Author: Kim Powers
Publisher: Tyrus Books
Date of publication: December 2015
In his twenties, Ethan Holt won the decathlon at the
Olympics and was jokingly nicknamed “Hercules”; now, in his late thirties, he’s
returned to his ivy-covered alma mater to teach, and to raise his young daughter
Skip as a single father. After a hushed-up scandal over his Olympics win and
the death of his wife in a car accident five years ago, Ethan wants nothing
more than to forget his past. Skip is not only the light of Ethan’s life–she is
his life. Then, Skip is kidnapped.
A series of bizarre ransom demands start coming in that
stretch Ethan’s athletic prowess to its limits, and he realizes with growing
horror that they are modern versions of the Twelve Labors of Hercules, demanded
in tricky, rhyming clues by someone who seems to have followed every step of
Ethan’s career.
I was pleasantly surprised with Dig Two Graves. It was a little slow to start for me, but I am glad I stuck with it because I ended up not wanting to put the book down. Ethan is a professor at a prestigious college where he teaches the classics. He is a single father to a 13 YO daughter, Skip. He is also a former Olympic medal winner. His life is turned around when his daughter is kidnapped.
This will be a hard one to review because I don't want to give away any key plot points. I can say that what I really enjoyed about this book is that it kept me guessing. I enjoyed the "trials" that Ethan was made to go through by the kidnapper. Each trial that he succeeds at brings him closer to his daughter, but makes him lose something of himself in return. The 12 trials of Hercules was a unique idea. There are a couple of twists that were surprising. But the reveal at the end was a big shock to me. I think this book would make a pretty cool movie.
I highly recommend this one, especially to readers who love thrillers filled with rhymes and puzzles. I look forward to seeing what this author comes up with next!
About Kim Powers
Kim Powers is the author of the novel Capote in
Kansas: A Ghost Story as well as the critically acclaimed memoir The
History of Swimming, a Barnes & Noble “Discover” Book and Lambda
Literary Award finalist for Best Memoir of the Year. He also wrote the
screenplay for the festival-favorite indie film “Finding North.” In 2007, he
was selected as one of the “Out 100” —Out Magazine‘s top 100 most
influential members of the LGBTQ community in the country.
Powers is currently the Editorial Producer/Senior Writer for
ABC’s 20/20, and has written for numbers ABC shows including What
Would You Do? with John Quinones, and primetime specials with Diane
Sawyer, Barbara Walters, Robin Roberts and Katie Couric. He won both Emmy and
Peabody Awards for his 9/11 reporting for Good Morning America, and for the
past two years has received the Edward R. Murrow Award with ABC News for Overall
Excellence.
A native Texan, he graduated from Austin College, where we
was just named a Distinguished Alumni, and also received an MFA from the Yale
School of Drama, where he was managing editor of Theater Magazine.
He lives in New York City and Asbury Park, NJ.
Connect with Kim
Purchase Links
Kim Powers’ TLC Book Tours TOUR STOPS:
Monday, November 30th: Bluestalking
Tuesday, December 1st: No
More Grumpy Bookseller
Thursday, December 3rd: Mockingbird
Hill Cottage
Friday, December 4th: Life is
Story
Monday, December 7th: Priscilla and her Books
Tuesday, December 8th: From the TBR Pile
Wednesday, December 9th: Patricia’s Wisdom
Thursday, December 10th: It’s a Mad Mad World
Monday, December 14th: Men Reading Books
Tuesday, December 15th: Books & Tea
Wednesday, December 16th: Mallory Heart
Reviews
Thursday, December 17th: I’m Shelf-ish
Friday, December 18th: OmniMystery News – author guest
post
Monday, December 21st: 5 Minutes for Books
I'm glad you enjoyed this one! Thanks for being a part of the tour.
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