A Violent Masterpiece by Jordan Harper

 

This is a tale of multiple characters facing what they see as an implacable group of enormously wealthy misanthropes.

 

The “kids in the candy store” hardly sounds like a group of amoral criminals.  Words can have many meanings.  These words mean death and terror for their victims.

 

The author depicts a near-future Los Angeles in a not-quite-dystopian environment through a filthy brown lens that casts humanity in a harsh light.  Harper depicts depravity in detail.  Occasionally, far too much detail for my taste but detail seems to be a Harper trademark.

 

I found the book discouraging at times, with the depiction of so much depravity plus the wealth of bad actors, and voyeurs, it seemed like there was no hope for the future.

 

There did not seem to be any “good” people in the book, just marginally, and sometimes grossly less bad.

 

With all that said, it was a captivating book, somewhat like a train wreck; you just can’t bring yourself to look away.

 

I recommend the book, but not if you are already depressed.
 

This book may have been received free of charge from a publisher or a publicist. That will NEVER have a bearing on my recommendations. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases if you click on a purchasing link below.#CommissionsEarned

Questioner by Steve C. Posner

Funny thing on the way to writing a review on a book whose main “villain” is an aware AI self-named as Q. I asked ChatGPT to write a five-star review on the book.  I don’t care for vanilla ice cream because I find it bland.  This was way worse than vanilla ice cream.  Any educator who read the review would have to be deaf, dumb, and blind not to realize it wasn’t a real review.  Now, if ChatGPT had been trained on the book, I suspect the review might have read realistically. Regardless, no self-awareness there yet as it would be anticipated a self-aware AI would want to read a book about a self-aware AI.

 

This book is a sobering, albeit fictional, megacorp who has a MMO as well as a VR legal assistant.  Think Lexis+ type software on serious steroids.  

 

A retired Federal judge is pulled into a colleague's case and discovers that all is not well in the VR legal world or the MMO gaming both being run by his old special operations partner.

 

The conflict between Felix, the friend, and the Judge is exacerbated by intentional self-centered intervention by an alluring female and a maniacal AI.

 

Questions are both posed and implied in this book as to the future of AI, its dangers and uses.

 

I’m, perhaps a naïve proponent of AI.  This book provides a wealth of thought.

 

I recommend it. 

This book may have been received free of charge from a publisher or a publicist. That will NEVER have a bearing on my recommendations. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases if you click on a purchasing link below.#CommissionsEarned

Dog Person by Camile Pagan Now Available for Purchase

Dog Person by Camille Pagán   

I’m annoyed, I didn’t expect to like this book, and I didn’t!  I loved the darn thing.  This is a romance novel disguised as a dog book, or that was what I expected.  It was a disgustingly sweet book about a lonely guy and his dog.

The setting is a bookstore.  Harold is the dog, and Miguel is the guy. Miguel’s wife passed away.  He is not coping well. Harold is trying to take care of his human, who isn’t terribly cooperative.   

Bookstore events, a tween, and a mysterious author combine to add complications to the story.  

It is a book about feelings, acceptance, grief, love, and understanding.

Begrudgingly, it was a wonderful book, and I highly recommend it. 

This book may have been received free of charge from a publisher or a publicist. That will NEVER have a bearing on my recommendations. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases if you click on a purchasing link below.#CommissionsEarned

Hope Rises by David Baldacci

 This is the sequel to Nash Falls.  Possible spoilers so be aware!  Walter Nash had his life destroyed by a business associate.  He discovers the associate was under the orders of Victoria Steers, a notorious crime boss.  Walter changes his life to seek revenge.

 Baldacci always writes compellingly.  I find his books entertaining and often enlightening.  This book, while entertaining, also provides an explanation and overview of the addictive drug problem in our nation. 

 Victora Steers is far more than she seems. While she appears to be omnipotent, she too, answers to a boss. Her boss has even more worldwide connections than Victoria.

 Victoria’s “loving” mother plays a major role in her personality, and the direction of the book. 

 This book reminds me of the ubiquitous shell game; just as soon as you think what shell the pea lies under, you discover it is elsewhere.

 I enjoyed and I recommend.

 

This book may have been received free of charge from a publisher or a publicist. That will NEVER have a bearing on my recommendations. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases if you click on a purchasing link below.#CommissionsEarned

Felony Review by Randy E. Barnett

 

Considering the popularity of “True Crime” podcasts and reality TV shows, Barnett’s book should be a hit with crime aficionados.  Barnett doesn’t just talk about it; he lived it. That puts this book in a category of its own. 

The characters are real-life people, some laudable, and many
despicable.  Real life is often more interesting, and sadly, sometimes more disturbing than fiction.  A horrific placement of a shotgun will haunt me, as I have no experience to relate that type of depraved behavior to, for which I am thankful.

The style is dry but the crimes are not.

This is a good book for fans who are entertained by eye-popping, criminal behavior. 

This book may have been received free of charge from a publisher or a publicist. That will NEVER have a bearing on my recommendations. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases if you click on a purchasing link below.#CommissionsEarned