Review of Heritage of Evil

[Nwansimdi Mercy Someze]

Terry's story seems to be one of determination, ambition, and navigating the complexities of law enforcement in an international setting.

[Gerry Steen]

Hi, Cara. You did a thorough review of this book as you usually do. I appreciate that. It seems like this book could become a five-star book if the author addresses the flaws you pointed out. The character development is already excellent and the two converging storylines seem interesting. Would you say that this author has great potential?

Gerry, the book definitely has the potential to get five stars. The merging storylines reminded me of how Sydney Sheldon (one of my all-time favorite authors) structured his books. I would definitely say that the author has great potential! I enjoyed the suspense that was created by hinting at a story merge. I wondered how these two lives would eventually intersect, and I even became invested in both characters to the point that I was worried that when the narratives merged, I could lose one of them! Thanks so much for taking the time to read my review once again and for always engaging me in additional discussion! How do you rate "great potential" in an author? Until next time...

Hi, Cara, I will say an author has great potential if they can engage my full attention with skilled use of wording, interesting characters, and a good plot. If those elements are present, it shows me that the author has talent as a storyteller. The rest can always be improved.

[Stephen Christopher 1]

Stephen, I can totally understand the conflict! The Darklyn Cove setting didn't seem to be extraordinary in any way (perhaps that was the point). Are you wondering if it describes an actual place that was given a new name? That would be fun to uncover in a book! I love a good vampire book, as you may have been able to tell by my book choices; however, they need to come all the way through with the other salient book elements. Oh, the book list—it's a double-edged sword, is it not? It reminds me of Netflix and how you can find yourself in a "show hole,"...but it is literally only a moment until you find another one to take its place! Thanks for taking a read and leaving me a comment! Good to know that Darklyn Cove was not a real place, by the way, Until next time...

Oh Cara, don't even get me started on my Netflix queue. Shamless US (all 11 seasons) finally dropped in Thailand after a 7 year wait and I'm binge-watching the entire series at the exclusion of everything else. Meanwhile I'm adding more to my queue. I doubt I'll get through it in my lifetime. Lol, my want to read list on OBC is equally as huge.

[Cara Wilding]

Terry, I wouldn't know how to critique a family member, either! What a fantastic deal! How impressive and exciting! I just looked at it on Amazon and even sampled the first few chapters. It has tons of great reviews, and I can see why. I loved what I saw; it was genuinely funny and easy to read. I've added it to my TBR list, and I'm not even a romance reader! Thanks so much for sharing that with me; I can't wait to read it! Until next time...

[Cara Wilding]

Terry's story seems to be one of determination, ambition, and navigating the complexities of law enforcement in an international setting.

Thank you so much for stopping by and leaving me a quick comment! Until next time...

[Cara Wilding]

Hi, Cara, I will say an author has great potential if they can engage my full attention with skilled use of wording, interesting characters, and a good plot. If those elements are present, it shows me that the author has talent as a storyteller. The rest can always be improved.

Gerry, those are some great criteria, and I love the reference to a "storyteller." You're so right; the rest "can" be improved! Thanks so much for responding to my question! Until next time...

[Cara Wilding]

Oh Cara, don't even get me started on my Netflix queue. Shamless US (all 11 seasons) finally dropped in Thailand after a 7 year wait and I'm binge-watching the entire series at the exclusion of everything else. Meanwhile I'm adding more to my queue. I doubt I'll get through it in my lifetime. Lol, my want to read list on OBC is equally as huge.

Stephen, there are worse things in life, no? The only word I have found that adequately describes my TBR (to be read) list is: crippling. It is what it is! I can't imagine having to wait so long to get shows - but my guess is that living in Thailand makes up for it Until next time, friend...

[Susan Ledezma]

I love vampire novels that are well executed! I also love it when books have great character development, however, I am disappointed when books do not have a satisfying ending. This book does feel like it has a lot of potential in its plot though, and I am a bit interested. Thanks for the very insightful review!

[Mari Thompson]

I’m not a big fan of vampire books so this book isn’t for me. I think the author will appreciate your feedback and maybe do another round of editing if permitted. Great detailed review.

[Cara Wilding]

I love vampire novels that are well executed! I also love it when books have great character development, however, I am disappointed when books do not have a satisfying ending. This book does feel like it has a lot of potential in its plot though, and I am a bit interested. Thanks for the very insightful review!

Susan, I hear you on the well-executed piece! I wish every book I read met all the criteria for a great read, but then I guess every book would be a 5-star read—then how could we pick? Haha, it would be a double-edged sword The plot in this book definitely gets good marks. Thanks for stopping by again and leaving me a quick comment! Until next time...

[Cara Wilding]

I’m not a big fan of vampire books so this book isn’t for me. I think the author will appreciate your feedback and maybe do another round of editing if permitted. Great detailed review.

Mari, vampires are definitely not for everyone, but I still appreciate you reading my review and leaving me a quick comment! Thanks so much, I appreciate it. Until next time...

[Claudia Angelucci]

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Heritage of Evil" by Peter J. Summers.]

---

4 out of 5 stars

---

Share This Review

---

Dejected by his high school crush, Terry departs from Darklyn Cove with a fierce determination to prove his worth. He achieves his boyhood ambition of becoming a detective. Soon, he discovers he lacks the agency to showcase and demonstrate his value. Terry is offered a chance to join the prestigious Australian Police Force, marking a significant milestone in his promising career. He soon becomes caught up in a dangerous and volatile situation deep in the heart of Bucharest, Romania.

Amid it all, a little bundle of joy enters that same coastal town. Steve, the son of Ben and Marci Strickland, is quite a remarkable little one, considering he was born to a mother who had just undergone a hysterectomy. The child is surrounded by an ominous undercurrent and shadowy unease, hinting at the possibility of an unsettling presence within. The only apparent similarities between Steve and Terry are an overarching aversion towards fellow human beings, a youthful deficiency in intestinal fortitude, and their origins in Darklyn Cove, Australia. How might these lives converge, and to what end?

The Heritage of Evil by Peter J. Summers features two parallel narratives that eventually converge. The book is written with British grammar but is liberally laced with an abundance of American references that will appeal to readers on both sides of the Atlantic. Each chapter of the narrative alternates between these two plotlines.

What I enjoyed most about this work is that the author does an excellent job of character development. Steve's character flawlessly captures the depths of inner self-loathing and angst within him. In contrast, Terry's character effectively portrays adolescent rejection's pain and enduring impacts. The story is brimming with elements that craft suspense and allude to a dark presence, gradually weaving together the two distinct storylines destined to collide. The book was filled with clever nods to pop culture that I found incredibly entertaining. Including this element of realism enhances the narrative and makes it more relatable. The author cleverly found a way to sidestep the tired tropes often associated with vampires as well.

There were a few elements that didn't quite align with my preferences. At times, the longer alternating chapters caused a brief moment of disorientation as I tried to remember the details from the previous connected chapter. The introduction captivates your attention right from the start, but the subsequent pacing slows down, making it more challenging to stay fully engaged. The most enticing aspects of the book only reveal themselves in the final stages, at around 80% completion. The book also concludes rather abruptly, which left me with a sense of dissatisfaction. I also found certain descriptions of events, like the haunted house, to be excessive and lengthy. Additionally, the continued story of Evelyn seems unnecessary since she doesn't play a significant role later on. The lack of clarity surrounding Mark Tucker's ascent to his position is quite frustrating, as is the swift and effortless defeat Terry inflicts upon his adversary, especially considering the extensive time the book dedicates to developing his adversary's skills.

Regrettably, this book would benefit from another round of editing, as it contains several errors. In light of these factors, I would give this book a rating of 4 out of 5 stars. Although there were certain aspects that didn't quite align with my personal taste, I would highly recommend this book to individuals who appreciate a more leisurely pace, unconventional vampire storylines, and thought-provoking exploration of the clash between organized religion and evil. This reading is best suited for mature audiences due to its abundant use of profanity, explicit sexual content, and violent scenes.

******
Heritage of Evil
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon

The plot sounds cool! I'm not a fan of slow-paced books that drag, but everyone has their preferences. Perhaps I'm just a bit impatient. Great review, Cara – clear and honest

[Cara Wilding]

The plot sounds cool! I'm not a fan of slow-paced books that drag, but everyone has their preferences. Perhaps I'm just a bit impatient. Great review, Cara – clear and honest

Claudia, it indeed had a cool plot I'm also a little impatient - when someone says a book has a "break-neck speed," that's what I'm all about! Thanks for taking the time to read my reviews and leave me fun comments! Until next time...

[Alice Heritage]

Detectives and vampires - that sounds like a fascinating combination. Good to know the author avoided cliches, that's to be applauded. Thank you for your thorough and interesting review.

[Cara Wilding]

Detectives and vampires - that sounds like a fascinating combination. Good to know the author avoided cliches, that's to be applauded. Thank you for your thorough and interesting review.

Alice, I'm a "sucker" for a good vampire book; what can I say? The topic of vampires is so old that I would only be disappointed if there wasn't a new approach or twist to it! Thanks for stopping by and taking the time to read my review and leave a comment—always appreciated! Oh, and this is "not" the book with the homophone errors we were chatting about Until next time...