The Triad Years
Book # 7, in the Ava Lee series
This series is a huge entertainment hit for me and really love Ava Lee she is a brilliant, sexy and formidably martial arts-trained forensic accountant and she is always propelled into a fast-paced suspense, always far away in exotic locales and her adventures always includes a rich cast of characters both dangerous as well as lovable. I never get tired of her escapades. No worries if you did not read the previous books you will fit right in if you start here.
The seventh novel in the Ava Lee series finds Ava getting caught up in the election for the chairmanship of the Triad Societies. Xu, who was Uncle’s protégé wants to invest $150 million into her firm, and he assures her he didn’t gain the money from gang-related activity…..at the same time, Xu is trying to get voted in as the top dog of the Triad, and only has one serious competitor.
This story did not disappoint and if you are curious about the power of China, the unorthodox Ava Lee mystery is both enlightening and delightful to read. The prelude introduces us to the galloping Chinese fashion world of knock-offs and the insatiable appetite for affordable designer clothes. Then Mr. Hamilton soon put the fashion world to the backburner and refocuses the narrative on the relationship between Xu and Ava Lee.
The plot is well structures and what moves the story along is how the characters are decked in a hybrid of exoticism and the modernity of China. Ava Lee sexual orientation does not come to play here as it did in other novels although there is a subtle sexual tension between Xu and Ava Lee throughout the novel. Of course this ambivalence reflects the skill of the author in keeping us hooked for more.
With “The King of Shanghai” Ian Hamilton has done it again. He has another great chapter in the series with a thriller aspect that has kept me turning the pages.
Book # 8, in the Harry Hole Series
Book # 6, in the Oslo Sequence Series
This novel is big and meaty, just over 600 pages, at first glance we may think it is a big long but in essence there is so much to it : a serial killer, a maverick cop, a plot with multiple threads and a large canvas to travel: from Hong Kong, Africa and Norway and of course several points in between. Mr. Nesbo did not forget Harry’s character requirements: melancholic, alcoholic, strong headed and anti- authority. This time Harry is teamed up with Kaja, an astonishingly beautiful woman colleague with problems of her own. As in all series we also find the requisite backstory.
“The Leopard” follows “The Snowman” where the horrific events at the end took an enormous toll on the Detective. It opens with Harry out in Hong Kong high on opium oblivious to everything and arm in arm with law-evaders. But his reputation as a tracker of serial killers is unsurpassable therefore he is asked to return Norway when the country is once again plagued by a multiple murderer.
From its opening page, this case which brought Harry back to Oslo is frightening with details: a succession of women’s torture (and one young man), terror and death, in the heartland of the Norwegian mountains in the middle of winter. The deaths are notably gruesome. We cannot deny the author’s creativity when it comes to homicide. We have a few madmen in this story and it took time before Harry explains what is going on and finally the story advances from weird to weirder…another spooky gothic gloominess, good for nightmares.
Mr. Nesbo is adept in planting seeds of the dénouement early in the narration and we do have plenty of fun twists, turns and red herrings to keep us glued to our seat although I admit to have found this to be wee bit longer than it should be.
Book #4, in the Blues Crime series
Once again I will say that this latest is one of those books you either love or hate and if you have lots of time on your hand tackle this convoluted mystery.
As in her previous stories “Flights and Falls” is a characters driving mystery populated with many players and following them and keeping track of them can be a challenge, well it was for me. No doubts, this book is a progression of the overall story so to understand were things fall you really need to start with book #1( Cold Girl) and move from there.
This latest starts when a red Chevette crashes in the woods along the treacherous Sea-to- Sky highway. The driver, a young woman is the only casualty and the people who had assisted her brutally attacked. An investigation is set in motion with endless hours of interviews and we find ourselves in an unspeakable cat and mouse game. Our usually main characters Cal Dion and his partner are on the backburner and the reins have been handed to Dave Leith and JD Temple in this open case. We go back and forth between the many threads and more characters come into play, more killings and more investigation….more mysterious witnesses, anonymous callers ….oh boy more people…Cal and Bosco are still engage in their little dance...will this ever come to a head and blow up….back and forth we go…. again….
Ms. Greenaway has penned once more a multilayered mystery that dilly-dallies too much for my taste but nevertheless offers a plot that is interesting and captivating. The style is original and is well said to push us forward in order for us to stay tuned till we reach the last chapter. The conclusion opens the door for a 5th book…I will be waiting for it…
Thank you Dundurn and NetGalleys for this ARC
Book # 10, in the Arkane series
Although this may be the 10th book in the series it can be read as a standalone. We are given enough background information to situate us without being overloaded with too much detail. Ms. Penn knows how to introduce her story with an expert penmanship and superb imagination.
This page-turning archaeological thriller explores at its fullest the two attributes the author is well-known to explore: the supernatural and occult. These two elements are blended into a religious mystery with an action adventure that is captivating from the start.
An ancient prophecy, an occult secret and the power to raise the dead is at the heart of this story. Voodoo symbols, secret society and a mystery that stretches to the Spanish Empire will have Jake Timber to New Orleans seeking for the Hand of Ezekiel but he will find out he is not the only one seeking the relics that can turn bones to living flesh. Morgan Sierra also plays a good role and with Jake they bring us on a fantastic journey that spans continents in their quest for the relics. Action driven, this story is very visual and also quite graphic not a dull moment throughout.
Ms. Penn does extensive research before she pens down a story and we see how her knowledge shines through her words once it comes to fruition. Once into her book you will be hooked.
The plot is superb and well executed, the narrative is rich and flows smoothly and finally the characterization is well- drawn and appealing.
This is another success, well-done Ms. Penn.
I received this ARC from the author for my honest and unbiased thoughts.
Dive Team investigations book# 2
I received this book from the publisher Revell through the first reviewer program for my honest and unbiased thoughts.
The blurb sounded good:
“When the dive team is called in to recover a body from a submerged car, they aren't prepared to find an encrypted laptop--or an unsettling connection between investigator Adam Campbell and the dead accountant. Adam's team calls in Dr. Sabrina Fleming, a cybersecurity and computer forensics expert.”
This book has an interesting premise and it started just fine but things went south and fell apart not long into it. What I thought was a mystery surely wasn’t... where was the suspense? In my books, “In Too Deep” is more of a Christian romantic fiction than anything else and a soft one at that.
This should have been an exciting read but it was far from it. First, the two protagonists Adam and Sabrina had a thing for each other but never let on and this feeling went on well over the 1/3 of the book. Yuk, I was starting to get impatient. After all, wasn’t this supposed to be a mystery with suspense and some action….no no no, not for over 100 pages. Then here came the “God-ism” and prayers, the religious connotations are quite superfluous and just plainly cut into the flow of what could have been a good story. Although Ms. Blackburn did not over do this it was still bothersome. The plot had many holes and simply did not come across as realistic. Sabrina came up with answers based on what; there were neither explanations nor real investigation. The main characters were not bad players they were just too bland for my taste….The last few chapters brought some suspense and were captivating although it ended in what I would call a romantic dream…..awe…..“In Too Deep” is not a bad book at all. The story simply was not my cup of tea but it may be yours…
