"Fit to Die", by Daniel Kalla

A Medical Thriller

I have been a huge fan of this author since his first interview on TV many many years ago and to this day I am still loyal and wouldn’t miss out on any new release. This latest is about celebrity, online body shaming, toxic diet pills and addiction. “Fit to Die” tells the stories of 3 individuals found dead from a drug overdose.

In a few words:

The story brings us to LA and Vancouver with patients showing same symptoms high fewer, seizures and organ failure.

First, was the son of a prominent U.S. senator found dead in his bedroom, and then a famous pop star and social media influence in her hotel room and finally the story bring us to the co-owner of a Wellness clinic whose fate was the same. All three autopsies show a high level of DNP in their blood.

Dry. Rees, a toxicologist, notices a growing number of overdoses among the eating disordered and body builders. Inquisitive she gets her boyfriend Detective Anson Chen to see if similar cases came his way. In mean time, LA Detective Cari Garcia tracks down the sources of the drug and the illegal distributors. Pooling their efforts, together the two Detectives must find and eliminate this deadly drug and those behind it.

My thoughts:

This is an entertaining medical and police procedural in a theme tragically too real. Writing with a lot of medical jargon but it is easy to follow, most of all quite interesting. The chapters are short and move along quickly in a narration that flows smoothly. The story is said from the perspective of both police detectives and the toxicologist in an active and clean language. Of course to keep us on our toes and captivated we find a few plot twists to derail us. This is another page-turner hard to put down played out by well-rounded characters.

Well said and done.

I received this arc from Simon & Schuster via Netgalley for my thoughts: this is the way I see it.

"Tehran", by Ty Patterson

                                                

Zeb Carter series book #12

Zeb’s latest mission brings him and his team to Iran to rescue Zohra Hashimi, a researcher and student protester, who is high on the radar of the Revolutionary Guards for her activities and the secrets she took with her when she made a desperate attempt to escape. Zohra needed Zeb help and texts a message to come save her....but will Zeb get to her in time ....and another exiting adventure begins...

If you want never ending action Zeb Carter will be the man to give it. Iran is a country in turmoil with the religious oppression on its citizens and the many crimes lurking below. “Tehran” spins a tale of students’ unrest and protestors being kidnaped and tortured for being against the doctrine in this story some are even trafficked. Zohra represents what can transpire behind the façade.

In the opening thread Zeb and his team have been tasked to pick up a Russian defector and get him to Tunisia when the text from Zohra comes in. In alternate chapters the two events are told but we know that eventually they will cross over and mesh into one. We know trouble and chaos will follow Zeb and his team anywhere they go.

What a nail biter saga, we into a truckload of action while our heroes are in a race against time to save Zohra and prevent a catastrophic attack on the student population. The team finds danger at every corner and they narrowly escape many times and along the way lots and lots of shooting and killings but none of our heroes are touched.... We have plenty of suspense to keep us on our toes till we reached the finale.

Another good story penned by Mr. Patterson. He has found the perfect formula to attract his readership. But with time it may become too formulaic for some of us...

Thank you Mr. Patterson for giving us another good story

"Liquid Shades of Blue", by James Polkinghorn

This novel which I received from Oceanview Publishing is hard to give it a genre. It can be a psychological thriller or a legal thriller without court scenes or legal wrangling, it can also be a mystery...hum, who knows. But whatever names you may give it one thing for sure you will enjoy every minutes trying to figure out what Jack Girard, the protagonist, is up to. My attention was held so captivate in his searches for the truth behind his brother, and his mother suicides that I didn’t see the time past.

It all started when Jack Girard a hungover ex-lawyer and Key West bar owner groggily wakes up one morning and is greeted by a beautiful woman lying next to him and a shrill ringing telephone. He learns that his mother is dead in an apparent suicide. The death brings back memories from his past- of his brother suicide back in college years. He heads to the family home in Miami where his father suggests his mother’s death may be a murder. Acting on impulse Jack spins an exciting search for the truth...

The tale focuses on Jack and his father and tells us an intense mystery involving the family secrets. It kept me captive from the start, not wanting to put the novel down for a second. It definitely kept me on my toes. I really like how the Girard dysfunctional family is depicted with all their struggles and addictions. Mr. Polkinghorn gives this journey into the past, present and future a twist of its own. It is said without fluff or unnecessary words: right to the point. This is a fast read that is well said, paced and constructed.

“Liquid Shade of Blue” is a great first mystery novel. I will be looking forward to more from James Polkinghorn.

"The Swiss Nurse" by Mario Escobar

This historical fiction about the Elne maternity hospital is based on true events and real people. It is mainly the story of Elizabeth Eibedbenz, a Swiss teacher, who helped orphan during the Spanish Civil War and after the defeat of the Republic, crossed the Pyrenees Mountains. In 1939 she opened a maternal hospital to care for Spanish republican women who were pregnant and force to give birth in terrible conditions at the refugee camps. It is also the story of Isabel Duenas who sought asylum in France with her husband Peter.

The author paints a picture of this time in history with a solid stroke of the brush. It is said in three different points of views alternating their voices in a soft tone and easy going pace. Although it is well said, I did find the narration to wander quite a bit, this dilly dally and turning in circle got on my nerves , I love things to move faster. I cannot define why I had trouble being even staying invested in the characters. Maybe Isabel and Peter overshadowed Elizabeth’s story too much and their stories was much more exciting to follow. I disagree with those saying the atrocities were vivid and there is too much of it. War is war you expect hardship to be there with all its definitions and Mr. Escobar does this with aplomb.

The Spanish Civil War and what happened to the millions of refugee that escaped is a part of history I am grateful to learn a little more each time. It is evident that Mr. Escobar love to share this with us.

I may not have enjoyed this novel at its fullest, nevertheless I think "The Swiss Nurse" is a must read.

My thanks to Harper Muse and Netgalley for this ARC

"They Bled Orange", by Michael Reit

Book #2 in the “Orphan of War” series

An impossible journey

This is a gripping version of the Dutch Resistance and what they needed to do against the Nazis occupation in order not only to survive but to get their country back. This story reveals the determination as well as the courage those working behind the lines manifested for a long period of time. This tale also honours those brave people that stood against evil.

Although this second novel in the series we have just enough backstory to blend in, so no worries there. At center stage we have the resistance members: the main players are Nora, Christiaan and Lisa and Floris the Jew hunter portrayed with all his dilemmas. As we follow the paths of these characters the story flips from one character to the other showing their view and perspective on what there are experiencing. The dialogue and the interaction is what drive this story. It is very active and dramatic. Not a dull moment. This is a real page-turner.

In “They Bled Orange” we are introduced to the vicious side of the war where torture, murder, death are described in some details. This is a very engrossing story of a war-torn continent.

I received an Arc from “The Book Whisperer” via Netgalley for my thoughts

"Operation Storm King", by Elliott Sumers

                                                 

Mr. Sumers has concocted a very imaginative view on the death of President Franklin Roosevelt and by doing so transports us on a heart-stopping journey through times. All along the way our view of reality will be challenged.

It opens in January 1945 with a small team of Nazi commandos penetrating New York Harbor then up the Hudson River in a XX1 U- Boat. Their mission is to kidnap the American president and force the United States into an alliance with Germany.

75 years later. A hard driving woman a West Point cadet discovers the shattered U-Boat wreck in the Hudson River and uncovers its shocking secrets.

The story goes back and forth between times and is very exciting. This alternative to history is very good and is full of intrigue. We have plenty of action and suspense to keep us engaged till the very end and enough twists to derail us. It is a fast read and I found it hard to put down I was so involved in the coming and going I didn’t see the time go by. The characters were well drawn and their motivations in their tasks were quite convincing. I like this alternative view “what if FDR died this way in lieu of Warm Springs...”Of course reading this novel we have to suspend what we believe in. This blend of reality and fantasy is well said and well done.

I received this ARC from The Book Whisperer via Netgalley for my thoughts