Title: Bad Mood Drive
Author: Alan Douglas
Publisher: PageTurner Press and Media LLC
ISBN: 979-8-88622-288-3
Pages: 288
Genre: Fiction / Mystery
Reviewed by: Arthur Thares
Hollywood Book Reviews
Bad Mood Drive is unlike most books you have ever read, and it may take a few chapters to settle into this book. Once you give it a chance, you are rewarded with a semi-mystery that touches everything from romance to murder. It only takes a few chapters for this story to hit its stride, and when it does, it’s worth it. Despite a slow and unconventional start, you will likely come to love this book.
The reason this book is so unconventional is its structure. Unlike other books which tell a flowing story, this book starts a bit choppy by giving each main character their own chapter for character development. While this isn’t unheard of, it is still a bit unorthodox. Once you get past the first few chapters, the book hits a stride and becomes more of the conventional story you’d expect. A wealthy man by the name of Robert Stanley dies under mysterious circumstances, and his three kids stand to inherit his fortune. There is only one problem; there may be a fourth illegitimate Stanley child threatening to take part of their newfound wealth. Will Jennifer Stanely return to claim what is hers? Does she even know she’s a Stanley? For every answer in this tale there are two more questions.
The structure of this book felt risky at first, but once you get through these character-building chapters, you feel as though you know the characters thoroughly. There is not much more which needs to be done in that aspect, so getting it out of the way early pays dividends later on. The story has a few soft twists which are pretty easy to see coming, but it doesn’t cheapen the story in any way. One mid-story reveal sends the book in an entirely different direction, breathing new life into a tale just when you start questioning how the author will stretch out for another half a book. There are some rushed relationships toward the end of the book, and author Alan Douglas works quickly to tie up some loose ends, but overall, it is a thoroughly enjoyable read.
There is much to compliment about this book. It is an excellent story with fantastic characters and a magnificent mix of genres. Even the unorthodox beginning turns out to be one of its greatest strengths instead of a weakness. Bad Mood Drive is sure to tantalize and excite readers with its many twists and an ending to die for.