Christine Temetri writes for the Banner, a monthly, evangelical publication. Christine fell into this job after a failed attempt at writing a scathing expose on a cult, which the staff and readers loved. Christine was given her own column about end-of-the-world predictions, appropriately named "End Notes". Harry Gidding is the owner of the Banner who claims to hear voices of angels in his head. One of the angels told Harry that he will play a role in the Apocalypse. Harry isn't sure how valid this proclamation is, as the angel who told him was drunk and a bit damaged. Just to be on the safe side, Harry uses Christine to keep an eye on any developments. Christine goes to Berkeley and finds Mercury Galileo, a cherub, playing ping pong. Mercury is quite tall, laid back and says he has a part in the Apocalypse—although, he’s not sure what that part is, as he missed the meeting. So while he waits for events to unfold, Mercury drinks beer, practices ping pong and makes Rice Krispy treats with Peeps (the marshmallow treat, not the entourage). Meanwhile another Charlie Nyx book (i.e. Harry Potter) is being released and the publisher is having a contest to pick the new anti-christ. Christine dismisses this as a PR stunt, but it actually is being orchestrated by Satan (the publisher is just a front). The winner of the contest is Karl Grissom is a 37-year-old film school drop-out who lives with his mother. Now all the elements are together for the Apocolypse and a few "fallen" angels are trying to change destiny by removing pieces of the puzzle--starting with Karl. Christine is a great character, with whom many of us can relate; her frustrated and disgusted attitude is a great compliment to Mercury's witty and sarcastic personality: Fallen Angels to Mercury: "You know what we want"... (Karl Grissom). Mercury: "Well, if you’re like me, a Styx reunion tour is pretty high on the list." Mercury also validates what many of us suspect--that life is predetermined. Apparently, we’re given a certain amount of freedom, but if we go too far off course, cherubs (like Mercury) get us back in line. Mercury Falls is Piers Anthony meets Dogma. Entertaining, imaginative; although a bit on the verbose side. You'll laugh, you'll think, you'll ponder--but, mostly laugh. http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51dfgUbtjoL._BO2,204,203,200_PIsitb-sticker-arrow-click,TopRight,35,-76_AA300_SH20_OU01_.jpg

Los Angeles of 2039 is a baffling and bifurcated place. After the Collapse of 2028, a vast section of LA, the Disincorporated Zone, was disowned by the civil authorities, and became essentially a third world country within the borders of the city. Navigating the boundaries between DZ and LA proper is a tricky task, and there's no one better suited than eccentric private investigator Erasmus Keane. When a valuable genetically altered sheep mysteriously goes missing from Esper Corporation's labs, Keane is the one they call. But while the erratic Keane and his more grounded partner, Blake Fowler, are on the trail of the lost sheep, they land an even bigger case. Beautiful television star Priya Mistry suspects that someone is trying to kill her - and she wants Keane to find out who. When Priya vanishes and then reappears with no memory of having hired them, Keane and Fowler realize something very strange is going on. As they unravel the threads of the mystery, it soon...

From BooklistThe sequel to Kroese’s debut, Mercury Falls, finds the irreverent angel Mercury and his reporter pal, Christine Temetri, again facing the end of the world. The U.S. government is still trying to puzzle out the explosion that took out Anaheim Stadium and sends dozens of experts to comb the area for clues. Now out of a job, Christine decides to put some distance between herself and Los Angeles by traveling to Africa to volunteer for an aid organization. She finds two things she doesn’t expect in Kenya: wealthy entrepreneur Horace Finch, whose under-the-radar biosphere masks a secret project, and an antibomb like the one that destroyed Anaheim Stadium. The discoveries bring her back together with Mercury as the two battle human and angel foes to prevent the antibomb from imploding the world. Though not quite as seamless as its predecessor, Kroese’s sharp-witted follow-up will certainly appeal to Mercury Falls fans. The cliff-hanger ending will have readers eagerly anticipating the next installment. — Kristine Huntley