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FACES OF EVIL

A memorable collection of provocative horror.

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A lengthy set of stories that explore many facets of fear and human wickedness.

Retired police officer–turned–horror novelist Jefferson continues to explore how evil infiltrates the lives of his predominantly Black characters in this new collection of arresting stories. In the harrowing opening tale, “Stimulated by Evil,” a trio of burglars stake out the mansion of a wealthy vacationing couple, but after they rob the house of its priciest items, a grisly comeuppance awaits them. Other tales are equally as menacing and come spring-loaded with surprising twists, as in one about a desperate ploy by a wife to save her marriage from infidelity or another about two siblings and their dying father who abandoned them. Each story packs a punch, but one of the most intense is “Consumed by Evil,” which features a physician with a uniquely abrasive bedside manner—he smokes while he treats patients, spews racial diatribes, has a stocked liquor cabinet in his office, and delivers tough-love diagnoses to a series of bewildered patients. Revenge, vigilante justice, and the agony of betrayal are also key themes. Jefferson’s tales are reminiscent of episodes of The Twilight Zone in which everyday people face unspeakable horrors or grim challenges—often without the satisfaction of a happy ending. As in the author’s past Touched by Evil collections, the stories don’t skimp on explicit sex, gore, or expletives, and, as such, sensitive readers may want to proceed with caution. There are also occasional awkward passages, including unnatural dialogue (“Now that we have reconnected, let me tell you why it was so urgent for me to find you”) and a lack of clarity in some sections. These quibbles, however, shouldn’t deter devoted genre fans who will appreciate these addictive, frightening works.

A memorable collection of provocative horror.

Pub Date: April 20, 2021

ISBN: 978-1662911781

Page Count: 522

Publisher: E. L. Books

Review Posted Online: May 4, 2021

Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 15, 2021

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TO DIE FOR

Fast-moving excitement with a satisfying finish.

The feds must protect an accused criminal and an orphaned girl.

Maybe you’ve met him before as protagonist of The 6:20 Man (2022): Ex-Army Ranger Travis Devine, who’d had the dubious fortune to tangle with “the girl on the train,” is now assigned by his homeland security boss to protect Danny Glass, who's awaiting trial on multiple RICO charges in Washington state. Devine has what it takes: He “was a closer, snooper, fixer, investigator,” and, when necessary, a killer. These skills are on full display as the deaths of three key witnesses grind justice to a temporary halt. Glass has a 12-year-old niece, Betsy Odom, and each is the other’s only living relative—her parents recently died of an apparent drug overdose. The FBI has temporary guardianship of Betsy, who's a handful. She tells Travis that though she’s not yet 13, she's 28 in “life-shit years.” The financially well-heeled Glass wants to be her legal guardian with an eye to eventual adoption, but what are his real motives? And what happens to her if he's convicted? Meanwhile, Betsy insists that her parents never touched drugs, and she begs Travis to find out how they really died. This becomes part of a mission that oozes danger. The small town of Ricketts has a woman mayor who’s full of charm on the surface, but deeply corrupt and deadly when crossed. She may be linked to a subversive group called "12/24/65," as in 1865, when the Ku Klux Klan beast was born. Blood flows, bombs explode, and people perish, both good guys and not-so-good guys. Readers might ponder why in fiction as well as in life, it sometimes seems necessary for many to die so one may live. And what about the girl on the train? She's not necessary to the plot, but she's a fun addition as she pops in and out of the pages, occasionally leaving notes for Travis. Maybe she still wants him dead. 

Fast-moving excitement with a satisfying finish.

Pub Date: Nov. 12, 2024

ISBN: 9781538757901

Page Count: 432

Publisher: Grand Central Publishing

Review Posted Online: Sept. 14, 2024

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 15, 2024

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TOM CLANCY DEFENSE PROTOCOL

Plenty of excitement for Clancy fans.

Chinese president Li Jian Jun plans a sneak attack on Taiwan, and it’s up to the Jack Ryan administration to stop him without going to war.

President Li announces a naval exercise, but his real plan is Operation Sea Serpent, the lightning reunification of Taiwan. His minister of defense, Admiral Qin Hâiyû, thinks the idea is crazy because a great number of people would die, but he can’t say so. Li is not a man to be challenged, and he’s already had one of his ministers executed. But Qin wants to stop the war before it begins. Perhaps he can get word to the Americans so they can cut off the mad scheme, and he’s troubled by whether his actions will make him a traitor or a patriot. A Western asset nicknamed the Spider helps facilitate his dangerous disappearance as he attempts to leave China, and authorities in Beijing don’t know if he’s been kidnapped or has defected. Meanwhile, the Ryan administration wants to get him safely extracted from mainland China. President Ryan orders that an American naval vessel will transit through the Strait of Taiwan, which the People’s Republic has blockaded. Will there be a bloody showdown that triggers a major war? So much can go wrong, and there are series regulars like John Clark and Ding Chavez at the tip of the spear. And there’s also Katie Ryan, a lieutenant commander with the Office of Naval Intelligence who’s deployed to Taiwan because she’s “one hell of an intelligence analyst” who “thinks outside the box.” She’s a “rising star” who refuses to trade on her relationship with her father, President Ryan. There’s not much violence, although there’s enough to call it a military thriller. One brave American is fading fast from a round to his chest, but he has time to smile about that “hot” Katie Ryan. (Yes, yes, we all like the Ryans.) The novel’s big question is not which nation wins, but whether they fight. Bravery and clear thinking will have to come from both sides. By the way, Jack Junior isn’t in this one—it’s Katie’s time to shine.

Plenty of excitement for Clancy fans.

Pub Date: Dec. 3, 2024

ISBN: 9780593717974

Page Count: 432

Publisher: Putnam

Review Posted Online: Oct. 10, 2024

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 15, 2024

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