"The Girl Behind the Wall", by Mandy Robotham

This story spins an interesting tale of identical twins separated by a blockade. It opens the summer of 1961 during the time the GDR or East Germany began to build a barbed wire and concrete bulwark between East and West Germany and unfolds with ease till the crisis ended in 1989. This fictional story is one account that surely represents thousands of people affected by this decision.

This is the story of Jutta and Karin Voight

The sisters suddenly find themselves separated overnight with no means of contact, Jutta stuck in West Berlin and Karin by bad luck was being cared of in an East Germany hospital when the state decided to stem the mass defections from East to West. The author switches the narrative from one sister to the other and from their perspective we have an idea how they managed living apart. Ms. Robotham captures the fear and the uncertainty experienced to a tee and has taken a historical moment and made it come to life. Although sad the style is soothing and so easy to read with its short chapters and a slow but steady tempo to help us digest the content. At times some passages seemed a bit farfetched and a little unbelieve but it added some suspense to give us excitement. Nicely told and nicely played out by Jutta and Karin.

I was given the opportunity to read this ARC from Avon Books UK via Netgalley in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.

"Murder Without Pity", by Steve Haberman

This is a slow moving suspense which action takes place against a background of violence and riots in Paris after an Austrian right winger was acquitted by jury. State criminal investigator, Stanislas Cassel, grandson of a French propagandist for the Nazis during WW11, looks into the bizarre murder of a pensioner... what will his investigation uncover?

Drawn from tragic lives of actual people this story is nevertheless fictional it’s a mix of mystery about the past, the present and about a little of everything: murder, betrayal, redemption and particularly of “who- dun-it”. This is a convoluted drama that brings to light how suffering and violence continue long after the war ended. . It may be a plus to be familiar with the Vichy Government politics during the war years and what the French citizens had to face.

The story centres mainly on Stanislas Cassel with all his faults and qualities especially his determination to get to the bottom of this case. In the course of his investigation he finds out the murdered man was keeping boxes of notes, documents and folders in German. Was this man a traitor? Why was he killed? Of course you will have to read the book to find out...

I had a hard time getting into this book it was all over the place and in no time it had lost interest. They were too many characters popping out of nowhere and too many treads that did not match...or was it that I had lost all interest by then. Yes I read it to the last words and today writing my thought I still question why did I last so long with a story that seemed at first interesting but that soon turned out to be a painful college English assignment.

This definitely was not a preferred book but it may be yours so don’t take my words have a look for yourself

"Destroyer of Worlds", by J.F.Penn

Arkane Series book # 8

This fast-paced adventure sends Morgan Sierra and Jake Timber, the main players in this series, from the slums of Mumbai to the temples of Kolkata, to the Taj Mahal in Agra and to Rwanda looking for a fragment of an ancient Hindu sculpture stolen from the Arkane headquarters in London.

As all the books in this series this 8th installment can be read as a standalone and takes off right from the start and keeps an even pacing throughout. The story is fascinating I couldn’t helped but to zip through the pages in no time so deeply involved in the drama that I had a hard time to set it aside. This is by far my preferred series by this author ,“Destroyer of Worlds” tops it all. The vivid narrative and the colourful scenes create images in the mind, so easy to visualise what is going on. Of course Morgan and Jack, two interesting personalities, work so well together and I particularly love their kick-ass attitude...no- nonsense for them. In this story we are deeply into culture, mythology and beliefs all this beautifully mixed into a tale as scary as it is interesting. Ms. Penn research and attention to details is amazing. Only Ms. Penn can blend a bit of history and supernatural into an absolutely awesome read.

Well-done

"Act of Negligence". by John Bishop

A Medical Thriller

Doc Brady book #4

Dr. Jim Brady, a Houston orthopedic surgeon and amateur sleuth finds himself in a medical mystery when a colleague of his from a Nursing Home refers dementia patients with orthopedic problems to his care, irrespective of the treatment each patient dies....Autopsies are performed that revealed unusual brain pathology...Unaccustomed to these findings, both Dr. Brady and Dr. Frazier, the pathologist, need to get at the bottom of this mystery.... Time for sleuthing.....and plunging us into one of those medical mysteries none of us would like to be involved in.....

Although this latest is part of a series it stands well on its own. The story is unique and captivating, along the way the author, a medical specialist, delves with minutia into the progress of Alzheimer’s and other dementia’s conditions. Actually he does that extensively, may be a bit too much for the average Jo like myself. But the mystery is so intense it is easy to overcome all the technical medical terms, move on and get into this cracking tale of mystery and suspense. I was riveted in this saga from start to finish omit its educational side let yourself be pulled into a fast-paced and exciting mystery who brings curious men on an adventure that sees them running for their lives.

This story is written with expertise and is played out by pleasant characters that are entertaining even the evil guys. This drama captured my attention.... could this really happen? Do doctors experiment on dementia patients supposedly for their good....scary...

Well-said

My thanks to Mantid Press and Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this book

"Hate City", by John W. Mefford

Booker, book #3

A revenge of fifty years in the making

Booker works two investigations in parallel: the murder of the CEO of a green energy company behind his million dollar estate and days later when thrust into the crossfire of a deadly sniper at the site of the JFK assassination.

Once again, Booker is dragged into seedy situations, slammed into obstacles that seem insurmountable.

This thriller juggles too many balls at once and points out another theory behind JFK assassination. For a large part things do not seem related and it takes way too long to come together although it does by the end, of course there is drama and suspense but much of it makes little sense. Weaving a historic tale of thrills and examining the justification of the unjustifiable is a hard task.

Am I getting bored with Booker or simply being too critical? I had a hard time getting into this book and remember what I was reading. The story was all over the place, too many characters and too long to come together. The pace is slow and keeps that way from start to finish. Some pages could have been omitted ex: a child’s soccer game very distracting...who cares and the JFK theory.... well one more.

Well maybe I am a fuddy-duddy sorry Mr. Mefford this story did not gel ...read and forgotten. I need a break from this series in order to enjoy the sequels later on.

"The Nine", by Gwen Straus

The True Story of a Band of Women Who Survived the Worst of Nazi Germany

This brisk biography is a compelling and beautifully written story of nine women who survived the worst of Nazi Germany. Caught at various points in 1944 they met at Ravensbrück concentration camp. This is the true story of Helene, Nicole, Jacky, Zaza, Lon, Guigui, Zinka, Mena and Josée and the things these French, Dutch and Spanish women faced.


I was drawn right from the opening page by this deeply researched chronicle that highlights the courage of women who worked for the French Resistance until the moment they were caught. Under the Nazi strong arms, they suffered unspeakable brutality, torture and lived in inhumane condition. Ms. Straus alternated tales of their early lives, Resistance activities, and arrest with their horrific experiences in concentration camps and factories, escape, and finally the walk across Germany to American lines. The narrative is infused with harrowing details about Ravensbrück , how the relationships between these nine women developed and the complications they faced once they returned to their home town. By the end it is revealed that most lived a long and fruitful life well into the recent century.

This account is a fantastic piece of narrative that captures the sense of what life was when the German leadership was breaking down and facing defeat: the cruelest parts of WW11 was then unleashed on all prisoners.

I never get tired reading these tragic accounts of how people lived daily with atrocities and managed to come through. Obviously this is a very heavy subject matter and could be disturbing for some but more importantly is to never forget.

Well-said

My thanks to St-Martin Press and Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.