Loved this book. Not just a good mystery, but a refreshingly compelling and finely written novel.
Barnes and Noble, 5-12-12:
Very entertaining, intelligent and original, really holds your attention.
Goodreads, 3-19-12:
Intelligent and entertaining detective fiction, well-plotted with a great array of characters.
Amazon, 3-2-12:
Definitely worth the read. It kept me "swiping" the ebook pages. Great characters. I felt like I knew them. Reminded me somewhat of the old detective movies. Many twists and turns that keep you wondering what is to come. I was pleased that I did not predict the ending. I love surprises. The settings were also interesting. It left me wondering what happened next, so a sequel would be interesting. (Also loved using the ebook KindleFire feature that allowed me to look up words - a few new ones for me.)
Smashwords, 2-19-12:
Reviews of Unusual Size - Re: A detective struggles to solve a murder that soon involves more deaths, conspiracies and bold robberies. Outstanding: A quick, fun read with some appealing characters and enough twists to keep you guessing,. Unacceptable: The first chapter was so over-written that I almost gave up and quit reading but soon enough the $20 words stopped coming fast and furious and everything settled into a more realistic patter. The last paragraph, while I can see what the author was trying to do, left me cold and a teensy bit confused. The cover is pretty chopped. Summary: Overall a strong first novel from Wangsness. While the story is far from unique, the main character is appealing and it was a genuinely engaging novel. 4/5 (http://reviewsofunusualsize.blogspot.com/2012/02/book-review-tainted-souls-by-steven.html)
Amazon, 2-14-12:
I read a lot of detective/murder/thrillers and this one rates right up there with the best. A fast paced plot with great character development. I recommend it as a enjoyable read.
Smashwords, 2-12-12:
Very interesting and entertaining, with a well-paced and original plot that holds your attention as the author unravels the many threads of this mystery. The pace quickens towards the end, reading almost like a thriller as it races to the finish. The ending is both surprising and a little shocking. A very satisfying read.
Amazon, 1-29-12: "Lots of bang for the buck"
Much like Arkady Renko in "Gorky Park," Detective Rick Frost in "Tainted Souls" has no good reason to pursue truth and justice, but he can't seem to help himself. There is more than one tainted soul in this many-layered mystery/thriller and that's what makes it such a great read. TAINTED SOULS is a solid bang for your buck!
Confession up front: I'm a bit of a book snob and I'm hard to please. Thrillers are a lot of tun, but for me, the characters need to be fully developed, the plot needs to be complex and plausible, the dialogue and the details need to be done right, and the outcome needs to be surprising yet not completely out of left field. "Tainted Souls" delivers all that and more.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book from beginning to end -- it represents everything I love about the thriller genre: a very fast-paced plot -- never a dull moment -- that always keeps the reader guessing. It's one of those books that you don't want to put down until you get to the end to find out what happened.
There's always the risk of giving too much away, so I don't want to say too much. The description here on Amazon sums it up well: "An everyday murder investigation draws frost (he's police guy with a "past") into a web of corruption that stretches from the salons of Beverly Hills to the Green Zone of Baghdad and quickly pits him against powerful forces that even the Feds fear to disturb." If that sounds like the sort of book you'd enjoy, this one absolutely will not disappoint.
Two big thumbs up!
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