Book Review – The City of Screams by James Rollins and Rebecca Cantrell

The City of Screams

By James Rollins and Rebecca Cantrell

HarperCollins

Available now

In recent years, author James Rollins has sold thousands of books in his best-selling Sigma Force series. Rollins has written other standalone novels, but his most popular works continue to be the adventures of Painter Crowe and his teammates. Now, Rollins is teaming up with mystery writer Rebecca Cantrell to launch a new series with this short story. If this first taste is any indication, the new series could be as popular as Sigma Force.

This e-only novella introduces Sgt. Jordan Stone, a team leader for JEFF (Joint Expedition Forensic Facility), a CSI-esque group of investigators in Afghanistan. The team is called to investigate the massacre of a team of archaeologists in the titular “City of Screams,” Shahr-e-Gholghol. Upon arriving, the team discovers a lone survivor — a 10-year-old girl — and a terrifying mystery. In the 13th century, the conqueror Genghis Khan slaughtered more than 100,000 people at the site, and some believe the ghosts of that massacre still haunt the location today. Rollins and Cantrell play off this piece of history as well as some others in building a suspenseful story that ends far too quickly.

I knew it was a novella or short story going in, but I was still disappointed with just how short it was and just how quickly the story ended. I wanted to know more.

I am a huge Rollins fan and this book did nothing to change that opinion. From the little taste we get here, I like the new character of Sgt. Jordan Stone and am excited to see what the full-length novel holds. This short story did just what it was intended to do — introduce the new character and whet our appetite for what is to come.

In January, the first book in the new series will be released. Look for “The Blood Gospel,” the first book in the Order of the Sanguines series on Jan. 8, 2013.

On a scale of 1 to 5, I give “The City of Screams” a 4.5

Book Review – 11/22/63 by Stephen King

11/22/63

By Stephen King

Scribner

In Stores Now

I like a lot of different kinds of books and have many different interests. So it’s no surprise that my “To Be Read” pile is much taller than my nearly 6-foot-frame. However, very few books contain as many of my top interests as Stephen King’s latest book released at the end of 2011, “11/22/63.” I love Stephen King books. I have been extremely interested in the assassination of John F. Kennedy since I was a teenager. And I love time travel stories. This book combines all three, so I had high hopes going into my reading of “11/22/63.” I was not disappointed.

If you are only a fan of King’s horror novels, you might be sad to know this book does not fit in that genre at all. This one is more science fiction, with a healthy dose of historical fiction and alternative history. However, even if you have never read any of King’s non-horror titles, you must give “11/22/63” a try.

Book Review – Soul Gate by James Rubart

Soul Gate

By James Rubart

Thomas Nelson

In Stores Nov. 6

For many years now, James Rubart’s books have been on my “To Read” list, but I have never gotten around to reading any of his previous three books: “Rooms,” “Book of Days,” or “The Chair.” I knew he wrote speculative fiction in the same vein two of my favorites (Ted Dekker and Frank Peretti) but just never had started reading any of his books, although they all line my shelves. Finally, with Rubart’s latest book, the author has made the jump from my “To Read” list to my “Must Read” list.

If you’ve ever read Peretti’s “This Present Darkness,” “Soul Gate” is the 21st century counterpart to that classic novel of spiritual warfare. If you are fan of Peretti’s speculative fiction or some of Dekker’s work, you will love “Soul Gate.”