"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

"Assassin's Lullaby", by Mark Rubinstein

This is the story of Eli Dagan a former field agent for the Mossad who turned out to be the best contract killer around. He is meticulous and very alert although he is starting to change his habits and make decisions he would not have done years ago. Instead of taking contracts on the dark web for a mission he compromises his anonymity by meeting in person. Eli is hired by Odessa mafia boss Anton Gortov for two missions....

This is a riveting thriller that takes us bit by bit through a professional killer’s routine at a relentlessly fast pace. It is jam packed with crosses and double crosses. It is definitely an edge of your seat story that takes us from Israel to Russia and to Brooklyn. The story is a mix of relentless action; psychological suspense all wrapped up in an emotional drama ...what a roller-coaster ride. Mr. Rubinstein is no doubt a master at misdirection.

His prose captures the brutally life of a paid killer in a twisty plot that never slows down. Eli is sharply drawn, a sleek killer and a man tormented by his past. This is one thriller so intense and so captivating that I hated to put it aside.

Well-done and well-said

I received a copy of this book from Thunder Lake Press via Netgalley

"Please Join Us", by Catherine McKenzie

This is a thriller about secret organizations, hidden agendas and the lengths Nicole Mueller is willing to go to reclaim her life. Her brilliant career is on the rock and she and her husband are soon forced out of their apartment. When Nicole received an invitation from exclusive women’s networking group, it sounded like a great opportunity for her to revive her career....Or she thought....

I haven’t enjoyed a story by this author as much as this one. It slowly grabbed me and I was soon deep into Nicole’s drama. It is a mind game full of duplicity, manipulation and liars. No one is to be trusted. Strange rituals and endurance tests are part of this secret society. What did Nicole get herself into this time? Can she extricate herself from the group before it’s too late?

This plot driven complex and thrilling read kept me on the edge of my seat. Soon after the opening page I was intrigued and stayed so till the story reached the surprising twisted last pages. Wow what an ending, cross and double cross ...claws were out....

This latest is brilliant and shows us how some people will stop at anything to get what they want. What a diabolical and fast-paced ride easily devoured in one setting.....Well-done I enjoyed my time with “Please Join us”.

I received a copy of this book from Atria Books via Netgalley

"Mengele's Apprentice", by Roberta kagan

Book #2, in the Auschwitz Twins series

This story is divided in 3 important sections called books

Book #1, chapters 1 to 20

Berlin, Germany 1930’s

Ernst Neider is a shy and unpopular individual his dream was to be a doctor. Coming from a poor family his parents gave him everything to make this come true. At university he made friend with Ancel a Jewish medical student who introduced him to his Jewish friends and to their ways of life.

We read about his life at the university and with his parents. By the time he graduated the war broke out and Ernst was facing a frigid and miserable winter as his troop headed east. Early 1942, he met Josef Mengele who offered him a job at Auschwitz-Birkenau. Ernst didn’t know what was in store for him....The story tells us what awaits him.

Book #2, chapter 21 to 39

1938, life in a large Shtetl then in the ghetto of Warsaw and Auschwitz.

For the Aizenberg family life was a very day affair where men were master and women and children did what they were asked without any question. We follow the family’s ups and downs till the day the Nazi Germany attacked Poland, the fabric of the life as they had known was threatened. Soon German boots moved in, people were rounded and trucks carted them away.

Warsaw Ghetto 1941

No cake walk, the family shared a small accommodation with another family and as we follow them in their day to day life we see the hardship they suffered till the day the Ghetto was emptied.....they were heading for Auschwitz

Book #3, chapter 40 to 70

Marseilles, France, 1940

After the sudden death of her mother, 14 year old Gisele Lenoir was on her own. Before she died her mother told her the name of her father: Josef Mengele. She became desperate to seek him out and her only way was to learn the ways of a courtisane, she learnt this at the brothel where she worked as a maid till one day she needed help and it came by the name of Dr. Marcel Petiot. But for him everything came at a cost.....After Gisele witnessed Marcel’s doing. Escape was her only out. We follow her to Berlin where she soon met Ernst.

By the end all the stories come together and the characters end up at the hands of Mengele.....

Of course this novel offer more than my summary tells...

My thoughts

At first I was captivated by this story. I wanted to learn about this apprentice see what he was going to be involved in. But what really happened in the first book was how he lived and the struggles he faced as a poor, shy and overweight person. I thought the author would expand on his work with Mengele but no it just petered out there. Then to book 2, this was the run of the mill of life in a Shtetl, a Ghetto and on the way to the camp. Since this series is about twins this sidebar may have been an obligation. But this time it seemed more a filler. I did love book # 3, this was an exciting story that could have easily happened but again I wished the author would have expanded here also. By the end, I was left frustrated by not knowing the development and having to wait for book #3... I am hoping it will give more and not be in the style of this one.

I love historical fiction that gives you some knowledge along the way. Although this novel is well-written and moves at a good pace I was highly disappointed to read portion of stories and be left hanging there.

Although Mengele and Petiot were real people here they play character roles. One thing for sure, I am more than curious to learn more these two sadistic men.

This latest may not have been my preferred but it may be yours. It is nevertheless worst giving it a try.

Thank you The Book Whisperer for giving me the opportunity to read this book.