Review: Ravens
While on their way from Ohio to Florida, Shaw McBride and Romeo Zderko stop at a gas station in Brunswick, Georgia. Shaw overhears a clerk telling someone that a local family has purchased the winning lottery ticket for the $318 million dollar jackpot at that store. Shaw cooks up a scheme to extort half of the money from the Boatwright family. He holds the family hostage while Romeo prowls around ready to murder their family and friends at a moment’s notice.
The Boatwrights resist at first, but eventually go along with Shaw’s plan out of fear for their loved ones. At the press conference, Shaw announces that he will be giving all of his half of the money away to charity. All of a sudden, he has a huge legion of followers who think he can perform miracles. It seems like Shaw and the Boatwrights are getting along well but there are things brewing under the surface.
George Dawes Green does a masterful job of building and maintaining suspense in Ravens. This is a fast-paced page turner, that I couldn’t put down. The character development is good, even though this is a plot driven book. I had an intense dislike for Shaw and sympathy for Romeo. There are lots of twists and turns, so the ending was totally unexpected for me, but I think it worked very well. There’s even a little dark humor in this one. The setting – a small, dead-end town in the deep South – almost became another character for me because I know exactly what those kinds of towns are like.
George Dawes Green is the author of two other novels – The Caveman’s Valentine and The Juror – both of which have been made into movies. I plan to go back and read both of them. This is his first novel in fourteen years. Check back tomorrow for an interview with him.
Review copy provided by Hachette Books.
I am so glad you enjoyed this book, Kathy. I can’t wait to read mine. I haven’t read the authors other books. I can imagine that there is a lot of anticipation for his first book in so many years. I’m looking forward to your interview, too.
I think Booking Pap Pap might like this one!
I have not yet heard of this book, but it sound riveting! Thanks for a great review.
This one sounds interesting. I’m looking forward to the interview tomorrow.
This one sounds like it would be an intense read. Thanks for the review Kathy!
This sounds like a really intense read — thanks for the review.
This sounds really good! I just added it to my TBR Pile!
A page turner set in a small town in the deep south plus lottery winnings – works for me.
I’m going to hunt this one down! Sounds soooo good, and the cover is wonderful!
Thanks for the review, I will have to add this one to my shopping list.
This book sounds like it might be interesting, even though it’s not my usual fare. I also love the cover.
This one has gotten my curiosity.
Sounds really different from the usual type of story. Great review.
I really enjoy a well written suspense novel!! This one sounds very good!!!
I’ve never heard of this one but I do like a fast paced thriller for sure.
i love the genre…and the title has me wondering. how does it tie into the premise? i love your review–succint and attention-grabbing! not only have i not heard of the book or the author, but i haven’t heard of the movies either. i must really live under a rock!
Great review, I hadn’t heard of this book and now I can’t wait to read it. I’m adding it to my Amazon list. 😀
This sounds pretty fantastic!!!!! Thanks for the review. 🙂 I love pageturners….I feel there are so few these days!
I absolutely LOVE the cover. Glad the book is good too.
Oohhh! This does sound good! I want to read it!!!
I haven’t heard about this book before, thanks for the review!
So glad to hear you enjoyed this one! I’ve had a review copy sitting here for months and it was nearly impossible to hold off on reading it. But now that it’s coming out soon, I can get started! Yay 🙂
I think I would like the Deep South setting but I’d have a few problems with it. I might have to pick up one of those that was adapted into a movie though!
Sounds like an interesting storyline. I haven’t read anything by this author, but I’ll keep this one in mind.
–Anna
Sounds like a great storyline – thanks for the giveaway.