Michael A. Draper's Blog, page 37

A novel that is just what the doctor ordered

James Lee Burke is one of the masters of crime fiction.

Having recently been diagnosed with lung cancer and wanting a good story to listen to, I chose "In the Moon of Red Ponies." This is a Billy Bob Holland story narrated by Tom Stechschulte in ten discs.

Holland is a former Texas Ranger who begins life in a new manner in Missoula, Montana. His first client in his Montana law practice is a politically active American Indian, Johnny American Horse. Johnny is accused of killing the two men who entered his home in an attempt to kill him.

A secondary plot involves a dramatically disgruntled character named Wyatt Dixon. Dixon was a man who was sent to prison by Holland but was released early on a technicality. He climes to have been reborn in prison and refers to Holland as Brother Holland. He is one of the most memorable characters in the story.

Stechschulte's dramatic reading of the story is extremely well done. He is an experienced actor with experience on Broadway and on TV. His expressive voice adds a dimension of tension to the story as he assumes the voice of the character in the story.

The novel is well done and highly recommended.

A story of the west and a brave protagonist

Kevin Kerney is approached by his old friend and fellow officer, Terry Yazzi, to help find Terry's son, Sammy. Kevin is Sammy's god-father but Kevin has no love for Terry. Terry's problem with alcohol is the reason why Kerney had no backup on a criminal apprehension case. As a result, Kerney was shot and had to take a disability retirement from the Santa Fe Police Department.

Kerney accepts the case for Sammy's sake. He learns that Sammy was stationed at the White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico.

Kerney knows that the military brass at the missile range won't reveal anything to a civilian. He needs more authority. So he visits another friend, Sheriff Andy Baca. Learning the situation, Andy assigns Kerney as a temporary lieutenant. This way he'll have more authority in the investigation.

There is also a romantic side to the story that shows more of the human side of Kerney and helps develop him as a character. He meets with Captain Sara Brannon, the military investigation officer and soon they both decide to work this case together.

Kerney travels through the mountain trails in spite of his injury. He and Sara discover something that adds to the interest of the story.  The area in which Sammy disappeared is rich in Indian and U.S. Cavalry history and something is found that relates to the investigation.

The story is well told and includes colorful characters. There are a number of surprises along the way and we also learn facts about the history between American Indians and the U.S. Cavalry.

In an original story that captures the reader's attention...

In an original story that captures the reader's attention from the start, we see a situation in Ireland just before President Kennedy is scheduled for a visit.

Kennedy is returning to the land of his ancestors but a German man is murdered and on his corpse there is a note for Otto Skorenzy, a German with a bad reputation during WWII. The note tells Skorenzy "We are coming for you."

This is the third foreigner to be killed within a few days in Ireland and Lt. Albert Ryan of the Directorate of Intelligence is asked to investigate. Officials don't want the world to know that the three men killed were Nazis who were granted asylum by the Irish government after WWII.

The action is intense and the author's writing style brings the reader close to the action.

Ryan seems like the Everyman of the story-a good man, just trying to do his job. Otto Skorenzy, true to his reputation as Hitler's favorite commando, is a ruthless person, easy to dislike. There is also a Mossad agent and other sinister characters ready to kill at a moment. Officials become more and more nervous that Kennedy might call off his trip and they'll do almost anything to whitewash the situation.

I found the story to be original and interesting. Ryan is a refreshingly human character with flaws and strengths that are admirable.

Readers who pick up this book won't be disappointed.

There's a man in the funny papers we all know, Big Dave, Big Bad Dave Barry

This zany novel takes place in the Coconut Grove area by Miami, Florida.

Two high school boys are playing a game called killer-where one shoots a fellow student with a squirt gun and the other confirms the 'kill.'

The high school student who is the target, Jenny Herk, is the step daughter of a man who is a gambler and embezzler. The picks the wrong people to attempt to steal from and they place a 'hit' on him.

A vagrant named Puggy has been living in the tree house on the Herk property.

With the real and pretend hits at the same time, a hilarious mix up occurs with no harm to anyone but the Herk's TV screen, shot by one of the true hit men who was distracted by Herk's dog burring its head in the man's crouch.

Puggy had been hanging out in a bar called the Jolly Jackal  It's really a front for arms dealing.  Arthur Herk goes there to buy a missile he can use in revenge for the high school boy who embarrassed him.

One thing leads to another and culminates in a wild chase to the Miami airport.

This novel is one of the funniest stories I've had the pleasure of reading. Wonderful, off-beat characters and a picturesque setting.

Don't miss it.

"In a world of thieves, the only final sin is stupidity." Hunter Thompson

                                   GIVEAWAY


In "The Thieves of Legend," Richard Doetsch provides a well written story about greed, master thieves and family relationships, set in the exotic worlds of Beijing and Macau.

Michael St. Pierre is a daredevil and thief. Promising each other a better life, he and his girlfriend  KC, vowed to give up the dangerous life of stealing. However, he gives in to his friend, Simon, and, for what he promises will be his last theft, agrees to steal back a document from an Italian castle.

KC's faith in Michael is ruined when she learns of his latest episode. She decides to leave him but she's waylaid by a woman who persuades her to accompany her. What KC thought would be an adventure, was a kidnapping and she's informed that she has to steal a part of an ancient puzzle or Michael would be killed.

Michael is set up in what appears to be a murder. The leader of a rogue U.S. military unit orders him to help steal another part of a puzzle or KC will be murdered.

In a fast-paced action thriller that the author makes quite believable, we learn of Chinese history, particularly after the Japanese defeat in WWII and the ransacking of the Country by Japan-to steal many treasures.

We also have the joint conspiracy of two avaricious brothers who are competing for the treasure. The fast moving plot leaves time for the author to describe the historical elements of the story and with the author's skillful storytelling, this is a very entertaining read.


http://www.amazon.com/review/R2ISRQMUEY3A94/ref=cm_cr_rdp_perm

Giveaway Rules:

1. Follow this blog.
2. Use above link and see the Amazon review and at the end of the review, please indicate "YES" review helpful.
3. Leave email address and indicate that steps one and two have been completed.
4. U.S. and Canada only.
5. This is for a hard cover, first edition.
6. Giveaway ends on December 22nd.

In "The Thieves of Legend," Richard Doetsch provides a we...

In "The Thieves of Legend," Richard Doetsch provides a well written story about greed, master thieves and family relationships, set in the exotic worlds of Beijing and Macau.

Michael St. Pierre is a daredevil and thief. Promising each other a better life, he and his girlfriend  KC, vowed to give up the dangerous life of stealing. However, he gives in to his friend, Simon, and, for what he promises will be his last theft, agrees to steal back a document from an Italian castle.

KC's faith in Michael is ruined when she learns of his latest episode. She decides to leave him but she's waylaid by a woman who persuades her to accompany her. What KC thought would be an adventure, was a kidnapping and she's informed that she has to steal a part of an ancient puzzle or Michael would be killed.

Michael is set up in what appears to be a murder. The leader of a rogue U.S. military unit orders him to help steal another part of a puzzle or KC will be murdered.

In a fast-paced action thriller that the author makes quite believable, we learn of Chinese history, particularly after the Japanese defeat in WWII and the ransacking of the Country by Japan-to steal many treasures.

We also have the joint conspiracy of two avaricious brothers who are competing for the treasure. The fast moving plot leaves time for the author to describe the historical elements of the story and with the author's skillful storytelling, this is a very entertaining read.

P.I. Charlie Parker is living in Maine with his lover, Ra...

P.I. Charlie Parker is living in Maine with his lover, Rachel. Rachel is happily pregnant with Charlie's child.

Charlie is asked by Elliot Norton, an old friend, to help in a case in Charleston, South Carolina. Elliot is defending a black man accused of the rape and murder of his white girlfriend. She also happens to be the daughter of one of the richest men in the area. Elliot is afraid that his client will be taken out of custody and murdered before he can come to trial.

Elliot wants Charlie to help protect the man and gather evidence of his innocence.

Charlie is joined by his friends Louis and Angel. One thing they discover is that the girl's family and the man's family have a hatred and rivalry that predates the Civil War.  Two women from the man's family have been missing for years the the investigation reveals evidence of wrong doing among a surprising group of men.

John Connolly is an excellent storyteller who knows the way to his reader's heart and mind. There is enough of legend and history of racial tensions in the South so that the reader is immediately captivated. In addition, Charlie Parker is a wonderful character who tries to find truth and defend the innocent, even if they are beyond the grave.

The novel is skillfully plotted and is a first rate thriller.

"Roses are red, my love." Song lyrics

Sometimes a book is so well written that it is easy to review.

Debbie Macomber's plot is well conceived and executed. "The Inn of Rose Harbor," is the story of healing as much as anything else.

Jo Marie Rose comes to Cedar Grove, Seattle, after the death of her husband while on active duty in Afghanistan. She is deep in grief but when the insurance money arrives, she feels that her late husband, Paul, was giving her a sign to start over.

Jo Marie purchases a B & B and renames it The Rose Harbor Inn. When she gets to know her first two guests, she can tell they both are missing something in their lives.

Joshua Weaver's reason for returning to Cedar Grove was because he was notified that his estranged step-father, Richard, was near death. Although Richard shows only disdain for Josh, Josh's former high school friend and neighbor, Michelle, has been looking after Richard and is able to intercede.

Abby Kincaid hadn't been back to Cedar Grove since a car accident in which she was driving, ended in the death of her best friend. Now Abby's brother is getting married and she is in the wedding party.

The story shows how all three people meet others who appreciate them for who they are and are sympathetic for things in their past.

Debbie Macomber makes the reader care as she helps each of these three people come to appreciate life and what they love about it.

The characters are enduring and the story is one that the reader will remember with fondness.

"Humor is the pursuit of a gentle grin, usually in solitude." Frank Muir

                                     GIVEAWAY


This is the 4th Steve Berry novel to profile Cotton Malone. He's a former Justice Department agent who is said to have retired and is now a bookseller.

Cotton had known that his father, Forrest Malone, died when the experimental sub he captained, sunk in Antarctica with no survivors. Now Cotton calls on a favor and gets the records of that ship so he can learn more.

In a quick succession of events, with numerous deaths, Cotton ends up working with twin sisters whose father was also on that sub and they want to know what happened. These attractive, middle aged sisters have been given a challenge by their mother, who governs the family wealth with an iron hand. Since the son of one of the sisters died in an auto accident, there is no male heir to the family fortune. The twins' mother has promised to bestow the family money on the sister who can learn what happened to their father, first.

There is an excellent sub story of the other person interested in the last mission of that sub. This man has high influence with the Department of the Navy and will do whatever he can, including murder, too keep the truth of that mission secret.

There is a puzzle that must be solved and ancient history comes into play. From that point of view, it can be compared to the "Da Vinci Code" and "The Rule of Four." However, this is a more exciting book with real drama. I like Cotton as a character, he gets out of trouble and yet seems like a regular guy, he fits the image of a book dealer very well. The twin sisters are also well described but their mother is a psycho and it is hard for me to imaging that she could do the things she does.

There are many things to like about this book and for the reader looking for an exciting read and a trip through history, I definitely recommend it.


http://www.amazon.com/review/RUDZ9VNK7B9TK/ref=cm_cr_rdp_perm

Giveaway rules:

This is a signed, advanced reading copy

1. Be a follower of this blog
2. use above link and read Amazon review, at the end of that review, please comment "YES" the review was helpful.
3. leave email address and indicate steps 1 and 2 are complete
4.Giveaway ends December 8th.
5. US and Canadian only, sorry, postage.

Chief Inspector Armand Gamache and his second-in-command,...

Chief Inspector Armand Gamache and his second-in-command, Jean-Guy Beauvoir are alerted about a dead body found in a cloistered monastery.

In a departure of the Armand Gamache mysteries, this novel doesn't take place in the area of Three Pines where most of his mysteries are centered. Instead, the monastery is in a wilderness area of Quebec.

One of the monks has been murdered and a complication is that the monks have taken a vow of silence, except for when they do their chanting. This chanting has been recorded and brought a welcome income to the monastery.

Armand and Jean-Guy meet the leader of the community and he shows them the body.  It's a good example of a locked room mystery where all of the suspects are in this wilderness area and one of them must be the killer.

Two other stories are interwoven into the mystery. Jean-Guy is in love with Armand's daughter, Annie and plans on asking Armand for her hand. Also Chief Superintendent Francoeur arrives at the scene. He is a rival of Gamache and seems intent on causing harm to Gamache's career.

Much of the story after Francoeur's arrival comes from his antagonism for Gamache and Jean-Guy's defense of his future father-in-law.

This novel is very well done and one of the few books I've read where loyalty and brotherhood take such a role. The cast of characters are well developed and the author does a fine job describing the monastic life and how that was changed when the public learned of the monk's Gregorian chants.