"The Keepers", by Jeffrey B. Burton

Mace Reid K-9 Mystery book#2

This series features golden retriever cadaver dog Vira and her handler, Mason Reid. In this second installment the duo are called in to search Washington Park in the wee hours of the day, what they find has them running for their lives.....

I haven’t read book one and in no ways was it a challenge to start at this point although I admit that book #1 is on my radar. The story stands perfectly well by itself. This is a solid, hard action mystery that grabs from the start. It is also a nice combination of an amateur sleuth mystery with a good dose of police procedural. What stands out is the relationship (love) between the handler and his dogs, this shines all through the book. The “Keepers” is very engaging and the author cleverly keeps the intensity to a high level in order to keep us flipping pages. Indeed it kept me engrossed with the many twists and turns that led to a dramatic ending.

We have two major criminal cases: one, the murder of a rock star battered to death with his guitar and second the brutal murder of the head of Special Prosecutor Bureau. These cases bring out panoply of shady characters: the head of the Chicago mob, his psychopathic son, crooked politicians and businessmen, police superintendent and multiple other bad guys....but to save the day after a savage confrontation is Mace with his sidekick Kippy and the dogs. Yep.. I rooted for the dogs...:) One plot which was put to bed fairly easily and the second simmered into an explosive boil.....very captivating.

The main characters and the support characters including the canine variety are well developed. Mace is not a superman: he drinks some, swears too much and vomits when scared but loves his dogs and his friend, CPD office Kippy Gimm is the perfect ally. I loved that the dogs weren’t just background players. They had a job to do and their training is explored...well-done.

I had the opportunity to receive this ARC from St-Martin Press via Netgalley for my thoughts, this is the way I see it.

"Powder Burn", by Ty Patterson

Cutter Grogan Thrillers #2

Ouf, what an exhausting read....so be warned

Cutter Grogan is a fixer and vengeance is part of his business. His mission brings him to LA to avenge the murder of his closest friend and partner but letting the LAPD do their things is not in Cutter’s DNA....and he soon finds himself in the very dangerous world of gangs and suspicious allies.

The action is never ending and spectacular, Mr. Patterson vividly describes scenes right out of Mission Impossible with his characters being shot at with AK47 and other weapons, pouf... buildings exploding, Cutter jumping out of windows, scaling walls, running miles and miles never getting out of breath...Love his acrobatics, colossal and forceful skills, scenes are very well done. Yes, the characters bleed and are bruised and of course the good ones come out in one piece not so much for the bad guys. Since the authorities are slow to react Cutter takes the matter into his hands, takes out two gangs and eventually gets justice for his friends. Fast paced with a ton of nail-biting action and amazing scenes. Et voilà, we are in a rip roaring adventure from start to finish.

Mr. Patterson knows how to make our heart pounding with anticipation from beginning to end and he is a master in doing so. Never a dull moment always at the edge of our seat...ouf, yep when I say an exhausting read I meant it....

Although this book is part of a series it works well as a stand-alone so no worries.

Being a member of the author’s launch team I am privileged to have received this latest for review this is the way I see it.

Thank you Mr. Patterson.

"The Venice Sketchbook", by Rhys Bowen

A sketchbook, three keys and a final whisper...Venice, a dying bequest by Caroline Grant’s beloved great-aunt Lettie, a wish that will bring Caroline to scatter Lettie’s ashes in the city she loved....

What a beautiful love story said with dual time-lines from 1928-44 when Juliet (Lettie) visited Venice with her aunt then when she returned in 1938 to attend Art College and hopefully rekindle her love affair with Leonardo Da Rossi. This sweet story said in a melancholic voice tells us what Lettie and Leo were up to. In alternate chapter we move forward to 2001 with Caroline reliving the precious moments of her gr-aunt and experiencing similar feelings. These two loveable women narrate their experience as it unfolds.

Venice seemed to be well known by the author. Ms. Bowen paints a stunning picture of the city with its vaporetto, narrow streets, many canals, festivals, churches, art exhibitions and of course the food, the colourful people and family ties . Yes, reading this story you need to pour a glass of Pinot Grigio, set aside a plate of prosciutto, some green olive, warm bread with some oil and voilà your taste buds are ready to savour succulent dishes and the Italian life style. yum...

As the story moves along at a snail pace just like a romantic gondola ride along the canal and lagoon islands, back and forth in time seamlessly we go to enjoy a story that mostly brings Venice and its people to life. Yes the author also mentions Venice’s Aqua Alta that floods the streets at high tide. What a sweet story this turned out to be even if part of the setting was during WW11. The characters are reasonably well developed even those who mysteriously disappear. I like following Lettie and Caroline in this story of doomed love....

I received this ARC from Lake Union Publishing via Netgalley for my thoughts