June Reviews

We are interested in what you have read and why you did or did not like it. Just a few words is all that you need for those of you that don't like to write book reviews. Please feel that all opinions will be respected no matter how long or short.

Entry Island by Peter May
5★'s

From The Book:

When a murder rocks the isolated community of Entry Island, insomniac homicide detective Sime Mackenzie boards a light aircraft at St. Hubert airfield bound for the small, scattered chain of Madeline Islands, in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, as part of an eight-officer investigation team from Montréal. Only two kilometers wide and three long, Entry Island is home to a population of just more than 100 inhabitants, the wealthiest of whom has just been discovered murdered in his home. Covered in her husband's blood, the dead man's melancholy wife spins a tale for the police about a masked intruder armed with a knife. The investigation appears to be little more than a formality--the evidence points to a crime of passion, implicating the wife. But Sime is electrified by the widow during his interview, convinced that he has met her before, even though this is clearly impossible.

My Thoughts:

The book reflects Peter May's use of Scottish history and the Highland Clearances of the nineteenth century's effect on the modern day murder on Entry Island in primarily French- speaking Canada.

Most of the one hundred or so inhabitants of Entry island are English speaking and all think the murder couldn't have happened to a better person than the victim. As is usually the case, the victim's wife is the most obvious suspect. The different directions that the investigation takes will keep the reader turning pages and trying to guess who the killer was. The wonderful writing style of Peter May combined with the backstory and the history aspect makes Entry Island another outstanding contribution.

This book was a mix of genres but mystery was definitely one of them.

Mr. Penumbra's 24 Hour Bookstore by Robin Sloan
4.5 Stars

After Clay Jannon loses his job as a website designer, he passes a bookstore looking for an overnight clerk. It’s a very peculiar and dusty place where there are few customers, with the exception of a handful of rather eccentric people who borrow rather than buy the books. Behind the desk, the back and lining the walls are rows of old leather books that reach far up into the extremely tall space. Yet these books aren’t for sale. They are for members to check out and return. The books look like they are written in secret code. Ultimately Clay discovers the code is connected to some sort of bizarre cult. He goes on a mission to solve the mystery that has been tormenting its members for centuries. He enlists the help of an equally bizarre team, including his former best friend who invented a boob-simulation software, a young woman who works for Google, and even the fascinating Mr. Penumbra himself.

This book has been on my shelf for quite a while but kept getting passed up. I'm so glad I finally picked it up. Something about this book reminded me of Ready Player One without the video games. There's also a lot of humor in the story, especially the dialog between the characters. I really enjoyed the way the author explored the idea that technology is changing the way people read books. He also did it in a way that wasn't accusatory or agenda driven. My only criticism is that the ending seemed a little rushed. There's a little bit of everything in this book: mystery, magical realism, adventure and fantasy. If you have an interest in any of those genres, I definitely recommend it.

I've had Entry Island for a long time but haven't read it. It consistently gets good reviews so I better think about moving it up.

I've read both of these books and enjoyed them very much!

>4 Olivermagnus: The story will remind you in many ways of the Lewis Trilogy. It's been awhile since I read Mr. Penumbra's 24 Hour Bookstore but I do remember liking it a lot.

Book Description
New York Times bestselling authors James Rollins and Rebecca Cantrell combine their talents in a gothic tale about an ancient order and the hunt for a miraculous book known only as . . . The Blood Gospel.

An earthquake in Masada, Israel, kills hundreds and reveals a tomb buried in the heart of the mountain. A trio of investigators--Sergeant Jordan Stone, a military forensic expert; Father Rhun Korza, a Vatican priest; and Dr. Erin Granger, a brilliant but disillusioned archaeologist--are sent to explore the macabre discovery, a subterranean temple holding the crucified body of a mummified girl.

But a brutal attack at the site sets the three on the run, thrusting them into a race to recover what was once preserved in the tomb's sarcophagus: a book rumored to have been written by Christ's own hand, a tome that is said to hold the secrets to His divinity. The enemy who hounds them is like no other, a force of ancient evil directed by a leader of impossible ambitions and incalculable cunning.

From crumbling tombs to splendorous churches, Erin and her two companions must confront a past that traces back thousands of years, to a time when ungodly beasts hunted the dark spaces of the world, to a moment in history when Christ made a miraculous offer, a pact of salvation for those who were damned for eternity.

Here is a novel that is explosive in its revelation of a secret history. Why do Catholic priests wear pectoral crosses? Why are they sworn to celibacy? Why do the monks hide their countenances under hoods? And why does Catholicism insist that the consecration of wine during Mass results in its transformation to Christ's own blood? The answers to all go back to a secret sect within the Vatican, one whispered as rumor but whose very existence was painted for all to see by Rembrandt himself, a shadowy order known simply as the Sanguines.

In the end, be warned: some books should never be found, never opened--until now.

My Review
This is the 2nd book in The Order of the Sanguines Series. First I want to say that this series needs to be read in order. I'm not usually a fan of vampire books but this is different in the sense that it has to do with the Catholic belief that consecrated wine is transformed into Christ's own blood. Since a lot of the Catholic beliefs are based on faith it was really easy to transfer that faith to a book of this type. I loved the Biblical and Historical references which also made for a very exciting plot. The characters were very well drawn and very believable too. I have read other books by these talented authors and their combined effort in this series makes for very creative writing. Can't wait to start the 3rd book and get back to the adventures of Erin Granger, Jordan Stone and the Sanguines.

Dead Man's Grip by Peter James
4.5 Stars

Dead Man’s Grip is the seventh in a series featuring Detective Superintendent Roy Grace. It begins with a seemingly unconnected set of multiple points of view, eventually leading up in a horrible traffic accident. The narrators are a hung-over female driver, the tired truck driver who is over his driving hours, and the about to be killed American cyclist. However, the driver of a white van that actually runs over the cyclist is kept anonymous. When the victim turns out to be the son of a Mafia family, Roy Grace is brought in to solve the mystery of who was in the white van as quickly as possible. Unknown to him, the mother of the young man already has her plan for vengeance.

Roy Grace and the rest of the characters in this series are very interesting. Roy's wife, Sandy, has been missing for over ten years and he's decided to have her declared dead so he can marry Cleo, the woman who is carrying his child. This book will reveal some of the potential problems they are going to have in the future. Overall, I thought the story was filled with building tension, the murders were gruesome but unique, and the resolution was well written. I'm off to read the next book in the series, Not Dead Yet.

Love this series. Roy Grace is almost the perfect detective.

I also love the Roy Grace series, only got the one that has just been published in the UK to read.

<Carol (post 2)
I loved Entry Island - a favourite of mine. I loved the small island feel (like in the Lewis Island Trilogy) and learning a bit more about the history of Canada. I do thin kid your family during the clearances section.

Fool Me Once by Harlan Coben - 5 stars
Book Description
#1 New York Times bestseller Harlan Coben delivers his next impossible-to-put-down thriller.

You think you know the truth. The truth is you know nothing.

In the course of eight consecutive #1 New York Times bestsellers, millions of readers have discovered Harlan Coben's page-turning thrillers, filled with his trademark edge-of-your-seat suspense and gut-wrenching emotion. In Fool Me Once, Coben once again outdoes himself.

Former special ops pilot Maya, home from the war, sees an unthinkable image captured by her nanny cam while she is at work: her two-year-old daughter playing with Maya's husband, Joe--who was brutally murdered two weeks earlier. The provocative question at the heart of the mystery: Can you believe everything you see with your own eyes, even when you desperately want to? To find the answer, Maya must finally come to terms with deep secrets and deceit in her own past before she can face the unbelievable truth about her husband--and herself.

My Review
I love when a new Coben book comes out and this one did not disappoint. The plot kept me glued until the last pages as I had to find out what was happening and who killed Maya's husband, Joe. Coben's excellent writing forces you to hate these characters and there are some nasty ones. The twists and turns keep coming as Coben shows you that you have no clue what is going on. In the end, you finally realize that all the clues were there and you just failed to put them together. I am now looking forward to the new Myron book which is soon to be released and getting back on that roller coaster which Coben allows us to ride each time we read one of his novels.

Maybe it was just me but I didn't like Maya at all. I think I did give the book 4 stars because I like Harlan Coben and the plot was good.

>13 Carol420:
I agree Maya was hard to take and unlikeable but I attribute that to Harlon's great writing making us dislike her.

>10 Andrew-theQM: I spotted the first of the series by chance in the library today,so hopefully I can heed Carol's recommendation at last!

>16 dustydigger: >9 Carol420: Don't think you'll be sorry Dusty. I love the range and group of characters they've pulled together, very interesting interactions and dynamics. Often you also see the crime (and there are some despicable crimes) from both the police and criminal's perspective. But my favourite feature are the regular briefings / meetings they have with the police at the beginning and end of each day - this makes you feel part of the investigation. I know as well as Carol that Lynda also enjoys them and possibly Eadie. I have just downloaded the new one as an Ebola so hope to get to it soon, just didn't come quick enough for half-term and I want some quality time to read it. I will always be thankful to Peter James as the first book I read in the series (not the first book) was my escapism when I couldn't face everyday life following my mum's funeral 3 1/2 years ago.

>12 EadieB: Another excellent Harlan Coben book by the sound of it!

>18 Andrew-theQM:
Yes, I enjoyed Fool Me Once very much. I like Peter James too and I do have to get back to that series as I have been witnessing all the good reviews you guys have been posting.

Suffer Little Children by Peter Tremayne 4 stars

from GoodReads: In A.D. 644, a respected scholar of the Celtic Church is murdered during a visit to the Irish Kingdom of Muman. The kingdom's ruler summons Sister Fidelma to solve the brutal murder, but her time is limited. The victim, as it turns out, was a comrade of the arrogant King of Fearna, who threatens war over the suspicious death of his friend But during her inquiries, Sister Fidelma comes to realize that there is more at hand than what appears, and finds her own life caught in the balance!

my thoughts: I really enjoyed this episode in the Sister Fidelma series. She is an interesting character in a time period and place where women had a surprising amount of freedom. The historical notes were very interesting and the book was extremely well-researched. The author did a great job of winnowing down the suspects and if you were paying attention, the clues were there for you to figure out the culprit along with Sister Fidelma. I enjoyed the resolution, but I also enjoyed the ride Tremayne took you along to get to the resolution.

>20 jguidry:
I own 14 of Tremayne's books - I will have to check him out soon.

Hope you like his work Eadie. I really did.

>22 jguidry:
I'm sure I will. Looks very interesting!

>22 jguidry: >23 EadieB: Only 14 Eadie that is a very disappointing return. Lol! You usually have a higher proportion of an author's work in your national collection. ☺️

>24 Andrew-theQM:
Going to a library sale on Thursday so maybe I can rectify that!

>25 EadieB: The normal order is restored :)

>26 Andrew-theQM:
Oh by the way, I love Harry Clifton!

I assume you are both referring to the Jeffrey Archer character and not the Irish poet:)

>28 Carol420: Lol Carol! 😂 Yes safe to say it is the character from the Clifton Chronicles.
>27 EadieB: Those books are just so addictive Eadie, and I have to warn you each one is left on a cliff hanger so you just have to get hold of the next one without delay. Hence having read all 6 in around six months - would have been sooner but was waiting for the last one to become available at the library. Now waiting with baited breath for the last book in the series to be published in November.

>29 Andrew-theQM:
I own 4 of them and the library has them too. I can see how they are addictive. Always have to read the next chapter. Archer is a good storyteller.

>30 EadieB: What???? They have you and yet your city actually has a library??? Very difficult to believe:)

>31 Carol420:
Yes my town does have a library - it makes it legal as the books come in there first bought from the taxpayers money and then I transfer them to my library when the taxpayers are finished reading them.

A Head Full of Ghost by Paul Tremblay
2.5★'s

From The Book:
The lives of the Barretts, a normal suburban New England family, are torn apart when fourteen-year-old Marjorie begins to display signs of acute schizophrenia.To her parents’ despair, the doctors are unable to stop Marjorie’s descent into madness. As their stable home devolves into a house of horrors, they reluctantly turn to a local Catholic priest for help. Father Wanderly suggests an exorcism; he believes the vulnerable teenager is the victim of demonic possession. He also contacts a production company that is eager to document the Barretts’ plight. With John, Marjorie’s father, out of work for more than a year and the medical bills looming, the family agrees to be filmed, and soon find themselves the unwitting stars of The Possession, a hit reality television show. When events in the Barrett household explode in tragedy, the show and the shocking incidents it captures become the stuff of urban legend. Fifteen years later, a bestselling writer interviews Marjorie’s younger sister, Merry. As she recalls those long ago events that took place when she was just eight years old, long-buried secrets and painful memories that clash with what was broadcast on television begin to surface—and a mind-bending tale of psychological horror is unleashed, raising vexing questions about memory and reality, science and religion, and the very nature of evil.

My Thoughts:

Okay...what to say about this book? I guess I wasn't really very impressed overall. I found the TV script part difficult to read and make any sense of. it wasn't scary in the least...if anything it was very sad. The entire family was all border-line psychotic to a degree and making a TV series of Marjorie's schizophrenia severed absolutely no useful purpose other than monetary. Maybe I just didn't get it.

>33 Carol420: Doesn't sound as if you were bowled over by this one.

That's putting it mildly.

>35 Carol420: :)

Only Time Will Tell by Jeffrey Archer - 5 stars
Book Description
From the popular author of Kane and Abel and A Prisoner of Birth comes the story of one family across generations, across oceans, from heartbreak to triumph.

The epic tale of Harry Clifton's life begins in 1920, with the words, "I was told that my father was killed in the war." A dock worker in Bristol, Harry never knew his father, but he learns about life on the docks from his uncle who expects Harry to join him at the shipyard once he's left school. But then his unexpected gift wins him a scholarship to an exclusive boys' school, and his life will never be the same again.

As he enters into adulthood, Harry finally learns how his father really died, but the awful truth only leads him to question who was his father? Is he the son of Arthur Clifton, a stevedore who spent his whole life on the docks, or the first-born son of a scion of West Country society, whose family owns a shipping line?

This introductory novel in The Clifton Chronicles includes a cast of colorful characters and takes us from the ravages of the Great War to the outbreak of the Second World War, when Harry must decide whether to take up a place at Oxford or join the navy and go to war with Hitler's Germany. From the docks of working-class England to the bustling streets of 1940 New York City, Only TimeWill Tell takes readers on a journey through to future volumes, which will bring to life one hundred years of recent history to reveal a family story that neither the reader nor Harry Clifton himself could ever have imagined.

My Review
I love family sagas and this one by Jeffrey Archer does not disappoint. His writing is excellent and keeps you interested right up to the last page where a cliffhanger awaits and makes you want to pick up the next book immediately in order to find out what happens next. The cast of characters are very believable and a varied bunch; some are rich, some are poor, some are nice, some are evil, some you love and some you hate. The main characters have chapters dedicated to their side of the story and by the end of the book, we know all about them and what's going on in their life. This is one series that I definitely will read one book after another as it engrosses you and won't let you go. If you haven't started it yet, you don't know what you're missing but if you do, you won't regret it.

>37 EadieB: Please don't make me read another series!!!! Oh...alright...I'll look for these. Thank you... and if I die from eye strain it will be all your fault:)

>38 Carol420:
Carol: you will really like them and your eyestrain will be worth it! lol

>37 EadieB: I knew you'd love it Eadie, so addictive a series! Your review is so spot on, you just want to read the next book straight away to find the answer to the cliff hanger.

>38 Carol420: Carol you simply must read these - they are quick and easy reads. I've read the first six in the past six months. Now waiting with baited breath for the final one to be published in November.

>40 Andrew-theQM: FINAL???? I'm going to love these and read them all in supersonic time and you're telling me there's going to be a FINAL one??? You mean just for the time being or it time everlasting? Just curious:)

>41 Carol420: No from what I've seen it is intended to be the last one in the series.

>42 Andrew-theQM: Well..he just can't do that!

>43 Carol420: I'll et you tell him!

>40 Andrew-theQM:
Yes, Andrew, I love, love love this series. I can't wait to read the next one but I think I'm going to read a book on my list,Library of the Dead, and then read the 2nd one, then read Memory Man and then read the 3rd one etc. That way I won't be ignoring my June list.

>45 EadieB: Library of the Dead is another of my favourite books. It is through that book that I discovered Glenn Cooper. Enjoy!

>46 Andrew-theQM:
I'm sure it will probably be a favorite of mine too!

>47 EadieB: I can't wait to see your reaction to the book.

>48 Andrew-theQM:
Can't wait to read it now!

>49 EadieB: Enjoy 😎

This Body of Death by Elizabeth George 5 stars

from my library's catalog: On compassionate leave after the murder of his wife, Thomas Lynley is called back to Scotland Yard when the body of a woman is found stabbed and abandoned in an isolated London cemetery. While Lynley works on the case in London, his former colleagues Barbara Havers and Winston Nkata follow the murder trail south to the New Forest--and to an outcome that is both tragic and shocking.

my thoughts: When I first started listening to this audio, I will admit that I thought Elizabeth George had lost her mind. There seemed to be two completely different storylines going on at once and it was very confusing. But, I should have had faith in her, because when she made the connection all made sense to me and I loved it! The story did not end the way I expected, but I liked how everything ended. It was good but not "happily ever after". That keeps me reading for more.

>51 jguidry: This is a series I keep meaning to try.

>51 jguidry: - I'm up to #7 in this series Playing for the Ashes. I enjoy it much more than I expected.

>48 Andrew-theQM:
On page 128 of Library of the Dead - I love the author's voice and writing style. Found it interesting about the UFO's in Roswell, New Mexico and Forrestal's so called suicide!

Well... Most of y'all know I ROO... so...

The Ghost Fields by Elly Griffiths
Ruth Galloway series Book # 7
5★'s
A construction worker near University Professor and Forensic Archaeologist Ruth Galloway's home on the coast of Norfolk, England, discovers a buried WWII-era fighter plane with the pilot still inside....or it is assumed that the body is that of the pilot. Ruth is called to investigate along with DCI Harry Nelson who just happens to be the father of Ruth's 5 year old daughter.

The discovery of the grisly human remains ignites a series of mysteries that all seem to evolve around the Blackstock's...a family of nobility who has lived in the area since the Bronze Age and who may have a few more skeletons stashed in the closet and elsewhere. Soon Ruth and Harry Nelson's team are investigating throughout the countryside, from the developer’s digging site to a derelict WWII American airfield—one of many known as “ghost fields”.

The success of this wonderful series is due to the intriguing and ever developing cast of characters that readers of this series look forward to meeting again and again. Characters like Ruth and Harry...Kate the 5 year old...Judy, Cloughie and Tim...Harry's sometimes bumbling but competent team of investigators..and Cathbad the ever lovable and not always right Durid, whose presence the story would just not be the same without. There is no need to say that I really enjoyed The Ghost Fields. Long may the series run.

Field of Graves by J.T. Ellison
Part of the Taylor Jackson series
5★'s

This was an unpublished book, written between 2003 and 2005 that should have been Book # 1 in the Taylor Jackson series. Her agent advised J.T. Ellison to write another for her first published book so she instead wrote All The Pretty Girls, which became Book #1 in the Taylor Jackson series and sentenced Field of Graves to a drawer to be forgotten for 11 years.

This should have taken it's rightful place as it reveals the origins of some of J.T. Ellison's most famous creations: the haunted Lieutenant Taylor Jackson; her blunt, exceptional best friend, medical examiner Dr. Samantha Owens; and troubled FBI profiler Dr. John Baldwin. Anyone that has followed the series through the years, or has started Dr. Samantha Owens' own series, will want to put Field of Graves at the top of you tbr list. Why this book was thrown in a drawer and forgotten until now...who knows? But I am for one glad that J.T remembered. I highly recommend it for all fans of J.T. Ellison's works.

The Ghost Fields by Elly Griffiths *****
Book Description
The chilling discovery of a downed World War II plane with a body inside leads Ruth and DCI Nelson to uncover a wealthy family’s secrets in the seventh Ruth Galloway mystery.

Norfolk is suffering from record summer heat when a construction crew unearths a macabre discovery—a downed World War II plane with the pilot still inside. Forensic archaeologist Ruth Galloway quickly realizes that the skeleton couldn’t possibly be the pilot, and DNA tests identify the man as Fred Blackstock, a local aristocrat who had been reported dead at sea. When the remaining members of the Blackstock family learn about the discovery, they seem strangely frightened by the news.

Events are further complicated by a TV company that wants to make a film about Norfolk’s deserted air force bases, the so-called Ghost Fields, which have been partially converted into a pig farm run by one of the younger Blackstocks. As production begins, Ruth notices a mysterious man lurking on the outskirts of Fred Blackstock’s memorial service. Then human bones are found on the family’s pig farm. Can the team outrace a looming flood to find a killer?

Laced with dry humor and anchored by perennial fan favorite Ruth, The Ghost Fields will delight fans new and old.

My Review
This is the 7th installment of Ruth Galloway mystery series and did not disappoint. Elly Griffiths can tell a good story with a great plot and excellent well-developed characters. Always entertaining, her novels keep you hooked until the end. This one also had interesting historical information about WWII in Norfolk. I love following the relationship between Nelson and Ruth and I eagerly look forward to each new book by Griffith and recommend her highly.

The Library of the Dead by Glenn Cooper - *****

I enjoyed this historical thriller from Glenn Cooper. I loved his voice and humor and found it to be a very clever story and an excellent debut. The characters are fascinating and the plot held my interest until the last page. I love how he tied the past into the present and switched back and forth in time effortlessly. I now look forward to reading the next book in the series. I would highly recommend this series to those who enjoy historical mysteries.

Dishonorable Intentions by Stuart Woods
Stone Barrington series Book# 38
3.5★'s

Readers travel around the United States, Europe and Russia in this latest Stone Barrington novel. Stone and his lady friend, Gala Wilde, is a Hollywood screenwriter with an ex-husband who is stalking her and just won't take "NO" for an answer. Her ex-husband is Boris Tirov, a Hollywood producer with ties to the Russian mob who makes life miserable for anyone who gets in his way. There's no hope of him going back to Russia because of an outstanding warrant could be waiting for him since he had been accused of killing one of his young leading ladies.

Readers will also find that some changes are about to take place with some major characters that have appeared throughout the series. There is just something about the Stone Barrington books that keeps me returning again and again, despite for a period of time hating what Stuart Woods had done to Stone Barrington's morals and common sense. Everyone has more money than they know what to do with and they spend it freely indulging in the very, very best of everything without blinking an eye. One thing I really like is that all the characters in his other series has been successfully blended into this storyline. Old friends are always making an appearance.

This series does need to be read in order to even begin to understand where it all began with any hope of knowing where it's going. Another recent trend is that one book is continued into the next one. So if you have a couple of years to devote to reading this series from Book #1...go for it:)

>60 Carol420: Lol!

>59 eadieburke: Glad you enjoyed one of my favourite books - loved that story!

>62 Andrew-theQM:
I agree - It was a good one!

End of Watch by Stephen King
Book #3 in the Bill Hodges Trilogy
5+★'s

Stephen King has always had a way with characters and settings in addition to having an incredible imagination…so readers are never disappointed with the fantasy and horror that spills from his mind and into his keyboard. Actually we can’t get enough of it.

In this trilogy his Bradley Hartsfield character is just amazing. From the start of the trilogy he has been horrifying and demented… a broken man who is just smart enough to cause mayhem. His vicious hatred is mixed with just enough dark genius to make him absolutely terrifying. Even when he is absent from the world in a state close to death…he manages to reek havoc. Hartsfield’s character in this trilogy is pure Stephen King genius at work. As we have seen in so many of his other works, he can take someone unpleasant and frightening to begin with and slowly turn them into a monster that will make themselves at home in our nightmares for a long time. To represent the side of good in humanity…King gives us retired detective Bill Hodges who takes on saving his city with the help of his young friends Holly Gibney and Jerome Robinson. As is the nature of this author… King builds on the events of the first two books using them to build a foundation that creates a tale of horror as well as a hard driven detective tale. From the title of the book…End of Watch… we know that this is indeed the end of a truly amazing adventure by the “Master of Horror”.

>64 Carol420: Now that they are all out I want to get to this trilogy.

>65 Andrew-theQM: I think you'll like it.

The Sins of the Father by Jeffrey Archer - *****
Book Description
It is only days before Britain declares war on Germany. Harry Clifton, hoping to escape the consequences of a family scandal, and realizing he can never marry Emma Barrington, has joined the Merchant Navy. When a German U-boat sinks his ship, Harry and a handful of sailors are rescued by the SS Kansas Star, among them an American named Tom Bradshaw. That night, when Bradshaw dies, Harry seizes a chance to bury his past―by assuming the man's identity.

My Review
This is the 2nd book in the Clifton Chronicles series and in order to understand the story and know the characters it is best to read this series in order. This book was just as good as the first and kept me reading until the last page where once again it ended with a cliff-hanger. As I already own the 3rd book, I was eager to read the prologue in order to see the results of the cliff-hanger. Jeffrey Archer has a wonderful way with words and the lives of the Barringtons and Harry Clifton is all consuming while reading one of his books. I will continue with the next books in the series and hope and pray that Jeffrey Archer keeps writing and I won't have to wait a whole year for one of his cliff-hangers. If you haven't started this series, you should, as you will not be disappointed.

>67 EadieB: I agree wholeheartedly, I love this series. I've read the first 6 in the last six months and wait (im)patiently for the last book in the series which should be published in November.

>68 Andrew-theQM:.
As soon as one hateful person dies (Hugh), we now have Lady Virginia!

>68 Andrew-theQM: And there's plenty to come from her.

>70 Andrew-theQM:
Nasty, nasty people in these books!

>71 eadieburke: Oh yes, and you ain't seen nothing yet.

>72 Andrew-theQM:
Looking forward to reading more! Great books!

Drawn in Blood by Andrea Kane
FBI Series Book #2
3.5★'s

From The Book:
Former FBI Special Agent Sloane Burbank has seen her share of danger. She's faced down a serial killer and survived life-threatening injuries . . . but she never expected that danger to invade the lives of her family. Then her mother is viciously attacked in the posh Manhattan apartment her parents share and it quickly becomes clear that this is no ordinary robbery. The thieves were too clever, too knowledgeable, and so obviously after something of her father's. But what could a respected art dealer have done to merit such violence? When a mysterious message is left for him, Sloane knows her father's in over his head. Determined to find out the truth, Sloane discovers a deadly secret buried in his past that has made him the target of a power-hungry mobster with a lethal agenda and nothing to lose. Sloane is desperate to save her father, but to do so she must hold on to secrets of her own—especially from FBI Special Agent Derek Parker, the man she has grown to love deeply. She knows she must tell him everything, but how can she betray her father's confidence? Can a couple who's faced so much survive this ultimate test of trust? Will they survive at all?

My Thoughts:
This story line continues from the book before it...Twisted…but it isn’t necessary to read it first to understand what is happening. I like Andrea Kane’s writing style. She manages to throw in a twist or a turn just when you think you have it all figured out. Sloane and Derek have proven to be interesting and complex characters in both this book and the first book. The way they work together gives them a greater feeling of reality. Drawn in Blood is a fantastic story of love, hate, life, lust, and motive. This is a story you will hate to see end.

>73 EadieB: Me too!

Follow You Home by Mark Edwards
4★'s

From The Book:
It was supposed to be the trip of a lifetime, a final adventure before settling down. After a perfect start, Daniel and Laura’s travels end abruptly when they are thrown off a night train in the middle of nowhere. To find their way back to civilization, they must hike along the tracks through a forest…a haunting journey that ends in unimaginable terror. Back in London, Daniel and Laura vow never to talk about what they saw that night. But as they try to fit back into their old lives, it becomes clear that their nightmare is just beginning.

My Thoughts:
Intriguing story to say the least. From the setting...Romania...the reader at first suspects...you guessed it...vampires. I have to say that the author did a great job of building on that idea through the first 200 pages without ever actually saying the word. The plot and the chapters that follow are so cleverly done that you find yourself reading "just one more chapter...and then just one more...well maybe one more..." Yeah...it's that kind of book. I lost a lot of respect for the main characters though after their return to London and things began to effect everyone they came in contact with. I wanted to shake some sense into Laura...good heavens woman sit down and talk this thing out with Daniel. The story began to be a tad too long about 320 pages into the book but the epilogue is worth it all. Never expected this. Really good book and I highly recommend it...but stay OUT OF THE WOODS!

>76 Carol420: Carol I also read this early this year and enjoy d it but would recommend even more the D I Patrick Lennon series written by Mark Edwards and Louise Voss. Only two written so far :
1. From the Cradle
2. The Blissfully Dead
I hope they write more because I really enjoyed these books and book 1 certainly starts off with a bang!
Definitely recommend them.

>77 Andrew-theQM: Thanks Andrew. The library has his book The Magpies on order. I'll ask for those two also. What else does the library have to do besides order me books? :)

>77 Andrew-theQM: Got to keep them gainfully employed. I've not read The Magpies.

Blood infernal by James Rollins & Rebecca Cantrell
Book #3 in The Order of the Sanguines Trilogy
4.5★'s

From The Book:
As an escalating scourge of grisly murders sweeps the globe, archaeologist Erin Granger must decipher the truth behind an immortal prophecy foretold in the Blood Gospel, a tome written by Christ and lost for centuries: The shackles of Lucifer have been loosened, and his Chalice remains lost. It will take the light of all three to forge the Chalice anew and banish him again to his eternal darkness. With the Apocalypse looming, Erin must again join forces with Army Sergeant Jordan Stone and Father Rhun Korza to search for a treasure lost for millennia. But the prize has already fallen into the hands of their enemy, a demon named Legion, before whom even the walls of the Vatican will fall. The search for the key to salvation will take Erin and the others across centuries and around the world, from the dusty shelves of the Vatican's secret archives to lost medieval laboratories, where ancient alchemists were employed to horrific ends. All the while, they are hunted, besieged by creatures of uncanny skill and talent. As clues are dug free from ancient underground chapels and found frozen in icy mountain caverns, Erin will discover that the only hope for victory lies in an impossible act--one that will destroy not only her, but all she loves. To protect the world, Erin must walk through the very gates of Hell and face the darkest of enemies: Lucifer himself.

My Thoughts:
The first two books and this one are filled with fast paced action along with complex mysteries... good and bad vampires...(although the "V' word is never actually mentioned)...and no end to demons and other creatures literally straight out of Hell. It all makes for a strong series and a trilogy conclusion that reveals bitter betrayal and unexpected redemption. There is a mix of religion, history and supernatural events that puts a different yet effective spin on the apocalypse genre. The authors take some liberties with religion as most of us know it but if you just suspend your disbelief for awhile and don't rely a great deal on credibility you will thoroughly enjoy this trilogy.

>80 Carol420: On last twenty pages and totally gripped, still not certain fully how this will end!

Best Kept Secret by Jeffrey Archer - *****
Book Description
International bestselling author Jeffrey Archer's mesmerizing saga of the Clifton and Barrington families continues.

London, 1945. Who shall inherit the Barrington family fortune? The vote in the House of Lords has ended in a tie. The Lord Chancellor's deciding vote will cast a long shadow on the lives of Harry Clifton and Giles Barrington. Harry returns to America to promote his latest novel while Emma goes in search of the little girl who was found abandoned in her father's office on the night he was killed. When the general election is called, Giles Barrington has to defend his seat in the House of Commons and is horrified to discover who the Conservatives select to stand against him. But it is Sebastian Clifton, Harry and Emma's son, who ultimately influences his uncle's fate.

"One of the top ten storytellers in the world." ―Los Angeles Times

In 1957, Sebastian wins a scholarship to Cambridge, and a new generation of the Clifton family marches onto the page. But after Sebastian is expelled from school, he unwittingly becomes caught up in an international art fraud involving a Rodin statue that is worth far more than the sum it raises at auction. Does he become a millionaire? Does he go to Cambridge? Is his life in danger? Best Kept Secret, the third volume in Archer's bestselling series, will answer all these questions but, once again, pose so many more…

"A PAGE-TURNING, HEART-STOPPING SAGA."
―Publishers Weekly on Sins of the Father

My Review
This 3rd book in the Clifton Chronicles picks up where the 2nd one left off with a major cliffhanger. It's finally decided who will inherit the Barrington fortune and the family saga continues. Giles Barrington runs for his next term in office and comes up against roadblocks. He needs to deal again with ex-wife, Lady Victoria, and Alex Fisher, two evil people from his past. Harry and Emma locate Jessica and they are raising her as their own. Sebastian's character is expanded upon and a major cliffhanger is once more waiting for us at the end of this book. The story moves quickly and is a real page turner. If you haven't started this series, now is a good time since book 1 thru 5 is readily available and you won't have to wait a whole year to find out what happens after each major cliffhanger. Jeffrey Archer is truly a great storyteller and I look forward to reading more from this series.

Haunted Destiny by Heather Graham
Krewe of Hunters series Book #18
3★'s

When it comes to things that go bump in the night, Heather Graham has a knack for making them come alive....no pun intended. Graham takes the paranormal and weaves it into the story in such a way that the reader starts to believe it's plausible. After all doesn't everyone see and talk to dead people? I have read all of the Krewe of Hunters series and found that this one was different from the others. It was missing the constant action, sharp edges in the story, and turbulent emotions. Taking place on a cruise ship restricts the environment of the action...the cast of characters...the possibilities to investigate and especially when the storm hits the agents have to use the old fashion way to investigate the murders. A lot more attention is also paid to the living and entertainment on the ship. I found that the story line became a little repetitive. The characters manner of speech and rigid ways made it sound more like a story from another era....which may appeal to other readers. It's not a bad book but just not something I would read again.

>82 EadieB: Glad to see you are still enjoying them!

>84 Andrew-theQM:
I love family sagas like this.

>85 EadieB: Me Too!

>86 Andrew-theQM:
I'm not surprised! lol

The Corpse Reader by Antonio Garrido
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2

This was one of those books that you know very little about when you start it but quickly captivates you and has you hooked. This tells the incredible story of Ci Song and his early life. Ci Song is often known as one of the founding fathers of forensic science, having lived in late 13th century / early 14th century China.
If you are interested in historical fiction, Chinese history or the early days of forensic science I would certainly recommend this book to you. Ci Song has such early adventures it is a wonder he ever lived to b com the founding father of forensic science. Three words, read and enjoy!

>88 Andrew-theQM: Carol you may well be interested in this one given your interest in Forensic Science, albeit in its early days in this one.

>89 Andrew-theQM:
My library has a copy so I'll check it out.

>89 Andrew-theQM: Tanks, Andrew. I'll check it out.

>90 EadieB: >91 Carol420:
This is the same author that wrote The Scribe.

Ci Song : https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Song_Ci

>92 Andrew-theQM:
My library has The Scribe too.

Blood Infernal by James Rollins and Rebecca Cantrell - ***** -
Book Description
In a masterpiece of supernatural mystery and apocalyptic prophecy, New York Times bestselling authors James Rollins and Rebecca Cantrell bring to a thunderous conclusion their epic trilogy of novels set between the worlds of shadow and light, between salvation and damnation, where the very gates of Hell must be shattered to discover the true fate of humankind in...

Blood Infernal

As an escalating scourge of grisly murders sweeps the globe, archaeologist Erin Granger must decipher the truth behind an immortal prophecy foretold in the Blood Gospel, a tome written by Christ and lost for centuries: The shackles of Lucifer have been loosened, and his Chalice remains lost. It will take the light of all three to forge the Chalice anew and banish him again to his eternal darkness. With the Apocalypse looming, Erin must again join forces with Army Sergeant Jordan Stone and Father Rhun Korza to search for a treasure lost for millennia. But the prize has already fallen into the hands of their enemy, a demon named Legion, before whom even the walls of the Vatican will fall.

The search for the key to salvation will take Erin and the others across centuries and around the world, from the dusty shelves of the Vatican's secret archives to lost medieval laboratories, where ancient alchemies were employed to horrific ends. All the while, they are hunted, besieged by creatures of uncanny skill and talent. As clues are dug free from ancient underground chapels and found frozen in icy mountain caverns, Erin will discover that the only hope for victory lies in an impossible act--one that will destroy not only her, but all she loves. To protect the world, Erin must walk through the very gates of Hell and face the darkest of enemies: Lucifer himself.

With The Blood Gospel, the first novel in the Order of the Sanguines series, James Rollins and Rebecca Cantrell combined science, myth, and religion to introduce a breathtaking world where miracles hold new meaning and the fight for good over evil is far more complicated than we ever dreamed. And now, in this epic conclusion to the Sanguines trilogy, Blood Infernal, they take us to the very pit of Hell itself, making us peer into the abyss and face our greatest fears, to answer the ultimate question: What price will we pay for true salvation?

My Review
This is a fantastic trilogy written by two very talented authors. Their combined effort proves to be a success as their great writing allows for your imagination to see and feel what the characters are going through. The plot is very creative and the characters are well-developed. It is filled with lots of action involving mystery, history, science and Biblical references. With this battle between good and evil, the reader must suspend belief in a few areas and just enjoy the ride. I now look forward to reading more from these authors and I highly recommend this trilogy to those who enjoy a story of epic proportions.

>94 EadieB: An excellent review.

>95 Andrew-theQM:
Thanks! I'm sorry that it's over. It was a fun read!

>96 EadieB: But the beauty is there is another great (and sometimes unexpected read) around the corner. I'm sure we'll enjoy the Cotton Malone series.

>97 Andrew-theQM:
Very true! Something to look forward too!

>98 eadieburke: That was meant to say sometimes not slime times! Lol!

My Sister's Grave by Robert Dugoni
Tracy Crosswhite series Book #1
4.5★'s
June 2016

From The Book:
Tracy Crosswhite has spent twenty years questioning the facts surrounding her sister Sarah’s disappearance and the murder trial that followed. She doesn’t believe that Edmund House—a convicted rapist and the man condemned for Sarah’s murder—is the guilty party. Motivated by the opportunity to obtain real justice, Tracy became a homicide detective with the Seattle PD and dedicated her life to tracking down killers. When Sarah’s remains are finally discovered near their hometown in the northern Cascade mountains of Washington State, Tracy is determined to get the answers she’s been seeking. As she searches for the real killer, she unearths dark, long-kept secrets that will forever change her relationship to her past—and open the door to deadly danger.

My Thoughts:
I really liked the Tracy Crosswhite character. She hits the pages as a person with good common sense, a career driven cop, and a take no nonsense type of character. She is at times, emotional and introspective and not always perfect. There's an emotional resonance and a core of truth in her character that make her both believable and empathetic. First books in a series often find the author trying too hard to get everything into a single book that he plans to build on in the future books of the series...but not so with this one. We meet Tracy..we follow Tracy as she takes on the demands of her job as Seattle's first woman homicide detective, as she returns to her home town and fights for justice for her murdered sister and as she tries to correct a huge mistake and in the process just may have found love in an unexpected place. Robert Dugoni has created a vivid world and an engaging mystery. Looking forward to many more.

>99 Andrew-theQM:
I kind of figured that out but at first I thought you were learning a new language! lol

>101 eadieburke: Sometimes think this iPad has a language all of it's own. I often type I think and lo and behold I get I honk!

>102 Andrew-theQM:
Funny! I hate autocorrect!

Splinter the Silence by Val McDermid
#9 in the Tony Hill / Carol Jordan Series
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2

This book starts out with Carol Jordan in a state of flux, MIT no more, and her life in free fall. Can Tony, who she is barely talking to now, help her out of this situation?
It was good to see the series get back on track, after one or two books where I felt the very essence of the series was lost to some degree. In some sense the investigation at the heart of the book was secondary to the other events going on in the story. A number of women's suicides appear to be nothing but that, however Tony Hill feels different about these and seeks to find out if there are any connections or if there is more to these suicides. This was a very good read and I feel it has now been set up for more books in the series, especially with the point the book was left at, with a twist at the very end! Hopefully we won't have to wait too long.

>104 Andrew-theQM:
Nice review! I have to get back to this series.

>105 eadieburke: Thanks. I'm up to date with the series once again. I like the characters and the interaction between them and how they set about solving the murders, more than the actual substance of the murders. It is one of my favourite series.

>106 Andrew-theQM: Nice review, Andrew. I haven't read this one yet. For about year I think I read every Tony Hill book that came out. Just looked and I see that I'm two books behind. Will have to correct that:)

>70 Andrew-theQM: Thanks Carol, you will enjoy it.

The Emperor's Revenge by Clive Cussler & Boyd Morrison
Oregon Files series Book #11
4.5★'s

From The Book:
Juan Cabrillo and the crew of the Oregon face their toughest challenge yet when a violent bank heist during the Monaco Grand Prix decimates the Corporation’s accounts. To get the money back, Juan joins forces with an old friend from his days in the CIA so they can track down a rogue hacker and a ruthless former Ukrainian naval officer. It is only after the hunt begins that the enormity of the plan comes into focus: the bank theft is just the first step in a plot that will result in the deaths of millions and bring the world’s economies to a standstill. The catalyst for the scheme? A stunning document stolen during Napoleon’s disastrous invasion of Russia. But two hundred years later, it may be the thing that brings Europe to its knees.

My Thoughts:

It doesn't take you long to guess who the "Emperor" is after Cussler's historical prologue which opens all of his books. From there the story enters the present day and you wonder "what did that have to do with what's happening now." That's just what Clive Cussler does well...blends the past with the present and presents a story that you just have to read more and more of.

This one is well written with lots of a variety of action. I especially enjoy the various crew members of the Oregon. Each one has a surprising range of skills and talents. This and the great story lines keeps the series from getting dull. I have heard rumors that this is to be the last book in the Oregon series. I hope that is just a nasty rumor.

>109 Carol420: Another good review Carol. I hop it is only a rumour.

>109 Carol420: Me too Andrew. I don't think he has actually ever "ended" a series although he hasn't published a Dirk Pitt book in quiet some time,,,since 2014. His son wrote some of later ones of that series with him and the other two series were picked up with Boyd Morrison and Craig Dirgo. I think Cussler has slowed down on his writing since he is so busy with his sunken ship recovery activities. There really is a NUMA organization and he's the head of it. No "Oregon" though. He's discovered and brought up a number of ships including the Civil War submarine.

Cross by Ken Bruen
Jack Taylor series Book #3
4.5★'s

Jack Taylor used to be cop...a very good cop... and then life got in the way and Jack's life unraveled. Along with a Cody...a young man that refused to take no for an answer...they set out on the next best thing than being a cop that Jack could find... being a private investigator. Jack's personal life gets in the way in this endeavor also and Cross opens with Cody in a coma in the hospital barely hanging onto life and Jack taking up residence at any local Galway pub. It seems there are times when Jack is merely reacting to events and appears lost in a world he no longer understands.

Ken Brune's writing is like no one else's that I can think of. He brings his characters to life with such imagination. Jack Taylor reminds me of a train wreck on it's way to happen. You don't want to watch but you can't turn away. My grandmother and mother came from Ireland and I can see where the author gives the reader a real sense of the Irish...the religion...the cultural and the historic influences on their lives. This series and the characters are diffidently unique.

Unnatural Habits by Kerry Greenwood
A Phryne Fisher Mystery
4 ★s

Phryne Fisher, a wealthy1929 Australian aristocrat and sleuth, rescues a young naive female reporter. The reporter, Polly Kettles, is trying to research the horrible conditions for unwed mothers at a local convent, where 3 girls went missing. The next day Polly disappears. Phryne and her minions, at the request of police inspector Jack Robinson, look into the missing girl problem, finding much worse than they ever expect. This was a quick one day book, although better than the last few of this series. I appreciated the lack of gruesome description for this mystery. There were enough twists and turns to keep me interested even though it explored the underbelly of Melbourne. Phryne's character never ceases to entertain me.

>113 Raspberrymocha: I do need to return to this series, and haven't been to Australia in a book for a while.

>113 Raspberrymocha: I love this series!

>115 jguidry: I think you were responsible for me reading the first one Jaret, as I picked it up from a charity shop having seen your thoughts on this series of books. Having checked the library website they have six of these available.

Lol. Probably, Andrew. That sounds like me. 😁

The Templar Legacy by Steve Berry
Cotton Malone series Book # 1
3.5★'s

From The Book:
The ancient order of the Knights Templar possessed untold wealth and absolute power over kings and popes . . . until the Inquisition, when they were wiped from the face of the earth, their hidden riches lost. But now two forces vying for the treasure have learned that it is not at all what they thought it was-and its true nature could change the modern world. Cotton Malone, one-time top operative for the U.S. Justice Department, is enjoying his quiet new life as an antiquarian book dealer in Copenhagen when an unexpected call to action reawakens his hair-trigger instincts-and plunges him back into the cloak-and-dagger world he thought he'd left behind. It begins with a violent robbery attempt on Cotton's former supervisor, Stephanie Nelle, who's far from home on a mission that has nothing to do with national security. Armed with vital clues to a series of centuries-old puzzles scattered across Europe, she means to crack a mystery that has tantalized scholars and fortune-hunters through the ages by finding the legendary cache of wealth and forbidden knowledge thought to have been lost forever when the order of the Knights Templar was exterminated in the fourteenth century. But she's not alone. Competing for the historic prize-and desperate for the crucial information Stephanie possesses-is Raymond de Roquefort, a shadowy zealot with an army of assassins at his command. Welcome or not, Cotton seeks to even the odds in the perilous race. But the more he learns about the ancient conspiracy surrounding the Knights Templar, the more he realizes that even more than lives are at stake. At the end of a lethal game of conquest, rife with intrigue, treachery, and craven lust for power, lies a shattering discovery that could rock the civilized world-and, in the wrong hands, bring it to its knees.

My Thoughts:
I couldn't get the print copy of this book before our group read so I got the CD book. I know that it takes real talent to read a book so that even 95% of the listener/readers will be satisfied but I think my 3.5 star rating of this book was mostly the reader and not the author's writing. There were times when Brian Corrigan's attempts at the French accent of this book's arch-villain, Raymond De Roquefort, that he sounded so much like Peter Sellers's Inspector Clouseau with a bad head cold. In spite of that the story line was absolutely magnificent. The clues that Cotton Malone and his band of merry men and women were tasked with finding and interpreting were well over this readers head but I did so enjoy the journey. This is the perfect blend for thriller fans and history buffs alike.

The Templar Legacy by Steve Berry - 5 stars
Book Description
The ancient order of the Knights Templar possessed untold wealth and absolute power over kings and popes . . . until the Inquisition, when they were wiped from the face of the earth, their hidden riches lost. But now two forces vying for the treasure have learned that it is not at all what they thought it was–and its true nature could change the modern world.

Cotton Malone, one-time top operative for the U.S. Justice Department, is enjoying his quiet new life as an antiquarian book dealer in Copenhagen when an unexpected call to action reawakens his hair-trigger instincts–and plunges him back into the cloak-and-dagger world he thought he’d left behind.

It begins with a violent robbery attempt on Cotton’s former supervisor, Stephanie Nelle, who’s far from home on a mission that has nothing to do with national security. Armed with vital clues to a series of centuries-old puzzles scattered across Europe, she means to crack a mystery that has tantalized scholars and fortune-hunters through the ages by finding the legendary cache of wealth and forbidden knowledge thought to have been lost forever when the order of the Knights Templar was exterminated in the fourteenth century. But she’s not alone. Competing for the historic prize–and desperate for the crucial information Stephanie possesses–is Raymond de Roquefort, a shadowy zealot with an army of assassins at his command.

Welcome or not, Cotton seeks to even the odds in the perilous race. But the more he learns about the ancient conspiracy surrounding the Knights Templar, the more he realizes that even more than lives are at stake. At the end of a lethal game of conquest, rife with intrigue, treachery, and craven lust for power, lies a shattering discovery that could rock the civilized world–and, in the wrong hands, bring it to its knees.

My Review
This was the first installment of the Cotton Malone series. I enjoyed Steve Berry's writing and found the character of Malone to be a very likable and believable character. The plot of finding the Templar treasure made for a very adventurous tale. I learned a lot about the history of the Templars, the Rennes-le-Chateau, Avignon and Pyrenees areas of France which was very fascinating. The religious aspects regarding the crucifixion of Christ challenges a Christian belief so an open mind is necessary. All in all, the book is a real page-turner which leaves you with a feeling of wanting to know more about these various subjects. I anxiously look forward to reading another of Steve Berry's historical novels and highly recommend them to anyone who loves history.

Be Careful What You Wish For by Jeffrey Archer - *****
Book Description
Bestselling author Jeffrey Archer's Be Careful What You Wish For opens with Harry Clifton and his wife Emma rushing to hospital to learn the fate of their son Sebastian, who has been involved in a fatal car accident. But who died, Sebastian or his best friend Bruno?

When Ross Buchanan is forced to resign as chairman of the Barrington Shipping Company, Emma Clifton wants to replace him. But Don Pedro Martinez intends to install his puppet, the egregious Major Alex Fisher, in order to destroy the Barrington family firm just as the company plans to build its new luxury liner, the MV Buckingham.

Back in London, Harry and Emma's adopted daughter wins a scholarship to the Slade Academy of Art where she falls in love with a fellow student, Clive Bingham, who asks her to marry him. Both families are delighted until Priscilla Bingham, Jessica's future mother-in-law, has a visit from an old friend, Lady Virginia Fenwick, who drops her particular brand of poison into the wedding chalice.

Then, without warning, Cedric Hardcastle, a bluff Yorkshireman who no one has come across before, takes his place on the board of Barringtons. This causes an upheaval that none of them could have anticipated, and will change the lives of every member of the Clifton and Barrington families. Hardcastle's first decision is who to support to become the next chairman of the board: Emma Clifton or Major Alex Fisher? And with that decision, the story takes yet another twist that will keep you on the edge of your seat.

Be Careful What You Wish For showcases the master storyteller's talent as never before when the Clifton and Barrington families march forward into the sixties, in this epic tale of love, revenge, ambition and betrayal.

My Review
This is the 4th installment in the Clifton Chronicles and the story just gets better and better and so do the cliffhangers that send you spiraling into the next book just to see what happens next. The timeline in the book is the 60's and planes are becoming the preferred mode of travel. The Barrington's have just completed their new luxury liner and their enemies are thwarting their every move. The twists and turns in Archer's novel keep you turning the pages and before you know it, the novel ends and you're still wanting more. I highly recommend these books to those who love family sagas and I look forward to starting book 5 as soon as possible.

>120 EadieB: I must get to this series. I'm a fan of Jeffery Archer and have enjoyed reading many of his books. I own the first book of the series, but it's one of the many waiting to be read. Want....more....time....for....reading.

>121 bluebird_:
It's very good and I've been reading them straight through because of the cliffhangers and they are pretty fast reads.

>121 bluebird_: I'm certain you'll enjoy it Bluebird. I downloaded the first book for free a coup,e of years ago and it just sat there waiting. Once I started it I read all the books in 6 months. Now I am waiting for the final book in the series to be published in November.

>122 EadieB: and >123 Andrew-theQM:. That's what I'm afraid of! I'm trying desperately not to begin a new series until I've finished at least one of the many I'm currently working through. Sadly, I'm having a problem finding a book for the Terrorist Thriller monthly sub-genre challenge. Of the 500+ books on my TBR shelves, I have nothing that fits the category that is not the first book in a new series. Grrr.

>124 bluebird_:
One Rough Man (Pike Logan, #1) by Brad Taylor
American Assassin (Mitch Rapp, #1) by Vince Flynn
The Gate House by Nelson DeMille

http://bookawards.com/book-awards/book-awards-genre-fiction-thriller-terrorist.h...

http://www.amazon.com/Best-Sellers-Books-Terrorism-Thrillers/zgbs/books/95360740...

>124 bluebird_: In the UK White Jade is available free for the Kindle, it is the first book in the Project Series and these are quick enjoyable Books. It may be worth checking out.

>125 EadieB: and >126 Andrew-theQM:. LOL! Please, please, no more books that are first in a new series. I'm trying NOT to start a new series (and trying not to keep adding more books to my TBR pile--although that's nearly impossible with all your wonderful recommendations).

I have plenty on my TBR list already that fit the sub-genre challenge. Unfortunately, they are first in a series. EadieB. I read and enjoyed the Gate House. Thanks for the links. I'm probably going to break down and read The Kill Artist by Daniel Silva. I've avoided it (and White Jade) for several months now in hopes to keep my resolve to stay away from a new series (and to pick books from my TBR pile). Looks like I'll succumb this month. Andrew: FYI: I have 8 books in the Project series waiting for me--all picked up free from my kindle. I'm looking forward to reading them).

>127 bluebird_: Love the Gabriel Allon series. Read books 5, 1, 2, 3 in that order.

>128 Andrew-theQM:
I guess you'll read 6 before 4. That way you can go back and get the scoop about what's really going on. lol

>129 eadieburke: I am having trouble finding a copy of 4!

>130 Andrew-theQM:
Maybe you'll find 4 during your Scotland trip so don't read 6 just yet!

>131 eadieburke: Lol! Okay just for you, I'll hold off!

>132 Andrew-theQM:
Good, because I can visualize the book in a charity shop in Scotland.

>124 bluebird_: You might try A prayer for the Dying by Jack Higgins. Also Zodiac by Neal Stephenson. If you like bio-terrorism books try Blood, Fire and Ice by C. Edgar North. None of those are a part of a series.

>133 eadieburke: You'll have to let me know which charity shop you are visualising!

>135 Andrew-theQM:
It's the one near that peaceful place you were telling us about.

>134 Carol420:. Thanks for the recommendations! I liked Stephenson's Snow Crash, so I read Zodiac for the challenge-especially since it's a reasonable 320 pages. I know many of his books are longer than 800 pages, so I had to check. : )