Saturday 17 September 2011

THE QUEEN ~ Review




Murder in a small town has worldwide implications
The Queen is the latest Patrick Bowers thriller
from the author Publishers Weekly calls a “master storyteller at the peak of his game.”

It’s freezing in a small, Northern Wisconsin town when Patrick Bowers is called in to investigate a double homicide not far from his brother’s home. The local law enforcement thinks this is an open-and-shut case: a family is murdered and the missing father is their main suspect.

Once on scene, Bowers suspects there’s more to the story. For one thing, it’s only been a few hours and the Chief of Naval Operations is pressuring the FBI Director to have agents look into the case.

The high-tech conspiracy Bowers uncovers ties together long-buried Cold War secrets with present-day tensions in the Middle East and rocks one small town. The Queen (ISBN: 978-0-8007-1920-3, $14.99, 528 pages, September) by Steven James will have readers turning pages as they try to keep up with Bowers.

Praise for Steven James’s novels:

“Steven James continues to raise the bar in suspense writing. The Queen takes readers to a new level of suspense and is the best book in the Patrick Bowers series hands down!”—Suspense Magazine

“Thriller writing at its highest level.”—TitleTrakk.com

“James clearly knows how to spin a yarn.”—Booklist

“Exquisite.”—Fiction Fanatics Only

“Pulse-pounding suspense.”—FictionAddict.com

“John Sanford might have to start looking over his shoulder.”—Crimespree magazine

“Exhilarating.”—Mysterious Reviews

“Seriously intense.”—Pop Culture Tuesday

“Steven James has mastered the thriller.”—The Suspense Zone


Critically acclaimed author Steven James has written four other award-winning Patrick Bowers novels as well as many works of nonfiction. He has a master’s degree in storytelling and has taught writing and creative storytelling on three continents. He lives near the Blue Ridge Mountains of Tennessee with his wife and three daughters.
To learn more about Steve visit him at: stevenjames.net


My Review:

I have been looking forward to this next book in the Patrick Bowers series ever since I turned the last page in the Bishop (book 4). I love, love, love these books! I wondered though, would Steven James be able to pen another STELLAR novel? The answer: YES!

Steven takes us on such a ride...a ride that has many twists and turns, up and downs, and just when you think, "ok that's enough" you find yourself nearing the end, and finally, you can breathe! I like Patrick Bowers more and more with each novel! In The Queen, we see a different side of Patrick as he begins to deal with his past. I love how when Patrick does something, whether it be working on a case, being a Father, or looking at his past, he does it with all he has!

In The Queen, FBI Special Agent, Patrick Bowers is searching for a man whose wife and daughter were murdered. Did he murder them? Or Is he truly just missing? This is just the beginning and true to Patrick Bowers form, this case leads him to a conspiracy, a radical terrorist group, and a Russian Assassin. I have to say, the Cold War and the present day struggle with the Middle East hits sooo close to home! (This just makes it that much more thrilling!!) As Patrick continues to find more and more he can't help but wonder....Do all of these have something to do with his arch enemy, Richard Basque??

Patrick's "step" daughter Tessa, has her own issues to work through. She is having a hard time "forgiving herself" and can't shake the guilty feelings she experiences daily! Can Patrick help her to finally be able to have Peace and forgiveness?

The Queen, is full of suspense! If you think for one minute that you might just read a few chapters and then turns out the lights and fall asleep....think again! I have learned that if I am reading Steven James, I will most likely be losing some precious sleep! The Queen is a definite ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥'s FOR SURE!!


THANK YOU Donna Hausler and Revell Publishing for allowing me to review this complimentary book in exchange for my honest review!

If you would like to read all the books in the series, the titles are as follows:

#1- The Pawn
#2- The Rook
#3- The Knight
#4- The Bishop
#5- The Queen