A Book Review ~ Singularity by Steven James

You'll hold your breath through the pages of Steven James' latest thriller in the Jevin Banks series, Singularity.

I was hesitant to read Singularity, because the first book in the series, Placebo, was a little heady for me and not as fast-paced a read as I'd hoped for. Not so with this one. From page one James had me hooked, holding my breath along with his characters (escape artists), and flipping pages. Throughout the novel I waited for the bad guy to cross paths with the good guy and for Jevin to have to escape a situation he may not get out of alive. This is definitely an edge-of-your-seat read.

My biggest concern with Placebo was the amount of information Steven James shared, which continually pulled me from my fictional dream and slowed the read. In this novel, when James must share information to let the reader in on the magician's ability to deceive his audience or to show us exactly what that robotic equipment is capable of doing, it didn't come across as an info dump or snap me out of my fictional dream.

I think he's found his groove and cannot wait for the next novel in the Jevin Banks series to release.

To get your copy, please visit one of the bookseller below:
Amazon
Barnes & Noble
CBD

To read my review of Placebo, visit here: Placebo Review

Book Review - Placebo by Steven James

Placebo…a fake drug used in controlled research. Placebo…the subject of Steven James’ latest novel. Nothing fake about that.

Unlike James’ Patrick Bowers thrillers, Placebo is a medical thriller. However, you will find many of the same elements he included in the Bowers books within this new series about Jevin Banks. Jevin Banks has a female co-worker who appears to be his love interest. He also has a good friend. The characters are interconnected and work together to solve the case. The villains are just as creepy, and the answers still aren’t always clear. I hung on the edge of suspense all the way through this novel, just as I did reading the Patrick Bowers series.

The one thing I noticed in Placebo is the amount of information shared concerning technical medical terminology and procedures. At times, it felt like I was reading a textbook more than a novel, but the information seemed necessary in order for me to understand what was going on within the plot. It did tend to slow the story down, though.

Otherwise, I kept turning the pages to find out what happened next. Jevin Banks is an intriguing character who is dealing with the grief of losing a spouse and asking the deep questions that coincide with such sorrows of life. The opening chapter is the best opening chapter I’ve ever read in a novel. I would totally keep reading this new series and look forward to the next book.

*Available November 2012 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.

To purchase your copy, please visit one of the following retailers:

CBD

amazon

Parable

Barnes & Noble

Please Note: I received a copy of Placebo from the publisher for review purposes. I am not required to give a positive review. It is my intent to give my readers a thoughtful review. Thank you for reading this one!

Book Review - The Queen by Steven James

Synopsis:

FBI Special Agent Patrick Bowers is sent to a small town in the middle of nowhere in northern Wisconsin. While investigating the murder of one man, he is called out to investigate the double homicide of a woman and her daughter - the husband is nowhere to be found - or at the bottom of an icy lake.

The Queen follows Pat as he begins to uncover a high-tech conspiracy, chases down suspects, and deals with his own personal life all at the same time.

My Review:

The Queen is part of a series, preceded by The Pawn, The Rook, The Knight, and The Bishop. I confess that I haven't read any of the previous Patrick Bowers thrillers. BUT, after reading The Queen, I will be going back and reading through the entire series. I love a good crime-related suspense, and Steven James delivers with The Queen. 

It took me a few chapters to enter into the thrill of the story. Although James opens well, I struggled to figure out who was who until around the sixth chapter. This is probably just me, and if I'd read the previous books, I might have known sooner. Once I figured it out, the story took off, and I couldn't put it down. He had me guessing who the mysterious Valkyrie was all the way to the very end.

I had the honor of meeting Steven James at the 2010 Blue Ridge Mountain Christian Writers Conference. I admire his enthusiasm for the craft of writing, and it shines through in his novel. He masterfully switches from Special Agent Bower's first person view to the third person view of his criminals and his loved ones. It makes the character-filled story easier to navigate.

Available September 2011 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.

To purchase The Queen, please visit:

Revell

amazon

Barnes & Noble

CBD

Please note: I was provided a free copy of The Queen from Revell for the purposes of this review. I was not required to provide a good review, and I believe by crafting a great story, Mr. James has earned the five stars I've awarded him.