The Alphabet Book Challenge "Z"

 The Z Books

We have made it! The final two books in the challenge! I will tell you, I honestly didn't think there would be much of a choice with the letter Z. I found two books written by authors I will most definitely read.

Book 1: "Eye of Cat" by Roger Zelazny

I don't read a lot of science fiction, but this one intrigued me when I picked it up. 

William Blackhorse Singer is the last Navajo on a future earth. He is a tracker and hunter of alien species, hired to protect an alien diplomat. To succeed, he must enlist the help of a dangerous, telepathic shapeshifter he previously tracked and captured. One of Singer's secrets, and his greatest guilt, is his suspicion that Cat is an intelligent life form. The creature, known as "Cat," agrees to assist Singer on one condition: when the deed is done, Cat can hunt Singer down and kill him.

The God's powers and monsters of Navajo legend provide the backdrop for the Singer's fate. The chase is as much for his body as his soul.  Singer must come to terms with a world that has adopted him, used his skills, and left him feeling there is no place to call his own.

Oh my gosh! Loved it. I had to skim over a couple of the really sci-fi parts, as trying to figure them out took me out of the story. Didn't want that. Very well written. An incredible character fighting an emotional. personal, battle.

Five stars. I will read this author again.

Book 2: "Bad Thoughts" by Dave Zeltserman

If you are looking for a gritty mystery that keeps you turning the page, trying to figure out what is going on, read this book! Wow!

When Detective Bill Shannon was a young teenager, he came home and found his Mom being murdered. The killer tortures him until Bill turns the tables and kills him.

Years later, Bill Shannon is a detective in Cambridge. He experiences blackouts and nightmares around the yearly anniversary of his mother's violent death. He remembers nothing during these times. Weeks are erased. Where does he go? What is he doing? When women start to show up murdered in a similar fashion to what happened to his mother, Bill starts to question his sanity and wonder if the killer survived. The police chief, the FBI, Bill's therapist, and his partner all start to wonder the same thing. What is going on? Then there is the horrible, nasty smell they all remember. 

Everything seems to be pointing to one of two possibilities: Shannon has gone insane, or his mother's killer is back to his old tricks. Except if it's his mom's killer, he's returned from the grave.

This was a mind-bending psychological mystery. Very well written. I couldn't put it down. 

If you love a good who-dun-it and can put up with a twist of gore, pick this up. I will definitely read more of the author's work.

Five plus stars.