Angels Flight, Michael Connely
Publisher: Little, Brown & Company
Series: Harry Bosch Series , #6
ISBN-13: 9780759520349
When civil rights activist and attorney Howard Elias is murdered, Harry Bosch and his team are called in to investigate. The murder doesn’t take place in their division and should be investigated by Robbery Homicide, but because Elias has brought charges against almost all of the Robber Homicide detectives at some time, Bosch becomes the chosen investigator. However, Bosch and his team will also be paired with Internal Affairs detectives led by Chastain with whom Bosch has a negative history.
The investigation won’t be easy. Nearly every cop on the LAPD had a strong grudge against Elias. The black community revered Elias almost like a savior because he was always willing to take on rights violations against drug dealers, murderers, rapists, etc., that occurred while the suspect was in the custody of the LAPD. Many of the cops don’t want to investigate the murder, choosing instead to think of the murderer as a hero; someone who had solved a big problem. Even Chief Irving, who says he wants a thorough investigation and "let the chips fall where they may", throws road blocks into Bosch’s investigation; worrying more about the image of the department. But, in true Harry Bosch style, there can be no loose ends and Harry will work those loose ends until they are woven together and the case is solidly built.
Connelly has created a character in Harry Bosch who is unforgettable. With his love of jazz, his attempts to quit smoking, and his humanity, Bosch seems a very real person. Once you meet Harry Bosch, you learn to love him.
I would highly recommend this book. However, as a word of caution, as part of its plot dips into the world of child porn as well as racism.
The Apothecary’s Daughter
Pub. Date: January 2009
Publisher: Baker Publishing Group
ISBN-13: 9781441203564
This book centers on Lilly Haswell whose father is an apothecary in their small English village. Lilly’s mother had long ago left the family. Lilly spent her early life helping her father in his trade, helping to take care of Charlie, her special needs brother and wanting to find her mother.
The story is set in 1800's England and so Lilly’s choices for her future are limited. She knows as much about herbs and medicinal mixtures as her father, yet she cannot aspire to be an apothecary because she is a woman. She wants to know about the world and travel to far away places, but again, because she is a woman, this is impossible. The one dream she has, to escape small time life, comes to fruition when her aunt and uncle from London offer to take her home with them and introduce her to society. Her new life is everything she dreamed it would be - meeting the "right" kinds of people, attending parties dinners, etc. However, one thing she learns it that she can’t escape her past.
This is one of those books that threw me out of my comfort zone. It is not the type of book I would walk into the bookstore looking for. There is a small mystery - why did Lilly’s mother leave and what happened to her, but there were no murders and no intrigue. It was a good read, it went quickly and I did start to care about the characters. The "surprise" family relationships did, in fact, surprise me. I found myself wondering why a character didn’t do something in the ususal way only to remember the setting was 1800's not the 2000's. It is a book I would recommend if you are in the mood for a light read and wish to be reminded of why women fought so hard for their freedoms.
Baltimore Blues, Laura Lippman
Pub. Date October 2009
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
ISBN-13: 9780061806612
Tess Monaghan is an out of work journalist who is willing to take most any part time job offered her in order to help pay the rent. When an old friend is accused of murder, she determines to find the real killer.
The only real surprise in this who-dunnit was who the killer was. There were no clues linking him to the victim and he played only a very minor part in Tess’ investigation. In fact, when the killer was finally named, I honestly had to stop and ask myself "Who the hell was he?"
I found the premise of the book a bit hard to believe. Somehow, I can’t picture a standard, low-rent slip and fall lawyer, known best for his sleazy, cheap commercials being hired by one of the city’s premier law firms way over the top. I found Tess to be a whiner obsessed with her own victimology - sponging off of relatives for jobs and a place to live. Ms. Lippman may have been a good journalist, but good journalism doesn’t always translate into good fiction. Lippman also seemed intent on showing off her love of classic poetry-quoting several poets throughout, and gave me the impression of wanting to show off her English major background more than anything else.
This is not a book I would recommend, unless you are waiting in line at the DMV and are really bored.
City of Bones, Michael Connelly
Pub. Date: April 2002
Publisher: Little, Brown & CompanyFormat: NOOKbook (eBook)
ISBN-13: 9780759527621
I've loved Harry Bosch ever since I read my first Harry Bosch novel. This book is #8 in the series, but I haven't read in them in order so there is no problem in following them.
Harry is the kind of cop you hope is out there on every police force in America. He isn't concerned about making the department look good or bending situations to save his job. His concern is to find the TRUTH and let the chips fall where they may.
The story begins on New Year's Day when Harry is assigned to investigate a call about a bone a dog found after playing in a wooded area. Assuming this is a bone belonging to a dead animal, Harry meets with the dog's owner who is a retired doctor. The doctor, who has examined the bone, explains to Harry that the bone is a femur from a young child and shows evidence of a break suffered before the child's death. He also tells Harry that the bone is several years old. Harry searches the area where the bone was found and discovers several other bones. The discovery of the bones pushes Harry into an investigation of the twenty year old murder of a young boy who apparently suffered severe abuse in the short time he was alive.
Harry can identify with this "disposable child" because he himself grew up in youth halls and foster homes and knows both the physical and emotional abuse this child suffered. This boy was never reported missing and apparently was allowed to just disappear by those who knew him, including his family. Harry feels it is his mission to find the child's killer. He refuses to accept the "easy" suspect, which brings him into conflict with his superiors. He doesn't always keep his partner informed of what is going on with the case, which creates a certain amount of tension between them. But to Harry, looking at the details, studying and reviewing what he knows about the case in order to find the true killer of this child is more important than anything else.
Harry is a believable character who allows us to see his struggles with his demons. He becomes obsessed with his cases which makes personal relationships difficult. But he is a good man hoping to make a difference in a crazy world.
I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good murder book. Characters and situations are realistic, and the plot flows smoothly. Harry Bosch novels are not necessarily fast reads, but they are good reads that make you think about and feel the emotions of what is going on.
Crooked Letter, Crooked Letter Tom Franklin
Pub. Date: October 2010
Publisher HarperCollins Publishers
ISBN13: 9780062048745
This is a story of two men who had grown up in the same small town in Mississippi, who had once been friends, but who went their separate ways in their teen years. The story is set in the 1970's, post integration of schools, a time when people were still trying to come to grips with the new ways brought about by federal legislation, and in present day. The circumstances of their births, races, families, and rural small town life all conspire to both bring them together and separate them. Silas, "32" as he is known, becomes sort of a town hero because of his ball playing abilities. Larry Ott becomes the town outcast and boogie man when a young girl disappears. It is the disappearance of another girl in the present day setting that brings the two men back together. Each begins to examine his life and the things he has done with his life.
This is a book in some ways reminiscent of To Kill a Mockingbird. It examines some of the same issues such as race, culture and values. It is an excellent book and were I still teaching, it is one I would recommend my high school students and their parents read.
The First Rule, Robert Crais
Pub. Date: January 2010
Pub. Date: January 2010
Series: Joe Pike Series , #2
File Size: 307 KB
ISBN-13: 9781101163283
Frank Meyer had it all: the perfect life, his own business, a wife and kids he adored. He was settled and happy. Then, a robbery crew invades his home, murdering him, his wife and kids and wounding (fatally) his kids’ nanny. The police assume that this is another in a string of robberies to hit this upscale neighborhood. However, there is one curiosity, the arrow tattoos on Frank’s arms. The same arrow tattoos worn by Joe Pike, former sniper, mercenary and the silent half of The Elvis Cole Detective Agency.
By nature, Joe is loyal to his friends and colleagues past and present. Meyer had been a mercenary with Joe. Even though they haven’t spoken in several years, Joe is determined to find out who killed Meyer and see that he/they suffer a similar fate.
Joe Pike was first introduced in the Elvis Cole series by Robert Crais. Where Elvis was funny and wisecracking, Joe was the opposite. He stayed in the shadows, a man who appeared when things got tough. He rarely spoke and never laughed. We learned very little of Joe as a person in the Elvis Cole series, so with the Joe Pike series, he is becoming more real. In the two books of this series, Joe is starting to have more character. In The First Rule he really begins to think about some of the things in life he has missed out on, like family.
This is a very fast read, lots of twists and plenty of action. If you like fast paced adventure this is an excellent book.
The Forgotten Garden, Kate Morton
Pub. Date: April 2009
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Adult
ISBN: 9781416572060
The book centers on two women, grandmother and granddaughter. It is set in Australia and England and in the early 1900's and present day. The story begins with the granddaughter, Cassandra, finding out about her grandmother’s beginnings after her grandmother’s death. The grandmother came to Australia as a small child alone on a ship who is taken in by the harbor master and his wife and raised as their own daughter, Nell.
After the death of Nell’s parents, she decides to try and find her biological family and learn why she had been abandoned on a ship bound for Australia. After Nell’s death, Cassandra finds herself the sole inheritor of her grandmother’s estate which includes a small property in England. In an effort to complete her grandmother’s journey to find Nell’s real beginnings, Cassandra leaves for England to begin her own search.
This was an interesting book weaving the early 1900's with the latter part of the century and present day. The writing came to life and the characters very real. I would highly recommend this book.
The Graveyard Book Neil Gaiman
Pub Date: October 2009
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
ISBN13: 9780061972652
Nobody Owens grew up in a graveyard, protected by the "residents" of the graveyard, after his family was murdered. Everyone living in the graveyard, young and old, helps to raise Bod, as he’s known, and help to educate him. His only restriction is that he can’t leave the graveyard because the man who murdered his family will attempt to murder him.
This is a cute, entertaining fantasy. It’s a book I might have picked up but probably not. If you have a young/teen reader who wants to read some non-scarey, not too heavy fantasy about ghosts and ghouls this would be an excellent novel. It’s light reading and does not get gory so it would be perfect for middle schoolers.
Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet, Jamie Ford
Pub. Date: October 2009
Publisher: Random House
ISBN-13: 9780345505347
From his Chinese father, Henry has learned prejudice and hatred of Japanese. From Keiko, he learns that Japanese Americans are no different than he. Both children experience racial prejudice from the white children with whom they attend school because they viewed as the enemy. Henry has also learned prejudice toward Black people from his father. But from Sheldon, a Black jazz musician, he learns the value of life long friendship and a love of music.
Although he has been reasonably content in his life, committed to his wife until the day she died, his contentment and willingness to try and let go of the past are brought into question the day the Panama Hotel is reopened by the new owner. In the basement of the long boarded up hotel, the owner has found the personal belongings of many of the Japanese Americans who were shipped off to the camps. When Henry sees a Japanese parasol, he knows he must confront and make peace with his past.
This is, perhaps, the most beautiful story I have read in a very long time. The bulk of the story takes place during what Henry Lee always called "The War Years." This was a time in America which few remember and many of the younger generations haven’t learned much, if any, about. But through the eyes of a young Chinese American boy, we see the struggles many Asian people went through to either completely hang on to their culture or assimilate into American culture and prove their loyalty to their adopted country.
Married with Zombies, Jesse Petersen
Series: Living with the Dead
Pub. Date: Setember 2010
Publisher: Orbit
ISBN-13: 9780316178570
Sarah and David have marriage problems and have been seeing a marriage counselor for months but little good had come from those sessions, until the last one. That's when they arrive to find their counselor munching on the Wilsons. From that moment on, nothing will be the same. An accident on the campus of the University of Washington has released an agent which turns people into zombies who, in turn, turn other people into zombies. Sarah and David put all the cute little self-help/marriage counseling ideas into practice in an effort to stay alive and get out of Seattle.
Not being a zombie fanatic, I probably wouldn't have picked this up. However, when it was one of those free/cheap downloads for my Nook, I figured it was worth a try. I loved this book - the sarcastic wit of Sarah was great! Not your typical zombie book by any means. This book would be great for any age reader, whether your a zombie fan or not.
The Other Daughter, Lisa Gardner
Pub Date: September 2004
Publisher: Bantam Books
ISBN-13: 9780553900873
A young girl turns up in a hospital in Boston at the same time a serial killer is being executed by the state of Texas. Two events that don’t seem connected, except for the fact that the wealthy family who adopts the little girl lost their first daughter to the executed serial killer. The little girl, Melanie, grows up with the best of everything. There is little her parents or uncle won’t do for her.
But when a washed up reporter shows up to talk to Melanie about her past and claims she is the biological daughter of the serial killer, her world turns upside down. She has memories popping up of seeing her adoptive family’s other daughter before she was killed. Someone begins stalking Melanie and each member of her family leaving notes stating "You Get What You Deserve". An FBI agent, who has been quietly investigating Melanie’s father, Dr. Stokes, gets involved in Melanie’s search for her real identity.
This was an OK book, it didn’t require a lot of thinking about things as you read. I took issue with a few of the scenes, as I didn’t really find them believable. They made me feel that the author wasn’t really sure how to get the characters out of their current situation so she just threw in sex as an ending point. But for a light read on a quick lunch break or a long drive it would be good.
Reckless, Andrew Gross
Pub date: April 2010
Publisher: Harper Collins
ISBN-13: 9780061991493
Reading a book should be a fun, positive experience. Even a fiction book should cause the reader to learn something and when finished, the reader should have some feelings about the characters, the setting, the plot; maybe even some questions like what happens to these people after the book ends.
The positive: I finished the book, though it was only because I forced myself to do so. Feelings about the characters: They were flat, one dimensional and if they came to dinner at my house, I’d leave rather than be bored to death. The only question I came away with was "Who was the editor that allowed this to be published and has he/she ever taken an English class?"
The premise of the book was good: A Wall Street banker/investor and his family murdered; another banker appears to commit suicide and both events seem to be tied to the country’s economic melt down. Throw in a wealthy Saudi prince, a few mercenaries and even a well placed government officials and you have the makings of a good thriller. Though the author managed, if only loosely, to tie these characters and events together, he never managed to create the thrill of the chase.
The writing "style" took me back to my days teaching English and left me frustrated. The author obviously took only one thing away from a writing class and it was that short, choppy sentences add emphasis. However, when you use this device for every 5th sentence, it becomes irritating. With his constant use of fragments, I had to wonder who this man studied under. It was all I could do to keep from looking for my red pens, (however, I didn’t want to ruin my nook!).
This book definitely falls under the "Don’t Even Bother" category. Mr. Gross may have some background in business and have an understanding of banking and finance, but you wouldn’t know it from this book. There is no real discussion of the details of the economic melt down just the repeated phrase "Sub-prime mortgage mess". And, when he stated that Kansas State’s colors were blue and white rather than purple and white, I had to question whether he checked any facts he mentioned in the book. (No, I’m not a K State alum.)
I don’t recommend this book, except maybe as a door stop. If I had owned in paper or hard back form, I would have thrown it across the room.
The Reversal, Michael Connelly
Pub. Date: October 2010
Publisher: Little, Brown & Co.
ISBN-13: 9780316069465
Normally Mickey Haller (The Lincoln Lawyer) and Harry Bosch are working against each other - Haller defends the bad guys and Bosch works to put them behind bars. But in The Reversal, Haller is called on to work as an independent prosecutor to retry a man the California Supreme Court has ruled was illegally imprisoned over 20 years ago. To find old witnesses, investigate any new evidence to try and support their new case, Haller turns to Harry Bosch, a cop known to be both thorough and determined in his investigation. Together along with Haller’s ex-wife, an Assistant Prosecutor, they must relive the nightmare of a little girl’s murder 20 years ago.
As usual, Connelly makes the characters and action come to life. He keeps you guessing with the twists and turns of the plot. This is an "I don’t have time to sleep or work; I have to find out what happens" book. If you enjoy good, solid legal drama this is an excellent book, and I highly recommend it.
The Sentry, Robert Crais
Pub. Date: January 2011
Publisher Penguin Group
ISBN-13 9781101486092
When Dru Rayne and her Uncle become victims of a gang offering protection, Joe Pike offers to help them out. The story revolves around finding who is actually targeting Dru and her uncle. Joe calls on his long time friend and business partner, Elvis Cole to help him find the bad guys and to find out why the FBI is also interested in Dru and her Uncle.
The book is very fast paced and very typical Joe Pike with lots of violence. However, it is unlike other Joe Pike books as it delves deeper into who Joe really is. Joe has always appeared to live in the shadows, he shows very little in the way of emotion, perhaps even a bit flat. With The Sentry, Joe starts allowing us to see a bit of his human side, as he questions the way he has lived his life.
Excellent Joe Pike novel. Crais writes a good story, tight, lots of twists. Highly recommend this book for adults; it’s a bit intense for teens.
Septimus Heap, Book One, Angie Sage
Pub. Date October 2009
Publisher: HarperCollins
Joe Pike was first introduced in the Elvis Cole series by Robert Crais. Where Elvis was funny and wisecracking, Joe was the opposite. He stayed in the shadows, a man who appeared when things got tough. He rarely spoke and never laughed. We learned very little of Joe as a person in the Elvis Cole series, so with the Joe Pike series, he is becoming more real. In the two books of this series, Joe is starting to have more character. In The First Rule he really begins to think about some of the things in life he has missed out on, like family.
This is a very fast read, lots of twists and plenty of action. If you like fast paced adventure this is an excellent book.
The Forgotten Garden, Kate Morton
Pub. Date: April 2009
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Adult
ISBN: 9781416572060
The book centers on two women, grandmother and granddaughter. It is set in Australia and England and in the early 1900's and present day. The story begins with the granddaughter, Cassandra, finding out about her grandmother’s beginnings after her grandmother’s death. The grandmother came to Australia as a small child alone on a ship who is taken in by the harbor master and his wife and raised as their own daughter, Nell.
After the death of Nell’s parents, she decides to try and find her biological family and learn why she had been abandoned on a ship bound for Australia. After Nell’s death, Cassandra finds herself the sole inheritor of her grandmother’s estate which includes a small property in England. In an effort to complete her grandmother’s journey to find Nell’s real beginnings, Cassandra leaves for England to begin her own search.
This was an interesting book weaving the early 1900's with the latter part of the century and present day. The writing came to life and the characters very real. I would highly recommend this book.
The Graveyard Book Neil Gaiman
Pub Date: October 2009
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
ISBN13: 9780061972652
Nobody Owens grew up in a graveyard, protected by the "residents" of the graveyard, after his family was murdered. Everyone living in the graveyard, young and old, helps to raise Bod, as he’s known, and help to educate him. His only restriction is that he can’t leave the graveyard because the man who murdered his family will attempt to murder him.
This is a cute, entertaining fantasy. It’s a book I might have picked up but probably not. If you have a young/teen reader who wants to read some non-scarey, not too heavy fantasy about ghosts and ghouls this would be an excellent novel. It’s light reading and does not get gory so it would be perfect for middle schoolers.
Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet, Jamie Ford
Pub. Date: October 2009
Publisher: Random House
ISBN-13: 9780345505347
From his Chinese father, Henry has learned prejudice and hatred of Japanese. From Keiko, he learns that Japanese Americans are no different than he. Both children experience racial prejudice from the white children with whom they attend school because they viewed as the enemy. Henry has also learned prejudice toward Black people from his father. But from Sheldon, a Black jazz musician, he learns the value of life long friendship and a love of music.
Although he has been reasonably content in his life, committed to his wife until the day she died, his contentment and willingness to try and let go of the past are brought into question the day the Panama Hotel is reopened by the new owner. In the basement of the long boarded up hotel, the owner has found the personal belongings of many of the Japanese Americans who were shipped off to the camps. When Henry sees a Japanese parasol, he knows he must confront and make peace with his past.
This is, perhaps, the most beautiful story I have read in a very long time. The bulk of the story takes place during what Henry Lee always called "The War Years." This was a time in America which few remember and many of the younger generations haven’t learned much, if any, about. But through the eyes of a young Chinese American boy, we see the struggles many Asian people went through to either completely hang on to their culture or assimilate into American culture and prove their loyalty to their adopted country.
Married with Zombies, Jesse Petersen
Series: Living with the Dead
Pub. Date: Setember 2010
Publisher: Orbit
ISBN-13: 9780316178570
Sarah and David have marriage problems and have been seeing a marriage counselor for months but little good had come from those sessions, until the last one. That's when they arrive to find their counselor munching on the Wilsons. From that moment on, nothing will be the same. An accident on the campus of the University of Washington has released an agent which turns people into zombies who, in turn, turn other people into zombies. Sarah and David put all the cute little self-help/marriage counseling ideas into practice in an effort to stay alive and get out of Seattle.
Not being a zombie fanatic, I probably wouldn't have picked this up. However, when it was one of those free/cheap downloads for my Nook, I figured it was worth a try. I loved this book - the sarcastic wit of Sarah was great! Not your typical zombie book by any means. This book would be great for any age reader, whether your a zombie fan or not.
The Other Daughter, Lisa Gardner
Pub Date: September 2004
Publisher: Bantam Books
ISBN-13: 9780553900873
A young girl turns up in a hospital in Boston at the same time a serial killer is being executed by the state of Texas. Two events that don’t seem connected, except for the fact that the wealthy family who adopts the little girl lost their first daughter to the executed serial killer. The little girl, Melanie, grows up with the best of everything. There is little her parents or uncle won’t do for her.
But when a washed up reporter shows up to talk to Melanie about her past and claims she is the biological daughter of the serial killer, her world turns upside down. She has memories popping up of seeing her adoptive family’s other daughter before she was killed. Someone begins stalking Melanie and each member of her family leaving notes stating "You Get What You Deserve". An FBI agent, who has been quietly investigating Melanie’s father, Dr. Stokes, gets involved in Melanie’s search for her real identity.
This was an OK book, it didn’t require a lot of thinking about things as you read. I took issue with a few of the scenes, as I didn’t really find them believable. They made me feel that the author wasn’t really sure how to get the characters out of their current situation so she just threw in sex as an ending point. But for a light read on a quick lunch break or a long drive it would be good.
Reckless, Andrew Gross
Pub date: April 2010
Publisher: Harper Collins
ISBN-13: 9780061991493
Reading a book should be a fun, positive experience. Even a fiction book should cause the reader to learn something and when finished, the reader should have some feelings about the characters, the setting, the plot; maybe even some questions like what happens to these people after the book ends.
The positive: I finished the book, though it was only because I forced myself to do so. Feelings about the characters: They were flat, one dimensional and if they came to dinner at my house, I’d leave rather than be bored to death. The only question I came away with was "Who was the editor that allowed this to be published and has he/she ever taken an English class?"
The premise of the book was good: A Wall Street banker/investor and his family murdered; another banker appears to commit suicide and both events seem to be tied to the country’s economic melt down. Throw in a wealthy Saudi prince, a few mercenaries and even a well placed government officials and you have the makings of a good thriller. Though the author managed, if only loosely, to tie these characters and events together, he never managed to create the thrill of the chase.
The writing "style" took me back to my days teaching English and left me frustrated. The author obviously took only one thing away from a writing class and it was that short, choppy sentences add emphasis. However, when you use this device for every 5th sentence, it becomes irritating. With his constant use of fragments, I had to wonder who this man studied under. It was all I could do to keep from looking for my red pens, (however, I didn’t want to ruin my nook!).
This book definitely falls under the "Don’t Even Bother" category. Mr. Gross may have some background in business and have an understanding of banking and finance, but you wouldn’t know it from this book. There is no real discussion of the details of the economic melt down just the repeated phrase "Sub-prime mortgage mess". And, when he stated that Kansas State’s colors were blue and white rather than purple and white, I had to question whether he checked any facts he mentioned in the book. (No, I’m not a K State alum.)
I don’t recommend this book, except maybe as a door stop. If I had owned in paper or hard back form, I would have thrown it across the room.
The Reversal, Michael Connelly
Pub. Date: October 2010
Publisher: Little, Brown & Co.
ISBN-13: 9780316069465
Normally Mickey Haller (The Lincoln Lawyer) and Harry Bosch are working against each other - Haller defends the bad guys and Bosch works to put them behind bars. But in The Reversal, Haller is called on to work as an independent prosecutor to retry a man the California Supreme Court has ruled was illegally imprisoned over 20 years ago. To find old witnesses, investigate any new evidence to try and support their new case, Haller turns to Harry Bosch, a cop known to be both thorough and determined in his investigation. Together along with Haller’s ex-wife, an Assistant Prosecutor, they must relive the nightmare of a little girl’s murder 20 years ago.
As usual, Connelly makes the characters and action come to life. He keeps you guessing with the twists and turns of the plot. This is an "I don’t have time to sleep or work; I have to find out what happens" book. If you enjoy good, solid legal drama this is an excellent book, and I highly recommend it.
The Sentry, Robert Crais
Pub. Date: January 2011
Publisher Penguin Group
ISBN-13 9781101486092
When Dru Rayne and her Uncle become victims of a gang offering protection, Joe Pike offers to help them out. The story revolves around finding who is actually targeting Dru and her uncle. Joe calls on his long time friend and business partner, Elvis Cole to help him find the bad guys and to find out why the FBI is also interested in Dru and her Uncle.
The book is very fast paced and very typical Joe Pike with lots of violence. However, it is unlike other Joe Pike books as it delves deeper into who Joe really is. Joe has always appeared to live in the shadows, he shows very little in the way of emotion, perhaps even a bit flat. With The Sentry, Joe starts allowing us to see a bit of his human side, as he questions the way he has lived his life.
Excellent Joe Pike novel. Crais writes a good story, tight, lots of twists. Highly recommend this book for adults; it’s a bit intense for teens.
Septimus Heap, Book One, Angie Sage
Pub. Date October 2009
Publisher: HarperCollins
ISBN-13: 9780061757068
You have wizards, a dragon, magical creatures and a kidnaping - what more could you want? On the night Septimus is born, the midwife declares him dead and quickly runs away with the body. That same night, Silas Heap, Septimus’ father, finds a new born baby girl in the forest and takes her home. Life in the Heap household is chaotic at best. The six boys all have Silas’ wizardry abilities, though Silas has long ago given up his duties as a practicing wizard. The only "odd man out" is the daughter who shows no wizarding skills. Life is good until the head wizard is killed and his nemesis, a dark wizard usurps the power. It is then that the Heap family must fight for its life to help restore the power to the rightful wizard.
Excellent read. The story is very fast paced, well plotted and a fun read. It is written for young readers who have enjoyed the Harry Potter series and it is definitely in the same league. I would highly recommend this book.
Sweepers, P.T. Deutermann
Pub. Date: April 2007
Publisher: St. Martins Press
ISBN-13: 9781429903554
The actions of a young officer in Viet Nam come back to haunt him many years later when he becomes a newly appointed admiral at the Pentagon.
An excellent thriller that delves into the murky world of covert agents whose identities have been totally erased with their "untimely death" year before. Their job is to take out agents who pose a threat to the Agency or the government. These are people whose only job is to kill and there are never repercussions to their actions.
This is one of those books that brings back the memories of conspiracy theories from the 60's and early 70's - the idea that there are certain levels of government which only a very few really know anything about. An excellent read, it keeps you on the edge of your seat turning pages all night long. A book I highly recommend for thriller readers.
Those Who Save Us, Jenna Blum
Pub. Date: May 2005
Publisher: Houghton, Mifflin, Harcourt
ISMB-13: 9780156031660
A truely wonderful story of survival during the Holocaust. Set during the war in the town of Weimar, Germany,the reader is able to travel through the war following Anna, a non-Jew, as she falls in love, has a child out of wedlock, and does what she has to in order to keep herself and her daughter alive. In the 1990's the reader learns of the strained relationship between daughter and mother as the daughter interviews non-Jewish German survivors of the war years. It is through her interviews that she comes to understand her mother's distant attitude and refusal to speak about the war years.
The novel is very well written and does an excellent job of describing the conditions many German people had to endure during WWII. This is not a history book and doesn't delve much into the political. Rather it is a study of what it was like for an ordinary citizen who must survive the hardships of poverty and hunger. I highly recommend this book to anyone wanting a better understand of life in WWII Germany.
The actions of a young officer in Viet Nam come back to haunt him many years later when he becomes a newly appointed admiral at the Pentagon.
An excellent thriller that delves into the murky world of covert agents whose identities have been totally erased with their "untimely death" year before. Their job is to take out agents who pose a threat to the Agency or the government. These are people whose only job is to kill and there are never repercussions to their actions.
This is one of those books that brings back the memories of conspiracy theories from the 60's and early 70's - the idea that there are certain levels of government which only a very few really know anything about. An excellent read, it keeps you on the edge of your seat turning pages all night long. A book I highly recommend for thriller readers.
Those Who Save Us, Jenna Blum
Pub. Date: May 2005
Publisher: Houghton, Mifflin, Harcourt
ISMB-13: 9780156031660
A truely wonderful story of survival during the Holocaust. Set during the war in the town of Weimar, Germany,the reader is able to travel through the war following Anna, a non-Jew, as she falls in love, has a child out of wedlock, and does what she has to in order to keep herself and her daughter alive. In the 1990's the reader learns of the strained relationship between daughter and mother as the daughter interviews non-Jewish German survivors of the war years. It is through her interviews that she comes to understand her mother's distant attitude and refusal to speak about the war years.
The novel is very well written and does an excellent job of describing the conditions many German people had to endure during WWII. This is not a history book and doesn't delve much into the political. Rather it is a study of what it was like for an ordinary citizen who must survive the hardships of poverty and hunger. I highly recommend this book to anyone wanting a better understand of life in WWII Germany.
This is a police/crime drama dealing with drug smuggling and interagency rivalries and lack of cooperation and communication. When a drug transaction results in the death of a policeman, a police informant is the only suspect. While one agency offers him a deal of a new life and total immunity the other agency is pursuing him for murder.
The book is well written, but sometimes confusing - perhaps because of the unfamiliar names. It moves very slowly throughout the bulk of the book but then too quickly in the last. I did enjoy it and would probably attempt another by the authors. It is one that needs time to read and digest but, I think, worth the effort. I would recommend it but with some cautions.
