Category: Book Review

4/5, AUTHOR, Author Debut, Book Review, Fiction, M, RATING, Read in 2014, Review Book

2014.8 REVIEW – Fortunate Son by David Marlett

Tara

Fortunate Son
by David Marlett

Copyright: 2013
Pages: 337
Rating: 4/5
Read: Feb. 14 – Feb. 20, 2014
Challenge: No challenge
Yearly count: 8
Format: Print
Source: The Story Plant for blog tour

Fortunate SonBlurb: Meet James Annesley, son of 18th Century Ireland. Though you may have never heard his name before, his story has already touched you in profound ways. Now, for the first time, novelist David Marlett brings that incredible story to life.

Stretching from the dirty streets of Ireland to the endless possibilities of Colonial America, from drama on the high seas with the Royal Navy to a life-and-death race across England and up the Scottish Highlands, from the prospect of a hangman’s noose to a fate decided in the halls of justice, Fortunate Son is a powerful, relentless epic. Here nobility, duels, love, courage, revenge, honor, and treachery among family, friends and ancient enemies abound. And at its center is the most momentous trial in Irish history – the trial of Annesley v. Anglesea from which our modern “attorney/client privilege” was forged, and our concept of a “jury of one’s peers” was put to the test.

Carefully researched, vividly evoked, and lovingly brought to the page, Fortunate Son is an unforgettable work of fiction based on fact, one that will resonate deep within you long after you finish it.

Review: I received a copy of this book for free from The Story Plant for review purposes in conjunction with a blog tour, all opinions expressed below are my own.

When I was pitched this book, I was immediately drawn to the words “historical,” “courtroom drama” and “epic adventure.” They had me at hello!

I will say that in the beginning I found this book difficult to read. It’s very true-to-form in regards to the language used. I’m not used to reading books that have 18th century language. But once I got used to that it was a lot of fun. Jemmy, what a character. He went through so much, honestly, that it really hurt me at times to read what was happening.

I cannot imagine the amount of research that Mr. Marlett put into this book. It’s billed as being “carefully researched,” but that simply does not do it justice. As a reader I could tell that Mr. Marlett knew his subject inside and out and I truly believe that this is what made this book so very readable.

It might be a “courtroom historical adventure” but this book is all of that and so much more. The blood, sweat and tears, of the characters and the author are ever-present in this book. I really recommend this book to adventure fans, historical fans, and legal fans. It’s a great book and I thoroughly enjoyed it!

About the author:

shapeimage_1David Marlett is an attorney, artist, and self-trained historian who grew up in a storytelling Texas family. He attended Texas Tech University where he earned multiple degrees in finance, economics and accounting. Subsequently, he earned his law degree from the University of Texas School of Law. David has created and written stories and screenplays since childhood, and is particularly interested in richly textured history and the drama behind major courtroom battles. He is a serial entrepreneur focused primarily on the arts. (He once owned eight bookstores across the United States.) David currently speaks and lectures at conferences and universities on trans- media, storytelling, entrepreneurship in the arts, and crowdfunding. He has been a featured contributor to Movie Maker magazine, Digital Book World, and many other publications. He has developed and sold a number of film scripts and has directed/ acted in many regional theatrical performances. David is also a photoartist whose work has appeared in several galleries across the United States. He lives outside Dallas, Texas, and has four children. His second novel, American Red, another historical courtroom drama, is due to be published in late 2014.

Connect with Mr. Marlett:

Twitter

Facebook

Goodreads

4/5, AUTHOR, Book Review, Fiction, LT Early Reviewer, P, RATING, Read in 2014, Review Book

2014.6 REVIEW – The Innocent Sleep by Karen Perry

Tara

The Innocent Sleep
by Karen Perry

Copyright: 2014
Pages: 323
Rating: 4/5
Read: Feb. 1 – Feb. 5, 2014
Challenge: No challenge
Yearly count: 6
Format: Print
Source: LibraryThing Early Reviewer Program

The Innocent SleepBlurb: Tangier. Harry is preparing his wife’s birthday dinner while she is still at work and their son, Dillon, is upstairs asleep in bed. Harry suddenly remembers that he’s left Robin’s gift at the cafe in town. It’s only a five-minute walk away, and Dillon is hard to put down for the night, so Harry decides to run out and fetch the present.

Disaster strikes. An earthquake hits, buildings crumble, people scream and run. Harry fights his way through the crowds to his house, only to find it a crumbled wreck. Dillon is presumed dead, though his body is never found.

Five years later, Harry and Robin have settled into a new life after relocating to their native Dublin. Their grief will always be with them, but lately it feels as if they’re ready for a new beginning. Harry’s career as an artist is taking off and Robin has just realized that she’s pregnant.

But when Harry gets a glimpse of Dillon on the crowded streets of Dublin, the past comes rushing back at them both. Has Dillon been alive all these years? Or was what Harry saw just a figment of his guilt-ridden imagination? With razor-sharp writing, Karen Perry’s The Innocent Sleep delivers a fast-paced, ingeniously plotted thriller brimming with deception, doubt, and betrayal.

Review: I received a copy of this book for free from LibraryThing’s Early Reviewer Program for review purposes, all opinions expressed below are my own.

They say there are two sides to every story. Sometimes, there are three. (p. 265 from ARC)

Oh where to start with this review? I have to admit that I slept on my thoughts before really sitting down and writing them out. It’s so hard to put into words my feelings regarding this book without revealing major spoilers.

So to begin, overall this is a thrill-a-minute book that slowly reveals itself to a pulse-pounding, nearly unbelievable conclusion.

I guess I have to really start with the entire notion that a parent would leave their young son in bed asleep and go out and down the street. I don’t care if it’s 3 blocks down or next door, you just don’t do that. Heck, I don’t even like to go to the mailbox when Garrett is asleep! It’s just something that I cannot wrap my brain around. So from the beginning I had a really big problem with Harry’s character. I simply could not trust him after that revelation. And then there’s Robin. I was so fed up with her character because she continued to stay with Harry after he not only left Dillon alone asleep in bed but there was another big revelation that is just absolutely unforgivable. What kind of woman could really stay with a man like Harry? Well as the reader continues, it becomes very obvious that not everyone is as perfect as they appear. Robin has some pretty nasty stuff in her past as well. They’re both incredibly flawed characters. But it works for some reason.

So how on earth could I possibly like a book that I was really disgusted by the two main characters? I simply cannot answer that question. But for whatever reason, it works. The psychological mind twist that goes on throughout this book really makes you want to keep reading. I had to know what happened. I had to know if Harry was losing his mind. I had to know if Dillon could really be alive.

And then the ending … the last page. Just, wow. There’s a huge twist that I never saw coming and left me with a little lukewarm feeling. Personally it felt unnecessary and more than a little unbelievable if you ask me. Unnecessary, that’s really the best word that I can use for the ending. But please don’t let this change your decision to read this book, because it’s a good read.

This is just one of those books that words can’t adequately describe. You have to really read it to understand it. I can’t say much more about it without giving away entirely too much. Just read it. Seriously.

4.5/5, AUTHOR, Book Review, E-Book, Edelweiss, Fiction, Lucy Black, M, RATING, Read in 2014, Review Book, SERIES

2014.2 REVIEW – Little Girl Lost by Brian McGilloway

Tara

Little Girl Lost
by Brian McGilloway

Copyright: 2011
Pages: 238
Rating: 4.5/5
Read: Jan. 7 – 12, 2014
Challenge: No challenge
Yearly count: 2
Format: E-Book
Source: Edelweiss

LITTLE GIRL LOST_cover imageBlurb: Midwinter. A child is found wandering through the snowy woods, her hands covered in someone else’s blood.

Authorities suspect the child is the kidnapped daughter of real estate tycoon Michael McLaughlin. Once they realize she is far too young to be the missing teenager, they reach a dead end in identifying the girl, who either cannot or will not speak. The only adult she seems to trust is the young officer who found her, Detective Lucy Black. A frenzied investigation to find the McLaughlins’ daughter and to discover the name of the mysterious child is ignited when it becomes apparent that the two cases are linked. As Lucy digs deeper and deeper into the case, she is forced to question not only the persons of interest, but everything she thought she knew about her own past.

Review: I received a copy of this book for free via Edelweiss for review purposes, all opinions expressed below are my own.

I had come across this book randomly on Edelweiss one day and my interest was piqued. Honestly the first time I saw it, there was no book description. All that was there was the book cover. This book’s cover really is what caught my interest (I’m not normally a big cover person). Maybe a week later my contact at William Morrow sent me more information on this book and I immediately clicked the link she sent through for direct access to the book. I loaded it onto my Nook the day Bout of Books started and I was off reading.

The first few pages in I had determined that this author must really have an issue with spell-check. I was a little concerned until I saw the tell-tale “our” on the end of a word instead of the American “or” version. That was finally when I realized that it’s okay that “curb” was spelled “kerb” and “pajamas” was “pyjamas.” I guess I should spend a little more time reading what publicists send me so I know that I’m actually reading a European author write a book set in Ireland! Actually it’s pretty sad because when I look back at the email I was originally sent the subject line actually reads: “#1 UK Kindle Bestseller now available by Witness.” Um, yeah, Tara … you could be a little more observant!

Anyway, I guess I should really stop with the rambling and get on with the review.

So, I will say that I was immediately taken with Lucy Black’s character. She just seemed to spunky and fresh. And you knew immediately that she was dealing with some personal issues as well. Her father is suffering from Alzheimer’s and she has moved back home in order to care for him. Her relationship with her mother is very seriously lacking. And she’s trying to settle into a new job in a new department. So what happens? She dives straight into a case and starts finding connections that some people don’t want to be made. Lucy is such a compassionate character – she really has a way with children and she’s a saint for what she deals with in regards to her father’s failing condition. She’s just a really likable character. I am also interested in seeing how her mother’s character is fleshed out in the future books. The door is open for them to have more of a relationship, I hope that it happens for both of them.

The writing itself was very good and the storyline was really interesting. There were a lot of twists and turns along the way. And when Lucy finally came to figuring out the entire thing, well in order to avoid spoilers, let’s just say that you will probably be surprised with how things end up unfolding. I especially liked how the storylines ended up weaving in together. I spent the majority of the first part of the book trying to figure out how the two cases were going to come together, so it was very interesting to see how they finally did – and not entirely surprising, either.

I’m excited that this is the first in a new series. I can only hope that the next book in the series will be made available in the US as well because I am very eager to meet these characters once again.

Highly recommended.

4/5, AUTHOR, Book Review, C, Fiction, Myron Bolitar, RATING, Read in 2014, READING CHALLENGES 2014, SERIES

2014.7 REVIEW – Fade Away by Harlan Coben

Tara

Fade Away 
by Harlan Coben

Copyright: 1996
Pages: 355
Rating: 4/5
Read: Feb. 6 – Feb. 13, 2014
Challenge: Eclectic Reader Challenge
Yearly count: 7
Format: Print
Source: Personal Copy

Fade AwayBlurb: In novels that crackle with wit and suspense, Harlan Coben has created one of the most fascinating heroes in suspense fiction: the wisecracking, tenderhearted sports agent Myron Bolitar. In this gripping third novel in the acclaimed series, Myron must confront a past that is dead and buried – and more dangerous than ever before.

The home is top-notch New Jersey suburban. The living room is Martha Stewart. The basement is Legos – and blood. The signs of a violent struggle. For Myron Bolitar, the disappearance of a man he once competed against is bringing back memories – of the sport he and Greg Downing had both played and the woman they both loved. Now, among the stars, the wannabes, the gamblers, and the groupies, Myron is embarking upon the strange ride of a sports hero gone wrong that just may lead to certain death. Namely, his own.

Review: This is the third book in the Myron Bolitar series and I want to start this review by telling you the same thing I told you in my review of the second book (Drop Shot). Myron Bolitar is hilarious. Laugh out loud hilarious. Yeah sometimes it’s pretty cheesy, but for the most part it’s really funny. Humor is not something I have in the book that I read, so this was a nice light read for me … just what I needed, really!

In this book Myron is called back onto the basketball court. His NBA career was over before it even began many years prior when his knee blew out after an unfortunate collision with another player. So you could tell that Myron was as giddy as could be when the opportunity arose which would place him back on the court. Yeah, he understood he wasn’t in as good of shape as the other guys and that he would likely warm the bench. But still, you can’t help but smile at the thought of a second chance for Myron. Regardless of how short-lived it would be. And so what if this opportunity arises because a star player has disappeared and he’s really only joining the team to get closer to the team members in order to try to find Greg Downing.

There are many twists and turns in this one. Myron finds himself crossing paths with the Mob, murderers, blackmailers and even some people who have been underground for many years after being outed as 1960s revolutionaries. There’s a lot that goes on and every twist and turn definitely kept me on my toes because I never knew what Myron would find himself involved in next.

Overall this is a really good book. The characters were well-developed. The writing was excellent. The storyline was interesting. The book’s pacing was spot on. There’s not much at all I can honestly find to complain about.

I’m definitely interested in seeing where Myron goes next now that he’s had his “closure” from his playing days. I think what I like most about Myron is that yeah he’s funny, but he’s really got heart. There’s just something to him that works.

Definitely a good book that I would definitely recommend, but I don’t know if this one would standalone very well. I’m sure it would be okay, but I honestly think that you won’t understand some of the secondary characters if you don’t have the background of the first two books.

Either way, definitely recommended.

Favorite quotes:

Riverside Drive was relatively quiet. Myron arrived at his Kinney lot on 46th Sreet and tossed Mario the keys. Mario did not park the Ford Taurus up front with the Rolls, the Mercedes, Win’s Jack; in fact, he usually managed to find a cozy spot underneath what must have been a nesting ground for loose-stooled pigeons. Car discrimination. It was an ugly thing, but where were the support groups? (p. 34)

Myron checked the clock. He’d been in for thirty-four seconds and his man had scored five points. Myron did some quick math. At that rate, Myron could hold Reggie Wallace to under six hundred points per game. (p. 241)

4.5/5, AUTHOR, Book Review, E-Book, Fiction, M, RATING, Read in 2014, READING CHALLENGES 2014, SERIES, Sookie Stackhouse

2014.1 REVIEW – The Winter People by Jennifer McMahon

Tara

The Winter People
by Jennifer McMahon

Copyright: 2014
Pages: 336
Rating: 4.5/5
Read: Dec. 29, 2013 – Jan. 1, 2014
Challenge: Eclectic Reader 2014, What’s in a Name 2014
Yearly count: 1
Format: E-Book
Source: Edelweiss

The Winter PeopleBlurb: West Hall, Vermont, has always been a town of strange disappearances and old legends. The most mysterious is that of Sara Harrison Shea, who, in 1908, was found dead in the field behind her house just months after the tragic death of her daughter, Gertie. Now, in present day, nineteen-year-old Ruthie lives in Sara’s farmhouse with her mother, Alice, and her younger sister, Fawn. Alice has always insisted that they live off the grid, a decision that suddenly proves perilous when Ruthie wakes up one morning to find that Alice has vanished without a trace. Searching for clues, she is startled to find a copy of Sara Harrison Shea’s diary hidden beneath the floorboards of her mother’s bedroom. As Ruthie gets sucked deeper into the mystery of Sara’s fate, she discovers that she’s not the only person who’s desperately looking for someone that they’ve lost. But she may be the only one who can stop history from repeating itself.

 

Review: I received a copy of this book for free via Edelweiss for review purposes, all opinions expressed below are my own.

In January of 2013, I had my first experience with a Jennifer McMahon book, The One I Left Behind. It absolutely blew me away and ended up on my Best Reads of 2013 list. So you can imagine how excited I was when I saw her 2014 release available on Edelweiss for request. You can bet your life that I clicked that request button as soon as absolutely possible (and probably put something like “I loved her last book and would love to read this one” in the additional request box …).

I’m not sure exactly what I was expecting of this book, but I know I went in with it with high expectations. Overall I am pleased to say that I was not disappointed. However, it definitely wasn’t the book I expected it to be. I was expecting more mystery than ghost story. But it’s okay, because once again, Ms. McMahon blew me away.

If I honestly had to use one word to sum up this book it would without a doubt be “creepy.” Extremely creepy. Like, I had to put it aside at 10:30pm because I was too creeped out to continue and didn’t want to give myself nightmares creepy.

This book flips back and forth between the present day storyline and the 1908 storyline. There are so many characters in the beginning that I will be completely honest here and let you know that I was a little confused by the sheer number of characters being mentioned. But eventually things come together nicely and you really understand the need for all the characters.

The writing was extremely good. The storyline was so fresh and interesting. The characters were extremely well-developed. And the mystery of it all was so incredibly creepy I still give a little bit of a shudder when I think back on the book itself.

Overall I really have nothing but nice things to say about this book. I definitely highly recommend it and am so excited to realize that I have found another favorite author to put on my auto-read list!

Highly recommended.

4/5, AUTHOR, Book Review, Fiction, Jeremy Fisk, RATING, Read in 2014, Review Book, SERIES, U-V-W

2014.5 REVIEW – The Execution by Dick Wolf

Tara

The Execution
by Dick Wolf

Copyright: 2014
Pages: 335
Rating: 4/5
Read: Jan. 26 – Feb. 1, 2014
Challenge: No challenge
Yearly count: 5
Format: Print
Source: Publicist for review

The ExecutionBlurb: A number of bodies are discovered on the United States’ border with Mexico, each carved with a bizarre symbol: a hummingbird. Detective Cecilia Garza – dubbed the Ice Queen among her colleagues at the Mexican intelligence agency because she’s famous for never showing an ounce of weakness – arrives at the scene and recognizes the image immediately; it is the calling card of a killer called Chuparosa, a man both feared and celebrated for his cunning and brutality. Known to be incorruptible in a seemingly lawless land, Detective Garza has pursued this killer for years, yet knows little about him, except that he’s merciless and heading to New York City – along with the rest of the world.

It’s United Nations Week in Manhattan and Jeremy Fisk – an integral member of the NYPD’s Intelligence Division, an antiterror unit modeled on the CIA – can’t let his grief over a devastating loss keep him from his duty to safeguard the city and the world’s most powerful leaders. Complicating matters is the startling news of a mass murder on the beach in nearby Rockaway – and the arrival of a beautiful and assertive Mexican detective determined to do things her way.

To have a chance at finding and stopping Chuparosa, these uneasy allies must meld their opposing investigative styles. They soon discover that there’s much more to this threat than meets the eye – and Fisk will have to learn the hard way that justice is not always blind.

Review: I received a copy of this book for free from a publicist for review purposes, all opinions expressed below are my own.

This is the second book in the Jeremy Fisk series. I read an ARC of the first book, The Intercept, shortly before it came out. Even before looking back over that review, I had vague recollections of being a little irritated by something within that book. After reading my review, I realized that it was because Mr. Wolf made the decision to kill off a pretty important character in the first book in the series.

So I guess you could say that I actually went into this book with a little bit of trepidation. How would Mr. Wolf handle things minus Fisk’s partner? Overall, I am quite pleased with the direction this one decision ended up going. I don’t want to spoil anything too big here, but I really think that it opens up Fisk’s character a lot more than I had ever thought possible. He’s a wounded man from losing his girlfriend and partner. He’s angry. And he’s sick and tired of everyone tip-toeing around him in regards to her death. The reader gets to see a lot more of Jeremy Fisk than he would want us to see just by the way he handles his feelings about her death after a little bit of time has passed.

The storyline of this book is very fast-paced and interesting. There’s really a lot going on in this book. You have Fisk trying to coordinate UN Week. And you have Cecilia Garza, a Mexican police officer in town on her country’s Presidential protection detail. Cecilia may be on that protection detail, but there’s a lot more that has drawn her to New York City than she wants to admit. Fisk and Garza have to work together to catch a very brutal killer before he has a chance to kill someone else.

I think what I liked most about this storyline (as well as the storyline to The Intercept) is that it felt real and relevant. It seems very hard to keep things relevant these days. But somehow Mr. Wolf is able to do just that. Having Jeremy Fisk work in the Intel division, rather than just be your standard homicide detective, makes for a really interesting protagonist with endless possibilities of story lines.

Overall I felt like this was as really good book. The storyline was interesting. The writing was very good. The characters were extremely well-developed. I’m very glad that I gave Mr. Wolf a second chance after only feeling lukewarm about his first book. In my opinion it’s a really good installment in this series that has me wanting more Jeremy Fisk.

Favorite quotes:

The explosive noise of the guns had set off a chain reaction, sheets of wet snow dropping from the limbs of the pine trees surrounding Jeremy Fisk. Even after the gunfire stopped, Fisk could hear limbs snapping, snow thudding to earth, a circular cataract expanding, fading away from him like ripples in a frigid pond.

And then the endless forest … went silent.

My God, thought Fisk. They’re all dead. (p.1)

And then I also wanted to share with you a quick one-liner that really made me chuckle just because of the absolute truth to it. To set it up a little bit, it’s spoken to Jeremy Fisk by Magnus Jenssen, the man responsible for Fisk’s girlfriend’s death.

What is a jury trial now but a television entertainment show? (p. 89)

4/5, AUTHOR, Book Review, F, Fiction, Mitch Rapp, RATING, Read in 2014, SERIES

2014.4 REVIEW – Separation of Power by Vince Flynn

Tara

Separation of Power
by Vince Flynn

Copyright: 2001
Pages: 436
Rating: 4/5
Read: Jan. 17 – 25, 2014
Challenge: No challenge
Yearly count: 4
Format: Print
Source: Personal copy

Blurb: Newly appointed CIA director, Dr. Irene Kennedy, is the target of an inside plot to destroy her and prematurely end the American President’s term. To make matters worse, Saddam Hussein is close to entering the nuclear arms race – something Israel has vowed to stop. With the haunting specter of World War III looming, the President calls on his secret weapon: top counterterrorism operative Mitch Rapp. But with only two weeks to take out the nukes, Rapp is up against a ticking clock – and impossible odds.

From the deadly alleys of Baghdad to the corruption-riddled streets of Washington, D.C. Separation of Power is Vince Flynn at his shell-shocking best – filled with true-to-life insider detail and action that sizzles.

Review: This is the third book in the Mitch Rapp series (but I’m seeing some places call it the 5th because two books have been published in recent years that supposedly come before the first two in the series. Personally, I like to stick with the order they’re published, so this makes book #3).

Last year I read the first two books in the series and enjoyed both of them immensely. I am not entirely sure why it took me so long to go ahead and pick this one up, but I can honestly say that I was not the least bit disappointed. A word of caution though, this book relies heavily on the second book,  The Third Option. This book really picks up where that one left off and goes with that storyline a little bit. Now that’s not to say that you can’t read it as a standalone, I just have a feeling that it makes more sense if you know the whole backstory as to why Mitch goes astray in Italy.

That being said, this book was an exciting read. I don’t have much to complain about in regards to it. I suppose if I had to nit-pick something it would be that the really exciting action happens in probably the last 100 or so pages. But that’s not to say that the book is not enjoyable in any way, because I did not feel that way at all.

The writing is extremely good. The overall storyline is interesting. The character development was excellent. It made me want to pick up the next on in the series when I finished this one. And that’s how series books are supposed to be in my opinion.

I’m definitely looking forward to seeing what happens in future books now that Mitch has been “outed.” It definitely sets up for some interesting developments that I’m looking forward to discovering in the future!

My only true disappointment is that we lost Mr. Flynn last year. I was very upset when I heard of his death, but I’m even more upset now that I realize that there can only be so many more Mitch Rapp books (I honestly hope his estate doesn’t continue on like some prolific author’s have … I don’t like that at all).

A good solid read and another good installment to a series I highly recommend.

3/5, AUTHOR, Book Review, Fiction, G, RATING, Read in 2014, READING CHALLENGES 2014

2014.3 REVIEW – The Hostage by W.E.B. Griffin

Tara

The Hostage
by W.E.B. Griffin

Copyright: 2006
Pages: 750
Rating: 3/5
Read: Jan. 2 – 16, 2014
Challenge: Eclectic Reader Challenge; TBR Pile Challenge
Yearly count: 3
Format: Print
Source: Personal copy

The HostageBlurb: An American diplomat’s wife is kidnapped in Argentina, and her husband murdered before her eyes. She is told her children will be next if she doesn’t tell the kidnappers where her brother is – a man who may know quite a bit about the burgeoning United Nations/Iraq oil-for-food scandal. There is an awful lot of money flying around, and an awful lot of hands are reaching up to grab it, and some of those hands don’t mind shedding as much blood as it takes – even if that blood comes from Charley Castillo…

Review: I have had this book on my shelf since early 2009. I knew it had to make my list for the TBR Challenge if nothing else to at least get it read or otherwise off my shelf as a DNF. I also picked it up first for that challenge because at 750 pages I knew I should get it out of the way immediately if possible.

This is the second in Presidential Agent series. I read the first one, By Order of the President, back in 2008. I knew going into it that I was going to have absolutely no recollection of the characters or storyline from that first book. That always makes me a little apprehensive, but in all honesty, it has no impact on this book. There are a few references to the first book, but for the most part this book reads quite well as a stand-alone.

Overall I was not incredibly impressed by this book. I honestly think that some serious editing could have occurred to cut the page number down to a more reasonable number without missing too much of the story. Looking over the notes I took as I read this book, around the 300 page mark I commented that there was a lot of unnecessary repetition. I feel very strongly that this is very much the case with this book. I would be going along reading only to get to the end of the chapter and Mr. Griffin would have the characters pretty much just sum up everything that just happened in the chapter. Very unnecessary in my opinion and only added to the page count.

The actual storyline was interesting at first, but as the book progressed things kept spiraling and more things were added to the story and I eventually started feeling a little bogged down. And the ending … or should I say, what ending? There are so many questions left hanging that I was a little disgusted. All this lead-up … all 700+ pages of it and no resolution? You mean you want me to read the next 700+ page book in this series to find out the conclusion to this book? No thank you, not at this time.

That pretty much sums up exactly what I felt about this book.

Overall I wouldn’t say it’s bad. It just wasn’t necessarily my cup of tea. Military-esque books are out of my comfort zone. Plus the length was a little bit of an issue for me. But if that’s your thing you’ll probably enjoy this one.

4/5, AUTHOR, Book Review, C, Fiction, Harry Bosch, RATING, Read in 2013, READING CHALLENGES 2013, SERIES

2013.51 REVIEW – The Last Coyote by Michael Connelly

Tara

The Last Coyote
by Michael Connelly

Copyright: 1995
Pages: 408
Rating: 4/5
Read: Dec 15 – Dec. 29, 2013
Challenge: Off the Shelf 2013
Yearly count: 51
Format: Print
Source: Personal Copy

The Last CoyoteBlurb: Harry Bosch’s life is on the edge. His earthquake-damaged home has been condemned. His girlfriend has left him. He’s drinking too much. And after attacking his commanding officer, he’s even had to turn in his LAPD detective’s badge.

Now, suspended indefinitely pending a psychiatric evaluation, he’s spending his time investigating an unsolved crime from 1961: the brutal slaying of a prostitute who happened to be his own mother.

Even after three decades, Harry’s questions generate heat among LA’s top politicos. And as the truth begins to emerge, it becomes more and more apparent that someone wants to keep it buried. Someone very powerful … very cunning … and very deadly.

Review: This is the third in the Harry Bosch series. And another really good installment in my opinion. I only wish I had started this series before I did, they’re such good books!

This particular installment started out a little bit slow to me, but once it picked up it was a really exciting read. I think in this book the reader really gets to see just who Harry Bosch is. He’s not perfect by any means, but I think that’s what really adds to the intrigue of Harry. It really makes for an interesting protagonist. Personally I like Harry. He’s tough and not afraid to get his hands dirty. But at the same time he’s got a soft side, even if he does everything in his power to hide it. I just like him, that’s all I can say about it really.

This particular storyline was interesting. Harry taking on the unsolved murder of his mother. He knows going into it that he might not like what he uncovers. And when the end is revealed, it’s not at all like I was anticipating. But I think it will be good in the end for Harry to have the closure that he seemed to need so badly.

As always with Mr. Connelly’s works, the writing was good, the character development was good and the storyline was fresh and interesting. Definitely a series that is quickly becoming one of my favorites. And I’m really looking forward to getting to the next installment in the very near future.

Highly recommended, though I do strongly suggest you read this series in order so that you can fully appreciate Harry’s character.

4/5, AUTHOR, Book Review, Fiction, H, RATING, Read in 2013, READING CHALLENGES 2013, SERIES, Sookie Stackhouse

2013.50 REVIEW – Living Dead in Dallas by Charlaine Harris

Tara

Living Dead in Dallas
by Charlaine Harris

Copyright: 2002
Pages: 291
Rating: 4/5
Read: Nov 29 – Dec. 9, 2013
Challenge: Off the Shelf 2013
Yearly count: 50
Format: Print
Source: Personal Copy

Blurb: Cocktail waitress Sookie Stackhouse is on a streak of bad luck. First, her coworker is murdered and no one seems to care. Then she’s face-to-face with a beastly creature that gives her a painful and poisonous lashing. Enter the vampires, who graciously suck the poison from her veins (like they didn’t enjoy it).

Point is, they saved her life. So when one of the blood-suckers asks for a favor, she complies. And soon, Sookie’s in Dallas using her telepathic skills to search for a missing vampire. She’s supposed to interview certain humans involved. There’s just one condition: The vampires must promise to behave – and let the humans go unharmed. Easier said than done. All it takes is one delicious blonde and one small mistake for things to turn deadly…

Review: This is the second book in the Sookie Stackhouse series. I’m kind of unsure why I waited so long to start it because I’m quite enjoying it.

Overall this is a good book. It actually felt a little darker and grittier than the first installment did. It was definitely a lot more violent (if that’s not your cup of tea). But I wouldn’t consider it over the top on violence at all where it was not enjoyable … and trust me I don’t have the stomach for that stuff that I used to so I’m a pretty good judge of it now.

I’m really intrigued by the Bill/Sookie, Sookie/Eric, Eric/Bill thing that is going on. It’s obvious that Eric wants what he can’t have, but I can’t help but wonder if Sookie isn’t just a little curious about Eric either. I think it will be quite interesting to see where Ms. Harris takes all these characters.

As I said, it’s really a good book. The storyline was interesting. The writing was excellent. And it’s just a fun book in general.

Highly recommended.