Review of "The Pawn" by Steven James

The Pawn by Steven James (book 1 in the Patrick Bowers series) is nominated for a Christy Award and you can win a copy from my blog if you enter at this link before July 11.

Description: From Steven James' website:

Steve's new thriller, The Pawn, is now available! FBI Criminologist Patrick Bowers has never met a man he couldn’t catch... until now. In the remote mountains of North Carolina a killer is on the loose. His desire is dark. His motive is elusive. His knowledge--deadly.

And as Special Agent Bowers tries to untangle the clues to the bizarre slayings, he’s drawn deeper into the killer’s deadly game. It’s a bloody battle of wits. But who will win? From critically acclaimed author Steven James comes a spine-tingling thriller full of mind-bending twists and heart-pounding suspense. The first book in his new series, featuring criminologist Patrick Bowers, The Pawn will grab you by the throat and keep you on the edge of your seat until the very last page. Explore the twisted mind of the Illusionist… and uncover the fate of his pawn. The game begins now. The video trailer for The Pawn has just been posted on YouTube. Check it out, I think you'll like it! Very creepy. Here it is: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6_HlC7Kvap8

"Riveting... A gripping plot and brisk pacing will win James some fans eager for his next offering."
-- Publisher's Weekly

"I consider The Pawn the best-written thriller I've read from a Christian publisher."
-- Cecil Murphey, co-author of the New York Times bestselling book 90 Minutes in Heaven and more than 100 other books.

"In his brilliant debut novel, Steven James gives us a captivating look at the fine line between good and evil in the human heart. The Pawn is not to be missed."
-- Ann Tatlock, Christy-award winning author

My Review:

Wow!  Talk about suspense!  I could not put this one down!  I have so say though, it's not for the faint of heart, but it will sure get your heart beating!  I loved it.  I can't wait to read more from this Patrick Bower series.  The twists and turns of the story will keep you guessing and reading as fast as you can and then sad when you are done.

Patrick Bowers is an FBI agent with special skills at finding crazy killers.  His personal life has been turned upside down recently with the death of his wife and the addition of his teenage step-daughter, Tessa, who is also struggling with the loss of her mother.  So while Patrick knows how to handle criminals and crime scenes, he is at a loss for how to help Tessa.  Now a new killer is out there and he's always one step ahead of them.  And while Pat goes after this killer, "The Illusionist," he must also continue to find healing for himself and his relationship with Tessa.

I also loved that this book was about more than the action and suspense.  There were powerful moments for Pat and his struggle to come to make sense of human suffering and the cancer that took his wife and what that means in light of God.  There were powerful moments for Tessa as well, as she looks for any possible way to ease the pain in her life.  James' ability to communicate those moments and their feelings makes the characters real and touched my heart.

The twists and turns in this story are more than I can even capture in my review.  It's really one of those, "you've got to read it for yourself" kind of books.  If you like suspense, you should check out this book! 

Plus, here's a sneak look at the next book in the series, The Rook, coming July 30.

While investigating a series of baffling fires in San Diego, Special Agent Patrick Bowers is drawn into a deadly web of intrigue where nothing is as it appears to be. With a killer on the loose and one of the world’s most deadly devices missing, Bowers is caught in a race against time to stop a criminal mastermind’s trap before it closes around the people he loves.

Full of fast-paced action and intricate plotting. The Rook is an adrenaline-laced page-turner with a twist at the end that will blow you away. 

Comments

[Sybil]

Interesting to know.