CERRI ELLIS - MOSTLY MYSTERY REVIEWS
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Curiosity may have killed the cat, but Cerri Ellis never let a little thing like fear stop her from playing sleuth. When she's not snapping photos of ghosts, solving riddles or sifting through dusty tomes in library catacombs, she writes articles and book reviews for magazines and web sites. Her hobbies include reading mysteries, herbal gardening, and searching online and estate auctions for arcane curios. She is currently at work on a paranormal thriller set in Southern Appalachia. |
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November 2005
THE
CAMEL CLUB
David Baldacci
Warner Books, October 2005, $26.95, 448pp.
ISBN 0-4465-7738-3
Mix in four parts Oliver Stone-style conspiracy theory, one part terrorists
with nuclear aspirations, one part political shenanigans and you have
David Baldacci's latest effort, THE CAMEL CLUB.
The four men, led by a character who even calls himself "Oliver Stone,"
discuss and investigate would-be radical conspiracies much like the Lone
Gunman of X-Files fame. When they witness the murder of a Secret Service
agent, the Club begins to unravel a strange plot which may ultimately
lead to the undoing of America and the beginning of Armageddon.
The picture Baldacci paints is bleak, cast in monochromatic shadow. The
story is riveting, full of action, intrigue, and subplots galore. The
characters, however, seem two dimensional, lacking any true depth. The
quirky idiosyncrasies of the heroes fall short and seem misplaced, as
if the author is winking at us to cue the laugh track. Wacky and weird
doesn't always equal funny. Baldacci fans will love THE CAMEL CLUB. Others
should just pass and wait for the paperback.
Cerri Ellis
THE
COLORADO KID
Stephen King
Hard Case Crime/Dorchester, October 2005, $5.99, 184 pp.
ISBN 0-8439-5584-8
What elements make a mystery more than a simple relaying of facts? And
what propels us into the unknown for answers? Stephanie McCann is about
to find out, because class is in session. The intern from Ohio is being
properly schooled in small town journalism by Vincent and David, two old
Maine codgers who run the Weekly Islander and have reported on more than
a few mysteries over the years.
But the particular story they are about to share will make her question
all assumptions and invigorate every dormant brain cell in search of a
pattern that is not quite there.
King is a masterful storyteller who has applied his craftsmanship to THE
COLORADO KID. The characterization is defined not so much in broad strokes,
but in small, careful detail that adds incredible depth.
The beauty of THE COLORADO KID is in its seeming simplicity and flawless
execution, something we have come to expect from Stephen King. Once again,
he delivers.
Cerri Ellis
PALINDROME
HANNAH
Michael Bailey
Unlimited Publishing, May 2005, $29.99, 319pp.
ISBN 1-58832-127-4
Told through a series of interwoven vignettes, PALINDROME HANNAH is a
chilling glimpse into madness. A Seattle father has twisted nightmares
and suicidal urges he struggles to hide from his wife and son. A detestable
man imagines murdering his cheating wife and catching her in the act.
An old man recalls his horrific childhood at the orphanage and how the
mental "whiteness" began.
A psychiatrist sets about unraveling the mystery of a man calling himself
"God" and a playground bully gets more than he bargained for...
As the tales unfold, a secret sixth story emerges about the child nicknamed
"palindrome" Hannah and her teenage mother with the black dragon
tattoo.
The book is itself a palindrome, written forwards and back again, culminating
in the middle of a reality of never-ending coincidences. Bailey is a unique
and fresh voice in the world of horror. His style is sharp and clever
as he skillfully guides you down the primrose path into the thicket of
thorns. PALINDROME HANNAH is a book that makes you take a second look...and
a third.
Cerri Ellis
Cerri's Archived Reviews
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