Michael A. Draper's Blog, page 47

"A civilization is destroyed only when its gods are destroyed." Emile M. Cioran

Not many novels have probed my feelings and left me raw as that of "The Gods of Gotham."

It's 1845 and we are taken to the poverty stricken Sixth Ward of New York City.

The potato famine in Ireland brings thousands of emigrants to New York. Soon embers begin to simmer between the Democrats who want the Irish vote and the Whigs who are often people who don't get their hands dirty. They live to see their riches grow. They increase tariffs and would like to deport the Irish to Canada.

As an example of the fiery surrounding, a major fire burns down a large part of downtown Manhattan.

Timothy Wilde was a bartender until this fire wiped out the bar at which he worked while it was devastating the area.

With few alternatives, Tim joins the newly formed police department. He's assigned as a patrolman in the Sixth Ward and is given a copper star as a badge.

There are horrors all around him with people living in squalor, with more people dieing of starvation daily.

He finds a young girl about ten years old, covered with blood and learns that there are Irish children who work at a brothel. There is also a man with a black hood who comes there and cuts up children.

After questioning the girl further, she admits that she followed the man one day and knows where he buried the children. Tim informs his superior, Justice George Washington Matsell, who had become the first person to lead the New York Police Department.

Not to reveal too much in this suspenseful story, but the police find the grave site and Tim is assigned to finding the responsible person.

This is a literary novel that details some gruesome parts but as a historical novel, it seems to paint a more accurate picture of what was going on.

Not many literary novels show such character development as that seen in Tim Wilde and Mercy Underhill and Tim's brother, Valentine. Together, they show growth and development that could be a symbol of what was going on in New York in 1845.

"When you have a shattered heart, God is watching you." Song Lyrics

Some authors have that special talent for making the reader interested in their characters and story from the first page. James LePore is one of that talented group.

Matt DeMarco is a prosecutor for the Manhattan District Attorney's office. At the start of the story he leads the prosecution into finding a nineteen-year-old man guilty for mudering his fifteen-year-old sister. His reasoning seemed to be that his sister was becoming too westernized and had an American boyfriend.

Years later, Matt is at home with his son Michael, who is a grad student in Boston. Michael is accompanied by two friends who look and act suspiciously. They are surly when he asks about them and then they leave. Michael tells his father that the two men work for Michael's step-father, Basil.

Police arrive at Matt's home with a search warrant for Michael's room and arrest him for the murder of his girlfriend, Yasmine Hayek, a student at Columbia.

As we read, we observe an undercurrent of foreign involvement. Michael tells the police that the two men he was with are house sitting for a home on Long Island.
Suspense mounts as the police set up a stake out on that home.

The author writes in a professional manner and is a polished story teller. The reader is already interested in the story and wondering where the action will lead with all of the foreign characters.

One clue after another is peeled away and we find that there is much more to the story than originally suspected. There are surprises and plot twists that take the reader in a totally unexpected direction.

I found the story greatly entertaining. The one thing that stood out in the story was friendship. Matt had made friends with a number of members of the New York Police Department and these friends went beyone the normal call to duty in order to determine the guilty parties and correct any injustice.

"Killing me softly with his song." Song lyrics

Mitch Rapp breezed through the CIA training program and was unleashed on the terrorist group responsible for the slaughter of so many innocent people on the Pan Am Lockerbie attack.

He's made up a list and eliminates the terrorists one by one. Mitch works alone with Dr. Irene Kennedy as his CIA supervisor.

As he approaches the next terrorist on his list, something doesn't appear right. No sooner does he eliminate that terrorist that Mitch realizes that he walked into a trap.

The room explodes in gunfire from other terrorists who were waiting for Mitch. Mitch narrowly escapes and wonders if he was set up.

The reader feels that overdue justice is being given to these terrorists. We also learn that certain powerful members of the CIA are jealous of Mitch's success with the terrorists and he is considered a renegade, a possible threat due to his independence.

In Paris there is another group plotting Mitch's downfall and this group includes at least one highly placed French official along with other terrorists.

"Kill Shot" is a feel good story where Mitch is attempting to accomplish what no one else has, to seek out and achieve retribution against the terrorists who strike out against innocent people, many of who are U.S. citizens. These terrorists feel that they are shielded from any revenge but Mitch solves that by acting outside the law.

The story moves effortlessly along with a number of surprises and plot twists and comes to a satisfying conclusion.

"I don't know if any body can second guess what they do on Capitol Hill." Montel Williams

GIVEAWAY

Some fighters use a one two punch to win their matches.

In "Capitol Murder," Phillip Margolin delivers a well executed one, two, three pronged approach to his story.

First, we have convicted serial killer Clarence Little. He murders and mutilates young women. However, one of the cases where he was found guilty, shows faulty evidence and the case is overturned. Because of this, his other convictions must be reviewed.

Brad Miller, is an attorney who was active in overturning Little's conviction. He begins getting notes from Little about the manner in which he tortured his victims and the trophies he took after his murders.

Secondarily, there is a terrorist plot to blow up a professional football stadium while packed with fans watching a Monday night game of the week. Since this game is seen around the world, it would be a blow to the U.S. and demoralize the U.S. servicemen.

The final segment of the story has to do with Brad Miller who is currently working for Senator Jack Carson of Oregon. Carson's unusual sexual behavior comes to light and he does things to keep this a secret.

The story comes together well with some interesting plot twists. Brad Miller and P.I. Dana Cutler are likable characters who are entertaining.

The ending was a bit too convenient but the story still kept my attention right up to the action packed conclusion.

http://www.amazon.com/review/RQPT3BA535Q0D/ref=cm_cr_rdp_perm

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2. be a follower of this blog.
3. leave email address and indicate steps 1 and 2 were completed.
4. giveaway will continue to March 15th
5. Item is an advance review copy
6. U.S. and Canada.

"May the sun shine warm upon your face and the rain fall softly on your fields." Irish blessing

In this timeless, contemporary novel, Chad Harbach entwines the relationships of a group of college baseball players and allows us to view the inner feelings of the characters.

This feel good story introduces the reader to young Henry Skrimshander, "Skrim."

As the story begins, Skrim is a hard working high school baseball player. He plays the most difficult position, shortstop, and does his job with an effortless grace that makes him stand out like a lone star on a dark blue sky.

His hero is Aparicio Rodriguez, a legendary baseball shortstop. Henry carries Aparcio's "The Art of Fielding" as if it was his bible.

Henry is noticed by Mike Schwartz, a player on a college team. Mike recruits Henry and acts as a mentor on the team. Mike could represent economic goal setting and the idea of college sports as a stepping stone to a more secure financial life.

Henry plays for the love of the game and is satisfied with his place in life with the knowledge that good things will eventually come to him. It's only when Henry begins to think of the baseball talent scouts watching his performance that his skills are affected and self doubt sets in.

We also follow the activities of Guert Affenlight, who is the college president. Guert has been a bachelor for most of his life but falls in love with Henry's gay roommate, Owen.

Guert's daughter returns to possibly have a second chance at life at Westish College and she develops a relationship with one of the players.

The pacing picks up as the season draws to a close and the team has a chance for a championship title, something that school has never achieved.

The reader follows the characters and sees them grow during the course of the novel. They are so well developed that readers will want to see all of the characters succeed in their goals.

I enjoyed this book and recommend it for the study of people, the lessons of life and the literary excellence of the work.

"I saw the harbor lights. They only told me we were parting." Lyrics

The harbor district of San Pedro in Los Angeles is the center of action in "Harbor Nocturne." Besides the business activities of the harbor, the area is made up of many ethnic groups, and adult bookstores.

The overworked Los Angeles Police Department is attempting to patrol an area that has many street gangs and other residents who don't speak the same language as the Police.

Dinko Babich, a second generation Croatian. He works on the docks but is currently suspended. He doesn't have much ambition or meaning to his life.

Dinko does a favor for a friend and takes a young Mexican dancer, Lita Medina, to a nightclub for an employment interview.

These two innocent characters have a magnetic attraction toward each other. They fall in love amidst what is going on at the adult dance hall and the trafficking in illegal aliens.

When thirteen Asians are found suffocated on a transportation container of a ship that had docked in San Pedro, police are brought into the investigation. There is a public outcry to find and punish those responsible.

With Joseph Wambaugh there is always humor in the midst of the human drama being played out in the harbor area. In this case, there is a wealthy Russian investor who has an unusual fetish in amputated limbs.

Dinko and Lita's love grows, and is tenderly described. However, one of Lita's dance hall roommates notices something that has to do with the the deaths of the Asians but then goes missing.

To observe Lita, a poor Mexican nineteen-year-old, find apparent happiness with Dinko, the reader is captured by their strong feelings and we have hope for their future together.

The action moves in waves and is interspersed with the stories of the members of the third watch in the patrol division of the LAPD.

The characters are a conglomeration of truly evil people and those who are honest and trying to make a living. In between are the LAPD who observe life around them in a philosophical and humorous manner. Irony exists with some of the action taking place on the Hollywood walk of stars, crowded with criminals planning the elimination of a possible witness.

A very entertaining novel that depicts life and hope and the sadness that exists.

"A mind all logic is like a knife all blade. It makes the hand bleed that uses it." Tagore

In this contemporary and far reaching novel, "Bleed for Me," the author describes the world of impressionable teenage girls and the manner in which they can be manipulated by men who prey on the innocent.

Michael Robotham's words are dramatically compelling as we follow the action.

Psychologist Joe O'Loughlin is a terrific character. He suffers from Parkinson's disease but tries not to let this health issue deter him. His wife, Julianne, has left him and his eldest daughter, Charlie, age fourteen, shows her rebellious spirit. He works on finding answers to this case while desperately trying to hold on to his family.

Charlie's best friend, Sienna, shows up at Julianne's home covered with blood but then runs away.

Julianne calls Joe who is able to find her by the river bank, "huddled between the roots of a tree like a discarded doll."

Sienna is almost totally unresponsive and her vulnerability touches Joe. She claims to be unable to recall what happened but a search of her home reveals that her father, Ray Hegarty, has been murdered.

This is only the beginning of this heart stopping story. We learn of Sienna's father's relationship to Sienna and to her older sister. Then we discover Sienna's social life and this includes her seeing an older man - secretly.

The momentum builds as Joe confronts a man he suspects of taking advantage of Sienna and murdering her father. Doors are forced open as the story goes deeper and new suspects are discovered.

This powerful novel is one that shouldn't be missed, not just for a story that packs a punch but also for the message of the vulnerability of young girls and the adults who prey on their naivety.

It's not the oath that makes us believe the man, but the man the oath." Aeschylus

GIVEAWAY


When stressed out Dr. John Meacham goes on a shooting spree, killing a umber of patients and fellow employees, Dr. Lou Welcome is blamed.

Lou had been overseeing his friend, Dr. Meacham, a Physicians Wellness. This organization counsels and tries to help doctors who have psychological problems resulting in their loss of anger. They also council doctors who medicate themselves with drugs and alcohol.

As the story progresses, we observe Lou's compassionate nature wile a number of other characters exhibit unexplained anger that seems to take control of their body for a time, and then, if they haven't done anything fatal, goes away. The person exhibiting this anger seems almost unaware of what happened. We witness a number of tragic events due to this extreme anger. Lou tries to find out what is causing it.

He meets Dr. Darlene Mallory, the First Lady of the United States and they form a bond together, both trying to find answers to this mystery.

The characters are realistically portrayed. Lou's thirteen-year-old daughter Emily is a charmer. The author brings her and Lou to life at moments such as when they are spending time playing monopoly. In reality, Lou is using the game so he can see how Emily is doing with her mother and new step-father. How many parents don't know how to communicate with teenage children? In this novel, the author provides a number of good lessons.

The plot is laid out nicely with some interesting surprises. I found the book to be very entertaining and recommend it to readers who enjoy medical thrillers and good suspense.


http://www.amazon.com/review/R14B0MO53TAYNL/ref=cm_cr_rdp_perm

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5. Giveaway ends Feb. 29th.
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Have fun.

"Amazing Grace how sweet the sound."

When a famous novelist in New England dies violently, family secrets begin to unravel.

Adam Blaine, had been estranged from his father, Benjamin. Now, after years apart, he returns to his father's funeral.

Soon after, Adam learns that his father had recently changed his will so that his home and most of his estate is to go to a young actress, Carla Pacelli. Jenny Leigh, a struggling writer also receives a large sum of money. However, Benjamin's wife - who is Adam's mother, Clarice, and Adam's brother, Teddy, who is gay, are left out of the will.

Adam is in a difficult position in that he is the executor of his father's will and to do justice to the estate, would do injustice to his mother and brother.

The action drags in the story. There were times when I felt like shouting to get on with the story. There doesn't seem to be an urgency to solve the mystery of did Benjamin fall from a cliff, or was he pushed, or was it suicide.

I also didn't find that the dialogue matched the characters as even fisherman spoke with a sophistication of college graduates.

I wanted to enjoy the story more but the plot proceeds at a level too slow to maintain suspense.

The author did have me curious to know what would happen at the end of the story so I rate it 2 1/2 stars moving up to 3 for keeping my interest.

"A person is a fool to become a writer. His only recourse is absolute freedom." Dahl

Luther Whitney is a thief with a conscience.

He breaks into a home of a wealthy family in Washington, D.C. and while there, the woman of the house returns early for a romantic interlude with her lover. Luther hides in the woman's closet but can see what is going on.

The sex turns rough and the man is unable to perform due to his alcoholic state. As the woman ridicules the man he grabs her throat and a struggle ensues. The woman grabs a letter opener and moves after the man when two other men break into the room. They see that the woman is about to stab the man so the two men both fire and kill the woman.

The man is the president of the United States and when Gloria Russell, the President's chief of staff tries to sanitize the room, she leaves the letter opener which have the President's prints on it.

Luther sees them leave, grabs the letter opener and escapes. But the secret service realize they don't have the weapon so rush back to the room to observe it has been taken.

David Baldacci ratchets up the mood instantly as the Secret Service tries to cover their tracks and Luther attempts to set something in motion that will lead to uncovering the President as a killer and exposing the political corruption.

This is my second reading of Baldacci's blockbuster debut novel and it is every bit as good as the first reading. We follow the hunted and await the death knell as the realistic characters collide in their attempt to hide or, for others, to unearth the truth.