"The Queen" by Steven James

Over 500 pages...but it flies by so quickly. VERY, very few authors write so addictively. My respect for Steven James continues to climb.

Agent Bowers is sent to Wisconsin to help investigate an apparent double murder: a man supposedly shoots his wife and daughter. But not everything is as it seems. The Navy is pressuring the FBI director to put their best people on this case. Why would the Navy be interested in the disappearance of a Wisconsin sawmill worker? Before the book is over, the facts of this case will reach all the way to the Middle East - to a top secret CIA detainment facility.

A couple of negative things about the book. Yet again, one of the villains turns out to be a friend of Bowers.... This has happened in two other books in this series, if my memory is right. Now, it makes for really good page-turning suspense, especially when you can't guess who it is - but at the same time, it is almost getting old. (I mean, does this happen in real life? Can every FBI agent name at least three former colleagues who wound up being serial killers? Maybe so... the nature of the field, I suppose.) I can easily forgive this small issue, however, since the quality of the book is beyond superb.

There were a couple of typos. Sometimes the technical explanations ran a little long. These are all VERY minor things. And, in the grand scheme of things, I'm embarrassed that I even bring them up.

On the positive side, there was less violence in this book. In fact, family and relational issues took up a greater portion of the story than in any of the previous books. That doesn't mean that the book isn't filled with great action and suspense - because it is. We learn a great deal about the backstory of Patrick and his brother Sean (and his brother's wife.....). Patrick is planning on asking a certain someone a certain important question.
Tessa struggles with some of her guilt, as well as the topic of forgiveness. In fact, the best scene of the book (to me) is when Tessa has a deep heart-to-heart with God. It's not a tremendously dramatic conversion, with a sinner's prayer - but Tessa tells Patrick that "something happened" to her in a hospital chapel. It was the closest thing to a salvation experience in the Bowers Files so far! Of all the characters that are in the series, I fully expected Tessa to be the first to take the small steps of faith. And I was right! She's a great character in these books.

According to the Wikipedia page, Steven James is writing a prequel to the series right now; then he will finish the series with "The King" and finally "Checkmate". Let's just say, I'm (not so) patiently waiting!

"The Bishop" by Steven James

Just getting around to writing my review of this book - even though I finished it before Christmas! Whew...time flies.
I will say up front that this book was (in my opinion) the most violent and graphic. There are two killers in this book who work in tandem, and they stage elaborate murders which intentionally look as if someone else has committed them. We've met one of the killers before in the series... but, of course, I can't tell you who it is.

In this story, author Steven James re-uses a few plot devices - which ordinarily doesn't bother me. But for some reason it did in "The Bishop." I guess I feel like a talented author such as this should always have new ideas and not have to revisit old tropes. Even so, the book is captivating and earns its place in the series with dignity.
Tessa's "real dad" is back - in fact, he is involved in one of the most intense scenes in the entire series (but I can't tell you how). We learn some more about him - some good, some bad. Also, both of Patrick Bowers' almost-girlfriends are back... and the awkward moments are priceless (actually, he TRIES to choose between the two). Bowers is the intended victim again (meaning the killers are using all the murders as bait to lure him). And, of course, the crime comes to a climactic end with Bowers squaring off against one of the killers. Since the release of "The Queen," I'm sure you know who wins.

Not much more to say, but it was a good book. I just realized that in my review of "The Rook" that I stated I liked "The Rook" better than "The Pawn" - and then in my review of "The Knight" I said that I "still like 'The Pawn' best".......  Oh well.  To be clear, I think "The Pawn" was my favorite.

I would still give it a 5 out of 5 stars.

"The Knight" by Steven James

Okay, at this point I think it's safe to say that Steven James hasn't learned how to write a bad book. "The Knight" picks up nicely right where "The Rook" left off. In this book, Patrick Bowers deals with some new problems - family problems. He also is faced with evidence that seems to indicate someone very dear to him is the killer he's after.

There were a few minor criticisms. The identity of the killer was unexpected - but at the same time it was very similar to a previous Patrick Bowers story (I won't tell you which one). Also, again dealing with serial killers, there are some scenes in which violence is described. But it comes with the subject matter.

I love the references to Poe and other works of literature, as well as the "side-issues" that enter the books - usually in dialogue between Patrick and his step-daughter. In fact, the character of Tessa becomes even MORE complex in this book (if possible), but she is a fascinating person to read.

I still believe "The Pawn" is my favorite so far, but this story easily holds its own in the series.

I'd give it a solid 5 out of 5 stars.

"The Rook" by Steven James

In the second release of the Patrick Bowers series, Steven James takes all of the plot devices that made "The Pawn" excellent and turns them up a notch. There are innumerable plot twists in this story, and each page just begs you to keep on reading without stopping (which is what I pretty much did ever since I started reading it two days ago...).
The author has INCREDIBLE skills when it comes to giving the reader just what they need to know, when they need to know it - and no more than that. All of the law enforcement and FBI procedures became part of the excitement instead of the dull "this-is-what-cops-do-whenever-_______________-happens". I absolutely love the way that Steven James weaves the story seamlessy between the first-person narrative of Patrick Bowers, and the third-person scenes with the other characters.
I'm not even going to try to explain the complicated plot of the book...you'll just have to read it. Now, for some level-headed pros/cons.

Pros:  In this book, Steven James introduced a clearer (but still thinly-veiled) Christian element into his writing. Tessa and Lien-hua express some conflicting spiritual ideas in one conversation, surrounding the idea of mankind being able to rise above the tendency to be evil. This concept is further explored with one character discussing the murder of Abel by Cain, and how God told Cain that sin desired to master him.
One character ponders "what if someone can lift us up?" By the end of the book, Another character decides that God (though unnamed) may be able to lift us up beyond our evil nature. Tessa also thinks back to her mother's strong Christian faith and to some conversations they had about spiritual things.
Secondly, I thought that the death scenes were a little less gruesome than the first book. Fewer people died in this book, I believe. Although I think that there is a boundary to what is appropriate when it comes to describing death and killing, in my opinion it is mostly a matter of taste. And Steven James stays well within my tastes in his writing.

Cons: Patrick does a poor job of parenting his step-daughter... She dances a fine line between rebellion and submission, but more often than not she would rather have her freedom. This topic is very broad in the book (since it was introduced in book 1), so I believe that it is just part of the ongoing story between Patrick and Tessa.
Patrick and Lien-hua share an intimate moment that I was afraid would become a little TOO intimate. But it didn't. Again, I think this relationship will be developed more as the series goes on, so we'll see....
On that note, Tessa almost gets sexually assaulted, but she gets away. The scene was not graphic, but it was intense.
I may have found one typo......the word was "files" when I am pretty sure it should have been "fires".....but maybe I'm wrong. (I'm usually not this picky....but I have to really stretch to find many cons in this book).

My conclusion is that "The Rook" was even better than "The Pawn," and I hope I will be able to say the same thing after I read "The Knight."
5 out of 5 stars!

"The Pawn" by Steven James

**WARNING: THIS REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS!
This book is the debut novel by Steven James, and the first work in the "Bowers' Files" series. We are introduced to the character of Patrick Bowers, a Special Agent with a knack for nabbing the bad guys. However, in this story, Bowers is pitted against a serial killer who seems to be able to stay one step ahead of the investigators.
Let me address some of the serious issues to begin with. If you were to read the reviews at http://www.christianbook.com/ for this book, you would notice that several people give it a one-star rating, saying that it is violent, graphic, and should not be read by Christians (or anyone, especially right before bedtime). Others said that there were no mentions of God or any redeeming aspect to the story at all. I disagree with that last observation. While the author did not attempt to give a clear presentation of the Gospel (like maybe Frank Peretti or Joel Rosenberg have done in their books), the protagonist does wrestle with his own faith. Well, he wrestles with his late wife's faith - and attempts to understand how she can be so devoted to a God who is seemingly destroying her body with disease. He also attempts to reconnect with his estranged step-daughter, which I find a very redeeming aspect of the story.
The other negative observations are mostly accurate. There is a good deal of violence, and graphic death scenes abound. (It is the story of a serial killer, after all). However, I do not think the author crossed the line of grotesque-ness. I, for one, was able to tolerate and even enjoy this book above some books by other authors (Ted Dekker and Robert Liparulo, for example, have disturbed me to the point of getting rid of some of their books***** SEE READER COMMENTS BELOW POST). On another note, reality is much harsher than fiction, and one only has to turn on the evening news to hear horrible stories just as graphic and see video footage just as disturbing. The Bible, also, gives some pretty gory details at times, but the Bible doesn't disturb me. It is only a matter of perspective and knowing your own tastes.
On the positive side, this book is a real nail-biter! The talent of the writer is obvious, and I am looking forward to reading more of his works and seeing his abilities develop. (To be perfectly honest...I read portions of this book at night while in bed, and...um...well........ let's just say that a few times I was tempted to leave the lamp on. "Thriller" is a very appropriate term to describe it). I look forward to reading the rest of the series.