Murder Books

Reading a Victoria Laurie book is like taking a mental vacation from the usual stress that we all deal with on a day to day basis. The characters make me laugh sometimes and that alone is worth the read. I didn't think I was a fan of "chick" books, but VL books, the Abby Cooper series in particular, are just plain fun to follow. I just bought the "Ghouls" book and hope to enjoy that series as much as the Psychic Eye plots.

The more I read this series, the more I like it and want more! If you're just finding this author, start from the beginning and buy them all. I guarantee you won't be disappointed. I loved this book so much-I am usually so good at guessing the endings to books but this one has me so entertained I don't even try to guess the ending. I just relax and enjoy the read.

A Vision of Murder is book 3 in the Psychic Eye series by Victoria Laurie. In this one, Abby, Cat, and Dave end up investing in a haunted house. Of course they didn't know it was haunted at the time, or two of them would have hightailed it immediately.

I picked up on the overall gist of where the story would go right away in this one. I find that most stories that involve WWII and hidden treasures tend to deal with items being stolen from Holocaust victims. However, Laurie does put her own Abby style spin on things that makes for an interesting mystery nonetheless. I found that enjoyable...watching her piece together things. I was more frustrated watching her this time though since if there is a trap for her to walk into, she most assuredly will.

Dolt, *cough* I mean Dutch continued to grate on my nerves in this book. Abby really has odd taste in men. He's a bit too controlling. Sure, she's a spaz and waltzes into trouble, but he often acted like she was an object he owned...one who should drop everything to baby him, and remain locked up in whatever cage he deems fitting. Bleh.

Overall I am still enjoying the pace and the writing style of these stories and most of the characters. Dave and his reaction to the haunted house just tickled me. I would have liked to see some resolution to Cat's issues at the end. The author left us hanging there. Maybe the next book will cover that. Or perhaps we were meant to assume it would all work itself out. I really don't know.

On the new age side of things, I was fascinated with seeing her relate to a ghostly experience. I liked thinking about the idea that some people have different energies that in fact attract ghosts. Dealing with that aspect of things seems pretty intense. I think I'll stick with working with my rocks thank you very much. :P

On to the next book. :)

The third installment of the Abby Cooper series is another hit! The Abby Cooper series is the perfect mystery series with an added mix of supernatural!! This novel even intorduces M.J. Holliday, Laurie's lead character in her new Ghost Hunter Series!

In A Vision of Murder, Abby, her sister Cat and Dave buy a rundown house together in order to fix it up and sell it to make a profit. But the downside is that the house is haunted and Dave refuses to work on the house as that the ghost attacked him on his first day. Thus leading Abby to contact M.J. Abby begins to work on the case of the haunted house along with Dutch and Milo, that leads to a cover up murder and many family secrets of that of a jeweler.

Abby is determined to solve the case no matter what, but there is someone trying to stop her and he will go to any means to stop her, by ranscaking her house, office, and attacking her. Which ultimately leads to problems with Abby and Dutch and trust issues. But Abby will be able to save the day and still make everyone happy!

Overall it is a great read just as all of the Psychic Eye mysteries are! They read so fast and grip you in that it seems that reality doesn't exist!

This installment is my favorite in the Psychic Eye series. It's a good, old fashioned haunted house mystery and also introduces us to M. J. Holliday of the new Ghost Hunter series. I enjoyed the depth added to Abby's relationships with Cat and Dutch. The supporting cast of characters is delightful and has followed Abby throughout the series.

I love this series. From the very first page I was completely hooked. Highly recommended!

I picked this up hoping for some good escapist fiction while nursing a cold. Sorry, but this was completely unbelievable in every way. Trust me folks, homicide detectives don't discuss cases with civilians and don't drag them along to interviews. Ms. Collins' lack of credibility in her subject matter is further revealed in Sybee's not guilty in the murder trial. If a person is in the commission of a felony such as drug dealing and a person is killed, that person is just as guilty as the triggerman. Annie is an idiot who magically seemed to win in physical combat against the bad guy but lost to a two year old, who incidently had perfect diction.

Ms. Collins appears to have very little general education. Perhaps her knowledge of Christianity is better. In that case, maybe she should stick to Christianity as the sole subject. She's not winning converts with her uneducated, ignorant fiction writing.

This was a great book. I stumbled upon this author and now have read almost everything she writes. Good christian fiction.

Erin Willit witnessed what no 12 year old girl should: the murder of her murder. The killer is running free, and Erin is the only witness to the heinous act. Erin is so distraught by this event that she can't give the police any help in identifying the murderer.

Neighbor Annie Kingston is a veteran courtroom artist, and the police have asked her to work with Erin to put together a composite sketch of the killer. Annie has recently moved her family to Grove Landing to find some peace and safety. Now she finds herself immersed into a living nightmare as she discovers more about the killer and his motive.

This is the first installment of Collins' Hidden Faces series, and what a way to begin! The story is told from Annie's first person point of view. She juggles the demands of motherhood and a dark family past, all the while striving to find a killer before his trail grows cold. Brandilyn Collins holds her own as a suspense writer and she effortlessly guides readers along as the pages simply fly by. She also effectively weaves themes of faith and purpose throughout that add to the richness of this story. Readers will be encouraged by the spiritual awakening of Annie's character.

This is gripping, chilling, and downright entertaining reading and I'm eagerly anticipating the next installment.

I give this an A+ for suspense and police/forensic details! I do prefer books with more character development (I want to really know what they're feeling, etc), and this one didn't "grab me" that way. Otherwise, this is a great Christian suspense, worth the read!

Trial by Journal is one of the most intriguing and one of the best books I have ever read. Whomever would of thought that a town would actually allow a child on jury duty just because another child was involved in a murder. Well, she needs to pass [...] grade and the journal she keeps of her experiences helps her recieve and A+ from her teacher. This book is told in newspaper articles, maps, radio talk shows, newscasters, and ofcourse journal entries.

Trial by Journal was written by Kate Klise. It is a fantastic mystery that takes place in the mythical town of Tyleville, Missouri. The book is written in a very unique way. It is based on journal entries by Lilly Watson (the main character); newspaper articles from the local newspaper; transcripts from the local radio station; and personal letters

Trial by Journal is filled with never ending action and jokes by the quick witted Lilly Watson. Twelve year old Lilly Watson is a member of a jury attempting to solve the murder of Perry Keet. Perry is a twelve year old boy that works at the local zoo. Perry did not return home from work one day and his body was not found. His co-worker and friend of Lilly's, Bob White, is accused of Perry's murder. Lilly is selected to be on the jury because of a law that requires a juvenile to be on the jury of cases that involve children. The book chronicles Lilly's adventures as she tries to unravel the mystery of Perry Keet's murder. Other characters in the book include Lilly's co-jurors Fawn Papillon and Anna Conda; and the wealthy Rhett Tyle whose testimony is important to solving the mystery.

My favorite part of the book is when Lilly solves the mystery. I like this part because of the clever way that Lilly analyzed the clues and uncovered the truth. Trial by Journal was an exciting and thought-provoking mystery. The protagonist, Lilly Watson, is a bright, funny, and enthusiastic girl. I particularly enjoyed the way the author developed this character.

I give this book four out of five stars. It is a very enjoyable read. I became very involved with the characters and rooted hard for Lilly to solve the mystery. I recommend this book highly for people that enjoy good mysteries and humor. This book is suitable for anyone over nine years old. Adults may enjoy this book, but the complicated storyline may be too confusing for children under the age of nine.

Trial By Journal was written by Kate Klise. The illustrator for this wonderful book was M. Sarah Klise. Trial By Journal has 238 pages total in the book.

This book is about a 12 year old girl named Lily Watson who was put on to a jury to solve a murder of a sixth grader, who happens to be a boy named Perry Keet. The person who they thought was the murderer was Bob White. Her teacher Mr. Holms has asked her to keep a journal about what is going on with the case the whole time of jury duty. Mr. Holms has also told Lily that she will have to go to summer school for missing so much of school, but Lily doesn't think that is fair, because she never asked to be a juror.

Lily's problem is that she has to find out/solve the case and prove that Bob White is either innocent or guilty.

My favorite part in Trial By Journal is when we meet all of the jurors and we find
out their names. I like this part because the names are so funny. Some of the character's names are Perry Keet, Bob White, Fawn Papillon, and Anna Conda.


The genre of this book is realistic fiction because this could happen but I doubt the names. When I read Trial By Journal I felt like I was actually there to witness everything because the author had great description and I was really caught into it.

Trial By (Jury) Journal, By Kate Klise, Illustrated by Sarah Klise 256 pages


I read the book Trial by (Jury) Journal by Kate Klise. I think that this book is great! The author Kate Klise did a wonderful job of describing everything and making it all come alive. It seemed real! I would definitely recommend this book to other readers who like to read books that have fake letters, articles, and journal entries. It was a little hard to read because of all these things, but it was definitely easy to enjoy!

In this book a law is passed that if there is a child under 18 in a case, then a child under 18 has to be on the jury. The main character in this book is Lily, who gets chosen to be on the jury. While on Jury duty, Lily keeps a journal telling about her experiences in the courtroom and at the hotel where the whole jury is forced to stay during Jury duty. They can have no contact with others except fellow jurors.

My favorite part in this book was when Lily and her new Jury duty friend Fawn Papillion decide to let out all the birds in the hotel out of their cages. My other favorite part is when they discover the paintings in Priscilla the Gorilla's cage.

Although almost everything about being on Jury duty is tough, Lily makes the best of her free time off from school. She has many unforgettable experiences.

The case is hard and everyone thinks that one person did it. Bob White. But did he? If you want to find out you should read Trial by (Jury) Journal.

I think that anyone who likes a laugh, a good humored girl, and a bit of mystery would love this book because it's all of those things wrapped into one.

Kate Klise probably knows that her books will never win her any great big awards. If she receives recognition for her published works, by and large it's by children and not adults. Don't believe me? Check out the other reviews for this book down below. Who has written them? Kids. Lots and lots and lots of kids. And how do the kids feel about the author who has brought to the world books like, "Trial by Journal" and "Regarding the Fountain"? They worship at her feet. Even those kids who have NEVER read her, never even HEARD of the woman, gravitate to her novels like the books were singing a siren song to beat the band (and other mixed metaphors). I run a homeschooler bookgroup at my local library. The other day I gave the children a choice. They could choose an infinitely cool and relatively new fantasy novel with a shiny cover and the promise of magical creatures. Or they could read, "Trial By Journal". And unanimously they all reached for Klise's book. Not having read it myself, I quickly zipped through the story as quickly as I could do so. What I found was a book that contains horrid puns, contrived plot devices, so-so pictures, and a mystery. I also found a book that children will be lining up around the block to check out again and again and again from the library. She may not be the best writer you even encounter, but she'd certainly win a kiddie popularity contest beyond a shadow of a doubt.

There's trouble in Tyle County. Trouble like you wouldn't believe. Murder trouble. Yes, a perfectly nice twelve-year-old boy has undoubtedly been murdered by a creepy keeper at the local Tyle Park Zoo. Now there's to be a trial to determine whether or not Bob White is guilty of the murder of Perry Keet. In Tyleville, however, there's a new law that declares that when any crime is committed against a minor, a minor in turn must be on the jury panel. In this particular case, that juror is Perry's old classmate, Lily Watson. During the course of the trial Lily befriends an aging film star who is also on the jury, and keeps a journal of events in lieu of the schoolwork she's missing. As she remains sequestered from friends and family, Lily slowly begins to unravel the mystery of what actually happened to Perry. What she discovers will pit her against the most powerful man in town and mean that she must save the life of an innocent man jailed for a crime he did not commit.

The book is told in the form of journal entries, newspaper articles, letters, notes, and radio transcripts. That's Klise's schtick. Not only is it an appealing method of storytelling, but an eclectic one as well. When my homeschoolers (aged 8 to 12) picked up the book and randomly flipped through it, some were reduced to giggles when they saw a pretzel taped to the bottom of one of the journal pages. It was just an illustration of a pretzel, mind you, but the effect was instantaneous and effective. Most of Klise's books are put together in this way. You can talk all you want about the cool young adult titles written entirely in e-mails, but Klise was the first to do it this consistently with children.

Of course, her storytelling has to be fairly simple as well. There are always rather large plot gaps and stretches of plausibility. I'll try to avoid giving away any plot details, despite the fact that kids will probably figure them out long long long before Lily does. At one point out heroine encounters SOMEONE who is being held hostage by the story's villain. He rests the hope of escaping his imprisonment entirely on her shoulders. Then, to make certain he doesn't escape too soon in her tale, Klise writes in all sorts of peculiar details. Still, when you compare the book to "Regarding the Fountain", "Trial By Journal" is far better thought out.

The illustrations in this book are written by M. Sarah Klise, Kate's sister. She has illustrated all of Kate's books. They are a team. Peas in a pod. Two of a kind. For the most part, M. Sarah is a fine illustrator. She's created some highly amusing and intricate building and Tyleville landmarks at both the beginning and then end of the book. Unfortunately, she's not so hot with people. Even gorillas look pretty darn good when she draws them, but human beings by and large are grotesque. The villains are always obvious right from the start and the good guys don't fare much better. If M. Sarah could somehow avoid people altogether when she draws her elaborate concoctions, she'd be a perfect complement to Kate's tales. As it stands, she's only so-so.

You can't judge, "Trial By Journal" too harshly since it's clear that the Klise sisters are having a wonderful time writing their books and kids have a wonderful time reading 'em. More importantly, the book even manages to show exactly how trials work, defines terms for children to understand, and goes through the entire legal process in a fun and interesting way. They come for the kooky format, story, and mystery. They stay for the legalese.

Goes into very much detail. You'll find yourself hating this woman. But don't be too harsh; possibly she was a product of her biology.

Kathryn Casey might be the Ann Rule of Texas true crime. This book is a complicated web of interesting characters including a bisexual, sociopathic gold-digging monster in the form of a beautiful woman named Celeste Beard who has no conscious for her actions. She would do anything to get what she wanted which was easily lying, cheating, having sex with men and women, manipulating her lesbian lover Tracey Tarlton who comes across as sympathetic but disturbed character, her ex-husband Jimmy Martinez who was having an affair with her during her last marriage to millionaire Steven Beard who tried as hard as others to get away from the monster in his bedroom. Celeste manipulated people as easily as she breathed. She was worse than any hurricane or tornado to hit Austin high society on it's knees. Her first husband was so terrified of another nasty divorce that he committed suicide even though he was married to a different woman and far unlike as Celeste was even in her youth. She made outlandish claims of abuse by her own adoptive father. Worse, she was a mother to beautiful identical twin girls who wanted nothing more than to be loved by their mother. They were also victims of Celeste's abuse to the worst degree. She manipulated Kristina to cover up for most of her own crimes. Jennifer and Kristina's relationship were always strained by Kristina's loyalty and devotion to Celeste, their mother. At one point, they stopped calling her mom and referred to her as Celeste. In my opinion, Celeste is more terrifying than any monster as this book makes her out to be. I felt sorry for Tracey who got caught up in Celeste's web of lies and terror and that she shot an innocent older man who she believed was terrorizing Celeste and abusing her. She is serving 20 years in the same prison as Celeste but separately away from her.

Being a true crime sleuth, I used to think Ann Rule was the best true crime writer ever. This book wiped my thought on that completely away. This author had such an amazing way of telling a great story, kept the book flowing from one page to the other, had amazing details about all of the characters. It felt like I was actually there witnessing it all myself. And the courtesy photos were superb too. I like to check back and forth while reading who the main characters are while I'm on that certain chapter. And while I did say "characters" I do know these are true stories. Still after I read this story, I went online to find out more about everyone involved. I have recommended this book to all of my fellow true crime pals.

A great book. Could there ever have been a more accurate portrait of a true-blue gold digger? Why some women (and men) feel a sense of entitlement to the money/property of others simply because they are (or were) married to a financially successful person is beyond me! You want money? WORK for it! Some lazy people would rather marry for it -- or kill for it! Great book. I felt so bad for Steve's family. They were helpless and had to sit by while Celeste planned, plotted and executed her plan to murder Steve -- all for the money. What a shame. Kathryn Casey is a great writer. I used to be hooked on Ann Rule, but got tired of her "Series" books. Now, I'm going to be looking for more stories written by Ms. Casey. She did a wonderful job of showing what a shallow and callous gold-digger Celeste really was.

I had seen Celeste's story on Power Privilege and Justice and Snapped and had been curious to read more about this woman who struck me as vindictive, unredeeming and just plain evil.

She has absolutely no good qualities at all. She uses everyone around her for her needs only. Her own daughters are treated like servants. I didn't blame Tracey Tarleton for shooting Steve Beard. She was another of the countless victims that Celeste used for her selfish reasons only. True crime fans will not be disapointed with this great read.

I've been reading this genre (i.e., paranormal young adult fiction) with a vengeance and am writing reviews for the few that really kept me reading (like this one.) Intriguing with a nice romantic sub-plot.

i absolutly loved this book and it made me have to read the others knowing that legacy of lies was just as good so if ther where others who knows they could be better i cant wait to read the others

Lauren Brandt returns back to Wisteria, a small town where she was born, seven years after her famous mother's mysterious drowning. But Wisteria isn't like what Lauren thought it would be; it's not as peaceful as before. For some reason Aunt Jule, Lauren's godmother, refuse to get help for her mentally unstable daughter, Nora. Holly, Aunt Jule's other daughter, seems to be in charge of everything in their family. Nora seems to be haunted and obsessed with Sondra, Lauren's dead mother, and disturbs Lauren about it.
They said Sondra's death was an accident, but who knows. Soon Lauren begins to be curious about her mother's death and thinks it's not an accident but an, murder.
Dark Secret-Don't Tell is similar to The Adventure of Sherlock Holmes because they are both about mysteries and murders. But except Sherlock Holmes is more of an old book and Dark Secret-Don't Tell is more modern.
I think readers that like mysterious, murders, spooky, and fast-pace books would like this book.
I chose this book for this assignment because my classmate, Ariel, said it was so interesting that she finished in two days and I tend to like interesting and fast pace books.
The best parts in this book would probably be those scene where Lauren asks Nora about some but Nora just replied, "Don't tell, it's a secret." This is an awesome book overall and I would rate it a 10/10.

Lauren comes to Wisteria to live with her godmother, Aunt Jule and Jule's daughters, Holly and Nora. Lauren reunites with Nick, their childhood friend, who seems to want to be more than friends with her but then later on in the book he sides with Holly and Lauren is confused. Nora has been acting very weird towards Lauren and Holly tries to convince Aunt Jule to get her psychiatric help because she is also afraid of water and keeps saying that Sondra, Lauren's mom who had died here 7 years before, is still here. Lauren keeps finding everything in her room tied in knots, just what happened to her mom near the time she died. The news had claimed that her death was just an accident and Aunt Jule had stopped the investigations, but Lauren doesnt believe that, she believes it was murder. She has to find out the truth before she dies too, because the things that happened to Sondra before she died are happening to Lauren as well. Whenever something strange happens or Nora does something unexplainable, and Lauren asks her about it, Nora says "dont tell, its a secret". So to find out what really is going on and if her mom really was murdered, read this book.

Don't Tell is one of the Dark Secrets series that I highly recommend to be read - in fact I also highly suggest that everyone read all the Dark Secrets books. Don't Tell is about a seventeen year old girl name Lauren, who has finally came home to where her mother had died mysteriously seven years ago. While just arriving there, she meets her old friend Nick who flirts and tease with her before realizing that she was his old playmate. When she finally arrives to her Aunt's Jule's house, everyone seems to be very warm and welcoming - everyone that is except Nora. Lauren discovers that she wasn't the only one that finds Nora's behaviour strange, Holly, Nora's sister, does too but Aunt Jule doesn't believe that Nora really needs medical attention and wasn't planning to do anything about. Then unexpectedly Lauren finds things in her room twisted in knots - just like what happened to her mother before she died. Nick at first seems to be nice and acting more than a friend to Lauren, but then all of a sudden turns cold and hating towards her and starts to stick to Holly and take her side. Then Lauren experience many horrifying collisons - which she was told to be only 'accidents'. Was her mother's death really accident just as everyone told her? Someone wants her dead, just as someone had wanted her mother... Lauren better hurry and find the killer before they get her...

I find this book to be very thrilling a moment then strange the next. I read it in two hours or so because I kept wondering about lots of things and so I couldn't put it down. When you read this book everything may seem strange and odd, but at the end it gives you answers to all the questions you have been wondering about. I didn't really understand the whole book till I read the ending. However, I don't suggest you skip to the end till your there, it ruins the value of the book and then you won't find it thrilling any longer. Don't Tell definitely deserves a rating of five stars. In most hte Elizabeth Chandler's books the person you always least expect to be the 'bad guy' always end up being it, I found that many people have written that they don't like it. Well I find it an excellent way of writing, it keeps you wondering and guessing who actually did the crime, and at the end it makes you go oh why haven't you thought of it, and thats partly why I read her books so I don't really know why people are saying they hate it. In reality thats mostly what happens, the person who you mostly suspect ends up to be innocent. If Elizabeth Chandler writes that the person everyone suspect is the bad guy then it won't really surprise me and it won't be that good. I just wanted to clarify that. Other than that I hope everyone reads this book because is worth taking time to read!

An absolute necessity for any fiction writer, whether new to writing or used as a refresher. Easy to understand with crucial points listed at the end of each chapter. Discusses the pros and cons of using mystery and suspense elements, pacing, prologues, creating a hook and completing the cycle of hints, red herrings and resolution. This would be a perfect book for a writing class. After manuscript completion, every writer should revisit this book to evaluate their project before submitting to agents or publishers. There are many books on how to write mystery or suspense, but this is by far my favorite. Well Done!

This edition covers just about everything to do with the craft of writing. Serious and succinct, it covers all stages of the craft and offers valuable insight.

Recently published in 2006, this how-to book of "24 Fiction Writing Techniques to Save Your Manuscript" has already garnered 26 reviews, all of them top-rated with five-star! As the reviews all agree, fiction writers of any disposition or genre will find this book beneficial and delightful! The suggestions are exactly right for improving fiction manuscripts, the examples clear and valuable, the author's tone amusing, the book's presentation entertaining! Without qualification, I recommend this book to fiction writers--be they literary, mainstream, or genre writers.

DON'T MURDER YOUR MYSTERY is a remarkable book. Not only is it a boon to mystery writers, but also it has excellent examples, techniques and tips for authors of all genres. I plan on gifting this book to friends and all authors who write for Dog-Eared Publications. Nancy Field, Publisher

This book is a terrific primer for first-time or relatively new writers -- and not just writers of mysteries, but all fiction and even non-fiction. The examples of poor choices and better alternatives that Chris Roerden chooses are clear and relevant. My only nit to pick is the negative construction of the book: with some background in teaching, my preference is always to suggest the right thing to do first, rather than to point out what not to do or how not to do something. A valuable addition to the library of anyone who wants to become a better writer, editor, or reviewer.

Action, suspense, history, and spiritual warfare are combined here to make this a very enjoyable read.

Expiration Date features Clay Ryker who is experiencing major difficulties in all areas of his life: his marriage, business, parents, friends, and spirituality. The author does a good job of weaving together a story containing lots of twists and turns along with some spiritual truths.

This novel contains some characters from Eric Wilson's previous novel, 'Dark To Mortal Eyes'. It will keep the readers interested from start to finish.

A well-written and fascinating blend of supernatural, historical and gritty reality.

Clay Ryker is struggling with the baggage of lies believed and sin-scorched failures. I ached for him as he continued in his downward spiral of confusion.

But what is at the root of his confusion? And what would he do with this cursed gift he's been given?

Expiration Date blends intriguing history, life-like characters and a tight plot into a compelling read.

I liked Dark to Mortal Eyes; I loved Expiration Date. I am officially hooked on Eric Wilson's writing after reading this novel.

Expiration Date draws on the history of the Romanov family and the Bolshevik Revolution in a thrilling story about fate, free will, and divine intervention. The book tackles the question that everyone asks at some point: is the future written in stone, or is it determined by our choices - or is it perhaps a mixture of both?

When Clay Ryker discovers that he is suddenly able to foresee the day a person will die, he takes it upon himself to use his newfound knowledge to save lives - if that's possible. Unwittingly, he becomes mixed up in a battle for an ancient relic that may be a clue to the fabled treasure of Rasputin. In order to protect this relic and save the life of its finder, a young boy named Kenny, Clay must face the demons of his past that he has tried to hide for years.

Expiration Date is masterfully written, whether you're looking for philosophical insight or just a good read. May cause spinning thoughts, sleep loss, and shortage of breath.

Expiration Date is the second book in the senses series and explores the sense of touch. It has an interesting premise, and is quite enjoyable to read. It extends some of the loose ends left from Dark to Mortal Eyes, but does not completely answer all the questions. The use of Russian history as the back drop to many of the character's motivations is quite intriguing. At times I felt like I was getting a very enjoyable history lesson about the Czars and Rasputin. My only complaint was the lead character Clay Ryker was written too well. He behaved and acted exactly as someone in his position should and does. However, for someone, like me, who has little patience for self-pity, he began to grate on my nerves just a little. Once Clay starts acting and thinking rather than sulking, he is very likable. This is a compliment to the author for writing a believable, human character. The issues that Clay faces are some that many people today deal with--divorce, failure, their past, poor decisions, family tension, etc. He's someone we can all relate too and sympathize with. The supernatural elements in the book are vivid and remind me a bit of This Present Darkness. I look forward to the third sense book and hope it is published soon.

Eric Wilson has to be one of the best authors around today. This book is the second in a planned 5 part series. It is about Clay Rykker a man going through a divorce who moves back home and is given the ability to foresee the day someone will die. Clay tries to find out if this is a blessing or a curse while trying to save those whose expiration date he knows. It deals with the struggles that he is going through. This book has great character devolopment and you can so relate to what they are dealing with. It also has a great ending that leaves you wanting more of this series. It does bring back a couple of characters from Dark to Mortal Eyes which I would recommend reading first. Eric Wilson just keeps getting better with every book that he writes.

This is a delightful intro to the world of Thor McGraw and his funny family and friends. From the quirky neighbor, Mrs. Plum to his parents being in the witness protection program, the events of the mystery are intertwined with everday life. It leaves me waiting for more from "Detective" McGraw!

With a smooth into and a high-speed chase, this one is no bore,
It was a pleasure meeting Mrs. Plum, Sabrina, and investigator Thor.
With great characters and thrilling action, it left me wanting more,
The adventures of Prof. Thor will soon be the stuff of legend and lore.
Oden would be proud.

Interesting mystery with a good mix of characters and humor to match. The content keeps you motivated to keep reading. Will be a hard book to put down. Looking forward to reading more. I give this a two thumbs up!!!

The start of this excerpt highlights a fantastic family relationship. The easy connection between Thor and his daughter Bree is nice to read about, and I like the communication that passes between Thor and his dog, as well. This seems like a happy home, despite the hint of something amiss with Thor's wife.

The interaction between Thor and Mrs. Plum was interesting and infuriating. I like that Thor is completely baffled by the way she manages to work everything around to her advantage, and I am curious about the favors she will ask Thor to do in return for the ones she has done for him in this first meeting.

Molly's conversation with Thor is painful, especially as we realize that she is moving on with her life and leaving Thor pining after her. Some nice suspense is built up as I wondered what it was that would have landed Thor's name in the paper.

The scene of the bald man trying to run down Thor is exciting and tense, although the foreshadowing of it is a bit heavy-handed. Peter saying a big bald guy with a broken nose was looking for Thor and then announcing that he told the man that Thor always goes running in between classes meant I wasn't terribly surprised to find a car bearing down on Thor during his run.

This excerpt is intriguing. I'd be eager to learn more about Thor's mystery situation and to see if things work out between him and Molly.

Thor McGraw and the Ice Man Murder by T. Drennan presents the most unlikely of sleuths: a single father academic type with allergies to cats and perfume and is still love sick over his ex-wife. Oh yeah, and he happens to be the son of one of Boston's most famous police detectives.

The bulk of the excerpt introduces us to Thor and his life. His morning routine of breakfast with Bree (Sabrina), his 6-year-old daughter, is interrupted by an impossible next door neighbor. Thor's allergic reactions are detailed to Mrs. Plum's perfume and cat, and I except they'll play an important role later. Then a phone call from his ex, Molly, to apologize for a reference to Thor in Philip's ('Philip? Who was Philip?') article in today's paper. Unfortunately Thor can't read it because 'his' paper is covered in mud from Mrs. Plum's garden.

Once the interruptions are over, he moves on with his day. Thor drops Bree off at school and heads to his teaching job. When he goes for his jog after the first class, he is ruthlessly chased by a bald man in a Cutlass, who then unleashes a Rotweiller on Thor. What did he do to deserve this?

With Thor and most of the main characters introduced, the mystery is set to unfold. This excerpt was both an engaging example of 'regular guy' character development and intriguing murder mystery. I can't wait to see what happens next.

Violet Dawn was pretty predictable, Coral Moon was not. The murderer is well concealed until the last minute and that makes this book, very, very good.

The town of Kanner Lake has begun to settle down and return to its old routine. They're out of the headlines and back to be the sleepy little small town its residents love. But are things really as they appear, or is there an evil lurking in town?

A well loved citizen brutally murdered and left in Leslie's car. A second woman strangled and left on the street outside Leslie's home. A dead man's spirit seen and his hair found on both bodies. What is going on? Are Leslie's articles covering a proposal to build a controversial hotel to blame or has someone's past come back from the dead to haunt them?

Wonderfully suspenseful comes easily to mind. Collins has written quite a gripping mystery with Coral Moon. Mixing supernatural elements with reality, she's created a story that's both believable and mind bending. She's done a great job of not revealing who's really to blame while at the same time keeping everyone as a suspect. Additionally, Collins has written characters that are interesting and keep you wanting to find out more of their lives.

While the story is a murder mystery and most of what happens can be explained through what we know and see, I very much like that Collins has left some things beyond our understanding. She gives great insight into the spiritual realm and its reaches, but also is clear in letting the reader know, we don't have all the answers.

Collin strongly emphasizes Jesus' presence and power in defeating evil. Spiritual warfare books are extremely popular right now and while Coral Moon takes some of the ideas presented in many books, it goes a bit further and portrays a more concrete form for demons. Combining it with senesces, she has created a book both gripping and deeply spiritual .

This book is the second of great new series (Kanner lake) I really love this book also. This suspense was intense but took a little longer getting there, than the first book, but once it got there...there was no PULLING YOU BACK!!!

Leslie Brymes, reporter for the Kanner Lake Times has dreams of going national. Hoping her coverage of actress Edna San's murder last year would raise her to the stardom she dreams of. But when she awakens one morning to find seventy something year old Vesta Johnson, a woman loved by all murdered and put in her car she has second thoughts about being a reporter.

Police Chief Vince Edwards is at a lost as to who would murder Vesta. But all clues point to one person and that is impossible, that person being Henry Johnson, Vesta's late husband who passed away fourteen months ago! But what of the eerie feelings he has experienced? And even Leslie feels an evil presence is trying to kill her.

With a police department of only five men and with the Idaho State Police looking for clues at the crime scene Vince must figure this out, does he have a serial killer on his hands, a ghost or a one time murder? But what of the note found pinned on Vesta's chest? Vince is racing against time will the murderer strike again and what does Leslie have to do with all of this?

Leslie feels that she can't trust anyone but has to find out if in someway Vesta's murder is her fault. The second body appears and the notes begin to appear what does all this have to do with the new proposed hotel? And what about the teenager that calls Leslie with information that Leslie has to pursue? What of the evil that seems to have fallen on Kenner Lake? After all the twists and turns the climax will have you seating on the edge of your seat.

If you love mystery, intrigue and suspense than hold onto your seat as author Brandilyn Collins gives you a glimpse of the unseen realm of demonic forces and how God places prayer on the hearts of His people even those who question who He is and has everyone looking to the pastor for guidance.

Coral Moon is the second book of the author's new series, the first being Violet Dawn all revolve around the sleepy little Town of Kenner Lake. Brandilyn Collins has a way with words so much so that you find yourself not being able to put down this awesome page turner. The characters jump right off the page at you, characters or people you feel you know and become entangled in their lives.

If you're new to Brandilyn Collins as this reviewer is you'll find yourself wanting to read all ten of her other 3 series of books, while waiting in anticipation as to what is in store next for the people of Kenner Lake in the third book Crimson Eve. Word of advice don't read Coral Moon alone on a dark and stormy night!

In Coral Moon Collins brings us a fascinating tale laced with supernatural chills and gut wrenching suspense. Leslies Brymes, reporter for The Kanner Lake Times, has her world turned upside down when she discovers a dead body in her car. Suddenly, a typical workday turns into a nightmare for Leslie and the other citizens of Kanner Lake. Police Chief Vince Edwards searches diligently for the culprit, only to be floored when his best suspect turns out to be the dead husband of the victim. As the truth is slowly uncovered, the citizens of Kanner Lake are faced with a dark truth and their faith will be challenged at every revealing turn.

Brandilyn Collin's Kanner Lake Series is hands down her best work. The fictional town of Kanner Lake is a delightful creation, full of cleverly crafted characters that are quirky, loveable, and memorable. From the twisting and turning plots to the shocking revelations, Collins proves she is a master of the suspense genre. Each story in the series is vastly different and yet all are equally entertaining and riveting. Embedded in the suspenseful storylines we find nuggets of hope and faith that are both insightful and encouraging. This series is highly recommended for fans of suspense thrillers and mystery. (Originally reviewed as a series for Christian Library Journal)

Clear your calendar before you even open this book. Brandilyn Collins has woven another spellbinding tapestry of story, suspense and characterization. Book two in the Kanner Lake Series does not disappoint.

Leslie Williams strives to be a great journalist. Her role in solving the Edna Sans murder six months ago catapulted her career into new directions. The quiet little mountain vacation spot of Kanner Lake was also catapulted into a grander focus of tourism. Battle lines against change are drawn. Leslie determines to investigate both sides.

Her plans alter the morning she walks out to her car and discovers a dead body with a note and a number attached. Her life spirals into a whirlwind of murder and séances as both human and spiritual forces that threaten to destroy her peaceful community and her self-confidence.

Brandilyn Collins has created a town in Idaho where you may wish you lived, but not until it's solace returns. From the first sentence you will be hooked. Be sure to leave a light on, because things happen in the night. And, if by chance, you look into the sky and see a crescent moon the color of coral, think of the folks in Kanner Lake and remember to breathe.

i bought this book when it first came out, but just read it a couple of months ago. this is a really good book. i felt it was a page turner. it was well written and the story had a nice flow to it.

This was the best book I have read in a while. C-Murder is a great writer and I am looking forward to more. I have a 15 year old cousin that is captivated by the street life and I will be purchasing another book for him to read.

This book was interesting but at first a little confusing since I thought the book was about C-Murder. This book goes into the life of a boy playing a man's game in a grown up world. I found myself wanting to know what was
going to happen with the character in the book. I find that I would recommend this book to my friends. It's a must read.

A Letter to My Sisters: The Way Out
I must say I was very reluctant to read this book when it was suggested by my book club president. I was surprised at the content and life lessons shown. I had difficulty wading through the language, but I was not so narrow minded that I failed to see that there was dissapointment, intrigue, love, family failures and many societal failures taking place in the life of the characters.I realize that obcenity and profanity are very prevalent in the life of certain segments of society. I so much wanted the influence of the grandmother to dominate more, but that didn't happen. There was definitely a battle between evil and good taking place. I felt Daquan's pain as he attempted to struggle with the issues life threw at him. The book came to an inevitable end.

In an instant, young Daquan Watson's world was turned upside down. One act of violence has shattered the family life he once knew. Now living with Grandma Mama in The Calliope Projects, Third Ward, a notorious, drug-infested housing projects, it's just a matter of time before the lure of the streets is too much to resist. With death around every corner, will Daquan escape?

And with that, DEATH AROUND THE CORNER heads off into a violent, complicated, gritty and fascinating storyline. Books about the hood appear in a steady flow today and the flow just seems to continue to increase. However, quantity does not make up for quality. DEATH AROUND THE CORNER beats the odds. C-Murder's gripping account of one young man's experiences adds immeasurably to one's understanding of the challenges faced by many of our black youth. Its setting is rich in local color and local characters. DEATH AROUND THE CORNER proves to be exciting, with a jaw-dropping climax. Multi-platinum rapper C-Murder takes a gamble and wins, so does the reader. Maybe he can do for New Orleans literary what his brother Master P has done for New Orleans ' rap scene. Highly recommend. Looking forward to Tru Publishing.

Reviewed by: Toni