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.
Readers kept asking for a sequel to “Solomon’s Men” and now it’s on the horizon. “The Honjo” blends the ancient history of a priceless samurai sword with the present underworld of the Yakuza, and a foreign government’s quest for its return. And caught up in the dark world is Greg Valdez, with more at stake than a sword. Packed with the emotions, action and mystery that everyone loved in the first book, “The Honjo” will leave readers wanting more. Coming in 2018!
