Review: Twists, turns, and teases
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 05 29, 2014
A first for me, too, as in first time I give a five-star rating, first time I agree with more of the four- and five-star reviews than the three- to one-stars, and first time I have specifically gone out of my way to recommend a book to a personal friend. Will definitely look for more work with the names of Zak Allen and Alan Orloff, and kudos to them for this effort.Lots of interesting characters who fade in and out of Suspect range. Lots of subplots, I suppose nay-sayers would comment they didn't add to the plot, but they didn't detract, either, and I think they rounded out the main story quite well if you're the type who likes to see a painting that shows you some underlayment supporting the big picture. Kind of like more than several flavors of Jelly Belly.Two of the talk show guests - one a psychic and one a "mental health professional" should not throw up any caution flags to readers as far as venturing into hyper-analyzing or ooga-booga fields.The writing maybe could have been a little tighter but still one of the best reads I've had in the last year and I would be at a loss to pick out a character or subplot or incident that could have been tossed out without being missed; nuances are important.I have nothing much to add except to say that, for more specifics, the four-star reviews are perhaps the most helpful in this particular instance, and to include my customary Turnoffs List, below.For those keeping score, here are the standings as far as heads-ups for most reviewers' declared turnoffs:1.) Some profanity, but not chronic, and appropriate in the venues and at the times you'd expect it;2.) No paranormal, supernatural, sci-fi, or magic components;3.) No romance (unless you count a guy who loves his wife and one whose widower-hood has affected him profoundly);4.) No religious or alternative lifestyle agenda or promotion;5.) Some violence of a low- to mid-gory nature just by their mention (dismemberment but not grisly);6.) Threat of animal abuse but not excessively graphic;7.) No cliffhanger ending;8.) Grammar and punctuation police, have at it.