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A Nursery Rhyme Suspense #1
Gingerbread Man
When that cute chick you met online is murdered - but shows up for your next internet meeting anyway.
Marlow's just a regular geeky college freshman with little to no experience with girls, so when he has a semi-flirtatious chat with a cute girl online, it's almost more than his nerves can handle.
Then the girl is brutally murdered.
Or is she?
Marlow finds himself teamed up with intelligent and savvy Sage Farrell, a girl so far out of his league he feels blinded in her presence - literally - damned glasses! Together they work to find the identity of @gingerbreadman. Can they stop the killer before he strikes in more worlds than one?
~~~
FRINGE meets ELEMENTARY in this Science Fiction Mystery Romantic Suspense by Amazon best-selling author Lee Strauss.
**Originally published as a 3 part serial - this is now the complete novel.**
Marlow's just a regular geeky college freshman with little to no experience with girls, so when he has a semi-flirtatious chat with a cute girl online, it's almost more than his nerves can handle.
Then the girl is brutally murdered.
Or is she?
Marlow finds himself teamed up with intelligent and savvy Sage Farrell, a girl so far out of his league he feels blinded in her presence - literally - damned glasses! Together they work to find the identity of @gingerbreadman. Can they stop the killer before he strikes in more worlds than one?
~~~
FRINGE meets ELEMENTARY in this Science Fiction Mystery Romantic Suspense by Amazon best-selling author Lee Strauss.
**Originally published as a 3 part serial - this is now the complete novel.**
293 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 31, 2014
642 people are currently reading
1382 people want to read
About the author
Lee Strauss
129 books2,342 followersFor fans of Golden Age who-dun-its ~ from a USA TODAY Bestselling author!
You'll adore Lady Gold from the acclaimed Ginger Gold Mysteries series, and the spin of series, Higgins & Hawke.
Look for the connected 1950s era Rosa Reed Mysteries.
NEW ~ The Velvet Spy ~ The Wartime Journal of Ginger Gold
For more info visit: leestraussbooks.com
You'll adore Lady Gold from the acclaimed Ginger Gold Mysteries series, and the spin of series, Higgins & Hawke.
Look for the connected 1950s era Rosa Reed Mysteries.
NEW ~ The Velvet Spy ~ The Wartime Journal of Ginger Gold
For more info visit: leestraussbooks.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 124 reviews
December 18, 2016
3.5 Stars
Teagon and Sage are college roommates ... as different as night and day. Teagon is the nerdy one, the girl who stays in and studies. Sage is the party girl.
One weekend night Teagon meets Marlow .. in a chat room online. Marlow is also a nerd, but they get along well and it becomes almost a nightly 'date'. Sage has also talked Teagon into going out with her one night and there she meets Jake, a jock, who seems to be attracted to her.
At the same time there are several rapes on the college ... and then they become rapes and murder. Things happen that makes Teagon suspect both Jake and Marlow of those crimes.
Teagon receives an email from @gingerbreadman that says she's next ... and then she disappears.
When Marlow hears the news, he's devastated. But when he calls her, she answers the phone and all is fine.
What in the world is going on?
The story is told by the four main characters ..... Teagon, Sage, Marlow ... and the killer. The rape and murder scenes are not graphic at all. Throw in parallel universes and time travel and there you have it.
I admit ... Sci-Fi is not my thing. I did not particularly enjoy the second part of the book. Following Marlow and the others through different parallels was confusing to me. As a character, I did like Marlow. He's not my idea of a hero, but he is one. Sage, as Teagon's best friend, is a great character. She's like the glue that holds everything together.
I'm sure the series is quite entertaining ... if you like science fiction.
Many thanks to the author who provided a digital copy after I stalked, er, I mean followed her on facebook. The opinion expressed here is unbiased and entirely my own.
Teagon and Sage are college roommates ... as different as night and day. Teagon is the nerdy one, the girl who stays in and studies. Sage is the party girl.
One weekend night Teagon meets Marlow .. in a chat room online. Marlow is also a nerd, but they get along well and it becomes almost a nightly 'date'. Sage has also talked Teagon into going out with her one night and there she meets Jake, a jock, who seems to be attracted to her.
At the same time there are several rapes on the college ... and then they become rapes and murder. Things happen that makes Teagon suspect both Jake and Marlow of those crimes.
Teagon receives an email from @gingerbreadman that says she's next ... and then she disappears.
When Marlow hears the news, he's devastated. But when he calls her, she answers the phone and all is fine.
What in the world is going on?
The story is told by the four main characters ..... Teagon, Sage, Marlow ... and the killer. The rape and murder scenes are not graphic at all. Throw in parallel universes and time travel and there you have it.
I admit ... Sci-Fi is not my thing. I did not particularly enjoy the second part of the book. Following Marlow and the others through different parallels was confusing to me. As a character, I did like Marlow. He's not my idea of a hero, but he is one. Sage, as Teagon's best friend, is a great character. She's like the glue that holds everything together.
I'm sure the series is quite entertaining ... if you like science fiction.
Many thanks to the author who provided a digital copy after I stalked, er, I mean followed her on facebook. The opinion expressed here is unbiased and entirely my own.
January 5, 2020
Gingerbread Man by Lee Strauss is a suspenseful YA with a definite twist of science fiction to add to the the story. The young men and women in the story are often quirky, strong, arrogant or likable depending on which universe/timeline you happen to be in which made this a intriguing read from start to finish.
November 21, 2017
This was a bit different for a mystery and even with this slight SyFy feel enjoyed it but I was a bit confused at the the beginning.
This is told in the POV of four different people, Teagan, Sage, Marlow and the Killer.
When Teagan and Marlow got online to check out the chat forum for their college they both received a shock, like a current went through the computer. They talk for a while and decide to met but when each goes to where they were suppose to meet they never see each other, she gets mad at him and thinks he stood her up. He doesn't understand why she would think that when she was the one that didn't show. Then later on this girl he has come to like is murdered, but then she is still online, so how is that possible? I feel if I say to much more about the plot it would give to much away so going to stop there. :)
Once I got it in my head that I was listening to 4 different POV's with two narrators I got into the story. It was a lot of keep track of and not at all what I originally thought I was getting as I didn't notice the syfy mention on goodreads. I wasn't a huge fan of Teagan but that's okay because she wasn't the main character. Marlow is kind of a geek so when he finds a girl that is a lot like him online he just can't believe it, he also didn't know that it was going to take him on a pretty wild ride as he races to save her from the Ginger Bread Man. I really liked Sage too, she isn't sure what to think of Marlow when she first meets him but soon she starts to enjoy his company even though they are totally night and day.
I really like how they figured out who the bad guy was and the whole unusual way this mystery was presented. :)
If you enjoy mysteries you might give this one a try as I thought it was different.
The Narrator
I have listened to Reba Buhr before but this one my first time with Roger Wayne and I enjoyed the duo. My only real problem was that sometimes it was hard to figure out who was talking since there was 4 POV's (2 female and 2 male).
This is told in the POV of four different people, Teagan, Sage, Marlow and the Killer.
When Teagan and Marlow got online to check out the chat forum for their college they both received a shock, like a current went through the computer. They talk for a while and decide to met but when each goes to where they were suppose to meet they never see each other, she gets mad at him and thinks he stood her up. He doesn't understand why she would think that when she was the one that didn't show. Then later on this girl he has come to like is murdered, but then she is still online, so how is that possible? I feel if I say to much more about the plot it would give to much away so going to stop there. :)
Once I got it in my head that I was listening to 4 different POV's with two narrators I got into the story. It was a lot of keep track of and not at all what I originally thought I was getting as I didn't notice the syfy mention on goodreads. I wasn't a huge fan of Teagan but that's okay because she wasn't the main character. Marlow is kind of a geek so when he finds a girl that is a lot like him online he just can't believe it, he also didn't know that it was going to take him on a pretty wild ride as he races to save her from the Ginger Bread Man. I really liked Sage too, she isn't sure what to think of Marlow when she first meets him but soon she starts to enjoy his company even though they are totally night and day.
I really like how they figured out who the bad guy was and the whole unusual way this mystery was presented. :)
If you enjoy mysteries you might give this one a try as I thought it was different.
The Narrator
I have listened to Reba Buhr before but this one my first time with Roger Wayne and I enjoyed the duo. My only real problem was that sometimes it was hard to figure out who was talking since there was 4 POV's (2 female and 2 male).
January 5, 2015
The Gingerbread Man novella series is an amazing trio of books. I found each of the stories hard to put down once I started. They are full of suspense, mystery and even a smidge of romance. Strauss has another winner of a series on her hands right here.
February 13, 2015
Marlow and Teagen meet in a college chat room and become fast friends. But when Marlow starts saying some things that don’t add up, Teagen is sure he isn’t who he says he is. She is sure he is someone dangerous, and is the one responsible for the multiple serious crimes that are happening on campus. When Teagen falls victim to said crimes, Marlow has to team up with Teagen’s roommate Sage to solve the mystery and clear his name.
Ripe with mystery and intrigue, Gingerbread Man will keep you on the edge of your seat through the entire journey. This story will appeal to a wide variety or readers—mystery buffs, sci-fi lovers, as well as anyone interested in reading a well-rounded and captivating story. I definitely recommend buying the complete set, as the end of each episode ends with a bang and will have you racing for the next one immediately. I highly recommend this unique and engrossing story.
Ripe with mystery and intrigue, Gingerbread Man will keep you on the edge of your seat through the entire journey. This story will appeal to a wide variety or readers—mystery buffs, sci-fi lovers, as well as anyone interested in reading a well-rounded and captivating story. I definitely recommend buying the complete set, as the end of each episode ends with a bang and will have you racing for the next one immediately. I highly recommend this unique and engrossing story.
September 30, 2019
Interesting
This is a great read with a great storyline and equally great characters. It really drew me in from the start and had me not wanting to put it down
This is a great read with a great storyline and equally great characters. It really drew me in from the start and had me not wanting to put it down
February 17, 2018
The Inconvenient Murder
(Disclaimer: I was provided a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.) Gingerbread Man: A Marlow a Sage Mystery Thriller a Nursery Rhyme Suspense Book 1 was a comforting bring a smile to your face read. At the end, I just sat for a while holding the book thinking “…comforting, very comforting…” Now, I know that is not the first thing that comes to mind for a mystery thriller but the main character, who in wanting desperately to solve a crime being committed is the epitome of good in and of itself that transcends the paranormal element of the storyline. I applaud the author for a brilliant storyline with its depth and breadth, character and world building capability, especially across dimensions. To keep true to the central thread of the plot, and the main character, without any deviation across three worlds, deserves accolades beyond what I can provide. This book is one I can see re-reading at some time down the road. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND READING: Gingerbread Man: A Marlow and Sage Mystery Thriller, A Nursery Rhyme Suspense Book 1. This is a book for your reading list. –Tex.
(Disclaimer: I was provided a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.) Gingerbread Man: A Marlow a Sage Mystery Thriller a Nursery Rhyme Suspense Book 1 was a comforting bring a smile to your face read. At the end, I just sat for a while holding the book thinking “…comforting, very comforting…” Now, I know that is not the first thing that comes to mind for a mystery thriller but the main character, who in wanting desperately to solve a crime being committed is the epitome of good in and of itself that transcends the paranormal element of the storyline. I applaud the author for a brilliant storyline with its depth and breadth, character and world building capability, especially across dimensions. To keep true to the central thread of the plot, and the main character, without any deviation across three worlds, deserves accolades beyond what I can provide. This book is one I can see re-reading at some time down the road. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND READING: Gingerbread Man: A Marlow and Sage Mystery Thriller, A Nursery Rhyme Suspense Book 1. This is a book for your reading list. –Tex.
November 5, 2016
Gee, this was good. Because I download so much stuff through Bookbub, I've often completely forgotten what a book is about from the blurb I originally read by the time I get around to reading it. That was the case here. I was thinking, "College life stuff, OK. Not so sociable main characters, OK. Let's see where this goes." Sometimes I download New Adult books and that's all I thought this was when I began reading. Boy, was I wrong! There were twists aplenty and I was thoroughly entertained through all the surprises. There was also a lot of cross-genre activity, which I totally loved. There were some tiny, very minor editing issues, with the odd word missing or spelled incorrectly, but I simply noticed them and moved on, as opposed to the occasions where I'm abruptly wrenched out of the story by a lot of errors. I would recommend this story.
April 8, 2016
It was awesome!! Loved it! I by mistake read the second book in the series before this. So there were some things which confused me had been cleared after reading this. So I liked Marlow but now I adore him! He is cute and the plot is amazing.
Marlow jumping between the parallel worlds was cool and how he found about the Gingerbreadman. I got to know Teagan and Sage.
I was intimidated with the no. of chapters but when I came to know it was about Marlow and about what I missed in second book I got excited. But when I started reading I was hooked and flew through the chapters.
Suspense and mystery with some element of sci-fi makes this book a fav read of mine. Got the book in exchange of an honest review.
Marlow jumping between the parallel worlds was cool and how he found about the Gingerbreadman. I got to know Teagan and Sage.
I was intimidated with the no. of chapters but when I came to know it was about Marlow and about what I missed in second book I got excited. But when I started reading I was hooked and flew through the chapters.
Suspense and mystery with some element of sci-fi makes this book a fav read of mine. Got the book in exchange of an honest review.
April 29, 2015
Interestingly different.
A budding romance on a college campus of students who are testing their independence wings morphs into a murder mystery morphs into....Gotta stop before I stumble into spoilers. Very, very good read that I couldn't put down and will quickly be buying the next one in the series. It is a stand alone story but definitely has the makings for more to come and is good enough that you want it to continue. Just read the first freebie and you'll be hooked too. Enjoy
A budding romance on a college campus of students who are testing their independence wings morphs into a murder mystery morphs into....Gotta stop before I stumble into spoilers. Very, very good read that I couldn't put down and will quickly be buying the next one in the series. It is a stand alone story but definitely has the makings for more to come and is good enough that you want it to continue. Just read the first freebie and you'll be hooked too. Enjoy
February 16, 2016
This one was a very interesting take on the infamous nursery rhyme. The premise of the story grabbed me from the start and I found myself flipping through the pages dying to see where the story took me. With some twists and turns around every corner it left me trying to figure out who the bad guy was and I liked that. Not only do you get the thrill factor you also have some sci fi type elements in here as well. If you are ready for an adventure this story is definitely for you!
February 3, 2018
This was a lot of fun to read. College kids, alternate universes and murder. What’s not to like ? Great cast of characters with a great story line.
October 3, 2018
This was my first time reading this type of book. I was ok for my first read. I was totally confused on the different worlds it was crazy but I caught on eventually. I will have to definitely read the next book to see if I wanna finish this series.
February 23, 2017
Teagan Lake meets Marlow Henry in an online chatroom, but when they try to meet in a cafe, they just cannot find each other. Meanwhile, Marlow hears that Teagan is raped and murdered. But then, she is online again. What the hell is happening? To find out more and save Teagan from a serial rapist and killer, Marlow crosses perceptible borders and teams up with her best friend Sage Farrell to save Teagan.
This was a unique book - a dystopian sci-fi crime thriller. I finished the book in 1 day. Very fast-paced and interesting. There might be scientific loopholes but I'm not equipped to comment on them and I don't care since I enjoyed the book!
This was a unique book - a dystopian sci-fi crime thriller. I finished the book in 1 day. Very fast-paced and interesting. There might be scientific loopholes but I'm not equipped to comment on them and I don't care since I enjoyed the book!
December 28, 2016
This is one of those books that can take you by surprise.
This is a mixture of Mystery and Science Fiction genres.
Sage and her roommate, Teagan, have been friends for a long time. Now that they are in college, Sage wants to spread her wings a little. So while Sage is out, Teagan began an anonymous conversation online. Marlow happens to be the one that Teagan picked out from the chat forum. Little did either of them know how intertwined their worlds would become.
I really enjoyed the way Mr. Strauss told this story. The uniqueness is cloaked within the mystery that at first glance seemed unsolvable.
Warning: Mild adult language and adult situations. Some violence as well.
This is a mixture of Mystery and Science Fiction genres.
Sage and her roommate, Teagan, have been friends for a long time. Now that they are in college, Sage wants to spread her wings a little. So while Sage is out, Teagan began an anonymous conversation online. Marlow happens to be the one that Teagan picked out from the chat forum. Little did either of them know how intertwined their worlds would become.
I really enjoyed the way Mr. Strauss told this story. The uniqueness is cloaked within the mystery that at first glance seemed unsolvable.
Warning: Mild adult language and adult situations. Some violence as well.
July 15, 2016
I liked this book more than I thought, but not as much as I could've. I didn't know it would involve a "multi-universe" plot, and those aren't really my thing. Since it's touted as a "Marlow & Sage Mystery Thriller," I am wondering how their relationship continues as the Marlow and Sage that connected in this book were from two different universes. But, I'm not sure I'm invested enough to read the subsequent books.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 27, 2016
What a twist!!
This book had me from the first sentence! I am not sure how to go about describing anything, for fear (no pun intended) of giving anything away. This book was amazing! I love a good suspense, by far that is my favorite genre, and this book does not disappoint at all! Throw in the twist on it, and knowing that it must be one of a series, I am all for finding the next and reading on! Well done, Ms. Strauss! I'd love to see this made into a movie.
This book had me from the first sentence! I am not sure how to go about describing anything, for fear (no pun intended) of giving anything away. This book was amazing! I love a good suspense, by far that is my favorite genre, and this book does not disappoint at all! Throw in the twist on it, and knowing that it must be one of a series, I am all for finding the next and reading on! Well done, Ms. Strauss! I'd love to see this made into a movie.
October 22, 2016
This is kind of different from what I usually read. Yes it has a murder, actually a serial killer. The thing is it has a parallel universe or should I say 2. It all takes place on a college campus. Has all the same characters/students in each parallel. Each one is different, one is very different. Has me wondering if Marlow (he's the one that can some how go to the parallel universes) does this again in the other books in the series.
October 25, 2015
This was a bit too young adult for my taste. I quit about halfway through.
Alternate universe where a guy slips in and out of both worlds during a storm? Nah!
Not my cup of tea.
Hm....
Tea sounds good. That'll take my mind off this book..
Alternate universe where a guy slips in and out of both worlds during a storm? Nah!
Not my cup of tea.
Hm....
Tea sounds good. That'll take my mind off this book..
February 8, 2017
This book doesn't know what it wants to be: a story about online dating, about a stalker or about travel between alternate worlds.
July 3, 2017
This one took me by surprise. Because I’d downloaded it for free some time back (more than a year ago, in fact), I had no idea why I’d been attracted to it or even what sort of book it was. I simply opened it and began to read, and at first it seemed like fairly standard fare: a college campus, some geeky students doing typical geeky student things, a rape, a murder, bla bla. And then things veered sharply off in a very different direction and I got interested.
It’s not surprising I was confused. The full title is “Gingerbread Man: A Marlow and Sage Mystery Thriller (A Nursery Rhyme Suspense Book 1)”, and the Amazon categories are the expected mystery and thriller variants. But buried in the book’s description is the truth: this is Science Fiction Mystery Romantic Suspense, and it uses the conceit of alternate (or parallel) worlds to drive the plot.
Marlow is the headline geeky student, who befriends fellow student Teagan online. But when they set up a date to meet up, both claim that the other never showed up. And when Marlow bumps into Teagan on campus, she claims not to recognise him. Now this is nicely intriguing stuff, but when there’s a rape, then a murder, and then Teagan disappears, Marlow sets out to find her, and that’s when things get really interesting, and the alternate world business really kicks off.
The problem with alternate worlds is twofold. Firstly, each time there’s a jump, there’s a new setting and new characters to get to know, and although the characters are technically the same, there are enough changes in their backgrounds and upbringing to make them feel very different. The differences are nicely done here, but it still feels like starting all over again. It’s disjointed, jumping directly from an exciting part in a now-familiar setting, and suddenly we’re somewhere else altogether.
The second problem is that the alternate worlds are not always equally interesting. The third world (which it would be spoilerish to describe) is quite interesting, but by that point I just wanted to get back to the action and resolve the Teagan crisis, so any time elsewhere felt like treading water.
There were aspects of the book that I enjoyed very much. The early chapters, where Marlow and Teagan were communicating fine online, but some odd things were happening (like the photos that wouldn’t transmit, and the missed date at the coffee shop), were nicely intriguing, and drew me in beautifully. Once it became obvious what was happening, I lost interest slightly. The sciencey bits were a little clunky, and, as mentioned, not all the alternate worlds were equally interesting.
The characters - well, none of them really grabbed me. I appreciate that the romantic pairing for Marlow is Sage (it’s in the title, for goodness sake), but it seemed to me that he spent almost as much time thinking about and worrying about Teagan. The minor characters never really jumped off the page for me.
And here’s a really trivial detail that tripped me up a lot — the writing style is rather pedestrian. There’s a lot of ‘I did…’ and ‘I went…’ and ‘I ran…’, one after the other, and it got distracting. I really wanted to get in there and reword a few sentences, just for variety. Now, this is partly me being an author myself, so I notice the rhythms of the writing more than someone who’s reading solely for fun, and partly because I’m a nitpicky so-and-so, but it got between me and the story a lot, so I mention it. Ninety nine percent of the population wouldn’t be bothered by it, I’m sure.
I enjoyed this quite a lot, even though it wasn’t what I was expecting. The world-jumping was easy to follow (thank you, author!), the story was eminently readable and the early mysteries were intriguing. However none of the characters stood out, and the pedestrian writing style keep it to three stars for me, but I recommend it as a good read for anyone looking for a not-too-complex sci-fi themed mystery.
It’s not surprising I was confused. The full title is “Gingerbread Man: A Marlow and Sage Mystery Thriller (A Nursery Rhyme Suspense Book 1)”, and the Amazon categories are the expected mystery and thriller variants. But buried in the book’s description is the truth: this is Science Fiction Mystery Romantic Suspense, and it uses the conceit of alternate (or parallel) worlds to drive the plot.
Marlow is the headline geeky student, who befriends fellow student Teagan online. But when they set up a date to meet up, both claim that the other never showed up. And when Marlow bumps into Teagan on campus, she claims not to recognise him. Now this is nicely intriguing stuff, but when there’s a rape, then a murder, and then Teagan disappears, Marlow sets out to find her, and that’s when things get really interesting, and the alternate world business really kicks off.
The problem with alternate worlds is twofold. Firstly, each time there’s a jump, there’s a new setting and new characters to get to know, and although the characters are technically the same, there are enough changes in their backgrounds and upbringing to make them feel very different. The differences are nicely done here, but it still feels like starting all over again. It’s disjointed, jumping directly from an exciting part in a now-familiar setting, and suddenly we’re somewhere else altogether.
The second problem is that the alternate worlds are not always equally interesting. The third world (which it would be spoilerish to describe) is quite interesting, but by that point I just wanted to get back to the action and resolve the Teagan crisis, so any time elsewhere felt like treading water.
There were aspects of the book that I enjoyed very much. The early chapters, where Marlow and Teagan were communicating fine online, but some odd things were happening (like the photos that wouldn’t transmit, and the missed date at the coffee shop), were nicely intriguing, and drew me in beautifully. Once it became obvious what was happening, I lost interest slightly. The sciencey bits were a little clunky, and, as mentioned, not all the alternate worlds were equally interesting.
The characters - well, none of them really grabbed me. I appreciate that the romantic pairing for Marlow is Sage (it’s in the title, for goodness sake), but it seemed to me that he spent almost as much time thinking about and worrying about Teagan. The minor characters never really jumped off the page for me.
And here’s a really trivial detail that tripped me up a lot — the writing style is rather pedestrian. There’s a lot of ‘I did…’ and ‘I went…’ and ‘I ran…’, one after the other, and it got distracting. I really wanted to get in there and reword a few sentences, just for variety. Now, this is partly me being an author myself, so I notice the rhythms of the writing more than someone who’s reading solely for fun, and partly because I’m a nitpicky so-and-so, but it got between me and the story a lot, so I mention it. Ninety nine percent of the population wouldn’t be bothered by it, I’m sure.
I enjoyed this quite a lot, even though it wasn’t what I was expecting. The world-jumping was easy to follow (thank you, author!), the story was eminently readable and the early mysteries were intriguing. However none of the characters stood out, and the pedestrian writing style keep it to three stars for me, but I recommend it as a good read for anyone looking for a not-too-complex sci-fi themed mystery.
July 18, 2019
This is told by the four main characters; Teagon, Sage, Marlow and the murderer.
Teagon and Sage are friends from childhood who are now sharing a dorm room at college. Teagon is an Art major and on the nerdy side. Sage is more outgoing and social.
Marlow is a science major and is rooming with his friend Zed Zabinski. The two aren't great looking, or have much experience with girls or social situations...they are geeks!
Teagon and Marlow meet in an online chat room and strike up a friendship. It is sort of a safe way to make friends and they find they share quite a bit in common likes. During a storm there is a lightening strike that causes Teagon to get zapped. Nothing serious, but a little tingley. They decide to meet and set a date. When they show up at where each thought they were going to meet and find that the other didn't show, they each they have been stood up. Also messages seem to be odd and the information off.
During this time, there have been rapes on campus, which in time become murders. One of the characters become a victim...or do they?
This is a combination murder mystery and sci-fi tale. Not really my cup of tea. There is a bit of time travel involved. I enjoyed the characters but following the plot took a little more concentration. Also I don't read a lot on my Kindle and this was a Kindle book for me, so it took a little longer to read.
If you like sci-fi with your mystery this would be for you.
Teagon and Sage are friends from childhood who are now sharing a dorm room at college. Teagon is an Art major and on the nerdy side. Sage is more outgoing and social.
Marlow is a science major and is rooming with his friend Zed Zabinski. The two aren't great looking, or have much experience with girls or social situations...they are geeks!
Teagon and Marlow meet in an online chat room and strike up a friendship. It is sort of a safe way to make friends and they find they share quite a bit in common likes. During a storm there is a lightening strike that causes Teagon to get zapped. Nothing serious, but a little tingley. They decide to meet and set a date. When they show up at where each thought they were going to meet and find that the other didn't show, they each they have been stood up. Also messages seem to be odd and the information off.
During this time, there have been rapes on campus, which in time become murders. One of the characters become a victim...or do they?
This is a combination murder mystery and sci-fi tale. Not really my cup of tea. There is a bit of time travel involved. I enjoyed the characters but following the plot took a little more concentration. Also I don't read a lot on my Kindle and this was a Kindle book for me, so it took a little longer to read.
If you like sci-fi with your mystery this would be for you.
January 8, 2019
I enjoyed this book but it is rather unnerving too. Can we be in several demenions at the same time?? Wait is this for real?!? I couldn’t get my head wrapped around the idea that two young people could be talking on an online site and be in two different dementions at the same time. This story is certainly entertaining and intriguing as we read about this idea. Our scientists have been discussing the idea of parallel dementions for years and years. Are there more levels to our world than we realize. Does the idea have merit. This story makes you believe it can be real for certain. University of Detroit is the home of a large number of young new Freshmen. These young ladies and gentlemen are trying to make sense of their world. A group of young scientists believe they can jump from one demention to another. Meanwhile another young man has made a jump. He doesn’t realize he’s jumped. At first he believes that a few things are screwy. However when a rapist comes around and starts killing young women he has to find out what is going on. What he learns will either kill him or make him stronger.
June 23, 2021
3.25/5 Stars
Ok - let this be a lesson to me to read the synopsis of a book before reading it and not just deciding to read it based on the cover. Although, you do get some interesting surprises that way!
This book focuses on 3 main characters, Marlow, Tegan and Sage across multiple, parallel universes. The stopping a killer part was what attracted me - the multiple worlds part came as a bit of a surprise.
Overall it wasn’t bad - I feel the author relied a little too heavily on the multiple worlds aspect to cover up some shoddy narrative management. What started out with the potential to be a good thriller with a good “lurking in the shadows” smart and dangerous baddie ended up being a little lacklustre in the end. Also the build up versus the actual conclusion was like the difference between Christmas Eve and Christmas Day - one has all the potential and one is a disappointment.
If you’re looking for a relatively easy read that features the nostalgia of meeting people through chat rooms, then give this book a go. The characters are 3-dimensional enough not to annoy you but not so real that you’re overly invested in their fate.
Ok - let this be a lesson to me to read the synopsis of a book before reading it and not just deciding to read it based on the cover. Although, you do get some interesting surprises that way!
This book focuses on 3 main characters, Marlow, Tegan and Sage across multiple, parallel universes. The stopping a killer part was what attracted me - the multiple worlds part came as a bit of a surprise.
Overall it wasn’t bad - I feel the author relied a little too heavily on the multiple worlds aspect to cover up some shoddy narrative management. What started out with the potential to be a good thriller with a good “lurking in the shadows” smart and dangerous baddie ended up being a little lacklustre in the end. Also the build up versus the actual conclusion was like the difference between Christmas Eve and Christmas Day - one has all the potential and one is a disappointment.
If you’re looking for a relatively easy read that features the nostalgia of meeting people through chat rooms, then give this book a go. The characters are 3-dimensional enough not to annoy you but not so real that you’re overly invested in their fate.
October 1, 2017
This is the first book in the Nursery Rhymes Suspense Series. It is so different and unusual in its encapsulation of murder-mystery, thriller-suspense, time travel and alternative reality elements, all in one story - but done in a way that is seamless and still flows well. And the main body of the story is still very realistic, as are each of the alternative realities, so it makes it more feasible (if that makes sense!).
I really enjoyed this book, which was excellently written and features realistic characters that bring the action to life. Once started, the book is so addictive that you just can't put it down until you've finished, and I just can't wait to read more books in the series to find out what happens next! Highly recommended for lovers of murder-mystery with a twist!!
NB I received a complimentary copy of this book, but I always give an HONEST review based wholly on my own opinions
I really enjoyed this book, which was excellently written and features realistic characters that bring the action to life. Once started, the book is so addictive that you just can't put it down until you've finished, and I just can't wait to read more books in the series to find out what happens next! Highly recommended for lovers of murder-mystery with a twist!!
NB I received a complimentary copy of this book, but I always give an HONEST review based wholly on my own opinions
December 8, 2017
Gingerbread Man (A Nursery Rhyme Suspense #1) is written by Lee Strauss. Strauss, a new author to me, has certainly gotten my attention after reading this book.
The characters were well developed and shared similiar personalities you would expect to find with college students in the real world.
As the story takes place in three different realms kudos go out to Strauss for creating three separate and realistic worlds where the same characters exist with subtle differences in their personalities depending on which realm they resided in.
The story moved quickly and kept me glued to my seat. I envisioned a different ending from what the author presented so I was a little disappointed thing didn't go my way but the book's ending made sense and worked equally as well as my idea.
Gingerbread Man is the first book in Strauss' Nursery Rhyme Suspense series. I highly reccomend this book.
The characters were well developed and shared similiar personalities you would expect to find with college students in the real world.
As the story takes place in three different realms kudos go out to Strauss for creating three separate and realistic worlds where the same characters exist with subtle differences in their personalities depending on which realm they resided in.
The story moved quickly and kept me glued to my seat. I envisioned a different ending from what the author presented so I was a little disappointed thing didn't go my way but the book's ending made sense and worked equally as well as my idea.
Gingerbread Man is the first book in Strauss' Nursery Rhyme Suspense series. I highly reccomend this book.
January 15, 2019
Gingerbread Man by Lee Strauss is part of her Nursery Rhyme Suspense series. I usually read the back of the book blurb but for some reason did not on this book, so I was quite surprised to find the story was kind of a sci-fi take on parallel worlds. I really enjoyed it. Set in Detroit on a college campus, there is murder and mayhem happening and a nerdy geek, Marlow, is our hero. There is lots of suspense as Marlow struggles to solve the mystery of who the killer is and as he finds himself in different worlds. I listened to the audio version of the book and the narrators, Roger Wayne and Reba Buhr did a great job telling the characters' stories, making for an enjoyable listening experience. I received a complimentary copy of the book, either as a gift or a prize in a contest and was not required to write a review. The opinions are my own. I look forward to reading more in this series.
September 21, 2017
I want to emphasize that this is a YA Novel, clean of any graphic scenes and even the rapes are only mentioned.
The story is told by four characters: Teagan, Sage, Marlow and @gingerbreadman. I rated it four stars because, at a certain point, I had trouble following the different POV’s and had to go back to check who was talking and, most importantly, where was talking from.
At some point in the story things started happening and it was clear to me that something fishy was going on with Teagan and Marlow, all the same, it didn’t occur to me what was it until later on, so the mystery kept me on edge and eager to finish the novel as fast as possible. I’m definitely continuing with this series!
The story is told by four characters: Teagan, Sage, Marlow and @gingerbreadman. I rated it four stars because, at a certain point, I had trouble following the different POV’s and had to go back to check who was talking and, most importantly, where was talking from.
At some point in the story things started happening and it was clear to me that something fishy was going on with Teagan and Marlow, all the same, it didn’t occur to me what was it until later on, so the mystery kept me on edge and eager to finish the novel as fast as possible. I’m definitely continuing with this series!
June 6, 2019
Interesting premise, with reasonably interesting people. Just when you thing "WTF? Does this author need a better editor or do they just not care about continuity?" the twist makes it all work! Definitely YA - but not angsty, so I did enjoy it!
I also have the short story, 'I Spy With My Little Eye' - and, yes, you should read Gingerbread Man first. 3.5 stars, could have been fleshed out a wee bit more (I'm talking a half dozen paragraphs at most, but some things I had to re-read to get the gist of what was going on when an extra sentence would have helped.) I suspect it will be a nice segue to book 2.
I also have the short story, 'I Spy With My Little Eye' - and, yes, you should read Gingerbread Man first. 3.5 stars, could have been fleshed out a wee bit more (I'm talking a half dozen paragraphs at most, but some things I had to re-read to get the gist of what was going on when an extra sentence would have helped.) I suspect it will be a nice segue to book 2.
August 27, 2017
I enjoy Ms. Strauss' books, and this one is no exception. About a third to a half of the way in, the story took a turn I didn't expect. I wasn't sure, at first, if I liked the new direction, but it turned out to be intriguing and well thought out. A touch of science (and science fiction) takes the story of a serial killer to a who!me new level. Kudos to the author for catching my attention so thoroughly!
If you like a mystery with a few quirks and turns, give this first book in a new series a chance.
If you like a mystery with a few quirks and turns, give this first book in a new series a chance.
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