Review of A Brush with Death
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Review of A Brush with Death
[Following is a volunteer review of "A Brush with Death" by Jody Summers.]
"A Brush with Death," the inaugural entry in Jody Summers' 'Art of the Dead' series, takes readers on a wild ride through a world of suspense and intrigue. As the story unfolds, the initial chapters feel a bit like a whirlwind, especially those centered around Sean. The author dives deep into his psyche, painting a vivid picture of his restlessness and the frantic need to keep busy. While the detailed descriptions are commendable for capturing his anxiety, they sometimes feel overwhelming, almost like a list of actions that bogged down the narrative. In contrast, the moments of heightened tension, like Kira's haunting nightmares, are well conveyed through short, punchy sentences that encapsulate her frustration. Yet, this effective technique, when overused alongside the exhaustive detail of every little movement, can feel a bit excessive and redundant. Take, for instance, the passage on page 52 of the Kindle version: “Damn, she thought, right back in the same dream. She got up and went downstairs to make some hot chocolate. It was 3:30 am.” Or the lengthy boarding details about Sean on page 76 that could have been trimmed for brevity. Wes, another character, also suffers from this repetition, with his story being reiterated in Chapter 18, which feels unnecessary. However, a silver lining emerges in Chapter 19, where the narrative finally sheds some of its weight, allowing the story to flow more freely without the constant barrage of character movements.
Overall, the plot is original and starts with a compelling premise of keeping readers engaged.
In my opinion, what stands out is the author's flair for language, which amplifies the horror elements beautifully. The vivid imagery creates a cinematic experience, pulling readers into each scene with striking clarity. Furthermore, I was particularly captivated by the use of similes in the narrative, especially the poetic line, “wove another thread into the intricate tapestry of their new relationship” on page 142 of the Kindle version. This metaphorical comparison beautifully evokes the delicate and evolving nature of human connections. The imagery of weaving a tapestry suggests that relationships are complex, built gradually through shared experiences and emotions, each interaction adding depth and color to the bond. The phrase resonated deeply with me, as it emphasizes how meaningful relationships are often carefully and thoughtfully crafted, much like the meticulous weaving of an intricate and meaningful work of art.
Conversely, Chapter 38 left me feeling disoriented due to an abrupt and seemingly out-of-place parenthesis referencing the mysterious entity. This narrative aside felt jarring and disconnected from the surrounding text, breaking the immersive flow of the story. The same unsettling feeling emerged again in Chapter 48, where another ambiguous hint about this enigmatic presence was introduced. However, rather than offering any clarification or meaningful insight, the hint remained frustratingly vague. This lack of explanation contributed to a sense of incompleteness, leaving readers bewildered and yearning for more context or resolution. The disjointed nature of these references detracted from the overall cohesiveness of the plot, making the mystery feel more like an oversight than an intentional, suspenseful buildup.
The book features a sprinkle of profanity (just a couple of words) and some mild erotic moments. Moreover, a few grammatical hiccups, like missing closing quotation marks on page 22 (line 18 after “Hi, Julia”) and a confusing pronoun reference on page 278 (line 4 where it uses both “Kira” and the pronoun “her” after a verb), are present.
The protagonists are richly developed, with their psychic abilities serving as pivotal plot points. I particularly enjoyed the casual tone the author employed to reveal the characters' inner thoughts and motivations, making them relatable and engaging. The relationship between Kira and Sean may seem unrealistic and rushed; however, I believe this reflects their heightened emotional states. Given their intense emotions, it’s not surprising that their connection developed so quickly, even before they met in person.
In conclusion, the initial lengthening of the narrative made me forget the early chapters inherent in Sean's father and what Sean did investigating his family and reading about the unsolved murders. Although I appreciated how the final chapter lays the groundwork for future installments, too many questions about the events that occurred were left unanswered. Nothing was explained about the entity, why everything happened, or how it had awakened after decades of silence and absence of darkness. Considering the explanations presented in this analysis, alongside the absence of a conclusive resolution to this episode, the superficial progression of events in contrast to the extensive character descriptions, and the lack of a unifying theme connecting the narrative and its underlying moral, I rate this book 2 out of 4 stars and 3 of 5 stars.
******
A Brush with Death
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
"A Brush with Death," the inaugural entry in Jody Summers' 'Art of the Dead' series, takes readers on a wild ride through a world of suspense and intrigue. As the story unfolds, the initial chapters feel a bit like a whirlwind, especially those centered around Sean. The author dives deep into his psyche, painting a vivid picture of his restlessness and the frantic need to keep busy. While the detailed descriptions are commendable for capturing his anxiety, they sometimes feel overwhelming, almost like a list of actions that bogged down the narrative. In contrast, the moments of heightened tension, like Kira's haunting nightmares, are well conveyed through short, punchy sentences that encapsulate her frustration. Yet, this effective technique, when overused alongside the exhaustive detail of every little movement, can feel a bit excessive and redundant. Take, for instance, the passage on page 52 of the Kindle version: “Damn, she thought, right back in the same dream. She got up and went downstairs to make some hot chocolate. It was 3:30 am.” Or the lengthy boarding details about Sean on page 76 that could have been trimmed for brevity. Wes, another character, also suffers from this repetition, with his story being reiterated in Chapter 18, which feels unnecessary. However, a silver lining emerges in Chapter 19, where the narrative finally sheds some of its weight, allowing the story to flow more freely without the constant barrage of character movements.
Overall, the plot is original and starts with a compelling premise of keeping readers engaged.
In my opinion, what stands out is the author's flair for language, which amplifies the horror elements beautifully. The vivid imagery creates a cinematic experience, pulling readers into each scene with striking clarity. Furthermore, I was particularly captivated by the use of similes in the narrative, especially the poetic line, “wove another thread into the intricate tapestry of their new relationship” on page 142 of the Kindle version. This metaphorical comparison beautifully evokes the delicate and evolving nature of human connections. The imagery of weaving a tapestry suggests that relationships are complex, built gradually through shared experiences and emotions, each interaction adding depth and color to the bond. The phrase resonated deeply with me, as it emphasizes how meaningful relationships are often carefully and thoughtfully crafted, much like the meticulous weaving of an intricate and meaningful work of art.
Conversely, Chapter 38 left me feeling disoriented due to an abrupt and seemingly out-of-place parenthesis referencing the mysterious entity. This narrative aside felt jarring and disconnected from the surrounding text, breaking the immersive flow of the story. The same unsettling feeling emerged again in Chapter 48, where another ambiguous hint about this enigmatic presence was introduced. However, rather than offering any clarification or meaningful insight, the hint remained frustratingly vague. This lack of explanation contributed to a sense of incompleteness, leaving readers bewildered and yearning for more context or resolution. The disjointed nature of these references detracted from the overall cohesiveness of the plot, making the mystery feel more like an oversight than an intentional, suspenseful buildup.
The book features a sprinkle of profanity (just a couple of words) and some mild erotic moments. Moreover, a few grammatical hiccups, like missing closing quotation marks on page 22 (line 18 after “Hi, Julia”) and a confusing pronoun reference on page 278 (line 4 where it uses both “Kira” and the pronoun “her” after a verb), are present.
The protagonists are richly developed, with their psychic abilities serving as pivotal plot points. I particularly enjoyed the casual tone the author employed to reveal the characters' inner thoughts and motivations, making them relatable and engaging. The relationship between Kira and Sean may seem unrealistic and rushed; however, I believe this reflects their heightened emotional states. Given their intense emotions, it’s not surprising that their connection developed so quickly, even before they met in person.
In conclusion, the initial lengthening of the narrative made me forget the early chapters inherent in Sean's father and what Sean did investigating his family and reading about the unsolved murders. Although I appreciated how the final chapter lays the groundwork for future installments, too many questions about the events that occurred were left unanswered. Nothing was explained about the entity, why everything happened, or how it had awakened after decades of silence and absence of darkness. Considering the explanations presented in this analysis, alongside the absence of a conclusive resolution to this episode, the superficial progression of events in contrast to the extensive character descriptions, and the lack of a unifying theme connecting the narrative and its underlying moral, I rate this book 2 out of 4 stars and 3 of 5 stars.
******
A Brush with Death
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Latest Review: Keys to Harmony by Margalit Jakob
