"The Water Tower", by Amy Young

The story is a soft mystery that gives us a bit of everything: suspense, lots of intrigue, moderate action, dabbles with drugs and prostitution, creepy old men with underage girls but most of all it give us a good sleuthing story and a very charismatic protagonist aided by a cast of well-rounded characters but they missed flamboyance.

In “The Water Tower” the protagonist is Josie Ashbury, a success Hollywood actress who had a breakdown and returned back home in Ohio to recover. There she gets mixed up with a possible suicide/murder of a high school student and the subsequent suicide of another student. Knowing both students Josie couldn’t stay away from the investigation and soon she was in the thick of it.

Even though this book started pretty good and managed kept me engaged till the very end I felt the author stretched her narrative a bit too much. The simple style, the short chapters and the steady cadence makes up for the simplistic dialogue that is somewhat annoying. The ending is far-fetched but in whole this mystery gives us a good mystery yarn and a decent although predictable whodunit saga.

If or when a sequel comes out I would have a go at it.

I received this ARC from Level Best Book via Netgalley for my thoughts.

"Killing Moon", by Jo Nesbo

Harry Hole book #13

When the suspect in the disappearance of two girls later found murdered is a well-known real estate magnate in Oslo what does one do if you know the authority have only you in mind....you send for Harry to clear your name. Back home in Oslo after spending time in Los Angeles, Harry now a private citizen assembles his own team to help find a serial killer and get those involved their due.

This book takes a while to read almost 500 pages of police procedural and a lot of drama. It is a classic Harry: drunk, socially awkward detective who somehow solves ultra-violent crimes for the sake of giving peace to the families of the victims. I wasn’t expecting high literature with this one but I enjoyed it as a form of escapism. The pleasure lies in the journey not where it leads us. The charm here is that Harry turns out to be wrong at times and when he is right luck is on his side. Delivering chills and spills is really what this story is all about...yes far-fetched is a plot that includes parasites invading humans in order to manipulate them...Apart from some twists and turns thrown our ways the beat is the old same, very formulaic. ....and it goes on...”Killing Moon” is every savage cliché of crime fiction...but it is fun to read.

My thanks to Penguin Random House Canada and Netgalley for this ARC

"Barracuda", by John W. Mefford

Jack Whitfied Thriller Book# 1

Mr. Mefford updated (rejuvenated) his Jack Whitfield series one that previously included 3 exciting books under the titles: “Never go back”, “Never say Die”, and “Now or Never”. He has included these books as parts in his new book “Barracuda “ along with a fourth part giving us a meaty book of 1000 pages to enjoy. He is still not finish with his protagonist... ”The Enemy Within “coming out later this year. I simply can wait to get a hold of it...

In the four parts, Jack must complete four missions for a shadowy group who controls his every movement. He must operate in foreign lands where he will be forced to manipulate people, blackmail and even kill. He cannot fail his missions the stake is too high...the lives of family and taking down the brokers behind this enigmatic organization.

Even if I read in the past the first three books I still was held captive with the intense suspense that never let go, the fourth parts is even more exciting. We find a narrative that is very visual and descriptive what a nail biting experience following Jack’s every move. His missions have many twists and turns, betrayals, attempts on his life as he faces more than one rough situation.

This is one massive roller coaster ride and a must for anyone enjoying a dynamic (hot) story.

Mr. Mefford you are an ace, thank you.

"Counter Attack", by Patricia Bradley

This is the story detective Alex Stone who took over as the county deputy sheriff in Pearl River after her grandfather had suffered a heart attack and had asked her to step in his place. In her new role she came into contact with Nathan Landry, a long lost sweetheart and Pearl Springs chief of police. Together, they are soon drawn into the Queen’s Gambit killer, a case Alex was familiar with....and as things moved on their feelings for each other grew stronger and stronger....awe....love is in the air.

This is my first book by this author and it will not be my last. Ms. Bradley knows how to create a brilliant saga with multiple twists and turns and along the way teases us with clues to pique our interest and keep us engaged. The story is written in a clean language and her clipped and steady prose adds to the rising tension that definitely left me on edge and no doubt you also will be. Every page is filled with action, romance and danger I was so busy flipping the pages to see what came next that I didn’t see the time go by. The characters are charming and realistic...what is not to love.
Well said and well- done

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

"Fatherland", by Burkhard Bilger

A Memoir of War, Conscience and Family

10 years in the making “Fatherland” is a griping tale of encounters and discoveries. The author explores the life of his grandfather Karl Gönner who was posted as a school principal and Nazi Party official to the village of Bartenheim in the province of Alsace during WW11.

What follows is a suspenseful story of encounters and discoveries in dusty archives across Germany and France. He asked searching questions about the extent to which his grandfather was guilty of the war crimes he stood accused of. Arrested in 1946, was he guilty or innocent? Tracing one family’s path through history is a long task. Beautifully written this thought provoking book is not only a family memoir but a fascinating history lesson. The research is intricate, exhaustive and meanders through the recollections of acquaintances and witnesses who kept records. Told through the eyes of Germans it shows us that even among the Nazis there were decent people. There is another side of the coin, describing how the same war devastated the lives of millions of Germans.

I was totally captivated knowing the history of the Alsace how it switch from being part of France then part of Germany again back to France, back and forth they went through the times and by law changed their names and those of public places to conform to the new government they happened to be part of. Why change names of streets, topple monuments and harass people for speaking another language even another dialect....

A lot happens in this multi-faceted story. While the author did not mince his words he remained guarded through his narrative and gave us an excellent account. Well said, well done.

Thank you to Random House and Netgalley for this ARC

"The Girl by the Bridge", by Arnaldur Indridason

Detective Konrad, book 2

With this latest, Mr. Indridason shows beyond doubt that he is a superb crime fiction virtuoso. Tasked by an elderly couple to find their wayward missing granddaughter retired Detective Konrad investigates the case. But soon started he is derailed by a strange connection to a little girl who drowned in the city pond decades ago....while in the back of his mind is the fate of his father who was stabbed to death decades ago.....

This is another perfectly fit the Nordic Noir mould with a detective haunted by his past , multiple crimes to solve, horrors of sexual abuse, torture and drugs use. Set mainly in the cold and dark city of Reykjavik, Mr. Indridason short and succinct sentences conveys very well a bleak atmosphere to his narration to give us chills along the way. But the stilted flow of sentences and the rambling narrative may be an annoyance to some. You have to pay attention and not let you mind drift in order to enjoy this mystery at its fullest.

It starts with scenes from the 60’s and transports us to the present day with a storyline that dabbles in ghosts, clairvoyance and questionable events or scenes. This story is full of turns and red herrings and the ending leaves a pleasant surprise....I didn’t like most of the characters, although well-drawn I couldn’t care less what happened to them.

“The Girl by the bridge” is a good mystery and a great way to spend time with but once read fast forgotten.

I had the opportunity to receive this ARC from St-Martin press via Netgalley

"Beneath the Ivory Tower", by Warren Adler

Previously published in 2010 under the title “The Womanizer”

This reprint is a study of the human mind and its inner working. It delves into the life of Allen Harris, a pillar of the community, a married lawyer who is asked to be president of a conservative university. But first he has to be vetted by the board of Directors. They think he is squeaky clean but it wasn’t really the case...Allen had engaged in a series of extramarital affairs...Will he pull off the deception and keep the sexcapades a secret... you will shake your head in disbelieve.

Mr. Adler has a way with words and his narration proves how he can evoke in us unexpected empathy for his character despise the behavior of infidelity. He paints this despicable man with shades of gray and sends him on a journey from current day reflection to intense and convoluted thoughts flashing back to past relationships. How deeply did he affect the women with whom he had affairs? Did time distort his old fear of exposure? Imagine flagrante delicto in living colour...Mr. Adler gives us a movie picture of the male libido with a partner poised and ready....definitely not a book for everyone.

I have mix feeling about this one, although nicely written and at times grabbed my attention I felt 3 affairs and what came about was too much to read...I contemplated dropping it many times. Definitely not my cup of tea, the story dabbles too much on sexual activities for my taste. One thing for sure you will know what goes through a man’s mind while cheating on his wife....Thank goodness not all men are like Allen....

My thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC.