After thwarting a disaster in the nation's capital, Mark Taylor captures the attention of the CIA. They want to know more about the mysterious camera and Mark's abilities, but Mark doesn't trust the agency--he would be crazy to after all they've put him through in the past. He finally agrees to demonstrate the camera when Jim convinces him that the CIA can put together a team to help prevent future catastrophes.
Too late, Mark discovers that he should have listened to his gut instincts when he finds himself held in the bowels of DC against his will while agents of the CIA, intent upon learning the secrets of his psychic abilities, use him as a test subject.
M.P. McDonald makes a living from taking your breath away... then giving it back via a tube or two. She lives in a frozen land full of ice, snow, and abominable snowmen. On the days that she's not taking her car ice-skating, she sits huddled over a chilly computer, tapping out the story of a camera that can see the future. She hopes it can see summer approaching, too.
McDonald's writing has supported five books in this series alone. The style of writing is stellar. No sense is left out. I have felt the rattle of the El trains and smelled the stench of contrite after gunfire. The whole series is so shocking and gripping I wanted to hear Rod Serling do a voice over in my head from the dreams it has inspired.
Mark and the camera gets me to remember her earlier stories. She is a great writer. This is quite the gripping story where among other saves Mark & Jim go to CIA headquarters for a wild twist of fate. Now we know Chris or should I say CJ as he likes to be known as, Jim’s son. In the end CJ saves the day, great story. Great series. 5
Again, this was a very good book but this time there were too many times Mark made stupid decisions that in reality a person with his history would never make. I almost gave it a 3 star rating because of these decisions. Haha, in reality, sure, that sounds good.
Good read for the most part. Author put good plot twists and connections but I feel they took one big shortcut to help wrap story up. I'll let you see if you agree when you read the book so that I don't ruin it for you here.
For those new to this series, Mark Taylor has an old camera purchased in an Afghanistan bazaar with magical qualities. Sometimes when he develops a roll of film (the stories take place in the early part of the century when not everyone had converted to digital) he discovers pictures he didn’t take which depict future events, usually someone being hurt or killed in some way, which he then dreams about at night. However, all of these events are preventable, if only Mark can figure out enough details to intervene. Needless to say, this puts a lot of pressure on Mark.
As with other books in the series, this installment has some smaller events that Mark prevents, plus one big catastrophe-in-the-making. If the books in the series have developed a high-level formula, March into Madness conforms, yet there are other things going on that make this book unique. One large difference is the introduction of Chris “C.J.” Sheridan, the son of CIA agent Jim Sheridan (who has been a major player in the series from the beginning). C.J. plays a major role in this story and, in the process of doing so, sets up several directions the series might go. As with all the Mark Taylor books, this is an intense, unpredictable read.
**Originally written for "Books and Pals" book blog. May have received a free review copy. **
Lots of series get stale. First books rock but then you try to fit the formula again and again. Nothing really bad about it but action won't carry it forever.
The cure, character development. In this book we see the ensemble mature and become 3 dimensional, emotion driven, real life people. We see a realistic family dynamic that makes us care about all of them. Not just as heroes but as as a team we would want on our side.
Loved this one the most. Read it straight through without a break. Thank you...
Mark is asked to go to D.C. to talk and show the proof of camera so he can have official backup. Unfortunately a small group inside the CIA want to enhance Mark so he doesn't need the camera. A shocker the camera reacts to someone new. A side note would love for the psychiatrist who Mark saw and saved his son to come on board meet Jim and Jesse and be shown proof so he could really help him.
After reading Mr. McDonald's Mark Taylor Omnibus, I went right on to read March into Madness. Each of these kept my interest and attention through the whole read. I finished all the books in 3 days.....obviously I did not get much else done. I really liked the camera as a plot device and I grew attached to all the main characters (although, Jim had to win me over!). I am looking forward to reading more books by Mr. McDonald!
This was a very good series of books. I really enjoyed all these books! I couldn't put them down until I finished them. They seemed so real, and believable. I was hoping that Mark & Jessie would have gotten married. I have to give the author a very good review & look forward to reading more of his book.
I read the whole series. Did not disappoint. You never know what date has in store for you. People can be redeemed. The series was so good finished in less than 3 days.
Twists in the plot let the ending still surprise after several books. The "if you had not saved me, you would have died" ending seemed a little unnecessary and contrived, but still overall great series.
Well, this has been a fun romp. I don't know if there are any more books planned for this series. I certainly hope so. Although I don't know how much more abuse Mark Taylor can take.
Enthralling story of a man who acquires an antique camera that ends up changing his entire life. It's a thriller mixed with a bit of the supernatural. Great book!