July 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.

>1 Carol420:

I see you are about to read Hour Game by Baldacci. While I do like his thrillers... this mystery series leaves a lot to be desired.

Here is my review of "Hour Game" and it seems you finished this book back on May 30, 2016 as your reviewed it then and we seem to have 100% opposite reviews ??? Are you re-reading this book for some reason??? Why is it on your July reading list?

"Carol's Planned July Read's

Group Reads:
Dark Watch by Clive Cussler : #3 in the Oregon Files
Silent Voices by Ann Cleeves : #4 in th Vera Stanhope Series
The Hour Game by David Baldacci"

or is it just that you are mentioning it as a group read.

Well here is my review for the record:

*******************************************************
Probably the worst mystery book I have ever read.

It started out decent for the first 50 pages or so but the book fell apart with the additions of mixed murders and the pair King and Maxwell did not solve anything. Suspects dying were all that kept the plot moving. There was no sifting through clues and King as in the previous novel, Split Second, annoyingly keeps his suspicions to himself and from his partner and reader making it impossible to follow what was going on. The constant killings reminded me of a "and then there was one" type mystery. The FBI and Police might as well not been in the story for all that those characters contributed.

At that point I had the rating at 3 stars but the last chase scene was so useless and stupid I just had to knock off another half star.

I will not waste my reading time on another King and Maxwell story ( 2.5 stars)
*******************************************************

>2 Lynxear: Thank you for sharing your review. I did read this book and have reviewed it previously...actually twice... but it is our group read here in July. I enjoy the company of the people that participate in the group reads as much as reading the books. I totally respect your views of the book. I'm sure I have not cared for some of the reads that some others including some very good friends found were very good. And that's okay...we can't all like the same things. The important thing is that we enjoy what we re reading. We would welcome you to join in our group reads. Andrew posts the dates well in advance. This will be the first one we have done on LT so it's going to be a trial and error affair but where there's a will there's a way:)

>2 Lynxear: >3 Carol420: That's what I love about books and discussion of books, we all respond differently to them. I have seen so many great reviews of Gorky Park by Martin Cruz Smith but I didn't enjoy it at all. Will be interesting given your review >2 Lynxear: to see what I think of the book. It was voted as a group read by members of this group which is why we are reading it.

>4 Andrew-theQM: >3 Carol420: >2 Lynxear:
I've checked some reviews and they are all over the place, so it will be an interesting read and I'm sure the discussion will be a good one.

Gorky Park was one of the worst books I have ever read. If we hadn't been reading it as a group read I would have abandoned it long before the end. It was recommended for our group read by a person that participates in the reads regularly and she liked it and has recommended many really good books in the past both for the reads and for me. As Andrew says...we all respond differently to what we read and that makes reading interesting.

Redemption Road by John Hart
5★'s

From the Book:
Imagine:

A boy with a gun waits for the man who killed his mother. A troubled detective confronts her past in the aftermath of a brutal shooting. After thirteen years in prison, a good cop walks free as deep in the forest, on the altar of an abandoned church, a body cools in pale linen… This is a town on the brink. This is Redemption Road. Brimming with tension, secrets, and betrayal.

My Thoughts:
Redemption Road is not your cut and dried murder mystery. There are many secrets and puzzles along the way that are complex and multi-layered. Some are fairly obvious, but even they will lead the reader to yet more questions. Throw in several red-herrings and the plot becomes even more complicated with small amounts of truth clinging to each one. The characters are nothing but flawed...and that may be putting it mildly. Before it ends you can't separate the good guys from the bad guys. It all will eventually boil down to choices. Their choices are what brought them to this point and it's their choices that will take them down Redemption Road.

Touch by Claire North
3.5★'s

From The Book:
He tried to take my life. Instead, I took his. It was a long time ago. I remember it was dark, and I didn't see my killer until it was too late. As I died, my hand touched his. That's when the first switch took place. Suddenly, I was looking through the eyes of my killer, and I was watching myself die. Some people touch lives. Others take them. I do both.

My Thoughts:
I was defiantly a fan of Claire North's first book, The Fifteen Lives of Harry August so I didn't hesitate to pick up Touch, her second book. This novel is build on the premise that there are body-hopping ghosts that can inhabit any body...or "skins" as they refer to them..with a simple "touch". One of the problems is that the main "ghost" character in the story changed "skins" so many times that it became difficult to keep up with who he was at any given time. Also when another "ghost" was added...who just happened to be a psychopath...the changing became chaotic. I can't say I entirely disliked the book...it did have some interesting parts... but it's not one that i would consider for a recommendation. Hope her next offering meets the standards of her first and this is just a fluke.

>8 Carol420: You need some instruction on Touchstones.

When you wrap a title or author in to create a touchstone, look to the right to make sure the correct link has been made. For example there may be two novels with the same name or in your case LT for some reason linked to something totally different.... If the link is wrong to the right then click on "others" and a list of other possible links appears in a dropdown list and select the one you really want and the proper link will be made as in this case for Claire North's Touch.

>9 Lynxear: Thanks for the instruction (and reminder) to always look to make sure the touchstone refers to the correct book. It took me a while to figure this when I first started to use them.

Pharos by Alice Thompson
1 1/2 stars

from Goodreads: A young woman is washed up on the shores of Jacob's Rock, a remote lighthouse island off the coast of Scotland. She does not know who she is or how she got there. She has no memory. The keeper of the lighthouse and his assistant take her in and feed and clothe her. But this mysterious woman is not all that she seems, and neither is the remote and wind-swept island.

my thoughts: I was very unimpressed by this ghost story. The only good thing I can say was that it was short so I didn't waste too much time reading it. The story had lots of potential because the premise of the story was very interesting. However, the writing was very choppy and the scenes changed too quickly. The author seemed like she was trying to keep you in a fog (much like the main character), but all she really did was keep me lost until the build-up. Finally at the end, when I thought it was going to get good. Nope, a ridiculous cheesy ending that left me going, "really?"

Mightier Than The Sword Book 5 of the Clifton Chronicles by JeffreyArcher - 5 stars
Book Description
With more than 2 million copies in print, the Clifton Chronicles has taken #1 worldwide bestselling author Jeffrey Archer to a whole new level. And the saga continues. . .

Bestselling novelist Harry Clifton's on a mission to free a fellow author who's imprisoned in Siberia-even if doing so puts Harry's own life, and life's work, in danger. Meanwhile, his wife Emma, chairman of Barrington Shipping, is facing the repercussions of an IRA bombing on the Buckingham. Some board members feel she should resign. Others will stop at nothing to ensure the Clifton family's fall from grace. In London, Harry and Emma's son, Sebastian, is quickly making a name for himself at Farthing's Bank. He's also just proposed to a beautiful young American, Samantha. But the despicable Adrian Sloane is only interested in one thing: Sebastian's ruin.

"BEGINS WITH A BANG...ENDS WITH A turbo-charged cliffhanger."-Kirkus Reviews

Sir Giles Barrington, now a minister of the Crown, looks set for even higher office-until a diplomatic failure in Berlin threatens his prospects. Once again it appears that Giles's political career is thrown off balance by none other than his old adversary, Major Alex Fisher. But who will win the election this time? And at what cost?

"ARCHER PLOTS WITH SKILL, AND keeps you turning the pages." -The Boston Globe

My Review
Another excellent read of book 5 of the Clifton Chronicles by Jeffrey Archer. This book was no different from the others as they are all page turners. Another excellent cliffhanger which I now have to wait two days or more to get the next book from the library. After book 6 which I know will have another cliffhanger, I will have to wait until November to find out how it turns out. Don't know how I'm going to wait that long. One saving grace is that I do have lots of good books waiting in the wings. If you haven't started this series yet, what are you waiting for! Come on board and enjoy all the cliffhanging with me!

>12 EadieB: You are making it very difficult for me to keep Only Time Will Tell on my TBR shelf rather than the "currently reading" shelf! : )

>13 bluebird_:
Take it off the shelf - you can do it! Just think of the cliffhanger you have coming and you better get the 2nd book on hand. lol

>13 bluebird_: These are very quick reads and only six in the series so far so you can finish the series quite quickly like Eadie and I have done.

Girl in the Dark by Marion Pauw
4★'s

"A single mother and lawyer, Iris has a colorful caseload, a young son with behavior issues, and a judgmental mother. She also has a brother—shocking news she uncovers by accident. Why did her mother lie to her for her entire life? Why did she hide the existence of Ray Boelens from her?
Curious about this sibling she has never known, Iris begins to search for long-buried truths. What she discovers surprises—and horrifies—her. Her older brother is autistic—and in prison for brutally murdering his neighbor and her daughter. Visiting Ray, she meets a man who looks heart-breakingly like her own son. A man who is devoted to his tropical fish and who loves baking bread. A man whose naivete unnerves her. There is no question that Ray is odd and obsessive, unable to communicate like the rest of us. But is he really a killer?"

My Thoughts
The reader will in turns feel pity for Ray and at times will feel admiration while alternating between guilty and not guilty every few chapters. Girl in the Dark is a compulsive, page-turning, dark thriller about lies, murder and dogged determination. If you enjoy psychological suspense stories about dysfunctional families, or twisted endings...and I have to say I never expected the ending that I got... then you'll definitely want to read this one.

>14 EadieB: and >15 Andrew-theQM:. You guys are terrible! I don't complete books as quickly as you both, so I don't believe you when you say I can "finish the series quite quickly". : D. It's always a a challenge to keep up with you during the group reads (and I enjoy participating much more when I'm on track with the rest of you!).

>17 bluebird_: Lol! Sorry :(

Disappearance at Devil's Rock by Paul Tremblay
4★'s

From The Book:
Late one summer night, Elizabeth Sanderson receives the devastating news that every mother fears: her thirteen-year-old son, Tommy, has vanished without a trace in the woods of a nearby state park. The search isn’t yielding any answers, and Elizabeth and her eleven-year-old daughter, Kate, struggle to comprehend Tommy’s disappearance. Feeling helpless and alone, their sorrow is compounded by anger and frustration. Neither the state nor local police have uncovered any leads. Josh and Luis, the friends who were the last to see Tommy before he vanished, may not be telling the whole truth about that night in Borderland State Park, when they were supposedly hanging out at a landmark they have renamed Devil’s Rock connected them all. As the search grows more desperate, and the implications of what happened become more ominous and sinister, no one is prepared for the shocking truth about that night at Devil’s Rock.

My Thoughts:
I read Paul Tremblay's first book... A Head Full of Ghost and thought that while it was good for a first book he could do so much better. He has lived up to that expectation with his second book... Disappearance at Devil's Rock. The author has produced a blend of psychological suspense, and supernatural horror into an absorbing tale that feeds off every parent’s darkest fears . . . and an adolescent’s darkest secrets. The thing that I like most about Paul Tremblay's writing is that he leaves the reader with a head full of "possibilities"...how and why did something happen as it did playing on the readers own reactions and interpretations of events. I look forward to many more books by this author.

The Unsuspected by Charlotte Armstrong
4★'s

From the Book:

Why did Rosaleen Wright hang herself in a soundproof room? She left an unsigned note, peppered with stiff religious references and no trace of her trademark vitality or wit. The police believe it was suicide, but Rosaleen’s best friend, Jane, is suspicious. To prove Rosaleen was murdered, she takes a job with the man who killed her. Luther Grandison, Rosaleen’s boss, is a New York theatrical impresario with a lethal charm. To the world at large, he’s powerful and charismatic, but Rosaleen’s letters to Jane described a greedy man who stole from his adopted daughter when his bank account ran low. Jane thinks Grandison killed her to protect his secret, but to prove it she will have to face down one of the finest murderers Broadway has ever seen.

My Thoughts:

Although the plot seems a bit improbable, you are so involved with the story that you don't really think about it. The main character, Grandy, is one of the most unique creations that I have encountered in some time.... and the bewildered heroine was quite...bewildered...but appealing also. Overall, it was a delightfully enjoyable work of fictional intrigue. Just suspend your disbelief and go along for the ride. You will be amazed how much you'll enjoy it.

Collecting the Dead by Spencer Kope
4.5★'s

From The Book:
Magnus "Steps" Craig is part of the elite three-man Special Tracking Unit of the FBI. Called in on special cases where his skills are particularly needed, he works as a tracker. The media dubs him "The Human Bloodhound," since Steps is renowned for his incredible ability to find and follow trails over any surface better than anyone else. But there's a secret to his success. Steps has a special ability---a kind of synesthesia---where he can see the 'essence' of a person, something he calls 'shine,' on everything they've touched. His ability is known to only a few people---his father, the director of the FBI, and his partner, Special Agent Jimmy Donovan. When the remains of a murdered woman are found, Steps recognizes the shine left by the murderer from another crime scene with a physically similar victim. And he uncovers the signature at both scenes---the mark of a sad face. At the same time, another killer, one Steps has dubbed Leonardo and has been trying to track for over ten years, appears again, taunting Steps. But while Steps tries to find a clue that will lead him to Leonardo, the case of the Sad Face Killer heats up. The team uncovers eleven possible victims: missing women who fit the same pattern. Using his skill and the resources of the Bureau, it is a race against time to find the killer before it's too late.

My Thoughts:
Maybe because the author has had personal experience in his "non-author" life at bringing serial killers to justice is why his book Collecting the Dead resounds with the ring of truth. He has created a very unique character with Magnus "Steps" Craig and surrounded him with a mystical ability and a team of top-notch agents. At times the exchange between "Steps" and his partner and best friend Jimmy...is humorous but it never takes away from the seriousness of their task. Nowhere does it indicate that this is a start or a part of a series but this book just begs to have many "brothers". I will be awaiting Spence Kopes future books.

The Neighbor by Lisa Gardner - 4.5 Stars

When a pretty, young schoolteacher like Sandra Jones goes missing without a trace, the usual suspect is always the the husband. Especially Jason Jones, who seems detached from the whole incident and is very uncooperative. There is one witness, Sandra and Jason's four year old daughter, Ree. Both Jason and Sandra seem to have something to hide. Detective D. D. Warren is sure he's a murderer, even though no blood or body has been found. Before long, she learns that Aiden Brewster, a convicted sex offender, lives on the same street.

Many of the chapters begin with what seems like journal entries either from Sandra or Jason, describing events in their past. The plot unfolds slowly and I had no idea what had actually happened until the very end. The book was filled with twists, turns and tension. I thought The Neighbor was a great suspense novel and it kept me guessing all the way to the end.

Slash and Burn by Colin Cotterill - 4.5 Stars

This story opens in 1968 when Boyd Bowry, son of a U.S. senator, is presumed dead after the helicopter he was flying exploded over a remote village in the northern mountains of Laos. Flash forward ten years where septuagenarian, Doctor Siri Paiboun, the country's only coroner, has been tasked with forming a delegation to meet with some Americans who are interested in finding out what happened to Boyd and to see if they can recover any remains. Dr. Siri decides it's the perfect time to gather his close friends and family for a little “mini” vacation.

That means fans of this humorous series will travel along with Dr Siri, his wife (Madame Daeng), his nurse (Dtui) and his Down's Syndrome morgue attendant (Mr. Geung). He also brings along Dtui's husband, along with his oldest friend, his nasty boss and a transvestite fortune teller. Mountainous terrain and rainy weather are just some of their problems, but it soon becomes apparent the Americans want to control the flow of information. Naturally, someone will end up dead and Dr Siri and his eccentric team will have to solve the murder themselves.

This might not be the series for everyone but if you are a fan, you will love another trek into the jungle with this wonderfully peculiar group of characters. Everyone around Dr Siri plays their part in solving the mystery of not just the more recent murder, but the crash and disappearance of Boyd Bowry. I loved the audio, narrated by Clive Chafer and can't wait to get my hands on the next Dr. Siri adventure.

Fallen Angel by Daniel Silva - 5 Stars

Any book featuring Gabriel Allon, former Israeli spy/assassin and current art restoration genius will have a complex plot. Gabriel is currently restoring a Caravaggio painting at the Vatican. After events in The Confessor, he has developed a close relationship with the Pope. When Dr. Claudia Andreatti falls to her death in St. Peter’s Basilica, Gabriel is asked by his friend and the Pope’s private secretary, Luigi Donati, to quietly investigate. At first, Claudia's death is assumed to be a suicide. Once Gabriel discovers she was documenting the provenance of some of the Vatican's precious art objects, another motive comes into play. The chain of events, starting with the murder in St. Paul's, involves many twists and turns. Gabriel and his team begin to follow a trail that leads them to art theft, terrorist explosions, a kidnapped Iranian diplomat and even a potential plot to kill the Pope on his upcoming visit to Israel and Palestine.

Gabriel has had a past life filled with anguish. His son and wife were blown up in an explosion targeting Gabriel and he is filled with a constant struggle to understand and accept his new love and life. The writing and research in this book is flawless. Gabriel's poignant back story and tender scenes with his wife, Chiara, provide moments of humanity to a man who knows he's killed many times before. The relationship between Donati and Gabriel is very vivid and humorous.

Daniel Silva takes a complex story and makes it a thriller. The author also puts in a note at the end of the book to tell you the true stories that the fictional novel is based on. I can't think of anyone whose books I look forward to so much. Over the years I've read each one as soon as it's published and am now making my way through them in audio. I enjoy them even more in audio, narrated by one of the true masters in audio narration, George Guidall.

>24 Olivermagnus: Not surprised this is a 5!

Before I Go to Sleep by S.J. Watson
★ ★ ★ ★ 1/2 - 458 pages

"What are we, if not an accumulation of our memories?" wonder Christine Lucas. Due to trauma, she has lost both her long-term and her short-term memory. She awakens every morning not knowing anything about herself. She is surprised by the age of the woman looking back at her from the mirror, surprised by the man in her house who introduces himself every morning as her husband Ben, surprised by the doctor who calls her every morning to tell her where she has hidden her journal and that she needs to read it. It is through her journal that we begin to piece together her story. And the first line in the journal reads "Don't trust Ben."

A little bit slow to start, this was an otherwise superb read! Christine makes a wonderfully unreliable narrator. It had me guessing until the end who was or wasn't trustworthy as well as what was happening with her.

Chasing the Dime by Michael Connelly
Audio CD
1 ★

I don't listen to many audio books. I wish I hadn't listened to this one. I thought the premise was interesting: a guy gets a new cell phone and his new number was owned by a woman who was an escort. He continually gets phone calls for her. This happens on a Friday. Instead of changing his number immediately, he decides to try to find this woman to ask her to take the phone number off her online "dating" advertisement. My first thought was a forehead slap. I became increasingly put off by the actions this man takes. It was actually painful to listen to. I had to turn it off multiple times. I didn't care how many twists and turns there were to the storyline. I had absolutely no empathy for what I continually felt were stupid judgement calls on the part of the protagonist. I couldn't stand it. Although I wanted to know the call girl's story, I couldn't tolerate the foolish choices made. What I had hoped to be a good book to listen to while on an extended road trip, became a stressful situation for me. I was so disappointed.

>27 Raspberrymocha: - It's always a shame when you end up with a lousy book. I know I've read it but I don't remember anythiing about it. I love the Harry Bosch and Mickey Haller series by Connelly though.

>27 Raspberrymocha: I also know I've read the book...as I've read almost everything that Michael Connelly has written...but the story line doesn't ring any bells. I know it is one of two standalones that he's written. I hate stupid people doing stupid things in my books. TSTL .."Too Stupid To Live". Mickey Haller and the Harry Bosch have always been Michael Connelly's best series.

The Copenhagen Connection by Elizabeth Peters
3 stars

from my library's catalog: Elizabeth Jones, vacationing from her New York publishing job, is off to do touristy things in Denmark-gawk at the Little Mermaid, stroll in the Tivoli ... look for a missing person? The plane ride itself had turned out to be Kismet, introducing Elizabeth to her idol, Nobel Prize-winning historian and famed eccentric Margaret Rosenberg and her long-suffering son Christian. So when Margaret vanishes in Copenhagen, Elizabeth joins the irascible Christian in searching the city from underground crypts to the graves of queens. What they encounter is a baffling ransom demand for a bathrobe, not money. And what they dig up will connect a modern disappearance with an ancient artifact and the oldest of motives for crime.

my thoughts: This was an okay cozy mystery. It was very predictable in parts. Some of the characters were way out there and the plotline was more of a slapstick comedy, but overall Peters kept the story and the characters together. Fortunately, this is not a series, if it was I don't think I'd continue with it. But, I'm not sorry I read this one.

Dead Man's Time by Peter James - 4.5 Stars

This book starts with a short prologue set in 1920's New York City. A very young brother and sister are spared after their mother is shot and their father kidnapped. Their father was associated with an Irish gang and it's likely he's been killed. The children are taken to back to Ireland by their aunt, but before they board the ship, someone gives the young boy his father’s pocket watch and a series of numbers. He vows to return one day and find his father.

Fast forward about 85 years and DS Roy Grace is investigating the home invasion murder of an older woman. It's not hard to guess that she's the young girl from the prologue. Her brother, now in his 90s doesn't care about the millions of dollars of antiques that have been stolen. They've also stolen his father's watch, their priceless family heirloom, and the only thing they have to remind them of their former life. He's rich and powerful and plans to get it back even it means lying to Grace to keep him from finding the murderer first. In addition to investigating the murder, Roy is trying to cope with becoming a new father. He can't sleep and his relationship with his girlfriend, Cleo, has become more difficult. He's also unaware that a nasty criminal named Amis Smallbone is preparing to harm Cleo and the baby.

The plotting is tight and the tension is well done. There are several red herrings that makes it an interesting story for any crime fan. DS Roy Grace and his team are great characters and the story of what happened to the watch and what it means was quite intriguing. It's a real page turner and I can't wait to see what happens in the next book.

An excellent series Lynda. I hope to read the new one over the Summer break.

>31 Olivermagnus:
This sounds good! Is this the first one in a series?

>33 Hope_H: Hope it is an excellent series. The first book in the series is Dead Simple.

>28 Olivermagnus:, >29 Carol420: I've enjoyed the Harry Bosch series. I think that is why I was so disappointed. This protagonist was like one of those fool kids in a horror movie who continually makes idiotic choices knowing that the axe murderer is just waiting for them. Uffda namen!!

>34 Andrew-theQM: Thanks, Andrew! Adding it to my wishlist now!

>31 Olivermagnus: >32 Andrew-theQM: >33 Hope_H: You just can't go wrong with this Peter James series...or for that matter anything that Peter James writes. My favorite book so far this year is his standalone The House on Cold Hill. I't's a ghost story and not a detective story though.

>35 Raspberrymocha: You might like this series also Rasp. Dead Simple is book #1 if you are a RIO person. If you are a ROO person...any one of them will do.

>37 Carol420: >31 Olivermagnus: >32 Andrew-theQM: >33 Hope_H:
I have read them all except for the new one that has just been published. Looking forward to reading that during my Summer Break.

Dark Watch by Clive Cussler and Jack DuBrul
Oregon File Series Book #3
4.5★'s

From The Book:

Cabrillo and his motley crew aboard the clandestine spy ship Oregon have made a very comfortable and very dangerous living working for high-powered Western interests. But their newest clients have come from the Far East to ask for Cabrillo's special brand of assistance: a consortium of Japanese shipping magnates whose fortunes are being threatened by brutal pirates trolling the waters of Southeast Asia.

Normally, such attacks on the high seas are limited to smaller ships and foreign-owned yachts-easy targets on the open ocean. Now, however, giant commercial freighters are disappearing. But when Cabrillo confronts the enemy, he learns that the pirates' deprecation to hide a deadly international conspiracy-a scheme of death and slavery that Juan Cabrillo is going to blow out of the water.

My Thoughts:
This has to rank as the best of this series thus far. Clive Cussler teams with adventure/thriller writer Jack DuBrul for the this...the third book... in the "Oregon Files" series. Non-stop action throughout and plots and schemes by the Oregon crew to bring the bad guys down that would equal "Mission Impossible" or an episode of "McGeyver". The authors juggled complicated, multiple plots throughout the story and tied them together into a believable, exciting, and interesting package at the end that pulled the Oregon crew out of the frying pan and the fire....while offering a special surprise for them all. Looking forward to the next adventure with Juan Cabrillo and friends.

>39 Carol420: I have this book in my TBR, but am still tracking down the first two in the series. Do they need to be read in order?

>40 Darth-Heather: The books are all so different that they can easily be read in any order. This one had a different co-author than the first two and he gave more background on both the ship and some of the people in the crew that than the first two did. There was also much more and better action. We read it as a group book discussion on the Mystery & Suspense group.

>40 Darth-Heather: I think these books all stand up very well as standalones or read out of order.

>40 Darth-Heather: - I'm pretty strict about reading a series in order, so believe me when I say the Oregon Files series can absolutely be read out of order.

The Peter James series is quite good. The first one, Dead Simple is a great one to start with though.

>40 Darth-Heather: Now if Lynda says they can be read out of order, they definitely can!

The Cyclops Initiative by David Wellington
5★'s

From The Book:
To save an innocent friend, soldier and spy Jim Chapel will risk his own life and reputation to stop a deadly conspiracy from threatening the country. Jim Chapel pledged his life to protect his country from its enemies. But now, the one-armed Special Forces soldier turned spy is on the wrong side of the law. The person he trusts most in the world, the brilliant hacker known only as Angel, is suspected of terrorism. When his boss calls for Angel’s arrest, Chapel—certain it’s a frame job—has only one option: to go rogue. To protect Angel—a woman he’s never actually met—Chapel must clear her name. But first he has to find her, before a deadly Marine sniper, a drone aircraft gone feral, and the entire intelligence community closes in. With the aid of old friends and his ex-lover Julia, the search to find who framed Angel leads Chapel deep into the dark and lethal underbelly of the covert intelligence world . . . to a conspiracy with deep roots that shocks even this hardened veteran—and a plan that will destroy the United States as we know it if it succeeds.

My Thoughts:

The Cyclops Imitative has many sub plots going at the same time and characters that constantly overlap between good and bad. Introduced into this story is the character of Brent Wilkes ...a Marine sniper that works on the theory of "find, fix, finish", and will kill on command without a second thought. Jim Chapel is a one-armed Army vet working for the same people as Brent Wilkes but his philosophy is to use his wits and his sniper training and kill as a last resort. It becomes obvious that the two are going to have to combine their skills if they are going to survive, save their comrades and protect the nation they would both die for. Also combined into the story is an interesting contract between present and past generations and how America honored her returning soldiers. Author, David Wellington summed it up well in his quote about the book...“I wanted to write about how those veterans who lost limbs still have a meaningful life. I hoped I showed how they cope differently, that their life will never be easy, and now it is much more complicated. For me, the struggle they are going through is just as heroic as anything they did on the battlefield. We as Americans should understand that war is so complicated, dangerous, and serious. It is not as depicted in the video games that turn it into a cartoon.”

Motion to Suppress by Perri O'Shaughnessy
Nina Reilly series Book #1
4.5★'s

From The Book:
Returning from her late shift as a barmaid at a casino in Lake Tahoe, Misty Patterson struck her violently jealous husband in self-defense. She admits that–but did she kill him? She says she can’t remember. Like so many times before, Misty blacked out and the rest of the evening is a blank. Now her husband has disappeared, leaving behind a trail of blood, and she’s the number-one murder suspect with no one to turn to for help.

San Francisco attorney Nina Reilly is also on the run—from a bad marriage and a worse career setback. Relocated to Lake Tahoe, Nina is resolved to recover her spirit, give her young son a secure home, and build up a small solo practice. But, when Misty Patterson walks in the door, a blond Barbie doll of a cocktail waitress accused of murder, it triggers a harrowing series of events that will change both women’s lives forever.

My Thoughts:
In this first book of the Nina Reilly series we are introducted to Nina who is a truly likeable character. We learn how Nina's marriage to Jack ends, and how as a newly-single mom, heads off to Tahoe to start a new life. We are also meet Sandy Whitefeather, Nina's receptionist, Nina’s brother Matt Reilly and his family.

Usually first novels are set in larger towns but Lake Tahoe works out well for the setting. I liked how the author provided so many possible suspects for Anthony’s murder. She never ruled out Misty or Anthony’s ex-wife, her husband, Misty's lover, Misty's therapist and his wife, and employees at the casino where the couple worked all have possible motives. Even Misty's parents cast suspicion on themselves with their strange behavior. There's enough crime to form a great story and deliver a good level of suspense right up to the trial. The court proceedings are quite dramatic, similar to that which you would find on television. Real justice is rarely that exciting. The story is easy to follow and relatively light, making this a quick, fun read.

The Burn Palace by Stephen Dobyns
2.5★'s

The novel is set in a quiet little Rhode Island town called Brewster but the opening is anything resembling quiet. A nurse…Alice “Spandex”…so called for her shapely uniforms is the duty nurse in the maternity ward and has managed to lose a newborn baby while she was “entertaining” one of the doctors. The bassinet isn’t empty however…it now contains a six-foot snake…harmless in it’s nature…but able to produce hysterics in Alice Spandex. Not so much as the baby is gone…eaten by the snake is Alice’s opinion…but she is now in danger of loosing her job if she tells the truth. Then Woody Potter arrives on the scene and finds the hospital is full of cops checking under beds and in broom closets for snakes. Woody, a newly single Desert Storm veteran is known locally for having a cool head and a deceptively overwhelmed demeanor that makes him stand out as the novel’s hero. Woody can’t figure out the local’s reaction and that in the crucial early moments of the investigation, people are acting as if the nonexistent snakes…Woody doesn’t believe for a moment that the hospital is crawling with reptiles of any type… are more important than the missing baby.

Since paranoia and mass panic are the main themes throughout the book…the reader is set for the remainder…to believe anything. The book has an enthusiastic endorsement by Stephen King so that helps to add to the expected excitement. Unfortunately the book seemed doomed from the first few pages after the snakes. It had a mechanical feel to it and way, way, way too much character introduction. This type of hoped for horror works best when it comes quickly and is to the point. This drags out for 464 pages. I have read this author’s Church of Dead Girls and Boy in the Water and I assure you they far surpass this…so I know he’s capable of so much more.

Her Final Breath by Robert Dugoni
Tracy Crosswhite series Book #2
5★'s

From The Book:
Homicide detective Tracy Crosswhite has returned to the police force after the sensational retrial of her sister’s killer. Still scarred from that ordeal, Tracy is pulled into an investigation that threatens to end her career, if not her life. A serial killer known as the Cowboy is killing young women in cheap motels in North Seattle. Even after a stalker leaves a menacing message for Crosswhite, suggesting the killer or a copycat could be targeting her personally, she is charged with bringing the murderer to justice. With clues scarce and more victims dying, Tracy realizes the key to solving the murders may lie in a decade-old homicide investigation that others, including her captain, Johnny Nolasco, would prefer to keep buried. With the Cowboy on the hunt, can Tracy find the evidence to stop him, or will she become his next victim?

My Thoughts:
This, the second book in the Tracy Crosswhite series is just as good, if not better than first...My Sister's Grave. Robert Dugoni is fast becoming one of my favorite authors....and Tracy Crosswhite one of my favorite characters. The action is well paced and suspects are everywhere. Just when you think you have it all sorted out...the focus changes. There are also plenty of the "good guys" that are less then they should be and you can spend some time hoping they "get what's coming to them" also. Anyone that enjoys a good suspense thriller needs to add this to their collection. The story flows smoothly without anything to take you away from the characters. Several are easily liked while others are easily despised. A well earned 5 stars.

Swimming at Night: A Novel by Lucy Clarke
★ ★ ★ ★ 1/2

The bonds between sisters are explored in Clarke's 2013 debut. Katie is the older, dutiful, more responsible sister, while Mia is the slacker who sleeps around, can't hold a job, lets drink and drugs make too many of her decisions. Mia abruptly takes off on a backpacking trip with her best friend Finn, going to Hawaii to see her father and then on to Australia and Bali. When Mia is found dead in Bali, Katie can't believe it was suicide, and using Mia's journal sets out to discover what happened. She's not prepared for her discoveries, though, about her father, her fiancé, and Finn.

I've read Clarke's two subsequent novels and loved them. This one was excellent, too, and made me think about the roles we all have played within our families. While not really a mystery or novel of suspense, there are enough of those elements to keep the story moving.

Noah's Wife by Lindsay Starck
3.5★'s

Book Description:
When young minister Noah and his dutiful wife arrive at their new post in the hills, they've reached a gray and wet little town where it’s been raining for as long as anyone can remember. Noah’s wife is determined to help her husband revive this soggy congregation but soon finds her efforts thwarted by her eccentric new neighbors, among them an idiom-wielding Italian hardware store owner, a towering town matriarch, and a lovelorn zookeeper determined to stand by his charges. Overwhelmed, Noah’s wife fails to realize that Noah, too, is battling his own internal crisis. Soon the river waters rise, flooding the streets of the town and driving scores of wild animals out of the once-renowned zoo. As the water swallows up the houses, the telephone poles, and the single highway out of town, Noah, his wife, and the townspeople must confront not only the savage forces of nature but also the fragile ties that bind them to one another, all before their world is washed away.

My Thoughts:
The setting for this whimsical tale is a spot that was once a charming tourist destination in the hills but which, after the nonstop downpour, has become almost a ghost town. Throw in that it's the 21st century... complete with TV, cars and trucks, and a visiting weatherman who warns the townsfolk that no end to the rain is in sight and that they are doomed unless they evacuate within the next week. Of course the townspeople ignore his advise...when has the weather people ever been right after all? The local zoo animals aren't fairing so well so the townsfolk set about a rescue. This is where the comedy in the situation comes to light with penguins in the walk in freezer...ostrich and emu's in the general store... and Noah...who is the town's new, young minister, sadly fails to live up to his predecessor in the Bible whose name he is either fortunate or unfortunate to share. As the waters continue to rise the towns people learn to work together for a common cause...the animal's show them the way to safety....and Pastor Noah and Mrs. Noah learn a valuable lesson about life and love. Overall, it is an upbeat, and fanciable tale and well worth the read. And my mother handed me the book and said "Here, read this." Can't argue with Mom.

New Math Is Murder by Jo-Ann Lamon Reccoppa
3 Stars

Colleen, a soon-to-be-divorced mom, is a stringer for the local paper. Going out for a jog one morning, she stumbles over the dead body of her daughter's algebra teacher. Her boss offers her a column based on the investigation . . . only someone doesn't want her investigating.

This is one reason I don't really like cozies. Colleen should have been a bright character, and instead she was TSTL. She doesn't know the coaches on her son's baseball team. She doesn't know how to attach a document in email. She can't figure out how to get of her car after it flies off the end of the pier . . . and the window is open. Too much is told to the reader, rather than shown. This could have been a really good mystery, instead of just so-so.

Among the Wicked by Linda Castillo
Kate Burkholder series Book #8
4.5★'s

From The Book:
Chief of Police Kate Burkholder is called upon by the sheriff's department in rural, upstate New York to assist on a developing situation that involves a reclusive Amish settlement and the death of a young girl. Unable to penetrate the wall of silence between the Amish and "English" communities, the sheriff asks Kate to travel to New York, pose as an Amish woman, and infiltrate the community. Kate's long time love interest, State Agent John Tomasetti, is dead set against her taking on such an unorthodox assignment, knowing she'll have limited communication - and even less in the way of backup. But Kate can't turn her back, especially when the rumor mill boils with disturbing accounts of children in danger. She travels to New York where she's briefed and assumes her new identity as a lone widow seeking a new life. Kate infiltrates the community and goes deep under cover. In the coming days, she unearths a world built on secrets, a series of shocking crimes, and herself, alone... trapped in a fight for her life.

My Thoughts:
The clues were staring us in the face the whole time and I didn't see them and start putting 2 and 2 together until the last 20 pages. Linda Castillo is a fantastic writer and presents Kate Burkholder as a capable, dedicated Chief of Police in the small Ohio hamlet of Painters Mill,...loyal to her small staff of officers but haunted at times by her strict religious past. In this book we again get to intermingle with the Amish and see what happens when the worlds of the "plain people" and the "Englishers" collide. The entire series is more than worth anyone's reading time and all the others have received a 5 star rating. The only reason that this one didn't was I wasn't especially happy with the ending that gave the reader no real explanation for the actions of the perpetrator

Only read the first three, will need to get back to this series.

Dark Watch by Clive Cussler with Jack Du Brul - ****1/2
Book Description
Juan Cabrillo and his crew aboard the spy ship Oregon have made a very comfortable and dangerous living from working for high-powered Western interests. But their newest clients are a consortium of Japanese shipping magnates, whose fortunes are being threatened by brutal pirates trolling the waters of Southeast Asia. When the Oregon confronts the enemy, Cabrillo learns that the pirates' predations hide a deadly international conspiracy.

My Review
This was the 3rd book in The Oregon Chronicles. I liked the writing of both Clive Cussler and Jack DuBrul which provided for an action-packed read. The character development and all the different plots added much to the reading of the book. I look forward to reading the 4th book of the series and highly recommend this book to those whose love action-packed adventure books.

Memory Man by David Baldacci - ****
Book Description
Amos Decker's life changed forever--twice.

The first time was on the gridiron. A big, towering athlete, he was the only person from his hometown of Burlington ever to go pro. But his career ended before it had a chance to begin. On his very first play, a violent helmet-to-helmet collision knocked him off the field for good, and left him with an improbable side effect--he can never forget anything.

The second time was at home nearly two decades later. Now a police detective, Decker returned from a stakeout one evening and entered a nightmare--his wife, young daughter, and brother-in-law had been murdered.

His family destroyed, their killer's identity as mysterious as the motive behind the crime, and unable to forget a single detail from that horrible night, Decker finds his world collapsing around him. He leaves the police force, loses his home, and winds up on the street, taking piecemeal jobs as a private investigator when he can.

But over a year later, a man turns himself in to the police and confesses to the murders. At the same time a horrific event nearly brings Burlington to its knees, and Decker is called back in to help with this investigation. Decker also seizes his chance to learn what really happened to his family that night. To uncover the stunning truth, he must use his remarkable gifts and confront the burdens that go along with them. He must endure the memories he would much rather forget. And he may have to make the ultimate sacrifice.

MEMORY MAN will stay with you long after the turn of the final page.

My Review
This is the first book in the Amos Decker series. It is a tale of redemption and revenge with a shocking beginning. An exciting plot with well-drawn characters lead to a satisfying climax. I found the main character of Amos Decker to be rather unique and interesting. This book held my interest until the very end. I look forward to reading the next in the series. If you enjoy Baldacci's writing, I'm sure you'll enjoy this new series featuring Amos Decker.

>52 Carol420: - I didn't read your review, just noted that you enjoyed it. I'm saving it for my vacation in August and am looking forward to that one, Black Widow and a couple others I haven't decided on yet.

>56 Olivermagnus: Good choices for you vacation reads. It's really good, but aren't all her books really good? I see there is a novella that came out May 31 in Kindle format only called Seeds of Deception that's about Kate's teen years.

Hide nor Hair by Jo-Ann Lamon Reccoppa
3 1/2 stars

Colleen and her sister go to their early morning appointments at Dizzie's salon . . . and find Dizzie face down in a sink full of water. She starts investigating for her newspaper, finding another body along the way and dealing with her ex-husband and hot boss.

While Colleen wasn't my favorite detective in the first book, she improved in the second. I found her more humorous and less stupid in this outing. It looks like a third book will be coming in the series.

Nine Lives by Tom Barber
#1 in the Sam Archer Series
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Loved this book, read it not expecting a lot (it was a free download a long time ago) and just loved the whole premise. The tension was kept up through the whole book and there was even a big twist I didn't see at the end of the book. Also loved the very ending of the book! It was all based around a terrorist cell in London and a race against time on New Year's Eve to stop a number of atrocities. I think this is one of the most tension filled books I have read as it kept this up throughout the whole book. I will certainly be continuing the series and recommend him to others, I think it will be of particular interest to people who enjoy Daniel Silva, Vince Flynn, Brad Thor, Alex Lukeman, Lee Child, Matt Hilton...to name a few.

Wolf Lake by John Verdon
Dave Gurney series Book # 5
5★'s

The plot plays out in the latest in the latest Dave Gurney thriller at Wolf Lake Lodge, in the remote Adirondacks. It is certainly not without a tantalizing history. Shortly after it became an inn in the early 1900s, wolves devoured its founder on the property. The entire setting screams gothic horror starting with the raving gray man carrying an axe and raving about a hawk that knows evil. The inn itself reinforces this concept with it’s creepy vestige standing in the shadow of two mountains with names that continue the theme…Devil’s Fang and Cemetery Ridge. We then have vague cell phone service…wolves howling, and an attic that holds a terrifying tableau…all adding to the festering scene. Add in that the crimes that Dave Gurney is there to investigate…while not letting the client know that he’s investigating…all take on a horrible, unbelievable life of their own. Four men…all from different parts of the country have allegedly committed suicide after being hypnotized by the same man…Richard Hammond…and have experienced the same nightmare involving the wolves. The story now takes on the resemblance of The Shinning on steroids. Madeline…Gurney’s wife that has accompanied him is greeted in the bathroom of the inn by the vision of a former lover of hers dead in the bathtub. Our hero, Dave Gurney keeps a steady hand and a cool head and begins the task of sorting out this giant mess that the local police have somehow managed to botch and answer the glaring question of the century…can a nightmare be used as a murder weapon? I loved the book. The entire idea was intriguing and held my interest from page 1. Lots of clever twists, plenty of good… though sometimes unusual characters, and a creepy, isolated old inn with a sordid past….what more could you ask for?

Gone for Good by Harlan Coben
5 Stars

In the final lucid moments before her death, Will Klein's mother tells him his older brother, Ken, is still alive. Will doesn't know whether to believe her or not. Ken disappeared eleven years ago, after becoming a suspect in the rape/murder of Will's former girlfriend. Shortly after the funeral Ken's current girlfriend, Sheila, disappears as well. Will and and his best friend begin their own investigation and soon discover Sheila isn't who he thinks she is. Eventually they find a connection between Ken and Sheila. To say anything more would be a spoiler.

What a great book. I was riveted from start to finish. Surprises and twists are scattered throughout the story and just when you feel like you know what's going on, the rug will be swept out from underneath your feet. Coben always delivers fascinating characters and both Squares and The Ghost are just phenomenal. Not many writers have such a gift with realistic dialogue. This is an edge of your seat suspense novel and I absolutely recommend it.

The World at Night by Alan Furst
3 Stars

Rene Casson is a famous French film producer caught in Paris as the Germans take the city in 1940. He continues to think he can just avoid the ugliness of war by ignoring it. He only wants to continue to make his films and enjoy evenings with his close friends, many of whom share his sentiments about ignoring the war. When an acquaintance tries to recruit him into the Resistance, he refuses, but eventually becomes involved.

I expected to like this book much better than I did. I think I just had too high an expectation. I enjoyed the story, but Casson's reluctance to become involved and air of futility began to annoy me. I felt like he lived in his own little world, but I admit it was an interesting one, filled with fascinating French characters. His obsession with a former lover, Citrine, provided a lot a flashbacks to happier times. I like most of Furst's books but this wasn't my favorite. If you have never read a book by Alan Furst, I recommend Night Soldiers, The Polish Officer or The Spies of Warsaw.

English Girl by Daniel Silva
4.5 Stars

Back in 2000, Daniel Silva brought new life into the international thriller genre with book:The Kill Artist|93794 which introduced us to Gabriel Allon, an intriguing combination of art restorer and Israeli Mossad spy and assassin. Madeline Hart, a rising star in Britain's governing party, vanishes in Corsica. The Prime Minister, Jonathan Lancaster, is threatened when a DVD arrives after her abduction where she confesses that she's having an affair with him. With it comes a request for ten million Euros or the DVD will become public. If that happens Lancaster's career will be over. After consulting with one of his closest intelligence advisers, Director Graham Seymour, Lancaster agrees to enlist the services of Gabriel Allon to find Madeline before she's killed.

When the story begins, Gabriel has semi-retired from world of espionage and is living a quiet life in Israel restoring classic works of art. After being assured the mission will be completely confidential he accepts the job which pitches him back into a world of violence and to countries where he has plenty of enemies. In the first half of the book Gabriel is operating on his own, with only the help of an assassin-for-hire who at one time accepted a contract to kill him. Gabriel's Israeli team appears in the second half of the book and the action escalates all over Europe and the Middle East. As usual nothing is as it seems and the truth is surprising.

Daniel Silva's writing style is very dynamic. He brings Gabriel Allon to life as an old friend and someone to whom the reader can easily relate. I've been rereading this series by listening to the audio books and I absolutely recommend this novel to any fan of spy thriller/espionage. You won't be disappointed. I tend to think series are best read in order, but there is enough filling in of the back story that a person reading this series for the first time would be able to understand and enjoy it as well.

Before I Go to Sleep by S. J. Watson
4 Stars

Every morning Christine wakes up in a strange bed beside a strange man. She views herself as a party girl so when she sees his wedding ring, she thinks she got drunk and went home with a married man. When she looks in the mirror she sees the face a an older woman, not the mid-twenties woman she feels like inside. She tries to remember how she ended up there but soon realizes she can't remember anything. Her past is a mystery.

The stranger introduces himself as Ben, her husband of twenty years. He tells her that every morning he wakes up to a woman who can't remember anything, including him or their life together. He explains this every day and also puts notes around the bathroom mirror to remind her throughout the day what to do and how to reach him. Chris is also contacted by Dr Edmund Nash, a neuro psychologist, who also calls every day to tell her where to find her journal. When she starts to read it, the very first sentence she sees is "Don't trust Ben".

Before I Go to Sleep is divided into three parts, all narrated by Christine. Part One introduces the reader to the premise. Part Two is filled with Christine's journal entries. Part Three is what happens after she's finished reading her journal. The author did a wonderful job of relaying Christine's anxiety to us through her journals. She lets us know how terrifying it must be to wake up each day with no memories of the previous day. This is a complex, well written and suspenseful novel. I didn't realize it had been made into a movie so I might check it out. I'm usually disappointed in those after enjoying the book, so maybe it's better if I skip it.

>61 Olivermagnus: One of my favourite Harlan Coben books, with some great (and unexpected) twists.

>64 Olivermagnus: Want to read this one!

>65 Andrew-theQM: - I read >26 Hope_H: review and thought it looked good. It wasn't on my radar so I'm glad that I had a chance to read her review.

Silent Voices by Ann Cleeves
Vera Stanhope series Book #4
4.5★'s

From The Book:
When DI Vera Stanhope finds the body of a woman in the sauna room of her local gym, she wonders briefly if, for once, it's a death from natural causes. But closer inspection reveals ligature marks around the victim's throat . . .Doing what she does best, Vera pulls her team together and sets them interviewing staff and those connected to the victim, while she and colleague Sergeant Joe Ashworth work to find a motive. While Joe struggles to reconcile his home life with the demands of the job, Vera revels being back in charge of an investigation. Death has never made her feel so alive.
And when they discover that the victim had worked in social services – and was involved in a shocking case involving a young child – it seems the two are somehow connected.But things are rarely as they seem .

My Thoughts:
There are a lot of characters in this book and they are mostly all potential suspects. Vera is...well she's just Vera. Love or hate her...I don't think she would care very much either way. The reader does get a better view and understanding of what makes her what she is and the way she is. Since this was the book that set the scene for the television series...it may have been structured to help the viewer as well as the reader. There are quite a few twists throughout the story and I changed my mind about who I thought was guilty many times. I love the way Vera comes to the end conclusions. It's been an interesting journey watching Vera and her team grow and learn. I wish that Ann Cleeves would be a tad more kind to Vera in her looks but then...I guess that just wouldn't be our Vera.

The Girl in the Ice by Robert Bryndza
Erica Foster series Book #1
4.5★'s

From the Author's Page:
Her eyes are wide open. Her lips parted as if to speak. Her dead body frozen in the ice…She is not the only one. When a young boy discovers the body of a woman beneath a thick sheet of ice in a South London park, Detective Erika Foster is called in to lead the murder investigation. The victim, a beautiful young socialite, appeared to have the perfect life. Yet when Erika begins to dig deeper, she starts to connect the dots between the murder and the killings of three prostitutes, all found strangled, hands bound and dumped in water around London. What dark secrets is the girl in the ice hiding?

My Thoughts:
It is an interesting and intriguing beginning of a new series. Erica Foster didn't want the case...she wasn't even ready to return to work..but she found herself as lead in the investigation of a rich and powerful man's daughter. Not only did she need to tread softly with the family...but she found that she was not so popular with the team she has been tasked to lead. Actually the only flaw I found with the book as a whole was the relationship between Erica and her boss, Marsh. He allowed Ericka to push him so much that it began to seem unrealistic on his part. There were loads of potential suspects and a few red herrings for the reader to try and find the killer among, that the minor flaw become unimportant as a whole...but it was the reason it lost half star in my opinion. I will certainly pick up the next book in this series.

Silent Voices by Ann Cleeves - 5 stars
Book Description
Ann Cleeves has thrilled readers everywhere with her critically acclaimed mystery series set in the Shetland Islands, which began with the award-winning Raven Black. Now, Cleeves is back with another compelling mystery series (set in Northumberland, England). This one features detective Vera Stanhope, the lead character played by Brenda Blethyn on the hit television series "Vera." Destined for the same kind of fame achieved by Colin Dexter's Inspector Morse, the show is a favorite of millions of viewers in the U.K. and is available here on Netflix, PBS, and Amazon.

My Review
This was the 4th book in the Vera Stanhope series and the first book written for the TV series. The characters were well-developed and we got more insight into Vera and Joe's thought process in solving the mystery. The plot was less convoluted and flowed to an ending that was full of surprises. As in all of Ann Cleeves books she holds her cards close to her vest and does not give much away until the very end. I look forward to reading the next book in the series in August and would highly recommend this book to those who love great mystery with lots of twists.

The Woman in Cabin 10 by Ruth Ware
2 ★'s

From the Book:
Lo Blacklock, a journalist who writes for a travel magazine, has just been given the assignment of a lifetime: a week on a luxury cruise with only a handful of cabins. The sky is clear, the waters calm, and the veneered, select guests jovial as the exclusive cruise ship, the Aurora, begins her voyage in the picturesque North Sea. At first, Lo’s stay is nothing but pleasant: the cabins are plush, the dinner parties are sparkling, and the guests are elegant. But as the week wears on, frigid winds whip the deck, gray skies fall, and Lo witnesses what she can only describe as a dark and terrifying nightmare: a woman being thrown overboard. The problem? All passengers remain accounted for—and so, the ship sails on as if nothing has happened, despite Lo’s desperate attempts to convey that something (or someone) has gone terribly, terribly wrong.

My Thoughts:
The book sounded as if it would be a really good read but when I saw the comparison to Agatha Christie...I knew this was going almost nowhere for me. I am not an Agatha Christie fan but I can 100% guarantee you she was so much better than this on her worst day. The heroine was a drunk and absolutely obnoxious and whiny. She didn't care about anyone ...not even herself. No one believed she had seen a body dropped overboard because she was roaring drunk at the time. DUH! There were so many incidences tied together without any explanation of how they came to be to start with. I can't even tell you what the plot of this story was supposed to be.

Nine Lives by Tom Barber - 5 stars
Book Description
It’s New Year’s Eve. A major terrorist cell is planning a series of attacks across London over the next forty-eight hours. The government has surveillance on the group, a man undercover, and prepare to move in, to take out the terrorists before they can strike. But they lose contact with their inside man. And the cell vanishes into thin air, dispersing into the streets, armed and intent on completing their assault on London. The best Counter-Terrorist teams in the country are told to take them down before it's too late.

Nine terrorists. Nine lives.

The Armed Response Unit is one of these teams. Efficient and ruthless, the task force is ordered to locate the leader of the cell. As they hunt him down, they begin to realise that this is far bigger than any of them could ever have imagined. Bombings, rocket attacks, betrayal and a series of unexpected and shocking twists leave the ARU fighting to stay alive.

There's Archer, the youngest member of the team, keen to prove himself and justify his spot on the task force. His best friend, Chalky, who is forced to fight both the terrorists and his own demons. Porter, Deakins and Fox, tough and experienced men who’ve never dealt with anything of this magnitude. And Mac, their sergeant, who must make the quickest of decisions and lead his men against the invisible enemy.

As events unfold, other people are drawn into the danger. The Prime Minister, desperately trying to find a solution and protect the capital. A mysterious female Mossad agent, who appears out of nowhere and joins the fight against the cell. Two Special Agents from the DEA, one of whom was a member of the SEAL team that stormed Osama Bin Laden’s compound and who for some reason is struggling with the memory. And the vicious, powerful leader of a Middle Eastern drug cartel, who operates in the shadows and is somehow connected to the terrorists.

With crowds all over London celebrating the New Year, and with nine terrorists somewhere amongst them, the Armed Response Unit is faced with the most dangerous night of their lives. As the savage, shocking plans of the enemy are fully revealed, the ARU officers are faced with the ultimate question.
How many times can a man cheat Death before Death evens the score?

My Review
This was a great action-packed debut novel and a real unputdownable page-turner until the very end. The characters were well-drawn and the plot was excellent. I look forward to reading the next book and I recommend The Sam Archer series to those who love action-packed thrillers!

Pyramid by David Gibbins
Jack Howard series Book #8
3.5★'s

From The Book:
For thousands of years, Egypt was a rich, ingenious civilization. Then it became a fertile hunting ground for archaeologists and explorers. Now the streets of Cairo teem with violence as a political awakening shakes the region. In the face of overwhelming danger, Jack Howard and his team of marine archaeologists have gathered pieces of a fantastic puzzle. But putting it together may cost them their lives. Howard has connected a mystery hidden inside a great pyramid to a fossilized discovery in the Red Sea and a 110-year-old handwritten report of a man who claims to have escaped a labyrinth beneath Cairo. For that his team is stalked by a brutal extremist organization that will destroy any treasure they find. As people fight and die for their rights above ground, Jack fights for a discovery that will shed an astounding new light on the greatest story ever told: Moses' exodus from Egypt and the true beginnings of a new chapter in human history.

My Thoughts:
I have read and enjoyed several of these books but eve though it is a good story, you really need to be interested in Egyptian and biblical history to really get into it. It’s a very fast moving book and at times it is difficult to keep up with what is taking place. I especially enjoyed the parts that featured Jack Howard and the under water archaeological finds. However this is a series that is greatly in need of a glossary or a list of character bios since one book builds on the previous one and often touches on the next... I had trouble remembering who was who in the previous books. Overall it was an enjoyable read and I would certainly recommend it to fans of historical thrillers but it is a series that diffidently should be read in order. 3.5★'s and I think that's the lowest rating I have ever given a book in this series.

>72 Carol420: I keep meaning to try David Gibbins. I do own Mask of Troy.

>73 Andrew-theQM: I've read 8 of his books now...and Eadie will be happy that I read them in order...and this was the one that I was the least interested in and I believe it was that I'm just not into Egyptian history but as I said in the review the books seem to follow one another and David Gibbins takes it for granted that you have read all the previous ones. Mask of Troy is #5 and one of my favorites. I was very interested the Greeks. #9 will be out in January. It's about a ship wreck that the found off the coast of England.

The Dramatist by Ken Bruen
Jack Taylor series Book # 4
3 ★'s

From the Book:
Seems impossible, but Jack Taylor is sober---off booze, pills, powder, and nearly off cigarettes, too. The main reason he's been able to keep clean: his dealer's in jail, which leaves Jack without a source. When that dealer calls him to Dublin and asks a favor in the soiled, sordid visiting room of Mountjoy Prison, Jack wants to tell him to take a flying leap. But he doesn't, can't, because the dealer's sister is dead,and the guards have called it "death by misadventure." The dealer knows that can't be true and begs Jack to have a look, check around, see what he can find out. It's exactly what Jack does, with varying levels of success, to make a living. But he's reluctant, maybe because of who's asking or maybe because of the bad feeling growing in his gut. Never one to give in to bad feelings or common sense, Jack agrees to the favor, though he can't possibly know the shocking, deadly consequences he has set in motion. But he and everyone he holds dear will find out soon, sooner than anyone knows,

My Thoughts:
I discovered the Jack Taylor series quiet by accident and I have really enjoyed the first three books. This one seemed to lack the excitement and the character development that the previous ones had and the search for the killer was put on the back burner until almost the last pages and then Jack suddenly discovers who it was. The Dramatist was the shortest of the four books...I read it in 4 hours.... so maybe that was the problem. I did begin to become acquainted with Jack Taylor through the movies and started reading the books afterwards so there was probably some preconceived ideas as to how the books should be as a result. I love the atmosphere of Galway and the Irish life style that the Jack Taylor series portrays. So many of the people remind me of my grandmother…those that aren’t killing people that is.) Looking forward to book five.

>74 Carol420: Thanks for the feedback Carol. I will look to get to that one when I get home. Of course for me it will be a ROO.

The Only Suspect by Jonnie Jacobs
4 stars

from my library's catalog: Set in the small town of Monte Vista, California, the story alternates points of view between Dr. Samuel Russell and police detective Hannah Montgomery. Russell's wife, Maureen, has disappeared, and he can't remember anything about the day and night preceding her disappearance. As a recovering alcoholic, he worries that he might have fallen off the wagon, with tragic results. Jacobs creates a high level of suspense as Hannah and Sam both investigate what might have occurred.

my thoughts: I really enjoyed my first novel by Jonnie Jacobs. The writing was engaging and I really liked the characters. Even the "unlikable" characters were semi-endearing. The action moved along at a steady pace and I raced through the second half of the book. I figured out parts of the plot twists at the end, but part of the reveal completely blind-sided me. Jacobs handled the plot twists well and I felt that they made sense.

Cometh The Hour by Jeffrey Archer - 5 stars
Book Description
Cometh the Hour opens with the reading of a suicide note, which has devastating consequences for Harry and Emma Clifton, Giles Barrington and Lady Virginia.

Giles must decide if he should withdraw from politics and try to rescue Karin, the woman he loves, from behind the Iron Curtain. But is Karin truly in love with him, or is she a spy?

Lady Virginia is facing bankruptcy, and can see no way out of her financial problems, until she is introduced to the hapless Cyrus T. Grant III from Baton Rouge, Louisiana, who's in England to see his horse run at Royal Ascot.

Sebastian Clifton is now the Chief Executive of Farthings Bank and a workaholic, whose personal life is thrown into disarray when he falls for Priya, a beautiful Indian girl. But her parents have already chosen the man she is going to marry. Meanwhile, Sebastian's rivals Adrian Sloane and Desmond Mellor are still plotting to bring him and his chairman Hakim Bishara down, so they can take over Farthings.

Harry Clifton remains determined to get Anatoly Babakov released from a gulag in Siberia, following the international success of his acclaimed book, Uncle Joe. But then something unexpected happens that none of them could have anticipated.

Cometh the Hour is the penultimate book in the Clifton Chronicles and, like the five previous novels - all of which hit the New York Times bestseller list - showcases Jeffrey Archer's extraordinary storytelling with his trademark twists.

My Review
This is the 6th book of The Clifton Chronicles and once more a very enjoyable read. This book follows the Cliftons and the Barringtons, throughout the 1970's and once again ends with another cliffhanger. What I like about Archer's books is that his writing is so easy and interesting that you can breeze through the book in one day. I love the fact that at the end of the book all the baddies seem to get their comeuppance. I look forward to reading the 7th and last book in the series. I will surely miss these books but will be checking out some of his past books. I would highly recommend this series to those who love family sagas.

>78 EadieB: Now just to wait till November for book 7.

Have you ever read Kane and Abel or The Prodigal Daughter? Read those over 30 years ago and loved them.

>79 Andrew-theQM:
No, I haven't read them but I will definitely check them out.

The Magpies by Mark Edwards
4★'s

From the Book:
When Jamie and Kirsty move into their first home together, they are full of optimism. The future, in which they plan to get married and start a family, is bright. The other residents of their building seem friendly too, including the Newtons, a married couple who welcome them to the building with open arms. But then strange things start to happen. Dead rats are left on their doorstep. They hear disturbing noises, and much worse, in the night. After Jamie's best friend is injured in a horrific accident, Jamie and Kirsty find themselves targeted by a campaign of terror. As they are driven to the edge of despair, Jamie vows to fight back—but he has no idea what he is really up against .

My Thoughts:
A quote from the book cover pretty much says it all. "The Magpies is a gripping psychological thriller in which the monsters are not vampires or demons, but the people who live next door. It is a nightmare that could happen to anyone."

It seems from the authors note in the back of the book that that is exactly what happened to him. When he was in his late 20's...the same age as the main characters in the story... Jamie and Kristy. He ad his then girlfriend had rented a ground floor apartment and soon were besieged with hoaxes, and complainants that were not so the average. They even complained that they were being too noisy when cleaning the toilet bowl. When coming up with ideas for a new book he thought of that and build on the idea of "what if". What if these acts were carried to the extreme and what if the good guys decided to try to fight back? What if??? It isn't a supernatural story but in some ways so much more scary than ghost or monsters. It's human nature on steroids at it's very worse. You find yourself feeling all kinds of emotions for Jamie and Kristy.

The author says that while it's not a series he intends to build on one of the "bad guys" in his next book. I'll be waiting.

On The Edge by Peter Lovesey
3★'s
From The Book:
Soon after World War II, two former co-workers in the operations room of a Royal Air Force squadron meet in the street. Their lives have diverged dramatically but each wants to get rid of her husband. And so a mutual-assistance pact is made. Rose and Antonia had a good war. As WAAF plotters they had all the excitement and independence of a difficult and fulfilling job, and all the fun of being two women on an RAF base. But peacetime is a disappointment. Rose’s war-hero husband has turned brutal out. Antonia, bored with her rich manufacturer, wants to move to America with her lover. But what are plotters for, if not to plot? Antonia’s ruthless scheme would give them what they both want. If Rose doesn’t lose her nerve, they could get away with murder.

My Thoughts:
I can't actually say that it was a great book but it had some very good historical elements and a story that is reminiscent of Strangers on a train. The book was turned into a British TV movie... Dead Gorgeous that was broadcast on the PBS Mystery series. Of the two women Rose Bell was the much more interesting as the reader watches her evolve from an innocent to an accomplice in a murder. Not exactly what i would label a mystery but it does hold a great deal of intrigue. I love the opening paragraph..."Smiling serenely in the September sun, Rose Bell strolled along Regent Street. Mentally she was miles away, having her husband neutered like the cat." Now how could you not continue reading after that?

Holy Cow: An Indian Adventure by Sarah MacDonald
-1★'s

From The Book:
In her twenties, journalist Sarah MacDonald backpacked around India and came away with a lasting impression of heat, pollution and poverty. So when an airport beggar read her palm and told her she would return to India—and for love—she screamed, “Never!” and gave the country, and him, the finger.

But eleven years later, the prophecy comes true. When the love of Sarah’s life is posted to India, she quits her dream job to move to the most polluted city on earth, New Delhi. For Sarah this seems like the ultimate sacrifice for love, and it almost kills her, literally. Just settled, she falls dangerously ill with double pneumonia, an experience that compels her to face some serious questions about her own fragile mortality and inner spiritual void. “I must find peace in the only place possible in India,” she concludes. “Within.” Thus begins her journey of discovery through India in search of the meaning of life and death.

Holy Cow is MacDonald’s often hilarious chronicle of her adventures in a land of chaos and contradiction, of encounters with Hinduism, Islam and Jainism, Sufis, Sikhs, Parsis and Christians and a kaleidoscope of yogis, swamis and Bollywood stars. From spiritual retreats and crumbling nirvanas to war zones and New Delhi nightclubs, it is a journey that only a woman on a mission to save her soul, her love life—and her sanity—can survive.

My Thoughts:
I read this to complete a challenge and the cover looked interesting. Both bad reasons to read a book. Shame on me! I found her entire approach to "investigating" the people and beliefs of this country to be obnoxious and condescending. No one forced her to return to India and I'm sure the people of India were more than happy to see her backside getting on the plane. The author's attitude toward India and Indians combines the worst of both the old and the new west by patronizingly sneering at a culture she doesn't understand and obviously has no desire to, much less offer any sign of respect. I guess I've read worse books but I can't remember when.

Oh dear! Not positive.

>84 Andrew-theQM: Awful book. I hate people that go to someone else's country and pick it apart. My mother always told me to "never by pass a good opportunity to shut up." The author should have listened to my mother.

By the sound of it should have listened to somebody. That old maxim, if you haven't got something positive to say, say nothing at all.

>86 Andrew-theQM: oh yes...that was another of her "words of wisdom" along with "it's not what you want that does you good but what you get." That one came after the endless begging and pestering for something and I knew I wasn't going to get anything at all.

Still Missing by Chevy Stevens
3.5★'s

From The Book:
On the day she was abducted, Annie O'Sullivan, a thirty-two-year-old realtor, had three goals―sell a house, forget about a recent argument with her mother, and be on time for dinner with her ever-patient boyfriend. The open house is slow, but when her last visitor pulls up in a van as she's about to leave, Annie thinks it just might be her lucky day after all. Interwoven with the story of the year Annie spent captive in a remote mountain cabin―which unfolds through sessions with her psychiatrist―is the second narrative recounting the nightmare that follows her escape: her struggle to piece her shattered life back together, the ongoing police investigation into the identity of her captor, and the disturbing sense that things are far from over.

My Thoughts:
The most enlightening part of the entire book was the sessions that Annie has with her therapist. She recounts her yearlong ordeal of being held hostage in a mountain cabin and being raped, beaten, and controlled by the psychopath who kidnapped her. Te story is then told from a present perspective and a past perspective. That would be fine except it's like two entirely different people are telling it. A few of the psychological elements were too convenient as a result they just didn't ring true. But overall it was an entertaining and sometimes chilling novel.

This House is Haunted by John Boyne
4.5 stars

from my library's catalog: 1867. Eliza Caine arrives in Norfolk to take up her position as governess at Gaudlin Hall on a dark and chilling night. As she makes her way across the station platform, a pair of invisible hands push her from behind into the path of an approaching train. She is only saved by the vigilance of a passing doctor. When she finally arrives, shaken, at the hall she is greeted by the two children in her care, Isabella and Eustace. There are no parents, no adults at all, and no one to represent her mysterious employer. The children offer no explanation. Later that night in her room, a second terrifying experience further reinforces the sense that something is very wrong. From the moment she rises the following morning, her every step seems dogged by a malign presence which lives within Gaudlin's walls. Eliza realizes that if she and the children are to survive its violent attentions, she must first uncover the hall's long-buried secrets and confront the demons of its past.

my thoughts: This book probably would have gotten 5 stars from me if it hadn't started off so painfully slow. I almost didn't finish it because the beginning dragged on so much. I understand that the author was trying to give background, but it definitely needed a little editing. However, when the action began it went full tilt until the very end. I found myself spending every free moment I had trying to find out what happened next and I was not disappointed by the ending. It was not what I expected, but it was absolutely perfect! I'm so glad I didn't give up on this one.

Protect and Defend by Vince Flynn (8th in the Mitch Rapp Series.)

Amazon Description.
With Iran on the brink of developing a nuclear weapon, Israel is forced to react - and triggers an international crisis. An outraged United Nations condemns the attacks, while Iran swears vengeance against Israel and her chief backer: the USA.

My review.
Yet again the President of the USA has to turn to the unusual talents of Mitch Rapp, a man who is prepared to push the boundaries to ensure that he gets the results that are needed. His methods are not always for the squeamish, but then neither are the tactics of those he is seeking to prevent wreaking havoc on his country.
Filled with background encompassing political machinations and manoeuvring, the story takes little time for breath. Rapp is not only a fighting machine, but one with a soul, he is also a master tactician. The author's plot line shows an eye for detail, and a carefully worked out scenario. Another excellent read, shame the author is no longer with us.

Everyone Burns by John Dolan
3 stars

from Librarything: It is January 2005 and the charred remains of two Europeans have been discovered on the Thai island of Samui. Local Police Chief Charoenkul, sidelined by his superiors, enlists the reluctant David Braddock, a burnt-out private detective, to assist in an 'unofficial' investigation. But Braddock has problems of his own, including his affair with the same Police Chief's wife ... Peppered with irreverent humour and some pithy comments on everyday life in the Land of Smiles, 'Everyone Burns' is much more than a crime novel. It is also a carefully-crafted psychological study of an anti-hero for our time.

my thoughts: This was a pretty good mystery story. I loved the setting and most of the characters. The plot was a tad predictable at times, but at other times caught me completely off guard. The ending was slightly disappointing, but it did fit the storyline well, so I can accept it. I'll probably continue the series to see what happens next.

The Dogs by Allan Stratton
3★'s

From The Book:
Cameron and his mom have been on the run for five years. His father is hunting them. At least, that’s what Cameron’s been told. When they settle in an isolated farmhouse, Cameron starts to see and hear things that aren’t possible. Soon he’s questioning everything he thought he knew and even his sanity.
What's hiding in the night? Buried in the past? Cameron must uncover the dark secrets before they tear him apart.

My Thoughts:
Cameron is a very likable character. He’s 15 years old and has moved with his mother 4 times already in just a single year to escape a father that has the uncanny ability to stalk and fine them wherever they go. Needless to say Cameron has problems making friends so it wasn’t really surprising when his best friend was reveled to be the ghost of a boy that had died on the farm that Cameron and his mother are renting…or is he an active figment of Cameron’s imagination? This is a YA book but it was a page turning little offering. It is a quick read with a good plot and a surprising ending. I don't believe you have to be 12 years old to enjoy it.

Extreme Measures by Vince Flynn
5 stars
Vince Flynn does it again, or, rather, his creation, Mitch Rapp does. Flynn always manages to create credible terrorists, whose twisted sense of revenge, heroism and martyrdom, leads them into ever more complicated attempts to damage the US or the Great Satan that they term that country. As usual there are politicians and others, some of them members of the military, who wish to curtail Rapp's activities. In this novel they e3ven bring him before a Judicial Inquiry, but this only serves to allow the terrorists to be at least partially successful, before Rapp, and his assistant, Mike Nash, get down to sorting things out. A real page turner that leaves the way open for another instalment.

>93 Alan1946: Thanks for the review, Alan. I'm going to start on the Mitch Rapp series again next month. Just have to remember where I left off.

Lockdown by Sean Black
Ryan Lock series Book 1
3.75★'s

It may be Christmas Eve in New York, but for ex-military bodyguard Ryan Lock it's business as usual. His task: to protect the CEO of the world's largest bio-technology company from a group of radical, and highly determined, activists. When a failed assassination attempt leaves the streets of midtown littered with bodies, and hours later the son of the company's chief research scientist is abducted from his Upper West Side prep school, Lock's hunt for the boy turns into an explosive game of cat and mouse. Through the corporate corridors of power and dark alleys of Manhattan, Lock's search leads him towards a deadly confrontation with one of the world's most dangerous women, a deadly Chechen black widow seeking revenge against America. As the clock ticks towards midnight on New Year's Eve, and the crowds gather in Times Square, Lock realizes that not only is his own life in terrible danger but so are the lives of millions of others.

My Thoughts:
After giving it a great deal of thought I realized that there is no way that I can cover the ratings for this book in a single number of stars. This book was written in 2009 so there are already 7 books in the series but since they were only just released in the United States I’m treating this as a new series.

The characters: The chief characters of Ryan Lock and his friend and co-worker, Tyrone (Ty) I would have to give them a 5. Both are competent and likable characters with a lot of promise for future novels. I hope that Angel, the rescued dog, stays in the series also. She gets a 5 all by herself.

The series overall: This is the start of a new series...at least in the U.S. that fans of David Baldacci, Vince Flynn, Lee Child and other great thriller writers will more than likely enjoy and find that the characters of John Puller, Mitch Rapp, and Jack Reacher have a lot in common with Ryan Lock without being carbon copies. Since this is only the first book I will cautiously give the series a 4 but have expectations of it being one that I will add to the mountain of series I already read.

The story line: Here is where I had the most problem with the book and I’m sure that it is going to present a problem for other readers. I wish that Sean Black had kept this subject in reserve and used it in book 3 or 4 instead of the first that many will judge the entire series by and be afraid to take a chance on another one. The story is about a bio-technology company that does research on animals and has graduated to living human beings. I found that the animal part was so much harder to take than the human…since they were hardened criminals and the animals had done nothing to find themselves in this situation. Having said that…I would have to give the story line a big red 1 with maybe even minus signs. Animal lovers and people with a heart will hate the subject.

Since I do have hope for this series I will await Book 2 in the series Deadlock.

Hour Game by David Baldacci
King & Maxwell series Book #2
5 ★'s

From The Book:
A woman is found murdered in the woods. It seems like a simple case but it soon escalates into a terrible nightmare. Someone is replicating the killing styles of the most infamous murderers of all time. No one knows this criminal's motives...or who will die next.

Two ex-Secret Service agents, Sean King and Michelle Maxwell, have been hired to defend a man's innocence in a burglary involving an aristocratic family. Then a series of secrets leads the partners right into the frantic hunt that is confounding even the FBI. Now King and Maxwell are playing the Hour Game, uncovering one horrifying revelation after another and putting their lives in danger. For the closer they get to the truth, the closer they get to the most shocking surprise of all.

My Thoughts:

It will come as no surprise to the people that have known me for a while that I would give this book, and for that matter this entire series 5 stars.

Sean King and Michelle Maxwell are indeed most memorable characters who are in business together as private investigators in small-town Wrightsburg, Va. David Baldacci as brought this dynamic duo together in this utterly absorbing, complex mystery-thriller that spins in unexpected directions many, many times during the story. From the opening of the book we meet characters that seemed to have almost stepped from a comic book... a murderer who's whose selection of victims appears random but we soon see that his/her modus operandi, differing from kill to kill, and mimicking the work of notorious serial killers—the Zodiac killer, John Wayne Gacy, etc. Add to that a dysfunctional southern family straight out of the worst television production you have ever had the fortune or perhaps the misfortune to view. Just about the time that you think you have the whole thing sorted out...have a second thought because your main suspect just got murdered. As the bodies pile up and your head begins to feel that it's going to explode...you will begin hoping that someone will be left to be the killer. If you are a reader that likes trying to solve a well done mystery with a different twist at every turn then Hour Games is right up your ally.

Runaway by Peter May - *****
Book Description
"Five of us had run away that fateful night just over a month before. Only three of us would be going home. And nothing, nothing would ever be the same again."

Glasgow, 1965. Headstrong teenager Jack Mackay cannot allow for even the possibility of a life of predictability and routine. The seventeen-year-old has just one destination on his mind--London--and successfully convinces his four friends, and fellow bandmates, to join him in abandoning their homes to pursue a goal of musical stardom.

Glasgow, 2015. Jack Mackay dares not look back on a life of failure and mediocrity. The heavy-hearted sixty-seven-year-old is still haunted by what might have been. His recollections of the terrible events that befell him and his friends some fifty years earlier, and how he did not act when it mattered most is a memory he has tried to escape his entire adult life.

London, 2015. A man lies dead in a one-room flat. His killer looks on, remorseless. What started with five teenagers following a dream five decades before has been transformed over the intervening decades into a waking nightmare that might just consume them all.

Runaway is a tense crime thriller spanning a half-century of friendships solidified and severed, dreams shared and shattered, passions ignited and extinguished, all set against the backdrop of two unique cities at two unique and transformational periods of recent history.

My Review
Peter May is one of my favorite writers. He is always able to tell a great story. I found this book to be a very adventurous read. The characters were believable as they told their story about their runaway trip to London in the 60's fifty years ago. The plot of solving a murder that happened in the 60's and traveling together once again made for a real page-turner. Add in a little history of Glasgow and London in the 60's and present day differences and you have a very worthwhile read. I would recommend this book to those who love a book with lots of twists and turns.

Another great book from Peter May by the sound of it.

Hour Game by David Baldacci - ****
Book Description
A woman is found murdered in the woods. It seems like a simple case but it soon escalates into a terrible nightmare. Someone is replicating the killing styles of the most infamous murderers of all time. No one knows this criminal's motives...or who will die next.

Two ex-Secret Service agents, Sean King and Michelle Maxwell, have been hired to defend a man's innocence in a burglary involving an aristocratic family. Then a series of secrets leads the partners right into the frantic hunt that is confounding even the FBI. Now King and Maxwell are playing the Hour Game, uncovering one horrifying revelation after another and putting their lives in danger. For the closer they get to the truth, the closer they get to the most shocking surprise of all.

My Review
This is the 2nd book in the King and Maxwell series. It was a very interesting read and kept me turning the pages. The book could have been shorter as there were entirely too many characters and the plot had subplots. Each chapter brought more questions without any clues or answers. I do have to admit that Baldacci is very good at keeping us guessing and the killer was quite surprising and unexpected. I now look forward to reading the next in the series as I do enjoy the partnership of King and Maxwell. I would recommend this book to those who like twists and turns and mysteries that are hard to solve.