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November 01, 2010

‘I’ve Known My Share of Characters’
by Henry Perez

I’m very pleased to welcome author Henry Perez to Musings of an All Purpose Monkey in support of his latest release, Mourn the Living. I’ll be posting my review of Mourn the Living on Wednesday, but for now I’ll turn things over to Henry.

A couple of weeks ago at Bouchercon in San Francisco I had the opportunity to be on a panel titled Crazy Killers. That panel, which also included Steve Hockensmith, Marcus Sakey, Ken Mercer, and Rick Mofina, evolved into a lively discussion about character development.

It served as a perfect warm-up for this post about the process I go through when I’m writing a book and working on populating it with the sort of characters that readers will find interesting and memorable.

I don’t base my characters on anyone I’ve ever known. That sort of approach doesn’t interest me much, and it wouldn’t be anywhere near as much fun as it is to make them up out of whole cloth. When I began writing Killing Red, my debut thriller, I embraced two long-established theories of character development:

The best protagonists are flawed.
Every villain is the hero of his or her own story.

Alex Chapa, the protagonist of Killing Red and Mourn the Living, was born of a personal fascination with people who are very good at their jobs, but seemingly incapable of managing their everyday lives. We know all about these people in politics, sports, entertainment, business. We work with them every day, see them on the other side of the backyard fence, perhaps sit next to them at the Thanksgiving table. →

October 28, 2010

8 Pounds by Chris F. Holm

As he grew older and honed his talents, he came to realize that he was the thing people feared – he was the monster in the dark. – Ray McDaniel

Are you ready for a Halloween treat? I hope so, because author Chris F. Holm sure has some goodies ready for your reading pleasure. In 8 Pounds: Eight Tales of Crime, Horror, & Suspense Holm serves up eight wonderfully entertaining short stories that will have you up late into the night reading, and leave you hungry for more. Though every story in the collection is a home run, there were a few standouts for me.

“Seven Days of Rain” starts the collection off, and right away you know you’re in for something special: “There’s men’s plans and then there’s God’s plans, and it looks for damn sure like God don’t think much of mine.” So thinks Eddie Hanscombe, a man whose plan 60 years ago was to bury something, literally and figuratively, and be done with it. During a biblical seven day rain, however, Eddie comes to understand nothing about the past is ever really buried, and that God always has the last laugh.

“The World Behind” also deals with the past. Timothy Hewitt was a shy, fearful kid in the summer of 1986, one who let his fear drive him down a path that forever changed his life. He took to hiding in the woods that summer to avoid a bully that had it in for him and, as the adult Timothy reflects, it was in those woods he discovered who he really was… as well as what had been happening to all the animals that were disappearing from homes around town. “The World Behind” is a wonderful coming of age story, albeit with a slightly ominous undertone. →

October 26, 2010

Skating Around the Law by Joelle Charbonneau

As far as I could tell, Sheriff Jackson was a gardener and Deputy Sean Holmes was annoying, which meant if I waited for them to do their jobs I’d have a lovely garden and a bad disposition to show for it. – Rebecca Robbins

When Rebecca Robbins returns home to tiny Indian Falls, Illinois she initially thinks she has one problem to deal with – selling the roller rink she inherited from her mother – but ends up with something decidedly more ominous on her hands… a dead body in one of the roller rink’s bathrooms.

Though at first it looks like an accident or suicide given the bottle of prescription pills found nearby, the town’s doctor / coroner soon rules it a homicide making Rebecca’s task of selling the roller rink even more difficult. (Who wants to buy a murder scene?)

And if a dead body throwing a monkey wrench into her plans to make a quick sale and hightail it back to Chicago wasn’t bad enough, the glacial pace – and incompetence – of local law enforcement’s investigation makes the prospect of Rebecca ever getting out of Dodge look downright grim.

What’s a girl to do? Take matters into her own hands, of course. So, with the “help” of her grandfather, Pop, Rebecca becomes a reluctant detective… and finds more than she expected.

Author Joelle Charbonneau has obviously drawn upon her extensive experience in the performing arts to give each of her characters a strong, and unique, voice. From Rebecca (who has a wonderful mix of whimsy and level-headedness), to Pop (who’s both well connected and disturbingly “active” in the town’s retired community), to Neil (Rebecca’s seriously misguided boss and would-be suitor), to Lionel (the veterinarian Rebecca loves to hate… or is it hates to love?), to Elwood the camel, every character has an incredibly rich, fully realized personality (yes, a camel can have a personality… trust me on this.)

A few of the situations Rebecca finds herself in are reminiscent of the early Stephanie Plum novels by Janet Evanovich (when they were still fresh and funny), though Charbonneau wisely never veers into the all-out slapstick territory that Plum frequently ends up in. Rather, Charbonneau has managed to deftly balance a healthy dose of comedy with a serious and engaging mystery. Add to that pitch perfect descriptions of the ins and outs of small town living and Skating Around the Law hits so many right notes it’s like reading an exquisitely conducted symphony.

Joelle Charbonneau is a storyteller at heart. She has performed in a variety of operas, musical theatre and children’s theatre productions across the Chicagoland area. In addition to her stage work, Joelle has also performed with several bands and worked as a solo performer. While Joelle is happy to perform for an audience, she is equally delighted to teach private voice lessons and use her experience from the

October 22, 2010

The Panic Zone by Rick Mofina

The Panic Zone by Rick Mofina “In my life I have experienced how humanity reacts in times of distress. I have seen the worst unfold before my eyes after warnings were ignored, after rational thought evaporated. I advocate extreme action because we face an extreme situation. Time is running out on human existence on this planet. We are entering the panic zone.” – Dr. Gretchen Sutsoff

In Wyoming a woman is involved in a car accident that claims the lives of her husband and infant, yet she distinctly remembers seeing someone rescue the baby from the car before she passed out. As police and medical personnel repeatedly assure her the baby died, she begins to question if she’s going mad… until she receives a mysterious phone call informing her, “Your baby is alive.”

A reporter in Brazil receives a phone call from an anonymous source claiming to have documentation on a shocking story with worldwide implications. The reporter agrees to meet the source at a restaurant, but before the information can be exchanged the restaurant is bombed and dozens of people are killed, including the reporter and her source.

An otherwise healthy man dies suddenly while on a cruise in the Caribbean, the manner of his horrific death exhibiting symptoms reminiscent of the ebola virus.

The Panic Zone, the second book from author Rick Mofina to feature investigative reporter Jack Gannon, finds Gannon summoned to Brazil by the World Press Alliance to investigate the bombing. Gannon uncovers a series of seemingly unrelated events that, upon piecing the puzzle together, he realizes are not only related but are part of a conspiracy that has potentially catastrophic consequences for the very existence of mankind.

Mofina has created likable, believable characters, thrown them into a conspiracy with life or death ramifications on a global scale, and lets the thrilling plot unfold over locales as far flung as Wyoming to Morocco to London to the Bahamas. The Panic Zone is rapid-fire, non-stop action that reads like an episode of 24, with Gannon playing the role of Jack Bauer and with stakes every bit as high.

Rick Mofina grew up east of Toronto, in Belleville, Ontario, Canada. He began writing fiction in grade school. At age 15, he sold his first short story to a U.S. magazine. He became a reporter at The Toronto Star before embarking on a career in journalism that spanned three decades and several newsrooms. His freelance crime stories have appeared around the world in such publications as The New York Times, Reader’s Digest, Marie Claire, The South China Morning Post magazine and The Moscow Times. Rick is currently based in Ottawa, where he lives with his wife and their two children and works as a communications advisor. To learn more about Rick visit his website, where you can sign up for his newsletter for exclusive chances to win free autographed books.

October 21, 2010

“What If?” by Rick Mofina (The Panic Zone)

I’m very pleased to welcome author Rick Mofina to Musings of an All Purpose Monkey in support of his latest release, The Panic Zone. I’ll post my review of the book tomorrow, but for now I’ll turn things over to Rick.

My latest book, The Panic Zone, concerns the story of Emma Lane, young mother who survives a car crash, which claims her husband and baby boy. In the confusion she thinks she sees someone rescue her son. But in the hospital she’s told she’s enduring trauma and that her husband and baby are dead. A few nights later, while grappling with her grief, a stranger calls, telling her: “Your baby is alive.” Eventually, Jack Gannon, a wire service reporter based in New York City, helps her search for the truth about her baby. They learn that the tragedy may be tied to deadly conspiracy that reaches around the world with chilling implications and their pursuit becomes a panicked race against time.

The Panic Zone is the second book in the Jack Gannon series. Thriller fans met Gannon in the first book in the series, Vengeance Road, when it was released in 2009. The prestigious International Thriller Writers (ITW) has named Vengeance Road a finalist for a 2010 Thriller Award in the category of Best Paperback Original and The Private Eye Writers of America also selected Vengeance Road as a finalist in the category of Best Paperback Original.

The story for The Panic Zone came from a spectrum of sources. As I do with most of my books, I drew on my times as a reporter, my experiences as a human being, I observe the world around me, always thinking, wondering, “What if?” When I’m stuck, make things up. →

October 19, 2010

Genesis of the Hunter by Joshua Martyr

Genesis of the Hunter by Joshua Martyr “Whoever would have guessed I would be doing what I am now… for a living. When I distance myself from the prospect it seems entirely surreal, yet here I am…” – Dr. Canterberry

Genesis of the Hunter, author Joshua Martyr’s debut novel, presents the story of a single vampire’s life during two time periods: his initial transformation in the 1400s, and his quest during modern times to fully understand the genesis of his species.

The passages that take place in Berwick Upon the Tweed during the late 1400’s detail the chance encounter with two vampires that forever changes the life of The Sentry, as we know the vampire during this time period. In fascinating detail The Sentry’s process of transformation into a vampire is chronicled, including the fact that for some reason he retains a higher level of intellectual functioning than the creatures whom he fought.

Flash forward to modern times where Gabriel, as we now know The Sentry, has employed immunologist / hematologist Dr. Canterberry to study the evolution of the vampire species. The investigations are being carried out both with urgency and in the utmost secrecy as there are people in shadowy positions of power (the CIA, Knights Templar and Illuminati are all hinted at) who seek to capture Gabriel in furtherance of their own agenda.

Author Joshua Martyr certainly has a grand vision of the story he wants to tell regarding the evolution of the creature we call vampires (a sequel is planned). As Richard Matheson’s 1954 I Am Legend did, Genesis of the Hunter contains a substantial exposition on the possible scientific explanations for the existence of the vampire, and Martyr has put considerable effort into creating a scientific backstory on the evolution of the species.

The only minor quibble I had is that the jumping back and forth was a bit distracting at times, and I believe the two time periods that alternate in the story could have stood on their own as separate books. Having said that, there is no question that Martyr’s approach is from a refreshing perspective, one that is built around neither romance nor gore but takes a more analytical approach to the legend.

So if you’re looking for a story that tackles the legend of vampires with a blend of historical setting and scientific theory, give Genesis of the Hunter a try.

Joshua Martyr was born in Toronto, Ontario. Influenced by the many childhood stories read to him, he developed an enthusiasm for literature and reading at an early age. Joshua attended York University where he received his Specialized Honours in Kinesiology. He then acquired his Bachelor of Education at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE) of the University of Toronto in the disciplines of English and Physical Education. Genesis of the Hunter is his first novel. To learn more about Joshua Martyr, visit his website.

October 18, 2010

Draculas by Crouch, Kilborn, Strand and Wilson

He was the first. He’d been infected by the original source. That made him special. He knew he was going to change into something else. Something more powerful than what he already was. Something that would allow him to infect the whole world. – Mortimer Moorecook

If you like your vampires well mannered, well dressed, sophisticated and seductive… run in the other direction as fast as your legs will carry you.

On the other hand, if you like your vampires the old fashioned way, rude and ridiculously full of fangs and attitude, wreaking gory indiscriminate havoc on everyone in their path, Draculas is definitely the book for you.

Retired billionaire Mortimer Moorecook is dying of cancer. Convinced it has the power to somehow cure him, Mortimer purchases a hominoid skull with elongated teeth – dubbed the “Dracula Skull” by the press – which was discovered in a farmer’s field in the Romanian countryside.

Upon receipt of the skull he uses it to bite himself in the neck… and promptly goes into convulsions before being whisked off to rural, out in the sticks Blessed Crucifixion Hospital. Once there he dies on the table in the E.R. Or does he? →

October 15, 2010

Mr. Monster by Dan Wells

Being partially to blame for your own therapist’s death is a tough thing to deal with, especially because you don’t have a therapist anymore to help you through it. Sometimes irony just kicks you in the teeth like that. – John Wayne Cleaver

Yes, John Wayne Cleaver is back, dark humor intact even if his grasp on Mr. Monster is not. In his first outing, I Am Not A Serial Killer, we learned that fifteen-year-old John had been diagnosed by his therapist as a sociopath, and self-diagnosed as a (potential) serial killer.

The dark side of John’s psyche, which he calls Mr. Monster, is always just below the surface, struggling to escape while John tries desperately to keep it under wraps. That struggle became decidedly more difficult after John confronted and killed a serial killer who was stalking his town in I Am Not A Serial Killer… Mr. Monster’s now had a taste of what he wants.

As if trying to keep your homicidal impulses under control isn’t enough for a teenager to deal with, Mr. Monster finds John juggling a host of additional challenges: a mother who knows “what” John is but refuses to discuss it; an absent father; an older sister in an abusive relationship (boy does Mr. Monster want a piece of that guy); and an attempted first romance (made extremely awkward by the violent thoughts Mr. Monster has about the object of John’s attention). Oh, there are also the horribly tortured dead bodies that start turning up around town, and the FBI agent who seems a little too interested in John’s thoughts on the murders.

Mr. Monster is told from John’s point of view, as was I Am Not A Serial Killer, that first-person narrative being absolutely crucial for the reader to be privy to the war raging in John between his desire to be normal and Mr. Monster’s desire to be set free. And what a war it is. While I Am Not A Serial Killer certainly had its moments, the violence is exponentially increased in Mr. Monster. The descriptions of the damage inflicted upon the victims of the town’s new serial killer spare no detail, and the showdown depicted in the last quarter of the book between John and the killer – and between John and Mr. Monster – borders on the uncomfortable.

Rather than being gratuitous, however, author Dan Wells has developed John Wayne Cleaver with such nuance that the reader understands pulling any punches when describing the brutality John both faces and wants to commit would not be honest to the character. Wells is certainly not afraid to go places the reader may not necessarily want to, and has obviously done a tremendous amount of research into the psychology of serial killers. That John has done the same makes his level of self-awareness and struggle with Mr. Monster incredibly sympathetic… despite the fact his seriously twisted fantasies

October 12, 2010

Death Notice by Todd Ritter

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