First Sentence: Wyoming game warden Joe Pickett stood on the edge of the tarmac with his hands thrust into the pockets of his parka and his gray StetsFirst Sentence: Wyoming game warden Joe Pickett stood on the edge of the tarmac with his hands thrust into the pockets of his parka and his gray Stetson clamped on tight against the cold wind.
Wyoming game warden Joe Pickett has been ordered by the Governor to take Steven "Steve-2" Price, a Silicon billionaire, bow-hunting for elk. While Joe is helping Steve stalk a bull elk, Earl Thomas and his sons are stalking Price intent on killing him. Joe's daughter, Sheridan, works for Nate Romanowski. In checking falcon nests, she discovers someone has been stealing and killing the birds. Nate and Sheridan learn Joe is in trouble, and immediately go to help. When Soledad, a falcon thief destroys Nate's birds and threatens his family, all bets are off.
Box's descriptions bring the locations and characters to life—"the last rays of the sun lit up the face of the rock formation and threw dark shadows into its folds and cracks. A single raven hugged the rim of the wall and flew in lazy, ever-widening circles." Where he excels is in suspense; in knowing who, but not the why. Violence comes hard and fast in the story. Seeds of distrust and suspicion are cleverly planted, and things escalate quickly as Joe is left without any communications or weapons but must protect another.
This is a two-pronged story, with the effectiveness and intensity of each being equal to the other. "Steve-2" is clearly based on Steve Jobs; the character even cites him as an idol. He exemplifies the very worst of the 1%, who created a product that enables the narcissism and bullying sadly found today. This is contrasted by the innate morality of Joe. Through Nate and Sheridan, one learns more about falcons and the illegal bird trade. It is also a thread that leads directly to the next book.
The intensity of suspense and action tend to keep one reading into the night. Although completely different, one may make a small comparison between Box and Agatha Christie in their high body count. The coming together of the three segments; Joe and Price, Nate and Sheridan, and Thomas and his sons, is cataclysmic—"Gee," she said to Nate, "I think we have enough guns along." "Bite your tongue," Nate said. One never has enough guns."-- but provides an unexpected revelation that doesn't excuse but explains how actions can lead to devastating results. Joe may now be 51, but he hasn't lost those attributes that one admires, and that make him who he is.
"Dark Sky" is a wild ride of non-stop tension. It is violent, but thought-provoking as it deals with many important issues of our times. This may be Box's best book yet.
DARK SKY (LicInv-Joe Pickett-Wyoming-Contemp) - Ex Box, C.J. – 21st in series G.P. Putnam's Sons, Mar 2021, 349 pp.
First Sentence: Before I left for Florida, my old friend and mentor Charley Stevens gave me a puzzling piece of advice.
Retired Game Warden Charley SteFirst Sentence: Before I left for Florida, my old friend and mentor Charley Stevens gave me a puzzling piece of advice.
Retired Game Warden Charley Stevens has been mentor, friend, and father figure to Mike Bowditch since early in his career. Disappearing from his wheelchair-bound wife Ora, is enough to bring Mike back from Florida. When he finds Charley didn't take his seaplane and left a note for Mike instructing him not to search, it's an automatic dog whistle for Mike to do everything he can to find Charley.
A book should open with a compelling hook: goal accomplished. The Florida sense of place is distinct—"Never had I encountered nature in such glorious, riotous abundance. An eye-popping, caterwauling carnival of life." This is followed by another good life lesson—"A small fish came up to snap at it. A bigger fish rose from the depths to swallow the smaller fish whole. There's always someone bigger, someone hungrier."
Having strong characters makes all the difference. Eleven books in, Mike is only 31 with that combination of hard experience, intelligence, and skills, yet offset with youthful arrogance, occasional overconfidence, and romantic cluelessness. The women in Mike's world are bright, tough, and intelligent. Not a lot of time is spent on backstory. Instead, the author lets the story fill in the blanks so one never has the sense of coming in at the middle of the series.
Maine is a state most people think they know from photos of the coastline. The author's Maine is one of vast wooded areas, lakes, self-reliant, often dangerous people, and drugs. The action scenes happen fast and there are plenty of them. They are visual and heart-stopping, with barely a pause of relief before one crisis moves to the next. The plot follows Mike's investigation step-by-step, and place to place, which avoids one becoming confused. The inclusion of an investigation report adds realism to the story. However, along with Mike, one must always question who can be trusted.
"One Last Lie" is a literary mystery of many different elements brought together through intelligent writing and a complex protagonist. Mike may be a game warden, but this is a case where the threats come from animals with two legs. Doiron and Mike are unique. One cannot help but want to read more of this exceptional series.
ONE LAST LIE (LicInv-Warden Mike Bowditch-Maine-Contemp) – VG Duiron, Paul – 11th in series Minotaur Books, Jun 2020, 320 pp.
First Sentence: The two men have been standing there for eighteen minutes.
Peggy Smith is 90-years-old so her death isn't startling, except to her careFirst Sentence: The two men have been standing there for eighteen minutes.
Peggy Smith is 90-years-old so her death isn't startling, except to her caregiver Natalka Kolisnyk. It is not the number of crime novels in Peggy's room that was surprising, but that almost all of them were dedicated to Peggy. When a masked gunman breaks in and steals a book Natalka and café owner Benedict were packing up, it's determined Peggy's death wasn't so natural, and DS Harbinder Kaur is assigned to the case. Joined by Peggy's elderly neighbor, Edwin Fitzgerald, Natalka, Benedict, and Harbinder join forces to undercover Peggy's killer.
Griffiths has a huge following of loyal fans. That makes it hard to be an outlier, but there was too much about this book that just did not work.
Setting aside the alternating voices; a device some don't mind while others find irritating, the plot was improbable, the coincidences were overwhelming and unrealistic. To have a police officer put his partner's life in jeopardy causing extreme harm, and not be punished for it stretched credulity. The portents were clumsy and obvious removing any opportunity for surprise or suspense.
Griffiths does do a good job introducing the characters, and learns of their background, as each appears. They are interesting and nicely developed, even those who are not particularly likable. One appreciates the friendships and camaraderie which develops. The team of four amateurs is the only thing that works in this book. Harbinder much less so and her partner is unpleasant to the point of being a caricature of male chauvinism.
Setting part of the book at a mystery conference provides a nice look into the world of publishing. However, there were too many threads, red herrings, and twists—yes, there can be too many perfectly-timed twists—portents with predictable outcomes, and an ending that came from nowhere. Each death is projected, which removes any sense of surprise.
By far, the strength of this book lies in the characters, particularly the four who become friends. Their diversity adds dimension to the story, and one appreciates there being an epilogue for each character at the end. A cozy at its heart, this is a story of how the most unlikely of people can become friends.
"The Postscript Murders" is much different from Griffith's other books. The plot is overly complicated, filled with coincidences, and becomes boring at times. It feels, and perhaps was meant to be, as though this is a send-up of detective fiction.
THE POSTSCRIPT MURDERS (TradMys/Cozy-D.S. Harbinder Kaur-Leeds, England-Contemp) - Okay Griffith, Elly – 2nd in series Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, Mar 2021, 336 pp....more
THE DROP (NoirCrime-Bob Saginowski-Boston-Contemp) Ex Lehane, Dennis – Standalone William Morrow, 2014, 208 pp.
First Sentence: Bob found the dog twoTHE DROP (NoirCrime-Bob Saginowski-Boston-Contemp) Ex Lehane, Dennis – Standalone William Morrow, 2014, 208 pp.
First Sentence: Bob found the dog two days after Christmas, the neighborhood gone quiet in the cold, hungover and gas-bloated.
Bob Saginowsk's life revolves between the house in which he grew up, the Catholic Church he has always attended, and the bar in which he works which is now owned by Chechen mobsters, and managed by his cousin Marv. Things change when he rescues a small dog and meets Nadia. Bob's life is looking up until two gunmen walk into the bar.
Lehane has a way of writing that draws you into his world. It is a world of people few of us know but recognize they are real. Bob is a character who tugs at your heart, while Marv, his cousin, who once owned the bar and is desperately trying to succeed at something again--"a successful man could hide his past, but an unsuccessful man spent the rest of his life trying not to drown in his."
The best writers are those whose phrases make one stop and consider, perhaps even reread. One doesn't do this for clarity, but out of consideration for what was said. One wants to make note of them to share them with others. Yet Lehane's world is a harsh one filled with violence and cruelty—"Cruelty is older than the Bible. Savagery best its chest in the first human summer and has kept beating it every day since." Even so, it's not unrelenting. There are elements of self-realization and bright spots with Nadia, a puppy, and surprisingly, Detective Evandro Torres, the cop, who is still trying to solve a ten-year-old cold case.
How does one quantify Lehane's writing? It is brutal but somehow impersonal; detached so one doesn't feel shocked by it. He surprises one but makes one feel they should have seen it coming. He is dark and not for everyone, but those who do read him cannot help but feel slightly in awe.
"The Drop" began life as a short story, became a screenplay, and is now a short novel. One need not know any of that to appreciate the quality, the level of suspense, the twists, particularly at the end.
THE DROP (NoirCrime-Bob Saginowski-Boston-Contemp) Ex Lehane, Dennis – Standalone William Morrow, 2014, 208 pp. ...more
Two young American women were found injured and abandoned on the emergency dock of the hospital. A surveillance caFirst Sentence: Brunetti slept late.
Two young American women were found injured and abandoned on the emergency dock of the hospital. A surveillance camera finally identified the boat and the men who left them there. But why dump the women if the injuries were caused by a boating accident? An investigation by Brunetti and his colleague, Claudia Griffoni, lead to far darker activities involving one of the men's uncle. Although Brunetti is uncertain how much he can trust them, he needs the assistance of the Carabinieri and the Guardia di Costiera against an enemy much greater than he imagined.
One of the best things about Brunetti is how real and normal he is. No superhero he. He procrastinates and indulges in self-pity as he feels the passage of years. His empathy for others and the inclusion of his home life makes him a fully developed character. Yet, one wonders whether Brunetti is suffering from ennui and thinking of retirement?
As usual, the magnificent Signorina Elettra saves the day by pointing him to a new case, but it's Leon's wry assessment of charity events, especially those for environmental issues where the attendees fly in on their private jets, that remind us how good Leon is at incorporating current issues into her stories including that while Brunetti is appreciative of the women with whom he is in contact, he is also very aware of what is appropriate. The addition of Claudia Griffoni as Brunetti's second, and a Neapolitan demonstrates that bigotry comes in many forms. Still, she makes the point; it is often those who are invisible to others who see the most. There is so much packed into this story. Brunetti is always willing to grow and learn which adds to his strength as a character.
Leon expands the story in a logical manner, often with well-placed, but not overused, plot twists. She also increases one's knowledge of Italy's different law enforcement branches by including the Carabinieri, or the military branch, and the Guardia Costiera, which is equivalent to our Coast Guard. Including these branches expands the story and increases its suspense. There is nothing more effective or suspenseful than a setup where one thinks one knows how things will go, yet desperately hopes to be wrong.
"Transient Desires" is timely, relevant, and suspenseful. This ranks high among Leon's books; perhaps as her very best, with implications and an ending that is emotionally impactful.
TRANSIENT DESIRES (PolPro-Comm. Guido Brunetti-Venice-Contemp) Ex Leon, Donna – 30th in series Atlantic Monthly Press, Mar 2021, 288 pp
Hirsch's territory covers a large area of not much in Tiverton, South Australia. It is up to him to keep the First Sentence: Did Hirsch own the town?
Hirsch's territory covers a large area of not much in Tiverton, South Australia. It is up to him to keep the peace. Someone is stealing women's underwear. Although that seems a small thing, it is the sort of thing that can escalate. And so they do, exacerbated by a woman who has developed an obsession with Hirsch.
A very good introduction presents Constable Paul Hirschhausen "Hirsch" and the scope of his job, which is impressive in its scope and diversity. Issues range from the seemingly innocuous to the potentially dangerous. The jump from one incident to the next brings the residents into play. Hirsch isn't a cop who sits behind a desk but spends his time walking the street, and driving the territory.
Disher is a wonderful wordsmith. One understands the words and the meaning behind them. "Hirsch the mediator. He seemed to spend most of his time as father confessor, therapist, social worker, fixer, and go-between. What he'd give for a plain old criminal and a plain old vanilla arrest."
It is not all serious. Hirsch's relationship with Wendy and her daughter provides normalcy, offset by his unwillingness to confront the woman who is stalking him as she becomes a threat. We see the openness of Northern Australia and the bone-chilling cold of late winter.
As the story progresses Hirsch finds one should be careful for what one wishes when things turn violent and deadly. "…his ABC of policing said: assume nothing, believe nothing, challenge everything."
CONSOLATION is a story of lives intertwined; the domino effect begun by the actions of one crashing into the lives of others. This is an author well worth reading.
CONSOLATION (PolProc-Const. Paul Hirschhausen-South Australia-Contemp) – VG Disher, Garry – 3rd in series Text Publishing, Nov 2020, 399 pp...more
First Sentence: The young woman who identified herself as a psychic medium moved with almost absentminded confidence among the fifty people who had paFirst Sentence: The young woman who identified herself as a psychic medium moved with almost absentminded confidence among the fifty people who had paid forty dollars each for a seat in the community center lecture hall with the hope that she might help them connect with a dead mother or father, uncle or aunt, a dead child—by no promises.
From a friend who attended a psychic reading, former cop, Rushmore McKenzie, learns of a threat placed on his life by the spirit of Leland Hayes, a man McKenzie had killed. Now, more than 21 years later, a highly skeptical McKenzie becomes involved with two psychic mediums to find the money and, due to one of the mediums, to locate a missing woman.
Housewright creates a strong sense of place, even for something as basic as Nina's condo. The interplay between the two characters is easy and natural—"I like your outfit." "Really? Last night you couldn’t wait for me to take it off."—and a particular conversation between them provides good background and an explanation of their relationship. McKenzie's unpleasant neighbor provides a touch of normalcy. Mackenzie has an inner monologue that is used sparingly and effectively, often with a touch of humor. Housewright has also given him an excellent playlist.
It is always fun when an author references other authors. Because of the psychic aspect, he also references a number of popular paranormal investigation shows, but it is McKenzie's skepticism that keeps things grounded until his skepticism is tested. Learning what goes on in the making of such shows is both interesting and demystifying without taking away from the possibility of actuality.
This book is somewhat lighter and less suspenseful than some. In this time of COVID-19 when many are having trouble concentrating, that's not a bad thing. Even so, the story does not lack for twists or red herrings.
FROM THE GRAVE, at its foundation, is a solid mystery, well-constructed and enjoyable. One may, or may not, accept the paranormal aspect, but it does provide an extra layer of creativity. However, best of all, is the ending that makes one smile.
FROM THE GRAVE (Unl Invest/Para/ColdCase-Rushmore McKenzie-Minn/St. Paul, MN – Contemp) – VG Housewright, David – 17th in series Minotaur Books, May 2020, 312 pp ...more
The Underwater Investigation Unit is called out to a submerged van at Pond 59. The passenger has beenFirst Sentence: Everyone is looking at me funny.
The Underwater Investigation Unit is called out to a submerged van at Pond 59. The passenger has been recovered; but Detective Sloan McPherson, the team's top diver, needs to recover the driver. Rather than one, she finds three bodies in the van, and evidence of a fifth person having been involved. The investigation puts McPherson and the UIU on the trail of the serial killer, while also trying to catch a thief stealing millions of electronic equipment off mega-yachts.
Mayne has a great voice layered with wry humor—"If you have any questions, please contact us through our website," George concludes." … "We have a website?" I ask in a whisper." He is a true storyteller who creates wonderful characters that play into one another. One wants to share passages of his writing with others. Not every male author writes women well. Mayne is one who truly does, and it is a pleasure to read.
Sloan is fully dimensional. There is a nice injection of the character's personal life which adds to balance to the story, injecting light into the dark. There is realism in admitting no one is a perfect parent. one provides compelling She is introspective both about the case—"I see two different men in front of me. One is the monster. The other is the victim. The victim didn't make the monster, but it sure did nurture him.", and her life as a cop—"…where do I go from here? Catching the New River Bandits was a good thing, but in no way deeply fulfilling."
Having Sloan be an archeologist, as well as a diver and cop, brings dimension to the character and opens interesting doors. The plot is very well done and filled with surprises, yet none of them feel contrived. The things one learns are unusual.
Periodic references to events from the first book, don't distract from the current story, nor does the crossover reference to Mayne's Theo Cray series. This book stands nicely on its own merit.
Of the two cases, one is fairly straightforward, but the second takes one down a surprising, twisty path with some definite "Oh, my" moments. Although the main plot is about a serial killer, the book is far more suspenseful than gory.
BLACK CORAL is an excellent read full of humor, suspense, wicked good twists, and a very unexpected ending.
BLACK CORAL (PolProc-Det. Sloan McPherson-Florida-Contemp) - Ex Mayne, Andrew – 2nd in series Thomas & Mercer, Feb 2021, 317 pp...more
First Sentence: The Honorable Robert J. Stumpf, Jr. scanned the empty gallery in his airless courtroom on the second floor of San Francisco's crumbli First Sentence: The Honorable Robert J. Stumpf, Jr. scanned the empty gallery in his airless courtroom on the second floor of San Francisco's crumbling Hall of Justice.
Jaylen Jenkins is arrested for the murder of prominent San Francisco sports agent Robert Blum. He is on video holding a baseball bat walking toward Blum, and then running away without the bat. Jenkins claims he is innocent. But is he? Without contradictory evidence, can attorney Mike Daley and the team of the San Francisco Public Defender's Office use the "SODDI" defense to convince the jury that some other dude did it?
The story begins with a soft case to introduce the principal characters in a casual, conversational manner. In very little time, one is taken into the meat of the story and a case that couldn't be more timely. One of the benefits is learning something new. Siegel walks readers through every aspect of the case allowing one to experience exactly what is involved. He educates without lecturing or slowing down the plot. After all, who else is familiar with the legal term "wobbler"? It is impossible to conceive knowing one is innocent and while being told accepting a plea sentence of eight years is a "good deal," yet that happens to so many.
Through the principal character, Mike, an ex-priest turned lawyer, Siegel created an excellent ensemble cast of Mike's family and friends. They are wonderfully drawn; brought to life mainly through his skill with dialogue. Even Mike's internal monologues add dimension to the character and the story. One appealing aspect of the character is his realism. This isn't a strutting, overly-confident lawyer, this is one who recognizes he could lose his case.
Set in the San Francisco Bay Area, captured in perfect detail, Siegel brings the region into focus. It is always fun having a book set in one's hometown, being familiar with the places visited by the characters. It is even more amusing when the author's description of a particular building echoes one's own thoughts—"The Salesforce Tower dominated the San Francisco skyline and dwarfed the Transamerica Pyramid. It's impressive in its size and technology, but it looks like an enlarged phallic symbol to me."
Siegel's style is one of short, tightly written chapters that read almost as vignettes. Each chapter compels one to continue reading straight through to the end.
FINAL OUT is well written and completely involving. The underlying theme is a sad, but important truth about our justice system.
FINAL OUT (LegalMyst-Mike Daley-San Francisco-Contempt) – Ex Siegel, Sheldon – 12th in series Sheldon M. Siegel, Inc., Jan 2021, 303 pp ...more
HUNTRESS MOON (PolProc-Agent Matthew Roarke-WestCoast-Contemp) – VG+ Sokoloff, Alexandria – 1st in series Thomas & Mercer, Jan 2015, 386 pp
First SenHUNTRESS MOON (PolProc-Agent Matthew Roarke-WestCoast-Contemp) – VG+ Sokoloff, Alexandria – 1st in series Thomas & Mercer, Jan 2015, 386 pp
First Sentence: FBI Special Agent Matthew Roarke is closing in on a bust of a major criminal organization in San Francisco when he witnesses an undercover member of his team killed right in front of him on a busy street, an accident Roarke can't believe is coincidental.
Waiting for his undercover agent to cross a busy street, Agent Matthew Roarke's attention is captured by a woman standing behind the agent. Moments later, the agent is dead and the woman has disappeared. As he tracks the woman, he discovers several deaths at which she was present. Is she that most rare of killers: a female serial killer? She is canny, and always one step ahead leaving bodies behind as Roake begins to piece together her motive and her objective.
What an intriguing book, and one where readers are kept off-guard from start to end. It's also a hard book to review without spoilers. Matthew Roarke is a driven character who we come to know in small bits. He is intuitive, yet logical; a perfect balance for someone in his job. But it's the female character who keeps us going. Initially, we don't know the identity of the killer until the "ah-ha" moment, and the tension builds from there.
Information on the main characters is provided in bits as the story progresses. It is that information that then provides a motive for their actions. Damien Epps, Roarke's second, is the breath of fresh air.
That the story is told in days heightens the suspense. The story alternatives between Roarke and the woman, and it works. The introduction of a man and his 14-year-old child raises the stakes even higher. The author has an ability not only to set the scene, but to convey the underlying emotions of it—"He steps through the open doorway, past the carved wooden door, into the entry hall with its white painted brick walls and tiled floor. … The terror has turned every cell in his body to ice; his feet can barely move him forward."
Just as Sokoloff has not given the investigators anything definite they can track, she leaves the reader directionless. It is clear the moon has significance, but what is unknown. However, evil, the sense of it, is a prevalent and effective theme.
As the story progresses, the killer takes on the identity first as "Huntress," and finally her name and background are revealed with a powerful twist. The author's skill is clear in the killer's progression. I don't recall another author being able to transition one's attitude toward a killer in the way Sokoloff does.
This is not a perfect book. There are some plot holes and weaknesses such as the description of the Tenderloin, which is not nearly as grim as portrayed. The primary thing which did not ring true is Roarke, an FBI Agent, seemingly surprised by the idea of a female serial killer. He just couldn't be that naïve. Another slight miss was the inference of a supernatural element that was not developed.
HUNTRESS MOON, the first in the series, is rather the first chapter in one long book with an arching theme: Evil. It is a page-turner and truly a popcorn book in that no one will be able to read just one. If you like the first, chances are you will want to continue....more
GATHERING DARK (PolProc-Blair/Jessica-Los Angeles-Contemp) - NR Fox, Candice - Standalone FORGE, 2021
First Sentence: I looked up into the eye of a gun.
BGATHERING DARK (PolProc-Blair/Jessica-Los Angeles-Contemp) - NR Fox, Candice - Standalone FORGE, 2021
First Sentence: I looked up into the eye of a gun.
Blair Harbour, ex-surgeon, ex-con, is trying to regain custody of her son. Jessica Sanchez, cop, inherited the estate of a very wealthy man due to finding his daughter's killer. Two women who are outsiders, untrusted by those around them. They are thrown together in hopes of finding a missing girl.
Candice Fox can be a remarkable writer. Her Crimson Lake series, with two wonderful protagonists, is a pleasure to read. So what happened here?
Alternating POVs are a challenge; for the writer, I'm sure, but also for the reader. One is inclined to either prefer one voice over the other, or one wants to split the story up and paste it back together so as to be reading only one voice and then the other.
As for the plot, it is beyond improbably. The coincidences are overwhelming and unbelievable. One feels one should sympathize with the characters, but doing so is nearly impossible. The procedure from the very start is absurd; a cop abandons his partner jeopardizing her life and not only is he not punished, but she is blamed. And why was it set in LA rather than the author's home of Australia? One could go on, but why.
"Gathering Dark" is so disappointing. One can hope the distraction of the pandemic is to blame and that, once this is passed, Fox will return to the quality we'd come to expect from her....more
This is a snippet review of books that just haven't worked for me. Maybe it's the pandemic, maybe not. What is sad, is that many of these are authors This is a snippet review of books that just haven't worked for me. Maybe it's the pandemic, maybe not. What is sad, is that many of these are authors I've previously liked, so please don't judge them too harshly. These are books of which I want a record for myself, more than anything else.
This is not a Monkeywrench book, which is fine, this is the first written by Traci since the loss of her mother. And yes, it seems she is trying to find her footing.
On the positive, I liked the character of Sam, a severely wounded veteran of Afghanistan suffering from PTSD. And yes, backstory is important.
On the negative, I read seven chapters and was still waiting for the plot to appear. Sorry, my TBR mountain is too high to stay with a book that doesn't capture my attention from the first few pages.
This is one of several snippet reviews of books that just haven't worked for me. Maybe it's the pandemic, maybe not. What is sad, is that many of thesThis is one of several snippet reviews of books that just haven't worked for me. Maybe it's the pandemic, maybe not. What is sad, is that many of these are authors I've previously liked, so please don't judge them too harshly. These are books of which I want a record for myself, more than anything else.
This is hard. I've read, and loved, until now, every book Archer Mayor has written. I enjoyed Sally Kravitz when he introduced her and was okay with Rachel. But now we have Scott, the attorney who only defends the innocent, Sally who only investigate the ones who need her help. I mean; it's nice to know such characters exist, but they're not particularly interesting in a mystery.
I'll admit maybe it's me and that I need some conflict during this pandemic, and this just wasn't doing it for me....more
This is one of several snippet reviews of books that just haven't worked for me. Maybe it's the pandemic, maybe not. What is sad, is that many of thesThis is one of several snippet reviews of books that just haven't worked for me. Maybe it's the pandemic, maybe not. What is sad, is that many of these are authors I've previously liked, so please don't judge them too harshly. These are books of which I want a record for myself, more than anything else.
Oh, Rennie, never will you ever find a bigger fan of your John Madden series than am I. But you really lost your way with this one.
First, we have young, innocent, aspiring New York actress Addie. Then an entire grab bag of nefarious characters, the kindly couple (ha!) across the street, and annoying best friend, the potential boyfriend, and the understanding copper. Did I forget anyone? The problem is what I just wrote is a far more comprehensive summary than one would ever glean from the actual story which is told in snippets. About the only likable character in the whole mess is the young DS.
And then, and then, about half-way through, not only did I put the plot together, I knew the location of the thing everyone was seeking. Could it have been more obvious? Yes, I cheated and looked. ARGH!
Sorry, Rennie. John, John is wonderful. This? Not so much....more
First Sentence: Vera woke to a free day and an unexpected longing for exercise.
It's her day off and DI Vera Stanhope takes the opportunity to visit a First Sentence: Vera woke to a free day and an unexpected longing for exercise.
It's her day off and DI Vera Stanhope takes the opportunity to visit a new bookshop located in a renovated chapel. What she was not looking for was a skeleton unearthed in a cellar baptismal font. Time for Vera to solve this long-cold case.
Cleeves' descriptions allow one to see places we've not been, in the present and the past—"Standing with her back to old stones, she imagined squads of legionnaires marching… they must have policed the region then, so she saw them as her forbears, as kindred spirits, and felt a connection across the centuries." Bringing us to the present, she carries forth that sense of timelessness with her wonderful imagery—"the building that had once been built to the glory of God, now celebrated the story in all its forms." Whereupon the mood is effectively broken and the investigation begins.
Even though the books are separate from the television series, those who watch may clearly hear the voice of actress Brenda Blethyn as Vera. Rather than a negative, it adds a warmth and personal touch to the story. Still, this is not Vera's story alone, but one which includes her team, including Joe who is still her second in the books, and Holly in a scene that makes one smile. However, if one is looking for in-depth descriptions of the characters, or quantities of backstory, it's not here. This is a short story, after all.
What is here is atmosphere and Cleeve's creative use of the weather almost as another character. Nothing is lost in the construction of this fascinating short story. Suspects are identified, clues tracked down with twists and red herrings.
"Frozen" may be a fairly simple story, but it is well-crafted and, if one has not previously read Ann Cleeves, this a perfect introduction to her writing and the Vera series.
FROZEN (PolProc/SS-DI Vera Stanhope-England-Contmep) – VG+ Cleeves, Ann – Short Story – 8.5 in series Minotaur Books, Sept 2020
First Sentence: The sleek golden projectile exploded into the thin mountain air at three thousand feet per second.
A grizzly attack causes game warden First Sentence: The sleek golden projectile exploded into the thin mountain air at three thousand feet per second.
A grizzly attack causes game warden Joe Picket to leave his district and join members of the Predator Attack Team. Joe has suspicions about the attack but is called away before being able to investigate further. A shooter targets a local judge, seriously wounding the judge's wife. The shot came from an extremely long-range, and Joe's best friend Nate Romanowski is suspected. This leaves Joe to find the killer, clear his friend, and uncover the answer to the bear attack.
Talk about a hook! Box sets the scene well, contrasting the beauty of the location with the cold, hard terror of a lethal element coming from through the air so that one experiences the horror of when the two elements combine. The suspense continues once we join Joe.
Reading Box is both exciting, and an education in everything from grizzly bears, the technology that enables a cell phone to be tracked even in a no-service area, an air force of predator birds, and long-range rifles. Box explains each of these in a way that is fascinating even to urban dwellers, and each has an important role to play in the plot. There is a nice piece of information regarding the role of a Wyoming game warden which helps explain Joe's involvement in the shooting investigation.
The characters are alive. Some are those series readers have met before. Some carry over from a previous book, but in a way that their backstory is apparent and their incorporation into the present story handled seamlessly. There are good guys; bad guys, and those about whom we are uncertain, which adds to the suspense.
Joe is compelling, refreshing for his imperfections—not the best on horseback, not the finest shot, has a penchant for destroying his county vehicle--and his phobias, particularly his fear of flying. Marybeth, his wife, is a true partner both in their marriage and due to her position as director of the county library, which can aid in Joe's investigation. The personal side of Joe and his wife's struggle being empty nesters personalizes and humanizes them.
One of the characters who has developed and changed most in the series is Nate Romanowski. The suspense and excitement always escalate whenever Nate appears. The friendship between Nate and Joe is admirable. When you combine the two men in a scene, non-stop action ensues.
It is not all action, however. While not overtly political, the story does connect to present events—" It was a new political world, Joe had learned. Politicians who were snared in scandal didn't fight back or resign in shame, because there was no personal shame."
One may identify one of the villains quite early, others are less obvious, and one whose appearance may cause series readers to roll their eyes in dismay. Box's wry humor is always a pleasure and "Pickett's charge" a definite high point.
"Long Range" has an exciting, dramatic climax followed by a wonderful ending making one feel it was over all too soon.
LONG RANGE (GameWard-Joe Pickett/Mate Romanowzki-Wyoming-Cont) - G+ Box, C.J. -20th in series G.P. Putnam's Sons - Mar 2020
First Sentence: Years ago, on one particularly beautiful, high plains afternoon when I was a deputy with the Absaroka County Sheriff's Department, I pFirst Sentence: Years ago, on one particularly beautiful, high plains afternoon when I was a deputy with the Absaroka County Sheriff's Department, I propped my young daughter, Cady, on my hip and introduced her to Charlie Lee Stillwater.
Walt receives a call from Carol Williams, the caretaker and administrator of the Veteran's Home of Wyoming, once Fort McKinney. Resident Charlie Lee Stillwater has died. Going through his effects, Carol and Walt find a box containing two items of particular note; one million dollars in cash and a painted canvas which was clearly part of a larger painting. Walt investigates the source of both, and whether the painting, thought to have been long destroyed, was stolen.
The best characters are ones who grow and change over the course of a series. So too has Johnson done that with Longmire. This book is more the Walt we love; the events of the prior two books have understandably changed him as he questions his future.
Dog is here! Those who are series readers have come to love Dog. Henry is also here. A joke that runs between him and Walt in this story makes one smile. Vic, Walt's second and girlfriend, is a character who, for some of us, has become tiring. It is nice to see Lonnie Littlebird, Chief of the Cheyenne Nation and Tribal Elder—"Um humm, yes it is so." But it's the "Wavers" who are the stars; four elderly veterans in souped-up wheelchairs who wave to passing traffic in front of the Veterans' Home of Wyoming.
Walt in evening dress and chasing bad guys through a museum is new, but so are the bad guys. No cowboy hats and boots here—"Do you ever get the feeling that there are people out there who are living lives that we know absolutely nothing about?"
The plot is interesting and filled with historical information. Unfortunately, it was almost too much information and it slows down the first half of the book. Fortunately, once past that, the pace picks up noticeably. One does wonder where the series is going. Were some of Walt's comments foreshadowing or merely a frustrating tease?
Worth the price of the book is the Epilogue.
"Next to Last Stand" is a return to that which fans most love about Johnson's books. It is interesting, exciting, and filled with excellent characters. However, this is a book one might want to wait to read until the next book is released.
NEXT TO LAST STAND (PolProc-Walt Longmire-Wyoming/Montana-Contemp) – G+ Johnson, Craig – 16th in series Viking – Sept 2020...more
First Sentence: Late Spring. Morning cold. A small wooden boat emerges from the mist, sliding forward with each pull on the oars.
In this follow-up toFirst Sentence: Late Spring. Morning cold. A small wooden boat emerges from the mist, sliding forward with each pull on the oars.
In this follow-up to "Good Girl, Bad Girl" the mystery of Evie Cormac continues. Found hidden away in the hidden room off the bedroom where a man was tortured and killed, the question remains as to whether he was her kidnapper or her protector. Although the press are still curious, someone more sinister is after the information, and Evie, while psychologist Cyrus Haven, plagued with monsters of his own past, teams up with Sacha Hopewell, the former Constable, who found Evie, to try to protect her.
There are several elements needed for a memorable book and description/sense of place is one. Robatham has that well in hand—"The air outside smells of drying seaweed and wood smoke, and the distant hills are edged in orange where God has opened the furnace door and stoked the coals for a new day."
It is useful to have already read the prior book. However, Robotham not only fills in the backstory of Evie, but includes now information. The way in which Cyrus' background is conveyed is brilliantly understated yet establishes an important link. We also learn much more about Terry Boland, the man whose body was found in the house where Evie was hiding.
This is a dark book. Robotham has written a clear and strong example of the impact of abandonment. Then he changes the pace with a surprising plot twist and an example of Edie's ability as a truth wizard—one who can tell when others are lying.
There are observations that cause one to pause and are relevant to today—"The real power belongs to the people who control information… Individuals who can suppress stories, fix problems, spin news, and plant false information."—and make us think of current situations—"…is a classic sociopath, who seeks power and influence rather than fame. Where others notice the beauty in the world, he sees only how it could benefit him. Relationships are designed to further his own interest. It's not about loving or hating but about duplicity and deception and his own corrupt lust." Intended or not, and although the author is an Australian living in England, the story cannot help but make one think of current events.
"When She Was Good" is a complicated story with unique characters and a satisfactory ending. Slow in places, it picks up with well-done twists.
WHEN SHE WAS GOOD (PsySusp-Cyrus Haven/Evie Cormac/England-Contemp) – G+ Robotham, Michael – 2nd in series Scribner – Jul 2020 ...more
First Sentence: Jordan Russo swung the passenger door open and leapt from the moving car.
Some time ago, I gave up writing negative reviews of books aFirst Sentence: Jordan Russo swung the passenger door open and leapt from the moving car.
Some time ago, I gave up writing negative reviews of books as it was just too frustrating. But now and then, there is a book that really needs to be addressed.
I have read two of Victor Methos' standalone legal mysteries and loved them. In fact, I started to bore people by talking about and recommending them. Therefore, writing this is painful in the extreme.
My first issue was the constant referral of the protagonist by her surname. I recognize there are some professions where that is common, regardless of gender. However, a friend and I, who share the same first name, are the only ones I've known to do this is real life. Even Donna Leon makes the distinction of referring to her character as "Brunetti" when he is at work, and "Guido" when he's at home.
Second, the troubled, incredibly bright teenaged daughter. What kind of mother would hold her child back from being able to realize her full potential? Red flags immediately were raised as to the purpose of this.
Third, when the police, who were comically incompetent, and who had already withheld information from her, came and asked for her help with her serial-killer ex-husband, any sane, reasonable person who had been through such an experience, would have told them to do their own damn jobs and get out. Instead--I know it was the basis for the plot--she agrees. Then, when they tell her not to enter the crime scene, she does the classic TSTL move and enters the crime scene. Jessica, for someone who was supposed to be so incredibly successful prosecutor, was painfully dumb.
Fourth, the too-good-to-be-true boyfriend. Red flags screamed at that.
About one-quarter into the book, there was no question where the plot was going, and it isn't that long of a book. The end was so clearly broadcast that I broke my cardinal rule and went to the end of the book, only to find I was 100%, bang-on correct.
The only parts of the book that were well done and rang true were the courtroom scenes. Due to Methos' experience as a lawyer, the courtroom scenes are interesting, engrossing, and suspenseful on their own merit. Too bad the rest of the book didn't hold up as well.
"A Killer's Wife" was an absolute wall-banger for me. Even more frustrating was that I couldn't actually, physically throw it across the room because it was an e-galley and I wasn't willing to sacrifice my Kindle. I'm not completely giving up on Mr. Methos. I'd be happy to read another of Metho's standalone legal thrillers which, I repeat, I found to be excellent, but I shall stay away from his dysfunctional female protagonists.
A KILLER'S WIFE - NR Methos, Victor – First of series Thomas & Mercer – Mar 2020...more
First Sentence: A man and a woman deep in conversation approached the steps of Pone dei Lustraferi, both looking hot and uncomfortable on this late JuFirst Sentence: A man and a woman deep in conversation approached the steps of Pone dei Lustraferi, both looking hot and uncomfortable on this late July afternoon.
Benedetta Toso, a dying hospice patient who asks to speak with the police, claims her husband, Vittorio Fadalto, was murdered over “bad money.” Commissario Brunetti and his colleague, Claudia Griffoni, promise to investigate the matter, but was it murder or an accident? Suspicions mount as they learn more about Vittorio's job collecting samples of water to be tested for contamination. Piecing together the tangled threads, Brunetti comes to realize the perilous meaning in the woman’s accusation and the threat it reveals to the health of the entire region.
With an excellent beginning, one learns that being a Neapolitan in Venice is a "far greater handicap than being a woman."—and that one may not want to visit Venice during the summer. Leon's voice is always a pleasure. When talking about the heat, she conveys the sense of it without referencing it directly --"Brunetti realized only then how hot he was. He tried to lift his right leg, but it was glued to the chair by sweat." It is these touches that bring Venice to life by allowing us to see the city as those who live there do.
There is a second plot thread of two Romany pickpockets. It is interesting to learn the differences between how crimes are handled in Italy versus the United States. The secondary plot does raise interesting points.
Leon's descriptions, from the route to an address Brunetti takes that only a resident would know, to his description of a room badly decorated, to food, are a delight and bring the city to life. Even a plate of sandwiches at a bar sound good--"From the sides of the sandwiches spilled ham, egg tomato, tuna salad, radicchio, rucola, shrimp, artichokes, asparagus, and olives."
Leon is wonderful at injecting verbal exchanges to make one chuckle. When called into his boss's office, Signorina Elettra remarks--"If you aren't out in fifteen minutes, I'll call the police." However, she is also very good at making one pause and consider, as with Bruno's conversation with a nurse--"But if you work with death, you have to become spiritual, or you can't do it any more. ... when they get close to the end, you can sense their spirit, or you sense that it's there. They do, too. And it helps them. And us." She knows how to touch one's emotions-- "Griffoni…raised a hand and threw open her palm, as if to release the dead woman's spirit into the air. The three of them remained silent for enough time to allow that spirit to escape the room..."
There is something wonderful about a policeman who reads Lysistrata for pleasure and describes Agamemnon as a "windbag commander." The relationship between Brunetti and his wife Paoli adds normality. It is one of a couple who has been married a long time and still loves one another. An interesting characteristic of Leon is that when her characters are in a professional setting, she references them by their surnames, yet when in a personal setting, or amongst one another as friends, she uses their first names.
Leon is incredibly good at building a story. She takes one along with her through the steps with an amazing subtlety to the clues.
"Trace Elements" is a police procedural without car chases or gunplay, but with a somewhat political theme. It is a very contemporary mystery with a contemporary crime. It reflects on the degradation of true justice in our time and on compromise. For some, the ending may not seem satisfactory, but upon reflection, there is some small justice amidst justice that cannot be achieved.
TRACE ELEMENTS (PolProc-Comm. Guido Brunetti-Venice-Contemp) - VG Leon, Donna – 29th in series Atlantic Monthly - Mar 2020...more
First Sentence: Anna was a warm, heavy weight against his side, her eyes closed, her breathing deep, her tears drying in faint silvery streaks on her First Sentence: Anna was a warm, heavy weight against his side, her eyes closed, her breathing deep, her tears drying in faint silvery streaks on her cheeks
Matt Grosdidier and Laurel Meganack are spending New Year’s' Eve at Kate Shugak's cabin bolt hole at Canyon Hot Springs. Their romantic interlude is interrupted by the sound of an engine, and the crash of a plane. What they didn't expect to find was two young children, belted together in a seat. Further investigation reveals a body buried in the snow, and a whole lot of drugs. Meanwhile, Erland Bannister, who tried to have Kate killed more than once, has died. But why did he made her the trustee of his estate and the head of his foundation?
Stabenow captures one's interest from the very first sentence. Her writing is evocative and visual. It captivates, involves, and becomes real. And it moves, no long narratives here; just writing which keeps one turning the page. One also realizes just how timely are the themes of her story. But it's the details of dealing with Alaska that make one’s eyes widen. For those who follow the series, this is an Alaska very different from the state as it was in the beginning, which only adds to the interest.
The story is perfectly balanced between the action, the pastoral, and the wonderfully normal, human moments. The transition between these elements segues perfectly, one to the next. It's fascinating to see how Kate's mind works; how she walks through the possible scenarios of traps Bannister may have set for her. Her comparison of a modern minimalist office lobby, using the term "dead perfection" from a Tennyson poem and comparing it to a columbarium is identifiable.
One can't but love the references to other writers: Dick Francis, Ellis Peters, Damien Boyd, Adrian McGinty, John Sandford, and even Tennyson. Such things make the character seem real--"To quote the late, great Dick Francis, life keeps getting steadily weirder."—along with references to food--"...caribou steak with loaded baked potatoes and canned green beans fried with bacon and onions."
Stabenow weaves the issues of poverty, drugs and government cutbacks seamlessly into the story through the conversations of the characters. She offsets that by observing the way people in the park care for one another. The plot meanders a bit between the characters and the mystery involving the children, but doesn't life? There is romance and a bit of erotic heat, but it then stops before becoming too graphic. Quite satisfying is Kate's justifiable anger at law enforcement not having gone after someone they knew was a criminal. Valid and significant points are made about the status of things without being preachy, and the suggestion of a future threat is intriguing without being an end-destroying cliffhanger.
"No Fixed Line” is a great pleasure to read. It has everything a really good book should: well-developed characters, a compelling plot that keeps one turning the pages, excellent dialogue, a touch of humor, well-done suspense, well-placed twists, and a perfectly-executed ending. Thank you, Dana Stabenow.
NO FIXED LINE (PI/Susp-Kate Shugak/Jim Chopin-Alaska-Contemp) - Ex Stabenow, Dana – 22nd in series Head of Zeus. Jan 2020 ...more
First Sentence: “Hell is empty, Armand,” said Stephen Horowitz.
Chief Inspector Armand Gamache and his wife Raine-Marie have come from Canada to ParisFirst Sentence: “Hell is empty, Armand,” said Stephen Horowitz.
Chief Inspector Armand Gamache and his wife Raine-Marie have come from Canada to Paris for the birth of a new grandchild. After a celebratory dinner with their two children, spouses, and Armand’s billionaire godfather, Stephen Horowitz, Stephen is deliberately struck by a vehicle and now lies in a coma. A grim discovery at his apartment prompts an investigation and the uncovering of family secrets leaving Armand to determine just who can be trusted.
Paris is not a city about which one can be objective. It is a city that enthralls from the moment one arrives and, even if one never has the chance to return, it lives within one forever. Penny has captured perfectly that sense of having found the city of one's soul and portrays it perfectly. Even the hardcover book’s glorious end sheets, designed by MaryAnna Coleman, draw one into the beauty of Paris. Opening with lines from Shakespeare's "Tempest" is the perfect balance to the City of Light with a history of darkness.
Although not an issue for new readers, series readers may have a sense of being a stranger in a strange land having the story set outside the usual environs of Canada and Three Pines. This was an effective decision as it is echoed by Gamache having the same sense of not knowing who to believe, who to trust. It illustrates the duplicity of people and is effective in heightening the suspense and tension. The connections made back to Three Pines and the Sûreté du Québec are nicely done.
The mystery is well-plotted as it grows upon itself and is delightfully complex taking one down unexpected roads. Yet, more than a mystery, this is a story of relationships, and with that comes wisdom.
Penny employs her characters wisely. Involving family members as part of an investigation can be risky. However, in this case, no one is superfluous; neither are any of their roles forced or out of character. Each has skills that contribute, and each is humanly imperfect with weaknesses and foibles. In other words, they are real. Even the use of an unseen, yet critical, character is wonderfully done. The theme of abandonment, which appears in various ways through Penny’s books, is heartfelt and recognizable to so many.
Penny's ability to place the reader within the story is second to none. Sitting in the hospital, awaiting news of a loved one, you feel, hear, and smell the starkness and desperation of those who are there, and the unwillingness to give up hope. Her use of dialogue is evocative. The banter between Jean-Guy and Armand is always something one anticipates and enjoys, but this was lovely as well--"Please, Dad," Daniel now said. "Tell me you were a commando." "Better." His father leaned closer and dropping his voice further. "I taught commandos."
When reading Penny, there are always lines that make one stop and consider, small lessons to be learned--"It had taken Beauvoir years to see the power of pausing. And of patience. Of taking a breath to consider all options, all angles, and not simply acting on the most obvious." She teaches one the value of seeing not only what is there, but what is not; what is real, and what is facade, and that--"People believe what they want to believe. Beginning with their own lies." "Hell is the truth seen too late," said Reine-Marie."
“All the Devils are Here” is Penny’s best book to date. It is complex, suspenseful, and emotional with a small touch of the paranormal. It has a cracking good, twisty plot--you don't see where it is going--and an excellent ending. Most of all, it demonstrates Penny’s continuing growth as an author and, I suspect, as a person. And isn’t that the goal of us all?
ALL THE DEVILS ARE HERE (PolProc-C.I. Armand Gamache-Paris-Contemp) - Ex Penny, Louise – 16th in series Minotaur Books, Sept 2020 ...more
First Sentence: This close to Christmas, the mid-north sun had some heft to it, house bricks, roofing iron, asphalt and the red-dirt plains giving bacFirst Sentence: This close to Christmas, the mid-north sun had some heft to it, house bricks, roofing iron, asphalt and the red-dirt plains giving back all the heat of all the days.
It has been a year since Constable Paul Hirschhausen was branded a whistleblower and transferred to a rural territory covering hundreds of kilometers. Except for his lover Wendy, and her daughter, Katie, he still doesn't feel welcome in Tiverton. However, between Brenda Flann driving into the front of the local bar, a stolen ute containing stolen metal, a ranch tragedy, a woman clearly hiding from someone, and a discovery which brings in way too many outside cops, and results in Hirsch forming an unexpected alliance.
Disher has a real skill for descriptions--'He liked to walk every morning, the dawn a time to cherish with only the birds busy, the air quite still and everything sharply etched. ...by 9 a.m. the mid-north would be lying limp and stunned beneath a molten sun and the overnight reports of villainy, idiocy and shitty luck would have landed on his desk."
Even his style creates reflects the location as the story begins more as a series of vignettes rather than one straight-line mystery. These are interesting and give a real sense of the types of things with which Hirsch has to deal, but one finds oneself waiting. It's interesting because it's so real.
Never fear, when the pieces start coming together, one realizes things aren't a tranquil as seemed and the level of involvement turns to high. "Peace inside. That's all a cop wants at Christmas, he thought. Not a heavenly peace, just a general absence of mayhem."
Hirsch is such a well-done character. Although assigned to this one-man territory, he has the instincts of a city cop---"...the house felt unoccupied rather than touched by junkie-offspring violence, so he left it at that. It was a sense all cops developed, knowing when a situation behind closed doors was right or wrong."--but the compassion of a community policeman. There is a nice balance between his former colleagues who dislike or dismiss him and those who know and respect his capabilities. This establishes a basis for future relationship development.
The story has its share of dark elements, suspense, and unexpected twists, all of which are perfectly executed. "Peace is the second book in this series, with "Bitter Wash Road" having been the first. One need not have read that book to enjoy this one, but Disher is such a good writer, why not?
"Peace" is a thoroughly engrossing story shattering one's perceptions of a peaceful small town and of knowing who one can trust. It builds slowly with a number of seemingly unrelated incidents, only to have the pieces coalesce to a well-done ending.
PEACE (PolProc- Paul Hirschhausen-Australia-Contemp) – VG Disher, Garry – 2nd in series Text Publishing – 2019 ...more
First Sentence: The color had been sucked from everything, not just the dead. This is not the first time the bodies of naked kids have been found by tFirst Sentence: The color had been sucked from everything, not just the dead. This is not the first time the bodies of naked kids have been found by the water. The last time, known as the Stemec Henderson murders, were three boys. The position of the girls was the same.
Milo Rigg is a reporter who's lost his byline due to perceived inappropriate behavior while on his last story. Still working in a city where police corruption is the norm, on a paper at the edge of going under, submitting his stories under his boss's name, and suffering nightmares about his late wife, the old case comes alive when new bodies are discovered. Now, with a new boss, and new clues, Rigg is determined to follow the story to the killer and to regain his reputation.
If one has previously read Fredrickson, this is a book darker in tone and emotion than his previous works, and that's not a bad thing as it's always nice to see an author stretch. The introduction to Milo through his interaction with senior sheriff's deputy Jerome Glet is very effective. As a character, Milo stands out. Fredrickson makes one feel the pain of his loss, both personally and professionally, his frustration with his job, the demise of print newspapers overall, and the corruption and ineptitude of the police. Without words, one feels the turmoil of Milo's emotions--There was no 'before' to it, no past. It was still all so damned present."
Fredrickson's descriptions are evocative. They perfectly reflect the tragedy of the scene--"Snow began to fall in big wet flakes, like tiny shrouds descending to cover the horror of what had been found there." One is very effectively drawn into the story by hints, traces of things; by intriguing references to people, places, and events.
The inclusion of the news articles, along with Milo having other small stories to write, adds realism to the story and provides details in a concise manner without filling space with exposition. Fredrickson accurately, and sadly, conveys what has happened to print newspapers--"...the third floor, the reporters' floor, was now a ghost town. Half the cubicles were empty... People no longer read the ink of the news; ... they wanted that in tiny bits on screens that they could delete in an instant if it was too upsetting or demanded too much concentration..."
The increase in tension is subtle and very well done. There is one point where one may think they understand what is happening and suspicions arise. It's best, to trust Milo and follow along as he builds scenarios, setting out to prove, or disprove them.
Milo's recurring dream of the black cage is a constant theme. However, the reveal of the association is both anti-climactic but strangely satisfying. There are a lot of characters, but Fredrickson is very good at reminding one of who each character is and their role. The plot twists are well-timed and very effective.
"The Black Cage" has a startling climax, an excellent final twist, a nice tie-up, and a strangely bittersweet ending. It's important to note that, although dealing with the deaths of children, the story is not gruesome in that the murders happen off-page and are a fait accompli when one learns of them. The beginning of a new series, Milo is a character one looks forward following into upcoming books.
THE BLACK CAGE (Journ-Milo Rigg-Illinois/Indiana-Contemp) - VG Fredrickson, Jack - 1st of series Severn House - Feb 2020...more
First Sentence: Mid-September, not quite fall but the Maine summer slipping away.
It's every policeman's nightmare. Officer Brandon Blake becomes invoFirst Sentence: Mid-September, not quite fall but the Maine summer slipping away.
It's every policeman's nightmare. Officer Brandon Blake becomes involved in a foot chase with a suspect known as Thrasher who is wearing a Go-Pro camera and holding a gun. Blake is forced to shoot but forgot to turn on his camera and the suspect's Go-Pro memory stick gone. Thatch's wealthy parents, his girlfriend Amanda, and the community are out for Blake's job and his freedom. But being suspended doesn't stop Brandon from following his instincts as he finds the high-school diary of Danni Moulton which leads him into danger from her boyfriend Clutch.
This is a first chapter that really works. You meet the principal characters, learn a bit about their life, and, true to the life of a cop, go from low intensity to very high intensity in the blink of an eye realizing just how a bad situation can happen and the reaction afterward. Boyle makes it real and painful.
One quickly becomes aware of why Boyle's writing is so good. It's refreshing to have a police officer who isn't hardened and cynical, who feels the impact of their action, who doesn't shrug and walk away but has a very human reaction including self-doubt. And the victim's parents: Boyle knows how to depict raw emotion.
Brandon does get himself into situations. An excellent description of him is given--"I know your type, my friend. Once you get on to something, you don't let go. You ride it into the ground even if you do down with it." All of Boyle's characters are effective. Kat, Brandon's partner is a good, strong character and an excellent balance to Brandon as she sees through him and doesn't pull any punches. His personal partner, Mia, is someone one may particularly come to like. And then there's Matthew Estusa, the classic gotcha'-style reporter who'll do whatever it takes for a story is certainly someone who is recognizable.
Twists and threads: the plot twists are very well done and effective; sometimes shocking. "Friggin' A, Blake, ... Is there anything you don't wind up in the middle of?" The number of threads counts up to where one finds oneself thinking 'here is another thread to pull.'
As the threads begin to weave together, the danger and suspense increase. The plot did seem over-complicated, a twist that was a bit too convenient and a move that, especially for a cop, crept into the realm of being a bit TSTL (too stupid to live). However, those were small things and were easily forgiven in light of there being a great climax and an excellent line toward the end.
Although the book is listed as A Brandon Black Mystery, Book 1, that's not strictly accurate as this is the third book in the series following "Port City Shakedown" and "Port City Black and White," both published by Down East Books. It's worth going back to the beginning.
"Port City Crossfire" is a well-done police procedural. It has a tone different from others one might read, and a protagonist who is both complex and compelling. Boyle walks more on the noir side of the street, but in a very restrained way. There is something rather addictive about his writing.
PORT CITY CROSSFIRE (PolProc-Officer Brandon Blake-Portland, Maine-Contemp) – G+ Boyle, Gerry - 3rd in series ePublishing Works - Aug 2019 ...more
First Sentence: It doesn't take long to wake up when there's a gun in your face.
Nelson Roan demands that Child Protective Services agent Foggy MoscowiFirst Sentence: It doesn't take long to wake up when there's a gun in your face.
Nelson Roan demands that Child Protective Services agent Foggy Moscowitz find his 11-year-old daughter Etta. He's not the only one looking for her. It seems Etta has perfect memory and knows something she shouldn't. How do you convince a bunch of bad guys that not even Etta doesn't know what that is? It's up to Foggy to find her and keep her safe until he can figure out how to neutralize the danger to Etta permanently.
Talk about an effective hook. This is not a book where you read a paragraph for a quick try, planning to sit down with it later. This is a book where you read the first sentence and keep reading. The case is intriguing. One wants to know where it's going, and the plot twists start very early on.
DePoy not only captures your attention, but his unique descriptions bring the characters to life--"His skin was grey, and his eyes were the saddest song you ever heard, times ten." His use of language is wonderful--"The camp seemed to have a life of its own. It wasn't just the leftover smells, cook fires, swamp herbs and tobacco. It was like an eerie echo was still reverberating around the concrete walls. Like old conversations were still hanging in the air. Like ghosts were wandering free."
As for Foggy, DePoy informs readers of who he is, his background, and how he got where he is and eventually, the meaning if the book's title. Foggy's philosophy may make one think--"I was always a big believer in is. Not should be, or ought to. Is. That's very powerful, because it is the only reality. Whatever it is you were doing, that was the only thing that truly existed. Everything else was a fantasy." Foggy also makes an insightful self-observation--"To me that was the weird thing about having a reputation as a good guy. Too many people expected me to be good. Which I wasn't especially. I was just a guy trying to make up for what he'd done wrong." A nice explanation of the title helps one to understand Foggy better.
DePoy's characters, on both sides of the law, are far from ordinary, which is a large part of the appeal. They are quirky, interesting, capable and surprising. His children are refreshingly smart, capable, and astute--"You know you're too smart for your own good, right?' I suggested. 'Oh, yes,' she said. That's my main problem." He really does write some of the best dialogue.
There is a nice element of mysticism. It doesn't overwhelm the plot, but instead, it adds another interesting layer too it. In a way, it balances the bad stuff. The turns this story takes are more dizzying than a state fair teacup ride. Not just any author can come up with a plot point to destroy a mobster and his business via a phone call
"Sidewalk Saint" is a fun, twisty book filled with quirky, unique characters. There's violence, but minimal on-page death, but the story also gives one plenty of ideas to consider.
SIDEWALK SAINT – G+ CPS officer-Foggy Moscowitz-Florida-Contemp DePoy, Phillip – 4th in series Severn House – Dec 2019...more
First Sentence: I was fifteen the day I learned that Ms. Lida Poe had gone missing.
Set in the 1970s, Eskens gifts his readers with a story that deals First Sentence: I was fifteen the day I learned that Ms. Lida Poe had gone missing.
Set in the 1970s, Eskens gifts his readers with a story that deals with a mystery, bigotry, and a young man growing up in an environment that makes him decide who and what he believes and for what he stands.
It is so nice to read a book whose story starts on the first page and continues straight on through; no prologue and a single Point of View. Beginning with relating a memory, Eskins' voice as a true storyteller is apparent—"I knew that President Ford has his hands full trying to beat out an actor named Ronald Reagan for the Republican nomination, but what any of that had to do with the price of a turnip down at the IGA--I couldn't tell you."
Eskens creates a sense of time without giving you a specific date and he creates a sense of place through some of the most evocative descriptions one will find—"…Soon I found myself sitting in the crux of my favorite oak tree, watching the afternoon sun ripple across the surface of Dixon's pond, the smell of mud and water in my nose, the feel of tree bark under my bare feet." His humor is subtle; it slides in without one really noticing—"Personally, I didn't find it hard to believe that someone had up and left Jessup; what baffled me was why more people didn't do it.
The characters, both good and bad, are real and recognizable—"Hoke wore his sixty plus years like an old book. ... Sitting close to him, you could see the loose ends of a past that Hoke never talked about."
The descriptions of Brodie's life as a teen are wonderfully representative of life in a rural area have a timelessness about them, yet we are also reminded of the bigotry that is pervasive in many such areas--"I mean, there's no reason there ain't no black quarterbacks playing pro football. They can run as fast and block and stuff, but they ain't as smart as whites. That don't make 'em bad people. They're just different. ... I think that if a black man sets his mind to it, he can be just as good as a white man." There is also the pressure to conform and the way hatred and racism spreads--"You put enough like-minded idiots in a room, and pretty soon their backward way of thinking starts to take on an air of legitimacy."
One wants the book to be perfect, and it nearly is. But not quite. There are a couple of unfortunate and completely unnecessary portents. There are coincidences which make one shake one's head believing the author could have done better. There is a rather predictable wounding of our hero that feels as though the author watched one too many detective shows. Fortunately, one can forgive those weaknesses in contrast to the story of Hoke, his pain, and how he met Brodie, and how impactful is the story overall.
"Nothing More Dangerous" is a story of friendship, bigotry, violence, fate, and redemption. It is also a beautiful story that touches one's heart.
NOTHING MORE DANGEROUS – VG+ Mystery-Brodie Sanden-Missouri-1976/Contemp Eskens, Allen - Standalone Mulholland Books - Nov 2019 ...more
First Sentence: It has been almost fourteen years since Kristen McNeil's body was discovered.
A tag on a Christmas charity wish tree leads attorney AndFirst Sentence: It has been almost fourteen years since Kristen McNeil's body was discovered.
A tag on a Christmas charity wish tree leads attorney Andy Carpenter and his wife Laurie to a young boy wanting his father Noah Traynor to be brought home. The murder, for which Noah has been arrested, was a cold case until his DNA is identified on the victim's body. In the meantime, K-9 officer Sergeant Corey Douglas is about to retire, but his dog, Simon, still has time left to work. Corey wants Andy to help him get Simon released to retire with him. Andy agrees to represent Simon on the basis of species discrimination.
How refreshing when characters defy stereotype. Laurie, Andy's wife, is the type of person one aspires to be; kind, generous, compassionate toward people. She is an ex-cop, and very capable of taking care of herself and Andy. Andy, on the other hand, is a lawyer who keeps trying to retire from the law and is passionate about dogs. As a self-described weakling, he depends upon Laurie and the indomitable Marcus to protect him. There are interludes of Andy at home with his family and friends, yet they avoid the over-sentimentality such interaction can bring about.
Rosenfelt's courtroom scenes are a pleasure to read. They are well presented and honest, even when the client is decidedly unusual. He creates an excellent analogy likening a court case to a mountain climb such as Mt. Everest, and through it introduces the rest of Andy's quirky and memorable team.
It is always tragic when someone young dies. It is appreciated when Rosenfelt acknowledges one of the great sorrows of such a death--'It also once again highlights the terrible loss that occurred when her best friend died; Kristen might have gone on to bring other people into the world or cure some disease or just do kind things for people that needed kindness."
The story includes alternative POVs but only when needed to move the plot forward by characters other than the protagonist. Rosenfelt creates a plot which seems simple but grows into something more complicated and more dangerous as it progresses. Be aware; despite the cute dog on the cover, this is not a cozy. Rosenfelt does like his body count, but the scenes aren't particularly gory. He is also very good at the unexpected, and very effective, plot twist, and a fun mention which lightens the situation.
The dialogue is so well written, the courtroom exchanges come alive. Along with the on-going outside investigation, in which there is a very nice escalation of suspense, plot twist, and an excellent red herring, one feels the anticipation of awaiting the jury's decision.
"Dachshund Through the Snow" is a well-done legal mystery with plenty of twists and suspense. A very nice aftermath hints at the future of the series.
DACHSHUND THROUGH THE SNOW - VG Legal Mys-Andy Carpenter-New Jersey-Contemp Rosenfelt, David – 20th in series Minotaur Books - Oct 2019...more
First Sentence: There were four doctors staying at the hunting camp.
Game Warden, Charley Stevens, is called to the winter hunting camp where four doctFirst Sentence: There were four doctors staying at the hunting camp.
Game Warden, Charley Stevens, is called to the winter hunting camp where four doctors are staying. However, one of them is missing. It's up to Charlie to find the missing man.
The first thing to know is that this story does not feature Game Warden Mike Bowditch, but focuses on Charlie Stevens, who had been Mike's mentor. The story is also told, very effectively, in retrospect.
A well-done short story truly is a work of art. Such is the case here. With a nicely done twist, Doiron takes the reader from suspense to something unexpected and poses an excellent question while dealing with the subject of regret.
The thing with a short story is that one can't say too much for fear of including a spoiler. What one can say is how much this story may make one think and question what one would do in the same situation. It may also make one want to read much more of Doiron's work. The good news is that there is an impressive backlist.
"Backtrack" is a perfect title for this excellent e-short. It really does take great skill to write a story this short which is this impactful.
BACKTRACK (ShortStory-Charley Stevens-Maine-Contemp) - Ex Doiron, Paul – e-Short Story Minotaur Books – Jun 2019...more
First Sentence: Acknowledgements: Once, as a young man running fence for a rancher up near Dillon, Montana, I found myself stretching barbed wire overFirst Sentence: Acknowledgements: Once, as a young man running fence for a rancher up near Dillon, Montana, I found myself stretching barbed wire over a rocky ridge, having ground-tied my horse below because his shod hooves weren't too fond of the outcropping.
An unusually large wolf is spotted by Walt. Is it the one suspected of killing sheep from a local herd? When Walt goes to find the herdsman, he found the man's body and a question as to whether he committed suicide or was murdered. Ranchers want the wolf found and killed. A woman wants it saved as its DNA is unique. Henry Standing Bear believes it may be a messenger. Walt wants to solve the mystery of the herder, especially when another crime is committed.
For those of us who read everything from the cover page on, the "Acknowledgements" should not be missed. There one will find what is essentially a true, short story as a lead to the actual story.
Johnson transports readers into the environment of the story with rich, evocative passages and lush writing. Lest you fear he gets too flowery, it is balanced by his dialogue which is audible, natural, and tinged with the humor one has come to expect from this author and these characters. "'Why is everyone treating me like a Fabergé egg?' 'After Mexico, all parties have decided that you need a little more adult supervision.' ... 'Sancho follows me to the bathroom' … 'He's taking his orders very seriously.'" " Finally, there are always things one learns such as about 'predator zones.'
The element of mysticism, often a part of this series, adds a special touch to the story. Linking the wolf to Virgil White Buffalo, from prior books, and Henry Standing Bear telling about the spiritual relationship between a human and animals is worth considering in these times of environmental destruction.
What is very interesting is that this is a Walt who is older, slower, still recovering from the injuries of his last case. It is also a slightly more vulnerable Walt, questioning his relationship with his daughter. Although is it hard to imagine in this time, there has always been a running joke about Walt not having a computer. That he finally receives one, due to the wonderful character of Ruby, Walt's secretary, provides several delightful exchanges.
Johnson includes fascinating information on a considerable number of topics. While these are interesting and do relate to the plot, after about the third occasion, it does begin to feel as though it is filler.
"Land of Wolves" takes us back to Johnson's earlier books, which is a very good thing, with his trademark humor, dialogue, interesting characters, and excellent plot twists.
LAND OF THE WOLVES (PolProd-Walt Longmire-Wyoming-Contemp) – G+ Johnson, Craig – 15th in series Viking – Sept 2019 ...more
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