"The Fear and Desire Series: Encounter"

★

Book Cover Amazing

The writing atrocious. 

​This is another example of people giving a book high marks as if they didn't even read it. If I were a publisher, I'd toss this in the trash just after reading the first chapter. Let's look at some examples as to why:
     "gritty eyes from exhaustion" should be "eyes, gritty from exhaustion",
     "eyes narrowed and focused" should be "gaze narrowed and focused",
     "Her thighs stiffened as she ignored her fears" (Huh?).
​     Also, she hears a "trickling sound" as she races down a "narrow, murky path" (an alley). The trickling sound that had her heart "pounding against her rib cage" and "rapid footsteps" carrying her along? Blood dipping from the hand of a "surprisingly handsome, well-dressed man".

​Okay, I'll stop there for a minute to explain why this is the most absurd thing I've read in sometime. She expects the reader to believe that she can hear blood dripping? Even if it were gushing, she'd have a hard time hearing it over the pounding of her heart and the clip-clop of her rapid footfall. So, aside from the terribly immature, inexperienced writing, we have an absurd story line.

​Then "her nostrils flared out, suddenly panicking" and I couldn't stop my own laughter. I wasn't aware that nostrils could panic. Dear sweet Lord! I haven't gotten to the dialogue yet. Before I do, let's go back to the plot, which was rushed and...well, nonsensical. There were many times when the writer would look to be building up to something, but then just stop dead in her tracks and then head off into another chapter. Example:
​     Christine has left her shift at the hospital and goes to the grocery store. She encounters Eva, who is apparently following her...sorry, have to mention another absurdity here, as the author wrote: "...the street fell silent behind her." If only I'd known streets could speak...goodness! And then the ominous figure of Eva is standing outside of Christine's door listening as "the sound of upbeat music danced into her ears." (Yikes), then...nothing. Eva was content to just follow Christine and lurk outside of her apartment door for a few minutes before slinking back off into the night.

​The whole book was like this -- body parts doing things they can't (i.e. eyes moving swiftly. Eyes can't move, gazes can). Personifying things, such as the street falling silent. Rushing through scenes. Oh, sorry, I forgot to demonstrate the unrealistic nature of the dialogue, but every time I think to share dialogue, I can't get past the stupid plot that the dialogue is a part of. Ok ok...Seth has finally revealed himself to Christine (he's the guy she encounters in Chapter One, who's bleeding so loudly that Christine can hear the blood drops over the pounding...well, you know). She persistently asks why she's there (talking to him) and he says this (just the dialogue part):
​     "I've been keeping my eye on you, I must admit. Obviously to make sure you don't go to the police. But mainly to ensure your safety. I don't want anything to happen to you...Christine, you intrigue me in a way that I am yet to fully understand...I must admit that you occupy a good portion of my thoughts. When I met you as my nurse at the hospital, you caught my attention. However, the other night you saw me in such a deplorable state and didn't run. You stood your ground, and that is something praiseworthy...I just needed to be certain that you haven't said a word to the police. If you did, I would be in a lot of trouble and would most likely be dead by next week." First, he commits a felony by having Christine tailed just to ensure (after all of this time) that she doesn't rat him out of the police, which she hasn't, so his having her tailed is really a case of stalking...oh, I can't go on.

Can I recommend this book? Never.