Category: Thriller

A Review – The Witch Hunter by Max Seeck

May 2, 2021 /

A woman has died under strange circumstances, and Sergeant Jessica Niemi is investigating.  The victim’s husband is the best-selling author of The Witch Hunt series, which only complicates the situation. Battling her past and a mounting body count, Jessica struggles to keep control. 

Writing Style

Seeck’s style is clinical and plot-driven in the best possible way. I would be hard-pressed to find unnecessary prose in this novel.  I would also describe it as evocative. Through his style, I found a female Finnish police sergeant relatable.

Did I put The Witch Hunter down?

I only stopped reading this one when I needed to sleep.  The material stuck with me even when I was not reading.

Who should be reading this?

This book contains violence, language, torture, sexual content, and depictions of rape. The scenes were explicit but not superfluous.

Would I recommend The Witch Hunter?

Without spoiling anything, I am going to have difficulty describing the ride that is this novel.  I was genuinely excited to turn every page.  The book evoked a range of emotions in me, namely intrigue, excitement, and terror. I cannot often say that a book genuinely creeped me out, but Seeck’s imagery did just that.  

If I had one criticism, I would point to the final chapters.  The excitement that built leading to these events was palpable, but my investment in the story fell apart at this point.  This disappointment was purely due to opinion and expectation.  I would not classify this as a “whodunit,” but elements of this book reflect that genre. I often finish these books feeling deflated.

Don’t let that stop you from checking out Max Seeck’s The Witch Hunter here.

A Review- The Price of Time by Tim Tigner

February 28, 2021 /

A group of researchers has discovered the modern “Fountain of Youth.” The decisions they make could change both their lives and the landscape of the world.

Writing Style

The continuity felt a bit jumbled near the start of the book.  Beyond this, Tigner’s writing was tight and visual. His prose is not wasteful.

Did I put it down?

Tigner’s book felt like dessert.  I enjoyed it, but only in small portions.

Content

Tigner has some extremely violent scenes in this book, and descriptions of torture would top this list.  We also see some brief sexuality.

Would I recommend The Price of Time?

Yes, I would, but with a caveat.  Tigner’s book asks the question,” Would anyone know if someone discovered the Fountain of Youth?” The series of events that answer this question border on ludicrous in the most enjoyable way.  A suspension of disbelief is required. To say much more would ruin the plot. I cannot imagine a world where these events could happen, but I suppose a person who worked in Soviet Counterintelligence knows better than me anyway. 

Check the book out here.

A Review – The Dirty South by John Connolly

February 14, 2021 /

Rural Arkansas is limping through the 1990s.  A thin veneer of normalcy covers Cargill.  Chief Evander Griffin is investigating three murders that appear to be connected. The crimes threaten planned improvements from outside investment. On the heels of the second murder, Charles Parker, a former police officer from New York, arrives in town searching for the man that murdered his family.  What will he find?

Writing Style

Connolly’s writing felt slow and methodical. The mix created suspense and anticipation. The Dirty South is darker than a book like Moonflower Murders and less like a “whodunit.”

Did I put it down?

Not really.  Once I saw the path, the story was gripping.

Who should be reading this?

The images presented are unsettling.  As with most thrillers of the sort, there is some violence mixed perversely with sexuality. The language is tame comparably.    

Would I recommend The Dirty South?

Yes, without question.  The first chapter or so of this book did not impress me.  I felt that the language and atmosphere were slightly pretentious, or at the very least long-winded.  Sometimes I forget to meet the author on their ground.  I put the book down, came back the next day, and could not have been more impressed.  

Rural Arkansas is not much different from where my grandparents lived when I was a child.  Southeast Missouri is very similar. Isolation can be overwhelming in the countryside.  As I got older, I also saw that the social interactions and politics were different than in the city.  The setting and characters resonated with me.  I could tell that Connolly had done his research.  They say to write what you know.  Connolly made sure that he understood the dynamics at play in a small community. 

Beyond this, the story was intricate and unpredictable.  Parker’s character, although flawed and unsettling, plays a foil to the rest of the cast.  When I have the time, I will be visiting the earlier novels in this series.

Check out the book here!

Subscribe

* indicates required
/ ( mm / dd )

© 2024 Pop's Book Stop

Theme by Anders Noren — Up ↑