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<b>Title</b>: <I>Level 26: Dark Origins</I><br /><b>Author</b>: Anthony E Zuiker with Duane Swierczynski<br /><b>Release Date</b>: September 8, 2009<br /><b>Publisher</b>: Dutton<br /><b>ISBN</b>: 978-0-525-95125-4<br /><b>Price</b>: $26.95<p><I>CSI</I> creator <font color=yellow>Anthony Zuiker</font> combines a thrilling, fast-paced narrative with a new spin on storytelling in his debut Digi-Novel. Written with <font color=yellow>Duane Swierczynski</font>, <i>Level 26: Dark Origins</i> tells the story of a group of investigators with the Special Circumstances (Special Circs) division of the federal government as they track down the highest ranking serial killers. There are 25 levels used to categorize serial killers, but Special Circs is working to find the only man ever placed in a category of his own: Level 26. The man is called Sqweegel, and he is known to have killed more than 50 people over the span of 20 years. He rapes, tortures, mutilates, shoots, burns and poisons his victims. He is literally able to get away with murder because there is no forensic evidence to tie him to his crimes. He wears a full body suit so that he doesn't leave so much as a skin cell behind at a crime scene. The only man who has ever come close to catching Sqweegel is Steve Dark (<font color=yellow>Daniel Buran</font>), but Dark left Special Circs behind for good after Sqweegel killed his entire foster family.<p>Dark is a compelling character, consumed by darkness and driven to the brink. After his family was killed, Dark headed down a morally grey path in an attempt to hunt Sqweegel down. Ultimately, he failed. When the story begins, Dark is still struggling to maintain the normalcy he was able to regain after he met his wife Sibby (<font color=yellow>Tauvia Dawn</font>). Meeting Sibby changed his life. Sibby, and the baby they're expecting together, is Dark's reason for living, and it's the reason he wants nothing to do with Special Circs or the hunt for Sqweegel. Unfortunately for Dark, staying away isn't an option. Sqweegel is a looming presence in his past, and the past has a way of catching up to people.<p>Tom Riggins (<font color=yellow>Michael Ironside</font>) is another interesting character, good at his job but not good at much of anything outside of that job. His relationship with Dark is stronger than his relationship with any of his ex-wives or estranged children. It provides an interesting dynamic between the men throughout the novel. Along with Constance Brielle (<font color=yellow>Ava Gaudet</font>), Riggins is Dark's main support within Special Circs. Constance is a character that doesn't get much focus in <i>Dark Origins</i>, but I find myself drawn to her. I'm curious to see how her character progresses in subsequent novels. Secretary of Defense Norman Wycoff (<font color=yellow>Glenn Morshower</font>) is another one I'm keeping my eye on. He is an intriguing character, but he is rarely the focal point of the action in <i>Dark Origins</i>. The character is undoubtedly important to the story, and it will be interesting to see where they take him.<p><HR ALIGN="CENTER" SIZE="1" WIDTH="45%" COLOR="#007BB5"><p>To read the full reviews, please click <A HREF="http://www.csifiles.com/reviews/csi/level_26_dark_origins.shtml">here</A>.<center></center>