The Park Service by Ryan Winfield

Genre: Science Fiction, Dystopian Fiction

Setting: about one thousand years in the future.

First Sentence: Dead leaves scatter, caught and swirling in the smoky exhaust.

This novel is the first in Winfield's Park Service Trilogy.

I love novels that start down one path into a predictable plot, then take an unexpected turn into a completely different story.

In this novel, our main character Aubrey, lives deep below the surface of the Earth.  All his life Aubrey has been taught that due to a nuclear war a thousand years ago, the surface of Earth is a blasted wasteland where nothing can survive.  What remains of humanity survives on artificial food and recycled possessions. When a person reaches the age of thirty-five they are "retired" to live the rest of their days in beautiful place called Eden.

At the age of fifteen, each adolescent takes a test to determine his or her future.  If they do poorly, they are sent to the lower levels where work is hard and life is less pleasant.  Those who do well, can remain on their current level.  A few who do exceptionally well can move to a higher level where life is easier and more comfortable.

When he takes his test, Aubrey does something no one else has ever done.  He aces the test.  This means he can advance to level 1.  The highest and most prestigious level.

On the trip to level one, something happens.  And Aubrey discovers that his life, until now, has been a lie.

What will Aubrey do when he is confronted with the truth about life on Earth?

This novel us a great beginning to a trilogy.  The story is not over.  The author leaves us wondering what will happen next.  I am eager to find out.  And book two of this trilogy is now on my must read list.

Bravo to the author for creating an interesting and exciting novel.

                                                             

Blackstone and the Balloon of Death by Sally Spencer

Genre: Historical Mystery

Setting: London, England at the start of the Twentieth Century.

First Sentence:  Lady Eustacia Wilton looked down at the letter she was holding in her trembling hands, and read it through once more.

The fifth novel in Spencer's Investigator Blackstone Series.

A murder is committed in front of a theater audience.  The lead actor is stabbed in the neck and falls to his death.  The lead actress holds the knife in her hands and screams.  That's how the play was written.  That's how the play has been performed.

But, tonight, the actor really does die.  And the knife is truly a murder weapon.

In the audience are Inspector Sam Blackstone and his friend Dr. Ellie Carr.  Blackstone begins investigating the death from a police detective's point of view.  While Dr. Carr (a practitioner of the new science of forensics) begins to study the actual cause of death.

In his investigations Blackstone unravels the intricate relationships between the actors, the theater owner, and an influential member of the aristocracy (Blackstone's particular nemeses).

Dr. Ellie becomes engrossed in the actual cause of the actors death.  She quickly realizes that she is faced with finking an extremely lethal form of poison.

Although both Sam and Ellie are working on the same case, they are not working together.  This fact takes its toll on their budding relationship.

Will Blackstone and Ellie discover the clues which will point the finger at the culprit?

Once again the author has penned an engrossing mystery tale.  I enjoyed it.

This novel has been republished with a new title.  I have included links for both versions of the book.