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44 Scotland Street by Alexander McCall Smith

In his introduction, Smith shares with his readers the difficulty of writing a novel in serial form. There is no room for error because "the book was written while it was being published." Also, each daily segment has to keep the readers’ interest, advance the plot, and offer a surprise. Smith accomplished these goals in each segment as far as I can tell.   44 Scotland Street is an apartment house inhabited by an interesting cast of characters. Readers first meet Bruce and Pat. Bruce is full of himself, fancies himself to be a lady’s man and has more personal cosmetic type paraphernalia than most women. Pat is just looking for a new flat and then a job. She does find work in a low key gallery for a boss who doesn’t know much about art and in fact doesn’t really care about the art pieces his gallery offers for sale. Domenica, who drives a foreign car and gushes pearls of wisdom, lives on the same floor as Bruce and Pat. Oft times, Domenica listens to the sound of a saxophone drifting through the floor from the flat below. The musician is five-year-old Bertie Pollock; he’s also learning Italian. Bertie’s mom is the driving force behind his accomplishments. Several other people also play parts in Smith’s book. And there is the mystery of a painting which may just fetch a tidy sum, if it is the real McCoy, or Peploe in this case.   44 Scotland Street didn’t grab me right away. Rather, the narrative grew on me. But I didn’t like the ending because there really wasn’t one. However, Smith is writing a sequel. 44 Scotland Street doesn’t soar to heights of excitement but languidly meanders through the lives of its characters.

 

Abduction by Robin Cook

As scientific knowledge increases, ever more of the Earth's most remote areas are being explored. These explorations, of course, also extend to the bottom of the ocean floor. Perry Bergman is the president of Benthic Marine. His ship Benthic Explorer is currently holding station above an anomaly discovered on the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean. Perry joins Dr. Suzanne Newell and Commander Donald Fuller in a submersible dive to the site of the anomaly. Their discovery baffles them. Their adventure leads to what everybody else on the ship considers to be a tragedy. The submersible with Perry, Suzanne and Donald disappears without a trace. Our explorers eventually find themselves in a unique chamber filled with a breathable atmosphere. Further excursions reveal additional chambers, all of which have a rather futuristic appearance. Finally, Peter and company discover their hosts who live below the ocean floor in a place called Interterra. What is this place, who are the Interterrans and will Peter and his team be able return to their world?  Abduction is a departure from Cook's usual themes. But the world of Interterra provides Cook with a canvas for social commentary. He still writes a good novel and does present a surprise at the end of the book.   L,V

 

Alexandria Link by Steve Berry

All Cotton Malone desires is to run his book store, enjoy his retirement from government service and spend time with his son as often as he can. But all that changes early one October morning when Malone’s ex-wife appears on his stoop with shocking news. Their son has been kidnaped and only Malone has access to the information which is required to secure his son’s return. And to spur Malone on, his bookstore is firebombed minutes after Malone receives telephoned instructions. What is this secret that only Malone knows? Malone is the only person alive who knows the hidden location of the Alexandria Link. The Link marks the way to the Library of Alexandria.   Wasn’t the ancient Library of Alexandria destroyed? Apparently not, and certain individuals will do anything to regain the secret knowledge, religious writings and other documents hidden in the library. In fact, according to ancient writings, certain scrolls in the library may even question the location of biblical sites. If this proves true, economic and religious power and influence will shift drastically. Peace might even come to the Middle East.   Berry’s novel is great, a runaway-train-ride of international locales, assassin squads, political intrigue, and ancient secrets. Readers new to Berry’s books will be hooked! I am. Returning fans will not be disappointed in Alexandria Link. In my opinion, Berry has joined the ranks of Rollins and Brown.

Around the World in Eighty Days by Jules Verne
Phileas Fogg is the epitome of the perfect British gentleman. He is extremely precise. Fogg's wardrobe is organized by season. He knows exactly how many steps it takes to his club. He refuses to accept his copy of the London Times if any other club member has already perused it. In short, Phileas Fogg is an automaton posing as a human being. Fogg's only weakness is his enjoyment of whist. Three days before the events of this momentous day, the Bank of England had been robbed of the sum of 55,000 pounds by a distinguished looking gentleman. This robbery was the main topic of conversation at the Reform Club of which Fogg was a member. The Bank of England hired detectives to travel to all parts of the world in hopes of apprehending the felon. As Fogg's Whist partners discussed the escape and pursuit, they mentioned that you can travel around the world in three months now. But Phileas Fogg informed them that the journey can be made in 80 days. His playing partners were incredulous at this news and doubted Fogg's information. Fogg showed his compatriots an itinerary that calculated the travel time at 80 days. Still doubting, one playing partner proposed a wager and Phileas Fogg accepted. In fact, he decided to leave that very night. Passepartout, Fogg's butler, was completely perplexed at his master's insane plan, but prepared a travel bag and off they went. This sudden departure aroused the suspicion of Agent Fix, one of the detectives looking for the bank robber. Unfortunately, Fogg fit the description and the chase around the world began. Fix interfered with Fogg's plans as often as he could. Numerous adventures and mishaps plagued Fogg and Passepartout in their travels.  Around the World in Eighty Days is a great travel adventure filled with suspense, pursuit, deceit and honor. Phileas Fogg is the perfect gentleman at all times. He always keeps his cool under pressure and doesn't let circumstances dictate his feelings. This is my favorite book of all time.


Babylon Rising: #2-The Secret on Ararat by Tim LaHaye & Bob Phillips

Oft times, Michael Murphy is too kind for his own good. This time, Murphy’s soft heart nearly causes his drowning death because of two adorable and whimpering puppies. To be fair, the puppies are only props in an elaborate game played by Methuselah, a nemesis, tormentor and tempter of Murphy’s. Why does Murphy follow Methuselah’s instructions and become a player in each hazardous game? Because Murphy, the Biblical archeologist and professor, knows that Methuselah always provides religious and archeological discoveries, even surprises. Well, Murphy and the puppies survive and Murphy also finds an unusual piece of wood. Further clues from Methuselah, and scientific testing of the wood, support the theses that this wood came from Noah’s ark!   Throughout history, various explorers have claimed to have found the Ark. If Murphy can find the Ark on Mount Ararat, his discovery will testify to the truth of the Bible and God’s sacred warnings! But of course, there are factions in the world whose goals are anti-Christian. One such group consists of the Seven and their nefarious assassin Talon. Murphy and Talon have had lethal interactions in the past. Now with surprise funding and the help of ancient languages expert Isis, Murphy assembles a team who will brave the geopolitical hazards surrounding Ararat. Talon, of course, will also be on Ararat. Forces of good will clash with forces of evil. Who will win?   Tim LaHaye is the creator of the hugely successful Left Behind series. Secret on Ararat is the second volume of the Babylon Rising series featuring Michael Murphy, the adventurous professor of archeology, think Indiana Jones. Since this is a Christian thriller, Lahaye indulges in some narrative preaching. Nonetheless, Secret is entertaining and I look forward to the next volume in this series.

 

Babylon Rising #3-The Europa Conspiracy by Tim LaHaye & Bob Phillips

When will Murphy learn that following Methuselah’s oh-so-tempting clues to elusive biblical treasures never comes without mortal danger. When Murphy finally gets killed? Perhaps. Right now, Murphy can barely hang on and keep himself from falling to his death. And what biblical mystery tempted Murphy this time? How about the location of the Handwriting on the Wall which Murphy hopes to find in Babylon.   But that isn’t Murphy’s only trouble. His studies of holy writ only strengthen Murphy’s belief that the ultimate evil doer is increasing in power and working on influencing authoritative governmental and business figures. The time of one world government appears to be fast approaching, the United Nations is becoming more demanding and the United States becomes the target of more planned terrorist attacks. A secretive group called The Seven directs much of the man-caused turmoil in the world. Their multi-step plan to bring America to her knees is frightening. And Talon, the group’s ruthless assassin, seeks revenge against Murphy.   Europa Conspiracy, the third entry in the Babylon Rising series, thrills with its plausibility and foretelling of possible world chaos. Murphy’s faith provides the drive to find answers to biblical prophecies and bring these answers and sacred teachings to the world. Although LaHaye indulges himself in a bit of preaching and self-marketing regarding his Left Behind series, the Babylon Rising books are entertaining to read.

 

Babylon Rising: #4-The Edge of Darkness by Tim LaHaye and Bob Phillips

It’s said that a cat has nine lives. If this is true, then Michael Murphy must have cat genes since he often enough has been faced with death defying challenges while following Methuselah’s clues. Michael’s latest quest finds him having "fun" at an underground amusement park. And what is Michael’s prize for once again surviving Methuselah’s demented game? A Bible verse and cryptic instructions.   Meanwhile, the Seven continue to follow the orders of their dark leader and prepare for a time of upheaval and chaos. With their tremendous wealth, and through the media outlets they control, the Seven support their chosen preacher who recommends a unity of all faiths. How will this proposed unity of all faiths affect Christianity? Although baffling, Methuselah’s clues are solvable and Michael jets off to his next rendevous with Biblical destiny. Of course, the minions of the enemy of Christ attempt to thwart Michael’s effort at every turn. And Talon practices his assassination skills several times.  LaHaye’s Babylon Rising series relates to the Left Behind series and readers will notice similar ideas. LaHaye and Phillips hook their readers and present a good story without becoming too preachy. I wonder what the next volume will bring.

 

Bad Company by Jack Higgins

Why do you attend the funeral of an enemy? To make sure the person is actually being buried, to meet a contact, to see who else comes to the funeral? Sean Dillon and General Ferguson have several objectives when they attend Kate Rashid's funeral. But mostly they are interested in studying Baron Max von Berger of Berger International. Berger was a silent partner in Rashid Investments and with Kate's passing, Berger owns both conglomerates. Unfortunately, Kate Rashid's security files contain sensitive and damning information concerning Dillon's activities on behalf of the British government. There also is the little matter of a feud between Dillon and the Rashids. And what of Berger, how did he rebuild his factories and fortune after WWII?  Von Berger was a decorated Waffen SS officer and an aid to Hitler. The Baron never joined the Nazi party and also didn't participate in any of the horrific activities against Jews. But Hitler trusted Berger and gave Berger a final assignment just hours before Berlin fell prey to the Russians. This task consisted of protecting and studying Hitler's diary! Hitler gave Berger codes and passwords to access Nazi gold hidden in foreign banks and ordered Berger to rebuilt his industries and to prepare for a possible Nazi resurgence. Berger was also ordered to use the seditious information found in Hitler's diary when world events were ripe.  Now, nearly sixty years later, the time appears to be ready for the diary to cause disarray. U.S. President Cazalet will never finish his delicate deliberations with certain foreign governments if the diary is published. But first, Berger must repay a blood debt in Kate's honor. Berger declares a Jihad on Ferguson and company.   Bad Company isn't filled with soaring passages of literary brilliance. That isn't Higgins' style. In fact, Bad Company is terse enough to teach Hemingway a few lessons. The violence is quick, the weapons are not exotic and most of the characters are shallow. And yet, Higgins provides fascinating glimpses into the past of his main characters. Readers learn a particular tasty morsel of Ferguson's past that proves that Ferguson is an even tougher old buzzard than readers ever thought. Higgins' books are as comfortable as a favorite pair of sneakers. Readers know what to expect and Higgins delivers a quick adventurous read.   L

Bear and the Dragon by Tom Clancy
Sergey Nikolaich Golovko loves his late-model white Mercedes 600 S-Class. This beautiful car is an obvious luxury for the current chairman of the SVR, formerly the KGB. Golovko has a driver/bodyguard and the Mercedes is armored. Every workday, Golovko relaxes while his driver traverses the circus known as Moscow traffic. On the particular morning in question, Golovko notices another Mercedes identical to his. Moments later, the other Mercedes explodes! Golovko's driver uses his defensive driving training and safely delivers Golovko to SVR headquarters.  This is the start of Bear...! What does this possibly botched assassination attempt have to do with the storyline? Wait and see. Meanwhile, the Vatican has assigned Cardinal DiMilo to travel to Beijing as the Vatican's ambassador. Of course, no Vatican cardinal directed to live in a foreign country is ever just a political figure. DiMilo also serves the Holy See as a spook.  China is a land filled with rich nearly mystical history and reprehensible human rights violations. The birth rate is restricted through stringent and despicable laws and actions. No Chinese couple may have a second child unless they receive permission from the population control center. Illegal pregnancies are even terminated as the baby is born. This is achieved through the use of a formaldehyde-filled syringe which is inserted into the babys brain as the head crowns before the child takes its first breath.   America's trade balance with China is lopsided by $70 billion. An American trade delegation is engaged in talks with the Chinese to rectify this imbalance.   Mother Russia has never recovered from the economic turmoil caused by the tearing apart of the Soviet Union. Now scientists have discovered a huge gold mine and an underground lake of oil, both in Siberia. If the gold and the oil can be retrieved without the financial shenanigans played by corrupt politicians and the Russian Mafia, Mother Russia will become an economic world power.
Now what do these diverse points have in common? They all are part of Clancy's latest novel. The Bear and the Dragon is pure Clancy! TC gives the reader multiple plots, superfluous information and excessive but interesting factoids. Bear... is a long book, 1028 pages, but very readable. In my opinion, it may not be Clancys best novel, but it is definitely worth reading.   L, V


Blackout by John J. Nance
Sea Air Flight 122 crashes into the Gulf of Mexico. All passengers die and there is no immediate cause found for the crash. Investigative reporter Robert McCabe believes that this crash is related to several previous crashes. He also believes that the U.S. government is somehow involved. As Robert continues to investigate, he decides to involve Kat Bronsky from the FBI. They meet in Hong Kong and plan to return to the USA on the same plane, but Kat is pulled off the plane just minutes before take-off. In flight, a mysterious intense light flashed in front of the cockpit, killing the pilot and blinding the co-pilot. Additionally, mechanical failures add to the mix of disaster and the plane crashes in Viet Nam. Robert is one of only six survivors and their troubles are just starting. Yes, there is a conspiracy of sorts and Robert is the target. How will Kat become involved, how will any of the survivors return to the USA?  John Nance provides plenty of excitement in Blackout. In addition to the airplane crashes, we also get international chases and a conspiracy. I like Nance's writing style. He gives the reader sufficient, but not exhaustive, technical details and keeps his novels moving at a good pace. His characters are believable and worth rooting for, the good guys that is. Blackout is good escapist reading.   L,V

 

Bleachers by John Grisham

Harsh memories assault Neely Crenshaw when he arrives in Messina. It has been fifteen years since Neely graduated from high school and embarked on a promising football career. Why football? Because Messina was, and still is, football-town-USA. Eddie Rake was the high school football coach for several decades. Eddie's athletes either hated him or loved him for his grueling football drills and exercises. Now coach Rake is on his deathbed and many of his former athletes are returning to Messina to await the inevitable. Nelly hated Rake during high school but football offered more rewards than just exercise and feeling good about yourself. Through Rake's demanding coaching, Neely grew to be the star of his team, the great Number 19. Life was good for Neely, the girls loved him and scouts from various colleges courted him. And after graduating from high school, Neely could have had a great professional football career until he got hurt with a career ending injury.  So what brought Neely back to Messina? Did he come back to see his old football buddies or to make his peace with coach Rake? Perhaps it is a combination of the two reasons. Neely doesn't seem to know.  Bleachers is quite readable but unfortunately does not offer any real excitement. I had expected better and was disappointed. But luckily this book is mercifully short. Bleachers is neither a touchdown nor a field goal but a fumble. As I see it, there are only two reasons to read Bleachers, one-if you are a diehard Grisham fan, and two---well, I guess there is only one reason to read Bleachers.

 

Blue Nowhere by Jeffery Deaver

Women are considered the weaker sex but that doesn't mean that women are defenseless. Lara Gibson is an expert on urban protection for women. Her website teaches women how to become more aware of their surroundings, how to deal with overbearing jerks in bars and in general how to live a safer life. Of course, Lara teaches that things aren't always what they seem. Will she follow her own advice? Thomas Anderson was known by many names in his youth; Tom, Stealth and CryptO are just a few of them. He started his love affair, or lust, with computers in high school working on TRS-80s and Commodores. As computer technology advanced, so did Tom's skills. Among his many jobs, Tom worked computer security for AT&T and eventually found his calling in law enforcement. Thomas Anderson became Thomas F. Anderson, chief of the California State Police Computer Crimes Unit. Phate believes himself to be the ultimate computer hacker. He is playing a game with people's lives and every time a victim dies, Phate moves forward to the next more difficult level. What is his final goal and will Tom Anderson prevent Phate from succeeding? Jeffery Deaver's books are always engaging and entertaining. This time around, he shows his readers that all personal and private information stored on computers can become available to hackers. ID theft and cyber-stalking already exist but Deaver's book will give readers pause before booting up their computers. I loved Blue Nowhere.

 

Broken Hearts Club by Ethan Black
The Broken Hearts Club consists of a group of men who have experienced poor relationships. Dr. Bainbridge, the NY City psychologist who started the club, encourages all the members to fantasize about taking revenge against the women who wronged them. The group meets weekly in the backroom of a steakhouse. Often, these meetings get quite loud and sometimes violent. Several women who are the focus of these meetings are brutally murdered, but the members of the club have alibis. Detective Conrad Voort doesn't see how these murders could be related. His girlfriend, Camilla Ryan also is a patient of Dr. Bainbridge, but she doesn't belong to this club. Eventually, the pieces fall in place, even surprising the reader.  Broken Hearts Club is a psychological thriller. Ethan Black weaves his story well and keeps a tremendous surprise well hidden. I look forward to his next book.   L,V,S

Broker by John Grisham

A delicious scandal allowed Arthur Morgan to achieve his ultimate political goal and become a resident in the Oval Office. Alas, Morgan’s four years as leader of the world’s most powerful nation were mostly uneventful and uninspiring except for the multiple poor decisions Morgan made. His presidency will receive little notice in history books. But Morgan has one last chance to leave his mark, no matter how asinine it might be. Every outgoing president signs last minute pardons before leaving office. And Morgan is being pressured into pardoning Joel Backman.  Who is Backman? He was a Washington broker who tried to sell technology to the wrong people. In doing so, Backman made powerful enemies, both domestic and foreign. When Backman realized the danger he and his family were in, he accepted a plea bargain and became a federal inmate. Now, six years later, Backman’s life is about to be turned upside down.  Backman is given a new identity and smuggled out of the country. He will learn to live in a strange land, learn to speak a new language, and become a different person. And eventually, officials in the CIA plan to leak Backman’s location to various sources. Then the CIA will sit and wait to see who will assassinate Backman.   John Grisham has strayed from his legal writing on several occasions, with mixed results. However, Grisham successfully combined international locales, spies and conspiracy in The Broker.

 

Brotherhood of the Rose by David Morrell
An orphan's life is often filled with misery, despair and unhappiness. Saul and Chris were orphans raised in a school for boys in Philadelphia. Their friendship bonds made them brothers. Together they became the beneficiaries of a cryptic and clandestine man named Eliot. This Eliot educated Saul and Chris in many different ways. The boys learned about world history and current events. They also learned multiple styles of self-defense and the fine art of assassination. Eliot then used Saul and Chris as spies in many dangerous and perilous areas of the world. However, the current assignment that Eliot has given them may just be too difficult for Saul and Chris.   I have never been disappointed with a Morrell novel. He does plenty of research to make history come alive. His characters are developed and distinct. Morrell creates exciting plots and peppers his novel with all the appropriate terminology and facts to entice the reader.   L,V


Burnt Sienna by David Morrell
Once a military helicopter pilot, Chase Malone now is a painter. His last mission nearly killed him and he retired from the service. Chase discovered his unique talent for painting and became successful at it. He paints what he wants and doesn't accept commission work. Derek Bellasar is an arms dealer and wants Chase to paint a portrait of Sienna Bellasar. Sienna isn't the first Mrs. Bellasar, her predecessors all died in mysterious accidents. It seems that Derek gets rid of his current wife whenever she doesn't retain her ageless beauty. Chase learns this from a friend of his at the CIA. This friend wants Chase to accept the commission to paint Sienna. At the same time, Chase is expected to spy on Derek and gain information to convict Derek of arms smuggling and murder. Chase also decides to rescue Sienna from becoming the next "late" Mrs. Bellasar.  Burnt Sienna is a bit different from Morrell's earlier works. This book shows the reader a softer side of Morrell. He still gives the reader plenty of chase scenes, action and adventure, but there also is a bit of romance. Morrell also keeps a couple of surprises up his sleeve until the very end of this novel. I enjoyed Burnt Sienna and recommend any of Morrell's other books also.   L,V,S


By Dawns Early Light by Philip Shelby

Sometimes life is good, sometimes life is bad. For Sloan Ryder, life has gone from good to bad. Her job as a financial analyst is presenting an ethical dilemma and her boyfriend no longer seems to care for her. Ryder accidentally stumbles across some confidential information which appears to point to insider trading involving the firm and Chinese oil interests. Little does Ryder know that this is only the beginning of her troubles. Assassins hire out to the highest bidder and the Handyman commands a high price for his services. His latest assignment takes him to an orphan camp in North Korea where he will select a child, #1818, for a special mission.  The President of the United States often seeks advice from many sources and Dodge French is the imminent source for information and guidance in dealing with China. But French has his own agenda.  What do these people have in common? In Shelby's book, all of them are puppets in a turbulent novel full of surprises, plot twists and a nefarious plan to assassinate the U.S. president. What defines a patriot, what defines a traitor and how fine is the line of demarcation between the two? By Dawns Early Light allows the reader to decide for himself. I've enjoyed all of Shelby's books so far and this latest novel did not disappoint me.    L

 

Casino Royale by Ian Fleming

(This is Fleming’s first Bond novel and was written in 1953 when the Cold War was anything but cold.)

Bond’s assignment seems easy enough, all he has to do is win a series of card games and by winning, financially destroy his opponent Le Chiffre. Although Bond just received his "00" status, killing shouldn’t be necessary for this job. But who is Le Chiffre?  Le Chiffre is a financier and a valuable agent of the USSR. He has a couple of weaknesses which can be exploited by MI6. One of these is his propensity for gambling, particularly, with the monies given to him for investments. The spying and business powers of Le Chiffre’s Soviet masters would be nicely adversely affected if Le Chiffre were to lose his "borrowed" fortune. Thus, James Bond, the best gambler in the service, finds himself sitting opposite Le Chiffre at a gaming table playing high stakes baccarat.   Bond’s simple task becomes complicated when he is saddled with a beautiful partner from the treasury department. Add to this a possible information leak, Le Chiffre’s thugs, torture, lust, and a car chase on a dark mountain road, and you get Fleming’s introduction to the world of James Bond. And don’t forget about SMERSH.

 

The Cassandra Compact by Robert Ludlum and Phillip Shelby

"Smallpox, the ancient disease, was eradicated 20 years ago. Smallpox is on death row, frozen in two highly protected laboratories in the United States and Russia."  No laboratory is ever completely secure and the right sum of money offered to a desperate person will buy just about anything. This is particularly true in the economic mishmash formerly known as the Soviet Union.  Lt. Colonel Jon Smith has continued his involvement with Covert-One since his fiancée's death one year ago. As a medical researcher, Smith has contacts and friends among the medical community. One such colleague from Russia contacts Smith to arrange a clandestine meeting in Venice. This meeting comes to an abrupt and deadly end, but not before Smith learns that Russia's smallpox supply may have fallen into terrorist hands. If the smallpox virus is unleashed, the world will experience a plague which will rival the mortality rate of the Black Death. Robert Ludlum and Phillip Shelby have successfully combined their constructive talents as thriller writers in this book. Cassandra Compact is the second volume in the Covert-One series. Readers will enjoy the fast pace, correct but limited medical jargon, and the international locales. I enjoy the Covert-One series and I look forward to the next book.  L

 

The Children of Men by P.D. James

"Early this morning, 1. January 2021, three minutes after midnight, the last human being to be born on earth was killed in a pub brawl in a suburb of Buenos Aires, aged twenty-five years, two months and twelve days."

This sentence opens James’ novel about a distressing and disappointing future in which the human race is dying. The last children were born in 1995. Since then, all males have been infertile. Was this disaster a new disease, divine retribution or a quirk of evolution? No answers presented themselves and scientists worldwide were baffled.   In England, where this story takes place, the government instituted programs to test for fertility. The British government also created resources to make it more appealing to its citizens to regenerate the species. All to no avail.   Since many people believed this plague to be of divine origin, new religious charlatans took center stage to appease the masses. Society in general became duller, filled with hopelessness and malaise as the years passed with no children being born. Other problems also arose. Outside of the cities, roving bands of crazed bandits would attack travelers. And for the aged who didn’t want to patiently wait for natural death to finally end their miserably demoralizing and dispirited lives, the Quietus was created.   It is January 2021 and Theodore Faron, historian by profession, understands the turmoil surrounding him. But he is disappointed that society is crumbling and succumbing to the psychological destruction of this disease. England is ruled by a man calling himself the Warden of England. The Warden and Faron are cousins. Faron’s life changes when he accepts the plea by a small group of concerned citizens to talk to the Warden about societal ills. Then Faron learns that a woman in the group is pregnant!   Children of Men is well written. The despair and hopelessness of this future society ooze from every page. Unfortunately, James’ novel’s plodding pace won’t appeal to readers hoping for an exciting page turner.

 

The Crimson Portrait by Jody Shields

"It will be a great adjustment to have the men occupy your house, ma’am." This simple sentence will have a long-lasting effect on Catherine’s life. It is Spring 1915 and Catherine allows her home to be transformed into a military hospital for soldiers with severe facial injuries. Catherine has been a widow for almost a year and is filled with great loneliness.   While Catherine struggles with the changes brought on by WWI, Dr. McCleary, the surgeon in charge of the "hospital" bemoans the fact that "war is the only proper school of surgeons." McCleary was only a novice regarding facial injuries when the war started. Now he has become an unfortunate expert whose newly developed surgical skills have been forged in the crucible of human suffering.   However, painful operations coupled with inventive yet oft-times primitive prostheses can often only restore a mere resemblance of a once handsome face. As part of treating the most severely destroyed faces, it is suggested that a thin metal mask be created and painted to at least allow the wearer a form of social interaction. Seizing upon this idea, Catherine hatches a plan which might bring peace to her tortured soul. For though she knows that her husband is dead, Catherine’s heart refuses to accept the loss.   Without revealing some of the finer details of this novel, let me say that Crimson Portrait is more than just a story of lost love and suffering. It is also a story of sacrifice, mental anguish, fear, determination and hopefulness. Shields skillfully depicts the tormenting loneliness endured by widows, the fear of opening one’s heart to new love, and the despair of helplessness. Crimson Portrait, like Shield’s Fig Eater, is a book that readers won’t soon forget.

 

The Cutout by Francine Mathews

Cutout: A third person used to conceal the contact between two people usually an agent and a handler who do not want to meet because one or both may be under surveillance. Encyclopedia of Espionage

Genocide, the systematic extermination of a national or racial group also known as ethnic cleansing, has been practiced by demented leaders and terrorists throughout history. The Cold War may have ended but Europe is facing variations on the theme of genocide. Caroline Carmichael is an analyst for the CIA. She once was happily married to another agent named Eric. Both of them understood the hazzards of their work and both of them enjoyed their work. Their happiness ended abruptly when the commercial airliner Eric was flying on exploded, courtesy of a bomb placed by 30 April, a violent terrorist group led by Mlan Krucevic. Caroline has tried to locate and apprehend Mlan for the past thirty months. Focusing on her work has helped Caroline deal with her grief. But the fates are about to surprise her.  Vice President Payne is visiting Berlin, the new capital of the united Germany, to dedicate a new U.S. embassy. The crowd of onlookers is restless, Gastarbeiter have been a thorn in the side of German politics. Everyone is awaiting America's response to this turmoil. But the V.P.'s speech is cut short by an explosion which severely damages the Brandenburg Gate and the new Reichstag Building. During the confusion, V.P. Payne is kidnaped. Television crews capture the kidnaping and one terrorist's face is clearly identified. The terrorist is Eric Carmichael. This revelation crumbles Caroline's rectitude and she wonders if her marriage to Eric was nothing but a sham. Of course, the question remains, "What does 30 April want with the U.S. V.P.?"  Francine Mathew's time working for the CIA served her well in writing this novel. Authentic details bring her narrative to life. She has polished her writing style through several novels and The Cutout is the excellent result. I gladly recommend her new novel to all readers of Follett, Folsom, Forsyth, Higgins, Ludlum and Le Carré!   L, V

 

Dark Justice by William Bernhardt
While in law school, Ben Kincaid had dreams of being a hot-shot lawyer in a big city firm. His dreams soon were dashed to pieces, his first experience in a big firm wasn't to his liking, and Ben opened his own firm. As a lawyer with no clients, Ben accepted unpopular cases to get his career started. Through a series of books, W. Bernhardt has expanded Kincaid's character. Ben isn't as naive as he used to be and his court room skills have increased.   In Dark Justice, Ben is on vacation, but trouble seems to find him anyway. He's staying in a town supported by the lumber industry. Soon, Ben is involved in defending an "eco-terrorist" accused of murder. All the evidence is against his client, but Ben believes his client to be innocent. In addition, the judge is antagonistic and the D.A. is crooked.   I won't tell you more about the book. I have enjoyed all the previous Ben Kincaid novels. In fact, I've enjoyed W. Bernhardt as much as, and often more than, John Grisham. Dark Justice not only is a fun legal thriller but also a good murder mystery.


Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown

Though respected and conservative, Jacques SauniPre's bold act to save his life would have shocked his acquaintances. And then, before he died, Jacques somehow had to leave a message relaying a religious secret which he had been carrying in his head for decades.  The investigating officer is baffled by the murder scene. Not only did Jacques pose his body peculiarly but he also wrote a cryptic message on the floor of the Grand Gallery of the Louvre Museum. Who can solve this message? Perhaps the visiting American cryptologist Robert Langdon, who is in Paris to present a lecture on religious symbology.  Aided by Agent Sophie Neveu of the Département de Cryptographie, Robert partially deciphers Jacques' message. But the answer, along with Sophie's alarming information that both their lives may be in danger, only deepens the conundrum of Jacques' murder and last message. Each puzzle that Robert and Sophie solve just leads them to another even more perplexing riddle.  Meanwhile, a tormented albino and a Catholic bishop act on telephoned orders to retrieve a sacred keystone which may show the way to the Holy Grail. This keystone was created by the Knights Templar to protect information which, if revealed, would bewilder Christians everywhere. Clandestine acts hidden in secret plots within wheels of deception all shrouded in religious fervor effectively pull the reader into Brown's Da Vinci Code. The curious history of religious artifacts and the uncommon practices of Opus Dei, a Catholic group, will intrigue readers. Brown's research fills his book with short lessons in cryptography and readers can have fun following the clues and solving the puzzles. Da Vinci Code is sensational.

 

Demolition Angel by Robert Crais
Carol Starkey and her partner David Boudreaux died three years ago. The bomb which they were attempting to defuse detonated. Carol was revived but her partner was not. Shrapnel from the bomb pierced Carol's protective Kevlar suit and scarred her body horribly. Her mind is still struggling with this horrific event. Carol has been trying to put her life back together. She's been seeing a string of psychiatrists, hasn't eaten well and has been smoking and drinking too much. Tagamet has been her main sustenance. Carol changed jobs and now works in the LAPD'S Criminal Conspiracy Section.  When a bomb technician is killed while disarming a pipe bomb, Carol gets the case. Her investigation into this bombing and other similar explosions soon reveals a hidden agenda. Somebody is building bombs with the sole purpose of killing bomb techs. Not all the explosions take place in LA and Carol soon finds herself unwillingly working with Jack Pell from the FBI. Pell has a few secrets of his own regarding his career as an investigator. Starkey and Pell have some vital clues which supposedly give clear direction for their investigation. But.... Robert Crais' Demolition Angel is an entertaining thriller. I always find it fascinating to watch an author create the process and methods by which his characters investigate and solve crimes. A good author is aware of technological advances and applies them successfully to the plot of his story. Crais does this and he also adds enough character details to help the reader relate to Starkey and Pell. Demolition Angel never was boring and the ending was intense.   L,V

Devil's Teardrop by Jeffery Deaver
The place: Washington, D.C. The time: New Year's Eve 1999 A crazed shooter, the Digger, has just started his reign of terror by shooting indiscriminately at the commuters at a subway station. A ransom note demanding $20 million is delivered to the Washington, D.C., mayor. Until the ransom is delivered, the Digger will continue his shooting spree every four hours. He has already chosen his next targets. The Digger's accomplice is killed in an auto-pedestrian accident before he could collect the ransom. How do you stop a psychotic killer whom you can't find. Well, the odd ransom note holds many clues which Parker Kincaid, a document expert, interprets. Kincaid and the FBI are trying desperately to unravel the mystery of the Digger and his next target. The suspense builds as the Digger strikes again.  Devil's Teardrop was exciting and incredibly suspenseful. Deaver gives the reader multiple lessons in criminology including document examination. The plot is fascinating and Deaver has a few surprises waiting for the reader. The last few pages of this novel are just amazing. Devil's Teardrop will please any thriller reader.   L,V


Eagle Shadow by Shelly Greenhalgh-Davis

The Montana Territory in 1865 is considered the frontier, Indians and white settlers do not always see eye-to-eye. This is the world of Nate Hunter, a ranch hand. Nate also is an enigma in this world for he is half Cheyenne Indian and half white. Nate's father married a white woman and Nate and his sister learned to respect the Cheyenne teachings but they also learned the rules of the white men. Tara, Nate's love interest, is a white rich girl.  Many years ago, Nate's father, Buck, was accused of causing the death of the son of a brave. Buck proclaimed his innocense but was banished from the tribe. Now the truth about the death has been discovered and the tribe wants Buck to return. But Buck and his family are settled in their life at Broken Bow Ranch. Bloodshed occurs between Buck and the Cheyenne and an attack and massacre at Broken Bow follow. Nate and his sister escape but their parents are among the many killed. Now Nate is faced with being hunted by the Cheyenne and being ostracized by many of the white settlers. Which heritage, influence and teachings from his youth will Nate follow? Eagle Shadow is informative and fairly entertaining. The love story between Nate and Tara develops nicely and the reader cheers for Nate and his difficult adventures. However, I'm not a fan of Westerns and Eagle Shadow barely held my attention.

 

Edge of Danger by Jack Higgins

"Paul Rashid was one of the richest Englishmen in the world. He was also half Arab, and few people could tell you which influence most ruled his heart."  Paul's father was a soldier by birth and tradition; he was also the leader of the Rashid Beduin in the province of Hazar. As a young man, Paul's father studied at the Royal Military Academy at Sandhurst. This is where he met Lady Kate Dauncey. They married and became the parents of four children; Paul, Michael, George and Kate.  The Dauncey family is one of Britain's oldest families and the children guarded both their English heritage and their distinguished Omani past with equal fierceness. After their father's death, Lady Dauncey inherited the family estate and continued to raise her children in the proper way of English upper class. Once, as teenagers, Paul and his siblings even defended the family name and their mother's honor by banishing vagabonds from the family's estate.  Now, years later, the Rashids have decided to enter the Gulf Stream oil business. Paul, as Earl of Loch Dhu, uses his worldwide industry contacts to increase the family business and fortune. But other parties also want to profit from the Rashid oilfield. Assassins try to kill Paul and his sister, unsuccessfully. Paul swears revenge. He probes his intelligence sources and learns that both American and Soviet companies are interested in his oil fields.  "I always return!" is the Dauncey family motto. Paul reminds his siblings of this and together they hatch a plan to gain the world's attention. They plot to have the U.S President killed.  Meanwhile, back in London, Sean Dillon maintains his covert activities for Brigadier Charles Ferguson. Sean was an IRA enforcer in his earlier life. Then Ferguson convinced Sean that a switch of occupation would be healthier for the former enforcer. Sean and the Rashids will cross paths and the results will not always be pleasant.  I have read many Higgins novels and always enjoyed them. His style is simple and the action is fierce and quick. American readers may not understand some of the British terminology and colloquialisms but Jack Higgins always weaves a thrilling yarn. L,

 

Eleven Hours by P. Simons
Didi Wood is miserable. She is nine months pregnant. The Braxton Hicks have started. All Didi wants to do, besides giving birth, is to enjoy a short shopping spree before she is supposed to meet her husband Richard for lunch. Their lunch date was set for 1:00 PM. Didi never made it. Instead, Didi was accosted and kidnaped by a man she met in the mall. The next eleven hours are pure terror for Didi. Meanwhile, Richard, the police and the FBI are all trying to find and save Didi.   The tension in Eleven Hours increased with every turn of the page. Simons draws the reader into the story and holds him spellbound. L,V,S


Empty Chair by Jeffery Deaver
Lincoln Rhyme strikes most casual observers as a curmudgeon. Well, when you are a quadriplegic criminalist who can't accept people's misplaced pity, you may appear rough around the edges. Lincoln follows medical advances in hope to alter his condition. This quest leads him and his assistant Amelia Sachs to the University of North Carolina Medical Center for some experimental surgery. Within hours of his arrival, Lincoln is sought out by the local Sheriff to aid in apprehending a teenage truant. This kid, nicknamed Insect Boy, is the prime suspect in the murder of a teenager and the abductions of two girls. Lincoln and Sachs are successful in catching Insect Boy but all is not well. Sachs believes that Insect Boy didn't kill the teenager and therefore helps the suspect escape. Now Lincoln must pit his forensic skills and intuition against his protege. But there are more factors influencing Sach's decision and Rhyme's work. Tanner's Corner, NC, with its swamp lands harbors a few more surprises.
Empty Chair was lots of fun. Jeffery Deaver creates multiple plots that interweave and leave the reader wondering how the plots will resolve. Deaver also likes to surprise his readers. Empty Chair is well written and is a good introduction to Jeffery Deaver's books.   L,V,S


Ex Libris by Anne Fadiman

This little book is a delightful treasure trove of literary essays. Anne Fadiman has a gift with words. Her thoughts spring from the page and amaze the reader with their descriptive beauty and eloquent prose. Fadiman allows the reader a glimpse into her familys, and her personal, bibliophilic lives. She relates how she liked to build castles when she was just four years old. Her building blocks were her fathers twenty-two volume set of Trollope. Fadiman's love of books grew as she grew; as an adult, she even chose a career in writing. After marrying the love of her life, George, the inevitable time arrived to also "marry" their respective book collections. However, Fadiman was worried because George's shelving style was quite free-spirited whereas she preferred her books to be "balkanized by nationality and subject matter." Eventually, the libraries were happily joined. The essay about carnal versus courtly love of books gave me a few chuckles. I could see myself wavering from one viewpoint to the other. I was amused by Fadiman's essay called "The Joy of Sesquipedalians." Lastly, Fadiman hits the proverbial nail on the head when she tells the reader about her "odd shelf" where she keeps an eclectic collection of books. She truthfully asserts that the odd shelf often tells more about a person's diversity than the rest of the books owned by that person.  Ex Libris is one of the finest books ever written about the pleasure of books. This book belongs on everybody's bookshelf. Anne Fadiman is gleefully afflicted with bibliomania and so am I.

 

Faithful Spy by Alex Berenson

Al Qaeda is a terror organization fighting to bring America to her knees. Al Qaeda has been John Wells’ undercover assignment for the past several years. Wells is the only CIA operative to ever infiltrate al Qaeda. Unfortunately, John didn’t know about the attacks executed on 9/11 and therefore he couldn’t warn the CIA. Since Wells has been undercover for so many years, several officials in Langley question his loyalty. But Wells’ handler Exley continues to believe in him.   Now Wells receives a new assignment from al Qaeda. He’s told to clean up, return to America, reacquaint himself with the decadent culture of the West and bide his time until further instructions. Wells contacts Exley and reports as much as he can, but his information is sketchy. Certain factions at the CIA no longer trust Wells and question his commitment. Wells escapes CIA custody and goes into hiding. Al Qaeda told Wells to return to America but Wells has no clue what is expected of him, yet. There will be a new terrorist attack but what will it be? Could it be a nuclear bomb, a dirty bomb or even a virus?   Berenson’s book is intense, scary and reads as quite plausible.

 

Fatal Voyage by Kathy Reichs

DMORT: Disaster Mortuary Operational Response Team   Commuter flight 228, flying from Atlanta to Washington, D.C., never reached its destination. Instead, the flight crashed in the North Carolina mountains, killing all 88 passengers and crew.  Temperance Brennan is among the first officials of DMORT to arrive at the horrendous crash site. She is shocked and dismayed at the carnage and inhospitable terrain. It will take all of Tempe's skills as a forensic anthropologist to piece together the mutilated bodies and identify the disfigured and dismembered passengers.  As the horrific investigation continues, Tempe discovers a foot which does not seem to belong to any of the passengers. Curiosity may have killed the cat, but curiosity also is the fuel of Tempe's life. And this lonesome foot presents a mysterious challenge.  Kathy Reichs grabs her reader's attention from the opening paragraph and she never eases the tension. This is Reichs' fourth book and I feel that it is her best book yet. She employs authentic terminology but never buries the reader in scientific or medical jargon. Tempe Brennan is a welcome addition to the mystery genre and I can hardly wait for her next adventure.  V, L

 

Final Round by William Bernhardt

Golf, the sport of luck, frustration and skill, quickly reveals the measure of a man in just a few strokes. And the ultimate test of skills and prestige is the Masters tournament played on the beautifully manicured fairways of Augusta National Golf Club in Georgia. John McCree and Conner Cross have been buddies and golf pros for years. In fact, both of them are playing in the Masters tournament. Alas, poor Conner quickly runs afoul of the persnickety rule keepers of the conservative and fastidious Augusta National Golf Club. His clothing, his manners, his language and his overall demeanor all run contrary to the Club's expectations. But Conner manages to skate along the lines of decorum. All is well until Conner makes a grisly discovery in the sand trap of the eighteenth hole. He finds the corpse of his best friend John. The murder sends shockwaves through the tournament but the game goes on. John's wife asks Conner to "investigate" her husband's murder since the police have no leads and aren't holding out any promises about solving this case quickly. But the killer isn't done and soon another body disturbs the serenity of the elitist Augusta Club. Well, William Bernhardt did it again. His latest offering is filled with humor, such as a golfer wondering if he should have brought a machete since his golf ball constantly lands in the rough, and tension as the killer strikes without fear of apprehension. From the riveting opening sentence to the unorthodox use of golf balls during the novel's finale, Final Round is engrossing.

 

Finish Line by Tom Forest

Long awaited shore leave beckoned the crew of the USS McManus when the frigate arrived in the Turkish harbor. But a terrorist attack crippled the ship and killed many of the crew including Martin Korla's brother. Martin, who is a CIA field officer, discovered months later that this attack could have been prevented. Now Martin seeks revenge through extortion. He will make the CIA pay for his brothers death!  Martin's plan for revenge is elaborate, detailed and heinous. This plan also involves Uranium 235. When a member of Martin's group is killed by police, Martin sets a trap and the bodies start adding up. Martin's co-conspirators also steal an experimental aircraft. Then they travel from California to Utah.  In their Lehi hideout, Martin's proficient co-terrorists create two nuclear bombs to threaten events of the 2002 Winter Olympics. Martin's skills, learned from years in the CIA, allow him and his group to avoid detection and capture. But no plan is ever perfect and special agent Dale Fox of the FBI is hot on Martin's trail.  Murder, mayhem, death and destruction are all offered in this exciting and fast-paced novel. Just in the first eighty pages, readers are treated to a highspeed car chase, a murderous ambush and a deadly house fire. Tom Forest's background as a former US Marine, rescue diver and fire department officer strengthens the believability of law enforcement operations in his book. The details of investigative snooping coupled with the elaborate descriptions of police procedure and weaponry create authenticity for this novel. And for Utah readers, the locales hold specific pleasures. I can hardly wait for Tom's next book.

 

First Among Equals by Jeffrey Archer
The office of Prime Minister is the highest political office in Britain. Four men, all members of Parliament, desire to be Prime Minister for the culmination of their political careers. Charles Seymour, Andrew Frazier, Simon Kerslake and Ray Gould all have varied backgrounds and political views. However, their political goal is the same. Which one of these men will become Prime Minister? Jeffrey Archer follows their lives, starting in the 1960's, for thirty years of political strive, assassination attempts, marital difficulties and the ususal trials of life.  First Among Equals is one of my favorite Archer novels. I loved the details of the British political system and the historical details skillfully woven into the story. Jeffrey Archer of course continues a trademark of his writing style by surprising the reader with a twist at the end of his novel.   L


Fourth Estate by Jeffrey Archer
This Archer novel is a variation on the themes found in Kane and Abel. Archer gives the reader two men who are at odds and become rivals. Lubji Hoch and Keith Townsend both want to control the media, the fourth estate, in their respective homelands. Each eventually wants to become an international media mogul. Their combined stories start in the post WWII era. Hoch develops his talent for media as part of a job. Townsend is heir to a media empire. They both develop callous business tactics and even let their family relationships suffer in their pursuits of their vocational goals.   Fourth Estate starts out with the ending of the novel. Yes, you read correctly. Jeffrey Archer first presents the ending, including the death of one of the characters, and then presents the story chronologically leading up to this calamitous ending. Some readers may not like this style, but Archer tells his story superbly. He mixes historical events with fictitious events and enlightens the reader about the power and influence of the fourth estate.   L


Genesis Code by John Case
In a remote Italian village, the local priest hears a startling confession from an old man. This confession so thoroughly grieves the priest that he immediately leaves to travel to Rome to report to his superiors.  Here in the United States, Joe Lassiter is enjoying a quiet evening at home when he receives a distressing phone call. His sister Kathy and her son Brandon were killed in a house fire. Investigators quickly discover that Kathy and Brandon were gruesomely murdered before their house was set on fire. Lassiter, who runs a security firm, decides to start his own investigation. The only suspect is an Italian who escapes from the prison hospital ward. As Lassiter continues his investigation, he uncovers a trail of single women and their young sons who have been murdered. The puzzle and conspiracy of these massacred innocents deepen. What did all these women have in common? They all participated in the services offered at an Italian fertility clinic. Lassiter also crosses paths with Umbra Domini, an extremely conservative Roman Catholic order based in Naples. What Lassiter eventually discovers, while running from assassins, will seriously change the field of DNA study.   Genesis Code was a page-turner for me. I got sucked into the novel from the first chapter. The action and pace stayed constant throughout the book. A reader may surmise the ending, but the last sentence still gave me reason to smile in wonder.   L, V


Gideon by Russell Andrews
Old diaries can hide secrets. Carl Granville, a New York writer, is about to find out what troubles some secrets can cause. He has been hired to write a novel based on the material of an old diary. Certain information, some dates and names, has been blacked out. The story of the diary concerns a 10-year old Southern boy who killed his handicapped baby brother. As Carl writes his novel, he becomes more intrigued by the story. Carl is surprised when the editor who commissioned this book is killed. The surprises continue when nobody at the publisher knows about Carl's project. Then Carl's apartment is ransacked and the few finished pages of the novel are stolen. Carl doesn't know what is going on. His upstairs neighbor is killed and Carl becomes the prime suspect for both killings. To clear his name, and uncover the truth behind the diary, Carl enlists the help of a newspaper editor. As he and his "partner" follow the journal's clues, the mystery deepens. Unbeknown to them, a killer follows close on their trail and eliminates most everybody they talk to. What is the mystery of this diary? Who is behind all the killings?
Gideon is a cool political thriller. The bodies add up quickly as the mystery deepens. The intensity and drive of this novel increase with each page. There's even an amazing surprise. Gideon is a must read novel.
L,V,S


Hades Factor by Robert Ludlum and Gayle Lynds

A homeless man in Boston tries to steal a bottle of Advil from a drug store. The man is apprehended and arrested. During the arrest, the man is roughed up a little and then shows signs of respiratory distress. He is rushed to the hospital but dies en route. In fact, the backseat of the squad car is bathed in the homeless man's blood.  In Atlanta, a high school girl complains to her mom of having flu-like symptoms. Suddenly this girl gets really sick and her mom rushes her to the emergency room. Just a few short hours later, the girl is dead. Her body bled out completely.  An Army major in California also is plagued by flu-like symptoms which suddenly worsen. He also suffers a similarly bloody death.  What do these three individuals have in common? That is the riddle that Dr. Sophia Russell of the Unites States Army Medical Research Institute for Infectious Diseases, USAMRIID, has to solve. But no answers are forthcoming. Eventually, all hot zone type level four laboratories worldwide are asked to help identify this virus. Dr. Russell receives some information which could lead to clues about the virus origin but she is killed before she can act on that information.  Her fiancé, Lt. Col. Jonathan Smith also works for the USAMRIID. Upon his return from a European trip, Smith barely escapes several attempts on his life. When he finally returns to Fort Detrick, home of USAMRIID, Smith immediately delves into the mystery surrounding his lover's death. But Smith can find no clues as to what this virus might be. He does discover that Sophia was purposefully infected with this deadly virus. Who is spreading this virus and why? Robert Ludlum and Gayle Lynds have combined their literary talents in taking an old plot and infusing it with new blood. Hades Factor, the first book in the Covert-One series, surprised me a couple of times. The story is well thought out and written. I'm looking forward to the next novel in this series.    V, L

 

Hart's War by John Katzenbach
Legal thrillers usually take place in a stuffy courtroom. In Hart's War, the courtroom consists of barracks in Stalag Luft 13, a WWII German POW camp located in the Bavarian woods.  Tommy Hart is the sole survivor of his B-25. Tommy had been studying law before the war. Upon his capture, Tommy fills out an International Red Cross form notifying his family that he is alive. He also requests a copy of a law text so that he can continue studying while being held captive. All prisoners in Stalag Luft 13 are airmen and all prisoners are Caucasian.  However, the camps homogenous populace soon finds its peace disturbed when a new prisoner, Lincoln Scott, arrives. Lincoln is a black pilot, one of the Tuskegee Airmen. Racial conflicts arise shortly after Lincolns arrival. A few days later, the main racist is found murdered and Lincoln is the prime suspect. Now it becomes Tommy's responsibility to defend Lincoln against the murder charges. Tommy enlists the help of two fellow prisoners, a Canadian detective and a London barrister, to defend Lincoln. The Nazis allow the trial to go on and even send an observer to guarantee the fairness of the trial.   Katzenbach has taken historical events and tailored them to fit his fictional drama. Hart's War is far more than just a legal thriller. This novel also presents a moral dilemma. Is it ethically acceptable to sacrifice one man for the benefit of others? Do the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the one?
L, V


Headwind by John Nance

The captain of an airplane is responsible for the safety of his passengers. Captain Craig Dayton has been a commercial pilot for a number of years. Currently, he pilots a Boeing 737 for a German airline. Among Dayton's passengers is a former U.S. president, John Harris.  Interpol warrants are honored by most countries of the world, and Peru has issued an Interpol warrant for John Harris' arrest. During his administration, Harris supposedly green-lighted a CIA-led attack on a biological weapons factory. All the workers were tortured to death and Peru holds Harris responsible for this massacre. The internationally recognized Treaty Against Torture allows Peru to issue an Interpol arrest warrant. When Greek officials in Athens try to board the plane to arrest Harris, Captain Dayton fears for the safety of the former president. Dayton eases his jet back from the gate and takes off from a vacant runway, all without proper clearance.  Losing his licence is the least of Dayton's worries. His plane doesn't carry enough fuel to fly all the way to America. Dayton must find a safe place to land where President Harris will not be arrested. However, the Interpol warrant is valid nearly everywhere. Once the plane lands, a legal battle will ensue.  Headwind is more than just an airplane adventure. Nance's novel deftly mixes international politics, legal acrobatics and exciting aviation. Nance also gives the reader an insight into the power wielded by nations and how that power can be misused. Headwind entertains and is well-written.

 

The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova

Drakulya, the name strikes fear into the hearts of men. But who was Dracula? Just some blood sucking incarnation of evil who would increase his legions of followers by biting men and women on the neck, or was he an actual historical figure? According to history, Dracula was actually Vlad Ţepeş of Wallachia, a sadistic Carpathian ruler in the 1400's. Bela Lugosi may have played the "Count" on the silver screen, but none of Hollywood’s portrayals ever even came close to the actual barbarous nature of the monster. Vlad Ţepeş was known as the Impaler in honor of one of his favorite torture methods. His life intertwined with the conquests and defeats of the Ottoman Empire.  The Historian starts with odd letters, all having a melancholy tone and a troubling message. An ancient book, displaying a disturbing woodcut of a fierce dragon, finds its way into the possession of a historian who then becomes almost obsessed with researching the Dracula myth. And this historian isn’t the only possessor of such a book.   Kostova’s novel is beautifully written and will make a pleasant book club assignment. However, even at its most exciting, The Historian just was not that exciting in my opinion. But I still found myself compelled to finish reading the book.

 

House on Hope Street by Danielle Steel
Liz and Jack Sutherland have been happily married for eighteen years. Their marriage is as perfect as it can be. Jack still remembers to romance Liz on a regular basis. They are best friends. They work together in their successful law practice. Perhaps, being divorce lawyers has helped them keep their marriage alive and thriving. Every day, their five children lovingly await their arrival home from work. Peter is the oldest, then there are three sisters; Annie, Rachel and Megan. Lastly, there is Jamie. Jamie is the jewel of the family. Liz experienced major complications during Jamies pregnancy and birth. He was born early and had suffered oxygen loss to his brain. This condition makes Jamie a slow learner, but it also allows him to speak his mind without guile. If he likes something or someone, he says so. If he doesnt like something, Jamie also gives his opinion. Liz and Jack, with the help of their housekeeper Carole, manage to juggle their careers and their family responsibilities successfully. Life is nearly idyllic in the Sutherland home on Hope Street. Then on Christmas morning, their crystal ball of happiness is shattered irrevocably!   Now Liz must live her life without her best friend and confidant. The children must learn to live without the support of their Dad. Depression sets in at the Sutherland home. The children, especially Peter, mature to cope with their situation. Every holiday is a painful reminder of what they have lost. Will laughter and cheer ever again reign within the walls of the Home on Hope Street?
House... is one of Danielle Steel's smaller format novels. This limits the number of pages D. Steel can use to develop her story. Everything happens fairly quickly in this novel. The story was still entertaining enough, but House... is more of a womans book.


Indwelling by Tim LaHay and Jerry Jenkins
It has been three and a half years since the Rapture. The seven years of tribulation are half over. Nicolae Carpathia is dead and the whole world witnessed his assassination. The various members of the Tribulation Force are in dire need of divine protection. Rayford Steele must escape from Israel before he is apprehended by Global Community security forces for the murder of Carpathia. Did Steele kill Nicolae, the self-appointed Global Community potentate? Meanwhile, Buck Williams is trying to rescue Chaim Rosenzweig. Dr. Rosenzweig also had plans to assassinate Carpathia. As Chloe Williams and Tsion Ben-Judah follow the shocking events on TV, Global Community security forces increase their efforts of locating the safe house where Chloe and Tsion are hiding. Will the safe house be compromised? All members of the Tribulation Force belief that Nicolae will rise again, but nobody knows when or where. Leon Fortunato, GC supreme commander, orders Nicolaes body to lie in state. Millions of people travel to New Babylon to pay their respects. But everybody is in for a surprise.  Indwelling is book seven of the Left Behind series. This religious series of adventure and intrigue is easy to read and holds the readers interest. You may not agree with the authors and their interpretation of scripture, but you can't fault their story telling. I have enjoyed this series and I will finish reading this series of books.


Irresistible by Ethan Black
Some secrets can fall into the wrong hands. Nora Clay has discovered some of these secrets. She has made it her mission to extract payment from certain men for their secrets. When Nora desires, she can be seductive, sexy and devastatingly beguiling. Her first victim never realizes his plight until Nora plunges her knife into his neck!   It is the middle of Manhattan's worst heat wave in twelve years and sex crimes detective Conrad Voort is distracted by two women in his life when he is assigned this latest vexing case. Arriving at the murder scene, Voort and his partner quickly realize that the killer cleaned the location thoroughly. But there is a message angrily scrawled on the wall: "I KNOW YOU." Voort now must dive into the victim's life and search for any clues. But this task is hopeless until the next similar murder happens. Who is killing and mutilating these men and why? As Voort attempts to solve these crimes, Norah prepares for her next victim. By the way, Conrad Voort, New York's most eligible bachelor, is also on Norah's list.   Irresistible is a compelling thriller which I found hard to put down. Ethan Black again has penned a captivating novel which follows chronologically the events of his first book. But Black writes his story in such a way that a reader doesn't need to be familiar with the first book to enjoy Irresistible.
V,S,L

 

Jester by James Patterson and Andrew Gross

When you think about the Holy Crusades, what comes to mind? Courageous knights in shining armor riding their brave horses against the pagan infidels who are defiling holy sites? Or, do you realize that not all participants in the Crusades were even properly outfitted or of noble birth? Why did even common serfs join the Crusades? Because they believed the Pope's propaganda that the Holy Land was being defiled and that any participant in the Crusades will receive riches, honor in battle and will sit in "Heaven at the feet of our grateful Lord." Pope Urban even promised to protect the families of Crusaders.  When Hugh De Luc joins the Crusades, he hopes to also gain his freedom from vassalage. Hugh leaves his beloved Sophie in their small French village and joins the Army of the Crusade. This army consists of a few nobles and many common men. The trip to the Holy Land takes many months; the travel conditions take their toll on the Crusaders and morale is low. Finally, the Crusaders reach Antioch, a heavily fortified walled city which houses religious artifacts and is controlled by the Turks. Many Crusaders die during the following attacks on the fortress. Dismemberments, rolling heads, skin burned off by boiling oil and arrows through necks are just a few ways that the brave Crusaders meet their mortal ends. Hugh survives through luck and skill and recognizes the futility of the Crusade. He becomes a deserter and returns to his village only to find more heartache and pain. Sophie may be dead and his home has been destroyed. Hugh suspects who his enemies are and plots his revenge. His plan involves becoming a jester. And before I forget, the hunt for a sacred mysterious relic creates more misery for many villagers.  Patterson and Gross bring the degradation, terror, and misconception of the Crusades to life. Jester is filled with ribald humor, bawdiness and violence. Unfortunately, multiple sexual encounters and coarse language, including many variations of the "f-" word, detract from the enjoyment of this novel. I found Jester entertaining but I would have liked it more if there had been less adult content. L, V, S

 

King of Torts by John Grisham

Washington, D.C. is not only the seat of government but also a city plagued by rampant crime. Random shootings are a nearly daily occurrence and Pumpkin is just one of the latest victims. His killer, Tequila Watson, was seen and identified and is quickly caught. At Watson's arraignment, Clay Carter from the OPD, Office of Public Defender, is assigned to defend Watson. When Carter investigates Watson's background, he finds an all too familiar story of robberies, arrests, juvenile troubles and rehab centers. And Watson even admits to shooting Pumpkin for no apparent reason!  Clay Carter has been working for the OPD for five long years. He is burned out and in desperate need for a change of vocation, or at least some new direction. This new direction comes in the guise of a mysterious stranger calling himself Max. Max represents a certain pharmaceutical company which has a problem that could cost the company enormous amounts of money unless the vexing problem is resolved quickly. The problem involves the illegal testing of a new drug on unsuspecting human subjects living in rehab centers including the center Watson attended last. In a few of the takers, this new drug creates an insane desire to kill for no obvious reason. Several random killings have already been traced to test subjects and the drug manufacturer wants to pay the victims' families. Max is offering Clay the chance to change his life, earn far more than he ever would in the OPD and bring some recompense to the families of the victims. Clay accepts the offer, changes career paths and opens his own office. Max is pleased with Clay's work and soon offers another case to Clay. This case involves mass litigation, torts. Clay accepts, grows confident in his work and earns a hefty fee in the process. He hungrily awaits the next case of mass litigation. But along the way of success and wealth, Clay discovers that his character has changed.  Grisham peppers King of Torts with detailed locales, explanations of the tort system and high finance. This novel also appears to be preaching against mass litigation, although Grisham may not have intended to do that. King of Torts is entertaining in an average way. It isn't Grisham's best novel nor his worst. But it will give readers insight into an aspect of the legal profession that many people consider to be a blight.

 

Lake House by James Patterson

Baking for fifteen minutes at 3600 degrees Fahrenheit will alter a human body from flesh and bones to a nice pile of ashes. And incineration is a perfect way to dispose of the used-up bodies remaining from Dr. Kane's experiments at the Hospital. Who is Dr. Kane? He is a modern-day Mengele who knows about six peculiar children who will become unwilling celebrities in the next few days.  Who are these children? They are the only survivors rescued from the School, a clandestine laboratory specializing in genetic engineering. Each of these children was injected with avian DNA as an embryo. When the mothers approached their due dates, they underwent cesarean sections and were told that their fetuses had died. Some of the children were locked up in cages for future studies.   Frannie O'Neill and her friend Thomas Brennan rescued the children from the School and cared for them at a secret location for a few weeks. The children grew close to Frannie and Thomas. This has made it extremely difficult for the six unique children to live with their birth parents. Therefore, Frannie and Thomas are seeking custody of the children. To make matters even more difficult, Max, the twelve-year-old girl, fears for her life and the lives of her "siblings." While working at the School, Max read some records which could prove deadly to her if revealed. Dr. Kane's name was prominently mentioned in the papers along with an item called the Resurrection ProjectLake House can be read as a stand-alone novel but it is the sequel to Patterson's When the Wind Blows. Patterson's usual breezy style and short chapters briskly move the narrative along and keep readers turning the pages quickly. I found this book exciting and fun to read. Is this type of genetic engineering possible? Readers will need to decide for themselves. Since Lake House ended with a surprise, Patterson will likely write a sequel.     L

 

The Last Juror by John Grisham

Who is Willie Traynor? He is the new owner of the Ford County Times, a weekly, and ofttimes weakly, Mississippi newspaper. Does Traynor have specific journalism training? No! But it is 1970 and Traynor at the ripened age of twenty-three figures that he can run the Times as well as the previous owner. However, Ford County is a quiet place and exciting news items nearly have to be invented. Then a single mother is brutally murdered and Traynor covers the thrilling story in all its gory detail in his paper.   Before she died, the woman revealed her killer, a local good-for-nothing loser named Danny Padgitt. The Padgitt family has been involved in various crimes in Ford County for nearly one hundred years. So Danny doesn’t worry about his trial. In fact, he threatens the jurors and warns them about declaring him guilty of the crime. But the jurors find Danny guilty. Unfortunately, the jurors are locked in a stalemate regarding punishment and Danny is sentenced to life in prison. But in 1970 Mississippi, a life sentence can last for less than a decade.  While Danny is in prison, the good people of Ford County go on with their lives. The Times prospers and Traynor continues to become accepted, albeit slowly, by his readers. Of course, some readers still feel concerns about Traynor’s Northern upbringing and his liberal views. Then Danny is released and the tranquility of Ford County is shattered when the first of the jurors is killed!   Grisham has shown in past novels that he is a good writer but Last Juror is only a mediocre book. I was drawn into the story until the end of the trial. After that point, Grisham turned his thriller into a narrative about small-town Mississippi politics, desegregation and newspaper woes. However, Grisham regained his focus and provided an adequate ending to this novel.

 

Last Valentine by James M. Pratt

What is the definition of true love? Does true love really exist? Susan Allison questions the existence of true love but her television producer insists that Susan interviews a gentleman, Neil Thomas, Jr., for a Valentine's Day special.  Neil's parents had a fifty-year long love affair and now is the time for Neil to tell their story. Susan isn't so sure that she can cover this story properly. She prefers to do stories about real and gritty news; Bosnia, death row, politics, etc.  Caroline and Neil got married on Valentines Day 1943. Neil was a Navy pilot and a year later, on their 1st wedding anniversary, he and Caroline said good-bye. WWII interfered with their blissful marriage. Neil never returned but Caroline would faithfully travel to Union Station every Valentine's Day to await his return. She longed for Neil's tender embrace and loving kiss. She needed Neil to be a father to his son who was born a few months after Neil left.  What had happened to Neil? He was shot down, nearly died and eventually joined a group of Filipino guerrillas. Neil wrote to Caroline as often as he could. In these letters he bared his soul and told Caroline how the War had changed and even hardened him. His letters revealed his personal fears and throbbing emotional pain. He feared the death of love.  While interviewing Neil, Jr., and reading his father's letters, Susan falls in love with Neil, Jr. However, she doesn't want to follow her heart.  I loved The Last Valentine. James Pratt's simple prose immerses the reader in the beauty of true love and devotion. Numerous romance novels and love stories are written every year but none that I have read even come close to the grandeur of The Last Valentine.

 

Letter of the Law by Tim Green
Marcia Sales is a beautiful and well-liked co-ed studying law at the University of Texas. At least, she was beautiful until her paperboy discovered her eviscerated body in her apartment.   Bolinger, the investigative officer, has several suspects. His list even includes the dead girls father. However, the prime suspect seems to be Eric Lipton, a world-famous professor of criminal law. Marcia had attended one of Liptons seminars. Lipton supposedly fears the abuse of police power regarding his case when he decides to flee. But he is apprehended near the airport. Liptons luggage is searched and a very personal and bloody item of Marcias clothing is found. According to Lipton, he and Marcia become romantically involved after the lecture. He claims that the lingerie was a memento.   Casey Jordan, a former student of Liptons, is driven by success. She takes on the news-making cases to further her career. When Lipton hires her to defend him, Casey sees her opportunity to really make an impact. But all through the trial, she is uneasy with some of the evidence and with Liptons attitude toward the grizzly murder. Finally the trial is over. The verdict is about to be read when Lipton leans toward Casey and whispers in her ear: "I...." Casey now questions all her fervor about law.   What I have described so far only covers the first half of the book. Tim Green is no Grisham, but he has written an engaging legal thriller. Green has learned how to tie up all the loose strings. In fact, my favorite line of dialogue comes from the epilogue. Greens epilogue makes a perfect ending to this novel. This is a skill that some more seasoned writers have not mastered as well.
L, V, S


Letters for Emily by Cameron Steve Wright

"My garden has taught me that every living thing must die.  I have watched it happen now for scores of years - I only wish that I could have a few more summers in my garden with Emily."  These are the words of Harry Whitney. Alzheimer's disease has rotted his mind and his body is following suit. Harry is dying. He doesn't blame people for laughing at him when he becomes forgetful, nor for pitying him as he suffers dementia. Harry just hopes that his friends and family will remember him as he was before the disease struck, instead of remembering him as an old and querulous man.  He has several grand kids but he loves Emily best. She lives close by and her mom, Laura, brings Emily over for visits regularly. Emily's parents, Laura and Bob, have their own problems. Bob has moved out and there appears to be little hope for reconciliation.  Harry enjoyed writing stories and poems before his mind became addled. Now he writes as much as he can during his few daily moments of lucidity.  After Harry's death, Bob and Laura search through Harry's house for important documents. Their search is unsuccessful but they do find a book filled with Harry's poems. These poems at first appear senseless but Emily and Laura quickly discover a hidden message in the first poem. The secret messages allude to hidden files on Harry's computer. Each file is a letter to Emily and each letter also illustrates a principle. Will these messages bring back happiness to Emily's parents? Letters for Emily is a wonderful book. Camron Wright's simple and sensitive novel is filled with charity and goodwill. Letters... also pays homage to the importance of family. Everybody should read this book.

 

Lighthouse Keeper by James Pratt
This delightful story of personal and family trials, tribulations and triumphs will appeal to all readers. The events cover several decades of 20th Century history. James Pratt allows his readers to share his characters lives as he introduces the reader to Peter, Billie, Anna, Katie and Kathleen.  Life is a struggle but it also has its rewards. As I was reading, I felt empathy for the characters. I laughed with them; I cried with them. I experienced their misery and I experienced their joy.   Seldom has a book tugged at my heart and emotions as much as Lighthouse Keeper did. James Pratt has not just written a wonderful novel, but also a book that teaches a moral.


Link by Walt Becker
Archeology, anthropology, sociology, and various other -ologies play an integral part of this novel. Samantha Colby and her team have discovered a skeleton of humanoid but not human origin. In addition, they discovered an artifact composed of metal not found on Earth. Colby asks her former lover, Jack Austin, to assist with the solving of the mystery stirred up by this find. Austin has long proposed the interaction of extraterrestrials with early man, but he has been the laughing stock of the scientific community. Perhaps now, his theory will be proven. As Colby and Austin unravel more clues, their journey takes them from Central Africa to the Andes in Bolivia. What they discover there will cast serious doubts on some evolutionary beliefs.  Link was great fun. Walt Becker researched his subject extensively. Then he combined his facts with fiction to present an excellent adventure novel which plays with the readers preconceived notions and ideas. I even read the bibliography and I was surprised at all the sources Becker consulted. You can read Link just for fun. But you can also read Link to gain a different view of human evolution.
L,V


Lion's Game by Nelson DeMille
Asad Khalil is the Lion. He earned this nickname because of his terrorism skills. Asad lost his Dad to murder and the rest of his family to the 1986 American bombing of Libya. As a result, Asad has dedicated his life to ridding the world of infidels, i.e. the Americans. Under Quaddafis leadership, Asad has honed his skills as a terrorist on the international stage. Now he is ready to wreak havoc on America. The Lion surrenders to U.S. authorities in Europe and is transported to the U.S. on a commercial flight. When this plane lands, all passengers and crew are dead. Except Asad of course, he escapes and starts his killing spree. John Corey and Kate Mayfield are both members of the ATTF (Anti-Terrorist Task Force). As such, they are on Asads trail but always seem to be lagging behind. What is Asads final destination and goal? The answer makes for an interesting surprise.   Lion's Game is a good book overall but does drag in places. DeMille has a fun chase thriller here but it is a bit wordier than I think it needed to be. I have enjoyed previous books by DeMille and I will keep reading his works.
L,V,S


Lost Classics: Writers on Books Loved and Lost, Overlooked, Under-read, Unavailable, Stolen, Extinct, or Otherwise Out of Commission edited by M. Ondaatje, M. Redhill, E. Spalding & L. Spalding

The title may be lengthy but defines this compilation perfectly. Lost Classics is an immensely delightful treasure trove remembering long lost literary gems. Many essays will spur the reader into finding the "lost classic" described by the particular essay. I now that I'll be looking for some of these titles. Let me share a couple of my favorite portions of this collection.  Margaret Atwood recalls her "lost classic," an unsettling novel called Doctor Glas. This short novel published in 1905 proved scandalous for its treatment of abortion, euthanasia, sex and death.  Christian Bök piqued my curiosity with her description of her "lost classic" Codex Seraphinianus by Luigi Serafini. Bök tells the reader that "Codex invites cryptanalysis." She also admits that this fantastical treasure has eluded her earnest searches; she does not own a copy.  Not all Lost Classics essays will appeal to all readers, in fact, some material may offend. However, every bibliophile will discover something to savor in this collection. I was especially pleased to read about books that I already own. And, of course, I've discovered new "lost classics" that I would like to read.

 

Man of teh Hour by Peter Blauner
David Fitzgerald teaches English at a high school in Coney Island. Usually, he can at least reach and teach some of his students. But unfortunately, this isn't always the case. Nasser Hamdy has been influenced by his heritage and hatred. Nasser is Palestinian and has fallen in with the wrong crowd, terrorists who convince him to plant a bomb on a school bus. Fitzgerald's class is scheduled to use this particular bus for a field trip. For some reason, David keeps most of his students, except a pregnant teen, from boarding the bus. When the bomb explodes, David even risks his own life to save this teenager. At first, the media praise David for his courageous act of heroism but then doubts begin to form. David is accused and tried for the bombing by the media. His life is sinking fast. Will anybody help him?   Man of the Hour portraits clearly what can happen to a person's life if erroneous media information isn't corrected quickly and convincingly. Peter Blauner has written a good thriller and at the same time enforces the point that anybody's life can be ruined. Your reputation may not survive against the media.
L

The Mark (Left Behind #8) by Tim LaHaye and Jerry B. Jenkins

"He is risen...He is risen indeed."  "Your goose is cooked" so to speak. Satan is now dwelling in the body of Nicolae Carpathia and the remaining years of tribulation have just become the Great Tribulation. As the world watched in awe, fear or terror, Nicolae was resurrected by the power of the evil one. Now Satan, in the guise of Nicolae, will rule the nonbelievers of the world.  All inhabitants of the world are expected to accept the Global Community mark. This consists of a bio-chip placed below the skin of the forehead or the back of the right hand. Without this mark, a person will not be able to sell or purchase any goods. This loathsome mark, this vile invasion of the God given and beautifully created human body, will also serve as identification and loyalty mark. Can a person refuse to accept the mark? Of course, but the impending disciplinary action will leave a person headless, literally. All Global Community loyalty mark application sites also include a loyalty enforcement facilitator. This contraption is nothing less than a guillotine! Soon, believers of Christ, incarcerated in Greece, face this deadly device. Buck Williams and another member of the Tribulation Force witness the atrocity of the loyalty enforcement facilitator.  The members of the Tribulation Force disguise their new safe house and continue their work of bringing the Truth to the rest of the world. But the destruction in New Babylon and the combative actions set in motion by Nicolae bring sorrow and personal loss to some of our friends.  Meanwhile, Rayford Steel questions his power of leadership. He has seen so much destruction and loss of life. Rayford now wonders if perhaps he has become unfeeling and indecisive. But a visit with a revered friend helps Rayford to recognize his own value as the Leader of the Trib Force.   The Mark, the eighth entry in the Left Behind series, nicely advances this excellent series. I enjoy the adventure and religious excitement.

 

Midnight Runner by Jack Higgins

"Death is a midnight runner." - Arab Proverb   Death has been a friend, and more recently, a foe to the Rashid family. Justice demanded a price and Lady Rashid's brothers paid the ultimate price for their treachery. They had tried to assassinate the U.S. president but failed. Now Lady Rashid has sworn vengeance against all involved in saving the president and killing her brothers. As part of her plan, Lady Rashid - half British aristocracy, half Arab Beduin - will bring America to her knees. And of course murder Sean Dillon.  Sean Dillon was one of the IRA's most feared enforcers. But his luck ran out a few years ago and death was coming for him. Then General Charles Ferguson, who works for the British Ministry of Defense and answers only to the current prime minister, rescued Sean. Now Sean exercises his demolition and warfare skills for the British instead of against them. He also is investigating Rashid Enterprises.  Daniel Quinn became a hero during Vietnam. He followed his goals, dabbled in politics and eventually became an advisor and trouble shooter for the U.S. Pres. Cazalet. And Cazalet has asked Daniel to look into the affairs of Rashid Enterprises. Harassment and retribution start against Daniel and Dillon as soon as they stir the Rashid nest. Lady Rashid's charitable organizations are fronts for terrorist training grounds.  Midnight Runner is the sequel to Higgins' Edge of Danger. The action is swift, the locations exotic and the reader is entertained. Higgins may not deluge his readers with superfluous detail but he keeps his readers turning pages. I find Higgins' books addictive and a good change of pace from cumbersome thrillers.   L

 

Name of teh Rose by Umberto Eco
The year is 1327, just a few years into the dark era of history known as the Middle Ages. Religion is austere. Brother William, and his helper Adso, arrive at an Italian abbey on a diplomatic mission. During William's stay, several Franciscan monks are gruesomely murdered. The pattern of the killings reflects the Book of Revelation. Brother William decides to investigate the cruel murders. His quest leads him into the complex world of abbey life. He finds mysteries built upon mysteries. Arcane clues, found in religious and other writings, guide Brother William through the physical maze of the abbey. The labyrinthine library especially is a treasure trove of ominous and enigmatic clues. Religious and political subplots abound. Who is killing the Franciscans and why?   Name of the Rose is a magnificent novel. Umberto Eco has written a scholarly discourse on world and religious history camouflaged as a mystery. He has also written a mystery novel concealing a scholarly discourse on religious and world history. What I'm saying is that Name of the Rose can be experienced on many levels. It is an incredibly enriching work of literature.
V


Nanny Diaries by Emma McLaughlin & Nicola Kraus

Why would you want to become a nanny? For the money, the privilege, the cultural exposure? No!! Your pay will not be great, the family will use you as an all-around gofer and the parents have too many rules and too little interest in their children. At least that was what the authors experienced when they were nannies. And in Nanny Diaries, they fictionalize their adventures.  Nanny survived her interview with Mrs. X and has been hired to tend Grayer, the X's four-year-old son. The X's New York Park Avenue apartment is huge but Grayer is not allowed to play in most of the rooms. His diet also is restrictive, mostly organic, and his daily schedule is full, including French lessons. The "rich" do things differently, even showy. Nanny's first Halloween with the X family becomes a nightmare of overpriced rented costumes and unhappy children at the catered party at Mr. X's office. Nanny also discovers Mr. X in a compromising situation at this party but what should Nanny do?  Mrs. X has perfected the "spatula" greeting whenever Grayer approaches her. This seriously bugs Nanny. Other grievances include a ludicrous Christmas gift, no bonus, and belated payment for her work. But Nanny stays at her job because she loves Grayer. You will howl with laughter and outrage as you read Nanny Diaries. The authors bring their former jobs to life, dropping names of all the important clothing brands along the way. New York nannies deal with doormen, taxi cabs, and expensive deliveries. And if the marriage is falling apart, the nanny must also shelter her charge from the ugly scenes. This book provides a fun glimpse into the world of a nanny. Unfortunately, New Yorkers favorite word appears often.   L

 

Not a Penny More, Not a Penny Less by Jeffrey Archer
Fraud and revenge are the central themes of this novel. People love to make easy money in any way possible. However, investors are prey to scams. Well, Harvey Metcalfe has designed a million-dollar scam. He is selling stock in his newly formed North Sea oil drilling company. The company exists on paper, but no oil rigs are in operation. Harvey fleeces his gullible investors and then disappears. However, four men want to get their money back from Harvey. These men include an English lord, a French art dealer, an Oxford don and a society physician. As a group, these men decide to not only get their money back, but to also charge Harvey for all of their incurred expenses. But they are fair, they dont want to overcharge Harvey. Thus the title Not a Penny More, Not a Penny Less. Each man must devise a plan to trick Harvey into paying back some of the money he stole.   The devious plans which are hatched, the deviltry in action, make Not a Penny More,... the funniest Archer book I have read. Harvey will experience the shock of revenge in several ways. He will even have unnecessary surgery. For Harvey's victims, well-simmered revenge is a sweet dish.


A Painted House by John Grisham

Luke Chandler is your average seven year old farm boy. His parents and grandparents are cotton farmers. September has arrived and it is harvest time. The year is 1952.  Luke's brother Ricky can't help with the harvesting. Ricky is serving Uncle Sam in Korea. The Chandlers can't harvest all their cotton by themselves, so they hire helpers; hill people and Mexicans. Leon Spruill and his family hire on with the Chandlers for the season. Cotton picking is arduous, monotonous and back breaking work. Luke tells the reader: "My fingers would bleed, my neck would burn, my back would hurt." Cotton farmers also never really succeeded financially. If the harvest was good, the farmer could break even. Therefore, the hardworking men who were cotton farmers were entitled to be pessimistic about the weather and the crops.  This harvest will be different for Luke. He is bewitched by the beauty of 17-year-old Tally Spruill and he is intimidated by her brother Hank. As the harvest progresses, Luke is also burdened with several secrets. Thankfully, most days end with some pleasant entertainment. Luke and his family cherish the time they have to gather around their radio and listen to the Cardinals play baseball.  A Painted House is a distinct departure from Grisham's usual literary fare. In various interviews, Grisham has even stated that this novel is partially autobiographical. John Grisham gently inserts the reader into the world of a seven-year-old farm boy during the cotton harvest. This story isn't fast-moving but it is well-written. Grisham shows that he can write family sagas. However, personally, I prefer his legal thrillers.

 

Paris Option (Covert-One #3) by Robert Ludlum & Gayle Lynds

It was a beautiful and tranquil spring night in Paris when an explosion at the Pasteur Institute tore apart the peace. The destroyed building housed Dr. Emile Chambord's laboratory. And Dr. Chambord was working on a DNA computer. A functioning DNA computer, with its immense computing power and biological components, represents the Holy Grail of computer technology. Unfortunately, Dr. Chambord was killed in the accident and it appears that all of his lab notes were also destroyed. Within days of this disaster, U.S. military communications and public utilities are purposefully, but only temporarily, interrupted. Only a hacker with a workable DNA computer would have been able to accomplish this cyber-crime. The U.S. president needs to know to what extend America's defenses are at risk and he calls Fred Klein of Covert-One to find the answer. And Klein gives this assignment to Jon Smith.  Smith flies to Paris to start his investigation. While following clues in Paris, Smith notices that he is being tailed but he can't figure out by whom. Then Chambord's adult daughter is kidnaped. As Smith continues his hunt for answers, he encounters operatives from other international agencies and he discovers a conspiracy with worldwide ramifications. Ludlum and Lynds blend their writing talents quite nicely in this fast paced novel. Carefully selected details generate the local flavors of each international locale. Paris Option hastens through various European settings and keeps the reader captivated.

 

Patient by Michael Palmer
Medical technology is constantly advancing. Biomechanics in conjunction with radiology form the latest frontiers of medicine. The latest tool in this frontier is ARTIE, Assisted Robotic Tissue Incision and Extraction. Dr. Jessie Copeland is a neurosurgeon at Eastern Mass Medical Center. She has been very successful in her practice and ARTIE is her current project. ARTIE works, but is this robot ready to operate on a living patient? Dr. Carl W. Gilbride, Chief of Neurosurgery, thinks so. Dr. Gilbride should be named Gilpride. His ego eclipses anything else in his life. Without Jessies knowledge, Gilbride arranges to use ARTIE during the brain tumor removal surgery of a world famous figure skater. The operation is a success and the eyes of the world become focused on Eastern Mass Medical Center. Dr. Gilbride is basking in the media attention, but Dr. Copeland urges caution. Unfortunately, it is too late for caution. Claude Malloche, a nefarious terrorist who has been diagnosed with a brain tumor, has decided to have the ARTIE assisted operation. Claude and his henchmen infiltrate the hospital. They hold Drs. Gilbride and Copeland, several nurses and several neurosurgery patients as hostages until Malloche has recovered from his surgery. What will go wrong? Who will die? Read the book!   I've always enjoyed Palmer's novels. He keeps current with medical practices. Then he interweaves medical-what-could-be with present medical technology and gives the reader a finely written and exciting novel. Patient did not disappoint and I'm looking forward to the next Palmer novel.
L,V


Pay It Forward by Catherine R. Hyde
Design a plan to change the world. Well, that is the extra credit assignment Mr. St.Clair gives to his social studies class. Trevor accept this challenge wholeheartedly. He decides to do a good deed for a person and then commit that person to do good deeds for three people. Each of these three people would then commit to do good deeds for three people, and so forth. Trevor callS his idea paying it forward. At first, Trevor's plan seems to fail, but Trevor doesn't give up. Like all grassroots efforts, paying it forward gains momentum slowly. However, the idea excites the populace and brings out the best in people. Trevor, his divorced mom, and Mr. St.Clair are even invited to the White House to receive an award.   I liked the concept of Pay It Forward but I didn't like the execution of this concept. Catherine R. Hyde presented her novel from different viewpoints which interfered with the flow of her novel. Her characters also swore more often than I felt was necessary for this feel good novel. I have mixed feelings about this book. However, Pay... does present a morale and a plan for societal change.
L,S

Prometheus Deception by Robert Ludlum
What is the Directorate? It is an ultra-covert government agency which has been Nick Brysons employer for the past fifteen years. Nick would travel around the globe from trouble spot to trouble spot and accomplish the Directorate's goals. Nick was a master of disguise and had numerous aliases, with the corresponding identification papers, at his disposal. Unfortunately, Nick's last mission was a disaster and the Directorate gave him a choice to either retire or be sanctioned, also known as assassinated. Nick changed his identity and became Jonas Barrett, a professor at Woodbridge College.
Now five years later, Nick is visited by Harry Dunne, the deputy director of the CIA. Dunne tells Nick that the Directorate was not a U.S. government agency. In fact, Dunne says that the Directorate was organized by former members of the Russian KGB. Nick is shocked and doesnt want to believe that he had been duped for so many years. Dunne presents plausible evidence supporting his claims. Now he needs Nick to reassert his position with the Directorate and snoop out what their latest mission is. As Nick re-enters the dark world of espionage, he soon remembers that not everything is as it appears. His former employer has assigned a hit squad to eliminate Nick and another group known as Prometheus also wants him dead. Whom can Nick trust? What are the criminal goals of Prometheus and the Directorate?
I hadn't read a Ludlum novel in a couple of years because I had lost interest in his work. But Prometheus Deception was well worth my time. Ludlum uses current news headlines to twist his intricate plot into multiple knots and then continues to ambush the reader.
L, V


Putt At the End of the World by L. Abbott, D. Barry, R. Bausch, J. Crumley, J. Hall, T. Hoag, T. O'Brien, R. Pearson and L. Standiford.
Phillip Bates is a billionaire computer mogul. Bates' company Macrodyne Software has developed a new operating system. Bates also wants to inaugurate his world-class golf course in Scotland. Many acres of ancient forest were cut down to make room for the golf course. This action did not endear Phil Bates to his neighbors. Bates decides to throw an enormous party to celebrate his accomplishments. He invites several of the world's best golfers, including a severely optically challenged Mexican Senior tour player and a nymphomaniac from the women's pro tour, to play his golf course. In addition, Bates also invites the creme de la creme of the entertainment and political strata. Henry Kissinger, Al Gore and Margaret Thatcher are some of the political figures in attendance. Madonna and others fill out the guest list. Of course, such an international event as this golf tournament will also attract the wrong crowd. An elusive eco-terrorist, with a few kilos of plastique explosives, has incendiary plans for the party. Meanwhile, the antiterrorism personnel stumble over their libidos. Golf will never be the same after this tournament.   Putt... is quite funny. All nine authors are talented and just had a ball writing this round robin novel. The whole story is a lark. However, I can't recommend this book to all readers. The incessant use of the "f-" word, in all of its variations, thwarted my enjoyment of this book. There are better written and just as funny books available. Putt..., in my opinion, belongs in the remainder bin.
L,S,V

 

Quantum by Tom Grace

When Mother Russia collapsed, she gave birth to a new breed of politician and a new breed of criminal. Victor Orlov is one of the latter. His business tactics do not preclude him from committing murder to accomplish his goals. Orlov has numerous seedy contacts both in the East and in the West. His business empire is an example of the new Russian Mafia.  After attending the US Naval Academy, Nolan Kilkenny deferred his entry into the navy to earn a graduate degree from MIT. Following this, Nolan qualified to join the Navy SEALs. His SEAL training gave Nolan invaluable survival and combat skills. Trouble seems to find Nolan; his skills keep him alive.  Nolan and his father have created the Michigan Applied Research Consortium at the University of Michigan. MARC coordinates the extraordinary effort of introducing cutting-edge technology to the world and finding business sponsors to pay for the research. The University of Michigan also benefits financially from this arrangement.  Experimental physicist Ted Sandstrom has invented a small quantum energy device which can generate and store tremendous amounts of energy. Some of his research involves formulas developed by a German physicist in the late 1940's. Unfortunately, this German physicist disappeared in 1948. Sandstrom will change the global energy consumption once he completely develops and markets his invention. Whoever patents this invention first will not need to be a Midas to fulfill any financial fantasies.  Victor Orlov hears about Sandstrom's work and decides that he must have this discovery at any cost. He orders his personal assassination squad to kill Sandstrom and steal the energy device. But Sandstrom's work isn't complete. He lacks some vital information which may be found in the missing notebooks of the missing German physicist. The power to rule the world by controlling the world's energy supply is a potent aphrodisiac for anybody. Will Orlov win? Will Kilkenny win?  Tom Grace's Quantum is a well written novel about scientific advances and industrial espionage. I really enjoyed the fact that Grace keeps his plot simple. There is but one goal and one objective. The reader knows the stakes and no sudden plot twists change the playing field. Grace never drowns the reader with too much techno-jargon but he invents enough technological and scientific details to keep the reader's attention. This is TG's second book. I've enjoyed both novels by him.   L

 

The Quickie by James Patterson & Michael Ledwidge

Marriage partners with highly stressful and demanding careers often drift apart. Office interactions that start out as minor flirtations can blossom into lustful actions.   Lauren Stillwell wants to surprise her husband Paul for lunch at his office. Instead, Lauren gets a surprise, Paul’s having a date with another woman. There had been troubling signs in their marriage and Lauren assumes the worst. Well, two can play this game.  Lauren already had a flirtatious relationship going on with the most eligible bachelor in her office, Scott Thayer, and Lauren was willing to go further.  The night that Scott and Lauren enjoyed their rendevous was wonderful for them until Scott stepped outside and was confronted and assaulted by Paul. A fight ensued and Lauren witnessed a crime. Now her perfect life is in shambles. While the police investigate the crime, Lauren realizes that the two men in her life harbored skeletons she didn’t know about. Can Lauren salvage her messed up life before it is too late?   James Patterson has been quite prolific in recent years. But even with coauthors, his staccato writing style continues to deliver fast actions and interesting stories. The Quickie is a fast read but entertaining, surprising its readers several times. L

 

Red Rabbit by Tom Clancy

The "Iron Lady" Margaret Thatcher resides at 10 Downing Street and former movie actor, now U.S. president, Ronald Reagan resides at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. Civil disobedience is stirring the hearts of Polish workers and Solidarity is the watch word. It is the early 1980's and a former Polish priest, Karol Wojtyla, has written a letter. This letter, known as the Warsaw Letter, is causing agitation in the Politburo and the letter's writer is known throughout the world as Pope John Paul II.   Sir John, better known to Americans as Jack Ryan, has returned to jolly old England after surviving the events expressed in Patriot Games. But he is scared, scared of driving on the narrow British roads, on the "wrong"side of the street. Cathy and the kids like their new home but the English food takes some getting used to. Jack's current job has him working for the CIA as an analyst. The first document he is given for analysis on the first day of his new job will awaken new terrors for Jack. It is the Warsaw Letter and Jack suspects that the KGB, under the direction of the Politburo, will very likely take physical action against the Holy Father.   Captain Zaitzev is a loving husband and a doting father. He is also a communications officer at KGB headquarters in Moscow. His responsibilities include encrypting secret messages for the Russian spy masters. Zaitzev usually ignores the information he encodes but he finds one string of dispatches to be quite disturbing. An innocent and well-known man is targeted for assassination.   Red Rabbit returns the reader to an earlier, perhaps even more turbulent, time in modern history. Russia is the Evil Empire, Lech Walesa's Solidarity movement is growing stronger and glasnost and perestroika will soon become powerful buzzwords. Politburo members still enjoy elitist privileges, including shopping in specialty stores and being chauffeured down the reserved center lane of Moscow's boulevards, but life is changing in the Rodina. In Red Rabbit, contrarily to his usual style, Clancy doesn't bombard his reader with multiple plots which eventually resolve themselves in a finely fashioned Gregorian knot. Instead, Clancy only starts two plots and follows them quickly and directly. At only 618 pages, Red Rabbit is 400 pages leaner than Clancy's last offering. But Clancy is still the master of his art and Red Rabbit delivers a good story and satisfies the reader.    L

 

River of Stones by Kathryn Jones

Samantha was only nine years old in 1968 when her fairly peaceful world collapsed because her father left the family. "Didn't Dad love us anymore?" Samantha asked her mom. But her mom could only cry and offer her parental love. Life will never be the same for Samantha and her brother Luke. Unhappiness, anguish and financial worries plague Samantha and her reorganized family. The emotional stress takes its toll on their lives. Once their mother remarried, Samantha and Luke gained a stepfather, Carl. Can this new husband for their mom replace their biological father?  As Samantha grows older, her social life takes precedence over her schoolwork. Growing into adolescence and accepting a stepfather and stepbrother just add to Samantha's emotional confusion. She does have some close friends but even these friendships carry passionate baggage. Samantha says: "Why did I feel so scattered? Why the daily doubts and fears . . . ?" Eventually, Samantha does find some peace in her agitated life.  River of Stones is a poignant novel presenting the emotional pitfalls and trials faced by children of divorce. Unfortunately, divorce, with its accompanying tearing of families ties, is an ever growing societal curse. Readers may not be able to slow down the divorce rate but through Jones' book, readers may come to understand the emotional strain, loss and guilt experienced by children of divorce.

 

Runner by Christopher Reich
Post World War II Germany is a place of turmoil, confusion and humiliation. American soldiers are running the country and the German populace are trying to survive. Cities lie in ruins, people are starving and the Allies are bringing Nazis to trial for war crimes. Devlin Judge, former NY City police detective turned lawyer, is a member of the International Military Tribunal bringing Nazi war criminals to justice. Judge also has a personal agenda. His brother was murdered by an SS officer. This soldier is Erich Seyss, former Olympic sprinter, who has just escaped from a POW camp. Now the hunt is on. Who helped Seyss escape? Why? What is Seyss mission? Devlin chases clues following Seyss as best as he can, but circumstances always appear to be against him. As the story unfolds, Judge realizes that there are additional players and factors interfering with his goal. In fact, certain parties try to kill Devlin. What is Seyss' ultimate mission and how will it change to future of Europe? Will he succeed? Read the book.  C. Reich nicely captures the Zeitgeist of a post-WW II devastated and humiliated Germany. His characters are well written and portrayed. The historical facts are accurate and the historical fiction believable. Runner is more than just a pursue and arrest novel; it is also a history primer and political thriller.
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Satanic Nurses by J.B. Miller

Flattery comes in many forms and Miller has chosen to parody some of his favorite authors as a sign of flattery. You've heard of celebrity roasts, now read Miller's parodies and acquaint yourself with the literary equivalent. In Miller's twisted imagination, Tom Wolfe suffers from low self-esteem, Ernest Hemingway experiences an unusual hunting trip and Norman Mailer offers words of wisdom on how to meet, marry and divorce women.   Miller recommended that J.K. Rowling call her hero Hester Potter. Luckily, Rowling ignored this suggestion. However, readers do get to laugh at a new Potter story in which Harry decides to pursue a musical career instead of a magical career. Miller's readers will also relish Vladimir Nabokovs work Colita about a woman who gets turned on by men wearing tights.  Obdurance by Shackleton provides readers with a terrifying look at the London wilderness and the mass transit tube system. And Balbot Biggins discovers the dubious value of strings as reminders in J.R.R. Tolkien's Lord of the Strings. Readers will remember the fracas between Oprah Winfrey and Jonathan Franzen. The transcript of this never-televised interview can be found in Miller's book. Of course, readers shouldn't overlook the extensive title listing of books by Joyce Carol Oates including such gems as Dental Cleavage: Thoughts on Lookism, Celluloid Cellulite: Older Women in the Movies and Blistered Fingers.   Readers who desire a dose of pessimism should devour Vonnegut's Graduation Speech and McCourt's Angela's Eyelashes. Here is one of my favorite sentences in this collection but I'll let readers unearth the author themselves: "You wonder if bourgeois utilitarianism turned into the symbol of elitist decadence is an irony that hasn't overstayed its welcome." Yes, parody is flattery and Miller is full of it, both parody and flattery. He gleefully skewers many of the world's greatest writers with his shrewd intellect and rapier pen. Miller's skillfully crafted parodies fill his readers' minds with literary lunacies. He proficiently imitates each writer's style from Hemingway's terseness to Rushdie's and Moody's verbose diatribes. Unfortunately, my enjoyment was dampened and the value of this collection sullied by the ill-chosen inclusion of Welsh's Trainspitting. Other parodies contained some profanities but Trainspitting was filled to excess with the "f-word" and other coarse terms. However, Satanic Nurses is a fun collection of literary parodies.  L

 

Secret Agent by Francis Mathews

Thailand is a country steeped in bewildering history and bewitching charm. It was also home to Jack Roderick, an enigma who was trained by the OSS, became a silk merchant, collected beautiful art and was known to be a foreign spy. Then one night, Jack walked into the jungle and disappeared. His son Max grew up without a father.  Now Max, who is a world-class competitive skier, wants to acquire his father's fortune in Thailand but governmental red tape is making this quite difficult. Max hires Krane & Associates, a security firm, to help him with his quest. And Krane's newest employee is Stefani Fogg, a rich and bored daredevil. She accepts the assignment. However, history often hides mysteries, as well as the follies of men, as Stefani soon finds out. Mathews writes a good novel with descriptive details to evoke the foreign locales. Unfortunately, Secret Agent didn't hold my interest as much as Mathews' previous novel, The Cutout.  L

 

Silent Justice by William Bernhardt
Blaylock Industrial Machinery Corporation has to dispose of chemical waste just like all companies. But, Blaylock wants to save money. Therefore, Blaylock buries some of its toxins in drums which leak and contaminate some of the groundwater. One particular neighborhood of Blackwood, home of Blaylock Corporation, is adversely affected. Many children get sick and several children die from leukemia. Cecily Elkins lost her son. When she learns about Blaylocks illegal dumping of toxins, Cecily contacts the other parents who have lost children because of leukemia. This group of parents then want to sue Blaylock, but no attorney will handle their case. No attorney except Ben Kincaid. At the same time, a sadistic serial killer is torturing and killing specific Blaylock employees.   William Bernhardt has done it again. Silent Justice is engrossing and entertaining. The two story lines compliment each other, but the reader won't solve the puzzle of who is killing whom and why until the end of the book. The legal trappings and pitfalls also make for fun reading. I felt that W.B. allowed the reader to understand Ben Kincaid's character more as Kincaid almost gives up in frustration because this case seems hopeless. Silent Justice will appeal to Grisham readers.
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Simple Plan by Scott Smith
Hank and Sarah Mitchell are happily married and expecting their first child. Finances are tight, but the Mitchells are fairly content in this rural Ohio town where they live. Frank often spends time with his brother Jacob and with Jacobs pal Lou. One day, the three of them find a crashed small airplane in an orchard. The pilot is dead; the cargo consists of four million dollars. This could be drug money. The three buddies decide to keep the money hidden at Frank's home for six months to see if anybody comes looking for the cash. Oh if life were only that simple. Greed, avarice and lust soon rear their ugly heads. Jacob and Lou want to spend the loot. Frank is trying to convince them to wait. Sarah also is ready to have fun with the ill-gotten funds. How can Frank keep this tremendous financial windfall a secret in their small town? It isnt easy.  Simple Plan is a book you will not forget. Scott Smith presents the theme of greed but he goes further than that. Smith presents a study in the evil men will do for money. This is Smith's first novel. He did well.
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The Summons by John Grisham

How do you relax when you are most stressed? Ray Atlee likes to go flying in a rented Cessna; the beautiful skies and the freedom of flight quickly relax Ray. And today, Ray is stressed. He's just received a letter, actually more of a summons, from his dying father, Judge Reuben Atlee. This terse letter awakens all types of unhappy memories. Judge Atlee, the curmudgeon, was an impartial judge but an awful and insensitive father. The law and the people the Judge could help always outranked his family.   Ray's brother Forrest also received the same letter. Forrest is the obligatory "black sheep" of the family, carefree, single and an addict. He has tried every vice, nearly every illegal substance and been in and out of rehabilitation centers for years.  Ray arrives at his now rundown, and in need of repair, childhood home at the appointed hour. But Judge Atlee, the paragon of his small town society, is dead. There is a simple one page will on the Judge's desk. This last will and testament holds no surprises but as Ray searches through the house he makes a puzzling discovery. From then on, Ray's life will never be the same.  Although I enjoyed Grisham's Skipping Christmas, I'm happy to see him returning to his forte. Grisham brings small town life, gossip and society to life. His characters aren't perfect and recognize their foibles. The Summons is fun to read.

Switcheroo by Olivia Goldsmith
Every married women yearns for the perfect life, a loving husband, a beautiful home and well behaved kids. Well, Sylvia is married to a successful and supposedly loving man. Her kids are grown and well-adjusted. Sylvia also enjoys her home in the suburbs. Her marriage to Bob has grown a little stale, but Sylvia is ready to rekindle the romance in her marriage. However, Bob has found himself a mistress named Marla. Sylvia is furious and ready to confront Bob when she changes her mind and decides to discover who Marla is. When Sylvia meets Marla, both of them discover that they each want what the other has. Sylvia wants to experience her husband as a lover, Marla wants to be treated like a wife with a stable marriage. Marla and Sylvia have very similar physical features and are only a few years apart in age. Sylvia convinces Marla to switch places with her for two weeks. This switcheroo is hilarious and the weeks of trading places will change both women. Yes, Bob is an idiot for not noticing the switch, but what can I say. The switch is the whole plot.
Switcheroo was great fun to read. Yes, the story line is mostly implausible but that isn't the point. Olivia Goldsmith has written a novel which allows female readers to fantasize about being a mistress. At the same time, Goldsmith explores the ups and downs of married life. 
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Teeth of the Tiger by Tom Clancy

"Today I am a man" declared David Greengold at his Bar Mitzvah. This religious event also gave David new direction for his life. Eventually, David became an operative for the Mossad. But this choice of occupation also caused David's death when he fell prey to a simple espionage trick.   Marine Corps Captain Brian Caruso and his brother FBI agent Dominic Caruso have both faced death and triumphed. Their skills and accomplishments have been noticed by their superiors and Brian and Dominic have been singled out for a new antiterrorist assignment.  Columbian drug lords would love to peddle their addictive product in Europe, especially now that the European Union has abolished most borders. However, gaining entry into Europe has been far more problematic for the dug cartels than gaining entry into the U.S. But now, certain individuals dealing in terrorist activities have offered a trade. Columbian drugs can enter Europe through terrorist avenues in exchange for a number of terrorists being escorted across the Mexico-U.S. border.   Jack Ryan, Jr., possesses his fathers curiosity and intellectual drive. These qualities entice him to investigate Hendley Associates, a brokerage firm. But Hendley is just a front for a place calling itself "The Campus." Once vetted, Jack learns that the Campus is actually a non-governmental clandestine clearinghouse for national security related information. And since this firm has no bureaucratic overseers, antiterrorist actions can be taken which don't always conform with American civil liberties and laws.  In Clancy's imagination these different ingredients form his book Teeth of the Tiger. Political niceties often clash with the realities of the real world. Clancy invites readers to determine for themselves if the biblical "eye for an eye" needs to be applied more liberally when dealing with known terrorists. He also sprinkles delicious tidbits about Jack Ryan, Sr., as POTUS, throughout this book. Clancy fans will be satisfied with this novel.  L

 

Term Limits by Vince Flynn
The national budget is bloated with innumerous pet projects. Most every politician tries to get pork, unnecessary funds, for his constituents. Additionally, many government affairs are dismally mismanaged. Unfortunately, Americans have grown apathetic about their ability to change government. Voter turn-out usually is poor in local, state and national elections. Therefore, the poorly organized and administered business of government continues as usual. A mysterious group is fed up with government waste. This cabal has plans to shake up the blase politicians through assassinations. One night, three of the worst political offenders are efficiently and professionally assassinated. Being a sponsor of unnecessary and wasteful projects has just become dangerous. The cabal delivers an ultimatum to the government declaring their goals and actions they will take if their goals are not met. Compromise is not an option. The cabal is well-financed and has access to sensitive information. No corrupt politician can be completely protected from the assassins. Washington is under siege. Michael O'Rourke is a congressman who agrees that actions must be taken. He believes that the assassinated senator and pair of congressmen received their just rewards for mismanaging their country's business. But Michael also has his political responsibilities and he becomes involved with the investigation of the murders. What he finds sheds a new light on the political scene in Washington.   Term Limits is Flynn's first novel. It isnt perfect, his characters need more development, but the story keeps you turning the pages as quickly as possible.
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Ticket Home by James M. Pratt

Secrets are difficult parts of everybody's life. Some secrets are small and have little significance. Other secrets are big and horrendous. Lucien Parker is 82 years old. He has been carrying a secret, a sacred burden, for the past 55 years. The time has finally come to heal his emotional wounds. Lucien and his brother Norman are twins. In fact, they are identical twins and only their temperament sets them apart. Lucien is more light-hearted and fun loving. Norman is more reserved and self-controlled. Both boys help their father in running a small railroad station in Warm Springs, OK. The Depression is crushing the populace but the Parkers succeed in weathering the financial storms. Both Lucien and Norman learn the value of hard work from their father. Both boys also learn the value of charity and Christian ideals from their beautiful mother.  Warm Springs isn't the most exciting place on Earth and opportunities for dating pretty girls are rare. Lucien and Norman both fall in love with the same girl and Norman expects to marry her. But the fates, or love, conspire against him and Lucien marries this lovely girl, thus creating a schism between the brothers. Bruised passions heal slowly and WWII overtakes the Parkers' lives.  Lucien and Norman suffer the ills of war. One of them even surrenders his life for his country.  Ticket Home is a wonderfully written book. James Pratt's talent for drawing his readers into the story is remarkable. He presents various aspects of love; from brotherly, to familial, to marital; and invites his readers to discover their own understanding of love and compassion. Ticket Home is a romantic saga and much more.

 

Timeline by Michael Crichton
Historians love to explore and study. How much better would their scholarship be if the historian could live in the time period he is studying? In Timeline, time travel through a quantum foam wormhole, becomes possible. A history professor missed his return trip and now is stuck in 1357 France. A group of his students follows the professor to 1357. However, the natives are restless. French and English forces are at war. The students and professor are in the middle of this unrest. Castles are besieged, swords clash and peasant blood flows freely. Political intrigue and backstabbing cloud the issues. Our 20th century travelers become involved and entwined in the historical events. 
Timeline is a slight departure from Crichton's usual action style. He makes 1357 France come alive with many period details. At the same time, Crichton has written a fine adventure novel which doesn't rely as much on technology as it does on the wit and spirit of the characters.
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Transfer of Power by Vince Flynn
Terrorist activities on American soil are a reality as the World Trade Center bombing has shown. In Transfer of Power, Arab terrorists seize control of the White House. The President is safely hidden in his underground bunker. However, the terrorists are holding about 100 hostages in the White House. Of course, the President also can't leave his bunker until the terrorists are neutralized. Several key administration personnel try to gain the release of the hostages, all to little avail. Meanwhile, the CIA's Counter-terrorism Center is trying to gain access to the White House. Mitch Ramp, a specialist in tracking down terrorists, is chosen to infiltrate the White House. However, no currently correct blueprints exist for the White House. There have been too many renovations and additions to the interior over the decades. Is the President really safe in his bunker? He can't communicate because the terrorists are jamming all transmissions from the bunker. The Vice President is running the country but he is mostly incompetent and yet, he is making some drastic decisions concerning the hostage situation.   Transfer of Power presents a scary scenario. If the U.S. President is incapacitated, will the V.P. or other administrative personnel attempt to stage a coup? Vince Flynn keeps the action moving and the storyline taut. Several of his characters, the good guys, have to make extremely difficult decisions.
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The Warriors' Code by Dory Peters

Wars foster secrets. Battle plans and troop movements are communicated in secret messages, usually written in code. But what if the enemy has broken your code? You must invent another, more difficult code. This is the story of the American military during WWII. An unbreakable code was needed to bewilder the Japanese and the language of the Navajo Indians was perfect for this mission.  This book tells the story of Victor who by accident discovers the truth about his grandfather's involvement in WWII. Victor is successful in his business but often struggles with the differences between the white man's world and the traditions of the Navajo. Victor learns that his grandfather Lee had a brother Charlie and that both brothers became code talkers during WWII. Lee and Charlie Benally were twins. Lee was thoughtful and Charlie was outgoing. Their father was a Diné, Navajo, medicine man who hoped that both of his sons would follow in his footsteps. But Charlie had other plans, enlisted in the military and was trained to become a code talker. Before Charlie left the rez, he extracted a promise from Lee that if anything were to happen to Charlie, Lee would finish Charlie's work. Lee kept his promise when Charlie was killed in action. Eventually Lee became involved in one of the pivotal events of WWII.  Warriors Code is a brief look at one of the more amazing circumstances of WWII. Peters does not sugar-coat the horrors of war. However, his book celebrates the sacrifices and triumphs of the Navajo code talkers and the reader gains a greater understanding of history.

 

When the Wind Blows by James Patterson
After her husband's death, veterinarian Frannie O'Neill yearned for the peace and quiet of the Colorado outdoors. Her life is pretty settled until she rents a cabin to Kit Harrison. Kit appears to just be a hunter on vacation, but Frannie soon learns that he really is an FBI agent following up on a lead. But that news hardly compares to what Frannie sees one night. "What I saw was way beyond my abilities to imagine...The little girls arms were folded back in a peculiar way, but when she lifted them, feathers fanned out." The girl is Max. She is part of a clandestine genetic research project. What Frannie and Kit eventually discover will send chills down the readers spine.  When the Wind Blows is not an Alex Cross novel. But that doesn't matter because Patterson has written a suspenseful medical thriller with this book. Patterson's trade mark short chapters and fast action are clearly evident. When the Wind Blows is well worth reading.
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