Book Review: THE SHADOW: MOBSMEN ON THE SPOT By Walter B. Gibson. ** and 1\2 out of ****

Fast-paced, action-packed adventure, with plenty of impressive action set-pieces and chase sequences. It also serves as a backstory for Cliff Marsland, one of the most prominent agents of The Shadow. Recommended.

Text © Ahmed Khalifa. 2018.

Book Review: THE SHADOW: SHADOWED MILLIONS By Walter B. Gibson. **1\2 out of ****

Part mystery, part financial thriller, Shadowed Millions is an entertaining and complex entry in The Shadow cannon. It features double identities, murder, plenty of twists and turns, and loads of action. It might not be one of The Shadow's best, but it is an atmospheric page-turner.

Text © Ahmed Khalifa. 2018.

Book Review: THE OUTSIDER By Stephen King. *** and a 1/2 out of *****

What begins as an "impossible crime" thriller - a man accused of killing and raping a young boy was seemingly at two places at the same time, providing him with a perfect alibi, while furnishing the police with damning evidence - eventually turns out to be a supernatural thriller with a dash of Dark Tower mythology to round things off. And, truth be told, the transition between the genres ain't exactly smooth. With The Outsider, Stephen King attempts to write a modern take on Dracula, with some elements of the crime novel mixed in. He doesn't entirely succeed, but it's a good read nonetheless.

The first half of The Outsider features some of King's best writing in years, with tight plotting, believable characters, and short, ridiculously readable chapters. For a while there, one would be forgiven for thinking that this was going to be King's version of an Agatha Christie mystery. But, alas, that doesn't turn out to be the case.

The second half of the book is typical King, replete with all his strengths and weaknesses as a writer. You get the readable, unfussy prose, the likable characters, and King's endearing, addictive voice, which keeps you reading even when things aren't exactly moving along. But you also get the cute dialogue, the endless references to pop culture, the occasionally lazy plotting, and the hokey finale, all trademarks of a King book.

But this isn't a bad book. As a matter of fact, it's a damn entertaining one, with a villain that is fascinating and utterly terrifying. That is, till he's unmasked in the underwhelming climax.

This might not be King's best book in years as some have proclaimed it to be. But it is a good one, and, like most of King's work, there's magic to it, .

Text © Ahmed Khalifa. 2018.

Book Review: THE SHADOW: THE DEATH TOWER By Walter B. Gibson ** and 1/2 out of ****

Highly readable and atmospheric entry in the adventures of The Shadow, with a memorably devious villain and an exciting finale. Recommended.

Text © Ahmed Khalifa. 2018.

Book Review: THE SHADOW'S SHADOW By Walter B. Gibson ** and 1/2 out of ****

Fast-paced, action packed adventure featuring The Shadow, with some riveting action sequences and fascinating glimpses into the The Shadow's past. Marred only by a lackluster finale.

Text © Ahmed Khalifa. 2018.

Book Review: THE SHADOW: THE DEATH SLEEP By Walter B. Gibson ** and 1/2 out of ****

Average tale in The Shadow cannon, which benefits from some entertaining detective work, a few twists, and a satisfying climax. A diverting if forgettable read.

Text © Ahmed Khalifa. 2018.

Book Review: THE SHADOW: THE GROVE OF DOOM By Walter B. Gibson *** out of ****

Offbeat, highly atmospheric adventure of The Shadow, with an engulfing sense of foreboding, and a strange, terrifying finale. Its confined setting makes proceedings a bit repetitive towards the end, but the reveal of the villain and the thrilling climax pick things up again.

A fan favorite, probably due to the unique nature of the villains and the marvelous escape sequence in the middle of the story. Highly recommended.

Text © Ahmed Khalifa. 2018.

Book Review: THE SHADOW: THE RED BLOT by Walter B. Gibson ** and 1/2 out of ****

Fast-paced, compelling mystery featuring The Shadow, with an intriguing central premise and nary a wasted moment. Nothing special, but entertaining nonetheless, and a good choice for fans of the pulp hero looking for a quick, fun read.

Text © Ahmed Khalifa. 2018

Book Review: THE SHADOW: THE CRIME ORACLE By Maxwell Grant ** out of ****

A lesser entry in The Shadow cannon, with a confined setting and a slow pace. But the menacing atmosphere, the glimpses into the world of fortune-tellers, and  the titular villain - a truly eerie creation - make this an entertaining, quick read. Non-essential for fans, though.

Text © Ahmed Khalifa. 2018.

COLD IN JULY (2014) **&1/2 out of four

Directed by Jim Mickle

Entertaining, quirky thriller, based on the novel by Joe R. Lansdale. The twists and turns keep things moving at a breakneck pace, and the characters are intriguing enough. But the whole thing lacks style, and, considering the quality of the story and cast, doesn't pack the punch it should. But it is an enjoyable ride nonetheless, and one worth taking. Recommended.

Text © Ahmed Khalifa. 2018.

Review: THE BENEFACTOR (2015) **&1/2 out of four

Andrew F. Renzi

Uneven and  dramatically unsteady psychological drama. But the elegant visual veneer, Richard Gere's showy but mesmerizing performance, and the lean running time - under 90 minutes - make it work somehow. An intriguing misfire.

Text © Ahmed Khalifa. 2018.

Book Review: THE SHADOW: THE BLACK MASTER By Maxwell Grant **&1/2 out of four

A unique entry in The Shadow series, with a surprisingly dark, downbeat tone. The titular villain is scary and formidable, providing an uncommon challenge to the usually invincible The Shadow. Here, though, The Shadow is shown at his most human and self-sacrificial.

Although the plot itself is messy and overly complex, and the aforementioned dark tone makes this a less fun entry, it is still a page-turning, intense read, and recommended for fans of the character and the genre.

Text © Ahmed Khalifa. 2018.

BLUE RUIN (2013) - **&1/2 out of four

Directed by Jeremy Saulnier

Effective psychological/revenge thriller, with careful pacing, clever writing, and an unrelenting eye for gritty detail. The dialogue is crisp and the characterization wonderful. Only the didactic, heavy-handed ending prevents it from becoming a modern classic.

Text © Ahmed Khalifa. 2018.

HORSEHEAD (2014) - * & 1/2 out of four

Directed by Romain Basset

Ambitious attempt at a modern Gothic tale is a sophomoric, overwrought, and incoherent mess of a movie. Some of the visuals are alluring, and genre veteran Catriona McColl gives an admirably intense performance. But the uneven direction, stilted dialogue, and frenetic editing, make this a near unwatchable experience and a missed opportunity.

Text © Ahmed Khalifa. 2018.

HONEYMOON (2014) *** out of four

Directed by Leigh Janiak

An intriguing premise, engaging performances, and a truly eerie mood, make this a beguiling psychological thriller. The dialogue may be a little pedestrian, but as a mystery it keeps one hooked till the harrowing end. A neat twist on an old sci-fi premise.

Text © Ahmed Khalifa. 2018.

Book Review: The Skin Gods by Richard Montanari - *** out of four

The second in the series featuring detectives Byrne and Balzano, this is a tremendously compelling thriller, with a surprisingly humane center. The plot's fascination with movies and movie violence gives the plot an entertaining twist, and contrasts effectively with the gritty horrors the two detectives face. Even if things unravel a bit near the contrived climax, this is an enjoyable, haunting, and unputdownable read and a good place to start for newcomers to the series.

Text © Ahmed Khalifa. 2018

Book Review: The Shadow: The Romanoff Jewels by Maxwell Grant - *** out of four

Considered by many to be one of the best Shadow novels, it's easy to see why. The writing is surprisingly energetic, the plot is complex and intriguing, and The Shadow is at his most human throughout. The story spans continents and never lags for a single chapter. Pulp fiction at its finest.

Text © Ahmed Khalifa. 2018.