King of Plagues by Jonathan Maberry

I just finished finally reading the third book in the Joe Ledger series. King of Plagues you into the world of secret societies and Ledger does battle with the Seven Kings.

If you remember I did a review of Dragon Factory last year and became GREAT friends with the auther....okay he sent me a brief thank you, but that is more than enough for me to lie through my teeth. However I am a broadcast journalist (I still miss seeing the Brain on TV) I will not allow that to cloud my judgment.

I really enjoyed this book. It started a bit slow I thought and that is a good thing. It was like a freight train it was slow at first and then it picked up steam and by the end there was nothing stopping it. Unlike the other Ledger adventures this one was going to take more than just brute force and luck. Some great new characters were introduced and I hope continue in the series. I personally would love to know more about Hugo and I liked him from his introduction. There is also some great foreshadowing to future DMS investigations.

We also so the return of two of my favorite characters. The King of Plague and his conscious. Wait, I've read the other books you are saying and those characters are there. Read the book and you'll know the characters! The Conscious actually might be my favorite character in the book....besides Ghost (I have a weakness for dogs as mine is snoring away next to me).

The book is a good mix of straight forward plot and mystery. Maberry does a great job of making the solution so simple that you solve it and then second guess yourself. I had several key parts figured out and dismissed because it couldn't be, that would be too simple yet it isn't. Other 'mysteries' are obvious and they are suppose to be. I found myself several times yelling in my head for Joe to use his head because he is better than this. We also get to meet the infamous Aunt Sallie who I hope we see more of.

Overall another great novel by one of my favorite authors. I would give it 4 out of 5. I think this was better then Dragon Factory but not as good as Patient Zero. His next book, the second in the Rot and Ruin, Dust and Decay comes out at the end of August and I can't wait. Makes me wish I was still working at a book store for the possibility of an advance reader version of it. August is a few months and I don't plan on waiting to read that one like I did this one.

Great work. I know there was a rumor about a possible DMS/Joe Ledger TV Series. I hope it goes on a real network like HBO or Starz where they will give it the proper funding. Patient Zero especially was so vivid that it would be a waste if it ended up like Legend of the Seeker!

Okay got of track there but all talk of the DMS. I am off to buy my DMS Coffee mug.