Crush

I'm not going to give you a readers digest version of what this book is about because you can read that above and in most of the reviews below. I'd more like to review the author and his storytelling ability; and also the 1st question I ask someone who is suggesting I read a book. Not if the storyline is good or the characters unique; but can the author tell a story in a way that will make me "honestly" stay up all night because I can't bare to wait another day for it's conclusion. Is the author someone worth losing sleep over? In this case I have to say YES!!! I've had the pleasure of meeting the author; Alan Jacobson and I have to tell you he is as genuine a person as he is a creative storyteller. I read his first Karen Vail novel "The 7th Victim" and was impressed that an author had invested so much time doing research before penning a book. The only comparison I could think of was Dan Brown, and I immediately found myself comparing Alan to him. Then I read "Crush" (which I just started and finished last night) and found he had surpassed any other author in research and stands alone in his field....or in this case "vineyard". To me the sign of a great author is not only to weave a whodunit but to make the reader feel like they are actually at the location the story is taking place. The ability to make the reader feel like they are part of the story. Alan possesses these rare abilities and is able to incorporate them all in "Crush". Too many times I've read suspense novels where it was too easy to figure out who the villain was, but I defy anyone to figure out who it is in "Crush". "Crush" was a thrilling ride from the very fist page and a ride that I was sad came to an end at 3:45am this morning. I think the greatest compliment I could give Alan Jacobson would be to compare his writing ability to the author "I" feel is the greatest story teller of all time...Pat Conroy. Although they don't write the same kind of books, they both have the ability to draw you in, make you laugh, bite your nails, lose some sleep, and above all...captivate. BRAVO!!!!

After the runaway success of Jacobson's first Karen Veil novel, The 7th Victim, our impressive FBI profiler is back in the fantastic follow-up, Crush. While the pressure may be on Jacobson to make his second Karen Veil Mystery be just as good as his first, in my opinion, Crush is better. Jacobson is now comfortable in writing Veil and lets her explore her boundaries and limits, coupled with having the agent be in a foreign place. At the start of the book, Veil is on vacation in the beautiful wine country of Napa and Sonoma counties. After the stress, pressure, and near-death experiences of The 7th Victim, Veil can certainly use the break, and has been so ordered by her ASAC. But as Veil and her boyfriend, Detective Robby Hernandez, are about to enjoy a very expensive wine tour, they are told it's been canceled and they'll receive full refunds. Veil's curiosity gets the better of her and she soon finds that a dead body is the culprit. Her profiling skills automatically kick into gear as she strategically maneuvers herself onto the task force, leaving Hernandez by the wayside. But this is who she is. Now on the Napa County Major Crimes Task Force, Veil teams up with Investigator Roxxann Dixon, as soon more bodies are discovered each with telltale signs of the "Crush Killer." Then the killer begins contacting Veil, threatening not just her life but that of her son, if she doesn't do exactly what he says. But the wine industry is an important part of the nation's economy, and the political issue of whether to release the details to the press creates more enemies for Veil. Ultimately, it will be up to her to manage and keep the task force together, and catch this Crush Killer before he gets to anyone else. Jacobson has not only written a full-throttle thriller that will keep readers hooked to the very end, but also educates them in the niceties of wine tasting and drinking, as well as some of the different kinds of wines offered by our wine country; not to mention the number of real locations used the in the book. Crush is a story that will have you entranced, causing your mouth to dry up in a craving for that tasty red liquid; and after finishing the book you'll feel the urge to check out Napa and Sonoma counties to see if they really are as beautiful as Crush says they are. ||Check out Episode 19 of BookBanter featuring a recent interview with Alan Jacobson. [...] Reviewed by Alex C. Telander

Step aside Dan Brown. Make way, Michael Connelly. There's a new king of the thriller genre in town, and his name is Alan Jacobson. I devoured the 7th Victim and couldn't wait for Jacobson's next Karen Vail novel. Crush didn't disappoint. The book plunged me into the fascinating world of winemaking with deep characters and a rich storyline. There are the ususal twists, of course, as Jacobson is known for. And even though you expect the plot twists, you never see them coming. And that's part of the beauty of Jacobson's writing. In a category that has become as predictable as baking with cookie cutters, Jacobson elevates his writing to new heights that sets the benchmark for other writers to aspire to. I'm buying copies for my family and friends as stocking stuffers. Read this and recommend it - your friends will thank you for it! I can't wait for Alan Jacobson's next Karen Vail novel.

I have been a reader of thrillers for many years. My favorites have been Nelson DeMille, Robert Ludlum, and Robert Forsyth. Alan Jacobson is my new favorite. After reading The 7th Victim, I could not wait for Mr. Jacobson's next book. Not only was Crush a wonderful and riveting book, but the fact that it takes place in the beautiful Napa Valley provided additional intrigue. I rarely read a book in a couple of sittings, but I could just not put this one down. I am so impressed with the level of research Mr. Jacobson does when writing a book. I was definitely rewarded with Crush, not only with a wonderfully crafted thriller, but with the opportunity to increase my understanding of the wine industry, computer technology, and of course profiling.

I loved this book! It's very gory, but apart from that, the depictions of wine family politics are fascinating, as are the FBI profiling descriptions. What a shocker of an ending! Why isn't everyone reading Alan Jacobson?! I thought this book was 10 times better than Dan Brown's new book.