The Last Days - by Brian Evenson

I want nothing more after reading this than to find the Novella that started the story. After reading too many books that all start to look the same, I was looking for something "different" and reading the back of the book cover, I could tell this would be it.

I realize there is a fetish out there for EVERYTHING and I know the fetish exists for amputation/ mutilation, but this book takes it to a whole new level creating a world where those involved are beyond fetishists and have created a cult surrounding the idea of "if they hand offends thee cut it off". Except they take it to a whole new level. After determining that removing one hand must bring you closer to God the only logical next step is that removing more limbs brings you even closer. And then what happens? Well what happens within any religion, hierarchies are created of those who have achieved a higher level of enlightenment and then sects split and form new versions of the same religion.

Into all of this craziness has stumbled a detective, Kline. After the word has spread that he allowed someone to remove his hand then cauterized the wound himself before killing that same person, the cult wants him as one of their own, it would seem. They bring him to help them investigate a murder... or is it robbery? Or maybe it's a smuggling operation... perhaps there's no investigation at all. As he finds his way through this crazy world and is introduced to more and more of the gruesome and obscene you can't help but wonder "will he join them?" "Will he decide that since he's already missing a limb that that is where he really belongs?"

This book is full of the unexpected, as Evenson manages to take a unique topic and approach it in a unique way keeping you reading and never sure what's going to happen next.

Evidently, this book was written as a continuation of a novella that he wrote years before, a novella that is very hard to find (hard enough that copies available on Amazon are selling for $95 and up). Maybe I'll get lucky and find it in a compilation somewhere, in the meantime I'm sure I'll be reading more from this author. His grasp of the macabre brings back my early memories of the joy of Edgar Allen Poe and his wonderful stories.

The Sleeping Doll - by Jeffrey Deaver

Most widely known for his novel The Bone Collector which was turned into a movie several years ago, Jeffrey Deaver actually has an entire series of novels based around Lincoln Rhymes. This is not one of those. The Sleeping Doll is the first in his new series about a different kind of detective. He first introduced us to Katherine Dance in one of the Lincoln Rhymes novels and now has sent her back home to California to star in her own series of novels. Katherine Dance is a kinesics expert; a human lie detector who reads body language.

This story is about Katherine's search to apprehend an escaped convict/ cult type leader who has managed to fake evidence that he was involved in yet another murder in order to arrange his escape. The book takes place over the course of a week and during that time we meet several interesting characters, not the least of which is Daniel Pell himself. We get a unique insight into the mind of The Pied Piper, as well as into the type of women who will follow him blindly.

Of course there are many twists and turns as it seems Katherine will finally catch him only to to be just a few minutes too late. And then there is Winston, another FBI agent aiding Katherine, but is he who he seems to be? And what's up with Katherine's boss who always seems to give out just a little too much information to the press. And then there is the "Sleeping Doll" herself, a 17 year old girl who was the only one in her family to escape the murderous Daniel Pell 10 years previous. How does she fit in? And why is Daniel Pell sticking around the Monterrey area when everyone is looking for him, instead of trying to get as far away as possible.

All in all the book was a good read, although about 100 pages and 2 twists too long. At times it almost seemed formulaic... sorry Mr Deaver but we've been down that rabbit trail before, must we go there again?

Dead Until Dark - Charlaine Harris

After the last few books I read I was in the mood for something a bit lighter. I tried a few different books and ended up putting 3 down before I got through the first 50 pages. I'm not one for a lot of extraneous descriptions in my books. I like to be able to use my imagination a bit and when you feel the need to use soliloquy and metaphor to describe how someone's dress hangs, it's a huge turn off for me. That was why I took a pass on yet another book by Carol Shields, in this case - The Stone Diaries: (Penguin Classics Deluxe Edition). There was another book I passed on for the same reason, but I can't even recall what it was. Then I tried Patricia Cornwall. I hadn't read any of her books before I typically enjoy a good suspense novel. I picked up The Body Farm (Kay Scarpetta) and gave it a try, but in the end I just found it way too dry.

After three failed attempts I finally settled on Dead Until Dark: A Sookie Stackhouse Novel . I'd had several people recommend both the book and the new tv show to me on multiple occasions. Oddly enough when I placed the order for this book, I did not realize it was the same one that the show was based on, or that so many of my friends had recommended it. It just looked entertaining so I ordered it.

The story begins with Sookie Stackhouse, a slightly strange young lady, discovering that there is a vampire in her bar (the bar she works in, that is). At this point in time Vampires have come out of the closet and have been "accepted" by society and are allowed to live among the living. It is believed that vampirism is a virus that these folks have acquired that causes them to be allergic to sunlight and garlic and need blood to live. She's been rather enraptured with the idea, and has been looking forward to her opportunity to meet one. So she was quite happy that night when one appeared in her bar. She's not the only one who is taken with him, though. As she watches another of her patrons begins to take an interest in him.

There's another little twist here, and that is that Sookie is a bit different herself. Most people think she is just strange, but the truth is she can read people's thoughts, or rather hear them. It's not that she tries, in fact she tries not to, but she can. As she watches, she allows herself to listen in on the thoughts of the couple who has taken an interest in the vampire and discover that they have ill intentions for him. When they leave with the Vampire she follows and ends up saving his life. Thus begins a very unique relationship between a mind reader and a vampire.

The story takes many twists and turns as murders begin happening in Sookie's small Louisiana town. At first it is believed that her new vampire friend is the culprit, but she doesn't believe that. However, after Sookie herself becomes the target of the murderer she takes a serious interest in what is going on and takes it upon herself to discover who the real murderer is and why they are going after the women in her town.

The story is endearing and fun and you can't help but keep reading. It's no wonder that they turned this series into a television show. After reading just one book, I've ordered the rest of the series, as well as the first season of the tv show. I look forward to enjoying many more adventures of Sookie (and Bill, her vampire).