Krista Wagner's Blog, page 9

Dark and In-Depth

An incredible collection of novellas that search the darkest corners of our desires. . .and the terrible consequences.1922: A vulgar woman, through the perspective of the plotting husband, has no idea that her husband is about to murder her over the plot of land that she's inherited. And their teenage son is an unwilling accomplice. King's story is reminiscent of Shelley's Frankenstein in some ways, with a bitter self-righteous man who forces his son into a horrifying situation, thus creating another monster. This is an exploration of man's sick heart, the lengths he will go to out of greed, and the cost of selfish motives. The writing, as always, proves intriguing and captivating.Big Driver: A successful author is raped and fakes her death in order to escape the beast and seek revenge. The story does not get graphic at all, believe it or not. We are simply told that she is being raped. Where the focus lies is on her escape and her changed self who does what she can to uncover who this man is and how she can end him. This is more of a self-defense tale than a revenge tale, and I really like how King plays it out. There is a lot of mystery and surprise involved.Fair Extension: A story much like Something Wicked This Way Comes combined with King's Thinner. King reaches down into the hate of man and reveals its cruel heart who will bargain an extension of his life in exchange for making the one he hates suffer. The story is sad as a man watches his best friend (who he secretly despises) lose everything, including his joy. This is the only story that doesn't fully explore the "sinner's" consequences.A Good Marriage: What a true takeaway message: you don't ever 100% know someone. In what seems to be a 'good marriage' going on 30 years, a wife discovers that her husband has been harboring a dark secret--he's a rapist and a serial killer. This is a chilling plot that places us into that knowledge at the beginning and has us experiencing the wife's dilemma over what to do with this new information while keeping herself safe. We feel all of her indecision, anxiety and trepidation over confronting the truth. This one is more of a realistic (rather than supernatural/horror) story, one that touches on the worst kind of monster you could marry.

Forever Yours

Once again, Judy Corry wins us over with a brimming romance full of fun and flustering! Alyssa's and Jace's whims are exciting to watch, especially when they go on a wild ride full of the unexpected.This is a sweet story where both halves of a potential couple are prudent about every decision and attentive to the other's needs.I loved the chase scene-watch for it! And the twist really surprised me.On such a wild terrain, it's hard to believe what will happen next, but Corry layers the plot with an array of surprises, making this YA tale worth the read.

Remember Me

This is my favorite Christopher Pike book. I've read it at least half a dozen times and it still compels me.Imagine falling to your death at a birthday party and coming back as a "ghost" not only to witness your post-world, but to be part of the investigation? This is what Shari Cooper gets to do.Shari was only in high school, not ready for her life to end. There doesn't seem to be anyone who would willingly hurt her, so finding out exactly what happened proves mysterious and intriguing all the way through.The cast of characters are created so individually that you find yourself drawn to each one. And the mystery continues to deepen as you discover more nuances from the night of the party, with each of Shari's friends becoming more suspicious and their part in that night more complicated.This is an amazing journey with a simple girl who loved life and hopes to learn why it had to end so soon. Pike loves his characters and his story, which is why you will too.

Simple Nice Story

When I picked this one up, I expected a frightful event to take place; after all, the title speaks to "Murders". But this story aims on the side of a tale about Amy, a 12-year-old girl who needs a break from her family, particularly her 11-year-old sister, Louann who is mentally handicapped, the sister she is expected to care for all the time and her curiosity about a dollhouse. So, when her Aunt Clare invites her to stay at the mansion she is getting ready to sell, Amy is thrilled.The mansion is where Amy's great-grandparents lived. And, where they died mysteriously. Plus, it isn't long before Amy discovers a dollhouse in the attic, an exact replica of the real home.When the dolls didn't stay in the same position, it made me--and Amy--curious and a bit scared. Had Aunt Clare moved them? Was a ghost involved? Amy, too afraid to say anything at first, is a relatable character. When a person first confronts an uncanny event, processing the reality of it proves difficult. You find yourself, regardless of your age, going through all the emotions Amy does.The strain between Amy and her sister is another place where the reader feels the irritation yet compassion as Amy struggles to do what is right while dealing with her resentment. Louann is written realistically, so we are able to easily connect to her character as well.Combining the tension of Amy's home life with the wonder and fear toward the unraveling of the dollhouse reality creates a fun lighthearted mystery.

Light Suspense and Fun Mystery

This 2nd book in the series is packed with lots of suspense this time around, and it makes the story so much fun! I felt like I was reading Ten Little Indians as figuring out the culprit was impossible! Someone is found dead in the theatre room, and that someone was murdered.The pool of characters is huge and everyone is under suspicion. Sandra is the coolest soccer mom you will ever read about as she starts her own mission to solve the crime, with, of course, Bob the angel at her side (or, more accurately, vanishing ahead). Merrill keeps you guessing with lots of light suspense and a witty protagonist!

The Whistle Blower

As always, Robin Merrill has put together another exciting and funny murder mystery.I was truly confounded by who could be behind the murder of an older male soccer ref as Merrill continued to create tailspins with each chapter.Sandra is such a fun character and so relatable as a mom and everything that goes into tending to kids and being a wife. I had a lot of fun riding the mystery roller coaster with Sandra and Bob, the angel--there was a lot of laughter, intrigue, and fun!What's more, by the end of the novel, you'll be in for a nice surprise once the murder mystery is revealed. I also loved the family development treat in the final chapter.

Dragon Teeth

I picked this up because I thought it was about dinosaurs. In fact, you never once see a dinosaur. It's actually about a 19th century expedition where two rival paleontologists hunt for the greatest fossil find, the dragon teeth.William Johnson makes a bet with his college roommate, which sends Johnson on the expedition, as a pretend photographer (who quickly learns the trade), with eccentric and wildly paranoid Professor Marsh. Along the way, we encounter Marsh's rival Cope. Marsh, in his typical cruel way, abandons Johnson, who finds himself tagging along with Cope and his men.What's interesting about this story is that, aside from Johnson, we are actually reading about history. Marsh and Cope were real people and actual rivals who played mind games with each other. We even get to meet Wyatt Earp and some other real people from history. Though I was disappointed that the dragon teeth only refer to a fossil find, the plot is quite exciting with a real reflection of the Sioux people and the dangerous nature of such an expedition.

Astounding and Profound

Ann Rule wrote about one of the most shocking criminals of all time. But he wasn't just a serial killer; he was her friend.The book chronicles a man who was seemingly innocuous, kind, and selfless, who effectively hid a deep urge to harm women, humiliate them, and then kill them.It must have been the hardest thing Ann Rule ever had to do, to spend countless months and years researching facts, his whereabouts on specific dates, collecting interviews from the surviving victims, collaborating with the police. And hard not just because of how exhausting it all was, but because it meant that the man she thought she knew had a sinister under layer.The details of what he did, to so many women, are shocking, disturbing, unrelenting. And yet, so few saw his dark nature that accepting the truth, even for Ann Rule, was nearly impossible. But Rule, even as she continued her friendship with Bundy, sought justice for families of the deceased, for those who survived, and for those who escaped before he could bring their lives to an end.Rule writes a carefully thorough account of the intricate web behind the appalling acts with in-depth facts and precision in spite of her own mixed feelings that oscillated throughout the many years she knew him. This is a book that keeps you reading because of its manifestation of a dark side of humanity that shocked, intrigued, and baffled the world for years.

A Good Sequel

The sequel plunges us into the action right from the beginning.Morris wastes no time getting us into the heart of The Six Pack's dilemma and how they are trying to find a way out of the government-controlled mess while protecting themselves from the precarious characters that surround them from all sides.I did want to see more distinguishing features in the characters, more of their personalities, though the dialogue is well built and progressive to this type of plot.A good solid story with an impassable force of nature.

Deeply Engaging

The final book in the Jane Hawk series, this concluding chapter proves as compelling as its predecessors. Koontz relates situations with a precision and a heaviness that is felt within each moment of this page-turning plot.The nanotechnology web has spread, controlling or killing those within its grip. And stakes continue to rise as the confrontation closes in.To me, Jane Hawk resembles elements of John Wick--seeking justice with fortitude and humility while holding the love for her son deep down where it remains protected as she battles those who wrongly seek to destroy her.No writer comes close to relaying descriptions with the depth and quality that Koontz exudes. The characters are multi-faceted and memorable in a richly envisioned story of the unthinkable.