The key to any solid book review lies in the book jacket.

Start with the pictures. These will hold vital clues, so exam them closely.

Is there blood? You're probably holding a mystery or horror novel. Discuss how the book holds true to the genre's early Gothic themes. Bandy about the names Horace Walpole and Anne Radcliffe. Repeat the phrase "edge of your seat."

Is the photo in soft focus or does it feature a shirtless man with long hair? This is Romance. Read the book closely but secretly. Never, ever write a review about it or admit how much you like it (particularly the well-worn passage on page 48).

Does the cover include a cocktail, baby, wedding-related imagery or high heels? This is "chick-lit." Your review should discuss the future of the genre and debate whether you could identify with the humorous-but-tough main character.

Now that you've thoroughly examined the artwork, you need to determine which is written larger on the cover - the author's name or the book title.

If the author's name is larger, read no more. Look up the author on Wikipedia. This entry should give you all the information you need for the review. Discuss how, while excellent, the book you are holding doesn't quite compare with the raw, unbridled truths of the author's freshman work and you are anxiously awaiting his/her return to his/her roots.

If the book's name is larger, you'll have to do a bit more work. You'll need to look on the back of the book jacket or, in the worst-case scenario, open the cover and look on the inside of the book jacket. Here, you'll see a synopsis of the book. This is a bit of a hassle, but it can typically be used to decide the book's merits. If it sounds interesting, call it a break-out hit for the author.

Reading that much of the jacket, however, may be too much work. If this is the case, the author obviously is not doing particularly well and the review should reflect this. Say something clever such as "while other critics cite the book as 'the sleeper hit of the year,' I hail it as purely a sleeper and my Rozerem already does that job." This is known as "being snarky" and will help you build your reputation.

Learn more about this author, Matthew Christopher.
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