The Translator by Harriet Crawley

This book started slow but gradually grabbed me.  The translator, not an interpreter is a British national, he is sent to substitute for the regular translator who had suffered an accident.   Experienced but  semi-retired, he has dragged back into the fray.   The British Government is going to Moscow to scold the Russians for their recent behavior. 

The plot becomes more complex when Clive, the translator, discovers an old flame is the translator for the Russian Premier.   Emotions run high and Russian paranoia runs deep.   There is a great deal of cynicism over the oligarchs reaping obscene profits.   Struck me as amusing as they are so similar to the robber barons of old and the tech giants today.  

There was a lot of tension and paranoia, fear, anger and a touch of action.   This is a thoughtful and thought-provoking book rather than an action adventure.

I enjoyed it. 

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My website www.bentrim.info is closed.

Killer Story by Matt Witten

This is a good mystery with an abhorrent main protagonist.  Petra is a camp counselor for Livvy, an ebullient fourteen-year-old who dreams of becoming a journalist.  After losing touch over the years, Petra discovers Livvy is an alt-right podcaster.   Mystified by her change Petra finds once more she will lose her job due to downsizing in the journalism world.  Even online newspapers are cutting, and she seems to be last in, first out endlessly.  Her fears and frustration lead her to abandon her compassion, common sense, and empathy in chasing “the” story that will ensure her future employment.

I struggled with this book, not due to the writing but to my disgust with Petra, the main character.   She epitomized the fears I have about honesty in the media and the incessant peddling of “fake” news.  One troll can ruin someone’s life if the trash they are pushing goes viral.  This book forces you to look at a declining industry and wonder what lengths the depicted journalists will go to maintain employment.

Witten did a good job, the book is personally revolting but certainly worth reading. 

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Scorched by Don Silver

This book is about the coming of age of a troubled child who becomes a troubled adult.  Jonas, a hard-to-love kid, finds soulmates at Lafayette, a school for kids who are alone.

Jonas ends up as a quintmate. He and four other troubled kids are bound together through trials and tribulations.   They experience a life-altering event that separates them forever, except it doesn’t.

As a successful adult Jonas is approached by Dugie, a long-lost quintmate.  Together, the experience is anything but positive for Jonas.

Jonas’s ex-wife and children provide a sense of normalcy for Jonas, staying with him through manic and depressed periods.   Their loyalty is startling.

I found the book hard to read when Jonas was self-destructing.   It is an interesting read, persevere to the end, it is worth 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 Innocents by Bridget Walsh

This is the second in the Variety Palace Mystery series that I’ve read.   Minnie and Albert, a mismatched detective team, find themselves facing multiple homicides.  All the homicides seem to relate to either a Ponzi scheme or a dreadful theatrical tragedy.  

Walsh does a good job setting the late 1890s scene in London.   The aromas of the time jump off the page resulting in a twitching nose and a squeamish reaction to many of the settings.

The impact of privilege regarding justice seems unchanged over the ensuing years with the obvious comparison to today’s country club prisons.

The interaction of Minnie and Albert once again is the sub-plot.   In the foreground, are a series of seemingly unrelated homicides and dog-fighting villains. 

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 Diabolical by David Putnam

This is a Bruno Johnson Crime book.  Bruno, whose solution to every negative issue is blood and bone, has mellowed.  He may still be a little crusty on the outside but he is a major marshmallow on the inside for his fourteen kids. His job as a bartender at the Punta Bandera Hotel and Beach Club in Costa Rico is impacted when some friends are slaughtered at a local nightclub.

A diamond heist, philandering, a hot psychotic manager, and Waldo the not-so-wonder dog add to the eclectic mix.

Putnam puts together an entertaining story with some unusual trappings for the hotel golf course.  

I enjoyed the story 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

Hardy Belch and Hidden Valley by William G Bentrim

Buy It Here

The Underhanded by Adam Sikes

The Underhanded by Adam Sikes

This isn’t a spy thriller as much as it is an action-adventure.  Professor William Dresden is a discredited historian.  How a historian becomes discredited is part of the plot.  The Professor discovers that his research has inadvertently cast light on the underpinnings of an international conspiracy.  British Intelligence approaches him for help in discovering more about the international conspiracy.  Said approach triggers major changes in the Professor’s life.

Sike builds his characters with depth.  He uses intelligence briefings to give you the necessary background to understand their behavior.  The utilization of current events surrounding the neo-fascist nationalistic and anti-immigration issues provides fuel for the international plot.

Occasionally the complexity of the plot becomes confusing but eventually, all is worked out.   The sequel door is open. Interesting note, not once did anyone call Professor William Dresden, Bill.

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 Edge by David Baldacci

 A CIA agent is killed in Putnam, Maine.  Travis Devine, a former Army Ranger, is tasked to discover who and why she was killed.   Sleepy little Putnam is anything but sleepy.  Devine seems to attract violence.

 Baldacci may be my favorite non-fantasy, non-science fiction author.  He develops a good plot and sprinkles it with tiny suggestions that often are incorrect as to the perpetrator’s identity.

 Travis is a new character to me, I don’t know if this is his first Baldacci book or not.  As much as I try and keep up with his writing, the man is a veritable machine in turning out new stories.  I will be watching for the next Travis Devine book who while no Amos, certainly gives Mercy a run.  

 Well drat!  While posting this on Amazon, I discovered it is the second book in the 6:20 man series. I've got some catching up to do. 

I recommend the author and all his books. 

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

Southern Man by Greg Iles

This novel was in many ways difficult to read.  Not because it wasn’t well written or throat-grabbing but because of so many of its themes.  Possibly I had difficulty because I couldn’t accept the inevitability of race war.  The fact that some of the closest relationships crossed racial lines seems to run contrary to the theme of White anger.  The book postulates the potential of a psychopathic closet-Nazi running for president. Bobby White feels that the end justifies the mean, any means. 

Penn Cage, once again, finds himself amid near-anarchy.  No longer the robust, arm-waving, gun-toting firebrand he was in previous books in this setting.  He faces the reality of his age and infirmity with ill humor and a wealth of denial.

The characters in Iles’ books are magnificent.   He paints with a wide robust brush and then fills all the details with a fine point.  The theme of this book was taken right off the pages of current polarization and political bad behavior.  It is so current that the Hamas attack on Israel is referenced. Considering the radicalization of the current two-party political system and the friction between races in the cities, this book as fiction may not be far from fact.

I highly recommend it, get friends to read it so you can argue about it.

 

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The Far Side of the Desert by Joanne Leedom-Ackerman,

This is an action-adventure book that is based on the sad state of terroristic activities today.  Market manipulation based on disaster fluctuations plays a part in this book.  It generates a question as to whether terrorism is fueled by ideology or profit motivation.

Monte is a State Department employee who finds herself in a situation never adequately covered by her training.

Stephen, a mediocre author, is seeking a story that will dramatically enrich him.

These two are the primary characters in a story that has deprivation, frustration, and plenty of action.

There were parts of this book that were difficult to read due to the situation, not the writing.

I recommend the book. 

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Spotlight on The Powell Expeditions by Tim Piper

Debut historical fiction series follows 1860s explorer’s expedition through the Grand Canyon

A harrowing adventure for fans of the show, “1883”

BLOOMINGTON, IL – Debut author Tim Piper takes readers on a rip-roaring adventure inspired by a true story through the American West, where a single step into the unknown changes everything for young Jubilee Walker. “The Powell Expeditions” (Sunshine Parade Publishing, January 15, 2024) follows Jubilee on a westward trek during the late 1860s, where he encounters native tribes, survives harsh winters, learns valuable life skills, makes new friends, and discovers his journey is not just physical, but a quest to find a sense of belonging and purpose.

 

After his mother’s death, seventeen-year-old Jubilee Walker asks to join a scientific expedition led by Major John Wesley Powell, a family friend. Powell initially refuses, but Jubil’s persistence and resourcefulness eventually win him a place on Powell’s crew. However, Jubil’s plans for a life of adventure are complicated by his deepening feelings for his best friend, Nelly Boswell, who is reluctant to spend her life with a man who insists on such a dangerous lifestyle. How will Jubil navigate the hardships and lawlessness of the American West? And will he be forced to choose between a life of adventure and the girl he loves?

 

Jubil’s story draws on the real-life adventures of naturalist, college professor, and one-armed Civil War veteran Major John Wesley Powell during his Colorado River Exploring Expeditions. Powell became the first explorer to summit Longs Peak in the Colorado Rockies and navigate the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon, fixing his place in history as one of America’s great explorers.

“The Powell Expeditions”

Tim Piper | January 2024 | Sunshine Parade Publishing

Historical Fiction | Coming of Age

Hardcover | 979-8-9884186-0-3 | $19.99

Paperback | 979-8-9884186-1-0 | $13.99

Ebook | 979-8-9884186-2-7 | $4.99

 

MORE ABOUT TIM PIPER: Tim Piper is retired from a long career in Information Technology and has been a lifelong hobbyist musician. In his earlier days he was an avid hiker and backcountry camper, but his adventures these days are less strenuous and more comfortable. He lives in Bloomington, Illinois, with his cat, Maggie, who is no help with his writing, but is a stellar companion. He began his education at Illinois State University as an English major, but life circumstances put him on a more pragmatic path, and he graduated with a BS in Business Admin, a degree he finds appropriately named. You can stay in touch with him at www.timpiper-author.com

 Follow Tim Piper on social media:

Facebook: @Tim-Piper-Author

 An Interview with Tim Piper

 How did you incorporate the true-life adventures of Major Powell into your fictional story?

The story adheres closely to the historical record of Powell’s 1867, 1868, and

1869 exploring expeditions and the people who participated in them. The events

of those expeditions serve as the context for the formative years of my

protagonist, Jubilee Walker, as he makes his way into adulthood in post–Civil

War America.

 

Describe the trip to the Rockies that inspired your novel.

During one of my early trips to Rocky Mountain National Park, I hiked the Longs

Peak Trail. After the hike, I purchased a book on the history of the mountain and

learned the first person to summit it was Major John Wesley Powell. Researching

Powell, I was surprised to learn he had close connections to my hometown,

Bloomington, Illinois. Much of Powell’s life struck me as something out of an

adventure novel, but I did not find any fiction that had dramatized it. I carried the

idea with me for years until finally deciding to make an effort to write the novel I

wanted to read.

 

Why do you feel that Major Powell deserves more recognition?

Over Powell’s lifetime, his adventures, scientific expeditions, and geographic

surveys of America’s developing western frontier led him to conclusions about

land and water use that were far ahead of his time. Though he was very

influential in scientific and academic circles, his recommendations were never

fully adopted by politicians. The impact of failing to address his concerns was

made evident by the Dust Bowl of the 1930s, and can still be felt today in terms

of water use policy in the western states. He was one of the first to espouse

conservation policy that still struggles to protect our natural resources against

America’s drive to exploit them.

 

Where do you find your writing purpose and inspiration from?

Though I have always had an artistic nature and enjoyed music and writing as

hobbies, I chose the more expedient path of making a living in the business world

rather than the risky world of the arts. After I retired, my wife was taken ill and passed away, and I was lost for what to do with myself. I tried following my hobby

of music but could no longer find joy in it. But writing provided me with a means

to block out my internal dialogue and pass the days doing something

constructive. These days, I follow my curiosity to research topics that appeal to

me, and then weave those into fictional stories that I would like to read myself.

 

What kinds of research did you do for the story?

 

Major John Wesley Powell taught at Illinois Wesleyan University in my hometown

of Bloomington, Illinois. I contacted the archive librarian at IWU’s Ames Library,

and was allowed access to their John Wesley Powell Special Collection. These

materials, along with other resources suggested by the librarian led me to a

wealth of information about Powell. Other books and online newspaper articles

provided insights into life during post–Civil War America.

 

What are some key takeaways you hope people will have from your book?

The protagonist, Jubilee Walker, is a young man who knows more about what he

doesn’t want to do with his life more than what he does want. He makes most of his

decisions by following his passions and doing what his heart tells him is right. His

good-natured personality, enthusiasm, reliability, and calm demeanor in the face

of difficult circumstances win him the support and friendship of most people he

meets. Jubil’s philosophy of following his passion and heart is a worthwhile

message for anyone.

 

What is next in the Jubilee Walker series?

The next book in the series is The Yellowstone Campaign. In this story, Jubil is

drawn into the 1870 exploring expedition that paved the way for the first formal

geographic surveys of the Yellowstone Basin in 1871. These in turn led to the

passage in 1872 of a bill designating the area as America’s first national park.

 

 

  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

My Brother Myself by Gary L. Stuart

This is Book 2 in the Dr. Lisbeth Socorro series.  The good doctor is a prison shrink.   She also specializes in twins.   As an expert, the FBI calls her in when there appears to be a serial killer on the loose targeting twins.

This book was preceded by Hide and Be, with Arthur and Martin, twins who were later identified by Dr. Socorro as having dissociative identify disorder.   I struggled with that book and was never able to get into it.  This book is so different and seems so logically ordered that I am surprised the same person authored it.  

Stuart revels in details so if you get bogged down when an author really wants you to understand something, this may not be for you.

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

Hide and Be by Gary L. Stuart

This is a schizophrenic book.  “Schizophrenia is a mental disorder characterized by continuous or relapsing episodes of psychosis. Major symptoms include hallucinations, delusions, and disorganized thinking. Other symptoms include social withdrawal and flat affect. Symptoms typically develop gradually, begin during young adulthood, and in many cases are never resolved. There is no objective diagnostic test; diagnosis is based on observed behavior, a psychiatric history that includes the person's reported experiences, and reports of others familiar with the person. For a diagnosis of schizophrenia, the described symptoms need to have been present for at least six months or one month. Many people with schizophrenia have other mental disorders, especially substance use disorders, depressive disorders, anxiety disorders, and obsessive–compulsive disorder.”

Arthur and Martin were identical twins.  One or the other was either murdered or never existed.  I’m not sure which.  My diagnosis is not based on a medical background so take it with a grain of alcohol.

I found the book confusing considering the topic is not far-fetched.   Perhaps someone with more patience will find it to their taste, I did not. 

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

 

Broadcast Blues by R. G. Belsky

Clare Carlson is a television journalist.  She seems to take more pride in the journalist part than the TV part.   This read as a stand-alone with no difficulty although it is part of a continuing series of five other books.   Clare has a problem with authority.  She also has an uncontrollable mouth or at least minimal control. This book focuses on the death of a private investigator.  

Wendy Kyle and Clare could have been friends with the exception that Wendy is dead.   Wendy’s private investigation firm specialized in the cheating spouse, primarily the husband half of relationships. The enormous number of cheating spouses led to an enormous number of suspects.  Clare was determined to get to the bottom of the mystery for two reasons, first, a blockbuster story might save her job, and second, she found herself more and more sad over the circumstances of Wendy’s demise.

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