12 Coffins by Lewis Pennington #BookReview #Crime & MysteryScienceFiction

Rosepoint Rating: Five Stars

Book Blurb:

Brothers Cody and Drew Edwards and their gang of mischievous friends are looking for excitement in their sleepy little southern town through games of make-believe and even fake seances. It is only when they venture into a supposedly haunted coffin factory that they get more than they had hoped for. When they discover that lying in the coffins grants them paranormal abilities, they begin a mysterious journey involving murder, deceit, and greed along with the power to prevent one of the nation’s most devastating events. Determined to use their power for good, they realize that every action they take is accompanied by harrowing consequences. In this crucible of danger and discovery, family bonds and friendships are tested, and true strength of character is revealed. The stakes couldn’t be higher, but neither could their determination.

My Review:

Hoo boy! I opened a whole new genre for myself this time, not just a YA but a Teen & Young Adult Paranormal & Urban Fantasy. That’s a mouthful, huh? but this book, as weird as the plot is, plays with your mind, conjures visions, and reminds you even if not male, what it was like to be a youngster with boundless imagination.

I loved the boys, particularly the older boy, Drew. He was the perfect big brother to Cody but it was Cody’s POV that powered the storyline. Opening with the solemn funeral procession for Kennedy, Cody sets the stage for the modest beginnings of their youth with their grandmother while their widowed mother studied to become an anesthetist. A lovely property with neighbor kids about their age formed a powerful bond back when the kids played outside together until called for supper.

It was a sad time for the nation and made a profound impact on the kids. So it’s perfectly plausible that the kids might incorporate the newly discovered “Fletcher and Son Coffin Company during the time the schools were closed in their daring plans. And, learning something about Drew, might also be possible, given his bravado, that Drew might challenge himself (with his neighbor gang as witnesses) to enter the building…late at night.

Not just Drew, there are more support characters you come to love, Mr. Merriweather for one (though the Capuchin monkey not so much). There are bad guys who are sincerely bad.

I can’t say too much more about the well-plotted and paced tale, just to say that it’s full of suspense, fun, and mystery. Sweet the clever and calm way he deals with his young and sincere brother with the brash idea.

The CE read The Memory Stones, the author’s time travel fiction back in June of 2021 and said, “The characters are engaging, endearing, and feel real” and I totally concur. A totally different kind of read for me, but a sweet one. You don’t have to be a teen to enjoy this one, just let your inner child or imagination connect.

I received a complimentary review copy of this book from the author that in no way influenced this review. These opinions are my own.

Book Details:

Genre: Crime & Mystery Science Fiction, Teen & Young Adult Paranormal & Urban Fantasy eBooks, Paranormal Suspense
Publisher: Silver Lining Publishing
ASIN: B0CYXSKD6F
Print Length: 322 pages
Publication Date: June 13, 2024
Source: Author

Title Link(s):

Amazon-US | Amazon-UK

The Author: Lewis Pennington graduated from East Carolina University in Greenville, North Carolina with a degree in Graphic Design and Marketing. Upon graduation, he moved to New York City where he began his career with the now-defunct Science Fiction Magazine Omni Magazine. After decades of navigating through the corporate marketing maze, he is now focusing on his next chapter in life–providing readers with inspirational fiction. Lewis and his family live in Asheville, North Carolina. [Goodreads]

Website

https://lewispennington.com/

https://www.goodreads.com/chrispennington

Have a great day!

I Remember You: A Thriller by Brian Freeman – #BookReview – #medicalthrillers

I Remember You by Brian Freeman

A Thriller

Book Blurb:

From New York Times bestselling author Brian Freeman comes a gripping psychological thriller about a woman haunted by terrifying memories—of someone else’s life.

On the Fourth of July, Hallie Evers dies at a rooftop party in Las Vegas.

Hours later, she wakes up in the hospital, disoriented but alive. Why can’t she find the doctor who revived her? Why does her head feel crowded and loud? Why do her memories feel both foreign and familiar? Her self-doubt spirals into crippling paranoia.

Hallie knows that mental illness runs in her family—her mother suffered from delusions that led to an early death. But now even Hallie’s dreams are fraught with details that seem like more than imagination—vivid images of a city she remembers but has never visited in her life. As she embarks on a cross-country search for answers, Hallie catches glimpses of what feel like another person’s memories. It’s a dark, horrifying, tragic vision…of someone else’s murder.

But is any of it real?

His Review:

You would think a gifted copywriter could get a job anywhere. Her employment agent, Jill Oliver, kept her employed. Hallie Evers was a quick learner and was very well versed in the medical supply industry and medical terminology. She was easy to place and most employers were very pleased to employ her. One of those employers is BioEfx. Their products were closely held company secrets and they needed someone who understood the terminology and could be closed-mouthed!

Hallie thought it might be a good idea to volunteer to try some of the company’s products. She had a cap placed on her head and was infused with another personality. She began to know things she could not possibly know and recognize places she had never been to. In addition, she began to realize that the person’s name was Skye. But how could this be when Skye had died nearly ten years ago after being pushed or jumped off a cliff in the Hamptons?!

The author engulfs our heroine in ever-evolving thoughts! How could she know places she had never been or people she had never met? She began to suspect that her memories were not her own but those of Skye. As the book evolves the two personalities become more intertwined. The problems are exacerbated when BioEfx sends investigators to monitor her progress.

Hallie has been raised by a mother who can only be described as having a multiple- personality disorder. When she was ten, she was orphaned by the death of her mother. She and her sisters do not get along. Therefore, she moves from place to place! She is unable to hold jobs for long and her relationships are usually self-destructive.

This author has provided a glimpse into personality disorders and the futility of some suffering from them to find peace. With the technology used by BioEfx she finds it difficult to maintain her true identity. Enjoy! 4.5 stars – CE Williams

[N.B. It’s been a couple years since I got Thief River Falls, my first experience with this author and it blew me away. I thought the CE would enjoy this one. He did.]

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with the opportunity to read and review this book.

Rosepoint Publishing: Four point Five Stars

Book Details:

Genre: Medical Thrillers, Crime & Mystery Science Fiction
Publisher: Thomas & Mercer
ISBN: ‎ 1542035104
ASIN: B09P1DZJC9
Print Length: 339 pages
Publication Date: August 9, 2022
Source: Publisher and NetGalley
Title Links: I Remember You [Amazon]
Barnes & Noble

The Author: Brian Freeman is a New York Times and Amazon Charts bestselling author of more than two dozen psychological thrillers, including the Jonathan Stride and Frost Easton series. His books have been sold in 46 countries and 23 languages. He is widely acclaimed for his “you are there” settings and his complex, engaging characters and twist-filled plots. Brian was also selected as the official author to continue Robert Ludlum’s Jason Bourne series, and his novel THE BOURNE EVOLUTION was named by Kirkus as one of the best mysteries and thrillers of 2020.

Brian’s stand-alone thriller SPILLED BLOOD won the award for Best Hardcover Novel in the annual Thriller Awards given out by the International Thriller Writers organization, and his fifth novel THE BURYING PLACE was a finalist for the same award. His novel THE DEEP, DEEP SNOW was a finalist for the Edgar Award for Best Paperback Original in 2021.

His debut thriller, IMMORAL, won the Macavity Award for Best First Novel and was a finalist for the Edgar, Dagger, Anthony, and Barry Awards. IMMORAL was named an International Book of the Month, a distinction shared with authors such as Harlan Coben and Lisa Unger.

All of Brian’s books are also available in audiobook editions. His novels THE BONE HOUSE and SEASON OF FEAR were both finalists for Best Audiobook of the Year in Thriller/Suspense.

For more information on Brian’s books, visit his web site at bfreemanbooks.com or find him on Facebook at facebook.com/bfreemanfans or Twitter and Instagram (@bfreemanbooks).