RG JOHANSEN

I remember when my bride and I started watching the show Breaking Bad. We were late to the game. All seasons were published. Our viewing started innocent / casual enough. A friend had recommended it. Then we tumbled down a world of drug trafficking… shear madness. We were totally captivated. It was a horrid story. Yet, every night it was a battle… a battle to go to bed. We couldn’t pull ourselves away. If you too have a love/hate relationship with a riveting, uncomfortable, crazy story, this book is for you! I generally read at the end of the day to relax - clear my mind. Over a lifetime as an avid reader I have stumbled on a handful of books that truly captivate me. These books are NOT relaxing! A Message from Boo fits that bill. I simply couldn’t put it down. The author artfully weaves a suspenseful tale. Each twist and turn took me on an emotional roller coaster. I found parts of the book… sad, gross, troubling, gut wrenching, erotic, heart warming, exhilarating and thought provoking. The story is an epic battle of good versus evil… intense evil. I immensely enjoyed the read - the journey… despite the resulting sleep deprivation derived. Ha! I also gleamed some faith perspective that will help me in my own “real” life journey. That was another twist… unexpected outcome. It’s a crazy, suspenseful, wonderful book! I’m so glad I found it. The perfect story for crazy times! Read it! You’ll love it too.

Johansen’s epic mystery, steeped in the flavor of Atlanta and portents of the supernatural, finds Southern homicide detective John Williams paired up with Victor Lechman, a hirsute transplant from Brooklyn’s murder squad. The case: a series of murders that suggest an evil from beyond this mortal realm, as the cops face corpses mangled by a killer of terrifying strength, whispers of demonic possession, premonitions connected to their own pasts, and phenomena that even a skeptic like John can’t explain, like apparitions from the distant American past—or why when he’s placed under hypnosis he somehow speaks Latin. Despite the horror elements, Johansen’s mode and form is the police procedural, personal division, as both of his detectives emerge as compelling, complete characters with distinct motivations. Review Continued >>

Divorcee John’s love for his daughter powers much of the novel’s suspense, and his amusing distaste for all things New York sets up an engaging, often comic partner relationship: “John rationalized that the pollution and noise had destroyed the brain cells of every citizen who lived in that acrimonious city,” Johansen writes. Still, he’s a warm, community-minded guy who teaches self-defense classes at the YWCA. Victor, of course, has a New York cop’s sharp tongue, but as the case goes and the partners become closer, John begins to suspect something may be off with him, a tension that Johansen adeptly mines. The mix of down-to-earth procedural and the (apparently) supernatural may not be to all readers’ tastes, and the story runs long, but Johansen mostly hits the marks of both genres: here’s vivid crime scenes, interrogations, and autopsies; dustups with the department brass; and an uneasy but potent partnership all set against a convincingly detailed Atlanta. Add two cops haunted by their pasts—and quite possibly haunted for real, in the present—and you have a thriller likely to please crime and horror buffs alike. TAKEAWAY: JOHN CONNOLLY, MARY SANGIOVANN Great for fans of: In this epic procedural, an Atlanta cop faces a new Brooklyn partner, baffling murders, and possible demonic possession.

Started Audible this week and needed to find a good book. With so many to choose from, I just picked one hoping it would be interesting. Wow! I got so absorbed in this book that I couldn't stop listening. It was a suspense filled murder mystery acted out by the narrator who did an excellent job portraying all the colorful characters in Johansen's book. Then I learned that A Message from Book is Johansen's first book. To say that I am impressed with his gift for writing is an understatement. ~ Pat Gober

"A Message From Boo" is a suspense filled "who (or what) done it". Reminiscent of the style found in classic detective novels, with a little "Stephen King" thrown in for good measure. It will keep you guessing and draw you into the mystery. I'm very familiar with Atlanta and the surrounding towns, so I could easily relate to those settings. This was a totally entertaining vehicle for my imagination. Enjoy the ride. I didn't want to put it down! ~ Chris

Absolutely loved this book which kept me reading night after night. I love a good mystery, and with the paranormal element, it really keeps you guessing “who done it”. While reading the book, I kept thinking that it would be a great movie! Definitely looking forward to the author’s next book! ~ Dianne Robinson

The author is so descriptive and the story is full of twists and turns. Couldn’t put it down! I loved the characters. I would recommend this book to family and friends. I look forward to more stories and intrigue from this author.

Topsy-turvy, upside down, inside out! This book has you second guessing your assessment of its colorful characters throughout. And while you are trying to discern what is real and what is imagined (or if there is a line between them), the author delights with insights into southern charm and southern justice. It almost makes you forget that there lurks a criminal, evil force that eludes Atlanta's finest. An impressive debut by this author, and let's hope for another!