The Lesser of Two Evils by Zoe Whitten

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Paperback: 978-1-4092-4121-8, $11.95
E-Book: 978-0-9820427-1-7, $4.95 e-book

The Lesser of Two Evils is a perfect example of why readers shouldn’t dismiss every book with a self-published label.

Davis Briggs, sheriff of the small Texas town of Devine has a hell of a mess on his hands when children start showing up dead and a drifter and a thirteen year old psychic seem to be the only ones who can help. Jobe, not the typical hero, comes to Devine via possibly divine intervention (haha, get it?), not just because he’s laying low from his last botched bombing which killed more than just the cop it was intended for. Meanwhile, Wendy, thirteen and already having faced more reality than most people do in their lives, is trying to keep her brother alive, and be the parent while her actual parents are out of town on a job. She’s the first to sense a supernatural doom descend on the town and has to convince Davis to trust her instincts before more lives are lost. And when things start to get real bad she and Jobe must team up to take down the killer.

The Lesser of Two Evils is a well paced serial killer story with strong, unique characters. It combines science and fantasy in explaining the paranormal aspects of the plot. The antiheroes rule the show, sharing their own twisted pasts, morals and going through an emotional shift to become something else. While much of the book isn’t graphic there are spectacular murders and an unrelenting, unstoppable killer than keeps the readers swept away for all 363 pages.

An example of “the cream that rises to the top” of the self publishing world, The Lesser of Two Evils is definitely on the Buy list.

2009 Edgar Nominations

Have been released by The Mystery Writers of America and can be seen here.

Bunnicula by James and Deborah Howe

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Bunnicula is a classic scary story for kids. When the Monroe family finds a strange bunny in a theater showing Dracula, their cat, Chester, and dog, Harold, decide to investigate the aptly named Bunnicula. As if the bunny’s strange markings and creepy red eyes weren’t enough, weird things start happening around him…

Full Review at MonsterLibrarian.

Free Fiction: Charlie Huston

Charlie Huston’s first series is being given away as free pdf downloads, one book per month (3 books) plus there’s a chance to win hard copies of the books as well. The blurb for the first book, Caught Stealing, is below and details on this give away are here.

Having fled California for New York City after an injury cut short his promising baseball career, Hank Thompson settles into an aimless life as an alcoholic bartender. Still, Hank prides himself on making Manhattan a bit more hospitable by helping his friends, so how can he refuse when a neighbor asks him to cat-sit?

One lost kidney later, Hank realizes that an Elmore Leonardesque collection of Russian mobsters, short-fused cons, and renegade cops will snuff out all 10 lives he and the cat share between them if that’s what it takes to find the not-so-good neighbor. His dull wits sharpened by pain and fear, Hank must keep one bum foot out of the grave long enough to figure out what the bad guys are looking for–and how to give it up safely.

With a mania familiar to baseball die-hards, Hank keeps an eye on the playoff-contending San Francisco Giants even as he makes several potentially game-ending errors of his own.

This polished debut promises a bright future for Huston and definitely belongs on every Elmore Leonard fan’s to-read list. One note of caution: Lovers of mystery-solving felines should place paws over eyes during the hair-raising cat torture scene.“ – Booklist *Starred Review