Spirit of the Straightedge - first in the series - an Elsie Sanders Suspense Thriller

Rating:
Summary: This "straight edge" needs sharpening!!!
Review: "Spirit of the Straight Edge" is one of those books that makes you understand why people have to self publish. If you click on the editorial reviews button here on Amazon and read the excerpt from the book, you will see how breathless it is and how poor the writing really is. Try this on for an example: "I'm going to murder a man. That fact has become my obsession, and obsession my master." Or how about this: "I walked briskly through the restaurant door and 'slap'-the scent of their house blend tea hit hard. My knees buckled." Is that original and creative writing? And unfortunately it doesn't get much better as the story plods along.

The thing Ms. Lakey should be obsessed with is good writing and creating an interesting story that isn't cliched and a near carbon copy of so many others. And then there's the price, over twenty dollars for a paperback?

I'm sorry to be so harsh on this book. I wanted to like it. It has a decent premise and a mildly promising opening. Unfortunately, I don't think it holds up in either the writing or the story telling.

Rating:
Summary: read it in one sleepless night
Review: Babs Lakey has written an exciting, scary, sexy thriller that is a must read for anyone that enjoys mysteries or RED DRAGON type books about serial killers. Ms. Lakey does a masterful job of getting inside her characters heads and making them come to life.

Don't start this one unless you have an entire evening dedicated to reading, because once you start you won't be able to put it down until you've finished. Fortunately, there are two more Lakey novels that follow her anti-heroine Elsie Saunders.

Bravo Ms. Lakey!

Rating:
Summary: Chilling, Contemporary and Insightful
Review: Babs Lakey has written the kind of book that is difficult to put down because it literally cuts through your complacency and holds you to the end. She has written a masterful story that defies being pigeon-holed. It's suspenseful, a thriller, a mystery, erotic in some ways, an indictement on our times and definitely an eye-opener. Babs Lakey represents a new breed of author, courageous and original in her subject matter. She's one that will only grow over time, and her talent more burnished as she continues her series. This is a series to follow--and certainly, the author will develop a following is as she develops her all-too-human protagonists and creates new subtlities and depths to her novels.

Rating:
Summary: Fierce Vengeance
Review: Barbara Lakey is an excellent writer. The story is riveting and just the ticket for those who want a book that will deliver the sharp sting of reality. Not for the gentle reader, but for thise with slightly darker tastes--but who choose fine writing.

Rating:
Summary: Wonderful and Frightening
Review: Barbara Lakey's "Spirit of the Straight Edge" is a well-written, often poetic, thriller that's guaranteed to give you chills.

Elsie is a force to be reckoned with. It's said that "Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned." Try "a woman bent on revenge!"

Lakey's glimpses into the mind of the sadistic serial killer that Elsie hunts are frightening. After reading this book, it was difficult for me to trust men, especially if I had rebuffed them. Scary.

Rating:
Summary: Couldn't Put It Down!
Review: Every once in a while a book comes along that grabs you by the throat and you can't stop reading it--even if you wanted to. It took me no time whatsoever to read this book, but the story will stay with me for a long time.

It's raw and graphic, and some splendid phrases I had to read and re-read because how deliciously well written they were. Not only is the plot catching and well-woven, but the way Babs puts words together lets us all know who's in charge.

I have yet to read the next two books in the series, but I am positive if they are half as good as the first, I will be more than happy.

Rating:
Summary: A Hard Read: Spirit Of The Straightedge by Babs Lakely
Review: This is the first of a planned series by the author to assist and motivate the abused. As the author is quoted on the back cover, "These SPIRIT books were written to inspire those who are abused to seize control, to use their collective power to put teeth into our laws." Seizing control is certainly the main theme of the work as an abused woman seeks revenge on men to make up for the abuse of her parents and the rape, battery and ultimately death of her best friend.

From multiple points of view and perspectives, along with numerous flashbacks and dreams, the story of a killer and his stalking of his next victim unfolds in this extremely graphic and violent novel. Lynn and Elsie had been friends since childhood eventually rooming together, before Elsie comes home to find her best friend savagely beaten, raped, mutilated and killed. The room is soaked in blood and what is left, is barely recognizable as to being human before death. Elsie suffers what apparently is a mental breakdown before pulling herself together with one thought in mind. She knows the justice system and specifically a detective Gerald Lawrence who wants to help, but can't. That isn't good enough and it will not satisfy her inner need for justice.

All she knows is that Lynn called him Peter and she begins a hunt for Peter. Eventually, she identifies him and begins to stalk him just as he did to Lynn. While Peter is aware of her presence, he is not aware of who really is or what she has in mind for him. At the same time, she begins to stalk other men for her own purposes and needs.

While Detective Lawrence, known to one and all by a shortened version of his name "Law" works the death of Lynn he also has another problem. A suspect is going around and killing men, before removing their male sexual organ and running it down the garbage disposal. The case is generating media attention and he has to find the assailant named as "Bite-Woman." While Elsie focuses the rage of childhood abuse along with the murder of her best friend into an all encompassing mission for revenge, Law is haunted by the memories of the dead and the need to solve the cases and save Elsie from her own inner demons.

This is a vengeance novel pure and simple on men everywhere and those that allow abuse to happen. It is well written for what it is and is extremely graphic and disturbing. As stated on the back cover along with the author's quote referenced above, "Text contains graphic violence, sex, and language." That warning could not be made strong enough, as this novel is one of the harshest I have ever had the pleasure to read. At the same time, it is clearly not written to serve as reading pleasure or for me to enjoy. Instead it is more of a clarion call for women to stop the cycle of abuse. While incredibly realistic and extremely disturbing, it is well written and is certainly not a relaxing escapist read.

Rating:
Summary: Peter, Peter, Pumpkin Eater.......
Review: Your gut wrenches at the first bloodletting and gets tighter and tighter. You are silent screaming. You're sweating. And that is just the first chapter.