"The Soho Murder", by Mike Hollow

Book #9 of Blitz Detective series

In a few words:

London, December 1940

In this latest Detective Inspector John Jago finds a desolate woman sitting among the ruins of her family business and must break the news that her husband, an antiquarian bookseller, had been shot dead at their home in Soho. He had acquired a priceless volume recently…was this mysterious volume the reason he was killed…..Detective Inspector Jago and DC Peter Cradock will get to the bottom of this mystery.

My thoughts:

No worries if you pick up this series at this stage, the mystery reads well on its own but it is a plus to know a bit more in the personal life of this wonderful character. To situate us the author didn’t overwhelm us with too many details just enough for us not to be lost.

From the start the book has a great atmosphere, fear and determination are in people minds. The darkness of the blackout, restrictions and details of bomb damage situate us in the era. But don’t be misled, this story is not about the Blitz nor is it of the war, although it is there in the background. Instead, we find ourself into an interesting crime investigation with various motives, several suspects with motives and of course a few red herrings to spike to story has the drama dramatically builds and the evidence brings the whodunit to confess and everything is neatly wrapped up.

This is a fast read that grabs attention from the start. The perfect blend of events with police procedural executed by a competent and wonderful protagonist. I also add that the support staff played their roles to perfection and definitely were an asset in this mystery.

Mike Hollow style is clean with straight forward language making reading an easy one.

My thanks to the publisher Allison &Busby for this ARC which I received via Netgalley

"The Incident of the Book in the Nighttime", by Vicki Delany

A Sherlock Holmes Bookshop Mystery # 10

A quick look:

Gemma Doyle is in London for her sister’s wedding waiting for her at the hotel is her ex-husband Paul Erikson, a rare book owner who asked her to meet him at his book store the next day, he has a rare book he wish her to see. When Gemma arrives at his store she found him dead in his office.....setting the stage for another saga....

My thoughts:

The author gives us enough contexts setting making it easy to get into it at this point but don’t get baited by the lovely title this story is a cozy classic mystery easy to figure out what’s happening before it happens. No mind-bending or dazzling mystery to figure out just the very observant Gemma, her best friend Jayne and sister Pippa following Paul’s trail of friends, enemies, clients and ex-lovers. To get to the bottom of this mystery the team of sleuths use all their wit before their time in London is over and while doing so they entertained us along the way. Their characterization is the run of the mill nothing special in my books.

I enjoyed this story but plot wise nothing to write home about: simple and easy to follow, nicely written for all to enjoy and being entertained but nothing more.

I received this ARC from the publisher Crooked Lane Books via Netgalley for my thoughts: this is the way I see it.

"Dead West", by Linda L. Richard

The Endings series book #3

This propulsive thriller brims with psychological insights and is one of the most thrilling stories I have read so far this year.

If you are an assassin “don’t get involved with your target” should be at the top of your list. Katie is a contract killer ordered to eliminate Cameron Walker, a rancher in Arizona, who is passionate with wild horses. Arriving at the ranch to carry out her orders she discovers that he is a kind man...she is wondering who might want him dead. She delays long enough to develop of soft spot and a vibe to grow between them. Soon she finds herself trying to protect the man she was sent to kill...But along the way she encounters kidnappers, killers, horse thieves and even human traffickers....

First person narrative got me hooked from the opening page. It is so well-done I was Katie moving in her shoes. The plot is active never stops a moment. Katie is tormented by what she sees and what she supposed to do. The agonizing moments played in my mind along with hers.

The conservation of the wild horses in the Southern States has been a controversial topic for ages. This story brings it at the forefront in an entertaining way whether the author had an agenda or not. The way Ms. Richards penned her story is very well-done, enlightening even a tad political and has giving us along the way a saga full of twists and a little bit of romance to soften things.

I couldn’t put this book down. It definitely gets high marks from me.

My thanks to the publisher for the review copy so that I can share my thoughts with you.

"Two Days in June", by Andrew Cohen

This review was originally published on Auguste 15 ,2015, I though it may be a good idea to share it once more.


                                               



John F. Kennedy and the 48 Hours that Made History

This story is a riveting and beautifully written narrative of two consecutive days in the presidency of John F. Kennedy. The days were June 10 and 11, 1963.

There have been many books written about JFK some say more than 40,000 so why another one? There will always be someone digging deeper who will find new tidbits to bring to light in the life of one of the most iconic American president of modern time. In “Two Days in June” Mr. Cohen brings an original perspective by adding a compelling detailed analysis in an eventful chapter in Kennedy’s tenure: his most important speeches that would change the outcome on two important issues: nuclear arms control and American society’s racism. Later to be referred as the iconic Peace Speech and the Civil Rights Act.

Meticulously researched, this book is heavy in information and details on those two days. It tracks the President’s every move and explores mainly the context of the speeches and how it came to be. The tension leading to the public addresses is deftly captured and in proper historical context. We also have a glimpse into many personalities surrounding the president: most importantly, his brother Robert and his speechwriter Ted Sorensen. The President had a myriad of other issues such as: conflict in Vietnam, equal pay for all, his physical condition, his gossipy social life, daily swimming lesson and afternoon nap just to mention a few. All this information comes from rare sources such as documentary, interviews, diaries and official White House logbooks etc. The book doesn’t miss a beat and goes on and on.

It must have taken the author exhausting time to put all this together but also rewarding to see the end result.

Excellent

"Ax Force", by Ty Patterson

Hawke and Stryker, book #2

If you love action packed thrillers you never go wrong with Ty Patterson books. “Ax Force” doesn’t miss any. From the beginning till you reach the final word you will be deep into deadly force. It never ends just like the energizer bunny it goes on and on.

What to expect in a few works:

Samira, a Saudi princess, is on the run. She knows she didn’t have long in Europe. Her father’s guards will track her down eventually, once captured who knows what will happen to her. She needed to reach Ax Hawke and Kael Stryker P.I. referred to her...she made the call.....and the fun began....

My thoughts:

If you read Ty Patterson before you will know his characters have exceptional abilities. They are relentless and go into battle without blinking an eye to save those tasked to protect. They seemed to take battles as a hobby and the bad guys do not intimidate them. Oh yes they jump from buildings, dodge bullets, tackle knifes, bodies and always come out without a scratch or near any, they also love disguises. They manage to wriggle through anything and along the way I couldn’t help shaking my head, totally unbelievable. The twins Megan & Beth from Zeb’s team as always showed up to assist the P.I. and eventually all ends well....

I am a fan of Ty Patterson and his merry men but this one was a bit too much for my taste I really got bored with the never ending action till ¾ in where the story was more subdued and Samira’s life and family came into play then I was interested in pursuing with the thriller to see how things would turn out.

Ty style is consistent and his formula doesn’t change, all his series are action packed that is what he does best.

This latest may not be one of my favourite but I still say Ty knows how to pen a story that would please a lot of thrill seekers.

Thank you Ty keep up the good work.

"The Sunflower House", by Adriana Allegri

A Historical Fiction and Romance novel

1939 in a sleepy German village life will change for ever.

This meticulously researched novel uncovers the notorious Lebensborn Program of Nazi Germany. This is a tale of Allina Straus, a Mischling, who was forced into service as a nurse at a state run baby factory called Hochland Home. There she discovers the horrors of the eugenics program. The sole purpose of these homes was to perpetuate the Aryan population by giving birth to thousands of babies who later would be adopted. Allina must keep her Jewish identity a secret in order to survive and not only save herself but the children in her care.

Through the eyes of Allina this tale is one of determination to resist and survive and is more than the SS Lebensborn program it also is one involving a mother-daughter narrative and family secrets hidden in a box embossed with a swastika. Curiosity and questions arise and a heartbreaking story is told. It opens in the present day when Katrine finds the box of letters belonging to her mother. Allina agrees to tell her everything...

“The Sunflower House” is also a love story. When Allina met Karl, a high-ranking SS with his own secrets they marry and join force to save as many children as they can.

I was pulled in from the very start. Not only this story is a fascinating one it is very active, well-said and well researched. It is also easy to empathize with the main characters; they are so realistic I even forgot they weren’t real. Although this novel is a fiction historical truths are woven in, sadly too real.

I enjoyed reading “The Sunflower House”. The story is very compelling and emotional.

Many thanks to St-Martin’s press and Netgalley for this ARC

"An Insignificant Case", by Phillip Margolin

From a Master of courtroom thriller we have another great legal drama hard to put down. Since discovering this author in 2011 and have been huge fan and his stories have never disappointed me. This latest is a standalone drama.

A little too long intro:

We are introduced to a new attorney, a third rate one who graduated from a third rate law school that couldn’t get a position at any major law firm so he opened his own law firm. Charles Webb takes on cases from dubious friends from his past and court appointed cases. Guido Sabatini, a talented artist and a nut job was his latest appointee to defend. Guido had sold one of his paintings to a restaurant owner and has liberated it along with a flash drive from the safe...At the time the restaurant owner and her partner were under investigation for sex trafficking of minors....With bargaining power knowing that the content of the flash drive threatens very powerful figures, Guido played all his cards but toying with criminals that wanted at any cost to retrieve the flash drive ...even going as far as murder may not be a good strategy.

It didn’t take long for the insignificant Charles to be plunged into more than a simple case defending Guido but into a sensational double murder....

My very long thoughts:

I simply love this story there is so much going on and so many twists and turns to face that I didn’t want to put the book down. I was so captivated by the coming and going and the many characters that crossed the pages many of them had important roles in both Charles and the defendant’s life that I didn’t want to miss a beat. This story definitely captured my attention from the start. Everything was so unpredictable even with some surprising reveals and outcomes. It was hard to predict anything....The characters were exceptional and I enjoyed how they played their parts in this drama. I admit at first I thought Mr. Margolin was rehashing the famous saga of Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell but no to my relief a totally deferent spin and much more exciting.

This is an excellent read I give high score.

My thanks to St-Martin Press and Netgalley for this ARC I am pleased to share my thoughts