The Chemist by Stephanie Meyer

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So, when I first came across this book, I wasn't going to read it.  I was one of the few people on the planet who was not overly impressed with Ms. Meyer's "Twilight" series.  But after a few months of watching it continue to show up on the shelves of my local bookshop, I decided that I should give it a try.  I'm pleased that I did.  

As a complete departure from her previous work (with the exception that her book revolves around a female lead), it seemed to me that the author had matured a great deal in her writing.  The subject matter was very different, and the approach to characters and their choices, for me, seemed different, too.  This was a "real life" story, with a plausible set of characters, skill sets, and motivations.  Even their flaws seemed much more realistic.  

The tension was well delivered, on a good balance with the romance, and mystery elements.  The love story was slow, deliberate, and intentional - much closer to real life than vampires and werewolves, for my tastes.  I enjoyed the clandestine elements, and the "spy vs spy" with just the right number of innocents added to the mix to make it intelligent.  

I think that Ms. Myers has come a long way in her storytelling acumen with this novel - though I believe, and hope, that she continues to write and do better.

***Spoiler: I'm NOT impressed with the death of the dogs!  I understand it's probably what would have happened - but I still didn't enjoy reading those passages.