The Alphabet Challenge "Q"

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 The "Q" Books


Book 1: The Night Child by Anna Quinn

I went with this one because the setting was in Seattle. :) Brown teaches high school. One afternoon, after she has dismissed her last class of the day for the Thanksgiving Holiday, she sees a disembodied face. She sees it again when she is out with her family celebrating the holiday. It's the sad face of a little girl. But who is she? And why does she make Nora feel trapped?

She meets with a neurologist and a psychiatrist. Why is she getting these flashes of a Valentine's dress? What happened in her past? As Nora digs deeper, she confronts the lost child she once was, embraces her, and learns the sordid, horrible truth she tried to bury. 

As the story progresses, a terrible secret is discovered--a secret that pushes Nora toward an even deeper psychological breakthrough. It is a story of resilience, hope, and the mind, body, and spirit's ability to save itself. It examines the impact of traumatic childhood experiences and the thin line that exists between the past and the present. 

You can run from the past, but it will always find you.

This was a well-written book with multi-layered characters. I give it four ****


Book 2:  Smoked by Patrick Quinlan

This book reads like a Quentin Tarantino movie. It is fast-paced, with lots of fighting, language, and violence. I got a little squeamish in parts. (Anything that involves animal cruelty really makes me cringe.) 

Smoke is a bomb-maker by profession. He is hiding from his employers in a small seaside city in Maine after a misunderstanding over an airplane crash and $2.5 million in cash. He is doing his best to lie low and hide from the thugs who are after him.  Unfortunately, Denny Cruz, a high-paid assassin, is on his way from New York to collect Smoke and bring him in.

Smoke's girlfriend, Lola, is unaware of his past. She is sexy, tough, and street-smart. She is also a martial arts expert and has a tattoo on her shoulder that reads, 'Girls Kick Ass.' When Cruz decides to use Lola to get to Smoke, he has no idea what he is up against.

Smoke and Lola, and anyone unlucky enough to come in contact with them, are all caught in a drama of abduction, car chases, and violence. There are twists, turns, and explosions. It is non-stop action. I expect to see it made into a movie someday. The characters are that good.

I give it 4.5 stars.















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