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A review by mad_about_books
The Troubles Keeper by Susan May
5.0
There is a broad category of writing known as speculative fiction. I know this because I actually took a class in speculative fiction in college (it seemed like an easy A, and it was). THE TROUBLES KEEPER falls quite nicely into this category.
There is a really nasty serial killer here, yet there is no big police investigation in the book. I must confess that halfway through the book, I started looking for such an investigation and realized this isn't a serial killer whodunnit but a study in human nature. It's not just good versus evil; it's how an individual interacts with those around him or her. There is the sense that a good heart begets good actions.
The main characters are everyday folk. Our hero is a bus driver. There is a sweet boy meets girl romance about to bloom. In other words, it is a story of your life and mine except for that bit of supernatural ability that is not totally understood by its possessor. I found that I was more than curious about the ability, not only how it impacted ordinary mortals but the way it developed in the core characters.
Susan May seems to be following in the footsteps of Stephen King. She tells you a story that is easy to believe and taunts you with a bit of the supernatural so you suspend your disbelief. Then, she uses science to draw you in even further. This is a masterful technique that promises her an ever-expanding readership. I, for one, have already put her on my 'if she writes it, I will read it' list. You might just consider doing the same.
There is a really nasty serial killer here, yet there is no big police investigation in the book. I must confess that halfway through the book, I started looking for such an investigation and realized this isn't a serial killer whodunnit but a study in human nature. It's not just good versus evil; it's how an individual interacts with those around him or her. There is the sense that a good heart begets good actions.
The main characters are everyday folk. Our hero is a bus driver. There is a sweet boy meets girl romance about to bloom. In other words, it is a story of your life and mine except for that bit of supernatural ability that is not totally understood by its possessor. I found that I was more than curious about the ability, not only how it impacted ordinary mortals but the way it developed in the core characters.
Susan May seems to be following in the footsteps of Stephen King. She tells you a story that is easy to believe and taunts you with a bit of the supernatural so you suspend your disbelief. Then, she uses science to draw you in even further. This is a masterful technique that promises her an ever-expanding readership. I, for one, have already put her on my 'if she writes it, I will read it' list. You might just consider doing the same.