When infected by the brain of an extraterrestrial, Karen discovers, among other bizarre powers, the ability to read minds. As she tries to grasp her situation, a secret branch of the military, devoted to paranormal and supernatural phenomenon, starts their dogged pursuit. They will stop at nothing to catch her, dead or alive, because Karen is contagious with a virus they hope to control. A virus that, if spread, would end the world as we know it.
On the run, Karen meets Morgan, an ex-agent of the team that's on her tail, a vampire-turned-vampire hunter. Together, they struggle to stop the government from seizing the virus, a fate worse than contagion. A future of chaos, from which there is no return.
Tears Of No Return is another solid piece of quality fiction from novelist David Bernstein. I purchased his novel Machines Of The Dead earlier this year, having no clue what to expect. (These days, there is so much opportunity for new authors to get published before they've honed their skills, the Kindle store has become a real gamble. Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose $4.99!) Machines Of The Dead was truly enjoyable--worth every penny, so I was eager to read Tears Of No Return.
What I love about this author is his obvious attempt to break the monotony of the horror/sci-fi/suspense genres and provide us with something new. Too often when an author tries to bring fresh ideas to a novel, the plot remains predictable and character development suffers under the pressure of penning these ideas. This is not the case with Tears Of No Return. Even when choosing a classic creature for a starring role in his novel, Bernstein refuses to follow the rules. He has taken a centuries-old vampire (Morgan) to a whole new level by presenting us with a vamp who has been altered, changed... a victim of forced experimentation. An immoral, underground group of scientists called The Murphy Unit got their hands on Morgan some decades ago, and although their secret tests managed to transform Morgan for the better (He can now walk in sunlight and possesses enormous strength) he is haunted by the memories of the five years he spent as a prisoner, serving as their caged test rat.
Morgan soon meets up with Karen, who is on the run from The Murphy Unit after being infected by another of their unwilling victims. A man named Josh, who escaped from the Murphy Unit base, passed his special "gift" onto Karen, knowing that The Murphy Unit would catch up with him soon. This "gift" is a powerful psychic ability, which he informs Karen might be the key to saving the world. I had to stop for a moment when I read this. "Really?" I thought. In the space of a couple hours, this poor woman has lost everything she holds dear, becoming a fugitive from a highly trained team of special agents, knowing that if they continue their experiments with the alien serum that causes this "gift", the entire world is in jeopardy.
"Hold up," you might be saying. "Did you just say ALIEN serum?" Yes. Vampires, psychics, and aliens. This is David Bernstein, folks. He is crazy, and I mean that as a compliment.
Even when I jotted down a note, a gripe that I thought I might touch on in this review, Bernstein ruined my attempts at complaining. You see, when I read about the vampires in this book being harmed by crucifixes and holy water, it stirred up the same question I've always had when reading / seeing vampires respond to Christian relics this way. Why only Christian relics? What if the vampire were Jewish, Muslim... Atheist? Ah, but Dave has thought of this, too. In his book, ANY blessed item can harm a vamp: Stars of David, Torahs, and Korans among them. For someone like myself who tends to question the blending of religion and horror, it still leaves a gray area of "What if"s and "why"s, but it certainly DOES show that the author is trying his hardest to leave no loose ends or unanswered questions in his reader's mind, and for that, I have to give props.
David Bernstein writes with the heart of a horror fanatic, the enthusiasm of child, and the skill of a pro. He manages to captivate the reader's mind with his unique and imaginative stories, while simultaneously touching their emotions. I have no doubt that his fan base will continue to grow, and I only hope that when one of his crazy ideas lands a movie deal, the screenwriter doesn't have a stroke trying to recreate the madness that only David Bernstein can write!
I even highlighted a quote, one that I found worthy of sharing. When describing how the main characters feel a strong emotional bond after knowing each other for less than a day, he writes: "Love for another being has no timetable." I thought that was an excellent (and concise!) way to capture the love between Morgan and Karen.
But if you want to know more, you'll have to pick up a copy.
Wow! OMG Wow! I LOVED this book and really couldn't put it down. I hated that I had to sleep last night and couldn't finish it all in one sitting.
I'll preface by saying that I don't real many mystery/thriller novels, so my reaction may be in part due to the novelty of the style. Although, many of the novels in my most read genre Fantasy, have intense suspenseful story lines and none have kept me on the edge of my seat like this. I felt such urgency to know what would happen next that I wished I could Read faster!
The author did a great job of quickly establishing and investing you into very interesting characters. There's suspense generating action Immediately and the paranormal rules unfold quickly with a very natural feel. The plot is fast paced and keeps you engaged every step of the way with a rhythm of action and reflection that doesn't burn you out or bore at any point. I also Really liked the writing style. He let's dialog and people's reactions tell you details about what's going on instead of detailing what's going on and then detailing characters reactions. It felt very concise and gratifyingly efficient to read. Gosh, it was like he expected his readers to have graduated from 7th grade already and everything. :)
My only criticism is that *SPOILER ALERT*
I didn't buy the implied depth of emotional entanglement between the two main characters at the end. The supporting motivation supplied by the author didn't feel remotely adequate for me to buy that as an outcome. All the right ingredients were there but weren't mixed together enough or baked at the right temperature to make a cake. Though honestly, I enjoyed the whole of the book so much that this is a criticism iota, not even a footnote.
David Bernstein veers off from the zombie trail he walked with AMONGST THE DEAD and MACHINES OF THE DEAD and it is worth joining him for the trip. TEARS ON NO RETURN’s two main characters are given unrequested gifts; a woman acquires the ability to read minds, a vampire a partial cure for his distinctly non-fatal disease. Their new-found abilities come with the burden of stopping the evil Murphy Group that made these near-superpowers possible. Alone each would fail, but together, they just might make it. The characters and concept draw you in from the first chapter and the story doesn’t slow down for a moment. Fans of David’s other works will not put down this book until they turn the last page.
Just won this book on First Reads!!! Really looking forward to reading it. :)
I loved the whole paranormal part of the book. I love it when authors put more than one kind of supernatural being in a book. It is great when they go out of the ordinary. David Berstein is a very talented writer. I also love the cover.
1 star. I was going to go with 2 (or more than likely my first DNF of the year), but it was not 'ok' in any sense of the word. The only reason I'm even putting in one star I feel like the author probably tried to write a good book but is just incapable of doing that. I honestly am stunned that another author that I have enjoyed in the past rated this MUCH higher but maybe there's some unspoken rule amongst those in the 'trade' to over-rate their peers' books? But geez... this is 9th grade creative writing 101, "see me after class" quality we're talking about.
I have sometimes referred to cheap-o books like this as 'airport layover' books, you know, when you realize your flight is cancelled and rather than drink yourself into oblivion, you decide to pick up a cheap paperback to pass the time? You know, there's probably a swastika on the cover or a woman with a heaving bosom standing in front of some talk, dark and most likely supernatural stranger? Well, this one doesn't manage to be good enough to make it to the airport (ye gods, I hope TSA stops this kind of junk) ... no, we're talking something in the "Buy 1 get 3 free" bin at a gas station that only sells regular and makes most of its profit from illegal cigarette sales. Goodness knows I have my own concerns about my taste now as I suspect I may be showing signs of self-harm by even downloading this book and reading it all.
Oh, I should keep my comments more professional? Well, ok then: this flimsy tome is amateurly written and even with the potential of an outlandish plot - the blurb seemed so "cool" - it works out to be nothing like X-Files. No, if you're old enough, try imagining some pathetic remake of "Moonlighting", you know, when Bruce Willis had hair and could maybe pull off the exotic vampire anti-hero schtick. But do heed this warning: you may want to barf a lot more than one of the lead characters does and she hurls more than a college freshman on Spring break!
SPOILERS: this is the kind of garbage this book contains and if this doesn't make my point, nothing will -
"Morgan (the anti- or ex-vampire with the heart of gold) felt the pain of loss, like a sharp dagger drenched in garlic, in his gut (yes he still doesn't do well with garlic, even though sunlight, holy water and crosses are cool, which his new buddies / old enemies the vampire hunters eventually learn, too). Letting a true love go, Elise (she of the only a few pages in this book but someone with "connections" was needed!) reduced to nothing more than an acquaintance, was pure agony, forever torturing his being. It tormented him to treat her as if their past together meant nothing. She still loved him, this he knew (yes, apparently, even non-Jarmusch grade vampires can love... deeply, passionately, nauseatingly). He knew calling her would bring him pain—her as well—but he didn’t have a choice. The world and Karen (the girl with "Scanners"-like mind powers gained via tears of another dude with same who got it via the government who got it via alien brains ... but she is SO much better at zapping people than her predecessors!!!) depended on it." (cue loud noises into a bucket)
Or even this classic "I Love Vulcans" passage, concerning changes in the human brain after infection, especially emotional responses: "...the alien race is so far advanced that they have somehow progressed to a state of equilibrium or emotionlessness, using logic as their key motivator."
Mind you, we never meet the aliens or see them or anything them because by the end, kablooey, huzzah, we save the day and destroy an entire branch of the government without any problems! There's another ship out there (did we mention the first one? No? Oh well, never mind, it doesn't play much of a role anyway) so goodness gracious, get all your friends to buy this book so we can have a sequel!
Great, with that thought in mind, now I need a new bucket...
The book had a very unique premise and it started off exceptionally well - to the point where I thought I'd wind up giving it 4 or 5 stars, but as the book went on it lost a bit of steam and the story didnt go where I thought it would.
I thought we'd get a detailed backstory for Morgan that fully fleshed him out as a character and I thought the true nature of Karen's powers would be revealed, but the book just left alot of loose ends. It felt like the ending was rushed a bit and I think it ultimately suffered for it in the end.
The story was still a very fun ride, but the ending just didnt do it for me. Despite this Im still looking forward to reading more from this author.
Before I start, I realize that there are several positive reviews for 'Tears of No Return.' After reading through many of them, I knew I wouldn't be saying anything in MY review that hasn't already been said. The last thing I want to do is beat a potential reader about the head with repetitive comments. Also, I really did NOT want to post any spoilers for those of you that haven't yet had the pleasure of reading. Unfortunately, it's hard to fully stay away from the repetitive comments.
I start each book with an open mind and absolutely no expectations of either the Author or the content. Good or bad, I read each novel until the words, 'The End' grace the page. This happens to be the very first David Bernstein Novel I've read, and I must say, I was pleasantly surprised.
David Bernstein effectively draws you into his fictional world and holds your attention. 'Tears of No Return' starts with a bang! You're thrust right into the action! I appreciate a book that can capture my attention within the first few paragraphs and hold it. If you're a reader that needs to keep your mind moving, you will NOT be disappointed in this novel.
The title, 'Tears of No Return,' is quite appropriate and you find out why within the first chapter. I love the way David chose to write a common supernatural creature; instead of sticking to the 'norm,' he altered the 'monster,' and made it his own creation. I like that he brought two characters in similar situations, but from two very different walks of life, together to 'survive' in this novel.
The only thing that I was somewhat disappointed in was the ending. I just felt that the 'connection' wasn't as established as it should have been in order to convince me. Sorry people, I'm leaving that vague for a reason.
All in all, it was a well-written, engaging read. The characterization was great; it was really easy to identify with his main character's. The story-line was believable, well thought out, and completely original. David Bernstein definitely 'painted the picture' for his readers in this novel. In my opinion, it's well worth the read! I'm officially a fan, and can't wait to read another Bernstein novel!
I have never read a book with such a combination of characters and stuff going on. When I started reading I had no problem being pulled straight into the story. There is no waste of time for the action and suspense too start and as soon as I was beginning to grasp one of the characters the story introduces you too another and throws you for a loop. The transition from Karen's story to Morgan's story at first makes you wonder where this book is going but as everything comes together you more than understand.
Karen is just a regular woman on an average day when she is attacked and her life is turned upside down. Not only is she sure this man is going to do her harm but when she finds out why she kidnapped and forced to drive the two of them too a secluded location her life is never the same.
Morgan is not your ordinary vampire hunter and he by no means lives a normal life, but when he meets a woman who is not only in need of his help he can't help but feel in his heart that she is the only person in this great wide world.
When Morgan finds out hat the Murphy Unit, a government medical experiment group, are the people after Karen he knows he mush save her, help her and stop them. Morgan knows better than anyone how evil these people are and knows that they must be stopped and destroyed at any cost.
This book has a bit of something for everyone within its pages. It has vampires, medical mysteries, a touch of romance, suspense, horror and it is flows so well together that it makes it very enjoyable too read with characters that are just detailed enough to bring them to life in your minds eye.
I highly recommend this book too all who are looking for your next wonderful and fun read.
I was lucky enough to obtain an ARC of David Bernstein's latest endeavor, Tears of No Return, and - already quite aware of Mr. Bernstein's literary prowess from his previous works of fiction -- the payoff was even better than I'd anticipated!
David Bernstein deftly threads the needle with this one, intertwining genres and stitching together with honed precision a story of two most improbable protagonists thrown together to foil a most devious government agency. There are aliens. There are vampires. And amidst a relentless narrative, blood spills, tears fall, and the tropes get wonderfully skewed! This is what the Friday-Night-Frights always wanted to be! I loved this!
David Bernstein continues to delight his growing readership with more and more original fiction. In "Tears of No Return," he takes a break from the zombies to deliver a horror/sci-fi conspiracy tale in which a corrupt science lab has developed something that produces supernatural abilities in people--the "tears" in the title are the way it's transmitted from one person to the next. It's another fantastically original, action-packed, suspense-filled novel from David Bernstein that'll appeal to fans of "The X-Files," and is highly entertaining.
I read this book after reading many of David's earlier work, and I wasn't sorry. The book has a fast pace and kept me gripped, making this a fast read. The characters were believable and his style is so visual, almost cinematic. David will always be a gifted writer, who never holds back. If you like Urban Fantasy and Science Fiction, this is the perfect book for you.
What do you get when you mix vampires, alien viruses, psychics and a secret government unit? In this case, a fast and fun read!
Morgan is a anti-vampire that was altered by the experiments the Murphy Unit did to him. Karen was in the wrong place at the wrong time and her world gets turned upside down. It's when the two meet and team up that things really get interesting.
If you are looking for a well written story with likable characters this is a book for you!
Story is fairly interesting until about 3/4th though, where the author gives too much attention to Elise who doesn't matter to the story at all (and detracts even more from the main characters lack of chemistry) and also gives more history for Paul than is necessary. Plus at this point the characters and story are kind of at a standstill. Once you get past that the ending is decent.
Strange but engaging. It was a bit of a twist in some ways from many of the ubiquitous vampire and other supernatural novels that have sprung forth recently. At the same time it kept many of the elements that make those novels popular, violence in particular. The ending is a bit of a letdown, it just sort of stops, with no real resolution to anything - I suppose setting up a sequel at some point.
So no, not a book I'll ever return to. The plot was interesting, but the writing and characters fell flat. And don't even get me started on that ending. Ugh.