Revolution No. 9    by Neil McMahon Order:  USA  Can HarperCollins, 2005 (2005) Hardcover Read an Excerpt      Reviewed by Mary Ann Smyth I read Neil McMahon's fourth Carroll Monks thriller with my heart in my mouth. The pages zipped by – but curiously I didn't want to find out what happened next, being too caught up in the characters to want to read about anything worse happening to them than what had already occurred - good guys and bad guys alike. Carroll Monks is a divorced doctor, alienated from his son Glenn. Monks is kidnapped to care for a child who is seriously ill. He finds himself at a dissenters' camp in the hills above the California coast. Freeboot, the self-appointed leader of a radical group, insists Monks help his child and then allows Monks to talk to Glenn, whom Monks hasn't seen for five years. His son's life for the child's? Believe it or not, the action then escalates. Bizarre but with a ring of reality. The characters invoke rage at their actions, as well as pity for the sad personalities that would attach themselves to an obvious psychopath. I finished this suspenseful book breathless from anticipation at what would come next – hating for it to end but not sure I could take any more. Revolution No. 9 is well worth a read. Enjoy it, but do lock your doors when you turn out the lights. Note: Opinions expressed in reviews and articles on this site are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of BookLoons. Find more Mystery books on our Shelves or in our book Reviews