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hectaizani's review
4.0
I received a review copy of this book free on my request from Audiobookboom. This in no way changed the content of this review.
This is the third book in the Joe Tesla series and I'm only sad that so far there's only one more to go. I love Joe Tesla, he's perfectly imperfect as the hero, and his service dog Edison is always a bright spot. In The Chemistry of Death, Joe is pitted against a serial killer who is using the subway tunnels underneath Manhattan, those same tunnels that Joe and Edison call home. I dearly love serial killer thrillers so this mash-up of favorite characters and favorite plot device was perfect.
The author really shines with her character development. We learn more about girlfriend Celeste's slowly dying from ALS, Celeste's brother playboy Leandro, and Vivian the bodyguard gets the spotlight in several chapters. There was a new character, Parker, who I really liked even though he was only in briefly, I hope he gets some more play later in the series. The story tied up almost all of the loose ends from the previous two books. We find out who is behind Joe's agoraphobia and why.
The X-Men reference made me laugh out loud. I really like the narrator so after I finish up the Joe Tesla series I'm going to see if he's read any other books I might like.
This is the third book in the Joe Tesla series and I'm only sad that so far there's only one more to go. I love Joe Tesla, he's perfectly imperfect as the hero, and his service dog Edison is always a bright spot. In The Chemistry of Death, Joe is pitted against a serial killer who is using the subway tunnels underneath Manhattan, those same tunnels that Joe and Edison call home. I dearly love serial killer thrillers so this mash-up of favorite characters and favorite plot device was perfect.
The author really shines with her character development. We learn more about girlfriend Celeste's slowly dying from ALS, Celeste's brother playboy Leandro, and Vivian the bodyguard gets the spotlight in several chapters. There was a new character, Parker, who I really liked even though he was only in briefly, I hope he gets some more play later in the series. The story tied up almost all of the loose ends from the previous two books. We find out who is behind Joe's agoraphobia and why.
The X-Men reference made me laugh out loud. I really like the narrator so after I finish up the Joe Tesla series I'm going to see if he's read any other books I might like.
grumpy_dragon_48's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
cdbaker's review against another edition
4.0
I still like the world that Cantrell has created, but I thought that the villain was a little weak. I don't want to go into detail because of spoilers, but I thought that the author relied too much on old, boring tropes (some of which are a little offensive, tbh) and not enough on creating a cool villain. It's disappointing because her main character and some of the supporting cast are much better done.
sunnyaz4me's review against another edition
5.0
You’re probably going to laugh at this review. I know I would. I was fortunate to receive an advanced copy of Joe and Edison’s third adventure together, THE CHEMISTRY OF DEATH. I started reading it while vacationing in San Diego, listening to the sound of the seagulls as I sped through page by page. You’ll find this amazingly fitting as you read the book.
I snuck out to the balcony early the first morning. It was the perfect place to read, but boy did I freeze my tail off (even under a jacket and several towels.) It was a family trip, so I didn’t get a spare moment to read again until early the next morning. I’m not a fan of the cold, so instead of sneaking out to the balcony again, I sat on the floor of the bathroom so the lights wouldn’t wake the kids or my hubby. For the next couple of early mornings, that’s where you could find me. My butt and back didn’t like me for it, but man, I couldn’t stop reading. Yes, it was THAT good! I wonder if Rebecca Cantrell’s heart races as much as her readers’ hearts do when she writes Joe and Edison into all of these predicaments? I won’t go into detail (beyond the seagulls). I don’t want to spoil a thing!
If you’re already a fan of Joe Tesla, you’ll LOVE where THE CHEMISTRY OF DEATH takes you (although I’d highly recommend a big comfy chair instead of a hard bathroom floor!) If you haven’t read Joe before, you can read THE CHEMISTRY OF DEATH by itself. If you want to get the whole feel for Joe and Edison’s story, grab THE WORLD BENEATH and THE TESLA LEGACY. You won’t be disappointed. I can’t wait to see where Rebecca and Joe take us next!
I snuck out to the balcony early the first morning. It was the perfect place to read, but boy did I freeze my tail off (even under a jacket and several towels.) It was a family trip, so I didn’t get a spare moment to read again until early the next morning. I’m not a fan of the cold, so instead of sneaking out to the balcony again, I sat on the floor of the bathroom so the lights wouldn’t wake the kids or my hubby. For the next couple of early mornings, that’s where you could find me. My butt and back didn’t like me for it, but man, I couldn’t stop reading. Yes, it was THAT good! I wonder if Rebecca Cantrell’s heart races as much as her readers’ hearts do when she writes Joe and Edison into all of these predicaments? I won’t go into detail (beyond the seagulls). I don’t want to spoil a thing!
If you’re already a fan of Joe Tesla, you’ll LOVE where THE CHEMISTRY OF DEATH takes you (although I’d highly recommend a big comfy chair instead of a hard bathroom floor!) If you haven’t read Joe before, you can read THE CHEMISTRY OF DEATH by itself. If you want to get the whole feel for Joe and Edison’s story, grab THE WORLD BENEATH and THE TESLA LEGACY. You won’t be disappointed. I can’t wait to see where Rebecca and Joe take us next!
librosconcafe's review against another edition
4.0
I am enjoying this series. While I didn’t love it as much as the first book, it still contains information to help piece together certain parts of Joe’s story. I like the characters and that Joe has a dog sidekick. Great ending, by the way!
I also found it interesting to read the addition by the author at the end.
I also found it interesting to read the addition by the author at the end.
vera_ann's review against another edition
4.0
Joe Tesla Series Book #3
I was given this book from the author for free for an honest review.
The world of Joe Tesla doesn't disappoint.
Joe Tesla finds a serial killer. Twists, turns in the tunnels again. Though some parts were slow and it jumped around quite a bit, it was still an enjoyable read. I did feel like this one moved more then the second book for me.
I suggest reading the series starting with book 1 for the introduction to the characters. If you liked the first books, this one is another hit.
I was given this book from the author for free for an honest review.
The world of Joe Tesla doesn't disappoint.
Joe Tesla finds a serial killer. Twists, turns in the tunnels again. Though some parts were slow and it jumped around quite a bit, it was still an enjoyable read. I did feel like this one moved more then the second book for me.
I suggest reading the series starting with book 1 for the introduction to the characters. If you liked the first books, this one is another hit.
heatherbrae_bock's review against another edition
5.0
I recently finished Rebecca Cantrell’s third book about Joe Tesla, and it gripped me from the very beginning. Joe still suffers from crippling agoraphobia, and in this book we come to learn more about his condition and its origins. When we learn that a serial killer is prowling the subway tunnels and Joe and Edison inadvertently stray into the killer’s crosshairs, it made for a very exciting read (and unexpected twists)! I really love the character of Vivian Torres, and I was happy to see her in this book again. I hope that she continues to figure prominently in future books (I could even see her as the main protagonist in her own book series… I hope Rebecca gives that idea some thought!). I really love ALL of Rebecca Cantrell’s books, and if you haven’t delved into this series yet, now is the time!
acanuckreader's review against another edition
4.0
Plot
Joe and Edison are at it again, scanning people’s brains to better understand PTSD and mental illnesses amongst other things. But someone is killing women in the tunnels, and Joe’s moral compass is spinning. This book is chilling, and oh so well written. The plot moved along quite smoothly and this book was definitely a page turner.
Characters
Joe is still lovely, and vulnerable yet strong at the same time. The way his mind works still fascinates me.
Celeste was in this novel a little less, and yet, I was more interested in her than ever.
Vivian is still a pillar of strength in these novels, and a female character I certainly admire.
All of the characters are written in a way that is very real, and very true to life. They have their strengths but are not without their vulnerabilities.
Tone
For me the tone seemed to shift a little more toward the menacing side in this novel than in the previous two, but I really appreciated it.
Star Rating: ★★★★☆
Recommended for: Rebecca Cantrell fans, even if you mainly liked the Hannah Vogel series. I would also recommend this for people who like hard mysteries.
Joe and Edison are at it again, scanning people’s brains to better understand PTSD and mental illnesses amongst other things. But someone is killing women in the tunnels, and Joe’s moral compass is spinning. This book is chilling, and oh so well written. The plot moved along quite smoothly and this book was definitely a page turner.
Characters
Joe is still lovely, and vulnerable yet strong at the same time. The way his mind works still fascinates me.
Celeste was in this novel a little less, and yet, I was more interested in her than ever.
Vivian is still a pillar of strength in these novels, and a female character I certainly admire.
All of the characters are written in a way that is very real, and very true to life. They have their strengths but are not without their vulnerabilities.
Tone
For me the tone seemed to shift a little more toward the menacing side in this novel than in the previous two, but I really appreciated it.
Star Rating: ★★★★☆
Recommended for: Rebecca Cantrell fans, even if you mainly liked the Hannah Vogel series. I would also recommend this for people who like hard mysteries.
aditurbo's review against another edition
4.0
Another successful thriller in the Tesla series, in which Cantrell is back to form after a less good second novel. Even though I realized who the killer was halfway through, I still enjoyed reading this book, turning page after page quickly to find out whether I was right. The characters of Tesla and Vivian are very well done, and keep me intrigued and wanting more of them. The minor characters are also written expertly, and add a lot to the enjoyment of the book. A good series to savor when you really need to be swallowed whole by a novel.