Bad Lands by C. J. Box

I hate reading books out of order but this did well as a stand-alone.  Cassie is a cop and she moves to North Dakota for a new job.   She finds minimal acceptance except for her femininity.   Her new town is overrun by men drawn to the local oil boom.   Women are far and few between.  The police department has grown dramatically to deal with the old west mentality.  All those men with little to do bring a criminal element to take advantage of the situation.   The ensuing drug problem and the possibility of a dirty cop is Cassie's job.

Box does a good job portraying a task-driven special needs kid in the story.   I found myself chilled due to both the weather and the plot.  

This is the second in a series and this four-book series is a follow-up to a two-book series that preceded it.   The new ABC drama Big Sky is based on the series.

I enjoyed it 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 Dead Don’t Sleep by Steven Max Russo

This is a book about old guys.  One old guy who has made peace with his past and some others who don’t know the meaning of peace.   Frank’s past in Vietnam catches up with him.  Much to his chagrin, his nephew Bill is drawn into the drama. 

Vietnam impacted people in different ways.   It was an ugly war in an ugly time.   Too many scars left on too many people.   For some, it was glory days and for others, it was do your duty and come home.   The plot of this book sets up a scenario where coming to terms with the past may include gunfire.  

Russo did an excellent job with the plot, the characters, and the premise.   I’ve known some of the people in this book in their reality counterparts.   Luckily I’ve not known some of the others.

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. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases if you click on a purchasing link below.#CommissionsEarned

Fifty Fifty by James Patterson and Candice Fox

This is a double novel with no connection between the stories.  No clue as to why it was published this way.   Story one, a detective with anger issues finds herself defending her brother when all the evidence proves to the contrary.   Story two is about a debonair detective with a very intuitive nature who suffers multiple tragedies.

Both stories are adequate.   Harriet Blue is depicted as a diminutive, overcompensating detective with a very bad attitude and a drive to save the unsavable.  She isn’t likable but she is good at what she does.  The setting is the far outback of Australia which was interesting.

Moncrief, a very French detective, is totally out of his element in NYC.   After suffering two personal tragedies, he goes to Paris to search his roots for the cause.

Still not sure why double, unconnected novels.

They were both entertaining. 

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

Meter Maids Eat Their Young by EJ Knapp

This is a story of revolution despite the author calling it a love story.  The love story is either one of unrequited love or the love of honesty, it was hard to tell.   A small city is being destroyed by an overwhelming parking authority. 

The protagonist of the story is Teller, an aging or aged reporter who struggles with alcohol and lack of ambition.   The Meter Mangler is the Robin Hoodish villain. The true villain is the Parking Authority that is destroying the town.   

The plot was interesting and unique.   Having had a small business in another town that had a love affair with parking meters, I found myself cheering for the Mangler.  The author astutely pointed out that public roads that are already paid for by taxes are then doubly taxed with parking meters.  So the story was also thinly disguised social commentary.

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. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases if you click on a purchasing link below.#CommissionsEarned

Daylight by David Baldacci

Atlee Pine is back.  The powerlifting, but kicking FBI agent who is searching for her missing twin sister.   Atlee’s search seems to drag her into areas that don’t want to be seen.   Her search is further complicated by the fact that her assigned post is in Arizona and she is pretty much anywhere but there.   

Illicit drugs, underage sex, kidnapping, blackmail, extortion, and politics highlight the mystery.  Blum, her admin assistant or sidekick, accompanies Pine on her search.   John Puller from another Baldacci series is drawn into Atlee’s search due to the overlap of her search and his case.  

The story is intriguing, the plot is sadly plausible but the strength of Pine’s obsession is seemingly out of hand.

I enjoyed the book all but one small part or large depending on your point of view.   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