THE INSTITUTE By Stephen King Review

Widely regarded as the king of horror and one of the best storytellers of multiple generations, Stephen King has amassed a library worth of material over the years. It's this immense work rate that can result in readers falling behind on his work, with it being easy to become oblivious to the release of a new book. Additionally it's also extremely easy to fall behind due to the vast amount of produce the author publishes, with it being hard to keep up at times. It's the latter of these that proved the case with The Institute, having only recently gotten around to finishing it despite being on my bookshelf since its initial release in 2019.

Awoken in the middle of the night to the sounds of his partner murder, Luke Ellis is quickly abducted and loaded into the back of a black SUV, being whisked off to the titular Institute. Once he comes to, Luke finds himself in a room that looks exactly like his own, with the only difference being there's no windows. As he gets accustomed to his new surroundings our brilliant young protagonist quickly discovers that his “special” talents are more than just coincidental occurrences, being one of many talented children subjected to various tests.

Before we get to all this, the book introduces us to its secondary protagonist, Tim Jamieson, a disgraced cop who leaves his job in Florida following a freak accident. Deciding to leave his previous life behind, Tim finds himself in the small town of DuPray, South Carolina taking on the post of Night Knocker. The decision to break readers into its plot through this secondary narrative proves an interesting one, with Tim's unfortunate circumstances setting the tone for this book's overarching themes. Not only does it allow the intense abduction of Luke to become even more shocking, but it also puts into motion events that won't become prominent until late on in the story’s narrative.

One thing that Stephen King is a master of is creating intriguing concepts, with the way he intertwines supernatural elements into the real world being truly special. This is no different with The Institute, with the telepathic and telekinetic abilities of these children captivating at every possible moment. This intensifies as we progress through the story, with the development and self awareness of these gifts resulting in pivotal twists to the narrative. King handles each moment with the utmost grace and finesse, with the characteristics of these talented youngsters being infectious to say the least.

Talking of our band of supernatural adolescents, King always seems to be in his element when focusing on how children react to the unexpected. Whether it's the first half of It or the incredible short story The Body, the author has always found a way of making his young protagonist mature enough to feel credible. This is no different in The Institute, with King conveying the way they adapt to their powers perfectly. Luke in particular proves to be a fascinating character, as despite never coming across as the bravest or strongest amongst the Institute's test subjects, he adapts to his surroundings at an alarming rate, using his intelligence in a way that makes him more valuable than he initially appears.

The antagonists of this story are the Institute staff themselves, with there being various levels of corruption within their ranks. Feeling like a mental health hospital crossed with a concentration camp, this sick and twisted facility reeks of everything that makes King novels so enticing. From its sinister aura to its regimental routines, this Institute more than delivers when it comes to the fear factor. As for the staff members themselves, they prove a mixed bag, as despite most of them being evil and vindictive, with the higher ups being methodical in their decisions, there are a couple of kind souls amongst their ranks, showing a level of humanity.

The only major gripe I had with this book was its pacing. Despite being full of gripping twists and turns there are several points where the plot feels a little stretched out. This is quite surprising from King, as despite being known for lengthy masterpieces like The Stand, the author usually has an impeccable understanding of plot development, with his compact short stories being a prime example of this. Things do, however, pick up as we move closer to the book's conclusion, with the way King conveys action feeling both dynamic and explosive.

Verdict

The Institute is a gripping coming of age tale that intertwines supernatural elements into the real world in a way that captivates from start to finish. Despite at times feeling a little stretched out, Stephen King once again proves why he's a master storyteller, with the way he develops our young prodigies and builds tension being truly mesmerising. Throw in exciting action sequences and a gripping conclusion, and you're left with a story that's begging to be revisited.

7/10

THE DEATH WATCHER By Chris Carter Review

The Death Watcher is the latest entry in Chris Carter's Robert Hunter series, being book number thirteen. Where this might prove unlucky for some, the author looks to at least contain any ill fate to the characters within his tale, attempting to give readers an intense thriller that is full of mystery. This along with a crimson cover that sports a rorschach like design and the tagline “First he takes you. Then he breaks you,” makes for a potentially enticing read.

Whilst performing a routine autopsy on an apparent hit-and-run victim, LA Chief Medical Examiner, Dr. Carolyn Hove uncovers various inconsistencies in the body. Calling on the aid of Detective Robert Hunter from the LAPD Ultra Violent Crimes Unit, Dr. Hove discovers that not only was there never a hit-and-run, but that the victim was severely tortured prior to death. What neither realises though, is that they've only just scratched the surface, with Hunter and his partner, Carlos Garcia, now on the hunt for a serial killer that no one knew even existed.

What instantly appeals about this book is its accessibility. Whether you've been invested in the series since day one or jumping into it for the first time, Chris Carter crafts a tale that is easy to pick up and understand. He achieves this primarily through the way he introduces us to the various characters, with the subtle descriptions giving new readers a vivid picture, whilst not feeling oversaturated for long term readers. The writer also avoids delving into prior work, with the absence of references allowing the narrative to stand out on its own and feel self contained.

Being my personal introduction to the series, I had high expectations for its protagonist, Robert Hunter. What we get is a much more sombre character than is typical from these kinds of stories, lacking in personality and proving rather unimposing. What he lacks in those departments, he more than makes up for elsewhere, with his experience, intelligence and overall organised demeanour shining throughout. Where this works best is alongside his partner, Garcia, with the chemistry between the two detectives not only highlighting their tenure as colleagues, but their close friendship. The bold, gung-ho attitude of Garcia also bounces off Hunter’s calm mannerisms, with the latter more often than not providing the voice of reason.

Another aspect of Carter's writing that makes him stand out next to his contemporaries is his lack of over-dramatisation. Now that isn't to say that this narrative isn't dramatic, more so that it doesn't do so in a way that's detrimental to the plot or that feels over the top. In doing so the writer gives us a product that flows smoothly and feels realistic, having an American detective show vibe to it. This is most noticeable in the dialogue, with Carter's word choice allowing each sequence to have its own unique dynamic. Whether it's the banter between our seasoned detectives or the sophisticated way in which our forensics examiners break down their findings, the writer manages to craft engaging interactions, allowing for tremendous depth.

Having a background in criminal psychological, Chris Carter seems to find it eerilly simple to create the perfect killer. Being quite possibly the most fascinating aspect of this tale, the author fashions a complex character that shows no mercy to his victims, being terrifyingly intelligent and meticulous. As is the case with any character, be it protagonist or antagonists, it is their background and overall development that makes them entice. This is no different with our story's killer, with the writer expertly delving into his past little by little to divulge what brought him to this point. What's most disturbing about all this is the horrific detail in which Carter describes his actions, with the psychotic mannerisms making the killer all the more frightening.

The only major gripe I had with this book, especially as it marched towards its conclusion, was its pacing. Despite being a gripping read for the most part, there are several points where it feels just a little draw out. This is most perceivable in the final third, with our detectives’ investigation lasting longer than it probably should. This unfortunately results in some of the more critical twists becoming slightly predictable, with it being likely that readers will uncover certain aspects of our killer before Hunter or Garcia do. Nevertheless, this doesn't prevent the story from culminating in dramatic fashion, with Carter delivering an intense conclusion to this suspenseful thriller.

Verdict 

The Death Watcher is a chilling tale that, for the most part, will leave readers clinging to every page. Utilising his criminal psychology background to its finest, Chris Carter fashions a killer that’s not only sinister, but bone-chillingly meticulous. The disturbing way in which the writer describes our antagonist's actions, along with intelligent detective work results in a thrilling narrative that, despite its flaws, pushes Robert Hunter to his limits.

7.5/10

THE BOOK CLUB By C.J. Cooper Review

"Everyone is hiding a secret. One of them is murder." These are the words emblazoned on the front cover of The Book Club by C. J. Cooper, all in an attempt to entice potential readers. Instantly this gives promise of an intriguing mystery, uncovering what the members of this unfortunate book club are hiding from one another.

Set in a small Cotswold village, the story centres around Lucy, a young woman who has moved from London following an affair with her boss. Having made new friends, and settled into village life, things look to be getting better for Lucy. That is until the arrival of the villages latest resident, Alice, and the formation of the titular "book club." What follows is a series of events that sees the group's secrets come to the surface, with Alice's need for revenge turning them all against one another.

On the surface this book had the potential to be a gripping psychological thriller. Unfortunately it was anything but this. Focusing more on the psychological and less on the thrills, the author makes little to no attempt at hiding who our potential killer is. The only real mystery in this supposed thriller is Alice's motives, and why she is adamant to destroy Lucy's life, along with the friendships she's built since moving to this quiet village.

There are, however, some redeeming factors within this tale. One example is the writing, with the story for the most part being well structured, with good grammar. The overall character development also proves to be a strong point throughout, with the different personalities of our main characters adding some level of depth to the story. The way these personalities bounce off one another also entices, having a somewhat soap opera feel at times.

Alice in particular proves to be an intriguing, albeit flawed character. Being besotted with ruining Lucy and everyone around her's lifes, the character's odd and extremely weird personality is surprisingly quite infatuating. The way she plots, calculating every move with the utmost precision is eerie to say the least, with the character seeming to have an answer for any situation. Where all this crumbles is in the motives behind Alice's actions, with the revelation regarding her intentions being rather ludicrous and far fetched.

Where the book struggles most, however, is in its plot. On the whole the premise seemed quite intriguing, and did have potential, but where it falters is in its layout and overall progression. At times it feels as if the author doesn't know exactly where to take this story, with it jumping between the past and present on a whim and with very little context. The author also awkwardly switches between character perspectives, with it sometimes taking several paragraphs to realise exactly who the narrative is focusing on at a specific point.

Another detracting factor of this narrative is the intellectual capacity of our characters, with Lucy in particular being rather dimwitted at times. Given the lengths in which our characters have went to keep their personal secrets safe, it is hard to grasp the simplicity in which Alice's schemes go over their heads. This is all the more relevant as we approach the story's conclusion, with Lucy's actions almost certain to end in fatality.

Verdict

The Book Club is a psychological thriller that boasts tons of potential, yet fails to deliver any real thrills. Having a convoluted plot and questionable twists, C.J. Cooper gives us a revenge story that more often than not doesn't seem to know where it wants to go. This coupled with some extremely unintelligent character traits and poor trasitions makes any redeeming factors within this narrative very easy to overlook.

3.5/10

Never Go Back (Jack Reacher Book 18) Review

Writer: Lee Child

I really got into the Jack Reacher novels about eight months ago as I liked the look of the film, and was unable to see it in the cinemas. I have since read five of the novels, with this making six, having loved every single one of them.

Plot

Jack Reacher has finally made it to Virginia, but the person that he travelled to visit, Major Susan Turner isn't there, and Reacher is soon re-enlisted in the army, with two criminal charges/investigations against him.

Review

This was a terrific book, and an amazing story. Lee Child has simply done something phenomenal with this series, and I have been extremely happy to have gotten into the series. Now this story wasn't one of the best the series has produced (at least from what I've read), but it was still extremely enjoyable, having all the traits that I loved about the other stories. I think it's the realism in Child's righting that I love the most, as although it's very gritty, and exciting, it's the realism that makes it that much more appealing, and in itself also makes it more exciting. Lee Child also does an extremely amazing job with the characters in his stories, and it was no different in this one, as there is so much depth to them, as well as individuality. Another thing that I really enjoyed about this book was the mystery, with the more mysterious Reacher novels seem to appeal more to me.

This story finally sees Reacher making it to Virginia, but as it always is with Reacher's life nothing is ever that simple. He arrives to find a Lieutenant Colonel named Morgan in Major Turner's office, and is soon re-enlisted into the army. I found this to be a shocking, and interesting twist to the story, and I was very happy with it. Child handled this part of the story perfectly, as following the quick paced start it was the perfect turning point to get the ball rolling. As a character Morgan was also a great person to antagonise Reacher, as given his superiority in rank it allows a person that Reacher would usually dismiss quickly to have some power over him. I was however also happy that at the same time Reacher wasn't out of character, not being too kind to Morgan, rather following orders like any good soldier would.

The reason Reacher was re-enlisted in the army was due to two investigations being made into him, one with the accusation that a beating he gave a man named Juan Rodriguez sixteen years prior caused him to die, and another from a woman named Candice Dayton who says that Reacher is the father of her fourteen year old daughter, wanting child support from him. I found this to be a very interesting, and unique development point for a Jack Reacher novel, as although it isn't something I'd ever expect to happen, it adds to the style of the series very well. I also loved the interaction between Reacher, and both his lawyers over this subject, which yet again was very realistic, and entertaining.

The last few Jack Reacher novels (bar Affair) have seen Reacher making his way to Virginia to met the person that has his old job, simply on the basis that he liked her voice. Finally this book introduces Major Susan Turner, as although she appeared on the phone numerous times during 61 Hours, being considered as a relatively main character, this time round she's much more involved, being the secondary character in the book. I was very happy about this, as although I enjoyed the recurring journey, showing Reacher's adventures on his way to meet this woman, it can only last so long before a reader feels cheated, and it was the right thing to have that part of Reacher's journey end here. Susan as a character is much more developed in this book, which I really enjoyed, and the way she acted, and interacted with certain characters was amazing, and I wouldn't complain if she ever appeared again in a Reacher novel.

The main antagonists of this story would be two men who are referred to as Romeo, and Juliet, and a group of four men who work for them. I found these characters to be extremely interesting, as I really enjoyed the mysterious nature of these characters. The way they operated throughout the story was also extremely well handled, adding great suspense, and drama to the story, as well as allowing the story to develop simple, but brilliant twists. I also loved the typical thuggish nature of the four men that worked for them, and I loved Reacher's reaction to them, and how he felt of the people ordering them. I also loved the way that Child would keep a standard way of introducing a sequence with Romeo, and Juliet, as it made it that much more formal, and unique, giving it's on unique tone to the story.

Another thing that I love about Jack Reacher novels is the action throughout them, and how Lee Child writes these sequences. The way Child breaks down the fight sequences, describing blow by blow how Reacher uses his specialist skills to defeat his foes is simply amazing, and very dramatic. I also loved the brilliant dialogue that he gives to Reacher during these sequences, and how Reacher is so confident on the outcome that he warns the person/people before hand. Another thing I loved about the action in this book was that it started straight away, helping draw the reader in with the excitement, as well as it's fast pace.

I will finish by talking a little about the ending, as without any spoilers I will say that I didn't really like it, as although it was realistic, and unique, it wasn't as impactful as I hoped it would be, leaving me slightly disappointed.

Final Verdict

This was a terrific story, and although not the best Jack Reacher novel yet, it was also not the worst, being an extremely enjoyable story. The realistic, and gritty tone of this book is simply outstanding, and the excitement, drama, and suspense added by Lee Child makes it a joy to read. It also had great character development, as well as a bit of mystery, and I for one can't wait for the next Reacher novel to come out. Due to all this I'd highly recommend this novel, as it's an amazing read, and is sure to turn you into a fan of Jack Reacher.

Rating: 4/5