Book Review- Raymond Khoury- The Devil’s Elixir

Raymond Khoury- The Devil’s Elixir (Dutton 2012) 3.75 Stars

This is a pre-release review. Look for it in stores near you in the new year.

FBI agent Sean Reilly has just received a phone call from an old flame; Michelle is ex-DEA and on the run from men who want her dead. Even odder is the fact that she is running with a son he never knew he had. Explaining this to Tess may not be so easy, but first he must save Michelle. He did not realize going in just what kind of trouble they were in, this may be more than even he can handle. Money, a new kind of drug, and powerful men seeking more power; a deadly mix for anyone who gets in their way. The question is, can Sean Reilly figure out what is going on and survive?

I found that this book started off a little bit slow, it doesn’t immediately grab your attention, but it does peak your curiosity. It also sets the stage with much needed background information. Once the prologue portion ends though, it does pick up the pace and turns into quite a fast-paced rollercoaster. It is full of heart-pumping action, with several big twists. One of these big twists is not very believable for me, but that would depend on your beliefs, as it delves into the paranormal, but I can certainly get past that. The conclusion was not the most realistic either, but it definitely added to the quick-pace. I enjoyed how the book involved great detective work and things did not come to them easily, as often times in thrillers, they just magically come up with answers; nice to see that it wasn’t so in this book. The characters also had great backgrounds and depth, so that they appear to jump off of every single page. One thing I really wasn’t fond of was the character shift from one page to the next. It was a bit distracting, but I do see where Khoury was coming from and it did help to fill out the storyline. Overall, I thought that The Devil’s Elixir was great. I enjoyed it more than I did his earlier works.

For more of my reviews check out my website, www.tonypeters.webs.com.

Tony Peters

Kids on a Case: The Case of the Ten Grand Kidnapping

http://authortonypeters.blogspot.com/

Book Review- James Patterson- You’ve Been Warned

James Patterson & Howard Roughan- You’ve Been Warned (Vision 2008) 2.5 Stars

In You’ve Been Warned, Kristin Burns is working a nanny, even though she really wants to be a professional photographer. She seems like she is about to get the man of her dreams for keeps and she has found children whom she loves. Life begins to get odd for her though, and she must figure out just what is going on before life catches up with her.

Once again I find myself disappointed in a co-authored book by Patterson. Why do I bother reading his co-authored books you ask? Well because I already had the books and I refuse to give the book up without first giving it a chance. It started off really good. I loved the first four or five chapters, which as you Patterson readers know is not all that many pages. You’ve Been Warned is well-written, but it lacks so much. The characters I felt no connection to and could not ever feel like I knew them at all. The plot was fairly weak as well, in my opinion Patterson could have done a much better job, I know he has the skills to do so. The dialogue was strong and that was pretty much what it had going for it, but a book cannot be saved by good dialogue.

The book has a dark, odd storyline that is an acquired taste, which is why I will only recommend You’ve Been Warned to those who wish to read about the odd, dark, and bizarre. Patterson lovers may not be impressed. If you wish to start reading Patterson DO NOT start with this one.

For more of my reviews check out my website. http://www.tonypeters.webs.com/

Tony Peters
Kids on a Case: The Case of the Ten Grand Kidnapping

www.eloquentbooks.com/kidsonacase.html