Die Famous by Michael Koryta

The book is set in the American Depression with banks failing, people losing their jobs,and a lot of resentment of the well-to-do. A band on robbers, a father-less boy, a roving femme fatale, and a stoic patriarch are the cast of this tale.

Savannah Cody shares narration with Alford, her son, and Eddie, nicknamed Nickel, her lover, father of Alford, and one of the robbers. A classic wrong side of the track, star crossed lovers leading to saddness, lonliness and death.

Eddie is on the run with the Brady bunch, not the one you are thinking about. Al Brady, a robber, who lusts for notoriety. Al’s hero is John Dillinger, despite the violent demise of his hero, Al wants to be famous.

Eddie, a consummate mechanic, finds himself shunned by Savannah’s family, and in despair falls into a life of crime.

I enjoyed the book, and 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

The Hanged Man by Jane Brookwood

 This is part of a series that appears to be able to be read as a stand-alone.   The owner of a metaphysical gift shop reads Tarot cards.  They figure prominently in the plot as does a cat who may be psychic named Rosie.

 A man commits suicide or is murdered.  The controversy begins to divide a community, with many who have been impacted by the victim or deceased. Fiona is deeply involved as the deceased and his brother/suspect are the sons of her deceased best friend.

 There is a police chief, chef, contractor, and younger, computer-literate employee also involved as well as Vinny, a fixer of sorts.

 
It isn’t as complex as it might appear. 

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

Brimstone Hollow by Archer Sullivan

Annie Gore is a private eye.  A former Air Force special investigator, she now finds herself wondering where the money to fix the AC is going to come from.  A distraught daughter comes to her for answers on her estranged father.

Annie discovers that it isn’t quite that simple.  The town of Mount Zion seems to harbor a wealth of dysfunctional citizens.  The estranged father is a snake-handling tent preacher who seems to have alienated half the community while endearing himself to the other half. 

There is a Hell Hole, the smell of brimstone, missing bodies, drug traffic, ex-cons, vision-seeing waitresses, and much more to provide this book with a plethora of entertaining characters. 

I enjoyed the book and 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

THE ADVENTURES OF JUAN PLANCHARD by Jonathan Jakubowicz.

 

The initial preoccupation with sexual encounters with far too much detail initially turned me off this book. If that is your jam, you will love the fact that it occurs throughout the book. Juan is an opportunist who successfully games the Venezuelan political climate. In his mind, he is a revolutionary; in actuality, he is the capitalist of the worst kind.

Personally, I recommend reading the author’s notes at the end first. When I discovered that the author was chased from Venezuela due to his controversial movie, his credibility soared.  His explanation as to what I saw, as gratuitous sex, was calculated to capture readers in a society that has little love for reading.

Juan considers himself a man of the world while demonstrating self-defeating naivety.  His relationship with Scarlet is a harbinger of his future difficulties.

The description of Venezuelan corruption is daunting.

The book has a wealth of eye-opening vignettes. 

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

PENDERGAST the Begining by Preston & Child

 

This is an origin story for Pendergast.  Note, I said, “an origin” story. This goes back to Pendergast’s beginings in the FBI. It does not delve deeper into how he ended up in the FBI.  The story takes place in New Orleans. A serial killer is running amok under the radar of local law enforcement. Pendergast identifies the crime and eventually the killer.

 

In a typical Preston and Child book, one comes to expect nuances, abundant misdirection, and intricate plots.  This book admirably continues those practices. 

 

I’ve read books written individually by the authors, but I feel that when they work collaboratively, their work is superior.

 

I enjoyed this book and 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