R.I.P. Challenge Update

I finished Greely's Cove over a week ago and I finished Shadow Man night before last. It's amazing how much reading you can get done when you don't watch as much TV. Or get as much sleep.

Greely's Cove was really good. It started out very similar to Salem's Lot. Creepy, old guy moves to town. People start disappearing but reappearing to loved ones in the night. Creepy, old guy is controlling some of the weaker minds in town. A few people band together to save the day. It was really quite good in it's own right, however - very chilling and scary. And no vampires. Very makes-you-check-under-the-bed scary.

It made me realize that, while I read tons of scary books, it's actually been a few years since I read one that involved scary from the netherworlds kind of stuff. I realized that lately all the scary I've been reading is more thriller/suspense involving human monsters (serial killers). After reading Greely's Cove, I realized I'm going to have to start delving back into the shelf it came off in my bookcase. The shelf with all the not-of-this-world scary stuff.

Shadow Man was a return to the serial killer. It was also very good. Another testament to the speed with which I've read the past three books - if it's excellent, it makes me want to read straight through. This particular book has "Advanced Copy - Not For Resale" both printed on the front of the book and stamped all along the edges of the pages. Clearly someone couldn't read as I bought it resold at the used book store. (Several someone's if you count the store clerks and me). As an advanced copy, there were quite a few typos. Normally, typos in books drive me nuts as it takes me out of the story because I notice these things. But with an Advanced Copy - Not For Resale, I was expecting them and it didn't effect me as much. The main thing I couldn't get past (and this is, admittedly, unbelievably stupid that it should bother me) was that the main character was 4'10" and one of her co-workers was a "big, mountain of a man". Several times throughout the story, she'd console/comfort/lightly restrain him by "putting her hands on his shoulders". If he's over 6' and she's 4'10", she'd need to be standing on a chair to put her hands anywhere near his shoulders.

Other then my own anal retentive issues, the story line was excellent with quite a few interesting twists along the way. It's very graphically gruesome here and there, so keep that in mind if you plan on putting this one on your reading list. It's got great characters who actually cry and get physically ill when things effect them. I read a lot of stories about serial killers and the law enforcement people are always so stoic - sure they get angry but none of them ever really breaks down no matter what they see. I just don't see it being that way in real life. This story, they seem more human and humane in their reactions. Not that everyone is blubbering all the time either. The author creates a nice balance of their reactions and their ability to continue to do their jobs. Very well done.

On to Devil in the White City, Ruth!