Boo by Rene Gutteridge
Boo takes place in Skary, Indiana, which has built itself up as a local tourist spot based on its name and it’s resident horror author—Wolfe “Boo” Boone. Ainsley Parker, the daughter of the local police chief, finds all of his extremely annoying. She can’t even order normal food at the local diner, which has revamped its menu to include “bloody fingers” and “queasy quesadillas”. Then Boone has a sudden conversion that means the end of his horror writing career, which puts the town is in an upheaval and causes Ainsley to feel confused about how she feels about Boone.
My thoughts: OK, this story seems somewhat hokey in places, but it is a story to be read just for the fun of it. Particularly when characters like the meddling town mayor are so over the top that reality is stretched to the breaking point. This story did have some scenes that made me think though, such as when the pastor shut down church one Sunday, simply leaving a note saying “Go and do what I taught you to do.” What would you do if you were confronted with such a situation? In a season where spooky books are highly sought after, I would suggest Boo as a fun, non-scary but rather up-lifting alternative.
Speaking of books that made me think, another recent read entitled The Hidden by Kathryn Mackel made me do just that. In it a family health crisis brings doctor Susan Stone back home to the ranch that she hasn't visited in years. Family tensions run high, but the discovery of a badly burned body is even more alarming. And then Susan stumbles across a young man chained in a deep crevasse after taking a tumble while horseback riding. The young man seems to be suffering from amnesia and abuse, but as events unfold the mystery of who--or what--he really is builds, especially as violent and eerie occurrences multiply.
My thoughts: The mystery of this book centers on the chained man Susan finds—is he man, demon, or angel? Who or what is behind the murders and attacks going on in the area? This supernatural thriller had me pondering the nature of angels and demons, and whether Mackel’s interpretation of such entities was accurate or not. All of this is laid within the framework of a tightly woven suspense story which kept me up late reading right until the end.
And now for something completely different…my next read, Savannah from Savannah by Denise Hildreth. Savannah is from Savannah, Georgia (hence the title) where her mother is the head of the tourism board. Savannah has recently graduated from college and is determined to make her way based on her own merits, not based on the influence of her mother. She lands a job working as a columnist at the local paper and becomes involved in an investigation involving the local beauty pageants. There is some sort of scandal behind them that Savannah is determined to uncover—but she finds out that uncovering the truth can lead to a whole world of hurt.
My thoughts: This light, breezy read is one that you don’t have to think about much, the reader can just sit back and enjoy Savannah’s antics as she overreacts to everything. The portrayal of Savannah’s warm loving family was memorable, though at times they seemed too good to be true—particularly her doting father. Savannah’s quirky ways and the southern charm of the setting make this story a fun way to enjoy an afternoon, while absorbing a subtle lesson about the power of our words to hurt or to heal.
When I picked up Jonathan Santlofer's book Anatomy of Fear, I could immediately see that it is different from your average thriller. As you open it your eye is drawn to the drawings that the author has interspersed throughout the story. As I read the book I realized that these drawings were integral to my understanding of the plot, as the book's main character Nate Rodriguez is a police sketch artist and his drawing ability becomes the key to solving a serial murder case. He is called into the case because the killer leaves a drawing he has done of the victim pinned to their bodies. Details of these drawings offer clues to the killer's identity, but Nate's uncanny ability to recreate a killer's face from just the scantiest of clues is what really moves the investigation along. The thrill of following along as he tries to catch the killer before more harm is done is blended with a gradual revelation about Nate's own back story and a mystery surrounding the death of his father. I got thoroughly hooked into this story almost immediately, and the ending left me wanting for more so I certainly hope that a sequel appears soon. Anyone who enjoys thrillers and/or who likes graphic novels or novels with a strong visual element should definately pick this one up. 
