Michael A. Draper's Blog, page 19

Well written English mystery

Martha Grimes' "Vertigo 42" is an absorbing, character driven novel that kept me satisfied as I followed the well developed plot.

The story begins with Tom Williamson, a friend of a friend of Superintendent Richard Jury, asking him to re-examine Williams's wife Tess's death. She died seventeen years in the past and Williamson is convinced that she was murdered even though the official report is accident or suicide.

Jury takes on the case even though it's not in his jurisdiction. He learns that Tess had a party for children five years before her death. In that party, one young girl was killed. Jury believes that there might be a connection between the party and Tess's death.

Through questioning those who attended the party, we learn what the children had become in the seventeen years since that event.

Jury has a crowd of friends who become characters in the story. They serve as a sounding bell for Jury to examine the motives and possible suspects in both murders, Tess and the little girl. The crowd gathers at the Jack and Hammer pub and provide their thoughts.

Another death occurs and it turns out to have a connection with the children, now adults, who attended the party. Jury wonders what the connection might be but we see a connection in that the woman's body was found at the foot of a tower and Tess died after a fall from a flight of stairs.

The characters come to life as they debate about the crimes. It is interesting that much of the questioning occurs over a cup of tea and some tasty treats. While enjoying the food, discussions occur about the past crimes and the children from the party.

I enjoyed the liesurly pace of the story and the plot. The author keeps the reader in suspense as to who committed the crimes and provides a nice surprise bringing everything together in a nicely wrapped conclusion.

I received a free book for honest review.

When valor preys on readon, it eats the sword it fights for." Shakespeard

"Prey of Desire" is a thriller where the reader learns of a gruesome, unexplained murder in the first few pages. We want to know what caused the murder and what happens to the killer.

Twenty-five years later, the story picks up and we follow the events of a college student named Kimberly. Kim is age twenty-two and has a good friend named Mallory who is in her early thirties.

Kim and her fiance had broken up and Mallor is after Kim to get on with her life. She continues to nag Kim into dating and finally fixes her up but the date doesn't show. Kim is angry but reluctantly agrees to a second date on New Years Eve.

She and Mallory attend a New Years Eve party where a major event occurs.
Not to reveal plot, the reader does know that Kim was followed.

I enjoyed reading about Kim and sympathised with her. There are numerous times when a situation occurs when we want to shout to Kim, "Don't do that."

This is a fast moving and suspenseful novel.

I received a copy of this book in return for an honest review.

Fun Summer Read

"Two Headed Snake of Key West," is the perfect book to bring on your summer vacation or any other vacation.

Liz and Garret Adams have a wonderful, respectful relationship together. They decide to sail their thirty six foot sloop from Mystic, CT. to Key West for an adventure.

Once they dock in Key West, the fun begins.  We meet a group of well described and interesting characters. Meg is attempting to escape from her abusive, autocratic husband. Jonathan is trying to understand why his roommate and boyfriend is interested in someone else. Miguel, Jonathan's boyfriend is trying to work a scam that will generate much needed income to be able to continue his playboy life.

There is a mystery in the novel that I couldn't say more about or I'd reveal the plot. However, the mystery is light hearted and a fast read.

I also enjoyed the description of Key West and a historic Catholic Church in Key West.

I received a copy of this book for an honest review.

Behind the scenes look at Paris pre WWII

This story gives the reader a good view of some of the historic things that were happening in 1938.

Germany was threatening and Franco was winning the war in Spain.

 In Paris, Christian Ferrar was a Spanish emerge who worked for an international law firm. He's recruited to work as an arms purchaser for the Spanish Republic.

He works with Max de Lyon and they travel to dangerous areas, putting their lives in line in places like Czechoslovakia, Russia and Poland. There was interesting facts brought up such as the Condor Legion - German fighters sent to help Franco in Spain and on the other side the International Brigade made up of people from outside of Spain, fighting for the Republic. It seemed hopeless in particular with Nationalist Spain having air power from Germany and the Spanish Republic having little or no air support.

Ferrar finds romance in a meeting with an aristocratic woman who asks his help but there is something beneath the surface.

I enjoyed reading about the gaiety of Paris life while underneath, people were worried about Germany and starting to make plans to relocate if Germany began marching on France.

As enjoyable as the book was, I was left with the feeling that if some of the countries who denied helping the Spanish Republic, such as Great Britain, Russia and France, it might have taken some of the fight out of Germany.

Adventures of an American Diplomat

When I received "The American Mission" from Early Reviewers at Librarything, I thought it might have the same idea as Graham Greene's "The Honorary Consul."

Alex Baines was an up and comer in the state department but when he witnessed a massacre in Darfur, it took something out of him.

He didn't know what to do but when he's asked to join his mentor and be the number three man in the US Embassy in Kinshasa, he jumps at the chance.

One of his early duties is to act as the middleman in a ransom demand by a militant who kidnapped a number of people, including Americans.  He does a good job and meets Marie Tuolo, daughter of a village chief.

Later, he's told he has to act as the go between in a situation where a US mining company wants to mine in a village that would leave the village dispoiled. He learns that this is Marie's village. During this controversy, the suspense begins to intensify.

The more I got into the story, the better it was and I couldn't put the book down.

The ending was excellent with good intrigue and action as well as suspense. Don't miss it.

I received a free book for honest review.

Don't say no, it's the end of the world." Old song lyrics

This family saga is both entertaining and informative.

In part, it tells the story of Megan Cartwright who is 21 at the start of the story. She's the eldest of nine children and has had to run the household for years. Finally, she decides to have a life of her own. Her father is pleased with her desire to move to England. He's wanted to travel for years but never got the chance.

Megan's brother Tom is a college student at the beginning of the novel. He's witnessed something and he feels the need for isolation. He keeps to himself and looks for a job where he won't have to communicate with anyone.

Edward is the father. His parents ran a farm and figured that their children would follow in their footsteps.  Although his brothers became farmers, Ed showed more promise. He continued in school and became a banker.

The story takes place in the lives of these three characters from 1966 to 1969. The questions that arise are: will Megan find happiness and use her talents in England? Will Tom put his education to work and begin earning a decent income? Will Edward ever get to Rome? There is also a question of someone stepping up to manage the family of seven surviving boys.

Mary Lawson is a good writer and makes the reader think for themselves about what might happen in certain situations. The family is dysfunctional and something needs to be done but what is it? She describes life as it really is, with tenderness and hope for the various characters.

I was disappointed that no one else tried to help with the family. I kept asking the book to say something to Edward's married sister in Toronto. I'm sure she would have helped.  I also think that in real life, Edward would try to find some help for his wife and children.

I don't want to disclose plot but just say that the book was enjoyable but sad.

"If I held you any closer, I'd be on the other side of you.' Groucho Marx

This complex mystery has multiple story lines.

One part of the story deals with a horror movie being shot in Aberdeen, Scotland.
Someone is imitating the film by murdering people and leaving them in the same pose as a murdered victim in the film.

DS Logan McRae investigates while his department is also investigating what's going on with rival gangs in a turf war.  Gangbangers are showing up at the hospital badly beaten and with broken knees.

One other aspect has a gangster, Wee Hamish, who is a long time semi-friend of Logan. He's very ill and wants Logan to be his executor and to take over his business. One of his thugs is also in the running for this spot and makes his desire known by breaking Logan's nose.

The large cast of characters who are investigating various crimes made me think of the old TV show, Hill Street Blues. The descriptions in this story are vivid and we get good insight into the characters.

The author also has a colorful writing style, "But it was her hair that really stood out. And up. And in every direction as she'd brushed it with an angry cat."

The story is lengthy and best read at a liesurly pace to appreciate the dialogue and Scottish setting. With the multitude of characters and many nicknames, I became a little bit confused but still enjoyed the story and await the next adventure of Logan McRae.

Love begins with a smile, grows with a kiss and ends with a teardrop.

                                                GIVEAWAY

In "The Drop," Dennis Lehane brings the readers back to the Boston area of his novel, "Mystic River."

The story opens shortly after Christmas where a group of customers gather at a bar, Cousin Marv's, to celebrate the life of a friend who disappeared ten years ago.

Bob Saginowski is the bartender at Cousin Marv's. When he's on his way home, he hears a whimpering sound and finds an injured puppy that was abandoned in a dumpster. As he's rescuing the puppy, a woman, Nadia,  raises her window and demands that he gets out of her garbage. In this way, Bob meets Nadia and when she learns what he was doing, she becomes more friendly.

Bob is a loner who attends daily Mass but never receives communion.There is something in his past that prevents him in receiving communion and we wonder what it is.

Bob's boss is cousin Marv and when Marv orders him to take down the Christmas decorations on December 27th, we learn what we need to know of him. He also shows himself to be a Scrooge when he objects to Bob's running an endless tab for a lonely senior who spends most of her time at the bar.

I enjoyed the discussion of the closing of Bob's church for commercial purposes. With dwindling attendance and advancing age of many priests, there is a problem in the Catholic Church. Many parishes are forced to close and combine with another parish.

Bob is an interesting character. His solitary life reminded me of the character in the 1950's movie, Marty. The warmhearted butcher in that film seemed like Bob who admits that he really didn't have any friends before Nadia. I also sympathized with him as his pride grew in having a puppy depend on him. Then, the owner of the dog appeared and wanted the dog back.

Eric Deeds is a character who just got out of prison. When he's released he travels to see the man who was his protector in jail. Eric intended to get some drugs from this man and then sell the drugs up north. The scene of what transpires at this man's home was powerfully written and vividly described.

There are a number of surprises and twists to the story which make the reader unable to foresee where the story is going.

Being a New Englander, I liked the Boston setting and sympathised with Bob. I wish the characters of Marv, Eric and Nadia had more to them so I could learn why they behaved as they did.

http://www.amazon.com/review/RKU1FLW855VDS/ref=cm_cr_rdp_perm

Giveaway Rules:
1. be a follower of the blog
2. use above link to see the Amazon review and at the end of the review, indicate "yes" it was helpful.
3. leave your email for contact and indicate you have completed steps 1 and 2.
4. this is for a reading copy of the Advanced Review. It does have one crease on the cover but it might be fun to have in your library since the movie is the last role of James Gandolfini.
5.. U.S. only.
6.Giveaway ends August 8th.

Pray you don't miss this

Every time I pick up a John Sandford story I know I'm going to be entertained. With "Wicked Prey," my enjoyment of John Sandford's writing continues.

The 2008 National Republican Convention is coming to Minnesota. John McCain is the expected candidate. However, along with the politicians comes a group of robbers who have already killed two armored car guards.

 There is also a paraplegic man who vows to seek revenge against Lucas. Lucas arrested this man and he went to prison. His life became a series of poor judgment and bad luck. At a later time, he was involved in a crime and shot by a cop. This made him a paraplegic and he blames Lucas.

Lucas shows himself a family man in this story as he and Winter are completing the adoption of their ward, Letty, now age 14.

The novel has three story lines. In one there is the search for the robbers. This group has already begin by robbing and beating two men in town with a great deal of cash to pay for political favors.  The second segment is the paraplegic. Letty has a part time job in a TV station. She meets a teenage woman who is providing help for the paraplegic. Letty learns of the plot against Lucas and decides to try to prevent it on her own. I enjoyed this segment as it seemed that Letty had some of Lucas's blood and would turn into a police detective in the future.

There is also a right-wing man who officials believe might be in town to shoot a politician and Lucas and the  members of the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension are pulling all stops in finding this person before he can injure anyone.

Reading one of John Sandford's novels is like a good dish of ice cream, I always want more. I look forward to the next installment of the John Sandford - Lucas Davenport series.

Drone Missile Gone Wrong

"Unmanned" tells a story of what could happen to someone who made a mistake and it cost the lives of innocent people.

This psychological novel tells of F1 fighter pilot, Darwin Cole. He's reassigned as a pilot in the Predator Drone Program. One of his missiles is aimed at a residence in Afghan and as soon as Darwin pushes the activate button, he notices a young girl leave the building, running for her life. It's too late to change anything and the next scene is that of destruction and death.  Maybe it's because he has a daughter about the same age as the Afghan girl but Darwin becomes haunted by his act.

He turns to alcohol and becomes a drunk. He's discharged from the Air Force and, after his wife and children leave him, he's living in a trailer in the Nevada desert.

A reporter arrives at his trailer and convinces him to join her and two other journalists. They are trying to find the man who ordered the drone strike and write a story. Cole remembers that the man termed it a HVT, high value target.

He agrees to join the journalists and attempts to get information about the missing  man. Cole speaks to a retired CIA agent and a man from the Pentagon who agrees to be a source. However, he's being hunted by a man assigned to find him and when he does, Cole's fate will be decided.

Generally, in a thriller I look for suspense, good action and drama. Although I enjoy the writing of Dan Fesperman and enjoyed his award winning book, "The Prisoner of Guantanamo," I feel that this book didn't measure up to his past work in the areas of suspense, action and drama.

I do look forward to reading future books by Fesperman.

I received this book in return for an honest review.