I’m Thinking of Ending Things by Iain Reid

 I’m Thinking of Ending Things by Iain Reid

 Published: June 2016

 

 

I’m Thinking of Ending Things by Iain Reid is a psychological horror/thriller.

My Synopsis:
The story is told by a young woman on a trip with Jake, her boyfriend of about 6 or 7 weeks. They are going to meet his parents, who own a farm in a remote area, about two hours away. During the trip, her thoughts are what we focus on. She is thinking of ending things with Jake, but she’s not sure yet. The visit, when they finally reach their destination, is strange. By the end of the visit, you think that perhaps Jake, his family, and his girlfriend all belong in a mental institution. The return trip is even stranger.

In the middle of this woman’s internal dialog/thoughts, another story is being told. Two people are talking about a disturbing death.

My Opinions:
Well, that was a rather strange journey. My first thought was that the title foreshadowed suicide, until I realized that the girl on the trip with Jake was thinking of breaking up with him. Then that suicide thing popped into my head again.

I’m finding myself at a loss for words without giving up the whole plot. That seldom happens with me. At this moment, I don’t even know whether I liked the book or not.

The characters are not very likable, the plot is creepy/unsettling/intense, but the writing…oh the writing is really good! Everything you think you know at the beginning turns around and bites you. I think that’s what makes the book so good…and the writing. Okay, I guess I liked it….Well, it’s definitely thought-provoking.

It grabs you from the first sentence…and holds you.  It’s also a very fast read, not so much because of its length, but because it was really hard to put down.

It is reminiscent of Lionel Shriver’s We Need to Talk about Kevin, and I’m still not sure how I felt about that one!

I may have to read this again.

Read: June 2018

Favorite Quotes from I’m Thinking of Ending Things:

“I’m thinking of ending things. 
Once this thought arrives, it stays. It sticks. It lingers. It dominates. There’s not much I can do about it. Trust me. It doesn’t go away. It’s there whether I like it or not. It’s there when I eat. When I go to bed. It’s there when I sleep. It’s there when I wake up. It’s always there. Always.”  (one of the greatest beginnings to a book….ever)

“You can’t fake a thought.”

“But reality happens only once.”

 

About the Author:  Iain Reid is a Canadian author, and 2015 recipient of the RBC Taylor Emerging Writer Award.  He graduated from Queen’s where he studied History, English lit, and philosophy.  He currently resides in Kingston, Ontario

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The Dark Angel by Elly Griffiths (#10 Ruth Galloway)

 The Dark Angel by Elly Griffiths

 Published: February 2018 by Quercus Publishing

 

Previous Book in the Series: #9 – The Chalk Pit

The Dark Angel by Elly Griffiths is the 10th in the Dr. Ruth Galloway series.

Series Background:
Ruth is a Forensic Archaeologist who lives in a rather remote cottage on the edge of the Saltmarsh near Norfolk England. She teaches at the university, and has a daughter by DCI Harry Nelson, an already married police officer. Their relationship is complicated. Ruth seems to help solve most of the crimes in the area, as they usually involve the discovery of bones. As well, there is usually some aspect of religion in these books, although Ruth believes in very little, Harry is a lapsed Catholic, their friend Cathbad is a Druid, and their families are quite religious.

My Synopsis:
Ruth heads to Italy with her best friend and their two children to help identify some bones at the request of another old friend. Angelo is digging at a site and in the Liri Valley, and thinks the bones he just found are Roman, but there are some “anomalies”, and he hopes Ruth can help things clear up. Angelo neglects to mention that he thinks his life is in danger.

Meanwhile, Harry is at home and a little concerned with the early release from prison of a man who had threatened Harry when he put him away. Everyone assures Harry that this man has found religion, and that he is reformed. Harry has his doubts. Harry is also concerned about the baby that his wife is carrying. Is it his?

When an earthquake hits in the area that Ruth and his daughter Kate are staying, Harry and their Druid friend Cathbad are on the first plane. When Harry arrives, he finds Ruth has just discovered the dead body of a priest. Never a dull moment.

My Opinions:
I love this series. I love Ruth, whose intelligence is huge, but her self-image is low. I love Harry, who doesn’t really care what Ruth looks like. I love Cathbad who is friend, confident, and adviser to both. As interesting as the plots always are, it is the characters that make these books so good. The characters, flaws and all, are wonderful, and the relationships, friendships and love continue to develop with each book. I do not like (and am often rather annoyed with) the affairs that the main characters are having, nor do I feel their justifications for these are valid, and would prefer Griffiths settle these once and for all, because it makes the characters look very weak. However, these affairs have become characters themselves, and grow and change with each book. So, other than the affairs, I love the series. Elly Griffiths is an amazing writer, and I can’t wait for the next installment.

p.s. There is a great “Who’s Who” with little known facts of each of the characters at the end of this book. Loved it!

Read: May 2018

Favorite Quotes from The Dark Angel:

“That’s the trouble with questions, he thinks, throwing a stick for Bruno and watching him jump joyfully into the air to catch it. Questions need answers and he hasn’t got any. He strides through the queen’s trees, trying not to think.”

“Besides, it’s early, and the wide sandy beach is deserted apart from Thing, a white English bull terrier, running madly in circles. The fact that he is in charge of a dog often stigmatised by the press as a ‘devil dog’ does not unduly concern Cathbad. Thing, as he explains to anyone who will listen, is a good soul who is probably the reincarnation of a woman wrongly accused of witchcraft. He has no idea why this explanation doesn’t always bring the comfort it should.”

“But, of course, the devil was once an angel too. She thinks of her mother’s gravestone in Eltham Cemetery: At rest with the angels.”

 

About the Author:  (1963 –  )  Elly Griffiths was born in London England and now lives in Brighton.  Born Domenica de Rosa, she wrote four books under that name.  As Elly Griffiths she is best known for the Ruth Galloway novels, which were inspired by her husband who trained as an archaeologist, and her aunt who filled her head with myths of the Norfolk coast.

Watching by Blake Pierce (#1 The Making of Riley Paige)

 Watching by Blake Pierce

 Published: May 15, 2018 by Kobo Writing Life

 

Watching by Blake Pierce is the 1st in “The Making of Riley Paige” series.

First, let me thank NetGalley, the publisher Kobo Writing Life, and of course the author, for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

My Synopsis:
Riley Sweeney is almost finished college, where she is majoring in Psychology. She has had a rough start to life. She was young when her mom was shot and killed right in front of her, and Riley went a little crazy in her teenage years. She isn’t close to her older sister Wendy, and her relationship with her father is very strained. However, here she is in college, and on the straight and narrow.

When her friend Rhea is killed just down the hall, Riley’s world starts to change. She has a sudden indescribable urge to find Rhea’s killer. She finds herself starting to understand and get into the killer’s mind, seemingly knowing what he is thinking, and that scares her. Is she really empathizing with a killer? When the FBI gets involved, they seem to think Riley may have a talent for this kind of thing, but she’s not too sure herself.

Meanwhile, Riley’s love-life, which has been purposely non-existent, is also taking a turn. A young man named Ryan Paige has taken an interest in Riley, and she returns his interest.

My Opinions:
I really enjoyed this book. I know the books in this series are the prequels to Pierce’s Once Gone Series (which I’m also reading), so I find it really interesting to find out how Riley Paige came to be. The writing is good, and so was the plot. The suspense kept building, and although I had an idea who the killer was, it took a while to be sure.

Definitely looking forward to the next one!

Read: June 2018

 

Favorite Quotes from Watching:

“That word, if …
Riley had never imagined how awful a word could be.”

“But what happened to people who started empathizing with monsters? Might they become monsters themselves?”

 

About the Author:  Blake Pierce is the author of a number of series including the Riley Paige series, and three other mystery series starring Mackenzie White, Avery Black, and Keri Locke, and now The Making of Riley Paige series.  Unfortunately, I cannot find any personal tid-bits about him/her.  Apparently they are willing to promote their writing, but not themselves.  That’s a little sad.

Caged by Ellison Cooper (#1 Sayer Altair)

Caged by Ellison Cooper

 Publishing: July 10, 2018 by St. Martin’s Press

 

 

Caged by Ellison Cooper is a mystery/thriller novel, and the first in the Sayer Altair series.

First, let me thank NetGalley, the publisher St. Martin’s Press, and of course the author, for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

My Synopsis:
FBI Special Agent Sayer Altair is a neuroscientist, who is still recovering from the death of her fiancé Jake. She is devoting her time to researching the brains of convicted serial killers to try and find a common link. She hopes to find something that may indicate that the same problem exists in all of them, and if found early enough, their predilections to murder may have been averted. She seems to have hit an impasse.

When the police find the emaciated body of the Senator’s missing daughter lying in a cage, Altair sets aside her research and leads her team in search of this murderer. When they realize another girl is about to suffer the same fate, they have a limited amount of time to find her. That means finding a connection to the two girls. Sayer starts to dig deep, but one dead end keeps leading to another, as she realizes they are being manipulated by the killer, who seems adept at creating and planting evidence. It’s difficult to know who to trust and what to believe. The killer may be closer than they think.

My Opinions:
This was a really good book, especially for a debut novel. I am not sure why, but I struggled at the beginning, and my only thought is that it must have been me. Because once I got going, I could hardly put it down. Cooper created very likable and believable characters in Sayer, Vik and Ezra, and the supporting cast (Nana and Tino in particular) were great additions. I love the fact that Sayer is a strong female with a science background. The book read smoothly as the plot developed and the suspense built. Twists abound. The writing is very good, with the right amount of gruesomeness to keep it real, and the dialogue felt right. It definitely kept me entertained.

For a debut novel, I was really impressed, and am looking forward to more. (When I asked, Ellison assured me that there would be more!)

Read: June 2018

Favorite Quote from Caged:

“Our brains are shaped by the way we live our lives.”

 

About the Author: Ellison Cooper is a dual Irish/American citizen,  born just outside of Washington DC.  She has a Ph.D. in anthropology from UCLA, with a background in archaeology, cultural neuroscience, ancient religion, colonialism, and human rights. She currently lives in the Bay area with her husband and son.

Deadly Homecoming at Rosemont by Connie Chappell (#1 Wrenn Grayson)

 Deadly Homecoming at Rosemont by Connie Chappell

 Published: February 2016 by Black Rose Writing

 

Previous Book in the Series: #0.5 – Rose Petal Haunt (short story)

Deadly Homecoming at Rosemont by Connie Chappell is the 1st in the Wrenn Grayson Mystery Series.

Series Background:
In the prequel short-story “Rose Petal Haunt” we are introduced to college student Wrenn Grayson, a budding Historian, who already seems part detective. In that story, she explores an Opera House, where a mysterious death still haunts some memories. Note that there was a link in the author’s second book which allowed me to download the short story, so thanks to the author for this one!
Wrenn Grayson is now a Historian in Havens, Ohio who, for a price, will help you find answers to the past. She also works for Mayor KC Tallmadge, and writes articles for the newspaper. Busy lady!

My Synopsis:
When Wrenn goes to Rosemont Manor to collect her fee for the investigation into the home and its past occupants, she and her friend Clay, who now owns the house, discover the body of a former tenant, who had been presumed dead. Former police chief Clay Addison is suddenly on the receiving end of the investigation into Trey Rosemont’s death.  Wrenn plans on helping prove his innocence.

Meanwhile, across town, the love of Wrenn’s life, Professor Gideon Douglas is also having some problems. The University has just been burglarized, and the priceless Egyptian exhibition artifacts that just arrived last night have been stolen. His job is in jeopardy.  Can Wrenn help?

Then there is the Mayor, who wants Wrenn to devote her time to keeping the residents happy in an area where a large sinkhole appeared, and look after the upcoming opening of the Baxter Theatre, who has a rather temperamental playwright who must be handled delicately.  While she also has a newspaper deadline, Wrenn seems to be stretched a little thin.

My Opinions:
To be honest, I wasn’t really expecting much from this book. The prequel didn’t really have me liking the main character very much. I felt Wrenn came across as intrusive and a bit antagonistic. In a short story there isn’t always enough time for redemption, so although the prequel was interesting, I’m not sure it was the greatest introduction to Wrenn.  That’s probably why it’s taken so long for me to read this book, even though I’ve had it for a while.

However, this book had me hooked about 10% in. That’s hard to do when you have a pre-conceived notion that you won’t like a book. Kudo’s to the author! I thought it may be a rather weak cozy mystery.  It was not.  Although there is a lot going on (maybe a bit much), it’s an easy read with a good plot, and everything runs smooth. The suspense continues to build, and the characters are great. Although I often wanted to smack Wrenn, she turned out to be very likable.

It was a very entertaining read, that kept me turning the pages. Looks like I have a new author to add to my list of “read everything”. I’m looking forward to the second in the series!

Read: June 2018

Favorite Quote from Deadly Homecoming at Rosemont:

“Lives change. Expectations change. Wants change.”

 

About the Author: Connie Chappell is a bestselling author of both literary fiction and the Wrenn Grayson Mysteries series.  Now retired, when she isn’t writing, Connie spends her times out-doors whenever possible, gardening, golfing, walking, bicycling.

Origin by Dan Brown (#5 Robert Langdon)

 

Origin by Dan Brown

 Published: October 2017 by Doubleday

 

Previous Book in the Series: #4 – Inferno

Origin by Dan Brown is the 5th in the Robert Langdon Series.

Series Background:
Robert Langdon is a Harvard professor, teaching religious iconology and the meaning of symbols. He usually gets involved in researching mysteries when historical symbols are found related to religion, often putting his own life in jeopardy to solve some controversial problem. On a personal note, Langdon is claustrophobic due to an accidental fall into a well when he was a young boy. He is an avid swimmer, and has an eidetic memory. He wears a Mickey Mouse watch. Although he was raised Catholic, he is on his own spiritual quest.

My Synopsis:
Robert is invited to the Guggenheim Museum in Spain by his former pupil, Edmond Kirsch. Kirsch is known for his controversial predictions and high-tech inventions. He is a futurist, and billionaire, who has a flair for the dramatic. He is about to make a big announcement, but first wants his old teachers’ advice. Kirsch knows that there will be fallout from his announcement, as he is about to put himself in direct conflict with centuries of spiritual teachings. Although Langdon had always said that science and religion are often telling the same story in different languages, Kirsch figures his declaration may incite more hostility than usual. He has already consulted with heads of the Catholic, Jewish and Muslim faiths, and certainly did not receive any encouragement, although none was expected. Despite the religious backlash, Kirsch plans on using science to answer the two most fundamental questions….Where did we come from, and where are we going.

When Kirsch is murdered just before the announcement is made, Robert and the museum assistant, Ambra Vidal (who is the fiancée of the next King of Spain), decide they will discover Edmond’s secret and release it to the world. All they have to do is crack the 47-character password to stream the video. They also have to stay alive long enough to do this. They actually have some unexpected assistance from a “friend” of Edmonds. However, the same group that was trying to stop Kirsch, are now going to try and stop Ambra and Robert. Determining who is actually after them is a toss-up between a Catholic Bishop, someone in the Royal Party, and the Palmariana Church.

My Opinions:
Dan Brown creates some wonderful books with some very controversial topics, which he says “promote spiritual discussion and debate”. Yeah, okay.  I’m not getting into the religious aspect of the book.  Be that as it may, he writes a good, action packed story. His writing is pretty basic, and perhaps not the best, but his plots are always good.

To say you have to put your thinking caps on before entering into Brown’s world is an understatement. Be prepared, Brown gets a little wordy in this one, and he goes deep. Although the book kept me entertained right to the end, often I found myself slogging through information I didn’t care about. Everybody had a backstory, and there are a lot of characters. Thankfully they were easy, if a little time-consuming, to follow.

Note that although these are a series of books with Langdon as the lead, each could easily be read as a stand-alone novel.

On another note, I have really enjoyed the movies that have been a result of his books, and hope that they continue. In my opinion, Tom Hanks as Robert Langdon was the right choice! It actually helps me, so I generally picture Hanks in the lead role while I read the books.  I can hear his voice…which is actually a little scary.

 

Read: May 2018

 

Favorite Quotes from Origin:

“Please forgive my aging sense of humor. My filters fail me from time to time.”

“Well, science and religion are not competitors, they’re two different languages trying to tell the same story. There’s room in this world for both.”

“These two mysteries lie at the heart of the human experience. Where do we come from? Where are we going? Human creation and human destiny.”

“Success is the ability to go
from one failure to another
with no loss of enthusiasm.
—WINSTON CHURCHILL “

 

About the Author:  Dan Brown (1964 – ) is an American author, known for the Robert Langdon Series (the first being The DaVinci Code).  Brown’s novels are published in 52 languages around the world with 200 million copies in print.  In 2005, Brown was named one of the 100 Most Influential People in the World by TIME Magazine.

 

The Outsider by Stephen King

The Outsider by Stephen King

 Published: May 22, 2018 

 

 

The Outsider by Stephen King is part mystery, and part horror.

My Synopsis:
Detective Ralph Anderson may have made the biggest mistake of his life. He arrested Terry Maitland, the town’s beloved Little League baseball coach, a respected teacher, the caring husband of a wife and two young daughters.…… However, the crime was horrific, the brutal and sadistic killing of an 11-year old boy, whose wounds were almost indescribable. Ralph had lots of witnesses that saw Maitland with the boy just before it happened, and with blood on his clothes just after, and fingerprints galore. So he very publicly arrested Maitland, before discovering that the man had a rock-solid alibi proving he wasn’t even in town on the day the poor boy died. How could he possibly be in two places at once?

Trying to prove innocence or guilt in this strange case will take Ralph on a journey into the unknown, into disbelief, until finally he admits that there’s more out there than just his own reality. But Ralph will get unexpected help.

My Opinions:
Without a doubt, a wonderful, engrossing novel, and when King brought back a favorite character from another of his series, my love for this book took another jump upwards. But it wasn’t just Holly. It was Ralph, and his wife Jeannie; Marcy Maitland, and her team of lawyers and investigators trying to prove her husband’s innocence. It was Claude and his mom. The creation of these characters is what makes King’s books stand out. Each one has their own interesting story, their own reason for being in the book, and each one jumps from the page. The reader gets to “know” his characters, to love or hate them, and to understand where they are coming from….and sometimes to relate to them.

King took us on a journey into evil, and out the other side. He showed us the wide-spread effects that charging a man with a despicable crime can have on his family, friends, the town, and even the detective who charged him. He shows us that even the meek and mild can stand strong when they have to, and that even when the horror is over, friendships can remain.

That’s not to say the creep factor wasn’t there in this book, because it was, in spades. A version of the boogeyman/vampire/monster makes a prominent appearance, although not really in the traditional sense. I like how this started as a detective mystery novel, and midway through you remembered you were reading Stephen King, and things were turning a little dicey, and then you were sort of hanging on for dear life. Either way, it was hard to put down.

What can I say…I loved it, and  YES, I am a Constant Reader….and quite proud of it. Thank you Sai King!  (Oh, and I never did like cantaloupes)

p.s. This is a stand-alone novel, but it does incorporate Holly Gibney from King’s Bill Hodges Trilogy, and will probably ruin that series for you if you plan to read it.

Read: June 2018

 

Favorite Quotes from The Outsider:

“The professor said people had the mistaken idea that Poe wrote fantastic stories about the supernatural, when in fact he wrote realistic stories about abnormal psychology.”

“And I believe in A. Conan Doyle, who had Sherlock Holmes say, “Once you eliminate the impossible, whatever remains, no matter how improbable, must be the truth.”’

“No end to the universe. He supposed it was a concept some people might find uplifting, even beautiful. Ralph, a just-the-facts man for his entire working life, found it terrifying.”

“The very old and the very young always saw most clearly.”

 

 

About the Author: Stephen Edwin King (Sept 21, 1947 – ).  If you don’t know him by now….okay, that’s just impossible.

Nobody’s Child by Victoria Jenkins (#3 King & Lane)

 Nobody’s Child by Victoria Jenkins

 Publishing: June 19, 2018 by Bookouture

 

Previous Book in the Series: #2 – The First One to Die

 

Nobody’s Child  (originally titled Counting the Dead) by Victoria Jenkins is the 3rd in the Detectives King & Lane series.

First, let me thank NetGalley, the publisher Bookouture, and of course the author, for providing me with an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Series Background:
DI Alex King and her protégé DC Chloe Lane have become close friends, while working some horrendous crime scenes. Both have been dealing with personal issues, but together, and apart, they are working through them.

My Synopsis:
It starts with a homeless man found burning in an abandoned hospital, but he will not be the last vulnerable person to be attacked. There may be an arsonist on the loose. King and Lane will have to sift through a myriad of horrors before coming up with a very unlikely perpetrator.

Meanwhile, King is again dealing with her own issues, and making life miserable for those around her. She is being threatened, and she is pretty sure who is responsible. But she will have to have courage to stand up to him, and what if she’s wrong?

My Opinions:
Jenkins tackled some hard issues in this one, and did not shy away from anything. There were a lot of individual stories going on, with possible connections to each other. Even with the number of characters and situations, if you paid attention, everything flowed smoothly.

I’m not sure I bought into Alex’s “problems”, and her actions. That storyline felt forced, and it just didn’t ring true to me.

I am still looking forward to the next one!

Read: May 2018

Favorite Quote from Nobody’s Child:

“Each time she thought she had seen it all, someone else proved that evil knew no boundaries.”

 

 

About the Author:  Victoria Jenkins lives in South Wales with her husband.  (I still have to find out more)

Bring Me Back by B.A. Paris

Bring Me Back by B.A. Paris

 Publishing: June 19 2018 by St. Martin’s Press

 

 

Bring Me Back by B.A. Paris is a psychological thriller.

First, let me thank NetGalley, the publisher St. Martin’s Press, and of course the author, for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

My Synopsis:
Finn has secrets, even from Ellen, the woman he plans to marry. 12 years ago, Finn was involved with Ellen’s sister Layla. 12 years ago, Layla disappeared. Finn says she was kidnapped. Some think she’s dead.

It now appears that Layla may be alive. A small Russian doll turns up, and its significance is only known to Finn, Layla, and Ellen. Finn keeps the finding of the doll a secret. When more start showing up, he is sure it’s Layla. His feelings for her have never really left, and when she starts emailing him, his emotions are mixed. He desperately wants to see her. But he doesn’t want to hurt Ellen. But Layla is playing games, and Finn is playing along. Someone is going to get hurt.

My Opinions:
Told from different timelines, and different perspectives, the story moves along well. I didn’t particularly like the characters, so it’s hard to love the book. Layla was devious and a little scary. Finn was a weak, selfish and arrogant fool who thinks he can have his cake and eat it too. Ellen was a little too likable. None of them were really well-developed. However, there was enough suspense, and a half decent plot to keep things interesting, and it is a fast read.

Really, 3.5 stars

Read: May 2018

 

About the Author:  B A Paris (Bernadette Ann Paris) (1958 – ) grew up in England, spent most of her adult life in France, but has now returned to the U.K.  She has worked both in finance and as a teacher and has five daughters. Behind Closed Doors was her first novel.

The Fourth Monkey by J.D. Barker (#1 – Sam Porter or 4MK)

The Fourth Monkey by J.D. Barker

 Published: June 2017 by Houghton Mifflin

 

The Fourth Monkey by J.D. Barker is the 1st in the Detective Sam Porter (or 4MK) Series.

My Synopsis:
Homicide Detective Sam Porter is on leave, awaiting clearance to return to work. But when the serial killer that has evaded him for the last five years re-surfaces, Sam is on the case. Could this killer really be dead? It doesn’t matter, because he left a victim out there that has little chance of survival if the Chicago Police Department doesn’t find her soon.

They call him the 4MK killer for short, in deference for the “No Evil” monkeys of myth. He leaves behind the ear, the eyes, the tongue…before leaving the body. The targets are usually the loved one of someone the killer determines has done evil. There have been seven bodies so far, and Sam fears there are more that were never associated with this madman.

But this time, in addition to things found in the pockets of the dead man, the killer also leaves behind his diary. Sam and the team have to put all the pieces together before the poor Emory dies. It feels like a deadly game.

Meanwhile, Sam has his own past that must be put to rest.

My Opinions:
The chapters alternate between Sam’s perspective, the diary entries, as well as others. This keeps the entire story-line moving smoothly and quickly, without missing anything crucial to the plot.

Absolutely loved this book! Barker has a great writing style, incorporating humor and sarcasm in with the dialog. He doesn’t shy away from the grisly parts, and descriptions are vivid. The characters are fairly well developed for a first book, and they mesh well. I loved them all.

This one hooks you from the start, and keeps you entertained to the very last page.

Well worth the read, and looking forward to the next one!

Read: May 2018

Favorite Quotes from The Fourth Monkey:

“He had chased the Four Monkey Killer for half a decade. Seven dead girls.
Twenty-one boxes. You can’t forget about the boxes.
He’d never forget the boxes. They haunted him every time he closed his eyes.”

“Many adults didn’t notice kids at all. We were lost to the background of life, much like pets and old people. Father once told me there was a sweet spot to life between the age of fifteen and sixty-five when you were fully visible to the world—any older and you fade from sight, dimming to obscurity.”

“Mizaru means see no evil, Kikazaru means hear no evil, and Iwazaru means speak no evil….The first three monkeys define the rules we should all live by, but it’s the fourth that carries the most importance.” “Shizaru,” I said. “His name is Shizaru.”
“He stands for do no evil,” Father said.”

 

About the Author:  J.D. Barker (Jonathan Dylan Barker) (1971 – ) is an American author of suspense thriller,  which often incorporate elements of horror, crime, mystery, sci-fi and the supernatural. He splits his time between Florida and Pennsylvania with his wife Dayna.