"The General of Tiananmen Square", by Ian Hamilton

Book # 15, in the Ava Lee series

Ava is in the French Riviera with Pang Fai and Lau Lau for the premiere of Tiananmen at the Cannes Film Festival. The film wins numerous awards and international acclaim. Chen is the producer and soon makes a distribution deal with a major American firm. Several months later the film hasn’t been released Chen is worried and travels to Los Angeles to see what is preventing it to be shown to the public. En route from his home in Bangkok he goes missing.... Ava is called to investigate and the story takes off....

I love this series each installment has its own captivating story. It is sheer pleasure to follow Ava globetrotting experiences. It took some time for the excitement to kick in but after a short while I was completely swept up. As in its predecessors, the plot is complex and fast-paced; the writing style is strong, clever and involving. The story is simply irresistible, once started it is easy to be hooked to the last page. No fear if you read this one out of sequence, it stands well on its own.

Although we have less action than some of the previous stories rather we have much hopping around: plane flights, restaurant meals and lots and lots of wine drinking, oh yes description galore of fancy gala clothes nevertheless I say “The General of Tiananmen Square” is another great caper I enjoyed quite a bit and furthermore it is not a taxing read.

This ARC was provided by the House of Anansi/Groundwood Books via Edelweiss for my thoughts.

"They Never Saw It Coming", by Roberta Kagan

Book #2 in “A Jewish Family Saga”

1930’s Berlin

The story in very few words:

After spending 19 years of her life in America with a spineless and boring husband Goldie nearing forty returns home to Berlin where she reconnects with her childhood friend Leni, a free spirit who guides Goldie into a life of debauchery. While at the other end of the Atlantic, Sam, her son, is thriving with the Jewish mob in Manhattan. When he receives word that something has happened to his mother, he sets out with his father to Germany.

My thoughts:

We have two stories: one in Germany and the other in Manhattan. We go back and for between the pond....Two different styles of living.

While the events leading up to WW11 are part of the story the lifestyle in Berlin at the time is well played out: such as the cabaret and the free spirited people. At first I was intrigued and was looking forward to Goldie’s behaviour but what she did turned out to be very repetitive and rather on the dull side. Although we have a lot of debauchery such as excess drinking, swearing, drugs and sex galore but making this interesting or even captivating is the big question: maybe for some yes and others no. There are a lot of irresponsible people in this book. While on the other side of the pond we are deep into the mop crime world: robbing and killings and kidnapping.... Till the two world merges and comes crashing down....

I am a fan of the author and have read a few of her books but this one as a weak storyline and is not the quality writing style of her later books. It typically deals with the daily events in the lives of the same group of characters: a real soap-opera.

Of course this story ends in a cliff-hanger to open the door to book#3...

"The Mystery of the Desert Lights", by Mohd Sulaiman

Robert and Fahad book #1

68 pages or so novella

Set in the desert of Abu Dhabi, Robert and Fahad see a sudden light in the desert, an unusual sight. They decide to investigate.

In short story, I always feel something is lacking. Here this drama is missing suspense and intrigue as well as a denouement hard to guess. The mystery is rather shallow, dull and boring. Most of all it is not particularly well-written and needs a lot of work to bring the style up to par.

Not for me for sure

"Our Man in Kuwait", by Louise Burfitt-Dons

After the successful “The Karen Anderson” series Ms. Burfitt-Dons changed theme and has penned for us a thought-provoking espionage thriller where we are taken back to 1960 Kuwait when British expats worried about the imminent invasion from Soviet backed Iraq.
Ahmadi, Kuwait 1960

Gordon Carlisle lives in Ahmadi with his beautiful wife Anita. They have little to worry about other what to wear at the next dinner party...till the day a MI6 agent crosses their paths, then everything changed : a marriage breakdown and Anita becomes the prime suspect in a chain of deaths. Gordon tried to unravel this mess and he gets deeper and deeper. The drama takes off and we are in turns and twists galore throughout the story.

With a mix of a fertile imagination, this thriller based on true events has enough spies and double agents to keep us guessing who may be one or not, especially who is the elusive Agent Alex so many are referring to all through the book. I loved this part particularly: very intriguing and captivating.

The pacing at first is very slow but took off when one of the wives dies in a mysterious way and from then on never lets up. I was happy for this change that took place 1/3 into the drama. The first part was more introducing us to the players. I found this a bit long but no doubts necessary. No lack of players to follow and each have a particular role to play and they do so perfectly. So we need to pay attention to know who is who... All characters are well-drawn and have an authentic ring to them. I enjoyed the realistic dialogue and the style is very comfortable to read. Well-done.

Thank you, Louise for this ARC.

"The Double Agent" by William Christie

Sequel to “A Single Spy”

1943-1944

This is the story of Alexsi Smirnoff, a Russian, who was trained as an agent by the Russian Secret Agency Service and inserted into the Nazi Germany, where he rose to a position in German intelligence services. As the war goes on, feeling trapped between two brutal dictatorships Alexi betrays both sides and attempts to disappear but is caught by the British...Alexsi finds himself once again a double agent ..But deep down Alexsi is loyal only to himself.

No doubts this is a compelling novel of espionage set in the most momentous and dangerous of times. It is well-paced, very suspenseful and most of all engaging. The story explores the problems one faces as an agent to two masters: information fed to one agency without giving away too much and harming the other. Alexsi plays his role here beautifully.

Back in the field, assigned to the German SS headquarters in Rome there he transmits coded messages back to England, has a fling with an Italian princess, manages to avoid reprisal form Germans soldiers and partisans. The tradecraft is all-out and the portrayal of the Ardeatine massacre haunting. The violence is stunning and off the chart. All well-done

Mr. Christie has a way with words and knows how to pen a storyline that will capture his audience full attention. It surely got me hooked from the beginning. I simply couldn’t wait to see what troubles Alexsi will get into and how he will wiggle out of them.

Excellent and entertaining adventure

I received this ARC from St-Martin Press via Netgalley

"The Game is a Footnote", by Vicki Delany

A Sherlock Holmes Bookshop Mystery #8

A Cozy Mystery

When I want to read something smooth and not too stressful story I know that Vicki Delany’s mysteries answer to my wishes. Although I have read a few of her books I never read any of the Sherlock Homes. I was looking forward to this one.

In a few words:

When at Scarlet House, a historical re-enactment museum, things started moving around on their own, boards members suggested that Gemma Doyle, owner of the Sherlock Holmes Bookshop and Emporium, may be able to get to the bottom. Gemma didn’t believe in ghosts and agreed to look into it. Till the day, she and her friend Jayne Wilson stumbled across a dead body on the property.... foul play or not... secrets about the museum are uncovered and plenty of options might point to the actual culprit.

My Thoughts:

In many ways this was a fun read even if you pick this series at this point you won’t be lost. Seems the books stand well by themselves. The main story is finding the truth: who or what are behind those strange happenings, are there really ghosts at Scarlet House? Why were the animals in the barn so spooked, why killed David the man taking care of them?. How does one lock oneself in a barn? Why was Pippa, Gemma sister, in town?....some many questions...and there is Ryan the love interest in the mix.....and we are deep set in mystery..

We also have a parallel story with Bunny Leigh, a wash out popstar, wintering in a rented house. She comes to Gemma bookstore to snoop around but she really wants is to get close to her estrange daughter Ashleigh who is Gemma sales clerk...what are her intentions....the story tells us. Piece by piece we discover through a multitude of red herrings what is what.

The development is very slow moving. We have an excess of details describing the inside of house, the period costume one wears, what one set at tea time, who comes to visit, etc. This story turns in circles and I fast lost interest, some parts didn’t work for me and other were confusing at times... maybe my mind was too often someplace else...Gemma although in most part is fairly smart, at time she seemed to be comes out of a cracker box....There are a few too many players in here to muddy the soup and had a hard time remembering who they were by the end...maybe again my mind was not totally there by that time. The book started off interestingly but petered out by the end.

This one may not have been my favourite but that is my opinion others do not share this by a long shot ...so it is up to you to judge.

My thanks to Crooked Lane Books and Netgalley for the ARC

"Doomed Legacy", by Matt Coyle

Rick Cahill book # 9

This author is definitely growing on me or should I say Rick Cahill does. Rick is a private investigator who has been running from his past. His has CTE, a disease caused by repeated head trauma that threatens his life and endangers those around him.

In this latest, Rick looks into Sara Bhandari, a business contact, who was murdered not long after he met her on a business lunch. The police believe she was another case of a serial rapist who has been terrorizing San Diego but Rick thinks otherwise and is determined to find the truth at any cost.....

My thoughts:

This 9th book reads well as a stand-alone. The author gives us just enough back stories to orient us without overwhelming the narrative.

This story is one tense and entertaining saga where the protagonist not only sets to know the truth but needs to deal with a dilapidating disease and personal drama at the same time. The tightly plotted story is fast-paced and entertaining. It centers on the murder of Sara who had asked Rick to look into abnormalities in handling background checks for the Defense Department. Of course this opened a huge can of worms: a serial rapist, police cover-ups, Chinese spies and a vast cast of bad guys as well as good ones. So much is going on but Mr. Coyle doesn’t miss a beat in his style: solid, active and mostly engaging. I love Rick, he is flawed but adorable. As a reader I soon was touched by his marital situation as well as his health issues, I wonder how long his life as a P.I will last.....

“Doomed Legacy” is definitely a winner that gives us a great story of suspense, intrigue and action...well-done Mr. Coyle.

I received this ARC from Oceanview Publishing via Netgalley for my thoughts.

"Cordite", by Ty Patterson

Cutter Grogan Thrillers book # 6

Another over the top thriller penned by Mr. Patterson, in this latest his protagonist (Cutter Grogan) is sent to San Diego to look into Aleja Guttierrez death supposedly by natural cause but her mother doesn’t believe this to be the case and needed Cutter to investigate. Soon after looking into the case, Cutter finds himself in a turf war with a Russian bratva, in a city where the sheriff wants him out of town and to top it all tugs have a bone to pick with him from....everyone is out to get him.

Action over, action under, action left and right it never stops. One thing for sure no lack of it, Cutter doesn’t have a moment of rest. He is the person with a target on his back and the author really sets his plot one gunfight after the other. I agree with some reviewers: reminiscence of the Wild West...lol. Lending him a hand are Zeb Carter and his team of Merry men and women, those of us that have been following the Zeb Carter series knows that when this group is involved no one is at peace. Apart from giving us a thrill ride, the plot has a fixer(Cutter) meeting a grieving mother, an arrogant self-indulgent fighter pilot, a Senator, a family of billionaires and along the way he manages to get himself in a lot of trouble and getting out unscathed to live another day.

If you like an unbelievable story but one that is quite entertaining give Cutter and his many adventures a try. In a few words: “Cordite” is writing to give us an exciting and enjoyable read.

"Road to Evil", by Melinda Woodhall

A Bridget Bishop FBI Thriller Book #4

Working with FBI Behavioral Analysis Unit criminal psychologist Bridget Bishop tracks down her old nemesis the Backroads Butcher but discover this depraved serial killer is not the only killer terrorizing the small town of Mount Destiny, Virginia. Will she come face to face with the remorseless killer and will she unravel the truth behind the murders? “Road to Evil” will leave us intrigued from start to finish.

Although this book may be the fourth, it stands well by itself. The story is fresh even if all the books centers on serial killers.

This is another winner for Ms. Woodhall. She once again penned an exciting and very captivating story that moves along clear- free never bogs down with unnecessary side bars. The plot stays focus on the tasks Bridget set forth and never wavers. Along the way much excitement awaits us and guessing who may be the real Backroads Butcher is the fun that awaits us. Bridget is a solid character that is helped to achieve her goal by a cast of secondary players who are also well defined, even the evil ones. This book is a real page turner.

“Road to Evil”, gives us all the necessary elements to keeps us engrossed and captive... Well done.

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

"Never Say Die", by John W. Mefford

Jack Whitfield Thrillers Book # 2

The mission is clear:

From Lyon to Cairo and back again, Jack Whitfield exposes a conspiracy that could topple a government and ignite a new war in the Mideast.

My thoughts:

This latest did not disappoint this long-time fan, “Never Say Die” provides all the elements needed to make an exciting read hard to put aside. Filled with action, suspense and a mystery so tense, quite a nail biting experience we are into from start to finish. I like Jack Whitfield, he is a well penned character hard to not root for. He is a man coerced to do missions he really doesn’t want to do and is at the mercy of Simon who dictates what mission he needs to accomplish in order to get his daughter back. Simon sends him on wild adventures, in book #2 his second he must accomplish to achieve his goal...will he succeed?....But behind all this... the action of the enigmatic organization Jack works for could very well end his life at any time.....Yes, lots of mayhem to entertain us. What a dazzling ride of espionage and international intrigue filled with breakneck twists we are in for.

Mr. Mefford alludes quite a bit to what had transpired in book #1“Never Go Back”, nevertheless I highly suggest reading it first. It is as exciting as book#2.

Another winner John what a great adventure you gave us.

"Murder at Black Oaks", by Phillip Margolin

Robin Lockwood book # 6

In this latest Mr. Margolin tells us that he wanted to write a story in the style of Agatha Christie and to personalized the experience give it his own twists. I think he did a great job, “Murder at the Black Oaks” harkens back to some of the great mystery writers Agatha Christie would be happy with this one.

Attorney Robin Lockwood finds herself at an isolated retreat in the Oregon Mountains, one with a tragic past and a legendary curse now own by a retired and eccentric lawyer. Lockwood is needed by Frank Melville in a legal matter: righting a wrongful conviction of Jose Alvarez in the murder of his girlfriend. Melville wants her to help in getting that conviction overturned.

Spooky indeed, a Manor at the end of a remote location, a dark and stormy night, a washed up road, a faulty elevator, strange happenings, a mansion packed with guests, corridors behind walls and murders, etc....many more surprises awaits the guests.... Brrrr. Throughout the plot line, we are led to false trails and impossible outcomes. When body count mounted I tried to figure out who may be behind...when motive and the obvious clues surfaced I had no troubles guessing the whodunit ...although the reveal came at the last minute...yippee, I had guess right. I admit, Mr. Margolin created an atmosphere of the haunted, the curse with werewolves and boogie men...

I loved how I was taken on an eerie journey from start to finish and I enjoyed every minutes of it. Well-done.

I received this ARC from St-Martin Press via Netgalley for my thoughts: this is the way I see it.

"Deep South", by Michael Ledoux

Ian Richard has a working relationship with Israeli intelligence agency. They alternate mission one time the agency needs him (The Angel of Justice) tells us what happened during his first mission. This time around Ian is in the driver seat and needs the Mossad’s support in paying retribution to a group of men who escaped justice for their part in a murder and lynching of black Mississippi residents in 1964 when the KKK were at their strongest. Each of the murderers is studied for vulnerability before taken action. “Deep South” brings us in a journey beneath the clichés of the south visiting places where the legacy of segregation can be felt.

This is my second book by Michael, as in his first, “Deep South” is a highly imaginative blend of fiction and historical facts. The story is richly written and well presented to give us a view of what happened to warrant the action taken against each individual. The course of action taken in some cases was very gruesome and will stay imprinted in my mind for some time. But I agree with Ian’s and the team’s action...no one deserved what was done to this segment of the population. The culprits needed to pay and they did.

The action is slow moving; each step is skillfully studied for impact and is nicely executed for our enjoyment. The narration is active and the exchange between players follows the same. In whole “Deep South” gives us a good story well said and well done.

"Sundown", by Susan May Warren

Sky King Ranch #3

A story of the homecoming and redemption of the handsome Kingston brothers

This climatic close in the Sky ranch trilogy is a high stake race against the clock with Former Delta Operative Colt Kingston and Tae Price at the center of thrills. Also featured heavily are Colt’s brothers Dodge and Ranger giving us plenty of intense moments along the way. The action is over the top and at times hard to believe. Would an important rescue role be given to an Operative with macular degeneration with a major heart condition...not in real life. I do admit this fast paced action story about saving the world from bio warfare played by a strong irresistible man as lead and a very clever and intelligent woman as a side kick give us exciting roles and a thrill ride. What is spoiling the experience of a great read are the never ending teasing romance and faith aspects that littered the pages. A bit too much, at one point all those sidebars were so annoying that I was tempted to skip pages since they bogged down the flow of what could have been a very captivating story.

This story wasn’t my favourite but it may be an excellent read for those who enjoy a lot of romance and religious connotations overshadowing a fast paced action thriller.

I received this ARC through the First Readers Program for my thoughts.

A Fearsome Moonlight Black", by David Putnam

The Bone Detective, a Dave Beckett novel, book #1

Taking from the author’s own experiences as a law enforcement official “A Fearsome Moonlight Black” brings us, the first part of the novel, to the rookie years of David Beckett when he worked the beat in a small town in Southern California. He is naïve and has a vision that cops are advocate there to help the wronged. Facing deadly situations, he learned quickly that crime is not cut and dry. In the second part, we have a mature David in pursuit of criminals on both side of the fence. This story is part true and part fictional.

Following David through his career cracking great cases such as murders and suicides was exciting and show what kind of cop Dave turned out to be. The development moved at a steady pace: smooth and slow but the action never stopped. I found it refreshing this glimpse into the life of a rookie cop as well as how Mr. Putman gave true feelings to his narrative. The later years, as a homicide detective David opened a can of worms investigating the wrongful conviction of his mentor by doing so this slow moving drama became a fast pace mystery and a compelling depiction of life as a law enforcement officer. We have between the lines a loose thread of love and the heartbreaking disclose of what happened to a long missing partner.

This story is smooth and seamless to read, has a storyline with a personal touch and peppered with characters hard not to love. Well-done.

I received this ARC from Level Best Books (IBPA) via Netgalley for my thoughts.

"The Forgotten Bookshop in Paris", by Daisy Wood

This fiction goes back and forth between Paris 1940 when the war was closing in on the city and the modern day life with Juliette and her husband on a romantic getaway to the city of light.

The story in a few words:

1940:

In the midst of Nazi occupation, while his wife in hiding, Jacques the owner of the bookshop “La Page Cachée” had to make tough decisions and risk everything to save those persecuted or in need of refuge. The story in time tells us how Jacques managed to rescue many of these poor souls.

Forward to Modern day:

On her romantic getaway Juliette and her husband Kevin realized how far they’ve grown apart. She is craving for a new adventure in Paris while Kevin heads back home. On a walk exploring the city she happens to come across a tiny abandoned shop .....”La Page Cachée” this forgotten bookshop was the answer to her dreams but this little abandoned gem had more than met the eye....

My thoughts:

The dual time narrative works well and is easy to follow. The pacing unravels at a moderate pace and stays that way all through. I enjoy the story but I didn’t find much mystery to it. The “déjà lu” experience kept popping in my mind in fact I know I read something similar in the past. It seems a bookstore during the war was an important place for the résistance to do their exchange...at a risk of evil and betrayal....Nevertheless I liked this detailed and vividly said story, you can picture what is going on, in whole very engaging. Ms. Daisy gives her characters honor roles which they played out beautifully.

In many ways “The Forgotten Bookstore in Paris” is a thought-provoking tale I enjoyed quite a bit.

Thank you Avon UK Books and Netgalley for this ARC

"Hidden Pieces", by Mary Keliikoa

Misty Pines Mystery, book #1

“Hidden Pieces” is an adrenaline fueled psychological thriller set in the fictional small community of Misty Pines. It is an absorbing and expertly plotted story with the loss of a child at its core. Not only did I found it to be a delectable page-turner full of secrets and revenge it also crackles with realism. Ms.Keliikoa expertly weaved the intense search for a missing child with a similar cold case 20 years prior all the while grief shadows the main character’s every moves.

Sheriff Jax Turner (main character) is grieving the loss of his daughter to cancer but when a schoolgirl vanishes and her backpack is found in a sex offender’s backseat he drags himself into action. Soon we are into so many twists and turns it can be overwhelming. When you think you figured out who may be behind.. zap another spin and suspicion shifts from one suspect to the next. This mystery had me on the edge of my seat.

The psychological approach was unique and written with skill. It starts strong and keeps this tempo form the opening page till the conclusion. I like the main character but I admit to have had a bit of trouble keeping track of the supporting ones.

In whole a good, entertaining story

My thanks to the publisher Level Best Books Source and Netgalley for this ARC

"Soldiers of God", by J.F. Penn

An Arkane Short Story

Too short...definitely too short

Archivist Martin Klein aided by scholar Dr. Camara Mbaye , follows the trail to the hidden Templar crypt. In the vaults below Paris they discover something horrific..... a bizarre burial ritual....

No doubts Ms. Penn knows how to give us a mystery that will grab our attention and not let go. Although being a teaser these 30 pages nevertheless give a necessary punch to stimulating our curiosity. Now I want more....for sure.

Love this new adventure featuring Arkane Martin Klein and his side kick Dr. Camara Mbaye. With her enticing prose Ms. Penn has giving her fans an intriguing story featuring two less known Arkane characters.

Some say “Soldiers of God” will make your skin crawl. I loved it.

Well said and well-done

Thank you MS. Penn for the arc

"Body of Evidence", by Irene Hannon

                                                      

Contemporary and romance suspense

“Triple Threat”, book #3

With “Body of Evidence“, the author closes her series in a gripping tale of secrets divulged and romance kindled. In my books, this is the best imagined and written story of the three. What a stunning conclusion.

In a few words:

Dry. Grace Reilly a forensic pathologist noticed a curious pattern in autopsies of elderly residents whose demise appears to be natural. She has suspicions of foul play and brings her concerns to Sheriff Nate Cox. Working together they link pieces of the puzzle together but it came at a cost.....

My thoughts:

I was glued to the suspense from the opening page. The plotline moves at a steady pace and quite riveting from the get-go. Drop by drop the romance between Grace and Nate flourishes and I was inquisitive by this love game all through. Grace and Nate roles flow seamlessly and their attraction towards each other is well played out. They are well-defined characters and the supporting cast is a bonus especially Grace’s sisters, the teasing between them made me smile. This storyline is character driven and well done. Not only do we have romance but also an exciting mystery to follow. Did the elderlies died of natural cause or were they murdered? People being blackmailed or threaten what a suspenseful read...Who was behind this? And what was the reason for doing this deed?....I was kept wondering till the last chapter....what a surprise, the whodunit never came to my mind....

Well-done

I received this ARC from the Publisher Revell via the First Reviewer Program for my thoughts: this is the way I see it.

|The Trophy Room", by Barry W. litherland

This is a character-drive crime/mystery thriller tinged with the paranormal. This creepy and chilling story is written in a mixture of second third person and focuses more on real life crimes than on the ghost aspect. Two families meet through their young kids and become embroiled in a nefarious plot orchestrated by an eccentric man. The details reminding me of the classic Hitchcock works embedded with perfect design clues to confuse us.

We follow the Millers and the Trevalyans as they become entangled in a web of intrigue with the owner of Leybury Hall. The narrative relied on allusion, I really did not know what was going on or even if the characters knew themselves Was the owner of Leybury a ghost or simply mad.

“The Trophy Room” is suspenseful in a gothic way and quite atmospheric. At first I found it spooky and interesting but as the story progressed I lost interest and skipped many passages by the end. Where was the locked room mystery? Why the narrative was so hard to follow and why did the plot line frazzled out by the end?

For some this novel will be a pleasant read for myself I think it was a change in pace from by usual books. Did I like it...yes and no so I stay on the fence on this one and let you decide..

"Dead Like You", by Peter James

Roy Grace book #6

This police procedural mystery follows “Dead Tomorrow”. At this point, Roy is still haunted by the unexplained disappearance of his wife Sandy many years ago and since then he has been consumed with finding out what happened to her, although he seems to be moving on and going to marry his pregnant girlfriend. His professional life is hectic as always this time Roy is faced with sexual attack on a woman at a New Year’s Eve ball and another a week later. These attacks very similar to unsolved crimes back in 1997 where victims shoes where taken...The perpetrator dubbed “Shoe Man” appears to have resurfaced and was believed to have raped four other women and murdering his fifth victim...

The chase is on.

It has been some time since I last read “Dead Tomorrow” and so glad to be catching up with Roy’s personal life while reading that his professional life gave challenging cases for our delight. I find Roy’s character to be pretty good and quite likeable.

The plot is interesting and moved quickly through its twists and turns. The story is intriguing and from the opening page till the conclusion it is not certain who from the long list of criminal characters is the Shoe Man. This is much more traditional crime fiction where we have a rapist, a murderer on the loose and a selection of possible suspects. But.. Always a but: if this book had been half the length it could have been a far more enjoyable police procedural. No doubts the author certainly can write a good, involving storyline.

However, “Dead Like You” is so bloated with voyeurism depicting terrified women and fetishes....shoes. 500 pages around designer shoes......give me a break. This story is hard to follow at times it skips different time frames back to 1997 and then forward and hops between characters. Some may say this creates some cliff-hangers to keeps us going just a tiny bit longer...ok.

Even with the minor niggles it is still a good mystery

"Orphans of War", by Michael Reit

                                                 

Book#1 in the “Dutch Resistance” trilogy

Amsterdam 1941

This is a wrenching tale of resistance and bravery. This fictional story of 3 individuals that in each their ways faced the bone- chilling violence of the Nazi regime. No one is safe: not the Jewish not even the Dutch.

The players:

Christiaan risks everything to help his beloved nation. He is a member of the resistance and his passion for the oppressed as no boundary.

On the other hand his brother, Floris, an official to the Jewish Affairs, is one of the organizers in relocating the Jewish population to Nazi death camps.

Nora, Floris’s wife, defies her husband by joining the fight to recues orphans from the terror and saving them.

The plot and my thoughts:

We are transported back in time where two brothers find themselves on very different sides of the Nazi occupation. Flo does is part by hunting and capturing Jews in hiding while his brother and Flo’s wife secretly help the resistance. As we follow them in their involvement we witness the incredible organization the resistance had across the country and how dangerous their everyday life was. Suspicion and betrayal was a way of life...no one was safe...even from your own brother even your own husband. Beautifully written to give us a sense of apprehension and fear, Mr. Reit gave us characters that expressed those sentiments to a tee.

Although a slow moving story it is nevertheless a page-turner I had no trouble with. Staying with it was not challenging. No graphic scenes although lots innuendos and scary moments. We do become invested in the lives especially when Christiaan escapes Amsterdam. I wanted him so much to succeed. Mr. Reit strikes a good balance describing War time and the personal struggles people had to endure.

This story has more to offer than I am describing. I only give you a snippet of what to expect. I leave it to you to enjoy as much as I did.

This is very satisfying read.

I received a copy from the publisher “The Book Whisperer” via Netgalley

"Berlin", by Sinclair McKay

Life and Death in the City at the Center of the World

“Berlin”, explores the city’s human history from the end of the Great War to the Blockade, rise of the Wall and beyond. The author begins in 1919 when Berliner’s went through stages of deprivation, disorder, intolerance and inflation was crippling their economy. Berliners were nevertheless resilient even with all the constraints their creativity in cinema and literature was flourishing. Then, the Nazi came to power and by the end of 1945 Berlin was a city in rubble. The Nazi regime collapsed, Russian arrived and the city divided soon after the Berlin Wall went up and stood there till it was dismantled in 1989.

What an overwhelming and dissatisfying read this portrayed of one of the world’s great city turned out to be. The author devoted inordinate amount of details to the fall of the Third Reich and the action Red Army towards Berliners and raced through the years of the Weimar Republic between the construction of the wall till it was torn down. Nevertheless he did mention the American airlift, the Soviet blockade and the atomic research at the Kaiser Wilhelm Institute. Considering the years covered in this book it is to be expected that the author may have overlooked some major topics along the way.

I may not have enjoyed this book at its fullest it doesn’t mean it shouldn’t be read. The style although I did find it to be quite heavy is nevertheless richly written to pique our interest in learning more about Berlin and her turbulent years..... Right, this book reads like a textbook....

I received a copy from the publisher St-Martin Press through NetGalley.

"What She Found", by Robert Dugoni

Book #9 in the Tracy Crosswhite mysteries

Tracy is an homicide detective handling cold cases in her latest assignment she investigates a twenty-fine years disappearance of Lisa Childress, a newspaper reporter, who vanished after going to meet an anonymous informant late at night. After examining what Lisa was looking into Tracy became uneasy of what she discovered.

In convincingly details Mr. Dugoni gives Tracy a methodical and creative approach to solving the mystery. The truth was crucial where ever it led and following Tracy footsteps was reopening an explosive investigation: a drug task force scandal, a councilman’s criminal sex life, a mayoral graft and an elusive serial killer who disappeared mysteriously. It doesn’t take long before we are in a level of suspense and tension nonstop and as all the pieces come together and the truth begins to clear it was hard not to turn pages as fast as I could to see what Tracy would come up with next. This story doesn’t involve force and violence and seems realistic. What a nice change.

No doubt, “What She Found” is a strong police procedural drama dialogue driven and very active. Behind the tale is a story of a young woman affected with amnesia, the loss of her past and the hope for a better future. I love the way it was written and how the characters come to life. This mystery is gripping and riveting from start to finish and well-done.

Thank you Netgalley and Thomas & Mercer for the advance copy of this book.

"The Auschwitz Twins", by Roberta Kagan

The Auschwitz Twins series, book #3

A Dark and Gut-wrenching WW11 Tale

Closely following its predecessor where we were left flat wondering the outcome, of course, we all know by now it was definitely not good. Robert Kagan excelled in penning one top notch historical fiction to wrap up her trilogy. Although the novel can be read on its own merits I highly suggest reading the 2 previous books to enjoy the story at its maximum and to understand where the characters came from.

What to expect:

Set within the grim walls of the dreaded Nazi killing floor “The Auschwitz Twins” gives us a bloodcurdling drama that unravels in the shadow of Mengele’s twisted obsession. The doctor is Ernst’s boss and nemesis (we came to know him in book #2) is tormented by what he sees and very much conflicted. He must stand his ground in order to save Shoshaha, Bluma and Perle.( book #1&2 introduced them to us).Being prisoners they only faced torture and death. Then shows up Dr. Marcel Petoit (book#2) a sadist and murderers who fooled a young woman, Gisele, to help him round up Jewish family in the pretext to help them escape but killed them instead, Gisele was scared and had to disappear. She found her way into Ernst’s heart and married him. Book #3 tells us what happened next till Petoit found her....Then we continue with the story of Herschel and Naomie (reading book #1&2 gives us previous details).

My thoughts:

The story of all the players unravel in alternate chapter and at time cross paths. We follow several characters throughout; the focus is on them rather than on the horrors of concentration camps. Although the story highlight the fascination of experimenting medical procedures on prisoners by sadistic doctors just because they could it does not do so with too many gruesome details...Of course WW11 stories are sad this one is no exception.

This novel read well, it is smooth sailing from the opening pages till you reach the conclusion. Even in the darkness of times, love can be explored and enemy can be a friend...The novel is engaging, the plot is fast-paced and the characters are charismatic.

Well-done, well-said

I had the opportunity to read this book and share my thoughts, thanks to The Book Whisperer and Netgalley.

"The Wife Who Risked Everything", by Ellie Midwood

Berlin mid-30’s till the end of WW11

We are taken into a fictional world base on true events where the characters faced evil and where love and courage were contagious and many voices could not be silenced. This is the story of Margo, an Aryan woman who stayed loyal to her Jewish husband, Jochen, even if their friends ignored them, her mother rejected it her and the Nazi were haunting them...even worst.

As always this story is heartbreaking and as we follow them through a life of hardship: after losing everything they were casted into the street, they needed wits to survive. The story tells us how Margo’s love for Jochen never wavered and refused to abandon him at any cost, even during air raid where Jews were banned from shelters. Eventually Jochen fell into the hands of the Nazis and was imprisoned with countless of other, Margot risked her life to protest outside the gestapo headquarters with hundreds of women gathered shouting “Release our men”.... Jochen was released with many other men..... I gave you a tiny sample of what this book is about. It is filled with terrifying and heartbreaking events you wished it would have never happened...

Of course this is a page-turner that brought life to a terrible era. The plot gradually migrated from a simple life during the early days of the Nazi regime and as time went by to the hard reality they had to face...Ms. Midwood is a master in this era and knows how to pen a story that will interest and captivate us from the opening page.

This is a gripping story told with sensitivity and great finesse. The style is perfectly balanced between realism and fictitiousness and the characters come to life with great care. Well said and well-done.

I received this book from Bookouture via Netgalley for my thoughts: this is the way I see it

"Mumbai", by Ty Patterson

Zeb Carter thriller book # 10

Zeb’s team needed a well-earned rest after their harrowing mission in Moscow (book #9) clear their mind and regroup in Mumbai to take the sights, enjoy the food and hospitality and leave everything behind....or they thought so....all went haywire when a bomb ripped through a crowded market....

Ouf....action galore from the opening page till you reach the conclusion. I had to put this story down from time to time to take a break from the shooting and fighting. I was exhausted reading Zeb and his team trying to outwit a bunch of bad guys this story does not allow one moment of respite. But again you do not pick up a Ty Patterson’s book not knowing you will be pulled into suspenseful story that will keep you a willing captive.

Rip-roaring pacing, intricate plotting, easy wording and smart characterization, what more can one ask. Ok yes it is a good book but I really got tired with the never ending shooting and killing. The story really if you analyzed it well doesn’t make sense. All the bad guys die and none of the team are killed wow an exception this time one member gets wounded and ends up in hospital...having said this “Mumbai” is a thriller after all and we should expect silly things to happen...we see this on TV...the bad guys don’t know how to hit a target and always gets killed and the good guys standing up to danger never get hit....ok.....

I would suggest being in the mood before tackling this thriller to enjoy it at its max. It is a good story but it was not by far my preferred. Could I suggest that Zeb mellow a bit and change tack.....that would through us a curve...the same old, same old gets boring after so many stories....anyways this is the way I see it...

"The Disappearance of Josef Mengele", by Olivier Guez

Original title :“La Disparition de Josef Mengele”

Just reading the tile is enough to cause a chill up the spine...who has never heard of Josef Mengele, the Nazi doctor of Auschwitz.

In this debut English language novel the author gives us a sober portrait of “The Angel of Death” the monstrous man at Auschwitz who after the war secured a series of false identities and relocated in South America in 1949. For the next 30 years or so he hid in Argentina, Paraguay and Brazil where he sought favours from powerful figures such as Adof Eichmann, Juan Peron and a network of Nazis to survive. As time passed and the horrors of the Holocaust were better known, a hunt for Mengele and other high-ranking Nazis began. The most notorious hunter of Nazis was Simon Wiesenthal.

This novel recreates from eyewitness accounts, letters, journals, historical records and biographies the passage of time involving Mengele in hiding. This book is rigorously researched as Olivier Guez traces Mengele’s footsteps through the years of flight. What a chilling novel, the narration situates us in a manhunt of one of the most elusive and evil figures of the 20th century.

Mr. Guez added personal touches to his account to make our experience more enjoyable. The words are weighed carefully to make contact with his audience and to instill some human elements despite all the repulsive actions. Mengele till his death continued to believe in Nazi ideology....and never was brought to justice.....All characters in this novel gives you shivers....

Interesting read

This arc was provided by Verso Books via Netgalley for my thoughts.

"Where Evil Hides", by Melinda Woodhall

Bridget Bishop FBI Mystery book #3

I often wonder where authors get their subject and spin a tale that is unique, exciting and captivating each time the story is published. Well, fertile imagination may be it, an asset that Ms. Woodhall definitely has she does spin a wicket tale hard to put down.

In this latest, Bridget is drawn into the hunt for a suspected serial killer and joins forces with a profiler. This come after the estranged wife of a high-powered CEO witness the brutal slaying of her husband’s latest squeeze. A savage murder linked to two similar homicides.

What an exciting story filled with twists and turns, tension and suspense galore. No doubts “Where Evil Hides” is action-packed and yes a winner in my books. I like how the author draws us into the world of crime and how her players solve the mystery. The character development in Bridget is progressing nicely both professionally as well as personally not forgetting the supporting cast adds smarts to the experience. There is a lot going on, not a dull moment from the opening page till you hate seeing the ending. Trying to guess the whodunit is futile.....the she or he will surprise you....

Kudos to you Melinda another excellent read

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

"Never Go Back", by john W Mefford

Jack Whitfield series book #1

What a change in style Mr. Mefford gave us with his debut espionage thriller. With its relentless pacing and unexpected twists this action packed drama has definitely aroused my curiosity and interest from the opening page till I flipped the last one. In “Never Go Back” we are taking into the gritty world of industrial espionage and human trafficking.

It has been some time since Mr. Mefford added a book to his collection it was a long pause for us his long-time fans but the wait was well worth it. He has come back better than ever and has giving us one of those exciting hard to put down story. Yes a new character in Jack Whitfield, a man force to rescue a girl half a world away after his idyllic life was shattered and his daughter kidnapped. Jack is off to Macau, China on his mission to find Cai Chen. Now in a foreign theater Jack faces very bad actors even worse, the group he represents operates without any morals. Turned into a spy, Jack new persona talks with a British accent and knows the basic of mission tactics. Following him on his mission we have many twists and turns, betrayals, attempts on his life and more than one rough situation.

For those who like action, lot of suspense a great plot and a bunch of great characters you will be a contented with this one. Mr. Mefford outdid himself in style and flair....

Thank you Mr. Mefford and welcome back.

"Where the Sky Begins", by Rhys Bowen

Set during WW11 this story if of Josie Banks, a character who may represent the lives of women during this terrible time when bombs fell on London, their husband were called for service , their home turned to ash and their livelihood destroyed, they had nothing left and no place to go. This novel is about danger, triumph and second chance.

Josie was evacuated to the English countryside where she ended up at the estate of the aristocratic Miss Harcourt. She made a life for herself and we follow her ups and downs.

In this story we have a view of the hardship during the war years. Shortage of everything even the bare necessities all controlled with ration books. Nearby the tiny town called Sutton St Giles where Josie was billeted a RAF base was operational where young men isolated and homesick sought companionship, a chat and a cup of tea. Miss Harcourt was encouraged to open her estate and Josie put to good use the fine china by opening a tea shop. They had a lot of visitors and the ins and outs made for a very interesting read.

This heartfelt wartime story is a quick and easy read said in simple language with a lot of details. We have quite a few players that visited the estate but all are unique in their own ways so easy to remember them, no confusion. Josie is the star and everything revolves around her. Along the ways we have a mystery a spy among them...who is it? The drama is unveiled in the last chapters...surprise and of course love is in the air.....

Nice soft war time story.

Thank you NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for the ARC

"Crossfire", by Lynette Eason

“Extreme Measures” book #2

This is an intense story of revenge and redemption written by a master of suspense. It tells how special agent Julianna Jameson, a top-notch negotiator, path crossed with former sniper Clay Fox when she was called in to negotiate a courtroom hostage situation involving Clay’s sister Reese, who was one of the hostage. One situation led to another and love is in the air...

This story is a winner very hard to put down. From the opening pages I stayed glued to the mystery. Well-thought out action that never ceased coming. When a copycat situation emerged a week later I loved how Julianna and Clay were sent on a cat and mouse chase while the perpetrator escaped after killing several hostages. It didn’t take long for Julianna to suspect those behind may be led by someone from her past. This story has great character development and excitement. I couldn’t wait to see what would come next.

This is expertly plotted to keep the suspense moving at a relentless pace and the high octane momentum is with us till the breath stealing conclusion. The narrative as always is clean and sends a message that we are not alone “God” whoever he may be is with us. Of course sweet romance is effortlessly weaved into this suspense novel.

I received this ARC from the Publisher Revell via the First Reviewer Program for my thoughts: this is the way I see it.

"The One That Got Away", by Joe Clifford

This is the story of Alex Salerno who survived being abducted by a serial killer twelve years ago. Now she is living in New York working odd jobs. One day, she received a phone call to discuss the disappearance of Kira Shanks, the girl who vanished after her to never be seen again. If Alex could found out what happened to Kira maybe she could make peace with herself....Is there a link between Alex and Kira.....this seething story of small-town will reveal a string of macabre leads...

Alex is one unpleasant character: hostile dealing with people and no one would cooperate with her pseud-investigation. She has a hard time getting what she wants but manages nevertheless to get results. The story is mainly told from her point of view with occasional chapters from Bennie’s, the young man suspected of killing Kira now in a mental hospital. Bennie is smarter than people think but still the light is dim...His role is very touching and heartbreaking and is told with compassion.

I mildly enjoyed this story. The language is a bit rough at times and some passages are hardly believable. Would a police officer risked his job by taking advantage of a minor? Well in this drama we have one scumbag....

As the plot slowly unwinds and layer after layer are revealed, many suspenseful moments awaits us especially when Alex persists in sticking her nose in dangerous place. Ultimately some of the mysteries and secrets are resolved although by the end I was left wondering what kind of life Alex would be facing.....

In short words:

“The One That Got Away” is a dark, psychological thriller with some surprising twists and turns leading to the finale. Good story but it failed to sweep me away.

"The Murder Book", by Mark Billingham

Tom Thorne Book # 18

This is my second book by this author although “The Murder Book” is part of a series I do believe you could read this as a standalone even with the references to what has gone before.

The Synopsis in a few words:

After investigating a series of grisly murders committed by a young woman who almost seems proud to be caught, Thorne peels back the layers of a secret far darker than he could have ever realised. Now it’s his reputation and loved ones on the line, and he is about to find out how far he will go to save them.

My thoughts in a few words:

Some characters highlights:

Thorne the main protagonist is centre stage. He is a complex character with a great deal of history a one with a short temper. His sidekick DI Nicola Tanner also has a short temper and a past that keeps haunting her. We also have secondary players; one great one is Phil Hendrick, a man with a wicket sense of humour for a pathologist in charge of examining the murder victims. And we have Thorne’s girlfriend, forensic psychiatrist Dry Melita Perera who has certain clients with history of violence...Of course we have secondary characters to help move things along. They all play excellent parts.

The plot:

It is the classic edge of your seat thriller with some twists and turns to keep us going through the pages. The suspense drags along and we seem to turn in circle too often for my taste but again this keeps us in apprehension for the next move... which comes quickly enough. Yes, no fear Mark Billingham leaves us with an ending I did not see coming.

Although it is a good story it left me cold. I was glued to every word at time and in other times I couldn’t wait to move on. Most reviewers have giving this story high praise I may be the exception with my feelings I am definitely less than enthusiastic than most...

The style:

Expertly written with good police procedural and a tad of humour here and there....

Thank you Netgalley and Grove Atlantic for the opportunity to read this book

"Lilac Girls", by Martha Hall Kelly

Lilac Girls book #1

1939-1957

Inspired by the life of a real WW11 heroine, this story brings a glimpse into one of history’s most frightening memories by vividly re-creating the world of Ravensbrück.

“Lilac Girls” follows three women, Caroline Ferriday an American, who did the impossible on behalf of the survivors, Herta Oberheuser, a Nazi surgeon who performed gruesome operations at Ravenbrück and Kasia a fictional character loosely based on the lives of actual Rabbits. Rabbits where female prisoners who underwent horrific surgical experiments at Ravensbrück concentration camp.

The characters’ gripping voices are heard in alternate chapters as the timeline advances. The first person narrative makes their experiences too real. It is fascinating to read how they coped with the deferent situations they had to face.

What could they possible have in common; I asked myself this question but Ms. Kelly does a masterful job weaving all the strands together in the end.

Caroline, a wealthy socialite with a French connection was a generous benefactor. Her ceaseless efforts to send supplies to French orphans never wavered even during hard times. She was also instrumental in bringing the Rabbits to America. Packed with details we are taken into upper-crust parties and old money. Manhattan at mid-century comes alive.

Kasia was living in Lublin when Germany crushed Poland. As volunteer courier for the underground Kasia risked her life for the better good till the day she got caught by the SS and sent to Ravensbrück. In detail the life at the camp is told....

And then there was Herta, a specialist in dermatology, who answered an advertisement for a surgeon, the post is at Ravensbrück concentration camp. She was the only woman doctor and needed to follow orders whether she liked it or not. She befriended many people and we all know the obviously it all ended badly...what a sadistic person she was.....her actions gruesome for the inmates.

The last section of the book deals with the Rabbits and the retribution delivered to the doctors who performed the experiments and how the characters coped-with the aftermath of war.....The book is filled with many details and deep understanding of the occupation and the unfair post-war situation created by the allies.

Poland traded one monster for another.....

This is one of many heartwarming stories

"A Call for Brighter Days", by Nupur Chowdhury

Book #2, in the Aerial Chronicles

Genre: Fantasy series

The story picks up a year or so after the defeat of Taureen and her followers have scattered. Some are now helping the feather mafia hunt down their own kind. As the bodies pile up, the line between ally and enemy gets further blurred and the choice made will shape the lives of everyone.

This story brought me way beyond my comfort zone. Fantasy is one of my least favourite subjects. So in all honesty I must tell I did not enjoy this story as I should have. I struggled all through trying to keep focus and staying with the story so I can picture the scenes and understand what was going on. My brain couldn’t, it just wandered all the time till I had enough and I wanted to give up more than once.

What I took out of this story, it reads a little like a turf battle with war between different factions with body covered in feathers flying and setting havoc all over. You would say it is not fair to review a book I struggled to finish...maybe. But once started I need to write my thoughts and share my opinion.

The good and the bad:

The ways the author created a cool world of fantasy where Aeriels and humans try to coexist and how she painted action galore to please those with fertile imagination for that sort of thing is more than well-done. There is a lot of vivid dialogue between characters who love to share their feelings and problems with us. This may be overly done for my taste but nicely done just the same. This story packs many characters to keep focus and interest on it is challenging not to mix them up and follow them in their quests.

If you like a fantasy with Aeriels coming from another realm in the sky with beautiful wings waging on earth a century old war, this book is for you. For myself this story left me cold. Definitely fantasies are not for me...

"Gorilla Tango', by Warren Stelman

From Businessman to Convicted Felon and Surviving the US Prison System

I’m a Canadian in a Us prison. I robbed old people and got caught.

With these opening words Mr. Stelman narrates a story of personal redemption, spiritual growth and survival. It is a compelling remembrance of incarceration. He once owned a digital signage company and was a respectable Montreal entrepreneur till the day all came crashing down, then he moved to the Dominican Republic where he became involved in a sweepstakes scam that stole money from the elderly. Interpol got the better of him, got caught and ended up in a Santo Domingo jail. Months later extradited to the US where he spend more than five years in federal prison. . His prison name was Canada.

Mr. Stelman describes his crimes, capture, trial process and prison time in great details as well as his daily life and how he had to adapt to survive in a brutal, violent and unforgiving world. According to Canada it was a journey through hell. Said in the first person he paints himself honestly and plainly as a convicted felon his tone has frankness to it when he tells us about his prison businesses and his relationships with his family. He says a lot in his mémoirs and his words are deep in prison jargon, lots of swear language. It got to me after a while but prison is prison we have to accept this.

I was intrigued by this man and his story and I found his openness to be touching but do I empathize with him ...no way he did the crime ruined 100s of lives. How easy targets make those entering multiple sweepstakes he calls them “dreamers” and telling them they won will get them every time....he deserved every bit of what he got....He knew better....

Now home he deserves to have his life back.....

Although hard to read, no doubt this book is a page-tuner hard to put down and a pretty good read.

"The Lost", by Jeffrey B. Burton

A Mace Reid K-9 Mystery, book# 3

The stars in this latest are Vira, an extraordinary cadaver dog, and her handler Mason” Mace” Reid.

The story brings us to Glencoe, Illinois. A home invasion turned kidnapping, the billionaire financier was assaulted, left behind while his wife and young daughter were taken for ransom. FBI and Reid with his specialized pack of cadaver dogs are brought to the scene. After a short time, Vira finds the dead body of the mother ....now everyone is on high alert to find the daughter....and the suspense begins...

It is also good to know that Mace works with the Chicago Police department and has a budding romantic interest with Detective Kippy Gimm...why not.

I enjoyed this story quite a bit. I love how the author seamlessly combined an amateur sleuth mystery with a police procedural while giving spotlight to the strong connection between the handler and his dogs. Vira’s mind borders on the paranormal; her ability to locate not only dead bodies but also picks up on the perpetrator’s scent at the site. Not a dull moment in this terrific mystery filled with twists and turns, action galore. I particularly love the narrative; the story is told with a touch of humour and does not bog down with frivolity or non-essential elements: it goes right to the point. The writing style is very engaging, so much so that I hated to put this book down. What about a clever plot: so intriguing, original and very intense. The theme covers a large range of topics from murder, assault, abduction, corruption, blackmail, deceit and relationships. Oh yes, maybe the Bratva also.. What is not to like...

Great story I am looking forward to the next saga..
..
I received a copy of this book from St-Martin Press via Netgalley for my thoughts.

"Abiding Conviction", by Stephen M. Murphy

Book # 3 in the Dutch Francis legal thriller

In a few words:

Lawyer Dutch Francis faces and impossible situation: search for your missing wife or defend your high-profile client. Dutch is defending a Judge accusing of killing his wife. Just as the trial is about to begin, his wife Ginnie Turner, a TV broadcaster goes missing...

My thoughts:

What would you do if you were in his shoes?

Courtroom drama and thrillers I absolutely love them. So dialogue oriented and I enjoy reading the banter that usually comes with them. Although this one has some it felt a little short and missed sharpness. Defending your client while worrying about your wife can’t be easy. So the legal scenes went fast and the preliminary hearing happened the next day. Can that be possible in real life? Experts say it doesn’t. Ok. I will give a break considering this is minor.

The story has fillers and the courtroom scenes were short but what gave this book thrills is Ginnie got kidnapped. I would say “Abiding Conviction” has two stories within a story and Dutch Francis happens to be the main character. Ginnie story is well said and exciting as for the Judge, his defense was a bit disappointing.

It may seem that I didn’t like book, far from it, although not perfect this thriller packs one hell of a story in its 293 pages or so. In all, the experience wasn’t bad at all. I enjoyed most parts and stayed with it till the very last page.

Although this book is part of a series it stands well on its own. Will I read more books from this series, indeed I will.

I received a copy of this book from Oceanview Publishing via Netgalley for my thoughts.

"Critical Alliance", by Elizabeth Goddard

Rocky Mountain Courage book #3

In this latest battle of wits Elizabeth Goddard sends her protagonist Mackenzie Hanson, a reformed hacker, to her family tech company in Montana after a cybersecurity alarm was set off. There she bumps on Alex Knight, an old friend.....tension escalades and we are into a skillfully crafted drama.

Ms. Goddard is well-known to give us a plot that is not only filled with action and suspense she also includes heartfelt romance to pepper her story. Everything is clean and well said and moves at a steady pace. Not only are the scenes vividly described to make them captivating but they are also played out by top notch characters easy to root for.

I agree with some reviewers “Critical Alliance” is a suspenseful ride into the world of cyber criminals. A gripping and emotional page-turner that reveals itself layer by layer till the mystery is unpuzzled.

I hate to see this trilogy conclude no doubts Ms. Goddard will come up with another exciting trilogy in the near future.

I received this ARC from the Publisher Revell via the First Reviewer Program for my thoughts: this is the way I see it.

"The Teacher of Warsaw", by Mario Escobar

In his latest Mario Escobar dramatizes the real-life of Janusz Korczak and his work protecting orphans in the Warsaw ghetto. Under the Nazi their hardships increased and all had to deal with overcrowding, typhus and chronic hunger. Korczak did his best to keep the children’s spirits up even as rumors swirl about Jewish people to be relocated to Treblinka.....This is the story of a hero.

The book begins on the eve of WW11 and doesn’t end well.

Not surprisingly this is a difficult book to read mainly I knew from page one how it would unfold. Even if I had read many stories in the past, the unimaginable Nazi brutality and sadness that surround the events are hard to take. I was touched by the amazing optimism and resiliency of human beings in the midst of chaos and how a remarkable single person can touch the lives of so many.

“The Teacher of Warsaw” is a powerful and emotional story of a spiritual leader who sacrificed himself for others. Mario Escobar brings this extraordinary man to life through his interpretation of Korczak’s notes and dairies. We follow this caring man slowly protecting his flock and doing the impossible to get food and shelter till the very end when he accompanied them to Treblinka....

This historical fiction has graphic scenes everything one would expect from a WW11 book although I did found the story hard to get in to: was it because it is so slowly said and narration seemed to turn in circle rehashing the same old things. It didn’t flow as well as Mr. Escobar’s other books and unfortunately the end couldn’t come fast enough for me. Leaving me with mixed feelings, up to you to give it a go or not....

I received a copy of this book from harper Muse via Netgalley for my thoughts