What do you think?
Rate this book
Zeus, Inc.
Fifty years ago, Zeus, Inc., and its CEO, the mysterious Joseph Brentwood, saved the world from a major energy crisis by discovering a new unlimited energy resource. Now, in 2069, Mr. Brentwood has gone missing and private eye Alex Grosjean has been hired to find him by his daughter (and Alex's best friend), Aleisha.
Blackouts begin to occur all over the world and somehow Alex believes it's tied to Mr. Brentwood's disappearance. Her search leads her through her own murky past and into the fantastical depths of Hell itself, where she discovers that Mr. Brentwood is not who or what he seems to be.
With the help of an otherworldly man named Pip, Alex must save both Mr. Brentwood and the world. But will she be able to face her own guilty past in order to do it?
Blackouts begin to occur all over the world and somehow Alex believes it's tied to Mr. Brentwood's disappearance. Her search leads her through her own murky past and into the fantastical depths of Hell itself, where she discovers that Mr. Brentwood is not who or what he seems to be.
With the help of an otherworldly man named Pip, Alex must save both Mr. Brentwood and the world. But will she be able to face her own guilty past in order to do it?
252 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 28, 2012
About the author
Robin Burks
6 books25 followersRobin Burks is an entertainment and science/technology journalist, published author and cosplayer. Robin is the author of 'The Dream Seeker' (Book 1 of the Children of Magic series) and 'Madame Vampire,' as well as The Alex Grosjean Adventures Series, which includes 'Zeus, Inc.', 'The Curse of Hekate' and 'Return of the Titans.' In 2014, Indie Reader named the protagonist of that series, Alex Grosjean, as one of its Top Five Smart, Strong and Relatable Female Characters. The series was also inducted into the 2018 Darrell Awards Coger Hall of Fame.
Robin, who currently lives in Missouri with her five cats, loves all things nerdy and has a serious obsession with Doctor Who and Star Wars.
Robin, who currently lives in Missouri with her five cats, loves all things nerdy and has a serious obsession with Doctor Who and Star Wars.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
April 6, 2018
“Zeus, Inc. (The Alex Grosjean Adventures Book 1)” is not lesfic, but it’s almost everything else: detective mystery, SciFi, greek mythology, and hetero romcom with a bit of fade to black sex.
Readers/listeners follow along with MC Alex as she is brought in to find a missing person: the CEO of the biggest company on earth, who is the father of her best friend since childhood: Joseph Brentwood. I think listeners of “Zeus, Inc” will enjoy the story much more than readers. The narrator did a fantastic job making the somewhat ditzy and incompetent Alex enjoyable to spend time with, and for us to be inside her frequently rather muddled brain as she shares her thoughts with the audience.
Though frequently likable, and almost always entertaining, Alex isn’t a clearly defined character. She lives at home with her 80yo mother, so Alex must be somewhere around 50yo. Yet, she generally has the attention span of a squirrel. Well, that might be a bit harsh…let’s allow her having the attention span of a squirrel with an acorn (one second vs. four minutes, fyi). The book opens very promisingly, with Alex looking at cat pictures on the internet instead of doing any real work, and with a 10yo neighbor boy pestering her. It’s a cute beginning, and the initial portrait of Alex is definitely likable.
A former police detective forced out for digging too hard into a case her brass wanted left alone, Alex is now a PI. She’s not a particularly successful PI, though; she pretty much lives payday to payday and is always short of money. Yet, her best friend decides she’s the very best person to find her missing father. Nice to have a friend who believes in you, but….really? Alex proceeds to drift along and wait for a clue to bite her in the, err, that is….between frequent naps she stumbles upon interesting characters who turn out to be important to the case, and eventually notices clues that are frequently biting her.
Alex is initially suspicious of CEO Brentwood’s head of security, Pip, who doesn’t want Alex on the case. Now, you would think she’d question him about how Brentwood might have disappeared while surrounded by his security detail. I kept hoping she would, after a nap or two…after all, with a missing person case there’s really no need for a sense of urgency, is there? Well, Pip has Alex kidnapped and roughed up, so she develops a liking for the big goof and begins sleeping with him. What?? Now that’s an unusual interview technique.
Well, people begin turning up dead, killed in unusual ways, so the story moves from detective crime into a greek mythology phase. Alex learns that the greek gods are not only real, they’re closely involved in Brentwood’s disappearance. Alex is alternatively oddly accepting and calm about being surrounded with gods, and with being completely flabbergasted and gushing like a pre-teen at a concert.
Well, greek gods being greek gods, they argue and battle amongst themselves, they kill mortals, and they look to Alex for counsel and leadership, and Alex solves the case and saves the day. What??
The SciFi aspect of the book, btw, is that events take place 50 years in the future, there are self-driving cars, and thanks to Brentwood and his company, Zeus, Inc., there is unlimited clean energy available. Until he goes missing. And then power starts failing. I’m not sure what all the employees at the worlds biggest company do, because without Brentwood there is no power. Naturally, people begin panicking and rioting and looting just as soon as the first cars stop working.
Well, Alex eventually realizes that another guy in the book is flirting with her, and the book ends with a teaser for a sequel.
“Zeus, Inc.” was the first novel by the author, and it was mostly lots of fun, but the multiple genres didn’t always mesh smoothly. The most annoying thing was waiting for Alex to catch up with the reader/listener after having obvious clues presented, but the story was very creative and with only a couple exceptions, moved along quickly.
The best part of “Zeus, Inc.” was the very enjoyable narration. The paperback was published June of 2012, and the audiobook was released February of 2018. The sequel, “The Curse of Hekate” was published in October of 2013, and I would expect that some of the flaws with Alex’s characterization would be smoothed out, and that the author would be less tempted to throw everything she could think of at the reader. After learning what sticks, she would have an opportunity to write a tighter narrative.
Both books (and a third, “Return of the Titans”) are available on Kindle Unlimited. I hope the other books in the series also make it to audio, and I really hope that Sara Sheckells returns as the narrator.
3* for the book, with an extra star added for the terrific narration, so I do recommend the audiobook with a 4* rating.
I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
My rating and my review was not in anyway affected by my having been provided a review copy.
Readers/listeners follow along with MC Alex as she is brought in to find a missing person: the CEO of the biggest company on earth, who is the father of her best friend since childhood: Joseph Brentwood. I think listeners of “Zeus, Inc” will enjoy the story much more than readers. The narrator did a fantastic job making the somewhat ditzy and incompetent Alex enjoyable to spend time with, and for us to be inside her frequently rather muddled brain as she shares her thoughts with the audience.
Though frequently likable, and almost always entertaining, Alex isn’t a clearly defined character. She lives at home with her 80yo mother, so Alex must be somewhere around 50yo. Yet, she generally has the attention span of a squirrel. Well, that might be a bit harsh…let’s allow her having the attention span of a squirrel with an acorn (one second vs. four minutes, fyi). The book opens very promisingly, with Alex looking at cat pictures on the internet instead of doing any real work, and with a 10yo neighbor boy pestering her. It’s a cute beginning, and the initial portrait of Alex is definitely likable.
A former police detective forced out for digging too hard into a case her brass wanted left alone, Alex is now a PI. She’s not a particularly successful PI, though; she pretty much lives payday to payday and is always short of money. Yet, her best friend decides she’s the very best person to find her missing father. Nice to have a friend who believes in you, but….really? Alex proceeds to drift along and wait for a clue to bite her in the, err, that is….between frequent naps she stumbles upon interesting characters who turn out to be important to the case, and eventually notices clues that are frequently biting her.
Alex is initially suspicious of CEO Brentwood’s head of security, Pip, who doesn’t want Alex on the case. Now, you would think she’d question him about how Brentwood might have disappeared while surrounded by his security detail. I kept hoping she would, after a nap or two…after all, with a missing person case there’s really no need for a sense of urgency, is there? Well, Pip has Alex kidnapped and roughed up, so she develops a liking for the big goof and begins sleeping with him. What?? Now that’s an unusual interview technique.
Well, people begin turning up dead, killed in unusual ways, so the story moves from detective crime into a greek mythology phase. Alex learns that the greek gods are not only real, they’re closely involved in Brentwood’s disappearance. Alex is alternatively oddly accepting and calm about being surrounded with gods, and with being completely flabbergasted and gushing like a pre-teen at a concert.
Well, greek gods being greek gods, they argue and battle amongst themselves, they kill mortals, and they look to Alex for counsel and leadership, and Alex solves the case and saves the day. What??
The SciFi aspect of the book, btw, is that events take place 50 years in the future, there are self-driving cars, and thanks to Brentwood and his company, Zeus, Inc., there is unlimited clean energy available. Until he goes missing. And then power starts failing. I’m not sure what all the employees at the worlds biggest company do, because without Brentwood there is no power. Naturally, people begin panicking and rioting and looting just as soon as the first cars stop working.
Well, Alex eventually realizes that another guy in the book is flirting with her, and the book ends with a teaser for a sequel.
“Zeus, Inc.” was the first novel by the author, and it was mostly lots of fun, but the multiple genres didn’t always mesh smoothly. The most annoying thing was waiting for Alex to catch up with the reader/listener after having obvious clues presented, but the story was very creative and with only a couple exceptions, moved along quickly.
The best part of “Zeus, Inc.” was the very enjoyable narration. The paperback was published June of 2012, and the audiobook was released February of 2018. The sequel, “The Curse of Hekate” was published in October of 2013, and I would expect that some of the flaws with Alex’s characterization would be smoothed out, and that the author would be less tempted to throw everything she could think of at the reader. After learning what sticks, she would have an opportunity to write a tighter narrative.
Both books (and a third, “Return of the Titans”) are available on Kindle Unlimited. I hope the other books in the series also make it to audio, and I really hope that Sara Sheckells returns as the narrator.
3* for the book, with an extra star added for the terrific narration, so I do recommend the audiobook with a 4* rating.
I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
My rating and my review was not in anyway affected by my having been provided a review copy.
October 28, 2012
I've been asked by author Robin Burks to review her novel "Zeus, Inc.", and not surprisingly: I have agreed.
First of all I have to say that it was truly refreshing to read a fast paced novel like this one after the drawn escapade I've just gone through with Name of the Wind.
As a first novel, a début novel sparked by the annual NaNoWriMo event that I also tend to participate in from time to time, this books is a surprisingly good and entertaining read. It's filled with many good ideas that take you to a not too distant future where our main character, Alex Grosjean, works as a private investigator.
This book book succeeds in blending very diverse genres: science fiction, the detective/mystery story and Greek mythology. As diverse as these genres are, this is done quite well, I think. The book doesn't dwell too much into detailed descriptions of the futuristic world that Burks has created, which I think is a pity as I would l have loved to have learned more about it, had it been fleshed out more. Burks knows a lot about Greek mythology and it shows, otherwise this book could not have worked as well as it does.
The main character, Alex Grosjean, is well a developed and well-rounded character, though I do find her reactions and way of being a bit too immature at times (judging by her mothers advanced age -she is 80- this gal has to be in her 40s the way I perceive her, but she comes across as 20-something. Not that there is something wrong with 20-something, but the way the story is set up it seems wrong somehow). She has a history that haunts her, and that back-story is woven very neatly into the whole as her adventure progresses and events unfold. The supporting characters seem to be more superficial and 2-dimensional compared to Alex, and as such they make the story a bit weaker - the characters of Pip and Aleisha come to mind.
I have to me honest though. As I read this, I felt that I always was a few steps ahead of the main protagonist. The story was a bit too predictable for my taste, as the surprising"a-ha" moments we not much of a surprise to me, which I don't believe should be the case for any mystery story. But, depending on who the target reader is, feeling that you can keep up with the story can be a good thing I suppose.
Not that surprisingly for a NaNoWriMo novel, this book is self-published. I have to say that this book has gone through one of the best edits I have seen so far in a self-published book, and that elevates it a lot. There are little typos and inconsistencies here and there, a proper editor might have caught them, but they are certainly not distracting in any way, nor do they diminish the story.
So overall, yes, in spite of its flaws here and there this book is definitely something that you can read for your enjoyment and share with the younger generations as well, as it's neither too sexually explicit or violent. It's funny, it's quickly read, and it's a nice way to start reading about Greek mythology in a non-scholastic way.
Format read: ARC provided by the author.
Read: October 2012.
First of all I have to say that it was truly refreshing to read a fast paced novel like this one after the drawn escapade I've just gone through with Name of the Wind.
As a first novel, a début novel sparked by the annual NaNoWriMo event that I also tend to participate in from time to time, this books is a surprisingly good and entertaining read. It's filled with many good ideas that take you to a not too distant future where our main character, Alex Grosjean, works as a private investigator.
This book book succeeds in blending very diverse genres: science fiction, the detective/mystery story and Greek mythology. As diverse as these genres are, this is done quite well, I think. The book doesn't dwell too much into detailed descriptions of the futuristic world that Burks has created, which I think is a pity as I would l have loved to have learned more about it, had it been fleshed out more. Burks knows a lot about Greek mythology and it shows, otherwise this book could not have worked as well as it does.
The main character, Alex Grosjean, is well a developed and well-rounded character, though I do find her reactions and way of being a bit too immature at times (judging by her mothers advanced age -she is 80- this gal has to be in her 40s the way I perceive her, but she comes across as 20-something. Not that there is something wrong with 20-something, but the way the story is set up it seems wrong somehow). She has a history that haunts her, and that back-story is woven very neatly into the whole as her adventure progresses and events unfold. The supporting characters seem to be more superficial and 2-dimensional compared to Alex, and as such they make the story a bit weaker - the characters of Pip and Aleisha come to mind.
I have to me honest though. As I read this, I felt that I always was a few steps ahead of the main protagonist. The story was a bit too predictable for my taste, as the surprising"a-ha" moments we not much of a surprise to me, which I don't believe should be the case for any mystery story. But, depending on who the target reader is, feeling that you can keep up with the story can be a good thing I suppose.
Not that surprisingly for a NaNoWriMo novel, this book is self-published. I have to say that this book has gone through one of the best edits I have seen so far in a self-published book, and that elevates it a lot. There are little typos and inconsistencies here and there, a proper editor might have caught them, but they are certainly not distracting in any way, nor do they diminish the story.
So overall, yes, in spite of its flaws here and there this book is definitely something that you can read for your enjoyment and share with the younger generations as well, as it's neither too sexually explicit or violent. It's funny, it's quickly read, and it's a nice way to start reading about Greek mythology in a non-scholastic way.
Format read: ARC provided by the author.
Read: October 2012.
July 2, 2013
Book Info: Genre: Urban Fantasy/Sci-Fi/PI
Reading Level: Adult
Recommended for: fans of PI stories, Greek mythology, and/or futuristic sci-fi thrillers.
Book Available: An updated and revised edition will be available July 6, 2013 at all outlets, including Amazon and Smashwords. (Well, technically it's already available, but the “official” release date is July 6).
Trigger Warnings: violence, including a man hitting a woman, murder
My Thoughts: This has elements of many of my very favorite types of stories. Science-fiction (futuristic setting), Urban Fantasy (the otherworldly Pip), and PI story (the main character is a PI). I mean, I just can't see how that sort of combination could possibly go wrong, you know?
I was constantly delayed on this book. First day there was my cousins' wedding, which kept me from reading more than a few pages. After sleeping most of Sunday, I settled in to read, but kept being interrupted (don't you EVER interrupt me when I'm reading a book...), so that kept me from finishing. Then I had editing. Well, I FINALLY finished several DAYS after starting, and this isn't a terribly long book, so you see how much it all slowed me down.
Anyway, I really enjoyed this book. I was absolutely right: all the elements of all my favorite types of genres blended together made a book that I found just irresistible, and to make things better, this is obviously the beginning of a series, so I'll be hoping for another book soon!
Now, I can't really comment on the editing, because the copy I had is the old edition, and it has been revised and revamped for this new release. I am very glad, because the editing on this one was really very poor, and if I didn't know it had been revised that would have lost it a star. However, I have high hopes that the revisions to this will have taken care of most of these issues.
If you like PI stories, if you are fascinated by Greek mythology, and if you enjoy futuristic thrillers, check out this very fun story. Recommended!
Disclosure: I won this in a giveaway. Because I'm forgetful, I also accepted it from the author for review. At any rate, my copy was free, and exchanged for an honest review, even if I had already won a copy. All opinions are my own.
Synopsis: 50 years ago, Zeus, Inc., and its CEO, the mysterious Joseph Brentwood, saved the world from a major energy crisis by discovering a new unlimited energy resource. Now, in 2069, Mr. Brentwood has gone missing and private eye Alex Grosjean has been hired to find him by his daughter (and Alex's best friend), Aleisha.
Black-outs begin to occur all over the world and somehow Alex believes it's tied to Mr. Brentwood's disappearance. Her search leads her through her own murky past and into the fantastical depths of Hell itself, where she discovers that Mr. Brentwood is not who or what he seems to be.
With the help of an otherworldly man named Pip, Alex must save both Mr. Brentwood and the world. But will she be able to face her own guilty past in order to do it?
Reading Level: Adult
Recommended for: fans of PI stories, Greek mythology, and/or futuristic sci-fi thrillers.
Book Available: An updated and revised edition will be available July 6, 2013 at all outlets, including Amazon and Smashwords. (Well, technically it's already available, but the “official” release date is July 6).
Trigger Warnings: violence, including a man hitting a woman, murder
My Thoughts: This has elements of many of my very favorite types of stories. Science-fiction (futuristic setting), Urban Fantasy (the otherworldly Pip), and PI story (the main character is a PI). I mean, I just can't see how that sort of combination could possibly go wrong, you know?
I was constantly delayed on this book. First day there was my cousins' wedding, which kept me from reading more than a few pages. After sleeping most of Sunday, I settled in to read, but kept being interrupted (don't you EVER interrupt me when I'm reading a book...), so that kept me from finishing. Then I had editing. Well, I FINALLY finished several DAYS after starting, and this isn't a terribly long book, so you see how much it all slowed me down.
Anyway, I really enjoyed this book. I was absolutely right: all the elements of all my favorite types of genres blended together made a book that I found just irresistible, and to make things better, this is obviously the beginning of a series, so I'll be hoping for another book soon!
Now, I can't really comment on the editing, because the copy I had is the old edition, and it has been revised and revamped for this new release. I am very glad, because the editing on this one was really very poor, and if I didn't know it had been revised that would have lost it a star. However, I have high hopes that the revisions to this will have taken care of most of these issues.
If you like PI stories, if you are fascinated by Greek mythology, and if you enjoy futuristic thrillers, check out this very fun story. Recommended!
Disclosure: I won this in a giveaway. Because I'm forgetful, I also accepted it from the author for review. At any rate, my copy was free, and exchanged for an honest review, even if I had already won a copy. All opinions are my own.
Synopsis: 50 years ago, Zeus, Inc., and its CEO, the mysterious Joseph Brentwood, saved the world from a major energy crisis by discovering a new unlimited energy resource. Now, in 2069, Mr. Brentwood has gone missing and private eye Alex Grosjean has been hired to find him by his daughter (and Alex's best friend), Aleisha.
Black-outs begin to occur all over the world and somehow Alex believes it's tied to Mr. Brentwood's disappearance. Her search leads her through her own murky past and into the fantastical depths of Hell itself, where she discovers that Mr. Brentwood is not who or what he seems to be.
With the help of an otherworldly man named Pip, Alex must save both Mr. Brentwood and the world. But will she be able to face her own guilty past in order to do it?
March 6, 2014
Creative storyline with an inventive twist which may appeal to YA readers wanting a dash of futuristic/sci-fi with a serving of Greek mythology.
Set in the not-too-distant future, ZEUS, INC. has an agreeable plot which moves at a satisfying pace. The world-building could have been more substantial but then again, the similarity to present times (with only certain things "teched up") enables the reader to focus more on the mystery surrounding the disappearance of Zeus, Inc.'s CEO, Joseph Brentwood.
However, this book wasn't for me. When I read a mystery or suspense novel, I want to run alongside the main character or even better, run to catch up. While reading this book, I sometimes had to wait for the character to catch up to me, slowing the book's pace.
I also couldn't warm up to the main character, Alex Grosjean. Part of the problem was reconciling the story's overall timeline with the given facts (e.g., 50 years after a critical event and Alex's 80-year-old mother). But estimating Alex to be 35-40 years old didn't seem right because at various points, she acted and reacted as if much younger, and oftentimes, her sarcasm was not witty but meaningless. The story is told in the first person so unfortunately, every "master of the obvious" moment fell squarely on the character. Several times, her thinking and subsequent behaviour were in direct conflict so to leave me confused for a moment, and some of her interactions with later characters just weren't credible.
Finally, the character of Pip felt flat and given his secret, a bit...dare I say, wimpy? We barely learn anything about him or why he did or felt as he did, so he seemed like an extraneous character instead of Alex's partner in resolving the deteriorating situation. (And perhaps that was deliberate on the author's part.)
ZEUS, INC. utilizes Greek mythology in an interesting manner so I enjoyed that part of the story. But the book—and therefore, the storytelling—would have greatly benefited from a thorough editing and proofing job. The errors in basic grammar/punctuation and word usage, together with repetitive statements and glaring malapropisms (e.g., a cop/investigator would "deduce", not "deduct"), continually detracted from my ability to simply read and lose myself in the story. (I also thought that the author could have utilized italics more effectively, especially in lieu of capitalized letters, but that is a stylistic point.)
Given all of this, I wasn't invested in any of the characters or the mystery so the build-up and the ultimate resolution were anti-climatic. However, the story does end in an intriguing way and sets up nicely for the next book.
Disclosure: Copy provided by the author for an objective review.
Set in the not-too-distant future, ZEUS, INC. has an agreeable plot which moves at a satisfying pace. The world-building could have been more substantial but then again, the similarity to present times (with only certain things "teched up") enables the reader to focus more on the mystery surrounding the disappearance of Zeus, Inc.'s CEO, Joseph Brentwood.
However, this book wasn't for me. When I read a mystery or suspense novel, I want to run alongside the main character or even better, run to catch up. While reading this book, I sometimes had to wait for the character to catch up to me, slowing the book's pace.
I also couldn't warm up to the main character, Alex Grosjean. Part of the problem was reconciling the story's overall timeline with the given facts (e.g., 50 years after a critical event and Alex's 80-year-old mother). But estimating Alex to be 35-40 years old didn't seem right because at various points, she acted and reacted as if much younger, and oftentimes, her sarcasm was not witty but meaningless. The story is told in the first person so unfortunately, every "master of the obvious" moment fell squarely on the character. Several times, her thinking and subsequent behaviour were in direct conflict so to leave me confused for a moment, and some of her interactions with later characters just weren't credible.
Finally, the character of Pip felt flat and given his secret, a bit...dare I say, wimpy? We barely learn anything about him or why he did or felt as he did, so he seemed like an extraneous character instead of Alex's partner in resolving the deteriorating situation. (And perhaps that was deliberate on the author's part.)
ZEUS, INC. utilizes Greek mythology in an interesting manner so I enjoyed that part of the story. But the book—and therefore, the storytelling—would have greatly benefited from a thorough editing and proofing job. The errors in basic grammar/punctuation and word usage, together with repetitive statements and glaring malapropisms (e.g., a cop/investigator would "deduce", not "deduct"), continually detracted from my ability to simply read and lose myself in the story. (I also thought that the author could have utilized italics more effectively, especially in lieu of capitalized letters, but that is a stylistic point.)
Given all of this, I wasn't invested in any of the characters or the mystery so the build-up and the ultimate resolution were anti-climatic. However, the story does end in an intriguing way and sets up nicely for the next book.
Disclosure: Copy provided by the author for an objective review.
April 14, 2015
If you know anything about Greek mythology you know that Zeus is all powerful, but what if a mortal took that power? Alex is a private investigator that has to figure out what happened to a very powerful figure head in the town she lives in. We follow her into the depths of Hell and back to get the answers that she needs, If you like reading about the gods and goddess then this is the story for you and I will be starting the next one soon.
October 31, 2012
I received a free copy of Zeus, Inc. for an honest review.
Before I started this book I wasn't exactly sure what to think about it. The synopsis is very mysterious and I kept wondering why the title and the main company in the book was called Zeus, Inc. Zeus if you don't know being the God of thunder and all that jazz I couldn't help but wonder if he had anything to do with the story.
As I started I immediately fell in love with Robin Burks's writing style. I felt she made incredibly realistic characters with flaws, and relationships, and fears. I felt that was incredibly awesome and the world of Zeus, Inc is awesome.
Zeus, Inc. is set in the future the year 2065. 50 years before in 2015 the world was in chaos, running out of natural resources to fuel society as we know it today. Riots and wars began all over the world. That is until Joseph Brentwood came out of nowhere with an ever lasting power supply. For 50 years everything seems to be going great. That is until Joseph Brentworth goes missing.
Enter the main character and hero of the story; Alex Grosjean. Alex is an ex-cop turned private investigator. She lives with her mother (which isn't as pathetic as it sounds), and her cat. She is divorced and is best friends with Josephs' daughter Aleisha the Vice President of Zeus, Inc. Alex gets a call at the beginning of the story about her Joseph being missing. Initially she doesn't want to take the case due to her colored past on the police force, but considering it's her best friend she has no choice but to say yes. That's when everything starts to get weird.
While Alex is investigating the case she meets Phillip Smith a.k.a. Pip. Pip is a out of this world hottie, and Alex is immediately attracted to him. After meeting him he is the first person on her suspects list. While confronting Pip about the case and what he knows, Pip introduces her into the world of the Gods. Greek Gods to be more exact. After this finding Alex becomes more and more entangled with the Gods realizes she is the only one who can figure out a way to find Joseph Brentworth and find a way to save the world become another energy wipe out occurs. For Earth isn't the only one with problems, the Gods may be going to war too.
I honestly love Alex. I loved her humor and they way she reacted to situations, not going into a situation without a plan, and sometimes completely doubting her ability, I felt that aspect made her more likeable to me because she wasn't perfect. She is extremely loyal, strong, and just all around an amazing character. I felt as the story progressed Alex became an even stronger character. The ghosts of her past weren't entirely so horrible and looming. The way she acted towards those closer to her became a lot better as well as she realized what and who was important. I was extremely happy with how she turned out to be as a character in the end.
The only aspect I didn't like about the book or rather Alex was how she acted towards Pip. He was an honest to goodness a swoon worthy sweetheart and Alex was a complete 'B word' to him. Every time he did or said anything she would state she wanted to punch him in the face. If he was ever even talking to another woman she would get all jealous, but then not two seconds later she was being pushing him away and telling him to shove off. Honestly that was my real only problem though.
Zeus, Inc. contains a lot of colorful language, mostly by Alex, acts of violence and murders. I truly did enjoy Zeus, Inc. and am crossing my fingers there will be a second one (hint, hint). I hope you all enjoyed my review and I really hope you pick up a copy of this book soon. Lots of humor and "wtfery" moments.
Favorite Quote:
"I quickly dropped my hands and changed the subject. "So those two who visited me the other night. Who were they?" I asked.
He smiled, knowingly. "Ares and Aphrodite."
Of course, I thought. In fact, I think I had already sort of figured that out. Although in my mind they were still Mr. Scowly Face and Miss Perfect Bitch. I found those the names I had given them much more appropriate."
Before I started this book I wasn't exactly sure what to think about it. The synopsis is very mysterious and I kept wondering why the title and the main company in the book was called Zeus, Inc. Zeus if you don't know being the God of thunder and all that jazz I couldn't help but wonder if he had anything to do with the story.
As I started I immediately fell in love with Robin Burks's writing style. I felt she made incredibly realistic characters with flaws, and relationships, and fears. I felt that was incredibly awesome and the world of Zeus, Inc is awesome.
Zeus, Inc. is set in the future the year 2065. 50 years before in 2015 the world was in chaos, running out of natural resources to fuel society as we know it today. Riots and wars began all over the world. That is until Joseph Brentwood came out of nowhere with an ever lasting power supply. For 50 years everything seems to be going great. That is until Joseph Brentworth goes missing.
Enter the main character and hero of the story; Alex Grosjean. Alex is an ex-cop turned private investigator. She lives with her mother (which isn't as pathetic as it sounds), and her cat. She is divorced and is best friends with Josephs' daughter Aleisha the Vice President of Zeus, Inc. Alex gets a call at the beginning of the story about her Joseph being missing. Initially she doesn't want to take the case due to her colored past on the police force, but considering it's her best friend she has no choice but to say yes. That's when everything starts to get weird.
While Alex is investigating the case she meets Phillip Smith a.k.a. Pip. Pip is a out of this world hottie, and Alex is immediately attracted to him. After meeting him he is the first person on her suspects list. While confronting Pip about the case and what he knows, Pip introduces her into the world of the Gods. Greek Gods to be more exact. After this finding Alex becomes more and more entangled with the Gods realizes she is the only one who can figure out a way to find Joseph Brentworth and find a way to save the world become another energy wipe out occurs. For Earth isn't the only one with problems, the Gods may be going to war too.
I honestly love Alex. I loved her humor and they way she reacted to situations, not going into a situation without a plan, and sometimes completely doubting her ability, I felt that aspect made her more likeable to me because she wasn't perfect. She is extremely loyal, strong, and just all around an amazing character. I felt as the story progressed Alex became an even stronger character. The ghosts of her past weren't entirely so horrible and looming. The way she acted towards those closer to her became a lot better as well as she realized what and who was important. I was extremely happy with how she turned out to be as a character in the end.
The only aspect I didn't like about the book or rather Alex was how she acted towards Pip. He was an honest to goodness a swoon worthy sweetheart and Alex was a complete 'B word' to him. Every time he did or said anything she would state she wanted to punch him in the face. If he was ever even talking to another woman she would get all jealous, but then not two seconds later she was being pushing him away and telling him to shove off. Honestly that was my real only problem though.
Zeus, Inc. contains a lot of colorful language, mostly by Alex, acts of violence and murders. I truly did enjoy Zeus, Inc. and am crossing my fingers there will be a second one (hint, hint). I hope you all enjoyed my review and I really hope you pick up a copy of this book soon. Lots of humor and "wtfery" moments.
Favorite Quote:
"I quickly dropped my hands and changed the subject. "So those two who visited me the other night. Who were they?" I asked.
He smiled, knowingly. "Ares and Aphrodite."
Of course, I thought. In fact, I think I had already sort of figured that out. Although in my mind they were still Mr. Scowly Face and Miss Perfect Bitch. I found those the names I had given them much more appropriate."
October 4, 2012
As soon as I finished it, I wanted to read more! It looks like it will be a series, and I hope it will continue. This is a great fun read for me, because it was effortless to read through, provided excitement, humor and best of all my love affair with greek mythology. As I read on, it became increasingly harder to put the book down because I just wanted to know what would happen next.
"Damn. The plot thickened." (loc. 975)
Alex Grosjean seems like she'd be fun to hang out with. She's tough, sarcastic and witty, yet is caring and know where her priorities lie. As she's on a mission to find her best friend's father she's conflicted with regrets from her past and how she wants to right those wrongs (supernatural events notwithstanding.) Her best method to deal with her nightmares are to forget them and send them into repression, but in the end, she knows she has to deal with them as a part of life.
"I had to find Mr. Brentwood. And I had to save him. Zeus, Inc. had saved the world 50 years ago when we had depleted our energy resources. The very same Zeus, Inc. that now powered a majority of the known world. And that power had come from the man himself. Without him? We would all be plunged into total darkness, knocked back to the literal dark ages. Chaos could and probably would ensue." (loc. 1648)
I felt, however, that the description was a bit lacking when it came to the scenery and environment that this futuristic world was set in. From what I gather, the futuristic world that is created is almost very similar to how things are now, with some technological differences. The blackout became a huge influence in the way the world changed and the author did a good job in explaining how the past had come back to haunt them. The gods were asleep because they felt humankind had forgotten them, but they were needed more than ever so action was taken.
After a while, of reading, the characters became more obvious as to who they really were and what there current purpose were, and maybe even what their purpose will be in future stories. I can't wait to find out more! I would certainly recommend this to those who not only love mythology, but fantasy, upbeat contemporary heroines, paranormal mysteries and even a bit of romance. Overall, I enjoyed this book with it's spunky characters, suspenseful plot and semi-apocalyptic tone as Alex ventures into unknown depths of the universe to help her friend and save the world.
First Line:"I heard footsteps on the stairs, the pitter patter of familiar 10-year-old feet." (loc. 73)
Last Line: "He only said four words: 'I need your help.'" (loc. 3828)
-------------
Quotes
"'I am awake. I know what you took. I am coming for you. Vengeance is mine.'" (loc. 367)
"I was just a mere mortal and he was a god. I never stood a chance." (loc. 1525)
"It's funny how you take things like electricity for granted. You hit the button that turns everything on and it just comes on. You get used to that and it just works every single time. So what happens when it suddenly doesn't? things very well could get messy." (loc. 1823)
"Damn. The plot thickened." (loc. 975)
Alex Grosjean seems like she'd be fun to hang out with. She's tough, sarcastic and witty, yet is caring and know where her priorities lie. As she's on a mission to find her best friend's father she's conflicted with regrets from her past and how she wants to right those wrongs (supernatural events notwithstanding.) Her best method to deal with her nightmares are to forget them and send them into repression, but in the end, she knows she has to deal with them as a part of life.
"I had to find Mr. Brentwood. And I had to save him. Zeus, Inc. had saved the world 50 years ago when we had depleted our energy resources. The very same Zeus, Inc. that now powered a majority of the known world. And that power had come from the man himself. Without him? We would all be plunged into total darkness, knocked back to the literal dark ages. Chaos could and probably would ensue." (loc. 1648)
I felt, however, that the description was a bit lacking when it came to the scenery and environment that this futuristic world was set in. From what I gather, the futuristic world that is created is almost very similar to how things are now, with some technological differences. The blackout became a huge influence in the way the world changed and the author did a good job in explaining how the past had come back to haunt them. The gods were asleep because they felt humankind had forgotten them, but they were needed more than ever so action was taken.
After a while, of reading, the characters became more obvious as to who they really were and what there current purpose were, and maybe even what their purpose will be in future stories. I can't wait to find out more! I would certainly recommend this to those who not only love mythology, but fantasy, upbeat contemporary heroines, paranormal mysteries and even a bit of romance. Overall, I enjoyed this book with it's spunky characters, suspenseful plot and semi-apocalyptic tone as Alex ventures into unknown depths of the universe to help her friend and save the world.
First Line:"I heard footsteps on the stairs, the pitter patter of familiar 10-year-old feet." (loc. 73)
Last Line: "He only said four words: 'I need your help.'" (loc. 3828)
-------------
Quotes
"'I am awake. I know what you took. I am coming for you. Vengeance is mine.'" (loc. 367)
"I was just a mere mortal and he was a god. I never stood a chance." (loc. 1525)
"It's funny how you take things like electricity for granted. You hit the button that turns everything on and it just comes on. You get used to that and it just works every single time. So what happens when it suddenly doesn't? things very well could get messy." (loc. 1823)
June 25, 2013
Gosh, I really enjoyed this book! It was right up my alley. What would you do if your best friend needed your help? You would help her no matter what...right? That is exactly what Alex does for her best friend Aleisha when her father goes missing. He is CEO of Zeus Inc. a company that provides power to the future world and with him missing what will happen? Alex must find him and fast for the sake of the world and her best friend. This story has a bit of everything...Inner strength, friendship, mystery, otherworldly people (if our could call them that :) ), and just a little romance!
Alex is a wonderful character. I enjoyed reading about her deep inner strength, her loyalty to her friends, and after being in missing persons she is a fabulous private Investigator. I enjoyed the way her mind worked through situations to get to the end goal. Aleisha, Alex's best friend and daughter to Mr. Brentwood, finds herself CEO of the family company after her father goes missing and she takes on the roll with confidence and stride. She is distraught over he fathers disappearance but that is why she hired Alex, she's the best at what she does and she has faith in her best friend to find him. I loved that both the main women in this book were quick thinkers, tough, and determined. Girl Power! LOL There are other really great characters in the story but I do not want to spoil it for you as to who they are because I enjoyed figuring them out along the way and I think you guys will to :)! I'll just say that they are mythological and otherworldly....
As soon as I got this book I delved right into it and I could not put it down till I had solved the case! Zeus Inc. was a fast and enjoyable read with deep characters with profound secrets. The end of the book held some wonderful surprises for Alex and concluded the story perfectly but also left me wondering what is next for Alex Grosjean? Who will she end up helping next? Is there a series forming? I got to ask some of these questions and more to the author Robin herself! Read more below!
Alex is a wonderful character. I enjoyed reading about her deep inner strength, her loyalty to her friends, and after being in missing persons she is a fabulous private Investigator. I enjoyed the way her mind worked through situations to get to the end goal. Aleisha, Alex's best friend and daughter to Mr. Brentwood, finds herself CEO of the family company after her father goes missing and she takes on the roll with confidence and stride. She is distraught over he fathers disappearance but that is why she hired Alex, she's the best at what she does and she has faith in her best friend to find him. I loved that both the main women in this book were quick thinkers, tough, and determined. Girl Power! LOL There are other really great characters in the story but I do not want to spoil it for you as to who they are because I enjoyed figuring them out along the way and I think you guys will to :)! I'll just say that they are mythological and otherworldly....
As soon as I got this book I delved right into it and I could not put it down till I had solved the case! Zeus Inc. was a fast and enjoyable read with deep characters with profound secrets. The end of the book held some wonderful surprises for Alex and concluded the story perfectly but also left me wondering what is next for Alex Grosjean? Who will she end up helping next? Is there a series forming? I got to ask some of these questions and more to the author Robin herself! Read more below!
December 23, 2013
Robin Burks has written a very unique and fun novel in Zeus Inc. Her heroine, Alex Grosjean, is a private investigator who is struggling to make ends meet taking jobs in the cheating husband realm. She lives with her cat Karma and her mother. One day, she receives a phone call from her best friend Aleisha Brentwood who reported that her father, the CEO of Zeus Inc., Joseph Brentwood, is missing. Robin's character Alex is a very strong female protagonist. Well developed, she is relatable to the reader because she suffers from the same circumstances as many people do. The time is 2069 and Mr. Brentwood has produced a company that provides unlimited energy for the entire world. So with the absence of Mr. Brentwood, the power is starting to
Alex's character is well developed and relatable to the reader because she suffers from the same issues as many people do. She is an everywoman. She deals with a past incident when she was a police officer that causes her great distress. She starts her investigation only to find out that those she is involved with are gods from Mt. Olympus. I truly did not expect this jump into Greek mythology but Ms. Burks makes the scenario quite believable and super fun.
The story is fast paced once it gets rolling. It is a mix between Nancy Drew and Ray Harryhausen. it is a fun story and fortunately, Robin has written a follow-up story called "The Curse Of Hekate," which starts exactly where Robin leaves off in Zeus. It is interesting how her character so accepts her circumstances of dealing with gods like Ares and Hera and ultimately Zeus as if it was an everyday occurrence yet she seems shell shocked by the whole thing.
I highly recommend this book to readers who love mythology, science fiction and mysteries. Be prepared to get lost in Robin Burks' story because it is a spellbinder. This book is truly a winner and Biting Dog Publications was lucky to sign her.
Alex's character is well developed and relatable to the reader because she suffers from the same issues as many people do. She is an everywoman. She deals with a past incident when she was a police officer that causes her great distress. She starts her investigation only to find out that those she is involved with are gods from Mt. Olympus. I truly did not expect this jump into Greek mythology but Ms. Burks makes the scenario quite believable and super fun.
The story is fast paced once it gets rolling. It is a mix between Nancy Drew and Ray Harryhausen. it is a fun story and fortunately, Robin has written a follow-up story called "The Curse Of Hekate," which starts exactly where Robin leaves off in Zeus. It is interesting how her character so accepts her circumstances of dealing with gods like Ares and Hera and ultimately Zeus as if it was an everyday occurrence yet she seems shell shocked by the whole thing.
I highly recommend this book to readers who love mythology, science fiction and mysteries. Be prepared to get lost in Robin Burks' story because it is a spellbinder. This book is truly a winner and Biting Dog Publications was lucky to sign her.
August 16, 2014
OK, where to start with this one. Let's do characters.
Alex, our main squeeze, is I think about 40 years old or so. She was an OK character, not necessarily someone I was necessarily rooting for, which can be problematic for a main squeeze. She's impatient with her mom, and come to find out they have issues from their past, but we never really learn why. She seems prone to anger, and getting angry at times when I was like, really? That just pissed you off? So despite being 40 or so, she's a bit immature.
Could care less about Mr. Brentwood, and nothing in the novel drew me to Aleisha either.
Now Pip, I liked. He's tall, dark, mysterious, my kind of guy. He's strong, he cares, he's Alex's knight in shining armor, though I don't think she appreciated him as much as she should. Now *that's* a point against Alex! Take the beefcake, adore the beefcake, love the beefcake.
The plot is slow, and quite often repetitive. Many times Alex's internalization interrupts the flow of the story. Often times, I think it was supposed to be witty, but for me typically fell flat. I really got into the story when the greek mythology became strongly evident. Loved the way it was inter-woven in the story, with a surprising take. However, I didn't quite believe the ending, when Alex was supposed to be smarter than the Greed gods and take over and save the day. Didn't buy it, and then didn't really see her come up with any plan other than what the gods had originally planned on doing. So yeah, call me perplexed.
Over all, this story was a little flat with enough interesting parts for me to keep reading to the end.
Alex, our main squeeze, is I think about 40 years old or so. She was an OK character, not necessarily someone I was necessarily rooting for, which can be problematic for a main squeeze. She's impatient with her mom, and come to find out they have issues from their past, but we never really learn why. She seems prone to anger, and getting angry at times when I was like, really? That just pissed you off? So despite being 40 or so, she's a bit immature.
Could care less about Mr. Brentwood, and nothing in the novel drew me to Aleisha either.
Now Pip, I liked. He's tall, dark, mysterious, my kind of guy. He's strong, he cares, he's Alex's knight in shining armor, though I don't think she appreciated him as much as she should. Now *that's* a point against Alex! Take the beefcake, adore the beefcake, love the beefcake.
The plot is slow, and quite often repetitive. Many times Alex's internalization interrupts the flow of the story. Often times, I think it was supposed to be witty, but for me typically fell flat. I really got into the story when the greek mythology became strongly evident. Loved the way it was inter-woven in the story, with a surprising take. However, I didn't quite believe the ending, when Alex was supposed to be smarter than the Greed gods and take over and save the day. Didn't buy it, and then didn't really see her come up with any plan other than what the gods had originally planned on doing. So yeah, call me perplexed.
Over all, this story was a little flat with enough interesting parts for me to keep reading to the end.
September 27, 2012
Robin Burks’ book, Zeus, Inc. is an amusing, fast paced tale of one detective’s struggle to overcome her own fear and literally face up to the gods. Alex, a private eye who quit the police force after seeing too much death, finds herself drawn into the hunt for her best friend’s father, Mr. Brentwood, who has gone missing.
The trail that leads her toward him is one filled with murder, forcing her to face her fear and the nightmares that come with it. But as she moves along this trail she learns many things she never knew, both about herself and the world.
The plot is enjoyably fast paced like any other crime novel, but Burks’ book cannot really be placed it that genre because of its uniqueness. The criminals that Alex faces are not your ordinary criminals.
Burks’ writing style is casual and easy to read. While it does not pull you through the story’s fast paced plot, it does give you a very intimate knowledge of the main character. This element is a very rich part of the book.
Alex does swear quite a bit, just as a warning to anyone who minds that. I think in several cases it is appropriate and in a few it is downright hilarious. But again this contributes to the intimacy you will feel with Alex in the fact that you will not be spared from her basest emotions and thoughts.
Overall, Zeus, Inc. is an enjoyable book to read. It is unique. And it is funny. I would recommend reading this book if you just want a quick read and a few laughs.
The trail that leads her toward him is one filled with murder, forcing her to face her fear and the nightmares that come with it. But as she moves along this trail she learns many things she never knew, both about herself and the world.
The plot is enjoyably fast paced like any other crime novel, but Burks’ book cannot really be placed it that genre because of its uniqueness. The criminals that Alex faces are not your ordinary criminals.
Burks’ writing style is casual and easy to read. While it does not pull you through the story’s fast paced plot, it does give you a very intimate knowledge of the main character. This element is a very rich part of the book.
Alex does swear quite a bit, just as a warning to anyone who minds that. I think in several cases it is appropriate and in a few it is downright hilarious. But again this contributes to the intimacy you will feel with Alex in the fact that you will not be spared from her basest emotions and thoughts.
Overall, Zeus, Inc. is an enjoyable book to read. It is unique. And it is funny. I would recommend reading this book if you just want a quick read and a few laughs.
August 21, 2012
Left me wanting more!
Robin creates a very believable future setting, not going overboard with technology. The intrigue of the plot captures the readers attention, and the added fantasy twist rounds out the story. Her main character, Alex Grosjean, is very well developed, and I felt a connection with her. Some of the other characters could have been 'fleshed out' a little more, but it didn't negatively effect the book at all...possibly a plot device to add a little more intrigue.
I loved the storyline. It had really good flow. You don't feel rushed through the book, and it doesn't drag either. I certainly look forward to reading more Alex Grosjean adventures. I actually give a 4.5 star rating. Great job Robin!!!
Robin creates a very believable future setting, not going overboard with technology. The intrigue of the plot captures the readers attention, and the added fantasy twist rounds out the story. Her main character, Alex Grosjean, is very well developed, and I felt a connection with her. Some of the other characters could have been 'fleshed out' a little more, but it didn't negatively effect the book at all...possibly a plot device to add a little more intrigue.
I loved the storyline. It had really good flow. You don't feel rushed through the book, and it doesn't drag either. I certainly look forward to reading more Alex Grosjean adventures. I actually give a 4.5 star rating. Great job Robin!!!
July 30, 2012
Zeus, Inc. was a rather intriguing first write by this author. Without giving away any of the plot points, I often found myself with my mouth hanging open. "Just what is going on here?" I often thought! The creativity with which she navigates the twists and turns felt smooth and conversations very often jive with a realistic feel to them. My only complaint was the lack of grandiose variety in formatting, but this is merely my personal taste.
In conclusion, I would like to wish Robin the best in her writing endeavors while encouraging you as the curious onlooker to step out of your comfort zone and take a walk on the wild side with Alex Grosjean!
In conclusion, I would like to wish Robin the best in her writing endeavors while encouraging you as the curious onlooker to step out of your comfort zone and take a walk on the wild side with Alex Grosjean!
August 13, 2012
Wow. This is something different. It starts out as a crime drama, the main character haunted by her old demons as she helps a friend investigate her missing father. Suddenly, the story takes a 180 degree twist into a completely different direction.
The author's writing style is crisp and realistic. To avoid giving away any plot spoilers, all I can say is everything isn't what it seems. If you're a fan of fantasy, you're going to enjoy this book.
The author's writing style is crisp and realistic. To avoid giving away any plot spoilers, all I can say is everything isn't what it seems. If you're a fan of fantasy, you're going to enjoy this book.
September 11, 2012
Zeus, Inc. starts off as a futuristic private investigator story. As Alex investigates the disappearance of her best friend's father, she finds herself in over her head. I thought the supernatural twist was fantastic. There was one detail that was nagging at me at the end of the story, but maybe it will be clearer in the next book. I like Alex and I look forward to reading her further adventures.
March 24, 2014
Could not stop reading this, but didn't want it to end either ;-)
April 14, 2018
( Format : Audiobook )
"Where the hell did I leave my car?"
This is a mixed genre novel made very enjoyable by an excellent narration.
Narrator, Sara Scheckells takes on the persona of Alex Grosjean, a middle aged, female, divorced, ex-cop Private Eye, who lives with her mother and cat when not out following cheating spouses. She also gets occasional easy work from the Power giant, Zeus Inc. Alex has known the Deputy President of the company for years and they are good friends. Which is why, when Alicia asks for her help to find her missing father, the Company head, Alex doesn't feel able to refuse despite feeling totally out of her depth.
Set 50 years in the future, this straightforward detective story suddenly morphs into something else, with mysterious and sinister characters, a personal attraction and romance, bizarre killings and a step into Greek mythology. Yet it does so fairly seamlessly thanks to the naturalistic reading by Ms.Sheckells, who interprets the text impeccably with all of it's cadences and attitudes, as well as giving a spirited reading when such is required, is clear with a pleasing timbre and also voices each of the other protagonists distinctly and individually. Without her input, I doubt that this novel would have succeeded as well as it does. For all of the outlandish happenings, this performance keeps the book grounded and (inexplicably) real.
This is a fun book which should appeal to cozy detective fans and fantasy readers alike. My thanks to the rights holder who freely gifted me a complimentary copy at my request. The story is complete in itself although opening the way to further books about the main, first person, protagonist, Alex Grosjean, P.I. - now something so much more. I look forward to hearing other performances by this excellent narrator.
"Where the hell did I leave my car?"
This is a mixed genre novel made very enjoyable by an excellent narration.
Narrator, Sara Scheckells takes on the persona of Alex Grosjean, a middle aged, female, divorced, ex-cop Private Eye, who lives with her mother and cat when not out following cheating spouses. She also gets occasional easy work from the Power giant, Zeus Inc. Alex has known the Deputy President of the company for years and they are good friends. Which is why, when Alicia asks for her help to find her missing father, the Company head, Alex doesn't feel able to refuse despite feeling totally out of her depth.
Set 50 years in the future, this straightforward detective story suddenly morphs into something else, with mysterious and sinister characters, a personal attraction and romance, bizarre killings and a step into Greek mythology. Yet it does so fairly seamlessly thanks to the naturalistic reading by Ms.Sheckells, who interprets the text impeccably with all of it's cadences and attitudes, as well as giving a spirited reading when such is required, is clear with a pleasing timbre and also voices each of the other protagonists distinctly and individually. Without her input, I doubt that this novel would have succeeded as well as it does. For all of the outlandish happenings, this performance keeps the book grounded and (inexplicably) real.
This is a fun book which should appeal to cozy detective fans and fantasy readers alike. My thanks to the rights holder who freely gifted me a complimentary copy at my request. The story is complete in itself although opening the way to further books about the main, first person, protagonist, Alex Grosjean, P.I. - now something so much more. I look forward to hearing other performances by this excellent narrator.
April 14, 2018
This starts out with some fairly common elements, the main character is a somewhat snarky PI that used to be a cop before an incident caused them to leave, she has a troublesome family life with few friends and fairly precarious finances. However, the author does a good job of building on these familiar elements with the scifi setting in combination with the extensive use of Greek mythology to produce a compelling overall story.
The use of various Greek Gods and the way they were integrated into the story as characters and not simply as gods was well done and helped to round out an interesting cast of character supporting the titular Alex Grosjean.
The narrator gave a good performance, nicely enhancing the story and providing suitably distinctive voices for the main characters.
Overall, this was an enjoyable listen and I will look forward to the subsequent books in this series.
[Note - I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.]
The use of various Greek Gods and the way they were integrated into the story as characters and not simply as gods was well done and helped to round out an interesting cast of character supporting the titular Alex Grosjean.
The narrator gave a good performance, nicely enhancing the story and providing suitably distinctive voices for the main characters.
Overall, this was an enjoyable listen and I will look forward to the subsequent books in this series.
[Note - I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.]
April 4, 2018
The storyline is what made me decide to try this book regardless of the negative editing reviews. Unfortunately, even via Audio, I wasn't able to finish the book. Actually, I stopped by chapter 8.
The narrator cannot be completely to blame, however, how does one read such a terribly unedited book?! So, yeah, I pulled the book off Kindle Unlimited to verify. She used the word "something" 162 times in a book with 262 pages. That means 60+% of the pages are thrashed with a beating of the variations of the word "some".
I love to try out new/Indie authors! So, I tend to have a high tolerance/patience. I hate giving bad reviews so this truly breaks me heart. :-(
I'm giving 1* for an intriguing storyline. The character where unbearable, too. :-/ 1* by default for the ending as I wasn't able to complete the book.
My star ratings include these 5 elements:
1★ story line
0★ engaging characters
0★ use of world building/descriptive
0★ being well edited or narrated
1★ the ending
The narrator cannot be completely to blame, however, how does one read such a terribly unedited book?! So, yeah, I pulled the book off Kindle Unlimited to verify. She used the word "something" 162 times in a book with 262 pages. That means 60+% of the pages are thrashed with a beating of the variations of the word "some".
I love to try out new/Indie authors! So, I tend to have a high tolerance/patience. I hate giving bad reviews so this truly breaks me heart. :-(
I'm giving 1* for an intriguing storyline. The character where unbearable, too. :-/ 1* by default for the ending as I wasn't able to complete the book.
My star ratings include these 5 elements:
1★ story line
0★ engaging characters
0★ use of world building/descriptive
0★ being well edited or narrated
1★ the ending
April 29, 2018
I was drawn to Zeus, Inc. by its description of an interesting concept. After being blown away by Neil Gaiman's American Gods, I hoped for a similar outcome from this author. By midway through, I just couldn't connect with the storyline or the characters in any meaningful way. While I did finish the book, I'm simply not invested enough to continue the series. All that being said, the quality of writing is not what kept me from liking the book. My 4 star rating reflects my respect for the author's creativity where concept is concerned. Zeus, Inc. is a solid piece of writing that others have obviously enjoyed, so I find it unnecessary to deduct stars simply because I didn't love the story. Lastly, Sara Sheckells gave a good narrative performance with her pleasant voice. Overall I'm glad I gave the book a chance, even if it wasn't my cup of tea.
I requested this free review copy audiobook and have voluntarily left this review.
I requested this free review copy audiobook and have voluntarily left this review.
May 23, 2018
I had requested and received audiobook version of this book for free from the narrator, in exchange for an unbiased review.
I like stories that manage to throw a curve-ball at me, with a twist that I didn't see coming. This book starts as a regular missing person crime thriller. But then it brings us to a twist and the story takes a totally different path. I wasn't expecting that turn and the book kept getting more n more interesting from that point onward. The well written characters and somewhat altered-carbon feel to it kept me interested in the story till the end.
Sara K. Sheckells' narration was a good match for the story. The different characters were voiced convincingly. And there are no audio quality issue.
I like stories that manage to throw a curve-ball at me, with a twist that I didn't see coming. This book starts as a regular missing person crime thriller. But then it brings us to a twist and the story takes a totally different path. I wasn't expecting that turn and the book kept getting more n more interesting from that point onward. The well written characters and somewhat altered-carbon feel to it kept me interested in the story till the end.
Sara K. Sheckells' narration was a good match for the story. The different characters were voiced convincingly. And there are no audio quality issue.
February 17, 2018
Audiobook review: If you like mythology with a unique twist, you may enjoy Zeus, Inc. as much as I did. The story is entertaining with a down on her luck PI who is brought in on the disappearance of her friend’s father. The story is fast paced and I was craving it every time I had to pause the audiobook. The characters are relatable, charming, funny, smart, and dynamic. The narrator did an awesome job! I received a free copy of this audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
March 15, 2018
AUDIOBOOK edition
This story is an interesting mix of genres that worked on some levels, but not all meshed for me and it didn't catch me the way I thought it would. - 3 stars
First listen from the narrator, I enjoyed listening to her voice, varied enough to differentiate the many characters. - 4 stars
This story is an interesting mix of genres that worked on some levels, but not all meshed for me and it didn't catch me the way I thought it would. - 3 stars
First listen from the narrator, I enjoyed listening to her voice, varied enough to differentiate the many characters. - 4 stars
April 13, 2018
This is a fun addition to the urban fantasy genre, and one of the few urban fantasy books I've read that throws Greek gods into the mix!
Alex Grosjean is a down-on-her-luck, PI. She's barely making a living wage, and what little money she does make is mostly from the surveillance/catching of cheating spouses, at least until she's hired to look into the disappearance of her best friend's father and CEO of the power company Zeus, Inc... Alex upon agreeing to take the job, finds herself in the thick of the action, and soon realizes that she's probably in over her head!
I found the book entertaining, but there are times that Alex is missing clues, or so slow at catching on that I just wanted to beat her, or at least shake her a little bit...
I also found that the epilogue was just confusing. What should have been titillating and setting 'the hook' so I'd want read the next book... just left me going... What? Wait? Did you just say he had long incisors? Incisors, really... What is he a shape changing 'Lepus'?
Sara K Sheckells' narration was spot on. She captured, and gave voice to the nuances of this story.
Alex Grosjean is a down-on-her-luck, PI. She's barely making a living wage, and what little money she does make is mostly from the surveillance/catching of cheating spouses, at least until she's hired to look into the disappearance of her best friend's father and CEO of the power company Zeus, Inc... Alex upon agreeing to take the job, finds herself in the thick of the action, and soon realizes that she's probably in over her head!
I found the book entertaining, but there are times that Alex is missing clues, or so slow at catching on that I just wanted to beat her, or at least shake her a little bit...
I also found that the epilogue was just confusing. What should have been titillating and setting 'the hook' so I'd want read the next book... just left me going... What? Wait? Did you just say he had long incisors? Incisors, really... What is he a shape changing 'Lepus'?
Sara K Sheckells' narration was spot on. She captured, and gave voice to the nuances of this story.
April 15, 2018
This was a really fun book.A private investigator is drawn into a mystery to find her friends father.What she finds is world changing,If only people knew!This book mixes Greek mythology into the day to day life.I am looking forward to book 2.Sara K Sheckells was the perfect narrator.“I was voluntarily provided this free review copy audiobook by the author, narrator, or publisher.”
February 21, 2020
Good read the ending just fell a little flat for me. I would pick up the next book to see where the story goes.
April 10, 2013
Robin Burks's Zeus, Inc. is primarily an urban fantasy tale with some science fiction and mystery elements. Set in the near future, private investigator Alex Grosjean is hired by her friend Aliesha to find her missing father, the CEO of the titular Zeus, Inc. This turns out unlike any missing persons case Alex has ever worked before when she finds out there are some literal elements to the company's name and its missing leader.
Based on the author page, it appears the first draft of this novel was written during a National Novel Writing Month, meaning Burks pounded a near-200-page novel in thirty days or less. Unless some major rewrites occurred on subsequent drafts, Burks did an excellent job of setting up the plot. While it's not full of twists and turns, there are enough ebbs and climaxes to make for an enjoyable, light read.
A reader not expecting it may get taken aback when the story shifts from a sci-fi mystery to a fantasy drama, but this kept Burks from having to go too deep into all the scientific advances over the years. What I would have like a bit more of is why Alex preferred older technology to the latest and greatest gadgets. Part of me wonders if Burks did this simply to keep from having to speculate on future technology and keep the focus on the story.
As I said before, this was an enjoyable, light read. The language, adult situations, and violence are kept to a bare minimum, so this could be suitable for teen audiences, as it contains nothing you wouldn't see on prime-time television.
Based on the author page, it appears the first draft of this novel was written during a National Novel Writing Month, meaning Burks pounded a near-200-page novel in thirty days or less. Unless some major rewrites occurred on subsequent drafts, Burks did an excellent job of setting up the plot. While it's not full of twists and turns, there are enough ebbs and climaxes to make for an enjoyable, light read.
A reader not expecting it may get taken aback when the story shifts from a sci-fi mystery to a fantasy drama, but this kept Burks from having to go too deep into all the scientific advances over the years. What I would have like a bit more of is why Alex preferred older technology to the latest and greatest gadgets. Part of me wonders if Burks did this simply to keep from having to speculate on future technology and keep the focus on the story.
As I said before, this was an enjoyable, light read. The language, adult situations, and violence are kept to a bare minimum, so this could be suitable for teen audiences, as it contains nothing you wouldn't see on prime-time television.
November 12, 2014
I really enjoyed reading Zeus Inc. Alex Grosjean is a character that I can relate to with her snark and vulnerabilities. It was an interesting twist to include Greek mythology as the source for the story. I have the 2nd book and I can't wait to read the further adventures of Alex. I can see this character having quite a few stories to tell.
Read
March 7, 2013Not really my thing. This would more than likely appeal more to a younger, less jaded reader.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews