Bulwark

Bulwark by Brit Lunden   146 pages

 Something strange is happening in the small Georgia town of Bulwark.  First the sheriff’s daughter is kidnapped. No ransom note.  No trace whatsoever.  Then, residents are reported wolf sightings, but wolves have not been seen in that ara in decades. Third, an “older” couple’s (the author says in their sixties---give me a break) car lands in the middle of a murky green pond/lake/puddle (the author can’t make up her mind) that wasn’t there before the accident.

As Sheriff Clay Finnes begins to investigate, even stranger things begin to happen. The couple was coming from the opposite direction, but the road is closed. The only thing back there is an abandoned paper mill. How could they come from that direction? 

Clay has bigger problems than weird events. An plucky reporter who senses a story thwarts him at every turn.  Given that that same reporter is the reason Clay’s marriage broke up, he’s doubly irritated at what is going on.

Clay has no choice but to find the mysterious road the earlier victims mentioned in their statements. Clay has lived there most of his life and has never heard of Linden Lane.  But that night he manages to find it, along with a dilapidated gingerbread house and a very old woman who lives there.

The story moved along at a quick pace, even though it wasn’t scary or anything new. It irritated me that the author gave two endings. Make up your mind.  But one thing did impress me: This book is a series and each of other seven or eight books are written by a different author using other characters from Bulwark, Georgia.

 “Bulwark” receives 3 out of 5 stars in Julie’s world.

Proven Guilty

Proven Guilty by Jim Butcher  489 pages


Wow! So many nether creatures come to life at "Splatter-Con"  the Horror Film Convention that just happens to be being attended by the Arch Angel Michael's oldest daughter, Molly and her friends.    There is much more going on that Molly's piercings, tattoos and horror show makeup.  When the horrific characters come to life from the screen some kind of black magic is conjuring them up and Harry has to put himself and those he cares about in jeopardy to find the source. Has Harry over stepped himself?   The Merlin is out to bring him down.    good story,   Yes, I am hooked on the series and I do highly recommend all who find the paranormal fascinating to indulge.   You will be glad you did. 

 - Shirley J.

Odd Hours

Odd Hours by Dean Koontz, 352 pages

On his way back to his beloved town of Pico Mundo Odd is drawn to a small California coastal town by his unusual gift. Once their he begins to have a strange recurring dream of an all consuming red tide, that could signal a catastrophe that would change the world. With the help of his ghost dog Boo, a new companion who just might rival his old pal Elvis, and the mysterious Annamarie whom he trusts completely, Odd must figure out what his dream means and save the world from those who want to destroy it.

While it lacked some of the supernatural elements of some of the previous books there was enough suspense to keep me wanting to know what happens. It also seems like it is setting up events for the couple book by introducing the mysterious and very cryptic Annamarie. Overall this series is still capable of keeping readers glued to its pages. 

Onyx Webb: Episode One: The Story Begins

Onyx Webb: Episode One: The Story Begins by Richard Penton & Andrea Waltz    130 pages

Sometimes I buy a book solely for its cover. If I had seen this short novel in my local indie bookstore, I would have been intrigued. The title would have made me leery, but on flipping through it, the antique photos of the main characters creeped me out enough to make me want to purchase it. Lucky for me, I didn’t have that conundrum. The authors sent me a copy.

At the beginning, it seems as if the book is told in vignettes without any rhyme or reason. But a few sections into it, the reader sees there is a pattern. The four main plot lines move between 1904 St. Louis (which is a favorite for me since I live in the Gateway City), Savannah 1979 and 2010, and Onyx’s 2012 journal. Each vignette is also divided by quotes from Onyx and other famous and not-so-famous personalities. While I cannot say I found the book spine-tingling, I was compelled to read…in fact, I read it in one evening.

The first story of Onyx and her daddy Catfish visiting the 1904 World’s Fair reminded me a lot of Erik Larsen’s Devil in the White City.  As I read, my spidey sense was getting that “this isn’t going to turnout well” sense.

The second story of Juniper and Quinn Cole also raised a few hairs. Child piano prodigy leaves all that behind as she grows up. We see her headed out to her high school prom, and again, my spidey sense starts getting nervous.

The third story is about a young man who manages to blow $20 million dollars in a short period of time. This one, well it didn’t give me the same anxious feeling the other two did.

The fourth plotline, Onyx’s journal, seemed out of place and just stuck in there. I’m sure it will start to gell in later episodes.

I have some issues with this structure: first, while there are resolutions, there is the overall sense that the whole story isn’t told.  I felt let down when I reached the end. The authors warned me: Episode One. I’m not sure that I would pick up Episode Two unless it was immediately available. Give me six months, and I won’t be interested. Second, the authors got some of their facts wrong (which drives me nuts): Tennessee Williams was wasn't born until 1911, and, therefore,  could not have been the “celebrated playwright” in attendance at the 1904 Louisiana Exposition. Arrggghhhhhh. Nor was there ever (that I could find), a St. Louis News Dispatch newspaper. Double arrggghhhhhhh. Third, there is the introduction of the Southern Gentleman near the end. I’m sure that’s to add spice and anticipation for Episode Two, but it annoyed me.

Overall, I’m not sure I would classify this as paranormal, but that could be confirmed I future volumes. The writers have talent, no doubt. I wish the story had been more linear with less creepy photos and quotes. Still I’m giving the story 4 stars…I liked it but I won’t be talking about it in six months.