"Do Not Disturb"

"Do Not Disturb"
Written by Claire Douglas
Reviewed by Diana Iozzia


"Do Not Disturb" is a psychological thriller written by Claire Douglas, a name familiar to me, but her books are new to me. This novel follows main character, Kirsty, who has opened a scenic Welsh inn, in a small town, in which secrets aren't so small. Kirsty and her family are healing from her husband's mental illness and a recent breakdown. She begins to receive suspicious items, like dead flowers, letters, and nooses, which kickstarts paranoia. To top it off, her cousin, Selena, returns after many years of the two not speaking to each other. Secrets quickly come to light.

Unfortunately, although this was a fun and appealing plot, the execution fell flat. I enjoyed Kirsty, Selena, and other side characters, but the premise did not live up to my expectations. I also was very unhappy with the use of Munchausen's by Proxy Syndrome and facticious diseases. I have felt for a while that creating thrillers with characters with these types of mental illnesses is exploitative and hard to correctly write, especially if they are used for twists and plot devices.

Lastly, I was severely unimpressed by the ending. The reveals of the mysteries in this novel played out in ways that I did not appreciate.

In conclusion, I can recommend this writer, but I cannot particularly recommend this novel. Douglas's writing style and dialogue were great, but I would hope for the next novel that I read to be more unique and less derivative of better thrillers.

"Deathless Divide"

"Deathless Divide"
Written by Justina Ireland
Reviewed by Diana Iozzia


"Deathless Divide" is the second novel in the "Dread Nation" series written by Justina Ireland. The series follows our main character, Jane, who lives in a post-Civil War era but there is a twist. After the soldiers on both sides of the war died, they rose back to life, as zombie-like "shamblers" with acute senses of smell and hearing. Jane and her friends must learn to survive, utilizing the skills they have learned at the Miss Preston's Academy, in which black teens learn to fight against shamblers to protect their mistresses.

"Deathless Divide" picks up immediately after the fall of the town our main characters were stationed in, which was more of a cult than a safe haven. Jane and Katherine, a brilliant friend and secondary main character, must find their friends and escape to the nearest safe place. Jane and Kate have realized that Gideon, the mad scientist working on a shambler vaccine, is more Mr. Hyde than Dr. Jekyll, which prompts them to search for him, to stop him.

"D.D." takes place in two parts, both brilliantly executed. I have to admit, I was terrified to pick up the sequel, after adoring "Deathless Divide" incredibly. Fearing my disappointment, I found myself savoring every page, taking far too long to read the story. Ireland continues her magnificent ability to create wonderful characters, realistic dialogue, and compelling plots. The main trophy of this story, as with "Dread Nation" is the friendship between Jane and Kate. If a reader begins the series expecting zombies and horror similar to "The Walking Dead", they can continue in a different direction. The shambler horror is far lessened in this novel, as the true main villain manifests in Gideon.

The second part of the story continues in a brilliant fashion, causing a separation between the two main characters. As they begin to heal their relationship, they must fight against the odds to win and stop the evil.

I absolutely loved this novel, and I truly hope that Ireland continues the series. Although the sequel ended on a great final note, I'd absolutely hope for more.

I received a finished copy from the publisher, Titan Books, in exchange for reading, reviewing, and promoting the novel. Thank you again.

I rated this novel as a five star read out of five stars.