As sure as the sun will rise tomorrow—unless it’s an overcast day, of course—I know for a fact that any book by the extremely talented Mr. Starkey is going to be a book I’ll end up devouring. It must be noted that prior to even starting, the blurbs alone entice me, and once I find that little bit of time to delve between even one page, it’s a given it will be a book I’ll thoroughly enjoy. This one was no exception.
Mr. Charon would seem to be predominantly aimed at the young adult market, however, it is by no means restrained to that age group. At all. Not if you take my age into account, at least. Not only was the premise for this ‘scary’ story fascinating, the characters were believable, all with diverse backgrounds, whether it incorporated standards of living, religious beliefs, or family abuse. No one was painted with the ‘perfect’ brush—as we all know, real life is by no means ever perfect.
In short, Mr. Charon veered in a completely different direction to what I’m used to from Mr. Starkey, and it was fabulous, intriguing, and captivating. And although I mentioned the word ‘scary’, which it is, unless you aren’t the type of person who’s ever the least bit phased with the paranormal and strange creatures, it’s not all scary. But it is gripping, and it is suspenseful. For me, in the end, all I kept thinking about was…be careful what you wish for. It might just happen. And then what? Not everyone has that someone who has their back.
Thank you, Mr. Starkey, for the opportunity to read Mr. Charon. Yet again, you’ve made me a very happy reader, and an eternal fan of your work.
“Lords of the Dais” 
Lords of the Dais is fast, relentless, and incredibly compelling reading. Author Glenn Starkey has created a wonderful scenario in which Lewis and his partner are under immense pressure to identify and capture this mysterious “Jack” before another victim is discovered. The characterization is well done, especially as told from the perspective of “Jack” himself. This split perspective in the narrative takes readers deep inside the damaged psyche of a serial killer, and that, more than anything, gives the entire narrative a sense of inclusion and believability. I particularly enjoyed the detailed analysis of police procedure as they attempted to unravel the mystery and find something that could point them in the right direction. The writing is tense, very graphic, and will immerse readers in the horrific scenes left in the aftermath of a murder. For me, the highlight of the entire story was the showdown and the reveal of the serial killer’s identity to a shocked and surprised public. This is a tense, exciting, and thoroughly enjoyable read that I highly recommend.
