Review of Crazy Dangerous!

Crazy Dangerous is the new suspense/action YA novel by Andrew Klavan (author of the Homelanders Series, see my reviews of books two, three, and four). I know it's been a while since I've posted, but I'm going to let this book take the spotlight this time. Because it is that good, my dear readers.

Synopsis:

"You probably want to hear about Jennifer and the demons and how I played chicken with a freight train and-oh yeah-the weird murder . . . you're definitely going to want to hear about that."

Sam Hopkins is a good kid who has fallen in with a bad crowd. Hanging around with car thieves and thugs, Sam knows it's only a matter of time before he makes one bad decision too many and gets into real trouble.

But one day, Sam sees them harassing an eccentric schoolmate of his named Jennifer. When Sam finds the courage to face the bullies down, he loses a bad set of friends and acquires a very strange new one.

Because Jennifer is not just eccentric. To Sam, she seems downright crazy. She has terrifying hallucinations involving demons and the devil and death. And here's the really crazy part: Sam is beginning to suspect that these visions may actually be prophecies--prophecies of something terrible that's going to happen very soon. Unless he can stop it.

With no one to believe him, with no one to help him, Sam is now all alone in a race against time. Finding the truth before disaster strikes is going to be both crazy and very, very dangerous.

My Opinion:
Fear nothing. Do right. These two statements are the main theme of this book. As the main character, Sam, has to muddle through what he believes is right and wrong and what his response should be, he is put into some extraordinary circumstances. I mean, what other preacher's kid would start hanging around car thieves, befriend an eccentric girl who mutters his name like a magic word and seems to see the future, sneak out of his house several times, and build up the courage to talk to his crush?

Okay, okay, this book is a little far-fetched, but that's the point of most fiction, right?

I like the clash of science and spirituality in this book. When it comes to Jennifer, Sam has to figure out where he draws the line between the two, or if he does at all. This book does address that but lets the reader decide what they believe. Also, this book is not overtly "preachy".

I was absolutely hooked from page one. The author does an excellent job of keeping a fast pace while grabbing the reader's attention and not stopping to explain frivolous details. I literally could not put this book down. Thank goodness I was reading this on a Friday, because I stayed up late to finish it!

Samantha is definitely an intriguing character. Since I'm interested in medicine, I like how the possibility of a medical condition came into play. The author did an amazing job getting into her head and making it all so unique.

The book is eery. Ominous, even. Totally gripping, and eventually, shocking.

You don't want to miss out on reading Crazy Dangerous!

~Specifics (from amazon.com)
~ Hardcover: 336 pages
~ Publisher: Thomas Nelson (May 1, 2012)

Don't just take my word for it! Check out other reviews here!

Andrew Klavan's Crazy Dangerous $100 Visa Cash Card Giveaway and Author Chat Party {5/29} Enter Today - 5/8-5/28!

Note: Thanks to Litfuse and the publisher for providing me with a free copy of this book for reviewing purposes.

Blessings,
~Prism~