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Canals
A bachelor who prefers his own company to that of others, Detective Daniel Lawless’s life is turned upside-down when he starts having nightmares and mutilated bodies begin piling up on the canal banks. His life is further complicated when Sandra Jensen, a beautiful 25-year-old deputy, begins working the cases with him. They click.
We soon learn all is not as it first appears. The monster is more than a savage creature, it's an alien species intent on making Earth its personal all-you-can-eat buffet. It evolves at an alarming rate, adapting to its prey and environment in hours instead of hundreds or thousands of years.
Lawless’s nightmares invade the daylight, becoming premonitions and visions, and he discovers he is somehow psychically linked to the monster. With Jensen by his side, his physic experiences become the key to finding and killing the monster.
Detective Dave Baskel and the Modesto Police Department join Lawless and Jensen in hunting the creature after it kills in town. When a Lawless vision gives the police a chance to shoot it, they discover their weapons don’t even slow it down, let alone kill it. Then, as the police scramble, they learn the creature has spawned and they now have seven hungry fearless monsters to contend with.
As the story nears its conclusion, Lawless and Jensen discover—or remember—who they really are and where they’re from—a world destroyed by the creatures. Baskel is the sole witness to their struggle to do what they were born to kill the monsters that threaten mankind.
We soon learn all is not as it first appears. The monster is more than a savage creature, it's an alien species intent on making Earth its personal all-you-can-eat buffet. It evolves at an alarming rate, adapting to its prey and environment in hours instead of hundreds or thousands of years.
Lawless’s nightmares invade the daylight, becoming premonitions and visions, and he discovers he is somehow psychically linked to the monster. With Jensen by his side, his physic experiences become the key to finding and killing the monster.
Detective Dave Baskel and the Modesto Police Department join Lawless and Jensen in hunting the creature after it kills in town. When a Lawless vision gives the police a chance to shoot it, they discover their weapons don’t even slow it down, let alone kill it. Then, as the police scramble, they learn the creature has spawned and they now have seven hungry fearless monsters to contend with.
As the story nears its conclusion, Lawless and Jensen discover—or remember—who they really are and where they’re from—a world destroyed by the creatures. Baskel is the sole witness to their struggle to do what they were born to kill the monsters that threaten mankind.
410 pages, Nook
First published March 1, 2011
1 person is currently reading
23 people want to read
About the author
Everett Powers
7 books28 followersAuthor of CANALS and four Grant Starr thrillers, THE MIGHTY T, DEATH OF A MATADOR, SUNSET HILL, and THE KING OF ROUND VALLEY, and ORYTHON BOOK 1: ROOM 18, Powers lives in Utah with his wife. He has three grown sons.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
June 24, 2011
In a Nutshell
Daniel Lawless is a bachelor detective who prefers shoes over people. What he once thought of as a gift to help him escape the constant torment of school bullies becomes a nightmare when he starts seeing visions of dead bodies, and the visions are real. Along with a local cop, the beautiful and young Sandra Jensen, they set out to try to stop the unstoppable monster from eating it's way through the population of Modesto, California.
First Thoughts
Everett Powers, you have written a masterpeice of thrilling horror! I immediately fell in love with Daniel Lawless (although a detective named Lawless made me roll my eyes but am used to it now). I knew I was going to love this book because of the last line in the second chapter:
Now only thing that detracts from the story, I am afraid to say, is that it has a number of simple typos that really need editing.
Everything about this story has made me very excited to continue on and I spent most of the weekend sneaking a few pages in whenever possible. Wow, just wow. Blown away.
Thoughts Upon Completion
On one hand I am sad that I've finished one of the best books I have read for a while, on the other hand if there had been much more action I may have had a heart-attack! Somewhere I read that writers should avoid having too intense of action for too long, Everett pushed the envelope on this one but it did seem that too much was happening, day break hit and all slowed down again (Daylight is the monster's only weakness).
I found myself at times questioning what the author was doing with the story and why he was taking it that way, the story was always able to overcome this with proof of need and history to back it up.
I loved this story, I loved the characters, I loved the monster, I loved the storyline and how Lawless could see through the eyes of victims . He was indiscriminate with the victims too!
The only issue I have is the concept of "The Leader", it brought a level of 'preachiness' that I didn't think was necessary and could have been toned down or eliminated, not all stories need a moral, cause the moral to this story is, don't walk so close to the canals or you're gonna get yourself eaten!
There was only one thing that reminded me that this fantastically well written story wasn't written by someone backed with a slew of editors and publishing clout behind them, simple mistakes, nothing plot breaking but more the run of the mill type:
(these aren't actual quotes from the book)
-Frank had a good look at he. (should have been her)
-All of the pretty horses had beautiful golden manes of gold. (beautiful manes of gold or beautiful golden manes)
-I did see numbers spelled numbkers once as well
There was enough of these that it caused me to stumble and re-read a sentance.
Overall
I stand by my saying that this is a "masterpeice of thrilling horror". I have no idea why I keep wanting to compare it to Stephen King's It but I do! I also would have to say that this would make one hell of a 3D horror movie that would scare the crap out of millions of viewers and I don't think it would take much imagination to make a screen adaptation (except for what needed to be cut to fit it into 120mins of action).
Daniel Lawless is a bachelor detective who prefers shoes over people. What he once thought of as a gift to help him escape the constant torment of school bullies becomes a nightmare when he starts seeing visions of dead bodies, and the visions are real. Along with a local cop, the beautiful and young Sandra Jensen, they set out to try to stop the unstoppable monster from eating it's way through the population of Modesto, California.
First Thoughts
Everett Powers, you have written a masterpeice of thrilling horror! I immediately fell in love with Daniel Lawless (although a detective named Lawless made me roll my eyes but am used to it now). I knew I was going to love this book because of the last line in the second chapter:
Modesto needed a Dirty Harry, a man of action who carried a big gun he wasn't afraid to use, but what they got instead was Daniel Lawless, a man who carried a small gun he preferred not to use, a man who liked shoes.
Now only thing that detracts from the story, I am afraid to say, is that it has a number of simple typos that really need editing.
Everything about this story has made me very excited to continue on and I spent most of the weekend sneaking a few pages in whenever possible. Wow, just wow. Blown away.
Thoughts Upon Completion
On one hand I am sad that I've finished one of the best books I have read for a while, on the other hand if there had been much more action I may have had a heart-attack! Somewhere I read that writers should avoid having too intense of action for too long, Everett pushed the envelope on this one but it did seem that too much was happening, day break hit and all slowed down again (Daylight is the monster's only weakness).
I found myself at times questioning what the author was doing with the story and why he was taking it that way, the story was always able to overcome this with proof of need and history to back it up.
I loved this story, I loved the characters, I loved the monster, I loved the storyline and how Lawless could see through the eyes of victims . He was indiscriminate with the victims too!
The only issue I have is the concept of "The Leader", it brought a level of 'preachiness' that I didn't think was necessary and could have been toned down or eliminated, not all stories need a moral, cause the moral to this story is, don't walk so close to the canals or you're gonna get yourself eaten!
There was only one thing that reminded me that this fantastically well written story wasn't written by someone backed with a slew of editors and publishing clout behind them, simple mistakes, nothing plot breaking but more the run of the mill type:
(these aren't actual quotes from the book)
-Frank had a good look at he. (should have been her)
-All of the pretty horses had beautiful golden manes of gold. (beautiful manes of gold or beautiful golden manes)
-I did see numbers spelled numbkers once as well
There was enough of these that it caused me to stumble and re-read a sentance.
Overall
I stand by my saying that this is a "masterpeice of thrilling horror". I have no idea why I keep wanting to compare it to Stephen King's It but I do! I also would have to say that this would make one hell of a 3D horror movie that would scare the crap out of millions of viewers and I don't think it would take much imagination to make a screen adaptation (except for what needed to be cut to fit it into 120mins of action).
November 28, 2013
Canals starts off as a typical crime thriller as Detective Daniel Lawless comes to the scene of a dismembered body by a canal in California. Everett Powers then develops a wonderful story written in the style of a good police drama. Every character the reader meets is given a full introduction, it is not a case of "this is John, a 20 year old man" - you get to know each character as a real person. This character development is true for everyone, whether they continue to the end of this novel or meet a violent death.
Detective Daniel Lawless is a different type of policeman and has a quirky character. He likes opera and has a collection of 82 pairs of shoes giving him the nickname of shoe boy when he was at school. Before he can solve this death by the canal, another death occurs along a nearby canal. Something is going on around the canal network but can Danny solve the case before more people are killed?
Slowly the reader finds that this is not your typical crime thriller. Little bits of information are drip fed into the story to make you think that something nasty may be lurking in the canals. Bit by bit this story becomes a science fiction novel.
Everett Powers develops a wonderful plot that bit by bit becomes a race for Daniel Lawless to save the day. The reader along with Daniel begins to understand just what is going on along the canals and we begin to get the bigger picture.
Canals is a very entertaining read. I like the way it moved from a crime thriller to a thought provoking science fiction story. The message at the end is very moving and forces you to consider real life global issues.
I can find nothing wrong with Canals. It is a great story that was told with precision and detail. The writing is top quality and it was a joy to read. I enjoy walking my dog along canals and now I will always wonder what may be in the water. I vote this book the top score of 5 stars. Canals is available as a 609 KB Amazon Kindle eBook and was written in 2011.
Detective Daniel Lawless is a different type of policeman and has a quirky character. He likes opera and has a collection of 82 pairs of shoes giving him the nickname of shoe boy when he was at school. Before he can solve this death by the canal, another death occurs along a nearby canal. Something is going on around the canal network but can Danny solve the case before more people are killed?
Slowly the reader finds that this is not your typical crime thriller. Little bits of information are drip fed into the story to make you think that something nasty may be lurking in the canals. Bit by bit this story becomes a science fiction novel.
Everett Powers develops a wonderful plot that bit by bit becomes a race for Daniel Lawless to save the day. The reader along with Daniel begins to understand just what is going on along the canals and we begin to get the bigger picture.
Canals is a very entertaining read. I like the way it moved from a crime thriller to a thought provoking science fiction story. The message at the end is very moving and forces you to consider real life global issues.
I can find nothing wrong with Canals. It is a great story that was told with precision and detail. The writing is top quality and it was a joy to read. I enjoy walking my dog along canals and now I will always wonder what may be in the water. I vote this book the top score of 5 stars. Canals is available as a 609 KB Amazon Kindle eBook and was written in 2011.
November 13, 2011
A great read. At first I wasn't sure how this book would go, but from the first body to the end I was hooked. Everett Powers pulls you in with the first page, weaving a tale of terror that will grab you like a pitbull. I found it hard to stop reading. His characters are believable and he does a great job of showing the terror they feel.
I have to say that Everett pulled off a great combination of horror and sci/fi with this book. I don't know if that is what he was going for, but I do know that I loved this book. I highly recommend it to anyone who loves this genre, and even those that don't.
I have to say that Everett pulled off a great combination of horror and sci/fi with this book. I don't know if that is what he was going for, but I do know that I loved this book. I highly recommend it to anyone who loves this genre, and even those that don't.
October 16, 2012
Most modern authors make me break my five page rule. I prefer to find myself attached to a novel within those first five precious pages. I find myself having to break this rule-often- just to keep reading alive. Powers well captivated me within the first five and only sucked me into his story deeper with each turning page.
This is a darker novel and with that, I find his mastery of words worthy of wanting more from his twisted and brilliant imagination.
This is a perfect example of what literature should be. A full five stars.
This is a darker novel and with that, I find his mastery of words worthy of wanting more from his twisted and brilliant imagination.
This is a perfect example of what literature should be. A full five stars.
December 2, 2017
This one is a pretty great horror/sci-fi hybrid.
Mr. Powers does a fine job blending elements of horror and science fiction in this fast-paced and often gruesome tale. The story reminded me of those good old monster movies that I loved as a boy, updated with plenty of splatter. Mr. Powers presents some nicely developed characters in a satisfying and fun little thriller that I would certainly recommend to anyone who enjoys the horror genre.
Mr. Powers does a fine job blending elements of horror and science fiction in this fast-paced and often gruesome tale. The story reminded me of those good old monster movies that I loved as a boy, updated with plenty of splatter. Mr. Powers presents some nicely developed characters in a satisfying and fun little thriller that I would certainly recommend to anyone who enjoys the horror genre.
June 5, 2012
I left a detailed review on Amazon.com on June 5, 2012 - four stars. I did like this book and read more by Everett Powers in the future.
February 5, 2012
Horror and sci-fi are NOT my favorite genres, so I'm probably not the best critic. This was way too gory for me, I ended up skipping over huge sections of the story. I was like yeah, yeah, blood and guts, human suffering, gore, gore. I get it. This monster is evil.
He is a good writer, though, even if I didn't like the content.
He is a good writer, though, even if I didn't like the content.
September 29, 2015
Solid writing, good and interesting plot, really nonstop action. I'd give this book a 2 in the horror scale, it wasn't really frightening for me, and I thought the ending, maybe the last hundred pages, was extremely corny, kinda ruined the book for me to be honest or least lowered my 5 stars down to a 3, I wouldn't have finished if it weren't for wanting to know how it ended
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews