Along Came A Spider by James Patterson

This is an Alex Cross book.  There is a grisly murder in Alex’s neighborhood.  He and his partner Sampson become emotionally involved.   There is a high-profile kidnapping and the two are pulled from the murder to investigate the kidnapping.

Alex is incensed as the murder victims are black and the kidnapped victims are white and in his eyes this demonstrates that his superiors have prioritized white lives over black.   The copywrite of the book is 1993.  In today’s climate of Black Lives Matter, this book could be seen as a harbinger of the future.

A psychopath or sociopath, depending on the part of the personality that is evident, may be the villain.  Alex becomes obsessed with both cases.

This book delved into more social issues that I expected from a James Patterson book.   I was pleasantly surprised.

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

Spotlight on The Dark of the Stars by William Hamilton

Renowned evolutionary biologist, William Hamilton (1936-2000) was a naturalist and geneticist who was well known for his wide-ranging and influential research. At his funeral service in the chapel of New College, Oxford, he was described as “the greatest evolutionary biologist since Charles Darwin.” His official biography is Nature’s Oracle published by Oxford University Press in 2013.   

The Dark of the Stars (March 28, Authority Publishing) is his only novel, written largely in the 1980s, edited and published posthumously, and is scheduled for publication on March 28, 2022.  

 ABOUT THE BOOK
Orphaned and alone, Robert doesn’t expect much from his fifteenth summer.  

But when a mysterious milkman named Karl taps him for an unexpected safari to the remote land of Santania to save its inhabitants from disease, his life will never be the same. There are diamonds hidden in those wild, dangerous lands, and Robert discovers that he must get to them first, before the jewels fall into the hands of a mad, tyrannical ruler named Dr Paul.  

The trip is fraught with peril, and only the bravest will survive. Along the way, Robert will encounter love, friendship, and treasure beyond his wildest dreams, proving that sometimes, the hardest part of any journey is deciding to take that first step . . .  

“A thrilling young adult quest.” - Foreword Reviews  

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 Boy From the Woods by Harlan Coben

Coben has the ability to so obfuscate the plot that you have minimal opportunities to puzzle it out.  Wilde, aptly named, helps his godson and inadvertently becomes involved in a kidnapping case.

Ripped from current news, a presidential candidate of questionable background and temperament is a master of disinformation.  The candidate’s working strategy is to polarize the electorate to the point where the far right and far left have more in common than the insipid middle.   This backdrop sows confusion on the plight of missing teenagers.

Wilde and his unofficial pseudo-mother, Hester, an infamous attorney, use their disparate talents to find the teens and disrupt the political flow.

Another Coben homerun, I strongly 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

Valley of the Templars by Paul Christopher

Talk about a intricate plot, the Vatican, Cuban dissidents, the CIA, MI6, Blackwater Mercenaries, the Cuban government, a secret society and a couple of rogue retirees are all involved in the overthrow of the Cuban government and the installation of an American friendly regime.

Retired Army Ranger John Holliday and his psycho sidekick Eddie find themselves trying to find Eddie’s brother and save him and his country.  Turns out a terrorist attack on southern Florida is more important. 

Lots of action, mayhem and some sadism. 

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

Spotlight on Hidden Agenda by D. Marshall Craig, M.D.

 

About the Book:

Prior to departing for a medical symposium in London, trauma surgeon Dr. Kyle Chandler is contacted by Ian Griffin, who runs a private investigation firm. Because of Dr. Chandler’s involvement in a previous antiques investigation case, Ian asks him to look into a new case while in London. In addition, Dr. Chandler is asked a favor by a friend to inquire about bulk wine shipments from Europe to the United States while he’s in London. The busy surgeon reluctantly agrees to both requests.

During his time in England, Dr. Chandler stumbles on a mysterious system of product smuggling to the United States. As Dr .Chandler continues his investigation in New York, then back in Kansas City, he realizes that he faces a powerful, complex network involving organized crime.

Meanwhile, Dr. Chandler tries to determine where he stands with his girlfriend, Caroline Martinelli, an attractive and successful antiques dealer whose intelligence and quick wit fuel his interest in her. As he pursues this web of illegal product distribution, escalating threats to him (and the beautiful Caroline) reveal the truth – and the truth nearly costs him his life.

In a climactic ending, Kyle's inquiry leads him to a showdown with the organized crime don. Using his persistence to expose the smuggling scheme while protecting himself and his girlfriend, will the proverbial David overcome Goliath in this thriller?

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

 D. Marshall Craig, M.D. draws upon his knowledge of medicine gained from over 30 years as a trauma, plastic, and reconstructive surgeon to continue the story of hard-working hero Dr. Kyle Chandler. Craig’s series of medical suspense thrillers are inspired by some of his wildest stories and most colorful characters from his previous medical career. He now enjoys his second career as a winemaker and vineyard manager for a small boutique winery. He lives with his wife in the mountains of western North Carolina. The first book in the Dr. Kyle Chandler series is Cut to the Chase (White Bird Publications).

 Praise for D. Marshall Craig:

 "With surgical precision, Craig develops a mystery that will engulf not only Chandler, but his profession, the conglomerate medical force he works for, the black market world of high-end antiques and the ultimate secret that all of this is leading to." — The Watauga Democrat

 “An enjoyable read with well-developed characters and a good pace. I look forward to further adventures of Dr. Kyle Chandler.” — Full Circle Books

 “A compelling high drama novel. A treat to the avid reader of action, humor, crime and deceit.” — OKCFriday

Website:

https://www.dmarshallcraigbooks.com/

Buy The Book Here:  Amazon     B&N:

 

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