Customer Reviews

Hell for the Holidays: A Christopher Miller Holiday Thriller

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

WARNING: This review (and the book) will spoil events from the previous book. If you are interested in the series, start there.

It's been almost a year since FBI Agent Chris Miller's daughter was held hostage by a terrorist disguised as Santa. And the signs are becoming obvious that it will make the up coming holiday season harder.

As much as Chris would like to focus on her, something is heating up in the country. It starts with the kidnapping of a neighbor's son on Halloween and grows from there. The chatter is that a group of white supremacists are planning an attack on US soil. With no one in the FBI willing to give him the help he needs, Chris must work with a few friends in the bureau to track them down. Can they do it before the attack takes place?

I was hesitant to read this book after how vile the villain was in the first. And I'm glad I did. Don't get me wrong, I still found the villain reprehensible, especially all the racists and homophobic slurs he said. But he wasn't evil just to be evil.

The book started out fine, but the tension increased every chapter. I couldn't believe how into it I was until I got to the end and had to take a few deep breaths. The threat was all too real, which made it even scarier.

And the characters were good. While the villain had to redeeming value, he wasn't one note. And the sub-plot with his daughter made Chris all the more real.

Thrillers aren't my normal reading choice, but I really enjoyed this one. If Chris is warding off evil during more holidays, I will be sure to celebrate them with him.

An Amazon search for the types of books I enjoy reading suggested Chris Grabenstein's "Jersey Shore" books featuring John Ceepak. I really enjoyed all those books so when I searched for additional books by Mr. Grabenstein I didn't hesitate to get "Hell For The Holidays." And what a terrific and exciting book this is.

The writing style in this book is different from the style in the Ceepak books, and well it should be. The narrator in those "Shore" books is 30 years younger and is a small-town neophyte police officer whereas the point-of-view in the "Holiday" books is that of a more mature and seasoned FBI agent. Both series of books are great and I applaud Mr. Grabenstein's ability to create such believable yet diverse major characters in two different environments, masterfully keeping them separate from one another.

"Hell For The Holidays" was difficult for me to put down. As one other reviewer said, the action and suspense continues to escalate all the way to the end of the book. The plot is neither overly convoluted nor contrived; as a matter of fact, it is frighteningly believable. And there are enough red herrings and just plain surprises in this story to keep you turning the pages. The book is skillfully written.

If you're looking for an exciting read with accurate law enforcement procedurals that has villians you love to despise and heroes you love to cheer, this book is for you. Thanks for the ride, Mr. Grabenstein; I look forward to the next Christopher Miller Holiday Thriller.

I've followed the author since his first summer tale. His characters are crisp and well crafted. The story twists from here-to-there and back again. Lots of characters to like and to hate. Top notch effort.

Grabenstein is really edgy in this book. Do not read this late at night or when you are alone. He creates some really nasty bad guys!

I enjoy Chris Grabenstein books. I've read all of the John Ceepak books and one other Christopher Miller book. One of the appealing characteristics of Grabenstein books is their simplicity. In another author's hands, the simplicity would mean "simple." Somehow, Grabenstein makes the mundane and obvious enjoyable within the context of his likeable characters. In this book, however, he veers too close to simple and...lazy. Some character actions and plot turns seem more for convenience of story than in keeping with prior development. (For instance, Schmidt's hanging up on Tilley.) Nonetheless, the book was an easy and enjoyable read, even if a too light-hearted one.

Got here in good time. Didn't really matter though. Its my Christmas Reading book for '09. But it is in good shape! Thanks for the inexpensive book!