Spirit Gate by Kate Elliott

Flying eagles instead of dragons, the Reeves are expected to keep an eye on the Hundred.   The Guardians who were judge and executioner have disappeared leaving the Reeves to handle it all.   Tumult is spreading across the Hundred and the Reeves and their eagles appear to be helpless to stop it.

Joss struggles with the death of his lover and wears his guilt by self abuse.   He is unable to forgive himself.   Captain Anji and his Qin find themselves forced into exile by the death of the Emperor.  The exile takes them to the Hundreds where there skill in arms is deeply needed.

This is a good take on governmental intrigue, personal greed and courageous individuals trying to stem the flow of evil.

The characters are flawed but that makes them more believable.   It is a good first book in the Crossroads trilogy.     There is action and intrigue for all. 

I recommend the book. 

web site: http://www.kateelliott.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.

Legacy of the Dragon by J. Gregory Smith

A Noble Cause was an improvement over Greg’s first book Final Price . I enjoyed both but Noble was better. Now this third book really vaults J. Gregory Smith into the professional arena. Dragon is a page turner than truly establishes Greg as a contender!

Paul Chang, the huge Chinese American detective is back but in the private sector. He and his quirky partner Nelson are running a private detective business that is floundering. Chang’s old boss and the commander of the Delaware State Police are making his life miserable. Paul never intentionally went out of his way to harm them but that isn’t stopping them from persecuting him. This book details that persecution and an unrelated but dark and life changing event in Paul’s past.

Greg did a masterful job in truly giving Paul Chang full, three dimensional characterization. The back story is well done and having read Final Price, some pieces that were missing are now put into play.

The twin prongs of a diabolically clever plot intermesh enough to provide questions but not confusion. The characters, overall, are well written and colorful. Action in a Smith novel is a given and is in abundance here.

I highly recommend this book!

Body of work of J. Gregory Price

Web Site: http://www.jgregorysmithbooks.com/bio-personal.html

The Start-Up! Episode 2: The Anti-Social Network by Sadie Hayes

This is a follow up to The Start-Up, a short story on fledgling businesses and the geeky intrigue of Silicon Valley.

I reviewed the first episode and liked it. This picks up where episode one ended. Adam and Amelia, twins are the featured protagonists again. Amelia portrays a clueless coder who revels in technology. Adam is her more business focused brother. The both exhibit startling naïveté in the story, Adam more than Amelia.

I’m familiar with overly ambitious young entrepenurs and I think there was reasonable accuracy at depiciting the unscrupulous behavior where large dollar amounts are involved.

The story reads quickly, one sitting quickly and I read it on my beloved Droid X.

Worth reading.

I recommend the book.

Body of work of Sadie Hayes

Web Site: www.TheStartUpBooks.com

The Start-Up by Sadie Hayes

Sadie Hayes provides a screen shot of technology’s sordid underbelly in this riveting e-book novella.

The reek of truth permeates this glimpse into the world of high finance and technology.   The dot com bust is in the past, the present is dominated by the next cloud technology or aps for our ubiquitous cell phone companions.   Ms. Hayes sets the plot in and about Stanford and their famous geeks.  I spent 25 years in the computer industry.   I was lucky enough to meet some of the starry eyed pioneers in the early years, the ones who retired to their own private islands.  I actually met some of the type of person that populates the pages of this story.   I employed geeks who, as long as you provided unlimited caffeine and junk food, really didn’t care about money.   When you read this book, and you should, I found nothing that ran contrary to the truth as I know it.   

Ms. Hayes constructed believable characters in a realistic situation and manages to sauté it with enough tension and curiosity to make it impossible to put down.  This is a savory appetizer that precedes two successor books.  The cliff hanger ending just makes you hungry for more…Sadie I want on the list for your next literary treat!

I highly recommend the book.   

Body of work of Sadie Hayes

Web Site: www.TheStartUpBooks.com

Keys to the Kingdom by Senator Bob Graham

This book  is a frankly dismaying and terrifying look at the political intrigue surrounding our home land security.

The credentials of this author are beyond impeccable.   He states that this is a novelized form of events around and after 2001’s attack.  30 to 40% of the story is reputed to be factual which is why this book is so scary.

We are all aware of the Madoff’s of the world amoral people whose focus is strictly on what is in it for me.   Political power, wealth, prestige are all components of this book.  The desire to hang on to the perks of power seem to preclude human compassion and concern for the well being of both the nation and it’s citizens. 

I think the book will tap into the cynicism regarding politics that is sweeping the nation.   I have heard more than one person stating the conviction that they are going to vote against every incumbent in every election.  This is indicative of the disappointment in those who purport to represent the interests of their constituents. 

Tony Ramos is a likeable protagonist who is attempting to discover why a friend and mentor has been murdered.   That search leads to the pinnacles of corporate America, the halls of government bureaucrats and the palaces of supposed allies. The most dismaying aspect of this book is the sense that it is all too true. 

Senator Graham has crafted a true page turner that wasn’t as entertaining as it was compelling.   It is a commentary on the perfidy that infects those in power, regardless of whether it is political or business power. 

I don’t recommend this book so much as INSIST you read it.  If it doesn’t raise your eyebrows and furrow your brow, I will be shocked. 

Body of work of Bob Graham

YouTube Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KO71yPlvcSA

Web site:  http://bobgrahamcenter.ufl.edu/

Sons and Princes by James LePore

This is a swan dive into the cesspool of organized crime, a journey of re-invention of a decent human being caught in the currents of violence, revenge and even honor.

LePore writes a captivating story nearly impossible to put down.   His characters are both memorable and frightening.   Each one of us may carry the seed of violence that can blossom into the fruit of death.   The trigger for response is as uniquely individual as a finger print.   Chris Massi finds within himself family ties he didn’t know existed.   LePore masterfully depicts a conflicted soul driven to acts of desperation for the noblest of virtues.  

There are some scenes so clearly depicted that you feel the need to whip out the hand sanitizer before you turn another page.   Equally honor and courage show up in surprising places.   A disbarred lawyer, Chris must make decisions that will impact both his life and his soul.   LePore does an amazing job at portraying the struggles of a man to master the cascade of torment heaped upon his head.  The depiction of the mob and it’s members was colorful and depressing.   One has to wonder how far you personally would go to save family, friends and self respect.   This is an outstanding book, destined to be a classic.

I highly recommend the book.

Body of work of James Lepore

Web site:  http://jamesleporefiction.com/

The Ark by Boyd Morrison

 

Is Noah’s Ark  a bible parable or a true story?  A misanthrope, an archeologist and a MacGyverish engineer are ingredients in a tasty action adventure.

Morrison provided good strong characterizations.  He gave a good background story on all of the major players.   I enjoyed the interaction between Tyler and Grant who certainly were different in personality.   I also enjoyed the corporate ethics of Gordian, Grant and Tyler’s employer.   People with disabilities were show cased in responsible positions and demonstrated that a disability is not necessarily a handicap.   I like a dose of moral values in an action adventure.  

Dilara Kenner’s portrayal was a bit hard to believe.   She responded astoundingly well being thrust into dangerous situations, more so than I could easily swallow.   I do enjoy strong female protagonists and this lady was nobodies victim.  

Ulric the messianic billionaire’s obsession with godhood was sadly reflected by some current event figures.   He was thoroughly dislikable.  I saw some positive comparisons to Clive Cussler, whose books I also enjoy.    

I recommend the book.

The Inner Circle by Brad Meltzer

A fast moving Intrigue set in Washington D.C. fraught with  treachery,  politics and unbridled loyalty.

Being overly fond of books I was delighted to see the major protagonist is an archivist in the National Archives.   Beecher White is not a man of action, more of a spectator than a participator in life when a female blast from his past, Clementine, storms into his life and turns it topsy turvey. 

The National Archives hold more than data, it holds secrets and those secrets prove deadly.    The characterizations are excellent and the personality quirks are believable and frustrating.   Political secrets are so believable because of all of the corruption and deceit we see in day to day real life in our elected officials.   The author’s premise is eminently believable.  

Meltzer did an excellent job and this book is right up there with Vince Flynn and David Baldacci, two of my favorite authors.  

I highly recommend the book.

The Trinity Six by Charles Cumming

This was a story of insidious collusion of conflicting ideologies at the highest levels. MI6 meets KGB in a surprisingly convoluted mystery.

Sam Gaddis, a bit of a gadfly academic, finds himself immersed in something far different than the backstabbing of academic circles. Sam’s naiveté is a bit difficult to swallow but its eventual erosion is more believable. I enjoyed his tenacity and his loyalty to his friends. I dismayed over some of his obvious moves and his unwillingness to address the seamier side of government.

The story was well told and the characters provided with enough depth to create believability. Historic facts were used well to provide credence for the story line.

I enjoyed the book and I recommend the book.

Body of work of Charles Cumming

Web site: http://www.charlescumming.co.uk/

Murder On The Down Low by Pamela Samuels Young

When I read Buying Time I thought it was Ms. Young’s first book.  Apparently this story was her first. It is a tale of deceit and fear. On the down low refers to black men having sex with black men but not considering themselves as homosexual but as freaks. Hiding their behavior, these same men profess strong masculinity and infect their female sex partners with HIV. This tale of treachery and deceit leads to death and murder.
This is a topic that is bound to raise eyebrows. It is addressed frankly and with no holds barred. Ms. Young makes an appeal at the end of the book for more tolerance and understanding of the gay community and more help with those who are confused about their own sexual identity. The incidence of HIV in African-American and Latina women is appalling greater than the norm. Ms. Young suggests that a major mind set change is necessary for these women to accept responsibility for safer sex and to insist on testing for both themselves and their partners. The novel was interesting but is truly a side bar for the message.

There is a clear directive that vigilante behavior is counter productive and personal responsibility needs to be enhanced. I found the story and the message sobering. I thought a very volatile topic was handled tactfully while still expressing a very clear cautionary message.


I highly recommend the book.


Body of work of Pamela Samuels Young

Web Site:

Sword of God by Chris Kuzneski

Novels that read like current events are frequently frightening. This portrayal of an orchestrated mass murder to unite the diverse elements of Islam is very disturbing. The disturbing aspect is that it seemed eminently probable.

Jonathan Payne is larger than life and a good combination of Bruce Lee and John Wayne. His side kick D.J. Jones is a tad more believable. The novel does a nice job in the portrayal of feared elements both abroad and in our own government.

Sadly some of the behavior of those who wish this nation harm lead to an acceptance of deplorable means to stop them. This is a sobering look at terrorism and what it creates in both perpetrator and victim.

This is slam bang, thank you mum action and violence that is entertaining, easily read and digested but not for the faint of heart.

I recommend the book.

Body of work of Chris Kuzneski

Web site: http://www.chriskuzneski.com/

Mage-Guard of Hamor L.E. Modesitt Jr.

In the continuing saga of Recluce, Modesitt picks up the threads of Rahl, the exiled natural order mage. Exiled from Recluce because his strength and his talent were frightening to the establishment, Rahl suffered a high level of abuse in the last book. In this book, working with Taryl, the former Triad, Rahl begins to gain control of his considerable talent. The intrigue and maneuverings of the various Hamorian factions leads to action and war.

L. E. Modesitt Jr. is a master in keeping you involved. I have enjoyed the entire Recluce series. Modesitt paints his characters with perception and compassion. You feel like you are relating to a real human being. Rahl’s love for Deybri, the healer, is portrayed with honest frustration. In the real world, relationships are never simple and Modesitt takes the time to accurately portray a complicated relationship. Rahl’s relationship with Taryl is no less complicated with mysterious overtones.

This is a great story, it can be read alone and stand on it’s own merit’s but if you are not reading the Recluce saga, I highly recommend both the series and this book.

Body of work of L.E. Modesitt

Site: http://www.lemodesittjr.com/

Coming Back by Marcia Muller

Sometimes I feel like I live in a cave. I am frankly shocked that I have never read a Sharon McCone mystery before. Marcia Muller seems to have a ton of books out there and I have missed them all. I intend to remedy that situation.

Coming Back details the recovery of private investigator Sharon McCone from a gun shot wound acquired in a previous book. Her introspection as to her recovery is interrupted by a double kidnapping. Who is responsible and what transpires is the meat of the novel.

Ms. Muller does an excellent job in providing a reality check on her characters. They are multi-dimensional and quite human. They could be friends or family they seem so normal. She allows them to be frail, frightened and extraordinary, simultaneously.

The story had enough twists and turns to satisfy every Machiavellian obsessed reader. Torn from the pages of corporate scandals and Black Water covert ops, this mystery keeps you guessing until the very end. Sharon McCone’s tenacity and compassion make her a very likeable protagonist.

I highly recommend the book.

Body of work of Marcia Muller

Web Site:

Once Wicked Always Dead by T. Marie Benchley

This book has a cover that will grab you. I don’t know that I have ever mentioned a cover in a post before but I do love this cover. A story of treachery, betrayal and modern, flexible mores contrasts with a cowboy morality. This could also be characterized as a tale of vigilante justice.

Molly Madison nee O’Malley unhappily lives a superficially perfect life. A perfect husband, a successful social life and an enviable life style is shattered by startling revelations and the shocking demise of loved ones. Molly rises admirably to combat her detractors. Her strength of characters suggests that there are many women in lives that they would change if they could.

Clayton the ranch foreman is described in terms that seem more appropriate to a Harlequin romance than a mystery.

The characters were portrayed with broad brush strokes and little depth. They were not believable but they were entertaining. The depths of anger and hatred did strike a chord with some of the more lurid tabloid headlines.

This was a good mystery and an entertaining read.

I recommend it.

Body of work of T. Marie Benchley

Site:

The Lion by Nelson DeMille

John Corey former NYPD detective and now a member of the Anti-Terrorist Task Force faces the return of his evil nemesis, Asad Khalil, The Lion. Khalil is a terrorist assassin who has sworn to kill Corey and his wife. The ensuing confrontation is gargantuan.

John Corey details the friction and differences between the button down FBI and the gritty NYPD. This book is set in a post 9/11 situation where terrorism is faced daily. The fast paced adventure mystery is violent and engaging. I did not expect to laugh out loud but the John Corey character spouts some lines that elicited a full blown guffaw.

I’m a bit concerned that I identified so strongly with Corey’s reaction to being threatened. His actions and feelings seemed quite realistic and acceptable considering the circumstances. This book was an exciting and quite sobering read.

I highly recommend it.

Body of work of Nelson DeMille

Site: http://www.nelsondemille.net/content/index.asp

Shadows of War by Larry Bond and Jim Defelice

Global warming plays havoc with the world’s economy. The inevitable conflict between those that have and those that don’t begins. China is seen as an implacable foe that threatens the security of the entire world. The U.S. finds itself in the paradoxical support of a former enemy.
The only criticism I have of this book is that I found it’s premise entirely too believable. The authors pain a gloomy picture of the not so distant future. There was plenty of action and heroic acts. I liked the metamorphic transformation of Josh from the mild mannered Clark Kent to Rambo. The transformation struck me as a metaphor of the character of the U.S. Our nation has a historic repute for acts of kindness to countries that appear to abhor us. Despite that attitude we labor to do good in the world. Other countries often perceive that as weakness until they try our patience one too many times and find they are in the tiger not riding it.

I liked the characters, the setting was clearly painted and the story moved well.

I highly recommend the book.

Body of work of Larry Bond
Body of work of Jim Defelice

Web Site:

Buying Time by Pamela Samuels Young

Angela Evans is an assistant U. S. Attorney who loses an associate to suspected murder while on assignment. She sets out on a quest to find his killer and on that quest finds love, separation, danger and redemption.

Pamela Samuels Young is flat out brilliant. This is an excellent story and as a debut novel, it is outstanding. The characters are clearly portrayed and practically anyone will find a character they know. Waverly Sloan is well portrayed as a basically good person who gets in way over his head. The viatical industry is explained clearly. The reverse mortgage concept applied to life insurance is so new that many readers may be surprised at how wide spread it is. The mystery remained mysterious and the multiple story lines were tied together adroitly. I look forward to future books by Young.

I highly recommend the book.

Body of work of Pamela Samuels Young

Web Site:

“The Atlantis Revelation” by Thomas Greanias

Conrad Yeats is an Indiana Jones want to be. His archeological expertise seems to lead to unlikely adventures. This is the third book of the series. In this book Conrad addresses a international conspiracy to thrust the Middle East into armed conflict that will lead to a new world order.

Conrad is just shy of super hero status. It seems like he can’t miss when he shoots, that he can’t be killed and that he always finds a way to succeed. He out Bonds, James Bond. In spite of that infallibility, the book is entertaining and the plot is intricate enough to hold your attention. Conrad Yeats may be a direct descendant of Atlantans, this would explain the close regard he has for all things Atlantis. There is a simplistic aspect about the book that leads to a very fast read. That being said, I enjoyed the book enough to order the preceding books, “The Atlantis Prophecy” and “Raising Atlantis”. The book will not tax your intellect but it will entertain you.

I recommend the book.

Body of work of Thomas Greanias

Web site:

The Simple Truth by David Baldacci

One more score for Baldacci, another book I couldn’t put down. I like intricate stories and I hate being able to figure out the plot. Well, you can always depend on Baldacci for intricacy and you might be able to figure out where he is going, but you are never going to be able to figure out how he is going to get there. This story features sibling rivalry, love, passion, treachery and redemption. The Army, the U.S. Senate and the Supreme Court are all involved. If those participants don’t pique your interest then you probably are a reader anyway. I highly recommend it.

Body of work of David Baldacci

Review: http://www.bookreporter.com/reviews/0446607711.asp

Web Site: http://www.davidbaldacci.com/web/

Videssos Besieged by Harry Turtledove

The conclusion of The Time of Troubles series, this book wraps up the loose ends and brings closure to the protagonists. Of course closure is relative when dealing with Turtledove, your never sure what might come next. The 4th and final book is told from Maniakes’, the Videssosian Avtokrator, point of view. The every other book shift in bias from Abivard, the general, to Maniakes provides ample opportunity to ponder how point of view mandates decisions. The story, again, if very good and the premise provides a banquet of food for thought. A well done series.

Body of work of Harry Turtledove

Review of the book: http://www.amazon.co.uk/review/product/0345402995?filterBy=addFiveStar

Site: http://www.sfsite.com/~silverag/turtledove.html