Kill Chase, by Ron Morgans

Kill Chase, by Ron Morgans, is a mystery novel rich in descriptive prose and charm. While I must admit at the outset that "mystery novels" really aren't the genre I usually read, this one was still quite good.

Especially noteworthy is Morgans grasp of his settings. In every location, whether European, American or other, Morgan makes you feel like he's been there personally and is delivering a snapshot in hand--and hey, since the man lives in spain, he may very well be giving us these rich perspectives from memory.

A killer is on the loose and threatening the Queen. Ex-inspector Christian Boyd is called in by the Yard because of his particular knowledge of the supposed killer's moniker, but are they chasing the right man? Also on the killer's trail is paparazzo, Henrietta Fox, but she's becoming dangerously entangled in this chase.

For those of you who love mystery and crime novels, this one will no doubt satisfy your appetites, even though my personal tastes are more in the action, thriller, sci-fi genre. Hey, I'm still a Law & Order fan!

Raising the Past, by Jeremy Robinson

Raising the Past, by Jeremy Robinson may be his best work to date. I wasn't quite sure what to expect with the mammoth being raised from the ice and an ancient woman inside its belly holding a mysterious alien device, but folks this is edge-of-your-seat reading all the way. Fans of Robinson's first fiction effort should understand at the outset that this is not a christian story like that one was. There is some language content in this adult thriller, but not more than you would find on pg rated television.
The story begins with the ancient woman and two mysterious men who give her the device she will be found with later when the mammoth is raised from the ice in the Canadian North centuries later. The mammoth itself is an incredible find for researchers and a huge recovery operation is quickly underway to retrieve the fully intact specimen. The team soon discovers the alien device with the frozen remains of the ancient woman inside the mammoth and they unknowingly activate it. Very quickly, the team is fighting for their lives against several different and terrifying enemies, all seeking the device they hold. One of the greatest enemies the team faces is the frozen environment itself and the predators that inhabit it. Robinson's latest is the first fiction release from up and coming independent thriller publisher, Breakneck Books, and it's easy to see why they chose this title to launch with. If it's any indication, we should expect some very nice surprises from this publisher in the future. Raising the Past grabs hold of you and never lets go! Robinson keeps you guessing as to who the real enemy is all the way to the last page. I picked up this book and zoomed through it--Raising the Past is a furious page turner! I look forward to seeing more from this author and Breakneck Books.

The Takers, by R.W. Ridley

The Takers: Book One of the Oz Chronicles, by R.W. Ridley. In the first two pages a hook was well placed in my jaw and by the end of the first chapter I was soundly taken hostage by this story. The Takers, is a first person chronicle of the events surrounding the end of the world through the eyes of young hero, Oz Griffin. He awakens one morning form a fevered bout with the ole' kissing disease to find that nearly everyone in the world has been taken by hideous creatures from another dimension. These Takers, (or Greasywhoppers since saying their name brings them into our world from the dark edges of reality), are bent on conquering our world. But only Oz and his ragtag band of survivors, including a signing silverback gorilla, can stop them...or can they?
The Takers is a pure delight! If this is Y.A. fiction then I want more of it. This is a truly original story that completely deserves the comparisons with Stephen King's, The Stand. The transformation of the survivors to warriors with a mission to save the world, never turns dull or slows in its pace. The second book in the Oz Chronicles is on its way and we can't wait!!