Michael A. Draper's Blog, page 36

Powerful story. Timely and deserving of praise

There have been many excellent comments by reviewers about Derek Nikita's first novel so I decided to read the novel which has been published for a few years.

I'm glad I did. I found the story unique with memorable characters and a plot that caught my interest from the beginning.

A sixteen-year-old girl asks her professor father to take her to the local mall. She steals a couple of CD's and is almost caught. When she rushes back to her father in his car, she's in the backseat when a gunman knocks on the window and demands her father's wallet. When her father tries to get away, the gunman shoots and kills him.

Another example of gun violence and senseless killing.

In another part of the story, a young, pregnant woman has a minor car accident while bringing money[ to the bank for her boyfriend. It is easy to observe her distress and fear of her boyfriend's reaction.

When the world of these two women collide at a desperate time, they must figure out a way to get out of a hellish situation in the midst of a gang of ruthless thugs.

The local police detective seems the only person willing to pay the price to  save the teenager who had just witnessed her father's murder.

This is a literary story with suspense well described characters and settings. It shouldn't be missed.

Next review and health update

Health update:  We made it through the storm with between 2 1/2 to 3 feet of snow. Then the town plow did the roads and dumped another two feet in front of our driveway.

Luckily, the person we use for plowing was able to get a backhoe at a large expense to us, but who cares, we're plowed our.

Now we have freezing rain and ice on the roads and our town has imposed a traffic ban.

I'm supposed to have my second chemo tomorrow and we're trying to reach the hosp to reschedule but haven't heard anything back.

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My review:

Bonita Faye is a country girl from Oklahoma with dreams of having a better life and some day going to France. The time is sometime prior to the Korean War.

Something happens to her abusive husband and a sympathetic Oklahoma State Trooper befriends her.  Eventually they form a romantic relationship and the first steps to a better life begin.

As she begins to shape her life and enjoy it, she follows her goal of becoming a better person.

After a number of years, she is able to follow her life goal of going to France even though she can't speak the language.  However, she meets a kindly man and he helps her, becoming one of her close friends.

The descriptions of small town life and Bonita Faye's determination to obtain her goals is well done and makes the reader applaud her courage. She's a good example of a country girl who is unafraid to take a chance to make sure her dreams come true.

There is romance, suspense, plot twists and excellent character development in the story with Bonita becoming a character who will stay in the reader's memory.

A look at a 1950's time in history in Hollywood.

Before this review, just a health update. Supposed to have my next chemo treatment this coming Tuesday but worry about being able to get to the hospital. Currently about 2 1/2 to 3 feet of snow in the driveway and the town began clearing the roads and dumped about another 2 feet of snow at the end of my driveway.
We have a person who plows but he can't get into the driveway due to the excess from the town and they aren't answering the phone.
More later....

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My review:

"Die a Little" brings back the 1950's and  mystery solving that is reminiscent of Raymond Chandler.

Lora King, a school teacher, has always been very close to her brother, Bill, a young attorney in the DA's office.

Bill meets a mystery woman named Alice and soon, they marry. As Lora gets to know Alice, things about what Alice says about her past don't add up causing Lora to wonder what Bill has gotten into.

Then Alice introduces Lora to a good time woman named Lois and the three woman begin to socialize. Lora seems fascinated and yet continues to be protective of Bill.

The setting is Hollywood and is well done as movie studios are described and we meet people from the movie sets. We also learn of their lives and the things they get away with.

The reader will enjoy Lora and her mystery solving activity as she looks into the lives of Alice and Lois.

The story captured my attention from the start and I recommend it as a good subject of the noir novel.

There's a story in the mist

"In the Electric Mist with Confederate Dead" shows the spiritual and compassionate side of Det. Dave Robicheaux of the New Iberia Police Department.

As the story opens, there has been a murder of a nineteen-year-old prostitute. Her body has also been mutilated.

When Dave sees the body and notices the victim's purse is still in the nightclub she had been at, he assumes that she knew her killer and that it wasn't random.

We also see a childhood acquaintance of Dave's move back into New Iberia. Julie Balboni has ties to the mob and wants to become involved in a movie being made about the Civil War. The sheriff wants Dave to encourage Julie to leave New Iberia and take his mob business elsewhere.

As the movie is being made, Dave meets the star, Elwood Sykes. Showing his compassionate nature, Dave tries to help him, Elwood, with his alcohol difficulties. Through the story, Dave and Elwood form an interesting relationship.

The plot is excellently written with a number of plot twists that add to the uniqueness of the story and keep it unpredictable.

The story was written a number of years ago but demonstrates why Dave Robicheaux is such a popular character in today's detective fiction.

A medical thriller that gets political

Michael Palmer gives us a new case for Dr. Lou Welcome of the Physicians Wellness Center. He tries to help doctors who have gotten in trouble or have situations that need assistance.

He's called by one of his clients, Dr. Gary McHugh who tells Lou that he's about to be arrested for killing powerful Congressman Elias Colston. What's more, McHugh was intoxicated and doesn't really know what happened. Lou has faith in McHugh and starts working on a case that would seem helpless to many.

As Lou gets into the investigation, he works with Dr. McHugh's attorney, Sarah Cooper, a woman with no love of doctors.

The action is nonstop and the characters are well described, the reader will like the good characters and dislike those who are out for another purpose.

The plot moves into the area of arms and military activity with a number of surprises.

Lou and Sarah grow on each other and a number of Lou's colorful friends help out.

A very enjoyable story that kept my attention throughout.

Mixing history and fiction in a political thriller

Brad Meltzer brings the Culper Ring in this story. That  is a group of spies first established by George Washington as his personal spy ring.

The story tells of fourteen attempts on the lives of the U.S. Presidents-with four being successful. It was thought that these crimes were random but what if they were part of a conspiracy and the organization responsible is in the process of a plan to assassinate the current President?

Beecher White of the National Archives leads the investigation into the conspiracy and to attempt to save the President's life.

The story is a nice mixture of history and fiction and the author makes the story seem possible.

The  characters are drawn out of the history pages and the story moves right along.

There are also a number of surprises to add to the entertainment value.

I was entertained by the story and a glance of what history might be.

A dark story with paranormal aspects

A relative of Charlie Parker's friend, Louis, is kidnapped off the streets of New York.

Louis was supposed to keep an eye on his relative and feels the guilt of her disappearance. His partner, Angel, and Charlie Parker offer their help.

Through their search, they find a link to a church of bones in Eastern Europe and an object known as the Black Angel which is worth millions but may have a life of its own.

John Connolly does a good job in making his characters come to life. In this story we observe the misery of many prostitutes in New York and how they are oppressed by their pimps and others.

There is quite a bit of violence but good descriptions of life and, in addition, Charlie Parker's humor helps offset the gloom and violence.

Not for everyone but I found the book enjoyable.

Well worth the read and a good view into East Africa

John Wells travels to East Africa to attempt to rescue four aid workers who were kidnapped after working at a Somalia refugee camp.

As usual with Alex Berenson, the writing is excellent and the suspense nonstop.

Wells shows his bravery and resourcefulness in doing much of the work on the rescue by himself.

We also get to know the kidnappers and some of their motivation.

The conclusion was well done and I highly recommend the book.

A child missing

This is a book I'd read years ago  and wanted to revisit during my cancer infusion at the Smilow Cancer Clinic.

During registration for a school reunion in Chicago, Beth Cappadora tells her seven-year-old son to watch his three-year-old brother. After being delayed in the registration, when she returns, Ben is missing.

There is a massive search and family crisis. Things change and relationships between members of the family are changed.

Finally, one day when Beth comes to the door of her home, a young boy is asking if she'd like her lawn mowed.  She's sure it's Ben.

An excellent debut novel that was made into a film, the story shows what can happen to a family's stability when a tragic event takes place.

Books while on my sickbed

Being treated for lung cancer has changed so much in my life but not the love of reading.

During my treatment at New Haven Smilow Cancer Hospital, I have continued to find books a good place to go for a change of pace and to emerse myself in the fictional world.

In "Trickster's Point," William Kent Krueger again takes the reader to the upper Minnesota American Indian Indian setting.

Cork O'Connor goes fishing with his childhood friend, Jubal Little, who is in the early stages of a run for Minnesota governor when someone shoots Little with an arrow and kills him.  Because Cork waited with his friend until Little died, he becomes a suspect.

Also in the story are Winonah Crane and her brother Willie, all characters, childhood friends.

The story is nicely told with realistic characters and a picturesque setting.