Quercus Archives - Cemetery Dance Online

Review: Cut You Down by Sam Wiebe

Cemetery Dance OnlineJune 13, 2018June 11, 2018ReviewsCut You Down, Dave Simms, Quercus, Reviews, Sam WiebeLeave a comment

Cut You Down by Sam Wiebe
Quercus (February 2018)
288 pages; $15.91 hardcover; $9.99 e-book
Reviewed by Dave Simms

Noir fiction can be a mixed bag in today’s market. Many of the writers seem content to channel Raymond Chandler and roll through a murder-by-numbers plot with the most clichéd characters. Thankfully, a few breathe new life into the mix. Sam Wiebe is one of them. Last year’s The Invisible Dead introduced private investigator Dave Wakeland in the underused but vibrant setting of Vancouver. Coupled with the PI’s journeys into northern Washington State, the book feels fresh and avoids the pseudo-early twentieth century language and tropes.Continue Reading

Review: Skyjack by K.J. Howe

Cemetery Dance OnlineApril 2, 2018ReviewsDave Simms, K.J. Howe, Quercus, Reviews, SkyjackLeave a comment

Skyjack by K.J. Howe
Quercus (April 10, 2018)
400 pages; $26.99 hardcover; $12.99 e-book
Reviewed by Dave Simms

Last year’s surprise thriller by K.J. Howe, The Freedom Broker, hit the field hard, introducing both a razor sharp writer and a series featuring Thea Paris, a character tough enough to stand toe-to-toe with Reacher and Repairman Jack. The kidnap and rescue team delves into dark territories that combine the thriller aspects with a character development rarely found in the genre.Continue Reading

Review: ‘3 Minutes’ by Anders Roslund and Borge Hellström

Cemetery Dance OnlineAugust 21, 2017August 20, 2017Reviews3 MInutes, Anders Roslund, Borge Hellstrom, Dave Simms, Quercus, ReviewsLeave a comment

3 Minutes by Anders Roslund and Borge Hellström
Quercus (July 2017)
432 pages; $18.35 hardback; $12.99 e-book
Reviewed by Dave Simms

Now for something quite different: a Nordic thriller set in South America. While several Scandinavian authors continue to invade the bookshelves of American readers, almost all of them are set in those countries, which isn’t a bad thing. Unknown settings make for exciting reads. Anders Roslund and Borge Hellström have exploded onto the scene, most recently with 3 Seconds, and here, with the sequel, 3 Minutes. Continue Reading

Review: ‘Marathon’ by Brian Freeman

Cemetery Dance OnlineJuly 5, 2017July 5, 2017ReviewsBrian Freeman, Dave Simms, Jonathan Stride, Marathon, Quercus, ReviewsLeave a comment

Marathon by Brian Freeman
Quercus (May 2017)
408 pages; $19.16 hardback; $12.99 e-book
Reviewed by Dave Simms

This book will undoubtedly hit several nerves for fans of well-written, tight, timely thrillers. Brian Freeman (Editor’s Note: Not to be confused with Cemetery Dance staffer and author Brian James Freeman) has cemented himself as a strong contender for being one of the top writers in the genre today. Marathon is a firecracker which doesn’t exploit the headlines as much as blows them apart and delves into the topics which really matter—all within a story that never lets up. It does, however, let the novel breathe.Continue Reading

Review: ‘The Tunnel’ by Carl-Johan Vallgren

Cemetery Dance OnlineJune 28, 2017June 23, 2017ReviewsCarl-Johan Vallgren, Dave Simms, Quercus, Reviews, The TunnelLeave a comment

The Tunnel by Carl-Johan Vallgren
Quercus (June 2017)
336 pages; $18.35 hardback; $12.99 e-book
Reviewed by Dave Simms

For those who haven’t read any thrillers set in Scandinavian countries, please start here. This is pure horror even before the story kicks into gear. The setting contains more darkness found in most contemporary American or British horror and brings to mind the beautiful terror of The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo series, but it has its own personality, one which will make many readers a fan of the genre. Continue Reading

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