Khaled Talib

Khaled Talib has crafted another magnificent thriller to keep you on the edge of your seats.

In Spiral, Laurence Turner is apart of many tragic, surprise events that just keep coming his way. He's been around enough dead people to make it suspicious. Honestly, it's amazing this guy hasn't been labelled suspicious before! His fiancee died on a tragic trip that he doesn't remember much of. He picks grapes but also is near a lab that is cloning, which tragedy will soon fall on them too. This guy is just a tragedy magnet, the poor fellow.

As bad luck follows Laurence, he gets swept up into a giant conspiracy. Russian spies, fake friends and thrills everywhere, this book is gonna leave you breathless! There's lots of plot twists that are awesome and I didn't see coming (seriously, I was surprised which is a hard thing to do with how many books I read and soap operas I grew up on).

Other fun notes:
1. A dude named Snowman, because of course there is.
2. Fast paced, constant action and rescue missions.
3. Biker gangs!
4. Excellent introduction to insane terminology like coddiwomple.

Overall, this is an excellent thriller for those seeking something not mainstream. I love picking up indie thrillers because they don't follow the same formula the bestsellers list does. Seriously, if you love thrillers and mysteries then grab an indie book. You'll be surprised how many new favourites you'll pick up!

Four out of five stars.

I received a free copy of this book from the author, Khlaed Talib, in exchange of an honest review.… (més)

Gun Kiss is a riveting read full of action, crime and suspense!

I'm not gonna lie, this book impressed me! I hadn't picked up a really good crime novel in a while, so reading this book was a nice change in flow. Following Blake and Goldie was a unique thrill that was well worth the time.

Goldie is an actress and Blake is a writer/crime fighter/Ethan Hunt-esque man. When a drug lord tries to steal Goldie, Blake comes to the rescue! Of course, along the way there is some romance and suspense (because you can't get two good looking people in a room and NOT expect them to hook up).

Along the way this ex-military hunk deals with lots of high energy level action. There are hit men after him, his girl is almost always getting abducted and he just can't seem to catch a break. Even with their bodyguards around, there are constantly bullets flying their way. Throw in trafficking, insane Russians and a famous gun and you've got one wild ride!

This book walked a fine line between thriller and suspenseful crime novel. I think it mixed in just a perfect amount of romance and mystery to fulfill all of my wishes for the book. There is even some history thrown into the mix just to spice it up. If anything, I feel like this book would do better in a series than as a stand alone. There were moments that I wished the book would have been split up into numerous novels because there was so many great plot lines and opportunities to take. For me, that would be my only downfall of the novel - there was so much good content it could have been a couple of books.

I'd definitely recommend this book to anyone looking for a fast-paced and fun thrill ride. It's not a book for younger readers due to the blood shed, death, and R rated sequences sprinkled throughout the novel. I think an older teen would easily be able to pick this up (because, let's be honest, most television now can be pretty gore-y).

Overall, this book is a smash hit in my opinion! It was fast enough to keep me hooked, it had just enough romance to make me sigh and the action felt like Mission Impossible styled fun!

Four out of five stars!

I received this book for free from the author Khaled Talib.… (més)

A fun and imaginative accidental trip back to the 60s wrapped around a suspenseful thriller.

Far Out is the latest mystery novel by author Khaled Talib and the second to feature screenwriter Blake Deco and Hollywood actress Goldie Saint Helen, both having debuted in Talib’s previous action thriller, Gun Kiss. The imaginative storyline has Goldie recuperating from dissociative amnesia after a major car accident and alternating between her true identity and that of her character in an upcoming film: a 1960s hippie private investigator, Gypsy Star. With instructions from the doctor to go along with her delusions, Blake is swept up in the drama as Gypsy’s hired assistant, Ted, until he discovers a secret but temporary cure for the amnesia that keeps his wife functioning in “Goldie” mode until the effects wear off.

Goldie as Goldie is a strong and savvy Hollywood actor making her mark in the film industry, while her alter ego, Gypsy, couldn’t be more different. Permanently moored in the 1960s, Gypsy is a soul-deep hippie chick with all the ideals and lingo firmly intact. I thoroughly enjoyed the throwback to this earlier time and the cultural references. I enjoyed how the Gypsy persona maintained a total lock on her belief that she was currently living in the 1960s. Any physical detail or cue that conflicted with that belief was altered by her mind to maintain her delusion. So, any current dates mentioned were translated to the 1960s equivalent. Any technical advancements she noticed became creations of the CIA, consistent with the plot of her upcoming film. Blake is a worried and loving spouse, ready to support his wife in any way he can to bring her back to health and still preserve his marriage. Goldie and Blake are a solid couple, their alliance apparently forged in the previous novel. I look forward to backing up and reading this earlier book soon.

With murder coming into the plot, the suspense level kicked into high gear, and there were twists I didn’t expect. The author’s writing style made for easy yet compelling reading, exactly the kind of book to settle in with for a fun and relaxing good time.

I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advanced Review Copy from the author through Partners in Crime Virtual Book Tours.… (més)