148) The Job by Janet Evanovich & Lee Goldberg

The Blurb :

Charming con man Nicolas Fox and dedicated FBI agent Kate O'Hare secretly take down world’s most-wanted and untouchable felons, next job Violante, the brutal leader of a global drug-smuggling empire. The FBI doesn’t know what he looks like, where he is, or how to find him, but Nick knows his tastes in gourmet chocolate.

From Nashville to Lisbon back alleys, from Istanbul rooftops to Thames, they chase clues to lookalike thefts. Pitted against a psychopathic bodyguard Reyna holding Kate hostage and a Portuguese enforcer getting advice from an ancestor's pickled head, they again call driver Willie for ship, actor Boyd for one-eyed Captain Bridger, special effects carpenter Tom, her father Jake - retired Special Forces, and his talent - machete-wielding Somali pirate Billy Dee. This could be their biggest job - if they survive.

My Thoughts :

The Fox & O'Hare series had been on my wishlist for a while when I came across The Job on Netgalley.  I had already read the novellas in the series and decided to pick this one up and rush read the first in the series to be all caught up to read this one.  However my plans got a little messed up when I realised that the The Job is the third installment and I needed to read not one but two books to catch up and be able to read this one.

I decided to listen to the first two installments and really enjoyed them.  The banter and heat between Nick and Kate is fun to read and the cons they get involved in and the reasons behind them are interesting and exciting.  I really enjoyed listening to the first two books and couldn't wait to read this third book.

However this third part was a little bit of a disappointment compared to the other Fox & O'Hare stories.  There was still the banter and con but somehow it felt a little flat and boring in comparison.  Maybe it was because this job wasn't as over the top as the previous ones or maybe it was due to reading and not listening to this third part but I didn't enjoy it as much as the other adventures.

The series will stay on my reading list because it is a great concept and the writers have come up with some great stories.  The locations are worldwide and the authors obviously do a lot of research because it shows in the details.   Also they must have visited the places they include or know people who have because that also shows in the stories.

Well worth checking out this series if you are an Evanovich fan.  It isn't completely her usual style but the heat and comedy are there but more subtle.  This is more of a mix between James Bond and The Mentalist with some craziness mixed in to liven things up.  I will definitely be listening to the next books in the series instead of reading them though!

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133) The Chase by Janet Evanovich & Lee Goldberg

The Blurb :

Internationally renowned thief and con artist Nicolas Fox is famous for running elaborate and daring scams. His greatest con of all: convincing the FBI to team him up with the only person who has ever caught him, and the only woman to ever capture his attention, Special Agent Kate O’Hare. Together they’ll go undercover to swindle and catch the world’s most wanted—and untouchable—criminals.

Their newest target is Carter Grove, a former White House chief of staff and the ruthless leader of a private security agency. Grove has stolen a rare Chinese artifact from the Smithsonian, a crime that will torpedo U.S. relations with China if it ever becomes public. Nick and Kate must work under the radar—and against the clock—to devise a plan to steal the piece back.

Confronting Grove’s elite assassins, Nick and Kate rely on the skills if their ragtag crew, including a flamboyant actor, a Geek Squad techie, and a band of AARP-card-carrying mercenaries led by none other than Kate’s dad. A daring heist and a deadly chase lead Nick and Kate from Washington, D.C., to Shanghai, from the highlands of Scotland to the underbelly of Montreal. But it’ll take more than death threats, trained henchmen, sleepless nights, and the fate of a dynasty’s priceless heirloom to outsmart Fox and O’Hare.

My Thoughts :

So I am playing catch-up with this series and listened to book one last week and moved on to book two this week.  The narrator is good it is nice to listen to a male speaker for a change, even if I did expect a female.  Janet Evanovich is known for her fun and outrageous Stephanie Plum series but this is something different.  A crime/mystery and thriller with a little hint of romance.  It is a great combination and I am loving it.

Book two in the O'Hare & Fox series was even better than the first one.  The con is more complicated, more dangerous and has some thrilling consequences that open the floor to another more elaborate con and then another one.  The plot is a roller coaster ride with some amazing moments and a few shocking ones.  I laughed, I giggled but most of all I enjoyed it.

The relationship between Fox & O'Hare continues with some moments of 'Oh they are gonna get together' and 'When will the get together?'.  It would be a complicated romance just as their work relationship together is getting stranger and harder for Kate.  It will be interesting to see how things develop in the next book and where the authors really decide to take things.

Now I move on to book three!  I have the Kindle copy to review but I may hold out and get the third book on Audio.  Now I have started the series via Audible it would be strange to read the next installment.

This is a series worth trying out if you have ever read anything by either of the authors.  It is different, exciting and a lot of fun while being somewhat serious.  I can recommend the audio version if you like listening to books.  The narrator does a great job of bringing the characters and the story to life.

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129) The Heist by Janet Evanovich & Lee Goldberg

The Blurb :

FBI Special Agent Kate O’Hare is known for her fierce dedication and discipline on the job, chasing down the world’s most wanted criminals and putting them behind bars. Her boss thinks she is tenacious and ambitious; her friends think she is tough, stubborn, and maybe even a bit obsessed. And while Kate has made quite a name for herself for the past five years, the only name she’s cared about is Nicolas Fox—an international crook she wants in more ways than one.

Audacious, handsome, and dangerously charming, Nicolas Fox is a natural con man, notorious for running elaborate scams on very high-profile people. At first he did it for the money. Now he does it for the thrill. He knows that the FBI has been hot on his trail—particularly Kate O’Hare, who has been watching his every move. For Nick, there’s no greater rush than being pursued by a beautiful woman . . . even one who aims to lock him up. But just when it seems that Nicolas Fox has been captured for good, he pulls off his greatest con of all: he convinces the FBI to offer him a job, working side by side with Special Agent Kate O’Hare.

Problem is, teaming up to stop a corrupt investment banker who’s hiding on a private island in Indonesia is going to test O’Hare’s patience and Fox’s skill. Not to mention the skills of their ragtag team made up of flamboyant actors, wanted wheelmen, and Kate’s dad. High-speed chases, pirates, and Toblerone bars are all in a day’s work . . . if O’Hare and Fox don’t kill each other first.

My Thoughts :

The O'Hare and Fox series has been on my radar for a while and I even read the two novellas that accompany this series.  However I hadn't managed to read any of the full length novels and still decided to request to review the latest release.  I will admit that I thought the new release was the second book in the series and I only needed to catch up on one book....turns out it is the third and now I am having a bit of a O'Hare & Fox marathon!

To start off I have to say I'm glad I decided to visit this series via Audio.  At first I was put off by the male narrator because I am so used to female voices but after a couple of chapters it was obvious that he was the man for the job.  I like his style and he does some great voices for the characters.

The concept it fresh and interesting.  Within a few chapters I was hooked and I was really enjoying the 'cons' and general shenanigans. The characters were very likable and even the ones on the sidelines were worth getting to know.  The plot was maybe a little over the top at times but such an elaborate plan couldn't work without some crazy ideas.  What really impressed me was the background and research the authors obviously did for the book.  They took the time to check out the places they used and there was some interesting stuff in there.  Some of it had me checking Wikipedia for more details.

I would class this one as a mystery but it is also a Thriller and a romance with some humour. However Evanovich fans need to know, this isn't a Morelli vs. Ranger romance.  The flirting is more subtle and not too in your face.  The banter is fun and fits into the story without over powering it.  There are no crazy Stephanie and Lula scenarios but more grown-up and FBI moments.  Actually I don't feel much of Evanovich in the story and it makes me wonder how much each author contributed and how they wrote this together.  How did the process work? In the same room?  Passed the book back and forth?  

After just one book I would, of course, like to see Fox & O'Hare become a couple at some point and it is obvious that eventually things will go that way.  Right now the idea is hanging out in the background with some flirty comments thrown in here and there.  It isn't the main focus and that is fine with me.  Kate isn't the kind of woman who would just give in to Nick straight away.  There will be some time and effort exerted before something really happens.

All in all I really enjoyed this one and I am already listening to book two.  Actually I would like to listen to book three as well but I have a Kindle copy....which will be weird after listening to the first two books.  Anyway, great read, nice story and plot, interesting, thrilling and well worth checking out.   Expect my review of book two within a couple of days!

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120) The Shell Game by Janet Evanovich & Lee Goldberg

The Blurb :

Con man Nick Fox is after Garson Klepper’s golden Peruvian relics. For Fox, convincing Klepper to hire him as security for the relocation of the relics to the Getty museum in L.A. was easy. Problem is, Fox wasn’t planning on Klepper also enlisting the help of the FBI. Fox also wasn’t planning on being paired up with rookie special agent Kate O’Hare. She’s smart, she’s tenacious, and when she’s conned, she holds a grudge. Life for Fox and O’Hare will never be the same again.

My Thoughts :

A nice pre-quel novella to the series, that I have yet to start. There isn't much to say about it except that it gives you a good introduction to the series. The layout of the concept is easy to see and the characters are introduced. There is some humour in there but this is no Stephanie Plum.  This is more of a serious crime/mystery with what I expect will feature quite a bit of romance.

Certainly a good place to start if you haven't tried the series yet and definitely a must read for anyone who has already read the series and wants to get some more background on Fox & O'Hare. Reading this short story has made me even more eager to try the first full length novel in the series.  I actually plan on listening to the audio version sometimes soon.

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40) Burning Bones by Christopher Golden

The Blurb :

"It's quite a mystery, isn't it? I mean, how do you burn someone to death in public, and not have anyone notice?" Two people burst into flame, burned alive in front of plenty of eyewitnesses with no obvious cause. Spontaneous human combustion is a bizarre phenomenon, but according to published accounts, it happens. Could that be what occurred here? Or is it murder?

As Jenna Blake turns nineteen, she is getting over a recent breakup and is rekindling an old flame. Between her personal life and college, she has enough on her hands. The last thing she nees is another nasty little puzzle.

But the burn victims' clothes weren't flammable, the crime scenes reveal no evidence of arson, and nome of the various witnesses can provide anything resembling a clue. In fact, she and Slick are just beginning to re-evaluate their faith in rational, scientific explanation when the fire claims another victim, and an incredible explanation presents itself. Even as they struggle with their discovery, the danger hits far too close to home...

My Thoughts :

This series has been sitting on my bookshelf for years and every now and again I manage to pull myself away from the Kindle and pick up a paperback and this is one series I always try and grab.  This is actually the last paperback in the series I have and is the seventh installment.  Young Adult and more forensic than mystery, this is a set of books that have been around for a long time and are quite out-dated (they still watch videos...) but they are still nice quick and interesting reads.

In this installment Jenna is getting over her break-up and trying to keep busy.  Of course she gets involved in a case but the amount of time she really spends on it is minimal compared to the two detectives who also feature strongly and tell their side of the story.  While I like the concept and characters this episode was a little bleh for my liking and the ending was too quick and easy.  There was a certain something missing from this installment but it may have something to do with the author sharing the writing with another writer.  Who knows how much he really put into the book.

With only three more books to go in the series I will be making sure I get copies of the other books.  I have come this far and I want to finish what I have started.  It will be interesting to see what trouble Jenna can still get herself into, how the detective gets on and of course how things end.  Well worth reading if you like forensic mysteries and a nice gift for any younger readers who like this genre.  At least they will see that not having a mobile phone wasn't that bad! ;) For anyone who is interested :The series is actually available on Kindle and the books aren't that expensive!

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29) Dead Close by Lin Anderson

The Blurb :

The Dead are Closer than you Think

DI Doug Cameron is about to retire after a distinguished career in Edinburgh’s police force, when an anonymous caller reports a woman being attacked in Greyfriars churchyard. During the investigation a mummified body is unearthed and Cameron comes to believe it’s his young wife, Rebecca, who disappeared 17 years before.

 Haunted by the case he never solved, Cameron, a sceptic, has a series of disturbing and fragmented premonitions which begin with a mysterious girl who looks like Rebecca. As his real and unreal world collide Cameron thinks the girl holds the key, not just to the recent attack in the graveyard, but to what happened to Rebecca. But will the truth prove more terrible than the unknown?

My Thoughts :

I have really enjoyed Lin Anderson's Rhonda McLeod series and am waiting eagerly for a new installment.  When I saw this short story I hoped it would also include Rhonda but it actually seemed to be set in the past or future.  I can't be sure.  The names were familiar and but the story is based in Edinburgh a note on the blurb says this is being made into a TV Production.  Something I would definitely watch.

As short stories go it is good.  Not as good as the previous full length novels I have read by this author but still good.  It can't be easy to write a short story and fit everything in when you are limited by the amount of words.  So I have to give the author plus points for making this story interesting and quite spooky despite being over so fast.

If you are not sure if you would like this authors work then this is a nice story to read and get a feel for her style.  However I do highly recommend reading her Rhonda McLeod series if you like a nice crime and mystery series.  This is CSI Scottish style and it is a lot rougher than your typical mystery series.

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17) Picture Her Dead by Lin Anderson

The Blurb :

She began to scrape at the mortar. A few minutes later she was able to prise the edge of the brick loose. The resulting rush of foetid air made her gag, but she focussed her torch beam on the enlarged hole and peered inside. Her eyes widened in horror.

When art student Jude Evans disappears on a photographic visit to a derelict Glasgow cinema, her friend Liam he enlists the help of his birth mother, forensic scientist Dr. Rhona MacLeod, in his search for Jude.

Visiting other derelict cinemas on her list, they find clues to her disappearance and to the horrifying secret she may have discovered behind those walls. Throughout the investigation, Rhona must deal with the news that a face from her past is literally back from the dead—but for how long?

My Thoughts :

I came across Lin Anderson's books while visiting Edinburgh a while back.  Over the years I have tried to keep up with the series as often as possible and have become quite attached to Rhonda and her friends.  The murder mysteries and continuing story arcs have kept me coming back for more but I have to admit that the Glasgow setting and brilliant forensic angle keep me hooked.

This time around the author explores another interesting little known fact about Glasgow and weaves a mystery into it.  The amount of time that went into the research really shows and the subject matter will have you doing a Google search as soon as you have the chance.  As always the mystery keeps you guessing till the very end and there is lots of possibilities to stop you from deciding on one.

Wonderfully written with some great characters and an amazing story, I loved this eight installment as much as I did the previous seven.  I can't wait for more and hope that some of you will feel like trying this series out.  CSI, Bones and Broadchurch are all tied up together with a huge Scottish bow.  Well worth giving a go and not for the kind of person who has to have a perfect happy ending!





 

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143) Head Games by Christopher Golden

The Blurb :

""They were my friends. I've known them almost my entire life. Maybe they both just lost it. But I think something's going on here, and I have to take a closer look."" Home from college on break, Jenna Blake is horrified to discover that a childhood friend has murdered his entire famly -- and he's not the only one. During the next two days, several other area teens experience homicidal rages, but are later unable to explain or even recall their actions.

The police are leaning toward the popular explanation: brutality influenced by violence in movies and video games. But when Jenna investigates further, she begins to believe that someone is playing sinister head games with her former classmates...and with her, as well.

What Jenna needs is someone to take her seriously, but Slick is preoccupied with a mystery of his own, her father has taken off for France, and her college friends have all gone away for the holidays.

Jenna's on her own this time.

My Thoughts :

This is a blast from the past for me.  While taking part in Read-a-thon this weekend I decided it was time to read some real physical books from my shelves.  This fifth book in the Body of Evidence series made me sigh.  I remember having them, reading the first four books but why I hadn't picked up the rest was beyond me.  I had forgotten all about them.  So I decided they needed to be read.

It didn't take me long to get back into the series.  It is pretty hard to forget this unique and original story.  Jenna Blake is just a girl but one that has a gift where forensics are concerned and she has already had quite a bit of experience solving crimes.  This time she is home for Christmas and it is something really weird and horrific that happens in her home town to her friends that gets Jenna involved in another case.

A great story, with a super plot, I remember why I loved this series.  Not too young adult but more grown up and independent this is something that any lover of CSI or Bones will enjoy.  It maybe just a little old and dated in some respect (it was published in 2000) but it is a very interesting and thrilling read.

So now I fear I need to move on to book number six.  Usually I wouldn't just pick up the next in a series straight away but seeing as these have been on my shelf for a long time, I feel I need to get them read and let them move on.

Oh and you may recognise the author Christopher Golden.  He has quite a lot of books to his name including some in the Buffy series and co-writing with Charlaine Harris.

 

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89) Final Cut by Lin Anderson

The Blurb :

"Where the hell had the kid found a human skull? McNab heard an intake of breath behind him as someone else made out the shape in the torchlight. A metre away now, McNab crouched on a level with the child. "Where did you find that, Emma?" he said softly. She stared at him. "I was lost. I heard them calling me.""

When Claire regains consciousness after a stranger causes her car to crash in a snowstorm, she is frantic to discover her nine-year-old daughter Emma missing from the back seat. Then Emma is found in the woods nearby, unharmed but cradling a child's skull. She claims it "called to her"--and she can hear another voice nearby.

Meanwhile, forensic scientist Rhona MacLeod is trying to discover the identity of a corpse found badly burned in a trash bin. The body is wearing a soldier's ID tag, but DNA tests show it's not him. When DS Michael McNab asks for her help identifying the remains Emma found, they discover the two cases are linked in ways they could never have imagined.

My Thoughts :

I discovered this author a long time ago when visiting a bookshop in Edinburgh.  My boyfriend pointed out the books and thought I would like them.  I wasn't sure because he had never suggested anything to me before and isn't a reader.  However the first three books were on offer so I took them.   Enjoyed them.  Kept reading them.  Now six books into the series I am a big fan but unfortunately I don't really get around to reading them very often.  So it was a shock to see that this particular book has been gathering dust on my shelf for a few years!

This new installment is everything I expected.  Bleak Scottish life and crime with murder and some nasty goings on.  The Forensic Scientist aspect is why I love these books but the plot and location are also good reasons to read this series.  There may not be any paranormal elements but this series is just fantastic.  I used to read a lot of mysteries but this one has really stuck with me all these years and keeps me coming back for more.  However belated.

If you like CSI, Bones and any of those kinds of TV programmes then you will love these books.  If you are a lover of things Scottish then you may want to give these a try.  I find the books to be honest, brutal and extremely addictive.  I read this book within a few hours because I just couldn't wait to see how things developed and ultimately what had really happened.  The ending was a little sad but it also made me eager to read the next book in the series sooner rather than later.  So expect a review of book seven soon!




  

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167) I, Alex Cross

The Blurb :

You can't run

Detective Alex Cross is pulled out of a family celebration and given the awful news that a beloved relative has been found brutally murdered. Alex vows to hunt down the killer, and soon learns that she was mixed up in one of Washington's wildest scenes. And she was not this killer's only victim.

You can't hide

The hunt for her murderer leads Alex and his girlfriend, Detective Brianna Stone, to a place where every fantasy is possible, if you have the credentials to get in. Alex and Bree are soon facing down some very important, very protected, very dangerous people in levels of society where only one thing is certain--they will do anything to keep their secrets safe.

Alex Cross is your only hope to stay alive

As Alex closes in on the killer, he discovers evidence that points to the unimaginable--a revelation that could rock the entire world.

My Thoughts :

So I am taking part in another Read-a-thon and every time I try and only read books that are gathering dust on my bookshelves. I used to read a lot of Mysteries and Thrillers before I found the Paranormal genre and there are still some that I like to catch up with now and again. Alex Cross being one of them.

The series is pretty long with this being the 16th book and still the thrilling stories keep coming. Never boring and always nail-biting till the very end. I won't bore you supernatural lovers with a long review but I will say that I enjoyed revisiting the series and it was nice to catch up with Alex, his family and the wonder stories Patterson weaves for them.

83) The 8th Confession by James Patterson

The Blurb :

As San Francisco's most glamorous millionaires mingle at the party of the year, someone is watching--waiting for a chance to take vengeance on Isa and Ethan Bailey, the city's most celebrated couple. Finally, the killer pinpoints the ideal moment, and it's the perfect murder. Not a trace of evidence is left behind in their glamorous home.

As Detective Lindsay Boxer investigates the high-profile murder, someone else is found brutally executed--a preacher with a message of hope for the homeless. His death nearly falls through the cracks, but when reporter Cindy Thomas hears about it, she knows the story could be huge. Probing deeper into the victim's history, she discovers he may not have been quite as saintly as everyone thought.

As the hunt for two criminals tests the limits of the Women's Murder Club, Lindsay sees sparks fly between Cindy and her partner, Detective Rich Conklin. The Women's Murder Club now faces its toughest challenge: will love destroy all that four friends have built? The exhilarating new chapter in the Women's Murder Club series, The 8th Confession serves up a double dose of speed-charged twists and shocking revelations as only James Patterson can.

My Review :

James Patterson has a lot of books under his belt and he just keeps them coming! I don't get around to reading many non-paranormal mysteries any more but this week I was taking part in a Read-a-thon and I make sure I only read old books that have been gathering dust on my shelves. This one has been there a while and it was about time to catch up with the Woman's Murder Club.

The author never disappoints and right from the onset you can feel the webs he is weaving to get his story perfect and full of twists and turns. The characters are all ones you can relate to in one or another and you can't help but feel interested in their lives and what is happening to them.

Even though I haven't read anything in the series for a while I didn't have to get back into the flow of things. I remember instantly who was who and what had happened before. Patterson's books just have a way of sticking out in that way. What makes the books extremely nice to read are the short concise chapters and the lack of filling in to make the story longer. There is everything you need in Patterson's books and with no hidden extras.

I hope I don't wait as long to read the next book in this series. It seems I am quite behind and that the eleventh book is already out.

52) Fatlands by Sarah Dunant

The Blurb :

In Fatlands, private investigator Hannah Wolfe, who's independent though not invincible, idealistic but definitely not naive, has taken on one of the less glamorous jobs in the security world -- chaperoning teenage rebel Mattie Shepherd around London. But Mattie's father is paying Hannah lots of money -- more than the job is worth, it seems. Or perhaps not. The girl's father is on the Animal Liberation Front's hit list. But why? When violence explodes, tearing the family apart, this is what Hannah must discover. Her obsession with the truth nearly kills her, wrecking her private life and dragging her into a vortex of lies and betrayal.

My Thoughts :

I mainly stick to Paranormal books but I do own lots of other books from various genres that are gathering dust on my bookshelf. This weekend I am taking part in a Read-a-thon and I decided it was time to help some of those poor books see the light of day again. Not having read a good non paranormal crime/mystery in some time I decided it wouldn't hurt me to do so. Unfortunately I read this book thinking it was the first in the series when it was actually the second. Not that it really made much difference but if you like to read things in order then please note my mistake ;)

Anyway, as mysteries go this was a good one. The author did a brilliant job of getting me interested and then making me go 'oh my' when the crime actually happened. I, like Hannah Wolfe, totally didn't see it coming until the last moment and it was too late to help the victim. Then I was too interested in finding out who did it to worry about anything else.

I really enjoyed this one and despite the fact it is about 20 years old it didn't show its age. I will, at some point, read the other two books I have from this series. This is the kind of mystery I like with a good strong female detective who knows what she is doing.

89) The Rubber Woman by Lindsay Ashford

When a woman is butchered and left for dead on a street in Cardiff, the sex trade hits the headlines. Pauline is the 'Rubber Woman' who gives out condoms to the women of the red light district and she is known by everyone and she knows everything. Forensic Psychologist, Megan Rhys, is spending time on the streets with the locals trying to see what she can do to help stop them becomming victims. What she doesn't know is that one of the women has already been marked by the killer.

I have been following this author because she is from Wales, like myself. Her forensic Pyschologist character, Megan Rhys, is just like a female Inspector Rebus and the stories just thrilling. I love the writing style and the subject matter maybe hard hitting but it is realistic. I can't wait to read more about Megan and I look forward to anything else the author offers us readers.