Novel Musings |

The Shadow Walker isn’t your average Murder Mystery full of spine tingling suspense and death. Instead it is a unique hybrid mixing Political Intrigue with Police Procedural Investigation into a rich compelling tale. Even if you aren’t a fan of Murder Mysteries, The Shadow Walker will be nothing short of intriguing as the plot unfolds in Mongolia a land full of mystery, culture, and a burgeoning industry. This expertly written novel will race you across the steppes of this rich and diverse country as the body count continues to climb.

Laura Bickle delivers a surprisingly diverse debut novel in Embers. A vague statement to be sure but true as there are some truly wonderful and refreshing elements of this book but they get overshadowed by some bad plot lines and unrealistic character interactions. To put it simply everyone will enjoy some aspect of this book whether it is the arson investigation, Sparky the Fire Salamander, or the author’s articulation of Detroit and the paranormal. However it is ones ability to take everything at face value that will really decide how much you enjoy the novel.

Upon starting the book you are thrust right into the middle of the mystery as you experience the final moments of Elliott Spence’s life as he meets up with his old college friend Ross Craig and ultimately loses his life from a hit and run. The interesting part of this event is that you read it unfold from both perspectives allowing you to get a full glimpse of the emotions driving the characters. The mystery unfolds from there as …

I don’t know what is worse when waiting for the next book in the series to arrive. Is it the wait for the book itself, or is it the knowledge that no longer how long you take to read the book you are going to have to wait another year for the next installment. In the case of The Dresden Files by Jim Butcher I have found that each installment is a story into itself and although I await eagerly for the next tale I don’t find myself going crazy during the wait. Well lets just say that Changes not only makes drastic alterations to the story’s main plots but also leaves me wondering What?! How?? What happens now!!

In the mood for a good murder mystery, perhaps one with a surprisingly high body count and of the dark fantasy persuasion? If so then look no further then Ghosts in the Snow by Tamara Siler Jones. Dubric Bryerly, castellan of Castle Fladorrah, heads this stunningly intense thriller that seamlessly combines forensics and dark magic in a medieval world rich in its own history.