{"id":708,"date":"2008-10-22T21:19:39","date_gmt":"2008-10-23T02:19:39","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.daysongreflections.com\/\/?p=708"},"modified":"2008-10-22T21:19:39","modified_gmt":"2008-10-23T02:19:39","slug":"less-than-dead-by-tim-downs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.daysongreflections.com\/?p=708","title":{"rendered":"Less Than Dead by Tim Downs"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"\"<\/a><\/div>\n

This week, the<\/span><\/p>\n

Christian Fiction Blog Alliance<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

is introducing<\/span><\/p>\n

Less Than Dead<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

Thomas Nelson (September 9, 2008)<\/p>\n

by<\/p>\n

Tim Downs<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:<\/h3>\n

\"\"<\/a>Tim Downs is a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Indiana University. After graduation in 1976 he created a comic strip, Downstown, which was syndicated by Universal Press Syndicate until 1986. His cartooning has appeared in more than a hundred major newspapers worldwide.<\/p>\n

His first book, a work of non-fiction, was awarded the Gold Medallion Award in 2000. His first novel, Shoofly Pie, was awarded the Angel Award in 2004, and his third novel, PlagueMaker<\/a>, was awarded the Christy Award for best suspense novel of 2007. First The Dead<\/a>, the third book in this Bug Man series came out earlier this year.<\/p>\n

Tim lives in Cary, North Carolina, with his wife Joy.<\/p>\n

ABOUT THE BOOK:<\/h3>\n

\"\"<\/a>
\nSome secrets just won’t stay buried.<\/strong>
\n<\/span><\/span>When strange bones surface on a U.S. senator’s property, the FBI enlists forensic entomologist Nick Polchak to investigate the forgotten graveyard. Polchak’s orders are simple: figure out the mess.<\/p>\n

But Polchak, known as the “Bug Man” because of his knowledge of insects and their interaction with the dead, senses darker secrets buried beneath the soil.<\/p>\n

Secrets<\/span><\/strong> that could derail<\/span><\/strong> the senator’s presidential bid.<\/p>\n

Secrets buried<\/span> <\/strong>in the history of a quaint Virginia town.<\/p>\n

Secrets<\/span><\/strong> someone is willing to kill<\/span><\/strong> to protect.<\/p>\n

With the help of a mysterious local woman named Alena and her uncanny cadaver dogs, Polchak sets out to dig up the truth.<\/p>\n

But with a desperate killer<\/span> <\/strong>hot on his trail, he’ll be lucky to wind up anything less than dead<\/strong>.
\n<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

If you would like to read the first chapter of Less Than Dead<\/a>, go HERE<\/a><\/p>\n

Find out more about Tim and his books at his Website<\/a><\/p>\n

MY REVIEW:<\/h3>\n

Less Than Dead<\/a> is one of those books that is so well written and reads so smoothly, that it pulls you in and won’t let go. I really loved the characters, especially the leading man, Nick Polchak. Nick’s irreverent wit and sarcasm were the perfect counterpoint to the building suspense of the story. The mysterious Alena and her dogs added another layer of interest as well. Less Than Dead<\/a> is a thrilling tale full of twists and turns, subplots, old remains, and new remains. Tim Downs manages to tie all the loose ends together neatly while subtly giving the reader a brief education about entomology and dog training. And he does it all so entertainingly.<\/p>\n

Less Than Dead<\/a> is the first of Tim Downs’ books I’ve read. I can guarantee it won’t be the last. Why have I not known about this author? I will admit I have a copy of Shoofly Pie on my bookshelf that was purchased at another blogger’s recommendation. It will be at the top of my to read list when I catch up on the books I have committed to review for this blog.<\/p>\n

I would heartily recommend Less Than Dead<\/a> to everyone who enjoys a good mystery or suspense novel.<\/p>\n

Come and visit some of those posting for this tour:<\/p>\n

Adam at Northwoods Blumer<\/a>
\nAmy at My Life<\/a>
\nAndie at frommipov<\/a>
\nAngela at One Baby, Seven Dogs, and a Mommy<\/a>
\nApril at Projecting A<\/a>
\nApril at Living In A State Of Constant Kansas<\/a>
\nBeth at The Write Message<\/a>
\nBonnie at Bonnie Writes<\/a>
\nBrittanie at A Book Lover<\/a>
\nC.J. at C.J. Darlington.com<\/a>
\nCaleb at Reviews Plus+<\/a>
\nCamille at There is a season<\/a>
\nCamy at Camy Tang<\/a>
\nCara at the law, books, and life<\/a>
\nCarol at Blogging With Carol<\/a>
\nCeeCee at Book Splurge<\/a>
\nChristy at Christy’s Book Blog<\/a>
\nCourtney at A Mom Speaks<\/a>
\nDave at Dave Rhoades<\/a>
\nDave at Novel Spotlight<\/a>
\nDawn at Book Junkie Confessions<\/a>
\nDeborah at books, movies and chinese food<\/a>
\nDebra at Soul Reflections<\/a>
\nDeena at A Peek At My Bookshelf<\/a>
\nDelia at Gatorskunkz And Mudcats<\/a>
\nEdyth at Great Reads by Jasmine<\/a>
\nElizabeth at Count it All Joy<\/a>
\nErnie at Writing: My Adventures In Words<\/a>
\nGeorgiana at Georgiana D<\/a>
\nGina at Upon Reflection<\/a>
\nGina at Portrait Of A Writer<\/a>
\nGretchen at Inspire Me<\/a>
\nJanis at The Nearsighted Bookworm<\/a>
\nJanna at Cornhusker Academy<\/a>
\nJason at Spoiled For The Ordinary<\/a>
\nJendi at Jendi’s Journal<\/a>
\nJennifer at So Many Books\u2026So Little Time<\/a>
\nJill at Christian Work At Home Moms<\/a>
\nJill at Artistic Blogger<\/a>
\nKaren at Mommy of Three<\/a>
\nKarla at Ramblin’ Roads To Everywhere<\/a>
\nKatie at Christian Novels<\/a>
\nKelly at Scrambled Dregs<\/a>
\nKim at Window To My World<\/a>
\nKristi at Stamped With Grace<\/a>
\nKristinia at Loving Heart Mommy<\/a>
\nLaura at Laura William’s Musings<\/a>
\nLeah at Ponderings From My Heart<\/a>
\nLinda at Reading For His Glory<\/a>
\nLori at Noggin Bits<\/a>
\nLynetta at Open Book<\/a>
\nMarcia at Writer-lee<\/a>
\nMargaret at Creative Madness<\/a>
\nMarjorie at The Writer’s Tool<\/a>
\nMelissa at LifeWithTwo<\/a>
\nMichelle at Edgy Inspirational Author<\/a>
\nMichelle at Just A Minute<\/a>
\nMichelle at Michelle’s Great Blogs<\/a>
\nNicole at Into The Fire<\/a>
\nNora at Finding Hope Through Christian Fiction<\/a>
\nPam at Pam’s Private Reflections<\/a>
\nPam at Daysong Reflections<\/a>
\nRachelle at Stifled Squeal<\/a>
\nRel at Relz Reviewz<\/a>
\nSean at Bookmark Cafe<\/a>
\nStacy at Vader’s Mom<\/a>
\nStephanie at Punkin’ Press<\/a>
\nSunny at That Book Addiction<\/a>
\nSusan at His Reading List<\/a>
\nTakiela at Beauty 4 Ashes<\/a>
\nTara at Tara’s View Of The World<\/a>
\nTiffany at Snapshots Of Life<\/a>
\nTodd at A Place Called Fiction<\/a>
\nNessie at Illuminating Fiction<\/a>
\nVictoria at Overlooked Orchid<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

This week, the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance is introducing Less Than Dead Thomas Nelson (September 9, 2008) by Tim Downs ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Tim Downs is a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Indiana University. After graduation in 1976 he created a comic strip, Downstown, which was syndicated by Universal Press Syndicate until 1986. His cartooning […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[8],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-708","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-books"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.daysongreflections.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/708","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.daysongreflections.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.daysongreflections.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.daysongreflections.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.daysongreflections.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=708"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/www.daysongreflections.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/708\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":713,"href":"https:\/\/www.daysongreflections.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/708\/revisions\/713"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.daysongreflections.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=708"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.daysongreflections.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=708"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.daysongreflections.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=708"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}