"The Showstone", by Glenn Cooper

A Supernatural Religious Thriller

Cal Donovan #4

The story:

Iraq 1989, Hiram Donovan mails an archeological piece found on a dig to his wife back in the United States. Hiram dies a few days later.

Then the story moves forward thirty years later with Cal, Hiram’s son, a Harvard professor on a summer furlough learning that his mother was murdered and nothing seemed taken out of place in her house. Why was she killed? Later on, while cleaning his mother’s house he had the answer: an envelope mailed from his father in Iraq was found containing a black obsidian stoned and a note card with Dr. John Dee’s name on it, what was this all about? Researching the provenance Cal discovers the Showstone was used for scrying, an ancient art of magic and connecting with God through an angel tongue…..from then on, strange happenings and the story morphs into a trek around the globe…

My thoughts:

I have been a fan for many years and I have enjoyed the out of the ordinary sagas Mr. Cooper has penned although I admit this time he has overdid it. This latest still blends true historical events with fictional characters and happenings masterfully but I found it to be so mystifying the story lost my attention mid way, I had a very hard time sticking with it from then on.

The showstone yield spiritual visions once studies by Elizabethan alchemist and astrologer John Dee. Of course, the bloody quest is continued for the artifact and follows a predictable and boring course till the very end. Good and evil, angels and fallen angels and past and present….here we go back and forth and a lot of time spent on historical background. The story drags on and on…. I presume you guessed by now this thriller was not my cup of tea but that is me please judge by yourself.

I received this ARC from the Book Whisperer via Netgalley for my thoughts: this is the way I see it.

"Vanished in the Crowd", by Rhys Bowen and Clare Broyles

Molly Murphy Mystery book #22

A cozy mystery

Set in 1909 New York during the Hudson-Fulton celebration. The story follows retired detective Molly Murphy Sullivan as she investigates the disappearance of a female scientist. The story hovers around the suffragette movement, a militant campaign advocating for women’s right to vote.

My thoughts:

The Molly Murphy mysteries give us ample doses of history and wonderful characters while the story moves along at the slow and steady pace. I particularly love Molly and her husband Daniel and how they interact with each other, balancing work and personal life really shows the views may not have changed that much since….of course at center stage is the women’s suffrage movement, science and social divide and class status. Interesting.

To celebrate the 300th anniversary of Henry Hudson’s discovery of the Hudson River , parades, exhibitions and carnivals made for two straight weeks of celebrations which Molly and her friends were part of…till the parade turned deadly and Molly, the sleuth, sprang into action. No mystery without a murder would be captivating. Here we are plunged into a very suspenseful drama, one that has kept me riveted till the very end.

“Vanishing in the Crowd” is an engaging story that weave wonderfully a mystery and historical context and all vividly said to keep us on our toes.

My many thanks to St. Martin’s Press and Netgalley for this ARC.

"Dead of Summer", by John W. Mefford

Alex &Ozzie, Dark Horizon Book #5

What to expect in a few words:

While a heatwave is baking Austin, someone is killing women in the most brutal way one can imagine. While working on a chaotic film set, Alex witnesses a custody battle turn violent, reminding her of a past case that was never solved. But when another body is found, Alex is on the move……

My thoughts:

In his usual signature Mr. Mefford has given us another mind-blowing story with multiple ups and downs which keeps going till the very last page. It is easy to get caught up in the mystery and to try figuring out who is the killer but like any good twisted stories, you have to wait till it all wraps up. Definitely an intriguing saga and a page-turner.

In a few words:

Mr. Mefford makes compelling read for those who enjoy intense and suspenseful narratives and excels in weaving a complex tale to satisfy the most voracious readers.

Keep up the good work John