This is How I Relax

A few years ago I had to go to a training on compassion fatigue. Basically, those that work with victims of crime can undergo stress as a result of what they call 'secondary victimization'. During the training, one of the group activities was to write down what we did for fun outside of work. Naturally, I had a list that consisted of things like: read and watch crime shows, thrillers, horror, etc. As you can imagine, I was told that was not a very productive use of my down time as it only reinforces the trama I experience on a daily basis.

Whatever.... I still love reading thrillers and anything horror. I have a graduate degree in Forensic Psychology for crying out loud. Of course I'm going to be fascinated by intriguing psychopathic killers!

With that said, while I have been MIA these last couple of weeks, I have not neglected my fellow indie compadres. No matter how busy, tired, and overwhelmed I get, I still make time for myself to relax. So here's a list of what I've been reading this past week (Gee, you think there's a theme?):

Last week, I received an email from Blake Crouch offering a chance to read an ARC of his latest horror thriller RUN. I jumped at the chance to read it in exchange for an honest plug. You know a book is good when you take a nap in the middle of it and the story continues in your dreams. After reading RUN, I now have a profound appreciation of the fact that the hubby and I own two Land Rovers, an off-road pop-up trailer, an arsenal fit for an army, and my Kindle...so if we ever had to RUN, we're all set.

I was delighted when I found out that Blake came out with Break You, a novella that concludes the Andrew Thomas series. Luther Kite is back and if you thought he (Crouch or Kite) had run out of imaginative ways in which torture, you thought wrong.

**SMALL SPOILER ALERT**

Imagine my even greater surprise when I found out that Crouch and Kilborn brought back Donaldson and Lucy in Killers, a sequel to Serial Uncut. Lucy is one of my favorite psychopaths and quite possibly one of my all time favorite characters. Oh yea, Luther makes an appearance in this one too...

Wanting some good ol' fashioned Southern horror, I cozied up to The Red Church by Scott Nicholson. I love horror books based on religious concepts. Somehow it makes the story seem more real. The extras that follow the book are worth reading as well.

                                                              *****                              

And before I go, don't forget to check out the last few stops on JL Bryan's Haunted E-Book Tour! His next tour stop will be at Fishmuffins of Doom on 3/4.