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August 02nd, 2012

8/2/2012

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Author: Steven James

Publisher:Revell

Copyright:2010

ISBN:Trade paperback: 978-0-8007330-2-5

Rating:10

Review: I became interested in Steven James when I heard he would be the keynote speaker at the OWFI (Oklahoma Writers Federation, Inc) conference in May 2012. I researched his books and discovered a skillful storyteller. I read his books the local library has and wanted more.

      The Bishop came out two years ago, but I only purchased my own copy recently, a copy I had the author sign in May, 2012. I thought I’d read the novel over a period of several days – didn’t happen. Once I began, I couldn’t lay the book down. I spent a sleepless night evolved in a tale of heinous crimes and killings, with touches of humor and love.

      Steven James uses elements of chess, coffee, serial killers, and family to craft heart-pounding stories. His main character Patrick Bowers, an FBI agent who is drawn into high profile serial killer cases because of his controversial geospatial investigative techniques, believes “motive” has no place in investigations.

      James weaves a string of brutal murders with a dangerous foe from Bowers’ past mixed with the biological father of Bowers’ stepdaughter trying to gain custody of his daughter. All the threads cross and double cross each other, dragging the reader deeper into Bowers’ complicated professional and personal lives.

      Chimpanzees kill a Congressman’s daughter, a beastly, brutal murder because of human involvement. Other unusual and nasty killings come to light. Patrick Bowers discovers all are tied together, the work of the same killers. A chess game evolves with the murders always one step ahead.

      The characters from The Bishop could step from its pages. Even though James switches from the first person narrative in places to third person from the perspectives of Tessa, Bowers’ stepdaughter, or of the murderers, or of other characters, the novel comes together as a believable, attention-grabbing whole.

      I enjoyed the novel, as I’ve enjoyed other novels by Steven James. Next on my “want to read list” is his novel The Queen.

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