Something from the Nightside by Simon R. Green
I am a sucker for horror novels. A young patron recently recommended the Nightside series to me. I am glad I took his advice. John Taylor is a would-be private detective who specializes in finding things. He hasn’t had a job in forever and needs money. So when a woman comes in asking for his help finding her daughter he can’t say no. The trouble begins when the woman claims that her daughter ran away to a mysterious place called the Nightside. John Taylor is familiar with the Nightside as he was born and raised there. And he doesn’t really care to go back.
The Nightside is a hidden realm at the heart of London. It has been there since the beginning of time and will continue on after London is gone. It is a place where monsters walk, and the bizarre and the insane are everyday occurrences. Horses talk in the Nightside, and faceless men with syringes for fingers roam the streets and will try to kill you. There are harpies, time travelers, and a diner perpetually stuck in the 60s. It’s a place of odds and ends, both horrifying and sublime.
Something from the Nightside is the first book in the series and at times it suffers from that introductory-ness that the first books have at times. But the uniqueness of the Nightside really captivates and I am excited to read the next one. I would recommend this book for anyone in 9th grade and up. Horror lovers will definitely like it. Those interested in the Dresden Files will find a good read alike in the Nightside series.
July 24th, 2008
Shredderman: Enemy Spy by Wendelin Van Draanen
This book deserves 2 stars
It’s predictable and immature.
June 18th, 2008
The Healer by Dee Henderson
This book deserves 5 stars
It was a fantastic book! It was a story about faith and courage and how a family came together. Also the mystery involved was page turning and you didn’t know who did it until the end! It is a great read!
June 3rd, 2008
Snake Agent by Liz Williams
Meet Inspector Chen, the Singapore police department’s snake agent. A snake agent is the detective in charge of all supernatural disturbances. Chen isn’t like other snake agents though. He is somewhat of free thinker and has even married an escaped demon from Hell. The case begins with a grieving mother who asks Chen to look into her daughter’s death. Apparently her soul never made it to Heaven and was mysteriously rerouted to Hell. The case leads the inspector to a larger conspiracy, one that threatens to overturn the ruling family of Hell and could quite possibly destroy the balance that keeps Heaven, Hell, & Earth in harmony. Chen literally travels to Heaven and Hell, speaks with ghosts, and even partners with another detective, one that happens to be a demon!
Liz Williams has done a masterful job of updating the detective genre. She has mingled it with horror, through the supernatural, and fantasy by drawing on a rich tapestry of eastern mythology, as well a dash of sci-fi with very cool technology. The best part that I personally enjoyed is the dynamic relationship between Heaven, Hell, and Earth. This isn’t a three tiered universe with Heaven above us, or Hell below, but rather all three are next door to one another. Just because you can’t see it, doesn’t mean you might not just step into Hell around the next street corner. Instead of having these realms in a hierarchical scheme, Heaven, Hell, and Earth all contribute to a overall balance. In this light Chen becomes more of a protector of this balance then a harbinger of justice.
On the other hand, this book did take me a while to get into, almost a hundred pages. This could very well be because it is the first of a series and therefore has to set the ground rules of this new literary world. But once I was hooked I kept on wanting to open up the cover and read any chance I could. If this creative amalgam sounds like fun, take a chance and pick up a copy. I would recommend this book for more advanced readers, ages 14 and up.
April 22nd, 2008
Premonitions by Jude Watson
This book deserves 5 stars.
This book had me from the very beginning to do its exciting outlook without the pish-posh of a slow novel beginning. I gave this book 5 stars because it deserves it; Jude Watson did an excellent job in the character development of Gracie. She appeared oddly normal so we could relate to her-however unique in her special premonitions. I would recommend this to young women though because i think young men would find this somewhat boring.
February 12th, 2008
Disappearance by Jude Watson
This book deserves 5 stars.
A quite intensive sequel. I was very interested in the way she picked up from the first novel’s abrupt ending and just continued on the plot. I don’t want to give anything away but i would definitely say that the mystery in this one is even better! strangely, this one had another abrupt ending so i would assume we are in for a third addition to the series-cant wait! 
February 12th, 2008
Love Notes by Carolyn Keene
This book deserves 4 stars.
All Nancy Drew books are good in my “book”, but for young adults the Nancy Drew Files are more modern and relatable. Love Notes was about a piano competition, and how the main contestants were each attacked and almost weren’t able to compete in the finals. Luckily, no one was seriously hurt. However, there is danger, blackmail and lots of mystery. It is always fun to try to figure out who is the culprit before the end. I would recommend this and any other Nancy Drew book to mystery lovers, especially girls.
February 12th, 2008
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