Wolf Trap by WD Gagliani

Nick Lupo is a cop and a werewolf and in Wolf's Trap he must bring to justice a demented, sexually depraved monster Martin Stewart. The sexual imagery in this book is important to try to understand Stewart and the disturbed mind of an individual who was molested and abused by his father. I love the way this book is told in the first person by each character as they appear and this has the effect of giving a different perspective on the shape of the book and the way the characters develop. What makes the story a winner is the way the author combines the life of Nick Lupo the cop with the werewolf that lives within him and how he manages to control the beast and the urge to change. "The creature stalks the interloper tree by tree, following his trail in the cold woods and preparing for a fight. Riding along, his awareness greater than it has ever been, is Nick Lupo, who finds it easier to let the Creature's instinct take control than attempting to give it direction. But he has learned that his will can influence, the Creature, defying instinct and making the animal more subservient. Part of his brain is occupied still trying to understand why the Change came earlier, but the rest is tasting all the Creature's senses and learning to enjoy the steady stream of information, the cold breeze fluffing the hair on his back, the prickliness of pine needles under his pads, the pungent scent of the other wolf's urine, and the night sounds that seem to quiet at his passing"......

As a thriller and horror story this is an excellent read, and I look forward to reading the further adventures of Nick Lupo, maverick cop and misunderstood werewolf!

Sacrifice Island by Kristin Dearborn

What I particularly loved about this short story was the setting in the Philippines. I could taste the salt sea air, I could see the confusion and the congestion and I could feel the atmosphere in the beach side bars overlooking the lapping waves and the golden sand. In this tropical setting dwells the Aswang a vampire type creature living on Sakripisiyuhin/Sacrifice Island needing to feed on "sacrifices" to survive, almost impossible to kill and then only if it's curse can be transferred to another. Alex and Jemma, paranormal researchers, travel to the Philippines to complete research on a book and what they encounter there will change their lives forever. This is a highly enjoyable story set around an ancient legend with a fantastic list of characters; Terry Brenton english ex pat whose wife Virginia has died...or has she? Mr Lucky having the wonderful first name of Alistair, the mysterious Karen what is her interest in Alex? Jemma is a somewhat complex character having endured many horrific years at the hands of an ex partner she purports to have paranormal vision and cannot bear to have any physical contact with any living being. The story expertly draws together elements of legend set against a tropical background and races towards a very satisfying but not totally unexpected conclusion.

Top notch techno thriller from an exciting new author.....

I t has been a very long time since I have read such a wonderful dark corporate conspiracy novel. I recall many years ago discovering Fever by the renound Robin Cook and was particularly taken in by the chase mentality of the book...a lone father, a cancer specialist discovering his daughter has leukemia and his battle against a conspiracy within a large corporation, his race against time. Now if we forward to recent times Scott Sigler publised the brilliant Infected which contained not only a great story (the central character Perry being infected by an alien virus) but made terrific use of horror and dark humour with a splattering of SF. The Genesis Code is an equally "edge of the seat" unputdownable read. Yes I know that lots of reviewers use this idiom but The Genesis Code is a worthy recipient of this accolade. It is a fast paced story, that never lets up, has a great list of both good and bad characters, excellent plot and a very satisfying conclusion. Mark Weston is starting a new job at OneMarket, the premiere worldwide provider of global trading solutions guaranteeing to their clients that there will never be any "downtime" and that computer "gremlins" are a thing of the past (oh right....we believe you!) Mark needs this job because his wife Sheila is in fear of Altzheimers Disease (her father died of the disease) and their finances are non existant. This is the answer to Mark and Sheilas prayers, the only problems seems to be that he will be expected to "sell his soul" to OneMarket in return for all the cash and incentives. The beauty of reading this book is that you know (and probably Mark as well) that it will all go wrong nothing is ever what it seems and no individual is programmed to work 24/7...all work and no play :(

The entrepreneurial head of OneMarket Simon Harris has acquired some cutting edge technology known as "The Genesis Code" an invasive technology which offers the ability to plant information in an employees brain, a truly machiavellian concept and a dangerous tool in the hands of a twisted mind...the inventor Josh Taylor! "The entire population of employees tricked into receiving a chip capable of forcing information into their minds. Downloading technical information specific to their jobs was one thing, but how long would it be before less benign uses came along? Mind control, behavioral adjustments, attitude shifts. If Harris didn't mandate them he was sure Tyler would test them out in his newfound pool of human lab subjects" Mark is a recipient of the genesis code together with a fellow worker and the result, you will not be surprised to know are catastrophic...Will Mark be saved from the evil clutches of Harris and Taylor? Will the lovely Sheila get her man back along with a few badly needed dollars? Will the bad boys get their just rewards?...all is revealed in a riveting, fast and at times bumpy ride...but well worth hanging on for :)

There is however one incident which I puzzle to understand and question as if it added value to the story. Mark on his first day meets Toni Hanson, Manager of New Recruits, a rather cold, crisp, bloodless strikingly beautiful lady. At a later stage in the book, and feeling somewhat neglected by Sheila, Mark and Toni have a brief impulsive affair. There is no further mention of this incident, and no one is ever aware that it happened...so why did it occur? and what was its contribution in the overall telling of the story. Apart from this rather strange episode The Genesis Code is more than worthy of 5 stars, an amazing first novel from Lisa von Biela and I look forward to her future publications.

George where did it all go wrong?

Duncan Hamilton's excellent biography of George Best points to some pivotal moments in his life and career. His greatest playing moment and the height of his sporting life was Manchester United's winning of the European Cup on May 29th 1968. Best was only truly happy when he was playing, scoring and receiving the adulation of his adoring fans. Nothing else mattered, the aftermath celebrations, the rewards, the copious amounts of alcohol, and the constant flow of beautiful women who entered his life briefly and ultimately departed soon after. It is said that Best was recognized as the first celebrity footballer, his life becoming public property and began quickly spiraling out of control. If only Best had been offered psychiatric counseling, if only Matt Busby had understood more fully his prodigal son, and rather than gently lecture him punished him in a more fitting and effective manner. George Best was a flawed genius, an outstanding sportsman, and it is a great pity that his footballing skills were always overshadowed by this darker side. However ultimately we all control our own destiny and must stand responsible for decisions made and actions taken throughout our life.

Hell's Door is a fun read, a fast read with an eclectic mix of characters that adds colour and character to a serial killer investigation. A series of of gruesome murders is occurring in Providence Rhode Island. All evidence points to Ramsay Wolfe the flamboyant owner of the Hell's Door members club. In charge of the investigation are Detective Lacey Powers and her partner John Demmings who go undercover at Hell's Door in an attempt to procure evidence against Ramsay and ultimately unmask her as the serial killer. As the story unfolds we are made aware that Detective John Demmings has insurmountable marriage difficulties resulting from the unexpected death of his daughter. In contrast Lacey Powers is a free spirit with a complicated work record and seems somewhat devoid of personal relationships. A private tragedy befalls Demmings, and Powers troubled past is explained and shown in a most unexpected manner. The ending when it occurs, and the unmasking of the killer, draws all elements of the story to a very satisfactory conclusion proving once again that the novella in the hands of a good author makes for a fun and highly readable form of entertainment. 

Brutal, stylish, disturbing but ultimately satisfying read...

This is a highly effective tour de force told in the first person which is brutal in its execution. The language is highly emotive and the imagery, although at times disturbing, tells a story of impending horror and mental deterioration. Joseph Downs is a damaged and wounded Iraqi war veteran infatuated with the complex Lileth. Benton Fault, superficially sane, sees his world collapsing and develops an unhealthy interest in Constance Durban. The development of these themes and the coming together of the central characters, expertly done in the hands of Jan Bassoff,creates a wonderful, uneasy, edgy, unforgettable read...and one of my favourite books of 2013! Bassoff is a new author I have discovered on the Dark Fuse Book Club web site, do check it out at http://www.darkfuse.com/book_club/