This is a tiny book, a sum of three short stories that juggles horrific subjects and has an uncanny knack for have kept me completely absorbed. The 40 pages or so was a free offer I saw while browsing my local ebook store. Being a long-time fan by now, a short story or not, this collection needed to be added to my library.
I was captivated from the start by the stories inspired by Dante’s Inferno. In the short moment it took me to zip through the pages those three edges of horror thrillers covered so much from torture and mutilated bodies to alchemical symbols and occult object and managed to transport me right into a post-apocalyptic world. The author’s expertise in detailing for her readers brilliant imagery and rich words makes her book most fascinating. Indeed Ms. Penn, has a penchant for the macabre and loves giving her readers morbid morsels to digest bit by bit.
Reading this book is not a massive commitment but be warned: you will be hooked in no time and definitely wanting more.
Box set books 1-3 in the Society of Orion series
Also available individually
Book 1, “Weapon”
Book 2, “The Recovery”
Book 3, “Deception”
A box set is great when you have short story that ends abruptly and needs a sequel to see the outcome. These three books flow beautifully into each other and it is a great strategy to have one offer to include them all. It eliminates our frustration while we would have normally waiting for the next book. A frustrated reader is not a happy one…..
I have read and reviewed all three books last year so when I tackled “The Polish Discovery” within a few pages I knew the story sounded too familiar to be fresh, of course it wasn’t…I should have look deeper but I have no regrets it allowed me to jog my memory.
Having said this, all books have their own unbelievable adventure and are fun to read. The stories are light, definitely not taxing. The characterization is crazy, definitely not the run of the mill. The writing is clear definitely no need for dictionary and finally the story will entice you to keep up with the Kubickis for a long time.
Good value
Book 1, in the BC Blues Crime series“Cold Girl” is mystery and a detective fiction that revolves around the disappearance of a pretty singer of a local band. It features RCMP Detectives Leith and Dion, two lead characters who hate each other and are the driving force in this story. It is also the story of Dion’s struggle to recuperate from an accident, a car crash that has left him a stranger in his own body.
Told from the point of views of several characters based on what is going on at the moment, this character driving mystery populated with many players can be a challenge to keep track of. Unfortunately, most characters left me ice cold, I was distracted by Dion’s condition and wondered throughout this drama why would an unhealthy RCMP officer be on the job not fully rehabilitated and working in snowbound Hazeltons. The plot line is simple enough but the action is so scattered I admit to have needed a fair amount of concentration to keep up with all that was going on and stay with it. Indeed, the style is a little different and quite unique and the scenario had all the attributes to make it fascinating. I was drawn to the story at first but it soon became confusing and brutal to read through. Frivolities should have been edited or simply cut out, too much said about food and office chit-chat making one of those exceptionally lengthy books. Cutting the nonsense would have made everything less heavy and kept the story moving at a good pace. Although I may not have been totally captivated by “Cold Girl” I think applying a little tweak here and there this series has good potential.
This is one of those books that you either love or hate. If you have lots of time on your hands give this debut novel a go.
I received this book from Dundurn Press through Net Galley in exchange for my honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. This is the Way I see it.
