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Wide Open by Deborah Coates

As you can see by the many months since the last posted review, I haven't been reading many books.  I started this book sometime during the summer.  The morning I started this book, I read the first 100 pages (it's a fast read and a page turner), and then I had to go to work and after that I didn't pick it back up again until Hurricane Sandy blew through at the end of October.  I finished another book during the storm and then finished this one while I waited for the internet to come back.

Wide Open is a supernatural, suspense thriller; as far as I can tell, its Deborah Coates' first print novel, although she has two previous e-books that come up in an Amazon search.  For those who liked Wide Open (of whom I am one), there's a sequel, Deep Down, that was set for release in March of 2013 the last time I checked.

Hallie Michaels returns home on compassionate leave from Afghanistan and when she steps off the plane, she's greeted by the ghost of her sister, Dell, whose funeral she came home to attend.  Dell's ghost isn't the only one haunting Hallie; she's also brought one home with her from the battlefield.

Convinced that Dell's death was neither accident nor suicide, Hallie's determined to find out the truth with what little time remains of her leave. As she pokes around, Hallie wonders just what Dell found out about her employer, an alternative energy start up with a mysterious and too good to be true mandate.  Before she knows it, Hallie's collecting more ghosts than she knows what to do with and running afoul of Dell's employer and his menacing enforcer.

With time running out and relying on a lone ally who both believes the craziness that she's discovered and knows that it is all true, Hallie confronts a psychopathic evil gone off the rails that grows stronger with each sacrifice.

This is a scary, suspenseful, mysterious, heart pounding, page turner.  It is beautifully written with vivid, raw characterization of Hallie and her friends.  If you're looking for a thriller or a fan of the supernatural genre, I highly recommend you read this book.

--Reviewed by Ms. Angie

Comments

Carmen said…
Welcome back Ms Angie, about time!
Ms. Angie said…
Thank you! I just haven't been reading books lately...well, actually the 'dry spell' has lasted about a year and it's frustrating/depressing and hopefully it'll be over soon.

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