I've been a fan of Michael Koryta for years. When I first started my blog, I was enamored with the way he mixed supernatural elements into the plots of his thrillers. More recently, Koryta has cranked out new standalone mysteries, eschewing the temptation of settling into a regular series in favor of original plots and characters. I enjoyed How It Happened so much that I instantly vowed to read whatever he came up with next. Koryta's publisher generously provided me a copy of If She Wakes, which I eagerly devoured over the last few days.
Tara Beckley is trapped inside her own body. She lies in the hospital bed, attached to machines and fully conscious, but unable to speak or move. Heck, even a blink would be welcomed at this point. She remembers driving the professor to his speech. She remembers his odd request for a detour. She remembers the van crashing into her car, leaving the professor dead and her lying in this hospital bed with locked-in syndrome. Tara just needs to be able to tell everyone what happened.
Abby Kaplan has a simple job to do. As a claims investigator, Abby has been tasked with making sure Tara's university can't be faulted for the death of the visiting professor. They had Tara pick the guest lecturer up from the airport, so they want to make sure their own interests are covered. The driver of the van has already admitted his fault in the accident, so Abby is merely there as a formality. She is a former stunt driver who gave it all up after a horrific accident. As she looks at the tracks on the street and angles of the cars, Abby realizes that everyone has simply trusted the van driver's story. The evidence points to something much more nefarious.
There is no denying Micahel Koryta's skill at crafting intriguing stories with relatable characters. If She Wakes hinges upon a simple premise and is full of the kind of characters I love to read about. Still, I couldn't help like something was missing from this novel. Instead of a plot propelled by layers of deep character development and thoughtful contemplations on larger themes, If She Wakes serves more as pure action entertainment. That's not to say I wasn't sucked into the momentum of the novel, I was. I guess I've just come to expect more from Koryta's work. Still, I'm a sucker for a thriller with the kinds of twists and turns If She Wakes presented, so I'll recommend it as a worthy addition to any summer reading list.
For more information visit the author's website, Amazon, and Goodreads.
(2019, 22)
Showing posts with label Michael Koryta. Show all posts
If She Wakes by Michael Koryta
How It Happened by Michael Koryta
"I will not tell you how it happened but it is all wrong."
Years ago, I discovered Michael Koryta through his supernatural driven thriller So Cold the River. I instantly devoured his other paranormal suspense novels including The Cypress House and The Ridge. I was especially impressed with the way Koryta allowed his character's development to drive his narratives, even when they were filled with suspense that could have easily dominated the story. When I got the chance to read and review his latest effort How It Happened, I enthusiastically accepted.
Rob Barrett is an expert and finding the truth. As an FBI investigator, he is well known for extracting confessions from hard-to-crack suspects. He's recently returned to the rural seaside community that he was raised in to help find the truth behind the brutal murders of two young residents. Barrett's past includes lingering questions about his mother's untimely death years ago, the harsh upbringing by his verbally and emotionally abusive grandfather, and an unwavering commitment to discovering the truth.
Kimberly Crepeaux is not known for her honesty. With a rap sheet of teenage pregnancy, heroin addiction, and numerous stints in prison, her reputation around town couldn't be worse. It comes as no surprise to anyone who knows her when she is arrested again, but what she has to say this time stops everyone in their tracks. Kimberly tells the story of her involvement in the gruesome murders of the two young townspeople. A night of drug fueled joy riding turned dark when their car stuck a girl. Terrified of the consequences of their actions, the group brutally killed the car-stuck girl and her boyfriend and dumped their bodies in a nearby pond.
Despite her troubled reputation, Barrett believes Kimberly when she describes that night. She speaks with a sincerity or regret and shock at her actions. There is a haunted glimmer of anguish behind her tired eyes. Barrett is quick to accept the confession as fact and hinge the investigation and his entire career upon it. This is the break the case needed. This is the source of closure to two grieving families. This is how it happened. But suddenly it isn't. The pond is searched and the bodies are not there. An anonymous tip quickly leads to the discovery of the bodies some 200 miles away. Desperate to save his professional reputation and ease the disappointment of his home town, Barrett rallies to find the truth of how it happened.
On first glance, How It Happened is vastly different from the previous novels by Koryta. Gone are the supernatural elements that permeated those earlier works. Instead the characters in this novel are haunted by events that are all too real. I was immediately intrigued by the gruesome confession that Kimberly provides. The novel opens with her words, providing a chilling prelude to the dark and suspenseful events that follow. By setting the novel in Barrett's home town, Koryta allows the character to gain layers of depth from interactions with people from his past and flashbacks to his childhood. The novel deftly layers the mystery with contemplations on grief, addiction, reputation, and small town relationships. How It Happened is destined to be a must-read this summer, and serves as a legacy cementing achievement in Koryta's already stellar career.
For more information, visit the author's website, Amazon, and Goodreads.
(2018, 20)
The Ridge by Michael Koryta
Roy Darmus is at a crossroads in his life. The local newspaper, to which he has devoted his entire professional life to, has been sold and closed. A storyteller without an audience, he is hungry for the next big scoop to hit the town. When he receives a call from local madman Wyatt French, he is both annoyed and intrigued. A comment about his parents, who died in a car crash at Blade Ridge when he was a small child, lingers in his mind long after he dismisses the call as another useless tip. Hours later, he is at the scene of French's apparent suicide. Craving a new story to tell, he begins to investigate a string of strange occurrences at the ridge.
Audrey Clark is dealing with a transition as well. She is in the process of relocating her large-cat sanctuary, a project began with her late husband, from a location within the city to a larger preserve located at Blade Ridge. Initially she was disturbed by the ravings of her soon to be neighbor Wyatt French, but soon shifted her focus from the strange lighthouse to the relocation process. But strange things are occurring. The cats seem to be fearful of their new home, pacing the cages, growling, and even attempting to escape. When French's suicide brings even more focus to the area, she is determined to successfully house the cats at the new location and fulfill her husband's legacy.
Michael Koryta weaves these different characters into a brilliant tapestry of paranormal suspense. I really appreciated the way all three of the main characters were searching for a new start in their personal lives. The paranormal elements, comparable to Stephen King or Dean Koontz, never overshadow the story. Koryta knows how to wind up a story, providing many moments of true fear. Balancing the supernatural elements with strong human characters and emotions, Koryta has written a fantastic novel.
For more information, visit the author's website, Amazon, and GoodReads.
(2013: week 16, book 13)
