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!

Web Site:  http://john-l-monk.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.

Get Real by Donald E. Westlake

Scene one, take one..Thugs are Us meeting taking place. This mystery is about a gang of semi-ethical thugs and the foray into reality TV.

This is the first John Dortmunder book I have read. It did not generate guffaws but it certainly made me smile. The sympathetic depiction of small time career criminals contrasted with the completely unrealistic world of reality TV provided a set fraught with humor. Westlake must have a wide range of acquaintances to so accurately portray his characters. I have had the opportunity to know some less savory folks and Westlake depicted them well. Unknown to the average person is that these folks have a code of ethics that may be unrecognizable to most but is loosely adhered to by them. It was refreshing to read a mystery whose story line was not dependent on body count. This is the first of Westlake’s books I have read but it will not be the last. I was saddened to see that he has passed away but his literary legacy will live on.

I recommend the book.

Body of work of Donald E. Westlake

Review: http://www.bookbrowse.com/bb_briefs/detail/index.cfm?ezine_preview_number=3980


Web site: http://www.donaldwestlake.com/wks_bkex5.html

No Second Chance By Harlan Coben

This book is not for faint of heart and if you have issues with children in danger you may not want to read it. I enjoy a good mystery but the tension in this one was almost too much. I actually put it down a couple of times because I was too worried about what I would read next. It has cops, doctors, FBI agents, private detectives, psychopaths, criminals, creeps, friends, lovers and kids, a little something for everyone. If you decide to read this you may want to block out some time because I think you may want to read it cover to cover in as short a time as possible while savoring every nerve stretching moment. Great book even if it made my skin crawl on occasion.

Body of work of Harlan Coben

Web Site: http://www.harlancoben.com/static/novels/nsc.htm

Review: http://www.allreaders.com/Topics/info_16701.asp