Divine Intervention by Cheryl Kaye Tardif

Published by Trafford Publishing

When Cheryl Kaye Tardif writes a book you know it will grip you right from the beginning and take you on an intense and fascinating ride. This book is no exception, but readers should keep in mind this book was written in 2004 as a futuristic techno-psi-thriller and has now almost caught up with itself. I loved this book, even though it may be a little dated futuristically. In fact, that was part of its allure for me, it takes place in British Columbia and references some of the past I know. I feel connected to this story. It's curious to see what might have been, technically speaking, in 2012 and where we actually are (to the best of our limited knowledge) in 2011. As the average reader knows, when it comes to technology and psychic resources for certain areas of our lives, we are definitely left out of the loop be it governmental, military, or even local policing.

Regardless, this is fun, intense, serious, futuristic fiction done up with great characterizations, full of futuristic tools. I say tools because these are the good guys, no bombs here. They are police, firemen, and secret law enforcement agents under the recently formed CFBI, a Canadian counterpart to the FBI. In "Divine Intervention" this group has just taken charge of two cases from different parts of British Columbia after evidence in both cases points to a serial arsonist murderer. What is different in this group is the covert Psi factor.

The group we follow is part of the PSI division, Psychic Skills Investigators, secreted in an underground complex under the direction of Matthew Divine. Very specialized in different areas, this close-knit group is comprised of Agent Jasmine McLellan, leader, profiler Ben Roberts, and Natassia Prushenko. Jasmine, Jasi to her friends, is a Pyro-Psychic who "reads" fires, her psychic ability to see through a killer's eyes and mind is drawn out by the smell of fires. Ben is a Psychometric Empath, able to read thoughts and emotions by touch. Natassia is a Victim Empath, touching a cadaver, she "relives" the victim's last sights and thoughts. Is the high profile but insufferable Premier of B.C. a suspect or a victim? What is the real reason his father was murdered? Who would have any reason to kill a foster mother and 4 year old child? How do these all fit together? These are the questions they must find answers to, and there is every reason to believe the murderer will claim another victim very quickly. There is one clue only when the team starts its investigation.

This book is exceptionally well-written, interesting in its handling of unusual circumstances, and equally unusual characters. It is taut, cohesive, yet personal. I enjoyed the thoughts going through Jasi's mind when she wasn't working, and "hearing" her read seems like a jolt of reality, this girl is definitely seeing through the killer's eyes and speaking his/her thoughts and words. The author has a way of creating reality from paranormal or psychic abilities and puts the words in her characters' mouths. I was completely glued to the book. I heartily recommend Cheryl Kaye's books, no matter the subject. I have the feeling she could write about any subject and makes us want more.

The Dyodyne Experiment - a novel by James Doulgeris & V. Michael Santoro

Originally posted Saturday, August 8, 2009
Reviewed for Front Street Reviews

You know you are onto a unique story of plausible future when you check out the authors of this book. James Doulgeris, an expert in the healthcare industry for twenty-five years, and V. Michael Santoro, VP of product development for C-5 Biotechnologies with over twenty-five years in the high tech industry. This appears to be their first novel although Santoro is an established non-fiction author. A powerful debut novel!

Think of what a second September 11 event even more momentous than the original would escalate to. Think of amazing advances in biotechnology and DNA. Here you have the setting for amazingly devastating possibilities and perhaps probabilities. The time period appears to be perhaps as few as 2 decades or several decades in the future, and the first event is scheduled to coincide with the original September 11 terrorist attack on the U.S. The story is action-packed, character-driven, and told as a real-time scenario which keeps the pace of the book moving full throttle.

The discovery of a way to link DNA and biotechnology in this new future has created a “marking” or “tagging” method by which known terrorists and associates can be pinpointed anywhere in the world at any time, and as the story progresses further tweaking even allows interaction with the known and the suspected through their immune systems and general health within seconds. The change the world is facing is rushing at full speed ahead and everything must mesh minute by minute.

If you want a high speed international thriller, then this is the book for you. I applaud the authors on putting together such a diverse and frightening book. Many readers will find themselves revisiting the terrorism of today and will find that this book will get them thinking seriously of the roles involving several countries. There are unique methods used in this roller-coaster ride that will be unexpected, for instance the sometimes use of non-nuclear warfare. The book goes way beyond what our normal fears are and takes us on an unexpected journey of just who are the allies of the U.S.? Which countries are forming previously unnoticed alliances? Who or what governments can be trusted?

Slightly out of my normal reading genre, I found it exhilarating, frightening, believable in many ways, and a very good read. Because of the genre, I hesitate to say it, but I thoroughly enjoyed this book and could hardly put it down. I have a feeling there will be a follow-up to this book and if so I will certainly be one of the readers who will be waiting to read it.
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There were 3 comments posted when this was on my "accidentally split" version of my blog (R&B: Reading and Blogging), now hopefully combined forever! ;-) I am adding these comments here because I don't think I can do it on-line myself:

Anonymous said...
I loved the book too. Very edge of your seat stuff. It read like an action movie.
August 12, 2009 5:04 PM

Anonymous said...
Funny how you can find the exact same review on sooo many different sites by supposedly different people. Makes you wonder who really wrote the review....
September 13, 2009 7:36 PM

nightreader said...
In response to Anonymous re "...who really wrote the review..." Thanks for bringing this to my attention. I can assure you that I wrote this and all my reviews 100% myself. Some confusion may exist on different sites where my chosen ID name was already taken, hence I am mothergoose3, readerbynight, or simply Betty. If you can find me a sample of any other that does not appear to be me I would like to know about it. My words are my own. I review books on GoodReads, LibraryThing, Chapters Community, am a reviewer for FrontStreetReviews. Some of my shortened reviews show up on Amazon.com, Amazon.ca & ChaptersIndigo, sometimes at Barnes&Noble. Some of the reading sites happen to link to Facebook automatically. Some authors and bloggers have asked permission to use my review on their blogs, which I am always happy to approve. My profile can be found on almost every site I have personally reviewed on and should prove that I am indeed the person who wrote the review. In fact, by the way I have written this response should prove the truth as I tend to be wordy sometimes. I am not a professional reviewer, I am not paid, I apply for advanced reading books and contests and if I am lucky enough to get books (they are mostly draws) I get to keep them; the rest are books I've purchased myself. I do not read other reviews of the same book until after I have submitted my own so I won't be influenced and often find I am in disagreement with others to my surprise. ;-) I would definitely like to know if someone is using my reviews and taking credit for them.
September 20, 2009 9:51 AM