The Raven by Mike Nappa | Re:View

Nothing beats a sarcastic character. Really. Maybe I'm partial or maybe it's just Mike Nappa's writing style in regards to The Raven (the character, not the book in this case), but I love what he did in this second Coffee & Hill mystery/suspense series. 

I had a vague memory of reading the first part of this book at the end of Annabell Lee (book 1 in this series) and was excited to start this book. If life hadn't gotten in the way I think I would have finished it more quickly, but as it was, I finally turned to the end last night and found myself excited book 3 already!

I found The Raven's character by far my absolute favorite. Yes, the snark (as mentioned above) was a big factor but I think there was something honest and real about him that jumped off the page to me. He was almost supernaturally calm as a character (to me at least) but it didn't feel fake. It was more "this is how he really feels". As the book progresses we begin to see a lot more of his backstory but I'll just leave it at the fact that I really enjoyed his character.

Ah, *sigh*, things I want to say about Trudi and Sam. But they are things I won't say for fear of spoiling anything. What I will say is I'm liking the progression of the books and hoping that what I'm hoping happens isn't just hoping, but reality. (Yes, much hope). I enjoy their character's though and I will give a shout out to Mike (and/or his editor too) for his portrayal of Trudi's female mind. There were times when I found myself nodding and thinking - yes! as a woman, I have felt/thought this exact way. I'm impressed by his intuition with regards to the immensely complex feminine mind.

From Instagram: @createexploreread

Lastly, let's talk (and not talk) about the plot. It was well done, mostly fast-paced, and intriguing. Mike uses a very interesting technique where some chapters (all divided into POV's based on character) are backtracking after other chapters. I have mixed feelings on this. It created an interesting reality where you left off at one spot and then read from before that spot to "catch up" to present time. It also meant a lot of "this happened then this did etc." because a lot of it was in retrospect. It was well written and has a certain element of style to it as much as it aided in creating suspense in the story BUT it also took some suspense out because you already knew what was happening and then just got to see it from a different POV. Are you confused yet? Yeah...

All in all, I really enjoyed this book--more than Annabell Lee actually--and am confident in recommending it. I would call it more mystery than suspense/thriller though there are elements of action to it. I think the covers of this series make them seem darker than they are (not that I don't like the covers because I definitely do). So you don't have to feel the kind of "creepy tension" you do with other, more suspenseful books. There are moments of it, but it's milder (in my opinion).

My Rating: 4*
Purchase: The Raven 

Book Description
(from Amazon)

"A thrill ride into the stark territory between grace and the letter of the law."--Tosca Lee, New York Times bestselling author

As part of his regular street performance, a deception specialist who goes by the name The Raven picks his audience's pockets while they watch. It's harmless fun--until he decides to keep the spare wallet a city councilman doesn't seem to miss, hoping for a few extra bucks. When he finds not money but compromising photos of the councilman and his "personal assistants," The Raven hatches a plan to blackmail the man. However, he quickly finds himself in over his head with the Ukrainian Mafia and mired in a life-threatening plot code-named, "Nevermore."

Private investigators Trudi Coffey and Samuel Hill must scramble to sort out the clues--and their complicated feelings for each other--to rescue The Raven and save hundreds of lives from a wildcard bent on revenge.

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I received this book for free but was under no obligation to post a review. I do so under my own motivation and the opinions I have expressed in this review are honest and entirely my own.

Annabel Lee by Mike Nappa | RE:View

Annabell Lee is a mysterious adventure that stretches beyond categories to produce an intriguing read.

From the cover you get the feeling that this book is going to be creepy. I personally found it wasn't nearly as frightening as I thought it would be, but I did find it intriguing.

Annabell Lee has a flavor all its own. It reminded me of an amalgam of Ted Dekker, James Bond, Magnum P.I., and post military themes. I know, not the best description but it was definitely in a category all its own. I wanted there to be more suspenseful action, and yet there was definitely a high death-toll toward the end that was quite shocking but not necessarily in a bad "socking" way. That may sound bad, but I'm not opposed to some violence as long as it's not completely unnecessary. I suppose it's in the way that Mike writes that defines the book. It's descriptive but doesn't have as much tension in the writing as you'd expect. 

The characters were intriguing as well. In my mind they weren't your "run of the mill" main characters. You had Annabel who was only eleven but wise beyond her years, a protective German Shepperd (I include him in the characters because...why not?), The Mute (yep, just like it sounds), and then Trudi Coffey and Samuel Hill. Talk about some interesting dynamics, especially between Trudi and Samuel. I see some interesting development possible with them - but I'll leave out the rest of my comments so as not to spoil anything.

I think, overall, I would say that Mike has something good going on here. Read the letter at the back of the book and you'll get a very interesting story indeed, but I can see people loving this book and people hating it. It's not traditional or typical and I think that's okay.

I would recommend this to fans of suspense and/or romantic suspense with a disclaimer that it's not your average suspense/romantic suspense book, so don't expect it to be. As I try to do, read with an open mind and you might just find something you love in Mike Nappa's writing.

My Rating: 4*
Purchase: Annabel Lee (A Coffee & Hill Novel)

Book Description
(from Amazon)

Fourteen miles east of Peachtree, Alabama, a secret is hidden. That secret's name is Annabel Lee Truckson, and even she doesn't know why her mysterious uncle has stowed her deep underground in a military-style bunker. He's left her with a few German words, a barely-controlled guard dog, and a single command: "Don't open that door for anybody, you got it? Not even me."

Above ground, a former Army sniper called The Mute and an enigmatic "Dr. Smith" know about the girl. As the race begins to find her, the tension builds. Who wants to set her free? Why does the other want to keep her captive forever? Who will reach her first?

Private investigators Trudi Coffey and Samuel Hill need to piece together the clues and stay alive long enough to retrieve the girl--before it's too late.

With its stunning writing and relentless pace, Annabel Lee will captivate readers from the first page. 

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I received a free copy of this book for review purposes, but was under no obligation to read the book or post a review. I do so under my own motivation and the opinions I have expressed in this review are honest and entirely my own.