"Paradise", by Lizzie Johnson

One Town’s Struggle to Survive and American Wildfire

Paradis, California

“Paradise” is a brutal account of the deadliest wildfire in California history. The author, an investigative reporter, narrates in detail what she has drawn out from firsthand accounts, reports from 911calls, residents, officials and fire department workers.

November 2018,” Camp Fire”

The fire was fast less than two hours after it started, Paradis was engulfed in flames. Balancing horror with compassion Ms. Johnson notes that management’s practices had allowed the woods to become diseased and overgrown this with neglect on the part of Pacific Gas and Electric Company were the key factor for this disaster. The details are horrifying and overwhelming. The account of young mother fleeing with her newborn, a school full of children in search of an escape route, medics, nurses as well as patients trapped. Heartbreaking: The list of victims and where they were found. The fire nearly leveled the town of Paradise and the surrounding areas...This is a gripping, edge of your seat read.

The investigation: brought PG&E to their knees

The verdict: “Guilty: PG&E enters pleas for 85 Camp Fire felonies

It took time and heart to gives us this well-researched and reported account. Kudos to you Ms. Johnson you definitely painted a horrific picture of a wild fire out of control....

I had the opportunity to receive this book from Crown Publishing via Netgalley for my thoughts: this is the way I see it.

"Take Her Breath Away", by Melinda Woodhall

                                              

A Detective Nessa Ainsley

Novella #2

This is another quick read revealing more about the earlier life of Nessa Ainsley, one favourite character we often see investigating gruesome cases in the Mercy Harbor and Veronica Lee series.

Nessa lives in Rosewood, Georgia with her husband and new born son when this second chilling novella opens. The body of a young woman in found in the woods and Nessa upon investigating soon discovers a serial killer has been stalking working girls in the town’s red-lights district.....Nessa is determined to get to the bottom and catch the killer before he strikes again.

This little mystery is a twisted tale filled with deadly moves, provides an exciting build-up and within its 80 pages some short lived action. It is not hard not to say that “Take Her Life” is a page-turner but as in any novella the conclusion comes way too fast and leaves you wanting more.

I received a free copy of this book and I leave a voluntary review, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.

"The Darkness Knows", by Arnaldur Indridason

Detective Konrad #1

It begins when a group of German tourists hiking on the LangjÖkull glacier stumbled upon the body of a man who was buried deep under the ice. Forensic specialists identify the cadaver belonging to Sigurvin, a young man who had disappeared 30 years ago.

This new series is a spin off the “Shadow District” Reykjavic-set novels featuring retired CID Inspector Konrad as the main protagonist who returns in action as a consultant to investigate this 30 year old cold case. At the time, he was the lead investigator and his unsuccessful attempts to solve what happened to this young man has haunted him ever since. Back in the thick of things Konrad, this grumpy and grouchy detective captivates us both in his investigation, his personal history, his relationships with colleagues and with his dysfunctional family.

Mr. Indridason is definitely a master in pacing and characterisation. With a simple prose yet somewhat frosty he has penned a concise and profound mystery to ensnare us from the opening page. I surely did with me. I was glued to every word wanting to see what the author had in store for me so much so I often lost track of time.

There are several threads in this story that smoothly intertwine together in order to give us an old fashioned mystery that is mainly narrated by Konrad. Along the way, Mr. Indridason also made reference to the financial crisis of 2008 and the current socio-economic reality that has changed life in Iceland for ever.

It was a pleasure to read such a well-written crime novel.

Thank you, St-Martin Press Minotaur Books and Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.

"The Winter Wives", by Linden MacIntyre

A psychological drama

This dialogue driven tale weaves multiple threads of crime, disability and dementia into a drama of unreciprocated love and misconception.

The main players:

Allan is successful financially
Byron is a lawyer with a lame leg who is taken care of his mother who has Alzheimer.
Peggy and Annie Winter: the two sisters who married them

The plot in a few words:

It all starts when Allan and Byron get together for a weekend of golfing. Out on the course Allan suffers a stroke and loses control of his life, a life built on lies and illegal drug trade. Byron has to confront his weaknesses as well as his strengths and his relationship with Allan, his wife and the one he thoughts was the love of his life....

My thoughts in a few words:

There is a lot going on in this moody drama from repressed memory, traumatic childhood injury to confused reality, to fakes names, abuse, consent and even suicide. The story is mainly told by the characters each their turn as they chit chat back and forth reliving their past and narrating the present.

The style is typical for this author richly written, taut and absorbing, smooth sailing in a steady pace from start to finish with some surprises we hardly see coming. It is also funny and poignant and at times shocking. Layered with love, deceit, friendship this story will leave us wondering if we truly know the people we have known the longest......

I was captivated by this story and enjoyed passing time reading it, although it may be a type of story that is not for everyone.

My thanks to Penguin Random House Canada and Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this book: these are my thoughts.

"No Más", by John W. Mefford

Booker, # 5

“No more deception, no more lies, no more killing, no more”

This fifth installment brings Booker T. Adams to the Caribbean Island of Dominican Republic on a mission to rescue a teenage boy held hostage. Easy job for Booker....not so fast...Surprises await at every corner and his wild escapade sends him straight into the hands of the cartel.

Know your Spanish there are multiple comments said in that language with little translation or none at all but you can catch the drift somewhat as the story moves along. As all the books in this series, the pacing is fast, suspenseful and action is packed with many twists to keep us riveting till the very end. We learn a little more about Booker and his past and we get to meet his long lost dad and his murderous ex. What a mix. What a complete mayhem. Booker teams up with a very resourceful young man that knows the rope and is eager to be part of the recue. Of course things turn sour and bullets fly and people get hurt....but all ends well and the boy comes home safe and sound....awe.

Although this book is part of a series it can be read on its own but I find it nice to know the past characters and their relationship, it makes for a more complete experience.

“No Más ”, is a captivating read I enjoyed passing time with.... till next time....”Dead Heat” book #6.

"The Sunset Gang", by Warren Adler

Set in Sunset Village condominium retirement community in Florida “The Sunset Gang” is a story about aging where indeed the occupants are not ready to pack it all in and not by a long shot. Sex and romantic love keep the Village bubbling with activity and the old at heart will teach us a lot about living after aren’t they experts.....

This novel is a collection of ten short stories revolving around the retirement village. Apart from old age and living in the same community what connects them all is the fact that they are Jews sharing a language, identity and way of life.

The chapters:

1. Yiddish: brings two people to discover themselves and their love of life again.
2. Itch: is a testament to how lonely old age can be and how they miss the old days.
3. An Unexpected Visit: After a visit with his father the son reflects on his own life.
4. The Detective: tells us how pride can be a huge obstacle.
5. God Made Me That Way: karma brings two elderly together.
6. The Braggart: money is good but does not replace children who care enough to keep in touch.
7. The Demonstration: A man stands up for his people it is all about anti-Semitism, racism and hatred.
8. The Angel of Mercy: death definitely hovers over retirement village. One resident knows when death is around the corner.
9. Poor Herman: two residents meet again after many decades apart and reconnect as they were teenagers.
10. The Home: a scary thought. Too old to make decisions themselves and unable to take care of...a situation many of us will possibly face...

My thoughts:

Each story is of the high quality and is written with the expert pen of a playwright: visual, clever with a touch of humour not forgetting sad moments. The Yiddish language is in parts difficult to follow but I overcame this frustration thanks to Google. This is a decent read, somewhat satisfying but by far not my favourite by this author.

If this is the life in a retirement community....I prefer staying put where I live.....

Thank you, Stonehouse Press and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book.

"Maiden Voyages", by Siân Evans

Women and the Golden Age of Transatlantic Travel

This interesting book chronicles the transatlantic ocean travel in the first half of the 20th century and focuses mainly on the female passengers and crew members who traveled or worked aboard ocean Liners: Edith Sowebutts and Violet Jessop just to name two. Most of us will remember the famous liners such as the Titanic, the Queen Mary and the Britannic, but the book doesn’t stop with these three. On board often seen where the rich and famous who travelled in first class, Marlene Dietrich, the Prince of Wales, Mrs. Simpson and many others often boarded these luxurious ships to travel back and forth from Europe to the Americas. In the earlier years, those famous liners gave widows the needed jobs in order for them to care for their family, thousands of emigrants escaped poverty in 1930 for a better life in Canada and the USA. After the war, war brides wanted to join their husband were also passengers......etc..... Most of all, this true account is of women who pierced the gender barriers and worked as “conductress, stewardess or nurse” and made a career that lasted decades, in fact, opening the doors for future generation.

Reading “Maiden Voyage” added pieces to the puzzle of all the books I read of this era. Fifty years a period from the end of the Edwardian era, WW1, the interwar years, WW11 and its aftermath. The author gives us a huge range of information vividly said with colour and drama. I love the story of the “Unsinkable” Violet Jessop who survived the sinking of the Titanic, what an amazing woman.

I admit the first few chapters left me indifferent but I soon changed my mind as it moved along the story became such an interesting account I couldn’t put it aside and continuously gave my husband a wrap up of what I had read (I rarely do this). Although, I would have preferred the author to have stayed on track with the lives of the women who staffed the ocean liners instead of covering panoply of subjects, I think it would have made an easier read. Nevertheless I enjoyed passing time with “Maiden Voyages”: a well-research account and one skillfully written. Well said, well-done.

I wish to thank St-Martin Press and Netgalleys for the opportunity to read and review this book in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.