B.D. Lawrence's Blog, page 17

Review of I See You: A Pax

 I See You – Pax Arrington Mystery by Elle Gray

This book hits the justice, vengeance, and a little bit of the redemption triggers. The main character is starting to undergo redemption.

This is a private eye novel. And it’s the type I generally like. I call it a “qualified” private eye novel. Pax Arrington grew up wealthy, part of a media empire family. He’s next in line to take over the media business, but instead becomes a Seattle police officer and eventually a detective. The novel opens with Pax getting fired by the Seattle police for not staying in the lines. Thus, he decides to open his own private investigation business.

A qualified private eye novel means that the person who is the private eye is qualified to be a private eye. In this case, a former police officer and detective. I’m not a fan of amateur sleuth books.

One interesting facet of this novel is that the story is told in first person point of view from two different points of view. Pax’s, of course, but also the villain’s – Reuben Hayes. Pax’s first private case is being the money drop man for a kidnapping ransom payout. But this leads to his tracking down a serial killer. Rueben Hayes sustains his master plan by kidnapping kids of wealthy families for ransom. He returns the kids unharmed as long as he gets the money asked for. Pax is introduced to Reuben via telephone as Pax is being directed by Hayes on the money drop procedure.

There are a couple of arrangements that make Pax’s job easier. His business partner is a master hacker, able to get into just about any database. This is a stereotypical device used in many movies and books. Having worked in the IT industry for many years, I find this device annoying. Second, Pax is good friends with Blake Wilder, an attractive, FBI agent. Throughout this book, they have only a platonic relationship.

Pax is arrogant, brash, confident. The banter between him and Blake and him and his business partner is entertaining. Pax is a widower. His wife was the person that convinced him to become a cop and help people. And she is also the reason he becomes a private eye after losing his position on the force.

His wife supposedly died in a car accident. But Pax isn’t satisfied with that answer. He thinks there’s more to the case. We don’t really get any insight as to why Pax thinks this. The theme of Pax’s wife’s murder will run through the series of novels.

As for content, only mild profanity, no use of the major cuss words. No elicit sex and no graphic violence. Overall, a good read. Kept me wanting to find out more. And eventually, I’ll probably read more of the series. It ranks fourth in my list for this year.

The Water Keeper – continues to stay strong.Save the GirlsChoose MeI See YouThe Suriname JobMissing Sister

Commission earned

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Footsteps in the Snow

Footsteps in the Snow

What are those footsteps in the snow approaching her house?

As a special story for Halloween, I’ve posted one of my supernatural thrillers. I’m looking to do one of these each year around Halloween. I hope you enjoy it.

This story does fit the theme, as well. It covers vengeance and justice.

When you read it, post comments here about what you liked and didn’t like.

I hope to hear from you.

 

The post Footsteps in the Snow first appeared on B.D. Lawrence.

Save the Girls – Review

Save The Girls by Terry Toler

This is the book that stole my title, so I wanted to come away from reading it with a scathing review of a horrible book. Well…neither of those things is true. First, he didn’t steal my title, as this book came out before my title was publicly made known. And second, it’s a good book and this review won’t be scathing.

First, this book definitely rings the justice bell. And there’s redemption in small bits with some of the girls being saved. Even a Belarus cop redeems himself.

This is a spy thriller. Jamie Austen is a CIA agent whose task is breaking up human trafficking rings and saving girls from that horrible life. The book starts in Thailand with Jamie doing just that. Saving one more girl before she wraps up that case.

She goes on vacation – takes a cruise. She meets Alex, who will have his own novels in the Terry Toler series. I’ll go ahead and tell you as, at least to me, it was obvious, he’s also CIA, sent to keep an eye on her. They end up working against each other, then with each other, then…who knows what the next books will bring.

The bulk of the story takes place in Belarus. Jamie is sent there to “just” gather information. Of course, if that’s all she did, it would be a pretty boring story. So, no, that’s not all she does. Jamie gets a little more hands on, I’ll just say.

There is zero hard profanity. “Hell” is said a couple times, but that’s it. No explicit sex and only a hint of off-screen sex. Some gun violence and some hand-to-hand violence. Jamie is not someone to mess with.

One could classify this novel as a Christian spy thriller. Why do I say that? First, Terry Toler is a minister. He’s written a number of Christian non-fiction books as well as quite a few fiction novels. This is the first book in a series of nine Jamie Austen spy thrillers. Toward the end, a woman that works for the Save The Girls organization – a fictional group dedicated to helping human traffic victims – says to Jamie, “You know God is using you to do incredible things.” The conversation goes on a little more indicating Jamie is a Christian herself.

So, if you’re in the market for a Christian spy thriller, this series looks to be a good one. Here’s my current rankings of the books I’ve reviewed. The Water Keeper stays on top, though. If you haven’t read that one, you should.

The Water Keeper – continues to stay strong.Save the GirlsChoose MeThe Suriname JobMissing Sister

Commission earned

The post Save the Girls – Review first appeared on B.D. Lawrence.

“Life Debt” short story posted

Life Debt

Someone is killing poachers in Rathambhore Tiger Reserve.

I have posted the next short story revolving around Justice, Vengeance, and Redemption. This one definitely covers justice. The other two…you be the judge.

When you read it, post comments here about what you liked and didn’t like.

I hope to hear from you.

 

The post “Life Debt” short story posted first appeared on B.D. Lawrence.

Missing Sister review

Missing Sister by Elle Marr

Shayna receives an email that says, “Come to Paris. Your sister is dead.” And not just a sister, Shayna’s twin sister.

This book hits the justice category and the redemption category. It’s told in first person from Shayna’s point of view. She’s about to enter medical school when she gets this email. Off to Paris she goes to try and find out what has happened to her twin sister, Angela.

There is a lot of introspection in this book. Way too much for me. Slows the action to a crawl. Seemed to me Ms. Marr didn’t have enough plot so filled in with extensive thoughts. Oh, and a lot of facial expressions. We see in excruciating detail Shayna’s thought processes. As the book goes on, we see that Shayna is prone to misinterpretation, misunderstanding, and memory distortion. She’s an unreliable narrator, so that redeems the over-thinking some.

Much of the story focuses on the relationship between the twins, Shayna and Angela. In Shayna’s mind, Angela was always the fun one, the one everyone always liked better. This plays a strong juxtaposition against Shayna’s desire to find her sister.

As the book progresses, things happen that plant doubt in both Shayna’s and the reader’s mind that Angela is actually dead. Early on Shayna finds a message written in a childhood script the twins had that Shayna should trust know one. This was seemingly written after Angela had disappeared.

If you like amateur sleuths, you’ll like this one. Shayna is definitely an amateur. She makes dumb mistake after dumb mistake in her search for the truth. It’s amazing she survived.

The reader is treated to some interesting history in Paris about the catacombs that exist beneath the city and run for miles.

Finally, Ms. Marr gives some good misdirection and thus the ending is somewhat of a surprise. And then there’s the ending to the ending. Probably the best part of the book. So, you’ll just have to read it to find out what happens. This is where redemption comes in, by the way.

As for content. One brief scene inside a brothel and one long kiss. Very little violence and it’s not overly explicit. Profanity is scattered throughout. 9 f-bombs. 22 S-bombs, and other words.

This year’s ranking after this book:

The Water Keeper – continues to stay strong.Choose MeThe Suriname JobMissing Sister

Commission earned

The post Missing Sister review first appeared on B.D. Lawrence.