Level 26 - that is a level of evil that few see they are so horribly demented, so void of remorse they are the creme de la creme of people crime investigators search for.

In Dark Images, the first digi-novel Level 26 book, Anthony E. Zuiker visionary creator of CSI, and Duane Swierczynski brought the thriller book to a new level - going to the site Level 26 and actually SEEING the terror as it unfolded.

I got so scared, I stopped going to the site as the book was scary enough.

It also introduced us to one of the greatest crime fighting minds - Steve Dark. In the first book Steve paid a horrible price for his work.

And lives to walk away.

But somehow he is made a part of this second Level 26 book, Dark Prophecy even scarier. I didn't know how Zuiker could top the first novel, but wow he did in this book!

To give away too much plot of this novel would in a way give away too much information to you, but as the book deals with Dark's becoming familiar with the Tarot Deck, it is fair to say, he gets involved with villians who know every nuance of the Tarot and he has to work it out what the Tarot cards mean to help solve the crimes. This time not within the means of the law.

He becomes almost vigilante-like and that makes the plot even more scary.

Does the one who fights evil any way he can become more evil that the ones he goes out to stop?

The ending is scarier the more you think on it -

Although I applaud you who are courageous enough to go online to Level 26 and see the actor portrayals of the plot, having it play in your mind is a lot scarier.

And you thought Sqweegel (from the first book) was the ultimate villian??? - whoa -

Great thriller!

ellen george

Dark Prophecy, A Level 26 Thriller by Anthony E. Zuiker and Duane Swiercynski, ISBN 978-0-525-95185-8, Dutton Press, review by ellen george