Are you kidding me????
I love thrillers. Have been reading them for over 20+ years - but for some reason, I have never seen any of the CSI TV series - Same reason I do not see the cable Dexter, nor really looked at more than an episode of True Blood - the books are for my twisted little mind to process and enjoy without anyone else doing the imagining for me.
Then my brother told me about Level 26 - the first digi-novel from the man who created all the CSI shows. He told me about going to the website and logging in as every 20 pages or so in the book, they give you instructions where you can log into the computer site and see what's happening - I did try - honestly - I went to the 'snuff' one and I saw the bad guy Sqweegel and his victim - then saw him open a knife, and I couldn't do it - I couldn't watch -
So I am a thriller writer and reviewer who is a weinie and a chicken -- guilty as charged.
But I do know a brilliant read.
And Level 26 is a jackpot.
There are among the law enforcement agencies levels of villians 1-25. There is this one guy, Sqweegel, is so sick, he is rated 26.
Only one man has ever gotten close to him - looked him in the eyes - and lived - is FBI agent Steve Dark.
The man who resigned and began a new life -
But the Feds won't let him. After 2 years, the old Sqweege is at it again. Dark's former supervisor Riggins, is given an ultimatim - get Dark on board again within 48 hours, or forfeit his own life...
Yikes!
What I read in the 1st few pages had me doubting my manuscript, my ability to write - it immediately entranced me - then I came to and remembered I am writing the best vampire book of all time - being the immodest me...ha.
I cannot wait to read the next digi-novel by Anthony E. Zuiker and Duane Swierczynski. The reason we love to go to horror movies is to go get scared and leave knowing all is well with the world...but there are, in our societies, super-Level 26 villians that walk among us and we aren't aware of them until it's too late.
Read Level 26 - see the 2 minute 'movies' on the site - if you dare - it'll change your mindset about the thriller novel as we know it.
ellen george
Level 26 by Anthony E. Zuiker and Duane Swierczynski, ISBN 978-0-525-95125-4. Dutton Publishing, review by ellen george