"In the Belly of the Congo", by Blaise Ndala

Blaise Ndala navigates with a poetic pen the troubled waters of the time of the Belgian Congo. This multigenerational novel explores the history and human cost of colonialism in the country. Through a series of events, the story takes place in Brussels and the Democratic Republic of the Congo in 1958 and in 2003.

Reading is not always easy and is enjoyable only at times. The author regularly uses the past tense which is not bad in itself. However annoying throughout this book is the writing style. The prose is a bit stilted and the tone very oral, I think I would have preferred to listen to it rather than reading it. So many narrative parentheses are opened by the author, that the strong moments are drowned in a rain of endless sentences and paraphrases, chronicles and anecdotes, fables and gossip. It is hard to connect to the story and the characters. Even with all the unnecessary detours we still learn a little about the history of the Belgian Congo but we get lost more than we find ourselves there.

I found this book hard to read and even more to review.

Thank you, Simon & Schuster for making this ARC available for me to read.

" Blood of Patriots and Traitors", by James A. Scott

A Max Geller Spy Thriller Book # 2

Former CIA agent Max Geller lives a quiet life spending is time on an Australian beach when his leisurely time is interrupted by a former agency colleague wanting him back on a secret mission. The colleague bid to press the ex-spy back was soon thwarted by a group of Russian’s security services ... then watch out, the beach turned into a fight....Strong- armed by his former Boss Geller gets back into action and sets out for Russia, a hostile place where he is a wanted man from his previous mission and his head is still on the chopping block. When the high-octane pursuit across Russian starts....we are in for a thrilling ride.

This is a fast-paced story filled with never ending action. It starts at the beach and moves rapidly in a narrative that holds the attention from the very beginning. His mission doesn’t go as planned but the many twists and turns that come his ways give us excitement and expectation....whom to trust and whom not to.... Geller faces this dilemma multiple times and along with him we also do. The characters are interesting some are not whom they appear to be and some are too transparent. But aren’t we smack into the world of espionage were deceiving is the buzz word. Mr. Scott transmits this with aplomb.

Thorough, two chases are underway: one is Geller chasing his target and the other is the Russians state security desperately wanting the catch him. The action takes us Russia, Finland, Germany, Cyprus and ends in a very creative way in DC. You will love how this develops.

This is a classic espionage book with all the bells and whistles. Well-done, well-said.

Thank you ,Oceanview Publishing and Netgalley for this ARC.

"The War Pianist", by Mandy Robotham

July, 1940

This gripping and heartbreaking WW11 historical fiction is set in Blitz-ridden London and Nazi-occupied Amsterdam.

In London:

The story tells us how Marnie after the death of her grandfather replaced him at his post and became an undercover radio operator or pianist for the Dutch resistance and set to complete his mission at any cost.

While in Amsterdam:

Fellow pianist Corrie Bakker is at the other end of the wireless and trying to survive caught in a cat and mouse game.

My thoughts:

Powerful and haunting, Ms. Robotham captures the tension and fear in her unique and captivating style. This story is well-written, fast-paced and very suspenseful. With multiple points of views this gripping story of Morse code, adventure, bravery and courage is one of a kind and very hard to put down, it has so much to offer. I was utterly invested in the characters’ lives, they seemed so real. Richly told you can picture the rubble left behind and hear the bombs falling even smell the cordite in the air and the scary marching boots in Amsterdam.

Set in the era I love to read “The War Pianist” ticks all the boxes for me: vivid descriptions, interesting insights in the resistance, wonderful characterization and a compelling storyline that flows very well.

Thank you Avon Books UK and Netgalley for this ARC

"Highwire", by Ty Patterson

Zeb Carter Thrillers book # 11

This suspense action thriller is right out of the author’s imagination and for sure has worked very hard creating this latest. In his well-known signature style he has once again giving us one of those edges of the seat story with razor-sharp action.

In “Highwire” Zeb Carter and his team are in Australia and New Zealand trying to thwart the action of a mysterious organized criminal gang who are stealing from the countries mines and doing catastrophic harm to the countries economics. While the social media are fueling civil unrest...mistrust in governments is brewing.

One thing Mr. Patterson is good at is describing suspense. Through the entire story we are peppered with never ending action: gun fights, fist fights, you name it we have it. Zeb and his team are invincible and always come out without a scratch to save the day. If you like amazing feats, technical expertise and a group that foresees the unimaginable, Zeb’s team will enchant you.

On the other hand:

Ok, maybe it was very good but I must say I am the sour puss here. I had a very hard time with the never ending bing bang and fighting that never stopped. Mid-way my mind almost gave up, wanting so much to have a peaceful read. Is it that after 11 installments things becomes so predictable that the fun of reading such a story is lost... Apart from the excellent action scenes which are all the same bad guys shoot at good guys and good guys shoot at bad guys, of course all this is wrapped by a story that take the back seat I didn’t find much there.

I must stay on the fence on this one...did I like it or not..still not sure.

Thank you, Mr. Patterson till next time.

"Critical Threat", by Lynette Eason

                                                 

 

Extreme measure book #3

A romantic suspense novel

The story in a few works:

FBI Special Agent Grace Billingsley is a behavioral analyst and uses her skills to get dangerous people of the streets. In “Critical Threat “ she tracks serial killers and works in concert with prison psychiatrist Sam Monroe who knows firsthand that even behind bars it doesn’t mean killers are not a threat. After all, his own father, Peter is a serial killer. When bodies start showing up with Peter’s MO, Sam and Grace have one objective take him out....Along the way a strong connection develops...

My thoughts:

You do not need to read the two first books to enjoy “Critical Threat” it stands well by its own. It has a fresh and unique storyline.

In this third installment the author takes us on a wild, action-packed ride while we have a glimpse inside the mind of a serial killer. With the multiple twists and turns I was hooked from the get-go. I love the characterization, they were engaging and their actions were realistic. The scenes where Grace was hunted by the serial killer and how Sam came to the rescue were graphic and well-done.

This book is under Revell Publishing so we can expect the language to be smooth and a flourishing romance without any sex scenes, also a Christian element must be injected between the lines: the theme this time was forgiveness. It is a story that meets the criteria to a tee. When a book by Lynette Eason is available I hate to miss out. They are well- written, have great characterization, and an exciting plot line.

I had the opportunity to receive a copy of this book from Revell through the Early Reviewers program.

"Cold Light of Day", by Elizabeth Goddard

Missing in Alaska book #1

This first installment set in Alaska weaves a gripping mystery dealing with a wave of murders. Autumn Long, Police chief of Shadow Gap, is the one to deal with all what went on in the town but her leadership is in question making her work more difficult. Then, Grier Brennan, a handsome stranger with an evasive past stepped into her life and soon they join force to track down the killer. Along the way an attraction builds between them.....awe the story tells all...

This story in under the umbrella of Revell Publishing and has all the marking of a Hallmark movie: smoothly said with a clean narrative and exciting dialogue. This is a tightly plotted romance mystery that knows how to tease us and keep us pin to the story and moving along till the final moment...the obligatory kiss ..This is so familiar to those who love this kind of stories and movies.

I was sucked into this drama from the start and couldn’t help flipping pages to know how Autumn would do with solving the murders, saving her job and of course with Grier. But with all the twists and turns thrown in I was kept guessing and flipping pages till I reached the last one. I was definitely held captive by the story...well-said and done. Another winner for Ms. Goddard

This is riveting and gripping page-turner I had the pleasure to receive as ARC from the publisher via Netgalley