Hope Rises by David Baldacci

 This is the sequel to Nash Falls.  Possible spoilers so be aware!  Walter Nash had his life destroyed by a business associate.  He discovers the associate was under the orders of Victoria Steers, a notorious crime boss.  Walter changes his life to seek revenge.

 Baldacci always writes compellingly.  I find his books entertaining and often enlightening.  This book, while entertaining, also provides an explanation and overview of the addictive drug problem in our nation. 

 Victora Steers is far more than she seems. While she appears to be omnipotent, she too, answers to a boss. Her boss has even more worldwide connections than Victoria.

 Victoria’s “loving” mother plays a major role in her personality, and the direction of the book. 

 This book reminds me of the ubiquitous shell game; just as soon as you think what shell the pea lies under, you discover it is elsewhere.

 I enjoyed and I recommend.

 

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Felony Review by Randy E. Barnett

 

Considering the popularity of “True Crime” podcasts and reality TV shows, Barnett’s book should be a hit with crime aficionados.  Barnett doesn’t just talk about it; he lived it. That puts this book in a category of its own. 

The characters are real-life people, some laudable, and many
despicable.  Real life is often more interesting, and sadly, sometimes more disturbing than fiction.  A horrific placement of a shotgun will haunt me, as I have no experience to relate that type of depraved behavior to, for which I am thankful.

The style is dry but the crimes are not.

This is a good book for fans who are entertained by eye-popping, criminal behavior. 

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

Lethal Fortune by Mark Nolan

Lethal Fortune by Mark Nolan            

Jake Wolfe is an on-call fixer.  His background as a Marine and an assassin for the government has pulled him into a black operation whose deniability aspect targets enemies of the state. Jake accepts the responsibility of operating under a cloak of deniability because of his love for his country.  Suffering from PTSD, Jake has times of intense vulnerability.  Sarah, his veterinarian girlfriend, is one of the few people who can pull him back from the edge.

This story is set on the Baja Peninula.

 I did think that Cody, Jake’s wonder dog could have had a bigger role.   

Nolan made a major effort to ensure that this book could be read as a stand-alone.  The book is part of a series but Nolan does an excellent job filling in back stories.

I seldom read afterward, but Nolan is an exception.  He provides explanations and definitions of many of the scenes or items in the book.  I also appreciate the extensive list of people he thanks for their help in his research and support.

An outlaw motorcycle club provides a wealth of 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

Vodka Express by Ralph Griffith

Vodka Express: A Dmitri Petrov Crime Novel by Ralph Griffith

Dimitri is a St. Petersburg  police detective.  He is mild-mannered, and lives alone except  for his miniature hamster Lenin.  He is average height and appearance.  This is a plus in his line of work.   He has a partner, Manislov, is large, aggressive, and a good counterpoint for Dimitri. 

Manislov is more of a bit player in the book.  Dimitri and he are tasked with multiple crimes, the most interesting is the mysterious theft of six Faberge Eggs from a minor Oligarch.

Russian police work appears to be a bit more aggressive than the U.S. counterparts. Perhaps I’m naïve but the two detectives overlook some serious mayhem by victims and perpetrators. 

The stories are interesting.  I don’t know how accurate they are in terms of Police procedure but they are very entertaining.

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

Chain Reaction by James Byrne

Chain Reaction by James Byrne

Desmond Limerick is a retired Gatekeeper.  Gatekeepers are an elite, special forces group that can open any door and keep it open until the operation is complete.  Dez is a resourceful fellow, playing fill in bass for bands since retirement.  A friend with a band sends him a message that he desperately needs him for a gig across country since his bass player has dropped out.   Thus begins the story.

Dez finds himself in a hostage situation, and then that leads to a series of killings.  He finds himself allied with a previous opponent who just happens to be devastatingly alluring.  In the course of dramatic action that demonstrates that Dez makes Jack Reacher look like a sissy, and MacGyver look unresourceful, Dez runs into a previous lover with mayhem on her mind.

Byrne has gotten the formula for producing an action packed thriller with abundant plot twists, and a highly likeable protagonist.

I highly recommend this book, and all the rest of the Desmond Limerick 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

Side Hustle by Wendy Gee

Sydney is a no-holds-barred investigative reporter for a Charlestown TV station.  Sydney brings a capital I to investigative reporter.  She is not willing to wait for the police or any other authority to solve a crime.  When a close friend is murdered, Sydney jumps into the investigation with both feet.

 The plot has a lot of contemporary concerns.   Ransomware attacks, break-ins, phishing are all addressed in the book.  Insurance companies, and their concern over profits, not human suffering, are also part of the plot.

 I found the easy access to world-class hackers a bit of a stretch.  These aren’t folks who hang up shingles unless they switch their black hat for a white one.  With the exception of easy access to highly knowledgeable people, I found the technical side very believable.

 Sydney’s concern over first responders, and the diving into how post-traumatic stress impacts people outside of the military, was a welcome addition to the book.

 I like 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

Spotlight on Liar's Creek by Matt Goldman

From New York Times bestselling author and Emmy Award-winner Matt Goldman comes Liar's Creek, which asks how far we'll go to protect the people we love. 

Riverwood, Minnesota is a scenic town threaded with trout streams carving their way through limestone bluffs. But beneath its picturesque facade, danger runs rampant.

Clay Hawkins isn’t a stranger to the secrets of his hometown. After twenty years away, Clay has recently returned home from abroad with his twelve-year-old son, and his relationship with his father, the recently replaced sheriff, is as strained as ever.

But when Clay’s beloved uncle disappears, the three generations of Hawkinses must overturn every stone in Riverwood and confront deep familial wounds to find the one person who brings them together. As danger looms, Clay worries that it might be too late to save his uncle—and that the rest of the family might be next.

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

Dog Person by Camille Pagán

Dog Person by Camille Pagán   

I’m annoyed, I didn’t expect to like this book, and I didn’t!  I loved the darn thing.  This is a romance novel disguised as a dog book, or that was what I expected.  It was a disgustingly sweet book about a lonely guy and his dog.

The setting is a bookstore.  Harold is the dog, and Miguel is the guy. Miguel’s wife passed away.  He is not coping well. Harold is trying to take care of his human, who isn’t terribly cooperative.   

Bookstore events, a tween, and a mysterious author combine to add complications to the story.  

It is a book about feelings, acceptance, grief, love, and understanding.

Begrudgingly, it was a wonderful book, and 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. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases if you click on a purchasing link below.#CommissionsEarned

Storm Warning by James Byrne

 

Dez Limerick is back! Dez’s self-deprecatory humor may be his most charming feature. Dez is a Gatekeeper.  His skill set enables him to open any door and keep it open as long as necessary.  A mine and research facility in Newfoundland ceases communication with the outside world.  Due to the international staffing of the research facility, a diverse group of diplomats and police are sent to discover why communications have ceased. An FBI associate asks Dez to accompany the group.

 

Corporate entities represented by heavily armed mercenaries, as well as foreign special forces, provide a wealth of villains. The weather is also an implacable enemy, thwarting the efforts to discover why the facility has gone incommunicado.

 

Byrne’s Machiavellian mind provides extraordinary complexities and a wealth of action.  I find his work exceptionally entertaining and exceedingly difficult to put down.

 

I strongly 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