-handedly raising a young daughter, she's finally found a safe haven: a dream house in the suburbs, where nothing can ever threaten her again....It begins with a venomous letter. No stranger to the occasional hate mail that mingles with glowing correspondence from adoring fans, Eliza is at first unaware that this time, the writer isn't a harmless nutcase. Then come the menacing phone calls. Now, that her serene suburban life is shattered by fear, Eliza must face the chilling realization that the stalker is closer, and more lethal, than anyone ever suspected-perhaps even concealed behind a trusted, familiar face...
The first thing that disappointed me about this book was the fact that it was part of a series, which I didn't know. That doesn't take away from the book, but I was kind of disappointed because I have the book before this and now I feel like I can't read it since this book explains a bit of what happens. The second thing that disappointed me was the lack of the suspense. I pretty much figured out who the bad stalker was as soon as the character was introduced. There wasn't even a whole lot about the stalker or even some real threats made on Eliza. I felt like I was reading a fiction story about a single mom who is a famous tv anchor that had a bit of mystery thrown in to spice the book up. That isn't necessiarly a bad thing, it's just that I was expecting more thrill and less mundane. There was also a lot of unanswered questions that weren't even discussed so that kinda threw me off. Again it wasn't a bad book, just not my favorite.
I am not sure what I am going to read next, but it will be something off of my shelves. School starts tomorrow and I probably won't have to work because teachers can't call in the day after a break which is fine by me. I am working a lot on my online job-which I love- and I don't feel ready to pull out work clothes again. I swear being off of work for two weeks makes it very hard to go back in. Oh well, we got to do it! I hope everyone had a relaxing weekend and Happy Reading!
Friday, January 2, 2009
Innocence by Karen Novak
I got Innocence by Karen Novak from the library. I had heard nothing about this book, but it just caught my eye and the premise sounded interesting. It also fit into the Suspense and Thriller Challenge as a private investagor thriller. As I read the book, I thought that it may not fit well but it did. It was a wonderfully written book and I really enjoyed it. I give it an A-.
From Amazon:
When private investigator Leslie Stone's own thirteen-year-old daughter, Molly, attempts to hire her to find a vanished friend, the case stirs memories of one from Leslie's own troubled childhood: a series of abductions of girls who became known as the Nightingales. Five eighth-grade boys are being charged with assaulting Molly's friend. But even as their small town erupts in anger and calls for justice, Molly insists that the boys are innocent, and takes the stand to testify on their behalf. Leslie's investigations show that although Molly may be right, someone is guilty. As the case draws her own secret knowledge of the Nightingales' history toward the light, she is left uncertain of every instinct except the one that demands she protect her child- even if she has to betray her own childhood by telling everything.
This book has so much going on, yet the reader is never overwhelmed. The reader gets two stories for one, including old kidnapping and child assults that happened when Leslie was a child. The author does a fantastic job of telling the second story and in such an interesting way as well... by inserting seperate chapters counting backwards. For example, the book opens up with Chapter 19 telling one part of the old story and then counts down after breaking in spots for the current story. This book touches on so many aspects of life today and at times is hard to read. I was still surprised when things came out in the final pages and it didn't bother me. There are a lot of emotions dealing with family that touched me as well and I have a feeling this book will stay with me for a bit. It is part of a series, but I believe it is the last of the series. If this is so, I say it is a perfect ending.
Up next is another library book that will also fit the Thriller Challenge. The book is Close To You by Mary Jane Clark and fits the stalker thriller book. I have previously read one Mary Jane Clark and have several on my shelves, so I hope it is another great one.In 2008 I read 130 books, and this year I would like to beat it by 5. I definitely need to make more time for reading. I get such a great pleasure for it and need to make more time. Happy Reading!
From Amazon:
When private investigator Leslie Stone's own thirteen-year-old daughter, Molly, attempts to hire her to find a vanished friend, the case stirs memories of one from Leslie's own troubled childhood: a series of abductions of girls who became known as the Nightingales. Five eighth-grade boys are being charged with assaulting Molly's friend. But even as their small town erupts in anger and calls for justice, Molly insists that the boys are innocent, and takes the stand to testify on their behalf. Leslie's investigations show that although Molly may be right, someone is guilty. As the case draws her own secret knowledge of the Nightingales' history toward the light, she is left uncertain of every instinct except the one that demands she protect her child- even if she has to betray her own childhood by telling everything.
This book has so much going on, yet the reader is never overwhelmed. The reader gets two stories for one, including old kidnapping and child assults that happened when Leslie was a child. The author does a fantastic job of telling the second story and in such an interesting way as well... by inserting seperate chapters counting backwards. For example, the book opens up with Chapter 19 telling one part of the old story and then counts down after breaking in spots for the current story. This book touches on so many aspects of life today and at times is hard to read. I was still surprised when things came out in the final pages and it didn't bother me. There are a lot of emotions dealing with family that touched me as well and I have a feeling this book will stay with me for a bit. It is part of a series, but I believe it is the last of the series. If this is so, I say it is a perfect ending.
Up next is another library book that will also fit the Thriller Challenge. The book is Close To You by Mary Jane Clark and fits the stalker thriller book. I have previously read one Mary Jane Clark and have several on my shelves, so I hope it is another great one.In 2008 I read 130 books, and this year I would like to beat it by 5. I definitely need to make more time for reading. I get such a great pleasure for it and need to make more time. Happy Reading!
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
2009 Suspense Thriller Challenge
This one is a no brainer for me to enter since I love thrillers and suspense novels. Here are the rules that the lovely J. Kaye is hosting. Here are the rules!
2009 Suspense & Thriller Reading Challenge
This is for the ones who finished the 2008/09 Suspense & Reading Challenge are ready for another. Rules of this challenge:
* Read TWELVE (12) different sub-genres of thrillers in 2009.
* You do NOT need to select your books ahead of time. Also, you may change as you go. * Your books can crossover into other challenges.
* You don't need a blog to join in this challenge. For those who do, this is important. When you sign up under Mr. Linky, list the direct link to your post where your S/T books will be listed. If you list just your blog’s URL, it will be removed.
Click to join suspense-thriller-challenge
This is the list of sub-genres of thrillers we've discovered so far:
Action thrillers - often feature a race against the clock, contains lots of violence, and an obvious antagonist. Treasure hunt, search for a lost archeological site, the world's lost meteorite, a mystery lost to time--action-adventure brings back our childhood fantasies of being the adventurer. Examples are Sahara by Clive Cussler, Thunderhead by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child, Tyrannosaur Canyon by Douglas Preston
Amateur Detective mystery - solved by an amateur, who generally has some profession or affiliation that provides ready access to information about the crime.
Comic Thrillers - a thriller played for laughs, whether through a spoof of the genre or wisecracking interplay between the protagonists.
Conspiracy thriller - In which the hero/heroine confronts a large, powerful group of enemies whose true extent only he/she recognizes. The Chancellor Manuscript and The Aquitane Progression by Robert Ludlum fall into this category.
Cozy mystery - takes place in a small town—sometimes in a single home—where all the suspects are present and familiar with one another, except the detective, who is usually an eccentric outsider.
Crime thriller - offers a suspenseful account of a successful or failed crime or crimes. This subgenre often focuses on the criminal(s) rather than a policeman. Crime thrillers usually emphasize action over psychological aspects. Central topics of these films include murders, robberies, chases, shootouts, and double-crosses are central ingredients. I think the Dexter series would work well here.
Eco-thriller is where the protagonist must avert or rectify an environmental or biological calamity - often in addition to dealing with the usual types of enemies or obstacles present in other thriller genres. This environmental component often forms a central message or theme of the story. Examples include Nicholas Evans's The Loop, C. George Muller's Echoes in the Blue, and Wilbur Smith's Elephant Song, all of which highlight real-life environmental issues.
Futuristic Eco-thrillers are of the Science Fiction genre that proposes ideas that will or may occur and include such works as Kim Stanley Robinson's Mars Trilogy and Ian Irvine's Human Rites Trilogy.
Erotic thriller simply put consists of erotica and thriller. The genre includes such books as Basic Instinct by Richard Osborne, and Fatal Attraction.
Disaster thriller - In which the main conflict is due to some sort of natural or artificial disaster, such as floods, earthquakes, hurricanes, volcanoes, etc., or nuclear disasters as an artificial disaster. Examples include Stormy Weather by Carl Hiaasen, Tremor by Winston Graham, and the 1974 film Earthquake.
Drama thriller - In which the story consists of the elements of a thriller and drama film. These films are usually slower paced and involves a great deal of character development along with plot twists. Examples include The Illusionist, The Interpreter and The Prestige.
Forensic mystery - solved through the forensics lab, featuring much detail and scientific procedure.
Futuristic mystery/thrillers - a crime set in the future.
Hard-boiled mystery - is tougher and grittier than soft- or medium-boiled stories. They often incorporate violence, no-holds-barred descriptions of crime scenes, and sexual encounters. They usually feature a lone-wolf private detective who is cynical yet quixotic. Think Sara Paretsky, Ian Rankin, Raymond Chandler, Michael Connelly, James Elroy, Clyde Ford (The Long Mile). Historical Thriller are thrillers set in the past, usually combined with other subgenres. This particular subgenre is rather uncommon. Examples of this are Black Order by James Rollins and The Jester by James Patterson and Andrew Gross.
Hitman Thriller would be where victims are being hunted by a hitman. Dean Koontz's The Good Guy is an example.
Horror thrillers has the conflict between the main characters are mental, emotional, and physical. Examples of this include World War Z: An Oral History of the Zombie War by Max Brooks and 28 Days Later: The Aftermath by Steve Niles. What sets the horror thriller apart is the main element of fear throughout the story. The main character(s) is not only up against a superior force, but they are or will soon become the victims themselves and directly feel the fear that comes by attracting the monster's attention. Other well-known examples are Alfred Hitchcock's Psycho and Thomas Harris's The Silence of the Lambs.
Inverted mystery - one where the killer is know and the story is about how the police go about proving and catching the killer- The Columbo movies were based on this genre.
Legal thrillers are where the lawyer-heroes/heroines confront enemies outside, as well as inside, the courtroom and are in danger of losing not only their cases but their lives. The Pelican Brief by John Grisham and the Jack Swyteck novels by James Grippando are good examples of the type.
Literary thrillers concern rare books but this one was about art crime. (added by Violette Severin)
Locked Room - mystery in which the crime is apparently committed under impossible circumstances (but eventually elicits a rational explanation).
Medical thrillers are which the hero/heroine are doctors or medical personnels working to solve an expanding medical problem. Robin Cook, Michael Palmer, and Tess Gerritsen are well-known authors of this subgenre.
Military Thrillers - a thriller featuring a military protagonist, often working behind enemy lines or as part of a specialized force
Murder Mystery - focuses on one type of criminal case. Usually, there is a murder victim, and the detective must figure out who killed him, the same way he solves other crimes.
Mob Mysteries or Thillers are about mobsters, and their life account. It can describe the crimes they have committed, or the mob's general development.
Police Procedural Thrillers - a crime thriller that follows the police as they work their way through a case.
Political thrillers where the hero/heroine must ensure the stability of the government that employs him. Good examples are Protect and Defend by Vince Flynn, Presidential Games by Alvin E. Hargis, and Happy Holidays: A Political Thriller by J.D. Smith. Private Detective mystery - Focused on the independent snoop-for-hire, these have evolved from tough-guy "hard-boiled" detectives to the more professional operators of today.
Psychological thrillers have (until the often violent resolution) the conflict between the main characters is mental and emotional, rather than physical. The Alfred Hitchcock films Suspicion, Shadow of a Doubt, and Strangers on a Train and David Lynch's bizarre and influential Blue Velvet are notable examples of the type, as is The Sixth Sense by M. Night Shyamalan and The Talented Mr. Ripley by Patricia Highsmith (who also wrote Strangers).
Religious thrillers were popularized by the blockbuster, The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown. This subgenre uses the rich and long history of religion to build stories with high stakes and deadly politics. More examples are Map of Bones by James Rollins, The Templar Legacy by Steve Berry, and The Last Cato by Matilde Asensi.
Romantic thriller is where the protagonists are romantically involved.
Sci-Fi thrillers - Michael Crichton's first novel, The Andromeda Strain (1969), still ranks as one of the top science fiction thrillers of all time. What could be scarier than microscopic killer germs run amok? Representing the larger end of the weird-creature spectrum, Mammoth by John Varley (2005) imaginatively spins a yarn starring a billionaire, a brilliant nerd, and a gifted animal wrangler whose newest charge happens to be a woolly mammoth.
Serial Killer thriller is an extremely popular subgenre of thriller. In this subgenre, a serial killer is terrorizing a group of people with horrific violence. The detective's goal is to stop the killer before he takes his next victim. Examples here are The Skin Gods by Richard Montanari, The Narrows by Michael Connelly, Seduction in Death by J. D. Robb Spy thrillers (also a subgenre of spy fiction) are where the hero is generally a government agent who must take violent action against agents of a rival government or (in recent years) terrorists. Examples include From Russia with Love by Ian Fleming, The Bourne Identity by Robert Ludlum, and television series such as Mission: Impossible and 24 (the latter demonstrating a break from the norm by Robert Ludlum, as it is as much a psychological thriller as a spy thriller.)
Supernatural thrillers are in which the conflict is between main characters and a supernatural powers. Carrie by Stephen King and Unbreakable by M. Night Shyamalan are notable examples of this genre. This type of thriller combines tension of the regular thriller with such basic horror oriented ingredients as ghosts, the occult, and psychic phenomenon; the supernatural thriller combines these with a frightening but often restrained film. They also generally eschew the more graphic elements of the horror film in favor of sustaining a mood of menace and unpredictability; supernatural thrillers often find the protagonists either battling a malevolent paranormal force or trapped in a situation seemingly influenced or controlled by an other-worldly entity beyond their comprehension.
Techno-thrillers are work that usually focuses upon military action, in which technology (usually military technology) is described in detail and made essential to the reader's/viewer's understanding of the plot. Tom Clancy defined and popularized the genre with his The Hunt for Red October, and is considered to be the "Father of the Technothriller."
Terrorist thriller is when someone blows up a building and are usually from the middle east or destroys something. True-Crime thrillers - The most famous book in this nonfiction genre is Truman Capote's In Cold Blood (1966). The author spent months in the Midwest painstakingly retracing the steps of two young rural killers -- and then wrote about it chillingly. Another excellent and more recent true-crime book is Green River, Running Red by Ann Rule (2004), the true story of the notorious Green River serial killer who terrorized the Seattle area for decades.
If you have trouble signing below, please send the name you want posted below with your blog's link to jkayeoldner@yahoo.com.
2009 Suspense & Thriller Reading Challenge
This is for the ones who finished the 2008/09 Suspense & Reading Challenge are ready for another. Rules of this challenge:
* Read TWELVE (12) different sub-genres of thrillers in 2009.
* You do NOT need to select your books ahead of time. Also, you may change as you go. * Your books can crossover into other challenges.
* You don't need a blog to join in this challenge. For those who do, this is important. When you sign up under Mr. Linky, list the direct link to your post where your S/T books will be listed. If you list just your blog’s URL, it will be removed.
Click to join suspense-thriller-challenge
This is the list of sub-genres of thrillers we've discovered so far:
Action thrillers - often feature a race against the clock, contains lots of violence, and an obvious antagonist. Treasure hunt, search for a lost archeological site, the world's lost meteorite, a mystery lost to time--action-adventure brings back our childhood fantasies of being the adventurer. Examples are Sahara by Clive Cussler, Thunderhead by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child, Tyrannosaur Canyon by Douglas Preston
Amateur Detective mystery - solved by an amateur, who generally has some profession or affiliation that provides ready access to information about the crime.
Comic Thrillers - a thriller played for laughs, whether through a spoof of the genre or wisecracking interplay between the protagonists.
Conspiracy thriller - In which the hero/heroine confronts a large, powerful group of enemies whose true extent only he/she recognizes. The Chancellor Manuscript and The Aquitane Progression by Robert Ludlum fall into this category.
Cozy mystery - takes place in a small town—sometimes in a single home—where all the suspects are present and familiar with one another, except the detective, who is usually an eccentric outsider.
Crime thriller - offers a suspenseful account of a successful or failed crime or crimes. This subgenre often focuses on the criminal(s) rather than a policeman. Crime thrillers usually emphasize action over psychological aspects. Central topics of these films include murders, robberies, chases, shootouts, and double-crosses are central ingredients. I think the Dexter series would work well here.
Eco-thriller is where the protagonist must avert or rectify an environmental or biological calamity - often in addition to dealing with the usual types of enemies or obstacles present in other thriller genres. This environmental component often forms a central message or theme of the story. Examples include Nicholas Evans's The Loop, C. George Muller's Echoes in the Blue, and Wilbur Smith's Elephant Song, all of which highlight real-life environmental issues.
Futuristic Eco-thrillers are of the Science Fiction genre that proposes ideas that will or may occur and include such works as Kim Stanley Robinson's Mars Trilogy and Ian Irvine's Human Rites Trilogy.
Erotic thriller simply put consists of erotica and thriller. The genre includes such books as Basic Instinct by Richard Osborne, and Fatal Attraction.
Disaster thriller - In which the main conflict is due to some sort of natural or artificial disaster, such as floods, earthquakes, hurricanes, volcanoes, etc., or nuclear disasters as an artificial disaster. Examples include Stormy Weather by Carl Hiaasen, Tremor by Winston Graham, and the 1974 film Earthquake.
Drama thriller - In which the story consists of the elements of a thriller and drama film. These films are usually slower paced and involves a great deal of character development along with plot twists. Examples include The Illusionist, The Interpreter and The Prestige.
Forensic mystery - solved through the forensics lab, featuring much detail and scientific procedure.
Futuristic mystery/thrillers - a crime set in the future.
Hard-boiled mystery - is tougher and grittier than soft- or medium-boiled stories. They often incorporate violence, no-holds-barred descriptions of crime scenes, and sexual encounters. They usually feature a lone-wolf private detective who is cynical yet quixotic. Think Sara Paretsky, Ian Rankin, Raymond Chandler, Michael Connelly, James Elroy, Clyde Ford (The Long Mile). Historical Thriller are thrillers set in the past, usually combined with other subgenres. This particular subgenre is rather uncommon. Examples of this are Black Order by James Rollins and The Jester by James Patterson and Andrew Gross.
Hitman Thriller would be where victims are being hunted by a hitman. Dean Koontz's The Good Guy is an example.
Horror thrillers has the conflict between the main characters are mental, emotional, and physical. Examples of this include World War Z: An Oral History of the Zombie War by Max Brooks and 28 Days Later: The Aftermath by Steve Niles. What sets the horror thriller apart is the main element of fear throughout the story. The main character(s) is not only up against a superior force, but they are or will soon become the victims themselves and directly feel the fear that comes by attracting the monster's attention. Other well-known examples are Alfred Hitchcock's Psycho and Thomas Harris's The Silence of the Lambs.
Inverted mystery - one where the killer is know and the story is about how the police go about proving and catching the killer- The Columbo movies were based on this genre.
Legal thrillers are where the lawyer-heroes/heroines confront enemies outside, as well as inside, the courtroom and are in danger of losing not only their cases but their lives. The Pelican Brief by John Grisham and the Jack Swyteck novels by James Grippando are good examples of the type.
Literary thrillers concern rare books but this one was about art crime. (added by Violette Severin)
Locked Room - mystery in which the crime is apparently committed under impossible circumstances (but eventually elicits a rational explanation).
Medical thrillers are which the hero/heroine are doctors or medical personnels working to solve an expanding medical problem. Robin Cook, Michael Palmer, and Tess Gerritsen are well-known authors of this subgenre.
Military Thrillers - a thriller featuring a military protagonist, often working behind enemy lines or as part of a specialized force
Murder Mystery - focuses on one type of criminal case. Usually, there is a murder victim, and the detective must figure out who killed him, the same way he solves other crimes.
Mob Mysteries or Thillers are about mobsters, and their life account. It can describe the crimes they have committed, or the mob's general development.
Police Procedural Thrillers - a crime thriller that follows the police as they work their way through a case.
Political thrillers where the hero/heroine must ensure the stability of the government that employs him. Good examples are Protect and Defend by Vince Flynn, Presidential Games by Alvin E. Hargis, and Happy Holidays: A Political Thriller by J.D. Smith. Private Detective mystery - Focused on the independent snoop-for-hire, these have evolved from tough-guy "hard-boiled" detectives to the more professional operators of today.
Psychological thrillers have (until the often violent resolution) the conflict between the main characters is mental and emotional, rather than physical. The Alfred Hitchcock films Suspicion, Shadow of a Doubt, and Strangers on a Train and David Lynch's bizarre and influential Blue Velvet are notable examples of the type, as is The Sixth Sense by M. Night Shyamalan and The Talented Mr. Ripley by Patricia Highsmith (who also wrote Strangers).
Religious thrillers were popularized by the blockbuster, The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown. This subgenre uses the rich and long history of religion to build stories with high stakes and deadly politics. More examples are Map of Bones by James Rollins, The Templar Legacy by Steve Berry, and The Last Cato by Matilde Asensi.
Romantic thriller is where the protagonists are romantically involved.
Sci-Fi thrillers - Michael Crichton's first novel, The Andromeda Strain (1969), still ranks as one of the top science fiction thrillers of all time. What could be scarier than microscopic killer germs run amok? Representing the larger end of the weird-creature spectrum, Mammoth by John Varley (2005) imaginatively spins a yarn starring a billionaire, a brilliant nerd, and a gifted animal wrangler whose newest charge happens to be a woolly mammoth.
Serial Killer thriller is an extremely popular subgenre of thriller. In this subgenre, a serial killer is terrorizing a group of people with horrific violence. The detective's goal is to stop the killer before he takes his next victim. Examples here are The Skin Gods by Richard Montanari, The Narrows by Michael Connelly, Seduction in Death by J. D. Robb Spy thrillers (also a subgenre of spy fiction) are where the hero is generally a government agent who must take violent action against agents of a rival government or (in recent years) terrorists. Examples include From Russia with Love by Ian Fleming, The Bourne Identity by Robert Ludlum, and television series such as Mission: Impossible and 24 (the latter demonstrating a break from the norm by Robert Ludlum, as it is as much a psychological thriller as a spy thriller.)
Supernatural thrillers are in which the conflict is between main characters and a supernatural powers. Carrie by Stephen King and Unbreakable by M. Night Shyamalan are notable examples of this genre. This type of thriller combines tension of the regular thriller with such basic horror oriented ingredients as ghosts, the occult, and psychic phenomenon; the supernatural thriller combines these with a frightening but often restrained film. They also generally eschew the more graphic elements of the horror film in favor of sustaining a mood of menace and unpredictability; supernatural thrillers often find the protagonists either battling a malevolent paranormal force or trapped in a situation seemingly influenced or controlled by an other-worldly entity beyond their comprehension.
Techno-thrillers are work that usually focuses upon military action, in which technology (usually military technology) is described in detail and made essential to the reader's/viewer's understanding of the plot. Tom Clancy defined and popularized the genre with his The Hunt for Red October, and is considered to be the "Father of the Technothriller."
Terrorist thriller is when someone blows up a building and are usually from the middle east or destroys something. True-Crime thrillers - The most famous book in this nonfiction genre is Truman Capote's In Cold Blood (1966). The author spent months in the Midwest painstakingly retracing the steps of two young rural killers -- and then wrote about it chillingly. Another excellent and more recent true-crime book is Green River, Running Red by Ann Rule (2004), the true story of the notorious Green River serial killer who terrorized the Seattle area for decades.
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Monday, November 24, 2008
Too Close To Home by Linwood Barclay and Another Challenge
I became a fan of Mr. Barclay when I began reading his series featuring a stay-at-home dad and the mysteries he gets thrown into. His books always seemed to have a honest, down-to-earth, and slightly humorous side to them and Too Close To Home was no exception. It was a great read and I give it an A-.
From Amazon:
“The night they killed our neighbors, we never heard a thing.” In a quiet suburban neighborhood, in a house only one door away, a family is brutally murdered for no apparent reason. And you think to yourself: It could have been us. And you start to wonder: What if we’re next?Linwood Barclay, critically acclaimed author of No Time for Goodbye, brings terror closer than ever before in a thriller where murder strikes in the place we feel safest of all. Promise Falls isn’t the kind of community where a family is shot to death in their own home. But that is exactly what happened to the Langleys one sweltering summer night, and no one in this small upstate New York town is more shocked than their next-door neighbors, Jim and Ellen Cutter. They visited for the occasional barbecue and their son, Derek, was friends with the Langleys’ boy, Adam; but how well did they really know their neighbors? That’s the question Jim Cutter is asking, and the answers he’s getting aren’t reassuring. Albert Langley was a successful, well-respected criminal lawyer, but was he so good at getting criminals off that he was the victim of revenge—a debt his innocent family also paid in blood? From the town’s criminally corrupt mayor to the tragic suicide of a talented student a decade before, Promise Falls has more than its share of secrets. And Jim Cutter, failed artist turned landscaper, need look no further than his own home and his wife Ellen’s past to know that things aren’t always what they seem. But not even Jim and Ellen are ready to know that their son was in the Langley house the night the family was murdered.Suddenly the Cutters must face the unthinkable: that a murderer isn’t just stalking too close to home but is inside it already. For the Langleys weren’t the first to die and they won’t be the last.
Mr. Barclay is an excellent writter. He allows the reader to really place themselves into the middle of the story and really understand where everyone is coming from. For example, the author never describes what the inside of the Cutter home looks like, but through his honest descriptions and feelings of the characters, I began to imagine a house decorated in the way I thought the Cutters would do so. All of the characters are flawed but not so much that it is unbelievable. I also love that Mr. Barclay always tells the story through the dad's point of view and I appreciate that. I can't think of another book that is like that and it is interesting to read about. The mystery was also well written and there were a lot of twists and turns that keep you on your toes trying to figure everything out. I did figure out some of it but it was only with about 30 pages left. I will continue to be on the lookout for more of Mr. Barclay's books, but am disappointed I have to wait a year for another one.
I have three more library books to get through and the next one up is Blood Lies by Daniel Kalla. I read one of his other books and I really, really enjoyed it so I am hoping this one is just as good. Discussing library books brings me to the next challenge I am going to sign up for. It is called 2009 Support Your Local Library Reading Challenge. The rules are the following:
** The first is to read 12 books from your local library in 2009.
** The second is to read 25 books from your local library in 2009.
** The third is to read 50 books from your local library in 2009.
You decide which one of the three challenges is best for you. Here are the guidelines:
1) You can join anytime as long as you don’t start reading your books prior to 2009.
2) This challenge is for 2009 only. The last day to have all your books read is December 31, 2009.
3) You can join anytime between now and December 31, 2009.
4) When you sign up under Mr. Linky, list the direct link to your post where your library books will be listed. If you list just your blog’s URL, it will be removed. If you don’t have a blog, leave the URL blank.
6) Our goal is to read 12, 25, or 50 books checkout from our local library in 2009. Please decide which when you sign up and don’t change it
.7) These can be audios, downloads, children’s, YA. As long as it’s a book, format and target age group does not matter.
8) Feel free to post a link to your reviews in the comment section below. That way, we can visit your blog and read your review.
9) If you have any questions, feel free to ask below or email me at jkayeoldner@yahoo.com. Comments usually get a quicker response.
Because I am trying to read more of my own books for another challenge, I am only going to pledge 25 books for this challenge. I am sure I will read more, but I am not sure which ones they will be yet. Probably more of the newest releases that come out in hardcover. I am a huge lover of my library, and I encourage everyone else to do the same!
From Amazon:
“The night they killed our neighbors, we never heard a thing.” In a quiet suburban neighborhood, in a house only one door away, a family is brutally murdered for no apparent reason. And you think to yourself: It could have been us. And you start to wonder: What if we’re next?Linwood Barclay, critically acclaimed author of No Time for Goodbye, brings terror closer than ever before in a thriller where murder strikes in the place we feel safest of all. Promise Falls isn’t the kind of community where a family is shot to death in their own home. But that is exactly what happened to the Langleys one sweltering summer night, and no one in this small upstate New York town is more shocked than their next-door neighbors, Jim and Ellen Cutter. They visited for the occasional barbecue and their son, Derek, was friends with the Langleys’ boy, Adam; but how well did they really know their neighbors? That’s the question Jim Cutter is asking, and the answers he’s getting aren’t reassuring. Albert Langley was a successful, well-respected criminal lawyer, but was he so good at getting criminals off that he was the victim of revenge—a debt his innocent family also paid in blood? From the town’s criminally corrupt mayor to the tragic suicide of a talented student a decade before, Promise Falls has more than its share of secrets. And Jim Cutter, failed artist turned landscaper, need look no further than his own home and his wife Ellen’s past to know that things aren’t always what they seem. But not even Jim and Ellen are ready to know that their son was in the Langley house the night the family was murdered.Suddenly the Cutters must face the unthinkable: that a murderer isn’t just stalking too close to home but is inside it already. For the Langleys weren’t the first to die and they won’t be the last.
Mr. Barclay is an excellent writter. He allows the reader to really place themselves into the middle of the story and really understand where everyone is coming from. For example, the author never describes what the inside of the Cutter home looks like, but through his honest descriptions and feelings of the characters, I began to imagine a house decorated in the way I thought the Cutters would do so. All of the characters are flawed but not so much that it is unbelievable. I also love that Mr. Barclay always tells the story through the dad's point of view and I appreciate that. I can't think of another book that is like that and it is interesting to read about. The mystery was also well written and there were a lot of twists and turns that keep you on your toes trying to figure everything out. I did figure out some of it but it was only with about 30 pages left. I will continue to be on the lookout for more of Mr. Barclay's books, but am disappointed I have to wait a year for another one.
I have three more library books to get through and the next one up is Blood Lies by Daniel Kalla. I read one of his other books and I really, really enjoyed it so I am hoping this one is just as good. Discussing library books brings me to the next challenge I am going to sign up for. It is called 2009 Support Your Local Library Reading Challenge. The rules are the following:
** The first is to read 12 books from your local library in 2009.
** The second is to read 25 books from your local library in 2009.
** The third is to read 50 books from your local library in 2009.
You decide which one of the three challenges is best for you. Here are the guidelines:
1) You can join anytime as long as you don’t start reading your books prior to 2009.
2) This challenge is for 2009 only. The last day to have all your books read is December 31, 2009.
3) You can join anytime between now and December 31, 2009.
4) When you sign up under Mr. Linky, list the direct link to your post where your library books will be listed. If you list just your blog’s URL, it will be removed. If you don’t have a blog, leave the URL blank.
6) Our goal is to read 12, 25, or 50 books checkout from our local library in 2009. Please decide which when you sign up and don’t change it
.7) These can be audios, downloads, children’s, YA. As long as it’s a book, format and target age group does not matter.
8) Feel free to post a link to your reviews in the comment section below. That way, we can visit your blog and read your review.
9) If you have any questions, feel free to ask below or email me at jkayeoldner@yahoo.com. Comments usually get a quicker response.
Because I am trying to read more of my own books for another challenge, I am only going to pledge 25 books for this challenge. I am sure I will read more, but I am not sure which ones they will be yet. Probably more of the newest releases that come out in hardcover. I am a huge lover of my library, and I encourage everyone else to do the same!
Sunday, November 16, 2008
2009 100+ Books Challenge
I am going to enter my second challenge for 2009. J. Kaye is hosting this one, and as each year I make a goal to read over 100 books, I decided that this would be the perfect fit for me.
Here are the rules:
1) You can join anytime as long as you don’t start reading your books prior to 2009.
2) This challenge is for 2009 only. The last day to have all your books read is December 31, 2009.
3) You can join anytime between now and December 31, 2009.
4) If you don’t have a blog, please join our Yahoo Groups.
5) When you sign up under Mr. Linky, list the direct link to your post where your 100+ books will be listed. If you list just your blog’s URL, it will be removed.
6) All books count: children’s, YA, adults, fiction, non-fiction, how-tos, etc.
7) Feel free to post in the comment section or on Yahoo Groups your monthly progress as well as your favorite books that month.
Let me know if you choose to join!
Friday, November 14, 2008
My First Ever Challenge!
So I am going to enter my first ever challenge. It is called RYOB 2009 and I am excited to join it.
Head over to Books 'N Border Collies to enter! The rules are pretty easy to follow:
1. Set a number of books you would like to read from your own collection.
2. Read your books between January 1, 2009 and December 31, 2009
I plan to read 40 books. I have no idea which ones those will be since I have over 600 books to read and I hate feeling like I have to read a book. Let me know if you are planning on joining as well!
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