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Book Review: Meddling Kids by Edgar Cantero

Meddling Kids by Edgar Cantero

Doubleday, 2017

ISBN-13: 978-0385541992

Available: Hardcover, Kindle edition, audiobook

 

If you grew up in the 1970s and 1980s, the title of this book tells you exactly up to expect, but even if you don’t pick up on the reference, Meddling Kids is a fun, suspenseful read.

The Blyton Summer Detective Club fell apart after the Sleepy Lake monster case, when another scummy criminal was unmasked and sent to prison after being foiled by those… well, you know.  Now, 13 years later,  Andy, the kickass girl of the team, is on the lam, and seeking out the rest of the gang of mystery fighters; Kerri, the genius, now drinks away her days with her loyal dog at her side; Nate, the oddball is in a mental hospital, recovering from the events he believes were real; and Peter, the leader of the group, who killed himself years ago and is now visible only to Nate.  Gathered together again, they learn that something else might have been active in their last case, other than the criminal they caught… something that feels somewhat Lovecraftian.

Edgar Cantero is very careful not to name the cartoon he lampoons here (it rhymes with Roobie Roo), but he has penned a crackerjack story that, for the kids of the 1970s and 1980s who grew up watching the show on Saturday mornings, is pure gold. The novel’s references to the cartoon will transport fans of the show back decades, with plenty of laughs and headshakes.

Fans who grew up with the original gang will love the story, with horror and cartoon references abounding. It’s exactly what we expect to read about the future of the characters from this favorite show. Prepare to read through this book with a grin on your face and hands gripping the pages. Here’s hoping that Edgar Cantero keeps the adventures coming.

 

Reviewed by Dave Simms

Posted on November 9, 2017 by , Reply

Book Review: Indigo by Charlaine Harris, Christopher Golden, Jonathan Maberry, et al.

Indigo by Charlaine Harris, Christopher Golden, Jonathan Maberry, Kelley Armstrong, Tim Lebbon, Kat Richardson, Seanan McGuire, Cherie Priest, Mark Morris, and James A. Moore

St. Martin’s Press, 2017

ISBN-13: 978-1250076786

Available: Hardcover, Kindle edition, audiobook

 

The authors of this book all have produced amazing dark fantasy and horror fiction, both novels and short stories.  In this shared world anthology, they collaborated to tell a novel-length story, with each writer taking a turn to continue the narrative to its end. These talented storytellers have come up with an entertaining tale that can be enjoyed both by casual readers and by fans of the individual authors, although identifying which author has written which section is not as simple as it seems.

Nora Hesper works as an investigative reporter. She’s an intriguing character, with a curious backstory, and considerable personality. When she was a teen, Nora’s parents died, and to cope, she studied the occult at a monastery to deal with the pain and solitude. That plot summary suggests a tired retread of superhero origin stories, but then the story diverts.

Nora learns to harness the powers of the night.When the light is pulled away by the shadows, she becomes Indigo in the slivers of the moonlight. Indigo can use the shadows to manipulate the darkness into weapons and slip into the passing shadows to transport herself in and out of trouble across the globe.

Nora’s opponents are the Children of Phonos, a sadistic group who hold a darkness inside that rivals that of Indigo. The Children of Phonos are murdering children across New York City, and Nora realizes that she must eliminate all of them to protect the children. Then an event occurs that sheds light on her origin and family that throws her into chaos, a mess that she must solve to find the peace again in her life.

Combining all of these voices in one novel is tough. It’s not perfect, but it is entertaining. Go into it with that mindset, and you may find an enjoyable tale.

Contains: violence, child sacrifice

 

Reviewed by Dave Simms

Posted on November 8, 2017 by , Reply

Book Review: Three Minutes by Anders Roslund and Borge Hellstrom

Three Minutes by Anders Roslund and Borge Hellstrom

Quercus, 2017

ISBN-13: 978-1681444130

Available: Hardcover, paperback, Kindle edition

 

Scandinavian thrillers have thoroughly invaded the bookshelves of North American readers. Roslund and Hellstrom have exploded onto the scene, first with Three Seconds and now with the sequel, Three Minutes.

Unknown settings make for exciting reads. Scandinavian thrillers are typically set in Scandinavian countries, but Roslund and Hellstrom change things up; Three Minutes is almost entirely set in South America.

Piet Hoffman is an ex-convict who has been recruited by the DEA as an informant. He has a brutal job; he is the bodyguard of a cartel master. His hands get pretty dirty, and the authors hold nothing back in the details. Hoffman is a beautifully fleshed-out protagonist/antihero, in the mold of Daniel Craig’s James Bond and F. Paul Wilson’s Repairman Jack. Hoffman is an intriguing main character, who, despite his actions, is entirely human; his flaws bleed onto the page.

Hoffmann finds himself in a wild plot where the Speaker of the House is kidnapped and held prisoner. The United States takes the low road, thankfully, in composing a kill list that targets much of the cartel – and their families. Hoffmann is definitely on the list, as is his family, provided with protection in the relocation due to his job. Since the DEA’s operations are black, the government doesn’t acknowledge Hoffman as someone who needs to be saved.

What ensues is a story that does not let up, from the shocking first chapter until the last page. To say more about the plot would be to name spoilers, and with the number of twists and turns in the authors’ story, the reader will want to experience it for the first time without clues.

The linchpin to any foreign novel is the translation. Elizabeth Clark Wessel’s fluent translation reads as if the novel was originally written in English.

Next up for this reviewer is to seek out and read the rest of the books in this series. Highly recommended for thriller lovers!

 

Reviewed by Dave Simms

 

 

 

 

Posted on November 3, 2017 by , Reply
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