"The Winemaker's Son", by C.J. West

                                                                      

Randy Black series book 1

Mr. West has created quite a twisted character in Randy Black and along with a scary personality to give us nightmares. I can’t imagine such an evil man could ever exist...thank goodness this is a storyline right out of the author’s imagination.

It opens in France with a threesome having a tryst in an old farm house when to their surprise the woman’s husband walks in... a fight follows resulting in the death of the man. This is the first move setting the stage for a series of revenge and weird happenings. When things got too hot in France for Randy he flees to USA where he will entertain us with a cat and mouse game that will last throughout the book.

The plot weaves more twists and turns and more layers of bizarre acts. This story has a good blend of intrigue and suspense and grabs us and holds our attention hostage and refuses to let go till the very last page is read. The pacing is short of genius it slowly enmeshed us into evil machinations and erratic behaviours. Randy is clever, vindictive and unpredictable. Did he have a motive behind his action...yes he did and following him is the fun we are into even if it is gruesome at times. The narrative flows well and is vividly said, you can picture every moves.

If you like bad guys that are just too bad to be likeable and good guys that fall prey to the bad guy’s evilness give this book a try.

You will find “The Winemaker’s Son” to be mostly entertaining.

On a side note:

While I was reading this book I had a sense of déjà vu, I was certain that I had read something similar before and to this day this feeling still nags me....

"Treading Darkness", by Lyle Nicholson

Detective Bernadette Callahan Mystery book # .25

This is a short and sweet mystery and a great introduction Mr. Nicholson provided to hook us. I rarely am interested in books advertised on Facebook but this offer of free sample picked my curiosity so I researched the offer and went for it. I do not regret my choice.

Set in a Western Canada this story of only 47 pages offers us an intense mystery to capture our interest in the lead character: Royal Canadian Mounted Police Corporal Bernadette Callahan. This is one day in her life before she became a Detective in the Serious Crime Division and what a day it was. It started with routine chase of a stolen car where the suspect escapes into in abandoned mine. Her duty is to catch him even if she is afraid of the dark.

Before she moved to the new division Bernadette was struggling with a sexist superior. She eventually dealt with it in her way. In his story Mr. Nicholson wanted to highlight the claim of sexual harassment in the RCMP force and Bernadette is his emissary and a good one at that.

Well-done

"Paris", by Ty Patterson

Cutter Grogan, book 5

Cutter Grogan, one of Mr. Patterson key player, knows how to entertain while on assignment saving the day. In this latest, he was sent to Paris to get critical Intel from an informer about a terrorist attack. A piece of cake it seemed for this superhero but what he faced was far from being a walk in the park.....What he found was his contact tortured to death.... then pandemonium broke loose....

Fast-paced, filled with action “Paris” does not disappoint. The story is exciting to read how this warrior manages to bring down the bad guys in ways that seems so natural. My mind stayed tuned to the action from page one till the very last words of course I knew that Cutter would save the day even after being stabbed and shot at, after all he has to show up for his next mission, no?. Once into this drama I was hooked....well-written thriller full of twists and turns and of course played out by a cast of diverse characters.

What a thrill ride “Paris” gives. Well done.

Thank you, Mr. Patterson for the hours of enjoyment.

"Run", by Ty Patterson

Warrior series book # 12

A Covert-Ops Action Novel

The story in a few words:

Zeb Carter is on holidays camping in the remote wilderness of Idaho. In the same jungle is the most wanted terrorist in the world: Namir. After witnessing her father’s death at the hands of Namir, a young girl became his new target. Scared for her life she runs away heading for the woods eventually stumbling into Zeb Carter, the knight in shining armor who will protect her at any cost, even with his life. But Namir and his gang of terrorists are not the only ones in the woods... A Mexican cartel also roams the area..... and the excitement begins.

My thoughts:

This is another adrenaline filled read pack with never ending action and suspense galore. Zeb Carter the main character is the never ending hero who gets shot multiple times and manages to keep going to save the day....awe. The plot is exciting, written in short sentences and chapters with smart dialogue. I had a ball reading this book never mind being glued to every word and flipping the pages so fast...I think my reader almost caught fire...:). I simply enjoyed the few hours I passed with “Run” even if the plot is over the top and keeps the same beat with each installment. Although after so many books the style has become quite formulaic I am not tired reading Ty Patterson series.

No one write thrillers like Ty Patterson

"Life Flight", by Lynette Eason

Extreme Measures book #1

A romantic suspense

I am a huge fan of suspense and a little bit of romance to soften the tension is always welcome Lynette Eason knows how to gives us both and even more. In this new series we read how EMS helicopter Penny Carlton while transporting a critical patient is forced to land on a mountain during a raging storm. On the same mountain, a recently escapee and serial killer is on the loose. Days later, Penny finds herself under attack and teaming up with FBI Holt Satterfield they set out to catch this killer before he catches them.

“Life Flight” is a wonderful and exciting start to a series. I love the idea to have a lead character as a female pilot who is the target of serial killer. From the start a lot happens to her in a short period of time. She is kind of a sleuth pilot, what a kick-ass individual she is, no surprise there it make a lot a sense since she is more or less a side- kick to FBI Agent Satterfield. Moving along the story is filled with heart –pounding rescues and most of all jaw-dropping plot twists to keep us going. Laced throughout are additional plot lines to keep the characters desperate to stay one step ahead of the killer. What a race from page one to the end. Yes, the story is also layered with blossoming romance.

This latest has all the ingredients for a thrilling edge-of your seat read. Nicely done.

I wish to thank the publisher Revell as well as Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this book. These are my thoughts.

"Her Bitter End", by Melinda Woodhall

A Veronica Lee Thriller book #8

From Sin City to Willow Bay a brutal bikers embarks on a mission of death and destruction. Veronica Lee is his next target and all forces are out to protect her. The FBI and Willow Bay Police Chief Nessa Ainsley pledge to not only protect her but also the town from an evil predator with ties to a powerful enemy.

This is another exciting fast paced story that ticks all the right boxes. Dynamic and loveable characters, a page turner from start to finish, a plot that is smoothly written and vividly said, suspense galore to keep us on our toes and a picturesque small town as a setting. What is not to like. Who might be this vicious killer on the loose that scares half the town and leaves us biting our nails from the get-go? Chasing him and saving Veronica is the thrill in this mystery and it is well-done.

It seems this is the last episode with Veronica Lee as the major player but I am sure we will see her reappear sometime in the future has a supporting character in Ms. Woodhall other series.

Another winner I enjoyed passing time with.

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

"Police", by Jo Nesbo

Harry Hole series Book #10

This densely plotted story is one of the most macabre one I read so far. “Police” tells the tale of a serial killer with a darkest and most disturbing taste of observing the anniversary of each of his murders by luring a police detective to a gruesome death at the scene of the very crime the officer failed to solve.

Definitely a nerve racking thriller that brings out several characters from Nesbo’s previous novel “Phantom” where we were left in the dark about the fate of Harry Hole who took a bullet. The previous book is a must read and do not wait too long before getting to “Police” I took a brief hiatus with this series after reading “Phantom” and this was a mistake.

For many chapters the action is centered on the secondary players who were left in the shadow in the previous books. I kept wondering if the maverick Oslo detective would ever show up he did eventually but took his time (many chapters) When he showed up I simply couldn’t put the book down. I was constantly surprised along the way never sure where this convoluted plot was taking me and I never guessed who the perpetrator was. The book is filled with red herrings and misdirection, something that Nesbo has turned into a fine art. The ups and downs in this book are immense ...what a roller-coaster ride..... This riveting tale is brutal, tragic, darkly humorous.

The author has a soft spot of madmen and their grotesque methods of murder this one is bad but not as bad as were the characters in “The Snowman”. Yes there is violence in the book and some of it is upsetting and tragic. Even with all of this, Nesbo manages to create people who grow on you, some you love and some you hate...and knows how to delve deeply into the psyche of his characters.

The only let down is the book first section. We are kept guessing about Harry Hole’s fate for too long but in whole “Police” is a terrific read.

"Treachery Times Two" by Robert McCaw

Koa Kane Mystery book #4

The story in a few words:

It all starts when the mutilate body of a woman is unearthed in an abandoned cemetery after a volcanic earthquake disrupts Hawaii Island. Chief Detective Koa Kane if called to the scene, his investigation leads him into the world of politically connected defense contractor, a secret military weapon and deep into an FBI espionage investigation. While facing multiple obstacles from his Chief of Police in his case, Koa’s thirty-three old secret resurfaces, a murder he committed and covered up. Now, the grandson of the dead man wants the case to be reopened.

My thoughts:

This latest can be enjoyed as a standalone but I assure you if you start here your interest will be piqued and you will be eager to read the prequels.

The story explores two themes: human flaws and the human compulsion to hide our misdeeds. We will find Koa and Keahi stand as two opposing bookend in this story.

This book has the perfect mix of culture and suspense-filled mystery. ”Treachery Times Two” is a wild ride that feels like you are sleuthing alongside Koa. It is easy to be immersed into the Hawaiian culture, language, traditions, scenery and smell of this beautiful place, Mr. McCaw does amazing work bringing all this to life with vivid imagery.

While the initial case still to be resolved Koa faces his nemesis.....can he get away with murder committed thirty some years back. His internal struggle is touching I was rooting for him to get away with his crime. I didn’t want to see him on the wrong side of the bars. The author never let up, the tension was so great I wanted to see what came up both with the case and with Koa’s personal dilemma. The story showcases Koa in his rawest, most human form: flawed yet morally strong. Of course by the end, the threads mesh perfectly together. What a satisfying read.

I love this story....so if you like mysteries, especially those with multi-layered plots give this series a go.

In exchange for an honest and unbiased review I received a copy of this book from Oceanview Publishing and Netgalley.