Deadlier by the Dozen by Marcia Colette

Synopsis:

Adopted at seven-years old, history teacher Mackenzie Lawson has spent the last twenty years dreaming of meeting her family again. However, her hopes to rekindle old memories and find closure have hit one hell of a snag. A hundred-year-old curse placed upon her relatives has begun, unleashing a dozen of her doppelgängers who want her dead. Their purpose is to infiltrate her family and kill everyone in sight. To exact revenge for a wrong that happened more than a century ago. 

Mackenzie must find a way to get rid of her psychotic doubles or risk having them go after her loved ones. However, each doppelgänger kill causes her blood pressure to skyrocket to dangerous levels. This and more attract the attention of a mysterious mutant with patchwork skin who volunteers his services, but leaves out the part about it being his job to destroy the source of the doppelgängers starting with her. Mackenzie needs to figure out where his loyalties lie before DEADLIER BY THE DOZEN becomes deadlier by thirteen.

Review:

I'm going to reveal a little bit of myself right now, and say that I have always enjoyed the idea of doppelgängers since watching and episode of Stargate. Can't remember what episode it was but I remember liking the episode and being fascinated with the subject. So when I got this book and realized it was like doppelgängers on speed, I was anticipated a wild ride. To say it was in fact a wild ride, might be putting it mildly. 

The story is told from Mackenzie's point of view, and she is an interesting person to say the least. I do have to say that at the beginning of the book I was a little bit confused by the events, but then again so was Mackenzie. It did take a little bit past the first chapter for the book to really grab me though, and to be honest once it did grab me it did full force because there was no stop to the action. 

Throughout the entire book Mackenzie is on the run from all of her doppelgängers as well as the police force for the supernatural community, as well as in some cases the actual police for the "normal" world. While on the run, and seriously scared for her life she has to find a way to not only figure out what is happening to her but who is behind the plots. To the characters strength she is not written as any kind of super hero (thank god), especially in the beginning of the book. In the beginning of the book she reacts completely organically, trying to rationalize events of the previous day and just go on. If Mackenzie had been completely okay with the events I think it would have felt unreal. She learns about herself along the way which allows for character growth, but she is not invulnerable, and does also get injured along the way. 

The other character I want to talk about is Reece, and I don't know exactly where to start when it comes to him. I will say I almost wish the book was illustrated because I am really interested in knowing exactly what the author had in her head when she put his description together. That being said it was kind of fun trying to figure out how I would picture him, especially since the words "Frankenstein" and "patchwork skin" are used as descriptions. It is hard to figure out if he is a good guy or a bad guy, but that works for the book. It makes him more interesting for the reader to get involved in. It creates this air of mystery around him, and as a reader I was always trying to figure out what his next move was going to be. 

There is a lot of intrigue in this book. I could certainly see how a person who enjoys a mystery would like this book, since it really is just one huge mystery. The book is face paced and fun to read. There were even times when I felt pretty bad for Mackenzie always having to be on the run, heck sometimes I was exhausted just listening to her thoughts. There are a lot of secondary characters in this book that make the story all the more interesting, and more than that the characters aren't just place holders to move the story along. Even the characters who only make an appearance for a chapter or two are fleshed out and given characteristics that make them good characters in their own right. 

Overall, this is a pretty good book. It's fast paced for those who like thrillers, it's full of mystery for those who like mysteries. There isn't a ton of romance in the book, but it's still a great read for those who like paranormal romance. Urban fantasy readers should really like this book though. I will say this, I want to read the next book in the series because Mackenzie is a character I really enjoyed. 

Marcia Colette Interview

Today we have Marcia Colette joining us for an interview, and of course later today we will also be reviewing the second book in her Dark Encounters series, Deadlier by the Dozen. I hope you enjoy the interview and stay tuned for the review later on today!

UFR: If you were picking a theme song for this book what would it be and why?

MC: I'd pick Why? by Annie Lennox.   Mackenzie spends most of her time trying to figure out why anyone would want to put a curse on her family.

UFR: If Mackenzie were in a book club what book would she be reading and why?

MC: She would be reading Doppelgangster by Laura Resnick.  Mackenzie has the doppelganger thing down, but it's the kick-ass part that she's missing when it comes to dealing with psychotic her "other selves".

UFR: Are there any characters in the book (and if so who and how so) that share personality traits with you? 

MC: Mackenzie.  We both don't think we're tough until put in a situation where we have to be.  My situations aren't as life threatening as hers, but they can be precarious. 

UFR: What was the hardest scene for you to write and why?

MC: When Mackenzie found out from her brother that her younger sister was shot and how much he hated her for terrorizing his family.  I've lived through that kind of violence and I don't wish it on anyone.   

UFR: Doppelgängers are an interesting topic in sci-fi and fantasy, and your book has way more than 1, why did you chose to have so many doppelgängers?

MC: One doppelganger wasn't fun enough.  You hear about doppelgangers all of the time, but you never hear about more than one being seen at a time.  My brain went on overdrive when it came up with all of the possible--crazy--trouble it could cause.  That's when I knew I was on to something. 

UFR: Since your book involved doppelgängers I have to ask, a lot of people believe everyone has one out there someone in the world, do you believe that as well? And if you do, do you believe you have met yours?

MC: I do believe that everyone has a doppelganger out there, but have I ever met mine?  No.  Although, there have been two instances in my family where they couldn't sworn they've seen mine.  ;-) 

UFR: What are some of your favorite authors to read? Do you stick with the paranormal/urban fantasy genre or do you read a wider mix of books?

MC: Until recently, I was all urban fantasy and nothing more.  My favorite authors are Kelley Armstrong and Richelle Mead.  But recently, I've discovered the wonderful works of Lydia Dare who writes historical paranormals.  Before her(them), you wouldn't catch me touching anything historical.  Also, I love horror along the lines of Bentley Little and John Saul.

UFR: Is there any advice that you would give to aspiring writers?

MC: Everyone's road to publication is different.  Learn what you can about the business and the craft, and then walk your own path. 

UFR: Do you have any new books in the works? And if so would you like to tell our readers a little bit about it?

MC: I just released Hazardous Environment, which is a paranormal romance in my Werecheetah Shifters series.  Here's a blurb:

Root woman Donna Tucker made a mistake. A person died on her watch, not thanks to tainted roots and herbs that were meant to heal. Now she must trace her steps to where her stash came from and stop a modern-day plague from destroying a small town.
She's not going alone.
Werecheetah Ronan McCleary would rather see her pay for killing his coalition's matriarch than to accompany her anywhere. He believes she's responsible and the only thing this trip is doing is delaying the inevitable. Her death.
But death is hunting them both.
The residents of Seclusion, North Carolina have an unseen force in the midst that has control over the town's most influential people. There are those who'll do anything--kill anyone--to keep the secret of the Davenport Foundation. A lowly root woman and her werecheetah companion are no match for them. And they won't be unless they can put their differences aside and work together to survive the night. Of course, that would mean having to survive each other as their hearts brave a Hazardous Environment. 

UFR: Finally, is there anything you want your potential readers to know about you or the book?

MC: Sure.  Deadlier by the Dozen is available in both print and ebook, so pick your poison.  Also, feel free to check out my website at www.marciacolette.com or my blog at http://marciacolette.wordpress.com.