Pre-numbered label used for registration.

His Final Novel Before Disappearing on Oceanic Flight 815... (a LOST tie-in)

No black smoke monsters here.

Interesting... I don't know if I came across any major LOST clues, but I guess I won't really know until the end of LOST.

We've got a few more seasons on the show to go, apparently, so who knows if even the intended clues would still be valid by them?

As for the mystery itself... my, things move quickly with more ease for the detective than I'd normally be willing to believe. Strangely, I liked Manny the best.

RELEASE NOTES:

The book ring begins!

BAD TWIN
1. Ollie1976
2. JerrilynnL
3. ArtisticAlias
4. innae
5. grubsneerg
6. mellion108
7. kayjay33 (Canada)
8. aditey
9. rebel-padawan

received today-it will be the next book I read. Thanks for sharing.

An okay read-too many twists and turns-bf will be reading it as I'm waiting for the address for the next person.

RELEASE NOTES:

Sent to next member.

Arrived in today's mail. Just finished catching up with Seasons 1 and 2 of Lost on DVD (I was a late convert -- started watching at the end of Season 2) so I saw both Sawyer and Hurley reading this manuscript (although it must have been on disk too, since I think Jack through it in the fire...)

To be read!

Better than I thought it would be -- would have been better to read on the beach in Oahu but had to postpone that trip. Enjoyed the story that kept me guessing. Thought it interesting that the flight attendant on the Australian flight was named Cindy.

As soon as I can get to the PO, this is off to ArtisticAlias and her beautiful pups.

RELEASE NOTES:

off to ArtisticAlias

Received today and my beautiful pups gave it a sniff and left me to it. :o)
I still have a couple of release challenge books to finish, but this is the next one on my list. I can't wait to get started. Thanks! :o)

My most humble and sincere apologies for stalling this ring for so long. I let life get in the way and I am truly sorry.
I wasn't as enamoured with this book as I'd hoped, but it was still an interesting read.
I am sending this book out today to innae so that the ring can finally continue.

When I got home from vacation and out of state work training, I had THREE bookrings waiting for me!! I will endeavor to get this one read as soon as I finish the book I have going right now, so we can get it going again. And AA, thanks for the Thanks (and the thank you notes) -- I really hope things turn around for you!

I enjoyed this much more than I thought I would, as it is a detective story, and usually, I get bored :-)

I did find some interesting parellels with Lost, though I don't know if I would consider them clues, perhaps when it all ends, and everything is tied up (hope hope hope) it will make sense. I have added a few of my thoughts below, highlight to read so I don't ruin it if you haven't watched the season 4 finale yet.


John Locke was a philosopher? Hmmmmmmm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Locke

***unrelated to Bad Twin, but interesting for those of us who don't know our philosophers...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeremy_Bentham
Seems even Locke's alias was a philosopher. Hmmmmmmmm

Cliff Widmore (and family) are the main focus throughout Bad Twin, how does Charles Widmore fit in???

The detective makes many observations about the various Islands...even the places that aren't islands (Helios) are compared to such.

And they talk of purgatory, and redemption. Could it truly be that the island IS purgatory? I have heard that rumor. again with the hmmmmmmmm

Thanks Greyflank for sending this around, it is a fascinating read. I have grusneerg's addy, and will be sending this off ASAP.

**fixed my html, sorry. And mailed this off this morning, media mail. 6/6/08

Bad Twin arrived safely in Greensburg, Pa., along with a lovely surprise that I will be sure to pass along. Thanks for sharing, Greyflank, and for sending, innae! I'm looking forward to reading it.

I agree that this was a much better book than I was expecting. Quite a few familiar names jumped out at me (Widmore, Paik, Cindy, Shannon, John Locke) and there were a slew of islands. Did this book just capitalize on the first-season LOST hype or are there hidden clues inside? Time will tell, I suppose.

I wonder if we have seen "Gary Troup" on the island, or if he was one of the unlucky ones who *truly* perished.

Thanks for sharing, Greyflank! This one is off in the mail to mellion108 tomorrow. Enjoy!

Woo hoo! The book is here. Thanks for sending it my way, and thanks for sharing. I'll read this as soon as possible and have it moving again in no time.

---

Hardcover, 258 pages

From the dust jacket:
Paul Artisan knows trouble when he sees it.

As a private detective, he spends his life seeking out dark places where demons lurk. But lately he's been drifting along, taking on cases about insurance fraud or medical malpractice. Until Clifford Widmore walks into his office, and changes everything.

Clifford, an adult scion to the vast Widmore fortune, needs Artisan's help. Clifford's twin brother, Alexander, has vanished. Although "Zander" has alienated himself from his family in the past, Clifford believes that this time foul play is involved.

The closer Artisan gets to finding answers, the more danger his life is in. He soon descends into a mirror-world where friends and enemies have a way of looking very much alike. Artisan hatches a plan to uncover the truth. He sets off on a journey across the globe, and, along the way, learns the Widmore family is full of dangerous secrets. Some even worth killing for.

Soon an unknown enemy seems to want Artisan off the case—by any means necessary. Undeterred, Artisan continues on his course. But will he get to the truth before the monsters lurking in the shadows get to him?

In Bad Twin, Gary Troup spins a mesmerizing tale of mystery and suspense, weaving clues throughout the story that are far more consequential than they seem. Touching on themes of good versus evil, purgatory, and redemption, Bad Twin shows how fate can turn when all seems lost.

Three cheers for Argos and Manny! I loved old Manny and the dog.

On to Gary Troup....much has been made about the connection to purgatory and redemption throughout the Lost series. Check out the anagram that can be made from Gary Troup's name.

And now for the book...I was surprised by how much I enjoyed this book. Yes, things get wrapped up too quickly and neatly, but I like Artisan's character, and I was rooting for him to get the dame, solve the crime, and turn up as the hero. This was an enjoyable read. And, again, I really liked Manny. I now have Trent's Last Case on my wishlist. :)

The back cover of the book refers to a non-fiction book by Troup called The Valenzetti Equation, which is the equation referred to in one of the videos on the Lost island (it supposedly predicts the amount of time until humanity destroys itself).

Curiosity got the better of me, and I had to check out the actual author of the book. If you're interested, you can go here to read more about the fictional author and the real-life author, but be warned: there are MANY spoilers about the book and about the series.

Thanks again for sharing, greyflank. I have kayjay33's address and will get the book moving again sometime this week.

UPDATE: Mailed to kayjay33 on July 2, 2008

Enjoy!

The book arrived today, along with another small book and a TV Guide. I'm not sure if they are intended to be sent along as part of the bookray.

I finished reading this book today so will get it wrapped and send it off on Monday(I hope)to the next reader.
It was quite an interesting mystery but had no relation to the Lost series as far as I could see. The bookray acquired another book "Lost,Secret Identity" and a TV guide article along the way which I will include in the package.

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

The book is part of a bookray which I sent off to Utah by Canada Post

Received in the mail fro kayjay33 a few days ago - I'll start reading it today. Thanks!

I don't quite understand how the world of Lost is supposed to tie in with this fictional work by a character in that world... but I guess I'll just accept it. I'll assume that this book was written before the Lost producers had the full view of their universe figured out.

Bad Twin is ok, not great, but good for a rainy day read. And believe it or not, we've had a few of those in Utah already.

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

Sent out to rebel-padawan via Media Mail.

This came with another book-a bookray for my sister rebel-padawan. She's out of town on a backpacking trip to the Appalacians, I just checked her mail and there was A LOT of packages waiting for her.
She will be home October 20, so she will probably start her own journaling of this book then. I just opened it up to journal to let the sender/owners that it got to where it was going!

This looks fun! I might read this as well! I love LOST.