Sacred Stone by Clive Cussler and Craig Dirgo (The Oregon Files, Book 2)

I was a bit concerned when I started this as many of the reviews commented on it being disjointed and hard to follow due to the large number of characters but I actually found that it worked well. The storyline was structured with multiple discrete episodes that each was pulled into the main storyline as needed.

The story itself was a fun, easy read with spy action and thriller components. I am looking forward to getting to know the crew of The Oregon better as I definitely see the people, and their various talents/personalities, as a major strength of the series.

The only significant issue I've had so far -with both books - is the the endings are a bit anticlimactic as the mission is completed.

Rating:  3.5 Stars

Golden Buddha by Clive Cussler and Craig Dirgo (The Oregon Files, Book 1)

A new Clive Cussler series for me. Different from the Dirk Pitt books I'm most familiar with, this has an ensemble cast. Yes, it still has the classic cars and the detailed technical descriptions, but you don't get the same character building. I am guessing that will happen as I get to know the members of the team better in later books. In any case, it was an interesting, enjoyable read that I would recommend to readers who enjoy action adventure (or as my favorite used bookstore labels it, Men's Fiction...lol)

Book Description: Juan Cabrillo's first adventure with the Oregon-a state of the art spy ship disguised as a nondescript lumber hauler-takes him and his crew into dangerous waters, as they try to put Tibet back in the hands of the Dalai Lama by striking a deal with the Russians and the Chinese.

Rating:  3.5 Stars

No Second Chance by Harlan Coben

This is the first Harlan Coben book I've read. His writing style was interesting and well-paced. The story generally unfolded naturally and didn't need the author to hurry it along or insert clues that the characters would have been unable to discover on their own. The storyline was good and kept me reading - not so many red herrings as to become frustrated. I will read more Harlan Coben.

The book desciption from Amazon:  Dr. Marc Seidman has been shot twice, his wife has been murdered, and his six-month-old daughter has been kidnapped. When he gets the ransom note - he knows he has only one chance to get this right. But there is nowhere he can turn and no one he can trust.

Rating:  3 Stars

Childhood's End by Arthur C. Clarke

The story line was interesting initially but I was actually really unhappy with the ending...

The interaction between the Humans and the Overlords was the best part of the story. The control they exerted without violence -- just the threat (or the show of what they COULD do if they chose to) was enough to make the humans fall into line. Even the "rebellious humans" were tame in what they tried to do.

The book and writing were good enough for me to rate it a 3 but that's the highest I could go. The book was a little over 300 pages and it still took me 15 days to read it.

Rating:  3 stars

Polanksi Brothers: Home of Eternal Rest by Dakota Cassidy

I've been reading Dakota Cassidy's Accidental Friends Series and the Hell Series and decided to check this book out when I saw it come up as a recommendation. It was a quick easy read - one where you saw the bad guy coming from a mile off and knew the ending by mid-way but still read to the end because it was light and cheesy and you wanted to make sure you were right. The sex scenes seemed a bit more explicit than usual but, in general, it was the typical witty paranormal fun that you can expect from a Dakota Cassidy book.

A bit of the book description from Amazon:  Take a walk on the wide side with USA Today bestselling author Dakota Cassidy’s Polanski Brothers: Home of Eternal Rest. Vampires, a funeral home, and a sleepy little town set the stage for murder with a whole lot of laugh-out-loud fun to keep you turning the pages. Detective McBride has his hands full as he tries to catch a murderer while dealing with the voice in his head…a deliciously sexy voice that has his libido working overtime. The voice of a vampire and maybe a murderer!

Rating:  2 Stars

Monster Island by David Wellington (Monster Island, Book 1)

I read Frostbite - the first of David Wellington's werewolf trilogy - and really liked it. I did not enjoy this one nearly as much. The addition of a more supernatural aspect to the Zombie premise was a bit too much. I would have preferred to stick with the straight-up zombie story rather than adding in Mael and his band of mummies.

The characters, other than Ayaan, are not really very likable and don't make you anxious for everything to turn out okay for them.

I will read others by Wellington -- and may even finish this trilogy as I think it was his earliest one and that may account for the issues in the first book. Unfortunately, it will be later as there are others in the queue that have been more interesting/enjoyable lately.

Rating:  2 Stars

The Female Man by Joanna Russ

This book was absolutely awful. The writing style was difficult to read; the characters were both uninteresting and unlikable; and there was too much of a "feminist" slant to the story. If I hadn't had to read it for a challenge, I would have given up after the first 25 pages.

Rating: 1 Star

Impulse by Frederick Ramsay

Frank Smith, famed writer of murder mysteries, is attending his 50th class reunion at Scott Academy. Twenty-five years ago at Scott, a group of young boys walked from the campus into the woods -- and disappeared. Frank is asked to look into the now long cold mystery. While Frank is in Baltimore investigating the disappearance of the boys, Detective Ledezma is in Arizona investigating the highly suspicious disappearance of Frank's wife into apparent thin air four years ago. Officer Ledezma is convinced that Smith has killed her and buried the body.

Ultimately, the story proved to be interesting but it took me the first third of the book to actually get into it. The main character, Frank, is not very likable early in the book. He has confrontations with his daughter who, though suspicious as to Frank's involvement in her mother's disappearance, wants a large favor from Frank. He also has run-ins with the school and his former classmates over their treatment of his brother and his own history at the school. The school administration is scheming to get Frank to leave a large "gift" to the school. Detective Ledezma is running a lazy - almost inept - investigation into Frank's wife's disappearance. Once Frank's investigation into the boys' disappearance begins, the story gets much better and I warmed up to Frank a bit more.

Rating: 3.75

Corsair by Clive Cussler and Jack du Brul (The Oregon Files, Book 6)

Corsair is the sixth book in the Oregon Files series by Clive Cussler and Jack du Brul. The Oregon Files follows the adventures of the Oregon, a seemingly dilapidated ship packed with sophisticated equipment and a wide array of weaponry, which is crewed by the best and brightest – all overseen by Juan Cabrillo, an ex-CIA officer with a flair for the dramatic.

The US Secretary of State’s plane has crashed on the way to a peace summit in Libya. It is initially assumed that she has died in the crash but there are indications that she may still be alive. The CIA hires Juan Cabrillo and his crew for an “off book” mission to locate and retrieve the Secretary.

This was not the strongest book in the series but it was an enjoyable read and delivered the usual mix of adventure, scheming and derring-do. I will definitely be continuing with the series, following the Oregon on its many adventures.

3.75 Stars

The Dry by Jane Harper (Aaron Falk, Book 1)

“Luke lied. You lied. Be at the funeral.”

Aaron Falk has returned to Kiewarra, his hometown that he hasn’t seen in 20 years. His best childhood friend, Luke, has apparently killed himself and his family in a murder-suicide and Falk has come to the funeral to pay his respects….as well as to find out what Luke’s father meant by that note he sent insisting that Aaron attend the funeral.

Twenty years ago, teenage Aaron and his father fled the small town of Kiewarra to get away from the threats and small-mindedness of the people who thought Aaron had killed a teenage girl. Now living in Melbourne, working as a Federal Agent investigating fiscal crimes, Aaron has left Kiewarra behind – or at least he thought he did. As soon as he showed up at the church for the funeral, the tongues started wagging and the sidelong glances were quickly cut away when Aaron met their eyes.

Luke’s mother is convinced that her son did not murder his family and has asked Aaron to stay around for a few days to look into it. Aaron reluctantly agrees.

The Dry takes place in Kiewarra a small town that has been ravaged by drought. The landscape is dry as tinder and livestock is slaughtered rather than wait for them to die of starvation and thirst. There is a sense of hopelessness and desperation in the people of the town as one after another, local farms are lost, small businesses are shuttered and there is no relief in sight. The author, Jane Harper, did an amazing job of setting the location of the story as I could envision the dead and dying fields, the haunted eyes of the people.

This is a great debut novel and is set to be the first in a series featuring Aaron Falk. I will definitely be looking for more from this author.

Rating: 4.5 stars

The Girl In The Ice by Robert Bryndza (DCI Erika Foster, Book 1)

A young woman is found frozen in the ice of a pond. Erika Foster is brought in to handle the investigation. Unfortunately for Erika, the young woman is the daughter of a well-connected English lord, making this a politically charged and high profile investigation.

As Erika begins to dig deeper into the life of the young woman and the circumstances of her death, she starts to connect the murder to that of 3 prostitutes - causing embarrassment for the socialite's family and consternation for her superiors in the police force. In addition, as Erika is chasing leads and hunting for the killer, the killer is stalking Erika.

Rating: 4 Stars

Catching Christmas by Terri Blackstock

Sydney Batson, a 1st year law associate, is juggling her career and taking care of her ailing grandmother, Callie. When her grandmother’s doctor’s appointment is scheduled for the same time Sydney has to be court, she arranges for a cab to take her grandmother to her appointment.

Cab driver, Finn Parrish needs to make the last of his rent money and hopes to catch some decent fares at the airport. However, his dispatcher sends him to pick up Callie for her appointment. When he arrives, he realizes that this fare may require more work than usual as the wheelchair bound woman appears confused and is prone to falling asleep at the drop of a hat.

Callie reminds Finn of his mother who he let down in the last days of her life and finds himself unable to say no when Callie keeps calling him for rides. Although Callie appears to need rides to run errands to finish her Christmas shopping, he soon realizes that her “errand” is to find her granddaughter a date for Christmas.

Catching Christmas is a cute story with interesting and lovable characters. Miss Callie is amazing and soon has Finn wrapped around her little finger doing things that he never would have thought to do. It definitely makes you remember what Christmas is all about.

Rating: 3.5 Stars

The Last Hours by Minette Walters (Black Death, Book 1)

It’s 1348 and the Black Death is moving across England. The people of Develish in Dorsetshire must band together to avoid the disease as well as to protect each other and the demesne from marauders.

Lady Anne’s husband, Sir Richard, has travelled to Bradmayne to broker a betrothal between its Lord and their daughter, Eleanor. While at Bradmayne, the residents and many of Sir Richard’s guard begin to fall ill. Fearing the worst, Sir Richard leaves for Develish. Upon his return, he finds that his wife has moved all of the serfs into the manor and has barred the door to any and all currently outside the walls. This turns out to be a wise choice on Lady Anne’s part as Sir Richard and his guards are soon taken by the plague.

Lady Anne, her daughter and their 200 serfs are safe behind the walls of the manor and surrounded by a moat. But are they really? Tensions rise as Lady Anne alienates her daughter and her steward with her decision to protect the serfs; the serfs become ill-tempered due to the enforced inactivity; and soon it is determined that the food supplies will be depleted within the month. However, the worse is yet to come when the body of a young serf is discovered.

The Last Hours is the first book in the Black Death series and while it could be read as a standalone, it definitely leaves the reader waiting for the next installment. That’s okay with me as I enjoyed the book and definitely plan to read the next when it is available.

I would like to thank Net Galley, Minette Walters and Allen & Unwin for the opportunity to read this story in exchange for an honest review.

Rating: 4 Stars

Why Mermaids Sing by C. S. Harris (Sebastian St. Cyr, Book 3)

Why Mermaids Sing is the third book in the Sebastian St. Cyr series by C. S. Harris. Sebastian St. Cyr is the Viscount Devlin and heir to the Earl of Hendon. Despite his aristocratic lineage, Sebastian finds himself in the middle of a murder investigation.

He is asked to assist by his friend, Magistrate Henry Lovejoy, after a body is found in a public location in London. This is the second body in as many months that has been “butchered” after death. The body is that of a nobleman’s son which is why Lovejoy has prevailed upon Sebastian to assist. With his title, Sebastian is able to gain access to members of London’s Ton where Lovejoy cannot.

As Sebastian and Lovejoy investigate the murders, there are shocking rumors and revelations that are exposed. The possible motive behind the murders is so unthinkable that it is outside the bounds of civilized society. The investigation puts at risk the reputation of powerful men who will do anything to keep the secret hidden.

This series is very well done setting the tone for the time and place – letting the reader into the world of the London elite during the Regency period. You have access to the struggles both within and between the classes. A victim of that struggle is the relationship Sebastian has with his longtime love, Kat Boleyn, a renowned London actress. Though Sebastian is ready to give up everything to have her as his wife, Kat refuses to let him sacrifice so much.

This entry in the series is the best yet. Each successive book has been better than the last – and that’s saying a lot since I’ve enjoyed each book so far. The secondary characters such Sebastian’s tiger, Tom, and his good friend Paul Gibson, a surgeon, are entertaining but also contribute significantly to the stories. This is definitely a series that I will continue. Of course, it doesn’t hurt that I have a serious book crush on Sebastian… ❤ ❤ ❤

Rating: 4.5

Witch Slapped by Dakota Cassidy (Witchless in Seattle, Book 1)

Witch Slapped is the first book in the Witchless in Seattle series by Dakota Cassidy. This book is a cozy mystery with the addition of familiars, mediums, witches and more. I don’t usually read cozies but this one was by an author whose books I’d read before – the Accidental Friends and the Kiss and Hell series – and I was interested to see what she did with this one. I was not disappointed –the story had an interesting mystery, likable characters and snappy dialogue.

Stevie Cartwright is a former witch who often worked with departed souls, helping them to move on. She was stripped of her magical powers and shunned by her coven forcing her to flee to her hometown of Ebenezer Falls, WA, a small town outside of Seattle. When Stevie left her coven, she was joined by Belfry, a cotton ball bat (checkout the online photos of this very cute and tiny animal!) and her familiar.

Though Stevie has no powers, Belfry is still attached to the afterlife and is contacted by a spirit, named Winterbottom. Belfry is able to connect Stevie and Win so that Stevie is able to hear him. What she discovers is that he needs her assistance in solving a murder. Madame Zoltar, the town’s fake medium, has been killed and Win wants to catch the killer.

This is definitely a series to check out if you enjoy Dakota Cassidy’s other series, or even if you just enjoy cozy mysteries. It’s a fun, easy read and I will be reading others in the series. This is a spin-off of the A Paris, Texas Romance series which I also plan to check out.

Rating: 4 stars

An Evil Mind by Chris Carter (Robert Hunter, Book 6)

An Evil Mind is the sixth book in the Robert Hunter series by Chris Carter. Robert Hunter is a Los Angeles police detective assigned to the Ultra Violent Crime Unit of the homicide division. Hunter was a child prodigy who attended Stanford at 16 and received his PhD in psychology and criminal behavior by 22. His thesis on criminal behavior is required reading at Quantico.

Early in the morning at a small truck stop in Wyoming, a group of customers, including the local sheriff and his deputy, are enjoying breakfast. In a freak series of events, an out-of-control truck careens toward the diner but changes direction at the last moment after hitting a large pothole. After clipping a car in the parking lot, the truck comes to rest against one of the outbuildings of the truck stop. As the patrons rush out to assist the driver, the deputy notices a grisly scene in the sprung trunk of the car that was hit.

The driver of the car is taken into custody by the FBI due to the nature of the find and the assumed identity of the suspect. After three days of silence during interrogation, the FBI is forced to asked for outside help and brings in Robert Hunter to conduct the interviews. What Hunter finds out opens the door to years of unsolved cases of missing persons and homicides. Has a killer been operating under the radar for years, without the FBI aware that he even existed?

This book was different from the prior five in the series. While the murders were just as gruesome and the killer just as sadistic and elusive, the focus of the plot was the interview process with the suspect and the murders seemed to be secondary. Through these interviews we learned more of Hunter’s past – something that has been hidden until now – and were not continually rushing from one crime scene to another. This was my favorite book in the series so far.

Rating: 4.5 stars

War Storm by Victoria Aveyard (Red Queen, Book 4)

War Storm, the fourth and final book in the Red Queen series by Victoria Aveyard, is a battle for the future of Norta and the Lakelands, as well as Montfort and Piedmont. Will Cal or Maven be victorious? Will the Reds or the Silvers end up with the crown?

I went into this story with a good dose of frustration from the ending of the last book. Throughout the story, I’ve had issues with Mare and her “all or nothing” approach to Cal. This was a primary focus of the last scene in King’s Cage and in the opening scene in War Storm. Cal has been raised to be King of Norta and she expects him to give it up for her. Cal is certain that that better path is to take up the crown and try to change the system from the inside. He is already sympathetic to the Red cause and is more open to change than any kings before him, but this is not enough for Mare who wants it all and wants it now.

Even as Mare and Cal’s relationship is shattered, they are aware that they must work together to take down Maven and Iris. Cal is able to assemble his Silver allies brought together through their allegiance to his family and those of the Rift gained through his betrothal to Evangeline. Mare and the Scarlet Guard have their Reds and New Bloods throughout the nations. Davidson, the Premier of Montfort, is supportive of the Scarlet Guard’s cause and agrees to supply an army.

The personal relationship between Mare and Cal aside, I enjoyed this book and felt that it was a good end to the series. The story is one long battle as Cal attempts to create a foothold in Norta in which to establish his rule. Once that is accomplished, Cal and his army move on to take Archeon. While the brothers focus on each other, others scheme to take them both down and assume control of Norta.

I have to say that my favorite POVs in this book are those of Evangeline, Iris and Maven. Evangeline has grown on me throughout the series and became one of my favorite characters even as she struggled with her duty to family vs her own desires. Iris was an interesting character both in how she handled Maven and her own background. Maven – poor, broken Maven – never really had a chance after what his mother did to him. Throughout the story, Cal always retained that small hope that his brother could be fixed but that was never going to happen – even Maven knew he was damaged.

Rating: 4 Stars

The Lincoln Myth by Steve Berry (Cotton Malone, Book 9)

The Lincoln Myth by Steve Berry is the ninth book in the Cotton Malone series. Cotton Malone was an agent for the Magellan Billet, an intelligence agency for the United States. Cotton was recruited to the Billet after going through naval flight school and then becoming a JAG officer. After a botched mission in Mexico City, Malone retired from the agency and moved to Copenhagen Denmark to open a bookstore.

September 1861: President Lincoln is in possession of a shocking secret. This information is so volatile that Lincoln must determine its best use - save thousands of American lives or keep the nation from being torn apart.

The Present: The US intelligence community is investigating an international businessman, an elder in the Mormon church. This sets off of political battle between the White House and a powerful US Senator. During this investigation, an agent for the Magellan Billet has gone missing.  Stephanie Nelle, Cotton’s former boss at the Billet calls and asks a favor – an agent is running late getting to a rendezvous and she needs someone she can trust to pick up an informant. Cotton agrees and is soon caught up in gun battles and museum heists.

This story was slow and at times too buried in the history of the Latter Day Saints. Additionally, two main characters acted so out of character from previously books that it was frustrating. Stephanie was her usual “need to know”/"play everything close to the vest" personality but on steroids. It seemed that some of the troubles occurred because of Stephanie holding information back from Malone. This was definitely my least favorite of the series so far.

Rating: 3 stars

Coming Home by Kris Jett (Snowy Ridge: Love at Starlight, Book 1)

Coming Home by Kris Jett is the first book in the Snowy Ridge: Love at Starlight series. The story is set in a small tourist town in northern Wisconsin known for its snowmobiling trails. The main character, Jessie is the proprietor of the Starlight Pub along with her mother. Jessie’s two sisters – Wynn and Lucinda – left town years ago and Jessie has had no contact with either of them. However, that is about to change when Jessie’s mother informs her that Wynn and Luci are returning to town, are going to live with her until they find housing and will be working at the pub. Needless to say, does not go over well with Jessie.

While these changes are taking place in Jessie’s life, she meets oh-so-sexy, Cade Stone. Cade has recently moved back to Snowy Ridge with his equally hot brothers and is in the process of opening a snowmobile parts and repair shop. His history with relationships is non-existent; as soon as the woman starts to show signs of getting serious, Cade drops her and moves on. However, Jessie has found a way into his thoughts and his heart as no one has before.

The dialogue is funny and quick, the story interesting. It’s easy to see where many of the storylines are going, but it’s generally fun getting there. There are issues with the story which is why it got a 3 star rating – grammar and word choices (both of which could have been helped with a better editor), questionable character choices that didn’t seem to fit the story and two characters that are generally unlikable. This is the first book of the series and I will read the second – the book had promise and I hope to find that the author and the story improve over time.

Rating: 3 Stars

Scarlet by Marissa Meyer (The Lunar Chronicles, Book 2)

Scarlet by Marissa Meyer is the second book in the Lunar Chronicles. In Scarlet, we meet “Little Red Riding Hood” who is actually an 18 year-old girl living with her grandmother in France.

Scarlet’s grandmother has been missing for several weeks and the police have no clues. In fact, they are about to close the investigation under the assumption that Scarlet’s grandmother left her farm and her granddaughter of her own free will.

While making a delivery of farm produce to a local tavern, Scarlet meets a street fighter known as Wolf. She’s drawn to his striking eyes and his quiet, but strong, presence. Wolf asks Scarlet to take him on as a farmhand but she declines, too preoccupied with the disappearance of her grandmother and too concerned over her attraction to this stranger.

However, later that night, she has cause to think that Wolf may have been involved in her grandmother’s disappearance and goes looking for him. She finds him at an illegal fight that both repulses and excites her.

As Scarlet and Wolf join forces to unravel the mystery of her missing grandmother, only to find themselves in the middle of another mystery when they are joined by Cinder. Now, they are all on the run and trying to stay one step ahead of the Lunar Queen, Levana, who wants to kill Cinder.

I listened to this book on audio as narrated by Rebecca Soler who, again, did an awesome job with the various characters and personalities. Each was unique and recognizable. Once I complete this series, I will be looking forward to other books Ms. Soler narrates – I highly recommend her for audio.

Rating: 4 stars

Cinder by Marissa Meyer (The Lunar Chronicles, Book 1)

Cinder by Marissa Meyer is the first book in the Lunar Chronicles series. The Lunar Chronicles is a fairytale retelling of Cinderella, Little Red Riding Hood, Rapunzel and Snow White.

In Cinder, we are introduced to Lin Cinder, a 16 year-old cyborg girl. She’s a gifted mechanic in the city of New Beijing in the Eastern Commonwealth. She lives with her stepmother Audrey who blames her for her husband’s death, and her two stepsisters, Pearl and Peony. Audrey forces Cinder to work in the marketplace to support the family. It is there that Cinder meets Prince Kai, the only son of the Emperor of the Eastern Commonwealth.

Cinder and Kai immediately hit it off – probably because Cinder doesn’t swoon at his feet like the typical teenage girl but instead, is refreshingly honest with him during their discussions (except, of course, never telling him that she is a cyborg). The annual festival during which aspiring young women hope to catch the Prince’s eye is to be held at court in a matter of weeks. Kai asks Cinder to attend as his personal guest but she declines (no dress, no transportation, forbidden by Audrey, etc.)

Underlying the excitement of the festival and the potential for romance is the fact that thousands are dying each week from an incurable plague that has affected the Earthen people. Despite their best efforts scientists have been unable to create a cure for the disease; however, Lavana, the Lunar Queen, offers an antidote – for a price.

I listened to this book on audio as narrated by Rebecca Soler who did an awesome job with the various characters and personalities. Each was unique and recognizable. Once I complete this series, I will be looking forward to other books Ms. Soler narrates – I highly recommend her for audio.

Rating: 4 stars

The Ripper's Shadow by Laura Joh Rowland (Victorian Mystery, Book 1)

The Ripper’s Shadow by Laura Joh Rowland is the first book in the Victorian Mystery series. In this story, the year is 1888 and Jack the Ripper is terrorizing London. Sarah Bain, a photographer in Whitechapel, believes that she may know how The Ripper is finding his victims…and it’s her fault.

Sarah is living on the edge, barely making enough from her photography to pay her monthly rent and to feed herself. So, when one of the streetwalkers of Whitechapel proposes a way to make money from illicit “boudoir photographs” Sarah accepts. However, now two of her “models” have been killed by The Ripper and she fears for the safety of the others.

Over the course of the story, Sarah collects a varied assortment of friends who are willing to help her protect her models and to discover the identity of The Ripper. Lord Hugh Staunton, a gay nobleman who she found “in flagrante”; Mick, a street urchin who she befriended after he tried to steal her photography equipment; Catherine, an aspiring actress and one of her models; and a Jewish butcher and his wife. Unfortunately, Sarah and her friends also catch the eye of the London police who are doing what they can to take down the killer as well as the attention of the killer himself.

The story was suspenseful and interesting. There were points when the pacing was a bit slow but it didn’t detract from the story and Rowland’s unique take on Jack the Ripper. I will be continuing with the series.

Rating: 3.5 stars

A Mortal Likeness by Laura Joh Rowland (Victorian Mystery, Book 2)

A Mortal Likeness is the second book in the Victorian Mystery series by Laura Joh Rowland. Our protagonist, Sarah Bain, is a photographer in Whitechapel, London. She is also a private detective. Along with her friend, Lord Hugh Staunton, a disgraced nobleman, she is hired by a jilted wife to find evidence of an affair.

While tailing the wayward husband, Sarah and Hugh find themselves in the Crystal Palace. Seizing an opportunity to catch the man and his mistress in several incriminating moments, Sarah snaps several photos. However, the man realizes what they are about and chases them off. Later, when Sarah is developing the photos, she notices that there is more to the scene than she first thought.

The following day, Sarah and Hugh discover that at approximately the same time that they were at the Crystal Palace, there was a botched ransom exchange for a young child who has been missing for several weeks. They realize that there was a man in Sarah’s photograph that may be a potential witness. They contact Sir Gerald Mariner, the child’s father, who hires them to investigate the kidnapping and insists that they move into his home while conducting their investigation.

Once in Sir Gerald’s home, Sarah and Hugh realize that there is no shortage of suspects beginning with his own family – his trophy wife (the child’s mother), her sister, and his 2 adult children –as well as his secretary, his wife’s entourage and the servants. There is a lot of misdirection which has you questioning the innocence of everyone involved.

This is a fast-paced, interesting mystery that keeps the reader guessing.

Rating: 3.5 stars

Pieces of Her by Karin Slaughter

Pieces of Her is the new standalone thriller by Karin Slaughter, the author of the Grant County and Will Trent series.

The story opens with Andy and her mother, Laura, having lunch in a diner at the mall in a small beachside town. Without warning, a gunman enters and begins firing at the customers – killing two that were just speaking with Andy and Laura. As the gunman pauses looking for another victim, Laura approaches him and attempts to talk him down so that Andy can escape. What happens next shows Andy a side of her mother that she never knew existed.

The police begin questioning the witnesses to the shooting but Laura refuses to speak with them and refuses to allow Andy to speak with them. In fact, Laura tells Andy that she needs to move out, find her own place, and she needs to do it immediately, tonight. As much as Andy tries to get her mother to open up to her about what happened in the diner, the more determined Laura becomes to keep her secrets.

Andy finds herself alone and without her mother’s guidance for the first time in her life as she begins to follow the trail of her mother’s identity and discovers more than she ever expected. Suddenly, everything Andy thought she knew about her mother for the past 31 years is called into question.

I am a fan of Karin Slaughter’s Grant County and Will Trent series as well as her standalone novel, Cop Town. This book, Pieces of Her, while well-written and interesting, definitely did not live up to others that I’ve read by this author. The mystery of Laura was fairly easy to solve early on but the path that was taken kept the story moving along. A major issue for me was that I found myself disliking both Andy and Laura – Andy for being a spineless, inarticulate, wrecking ball and Laura for being an angry, radical bitch.

Rating: 3.5 stars

Prayer for the Dead by James Oswald (Inspector McLean, Book 5)

Prayer for the Dead is the fifth book in the Inspector McLean series by James Oswald. Anthony (Tony) McLean is a Detective Inspector in the City of Edinburgh. He tends to get the more challenging cases and even those that should be straight-forward – he “makes complicated” as his DCI likes to say.

In this story, Tony has been asked by Jo Dagliesh, his nemesis at the press, to look into the disappearance of one of her fellow reporters. Not long after, Tony is called to a murder scene deep inside a series of caverns beneath the City and discovers the body of the missing journalist. The body shows signs of a ritual “purification” but there is a surprising lack of forensic evidence. Another murder – and then another – both with some similarities to the first murder, lead Tony to believe that there is a serial killer loose in the City.

While Tony is dealing with these various murders, Madame Rose comes to him for assistance. She appears to have been targeted by a hate group that is trying to drive her out of her home. Tony does what he can to help her get to the bottom of the attacks.

The story was interesting and moved along at a decent pace but there were several storylines working at the same time and none were especially exciting. For the general lack of excitement, this entry in the series lost half a star from my typical rating for the series.

Rating: 3.5 stars

Cold Fire by Dean Koontz

Dean Koontz has been one of my favorite authors since I first picked up Watchers over 30 years ago. He is generally good for an interesting, scary and often thought-provoking read. Based on the description of this book, I expected more of the same. The beginning of the book was great – it had excitement, suspense and mystery – unfortunately it didn’t last. By about two-thirds of the way through, things fell apart for me.

As the book opens, the reader is introduced to Jim Ironheart, a man who is experiencing a ‘premonition’ of sorts. He knows he has to go to the airport but doesn’t know where he’s going until he gets a pull from a location on the departures board, and realizes he needs to fly to Portland. Once in Portland, Ironheart arrives just in time to save the life of Billy Jenkins. Unfortunately, one of the witnesses is Holly Thorne, a journalist.

Jim is able to make his escape and leaves Holly wondering who he is and how he came to be in Portland in the nick of time. Then, she sees a report of another miraculous rescue – this time a mother and daughter in the Mojave Desert – and the savior’s description fits Ironheart. From there Holly is able to piece together a series of similar events and decides that she needs to investigate further.

Jim’s history and personality are revealed through Holly’s investigation and the reader receives more information on his supernatural abilities. There are religious undertones as well as potential for alien involvement. The excitement builds as Jim and Holly face off and she tries to figure out what makes him so special.

And then… things went wrong. Suddenly, Holly became an amateur psychiatrist and is trying to “fix” Jim. Jim’s personality becomes unpredictable – at one moment, excited and wanting to know more, then petulant and childish. The reveal was a letdown after the build-up of the first half of the book and doesn’t seem to fit with the rest of the story.

I'm giving this 3 stars for the first two-thirds of the book. This is definitely not one of Koontz's best but it also won't keep me from reading more by him.

Rating: 3 stars

The Last Kingdom by Bernard Cornwell (The Saxon Stories, Book 1)

I had this book on my TBR for several months but only got to it after watching the first season of the TV series on BBC. The book is a detailed account of the battle for England in the late 800s between the Danes (Vikings, Norsemen, etc) and King Albert. The story follows Uhtred Ragnarson a Saxon who was captured by the Danes when he was 10 and raised as a son by Ragnar. Uhtred struggles with his upbringing as a Dane and love for Ragnar and the love of his ancestral home Brabbenburg in Northumbria.

Note for those interested in both the TV series and the book - The first season of the TV series extends beyond Book 1.

Rating:  4 stars

The Ice Twins by S. K. Tremayne

This is not my typical type of book but I'd had it recommended to me by several people and saw very high ratings on both Leafmarks and GoodReads so decided to give it a try....which I'm glad I did. The book is definitely more psychological thriller than horror. The story is about a couple whose identical twin daughter died in an accident 14 months ago and now the surviving twin has told them that she is actually the one that they thought died (talk about guilt!). The family is in the process of giving up their life in London and moving the an isolated lighthouse island on the coast of Scotland (yep, THAT'S going to work out well...)

The book got me hooked right away and I read it in a day. Not light reading, not "entertaining" but definitely interesting.

Rating:  3.5 Stars

Blood Brothers by James Rollins and Rebecca Cantrell (Order of the Sanguines, Book 2.5)

This short story is numbered 2.5 in the Order of the Sanguines series. The story centers around Christian, a young Sanguinist we met in Innocent Blood. I understand why the authors decided to give Christian a more detailed backstory as he is a very interesting and charismatic character. Unlike the prequel short story, City of Screams, this additional story does seem to fit with the main story and provides more character depth. This story should be read as a supplement to the rest of the series as the reader would miss some of the nuances if it was read as a standalone.

Rating: 4 Stars

City of Screams by James Rollins and Rebecca Cantrell (Order of the Sanguines, Book 0.5)

This is a prequel short story to the Order of the Sanguines series. While the story itself was fine and centered around the character that (so far) I like the best in the series, it didn't really add anything to the rest of the series and doesn't need to be read for additional detail/clarification.

Rating: 2.75 Stars

Blood Infernal by James Rollins and Rebecca Cantrell (Order of the Sanguines, Book 3)

This is the third book in the Order of the Sanguines trilogy. The book had everything the the final book in a series should have...epic battles, a strong love story (or two) and answers for any remaining questions.

The series rated 4 to 4.5 for me with each book getting higher marks as the tension built and the story unfolded.

Rating:  4.5 Stars

Innocent Blood by James Rollins and Rebecca Cantrell (Order of the Sanguines, Book 2)

This is the second book in the Order of the Sanguines series and continued on from where the first left off. The prophesied trio - the Knight of Christ, the Warrior of Man and the Woman of Learning - continue their quest to discover the secrets of the Blood Gospel.

The story was fast-paced and intriguing. You learned more backstory of the Sanguinists and Elisabeta Bathory. Can't wait to get to book three in the trilogy.

Rating: 4.5 Stars

The Blood Gospel by James Rollins and Rebecca Cantrell (Order of the Sanguines, Book 1)

I thought this was a very interesting story....definitely included an unexpected element. I was not, and am still not, a fan of the female lead, Erin. She often comes off as too "girlie" in her reactions (to her potential love interest, to the injury of one of her students, etc) but then comes through with a "tough as nails" response when needed...it seems a bit inconsistent but maybe I'll come to appreciate that about her as I read the rest of this series. I like the two main male characters, Rhun and Jordan, a lot.

The Angry Hills by Leon Uris

This is a story of an American writer turned reluctant spy during Germany's invasion of Greece during WWII. It is also the first book by Leon Uris that I've read.

The writing was well done - well paced, good character development (mostly) and tension throughout. The Greek/British Underground was busy pulling a fast one on the German invaders, even as the author was giving the reader misdirection. :)

One thing that annoyed me - a typical pet peeve - is that there is a love story where by the 5th day after meeting, they use pet names (honey, darling) and by the 9th, they've professed their love. Maybe I'm just not a believer in love at first sight....

Good storytelling and the tension throughout.

Rating:  3.5 Stars

The Twelve Deaths Of Christmas by Marian Babson

This was an interesting story. Early on, I thought I had it all figured out...by the middle, I (again!) had it all figured out but with a different suspect (lol)...and at the end, I found out who the real killer was (neither of my suspects btw).

The writing style was interesting and definitely added to the mystery. Most of the story was told 3rd person except for the 1st person thoughts/actions of the killer allowing you to see what was driving the murder spree.

I highly recommend if you need a quick, engaging read.

Rating: 3.5 Stars

A Murder in Time by Julie McElwain (Kendra Donovan, Book 1)

I picked this book up based on a library recommendation during the Big Library Read event. It had favorable reviews and looked interesting.

I'm glad I decided to check it out. The storyline was different - a modern day FBI profiler traveling back in time to the early 1800s and becoming involved in the solving of a serial murder case. It was well paced, the action scenes well written and the writing kept me interested.

I am definitely going to read the next book in the Kendra Donovan series.

Rating: 4.25

Siddhartha by Hermann Hesse

This was a difficult read for me. It was boring and I really disliked the main character, Siddhartha. It's considered one of the most widely read books of the 20th century as it became a favorite of the counterculture of the 1960s and had been on my list for a while. Now, that's taken care of...lol.

From the book's Introduction: "Hermann Hesse's Siddhartha is a great story, a tale of a gifted individual struggling to discover the meaning of his life. Through his many colorful adventures, he does not settle for conventional answers, but experiences the whole range of human possibilities for himself and comes finally to profound insight and vast compassion."

Rating: 1.5 Stars

The Crush by Sandra Brown

I read this book based on a recommendation (Blind Date with a Book) and thoroughly enjoyed it. I haven't read a book by Sandra Brown in....over a decade, I think, and forgot how much I liked her books.

This story includes a brilliant but emotionally damaged surgeon who is being stalked by a delusional, cunning psychopath that has "a crush" on her. Enter the charming -but haunted- cop who comes to her rescue. (my current book crush ♥)

Rating: 4

A Study in Scarlet by Arthur Conan Doyle (Sherlock Holmes, Book 1)

This is the first of the Sherlock Holmes stories. It begins with Dr. Watson returning from war in Afghanistan and taking on Holmes as a roommate. The story was interesting and well done. I've had the Sherlock Holmes Collection on my shelf for a while meaning to read it in its entirety but have yet to do so. I may have to move this book higher on Mt. TBR.

Rating: 3.75

Some Enchanted Evening by Christina Dodd (The Lost Princesses, Book 1)

This was a fun quick read. I haven't been reading many historical romances in the last few years and had forgotten how fun they can be...and quirky...and over-the-top...along with a bit of cheesy dialogue...lol. Christina Dodd is always a fun read.

This this the first in the trilogy "The Lost Princesses". When revolution comes to their country following the revolt in France, the three young princesses are bundled off to England for safety. Over time, circumstances change and their whereabouts become unknown. Now that the country is safely back under the family's control, the Dowager Queen wants to bring the princesses home.

Rating: 3.5

The Executioner by Chris Carter (Robert Hunter, Book 2)

The Executioner is the 2nd book in the Robert Hunter series by Chris Carter. As with the first book, The Crucifix Killer, the murders are described in detail with none of the brutality and gore held back. Consequently, this book is definitely not for the faint of heart or those who are a bit squeamish.

The book opens with the first murder – a priest has been killed and is discovered on the blood-soaked altar steps inside his church. There are ritualistic undertones with designs in the blood as well as the fact that the priest’s head has been replaced with that of a dog’s. (see what I mean about gory?). But, this is only the first of several murders – all different, but all equally savage and disturbing.

The book was well-written and a good read. The story had very good pacing which kept you turning the pages. The main characters, Detectives Hunter and Garcia are likable, interesting and good at their jobs. Despite the heavy storyline, there is also a good bit of humor that often made me chuckle. I will definitely continue with the series.

Rating: 4 Stars

The Crucifix Killer by Chris Carter (Robert Hunter, Book 1)

Robert Hunter and his new partner are called to a crime scene at a derelict cabin in Griffith Park. What they find there is the stuff of nightmares – a woman brutally tortured and left to die. Worse, a symbol on the body pointing to a serial killer that was captured and executed years ago. Is this the work of a copycat or was the wrong man convicted? Hunter and Garcia are about to find out as the killer’s work has only begun.

I liked this book. I was immediately hooked by the opening and quickly became interested by the Robert Hunter character and his past as well as his deductive skills. His partner, Garcia, is also a strong character. The storyline was interesting and had a lot going for it.

Don’t get me wrong, there were issues with the book – many of which have been called out in other reviews (pacing, dialogue, cliché, etc) – that I am willing to overlook as it is the first novel in a series (as well as the first by the author) and I expect many of these issues to work themselves out as the series continues. For example, Garcia comes off as being overly naïve in some cases – allowing the author the opportunity to provide additional detail/background (Garcia is an LAPD office and he’s never heard of “suicide by cop”?). The killer was obvious early on - so much so that our reading group began to question if we were being led - but the motive and extra details were hidden until the reveal at the end.

One area in particular that I hope will be fixed – either by the author or by better editing -- is the dialogue and other poor word choices as there were several instances that were especially distracting as they didn’t fit with the Los Angeles setting/characters (punters, hiring a house, bread dispenser, CCTV, etc) and the repeated uses of gotta, gonna, wanna, and ain’t.

Rating: 4 Stars

Last Bus to Woodstock by Colin Dexter (Inspector Morse, Book 1)

Last Bus to Woodstock is the first book in the Inspector Morse series by Colin Dexter. The book opens with two young women waiting at the bus stop planning to catch the last bus to Woodstock. However, after they are told that there are no more buses to Woodstock that night, they decide to hitch a ride. Within hours, one of the young women is found dead in the parking lot of a pub in Woodstock.

While the story was generally interesting and proved to be a challenge to solve, I was less than happy with the lead character of the book, Inspector Morse. He seemed to be a lazy, irascible, bully.
Although ultimately solving the crime, he seemed to have bumbled his way into it. He decides on an initial motive and suspect and attempts to make the crime fit. When that doesn’t work, he moves onto yet another theory (that just – by luck – pays some dividends) and then yet another. In the end, it seems that some of the reasoning that lead to Morse’s solving of the mystery is only introduced in the final pages of the book. (reinforcing the bumbling detective feeling)

I read this book as a group read on LibraryThing and we had a very lively discussion – much of it centered on Morse. While I would most likely read the next book in the series if we read it as a group (there must be something there for this to be such a favorite character!), I would not be likely to read it on my own any time soon.

Rating: 3 Stars

Breaking Silence by Linda Castillo (Kate Burkholder, Book 3)

Breaking Silence is the third book in the Kate Burkholder series by Linda Castillo. Chief of Police Kate Burkholder awakens to her office calling to notify her of an emergency at the Slabaugh farm. Kate and emergency personnel rush to the scene only to find that they are too late. What at first seems to be a tragic accident is soon determined to be murder.

In addition to the incident at the Slabaugh farm, Painter’s Mill and the rest of the County are experiencing a rash of crimes against the local Amish community involving beatings, fires and attacks on their farm animals. The County Sheriff contacts the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation to assist with the hate crimes and John Tomasetti of the BCI – and Kate’s occasional lover – comes to town.

Interesting storylines and a bit of a twist ending make for a good read. In addition, the reader is seeming the changes in both Kate and Tomasetti and in them together. Kate still struggles regularly with her Amish upbringing and her current life as an “Englischer”. Definitely a series that I will continue.

Rating: 4 Stars

The Escape by David Baldacci (John Puller, Book 3)

The Escape, the third book in the John Puller series by David Baldacci, opens with Puller’s older brother, Robert, escaping from the US Disciplinary Barracks at Fort Leavenworth KS. Robert Puller was a fast rising Major in the Air Force before he was tried and convicted of treason two years previously.

John Puller, a combat veteran and highly regarded investigator for the Army’s Criminal Investigative Division is asked to assist in tracking down and recapturing Bobby. Even knowing that there’s no good outcome for him in this scenario, Puller agrees. On the way, Puller is teamed up with Veronica Knox, an investigator from INSCOM (a branch of the NSA).

Both the method and the timing of the escape are a mystery. USDB is a maximum security prison on the grounds of a military base. Bobby had been in prison for two year and, other than his initial mandatory appeal, had not attempted to challenge the conviction. How had Robert Puller managed the escape, and more importantly, why now?

As Puller and Knox investigate the escape and attempt to locate Bobby, they will uncover a treachery that goes deep into the intelligence agencies of the US and puts the safety of the country at risk.

I listened to this book on audio, narrated by Ron McLarty and Orlagh Cassidy. I enjoy their portrayal of the various characters in the book. I will be listening to the fourth book in the series, No Man's Land, as well and am somewhat concerned that the narrator for the series has changed to Kyf Brewer.

Rating:  4 Stars

The Sixth Man by David Baldacci (King and Maxwell, Book 5)

The Sixth Man, the fifth book in the King and Mawell series by David Baldacci, opens with Sean and Michelle travelling to Maine to work with Sean’s law professor and friend, Ted Bergin. On the several hour drive from the airport to the remote town where they will be staying, they come across a car alongside a deserted stretch of highway. Inside, is Ted Bergin with a bullet in his brain. Sean believes this to be murder and an attempt to stop the defense of Edgar Roy.

Edgar Roy is an off-the-charts genius that is being held at Cutter’s Bay, a maximum security prison in remote Maine. Roy is accused of killing 6 people and burying them on his family farm. Sean and Michelle decide to continue with the case in the hopes of finding Bergin’s murderer. What initially seemed to be a simple murder defense soon becomes a tangled and twisted intrigue involving national security, a struggle between government agencies and an assassination plot.

The story is a bit convoluted and the bad guys over-the-top bad but it’s an easy and entertaining read. Even better, the personal demons that Michelle has struggled with for the first four books finally seem to have been vanquished and she has become an asset to the team rather than a liability. Sean seems more trusting and open now that the relationship has improved and Michelle is less volatile.

At this point, there is one more book in the series. I will definitely continue with this story.

4 Stars

No Man's Land by David Baldacci (John Puller, Book 4)

No Man's Land is the fourth book in the John Puller series by David Baldacci. The central storyline in this book involves Puller’s search for answers to his mother’s mysterious disappearance 30 years ago.

Puller is visiting his father, Fighting John Puller, a highly regarded 3-star general, in his VA care center where he is suffering from dementia. As Puller is about to leave, he is approached by an Army officer and another agent in the CID (Army Criminal Investigative Division). These men inform Puller that they’ve been contacted by someone who knew the Pullers 30 years ago and that now, based on this new information, his father is considered a suspect in the disappearance of his wife. Puller is also informed that this notification was a courtesy only and that he is to have absolutely no involvement in the investigation. (yeah, like that is going to happen)

As Puller attempts to solve the mystery of his mother’s disappearance, he is joined by Veronica Knox of INSCOM, an investigative division in the NSA. Also assisting Puller is his brother, Robert, recently reinstated to his rank in the Air Force following his incarceration at the United States Detention Barracks after his manufactured conviction for traitorous activities.

While this book has the typical black and white hero and heroine, it also includes a bad guy who the reader sympathizes with and will actually cheer on. In addition, there is a good guy so loathsome that the reader will be continually hoping that they will get what they deserve. This made for a very interesting reading experience.

I listened to this book on audio, narrated by Kyf Brewer and Orlagh Cassidy. I enjoyed the narration in general (after getting used to a change from Ron Mclarty in the first 3 books in the series to Kyf Brewer) although I definitely did not like the why the narrator did Puller’s voice. Puller always sounded like he was speaking in a raspy stage whisper. Brewer’s voice was very good for the bad guy.

I am current in this series and if this was the last of the books, it would be a good end to the series. If more are published, I will definitely continue.

Rating: 4 Stars

The Paris Vendetta by Steve Berry (Cotton Malone, Book 5)

In this fifth book in the Cotton Malone series by Steve Berry, we find Cotton pressed into service yet again when Sam Collins, an American Secret Service Agent, breaks into his home in the middle of the nights with assassins on his heels. Cotton discovers that Sam was sent to him by his old friend and ally, Henrik Thorvaldsen who needs his help to stop the Paris Club.

The Paris Club is a cabal of multimillionaires that are on using their connections and influence to manipulate the global financial markets. In attempting to stop the destruction that is planned by the cabal, Cotton must match wits with not only a terrorist-for-hire but also an unscrupulous treasure hunter as they hunt for Napoleon Bonapart’s lost treasure.

This was not one of the better Cotton Malone books, but neither was it the worst (see review of book 4). It’s an interesting story and has the usual thrills and action that we’ve come to expect from Berry. I will assume that this was a blip in the series and continue with Cotton’s various adventures.

Rating: 3.25

The Scorch Trials by James Dashner (The Maze Runner, Book 2)

This is the second book in the Maze Runner trilogy by James Dashner. The first book, The Maze Runner, was interesting with a unique concept and generally likable characters. This second book….not so much. Maybe it’s because of the different storylines and the way the Gladers kept getting separated, but I never got the same sense of cohesiveness. I found Thomas to be whiny and annoying. Teresa was a total bitch and seemed to be drinking the W.I.C.K.E.D. koolaid. Both Minho and Newt were treated like afterthoughts. And, I absolutely did not like the new characters that were added to the storyline, Jorge and Brenda.

Despite how much I disliked this book, I will continue with the third, Death Cure. At this point, after having gone through all these crazy, dangerous, unnecessary trials with the kids, I find myself wanting to finally get the answers I am sure will be at the end.

Rating: 1.75

April Morning: A Novel by Howard Fast

In this coming of age story, fifteen year-old Adam Cooper has to grow up overnight. Adam lives in Lexington, MA and it’s April 18, 1775. It’s the eve of the Revolutionary War and the British Army is on the march to Concord to seize the munition stores of the colonists.

Having been warned of the impending arrival of the Redcoats, the town committeemen call all able-bodied men to town to make a stand. No one in Lexington believes that there will be a battle as they have 75 men, at most, vs 1,000+ Redcoats. They just want to show the British Army that they are not to be trifled with and that Lexington is their home and they will protect it. However, all those rational thoughts are thrown away, when the British open fire. From there, the reader follows Adam as he joins the rest of the men in harassing the British column as it marches from Concord back to Boston.

This story gives puts you in the thoughts of a young man who until this day had a quiet life where his biggest problems were trying not to disappoint his father and dealing with his annoying little brother. That all changes in an instant when the first shot rings out…

Very well-written, a quick and easy read but interesting as the reader learns of the initial hours of the Revolutionary War. I recommend this to anyone interested in the Revolutionary War or even simply as a coming of age story.

Rating: 3.75 stars