The Queen

Written by Steven James

Narrated by Richard Ferrone

With this fifth pulse-pounding entry in his Christy Award-winning series, best-selling author Steven James explores the rippling effects of life's everyday choices. While investigating a double homicide in an isolated Wisconsin town, Special Agent Patrick Bowers uncovers a high-tech conspiracy that twists through long-buried Cold War secrets and targets present-day tensions in the Middle East.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Recorded Books, Inc.
• Release date: Sep 1, 2011
• ISBN: 9781461847267

Steven James

Steven James is the critically acclaimed, national bestselling author of sixteen novels. His work has been optioned by ABC Studios and praised by Publishers Weekly, Library Journal, the New York Journal of Books, and many others. His pulse-pounding, award-winning thrillers are known for their intricate storylines and insightful explorations of good and evil.  When he’s not working on his next book, he’s either teaching master classes on writing throughout the country, trail running, or sneaking off to catch a matinee.

Reviews for The Queen

[cat910 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I couldn't put this down! I don't think I slept a wink the night I finished it. The spectacular writing and haunting images had me jumping at the sight of my own shadow all week.

[chrischaeffer · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Very few times has an author jumped to the top of my reading list in only one book, but Steven James did just that with his thriller called The Pawn. Literally the very first chapter of The Pawn broke new ground in my reading history because it takes the reader beyond the PG-13 filter by which many books frame their story lines. Steven James spares no detail as he introduces his serial killer antagonist.Further on, as the story begins to take shape, it feels as though you are walking into a narrative that has already started, because the characters already have deep history and interconnecting relationships. I particularly like it when an author understands that the life of their character doesn’t begin with their novel, a good story line rides on the lives of it’s characters and I think Steven James understands exactly how to put that into his books.Another aspect of the book that I found to be particuarly interesting was Mr. James’s thread of motive and reasoning. As the main character struggles to stop a crazed serial killer, Mr. James expertly introduces questions of morality. It’s not just a bloody world of murder that keeps this novel racing to the end, it’s also the threaded uncertainty of good in a world of evil.The Pawn is a smart, thought provoking book that continues to push the envelope. I don’t think I will ever be happy with another crime novel that doesn’t theme itself with something greater than just another bloody slasher.

[bridget3420 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

The opening chapter resembles Romeo & Juliet. Two young teens are about to take their own lives because "It's a cruel world" and they believe "our love with unite us forever". It's very easy for Aaron to convince his girlfriend, Jessie, that it's necessary they take their own lives. Jessie is head over heels in love but ignorant to the fact that Aaron doesn't even know if he has feelings for her. Little does she know that he has no intention of taking his own life.Now Patrick Bowers has been called in to investigate. His reputation for tracking down killers is impeccable. This case is different from any other. It is almost as if the killer is invincible. Will Patrick be able to use the skills necessary to find this killer or has he finally come up against a worthy opponent?A major thrill-ride!

[debs4jc · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Steven James is the new thriller writer I've been waiting to discover! This first of a series features a FBI agent named Patrick Bowers whose specialty is environmental criminology. Bowers has a different method of criminal investigation, as he analyzes the geography of the crime scenes to predict where the killer lives and where he will strike next. He is called in to help investigate a series of murders in which the killer leaves a chess piece at each of the murder scenes. As Bowers uncovers the truth of what is going on, he discovers that more is at stake than just stopping this murderer--including the safety of himself and his stepdaughter--but will he be able to figure out the entire truth before it is too late? I heartedly enjoyed this read, the danger factor kept me turning the pages, but the emotional crisis that the main character was going through kept me just as involved. At the time of this story Patrick Bowers has just lost his wife to cancer, and her recent death and the problems he is having with his stepdaughter create another challenge for him throughout his investigation. He also has questions of faith--namely why did God let his wife die--and it was interesting to see his struggle with those as well. Some of this is left unresolved--but then this is the first of a planned series so it gives the reader something to look forward to in future installments. I highly recommend this book, especially for those that like thriillers, and I will definitely want to check out the next in the series!

[ark76_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I'm always excited to find a new author or better yet, a new series. I discovered it by downloading the promotional free kindle book and would happily pay for the book. This detective series has in Patrick Bowers a character with a history as interesting as the mystery itself. His background is revealed to us in little pieces, much like the clues of the mystery. As a single father to a rebelious teenager trying to balance a professional life with parenting, Patrick is a character that both male and female readers would relate to. James reminds me of Baldacci. I expect quite a bit from this author.

[reacherfan · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I picked this book up on a whim, and I'm glad I did. It was such a great read!! The characters seems true to life and jump off the page at you. The plot is a complex one. There's a serial killer out there, and he's picking his victims in a very special way; Not just anyone can be on of his victims, just a chosen few. The killer seems to be one step ahead of the police and knows every last detail about his victim, down to the last detail. Agent Patrick Bowers is called in to try and catch the killer. Just one problem, the killer is pretty much expecting Bowers and has something special planned for him, and his daughter. As if this isn't enough for Patrick to deal with, he has to deal with his own demons: the death of his wife, and why God has chosen to take her. Please know this isn't a "Christian book", rather something that gives depth to the character of Patrick. There are some outstanding plot twists in this. Just when you think you have something figured out, then Steven James, tosses you a curveball that you never saw coming! I'm really looking forward to the next installment of the Patrick Bowers adventure. There will be one drawback, if you start The Pawn, plan to lose a lot of sleep due to reading such a page turner.

[Renee' Scott · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Least favorite of the series but I’m just not into the military talk.

[V.C. Drake · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Too many interwoven plot lines add in a winy kid n not enough coo/fbi stuff n well..... Richard Ferrone saves the day.

[lightningbryce · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

Scribd ought to have a Christian writer warning. I don’t wish to read anything by someone who believes in fairy tales from the late Bronze Age.

[momsterbookworm · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

The only reason not to read this book before bed is that you won't be able to put it down and go to sleep! It's been a while since I've read a thriller with plot intricacies so twisted and so brilliantly woven.

[leducjm · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I anticipate the release of each of Steven James' releases of the Patrick Bowers series. The latest installment did not disapoint. If you haven't read Steven James, you don't know what your missing. One of my favorite authors.

[iluvf14 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I was so excited to see The Queen had been released since I’ve read all 4 prior novels in the series. Steven James has become one of my favorite authors with his thrilling plots and suspenseful twists & turns. The first book I read was The Pawn and I think it’s still my favorite. All the books in the series can stand alone but I had to go back and start from the beginning to read what had happened in the beginning. That’s the beauty of this series—you can read them in any order. I just liked seeing the journey of the character’s lives from the start.The Queen is the only book from James that I thought started slowly. It was really hard for me to get into the book until about Chapter 5 or 6. I kept pushing through knowing James would eventually grab my attention (he had to—all his other books did!). Once I hit the point of “getting involved”, I had a hard time putting the book down!I think there was more about personal relationships in this book than in the others. Maybe that was the reason I had a hard time. I was expecting an explosive start and that just didn’t happen. In prior books, the plot revolved around a serial killer and all his victims. The Queen wasn’t really about a serial killer but more about conspiracy. Maybe my expectations got the best of me. Who knows—I just know that it didn’t give me the same feeling when I read it.By the time I got near the end, I was carrying the book with me everywhere! I couldn’t wait to see who was involved in the conspiracy although I had an idea of who it was. Boy was I surprised!!! I’m glad I made it to the end to find out “who done it”. Now I can’t wait for the next book to come out!Based on everything, I would give The Queen 4 out 5 stars. Mr James always delivers—sometimes more than others—and I always recommend his writing to other booklovers.I received this book free from Revell as part of their book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."Available September 2011 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.