A Page Turner Thriller! No Spoiler Book Review – Love, Lies & Clones, Joynell Schultz
‘Geeks will love this thriller, scientists devour it and yes women will like the strong stubborn lead.’
Title: Love, Lies & Clones
Author: Joynell Schultz
Copyright: 2016 Joynell Schultz
Ebook
Blurb:
June never asked to be cloned from her mother’s DNA. She didn’t ask for the faulty heart that beats in her chest either. She made a life for herself as a college professor, but what she really wants is the same as everyone else: a human connection. But how can she connect to someone when her heart’s next beat could be the last?
Her estranged father shows up on her doorstep, warning her that he’s being forced back into the illegal human cloning world and she’s in danger, but she dismisses him as paranoid. That’s until he disappears. The police are not prepared to confront a conspiracy this large, especially with a serial killer on the loose.
When approached by an AWOL soldier, insisting her father’s disappearance is linked to his brother’s odd behavior, she doesn’t trust him. She’s been taught her whole life not to trust anyone.
With time running out, she must avoid abduction attempts, untangle the web of lies, and above all else, hide her taboo origins.
Can June trust someone with her secret… and her heart
Plot:
This is a thriller with a hint at romance and embedded geekiness throughout. The scientist has to abandon her work to find her estranged ‘creator’ father.
This story has just the right balance of romance to keep it on the right side of the thriller genre. Any geeks out there will love the cloning science throughout. It’s slightly futuristic with electric self drive cars etc but hey, we’re there now aren’t we?
It’s obvious the writer knows the topic, although I’m no expert so I just guessed it was accurate. If not it was really convincing!
The characters really engage the reader, which isn’t always the case with thrillers.
Characters:
The female protagonist is confident, with some issues, which always make a thriller that bit more interesting. She is confident with just the right balance of fear and phobias built in. I can see a series developing with her at the centre.
I had a vision of ‘Bones’ Temperance Brennan, you know the character created by Kathy Reichs. She’s not as ‘detached’ but certainly similar.
Her father and ‘partner’ make up the trio of main characters, a couple of geeks sit on the sidelines too.
Conclusion:
It’s a real page turner. I think it’s a debut novel so I wasn’t sure what to expect because it’s sometimes difficult for us to pick up a book by someone we don’t know isn’t it? No idea why I worried, it’s excellent, really strong writing and likeable characters.
The short chapters and cliff hanger hooks kept me engaged, it had everything I look for in a book.
Recommended books:
YES! The cover is slightly deceptive, as I think it aims at a female audience however this book will be enjoyed by men too. Geeks will love it, scientists devour it and yes women will like the strong stubborn lead. It may not be as formulaic and ‘smooth’ as a Baldacci but the writing is just as good. I’d definitely encourage you to support this author’s work and look forward to her next book. If she keeps writing in this way I’m sure she’ll build on her dedicated fan base.
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