"Cross My Heart", by James Patterson

Alex Cross book # 21

I took a long break between the last book and this one. It was time for me to move on, take some time off, read something else in order to enjoy Alex Cross sagas at a later date. Oh boy, I didn’t know I would take 8 years to pick up this series again. I am happy I did, I admit to have enjoyed every bit of the time I spent with Alex.

I must say that James Patterson has a knack for writing fast-paced, engaging stories that gripped from the first page. In “Cross My Heart” Alex is investigating a string of murders while he is being stalked and provoked by a psychopath obsessed with him and determined to torment him by targeting his family. The man knows that nothing matters more to Alex that his children, his grandmother and his wife and uses Alex’s strength as a weapon against him.

This story definitely has much more emotional fell. We can sense Alex’s pain as he not only had to deal with what was happening to his family but hold himself back not to make things worse. It was hard not to react and feel somewhat apprehensive during the last chapter and as I was wondering where the storyline would bring me. My heart was on a roller coaster ride and a thousand questions crossing my mind...” This cannot be happening ....is this ever going to end....oh no what else.. There is so much going on that my thoughts will exceed my objective of writing short reviews. So it is up to you to discover the ins and outs....

Well, this book doesn’t have an actual ending but what an ending it was: bold, dramatic, jaw-dropping. This cliff-hanger ending may be disappointing although I am certain the drama may continue in the next installment “Hope to Die” which no doubts will give us another exciting ride.

`The High Mountain of Portugal`, by Yann Martel

This novel is divided in three parts:

The first part “Homeless”, set in Portugal 1904 focuses on the experience of researcher Tomas, who is grieving the deaths of his partner, son and father. The narration describes how he dealt with it and how he travelled to the High Mountains of Portugal in search of a religious artifact.....then weird happenings

The second part “Homeward” set in Portugal 1938 has pathologist Eusebio talk in great length about writer Agatha Christie theory how similar murder mystery are to the Bible and by Maria Passos Castro request that he conducts an autopsy on her son. He acquiesced to her request which lead to some intensely surprising discoveries....then weird happenings....

The third part “Home” begins in Canada in 1981 where a seasoned politician discovers a strange connection with a chimpanzee (Odo) being kept in a research facility. He decides to leave his old life and recues Odo move to Portugal and develop and relationship that eventually brings must desired peace and freedom. Then weird happenings....

What to say I fail to grasps the great story here and hated every moment I spent with this book. Those mismatched stories stitched together didn’t work well I couldn’t decipher what message they were trying to pass and I was puzzled by the experience. What a tedious and unsettling read, it was real chore to get through it. The characters forget about them.

Boring, boring and boring some more. What did I read...if I remember ...was it a quest, maybe a ghost story ...oh a fable...naw... a mystery oh no...what... tell me Mr. Martel.

I spent way too many hours with this story. I was so stubborn and stuck with it way too long why didn't I simply ditch it after the first part.

"The Age of Doubt", by Andrea Camilleri

Inspector Montalbano book # 14th

I was really captured by this story even if I hadn’t followed closely this series. I had no trouble to get caught in the going on at this point and enjoyed every bit of it. So I guess, it is safe to say you could nevertheless enjoy this installment while Montalbano goes about his tasks solving foul play.

In this one, Inspector Montalbano encounters a woman that is interested in a certain yacht scheduled to dock that afternoon. Beside this luxury vessel is anchored another yacht with a somewhat shady crew. When, the crew reports finding a disfigured corpse Montalbano investigates and thinks that the crew knows way more than they are letting know. Then the story will grab you and won’t let go.

I enjoyed passing time with this story even if I didn’t know most of the characters I slowly got to know them through this mystery while they went about their tasks. There are a number of incredibly funny scenes as well as very serious ones. The pacing very well done: slow and steady. In a warm narration, we are taken to the shoreline of a quaint village of Vigata, a lovely little corner of Sicily that comes to life with all the sights, smells and tastes. Mr. Camilleri knows how to pen not only a poignant story but a very captivating tale.

Not a bad read at all

"With A Demon's Eye", by J.F. Penn

Only 20 pages, this story will not overwhelm you although you may want to explore further in the subject of military photography.

These few words honor conflict photographer whose photos captured images that could turn public perception of wars. This story is played by Sara Miles on the desert front. But when she is caught in an explosion out on patrol, her eyes are damaged by shrapnel. Thanks to cutting-edge operation she may be able to see again but at what cost.

Themes:

Combat photography: the story demonstrates why photographers take so many risks.

Laser eye surgery: this story has a spin of its own. How far will you go to have your sight back....

Demons: without some weird events it would not be a J.F. Penn story.

More thoughts:

Way too short, as the story began to be exciting it ends.....Ms. Penn extend this story I simply loved to know the outcome...what is Sara seeing.....spooky

Thank you Johanna for the copy

"The Sound of Light", by Sarah Sundin

Copenhagen 1940’s

Blurb from the back cover

In WW11 Denmark, Baron Henrik Ahlefeldt assumes identity of a common shipyard worker, rowing messages to Sweden for the Resistance. His life depends on keeping his secret hidden- a task that proves challenging when he meets Else Jensen, an American physicist who seems to see right through him.

My thoughts

Set mostly in Copenhagen at the time when Germans overtook Denmark this tale gives a view how things may have unfolded and how the Danes responded to the Nazis and Gestapo. Along the way, it is interesting to read how Else went about facing her dilemmas at the institute where she worked as a physicist dealing with a culture that prizes machismo and had rigid gender roles. I love how the author depicted the Baron known by his fellows’ workers as Hemming, this mysterious man who hides his past so he can work secretly for the resistance, rowing across the Sound passing important papers to Sweden. Of course, Else and Hemming met and slowly through the pages we have a blossoming romance....nicely done.

This historical romance is well said and very entertaining. This novel is published by Revell in them you will not find profanity or sexual scenes. “The Sound of Light” makes up for this by given us captivating descriptions of sabotage, escape, capture and to shock us a bit of torture all wrapped up in a story highlighting the courage and determination of people and how most of them help save thousands of Jewish people from the clutch of evil .

Well-done.

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

"Good Night from Paris", by Jane Healey

“Goodnight from Paris” is inspired by the fascinating real-life story of Drue Leyton Tartière, a Hollywood actress, who left acting for a Frenchman and became part of the Resistance in Nazi-occupied France. Drue’s courageous actions – engaging in risky work broadcasting radio programs designed to shake America from its apathy, then assisting in the escape of over a hundred Allied pilots.

As per the author, much of this historical fiction is based on the facts of Drue’s life in France, many fictional characters and events were incorporated to shape the narration. Ms. Healey tells us she tried to adhere to the facts of her main character’s life as closely as possible but had to take some fictional leaps from time to time. Throughout this fascinating story, the tone given is a glimpse at Drue’s voice and personality. The conversations, letters and actual dialogue that appeared at the beginning of many chapters where obtained in both her autobiography and correspondence from the Holocaust Memorial.

We find a lot of very interesting characters some iconic and some composites of several people. The most important who played an pivotal role are her husband Jacques Tartière, Nadine her housekeeper, Jean Fraysse, head of Paris Mondiale as well as Drue’s possible lover, Ambassador Bullitt, a friend and many others. We also have scenes relating to her experiences at the Vittel internment camp that are based on her accounts as well as other American and British women who were interned there at the time. I could go on and one I will spare you.

The harrowing stories of Allied pilots landing, hiding and escaping enemy territory are heart breaking. By the end of the war, Drue had overseen the escape of a least forty- two American. British and Canadian pilots.....

This novel is a must read for historical fiction enthusiast.

Thank you, NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.

"A Death at the Party" by Amy Stuart

It all stats at a garden party where everyone is enjoying themselves when Nadine Walsh, the hostess, finds herself standing over a dead body in her basement. What happened?

Set over the course of a single day, the story rewinds to that morning with Nadine deep into last-minute preparations and as we follow her through the afternoon and evening Nadine is haunted with memories and secrets of a past birthday party 30 years ago.

This is an engaging read. Smoothly said and tightly plotted with charismatic characters, I liked them all. The story had me on the edge of my seat and I enjoyed the plot twists thrown in just at the right moment. The 3 parts split (morning, afternoon and evening) was a clever tactic to build anticipation and keep us engage. Tidbits of reveals (secrets) come our way to keep us guessing and engaged. I found this a wonderful mystery that is not taxing at all.

The best part was how Nadine’s character progresses from a loving wife and mother preparing a special event to gradually morphing into a suspicious, judgemental and deceiving individual. In my mind I pictured the gradual transformation in her character and I told myself mid-way Nadine is not what she appears to be. Ms. Stuart kept me riveted by using a first person narrative and pulling me into the mind of a killer.

“A Death at the party” is a solid story I zipped through in no time. Well said and well-done.

My thanks to Simon& Schuster and Netgalley for this ARC