Manderley Resort is like nothing else. Rising from the California coast like a giant’s tooth, it is destined to be an opulent getaway for the super-rich. It is beautiful almost to a fault (who ever heard of white carpet in a hotel?), right down to the last rose in the hedge maze. It also takes security to new heights, with owner and developer Charles Destin, Jr. calling it “the most secure hotel ever built.” With the grand opening gala just weeks away, security is the last thing on type-A manager Tessa’s mind. Her to-do list is a mile long, her boss is a perfectionist, and she is much more concerned with things like getting the phones working, having the maid get that little blood spot out of the carpet, and finding time to deal with the mysterious man from her past who has just shown up out of the blue. What Tessa doesn’t realize is that her staff is being slaughtered one by one by a pair of masked killers. But why are they targeting the hotel staff? What do they want? Can Tessa make it out alive?
The reader gets a security camera view of the action because after all, at Manderley, someone is always watching. This inventive, darkly funny novel has plenty of self-aware nods to the slasher movie genre throughout and is sure to delight movie buffs and horror readers alike.
Randall Munroe is the author and artist behind the wildly popular physics-themed stick-figure webcomic xkcd. Because of the scientific tilt of his comics, he fields a lot of questions from fans, especially questions that start with "What if--?" This book answers some of the funniest, weirdest, and most popular questions he's gotten over the years.
If you've ever wondered how fast you could hit a speed bump and survive, or what would happen if you switched off the sun, or if you could dissipate a hurricane using nuclear weapons, or even how many giraffes high a person could throw a baseball, then this book will answer all your questions and more. Munroe is beyond hilarious, and his little illustrations (and rejected questions) make the whole book that much more entertaining. The explanations are all scientifically accurate, but more importantly, they're laugh-out-loud funny. For the true nerds out there, or any lovers of humor and science, this is a book to check out ASAP.
It’s just another night for Batman, leaping across Gotham rooftops, rescuing a hostage from Killer Croc, when someone intercepts the ransom money and cuts the line to his grappling hook, leaving him for dead in Crime Alley. In trying to uncover the culprit, he finds himself tangled in a web with all his greatest enemies: Poison Ivy, Clayface, Joker, Riddler, Scarecrow, Ra’s al Ghul, and others. They all talk as though it’s a game, but innocent lives are on the line, including some of Bruce Wayne's oldest friends. Working closely (very closely, hint hint) with Catwoman, the Dark Knight fights to uncover who is at the root of this tangle of crimes, mind control, disguise, and deception.
This is a great Batman comic for new readers and old fans alike. It has cameos from almost every Batman enemy and ally you could think of, along with plenty of little explanations of the continuity (Like what happened to the original Robin, or why Barbara Gordon is Oracle). There’s action on nearly every page, and you get to see Batman in his detective mode as well as his “punching Joker in the face” mode. If you like the Batman shows and movies, especially the darker, grittier Batman, Hush is a great introduction to his comic book incarnation. If you like your Batman even darker, try The Killing Joke as well. For a lighter read, try Batman Adventures.
It’s been 25 years since the world was rocked by the “Haden’s Syndrome” pandemic. About 1% of those infected became permanently “locked in,” completely paralyzed but fully aware. This new "Haden" demographic spurred a technological boom, and many now walk around with their consciousness embedded in robotic “threeps” (think C-3PO). Chris Shane, the only child of a famous and obscenely wealthy family, grew up as a poster child for Hadens. Now an adult, unwilling to sit back and leech off the family fortune, Chris joins the FBI and is partnered with the secretive and acerbic Van. Chris's very first week on the job involves investigating a string of murders, corporate espionage, body hijacking, Haden civil rights riots, and a scheme that could change the lives of all Hadens forever.
This is a delightful mix of sci-fi and mystery, as Chris navigates a world where people can disguise themselves in robotic bodies or those of human “integrators.” It’s a fun story with great worldbuilding, enjoyable characters, and plenty of action, but it also has a special, subtle gimmick: Chris’s gender is never stated or even implied. You can read the whole book without actually noticing, but it definitely adds a unique layer to the story. To facilitate the illusion, two different audiobooks were recorded, one with a male narrator (Wil Wheaton), and one female (Amber Benson). This is a definite must-read for fans of Ready Player One and other near-future sci-fi.
Lord Courtenay never expected to move back to England, but he made the sacrifice to be close to his nephew, Simon. Now Simon’s father refuses to allow him to see his uncle, owing to Courtenay’s reputation as a dissipated rake. Courtenay is desperate to change his image, even if it means spending time with Julian Medlock, a bland, uptight man but one who commands high society’s respect. Julian is resentful of his infatuation with Courtenay and assumes Courtenay deserves his bad name for scandalous behavior. Nevertheless, as a favor to his sister, Julian agrees to try to reverse Courtenay’s legendary infamy. Slowly, Julian discerns Courtenay is not the reprobate he imagines, while Courtenay discovers Julian’s dull façade hides a clever and passionate man. The charm, vulnerabilities, and hidden depths of Courtenay and Julian are infectious, and the chemistry between the two is both tender and steamy hot.
Sebastian (The Lawrence Browne Affair) might use the well-worn opposites-attract trope to get her lovers together, but her mastery of conflict, tension, and timing along with flawless characterization and sexual attraction turn The Ruin of a Rake into a unique and entrancing romance that touches the heart deeper than most.
This review was originally published in Library Journal Xpress Reviews: E-Originals, July 7, 2017.
