Book #1, In the Booker series
This story features a private detective with attitude who shows a rebellious streak and is determined to solve cases handled to him. Dallas is where all the action takes place and where Booker will do anything in his power to protect the people living in this city. But even with the best of intention, Booker is dragged from one situation to another and faces seedy situations that seem insurmountable. He is tested to his limits when a white supremacist group claims responsibility for an explosion on a bus killing fifteen people mostly children, fracturing the community and setting panic in the city….and this is just the beginning….
This novel is simply a roller-coaster ride filled with crackling action and suspense. Mr. Mefford slowly introduces his protagonist and letting us know him before plunging us into unexpected twists and turns so captivating it is hard not to stay riveted to the pages. I was hooked from the start and I simply couldn’t help but to zip through wanting to see who was responsible for these terrible acts of terrorism. To better know the players the story is told alternately from the point of view of Booker and the person responsible for the bombings. Although the story flows fast, it is smooth and well-written with all the great elements a thriller needs in order to capture and hold its reader till the very last page: “Booker” has it, no doubts…
A piercing memoir
Most of us are well acquainted with Roméo Dallaire (especially Canadians) and how he devoted his heart and soul to his work. This former Canadian senator, humanitarian and lieutenant-general who was the military commander of the UN during the Rwanda genocide in 1994 reminds us in his account how he will seek to explore what the events have done to him since he came back. The genocide is fully described in an early book “Shake Hands with the Devil” and a subsequent book “They Fight Like Soldiers, They Die Like Children” are a must to read.
In “Waiting for First Light”, Mr. Dallaire takes us from the point he was relieved from his command through his released from the Forces on medical ground (PTSD) in 2000 till today as a civilian. He also served from 2005-2015 as a Liberal senator and how he tried desperately to influence the ways Veteran Affairs operates….and impossible task he later confirmed….
Traumatized by witnessing genocide his nights are invaded by despair and nightmare he simply couldn’t sleep. In 1994 no one saw PTSD for what it was. At any moment he was pitched into a living memory back in Rwanda. He struggled day and night with visons. His mental and emotional anguish lead him on a path to alcohol abuse, overeating and many suicide attempts. Although his PTSD left untreated for too long became permanent but with medication and therapy he managed to push forward the many causes he had at heart and helped to comfort the others walking a similar path. He has risen from the depths and returned as an inspiration.
This book is quite an emotional journey: sad, heartbreaking and soul-wrenching. It is terrible to know that the Canadian government and military authorities do not recognize the negative impact PTSD has on its service personal and are slow they are to provide all the help needed. Well maybe there is hope things will change…..
Book # 1, in the Jet series
This story is Hot Hot, action packed from start to finish mayhem around 50% of the book with a bit of romance thrown into a very captivating drama. What is not to like for a thrill junky as myself. “Jet” provides everything I like in this type of books: expertize in clandestine enterprises, minutia details in action, equipment and scenery, in your face action, a hot assassin and it goes on and on. Of course you need to enjoy a fast-paced story with lots of shooting, stabbing, blowing up people….the bang-bang definitely is at the driver seat….If you love spy/assassin adventure this series if for you. Prepare to start running at the opening page and not stop till the very end…
The scenes play out like an action movie: very visual and exciting. The prose is clear and straightforward” in all an easy read. Although the protagonist is a female the author does not go sexist or ridicule his character, her sex happens to be incidental. She is definitely a woman you don’t want to mess around with: she is lethal if you cross her and very intimidating most of the time. Jet is an ex-Mossad operative, who kicks ass in one of the best action sequences I have read in a long time.
Of course this is a heart-pounding thriller with unique twists only Mr. Blake can deliver. The scenes also combined opulence and glamour and hard hitting black ops tradecraft we will ever see.
This is definitely a humdinger of a thriller
