A slightly better than average thriller in the Lincoln Rhyme series from author Jeffery Deaver. "The Twelfth Card" once again brings Rhyme and top forA slightly better than average thriller in the Lincoln Rhyme series from author Jeffery Deaver. "The Twelfth Card" once again brings Rhyme and top forensic CSI Amelia Sachs together to solve a deadly riddle and uncover a 140 year old secret. The sixth book of the series opens with high school student Geneva Settle at a local library trying to research one of her civil war ancestors, Charles Singleton. Geneva was reading through a obscure old periodical from the civil war days when she's attacked. Geneva initially fools her attacker which allows her to get away unharmed. The attacker however left behind a complete rape kit he was planning to use on Geneva. Inside that rape kit was a tarot card (#12), showing picture of guy being hanged. This novel's main villain and all around bad guy is named Thompson Boyd, 41. Curiously Boyd was a former a jail guard who was also an expert on death row and execution protocols. Boyd had worked in several states where he was known as the Execution Officer(EO). After botched attack on Geneva, Boyd in his escape committed a murder on the sidewalk creating a diversion. Digging into their newest case, Rhyme and Sachs label their unsub "109". I found this a pretty interesting story that delves into certain areas to the end of the civil war, and slavery's aftermath. Also, its look into the 14 th amendment did add to the overall mystery. It seems Charles Singleton was a somewhat important man in the late 1860's. Geneva's story of poverty and abandonment really is a strong wall for the plot to lean on. I thought Alonzo "Jax" Jackson's story, and his link to the case were very important plot pieces. Jackson can be a bad guy, or he can also be one of the good guys. Book was very historically detail written. Well over 500 pages this one is a bit tough to chew on sometimes. It's far too long for the actual story. However, I really do like all these types of historical fiction. It's very obvious author Jeffery Deaver did a lot of research in writing this one. The inter city vernacular was a bit much at times. Though it did add some laughs at times. Going with three stars out of a possible five stars for, "The Twelfth Card". I think what bogged it down for me was the length. There were too many passages were nothing was happening but pages went on and on. If you're a big fan of Lincoln Rhyme/ Amelia Sachs suspense thrillers fan, this one is a must....more
All in all a pretty good read. I liked it. "Flash Crash", from author Denison Hatch is part financial crime story, and part murder thriller. No, I've All in all a pretty good read. I liked it. "Flash Crash", from author Denison Hatch is part financial crime story, and part murder thriller. No, I've never heard of author Denison Hatch let alone read anything from him previously. "Flash Crash", is advertised as a "Jake Rivett Heist Thriller". I must admit I was pretty unsure what flash crash meant before reading this novel. Being an old dinosaur a lot of this type of technology floats over my head. I was also surprised that Jake doesn't roll into the plot until about the 25 % mark of this tale. However, I liked "protagonist" David Belov, a $90K/Yr. tech geek at the prestigious investment bank of, Montgomery Noyes. The bank is a big player on Wall Street. The bank's primary trading stock is gold. Belov is a low ranking computer programmer who's looked down upon from the big shot traders within the firm. David is married to Marina, and his son Mikey is 8. One morning upon arriving at work David is forced to insert a program to crash the gold market. At the end of the day the firm has lost considerable assets of gold. Some of the customers who bought up gold from David's firm then demand actual delivery of product not just certificates. Roger O'Neill head of the firm's bank vault prepares the transfer of gold to be delivered to it's various destinations. However, on delivery day things go horrible wrong. The van carrying the gold product is hijacked along with the $120 million dollars of assets it contained. NYPD detectives Jake Rivett, and partner Tony Villalon catch the case. Immediately David is suspect number one. David senses he's been set up and flees to his childhood friend and now Rusiian mobster Vlad Zhadanov. Vlad gets David off the grid but not before David's family is kidnapped. The ransom for David's family is dropping the gold standard another 500 points. The story has a few somewhat interesting twists and turns that really do create and weave a pretty good plot. It was a bit slow opening up, and some of the financial terms tossed around in book get confusing at times. I haven't had an economics class since 1980, and it wasn't my favorite subject either. I do think it was a bit odd, our rock-n-roll singing, and motorcycle riding NYPD detective Jake Rivett didn't pop into the story until about the 25 % mark. Not that this is a bad thing. Early on I just kept thinking if this was a Jake Rivett thriller when do we actually meet him ? David and Vlad were two pretty well developed main characters that help keep this plot moving along nicely. Jake is actually a supporting character and doesn't really have much to do in this book. Author Denison Hatch does tell a nice story. It reads very quickly and there are really no significant dead areas slow to plow through. I would have to say I'd read another Jake Rivett book if the series does get off the ground. But, will David Belov also star in second book ? (Interesting thought). Going with four stars out of a possible five stars for, "Flash Crash" by author Denison Hatch. If it were possible I would give the book 4.25 stars. I enjoyed the read, and recommend it to my fellow thriller readers. So, check this one out. At around 300 pages it flies along nicely. Will be curious to see how a second Jake Rivett book comes out. ...more
Another pretty good Will Trent read from author Karin Slaughter, "The Kept Woman", delivers with gritty dialog and packed with suspense. As the story Another pretty good Will Trent read from author Karin Slaughter, "The Kept Woman", delivers with gritty dialog and packed with suspense. As the story breaks, Will and Dr. Sara Linton have a really good romance going on. But duty calls and murder waits for no one. Will and partner Faith Mitchell are called out to a grisly murder scene at a night club that's undergoing renovations. Dr. Linton also must arrive being the M.E. assigned to this case. Will and Sara at this murder scene are awkward to say the least. The club's owner, Marcus Rippy is a standout pro basketball star who recently beat the rap on rape charges. Naturally it was the GBI supervisor Amanda Wagner, along with Trent and Mitchell who investigated that rape charge. Along with his lawyer Kip Kilpatrick, Marcus Rippy really despises Will Trent. Found dead at the out of commission night club is retired Atlanta PD detective Dale Harding. Thee crime scene is such a bloody mess the investigation has a difficult time getting organized. Before long the detectives realize they are also dealing with Angie Polaski's blood as well. Angie is Will's long time sometimes wife whom he can never seem to track down to divorce. Angie has a viral hatred of Sara Linton for "stealing" her man. Angie routinely sneaks into Will's house to steal small things from Sara. Meanwhile, this plot jumps back several weeks and gives us Angie's story of how her blood ended up in the empty night club. Angie has discovered her long lost daughter who she had given up at birth. Josephine "Jo" Figaroa is also married to a big time basketball player (Rueben). But we get to find out how Angie and Dale Harding intersect and the crazy world of athletes who are over paid and over pampered. Harding the former cop has become a real sleaze ball private eye. His story makes him out to be a villain that needs no tears shed over his gruesome murder. Coming in at well over 500 pages, "The Kept Woman", is another of master story teller Karin Slaughter's thrillers that's a enjoyable page turner. Every one of the Will Trent series of books has been a really good suspense thriller. I really like the interaction of Will Trent and Dr. Sara Linton. These two strong protagonists assure the book is going to be some pretty good reading. The supporting characters also help this one round out the plot very well. It's pretty easy to root against Angie Polaski. Hopefully she'll keep popping up in future books as well. Easily giving this one four stars out of a possible five stars. Really wanted to go like 4.25 or 4.33 stars. I'd highly recommend this one and all of author Karin Slaughter's Will Trent series of books. Suspense thrillers that are hugely enjoyable to get lost into. High octane reading with pages that fly by at a very quick pace....more
ADA Rachel Knight returns for a fourth novel in, "The Competition", from author Marcia Clark. This fourth book is the best read yet of this thrilling ADA Rachel Knight returns for a fourth novel in, "The Competition", from author Marcia Clark. This fourth book is the best read yet of this thrilling series. The subject matter takes on a very difficult, and delicate topic of a mass shooting in a high school. Marcia Clark really grabs the reader from the very first page with her narrative. Rachel Knight and her sidekick detective Bailey Keller arrive on this scene which is one of the worst type of a nightmare scenarios. Two apparent high school student shooters have attacked the students in the Gym during an assembly. Chasing students and faculty through the halls until they end up in the library where both commit suicide. Rachel is horrified with 33 dead, and many others wounded. However when the investigation gets going things are not quite what they seem. It's possible the two dead "shooters" in the library may not be the actual killers. Rachel and Bailey have to deal with terrified students and teachers who all seem to tell different stories. This story creates a plot that expands from various towns around Los Angeles to Boulder, Colorado, and Utah looking for answers. With a suspect who recently mustered out of the military, and who while working at a gun range sets off a series of events that will further endanger other schools. When the second mass shooting occurs a a local movie theater, Rachel and Bailey need to be investigating 24/7 getting answers. With a very well planned out conclusion, this yarn reads very quickly. This one is packed with high octane action, and snappy dialog to make this an enjoyable and riveting read. Main characters Rachel and Bailey work very well together when intense pressure has their backs up against a wall. Also, the supporting characters really help round out a very well developed plot and story. Author Marcia Clark has become a pretty good story teller. Her Rachel Knight novels have all been enjoyable and riveting reads. I'm giving, "The Competition", four stars out of a possible five stars. Although it reads very quickly there are a couple times early on where it slows to a crawl. The action and dialog do make this one a winner. Be sure to check it out. This one and the other Rachel Knight series books. The series is progressing and interesting with each new book....more
A lightweight feature from Cussler and Blake.A good read to clear my head with a breezy yarn. Now well into his 80's gotta wonder how much Cussler reaA lightweight feature from Cussler and Blake.A good read to clear my head with a breezy yarn. Now well into his 80's gotta wonder how much Cussler really is involved into the writing. Three stars out of five stars possible....more
I found Jeffery Deaver's fifth Lincoln Rhyme novel, "The Vanished Man", to be an exceptional and exciting read. It was an excellent rebound from the lI found Jeffery Deaver's fifth Lincoln Rhyme novel, "The Vanished Man", to be an exceptional and exciting read. It was an excellent rebound from the last couple of books in this series. Rhyme and Sachs are called into investigate the murder of Svetlana Rasnikov, 24 a music student who was murdered in a locked room where the killer had no way to escape but did vanish. Quickly after the first kill, the second victim pops up with his watch smashed similar to Svetlana's. The victim Tony Calvert 32, never saw the murderer coming. Meanwhile Rhyme and Sachs realize they are dealing with an "Illusionist" who is well practiced in magic and misdirection. Rhyme convinces a local magic/ illusionist protege, of master David Balzac, to help assist in the case. Kara is a newcomer to the world of illusion and misdirection but is a valuable resource in breaking down this killer's tricks. The killer is labeled as "The Conjurer" by Rhyme. Soon a third victim turns up near a horse stable where she's dunked into a river. Cheryl Marston,38 a divorced corporate lawyer is conned by the Conjurer to having coffee after completion of her weekly ride. Cheryl's coffee gets spiked with a drug and she passes out. The Conjurer wraps Cheryl in chains ( A Houdini trick), and dunked her into the river. Luckily she doesn't die as she's rescued at the last possible second. The Conjurer (Who goes by Malerick), is a master of disguise. His ability of misdirection is flawless as anything Rhyme has encountered. Seemingly the Conjurer appears that he's been badly burnt from an old accident. But amazingly he can morph into different characters almost minute by minute. Also along with the Conjurer plot is the trial the head of a white power group known as "Patriot Assembly". Since his arrest this leader has been well locked away, and sitting in the toombs of NYC. The prosecutor on the case, Charles Grady has a price on his head from the Assembly. With several attempts on Grady's life it becomes apparent the Conjurer seems to be involved in the Patriot Assembly, and contract to kill Grady. With some very well thought out characters and a plot that doesn't let up for a second, this book really cooks. Of the first five books in author Jeffery Deaver Rhyme series, this one is easily the best. The tandem of Rhyme and Sachs gets pushed to their limits several times in this plot. Sachs struggles throughout with the most difficult case in her career to date. Throughout book I kept waiting for the Kara character to turn up as something that was never expected. To a degree she actually did. Also, Roland Bell gets some good page time, and is a solid supporting character. Coming in over some 430 pages I read this book in just four hour long sittings. At times it was somewhat difficult to put down as I wanted to see what would happen next. I'd highly recommend, "The Vanishing Man", to all Deaver fans. Also, for any readers who enjoy a solid mystery thriller. This one will not disappoint from first page until it's conclusion. Check it out !...more
Son of the outstanding thriller writer Michael Palmer, "Desperate" is the fourth book I've read from son Daniel Palmer. The first three of Daniel's I'Son of the outstanding thriller writer Michael Palmer, "Desperate" is the fourth book I've read from son Daniel Palmer. The first three of Daniel's I've read were really pretty good. However, this one falls far short. Far too long coming in over 420 pages, this one struggled throughout. With an interesting premise the plot had a lot of possibilities to go in several directions. Husband and tech wizard Gage Dekker, along with highly successful management consultant wife Anna Miller feel they need a baby to make their lives more complete. Both Gage and Anna were previously married, and both lost children at young ages. So, it's right about the this time "Lily" crosses paths with the Dekkers. Lily who's just found out she's pregnant and now homeless arrives at just the perfect time. Lily's truck driving ex-con of a boyfriend has pitched her to the street finding out she's with child. Gage and Anna go all in to adopt Lilly's baby and give her a home in small apartment over their garage. Soon after Lily moves in strange things begin to happen to Gage. Anna can never seem to see Gage's point of view when the odd things keep befalling him. Gage's best friend, Brad is a "medium" and can converse with dead in addition to seeing some of the future. Brad warns Gage he's encountered a dark entity and needs to be very careful. Before long Gage and Lilly's boyfriend, Roy quickly become adversaries. In a plot with a number of unexpected twists, this one can get confusing quickly. Author Daniel Palmer must not have a very high opinion of Gage as he takes him through some pretty silly decisions. I really felt somewhat turned off with Gage's character as the book progressed. Several times I caught myself thinking, no way...no way.... I was somewhat very stunned with the conclusion. It really destroyed my opinion of the entire book. Silly and not very well thought out. The supporting characters were pretty well developed and added to the read quite a bit. Gage's and Anna's characters need much more insight. Overall I'd say, "Desperate", was an okay read. I'm giving it three stars out of a possible five stars. This one was really sub-Palmer for me. I hope the next book of his I pick up is far better. ...more
Debuting a new protagonist, D.I. Simon Fenchurch, author Ed James proves again with, "The Hope That Kills", to be a master story teller of gritty mystDebuting a new protagonist, D.I. Simon Fenchurch, author Ed James proves again with, "The Hope That Kills", to be a master story teller of gritty mystery thrillers. This high octane yarn is an exceptional and intense story from the streets of London, and the Metropolitan Police Service. DI Fenchurch is called to the scene of a grisly killing who's victim is a young school girl. With no ID on the body Fenchurch and his squad have almost no clues to start with. The young girl aged somewhere between 16-18 was found with a Hello Kitty bookbag, and sexually assaulted. The medical examiner quickly determines the victim was indeed a prostitute, and killed with a "Box Cutter" type of knife. This victim hits Fenchurch very close to home. Simon's own daughter, Chloe now missing for over ten years, went missing without a clue to her whereabouts. Simon almost daily checks into his daughter's case on his office computer. Simon's father Ian, a retired investigator has recently been brought back and assigned to the cold case squad. Ian tries to persuade Simon to move on and let Chloe's case rest. Simon's ex wife Abi also hates to talk with him because all he rambles on about is Chloe's case. Meanwhile, a suspect has been identified as possible killer of the unknown prostitute. Robert Hall, a bit of an odd ball and banker has been seen on CCTV before the murder. However before Hall's whereabouts are discovered, a second brutally murdered young girl has turned up. Also there's no ID available on the second victim, but it's the same killer without a doubt. Unfortunately for Fenchurch When Hall turns up he's found dead with a needle of pure heroin sticking out of his arm. With an exciting intricate plot that has some surprising moving parts, "The Hope That Kills", is a spellbinding thriller. As the story moves through a lap dancing bar, a hedge fund corporation, human trafficking, dirty cops, and a "Machine" that's actually a sex farm, it's weaving in and out of the various bad guys for a enjoyable read. Author Ed James creates some fairly amazing and odd ball characters to keep this plot twisting and turning towards it's conclusion. Just riding along with Fenchurch as he investigates while at the same time is always really searching for Chloe pulls at heart strings for the guy. Author Ed James known for his fantastic Scott Cullen mystery thrillers has a damaged and emotional protagonist in Simon Fenchurch. I can certainly see this series being very successful. At about 350 pages, "The Hope That Kills", is difficult to put down chapter after chapter. I read the book in a little over 48 hours. Five stars out of a possible five stars for, "The Hope That Kills". I'd highly recommend this thriller for any mystery thriller readers who appreciate a well developed and crafted yarn. Check this one out ! (If your not already reading James' Scott Cullen series- why aren't you ?)...more
The first book in author Marcia Clark's Samantha Brinkman series, "Blood Defense", commits the ultimate cardinal sin- it's boring. Having read the firThe first book in author Marcia Clark's Samantha Brinkman series, "Blood Defense", commits the ultimate cardinal sin- it's boring. Having read the first three books in Clark's Rachel Knight series I thought for sure Brinkman would be a solid. I struggled from the first chapter and through it's epilogue to get this book read. At roughly 395 pages it was far too long to support it's weak plot, and cardboard characters. Samantha Brinkman is a former public defender now out on her own as a defense attorney. The building Brinkman works out of is pretty much falling down. Yes, her office is located deep in the ghetto. Brinkman's practice isn't paying the bills. With her lights about to be turned off, Brinkman lands a high profile murder case. The suspected killer is longtime LAPD detective Dale Pearson. Pearson is charged with killing celebrity Chloe Monahan, and her roommate Paige Avner. Monahan once had a short lived career on a TV show but had been struggling for years since. It turns out Pearson and Chloe had just ended a relationship the very night of her murder. The police have the nosiest neighbor of the apartment complex, and a heavily stoned resident of complex as their chief witnesses. Pearson claims to have been at apartment of two girls the night of the murders, but when he left both were still alive. It seems Chloe's drug habit was source of many of the couple's battles. Samantha jumps right into the case trying to find a hole in the state's case. But It's then when she's hit with another crazy twist, Pearson is actually her biological father. What ? Really ? Disingenuous at best within this story line. After several really silly adventures with her secretary & BFF since grade school, Michelle AKA- "Michy", this case has hit a wall. Then Samantha's office is fire bombed almost killing Brinkman and Michelle, while at the same time her house is being torn apart. The plot has so many holes in it, and the outlandish action scenes it's a chore just to finish this book. Worse yet, when the characters are so limited in scope it's hard to root for them through this plot. At times I just giggled as I rolled from chapter to chapter (68 chapters & an Epilogue !). But I stuck with the book to the conclusion. The last two twists in the plot with the ending just froze me. I was stunned this was how book was ending. I realize author Marcia Clark wants readers to read second book in series (Not out yet) for cliffhangers resolution. I think I'll just stick with her Rachel Knight books for the time being. It's obvious Clark knows more about prosecuting a case than she does defending a case. Two stars out of a possible five stars for, "Blood Defense". I'm being generous with giving two stars . Best bet is just to leave this one on shelf....more
The second book in author Jeffery Deaver's Kathryn Dance series of thrillers, "Roadside Crosses", was a pretty good read. Coming in at over 540 pages The second book in author Jeffery Deaver's Kathryn Dance series of thrillers, "Roadside Crosses", was a pretty good read. Coming in at over 540 pages this one takes time to get through reading. The plot is slow to unwind at times, and branches off at unexpected turns. Protagonist Kathryn Dance, a widow works for California's Bureau of Investigation. She's an expert in kinesics, the study of body language to determine a person's likelihood of telling the truth. Dance must investigate a series of cases where a roadside cross will pop up before an actual crime in that location occurs. When high school senior Tammy Foster is kidnapped and left in a car trunk to drown, she saved at the last possible minute. However at the hospital Dance knows Tammy isn't giving her full disclosure. Tammy knows more than what she's telling, and knows who kidnapped her. Before long another classmate of Tammy's, Travis Brigham is fingered as a suspect. It seems Travis was at the center of a horrible car accident that all the kids in school blamed on him. The accident killed two classmates and kids from high school think he crashed on purpose. Surprisingly Dance finds all about this online, primarily from one source. Dance and her team need to investigate "The Chilton Report", an online blog that runs all over the place from far right to far left. The blog allows such a wide range of comments/ opinions that do nothing but make things worse with each passing hour. Pounding on Travis for the accident is a popular sport on the blog. Dance luckily convinces college professor Jon Boling to come help her team with the world of on line gaming. Suspect Travis spends more time in cyber than in the real world. Fighting hardened online "Gamers", hard line first amendment rights bloggers, hard line environmental causes bloggers, teenage social media, and of course greed, Dance has her hands full in this yarn. Also to complicate matters Dance's mother gets arrested for murder. As an ICU nurse Edie Dance is accused of putting a patient out of his misery. So, with "Roadside Crosses", there are constantly many parts in motion moving at various speeds. At times the number of elements in this plot were somewhat overwhelming. I liked the story. However there was just so much to process while trying to enjoy the read. As usual Author Jeffery Deaver had an array of very interesting characters. Deaver is a master of creating some very strange characters indeed. Overall I'm giving this one three stars out of a possible five stars. Having now read the first two books in the Kathryn Dance series, I'm not sure whether or not I like this series. (Character). But for an interesting thriller, and fans of author Jeffery Deaver I'd recommend this one without question....more
Boston based writer Rick Hoffman finds himself out of his high paying magazine gig, stuck with the long empty dilapidated family home, and his promineBoston based writer Rick Hoffman finds himself out of his high paying magazine gig, stuck with the long empty dilapidated family home, and his prominent lawyer father incapacitated for some twenty years now from a massive stroke. In author Joseph Finder's, "The Fixer", Rick's is truly down on his luck, and has arrived at a very troubling time in his life. With his sister Wendy out in Seattle, Rick is forced to deal with the old family home. Long empty and pretty much falling down, Rick low on cash is between a rock and a hard place. In a house with rats, walls falling down, and mold everywhere Rick finds a very interesting surprise. Tucked away in a crawl space Rick comes across a tarp covering a pile. Rick is really thrown for a loop pulling up the tarp. Underneath the tarp is $3.4 million in cash. Rick immediately gets with his next door neighbor Jeff, a small business construction company owner a lucrative deal to fix up the old house to be saleable. Unable to communicate with his father Rick needs to figure out how all this money ended up hidden away. Rick's Father Len, a long time lawyer to whom most people would consider very undesirable clients, is tucked away in a nursing home after having a massive stroke some twenty years past. Len was a lawyer that whose most of his clients were in adult businesses such as bookstores and topless bars. Rick must go diving back into decades old contracts, corruption, graft, and payouts of the old Boston way, to ask was everyone getting "Paid" ?. With an exciting plot that forces Rick back into time and reconstructing his father's old law practice, this thriller keeps the reader guessing which way the plot would spin. Rick had to continually decide who to trust and who to be afraid of. Running around Boston spending money like crazy switching rental cars and hotel rooms Rick is an easy target for several bad guys. Protagonist Rick Hoffman is a likeable but yet naive character that has plenty of guts. Rick is actually a pretty good investigative reporter/ detective as he gets to the bottom of Boston's famous "Big Dig" (1990's massive tunnel project). The lively and unique supporting characters add a lot of flair to the plot as well. With a little romance thrown in, this book is difficult to put down. After the first couple times I'd sat down reading, "The Fixer", I knew it was a really excellent read. When I got to about the 50 % counter on my Kindle I could not put it down. This riveting story just grabbed me forcing me to ride through the plot's turns, and spins to it's conclusion. Once again author Joseph Finder proves to be a master story teller. One of my favorite authors as well. Of the five or six books of his I've read, each has been a solid enjoyable read. I'm giving, "The Fixer", five stars out of a possible five stars. A free standing read, this one is a DO NOT MISS !. One of the best thriller writers out there today Joseph Finder spins and weaves excellent tales of suspense and intrigue. Check this one out for sure. When you get a chance jut pick up some of Joseph Finder's excellent thrillers for a wild ride worth taking. ...more
This book never did really grab me. With it's protagonist Gina Roake, and a bit of Wyatt Hunt the plot just seemed to stay in the mud throughout. WhenThis book never did really grab me. With it's protagonist Gina Roake, and a bit of Wyatt Hunt the plot just seemed to stay in the mud throughout. When Detective Devin Juhle gets to be a primary character the story is in trouble. Also at just over 500 pages made this one a chore to get through for it's conclusion. Roake the former girlfriend of late David Freeman hasn't practiced any law for a very long time. Ready to move on with her life, she decides she wants to get involved again. Gina takes on a high profile murder case of a writer who is accused of killing his very successful medical doctor wife. Stuart Gorman's wife Caryn was an inventor of a new type of hip joint that would generate millions. Caryn however wanted a divorce. It took a very time time for this plot to unwind itself. The characters were not very note worthy or memorable. I knew Stuart didn't kill his wife so I did want to read through story to find out who done it. It had a small surprising twist at the end which did help the read as well. I'm going with three stars out of a possible five stars for, "The Suspect". It's an okay read but I'd leave this one on the shelf unless there isn't anything else sitting there. ...more
Carol Jordan steps far out of her comfort zone to go undercover in author Val McDermid's third Jordan/ Hill series book. Jordan has to investigate theCarol Jordan steps far out of her comfort zone to go undercover in author Val McDermid's third Jordan/ Hill series book. Jordan has to investigate the international crime boss Tadeusz Radecki and try to take down his crime operations. Radecki's love interest, Katerina has been recently killed in an auto accident where a motorcycle caused the crash and fleeing the scene. Radecki is crushed losing his beloved Katerina, and is now getting his fingers too dirty within his daily operations. Radecki's assistant, the very nasty Darko Krasic has to try and protect Radecki from getting too involved in the day to day activities of their schemes. Protect the boss at all costs. Radecki has ordered Darko to find that motorcycle rider in order to exact his own justice. When Caroline Jackson comes along Radecki is thrown for a loop. Caroline, (Actually Carol Jordan) is a dead ringer for Katerina. However Darko refuses to believe this is too good to be true no matter how much Radecki fawns over Caroline. Meanwhile in another story line, a serial killer is running about killing psychologists by very gruesome means. By drowning his victim by shoving a pipe down their throat and pours water until death occurs. Also, the killer then ties up the doctor by all fours, and removes their pubic patches. Berlin detective Petra Becker who's assisting Carol in the undercover Radecki scam gets Jordan to bring Dr. Tony Hill to town to help profile serial killer. Hill who is bored to tears in academia jumps at the chance. Hill is thrilled to be in his element. Hill lives for profiling and tracking down the sickest of killers. Hill naturally labels the killer "Geronimo". Petra and Hill have their hands filled locating this serial killer as he appears to have killed in several countries. With some crackling dialog, Hill and Jordan are at the top of their game in this thriller. The plot packed with plenty of action has very few lull moments. The supporting characters are very well developed into real life like figures. At over 500 pages this one was indeed a little too long. It took me several long sit downs to really get through the book. Not that this is a bad thing, it just didn't fly like a sports car at top speed. To date all three Jordan/ Hill books I've read from author Val Mcdermid have been really good. I'm excited to jump into fourth book in this series. Going with four stars out of five stars possible for, "The Last Temptation". I'd like to say it really was like a 4.25 star book. The onset was a little slow developing and some of the names and places were difficult to keep track of sometimes in such a long book. But, still I'd highly recommend this read. Be sure to check out his wonderful series: Jordan/ Hill from author Val McDermid. I wouldn't steer you wrong....more
The first Dr. Tony Hill & DI Carol Jordan series book from author Val McDermid, "The Mermaids Singing", is a compelling intense thriller packed with sThe first Dr. Tony Hill & DI Carol Jordan series book from author Val McDermid, "The Mermaids Singing", is a compelling intense thriller packed with suspense. Written in 1995, the book is now a bit dated given that criminal profiling has become vital while chasing serial killers. Also given the rise of shows on American television such as, "Criminal Minds", 1995 is the era this science started to explode world wide. At first not realizing that Hill/ Jordan was a series, I'd read the second book several months ago. That book, "The Wire In The Blood", was an exciting five star thriller. So I had to go back to first book to see how this series evolves. A serial killer is loose in Bradfield. With four kills to his credit he's been dubbed "The Queer Killer", by the local PD. Since all of his four victims seem to be gay men still very much hidden in the closet. Dr. Tony Hill is brought in to work up a profile of this killer to assist police in searching for the culprit. Hill is tasked with working closely with DI. Carol Jordan in solving these murders. At first the police are investigating all four murders separately. Refusing to believe it's the work of one serial killer. Hill quickly puts together an analysis to show police how killer is working and why. Hill decides to tag this killer as "Handy Andy" instead of "The Queer Killer". Hill's research shows police why it's better to use one name over the other for purposes of the case. Meanwhile Hill is receiving phone calls at home from a mystery woman named Angelica. Angelica has a crush on Hill, and loves to work Hill into a frenzy with explicit sexual language. After the fourth victim turns out to be a "Bobbie", the pressure intensifies to get this killer. Finally a suspect is found and arrested. Stevie McConnell has been linked with all four victims and locked up while police try to gather evidence. However McConnell is a red herring and is badly beaten in jail before committing suicide. With the assistance of reporter Penny Burgess in helping to smoke out the real killer, the police seem to be finally on the right track. At just over 440 fast paced pages flying by, this yarn is a high octane read. The plot itself had several pretty interesting twists to keep reader wondering when killer will be exposed. I just knew the conclusion had to be something out of the ordinary. As expected the surprises at the conclusion were really out of left field too. Without question Hill and Jordan are very strong protagonists which help keep the story moving forward with intensity and suspense. Not to be overlooked the supporting characters add some lively variety to the plot. The book at times did seem a bit dated which slowed my reading up just slightly. However I though it was a very enjoyable story to get lost into. Author Val McDermid is certainly a master story teller without question. Having read several of her books now, they are truly special. I'm giving, "The Mermaids Singing", four stars out of a possible five stars. The first book of a pretty good series. Please check this one out, as well as the series itself. ...more
Jason Steadman, the protagonist in author Joseph Finder's, "Killer Instinct", is an electronics salesman and expert for a company in Boston called "EnJason Steadman, the protagonist in author Joseph Finder's, "Killer Instinct", is an electronics salesman and expert for a company in Boston called "Entronics". Married to Kate, Jason's career to date has been somewhat mediocre. The boss "Gordy" doesn't think much of Jason because he sees the fair haired guy Trevor Allard as the top dog. Gordy is a throw back boss in the business world because he believes the more pressure, and intimidation he can apply to his workers the more they'll produce/ sell. To Jason's chagrin Trevor is the smooth talking salesman who snags the big deals with the big clients. Also now that Gordy is expecting to move up in the company shortly, he wants Trevor to fill his position. Jason badly wants Gordy's job but doesn't see a way to impress Gordy who marvels at Trevor. Meanwhile one night travelling home and not paying attention to the road, Jason has a car accident. He's not hurt but his car is dinged up pretty good. The tow truck driver who arrives, Kurt Semko, goes out of his way to help Jason get car to a reputable mechanic and drives him home. Soon Jason and Kurt are fast friends. Kurt was special forces sergeant in Iraq who was dishonorably discharged over a "minor incident" after a botched mission. Kurt is very talented in several areas. He was drafted as a pitcher by the Detroit Tigers, but ended up in the army stationed in Iraq and Afghanistan. As a special forces soldier, Kurt knows many things about guns, explosives, and how war is fought. Jason is so impressed he gets Kurt a spot on Entronics company soft ball team as a pitcher. The team is usually pretty bad but with a ringer in Kurt things look up quickly. Jason also goes to bat for Kurt at Entronics getting him a job in corporate security. Kurt then takes Jason under his wing teaching him how to use the art of war to get ahead in company. However Jason gets very curious that every time there is a stumbling block in his way something comes along every time to Jason's benefit. Even though Jason and Kurt have become best friends something is very off. Jason begins to smell a rat. Kurt must be working behind the scenes sabotaging others in the office to get Jason promotions and big time accounts landed. When Trevor's Porsche crashes killing him and Brett Gleason from the office, Jason is terrified for his life. It seems crossing Kurt is not a healthy thing to do. With an exciting and intense plot this thriller was a superb page turner. Author Joseph Finder manages to get surprises on almost every page. Joseph Finder is certainly a master story teller. With each book of his I've read, they seem to get better each time out. "Killer Instinct" came out in 2006 but it's not really dated. Except for some technology this one still reads like it just came out recently. The supporting characters have enough strength to keep this plot moving at a fairly fast pace. Protagonists Jason and Kurt certainly seem to come alive off the pages. At just over 380 pages this yarn really shined in the final 100 pages. The build up to the big finish was exceptionally well crafted. (If I hadn't gotten sick I'd have read this at least 24 hrs. quicker). Writer Joseph Finder has quickly made it to my favorite authors list. I'm really glad I got to see him in person at this year at Tucson's Festival Of Books back in March. Since then I've read five of his books, and loved them all. Giving, "Killer Instinct", four stars out of a possible five stars. Really would have like to given it a solid 4.25 stars. It's a really good read. Please check it out. If you're not reading Joseph Finder, who is a master suspense thriller story teller you're really missing out ! Do not miss this author. Don't miss this book either....more
The fourth Lincoln Rhyme novel in series from author Jeffery Deaver, "The Stone Monkey", at best was a very pedestrian read. The usual protagonists, LThe fourth Lincoln Rhyme novel in series from author Jeffery Deaver, "The Stone Monkey", at best was a very pedestrian read. The usual protagonists, Lincoln Rhyme and Amelia Sachs have a limited role in moving this story along. A cargo ship out of a Russian port, "Fuzhou Dragon" is travelling to the United States with a secret. The ship is smuggling people out of China to NYC's Chinatown. "piglets" as the cargo is known by are being smuggled by the master "Snakehead" Kwan Ang. Ang is known as the "Ghost" for his skill and ability in human trafficking Chinese into country without leaving any trail. Ang doesn't like to leave witnesses. When the smuggling ship is detected by the Coast Guard, Ang sets off an explosion to sink ship and all it's piglets. However, quite a few escape into the freezing waters. Ang makes it to shore on a life boat and disappears. The few refugees from the now sunken ship stumble into transportation to Chinatown. The FBI and INS need Rhyme and Sachs to process evidence so they can track the Ghost and refugees. Well over a 500 page read, this one plods along very slowly. Most of the story comes from the surviving Chinese and their struggle to stay hidden from the Ghost. Rhyme and Sachs come and go throughout book to help story hobble along. I would have to say I was somewhat bored with this one after about page 200. However I stayed with it hoping for a turn around. All in all the story itself was okay. The supporting characters had too much to do keeping the book moving forward. This one needed more Rhyme and Sachs to be sure. Going with three stars out of a possible five stars for, "The Stone Monkey". For those Rhyme and Sachs fans it's an interesting read because of Rhyme's insistence of a possible operation to gain mobility. For those Amelia Sachs fans, she keeps getting lost in this one. But the parts Sachs pop up in are thankfully really good action sequences too. Check it out....more
Author Jeffery Deaver's third Lincoln Rhyme suspense thriller, "The Empty Chair", travels to the back woods of North Carolina to find the "Insect Boy"Author Jeffery Deaver's third Lincoln Rhyme suspense thriller, "The Empty Chair", travels to the back woods of North Carolina to find the "Insect Boy". Rhyme along with his forensics protege Amelia Sachs travel to the University of North Carolina At Avery's medical center for an experimental operation designed to give some mobility back to Lincoln. Sachs and Ryme's care giver Tom are both very much against this procedure. While in the hospital waiting for the doctor to come along and get things going, Rhyme gets a visit by the local sheriff. Paquenoke County Sheriff Jim Bell dashes to the hospital to beg Rhmye for his expertise on a local kidnapping/ murder case. It seems a local high school student Billy Stail has been murdered with a shovel, and young Mary Beth McConnell has been kidnapped and likely dead as well. On top of these heinous crimes the suspect has also kidnapped nurse Lydia Johansson. The suspect is an odd ball sixteen year old kid named Garrett Hanlon who's so weird he's known as the "Insect Boy". Garrett living in foster care after the death of his parents three years ago has a very high IQ even though he doesn't attend school. Woefully uneducated but an absolute expert on any type of insect, Garrett is filthy dirty, and extremely smelly. Garrett's whole life revolves around studying insects and stalking Mary Beth McConnell. Rhyme and Sachs agree to help out Bell with assisting tracking Garrett. Amelia and a couple deputies track Garrett through the tough back woods as Rhyme guides Sachs over phone with his forensics. Garrett is amazed how quickly he's tracked down. Even after setting booby traps in the dense woods he thought he was safe taking Lydia travelling at his own pace. He was positive there was no possible way police could keep up with him. He's so stunned he allows Lydia to get the upper hand on him. After Lydia escapes from Garrett and the officers nab the teenager he's taken to jail. At this point Rhyme thinks it's safe to return to the hospital for his procedure. However, Sachs senses a rat and springs Garrett out of jail. As of that point Garrett had been refusing to divulge any info to the whereabouts of Mary Beth. But, Sachs is convinced she can take Garrett, and both would again track to the location of Mary Beth's body. Garrett swears Mary Beth is still alive and only he can find where he's hidden her. Sachs decides she can trust Garrett and off they go. In a crazy chase of Paguenoke's sheriff's department officers go on the trail of Amelia and Garrett. However during the chase one of the deputies is shot and killed. Amelia becomes the accused cop killer. In addition to the sheriff's department, Sachs must avoid bounty hunters who want to claim reward money from Mary Beth's parents. At just over 470 pages this yarn is a marvelous tale of tracking through the deepest of back woods of North Carolina. The tension that develops between Rhyme and the Paquenoke's sheriff's department seems strong enough to built a solid wall of suspense. A fast paced thriller to be sure, "The Empty Chair", builds in intensity quickly as the pages fly by. With some amazing and kooky characters, author Jeffery Deaver once again proves he's a master story teller. At times it felt like I was travelling through Mayberry , if it were in the "Twilight Zone". I admit I was a little slow in reading the first half of book, but with about 250 pages remaining I had to sit in my chair reading until I was finished. The plot flows very well as expected. Although I must admit some of the crazy twists and turns at the ending where kinda far fetched, and took away from the overall read. But Lincoln Rhyme fans should not for any reason miss this tale. Once you start this book you'll need plenty of time to block out. It's that hard to put down. Four stars out of a possible five stars for "The Empty Chair", another Deaver classic !...more
Master story teller Thomas Perry has once again spun another very interesting yarn to enjoy. It's moniker , "Nightlife", is a wild tale just chock fulMaster story teller Thomas Perry has once again spun another very interesting yarn to enjoy. It's moniker , "Nightlife", is a wild tale just chock full of some unique, and intense characters which easily deliver a pretty good suspense thriller . Written in 2006, "Nightlife", has two somewhat intense protagonists. Former LAPD and DA Special Investigator Joe Pitt is now a PI down in LA, while up at Portland PD, homicide detective Catherine Hobbes is a hard nosed and quickly career rising detective. Dennis Poole of Portland, Oregon, is brutally murdered by new girlfriend Tanya Starling. Poole's brother Hugo, a crime boss down in Los Angeles hires Joe Pitt to find out who killed his brother, and why. Girlfriend Tanya, is a skillful and young seductress with a talent to get various men to do things for her at a drop of a hat. Catherine who has only been a cop for about seven years but has risen quickly within ranks of homicide department catches this case . Tanya is a extremely clever killer who doesn't leave forensic evidence in her trail. Both Hobbes and Pitt have their hands full trying to unwind Tanya's sprawling and bloody wake. Tanya is an expert on changing her identities and physical appearance. Tanya navigates her vicious bloody wake leaving bodies, and confusion from Portland, then to LA, Phoenix, Denver, and back towards Portland once again. Tanya has something to prove to Catherine and is laser focused on her end game. Also, Tanya likes to taunt Catherine by calling her cell phone to confuse her, and to throw her off the trail. Tanya is a very devious adversary for Catherine to track. Even veteran detective Joe Pitts sees Tanya as a slippery foe to catch. Hobbes and Pitt working together begin a intimate relationship fairly quickly. Although it's not unexpectant, their romance adds some spice to a very lively plot. In a very dynamic story with several unexpected twists, and crazy turns the pages fly by at warp speed. At an intense 400 pages, this enjoyable page turner with it's quirky and unique characters is another Thomas Perry classic. As a huge fan of author Thomas Perry, I thought, "Nightlife", was certainly one of his best. I'm not sure if Hobbes and Pitt team up in any other Perry books, but that would be fun to find out. I'm giving, "Nightlife" four stars out of a possible five stars. This one is another very good suspense thriller from master story teller Thomas Perry. Even though it's now ten years old, this one is a must read for all Perry fans. For those who haven't read any of Thomas Perry's books, They are must reads for all suspense thriller readers ! Don't miss out on some great reads ! Check it out soon !...more
Manson was one scary messed up dude. This book & "Helter Skelter" just unbelievable !Manson was one scary messed up dude. This book & "Helter Skelter" just unbelievable !...more
Slow reading. Bored me to tears at times. Too much tech talk especially if most was outdated. Written in 2001 this one was stuck in the dinosaur era oSlow reading. Bored me to tears at times. Too much tech talk especially if most was outdated. Written in 2001 this one was stuck in the dinosaur era of the internet. "The Blue Nowhere", is the dark internet. Maybe if characters were more lively might have helped. Leave this one on shelf to collect dust....more