The Last of the Second Chance Pile

 I finally, FINALLY, got to the last four books of the pile. If you haven't been following the second chance pile read-or-unhaul-it challenge, you won't know, but I've been trying to read something I call the Second Chance pile. This is the last stage of my bookshelf-cleaning journey for the year. Let's get into it. 

Courtesy of jooinn.com

As usual, here are the rules. 

1. I pick up a book at random from the pile. 

2. I read at least 5 chapters. 

3. I decide if I keep going or DNF (do not finish) it. 

4. I review it. 

The process above is what'll happen to these books. I'm trying to do at least three per blog, but today we have the last of the pile, so we're going for four books. If I'm not enjoying myself and I'm not compelled to keep reading I will put it down. Onward! 

First The Dead by Tim Downs

Courtesy of Ebay.com

It started well, with two men trying to get bodies out of the bayou, then transitioned to a bad blind date. It's a series of murders, according to the back, where the killer/killers are using the waters of Hurricane Katrina to cover up their crimes. Great concept, but we'll see if I continue. Our main character is a forensic expert who focuses his attention on bugs and forensics. Already, the conversation with his date is not my forte. Fortunately, he wanted the date to end, so him talking about death and bugs helped his case.

I DNFed it. Two chapters were good and the next two chapters were boring. I had no motivation to continue because I didn't connect to our main character. I'm pretty sure it was mostly just me disliking our main character. I didn't even get to why someone was taking a body out of the bayou into the flooding area. I was too bored. Either this starts super slow, or our main character is kind of strange. I also have no interest in hearing about the dead for as long as it talked about the dead. Forewarning, it is all about dead bodies. 

Broken Angel by Sigmund Brouwer

Courtesy of goodreads.com

I DNFed this by mid-chapter two, when someone started torturing someone with threats and thumbscrews on toes. I was done at that point. I also figured the violence would get worse if the second chapter included torture, so this wasn't the book for me. It was a bit like jumping into a fantasy novel and not knowing what was going on. Maybe you are meant to read the whole thing to figure that out. I didn't even get there. 

Plotwise, you are probably supposed to figure it out chapter by chapter. It centers around a young girl who grew wings in an apocalyptic world. It reminds me of Maximum Ride, but if you had three main characters (don't know the third main person, didn't get there) and it was a different apocalypse. Also, our oppressive group has some religious connotations and I kind of hate that. I guess the book is supposed to make you think, if reviews on the cover are to be believed. I decided torture was a deal-breaker and didn't continue. 

Are you Afraid of the dark? by Sidney Sheldon

I started this and was on the fence for the first chapter, but by the fifth chapter I was in - hook, line, and sinker. It got my attention within five chapters and had me caring about the main characters right away. I wanted to continue. I was even upset that I couldn't find the audiobook on my library app. It follows two women, both widows of murdered men, who find they are being chased with intent to kill. The plot follows them finding out why - all in the wake of a long list of missing and dead individuals in Europe. It kicks off with the cases of the dead, some of them related to scientists and mafia. You feel the widows' grief and hear the personal stories -with little details thrown in that make you wonder what this "Prima" issue is. 

I will spoil nothing. This was too good. Five stars and I can't recommend it enough. If I had just thrown this in the little library I'd have kicked myself. The main characters have a growth arc and bond over their grief, commonly going back to the days of their marriages in their head and being jerked back into reality (I think that's disassociation). It gives out bits of information at a time, telling you more and more as the stakes get higher and higher. Little clues are thrown out as dialogue and events pile up. Past events impact future events directly. You'll notice what connects when you pay attention to names and flashbacks. I would say this is for adults only, though, so don't read this to your young children. 

Ghosts In Baker Street by Various Authors

Courtesy of Goodreads.com

This was a short story collection. I read one story to judge whether I was keeping it. The theme of this collection is Sherlock Holmes finding supernatural events and having no explanation for the event. The first story was eventful, a man claiming to be Satan and getting shoved in the asylum as a direct result. Holmes talked to him and the man said he was leaving at midnight. At midnight the man who claimed to be Satan was suddenly not claiming to be Satan and very confused about where he was. It was interesting to say the least. It was entertaining enough to stay. 

The thing about short story collections is that they are not binge-able. I want to savor, not speed through, so I'm keeping it with only one story read. That being said, some might not be my jam, but the stories here probably aren't found anywhere else. I'm not throwing the whole book into a donation pile when good stories remain. 

Conclusion

This was the end of the second chance pile, for real. I am done with it. I have the rest of the year to chill with books I know I'll love. I'm happy. I no longer have to wade through the pile. The book cleaning process was completed before December hit and I have more time for other books. Not much else to do except celebrate a project completed. 

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I wrote a book! I am delighted to say that I have 5 five-star reviews up on Amazon now, which is amazing. I hope you like it, too. If you're interested in buying a paperback, hardcover, or ebook version go to my website link in this blog or click here to go straight to my Amazon page. 

Jack Thomas is running from a past case. He's hiding in Wrenville. Is his past case catching up with him? 

Find out in my first book, Wrenville, a stand-alone suspense novel.