Fantasy in Death by J. D. Robb

I don't often post the same book here and on Azure Dwarf but this book is so mainstream it needs to be here and it is definitively speculative fiction so it needs to be there too. 

I did really enjoy the technology that was described and I suspect that we will see interactive holograms well before the 2060 date of the storyline.   Computer gaming systems are becoming so sophisticated that holograms are the next logical step.  It will be exciting to see and as so many of the books I read as a kid, science fiction frequently becomes science fact well before we expect it.

It is made clear in this book that Dallas does take each and every murder personally. She believes that she is the advocate for the dead. I can only hope that there are cops out there that have the same strength of duty for those who can’t help themselves.

I’ve said it before, I do like the loyalty that Dallas shows to her staff and the resultant loyalty that is returned. The emotional interplay is the key to success in this series.

I recommend the book and the series.

Body of work of J. D. Robb

Web site: http://www.noraroberts.com/jdrobb/The not too distant future is the setting for Lt. Eve Dallas and her adventures. The entire series I have read so far is focused on homicide and the mystery that surrounds each murder. This book focuses on rpg. (role playing games) A group of loveable geeks is on the verge of paramount geekieness when they are beset with foul play.

Bart Minnock’s murder strikes a chord with Dallas, I suspect due to his naïve disposition and his vague similarity to Roarke. Roarke, on the other hand, is beyond chord striking, he doesn’t see Bart’s murder as simply a need for justice, he sees a strong need for revenge.

Three Seconds by Roslund and Hellstrom

This is an excellent mystery encompassing organized crime and human interaction.


I'm not sure why I'm seeing more Swedish books. I Googled it to try and discover why so many good books are coming out of Sweden. I did not come to any conclusions. My guess is a smart publisher discovered a gold mine of work not published in English and is capitalizing on that fact.

I do struggle a bit with the Swedish nomenclature. Being a tad bit provincial it is always interesting to see that human nature doesn't change much based on culture and country. Piets fear and Ewert’s grief do not necessitate translating. It is dismaying to see the extent of organized crime even if it is just a fictionalized account. The demise of the eastern bloc has provided fertile ground for both former military and criminal elements. Piet’s duplicity weighs so heavily that it is painful to read particularly when contrasted with the enormous love he has for his wife and boys.

This was a difficult book to read as the emotions and tension were literally palatable. The duplicity of reputable authority figures was enormously dismaying particularly since you can see real life examples in the daily news. Ewert’s tenacity was awe inspiring in spite of his abrasive personality. It was interesting that the “bad guy” was far more likeable than the “good guy”. Piet’s motivation was never clear but his intellect and foresight were clearly demonstrated.

This is an intriguing mystery characterized by the implacable nature of Ewert working through his grief and Piet’s determination to be alive for his family.

This is a world class novel.


I recommend the book.

By the way I dictated this into my droid x. Boy do I love this phone.

Body of work of Anders Roslund

Body of work of Borge Hellstrom

Web site: http://www.roslund-hellstrom.com/

Purity in Death by J. D. Robb

The not too distant future is the setting for Lt. Eve Dallas and her adventures. The entire series I have read so far is focused on homicide and the mystery that surrounds each murder. A vigilante group decides to cleanse the lurid streets of NY of what they consider predators. The trouble is they have substantial collateral damage.

Dallas is a firm believer is justice. Roarke, her husband, feels that justice may often be served by those outside of the judicial process. He may be influencing Dallas. She uses his considerable talent and expertise in socially unacceptable skills to help her solve this mystery. I do like the loyalty that Dallas shows to her staff and the resultant loyalty that is returned. The emotional interplay is the key to success in this series.

I recommend the book and the series.

Body of work of J. D. Robb

Web site:

The Postcard Killers by James Patterson and Liza Marklund

A emotionally drained, despair ridden NY Homicide detective teams up with a small time newspaper reporter to combat a pair of insidious serial killers.

I don’t care one whit about the criticism leveled at Patterson and his formula written books. I enjoyed this book. It was an astoundingly quick read and held my attention. The characters were understandable and the protagonists were likeable. Jacob’s tenacity was to be expected from a grieving father. Dessie was a delightful combination of newly formed goody two shoes and a genetically predisposed small time hoodlum.

The story was beyond fast paced. It was impossible to put down. The killers were despicable and their fate was kept unpredictable.

I highly recommend the book.

Body of work of James Patterson
Body of work of Liza Marklund

Web Site: http://www.jamespatterson.com/

Devil’s Food Cake by Josi S. Kilpack

Considering my love of both food and reading, this book seemed like a natural. The protagonist appears to be fixated on food while solving mysteries. The book included the recipes of the dishes she describes while sleuthing. The mystery is to discover who set up the shotgun trap to kill Mark.

Sadie Hoffmiller is not a highly likeable character. She recognizes that many people in her community consider her a busy body, most likely because she appears to be a busy body. She does have a good heart and believes most problems can be solved with the suitable application of culinary delights. I don’t know that I have ever read a book with a less likely heroine. It was a good mystery combining a love of food with an equal desire to solve mysteries.

I recommend the book.

Body of work of josi s. kilpack

Web Site

The Cutting by James Hayman

A celebrated NYC homicide detective moves to Portland, Maine to leave his past behind. A series of horrific homicides forces him to accept that there is bad everywhere. Mike McCabe works through his personal demons and works with his partner to solve a daunting mystery.

Hayman portrays a likeable and realistic character. Mike McCabe isn’t the superhuman detective with no foibles so frequently illustrated in contemporary mysteries. McCabe demonstrates powerful love and emotions which elicit not sympathy but empathy. His concern for his daughter was poignant and rang true. The details of the crimes and the devious nature of the villain was welcome. I suspected the true villain but there was enough mis-direction to keep you guessing until the end. As usual, I enjoyed the character interaction more than the blood and guts of the crimes.

I recommend the book.

Body of work of James Hayman

Review

Web Site: