Thursday, November 27, 2014

My Sister’s Grave

Robert Dugoni

A new thriller from New York Times best-selling author Robert Dugoni.

Tracy Crosswhite has spent twenty years questioning the facts surrounding her sister Sarah’s disappearance and the murder trial that followed. She doesn’t believe that Edmund House—a convicted rapist and the man condemned for Sarah’s murder—is the guilty party. Motivated by the opportunity to obtain real justice, Tracy became a homicide detective with the Seattle PD and dedicated her life to tracking down killers.

When Sarah’s remains are finally discovered near their hometown in the northern Cascade mountains of Washington State, Tracy is determined to get the answers she’s been seeking. As she searches for the real killer, she unearths dark, long-kept secrets that will forever change her relationship to her past—and open the door to deadly danger(from Netgalley)

My Thoughts

Tracy Crosswhite’s sister disappeared 20 years ago. While someone was convicted, she never felt that they got the right person. Her pursuit of the truth leads her down a path she would have never imagined.

This was a great read. It was well paced with just enough hints and clues to keep it interesting. The final third of the book really picked up on the action and there was a twist I did not see coming. I love it when an author throws me for a loop.

I liked Robert Dugoni’s writing style and plan on reading more of his books.

My thanks to Amazon Publishing, via Netgalley, for allowing me to read this in exchange for an unbiased review.

Sunday, November 16, 2014

The Book of Strange New Things

Michael Faber

A monumental, genre-defying novel over ten years in the making, from the internationally bestselling author of The Crimson Petal and the White. The Book of Strange New Things tells the story of Peter Leigh, a devoted man of faith called to the mission of a lifetime, one that takes him literally light years away from his wife, Bea. Peter becomes immersed in the mysteries of an astonishing new environment and the ego-gratifying work of ministering to a native population hungry for the Bible--this "book of strange new things." But he soon begins to receive increasingly desperate letters from home. North Korea is devastated by a typhoon; the Maldives are wiped out by a tsunami; England endures an earthquake, and Bea's faith, once the guiding light of their lives, begins to falter.
A separation measured in galaxies, and defined both by one newly discovered world and another in a state of collapse, is threatened by an ever-widening gulf that is much less quantifiable. Peter's and Bea's trials lay bare a profound meditation on faith, love tested beyond endurance, and the responsibility we have to others.(from Netgalley)

My Thoughts
 

Peter is selected to minister to the natives, called Oasans, at an outpost light years away from earth. His wife Bea is not chosen and must stay behind. As Peter becomes increasingly enamored with his missionary work, Bea’s life is falling apart as living on earth becomes more and more difficult.

This book surprised me in many ways. It’s labeled as science fiction, but other than the location and the native aliens, it didn’t really seem like science fiction. I thought it was a smart spin on a missionary tale. I liked how the Jesus Lovers (so called by Peter because he cannot speak their language) saw the Bible as the book of strange new things.

This is the first book I’ve read by Michael Faber. I must say, I liked his creativity and I am genuinely curious to read more by this author.

My thanks to Crown Publishing, via Netgalley, for allowing me to read this in exchange for an unbiased review.

Sunday, November 2, 2014

The Abyss Beyond Dreams

Chronicle of the Fallers

Peter F. Hamilton



The wait is over. Bestselling science fiction master Peter F. Hamilton is back with the first of a new two-book saga set in his popular Commonwealth universe. Distinguished by deft plotting, a teeming cast of characters, dazzling scientific speculation, and imagination that brings the truly alien to life, The Abyss Beyond Dreams reveals Hamilton as a storyteller of astonishing ingenuity and power.

The year is 3326. Nigel Sheldon, one of the founders of the Commonwealth, receives a visit from the Raiel—self-appointed guardians of the Void, the enigmatic construct at the core of the galaxy that threatens the existence of all that lives. The Raiel convince Nigel to participate in a desperate scheme to infiltrate the Void.

Once inside, Nigel discovers that humans are not the only life-forms to have been sucked into the Void, where the laws of physics are subtly different and mental powers indistinguishable from magic are commonplace. The humans trapped there are afflicted by an alien species of biological mimics—the Fallers—that are intelligent but merciless killers.

Yet these same aliens may hold the key to destroying the threat of the Void forever—if Nigel can uncover their secrets. As the Fallers’ relentless attacks continue, and the fragile human society splinters into civil war, Nigel must uncover the secrets of the Fallers—before he is killed by the very people he has come to save.(Netgalley)

My Thoughts
Science fiction is hit or miss for me - mostly miss. I usually find the terminology confusing and too out there.

Not so with Mr. Hamilton’s stories. In fact, I always get excited when I see a new book by this author. His stories are very approachable and this was the case with The Abyss Beyond Dreams. The author has a great way of creating characters and building alien worlds.

I have not read any of the previous books based in the Commonwealth, but this did not hamper my ability to enjoy this tale. I look forward to reading book two.

My Thanks to Random House - Del Ray Spectra, via Netgalley, for allowing me to read this in exchange for an unbiased review.