Review of Adam - Fear

[Catherine Sweet]

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Adam - Fear" by Matthew Pearce.]

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4 out of 5 stars

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Adam – Fear by Matthew Pearce is a novel that combines the fight for law and order with the supernatural. The story starts when a young tribe member wins twelve gladiatorial contests and joins the Avunaye. Fifteen hundred years later, the same ritual takes place in New York City, and twelve murdered people are found hanging in a warehouse. A team of FBI agents and police officers investigate. There are a number of supernatural characters with special powers who want to punish human beings for their actions over many years. Adam, the most powerful of the group, wants to prevent this punishment from taking place. The work of the FBI and the police is interweaved with the supernatural presence of the Avuneye. There is a build-up of tension as more murders take place and humanity is under threat.

The complicated plot is cleverly planned and executed. It is action-packed and includes many dramatic scenes. There are some surprises in the book that I didn’t see coming. The story is imaginative, particularly regarding the Avunaye individuals and their special powers, which are many and varied. The scenes where Adam transforms into an animal are eloquently described and magical. I thought the way that one of the Avunaye, Nahki, could pull a knife from under his skin to use in a fight and then push it back under his skin afterwards was memorable.

I like how the book has a good mix of males and females. Each chapter is written from one of the character’s point of view. This works well and enables the reader to get to know them better. I thought Krysta, Lucy and Claire were particularly well-drawn characters, and I felt invested in what happened to them. I didn’t relate as much to Adam, the protagonist, maybe because he was a supernatural figure. I think there are too many people in the book and that fewer peripheral characters would have worked better.

This book would appeal to readers who enjoy supernatural thrillers, plenty of action and well-drawn characters. I will take one mark off for editing errors and the abundance of characters and award this book 4 out of 5 stars.

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Adam - Fear
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[Priya Murugesan]

I am very much interested in this plot - a mix of supernatural and forensics. Too many characters do not bother me much. But, I wish the book gets another round of editing.

[Joe Alex 2]

The blend of law enforcement and the supernatural in Adam – Fear is intriguing, especially with the Avunaye’s powers and Adam’s transformation scenes. The mix of action, supernatural elements, and multiple character perspectives sounds captivating, but I wonder if the large cast could become overwhelming. I’d be interested in reading it, particularly for the tension-filled plot and the unique character abilities. However, the editing errors and complexity might make me hesitant at first.

[NetMassimo]

A detective story with supernatural elements can be intriguing. If the characters are well used, their abundance is not a great problem but I understand that it can be hard to remember them all. Thank you for your great review!