Reviewed by: Caleb Hoelscher is a student of professional writing at Taylor University in Indiana
Introduction
Title: Annabel Lee
Author: Mike Nappa
Publisher: Revell
Publication Date: 2016
Format: Paper back print book
Length: 368 pages
OVERVIEW
Annabel Lee is a thriller novel inspired by the classic Edgar Allan Poe poem. It is told from three unique perspectives: The Mute, who is a retired army sniper; Trudi, a divorced private investigator; and Annabel Lee, herself, a young girl hidden away in a bunker by her mysterious uncle. The story fixates on the quest of being the first person to find and rescue the young girl. Nappa’s masterful three-dimensional characters make it a pleasure to follow the pursuit of Annabel as the action unfolds. The motivations are believable. The voices are distinct. And— most important—the relationships are complex, which left ample space for the characters to bind, then drift apart, and even sometimes explode in a ferocious emotional combustion of dominating personality and heated desire. These perspectives also add to the suspense of the story as each character provides the reader with a small piece of the much larger puzzle. As Nappa’s cast of personalities races to find Annabel Lee, the readers race to assemble the pieces and solve the mystery behind the girl’s life story—before the characters unravel it first. Although the conclusion felt a bit disjointed from the rest of the novel and some of the scenes might be construed by some readers as unnecessarily graphic, Nappa’s storytelling craft assures the success of his first Coffey & Hill Novel. It is safe to say that I cherished Annabel Lee.
ASSESSMENT
Rating (1 to 5)
4 stars
Suggested Audience
Adults, fans of detective fiction or suspense fiction
Christian Impact
Mike Nappa reveals how relatable characters interact with issues of faith and spirituality in the midst of pressing and challenging circumstances.
Caleb Hoelscher is a student of professional writing at Taylor University. His passions include language, music, and the people who produce them.
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[…] Note: This book is the third one in the Coffey and Hill series. The book can be read by itself, but makes the most sense if the series is read in sequence. To read ECLA’s review of the previous novel, Annabel Lee, go to https://eclalibraries.org/2017/02/12/book-review-annabel-lee/ […]