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Showing posts with label Suspense. Show all posts

Elysium Tide by James R. Hannibal | Suspense Review

Elysium Tide

James R. Hannibal

Suspense

Dr. Peter Chesterfield is the top neurosurgeon at the Royal London Hospital. He's also a workaholic, and after a blow-up with a colleague, his boss orders him to attend a medical symposium at the luxurious Elysium Grand on the island of Maui. During a midnight walk on the beach, Peter pulls a woman with a skull fracture from the water. Despite all his skill, she dies in his arms, leaving him with only one clue to what happened to her: the word "honu."

Obsessed with finding the cause of his patient's death--discovering what or who ripped the power over life and death from his surgeon's hands--Peter becomes entangled in an ongoing investigation. He also becomes a source of deep irritation to detective Lisa Kealoha, who has jurisdiction over the case.

The reluctant pair join forces, diving deep into Maui's evolving gang culture, and unearth a conspiracy that runs deeper than either could have imagined. Knowing too much is deadly--and they must catch the killer before the killer catches them.

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My Thoughts

James Hannibal's writing just gets better and better. I think I've read all of his previous books and after each one I've said it's my favorite. Well guess what . . . this is now my favorite! Mr. Hannibal has a writing style that is similar to some of my favorite classical mystery writers. The plots are complex and the characters are engaging.

In this story I became completely enamored by the two doctors, Dr. Peter Chesterfield and Dr. Tua Iona. Dr. Chesterfield is a prominent neurosurgeon and Dr. Iona appears to be a simple resort doctor. But Dr. Iona has a wealth of knowledge to pass on that Dr. Chesterfield doesn't even know he needs.

The suspense/mystery aspect of the story involves detective Lisa Kealoha. She's a native to the island and has a lot to prove. Her past is a bit checkered and she's determined to redeem that. A particular gang has infiltrated the island and Lisa is determined to get to the bottom of it and eradicate their presence.

By total happenstance Dr. Chesterfield becomes involved in detective Kealoha's investigation. She's not happy with the situation. But Dr. Chesterfield is trained to notice what it out of place and his insights are valuable, but annoying.

The untwisting of the complex plot was fascinating and if the ending is any indication there will be other books with these characters. I'm very excited about that. This particular mystery is solved but others are left dangling, drawing us to the next book. I highly recommend this to anyone who enjoys a good mystery with a dash of suspense.

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Disclosure:

I received a copy of this book to facilitate my review.

The Paris Betrayal by James R Hannibal | Mystery & Suspense Review

The Paris Betrayal

James R Hannibal

Mystery & Suspense

After a rough mission in Rome involving the discovery of a devastating bioweapon, Company spy Ben Calix returns to Paris to find his perfectly ordered world has collapsed. A sniper attack. An ambush. A call for help that brings French SWAT forces down on his head. Ben is out. This is a severance--reserved for incompetents and traitors.

Searching for answers and anticipating a coming attack, Ben and a woman swept up in his misfortunes must travel across Europe to find the sniper who tried to kill him, the medic who saved his life, the schoolmaster who trained him, and an upstart hacker from his former team. More than that, Ben must come to grips with his own insignificance as the Company's plan to stop Leviathan from unleashing the bioweapon at any cost moves forward without him--and he struggles against the infection that is swiftly claiming territory within his own body.

Award-winning author James R. Hannibal ratchets up the tension on every page of this suspenseful new thriller.

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My Thoughts

If espionage and burned spies are your thing, then this is the book for you. Ben Calix is that burned spy. The problem is that he doesn't realize it until it is too late. If something can go wrong it's going to. Every step of the way Ben is thwarted in his attempts to clear his name and return to good graces with the Company.

But why? What has Ben done to deserve this? That my friend is kept a mystery until the very end. It is a mystery that the reader isn't privy to, which makes the suspense become almost unbearable. I loved it! I stayed up way too late reading it because I just needed one more chapter. Then of course that chapter led into another chapter and another chapter. My advice, let this be a Friday night read when you have nothing urgent on Saturday.

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Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from Revell to facilitate my review.

Network of Deceit by Tom Threadgill | Suspense Book Review

Network of Deceit

Tom Threadgill

Suspense

She's following her instincts. They're following her every move.

After her rescue of nearly fifty kidnapped children made international headlines, Amara Alvarez gets what she's worked for: a transfer to San Antonio's Homicide Division. But reality sets in quickly when her first case, the suspicious death of a teenager at a crowded local water park, plunges her life into chaos.

As the investigation moves forward, Amara finds herself stalked online by cybercriminals who uncover her personal life in frightening detail. With few leads, she's forced to resort to unconventional methods to find the killer and prevent her first murder investigation from ending up in the cold case files.

Tom Threadgill is back with another riveting page-turner featuring the detective who is willing to put everything on the line to see justice served and lives protected.

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My Thoughts

Nine by Rachelle Dekker | Suspense Book Review

Nine

Rachelle Dekker

Suspense

SOME SECRETS CAN'T STAY HIDDEN

Zoe Johnson has spent most of her life living in the shadows, never drawing attention to herself, never investing in people or places. But when a wide-eyed, bedraggled teenager with no memory walks into the diner where Zoe works, everything changes.

Against her better judgment, Zoe, who has been trying to outrun her own painful memories of the past, finds herself attempting to help a girl who doesn't seem to have any past at all. With little warning, they must follow the only sure thing they know: a woman hundreds of miles away, will either save them . . . or be the last person to see them alive.

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My Thoughts

Whenever I see Rachelle Dekker's name on a book I get excited. You can count on her to turn out a riveting story that will draw the reader in from cover to cover. Nine fit that same description. The genre is suspense but I would go even a step further and classify it as a psychological thriller.

The story centers around Zoe and Lucy, two girls, that in normal circumstances, would never be found together. But Zoe has a soft spot for the seemingly naïve and innocent Lucy. That soft spot will lead to all kinds of danger. There's a rogue government agency involved and numerous layers of secrets and deceit to unravel.

The buildup to the ending is stressful. But it is absolutely worth it to get to the ending. There is graphic violence so if you're squeamish proceed with caution. But if you are like me and like to have your heart pounding while you are reading I think you are in for a treat with this one.

www.RachelleDekker.com

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I received a copy of this book from Revell to facilitate my review.

Collision of Lies by Tom Threadgill | Suspense Book Review

Collision of Lies

Tom Threadgill

Suspense

The case was tragic. But it was an accident. Right?

Three years ago, a collision between a fast-moving freight train and a school bus full of kids led to devastation and grief on an unimaginable scale. But a fresh clue leads San Antonio police detective Amara Alvarez to the unlikely conclusion that one of the children may still be alive. If she's correct, everything law enforcement believes about the accident is a lie.

With time running out, Amara must convince others--and herself--that despite all evidence to the contrary, the boy is alive. And she will do everything in her power to bring him home.

A fresh voice in suspense, Tom Threadgill will have you questioning everything as you fly through the pages of this enthralling story.

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My Thoughts

The Gryphon Heist (Talia Inger Series #1) by James R Hannibal | Suspense Book Review

The Gryphon Heist

Talia Inger Series #1

James R Hannibal

Suspense

Talia Inger is a rookie CIA case officer assigned not to the Moscow desk as she had hoped but to the forgotten backwaters of Eastern Europe--a department only known as "Other." When she is tasked with helping a young, charming Moldovan executive secure his designs for a revolutionary defense technology, she figures she'll be back in DC within a few days. But that's before she knows where the designs are stored--and who's after them.

With her shady civilian partner, Adam Tyler, Talia takes a deep dive into a world where criminal minds and unlikely strategies compete for access to the Gryphon, a high-altitude data vault that hovers in the mesosphere. But is Tyler actually helping her? Or is he using her for his own dark purposes?

My Thoughts
The Gryphon Heist is the first book by James Hannibal that I've read. Where have I been? I am definitely going to seek out his previous novels. He even has some juvenile fiction that I am going to look into for my grandkids.
Several years ago there was a show on television called Leverage. My husband and I used to watch it and really enjoyed it. I thought The Gryphon Heist had the same feel. It is most definitely a suspense novel but it has a light cleverness to it as well.
The characters are a motley crew of CIA agents and criminals. But likable criminals if you will. There is a lot of background that is covered in this first book of a coming series. I'm not going to go into it because it will be better for you the reader to uncover it yourself. Let's just say that the history of each of the main characters plays an important role in each of their motivations.
Like any good suspense story there are plenty of plot twists and turns. There are some points that you will guess at and get right and there are others that you won't even figure into the equation. I enjoyed every chapter and found the overall book to be a quick read.
The Gryphon Heist is a complete story but the characters go into the next novel. I've only read the sneak peek for book two but it looks like it will be just as good.
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Disclosure Statement

I receive complimentary books from publishers, publicists, and/or authors, including NetGalley. I am not required to write positive reviews. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

State of Lies by Siri Mitchell | Suspense Book Review

State of Lies

Siri Mitchell

Suspesnse

The secrets of those closest to us can be the most dangerous of all.

Months after her husband, Sean, is killed by a hit-and-run driver, physicist Georgie Brennan discovers he lied to her about where he had been going that day. A cryptic notebook, a missing computer, and strange noises under her house soon have her questioning everything she thought she knew.

With her job hanging by a thread, her son struggling to cope with his father’s death, and her four-star general father up for confirmation as the next secretary of defense, Georgie quickly finds herself tangled in a web of political intrigue that has no clear agenda and dozens of likely villains.

Only one thing is clear: someone wants her dead too. And the more she digs for the truth, the fewer people she can trust.

Not her friends.

Not her parents.

Maybe not even herself.

My Thoughts

Well hello Siri Mitchell! When one of your favorite authors decides to venture out of her usual genre it can be a little unnerving. Will it be any good? Should I give it a try? In the case of 'State of Lies' the answers are yes and yes.

'State of Lies' is filled with plot twists and turns that keep you guessing and rethinking your theories. By the end of the story I was about 50 percent correct in my assumptions. And I was totally amazed at what I had made wrong guesses on.

I really hope that Siri continues writting her signature historical fiction but I also want to read more suspense from her as well. Maybe a combination of both??? Anyway, if you are a fan of Siri Mitchell or of suspense (of the political nature) then I am quite sure you are going to enjoy this one.

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The Curse of Misty Wayfair by Jaime Jo Wright | Mystery & Suspense Review

The Curse of Misty Wayfair

Jaime Jo Wright

Mystery & Suspense

Left at an orphanage as a child, Thea Reed vowed to find her mother someday. Now grown, her search takes her to turn-of-the-century Pleasant Valley, Wisconsin. When the clues she finds lead her to a mental asylum, Thea uses her experience as a postmortem photographer to gain access and assist groundskeeper Simeon Coyle in photographing the patients and uncovering the secrets within. However, she never expected her personal quest would reawaken the legend of Misty Wayfair, a murdered woman who allegedly haunts the area and whose appearance portends death.

A century later, Heidi Lane receives a troubling letter from her mother--who is battling dementia--compelling her to travel to Pleasant Valley for answers to her own questions of identity. When she catches sight of a ghostly woman haunting the asylum ruins in the woods, the long-standing story of Misty Wayfair returns--and with it, Heidi's fear for her own life.

As two women across time seek answers about their identities and heritage, they must overcome the threat of the mysterious curse that has them inextricably intertwined.

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My Thoughts

All of Jamie's books that I have read have an eerie feel to them and this one is no exception. The story goes back and forth between the present and turn of the century Pleasant Valley, Wisconsin. The subject matter centers around an assylum. It also includes post-mortem photography. This book really has a creepiness factor that is quite compelling. I promise you'll come away from it with a whole new appreciation for the subject matter.

What I appreciate about Jamie's writing is that while I was reading the story I kind of felt a tension that made me a bit uncomfortable. I kept thinking is she going to go down the "woo woo" trail and start in with spirits and ghosts? She doesn't. There are characters that believe in those things but the overall story doesn't promote that. It really is just a fascinating read about subjects that are interesting in a creepy way. I enjoyed it and look forward to her next book.

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www.JaimeWrightBooks.com

Disclosure Statement

I receive complimentary books from publishers, publicists, and/or authors, including NetGalley. I am not required to write positive reviews. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

Coldwater by Samuel Parker | Suspense Book Review

Coldwater

Samuel Parker

Suspense

The vigilantes behind him are nothing compared to the enemy within.

Having forfeited his youth to the state prison system, Michael moved back to the still vacant house of his parents in a town with one stoplight. A town that hated him. Had always hated him. And was ready to pick up where the prison system had left off.

Now he's on the run from men who've tried to kill him once; but Michael is more than an ex-con. A powerful, sinister force skulks within him, threatening and destructive. What--and who--it will destroy next is the only real question.

From the bold voice that brought readers down Purgatory Road comes a new pulse-pounding, spine-rattling tale of vengeance and justice.

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My Thoughts

If you are a fan of Frank Peretti, Ted Dekker, or Alton Gansky this book is going to be right up your alley. The opening scene has the main character being buried alive. Yes . . . buried alive! Everyone's worst nightmare.

That opening scene was so intense that I just couldn't put the book down. And the intensity continued throughout the entire novel. The classification that the publisher gave it is suspense and it does contain that but there are also aspects of supernatural and thriller mixed in. I'm going to be honest and say that supernatural just isn't my thing but this story was so well written I couldn't help but keep going.

Have you ever wondered if redemption is possible for someone that has committed a heinous act? What does it look like in a practical sense? How does one go on after serving their time? Mr. Parker takes us on a journey that explores this. I found myself having an inner dialog while I was reading the story. How would I react? Where does my faith come in? This isn't a novel to make you comfortable but I guarantee it will make you think.

If you like a book that pushes the boundaries and leaves you a little uncomfortable while making you think then this book is for you. It does have intense themes so I would recommend it for older teens and up.

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Fault Lines (Fault Lines #1) by Thomas Locke | Suspense Review

Fault Lines

Fault Lines #1

Thomas Locke

Suspense

What if reality is only the edge of possibility?

There isn't much that can throw Charlie Hazard off balance. But the mystery woman with the striking eyes and the intense request to follow her--now--is about to shake his world. Knowing little more than her name, Charlie leaves his post as a guard at the Satellite Beach community center for what he thinks is just another risk-containment job. But Gabriella, an experimental psychologist, has far more in store for him than protection duty--if the two of them survive the test.

Reese Clawson relishes her work at the Combine and all the perks and power that come with it--including the ability to manipulate perceptions. But the Combine never anticipated this mind-shifting technology. If Gabriella's experiments succeed, the Combine would be destroyed. And Reese will never allow that to happen.

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My Thoughts

I enjoyed this book so much but I have to admit that I was a bit confused. I have previously read Double Edge (an ebook prequel to the series), Trial Run, and Flash Point. So I was expecting Fault Lines to be book three in the series. It's not.

Fault Lines is actually book one. (Yes, it was published last but it is really the first.) When I began reading the book I kept thinking I've read this before. It's because I had. Double Edge is covered almost verbatim in chapter one of Fault Lines. The story then continues on giving details that nicely bridge into Trial Run.

So if you're like me and already read what are now books two and three don't worry about reading Fault Lines. You'll have details that you already know but there will be a nice clarity to what is going on. In fact I'm thinking of going back and rereading Trial Run and Flash Point.

If you're new to this series go ahead and skip the ebook and dive right in to Flash Point. You'll be starting at the beginning and I can assure you that you are in for a real treat. I like Thomas Locke's (Davis Bunn) writing and this series is my favorite so far. If you like suspense with a bit of sci-fi elements thrown in this is written for you!

Other Reviews For This Author

Emissary

Merchant of Alyss

Trial Run

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The Raven (Coffey & Hill #2) by Mike Nappa | Suspense Book Review

The Raven

Coffey & Hill #2

Mike Nappa

Suspense

As part of his street performance, a deception specialist who goes by the name The Raven picks his audience's pockets while they watch. It's harmless fun--until he decides to keep the wallet of a prominent politician, hoping for a few extra bucks. When he finds compromising photos of the councilman and his "personal assistants," The Raven hatches a plan to blackmail the man. However, he quickly finds himself in over his head with the Ukrainian Mafia and mired in a life-threatening plot code-named "Nevermore."

Private investigators Trudi Coffey and Samuel Hill must scramble to sort out the clues to rescue The Raven from a wild card bent on revenge.

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My Thoughts

As soon as I finished Annabel Lee I began to eagerly anticipate the next book in the Coffey & Hill series. Mike Nappa's writing style is very compelling. I found myself caught up in all the action and unable to put the book down.

The follow-up novel, The Raven, is even better than the first. Once again Mr. Nappa uses a clever rendering of one of Edgar Allen Poe's famous works. This time the main character is a street performer that goes by the name of The Raven. This character is one that you will grow to like and find yourself cheering for even as he makes bad choice after bad choice. There's just something about him that makes you want better for him.

Another interesting character is Mama Bliss. She's a very beloved fixture in her Atlanta neighborhood. Everyone knows Mama and Mama knows everyone and everything going on in the neighborhood. I really liked her, even when the story started opening up and we find out some questionable things about her, I still liked her.

Then there's Trudy and Samuel, aka Coffey & Hill Investigations. I know there is so much in their past that it seems they will never be a couple again . . . but oh I want them to be! The sparks that fly when they are anywhere near each other make for a fast-paced story. Trudy is spunky and Samuel is suave, which should mix like oil and water but there's an emulsifier from their past relationship that just keeps blending them together.

If you enjoy a suspenseful read that has clever overtones and sizzling undercurrents of romance then this is your book. I recommend going back and reading Annabel Lee first to get all of the context. You can of course read this book as a stand-alone title, but why cheat yourself of the pleasure of getting in at the start?

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The Domino Effect By Davis Bunn | Suspense Book Review

The Domino Effect

Davis Bunn

Suspense

Esther Larsen, a top risk analyst at one of the country's largest banking institutions, is becoming more and more convinced that she has uncovered a ticking bomb with the potential to make the 2008 market crash look minor by comparison. And as her own employer pursues "investment" strategies with ever-increasing levels of risk, she becomes convinced she must do something. But Esther is only one person; can she stand up to an international conspiracy of greed? And if she does, will anyone take her seriously?

Every moment of indecision edges the markets closer to a tipping point--the teetering first domino in a standing row that circles the globe. And when Esther finds her voice, those she seeks to expose will not sit idly by. With global markets on the brink, and her own life in danger, Esther is locked in a race against the clock to avert a financial tsunami that threatens worldwide devastation.

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My Thoughts

If you are like me and came through the 2008 financial crisis bruised, battered, and barely standing then you may very well look at Davis Bunn's latest suspense novel as a work of horror. Could that nightmare really happen again? Could it be even worse this time around?

That is the scary yet all too plausible premise of The Domino Effect. Esther Larsen is a risk analyst at one of the largest banks in the United States. To say that she's unpopular with the upper management is an understatement. In fact they don't want to hear her assessments of their risky schemes. Esther is torn because not only is this her dream job but there are other factors that depend on her continuing with this path. But what if God has an even bigger and better plan?

There really is no one better suited to write this novel than Davis Bunn. He not only has the writing skills to bring us a fast-paced believable story but he also has the background to make it feel like it is ripped from today's headlines. And that my friends is what makes it so scary.

Davis Bunn uses the framework of the biblical Esther's story "for such a time as this" in a modern day format. Both Esthers have internal conflict and aren't sure they are up for the task before them. But once they stiffen their spine and choose to proceed with the course set before them they are filled with inner strength that can only come from God Himself.

Lest you worry that this is only a doom and gloom novel, let me assure you that there is much beauty among the growing ashes. There are multiple love stories mixed in and not all of them are romantic in nature but each one is very moving and inspiring.

If your book club likes to do suspense with a plausible and modern theme then this would be a perfect fit. I'm personally dying for my book club peeps to finish the book so we can discuss it!

Other Reviews For This Author

The Sign Painter

The Turning

Strait of Hormuz

Unlimited

Book of Dreams

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Annabel Lee (Coffey & Hill, #1) by Mike Nappa {Suspense Book Review}

Annabel Lee

Coffey & Hill, #1

Mike Nappa

Suspense

Fourteen miles east of Peachtree, Alabama, a secret is hidden.

THE SECRET'S NAME IS ANNABEL LEE.

She doesn't know why her enigmatic uncle has stowed her deep underground in a military-style bunker. He's left her with a few German words, a barely controlled guard dog, and a single command: "Don't open that door for anybody, you got it? Not even me."

Miles away in Atlanta, private investigator Trudi Coffey is visited by a mysterious older man calling himself Dr. Smith. He's been trailing a man for a decade--a man she met through her ex-partner Samuel Hill--and the trail has led him to her office. The last thing Trudi wants to do is to contact Samuel. But it will take both of them to unravel this mystery--before it's too late.

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My Thoughts

If you enjoy a good suspense novel then I suggest you go ahead and pick this one up. Annabel Lee is the first book in the new Coffey & Hill series. I expected it to be slow in parts because it would need to introduce us to the characters and set the stage. I was completely wrong. Instead the reader is just thrown into the midst of the plot and left to figure things out as they come to light.

There are some gruesome parts that just seem downright evil. And in fact they are. But there are other parts that aren't what they appear to be at all. At the beginning of the story Annabel Lee's uncle locks her in a hidden underground shelter with a barely controlled guard dog. Why? What craziness is this? As the story unfolds the unknown comes to light and even though you will understand the reasons they are still scary.

Trudi Coffey and Samuel Hill are former business and marriage partners. They've got a complicated history that just adds to the tension in this novel. I really like their characters and look forward to watching their story unfold in the coming books.

I don't give away endings but this one is a doozy! Take a bathroom break and get yourself a snack because you're not going to be able to put this book down as the story line comes to a climax. The epilogue will be a soothing balm to all the crazy of the previous chapters. Read the preview of the next book, The Raven, at your own peril. I say that because it doesn't come out until September and you will be left wanting to read it NOW. On a final note the acknowledgements were the best I've ever read. (Yes I read those and you should too! Gives you insight into who the author really is.)

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Trial Run (Fault Lines, Book 1) by Thomas Locke {Thriller / Suspense Book Review}

Trial Run

Fault Lines, Book 1

Thomas Locke

Thriller / Suspense

Cutting-edge research requiring controversial experiments. Startling dreams delivering cryptic communication from the dreamer's future self. Ruthless rivals determined to control mind-bending new technology. When you're balancing on the edge of what's possible, trouble awaits, ready to push you into the abyss.

This daring psychological journey into the very nature of causation and consciousness will leave you turning the pages and grasping for solid ground--especially when it becomes clear just how much fact lies within the fiction.

Dr. Gabriella Speciale has assembled an international team of elite scientists with one goal in mind--to create and control out-of-body experiences that transcend the limits of time and space. Reese Clawson's mind-bending experiments aim to explode the boundaries of human consciousness--and annihilate the opposition in the process.

When a terrifying discovery and a string of failed tests threaten to dismantle both programs, the key to survival may reside in the mind of a gifted grad student whose unsettling dreams have thrust him into the center of a dangerous battle for control.

As the threads of perception and reality become tangled and time itself twists in unexpected directions, one warning remains clear: what you don't know can kill you.

My Thoughts
I'm going to admit right up front that I didn't understand the theories behind the quantum physics or the space-time continuum. But the story was so well crafted that it didn't matter. While this novel is science fictionesque it reads completely like a suspense/ thriller. The whys behind what the characters were experimenting with made little sense to me but I quickly became entangled in the overall plot.
Rather than be caught up in all of the experiments with the different characters I was drawn into their personal stories and all the swirling plots to undermine and take out the competitors. I really like Thomas Locke (and Davis Bunn)'s work and I really think this is my favorite novel yet. I'm not particularly fond of sci-fi type of books but this piece of literature seemed to move me beyond that. Yes there is plenty of science fiction going on but there is also mystery and intrigue and a bit of romance as well. I think it will appeal to a large audience.
Now let me tell you about the ending without telling you about the ending. By the time I reached the last page of the last chapter I was worn out. The story came to a nice conclusion. It had a bit of a cliff hanger but not a completely torturous one. The major dilemmas were solved and the characters were in situations that made sense. While the main themes were wrapped up there were things that made you wonder what was going to happen. And then I read the excerpt for book two . . . now that was torture! That little snippet gave just enough information to make me wish I could travel into the future and read the conclusion, just like the fictional characters in the book. How appropriate.