Required Reading

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Books I have authored.

Many times I receive books for FREE to give them an honest review. I do not get paid to give a good or bad review. Spotlights are promotional and should be regarded as advertising for the book spotlighted. Regardless of where or how I got a book, my review will be as honest as I can make it.

Monday, December 30, 2013

Tough Cookie by M. Ruth Myers


Maggie Sullivan pistol whips a breath of fresh air into the moldy corpse of the hard boiled dick.  (No Snicker, come on, we are all adults here!)  It is about time that the stalwarts like Travis McGee and Mike Hammer moved over for a broad with an attitude, a dame, a gat carrying, nylon wearing DAME!  (Same intro as the last review of an M. Ruth Myers' Maggie Sullivan book but I still like it.)

Maggie's client  has been swindled and he is not happy.   He wants Maggie to find out what hole the dirty rotten rat  has slithered into and drag him out by his slimy skinny tail.

Maggie, as usual, ends up butting heads with both authority and the nefarious villains.   Equally as usual, her good heart, surrounds her with stalwart aides and companions.  

The depths of the Great Depression flesh out the scenery in this book.   The vernacular of the time is used but understandable.   The mystery has sufficient depth to keep your attention and enough gritty realism to make it believable.

Connelly's revelations about Ireland add additional veracity to the book, brief as that revelation was.  Myers does a good job making her characters breathe.

I recommend the book and look forward to seeing more of Maggie Sullivan.


 This book may have been received free of charge from a publisher or a publicist. That will NEVER have a bearing on my recommendations.

Thursday, December 26, 2013

Double Agents by Ethan Jones




This is the fourth book in the Justin Hall series.   Justin is a Canadian Intelligence Service agent.   Carrie O’Connor, Justin's partner, and Justin roam the mean and dangerous streets of Moscow trying to discover what US location is being targeted by  Chechnyan terrorists.     

Once again Jones pulls his themes from current events.   He portrays friction between the CIA and Canada's CIS which smacks of authenticity if you consider that the US CIA doesn't play nicely with the NSA or the FBI.   The inner workings of the current Russian hierarchy doesn't seem to play well with their own agencies either.  

The story has an intricate plot with harsh villains having no care for civilian casualties.   In all fairness none of the intelligence agencies come out smelling too rosy in this book.
There is action abounding to keep you turning the pages.

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.

Monday, December 23, 2013

The Final Judgment by Richard North Patterson



This is a book about self redemption.   A multi

generational look at a dysfunctional family who becomes embroiled in a murder is it's focus.

Caroline Masters, the main, protagonist is self contained, self created and self absorbed.   She has taken pain and glorified it into a personality builder.  Her estrangement from her family helps her to reinforce her aloofness.  

The author forces Caroline to face her fears and her family when her niece is arrested.   The family is portrayed in painstaking detail.   The plot is intricate without being confusing.   The author does a superior job at keeping key facts within reach but just out of sight.

This is an enjoyable mystery with personal redemption and developing self awareness as part of the mix. 

I enjoyed the book and I recommend the book.

           


This book may have been received free of charge from a publisher or a publicist. That will NEVER have a bearing on my recommendations.

Saturday, December 21, 2013

Heroic Measures by Greg Smith

Greg's short story published by the recently launched Amazon StoryFront imprint. How cool is that!  Couldn't happen to a nicer guy!

Psychiatrist Dr. Renee Conway has taken on a new patient: Kevin Reynolds, the local hero who ran into a burning building to save a young family from certain death. When the rescue goes horrifically wrong, a boy is dead and Kevin suffers excruciating burns. Plagued with nightmares and left with a horribly disfigured face, Kevin finds celebrity its own torture.
As Conway helps Kevin sift through his guilt and grief, his recounting begins to unnerve her. Odd details and detours hint at another side to the story. Despite the lives he saved, Conway finds herself questioning why Kevin ran into the building, and why he walked into her office.
J. Gregory Smith, author of the Paul Chang Mystery series and Kindle bestseller A Noble Cause, delivers a dark, intense story about heroic motivations and the inevitable hand of fate.




This book may have been received free of charge from a publisher or a publicist. That will NEVER have a bearing on my recommendations.

Wednesday, December 18, 2013

Echo Burning by Lee Child

Reacher suffers a temporary bout of self doubt as his gullibility is tested by a desperate Latina seeking his help.  Set in Texas, this book questions the savage prejudice and ponderous justice system in south Texas.

After having read so many Reacher books, it was somewhat refreshing for him to have a bit of self doubt, it humanized him.   This has the typical Reacher plot of his reluctant entry into a dangerous situation and settling it with his normal, physical justice metering.

Texas was not portrayed as a hospitable place in this novel.   One can only hope that the rampant prejudice and self serving corrupt local justice system has improved in the twelve years since the book was published.   Lee Child does not hesitate to attack and depict social issues with Jack Reacher as the proponent of harsh justice.  I'm not sure head butting is the best solution for social issues but aside from the resulting head ache, I suspect that many of us find a vicarious pleasure in physically dominating perceived villains. 

As in all the Jack Reacher books I have read so far, there is non-stop action and lots of violence.  

I enjoyed the book and I recommend the book.

Web Site: http://www.leechild.com/
 
 This book may have been received free of charge from a publisher or a publicist. That will NEVER have a bearing on my recommendations.

Saturday, December 14, 2013

Never Go Back by Lee Child



This Reacher is set in a more current environment.  Afghanistan and Home Land Security are part of the plot.  Reacher's attempt at hooking up with an appealing voice leads him once again up to his neck into a nefarious plot

There isn't a lot new to say about Reacher.   That isn't a bad thing, I certainly don't mind having pineapple upside down cake with absolutely no changes, again and again.   Child has a formula what works. 

One of the things I find particularly appealing in the Reacher books is the loyalty and camaraderie shown to Reacher and others in his former command.  One scene when Turner (main squeeze of the moment) decides that Reacher isn't just a mindless, anger managed animal due to his concern about others reinforces that the main character isn't just a shallow, testosterone driven hero but someone who cares and cares deeply about others.

This book also delved into some of the reasons why Reacher became who he is and why his motivation is to cannonball in where others fear to tread water. 

As in all the Jack Reacher books I have read so far, there is non-stop action and lots of violence.  

I enjoyed the book and I recommend the book.
  
Web Site: http://www.leechild.com/

           This book may have been received free of charge from a publisher or a publicist. That will NEVER have a bearing on my recommendations.

Tuesday, December 10, 2013

Mrs. Poe by Lynn Cullen



 I have read a lot of Edgar Allan Poe but little or nothing about Edgar Allan Poe.   Poe's reputation was trashed by a rival and that nonsense has carried through for years and years.   This book addresses the life of Poe in a much more sympathetic manner.

Frances Osgood was the muse that drove Poe, possibly drove him mad.   She is portrayed as emotionally torn and faced with overwhelming circumstances based primarily on the social mores of the time.  

Ms. Cullen does an excellent job with showing the fragility of the marital institution in the mid-1800s.   Growing up in the era of bra burning and strong women it is sobering to think that over 50% of the population was relegated to second class citizenry.  Actually if you consider slavery the number of second class citizens was substantially higher than 50%. 

This story was somewhat tedious as was the life of Poe.   The emotional angst was suffocating.   I'm not much for the romantic novel but the historic aspect of this book as well as the cameos of so many famous literary figures.

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.

Friday, December 6, 2013

Without Fail by Lee Child


Reacher is as Reacher does.  That simply means, step on my toes, step on those I care about and assume the position.  The rest of the world can go on as normal but DO NOT mess with mine.  This book is standard Reacher, tons of action, loss of main characters and redemption.

A chance pickup as he hitch hiked led Reacher into the depths of Washington politics.   Little did he know that the old blues playing couple would lead to assassination attempts on the in coming Vice President.

Surprisingly Jack spends most of this book working with law enforcement sometimes very, very close to law enforcement.  As often in the case of politics, things are not always the way they seem.  

I don't know that I ever learn anything from the Reacher books unless new methods of wreaking mayhem count.  I don't think the books expand my mind.  I do know that they are highly entertaining.

As in all the Jack Reacher books I have read so far, there is non-stop action and lots of violence.  

I enjoyed the book and I recommend the book.

Web Site: http://www.leechild.com/


 This book may have been received free of charge from a publisher or a publicist. That will NEVER have a bearing on my recommendations.

Monday, December 2, 2013

Robert the Bruce by Jack Whyte

 This is one book in a trilogy on Scottish heroes called the Guardians Trilogy.  This book depicts the coming of age of Robert The Bruce.   Keep in mind that in the time of the book, there were three Roberts all of whom at some point were The Bruce.

This is an excellent fictional rendition of  the Scottish independence movement.  Scotland's move from being an independent kingdom to an English vassal in reality and the fight to return to independence is touched on in this book.   I say touched on because the book is more of a biography of Rober the Bruce than an actual treatise on Scottish independence.

The author does an excellent job portraying an actual historic figure.  The life and daily mundane behaviors are in sufficient detail to appreciate both the difference and similarity to today's life and political realities.   The cot and camp stove mentioned early in the book brought home that this time period, although primitive by today's standards, still appreciated normal comforts.  The manipulative perfidy of the political environment would sadly fit into any contemporary country. 

I highly recommend the book and it reinforces me love of historic fiction.


This book may have been received free of charge from a publisher or a publicist. That will NEVER have a bearing on my recommendations.

Thursday, November 28, 2013

No Game For a Dame by M. Ruth Myers

 
Maggie Sullivan pistol whips a breath of fresh air into the moldy corpse of the hard boiled dick.  (No Snicker, come on, we are all adults here!)  It is about time that the stalwarts like Travis Magee and Mike Hammer moved over for a broad with an attitude, a dame, a gat carrying, nylon wearing DAME!

Maggie's client is in over his head and Maggie finds her own head in jeopardy when she goes up against a psychotic rat of a mob boss.   The vernacular is like sipping a bit of VO, neat,  and recalling those first Mike Hammer books that enflamed my imagination.   The bulk of the references were old school prior to my birth. (I ain't dead yet but I ain't a spring chicken.)

I found the book entertaining, fast paced and well plotted.   It made me what to dig out a double breasted suit, dust off a fedora, slip a 38 in a shoulder holster and go out and combat evil.   The street wise newsie was probably more to my own personal experiences but I made much more money than he did, carrying papers in the 1950s.  

I recommend the book and look forward to seeing more of Maggie Sullivan.


 This book may have been received free of charge from a publisher or a publicist. That will NEVER have a bearing on my recommendations.

Sunday, November 24, 2013

Tuscan Rose by Belinda Alexandra

A lush novel set in Florence, Italy in 1914 and then 1929.  Rosa, a young woman of musical talents has to deal with the onset of Fascism.

The author does deep and colorful characterizations.   She makes the story quite personal and draws the reader into the story for their love of the characters.  Rosa, raised in an orphanage by Nuns, she spends the book trying to discover her roots.

The story is beset with intrigue, mystery and betrayal.   My wife was glued to this book for several days and devoured all 582 pages avidly.   This isn't just a romantic novel but more of a historic treatise or coming of age of a young lady in a tumultuous period of Italy's history.

My wife highly recommends this book.

Web site: http://belinda-alexandra.com/

Tuscan Rose YouTube


This book may have been received free of charge from a publisher or a publicist. That will NEVER have a bearing on my recommendations.

Wednesday, November 20, 2013

The last Clinic by Gary Gusick





Darla Cavannah is a displaced Philadelphia Police Officer in the wilds of Mississippi. She is also the wife of the deceased NFL football hero, Hugh the Glue. These two facts combine to provide the necessary chemistry that turns a run of the mill mystery into an entertaining story.

Darla is a likeable character. Gusick crafted her well, giving her self deprecating humor while allowing her to be real. She shows her feelings and her competence.

The outlook on Mississippi is interesting. I don’t know Mississippi so I don’t know how accurate the characterization is of the environment. I do know small towns and the characterizations of small town characters and politics were spot on.

A good mystery with some incorporated levity. Thank you, Thank you very much!

I recommend the book.

Web site: none found


This book may have been received free of charge from a publisher or a publicist. That will NEVER have a bearing on my recommendations.

Friday, November 15, 2013

Death Overdue by Mary Lou Kirwin


This is the second in a series of books featuring a librarian as the main protagonist.   This story is centered in a B&B in London where a mysterious death results in an Agatha Christie/game of Clue situation.

Karen Nash is well portrayed as a middle age, Midwest  librarian.   She exhibits a stereotypical love of books and a somewhat distracted personality.   Having spent several semesters working in the college library, the portrayal seemed spot on to me.  

The mystery plot works well with the situation.   The characters are classical English boarding house residents.   Every scene doesn't have a "cuppa" but a lot of tea is consumed in the course of the investigation.

This book had the flavor of a 1950s Alfred Hitchcock type of story.   It had a very quaint but nevertheless entertaining feel.

I enjoyed the book.

I recommend the book.


This book may have been received free of charge from a publisher or a publicist. That will NEVER have a bearing on my recommendations.

Sunday, November 10, 2013

The Affair by Lee Child

I know a head butt would be better. 

Parts of Reacher's past are explained in this book.  I recommend it as a first read as opposed to the order in which they were published.    As usual, when Reacher’s sense of justice is violated, mayhem ensues.

Reacher finds himself embroiled in political intrigue and a possible well connected serial killer.  Once again there is a startlingly beautiful woman involved.   Although he prides himself on being a loaner, Reacher's impact on others provides him with loyal allies.  

The murder of an innocent provides he impetus for Reacher's unique style of Old Testament retribution/justice.

As in all the Jack Reacher books I have read so far, there is non-stop action and lots of violence.  

I enjoyed the book and I recommend the book.

Web Site: http://www.leechild.com


This book may have been received free of charge from a publisher or a publicist. That will NEVER have a bearing on my recommendations.

Friday, November 8, 2013

Excerpts From River of Bones by Angela J. Townsend

Excerpt # 1 from River of Bones by Angela J. Townsend:

I shuffled into the living room looking for Wolf. He sat in front of the hearth staring at the skull. He glanced at me when I came in, then leaped to his feet and took my elbow.
“I’m ready for bed,” I said. “Can you help me get up the stairs?”
“Sure,” he said.  “But why don’t you just sleep down here where I can keep an eye on you.”
“Because I have to have the skull under my bed, remember? Down here there’s no bed, only a couch, and I’m not taking any chances. My throat is killing me. I’m getting weaker. Wolf, I’m scared. My whole life, I’ve taken care of myself and Benny. What will happen to my brother if I die?”
Wolf grabbed my shoulders. “Don’t talk like that. We’re gonna beat this thing. Whatever it is.”  He snatched the skull, tucked it under his arm, and bent down. “Get on my back and I’ll give you a ride.”
I hesitated. “What if I'm too heavy?”
Wolf laughed. “You're far from heavy, Dharma. Look, you need to start trusting me. And you have to start trusting yourself. You are stronger than you think you are, and you’re braver than you know. Now hop on.”
I wrapped my arms around his neck, and collapsed against him. “Thanks,” I said, inhaling his woodsy scent.
Wolf labored up the steps, every muscle in his strong back flexing beneath me. At the landing, I slid off and hobbled down the hallway to the master bedroom.
“Good thing I made the bed last night,” Wolf said.
“You did? Wow, thanks.”
“I had to have something to do while you were sleeping.”
He pulled back the blankets and held them up so I could climb into the soft bed. Wolf got on his knees and slid the skull underneath the creaky springs.
“You sure you’re going to be okay up here?”
“I hope so,” I said. “At this point, nothing matters but sleep, even if I don’t wake up.”
“Are you sure about that?” Wolf said. He gazed into my eyes and leaned in close, his lips almost touching my forehead. My heart skipped. For a moment, I thought he was going to kiss me, but instead he placed a hand against my cheek.
“You still feel like you have a fever. No wonder, with everything you've been through.” He pulled away. “I’m going to camp right outside the door. Call me if you need anything.”
“Thanks,” I said. It felt good knowing he would be so close. I couldn’t blame him for not kissing me. My heart sank, I'm sure I looked totally gross. I closed my eyes, listening to his hollow footsteps as he walked away.
Every sound set my nerves on edge—the howling wind, the rattling shutters, the clatter of pipes, a weird scraping outside my window. Then I heard another noise. A different kind of noise. Low. Raspy. I strained to hear against the wind, and held my breath. The eerie sound stuttered in the darkness.
Heavy, mucus-filled breathing.
Coming from under the bed.

Excerpt # 2 from River of Bones by Angela J. Townsend:

The rain faded and fog swirled around the bog in the distance, creeping through rows of cypress trees, disguising the landscape in a blinding haze of white.  Through the choking fog, a dark figure crawled crablike from the water. I strained to see in the mist. Could a gator rise above the weeds like that? As I watched, it pushed itself upright—no, definitely not a gator.
I looked over to where Wolf had disappeared around the side of the house, my heart racing as a sick feeling settled into my gut. I cast a glance back to where I had seen the shape moving…
And it was closer! It had almost reached the house, shambling in an awkward way, as though it were not truly walking but moving in time with strings rather than muscles. And I could see it now much more clearly. Its head was bowed, with a matted rope hung around its neck, dripping with sludge. Muck and water dripped from the rotted garment hanging on its—no, her—body, as if her very insides were leaking the fluids dripping from her frame. A rag circled her head, dirty with muck, pulled slightly to the side, exposing a bare spot where her hair and ear should have been.   
Paralyzing terror sawed through my spine. Run! Move! I stood rooted to the spot. Head still down, the figure raised a boney finger pointing at me, hobbling grotesquely toward the house.
Fear scrambled my thoughts. I had to warn Wolf! Adrenaline surged. I sprang into action, raising my hand to beat on the window, when something slammed into the back of my knees.


Excerpt # 3 from River of Bones by Angela J. Townsend:

My cheeks blazed, I opened my mouth to speak, fighting for words that wouldn't make me sound like a fool, when something shuffled upstairs again.
Wolf stared at the ceiling, his brow creased. “What's that?”
“I don't know. I heard it just before you came in. I was going to ask you to come with me to check it out.”
He walked from the kitchen to the foot of the stairs and peered into the dark stairwell. I put Benny into the playpen with his sippy cup and toys before following Wolf up the stairs. Just as we reached the landing, the hollow footsteps sounded again. Wolf glanced over his shoulder and whispered, “It might be the pipes rattling. Old houses can make all kinds of random noises.  Stay close and let’s do some exploring.”
We checked out each room, finding nothing but dust and building materials from half-finished renovations. Then we came to the second staircase, which led to the third floor. Steep and narrow, it swept much higher than the one leading to the second floor. I held tight to the handrail, following Wolf to the third floor landing. Five doors, all closed, lined the narrow hallway, two on either side and one at the end.
“Let’s hurry. I have to get back to Benny,” I said, taking a giant step and tripping over my own feet. I landed hard, spraining my wrist.  
“Are you all right?” Wolf said, scooping me up. I started to dissolve in his strong arms. He stared into my eyes for several seconds, then grabbed my hand and placed it against his lips. His mouth parted under my hand and his breath danced across my fingertips. I could hardly breathe. Heat seared into my face.
“Yeah, I'm okay,” I said softly.  I pulled back my hand–my body tingling in places I didn't know I had.
The footsteps sounded again. Wolf helped me to my feet, his eyes wide and alert. “It’s coming from down the hall. Stay behind me.”
We tiptoed to the end of the hallway to the last door. Wolf gripped the glass doorknob. “Who’s in there?” He called. A faint flutter or shuffle could be heard on the other side of the door. Wolf turned the handle, but it wouldn’t budge. “It’s locked.”
Whispering voices traveled under the threshold. Footsteps sounded again.
“Open up, we’re coming in!” Wolf said. He glanced at me, his eyes hard. “I’m gonna break it down. Stand back.”
I took a step away and Wolf shoved hard on the door. It flew open and every ounce of me begged for it to be closed again.
This book may have been received free of charge from a publisher or a publicist. That will NEVER have a bearing on my recommendations.

Saturday, November 2, 2013

Dirty Martini by J.A. Konrath


  
Jack Daniels is a hot female detective as well as the obvious.   She finds herself stung by the wrath of a serial poisoner in this novel.





I really enjoyed Konrath’s Cherry Bomb and Shot of Tequila.   This book  is classic Jack Daniels.  Jack is not a woman to trifle with in any situation.   I have made it clear that I enjoy strong female protagonists.   Strong, smart, good looking and sometimes mean just adds icing to the cake of a female police lieutenant in Chicago’s PD.



The plot is intricate without being confusing.   The author successfully shows a depth to her characters.   They are not mere cut outs but real live and often quirky people.   



There is plenty of action and adventure along with a lot of humor in this book.



This is an excellent mystery and I I highly recommend it.



Web Site: http://www.jakonrath.com/



This book may have been received free of charge from a publisher or a publicist. That will NEVER have a bearing on my recommendations.

Thursday, October 31, 2013

Monday, October 28, 2013

King and Maxwell by David Baldacci


Baldacci has such enormous talent that one tends to forget how compelling his work is.  This rendition brings back Sean King and Michele Maxwell, the former Secret Service agents, who are now private detectives.  They unwittingly fall into the rabbit hole dug by a man bent on revenge.

Baldacci has a way of portraying his characters that you can almost reach out and pat them on the back.   They are believable.   They grab your attention and sate your appetite for thoughtful action.   Wack jobs exist and Baldacci paints them with meticulous detail and coats them with a veneer of reality. 

This was an excellent mystery, it started with nearly a bang and ended with a bang.   This is vintage Baldacci and I could not put it down!

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.

Friday, October 25, 2013

Inferno by Dan Brown

 
Brown's books usually chasing around some exotic place looking for something weird.  This book is no different.  This is a medical magic mystery tour of Dante's Inferno and the circus of the Divine Comedy.

Brown works hard at describing in detail whatever exotic place he is dashing through.   All his books take place at a dead run.  This book seemed far more preachy that his others.   He was making a point about over population and doing it with a heavy hand.   I couldn't decide if it was plot development or proselytization.

With the fast pace of his books it normally is hard to get bored but  in this book, I put it down several times as his wordy descriptions became tiring.   That is not to say I didn't enjoy the book.  Brown always has excellent supporting actors and this book was no exception.   Langdon was less the suave ladies man in this book.  He showed more compassion and less "Bondish" behavior.  In that manner he was more likeable than his normal arrogant professorial persona.

The book is thought provoking and timely, looking at the world and the methods technology can impact it. The villain proposes a reasonable solution to an unreasonable problems. This book has the potential to provide starting points for some interesting conversations.  There are moral, ethical and emotional questions for self searching.   Overall, the thought provoking aspect of thebook was better than the entertainment value.
I recommend the book.
Web site: http://www.danbrown.com/

This book may have been received free of charge from a publisher or a publicist. That will NEVER have a bearing on my recommendations.

Monday, October 21, 2013

Kick by John L. Monk

This book is far from a kick.  It makes you consider the consequences of you actions.  Dan Jenkins face reality through eyes other than his own and sees the consequences of their actions.

This is an unusual book.  It is vignettes of violence interspersed with introspection.   I’m struggling here to describe the book without giving away the basic premise.   Dan’s life is a living hell or perhaps purgatory.   He discovers there is more to his internal self image than he ever imagined.

Imagined is a good word as Mr. Monk has imagined a very interesting scenario.  There are parts of the book that are not for the faint of heart but they fit the plot so plow on through.

I recommend this book!


This book may have been received free of charge from a publisher or a publicist. That will NEVER
have a bearing on my recommendations.

Thursday, October 17, 2013

Bullet Proof Scavenger Hunt



 I agreed to be involved in this scavenger hunt and then promptly had computer issues.  I've found that some of my emails have gone astray.  My apologies to all involved. I am trying to get my new Win8 up and functioning and then move everything over to the new box.  In the meantime here are the other blogs participating in the BulletProof Scavenger Hunt.

Blog Participants:





Sunday, October 13, 2013

Nano Surveillance by Mark Donovan

This book would have been flat out science fiction just a few years ago.  Now the technology used in the book isn’t available quite yet but we will all see nano technology in our lives in the not too distant future.   Nano technology is used in surveillance by a private company dismayed at the path the nation is taking.   The plot focuses on the conflict between enlightened self-interest and government abuse.

Mr. Donovan predicates a somewhat believable plot if one takes the political  extreme left and extrapolates their futu

re as government leaders.   I would suggest that he could have fulfilled the same role by using the extreme right.   Sadly our nation seems to be embracing polarization and this novel capitalizes on that theme.

Dave Henson could be modeled after quite a few current high tech high rollers.   He is brilliant and has a conscience.   There is a certain naïveté in the plot that the government and their cronies would play as fair as they did.  The recent NSA scandals would indicate that Donvan may be postulating probable events.  

The book was intriquing but not captivating.   The government was a touch too leftist and the protagonists were a bit too good to be true.  

It is worth reading and the potential of nano technology is certainly thought provoking.  

This book may have been received free of charge from a publisher or a publicist. That will NEVER have a bearing on my recommendations.

Wednesday, October 9, 2013

Worth Dying For by Lee Child



 Reacher is dropped off in the middle of nowhere Nebraska while hitch hiking.   His odd sense of justice and morality is immediately assaulted by events around him as he checks into the Apollo Inn.  Unable to help himself, he once again inserts his considerable bulk into a mysterious situation.


Lee Child seems to tackle a lot of current event situations in his unique Jack Reacher style.   I think the insular community where the story is set may be hard to believe for folks who have never lived in a truly small town.  Equally the power of family may also be a unique experience for some folks who have not seen it. 



I guess Reacher’s Old Testament sense of justice must resonate with a lot of people because the books certainly are popular.   I find myself tensed up reading and not wanting to put the book down.   These books do not bring me to tears or cause emotional distress but they do provide a mean, visceral satisfaction when evil doers face the wrath of Reacher. 



As in all the Jack Reacher books I have read so far, there is non-stop action and lots of violence.  



I enjoyed the book and I recommend the book.



Web Site: http://www.leechild.com/
           

This book may have been received free of charge from a publisher or a publicist. That will NEVER have a bearing on my recommendations.

Saturday, October 5, 2013

The Wide Game By Michael West


 

Once again the small town of Harmony Indiana turns out to be less than harmonious.  More demented souls seem to reside in this small, corn fed town than any major metropolis.  What is up with all the corn fed fear?  A high school tradition of questionable merit melds into a game with bloody consequences.



A group of high school students are studied as characters.  They are fleshed out so the reader can develop a sense of empathy.  Then bad things start to happen.  



Michael West surely has a strange turn of mind.  I’m guessing that he, like Stephen King, has the heart of a small boy and he too, keeps it in his top desk drawer. 



After plowing through the mayhem you discover that you aren’t done yet.  Mr. West likes to flip things around just when you think you have everything figured out.   



Robby Miller of the Spook House is here, younger and not yet jaded.   I have read and reviewed  Spook House , Poseidon’s Children and Cinema of Shadows all by Michael West.   



He has carved a niche into the face of evil, leaving his readers looking over their shoulders and listening to the wind in the corn.



I’ve stated before I don’t read a lot of horror stories but I really the way Michael West renders them.



And yes, all puns were intended regardless of whether it is the lowest form of humor.     



I enjoyed the book. 



Body of work of <a type="amzn"> Michael West </a>






This book may have been received free of charge from a publisher or a publicist. That will NEVER have a bearing on my recommendations.