Placebo by Steven James

While covertly investigating a controversial neurological research program, exposé filmmaker Jevin Banks is drawn into a far-reaching conspiracy involving one of the world's largest pharmaceutical firms. After giving up his career as an escape artist and illusionist in the wake of his wife and sons' tragic death, Jevin is seeking not only answers about the questionable mind-to-mind communication program, but also answers to why his family suffered as they did.

Rooted in ground-breaking science and inspired by actual research, Placebo explores the far reaches of science, consciousness, and faith. Readers will love this taut, intelligent, and emotionally gripping new thriller from master storyteller Steven James.

My review:

I love Steven James' Patrick Bowers thriller series, and having read some of his non-fiction books, it is obvious to me that he is not just a great author, he is a great and diverse writer. This series is totally different from the Bowers series, and though I wouldn't rank it as high as that series, I did enjoy this book and am looking forward to reading more in this series.

Placebo is the first book in the Jevin Banks Series. Unlike Patrick Bowers in the other series, Jevin Banks is not in any kind of law enforcement, which sets this series apart from the Bowers books right off. Instead, Banks is an escape artist and magician of sorts who now works on expose's to out scam artists.

There was still alot of suspense and bad guys in the book, and a lot of scientific ideas and terms were thrown around in the book, many of which were new to me, but James has done a great job of explaining and exploring them in a way that was not boring or hard to read. I liked the plot of the book, and am liking his main character so far. As with his other series, James goes back and forth between the first person and third person point of writing styles, which actually appeals to me more  than a straight first person point of view, which I am not a fan of, but by switching between the two, James removes one of my reasons for disliking that style: only knowing what the main character knows and reading only action he or she is present for.

Revell publishing has thus far been pretty careful in what kind of language they allow in their books, but I did find one objectionable word in this book. (Near the top of page 128 for anyone who wants to check). The more vulgar term for urination that is used in place of "ticked off" is used, which granted is not a curse word, but it is one the average evangelical Christian doesn't use, and should not use.

I am looking forward to reading more in this series, but I do have to say so far it doesn't measure up to the Patrick Bowers series, but that series is so good that it would be hard to follow up with something as good or better.

About the author:

Critically acclaimed author Steven James has written more than thirty books, including Story, A Heart Exposed, and the bestselling Patrick Bowers thriller series. He is considered one of the nation's most innovative storytellers and versatile authors, and is a contributing editor to Writer's Digest. Steven lives in Tennessee with his wife and three daughters.

Placebo is available November 2012 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.

Thanks to Donna at Revell for the review copy.