"Game On", by John W. Mefford

Ozzie Novack Thriller #2

I received this book a long time ago and for one reason or another it has been sitting on my shelf way too long it was time to give it a go, after all I am a huge fan of this author having read multiple books he has written through the years and have enjoyed them all. This one came out in 2017.

In a few words:

Ten years have passed, blood runs deep and too much has changed….Ozzie is hit with shocking news: he has a daughter and the girl’s life is danger. He doesn’t deny the connection and sets to travel to Hawaii to see who may be behind such a cold-blooded trick? or is it? He won’t stop till he has the answer and find her….

My thoughts:

This story has a very captivating storyline fill as usual of unexpected twists and turns. As in all his books Mr. Mefford gives us intense action, suspense and an adventure to remember. This mystery/thriller is a pager turner that never slows down. I don’t know how Mr. Mefford keeps everything in order for us to follow his characters and their movements and he does this with excellence.

Well-developed cast is made of realistic and diverse personalities, you may even have some sympathy towards the bad guys, after all they are misguided…Although the recurring players are adorable😊.

The book is well-written and easy to read. But don’t expect shoot outs and bombs and all the over-the-top action most thrillers are known for… this one plug along at a steady pace till you reach the conclusion….not a dull moment all through.

Nicely done Mr. Mefford and thank you for the hours of entertainment.

"A Moment's Surrender", by John Burt

This story weaves complex themes of loyalty, betrayal and grief and is very hard to get into but is well worth to keep with it till the very end. This gripping story is one of a kind, a poignant exploration of human condition and the connections that comfort or break us.

“A Moment’s Surrender” is a mystery/love-story which focusses on a charismatic poet and those around him.

The story in a few words:

Paul Bishop in the aftermath of the murder of his friend poet Tom Corbin is haunted by guilt and bound by a devastating secret and takes upon himself to care for Tom’s terminally ill widow Susan. Tom had planned to leave his wife for another woman, Paul’s long-ago lover Rachel.

It didn’t take long for Paul to be drawn into a quagmire that explore guilt, regret, desire, grief and the painfully high cost of trifling with love.

My thoughts:

This emotionally rich and psychologically complex novel has slowly pulled me into a tangled web of relationships as each character lurches toward redemption. What a witty and entertaining portrait into the many ways we all possess to destroy and save each other.

Not an easy novel to read, very slow at time and other times boring but in all satisfying after the first 60 pages or so….

I stay on the fence here not hating it nor loving it.

I received a copy of this book from the First Reviewer Program for my thoughts: this is the way I see it.

"Quebec", by Ty Patterson

Zeb Carter Book #17

The story in a few words:

Canadian Icebreaker “Resolute” vanishes in the Northwest Passage as a violent separatist attack erupts in Quebec City, are the two events connected?...

At the time of the crisis Zeb Carter and his team were in Quebec training with JTF2, Canada’s elite covert counterterror unit. All bets are off when violence against allied is made….Zeb and his crew will stop at nothing to help.

My thoughts:

Mr. Patterson is well known for his over-the-top action, the many surprising twits and his team with special skills. He has a pattern that works well and all his books follow this to a tee. The plot is well thought of, gripping and of course stressful leaving us on the edge of our seat from start to finish…. we also travel the world, this time he located his story on my home turf….

More than usual I had to set aside my believes and forget the little mistakes that slipped in but I admit it was hard. Quebec is a huge province so when Cities and streets were mentioned I was more attentive, even more critical.

This story is a good one even it follows the same old beat and Zeb and his team always manage to get out without a scratch.

This latest is not one of my favourites but I admit Ty knows how to pen a story to please thrill seekers.

Thank you Ty keep the good work.

"Lost in Yellowstone", by Nicole Maggi

 A National Park Mystery #2

Set against the beauty and danger of Yellowstone National Park this story follows Special Agent Emme Helliwell of the national Park Service while on a gruesome case of a sneaker-clad foot ejected from a geyser and uncovering what led this person to such a grisly end……The case draws Emme into the orbit of a private school for at risk-teens where radical backcountry excursions are part of the curriculum. Park Ranger, Holden Thrush, Emme’s ex-boyfriend, will assist her with the investigation.

“A foot in a geyser. A school in the wild. A truth no one saw coming.”

My expertise as an armchair sleuth was not very helpful, I kept guessing from start to finish and what a finish Ms. Maggi had in store for her readers. I didn’t have the slightest idea the whodunit was this person…. maybe you will, good luck.

I loved how Emme and Holden went about their investigation into the wilderness school and how the interacted with the teens and their councilors. The cast was wonderfully entertaining. How Emme confronted her personal issues including the unresolved tension with Holden was particularly sweet…..

In whole, this story is a gripping and an engaging one said in a prose that is effortless and very dynamic. The imagery leaves you with the beauty and dangers of Yellowstone. Maybe a chill or two…

This story is well-said and well done and one I enjoyed quite a bit.

My thanks to Oceanview Publishing for this ARC

"The Hired Man", by Sandra Dallas

Set in 1937 in Colorado, during The Dust Bowl era, this story captured the harsh realities of the time. Folks barely remember a time when the clouds were filled with rain instead of dirt and when the fields were green instead of brown. People were starving and no work was found…. women had to bear the brunt of their husbands’ frustration and the hunger of their children.

Young Martha Helen Kessler and her family were luckier than most, they had plenty on their farm and never hesitated to help others. So when Otis Hobbs, a drifter, showed up at the Kessler’s door during a vicious storm, Martha’s mother insisted they take him in…
…
When Frankie, Martha’s best friend was found murdered…. suspicion, jealousy and prejudice grip the neighbourhood……

Enjoy.

My thoughts:

The story moves very slowly to capture the harsh realities of life. The emotional impact is strong with themes of domestic violence, prejudice and the search for justice and to let Martha Helen face numerous challenges and learn valuable lessons about life. Mid-way, the tempo picks up and you find yourself in the middle of a murder mystery.

So many complex social issues are faced within the plot in ways that are not only historical accurate but said with care. I like the mix of the everyday life with mystery elements making this plot engaging and is easy to lose yourself in the story.

It is a good story I enjoyed quite a bit.

My thanks to St. Martin’s Press for this Arc which I received via Netgalley for my thoughts: this is the way I see it

"Dangerous Midnight" by Melinda Woodhall

Bailey Flynn FBI Mystery book# 10

The evidence found at a crime scene links the murder to a serial predator known as the Midnight caller prompting FBI Agent Bailey Flynn to join the investigation into the tragic death of an unfortunate wealthy widow that was seeking a fresh start in Florida. As Bailey search the Florida Everglades, she found herself into a race to stop a sadistic killer before another dead body is found….

A Killer Hides Under the Cover of Darkness, Waiting for Midnight to Take His Next Victim

What can I say, once more Ms. Woodhall entertains by giving us not only a suspenseful story but one that will keep us guessing till the very last moment. Indeed, this story is engaging and hard to put aside for any thrill seekers. Who wouldn’t be captivated by a story that is concise and doesn’t beat around the bush by adding words to stretch the drama.

Leave it to Baily and her K9 partner, Ludwig, to team up with the local police and save the day. This story is a page-turner with a little more gore than the previous installments but why not after all it is a murder investigation…..

We do have recurrent players in Dalton, Cate and Sharma and some new players in minor roles to entertain us. A good story has side bars this latest gives us an update on Cate’s latest saga…..The family interactions and relationships add warmth to a somber tale.

One thing Ms. Woodhall has a formula that works very well although some may find the plots are becoming somewhat repetitive through time. I find them entertaining…..

I received an arc of this book and voluntarily provided a review

"Covenant of the Dead", by Glenn Cooper

Cal Donovan Vatican Conspiracy book# 8

I enjoyed this gripping thriller for its intellectual puzzle and its fast-paced conspiracy, as well as a story that includes a mystery, murders and a religious intrigue. Mr. Cooper knows well how to deliver a blend of historical, religious and scientific themes to captivate us from the get-go till we reach the last word.

Although this book is part of a series, it stands well by its own although I highly recommend to have a look at the previous books in order to know more about the protagonist, Cal Donavan, a Harvard professor, and Elisabetta Celestino, a former secretary of State to the Vatican. The two play a pivotal role in this latest. Be advise: IMO, some books are better than others but don’t give up, in the long run you will be rewarded.

The story in a few words:

Three nuns are murdered in the attic of a Boston convent. There are no witnesses. No shell casings.

The only things missing are their rosaries.

Days later, a Boston medium claims her spirit guide has identified the killer: a broken priest with an antique revolver. A single newspaper column turns that claim into a city-wide witch hunt.
Cal Donovan and former Vatican secretary Elisabetta Celestino step into the city’s séance rooms to test the story. What they uncover will reaches generations and the birth of modern spiritualism.

My last words:

The suspense never ends but I had to be all there in order to understand what was going on. We have a cracking police procedural, a medium’s spirit guide, a story about Boston mediums, a brief history of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and his influence on Boston, a twisted case with roots going back 80 years and it goes on and on. The best a progression in the Cal and Elisabetta saga…awe….love is the air….

Thank you to Book Whisperer and NetGalley for allowing me the opportunity to read this ARC and providing my honest review!