Fourteen miles east of Peachtree, Alabama, a secret is hidden. That secret’s name is Annabel Lee Truckson, and even she doesn’t know why her mysterious uncle has stowed her deep underground in a military-style bunker. He’s left her with a few German words, a barely-controlled guard dog, and a single command: “Don’t open that door for anybody, you got it? Not even me.”
Above ground, a former Army sniper called The Mute and an enigmatic “Dr. Smith” know about the girl. As the race begins to find her, the tension builds. Who wants to set her free? Why does the other want to keep her captive forever? Who will reach her first?
Private investigators Trudi Coffey and Samuel Hill need to piece together the clues and stay alive long enough to retrieve the girl–before it’s too late.
Mike Nappa is an entertainment journalist at FamilyFans.com, as well as a bestselling and award-winning author with more than one million books sold worldwide. When he was a kid, the stories of Edgar Allan Poe scared him silly. Today he owns everything Poe ever wrote. A former fiction acquisitions editor, Mike earned his MA in English literature and now writes full time.
My Impressions:
In the Acknowledgements section of Annabel Lee, author Mike Nappa describes the obstacles he encountered on the road to becoming a published fiction writer. I am very glad that those who encouraged and/or nagged him to his goal were successful. I am a huge fan of the suspense genre, and this book is one of my favorites. Ever. A tension-filled and exhilarating ride from the start, this page-turner thrilled and chilled this reader as well as making me long for more. Annabel Lee earns a Very Highly Recommended rating from me!
If you haven’t already, take a moment to read the blurb about the book. Those are the basics you need to know before you open the pages. Annabel Lee is indeed suspense, and if you are faint of heart this one is not for you. I would describe the many fight scenes, both gun and hand-to-hand, as intense. There’s blood and screaming and enough description to make you wince. The race to discover where Annabel is hidden has life and death implications and the adrenaline flows fast. But in the midst of all the action, Nappa manages to create memorable characters with complex back stories. The bad guys are very, very bad and the good guys have dark pasts, hidden sins and loyalty that makes you glad they are on the side of good. There’s The Mute, an ex-sniper whose goal is to find and protect Annabel no matter what. Then there’s Trudi and her ex-husband Samuel, two PI’s with a joint past etched with love and trust destroyed. And then there is Annabel and Dog. The old acting adage about never working with children or animals because they steal the show rings true here. Annabel is a character that captures the heart immediately. And Dog . . . let’s just say that this ferocious beast proves to be a best friend. As for a faith message, it is there, but you need to be patient. Trudi is the only Christian at the beginning of the book and she clings to her faith. Other characters have questions, but are willing to think about such things at a later date. During her time underground, Annabel discovers a Bible verse that eventually leads her to the truth about her origins and the truth about God.
Whew! I’m not sure this review covers everything, but you get the picture. I loved, loved, loved this book and now have to wait until the Fall for another. Oh the delight and agony of anticipation! In the mean time, go get Annabel Lee!
Very Highly Recommended.
Audience: adults.
To purchase this book, click HERE.
(Thanks to Revell for a review copy. All opinions expressed are mine alone.)
Wow, Beckie! Another of my friends thought just as much of this book as you, but I’m not sure I could stand it. Might have to give this one a chance, though – eventually!
Carole, I actually thought of you when I wrote this review. I wanted to make sure that readers understood that there may be some difficult scenes. I know you are not a fan of suspense or scary. This one was not scary to me, but was definitely intense. Eew! and Oh! were a couple of the exclamations I uttered while reading it. There is some levity to help balance all the darkness. Trudi and Samuel have an “interesting” relationship. When thinking of him, Trudi often adds “the pig!” I thought this was funny especially from a male author.
Mike Nappa is another author I haven’t read yet … but after “this book is one of my favorites. Ever.” I’m gonna have to make time for Annabel Lee for sure!
Carrie, I wasn’t sure what to expect when I agreed to review this book, but I am so glad I did. It is well worth pushing it to towards the top of the pile. 😉