Category: READING CHALLENGES 2010

3.5/5, AUTHOR, Book Review, Fiction, L, P, RATING, Read in 2010, READING CHALLENGES 2010

REVIEW: Run for Your Life by James Patterson & Michael Ledwidge

Tara

Run For Your Life
by James Patterson and Michael Ledwidge

Copyright: 2009
Pages: 338
Rating: 3.5/5
Read: Sept. 22-25, 2010
Challenge: 2010 100+ Reading Challenge; RYOB 2010
Yearly Count: 50

First Line: Getting stuck on a bus in New York City, even under normal circumstances, is a lesson in frustration.

NYPD Detective Michael Bennett is still trying to adjust after the death of his wife, Maeve, a year ago. Between trying to take care of his ten children and his job, he doesn’t have a lot of time to himself. But that’s his life and he has to find a way to move on, and he does – he throws himself into every case that comes his way. But the latest one that he has caught is incredibly confusing. There have been numerous seemingly random shootings around the city in a short time span. There’s no apparent connection at first, but Bennett has the strange feeling that it is anything but random. Fighting the flu at the Bennett household and a madman terrorizing the streets of New York City, Bennett has a few hours to find the identity of the man who calls himself the Teacher and track him down and stop him before he can cause any more chaos.

This book is the second in the Michael Bennett series. I’m still not 100 percent sold on this series. I don’t know if I just can’t grasp the fact that a New York police detective is trying to raise 10 adopted children or if it’s the fact that Alex Cross is my favorite series ever, but for whatever reason, this book and the first in the series Step On a Crack just isn’t catching my attention. I will probably seek out the third one in this series simply because I like reading James Patterson’s books, but it will never be as good as the Alex Cross series. that being said, this was a decent book. It was an interesting storyline. I enjoyed it, but it wasn’t something that I would rave about to other people.

5/5, AUTHOR, Book Review, Fiction, M, P, RATING, Read in 2010, READING CHALLENGES 2010

REVIEW: The Postcard Killers by James Patterson and Liza Marklund

Tara

The Postcard Killers
by James Patterson and Liza Marklund

Copyright: 2010
Pages: 420
Rating: 5/5
Read: Sept. 20-21, 2010
Challenge: 2010 100+ Reading Challenge; Countdown Challenge 2010
Yearly Count: 49

First Line: “It’s very small,” the Englishwoman said, sounding disappointed.

NYPD Detective Jacob Kanon is on a tour of Europe’s greatest cities. Unfortunately, it’s not a vacation. Instead he’s there working a case. His daughter, Kimmy, was brutally murdered in Rome a few months earlier. He has been on a mission ever since, for the same killers have apparently murdered other young couples in Paris, Copenhagen, Frankfurt and Stockholm. Kanon teams up with a Swedish reporter Dessie Larsson, who has received a postcard from the killers. It will take a lot of effort on Kanon to convince the Swedish police to let him in on the case. And when he is finally brought onto the case, it will be a race against time to stop the killers once and for all.

Before I really get into my opinion, I have to say that the first line quoted above was in reference to the Mona Lisa on display at the Lourve in Paris. I have been there and seen the Mona Lisa, and I must say, I was very disappointed as to how small the painting was as well! Anyway, this was a good read altogether. However, it was incredibly predictable. And it was billed as “the scariest vacation thriller ever” on the cover of the book, well I must disagree. I didn’t find it very scary whatsoever. However, I did enjoy it and I would recommend it, but it was a little bit formulaic in spots.

4.5/5, AUTHOR, Book Review, Fiction, RATING, Read in 2010, READING CHALLENGES 2010, T

REVIEW: The Black Sun by James Twining

Tara

The Black Sun
by James Twining

Copyright: 2006
Pages: 416
Rating: 4.5/5
Read: Sept. 12-19, 2010
Challenge: 2010 100+ Reading Challenge; Countdown Challenge 2010; RYOB 2010
Yearly Count: 48

First Line: Ash cash. That’s what medical students call it.

In Maryland a Nazi Enigma machine is stolen from the National Cryptologic Museum. In a London hospital, an Auschwitz survivor is murdered in his hospital bed, his arm severed and taken by his murderers. In Prague, a seemingly worthless painting is stolen from a synagogue. Three cities. Three crimes. Is there a connection? Former art thief Tom Kirk does not seem to think that there is a link between these three incidents, but when he begins to investigate he realizes that there is some sort of a connection, and he will be in a race against time to figure out the connection and connect all the dots in order to find a fabled hidden treasure.

This is the second in the Tom Kirk series. I enjoyed this book, but I think the first book was much better. I was a history major in college, so naturally I will always enjoy any book with a historical slant to it. This one had some slow spots and some fast spots, but overall I enjoyed it and would recommend it.

4.5/5, AUTHOR, Book Review, Fiction, H, RATING, Read in 2010, READING CHALLENGES 2010

REVIEW: 31 Bond Street by Ellen Horan

Tara

31 Bond Street
by Ellen Horan

Copyright: 2010
Pages: 349
Rating: 4.5/5
Read: Sept. 5-11, 2010
Challenge: 2010 100+ Reading Challenge; Countdown Challenge 2010
Yearly Count: 47

First Line: For a boy who watched boats, his room was the perfect perch.

It was the crime of the century! Dr. Harvey Burdell was murdered in his own home in 1857 New York, with no witnesses and no clues as to the killer’s identity. Dr. Burdell was rumored to be a shady businessman, so one would think that there would be a lot of suspects to investigate. But the coroner quickly concludes that Emma Cunningham murdered the doctor. Cunningham, the housemistress, claims to have been married to Dr. Burdell. But the coroner and the district attorney, Abraham Oakey Hall, quickly dismiss the idea of marriage, claiming the marriage certificate is a fake. They conclude that Mrs. Cunningham, a wealthy widow who has spent most of her money, as well as her daughter’s dowry, was simply looking for a wealthy man to trick into marriage and then she killed him so that she would have all of his money for herself. But Cunningham swears she is innocent, she did not and could not have killed Dr. Burdell. Only one person in the entire city believes her: defense attorney Henry Clinton. Clinton takes on the case, having to give up his lucrative law practice with another highly respected defense attorney in order to defend Mrs. Cunningham. It will take Clinton everything he has in order to prove Cunningham innocent.

This is a richly detailed historical fiction set in 1857 New York City. It was a wonderful book. It was a great blend of historical fiction and crime fiction. The author opens the book with the murder and then takes the reader back and forth, alternating between the backstory of how Mrs. Cunningham and Dr. Burdell came to know each other and the present of how the murder case against Mrs. Cunningham progresses. Dr. Burdell was definitely involved in some shady business transactions, and poor Mrs. Cunningham seems to have been caught up in his lies and placed in an unfriendly light by some corrupt politicians. Her defense attorney, Henry Clinton, was an enjoyable character, and his wife Elisabeth was a wonderful addition to this book. I found it truly amazing that Mr. Clinton was able to do all that he could for Mrs. Cunningham, when so many other people were against her, he never backed down. He was convinced that she was innocent, and it was all he could do to prove that to everyone. I normally do not read historical fiction, I enjoy it but sometimes I have trouble following it. But this book was such a wonderful read. It really took my favorite genre, crime fiction, and blended so well with the historical aspect (history was my major in college :)) to produce a very enjoyable read that I think almost everyone would enjoy.

I discovered this book through the reviews at two wonderful blogs, I will share their reviews:
       ~Caribousmom
       ~Whimpulsive

5/5, AUTHOR, Book Review, Fiction, G, Jane Rizzoli, RATING, Read in 2010, READING CHALLENGES 2010, SERIES

REVIEW: The Keepsake by Tess Gerritsen

Tara

The Keepsake
by Tess Gerritsen

Copyright: 2008
Pages: 349
Rating: 5/5
Read: Sept. 4-5, 2010
Challenge: 2010 100+ Reading Challenge; Countdown Challenge 2010; Finish That Series Challenge
Yearly Count: 46

First Line: He is coming for me.

A mummy is discovered in the basement of the Crispin Museum in Boston. Nobody knew that it was there, so there is a great deal of excitement surrounding its discovery. Medical Examiner Maura Isles is invited to the hospital to attend the CT scan of the mummy. But what is found during the CT scan is unmistakable – a very modern bullet in the mummy’s leg. This turn of events brings Detective Jane Rizzoli onto the case. The discovery of this modern-day murder victim prompts a search of the Crispin Museum, where remains of another murder victim is found. Realizing that there is a maniac on the loose, Jane Rizzoli becomes very curious about one of the employees of the museum, a woman who seems to have a lot to hide. Having to deal with a murderer who is very proficient in ancient death rituals, it will take a lot of effort from Maura and Jane to track down and stop the Archaeology Killer.

This is the seventh in the Jane Rizzoli and Maura Isles series and it just keeps getting better and better. This one I read over the course of 24 hours and just loved every moment of it! It was such a fast-paced book with great twists and turns, and the ending was really surprising for me. I really enjoyed the Egyptian aspect to it, having always been interested in Egypt and mummies. I highly recommend this series to everyone who loves a great mystery. Plus, now we Tess Gerritsen fans can enjoy the Rizzoli & Isles series on TV as an added bonus 🙂 I already have the most recent book in this series on hold at the library and am anxiously awaiting my turn for it!!

3/5, AUTHOR, Book Review, C, Nonfiction, RATING, Read in 2010, READING CHALLENGES 2010

REVIEW: From Love Field by Nellie Connally

Tara

From Love Field: Our Final Hours with President John F. Kennedy
by Nellie Connally and Mickey Herskowitz

Copyright: 2003
Pages: 203
Rating: 3/5
Read: Sept. 4, 2010
Challenge: 2010 100+ Reading Challenge; RYOB 2010
Yearly Count: 45

First Line: We were two couples in the prime of our lives.

This is a memoir written by Nellie Connally, the wife of Texas Governor John Connally. The Connally’s were in the limousine with the Kennedy’s on that fateful trip to Dallas. It’s a quick and easy read, and it was enjoyable. Mrs. Connally really didn’t go into any of the conspiracy theories, she simply states what she went through and felt during the day that the President was assassinated and the following days. I personally felt like Mrs. Connally could have expanded to this book a little bit, but I understand why she felt it necessary to keep it shorter and to the point. Overall, I would recommend this book to anyone who is interested in the Kennedy assassination and is interested in reading a book with a different perspective to the assassination.

3/5, AUTHOR, Book Review, Fiction, G, Jane Rizzoli, RATING, Read in 2010, READING CHALLENGES 2010, SERIES

REVIEW: The Mephisto Club by Tess Gerritsen

Tara

The Mephisto Club
by Tess Gerritsen

Copyright: 2006
Pages: 351
Rating: 3/5
Read: Aug. 30-Sept. 3, 2010
Challenge: 2010 100+ Reading Challenge; Countdown Challenge 2010; Finish That Series Challenge
Yearly Count: 44

First Line: They looked like the perfect family.

Evil is walking the streets of Boston. And it’s Maura Isles and Jane Rizzoli who catch the first case on Christmas. The murder scene looks like a strange satanic ritual has occurred. But the clues eventually lead them to psychiatrist  Joyce O’Donnell – a woman that Jane absolutely detests. They uncover that O’Donnell belongs to a strange club, the Mephisto Club, which is dedicated to proving that Satan himself exists among us. But it becomes clear that someone is targeting the members of the Mephisto Club. Has someone infiltrated their club, or have they simply drawn the attention of an evil entity?

I will admit, this was not my favorite book. I have liked every book in the Rizzole and Isles series so far, but this one fell a little short for me. I didn’t really care for all the information about evil, Satan, the Bible, you get the point. I also didn’t like the back and forth the book had because Ms. Gerritsen was tying two separate story lines in the same book and didn’t connect them until near the very end. It just wasn’t my favorite book. I hope that the next book in this series is better.

3/5, AUTHOR, Book Review, Fiction, G, RATING, Read in 2010, READING CHALLENGES 2010

REVIEW: Death on the D-List by Nancy Grace

Tara

Death on the D-List
by Nancy Grace

Copyright: 2010
Pages: 281
Rating: 3/5
Read: Aug. 25-29, 2010
Challenge: 2010 100+ Reading Challenge; Countdown Challenge 2010;
Yearly Count: 43

First Line: It was almost cold outside.

After a year away from Manhattan, Hailey Dean has returned. Wanting to get back to a normal life and her practice as a therapist, she tries to settle back into the life she knew before what happened the previous year. But before she realizes it, she has agreed to go on a daytime TV show to fight crime. What was supposed to be a one time appearance has turned into more appearances now that D-list actresses keep getting murdered. NYPD Lieutenant Ethan Kolker, the cop who was convinced that Hailey herself was a murderer the previous year, is now needing her help trying to figure out these murders. As she gets more involved in the investigation, Hailey is shocked to discover that TV can be murder!

This is the second in the Hailey Dean series. I can’t say that I really loved this book, but it was a decent read. For whatever reason, I have not really taken to Hailey’s character all that much. I don’t feel much of a connection to her. Overall, I definitely think that Ms. Grace has a distinct writing talent, but ultimately her books are forgettable in the long run, because I honestly could not remember a single thing from her previous book The Eleventh Victim, which I read last year.

5/5, AUTHOR, Book Review, Fiction, G, Jane Rizzoli, RATING, Read in 2010, READING CHALLENGES 2010, SERIES

REVIEW: Body Double by Tess Gerritsen

Tara

Body Double
by Tess Gerritsen

Copyright: 2004
Pages: 391
Rating: 3/5
Read: Aug. 22-25, 2010
Challenge: 2010 100+ Reading Challenge; Countdown Challenge 2010;  RYOB 2010
Yearly Count: 42

First Line: That boy was watching her again.

Maura Isles is shocked to come home from a conference in Paris to find a dead body in a car parked in front of her house. What’s even worse is the fact that the body looks exactly like Maura. For an only child, Maura is shocked. But a DNA test confirms that the dead woman is indeed her twin sister. Confronted with this new information, Maura becomes curious about the mother who put her up for adoption. But what she will finds out is not necessarily all wonderful. Sometimes the past is better of remaining buried.

This is the fourth in the Jane Rizzoli/Maura Isles series. I have to admit, I love the new tv show based on this series that is on TNT. While there are a lot of differences between the tv series and the book series, they are both enjoyable. This particular book was very interesting. It really gave the reader quite a bit more insight into who Maura is as a person. This is definitely a great series, it’s medical-ish, but definitely not too much. Overall, I would recommend this series to anyone who loves a great read.

3/5, AUTHOR, Book Review, Fiction, L, P, RATING, Read in 2010, READING CHALLENGES 2010

REVIEW: Step on a Crack by James Patterson & Michael Ledwidge

Tara

Step on a Crack
by James Patterson & Michael Ledwidge

Copyright: 2007
Pages: 373
Rating: 3/5
Read: Aug. 16-21, 2010
Challenge: 2010 100+ Reading Challenge; Countdown Challenge 2010;  RYOB 2010
Yearly Count: 41

First Line: The back of the table captain’s cream-colored evening jacket had just turned away when Stephen Hopkins leaned across the secluded corner booth and kissed his wife.

The First Lady was only the first victim. Actually, her death was just the beginning. Very famous and powerful people gather in New York City for her state funeral and then many people are taken hostage in the church. Detective Michael Bennett is put on the case to try and negotiate with the criminals. But he can’t seem to get a line on these people. The case is confusing and it will take a lot to unravel it in the end. Dealing with personal issues of his own, Bennett must quickly figure things out for the world is watching, the NYPD and FBI are breathing down his back, and Bennett must either figure this hostage plot out or be the one who becomes responsible for the greatest debacle in history.

This is the first in the Michael Bennett series. I’m not really sure what to think about this book. I’m not really sure I like Bennett’s character, I wanted him to be Alex Cross too much! I also had some issues with the plot: I thought that there was a lot of build up and then the actually ending to the story was a bit rushed. Overall, I’m interested in reading on and seeing what happens as the series progresses, but it’s still up in the air as to my final opinion.