Book Review: 'Elevation' by Stephen King

✰✰✰½ All Scott Carey wants to do is enjoy his home as he recovers from a nasty divorce. Unfortunately, who can work from home with the new neighbor's dogs running amok in your lawn? With all that is going on, it's little wonder that Scott is losing weight. Or is he? The bathroom scale registers a loss in weight, but Scott looks as pudgy as ever. By the time Scott tells his friend, Dr. Bob Ellis, that he's losing weight on the scale, but still looks the same, he is sure there's something unusual going on. As a retired medical doctor, Ellis is skeptical at first. However, as the days and weeks pass by it's evident Scott is indeed losing weight.

As Thanksgiving approaches, Scott weight loss continues, and he is still at odds with his new neighbors. While Missy is approachable, her wife, Deirdre, seems to have a chip on her shoulder. It's no wonder though; their restaurant is fast approaching inevitable failure due to the town's prejudices. Just when it looks likes their animosity can't get any worse, something magical happens during the annual Thanksgiving 12K run that will forever change Scott, Missy, and Deirdre's lives. 

The Bottom Line: With a bittersweet ending, this easy-to-read novella is a suspenseful weekend read. If you enjoy a mashup between horror and science fiction, check out this book. It will make you think about finding common ground between people who are at odds with each other. 

Details: Elevation by Stephen King. Hardcover published by Scribner in 2018. 160 p. ISBN: 978-1-9821-0231-9 

Book Review: 'Secrets In the Snow' by Michaela MacColl

✰✰✰½ Young Jane Austen is busy working on a draft of Elinor and Marianne when a family friend introduces her to a charming young man, Tom Lefroy. Jane is amused and annoyed at the prospect at the same time. Since the Austen family is poor, it is important for the daughters to be married off. However, clever Jane has a habit of turning every single suitor away.

Before she has a chance to get to know Mr. Lefroy, mystery arrives by way of her sophisticated cousin. It seems the War Office is keeping an eye of the vivacious, beautiful widow. With clandestine meetings and a gruesome murder, readers will get plenty of mystery and suspense in this well-researched novel.

The Bottom Line: This delightful imagining of a young Jane Austen is a fun, quick read sprinkled with romance and suspense. Recommended for teens and adults interested in historical fiction and Jane Austen.

Details: Secrets in the Snow: A Novel of Intrigue and Romance by Michaela MacColl. Hardcover published by Chronicle Books in 2016 288 p. ISBN: 978-1-4521-3358-4 NOTE: I received a free copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This was made possible via the Early Reviewers program at LibraryThing.

Book Review: 'The Fifth Petal' by Brunonia Barry

✰✰✰ It’s been nearly three decades since the young women known as the Goddesses were brutally murdered on Halloween night in Salem, Massachusetts. The Goddess Murders have remained unsolved all these years until a recent murder ignites interest in the past. The prime suspect, a mentally ill homeless woman named Rose, claims the banshee that resides within her is responsible for all of the murders. 

Callie, a daughter of one of the goddesses, witnessed the horrific murders long ago. For years she was raised by nuns and lived in foster care believing she was all alone in the world. Now that she has learned her "Auntie Rose" is still alive, Callie has returned to Salem. With the help of the town constable and his wife, Callie is looking for answers to her past. Along the way the murders just might finally be solved, and Callie finds a place to call home.

The Bottom Line: This complex, literary mystery will appeal to readers interested in books with witchcraft and time bending themes. This multi-layered mystery requires lots of concentration to read. It was a little slow in the beginning, but the setting kept my attention.

Details: The Fifth Petal: A Novel by Brunonia Barry. Published by Crown in 2017. 448 p. ISBN: 978-1-101-90560-9 NOTE: I received a free ARC from Crown in exchange for an honest review. This was made possible via the Early Reviewers program at LibraryThing. 

Book Review: 'Who Let the Ghosts Out?' by R. L. Stine

✰✰✰½ Max is just your average eleven-year-old with the same problems as any kid. However, he has one problem that you probably don't. His bedroom is haunted by two ghost kids. When the ghosts were alive, they used to live in Max's house. They have returned looking for their parents. Unfortunately, they don't live there anymore, and no one knows what happened to them. 

The only one who can see and talk to the ghost kids is Max. So it's up to Max to help them. Unfortunately, in order to find out what happened, Max must battle with the most evil spirit of all, Phears. Will Max be able to help the ghost kids find their parents and get his bedroom back?  Only time will tell. Pick up this quick read at your library today! 

The Bottom Line: This is the first book in the series. It will appeal to kids in upper grade school and middle school as the main character, Max, has the typical problems of any eleven-year-old. This is a fast-paced read. 

Details: Who Let the Ghosts Out? (Mostly Ghostly) by R.L. Stine. Hardcover published by Delacorte Press in 2004. 144 p. ISBN: 978-0-385-74663-2 

Book Review: 'Revival' by Stephen King

✰✰✰✰½ Jamie Morton was only six years old when the shadow of the Reverend Charles Jacobs darkened his childhood. From that day forward, Jamie could never really escape the darkness. At every turn of his life, the preacher would be there.

After a heartbreaking tragedy, Charles Jacobs turned away from God. After delivering the "terrible sermon," the preacher was cast out from his flock and set out in search of answers. Meanwhile, Jamie grew up and struggled with a drug addiction. When his path finally crossed with the preacher again, he finds out that Jacobs has become a healer of sorts.

Charles Jacobs has been drawn into an obsession with what lies beyond death, and as he experiments with the healing effects of electricity, he descends into insanity. Jamie reluctantly assists as the preacher commences a final, electrifying experiment. The chilling climax will haunt Jamie for the rest of his life.

The Bottom Line: This novel is an electrifying, quick read. I was hooked from the beginning and couldn't put it down. This is a story of faith, addiction, and obsession that is both moving and horrifying at the same time. Highly recommended for fans of horror and the supernatural.

Details: Revival: A Novel by Stephen King. Paperback published by Gallery Books in 2014. 416 p. ISBN: 978-1-4767-7039-0

Book Review: 'The Pierced Heart' by Lynn Shepherd

✰✰✰✰ After an Austrian nobleman offers a sizable donation to the University of Oxford, private investigator, Charles Maddox, is sent on a quest to vet the mysterious benefactor. Maddox soon discovers that the Viennese countryside is steeped with superstitious tales about the baron and his castle. As the days go by, disturbing dreams and incidents haunt Maddox. After nearly dying, Maddox returns to London where a series of horrific murders have taken place. The deaths are rumored to be the work of a vampire, but Maddox suspects his nemesis, the baron. With another young woman missing, Maddox must race against time to find her before another innocent dies.

The Bottom Line: This is the third book in a series; each book pays homage to a literary classic. This dark installment plays off Bram Stoker's Dracula. Although I have not read the previous books, Shepherd includes plenty of back story so the reader does not feel lost.

This book got off to a slow, smoldering start as I adjusted to the writing style. The story jumps back and forth between different points of view and times. However, the book is full of mystery and intrigue. Shepherd has braided together the elements of superstition, science, and classic literature to create a gripping suspense that I couldn't put down. With the paranormal twist and Gothic mood, this book will appeal to fans of historical fiction. A word of caution though...this tale is not for squeamish readers.

Details: The Pierced Heart: A Novel by Lynn Shepherd. Hardcover published by Delacorte Press in 2014. 256 p. ISBN: 978-0-345-54543-5 NOTE: I received a free copy from Delacorte Press in exchange for an honest review. This was made possible via the Early Reviewers program at LibraryThing. 

Book Review: 'More Than Midnight' by Brian James Freeman

✰✰✰✰✰ Relinquish your imagination to five tales of horror by master storyteller Brian James Freeman. Included in this collection is a demon waiting to escape, a music teacher gone temporarily mad, monsters taking over the world, an escape from an asylum, and phone calls from the other side. These stories contain abandoned buildings, creepy basements, stormy nights, supernatural forces, and lots of darkness.

This is horror at its very best. These vivid tales were written to scare the reader, and they do. You will be compelled to get up in the middle of the night to check the doors and windows and make sure there’s nothing hiding under the bed or in the closets. Best read on a dark, stormy night, this is a very quick read that will leave you longing for more.

The Bottom Line: All of these short stories have been previously published; however, the stories complement each other so well they were meant to be together.  Each story takes the reader on a short journey into darkness where your imagination takes over and gets the better of you. Freeman builds suspense like few authors can, and Glenn Chadbourne’s pen and ink illustrations heighten the horror. Read this collection for your enjoyment and fright. Very highly recommended for fans of horror.

If you have not read any of Freeman’s work before, I would highly recommend starting with this collection. Also, check out my review of The Painted Darkness, which is one of my favorite reads.

Details: More Than Midnight by Brian James Freeman. Advance uncorrected proof published by Cemetery Dance Publications in 2012. 175 p. ISBN: 978-1-58767-331-3

Book Review: 'The Dark Monk: A Hangman's Daughter Tale' by Oliver Pötzsch

✰✰✰✰½ After solving a series of murders, life in 17^th century Schongau, Germany has mostly returned to normal. The second installment of the Hangman’s Daughter series finds Magdalena working as an apprentice for the midwife. As the daughter of a hangman her future holds limited opportunities for her.

Just as things are looking up, the tide quickly changes. A local priest is found poisoned and a series of highway robberies have paralyzed the local towns making it impossible for the merchants to deliver their goods. Add to that a mysterious illness working its way through town and the people of Schongau are suddenly on edge again.

As Simon and his father try to offer medical care to the villagers, Simon finds himself teaming up with the murdered priest’s sister, Benedikta Koppmeyer, to pursue clues all over the picturesque German countryside. Meanwhile the hangman, Jakob Kuisl, is assigned to lead a band of men to find the robbers. As usual Magdalena’s relationship with Simon is rocky and the romantic tension builds with the arrival of Benedikta. Although Simon, Magdalena, and the hangman all find themselves going their separate ways, the riddles and clues all add up to a dangerous search for treasure hidden by the mysterious Knights Templar. Along the way, each has a feeling that someone is watching, and with each twist and turn of this mystery the stakes get higher and the danger more imminent. The trio must work together to solve the mystery and find the treasure before someone else does...or before someone else gets killed.

The Bottom Line: I had been looking forward to reading the second book in the series for quite a while. The Dark Monk doesn’t disappoint. It’s a quick read despite being nearly 450 pages long. While the English translation seemed somewhat too contemporary at times, I thought this book was even better than the first. As with the first book, there are multiple protagonists; each does their part to contribute to solving the mystery. This mystery reminded me of a scavenger hunt as Simon followed the riddles to various monasteries in the German countryside.

While some parts of the book were a bit predictable, there were still plenty of twists and turns to keep me guessing. Additionally, the inclusion of the mysteries of the Knights Templar in this installment added to the intrigue. Although there is a religious theme to this installment, this is not a book of Christian fiction by any means. I, also, enjoyed the many subplots including the romantic tension between Magdalena and Simon. Very enthusiastically recommended for those interested in historical mysteries. Also, highly recommended for those searching for a series that is a little bit different from the usual. I'm looking forward to reading the third book, The Beggar King.

Details: The Dark Monk: A Hangman's Daughter Tale by Oliver Pötzsch and translated by Lee Chadeayne. Paperback published by Mariner Books in 2012. 528 p. ISBN: 978-0-547-80768-3

Book Review: The Poisoned House by Michael Ford

✰✰✰½ Travel back in time to Victorian England with this entertaining ghost story by Michael Ford. Abigail "Abi" Tamper is a scullery maid employed at Greave Hall in London in 1855. Her mother died during the recent cholera outbreak leaving Abi orphaned. Abi is now at the mercy of Mrs. Cotton, the cruel housekeeper who is also the sister-in-law of Lord Greave. Filled with despair, the young girl decides to run away from Greave Hall only to be caught and returned to a life of misery and drudgery.

As she accepts her fate, there is an air of change in Greave Hall.  Lord Greave's son, Master Samuel "Sammy" Greave, returns from fighting in the Crimean War. He has suffered a disabling injury and requires constant care. As a child, Sammy was  like a brother to Abi. However, young Abi soon learns that things are not always what they seem.

A series of paranormal events leads Abi to believe that her mother may not have died a natural death. Abi begins to believe that she is being haunted by ghost; she suspects it's her mother warning her from the grave. Prompted by the haunting, Abi begins to investigate the secrets of the house and its inhabitants. As Lord Greave slowly goes mad, Abi must find a way to reveal the truth before someone else gets hurt.

The Bottom Line: The story of Abigail Tamper is told from the viewpoint of a 15 year old girl's "handwritten manuscript."  This ghost story is a quick read with a few predictable twists and turns. Abigail Tamper is a believable character who values friendship. The elements of suspense and the supernatural in a Gothic setting that will appeal to many YA readers, especially girls. While The Poisoned House is entertaining and fun, it is not overly scary. Also, I was surprised to find more than a few typographical errors and misspellings. Recommended for teens and tweens who enjoy reading historical fiction with classic suspense and mystery components.

Details: The Poisoned House by Michael Ford. Hardcover published by Albert Whitman & Company in 2011. 328 p. ISBN: 978-0-8075-6589-6

Book Review: Powers by John B. Olson

3.5/5 stars. Powers is the action packed sequel to Shade that will keep you on the edge of your seat as members of The Standing continue to fight The Badness.

A gypsy girl named Mariutza “Mari” suddenly finds that she is all alone in the world after her grandfather, a great prophet and healer of The Standing, is killed. Although Mari has trained for this day all her life, she is full of apprehension and doubt as she puts on her traveling clothes and leaves the swamp behind. Mari finds the outside world to be intimidating, and the innocent girl is confused by all of the things we take for granted: cars, bottled water, buildings and more. She must learn to overcome her fears and focus on searching for the fabled prophet Jaazaniah.

Meanwhile, Jaazaniah or Jazz, a worldly, guitar playing con-artist, suddenly finds himself having strange visions and being pursued by men in hooded cloaks. As he and his friend Hollis are being chased, Jazz learns of his grandfather’s passing and the inheritance that is hidden and waiting for him. However, The Badness is always close behind having convinced the FBI that the members of The Standing are a terrorist group.

The race is on as Jazz and Mari begin the search for Jazz’s inheritance, which he believes to be treasure. Eventually they meet up with Melchi and Hailey from Shade to fight The Badness. But can they defeat the evil in time to find Jazz’s inheritance and fulfill the prophecy?

The Bottom Line: Powers is non-stop action. While the writing can be a bit flowery at times and the characters a bit shallow, the action keeps the story moving. Recommended for teens and adults who enjoy Christian suspense fiction with a supernatural theme and a hint of romance. Some of the terminology can be a little confusing; therefore, to fully enjoy and appreciate Powers, read Shade first.

Details: Powers by John B. Olson. Published by B&H Books in 2009. ISBN: 978-0-8054-4735-4

NOTE: MiniBookBytes received Powers as a complimentary copy from B&H Publishing in exchange for a review. This was made possible by the Early Reviewer Program at LibraryThing.