So I posted this version of my review on TikTok and Instagram and a short while ago I received this comment from author Creston Mapes:
THIS. This is why reviews are important to authors. Because they, like all of us, can always use that reminder to KEEP GOING. I just wanted to share that with you. And the book he mentions? I AM IN HERE. It’s fantastic. Go read it!
“A morbid gloom hung in silence over the courtroom. And it dawned on Deetz—they were all human beings in that place. If they wanted to, they could all relate with one another—about life’s struggles, trials, ups, downs, joys, losses. But somewhere along the line, this one, Rogan Sneed, had chosen to venture outside the norm of what human beings are allowed to do, are supposed to do. Maybe he was insane or bi-polar or mentally ill. Or maybe something like demons really did exist—inside certain human beings. Whatever the case, whatever the reason for this insanity, whatever had caused Rogan Sneed to snap—Deetz found himself at a place he’d never been in his life. Wishing everyone could get along. Wanting peace—within himself and with those around him. Wanting love. Joy. Kindness. Serenity...” from Signs of Life.
This is my second book by Creston Mapes and I’m still trying to process my feelings. Marketed as a “Christian thriller,” author Creston Mapes has a way of getting his stories to wedge their way into your mind without using any graphic language or images. But he does use imagery. And emotions. And deep, personal points of view.
This is the story of three men: a teenage shooter, the detective who interrogates him, and a man who lost his wife in the violent event. The setting is Portland, Oregon and the location of the shooting is Pioneer Square, a place I’ve been to many times, which made this story feel all the more realistic.
The POVs are the detective, Wayne Deetz, and the widower, Tyson Cooper. They are strong characters, but also representatives of many others who were affected that horrific day, May 7, 2018. All fictional, though you forget that as you read.
So what makes it a “Christian thriller?”
Over the course of one year we follow Deetz and Cooper as they try to make sense of this senseless act and reassemble their lives. Because, honestly, how does one move forward from something so terrible? They question everything, reevaluate everything, second guess everything. They grapple with their faith, friendships, guilt, grief, there are thoughts of revenge, forgiveness, compassion, love, renewal, and an attempt to heal. And the reader is completely enveloped, putting everything through our own filters, making us think of such powerful issues like light versus dark, the death penalty, nature versus nurture, life after death, family, and loss.
This is a gripping story which I highly recommend. It will stay with you and, difficult as the subject is, maybe that’s a good thing.
9.5/10 Stars
Here is a 7 minute video I made about Goodreads 2023 nominees that I read but did not vote for this year. Some I still loved! Some, not so much. But I hope you’ll watch and find something you want to read in the future.
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AVAILABLE June 13, 2023
How often does the title of a book also describe it? Practically never. But such is the case with The Spectacular, by Fiona Davis, because it is, in a word…spectacular.
Set mostly in 1956, we follow nineteen year old dancer Marion Brooks. Stifled by an over-protective father and a jealous older sister, Marion abandons all caution and decides to audition for the Rockettes at Radio City Music Hall. Amazingly, she succeeds and is put through the exhausting grind of long hours, extreme physical exertion, and lofty expectations. Kick high and smile wide, no matter what.
The first half of the book gives us a backstage pass through Marion’s eyes and experiences: the euphoria of being on stage, the fear of disappointing her family, plus the friendships and intricacies of a young woman living independently during a very buttoned up time in history. Then suddenly, this already fascinating plot swerves in a new direction, turning The Spectacular into a suspenseful thriller.
While Marion is navigating the excitement of professional dance, the Big Apple Bomber is on his sixteenth year terrorizing the city. Pipe bombs are being left in public places such as libraries, phone booths, offices, and theaters. That’s right. Theaters. It is here that Marion’s story gains even more momentum and collides with actual events because these bombings really happened, becoming a case that pioneered the use of criminal profiling in police work and examining the role of severe mental illness as a possible cause for such crimes.
I went into this book with no real idea of what to expect and ended up absolutely mesmerized. Fiona Davis is an extraordinary writer who has created an incredibly immersive story. Marion Brooks is a riveting protagonist, as are the supporting characters in her orbit, all of whom are grappling with challenges and emotions that Davis brings to life in a realistic way. I could feel the energy of events while being transported to 1950s New York City, a living, breathing metropolis which is a character in itself. Its heartbeat echoes throughout the story’s action, romance, and drama with a pulsating rhythm that keeps the reader’s attention from start to finish.
Keep this book on your radar when it releases in June. It is exceptional.
10/10 Stars
Jason Rich has failed at a lot of things in life: beating his alcohol dependency, relationships with women, and living up to his father’s expectations. Despite that, and thanks to a series of tacky billboards along the highway, Jason has still drummed up his own version of success as an ambulance-chasing personal injury lawyer.
When Jason is forced to defend his sister after she is charged with killing her husband, everything changes. Now he must transition to criminal law, reconnect with his splintered family, and enter the grimy world of drugs, dirty cops, and murder. Not an easy task for a man already on the state bar’s radar. Rich Blood gives us lots of expository information about Jason Rich’s personality, boundaries, background, and courtroom tactics.
In Rich Waters, Jason is blackmailed into defending a fallen local hero accused of killing a cop. His personal life is a mess, but he has his allies. Always on retainer are the three ex-military Tonidandel brothers, former Screaming Eagles who double as security and friends. Plus there is Izzy, his law partner; Harry, his investigator; and Ashley, his AA sponsor. This motley crew help to keep Jason grounded and safe, but are put at risk by a powerful enemy.
Well-written legal thrillers, like this series, are a fun way to break out of my reading comfort zone. There are lots of characters to keep track of, puzzle pieces to assemble, ongoing stories, plot twists, and reveals. I’ve become pretty skilled at pinpointing killers in murder mysteries, but both Jason Rich books kept me guessing until the very end. That’s a good thing. Plus we are treated to a very multi-faceted main character who is always fighting one demon or another, whether personal or professional.
Rich Waters ended with a very sewn-up conclusion, so I don’t know if more books will appear in the series, but I, for one, would like to see others. They are fast-paced, intelligent reads. I recommend both and to read them in order.
9/10 Stars for each book and for the series.
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