Customer Reviews

The Best of Evil (Aramis Black Mystery Series #1)

5 star:		(29)
4 star:		(9)
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1 star:		(1)

 

 

Aramis Black is the hero of Eric Wilson's new series of novels, beginning with The Best of Evil. Formerly a violent and disturbed individual, Aramis has determined to make a change in his life and now runs an espresso shop in Nashville, living with his brother, a wannabe musician. His past won't leave him alone, however, as a mystery involving his mother's murder comes back to haunt him, and an issue of forgiveness slaps him in the face and refuses to go away.

At the same time, the producers of a new reality TV show (called, amazingly enough, The Best of Evil), are interested in his story and the forgiveness issues it raises. Whether Aramis wantsto or not, he's going to have to confront his ghosts and get rid of them once and for all.

The mystery of his mother's murder dates back much further than he ever knew, even all the way to Merriweather Lewis (of the famous Lewis & Clark). How could the death of that historical icon fit in with the trials of one Aramis Black today? Well, that's half the fun.

The other half is just sitting back and enjoying the twists and turns of this great mystery. Wilson has some great characters here, none of which are perfect little Christians. In fact, they probably should be more rough-edged than they actually are.

The only stretch is the idea that Aramis could live until he was an adult with his own business before ever finding out anything about his namesake, or even who he was named after. I can accept that he might never have read The Three Muskateers or seen a movie version of it, but none of his teachers throughout school ever did? Or the casual acquaintance? I mean, my first comment upon meeting someone named Aramis would be to reference the Musketeers. Ah, well. Maybe I'm too literate for my own good.

Wilson also throws in an intriguing clue at the very end of the book, making you really wonder what he's up to. (I also note he got another reference to Rasputin in there - something that seems to pop up in every book.)

The Best of Evil is a very promising start to a new mystery series. I'm certainly looking forward to seeing where Aramis Black goes from here. Highly Recommended.

Aramis Black is a tattooed, former tough guy, now serving up lattes in his own coffee shop, wanting to be a son that would make any mama proud.

The problem is that his mom was murdered when he was 6. Now her words and his rough past force themselves back into his life when a customer is murdered in his coffee shop.

After enjoying Eric Wilson's first two books, Dark To Mortal Eyes and Expiration Date, I anticipated the release of The Best of Evil and was not disappointed.

In The Best of Evil you'll meet likeable, real, and quirky characters and find help from the most unlikely of people. Enjoy the humor laced throughout the book, and follow Aramis in his (sometimes unwilling) search to solve the mystery of the murdered customer, his murdered mother and a turbulent past.

This is one book you don't want to miss. I'm now looking forward to Eric's next book in the Aramis Black series, A Shred of Truth.

As a writer it's not often that I'm captivated by an author's writing style yet so drawn into the plot of a book that I forget to savor the writer's gift. The Best of Evil is one of those books. Eric Wilson's prose is outstanding, his characters deep, his pace fast moving but full of life's meaning that connects us with the characters, and his dialogue genuine.

In The Best of Evil we join Aramis Black after he's left behind a troubled past and moved to Nashville to live with his brother to embark on a fresh start. At least he thought his past washistory. When a man is ruthlessly gunned down in his coffee shop, Aramis is drawn down a path that resurrects his mother's murder, brings to life a longstanding mystery, and holds a visit from old enemies. While searching for clues, Aramis is challenged with letting go of his anger to forgive those who have hurt him and learning to live his newfound faith.

From the first page I wanted to get to know Aramis Black. He's lived a hard life, yet he remains optimistic and continues to look for a better life. We want to see if he is successful in living his faith in the real world; see if he can forgive hurts that seemingly are too big to getpast. As we follow the story, ultimately we see ourselves and find encouragement in his perseverance.Through this character, author Eric Wilson shows us no matter our past, no matter our mistakes, God forgives us and anything is possible.

Susan Sleeman Host of The Christian Suspense Zone

I really enjoyed the book. The book was excellent, and a great-page turner. It was also very, very easy to read. If possible, I would like to see another novel about Aramis Black. The characters were very easy to like. The story was drawn out with such delicate words that it almost flowed right off the page into a "real-life" story, making the story very believable. This is the best "cup of fiction",(a special brew straight from the mind of Eric Wilson) I have read/drank since Ted Dekker.

Eric Wilson has done it again--delivering yet another terse, tense,flying-by-the-seat-of-your-pants rollercoaster ride of a novel. Of course, I'm referring to his latest offering, The Best of Evil.

The story begins inocuously enough in the confines of protagonist Aramis Black's coffee shop in the city of Nashville, Tennessee. Then all heck breaks loose as a man is murdered there in broad daylight. Considering Aramis's checkered past (which Wilson amply describes in flashback sequences), this intrusion into his world forces him to confront those demons anew. (When you have twin tattoos on your arms sporting the phrases, "Live By the Sword" and "Die By the Sword," it's fairly obvious that those demons were not the average pencil-neck variety.)

Along with these demons of the psyche, Black is forced to confront the uncle he blames for his mother's senseless death. Juxtaposing this tension, a special someone enters his life, providing him with a chance for romance, preventing the novel's theme from completely sinking into black murkiness.

To top it off, Mr. Wilson's grasp on history (in his prior books, Dark to Mortal Eyes and Expiration Date, he tied the Russian Revolution and the Romanov Dynasty into their plots) is top-notch. This go-'round, Tennessee hero Governor Meriwether Lewis serves as the historical interest. Not only was I mesmerized and captivated by the plot, but I also learned a little about my country's past too. You've gotta love that.:)

Several shocking plot-twists near the end of the story (which I won't divulge upon pain of death) are Koontzian in their potency. By only an act of God, I was able to remove my jaw from the floor and continue turning the pages.

Next up for Mr. Wilson: the next Aramis Black book, release date Summer 2007. I can hardly wait.:)

with a fantastic, well thought out mystery. Even though, in my opinion, it's too hard to surpass Expiration Date in quality, he has certainly equalled it here. It's a little different than his last two books.

Aramis Black is determined to outrun his past. A formerly abused drug user that almost got himself killed, Aramis decides to move in with his wannabe country star older brother Johnny Ray in Nashville. He opens a coffeehouse on the east side, and for a while all seems well.

Black's is a hopping java shop. But when a murder occurs right before his eyes, Aramis reels from the shock. The victim mumbles odd but familiar words that bring Aramis memories of his dead mother, along with more family trouble. What does it all mean? Will his digging cause him more pain, or will he finally find peace from his tortured past?

In the pursuit of the killer, strange clues surface that uncover Aramis' past. Secrets long shrouded break to the surface once more and threaten his life and those around him. Can he solve his family mystery as well as help bring a criminal to justice?

I highly recommend this novel--another brilliant suspense plot from this talented author. Wilson magically weaves historical events into the plot in an intriguing manner. I expected a few surprises and was not disappointed. Wilson's characters ring true--never perfect, but multi-faceted.

I sank my proverbial teeth into this story in short order. While reading, I was reminded repeatedly that God brings good out of evil and that His plans can't be thwarted. I also appreciated the encouragement to put the past behind and look to what's ahead. Engaging mind and heart, this proved an immensely enjoyable read!

(Sorry, Eric, I thought I had already reviewed this!)

Eric has done it again. He has written a wonderfully original mystery novel. A wonderful tour of Nashville accompanied by a cast of characters and a rich, frothy brew of a story. I can't wait for the next Aramis Black!

I was almost put off by the title of this book (The Best of Evil, Eric Wilson) but decided to give it a try anyway. It was an enjoyable read.

Aramis Black moved to Nashville to start a new life, far away from the drug culture and the radical group with which he was involved in the northwest. Now he's living with his brother Johnny Ray Black, an aspiring musician and health food afficionado.

Aramis is operating a espresso shop, named Black's, in honor of his mother, Dianne Lewis Black. When he was six years old, she was murdered in front of him and even now, twenty years later, she is never far from his thoughts. He blames his uncle Wyatt for not preventing the tragedy.

When a man is murdered in Aramis' shop, things start to happen, odd things. His mother's handkerchief, entrusted to him just before her murder but then stolen, turns up briefly and disappears again. Clues start hinting at a relationship between Aramis and the famed explorer Meriwether Lewis. Suddenly a reality TV show crew shows up with an invitation to try out for their new show, The Best of Evil, in which someone is given the opportunity to "get the best of evil" by repaying another with good instead.

Aramis summarizes his constant struggle with this: "Evil, I believe, is a choice. We embrace or reject it. It comes at us in insidious guises, and we make decisions that push it back or let it edge closer. It never tires and never sleeps; it's there every day--crouching on our doorsteps, hoping for a cozy place to shack up. After a while, it seems easier to give in. Just a little."

Like each of us, Aramis faces daily choices to embrace or reject evil. Each seemingly small decision moves his life along the path to clarifying his past and directing his future.

I simply loved The Best of Evil. Eric Wilson brings a unique voice to Christian suspense, with creative plots (when was the last...or first... time Meriweather Lewis was a plot device) and engaging characters. Pitch perfect is the best way to describe Wilson's writing, sounding just the right note each time. Like a gourmet meal (or fine coffee), The Best of Evil is pleasing to the palate, mixing an intriguing blend of mystery, romance, and family drama. I'm addicted...and am standing in line for more!

I missed Wilson's last book, Expiration Date, and this book shows amazing growth since Dark to Mortal Eyes. The first person narrative grabs you from the beginning and Wilson weaves mystery into each sentence, giving you just enough information to keep you hooked.

I was worried Aramis would be a sticky sweet, far too reformed born again type, but Wilson has created a character who is truly on the path of self-discovery. An amazing book, well worth reading for anyone.