"The Escape", by Lisa Harris

US Marshall book #1

This high octane cat and mouse game between the US Marshall and a fugitive is quite entertaining and an attention grabber.

It opens with two Marshalls transporting two prisoners across the country when their plane crashes, Madison James and Jonas Quinn survived, the pilots are killed so is one of the prisoners but Damon Barrick, the most dangerous one manages to escape thus launching a manhunt through forest, towns, airports, train and bus stations.

Although the subject is by far from original, the author has put quite a personal spin into her story. Things turns deadly along the way but no fear the two officers of the law quickly put their heads together and find a way to catch this slimy prisoner and bring him back to where he belongs…but achieving this goal becomes quite a challenge….and is very captivating for us to follow them.

The story presents a sidebar and is a real teaser: a black rose is left annually on the anniversary of Madison’s husband’s murder. Who is behind this act, can it be the killer and the one who was never brought to justice….This remains an unsolved and unresolved case at the end of the book leaving us believe it will spring up again sometime.

No doubt, this story is action-packed and is a page-turner. Well- written to captivate from the opening pages and holds you there till you reach the conclusion which ends in a cliff-hanger, of course, setting the stage for book #2. The characterisation is believable. The chase for Damon, a bit far-fetched but the exciting narrative makes up for all its faults. Well-done.

I received this ARC copy of this book from the publisher Revell via the first reviewer program for my thoughts

"V2", by Robert Harris

Near the end of WW11, Germany channels all its energy into a rocket, the V2. Robert Harris in a propulsive narrative tells the story from the perspectives of Dr Rudi Graf, a collaborator of Wernher von Braun, head of the rocket program and from Kay Caton-Walsh from the Women’s Auxiliary Air force. The story is set over five days and the dueling narratives expose how the tit for tat battle played out on both sides.

Skillfully mixing the real and fictional characters into the plot Mr. Harris has drawn a series of events related the V2 rockets and their launch. The storyline alternates between Dr. Graf who find himself in Occupied Holland launching the volatile and deadly machine against London and Kay Caton-Walsh who was sent to Belgium in the hope to discovering the location of the launch sites.

The narrative is the key feature and the joy is the two conspiracies we have in this book. Behind all of this is Wernher von Braun, head of the Nazi rocket program, who may be the only one to stand out from the cliché Nazi type. For all its pace “V2” is more drama than thriller. Mr. Harris has perfectly created tension within a story in which we know the ending and masterfully presented a well-researched history embellished with colourful human behaviour.

Although a fiction V2 tells a story close to what really happened during the war. It is very technical in details... get out your slide rule we have lots of maths to follow. Interesting in many ways...

I received a copy of this book from Penguin Random House via Netgalley and Edelweiss for an unbiased review these are my thoughts.

"Staccato", by Ty Patterson

Zeb Carter Short book #1

Zeb Carter is leaving the coffee store when the shooter opens fire indiscriminately and escapes.... then Zeb springs into action and the hunt is on......

What an opening....

This novella is filled with never ending action of course when Zeb is around we have no peace, this is the main reason when Zeb and his team are concerned we are never bored. The dramas they find themselves into are a thrill to read. This little story is way too short once into it zap you reached the end but what a complete and excellent story, it notches all the boxes. Mr. Patterson brought in all his team plus managed to introduce two of his favourite cops, his boss, he did not forget Cutter Grogan, the main player in his new series and many more characters we came to know from other series also showed up. This story is cleverly written to fit in with the other series and is a wonderful filler between books when time is pressing.

"The Kingdom", by Jo Nesbo

This latest meaty and twisty standalone bring us to a remote Norwegian village where our attention will be centered on the complex relationship between two brothers, Roy and Carl Opgard. It opens when 15 year old Carl mortally wounds the family dog and his brother puts the animal out of its misery and cleans up the mess.
Then

Very slowly Mr. Nesbo methodically peels away the secrets surrounding the brothers’ backstory and gradually frog leaps into Carl and Roy’s relations with their neighbours. The simmering and complex story gives us unexpected violent twists when slippery Carl plans to reinvigorate the town...and inevitably gruesome secrets emerge and the ever growing body count mounts.

Although this story is more concerned with sibling rivalry, family secrets, young love and the winter blues...we still find a lot of conniving going on... so, why am I left hot and cold about “The Kingdom”. It simple: too slow moving, too convoluted, too many clichés and quite boring for too long. This story could have been said within 400 pages. It was a challenge to stay on top of this story but ¾ into it when things took an about turn more intensity and intrigue injected into the story I stayed glued and could not put the last pages down wanting so much to see how this saga would end....Oh boy what an open ending...One a final note this story provides us with amazing characterization and a superb narration but having said this I was left slightly disappointed with this one.

Thank you Penguin Random House and Netgalley for the free copy in exchange for an honest review

"Chasing the Monkey King", by D.C. Alexander

When a U.S. government investigator vanished on assignment Former detective Lars Severin is hired to find out what happened to her by a family member. Was her disappearance the result of an act of violence or something more sinister....His quest to find out the truth will bring him and Wallance Zhang, his long-time friend, into a labyrinth of double dealing and conspiracy....The chase will lead them from the alleys of Seattle to Washington D.C. and to the city of Shanghai. Along the way these two intrepid travellers will entertain us with their continuous banter.

At the heart of this interesting plot is the subject of anti-dumping practice imposed on goods and the machinations some industries are willing to do in order to squash the competitors. What a timely subject. The author’s provides in his narrative many details of the practice.

The topic is original and the mechanics quite good. The investigation seems at first to lead nowhere, we have no motive, no data to say and where did the missing investigators go...no bodies, nothing. But Lars and Wallance are very competent at driving out despicable people, they take their time flushing them out, cloak and dagger at its finest.. But the slowness of their work affected the flow considerably and after a while a good push was definitely needed to move things along. I am not a big fan of raw humour but these two were experts and I simply love the ways they communicated with each other: witty remarks and constant teasing...loved it. These two are entertaining.

In all, this is a good mystery

BTW:

Mandatory while reading “Chasing the Monkey King” is joining Lars and Wallance for a cup of pu’er tea ....( you will understand once you open this book)

I received a free digital copy of this mystery. This is a voluntarily review, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.

"Without Blood", by Martin Michaud

A Victor Lessard Thriller 

 

Book #2 for the English audience

A note at the beginning suggests that we should consider “Without Blood” a prequel to the series.

I am not surprised learning that Mr. Michaud’s nickname is the Master of the Quebec thriller and that his Victor Lessard series has been adapted and is airing on the TV platform here in French Quebec as well as in Europe. For the English audience two of his books are now translated “Never Forget” came out earlier this year and “Without Blood” will in the next few months. My thanks to Dundurn Press and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC. The opinions expressed are my own.

Each book has a unique story to tell, “Without Blood” invites us to travel through the beautiful streets of Montreal where multiple non-trivial stories unfold. It opens when a young woman (Simone) wakes up from a coma and goes on a mad dash to find a man who in all likelihood does not exist. It follows with rebellious cop Victor Lessard pursuing a ruthless hunter who stalks the streets of Montreal and the third thread brings a hunter stalking his prey and awaiting the right moment to close in for the kill.

The author, a native of the city, knows well the city and its neighborhoods, following the characters through the streets and locals brought back cherish memories to this Montrealer. The story is told in alternate voices going from a 1sr person narrative when Simone’s speaks and switches to a 3rd person narrative when Victor and the hunter play their parts. The alternating voices seemed hard to follow at first but I soon fell into the beat and from then on, no trouble I knew that... Simone, Victor and the hunter will each have their turn to tell their stories.

The translation is outstanding; the artist has captured the voice of the writer perfectly. Thanks to the author's fluid and rhythmic writing and the unbridled speed it is said this is one of those books hard not to be deeply invested in. Some may not like to be plunged into the paranormal when Simone has visions, although I am not a fan, it did not bother me at all. Victor is the perfect cliché of policemen but he plays his role perfectly, I love him. As for the rest of the crew they are well- defined and their roles are exciting to read.

I love this series and “Without Blood” gets 5 stars from me