Sunday, April 29, 2012

Crazy Dangerous by Andrew Klavan

Sam Hopkins is a good kid who has fallen in with the wrong crowd. Hanging around with car thieves and thugs, Sam knows it’s only a matter of time before he makes one bad decision too many and gets into real trouble.



But one day, Sam sees these thugs harassing an eccentric schoolmate named Jennifer. Finding the courage to face the bullies down, Sam loses a bad set of friends and acquires a very strange new one.


Because Jennifer is not just eccentric. To Sam, she seems downright crazy. She has terrifying hallucinations involving demons, the devil, and death. And here’s the really crazy part: Sam is beginning to suspect that these visions may actually be prophecies—prophecies of something terrible that’s going to happen very soon. Unless he can stop it.

With no one to believe him, with no one to help him, Sam is now all alone in a race against time. Finding the truth before disaster strikes is going to be both crazy and very, very dangerous.

My review:
I loved Andrew Klavan's series he did for teens, The Homelanders, and was excited when I heard he had another book coming out. I was lucky to snag a copy to review, and totally loved the book.

All of Klavan's books I have read so far have been written in the first person point of view, which is not my favorite, but depending on the story and the author, sometimes I like it better. Klavan is one such author. Even though I am far from a teenager, I really enjoy his books. This one was totally different from the 4-book Homelanders Series, and as far as I can tell, this is a stand alone title, but I was blown away. This is top notch writing, and even though it isn't geared for adults, the suspense is intense enough to appeal to adults.

I try to leave books like these for when I can read the whole thing without having to put it down and finish it another day, and good thing I did, for I did not want to put it down. The author created a very likable kid who wants to be good, but ends up getting in trouble more often than not. The young girl in the story is very strange, actually downright weird, but adds to the story.

The book has a great ending, and Sam becomes a hero after all. I was sorry to see the book end, but was very happy with the ending. Terrific book.

I do have one complaint, if Mr. Klavan happens to read this, or Thomas Nelson can pass it on: This author needs to write some adult fiction for Nelson. I keep hoping for it. I did just purchase one of his general market books for adults. Maybe I will post a review for it when I read it.

About the author:

Award winning author, screenwriter and media commentator Andrew Klavan is the author of such internationally bestselling novels as True Crime, filmed by Clint Eastwood, and Don’t Say A Word, filmed starring Michael Douglas. Andrew has been nominated for the Mystery Writers of America’s Edgar Award five times and has won twice. His books have been translated around the world. His latest novel for adults, The Identity Man, has been praised by Nelson Demille as “fast paced, intelligent and thought-provoking; a great read!” Television and radio host Glenn Beck says “Andrew Klavan never disappoints…one of the best illustrations of the power of redemption that I’ve ever read.” His last novel Empire of Lies was about media bias in the age of terror, and topped Amazon.com’s thriller list. Andrew has also published a series of thrillers for young adults, The Homelanders, which follows a patriotic teenager’s battle against jihadists. The books have been optioned to be made into movies by Summit Entertainment, the team behind the mega-successful Twilight film series.


Andrew is a contributing editor to City Journal, the magazine of the Manhattan Institute. His essays and op-eds on politics, religion, movies and literature have appeared in the Wall Street Journal, the New York Times, The Washington Post, the LA Times, and elsewhere. His video feature, “Klavan on the Culture,” can be found at PJTV.com. Andrew is a frequent media guest on television and radio stations from coast to coast, where he is known for his quick wit, humor and commentary on politics and entertainment.

As a screenwriter, Andrew wrote the screenplay to 1990’s A Shock to the System, which starred Michael Caine, and to 2008’s One Missed Call, which stars Ed Burns and Shannyn Sossamon. He lives in Southern California.

Crazy Dangerous is available from Thomas Nelson.
 
Thanks to Nelson's blogging for books program, Booksneeze, for the review copy.

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