Crusher — Blaine C. Readler

Darren's cousin was never the sharpest pencil in the box, and when an attempt to get his home video on television by faking a fall from a high dive misfired, the pencil was reduced to a stub. After a ship-wrecked alien takes up residence in his cousin's vacant head, Darren finds himself dragged off to NASA for help, only to be accused of orchestrating an alien invasion. Fleeing for their lives, he and his alien zombie cousin must search out and stop the true invasion massing to overrun the Earth. The question is whether Darren can resist strangling his companion before everything we know is obliterated.

5 stars
“. . . very well written and I liked the way that Blaine C. Readler balanced the content between humor, character development, plot development, alien elements, and mystery . . . I hope the author decides to write a sequel!”
-- Sefina Hawke for Readers' Favorite

“The theme is one of the invasion of earth, of course, but there are sub-themes of little people against big government, trust, deception, and courage. The suspense keeps the action moving enough for a good, fun read.”
-- Peter M. Fitzpatrick, RECOMMENDED by the US Review of Books

“At times whimsical, alarming, and uncomfortable, Crusher by Blaine C. Readler is a quick and entertaining read. . . . a lot of original, and memorable, elements in this novel - the ‘Tribbles/Fungus Birds' are especially clever. The characters are well-drawn and relatable, and the story moves at a fast clip, never losing momentum. . . . Crusher is a fantastic read that will surely please fans of alien-based science fiction."
-- SPR

“. . . everything is a wild adventure as Darren and the alien need to stop an Earth invasion by another alien race while trying to outrun the authorities. From the start, I enjoyed reading Crusher by Blaine C. Readler. This sci-fi tale has offbeat characters and funny situations. . . . The dialogue is sarcastic and witty. The narrative tone is humorous, but also filled with drama as well as satirical observations on real life. All these propel this book forward as an entertaining read and a good page turner.
-- Lit Amri for Readers' Favorite