January 14, 2011

The Sherlockian by Graham Moore Review




by: Graham Moore
Twelve Press
ISBN: 978-044657259
Review posted 01/14/2011

The Sherlockian tells the tale of Harold White a Sherlock Holmes obsessed fan who finally gets into one of the most elite Sherlock Holmes groups. A member of this group has the last part of Arthur Conan Doyle's diary, the author of Sherlock Holmes. He ends up being murdered and Harold starts to investigate the same way Sherlock Holmes would do and he takes along a reporter who ends up playing his 'Watson.' Funded by a relative who wants nothing more than the diary itself, they start a wild adventure.

During the time that Harold is going on in his present dealings of 2010, you get glimpses into Arthur Conan Doyle as he struggles with his fame based on Sherlock Holmes and ends up solving a murder himself taking the tactics from his stories to help find the killer.

What was most enjoyable about The Sherlockian, is that even though the chapters skipped back and forth between Harold and Doyle, you were never lost. It was interesting to see what a diary would cause in a group that was so wrapped up in an author's character and to be able to see Doyle and his mission to destroy his beloved character and ending up using him to solve a murder.

With delightful characters and a setting that makes you feel you are in a Sherlock Holmes tale, you will want to cherish this story, get involved in the mystery and want to investigate along with the characters.

January 10, 2011

Married with Zombies by Jesse Petersen Review


by: Jesse Petersen
Orbit Press
ISBN: 978-0316102865
Review posted 01/10/2011


Married with Zombies tells the story of Sara and David, a couple who want nothing more than to argue with each other. The married life not what it used to be they start seeing a marriage counselor. On one of their normal trips to one of their secessions, they notice that there is no one around, even the couple who goes before them that seems so perky all the time. They walk into the room to discover their therapist kneeling on the floor munching away on the perky couple.

Needless to say David and Sara are not happy about this, kill the therapist and begin their way home through arguments, zombies and no traffic. Their adventure in their marriage and the end of the world just beginning.

Jesse Petersen knows how to bring the humor into a horror situation. The characters of David and Sara remind us what a relationship could be, even when you are bashing and slashing zombies. The sarcasm between the two characters and how they interact with the other characters including the undead remind me of what I would do in that type of situation.

She is brilliant in putting characters into a setting that not only makes you feel it is real, but makes you want to be part of it even though the situation is loaded with zombies who want nothing more than to eat your brains out. Bravo to Ms. Petersen for making such a horrific funny story that after reading it leaves me with a strong chuckle and another look at my own relationship.