Shawn Callon's Blog, page 3

Louding Voice

The Girl with the Louding Voice by Abi Daré

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


A young Nigerian girl survives all the odds after she battles institutional violence in her quest for an education and a voice.
The story begins in her village where she is sold by her father to be the third wife of old man in the village. From there she is trafficked to be a maid to an overbearing and cruel mistress and her lecherous husband.
The novel is by no means an uplifting story but is certainly an eye-opening account of daily life for the poor in Nigeria. It is written with an eye for detail and a great ability to give the heroine a voice.

Shawn Callon, author of The Simon Montfort Spy Series, published his spouse's review.



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The Girl with the Louding Voice

Napoleon's Treasure

The Emperor's Revenge by Clive Cussler

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


This is the first novel by Cussler that I've read. It's full of action and maritime adventure with a plot of good versus evil. There are plenty of hi-Tec weapons used throughout the book leading to a rather high body count and the usual Russian/Ukrainian villains to give the story some spicy highlights.

Shawn Callon, author of The Simon Montfort Spy Series, wrote this review.





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The Emperor's Revenge

A Book with a Challenge

The Christmas Murder Game by Alexandra Benedict

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


This is a book for puzzle solvers! Based on the twelve days of Christmas (think a partridge in a pear tree) there are twelve clues to help the reader identify the twelve keys which will open a secret room in the Old Family home. Lily has not been back since her mother's death under mysterious circumstances. Now her only surviving aunt has died and has summoned Lily back to take part in the Annual Christmas game. All the cousins arrive, each carefully guarding their own secrets.

Meanwhile, the reader is invited to solve the embedded anagrams of each of the twelve gifts in the relevant sections of the book. The author is giving us not only a book to read but also a challenge to complete.
The action in the novel was rather predictable but it was an easy, quick read.

Shawn Callon, author of The Simon Montfort Spy Series, published his spouse's review.





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The Christmas Murder Game

Gamache Takes the Top Job

A Great Reckoning by Louise Penny

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


This novel is set after Chief Inspector Gamache has officially retired from the Sûreté. As lovely and peaceful as the village of Three Pines is, he has to ask the question "what's next?" Apparently it will be as Commander of the Sûreté Academy. Having cleared out as many bad agents as possible, Gamache will start to reshape future agents by overseeing their training and development.

Of course, a murder takes place - maybe committed by a professor or a student or a someone on the outside? Time will tell.

Alongside this crime is the mystery of the strange map unearthed from the wall of the bistro during renovations. There's the usual cast of characters although a lot of the story takes place away from Three Pines, set within the Academy where several new characters are introduced and one bad penny returns.

The story is still technical but there's enough emotional content to please any reader. As always I recommend readers new to Louise Penny to start at the beginning of her series with Still Life in order to better understand character and plot development to date.

Shawn Callon, author of The Simon Montfort Spy Series, published this review written by his spouse.



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A Great Reckoning

Imaginative Mystery

Hidden Pictures by Jason Rekulak

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Thoroughly enjoyed this novel. I liked the concept of an unknown force or spirit creating the sketches that were displayed throughout the novel. The tale starts lightly as a bit of mystery and slowly grows into more of a near-horror story.
The author has a very imaginative yet easy to read style. He should write more!

This review was written by Shawn Callon, author of The Simon Montfort Spy Series.



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Hidden Pictures

Changed My Mind

Thriller 2: Stories You Just Can't Put Down by Clive Cussler

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


I found this collection at a local bookstore free of charge. To be honest I've never been fond of short stories (they are too short!) but this edition changed my mind. It's a great compendium of thrillers and tales of near-horror. I thoroughly enjoyed it. So much so that it introduced to some new writers whose works I'll be reading in the future.
As an aside I've decided to delay my third and last novel in the Simon Montfort Spy Series and work on a series of short stories to be published at a later date.

Shawn Callon, author of The Diplomatic Spy and The Repentant Spy.



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Clive Cussler

Deceptive Thriller

Promise Me by Harlan Coben

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


I've read quite a few novels by Coben. They are typically long and complex. He wrote this one in a different and deceptive style. Sure, it's long but it's written using short chapters, small paragraphs and simple words. You feel you are reading a straight line story with a clear plot and an obvious ending.
It's not until you have read about 80% of the novel that the complexity hits. There are numerous twists and turns that mislead the reader, the author lays false trails that come to an abrupt end and
he presents an array of possible suspects - a few turn out to have played a minor role in the disappearance of the two young women but most were just regular folks going about their daily lives. You have to wait until the very end to find the real perp - a most unlikely character but one who gave a big clue to their role much earlier in the book.

Shawn Callon, author of The Simon Montfort Spy Series, wrote this review.Promise Me
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Walks full of Fun Facts

London Theatre Walks & Expanded Edition: Thirteen Dramatic Tours Through Four Centuries of History and Legend by Jim De Young

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


This is a must read for any theatre lover or Anglophile or both. It's full of historical facts, insights and wonderful detail as the authors take the reader on exciting journeys around London. The whimsical and unexpected anecdotes only add to the delight the reader experiences as he/she explores London centuries-long reputation as a major home for live theatre.

Shaw Callon author of The Simon Montfort Spy Series wrote this review.



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London Theatre Walks: Thirteen Dramatic Tours Through Four Centuries of History & Legend

Walks full of Fun Facts

London Theatre Walks & Expanded Edition: Thirteen Dramatic Tours Through Four Centuries of History and Legend by Jim De Young

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


This is a must read for any theatre lover or Anglophile or both. It's full of historical facts, insights and wonderful detail as the authors take the reader on exciting journeys around London. The whimsical and unexpected anecdotes only add to the delight the reader experiences as he/she explores London centuries-long reputation as a major home for live theatre.

Shaw Callon author of The Simon Montfort Spy Series wrote this review.



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London Theatre Walks: Thirteen Dramatic Tours Through Four Centuries of History & Legend

Titanic

Last Port of Call by Jean Grainger

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


This novel opens with the Titanic leaving for its transatlantic crossing, filled with hopeful excited passengers. The port town depends on these large liners for their income. Up above the town in a large dilapidated house, a widow and her young daughter try to survive by operating a small hotel. Their first customers are a disparate group with widely differing backgrounds. The story makes for an interesting read.

Shawn Callon author of The Simon Montfort Spy Series wrote this review



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Last Port of Call