Yvonne‘SKIN GAMES‘ by Adam Pepper
She’s crouched in the corner, her heart racing. A small hint of light slips in through the crack.
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Why? Why is Baba so stubborn?
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Heavy pounding, Arms banging the glass door. She squirms.
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“Just open up, old man. We’re coming in one way or another, so just make it easy on yourself and open up.”
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There isn’t any doubt: they mean what they say.
…
‘Skin Games’ looks as though it is a slight move away from the author’s usual genre, although it sounds as though it looses nothing of Adam’s signature horror and suspense elements.
Those first few lines have me hooked already and wanting to know who wants to get to an old man so desperately … what as he seen or done and why is he holed up with a female who sounds much younger than he is?
The synopsis, together with this short extract hints at a latent violence and possible feud situation … all the required elements of a great story for me, I can’t wait to start reading.
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What is ‘Book Beginnings’ and how can you join in the fun?
Would the first few lines of your book make you want to read on?
If so, would you like to share them with us, (without revealing too many spoilers of course) ?
Click on the link and visit Gilion @ Rose City Reader
You can then leave a link to your own book beginnings post, or just browse for some great reads, there are always plenty of new authors and titles to be discovered.
Don’t forget that Gilion and all the other contributors to this meme love to hear from you, so why not leave a comment or two at the same time.
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As this was an author invitation to read and review, a download of ‘Skin Games: A crime drama ‘ was sent to me free of charge, by its author, Adam Pepper.
This will in no way influence any comments I may express about the book, in any blog article I may post. Any thoughts or comments are my own personal opinion and I am in no way being monetarily compensated for this, or any other article.
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That one would not be for me but it is fun seeing what you read. Here is my post: Book Beginnings
Hi Jo,
I must admit that I haven’t read many books about the Mafia, I believe that they almost belong in a genre of their own, but this storyline is quite intriguing so I shall hold judgement until I have read the book.
Thanks for stopping by to see what’s going on here at Fiction Books, it is always good to hear from you.
It sounds tense! Definitely meant to hook a reader straightaway! Thanks for sharing! Hop on over if you have the time:
http://universeinwords.blogspot.co.uk/2012/06/friday-im-in-love.html
Juli @ Universe in Words
Hi Juli,
You can almost ‘taste’ the tension in those first few lines, can’t you?
As if that isn’t enough, the title ‘Skin Games’ is enough to have reading with your hands covering your eyes.
I haven’t read such an intense sounding book for some time, so I am looking forward to getting started on it.
Thanks for stopping by, I always appreciate all the comments I receive.
Very tense! I wonder who they are and what they want?
Here are my Friday Memes.
Hi Bev,
I can’t help with either of your questions just yet, as I haven’t started the book, but being as it is a story centred around the Mafia, I’m sure that they aren’t just there to say “hi”!
I stopped myself from reading past the first page, but those lines certainly have me eagerly waiting to know more.
Thanks for stopping by, your comments are always appreciated
The title itself gives me the shivers.
Here’s my Book Beginnings.
Hi Chris,
Same here, although if you check out the author’s website, you will see that this, his latest book, has actually been toned down quite a bit by comparison with his earlier titles and joice of cover art.
http://adampepper.com/
Thanks for the visit, it has been great to have you stop by and comment.
Too horrific for me. But it sounds like a good read. Enjoy. (I am reading a vintage mystery. Very tame.)
Hi Tracy,
I like an eclectic mix of genres, so I would be quite happy reading your vintage mystery and I hope that you are enjoying it.
I don’t think that ‘Skin Games’ is quite as horrific as perhaps everyone thinks, as it is classified as a ‘crime/drama’ by the author, although given the subject matter, it definitely isn’t set to be a ‘cozy’ mystery by any stretch of imagination, I’m sure.
Thanks for taking the time to comment, I always love to chat with new people and I hope to have you visit again soon.
Intense beginning. Probably to scary for me if it’s horror. 🙂
Hi Eva,
I have to agree that the tension is almost palpable in just those first few lines and I am sure that the story is going to be quite intense and dramatic. However, it is classified as a crime/drama, so I think that the horror is going to be kept to a minimum, in this particular book.
It sounds as though Adam has written in a great variety of styles and has found success in some quite diverse publications over the years, so I am keen to get started on this book.
Thanks for the comments, always great to have you stop by.
Yup, that is very suspenseful. “Baba” suggests a setting where Arabic is spoken?
Hi Amy,
I don’t really want to peek further into the book just yet, as I won’t be ready to start reading it for a few days, but as far as I know, it is a story about the Mafia and hasn’t anything to do with anything Arabic …. now you have me intrigued and wanting to find out if you are right or not!!
When I searched for the definitions of ‘baba’, none of those seems to have any reference to an Arabic origin either and going from just this single reference in my opening lines, I took the nearest definition to the scenario described above, to be this one:
“used for talking to an older man in a way that shows respect”
Thanks for taking the post off in a great new direction, that really got me thinking about it more deeply. I appreciate the time and comments and hope to speak with you again soon.
Suspense! Love those on a dark rainy night 🙂 The title Skin Games sounds creepy, and that cover really captures the whole scary feel. Hope you’re enjoying it!
http://guiltlessreading.blogspot.ca/2012/06/friday-56-book-beginnings-confessions.html
Hi Aloi,
I haven’t got around to starting this book yet, I’m afraid that I can only ever read one book at a time and I still have a few pages left in my current book, which is also a suspense, although nothing on the same scale of scary as ‘Skin Games’.
I will read and usually enjoy, just about any genre, with the possible exceptions of science fiction and memoirs, and I do like to mix things up a bit, so that my reading has a bit of variety to it.
I guess that being about the Mafia, this book will contain quite a lot in the way of bad language and violence. This type of reading was part of my staple reading diet many years ago, however it has been some time now since I ventured down this road, so I am really looking forward to renewing the challenge.
Thanks for stopping by Fiction Books today, I love to ‘meet’ new people and I am always ready for a chat about almost anything, so feel free to leave as many comments as you want, whether they are about books and reading, or something totally unrelated.
Sounds like an excellent read and one I’d enjoy (having read those few lines). I hope you enjoy it and I look forward to reading your thoughts on the book. 🙂
Hi Nikki,
I can well imagine that you would enjoy this book, so keep looking out for additional posts where it is mentioned, just to help you make up your mind.
I have to say that the author, Adam Pepper, certainly writes on an eclectic mix of subjects and once over the initial shock after landing on his home page, I have been back and checked out some of his other works and wouldn’t mind giving a couple of them a try, although I shall wait until I am well into this book first and can decide whether I like his style of writing and presentation.
Thanks for stopping by and I hope that all is well with you.
That does sound good and I am wondering why they are so determined to get this man.
Hi Naida,
I haven’t started this book yet, but as I know from the synopsis that the story involves the Mafia, I guess that nothing good is about to happen. The more commenters are putting forward different suggestions about those first descriptive lines, the more I am longing to actually get my hands on the book and start reading.
The trouble is, my current read ‘The Devil’s Dime’ is just as enticing in a different way and I don’t really want that to end too soon, so I shall just have to be patient.
It is at times like these that I wish I could be like others, who seem to be able to follow the individual storylines of more than one book at a time, without getting completely confused. Me, I have to read, finish and comment on, one book at a time!
Thanks for stopping by, great to hear from you again.