Gideon

Lauren Reardon #1

by Alex Gordon

Preston & Child meets Kim Harrison in this edge-of-your-seat debut thriller—a superb blend of mystery, urban fantasy, horror, romance, and the supernatural.

When Lauren’s father dies, she makes a shocking discovery. The man she knew as John Reardon was once a completely different person, with a different name. Now, she’s determined to find out who he really was, even though her only clues are an old photograph, some letters, and the name of a town—Gideon.

But someone—or something—doesn’t want her to discover the truth. A strange man is stalking her, appearing everywhere she turns, and those who try to help her end up dead. Neither a shadowy enemy nor her own fear are going to prevent her from solving the mystery of her father—and unlocking the secrets of her own life.

Making her way to Gideon, Lauren finds herself more confused than ever. Nothing in this small Midwestern town is what it seems, including time itself. Residents start going missing, and Lauren is threatened by almost every townsperson she encounters. Two hundred years ago, a witch was burned at the stake, but in Gideon, the past feels all too chillingly present . . .

Genres: Horror, Fantasy, Mystery, Fiction, Urban Fantasy, Paranormal, Thriller

432 pages, ebook

First published January 6, 2015

About the author

Alex Gordon, author of the supernatural thrillers GIDEON and JERICHO, was born in the Northeast, grew up in the South, and now resides in the Midwest. When she isn’t working, she enjoys watching sports and old movies, long walks, and the company of her dog, Gaby. She dreams of someday adding the Pacific Northwest to the list of regions where she has lived. And maybe the south of France.

She is not the Alex Gordon who has written several books about English footballers. She also has never played for the Kansas City Royals.

Photo by Libby Bulloff

Alex also writes Science Fiction and Fantasy under the name Kristine Smith.

Reviews

[Matthew · Rating 4 out of 5]

I must admit that I approached this book hesitantly. It lay outside of my usual scope of interest, and I hadn't heard anything on the grapevine about Alex Gordon prior to its release. Well, I am glad to say that I took a chance on it. Sometimes a book will surprise you and blow you away. Gideon is one of those books.

A fascinating blend of urban fantasy, horror, history and the supernatural, Gideon tells the tale of Lauren, a women who goes searching for the truth behind her father following his death. Following the trail to a mysterious town called Gideon, Lauren's quest for truth is hampered by a strange man and mysterious events. Residents start going missing in the town, and time itself is not what it seems.

Gideon is a chilling and amazing read. One of the things that I loved about this book was how soaked it was in history. Reading it was like stepping back in time, and I literally felt like I was standing in Gideon watching in horror as events unfolded before me. Lauren is an interesting protagonist. Tough and resilient, I adored how she was thrown into a situation filled with mayhem and darkness and essentially tasked with stopping the evil falling over Gideon. The supporting characters, namely Connie and Victoria, were all interesting and full of depth and mystery, and I loved how the townsfolk of Gideon interacted and treated outsiders (it reminded me of how people in the small town I grew up in treated visitors, usually with suspicion and hostility).

Nothing in Gideon though is as it seems, and I was swept along through the many twists and layers that make up this story. The town itself is a creepy and magnificent setting, with darkness lingering in every shadow. The history that Gordon also weaved into her world building was superb, and I loved the link to past events like the Great Fire and the witch trials. I became so immersed in this story I found it extremely hard to put down at times.

All in all Gideon is a relentless barrage of suspense and fright. A fascinating urban fantasy with a rich and layered depth, I would recommend it to all fans of speculative fiction!

4 out of 5 stars.

smashdragons.blogspot.com.au

A review copy was provided.

[Shelley · Rating 4 out of 5]

**I received this book for free from Harper Voyager via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!! This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.**

*Genre* mystery, urban fantasy, horror
*Rating* 3.5-4

*My Thoughts*

Centered around a fictional town in Illinois called Gideon, Alex Gordon's debut novel is steeped in mystery, witch craft, demons, and darkness. Gideon traverses nearly 200 years and features a group of witches from Eliza Blaylock to Lauren Reardon that call themselves Children of Endor and are guided by the Lady.

As one of the main characters of Gideon, Lauren's world is changed after her father suddenly dies, and some stunning secrets leak out. After a mysterious man causes havoc on someone Lauren comes in contact with, she travels to Gideon to get to the bottom of who her father really was, why he kept his past a secret from her all this time, and why this man is so interested in her.

*Full Review Posted @ Gizmos Reviews*

http://gizmosreviews.blogspot.com/201...

*Recvd via Edelweiss* Expected publication: January 6th 2015 by Harper Voyager

[Carolyn F. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had heard the second book in the series was really good so I thought I'd start with the first book. I'm glad I did especially if the same main character is in this one. I liked how the author didn't dilly dally around and keep everything slow moving like some authors do in my opinion to add pages not really plot. So even though this isn't a small book, it read like one. I really enjoyed it and am looking forward to reading the second book Jericho.

[Stephanie Medeiros · Rating 1 out of 5]

I was sent an advance review copy by Harper Voyager for an honest review, and here it is.

I tried, but I just can't. I don't care enough about witchy old biddies passive aggressively fighting about who slept with who, and who runs the town. And their weird, unexplained witchcraft is interesting, but it's never fleshed out enough for it to really make sense, or seem to drive the story. I don't care about the inner politics or drama of their town, I don't care about the evil the unleashed upon themselves, as they deserve it, as far as I'm concerned, and I especially don't care that it's coming back to haunt them. I'm assuming this mystery and evil follows the families to present day, as the next chapter starts out as set in 2015, but I just... can't care enough to keep going. :/

I'm sure if you're into thriller mysteries you could probably at least get past chapter five, but I have other things that definitely interest me more than this ever could. The prose is wordy and boring, the characters are so unlikable and almost wooden despite their tribulations that I found myself rooting for their inevitable self destruction.

Good luck, Alex. I'm sure your niche will appreciate your work, but it's just not for me.

[Jon · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was one of my holiday gifts from HarperVoyager as part of their Super Reader program. They send me free books and eARC's in return for honest reviews. I've been doing this for a year now and I'm consistently impressed with the majority of their selections, and this book is no exception.

I didn't bother to read the jacket blurb, so when I started reading I thought I was in for a historical fantasy/romance...not really my thing. Fast forward past the setup and we're now modern day with witchcraft. At this point I didn't care whether or not it wasn't my thing, because Gordon had wrapped me into her story and I was burning pages just to see what happened. No, it's not a Ludlum (Bourne) or a Butcher (Dresden), but the action keeps you interested while the plot drives you forward. AG managed to humanize our protagonist without turning her into the Distressed Damsel, there was no Prince Charming (the lack of excessive romance in this quasi-paranormal-romance/not-really-but-kinda-horror/urban fantasy was appreciated), and when it was all said and done nobody had to Mary Jane their way out of a situation.

Well done Miz Gordon.

[Lauren Stoolfire · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you like Neil Gaiman's The Ocean at the End of the Lane, I have a feeling that you will also enjoy Alex Gordon's Gideon.

[Joshua Brazzle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was at the library last week getting a couple books in my normal genre's, I look over at the returned books and Gideon was on top. I was waiting in line, so I flipped over and read the back... witches, ding ding ding. So I checked it out thinking I would read a few pages and put it in the pile of books I never finished...

But I read a chapter and another. I was hooked. Alex Gordon is a fantastic writer who really weaves a whole culture together in this book. I tend to stick to a couple genres and rarely do I venture out-- but I am glad I did with this book.

Lauren was great leading lady. She grew from a broken woman to a strong woman in this book and it was amazing to go along forth on this journey. The best part: she did what she did because she needed to do it. Not because it was for some man or because of a love story. She face her problems alone and I liked that about this book.

Got to love a strong independent woman! :) Only thing she needed was a sassy gay friend named Josh and the book would have gotten five stars. :P

[Sherry Fundin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lauren’s fate is sealed with the death of her father. He tried to protect her, but the lure for answers about death and danger surrounding her beckons her to Gideon, where He waits.

Alex Gordon”s story takes us from Seattle, Washington, to Gideon, Illinois.

Gideon was a crossroads for evil.

HE is surrounded by woods and darkness, where the dead don’t stay dead. Have I hooked you yet?

The town’s people job was to keep the darkness from crossing over.

Could Lauren be the one to stop HIM for good? Would innocence and naivety in the ways of evil and magic win out?

From the 1800s and burning at the stake to cell phones, potions and spells, evil rises and good does it’s best to prevail.

Both good and evil characters will die, so be careful who you get attached to and be prepared to grieve for the characters taken before their time.

I was a bit slow to get involved, but once Lauren traveled to Gideon, I found the pace picking up and my need to know what happens next rising to such a high level I found it hard to put the book down.

BUT…the story is not over and I am so happy to have Book II, Jericho, here at my side, ready to crack open and see what challenge faces Lauren next. I wrote that in my notes, but I reviewed Jericho before Gideon. Don’t ask me why, because I don’t know. LOL

Gideon wraps up the story in a great way and I feel it can stand alone, but I rated Jericho 5 stars, so I think ,once you begin, you would have to know more.

I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of Gideon by Alex Gordon.

See more at fundinmental

[Beth (YA Books Central) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Some secrets should stay buried...But not this one....

I review for Harper Collins all the time and love all of the books they publish....So when I received this book from an imprint called Harper Voyager then I knew I had to give it a try.... and I am so happy I did. This debut novel called , Gideon, written by Alex Gordon is one of the most intense, suspense-filled, supernatural thriller that I have ever read. Alex Gordon enters into the publishing industry with a BANG.....WOW....Gideon is high on my list of favorites for 2015....

The main character, Lauren, has just lost her father unexpectedly and at the same time discovers that her father had many secrets...and that most of them lead to a small town called Gideon. Lauren is determined to get the answers to her questions so she leaves to visit the small town of Gideon.

"She looked out over the town, the old man's words ringing in her ears. Any reason why we should welcome you? As if he had been lurking in the woods awaiting her arrival. AS if he knew why she had come...."

Immediately upon arriving in Gideon...Lauren realizes that this town is not as it seems. The town itself seems dark and creepy and there seems to be a cold feel of dark shadows around every corner of the town. The residents of the town are mysterious and treat Lauren with hostility and suspicion when she first arrives but Lauren does not let this stop her. Lauren's character is so strong, level-headed, resilient, and determined. She does not let the atmosphere nor the people of this evil town stop her from discovering the truth that she seeks.

There are so many twists and turns around each turn of the page in this book. One of my favorite things about the writing of this book is how Alex Gordon incorporated so much history into the story. The Sudden Freeze of 1836 killed many of the townspeople instantly and The Great Fire of 1871 ravaged not only Gideon but the surrounding towns as well. Lauren learns that the town and its people blame her family for their grave misfortunes.

There are centuries worth of secrets, lies, witchcraft, and supernatural forces within Gideon. The residents of Gideon are supposed to be the protectors that guard against the demons that roam the town....but over the years some have decided to follow the light.....

"Eliza had suffered from an affliction for as long as she could remember. As a young girl, she had tried to explain it to her parents more than once. But her mother had scolded her for lying, and her father had warned her never to tell other people such tales lest they call her a witch. And you know what they do to witches, don't you, my girl? He had towered over her, dark eyes alight with the truth as he knew it to be. They light them like kindling, and laugh as they burn....."

I would recommend this book to anyone who is looking for an intense, "un-put-down-able" book...Gideon is filled with suspense, horror, and mystery....I literally could not put this book down...I stayed up late into the night just to see what happened next....WOW....Alex Gordon is now high on my list of favorite debut authors......

http://curling-up-with-a-good-book.bl...

[Chad · Rating 2 out of 5]

Gideon starts out strong. I found the author's central conceit -- the existence of a semi-rural Midwestern town, whose residents appear typical in most ways, except for their practice of a sui generis, almost-Christian-like witchcraft, and their central belief that they alone stand between humanity and the encroaching shadow world of demons -- quite compelling.

But things started to go downhill once the story progresses from the nineteenth century to the present day, particularly after witch-in-exile Lauren Reardon returns to the village after her father's death, to learn more about the familial roots that had been hidden from her.

The novel quickly becomes nothing more than your typical, plot-driven horror fare. The thinly drawn characters, nearly all of whom (including Lauren) are unlikable, engage in a series of increasingly implausible actions, all culminating in ... well, something. (I started to skim toward the last hundred pages, because I honestly just did not care anymore, but had invested too much to abandon the story completely.)

I will gladly give Alex Gordon another chance, because there was enough in Gideon, her debut novel, to make me think that future efforts might be better. But it will require her to focus more on character development, and "world-building" (present-day Gideon, for example, fell entirely flat, as did the ever-encroaching shadow world at Gideon's edge), rather than just horror visuals and the machinations of plot.

[Kris · Rating 2 out of 5]

Dnf at 50%. In this case I think it's maybe my fault I couldn't connect with story. I even don't know what was wrong, but my attention and toughts where everywhere but with book. I simply couldn't finish it. Out of curiousity I did read the end and didn't feel any regret about abandoning my read.

[Tracey · Rating 4 out of 5]

December 20, 1836 began abnormally warm. It was the day murderer Nicholas Blaine was to be judged at the stake. The Council had decided against hanging, saying he should suffer like the innocent girl he so callously killed. Blaine was more than a cold-blooded killer, he was also a wielder of potent magic. Gideon's residents had power of their own; they are children of Endor, adhering to the word of the Lady. Their duty lies in guarding the "thin places" from the demons who seek to cross the borders of the "wilderness" where they are damned to wander for eternity.

A lethal and unnatural freeze follows hard on the heels of Blaine's death and the ice storm kills the men of Gideon right where they stand. The women and children, who wait in security two miles away, are grief-stricken by their losses. All the while, Blaine's soul awaits the spell from his accomplice that will bring him back more powerful than he was before. Eliza, despite the mistrust of the community, is able to thwart the plot, binding Blaine with a spell of her own to the underground chamber where he has been laid to rest. As the years pass, Blaine's malevolent spirit hungrily waits and the people of Gideon conveniently forget the evil lingering in their vaults.

In the here and now, Lauren Reardon mourns the death of her beloved father, John. While going through her father's personal effects, she finds a small leather bound book called The Book of Endor. Printed inside is the name Matthew James Mullin and a location, Gideon Illinois. Curious, she scans the book's pages and finds a newspaper clipping wedged inside with a photo of teenaged Matthew Mullin. Lauren is shocked to discover her father and Mullin are one and the same.

Desperate to uncover the secrets of her father's hidden past, Lauren goes to Gideon for answers. But Gideon is falling into disrepair and the grudges of its people have not been forgotten. Being an outsider and a Mullin puts Lauren in danger. She senses the palpable enmity of its occupants and the malignant spirit who has become impatient to be freed.

Gideon is appealing on many levels. The author took actual tragic historical events such as Chicago's "Sudden Freeze" of 1836 and the subsequent "Great Fire" in 1871 and intertwined them to provide a gripping and realistic background. The eerie tone of the town's growing despair and impending doom paired with the author's descriptions of the "in between" places was frightful.

Lauren is a terrific heroine. She's smart and strong and when things start to go bad, she's bold enough to face the supernatural challenges head on. The supporting cast of characters were also well-written and some of them definitely had me fooled. In Gideon, I was never sure which members of the Society of Endor were working for good and which had sided with evil. This uncertainty ratcheted up the tension levels and made for some exciting and unexpected twists and turns to the story.

I thoroughly enjoyed the sojourn into Gideon's past and rooted for both Eliza and Lauren as they fought their monsters; both human and demonic. Gordon artfully spreads Nicholas Blaine's malignant presence slowly, like a disease whose evil taints the town and the souls that live there. Alex Gordon's Gideon is a delightfully dark tale that kept me under its spell from start to finish.

[Lindsey · Rating 2 out of 5]

I kept thinking it would get better but it never did. It felt like it just got bogged down by weirdness of the supernatural. This is odd, since I usually enjoy this genre, but all I can say is, it was trying way too hard.

It didn't help that the villain of the story was evil for evil's sake, and completely two dimensional. Bad characters are so much scarier and interesting when there's an angle that readers can relate to, however remotely.

[Nik Markevicius · Rating 2 out of 5]

I gave this one more than 200 pages, since the writing was good, but the story just didn't go anywhere. Slower than Ann Rice's witch books.

[Kelli · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was okay. I liked the historical aspects, and I always enjoy stories where someone uncovers deep family secrets/legacies, especially if they involve something like magic powers! I was not so much into the petty, catty small town grudges and politics. I'm glad I've never lived in a place small enough that a single family can have that much power and influence over the entire town, and I don't particularly want to read about it, either. It makes narrative sense in this story, but I just didn't like it. I also didn't particularly appreciate the same "twist" (oh no, that person you trusted is actually working with/for the antagonists!) being pulled twice in as many chapters.

I suspected this might be first in a series, since it just kind of ends without much resolution, but I'm not sure this is a series I want to keep an eye on.

[Shelley Wildgrube · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow. What an amazing read! This was on my TBR shelf for a while. If you enjoy stories of witches, ghouls and the supernatural you won't be disappointed, this has it all. Great characters and plot. I won't spoil it but GOD this is good!! I was surprised to see the author at the end give a shout out to one of my favorite sci-fi authors, Julie E. Czerneda. Lauren Reardon Mullin certainly has more courage than I, that's for sure. I would've said NOPE NOPE NOPE and got the hell out of Gideon ASAP, lol. An absolute delight to read.

[Colleen Coughlin · Rating 3 out of 5]

I loved the premises of this book - and the on-going debate between what is good and what is evil; coupled with who is good; who might be evil particularly when there are social constructions about what is 'real', who's cultural story is the 'right' one.

The confusion of the protagonist was evident throughout the novel and the resolution was a bit less satisfying for me. Without spoiling the end - it seemed a bit unlikely. But the story was compelling and many of the characters were very well-drawn. There were some unexpected twists which I did not see coming but probably should have.

[Tiffany · Rating 1 out of 5]

Nope we are done here; DNF big time. None of this makes any sense. The story jumps around, nothing flows, characters are flung around without allowing for any sort of connection plus there are way too many of them to keep track. I don't care about any of this. I understand this is a plot driven story but I have to emotionally invest a little in the characters to want continue. At this point I kind of want the demon to just take them all out.

[Erica · Rating 4 out of 5]

To be honest, this book was very slow going. However, about halfway in is where it started to pick up. Things got very interesting towards the end. I didn't care much for the characters themselves but the story and plot was very well written. Would recommend.

[Kira · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting read overall, I liked the storyline, but got pretty convoluted in parts and I mostly just forced myself to finish it through the last 100 pages or so. Not intrigued enough to seek out the next book.

[Katie Wojcicki · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fast paced and a constant page turner. Excellent read!

[Bram Slaats · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this book. It was interesting how the author incorporated real life events into the plot.

[Janet · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well, not sure what I think of this book. It took me over 150 pages before I could get into it. It's an unusual supernatural thriller and it was entertaining.

[Angela Castille · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this about five years ago and forgot the title. Once I read the first two pages, it all came back to me. I still enjoyed the story the second time around!

[Darinda · Rating 3 out of 5]

The first book in the Lauren Reardon series. Suspenseful and intriguing. Enjoyable novel.

[Shari Mulluane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Source: HarperCollins
Original: Old Bat's Belfry

In the past a mistake was made. An evil was created. An evil that is now stalking Lauren. Secrets, for good or ill, have been kept for generations. Secrets Lauren must now unravel before she too becomes just another victim of an ancient wrong.

♦ The Story. Lauren is a smart, sophisticated young lady just trying to make her way in this world. But when her father dies she discovers that along with his estate, he has left her with a lot of unanswered questions. Questions that can only be answered if she goes back to where he was born.

Gideon, Illinois is where the answers lie. The place where it all began. A place with a violent past and an uncertain future.

But there are people who don't want those answers to be discovered, and one evil being that does...

♦ My Thoughts. Once again I have stepped outside of my comfort zone. And I wasn't disappointed.

Gideon is steeped in history. It is a place where few modern amenities function and it is doubtful that its residents would use them if they did. While there are a few conveniences like pickup trucks and snowmobiles, this is an isolated town. A town living in the past. A town I frequently forgot existed in the here and now.

But that is what I want in a book -- escape from the present. Gideon delivered that escape with an relentless barrage of chills and thrills, mystery and mayhem.

♦ What I Liked. I loved the pace of this novel. It was like watching a rose unfold in slow motion. Granted it was a black rose... But the description still applies. Layer upon layer of history, lore, worldbuilding, mystery and intrigue, all immerge at a pace that keeps the book in your hand and the real world at bay.

The characters too have layers and those layers also unfold slowly but steadily. Fifty shades of gray takes on a whole new meaning in this story. Everything is gray. The border between right, wrong and indifferent are never clear. The line between life and death is murky. Even the evil entity has understandable motives.

Or does it?

Just when you think you know, another layer is revealed and you question everything all over again. I loved every minute of the experience.

♦ What I didn't like. I'm racking my brain on this one and I'm coming up blank. I can't even come up with anything other people might not like.

I did try.

♦ Conclusion. I don't read a lot of horror and I pretty much never enjoy Urban Fantasy or Paranormal. However, this book was an exception. The story is saturated with history, lore, witchcraft and a town that time forgot. I had no problem with full immersion. Had the story frequently crossed back over to more "modern" environs it would have lost me.

Instead I got lost in it.

[Maryann · Rating 5 out of 5]

A good read, I like when I am introduced to a new writer with the first book that they have written. I am glad to have found you Alex Gordon.
Lauren Reardon begins her journey at the end of her fathers, and with this she finds that everything for her leads to Gideon. As you walk the road with Lauren Reardon you, too, will be drawn into a story that will take you places that we like to believe only exist in books or in the tales told at campfires.
Gideon in of itself is a place that sits on the edge of our primal memories. All of us have a deep memory of that which goes "bump in the night". With Gideon you find that what we thought we saw out of the corner of our eye, that feeling you are being watched is real.
If you want to read a book that will keep you wondering as well as looking over your shoulder as you walk down the street past an open field, or a grave yard that has been abandoned to the dead you will do well to read this.

I am going to look for more from this author, for I find that as a new writer grows so does their inborn gift to spin a tale. If there will be more of Gideon I will enjoy that, if this will be the one and only introduction to this I will sadly accept that.

So, fellow readers take a walk with Alex Gordon and Lauren Reardon and see just what happened in Gideon.

[Dawn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a free copy of this book for an honest review.

Gideon begins in the early 1800’s when the townspeople of Gideon burn a witch at the stake but he wants to come back…

With the background of Gideon in mind, it is now 2015 and Lauren Reardon’s father has just passed away. She finds out that he changed his name years ago and that it had been Matthew Mullin. Strange things start happening and she feels compelled to go to his hometown, Gideon, to find out more about her father.

At first, the townspeople seem like the stereotypical people of a small town: suspicious and hostile. Even more so when they find out who Lauren’s father was. But these people are more than just suspicious, they’re scared of something or someone.

I found the history of Gideon interesting but once I started reading about Lauren I couldn’t put this book down. There are so many strange things going on in Gideon and Lauren seems to be tied into it all somehow. Few of the townspeople want to share what happened to her father and why he left or why they’re all so scared. She’s able to piece a lot together from the tidbits she does get from whatever source she can find.

Gideon is full of suspense, witchcraft, horror, and mystery. I love Alex Gordon’s writing style and look forward to reading more of her books.

[Regina · Rating 4 out of 5]

After her father’s death, Lauren Reardon discovers she may not have known the man who raised her as well as she thought. While sorting through John Reardon’s things, Lauren finds a mysterious tome called the Book of Endor and a photograph of her father — one that identifies him as “Matthew Mullin.” The book — and a dark force that refuses to leave her alone — brings Lauren to her father’s hometown of Gideon, where she’ll have to face her destiny ... or watch Gideon perish.

Most writers would kill (or, okay, maybe just maim) for a debut novel as electrifying as Alex Gordon’s Gideon. Anchored by well­ crafted prose that features a creepy­-as-­hell villain, Gideon feels like Arthur Miller’s “The Crucible” brilliantly re-conceived in a Neil Gaiman-­esque universe. Gordon hooks readers from page one, as Gideon’s first few chapters are chilling and thoroughly engaging, making for a book that is impossible to put down. The only thing keeping this from being a Top Pick! is that Lauren, while a believable kickass heroine, doesn’t get to fully team up with her spine-­of-­steel ancestor Eliza Blaylock Mullin. But Alex Gordon — who has a truly enviable ability to establish mood — is a writer to watch.

*originally appeared in the January 2015 edition of RT Book Reviews

[GP · Rating 5 out of 5]

You know that deceptive book? One that you didn't really think was going to stick with you, but suddenly, you found yourself completely engrossed? For me, Gideon was that book. The opening was strong, the writing is consistently good throughout, all signs point to a decent read. But boy, was I wrong. It's not that the book wasn't interesting, well paced with a strong female lead-it was. The twists and turns of Gideon raised the level of the book in a way I wasn't expecting. There's the tension you feel when the hero squares their shoulders and does that infernally brave thing that must be done, even if more sensible cowards would just get the hell out of there. I was amazed at how invested I was in Lauren, our heroine, when she does what she has to do. I couldn't even start the next chapter until the desire to see what happened overcame that urge not to look. Things are not what they seem in Gideon; friend and foe alike are ciphers. It's an interesting world Alex Gordon builds in this book. Satisfying, a little short, with an ending that leaves open the potential for more. It's not a sweet, nice, romantic, fairy tale; but like all dark things, Gideon entices you to stay.