Written by Judge #30 on November 11, 2014 and posted at Writer's Digest.
FIVE STARS!
Book Review based on:
Structure, Organization, and Pacing: 5 Stars
Spelling, Punctuation, and Grammar: 5 Stars
Production Quality and Cover Design: 5 Stars
Plot and Story Appeal: 5 Stars
Character Appeal and Development: 5 Stars
Voice and Writing Style: 5 Stars
Judge's Commentary:
SHALLOW BASIN by Suzanne Cowles is the first installment in what promises to be a trilogy of stories that will be of great interest to lovers of tales of the occult.
The unique front cover photograph of an ominous swamp offers visual interest right away, setting the tone for the movie poster slug "Something is Eating the Competition." The back cover has a prominent author photo and biography with link to the author's professional web site. I visited it and found it to be very interesting and up to date, giving me a glimpse into who Cowles is as an artist.
The complex story has great character conflicts that readers can relate to, such as fighting against their own wishes versus what others want them to do. Cowles does a great job of handling emotion in the story with subtle nuances. I could imagine myself feeling what the characters were feeling, especially their terror and dread. It is rare for an author to write with such care and sensitivity, which gives the story real dimension, even though the main plot has many scary elements. I think readers will appreciate this winning combination of Horror and Drama, and will eagerly anticipate the next installment.
