The King by Steven James - REVIEWED!!

About the Book: (from Steven James' website)

FBI Special Agent Patrick Bowers has matched wits with some of the most violent serial killers in history—and one of them has never forgiven him....

Patrick Bowers has pursued the nation’s fiercest serial killers — and now one elusive foe is back for revenge….

Settling into a new post at the FBI academy, Patrick and his fiancée, Lien-hua Jiang, are planning their future together with his stepdaughter, Tessa.

But just when his life seems normal, a demon from the past returns to draw him down a dark road he hoped had closed forever. Forced into a desperate hunt to save the two women he loves most, Patrick is in a race against time to stop an international conspiracy from becoming the most widespread act of terrorism in U.S. history.

My Thoughts:

“Crepusculum vorat diem; aurora evincit noctem:  Dusk swallows the day; dawn conquers the night.” 

  (p. 473)

Steven James almost left me in the dark this time, folks!  I’ve been a HUGE fan of Steven James since I was introduced to the Patrick Bowers series years ago!!  Patrick Bowers has been my hero from day one, and his daughter, Tessa, has won my heart entirely.  He has been relentlessly pursuing and being pursued by some of the most evil villains ever conceived in fiction!  Richard Basque and Valkyrie once again star as key players in The King, and I promise you this is one ferocious thrill ride!  I mean ferocious!! I’ve lost sleep, I’ve gasped, I’ve muttered advice to the characters, I’ve yelled warning at them ….I’ve gotten really involved in this story!  You will too, because every single syllable in the book matters!! Every single one!!

On the brink of marriage and creating a family for himself and Tessa is the absolute worst time in the world to encounter a psychotic cannibal of a serial killer.  Even worse, when there is a maniac manufacturing bogus medications intent on causing massive numbers of deaths and he has found a way to distribute that deadly prescription, it’s not easy to be present and protective over those you love most in this world.  The combination of these two scenarios creates such breath-taking thrills that you will do just about anything to carve out the time necessary to read the story containing such contemplative evil.  And you will grow to love Patrick Bowers more that you ever have before!

I could not conceive how the two plot-lines would ever intersect, but they did.  They did so brilliantly! The thought that I will have to face the end of this series next year breaks my heart!  I know James’ is writing more brilliant fiction, but Patrick Bowers is and will always by my hero!  And if, by chance, he faces loss in the end of the series, I may never recover! Just sayin’!  The King is fabulous!  The title scene just took my breath away!  I cannot begin to recommend this highly enough!! BRAVO!!!! BRAVO!!!

About the Author:

Steven James is the bestselling author of the award-winning Patrick Bowers and Jevin Banks series. James has received wide critical acclaim for his work including two Publishers Weekly starred reviews, three Christy Awards, and as a finalist for an International Thriller Award. Steven is an active member of International Thriller Writers, the Authors Guild, Mystery Writers of America, and International Association of Crime Writers. He is also a contributing editor for Writer's Digest.

Steven has also penned books spanning the genres of prayer collections, dramas, monologues, a nine-book series on creative storytelling, YA fantasy, and inspirational nonfiction. He has a master's degree in storytelling and has taught writing and creative communication around the world. When he's not writing or speaking, you'll find him trail running, rock climbing, or drinking a dark roast coffee near his home in eastern Tennessee.