Stacy Alesi's BookBitch.com™

THE HA-HA by Dave King: Howard Kapostash is the most damaged, endearing and memorable character to haunt my dreams in a very long time. Howard is a Vietnam vet with a brain injury that has left him uncommunicative – he can’t speak, he can’t write, and reading is very difficult at best. Yet, as the cards he carries with him explain, he is of normal intelligence. Howard lives in a house that he has inherited from his parents, and he rents out a few rooms to a couple of house painters and a soup chef who also uses the kitchen for her business. The four of them live together yet they all live in their own separate worlds. But when Howard’s high school sweetheart has to go into drug rehab, she dumps her nine year old son Ryan on him, claiming she has no one else to take care of the boy. At first Ryan is uncommunicative too, but slowly he becomes the impetus for all the people living in the house to come together and form a new kind of family. More importantly, Howard learns that there can be more to a damaged life than he ever dreamed possible. King has created a legacy with his eloquent, sparse prose and his unforgettable characters. 03/05

THE HA-HA by Dave King: It’s not fair that The Ha-Ha is Dave King’s first novel. It’s extraordinary; well-written, brilliantly conceived, sympathetic without ever getting near cloying. The protagonist is someone who, if the author were less skilled, might evoke pity. But this book works, and works well. It tells the story of a man who has lost almost all ability to communicate. After spending only a couple weeks in Vietnam years ago, Howard Kapostash was severely brain-injured and has spent his time since in a peculiar world. He does not speak, lacks the ability to use alternatives such as writing or signing, and has major trouble reading. He’s clearly been traumatized and may have some other concomitant psychological problems; who wouldn’t? But he’s a smart man, a caring man, when he can be. There’s nothing wrong with the guy’s intelligence. He’s spent a good part of his life maintaining huge barricades against emotional involvement, also with understandable reasons.

All my gripes about the ending are minor; this is a fluid story, a stunning debut from someone who so totally grasps the issues his protagonist lives with. Howard is 100 percent real to me. There’s sympathy but no pathos, realism without any tirades about how crappy our disabled veterans are treated. This is a powerhouse of a book and it needs to be read. 08/05 ~This review contributed by Andi Shechter.

THE HADES PROJECT by Lynn Sholes & Joe Moore: Well written but derivative religious icon thriller featuring the Holy Lance used to pierce the side of Christ at the Crucifixion. Allegedly forged by the seventh generation grandson of Adam, the Lance has been possessed by powerful men – both good and evil – until the present time. Now the Forces of Evil intend to use the ancient relic to launch the Hades Project and bring humankind to its knees. SSN reporter Cotten Stone is drawn into the fray when her best friend from high school Lindsay calls her concerned about Lindsay’s daughter, Tera. When Cotton returns to Kentucky Lindsay and Tera have both disappeared leaving behind some very disturbing evidence. Cotton calls in her friend, Cardinal John Tyler, for help. Now it’s up to Cotten Stone to save the world and confront the man who holds in his hand our destiny, a man who died more than 85 years earlier. You can blame it all on The Davinci Code. 11/07 Jack Quick

HAIKU by Andrew Vachss: In his first post-Burke book, Vachss (Another Life) pens the story of a ragtag band of homeless men living on the streets of a cold, unnamed city. Ho is an elderly sensei who walked away from a successful life as a martial arts instructor after the death of one of his students, and the band includes damaged veteran Ranger, degenerate gambler Michael, ex-con and ex-gang leader Lamont, the mentally ill Target, and Brewster. Ho leads them around the city, scrounging for money, food, and shelter. One night a woman in a Rolls Royce dumps something in the river, and they decide to try to identify what it is and blackmail her. But that plot is soon forgotten in favor of a story line about the demolition of the abandoned building that houses Brewster’s pulp fiction collection. Lots of description and character development slow the pace of this bleak look at living on the street, and the story just meanders along without ever really getting anywhere. Fans of the grittier Burke series may miss the rapid pace and violence they’ve come to expect. 11/09 Stacy Alesi, AKA The BookBitch. Copyright © 2009 Cahners Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. Reprinted with permission.

HAIKU by Andrew Vachss: I had enjoyed every one of the Burke books penned by Vachss, and was hoping for the best with this new series. Unfortunately, it just didn’t take for me. The characters are interesting – Ho, an elderly martial arts teacher who once was the master of a successful dojo; Michael, once a high-flying stockbroker; Ranger, a Vietnam war vet; Lamont, an ex-gang leader and poet; Brewster, a psychotic; and Target, who speaks only in repetitive verbal explosions. It starts with a mysterious white Rolls Royce and then morphs into another plot concerning Brewster’s book collection. I won’t give up, but definitely not a good start. 12/09 Jack Quick .

HALF PRICE HOMICIDE by Elaine Viets: Helen Hawthorne has a new dead-end job working at a high end designer consignment shop. Wealthy women come in to sell their clothes and pocket the cash, but one woman is caught and confronted by her husband. They disappear to the dressing room to continue their argument until he storms out. But when Helen goes back there, she finds the woman with her head bashed in by a decorative pineapple, and hung by a designer scarf. Another job, another body in this series that somehow manages to combine real humor with real tragedy. Meanwhile, Helen’s fiancé insists on taking Helen home to St. Louis to get her legal troubles straightened out. To complicate things further, Helen’s ex-husband shows up trying to shake her down for more money again. Lots of plot twists and lots of laughs in this latest installment in the Dead-End Job series. 07/10 Stacy Alesi, AKA The BookBitch

HALFWAY TO THE GRAVE by Jeaniene Frost: Half vampire and half human, Cat Crawfield is the result of an attack on her mother by a recently turned vampire who retained a few specific human traits. Cat spends her leisure time trolling clubs and bars for vamps, playing the innocent coed, and luring them to remote places. One such evening almost lands her in trouble when she targets the wrong man. Bones, a vamp who kills his own kind, strikes a deal with Cat. In exchange for her help, he promises to find her father. Bones has been stalking a very powerful vampire who has been responsible for a kidnapping ring that has been around for decades. Recently, the kidnappings seem to have spiked in the Ohio area and Bones is determined to finally stop it. Problem is, vampires can easily detect one another. Cat, with her mixed heritage, is able to sneak amongst them without being discovered, thereby making her the perfect partner for Bones’s plan. Balancing her new hobby with her everyday life is becoming more and more difficult, however, and things are further complicated when Cat finds herself extremely attracted to this mysterious vamp. Frost’s debut is a perfect blend of romance and action. This spunky heroine and her leading man make a great team and I hope to see much more of them in the future. 11/07 Becky Lejeune

THE HALO EFFECT by M.J. Rose: Once you pick up this book, don’t plan on putting it down – you get hooked on page one when a mutilated body in a nun’s habit is found. A serial killer is on the loose in New York City and he’s going after prostitutes with a vengeance – a religious fervor, you might say. Dr. Morgan Snow is a sex therapist with a client, a top shelf call girl (at $2000 and up a pop) named Cleo Thane, who goes missing. Meanwhile Detective Noah Jordain is heading up the serial killer investigation for the NYPD and calls on Dr. Snow for some outside psychological profiling. They trade info and join forces to try and find the missing Cleo and the serial killer. Rose writes erotic better than just about anyone and with the twisting plotline and surprise ending here, apparently she can do thrillers just as well as the big boys. This is the first book of a new series and I can’t wait for the next one!

THE HALO EFFECT by M. J. Rose: The Butterfield Institute is a Manhattan sex therapy clinic and employer of psychiatrist Dr. Morgan Snow. A patient, Cleo Thane, is a successful and selective call girl who has written a memoir which includes thinly disguised portraits of many of her clients. She leaves the manuscript with Dr. Snow and then disappears. In the meantime, NYPD Detective Noah Jordain and his team are investigating a series of gory, ritualistic murders of prostitutes. Snow and Jordain are drawn to each other, but she can’t persuade him that Thane may be a victim. In a desperate attempt to find Thane, Snow goes undercover and meets some of Thane’s principal clients herself. Could be subtitled, “A Catalogue of Sexual Dysfunctions and Obscure Perversions,” but, so long as graphic sex doesn’t dissuade you, it’s a pretty interesting read. As the South Alabama judge said at the obscenity trial, “I don’t know what’s pornographic, but I know what I like.” 06/07 Jack Quick

THE HAMMER OF GOD by Tom Avitabile: How do you fight an enemy that only wants to kill us and is not subject to reason or logical persuasion? Simple – you go after them with any means at your disposal and don’t worry about the bleeding hearts that feel they must teach an implacable enemy that it is best to discuss differences and resolve them peacefully. Several major authors have written books about individuals or groups that do just that and get the job done in any manner possible. In all probability many readers concur with this approach and know that the only way to fight terrorist groups is to eradicate them. Tom Avitabile has created such an entity called the Quarterback Ops group which is headed by Bill Hiccock and reports only to the President of the United States. This is the second of these books, with a third currently being prepared. A group of terrorists is engaged in a plot to bring in nuclear weapons hidden in cold cream jars to the United States for the sole purpose of exploding them to kill as many people as possible. The Quarterback Ops Group is charged with stopping them and utilizes every means possible to go after the terrorists and stop them before they have a chance to wreak the havoc they plan. The plot is fascinating, the writing crisp and engrossing. Avitabile combines brute force where needed with scientific investigation in arriving at solutions. It is impossible to put the book down once into the action. A very complicated, but well explained area of mathematics and science is utilized in providing answers. Bill Hiccock and his team are fleshed out and handle their areas of expertise very well in order to arrive at necessary ends. Well done and insuring that the reader will grab book three as soon as available. 6/12 Paul Lane

HANGING BY A THREAD by Sophie Littlefield: Clare has a keen eye for fashion and a talent for making vintage clothes into something completely new and original. She’s even started to sell her pieces to the locals in Winston. But Clare also has a unique ability that sets her apart from everyone else: with just a touch, Clare can read fabric. She can see things the wearers have done and feel their every emotion. Though she’s tried to suppress the ability and hide it from others, she is often unable. Such is the case when she comes across a beat up couture jacket found at a yard sale. The vision she has upon touching the jacket is so completely overwhelming that Clare becomes convinced she must learn what happened to the owner. But then Clare discovers that the person in question is actually a local girl who’s been missing for the past year. Clare knows something terrible happened to her and knows that she may be the only one who can figure out the truth. Littlefield’s latest is a bit of a different twist on the psychic powers spectrum. The mystery is interesting but my expectations, based on Littlefield’s previous works, was pretty high and somehow Hanging By a Thread just didn’t quite meet them. I blame it on the characters and the fact that they all seemed to flip flop between pages – changing opinions and personalities at the drop of a hat. Hanging was fun but not one of my favorites. 9/12 Becky Lejeune

HANGING HILL by Mo Hayder: Although sisters Sally and Zoey live in the same town, they haven’t spoken to each other in ages. An incident when they were kids ended with them being sent to separate schools and a secret in the family’s past caused a rift that has never healed. Today, Sally is trying to put her life back together after a divorce that left her virtually penniless. Raising a teen on her own and facing mountains of debt, an interesting opportunity arises when she is offered a job working for a wealthy local with a questionable past. Meanwhile, Zoey, a Detective Inspector with the Bath police, has worked hard to get where she is, but at the expense of relationships and human connection. When a local teen is brutally murdered, the sisters find themselves reunited and forced to face the demons they’ve long been avoiding. Brilliant. Hayder’s latest is an excellent mystery and thriller with dark and surprising twists, proving once again that she is simply one of the best of the genre. Hanging Hill is out now in the UK. 05/11 Becky Lejeune

THE HANGING VALLEY by Peter Robinson: In this fourth outing for Chief Inspector Alan Banks, a rotting corpse is identified by dental work and a receipt found in the trousers pocket of the murder victim as Bernard Allen, a local youth on a visit home from Canada. The investigation leads back five years to the unsolved murder of a Private Investigator hunting for a young girl’s killer and the nearly simultaneous disappearance of a village woman. Banks ends up traveling to Canada as part of his journey through a maze of passion and possible blackmail before finding the solution in long-kept secrets. Pour yourself a pint, light up a Silk Cut and join us as we make England a safer place. A really, really good police procedural series. 10/06 Jack Quick

HANGMAN BLIND by Cassandra Clark: After the death of her husband, Hildegard devotes her life to the church, and is now an abbess with the goal of starting her own small abbey. On her way to speak to the local abbot, Hildegard discovers a young man murdered in the woods. She does her duty and makes her report to the abbot’s men, also helping to recover the body. Then, with the gruesome discovery behind her, and with the abbot’s blessing, Hildegard continues on to the next part of her journey: an attempt to now secure a home for her venture. Fortunately her destination, Castle Hutton, is a familiar place for Hildegard and it’s master, Lord Roger de Hutton, a longtime friend of hers. But when Roger is poisoned and almost killed, Hildegard finds herself in the position of having to unmask the would-be murderer. While Hangman Blind neatly sets up readers for the next installment of the series, the conclusion of the two mysteries is a little too neatly wrapped up. The body in the woods is the more interesting of the two parts, but takes a backseat to the Hutton family/political intrigue. This is also a read that requires a bit of concentration if one is not familiar with the history of the time period and the hierarchy of the church: one look away, and you will find yourself lost. 11/09 Becky Lejeune

HAPPILY EVER AFTER by Harriet Evans: For Eleanor Bee a job in publishing is an absolute dream come true. She’s hired on at Bluebird, one of the last independents, and embarks on the career of a lifetime… working with romance novels. Eleanor isn’t sure she believes in a happy ending herself. In fact, while they make for fun reading, she’s almost convinced the same could never happen to her. As her career progresses, Elle moves on to New York and becomes head of her own division, but true love still has not crossed her path. Can a girl really have it all in this day and age? Will she ever be swept off her feet and find Mr. Right? Elle’s story starts off well enough, fun and funny with just the right amount of snark and sarcasm. About midway the book just kind of fizzles. In fact, even just twenty pages from the end I thought there was no way the book would come to any sort of satisfying conclusion. It did, in part, but I wish Evans had been able to maintain the momentum throughout. Overall a good summer read but not one that blew me away by any means. 6/12 Becky Lejeune
HAPPY HOUR OF THE DAMNED by Mark Henry: Amanda Feral may be new to Seattle’s supernatural scene, but the smart and stylish ghoul is not about to let a little thing like death stand in her way or slow her down. In fact, one night into her new gig and she’s already breaking and entering at a mortuary in search of decent cover-up. Plus, she may no longer be able to stomach Starbucks coffee, but it’s something of a relief to learn that even abovegrounders can still hold their alcohol. Course the taste for human flesh is a little less trendy, but Amanda’s even worked out a way to keep the blood off her designer duds. And when she learns that one of her fellow paranormal friends might be in trouble, she immediately sets out to help. But Amanda and her friends may be way over their heads when it starts to look as though a zombie outbreak is in the works. Mark Henry’s twisted and dirty humor makes for great Seattle underworld fun. Definitely not suitable for readers without a strong stomach, but for those of us who are blessed with such, Mark Henry delivers combination laugh-out-loud and cringe-worthy scenes that truly entertain. 01/10 Becky Lejeune

HARBOR NOCTURNE by Joseph Wambaugh: When Dinko Babich, a young longshoreman, delivers Lita Medina, a young Mexican dancer, from the harbor to a Hollywood nightclub, their lives are forever changed. Their paths cross with many of the colorful characters introduced in Wambaugh’s acclaimed best-selling Hollywood Station series: the surfer cops know as “Flotsam and Jetsam,” aspiring actor “Hollywood Nate” Weiss, young Britney Small, along with new members of the midwatch. Written with Wambaugh’s unflinching eye for detail and spot-on humor, this is a good one. 12/11 Jack Quick

Hard As Nails by Dan Simmons: This is a hard-nosed mystery story set in Buffalo, New York and I recommend it without any reservations. Could any town be more appropriate for a tough guy than Buffalo? [Editor’s note: the reviewer is from Buffalo.] And make no mistake about it, Kurtz, the hero, is a tough guy. After seeing all of the references in Ilium, I have to believe that the invocation of Conrad’s character is no accident, as well as a tip of the hat to the ethnic stew that is the best part of the fading Queen City of the Great Lakes.
In previous books in this series, Kurtz has been to Attica, courtesy of the State of New York, for throwing his partner’s killer off a rooftop. He is still on parole, which makes it impossible for him to return officially to his old private eye business. As this book opens, Kurtz and his parole officer are walking into a parking garage when all hell breaks loose. The ride has started and it is exciting as the old wooden roller coaster at Crystal Beach amusement park which Kurtz points out is now defunct.
The story finds Kurtz in the middle of a power struggle between the remnants of two old Mob families for the drug trade in the region, as well as fending off members of the Aryan Brotherhood he offended while in the slammer. The story climaxes in a small company town bearing a strong resemblance to the Coudersport of the Rigas family. And in this case, the roller coaster is filled with bodies.
This is the book I am sending to friends for Christmas with a note, saying “I found him first.” ~This review contributed by Geoffrey R. Hamlin.

HARD AS NAILS by Dan Simmons: Same war, next generation. The Farino and Gonzaga crime families continue to fight over Buffalo and on killing Joe Kurtz. Neither family trusts the other and each fears that Kurtz is working for the other side. Both sides eventually hire him to find a killer who has been taking out their low-level drug dealers. In addition, Joe and his parole officer get shot in the head in an ambush at her office. What events are related? Who is on which side? Is there anyone Joe can trust? Add the newspapers and the police and you have a fine stew. To survive all this you had better be hard as nails. 09/05 ~This review contributed by Jack Quick.

HARD CURRENCY by Stuart Kaminsky: In the ninth Inspector Rostnikov novel, our hero is sent from Moscow to Cuba to solve a sensitive murder case. He takes along his assistant Elana leaving Karpo, “The Vampire” to track down a brutal serial killer in Moscow. Since the good Inspector is an avid fan of Ed McBain I thought it appropriate to share McBain’s own blurb about this one – “In Hard Currency, Stuart Kaminsky gets Russia right, and Cuba right, but best of all he gets his superb cop Rostnikov altogether right yet another time. Bravo. ” Kind of hard to add anything to that. 03/08 Jack Quick

Hard Eight by Janet Evanovich: Another delicious adventure featuring Stephanie Plum et al, with the usual dead body, exploding cars, with just a hint of hot sex. This time Stephanie has to find her Grandma’s next door neighbor’s missing daughter & granddaughter with nastier-than-usual bad guys on her case. Kudos to Evanovich for keeping this series amazingly fresh. A special holiday treat: the next adventure, Visions of Sugar Plums, comes out November 5!

Hard Feelings by Jason Starr: This is a perfect pitch Jim Thompson-esque noir novel set in modern Manhattan. Our dubious hero has a lot of problems – – a sales slump at his job, a worrisome wife and a pesky pooch among them, but his life is manageable until he bumps into an old Brooklyn neighbor at the corner of Fifth Avenue and Forty-eighth Street. The downward spiral that results takes only a few weeks and it is told in taut prose that keeps you turning the pages all night. HARD FEELINGS gets under your skin. Well written, well executed and well worth your time. PS: Interesting note – – the Black Lizard Crime series has some of the greatest noir novels of all time. Reasonably priced, lots of great authors – – definitely worth checking out, published by Vintage Crime/Black Lizard books. ~This review contributed by Ann Nappa

HARD FEELINGS by Jason Starr: Richie Segal doesn’t feel so good. First there is the job. His career as a computer systems salesman isn’t going anywhere – literally, he hasn’t closed a single sale in the six months he has been in his current job. Then there is the marriage. He suspects his wife is cheating on him, again. What not? She has just gotten a big promotion so she is the primary breadwinner, although there is the little matter of possible morning sickness. Is she pregnant? Is that why she so adamantly scolded him about “moving to the burbs and having a family?” Finally, there is Michael Rudnick, a prosperous lawyer, who had taken advantage of Richie when the two boys were neighbors growing up. All this is leading Richie back to drinking – and he can’t hold his liquor. Count on Starr to put you down and then apply a solid kick to the ribs. First rate is you are a fan of noir. 09/08 Jack Quick

HARD FREEZE by Dan Simmons: Buffalo, New York ex-con and former P.I. Joe Kurtz survived his initial case after a twelve-year prison term. Now he is taking on a new challenge. While continuing to dodge a contract on his head, Kurtz takes on the task of finding a child-murderer for a gravely ill client. It’s going to be a tough winter in Buffalo – cold enough to freeze the blood. Joe continues to be in the middle between the Farino and Gonzaga crime families and his efforts to avoid being killed by them actually lead to the solution of his new case. This series is as cold as the Buffalo winters and hard as the ice that forms around Niagara Falls in January. 09/05 ~This review contributed by Jack Quick.

HARD TARGET by Howard Gordon: Gideon Davis and his brother, Tillman, are not great fans of the current government. In spite of their experiences, they remain loyal to their country. So when a meth-head informant approaches Gideon and alerts him to a grand-scale plot to take down those in charge, Gideon brings his information to the authorities. Unfortunately they aren’t interested in what Gideon has to say. But Gideon and Tillman possess exactly the skills one would need to take down a terrorist plot all on their own and that’s exactly what they plan to do. Though there are few surprises to the plot, Gordon, a producer on 24 and the new show Awake, has put together a fun and fast-paced thriller. This is the second book by Gordon to feature Gideon and Tillman, though newcomers will have no problem dropping in without having read Gideon’s War. 3/12 Becky Lejeune

HARD TARGET by Alan Jacobson: An explosion pulverizes the president-elect’s helicopter on Election Night. Department of Defense covert operative Hector DeSantos and FBI Agent Aaron “Uzi” Uziel must sort out who is behind the bombings, and they need a solution in just nine days. Touted by both Vince Flynn and Lee Child, I agree this is a well-written thriller that will keep you on edge all the way through. Dangers from within can be more deadly than those threats from outside. Note: Hard Target also features Jacobson’s famed FBI Profiler, Karen Vail, in a key role affecting national security. Recommended. 9/12 Jack Quick

THE HARD WAY by Lee Child: This is one of my favorite series for pure escapist fiction. The tenth Jack Reacher thriller begins while he’s enjoying an espresso in a sidewalk cafe in New York City. He is approached by a man, obviously ex-military; that is, to Jack it’s obvious as he is an ex-Army MP and extremely observant. That observing nature gets him involved in helping to solve a kidnapping for the very mysterious Edward Lane and his band of disreputable mercenaries, but nothing is quite as it seems. Fast paced as always with some nice twists, this is another exciting adventure for the hero that all women want and all men want to be. 06/06 Stacy Alesi, AKA The BookBitch

THE HARD WAY by Lee Child: In Child’s 10th Jack Reacher novel, Reacher agrees to help sinister ex-army officer Edward Lane track down his kidnapped daughter and trophy wife. Since the kidnapping of wife number one five years earlier ended in her death, Lane cautions Reacher that he will not tolerate police interference. Child’s excellent descriptions on Manhattan add to the sinister quality of the story, which is a page-turner all the way to the inevitable showdown, on a farm outside a tiny English village. 06/06 Jack Quick

HARDBALL by Sara Paretsky: The 13th novel to feature gutsy PI V.I. Warshawski, last seen in 2005’s Fire Sale, has our intrepid P.I. looking for a black man who disappeared during the racial turmoil of 1967. In her search for Lamond Gadsden, Vic reconnects with some of her policeman father’s old pals as well as crooks on both sides of the law with whom she herself has a history. The path leads to a murder conviction (for the death of Harmony Newsome a young black woman from Atlanta in Chicago for the civil rights protests) that may have been tainted. Back in the current era, the apparent kidnapping of Vic’s fresh-out-of-college cousin, Petra, who’s come to Chicago to work on a senatorial campaign, makes solving the problem even more critical. Nicely done. 11/09 Jack Quick

HARDCASE by Dan Simmons: Joe Kurtz is not one to mess with. So when a drug dealing thug that killed his girlfriend, the ex-PI returns the favor and gets 11 years in Attica. It’s there that he meets “Little Skag” Farino, the son of an aging Buffalo, New York mob boss. In exchange for protecting the kid’s manhood against any unwanted jailhouse affection, Kurtz gets an audience with Little Skag’s father upon his release from prison. Byron Farino is still clinging to what dwindling power he holds on the New York organized crime scene. He enlists Kurtz’s help to track down the Family’s missing accountant–a man with too much knowledge of Family business to have on the loose. But someone doesn’t want the accountant found. As the story twists and turns and the body count rises, Kurtz no longer knows who he can trust. Everyone seems to be after something, from the mob boss’s sultry yet dangerous daughter, to a hit man named The Dane, an albino killer who is good with a knife, and a dwarf who is armed to the teeth and hell-bent on revenge. About as gritty as it gets. 2/12 Jack Quick

HARDLY KNEW HER by Laura Lippman: Laura Lippman has long been a favorite of the mystery genre – readers and fellow writers sing her praises alike. Their appreciation is well deserved and this collection of twisted tales is a great place for new readers to familiarize themselves with her talent. Three of the tales feature Baltimore PI Tess Monaghan. There is also a novella, Scratch a Woman, which features a recurring character from “One True Love.” Each story features a strong, manipulative, or even murderous woman. In the title story, “Hardly Knew Her,” a daughter has her revenge against her gambling father. A Mardi Gras reveler gets a little surprise when he follows two girls in “Pony Girl,” and in “Black Eyed Susan” a young boy discovers some of the strange folks drawn to Baltimore’s Preakness. A great collection of darkly humorous and slightly disturbing tales from one of the biggest talents in the genre. 10/08 Becky Lejeune

HARK! by Ed McBain: The first crime novelist that I ever read was Ed McBain. My Mother gave me one of her dog-ear’d paperbacks, and told me… “You’ll like this…” I did… That’s why it kind of pains me to review this,
I wish it went better. Led by Carella, and the gang, the 87Th precinct has always been the place to go to learn the ways of the Police procedural. All the boys usually worked in concert, to solve the gig. Here’s a brief synopsis…the Deaf Man is back. He kills a broad who crossed him, and of course, the 87Th gets the squawk…
Initially, nothing seems to be there, but the DEAF man starts sending Carella, and the rest of the detectives letters, delivered by various couriers. Meanwhile, the Deaf Man has enlisted the help of a very opportunistic hooker, to further his cause. They become a symbiotic relationship…..Right here, He should have stopped, and went on with the mayhem. Instead, what he did was get a bunch of non-needed subplots involved, and made this all a literary game, i.e.: axioms, palindromes, oxymoron’s, any type of literary subterfuge he could think of was involved here. Personally, I don’t like to have to read when I’m reading. With that being said, it gets good towards the end. Keep your eye on the enterprising hooker. 01/06 DOC

HAROLD ROBBIN’S THE DECEIVERS by Junius Podrug: The very first book I ever read in galley proof was The Carpetbaggers by Harold Robbins, back in the mid 60’s. Since Robbins’ death in 1977, his estate has tried to continue the legacy with books like this one, supposedly20completed by Podrug from notes left by Robbins. It’s kind of like delivery pizza, not that bad, not that good. Basically it’s the story of disgraced New York City art expert Madison Dupre struggling to get by with a freelance business, who ends up in Cambodia tracking art smugglers. With references to Phnom Penh as the “pit stop before hell,” and that Buddhism’s Noble Eightfold Path to enlightenment apparently permitted “endless varieties of illicit sex, some of which involved young girls who should have been in classrooms rather than backrooms” and where “household pets even got into the act.” All in the first chapter which ends in a whorehouse, well you have been forewarned. There is enough of a story to tie it all together, but basically it’s a rather tawdry romp through sexual adventure land. 11/08 Jack Quick

THE HARROWING by Alexandra Sokoloff: It is Thanksgiving break at Baird College and everyone is returning home for the holiday. Everyone, that is, but five misfits in Mendenhall dorm. They are a jock, a brain, a loner, a musician and a phony. These five have one thing in common though – each one of them feels like they don’t belong. When the teens discover an old Ouija board in the common room, they awaken a new entity in Mendenhall. This ghost calls itself Zachary and is all at once charming and terrifying. Who is Zachary and what does he want? As the teens dig deeper into this mystery they come to realize that Zachary is not what he seems. Alexandra Sokoloff’s debut is a hauntingly original and eerie spin on the standard ghost story. I think Sokoloff is a fresh new voice in the genre and sincerely hope to see more from her in the future. I highly recommend this book; it’s a perfect rainy day read. 09/06 Becky LeJeune

HATER by David Moody: It begins with seemingly random attacks—a bar fight that gets out of control here, a fight in the streets there—seemingly normal occurrences in a crowded and populous area. Danny McCoyne witnesses one of the first on his way to work: a man chases and attacks an older woman, beating her to death before authorities can stop him. Just a few days later, while eating in a pub, Danny and his wife witness yet another fight. It builds so slowly that the public almost isn’t aware. Then it explodes. They say that only ten percent of the population is affected, but those who are turn on a dime. One minute they’re fine, the next they get this look in their eyes and they’re off in a fit of rage. Families have locked themselves away in their homes, afraid of turning on one another. Even the slightest hint that someone might become a “Hater” can have terrible results. Before long it’s unclear who “they” are anymore as “Haters” and suspected “Haters” come under attack themselves. Hater is a dark and brutal viral apocalypse tale, and the first in a projected trilogy. It’s a quick and shocking train-wreck of a read and definitely a new twist in horror. This first has already been optioned for film (Guillermo del Toro’s production team has purchased the rights). 06/10 Becky Lejeune

HAUNTED by Kelly Armstrong: Smart-mouthed Eve Levine may be dead but as a witch she can still raise hell in the hereafter. The Fates, three elusive sisters, are the rulers of this new dimension, and they have a job for Eve. If she can defeat a demonic Nix who’s inducing people in the human realm to kill, she’ll earn her wings—literally. The catch is she can’t capture the Nix without the powers that angelhood affords. Following the action in the ever changing netherworld can be a hassle but, if you are looking for spunk, sass and strong-arm savvy, Eve is your lady. 03/06 Jack Quick

HAUNTED by James Herbert: Renowned paranormal investigator David Ash has made a career out of debunking supernatural occurrences. It is just this reputation that has earned him a request from the tenants of Edbrook. It seems this stately manor may have some guests from the other side and they want Ash to investigate. Ash is welcomed to the home by Nanny Tess, her lovely niece Christina Mariell, and Christina’s two older brothers, Robert and Simon. On his very first evening in the home, Ash himself has a brush with the ghost of Edbrook. Ash is certain there must be some rational explanation behind the so-called haunting and stubbornly vows to find it before his stay at the home comes to an end. This dogged determination springs from the fact that he himself has a dark secret in his past, one that he might just have to face if life after death does in fact exist. It is my opinion that Herbert has been wrongfully overlooked by American horror fans. This melancholy ghost story is one of three intended tales featuring David Ash and is followed by The Ghosts of Sleath and an as yet unwritten third book. Though this chilling ghost story was originally published almost twenty years ago, it has recently been republished and is readily available to readers once again and can be read without its accompanying title. 11/07 Becky Lejeune

Havana by Stephen Hunter: This is a book for anyone who enjoyed the Walking Tall movies and the tough simplicity of Buford Pusser. Hunter’s protagonist is Earl Swagger, like Pusser, a war hero and a cop who previously cleaned up gangs in a rural community.
Havana is set in the early 1950’s, in the last days of the Big Sugar, I mean Batista, regime. Castro is coming and the effete Ivy League lads of The Company want to eradicate him. They think that sharpshooter Swagger is just the man to do it.
At the same time, the mob in New York has exiled one of their wayward troops to assist Meyer Lansky in protectng their casino operations in Havana. New York has become too hot for young Frankie who has committed the cardinal sin of whacking a cop’s horse.
The third ingredient in this mojito is the Russian secret service. They have rehabilitated a zek named Speshnev from the gulag to protect and mentor Castro and thwart Swagger.
If you like simple stories, simple heroes and believe in simple virtues, you will like this book. I personally think that the world is a much more complicated place. What saved the book for me was the Russian, Speshnev. He is a fascinating character who is two steps ahead of everyone in the game and enjoying life fully along the way. He is the Crash Davis to Castro’s Nuke Laloosh. He saves Swagger’s butt a couple of times and manages to keep Castro out of trouble too.
My suggestion to Mr. Hunter is that he ditch Swagger (unless he is making a lot of money with these books) and start a new series detailing Speshnev’s adventures throughout the Cold War period. Available 10.07.03. ~This review contributed by Geoffrey R. Hamlin

HAVANA REQUIEM by Paul Goldstein: Stanford law professor Goldstein brings back his alter ego, Michael Seeley, in a new intellectual property law story. Having covered the movie business in his debut, Errors and Omissions (2006,) Goldstein returns to the entertainment industry, but instead of Hollywood, he visits Cuba. Seeley is once again working in his old New York City law firm and takes on a case to get copyrights returned to the original Cuban composers of their “Buena Vista Social Club” type music, which has been enjoying a resurgence in popularity. Reynoso is his new client, and he delivers a list of several other composers who are in the same predicament. Seeley’s job is to convince them all to sign legal documents giving him the authority to go after their music, which puts him in direct conflict with his law firm’s clients, his legal partners, the Cuban government, and eventually the State Department. VERDICT: Plodding pacing and too many under-developed characters belie this book’s legal ‘thriller’ status. Buy for larger fiction collections only. 5/12 Stacy Alesi, AKA The BookBitch Copyright © 2012 Library Journal, a division of Media Source Inc. Reprinted with permission.

HAVE MERCY ON US ALL by Fred Vargas: It’s easy to see why Fred Vargas is an international bestseller! In Mercy her first American release, a plague-monger is terrorizing modern-day Paris. Cryptic messages regarding an upcoming outbreak of the “black death” appear in the local town crier’s box. At the same time, an odd symbol appears on doors all over the city. Chief Inspector Adamsberg believes it is nothing more than a coincidence until the first body appears. Adamsberg will no doubt draw comparison to a roguish Columbo. However, this brilliant, if absentminded, inspector brings with him a whole cast of supporting characters who help solve the crime at hand. Insight into Adamsberg’s private life as well as heavy character development, are what makes this an especially fascinating read. This is not a traditional mystery in the sense that the reader is not given all of the clues to solve the mystery but rather follows along as Adamsberg reveals his own deductions. Mercy will leave readers longing for more. The good news is that book two is being released in October, so they won’t have to wait much longer! 09/06 Becky LeJeune

HEAD GAMES by Craig McDonald: Its hard to top what Ken Bruen had to say about this debut outing – “”You’ve got to find what you love and let it kill you.’ Jesus, I’d kill for those lines. This book just took my breath away. I am beyond impressed.” Its 1957 and Senator Prescott Bush (hmmm) wants Pancho Villa’s head. Aging writer Mason Lassiter gets caught in the cross fire between Mexican nationalists and frat boys out to place Villa’s head in Yale’s Skull and Bones Society trophy case. Following the yellow brick road, Lassiter encounters Orson Welles, Marlene Dietrich, Jack Webb and a young National Guardsman named “George W.” along with lines like “it’s a tricky thing, firing for flesh wounds with a machine gun at close range”. Call this one a comedy caper historical fiction road novel with chords of myth, history, loss and redemption, but mostly call it hilariously funny. 11/07 Jack Quick

HEADS YOU LOSE by Lisa Lutz & David Hayward: Mystery fans are in for a treat with this different sort of collaboration from Spellman series author Lisa Lutz and her ex, David Hayward. With Lutz’s beginning chapter to kick things off, the two work together to create a mystery that begins with pot growing siblings discovering a body on their property. Given their choice in career, calling the cops is not an option, but their curiosity about the killing leads to their own investigation, the results of which are a surprise to even the authors. The idea was that each author would alternate chapters, there would be no plotting/outlining, and neither author would make changes to the other’s chapters. What makes this book different is that the reader knows this from the outset and the authors’ comments and notes to each other are included. As the mystery draws to an end, the authors’ snarky arguments become more and more hilarious. Unbelievably, it works: the story is fun and the authors’ notes are even more so. 04/11 Becky Lejeune

HEART OF A KILLER by David Rosenfelt: David Rosenfelt has written nine novels involving his wise cracking attorney Andy Carpenter, all successful and very entertaining. They feature twists and turns in interesting plots. Two actually utilized Golden Retrievers, Rosenfelt’s favorite dogs, as part and parcel of the case that Carpenter was defending. Heart of a Killer is a stand alone novel and one of the most fascinating books I have read in a long time. Jamie Wagner is a young lawyer working for a large law firm and not very excited about the normal prospects of advancement in such firms. His supervisor calls him in suddenly and hands him a pro bono case which is one of the most interesting ideas I’ve come across. Sheryl Harrison is in her sixth year of a thirty year sentence for killing her husband, a crime that she confessed to right away. Her daughter has a damaged heart for which nothing can be done any more, and needs a heart transplant. Sheryl requires an attorney to get the state to allow her to pass her heart to her daughter – in effect via suicide.

Jamie takes the case and in pursuing it brings out information which is germane to a situation that the Federal government is currently investigating. A brilliant criminal computer hacker has committed several computer based crimes killing people and threatens more if he is not paid a prodigious amount of money. The hacker is a psychopathic killer and if not stopped will surely accelerate his crimes. Rosenfelt introduces a secondary character that helps Jamie and Sheryl with their case. He is incidentally the police officer that took Sheryl’s confession when he was sent to the scene of the murder and even then had the strong feeling that she could not have committed the crime. He also becomes involved with the government’s pursuit of the computer hacker. Based on Rosenfelt’s fleshing out of this character I think he might reappear in future books. The principal protagonists Jamie and Sheryl are very well done and coupled with a surprise twist at the ending of the book keep the reader absorbed and probably reading far into the night. Excellent idea, very well done and another Rosenfelt triumph. 3/12 Paul Lane

HEART OF A KILLER by David Rosenfelt: Jamie Wagner is a young lawyer flying under the radar at a large firm, when he gets a career making case handed to him as part of the firm’s pro-bono work Sheryl Harrison has served four years of a thirty-year murder sentence for killing her husband, who she claims was abusive. The case is settled—there shouldn’t be anything for Jamie to do—except Sheryl’s fourteen-year-old daughter, Karen, is sick. She has a congenital heart defect and will die without a transplant. Her blood type is rare, making their chances of finding a matching donor remote at best. Sheryl wants to be that donor for her daughter, and Jamie is in way over his head. Suicide, no matter the motive, is illegal. It appears that the only way he can give Sheryl he desire is to somehow get her conviction overturned. A page turner. 6/12 Jack Quick
HEART OF THE HUNTER by Deon Meyer: Thobela (Tiny) Mpayipheli aka Umzingeli, the Hunter is a hulking black motorcycle-shop janitor and former KGB-trained assassin who plied his trade in service of the struggle against apartheid. He is now a peace-loving family man, but when a plea for help comes from the daughter of an old friend, he is forced to race across the country on a motorcycle to deliver a coveted disk, chased by a homicidal special forces commander. In some ways, this is a standard thriller complete with CIA involvement, but what sets it apart is the emotional complexity of the hero’s journey and the unusual setting. There are a lot of loose ends which hopefully, may be addressed in a sequel. Definitely recommend. 02/11 Jack Quick

HEART OF THE WORLD by Linda Barnes: Boston PI Carlotta Carlyle is doing some “big digging” of her own in this 11th adventure. This time, however, the case is a very personal one. Paolina, Carlotta’s teenaged “Little Sister” whom she loves like a daughter, has disappeared and no one except Carlotta seems to care. Carlyle, a part-time taxi driver and part-time PI is very believable in her native Boston as she struggles with her relationship with Mafioso Sam Gianelli. Unfortunately, she doesn’t seem to travel well. It doesn’t take long for Carlyle to begin to suspect that Paolina didn’t run away on her own, but was in fact kidnapped. She hopes the kidnappers were in the employ of Paolina’s biological father, a Colombian drug lord known as Roldan. However, there is the possibility that it was enemies of Roldan who engineered the snatch. Carlotta travels first to Miami and tracks down Roldan’s lawyer and from there it is on to Bogota. While well written, as were previous Carlyle adventures, it is here that the story begins to break down a bit. With her height and red hair, Carlotta fits pretty well into Irish dominated Boston. In Bogotá both work against her, even though she conveniently speaks Spanish. In the midst of all this Sam decides to propose to Carlotta, which leads to an emotional ending that screams for a sequel soon. Overall another good entry from Ms. Barnes, but I would suggest that future adventures remain fueled on New England clam chowder. 08/06 Jack Quick

HEART-SHAPED BOX by Joe Hill: Aging rocker, Judas Coyne is a collector of the strange and macabre. Some of the items in his collection include artwork by a serial killer, a used hangman’s noose and a snuff film. When the opportunity to purchase ghost online is presented to him, it’s too good to resist even if he believes it’s a fake. The seller promises to send the dead man’s favorite suit and that the ghost of her father will surely follow. When the suit arrives, in an oversized, black, heart-shaped box, Jude hides the thing away in a closet, resigned not to think anymore about it. That night, the ghost appears. Jude soon realizes that he’s been duped in the worst way. This is no ordinary ghost. Jude has allowed an evil spirit, hell-bent on revenge, into his home and his life and now, he can’t get the ghost to leave. The not so well-kept secret about this author – he’s Stephen King’s son. By choosing the same genre as his famous father, Hill will no doubt draw comparison. This creepy debut proves, however, that Joe Hill is a superb addition to the horror genre with a style and voice all his own. 02/07 Becky Lejeune

THE HEARTBREAK LOUNGE by Wallace Stroby: Former New Jersey State Trooper Harry Rane is back in New Jersey and his wife, Cristina, is away in Seattle trying to determine how to keep their marriage together. Nikki Ennis used to work as a dancer at the Heartbreak Lounge in Asbury Park. She was pregnant when Johnny Hartow was convicted in Florida for attempted murder. She knew the best thing for her baby was to give him up at birth. Now seven years later, Johnny is back and looking for his son. Harry picks up some more bruises in this gritty sequel to the Barbed Wire Kiss, but there are a few glimmers of hope in this grim, but first rate effort. 03/10 Jack Quick

HEARTBREAKER by Robert Ferrigno: Ex-undercover cop Val Duran, appears on the television quiz show Jeopardy to catch the attention of a dangerous adversary named Junior. Half the dope dealers in south Florida were glued to the tube every afternoon, making bets, yelling at the contestants. Junior once shot out a forty-seven inch Mitsubishi over a missed answer. Junior also killed Val’s former partner and threatened his only living relative, his grandmother, Grace. Val takes the old woman with him from Miami, and they hide out in Southern California. Here, he plots some serious revenge on Junior but life gets complicated when he meets a beautiful, troubled marine biologist named Kyle Abbott and her seriously dysfunctional wealthy family. Add in a gorgeous female sociopath and a Gulf War Syndrome victim and you have what could become a cliché in lesser hands, but Ferrigno has the touch with lines like “Even before dawn the freeways buzzed with ambition. It made him homesick for the sultry indolence of Miami, cruising down the A1A, windows rolled down so he could smell the oleander blooming along the median.” A good one. 03/11 Jack Quick

HEARTSICK by Chelsea Cain: Set in damp Portland, Oregon, this thriller rises above the pack and draws comparisons to Thomas Harris’ Silence of the Lambs. Cain has penned a fascinating and macabre study of the relationship between a serial killer and the cop that chased her – yes, her – for ten years. Detective Archie Sheridan headed the task force until Dr. Gretchen Lowell offered to help. Turns out her idea of help was to kidnap and torture Archie for ten long days. But instead of making him her 200th victim, she turns herself in. Archie is put on medical leave and develops a serious pain killer addiction, but two years later is asked back to work when a few teenage girls are murdered and the task force is resurrected. Hoping to spin news coverage their way, a newcomer is added to the task force; Susan Ward, a crime reporter with pink hair that hides a very sharp mind. The story swings back and forth between those ten days of torture and the current case, creating a very interesting juxtaposition and a book that is impossible to put down. First in a series. 09/07 Stacy Alesi, AKA The BookBitch

HEARTSICK by Chelsea Cain: Detective Archie Sheridan worked the Beauty Killer case for ten years. In the end, the case almost killed him. Archie was kidnapped and tortured for ten days before Gretchen Lowell, the face behind nearly two hundred murders, inexplicably turned herself in. Today, Archie barely hangs on through an addiction to pain-killers, sleeping pills, and anything else that will help to drown out the pain and the memories of what happened. Oddly enough, Archie is declared finally fit to return to work when his superiors decide to reinstate the Beauty Killer Task Force. A new killer has targeted the Portland area and three teenage girls have already been found dead by his hand. This chilling mystery is essentially a story in two parts. One is the current investigation and the race to discover the identity of the After School Strangler before more girls are killed. The second story is that of those horrendous ten days and their aftermath. This creepy debut has drawn comparison to the likes of Thomas Harris and his Hannibal Lecter thrillers. I can certainly see why. Cain has harnessed Harris’s muse – let’s just hope she writes a bit faster than he does. 09/07 Becky Lejeune

HEAT LIGHTNING by John Sandford: This is Sandford’s second outing for investigator Virgil Flowers, first featured in Dark of the Moon. Flowers is in bed with one his wives (the second one to be exact) when he is called out by Lucas Davenport to investigate the second murder in which the victim is found with two small caliber bullet wounds to the head and a lemon in his mouth. Both bodies were found near a veteran’s memorial. It seems obvious that the two murders are connected and Flowers fears there may be more forthcoming unless he can quickly determine what commonality there is between the two victims. A first rate police procedural. Hopefully this series will continue alongside the highly readable “Prey” series featuring Luca Davenport. 10/08 Jack Quick

HEAT WAVE by Richard Castle: I am not a fan of mystery TV shows, forensic shows, any of that. I’ve never willingly watched CSI or Law & Order or any of their mutations. Yet when a friend told me about this new show last year, Castle, I immediately set up the Tivo. Why? Because the main character is a suspense writer, and the show often uses real writers as guest stars – Stephen J. Cannell, James Patterson and Michael Connelly have all been featured. The stories themselves are generally over the top, murders neatly solved in 45 minutes. It’s the characters that make this show, specifically, the main character Rick Castle, played by Nathan Fillion. The premise is Castle is a friend of the Mayor, and has somehow gotten permission to shadow a female detective on the homicide squad as research for his book. On the TV show, the first book of a series featuring this woman detective is published, and magically, it is simultaneously available for sale at bookstores everywhere.
A Manhattan millionaire is found dead on the sidewalk. The trophy wife with a suspicious past becomes the first suspect. A slim volume with a mystery at it’s heart that is a simple as those on the TV show, the characters are again what make this book worth reading. Castle is transformed into “Rook”, a journalist rather than a novelist. Is it a great mystery? No. Is it especially well written? No. It’s a fun read, especially for fans of the show. Note: They have taken this gag as seriously as one can take something like this. The author bio references Castle’s fictional TV family. At the front of the book is a list of nonexistent books by this author. The author is a fictional character, and the books are a figment of his imagination. Please don’t annoy your bookseller or librarian by demanding these titles.
I would love to know who really wrote this book. I suspect Stephen J. Cannell, as he has been involved since its inception and “blurbed” the book, but I haven’t been able to find out…yet. 12/09 Stacy Alesi, AKA The BookBitch
HEIR APPARENT by Twist Phelan: First issued in 2002 and the first book in a series, this is a new, revised edition that apparently smoothes out the original book to better mesh with FALSE FORTUNE, Phelan’s newest book, which will be released this fall. Young Joe McGinnis has just passed the Arizona bar when the Senior Partner of his Pinnacle Peak employer, one of the area’s most prestigious firms, dies in an automobile accident that we, the readers, are pretty certain is murder. Then on the night of McGinnis’ first date with Mia Ortiz, personal assistant to Cordelia Barrett, a wealthy client, the young couple return to Ms. Barrett’s home and find Barrett and her son both dead – sprawled in a pool of blood. Joe knows that Ms. Barrett had changed her will, an action with which her son violently disagreed. But then Mia is charged with the murder. Quite a challenge for a novice attorney. Looks like my summer will be spent catching up on this series. 05/07 Jack Quick

HEIR APPARENT by Twist Phelan: Just in time for the latest installment in her Pinnacle Peak series, Phelan has decided to re-release book one, with some editing and additions. Green lawyer Joe McGuinness is lucky he was able to keep his job after the unfortunate death of his new boss. It doesn’t mean that he is happy with his new assignment. With his mentor’s position open, Joe is reassigned to the Trust and Estates, or Deadhead, division of the firm. One of their prestigious clients, Cordelia Barrett, has made some recent changes to her Last Will and Testament and it’s Joe’s job to deliver the final copy. A lucky accident leads to his meeting Mia, Mrs. Barrett’s personal assistant. On the night of their first official date, Joe and Mia discover the bodies of Cordelia and her son Sonny. Mia is arrested and the evidence seems to point to her guilt but Joe is unconvinced. Someone was not happy with the changes in Mrs. Barrett’s will. With Sonny dead and Mia behind bars, Joe must discover who could stand to benefit from the Barrett’s deaths. There are a total of four mysteries involved in this one little novel, probably a few too many for me. Otherwise, Phelan’s mystery is enjoyable and entertaining. Joe McGuinness does not appear to be the main character in the following titles of the series, but his somewhat goofy buddy Jerry Dan is part of the reason this debut was re-released in the first place. 05/07 Becky Lejeune

THE HEIST by Janet Evanovich & Lee Goldberg: This is a new series centered around ex-Navy Seal turned FBI agent Kate O’Hare. Yeah, I’m pretty sure the Seals don’t take women but it works for this story. O’Hare is after Nick Fox, a con man who has escaped capture more times that she wants to think about. She finally gets her man and he escapes from custody at the courthouse. Kate is kicked off the case and put on vacation, but her idea of a vacation is catching her man. Turns out he’s been turned and is now her partner, working to capture other con artists that are beyond the legal reach of the FBI. Tracking their mark around the world makes for additional interest as does the crew they put together. Kate is backed up by her father, retired military who has taught her how to kill a man sixteen different ways with just a tweezer. The girl’s got skills and so do Evanovich and Goldberg. I’d like to see these characters more fully developed but the basic premise is good. This appears to be the first of a new series and I’m looking forward to more. 7/13 Stacy Alesi, AKA The BookBitch

HELL FOR THE HOLIDAYS by Chris Grabenstein: When a customs agent’s kid gets snatched on Halloween in FBI agent Christopher Miller’s neighborhood, he goes into work mode. You may remember Miller from Slay Ride, the first terrific Christopher Miller Holiday Thriller. Miller is a kidnapping expert, but he has some family stuff to deal with – it was his daughter Angela who was kidnapped the previous Christmas by a “bad Santa”, and with the holidays approaching, her fears are resurfacing. But she is dying to go to the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, and her psychologist mom knows that seeing a “good Santa” can only be good for Angela. So they make hotel reservations and plan a therapeutic trip to NYC. Meanwhile, Miller wonders why there was no ransom demand, but the FBI isn’t interested, they are solely focused on international terrorists. What Miller doesn’t know is that Dr. John Tilley, a white supremacist, has a plan to take back America and unfortunately, his plan includes an ex-Marine sharpshooter with a Stinger missile and a parade target. Hell for the Holidays proves Grabenstein can do more than light and funny; the hatred being spewed made me uncomfortable at times, but the book moves at lightening speed, and I couldn’t put it down. Treat yourself to a holiday gift…12/07 Stacy Alesi, AKA The BookBitch

HELL FOR THE HOLIDAYS by Chris Grabenstein: A lightly written book about holiday terror featuring African-American Jersey City FBI agent Christopher Miller. A white supremacist group is planning to disrupt the holidays by blowing up an aircraft full of folks departing New York for Africa on the day before Thanksgiving. All the stock characters are involved, and while the plot is complicated, the punches are telegraphed loud and clear and the dialogue leaves a lot to be desired. All in all, a cozy dressed up as a thriller/ police procedural. Not unlike a Stuart Woods, although Woods does a better job of character development. I think this was one that was written for the money. 09/08 Jack Quick

HELL GATE by Linda Fairstein: Alexandra Cooper is back and she’s got her hands full. First a boatload of illegal immigrants crashes on Rockaway Beach, washing up several bodies – at least one of whom was dead before she hit the water. If that isn’t enough to keep her busy, she is also dealing with a drunk driving married congressman with a crazy girlfriend who has his love child, and a politically ambitious mayor. Mike Chapman is on the case and somehow Fairstein manages to tie it all together by the end. Added bonus – learn lots about Gracie Mansion and the Federalist mansions in NYC. Fairstein provides a very entertaining read, as usual. 04/10 Stacy Alesi, AKA The BookBitch

HELL HOLE by Chris Grabenstein: It wouldn’t be summer without John Ceepak and Danny Boyle, back in their fourth outing on the Jersey shore. Grabenstein has been going darker with his writing (Hell for the Holidays, Slay Ride) and this book – and its cover – reflect that change. It works. Ceepak is still the honorable man that Boyle aspires to, underscored by a decision to let the kids baseball team he coaches lose rather than accept a bad call in their favor by an umpire. The lightness ends with that game, however, as Boyle is called to handle a noise disturbance with a bunch of partying soldiers home on leave from Iraq. While talking to the soldiers, they get a call to identify the body of another soldier, an apparent suicide, found in the men’s room at a highway rest stop. Boyle won’t let the men, who’ve been drinking for hours, drive, so he escorts them there. He finds a detective he’d worked with before and found incompetent, a suicide that doesn’t look quite right, and the need to talk it all over with Ceepak. This leads to several questions, chief of which are how bad is the illegal drug situation in Iraq and how far will politicians go to gain the White House. Disturbing answers await in this intricate, fast moving and terrific tale. 7/08 Stacy Alesi, AKA The BookBitch

HELL HOLE by Chris Grabenstein: It starts with the apparent suicide of Corporal Shariff Smith, an Iraqi war veteran, but it becomes very personal for super-Cop John Ceepak and his rookie sidekick, Danny Boyle, of the Sea Haven, N.J., police force when it is determined that the man was someone whose life Ceepak had saved in an Iraqi ambush. The plot is not overly complicated with a ring of local thieves, a squad of soldiers home from Iraqi, a Senator whose son may not be as advertised, and a potential new girlfriend for Danny – Auxiliary Officer Samantha “Sam” Starkey, who is as green as Danny was a few years ago. Serious but with the touch of lightness you would expect in a New Jersey beach-side resort town. 09/08 Jack Quick

A HELL OF A WOMAN: AN ANTHOLOGY OF FEMALE NOIR edited by Meg Abbott: What is the best story in this anthology? An easy question – the next one. From the opening line of the first one “”Hey.” Fucking blinding light in her eyes.” to the appendix where authors, booksellers, critics, and film aficionados pay homage to favorite noir writers, characters, and performers, this one is a walk on the wild side and a must read for anyone who “likes their women on the trashy side.” The foreword is by Val McDermid and there are 24 contributors, most of whom are stalwarts in the field – Ken Bruen, Zoe Sharp, S. J. Rozan, Vicki Hendricks, 4MA’s Donna Moore, Christa Faust, and Sandra Scoppettone. To quote Debby Marsh in 1953’s The Big Heat, “We’re all sisters under the mink.” Outstanding product from the folks at Houston’s Busted Flush Press. 01/09 Jack Quick

HELL OR HIGH WATER by Joy Castro: Nola Cespedes is sick of covering human interest fluff pieces. Then her boss approaches her with a real assignment: in the aftermath of Katrina, a number of sex offenders went off the map. The piece Nola’s boss has given her would involve covering the public’s opinions and perspectives as well as that of registered sex offenders living in the city. Though she’s not excited about the prospect of interviewing a bunch of perverted, and possibly even violent, criminals, it’s Nola’s one shot to make it big. Nola wants nothing more than to move to New York and make a name for herself, and she knows this is the best chance she’ll have. Meanwhile, a girl has been kidnapped — taken from a crowded restaurant in the middle of the day. It’s believed that the case is tied to two other recent murders. If Nola can connect the kidnapping and the murders with the piece she’s writing, she’ll be set. But Nola’s story places her in the middle of a shady subculture of criminals and as she pushes her limits at work, problems in her personal life are coming to a head. Hell or High Water is definitely one of those word of mouth books. The story is really too complicated to fairly sum up in a quick nutshell description, but it definitely deserves a lot of attention. Castro’s fiction debut is well plotted and features an intriguing lead character. Castro also does an amazing job with her setting. The real New Orleans comes to life in this book – the good and the not so tourist friendly but not quite bad as well. 8/12 Becky Lejeune

Hell to Pay by George Pelecanos: Strange & Quinn are back in this sequel to Right as Rain, and the streets of D.C. are as black and gritty as ever. The private investigators are hired to find a fourteen-year-old runaway girl from the suburbs, and it turns out she is working as a prostitute for one very bad guy. Things really spin out of control when one of the boys on Derek Strange’s PeeWee football team is killed, and Strange takes it personally. This fast moving, suspenseful story kept me turning pages until the wee hours.

HELL’S BAY by James W. Hall: Thorn is back in his wildest adventure yet. He is leading a fishing expedition into the isolated lakes and mangrove swamps of Hells Bay in the Everglades when he meets up with the Bates family. They are one of Florida’s aristocratic pioneer clans with huge holdings in real estate and mining. The family matriarch Abigail has been killed and her heirs want Thorn to solve the case, claiming he is, in fact, a long lost relative. Deliverance, meet Cape Fear, in what is probably Hall’s best effort to date. You can cut the tension with one of Thorn’s sharp fishing knives while in the background the sound of banjos can be heard over the surf. Hall certainly knows his Florida and with lines like “the air smelled of snakes and damp mud and an occasional gust of a sharp insistent citrus scent that made her think of a teenage boy’s first cologne,” you are pulled right into the swamps and sloughs. 04/08 Jack Quick

THE HELP by Kathryn Stockett: Jackson, Mississippi is the setting for this amazing debut novel about the civil rights movement in the early 1960’s. Eugenia “Skeeter” Phelan is an old school, moneyed Southern belle who, unlike all her friends, is unmarried. Skeeter wants to be a writer, and applies for a position at a New York publishing house. The editor offers her the advice to “write about what disturbs you” and Skeeter does just that. Constantine, the black maid who helped raise her, mysteriously quits and moves away while Skeeter is away at college. Her parents won’t tell her why, and Skeeter is bereft. She turns to her friends’ maids, but they won’t tell her either. Then she gets the idea to write a book about how these maids really feel about their jobs, their employers and their lives. But this is the deep south, where a young man is beaten and blinded for using a white restroom even though it wasn’t labeled as such, and fears run deep. Eventually one maid agrees to talk to her, and then another, and their stories make for mesmerizing reading. Stockett includes an author’s note at the end that adds to the authenticity of the book. Book clubs are going to love this as much as I did – don’t miss it. 08/09 Stacy Alesi, AKA The BookBitch

HELP FOR THE HAUNTED by John Searles: Sylvester and Rose Mason offer up a very unique service: they help the haunted. For a while they even took their two daughters, Sylvie and Rose, along with them. But one night, Sylvester and Rose get a phone call that proves to be their last. Everyone has always been certain that Albert Lynch was responsible. After all, Albert left his troubled daughter in the Mason’s care not long before their death. Sylvie is the star witness in the case, having entered the church where her parents were killed just moments after the crime took place. Lately, however, she’s had doubts about what she believed she saw that night. Searles’s latest is a mystery wrapped up in a bit of horror package. While the book is a thriller at heart, there are some seriously creepy elements to the story. Enough to give even the most hardy horror fan goosebumps. The narrative unfolds in two timelines, Sylvie post murder and Sylvie’s own version of events leading up to the incident as she tries to determine who had a motive to kill her parents. Help For the Haunted is one of my favorite novels of the year and one that I’d highly recommend to anyone looking for a fabulously plotted and somewhat scary read. 10/13 Becky Lejeune

HELPLESS by Daniel Palmer: Daniel Palmer burst on the literary scene in February 2011 with an extremely absorbing techno-thriller. It remained for him to prove that he is capable of producing the same quality novel, and with the publication of Helpless he certainly did and than some. The book is also a techno-thriller with a plot line that is both fascinating and frightening for people having so much of their lives based on computer records and actions. Mr Palmer spent a decade working on first generation web sites and his intimate knowledge of computer workings is brought to bear in Helpless, as it was in his first book, Delirious.

Tom Hawkins, an ex Navy Seal returns to his home town with the intention of raising his daughter Jill after the murder of his wife. He unexpectedly finds himself a suspect in his wife’s murder. While looking to extract himself from that charge he finds that evidence is presented gained from searches of his own computer and cell phone against him accusing him of buying porn photos of girls in the town and selling them, and at the same time a blog accuses him of sleeping with one of the soccer players on the girl’s high school soccer team that he coaches.
The FBI has jurisdiction in pornography marketing and sends in an agent and backup. Loraine Miles (Rainy) is the agent and after looking at the facts presented and talking to Tom becomes increasingly unsure that Tom was not framed for the crimes he is accused of. During the course of the investigation a romance begins to develop between the two.
The concept of being able to set up people as culpable for crimes committed using their own computers and cell phones is a very frightening one and looking at the accusations and facts established against Tom makes the reader aware that the same thing can happen to them if a computer expert sets his or her mind to it. Palmer makes a great case for setting up some oversight on possibly the part of the FBI to work with people who are caught in computer based accusations and are seemingly trapped. Daniel Palmer has written his first two books in the space of a year. That makes it probable that the next one will be out about the beginning of 2013. I plan to read it on the night before a day off so that when I’m done I can sleep late the next day. 3/12 Paul Lane

HEMLOCK by Kathleen Peacock: A white wolf has been killing people in Hemlock and Mac’s best friend, Amy, is the latest victim. After the discovery of Lupine Syndrome, werewolves have become commonplace everywhere. The bloodlust of a newly infected werewolf is uncontrollable and anyone suspected of infection is immediately shipped to a rehabilitation camp. Everyone believes the Hemlock murders have to be the result of a newly infected suffering from bloodlust. When the Trackers are brought in to bring down the wolf, Hemlock is thrown into chaos. Some students at Mac’s school are accused of being infected while others begin to fully support and follow the Trackers themselves. Haunted by Amy’s death, Mac decides the only way to gain closure and put things right is to find Amy’s killer on her own. But her investigation turns up surprising secrets concerning those closest to her. Could the killer be someone Mac knows? Hemlock is fantastic all around—characters that feel real and are believable as teens and a pacing and plot that are quick and compelling. Hemlock is definitely a must for urban fantasy and paranormal mystery fans both teen and adult. 5/12 Becky Lejeune

Henry’s List of Wrongs by John Scott Shepherd: A hilarious romp through one man’s attempt at repenting for all the wrongs he’s committed. Very enjoyable, quick read. Footnote: I read that the film rights had been sold with Jim Carrey (not my favorite actor) to star, which sort of threw a pall over the book for me.

HER FEARFUL SYMMETRY by Audrey Niffenegger: It’s been a few years since The Time Traveler’s Wife but I have to admit, it was worth the wait. Niffenegger is just a great storyteller, and she keeps turning my preconceived ideas on their heads. I don’t generally care for ghost stories, at least not since I was a kid, but this book – a ghost story in its simplest incantation – kept me mesmerized. Perhaps it was the twins angle; like many people I’ve always been fascinated by identical twins. The symmetry here is in two generations of identical twins. Edwina and Elspeth had a falling out and hadn’t spoken in decades, helped by the fact that Edwina moved to America while Elspeth stayed in London. When Elspeth dies, she bequeaths her worldly goods to Julia and Valentina, Edwina’s identical twin daughters whom she never met, with the unusual request that in order to collect, the girls must live in Elspeth’s flat for one year. The bigger catch, however, is that Elslpeth’s ghost hasn’t left the flat. Julia and Valentina are delighted; the twenty year olds have dropped out of college and just floundering, and an adventure abroad for a year seems like just the escape they need. During the course of their year, they learn about their interesting neighbors, and the famous Highgate Cemetary that borders the property. Lots of family secrets are eventually revealed, but it’s the truly interesting characters that propel this story forward. A great read. 10/09 Stacy Alesi, AKA The BookBitch.

THE HERETIC’S DAUGHTER by Kathleen Kent: Between February 1692 and May 1693, over 150 men, women, and children from Salem and the neighboring villages were accused of witchcraft. They would all be imprisoned, and some tortured and hanged, before the harrowing event would finally come to an end. On August 19, 1692, after being prosecuted and convicted, Martha Carrier was hanged and killed. Author Kathleen Kent is a tenth-generation descendant of this fascinating woman. The Heretic’s Daughter is Martha’s story as told through the eyes of her ten-year-old daughter Sarah. Their mother daughter relationship is a strained one, but in the months leading to her mother’s arrest and death, Sarah finally begins to understand and open up to her mother. Kent’s debut is an incredible read and her passion for her subject really shines through. It’s also one of the most emotionally turbulent books I’ve read in quite a while. The Heretic’s Daughter is a powerful novel that proves what a great talent Kathleen Kent has already become. This should be on everyone’s must read list for fall. 09/08 Becky Lejeune

THE HEROINES by Eileen Favorite: The Prairie Homestead is not your typical bed and breakfast. The average guest could be rubbing elbows with some of the most famous ladies of literature and never know it. Penny Entwhistle and her mother have successfully kept their infamous guests secret up until now. Penny’s own typical teen angst threatens to blow the lid on everything her mother has worked for. When Penny reveals to members of the public that the likes of Madame Bovary and Scarlett O’Hara have been hanging out at her house, her own mother lies and says that her daughter is imagining things. This lands Penny a vacation in a mental institution she calls the Unit. Desperate to get out, Penny again risks everything by having her own knight on a white horse rescue her – not her knight of course but one visiting from yet another classic tale of romance and woe. The results could be disastrous but the trip along the way is mighty entertaining. Favorite’s debut is a fanciful tale of mothers and daughters and growing up, with a twist of romantic literature. The Heroines is an amusing read for book lovers everywhere. 12/07 Becky Lejeune

HE’S GONE by Deb Caletti: Ian Keller has disappeared without a trace. The last thing Dani remembered before Ian went missing was returning home from his company party. They hadn’t fought, but she knew he was angry with her. The next morning he was gone. She thought maybe he’d gone to get coffee. Then she thought he might have run into someone and gotten caught up in a conversation. Dani ran through every possibility she could think of before she realized his car was still parked in the lot near their houseboat. And then she got worried. Did Ian leave her? It’s happened before – Ian left his first wife to marry Dani, who was married as well when they met. Or is it something worse? I’m at odds with Deb Caletti’s latest. On the one hand, the writing is fabulous. Dani’s narrative is devoted to analyzing every aspect of her relationship, trying to find a way to unravel what’s happened to Ian. On the other hand, He’s Gone is a really depressing read. 5/13 Becky Lejeune

THE HIDDEN by Bill Pronzini: The Northern California coastline is one of the most beautiful places on earth. The Coastline Killer thinks so, and is dedicated to do whatever it takes to keep it that way. Four victims so far for this “environmental activist.” Will jay and Shelby Macklin be his next victims? Does it matter to them? Their ten year marriage is coming apart at the seams, Jay is unemployed and nearly unemployable – a promising baseball career ended by injuries, the failure of his restaurant, and the heart problems he hasn’t disclosed even to Shelby. Shelby’s words, “Two people can’t live together without communicating” perfectly sum up their current situation. An EMT, She is attracted to an ER doctor but has resisted beginning an affair. Together and separately they are spending the week after Christmas at a cottage on the wild and beautiful northern California coast. Jay’s hope is that he can save their marriage, but a violent storm and the Coastline Killer make marital woes secondary to survival. Pronzini has written 70-plus novels, and The Hidden shows no drop off in quality. Not gory but suspenseful enough to make you double check the door and window locks before you go to bed tonight. 02/11 Jack Quick

THE HIDDEN MAN by David Ellis: Jason and Sammy grew up together, best friends until high school; Jason went on to college and law school, while Sammy coasted after his baby sister was kidnapped and never found. Jason became a star at a top law firm but left to practice solo after his wife and daughter were killed in a car accident. Then the past comes back to haunt them both. Jason receives a $10,000 cash retainer from a mysterious “Mr. Smith” to defend Sammy, who is accused of murdering the man long ago suspected of kidnapping his sister. But he won’t plead temporary insanity, which would allow the dead man’s past into evidence, and Jason is frustrated. “Mr. Smith” has explicit ideas about how he wants the defense handled, and things start going awry when Jason deviates from the plan. Edgar-award winner Ellis (Line of Vision, Eye of the Beholder) has created an interesting character, a damaged lawyer who’s not afraid to get his hands dirty, to build this new series around. 09/09 Stacy Alesi, AKA The BookBitch. Copyright © 2009 Cahners Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. Reprinted with permission.

HIDE by Lisa Gardner: Boston Police Sergeant D. D. Warren hooks up with Massachusetts State Detective Robert Dodge (Alone) to investigate a long abandoned underground cavern found on the grounds of the former Boston State Mental Hospital. The hospital had been shut down decades earlier, but the mummified bodies of six young girls are found below ground, somewhat reminiscent of a previous case. Annabelle Granger has spent her life running, moving from city to city with a new name every eighteen months or so at her paranoid father’s whim. Annabelle is thought to be one of the dead girls until she strolls into the police station, a beautiful young woman who bears a striking resemblance to a previous victim. Former patients and staff members of the hospital become the prime suspects in this fast paced, twisty thriller. The point of view occasionally shifts from Annabelle’s first person perspective to an omniscient narrator to easily give the reader more information than Annabelle has, but the introduction of a new, critical character towards the end of the book was rather unsettling. 02/07 Stacy Alesi, AKA The BookBitch

HIDING PLACE by Collin Wilcox: In this fourth Lieutenant Frank Hastings outing (1973) the crew is working the homicide of a girl whose body is found in Golden Gate Park. The deeper the group investigates the more complicated the chase becomes. Then a second murder raises the stakes to resolve the case quickly. Another excellent police procedural of the that era – no cellphones or computers, cigarettes are still socially acceptable, and if there needs to be a little bit of leaning to unlock some clues so be it. Nicely done and highly recommended. 12/10 Jack Quick

HIGH PROFILE by Robert B. Parker: It is not a good day in Paradise when the body of Walton Weeks is found hanging from a tree. Weeks hosted a popular national radio gabfest, wrote a newspaper column, and churned out best-selling books until someone shot him and left him hanging from a tree. The next body to be found is that of Weeks’ pregnant lover. Paradise Chief of Police Jesse Stone finds himself in the middle of the highest profile case of his career as he tries to solve the double homicide with his 12-person force and remain sober during the process. He also has to contend with his ex-wife Jenn, now an investigative reporter, as well as private investigator Sunny Randall–a sometime lover—that he needs to help with Jenn. A typical Parker outing. Taut language, complex emotions, and a good mystery. One of his best. 02/07 Jack Quick

HIGH MIDNIGHT by Stuart Kaminsky: Its number 6 in the World War II era adventures of LA PI Toby Peters, Detective to the Stars. This one ain’t High Noon but like that famous 1952 classic, it does feature Gary Cooper. Someone wants to make a movie with him so badly they resort to threats, blackmail, and murder. With a little help from a writer type named Ernest Hemingway, Peters stumbles over corpses, avoids stray bullets, and tries to keep from being turned into a Kosher hot dog by some menacing East Coast thugs. Remember the words of Client Eastwood as Dirty Harry, “Nobody, I mean, nobody, puts ketchup on a hot dog.” If you are a movie buff, this series is for you. 05/09 Jack Quick

Hissy Fit by Mary Kay Andrews: This is just a fun read. It’s about a woman who catches her fiancé banging her best friend/maid of honor on the board room table at the country club during their rehearsal dinner. She goes wild, pitches an historic “hissy fit” and storms out, then meets a wealthy young man who’s amused at her misspelled keying of her ex-beloved’s car in the parking lot. She spends the rest of the book decorating his newly purchased plantation style home (this is Southern fiction) so he can impress some hot lawyer he saw on a PBS fundraiser. She pals around with her gay best friend who convinces her she has abandonment issues since her mother’s disappearance 25 years earlier, lending a pinch of suspense to the plot. It’s light, fast moving, entertaining fun and I couldn’t put it down (and just the perfect antidote to hurricanes.) Then I went back and read SAVANNAH BLUES, which was also great fun.

THE HISTORY OF LOVE by Nicole Krauss: This is an amazing book – I borrowed it from the library, read it, then ran out and bought a copy and read it again. The “love” in the title is a love of literature, of books, of family, of laughter despite the pain of life. Unforgettable characters, a book within a book within a book that all comes together in the end, a joy! Leo Gursky is an old man who creates disturbances wherever he goes just so people will notice him – for who notices an old man? His losses are numerous, yet he keeps on keeping on and making us laugh while he does it. His lost novel, appropriately titled The History of Love, unbeknownst to him was published by another. The woman he loved and wanted to marry who couldn’t wait and married someone else. His son, a revered author, who doesn’t even know who he is. Then there is a young girl, Alma Singer, named for the main character in the book Leo doesn’t even know was published. Her search for the truth while dealing with the death of her father adds a haunting suspense that enriches the story even further. To be drawn into this world is a delight, and I am grateful. 06/05

THE HIT by David Baldacci: Will Robie was introduced in The Innocent. He is an assassin working for the CIA and charged with killing persons deemed enemies of the United States at any location necessary. A skilled killer, with no mercy, he is considered by his peers at the agency as one of the best they have handling the assignments given to him, and not questioning the reason for the kill order. Will is handed the assignment of hunting down and killing Jessica Reel, a fellow employee who has apparently gone rogue and murdered two officers of the CIA with no reason, nor any official sanction to do so. Jessica has a reputation of being almost as good as, or possibly as good as Will in handling assignments for the CIA. With David Baldacci setting up the scenario we know that all is not as initially depicted, and the reader is again treated to another engrossing novel by this master craftsman. What is the truth, and where does it lead Will is a fascinating study in what could happen when people in power find reasons to abuse that power thinking that they are the only ones knowing what is right and wrong. The plot leads us from an assignment to stop a rogue agent to a conspiracy taking place at very high government levels. With his usual talent for fleshing out people in this books, we become involved in the action, and do understand why everyone acts as they do. Another page turner by Baldacci, and a continued desire to read more books by him. 05/13 Paul Lane

HIT ME by Lawrence Block: Keller, the hit man Block made famous, returns after a few years absence. When Keller’s previous arrangements blew up, he became a man named Nicholas Edwards who lives in New Orleans renovating houses, doing honest work and making decent money at it. Between his family and his stamp collection, all his spare time is happily accounted for. But now Dot ahs called and Keller is back in the trade. Keller’s work takes him to New York, the former home he hasn’t dared revisit, where his target is the abbot of a midtown monastery. Another call puts him on a West Indies cruise, taking care of a government witness. The real test comes in Cheyenne, where a recent widow is looking to sell her husband’s stamp collection. 3/13 Jack Quick

HIT AND RUN by Lawrence Block: Keller is like most of us. He has a job that he works at in order to pay his bills, feed his hobby (stamp collecting) and hopefully prepare for his eventual retirement. The major difference is Keller’s a hit man. After all these years and many successful assignments he is now ready to begin that retirement, but there is just one more job. Keller really doesn’t want to go to Des Moines for the job but it has been paid for so what else can he do? After all, there are no refunds in this business. While he is in Des Moines looking at additions to his stamp collection, someone kills the charismatic governor of Ohio. Normally this would have little impact on Keller – except the police have released a picture of the alleged killer. Guess who? Now Keller is stranded in Des Moines, cut off from his associate Dot in White Plains, New York, every cop in America’s just seen his picture, his ID and credit cards are no longer good, and he just spent almost all of his cash on the stamps. The best Keller yet. 07/08 Jack Quick

HIT MAN By Lawrence Block: Block is a multi talented writer, the winner of two Edgars and numerous other awards for his Scudder series, yet being the creative genius he is, he strays afield from time to time. He wrote a short story for “Playboy” called “Answers To Soldier” back in the late 70’s or early 80’s that becomes the lynch pin of this novel; what follows is a collection of brilliantly linked short stories that were published as individual efforts, but eventually became linked together.
Keller is his own man. He’s the guy on the next bar stool to you. He’s a lonely guy, on the one hand craving companionship, and on the other hand, doing his job ruthlessly. He could be your next door neighbor, the guy you wave hi to every day. But when he gets the call, packs his bag, and heads out, he’s a stone killer. The problem is that Keller is not sure that this is his calling. He’s a middle aged guy who’s thinking about getting out of the biz. Block balances Keller’s skill against his own self doubt. (My favorite one in this is called “Keller’s Therapy”) And eventually Keller (and his pal Dot) realize that things have to change. After all, it’s Keller’s only gig, and Dot’s true hope. By the way, Block parlayed this into a second collection called HIT LIST, and one soon to be released (July 4, 06) called HIT PARADE. The beauty of this is that these are short stories that are all interlinked. Block is a damn genius who deserves the accolades he’s received. This is a series that both Scudder and Bernie R. fans can equally get behind. Enjoy the master at work. 05/06 DOC

HIT PARADE by Lawrence Block: John Keller is a working man who ponders questions like: Does this assignment compromise my ethics? Will I ever get another job? Like all careers, his has its challenges, some imposed by circumstance, others generated by introspection. He also ponders a retirement in which he will abandon his Manhattan lifestyle for a trailer in the southwestern desert. The main difference between Keller and the rest of us is that Keller is a hit man, a contract killer who takes on assignments within his own code of ethics and performs them in how own style. You get the feeling that when Block writes about Keller he is really fantasizing for all of us about a life with no rules, or just those we make for ourselves. In any event, the stories in Hit Parade are at times humorous, thoughtful and quintessential Block at his best. 07/06 Jack Quick

HOAX by Robert Tanenbaum: I was prepared to not like this book. Instead of buying it, I waited until I could get it from the library. Apparently Mr. Tanenbaum used Michael Gruber as the ghost for the first 15 Butch Karp and Marlene Ciampi books, all of which were most enjoyable. Whoever has succeeded Gruber has a way to go to match his style and ability. Much of the book is a rehash of the first fifteen books while the plot is mundane – crooked politicians and priestly pedophiles. At 490 pages, it has the feel of being padded by at least a hundred pages. Nevertheless, the characters are like old friends, and while this visit wasn’t as good as some previous ones, it was acceptable. However, hopefully the new guy/gal will catch on quickly, otherwise, I will regretfully say goodbye to Karp, et al. 11/06 Jack Quick

HOLD TIGHT by Harlan Coben: I have had a love/hate relationship with Coben’s books for some time now. I was his biggest champion when he wrote his first standalone thriller, Tell No One. But as he continued to write and define the “family thriller”, I started having serious issues. Coben can suck a reader in and keep those pages turning like nobody’s business, but a few books ago I noticed that he was writing himself into a corner and taking absurd, unbelievable, completely far-fetched ways out of it. That, combined with his penchant for wrapping up every loose end in the last two pages caused me to stop reading him. But I was persuaded to try his last book, The Woods, and I was delighted to find that he finally learned how to write a believable, albeit entirely too detailed, ending. Which brings me to his latest effort, Hold Tight.
Coben recently penned an op-ed piece for the NY Times titled “The Undercover Parent”, about why parents should install software to spy on their children’s every move, every time they go online. He slams that ball home in this book. In lovely suburban New Jersey, one such family is weighing that very option as their teenage son’s grades are sliding and his behavior becomes erratic. The arguments both for and against are well presented, and it is an integral part of the story which includes moms getting murdered, teenage drug parties, and a teenage suicide – most of your basic parental nightmares rolled up into one riveting read – with an ending that makes sense. All in all, I’m happy to say this was an excellent read and a marvelous way to spend a few hours. 05/08 Stacy Alesi, AKA The BookBitch

HOLD TIGHT by Harlan Coben: I’m not even certain where to begin with this book. Several different subplots simultaneously take place and unbelievably they all tie in together at the end. First, Sixteen year-old Adam Baye has been distant and emotionally removed lately. His best friend, Spencer, committed suicide and Adam’s parents, Tia and Mike, take action before he follows suit. They install a spy program on his computer that allows them to receive daily reports of his computer activity. They become instantly alarmed when they view some alarming messages that Adam has received. Meanwhile, Spencer’s mother has discovered some evidence that indicates that her son did not commit suicide. She confronts Adam, his best friend, and he disappears. A murderer is on the loose, killing women and leaving their bodies so badly beaten they are not recognizable. And finally, an adolescent girl is taunted at school after her teacher makes a comment about her appearance. Four seemingly very different subplots all come to one by the end of this suspenseful book. This was my first taste of Coben’s writing and I plan on continuing the experience. 07/08 Jennifer Lawrence

HOLD TIGHT by Harlan Coben: A night with a Harlan Coben book is a guaranteed night without sleep. In his latest stand-alone, parents come face-to-face with their worst nightmares. Tia and Mike Baye are concerned when their son, Adam, becomes more reserved and introverted after the suicide of one of his classmates. They go to extremes by installing a program on his computer that will track all of his activities online. Each day, the company responsible sends them a report, and each day is the same mundane stuff. Everything changes when Tia comes across a disturbingly cryptic instant message, and an e-mail about a party Adam is to attend. Mike plans to take Adam to a hockey game, to keep him from going to the party, but Adam disappears. It’s not the first time their son has run off, but Mike and Tia know there has to be something more than teen angst at play here. Coben is the absolute king of suspense – no one does it like he can. In Hold Tight he weaves multiple plot lines together to create yet another page-turning thrill ride that will keep you awake all night. If you pay attention, you just might recognize some familiar faces, too. 04/08 Becky Lejeune

THE HOLLOW MAN by Oliver Harris: Detective Nick Belsey wakes up bloody and bruised after spending the night in the grass. Nearby he finds a crashed police car, not even from his district, and knows he’s the one responsible. In fact, Belsey’s life has been in a slow decline for some time now. His paychecks no longer cover the minimum payments due on his many debts and the creditors are breathing down his neck. What’s more, he’s got no place to live. When he answers a missing person’s call, he starts to think things could turn around. A normal adult disappearance wouldn’t raise any flags but this guy is rich. Still, nothing seems suspicious and the man even left behind a note before leaving. Belsey comes up with a plan to temporarily borrow the man’s identity—and money—and get the heck out of dodge. As he learns more about the missing businessman, though, Belsey decides there’s more to this case than meets the eye. And it seems someone wanted the man dead badly enough that they’re willing to come after Belsey now, too. Harris’s debut is exceptional. Belsey is a true anti-hero, a bad guy in just about every way. His only motivation is completely self-serving and everything his does is to get himself ahead. Still, I couldn’t help but like him. I hope this is to be a new series because I would love to see more of Belsey and definitely can’t wait for more from Harris. 12/12 Becky Lejeune

THE HOLLOWER by Mary SanGiovanni: Dave Kohlar has seen it, so has his sister Sally, and so did the man from Sally’s therapy group who committed suicide. Dave would like to think that he’s a fairly rational man, but when he sees the faceless creature in an overcoat and hat following him around, he’s sure he must be losing it. Then Sally flips out and has to be committed. Shortly after that, she escapes without a trace and Dave knows the creature he calls The Hollower is behind it. Then Dave meets Erik and Cheryl. They see the creature too and it’s possible that the three of them working together may be able to fight this thing. They’re joined by two unlikely allies as they set off to kill something that none of them could possibly understand. Mary SanGiovanni’s debut was a 2007 Stoker nominee for best first novel. Her story is refreshingly original and features a villain who could rival Freddie himself. The Hollower is creepy without ever going over the top. The chills are there and the ending is a killer. No worries, though, the sequel Found You is already out. 09/08 Becky Lejeune

HOLLYWOOD CROWS by Joseph Wambaugh: In LA police jargon, “crows” are the members of the LAPD Community Relations Office (CRO) which handles quality of life issues. “Hollywood Nate” Weiss and partner Bix Ramstead are both crows mesmerized by Margot Aziz, a stunner in the middle of a particular; ugly divorce proceeding. Margot tries to use her feminine wiles to gain the upper hand over about to be ex-husband Ali, whose seedy night club requires regular infusions of cash to various police charities to stay in business. Hollywood and Bix are the main characters n a bunch that includes surfer cops Flotsam and Jetsam, and two female cops Cat Song and Ronnie Sinclair. The book is filled with cop humor like Officer F. X. Mulroney, who fires a taser dart into a tangle of wet steel fencing upon which three homies are sitting. The fifty thousand volts made a crackling sound and arced a blue dagger like in Frankenstein’s lab. Mulroney’s response, “But I was only doing a spark check! Shit happens! Mulroney spread his arms wide, looked up at the darkening sky, and cried, “God knows I’m innocent. Even Bill Clinton had a premature discharge!” Its Wambaugh, same as always, in his thirteenth fictional outing about the real life of LAPDs. 06/08 Jack Quick

HOLLYWOOD HILLS by Joseph Wambaugh: Three of Wambaugh’s most interesting characters are featured in this latest outing from the Hollywood Station of the LAPD. The two surfer-dude cops, known as Flotsam and Jetsam, team up with the veteran”Hollywood Nate” who has consented to keep an eye on the estate of B-list Director Rudy Ressler and his fiance, Leona Brueger, the older-but-still-foxy widow of a processed-meat tycoon. A circle of teenage burglars that the media has dubbed The Bling Ring has been targeting the homes of Hollywood celebs, so there is a real need for the service. Also minding the mansion is Raleigh Dibble, a hapless ex-con trying to put the past behind him. Raleigh is all too happy to be set up for the job–as butler-cum-watchdog–by Nigel Wickland, Leona’s impeccably dressed art dealer. What Raleigh doesn’t realize is that Nigel plans to steal two paintings hanging on the mansion’s walls which will guarantee him more money than he has ever seen. When Hollywood Nate, surfer cops Flotsam and Jetsam, and the rest of the team at Hollywood Station collide with the combination of Nigel and the Bling Ring, all bets are off. A roller coaster ride of a novel that showcases Joseph Wambaugh in vintage form. Highly recommended. 12/10 Jack Quick
HOLLYWOOD MOON by Joseph Wambaugh: No one would mistake the misfits from Wambaugh’s Hollywood Division for the straight arrow boys in blue of McBain’s 87th Precinct, but they can be incredibly funny and also do pretty good police work. The main thread of the book involves a husband-and-wife team of identity thieves, the weak-willed Dewey Gleason and his domineering mate, Eunice, who cross paths with Malcolm Rojas, a creepy teenager with major anger-management issues. It is in the trimmings, however, that make the book with characters like Hollywood Nate Weiss, the actor turned cop; Weiss’s beautiful partner, Dana Vaughn; and the surfer duo, Flotsam and Jetsam, who conduct on the spot sobriety tests involving tourists and balloons among other mischief. The language is adult but often laugh-out-loud funny, like the lawyer who charged the arresting officer with fanny burping him. The defense – frijoles from Taco Johns – or the charge that an officer had called a street citizen a name. “After I threatened to sue him for false arrest, he called me frogative, and I ain’t no frog.” What the officer said was, “that’s your prerogative.” Never mind. 12/09 Jack Quick

HOME by Matthew Costello: This follow up to Costello’s Vacation picks up immediately where we last left off. Christie and her kids, Kate and Simon, have escaped Paterville Camp. They’re dead set on making it home to safety but soon discover that things have gone drastically downhill since they left. Massive power failures have left the safe zones compromised and no one can tell them if their suburban haven is included in the mess. Without Jack along to help, Christie must make some tough choices. No matter what happens, though, she’s determined to keep her family together and safe. While I certainly missed Jack, Home gives the reader a chance to get to know Christie and the kids. Each character faces things that Jack otherwise protected them from before now, causing them to grow in interesting ways. By the end of Home, each character has transformed into lean, mean fighters, perfectly set up for whatever they might face next. And it’s clear that there is more to come for the Murphys. Home can be read as a stand alone, but I definitely recommend checking out Vacation first. 11/12 Becky Lejeune

THE HOME TEAM: UNDECLARED WAR by Dennis Chalker & Kevin Dockery: Ted “Grim” reaper was a casualty of a coverup and scandal in Bosnia which ended his career as a Navy SEAL. When drug dealing terrorists threaten his family and intrude on his early but well earned retirement, Reaper hooks up with some other special forces operators to deal with the dealers. Using all forms of combat, weapons, explosives, special equipment, and tactics learned while in service to their government, they are now on their own, with no government agency to hold them back, no congressional committee to supervise them, and no obstacles in their win at any costs private war. Let the blood letting begin. 10/08 Jack Quick

HOME TO BIG STONE GAP by Adriana Trigiani: This book came out last year but it had been so long since I’d read the earlier books in the series that I wanted to re-read them first. I enjoyed the first three books so much I forgot to read the newest one! But I’m glad I finally did – Trigiani writes great characters that I really enjoy spending time with. This book is a bit short on plot, but it doesn’t really matter. Jack Mac has some health issues, Etta is married and living in Italy, Ave Maria and Iva Lou have a falling out, Theodore comes to visit, and Ave thinks she sees a grown up Joe walking in the woods behind the house. If you haven’t met these characters, start with Big Stone Gap and work your way here, and if you know them, you’ll want to read this book too; it’s sweet, funny, heart wrenching, and most of all, charming. 08/07 Stacy Alesi, AKA The BookBitch
THE HOMECOMING by Carsten Stroud: Attorney Kate Kavanaugh and her husband, Nick, a cop, decide to take in Rainey Teague. Rainey had been missing for over a year until he was found in a crypt; his parents committed suicide shortly thereafter and the troubled young man needed a home. All of this occurred because of a magic mirror that hearkens back to some nightmarish history. Kate’s brother-in-law is terrorizing his family, and her sister Beth finally leaves him, taking their kids and moving in with Kate and Nick too. Meanwhile Beth’s husband has been implicated in a bank robbery where several police officers have been killed, but while being transported, he escapes. Not to mention the Chinese spies that have all died in a plane crash. All these complications are nothing compared to the paranormal, ghostly creepy things going on in this small, southern town. All the characters are quirky but well developed, and the violence is integral to the story. This is the second book of the Niceville trilogy, and is a genre bending, page turning suspenseful supernatural read that is impossible to put down or to forget. 7/13 Stacy Alesi, AKA The BookBitch Copyright © 2013 Booklist, a division of the American Library Association. Reprinted with permission.

A HOMECOMING FOR MURDER by John Armistead: It’s the Friday of Homecoming Week in Sheffield, Mississippi in this dated (1995) but excellent police procedural. Homecoming means high school football, homecoming queen pageantry, and murder for Sheriff Grover Bramlett of Chakchiuma County. The first victim is schoolteacher Jesse Bondreaux, shot in the head execution style with a .25 caliber automatic. Before the weekend is over, another teacher, Jo Ann Staples, is found dead, killed in the same fashion. As the body count mounts, Bramlett realizes his own grandson Marcellus may be in danger as well. While the identity of the murderer is telegraphed fairly early, who will be assigned the new patrol car – a Corvette confiscated from a drug dealer – is not revealed until the very end. 09/07 Jack Quick

HOMICIDE 69 by Sam Reaves: At 568 pages, this is a real “plow through” book but well worth the effort. Its 1969, the Vietnam War is raging; teens are trying to sneak in to the theatre to see Dustin Hoffman in Midnight Cowboy (after all, wasn’t The Graduate the dirtiest movie yet made?). Mike Dooley is a world-weary Chicago cop, worried about his Marine son in Vietnam and trying to solve the sadistic murder of former Playboy Bunny Sally Kotowski, a mobster’s ex-girlfriend. In the process he becomes fascinated by one of Sally’s friends, and refuses to accept the “official” version of the killing. If you are a “boomer” and lived this as I did, you will remember things long forgotten like draft numbers, Chicago Police corruption, rioting in Belfast, Jimmy Hoffa, a new major league baseball team in San Diego and the Cubs blowing a late summer lead. If you are too young (or too old) to remember the late ‘60’s, this is the way it was. One of my best of the year. 10/07 Jack Quick
HONEYMOON by James Patterson: Overhyped by Bookspan as the “2005 International Thriller of the Year” Patterson tells the story of FBI agent John O’Hara tracking down a serial killer. While almost all serial killers are male, this one happens to be a female – a black widow. Nora Sinclair is a widow who works as an interior designer for the very rich. She had inherited from her first husband when she killed him, is now married to a best-selling author in Boston, and is having an affair with a hedge-fund manager in upstate New York. She plans to kill both, but O’Hara gets involved after the poisoning of the hedge-fund manager. Instead of solving the case, he falls under her spell. Above average for the recent Patterson, but not up to its hype. 07/09 Jack Quick

THE HONOR OF SPIES by W.E.B. Griffin and William E. Butterworth IV: Like father, like son, and so far the father-son collaboration has worked well in extending Griffin’s long running multiple series about men in uniform. The date is August 6, 1943: and twenty-four-year-old Cletus Frade of the Office of Strategic Services is in a doozy of a situation. A German lieutenant colonel named Wilhelm Frogger is in a Mississippi prisoner-of-war detention facility. Frade’s job? To help Frogger escape. Frogger’s parents are in Frade’s custody in Argentina, because of their involvement in a secret German plan to establish safe havens for senior Nazi officials in South America, and the younger Frogger has agreed to help find out what they know. Even more important, however, is the secret within the secret. Before he was captured in Africa, Frogger was part of a conspiracy – its goal: to assassinate Adolf Hitler. It’s away all hands as the Germans, the Americans and the Argentines all try to get to the Froggers for their own ends. Maybe the best one yet in the Honor Bound series. 01/10 Jack Quick

HOOKED: A Thriller About Love and Other Addictions by Matt Richtel: Journalist Nat Idle is hanging out in an Internet Cafe when a note is dropped into his lap, warning him to get out of there. Intriguing of itself, but even more so when Nat realizes that the handwriting is just like that of Annie – his dead girlfriend. He follows the note dropper out, but she disappears, just in time for a bomb to go off in the cafe. The plot weaves in and out of Silicon Valley conspiracies and Nat’s flashbacks to his relationship with Annie, building suspense and keeping those pages turning. Despite the blinding, horrific – and I do mean horrific – cover, (I quickly turned it inside out, even the edges were annoying and distracting,) it’s a good read with lots of action, suspense, a little romance and the uncomfortable thought that someone is plotting to turn us all into Internet junkies – not that we need the help. 07/07 Stacy Alesi, AKA The BookBitch

HORNS by Joe Hill: When Ig Parrish woke up to discover he had horns, he wasn’t sure what to believe: were they even really there or was it part of his imagination? Did he do something to bring them on? Maybe it was his impromptu trip out to Merrin Williams’s murder site that did it. Then Ig discovers that not only are the horns real, they make people reveal their darkest secrets and desires. In fact, with the horns Ig has the ability to make people act on those desires. But this isn’t Ig’s idea of a great time. He doesn’t want to know people’s darkest thoughts and he certainly doesn’t want to make them act on them. Or does he? Ig’s last year has been a living hell. After Merrin’s murder, Ig became the prime suspect and though there was never enough evidence to convict him – because he’s innocent – he’s suffered plenty in the aftermath. Not to mention the fact that his own grief over losing Merrin has been almost unbearable. And actually, it turns out the horns might be useful after all: Merrin’s murderer is still out there hiding their own dark secret. Joe Hill has most definitely proven he can tell an entertaining story. He’s got all the talent of his father but with his own unique voice. Horns is a strange and twisted tale, one that’s apparently coming to a big screen very soon and rumor has it Daniel Radcliffe has been tapped to play Ig. As an aside, I listed to much of this book on audio and then finished with the physical copy. Narrator Fred Berman does a great job as the tormented Ig. 8/12 Becky Lejeune

HOSTAGE ZERO by John Gilstrap: In this second thriller featuring freelance hostage rescue operative Jonathan “Digger” Grave gets involved in a complex, multilayered plot starting with two teenage boys being kidnapped from the Virginia residential school for children of incarcerated parents, set up by Graves. Grave and his crew set out to locate the victims and apprehend the abductors. One of the boys is drugged and left to die in a field, saved only by the fateful intervention of a passing homeless man, and Grave’s investigation begins to turn up leads that point to government and organized crime connections. If you enjoy pulse pounding thrillers, this one is for you. 11/11 Jack Quick

THE HOST by Stephenie Meyer: They call themselves souls. They can live essentially forever transferring themselves from one host to another, and Earth is just their latest conquest. Wanderer has lived more lives on more planets than most of her kind. It is for this reason that she is chosen to be placed inside one of the remaining resistant humans. The Seekers know that Melanie was with others and they hope that Wanderer will be able to tell them where these people are hiding. From the beginning, this host is different from the others. Melanie’s consciousness seems to have remained, and her memories of loved ones haunt Wanderer day and night. Melanie’s increasingly insistent voice drives Wanderer to the desert where she hopes to finally track down Melanie’s hiding family. Along the way, Wanderer begins to bond with Melanie and the other humans, and as a result, she becomes unsure where her place is in this life. In a utopian society that lives a collective, but perfect existence, there is no room for individuality. Humans embrace this aspect of life and though it is new and foreign to Wanderer, it offers her something that her previous existences never have. This is a more complex story than any synopsis can really express, but it’s essentially a tale of love, friendship, and the need to belong somewhere. Meyer has already conquered the teen scene, and captured the hearts of many adult readers as well, with her Twilight series. The Host is an absolutely amazing book that will give those few remaining holdouts the opportunity to see just what all the fuss is about. I’ll tell you now, it’s all true – I loved The Host and can’t recommend it highly enough. 05/08 Becky Lejeune

THE HOSTAGE by W.E.B. Griffin: Delta Force Major Charley Castillo of the Department of Homeland Security is asked by the president to go to Buenos Aires, where the wife of the deputy chief has been kidnapped and her husband has been murdered. Terrorists threaten to kill her children if she doesn’t tell them how to find her brother, who, it seems, may have knowledge about the UN-Iraqi oil-for-food scandal. The Hostage has a typically Griffin convoluted plot with lots of twists and action that could just as easily be in tomorrow’s headlines. Griffin’s formula approach worked for him in chronicling the exploits of the Army, The Marines, the Navy SEALS, and the Philadelphia Police Department. In his second Homeland Security tome, it continues to work well. 01/06 Jack Quick

HOT BLOODED by Lisa Jackson: Psychologist and radio talk show host Dr. Samantha Leeds returns home from vacation to find a disturbing message on her machine and a mangled photo of herself in the mail. Then someone calling himself John begins harassing her on her show and an upsetting event from Leeds’s past is revealed to her audience. Meanwhile, detectives are investigating a string of murders in the Big Easy that seem to point to a possible serial killer. Detective Rick Bentz suspects the two cases are linked somehow, but is on probation with his new department and needs more evidence before he can speak up. Sam receives some help in the form of new neighbor and beau Ty Wheeler, but Ty’s got his own agenda and is not being completely honest with her. Will Sam survive this and will Bentz be able to unravel the mystery before it’s too late for Sam and for another young victim of this so-called serial killer? Jackson’s novels are always quick paced and full of suspense. Hot Blooded marks to first in her New Orleans “series” and introduces readers to Bentz. 12/08 Becky Lejeune

THE HOT KID by Elmore Leonard: If Elmore Leonard has ever written a bad book, it must have been published under another name. Taking a break from his recent work, Leonard returns to the classic western format in The Hot Kid. Set in the1930s, Carlos (Carl) Webster is a Cuban Indian Oklahoma boy who becomes a United States Marshal, the result of an unfortunate childhood experience. Too bad the Duke has gone, because the part of Webster has John Wayne written all over it, down to the “I only draw my gun to shoot.” dialogue. At 21, Webster has already shot and killed two men while True Detective writer Tony Antonelli, who sees Webster as his own ticket to fame, makes Webster’s exploits even larger than life. Excellent read and hopefully the beginning of a series. Publication date is May 1. 04/05 ~This review contributed by Jack Quick.

HOT MAHOGANY by Stuart Woods: A lightweight but entertaining Stone Barrington outing with all the usual suspects. In this case, Stone is asked by his friend and sometime ally – CIA whiz Lance Cabot, for help. It turns out that Lance has an older brother, Barton, who has suddenly reappeared in Lance’s life as the result of the amnesia Barton has as the result of a mugging. It seems that Barton is a spy and a thief who builds and restores antique furniture, as well as minting counterfeit coins. Dino and Holly are enlisted in Stone’s efforts to recover a stolen antique secretary valued in the millions of dollars. Amusing diversion. 10/08 Jack Quick

HOT ROCKS by Lev Raphael: College teacher and amateur sleuth Nick Hoffman is facing that challenge we all hope for one day – middle age. Its putting extra strain on his life and the discovery of the body of the head trainer and all-around stud Vlado Zamario in the health club steam room brings further complications. Because of his history in previous outings, Nick is tabbed as a suspect and realizes the only way to permanently clear his name is to solve the crime (sound familiar?). Soon Vlado’s extreme and varied exploits with women in and out of the health club lead to the discovery of compromising photographs guaranteed to promote marital discord and provide motivation for a number of suspects. Hoffman is openly gay but, honestly, if his partner had been named Stephanie instead of Stefan Borowski, and a few pronouns were changed, I think the story would be otherwise unchanged. I think that reflects the strength of Raphael’s talent. This is a mystery first and foremost. 08/07 Jack Quick

HOTEL ON THE CORNER OF BITTER AND SWEET by Jamie Ford: Henry Lee lost his wife to cancer in 1986. The novel jumps back and forth from that time to when he was twelve years old during World War II and living in Chinatown in Seattle. His father forces Henry to only speak English at home, and since he doesn’t understand it, they cannot communicate very well. Henry is a scholarship student at an all white prep school where he is taunted and very lonely, until he meets the new scholarship student, Keiko, a Japanese American. Henry’s father hates the Japanese since they have been at war with China. Nevertheless, Henry and Keiko form a strong bond until her family is sent away to an internment camp. In 1986 Seattle, the hotel where Keiko’s family’s belongings were stored is under renovation, and a virtual museum is found in the basement. This historical novel tugs at the heartstrings as it goes back and forth in time, and while the history is interesting, the story just seems rather cliché. David Guterson’s Snow Falling on Cedars had similar themes, but is a much better novel. 12/09 Stacy Alesi, AKA The BookBitch

HOTHOUSE ORCHID by Stuart Woods: It’s old home week when CIA agent Holly Barker returns to Orchid Beach, FL where she was once chief of police. Renegade ex-CIA agent Teddy Fay, has chosen to settle in nearby Vero Beach. Lauren Cade, a former military comrade, is now a sergeant with the Florida State Patrol, until Holly makes it possible for her to transfer to a new state investigative unit headed by Hurd Wallce, Barker’s successor as Orchid Beach police chief. Then she learns that James Bruno, her former commanding officer who was tried and acquitted of raping Lauren and who once tried to rape Holly herself, is Orchid Beach’s new police chief. When Barker almost becomes a victim of a serial rapist and killer, she gets drawn into the manhunt. Not heavyweight, but a good read. 10/09 Jack Quick

HOUR GAME by David Baldacci: Two disgraced former Secret Service officers, Sean King and Michelle Maxwell, first introduced in Split Second, are now partners in a private investigation firm in a small Virginia town that King had fled to after a presidential candidate he’d been guarding was assassinated a few feet from where he stood. Maxwell’s career ended under a similar cloud when she lost a “protectee” to an ingenious kidnapping scheme. The partners are hired to investigate a burglary at the home of a wealthy local family. This leads them to a string of murders, each of which copies the techniques of another madman, from San Francisco’s Zodiac Killer to Chicago’s infamous John Wayne Gacy. Leave the lights on for this one. Nicely done. 01/09 Jack Quick

THE HOUSE AT RIVERTON by Kate Morton: It’s 1999 and ninety-eight year old Grace Bradley has lived an amazing life. An archaeologist with a grown daughter and a famous grandson who writes mysteries, Grace has not given much thought lately to her early career as a maid at Riverton House. That is until a film director announces that they are making a movie about the tragic event that occurred at the estate in 1924. Memories of her years at Riverton quickly resurface and Grace decides that it is time to tell all. She begins to record her memories on tapes that she sends to her grandson. It is in these tapes that she will finally reveal long hidden secrets about her time working for the Hartford family and the events that led to that tragic evening so long ago, when a famous British poet killed himself in the midst of a grand party. Unbeknownst to everyone but the two Hartford daughters, Grace was witness to the act and she’s never told anyone the truth about that evening. A lovely and haunting tale about family, loyalty, and the pain of keeping secrets. This is Morton’s U.S. debut. It has also been published as The Shifting Fog. 09/08 Becky Lejeune

A HOUSE DIVIDED by Deborah Leblanc: Sometimes a terrible event can leave a stain on a place, the evil soaking into every nook and cranny just waiting to be awakened. Laura Toups and Matt Daigle are about to learn this the hard way. Both Laura and Matt have just moved their respective businesses into two halves of the same house. Keith Lafleur, a building contractor in the area, bought the house at a steal but could only move it in pieces. Lafleur made each half into a building on its own with business space on the bottom floor and apartment space upstairs. What no one realizes is that the house has a dark and sinister past. Neighbors say that Morgan Devilier was already a sick woman but the death of her fifth child pushed her over the edge. She killed her own family in that house years ago. Now, Lafleur’s decision to split the house has unleashed something terrible in their small Louisiana town and no one will be safe until the house and it’s spirits are once again reunited. Deborah Leblanc is no longer a rookie in the horror business. With three titles under her belt and another three set to come, she is a force to be reckoned with! Her macabre creations are sure to keep you up all night. This is a must read for fans of the horror genre. 05/07 Becky Lejeune

THE HOUSE AT MIDNIGHT by Lucie Whitehouse: When Joanna’s longtime friend, Lucas, inherits his uncle’s home, he offers to make it a sort-of party-pad for all of his old friends. It’s an attempt to move on with his life and get past the all too recent death of his mother and his uncle’s unexpected suicide. The friends meet each weekend, eating and drinking, enjoying time away from their hectic everyday lives. Soon, Joanna and Lucas are an item, something she has longed for almost the entire time they’ve known each other. The more time everyone spends at the country home, however, the more they begin to change. Lucas and another of the friends, Danny, decide to say goodbye to city life altogether and make the home their full-time residence – abandoning full-time careers as well. Then, Lucas’s increased drinking and mood swings cause a rift between the newfound couple that is finally blown apart when Joanna is caught cheating. Over the course of a year, the friends find that everything they have known has irreversibly changed, but whether their growing up and growing apart will be of benefit to them is yet to be seen. I didn’t find that this was the gothic piece many said it was. Instead, it was a rather tragic look at the changes young adults (post-college and pre-career) go through, how people grow apart and begin to become the adults that they will be. A fine literary debut even if it is a bit gloomy. 06/08 Becky Lejeune

HOUSE DICK by E. Howard Hunt: Hardcase Crime #54 is a reprint of a novel originally published in 1961 under the name of Gordon Davis, one of Hunt’s many alter egos. It is ironic that the action is set in a Washington hotel, although not the one for which Hunt became infamous in the mid 1970’s. In this well-written tale, Pete Novak, the house detective and assistant personnel manager for the Hotel Tilden in Washington DC compares his job to garbage collecting but at least, as he mutters to himself, “You promised your Mom you would get a white-collar job.” Novak has 340 rooms to deal with but it seems the fifth floor is the scene of all the action. In room 515, Mrs. Boyd, reports that $90,000 of jewelry has been stolen from her room. Meanwhile Mr. Boyd seems to have a relationship with Paula Norton, the blonde dish in room 516, and the neglected Mrs. Boyd is playing footsies with a slimy “herb doctor” in room 522. It all leads to blackmail and murder. It is what you would expect from a former CIA agent. 04/09 Jack Quick

THE HOUSE NEXT DOOR by Anne Rivers Siddons: Colquitt and Walter Kennedy have a blessed life. Or, they did have a blessed life. When they first hear that the lot next door is under development, Colquitt is disappointed, to say the least. Their new young neighbors build a gem of a home, though, and everyone is in awe. But when the new neighbors’ lives are shattered in a truly scandalous way, Colquitt begins to suspect that there is something strange about the house next door. More accidents and dark events follow and Colquitt and Walter can no longer hide what they know. Now, as the house sits empty, waiting for its next victims, the Kennedys have decided that they must tell their tale. Originally published in 1978, Anne Rivers Siddons’s only “horror” story has pretty much stood the test of time and is still in print today. I’d recommend a quiet evening at home (with all of the lights on) for this atmospheric ghost story rather than a busy airport, though: I found myself easily distracted where I normally really enjoy the slow and deliberate pacing of this kind of story. 07/10 Becky Lejeune

THE HOUSE OF LOST SOULS by F.G. Cottam: Paul Seaton stumbled upon the story of Fischer House and Pandora Gibson-Hoare quite by accident, but it was a story that would change his life forever. Paul had been planning on helping his overwhelmed girlfriend with her thesis when he first heard of the photographer and her sad demise. Gibson-Hoare was by no means famous, but she was well known for her work in the 20s. Quite suddenly, though, she left the scene. She surfaced, literally, floating in the river after an apparent suicide. But Paul found out all about Pandora’s secret fascination with the occult world. As he delves deeper into this decades-old mystery, Paul becomes more certain that there is something sinister waiting for him in Fischer House, the home where Pandora and her friends experimented with the dark side. Ten years later, four students entered the house. Now three students remain and Paul is the only one who may be able to help. The House of Lost Souls is a chilling ghost story penned in the classic gothic style. It’s rich in atmosphere, has an excellent pacing, and is filled with hair-raising creepy undertones. Though this is not Cottam’s debut, it is the first of his works to be released here in the States (other titles released overseas under the name Francis Cottam). Highly recommended. 07/09 Becky Lejeune

House of Sand and Fog by Andre Dubus III: This is a beautifully written tragedy of Shakespearian dimensions. We watch the story unfold, the clash of the Iranian and American cultures. The characters spiraling out of control, knowing there is nowhere for them to go but further and further into the abyss. A most compelling read.

HOUSE OF THE RISING SUN by Chuck Hustmyre: I bought this to tide me over until the next James Lee Burke. Turned out to be pretty good. Ex-New Orleans vice cop Ray Shane has served almost five years in federal prison and is now working as security for the mob owned casino/brothel known as The House of the Rising Sun. Four masked gunmen rob the place and kill the mentally handicapped adult nephew of the New Orleans mafia boss. Now its up to Ray to solve the crime, because there are some in the mob who think he was the one responsible. Fast read, fairly predictable, but well written. 07/07 Jack Quick

Househusband by Ad Hudler: First novel about a California “landscape architect to the stars” becoming a “househusband.” Lincoln gives it all up so his wife, Jo, can accept a promotion to COO of a hospital that moves them to New York. He is looking for a job, but meanwhile he cleans, even under the cushions on the couch; cooks California gourmet at every meal; supervises all the kids on the playground; and is raising his precocious three-year-old daughter with impeccable manners. He’s also dealing with the psychopathic part-time nanny, pretending not to notice gal-pal Marilyn’s groping and lascivious looks, and trying to keep his sanity while making the Stepford wives look like slackers. Lots of laughs in this feel good, light and entertaining treatise on men & women and their roles, but after a while the sheer perfection of man-as-mom was making me yawn. Also included are recipes for things like “Mexican Curry Sauce over Grilled Vegetables” and “Salad with Roasted Poblanos, Stilton Cheese and Pomegranate Seeds.” And the above mentioned prodigy eats this stuff. Hudler was a journalist who gave it all up to stay home.

HOW HIGH THE MOON by Sandra Kring: If you’re in the mood for a charming and quirky read, How High the Moon is going to hit the spot. It’s 1955 and Isabella “Teaspoon” Marlene has spent the past five years being raised by Teddy, her mother’s ex. Catty Marlene, the missing mom, is chasing down her dream of stardom in Hollywood. Everyone agrees that Teaspoon could use a strong female influence in her life and so she is signed up for the Sunshine Sisters program, a big sister program that teams young girls with teenagers who can teach them manners and grace. Brenda Bloom has everything: money, class, looks, and brains. But Brenda will find that Teaspoon has just as much to teach her as she has to teach Teaspoon. I was swept up in this story, completely and utterly enamored with Kring’s cast of characters. 04/10 Becky Lejeune

HOW THE LIGHT GETS IN by Louise Penny: I have been a huge fan of Penny’s since I first started reading her work. I have come to love her protagonist, Inspector Gamache and the people he surrounds himself with. He is the man I would like to be – wise, tolerant and yet, extremely effective. I love the small village setting in Quebec and the inhabitants of that village, Three Pines. It is clear from the start of her new book, How the Light Gets In, that there is the potential for bad things to happen to all of them and I read it almost with more trepidation than pleasure. Nonetheless, as this is the culmination of several long-running plot lines, it is a must read for the followers of her almost saintly Inspector Gamache. At the outset of the story, we find that Inspector Gamache has been increasingly out-Flanked by his archrival, Franceour, who is the head of the Quebec Surete. His loyalists have been taken from his homicide squad, scattered throughout the department and replaced by scoffers and do-nothings. His long-time sidekick, Jean Guy Beauvior, is completely in the grips of Oxycontin addiction and has left for another section, where he is increasingly unable to deal with the pressures racheted up against him. But the small crime at the heart of the story is the death of the last of a pair of famous quintuplets. (Penny is careful to pay homage to the Dionnes). This last quintuplet is murdered after visiting Myrna in Three Pines and so the Montreal police turn the case over to Gamache. Franceour is pleased as he hopes that this will distract Gamache from the larger crime about to take place in Montreal. As the story goes on, things just seem to get darker and darker for Gamache. Perhaps he has gotten too old and is too alone to get to the bottom of any of this. This would not be a Louise Penny novel if there wasn’t also sparkling banter among the inhabitants of Three Pines, a review of historical and present social issues and deep insight into human relationships and the wonder of the human heart. The use of the Leonard Cohen lyric in the title fits perfectly. This will easily be one of my top ten choices for the year. 9/13 Geoffrey R. Hamlin
HOW TO BE BAD by David Bowker: This satiric crime novel has as many laughs as dead bodies. Mark Madden, a twenty-three year old shy book collector still carries a torch for his high school sweetheart, Caro. When they hook up again he gets in way over his head as she asks him to kill her father, another old boyfriend and a loan shark named Bad Jesus. Psychotic though she is, he’s mad for her and somehow accidentally ends up with the requested dead bodies. She inherits a fortune, they marry and still the bodies continue to pile up. A fast, fun read. 09/05

HOW TO EAT A CUPCAKE by Meg Donohue: Once upon a time, Anna Quintana and Julia St. Clair were friends. All that changed with a terrible rumor in high school and the two haven’t been on speaking terms since. It would seem odd for Annie and Julia to go into business together, but that’s exactly what they plan to do. Annie is a talented baker with dreams of owning her own shop and Julia has the funds and business know how to get it up and running. Plus, Julia is getting married soon and promises to be out of Annie’s hair by the time the ceremony takes place. Can the two of them get past their differences long enough for the business to succeed? How to Eat a Cupcake is a sweet debut with truly likeable characters. Warning: cupcakes not included. 3/12 Becky Lejeune

HOW TO KNIT A WILD BIKINI by Christie Ridgway: This romance was so bad I only finished it because it was short, and I was sick and on drugs. Nikki Carmichael is a chef with a knee injury that resigns from her job in a restaurant because she can’t stand anymore. She wrangles a job as a personal chef for Jay Buchanan, AKA “Hef Jr.,” editor of a men’s magazine that sounds suspiciously like Maxim. His condition for her employment is that she also pretend to be his girlfriend, which in the confusion of this pathetic plot device, he decides she’s a lesbian. Lots of erotic foreplay later, he learns she is not a lesbian, they consummate the relationship and everyone lives happily ever after. There are also some very thin subplots about sperm donor siblings, teenage sexual abuse, knitting, and how Malibu has gone from great family playground to playground of the rich and obnoxious. Yawn. 09/10 Stacy Alesi, AKA The BookBitch

THE HOWARD HUGHES AFFAIR by Stuart Kaminsky: Having survived Chicago in YOU BET YOUR LIFE, thanks to a cold cure that makes you almost want to keep the cold, Private Eye to the Stars Toby Peters is back in his native Hollywood, with sore feet, a bad back, and assorted bruises, scrapes, and a healing gunshot wound all because his ex-wife wants him to help a young but nervous billionaire who is convinced he has discovered a nest of spies. It is 1941 and the United States is on the verge of war. Since neither the LA police nor the FBI will look into the matter, it’s up to Toby to help out Mr. Hughes, Mr. Howard Hughes, that is, and with the help of Basil Rathbone, Toby, saves the day. A side note. The copy I read was originally published in 1979, and had the original “check out” card intact with the title and author typed in with a manual typewriter. That’s authenticity. 04/09 Jack Quick

HUMAN REMAINS by Elizabeth Haynes: Something strange is happening in Briarstone: there’s an increase in the number of bodies being found. Most of the deaths are deemed natural causes and all of them are people who sadly weren’t noticed missing. An analyst with the local police, Annabel first becomes curious about the trend after discovering her own neighbor’s decomposing body. The neighbor in question was there one day and gone the next and Annabel always assumed she’d simply moved away. The guilt and trauma over the discovery drives her to look into similar cases and statistics and she soon discovers that while such a thing has always happened, Briarstone has seen a strange and dramatic increase in such cases. With nothing suspicious surrounding the deaths, however, no one had ever looked into them until now. In this latest, Haynes has created a villain of the most disturbing and insidious kind: someone who manages to slide under the radar, manipulating people in their most vulnerable times. Human Remains is chilling and disturbing. 9/13 Becky Lejeune
HUNDRED-DOLLAR BABY by Robert B. Parker: The 34th entry in the Spenser series features April Kyle, the damsel in distress that Spenser rescued in two earlier books, Ceremony (1982) and Taming a Sea Horse (1986). April is now running a high-class Boston whorehouse, and seeks Spenser’s help in persuading some local mutts that she doesn’t need their help. But that’s just the tip of the iceberg. This is vintage Parker, with Spenser exchanging witty dialogue with the faithful Hawk, sexy dialogue with his beloved Susan and smart-alecky dialogue with cops and villains as he follows trails to New York City that involve the mob, a con artist and various other complications. Which is Parker’s best – Spenser? Sunny Randall? Jesse Stone? Does it really matter? 11/06 Jack Quick

THE HUNGER GAMES by Suzanne Collins: I may be late to the party (this book published in 2008) but glad I finally made it. This is a fun read and I can see why people are obsessed with this series, although I won’t be reading the rest of the trilogy. I listened to the audiobook, and the reader, Carolyn McCormick, did a great job and kept my attention throughout. This is a terrific story set sometime in the future. The United States is no longer, and what’s left of it is now called Panem and is ruled by the Capitol. Panem is divided into 12 districts, and Katniss Everdeen is from one of the poorest, District 12. The Capitol has degreed that every year they will hold the Hunger Games. Each district must send one boy and one girl to compete in these televised games of kill or be killed. The last person left alive is the winner. When Katniss’s younger sister’s name is drawn to go, Katniss steps up and offers herself instead. These games are a sort of cross between the Miss America pageant, the Roman Coliseum & “Survivor.” It’s fast, it’s fun, it’s a bit bloody and a bit simplistic, but good, well written escapist fiction for sure. 3/12 Stacy Alesi, AKA The BookBitch

THE HUNGER GAMES by Suzanne Collins: It’s been over seventy years since the districts last attempted a rebellion against the Capitol. District thirteen was decimated and the Hunger Games began as an annual reminder to keep the remaining districts under control. Each year, children ages twelve to eighteen have their names entered for the Games. Each year, one girl and one boy are chosen from each district. They fight for survival against the elements, both natural and manipulated, and against one another. Only one can survive. Suzanne Collins’s massively popular YA series is a captivating and somewhat disturbing blend of Running Man, Survivor, and Shirley Jackson’s “The Lottery.” A truly fantastic and addicting read for both kids and adults. 12/10 Becky Lejeune

THE HUNT by Allison Brennan: Seven known victims and nine more women missing. One survivor who escaped “The Butcher” twelve years ago. A threesome determined to catch the killer. Miranda Moore, a former FBI trainee, who is the only known survivor of The Butcher, is now a member of the local search and rescue squad in Montana. Nick Thomas, Miranda’s former boyfriend, who is still in love with her, is now the Sheriff. Quincy Patterson, the FBI agent who investigated Miranda’s abduction, is back to help Nick and Miranda catch the killer. Miranda’s feelings about Quincy are unresolved as are hers about him. The tension among these three only adds to the mix, as they try to prevent the Butcher from kidnapping, torturing and then executing his next victim – by turning them loose in the woods and hunting them down like animals. Another good one. 04/08 Jack Quick

THE HUNT by Andrew Fukuda: In Gene’s world, vampires rule. Humans, or hepers, are all but extinct. The few that remain are farmed and studied at the Heper Institute or, like Gene, are living amongst the vampires, camouflaged as one of them. With morale low, the Ruler has decided that it’s time for a hunt—probably the last hunt ever. Folks are desperate to participate and will talk of the event for generations after. The hunters will be chosen by national lottery and sent to the Institute to train and learn about the humans before being set loose to hunt them down. It won’t last long, the hepers will be overcome by the more powerful and athletic vamps and torn to shreds. And this is exactly what would happen to Gene if he were ever discovered to be human. He’s lived by rules all his life, never attracting attention or doing anything to stand out. He must be diligent in keeping himself clean and shaved. He has to adopt all of the characteristics of the vampires around him. He can’t ever be noticed or found out. But when Gene’s number is chosen in the lottery, following the rules will no longer be enough. Gene is going to be at center spotlight, training and living with a voracious group of eager hunters. Fukuda’s latest is first in an exciting and unique series that will appeal to both teens and adults. There are no sparkly sympathetic vampires here, only vicious monsters and the end of humanity as we know it. And in the middle of it all, one teen all on his own and struggling to survive. 6/12 Becky Lejeune

HUNT AT THE WELL OF ETERNITY by Gabriel Hunt and James Reasoner: Unbuckle your swashes and lay in extra ammunition. Adventurer extraordinaire Gabriel Hunt is off on a swash buckling mission with plenty of fireworks. It starts with gunfire and the kidnapping of an Hispanic woman at a museum fund raiser. She leaves behind a bloodstained Confederate flag and a whiskey bottle full of water. From Manhattan, Hunt heads to St. Augustine, FL, dodging another attempted assassination enroute to the airport. The shooting resumes in Florida and follows Hunt to Mexico where he hooks up with the beautiful, gun-toting museum director Dr. Cierra Almanzar. Together they follow a path marked by fist fights, bullwhips and more gunfire. Often outnumbered but never outwitted, pulp adventure fans will be thrilled to see the genre revived in this series from Hard Case Crime. 07/10 Jack Quick

THE HUNTED by Wayne Barcomb: Twenty-one years ago, a little girl witnessed her father killing her mother. She was told to lie when the police came, but she told the truth about what she saw instead. Now her father has served his time and is ready for his revenge. The girl herself, nicknamed Lucky, was not left without damage, and she’s begun her own murder spree, seeking out a certain types of men and killing them in order to quiet her demons. Detective Frank Russo is on the case, but with little evidence and no leads, he’s not even sure where to begin looking. Barcomb’s latest is a bit disappointing. According to his bio, this is his third mystery, but The Hunted reads a bit like a first effort. There are so many characters introduced in the beginning of the book, an attempt to keep the true killer’s identity a surprise until the very end, but it ends up muddling up the story itself. Overall, I thought the book needed more development to reach its true potential. 04/09 Becky Lejeune

THE HUNTER by Asa Nonami: Officer Takako Otomichi is unfortunate in that she is one of few female officers in the Tachikawa Central Station Criminal Affairs Division of the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department. As a member of the task force set to investigate a fire that erupted in an all-night family restaurant, she is paired up with fellow officer Tumotsu Takizawa, an older gentleman of the belief that women should not be police officers. The investigation soon becomes one of homicide rather than arson when it is discovered that the one casualty in the fire was a targeted victim. This victim is soon linked to two more murders, the victims of which appear to have been mauled by a large dog. Although this mystery starts off quite promisingly, it soon degenerates into an unfortunately disappointing read. The characters’ inner dialogues, which are nothing more than arguments with each other, are more distracting than informative and Otomichi’s “bonding” with the killer wolf-dog was more than a bit over the top for my taste. 04/07 Becky Lejeune

HUNTER KILLER by Patrick Robinson: Moderation is not an issue here as Robinson crafts a takeover in Saudi Arabia mounted by a Saudi Arabian prince with French backing. Since the collapse of the Saudi Arabian oil industry and indeed the world economy is highly likely, the United States must jump in to prevent the coup. The showdown pits US Admiral Arnold Morgan against his arch rival, Ravi Rashood. Its big time global action with the future of the free world hanging in the balance. Yes, it’s been done before, even by Robinson, but you have to give him credit – he does it so well. 11/05 ~This review contributed by Jack Quick.

HUNTER’S MOON by Randy Wayne White: If the typical Randy Wayne White is a WOW, then this one is a WOW WOW. Kal Wilson, the Clinton-esque former President of the United States is dying from cancer. In his last month of life, he wants to avenge the death of his wife who was killed in a plane crash, while on a charitable mission in Central America. He enlist Doc Ford and Tomlinson as helpers promising them he can effect a full pardon for Tomlinson and make certain aspects of Ford’s previous government service “disappear.” It turns out Ford is actually battling his nemesis from 2004”s Tampa Burn (2004), the psychotic pyromaniac Lourdes, who had kidnapped Ford’s son. There is some philosophizing and appropriate concern for the environment, but mostly its kick-ass action as only White can write it. May be his best ever. 04/07 Jack Quick

THE HUNTERS by W.E.B. Griffin: Griffin has written the Brotherhood of War Series, The Corps Series, the Men At War Series, the Badge of Honor Series, the Honor Bound Series, and now the Presidential Agent Series. Together there are a total of thirty-five novels, with more than forty million copies in print in more than ten languages. Yet you can make the case that Griffin has written one very successful novel, which he keeps repeating. It’s true that the current series ranges more widely afield than the previous military thrillers, but its still the same basic plot. An independently wealthy individual surrounds himself with a band of co-conspirators who then use their skills and his wealth to further our country’s interests. Along the way, he risks his life, usually in exotic locales, meets and loves beautiful women, and somehow, ends up healthy, with the respect of his commanders and prepared to set forth on the next adventure. In this particular version, Presidential agent Charley Castillo continues his adventure previously begun in The Hostages following the malfeasance associated with the Iraq oil for food program. In Uruguay, a man is murdered before he can spill the secrets of an elaborate scam aimed at destroying the international reputation of the U.S. So it’s up to Castillo to follow up and solve the plot. Repeat or not, I enjoyed this Griffin just as I enjoyed the previous 34 and will probably enjoy the next one as well. He is just a darned good writer, even if you have the plot memorized, as I think I do. 03/07 Jack Quick

THE HUSBAND LIST by Janet Evanovich & Dorien Kelly: I suspected Evanovich had taken a page from James Patterson’s books and launched a new series with Dorien Kelly undoubtedly doing much of the work; it’s a win-win for both of them and this is the second book from the Kelly-Evanovich team. The first book, Love In A Nutshell, was contemporary romantic suspense and I found it very light on the romance and the suspense. This book takes the family name of one of the characters from Nutshell and moves back in time to just before the turn of the 19th century, to New York City and London during the gilded age in 1897. Caroline Maxwell is an heiress who has been groomed for most of her life to marry royalty. Her mother has her sights set on a Duke but Caroline has fallen in love with her brother’s best friend Jack. Jack’s only a second generation American, his father is Irish and self made, and totally unsuitable by Caroline’s mother’s standards. Will Caroline be forced into a loveless marriage? This is a romance; what do you think? This was a fast paced story and I found the time period very interesting; I found this a much better read than Nutshell. 1/13 Stacy Alesi, AKA The BookBitch

THE HUSBAND’S SECRET by Liane Moriarity: Three women are the focus of this tale, and how their stories are woven together is at the crux of things. Cecilia Fitzpatrick is the perfect wife and mother, super organized, chairs committees, is involved with her children and her neighbors and genuinely likes doing the right thing. She’s also one of the top Tupperware sales people in Australia, but even her husband doesn’t realize her little job is bringing home some serious bacon. While he’s out of town on business, Cecelia stumbles upon a letter hand addressed to her by her husband, to be opened in the event of his death. His strange reaction to her finding it prompts her to read it, and all their lives are turned upside down. Rachel Crowley is an older woman whose daughter had been murdered while in high school. She’s never really recovered, and has lost her husband as well and tends to ignore her son, although her grandson is her reason for living. She finds something that convinces her that the P.E. teacher at the school is the one who murdered her daughter, but the police are hesitant to pursue him. Tess O’Leary lives across the continent where she is in business with her husband and her cousin, who also happens to be her best friend. When they confess to falling in love, Tess takes her son and moves in with her mother back home, where she has a fling with her old boyfriend, that P.E. teacher. This murder mystery has a lot of depth and character development as Moriarity shines her light on the lives of middle class women. Morality is not neatly defined here, and this novel is quite thought provoking while still being completely unputdownable. Another hit from the author of the terrific What Alice Forgot. 9/13 Stacy Alesi, AKA The BookBitch
HUSH, HUSH by Becca Fitzpatrick: Nora Grey is not happy when she’s teamed up with the new guy in her Bio class. Patch is creepy and mysterious, in spite of being good looking, and he pushes all of Nora’s buttons. Then when she begins running into him outside of school, she has to wonder if he might be following her. But why would he bother? When Nora’s best friend is attacked, she’s forced to admit that something strange is going on around her, but is Patch behind it all or is it just a coincidence? Unfortunately for Nora, it seems that someone may have it in for her and whether it’s Patch or not, it’s clear that he’s hiding something. Hush, Hush is the first in an upcoming string of fallen angel fiction. Fitzpatrick’s story is original and engaging; definitely one that’s going to appeal to the thirsty horde of teen readers looking for something new to sink their teeth into. 10/09 Becky Lejeune

HYBRID by Brian O’Grady: Colorado Springs is experiencing a record number of violent deaths. Along with an outbreak of a strange flu, it’s inevitable that someone will connect the two. But the CDC has already examined the case and determined nothing more than an encephalitis outbreak. Amanda Flynn knows it’s not that simple. The only survivor of a strange virus called EDH1, or Hybrid, Amanda suspects that what’s happening in Colorado Springs is the same thing she saw in Honduras. Strangely, Amanda left Honduras with more than just an immunity to one of the most deadly viruses ever seen: the ability to use her mind for great violence. She can see other people’s thoughts and read their emotions. And if she were so inclined, Amanda could be a nightmarish weapon. When she senses another like herself amongst the new outbreak, she knows that she must come out of hiding and try to do something. But this new outbreak is just part of a horrible plan hatched by some of the world’s most twisted minds. O’Grady, a neurosurgeon by trade, makes his debut with this gripping medical thriller. 05/11 Becky Lejeune

THE HYPNOTIST by M. J. Rose: “The Hypnotist” is a centuries old statue currently at the New York Metropolitan Museum of Art which has just been re-discovered after languishing for almost a century in a mislabeled carton in the Museum’s vast underground storage area. Iran has claimed the work was stolen from their country and wants it returned. Greece has filed a counter-claim that the work was created in Greece, but the Met is not going to give the piece away without a fight. The Iranians are not content to allow the matter to slowly proceed through the layers of bureaucracy that comprise the legal process. They think the statue is more than an art work, and indeed may hold the secrets of how man can tap the unused power of his imagination. Everything rests on the shoulders of Lucian Glass, special agent with the FBI’s Art Crime Team, who himself is suffering from a brutal attack, impossible nightmares and his own crisis of faith. Can he sort out fact from fiction before the mystery takes him as well? 05/10 Jack Quick

I AM HALF-SICK OF SHADOWS by Alan Bradley: Flavia de Luce returns in this fourth of the series. This time, she’s out to catch Santa in the act. With a booby-trapped roof and a fireworks display in the makings, the eleven year old is sure that her plan is foolproof. But Flavia’s scheme is complicated when the family estate is rented out to a film crew. With Christmas just days away, a charity event is announced on site as well, leaving much of the population of Bishop’s Lacey snowed in and camping out in Flavia’s house. When the star of the show is discovered dead, Flavia can’t help but become involved in the investigation. Can she solve the murder before Saint Nick’s arrival? Newcomers to the series can safely jump in with this holiday installment. Bradley’s heroine is delightfully fun and the mystery will keep you guessing until the very end. 12/11 Becky Lejeune

I AM LEGEND by Richard Matheson: In I am Legend, thirty-five year old Robert Neville is the sole survivor of a strange plague of vampirism that has struck the United States following a catastrophic war. It seems to have begun with raging dust storms and swarms of mosquitoes. Then Robert’s own family succumbs to this mysterious ailment. Robert spends his evenings barricaded in his home, trying to drown out the sounds of the vampires outside. His days are spent searching out and killing as many of these bloodthirsty souls as possible. At first, survival is all Robert is concerned with. Then, he begins to focus his energy on research. What caused the virus? Why is garlic effective while bullets are not? The discovery of a living dog sends Robert on a desperate search for a cure. Surely, if he and the dog have both survived, other people must have as well.
Some readers may recognize this particular story and well you should. The 1964 film Last Man on Earth, starring Vincent Price, and the 1971 film The Omega Man, starring Charleton Heston, are both adaptations of this particular tale. And yes, this fall another version will hit the big screen. Matheson is one of the most well-known horror writers of all time. Many of his stories have been adapted for the big screen, including What Dreams May Come and Stir of Echoes.
Of course, I am Legend is just one of many stories in this collection. Others feature dancing zombies, a particularly angry house, voodoo death curses, and angry Zuni spirits – just to name a few topics. Matheson is an amazing talent who has inspired many of today’s horror authors. Read the story, then see the movies. 07/07 Becky Lejeune

I AM PILGRIM by Terry Hayes: An extremely literate story about a battle between two titans of their respective sides. One is an American, adopted son of a family with a great deal of privilege, currently an agent for a U.S. government agency only depicted as higher than the CIA. The other is a poor Arab boy born in Saudi Arabia but turned into a terrorist by the Saudi’s execution of his father for no apparent reason. The American uses the name of Pilgrim in order to hide his real identity and has become one of the most effective agents his agency has. The Arab is turned onto terrorism by the Saudi’s execution of his father just because the man spoke badly of the king. He decides that revenge against Saudi Arabia would be best served by a massive terrorist attack on the United States, which he deems the Saudi’s ally. He proceeds to buildup a well prepared background becoming known as the Saracen in order to effect this attack. Hayes is brilliant in developing the two characters, their motivations, their reactions to each other as mortal enemies. The reader knows each one intimately through the author’s descriptions and can relate to their actions on an ongoing basis. What the Saracen decides to use to attack the United States demands a preparation that only a very bright mind could conceive of and work towards. It is a credible threat that the reader will be able to identify as possible. Pilgrim’s planning and actions against this enemy must be even more clever in order to win the mental battle between them. The action moves back and forth starting with a murder investigation in New York and ending in Turkey. Hayes, in an afterward, indicates that film rights are in process and I would certainly be a fan of that if it comes out. In the meanwhile I do trust that the author is planning more books for the near future, and those I will grab as soon as available. Available on only, to be published traditionally on May 27, 2014. 10/13 Paul Lane

I, IAGO by Nicole Galland: As Shakespeare’s Othello opens, Othello and Desdemona have eloped and Iago, Othello’s friend and ensign, has been passed over for promotion in lieu of Cassio. Iago plots an intricate revenge that ends in the death of his wife, his friend Roderigo, Othello’s wife, and Othello himself. Galland’s I, Iago is a look at Iago from childhood through the events that lead to his undoing. From the beginning, Iago believes that merit will get him to the top. He is known as being honest, though he is somewhat manipulative in his honesty. His friendship with Othello, his pain at being slighted, and other imagined insults all become fuel for the fire of his jealousy and anger. Galland is a clever writer and worthy of the challenge of taking on Shakespeare. Her Othello is a complex character and his story is one that readers unfamiliar with Othello can appreciate as well as the greatest of Shakespearean scholars. 5/12 Becky Lejeune

I DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR by D. M. Annechino: Feminists rejoice; Kansas farm girl turned Governor Kate Miles takes office as the first female president when the president dies of a coronary less than a year into their administration. However, the first lady warns the new president that something is amiss about her husband’s death, and away we go into conspiracy land. The new President has her hands full with her selection of a new vice president, a crumbling marriage, a Middle East crisis, the investigation into the apparent assassination, and a staff with varying allegiances. Unfortunately, the only characters that are fully fleshed out are President Miles and the bad guy with the requisite abusive childhood. The rest of the characters dance across the pages with no motivation, no background and occasionally no purpose. If all this sounds a bit cliché, it is; nonetheless the pages fly by despite the occasional jolting transitions in storyline and the trite ending that leaves the door wide open for a sequel. While not in the same class as Brad Meltzer, Vince Flynn or David Baldacci, political thriller junkies may still enjoy Annechino. 10/12 Stacy Alesi, AKA The BookBitch Copyright © 2012 Booklist, a division of the American Library Association. Reprinted with permission.

I LOVE THIS BAR by Carolyn Brown: My delve into the romance genre continues with this contemporary Texas love story between a rich rancher and a lonely barmaid. Daisy O’Dell rides into town and stays when her car dies, eventually inheriting the Honky Tonk when the owner, Ruby, who took her in, gave her a job and a home and a friend, dies. A few years later one of the ranchers in town loses his wife and his mind, he’s diagnosed with Alzheimer’s and his favorite nephew comes to the ranch to help him out. Escaping from his cantankerous uncle one night, he literally runs into Daisy and it’s lust at first sight for the both of them. He’s convinced it can never be more because his aunt and his mother have pounded it into his head that he deserves more than just a barmaid. She’s convinced of the same, so of course it’s inevitable that the two of them a butt heads before they finally get together. It’s a fast, fun read, but a little too simpleminded and repetitive for my taste. Are there any intelligent romances out there? Romances that don’t assume the reader has an IQ no higher than the double digits, or am I missing the point? I don’t mean to sound like a snob, but there has to be more to this genre than this complete fluff. I’m going to keep looking. 9/10 Stacy Alesi, AKA The BookBitch

I LOVE YOU, BETH COOPER by Larry Doyle: Since June is high school graduation month, it’s no coincidence Harper Collins just released I Love You, Beth Cooper by Larry Doyle. This is the graduation story to end all graduation stories. Denis Cooverman is Buffalo Grove High School’s class valedictorian. As part of that honor, he is required to give a graduation speech. Instead of the usual “life is just beginning, the world is our oyster, we can heal the planet” oration, Denis instead declares his undying love for Beth Cooper, the popular, pretty cheerleader he sat behind in every class since first grade.
After that, all manner of hell breaks loose.
The story takes place over the course of 24 hours. Within that time frame, Denis and his best friend, Richard, who may or may not be gay, get entwined in a series of escapades that are simultaneously violent, comic, and surreal. Beth Cooper’s boyfriend is a drug-addled, hummer-driving, Iraq war veteran, intent on ending Denis’s life. Each chapter chronicles Denis receiving a good solid beating followed by a narrow escape. The beginning of each chapter also includes an image of Denis at that point in the story. He starts out as your everyday nerd and, by the book’s end, winds up a naked, toothless, puked-upon, bloody mess.
I Love You, Beth Cooper is by no means young adult fiction. It’s probably not suitable for parents of high school age children either. This is not your average coming-of-age tale. Graduation night in Buffalo Grove is a Dionysian orgy that makes the ancient Greeks look like bluestockings. It’s all there: harsh language, substance abuse, graphic violence, lurid sex. Although it may sound as if this book is out to shock, it’s actually quite funny. Hysterically so. Larry Doyle is a former writer for the Simpsons (television program) and currently contributes to the New Yorker. I Love You, Beth Cooper is smart-funny, loaded with references to popular culture, and the dialogue simply crackles with wit.
Throughout the beatings and the booze, Denis slowly develops a relationship with Beth Cooper. Meanwhile, Richard, who may or may not be gay, takes up with Beth’s cheerleading pals. Despite the raunchiness and grotesquerie, a touching story develops. Doyle reminds us what it is like to be eighteen years old again. The clumsiness and insecurity of youth are brilliantly rendered. He takes us back to those wild graduation parties and makes us grateful that we, somehow, survived those fateful days. 06/07 Dan Cawley

I, SNIPER by Stephen Hunter: The latest Bob Lee Swagger starts with the sniper murder of four prominent aging Viet Nam anti war protestors starting with Joan Flanders, a Jane Fonda knock off. The FBI quickly zeroes in on a scenario involving a Viet Nam vet with an axe to grind and a very specific set of skills. The list of prospective suspects isn’t that long and the authorities settle on retired Marine Carl Hitchcock. When Hitchcock commits suicide, he leaves the FBI empty handed. Enter our hero, Bob Lee Swagger, who doesn’t believe that Hitchcock was the culprit and for reasons of his own decides to prove it. As you would expect he ends up in real killer’s sights but perseveres so we can look forward hopefully to another Swagger outing. This book is much better than the last couple, so maybe Hunter is back in his groove. 01/10 Jack Quick

I THINK I LOVE YOU by Allison Pearson: If the title immediately sends you back to the 1970’s, then you will probably love this book. Yes, it is about that song, well, more specifically about the singer that made that song, David Cassidy, and the teenage girls who adored him. I was a young teenager then and knew lots of girls who were wild about The Partridge Family star. This book is about two young teens from Wales who considered themselves his biggest fans.
Petra, a budding cellist, grew up with a very proper mother who did not allow posters or pop music in the house. Her best friend Sharon had the David Cassidy shrine on the walls of her bedroom and the scrapbooks, while Petra hid her copies of “The Essential David Cassidy Magazine” under the floorboards in her bedroom. The first half of the book leads up to the girls sneaking off to see his concert, and culminates with the magazines Ultimate David Cassidy Quiz, offering the winner a chance to fly out to Hollywood and meet the pop idol on the set of his TV show. Convinced they will win, Petra sends off her entry, naming Sharon as the friend to accompany her on the winning trip, but the book cuts away to a thirty-seven year old Petra before we find out more.
Petra is having a really bad day. She finds out her philandering husband has decided to move in with his much younger girlfriend a mere few hours before receiving the phone call that her mother has died. In coping with all that, Petra goes home to clean out her mother’s house and finds the letter informing her that she had won the contest – but her mother hid that letter and never told her. In a moment of madness, she calls the current incantation of that magazine and demands her prize. Human interest story for sure, and the magazine goes for the reunion idea. We also meet Bill, the writer who started out as David Cassidy for the magazine and ended up running a string of celebrity rags, and how all their paths eventually cross. But this is so much more than a story about innocence lost. Much like her first novel, I Don’t Know How She Does It, Pearson turns the idea of chick-lit on its head and takes us on a much deeper journey. This is a thought-provoking book intertwined with nostalgia, tears and laughter. An added bonus is the afterword; the author’s 2004 interview with the icon himself. 02/11 Stacy Alesi, AKA The BookBitch
I THINK I LOVE YOU by Allison Pearson: It’s 1974 and David Cassidy is coming to England. Not only that, but winning the ultimate David Cassidy quiz contest means that two lucky fans will get to meet the teen idol face to face. Thirteen-year-old Petra and her best friend Sharon are sure that it will be them; no one loves Cassidy more. Twenty-four years later, Petra’s mother has passed away and Petra discovers a letter hidden away for over two decades. Turns out Petra and Sharon really did win that contest. On a wild chance, Petra contacts the now defunct magazine only to discover that the current publication thinks her story would be perfect for print—she and Sharon will get a second chance to meet Cassidy as well as the real man behind the fantasy. And it’s not at all what they thought it would be. Pearson’s latest begins as a sweet and nostalgic sort of chick-lit but later transitions into a more deep story about friends, family, and growing up. Even though Cassidy was before my time, I nonetheless found myself humming the namesake song from start to finish. 02/11 Becky Lejeune

THE ICE PRINCESS by Camilla Läckberg: When the body of Alex Wijkner is discovered, officials are ready to rule the death a suicide. In fact, a first glance of the crime scene would indicate that this is true. At closer inspection, however, evidence soon proves that Alex was the victim of a cold and calculated murder. Her childhood friend, Erica Falck, makes a living as a biographer and author. At the request of the family, Erica agrees to write a piece on Alex for a local paper. But Erica is not done there. Her curiosity wins out and she becomes determined to solve the mystery of Alex’s death. Together with investigator Patrik Hedstrom, the two will unravel a secret that the folks in Fjallbacka have been hiding for decades. Fans of Scandinavian mystery giants Henning Mankell and Stieg Larsson are sure to love The Ice Princess. Läckberg’s strength lies not only in smart plotting, but also in excellent character development. This first in Läckberg’s highly praised series, originally released overseas over ten years ago, marks her US debut. Book two, The Preacher, is now available as well. 05/11 Becky Lejeune

ICE TRAP by Kitty Sewell: Years ago, after a horrible surgical accident, Dr. Dafydd Woodruff escaped to the tiny, secluded town of Moose Creek, Alaska. Woodruff served nine months as a temporary doctor in the town and then returned to his home in Whales. Today, Dr. Woodruff is a much respected surgeon who has managed to put his past behind him. Woodruff and his wife have everything going for them, but have been trying unsuccessfully to have a baby. Then one day, Dafydd receives a letter from a thirteen-year-old girl back in Moose Creek. She claims that she and her twin brother are Dafydd’s children. The problem is Dafydd swears he never had any sort of physical relationship with the children’s mother. DNA results don’t lie, however, and Dafydd returns to Moose Creek to find out just what is going on. What he discovers there will change his life forever. This gripping debut is infectiously readable. From page one, Sewell snatches hold of readers and never lets up. Surprisingly enough, Ice Trap is inspired by – but not based on – an actual event in the author’s life. With her debut title already the subject of much buzz and nominated for multiple awards, Kitty Sewell is one author who will definitely be a great. 02/08 Becky Lejeune

THE ICON by Neil Olson: For the foreseeable future all novels of this type will be compared fairly or unfairly to The Da Vinci Code. The Holy Mother of Katarini is a Greek Orthodox religious icon that becomes the focus of international intrigue, deception and death because of its role in certain World War II events in Greece. The book is well written and fast paced as NY Metropolitan Museum employee Matthew Spear tries to stay alive and come to grips with the power of the icon. Spear’s Greek grandfather was involved with the disappearance of the icon in World War II but it shows up some 55 years later in the custody of the granddaughter of a German officer who was also present at the “disappearance” of the icon. Olson does a good job of filling in details for those of us not familiar with the inner workings of the Greek Orthodox Church without over doing it. There are at least four factions involved as the story evolves and the surprise ending reveals even more truths about the events that set the chain into motion. All in all, a fascinating tale, well written and thought provoking. How does it compare to The Da Vinci Code? Read both and judge for yourself. 05/05 ~This review contributed by Jack Quick.

I’D KNOW YOU ANYWHERE by Laura Lippman: Eliza Benedict is married to a good provider, has two terrific kids, and they’ve just moved home to the U.S. after several years in London. Everyone is having adjustment problems but hers become especially difficult after she is contacted by Walter Bowman. He is on his last weeks of death row for kidnapping, rape and murder. Benedict was his only victim that lived; he kidnapped her when she was 15 years old and held her for several weeks before she finally got away. Now he wants to speak with her and her life is turned upside down. Her husband knows, but no one else does, especially her kids who are having enough problems of their own. This is a very powerful novel, psychologically compelling and one of Lippman’s best – which is saying a lot. Don’t miss it. 09/10 Stacy Alesi, AKA The BookBitch

THE IDEAL MAN by Julie Garwood: As I continue my study of the romance genre, I would have been remiss not to read this NY Times bestselling author, and I’m very glad I did. This is not your grandmother’s romance; this is smart, contemporary and suspenseful. Dr. Ellie Sullivan is young, beautiful, and brilliant and finishing up her residency as an emergency room surgeon. She witnesses a shooting while running in the park that is part of an FBI investigation. An agent has been shot and Ellie saves his life. His partner, Agent Max Daniels, fears for her life as all the previous witnesses were either killed or they disappeared. Ellie is going home for her sister’s wedding, and Max decides to accompany her, especially after he reads her file and finds out she’s been troubled by a stalker for years. The romance is sweet, the story is entertaining and edgy, and all in all, this was a good read. 09/11 Stacy Alesi, AKA The BookBitch

IDENTITY CRISIS by Debbi Mack: Lawyers generally start out at a disadvantage as protagonists because not everyone holds their profession in high regard. Female lawyers like Samantha “Sam” McRae are placed at a further disadvantage when, early on, they hop into bed with a married man as an antidote for months of abstinence. Her personal characteristics notwithstanding, Sam has a problem – a missing female client who may or may not be involved with a complex case of murder and identity theft that involves strips clubs, the Mob, and the FBI. Set in and around Baltimore, the well written story deserves a heroine who can get the job done out of bed rather than cluttering up the script with her personal needs. False identities can hide dark secrets, and those secrets can destroy lives. So can thoughtless actions. 12/09 Jack Quick

THE IDENTITY MAN by Andrew Klavan: Yes, John Shannon is a petty thief but he is not the vicious killer the police think he is. On the run with the cops closing in on him, he figures all he has to look forward to life in prison-or death by lethal injection. Then, he meets the Identity Man who offers him an incredible chance to start over with a new face, a new home, a new beginning. Soon, to his amazement, Shannon finds himself working as a carpenter and a wood carver, and for the first time falls in love with the sort of woman who could make him a better man. Its almost too god to be true – and it is. It turns out this city is corrupt from top to bottom with crooked politicians, gangsters, dirty cops everywhere. Shannon finds all of them are after him, for some reason he doesn’t know. —and, for some reason he doesn’t understand. If he is going to have any life, he must solve this mystery quickly. Nicely done. 11/10 Jack Quick

IDENTITY THEORY by Peter Temple: This is the sixth novel for Australian Temple and his American debut. You almost wish that it were science fiction rather than mystery. John Anselm is a former journalist working in Hamburg, Germany with a former intelligence officer, some stolen software and computer hackers who provide information on demand for the highest bidder. The only way you can evade their attention is if you have no job, no bank, no driver’s license, no utilities, nothing that is ever entered into a computer and you also never pass underneath the eye of a security camera. Otherwise, you are a possible target. This time they get into something much deeper than the run of the mill malfeasance they normally deal with – an entire government is at stake. Anselm’s past rudely intrudes on the present as forces far more powerful than their little intelligence company struggle over their work. Recommended. 04/05 ~This review contributed by Jack Quick.

IF JACK’S IN LOVE by Stephen Wetta: Set in the late 1960’s, this coming of age story revolves around 12 year old Jack and his family; the Witchers’ are the town pariahs. Jack is an anomoly, bright and sensitive, while his father is an unemployed hillbilly from the backwoods who loves stirring up trouble in the neighborhood, whether by storing trash all over the yard or fighting with the neighbors. Jack’s mom is sweet but homely and completely downtrodden, while Jack’s brother Stan is a pot smoking hippie yet also a street tough with a violent temper. I found this character, Stan, a little hard to understand, having grown up in the late 60’s/early 70s, when it was my experience that most pot smoking hippies were also peace loving gentle folk. Jack has few friends and a major crush on Myra, but that is a relationship that is fraught with difficulties, especially after her brother goes missing and Stan is the prime suspect in his disappearance. Racism and anti-Semitism are touched on, and the mystery surrounding the missing teen ratchets up the tension a bit, but this is Jack’s story, and despite all that is going on around him, this is a lovely fairytale, if you will, about a boy who rises up beyond his beginnings. An excellent read, especially for book groups. 09/11 Stacy Alesi, AKA The BookBitch

IF YOU COULD SEE ME NOW by Cecelia Ahern: Ivan is an invisible friend – he only appears to those who need him and only stays until they no longer need him. When he meets Luke, he’s pleased to have found a friend so soon after helping his last one. What surprises Ivan is when Luke’s aunt, Elizabeth Egan, sees him as well. Strange as it may seem, Elizabeth needs Ivan’s help the most. See, it’s rare that Ivan appears to adults even though he appears to be an adult himself. Elizabeth may have a great career as an interior designer, but she’s not happy. She’s always been the dependable, responsible sister and, as a result, is raising her nephew Luke. Elizabeth has no room in her life for magic or love or even fun but Ivan is about to open her up to all three. Cecelia Ahern’s books are such a treat. Each one is sweet and funny and truly heartwarming; an all around feel good read. 10/06 Becky LeJeune

IGGY by Dalton Stephenson: Stephenson is a retired Alabama school teacher and former corporate executive. Like his previous efforts, this short work is a morality tale. Igor Goren “Iggy” Yasananovich is the disfigured son of an immigrant Russian coal miner. Added to his misfortune was the family’s location in the rural South of the early twentieth century, where the vast majority of people were of either British or African ancestry. John Luke Smart befriends Iggy and helps him through his troubles. Short, simple, and morally correct. 12/08 Jack Quick

Ilium by Dan Simmons: This is a big book, sprawling across our solar system from Earth to Mars and beyond. The title derives from a replication of the Trojan War taking on Mars for the entertainment of godlike creatures residing imperiously on Olympus Mons. To observe the extent of their power and compare their recreation with the original, they have brought back to life period scholars from twenty-first century Earth. The first party narrator of this part of the story is one of those “scholics,” Thomas Hockenberry. His observations of the progress of the conflict and discussions of specific characters will delight readers with a familiarity with Homer’s classics. His eventual interaction with the “gods” and principals of the story, including a dalliance with Helen herself, will delight science fiction fans. This would have been sufficient for a good book, but was not enough for this “big book” which contains two more story lines from other planets as well.
Earth for the most part has been abandoned and is left only to an effete pleasure seeking race whose every need is catered to throughout their measured 100 year lives. Their pleasures include watching the events occurring on Mars like an MTV video through the medium of a device called a “Turin-cloth.” However, this life is not enough for a small band of curious adventurers who, despite their race’s loss of the ability to read, are determined to find out the how and why of their existence.
The final, and most fun, story line involves biomachines, like something from a cable TV channel, sent from Jupiter to probe and perhaps destroy the mysterious emanations from Olympus Mons. These space-hardened machines are the real intellectuals of the book, specializing in Shakespeare and Proust, and having perhaps the most authentic emotions of any of its characters. This background is helpful when they encounter Prospero, Ariel and Caliban.
As I said, this is a big book. And apparently, one big book was not enough, because a following volume, Olympus, promises to bring all of this conflict and confusion to some sort of resolution. I have to believe that the reason the book is so big is because Simmons had so much fun writing it and just couldn’t bring himself to stop. I enjoyed it and I think readers of science fiction and epics will enjoy it. But I emerged from it feeling more that I had been sitting under a Turin cloth than getting a real intellectual workout. ~This review contributed by Geoffrey R. Hamlin.

I LOVE MY SMITH & WESSON by David Bowker: Robert B. Parker is the master of sparse prose but Ken Bruen and now David Bowker are showing some of the same talent. Rawhead, the former chief executioner of the Manchester mob, gets back into the business, after learning that a $50,000 bounty has been placed on his head. Gritty and dark, like the streets of Manchester, the cobbles of which are dyed by the generations of blood spilled on them. Graphic violence, etc. and a twist which sets up future adventures. A good one. 06/05 ~This review contributed by Jack Quick.

ILL WIND by Rachel Caine: The first of Rachel Caine’s Weather Warden books proves to be an excellent start to a refreshingly original urban fantasy series. Joanna Baldwin has the ability to control the air and water. She is a Weather Warden of great power, but some debated whether she was trainable—in other words, controllable. When an incident with her boss leaves Joanna on the run from the Wardens and carrying a Demon Mark, she knows that there is only one person who can possibly help her. Lewis, a fellow Warden who has the power to control all of the elements—a rare combination amongst the Wardens—has been on the run himself. Before he left, though, he managed to steal three of the Warden’s coveted Djinn. Rumor has it that a Demon Mark can successfully be transferred to a Djinn. But Joannna must find Lewis in time to save her own soul. Elemental based magic and genies. Ill Wind is just the first of a series that is so far comprised of eight additional titles (the latest due out this summer). With a killer plot and an excellent ending, Ill Wind is a must read for any urban fantasy fan. 04/10 Becky Lejeune

ILLEGAL by Paul Levine: Jimmy “Royal” Payne is a shady Los Angeles lawyer. He lost his son, and then his wife, and is not too popular with the local police. He manages to screw up a sting operation and goes on the run when he crosses paths with a 12-year-old Mexican boy. Tino is looking for his mother because they were separated in their illegal border crossing. Payne’s ex, a local cop, gives Payne an ultimatum: help the boy or go to jail. So Payne and Tino go off looking for the boy’s mother, and find themselves mixed up with the immigration problems in California’s farming community, not to mention forced prostitution. Payne is likeable in a very similar way to Levine’s previous Lassiter & Solomon characters, but this is a much edgier, darker book. Taking on the hot political potato of immigration gives a new twist to a tautly written thriller. I couldn’t put it down. 04/09 Stacy Alesi, AKA The BookBitch

ILLEGAL ACTION by Stella Rimington: Ambitious MI-5 officer Liz Carlyle has been transferred from counter-terrorism to counter-espionage after the discovery of a mole in the previous outing. Although the counter-espionage section has been scaled back as the result of the end of the Cold War, there is no shortage of potential action, as there are more spies operating in London in the twenty-first century than there were during the height of East-West hostilities. While the Russians maintain a large presence much of their current activity is Russian versus Russian as the old regime splinters. Liz quickly uncovers a plot to silence one of these Russians: Nikita Brunovsky, an increasingly vocal opponent of Vladimir Putin. The Foreign Office is adamant about forestalling a crime that could become a full-blown international incident, but there’s not a single clue as to how the assassination will be carried out. It is up to Liz to make the save. Another well written book by the first woman Director General of MI-5. You got to wander where fact ends and fiction starts. 07/08 Jack Quick

I’M WATCHING YOU by Mary Burton: Two days before her seventeenth birthday, Lindsay Hines returned home from her summer job to find her mother dead in her backyard. After suffering years of abuse at the hands of Lindsay’s father, it had finally gone too far. It’s been twelve years since that horrific night and Lindsay Hines is now Lindsay O’Neil, a strong and independent woman who has worked to recover emotionally from the traumas of her childhood. Lindsay now provides help and support to other women like her mother. On the anniversary of her mother’s death, Lindsay will discover that someone else has been watching her, someone who is targeting the very men Lindsay is trying to protect her clients from. I’m Watching You is a great one-sitting read with just the right combination of suspense and romance. Characters will return next Fall in Burton’s upcoming thriller, Dead Ringer. 08/08 Becky Lejeune

AN IMAGE OF DEATH by Libby Fischer Hellmann: Videographer and producer Ellie Foreman is really a nice person, she just keeps coming into contact with dead bodies, and killers. This time it’s a mysterious videotape delivered to her door that shows a young woman being murdered. Ellie gets the gruesome feeling this is no act, but rather the real thing. This time Ellie’s adversary is the Russian Mafia, but with the help of village police officer Georgia Davis she manages to survive once again. There are some problems, however, as she and her lover, David, come very close to breaking up. With each book, Hellman just gets better. For example “Park Ridge has always been a schizophrenic suburb, unsure whether it wants to be home to the Little House on the Prairie or the Mall of America. But what can you expect from a town that originally went by the name of Pennyville?” Another treat. 06/05 ~This review contributed by Jack Quick.

IMMORAL by Brian Freeman: A terrific new thriller from a terrific new writer. A teenage girl goes missing one night, a year after another teenage girl disappeared. Neither case seems related, yet both are haunting Detective Jonathan Stride. Set in Duluth, Minnesota, wonderfully drawn characters that come to life populate this twisty tale deceit, betrayal and murder. Freeman is being compared to Harlan Coben, Michael Connelly & Dennis Lehane, some pretty heavy hitters and I can see why. This book was un-put-downable. 09/05

IMMORTAL LAWS by Jim Hansen: Blues singer Heather Vaughn has the same bloodlines as a young woman who is found with a wooden stake driven through her heart – both are descended from men who were reputed to be vampires. In this, his sixth outing, coffee drinking serial womanizing Denver homicide detective Bryson Coventry is under suspicion because of the disappearance of childhood friend Jena Vernon, now a local television news reporter, last seen with Coventry. Heather is trying to stay alive while helping to find a group of slayers that appear to be roaming the world to eradicate vampire descendents. Coventry doesn’t believe in ghosts, or vampires, or werewolves, or any of that stuff, but he does believe in himself “Just because I don’t know what I’m doing doesn’t mean I’m wrong.” Another solid police procedural with only a touch of “woo-woo”, that doesn’t interfere at all with the action in this modern-day thriller rooted in ancient and deadly rites. All in all, another very satisfying read. 09/08 Jack Quick

THE IMMORTALS by J.T. Ellison: It’s Halloween and Taylor Jackson has just been reinstated as Lieutenant. Her unit has been reassembled—with one missing exception—and the team has been called to the scene of a shocking crime: Seven Nashville teens have been brutally murdered and an eighth lies in critical condition. The bodies have been marked with pentagrams and some of the deaths caught on camera, the terrible video up on display all over the web. With evidence that points to the supernatural, the normally grounded Taylor is convinced there is something more earthly behind the murders. As she and her team investigate, Baldwin is facing a disciplinary hearing at Quantico, forced to pay the price for a secret he’s kept for six years. Another great installment in the series. Ellison really shows that she can step out of the box and take her characters to unexpected places with The Immortals. 11/10 Becky Lejeune

THE IMPOSSIBLE DEAD by Ian Rankin: Rankin’s second novel featuring Malcolm Fox and his colleagues in The Complaints (the name given to the Internal Affairs department who seek out dirty and compromised cops), conduct a major inquiry into a neighboring police force. A copper has been found guilty of using his position to extort sex. He is found guilty but there is some question whether three of his mates may have conducted a cover-up and/or committed perjury. The case quickly turns even more serious when the uncle of the convicted copper, the one who turned him in, is found shot to death. Suicide? Fox doesn’t think so. With secrets buried in the past, and reputations on the line, the result is a pulse-pounding thriller. 12/11 Jack Quick
IMMUNITY by Lori Andrews: Dr. Alexandra Blake may have stumbled across a virulent new outbreak in this third installment of the AFIP (Armed Forces Institute of Pathology) based forensic series. When DEA agent Ted Silliman’s body is sent to Walter Reed Hospital for autopsy, Blake is the one who ends up bringing the results back to his fellow officers. His superiors are ready to chalk the man’s death up to an overdose and sweep the whole thing under the rug, but his partner, Castro Baxter, is insistent that the man wasn’t using. Alex decides to dig a little deeper, but then the body goes missing. She discovers evidence of a second similar case in Taos, New Mexico – the same place Silliman and Baxter had been working when the DEA agent died. When more cases begin to pop up, Alex is convinced that they’re facing a deadly new infection that needs to be dealt with as soon as possible. Her concerns are ignored by the powers that be, however, and she and the AFIP team decide to take matters into their own hands before chaos ensues. Immunity is an effective and intense combination of forensic mystery and medical thriller. Throw in some political turmoil and you’ve got yet another exciting installment to a stand-out and original new series. 09/08 Becky Lejeune

In Fidelity by M. J. Rose: This is fast and furious reading, completely entertaining and enthralling.

IN FOR THE KILL by John Lutz: Retired NYPD homicide detective Frank Quinn and his team of Pearl Kasner and “Feds” Federman, who were featured in Darker Than Night are called back into action to help stop a woman-killing madman in New York City. The serial killer, nicknamed the Butcher, kills his victims, all brunette women, in a particularly bizarre fashion. He drowns them in the bathtub, drains their bodies of blood, then dismembers them, leaving the body parts stacked in ritualistic fashion in the bathtub. After the first three victims are discovered it becomes apparent that the killer is targeting Quinn as the first letters of the last names of the victims are Q-U-I. Sure enough, the next two have last names beginning with N. The return of Quinn’s daughter from California to live with him rachets up the suspense yet another notch. Extremely well done page turner. 11/08 Jack Quick

IN HARM’S WAY by Irene Hannon: This is the third and final book of Hannon’s The Heroes of Quantico series. As with last year’s An Eye for An Eye, I found it to be too much romance and too little suspense. FBI agent Nick Bradley is dealing with a sensitive and artistic piano instructor, Rachel Sutton, who has had a psychic experience from a Raggedy Ann doll buried in the snow of a parking lot. Nick is unable to shake a persistent feeling that Rachel is for real and soon the report of a missing baby is linked with the doll. Predictably Nick and Rachel become emotionally involved and Rachel becomes imperiled. Ho hum. 03/10 Jack Quick

In Her Shoes by Jennifer Weiner: A lovely, funny look at sisters. Rose is a successful attorney, slightly overweight and living alone until her beautiful, flighty sister Maggie gets evicted and moves in. Maggie has sticky fingers, helping herself to Rose’s money, makeup, shoes, and eventually, well, something no sister should ever take from another. There is the requisite happy ending though, making this a fun, feel good read. Note to author: Poetry is not found in the fiction stacks, but in the 811 stacks in any public library, including Broward County’s.

IN PLAIN SIGHT by Mike Knowles: Wilson is a hit man who gets hit himself by a drunk driver, which causes him to wake up in the hospital handcuffed to the bed, and under the control of an ambitious “dirty” cop who is willing to trade Wilson for “a bigger fish.” Of course, this means Wilson will remain on the hook and be dangled as bait, neither of which sounds good to him. Meanwhile, there are some Russian mobsters who want a piece of Wilson as well. Can he lure both cops and robbers into his own trap? Can he then extricate himself from this mess? Third outing for Wilson after Darwin’s Nightmare (2008) and Grinder (2009). Just keeps getting better. Definitely recommended. 10/10 Jack Quick

IN PLAIN VIEW by J. Wachowski: Having spent over four decades in the media, I generally avoid media based mysteries, but this one was pretty good. The first person protagonist, Maddy O’Hara, is a former freelance Chicago reporter forced by economics to sign on with a suburban Chicago television station. Part of her assignment is shepherding and training the nephew of the station’s program director. On their first outing, they come across a man in Amish clothing hanging from a tree – dead. O’Hara didn’t even know there were Amish in the area. Soon she learns there is much more to this story that people do not want to come out, especially Sheriff Jack Curzon. What starts out as a simple assignment soon turns into a gauntlet as O’Hara tried to solve the mystery and save herself and her family. Not bad. ( only) 06/10 Jack Quick

IN SEARCH OF THE ROSE NOTES by Emily Arsenault: Nora and Charlotte were eleven when their babysitter, Rose, went missing without a trace. The girls were determined to solve the mystery back then. Nora had been the last person to see Rose alive: they walked home together that evening and then Rose disappeared over the hill up the street. Now, it’s sixteen years later and Rose’s body has finally been found. Though Nora has thought about that night for a long time, returning to her hometown in the wake of the discovery brings a lot of buried memories to the surface. Then Nora finds a series of poems that seem to connect to Rose and the weeks before her disappearance. Now, she and Charlotte have resumed their investigation. Arsenault’s mystery is one that plays off the natural anxieties and worries of children and teens, skillfully bringing to life the emotions of all the characters involved. 07/11 Becky Lejeune
IN SECRET SERVICE by Mitch Silver: Yale history professor Amy Greenberg is newly engaged to boyfriend Scott Brown and loves her work. Then she receives notice that she needs to come to Dublin to claim the contents of a safe deposit box leased by her deceased grandfather, a World War II veteran who served with the famous Ian Fleming (“Bond, James Bond”) during the War. Inside the box is an unpublished, nonfiction manuscript written in 1964 that Fleming had intended would not see the light of day until fifty years after his death. Instead the pending closure of the bank has placed the material in Amy’s hands in 2005. The Fleming manuscript details a previously unknown conspiracy between former King Edward and Adolf Hitler. The conspiracy apparently continues to this day as Amy and Scott find themselves in danger from villains looking to steal the manuscript. An interesting premise, but unfortunately this first time novelist doesn’t quite pull it off, as the coincidences and connections are occasionally strained and the non-historical characters sometimes come off as caricatures, i.e. a New York City homicide detective accepting that a person allergic to peanuts would voluntarily consume them. I think (and hope) Silver’s next effort will be much better. 01/08 Jack Quick

IN SECRET SERVICE by Mitch Silver: Ansbacher bank in Ireland is having trouble with taxing authorities and will most likely be closing its doors. All persons holding safe deposit boxes at the bank have received letters requesting that they empty out the boxes or the contents will be auctioned off. Amy Greenberg is the recipient of one such letter on behalf of her grandfather, Raymond “Chief” Greenberg. The Chief has now been dead for ten years and Amy had no knowledge of any safe deposit box. A trip to Ireland to recover the contents leads Amy to an extraordinary discovery. Contained in the box is what appears to be an unpublished manuscript by none other than 007 creator Ian Fleming. “Provenance” is not an unknown Bond novel, however. It appears to be Fleming’s own account of a traitor within the monarchy during WWII. The secret that Fleming wants Amy to help him reveal – for the manuscript was addressed directly to Amy all along – is one that has been contained since the war. Silver’s debut is, in many places, in danger of being overwhelmed by characters and names and “interesting facts.” Amy herself, fortyish and about to earn her doctorate, also comes across as a bit immature in my view. The book is saved, however, by the intriguing plot and amazingly fast pacing. Silver enhances this tale with copies of documents that are supposed to be included with the manuscript in order to prove the revelations in the fictional Fleming’s manuscript. Over all, In Secret Service is entertaining and gripping. Not being a history buff, I couldn’t tell you if any of it is true, though. 05/07 Becky Lejeune

IN SESSION: Dr. Morgan Snow with Steve Berry’s Cotton Malone, Lee Child’s Jack Reacher & Barry Eisler’s John Rain by M.J. Rose: This is a must read for fans of Steve Berry’s Cotton Malone, Lee Child’s Jack Reacher and Barry Eisler’s John Rain series. Rose resurrects one of her former series character, sex therapist Dr. Morgan Snow, and has her in session with each of these other series’ characters. The characters naturally fall into meeting with Snow, not because they are seeking therapy but for other, wilier reasons. Available as an ebook only, this is a fun read that offers some interesting insights into characters that I have enjoyed for years and was approved by each of their creators so you know it has to be good. I can’t think of a better way to spend $1.99. 11/11 Stacy Alesi, AKA The BookBitch

In the Clear by Steve Lopez: What is it about New Jersey that invites comic relief into the murder and mayhem? Whatever it is, Lopez is no comic tour de force, but he definitely has a good time. An Atlantic City casino mover and shaker is determined to build a resort oasis, replete with gambling and a Sea World type theme park, in the small island town of Harbor Lights, New Jersey, no matter how many homes and businesses he has to raze to do it. He hires the only cop in town, Sheriff Albert LaRosa, as head of security, but bombs keep going off, and the only suspects are Albert’s father, his girlfriend and/or her son and a town eccentric. Corruption is uncovered and the F.B.I. moves in. Lines like, “Albert felt so good he almost wanted to pay his taxes,” kept me entertained, but the ending was a bit too tidy for my liking.

IN THE COMPANY OF LIARS by David Ellis: Edgar Award winning author David Ellis (Line of Vision, Jury of One) has come up with a new twist in thrillers; he’s written this one in reverse chronological order. The story unpeels like an onion, layer by layer, as it moves backward day by day by week by month until it reaches the beginning of the story, which is the end of the book. Read backwards and forwards, it feels somewhat gimmicky but skilled writing and a tricky storyline make it work, although it is slow-going. Allison Pagone, a best selling crime novelist, has killed herself – or was it murder? As the story backtracks, Sam Dillon, Allison’s paramour and a Washington lobbyist, has been murdered and Allison is charged with the crime. It seems she may be protecting her ex-husband and/or her daughter, and several government agencies want to know who is involved in possible bribes of key senators, a cover-up in the pharmaceutical industry and with mysterious Middle Eastern terrorists. All these threads are neatly woven into this intricate plot, but nothing is as it seems as the roller coaster ride keeps coiling backwards, finally hurtling back to the starting point. 04/05 Copyright © 2005 Cahners Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. Reprinted with permission.

IN THE DARK OF THE NIGHT by John Saul: Every summer, the Newells and the Sparks rent cabins on Phantom Lake. This summer, the Brewsters will be there too. More a mansion than a cabin, the Brewsters are able to get a great deal on Pinecrest, a house once owned by Dr. Hector Darby. The house has stood empty since Dr. Darby mysteriously disappeared years ago. No one in Phantom Lake knows about Dr. Darby’s strange hobby. No one knows about the secret room in the carriage house where he kept his strange collection. When Eric Brewster, Tad Sparks and Kent Newell discover the room, they can’t imagine the evil that they have awakened. I have been a John Saul fan for years and I must admit that Dark is not one of his better works. The predictable plot and simplistic characters were very disappointing. 09/06 Becky LeJeune

IN THE DARK by Brian Freeman: The latest in Freeman’s Jonathan Stride series finds Stride faced with reopening a case that made him the man he is today. At 17, Jonathan Stride knew that he wanted to spend the rest of his life with Cindy Starr. That summer, Cindy’s older sister Laura was found beaten to death. Years later, after losing Cindy to cancer, Stride still sees her ghost. So when Tish Verdure, a self-proclaimed friend of Cindy’s, shows up with the intention of writing a book about Laura’s murder, Stride is reluctant, but agrees to help. Stride himself was never happy with the story that a wandering vagrant was behind the brutal murder, but with evidence gone missing and no new leads, it was unlikely the case would ever be solved, until now. Tish knew that Laura was being stalked and is able to produce a letter from all those years ago that may still have useable DNA evidence. And strangely, for a case that seemed so open and shut ages ago, new leads and witnesses seem to be showing up all over the place. In the Dark is as intense and fast-paced as you would expect it to be, and I love the flashbacks and the insight into Stride’s past. This would also be a great place for new readers to jump into the series. In the Dark was published as The Watcher in the UK. 04/09 Becky Lejeune

IN THE DARK OF DREAMS by Marjorie M. Liu: Jenny has always stood apart from those around her. As the third generation of a family that created the Consortium, A Priori, and Dirk and Steele, Jenny was exposed to a world that most are unaware of. Psychics, witches, demons, and shapeshifters are just everyday parts of the family business. But when Jenny was twelve, she met a merman. She never told anyone of the encounter, but has spent the rest of her days since searching for him. When the two do finally meet again, everything they know hangs in the balance. The end is coming and Jenny and her merman hold the key to stopping the destruction. I love that readers can pick up most of the books in the Dirk and Steele series at any point, without having read them in order. I did find that this one in particular had some elements that would have been better understood by a reader familiar with the series history, however, but it’s still not totally necessary to have read all of the previous books. Liu’s paranormal romance series goes way beyond the typical werewolves and vampires. 12/10 Becky Lejeune

In the Forest of Harm by Sallie Bissell: Taut, fast paced thriller set in the Nantahala National Forest. Mary Crow is a winning D.A. in Atlanta who has just put away “Handsome Cal” for murder, despite his wealthy family’s connections, although in doing so, she humiliated his brother on the witness stand. To celebrate her victory, she invites her two best friends to go home with her, back to her Cherokee roots – hiking in the mountains of North Carolina. Mary hasn’t been home in twelve years, since her mother was raped and murdered, and her grandmother took her away to live in Atlanta, and she feels it is time to face the demons she left behind. But things go awry when one of her friends is raped, and the other abducted. Mary is determined to find her missing friend, and all her childhood tracking skills come back to her in her pursuit. Meanwhile, unbeknownst to Mary, she is also being pursued. Bissell creates tension that just keeps building page after page, but somehow also manages to create unforgettable characters and uses breathtaking imagery in her descriptions of the forest. I ripped through this in one sitting – an excellent read, although not for the squeamish – lots of graphic, albeit not gratuitous violence.

IN THE LIGHT OF YOU by Nathan Singer: This one grabs you by the throat from the opening line, “It’s hard to know how to feel when your best friend blows out a man’s stomach with a shotgun,” spoken by fourteen year old Mikal Fanon. Fanon’s first name is Mikal, because his parents didn’t understand that the letters “chae” were, in fact, a preferred alternative to “ka” in that particular name. In this coming of age story, Fanon ends up with a violently right wing group – the Fifth Reich, led by the charismatic Richard Lovecraft. Two women cause him to have second thoughts. One is a beautiful black activist, Niani Shange. The other is Richard’s girlfriend, Sherry Nicolas, who seems to regard Mikal as competition for Richard’s affections. Called brutal by both J. D. Rhoades and Marcus Sakey, this one kind of makes you glad you are no longer a teenager. 08/08 Jack Quick

IN THE MIDST OF DEATH by Lawrence Block: Detective Jerry Broadfield knew he was inviting trouble when he volunteered to squeal to an ambitious district attorney. about police corruption. When a prostitute accused him of extortion he decided he had Scudder trouble. When the prostitute’s dead body was discovered in his apartment he knew it was Scudder trouble. Can unlicensed private eye Matthew Scudder save Broadfield? And is he as innocent as he claims. Another excellent Lawrence Block. 06/06 Jack Quick

IN THE NAME OF HONOR by Richard North Patterson: Patterson returns to what he does best; creating a taut legal thriller based on a strong political point of view. This time the subject is post traumatic stress disorder and the war in Iraq. Paul Terry is a brilliant defense lawyer in the Judge Advocate General’s office who is assigned to a case involving two Iraqi vets. Lieutenant Brian McCarran comes from a long line of soldiers, and his famous father is the Army Chief of Staff. The lieutenant has killed his superior officer, Captain Joe D’Abruzzo and claims it was self defense. The first problem is that McCarran claims he has no memory after he fired the first shot. Things are complicated even further because the McCarran family and D’Abruzzo family are intertwined. But the real crux of the matter is that neither McCarran or D’Abruzzo will talk about what happened in Iraq, and both of them came home changed men, suffering with nightmares and significant personality changes. The only problem I had with with this book is that Terry becomes involved with his client’s sister, an attorney who is sitting in as second chair on the case. Something about their relationship just felt forced to me and didn’t ring true. That aside, Patterson writes legal thrillers better than just about anyone else, and this is a terrific read. 07/10 Stacy Alesi, AKA The BookBitch

IN THE NAME OF HONOR by Richard North Patterson: If you liked the book/movie A Few Good Men, then you should love this one. Lieutenant Brian McCarran shoots and kills his superior officer, Captain Joe D’Abruzzo, at Fort Bolton in northern Virginia soon after they return from a tour in Iraq. McCarran is a fourth generation soldier and son of legendary Gen. Anthony McCarran, the current army chief of staff, soon to become the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Complicating matters is that Joe was married to Kate Gallagher, the general’s goddaughter, son of his best friend who was killed in Vietnam, and lifelong friend of Brian and the McCarran family. Chosen to defend McCarran is 31-year-old Captain Paul Terry, of the army’s JAG Corps, who is serving out his last few months in the Army prior to going into civilian practice, along with Brian’s gorgeous older attorney sister, Meg, who insists on working with Paul. You can’t fault Patterson for facing things head on – in this case PTSD and the war in Iraq. This may be his best ever. 07/10 Jack Quick

IN THE SHADOW OF GOTHAM by Stefanie Pintoff: Dobson is a small and quiet town just north of New York City. Detective Simon Ziele transferred here after losing his wife in the tragic General Slocum disaster of 1904. Ziele had hoped for a break from the big city, time to recover from his loss and move on. He’s been relatively successful at that until now. Sarah Wingate, a brilliant college student, is horribly tortured and murdered. Enter Alistair Sinclair, a man devoted to the relatively new study of criminology. His offer of assistance in the case surprises Ziele, especially when Sinclair claims to know the identity of the killer. As the two men work together to track down the suspected murderer, their case becomes more complex and twisted than either of them ever suspected. Pintoff’s debut was recently awarded the Edgar for Best First Novel. Her use of real events in New York’s history makes this a rich and satisfying read with a great plot. 05/10 Becky Lejeune

IN THE WIND by Barbara Fister: Chicago has bred another PI and she is a good one. In her debut Anni Koskinen is involved with a “cold case” dating from 1972. In that year, in the middle of the turmoil surrounding the Vietnam War, FBI Agent Arne Tilquist was murdered and the killer never caught. Fast forward to the present. Arne’s son Jim is now an FBI Agent and good friend of Anni Koskinen. Koskinen is an ex-Chicago cop with an autistic brother. She has known Jim ever since she and her brother, abandoned by their parents, were united with a kindly old man who took them in, largely as the results of Jim’s efforts. As a favor, Koskinen agrees to take Rosa Saenz, one of her friend Father Sikora’s community center volunteers, to Bemidji, Minn. It turns out that Rosa, aka Verna Basswood, is a prime suspect in the decades old murder. Koskinen wades into the mix of undercover police (who dislike her) overly ambitious FBI agents, the American Indian Movement, the white-supremacist Nordic League and a host of interesting characters including Jim Tilquist’s manic-depressive daughter. Don’t look now V.I. but you have some serious competition. 09/10 Jack Quick

IN THEIR BLOOD by Sharon Potts: Jeremy Stroeb has spent the past year traveling around Europe and trying to figure out what to do with his life. He never thought that he’d end up the sole guardian of his teenage sister. He never imagined that his last moments with his parents would be spent arguing with them. He could never have foreseen their shocking murder. Jeremy vows that things will change, that he will be there for his sister, Elise, and that he will find out what happened to his parents. As Jeremy gains access to each of his parents’ private worlds, he learns that both of them were hiding secrets, and both of them were surrounded by people with motives for murder. Jeremy will have to uncover the truth hidden underneath his parents’ seemingly perfect lives in order to discover the identity of their killer. Potts’s debut is an impressive and smartly plotted mystery that is sure to keep readers guessing from start to finish—the pacing is quick and the story has just the right amount of action and suspense. 09/09 Becky Lejeune

Incriminating Evidence by Sheldon Siegel: Special Circumstances (his first novel) was the best new legal thriller to come out in a long time. It was with much anticipation (couldn’t wait for another Mike Daley story!) tempered by slight trepidation (could he do it again?) that I started reading Incriminating Evidence. I am happy to report that my fears were completely unfounded.
Sheldon Siegel is a master of his craft.
I ripped through this book in a few hours, oblivious to all around me. Murder, betrayal, and kinky sex combined with intelligent humor kept the pages turning. Great characters and believable dialogue take the reader deeper and deeper into ex-priest-turned-lawyer Mike Daley’s world, twisting and turning along the way. There is enough intrigue and courtroom drama to please any fan of the genre. Siegel creates a story that is totally engrossing and enthralling every step of the way! It will hold you spellbound.
INDEFENSIBLE by Pamela Callow: Follow up to Damaged, released earlier this year. Lawyer Kate Lange been handed a case that seems utterly unwinnable – defending her boss, high-profile lawyer Randall Barrett. Barrett’s a prosecutor’s dream – an attorney generally disliked by his peers who was cuckolded by his ex-wife, known for his temper, who had argued bitterly with the victim the previous day in full view of their children. The victim is Barrett’s ex-wife. Randall’s teenage son is intent on killing him. His daughter wants only to feel safe again. The entire legal community would like nothing better than to see Randall publicly humiliated. Lange’s limited criminal law experience hasn’t prepared her for the combination of a high profile trial and a broken family. John Grisham for women. 12/10 Jack Quick

The Inexquisite Eye by D.B. Smith: I know this sounds bitchy but if this book had a different title and a different jacket it could have much more mass appeal and that would be a good thing. It would appeal to young women caught in the first job trap, or girls in college about to be caught. As it is, it stands to get lost. And that’s too bad because Elissa Laughlin is a character worth meeting. She will frustrate and confound you but ultimately she achieves something that few of us have the courage to even attempt – -and that is to live an examined life. This story of a young woman lawyer who goes off to make her own way has enough suspense to keep you guessing – -(will she? won’t she? and why?). The characters are likeable (we see how her family, friends and lover give meaning to her life even if she can’t) and so is the New Haven, CT setting. There is a great ‘you go girl’ scene. You may never agree or understand Elissa (even our narrator steps in and seems to give up at the end) but her story is worth hearing.

PS: From the book: “Biography is the story of a few choices. We make these choices and they make our lives. We choose a future for ourselves with no knowledge of it, without even reasonable grounds for prediciting it, and then the choice becomes our circumstances . . . We spend the rest of our lives choosing between the consequences of decisions we made when we were very young . . .” you can read the rest in the book. ~This review contributed by Ann Nappa

INFAMOUS by Ace Atkins: Atkins is back with another historic novel based on a real crime – this time its the 1933 kidnapping of Oklahoma oil baron Charles Urschel which transformed small-time bank robber George Kelly into the infamous “Machine Gun” Kelly. . George is portrayed as an affable mug, more interested in two-toned shoes and 16-cylinder Cadillacs than crime and machine guns, a crook who was dismissed as a lightweight by other gangsters. On the other hand behind every bad man there is a worse woman. Wife Kathryn is a force of nature, a preening, determined-not-to-be-poor-again shopaholic, a celebrity-obsessed Lady Macbeth. Atkins makes this a compelling road trip through Depression-era America with his vivid portraits of the Dust Bowl, foreclosures, the grinding poverty, gnawing hunger, desperation, and the rage at bankers as well as the imminent end of the gangsters’ heyday. Very nicely done. I never got into Atkins’ Nick Travers series but three of his stand-alones – WICKED CITY, THE RANGER and now INFAMOUS are all first rate. 09/11 Jack Quick

INFECTED by Scott Sigler: This gross-out tale of “biological possession” is the first major release from online phenom Scott Sigler. Strange cases of an unidentified infection have been popping up all over the States and the CIA has teamed up with the CDC to try and figure out the cause. The symptoms involve extreme paranoia and psychosis that so far has resulted in mass killings and suicides. No one knows how the virus spreads and a live case has yet to be found. The bodies of those confirmed victims all decompose at such an alarming rate that the doctors on the case have yet to be able to study the thing. The one physical trait they are able to identify is the appearance of strange triangular growths on the victims’ bodies. Ex-college football star, Perry Dawsey, has just become one of these infected. Sigler treats the reader to a gory and gruesome play-by-play of the progression of the infection. The interesting storyline and Sigler’s graphic detail drive this sci-fi horror tale and are guaranteed to entertain readers. This is the first part of a proposed trilogy and will leave you hanging in suspense. 04/08 Becky Lejeune

THE INFORMANT by James Grippando: A combination police procedural and newspaper story. Miami Tribune crime reporter Mike Posten has been offered an incredible opportunity – a caller claims that, for money, he can predict the next victim of a serial killer who has eluded the FBI’s Child Abduction and Serial Killer Unit. After a brief debate, Posten and his paper pony up for a series of exclusives. At the same time Posten also talks to FBI agent Victoria Santos, who is alone in believing that the informant and the actual killer are different people. Unusually non-gory for a serial killer plot, this is an unusually cerebral and low-key thriller, emphasizing procedure, forensics and professional ethics rather than shock or even suspense until the later half when everything goes over the top. Nicely done. 08/09 Jack Quick

THE INFORMANT by Thomas Perry: The Butcher’s Boy is back. Some two decades after the retirement of the second generation most proficient hitman ever hired by the Mafia, someone makes the mistake of trying to kill him and claim the reward on his head. Justice Department official Elizabeth Waring is the only one who believes he ever existed. Waring, now high up in the Organized Crime Division of the Justice Department, receives a surprise late night visit from the Butcher’s Boy. Knowing she keeps track of the Mafia, he asks her whom his attackers worked for, offering information that will help her crack an unsolved murder in return. As the Butcher’s Boy works his way ever closer to his quarry in an effort to protect his new way of life, Waring is in a race against time, either to convince him to become a protected informant—or to take him out of commission for good. Its not decided until late in the game and not everyone will agree with the conclusion, but all will enjoy the ride getting there. Perry, IMHO, is one of those under-rated authors whose work always satisfies. 05/11 Jack Quick

THE INFORMATIONIST by Taylor Stevens: Vanessa Michael Munroe is the daughter of American missionaries who grew up in Cameroon before escaping at age 15 after killing a man who had abused and raped her. Nine years later she has forged a new life in Texas as an “informationist,” a person who specializes in gathering information about developing countries for corporations. Munroe’s best friend, marketing consultant Kate Breeden, refers her to Miles Bradford, a high-stakes security pro, who believes she’s the perfect choice to help Houston oilman Richard Burbank find his adopted daughter, Emily, who vanished four years earlier at age 18 while vacationing in west central Africa. Munroe returns to Africa, where she reconnects with her ex-boyfriend, Francisco Beyard, a sexy drug-and-gun-running businessman, who assists in the dangerous search for Emily. This one is high octane, folks, and highly recommended, except for the squeamish. Think Zoe Sharpe’s Charlie Fox, only rougher. 04/11 Jack Quick

INHERENT VICE by Thomas Pynchon: I should start by declaring my prejudices. I believe that Thomas Pynchon’s Gravity’s Rainbow is the finest American novel of the 20th Century. In its scope and varied detail, it rivals the all time great American novel, Moby Dick. Inherent Vice is not Gravity’s Rainbow. But it doesn’t pretend to be. It is a thoroughly enjoyable and whimsical romp through a place and time which is dear to the hearts of my generation. Its hippy, psychedelic language is just perfect for this summer of 2009 when the 40th anniversary of Woodstock is being celebrated. Much like The Dude in the movie, “The Big Lebowski”, is a “man for his time”, Inherent Vice is a book for its time.
On the surface, it is sort of the story of the case that Doc Sportello, a true son of the 60’s private eye, commits himself to at the plea of a former girl friend. Like most of Pynchon’s other novels, there is a plot which drives a major paranoid vision of the Universe. In this case, the drivers are not Thurn and Taxis, but the Golden Fang society, involved in smuggling, land development, secret organizations and outright corruption of officialdom. The story twists and turns, revealing layers of reality within other realities, and introducing fascinating character after fascinating character. If more was needed, there are also the delightful little side insertions reminiscent of the story of Bennie the Bulb in Gravity’s Rainbow. In Inherent Vice, one of these side “trips” is an LSD adventure that Doc gets reluctantly sucked into in his pursuit of the truth.
However, the real delight in Pynchon’s writing is always his play with words. One such small gem is naming a surfer Mexican restaurant Wavos. (If this requires explanation, you probably don’t have the necessary cultural referents and should skip this book.) A more extended demonstration is the description of the sign outside Doc’s office. “The sign on his door read LSD Investigations, LSD, as he explained when people asked, which was not often, standing for ‘Location, Surveillance, Detection.’ Beneath this was a rendering of a giant bloodshot eyeball in the psychedelic favorites green and magenta, the detailing of whose literally thousands of frenzied capillaries had been subcontracted out to a commune of speed freaks from Sonoma. Potential clients had been known to spend hours gazing at the ocular mazework, often forgetting what they had come here for.” My personal favorite was Pynchon locating a health food store called The Price of Wisdom on the second floor over a rundown gin mill called Ruby’s because, according to the book of Job, “the price of wisdom is above rubies.”
Is this a masterwork? No. Is it a wonderful exposition of a fine and clever mind at play? Hell, yes. You will be missing a special fun and challenging trip if you don’t put this book on your list. 09/09 Geoffrey R. Hamlin

THE INHERITANCE by Simon Tolkien: The case seemed cut and dry: Stephen Cade, furious at the prospect of being cut from his father’s will, shot the man in cold blood. Now Stephen is on trial and the expected sentence is death by hanging. As the trial moves forward, however, questions are raised about the elder Cade’s involvement in the murder of a French family during WWII and it seems that Stephen Cade was not the only person with motive to kill. Detective Inspector William Trave begins to doubt Stephen’s guilt, but with the prosecutor literally out for blood, the detective’s hands are tied unless he can come up with a solid new suspect. Set in 1959, Tolkien (J.R.R.’s grandson) is able to twist a legal thriller into something new. The subplot of the WWII events and the particular legal precedents of the time in England are fascinating devices that move the story along in a great way. Though the book doesn’t feel like the beginning of a series, Trave returns in Tolkien’s recent follow-up, The King of Diamonds. 04/11 Becky Lejeune

THE INNER CIRCLE by Brad Meltzer: Beecher White is an archivist at the National Archives in Washington D.C. The Archives is like the attic of America, housing all the papers and artifacts that haven’t landed anywhere else, like the Smithsonian or a presidential library. After a devastating breakup with his fiancé, Beecher hooks up with his first crush, Clementine, on Facebook. When she comes to visit, he can’t help but want to show off where he works, and with the help of his friend Orlando, the security guard, he manages to get her into one of the private vaults where the President visits and reads every week. While there, they accidentally uncover a hidden book that once belonged to George Washington. That seemingly innocuous, accidental find causes a chain of events that could not be foreseen, starting with Orlando’s murder. Clementine has her own secrets, and so do just about everyone else in this story, but separating the good guys from the bad guys is no easy feat in this twisty, fascinating thriller. Lots of American history – the kind they never teach you in school – raises the bar even higher. I walked around with this book as I literally couldn’t put it down. Don’t miss it! 1/11 Stacy Alesi, AKA The BookBitch

THE INNOCENCE GAME by Michael Harvey: An engrossing and different novel written by an author mainly famous for his books about a private detective named Michael Kelly. This stand alone novel concerns three students enrolled in a graduate level seminar at a top journalism school. The purpose of the seminar is to allow the participants to engage in research designed to find new evidence in “solved” cases and possibly allow falsely imprisoned individuals to be freed from jail. The three students, Ian Joyce, Sarah Gold and Jake Havens, seemingly have little in common until they select a case regarding a young boy killed 10 years ago with the accused murderer killed while in jail. The three unearth fact after fact about that case and tie it with other murders seemingly committed by individuals imprisoned for those crimes and than killed in prison. The three find that there is more and more commonality than is apparent among them including possible romance and rivalry between Ian and Jake with regard to Sarah. Mr Harvey slowly but surely pulls the reader towards a conclusion and the possibility that the crimes and the reason for them reach high up into local, state and federal governments as a means of controlling events favorable to certain people. A must read and a good reason for a stay up all night session. 05/13 Paul Lane

INNOCENT by Scott Turow: It took Turow more than 20 years to bring us the sequel to his bestselling first novel, Presumed Innocent, and it was worth the wait. Now 60 and long after being acquitted of murdering his mistress, Rusty Sabich has become chief judge of the County, IL appellate court and is running for the state supreme court. When his wife dies in her sleep, Sabich waits 24 hours before calling his son or anyone else, setting off suspicions of foul play with his old nemesis, acting prosecutor Tommy Molto. The coroner determines she died of natural causes, but Molto and his chief deputy Brand quietly start building a case, convinced Sabich is trying to get away with murder again. VERDICT This is a beautifully written book with finely drawn characters and an intricate plot, seamlessly weaving a troubled family story with a murder. Drawing the reader in and not letting go until the last page, Turow’s legal thriller is a most worthy successor to Presumed Innocent and perhaps the author’s finest work to date. 05/10 Stacy Alesi, AKA The BookBitch. Copyright © 2010 Cahners Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. Reprinted with permission.

THE INNOCENT by David Baldacci: He is 40, a hit-man employed by the US government. After many successful missions, he is tasked with a job close to home, a black female government employee with two children. It doesn’t feel right and after he doesn’t make the kill, Robie becomes a target himself and must escape from his own people. On a late night bus out of town he meets a fourteen-year-old runaway from a foster home who just saw her parents murdered, and her own life put in danger. Against all of his professional habits, Robie rescues her and finds he can’t walk away. He needs to help her. Even worse, the more Robie learns about the girl, the more he’s convinced she is at the center of a vast cover-up, one that may explain her parents’ deaths and stretch to unimaginable levels of power. Now, Robie may have to step out of the shadows in order to save this girl’s life . . . and perhaps his own. 6/12 Jack Quick

INNOCENT MAGE: KINGMAKER KINGBREAKER BOOK ONE by Karen Miller: Aussie author Karen Miller makes her stateside debut with this marvelous fantasy. Six hundred years ago, the Doranen people were decimated through a catastrophic war. They fled their land and made a pact with the neighboring Olken people in what would become the Kingdom of Lur. The Doranen built a wall that was to be maintained by magic and would protect themselves, as well as the Olken, from the monster they left behind. An ancient Olken prophecy foretells a time when the wall will fall and death will follow in its wake. One of their own will save the world in its final days. This prophecy is a closely held secret known by very few.
Asher, a fisherman by trade, has come to the capital city to earn enough money to buy his own boat and support his father. Unbeknownst to him, he is about to become a pawn in a game he is ill prepared to play, for Asher is the innocent mage. This is a tale that is full of magic, political maneuvering, and the true tests of friendship and loyalty. Miller brings to life an intricate world with a complex history that is exciting and enthralling. I highly recommend this title even if you don’t normally read fantasy. The story concludes in the upcoming release, Awakened Mage. 09/07 Becky Lejeune

INSIDE OUT by Barry Eisler: Celebrate America’s freedom this 4th of July by reading this eye opening thriller. Black ops spy Ben Treven is back and finds himself in a foreign jail after some anger management issues. Much to his surprise, his old boss, Hort, gets him out – the same Hort who tried to kill him in Fault Line. Hort has his reasons of course; he wants Treven to hunt down a rogue spy who is presumed dead yet is somehow blackmailing the federal government. Turns out there were videotapes made showing Americans torturing prisoners in questionable interrogations, and no one wants those tapes to surface. This taut thriller has an ending that intimates a return for Treven, possibly along with Eisler’s other hero, John Rain. But the scariest thing in the book is the bibliography at the end – apparently these tapes do exist and this story is based on more truth than I care to think about. Eisler has been a strong, vocal opponent of the American stance on torture and he lays it on the line in this terrific thriller. 07/10 Stacy Alesi, AKA The BookBitch

INSIDE OUT GIRL by Tish Cohen: Rachel Berman is publisher of Perfect Parent magazine. She’s also an extremely overprotective single mother of two: Janie, a rebellious teen still searching for her identity, and twelve-year old Dustin. Len Bean is the single father of ten-year old Olivia, who has a non-verbal learning disorder. Rachel and Len meet when Rachel offers to help Len change a flat tire. Eventually, they begin dating. This is to the chagrin of Janie and Dustin, who know Olivia from school as “The Inside Out Girl”, the girl that wears her clothes wrong-side-out. Olivia is extremely intelligent, but due to her learning disorder, she is unable to pick up on facial and verbal cues, which often results in socially inappropriate behavior. Rachel and Len’s world is suddenly upended and Rachel is forced to deal with hidden secrets from her past. Will she be able to be the perfect parent that she aspires to be, or is this level of perfection unattainable? It is impossible not to fall in love with Cohen’s characters. My personal favorite was Olivia. Olivia’s combination of innocence and vulnerability tugs at your heartstrings. She alone is the individual responsible for joining together two very unlikely families into one. 09/08 Jennifer Lawrence

THE INSIDER by Reece Hirsch: A reasonably well written legal thriller that posits we are in great danger from a powerful encryption device called the Clipper Chip, designed to provide the government with “key access” to all encrypted computer transmissions. Although the project was officially abandoned in 1995, Hirsch suggests that instead, the program was given to a private software firm to be secretly implemented. In the book, Will Connelly, a young attorney who has just made partner at a San Francisco law firm, is assigned the task of negotiating a merger transaction involving Jupiter Software, the world’s foremost provider of computer encryption programs. During the due diligence process, Connelly discovers Jupiter Software has a big secret. Will Connelly be able to use this knowledge to prevent even more government intrusion into our daily lives, or will his knowledge lead to his death, as it apparently did for his lawyer colleague Ben Fisher. Connelly quickly finds himself with the ripple whammy of being the prime suspect in a murder, the target of an SEC insider trading investigation, and the feeling he is being manipulated into something even worse. Great subject matter realistically portrayed, but missing that spark that would take this one over the top. Mr. Hirsch, himself a lawyer, has written a good book. Too bad there wasn’t a strong editor to help put more punch into the prose, which seems to drag at tines, like it was, well, written by a lawyer. Still I would recommend this one. 06/10 Jack Quick

INSTITUTIONAL MEMORY by Gary Frank: The employees at New Jersey’s Osprey Publishing have been noticing some strange things in their office building. The not quite derelict, but on its way there, building is half empty by now and a pretty creepy place, basement aside, but when Sharon Walters disappears after heading downstairs for a few boxes, things take a turn for the worse. Marcy Browne is worried about her friend. She has to still be in the building, her purse is still at her desk. No sign of Sharon can be found, though, and the police say they have to wait 48 hours before they can consider her missing. Bettie Winters has been having trouble with her computer and her telephone acting up. Fuzzy images appear on the computer screen and an indecipherable electronic voice can be heard through her phone. She’s sure that something strange is going on, but she’s got no idea just how bad it’s going to get. This job may just turn out to be a killer. Frank’s second horror outing is quite fun and it’s also different from the other shock-tactic titles that have been hitting the shelves lately. Frank’s 2006 debut, Forever Will You Suffer was nominated for a Stoker. 09/08 Becky Lejeune

INTENT TO KILL by James Grippando: Finally a stand-alone thriller from the writer of the Jack Swytek series. I like the series, but I love his thrillers more. This one will remind you how good Grippando can be – his earlier thrillers like Found Money, The Abduction and The Pardon are terrific and so is Intent to Kill.
Ryan James was an up and coming baseball star in the minor leagues, and ready to move up to the majors; that is, until his life fell apart. His wife was killed in a hit-and-run accident, leaving James alone to raise his preschool-age daughter. The driver of the hit-and-run was never found, James loses his focus on the game and eventually is dropped from the team, moving over to jock radio instead. Three years after the death of his wife, new rumors start surfacing about how she died, and it appears it may not have been an accident at all. His brother-in-law, a young man with Asperger’s Syndrome, calls the radio station and on air tells James that he killed his sister. All hell breaks loose, and the story just rockets. The characters are so well drawn that it is easy to suspend disbelief and become part of the world Grippando created. Don’t miss it. 05/09 Stacy Alesi, AKA The BookBitch

INTERTWINED by Gena Showalter: Adult paranormal romance author, Gena Showalter, makes the leap into the teen genre with the first in her new series, Intertwined. Aden is a 16-year-old that has been labeled trouble from an early age. Abandoned by his parents, he’s made his way through the foster system and a variety of institutions over the years. It doesn’t help that he shares his body with four other souls, each of whom has a special ability that Aden must keep secret. Now, though, Aden is hoping for a chance at a normal life. When he meets classmate Mary Ann Gray, he feels a connection he’s never experienced before. And then there’s Victoria, the vampire princess he dreamed about and has fallen head over heels for. But just when Aden thought things were finally going his way, he discovers that a horde of paranormal beings is making their way to his small town, and they’re all interested in one thing: Aden. Teens are about to discover what romance fans already know: Showalter is great. Intertwined has so many twists and intriguing elements that the YA crowd is sure to be anxious for the next installment set for release next summer. 09/09 Becky Lejeune
THE INTERVIEW ROOM by Roderick Anscombe: Dr. Paul Lucas, a forensic psychiatrist, is asked to examine Craig Cavanaugh, a very wealthy, charming young man accused of stalking a teaching assistant in one of his classes at Harvard. Is he competent to stand trial? Dr. Lucas meets with him and realize that Craig is evil, but not insane and Craig is released back into society with the proviso that he continue therapy, with Dr. Lucas. But the two of them end up trying to psyche each other out with devastating results in this beautifully written and gripping tale. 05/05

INFECTED by Scott Sigler: CIA operative Dew Phillips has never had an assignment quite like this one. Across the country ordinary people are going berserk and killing strangers, family, anyone in their path. Phillips’ mission is to capture one of these maniacs alive. At the same time CDC epidemiologist Margaret Montoya is working with the killers’ corpses to learn if there is a common source for these outbreaks. She finds all the killers are victims of a bioengineered parasite far more complex than current science could create. At the heart of the battle for the human race is Perry Dawsey, former football player and now cubicle-bound desk jockey who wakes up one morning to find several mysterious welts growing on his body. Then he begins hearing voices, acting strangely and thinking mysterious thoughts. Where will it end? Amazingly fast read for such a technical thriller and definitely recommended. 04/08 Jack Quick

THE INNOCENT by David Baldacci: Baldacci is a consummate story teller as evidenced by his ability to always capture the interest and attention of his readers through the many books and themes he has written. The Innocent does not involve any of the protagonists involved in his other books, but does, as always, create an immediate bond with the principal characters of this novel. Will Robie is a hitman for a government agency who has completed many assignments to take out enemies of the US that regular actions cannot remove. In his latest job he is directed by his controller to assassinate a woman and her child. Upon arrival at the scene of the assignment he has the sensation that something is not quite right and does not complete the killing. The woman and child are immediately shot by a backup assassin and Robie goes on the run with the probability that his own department is after him. Boarding a bus to travel to New York from DC he meets a young girl that is fleeing the scene of her parent’s murders and understands that she is earmarked by the killers to be next. Will develops a need to protect her and promises to find out who the killers are that killed her parents while continuing to work on his own problems.

Robie’s situation and that of the girl coincidentally involve the same background circumstances and moving towards resolution brings out a side that Will did not realize he possessed; empathy for another human being, and the need to protect her. On the way to finding out what has happened Will develops an appreciation that the girl is a bright and analytical person and builds on his liking for her. At the same time Robie meets a girl living in a building next to his and in spite of his background falls in love with her. Both situations are integral parts of the story and resolved to the reader’s satisfaction. As in all of his books, the principal characters are fleshed out and believable. They experience real emotions and don’t meander through the plot. The novel’s conclusion is a very logical projection of the incidents and findings encountered and leave the reader completely satisfied. Another protagonist that has the ability to appear in a future book and leave us hoping that he will. 4/12 Paul Lane

INNOCENT TRAITOR: A NOVEL OF JANE GREY by Alison Weir: In the time of religious upheaval following the death of King Henry VIII, advisors convinced King Edward VI to repeal the line of succession set forth in his father’s last will and testament that would have placed Mary on the throne following Edward’s death. Instead, Edward’s second cousin, Lady Jane Grey, a devout follower of the Protestant faith was crowned Queen of England. Her tragic reign lasted a mere nine days until Mary and her supporters rescinded Edward’s decision thereby revoking Jane’s claim to the throne. Jane Grey was eventually labeled a traitor to the monarchy and beheaded. She was sixteen years old. Alison Weir is the author of ten previous historical biographies. Although she has touched on the life of Jane Grey in past works, her fiction debut is a captivating and in-depth look at the short life of this unfortunate figure in British history. Weir’s use of historical evidence combined with her own clever narrative work together to create a plausible depiction of the life of Lady Jane Grey. 02/07 Becky Lejeune

THE INQUISITOR by Mark Allen Smith: This is Mr. Smith’s first novel and it is a treasure that promises a great literary future for him. Geiger, the principal character, is the epitome of the anti hero and is very vividly fleshed out by the author. He comes to New York City as a young man with no memories of his past and moves smoothly into a position sponsored by a gangster as an Information Retrieval specialist. I.R. in this case means an expert in extracting information from people either by mental or physical torture. He becomes the best in his field and works on hundreds of cases with no qualms about the horrors that he inflicts. In the course of his work he picks up a partner – Harry – who handles the details of getting the jobs, collecting the pay and delivering the victims to Geiger. And he has one fast rule; he will not work on children. A job is picked up involving an individual that has stolen a valuable piece of art with the client contracting Geiger to extract the whereabouts of the painting from the thief. When the subject is delivered in a closed box it is found that this is not the man that has been expected, but his teen aged son. It is also found that there is no painting, but sources of information that are very valuable to the contractor. Completely out of character Geiger takes the boy out of the torture chamber set up to work in, spirits him away and begins to work on finding out what is really at stake, as well as getting the boy into the hands of his mother.
The book is a deeply satisfying look into the mind and motivation of a troubled man. Geiger has been seeing a psychiatrist attempting to resurrect the past that he cannot recall, and in the course of the book puts together pieces of his past life. He finds memories of a traumatic childhood, with a father that subjected him to physical torture as a means of “getting him ready.” Getting ready is possibly the reason that Geiger can do the work he does. His protective feelings towards Ezra, the boy he has rescued from the torture show another side of this complex man. In addition to the very different plot and action Smith adds to the pull of the book by proving himself an absolutely superb wordsmith. The author is working on a sequel featuring Geiger, and if this first novel is any indication that book will be another success. A definite must read. 4/12 Paul Lane
THE INQUISITOR by Mark Allen Smith: Geiger is a specialist in “information retrieval”. He doesn’t recover data from computer hard drives – he extracts truth even from the most reluctant subjects, on behalf of paying clients, high-paying clients, because Geiger is the best. Unlike most of his competitors, Geiger rarely sheds blood, but he does use a variety of techniques—some physical, many psychological—to push his subjects to a point where pain takes a backseat to fear. Only then will they finally stop lying. One of Geiger’s rules is that he never works with children. So when his partner, former journalist Harry Boddicker, unwittingly brings in a client who demands that Geiger interrogate a twelve-year-old boy, Geiger responds instinctively. He rescues the boy from his captor, removes him to the safety of his New York City loft, and promises to protect him from further harm. But if Geiger and Harry cannot quickly discover why the client is so desperate to learn the boy’s secret, they themselves will become the victims of an utterly ruthless adversary. Mesmerizing and heart-in-your-throat compelling. Mark Allen Smoth is a major new talent. 4/12 Jack Quick
THE INSANE TRAIN by Russell Sheldon: After his success in The Yard Dog, one armed railroad detective (yard dog) Hook Runyan has been transferred from Oklahoma to California. He has also picked up a real yard dog, Mixer, whose ferocity as a watch dog is matched only by his devotion to Hook. An insane asylum in the desert town of Barstow, California, suffers a disastrous, fatal fire, and Hook becomes responsible for the relocation of dozens of patients to a new location in Oklahoma. Some of the patients are criminally insane and very dangerous, and only four staff members are going to relocate. Hook is forced to hire three hoboes, WWII vets, and a railroad hooker as attendants, and the only train available may not be able to complete the journey. Hook has his hand full and more as he faces the challenges. An excellent crime fiction book and a great railroad book all in one. I am so looking forward to more from Hook. 1/11 Jack Quick

THE INSIDE RING by Michael Lawson: First novel about a Presidential assassination attempt and a close up look at the Secret Service, Homeland Security and Congress and how they all have the ability to abuse their power. The story isn’t as simple as it first appears and there are lots of interesting twists before reaching the very satisfying conclusion. Crisp writing and fast pacing make this political thriller debut a winner. 08/05

THE INTERPRETATION OF MURDER by Jed Rubenfeld: It is August 1909 as Sigmund Freud disembarks from the steamship George Washington, accompanied by Carl Jung, his rival and protégé. One young lady is dead — whipped, mutilated, and strangled and rebellious heiress Nora Acton barely escapes the same fate. Afterwards Nora can recall nothing of her attack. So Dr. Stratham Younger, America’s most committed Freudian analyst, calls in his idol, the Master himself, to guide him through the challenges of analyzing this high-spirited young woman whose family past has been as complicated as his own. A most different and unusual approach to a mystery. 09/06 Jack Quick

INTERPRETATION OF MURDER by Jed Rubenfeld: In 1909,Sigmund Freud visited the U.S. and never returned again. Interpretation of Murder stems from the question regarding what happened during that visit. A beautiful heiress is strangled in her New York apartment. Then, a second heiress is attacked in her Gramercy Park home; she survives but remembers nothing. Dr. Stratham Younger, an up and coming psychoanalyst is determined to find out what happened to this young girl. Freud and Carl Jung play pivotal roles in the underlying subplot concerning the newly emerging practice of psychoanalysis. Rubenfeld, a professor of law at Yale, wrote his thesis on Freud. He has taken pains to ensure that everything is as historically accurate as possible and the story is peppered with actual dialogues that occurred between Freud and his protégé. More a psychological thriller than a mystery, Rubenfeld delves deep into Freudian psychology to produce what is sure to be a favorite this fall. I think Rubenfeld is an incredible new talent in the mystery genre! 09/06 Becky LeJeune

INTERRED WITH THEIR BONES by Jennifer Lee Carrell: A lost Shakespeare play is the focal point of this first novel with action from the Globe theatre in London to Utah, Arizona, and Washington, DC in a wild ride reminiscent of The Da Vinci Code. Katharine Stanley manages to stay alive while bodies pile up around her. Peppered with Shakespearean clues, the plot involves Jesuit spies, Miguel de Cervantes, ciphered Biblical texts, Arizona copper mines, and a string of clues hidden in the works of Shakespeare that may unlock literary history’s greatest secret. Exactly who was the author of Hamlet, Macbeth, et al? A bit ponderous, but I suspect all the Shakespearean minutiae would delight an English literature major. 11/07 Jack Quick

INTO THE DARKEST CORNER by Elizabeth Haynes: Cathy Bailey is a changed woman. Just a few years ago, she was pretty happy go lucky. She’d hoped to fall in love but she was okay playing the field until finding the right guy. Then she met Lee Brightman. Lee seemed great in the beginning. He was charming and all of Catherine’s friends loved him. Then Lee’s true colors started to show and before long, Catherine began to fear for her life. Unfortunately, no one around her believed what was going on until it was almost too late. Now Lee is serving out a four-year sentence behind bars and Cathy is struggling to fight her everyday fears. When she receives word that Lee is being released, things get much worse. The narrative flips between present day and almost exactly four years in the past, illustrating just how much has changed in Catherine’s life and personality thanks to her time with Lee. Intense doesn’t even begin to describe Haynes’s dark and twisted debut. Into the Darkest Corner is the kind of book you immerse yourself in all the way through to the explosive end. 6/12 Becky Lejeune

THE INVISIBLE BRIDGE by Julie Orringer: Starting off in Budapest in 1937, we meet Andras Lévi, a young Jewish man who has won a scholarship to a famous architecture school in Paris. While in Paris he meets Klara, a Hungarian ballet teacher who is several years older than he is with a teenage daughter and a mysterious past. Despite their differences, they fall in love. Andras also befriends the other Jewish students who fight off rising intolerance as Hitler comes to power. Eventually forced back to Hungary, the story takes a turn for the dark side as Jews are forced from their homes into the army and eventually concentration camps. Despite its 600 pages, this is a gripping story and a real page turner that I read in two days – I could not put it down. While there have been many books set during the Holocaust, this one feels very personal, perhaps because of Orringer’s own familial connection to this story. Beautifully written with well developed characters and a compelling story, Orringer’s debut is a must read. 11/11 Stacy Alesi, AKA The BookBitch

Invisible Life by E. Lynn Harris: Fast paced fabulous novel about love…it’s sexy, romantic, heartbreaking and wonderful! This is the first of several books with overlapping characters, and they just get better and better.

INVISIBLE PREY by John Sandford: Thus far Lucas Davenport has pursued Prey with Rules, Minds and Eyes that are Silent, Secret, Sudden, Certain, Easy, Chosen, Mortal, Naked, Hidden and Broken, in Shadow, Winter and Night. Now the prey are invisible as Davenport works on a politically sensitive case involving state Senator Burt Kline who is under suspicion of having sex with a minor and maybe her mother as well as a double murder of wealthy widow Constance Bucher and her maid. Bucher lived in a mansion stuffed with antiques, though initially it’s unclear if robbery was the motive for the murders. Aided by an imaginative intern, Davenport uncovers a series of similar crimes across the Midwest in which the victims were all old, wealthy art collectors. Eventually, the Bucher and Kline cases come together in an unexpected way. Another excellent Sandford effort. 06/07 Jack Quick

THE IRON DAUGHTER by Julie Kagawa: After her sudden introduction to the faery realm, Meghan has returned to uphold her contract with the Winter Court. Stuck in Queen Mab’s kingdom, her only ally now an enemy due to politics, Meghan longs for escape. Mab is a mad ruler obsessed with the idea that Meghan’s father, King Oberon of Summer Country, is out to betray her. So when the Scepter of the Seasons is stolen from her and her eldest son murdered, of course Mab believes Oberon had a hand in it. Meghan knows the Iron Fey are responsible and the only way to stop the brewing war between Mab and Oberon’s courts is to defeat the Iron Fey and recover the Scepter. If Meghan and her friends are unsuccessful, the results would be devastating for the fey and human realms alike. This second in the Iron Fey series is another fine outing from Kagawa. The blending of classic faery mythology and Kagawa’s modern creation, the Iron Fey, is wonderfully original. 09/11 Becky Lejeune

IRON HOUSE by John Hart: Michael is an assassin for the mob; expectedly ferocious and cunning, yet equally loyal, sensitive and even loving, making him the unlikeliest of heroes. Yet it is Michael at the center of this complex, action packed thriller that moves between the back mountains and rolling estates of North Carolina, and the mean streets of New York City. The story is built around children living a Lord of the Flies existence, schizophrenia, familial relationships, dirty politics and revenge. Hart has the skill to build multi-faceted characters and weave them into multiple plot lines, creating a spellbinding story that is impossible to put down, or to forget. This is only his fourth novel, and it is easy to see why he was he has won multiple awards for his previous three, including the unprecedented back to back Edgar Award winning novels Down River and The Last Child. VERDICT: With Iron House, Hart continues to build his legacy as one of the brightest stars in the crime fiction genre. He’s at the top of his game with his darkest novel yet, and fans of Michael Connelly, James Lee Burke and Elmore Leonard will appreciate his style. 07/11 Stacy Alesi, AKA The BookBitch Copyright © 2011 Library Journal, a division of Media Source Inc. Reprinted with permission.

THE IRON KING by Julie Kagawa: Meghan Chase is a pretty average teen—or so she thinks. Her family lives in Louisiana, where they moved after her father disappeared. Now her mother is remarried and Meghan has a little brother. And on her sixteenth birthday, everything changes. Meghan returns home after school to find her brother has been switched with a changeling, a creature she’d never heard of until her best friend, Robbie (aka Puck), saves her from it. Now, determined to rescue her brother and bring him home, Meghan must brave the lands of the fey. But what Meghan discovers in this strange other world is not at all what she expects. Kagawa’s debut is perfect for a teen audience but great for adult urban fantasy fans as well. As an older reader, I found it very reminiscent of Labyrinth. I loved the various characters, especially the addition of the iron fey. 08/11 Becky Lejeune

IRON LAKE by William Kent Krueger: In this first of a series, Chicago cop Cork O’Connor and his lawyer-wife Jo have moved back to his northern Minnesota hometown of Aurora to improve their quality of life. It didn’t work. They split and Jo is working for Indian tribal rights while Cork is running a diner and gift shop, sleeping with the hired help, and wanting to get back with his wife and daughters. A former judge apparently commits suicide, an Indian newsboy disappears, and Cork is drawn into the mystery – in conflict with the newly elected sheriff, wife Jo and her lover (the judge’s son), as well as local tribal leaders. There’s plenty of plot and this appears to be a solid basis for the series. 03/06 Jack Quick

IRON ORCHID by Stuart Woods: Former Orchid Beach, Fla., police chief Holly Barker has opted for a CIA career in Woods’ by-the-numbers thriller. Barely through basic training at a highly regimented CIA “training farm,” Barker’s class is suddenly enlisted to track down calculating killer (and opera buff) Teddy Fay. An ex-CIA agent himself, Fay uses insider information to continue assassinating international political figures who also happen to be enemies of the U.S. After an initial slow start the pace accelerates as Barker just misses Teddy in disguise in several encounters. While most of Woods’ characters are somewhat superficial, Barker in particular leaves a bit to be desired. Of course there is always Barker’s dog, Daisy the Doberman, to make up for any shortcomings. 07/06 Jack Quick

THE IRON QUEEN by Julie Kagawa: After revealing their love for one another, Ash and Meghan have been banished from Faery. The Winter and Summer courts do not mingle and for Mab’s son and Oberon’s daughter to be together breaks all of the rules. But the Iron Fey are not done with Faery yet and Mab and Oberon are soon forced to appeal to Meghan for help. As the Iron Fey approach the Winter and Summer kingdoms, the world is beginning to die and the false king has declared war on the old fey. Meghan’s defeat of Machina and her ability to handle iron make her the fey’s best chance of defending their land. If she succeeds, she and Ash can earn a full pardon, allowing the Winter Prince to return to his home. Readers will be desperate to learn what comes next in the fourth and final installment, The Iron Knight, due out in October. 09/11 Becky Lejeune

THE IRON KNIGHT by Julie Kagawa: When we last left the Iron Fey series, Meghan had taken the throne in the Iron Realm and released Ash from his bonds. As with all fey, exposure to iron is deadly for the Winter Prince. He vows that he will find a way to return to Meghan and this is the story of The Iron Knight. Ash begins his quest with Grim and Puck by his side. They are joined by the Big Bad Wolf and a seer who can lead them to the only possible solution: Ash must become human. Their adventure will take them to the End of the World where Ash will have to undergo a series of tests in order to earn his soul. The Iron Knight is yet another example of Kagawa’s extraordinary imagination. There are whole new parts of the Nevernever that are filled with all new creatures. Kagawa also stays true to her characters, giving readers more of the Grim, Ash, and Puck that we’ve come to know and love. One thing to note, however, is that the Iron Fey series now stands at four titles—the original three books that make up Meghan’s story and this fourth additional installment. They need to be read in sequence, but The Iron Knight is Ash’s story through and through. 12/11 Becky Lejeune

IRON RIVER by T. Jefferson Parker: With Iron River T. Jefferson Parker has written a trilogy that is gritty, emotional, action packed, and most of all entertaining. In L.A. Outlaws, Parker introduced Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputy Charlie Hood, plunging him into a glamorous, fast-moving world of antiheroes-and antiheroines. In The Renegades, Hood was ensnared in a major case of police corruption. This time around, Hood is running the California-Mexico border with the ATFE, searching for the iron river-the massive and illegal flow of handguns and automatic weapons that fuels the bloody cartel wars south of the border. Gunrunners by nature aren’t exactly ethical, but the lengths they’ll go to, and the innocent lives they’ll risk, are shocking even to Hood. Most shocking of all is the close personal connection Hood finds wrapped up in events south of the border-a connection that shakes him to his core. These three must be read in order for maximum effect – and are not for the faint-hearted. 01/10 Jack Quick

IRONSIDES’ PERIL by Michael D. Urban: Zach Colt is featured in this contemporary thriller with roots in the War of 1812. In 1805 the United States waged war on the Barbary Pirates. This led to the formation of the US Navy which would play a pivotal role in the War of 1812. The USS Constitution is the world’s oldest commissioned naval vessel afloat and is most famous for her actions during the War of 1812 against Great Britain, when she captured numerous merchant ships and defeated five British warships. It is now 2012. The War of 1812 is long over, but the War of 2012 has just begun. July 4, 2012. A terrorist with roots to the original Barbary pirates and his ruthless band have hijacked the USS Constitution while on a celebratory cruise of the Boston harbor. On board are the former President of the United States, the current vice-president, the Secretary of the Navy and the ships’ crew and other hostages. Unfortunately for the terrorists, so is Zach Colt. The quandary for Zach – How do you recapture an 18th-Century warship – and sacred American icon — using 21st-Century weapons and tactics? The answer is ingenious. As thrillers go, this one benefits from an unusual setting – the USS Constitution, as well as a likable hero in Zach Colt, a combination of Bruce Willis and Batman, who is not content to simply use his vast wealth to do good, but also seeks some hand on action when necessary. I suspect Urban has the making of a reasonably on-going series that can be successful as long as he comes up with plots such as this one. A good read. 6/13 Jack Quick

IRONSKIN by Tina Connolly: The Great War left many scarred and carrying fey curses. They’re looked down on and, in some cases, reviled thanks to their marks. Jane will always have to wear iron to cover her scars and protect others from the curse she carries—a feeling of intense anger that can come over anyone in her presence if the scars are free. With her sister soon to be married, Jane does not want to be a burden. Trained as governess and a teacher, she’s hopeful when she answers an ad specified for the care of a child born during the war. Jane knows that she is more than qualified but even she is unprepared for the extent of the situation. Though the girl bears no outward scars, she does indeed carry a fey curse. The girl’s father, Edward Rochart, is desperate. None of the other governesses has been willing to stay and he knows his daughter will be shunned if she cannot be taught to control and mask her ability. Jane is determined that she will succeed but soon discovers Rochart is hiding other secrets as well. For example, why does he seem to have an endless supply of blue packs—fey energy used to power fey technology and all but non existent in the days since the war. And what about the steady stream of women who come to Rochart for services no one has really explained to Jane? Tina Connolly’s debut is a richly imagined and unique spin on the classic Jane Eyre. 11/12 Becky Lejeune

THE IRRESISTIBLE BLUEBERRY BAKESHOP & CAFE by Mary Simses: When Ellen Branford’s grandmother was dying, she asked Ellen to deliver a letter for her. Ellen is a high powered lawyer in New York City, engaged to a politically ambitious, wealthy, (think Kennedy) man. He’s about to win a big award, but when her grandmother dies Ellen takes the letter and heads up to the tiny town of Beacon, Maine, her grandmother’s hometown, to deliver the letter. Her intentions are good; personally deliver the letter, then head home the next day in time for the awards dinner. But the best laid plans don’t always work out. While out sightseeing, Ellen falls through an old dock and gets caught up in a rip tide, but is saved by Roy Cummings, a local carpenter working nearby. She becomes the talk of the town, which she doesn’t enjoy. When she tries to deliver the letter, no one is home so she feels stuck in Beacon until she can personally hand it over. She starts learning secrets about her grandmother’s past, keeps running into Roy, and starts changing the way she feels about her high stress life in New York and even her fiancé. While the ending may be somewhat predictable, the journey there is fresh and fun, and offers food for thought. This is thoroughly enjoyable reading, and I can see why James Patterson was so captivated. He blurbed the book, and helped get it published. 9/13 Stacy Alesi, AKA The BookBitch
ISABELLA MOON by Laura Benedict: Carystown, Kentucky seems like a nice, small town – the kind of place where neighbors wave and grocers know your name. There is a dark secret at this heart of this town, though, one that refuses to stay buried. Two years ago, nine-year-old Isabella Moon went missing. The case has weighed on Sheriff Bill Delaney, but with no evidence and no witnesses coming forward, there’s not much he can do. Kate Russell appeared in Carystown right around the same time that Isabella disappeared. She was hoping that the town would offer her a fresh start where she could forget the demons of her past. Then, she begins to dream about Isabella Moon. In her dreams, the little girl leads her to where she is buried. Kate feels compelled to help Isabella and opens up to Delaney about the source of her information. Unsure whether the woman is crazy or possibly involved, Delaney investigates and, sure enough, finds the body of the young girl buried just where Kate said it would be. The discovery of Isabella’s body is just the beginning. Carystown is revealed to be not quite such an idyllic town after all, and the web of lies and deceptions plaguing its townspeople ranges from drugs and infidelity to murder. I loved Isabella Moon. There is an underlying creepiness that permeates the entire tale – a sense that the town may not survive the trouble that has been unearthed. But, the reader wants Carystown and its people – the good ones anyway – to prevail. Benedict’s debut is a compelling read that brings to mind a strange combination of Sherwood Anderson’s Winesburg, Ohio and Stephen King’s Needful Things. Laura Benedict is definitely one to watch. 09/07 Becky Lejeune

ISIS by Douglas Clegg: Iris Catherine Villiers was by all accounts a normal child. She led a blessed life until her father was sent off to war. Her family relocates to England, to the manor house run by her creepy grandfather, a man so crazy he’s eventually set off in his own wing so the rest of the family can live in peace. The grounds surrounding the home are filled with tales that fascinate Iris and her days are spent following her beloved brother, Harvey. Then a terrible accident changes everything, unleashing a power hidden deep inside Iris. This is how Iris became Isis, a character prevalent in Clegg’s fantastic and haunting Harrow House tales. Isis is a chilling fable for adults and a great atmospheric read all by itself. Readers familiar with the Harrow House books will love to finally see Isis’s story and new readers will no doubt want to see where she goes from here. This edition features beautiful and macabre illustrations from Glenn Chadbourne. 09/09 Becky Lejeune

ISLAND OF LOST GIRLS by Jennifer McMahon: Rhonda lives in a small town. The kind of town where everyone knows your name and everyone knows your business. She makes a last minute stop at the town’s only gas station one afternoon and ends up being the only witness to quite a strange occurrence – a rabbit gets out of a gold VW beetle and walks over to a neighboring car where a girl sits waiting for her mother. The girl gets out, takes the rabbit’s hand, and gets into the beetle. They drive away before a shocked Rhonda can even think to do anything about it. Appalled by her own lack of action, Rhonda becomes determined to help find the missing girl. The case will force Rhonda to finally face memories of her own past that have been dormant up until now, memories of a summer long ago when everything she knew as a child began to change. Island deals with many of the same issues that were found in McMahon’s phenomenal debut, Promise Not to Tell. Both books tackle issues of child abuse, childhood secrets, and the nature of small towns. McMahon has a real talent for expressing the conflicting range of emotions felt by her heroines. She’s also great at creating these quiet mysteries that really involve the reader. It’s easy to sympathize with her characters, and she manages to keep the outcome a surprise even while she’s given you every clue you need to figure it out. 05/08 Becky Lejeune

THE ISLANDS OF DIVINE MUSIC by John Addiego: In this literary debut, Addiego chronicles the lives of five generations of one family. From matriarch Rosari and her father Lazaro, Italian immigrants who enter the United States in the early nineteen hundreds, through Rosari’s great-grandchildren, Addiego tells of their wonderful and fabulous adventures and everyday lives of this quirky family. Each chapter features a different family member, though not all of the family gets a chapter, and reads a bit like short stories with a common thread. Addiego also blends aspects of magical realism and spiritualism into the tale. At times funny and at others quite sad, Addiego succeeds in giving readers a thoughtful and amusing look at one hundred years of “history” through the eyes of the Verbicaro family. Islands of Divine Music will appeal to readers who enjoy the likes of Laura Esquivel and Sandra Cisneros. 10/08 Becky Lejeune

IT HAPPENED ONE KNIFE by Jeffrey Cohen: Reading Cohen’s book is like hearing a great story in a bar – conversational, amusing, and you just want to buy someone a beer when you are done – and then ask for more. This is the second book in his second series, the Double Feature Mystery series. Cohen creates wonderful characters and Elliot Freed is a guy who’s right on the edge of nuttiness, but is so kind and big-hearted, that it’s easy to forgive his obsession with old comedies. He owns an old movie house that his father helped him restore and he only shows comedies, and in pairs – one new, one old. Until his projectionist, who also happens to be a budding film maker, asks if Elliot will show his first film for him. It’s a slasher film and it disappears after its one and only showing. Elliot is the chief suspect for some reason, and he’s concerned enough to try and clear his name. Meanwhile, he’s planning for one of the biggest events in his life – a live appearance by Lillis, half of the Lillis & Townes (think Laurel & Hardy) comedy teams who happens to be living in a nearby nursing home. But when Lillis casually drops into conversation that Townes murdered his wife 50 years ago, Elliot can’t let it go and starts to investigate. Things get even more complicated when another old actress at the nursing home confirms the story. Lots of laughs, some nice red herrings, and a perfect way to spend a summer afternoon. 7/08 Stacy Alesi, AKA The BookBitch

It’s My F—ing Birthday by Merrill Markoe: Each chapter in this poignantly funny book (a la Bridget Jones) is another birthday for our narrator. Starting at age 36, we struggle through relationships with men and with family along with our protagonist, who I am happy to say, doesn’t feel compelled to end things all tied up with a pretty bow. Markoe spent years as the Emmy-award winning head writer for The David Letterman Show. This is her first novel.

JACK OF SPIES by David Downing: A very well researched spy novel set in the period just prior to the beginning of hostilities of World War I, 1913-14. Downing has several books to his credit featuring John Russell, a spy working during World War II. Jack of Spies is undoubtedly the first book of a series to be set during the first World War and sets the stage very well. Jack McColl, is introduced working as a car salesman traveling through the world with his brother and another man selling luxury autos to interested buyers. Jack’s background includes combat in the British army during the second Boer war in South Africa 1899-1902. His memories show that war is not the glamorous adventure that many picture it as, and he obtains a job with the British navy as a spy for them possibly to help prevent the conflict brewing in Europe in 1913. Spying is in its infancy in terms of organization and planning and Jack is operating on a low budget with contact directly with the head of the division, and very little help from him. The first stop in his itinerary is Hong Kong and than Shanghai. It is in this segment that he finds that spying is not just some casual hob knobbing with Germans in these areas but a deadly business where his life is threatened. He also meets a beautiful Irish woman who is also traveling attempting to launch a career in journalism. Her brother and family are connected with the Irish Republican army bent on obtaining political freedom from English rule by any means including violence. Jack’s work as a British spy is complicated by the need to keep this a secret from the girl with whom he is falling in love. Downing places Jack in trouble spots during the period including a trip to Mexico when the future combatants are attempting to convince the Mexicans to side with them when war breaks out. There is a good description of the Mexican revolution going on and such principal characters as Pancho Villa, Emiliano Zapata and Victoriano Huerta taking part in the conflict. David Downing obviously did the necessary research to describe the period involved and his ability to bring his characters to life cements the read as a fascinating one. The ending is a logical one for this book, and sets the stage for the next one in the series which should take place with the war going on. 9/13 Paul Lane
Jacqueline Susann’s Shadow of the Dolls by Rae Lawrence: I read this the other night, and quite frankly wasn’t expecting much. This is the sequel to the mega-bestseller Valley of the Dolls, which I read repeatedly throughout high school (okay, so my age is showing!) I had fears of a repeat of the shudderingly awful sequel to Gone With the Wind, Scarlett, but I am happy to report that I was pleasantly surprised by this one. It was probably helpful that I hadn’t reread Valley of the Dolls, or I probably would have been pissed off by the whole thing. Jacqueline Susann died many years ago, leaving behind at least an outline of what was to follow. Rae Lawrence picked it up and ran with it, moving the story forward a couple of decades and retaining the flavor of the book. It is as good as this sort of thing ever gets; entertaining, engrossing and effervescent, as light and fleeting as cotton candy on the tongue.

JADE LADY BURNING by Martin Limon: Army investigators Ernie Bascom and George Sueno are investigating a murder in Vietnam-era Seoul, South Korea in this debut mystery. While the pace is sluggish, Limon captures the dark and dreary nature of the time and place exceptionally well. As a serving member in the US Army along the DMZ in Korea in 1972, my memories are still vivid. What Limon couldn’t capture was the overall smell of the land as well as the generally fatalistic attitude of both Americans and Koreans at that time. On the one hand, the GI’s were happy to not be in Vietnam, but the feeling of being overlooked and forgotten was always there, i.e., “the good stuff” went to Vietnam, the leftovers and rejects to Korea. They got out of country R&R, we got a 3 day weekend in Seoul, etc. In a country where it was not unheard of to obtain a job by hiring thugs to beat up the other job seekers, the lack of a moral compass led to many interesting situations. I look forward to his next work to see if the editing is better. 02/06 Jack Quick

THE JAGUAR by T. Jefferson Parker: Erin McKenna, a beautiful songwriter married to a crooked Los Angeles County sheriff ‘s deputy, is kidnapped by Benjamin Armenta, the ruthless leader of the powerful Gulf Cartel. Armenta has ordered Erin to tell his life story-in music-and write “the greatest narcocorrido of all time.”The two men who love Erin: her outlaw husband, Bradley Smith, and the lawman Charlie Hood, must work together to rescue her. Here, amid the ancient beauty and haunted landscape of the Yucatecan lowlands, the long-simmering rivalry between these men will be brought closer to its explosive finale. 1/12 Jack Quick

Jake & Mimi by Frank Baldwin: All I can say about this book is that it is HOT HOT HOT! Some romance, lots of kinky sex and a very dramatic ending…I loved it.

JAMAICA ME DEAD by Bob Morris: Fast fun romp through Jamaica, featuring the inimitable protagonist from Bahamarama, former Miami runningback Zack Chasteen. An old friend of Zack’s, Monk DeVane, asks for his help with security issues at the Libido Resort (I swear, I’m not making this up!) in Jamaica. Zack has to take him seriously when Monk’s boss is the victim of a bomb scare, right in the skybox at the Gators’ home game. Off Zack goes, more bombs go off, Homeland Security, the DEA and all sorts of island politicos get involved and Zack has to sort it all out while fighting off near-naked nymphs. Jamaica Me Dead is highly entertaining and highly recommended. 10/05

Jane Austen in Boca by Paula Marantz Cohen: A cross between Pride and Prejudice and Bridget Jones for the senior set. May Newman, a lovely Jewish widow residing in a country club community in Boca Raton, is beset upon by her well-meaning but meddling daughter-in-law Carol, who is convinced that May needs a husband to be happy. She sets her up with Norman, and the story takes off from there. May’s best friend Flo, a retired librarian with a sharp tongue and a mind to match, takes an instant dislike to Norman’s best friend Stan, a part-time English professor. The view of Boca Raton is close-up and on target (I had a couple of very minor quibbles) and there are plenty of laughs en route to the predictable ending. Cohen is a professor at Drexel University in Philadelphia, but her in-laws live in Boca, and she has obviously made several visits to the community. Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

JANE BITES BACK by Michael Thomas Ford: Michael Thomas Ford joins the multitude of authors playing with famous literary characters these days with his take on Jane Austen as a centuries-old vampire. The first of three proposed titles finds the authoress living in modern times and running her own bookstore. She’s also trying to get published under her now assumed name, Jane Fairfax. As she watches droves of others make money off her famous works, Jane struggles just to get one new book released. Imagine, 116 rejections while the Jane Austen Workout Guide becomes a hit in your own store. Meanwhile, her maker has reappeared and is threatening the new life Jane has made for herself. And, the creator of Mr. Darcy is finally delving into the dating world once again, and at something of a loss as to how to proceed, or even recognize a potential Darcy in her midst. What’s a vampire to do? Such a fun read. I especially love to imagine Austen duking it out with fellow literary blood-suckers, both literal and figurative. 01/10 Becky Lejeune

JANEOLOGY by Karen Harrington: A year after his wife is convicted of killing their son, Tom find himself under fire in the courtroom. One day, Jane snapped and drowned her two children; her daughter managed to survive. Public outcry demanded that there be some repercussions for Tom’s failure to prevent the crime, that, as her husband, he should have known she was on the edge of collapse and that he should have protected his children better. Tom’s lawyer hopes to exonerate Tom of all charges on the basis that Jane’s family history and genetic makeup made her predisposed to the crime. By tracing Jane’s family lines they uncover one example after another to support their theory, but will the jury buy it? Can you predict a person’s behaviors based on those of their forebears? What affects a person’s personality more, their DNA or the examples the witnessed in others? The question of nature versus nurture is a hot topic at the moment, one that Harrington handles with ease. Janeology is a thought-provoking and thoroughly engaging read. 05/08 Becky Lejeune

THE JANUS REPRISAL by Jamie Freveletti: This was the ninth Covert One novel ostensibly based on ideas and notes left by the late Robert Ludlum and authorized by the Ludlum estate. While Ludlum never wrote anything concerning a clandestine group called Covert One operating outside the auspices of the other intelligence agencies it is
exciting, fast moving and follows some of the Ludlum precedents. Action and suspense are continuous, with no letup. Lt. Col. Jon Smith, a member of Covert One, is at a hotel in The Hague to attend a WHO conference when a sudden, well executed attack occurs killing many in the hotel. The terrorists are after bio-chemical items stored by participants and succeed in recovering what they are after. Smith is a physician as well as a Covert One operative and is well suited to begin searching for the hazardous products the terrorists grabbed. He is aided by a beautiful woman, a successful money trader who somehow stole money from the leader of the terrorist group who is incidentally an old enemy of Smith. Also on his list of supporters is a social misfit who is a computer genius, and a rogue member of the CIA who is helping in spite of the enmity of that organization to Smith. If one does not seek great characterizations and a highly believable plot it is exciting and entertaining reading and does stand on it’s own without being attached to other Covert One novels. The book is fast reading when the reader wants to get involved with excitement and be entertained by pure adrenalin. 1/13 Paul Lane
The Jasmine Trade by Denise Hamilton: A car jacking gone awry turns into something much more complex when L. A. Times journalist Eve Diamond gets interested. She stumbles onto a Los Angeles subculture of gangs, the sex slave trade and parachute kids, wealthy Asian teenagers whose parents live on the other side of the Pacific, leaving them in the care of lawyers and housekeepers and trouble. Eve meets teen counselor Mark Furukawa and learns more about these kids and herself as their relationship intensifies. Intriguing characters and inspired writing move this story along at breakneck speed, culminating in a more realistic ending than most novels of the genre. It’s easy to see why it was nominated for the Edgar, Agatha, and Macavity awards. Don’t miss it.

JERUSALEM MAIDEN by Talia Carner: Esther Kaminsky, a young girl living in an ultra orthodox Jewish community, is always questioning her Abba about life, family and religion. In spite of her mother’s admonition that Esther has no need of such information her father indulges her. Her mother insists (and father quietly agrees) that Esther’s role in hastening the Messiah’s return will be through her submission to the man her father chooses as her husband. God, a harsh taskmaster, insists that Esther marry and have many sons. According to God, this is how she will fulfill her faithful duty as a Jerusalem Maiden. Esther, however, dreams of becoming an artist. JERUSALEM MAIDEN is a coming-of-age novel exploring the role religion, faith and family have on one girl’s hopes and dreams for her own future. Carner’s rich details subtly place the reader on the scene. Only when I stopped reading to contemplate Esther’s choices or caught my breath at the next turn in the road did I realize how deeply I was immersed in this story. JERUSALEM MAIDEN is breathtakingly beautiful and will provide many opportunities for personal reflection. 10/11 Kimberly Bower

JESUS OUT TO SEA: STORIES by James Lee Burke: Eleven previously published short stories, none of which include Dave Robicheaux or Billy Bob Holland. One is about the Vietnam War, two deal with the aftermath of Katrina. Others feature academics coping with the encroachments of society and several coming of age tales. All in all a very satisfying sampler, which shows the depth and breadth of Burke’s considerable talents. 07/07 Jack Quick

JESUS’ SON by Denis Johnson: Mr. Johnson currently has a very hot title in Tree of Smoke, so I picked up his book of short stories to see what he had done in that milieu. It is simply the most powerful writing that I have encountered in the last couple years. In these stories, Mr. Johnson writes from the disconnected perspective of the addict/alcoholic in full cry. I was particularly affected by the story, Emergency Room, in which two badly whacked out orderlies, a sort of nurse Rachett and a doctor who is in over his head attempt to treat a man who has been stabbed near his one good eye by his wife. One thinks of De Quincy, Poe, Burroughs, et al and concludes this guy can play ball in their league. His description of local bars in various cities, especially including one he calls The Vine are dead on as is his description of the anesthetized inhabitants. These stories will haunt you. 10/07 Geoffrey R. Hamlin

A JOB TO KILL FOR by Janice Kaplan: Of all the luck, L.A. interior designer Lacy Fields has her latest client drop dead while inspecting a posh penthouse she and her hubby are talking about buying. There goes a commission, and even worse the fingerprints of her pal Molly Archer are on the refrigerator where the arsenic laced bottle of Japanese tea that was the cause of Cassie Crawford’s untimely demise was stored. It turns out Cassie has a biker friend who is murdered soon after, and attention shifts to Lacy as suspect number one. Filled with great fashion moments like “I slowly peeled off my wet shirt and lace La Mystere cleavage-enhancing bra. The padded push-up cups had absorbed the ocean water like sponges, thrusting my chest up to my chin,” and “the necklace clinked against her wedding band, so heavy with sapphires and diamonds that Cassie risked carpal tunnel syndrome every time she lifted a well-manicured finger. Of course, now that she’d married Roger Crawford, she never needed to lift a finger again.” This is the second outing for Fields (after 2007’s Looks to Die For), from the Editor In Chief of Parade Magazine, the popular weekly newspaper supplement. 09/08 Jack Quick

JOE VICTIM by Paul Cleve: This sequel to The Cleaner (2012) finds serial killer Joe Middleton imprisoned and awaiting trial as the accused Christchurch Carver, but despite his imprisonment, dead bodies are still piling up. Joe’s had a run of bad luck; his first two attorneys were murdered, and the latest is court appointed and to Joe’s way of thinking, not that bright. Joe’s convinced a jury will find him innocent by way of insanity, but his lawyer and the court-appointed psychiatrist strongly disagree. The only bright spot is a disgraced ex-cop working for a TV psychic who offers Joe a deal; lead them to a murdered cop’s missing remains for a large payoff, which Joe decides is his ticket out of jail. Meanwhile he has to contend with fellow inmates trying to kill him, his mother’s upcoming wedding, and politicians looking to bring back the death penalty in time for his sentencing. Once again gruesome violence abounds, so fainthearted readers be forewarned. Chelsea Cain and Thomas Harris fans will appreciate reading from Joe’s viewpoint. 9/13 Stacy Alesi, AKA The BookBitch Copyright © 2013 Booklist, a division of the American Library Association. Reprinted with permission.
JONATHAN STRANGE AND MR. NORRELL by Susanna Clarke: Two magicians battle for supremacy in this amazing literary fantasy debut. In early nineteenth century England, no one practices magic anymore. No one but Mr. Norrell, that is. While Mr. Norrell is dedicated to the study of practical magic, Jonathan Strange is quite the opposite. Strange is a young and stubborn magician with a thirst for knowledge and a growing curiosity about all things magic, especially the fabled Raven King. Norrell agrees to take on the young Strange as his pupil despite his knowledge of an ancient prophecy foretelling the rise of two great magicians destined to be enemies. Can the two friends defeat fate or are they destined to be pawns in an elaborate game set in motion by the Raven King decades ago? With a vivid cast and truly imaginative story peppered with her own original fairy tales, Clarke’s debut is nothing short of genius. Deemed the “adult Harry Potter,” this is an absolute must read for all book lovers. For readers who may be intimidated by the size of this tome, have no fear, there is a three volume trade collectors’ edition available. This makes it a bit more manageable, but be warned, with such an elaborate story you won’t want to wait long between volumes. 05/07 Becky Lejeune

JUAREZ JUSTICE by Jack Trolley: Tommy Donahoo is probably not what the boosters of NAFTA had in mind. When a beautiful Mexican lawyer says, “It’s not over until the fat lady is buried,” Donahoo “didn’t correct her. It was, he suspected, the Mexican version.” Donahoo is supposed to be in Tijuana assisting Mexican Police Captain Torres on a case involving the murder of a rich socialite who was prominent in helping the poor. The contrast between rich and poor is so great it causes Donahoo’s young SDPD translator to become involved in a reckless plot to assassinate Tijuana’s leading criminal. Donahoo begins to wonder if he is there to solve a crime or commit one, a distinction not always apparent to his Mexican counterparts. The Mexican and American cultures meet with the grace of two bull moose rutting in the forest. Trolley knows how to pack a punch into what otherwise might be an ordinary police procedural. 08/06 Jack Quick

THE JUDAS GATE by Jack Higgins: British Muslims have joined the war in Afghanistan – on the Taliban side. It is up to Sean Dillon and his mates to get to the bottom of this new and disturbing development. Both the President and the Prime Minister want this situation resolved immediately. In typical Dillon fashion, he doesn’t go to war, he brings the war to him. Another fine outing from the Brit master of the contemporary thriller. 02/11 Jack Quick

JUDAS HORSE by April Smith: Sometimes it takes a horse to save a horse. FBI Agent Ana Grey is back after a shooting incident when she learns that a fellow agent has been murdered by a group of hard-core anarchists operating behind the façade of FAN (Free Animals Now). The fellow agent not only went through basic with Ana, but at one time the two considered marriage. After successfully completing the FBI’s infamous undercover school, she must now play the part of a down-on-her-luck animal lover. In the process her “Judas Horse” becomes infatuated with the real mustangs the animal lovers are purporting to be trying to save. That infatuation doesn’t extend to Julius Emerson Phelps and his “family” who are determined to do damage to the Bureau. Ana is walking a tightrope that may or may not give out under her in this excellent thriller. Hopefully, we’ll continue to see more of her in future cases. 03/08 Jack Quick

JUDAS KISS by JT Ellison: Lt. Taylor Jackson returns from her much needed vacation to face what could be the toughest challenge of her career. When classy housewife Corrine Wolff is discovered bludgeoned to death in her home, the suspicion naturally falls upon her husband. Then Jackson and her team make some disturbing discoveries regarding the Wolff family and their extra-curricular activities and a whole new avenue of suspects opens up. Meanwhile, a run-in with a stranger leads Taylor to a startling discovery of her own, one that threatens her professional life. Plus, a crazy hit man is gunning for Baldwin, and has recently gone missing, and the Pretender still evades capture. It will take all of Taylor’s strength to make it through this one and still keep her cool. With each new installment to this series, JT Ellison continues to prove that she is one of the best and the brightest in the genre – she should be on everyone’s must read lists. 01/09 Becky Lejeune

JUDAS KISS by J.T. Ellison: Beautiful, pregnant Corrine Wolff is dead, apparently brutally beaten in front of her young daughter. It’s a dangerous case for Nashville Homicide Lt. Taylor Jackson which really explodes when it is learned that Wolff and her husband were making and distributing homemade pornography. In the course of the investigation her people turn up old X-rated footage of Taylor that could destroy her career and her engagement to FBI agent John Baldwin. Meanwhile, one of Baldwin’s old enemies is intent of exacting revenge on John. High stakes emotionally and professionally for both as they try to get to the bottom of all this without blowing up their own somewhat fragile relationship. Interesting. 12/09 Jack Quick

JUDGMENT CALL by J.A. Jance: Adequate police procedural heavy on the family relationships side. When Sheriff Joanna Brady’s daughter, Jenny, stumbles across the body of her high school principal, Debra Highsmith, in the desert Brady’s personal and professional worlds collide, forcing her to tread the difficult middle ground between being an officer of the law and a mother. Crime solving in the modern world of social media challenges Brady who soon learns more than she ever suspected as she finds and dismisses various suspects. Secrets buried for many years come to light as Brady works to be both a good mother and a professional law enforcement officer. 2/13 Jack Quick

Judgment Calls by Alafair Burke: I am a long-time fan of James Lee Burke and his Louisiana cop hero, Dave Robiocheaux, who has a young daughter named Alafair. I was not surprised, therefore, to learn that Mr. Burke also had a daughter named Alafair. I was surprised to learn that she is grown up, had been working as an assistant district attorney in Portland and has written a legal thriller of her own. It is an excellent story about a woman D.A.’s attempt to try a would-be murderer-rapist for a vicious attack on a 13 year old girl. Ms. Burke holds no brief for the accused or the criminals of the world, bluntly characterizing them as mean and stupid. Her writing is as tough as her father’s. My favorite passage was “I suppressed the impulse to mow her down with the Jetta. I would’ve opened a six-pack of Fahrfeghugen on her ass over the c-word, but under the circumstances I could handle the b-word.” Her descriptions of trial preparation and activity, as well as intramural skirmishing in the D.A.’s office, are dead on. This is one of the most accurate “lawyer books” I have ever read and will be a contender for best first mystery of the year. ~This review contributed by Geoffrey R. Hamlin.

JUDGMENT DAY by Sheldon Siegel: It’s been a few years since the last Mike Daly & Rosie Fernandez legal mystery, but it was so worth the wait. I love this San Francisco series featuring ex-priest Daly and his ex-wife Fernandez. This time out they are working on a particularly intricate case; an attorney, imprisoned for murdering a couple of drug dealers and another attorney, is just days away from being executed. Last minute appeals rarely go well, and this case is complicated further by the fact that Mike Daly’s father was one of the cops involved in the arrest and prosecution. Great dialogue is one of the hallmarks of this series and really helps move the story along, while at the same time investing these characters with strong emotional appeal. I admit that I love the Perry Mason moments along the way that contribute towards making Siegel one of the best legal fiction writers out there. 06/08 Stacy Alesi, AKA The BookBitch

Julie & Romeo by Jeanne Ray: This charming, contemporary romance is set in Boston with a middle aged Jewish/Italian Romeo & Juliet. Don’t miss it! Now available in paperback.

JULIE AND ROMEO GET LUCKY by Jeanne Ray: Julie and Romeo is one of my favorite books ever, so I was really looking forward to this sequel and I’m happy to say it did not disappoint. It also did not live up to the original, but sadly, sequels rarely do. Julie & Romeo are still dating, they haven’t figured out how to move past that Julie’s daughter Sandy, her husband (Romeo’s son) and their kids are living with her, and Romeo has the same problem at his place with the addition of his elderly mother who still harbors the family feud against Julie. Not as confusing as I’m making it sound but a problem for the happy couple. Until Romeo decides to carry Julie up the stairs a la Rhett Butler in the Gone With the Wind on a rare night that they have the house to themselves; unfortunately, Romeo isn’t as young or strong as Rhett was and he gets hurt – too hurt to move and he ends up living in Julie’s bedroom for a while. Meanwhile, Julie’s older daughter, the career woman who swore she never wanted kids hears her biological clock ticking and gets pregnant and ends up living with mom too, at least temporarily. With Romeo’s family visiting at all hours, chaos ensues. These are great characters that I enjoy spending time with, and combined with Ray’s trademark gentle humor and pathos bring the story home. The easiest description of this book for readers of her previous books is to say this reminded me of a cross between the first book and the last, Eat Cake. And it was equally delicious. 07/05

JULIET by Anne Fortier: Julie Jacobs is the “lesser” twin of Janice. Janice is prettier, has more friends, is more adventuresome, and when the aunt that raised them dies, she leaves Janice everything except a key to a safe deposit box in Siena, Italy. Julie is off on an adventure, where she learns that her real name is Giulietta Tolomei and that she is the direct descendent of Shakespeare’s inspiration for his Juliet. Their warring family are the Salembenis, and Julie/Giulietta spends time in Siena chasing down her history and searching for some mysterious treasure. The only problem I had with this book was the main character; a whiny woman with no self esteem. I liked Janice, the selfish, spoiled sister more, and I probably wasn’t supposed to. I do have an affinity for Shakespeare and history, so I found the story, which bounces back and forth between modern day and the 1300’s predecessor of Romeo & Juliet, just fascinating reading. 9/10 Stacy Alesi, AKA The BookBitch

JULIUS KATZ AND ARCHIE by Dave Zeltserman: Shades of Nero Wolfe – Julius Katz shares the famed Rex Stout detective’s love of good wine, good food and interesting women. Boston’s most brilliant, eccentric and possibly laziest detective, Katz, has as his sidekick, Archie, a tiny marvel of whiz-bang computer technology with the heart and soul of a hard-boiled PI. Famous Boston mystery writer, Kenneth Kingston, tells Julius he wants to find out who’s planning to kill him. The problem is almost everyone in Kingston’s life has good reason to want to kill him, and this case soon plunges Julius and Archie deep into the world of murder and publishing. If you enjoyed Nero, you will love Julius and Archie is even better than RD-D2 or 3CPO as an android partner. 8/12 Jack Quick

JUNE BUG by Jess Lourey: Mira James never imagined life after college would be a doublewide trailer outside Battle Lake, Minnesota. Nor did she imagine her life would be endangered by a local legend. Nearly a century ago a diamond necklace was allegedly lost in Whiskey Lake. Mira’s diving expedition to try to find the necklace uncovers bodies, treasure maps, and much more than she bargained for. Nicely written cozy, heavy on local atmosphere and a good follow-on to May Day, Loury’s first Mira James adventure. Everybody has to have a gimmick. Mira’s is frozen Maple Nut Goodies. Hey, it could be worse. 03/07 Jack Quick

Jury of One by David Ellis: This third time out Ellis pens yet another winner. The first chapter draws the reader in immediately, but this isn’t just another page turner. Shelly Trotter is an attorney for the Child Advocacy Project. She represents kids who get into trouble, and barely makes a living. Actually, Ellis borrowed a trick that is popular with romance authors – he created a novel around a character that was barely mentioned in his previous book; in fact, I’m not sure she even was mentioned. Life Sentence revolved around some of her family members, but this is no sequel.
Shelly is approached by a young man she helped previously on a minor issue, only this time out 17-year-old Alex Baniewicz is in considerably more trouble – he’s accused of murdering a cop. Things become even more entangled when Alex informs Shelly that he is the son she gave up for adoption. There are enough twists and turns to keep the pages turning, but it’s the second storyline, Shelly’s personal story, that makes this story so memorable – plus the shocker of an ending. There are a lot of former & practicing lawyers writing books these days, some with considerable recognition – but Ellis is one of the best.

THE JURY MASTER by Robert Dugoni: David Sloane is a high powered attorney in San Francisco – with a conscience. After he wins a wrongful death suit for his obnoxious client, instead of celebrating, he suffers a migraine and a recurring nightmare that keeps haunting him. Meanwhile, the special assistant to the U.S. President, Joe Branick, commits suicide in a small West Virginia town – or does he? The local police detective is suspicious when the Justice department takes over the investigation with plenty of attitude. Then Sloane’s secretary tells him that Joe Branick left him a message the night before he died, and a mysterious package shows up in the mail. An ex-CIA agent has a visitor who delivers a thirty-year old file, bringing all sorts of trouble along with it. Innocent people (and animals) are being killed and somehow Mexico is going to solve our oil crisis. Dugoni manages to bring it all together at lighting fast speed in this superb, action-packed debut thriller. 03/06 Stacy Alesi, AKA The BookBitch

THE JURY MASTER by Robert Dugoni: Dugoni opens this debut novel with wrongful death attorney David Sloane about to make his closing remarks. Sloane, who has won 14 cases in a row, hates his arrogant corporate client and must face an obviously hostile jury. Rather than focusing on the case, Dugoni quickly moves into new matters: a recurring childhood nightmare Sloane shares with former CIA agent Charles Jenkins, apparently a complete stranger. Meanwhile, West Virginia police detective Tom Molia investigates the suicide of a top adviser to the president. What he finds draws Sloane and Jenkins closer to the truth behind their shared terror: an international conspiracy 30 years in the making. An ambitious first effort, but it worked for me. Recommended. 07/06 Jack Quick

JUST ANOTHER DAY IN PARADISE by A. E. Maxwell: California Private investigator Fiddler and ex-wife Fiora love each other too much to live together. In bed everything is fine, out of bed it is a good chance one will kill the other. But when Fiora’s twin brother is the object of a U.S. Customs Department investigation, she knows she needs Fiddler’s help in the daytime. It seems like in addition to dabbling in electronic chips, Danny has been dabbling into other areas, which have brought official and unwanted attention. With Fiora’s soft spot for her twin offset by Fiddler’s hard head and matching muscles, the pair swing into action, knowing they don’t have much time to save Danny from the feds, from his enemies and, most of all, from himself. Published in1985, this is first of what appears to be a fairly neat, yet now dated, series. 03/09 Jack Quick

A JUST DECEPTION by Adrienne Giordano: A love story (sort of) about a guy named Peter and a girl named Isabelle The minor details providing the ingredients for the plot are first; Peter is an ex Navy Seal and a former Jet Pilot. He has hang-ups about involvement with women beyond sexual activity because his ex wife dumped him due to his being busy as the aforementioned Seal and Pilot. Isabel is a beautiful attorney who has her own hangups due to a cousin of hers sexually molesting her when she was younger. Peter left the Navy and works for a private security company which is actually a mercenary business. Peter has to take some time off from work due to the fact that two of his subordinates were killed in the line of duty and Peter feels that he is to blame for their deaths. While on vacation Peter’s boss asks him to design a security system for Isabel. Peter is quite reluctant to do the job and points to his need for time away from work. Peter does finally take the job and guess what: it is lust at first sight for both. While working on the system’s design Isabel’s cousin is murdered and Peter is forced to prove that she is not culpable in the death. While proving Isabel’s innocence the lust turns into love and each are involved with removing the other’s hang-ups. The author does a good job of developing both protagonists as characters and while a simple plot the book is entertaining and makes for a good read. 11/11 Paul Lane NOTE: Only available as an e-book

JUST ENOUGH LIGHT TO KILL by A. E. Maxwell: California Private eye Fiddler is the nephew of an old time border smuggler so he is not totally at a disadvantage when he decides to head south to find what led to the execution of Special Agent Aaron Sharp, a man who once saved Fiddler’s life. A close encounter of the nearly deadly kind with a sniper quickly convinces Fiddler that there are those who do like his presence or his questions. Fourth in the 1980’s series featuring beautiful women, muscular men, and a cast of international villains. 03/09 Jack Quick

JUST MURDERED by Elaine Viets: This is the fourth entry into the always entertaining Dead End Job Series and it was as much fun as the books that preceded it. This time out Helen Hawthorne is working in a fancy bridal salon in Fort Lauderdale – former jobs included bookseller, salesgirl in a fancy dress salon, and telemarketer. Things seem to be looking up though – the money still sucks, but at least the boss is nice. But not all is swell in bridal-land. The beautifully sculpted Kiki Shenrad sashays into the salon with her drab daughter, the bride-to-be, and announces she needs a wedding gown, pronto. And some dresses for herself, the kind that will make her the center of attention instead of the bride. Many thousands of dollars later, Kiki is dead and Helen’s fingerprints are all over the place. Nothing to do but prove herself innocent, which Helen does – but it ain’t easy. Lots of laughs and lots to love about this book and this series. 10/05

JUST ONE DAY by Gayle Forman: Allyson and her best friend are off on a tour of Europe in the wake of their recent high school graduation. It’s their gift and vacation before heading off to separate colleges – Alyson to Boston and Melanie to NYC. On their last days in England, while visiting Stratford Upon Avon, the friends stumble upon a group called Guerrilla Will performing Twelfth Night in the streets. When Allyson runs into the play’s Sebastian on the train to London the following morning, it kicks off a string of events that will turn her world upside down. His name is Willem and Allyson spends just one day with him in Paris before returning to her everyday life. But in the year that follows, Allyson struggles with that old life. She no longer knows what she wants or even who she is, and it’s all thanks to that one day with a boy she barely even knew. A boy she can’t get out of her head. Oh, now I get it. Everyone raves about Gayle Forman and her books but until now I’d not read her myself. Just One Day is only half of the story. Forman has recently released Just One Year telling the tale from Willem’s perspective, which is perfect because the end of Just One Day is guaranteed to send readers on a mad hunt for the second book to find out more about Willem (and Allyson). 10/13 Becky Lejeune

JUST ONE YEAR by Gayle Forman: In this companion to Forman’s Just One Day the reader finally gets Willem’s side of the story. For him, meeting the girl he called Lulu made a lasting impression. But why, then, did he abandon her in Paris? Turns out Willem had a bit of an accident that landed him in the hospital and while Allyson was frantically trying to find her way back to London, convinced she’d been rejected, Willem was trying to find his own way back to her. Over the course of the next year he never forgets Lulu, but without knowing her real name he’s left with very little that can help him in finding her. And as Allyson is beginning to learn who she really wants to be, so is Willem. His own travels will take him to places he never imagined, both literally and figuratively, but will he get a happily ever after? I really loved getting to read this story from two different viewpoints. The reader gets to see how close the two come throughout their individual searches only to miss one another again and again. But like any good story, therein lies the excitement. Willem’s growth throughout Just One Year mirrors Allyson’s in Just One Day but it’s not until the very end that you’ll see what’s to come for the pair. A truly enjoyable read and a satisfying close to Allyson and Willem’s tale. 10/13 Becky Lejeune

Justice Deferred by Len Williams: First novel inspired by the real life events experienced by the author. Williams is the former CEO of Coca-Cola New Zealand, among other companies, and his son was kidnapped. A prison inmate, in for life on the three strike rule for theft, claimed he had killed the boy and offered to show Williams the grave. It turned out to be a bogus claim being used as an escape attempt, and Williams was horrified by the implications of the three strike law putting a man in prison for life for a nonviolent crime like robbery. He turned that story into this fascinating prison epic/legal thriller. Billy Ray Billings is a cracker from Mobile, Alabama and for the first half of the book we follow his life, starting with reform school and ending with life in prison for stealing small appliances. But the life sentence never should have been given – it was forced by the way the local cops were handling their cases to make their conviction rate look good. Enter Harry Brown, lawyer and free lance crime reporter for the local newspaper, who’s interest in this case is quite personal. The rest of the book deals with the legal maneuverings to get those life sentences overturned and have justice prevail. Williams draws the reader in from the first page and doesn’t let go – even after the last page, these characters will stay with you.

KANSAS CITY NOIR, edited by Steve Paul: Kansas City- where East meets West and stunted hopes create broken dreams. Blues in the night and mayhem during the day. The latest of the Akashic City Noir series features authors Daniel Woodrell, Matthew Eck, Catherine Browder, Nancy Pickard, John Lutz, J. Malcolm Garcia, Kevin Profer, Linda Rodriquez, Nadia Pflaum, Phony Nyugen, Andres Rodriquez and others. Steve Paul has been editor of the Kansas City Star since 1975 and he knows his city and his authors. I mean, how about this Daniel Woodrell line, “She was eighteen, said she was twenty, and have every appetite, none of which he could satisfy”. And it couldn’t be KC with barbecue as in Charlie Price’s Last Supper by Nadia Plaum. And the perfect ending – “Nobody’s talking. Nobody ever would” – John Lutz’ Thelma and Laverne. 10/12 Jack Quick

KEEP IT REAL by Bill Bryan: Former investigative reporter and now reality TV producer Ted Collins accidentally witnesses a violent exchange between gangsta rapper Boney and his current hottie, Patrice, just before Patrice goes missing. Since rap music and reality TV rank right up there with prostate exams and root canals in my list of favorites, along with “TV personalities,” this was not a book I would normally purchase. However, since it was sent to me to review, I felt honor bound to give it a try. Reading the book reminded me of the evaluation a college friend got for a college ROTC paper he turned in after 72 hours of coffee, No-doz, and similar substances. “Well written and covers the subject matter. Would have been more effective and very much shorter if the quantity of profanity had been reduced by at least 50%.” That said, if you can get past the subject, the setting and the language, it ain’t that bad a book, just not for me. 05/07 Jack Quick

THE KEEPER by Sarah Langan: Susan Marley wanders the town of Bedford, Maine, leaving a trail of nightmares in her wake. Everyone in the town thinks of Susan at their worst moments. Thoughts and dreams of her come unbidden and are beyond the townspeople’s control. Then, Susan Marley is dead. Rather than relief, her death brings a plague of darkness and evil to the dying town of Bedford. Those who are able, leave before the worst of it begins. Everyone who remains hides a dark secret in their past, a secret that the dead Susan Marley can now release upon them. Sarah Langan’s Stoker nominated debut is an absolute must for horror fans. This creepy tale will, at times, remind readers of King’s Needful Things. Like King, Langan’s characters are not ideal small town folk. Most of them are barely able to keep their dirty secrets hidden from the prying eyes of gossipy neighbors. It is just this element that makes the people of Bedford more realistic, if grandiose, depictions of the worst sort of people today. Langan has an impressive voice that is all her own. I recommend you lock your doors and curl up with this book late into the night. The Keeper is only the beginning. Langan’s recent follow-up, The Missing, revisits the cursed town of Bedford. 11/07 Becky Lejeune

THE KEEPER OF LOST CAUSES by Jussi Adler-Olsen: Carl Mørck has been back on the job for just one week after returning from medical leave. After surviving being shot in the head on a case that left one partner dead and the other paralyzed, to say Carl has lost his desire to work would be an understatement. Luckily for Carl and his department, politicians are pressuring for the creation of a new investigative arm that would focus on cold cases. Carl is given the job of heading up the new Department Q while his superiors can be satisfied in knowing that he’s out of their hair, all the while getting the benefit of new funding. A five-year-old missing persons case catches Carl’s eye and is the focus of this first in the new mystery series. Carl and his assistant, Assad, dig deeper into the case, which involves a young politician who went missing without a trace, and discover leads previously overlooked. As they unravel the threads of this complicated case, time is running out for the woman who, until now, has managed to survive. Adler-Olsen’s Department Q debut, published in the UK as Mercy, marks the beginning of a fabulously promising series. Carl and Assad make a great team and the plot is one of the most twisted I’ve come across in a while. This is the first of the Danish author’s books to be translated into English. 09/11 Becky Lejeune

THE KEEPER OF LOST CAUSES by Jussi Adler-Olsen: Long-time Homicide Detective Carl Morck suffers from survivor’s guilt. His head’s no longer in the game. Rather than risk union and political backlash he’s promoted to the head of Department Q. It turns out to be a department of one in a basement filled with boxes of Copenhagen’s coldest case files. Much to his surprise, a five-year-old case about a missing and presumed dead politician catches his interest. He, along with his newly acquired office assistant, Assad, is on the hunt. When new information leads him to believe that she’s still alive, it becomes a race against time to save her life. Keeper of Lost Causes is the first book in Adler-Olsen’s new series centering on Department Q. Detective Morck’s blandness, at first annoying, later accentuates the flamboyance of the other characters. His assistant, Assad, with the questionable background, attention to detail and a host of other slowly revealed skills kept me interested. The scenes with the captive politician were detailed and graphic but the investigation moved so slowly that by the middle of the book my concern for her waned. As the hunt was coming to a close the footwork accelerated at a startling pace, my concern for her waxed and the ending took my breath away. 10/11 Kimberly Bower

KEEPER OF THE BRIDE by Tess Gerritsen: Nina Cormier is a jilted bride and it is her lucky break; the church blows up just as she is leaving. The bomb squad investigates, headed by Detective Sam Navarro, and all leads point to a bomber for hire who is presumed dead, leaving Nina’s ex the prime suspect. Nina is heartbroken and scared, Sam is brave and strong, and both are determined to keep this all professional. But when someone tries to run Nina off the road, Sam realizes her life is in danger and they are thrown together for her safety. Nina’s high society mother isn’t much help, her father is busy with his much younger wife, leaving the two of them to work things out. Sam is skittish since his marriage fell apart because of his dangerous job, but he cannot stop thinking about Nina, and she soon realizes that this is no rebound romance. This fast-paced story has some good twists and two likeable protagonists. Keeper of the Bride is a re-release of a 2002 romantic suspense novel. Rizzoli and Isles fans may think of this as Gerritsen-lite, but Sandra Brown readers will love it. 7/13 Stacy Alesi, AKA The BookBitch Copyright © 2013 Booklist, a division of the American Library Association. Reprinted with permission.

KEEPING IT REAL by Justina Robson: When I picked this up, I was kind of like, “elves, bleh, they make my teeth hurt.” But they kind of have the same effect on the heroine of the book, with lots of complaining about their twinkly pan flute music and prissy attitude. (“Elves don’t rock!”)
In the story, it turns out there was some kind of temporal anomaly or something, it doesn’t really matter, and now people can travel between dimensions to the elf world and the demon world and possibly others, I don’t remember exactly. And there’s this one elf who is a rock star in the human world, and a human woman who is assigned to be his bodyguard because she was in a horrible accident and is now basically the Bionic Woman and more or less invincible. It’s definitely an unusual take on the whole elf thing, and it was pretty fun with lots of sciency details about magic.
My only problem with it was the rather pointless romance aspect, which is a bit like Stephenie Meyer’s Twilight series with the “we LOVE each other because we are SOULMATES because we LOVE each other because we are SOULMATES because we LOVE each other”. Even so, I liked it a lot and will probably read the next one in the series. Jenne Bergstrom 03/08

KEEPER OF LIGHT AND DUST by Natasha Mostert: Mia Lockheart is a Keeper like her mother before her and her mother before that and so on throughout the years. It is Mia’s job to protect and heal warriors. Her particular warriors are all martial arts fighters in the London area. Mia is also a tattooist and uses her art as part of her Keeper duties, using special symbols and ideograms to enhance her link to the fighters in her care. When one of her fighters dies mysteriously, just days after his last fight, Mia senses that there is something dark and sinister at work. How does an otherwise healthy man’s heart just stop beating? Nick Duffy, one of Mia’s closest friends and a fighter himself, also thinks the death is strange and manages to track down five other similar cases from recent years. As they both search out the truth, independent of one another, they are both led back to a stranger who calls himself Dragonfly. Little do they know that Dragonfly is a thief of the worst kind and he wants both Nick and Mia as his latest conquests. Mostert is one of the most creative authors I have read in ages. In each new book, she ties paranormal occurrences to scientific discoveries and philosophy to create intricate and thrilling stories. In Keeper of Light and Dust she has also incorporated the martial arts world and Eastern medicine as well as a new spin on the traditional vampire myth and the idea of Chi; another fantastic read from an amazing talent. 04/09 Becky Lejeune

Kentuckiana by Johnny Payne: This was seriously funny stuff, brilliantly written, about a family that will be impossible to forget. I wasn’t sure what to expect, I never heard of metafiction and still had some trepidations about Southern fiction. Braselton drew me out, and now this…I may be over it! I read it to gain some insight into the author, and I think I accomplished that, but I gained so much more. Onward to North of Patagonia… Stacy Alesi, AKA The BookBitch

KEY WEST CONNECTION by Randy Wayne White: Ex-Navy SEAL Dusky MacMorgan will need all his military skills when a psychotic pack of drug runners turns the Gulf stream waters red with the blood of his beloved family. His new life as a fisherman is shattered but soon he is tracking the pack responsible right into the island fortress of a corrupt U.S. Senator. However, even that fortress in vulnerable to a one-man hit squad with MacMorgan’s expertise and arsenal. Originally published in 1981 under the pen name of Randy Striker. Hope they have some more stashed away. 06/06 Jack Quick

KIDNAPPED by Jan Burke: Reporter Irene Kelly and husband Detective Frank Harriman return in this latest installment to the series. The mystery begins with the murder of Richard Fletcher, member of the famous Fletcher family, and the disappearance of his infant daughter Jenny. Five years later, Jenny is still missing. While investigating a story on missing children, Irene fills in for another reporter at a crime scene where human remains have been discovered. The scene turns out to be strangely linked to Irene’s own story. As she investigates further, she becomes entangled in something much bigger than she could have imagined. With original stories and an engaging cast, Jan Burke always delivers. Fans of the series will not be disappointed. This is also a perfect opportunity for newbies to jump in, though there are a few references to past releases. 10/06 Becky LeJeune

THE KIDNAPPING OF ROSETA UVALDO by Zane Grey: Good westerns are like potato chips. It’s hard to stop with just one. Twenty years as a Texas Ranger were about enough for Vaughn Merrill. He was ready to settle down with a good wife, and raise children and cattle on a spread of his own. However, when the lovely dark-eyed Roseta Uvaldo is kidnapped by bad guys from South of the Border, Merrill knows he could never pursue his own dreams until he rescued her and made sure her captors paid the price. 04/06 Jack Quick

KILL ALL THE LAWYERS by Paul Levine: Levine delivers yet again with this fast, funny legal thriller, third in the Solomon vs. Lord series. Steve Solomon, Miami lawyer who lives by his own law and favors t-shirts with pithy sayings like, “Lawyers do it in their briefs” has his hands full. A former client, Dr. William Kreeger, recently released from prison, has somehow learned that Steve threw the case and got him convicted. Instead of appealing or suing, Dr. Kreeger, a well-known psychologist, decides to torture and kill Steve. Steve’s law partner & lover, Victoria Lord, is pressuring him to make a commitment, and worse than that, he thinks he wants to. Steve’s lovable-albeit-challenging nephew, Bobby, is at full pubescent turmoil, compounded by Bobby’s drug-addict mother finding Jesus and trying to move back into his life. To round out this picture of family dysfunction is Steve’s father, who has also found religion – he’s become an Orthodox Jew and is driving Steve crazier than usual. But despite all their faults, none of them really wants to see Steve get killed. With a little help from friends and family, Steve & Victoria live to fight another day. And to fans of this series, that is very good news indeed. I love this series; it’s become one of those that when I read the latest book – a couple of weeks before the on-sale date, mind you – I’m immediately impatient for the next. Hey, Levine, I know you’re reading – can’t you write any faster??? 08/06 Stacy Alesi, AKA The BookBitch

KILL ALL THE LAWYERS by Paul Levine: The oddest of odd couples continue their legal practice and love-hate relationship. She honors the rules, he bends them, she wants to settle down, he is too high flying. This time Steve has a little problem, an ex-client and convicted killer psychologist with a genius level IQ discovers that Steve deliberately lost his case. This is not someone you want as an enemy as Steve learns when a 300-pound fish is found dangling from Steve’s door. The threats escalate from there and strain the relationships to the max, before the matter is finally resolved. Please, please keep them coming, Mr. Levine. This has got to be more fun than practicing law. 11/06 Jack Quick

KILL FOR ME by Karen Rose: In Dutton, Georgia, an elderly monster known only as Charles and his associates steal teenage girls to sell to perverts in a lucrative human trafficking scheme. Hot on their trail are the Georgia Bureau of Investigations special agent Daniel Vartanian; his partner, special agent Luke Papadopoulos; and his long-suffering sister, Susannah Vartanian, a New York City ADA. A botched raid spurs the murders of five girls and the removal of abused assets to another hiding place. Two courageous teen survivors provide the GBI with help, but a mole in the GBI working for Charles complicates the takedown. In spite of its topic and some gruesome scenes, there are also romantic overtones that quite frankly, keep taking me out of the action. Not chic lit, but not as hardcore as the subject matter would indicate. 09/09 Jack Quick

THE KILL LIST by Frederick Forsyth: Count on Forysth to deliver a crackling taut thriller. In Virginia, there is an agency bearing the bland name of Technical Operations Support Activity, or TOSA. Its one mission is to track, find, and kill those so dangerous to the United States that they are on a short document known as the Kill List. TOSA actually exists. So does the Kill List. Added to it is a new name: a terrorist of frightening effectiveness called the Preacher, who radicalizes young Muslims abroad to carry out assassinations. Unfortunately for him, one of the kills is a retired Marine general, whose son is TOSA’s top hunter of men. Known only as Tracker, he has spent the last six years at his job. He knows nothing about his target’s name, face, or location. He realizes his search will take him to places where few could survive. But the Preacher has made it personal now. The hunt is on. Not even the Preacher can stand up to the Tracker and the combined might of the United States, Great Britain and Israel. 9/13 Jack Quick
KILL ME by Stephen White: Clinical psychologist Dr. Alan Gregory plays only a cameo role in this tale about a wealthy, happily married businessman with an adventurous streak who becomes one of Gregory’s patients. The businessman has learned of an organization that, for a hefty fee, will end your life should you become a burden to family as the result of catastrophic accident or illness. He signs up, only to learn that while he has a potentially deadly medical condition, it could strike now or twenty years from now. The problem is that the organization has activated his contract. Can our hero evade the assassins he paid with his own money in time to put his house in order? Bizarre and thrilling, but bottom line – I think I prefer White’s other efforts better. 08/06 Jack Quick

KILL ME IF YOU CAN by James Patterson & Marshall Karp: Walter Zelvas has been stealing a few diamonds from each of the international diamond syndicate’s shipments for years, and now he has been found out. He is about to skip town with a bag full of $13 million in gems when the Russian mobsters hire the mysterious contract killer The Ghost to kill Zelvas and retrieve their diamonds. The contract killing does not go as planned, and former Marine-turned-art-student Matthew Bannon ends up with the bag of diamonds. Matthew decides to keep the diamonds and takes his girlfriend, Katherine, an art teacher at Parsons, on a romantic trip to Europe, where he plans on selling the diamonds. The Russian syndicate wants its property, of course, and they have dispatched several hired guns to find Matthew. Part keystone cop comedy and part thriller, the story twists its way to an inevitable conclusion. Not Patterson’s best and not as cool as Karp’s Lomax and Biggs series. Maybe next time. 11/12 Jack Quick

KILL SHOT by Vince Flynn: Prior to beginning this review I was sorry to note in Vince Flynn’s preface that he is fighting prostate cancer. I am sure that his many fans join me in wishing him well, and in the light of the many medical advances currently available it is hoped that his fight against this disease will be successful.

Kill Shot is the second book in which Flynn’s now famous CIA hero Mitch Rapp appears in an actual prequel to a long series of novels about his exploits fighting America’s enemies. Mitch’s forte has traditionally been doing the job assigned without regard to what the do-gooders in our society think should be the right way. If killing is required to defeating the enemy Mitch has no second thoughts about just going ahead and doing it. Kill Shot and the preceding novel American Assassin follow Mitch’s exploits in his first year out of CIA training. His skills as an assassin are positive and he has convinced his supervisor as well as the deputy director of the CIA that he is one of the best agents to ever work in the field for the CIA.
In the opening chapters Mitch has been assigned to assassinate an individual in Paris that seemingly has culpability in the Lockerbie bombing and those responsible for that are the people that Mitch has been hunting. As soon as Mitch pulls the trigger on the target he realizes that he has fallen into a trap set by Al Quada to get the individual responsible for killing so many of them that were involved in the bombing. In a series of permutations and combinations involving the French police, the French equivalent of the CIA, several factions of the CIA Mitch must find a way out of the trap set for him, prove himself innocent of wrong doing, and exposing what finally comes out as a high level rogue employee of the CIA. Always exciting, engrossing and keeping the reader glued to the pages, Flynn delivers another winner. 3/12 Paul Lane

KILL SWITCH by Neal Baer and Jonathan Green: Claire Waters has worked hard to earn a fellowship in Rikers Island’s psychiatric facility and her first case will test all of her instincts and training. As a child, Todd Quimby witnessed his mother murdering his father. Claire knows that Todd’s issues and escalation in sexual misconduct are a direct result of this traumatic experience. But when Quimby seemingly confesses to murder, Claire has no choice but to turn him in. As the bodies pile up, Quimby eludes the authorities again and again and Claire may just be his ultimate target. I wanted to enjoy this debut from Baer and Green, but each turn of the novel seemed to become more and more unbelievable. Unfortunately, none of the twists were all that surprising and the characters didn’t stand out. 1/12 Becky Lejeune

KILL YOU TWICE by Chelsea Cain: Gretchen Lowell is back in almost full form in this latest from Cain. When the flayed body of an unidentified man is found tied to a tree in one of Portland’s parks, Archie and his partner are called in to handle the investigation. Underneath the body, they discover a single white lily. Then a second body is discovered. This time it’s a woman found burned alive next to a Portland monument. Meanwhile, Susan Ward answers a call from Gretchen and gets an exclusive on her very first victim. But Gretchen wants something in return – she wants Archie’s attention and is willing to do just about anything to get it. She even claims to know who is behind this latest string of murders. Archie has fallen for Gretchen’s tricks before but this time it seems she may be on the right track. Cain’s penchant for uber violent and gory description continues in this fifth of the series. Unsurprisingly, it’s this unflinching attitude towards the dark and twisted parts of her characters’ psyches that makes the series a fan favorite. 8/12 Becky Lejeune
KILLER CUTS by Elaine Viets: This is the latest entry in the fabulous Dead End Job series. Helen Hawthorne, who likes to live below the radar and work for cash only, gets a job as assistant to a hair cutter to the stars. Miguel Angel deals with celebrities and tourists with same good grace and humor. One of his clients hires him to do her hair and makeup for her wedding to Kingman “King” Oden, a cable gossip star. King makes it through the wedding, but turns up dead in the pool a few minutes later. Cops find drugs in Miguel Angel’s bag and he becomes the prime suspect in the murder. Helen is sure he didn’t do it and sets out to prove it and find out who did, with the help of her fiancé. Nothing falls into place easily here, but there are lots of laughs on the rocky road to marriage. This is a great beach read, breezy and fun – another winner from Viets. 05/09 Stacy Alesi, AKA The BookBitch

A KILLER IN THE WIND by Andrew Klavan: One of the most intriguing psychological novels to come out in a long time. Klavan creates an almost Gothic aura surrounding the events and characters in the book and gets his reader wondering what is real, and what is supernatural. Detective Dan Champion working vice in the city of New York busts a sex slavery ring and the case and it’s resolution busts him. He is so affected by what he had to do to break up the ring that he finally resigns the NYC job and gets a position in a small town with what are seemingly less traumatic crime situations. Three years after joining the police force in that town he is called to help in the investigation of a young woman washed up, but alive, on the beach. Dan immediately recognizes the girl as one that has been in his dreams along with interaction with the ghost of a boy named Alexander. To help him cope with the seemingly impossible hallucinations he gets onto a new drug sold to him by a drug dealer that he has used as a contact before. The drug brings new hallucinations and involvement with events that are not within his memory. What is real, what is imagined and what does it all have to do with seeing the girl in his dreams alive and apparently wanting to contact him are the key factors in the story. Klavan has written a book that logically brings the reader into a seemingly supernatural scenario and ties all factors together with an extremely satisfying climax. Dan Champion may appear as a character in future Andrew Klavan books, but if not has been well fleshed out here. 1/13 Paul Lane

A KILLER IN THE WIND by Andrew Klavan: Former NYPD Vice Detective Dan Champion got burned out after uncovering a sex slavery ring run by a kingpin known only as the Fat Woman. He became a drug user and soon began to form hallucinations of a dead child prowling the streets of New York and a beautiful woman named Samantha with whom he fell in love. Now he is a small town detective in upstate New York and finds the body of a woman who has washed ashore. She is Samantha, the woman he dreamed about long ago, .a woman who doesn’t exist. Is he losing his mind. Yes, Champion is haunted again, but this time it’s by a team of expert killers who want to make sure he never finds the truth. The ghosts of the dead are all around him, and Champion has to find out who murdered them, fast, or he could become one of them himself. 2/13 Jack Quick

KILLER INSTINCT by Joseph Finder: Finder pens another corporate thriller that is his best yet – and that’s saying a lot for the “John Grisham” of the corporate world. Jason Steadman is a happy guy; he’s a successful salesman for Entronics, Panasonic’s biggest rival, he works with some good guys, plays softball for the company team. His wife isn’t so happy; she’d like to see him work a little harder, get further ahead, buy her a bigger house. When he accidentally drives into a ditch, he befriends the tow truck driver, Kurt Semko, ex-Special Forces and semi-pro ball player, recruiting him for the corporate team and getting him a job in security. In a strange twist of fate, good things start happening for Steadman while bad things are happening to his rivals. He becomes uneasy with all the yin and yang and the suspense gets thick as Steadman tries to figure out what is going on and how, or if, to stop it. Believable characters doing unbelievable things combine to make a fast paced, tension filled story that works because of Finder’s superb writing and storytelling skills. This is a page turner of the highest order; don’t plan on putting it down until you turn the last page. 05/06 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

KILLER INSTINCT by Zoë Sharp: This is the first Charlie Fox adventure. Fox, psychically damaged by a horrendous episode when she was in the British army is a biker chick whose conscience restrains her from using her potentially deadly hand-to-hand combat skills. After some backstory, we meet self-defense teacher Charlie, who is hired as the only woman on the security force at the rehabbed New Adelphi nightclub in Lancaster. She is soon involved with club owner Marc Quinn and mixed up in porn videos, illegal drugs, and multiple rapes and murders. As Charlie herself is threatened by the murderer, action and peril intensify to a harrowing climax. Sharp manages to combine blood-and-guts action with a strongly feminist slant, as Charlie, who knows what it’s like to be a victim, seeks to empower women with her training. 2/12 Jack Quick

KILLER MOVE by Michael Marshall: John Hunter has just been released from prison, and he’s had years to plan his revenge. Meanwhile, Bill Moore is going places. A successful real estate agent, he nonetheless strives for more. One day, Bill has it all: a great life, a great job, a fantastic wife, and prospects. But all that changes with the blink of an eye. It begins with a card that reads: Modified. Soon, someone has hacked into his email and Amazon accounts. It’s making Bill look bad, but it’s still mostly an inconvenience. Then the stakes get much higher and Bill finds himself on the run. And John Hunter? Well, he doesn’t know Bill Moore… yet. This latest from Michael Marshall (aka Michael Marshall Smith) is a stand-alone with ties to his earlier Straw Men trilogy. Fans may know where the plot is headed, but for most it will come as a complete surprise. Marshall is pretty much an expert at setting up a story to go one place and then switching it up completely unexpectedly on the reader. It works on all levels—the twists drive the plot along at an excellent pace. I’m a big fan and can only hope that Marshall starts to gain more recognition here in the States—he’s an author who definitely deserves to be bigger. 07/11 Becky Lejeune

Killer Smile by Lisa Scottoline: After Dead Ringer, Mary DiNunzio and the all-women law firm of Rosato & Associates are back in another installment of the popular series. While it’s chock-full of Scottoline’s trademark murder, mayhem, and merriment, this time she has a more important and personal story to tell-that of the little-known internment camps for Italian Americans during World War II. Scottoline discovered her own grandparents’ alien registration cards, giving her the impetus and passion to bring this story to light. DiNunzio has taken on a pro bono case for the family of Amadeo Brandolini, an Italian immigrant fisherman who settled in Philadelphia but died under mysterious circumstances in one such camp in Montana; now, his family is seeking retribution. DiNunzio takes his case to heart, but her fervent research uncovers more subterfuge than she was supposed to find. Her crazy blind dates offer some comic relief, but the threats, violence, and bodies continue to pile up, and the truth remains elusive throughout this complex and riveting tale.

KILLER SWELL by Jeff Shelby: Smart-talking, wisecracking, surfing San Diego PI Noah Braddock, has a problem with his newest prospective client. Marilyn Crier is the mother of his high school sweetheart, Kate, and was actively involved in making sure the romance didn’t last. But Kate, now married, is missing, and Marilyn plays on his old feelings for her daughter to get him to take the case. After he finds Kate, too late, he sets out to find out exactly what has happened in the dozen years since they parted.. Drugs and drug lords, Federal and local police, Kate’s parents, sister and husband, all work to complicate the puzzle. Good action and a surprise plot twist make it a safe bet that Braddock will return. WICKED BREAK is his next one. 04/06 Jack Quick

KILLER YEAR, edited by Lee Child: Killer Year features a group of 13 debut crime/mystery/suspense authors whose books were published in 2007. The graduating class includes such rising stars as Brett Battles, Robert Gregory Browne, Bill Cameron, Toni McGee Causey, Sean Chercover, JT Ellison, Patry Francis, Marc Lecard, Derek Nikitas, Gregg Olsen, Jason Pinter, Marcus Sakey, and David White. These stories are intorcued by the likes of Lee Child, Jeffrey Deaver and Tess Gerritsen, In addition there are stories by Ken Bruen, Allison Brennan and Duane Swierczynski and essays by Laura Lippman and MJ Rose. Lee Child proves to be as adept as an editor as he has already shown as an author. Definitely a keeper. 04/08 Jack Quick

THE KILLER’S WIFE by Bill Floyd: What if your somewhat controlling, know-it-all husband turned out to be a serial killer? That is the intriguing premise of Floyd’s debut novel that never quite lives up to expectations. Nina Mosley has a baby before she is finally able to admit to herself that there is something wrong in her marriage and with her husband. By that point, he’s decided to trust her, and leaves her the evidence she needs to turn him in, get a divorce, move cross country and change her name. Years pass and then she is confronted by the parent of one of her ex’s victims, turning her new life upside down. When her son is kidnapped by a copycat killer, the tension really escalates. While interesting and towards the end, very suspenseful, the book tends to meander choppily between the back story and the present day situation, but all in all, a very impressive debut. 04/08 Stacy Alesi, AKA The BookBitch

THE KILLER’S WIFE by Bill Floyd: Leigh Wren has been through one of the worst experiences any wife can imagine. Her husband, Randy, was a serial killer and it was Leigh who discovered the truth and turned him in. Some people couldn’t believe that Leigh had nothing to do with the murders. It is one of these people, the father of one of Randy’s victims, who has tracked Leigh down six years after the fact and has turned her world upside-down. Now, neighbors look at her with suspicion, her son is being bullied in school, and it seems that the two may have become a target for a new killer. This is an explosive debut that elicits the most visceral emotional responses – everything from sympathy to downright anger. Like many novels, this one picks up in the middle, Randy sits, running through appeal after appeal on death row and Leigh has attempted to make a new life for her and her son. The story alternates between the events of the present and the events of the past – from the point when Randy first meets and woos Leigh, through her discovery of his terrible secret, to her new life and identity in Cary, North Carolina. This is one of the most talked about debuts of the year, and Bill Floyd really delivers. 03/08 Becky Lejeune

KLLING ART by Jonathan Santlofer: Kate McKinnon is back and has some major adjusting to do since her husband’s demise. She’s moved out of their luxury digs into a slightly more modest Chelsea apartment. She’s working on a new book on the 1930’s-40’s New York School of artists, which included such artists as Mark Rothko, Jackson Pollock and Willem de Kooning. Then in an odd coincidence, the de Kooning painting that Kate had donated to a museum in her husband’s memory is slashed during a museum benefit. More paintings are destroyed – and their owners are being murdered. The trend continues with an intriguing twist: the murderer is leaving a calling card, paintings that include clues to the next victim. Santlofer is a gifted artist and these paintings are featured throughout the book, putting an unusual spin on the thriller that really draws the reader in. Top notch. 02/07 Stacy Alesi, AKA The BookBitch

THE KILLING ART by Jonathon Santlofer: Kate McKinnon, a former NYPD detective turned art historian has given up her rich clients and is now writing a book about the New York School of painters of the 1930s. After someone slashes a painting by Willem de Kooning, which was loaned to a museum by Kate’s late husband, she reluctantly returns to police work, helping the NYPD’s art squad find out who’s behind this and other slashings. An interesting look into what, for me, was a totally different world. 05/06 Jack Quick

KILLING CASTRO by Lawrence Block: Hardcase Crime Number Fifty One is a reprint of a 1961 classic by one of the masters. Five guys on a mission. The reward – $20,000 each. The target – Fidel Castro. Originally published just before the Cuban Missile Crisis under a pen-name used only this once, it reads as good today. From the opening line – “The taxi, one headlight out and one fender crimped, cut through downtown Tampa and into Ybor City.” to the final scene at the airport, you know this book was not written on a word processor. At best it was typed two fingered on a battered Remington with a cigarette in the ashtray on one side and half a glass of good scotch on the other. No pretty boys here, no psychological insights, no sensitive touchy feely – just what the name implies – Kill him. 12/08 Jack Quick

THE KILLING CIRCLE by Andrew Pyper: Widower and single father Patrick Rush is looking for more out of his life than his journalism career has been giving him. On a whim, he joins a writing class. He finds that he has trouble developing his own story, but he quite enjoys one of his fellow classmates’ tales in particular. Time passes and Patrick hears that the author of this tale has died in a car accident. Patrick, who still has no story of his own, decides to tell hers instead. Then the dead girl shows up at one of his signings cryptically telling him to watch out, that he has awakened the Sandman. Soon, others from the class reveal that they have felt a presence, perhaps someone stalking them, a malicious being hiding in the shadows. Patrick, too, has felt this and believes that the person behind it has to have been one of the members of that writing group. Then the first body appears and Patrick knows that time is quickly running out for them all. At first, my impression was that Killing Circle bore a strong resemblance to Jincy Willett’s Writing Class. Quickly, though the book took a much darker tone than Willett’s more sarcastic tale. Pyper’s story is an ominous thriller with a really great ending. Certainly readers who enjoyed Willett’s novel will also like The Killing Circle, but in the end they are refreshingly different. 09/08 Becky Lejeune

A KILLING FROST by Michael A. Black: Ron Shade is a Chicago-area tough-guy P.I. and martial arts aficionado. Things aren’t going too well for him so he makes some life changing decisions. He buys a new Camaro Z-28 and a big yellow pages ad and starts looking for a different office. Then he meets Maria Castro. She wants him to find her friend Juanita’s missing fiancé Carlos. When Carlos is located, facedown is a shipping canal, the journey really begins to get interesting. By now Shade is involved with Maria, and there are lots of potential bad guys. It’s the Chicago way. Is Shade gonna be tough enough? Stay tuned. 07/09 Jack Quick

KILLING GHOST by Christopher Ransom: It’s been a year since James’s wife, Stacey, was killed. Though it was a terrible accident, no one has ever come forward. No one has ever been caught. For James, this year meant the end of his job, though not quite the end of his life. Hard drinking and wallowing in self-pity take up most of his time, until Annette moves in next door. Annette is a nice distraction—maybe a chance for James to move on—but Annette is starting to look and act a little too much like Stacey. And weird things are starting to happen in his house. Could Stacey be hanging around, unwilling to move on? Christopher Ransom again offers up a nice twist on the classic ghost story. Killing Ghost is a disturbing but fun horror read that will have you looking over your shoulder and second-guessing strange noises in the middle of the night. (Originally released in the UK as The Haunting of James Hastings.) 5/12 Becky Lejeune

THE KILLING GROUND by Jack Higgins: Is there anyone better at writing about bad guys doing good things? Sean Dillon, the colorful former IRA hit man turned British intelligence antiterrorism op is back, along with his able sidekick, Billy Salter, son of London pub keeper and career criminal, Harry Salter. The actual villain is Muslim extremist Hussein Rashid, aka the Hammer of God, one of the most successful assassins alive, with 27 certified kills of American and British soldiers and Iraqi politicians. This time Hussein is after Charles Ferguson, head of British intelligence. It’s a longstanding grudge, complicated by the recent kidnapping of Hussein’s promised bride, his 13-year-old cousin Sara, who was earlier kidnapped by Hussein himself. Don’t worry, it reads easier than it explains. Just don’t get too comfy because you never know what the next page will bring. With almost forty of these published, Higgins knows how to pull all the strings and without ever a letdown. Definitely recommended. 03/08 Jack Quick

A KILLING IN COMICS by Max Allan Collins: Mr. Collins is a throwback to the days of serious pulpwriters who produced solid crime story after story without getting too formulaic. Not bad company – Dashiell Hammett, Ellery Queen and currently Lawrence Block and Ken Bruen. Prodigious producers all. (And not to be confused with those who write the same book over and over – like James Patterson and Stuart Woods), One of the areas Collins has dabbled in is setting older crime fiction writers as characters in his novels. It has been a real source of pleasure to me to see how he treats the old masters like S.S. Van Dine in his works. One may well ask whether if it were not for Philo Vance, whether there could have possibly been a Lord Peter Wimsey.
In this outing, Mr. Collins is taking a slightly different tack and adopting heroes from the golden age of pulp comic books. The result is an amusing effort interspersed with good graphics reminiscent of both comic books and the excesses of the Batman television show. I really liked the resolution with a “here are the suspects, who did it?” presentation, pictures and all. My only minor complaint with the book is the tacky name changes for the creators of Superman and Batman. That is more than redeemed by the dedication of the book to one of the truly great men of comic literature (yes, there is comic literature), Will Eisner, the creator of The Spirit. 07/07 Geoffrey R. Hamlin

KILLING ME SOFTLY by Maggie Shayne: Bryan Kendall is a young cop in the Shadow Falls, Vermont PD who kills a perp in a hostage situation. He is placed on leave and then eventually cleared to go back to work. That news calls for a small party, but somehow Kendall ends up on the bathroom floor. The next morning he finds his girl friend has been strangled in the unique style of .the Nightcap Strangler, who terrorized the town of Shadow Falls fifteen years ago, before being arrested, convicted and dying in prison. Is this a copy-cat crime or was the wrong man arrested? Kendall’s ex-love, Dawn Jones, learns of his problems and returns to Shadow Falls to help him. Doing so places her at risk for the same fate. Not a bad book, but a little too much emphasis on the “true love” between Dawn and Bryan, as well as Dawn’s “ability” to talk to the dead. 06/10 Jack Quick
A KILLING NIGHT by Jonathon King: This time out Florida PI Max Freeman, is primarily in Fort Lauderdale and Philadelphia helping pal Bill Manchester look after the interests of a dozen immigrant cruise ship employees who were injured in a boiler explosion. Freeman is also looking into the murder of three pretty female bartenders. The suspect is Philadelphia ex-cop Colin O’Shea, with whom Max once worked. King just keeps getting better and better. 05/07 Jack Quick

KILLING RAIN by Barry Eisler: A blown assignment in Manila for his new employers – the Mossad – leaves two CIA agents dead and John Rain in the cross hairs as the Israelis fear his continued existence will lead back to them. Mossad operative Delilah who had become Rain’s lover and introduction to Mossad is now tasked with finding him and setting him up for elimination. But the dead agents are actually ex-CIA and there is more going on here than suspected by anyone. There are both official and unofficial agendas being pursued. Most of the action actually happens in Bangkok and Rain and his partner Dox seem to be under the gun all the time. Rain is a contradictory character, but Eisler makes him likable and the pace is always fast. Expect the unexpected and you may still be surprised at the end as I was. Recommended. 07/05 ~This review contributed by Jack Quick.

THE KINDNESS OF STRANGERS by Katrina Kittle: Sarah Ladens is struggling to keep her family intact after the death of her husband. Her oldest son, Nate, has been getting in trouble at school and her youngest, Danny is barely getting by. Sarah learns that her best friend is charged with a horrendous crime against her son, a classmate of Danny’s, as well as several other young children in this small, close-knit town. Sarah must determine who to believe–the scathing evidence the police has found, or her best friend. And caught in the middle is Jordan, Danny’s classmate. Jordan has never known what it feels like to really be loved. Now, without parents, he’s destined to become part of the foster care system. The Ladens step up and offer to foster him. After a long and difficult struggle, the Ladens, once again a family of four all begins to heal. The Kindness of Strangers is powerful and full of emotion. Katrina Kittle deals with a sensitive topic that is often buried. The emotion that each of the characters experience is genuine and believable. The reader feels that they are part of the story, a member of the community that is forced to deal with this horrendous crime. 05/08 Jennifer Lawrence

KINDS OF LOVE, KINDS OF DEATH by Donald Westlake: This was first published January 1966 under the penname of Tucker Coe, so a reissue of an early book introducing Mitch Tobin, a police officer that was let go from the force for a love affair outside of his marriage. He was an honest cop with the one glaring error to mar his career and cause him to lose his job and his pension. He has spent six months watching his savings go down to nothing, and attempting to live off the small amount of money his wife makes on a low end job. She has forgiven him and stays with him. Crime boss Ernie Rembeck turns up and asks Mitch to investigate the murder of his mistress. He explains that he would like an ex cop to do the investigation and feels that the murderer is someone inside his crime syndicate. Mitch is reluctant to work for a crime boss, but does take on the job for the large sum of money promised to solve the case. While certain factors date the novel, such as comparatively small amounts of money that are stated as large, it is still good Westlake and holds the reader’s interest during Mitch’s investigation. All told there were five Mitch Tobin novels written and look like they will be reprinted and offered to today’s readers. If, like this one, which was the first Tobin book, they will be well worth the read and take the reader into the era of the 1960’s. 8/13 Paul Lane

THE KING OF LIES by John Hart: This powerful literary thriller starts off slowly but builds momentum like a runaway train. Jackson Workman Pickens, Work to his friends, is an unambitious criminal defense lawyer in a small North Carolina town who has some serious baggage. He’s lost his mother, his father Ezra has been missing for more than a year, leaving Work to deal with his psychologically damaged sister, and his marriage is on the rocks. Ezra, a prosperous attorney of questionable ethics and Work’s boss, made a lot of enemies, so when his body is found pretty much everyone is a suspect – but only one man is charged with the murder. Small town ostracism and a social climbing wife only add to the difficulties of trying to find out the truth behind the murder, which eventually opens a Pandora’s Box for Work. The writing is beautiful and the story is gripping, but it is the character study of a damaged southern lawyer that puts this debut novel on the must-read list. 06/06 Stacy Alesi, AKA The BookBitch. Copyright © 2006 Cahners Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. Reprinted with permission.

THE KING OF LIES by John Hart: This debut novel is evocative of some of the early John Grisham works. “Work” Pickens is a second-generation lawyer in Salisbury, North Carolina who has always lived in the shadow of his father, Ezra. Ezra’s body, with two .357 bullet holes is found over a year after he disappeared the same night Work’s mother died. Because Work stands to inherit over $15 million, he is an immediate suspect, although it is known that Ezra had a number of people who actively disliked him. Then Work learns that Alexandra, his sister’s partner, was convicted of killing her own abusive father which makes Work fearful for her safety an well. A powerful story and reasonably well written. I found it a bit long on “touchy-feely” and had some difficulty in warming up to Work because of his brooding nature and some of his personal predilections. I look forward to Hart’s next effort to see if there is improvement. 04/07 Jack Quick

KING OF SWORDS by Nick Stone: Nick Stone made his debut last year with the award-winning Mr. Clarinet. In his first thriller, readers were introduced to PI Max Mingus. Now, Stone takes readers back to 1980 when Mingus was still a Miami cop. In King of Swords, Miami is suffering the results of years of racial intolerance and turmoil. It’s only a matter of time before a wrong step is taken and the whole city explodes. Max is part of an elite team of cops who don’t always go by the books, or follow the rules, to get their results. Max’s partner, however, is another matter. Joe has been left out of the loop and only Max’s dedication to his friend has kept him in his current position. When a prominent member of the Miami drug trade is gunned down on the witness stand, Max is told to make a certain connection in an attempt to bring down a wanted drug lord. He and Joe decide to play it the boss’s way, but continue to investigate on their own in hopes of actually solving the case. When it is discovered that the killing is linked to yet another series of murders that took place just months before, Max and Joe know that they have stumbled onto something big. Miami gangsters, drug lords, dirty cops, and Haitian voodoo are just some of the key aspects of this gritty and dark prequel. King is a great starting point for new readers, and fans of Mr. Clarinet are guaranteed to enjoy reading about how Max Mingus got his start. 12/08 Becky Lejeune

KING OF SWORDS by Nick Stone: Stone’s 2007 thriller Mr. Clarinet was one of my top ten reads for last year. This second thriller is actually a prequel which begins when Detective. Sergeant Max Mingus and his black partner, Detective Joe Liston, of the Miami PD discover a decomposed body in a primate park. When a tarot card—the ominous King of Swords—is found in the victim’s stomach and his entire family killed, it’s clear something darker is at work. The detectives are soon hot on the trail of a young Haitian pimp and his fortune-teller mother, who are thought to be linked to voodoo gang leader Solomon Boukman. Mingus and Liston soon realize that with the rampant police corruption there is no one they can trust and they are both in way too deep to back out. There are hauntingly violent and gruesome scenes as in Clarinet, but if you can stand the heat, Stone has turned out another great read. 06/09 Jack Quick

KING OF THE ROAD by Paul Hemphill – Paul Hemphill grew up in Birmingham, Alabama and became a featured daily columnist in the Atlanta Journal during the 1960’s. In this novel, he captures the spirit of the last American cowboy – the over the road trucker – who is trying to pass along his love of this life to his son. Jake and Sonny go on the road for Jake’s last trip from Alabama to Nevada – a journey that will enable Sonny to see his father, and himself, in a new light. Jake is over seventy, his wife has Alzheimer’s and doesn’t know him most of the time, his daughter and son-in-law have disowned him. All he has left is Dixie Red ball IV – his gasoline powered Dodge truck – and Sonny, an alcoholic want-to-be writer who has settled for teaching at community colleges rather than reaching for his goals. Extremely well written and accurately depicts the time and location. 08/05 ~This review contributed by Jack Quick.

THE KINGDOM by Amanda Stevens: In this second book of the Graveyard Queen series, cemetery restorer Amelia Gray has been hired to clean up Thorngate in the small South Carolina town of Asher Falls. Once the Asher family cemetery, Thorngate was donated to the town in an attempt to make amends after Pell Asher allowed the state to build a reservoir over the prior graveyard. To say the townspeople are still sore over the deal would be an understatement and Thorngate has been neglected in the years since. Amelia is prepared for some resistance to her hiring, but her reception in town is downright chilly. When she discovers an unmarked grave and begins digging into Asher Falls history, Amelia soon finds that she’s upset someone or something that might be willing to kill to make sure their secret remains safely buried. As with the first in the series, Amelia’s position and her talent for seeing the dead leaves lots of opportunity for interesting cemetery and burial practice history as well as a great set up for a creepy paranormal mystery. Stevens also reveals more of Amelia’s somewhat secretive background in this follow up to The Restorer. 5/12 Becky Lejeune

THE KING’S DECEPTION by Steve Berry: A very complex novel but the ease with which Berry ties all factors neatly together marks a truly fascinating and engrossing read. What do Elizabethan times in British history, going from the reign of Henry VIII to Queen Elizabeth I and her successor, the return of one of the terrorists in the Pan Am Flight 103 bombing to Libya due to humanitarian reasons based on his terminal cancer, and questions of territory granted to Irish Protestants by Elizabeth I have to do with one another? A possible answer to this is presented by Steve Berry in his latest Cotton Malone novel. Malone is returning to Denmark with his son Gary via a stopover in England. His previous employer: the CIA, has asked him to escort a teenager that fled England rather than endanger himself by providing facts about a murder he saw. Looks like an easy drop, with a delivery of the fugitive to British authorities than on to Denmark with Gary for a much needed father and son get together visit. No such luck, the boy and Gary are kidnapped by persons unknown and Malone enters into the midst of a conspiracy involving the US CIA, the British equivalent of the FBI, a visit to Oxford University, exploration of London underground, and tours of the tombs of deceased British royalty interred in Westminster Abbey. Steve Berry and his wife are fascinated by history and together founded a society called History Matters which is dedicated to historic preservation. He incorporates his love of history with a great story featuring a theory about Elizabeth I changing the way she is featured, and based upon interpretation from writings of her contemporaries as well as an essay published by Bram Stoker, the creator of Dracula showcasing that change in view of her. The concept of a different Elizabeth I and what it could mean if true has the possibility of reshaping the UK. King’s Deception is fiction, but a reading of certain facts presented by Berry in the course of the novel are sure to provoke the reception of new ideas and theories on the part of the reader. In keeping with the formats of his last several books Steve Berry’s research into other times leads to alternative ideas of that period and I certainly look forward to his next novel. 6/13 Paul Lane

KINGS OF MIDNIGHT by Wallace Stroby: Crissa Stone is a career criminal who has pulled a number of impressive heists by knowing how to keep her mouth shut and her temper in check. Still, as good as she is, she wants to get out of the life. She’s not the only one. Benny Roth, a former mobster, has been straight for years, but now he has his own problems. A face from the past has popped up to tell him that boss Joey Dio is finally dead and to ask about the five million dollars that Joey was rumored to have stashed away years ago. Benny denies knowing anything about it and claims he’s out of the business. That may be what he says, but he’s willing to risk almost everything for one last shot. The two unlikely partners risk it all for that one last score. Excellent. 6/12 Jack Quick

A KISS BEFORE MIDNIGHT by Eloisa James: My quest to find a romance novel I can read and enjoy continues, with a fun stop with this fairytale. If the title didn’t clue you in, allow me – this is a retelling of Cinderella. This is not a modern, Enchanted type tale; the author states in her note at the end that it is set probably around 1813, so a historical Cinderella, if you will. The rats are small, yipping dogs, there is no pumpkin, and the glass slippers are made of spun tapestry silk that looks like glass. The godmother is no fairy but a practical, sensual, funny woman, and yes, there is a prince. He’s probably darker than Disney ever envisioned, but totally hot – a real fairytale prince. This was a fun read and I’m looking forward to the next book, a retelling of Beauty and the Beast. 08/10 Stacy Alesi, AKA The BookBitch

A KISS GONE BAD by Jeff Abbott: Welcome to Port Leo, Tex., original home of porn star Pete Hubble, the black sheep son of a senator, who returns only to be killed. His producer and girlfriend, Velvet Mojo, along with rookie Judge Whit Mosley and police detective Claudia Salazar, a pompous southern sheriff, a wrestler turned evangelist, a shadowy psychotic killer named Blade, a corrupt female senator and a delightful sidekick who sticks to his ethics even if they don’t always coincide with judicial law seek to get to the bottom of the matter. You’ve probably guessed the conclusion by now, but you still should give it a read. 06/06 Jack Quick

KISS HER GOODBYE by Mickey Spillane and Max Allan Collins: Mickey Spillane is no longer with us but thanks to his notes, and his good friend Max Allan Collins, we still have some more of Mike Hammer. Hammer has been recuperating in Florida after a deadly mob shootout when his friend Pat Chambers calls to tell him their old mentor on the New York Police force, Inspector Bill Doolan, has committed suicide rather than face a drawn out death from cancer. Hammer returns to New York for the funeral—and because he knows that Inspector Doolan would never have killed himself. Hammer’s lovely longtime partner, Velda, has disappeared after he broke it off for her own safety, and his office is shut down. When a woman is murdered practically on the funeral home’s doorstep, Hammer is drawn into the hunt for a cache of Nazi diamonds and for the mysterious beauty who had been close to Doolan in his final days. He also mixes it up with some drug racketeers, who had it in for the tough old police inspector, and plays footsie with a sleek lady D.A., a modern female on the make for the old fashioned Hammer. At the end Hammer and his .45 do a bit of house cleaning. Its definitely Hammer Time. 05/11 Jack Quick

KISS ME, JUDAS by Will Christopher Baer: Remember the one about the man who wakes up in a hotel bathtub full of ice to discover someone has removed a kidney? That really happens to Phineas Poe, an ex-cop on his first night out from a six month stay in a psychiatric hospital. Poe heads to the sex-shop where his friend Crumb works. “Crumb isn’t really a doctor. He does cheap abortions and gunshot wounds and even dental work for the mad and desperate.” Crumb confirms the absence of Poe’s kidney and even further complications : but you just have to read it for yourself…. 11/05 ~This review contributed by Jack Quick.

KISS ME, KILL ME by Lauren Henderson: Every girl knows how hard it is to be a teenager. Scarlett Wakefield is one the very unlucky ones. When Scarlett is invited to attend a party thrown by one of the most popular girls at St. Tabby’s private school, she is elated. Her crush, Dan McAndrew will be there. Her two friends are understandably angry at being ditched, but Scarlett can always deal with that later. After all, this could finally be her chance with Dan. Everything is going fantastically well. She and Dan are talking, and then, magically, kissing, but something is wrong with Dan. Dan is dead and it seems like Scarlett must be cursed with the kiss of death. Shamed out of St. Tabby’s, Scarlett is whisked away by her grandmother to attend Wakefield Hall Collegiate. Wakefield Hall is a far cry from St. Tabby’s and being the headmistress’s granddaughter isn’t helping. At least no one knows about Scarlett’s killer past. There is even a boy at Wakefield, the gardener’s hot grandson. Scarlett can’t shake the horrifying memory of Dan’s death, however, or the guilty thought that it was all her fault and she vows to find out the truth at any cost. This is Henderson’s first young adult title and the start of what promises to be a great teen mystery series. It’s fun for adults as well. Henderson is no newbie to the mystery trade. She is the author of seven precious adult tart noir mysteries. 01/08 Becky Lejeune

Kisscut by Karin Slaughter: In this sequel to Blindsighted, Dr. Sara Linton and Police Chief Jeffrey Tolliver are back, dealing with very disturbing subject matter; a child porn ring and teenage genital mutilation, in a story even more depraved and gory than it’s predecessor. Slaughter borrows a page from Andrew Vachss, but unfortunately doesn’t quite measure up. The story just plods along in places, and certain plot points were dubious at best.

KISSER by Stuart Woods: This is Woods’ 17th Stone Barrington novel and I am afraid that with it, Mr. Woods has joined James Patterson and the late Harold Robbins on my list of “burned out” authors. Stone Barrington (who, other than Stone Phillips of NBC-TV, is so uniquely named), ex-NYPD Detective and current legal eagle falls hook, line and sinker for one Carrie Cox, an aspiring actress who’s recently moved from Georgia to New York City, whom he picks ups at Elaine’s, his favorite Manhattan restaurant. Add her to Barrington’s long and somewhat unusual list of conquests art gallery assistant Rita Gammage, U.S. attorney Tiffany Baldwin, and mentally unstable Dolce Bianci, to whom he was once briefly married. Ms. Cox allegedly is being pursued by a violent ex-husband who wishes her great harm, so Stone and his current and former NYPD and CIA friends jump into protect the poor lass. Stone even allows her to spend most nights with him. In a few days major discrepancies appear in Ms. Cox’s story but in the meantime, Barrington manages to get involved in protecting young heiress Hildy Parsons from a con artist/drug dealer, and plots to take down Ponzi scammer Sig Larsen. I know I am not getting old, but all the whining and wining and dining and bedding, etc. begins to wear thin. 02/10 Jack Quick

KISSES AND LIES by Lauren Henderson: Six months ago, Scarlett Wakefield thought all her dreams were coming true. After being invited to an exclusive party by some of the most popular teens in London, she ends up alone with the guy she’s been crushing on for ages. But everything falls apart when Dan, the boy in question, dies while kissing Scarlett. She’d thought it was her fault, but in Kiss Me, Kill Me she finally discovered that she was wrong. Dan had a severe peanut allergy and someone laced the chips at the party with peanut oil and then stole Dan’s epi-pen (emergency allergy injector). Though her own conscience is clear, Scarlett is now determined to track down the person responsible for Dan’s murder. Her investigation eventually leads her to Dan’s ancestral home in Scotland. Scarlett manages an invite to the estate, but is not prepared for the surprises that await her upon arrival. This mostly lighthearted, contemporary mystery series is great fun for teens. I have a teen sister who’s been dying to get her hands on this book. I must admit that I was so intrigued after Kiss Me, Kill Me that I just had to read this one before handing it over to her. I was not disappointed. Who knows what Scarlett and Taylor will be up to next, but I can tell you the twist at the end of Kisses and Lies looks very promising for this series’ continuation. 04/09 Becky Lejeune

Kitchen by Banana Yoshimoto: Quirky first novel, more accurately a novella. I found the translation a bit awkward but it was a funny, touching story worth reading. Stacy Alesi, AKA The BookBitch

THE KITCHEN DAUGHTER by Jael McHenry: Ginny Selvaggio doesn’t have a syndrome, she has a personality. Or that’s what her mother always said. In truth, Ginny has Aspergers, which makes social situations somewhat awkward. Her mother has always protected her and had plenty of rules to help Ginny along. But when both of Ginny’s parents die, she must finally face things on her own. Her sister is ready to sell their house and believes Ginny shouldn’t be on her own. Meanwhile, Ginny, who has always been more comfortable in the kitchen than anywhere else, has discovered that she can bring back the dead by cooking their handwritten recipes. But their brief visits bring strange messages that are a riddle yet to be solved. Jael McHenry’s debut is a sweet and touching story about sisters, loss, family, and cooking. I loved Ginny as a narrator. Her unique point of view really captures the reader. The Kitchen Daughter is a fine debut and a lovely read. 04/11 Becky Lejeune

THE KITCHEN HOUSE by Kathleen Grissom: In the early 1800’s, Lavinia is orphaned on a ship from Ireland to America and becomes an indentured servant to the ship’s captain. He brings her to his home, ordering his slaves to train her in the kitchen house, a building far enough away from the main house to avoid any sort of fire problems. Lavinia has no memory of her life prior to her parents’ deaths and she clings to Mama Mae, the head of the household staff, and Belle, who’s in charge of the kitchen. Lavinia grows up there and leads a life that mirrors that of the slaves, until the captain dies and his sister-in-law takes her in. Life becomes even more difficult as a free woman, especially when Lavinia marries. Grissom is a wonderful story, bringing these characters and this place to life. A very interesting and very disturbing read about life on a plantation, told from the slave’s point of view. Lots to discuss here, which is why this book is so popular with reading groups. 12/11 Stacy Alesi, AKA The BookBitch
The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini: I had the privilege of meeting Josseini this past summer which compelled me to finally pick up his book. This book is an incredible coming-of-age story along with a fascinating history of modern Afghanistan. Amir is the son of a very successful businessman in Kabul and he grows up in privilege. His closest friend, Hassan, is the son of their servant. Amir’s mother died in childbirth and Hassan’s mother left him as an infant, and they shared the same wet nurse. They grow up together, playing games and flying kites, which is serious business in Afghanistan. They would be as close as brothers, except they are separated by class and by a horrific incident during their teenage years. Eventually Amir and his father flee Afghanistan and end up in California, (rather like the author’s own experience) but as an adult, Amir ends up going back to the Taliban-ruled Afghanistan to right some wrongs. Anyone with an interest in other cultures, especially in light of what’s going on over there, should plan on reading this. Beautifully written and very autobiographical, it is a book that will be haunting me for years to come. This one is definitely going to make my top ten for the year.

KITTY AND THE MIDNIGHT HOUR by Carrie Vaughn: Kitty Norville is a DJ for a Denver radio station. She’s also a werewolf, a secret that she’s been able to keep from her audience. One night, however, things change. She brings up the topic of “Bat Boy”, a local phenomena that frequently appears in the news. Hundreds of calls start pouring in, comments ranging from “My girlfriend, a werewolf, won’t bite me” to recommendations on exorcisms. And thus, “The Midnight Hour”, a supernatural advice show, is born. Kitty is overjoyed at the success of her new show. But her pack leader, Carl, is not. He’s afraid the show is casting too much attention on their pack. Nevertheless, Kitty continues to broadcast, and a rift forms between her and her pack. Her desire for independence is misunderstood as an attempt to gain power within the pack. When Kitty accidentally reveals herself as a werewolf on one airing of a show, her life is in danger. When Cormac, a werewolf hunter, threatens her life, Kitty, and her show, are brought to the attention of the local police. Hardin, a local detective, asks for Kitty’s advice on a batch of unsolved murders. Murders originally thought were the work of wolves. Kitty visits the crime scene and it’s instantly obvious—a rogue werewolf is killing people. The first in a series, KITTY AND THE MIDNIGHT HOUR is a very addictive read. I can’t wait to pick up the next book in the series. 03/09 Jennifer Lawrence

KLLRS by Phil Bowie: John Hardin has just been given an offer he can’t refuse, literally. Living under an assumed name and working as a pilot specializing in aerial photography, Hardin has some skeletons in his closet that are better off remaining hidden. When Nolan Radar, a former ATF agent, approaches him and blackmails him into helping him on a job, Hardin has no choice. Radar’s younger brother is missing and he believes that the notorious motorcycle gang, Satan’s Ghosts, is behind it. Radar wants Hardin to infiltrate the group and find his brother in exchange for keeping quiet. What the two don’t know is that a man calling himself Brain has taken the younger Radar as part of a twisted experiment and it’s just a matter of time before he’s killed. A great thriller that just sucks you in! Kllrs is third in a series that has been praised by both Lee Child and Stephen Coonts. 10/08 Becky Lejeune

KNEE HIGH BY THE FOURTH OF JULY by Jess Lourey: Chief Wenonga is one muscled dude. Of course, he is also 23 feet tall and formed from fiberglass. But when he goes missing just before the town of Battle Lake, Minnesota celebrates the statue’s 25th anniversary, there is sadness throughout the land. Enter amateur sleuth Mira James. However, her investigation is quickly interrupted by both the disappearance of her second biggest crush after the Chief, one Johnny Leeson, and the discovery of a dead body. So is Mira after a statue thief, a kidnapper, or a murderer? And the clue? A scalp left at the scene of the Chief’s disappearance. Better cook up another hot dish, Mama, this one is going to take awhile. One of the better cozy series, but then again I also love Prairie Home Companion. 11/07 Jack Quick

KNIT TWO by Kate Jacobs: It’s been five years since we met the members of the Friday Night Knitting Club. Dakota is now an eighteen year old NYU student, working part time at her mother’s yarn shop, Walker & Daughter. She aspires to become a pastry chef, but everyone seems to remind her of her duty to her mom’s shop. Darwin and her husband Dan, after trying for many years, are expecting twins. Lucie has really taken off as a video producer, while trying to be a single mom to her hyperactive 5 year old, Ginger. Anita, the mentor of the group, decides its time she do what she wants to do in life, and not rely on what her family thinks is best. Catherine has a successful wine/antique shop, and KC goes back to work at a firm that once dismissed her, but this time she’s their legal counsel. Reading KNIT TWO was like coming home again. The first few chapters were very difficult; I missed Georgia (who passed away from cancer at the end of FNKC) tremendously. Apparently so did the members of the Friday Night Knitting Club. They all relied on Georgia so much, and they were just now coming to terms with how to survive without her. I cried tears of sympathy for dear Dakota. Everyone thought they knew what was best for her, but weren’t listening to what she wanted. The strength of the women in this group is quite amazing. They have all overcome so much. And while they started as a knitting club, they evolved into so much more. 02/09 Jennifer Lawrence

KNOCKEMSTIFF by Donald Ray Pollock: If Flannery O’Conner and William Faulkner created a bastard lovechild, the result would be Donald Ray Pollock. Instead of the deep south, Pollock sets his stories in Knockemstiff, Ohio. The town is harsh and unforgiving. This despair is reflected in the lives of it’s characters. Incest, drug abuse, and domestic violence are pasttimes for the denizens of Knockemstiff. The factories are closing. Poverty is rampant. This is the forgotten underbelly of America where life is cheap. While the subject matter may be grim, it is delivered with a deft touch. Pollock’s writing style is nothing short of high-art, the work of a craftsman. This book will delight fans of transgressive fiction and university professors alike. 05/08 Dan Cawley

THE KOREAN INTERCEPT by Stephen Mertz: This one avoids Iraq and Afghanistan in favor of the other member of the Evil Axis – North Korea. The space shuttle Liberty, in orbit and set to deploy a defense satellite while making repairs to other satellites, has its mission aborted on order from NASA. Veteran captain Ron Scott is uneasy but obeys the order–then crash-lands in the frontier between North Korea and China. Scott, copilot Kate Galt and handsome but hotheaded crewman Bob Paxton survive. Scott must try to help the others avoid capture until Kate’s estranged husband, Major Trev Galt, a special-ops type for the National Security Council, can get them out of harm’s way. Not great literature but enough action to satisfy those who prefer an adrenaline rush to more subtle pleasures. 02/07 Jack Quick

MAD DOG by Mark Rubenstein: It is actually Dr. Mark Rubenstein, a practicing psychiatrist, who authored this very taut, compelling novel. Rubenstein wrote five technical books before turning to fiction, and his first fictional effort certainly indicates a talent in that direction. Roddy Dolan and Danny Burns are old friends and successful men that have their roots in Brooklyn 30 years ago. Roddy almost went to jail at that time, but thanks to efforts by his friend Danny’s mother was allowed to enlist in the army instead of serving time. The experience turned his life around and he became a successful surgeon. Danny became an accountant with a wide practice. Both are married with loving families and very happy with their places in life. An old friend from their boyhood days in Brooklyn approaches them to offer a chance to divest their portfolios by investing with him into a restaurant as silent partners. Danny does the proper investigation and proposes that they do so. Their wives concur and both put up sums required to enter into the deal. The situation begins to go sour when Roddy determines that their friend has been skimming from the business and is on both drugs and drink. A loanshark enters the scene and demands that the three partners pay him money owed by the managing partner in the sum of at least double the amount invested. Roddy, who was known as “Mad Dog” as a boy, comes up with a scheme to put an end to the loan shark’s ideas to collect money, and collect more money whenever he wants to. The account of what Roddy and Danny have to do is extremely well handled. The characters are very well fleshed out, and the reader will understand the reactions and thoughts of both men. This is definitely an impossible book to put down with an ending that will cause a reaction of “of course” by readers. A short preview of Rubenstein’s next novel appears at the end of the book, and as I did will cause a note to be placed on file to get it as soon as it comes out. 10/12 Paul Lane

MAD DOGS by James Grady: Grady’s first novel (Six Days of the Condor, 1974) was awesome and I heartily recommend it to anyone who hasn’t read it. Time will tell whether his latest will stand the same test of time. Five former CIA operatives, deemed to be mentally unable to continue, are housed in a top-secret insane asylum in Maine. When their psychiatrist is murdered they realize they will be framed for the crime, so they break out and make their way to Washington, D.C. and a man they hope holds the key to the mystery. On one level this is a well-written thriller that moves at a rapid pace with plenty of action, or you may consider it an extended hallucination not unlike One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest. Ultimately, it’s a tale of emancipation and coming to terms with the realities of life, and one’s own limitations. 11/06 Jack Quick

THE MADMAN’S DAUGHTER by Megan Shepherd: Times have been tough for Juliet Moreau since her father’s disappearance. Doctor Moreau was once a noted surgeon but rumors concerning the questionable nature of his research ruined his career. He left six years ago and Juliet has always assumed that he was dead. When her mother passed away, Juliet was left with no choice but to find a job. Fortunately, an old colleague of her father’s secured Juliet a position cleaning at the university. One evening, Juliet discovers a page of her father’s notes in the possession of some of the students. She traces the notes to a local inn, but instead of Moreau she finds Montgomery, his assistant. Montgomery admits that Moreau is very much alive and that he, Montgomery, has continued working alongside him all these years. At first Montgomery is insistent that Juliet cannot accompany him back to the island where Moreau does his research. But when Juliet attacks a man while defending her honor, Montgomery is left with no choice but to bring her along. Soon Juliet finds herself face to face with her father once again, but is she ready for what she’ll discover? Megan Shepherd’s take on HG Well’s Island of Doctor Moreau is fabulous. It’s a dark and twisted teen sci fi read that’s perfect for adults as well and it’s to be the first in a trilogy, which means there’s more to Juliet’s tale. 2/13 Becky Lejeune
MAD MOUSE by Chris Grabenstein: In this terrific sequel to TILT-A-WHIRL, Danny Boyle is applying for a full time position with the Sea Haven police department after spending the summer working part time with John Ceepak. Ceepak lives by a code of honor that is both refreshing and worth emulating, at least to Danny. Danny is partying one night at the beach with his friends when they are attacked by someone with a paintball gun. It’s not fun being hit, but it’s usually not dangerous either, except one of the girls gets hit in the eye. And then they get shot at again, more paintballs but also bullets go whizzing by, leaping up the investigation a notch. All of this is happening just prior to the Labor Day barbeque bonanza weekend, closing the summer season at the Jersey shore resort area. The new chief of police wants to keep a lid on things and not scare off the tourists and the mayor is worried about local businesses losing money if they have to cancel. Then another of the friends is shot and seriously wounded, the mayor and police chief are trying to keep everyone calm, and Danny and Ceepak are determined to find the shooter before anything else happens. Besides the suspense and the humor, you can smell the salt air and taste the taffy, making this the perfect beach read. 06/06 Stacy Alesi, AKA The BookBitch

MAD MOUSE by Chris Grabenstein: Labor Day is coming and the New Jersey resort town of Sea Haven is gearing up for a big celebration. Easygoing part-time-summer-only cop Danny Boyle has become so enamored of police work with his partner, super-cop John Ceepak, that he wants to be promoted to full-time and kept on after the end of the season. Luckily, Ceepak, the decorated Iraq War veteran, is on the case when a sniper begins stalking Danny, girl friend Katie and their friends. The mayor wants things solved before the holiday festivities. Danny wants it solved before someone gets killed and John wants it solved period. Having now read both of Grabenstein’s initial efforts, I would comment, not negatively, that they would probably make better television show episodes than mystery books. Think Rockford Files meets Baywatch on the East Coast. Give it a Springsteen soundtrack, some eye candy, and a couple of mis-matched leads as Danny and John. It would be a lot better than most of what’s on the tube today. 11/06 Jack Quick

MAD RIVER by John Sandford: Virgil Flowers has his hands full with three teenagers with dead-end lives who go on a Bonnie and Clyde spree. The body count keeps mounting and Flowers can’t seem to move fast enough as their crime spree cuts a swath through rural Minnesota. With the growing army of cops after them, the end is pretty likely, but the getting there is not. Another good Sanford. 10/12 Jack Quick

MADE IN THE U.S.A. by Billie Letts: Lutie and Fate McFee have been dealt a really raw deal. They were abandoned by their drunk father; left with one of his many girlfriends while he made his way to Vegas for his fortune. Now said girlfriend, who was nice by all accounts, has dropped dead of a heart attack in the WalMart checkout line. After some inventive lies, Lutie packs up Fate and they head off to Vegas, in a technically stolen car with technically stolen money, in hopes that they can find their father. Upon arrival, they learn that their father was arrested and eventually died in prison. Lutie takes it upon herself to provide for Fate as best as she can, hoping to make it big and give them both a better life. Unfortunately, as with other Letts characters, Lutie and Fate experience some of the worst things that can befall kids on their own. I have to say that I think even the folks in Where the Heart Is had it a little better than these two kids. Another tear-jerking and overwhelmingly heart-warming tale of growth, redemption, and the importance of family. 06/08 Becky Lejeune

MADELINE MANN by Julia Buckley: Aha, another perky female newspaper reporter with uncanny sleuthing abilities. Madeline Mann, Madman to her brothers and close friends wouldn’t sign the Declaration of Independence – too conformist. She must go her own way and if that means getting involved in homicide investigations in her hometown of Webley, Illinois, so be it. You wouldn’t think a major metropolis like Webley would have political intrigue, love, greed, obsession, and an Annual Fall Harvest Festival. Count on the madman to find them all in this series, that’s series, not serious opener. There are appears to be more substance here than say, a big wad of cotton candy, but no steak and potatoes that I could find. I can’t help but wonder where all these young blonde femme fatales were when I was a newspaper publisher. All I ever got were like you know, functionally illiterate, or else ex-school teacher empty nesters seeking fame and glory, but heaven forbid you tried to give them direction. Anyway, it’s enjoyable. 08/07 Jack Quick

THE MADNESS UNDERNEATH by Maureen Johnson: Though Rory is much recovered from her run in with the killer known as the Ripper, her parents are less than anxious to allow her to return to life as usual. She’s living with them in Bristol, attending her mandatory therapy visits, but desperate to return to Wexford. She soon gets her chance, though, when therapist Julia announces that it’s the most promising opportunity for getting over the incident. Rory quickly learns that her return has been finagled by her friends, The Shades — the super secret ghost busting division of the police. They were in danger of being shut down after the Ripper destroyed their last Terminus – which allowed them to send ghosts back where they belong – but Rory has inherited a neat little power as a result of her Ripper experience: she’s apparently become a Terminus herself. With her help, The Shades can continue. As she tries to maintain a balance between school and her friends, she discovers something else. A murder near Wexford appears to be tied in with the aftermath of the Ripper case. At first, no one believes her, but it soon becomes clear that she’s right. But can Rory handle the secrets and responsibilities of her two different lives? This second in the Shades of London series continues where The Name of the Star left off. Johnson’s snappy prose and snarky wit make this a creepy and quirky series that perfectly ties together paranormal and mystery elements. 2/13 Becky Lejeune

THE MADONNAS OF LENINGRAD by Debra Dean: This is Russian immigrant Marina Buriakov’s story and it is a rather difficult one. Marina is suffering from Alzheimer’s disease, and her family is trying to cope with her and her granddaughter’s upcoming wedding at the same time. Marina can barely remember who her granddaughter is, but has no trouble remembering working as a docent at the State Hermitage Museum in Leningrad on the eve of WWII. The story alternates between the present day and her memories of that time, emptying the museum in preparation for the possible theft or damage of its treasures. The writing is lovely, especially about the artwork in the museum, but the theme of memory and how it affects our lives is most poignant and moving in this lovely, heartfelt family tale. 07/08 Stacy Alesi, AKA The BookBitch

THE MAGDALEN MARTYRS by Ken Bruen: The Magdalen Martyrs is the latest mystery novel in author Ken Bruen’s series about a self-destructive Irish crime solver named Jack Taylor. While I think that this is his best so far, if this appeals to you, I would recommend that you go back and read his earlier novels as well and trace his development as an author.
Jack Taylor is a former member of the Irish police force known as the Guardia. His experiences on that job hardened him, turned him to the bottle and led him to resent any form of authority. His boozing and behavior led to his ouster from the Guards and they keep asking him to please give them their uniform coat back. Jack, at this point in his life, is an alcoholic going down. He hates his life, but finds consolation in his books (he likes mysteries, poetry, A.A. Alvarez and Thomas Merton in particular) and he finds numbness and forgetting in whiskey and drugs. Like Lawrence Block’s Matthew Scudder, who he admires, he has at this point in his descent, nonetheless developed a reputation as a detective of sorts and is asked to help various souls who are reluctant to involve the authorities.
The title of this book involves an Irish scandal that had been fairly widely publicized in the past year. It refers to the Magdalen laundry facility, a home established by an order of nuns for unmarried women thrown out of their families for engaging in premarital sex. A far cry from The Cider House, the women are not only forced to work as virtual slaves, but subjected to great physical and mental abuse as well. Many simply did not survive and even the survivors were scarred for life. In this case, Jack is asked to pay off a favor he owed to a very “hard man” in the Irish underworld. The hard man’s sister was a laundry survivor and he asks Jack (on the pain of being killed if he fails to perform) to find one of the teachers who retired from there and was the only good person on the staff. As the plot develops, it is clear that she was not an angel of mercy. In fact, the poor young women referred to her as Lucifer. And the hard man does not intend to thank her, but to make her experience the same sort of misery she meted out. In the course of investigating this case, and another unrelated matter, Jack gets beaten badly repeatedly, his clothes are ruined over and over again, he is thrown in jail and even his books are destroyed. (This gives him another to excuse to launch into one of his long lists of authors – I am getting a little tired of this, although I like the same writers Jack does). However, this destruction is secondary to that which he is imposing on himself in every page with each sip, each pill and each line of cocaine. I fear greatly for Jack.
Ultimately, and in very clever, but very tough fashion, the various plot lines are resolved, but the larger dilemmas in Jack’s life remain.
I have not enjoyed reading a new mystery author this much in several years. If you like hard-nosed crime fiction with a real Raymond Chandler hero, you can not miss these. 03/05 ~This review contributed by Geoffrey R. Hamlin.
THE MAGDALEN MARTYRS by Ken Bruen: “So I drink. I’m way past my sell-by date and am on precious borrowed time. I should have gone down a long time ago. Lots of days, I wish I had.” Meet Jack Taylor who brings new meaning to the term hard-boiled. An erstwhile detective and full time alcoholic Taylor prowls the dark side of Galway, as if there were no tomorrow. Why? He really and truly doesn’t care whether there will be a tomorrow. After all, it will only be as bad as today and yesterday, anyway. Jack is trying to locate a woman associated with the notorious Magdalen Home for Unwed Mothers as well as determine whether a merry widow was responsible for her husband’s death. Powerful writing from the man called the Celtic Dashiell Hammett. 10/05 ~This review contributed by Jack Quick.

THE MAGDALENA CURSE by F.G. Cottam: Mark Hunter was an accomplished military man. His experiences and expertise made him an optimal choice for a very secret mission in the Amazon. It is this mission that hangs over him. Now Mark’s son is the victim of a terrible curse, the result of the wrath of an evil woman. Everyone becomes pawns in her game, playthings for her amusement. If Mark can’t free his son from the curse, it could mean the end of them both. With the help of a local doctor who has her own dark past, Mark will attempt to track down the one person with the power to stop things before they go too far. Cottam’s talent lies in his ability to build an intense and atmospheric story. The Magdalena Curse is a chilling horror tale from the very beginning. Unfortunately, the end is abrupt—one misstep in an otherwise effective and interesting read. 08/11 Becky Lejeune

THE MAGE IN BLACK by Jaye Wells: Sabina Kane is back in this follow-up to Jaye Wells’s urban fantasy debut, Red-Headed Stepchild. Since learning the truth about her family and her twin sister, Sabina has left behind her former life as an assassin for the vampire Domina. Sabina’s grandmother is not one to easily admit defeat, though, and Sabina soon finds herself being hunted by the Domina’s lackeys. Making matters worse is the fact that Sabina seems to have stepped on someone’s toes in New York: Her first night in, she’s attacked by a couple of werewolves and accused of poaching in their territory, an act that comes with its own penalties. It’s what happens next that really takes the cake, though. I like Sabina as a lead character; she’s feisty and has a killer attitude. I also enjoyed the momentum of Red-Headed Stepchild and was glad that Wells was able to keep up the pace in this second book of the series. I’m definitely looking forward to seeing where Sabina’s story goes from here. 03/10 Becky Lejeune

MAGIC CITY by James W. Hall: The Magic City is Miami and Thorn is trying to determine if the magic he has found with Alexandra is powerful enough to enable him to leave his beloved Key West and move to Miami full-time. In the process Thorn gets involved in a betrayal and series of murders that occurred in 1964. A photograph taken ringside of the Sonny Liston – Cassius Clay heavyweight fight in Miami is apparently critical to solving the mystery, and the only remaining copy of the photograph belongs to Alexandra’s father, Lawton, who suffers from dementia. While Thorn is trying to make sense of the matter, a modern day murder spree erupts that reaches from the quiet neighborhoods of Miami all the way to the White House and puts Thorn and everyone he loves into grave danger. Quite a romp. 03/07 Jack Quick

THE MAGIC KNOT by Helen Scott Taylor: Rosenwyn Tremain is your average, everyday accountant. Growing up, her mother warned her never to go to Cornwall and, in spite of their many differences, Rose has obeyed her mother’s wish, until now. Rose is sent to Cornwall to investigate the bankruptcy of a local pub, the Elephant’s Nest. The pub is run by the charming and handsome Michael O’Connor, but it is his somewhat rude brother, Niall, who interests Rose. All of that is beside the point considering Rose’s desire to close the case and track down her long lost father, except for the fact that the O’Connor’s will figure in to both her past and her present in ways that she can’t ignore. See Rose was raised without being told of the race of fair folk who live in the world. Her race. Rose is half human and half pisky and she’s about to discover that she’s much more than that as well. Helen Scott Taylor’s debut fantasy/paranormal romance was winner of Romantic Times magazine’s American Title competition in 2008. It’s fun and original romance, and hopefully the beginning of a great new paranormal series. 01/09 Becky Lejeune

MAGIC TO THE BONE by Devon Monk: The job of a Hound is to track down and identify the illegal offloading of magic—all magic comes with a price and some choose to filter that price through another living thing. An after-hours job leads Allie Beckstrom, one of the best Hounds in the industry, to suspect that her own father, a prominent figurehead who’s made big business out of magic, has been using a young boy as an Offload. But when her father ends up dead, Allie’s own magical signature points the finger at her as the killer. Unfortunately, Allie’s price in using magic is her memory and she has no memory of what happened after confronting her father. Allie knows that she’ll have to use all of the power at her disposal to untangle the pieces and find out what her father’s role truly is. But Allie will also have to decide if, in the long run, the price she pays is really worth it. Devon Monk’s urban fantasy debut is a good read, but there is a lot of information in this first of the series for readers to digest. Building a world as setting for something different is a big challenge and I think Monk does it well, but I also think that the follow-up titles of the series will be even better now that a lot of the background has been introduced. 11/09 Becky Lejeune

THE MAGICIANS by Lev Grossman: I must confess I have not read a single Harry Potter book, nor have I seen a Harry Potter film. I am vaguely familiar with Narnia as a quite successful movie, but couldn’t tell you anything else about it. Therefore, I really couldn’t appreciate the various nuances and sub texts in this book. I can tell you it is well written and entertaining and probably a must read if you are into this sort of thing. Quentin Coldwater is a Brooklyn high school student and the nerdiest of nerds. His most devout wish is to be in a children’s series set in the Narnia-like world of Fillory. Instead, he and his friends are heading to an interview relative to his possible admission to Princeton. When they arrive, they find the interviewer is dead of a massive stroke. On the way back home he ends up at Brakebills, a very secret and exclusive college of magic in upstate New York. At Brakebills, Quentin learns about college life – friendship, love, alcohol and sex, while also learning all about modern sorcery. Upon his departure he and his friends stumble on the dark secret behind the story of Fillory. Call this an ultimate coming of age, where neither black nor white are completely clear, and the cost of knowledge is enormous. 07/10 Jack Quick

MAHU SURFER by Neil S. Plakcy: Surf’s up – and so is the body count. Gay Hawaiian police detective Kimo Kanapa’aka is mahu, a generally negative term for homosexual. Outed and semi-retired, Kimo must go undercover and stop a brutal killer who has already taken the life of three members of the close-knit surfing community. If he succeeds he may be able to return to active duty. If he fails, he most likely will be dead. Second in the series and certainly different. Not badly written, but overall not my cup of tea. It’s not the homosexual aspect so much as the fact that my take on Hawaii is more Gidget and Don Ho than Hawaii 5-0. A surfer cop is just a bit too much for me, no matter what the sexual persuasion. 11/07 Jack Quick

MAIDEN ROCK by Mary Logue: Pepin County is shocked by the Halloween death of a local high school student, an apparent suicide. When the autopsy reveals traces of meth, Deputy Sheriff Claire Watkins is off on a particularly difficult murder investigation. The victim is the best friend of her daughter, Meg. To makes matters worse, Meg and Krista had fought over a boy, just before Krista ran away. While Deputy Claire is faced with meth labs and doped up teenagers, mother Claire must try to help her own daughter make sense of the situation. Reminiscent of the J.A. Jance Joanna Brady series, and well done. 01/08 Jack Quick

MALICE by Lisa Jackson: In the end of Lost Souls, New Orleans homicide detective Rick Bentz is recovering in the hospital when he sees his ex-wife, Jennifer. His dead ex-wife. The scent of her perfume hits him at random moments as well, but it can’t be. He identified her body himself over a dozen years ago. He convinces himself it’s just some strange symptom of his injuries and hospitalization, but as Malice begins, he still can’t shake the feeling that she’s nearby. He begins to see her everywhere, even in his own backyard, and is convinced that someone is messing with his head. Then he receives a package containing recent photographs of a woman who looks exactly like Jennifer did when she died, and a copy of her death certificate with a question mark next to the date of death. In order to figure out what is going on and who is playing with him, Rick gives in and travels to California. Unfortunately, he is not welcome in the eyes of his former colleagues. Then a killer who has been quiet since Bentz left strikes again, and even his old partners begin wondering if Bentz being back is the reason behind the killer’s return. There are so many twists in this latest from Jackson, that even if you think you have it figured out, you’re probably dead wrong. Another suspenseful read, just what I’ve come to expect from her. 04/09 Becky Lejeune

MAMA DOES TIME by Deborah Sharp: Imagine Stephanie Plum in rural Florida. Her Mama is a true Southern woman partial to sherbet colored pantsuits and marriage (4 ex-husbands). Mace, and her sisters Maddie and Marty, are called by Mama from the police station. After an inopportune fender bender at the Dairy Queen, the body of the fiancé of the Police Department receptionist is found in the trunk of Mama’s car. The new handsome detective from Miami has few problems in seeing Mama for the crime. So it’s up to the girls, primarily Mace, to prove the man wrong. Colorful characters and a segment of Florida seldom seen by tourists evoke a Southern Sisters feeling in this very well written Southern fried epic. “Her voice was so cold, they could have pumped it into the beer cooler down at the Booze ‘n’ Breeze drive-through.” Or this scene at the office of Mace’s lawyer cousin – “Mr. Bauer, this lady says she’s Ms. Bauer. “Thanks, Amber. I might not have recognized Ms. Bauer with her clothes on. We used to splash nekkid together in the kiddy pool in my back yard. That was decades ago, darlin’, way before you was even born.” A winner. 12/08 Jack Quick

THE MAMMOTH BOOK OF VAMPIRE ROMANCE edited by Trisha Telep: An anthology featuring stories from the best and the brightest in the paranormal romance and urban fantasy genres, and it’s all about vamps. An absolute must read for paranormal romance fans everywhere. The collection features the likes of Vicki Pettersson, author of the fantastic Zodiac series. Pettersson, whose tales feature superheroes battling the forces of evil in Las Vegas, shows off her skills with a steamy installment, “Remember the Blood.” Lilith Saintcrow, author of the Dante Valentine and Jill Kismet series, gives readers a little extra with Liana’s story (Dante’s Valentine’s adopted daughter) “A Stand-up Dame.” Werecat author, Rachel Vincent takes a break from her feline heroine with “The Midday Mangler Meets His Match.” Other contributors include writing duo C.T. Adams and Cathy Clamp, Keri Arthur, Caitlin R. Kiernan, Rebecca York, and Jenna Black, just to name a few. This collection truly has something for everyone, whether you prefer the sillier sarcastic stories or steamy sexy ones. 08/08 Becky Lejeune

Man and Boy by Tony Parsons: This was cute but not as spectacular as the reviews had led me to believe. Fairly standard boy meets girl, with the requisite tears and laughter, nods to Ms. Fielding. Personal note: the Gone With the Wind reference, which was to the movie as the book had obviously not been read, just pissed me off.

MAN CAMP by Adrienne Brodeur: Lucy and Marsha are two single New York City girls. Lucy is in love with Adam, until their Valentine’s Day vacation fiasco forces her to confront his shortcomings. Marsha can’t seem to get past the first date, causing her to start a business by dating men and critiquing their dating style. Reminiscent of the Will Smith movie, Hitch, Marsha’s “FirstDate” business soon evolves into a more intense program the girls surreptitiously call “Man Camp”. Lucy’s best friend from college, Cooper, is a gentleman farmer from West Virginia, and he agrees to host the city slickers and coach them on how to be real men, which encompasses teaching them how to change a tire and shoot a gun, but the students end up teaching the teacher when he almost loses the farm. Cooper and Marsha fall in love, but his southern bell of a mother isn’t too keen on her son taking up with a Yankee. Fast paced and fun, this debut is sure to please fans of chick-lit light. Adrienne Brodeur is the founding editor of Francis Ford Coppola’s Zoetrope All-Story. Recommended for larger fiction collections. Pub date July 19. Copyright © 2005 Cahners Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. Reprinted with permission. 07/05

MAN EATER by Ray Shannon: The author (really Gar Anthony Haywood) has put together a memorable cast in this Hollywood based tale that is the equal to any Elmore Leonard. There is stone killer Neon Polk who is after Ronnie “Raw” Deal, a sexy producer on the rise, ex-con Ellis Langford who is helping Ronnie, and the Ayala brothers, a pair of vicious, drug-dealing morons. Add in Antsy Carruth, a trashy bimbo who steals drug money from her equally trashy boy friend. Mix in a couple of confrontations, some wounded egos, and scenes like this one: “I better leave you with a little somethin’ to think about. So you don’t go and do somethin’ stupid like tell Five-Oh I was here. Which one of your ears you like best? Left or right?” Start it early in the day if you don’t want to stay up all night. 03/06 Jack Quick

THE MAN FROM PRIMROSE LANE by James Renner: David Neff hasn’t been able to write since his wife’s suicide four years ago. He’s been living off lucrative royalties from his debut release, The Serial Killer’s Protégé, a true crime book that nearly cost him his mind. Neff’s publisher thinks it’s time to try again and presents the perfect case for Neff to begin researching: the murder of The Man From Primrose Lane. The man had no visitors, lived under a stolen name, and was brutally murdered in his own home. The case has been cold ever since. Neff is intrigued. As his research into the case grows deeper, strange connections begin to appear and the author soon finds himself under investigation as well. The Man From Primrose Lane is a really brilliant multi-genre tale: part mystery/thriller, part science fiction, all exceptional! I loved it and definitely highly recommend it to anyone looking for a dark thriller that’s a bit different from the usual fare. 3/12 Becky Lejeune

The Man in the Box by Thomas Moran: I was hooked from the beginning: “During the war, we kept our Jew in a box,” and read the rest straight through. This engrossing novel is told from the point of view of the teenagers of a small town in Austria during WWII. A truly remarkable story.

MAN IN THE MIDDLE by Brian Haig: This book is scheduled to go on sale January 6, 2007. That might he a good day to be at your local bookstore when it opens and to plan on taking the rest of the day off. What is the true meaning of patriotism? During the weeks preceding the 2004 Presidential election, Army lawyer Sean Drummond is caught between duty to Washington’s elite and the soldiers in Iraq. Sent to investigate a reported suicide of one of the most belligerent of the hawks supporting the conflict in Iraq, Drummond uncovers the secrets that led to this war. Now he must choose. The soldiers dying overseas or the Washington power brokers, knowing that once exposed the information he has could destroy public support and undermine the presidency. This one has top ten written all over it, with roots in Vietnam, connections to the Carter presidency and to the Iraq Study Group Report. Whether or not its true, it is certainly plausible, and awesomely told. 01/07 Jack Quick

The Man I Should Have Married by Pamela Redmond Satran: First novel from the very successful author of baby name books like Beyond Jennifer and Jason and the upcoming Cool Names, and one of the first issues from the new Simon & Schuster imprint for chick lit and hip reads, Downtown Press. Kennedy and Frank have been married for a while and have a 5-year-old daughter, Amanda. Kennedy also has a teenage daughter, Maya, from her previous live-in lover Marco, who she dumped when his interest in drugs superseded his interest in his family. And also lurking in her past is Declan, who was her boss and best friend until the night she slept with him, after which she ran off to marry Frank. But Frank’s left Kennedy for Sunny, and Maya wants to find her father Marco, who she doesn’t even remember, and Kennedy is searching for what she really wants, while dealing with her past, her children and her five-time-married mother’s advice. It’s really not as confusing as it all sounds! These are great characters in a fast paced, sweet and funny story that I could not put down. Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

MAN OF THE HOUSE by Ad Hudler: Anyone who thinks men can’t write chicklit hasn’t read Ad Hudler. This is light, humorous, romantic fun at its best. I loved Househusband, and this sequel has been several years in coming but it was so worth the wait. Linc has always been the stay-at-home parent, cooking gourmet meals, keeping a spotless house, and being a great dad to Violet. But as Violet grows up and the family moves from New York to Florida, Linc starts having second thoughts about his role in the family and as a man in general. We hear directly from the newly teenaged Violet, her mom, Linc and Violet’s teacher, making us privy to their thoughts and ideas. Women will love how the traditional job of homemaker takes on the depth and importance that it deserves, and will appreciate Linc’s dive into the testosterone pool. All in all, a very satisfying and enjoyable read. 10/08 Stacy Alesi, AKA The BookBitch

MAN WITH THE IRON-ON BADGE by Lee Goldberg: Harvey Mapes, an overeducated security guard for a Southern California gated community, is pulled out of his rut when a wealthy resident hires him to tail his wife. We learn that Mapes is fond of masturbation, television PI shows, nipples, masturbation, gratuitous violence, junk food and masturbation. Actually, this is not a bad read if you are into amateur detectives with lots of on-the-job training. The writing is crisp and the plot interesting, but overall not my favorite to come down the pike. 01/06 Jack Quick

THE MAN WHO WALKED LIKE A BEAR by Stuart Kaminksy: In the sixth Inspector Rostnikov thriller, Rostnikov is visiting his wife, Sarah, hospitalized in their home city of Moscow. The “walking bear” is a man who escapes from the mental ward and alarms the women in Sarah’s room before the inspector succeeds in calming him This strange event starts Rostnikov, with his comrades Karpo and Thach, on another series of Moscow adventures where the Inspector divides his time battling criminals, the KGB, and his police superiors. Another first rate police procedural on a par with McBain’s 87th Precinct. 01/06 Jack Quick

MANHATTAN NORTH by John Mackie: Sergeant Thornton Savage and his partners are challenged by a series of slayings – each one a notorious drug dealer. But after one of Savage’s long term friends is killed, the heat gets turned up big-time which in turn leads to threats against Savage and his fiancée. Another first rate procedural from John Mackie, author of Manhattan South, Eastside and Westside. Where will John take Savage next? Whichever direction, you can count on it being action packed. 03/06 Jack Quick

MANHATTAN SOUTH by John Mackie: Candace Mayhew and her Gambino mob boyfriend are murdered in a bar at closing time. Later that same morning, Andric Karazov plays with his toy Napoleonic Calvary and thinks about the less-than-perfect job he just completed, a senator in Queens contemplates his run for the presidency while his wife enjoys another rendezvous with her Russian lesbian lover. All of these people are linked to Candace Mayhew. NYPD Sergeant Thornton Savage ends up the target of both a shootout and an internal investigation before ultimately fitting all the pieces together of a plot involving infidelity, extortion and political intrigue. A very well-done police procedural. 01/06 Jack Quick

MANNHEIM REX by Robert Pobi: The way Gavin Corlie sees it, he has two options: suicide, or a complete change of scenery. The death of his wife has left him grieving and depressed and he knows he can’t take one more minute in their shared home. An old fixer-upper upstate seems to be the answer. The town of New Mannheim is quiet and more than a bit off the beaten path. The house needs work but sits on the banks of the picturesque Lake Caldasac and should be the perfect place to recuperate and begin work on his next novel. As a horror author, Corlie makes a living telling dark and twisted tales, but the secret hiding beneath the still waters of Lake Caldasac is all too real. After an accident on the lake almost claims the life of local kid Finn Horn, Corlie takes him under his wing and learns the truth about that fateful afternoon. Soon the two are on the hunt for a killer monster that’s been hiding in the depths of Lake Caldasac for decades. If they can catch it, it’ll mean fame and fortune for the young boy. If they fail, they could both become the creature’s latest victims. If you’re in the mood for a graphic and gory creature feature horror that doesn’t take itself too seriously, Mannheim Rex would have to be my recommendation. While I would have loved more of the creature itself, I thought this latest from Pobi was highly entertaining. 12/12 Becky Lejeune

MANIFESTO FOR THE DEAD by Domenic Stansberry: Knowledgeable critics panned this one when it came out in 2000. Fortunately, I am not a member of the intelligentsia so I enjoyed it immensely. Its 1971 and real life 64 year old novelist Jim Thompson is drinking himself to death at the famous Musso & Frank Grill on Hollywood Boulevard. A sleazy producer called Billy Miracle and a fading star named Michele Haze sign the vulnerable Jim to write a novel based on a screenplay, planning to entice movie mogul Jack Lombard into bankrolling both the book and the film. Haze is murdered and Thompson is set up as the chief suspect. As homage to Thompson, purists may quibble, but the writing is spare, dark, and full of simple but powerful imagery. (“He had not died after all. He was in Beverly Hills”) Maybe not Stansberry’s best work, but obviously audacious, and I thought, enjoyable. 06/07 Jack Quick

THE MANUAL OF DETECTION by Jedediah Berry: Charles Unwin is an agency clerk who loves his job. He’s careful about putting together files for his detective and strives to be the best clerk he can be. Then one morning Unwin is surprised to find that he’s been promoted to detective. It’s nearly unheard of for a clerk to be promoted to detective and it’s not exactly something that Unwin has ever aspired to himself. Then Unwin discovers that his detective, Travis Sivart, has gone missing. The only solution, for Unwin to find out what happened to Sivart so that he can go happily back to being a clerk. Turns out there’s something strange going on with Sivart’s cases, though, and it could be that the reason for Sivart’s disappearance lies hidden somewhere in the files themselves. The Manual of Detection is an interesting read to be sure. It’s in the same vein as the recently released Somnambulist by Jonathan Barnes, and like Barnes’ debut, Berry’s novel can be quite hard to get a handle on. One blink and the reader runs the risk of completely losing their grasp on this strange tale. Overall, a clever mystery, but one that does require some amount of concentration. 02/09 Becky Lejeune

THE MANUAL OF DETECTION by Jedediah Berry: This debut is easy to read, but difficult to describe. A relatively simple story, but exceptionally well told. Charles Unwin is the personal clerk for legendary detective Travis Sivart, the key man in the Agency, in an unnamed rainy city. When Sivart goes missing, Unwin is promoted to fill the vacancy. All Unwin wants to do is find Sivart so he can go back to being a clerk. With the help of a book – Manual of Detection – he sets forth on his adventure. What makes this book so memorable is the quality of Berry’s writing. For instance, his description of Unwin – “life time resident of this city, rode his bicycle to work every day, even when it was raining. He contrived a method to keep his umbrella open while pedaling, by hooking the umbrella’s handle around the bicycle’s handlebar…Today he was behind schedule. He had scorched his oatmeal, and tied the wrong tie, and nearly forgotten his wristwatch…Now his socks were getting wet, so he pedaled even faster.” Can’t you just see the epitome of every meek little minor bureaucrat in that simple description. “Even Mr. Duden alluded to (his work), most often when scolding someone for sloppy work. “You like to think your files stand up to Unwin’s and you don’t even know the difference between a dagger and a stiletto?” Highly recommended. 05/09 Jack Quick

THE MAP THIEF by Heather Terrell: In the time since Mara Coyne dealt with the case surrounding The Chrysalis, she’s been able to begin fresh and open her own firm. To the average person, Mara’s firm specializes in legal cases surrounding stolen art. To the not-so-average clientele, she offers a very unique service that involves the tracking and returning of stolen items without the help of the authorities. This has allowed Mara to make some contacts in the underground art world that would otherwise be against her efforts.
Mara’s specialized service has caught the attention of one Richard Tobias, an affluent businessman who’s funding an archaeological dig in China. Richard received word from his chief archaeologist that a very important discovery had been made at the site, a fifteenth-century map that may very well be the first accurate world map, and it was created years before any such map was supposed to have been made. The next day, the map was stolen. Richard has hired Mara and her team to help recover the map without alerting Chinese officials of either the discovery or the theft of the item. Of course, Mara’s investigation doesn’t begin as easily as she would have hoped and the more she learns about the map itself, the more difficult she realizes this case will be. With The Map Thief, Terrell has transformed her series into something much more than that of a legal thriller. She alternates chapters between the present day and the Chinese and Portuguese expeditions in 1421 that surround this mysterious map. The combination of actual historical fact and her distinctive new direction for the series make this a captivating thriller. 07/08 Becky Lejeune
THE MAPPING OF LOVE AND DEATH by Jacqueline Winspear: Winspear says the character Maisie Dobbs, investigator and psychologist, sprang full blown in her head while she was stuck in a San Rafael traffic jam. By the time she arrived at her job in San Francisco the entire plot of her first book was firmly in hand. That led to Ms. Winspear’s career change to full-time writer. Now in Dobbs seventh outing, Maisie must unravel a case of wartime love and death. It’s April, 1932 and the parents of one Michael Clifton have retained Dobbs to look for the unnamed nurse mentioned in love letters recently discovered in France, love letters written to their son who has been listed as missing in action since The Great War. Her inquiries lead to the stunning discovery that unlike the other members of his unit who were killed by German artillery, Michael Clifton was murdered in his trench. When Clifton’s parents are brutally beaten in their hotel room, Dobbs soon realizes that this attack is somehow connected to the death of the son. Over the course of her investigation, Maisie must cope with the approaching loss of her mentor, Maurice Blanche, and her growing awareness that she is once again falling in love. 03/10 Jack Quick

MAPS OF HELL by Paul Johnston: Imagine waking up in cell, with virtually no memory, being subjected to physical and mental abuse, without knowing who is doing this or why it is being done? Crime writer Matt Wells learns he is the subject of secret brainwashing experiments in the Maine wilderness being conducted by a para-military group. He knows they’ve been feeding him instructions—but for what? As he begins to try to unravel the secret he learns that he is being blamed for some gruesome murdered and there is a woman, someone from his past, if only he could remember. Definitely over the top, and nicely done. 05/10 Jack Quick

MARGARITA NIGHTS by Phyllis Smallman: Amateur sleuth Sherri Travis is a bartender in an upscale Jacaranda, Florida bar but Sherri is from the side of town where luxury is an extra wide trailer. In this debut novel, her husband Jimmy Travis, from whom she is separated and who comes from Jacaranda’s social register, and his boat, the Suncoaster, explode in an orange ball of fire. The combination of a witness who puts Sherri on the Suncoaster hours before it went boom and a quarter million dollar insurance policy make Sherri the one and only suspect. Sherri knows she didn’t do it, but it is imperative that she fine who did. In the process she discovers a whole lot of people who wanted to see Jimmy dead. Interesting. 02/10 Jack Quick

MARIANA by Susanna Kearsley: The first time Julia Beckett laid eyes on Greywethers, she knew it was home. It would be another twenty-five years before it would become hers. After a small inheritance allows her to purchase the house, Julia relocates from the city intent on devoting herself to her latest project. But from the moment she steps over the threshold, Julia begins to experience something strange. She begins to dream of life through the eyes of a girl named Mariana. As the slips become more frequent, Julia realizes that they are not dreams at all. She is experiencing 17th century life as Mariana Farr, a girl who once lived at Greywethers. Originally published in the early 90s, Mariana has been recently re-released for a new audience. Kearsley’s gothic style and rich storytelling make Mariana an utterly satisfying read. 4/12 Becky Lejeune

THE MARK by Jason Pinter: Rookie reporter Henry Parker has landed his dream job with the New York Gazette. His first assignments, minor obituaries, have left him yearning for something a bit more exciting. When his mentor, Jack O’Donnell asks for help on one of his own stories, Henry is happy to oblige. O’Donnell is working on an article about rehabilitated criminals and Henry is sent to do one simple interview with a Luis Guzman. Something about Guzman and his wife concerns Henry though and he decides to follow up to find out why. On returning to the apartment, Henry finds that the Guzman and his wife have been tied up and brutally beaten. He defends the two and ends up killing their attacker in the process. Confused and scared, Henry leaves the scene only to find that he is now being accused of murdering a police officer. Henry must find out the truth behind the Guzman attack and clear his own name before the authorities, or worse, find him. Pinter’s thrilling debut promises to be a hit with readers this summer. This is definitely one that will have you hooked until the very last page. 06/07 Becky Lejeune

The Mark of the Angel by Nancy Huston: This was fascinating, well written, shocking and horrific. About a romance and a marriage, with two different men of course, with the Holocaust and other atrocities thrown in. Put me in mind of The Reader by Schlink. I loved it. Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

MARK OF THE DEVIL by William Kerr: Matt Berkely knew that cleaning up his aunt’s house after the damage inflicted by Hurricane Grace would be messy, but it’s his help locating a wrecked barge that leads to real trouble. As a former Navy Special Warfare officer and current member of NAARPA (North American Archaeological Research and Preservation Association), Matt is no stranger diving. When his friend asks that he assist in marking a wrecked barge, though, Matt makes a much greater discovery that could mean the revelation of long lost WWII secrets. What appears to be a German U-Boat has been trapped under the sand and silt at the bottom of the ocean until Grace leaves it partially uncovered. As there is no record of any ship going down in the area, however, it is clear that the sub’s presence could be of some significance. Before Matt can investigate further, though, his life is threatened and a friend is murdered. Seems the sub and the mission that led it to the coast of Florida all those years ago is still fresh on someone’s mind and they’re not too keen for others to learn the truth. A great thriller with a hint of espionage and enthralling history, This is latest in a series but can be read as a stand-alone. 02/09 Becky Lejeune

MARKED by P.C. Cast & Kristin Cast: In Zoey Redbird’s world, everyone knows that vampyres are real. When Zoey is marked by one of their trackers, her life is turned upside down. The fact that she has no choice in the matter sucks. On the bright side, being sent to the House of Night does mean escaping her horrid stepfather. It also means giving up everything and everyone she knows to join the other fledglings like herself at the vampyre school. And life at the House of Night is pretty much like life outside, with the popular Dark Daughters and their leader, Aphrodite, bullying those outside of the clique. Zoey is destined for great things, though, and standing out only draws more unwanted attention to the new girl. Plus there’s the fact that her ex won’t leave her alone and she seems to be experiencing a very strong craving for blood. This first in the popular teen series offers a great twist on the vampire mythology and a heroine readers can really get behind. 04/11 Becky Lejeune

MARKS OF CAIN by Tom Knox: David Martinez’s grandfather is recently deceased, but his legacy is just beginning. David knows little about his family’s background and heritage, but a hefty inheritance leaves him wondering. His grandfather was well off, but lived a quiet and conservative life. Where then did the money come from and why was it kept secret all this time? The inheritance comes with one strange stipulation: David must go to the Basque region of Spain and deliver a map to an old acquaintance of his grandfather’s. It is this task that sets David on a dangerous path that will ultimately lead to the truth of his family’s origins. Meanwhile, a string of murders has led journalist Simon Quinn to the story of his life. As the two plot lines grow closer and closer together, a horrible truth is revealed. One that powers around the world will kill to keep under wraps. While Knox’s story is gripping and fast-paced, I wish there had been a bit more character development. Parts of the narrative felt unnecessarily rushed and would have benefited from being fleshed out a bit more in my opinion. A fun read, nonetheless. 05/10 Becky Lejeune

MARRIED WITH ZOMBIES by Jesse Petersen: Looking for a zombielicious read? Married With Zombies is the latest and greatest addition to the walking dead trend. Husband and wife Sarah and Dave have been trying to hold their marriage together, but their efforts are pretty much failing. With each independently seeking out divorce attorneys, their weekly couples’ counseling sessions seem to have been a waste of time and limited money. Until they walk in on their therapist snacking on her previous clients. Now Dave and Sarah are on the run from the living dead and will have to work together if they want to survive. If Shaun of the Dead is a favorite in your zombie collection, you won’t want to miss Jesse Petersen. This first in the new Living With the Dead series is seriously hilarious stuff. Books two and three are due out in January and June of next year and I can honestly say that you’re going to love the direction this post-outbreak zombie series is headed in. 09/10 Becky Lejeune

THE MARVELOUS BOY by Peter Corris: In this third Cliff Hardy adventure from 1982, Hardy is still more ex-surfer than accomplished PI. In spite of his beat-up leather jacket and jeans, Lady Catherine Chatterton, widow of a prominent judge, hires him to find her missing grandson. The search starts and almost ends with an aging drunk, but Hardy obtains a helpful photograph from the drunk – who is immediately murdered. Now Hardy is on a murder case. Dated but shows promise for further adventures. 09/07 Jack Quick
MARY, MARY by James Patterson: “Mary Smith” is sending e-mails to a Los Angels Times editor claiming credit for the shooting of a well known actress. She says this wasn’t her first victim nor will it be her last. The FBI Director calls in agent/psychologist Alex Cross who is on vacation with his family at Disneyland. It is like no other case Ales has ever tackled. Is this an isolated incident or part of a bigger pattern? Is Mary Smith really a woman? Delightfully twisty, and somewhat of a return to style of the earlier Patterson thrillers. 12/05 Jack Quick

MASK MARKET by Andrew Vachss: The anti-hero Burke is approached by a man about a job, but as he goes to his car to get Burke’s money, he is killed, leaving Burke with only the “meet money” and a DVD. Now, Burke and his family are trying to find out if there is something in it for them to find the man’s killer. Dark as always, Burke somehow survives in a world that we instinctively know would claim us in a minute. Not for the faint of heart, but Burke and his family, after a time, become familiar, if not trusted acquaintances. 08/06 Jack Quick

MASQUES by Bill Pronzini: Pronzini captures the New Orleans that was and hopefully will be again in this Mardi Gras pot-boiler. Photographer Steve Giroux is trying to put his life back together after a failed marriage and a devastating fire at his photography business. His Mardi Gras trip soon involves his being chased by a masked reveler who thinks Giroux has a photograph that the masked man wants. Giroux also gets involved with two women, each with a very different agenda. A quick read, very descriptive, which captures the Mardi Gras spirit quite nicely. Pass me some beads and another drink, please. 11/05 ~This review contributed by Jack Quick.

MASTER OF THE GAME by Sidney Sheldon: Originally published in 1982, Sidney Sheldon’s bestselling family drama now has a sequel, Tilly Bagshawe’s Mistress of the Game. And what a perfect time for readers unfamiliar with Sheldon’s work to be introduced. Master begins with Kate Blackwell celebrating her ninetieth birthday. As the matriarch of the Blackwell family, and the reigning heir of the Kruger-Brent empire and fortune, she has played the game well. Everything in her life has been carefully chosen to lead to this point and completely manipulated by Kate to ensure that she gets her way. As she recalls her family’s story, beginning with her father, Jamie MacGregor, as he sets off from Scotland to Africa to find his fortune in the late 1800s, the reader is taken along for the ride of a lifetime—literally. Kate’s tale is a century of family history punctuated by greed, deceit, manipulation, obsessive love, and tragic loss. In the end, however, she proves that she is indeed the Master of the Game. Sheldon has been described as a “master storyteller” and Master of the Game proves that this is so. At almost 500 pages, I found myself finishing this book in just two sittings. 08/09 Becky Lejeune

MASTERS MATES by Peter Corris: Booklist says there are three “evergreen” mystery series that never go stale – Westlake’s Dortmunder novels (35 plus years), McBain’s 87th Precinct series (49 plus years), and Corris’ Cliff Hardy series over 25 years. Having enjoyed McBain and Westlake for years, I am pleased to say that I agree with their analysis of Corris as well. When Hardy is hired by a beautiful woman to look into her husband’s heroin-smuggling conviction, he becomes threatened by a conspiracy that may be more than even Hardy can overcome. Another solid outing with believable characters and plenty of action. Lets hope this series could go on another quarter century. 10/07 Jack Quick

MATCHED by Ally Condie: The Society has been set up to protect its people from the dangers of the world. It is true that early societies became overwhelmed and overly dependent on technology. When that technology failed, society did as well. Today everything has been planned and measured out to ensure the happiness and longevity of the population. It is Cassia Reyes’s seventeenth birthday, the day she is to meet her match—the boy who will become her husband. Statistically, most girls who choose to be matched are paired with boys from other towns. To be matched with someone you know is almost unheard of, but Cassia is one of the lucky ones. Her match is her best friend, Xander. But for just one moment, Cassia sees another match, another boy that she knows. It’s impossible to have two matches, especially when Cassia learns more about this second boy. It is that tiny chance, though, that causes Cassie to ask, “What if?” And that question will lead Cassia to question much, much more about her life and the world around her. Condie’s imagined future is a scary one indeed, a world that seems perfect in every way but has no room for individuality or freedom. Perfect for fans of dystopian fiction. 12/10 Becky Lejeune

Matchstick Men by Eric Garcia: This book has a rather unusual sticker on the cover; it says, “Read next summer’s big movie this winter. Directed by Ridley Scott and starring Nicolas Cage.” Usually you see the “movie cover” when the paperback comes out, but this time it’s right on the hardcover of this just released book. Interesting.
The story revolves around two con men, “matchstick men”, Roy and Frankie, who have been partners for years. They sucker you in on page one and as the story progresses, the cons get more involved and the monetary rewards much larger until they finally pull the biggest scam of their careers, and go screeching towards the surprise ending. There isn’t a whole lot of plot here, but there is an easy, entertaining read.
MATRIMONY by Joshua Henkin: We meet Julian Wainwright in 1987 when the eighteen-year-old begins his freshman year at Graymont College. Julian dreams of one day becoming a writer. He meets Mia Medelsohn, Mia from Montreal, one evening after picking her out of a yearbook. They fall in love and eventually marry during their senior year. Following college, the couple relocates to Michigan where Mia pursues a graduate degree in psychology – a decision that results from the death of her mother. Julian is now attempting to write his “great American novel” and failing miserably. Henkin’s novel traces the couple through twenty years of life, love, and marriage. Over time, Julian and Mia will face the worst of betrayals and disappointments that life can hurl at them. It’s the mundane and ordinary events that are illuminated in Henkin’s novel, however. Julian and Mia are very real people. They face the same challenges and miseries that every young adult faces today. Some of the more serious issues, like the death of Mia’s mother, are absolutely heartbreaking to read. Julian’s and Mia’s expectations, hopes, dreams, and fears are all so achingly real that readers will find it impossible not to associate with them on some level. At times funny and always thoughtful, Matrimony is a wonderful literary novel. 11/07 Becky Lejeune

MATTERHORN by Karl Marlantes: There is no member of my generation that was not shaped in one way or another by the war in Vietnam. For all of us, Matterhorn should be a must read. It is the definitive “war story” of that conflict.
Author Marlantes tells us about Marine Company Bravo through the eyes of a young ROTC second lieutenant Mellas – a bright, ambitious young man, who thinks that military service will be helpful in a future political career. It is through his thoughts and feelings that we realize how young and unlived are the men and women that our leaders send off to fight our wars.
Matterhorn is a painfully honest account of the frustrations that arise from a lack of experience and equipment, distant micro-management and an environment that is as relentless as the enemy. As Mellas arrives in country, Bravo Company is assigned to take and secure a hill which has been designated “Matterhorn.” It is a brutal struggle and just as that hill has been won, the order comes to abandon it. Ultimately, the Company is assigned to take the hill again. Only this time, the enemy is embedded in the fortifications that Bravo had dug out and built there the first time.
The novel is graphic in its description of the toll that struggling in the jungle takes on the men. It is just as graphic and honest in the description of racial tensions between the troops which have the Black soldiers wearing symbolic nooses. We are reminded not only what the world was like then, but also that the military is merely a reflection of our larger society. It is unfair to hold soldiers to a higher standard or to expect them to behave better, particularly when they are risking their lives at every turn.
This book is 600 pages long and it is 600 pages of blood and pus and sweat and fear and death. At times, I had to put it down. But I will never forget it. 06/10 Geoffrey R. Hamlin
MAY DAY by Jess Lourey: Mira James is tired of her dead-end job in the Twin Cities of Minnesota anyway, so when she finds her boyfriend is cheating on her, that is enough to send here away. She moves to Battle Creek to enjoy the slower paced rural life. She begins her new career(s) as an assistant librarian and part-time reporter, and falls into an unexpected romance with a guy who seems to be the perfect man, that is until he is found dead in the reference stacks her tenth day on the job. Soon Mira uncovers even more unknown dangers lurking beneath the small town surface and that revenge is a tater-tot hot dish best served cold. Breezy first outing for Mira who is expected to be featured in further outings. 08/09 Jack Quick

THE MAX by Ken Bruen & Jason Starr: In 2006 it was BUST; then in 2007, SLIDE. This year the zany team of Bruen and Starr continue the madness with a free-for-all that has something for everyone. Drug baron Max Fisher, the Max, is in prison – where he belongs. He shares this fate with ex-girlfriend Angela Petrakos, who is also in prison – on the Isle of Lesbos. (Didn’t I say this had something for everyone?). Both are intent on making the best of a bad situation and maybe, perhaps, ultimately, getting free. To that end Angela hooks up with Sebastian and Max is counting on his hulking cellmate Rufus. Max is also in cahoots with one Paula Segal – an aspiring true-crime writer with a jones for Laura Lippman. Sleazy, depraved, daft, noir, ruthless, repulsive, dirty rotten scoundrels and natural born killers. What hath the two boys wrought? Another winner. 09/08 Jack Quick

MAXIMUM BOB by Elmore Leonard: Maximum Bob is liberal Palm Beach County Judge Bob Isom Gibbs, so named for his propensity to throw the book at a defendant. To quote Bob, “What is the book for if you don’t go by it and, yes, occasionally throw it at a criminal offender.” But now Bob has run afoul of the Crowe family, primarily Elvin, an habitual criminal who didn’t think it was fair that he had to do ten years plus five years probation when he shot the wrong guy. He is joined by twenty year old Dale Crowe Junior who is out less than 72 hours when he gets revoked for a fight with the bouncer at a strip joint and Dr. Tommy Vasco, ex-friend of Elvin’s prison boyfriend. Together they plot to take care of Maximum Bob who is meanwhile trying to scare off his weird young wife, Leanne, a possible psychic sharing a body with Wanda Grace, a dead slave girl. Kathy Diaz Baker, probation officer for Elvin, Elvin’s nephew and eventually Dr. Tommy works with Detective Gary Hammond regarding such questions as (Who brought a gator to Gibbs’s house? Who shot at the house? What’s Elvin up to with Dr. Tommy?) Although Maximum Bob wants Ms. Baker its Detective Hammond who will win the fair maiden, eventually. A riot. 03/11 Jack Quick

THE MAYOR OF LEXINGTON AVENUE by James Sheehan: This somewhat uneven story of miscarried justice and loyalty is the debut effort of Sheehan, a Florida trial lawyer. Rudy Kelly, a “slow” 19-year-old, is arrested for a murder he didn’t commit. Hotshot Miami attorney Jack Tobin, who was friends with Rudy’s father, is asked to intervene to repay a debt to Mikey Kelly, the boy who once named him “Mayor of Lexington Avenue.” After a somewhat slow start, the book finishes fast and Sheehan’s bar experience shows in his courtroom scenes and passages on legal maneuvering. 04/06 Jack Quick

MAZURKA by Aaron Paul Lazar: Middle aged Gus and Camille LeGarde are on their honeymoon in Paris, accompanied by Gus’s brother-in-law Siegfried, the victim of a brain injury which limits his ability to take care of himself. Siegfried is being taken to visit his great aunt who is dying of cancer. A bloody brawl on the Champs Élysées thrusts Siegfried and Gus into the news, where Siegfried is incorrectly identified as the killer of a Neo-Nazi group. The Nazis seek revenge on Gus and Camille while Siegfried is in the hospital recovering. They barely escape to safety in Denkendorf, at the home of Siegfried’s aunt. But the story is not over at that point, as there is a shocking family secret about Chopin’s steamy past. Not a bad tale, but suffers from poor editing, i.e, “The steaming hot water from the shower pulsed steadily against my muscles vibrating with sensuous memories of the night before.” In a romance, maybe, in a mystery, no. 04/09 Jack Quick

THE McCONE FILES by Marcia Muller: Before there was a V.I. Warshawski, or a Kinsey Milhone, or a Carlotta Carlyle, there was Sharon McCone, the 1977 product of Marcia Muller, credited with the creation of the modern female private eye story. McCone worked for All Souls Legal Cooperative in San Francisco for many years before starting her own detective agency. Fifteen of her All Souls cases were written up by Muller, and those fifteen are set forth in this volume. If you’re a McCone fan like me, it’s a must read. If not a fan, there still is probably at least one or two that you will enjoy. An original from Crippen & Landrau Publishers. 02/07 Jack Quick

ME BEFORE YOU by JoJo Moyes: Louisa has lived in a small English village her whole life, and even though she’s in her 20’s she has no plans on leaving. She loses her job when the cafe where she works closes, and the employment office in town offers her up one job more awful than the next, topped by their final offer; caretaker for a quadriplegic for six months. The money is very good, and her family relies on her income to get by, so after being assured she won’t have to wipe any bottoms, she grudgingly agrees to an the job. Her new boss is a much younger man than she expected. Will comes from money, but was a very successful businessman prior to his accident, the type that traveled world wide and lived life to the fullest. Struck by a car, he is in constant pain and needs constant care. He has someone to do the physical stuff for him, Louisa is there to be more of a companion for him. But he’s nasty and angry and she doesn’t know how to reach him. But eventually she does, and is determined to help him find a way to enjoy his life to the best of her ability, but will that be enough? Will wants to die, and his parents have agreed to let him provided he give them six months. Once Louisa learns this, she becomes more determined than ever to save him, falling in love with him along the way. What could have been a maudlin story, or an overly sweet one, is instead a cataclysmic love story that just resonates; this is a remarkable book. 8/13 Stacy Alesi, AKA The BookBitch

MEAN TOWN BLUES by Sam Reaves: Tommy McLain is home from the Iraq war with a reconstructed abdomen. There is nothing left for him in his native Lexington, Kentucky so he heads for Chicago and an old friend. As he is getting settled in, he meets Lisa DiPetro who is being stalked. One thing leads to another and before you know it McLain is inside a different pentagon than the Army one. There are two mob families, two police departments and the FBI all looking into his life. Will he escape this five-sided puzzle? Lets just say that a sequel is not out of the question, and worth reading. 01/09 Jack Quick

MELANCHOLY BABY by Robert B. Parker: Sunny Randall is no Spenser but her fourth adventure reaffirms Parker’s ability to tell a story, and to tell it well. Sunny faces the emotional turmoil of her ex-husband Richie’s re-marriage while trying to solve a difficult case that ends up taking two lives and altering others. A young woman thinks her parents are not really her parents. Their actions convince Sunny that something is wrong, but she can’t figure out what. In the meantime she begins to see a shrink – Susan (remember Susan, Spenser’s girlfriend?). Sunny is also assisted by Leonard (remember Spenser’s friend Leonard?). All in all a good read, but definitely Spenser lite. Most memorable line – Sunny after meeting Richie’s new wife –“I spent the next two hours trying to figure out how to kill her without getting caught.” You go girl. 04/05 ~This review contributed by Jack Quick.

THE MEMORIST by M.J. Rose: When Meer Logan was young, she suffered from terrifying dreams of an elaborate box and a haunting melody. Desperate for help, her father contacted Malachi Samuels head of the Phoenix Foundation. Jeremy Logan and Samuels believed that Meer’s issues stem from reincarnation. Meer believes, however, that the box and the music are actually the result of false memories created by her own mind. Then her father discovers the real box and a letter hidden inside that appears to have been written by Beethoven himself. In the letter, Beethoven talks of a flute that when played with a specific tune will allow people to see their past lives – a memory tool. Meer’s dreams begin to return and she travels to Vienna in hopes that she can finally make sense of them. Instead, the dreams become even more vivid and seem to be leading Meer straight to the famous flute. Word of Logan’s discovery has been made public, though, and they’re all about to see just how far people are willing to go to get their hands on yet another memory tool. Rose delves into the mysteries of the mind and reincarnation again in this magnificent follow-up to last year’s Reincarnationist. Memorist features an all new cast of characters, with the exception of Samuels and the Phoenix Foundation, and can easily be read without having read book one. Like Reincarnationist, Rose moves easily from one storyline to the next, from one character to another, and from one century to another. The plot is elaborate and totally engaging; a page-turner that will stick with you long after you put it down. 11/08 Becky Lejeune

THE MEMORY COLLECTOR by Meg Gardiner: Jo Beckett, the forensic psychologist in the excellent Dirty Secrets Club, is back, only this time she’s called to the airport to determine whether or not Ian Kanan should be arrested or hospitalized; no more “psychological autopsies” for Beckett. One of the things I liked best about the Dirty Secrets Club was the unusual occupation; shrinks are a dime a dozen in thrillers, but I had never heard of a forensic psychologist who does psychological evaluations on the dead until Gardiner introduced me to it. To revert this character to yet another run-of-the-mill, super-smart, able-to-make-an-evaluation-in-a-single-bound psychologist, does the character, and the reader, a disservice.
Back to our story. Kanan was acting erratically on his return from a business trip to South Africa, and had to be physically restrained on board the plane. Beckett quickly determines he has a very rare condition called “anterograde amnesia,” the inability to form new memories. This means that Kanan forgets all new information every five minutes. Really.
This book is apparently an exercise in thriller writing for Gardiner; she’s included just about every gimmick and device used in the genre, from the rare medical condition that appears to be spreading and taking lives, a race against the clock with a kidnapped family-in-peril, high tech super-deadly explosives, international terrorists, high speed car chases, and a couple of strong women who can make jokes while outrunning a homicidal maniac. The complete lack of character development and terse writing style makes for a fast-paced story, but not necessarily a good one. 06/09 Stacy Alesi, AKA The BookBitch. Copyright © 2009 Cahners Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. Reprinted with permission.
THE MEMORY OF WATER by Karen White: It’s been ten years since Marnie Maitland left low-country South Carolina for the deserts of Arizona. Ten years since she last heard the sound of the ocean, ten years since she last spoke to her sister, Diana. Now she’s returned at the request of Diana’s ex-husband, Quinn. Two months ago, Diana and her son Gil were involved in a sailing accident. The official ruling is that it was an accident, but it’s left Diana angry and reserved, and Gil hasn’t spoken a word since. Quinn hopes that Marnie, an art teacher who works with special needs kids, can help his family to heal. What Quinn doesn’t know is that the accident that led to their own mother’s death tore apart the Maitland sisters and that the anger and hurt from all those years ago has only festered in the time since. Marnie has never understood her sister’s hatred towards her and she has almost no memory of the accident that took her mother’s life. Diana has remained silent all these years, and now she’s hiding something about her own accident with her son. An appealing story of loss and healing. White also tackles the complicated issue of bi-polar disorder and its effects on families. 06/08 Becky Lejeune

MEN FROM BOYS edited by John Harvey: Sometime a book’s cover nails the contents exactly. In this case the cover shows a fearsome looking automatic pistol, which upon closer examination, is revealed as a water pistol. Inside seventeen masters provide stories of boys becoming men, men becoming fathers, being a son, and being a man. Here’s the cast, in addition to John Harvey, Mark Billingham, Lawrence Block, Andrew Coburn, Michael Connelly, Jeffery Deaver, Reginald Hill, Bill James, Dennis Lehane, Bill Moody, George Pelecanos, Peter Robinson, James Sallis, John Straley, Brian Thompson, Don Winslow, and Daniel Woodrell. There is bound to be a story you will like, and you may discover a new to you author in the bunch. Grab a cold one of your choice, kick back, and enjoy. 06/07 Jack Quick
THE MERMAID OF BROOKLYN by Amy Shearn: When Jenny Lipkin’s husband disappears, the mother of two isn’t terribly worried. Her husband has been known to go on unannounced gambling weekends in the past. No, Jenny’s not worried. She is pissed, though. And stressed out. And the longer her husband is missing the more stressed and upset she becomes until one day she finally cracks. Help comes in the form of a rusalka – a mermaid – who saves Jenny after a fall from the Brooklyn Bridge. With the rusalka by her side, Jenny begins to put her life back together, but is her savior even real? There are so many things I loved about Amy Shearn’s latest. Shearn’s writing is wonderfully sarcastic and funny but also quite elegant. This unique blend brings both the characters and setting to life, making the story fun and believable. What I found I liked the most, though, was the fact that you never quite know whether the rusalka is real or a figment of Jenny’s imagination. The Mermaid of Brooklyn is an amusing and sweet read about families and motherhood. 5/13 Becky Lejeune

THE MESA CONSPIRACY by David Kent: Eric Anthony was raised by his tough loving but distant actress cousin Colleen. What happened to his “real” parents has never been an issue for Eric, but now on her deathbed, Colleen reveals to him a cryptic directive from the man who was his father. Now Eric, single dad to his young deaf son, feels obligated to go to Oklahoma and try to learn the meaning of his legacy. There he runs into Department Thirty where U.S. Marshall Faith Kelly is chasing the mastermind behind a wave of domestic terror. Their solo quests meet in a fashion that will have explosive implications for them both. Another good read about the Unit created to serve those whose value to the government outweigh the need to punish them for the crimes they have committed. 09/06 Jack Quick

THE MESSENGER by Jan Burke: In 1815, Tyler Hawthorne was a soldier fighting against Napolean at Waterloo. He was in his early twenties. He still is today. On the brink of death, Tyler was offered a deal, if he were to agree, he would never grow old and he would never die. In exchange, he must walk the Earth delivering the messages of the dead. His trusty sidekick, a massive dog called Shade, a cemetery dog, is his constant companion. Problem is, the deal was never meant to be for longer than a few years. Course Tyler had no way of knowing this, and his would-be enemy was eliminated long ago, or so he thought. This entity has finally returned and is determined to gain back what was once his. Amanda Clark has only just met her newest neighbor, and after mistakenly assuming that the man is a con artist of the worst kind, she finds herself drawn to him. Unfortunately, Amanda’s association with Tyler lands her right in the middle of the conflict. The Messenger is quite different from what Burke’s fans may be used to with the Irene Kelly series. At its heart, though, the plot is all her and will please new and old readers alike. A fantastic paranormal thriller. 12/08 Becky Lejeune

THE MESSENGER by Daniel Silva: Gabriel Allon, Israeli art restorer and spymaster returns to Rome when Ahmed bin Shafiq, a former chief of a clandestine Saudi intelligence unit, targets the Vatican for attack, in particular Pope Paul VII and his top aide, Monsignor Luigi Donati, who both appeared in Silva’s previous novels. Shafiq is allied with a militant Islamic Saudi businessman known as Zizi, a true believer committed to the destruction of all infidels. Gabriel must infiltrate Zizi’s organization, and protect his partner, beautiful American art expert Sarah Bancroft. Schedule some decompression time after the ending of this one. 01/07 Jack Quick

METRO GIRL by Janet Evanovich: Alex Barnaby is not Stephanie Plum as she tries to track down her missing brother in Miami. Assisted by the despised NASCAR driver Sam Hooker (Stephanie and Joe?), Alex risks life and limb to learn what has happened to Bill. Although the same fem-jep as the one-two-three series, Alex is more capable of defending herself and doesn’t quite fall to pieces like Stephanie. She is however afraid of heights, snakes, sex, and guns, but after all no one is perfect. The Miami and Key West locales are certainly more attractive than Jersey but apparently attracts similar wacky female characters. Bottom line. If you liked Stephanie Plum, you will probably like the slightly more accomplished Alex Barnaby. If you didn’t like Stephanie, take a pass. 05/05 ~This review contributed by Jack Quick.

MIAMI NOIR edited by Les Standiford: Akashic’s salute to Miami has sixteen new mystery stories by Carolina Garcia-Aguilera, Kevin Allen, Preston Allen, Lynne Barrett, David Beaty, John Bond, Tom Corcoran, John Dufresne, Anthony Dale Gagliano, James W. Hall, Vicki Hendricks, Christine Kling, Paul Levine, Barbara Parker, George Tucker and Jeffrey Wehr. From South Beach to Alligator Alley, from Haitian boat people and Cuban émigrés to home grown redneck psychopaths, you will find it all in these stories. Characters like Vicki Hendricks 4’ 10” protagonist – “too short for normal chicks, too tall for a dwarf” to James W. Hall’s “Jumpy”, a “6’4″ low life, skinny as a greyhound, pasty-skinned, all knuckles and Adam’s apple”. Guaranteed something for everyone. This is another great anthology. 01/08 Jack Quick

MICRO by Michael Crichton & Richard Preston: For Peter Jansen and his labmates, the opportunity to work for a company like Nanigen is the opportunity of a lifetime. It could make their respective careers. Fortunately, Peter’s brother is high up in the Nanigen food chain and when a number of positions open up with the company, all seven of them are hired on. Unfortunately, Peter’s brother is killed under somewhat mysterious circumstances just before their arrival. When Peter discovers that the head of Nanigen is behind the crime, he and his six colleagues end up in the line of fire. Shrunk down to the size of bugs by the company’s super-secret technology, the group finds themselves battling mother nature as they try to find a way to reverse the effects. Each of their specialties proves to be a strength, but the world around them is a challenge they may not survive for long. Knowing that Micro was only partially completed before Crichton’s death makes it pretty easy to be forgiving of the book’s shortcomings. If read for pure entertainment, the book pretty much delivers; it’s a fun way to spend an afternoon. 12/11 Becky Lejeune

MIDDLE MAN by David Rich: Rich’s book is a continuation of his first novel “A Caravan of Thieves” in which he introduces Rollie Waters a soldier serving in Afghanistan. Rollie’s father Dan is accused of stealing a large amount of money while serving in the Iraq war . The monies had been secreted in the coffins of soldiers killed in that war and shipped back to the US where those that set up the plan could dig up the grave and get the money. Unfortunately Dan had been killed in attempting to steal the money from the military leaders that set up the plan, and Rollie is tasked by his commanders to find it. He is recruited into an elite military group termed “Shade” and assigned to find the money. The one error committed by Rich is to assume that the reader has read “A Caravan of Thieves” and Rollie’s relationship with his deceased father and his constant imagined conversations with him during the action. Rollie’s attempts to find the money take him to Houston and back to Iraq. He meets the self proclaimed king of Kurdistan, his beautiful daughter and his interactions with them are part of a plan to recover the money. The ending leaves the reader more than a little befuddled with the many allusions to “Caravan” and imagined conversations with his dead father. It is obvious that Rich intends to continue with Rollie’s adventures and it is hoped that the next books will allow readers to come in and pick up on past actions with hints about what occurred rather than assume that everyone has read the previous novels. 9/13 Paul Lane

THE MIDNIGHT CHOIR by Gene Kerrigan: If someone asks you what is a crime novel, show them this one. Kerrigan’s garda patrol the underside of Dublin in this gritty tale of the inner city. There are several cases – a woman tries to mug a pair of tourists with a syringe as her weapon; a man plans a jewelry heist; a gangster’s life is torn apart by his brother’s murder; a detective builds a case against an accused rapist – it’s the day to day attempt to clean the worst of the garbage off the streets, without getting it all over you. Kerrigan, a veteran journalist who lives in Dublin, is about as good as you can get. 09/07 Jack Quick

THE MIDNIGHT HOUSE by Alex Berenson: CIA Agent John Wells is back undercover in the Arab world in this 4th adventure after last year’s The Silent Man. Task Force 673 was a secret unit formed after 9/11 and charged with interrogating high value terrorist detainees, by any means possible. Although the unit has been dismantled, someone has access to the names of the unit’s personnel and is out to eliminate them. Five of the ten are already dead when Ellis Shafer, John’s sort-of boss at the agency, calls him back to Washington, D.C., from his New Hampshire retreat for a new assignment. Find the killer or killers and put them out of business. Another great thriller. 04/10 Jack Quick

Midnight Pass by Stuart Kaminsky: Stuart Kaminsky’s latest mystery features one of his more recent heroes, the process-server Lou Fonseca, who is working out of Sarasota, Florida. Because process-servers have to know their way around town, Lou is regularly asked to “help” find people, despite his lack of a formal P.I. ticket. In this book, he is simultaneously searching for a wayward wife whose husband wants her back and a missing town father whose vote is necessary to preserve Midnight Pass from developers.
The geographic search for these people is easy and turns out to be tangential to Fonseca’s other search, which is to find out why they are missing and how they fit into the lives of many others. He finds them and helps them fit back in better ways. Along the way, Lou helps a lot of other people too.
Lou is a nice guy. He is desperately missing his dead wife and washes his own clothes at the laundromat. If you like the TV show, Monk, and I do, you will like this book. It is a good story by a good storyteller. 01/04 ~This review contributed by Geoffrey R. Hamlin.

MIDNIGHT RAMBLER by James Swain: Jack Carpenter was a maverick but still a good cop. Then he is fired after a violent physical confrontation with a serial killer known as the Midnight Rambler. The incident also costs him his marriage and he ends up living alone working as an abductions specialist in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Then the body of one of the Midnight Rambler’s victims is found, and forensic evidence suggests that Carpenter jailed the wrong man. What little there is left of Carpenter’s world collapses when Simon Skell, (the Midnight Rambler) is released. The only one who seems wiling to continue to help him is an FBI agent whose own daughter vanished years ago. More intense that swains; Tony Valentine series and nicely done. I look forward to the sequel. 10/08 Jack Quick

MIDNIGHT RIOT by Ben Aaronovitch: Peter Grant gets a lucky break when he meets a ghost at a crime scene. Tapped for a position with the Case Progression Unit, i.e. the folks who take care of paperwork within the Metropolitan Police Service, his new ability to see the dead instead lands him a spot as protégé to Detective Chief Inspector Thomas Nightingale. Their division of two is responsible for investigating cases involving magic, like the murder of William Skirmish. While Skirmish doesn’t initially appear to be anyone terribly important, his murder sets in motion a series of strange events across London and Peter is soon thrown headfirst into a world of magic turf wars and faceless evils. Aaronovitch’s debut is a great addition to the urban fantasy genre. I loved the characters, the history, and the sheer originality of this first in the series. 02/11 Becky Lejeune

THE MIDNIGHT ROAD by Tom Piccirilli: I don’t usually try to compare authors directly, but in this case I would describe this new-to-me author as Stephen King-esque, at least in this outing. Suffolk County Child Protective Services Investigator Flynn has no idea when he responds to the possible child abuse call on a snowy wintry night that his life is about to be radically changed. Escaping the Shepards’ million-dollar Long Island home with daughter Kelly and an abused autistic uncle in hand, he is pursued by her gun toting mother, who has already shot her husband, and is finally forced off the road onto a frozen lake. He manages to get Kelly and her uncle out of the car to safety before the ice caves and takes him and his prized Dodge Charger with it. The cold is so intense he is flash frozen and then successfully revived after a 28 minute underwater ordeal. Unfortunately no one noticed Zero, Kelly’s French bulldog, who was also in the car. As a consequence Zero’s ghost is now is a near constant companion of Flynn (which raises some interesting mental health issues) and provides him with insights and guidance. Not long after a known prostitute approaches Flynn and hands him a note saying THIS IS ALL YOUR FAULT. Before Flynn can learn more, the woman’s head explodes, victim of a sniper shot from over one hundred yards away. Now a determined homicide detective and a beautiful, inquisitive reporter are both all over Flynn and he is clueless. Certainly not your typical mystery, but nicely done. 01/10 Jack Quick

MIDNIGHT’S WILD PASSION by Anna Campbell: This is my romance of the month, as I continue my study of the genre. Labeled “historical romance,” this tale of a disgraced woman and the rogue who pursues her borders on erotica without a whole lot of history getting in the way. The Marquess of Ranelaw is on a mission of revenge. His half sister had her reputation destroyed by Godfrey Demerast, and now the Marquess is going to destroy Demerast’s daughter’s reputation in kind. But when he meets her chaperone, he finds himself in lust – and the feeling is mutual. I did enjoy this fast, sexy read, despite the shallowness of the plot. 04/11 Stacy Alesi, AKA The BookBitch

THE MIDWIFE OF VENICE by Roberta Rich: This book was recommended to me by several people so I gave it a read and was not disappointed. Set during the 1500s, Hanna is a Jewish midwife living in the ghetto with her husband Isaac. Isaac is a spice merchant and gets kidnapped and taken to Malta as a slave. Jews are forbidden from giving medical assistance to Christians, but when a rich Venetian offers her enough money to ransom her husband back, Hanna agrees. The baby is the heir to a huge fortune, leaving his uncles plotting ways to get rid of him and Hanna. Hanna runs to her estranged sister, a courtesan who helps hide her. Meanwhile Isaac is trying his best not to starve to death in captivity to a nun who will only help him if he converts, and then to a brutal ship owner. The characters are not very well developed other than Isaac, but the story moves and is interesting. The Midwife of Venice feels like the anemic younger sister of The Red Tent by Anita Diamant or People of the Book by Geraldine Brooks, but it’s definitely worth a read. 4/13 Stacy Alesi, AKA The BookBitch

THE MIDWIFE’S CONFESSION by Diane Chamberlain: How well do you really know your friends? Emerson and Tara thought that they both knew Noelle Downie fairly well. The three had been friends since their college days, after all. Turns out, they barely knew the real Noelle. Noelle’s suicide comes as a shock to almost everyone who knew her. But when Emerson and Tara begin going through Noelle’s old things, they find a letter that implies something terrible about Noelle’s past. Secrets long hidden are soon revealed. Secrets that directly affect both Emerson and Tara. Secrets that proved to be too much for one person to handle alone. The Midwife’s Confession is an emotional and fast-paced read. Chamberlain touches on, but never dwells on, some tricky subjects. It’s the emotional impact of these subjects and her characters that are the big focus, making Chamberlain’s latest (my first by her) a sometimes heart wrenching—but overall touching—read with characters that come to life. 05/11 Becky Lejeune

MIGHTY OLD BONES by Mary Saums: America’s most mis-matched pair of sleuths returns for a new adventure. Jane Thistle has seen much of the world as the wife of a military officer while Pheobe Twigg has hardly even been away from the sleepy Alabama village of Tullulah. The odd couple are now the best of friends and practically inseparable. A severe thunderstorm knocks down a huge tree on Jane’s property, unearthing human remains – just in time for Halloween. While there is some evidence to indicate this may be an old Indian burial site, there is also the matter of the disappearance of one of the town’s older citizens. Add in some cute dogs and an unusually strong supporting cast, particularly the local restaurant owner, but then again, that’s another story, and you have a great Southern cozy that evokes memories of the Two Sisters, but even better. Another solid outing for Ms. Saums, whose love for her birth home shines through on every page. 07/08 Jack Quick

MILK GLASS MOON by Adriana Trigiani: This is the third volume of the Big Stone Gap series and I am just loving this series all over again. Ave Maria and Jack are struggling with Etta’s teenage years in the still lovely small town of Big Stone Gap, Virginia. The similarities to the family village in Italy are explored and the laughs and love just warm the heart. This is comfort reading of the best kind; real characters, interesting settings, and terrific writing that just makes you yearn for more. Trigiani is always a treat to read. 04/07 Stacy Alesi, AKA The BookBitch

The Millionaires by Brad Meltzer: With nary a lawyer or politician in sight, this thriller is Meltzer’s best work yet. Two brothers find a way to commit a more or less victimless heist of $3,000,000 when suddenly it turns into much, much more than that. Everyone is after them and you can’t tell the good guys from the bad guys. It’s hard to root for someone who is committing a crime, but somehow Meltzer makes it all work. Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

MIND SCRAMBLER by Chris Grabenstein: This latest entry into the Ceepak series is a bit darker than previous adventures. John Ceepak, straight arrow cop and his young partner, Danny Boyle, are in Atlantic City when Danny’s old girlfriend calls. She’s now the nanny for a magician whose family act is headlining at one of the hotels. She tells him she needs help but before he can find out what’s going on, she ends up dead in what appears to be an S&M act gone bad. But that’s only the first murder, and the slight-of-hand and illusions are way more sinister than most magic acts. Deputized by the local police, Ceepak and Boyle help unravel the mess of lies to find the truth and the murderer. Another excellent mystery from Grabenstein, and apparently, and sadly, the last book of the series. 07/09 Stacy Alesi, AKA The BookBitch

MIND SCRAMBLER by Chris Grabenstein: Danny Boyle and ultra-straight-arrow cop John Ceepak are on leave in Atlantic City when a former girlfriend of Boyle’s winds up dead in what appears to be a bizarre S&M sex ritual. Katie has been the nanny to the children of a magician performing there so from the outset you suspect nothing is at it first appears. Sure enough, the bodies start to pileup, both civilian and police, as the two deputized Sea Haven, N.J. cops work the “big city”. It’s another good one for the evolving Ceepak whom Grabenstein has made into a well done hybrid of Sherlock Holmes and Dudley Do-Right. It’s magic !! 07/09 Jack Quick

The Miracle Strip by Nancy Bartholomew: Very light mystery with a twist; the main protagonist is a stripper. This is the first one of a very cute series, bound to appeal to fans of Evanovich. The newest one in the series is Strip Poker. Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

MIRROR IMAGE by Dennis Palumbo: Dr. Daniel Rinaldi is a psychologist who consults with the Pittsburgh Police. His specialty is treating victims of violent crime, something with which he himself is familiar. Kevin Merrick is a college student and victim of an armed assault. Desperate for a role model and a sense of identity, Kevin has begun dressing like Rinaldi, acting like him, even mirroring his appearance. Before Daniel has a chance to work this through with his patient, he finds Kevin brutally murdered outside Rinaldi’s office. He and the police question whether the intended victim was Merrick or Rinaldi. Death threats made against Rinaldi make them think that, in fact, the Doctor was the intended victim but then it turns out that Merrick is the son of a Bill Gates-like biotech giant. This turns the murder into a national story which may or may not help solve the crime. Rinaldi, an ex-fighter who has himself lead a very interesting life, is a great main character but there are other strong characters as well in this nicely done debut likened to the efforts of Jonathon Kellerman. Lets hope the mean streets of Pittsburgh hold further adventures for Dr. Rinaldi. 08/10 Jack Quick

THE MIRRORED WORLD by Debra Dean: Xenia of St. Petersburg is the subject and inspiration of Dean’s latest. Born and raised in the eighteenth century, Xenia devoted her life to helping the needy after losing her husband. In The Mirrored World, Dasha, Xenia’s cousin, recounts their life together and the path that led to Xenia’s sainthood. Xenia always was a bit odd, recalling dreams that sometimes came true. Then she met Andrei and fell madly in love. The two married and Xenia longed for children, finally conceiving and giving birth to a daughter. But tragedy struck. Xenia was left widowed and retreated from the world. Dasha stayed by her side through it all, shocked to discover that Xenia had begun giving away all of her household possessions to the impoverished people of the city. And then Xenia disappeared. Years later, Dasha would find her living amongst the poorest of the poor, revered for her visions and good works. Dean has a great talent for bringing historic Russia to life but I felt that there were many parts of the story that were only glossed over and would have benefited from more attention. 9/12 Becky Lejeune

MISS PEREGRINE’S HOME FOR PECULIAR CHILDREN by Ransom Riggs: As a child, Jacob idolized his grandfather and could never get enough of the fanciful tales of his youth. The amazing stories of an island in Wales and a home for strange refugee children with odd abilities—and the pictures to accompany them—fascinating young Jacob. As he grew older, however, the stories began to seem more like fairy tales, definitely not the kind of thing a teenager would mistake for an actual history. But when Jacob’s grandfather dies, his final request is that his grandson find the home and the woman who once ran it. Jacob convinces his father to take him on the trip and as he searches for his grandfather’s past, those stories of long ago become real to him once again. Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children is one of the most original and wonderful books of the year. The use of vintage images enhances the story and gives it even more of a unique but amazingly believable twist. Riggs’s book is a great one for readers of most ages (maybe not too young) to get lost in. 08/11 Becky Lejeune

THE MISSING by Sarah Langan: Sometimes I’ve thought the likes of the grand old days of horror writing would never come again — early Stephen King, Peter Straub, Ramsay Campbell — with a silent thank you aside to Dean Koontz for fairly consistently hanging in there. But in spite of much blurb hype, no new author has come into this genre who could hold a candle to those guys. Until now.
Her name is Sarah Langan, and the book is THE MISSING. Set in the present in an inland Maine town of some affluence called Corpus Christie, this is a story about what happens when a strange virus is released from soil in woods near the town — an area that was contaminated in the previous year by a fire that destroyed a pulp mill. (Langan has an earlier book about this, THE KEEPER, which I have not yet read.) But the virus, as it turns out, is much, much older than that; like the growth of ancient redwoods, this virus is triggered by fire. This is all eerily plausible, even as the town’s infected habitants begin to change into life forms that are no longer exactly human.
Langan’s greatest skill is that she truly writes well, creating characters we quickly grow to care about. This ratchets up the tension unbearably as they each try to escape infection, not giving up even when the CDC abandons the town. Do not begin this book on a night you’re unwilling to stay up late. And be prepared for the possibility of nightmares. Some of the images are sure to stay with you. 11/07 Dianne Day

MISSING MARK by Julie Kramer: Reporter Riley Spartz has been looking for a big story ever since she got her break in Stalking Susan. After all, sweeps week is nearing and the station is fighting for ratings. Plus, Riley’s not been up to much since uncovering that serial killer. She hasn’t had a shortage of dead bodies, though. In fact, by the end of Missing Mark, her tally is up to six. This latest mystery begins with an ad for a wedding dress for sale. “Never worn,” it says. Riley’s radar is immediately up—there’s got to be a story there. And she’s right. The bride was left waiting at the altar and the groom hasn’t been seen since the rehearsal dinner. Riley’s boss isn’t too keen on the story, though. In fact, she’s much more interested in the case of the missing record-size bass recently stolen from an indoor aquarium. As Riley balances both investigations, she trips over a third story and gets herself into trouble once again. Julie Kramer has proven that she has what it takes. Her books are light but a bit edgy and her heroine is fun, spunky, and completely loveable. 07/09 Becky Lejeune
MISSING WITNESS by Gordon Campbell: As a first year associate with the firm of Butler and Menedez, Doug McKenzie has not yet had the opportunity to work on a case. All that changes when Travis Eddington, only son of the biggest cattleman in Arizona, is murdered. The sole witness to the event saw the man’s wife, Rita, and daughter, Miranda, enter the home where the young Eddington had been staying and close the door. The witness heard six shots. Only seconds later Rita and Miranda emerged from the home. Then, the witness saw a gun drop from Rita’s hand. Eddington’s father retains the lawyers of Butler and Menedez to defend Rita. Why would a father hire a top law firm to defend the woman accused of murdering his son? This question weighs heavily on the minds of the lawyers, but Eddington is a major client for the firm and no one wants to lose this case. Hotshot defense attorney Dan Morgan is assigned to defend Rita, and he requests that newcomer McKenzie assist him. What follows is a series of events that will stay with McKenzie for the rest of his life. This page turning thriller is one of the most realistic legal dramas to come along since Grisham’s A Time to Kill. Campbell, an attorney for over 40 years, originally began work on his debut over thirty years ago. Not to worry, though, he’s already hard at work on his next title. 10/07 Becky Lejeune

THE MISSINGS by Peg Brantley: No sophomore slump here after Ms. Brantley’s first successful outing – RED TIDE. I must admit as a kidney dialysis patient and hopeful eventual recipient of a kidney transplant, I found the premise of this book riveting. Aspen Park, Colorado police are dealing with a serial killer with a twist. The first body they found had no visible abuse but had recently had a kidney removed. The second body had been carved up like a side of beef with a number of organs missing. Both were Latino. Then a female Latino teenager goes missing. The investigation by Detective Chase Waters is not helped by his supervisor, a curmudgeon who definitely would benefit from sensitivity training. Then it gets worse. A third body is found, but it’s not the missing girl. And the body count continues to rise. Another “unputdownable.” 11/12 Jack Quick

Mission Flats by William Landay: This superb debut novel of suspense is set in Boston and the small town of Versailles, (pronounces Ver-sales) Maine. Police Chief Ben Truman inherited his job when he left Boston University to help his retired police chief father care for his ailing mother, who eventually died from Alzheimer’s disease. Nothing much happens in this small town, so when during a routine inspection, Ben finds the body of a Boston D.A. in a cabin by the lake, the big city cops come visiting. Retired Boston cop John Kelly gets involved, and Ben gets involved with both Kelly and his D.A. daughter. Inner city drug lord Harold Braxton is the chief suspect and the cops seem determined to prove his guilt. Landay deftly manages to keep the suspense high through the final shocker of an ending in this terrific new chiller. Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

MISSION FLATS by William Landay: Ben Truman, the young police chief in the Maine town of Versailles gave up his pursuit of a doctorate in history at Boston University to come home and care for his Alzheimer’s-stricken mother. His biggest case to date starts with the discovery of the bloated body of a Boston assistant district attorney in a rental cabin. Ben joins a crew of big-city cops and prosecutors in a search through the blighted Boston neighborhood of Mission Flats for the answer to the ADA’s murder and a 10-year-old mystery. Will “Opie”, as the big city cops refer to Ben, prevail? Interesting first effort. 03/06 Jack Quick

MISSION ROAD by Rick Riordan: Everyone needs a little Texas in his or her life. Riordan’s PI Tres Navarre fills the bill perfectly. This time he is caught up in a twenty year old murder case involving his best friend Ralph, South Texas’ top mobster Guy White, girl friend Maia Lee (who has her own surprise for Tres), and a bunch of ticked off San Antonio police. And then it gets interesting. Fast paced, well written and portrays that part of the world perfectly. We are relatively sure Tres will survive all this, but at what price. Must read. To be released 06/05. 05/05 ~This review contributed by Jack Quick.

MISTER B. GONE by Clive Barker: Clive Barker’s long-awaited return to adult horror is finally here. In Mister B. Gone, Jakabok Botch, a low-level demon, recounts how he was lured from the depths of hell – Demonation – into our world. Upon his arrival, he is immediately set upon by group of entrepreneurial demon hunters. He manages to escape them only to be attacked by a blood-thirsty mob of village folk amassed in anticipation of a public execution. Botch is saved by Quitoon, a higher level demon with pyrokinetic powers. Quitoon and Botch travel the world throughout the centuries wreaking havoc and mayhem and searching out new inventions that will change the world. Jakabok reluctantly reveals his tale to the reader. You see, Jakabok is in fact trapped between the pages of this book. He sees our world through the lines of print and exists only in its prose. His persistent pleas that the reader burn the novel are amusing and make this read much lighter fare than is typical of past Barker titles. 11/07 Becky Lejeune

MISTER PIP by Lloyd Jones: In 1988, Bougainville Island in Papua New Guinea became the scene of a bloody rebellion that would stretch on for almost a decade. Matilda Laimo, the adult narrator of this tale, recalls how, in 1991, all the whites left the island except for Mr. Watts. Mr. Watts eventually takes over teaching the children of the island, including the then thirteen-year-old Matilda. During this time of turmoil, he introduces the students to Dickens’ Great Expectations. By reading them a chapter a day, Mr. Watts provides a safe and comforting escape from the terror that surrounds the children’s daily lives. Imagination becomes the key to survival for Matilda as the situation on the island deteriorates completely. It will be years, however, before Matilda will truly understand the lesson that Mr. Watts has taught her. While Mister Pip is both disturbingly brutal and realistic, it is also an inspirational and thought provoking novel. 07/07 Becky Lejeune

MISTRESS OF THE ART OF DEATH by Ariana Franklin: In the first of Franklin’s series featuring twelfth century Trotula (term based on an actual female physician from Salerno at the time) Adelia Aguilar, the King of Sicily sends his best master in the art of death to Cambridge where a handful of children have been kidnapped and murdered. The townsfolk suspect that the Jews are responsible and they have been moved to the sheriff’s own home for protection. Cambridge officials are getting desperate and so Adelia and one of Sicily’s top investigators, Simon of Naples, are brought in to help. It is only upon their arrival in town that the bodies of the missing children are discovered. Because of superstition and local law, Adelia must keep her occupation, and therefore her purpose in town, a secret. With a select few helping her, they set about trying to solve this case using her medical expertise and Simon’s deductive skills. But when Simon is murdered Adelia becomes determined, law or not, to track down the killer on her own if necessary. Mistress is a brilliantly conceived and original spin on the forensic mystery. Franklin has chosen what must be one of the most fascinating historical periods in which to base this series. A fantastic read. 03/09 Becky Lejeune

SIDNEY SHELDON’S MISTRESS OF THE GAME by Tilly Bagshawe: It’s been over two decades since Sidney Sheldon’s bestselling Master of the Game was initially released. Now, the Blackwell saga continues as Lexi Templeton, granddaughter of the inimitable Kate Blackwell, recounts her own rise to the top of the Blackwell family empire. The story begins with the death of Kate Blackwell in 1984. Her great-grandson, Robbie, was set to inherit everything she had worked so hard for, but like his grandfather before him, Robbie had other plans in mind. Instead, his young sister Lexi will take up the mantle in an attempt to stake her claim as the new master (mistress) of the game. But with her cousin Max as her strongest contender, she will find herself fighting temptation and learning some of the same lessons those who came before her struggled with as well. In the end, can she overcome what others would see as insurmountable odds and live up to her family’s legacy? Bagshawe captures Sheldon’s voice completely in this carefully plotted sequel to the “master storyteller’s” work. Fans new and old are sure to be pleased as they are once again swept up in the sordid and scandalous lives of the Blackwell heirs. 09/09 Becky Lejeune

The Mists of Avalon by Marion Zimmer Bradley: Magnificent book about the King Arthur legends, told from the female point of view. Don’t judge a book by its movie (or mini-series!) Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

MOCKINGJAY by Suzanne Collins: The wrap-up to Suzanne Collins’s Hunger Games series, Mockingjay, answers all the burning questions brought forth by the first two installments. After being saved by District 13 (which does in fact exist) and the rebels, Katniss is being heavily pushed to represent them as the Mockingjay, the symbol of their rebellion against the Capitol. Her only concern is how to keep her friends and loved ones safe and to rescue Peeta from the other side, something that will come at a heavy price. Mockingjay lacks some of the intensity of Hunger Games and Catching Fire, in my opinion because of the games themselves. Overall, a wonderful and exciting (and more than a little disturbing) teen dystopian trilogy, but Mockingjay didn’t pack quite the punch I’d hoped. 1/11 Becky Lejeune

MOIST by Mark Haskell Smith: Start with a severed arm decorated with an erotic tattoo, add a minimum wage morgue attendant, mix in a one-armed murderer, a Wharton Business School graduate and a masturbation coach with unnatural urges and you have the basis for a one of a kind murder, sex, mobster tale worthy of Carl Hiassen or Elmore Leonard – and it’s a first effort. The jailhouse scene where Bob has to pee like a racehorse to preserve his manhood is in itself worth the price of admission. One funny, funny book. 01/06 Jack Quick

MONEY BURNS by A. E. Maxwell: In spite of their failed marriage, Fiddler and Fiora still work together solving cases. This time it’s a young bank owner who has run afoul of a murderous Colombian drug lord. Masquerading as financial consultants the two infiltrate Don Faustino’s organization, kidnap the son of his bagman, and make off with $15 million. But will they live to spend it? First-rate tale from the 1980’s. 03/09 Jack Quick

Money for Nothing: Donald Westlake has once again written a funny crime story that may very well be turned into a movie, as were The Hot Rock (Robert Redford) and Bank Shot (George C. Scott and Joanna Cassidy). In this particular case, Mr. Westlake must have been watching old Hitchcock, wrong man caught up in events not of his making movies when he sat down to write. The hero of this tale is Joshua Redmont, who has been receiving checks for $1,000 a month from a mysterious “U.S. Agent” for seven years. His attempts to find out where these checks have come from have been to no avail and he has simply accepted them as a needed supplement to his income. Until the day when a stranger sits down next to him and says “You have been activated.” Gulp.
Of course, he is out of his depth. Of course, there is an assassination plot and of course, his wife and child are threatened by the bad guys. Hitch would have insisted on it. But Westlake is in control the whole way and develops his characters with just enough human detail and a lot of humor. Reviewers will describe this book as “a rollicking good time.” It is. I was also reminded recently of what a good writer Westlake is when I read his foreword to the reissue of one of Ross Thomas’ books, Out on The Rim. They are a pair to draw to. This review contributed by Geoffrey R. Hamlin.
MONEY SHOT by Christa Faust: “Coming back from the dead isn’t as easy as they make it seem in the movies. In real life it takes forever to do little things like pry open your eyes.” Opening lines from Hard Case Crime’s first offering by a female author. In order to clear her name of a murder charge, former porn star Angel Dare only has to locate a briefcase of stolen money and defeat an international sex-slavery ring. It’s all in a day’s work for this newest heroine. It’s Modern Noir at its finest from the woman film director Quentin Tarantino called “Veronica in a world of Betties.” With endorsements from Richard S. Prather, Jason Starr, Allan Guthrie and Duane Swierczynski – well, lets just say it, its darn good. 02/08 Jack Quick

MONEY TO BURN by James Grippando: This new stand alone thriller set on Wall Street is a real page turner; I couldn’t put it down. Michael Cantrello is a hedge fund wunderkind who impulsively marries his girlfriend while on vacation in the Caribbean. But she disappears on their wedding day and the DNA says she was eaten by a shark. Several years later it’s Michael’s 35th birthday, and his current wife throws him a big surprise party. But the real surprise comes later that night when Michael finds out he’s the victim of identity theft, and that all his money is gone, moved through an offshore account in his dead 1st wife’s name and then gone for good. The new wife throws him out, and the high life style Michael once knew is gone when she also cleans out their joint account, leaving him cashless, without any credit cards, and homeless. Someone is out to get him, but he doesn’t figure out who or why until the very end of this highly suspenseful, action packed thriller that’s a riveting, adrenalin charged read. 03/10 Stacy Alesi, AKA The BookBitch

Money To Burn by James Zagel: A federal court judge, a firefighter/arsonist and two Federal Reserve Bank employees team up to rob the Federal Reserve bank of $100,000,000. Some interesting twists along the way, and even though the story bogs down in places, it’s still a good debut novel. Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

Monkeewrench by P. J. Tracy: This new author is actually a mother-daughter writing team and they are off to a fabulous start. “Monkeewrench” is a software company in Minneapolis, owned by an eclectic and eccentric group of friends. Their newest product, still in the beta testing stage, is a game called “Serial Killer Detective,” with crime scene photos providing the clues through the various levels of the game until the serial killer is found. But somehow one of their carefully staged murder scenes ends up happening on the streets of Minneapolis, so one of the partners, the enigmatic ice princess Grace MacBride, reports it to the police. Turns out this is the third murder and the murderer is playing their game for real. The software team is able to pinpoint the next murder, making themselves suspects in the process. Meanwhile, in a small town in rural Wisconsin, the local sheriff has a rather gristly murder on his hands – an elderly couple is found shot to death in the church. Somehow this all gets tied together – at breakneck speed, no less – and the big city cops and small town sheriff solve their respective cases. Well developed characters and crisp, witty writing make Monkeewrench a great read. Don’t miss it.

MONSTER by A. Lee Martinez: Monster is a freelance cryptobiological rescue agent—a division of animal control specializing in beasties and creatures of strange origin. Oh, and he changes color. When Monster and his paper gnome partner, Chester, are called to a grocery store with a yeti problem, they meet Judy, one of the night staff. Judy’s life isn’t glamorous. In fact, it’s a little boring. That must be why, when the trolls appear in her closet, she decides that Monster’s line of work is pretty interesting. Judy is a light cog, someone who can see magic but can’t remember it, which makes tagging along with Monster a bit difficult at times, but a memory spell fixes that. Course, Monster isn’t the easiest person to be around (he’s not very likable) but even he has to admit that strange things are happening around Judy at an alarming rate. Before he can find out why, Judy is kidnapped by a crazy cat lady and Monster’s house is wrecked, something that will be difficult to explain to his demon girlfriend. But that will be dealt with later, right now Monster has to find Judy and figure this whole thing out. Fun stuff. Martinez’s fantastical fiction will appeal to readers who enjoy Christopher Moore and Mario Acevedo’s Felix Gomez mysteries. 05/09 Becky Lejeune

THE MONSTER’S CORNER: Stories Through Inhuman Eyes, edited by Christopher Golden: What do you get when you bring together some of the best of the writing business in a collection of stories all featuring the most monstrous of characters? The Monster’s Corner, the latest anthology edited by Christopher Golden. The collection features new and never-before-published tales from horror and suspense heavyweights like Jonathan Maberry, Gary Braunbeck, Chelsea Cain, Sharyn McCrumb, and many others. In “The Awkward Age,” David Liss introduces readers to a teenager with an unhealthy eating habit, Kevin J. Anderson revisits one of horror’s most famous monsters in “Torn Stitches, Shattered Glass,” and Sarah Pinborough shows us another side of Medusa in “The Screaming Room.” From monsters created by their surroundings—or by others—to demons and other dark beings, this is an excellent collection of chilling and shocking tales for any time of year. 10/11 Becky Lejeune

THE MONSTERS OF TEMPLETON by Lauren Groff: Distraught and disappointed, twenty-eight year old Willie Upton has left Alaska where she was working at an archaeological dig as part of her PhD program, to come home to Templeton. An affair with her professor led to her trying to run over his wife with a plane and now Willie’s returned to home base to try and straighten out her life. Did I mention she may be pregnant? Willie’s own mother left her hometown for California at a young age and only returned after the death of her parents – Willie’s grandparents. The story is that the free-loving Vi was pregnant, unsure of who the father was, and planning to sell the family homestead when she up and decided to stay. The story is not all true. Turns out, Vi has been keeping a secret from Willie, a secret that she finally reveals in the midst of all this turmoil. Willie makes it her mission to uncover the truth about her parentage and in doing so, learns more about her family than she could ever imagine. As Willie unravels the many secrets of her heritage, her predecessors each take turns telling bits of the story themselves. As the most recent addition to a rather large family tree that begins with the founding father of Templeton, Willie and her family’s tale is closely intertwined with the history of the town itself. The cleverness with which Groff unfolds her debut is nothing short of expert. The monsters of Templeton, and they are there both literally and figuratively, make for humorous, touching, and scandalous reading. The Monsters of Templeton is a wonderful debut from a hugely talented writer that should be on everyone’s must read list this year. 02/08 Becky Lejeune

MONSTROUS BEAUTY by Elizabeth Fama: The locals have long whispered of mermaids and monsters of the deep. When Ezra, a naturalist in 1872, meets Syrenka, he is fascinated and smitten. As he learns more about her and her world, the two begin to share an undeniable connection. But when Syrenka becomes human, their fate is tragically sealed. Over a century later, Hester Goodwin has come to the decision that she must never fall in love or bear children. Her family’s history is filled with heartbreaking tales of mothers dying shortly after giving birth and Hester is sure the same awaits her. When she meets a man on the beach who suggests maybe it’s a curse, one that might be broken if only Hester can unravel it, she is leery. Something about the man draws her, though, and as she looks further into her family’s story, she becomes convinced that he may be onto something after all. Monstrous Beauty is great fun. In the beginning, chapters alternate between Syrenka and Hester, providing a nice setup for what comes later in Hester’s story. I especially loved the mix of modern and historic throughout the book. 9/12 Becky Lejeune

Montana 1948 by Larry Watson: Be forewarned: this small book carries a powerful punch. It is the coming of age story of David Hayden, set in a small town in Montana near the Canadian border. David’s father is the gun-kept-in-the-drawer, badge-in-the-wallet Andy Griffith type sheriff, a position he inherited from his father, who is determined to keep this a family business. His uncle Frank is the town doctor, but when Marie Little Feather, their Native American housekeeper, becomes ill, she gets hysterical when Frank is called in. David grows up real fast that summer when his father has to arrest his own brother for rape, and murder. Beautifully written, the stark scenery is as much a character as the family members in this painful, honest page-turner about family secrets and small town tragedy. 12/03 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

MOON OVER SOHO by Ben Aaronovitch: DI Peter Grant is back in this second book of the series following Midnight Riot. Peter’s friend and boss are both laid up thanks to their previous case, so Peter takes the lead on a new investigation involving the recent death of a jazz musician. Notes of a famous tune linger around the body and Peter knows this means that something magical is to blame rather than the initial death-by-natural-causes verdict. But when Peter discovers a string of the strange murders, he begins to realize that the case is quite complicated indeed. Meanwhile, another magic practitioner seems to be at play in London and his intentions are less than noble. Aaronovitch’s series is a welcome and exciting addition to the urban fantasy genre. Definitely recommended for paranormal mystery fans. 03/11 Becky Lejeune

MOON TIGER by Penelope Lively: My book club was supposed to read this a while ago, but I never got around to it until lately since it just didn’t sound like my kind of thing. You know, some old lady on her deathbed, remembering her life, blah blah. BUT IN FACT, her life was pretty dang interesting, and the book carries you right along. She was not always a nice person, but she was never dull. She experienced a wide variety of what was available to upper-class women of the mid-twentieth century, becoming a reporter in WWII and traveling through Egypt, among many other things.
It won the Booker Prize, and I also found myself thinking about it for days afterwards, both of which are usually good indications of an excellent book. 05/07 Jenne Bergstrom

THE MOON TUNNEL by Jim Kelly: This book offers an intriguing premise and setting: the discovery of a body which has been concealed in a tunnel. The corpse is discovered on the site of an old World War II English Prisoner of War camp; Italian and then German POWs were housed there. Who was this person? And why in heaven’s name would he be in what was clearly an escape tunnel heading into the camp? And is there any connection with the “real” treasure being sought on this site, where Anglo-Saxon items have been found?
The history is interesting and well-described; readers get to read about might be “enemy combatants” who stayed behind after the war was over. Upon realizing they would not be murdered by the Allies, as both Italian and German soldiers had been told, they found England congenial and became members of the community, made their homes, opened restaurants, raised families.
Not surprisingly, this is a tale of deception and pretty complicated history; I did get lost at times, but it’s just as likely that I don’t comprehend tangled family ties as it is that the author wasn’t clear. The protagonist is a reporter, with connections to the town that police might not have, which makes him a useful sleuth. The very well-written sideline, of Dryden’s wife, Laura, emerging from “locked-in syndrome” and learning to communicate after years is told well, with a minimum of bathos and a maximum of understanding. Recommended. 12/05 ~This review contributed by Andi Shechter.

THE MOONPOOL by P.T. Deutermann: Cameron Richter is back (The Cat Dancers and Spider Mountain). The retired cop who runs Hide and Seek Investigations, a PI firm staffed by other ex-cops is in Wilmington, NC following up on the death of one of the firm’s agents, Allie Gardner. The location of the death – a gas station bathroom. The cause of death – ingestion of a highly radioactive liquid. Although there is no solid reason to suspect a connection, Aristotle Quartermain, chief of security at Helios, the local nuclear power station hires Hide and Seek to determine whether it would be possible that the contaminated liquid came from their Moonpool – the pond where spent fuel rods were stored. Aiding Cam are his German shepherds, Frick and Frack, along with some first rate agents in this great thriller. Hopefully, Mr. Deutermann, who has nine stand-alones as well as these three in the Richter series will churn out more featuring this very engaging sleuth. 05/09 Jack Quick

MOONSHINE by Alaya Johnson: In Zephyr Hollis’s 1920’s New York, Others exist within regular society. That doesn’t mean that they’re readily accepted. As a suffragette, Zephyr fights for women’s rights, but she also regularly appeals for equal rights of Others as well. When she discovers a young boy recently turned, she knows she cannot bring him to the authorities. A vampire that young wouldn’t be expected to be able to control himself. As such, the law requires staking. One of her students agrees to take the boy into his protection. Amir is a mysterious man and definitely not human. In return, he asks a favor from Zephyr: find a vampire called Rinaldo. The catch, Rinaldo just happens to be a notorious crime boss who no one can recall ever laying eyes on. With this first in the series, Johnson has created a unique urban fantasy landscape within a historic setting. The combination of Prohibition-era backdrop, an appealing heroine, and Others makes Moonshine a fresh new standout in the genre. 4/12 Becky Lejeune

The Moonstone by Wilkie Collins: T. S. Eliot called this “the first and greatest of English detective novels” and I am certainly not going to argue with that judgment. First published in 1868, this classic mystery involving the theft of a diamond from an English country manor has withstood the test of time. Collins created a formula that is still being used today, including the bumbling policeman; the famous, albeit eccentric, Scotland Yard detective; the concept of an ‘inside job’; false suspects; reconstruction of the crime; the least likely suspect being the guilty party; and the final twist at the end. While it is considerably longer in length than contemporary mysteries, any fan of the genre really should add it to their reading list.

MORE LIKE HER by Liza Palmer: Frannie Reid has just recently split with her boyfriend when she meets Emma Dunham, the new head of school at Markham. To Frannie, Emma is perfect: poised and polished with a great career and a seemingly perfect life. But Emma is living a lie that becomes all too clear when her husband brings a gun to a faculty party and kills her in front of Frannie. Now, Frannie and her friends are faced with the aftermath of surviving such a tragedy. More Like Her is like a punch to the gut. It begins with a horrible 911 call and then jumps back to Emma’s first day at Markham. The reader is aware that something horrible is coming in what is essentially a chick-lit story of a thirty-something woman hoping to meet the man of her dreams and learning to be herself. The transition between the prologue and the beginning of the story is jarring, as it should be given the nature of the overall story. More Like Her was not at all what I’d expected it to be, but I liked it. 4/12 Becky Lejeune

MORE THAN IT HURTS YOU by Darin Strauss: Can there be anything more frightening than Munchausen syndrome by proxy, the psychological disorder which leads parents to abuse their own children in order to draw attention or sympathy to themselves. Josh Goldin is a happily married TV airtime salesman living on Long Island with wife Dori, and an eight-month-old son named Zack. When Zack is treated twice for mysterious and life-threatening symptoms, the head of a pediatric ICU, Dr. Darlene Stokes, suspects Dori suffers from that disorder. The Goldin are Jewish, Dr. Stokes is black, and situation leads to a topsy-turvy world where doctors are trying to save babies from their parents, police legally tear families apart, and everyone turns on everyone else. In the midst of this chaos Josh sees all his faith and preconceptions torn abruptly away. What is left is not pretty. 06/09 Jack Quick

THE MORNING SHOW MURDERS by Al Roker and Dick Lochte: Go behind the scenes with Al Roker at a morning news program for a little murder and mayhem, and lots of laughs. Billy Blessing is a celebrity chef with a successful New York City restaurant and a regular gig on Wake Up, America – until the executive producer is murdered by poisoned coq au vin takeout from Billy’s restaurant. Billy becomes the leading suspect, the cops close down the restaurant and he’s suspended from the show. Billy decides to prove his innocence, and an amateur sleuth is born. Al Roker’s charm is evident throughout, but there are too many zany characters for my taste. All in all, a solid debut and what appears to be the first book of a possible series. 11/09 Stacy Alesi, AKA The BookBitch

MORNING SPY, EVENING SPY by Colin MacKinnon: Described as a CIA procedural, this disturbing portrayal of the CIA from the end of 2000 to the night of September 10, 2001, grabs you and keeps you on edge all the way through. Agency troubleshooter Paul Patterson spends most of that time period investigating the murder of a shady CIA contractor in Pakistan. In the process he uncovers hints of a major al-Qaeda plot in the making. However, since the various intelligence services are determined to not share what they know, you sense with each passing day the increasing inevitability of what is going to happen at the end. Nevertheless, there are still surprises along the way. All in all this reminds me of the early Tom Clancy material in which you hope there is more fiction that fact, but fear there may be more truth than imagination. 03/09 Jack Quick

MORTAL FEAR by Greg Isles: Futures trader Harper Cole, moonlights as the systems operator of an erotic online services called EROS. When he contacts the New Orleans police with information about the murder of celebrated author-and EROS subscriber-Karin Wheat, he immediately becomes the prime suspect in six other murders of EROS subscribers across the country. Also on the FBI’s short list is Cole’s eccentric friend and EROS colleague Miles Turner, who has dubbed the killer “Brahma.” When Cole learns that the man he thought was Brahma was killed a year ago and that his online identity was stolen, a tense cat-and-mouse game commences. Coles’ digging leads to his posing on line as a potential victim, using as bait a secret that endangers the mother of his child, as well as his wife. The final climax is breathtaking. Recommended. 03/07 Jack Quick

MOSCOW RULES by Daniel Silva: Silva has done it once again with a grabber of an adventure for art restorer and Jewish James Bond – Gabriel Allon. Allon is in Italy working on restoring a Nicolas Poussin painting for the Vatican and celebrating his honeymoon with new wife Chiara, when he is summoned by “The Office” to take a meeting, with a Russian journalist who claims to have critical information that he will reveal only to Allon. The journalist is killed at the meet and Allon sets forth to discover what may be the greatest threat ever to Israel’s existence. Ivan Kharkov, a former KGB official and now global entrepreneur and gun runner, is apparently ready to provide unprecedented weapons to al- Qaeda. Allon must somehow prevent the exchange but this time he is playing by Moscow Rules – Anything goes, take no prisoners, and win at all costs. Wouldn’t you love to see Allon made into a movie, a real one, not the Mission Impossible, Who Killed Roger rabbit type? I’d get in line for tickets for it. 08/08 Jack Quick

MOST WANTED by Michele Martinez: First novel from a hot shot New York Federal prosecutor about a hot shot New York Federal prosecutor. Art imitates life in this fast paced debut. As with many first efforts, Most Wanted would benefit from a tighter editorial hand. We tend to learn too much about too many people. While it is obvious that Melanie the prosecutor is the main character, you’re not as certain about some of the others. Major gritty, even for a hard boiled fan like me. Nicely paced, but again just a bit jam packed, as though there is concern about no tomorrow (or second book). Overall a promising start for a shiny new talent. Maybe next time lets just focus on the crime rather than the crime, the separation, the baby, the new boyfriend, the family, the victim, the department… 03/05 ~This review contributed by Jack Quick.

MOTOR MOUTH by Janet Evanovich: This is the sequel to Metro Girl and what I suspect will be another Evanovich money-making series. Not because this is such a great book (it’s not,) but she has her fans and I’m one of them. This series features Alexandra Barnaby, AKA Barney, who is much like Stephanie Plum – clueless, sexy, and lovable, but she has only one male love interest, Nascar driver Sam Hooker. Personally, I find Nascar boring as hell, but I like the books although not nearly as much as the Plum series. These characters are fairly one dimensional, but this is not great literature (am I repeating myself?) and is completely plot driven. Motor Mouth centers around some new-fangled technology that can make a car win a race, except that it’s illegal. There are kidnappings, murders, sexual tension and dog jokes galore in this effervescent read that is real short on logic, but is fast & fun. Let’s call it brain candy – too much is certainly no good for you, but if you want to escape for a couple of hours and have a few laughs, go for it. 10/06 Stacy Alesi, AKA The BookBitch

MOTOR MOUTH by Janet Evanovich: An epiphany. I have read and generally enjoyed the first dozen Stephanie Plum books. But, I don’t know that much about bounty hunting in New Jersey. This is the second book featuring Alexandra Barnaby in a NASCAR setting. I do know something about NASCAR, which is why this one is DNF (Did Not Finish) before the first green flag pit stop. If you are a NASCAR fan, I suspect you will quickly reach the same conclusion. If you are not a NASCAR fan, maybe the stilted dialogue, improbable plot and unrealistic scenario will appeal to you. Back to the drawing board on this series. 03/07 Jack Quick

MOUNTING DESIRE by Nina Killham: This second effort by Killham (after the very funny How to Cook a Tart) is a humorous inside look at the business of writing romance. Jack Carter, AKA Celeste D’arcy, is a very successful romance writer – but not finding the romance he wants in his own life. He takes a vow of celibacy, which proves to be the irresistible icing on the hunky-successful-romantic-guy cake and women are throwing themselves at him, literally. His sister convinces him to take in Molly, her friend who was fired from her job for inappropriate sexual behavior with a subordinate. He reluctantly agrees and the sparks fly despite their different agendas; Jack just wants someone to love, and then maybe he’ll think about sex, while Molly just wants sex and then maybe she’ll think about love. Then Molly starts writing her own romance novel while Jack ends up with writer’s block. I don’t read romance so I had the sneaking suspicion that I was missing some inside jokes about the business, but it was a fun and funny read nonetheless. 08/05

MOUNTING FEARS by Stuart Woods: Woods uses an implausible plot to showcase most everyone he has ever written about. Ostensibly about President Will Lee, Woods brings in Lance Cabot of the CIA and former Florida police chief Holly Barker to deal with a resurfaced Teddy Fay who has been “killed” in at least two previous Woods’ outings. Lee has loose nukes in Pakistan, a Vice-President who dies after surgery, and a new Vice President with a zipper problem and a vindictive wife from whom he is trying to escape. The polls are going in the wrong direction, and Lee’s wife, Kate Rule Lee, head of the CIA, is upset when a former Lee lover comes into the picture. Believe it or not, all ends well, the world is saved as well as the upcoming election, so there is sure to be a sequel. Not bad if you are a Stuart Woods fan, like me. If not, you may want to skip it. 04/09 Jack Quick

MOURNERS by Bill Pronzini: When Nameless made his assistant, Tamara, a partner in his detective agency and hired Jake, a new operative, he genuinely felt he was moving toward retirement. But business has increased, and Nameless finds himself reluctant to give up the work that has defined him for so long, even though he has recently become a husband and father. Pronzini’s series becomes more layered and complex with each entry. This time the primary characters are all in one stage or another of mourning. A dark, foreboding entry in a classic series. Pronzini is a master. 04/06 Jack Quick

THE MOURNING SEXTON by Michael Baron: The sexton in this story is an orthodox lawyer with a past. Having served ten years in the federal penitentiary for embezzlement, David Hirsch is trying to rebuild his life. He regains his law license with the proviso that he be allowed to practice only under the direct supervision of a lawyer in good standing for at least 20 years. His oldest friend takes him into his bankruptcy practice and David is working and living a quiet life. Until one of the minyan at the shul where he is sexton asks him to find justice for the daughter he lost in a car accident three years previously, and he reluctantly agrees to help out. As he immerses himself in the case, he finds irregularities and starts digging deeper. But his client is suffering from Alzheimer’s disease which is progressing rapidly, opposing council doesn’t want him looking into it any further, and things just spiral out of control from there. This is a well written, fast moving, original legal thriller with some very clever twists and I highly recommend it. 11/05 Stacy Alesi, the BookBitch

THE MOURNING SEXTON by Michael Baron: Michael Baron, who as Michael Kahn writes (or wrote) the Rachel Gold series, set in St. Louis; his characters are sharply drawn, and the stories are often complex without being dizzying, and he knows his city.
David Hirsch is getting his life back together. A high-flying attorney, he self-destructed, losing his practice, his family, and his sex-filled, embezzling way of life. Upon release from prison, old friends and new-found faith support him. One morning at his synagogue he’s approached by Abe Shifrin who wants justice in his daughter’s death in a seemingly straightforward car crash. Hirsch, along with his friend and law partner (who has to oversee this felon), ex-con Jumbo and Dulcie, an attorney who becomes a friend, begin to look into the death of Judith, who was the devoted law clerk of a judge.
This story reminded me (positively) of both Barry Reed’s “The Verdict” (made into a fantastic film in the 80s) and of the Gold books, the latter in their detailed knowledge of St. Louis landmarks. A tarnished guy going after big business with big arrogant lawyers is a good story. He’s got great loyal friends and is an appealing character. It was hard for me to buy that Hirsch was ever the schmuck he must have been to end up in federal prison, since he’s awfully nice here. 12/05 ~This review contributed by Andi Shechter.

MR. CLARINET by Nick Stone: Max Mingus spent seven years in Attica for killing three child molesters. Now the ex-Miami cop and erstwhile PI is trying to put his life back together. He is hired to find the missing three-year old son of a wealthy white Haitian family in the violent mid 1990’s world of Haiti. His search for Charlie Carver leads him from the richest to the poorest sections of the island and to powerful drug baron Vincent Paul. Not for the faint hearted, this first effort is gritty throughout. Hopefully we will hear more from Mr. Stone in the future. 01/08 Jack Quick

MR. MONK AND THE TWO ASSISTANTS by Lee Goldberg: I have not seen the USA Network show Monk, but this has a script feel to it. Monk, apparently a genius sleuth, is dealing with both his current assistant Natalie Teeger (who is the narrator) with his former assistant Sharona Fleming, whose husband, Trevor, is in prison for murder. The two are jealous and Monk’s idea of them both working part-time is certainly not the smartest thing he has done. He does deal with a few simpler challenges, gets Trevor out of prison, and is poised for his next adventure, same time, same station, next week. Very light-weight. 11/07 Jack Quick

Mr. Paradise by Elmore Leonard: Mr. Paradise is the derogatory name given to the aging (84 years old), Mafia don, Anthony Paradiso. A die-hard (unfortunate choice of words) U of Michigan football fan, Mr. Paradise prefers to review his library of Maize and Blue victories in the company of very attractive topless women in cheerleader skirts who he adorns with a big M in magic marker. Ever tasteful, Mr. Leonard slyly avoids Wisconsin jokes.

In the middle of his two-model pleasure, Mr. Paradise is bumped off by a couple of idiots hired by his loyal right-hand man. The rest of the story is police detective Frank Delsa’s efforts to track down all those responsible (and their lawyer) while absolving the model who quickly becomes his love interest.
As in most of Mr. Leonard’s books, the dialog in Mr. Paradise is superb. I was so struck by the sign in the Detroit police squad room that I immediately e-mailed a bunch of friends about it. If this isn’t the way that bad guys and cops and high fashion models talk, by God, it ought to be. And as is also typical in Mr. Leonard’s books, the action moves right along. (His explanation is “I cut out the parts everybody skips over.”)
However, this is not as side-splitting as some of this author’s recent books and I think will disappoint some of his newer fans. Too bad. They are missing a fine story while looking for laughs. 02/04 ~This review contributed by Geoffrey R. Hamlin.

MR. PENUMBRA’S 24-HOUR BOOKSTORE by Robin Sloan: Every once in a while I stumble onto a book so creative, so inspiring that it is just impossible to put down and impossible to forget. This is a conundrum of a novel; part mystery, part fantasy, very charming and just plain smart. The titled bookstore is unlike any I have been to; sure, they sell some used books, but mostly they warehouse a strange collection of books that are borrowed by an even stranger collection of people. When Clay Jannon loses his job due to economic collapse, he feels lucky to land the job of night clerk in this intriguing bookstore. Clay’s girlfriend is a Google employee and much is made about the Google culture, which adds another dimension to the story. This book is populated with quirky, interesting characters and they each bring a unique skill set to the story. Who are these people who wander into the store in the middle of the night and why do they borrow these strange books? If I may borrow from Winston Churchill, this book is truly a riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma, and I loved every page. 2/13 Stacy Alesi, AKA The BookBitch
MR. SHIVERS by Robert Jackson Bennett: Horror meets the great depression in this genre-bending debut. Connelly’s daughter has been murdered. For him, life will never be the same, but the possibility that carrying out revenge might bring him close is enough. He sets off west, following the scarred man known to most as Mr. Shivers. Shivers leaves a wake of death and sorrow in his path, a path that spares some but brings great pain to many. Throughout Connelly’s journey, he meets others who also seek vengeance against the scarred man. Each person shares the same tale and each person is willing to sacrifice everything to see Shivers suffer as they have. But their payback comes at a hefty price. Robert Jackson Bennett creates a bleak and dark world that is virtually unforgiving to all. His characters’ suffering and pain is clear, making Mr. Shivers a macabre sort of read and a window into a world that one hopes to never enter themselves. 01/10 Becky Lejeune

MRS. SOMEBODY SOMEBODY by Tracy Winn: This debut collection from Tracy Winn seems to have something for every type of reader. Each of the stories is connected by locale: all of the characters are tied to mill town Lowell, Massachusetts. The similarities in stories pretty much ends there. Some of these tales are heartfelt peeks inside the life of one of Lowell’s citizens – June DeLise’s free trip to Central America in “Gumbo Limbo,” and young immigrant Izabel’s story in “Cantogallo.” Four of the tales connect through one family, the Burroughs: Dr. Charlie Burroughs’s return from war in “Blue Tango,” Delia Burroughs’s secret in “Glass Box,” son Frankie’s early days and downfall in “Smoke” and “Frankie Floats,” and daughter Helen in “Copper Leaves Waiting.” The Burroughs’s stories were by far my favorites, but as with all short story collections, readers will connect with their own favorite tales. Overall, a balanced and well-written selection from Winn. 06/10 Becky Lejeune

THE MULLAH’S STORM by Thomas W. Young: Air Force Major Michael Parson is navigator of a C-130 carrying a high-value prisoner from Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan that is shot down. Not allowing the prisoner, a radical mullah, to be recaptured by his Taliban supporters is of the highest priority – beyond that of saving the lives of any of the plane’s crew or female Army Sergeant Gold, an interpreter/guard accompanying the mullah. This doesn’t sit well with Parson who fortunately has Dirk Pitt like superhuman powers to enable him to perform like Jack Reacher still in uniform. All in all, not a bad adventure tale, with authentic and believable information regarding weapons, tactics, and combat set in the severe Afghanistan landscape. Recommended. 09/11 Jack Quick

MUNCHIES AND OTHER TALES OF GUYS, GALS & GUNS by Jack Bludis: Munchies – a snack mix sold by Frito Lay, a confection sold by Nestle, a sudden strong desire for food, or best of all – the title story and title of Jack Bludis’ new collection of hard-boiled PI stories set in Baltimore, New York City and Los Angeles. Or, as Richard Helms proclaimed: “From Baltimore to the mean streets of New York, to the smoke-and-gin-soaked Hollywood of the 1940s, Bludis presents a lineup of some of the finest hard-boiled literature around. Page after page is filled with bullets, bucks, and broads. This is the good stuff!” This one reads like an alkie on his way to the gin mill and includes the Anthony and Shamus Award finalist tale, “Munchies,” plus “Pigtown Will Shine Tonight,” “Ticket to the Top,” “New Guy on the Block,” “Blonds, Blonds, Blonds,” and eight more short stories and novelettes. The only problem with this offering from the author of Shadow of the Dalhia is deciding which is best. My vote: The Transfer, in which the hundred seventeen year old Baltimore private dick is still hitting the streets and making it happen. Would that I could… 05/11 Jack Quick

MURDER AS A FINE ART by David Morrell: In his outstanding novel First Blood, David Morrell depicts a Vietnam veteran afflicted by post traumatic stress syndrome involved in violent confrontation with law officers of a small town. The horror of war and killing motivate John Rambo, to what happens to him in that town. “Murder As A Fine Art” has at its premise the psychology behind a murderer’s motivation. The novel is set in London in 1854 during the mid years of the Victorian age and shortly after the Crimean War between England and Russia. Two sets of murders take place: the first in a shop after business hours, and the second a few days later in a tavern. Called to the scene of the first set of murders is Sean Ryan who is depicted as one of the first detectives in England to have studied scientific detection methods. He approaches the murders with both an active searching for clues and a logical attitude towards the set up of the crime scene. Utilizing persons that actually lived at the time and facts about them enables Morrell to enhance the story and plot. First is Thomas De Quincey who was infamous for his memoir “Confessions of an English Opium-Eater”. He was a suspect in murders committed 43 years earlier in London due to his essay “On Murder Considered as One of the Fine Arts”. He is enticed to come to London with his daughter by an anonymous offer of lodgings in order to meet with a woman that he loved during the period of the first murders and lost touch with. The murders currently perpetrated are similiar to those committed 43 years earlier and De Quincey again becomes a suspect. Next is Henry John Temple, 3rd Viscount Palmerston known as Lord Palmerston and home secretary during the period depicted in the book. An historical view of him shown by Morrell was his active secret movements to foment unrest in Europe as a means of fostering England’s continued rise to power. He was involved with protecting the Opium Trade with China which is an important background issue in the novel. He was a superb politician and his political machinations are done justice in the book. In an afterward David Morrell indicates that he spent a year researching the London of 1854 and his descriptions enhance an already good story. The noise, the filth, the overcrowding, the life of people forced by poverty to live on the streets is presented as it was and are an integral part of resurrecting the London of the era. The motivations of the murderer and the reasons for the crimes will be understood by today’s reader based upon current knowledge of abnormal psychology. An engrossing read and one which will keep the reader glued to the pages. 05/13 Paul Lane

MURDER AT HOTEL CINEMA by Daniel Edward Craig: A diva dives off the top floor of a Hollywood hotel during a hot party. Did Chelsea Fricks commit suicide or was this more than a publicity stunt gone badly. Hotel Cinema becomes the setting of the ensuing investigation, starring Chelsea’s former pit bull publicist; a hairy, star-struck detective; tasteless tabloid reporters; and the incompetent manager, who breaks every rule in the hotel handbook. Cristal champagne is flowing. Business is booming. But who will survive the uproar and are other deaths in store? Easy read. 08/08 Jack Quick

MURDER AT LONGBOURN by Tracy Kiely: Elizabeth Parker is a big Jane Austen fan. As is her aunt, the proud owner of the Longbourn B&B, named for the Bennett residence in P&P. Elizabeth was all set to spend her New Year’s Eve alone after a break-up with her cheating boyfriend, until her aunt invites her to her own shindig. The festivities were to include a murder mystery dinner and, as promised in the invite, “screams in the dark.” But when the lights came back on, a real murder was discovered and Elizabeth’s beloved aunt the unfortunate prime suspect. Now Elizabeth must unravel the mystery in order to save her aunt from being accused. This cozy debut is a light read with an engaging heroine. Elizabeth will charm readers just as much as her literary namesake and Austen fans will enjoy picking out the references to her famed work as well. Murder at Longbourn is a traditional British inspired mystery with a contemporary twist. 09/09 Becky Lejeune

MURDER AT THE FOUL LINE edited by Otto Penzler: excellent follow-up anthology to Penzler’s MURDER IS MY RACKET, which focused on the tennis court. In this one, due out in January, a similar group of heavyweights weigh in on the basketball court with new short stories from Lawrence Block, Jeffery Deaver, Mike Lupica, Laurie R. King, S. J. Rozan and interestingly a joint effort by Joan H. and Robert B. Parker, among others. If you’re into hoops, you’ll love this one. 12/05 ~This review contributed by Jack Quick.

Murder Between the Covers by Elaine Viets. The Dead End Job mystery series is set in Fort Lauderdale, and features great stories interspersed with gentle humor. This one revolves around the murder of a bookstore owner named Page Turner (you gotta love it!) Our heroine is Helen, who feels the need to stay on the lam from her ex-husband, preferring to keep out of his, and the law’s, radar. So she takes jobs that are way beneath her talents and education (a former high powered CPA in her married life) and ends up working for cash in a small, independent bookstore that is owned by a real creep. When the creep gets killed, Helen can’t help but get involved along with the zany cast of characters that populate this series. Sometimes I just want to read something light, fun and fast, and Viets always comes through. 04/04

MURDER GRINS AND BEARS IT by Deb Baker: Amateur sleuth Gertie Johnson says “Anyone who smears chicken grease all over himself and goes bear hunting with a bow and arrow is plain stupid or has a death wish.” In seems everyone in this second book in the Yooper Mystery series is some kind of over the top crazy, including Gertie. Opening day of bear season, game warden murdered, Gertie’s favorite grandson Little Donny (all 280 pounds in his boxer underwear with footballs on them) disappears. Just another day on the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Oh yeah, did I mention Gertie’s man hungry friend Cora Mae, who, since her discovery of Wonderbras, follows her boobs wherever she goes. But what really gets Gertie’s goat is her son Blaze, the local sheriff named for one of the horses she didn’t have as a child, seems more interested in arresting his mom for driving without a license than finding Little Donny or catching the killer. I guess the best description is: think Stephanie Plum, except it’s the wilds of Michigan rather than Newark, and Granny Mazur is the lead character, not Stephanie. All in all, a fun read that can cause excess laughter. Then there’s BB. What does BB stand for? “Bazooka,” BB said puffing up his chest. Marlin snorted, “More like them little pellets they shoot rabbits with.” But Gertie knew the truth – Bottom of the Brain Barrel. PS: may be offensive to persons of Scandinavian descent, upholders of sobriety and those who feel that society should be staid, but as Grandma Johnson said, “Once I find my pistol, I’m taking one of ‘em down. Don’t know how I could misplace it, but I’m on the look out. It’ll show up.” 05/07 Jack Quick

MURDER IN THE ABSTRACT by Susan Shea: Sleuthing is definitely not part of museum employee Dani’ O’Rourke’s job description. In fact, her position requires that she schmooze with folks who can make significant contributions to the Devor Museum in San Francisco, so solving a murder is a bit out of her comfort zone. But that’s just the task Dani finds herself faced with when up-and-coming artist—and ex-boyfriend—Clinton Maslow takes a tumble out of her own office window. Not only does Dani want to know what happened to her friend, but she also finds herself uncomfortably tagged as the prime suspect in the case. With more than just her career and the museum’s reputation at stake, Dani must uncover the true murderer’s identity before it’s too late. Susan Shea’s cozy-ish debut is a light mystery with an engaging heroine and an interesting setting. With a cast of fun (and suspicious) characters and a mystery that really keeps you guessing, Murder in the Abstract has everything a mystery fan is looking for in a new series. Brings to mind the early Goldy Shultz titles by Diane Mott Davidson (set in the art world, of course). 06/10 Becky Lejeune

Murder in the Hearse Degree by Tim Cockey: Amusing romp with undertaker Hitchcock Sewell in this fourth book of the series. His former girlfriend Libby shows up with her kids in tow – turns out she’s left her abusive husband. Things get ugly when her nanny disappears and her body is found in the river, and the autopsy shows that she was pregnant. The police rule it suicide, but the girl’s mother is insistent that her daughter would never do that, and Libby has a hard time with that choice too. Finding the father may lead to finding the murderer, and Hitch is off and running. Then things really get interesting. This is a fun series and does not have to be read in order. Enjoy them all – The Hearse Case Scenario, The Hearse You Came in On, and Hearse of a Different Color are the first three.

MURDER IS A PIECE OF CAKE by Elaine Viets: The latest entry in the Josie Marcus Mystery Shopper series finds Josie engaged to her heartthrob veterinarian, so Josie is delighted when her boss has her mystery shop wedding cakes and bridal salons. Her fiancé lands a gig on the local news channel, but when they begin filming, a woman comes barging in, declaring that she is marrying the vet. Hysteria ensues and the crazy bride ends up murdered. There are enough kooky characters and red herrings to make this a really fun read with a surprise ending. Cozy mystery fans will enjoy this latest escapade as much as I did. Viets has two series going is doing a great job with them both, putting her on my must read list. 11/12 Stacy Alesi, AKA The BookBitch

MURDER IS MY RACQUET: Original Tennis Mysteries, edited by Otto Penzler: Only the A-list in this anthology of fourteen original stories of love, death and tennis – the game that conjures the height of genteel sportsmanship. I enjoyed all fourteen chapters – I mean what is not to like from Lawrence Block, John Harvey, Stephen Hunter, Robert Leuci, Ridley Pearson and Lisa Scottoline, among others. Each story is tightly edited and on target. I am surprised Penzler didn’t hold out for one more story so the subtitle could be Love – Fifteen. A June release that will delight tennis buffs and mystery fans. 05/05 ~This review contributed by Jack Quick.

MURDER MOST MAINE by Karen MacInerney: I suppose if you live in Austin, Texas, one way to cool off would be to write about the rugged coast of Maine. Ms. MacInerney does this quite well in this, her third Gray Whale Inn mystery set on Cranberry Island off the coast of Maine. Actually this could be called Murders Most Maine because there are two – or at least the remains of two. One is a centuries old skeleton discovered in a secret compartment by contractors renovating the old lighthouse. The more immediate concern, however, is the demise of Dirk DeLeon, the hunky heart throb personal trainer at the local weight loss spa who was certainly in the peak of physical condition, just ask any of the local ladies. Innkeeper Natalie Barnes must come up with the answer as the suspicions of poisoning force her to close down her beloved kitchen while boyfriend John is being eyed as a key suspect in the murder. It’s cozy, but nicely done. Oh, check out the recipe for Nat’s Midnight Mint bars. Yummm. 11/08 Jack Quick

MURDER NEW YORK STYLE edited by Randy Kandal: New York City – its murder. This group of twenty-one stories hits all the bases – Manhattan, The Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens, Staten Island, Westchester, and the Outer Reaches. This classic look at New York includes Chinatown, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, even a Turkish nightclub. The stories range in time from the Revolutionary War until now with ghosts and gore, murder and mayhem – all in that particular New York style. The authors are: Cynthia Baxter, Meredith Cole, Fran Brannigan Cox, Peggy Ehrhart, Erica Harth, Marianna Heusler, Nan Higginson, Randy Kandel, M.E. Kemp, Ronnie Klaskin, Chelle Martin, Margaret Mendel, Terri Farley Moran, Dorothy Mortman, Anita Page, R.M. Peluso, Triss Stein, Deirdre Verne, Pearl Wolf, Lina Zeldovich, and Elizabeth Zelvin. 03/08 Jack Quick

MURDER NOTEBOOK by Jonathan Santlofer: This is the terrific sequel to Anatomy of Fear, the first book to feature New York City police sketch artist Nate Rodriguez. Santlofer is an extremely gifted artist, and brings a unique combination of a complex and interesting page turner with original drawings that serve to create visual interest and propel the story along. Nate is working on two cases – he’s reconstructing a skull for identification purposes in a cold case, and working a murder case that soon multiplies into several murders – only he has to convince the rest of the NYPD that the murders are related. This is psychological suspense taken to a new level – don’t miss it. 06/08 Stacy Alesi, AKA The BookBitch

MURDER ON THE CLIFFS: A MYSTERY FEATURING DAPHNE DU MAURIER by Joanna Challis: While vacationing in Cornwall, aspiring author Daphne du Maurier stumbles across the body of a dead girl. As someone seeking inspiration for a story, Daphne couldn’t ask for a better setting. The woman, once a member of the Padthaway kitchen staff and recently engaged to marry Lord David Hartley, was a beautiful girl with a somewhat questionable past. Her future mother-in-law made no bones about her disapproval of the match, and David’s own sister, Lianne, a troubled teen who is on the scene when Daphne makes her discovery, had her own issues with the dead girl. With such a fascinating cast of characters surrounding her as possible suspects, Daphne soon makes it her business to solve what can only be murder. Fans of du Maurier’s work, especially Rebecca, will enjoy seeing the author as the sleuth in this gothic-tinged cozy debut. I know I’ll definitely be looking forward to the next title in Challis’s series. 11/09 Becky Lejeune

MURDER ON THE EIFFEL TOWER by Claude Izner: While touring the grand opening of the Eiffel Tower, a woman collapses and dies after supposedly being stung by a bee. Bookseller Victor Legris thinks nothing of it until he follows a certain artist later on and happens upon a second “bee sting” that results in death. Victor is enthralled with the young woman, but realizes that she always seems to be around when another body pops up. Strangely enough, Victor has also noticed his partner in the book business, Kenji Mori, has been acting very odd lately. Victor discovers that Kenji can also be linked to some of the victims. With clues pointing to both his best friend and the object of his affection, Victor makes it his personal business to discover the truth behind these mysterious deaths. Set against the backdrop of the 1889 World Exposition in Paris, France, this first in a new traditional mystery series is a truly enjoyable read. Interestingly enough, Izner is a pseudonym for two French sisters, both of whom are booksellers and experts on the time in which the series takes place. Their attention to detail and social commentary on the period make this a great historical mystery. So far there are four books in the series. Murder on the Eiffel Tower is the first to be published stateside, and book four is due out in the UK next spring. 09/08 Becky Lejeune

MURDER ON THE MIND by L.L. Bartlett: A skull fracture gives Jeff Resnick the ability to “see” crimes” starting with the murder of his brother’s banker. Then there is another victim : the banker’s wife. Resnick must find out the truth to protect himself and his brother, even at the risk of his life. A little too woo-woo for me but nicely written and quite twisty. Set for general release 12/05. 11/05 ~This review contributed by Jack Quick.

MURDER ON THE TRANS-SIBERIAN EXPRESS by Stuart Kaminsky: All good things must come to an end, even the Porfiry Petrovich Rostnikov Moscow police procedural series. In this, the 14th (and last) Rostnikov novel is assigned along with Sasha to ride the 6,000-mile Trans-Siberian Express to intercept a courier exchanging money for a package somewhere along the route. At the same time Rostnikov’s son and fellow policeman Iosef and his fiancé and fellow cop Elena Timofeyeva lead the effort to locate a madwoman whose random knife attacks have injured or slain men at a series of subway stops. Lastly, the “Vampire”, detective Emil Karpo and Zelach “the Slouch” are trying to locate a kidnapped heavy metal rock performer who is also the son of a powerful Jewish businessman. Too bad it all has to end. 03/08 Jack Quick

MURDER ON THE YELLOW BRICK ROAD by Stuart Kaminsky: Private Eye to the Stars Toby Peters’ second outing features Toby, Judy Garland, Clark Gable and Raymond Chandler along with a host of munchkins, except one who is lying on his back in the middle of the yellow brick road with a knife sticking out of his chest. Its 1940 and, having saved Errol Flynn in BULLET FOR A STAR, Toby must now deal with dreamers, child stars, and half-sized philosophers on behalf of the real Wizard of Oz, Louis B. Mayer, head of Metro-Goldwyn Mayer. If you have a thing for old movies as well as mysteries, this series is a must read. If not, you still should read it. Who knows what it might do for you. 04/09 Jack Quick

MURDER ONE by Robert Dugoni: David Slone (Bodily Harm) is slowly rebuilding his life after his wife’s murder. He runs into Barclay Reid, a beautiful attorney and an old adversary. Reid is also grieving; her daughter died from a drug overdose. They start dating, but Reid is obsessed with the man she believes caused her daughter’s death, so when he gets off on a technicality, Reid decides to go after him via a civil suit with the famous “Jury Master” himself, Slone, as her new lawyer. The romance flourishes until the drug kingpin ends up dead and Reid is arrested for his murder. Slone reluctantly tackles her defense, his first time in a criminal courtroom, with great skill regardless, but Reid isn’t always forthcoming and Slone finds his defense unraveling. His investigator finds some troubling evidence and the suspense really ratchets up a notch until the final surprise of an ending. VERDICT: Tight plotting and well developed characters push Dugoni to the head of the legal thriller pack in what is probably his finest book to date. Grisham and Turow fans should add Dugoni to their list of must-reads. 06/11 Stacy Alesi, AKA The BookBitch

MURDER PASSES THE BUCK by Deb Baker: Great Britain may have had Sherlock Holmes and New York its Lincoln Rhyme, but nobody out sleuths 66 year old Gertie Johnson on the Michigan Upper Peninsula. In this “Yooper” mystery Gertie sets out to find who shot Chester Lampi in his deer blind on Opening day of deer season. Her son Blaze (named after a horse) who is now the local sheriff says it was an accident but Gertie knows better. With the help of Little Donny, her 6 foot 4 grandson and best friend hairdresser Cora Mae, she sets out to prove her son wrong. I mean you got to admire someone whose idea of putting out a building fire is ramming it with a vehicle. Fun read. 09/08 Jack Quick

The Murder Room by P. D. James: Sometimes a particular book seems to come along at just the right time. As it happened, The Murder Room found its way to me at a particularly pensive time of the year and suited my mood perfectly.
It is full of older characters and even Ms. James’ protagonist, Commander Adam Dalgliesh of Scotland Yard is showing signs of age. This is not a bad thing as the passing of years instills in many persons of maturity a deeper appreciation for all aspects of life, its colors and smells, its frailties and noble moments and a keener sense of the nuances in all of these. Ms. James’ careful prose spelled these out and gave me too a sense of the rightness of whatever is going to happen.
The story itself involves a modest museum devoted to the history of the period between the First and Second World Wars. When its founder dies, his three children have very different ideas of what should be done with it and how they can best use it to their own personal advantage. The dissenting sib is immolated on the grounds in his precious Jaguar motorcar and Dalgliesh and his special squad are called in when the government senses that sensitive concerns may be involved.
The careful description of the principal characters in the book makes this more of a real solve-it type mystery than most these days. That too was a pleasure.
The final delightful twist in this tale is the parallel between the circumstances surrounding various murders and the murders depicted in the museum’s murder room of historic cases from the interwar years.
I enjoyed this thoughtful book, but if you want something more fast-paced, you had better look elsewhere. That is not to say that this book is without passion. Adam Dalgliesh believes he has found true love, but they have trouble getting together. His work and her lesbian roommate present serious and perhaps insurmountable obstacles to the flowering of their relationship.
Hopefully, you will get this book and stick it away for a cloudy day when you are in a reflective state of mind. 12/03 ~This review contributed by Geoffrey R. Hamlin.

MURDER…SUICIDE…WHATEVER… by Gwen Freeman: Remember the scene in Good Morning Vietnam where the Lieutenant was discussing humor with Robin Williams? Well, I will tell you this lady is funny. Laugh out loud, hurt your sides funny. When “Uncle” Ted Heffernan, insurance broker to the (porn) stars is found dead inside a locked office it is up to unemployed bi-racial twenty-something Fifi Cutter and her half-brother Bosco Dorff (who is partial to women with big bazongas) to find out what happened and why. Pretending to be private investigators who are pretending to be grief counselors gives them access to situations which they completely and consistently screw up. How about this for an answer “If he told me, I would know. But if he didn’t tell me, then I wouldn’t.” Whomever invented the “locked room mystery” never had this pair in mind. You would not want to be locked up with them. Excellent debut. Janet Evanovich should be hearing footsteps. 03/07 Jack Quick

MURDER TALKS TURKEY by Deb Baker: In order to understand Gertie Johnson, you have to remember she named her children Heather, Star and Blaze, all names of horses she wanted but never had. Blaze is the local sheriff but he’s out of commission with bacterial meningitis on this fine spring day in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. So there is sixty-six year old Gertie, standing in line at the Stonely Credit Union on April 1 to cash her social security check when a man wearing a ski mask pulls a gun and demands all the money. Obviously he was from out of town, or he would have known everyone in Stonely was armed and most can shoot a nickel off the top of a soda can. So the robber is shot down by a police sniper in a room full of witnesses, but where is the money? In the excitement, the money has disappeared and its Gertie, Cora Mae, and Kitty, the geriatric gumshoes who must track it down. So pull up a plate of “hot dish” and have it. It’s a regular whodunit. 04/08 Jack Quick

MURDER UNDER THE LOON by Gerald Anderson: John Hofstead always wore a coat and tie, and in winter often a vest as well. After all, you wouldn’t want to entrust your money to just any insurance man. John was so good at his work that Hofstead Hail Insurance was now one of the most prosperous firms in Fergus Falls, Minnesota. So it just didn’t seem right when Hofstead’s body was found in the snow beneath a giant concrete loon, the apparent victim of a snowmobile accident. Sheriff Palmer Knutson isn’t so sure. After all there are no footprints in the snow and the death came on the eve of Hofstead’s planned announcement of the successor to his position as President of the Company he had founded. Had one of the four employees or their spouses taken the matter into their own hands to avoid the announcement? Its old-fashioned greed, ambition and jealousy in the North Country with a full cast of characters. Never fear Sheriff Knutson and wily deputy Orly Peterson will prevail. 04/08 Jack Quick

MURDER UNLEASHED by Elaine Viets: Viets hardcover debut and the latest in the Dead End Job mystery series is a hoot. Helen Hawthorne is living beneath the radar in South Florida after running from St. Louis and her unsavory past – she went after her cheating husband with a crowbar and then refused to pay him alimony. She’s surviving by living in a dumpy old apartment and taking any job that will pay her cash under the table. This time out she’s working for an upscale Fort Lauderdale pet shop with competing dog groomers, one of whom is a diva of the highest order. The parade of dog obsessed customers gets shorter when one is found with a pair of grooming shears stuck in her chest, a celebrity dog gets caught in a messy custody battle, and another body turns up, all of which is a prelude to the hurricane that’s blowing in. Helen is smart enough to see trouble coming and works hard to avoid it, often with hilarious results. A fast, fun read and a wonderful addition to the series. 05/06 Stacy Alesi, AKA The BookBitch

MURDER WITH ALL THE TRIMMINGS by Elaine Viets: Josie Marcus, Mystery Shopper is checking out the local Christmas stores and it’s not putting her in the Christmas spirit – not when you have to buy Christmas “pornaments” and your gingerbread cake has a raisin with legs in it. Townspeople are furious, and they are picketing the store when a mysterious Santa up on the roof upends a shovelful of snow onto one of the picketers, putting her at death’s door. Then at the lovely Christmas store across the way, two customers end up hospitalized after eating chocolate sauce laced with antifreeze. One of those customers is Josie’s ex, a drug dealer whose sharp lawyer got him out of jail on a technicality. Lots of family angst amid the Christmas mayhem in this simple, light holiday mystery, which at this time of year, may be the perfect read. 12/08 Stacy Alesi, AKA The BookBitch

MURDER WITH RESERVATIONS by Elaine Viets: This latest installment in the Dead End Job series has our heroine, Helen Hawthorne, finding another dead body. Still on the run from her ex-husband, Helen takes one low-paying, cash-under-the-table job after another, from bridal consultant to bookseller to dog groomer to this latest, maid in a small Fort Lauderdale hotel. But finding bodies is not a good way to stay undercover, and Helen is a nervous wreck when sure enough, her sister calls to warn her that the ex is on his way. Great characters, wonderful location, nice plot twists, and gentle humor make this a must read. Viets has penned another winner. 05/07 Stacy Alesi, AKA The BookBitch

THE MURDERER VINE by Shepard Rifkin: Joe Dunne is just an ordinary gumshoe trying to make a living in New York City after being kicked off the cops. He handles a drug pusher for a client and the next thing he knows he is being hired to commit murder. It’s during the 60’s and three young men who have gone to rural Mississippi to register black voters have disappeared. Dunne is hired by the father of one of the men to confirm the boys are dead and then take care of the perps. It goes against all his scruples but the money comprises the proverbial offer you can’t refuse. Only at the end does he learn the true cost. Its Mississippi Burning, told yet another time. 05/08 Jack Quick

THE MURDERER’S DAUGHTERS by Randy Susan Meyers: Lulu’s mother told her not to let her father inside. But when he came knocking, young Lulu opened the door to her father’s bidding. That fateful day, Lulu’s father killed her mother. Merry, just five at the time, was stabbed and would bear the scar for the rest of her life, a reminder of the event that changed things forever. Afterwards, Lulu and Merry were left virtually orphaned with no one to care for them but each other. Through the story each sister grows, taking their secret with them, and dealing in their own way with the burden of their past. Lulu, an overachiever, pushes herself to great accomplishment while closing herself off emotionally. Merry, on the other hand, is always trying to please others first, including Lulu. Eventually, they must both recognize the ways that that pivotal moment has shaped their lives in order to finally move on. Randy Susan Meyers approaches her subject with grace and sensitivity. A thoughtful, if somewhat sad (but ultimately hopeful), story about family, sisters, and the tragic effects of domestic abuse and violence on children. 01/10 Becky Lejeune

Must Love Dogs by Claire Cook: This utterly charming novel is a fun read, perfect for whiling away an afternoon on the beach. Sarah Hurlihy is 40 years old, divorced and happily teaching preschoolers a multicultural curriculum. But her interfering, overzealous Boston Irish family thinks she should be dating, and with much love she is pushed into answering a personal ad from a gentleman seeking a lady “who enjoys elegant dining, dancing and the slow bloom of affection” and the clincher; he’s a man who “loves dogs.”
That date turns out to be the last man on earth any woman would want to date, but Sarah pushes on, slowly falling headlong into the dating game with decidedly mixed results. Meanwhile, Sarah’s widowed father has his own dating troubles, brother Michael is having marital problems, sister Carol is having troubles at home with her temperamental teenage daughter Siobhan, who turns to her favorite aunt for comfort and body piercing support. Somehow, they all seem to end up on Sarah’s doorstep at the most inopportune moments, keeping the laughs going all the way to the not-quite-storybook-perfect ending. Stacy Alesi, AKA The BookBitch. Copyright © 2002 Cahners Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. Reprinted with permission.
MY DEAR I WANTED TO TELL YOU by Louisa Young: The horrors of war are laid out in Louisa Young’s debut adult novel, My Dear I Wanted to Tell You. At the onset of WWI, young Riley Purefoy, a boy in love with a girl who seems out of his reach, joins up to serve and defend his country. The object of his affection, Nadine Waveney, comes from a good, middle-class family. She’d hoped to attend art school, but instead volunteers to do her part on the home front as a nurse. Meanwhile, Riley meets up with Peter Locke, a young professional and newlywed who is his commanding officer. Locke left behind a lovely bride, Julia, who wants nothing more than to please her husband. But the war has left its mark on Peter who is increasingly distant on each return home. His cousin, Rose, also a nurse, works with a cutting-edge surgeon whose techniques are offering injured soldiers a new life at home. Young offers an emotional glimpse inside the lives of these five characters, but it felt a bit unbalanced. Too often, I felt like Riley had become the focus of the story at the expense of other characters, though I never felt he was the main character in the book. Then the story ends. It wraps up so quickly, that I was left wanting more. More of the inbetween story before Riley is injured, more of Rose’s tale, more background on Julia and Peter. 06/11 Becky Lejeune

MY LAST CHRISTMAS AS A CHILD by Gabriel Melton: Lighthearted semi-autobiographical short tale of growing up in Alabama by a local (to me) author who co-incidentally is my age. Its all about first love, the agony of not “fitting in”, and learning some life lessons that will guide you as you become an adult. This would make a good stocking stuffer for that young teen or pre-teen in the household. 09/08 Jack Quick

My Lurid Past by Lauren Henderson: Lauren Henderson takes a break from her terrific Sam Jones crime series in her first attempt outside the mystery genre. Juliet Cooper is a 33-year-old Peter Pan wanna-be who spends her days as a food publicist with a gorgeous male assistant and her biggest client, Liam, an up-and-coming TV chef, both of whom have the hots for anything in a skirt. She spends her nights carousing with her good friend Mel, a professional dominatrix, and having casual sex, which has suddenly become unfulfilling. Juliet is mired down with an antagonistic, egocentric mother, a ne’er-do-well brother, and best gal-pal Gillian on the brink of divorce. Alex, who hasn’t made a pass and is “a coke virgin” [cocaine] to boot, is the only calm in the storm and helps Juliet discover that maybe it’s time for a real relationship. Henderson may push the chick-lit genre to the wall with this hint of a fetish fest but there’s too much whining and not enough story to make it work. 11/03 Copyright © 2003 Cahners Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. Reprinted with permission.

MY SOUL TO SAVE by Rachel Vincent: It’s only been a matter of months since Kaylee Cavanaugh learned that she was a bean sidhe—a banshee—responsible for singing a song that allows the soul of the dead to travel on. Kaylee never thought things could get any weirder than they already were, but when she and her fellow bean sidhe boyfriend, Nash, attend a concert and witness a pop star die on stage, that’s just what happens: things get weirder. Kaylee expects the soul song to begin, but it never does. In fact, what leaves the star’s body is not a soul at all, but something called Demon’s Breath, the substance takes the soul’s place after the soul is signed away. Kaylee may have been too late to save the girl, but she and her friends soon learn that there is another who will suffer the same fate if they don’t try to help. Helping will come at a cost, though. Kaylee will have to learn all she can about the Netherworld in order to track down and negotiate with the demon. And Netherworld is no place for the living, especially not a novice bean sidhe. Vicent’s Soul Screamers series is a stand out for so many reasons: First, the premise is totally original. Second, My Soul to Save enters some truly hair-raising territory with the Netherworld. And third, the story rocks (for teens and adults, I might add). 01/10 Becky Lejeune

MY SOUL TO TAKE by Rachel Vincent: Kaylee Cavanaugh, like most teens, sometimes wonders if she may be losing her mind. But Kaylee is far from the normal teen. Kaylee is a bean sidhe (banshee), one of few left in the world, and the latest in a line of bean sidhes. Kaylee has been completely in the dark about her ability, until now. She is able to sense death, and the overwhelming need to scream for the dying is not something that anyone has bothered to explain to her before. The truth behind Kaylee’s ability is revealed to her at the same time that a string of teenage girls have mysteriously dropped dead with no apparent cause. Kaylee knows that something strange is going on—stranger than learning that there are real bean sidhes and other beings walking the world, that is. Together with her friends’ help, Kaylee will uncover the truth behind the deaths, but is her power enough to stop them from continuing? Leave it to Rachel Vincent (author of the Shifters series) to find another corner of the urban fantasy market that has yet to be touched. This original and addictively readable teen debut also marks the inaugural title in the new Harlequin Teen line—and it’s such a perfect way to start. Highly recommended for adults and teens alike. 08/09 Becky Lejeune

MY WORK IS NOT YET DONE by Thomas Ligotti: In this time of economic crisis, I’m not sure if Ligotti’s tale of “corporate horror” becomes more amusing or more chilling. In “My Work is Not Yet Done,” the first part of this slim novel, office employee Frank Dominio has been let go after enduring humiliation from his coworkers, a demotion, and even theft of his ideas. His elaborate revenge plot is changed, though, when Frank discovers that he is no longer hampered by the physical world. The book also contains two other tales, “I Have a Special Plan for This World,” which, despite appearances, does not seem to be connected to Frank’s own tale, and “The Nightmare Network,” a series of disturbing want ads and internal memos from a nightmarish corporation that seeks to control and ultimately ruin everything. Ligotti’s creepy tales are highly original and contemplative. Perhaps not the best read for a work break, but otherwise recommended for any horror fan looking for something different in the genre. 05/09 Becky Lejeune

THE MYSTIC ARTS OF ERASING ALL SIGNS OF DEATH by Charlie Huston: Webster Fillmore Goodhue (Web) is kind of an asshole. Truth be told, he’s not completely without reason. His father is responsible for his best friend’s parents’ deaths and Web himself survived a truly horrific ordeal that has left him in a bit of a predicament. See Web used to be an elementary school teacher and a kind of nice guy. But then a random shooting ended with one of his students dead and left Web unable to return to work. So now, after months of loafing and mooching, he’s taken a job with a friend as a crime scene cleaner, and likes it. But then a girl asks for help and Web finds himself unable to say no which brings him into a messy situation that even his cleaning skills may not be enough to fix. Huston, author of the Joe Pitt vampire series, has created a witty and amusing dark tale of friendship and family and all the problems that come with both. Web is a likeable character in spite of his personality disorder, one that the reader wants to see come out on top, which makes the book that much more fun to read. 01/09 Becky Lejeune

Mystic River by Dennis Lehane: Phenomenal book about three men who were childhood friends. One day they were playing in the street when a car stops. They think it is the cops, and when the “cops” take one of the boys it changes their lives forever. He escapes but twenty-five years later they are all wearing the scars of that day. This book reminded me a bit of the way Stephen King tells stories, minus the supernatural stuff. There is enough horror and twists and turns to qualify it as a thriller, but it is the relationships of the characters that is so riveting and memorable. Another Lehane not to be missed: Gone Baby Gone. Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

A NAIL THROUGH THE HEART by Timothy Hallinan: American travel writer Poke Rafferty who now calls Bangkok home is trying to build a family with Rose, a former bar girl with whom he is in love, a homeless girl named Miaow and a mysterious boy of the streets known as Superman. In the meantime Poke gets involved in not one, but two potential life-threatening mysteries. One involves a notorious Khmer Rouge torturer, the other a series of child-porn photos. Rafferty matures rapidly as he tries to meet his lover’s culture more than halfway and find his moral compass at a time when the victims can be as guilty as the murderers are innocent. Completely different from the Bangkok series by John Burdett, but imminently readable although portions are not for the squeamish. 07/08 Jack Quick

NAKED ADDICTION by Caitlin Rother: This police procedural is apparently the first attempt at fiction by a Pulitzer Prize-nominated former journalist who has written at least two “true-crime” books. Detective Ken Goode is trying to obtain a transfer from narcotics where he feels burned out, into Homicide, which is the “major league”. He catches a break when he discovers the body of a beautiful young woman in an alley near the beach, while other Homicide detectives have full caseloads. He is given a shot at solving this case, which quickly becomes one of multiple homicide, drugs, and sex. To be written by a journalist, the books seems to wander a bit more that one would expect, as through the author is trying out different scenarios to see which one would best set up Goode for further adventures. Not bad, but hopefully future outings will be more straight-forward and easier to follow. 07/08 Jack Quick

NAKED MOON by Domenic Stansberry: San Francisco PI Dante Mancuso “bought” his release from the intelligence agency for whom he had been forced to work, by claiming that he had secreted a copy of an explosively dangerous document to be released to the press in the event of his “accidental” death. In fact, Mancuso thought the document was too dangerous and he destroyed it. Now the “agency” has come back after him because of leaked secrets. All will be forgiven if he returns the document. Meanwhile, Leanora Chin, a cop with Special Investigations, is threatening Dante’s cousin Gary, who runs a shady warehouse operation, and Gary fears the wrath of the powerful Wu Benevolent Association if he cooperates with Chin. Trapped in a three-way vise, Dante searches for a way to neutralize the explicit threats to his cousin and others dear to him, while knowing that the only permanent solution is to disappear. If you have any feeling at all for San Francisco, you gotta love this series which IMHO perfectly captures Herb Caen’s “Baghdad by the Bay.” 03/11 Jack Quick

THE NAME OF THE STAR by Maureen Johnson: Louisiana girl Rory Deveaux is spending her senior year in London at Wexford. The day of her arrival just happens to be the anniversary of the murder of Mary Ann Nichols, thought by many to be the first victim of Jack the Ripper. Normally only a big deal if you’re into that kind of thing, except this year a body has been found in homage to Jack’s first kill. Word is out that Jack is back! As each new anniversary results in a new killing, the folks in charge at Wexford become understandably more tense. And when Rory sees someone near the site of yet another murder, she becomes the one and only witness in the case. I loved this book: a teen paranormal mystery with great appeal for adults, in my opinion. Rory is a solid character and The Name of the Star is wonderful set up for continuing into a series. Plus the use of Jack the Ripper, one of history’s most famous unsolved crimes, is incredibly clever. 4/12 Becky Lejeune

The Nanny Diaries by Emma McLaughlin & Nicola Kraus: The tell-all sensation of a couple of NY nannies about the lives of the rich and not-so-nice. Funny as hell, but equally disturbing. Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

THE NAPIERVILLE WHITE HOUSE by Mark Pedriani: If you have ever played Madden NFL football or been part of a fantasy sports league in any sport, you can relate to the appeal of “Nationizer”, software available in the none too distant future that enables you to play fantasy government games. Players can take on the roles of cabinet members and congressmen–passing laws, handling crises, and solving problems with their own independent views. Now guess what happens when fantasy becomes reality. Jay Weise, an insurance adjustor by day in Napierville, Illinois, serves as President of the United States; Julia Ortiz, a quiet librarian at Northwestern University is Secretary of State; Duane Kilmer, a part-time truck driver and obsessive gamer is Secretary of Defense; Edward Hoffman, a gas station owner, is Director of National Security and Chief of Staff Alesia Thorpe, a customer service representative, play key roles when terrorists strike at the very heart of the nation’s capital, pulling off the kidnappings of the century leaving the Naperville White House as the nation’s only real hope of saving the hostages. As reported by Jerome Bartels, crusading vagabond journalist, former White House press secretary, and part-time Radio Shack employee, The Naperville White House is a clever piece of fiction, we hope, and not some vision of the future. Offbeat but compelling in this age when the lines between fantasy and reality become more blurred by the day. 12/10 Jack Quick

THE NARROWS by Michael Connelly: In this sequel to The Poet (1996) retired LAPD Detective Harry Bosch begins to suspect that the notorious serial killer The Poet, presumed dead, may be the culprit in the death of ex-FBI profiler Terry McCalab. As he digs deeper, Bosch meets and eventually joins forces with FBI agent Rachel Walling, who went up against The Poet the first time around. The interactions between Bosch, Walling and The Poet make this a delightfully twisty addition to the Bosch legacy. 05/06 Jack Quick

NATURAL BORN CHARMER by Susan Elizabeth Phillips: Susan Elizabeth Phillips is one of the queens of the romance world, one of the elite few that have crossed over from original paperback publication to hardcovers, along with the likes of Nora Roberts, Jennifer Crusie, and Jayne Anne Krentz, AKA Amanda Quick, AKA Jayne Castle and who knows who else. The crossover has been hugely successful; her books are best sellers.
The main hunk in this book was apparently introduced in her previous book, Match Me if You Can. Dean Robillard is the “natural born charmer” of title fame. A star quarterback for the fictional Chicago Stars, he’s gorgeous, rich, and famous – a deadly combination for Blue Bailey. Blue is our down-on-her-luck heroine, who Dean rescues after her boyfriends dumps her for a blonder model, and effectively strands her in the middle of nowhere. She allows Dean to rescue her, and they embark on a road trip to his vacation home in rural Tennessee, bantering all the way. Of course, nothing is more attractive to a man like Dean than a woman he thinks is playing hard to get. Little does he know that Blue is determined to be impossible to get.
The small town setting in Tennessee adds to the appeal; there are no malls and no chain stores, and the dowager who inherited the town is determined to keep it that way. Lots of crisp, witty dialogue highlight this warm, fast-moving story that draws the reader in. The characters are sympathetic and believable, and we get to know them well. There are multiple story lines that mesh well together, creating a heartwarming, romantic tale that is fast, sexy and fun yet still emotionally appealing. Not my usual, but rather a diversion as light and sweet as a snow cone, perfect for a summer day. Just out in paperback, and that makes it my first recommended beach read of the summer. 05/08 Stacy Alesi, AKA The BookBitch
NATURAL SELECTION by Dave Freedman: Jason Aldridge and his research team have been contracted to track a possible new species of manta ray. An undersea virus has been plaguing the depths of the ocean. As a result, an ancient species of manta has made its way to the surface in search of food. Immature manta are spotted soaring from the water in an attempt to find sustenance. Suddenly, Aldridge and his team are in for something more than they bargained for, as a creature known for is passive nature has now become a deadly predator. Initially, I expected this to be a fun, if somewhat unbelievable read. However, Freedman’s debut turned out to have many more cons against it than pros in its favor. The characters lack depth and emotion and the romantic aspect is awkward at best – it would have helped the story more if it had been altogether eliminated. Even the scientific aspects of this book overpowered the story itself. This was a highly disappointing and overall bland read. 10/06 Becky LeJeune

THE NAVIGATOR by Michael Pocalyko: This debut thriller opens with the titled “Navigator,” an American soldier, translating at the liberation of the infamous Bergen-Belsen Nazi concentration camp. He spends the rest of his life trying to “bury it deep” and recover, which we now know is not the best advice for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. He has two sons who grow up witnessing their father dealing with “health issues” and their parents’ subsequent divorce. The boys end up in the finance world; one belly up and the other, the super successful architect of the first multi-national, trillion-dollar tech deal. When that much money is on the line, anything is liable to happen and it does, from Washington political intrigue to corporate espionage to murder. Characters aren’t especially well developed but the real star of the story is ViroSat, the technological behemoth start up at the center of everything. Lots of financial babble and tech talk slow the pace a bit but the various storylines are interesting enough, especially as they start to intersect late in the book, as every loose end is cobbled together. Christopher Reich and Joseph Finder fans will enjoy this. 6/13 Stacy Alesi, AKA The BookBitch Copyright © 2013 Booklist, a division of the American Library Association. Reprinted with permission.

THE NAVIGATOR by Michael Pocalyko: A well researched and written book about the communication system after the internet; Internet next, a system that is faster, safer and considerably more versatile than anything available today. It is brilliant fiction but could be a reality in the near future. The cost of getting such a system up and running around the world is projected at more than a trillion dollars. Pocalyko’s expertise in both high finance, and the technical problems of launching the system make for fascinating reading. The story opens with the visit in 1945 of a navigator from a B-24, part of the U S eighth air force to a concentration camp in Germany. Due to his fluency in German his job is to assist the army with liberating the camp and helping the survivors. The trauma of conditions seen there will haunt him throughout his life. Move to the present day where one of his two sons is involved with directing the progress of setting up and launching Virosat, the internet next system. The other son is caught up in a fraud perpetrated by a company that he was applying to. He is also trying to resolve the estate of an elderly woman that sought him out to help her with her apparently small financial worth. How the two sons are tied together in the overall progress and problems of the Virosat launch comprises the very fascinating meat and potatoes of the book. We follow, thanks to Pocalyko’s knowledge of high level international finance and technical expertise, the twists and turns of the Virosat launch which include an attempt by the U S government to take the system over and control it. The ending is logical and does bring all loose ends together. All in all a very satisfying read and look at what is probably coming in our lifetime. 6/13 Paul Lane

THE NEAR WITCH by Victoria Schwab: All of the kids in Near have heard of the Near Witch. It’s the bedtime story they all hear growing up. In fact, the town of Near has a particular dislike of witches… and strangers. When a stranger arrives and kids begin to disappear, the townsfolk immediately look to the man as the cause. But Lexi fears that the truth is something much worse: the Near Witch has come back for revenge. Lexi knows that if parts of the old legend are true, the key to finding the Near Witch and saving the children might also be buried in the story. With the help of the stranger and a pair of sisters long rumored to be witches themselves, Lexi will have to outsmart a wicked being whose very power travels on the winds of the moor. Schwab’s tale has a fantastic folklore feel to it, something that brings to mind the classic fairy tales I grew up with. The Near Witch is an enjoyable and creepy read that will appeal to readers of all ages. 11/11 Becky Lejeune

A NECESSARY END by Peter Robinson: Chief Inspector Alan Banks of Britain’s Eastvale Regional Police is the good cop while Superintendent Richard (“Dirty Dick”) Burgess, a special investigator from London CID, has no hesitation in being the bad cop in investigating the murder of a young constable sent to keep order at an anti-nuclear demonstration in Eastvale, a drowsy town of 14,000 that time has passed by, yet a murderer–one of the demonstrators–undeniably has struck with a flick-knife (switchblade). Dirty Dick, a notorious stud and heavy drinker, roars into town, convinced that communists and terrorists have arranged for the murder of PC Gill. A user of terror tactics himself, he’s intent on making a collar even if the evidence must be bent. He brushes off Banks’ suggestions that the demonstration may have been used as cover for a grudge killing. Who is correct? Another strong outing from Robinson. 10/06 Jack Quick

NEED by Carrie Jones: After the sudden death of her step-father, Zara is sent to live with her grandmother in Maine. Her mother had hoped that the trip would do her some good considering she’s been walking around like a zombie ever since the funeral. Zara is dreading it, though. Then she meets Issie and her friend Devyn and things begin to look up. And then there is Nick Colt, resident hunk, who also seems to want to be her friend. Yep, things are definitely looking up for Zara. That is until she learns about the missing boys in town, and she realizes that a strange guy has been following her around. Could he be connected to the disappearances? You bet. After some research, Zara and her friends come to the conclusion that the guy in question is actually a pixie, and not the Tinkerbell variety either. Nope, this kind of pixie feeds off of human blood. It also seems that this is not the first time the pixies have plagued their small town. Need definitely bears strong resemblance to Twilight, but is interesting in that pixies have not really been cast in much of the paranormal fiction hitting shelves of late. This read will most likely appeal to younger teens who enjoy paranormal fiction. 12/08 Becky Lejeune

NEED YOU NOW by James Grippando: While this not a Jack Swytek novel, this terrific standalone does feature Jack’s girlfriend, FBI agent Andie Henning. This novel is set in New York in the aftermath of a Bernie Madoff type Ponzi scheme, this one perpetrated by the fictional Abe Cushman, who does the overburdened courts a favor and kills himself. Meanwhile sixty billion dollars is gone with no hopes of Cushman ever revealing what he may have done with the money. Enter Patrick Lloyd, an employee of a large multinational Swiss bank with offices in New York. Patrick has just returned from a stint in Singapore, where he met and fell in love with co-worker Lilly, who ends up under suspicion of helping funnel some of Cushman’s missing sixty billion dollars. This is a complicated story, yet in Grippando’s hands it is incredibly fast paced and believable. Some really great twists throughout and a surprise ending that again, is believable, make this a must read for thriller fans, and anyone with an interest in the international financial markets. I loved it. 1/12 Stacy Alesi, AKA The BookBitch

NEED YOU NOW by James Grippando: Grippando is the author of a wide variety of novels, most of them with enough pizazz to bring in the reader almost immediately. Need You Now is engrossing and timely with a very intriguing ending not telegraphed during most of the book. Three years prior to the actual opening of the action a giant fund collapsed à la the recent Bernie Madoff Ponzi scheme. Many shareholders lose their investments and the government gets involved in trying to find most of the funds which should have been available even with the collapse and do not appear anywhere.
Patrick Lloyd, a young financial advisor in the private accounts section of a huge Swiss bank’s New York office, is recruited by an FBI agent to temporarily relocate to one of the bank’s Asian offices to make contact with a young lady who is suspected of funneling the missing funds to private individuals. Why he was selected is an important part of the action in the book and revealed as a major part of the story. An interesting sidelight is that the FBI agent that recruits Patrick is Andie Henning, who is sent from her base in Miami to handle the case in New York. Andie appears in other Grippando novels as Jack Swyteck’s girlfriend, a Miami lawyer who is a frequent protagonist in Grippando’s books.
Patrick makes contact with Lilly and while investigating, they fall in love. Lilly is fired by the Swiss bank and she and Patrick meet again in New York. That is where the actual action for most of the book takes place. Patrick and Lilly are threatened with death by two different groups as they continue investigating the Ponzi scheme in order to absolve Lilly from unwarranted accusations of fraud. Their investigation is also impaired by actions of the government that is seemingly at odds with the idea of finding out where all the money went. Andie Hemming is suddenly sent back to Miami at a crucial juncture in Patrick and Lilly’s investigations and the case “closed”. The ending is a surprise, but upon retrospect is quite a logical outcome of present day politics. Gripping and timely. 1/12 Paul Lane

THE NEIGHBORS by Ania Ahlborn: When Andrew Morrison moves in with Mickey Finch, it’s to be a new start. He’s left his old life behind and is doing something for himself for the very first time. Sure, Mickey is a little odd at first and the house is a bit of a wreck, but it’s nothing a little cleaning and polishing won’t fix. And the neighbors are great. Red and Harlow Ward are warm and welcoming, even going so far as to offer Drew a job. Behind closed doors, though, Drew’s perfect new neighbors are hiding a dark and twisted secret. A secret so terrible Drew will wish he’d never met the Wards. This second release from Ahlborn is a twisted and creepy read. Ahlborn does an excellent job building the underlying sense of unease through the beginning of The Neighbors before revealing the Wards’ true nature. One of the best things about this book, though, is that while the violence is intense, there’s also a good bit left to the reader’s imagination. It makes The Neighbors more unsettling than you’d expect. 12/12 Becky Lejeune

THE NEON GRAVEYARD by Vicki Pettersson: This final installment in the Sign of the Zodiac series is an action-packed bombshell ending. Joanna Archer has lost everything and in doing so, she’s survived and come out stronger than ever. Now is the time for her to start taking back. Time for her revenge. And time for her new troop of rogue agents to come to power. After being banished from the light, Joanna has become the leader of a troop of misfits—rogue agents who’ve left or been banished from their own troops for one reason or another. Together, they plan to infiltrate Midheaven, save the man she loves, and bring down the dark for good. All while hiding a pregnancy that could make her a walking target for both Vegas troops. If she succeeds, it would mean big changes for Vegas and the Zodiac. I’ve been with this series from book one and have loved each new installment. Pettersson has created a story unlike anything else out there right now and I can’t wait to see what she’ll come up with next. 06/11 Becky Lejeune

NEUROMANCER by William Gibson: Someone said science fiction is science not yet discovered. If you ever wanted to try science fiction you could do worse than this one – the first novel to win the holy trinity of science fiction: the Hugo Award, the Nebula Award and the Philip K. Dick Award. This is the beginning of cyber space which has now come to be an integral part of all our daily lives. Case was the hottest computer cowboy cruising the information superhighway–jacking his consciousness into cyberspace, soaring through tactile lattices of data and logic, rustling encoded secrets for anyone with the money to buy his skills. Then he double-crossed the wrong people, who caught up with him in a big way–and burned the talent out of his brain, micron by micron. Banished from cyberspace, trapped in the meat of his physical body, Case courted death in the high-tech underworld. But now he has been given a second chance. Outstanding. 08/09 Jack Quick

NEVER COME BACK by David Bell: Leslie Hampton’s death has all the earmarks of a homicide, something that shocks her family quite a bit. With the exception of trips to the library, Leslie was a bit of a shut in who’d devoted her life to caring for her son, Ronnie. Ronnie was born with Down Syndrome and though he’s quite self-sufficient and high functioning, still relied very heavily on his mother. Elizabeth, Leslie’s daughter, hadn’t spoken to her mother for over a month before her death. She’d only recently returned to her hometown to attend grad school but Elizabeth never considered herself close to her family. The death leaves both of Leslie’s children reeling and the added suspicion of murder is almost unfathomable. When the police seem to turn their eye to Ronnie as a suspect, Elizabeth is even more confused. Surely they wouldn’t seriously suspect her brother as the killer? Elizabeth finds herself in an odd position, forced to dig into her mother’s past in order to help her brother, and she soon learns that Leslie was hiding a few secrets. Still, who would want to hurt Leslie Hampton? Never Come Back starts with promise but unfortunately fails to deliver. The plot becomes muddled and predictable. There are some interesting twists early on but they become more far fetched as the story progresses ultimately making Never Come Back more disappointing than thrilling. 10/13 Becky Lejeune
NEVER CROSS A VAMPIRE by Stuart Kaminsky: World War II has begun and PI Toby Peters is taking on his strangest case ever. Someone is sending threatening letters to Bela Lugosi. Boris Karloff asks Toby to take the case, and it’s not long before Toby and Bela are tangling the Dark Knights of Transylvania, a group of vampire fans who are at best loosely wound. The case takes an odd twist when the police find the murder weapon from a literary agent killing in the hotel room of William Faulkner (yes that William Faukner). Two cases, or one? It only gets weirder for ace detective Peters in this latest movie making romp. 04/09 Jack Quick

NEVER GO BACK by Lee Child: The Jack Reacher series is my version of literary comfort food. The books are consistent in their excellence, character development and action. Never Go Back adds another layer to the seemingly simple yet truly complex character that Jack Reacher has evolved into, and it is done flawlessly. Jack has spoken to the new commanding officer of his old 110th MP base, his replacement if you will, and he is intrigued by her voice and demeanor. Being Jack, he makes his way down to Virginia, wanting to meet her and maybe take her to dinner. But when he arrives, he finds she’s been arrested and he’s about to be next. He’s put up at a cheap motel nearby, and a carful of men – not in uniform but soldiers nonetheless – try and convince him to leave town in a hurry. Reacher does not respond well to threats, and has never backed down from a fight, and he doesn’t start in this book. He’s determined to prove his innocence and hers, even if it means busting out of jail in the process and hitting the road to California to find the answers they need. Another riveting tale from one of the masters of the thriller genre and probably the best one in the series. Don’t miss it. 9/13 Stacy Alesi, AKA The BookBitch

NEVER KNOWING by Chevy Stevens: Sara Gallagher has long known that she was adopted. Sure, she’s wondered about her birth parents, but when she stumbles upon an article about adoption while planning her wedding, she decides it might be time to find out more about where she comes from. What she discovers is not at all what she’d expected: not only is her birth mother uninterested in getting to know Sara, she’s downright angry about being sought out. What’s more, Sara suspects that she’s lying with regards to the birth father. Unable to let it go, Sara hires a private investigator. His brief search reveals that Sara’s birth mother is the only person to have escaped an attempt by the notorious Campsite Killer. Based on the time of the crime, the PI and Sara both determine that the killer must be Sara’s father. Sara’s lineage is soon spread all over the internet and she begins to receive calls from a man identifying himself as her father. This connection is the first lead the police have ever had with the crimes and they ask Sara to continue contact with the man in hopes that they may finally be able to close the case. But Sara knows that speaking to the Campsite Killer will surely put herself and her family in danger. This second release from Stevens is just as dark and suspenseful as her debut, Still Missing, and is equally as fast paced and intriguing as well. Sara is a complicated character and Stevens does a great job delving into the psychological aspects of her circumstances. 6/12 Becky Lejeune

THE NEVER LIST by Koethi Zan: Jack Derber is a bad man. For years, he held four girls captive in his basement. Sarah and two others were saved. Derber will soon be up for possible parole and Sarah is going to make sure that never happens. As kids, she and her best friend Jennifer thought they were prepared for anything. They were wrong. All it took was one night. One night when their guard was down and Jack Derber had them in his sights. Derber took everything from Sarah, including Jennifer. Now, Sarah wants answers and she wants to make sure that Jack Derber can’t ever do what he did to her and those other girls again. In order to do so, Sarah will have to face all of the things she’s tried to put behind her for so long. Chilling doesn’t begin to describe Koethi Zan’s debut. This is the kind of story that unfortunately has proven to be all too real of late, which makes it that much more intense and unsettling. Zan’s heroine is strong, though, and she and her story draw readers in compelling them to stay with her through the end. Fans of darker thrillers the likes of Chelsea Cain and Thomas Harris’s work will appreciate the level of suspense and the numerous twists. 7/13 Becky Lejeune

NEVER LOOK AWAY by Linwood Barclay: David Harwood is a newspaper reporter in the small town of Promise Falls, where he lives with his wife Jan and their young son Ethan. David’s been ruffling feathers while working on a story about suspicious dealings between the local politicians and a privately run prison looking to move into town. Things have been stressful at the struggling newspaper, and Jan has been acting strangely. David is worried but then Jan surprises him with tickets to a nearby theme park for a day of family fun. But it’s not much fun when Ethan momentarily disappears, and when he’s found, Jan vanishes. Not only can she not be found, there is no record of her buying the tickets or entering the park. David becomes the prime suspect in his wife’s disappearance, and sets out to prove his innocence and try and find his wife. VERDICT: The pages fly in this gripping, twisty tale of betrayal and heartbreak. Barclay takes ordinary people and puts them in extraordinary circumstances, creating a tense, fast paced thriller without stretching the limits of credulity. Sure to please fans of Harlan Coben and Lisa Unger. 03/10 Stacy Alesi, AKA The BookBitch. Copyright © 2010 Cahners Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. Reprinted with permission.

NEVER TELL by Alafair Burke: Sixteen-year-old Julia Whitmire commits suicide, but her wealthy, politically connected parents force an investigation. NYPD Det. Ellie Hatcher (212; Angel’s Tip; Dead Connection) lands the case and isn’t too sympathetic. The private school Julia attended is full of privileged children under enormous pressure, many of whom are abusing prescription drugs. Julia’s computer reveals she was cyberbullying someone, and her best friend doesn’t even know whom she was dating, just that Julia was on the wild side. Meanwhile, Hatcher’s relationship with her district attorney boyfriend reaches a critical juncture when the subject of children comes up, adding more personal suspense to this story. As the investigation continues, Hatcher realizes that Julia’s death may indeed be a murder, and the list of suspects is narrowing. Verdict: What initially appears to be a simple story quickly becomes more intricate and compelling, making the pages fly. Highly recommended, especially for Lisa Gardner or Laura Lippman fans. 6/12 Stacy Alesi, AKA The BookBitch Copyright © 2012 Library Journal, a division of Media Source Inc. Reprinted with permission.

NEVER TELL by Alafair Burke: Ellie Hatcher’s latest case seems like an open and shut suicide: the girl, a sixteen-year-old prep school student whose rich parents leave her pretty much on her own most of the time, shows signs of an eating disorder and prescription drug abuse. She’s even left a note. The girl’s mother is insistent that in spite of everything, she is certain her daughter would never have taken her own life and the girl’s father has enough pull to make sure the police treat the case as a homicide. When Ellie and her partner begin to dig deeper, they discover not all is as it seems. In fact, there are so many inconsistencies that even Ellie begins to wonder if the girl’s mother could be right. Alafair Burke once again presents a tightly woven and completely convincing plot that will keep even the most avid mystery fans guessing. This is the fourth installment to the series and while there are references to earlier titles, Never Tell can most definitely be read on its own. 6/12 Becky Lejeune

NEVER TELL A LIE by Hallie Ephron: After years of trying, Ivy and David Rose are finally expecting their first child. The two decide that in preparation of their growing family, it is time to clear out some of the junk left behind by the home’s previous owner. Unfortunately, their yard sale brings one particular patron who will prove to be bad luck for the happy couple. Melinda White went to high school with both Ivy and David, though they were never really friends. After David promises to show Melinda around the house, the woman mysteriously vanishes. Ivy and David assumed she had left on her own, but when she is reported missing, the police begin to look pretty close at the Roses. It doesn’t help that Melinda’s bloody clothing is discovered in a trunk set out by the curb for the trash. This debut thriller is the perfect example of what the term “page-turner” refers to. From page one, I was glued to my seat! The plot is tight and chilling and packed with suspense. This is without a doubt going to be one of the big books of 2009. 01/09 Becky Lejeune

NEVERLAND by Douglas Clegg: Never has a family vacation been so wrought with terror and wicked imagination as in Neverland. Originally released in 1991, Clegg’s creepy tale of children facing off with an evil entity has been re-released featuring wonderful sketches from the talented Glenn Chadbourne (who also illustrated the recently released Isis, also by Clegg). Beau and his family expected their annual trip to Gull Island to be business as usual: mosquitoes, exquisite boredom, and snippy adults for two whole weeks. When they arrive, however, Beau’s cousin Sumter reveals a secret. A secret that Beau is sworn to keep with blood. Sumter has claimed the old shed as his own Neverland. Inside, he has hidden something powerful. Something that will come to life using the children’s vivid imaginations. Something evil that has been waiting all this time to be let out once again. Clegg’s graphic imagery is frightening on its own, but paired with the possibilities of a child’s creative mind, Neverland becomes one of the most chilling reading experiences I’ve had in ages. 04/10 Becky Lejeune

NEVERWHERE by Neil Gaiman: Richard Mayhew had a nice life. Not a great life, but a nice life. He had a job and a fiancée, and for an unassuming young man, this was enough. The old woman did warn him about doors, though. When Richard meets a young girl wounded and bleeding in the street, he feels obligated to help. He takes her home and gives her a place to stay for the night. He searches out the one person she thinks can help her get home and he helps her to get on her way. And for all of that, Richard loses everything. After the girl called Door leaves his apartment, Richard seemingly disappears, at least to everyone around him. His act of chivalry has left him with some serious problems and the only solution he can find is to follow Door into London below for some answers. Gaiman’s debut solo novel (after co-authoring Good Omens with Terry Pratchett) is considered by most to be the very first urban fantasy. The book is actually an adaptation of a mini-series created by Gaiman for BBC. The novelization was released simultaneous to airing of the program. A whimsical and magical fairy tale for adults. Gaiman is someone everyone should be reading. 11/08 Becky Lejeune

THE NEW DEAD edited by Christopher Golden: Zombies have claimed their position at the top of the horror genre, and deservedly so. They’re super fun. The New Dead is a collection of all new zombie tales, some of them funny, some of them sad, and some of them highly disturbing. With contributions from authors such as Max Brooks, Joe Hill, David Wellington, Jonathan Maberry, and many, many more, The New Dead is definitely a must-have for zombie fans and horror aficionados. I loved reading each author’s different take on the walking dead: zombies have come so far since George Romero’s films, and yet I’m sure that each author has paid tribute in their own way to those clumsy flesh-eating monsters we saw in Night of the Living Dead. Holly Newstein’s “Delice,” for example, is a tale of voodoo based around the notorious Lalauries of New Orleans. John Connolly’s “Lazarus” takes zombies all the way back to biblical times and Joe Hill brings zombies up to date with a Twitter based tale in “Twittering From the Circus of the Dead.” Whether you like your zombies post-apocalyptic style or suddenly walking among us, this book has something for everyone. Zombies of all shapes and sizes. 03/10 Becky Lejeune

NEW TRICKS by David Rosenfelt: Whatever you may think of Andy Carpenter’s litigation skills, for sure, he has smart clients, in this case a Bernese Mountain puppy named Waggy. Walter Timmerman, a big wheel in the pharmaceutical industry has been murdered, and a custody battle arises between Walter’s widow Diana and her stepson Steven. Andy gets appointed to represent Waggy, but just as he is about to leave Diana’s home after picking up Waggy, she is killed in a bomb explosion at her home. Turns out she stood to inherit $400 million after Walter had cut son Steven out of the will. In addition to those $400 million reasons, Steven is known to have detested Diana and learned all about the type explosive that blew up the house while he was in the Marines. Now Andy is representing an accused murderer. Then, when Andy’s police chief girlfriend, Laurie Collins, who’s visiting from Wisconsin, is shot and wounded while playing with Waggy, Andy comes to realize that Waggy was the real target all along. It is another great outing for Andy Carpenter, the dog’s best friend and not a bad attorney. 09/09 Jack Quick

NEWS BLUES by Marianne Mancusi: Maddy Madison has just been promoted. Her excitement is almost too much to bear, especially when the boss assigns her a hot new photographer as a partner. With Emmy aspirations fueling her, Maddy sets out to find the story of a lifetime, the story that could finally earn her a coveted job at Newsline. The powers that be at News 9 have different plans for Maddy, though. Every new story she suggests is shot down and replaced with something asinine like “Cosmetics that Kill.” Worse yet, the hottie photographer is engaged to someone else and Maddy’s parents have just revealed that after over 20 years of marriage, they are getting a divorce. While her mother goes gallivanting off on a worldwide shopping spree and her father holes up with his pregnant mistress, Maddy is saddled with the responsibility of watching over her 16-year-old sister. What’s a girl to do? Mancusi, a two-time Emmy award winning producer herself, draws upon her own experiences in the industry to create a realistic and sweet tale that deals with some fairly heavy issues while remaining light-hearted and warmingly humorous. 03/08 Becky Lejeune

THE NEWTON PROPHESIES by Keith Katsikas: Michael DiBianco is a Professor at Harvard Divinity School. He’s committed his entire life to discovering the hidden truths within the Bible. In a matter of moments, his world is upended. He is questioned by the FBI about some research he did on the Newton papers, a document that details the exact date of the end of the world and the Second Coming. Murders of important officials and dignitaries have occurred, and DiBianco appears to be the prime suspect. He learns about a brotherhood known as the Descendants of Lucifer (DoL) who are attempting to prevent the Second Coming so that their master can assume his rightful position. DiBianco also discovers that his entire life, as he has known it, as been a lie. He was implanted with a nanoprocessor that has been sending flashes of false memories, and in the days following his confrontation with the FBI, has begun to send him messages. DiBianco soon learns that some of his closest friends can no longer be trusted, and begins a long journey to stop the DoL in their plot to destroy mankind. Newton Prophesies is a mind-blowing, faced-paced and exciting book! Very reminiscent of Dan Brown, but yet very unique as well. There is a great and exciting future in store for this up and coming author. 07/08 Jennifer Lawrence

THE NEXT BEST THING by Jennifer Weiner: This latest effort from the author of Good in Bed and In Her Shoes, among many others, really delivers with this sweet story of a Hollywood sitcom gone wrong. Ruth Saunders was disfigured in a tragic accident that cost her parents their lives, and she is raised by a loving grandmother. After college she decides to try her hand at writing for TV, and her grandmother moves along with her. There they both find love and heartache, work and unemployment but mostly they know they have each other no matter what. The inside scoop on what really happens from the creative germ of an idea to sitcom fruition is fascinating, and since Weiner went through this experience herself with the quickly cancelled ABC sitcom, “State of Georgia”, I’m not sure how much of this is fiction and how much is fact. Either way it is a most entertaining and delectable read. 8/12 Stacy Alesi, AKA The BookBitch

THE NEXT KILL by Aaron Trance: There is a new sheriff in town. Trance brings us San Francisco homicide detective Trane Ravenwood who ends up in Japan following the trail of a serial killer. The story starts in Egypt, winds through Jamaica, Johannesburg, Paris, and San Francisco before hopping to Tokyo. Someone is killing beautiful women and taunting Ravenwood about the murders. The crimes are modern but the roots lie well into the past. This is an exciting adventure with lots of pretty women and a protagonist somewhere between Jack Reacher and “Dirty” Harry Callaghan. The only rules that apply are Trane’s rules – and learning them can be painful. Hopefully, this will be the start of a fresh new series that will be like Ravenwood’s choice of beer – long and satisfying. 03/10 Jack Quick

NICE GIRLS DON’T HAVE FANGS by Molly Harper: Jane Jameson, children’s librarian. Make that former children’s librarian and now vampire. And it’s hard to keep something like that under wraps in the tiny town of Half-Moon Hollow. It all begins with her getting fired. Instead of severance, Jane’s years of service and effort earned her a gift certificate for the local Shenanigans. Less than steady on her feet after $25 of potato skins and electric lemonade, Jane makes her way home only to have her car die. As she attempts the rest of the trip by foot, the local idiot mistakes her for a deer and shoots her drive-by style. Fortunately, Gabriel Nightengale saves her … sort of. A hilarious start for Harper’s new paranormal series. Jane is a lovable character and her plight is truly laugh-out-loud. Great for readers looking for a funny paranormal tale with a great balance of romance included. 02/10 Becky Lejeune

NIGHT AND DAY by Robert B. Parker: The eighth Jesse Stone is lightweight, even for Parker. The action revolves around two cases, one almost silly, and the other a bit more serious. The silly one involves Junior High School Principal Betsy Ingersoll’s efforts to maintain morals and dignity amongst her young teen minions. While what she did may not have been criminal, it certainly provoked a firestorm. The other case has far more serious ramifications – a Peeping Tom calling himself the Night Hawk escalates from mere peeping to home invasions. Jesse needs to stop him before someone gets hurt. So while they may take a “bite out of crime” in Paradise, this one is more of a late night snack than a full meal. It’s still Parker, however, and even a weak Parker is still pretty darn tasty. 04/09 Jack Quick

THE NIGHT BOOKMOBILE by Audrey Niffenegger: A graphic novel from the author of The Time Traveler’s Wife seems like a natural; Niffenegger was an artist long before she hit the bestseller list. This is the first graphic novel that I’ve read in years that really spoke to me. A friend told me it was almost too emotional, shocking and that it would make me cry. It was an emotional read, but probably not the way he thought I might take it. It is about a woman in Chicago that stumbles upon a bookmobile that is only open at night, from “dusk to dawn”. As she wanders through the bookmobile, it turns out to have a somewhat surprising collection; a life changing collection, in fact. I loved this book and it should probably be read by librarians, booksellers and avid readers everywhere. If one of those categories fits, check it out. 09/10 Stacy Alesi, AKA The BookBitch

THE NIGHT CALLER by John Lutz: Ezekiel “Coop” Cooper is a former NYPD detective whose cancer forced him into early retirement. After finding his daughter’s dead body, his experience and instincts are that she is the victim of a ritual killing, likely by a serial killer. Then he is contacted by Deni Green, a writer working on a true crime story who thinks that Coop’s daughter was the victim of a killer who had struck both in Florida and the Pacific Northwest. The two form an uneasy alliance as they work to track down the killer before he claims other victims. Well written and intriguing. Lutz is a master. 08/06 Jack Quick

THE NIGHT CIRCUS by Erin Morgenstern: This is probably the most talked about debut of the year, with the most extravagant praise being heaped upon it, from being compared to the Harry Potter books and Twilight, to this quote from an independent bookseller in USA Today: “Let’s say The Help and The Da Vinci Code were high-water marks in our bookselling history. My prediction is The Night Circus is the 200-year flood. I loved (those books),” she says, “but this is better than The Da Vinci Code and better than The Help. It’s a whole different level of writing.” This all leaves expectations high, and I am delighted to say this book exceeded those expectations. This is a marvelous book, an escape from reality into a world you can’t help wanting to visit. It is about a magical circus, and the people involved in creating it and keeping it going. Two of them, Marco and Celia, are magicians, raised to compete in a game not of their choosing, yet they also fall in love. The writing itself is magical, the story compelling and completely engrossing, the ending is fitting and the book is just fantastic. Don’t miss it, and expect a movie. 10/11 Stacy Alesi, AKA The BookBitch

THE NIGHT FOLLOWING by Morag Joss: In Joss’s third stand-alone, a nameless woman and a single inadvertent slip of attention cause the intersection and eventual downfall of two individuals. A trip in her husband’s car to the grocery store leads to our narrator’s discovery of her spouse’s infidelity. Rather than being upset or angry, she is relieved and feels as though this is the push the couple needs to finally end a marriage that has quietly fallen apart. Her distractedness, however, results in another woman’s death. The resulting guilt over the murder leads our nameless character to the victim’s husband. She feels an overwhelming sense of responsibility towards the man for having taken away his loved one and, as a result, becomes fixated on his wellbeing. She begins by spending nights in his garden, watching him, and soon escalates to entering his home. She cleans and cooks, all the while realizing that the man has begun to believe that she is his deceased wife, come back to take care of him. This unhealthy relationship eventually leads to their destruction as neither of them is willing to accept reality any longer. Joss has used this sort of theme before, the sort of slipping into or taking over a false persona. Our nameless character remains so because she becomes someone else, albeit someone of her own making. In the end, she becomes a nobody. Joss’s distinct style makes for interesting reading. I did find, however, that the strong similarity in themes between Night Following and Half Broken Things was a bit disappointing. For an author known for her unique plots I would have liked to see something different this time around. 03/08 Becky Lejeune

NIGHT FREEZE by Lee Emory: I suppose by definition all serial killers are creepy, but this one is off the creepiness scale. Ex-Marine and ex-Phoenix Police Detective Niall Malone is leaving the Valley of the Sun. His wife has divorced him after the death of their child in a school bus accident and he is looking for a fresh start. Maybe the fact that a highway sniper wounds him on his way out of town should have caused him to re-think his options. However he has already accepted the new post in Kansas City and a Marine always go forward and onward. What he finds in the “Heart of America:” is a weirdo who is sending packages of gruesome, butchered body pieces, usually frozen, to the local Medical Examiner, Dr. Shyla Clifford. Each has been marked with a meat stamp designed in a US Marine Corps insignia. The good Doctor, a Navy retiree, is the ultimate target of this whack job, but can Malone save her. Interesting departure from Ms. Emory’s other efforts. 12/08 Jack Quick

THE NIGHT GARDENER by George Pelecanos: Pelecanos is a literary crime fiction writer. Most crime fiction is plot driven, but it is the characters in The Night Gardener that drive this plot. Set in the inner city of Washington D.C. (as opposed to the political side) there is a series of murders, the bodies being found in small gardens scattered through the city. It remains unsolved for twenty years, and then there is a remarkably similar murder. The victim happens to be Detective Gus Ramone’s teenage son’s friend. Ramone was a patrol cop when the earlier murders occurred. He worked the original case with Dan (“Doc”) Holiday, who later left the force under a cloud of alcoholism and suspicion, and the retired detective T.C. Cook. They join forces to try and solve this new murder, and while that storyline does propel the pages, it is the way we are drawn into the lives of these “police” that truly makes this an outstanding novel. 08/06 Stacy Alesi, AKA The BookBitch

NIGHT KILL by Ann Littlewood: Iris Oakley has had it with her husband, Rick, and his drinking. They’re both employees at the Finely Zoo in Vancouver, Washington, a zoo that suffers from severe budget issues and low funding. After a fight that results in a temporary separation, Rick vows to quit drinking and begs for a second chance. The following morning, though, Rick is discovered dead in the lion pen, reeking of booze. Had he lied and gone on another bender? And what was he doing at the zoo in the middle of the night? Iris asks herself these questions and promptly sets them aside in an attempt to move on with her life. Then she has an accident of her own and she begins to wonder if maybe the two “accidents” are connected. The question is this: who could be behind them and what’s the motivation? Iris stirs up a whole mess of trouble in trying to uncover the truth behind the incidents and someone at the zoo is willing to do whatever it takes to shut her up, permanently. Littlewood, a former zoo keeper herself, combines an interesting behind-the-scenes look at zoo life with an intriguing plot. Her fun debut is guaranteed to keep readers on edge until the very end. Night Kill reminded me of Nevada Barr’s first Anna Pigeon mysteries. First in a new series. 09/08 Becky Lejeune

NIGHT LAWS by Jim Michael Hansen: Kelly Parks is an attorney at Denver’s largest law firm when she is warned by a vicious killer that she is his next target. It is up to Denver homicide detective Bryson Coventry to find out why Parks is a target and exactly what secrets her firm is concealing. Parks realizes she must also learn the truth to save her life and to satisfy herself about her possible unwitting participation in a murder. Action in some ways is reminiscent of Grisham’s The Firm, i.e., powerful law firm above the law. Talk about a Rocky Mountain high, this is my sixth book so far this month with a Denver setting. 02/06 Jack Quick

THE NIGHT MONSTER by James Swain: I think this is the first time Swain has included both P.I. Jack Carpenter and casino gambling expert Tony Valentine in a single volume. Admittedly Valentine’s role is a cameo as Carpenter, former head of the Broward County Missing Persons Unit, is re-living a nightmare. As a young cop he failed to stop the kidnapping of a college coed by a shockingly large assailant–and neither of them was ever seen again. That one case led him into missing person work. Now after eighteen years, it’s about to become terrifying reality once more. A voyeur kidnaps one of Carpenter’s daughter Jessie’s FSU college basketball team teammates. Carpenter’s hot pursuit of the video voyeur leads him smack into another run-in with his old hulking nemesis. While the Broward County cops are determined to pin the rap on a convenient suspect, Carpenter isn’t about to let grim history repeat itself. Jack and his trusty Australian Shepherd dog, Buster, hit the ground running. The chase is on and it is breathtaking. Definitely recommended. 11/09 Jack Quick

Night of the Avenging Blowfish by John Welter: It’s an original, charming, deliciously funny love story from a guy’s point of view and an absolute delight to read. Don’t miss it! Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEED by E.J. Copperman: Alison Kerby, a recent divorcee who now has a chance to realize her dream of opening a guesthouse on the Jersey Shore, is in for a big surprise. Her newly purchased historic fixer-upper is perfect for her plans, but if she wants to see any sort of profit, she’s got to stick to a strict timeline for renovations. And since she’s doing them herself, there is certainly no room for distraction. After getting hit on the head by a can of joint compound, though, she finds that she has some unexpected guests in her new home. Paul Harrison and Maxie Malone, a PI and the previous owner of the house, want Alison to help solve the mystery of their deaths. Ruled a double suicide, the spectral pair insist that they were in fact murdered. Alison wants no part of it, until someone starts threatening her as well. Now, in order to save herself, it seems she’ll have to investigate for Paul and Maxie as well. Copperman (aka Jeffrey Cohen, author of the Double Feature mystery series) injects just the right amount of humor into his cozy paranormal “debut,” making it a fun mystery and a great start to a new series. 07/10 Becky Lejeune
NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEB by Susan McBride: This series is one that I always look forward to; they are light and fluffy and just so much fun to read. Andy Kendrick, the almost-Dallas-deb, is back only this time it’s personal. Andy’s boyfriend, Brian, a straight arrow attorney, went to a bachelor party at a swanky strip club, but instead of being the designated driver and taking the groom-to-be home, he skipped out with a hot blonde stripper. That would be bad enough, except his car is found abandoned at the airport with a dead blonde stripper in the trunk. Brian seems to have disappeared and the cops think he’s a murderer in hiding. Andy knows something’s wrong with this whole scenario, especially after she gets a mysterious phone call about her mother’s cabbage soup. Andy is determined to find out the truth and she does, with a lot of laughs along the way. This is the latest and greatest of a terrific series. 01/07 Stacy Alesi, AKA The BookBitch

NIGHT OF THUNDER by Stephen Hunter: Jim Croce said it first – You don’t tug on Superman’s cape, you don’t spit into the wind, you don’t pull the mask off that old lone ranger, and you don’t mess around with Jim. You also don’t mess around with Bob Lee Swagger or his family. When a hit man runs his reporter daughter’s car off the road in Tennessee leaving her seriously injured, Bob Lee steps in and follows the trail to drug-running along the Tennessee-Virginia border and to a NASCAR event. Proving it ain’t over until it’s over, Swagger takes care of business in his own non-low key way. Another good one. 10/08 Jack Quick

THE NIGHT RANGER by Alex Berenson: John Wells was presented to the literary world in April 2006 via The Faithful Spy. He was introduced as a CIA agent at the final point of working within an al Qaeda band in Pakistan for two years and is described as the first American to ever successfully infiltrate an al Qaeda group. After that most unusual beginning John has taken part in several very well written and researched books mainly involving Islamic terrorists as protagonists. The Night Ranger is the first book set on the African continent. A group of American volunteers are working with a charity group in Kenya involved in helping Somali refugees in camps there. They decide that a short vacation is needed to get away from the stress of trying to keep up with the overwhelming needs of the refugees. While traveling they are taken prisoner by Somali bandits whose intentions seem to be to ransom them and subsequently release them. When their captivity drags on John Well’s estranged son calls him after years of no contact to ask him to intervene and try to free the four. John agrees to try and rescue the captives in order to possibly reestablish a relationship with the boy, and travels to Kenya to try and free them. Like the other Well’s books the action is fast and keeps the reader glued to the pages. John, while no longer a member of the CIA coordinates his efforts with his ex-supervisor since the US becomes officially interested in rescuing the volunteers, up to and including possibly sending in an invading force. There are a large amount of twists and turns in the action, not all of them logically following what has gone before, but what Berenson is good at is describing the thoughts, motivations, ideas and actions of all parties participating in the story. The people involved have different ideas revolving around the events and are described as somewhat in conflict with each other in response to what is happening to them. Well done, and keeping us anxiously awaiting the next John Wells book. 2/13 Paul Lane

THE NIGHT RANGER by Alex Berenson: John Wells would never have considered the mission except for one thing – the request for his intervention came from Wells’ estranged son. Four friends – two men and two women – recent college graduates, travel to Kenya to work at a giant refugee camp for Somalis. A “vacation” turns deadly as bandits hijack them. They wake up in a hut, hooded, bound, no food or water When Wells arrives, he finds that the truth behind the kidnappings is far more complex than he imagined. The clock is ticking. The White House is edging closer to an invasion of Somalia. If Wells can’t find the hostages soon, they’ll be dead – and the U.S. may be in a war it never should have begun. 3/13 Jack Quick

NIGHT ROAD by Kristin Hannah: This was my first Kristin Hannah book and it certainly won’t be my last, despite my crying through half of this book. This one is a heartbreaker, at least for me and probably for any parent. Jude Farraday knows she is a “helicopter parent,” one who hovers over her children, interfering with their lives at every turn but always with the best of intentions. The children are twins, Zach, who is bright and extremely popular, and Mia, the shy loner, who both appreciate how good they have it. Newcomer Lexi has just moved in with the great aunt she never knew she had after years of bouncing around between foster homes, while her drug addict mother moved from prison to overdose. On the first day of high school, Mia takes her lunch outside and eats alone while reading. Lexi has also planned on eating alone and reading, but instead she approaches Mia. There is instant rapport, and the girls become the best of friends. Mia & Zach live on the right side of the tracks in a beautiful home and have the best of everything, while Lexi shares a small trailer with her WalMart employed aunt. Nevertheless, the threesome becomes inseparable, especially when Zach and Lexi give in to their feelings for one another. But the reader knows these idyllic lives are bound to face some tragedy, and a drunk driving accident is the beginning of the end of innocence. This is a compelling, gut wrenching read, with warm, wonderful characters that we get to know and love. I couldn’t put it down. If I only had the power to get every teenager in America to read it… 04/11 Stacy Alesi, AKA The BookBitch

NIGHT RUNNER by Max Turner: High school science teacher Max Turner makes his writing debut with this interesting twist on the classic vampire theme. Zack Thomson has lived in the Nicholls Ward of the Peterborough Civic Hospital since his father was killed eight years ago. Nicholls Ward is for mental patients, but no one else is equipped to care for Zack after his father’s death. That night, eight-year-old Zack became infected with something doctors could not explain. He was left with strange allergies to the sun and just about every kind of food. The only thing Zack can stomach are what his best friend calls “brain shakes,” made special each night and containing a syrupy substance that looks like it could be strawberry. Zack also needs regular blood transfusions and must be kept out of the sun at all cost. When a strange man crashes through the doors of the ward with a warning for Zack, he thinks that surely the man belongs in Nicholls Ward himself. Days later, others show up looking for Zack and this time he heeds the warning. Now he’s on the run and looking for answers. Turner incorporates a unique scientific twist in the popular vampire mythology and brings something a little different to the table in Night Runner. A great new one for teen paranormal fans. 09/09 Becky Lejeune

THE NIGHT SEASON by Chelsea Cain: While Portland faces flooding unlike anything seen in decades, a series of recent deaths throw the local PD for a loop when one of their own becomes a target. A killer is stalking the city and Detective Archie Sheridan must unravel the clues in time to save his best friend’s life. Meanwhile, Susan Ward is set on identifying remains found dating back to 1948, the year of the tragic Vanport flood – an event that wiped out an entire community. The Night Season marks a change of pace for this series, it’s less graphic in nature and is steered away from the previous Gretchen Lowell focus, making it a great jumping off point for readers new to the series and opening up lots of possibilities for later installments. Cain’s smart plotting and quick pacing make this a satisfying read for longtime fans as well. 03/11 Becky Lejeune

NIGHT SHIFT by Lilith Saintcrow: Jill Kismet is a hunter and as such, it falls on her to take care of the things that go bump in the night – the things that are outside local law enforcement’s area of specialty. When a rogue were and a crazy hellbreed go on a killing spree in Jill’s town, she’s the one who gets called in. But Jill doesn’t have the whole story and she knows that people are holding out on her. It helps that she has a reluctant agreement with a local demon in power, but this is one agreement she’d rather do without. Jill must use her instincts to get her through this one and stop the bloodshed before it’s too late for her city. Making matters worse, she finds that she is paired with a visiting tracker, also a were, who in spite of her fears, might just do her some good for a change. Jill is very different from Saintcrow’s previous heroine, Dante Valentine. Even though Danny’s adventures have come to an end, readers will be pleased to know that Jill is just as much fun to follow. 12/08 Becky Lejeune

NIGHT SOLDIERS by Alan Furst: Furst has delivered another winner. Young Khristo Stoinav, a Bulgarin, saw his brother kicked to death by fascist militia. The event makes him an easy recruit into the Soviet espionage network, where he excels. He is sent first to the Spanish Civil War and is both bloodied and betrayed there. Then he flees to Paris to avoid being purged by Stalin. There he begins to work against his Red spymasters. As World War II begins, it appears that Stoinav’s secret contacts will enable him to evade the revenge of his former Russian overlords and eventually find his way to a well-deserved refuge. Exceedingly well-written about a time and place that have not previously received much attention. 11/08 Jack Quick

THE NIGHT STALKER by James Swain: South Florida PI and people hunter Jack Carpenter is back with a delightfully twisty case. His client is imprisoned serial killer Abb Grimes, known as the Night Stalker. Abb’s grandson, Sampson, has been abducted to discourage Grimes from talking with the FBI before his pending execution. The police and FBI are fixated on Sampson’s father, Jed Grimes, but Carpenter thinks he is innocent, even in the face of some strong circumstantial evidence. Like Jack Reacher, Jack Carpenter is a tenacious and uncompromising character who is willing to take chances and bust a few heads. What’s not to like about that? Recommended. 10/08 Jack Quick

THE NIGHT STRANGERS by Chris Bohjalian: Chris Bohjalian is very good within the genre of macabre fiction and has another winner with The Night Strangers. Chip Linton is an airline pilot moving up in the necessary progression of his career from piloting smaller passenger planes to hopefully progressing to huge trans oceanic 747s and Air Buses. He and his wife Emily and their twin daughters live quite well in an affluent suburb of Philadelphia. The horror of a plane he is piloting crashing turns their lives upside down. The cause of the crash was a flock of birds flying into the engines, and Chip is exonerated of any blame by the various boards of inquiry. Chip, however, cannot excuse himself for the deaths involved in the crash and in a short period of time withdraws from reality. Emily after trying to bring him back to himself somehow convinces herself and Chip to move to a small New Hampshire town with the hope that the peace there will help him recover. Why they are attracted to that town is one of the dark secrets of the novel. It is there that the family is drawn into the company of a group of “herbalists” that quickly develop an eerie attraction to the Linton’s twin daughters. It would seem that somehow this group drew them to their town in order for a ceremony to take place needing the mental and psychological attributes of the Linton family. Chip withdraws ever deeper from reality and if any defense is made to negate the growing evil of the herbalists it must fall to Emily. The ending is a most logical one given the circumstances of the story with evil emerging as the winner. The dark overtones of the novel continued logically through to the end are one of Chris Bohjalian trademarks in electing to write the type of fiction he excels in. 11/11 Paul Lane

THE NIGHT VILLA by Carol Goodman: Classics professor Sophie Chase didn’t realize that protecting her students from crazed gunmen was part of her job description, but she didn’t hesitate when the need arose. She nearly died thanks to her efforts. After recovering from her wounds, Sophie learns that evidence has been recovered from a dig site in Italy that suggests Iusta, a slave girl who was the subject of her own thesis, may have been in residence at a villa that has been uncovered on the island of Capri. The villa had been destroyed in the eruption of Mount Vesuvius, but the site and even some scrolls were actually preserved by the ash that covered the island. The evidence is enough to convince Sophie that a trip to Capri might be more than just an opportunity to recuperate. As Sophie and the team translate the discovered writings, they learn that there may be more scrolls hidden on the grounds, scrolls that a cult of Pythagoreans might even be willing to kill to obtain. Goodman’s wonderful prose and lush settings always make for such enjoyable reading. Her literary mysteries are interesting, well plotted, and obviously well researched. I’m in awe of her talent. 09/08 Becky Lejeune

NIGHT VISION by Randy Wayne White: Unfortunately, IMHO, the author of DEEP SHADOW has gone off the deep end with this one. Sanibel Island marine biologist Doc Ford and longtime friend Tomlinson get into the middle of a dispute between the steroid freak manager/owner of a Florida trailer park populated by illegal immigrants from Mexico and Central America and an offended drug lord. However, the focus of the book is on an adolescent girl, Tula, rumored to possess mystical ability, who sees herself as Joan of Arc and who saw the manager feeding a body to his pet gator. Lots of action, but also lots of introspection and a bit too much woo for me. Even the animals get into the story with a possible sighting of bottle nose dolphins feeding among the mangroves on dry land. I am a fan but this one just didn’t do it for me. 03/11 Jack Quick

NIGHT WALKER by Donald Hamilton: Hardcase Crime #16 from the creator of the Matt Helm series is a reprint of the 1954 classic about people on the run from a dead man. Things aren’t going well for Larry Wilson. First his “Red” leanings cost him his job as a naval architect. Then his plans to disappear by switching identities with Navy Lieutenant David Young are screwed up when Young survives the fiery car crash in which the victim was to be identified as Wilson. But the worst part was when he went home to his estranged wife and managed to goad her into shooting and killing him. Young knows part of this when Mrs. Wilson and the family Doctor whisk him out of the hospital while his face and head are still swathed with bandages. He learns the rest a few days later when the three have a sit down. Suddenly, what they will do gets even more complicated as forces are at work to find the missing Wilson. Dated, but still a first rate read. 11/06 Jack Quick

THE NIGHT WATCHER by John Lutz: NYPD Detectives Ben Stack and Rica Lopez have seen some pretty horrifying things but this serial killer exposes them to something more horrifying than they have ever seen. His modus operandi is to bind, gag and burn his victims to death in their swanky high rise apartments. As Stack and Lopez investigate the cruel deaths, they have no idea that they are being watched from the shadows by a cunning murderer picking up all the clues necessary to stay one step ahead of the police while perfecting a deadly craft. When a pattern slowly emerges, the detectives realize that the killings aren’t the random acts of a maniac, but the personal campaign of someone bent on retribution, someone who’s been watching closely and knows their case too well. Oldie but goodie from 2002. 1/13 Jack Quick
NIGHTCRAWLERS by Bill Pronzini: Nameless was good, but Nameless, Tamara and Jake together – what a trio. Jake is trying to reestablish a relationship with his gay son whose partner is the victim of a brutal attack. Tamara is skip tracing and gets caught up in a child napping, and Nameless (Bill) has past family matters come back up to take up his time. All eventually attain their goals, but the getting there is great. Does anyone do the private eye better than Pronzini? Recommended. 05/05 ~This review contributed by Jack Quick.

NIGHTFALL by Nelson DeMille: Demille’s latest centers on the investigation of the July 1996 crash of flight TWA 800. Now in July 2001, Federal Anti-Terrorist Task Force detective John Corey accompanies his FBI agent wife, Kate Mayfield, to the fifth anniversary of the disaster. John, whose wife worked the crash in 1996, understands that Kate has brought him along because she doesn’t buy the official finding of “mechanical failure” and wants him to mount his own investigation. There are 200 eyewitnesses who swear they saw a missile lift into the clear night sky and bring down the airplane, a charge dismissed by the CIA as an optical illusion. He uncovers evidence that a man and a woman, on the beach that fateful night videotaping their adulterous affair, inadvertently caught on tape the missile hitting the plane. Fasten your seatbelts, bring your seats upright and return your tray tables into their original locked position. You may also need your oxygen mask from this point onward. 04/06 Jack Quick

NIGHTFALL by Stephen Leather: After a disastrous final case that ended with Jack Nightingale accused – but never tried – of murder, he’s hung up his negotiating hat and opened his own PI business. He spends most of his time following around married folk convinced their significant others are having affairs, and though it’s certainly not exciting, it pays the bills most of the time. Then Jack gets a strange call. It seems he has just inherited a mansion from Ainsley Gosling, a millionaire who committed suicide recently. In his will, Gosling claims that Jack is his son and heir. Jack’s own parents have been dead for a while, but after a DNA test proves Gosling was telling the truth, Jack begins to dig deeper into his biological father’s life. Gosling was into some nasty things and in a final message to his son, apologizes for having sold Jack’s soul to a devil. Either Gosling was crazy, or Jack has just three weeks to figure out a loophole in the deal and save himself. This is the first in Leather’s Jack Nightingale series. Nightfall is a great paranormal mystery/thriller and a really fast-paced read. 4/12 Becky Lejeune

NIGHTLIFE by Thomas Perry: A tale of two women, although at times it seems there are dozens. Technically Charlene Buckner is not a classic serial killer because she totally changes her persona after each murder. Yes, as a child she had a slutty mom, and yes, she was abandoned in her late teens, but her life story is hardly the horror show of most fictional serial killers. On the other side Portland police detective Sgt. Catherine Hobbes has issues of her own to deal with as she follows Charlene et al from Portland to San Francisco, L.A., Las Vegas and other locales, where she pauses just long enough to commit another murder. By the end the two women have grown close not only in proximity but in identity as well. One of Perry’s best to date. 05/06 Jack Quick

NIGHTMARE ALLEY by William Lindsay Gresham: Number Five in an awesome anthology entitled CRIME NOVELS: American Noir of the 1930’s and 40’s, and the source for what some critics call Tyrone Power’s best movie. The title refers to the fact that inside each of us is a personal nightmare alley. At the far end is a light, a goal we want to reach, and behind us are our own personal demons that, if we allow them, will catch us and prevent us from reaching the light. Those demons can be alcohol, ambition, sex, greed, hatred, jealousy – all these and more are evident in the daily life of the traveling carnival and its troop of misfits and rejects. In this world, while everyone gets a glimpse of the light, you know, none of them will ever bask in it. 07/07 Jack Quick

NIGHTSHADE by Andrea Cremer: Calla Tor has always followed the rules. It’s her nature. It’s what she’s been taught as a Guardian. Calla’s loyalty to her pack and the Keepers has never come into question. But Calla breaks the rules, revealing herself and saving a human boy from a bear attack. Turns out that boy—Shay—is very important to the Keepers and Calla is the one assigned to be his bodyguard. With their first meeting kept secret from those around them, the two become closer and Calla begins to tell him about her world and her life: the Guardians, the Keepers, and the Searchers. Curious, Shay begins to dig deeper and finds that what Calla’s been told about her own history may not be entirely true. As they each learn more, the secrets continue to pile up. Can Calla hide what she now knows and continue to protect her friends and loved ones? Or will Shay tempt her beyond the point of no return. Nightshade has a bit of a rocky start as the reader is literally thrown into Calla’s world, but as bits of the backstory and the history of the Guardians unfold, Cremer’s unique vision draws readers in. Excellent world-building and a story that will leave readers, both young and old, begging for more. 12/10 Becky Lejeune

NIGHTWALKER by Jocelynn Drake: Mira is a nightwalker with a special ability – she can control and create fire with her mind. This makes her different from other nightwalkers, but until now she’s never really understood how different. Five hundred years ago, three vampires banished most of the naturi (the fey) from our world. Amongst them was their queen, Aurora. Now the naturi have assembled their forces and are ready to bring their people back, at the expense of both the humans and the nightwalkers. Mira must join forces with a mysterious hunter who kills her own kind in order to save mortal and undead alike. Jocelynn Drake joins the cream of the urban fantasy crop with this interesting and original debut. I’ve not yet come across another title that pits vamps against the fey – and these are by no means cute little pixies and elves, or impish fairies. These guys are nasty. Nightwalker hits the ground running with a great fight scene that begins on page one, from there on out the action is almost non-stop and the pacing is excellent. I’m especially interested to see just how this series is going to develop after the mind-blowing revelation that comes at the very end. 07/08 Becky Lejeune

NIGHTWATCH by Sergei Lukyanenko: In this bestselling Russian fantasy series, the world is made up of others, people with extraordinary powers, who must each choose whether they serve the light or the dark. In order to maintain the balance between the light and the dark, a pact was established. According to the pact, the Night Watch, agents of the light, will monitor and ensure that the Day Watch, agents of the dark, sticks to the pact. The Day Watch, in turn, will monitor the Night Watch. This first book of the trilogy contains three stories involving the Night Watch.
In “Destiny,” Night Watch agent Anton Gorodetsky is being tested as a field agent when he discovers Svetlana Nazarova, a woman who has been placed under a curse so terrible that it could cause mass destruction in Moscow. The Night Watch must discover who is behind the curse and work to reverse it as soon as possible.
In “Among His Own Kind,” an uninitiated other has been killing low-level members of the dark. The Night Watch fears that the Day Watch may be trying to frame Anton as the murderer. Anton is forced to discover the true identity of the killer or die trying.
Finally, in “All For My Own Kind,” the Night Watch agents have been allowed a much needed vacation. Unfortunately, their vacation is cut short when Day Watch agents attack a courier carrying a very special item.
While the book is entertaining and interesting on its own, fans of the movie will be disappointed. The movie is based very loosely on “Destiny,” but otherwise, the two are considerably different. I would still recommend reading the series as it is clear why the books have done so well overseas. 04/07 Becky Lejeune

Nine by Jan Burke: The F.B.I.’s Ten Most Wanted list is shrinking rapidly. No, they haven’t been apprehended, but they are being murdered. A serial killer going after, well, other serial killers, and terrorists, and rapists, et al, and leaving the bodies all over Los Angeles County, creating a most intriguing dilemma for the L. A. Sheriff’s Department. Detective Alex Brandon has been assigned to head up the investigating task force, and something about these killings seems familiar to him. There are similarities to a previous case he worked on, and despite public opinion that the killings are really a community service, Brandon is determined to end it. Good character development, fast paced plotting and lots of twists and turns are the hallmarks of a good thriller, and this is one of the best. Nine is a 10. Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

NINE FINGERS by Thom August: Twenty years ago, the Boss of the Chicago mob thought Franco was having an affair with his wife. He couldn’t prove it but he told Franco to leave Chicago and never return. To be sure the jazz pianist didn’t forget, the Boss cut off one of Franco’s fingers. Vinnie Amatucci is a part-time Chicago cabbie and part-time jazz musician. Members of his band are dying one by one, victims of a hit man known as the Cleaner. One disgraced homicide cop stands between the band and total extinction. Why is this all happening? Could there be some connection between the killings and the new guy playing piano, the one with only nine fingers? Outstanding thriller from Dorchester Publishing, the folks who do the Hard Case Crime series. 06/08 Jack Quick

THE NINTH CIRCLE by Alex Bell: Gabriel Antaeus has no memory of his life before he awakens lying in a puddle of blood on the floor. His apartment is filled with research materials on angels and demons, his walls are covered in fine art, and he finds cash—lots of it—in his possession. Gabriel begins chronicling his day-to-day life in a journal as he tries desperately to recall his past. As his story unfolds, he is plagued by nightmares, worries of family that has yet to come forward, and loneliness. When he meets Zadkiel Stephomi, Gabriel believes that his days wandering the city alone have come to an end. In Stephomi he has found a friend, finally. But then Gabriel begins to receive messages, clues about his life before the amnesia. Who could be sending them? And what is new companion Stephomi hiding from him? Alex Bell’s debut is a compulsively readable book in spite of some uneven pacing. The twist ending may be a love it or hate it situation for some. Personally, I thought it made for a very interesting read, though the angel mythology was the driving force of the tale for me. 10/09 Becky Lejeune

NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN by Cormac McCarthy: Llewelyn Moss would have been better off if he had missed the antelope completely. Then he wouldn’t have tried to track down the wounded animal and he would not have found the remains of the drug deal gone bad or the two plus million dollars. Unfortunately for Moss both the buyer and seller want him and the money. Sheriff Bell can only do so much to help Moss and his wife move around the drug war bull’s-eye. When silenced sawed off shotguns and machine guns aren’t enough, there are other ways to kill. The body count grows as Moss’s options narrow down. Sparsely written ala Robert B. Parker. 08/05 ~This review contributed by Jack Quick.

NO CURE FOR DEATH by Max Allan Collins: A 1983 effort from one of America’s most prolific writers, this was apparently a series attempt that didn’t take. At least this is the only “Mallory” adventure I’ve come across. Mallory is a Vietnam vet who has bounced around through several jobs before becoming a mystery writer. The Thanksgiving holiday death of acquaintance Janet Taber in an engineered accident sends Mallory throughout the city looking for answers. 11/06 Jack Quick

NO GOOD DEEDS by Laura Lippman: Following on the heels of the haunting standalone thriller, To the Power of Three, Tess Monaghan is back in the ninth entry of the award-winning series. A young homeless man, Lloyd, becomes the center of this superb cat-and-mouse tale when an assistant U.S. Attorney is found stabbed to death in his car. Tess meets Lloyd after her soft-hearted boyfriend, Crow, brings him home so he won’t have to spend the cold Baltimore night on the streets. Turns out Lloyd may know something about the murder and Tess gives the story to her old newspaper with the understanding that they won’t reveal her source – but they do reveal that Tess leaked the story. Lloyd takes off until his friend gets killed, making him realize that he’s going to be next. He goes into hiding with Crow but a very persistent triumvirate of law enforcement – an FBI agent, a DEA agent and an assistant U.S. Attorney – go after Tess to name her source and reveal his whereabouts. Tess is determined to protect them and things get really sticky until the highly satisfying and surprising ending. 07/06 Stacy Alesi, AKA The BookBitch Copyright © 2006 Cahners Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. Reprinted with permission.

NO GOOD DEEDS by Laura Lippman: Lippman’s ninth Tess Monagham opens with Tess’ boyfriend, Edgar “Crow” Ransome, bringing home a homeless teenager, Lloyd, who slashed Crow’s tires outside a Baltimore soup kitchen. When PI Tess discovers that Lloyd has information regarding the recent murder of an Assistant U.S. Attorney, Tess gives the local paper Lloyd’s story, except for his name. What follows is a confrontation between Tess and a sinister trio of law enforcement agents demanding to know her source. Crow flees with Lloyd while Tess suffers growing pressure, including the threat of federal jail time. Lippman’s first hand experience as a reporter gives her the inside knowledge to tell this one with incredibility reality. 09/06 Jack Quick

NO HOUSE LIMIT by Steve Fisher: Hardcase Crime #45 is a reprint of a 1958 release set in Las Vegas, not the over the top glamorous Las Vegas of today, but rather the early days when the city was really beginning to prosper based primarily on the mob-financed casinos. The Rainbow’s End is one of the few independents, and while owner Joe Martin is a savvy kind of guy, the syndicate has decided its time to take him down. The plan – front the infamous Bello, billed as the best craps player around, to win $10,000,000 from Rainbow’s End, thereby bankrupting Martin. The process starts early on a Sunday morning and everyone knows it will be over sooner than later. Martin knows what’s coming but in addition to having to monitor Bello’s play, he must also deal with a few other curveballs the syndicate has thrown his way – a lounge singer who has caught the eye of Bello’s girlfriend, and a beautiful schoolteacher who has enamored Martin. While none of these “pulps” are likely to garner any Nobel prizes for literature, they sure are fun to read. 09/08 Jack Quick

NO MAN’S LAND by G.M. Ford: Mr. Ford, a fine writer of amusing mysteries, is persisting in the thriller genre, although No Man’s Land could fairly be termed a “crime thriller.” Ford’s free-lance journalist character, Frank Corso, is again thrown into a life-threatening situation and has several narrow escapes on his way to resolving the conflicts he is presented with.
The precipitating event is a jail inmate uprising in which the ring-leader announces he will kill a hostage every six hours, until he is allowed to talk to Frank Corso. Frank jumps out of a helicopter and into chaos. An ingenious escape by the mastermind with Corso in tow as reporter ensues with a wild and bloody trip across the western United States.
As ever, Ford has larger issues to chew on. He attacks his old nemesis, The Department of Homeland Security, continues to make fun of the FBI, and tilts at a new foe, privatized prison systems which are justified by authorities as cost-efficient, but more importantly, give them “plausible deniability” for the inhuman treatment of the inmates.
While I miss Leo Waterman and “the boys,” this thriller does justice to the genre. I could not put it down. 11/05 ~This review contributed by Geoffrey R. Hamlin.

NO MAN’S LAND By G.M. Ford: Picture in your mind a prison that is so technologically secure that no prisoner could possibly escape. Yes, just picture it in your mind, then throw out that possibility and change that picture to a real meltdown at that same facility! That is what occurs in G.M. Ford’s book, No Man’s Land. When the prisoners start running the “escape free” prison, it gets VERY ugly.
Author Ford has created a non-stop masterpiece in this book. The Arizona Governor, the Warden of the Meza Azul Penitentiary, the FBI, the state and local police, as well as the National Guard all attempt to quell this riot that gets uglier every hour. Timothy Driver, a former navy submarine commander has all types of Special Forces training but has turned into a brutal killer. getting even worse as he gathers his forces in the prison. He brings the worst murderers in the prison to fight all of the law enforcement agencies. When it appears the law has gotten the prison settled down, things get worse! Driver escapes during the melee, taking a cold-blooded killer, Cutter Kehoe, with him along with Frank Corso. Corso is an author that Driver had persuaded to come to the prison to obtain his story, and write a new book to tell the world what Driver thinks is wrong. The ensuing chase turns with every bend in the road.
If you think you have read action in this review, you have not seen or read anything yet. It is a “cannot put down” story that will keep you awake with toothpicks to hold your eyes open. 08/06 Cy Hilterman

NO MARK UPON HER by Deborah Crombie: Duncan Kincaid is readying himself for a lengthy leave of absence from the force when he’s called in on one last case: a female officer has been found dead, floating in the river. Becca Meredith was an avid and experienced rower. In fact, she’d been an Olympic hopeful years ago. Rumors are that she’d been considering another try. Her ex husband reported her missing after it was discovered that she’d gone out in her boat one evening and never returned. When search and rescue finds the boat and then her body, it appears that her death could be an accident, but with her level of experience in mind it seems likely the cause of her death is something more sinister. Then a member of the SAR team is attacked and it becomes clear that Becca was indeed murdered. But who would want her dead? Kincaid’s wife, DI Gemma James, soon begins a linked investigation in hopes of helping to uncover evidence on a potential suspect. Both cases could land husband in wife in hot water as well as possible grave danger. This latest in Cromie’s series is a compelling read. While I always suggest starting a long-term series at the beginning, this 14th installment does work surprisingly well as a stand alone or series introduction. 2/13 Becky Lejeune

NO MERCY by Lori Armstrong: Mercy Gunderson is one tough chick. For twenty years, she has been serving in the Army, a part of a secret group of women soldiers trained as rangers. Now on medical leave, Mercy has returned to the family ranch to take charge in the wake of her father’s death. After working so hard to leave behind her past, Mercy is once again thrust into the life she thought she didn’t want. Faced with having to sell the ranch or take over, she finds the decision is not as easy as she’d believed it would be. And when bodies begin cropping up on her own land, Mercy is dragged into the investigation. But it’s when one of her own is murdered that Mercy, the sheriff’s daughter and Army sniper, gets really pissed. The bodies in this book start stacking up before the story even begins! Armstrong starts off her latest with a bang and introduces a tough, smart heroine who is definitely up for the challenge of heading up a new series. 1/10 Becky Lejeune

NO MERCY by John Gilstrap: In this new series, PI Jonathan Grave is a combination Bruce Wayne and Rambo. He is single and rich, uses expensive gadgets and has a vigilante alter ego. In this first outing, Grave investigates the disappearance of investigative reporter Tibor Rothman, husband of Grave’s ex-wife, Ellen. Sheriff Gail Bonneville of Samson, Ind., is chasing Grave in turn, since a hostage rescue mission he fronted turned into a shootout. Maybe not the most highly developed characters and could use some upgrading in the dialogue, but for action, this one can’t be beat. 11/11 Jack Quick

NO ONE HEARD HER SCREAM by Jordan Dane: A string of disappearances in San Antonio has police reeling when a family member of one of their own becomes the next victim. Officer Rebecca Montgomery has been banned from the case, but that hasn’t stopped her from looking into it on her own, and stepping on some toes in the process. She is reassigned temporarily to the Cold Case squad and sent to investigate a body that is discovered in a burned out theater. The body appears to be that of a young girl reported missing some seven years ago. Of course the case hits close to home with Becca’s own sister, Dani, missing and now presumed dead. Enter Diego Galvan a man who intrigues Rebecca on many levels, in spite of the fact that his own connection to the case has yet to be determined. One day on the new case and Rebecca is sent on mandatory vacation. Being pulled off the case is not enough to keep Rebecca out of trouble, though, and she soon attracts the attention of one very dangerous man. This thriller has an amazingly quick pace. Dane’s stunning debut will be followed by No One Left to Tell in May and No One Lives Forever in June. 03/08 Becky Lejeune

NO ONE LEFT TO TELL by Jordan Dane: When the body of a Dunhill Corporation security agent is found hanging in a church, a cryptic message carved into his chest, Raven MacKenzie knows she’s in for a difficult case. She and her partner have been ordered to cooperate with the corporation’s owner as much as possible and that means working with her handpicked head of security, Christian Delacorte. Christian has a colored past and believes dirty cops were responsible for the death of his family when he was a young boy, so he has no reason to respect or trust the boys and girls in blue. He makes his distaste very obvious, but finds that he is strongly attracted to Raven in spite of all of this. Raven is also drawn to Delacorte but can’t ignore the signs that point to him as the prime suspect in the case. Like Lisa Gardner, and Lisa Unger, Dane’s edge-of-your-seat action-packed thrillers are a perfect blend of suspense and romance. While Dane’s debut title, No One Heard Her Scream, is a stand-alone (for now) MacKenzie’s own story will continue with this month’s release of No One Lives Forever. 05/08 Becky Lejeune

NO ONE LIVES FOREVER by Jordan Dane: Jordan Dane exploded onto the scene just two months ago with her stand-alone No One Heard Her Scream. She followed with No One Left to Tell, featuring Detective Raven MacKenzie and Christian Delacorte. No One Lives Forever picks up where No One Left to Tell left off. Although Fiona Dunhill, Christian’s former employer, has fessed up to the fact that she is in fact his biological mother, she has managed to keep the identity of his father a secret, until now. Nicholas Charboneau has been kidnapped and his bodyguard, Jasmine, is calling in her favor. She asks Christian to use his resources as the Dunhill heir to help free Charboneau. Once Christian learns that the man is indeed his father, he heads off to Brazil, in spite of Raven’s fears, in order to save the man. Upon arrival, he and Jasmine are immediately targeted by one of the local police, then they find the remains of a strange ritual curse left outside their hotel room. With no one left to trust but each other, the two must work together to find out who amongst Charboneau’s many enemies may be behind the abduction. With pulse-pounding action and page-turning suspense, Dane just keeps on getting better and is already becoming a force in the realm of romantic suspense. 05/08 Becky Lejeune

NO REST FOR THE DEAD by Sandra Brown, Jeffery Deaver, J.A. Jance, Faye Kellerman, Jeff Lindsay, Kathy Reichs, Jonathan Santlofer, Lisa Scottoline, et al.: This is a serial novel, with 26 bestselling authors taking their turns at bat, and somehow they pull it off. A wealthy San Francisco museum curator is found dead in an antique iron maiden on loan to a Berlin museum. His wife is convicted and put to death, but the cop that helped convict her has always had nagging doubts about the case, causing him much personal strife. Ten years later, all the players in the case are set to meet at a memorial service for the murderess. Some nice plot twists and red herrings will keep the reader guessing all the way through the last pages of this traditional mystery with a surprise ending. Check the complete list of authors for your favorite and then buy the book; the proceeds go to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. 09/11 Stacy Alesi, AKA The BookBitch

No Second Chance by Harlan Coben: Terrific new stand-alone thriller from the author of Gone for Good and Tell No One. Dr. Marc Seidman, an altruistic plastic surgeon, is on his deathbed after being shot. Despite the odds, he survives but his wife has been murdered and his 6 month old daughter kidnapped. Seidman is understandably obsessed with getting his daughter back, and thus begins a story of deceptions and betrayals, all told at breakneck speed. Throw in an ex-girlfriend who is ex-FBI, a best friend/attorney, a red neck with a heart of gold, and a child star all grown up into a homicidal psychopath, and you have one hell of a story. Coben has once again written an engrossing tale of intrigue that takes the reader on a wild ride with wonderful characters and lots of jolts. The resolution was a bit weak, and the epilogue provided closure with its neatly wrapped update on all the characters. I was lucky enough to have jury duty, so I had several uninterrupted hours of reading time – clear the decks for this one and settle in, you won’t be able to stop once you’ve started it. Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

NO SHOW by Simon Wood: The very prolific Simon Wood has another winner with No Show. The story involves Terry Sheffield, an Englishman arriving in the United States to begin his married life with Sarah, an American investigative journalist that he met while both were vacationing in Costa Rica. The two hit it off immediately and after a very short time they married in Las Vegas. Terry went back to England in order to complete the requirements to enter the U.S. as spouse of an American citizen and consequently be eligible for residency. Now Terry arrives in the U.S. and finds that Sarah is not waiting for him at the airport. Since they had bought a house together he goes there and moves in. Still no Sarah, no notes nor phone messages from her. He reports her as missing to the local police and as much as possible with little or no information, begins to search for her himself. In the meanwhile Terry, in order to support them had contracted a job as a biologist with a local bio chemical firm and begins to work there in order not to lose the job. What happened to Sarah, where she is, and if she is still alive are the integral factors in the book. Terry finds that Sarah, as the investigative journalist that she is, had come up with common factors in the murders of five women in different parts of the country and is in trouble due to the discoveries. Also he discovers that the bio chemical firm that he has started to work for is engaged in highly illegal activities and raises the question if this is somehow connected to the murders. Wood brings the reader to an ending which, while not a fairy tale one, answers the questions raised by the facts presented. A fascinating trip into sequences of crime and well developed character reactions to the problems raised. 6/13 Paul Lane

NO TIME FOR GOODBYE by Linwood Barclay: Cynthia Bigge was a 14 year old hellion, dragged home drunk one night by her dad. She passed out and when she woke up the next morning, her life would never be the same again. Her parents and her brother vanished, and an aunt takes her in. But their disappearance haunts Cynthia and casts a shadow over her life, even after she marries and has a child of her own. Twenty-five years later, things start happening that cause her to finally hire a private detective to look into it, but then people start turning up dead. An interesting premise, lots of angst and suspense, and a neat ending make this a thriller of merit. 12/07 Stacy Alesi, AKA The BookBitch

NO TIME FOR GOODBYE by Linwood Barclay: It’s been twenty-five years since Cynthia Archer, née Bigge, awoke to find her house empty. Her parents and her brother vanished without a trace leaving her behind. With the anniversary looming, Cynthia agrees to allow a TV crime program to showcase her story in the hopes that some witness may come forward. At first, there are no hits. Then one day, someone calls with a message for Cynthia from her family – they forgive her. Terry Archer, Cynthia’s husband, tries to convince her that it’s a crank call, but then someone breaks into their house leaving behind what Cynthia believes is an item that belonged to her father. Evidence and coincidence begin to turn police attention towards the Archers themselves and, in turn, the strain of the situation begins to crumble the delicate balance that holds their family together. This may prove to be Barclay’s breakthrough thriller. The plot alone is enough to draw most readers – what could possibly have happened to Cynthia’s family? Would they leave and start anew without their troublesome daughter? Would a killer murder them, leaving behind one survivor and no evidence of the act? Could Cynthia herself have had something to do with it? All of these are very distinct possibilities. The story is well-written, the plot is interesting, and the characters, right down to the Archer’s eight-year-old daughter, are well developed and absorbing. 09/07 Becky Lejeune

NO WAY BACK by Michael Crow: The reward from the most recent adventure of Baltimore County narcotics cop Luther Ewing is a six-month suspension. He uses the time to go undercover for the CIA as Terrance Prentice, guarding a South Korean businessman with ties to the U.S. government. Crow continues to develop Ewing as a tough customer who plays by his own rules, which may or may not coincide with those of his position. In the previous two adventures, he accomplished what he wanted to, albeit on a landscape littered with bodies. In this one, the body count is less, but the action is no less constrained. I just hope we never see Ewing and Jack Reacher on opposite sides. Think Chuck Norris and Claude Van Damme slightly restrained by Bruce Willis. Recommended. 07/05 ~This review contributed by Jack Quick.

NO WAY BACK by Andrew Gross: Andrew Gross again comes out with a “grab the reader fast and hold them” novel. The book centers on the Mexican Drug Cartel and it’s evil tentacles spreading into the United States. Two different, but very brave women are brought together by events tied to murders committed by one of the Cartels. In order to survive being hunted they must unite and find the real causes of their danger. Wendy Gould is a suburban housewife caught in a chance situation in a hotel room that forces her to kill a government agent to save her own life. Her shooting skills come from a past job with a police department. Lauritzia Velez, on the other hand, is a nanny working for a wealthy couple tending their children. Her past, which she keeps hidden from her employers, involves an indirect involvement with a Mexican drug cartel and the necessity to flee Mexico to save her life. Gross brings the two together in a very logical and well thought out scenario while keeping the reader riveted to the book. His plot and events in the story show the same attention to detail that he has exhibited in the past both while collaborating with James Patterson and writing on his own. The only problem I find with Andrew’s books is that they end and I have to wait for the next one. No Way Back continues with the trend of good plots, riveting action and logical sequences to get the reader and hold him or her. 4/13 Paul Lane
No Way to Treat a First Lady by Christopher Buckley: Christopher Buckley’s latest book, No Way to Treat a First Lady, is a wicked poke at the secret sex lives of White House occupants, trial lawyers, celebrity trials and viagra abuse. The first lady, accused of murdering her philandering husband, retains the best trial lawyer in America, who was her fiance at law school before she jilted him. The laughs are fast and furious, but in the middle of it all, Mr Buckley manages to really convey something of what it means to be a trial lawyer. “Boyce was pumped. Oxygen was roaring to his brain as if he’d run five miles. Oh, the poor mortals, the nonlitigators, the timid souls who would never in their lives know the feeling, the thrill of owning a courtroom…He was floating in an endorphin soup. He was in a state of grace.”
You can see why I liked the book. All that and mink panties. ~This review contributed by Geoffrey R. Hamlin.

NOCTURNE by Syrie James: Nicole Whitcomb has been enjoying a fantastic vacation on the slopes in Colorado, but now it’s time to return home. After one last day of skiing, of course. But that extra day leaves her driving in rapidly-declining weather conditions. As the roads get worse, Nicole suffers what could be a fatal accident. Buried under the snow, it will take a miracle for her to survive. Fortunately, the reclusive Michael Tyler is witness to the event and comes to Nicole’s rescue. His mountain home is the perfect refuge until the roads can be cleared and Nicole can return to civilization. But there’s something strange about Michael Tyler, and in spite of her almost immediate attraction to the man, Nicole isn’t quite sure she’s safe with him. The truth is more than she could ever imagine, though. Steamy vampire romance for winter. 1/11 Becky Lejeune

A NORTHERN THUNDER by Andy Harp: The author of this state of the art techno-thriller is a retired US Marine Corps Colonel which gives added authenticity to the narrative. Basically the Peoples Democratic Republic of Korea, a Communist nation in desperate financial straits, concentrates its military resources on swiftly creating missile technology that can give it power and a source of much needed foreign exchange with terrorists and other rogue nations. To protect their investment they send forth an assassin to secretly kill scientists identified as having the ability to disrupt their plans. While the FBI is trying to cope with the assassin, the US military calls up retired Marine Reservist Will Parker to flush out the scientist in North Korea most critical to their plans. Although not a terribly original plot, a smooth writing style and the author’s military expertise make this an above average read. Recommended. 04/08 Jack Quick

NORWEGIAN BY NIGHT by Derek B. Miller: Sheldon Horowitz is an unlikely hero; he’s an 82-year-old Jewish ex-Marine turned watch repairman who lost his son to Vietnam and finally lost his wife. His granddaughter, Rhea, is living with her husband Lars in Norway, home to a tiny Jewish population. They convince Sheldon to come live with them as he has no one left in New York. He agrees, and one morning is home alone when he hears the neighbors fighting again. When he realizes the woman and her son are hiding in his doorway, he pulls them in but her abuser, Enver, is coming. Sheldon disappears with the young boy into a hidden closet and she is killed outside their door. Afraid the man will demand his son, Sheldon flees with the boy, his old Marine sniper training, that muscle memory as he thinks of it, comes back to him and they escape. All that said, this is a very funny, action packed book. Sheldon is a tough old bird who has conversations with a long dead friend while outsmarting the police department, his daughter, her husband and most of all Enver, using any means at his disposal. And to make things more interesting, the child doesn’t speak English and Sheldon doesn’t speak anything else. This is a quick read, with unique characters and an interesting location. Scandinavian crime fiction is very popular now, and while this book was written in English, it was first published in Norway. 8/13 Stacy Alesi, AKA The BookBitch

NOS4A2 by Joe Hill: When Victoria “Vic” McQueen rides her blue Tuff Burner bike she can travel a bridge that doesn’t exist and go anywhere to find anything. Charlie Manx, a serial kidnapper and all around bad guy, shares this ability. For him, it’s his old Rolls Royce and his road leads to Christmasland. For years, Manx eluded officials who never even connected his crimes. All that came to an end when Vic went in search of trouble. Her bridge led her to Manx’s house where, with the help of some very nice folks in Gunbarrel, Colorado, Manx was finally taken down. Or was he? Manx is a man like no other and he’s never forgotten the girl who got away. Vic is all grown up but things haven’t gotten any easier for her. She suspects she’s going crazy but when Manx shows up again she knows she’s the only one who can take him down for good. This latest from Hill is phenomenal. NOS4A2 is wonderfully creepy and wholly original. Definitely highly recommended. 5/13 Becky Lejeune

Not All Tarts are Apple by Pip Granger: It’s not every day that I find a mystery that is as sweet and warm and wonderful as this one. Set in England in the early 1950s, the protagonist is a sweet seven-year-old girl named Rosie. Rosie’s living with her Uncle Bert and Aunt Maggie, and is visited on a semi-regular basis by the “perfumed lady,” who is, in fact, her mother – while Uncle Bert and Aunt Maggie are not actually related at all. They decide to change that and move ahead with plans to adopt Rosie, but as the cast of memorable characters parade through their lives, some helpful, some not-so-helpful, the mystery of whether or not they will be able to make themselves into a legal family will keep you turning pages and longing to stay just a little while longer in Rosie’s world. Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

NOT ANOTHER BAD DATE by Rachel Gibson: Adele Harris hasn’t had a decent date in three years; her love life is non-existent. It’s been so bad, she’s convinced she’s cursed. As it turns out, she actually is. Things only get worse when her sister calls to tell her that her husband has left her and she’s pregnant. Adele rushes to her sister’s side as she picks up and moves back to their hometown. Then, her sister is hospitalized and Adele finds herself in charge of her teenage niece, Kendra. Fortunately, Kendra has managed to make some new friends in town, unfortunately for Adele, Kendra’s new best friend is the daughter of her long lost love from college. Football star Zach Zemaitis stole Adele’s heart (and her virginity) and then left her for another woman. Now he’s back in her life and messing with her head all over again. Will it finally work out for Adele or will the curse strike again? Not Another Bad Date is an adorable and hilarious chick-lit/romance hitting shelves just in time for summer. This will make a great beach read. 05/08 Becky Lejeune

NOT COMING HOME TO YOU by Lawrence Block: An oldie but goodie from 1974 that I had not previously read. This is based on the actual murders that inspired the film Badlands. The main characters are Jimmie John Hall, “free and white and 22” and Betty Dienhardt, plain, friendless, and oppressed by a bleak home life. In each other, they find a chance for love and fulfillment. But they are doomed. For Jimmie John has already embarked on a killing spree on the backroads of the Southwest that will leave 14 innocent people dead. Set primarily in Oklahoma and Texas, this one will make you want to double check your doors and windows before going to bed at night. When you have nothing to lose, you don’t worry about losing. 03/11 Jack Quick

NOT QUITE DEAD by John MacLachlan Gray: Election day, 1849, is a turbulent time. Dr. William Chivers, a suicidal doctor in Baltimore, is expecting victims of all sorts of violence on this day. He is not expecting, however, to come face to face with the only man he ever called a friend. Edgar Allen Poe collapsed in the street and was taken directly to Washington College Hospital to be placed under Chivers’s care, per instructions found on Poe’s body. Poe is said to be suffering from dementia, but in reality is quite healthy. Poe asks that Chivers help him to fake his own death so that he may escape Irish mobsters. The plan goes off without a hitch until investigators approach Chivers with a strange theory. It seems that the most famous publisher in all of Philadelphia has been murdered in a manner that would suggest Poe’s involvement. Poe’s “death” should keep him out of suspicion of murder, but hasn’t necessarily fooled everyone. Not Quite Dead is a smart literary mystery that combines a sophisticated plot with historical fact. Political turf wars, violent gang hostilities, and racial tensions are the heart of this novel. The plight of Poe and Dickens provides an interesting backdrop for the more serious issues of this tale. 11/07 Becky Lejeune

Not Quite Kosher by Stuart M. Kaminsky: Abe Lieberman (no relation to Senator Joseph Lieberman) is back with his partner Bill Hanrahan, or as they are also known, the Rabbi and the Priest, which causes an obviously distraught man to confess his sins – a murder – to Abe, thinking he is a Rabbi. Confessing a murder to a cop is a good way to end up in jail, although I’m sure a lawyer would have a field day with this confession, and that is pointed out in the book, too – but nothing is as it seems in this mystery. Kaminsky is quite skillful at leading us down one path, only to find ourselves somewhere completely different from where we expected to be. Unfortunately, the only characters we really get to know at all are the partners, everyone else from the victims to the suspects to the supporting players are merely cardboard props. It’s short, it’s fast, it kept me guessing. Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

NOT QUITE KOSHER (#7) by Stuart Kaminsky: And in the center ring – poor Abe Lieberman, just a Chicago cop trying to make it to retirement. All he has on his plate is the synagogue fund-raising committee, his grandson’s forthcoming bar mitzvah, a leaky roof, two inept hold-up men and merchant Arnold Sokol, who was a Jew but then became a Catholic and is now dead. In the other ring is Bill Hanrahan, Abe’s partner, who has decided to go ahead immediately with his marriage to Iris Chen, in spite, of community opposition, and Abe has agreed to handle the reception. If that’s not enough, Iris has introduced the idea of adoption – of a specific Asian-American child. The sideshow is Michael Wychovski, an inept thief whose partner’s body washes up on the shores of Lake Michigan alongside that of Sokol. Are the two connected? Will Abe be able to stand the rising cholesterol and rapidly depleting bank account? A hint, there are sequels. For more details you gotta read it yourself. 05/08 Jack Quick

NOT ME by Michael Lavigne: Originally published in 2005, and out in paperback last year, this Holocaust story is a first novel that is slowly finding its audience. Michael “Mickey” Rosenheim is a stand-up comedian who moves down to Florida to take care of his dying father, Heshel. Heshel has Alzheimers, and while he has some lucid moments, his mind is often elsewhere. One day Mickey finds an old box of books in his father’s room at the nursing home, and the nurse tells him one of his visitors left it for him. Mickey isn’t aware of any visitors, but shleps the box home to find it filled with his father’s journals. They are not close – Heshel is a Holocaust survivor who has spent most of his life obsessed with that fact and with promoting Jewish causes. But Mickey can’t help but start reading these journals, only to find out his father is not who he seems to be. But how to question a man whose mind is gone is only one of the dilemmas Mickey finds on his hands. This is a fascinating and gripping story that pulls the reader in and doesn’t let go until the last page is turned. 03/08 Stacy Alesi, AKA The BookBitch

NOTHING BUT THE NIGHT by Bill Pronzini: After Nick’s wife is slammed into a coma by a hit and run driver in Denver, he devotes his life to finding the unidentified man who has ruined his life. Some six years later he locates him in northern California’s wine country. Cam has own problems to deal with which escalate quickly with Nick on the scene. The resulting interaction is scary and chilling. Suffice it to say, if I were ever sentenced to be tortured psychologically, I would hope that Bill Pronzini is not chosen for the task. The ending will take your breath away. Recommended. 06/05 ~This review contributed by Jack Quick.

NOTHING TO LOSE by Lee Child: Jack Reacher is back but he’s caught between Hope and Despair – two tiny towns in Colorado. When Reacher inadvertently tries to get a cup of coffee in Despair, he is run out of town, and his curiosity is piqued. Then people start disappearing, and he meets up with a beautiful, mysterious cop from Hope. Wandering that road between Hope and Despair, we see yet another side of Reacher. Another intriguing and satisfying tale, except that the last book in this series, Bad Luck and Trouble, was also the best book. Not to complain, because this one is very good, it just doesn’t quite live up to those standards. 06/08 Stacy Alesi, AKA The BookBitch

NOTHING TO LOSE by Lee Child: In South Carolina there are two nearby towns called Prosperity and Clinton. The road sign pointing in opposite directions to the two was featured in some of the anti-Clinton campaign material. In this 12th Jack Reacher novel, our ex-military policeman finds himself in a similar situation in Colorado – between the towns of Hope and Despair. . Despair lives up to its name. All Reacher wants is a cup of coffee, but what he gets is attacked by four thugs and thrown in jail on a vagrancy charge. Needless to say, Reacher is somewhat displeased and eventually kicks some butt. On the other hand, a good looking lady cop from Hope helps him deal with a nearby metal processing plant which is associated with an apocalyptic sect that is working to end time. It is the typical Reacher action and adventure that we have come to know and enjoy. 07/08 Jack Quick

NOTORIOUS by Michele Martinez: This is the fourth book to feature Melanie Vargas, a single mom and federal prosecutor in New York City. Her on again, off again relationship with an FBI hottie is off again, leaving Melanie free time to pursue her latest case; a ten year old murder charge against rapper superstar Atari Briggs. The book opens with Briggs attorney, Lester Poe, telling her that his client is willing to trade info on a Middle Eastern drug dealer who is using his ill gotten gains to fund international terrorism, but a perfectly timed car bomb leaves that lawyer dead and his partner, ruthless attorney Evan Diamond who takes over the case, has no interest in dealing and has lots of baggage of his own. Having witnessed the bombing, Vargas can’t help but be drawn into the investigation, and starts digging. Poe had a lot of skeletons in his closet, and there was much more to the super successful defense attorney than Vargas had bargained for. But she’s tenacious, and determined to get to the bottom of all of it. Martinez has penned another terrific legal thriller. 03/08 Stacy Alesi, AKA The BookBitch

NOTORIOUS by Michele Martinez: Melanie Vargas is back. She’s been promoted, she and Dan have split, and she’s working the case that could make, or break, her career. When a witness steps forward willing to testify that Atari Briggs, one of the world’s most famous rap stars, ordered a hit on a fellow drug dealer ten years ago, the DA’s office pounces. Melanie has been assigned to the trial and meets with Briggs’s lawyer, famed civil-rights attorney Lester Poe, to discuss a deal. It seems that Briggs may have some key information regarding a major international terrorist. Just minutes after the meet, Poe is killed in a car bombing and Melanie witnesses the entire thing. The feds are hot for Briggs’s rumored info and insist that Melanie and her team do whatever is necessary to get him to cooperate. Unfortunately Briggs’s new lawyer, Poe’s partner, insists that Briggs knows nothing and is, therefore, not willing to deal. Melanie refuses to let matters rest, especially when her key witness is attacked just days before the trial is set to begin. The only way to find out what Briggs knows is to win the case and Melanie is determined to do so. Martinez’s fourth book is a satisfying addition to the series. Melanie is a likeable heroine that the reader loves to root for. Dan is an equally likeable character, however, and I sincerely hope to see more of him in the future. The interplay between these two adds a nice and light but tense romantic element to the series. Great for readers who enjoy Lisa Scottoline. 03/08 Becky Lejeune

NOTORIOUS NINETEEN by Janet Evanovich: This is the hotly awaited latest entry in the hugely popular Stephanie Plum series. It has everything a fan will expect; cars blow up, Stephanie gets in trouble, Grandma Mazur gets in trouble, and in this outing Stephanie is leaning Joe’s way and Ranger is just an out of reach fantasy. A man who embezzled millions from an old folks retirement home disappears after some surgery, and Stephanie is trying to find him along with a few other losers. Ranger hires Stephanie as his date/bodyguard for a friend’s wedding since he and his friend are being threatened. Lots of laughs, suspense and a hint of romance make this a comfortable return to the Burg. Fans will be happy. 12/12 Stacy Alesi, AKA The BookBitch

The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency by Alexander McCall Smith: I am normally a fan of hard, edgy, big city private eye stories and this book is none of those things. What it is is charming. The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency is the story of Mma Precious Ramotswe who takes the money from the sale of her late father’s cattle and opens the only women’s detective agency in her town of Gaborone, Botswana. It is written in straight-forward and (there is that darn word again) charming fashion.
The people of Botswana are treated with dignity and their day to day problems are taken seriously. Mma Precious solves the problems of her townspeople with logic and common sense. Missing persons, con men and philanderers are grist for her mill.
Her wisdom reminded me of Mark Twain’s Puddinhead Wilson, but her humor is gentler. I loved (darn, there is another of those words) this book and am looking forward to the sequels, Tears of the Giraffe, Morality for Beautiful Girls, (which have also now been released in paperback form) and The Kalahari Typing School for Men (hardcover, 04.29.03.)
This book is a great change of pace and a wonderful reaffirmation of the human spirit that exists in everyone regardless of their color or their nation. It came as especially welcome in these troubled times when we are trying to figure out what makes people alike and what makes them different.
I think that you will be charmed by it, too. ~This review contributed by Geoffrey R. Hamlin.

NOVEL ABOUT MY WIFE by Emily Perkins: Tom and Ann are expecting their first child and they couldn’t be happier. Their story begins with a train derailment. Ann claimed that she had been feeling ill and left work early which caused her to be on the train. Everyone was fine, including Ann, but she subsequently admits that the reason she left work early was because a man had been following her. Ann mentions the man only a few more times, and Tom assumes that the problem has gone away. Then Ann’s behavior begins to change, frantic cleaning sessions, strange smells that only she can detect, and an almost obsessive return to her sculptures – tiny protectors she leaves all around the house. Tom begins to suspect that the wild mood swings and neuroses may not be a symptom of the pregnancy after all. The story is his attempt, after the fact, to outline his wife’s spiral into madness, something of an attempt to find the moment when it all began. Tom reveals Ann’s fate almost at the very beginning, but even with that knowledge, Perkins’s characters and their pain are so real and so touching that you hope things will turn out differently just this once. 05/08 Becky Lejeune

NOW AND THEN by Robert B. Parker: Can you believe there are now 35 Spenser novels? In the latest, Spenser takes it personally when a client with a possible straying spouse is murdered. You just don’t go and kill Spenser’s clients, and with the help of Susan, Hawke, Pearl et al, our hero proceeds to find out who is responsible so they can pay the price. The usual crisp dialogue and no-nonsense action you have come to expect from Parker along with give-and-take between Spenser and Susan, who even talk about the “M’ word. It’s another very satisfying Spenser adventure. 11/07 Jack Quick

NOW PLAYING AT THE VALENCIA by Stephen Hunter: I have enjoyed Hunter’s Earl and Bob Swagger series as well as his stand alones, but never knew until now that he has served as the Washington Post movie critic. In this collection of his reviews of the past decade he turns out prose that in some cases is far more entertaining than the films he describes. His opening comments on war movies in general and Black Hawk Down in particular “The problem with war isn’t the Army stuff, the camping out, all the calisthenics you have to do at 0-dark-thirty, or even the Sergeants who call you a maggot. It’s the battles. Bummer. You could get killed in a battle. That’s what’s so terrifying about the just opened Black Hawk Down.” On gunfights: “For the current variation of Wooified Hollywood gun fighting the survival rules are also three: 1) Shoot two guns with two hands while diving through the air in slow motion; 2) Use the very best in industrial strength mousse. And of course; 3) Choose really cool sunglasses.” And lastly, “Since time immemorial mankind has worried about three important issues: a. Is universal peace possible? b. Is true love forever? c. Could Godzilla beat a space monster? The answers are (a) No; (b) For others maybe, but not for you; and (c) Too close to call.” If you are flick fan, you’ll love Hunter’s gems. 04/07 Jack Quick

NOW YOU SEE ME by S.J. Bolton: DC Lacey Flint is working the burglary beat, moonlighting in sex crimes in hopes that she can be placed with one of London’s Sapphire Units. Homicide is definitely not her department. But when Lacey finds a stabbing victim leaning against her car, she becomes involved in a case that will have London reeling. The woman is dead before paramedics arrive and Lacey becomes convinced she could have saved her given just a few more minutes. It should have ended there, but it didn’t. A reporter receives what is unquestionably a modern-day copy of Jack the Ripper’s famous “Dear Boss” letter, and Lacey is mentioned by name. Drawn into what now looks like a copycat spree of Jack the Ripper-esque murders, the police now know exactly when to expect the next victim, but don’t have enough clues to prevent the killings… until Lacey starts to put together the connection—and it leads directly to her. Bolton’s latest is a fantastic thriller. Misdirection makes this one that keeps the reader guessing until the end and even if you think you might have it all figured out, there’s guaranteed to be a twist or two you won’t see coming. 07/11 Becky Lejeune

NOWHERE BUT HOME by Liza Palmer: Growing up, Queenie Wake couldn’t wait to escape her hometown of North Star, Texas. Her family name has been synonymous with poverty, bad luck, and – thanks to Queenie’s mother, BJ – fallen women. As a result, Queenie and her sister never fit in regardless of how hard they tried. Queenie has spent her time since college moving from job to job and place to place. When she’s fired yet again, her sister convinces her to return home to regroup. What’s meant to be a temporary stay becomes complicated when Queenie is offered an odd but compelling new position cooking last meals at the local prison. The chance to reconnect with her family and the support of her sister are exactly what Queenie needs, but is it enough for the Wakes to overcome the years of North Star’s harassment? Liza Palmer’s latest is a wonderful, wonderful read. Her characters are so believable and real, it’s easy for any reader to slip into their shoes and see life through their eyes. What’s more, Palmer always manages to infuse her story with a great balance of humor, making her tales heartfelt and funny at the same time. 4/13 Becky Lejeune

NOX DORMIENDA by Kelli Stanley: Never heard of Roman Noir? Well you have now. Kelli Stanley, academic scholar and admitted noir fan, bursts onto the scene this summer with the first installment of her historical noir series. Arcturus, official physician to Governor Agricola, and sometime problem solver, is approached by a gorgeous woman in trouble. Her fiancé is rumored to be carrying a letter to Londinium that could mean the end of the governor. She appeals to Arcturus’s loyal nature and urges him to alert Agricola of the matter. Arcturus takes it one step further and has the woman followed. His man Bilicho eventually tracks the woman to an inn and whorehouse where the fiancé is staying. Later, Bilicho hears noises and follows a cart to an underground temple. The priests of the temple call for Arcturus and the physician discovers that the body of the woman’s fiancé has been left mounted on an alter, his throat brutally slashed. It is also discovered that the man may indeed be an official messenger from Emperor Domitian. If Arcturus can’t find out who killed the man and why, before the Emperor receives news of the death, Britannia could be facing dire political consequences. Stanley combines classic noir and mystery elements with expansive research into first century Roman Britain. Her efforts pay off. It’s a combination that really works quite well. 07/08 Becky Lejeune

THE NUDGER DILEMMAS by John Lutz: This has somehow turned out to be John Lutz month, but you could do a heck of a lot worse. Hapless St. Louis detective “Nudger” is the “star” of this collection of 13 previously published stories. If Robert B. Parker’s Spenser is the kick-butt, take-no-prisoners private eye we dream of being, then Nudger is the hand-wringing, Tums-popping, nonconfrontational sleuth who probably is truly more realistic. I mean who but Nudger could have started his police career as Coppy the Clown, appearing with red nose and oversized shoes at benefits and children’s parties throughout the city, until the Police Commissioner decided that this really wasn’t the image he wanted the Department to portray. Being unable to stand the rigors of life on the streets as a uniformed officer, Nudger drifted into the only thing he felt comfortable doing – being a private eye, albeit a low-key non-violent one. He maintains his office upstairs over Danny’s Donuts, and in true cop fashion starts each day with coffee, a Dunker’s Delite, and a side order of Tums. A fun read. 08/06 Jack Quick

NYPD RED by Marshall Karp and James Patterson: I got this book because I have enjoyed Marshall Karp, in spite of not liking James Patterson. It was not a disappointment. NYPD Red is the special task force handling high profile crimes and top NYPD Red Detective Zach Jordan is working with his beautiful new partner, Detective Kylie MacDonald-who also happens to be his ex-girlfriend. The two are not quite as charismatic as LAPD detectives Mike Lomax and Terry Biggs in Karp’s previous works but they will do. Jordan and MacDonald are facing a serial killer who is taking advantage of Hollywood on the Hudson to get revenge on the wealthy producers, preeminent directors, and famous stars gathered in the city. With the whole world watching, they have to find a way to stop a psychopath who has scripted his finale down to the last explosive detail. Not bad, not bad. 1/13 Jack Quick

OATH OF OFFICE by Michael Palmer: Michael Palmer, who is himself an M.D., has written 15 books in the genre of medical suspense, all of them well researched and able to grab the reader and bring him or her right into the story. Oath of Office is no exception. Dr Lou Welcome councils doctors who have run into difficulties based largely on the strains and pressures of their medical practices like alcohol abuse, mental problems and other issues that the huge pressures of their practices can cause. A doctor that Lou has worked with previously suddenly launches a shooting spree while working in his practice, killing several patients, his staff and than turning the gun on himself. Lou is blamed for releasing the doctor before he is was cured. In looking at the facts and causes of this sudden snap, Lou is plunged into several cases of mental snaps resulting in both deaths and great injuries. He isolates the apparent cause of these aberrations to one town and begins to narrow down the source of these mental lapses. In a related situation, the president has discharged from office his Secretary of Agriculture and replaced him. The president’s wife is placed in the position of learning that said Secretary was fired in error and starts her own investigation into the causes of the discharge. Her search and Lou’s investigation merge and both are thrown into a scheme to sell vast quantities of an artificially enhanced corn to China, in which the president is involved. Palmer brings in the possibility that seems to be viable for modern science to enhance one product by injecting the DNA of a living creature, and the actuality of such a project making that product bigger, better and much more abundant than it would normally be. Palmer has a talent for bringing his characters to life, imparting normal human strengths and weaknesses. Oath of Office is no exception, and the protagonists are brought to life during the action grabbing the reader. 3/12 Paul Lane

OBEDIENCE by Will Lavender: Students taking Logic and Reasoning 204 at Winchester University have been handed a strange assignment. They must, using logic, solve the hypothetical kidnapping of a girl named Polly. Each week they will be given a new set of clues and if, at the end of the six-week semester, the class has not solved the case, Polly will be murdered – hypothetically, of course. The assignment begins to bleed into their daily lives, consuming the students. They begin to see clues all around them and some even begin to believe that the case may be more than just some classroom assignment. With the clock ticking, can they really solve the case and maybe prevent a real-life murder? Will Lavender’s electrifying debut is brilliantly constructed. The clues are all there for you, the reader, to figure it out, but I guarantee that you won’t. Simply genius. 03/08 Becky Lejeune

OBIT by Anne Emery: This is the second part of a planned trilogy featuring Canadian criminal lawyer Monty Collins and Father Brennan Burke. In 2006’s Sign of the Cross, Collins clears the priest of murder charges and now sets out to explore the history of Burke’s father with the IRA. Brennan, along with Monty, is scheduled to officiate at the wedding of his niece in New York. Before they leave Halifax, Brennan’s brother Patrick sends him a cryptic obituary that appeared in a New York paper. Their father, Declan Burke, who fled Ireland 40 years earlier, understands it as a threat to his life, and sure enough, Declan is shot and wounded at the wedding. Monty is having his own marital problems while the Brennan family is being torn apart as they search for the truth about Declan’s past. Well written and leaves you ready for the promised third part. 12/07 Jack Quick

OBLIVION by Peter Abrahams: Very different and very interesting story about a private detective, Nick Petrov, son of a former KGB agent. Petrov came to fame for solving a serial killer case which was turned into a movie starring Armand Assante, which lent a touch of realism to the novel in a rather unique way. He is hired to find a missing girl but has health issues that affect his memory, turning a good mystery into something much more complex. Very well done. 06/05

OCEAN WAVES by Terri Thayer: Ah, the things I do for the good of the genre. At least there are no talking cats in Thayer’s latest Quilter’s Paridiso cozy. Dewey Pellicano is planning to mix a little pleasure with business at the Sewing-by-the-Sea Symposium in Asilomar, California, but in a rare free moment, as she sneaks a walk on the beach one foggy morning she witnesses a woman disappear into the Pacific Ocean. Unfortunately, when no body subsequently appears, everyone thinks she imagined the entire thing. Soon after an attendee disappears, an antique sewing kit is stolen, and conference coordinator Martha Madsen is found dead. Dewey must piece together the facts from an odd assortment of clues. (Did I really say that?) At least there is no cover up. With that, I’ve got to go. 04/09 Jack Quick

THE OCTOBER LIST by Jeffrey Deaver: Deaver has written a book in reverse, starting with the final chapter and ending with chapter one. It is definitely not a book that will appeal to everyone. It is something that the reader will either enjoy the technique very much, or dislike it and probably toss the book down in disgust. Gabriela Mckenzie is the office manager of a successful investment management company. She finds that her boss has suddenly disappeared and apparently taken all assets. She is approached by a man that demands a large sum of money from her that her boss owed him, and he wants Gabriela to pay him. To force her to do so he has kidnapped her daughter Sarah and indicates that if she does not find the money to pay him he will kill her daughter. Gabriela has met a man in a bar prior to getting the demand who moves to help her in rescuing her daughter. Her thoughts of him are romantic even with the pressures of rescuing her daughter from the kidnapper and the fact that she does not have the money required nor the means to get it since her ex boss has apparently taken everything before disappearing. The plot is well thought out, very well delineated and easily followed in spite of the book being written in reverse. Characters are fleshed out and in spite of changes in them outlined in the succeeding chapters are believable. A completely surprise ending is logical, and in spite of radically changing events as the book winds backwards very rewarding. An experiment by Deaver, and in my view a good one. As indicated the technique will not be satisfying to everyone, but using an open mind could prove very rewarding. 10/13 Paul Lane
ODD MOM OUT by Jane Porter: This former romance-turned-chick-lit writer switch hits for another solid hit in her newest effort after Flirting with Forty. Marta Zimmer, the “odd mom”, has had her heart broken and sworn off men. Determined to be a mom anyway, she goes the sperm donor route, and creates a very comfortable life for herself and her precocious 9 year old daughter in Manhattan. But her mom is diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, and an opportunity arises to set up the Seattle office of the advertising agency she works for out in Seattle near her mom, she jumps on it. But the agency is bought out and the west coast office closed shortly thereafter. Determined to not uproot her daughter again, Marta starts up her own company and finds success, but also loneliness. She doesn’t fit in well with the wealthy suburban moms whose days are filled with nail appointments, the country club and the PTA, but her two best friends from high school, very successful working women, convince her that she can make friends if she tries. Instead, she meets a man, the first man she’s had any interest in since her daughter was born. But the daughter and the career come first, can Marta make it work? Odd Mom Out is a fun read, perfect for whiling away a lazy Indian summer afternoon. (I live in south Florida, lucky for me Indian Summer lasts most of the year!) My only negative comment is that if a character is saying “fuck off” then she should say it, not have it represented like this: “F___ off”. That was just adolescent, disingenuous, and the greatest sin of all for any writer – distracting. 09/07 Stacy Alesi, AKA The BookBitch

O’FEAR by Peter Corris: Australian “enquiry agent” Cliff Hardy’s old friend, the shady Kevin O’Fearna, is awaiting trial when Hardy learns the last words of another friend Barnes Todd were “O’Fear”, Kevin’s nickname and hence the title. Todd is a trucking entrepreneur, photographer and painter and has left a note with his lawyer engaging Hardy to look into any accident that might befall him. Todd’s widow agrees and O’Fearna persuades Hardy to put up his bail, but is stabbed before his release. Hardy is being tailed and Todd’s widow’s house in ransacked. Is this all about Barnes Todd’s art or is there something else? Another well-paced outing for what I suspect is Australia’s premier Private Eye. 10/07 Jack Quick

OFF THE CHART by James W. Hall: With this one, you may need a scorecard to keep up with the body count. Thorn has a brief fling with Anne Joy, daughter of a Kentucky pirate wannabe family, who has come to the Keys after her parents are murdered in a drug running dispute. Years later her brother Vic, who has become a “land pirate” of sorts, decides he wants Thorn’s land and doesn’t respond well to Thorn’s refusal to sell. Vic then proceeds to kidnap the nine-year-old daughter of Thorn’s best friend which eventually leads Thorn into all out war against Vic, whose complement of U.S. helicopters and a small army of cutthroat international pirates are not nearly an even match for an enraged Thorn. In addition to pirates on land and sea, murder and mayhem, there are few juicy sex scenes and beautiful descriptions of Key West flora and fauna. What else could you ask for in a book, except perhaps a sequel fairly soon. 07/06 Jack Quick

OFF THE GRID by P.J. Tracy: It starts on a sailboat ten miles off the Florida coast. Grace MacBride, partner in Monkeewrench Software, thwarts an assassination attempt on retired FBI agent John Smith. A few hours later, in Minneapolis, a fifteen-year-old girl is discovered in a vacant lot, her throat slashed. Later that day, two young men are found in their home a few blocks away, killed execution-style. The next morning, the dead bodies of three more men turn up, savagely murdered in the same neighborhood. As Minneapolis homicide detectives Leo Magozzi and Gino Rolseth struggle to link the three crimes, they learn that there have been similar murders in other cities around the United States. The magic date appears to be October 31 and the Monkeewrench crew – Grace, Annie, Roadrunner, and Harley Davidson – are in extreme danger. 10/12 Jack Quick

Office of Innocence by Thomas Keneally: After side trips into history-writing and biography with The Great Shame and American Scoundrel, Mr. Keneally has again turned his hand back to fiction with Office of Innocence which should be nominated for several major awards by the end of the year.
Keneally’s story-telling often involves an ordinary man placed in extraordinary circumstances. In To Asmara, it was a journalist heading to battlelines in Eritrea and in Flying Hero Class (my personal favorite and a book ahead of its time) it was the manager of a troupe of indigenous dancers caught up in an air hi-jacking. Schlinder’s List, involving similar issues, became better known because of the movie that was made from it.
In Office of Innocence, the ordinary man is Frank Darragh, a young Australian priest caught up in the turmoil of the Second World War as the Japanese march ever southward through Asia, towards Darwin and Northern Australia.
Frank is a simple man, from a rural family and has not had a lot of experience with life or any great yearning for such experience. In other words, he was prime seminary fodder. Mr. Keneally’s ear as a story teller seems to ring true when he has more jaundiced seminarians translating “Memento homo quia cines es, et ad cinerem reverteris” into “Remember, squirt, that thou are dirt, and unto dirt thou shalt revert.” Frank’s innocence is bemused but not distracted by such by-play.
During his initial assignment as a parish priest, Father Frank finds hearing confessions rewarding and it becomes his forte. While his contemporaries and seniors are hardened to the routine sins they must hear over and over again, Frank responds to those on the other side of the screen and quickly becomes the most popular confessor in the area.
His lack of worldliness presents problems for Frank as he confronts the loneliness and selfishness that reach extreme levels under the stresses of wartime. It also presents problems for his superiors who fear scandal and wish that he would spend more time learning the “business” of the church.
At the heart of the story is the testing of Father Darragh’s faith and his innocence by a variety of parishioners and others – a dying woman in a non-traditional relationship, a trade union rabble-rouser, the lonely wife of a prisoner of war and an aggressive American military policeman. Frank’s background simply does not equip him to understand such people, but his desire to help is such that he must get involved. The core issue is whether he will gain understanding at the cost of his faith.
There is also a late-developing murder mystery contained within the story, the resolution of which costs Father Frank his position and his reputation, but gains him a new knowledge of himself and how he may play a meaningful role in the world.
This is another fine book from an extraordinary author. ~This review contributed by Geoffrey R. Hamlin.

OFFICER DOWN by Theresa Schwegel: This first novel is a police procedural of the best kind – Samantha Mack is a police officer with a future. She drinks too much, picks the wrong men, and appears to have accidentally killed her partner. When the department wants to resolve it quickly and just call it an accident, Smack, as she is affectionately known, just can’t live with that. She can’t let a little thing like suspension from the force and investigation by Internal Affairs deter her from finding out exactly what happened. Lots of good twists and a terrific ending make this debut a winner. 11/05

OFFICER DOWN by Theresa Schwegel: Samantha “Smack” Mack, a chain-smoking, hard-drinking Chicago police officer, and her partner and ex-lover, Fred, storm a pitch-dark tenement house. Smack wakes up later with a nasty concussion, but Fred, shot during the attempted arrest, never does. Police officials decree that Smack’s “friendly fire” killed Fred, but she’s sure there were others in the room with them that night. Smack realizes that the only way to clear her name is to capture the child molester they had gone into the house to arrest, and she will have to do it alone, since all the bureaucracy is against her. Schwegel’s fast-paced action turns out an impressive, gripping first novel. 01/06 Jack Quick

OLD CITY HALL by Robert Rotenberg: Panned by Publishers Weekly and praised by Booklist, I found this to be a pretty good debut thriller, albeit a bit overlong with multiple threads and a few “coincidences” that might have been better handled. The story begins with celebrated radio host Kevin Brace (aka the Voice of Canada) confessing to the murder of his wife, Katherine, in their Toronto apartment. Afterwards, he refuses to say a word to anyone, even his attorney, Nancy Parish. The police presence includes homicide detective Ari Greene and ex-lawyer-turned-cop Daniel Kennicott (Kennicott joined the department after his brother was murdered – Green was the detective investigating that murder) while rookie prosecutor Albert Fernandez gears up for his first murder trial. Fernandez is from Chile and the chief prosecution witness, Mr. Gurdial Singh, who delivers the newspaper to the Toronto penthouse apartment of Brace, is from India. Add in the English French dichotomy of Canada and you have quite a stew for Mr. Rotenberg to stir. I ended up agreeing with Booklist that the good far outweighs the bad and would recommend this to anyone who enjoys a good legal thriller, with all sorts of nuances and international overtones. 09/09 Jack Quick

OLD MAID’S PUZZLE by Terri Thayer: There are two mysteries here. One, why would anyone want to run a quilt shop, and two, who left the dead body in the alley behind the store. Dewey Pellicano has inherited Quilter Paradiso from her mother along with problems with competition and employee relations. The employee is her sister-in-law which makes firing her problematic. Anyway, Dewey hopes the store’s 20th anniversary sale and appearance on national television will help her save the business. In the meantime, the killer better be found or there might not be a business to save. Heavy on the estrogen, but readable. 12/08 Jack Quick

OLD SCHOOL BONES by Randall Peffer: Nice concept but somewhat clumsily executed. A young black student dies in mid-winter at a New England prep school. Is it suicide or a racially motivated crime? The girl’s faculty advisor, Awasha Patterson, is racked with guilt because she turned the young woman away the night she died. There are rumors of secret societies allegedly banned years ago after a hazing death, but which may have simply went “underground.” Patterson will not rest until she gets to the bottom of the matter, even if it kills her. I had problems with the book jumping from scene to scene with minimal transitions making it difficult to stay within the plot. Not nearly as well done, in my opinion as Peffer’s 2005 Provincetown Follies, Bangkok Blues. 08/08 Jack Quick

ON BORROWED TIME by David Rosenfelt: This is the latest standalone thriller from the author of the hugely popular Andy Carpenter series. Rosenfelt has been alternating between standalones and series books and he just keeps stepping up his game. This time out our protagonist, Richard Kilmer, is a young journalist who has finally met the love of his life. They plan on getting married so they drive from their home in New York City, to her parent’s home in upstate New York to share the good news. But suddenly the weather changes, they find themselves in the middle of a storm and Richard ends up running his car off the road. He is knocked out, and when he comes to a few moments later his fiancée is gone. He is frantic and as the skies clear he searches but cannot find her. Even worse, when he drives back to her childhood home, her parents don’t seem to recognize him and deny they even have a daughter. Troubled, he goes back to the city and finds his apartment has gone back to its pre-girlfriend state and his friends, too, deny ever having heard of her. This is a terrific premise for a thriller and Rosenfelt, with his trademark humor, takes us along on Richard’s journey to the truth. This is a fast paced, truly enjoyable read and a real page turner – I couldn’t put it down. 03/11 Stacy Alesi, AKA The BookBitch

ON CHESIL BEACH by Ian McEwan: This novella centers around the wedding night of a young couple in the early 1960’s. Unlike their freewheeling, sexually permissive counterparts that were the hallmark of that decade, these two are both shy and sexually inexperienced. However, this is not a book about sex, but rather how one incident, one night, can cataclysmically change lives. McEwan gives us just enough background on each of them to see how and why they reach this point, but nonetheless it is still a heartbreaker. Beautifully written, this compelling yet simple story has the hallmark of a classic. 06/07 Stacy Alesi, AKA The BookBitch

ON DEADLY GROUND by Michael Norman: Fairly ordinary tale about conflict between environmentalists and ranchers in Kanab, Utah. Environmentalist David Greenbriar is found dead, and newly appointed Law Enforcement Ranger, J. D. Books is co-opted into the case because he is a native returned home after a stint as a homicide detective in Denver. Books discovers that the victim’s widow has been having an affair with Lance Clayburn, who is tied to the killing with physical evidence. Throw in a corrupt Sheriff’s Deputy, the obligatory mob connected Las Vegas businessman and a very dangerous mob contract killer…. Good guys win in the end, as expected. 03/10 Jack Quick

ON EDGE by Barbara Fister: Konstantin Slovo is a vacationing Chicago cop who gets caught up in the events of the coastal town of Brimsport,. Maine. Initially rousted as a potential suspect in a recent child abduction, Slovo is freed when the local police chief discovers he is a cop. Slove ends up staying in town and makes friends with the chief’s daughter Ruth, who along with Slovo’s Doctor Chakravarty, fill him in on the town’s history of child molestation and abuse. Not the most pleasant subject matter, but well written and while you probably won’t want to invite Slovo to your next dinner party, he is the one you want on your side when things get tough. Well done and recommended. 01/07 Jack Quick

ON, OFF by Colleen McCullough: It is fall, 1965, and the torso of a young woman has been discovered in a storage refrigerator at the Hughlings Jackson Center for Neurological Research, aka the Hug. Detective Carmine Delmonico is convinced that the perp is a member of the Hug faculty. When the body is identified as that of a missing girl from a local high school, Delmonico discovers that this was not an isolated event — there has been a string of missing teenage girls in the area, all matching the same description. Suddenly, Delmonico is up against a shrewd and manipulative serial killer; a killer who is able to move about seemingly undetected. While this was an intriguing read, I had hoped for more details specific to the time period in which the book takes place. With the exception of the lack of DNA testing, this could have been any modern mystery. I expected McCullough, who is best known for her historical fiction, to have made more of an effort to clearly outline the time period in which the book took place. I think that the lack of support for the setting diminishes the overall effect of the story. 09/06 Becky LeJeune

ON THE LINE by S.J. Rozan: Rozan continues her series of alternating mysteries involving sometimes PI partners Lydia China and Bill Smith. Smith is featured in this high paced thriller. It starts with a phone call from Lydia’s cellphone. She has been kidnapped by someone from Bill’s past who tells Bill that Lydia is a hostage and Smith has 12 hours to locate her before she will be killed. Clues to her whereabouts come by phone, delivered by the heckling voice of a man obviously out for vengeance. Bill enlists the aid of Lydia’s nephew, a crackerjack young techie, who brings along his goth girlfriend, a force to be reckoned with all by herself. The trio, aided on the sly by Lydia’s cop-pal Mary, runs a race against the clock, finding little related to Lydia but a lot of kidnapped Chinese prostitutes who need saving, and a vicious pimp who thinks Bill is wrecking his business. This excellently written thriller goes right down to the wire. 02/11 Jack Quick

ON THE ROPES by Tom Schreck: There’s a new superhero in town – Double D – Duffy Dombrowski, mild-mannered social worker by day, Elvis aficionado, boxer, and beer drinker by night. Whatever you want to say about Duffy, he does care for his clients and his pledge to take care of the Muslim basset hound and find the missing daughter of one Walanda, a schizophrenic, crack-addicted prostitute, who is murdered, leads him into all manner of peril and evil doings. Thank goodness Duffy survives because he’s the kind of Robin Hood, supported by a band of drunken friends, whom you want to follow in further adventures. 09/07 Jack Quick

ONCE… by James Herbert: Four months ago, Thom Kindred would have considered himself a healthy young man. That was before the twenty-seven year old suffered an unexplained stroke. After months of physical therapy, Thom decides to leave London and return to his childhood home, Castle Bracken, to recuperate. Thom and his mother, Bethan, lived in a small cottage on the estate until Thom was ten. It has been seventeen years since Thom left for boarding school, seventeen years since his mother died and Sir Russell began sponsoring his education. Upon his return, Thom realizes that things are not as they once were at Castle Bracken. Sir Russell is nearing his own death and the estate has been allowed to fall into disrepair. Something dangerous lurks amongst the halls of Castle Bracken, and something magical has long awaited Thom’s return. Herbert combines both fantasy and horror elements in this very adult fairy tale. 12/07 Becky Lejeune

ONCE A SPY by Keith Thomson: Charlie Clark was bitten by horse fever early on and has spent most of his adult life chasing the ponies and avoiding his creditors. The son of retired appliance salesman Drummond Clark, Charlie is primarily interested in his old man, who at age 64 suffers from Alzheimer’s disease, because of his possible money that Charlie desperately needs to pay off the $23,000 he owes to Russian loan sharks. Soon after Charlie rescues Drummond from the Brooklyn streets, where he’d been wandering, the older man’s house blows up and the two barely escape with their lives. It turns out Clark Senior was, in fact, an agent involved in selling faulty nuclear detonators to would-be terrorists. He definitely knows too much and now is the target of trained CIA killers. When lucid, Drummond can hotwire vehicles and effortlessly deal with multiple assailants. Otherwise, he is liable to wander off in his pajamas. Off beat, exciting, and a worthy nominee for this year’s Dilys Award. 02/11 Jack Quick

ONCE BITTEN, TWICE SHY by Jennifer Rardin: On her last assignment as a Helsinger – a team of elite CIA agents charged with killing vampires – Jasmine Parks lost her fiancé, her sister-in-law, and her best friend in one fell swoop. Now, she suffers from frequent blackouts and has managed to disconnect herself emotionally from almost everyone around her. She’s also discovered that she can sense vampires. Vayle, one of the Company’s most respected and important operatives has requested that Jaz be assigned as his partner, and the Company willingly agrees. Part of his request is due to her new-found talent as a Sensitive, another is due to the fact that she has a death wish that makes her a reckless but effective agent. The two have been sent to spy on a well-known plastic surgeon who is suspected of having terrorist links. While on assignment, they discover that Vayle, or possibly even Jaz, has been targeted. By whom, they aren’t quite sure, but this person – or vampire – is quite possibly one of their very own. Rardin’s debut is compelling to be sure, but seems a bit uneven in the beginning. The story runs straight ahead with the action, but the explanations lag a bit behind giving the reader the sense that they missed something. Thankfully, the story does balance out shortly thereafter. Jaz is a quirky, sometimes goofy, and certainly damaged character and Vayle, the smoldering Romanian vampire, is equally absorbing. I’m interested to see just where Rardin takes this series. Overall, a great read – one that adds Rardin to the ranks of such authors as Kim Harrison and an earlier Laurel K. Hamilton. 10/07 Becky Lejeune

ONCE WE WERE BROTHERS by Ronald Balson: I have read enough self-published books to know that it is rare to find a gem among the rubble; this is definitely one of those gems. The premise of the book is that a Holocaust survivor, Ben Solomon, thinks he recognizes Chicago society kingpin Elliot Rosenzweig as the Nazi “Butcher of Zamość,” Otto Piacek. At first he tries to kill him, but when that plot is foiled Ben decides to hire a lawyer and sue Rosenzweig in civil court instead. Rosenzweig is a big Jewish philanthropist who also claims to be a Holocaust survivor and hires his own private detective to prove that he is not Otto Piacek. Ben also has an investigator who recommends a lawyer, Catherine Lockhart, who has troubles of her own. Catherine reluctantly agrees to listen to Ben’s story, but it is a long story and she has other obligations. Nevertheless she gets drawn in, almost against her will, and her own life starts falling apart. There are a lot of Holocaust books out there, but what makes this book different is that Ben tells this mesmerizing story of growing up in Zamość, Poland, where his family takes in Otto Piacek when his mother deserts him. They grow up as brothers, and as the story unfolds, we learn how someone who has been brought up in one way could then end up a completely different way. That insight makes for fascinating reading; this is simply an unforgettable story. 6/12 Stacy Alesi, AKA The BookBitch

ONCE WERE COPS by Ken Bruen: Michael O’Shea is an Irish Guard sent to work with the New York Police Department on a sort of exchange program. Shea, as he likes to be called, blackmailed his superior to include him in the program and that’s just your first inkling that this cop is not one of the good guys. Shea is, in fact, a sociopath and a serial killer who is paired up with his NYPD counterpart, a rough street cop nicknamed Kebar. Kebar is under investigation by Internal Affairs with good reason, and things take a violent turn for the worse when these two butt heads with the mob. The writing is noir at its best; sparse and brilliant, and the characters both dark and yet somehow poetic. Graphic, violent and full of despair, this brief book is a hard-boiled triumph. 11/08 Stacy Alesi, AKA The BookBitch

ONE DOG NIGHT by David Rosenfelt: This latest entry into the Andy Carpenter series has an interesting twist. Noah Galloway is a recovering drug addict who is arrested for arson and the murder of 26 people who died in the fire. He admits his guilt, but his wife just can’t believe it. She turns to Andy Carpenter, the reluctant defense attorney, with a story he can’t say no to – Noah was the one who put Tara in the shelter when he could not care for her, and knew that Andy adopted her. Anyone who has read a Rosenfelt book knows the special relationship between Andy and Tara, the greatest dog in the world. Andy agrees to defend Noah and starts digging into the fire. This is another terrific story in one of my favorite series. 07/11 Stacy Alesi, AKA The BookBitch

ONE FOOT IN THE BLACK by Kurt Kamm: This is somewhat of a “factional coming of age” account of a wild land firefighter. Greg Kowalski is the son of an abusive firefighter in Saginaw, Michigan. As soon as he is old enough he flees to California to become a seasonal firefighter with CDF. In 48 hours he loses both his father to a fire in Saginaw and his mentor and captain to a wildfire they are fighting. Extremely detailed but interesting, the book takes you inside Kowalski’s training and shows how the profession creates bonds that can be even stronger than family. A first rate debut. 08/08 Jack Quick

ONE FOOT IN THE GRAVE by Jeaniene Frost: It’s been four years since the events of Frost’s debut Night Huntress title, Halfway to the Grave. Cat has agreed to work for Homeland Security tracking down and eliminating evil vamps, but she can’t help pining for the man that got away – or the vamp that she let go, in this case. She did it to protect him from her new employers, so she knows that it was for the best, and she’s finally going to attempt to move on. Unfortunately for her, someone has placed a significant bounty on her head and Bones has decided that they’ve been apart long enough. It seems he’d rather stay where he can keep a close eye on her and protect her, especially when his own sire decides that he would like the Red Reaper (the vamp nickname for Cat) for his very own. Course Cat’s boss and coworkers are none too pleased about the new setup, until they realize just what an asset Bones can be. Frost toes the line between the newly minted urban fantasy genre and paranormal romance. The book contains enough steamy sex to earn itself a place firmly in the romance genre, but in my opinion the series will still appeal to readers who aren’t normally too big into the romance aspect. 05/08 Becky Lejeune

One for the Money by Janet Evanovitch: and the rest of that series, I read them all in 2 weeks, then read them again! Her main character is a sexy, smart and sassy 35 year old single with an eccentric bent apparently inherited from her grandmother. Every character is a treasure. These books are laugh out loud funny! Read them in order please… Two for the Money; Three to Get Deadly; Four to Score; High Five; Hot Six; Seven Up

ONE GOOD TURN by Kate Atkinson: This follow-up to Case Histories finds Jackson Brodie and Julia, his girlfriend, in Edinburgh for the premiere of her new play. Left on his own to keep himself busy, Brodie stumbles onto a horrid assault. Mystery author Martin Canning is an unlikely hero in the event, throwing his laptop at a man who has gone after another man with a bat. Canning accompanies the poor victim to the hospital and ends up keeping a watchful eye over the man that evening. But Canning’s reward for being a Good Samaritan is a bit of an unwelcome surprise for the mild-mannered writer. Meanwhile, Brodie is busy finding and losing a dead body and later being accused of assault himself. And how does it all tie in with a local real-estate mogul who had a heart attack while in the company of a dominatrix? You have to read to find out. The intricacies of Atkinson’s plots are wholly entertaining. And even when things get to their most shockingly violent, the whole thing has a nice and proper ring to it. 12/11 Becky Lejeune

One Hot Summer by Carolina Garcia-Aguilera: One Hot Summer is one hot beach read! Happily married Margarita seems to have it all; a wonderful, wealthy husband who adores her, a beautiful son, good friends, a dream job as a partner in a big Miami law firm. But when her husband starts pressuring her to give up her job to have another baby and her college boyfriend blows into town, cracks start showing in that perfect life. This is a new direction for Ms. Garcia-Aguilera, author of the Lupe Solano mystery series, but she pulls it off beautifully, with grace and much good humor.

THE ONE I LEFT BEHIND by Jennifer McMahon: For Reggie, growing up as the daughter of the final victim of a serial killer has left a permanent mark. Neptune plagued her small town in the 80s. He would kidnap an unsuspecting woman, cut off her right hand, and leave the hand boxed in a milk carton for the police to find. Four days later, the woman’s body would be discovered. The pattern never changed, until Reggie’s mother. Her hand was found just as with the others, but her body was not. Now, decades later, Reggie’s mother has turned up alive. She’s ill and not in her right mind, so no one is entirely sure what she remembers about the time since her disappearance. Reggie is determined to be there to care for her in spite of the fact that it means returning to the home she abandoned so many years before. For Reggie, it also means facing the memories she’s so carefully buried. And then Neptune strikes again, taking yet another victim who was once close to Reggie. As with McMahon’s previous releases, The One I Left Behind is masterfully plotted and plays out at an exquisite pace. The narrative is broken into two storylines –1985 and the present – and the characters are all hiding things. I’m not sure I’ve ever been able to figure out one of McMahon’s endings before it’s reveal and this was no exception. Another fantastic thriller from one of my favorites. 1/13 Becky Lejeune

THE ONE MINUTE ASSASSIN by Troy Cook: Someone is killing the candidates for California governor – and that may not be such a bad thing. The race includes such stereotypical candidates as a rap star named Two-Bits and a former movie star named Arnold “The Mountain” Schwarzkov. The frontrunners are a lobbyist for a pharmaceutical giant, a former child actor, and Mayor Eleanor Black, who is a member of a Kennedy-like dynasty. Her brother John is the anti-politician of the family, and spends his time hunting down dead beat dads until Eleanor is almost killed and he’s forced into the ring. Throw into the mix two bumbling assassins (reminiscent of Tim Dorsey’s excellent series) and you get a macabre mixture of murder and dirty politics. After Cook’s terrific, utterly original debut, 47 Rules for Highly Effective Bank Robbers, this sophomore effort is a bit of a disappointment. Although much of the humor is just plain silly, John Black is a very likeable protagonist and the plot is engaging, making this a very entertaining read. 09/07 Stacy Alesi, AKA The BookBitch Copyright © 2006 Cahners Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. Reprinted with permission.

THE ONE MINUTE ASSASSIN by Troy Cook: Think dumb and dumber in the world of assassination. Ex-football player Dennis “Nail” Nalen and his erstwhile partner Barry Jones have been hired by Richard “Tricky Dick” Steel to eliminate Steel’s competition in the race for Governor of California. Steel is a lobbyist for Pfester Pharmaceuticals that has two members of the Russian Mafia on its Board of Directors. His primary opponent is Eleanor Black, mayor of Los Angeles, whose mother is a senator and is known as the barracuda. John Black, Eleanor’s brother, is a PI who specializes in child molestation cases but gets involved when his sister is the target of an assassination attempt. Black calls upon his Crocodile Dundee look alike partner to use all of their quirky and unconventional talents to find out who is trying to put his sister out of commission. In spite of the stereotyped characters, the pace is good and the plot is marvelously twisty. Recommended. 09/07 Jack Quick

ONE MISSISSIPPI by Mark Childress: It’s the early ’70s and Daniel Musgrove’s father moves the family from Indiana to rural Mississippi. Daniel starts the 11th grade with a new best friend, Tim. When they double date for the junior prom, the teens have an accident on the way home and cause the prom queen to fall off her bike and hit her head. The prom queen of the newly integrated high school is black, but the injury leaves her believing that she is white. When I read Crazy In Alabama, I thought it was an unauthorized biography of my family. With One Mississippi, I realize my younger brother is Daniel. Childress captures the essence of growing up in the South during this era better than anyone. The only other book to come close was Bleachers by John Grisham. So if you grew up in this era as I did, this is a must read. If not, it’s still a damn good one. 08/06 Jack Quick

ONE MORE BITE by Jennifer Rardin: Jaz and team are back and this time they’re up against witches, ghosts, and worst yet, Jaz’s dad! When the CIA receives a report that a group of weres has taken a contract out on a Scottish coven leader, Jaz, Vayle, and Cole are sent to find the hit man, or in this case hit woman, and protect the witch. Jaz’s father decides to tag along and it takes all of her effort not to kill the man. Their mission is further complicated by the fact that the witch in need of protecting has some scheme up her sleeve that Jaz is determined to uncover. Problem is that this little plan may directly conflict with official orders to protect the woman. Oh, and one that’s not all. Jaz’s father thinks a ghost may be out to kill him and Jaz has been claimed by a dead Scottish King who wants her to rule the underworld with him. I love that each new installment to this series takes it in a new direction. New revelations about each character and what makes them tick, plus the new and original bad guys are what keep me coming back for more. Well, that and Vayl. 01/09 Becky Lejeune

ONE ROUGH MAN by Brad Taylor: In his first novel, Taylor, a retired Delta Force commander, introduces Pike Logan, a member of a super secret, off-the-grid unit of commandos authorized to work outside the law. Unfortunately, while Taylor has an excellent concept the execution is somewhat lacking. The author appears uncertain whether he wants to write a military action thriller with political overtones, or a political thriller with some military action sequences. The result is a book which never seems to catch hold. Logan leaves the team, called the Taskforce, after his wife and daughter are brutally murdered while he is overseas on a mission. A chance encounter with a woman puts him back in the game, and working without the help of his former team, he attempts to track two rogue terrorists in possession of a powerful weapon. With better editing, hopefully, this can develop into an interesting series, but it has a ways to go. 03/11 Jack Quick

ONE SHOT by Lee Child: Nine books now and each one is better than before. This time Reacher is called in to help solve an Indiana sniper case. The accused, James Barr, claims they have arrested the wrong man and tells them to get Jack Reacher. Reacher hears about the case on television, knows the accused, and comes to Indiana with astounding news. Is Barr guilty? Can Reacher help? How about the fact that the DA’s daughter is Barr’s attorney? Reacher is no friend of Barr’s. In fact he has evidence that could seal Barr’s fate. But did they arrest the right man? Russians in Indiana? There are unresolved issues down to the last two pages and no slow downs or pauses in between. Again, in my opinion, the best Reacher yet. Recommended. 07/05 ~This review contributed by Jack Quick.

ONE SHOT By Lee Child: Another great entry from Lee Child in the Jack Reacher series. Ex-MP Major Jack Reacher is sunning his butt on on a Florida beach with a Norwegian dancer when he sees a tale on TV about an Indiana sniper named James Barr. Reacher heads to Indiana post haste to bury Barr. It turns out that this guy did this before, and because of politics, Reacher had to reluctantly walk away. Now he’s determined to wax this guy. Meanwhile, a young defense attorney, who happens to be the prosecutors daughter, enlists Reacher’s help as an investigator (something he does very well.) The police have a bulletproof case, but the more Reacher looks, the less he likes it. Eventually, Reacher knows that those aren’t the winds that prevail and he reluctantly becomes an advocate for the defense. He gets set up for a beat down in a local bar, which he avoids in typical Reacher fashion, and then realizes that this ain’t the usual sit/rep. One of the great things about these books is that Child maintains Reacher’s “invisible” status – a guy who can float loose in a post 9/11 world, a virtual impossibility by today’s standards. But he still manages to do it, and create major mayhem along the way. This one’s really good. Waiting on the next one breathlessly. A four star good read. 05/06 DOC

ONE SMALL VICTORY by Maryann Miller: Drugs killed her son even though he wasn’t a user. Unfortunately his friend, the driver of the car, was high and as a consequence Michael Jasik is dead. His mother vows revenge and also to protect her two younger children. So the small town Texas single mom becomes a CI – a Confidential Informant, whose activities are known only to Chief Gonzales. Her son and daughter notice Jenny is behaving strangely and report that to their father, who suddenly decides it is better if he has custody of the kids. Jenny is obsessed enough to make it all work, although not without sacrifice. While the war on drugs may not be winnable, there are occasionally small victories. Not bad. 08/08 Jack Quick

ONE SMALL VICTORY by Maryann Miller: Young Michael Jasik is killed in a car accident at the hands of his drug abusing friend, Brad Brennan. His mother, Jenny, a single mom, is destroyed by the news. When she learns that her son’s death was influenced by Brad’s drug addiction, she has to take action. She storms into the local police station and demands to be put on the undercover drug enforcement task force that she heard about on the news. Police Lieutenant Steve Morrity is leading the task force. While civilians aren’t typically involved in this type of police work, Morrity knows Jenny will take action on her own if she isn’t selected. So, after a grueling physical test, Jenny passes and becomes an undercover informant. She is forced to hide this from her two surviving children, Scott and Alicia. They notice a change in her behavior and contact their father, who has never really been a part of their lives. Jenny risks her life, and the custody of her children for this mission. I commend Jenny’s character for her strength, and the fearless acts she performed in an effort to bring down a big time drug pusher. ONE SMALL VICTORY is an amazing, heart pounding, emotional tale about one mother’s love of her children, and the steps she takes to protect them from harm. 09/08 Jennifer Lawrence

One Thousand White Women by Jim Fergus: Thoroughly engrossing fictionalized account of a true historical incident. The Chief of the Cheyenne tried to reach an agreement with President Ulysses S. Grant in an effort to promote peace and integrate the Cheyenne into Christianity; in a secret deal, the U.S. government would trade 1000 white women for 1000 horses. It didn’t get though Congress, but it did ignite the imagination of this author! He found his women, all volunteers, in a variety of places; prostitutes, imprisoned women granted their freedom for this, and women from hospitals for the mentally ill. One of the latter is the voice of this novel that is told in the form of her journal.

Only Child by Andrew Vachss: The newest title in the series finds Burke back where he belongs, in New York – with Max, Mama, the Mole and all the regulars in this realistic portrait of the seamier side of filmmaking. Burke is hired by a member of the Mafia to investigate the murder of his teenage daughter, and has to depend on her friends for help. Some great characters (that I hope will be back again) and flawless description in a story that is so dark and twisted I couldn’t put it down until I turned the last page.

ONLY TIME WILL TELL by Jeffrey Archer: This is the first book of the Clifton Chronicles, a multi-generational family saga, something Archer does better than just about anyone. In this story we are introduced to Harry Clifton, a gifted young boy who lives with his impoverished mother and uncle, a dockworker, in Bristol, and whose father is presumed dead in the first World War. We also meet the Barrington family, a wealthy family who owns the shipyard that employs the Cliftons. There is some interesting history between the families, and the story is told from various character’s points of view, which allows it to unfold bit by tantalizing bit until it ends with a major cliffhanger. Archer is one of the best storytellers of modern literature, and I can’t wait for the next book in the series. 09/11 Stacy Alesi, AKA The BookBitch

Open & Shut by David Rosenfelt: This legal thriller is one of the best debut novels I’ve read in a while. I love finding new authors, and last week this book literally dropped into my hands. It immediately caught my eye, so I read the flyleaf and was hooked:

“I hate DNA more than I hate opera. I hate it more than I hate meaningless touchdowns by the underdog that cover the spread when I’m betting the favorite….I hate DNA because it’s boring, because I will never understand it, and because it almost always works against me.”

A legal thriller, humor and sports talk; what more could a girl want? I flew through this book in a few hours, alternating between sitting on the edge of my seat and laughing my head off. This is a legal thriller with enough twists to keep you guessing, and enough humor to keep you laughing, always a terrific combination. The mélange of the outrageous lead character Andy Carpenter, a self-deprecating lawyer with chutzpah, his strong female P.I., and even his whiny wife and her super-rich dad, stir up a terrific story.

Andy’s father, a former District Attorney, asks him to handle a convicted death row murderer’s appeal – one that he himself put away. The overwhelming evidence just seems too perfect, and Andy takes it on. Lots of interesting developments along the way, but it’s really the characters and the humor that will hold you spellbound. The good news is that this is the initial entry of a series; there are more Andy Carpenter books to come. You can read the first chapter online.

Open Season by C. J. Box: Well written suspense set in the wilds of Wyoming. First of a series featuring game warden Joe Pickett, a good guy who screws up occasionally, but gets the job done.

Open Season by Linda Howard: Exceedingly simple story; no words longer than three syllables and not too many of those; sticky sweet romance/suspense genre. I read it because the main character was a librarian and it is a best seller. Complete and utter fluff.

Open Season on Lawyers by Taffy Cannon: A serial killer is on the loose, killing the sleaziest lawyers in town. You’re not sure who to root for in this clever, fast paced thriller.

OPENING MOVES by Steven James: Thus far, each of the Bowers Files novels featuring FBI Special Agent Patrick Bowers have been titled for chess pieces – The Pawn, the Rook, The Bishop, The Queen – and feature Bowers dealing with some of the most vicious serial killers. Now in the fifth installment, author Steven James takes readers back to Bowers’ beginnings in Milwaukee, 1997 where cops are convinced they have a Jeffery Dahmer copycat responsible for a series of gruesome kidnappings and mutilations. Bowers thinks the truth may be even more hideous in an investigation that becomes a nightmare of manipulation, brutality, and terror. Not for the faint of heart, it causes you to wonder if any one can battle such wickedness without losing his own soul. 9/12 Jack Quick

OPERATION NAPOLEON by Arnaldur Indridason: Mr Indridason is an Icelandic author who has written several mysteries centered around a detective based in Reykjavik. Some of these have been translated into English and serve to establish the author’s place as a good writer of mystery novels. Operation Napoleon is a stand alone piece involving an extremely intriguing idea. At the tail end of World War II a plane carrying both Americans and Germans crash lands into a glacier outside of Reykjavik. Snow and drifting ice quickly cover up the plane and the occupants who die of the extreme cold a few days after crash landing.
Over the years several searches are made for the plane and it’s contents by American interests but none bear fruit. Finally in 1999 the plane is spotted somewhat uncovered and the US launches a search for it blatantly bypassing the Icelandic government, and sending in special forces to unearth the wreck. A young skier and his friend spot the plane, but are captured by the American soldiers, the friend killed, and Elias (the skier) thrown into a crevasse by the troops. Elias before passing out manages to call his sister Kristin a young attorney working for the Icelandic government as a commercial consultant via his cell phone. Almost immediately after the phone call is over she is attacked by two killers demanding to know what her brother had told her.
Kristin begins the search for her brother after thwarting the killers, and enlists the help of several people, including her ex boyfriend Steve. The center of the plot is: what was the purpose of the plane manned by soldiers of both sides while the war was still on. Several ideas are brought out during Kristin’s search, and the final one, and the reason for the flight is one that has been presented in other books before but is still a rather interesting one and kept sufficiently illusive by the author to make the book very readable. 12/11 Paul Lane

THE OPPOSITE OF LOVE by Julie Buxbaum: Emily Haxby is a successful young Manhattan attorney. It appears as though she has it all—a successful job, a handsome, wonderful boyfriend, Andrew. But before Andrew has the chance to propose to her, she ends the relationship. Her life begins to fall apart—she’s assigned to work on a law suit she doesn’t believe in, working side by side with an attorney that is known to be overly friendly and her active, loving, Grandpa Jack is suffering from the beginnings of Alzheimer’s. Emily begins on a journey, aided by her close friends, to find herself and soon discovers what is important in life. We begin to learn the motivation for Emily’s choices. This debut novel was comical, but also incredibly raw and emotional. The author’s writing style is right on—she uses the perfect language to describe an emotion, or a setting, which makes the reader feel that they are part of the book. 05/08 Jennifer Lawrence

THE ORCHID SHROUD by Michelle Wan: Mara, Julien and the entire cast return in this follow up to last summer’s Deadly Slipper. While renovating the de Bonford estate, two workers discover the desiccated remains of a baby boy, hidden in the wall. In an attempt to protect the family name from subsequent media fallout, Christophe de Bonford enlists Mara’s help to find out who the child is and clear the de Bonford name. Meanwhile, animals and villagers are being savagely attacked by what is described as a giant beast. On the outset, Wan presents the beauty and tranquility of the Dordogne region. As she draws readers in, however, she scratches away at this façade to reveal the darkness that lurks in the corners of this sleepy French region. Some readers may cringe at the seemingly gimmicky nature of this series but I find that Wan’s titles toe the line of being a true “cozy” mystery. By combining history, mythology and orchidology, Wan is able to create original and interesting stories without falling into the “cute” trap that so many series fall prey to. 09/06 Becky LeJeune

ORDINARY HEROES by Scott Turow: Moving away from legal thrillers (Reversible Errors) and nonfiction (Ultimate Punishment), Turow has penned a searing story of World War II interwoven with personal family drama that is simply mesmerizing. Stewart Dubinsky is not especially close to his father David Dubin, even their names are different, yet his death prompts Stewart to try and find out more about this enigmatic man. He uncovers some startling information: that his father was engaged to another woman before his mother, and that he was court-martialed during the Battle of the Bulge. Dubinsky decides to write a family history, starts digging and uncovers a manuscript his father wrote about his war experiences that is alternately moving and horrifying, vindicating and vilifying and shines light on a side of his father, and mother, that he never knew. While some of the historical facts presented are not one hundred percent accurate, the emotional wallop of the book more than justifies the literary license and should secure its place in the canon of WWII literature. Ordinary Heroes is an extraordinary, unforgettable novel, which Turow notes was inspired by his own father’s military experiences. 11/05 Copyright © 2005 Cahners Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. Reprinted with permission.

ORIGIN by Diana Abu-Jaber: Although I personally found this book disappointing, I suspect many women would like it. The plot – Lena Dawson, a fingerprint specialist in the Syracuse, NY forensics lab gets involved when there is a pike in local SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome) cases. Is it an anomaly or is there a more sinister solution? Dawson is a former foster child with an ex-husband and a tenuous current relationship with one of the detectives, all of which are sources of stress as she pursues the mystery. Nicely written, but too slowly paced with too much estrogen content for me to really enjoy. 08/09 Jack Quick

ORIGINAL SIN by Allison Brennan: Moira O’Donnell was raised with one purpose: to serve a specific role in her mother’s coven. You see Moira’s mother, Fiona, is one of the strongest of her kind, but she wants more. Ever since her escape, Moira has been working to help a secret brotherhood of priests whose purpose is to defeat people like Fiona. In spite of the black mark of her heritage, Moira will be an important ally and a secret weapon when the final battle comes. Moira’s mentor knows this and has made sure that she will be prepared when that day arrives, but many of the brotherhood have their doubts, including Anthony Zaccardi. When Moira follows her mother’s trail to the tiny town of Santa Louisa, she finds signs of a terrible ceremony gone wrong. Fiona wanted to trap the demon incarnations of the seven deadly sins. Instead, she unleashed the demons on an unsuspecting world. Now, Moira is the only one who can stop the evil. Brennan’s first paranormal outing is a winner. I love the detail that has gone into this book and can’t wait to learn more as the series develops. 1/10 Becky Lejeune

THE OTHER GUY’S BRIDE by Connie Brockway: This is historical romance set in Egypt yet somehow it has a contemporary feel to it. Ginesse Braxton is a headstrong young woman from a family of archaeologists, determined to prove her worth in the field. By disguising herself as the affianced bride-to-be of a fort commander near where she believes the missing city of Zerzura lies, Ginesse finds herself escorted to the fort by a man she believes to be an American cowboy, Jim Owens. Ginesse is a disaster waiting to happen, and Owens saves her several times, discovering he has strong feelings for the commander’s bride and she has strong romantic ideas about him. This is a fast, fun read with the requisite happy ending, and I learned a bit about Egypt as a bonus. 3/12 Stacy Alesi, AKA The BookBitch

THE OTHER SIDE OF SILENCE by Bill Pronzini: Rick Fallon is a corporate security office. His marriage became brittle when he lost his son, Timmy. It eventually came apart and he decides to take two weeks vacation in California’s Mohave Desert to get his life back together. Three days into the trip he finds Casey Dunbar, who’s tried and failed to kill herself after months of fruitlessly searching for her young son, who’s been abducted by her ex-husband. Fallon realizes that while there is no hope for his son, perhaps there is for young Kevin Spicer, Casey’s eight and one half year old son. There’s plenty of action in the resulting search-and-rescue. Pronzini once again shows why he is a Grand Master, with his ability to create strong characters, compelling plots, and excitement. Definitely recommended. 10/08 Jack Quick

OTHERS by James Herbert: Nicholas Dismas has been given a second chance to save his soul. This time around, he’s been cursed with deformities and handicaps. He also has no knowledge of his past life or the choice spot in hell his exploits once earned him. In this life, Nick, a private investigator, must make the right choice or suffer eternal consequences. Shelly Ripstone has hired Nick to find a missing person. Not just any missing person, her son. The problem is, Shelly’s son was pronounced dead at the time of his birth eighteen years ago. Recently, Shelly has been told by a psychic that her son is in fact alive and in desperate need of her help. Nick is ready to refuse the case immediately, but something urges him to move forward with the investigation. This brutally shocking and disturbing case will test Nick like no other. Herbert, one of the best in the horror business, brings to life a truly grotesque cast of characters. Probably the most frightening part of this gruesome book is the author’s note at the end, which states that the idea for this story stemmed from actual events in a London hospital. 10/07 Becky Lejeune

OUR LADY OF PAIN by Elena Forbes: A fairly straight forward, but interesting, police procedural featuring the Barnes Murder Squad of West London. The bound and nude body of art dealer Rachel Tenison turns up in Holland Park. In her mouth is a page of verse, eventually identified as an excerpt from Swinburne. When the squad learns of a similar crime a year earlier that claimed the life of university lecturer Catherine Watson, they wonder if a copycat killer might be at work. In the meantime, the Squad, led by Detective Mark Tartaglia uncovers evidence that the ostensibly prim and proper victim did indeed walk on the wild side, and that some people close to her, including her step-brother, an MP, have something to hide relevant to the murder. Solid second outing in this series after 2007’s Die With Me. 01/09 Jack Quick

Our Lady of the Forest by David Guterson: As with his earlier books, Snow Falling on Cedars and East of the Mountains, Mr. Guterson has set his most recent tale in the Pacific Northwest. His portrayal of a depressed logging community is brutally honest, but without judgment. Just as the forests have been logged out without any thought of future consequences, so too have the people of North Fork been depleted of something vital and beautiful.
His story revolves around a young woman, living minimally in a campground and eking out a living by picking mushrooms in the forest. As Guterson is wont to do, she is described in detail, down to her sniffles. On one of her forays, she believes that she has a vision of the Virgin Mary who speaks to her and asks her to build a church on the site. A religious flash mob ensues, to the chagrin of the lumber company which owns the property and the Catholic church in the person of Father Butler who is sent to evaluate the “miracle.”
The honesty and accuracy of Mr. Guterson’s descriptions are one of the strengths of his writing here. However, this honesty seems to dictate a lack of feeling for or commitment to his characters and the forces moving them. That distance interfered with my becoming totally involved in his story.
This is a very good book, but I think that a little more feeling would have made it something more special. ~This review contributed by Geoffrey R. Hamlin.

OUT OF MIND by Catherine Sampson: Robin Ballantyne returns to work at Britain’s largest news corporation and immediately raises hackles with a new documentary series on unsolved missing persons cases. Melanie Jacobs, an experienced combat photographer, has disappeared in Britain and it is obvious no one wants Robin to follow-up. Minding new twins and maintaining a fragile relationship with her policeman gentleman friend add to Robin’s challenges. In the end, solving the mystery becomes a matter of life and death. Before that we are treated to quite a rambling adventure, which seems to involve most of Britain’s adult population. Although I have encountered stronger plotting the descriptive writing is good and the suspense element is maintained throughout the book. 10/05 ~This review contributed by Jack Quick.

OUT OF RANGE by Hank Steinberg: While this is Steinberg’s first novel his background does includes the creation of the hit TV show “Without a Trace. “Out of Range” is filled with the type of excitement and express train forward motion that the TV show included as a matter of course. Charlie Davis is a leading Journalism photographer that met and married Julie a woman that worked with International organizations that dispensed food and other materials to children in third world countries. They were living in Uzbekistan six years prior to the opening of the action in the book with Julie pregnant with their first child, when Charlie, covering a manifestation against the government was wounded by anti Rebel forces moving against that protest. He and Julie escaped with their lives and ended moving back to the US, living in Los Angeles. Moving to the present: Julie takes a four day trip to see her sister in New York and arriving back home takes her two children to Disneyland. She does not come home that evening although the children are safe. Charlie learns that she has been kidnapped and via high tech probing finds that she has been sent back to Uzbekistan. Prior to marrying Charlie, Julie had had an affair with a wealthy man whose father is high up in the Uzbekistan hierarchy but she turned around and left him to marry Charlie. Circumstantial evidence seems to point to Julie spending the four days she claimed she had spent visiting her sister with her former lover in Uzbekistan and while Charlie is understandably devastated he decides that he must try and get her back if only for the sake of their children. There is admittedly a good deal of literary license involved in Steinberg’s moving the book forward, but this does not in any way detract from becoming caught up in the fast moving action depicted. Many novels have such license employed with sequences of somewhat illogical action that does not spoil those books for the reader caught up in the crisp, and captivating prose and just enjoying a good book. The ending is in keeping with the action, and as it is said, “All’s well that ends well.” 6/13 Paul Lane

OUT OF THE BLACK by John Rector: A taut short novel about one man’s battle to save the one thing that he loves most in the world. Matt Caine lost his wife in an auto accident but has his daughter Anna with him after she survived the crash. He is in the midst of a financial crunch and has to work at any job that comes up via a temporary job service. He is also in debt to a loan shark, although that individual is somewhat of a friend to him. An old friend of his is released from jail and immediately begins tempting Matt with a scheme to kidnap a woman and get her obviously rich husband to pay a ransom. Jay, his friend, paints the crime as quick and without any danger of anything going wrong. WRONG – Matt finally agrees to go in with Jay and the world turns crazy. As part of the emerging disaster of the kidnapping going wrong Matt’s daughter Anna is taken and held by the family of the kidnapped woman. Rector keeps the reader immersed in the developing story and problems faced by Matt. Easily a book that lends itself to one sitting and keeps interest focused on the evolving events and their resolution. 9/13 Paul Lane
THE OUTLAWS by W.E.B. Griffin and William E. Butterworth IV: In this sixth presidential agent thriller the U.S. president has ordered Lt. Col. Carlos “Charley” Castillo to disband his secret organization, the Office of Organizational Analysis, and to “fall off the face of the earth.” After the president dies of a ruptured aorta, his successor wants the order to remain in effect. However, there is the no small matter of several kilograms of Congo-X—a very nasty, fatal bioweapon that Charlie supposedly destroyed, which appear in the United States. Castillo and his former colleagues race to find out who sent the stuff and what they intend to do with the rest of it. Oh, and the Russians are after Charlie; so is the American government but for (mostly) different reasons. Some people munch cashew nuts, others indulge in chocolate. Griffin’s military thrillers are my personal vice. I never tire of them. 03/11 Jack Quick

OUTRAGE by Robert K. Tanenbaum: It’s a shame when a series you have enjoyed for many years begins to lose steam. I have followed the adventures of Butch Karp and Marlen Ciampi and the growth of their children, Lucy, Zak, and Ginacarlo, but now its time, I’m afraid, to let them go. The plot revolves around the railroading of a shy Bronx teenager with limited social skills and only a rudimentary education for a series of horrific murders. The real villains, in addition to the dug-addicted psychopath who actually does the killings are, an ambitious young assistant district attorney, a disgruntled police detective who is willing to lie, withhold evidence, and kill to be labeled a hero, and of course, everyone’s favorite whipping boy, the media. The book plods along to its inevitable conclusion. Superman, i.e. Karp, saves the day, Marlene is in danger, and there are various and sundry domestic issues addressed along the way. Who was it who said it doesn’t end with a bang, but a whimper? 07/11 Jack Quick

THE OUTSIDE MAN by Richard North Patterson: The outside man is society lawyer Adam Shaw. First he is a Yankee and second he is in the South, which makes him a Damn Yankee. Then he finds the dead body of his best friend’s wealthy wife, and the friend is missing. No one other than Shaw really wants to open this can of worms, and the further it goes, even Shaw begins to have doubts. Patterson’s books all seem to have an underlying social theme that sometimes can get in the way of the story, but they are still good reads. 07/06 Jack Quick

The Outside World by Tova Mirvis: This captivating novel is really a comparative cultural study of Modern Orthodox and Ultra Orthodox Jews. Over the last century most Jews have slowly shed their strict laws, with modernization as the goal. But then the tide started turning back, and over the past couple of decades younger people seem to be going back to the older, stricter ways. Mirvis does a masterful job of illustrating their differences. Tzippy is 22 years old and unmarried, a very worrisome situation in the Ultra Orthodox world she lives in. Bryan was raised Modern Orthodox, and after he graduates from high school, he spends a year studying at a Yeshiva in Israel before he heads off to Columbia University, his father’s alma mater. But during his time in Israel, he has a spiritual awakening, changes his name to his Hebrew name, Baruch, and dons the black hat and clothes of the Ultra Orthodox. His only goal in life is to immerse himself in the study of the Torah, which causes his family to feel bewildered and inadequate. Meanwhile, Tzippy decides to escape the constant matchmaking of her community and insists on spending a year in Israel herself. And so they become a match made in heaven, or in this case, Israel. Mirvis obviously knows her subject and this is a very enlightening and engaging book. 05/04

OVERKILL by Joseph Teller: If you are a criminal lawyer like Harrison J. Walker – Jaywalker, then you can expect to spend a certain amount of time in court. That’s where Jaywalker was, minding his own business, when he was picked by a judge to take on the defense of seventeen year old Jeremy Estrada. Estrada had killed another boy after a fight over a girl – shot him point-blank between the eyes. Right off the bat, Jaywalker knows the SODDI defense won’t work. The SODDI defense – Some Other Dude Did It. So if Jaywalker is going to preserve his ninety-percent acquittal rate, he needs to cut a deal. It’s the first homicide trial for the prosecuting attorney and she says no deal – at least no reasonable deal. So all Jaywalker has left is the “yesbut” defense, as in: “Did you kill him?” “Yes, but….” Jaywalker is accustomed to bending the rules – this time he must stretch the law to the breaking point and beyond. I am so glad Teller quit lawyering and starting writing. His books are awesome. 08/10 Jack Quick

OVERKILL by Eugenia Lovett West: In this follow up to Without Warning, Emma Street is called to Italy to intervene when her opera singer niece gets involved with a rich playboy. It seems the girl is ready to throw everything away on a romantic whim. When Emma arrives, however, things take a drastic turn and the singer’s accompanist is found dead in her hotel room. Although it appears to be an obvious suicide, further investigation reveals evidence of foul play. Meanwhile, Emma and her niece are allowed to return home, where the girl falls ill as the result of an unknown virus. Emma finds herself once again involved in a grand conspiracy that threatens the safety of the nation. I enjoyed this mystery, though I’m not sure how much of it is entirely plausible. Fortunately, West does a good job of distracting readers with fun characters and an interesting plot. 01/10 Becky Lejeune

THE OVERLOOK by Michael Connelly: If this book looks a little smaller than is typical, that is because this is really a novella based on a serial that was run in the New York Times Magazine. I saw Connelly prior to its publication in that venue, and while he said he enjoyed the process, he felt somewhat stifled by the format of a set number of words each week. He prefers his chapters to have more of a natural flow, so this version of the story has had extensive revision from the original serial.
It is a Harry Bosch story, and it is excellent. As regular readers of the series know, we last saw Harry in Echo Park, which ended with some problems for him. In The Overlook, he has a new assignment, a new partner and a second go at FBI agent Rachel Walling. Bosch is now working the Homicide Special unit of the LAPD, and is basically training his young rookie partner, Ignatio. He prefers to be called Iggy but Harry just can’t bring himself to do that. Their assignment is a dead doctor who had access to radioactive materials. The fear of terrorism brings in the FBI and ratchets up the suspense to an almost unbearable point, especially with the twists it takes, making this short novel a very fast, very satisfying read. 05/07 Stacy Alesi, AKA The BookBitch

THE OVERLOOK by Michael Connelly: Harry Bosch’s latest adventure was originally serialized in the New York Times. The expanded book version, although short, still provides plenty of action, and as a bonus, there is an additional chapter available at no cost from http://michaelconnelly.com/. Bosch has a new assignment, with LAPD’s Homicide Special Unit. His first case involves the murder of Dr. Stanley Kent, who had access to radioactive materials stored at hospitals throughout L.A. Bosch has to battle potential terrorists as well as various crime-fighting bureaucracies, including the FBI and Homeland Security, and former lover and FBI agent Rachel Walling, while breaking in new partner and rookie Iggy Ferras. This one may not be the usual Bosch concerto, but it’s a nice little piece to enjoy. 07/07 Jack Quick

THE OXFORD MURDERS by Guillermo Martinez: An unusual read. An Argentinean math student is studying at Oxford when his landlady is murdered. His hero, an Oxford don who has written a text on logical series, receives a note with a symbol. Another murder is committed – another note. The don fears that the killer may be testing him, thanks to a chapter in his book on serial murders. The police work is not very convincing and unless you are a math nut (I am) this one is probably not for you. 08/06 Jack Quick

PACIFIC GLORY by P.T. Deutermann: Well written, but somewhat derivative tale of Annapolis graduates involved in the three defining naval battles – Savo Island, Midway, and the Battle of Samar – of WWII in the Pacific. Marsh Vincent, who barely survives Savo and Mick McCarty, whose dive bombing at Midway sinks a Japanese aircraft carrier that helped devastate Pearl Harbor both love Glory Hawthorne, a navy nurse, whose husband Tommy Lewis, a classmate, was killed at Pearl Harbor. After Savo, Marsh fears he may not have the courage to face combat again. Mick, an Annapolis football hero, has problems with alcohol and authority. If you have seen Pearl Habor, Midway and In Harms Way then you know all the “big picture” moments, but Deutermann, himself a former Navy ship commander, fills in all the small details in a most entertaining way while being true to the overall history of the era. 04/11 Jack Quick

PAINKILLER by Will Staeger: First novel from an ESPN Television Network producer rambles a bit but is not badly written. A semiretired local CIA operative in the Caribbean is involved in something which may or may not be related to events in China which cause a young analyst in Washington forecast an invasion of Taiwan, possibly by North Korean troops. Throw in a touch of voodoo, self-serving higher ups and the usual politicos and you have a pretty convincing yarn. Written in short chapters alternating between the enigmatic W. Cooper in the BVI and ambitious Julie Laramie in Virginia, you will see the connection before they do. Book reads much longer than it is because for the most part it is two books until well past the half way mark. Recommend and look forward to more from Mr. Staeger. 06/05 ~This review contributed by Jack Quick.

PAINTED LADIES by Robert B. Parker: In thirty eight outings Parker’s Spenser has come full circle, from 1973’s The Godwulf Manuscript to this final adventure. In both the first and the last, Spenser tries to retrieve a priceless work of art and deals with the rarefied and nasty world of academics. The plot this time plays off Spenser’s shame over the murder of a client. A college art professor asked him to provide backup during a delicate ransom exchange for a rare seventeenth-century Dutch painting. The exchange goes bad and Spenser, ever true to his modern-day chivalric code, cannot let himself off the hook for the professor’s death, even when his investigation unveils the professor’s avocation as a sexual predator of coeds. Halfway through the book, Parker writes a perfect valedictory for the much-loved Spenser: “Sometimes I slew the dragon and galloped away with the maiden. Sometimes I didn’t. . . . But so far the dragon hadn’t slain me.” I couldn’t have said it any better. 12/10 Jack Quick

A PALE HORSE by Charles Todd: Hmm. To start with, Charles Todd is really a mother and son writing team. She lives in Delaware. He lives in North Carolina. The book is decidedly British, with much of the action occurring not in the London we know but in Berkshire, specifically where cottages once built to house lepers stand in the shadow of a great white horse cut into the chalk hillside. The action occurs during that lull after the Great War and before the Great Depression. The protag, Inspector Ian Rutledge, is a World War I vet who regularly listens and often talks to Hamish, a ghostly character whose acquaintance he made in the trenches in France during the war. I am so glad I didn’t pay any attention to the above because this is one great book. A police procedural with a puzzle that keeps you turning page after page. Now I have learned this is the tenth outing for Inspector Rutledge so I have nine more treats in store. Awesome. 04/08 Jack Quick

PALE HORSES by Jassy Mackenzie: Sonet Meintjies accidentally jumps to her death off a swanky downtown Johannesburg skyscraper when her parachute doesn’t open in this fourth book in the Jade de Jong series. Her base jumping partner hires private investigator Jade de Jong to clear his name and find out what really happened. De Jong reluctantly takes the case and immediately finds much more than she bargained for; Sonet’s sister, an investigative journalist looking into the timely topic of genetically modified seeds, is missing. As de Jong starts digging around, all leads seem to point to a small, mysteriously abandoned farming community in Limpopo. In a another storyline, Ntombi Khumalo, a widow with a young son, is working as a driver for a man she is sure is a murderer. Her employer has effectively trapped her in his employ; she is completely dependent on him for all support, and he threatens her very existence. Khumalo is terrified, yet determined to protect her young son no matter the cost. De Jong is tough as nails and persistent, despite the fact that every clue leads down a dark, twisted and dangerous alley. The South African setting and culture are fascinating, the strong women characters intriguing, and the way the storylines eventually intersect adds another layer to this dark and disturbing tale. While not for the faint of heart, Pale Horses is sure to appeal to fans of Liza Marklund, Zoe Sharp and fellow South African crime writer Deon Meyer. 4/13 Stacy Alesi, AKA The BookBitch Copyright © 2013 Booklist, a division of the American Library Association. Reprinted with permission.

PANIC by Jeff Abbott: This fast paced thriller is based on a simple yet terrifying premise – what if everything you thought to be true about yourself and your family, your reality, turned out to be totally fabricated? That’s what happens to Evan Casher, a young, up-and-coming documentary film maker. He receives a panicky phone call from his mother, urging him home under mysterious circumstances. His new girlfriend slips out of his apartment without him realizing it, and his life as he once knew it begins to unravel, and fast. Enter the mysterious and dangerous Jargo – friend or foe yet to be determined. Ditto the CIA. And Casher’s father appears to be missing on top of all the other duplicity. The pages fly by, rife with international intrigue and a whirling cast of players who seem to be changing sides by the minute. Casher has no one to trust as the bodies start falling and the truth finally wins out. What a wild ride… 08/05 Stacy Alesi, AKA The BookBitch

PANIC by Jeff Abbott: Evan Casher is a successful documentary filmmaker in Austin, Texas, when his mother telephones him to come home immediately. Upon arrival, he finds her murdered and is almost killed himself. Thus starts an adventure where nothing is at it seems. A group of spies called the Deep is after him. His girlfriend is one of them. The CIA is involved. Is the CIA contact on his side or is he aligned with Jargo, a cunning, brutally efficient point man who believes that Casher has a computer file containing secret information about the organization’s contacts. Why does Jargo think he has the file? Where is it? Was Casher’s mother really a Deep operative? What about his father? Where is he and what connection does he have with Jargo? It was enough to make me panic, even if Evan didn’t. Well done, with a final twist that will leave you breathless. 10/05 ~This review contributed by Jack Quick.

PANIC ATTACK by Jason Starr: Things were nearly perfect for Dr. Adam Bloom. Admittedly, he did have some bad dreams, but he and his wife Dana live in a luxurious house and his practice has given him financial security. All this is shattered when Marissa, their twenty-two-year-old college graduate daughter wakes him up one night and says, “Somebody’s downstairs.” Adam shoots one of the two intruders dead, but the other escapes, and this ends the Bloom’s orderly life. Adam no longer feels safe but refuses to move since he has lived there all his life. The ensuing stress takes its toll on their marriage. Then Marissa meets a young, talented artist named Xan. Adam feels that something’s not quite right with Xan, but his daughter ignores his warnings and falls deeply in love with him. Because this is a Jason Starr novel, you know these people going to make a train wreck of their lives. 06/09 Jack Quick

PANIC ZONE by Rick Mofina: A young mother in Wyoming is thrown clear of a devastating car crash. She thinks she sees someone pull her infant son from the crash. The police believe it’s a case of trauma playing cruel tricks on the mind, until the night the grief-stricken woman hears a voice through the phone: “Your baby is alive.”
Jack Gannon’s first international assignment is to find out whether his colleagues killed in a café’ explosion in Rio were innocent victims or targets, who got too close to a huge story. In the Caribbean, a cruise ship passenger has an agonizing death. How are these events connected? Robert Lancer is a top ranked counterterrorism official trying to determine whether someone has resurrected long-buried secret research, research that is now being used as a deadly weapon. With millions of lives at stake, experts work frantically against time as an unstoppable force hurls them all into the panic zone. Another first rate thriller from Mofina. 06/10 Jack Quick

PANIC ZONE by Rick Mofina: In this follow up to Vengeance Road, reporter Jack Gannon has left behind small-town Buffalo to join the World Press Alliance, a move that has more seasoned WPA journalists a little miffed. When a bombing in Rio de Janeiro kills two of their own and the Alliance is scrambling for coverage. Jack is sent to the scene itself where he quickly steps on locals’ toes, but what Jack discovers is more far-reaching that the purported drug bombing itself. Jack’s digging eventually leads him to Big Could, Wyoming where a recent widow has been investigating her husband’s death. The couple was involved in a devastating car crash and her husband was killed almost instantly. Authorities told the woman that her baby died in the accident as well, but she distinctly remembers seeing someone pull the infant from the wreckage. Jack may be the only one who will listen and together they will find themselves at the heart of a plot that has global ramifications. Mofina has certainly shown his ability to stretch his creative talents in this second Jack Gannon installment. From the beginning, I had no idea where the story was heading. The addition of a sort of bio warfare theme was an unexpected surprise. For some it may be too far, but I found it to be an interesting twist. 07/10 Becky Lejeune

THE PANTHER by Nelson Demille: John Corey and his wife Kate Mayfield are members of a joint anti terrorist task force based in New York City. John is an ex NY City police officer, and Kate is an active member of the FBI both posted to the group. DeMille has written other books involving them and their joint activities in fighting terrorism. They are called into their supervisor’s office and asked if they would join with a CIA sponsored operation in Yemen to hunt down and capture an Al Qaeda leader calling himself The Panther. Characteristically John wisecracks his thoughts about this and is reluctant to go but does so to go along with his wife who feels that such an operation will enhance her career. John has been in Yemen previously hunting The Panther who is acknowledged to be the mastermind of the attack on the US Cole and the killing of American sailors some years ago. He does have the need to complete the task of hunting down this murderer and putting finish to the job. Why John and his wife are asked to go and join in with the CIA in the hunt is one of the underlying motives in the plot and is well developed as events unfold once in Yemen. Demille reintroduces Paul Brenner (The General’s Daughter, Upcountry) and he becomes a part of the team that, under the CIA aegis, will hunt down and arrest the Panther. A good deal of DeMille’s personal opinions about the Arab world and the machinations of the CIA in carrying out it’s missions comes through in the book making it more engrossing. One of the highlights is the casting of the Panther as an American born Muslim, raised and educated in the US and his reasons for leaving, hating America and Americans, and developing into a terrorist leader. There is a logic in this that is shown to the reader and proves, right or wrong, very interesting. The ending is obvious, but mixed with several convoluted motives to keep the reader following closely. Obviously room is left for future novels involving John and Kate and possibly Paul Brenner. 10/12 Paul Lane

PANTOMIME by Laura Lam: While Iphigenia Laurus had never imagined running away to the circus, RH Ragona’s Circus of Magic becomes her refuge and home. She joins as Micah Grey, keeping her past secret and her secrets closely guarded. As Iphigenia, Gene for short, there were certain things expected of her: she was raised in high society and set to make a good match. But the constant reminder that she was different from those around her and the confined limits of her life forced her to leave. Now, as Micah, the sky is literally the limit. But the Laurus family is still searching for their daughter and life in the circus is turning out to be more difficult than Gene imagined. Laura Lam’s debut was not quite what I’d expected. In addition to the fantasy aspects and the unique world Lam has built for her story, the book deals quite a bit with issues of identity and acceptance. I was surprised that this was a debut – Lam’s writing is confident and her characters and world are all strongly developed. What’s more, she handles a quite difficult topic with what seems like ease. 2/13 Becky Lejeune

Paranoia by Joseph Finder: I haven’t been this excited about a book in a long time; Joseph Finder has taken the ordinary-guy-in-extraordinary-circumstances thriller to a new level. Adam Cassidy is a worker drone, but manages to use his computer skills to one-up his company by throwing an executive style $78,000 party for a retiring dock worker, and sticking them with the bill – or so he thinks. But he gets caught and much to his surprise, being fired isn’t an option. He is offered a choice – certain jail time, or the chance to infiltrate a competing company and pass along their secrets. Under intensive tutelage, Adam manages to work his way into a position as assistant to the competing CEO, thus avoiding the prison stint. But his new boss treats him like a son, and he finds himself with a deep moral dilemma – should he pull out, and even scarier, can he? The tension mounts almost unbearably as Adam is caught in the middle, making Paranoia impossible to put down. The technical stuff is handled masterfully – it’s obvious Finder knows what he’s talking about, but he isn’t the least bit condescending, and the writing is clear and concise and gives the reader enough information to make the story work without getting bogged down in details, which is a really tough ratio to find. Perfect pacing, and even more impressively, a perfect ending, should put Finder at the forefront of the thriller genre. 01/04.

PARANOIA by Joseph Finder: Adam Cassidy becomes an unwilling industrial espionage agent for Wyatt Telecom and its slick and relentless CEO Nick Wyatt. Cassidy is placed at competitor Trion Systems where he becomes personal assistant to Trion founder Jock Goddard. Adam comes to admire Jock and certainly is deliriously happy with all the trappings of his new position but he can’t get away from the demands of his former employers, or can he. The ending is a shocker. May well be Finder’s best yet. 03/06 Jack Quick

PARIAH by Dave Zeltserman: This is the second (after 2008’s SMALL CRIMES) of a planned “bad ass out of prison” series. Kyle Kevin was a power in the South Boston Irish Mob until a falling out with head mobster Red Mahoney lead to an eight year term in prison. Now Kyle is out, has come home, and wants revenge on both Mahoney and on his girlfriend Janet, who didn’t wait for him while he was sent away. Imagine his surprise when he finds his younger brother has gone straight, has a straight job, and a straight girl friend. Kyle lures his brother back into the life with unforeseen consequences that ultimately give Kevin the celebrity status he has been seeking. But all things come with a price. Its noir, its satire, and its Boston that you don’t see on Cheers. Nicely done follow-up to SMALL CRIMES. 10/09 Jack Quick

THE PARIS ENIGMA by Pablo De Santis: I don’t do many “historicals” but found this one to be first rate. The 12 Detectives, the world’s most famous sleuths, are scheduled to meet in Paris for the first time at the 1889 World’s Fair. Founding member Renaldo Craig of Argentina, is taken ill and sends in his place, Sigmundo Salvatrio, loyal assistant and last remaining member of Craig’s “Detective Academy” that was set up to pass along the skills of the master detective. Salvatorio is also the unwitting messenger conveying something from Craig to fellow Twelve co-founding member Viktor Arzaky. Shortly before the fair’s opening, Louis Darbon, one of two claimants among the 12 for the title of Detective of Paris, falls to his death from the Eiffel Tower. Arzaky takes Salvatrio on as his apprentice, and the pair struggle to solve the mystery before more victims are claimed. They soon realizes that the stakes involved are unimaginably high; they must not only catch the stalking murderer but also alter the fate of their precious brotherhood. Definitely recommended. 01/09 Jack Quick

PARISHIONER by Walter Mosley: This nameless house of worship near Santa Barbara is a sanctuary for the worst kinds of sinners: the congregation and even the clergy have broken all ten Commandments and more. But is there more to this Church? Xavier Rule—Ecks to his friends—didn’t come to California from Harlem in search of salvation but, thanks to the grace of this church, he has begun to learn to forgive himself and others for past misdeeds when a woman arrives to seek absolution for the guilt she has carried for years over her role in a scheme to kidnap three children and sell them on the black market. As part of atoning for his past life on the wrong side of the law, Ecks is assigned to find out what happened to the abducted children. As he follows the thin trail of the twenty-three-year-old crime, he must struggle against his old, lethal instincts—and learn when to give in to them. Unique. 12/12 Jack Quick

THE PARTICULAR SADNESS OF LEMON CAKE by Aimee Bender: When Rose Edelstein turns nine years old, her mother bakes her favorite lemon and chocolate cake. But when Rose eats it, it tastes strange and she realizes she is tasting emotion – her mother’s emotion. Then she starts noticing it in everything she eats; the hurriedness of one baker, the rage of another. She hates her gift but doesn’t know how to get rid of it or deal with it. Her brother also has a a rather supernatural gift, but this isn’t his story. It is a family story, a coming of age story, and a sort of reverse Like Water for Chocolate magic realism story. It also reminded me a bit of Eat Cake by Jeanne Ray, but that book was so much more developed and enjoyable and this one just misses. This book has been praised for its language, which I didn’t particularly notice, and has been a big hit with book groups. It felt wanting to me, it needed more developed characters besides Rose, and really more story. I liked the premise and was hoping to be transported into this magical world, but it just didn’t work for me. 09/10 Stacy Alesi, AKA The BookBitch

THE PASSAGE by Justin Cronin: The end begins with an experiment gone awry. There were twelve chosen for the program—twelve convicts, plus one little girl. Amy was the last. She was different from all of the others. Almost a century later, humanity is on the brink of extinction. A group in California built a careful and precarious community that has somehow managed to survive. Amy’s return will prompt a small group of these survivors to begin a quest that will change everything. Mankind’s continued existence rests in the travelers’ hands. Whether they will succeed remains to be seen, but learning the truth about Amy will prove to be a pivotal part and could be their last hope. Folks have been talking about The Passage with great anticipation, making it what promises to be the big blockbuster book of the summer. I have to say that the hype is very well deserved. The first part of a projected trilogy, The Passage is a gripping and hefty post-apocalyptic vampire book that lived up to, in fact exceeded, every expectation that I had of it. Cronin builds a magnificent landscape filled with a rich history and a fantastic cast of characters that will sweep readers along on an epic tale of survival amidst the end of the world as we know it. [Note from the BookBitch: Director Ridley Scott owns the film rights, and it is in development] 06/10 Becky Lejeune

THE PASSING BELLS by Phillip Rock: In the summer of 1914, the most pressing things on the minds of Greville family of Abingdon Pryory are marriage and matchmaking. Alexandra is about to make her introduction on the scene and the eldest, Charles, is intent on settling down with an unacceptable match. Before much can be made of either, war breaks out in Europe and everything changes for the Grevilles. Charles enlists alongside his best friend, Roger Wood-Lacy, and Alexandra volunteers as a nurse. Hanna Greville’s American nephew was already abroad when the war began and he’s been tasked with covering the campaigns. Roger’s brother, Fenton Wood-Lacy, has been sent to France and witnesses the atrocities from its earliest days. Nothing will ever be the same for any of them. This first in Phillip Rock’s trilogy was originally published in the 70s and has been re-released thanks to Downton Abbey popularity. Frankly it’s a quite brilliant resurrection, in my opinion. Fans of Downton will likely expect The Passing Bells to closely resemble the show. In truth, while it does begin quite similarly, the story quickly takes a much darker turn with first hand narrative focused on the frontlines. The book quite graphically explores the brutality of the war and its effects on the people involved. 1/13 Becky Lejeune

PASSIONS OF THE DEAD by L J Sellers: “You can choose your friends, but not your family.” In this fourth outing, Detective Jackson is facing even more problems than usual. Will he fall victim to budget cuts that will cost him his job just before he finishes twenty years on the job? What about his now unemployed ex-wife? Add that quandary to the usual stress of solving violent crimes. A multiple homicide in which three members of the Walker family are killed and the fourth wounded takes Jackson’s mind away from the topic of job security, although unemployment seems to be a major factor in the slayings. The case quickly becomes a real basket case with multiple family connections and involvement of different family members. Sorting out all the suspects keeps the entire unit busy, as new information keeps pointing to first one, and then another family member. This is another outstanding effort from Sellers and sure to please any police procedural fan. 11/10 Jack Quick

PASSPORT TO PERIL by Robert B. Parker: Way back before Robert B. (B for Brown) Parker started writing about Spenser, there was another Robert B. Parker (B for Bogardus). The original Robert B. Parker is spotlighted in this Hardcase Crime Book Number 57 which takes you on a run behind the Iron Curtain. Parker, a World War II foreign correspondent knows the territory and this 1951 thriller originally published almost sixty years ago captures the fears and dangers of the era perfectly. So take a trip on the Orient Express back into time to a place that is no more – “From Stettin in the Baltic to Trieste in the Adriatic an iron curtain has descended across the Continent. Behind that line lie all the capitals of the ancient states of Central and Eastern Europe. Warsaw, Berlin, Prague, Vienna, Budapest, Belgrade, Bucharest and Sofia; all these famous cities and the populations around them lie in what I must call the Soviet sphere, and all are subject, in one form or another, not only to Soviet influence but to a very high and in some cases increasing measure of control from Moscow.” 06/09 Jack Quick

PATIENT ONE by Leonard Goldberg: Doctor Goldberg works at the UCLA medical center and based on both his expository and medical skills has written quite a few medical thrillers in the past few years. He has also written technical material published for the medical field. While many of his novels have utilized a Forensic pathologist named Joanna Blalock as the protagonist, Patient One is a stand alone.
The principal character David Ballineau might become an ongoing character in future novels due the interesting characterization created for him. David is a former special forces soldier that left the military due to post traumatic stress disorder. He studied medicine after leaving the military and is an emergency room physician in a large regional hospital as the story opens. The president of the United States is hosting a state dinner for the Russian president in celebration of the signing of a new economic treaty between the two countries. Both presidents and many other diners become violently ill due to unknown causes and are rushed to the nearest hospital where David is on duty. The illness had been planned and orchestrated by a group of Chechen terrorists who seize the hospital and hold both presidents hostage. Their demands include the release of Chechens captured by both the US and Russia or people held will be killed.
Dr Ballineau manages to become active both in the care of patients in the hospital, including the presidents, and also utilizing his military training to help in the freeing of the prisoners. A bit of romance is introduced when Carolyn Ross, a trauma nurse helps David. Both have had crushes on each other for some time but have been quiet about it. Their work together in helping to end the crisis certainly brings them together. Like Michael Palmer, the medical descriptions of the novel are what would really be the case, and David’s reactions to the abnormal problems encountered in treatment of the patients is correctly based on his militarily trained reaction times. 5/12 Paul Lane
PATIENT ZERO by Jonathan Maberry: Maberry’s latest, and the first in a new series, begins with Baltimore cop Joe Ledger going up against a dead man, literally. Ledger is part of a task force tracking terrorist movement in the States when he kills a man named Javad Mustapha. Just days later, Ledger is picked up by some agents representing a group called the Department of Military Science. The DMS has been involved in a very strange and interesting case and they want Joe’s help, but first they need him to kill Javad, again. Seems someone has been experimenting with some pretty unique viruses and has managed to create killer zombies. No group has taken responsibility just yet and given what they’re up against, the DMS thinks Ledger could be just what they need to lead their new elite team. Joe and his fellow badasses vow to do their best to track the people responsible while eliminating the threat before the virus spreads, but when it begins to look as though someone in the DMS may be helping the other side, Joe gets pretty pissed. Patient Zero is part horror, part thriller and all action. Both horror and thriller fans alike are sure to love this one. A smart blockbuster novel. 03/09 Becky Lejeune

PATRIOT ACTS by Greg Rucka: Love your country. Fear your government. Know your enemy. Although bodyguard Atticus Kodiak is ready to settle down it is not to be. He is almost killed in an ambush that does take the life of one of his closest friends. Afterwards he and Drama, now known as Alena, try to break away from The Ten – a group of cold-blooded killers operating around the globe. A conspiracy that reaches high into the U.S. government will not allow this, so the two set to work to clear their names and avoid death in a desperate chase around the world. This is possibly the best ever Kodiak book. 01/08 Jack Quick

THE PATRIOTS CLUB by Christopher Reich: At the conclusion of the Revolutionary War, a group of the founding fathers form “The Patriots Club” – to preserve the political special interest initiatives that the country’s founding fathers had defended in the foundation of this nation. Fast forward to the present and Thomas Bolden, a successful 32-year-old investment banker and Harlem Boys Club Foundation trustee, come into the sights of the successors of that group. Bolden chases a pair of muggers through Manhattan’s financial district after they rob his girlfriend, Jenny Dance. They abduct him at gunpoint, but a narrow escape reunites him with Jenny. Bolden already knows too much, though, and the Patriot Club begin to systematically dismantle Bolden’s life. He and a newly pregnant Jenny run for their lives, tracked at every turn by the well-connected “club,” which is headed by retired detective Francois Guilfoyle. Politics and wealth fuel the chase which ultimately leads to a satisfactory conclusion showing why Reich is still among today’s leaders in the international thriller genre. 09/09 Jack Quick

PAY THE PIPER: A Rock ‘n’ Roll Fairy Tale by Jane Yolen and Adam Stemple: A young adult book that doesn’t quite read like one; PAY THE PIPER offers a protagonist who is an adolescent girl with smarts. This short book is strongly written, well told by a mother and son team who combine their writing and music skills to tell an old tale.
Callie MacCallan knows that something is just odd about the appearance of big-name band the Brass Rats, in her town. For one thing, her parents loved the band when they were young and the band members don’t seem to have aged. And this isn’t exactly a major concert venue. When she overhears and sees some odd things, she wonders just who will believe her. When all the children in town disappear Halloween night – except for Callie who had to stay home, trying to write this very tough story for her school newspaper (they gave her the press credentials to cover the concert) – she knows that what she saw wasn’t to be ignored.
Interspersed with Callie’s story, is the story of the otherworldly band, especially lead singer Peter Gingras, an exiled prince of Faerie. He made some very bad mistakes in his youth (centuries past), and he owes the price, which is normally silver and gold. But a misunderstanding with the tour promoter leaves him with the other option – payment in souls, and thus the band takes the children of the town to pay Peter’s debt. And it’s the smart kid who finds a way out that works for pretty much everyone. 07/05 ~This review contributed by Andi Shechter.

PAYBACK TIME by Carl Deuker: A young adult title about football and journalism. High school journalist Daniel “Mitch” True wants more than anything else to have his name on page one of the New York Times. However, at the moment he is more concerned with getting to the bottom of a story closer to his Seattle home. Angel Marichal is obviously a very talented football player, with speed and strength to anchor the Abraham Lincoln High School football defense, but Coach McNully won’t play him. What is going on here and why? As True eats his way through the story, he soon learns that the law of unintended consequences applies to your actions in ways you never imagined. Not bad for what it is. 09/10 Jack Quick
PAYING THE PIPER by Simon Wood: Wow! Eight years ago reporter Scott Fleetwood was interjected into the case of the serial kidnapper called the Piper. At the time, Scott thinks he is dealing with that person, but instead, he and the FBI are fooled by a wannabe. The confusion leads to the real Piper taking his first life, that of the only child of wealthy real estate mogul Charles Rooker. Now the Piper is back and wants revenge. To start, he has kidnapped one of Fleetwood’s twin sons, and demanded $2 million ransom. But is it really money he wants, or Fleetwood’s help in tracking down the man whose imitation created the earlier problems. Its every parent’s nightmare and it affects everyone, Fleetwood, the FBI agent who was originally on the case, Rooker, the wannabe Piper, and of course the Piper himself. Hard to believe this is Wood’s sophomore effort. Delightfully twisty and an amazing climax. 03/08 Jack Quick

Peace Like a River by Leif Enger: I loved this beautifully written book about a family and a place – Minnesota and the North Dakota Badlands. Every character comes to life through the narration of 11-year-old Reuben Land, who suffers from asthma. I fell in love with his sister Swede, a 9-year-old writer of enchanting cowboy poetry with exquisite meter. But older brother Davy kills two boys that have been attacking this family and pays a steep price for it, sending them out on the road and into what surely must be some of most beautiful land in America. But it’s Reuben’s father, Jeremiah Land, conduit of miracles, who holds them all together. Suspend your disbelief and plunge headlong into the inspirational world of the Land family; you will not forget them.

THE PEACH KEEPER by Sarah Addison Allen: Sarah Addison Allen combines a little bit of mystery, a touch of romance, and the feel of a fairy tale in her latest. The Jacksons were once high society in Walls of Water. Thanks to changing industry in the 1930s, the family lost everything, including their home, The Blue Ridge Madam. Willa Jackson thought she left her life in the small town well behind her after high school. But when her father dies, Willa returns to be close to her grandmother. Paxton Osgood, a local rich girl who was never a friend of Willa’s, is experiencing growing pains. Still living with her folks, she throws herself into her work, trying to ignore the fact that she’s falling head over heels for the wrong guy. When renovations at the Madam unearth a secret that’s been buried for seventy years, Paxton and Willa find themselves unexpectedly drawn together and determined to learn the true story behind the discovery. The Peach Keeper is a sweet southern read about the magic of friendship. 10/11 Becky Lejeune

PEGASUS DESCENDING by James Lee Burke: Robicheaux is still going strong and sober in his fifteenth adventure (after Crusader’s Cross), only this time it’s personal. During the dark days in Miami, Robicheaux witnessed the execution of his friend Dallas Klein during an armored car robbery. Fast forward many years to New Iberia, Louisiana, where a young girl with everything to live for commits suicide, a homeless man is killed in a suspicious hit and run, and another young woman – Dallas’s daughter, Trish – is caught passing a hundred dollar bill with the telltale dye mark of stolen funds. Robicheaux hooks up with his former partner, PI Clete Purcel, who does a little private investigating and somehow ends up involved with Trish. While Robicheaux is obsessing over his cases and seriously butting heads with the politically ambitious district attorney, he also manages to unsnarl the mess and get the bad guys with his own inimitable style, while just briefly touching on the horror of Hurricane Katrina. With his superbly written prose and intricate plotting, Burke’s latest is sure to please his legion of fans. 07/06 Stacy Alesi, AKA The BookBitch Copyright © 2006 Cahners Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. Reprinted with permission.

PEGASUS DESCENDING by James Lee Burke: Dave Robicheaux can’t escape the past. Years ago when he “was still going steady with Jim Beam straight up and a beer back” a friend, Dallas Klein, was killed in an armored car robbery that Dave witnessed but was too drunk to stop. Now Dallas’ daughter Trish, a grifter and con artist, shows up in New Iberia apparently intent on getting revenge on the mobsters who caused her father’s death, mobsters who coincidentally now live in New Iberia. If possible, Burke continues to get better. Not only is the story riveting and the prose as elegant as ever, but he breaks the mood from time to time with outrageously funny moments and characters before ratcheting the tension up another notch. For instance, there is “Calamity Jane” AKA Betsy Mossbacher, an FBI agent originally from Chugwater, Wyoming, who deserves her own series. She begins by crashing her vehicle into a New Iberia police cruiser, insults the chief and generally acts more like the proverbial bull in the china shop than a heifer. Mixed in with the serious stuff are incidents like the 911 call from a meth addict who was outraged when his dealer showed up without the drugs the caller had paid for, thereby committing fraud, and according to the caller, added insult to injury by robbing him at gunpoint of seventy-eight dollars and his stash. It just doesn’t get any better. 07/06 Jack Quick

PELHAM FELL HERE by Ed Lynskey: Wow! If you are a Lee Child fan, then plan on grabbing this one to keep you going between Jack Reacher adventures. Frank Johnson has been around the block more than once. Like Reacher, Johnson is a former Military Policemen and now works as a PI and part-time gunsmith. When his cousin Cody Chapman is gunned down with a twelve-gauge shotgun, Johnson starts looking for answers. Before he gets them, two deputy sheriffs ambush and try to kill him. Two on one aren’t sufficient odds as he survives, but only by killing the deputies. Now he is both the hunted and the hunter. Thank goodness he survives, with a little help from his friends, because we want to see more of this guy. 06/08 Jack Quick

PELICAN POINT by Douglas Quinn: A worthy sequel to Quinn’s Blue Heron Marsh. All army veteran Webb Sawyer wants to do is relax in his North Carolina Outer Banks stilt house, fish, spend quality time with his cat Basil, and make the occasional casual foray with one of the local women.. It is not to be. When his college student son Preston makes the gruesome discovery of the body of the Director of Arts and Humanities with a letter opener stuck in the back of his head, Preston is tabbed as a primary suspect. Then Preston disappears leaving Webb and Preston’s girlfriend, Sunshine Bledsoe (got to love these character names), to discover what has happened to Preston and hopefully solve the professor’s murder that has set this chain of events in motion. Having lived in this part of the world for seven years, I can honestly say that Quinn gets the location right, and also tells a mean story well. Definitely recommended. (Author furnished book). 10/09 Jack Quick

THE PEOPLE COUNT by Robert M. Dias:The American dream is over, the political system is broken, corruption rules and the only hope to fix up this mess is a popular revolution by the people who have become victims of big money’s tyranny. This is the thesis of Dias’ book and he goes at it with all guns blazing. It is a novel rather than an essay, but since he does not try and flesh out the varied characters in the book it does come across as an extended essay. A lot of what Dias says is what many Americans feel is the truth. Congress is in constant stalemate, the Supreme court is not the objective body it was set up to be by our founding fathers, and big corporations run the country by payments to anyone that they feel can get things done for them. Dias lays the blame for most of the country’s ills squarely on the Republican party, but also takes shots at President Obama who, he indicates, began well but soon sold out to the Republican party and was neutered as a consequence. The book is not very well written with an overabundance of jumping around, poorly constructed scenarios and contrived conversations, but it is certainly entertaining and allows the reader to go along and agree heartily with what is said or vehemently oppose the ideas presented. Either way it does certainly openly criticize our less than effective government. While presenting a very unappetizing solution to the problem, possibly opening some much needed discussion about the problems and perhaps some answers. One of the areas he opens for discussion is the very real fact that the United States, if left unchecked, is drifting towards becoming a Banana Republic and thinking Americans must realize that such a situation taking place would most certainly negatively impact our quality of life. Read the book, not for great prose, but for some ideas that even if you don’t agree with will provoke and disturb. 6/12 Paul Lane

THE PEOPLE NEXT DOOR by Christopher Ransom: For Boulder couple Mick and Amy Nash, times are certainly tough. Money is tight and the current economy has not been kind to the family business. Their relationship is strained, their daughter, Briela, has been acting out, and their son, Kyle, is going through the usual teenage angst. When the new neighbors move in next door, things become even worse. To say the Renders are strange is an understatement. Vince Render rubs Mick the wrong way and both he and his wife, Cassandra, have a habit of turning up at the oddest moments. Vince tells Mick that he is there to help and that all the Nash’s worries will go away. But Mick and Amy will never guess just what the Renders have in store for them. What a fantastically chilling tale this was. Ransom has a talent not just for great writing but for great surprise twists that take the reader in unexpected and unpredictable directions. The People Next Door is now out in the UK. No US release date has been set, but it’s available through various special order means. 09/11 Becky Lejeune

THE PEOPLE WHO WALK IN DARKNESS by Stuart Kaminsky: Kaminsky continues his methodology of having the Moscow version of the 87th Precinct work on three cases simultaneously. This time, however, all three are interrelated, and Chief Insp. Porfiry Petrovich Rostnikov only has nine days in which to solve them. He and Emil Karpo (The Vampire) are off to Siberia to investigate the death of a Canadian geologist who died in a Siberian diamond mine rumored to be haunted by ghosts. His son Josef and his partner Zelach are sent to look into the torture-murder of two black South Africans whose bodies were found seated in a cemetery and Sasha Tkach and Elena Timofeyeva are looking into the murder of a Moscow prostitute found dead in the most expensive private care on a train from Kiev to Moscow. The stakes are high – Rostnikov’s continued employment is at stake, and the time is short. One the best yet from an MWA Grand Master. 10/08 Jack Quick

PERFECT KILLER by Lewis Perdue: Project Enduring Valor has for seventy years sought the ultimate warrior drug – one that would turn ordinary soldiers into ruthless killers. Dr. Bradford Stone, “legendary Marine recon operative turned healer and scientist,” is contacted by a woman from his past with a baffling mystery. Why would a black civil rights attorney in Mississippi want to save a convicted white racist murderer on death row? What is the connection to Project Enduring Valor and who will be the next president of the United States? Add in a female sniper, a love interest, a massive conspiracy and the richness of the Mississippi Delta and you get a very exciting novel. 01/07 Jack Quick

PERFECT LITTLE LADIES by Abby Drake: It all begins with a pair of La Perla panties. Purple La Perla panties. And a ransom note for said pair of lacy undies. To the world, Elinor Young would seem to be the perfect Washington wife. But Elinor is hiding a secret behind her sweet suburban façade. Elinor’s been having an affair and is desperate to keep it a secret from her husband. Now she must appeal to her very best friends for help in retrieving the notorious underwear, tack down her blackmailer, and in keeping her trysts hidden from the rest of the world. As the five women band together in this light caper, they will each have to fess up to secrets of their own. Perfect Little Ladies is a quick and breezy read with more than a few laughs at the expense of the well-to-do upper crust of society. 09/09 Becky Lejeune

THE PERFECT LOVE SONG by Patti Callahan Henry: Jimmy Sullivan is in love. And it is this love that prompts him to write a song that many consider the perfect love song. The song is so perfect, in fact, that it gains enough attention to send Jimmy on a Christmas tour with one of country music’s most famous duos. Without his brother and the rest of his band by his side, Jimmy tells himself that the tour will be worth it all in the end. But as his vision of the song is twisted from one about undeserved love, inspired by Charlotte, the girl who captured his heart, into one that the tour manager, the magazines, and the music stations have turned into the perfect Christmas song, Jimmy starts to lose sight of everything that means the most to him. As his song inspires others throughout the holiday season, his brother and Charlotte start to wonder if they’ll lose him to the trappings of fame after all. A short and sweet holiday story that continues the one that started in When Light Breaks. 10/10 Becky Lejeune

Perfect Match by Jodi Piccoult: A legal thriller from a master storyteller. Nina Frost is a driven D.A. who specializes in convicting child molesters. Her world is turned upside down when her 5 year old son is sexually abused, the chief suspect a Priest. Nina knows all too well how the legal system fails children, so she takes the law into her own hands with devastating results. This is a very emotional, very intense story that is extremely well done.

PERFECT ON PAPER: The (Mis)adventures of Waverly Bryson, by Maria Murnane: It’s the day every woman remembers—her wedding day. For Waverly Bryson, it’s a day she’ll never forget. Before she can even walk down the aisle, her fiancée calls off the wedding, claiming that they weren’t meant to be. Waverly’s life goes in a downward spiral. In addition to the breakup, she has a horrible relationship with her father, and her job in sports PR isn’t quite as exciting as it should be. But one thing Waverly is able to retain is her sense of humor. When times are bad, she writes “honey” notes to herself, putting a humorous spin on that particular situation. Example: “Life has its ups and downs, right? Honey, if you’re talking about my weight and my bank account the unfortunate answer is yes, in that order. “Waverly’s “honey” turn out to be the key that opens to door to her success and happiness. PERFECT ON PAPER is a hilarious and addictive book. I guarantee you won’t be able to put it down. Waverly’s character leaves you laughing so hard you cry. Waverly, and her close network of friends, are unforgettable and easy to relate to. Each chapter begins with a “honey” note. I jotted several down myself. PERFECT ON PAPER is definitely a book I would recommend. 01/09 Jennifer Lawrence

PERFECT ON PAPER: THE (MIS)ADVENTURES OF WAVERLY BRYSON by Maria Murnane: Waverly Bryson finally had things in place: great career, great friends, and just two weeks away from walking down the aisle. But then her fiancé called the whole thing off. It’s now one year later, and Waverly is no closer to finding Mr. Right. As each new date turns into a total disaster, Waverly is also faced with the fact that her career isn’t what she’d hoped. Throughout it all, Waverly buoys her own spirits by creating “Honey” notes—funny little pieces of wisdom inspired by her daily life and experiences. But Waverly is not alone in her (mis)adventures and given the chance, she might be able to inspire others who share the same doubts and fears in life. Maria Murnane’s debut is a light and funny read about a twenty-something woman facing the same decisions and challenges as the rest of us. If you’ve ever felt like your life wasn’t going the way you’d planned, then you can’t help but connect with Waverly’s tale. 02/10 Becky Lejeune

THE PERFECT VICTIM by James McKimmey: Al Jackson was mostly talk but the townspeople of Willow Creek didn’t know that. So when the beloved town beauty ends up dead, murdered in her room above the Willow Creek coffee shop, and Al Jackson is the only stranger in town, its not hard to see why the folks of Willow Creek suspected Al, particularly since he had been coming on to her in the Coffee Shop. Published in 1957, this is a quick and easy read, about small town life and whether justice can be had. The clerk at the used bookstore said this one was “so old and so thin,” she would only charge me a quarter. Not bad for a Dell First Edition and paperback classic. 03/08 Jack Quick

PERMANENCE by Karl Schroeder: Schroeder’s Sun of Suns was on the less sciency side of SF, but Permanence is pretty much full-bore, spaceships-aliens-and-nanobots, convention-attending, total-nerd Science Fiction. And it is awesome. The setup here is that there is a big galactic civilization, with some planets orbiting actual stars and others farther out that orbit brown dwarfs—they give out enough heat to support life, but not enough to power the faster-than-light starships that connect the inner worlds. SO, there are these enormous ships called cyclers that travel (below light speed) between the outer worlds and pass on supplies and passengers, keeping the society connected and thriving. The only problem is that now the inner worlds have the fast ships, there are fewer and fewer cyclers, and the outer worlds are getting cut off. There’s a lot more to it, a whole political thing and a rebellion and so on, but that’s all mostly a MacGuffin—the main point of the story is more about the search for (and attempt to understand) other advanced alien civilizations, and whether any civilization can survive without annihilating itself or everyone else. I love books that have an interesting take on aliens (Vernor Vinge is another author who does this especially well) and I really recommend this book even though I suspect the hardcore SF aspect will put a lot of people off. Seriously, get over it and read this – it will make you think. 03/07 Jenne Bergstrom

PERSON OF INTEREST by Theresa Schwegel: Another gritty outing from Schwegel. Chicago PD detective Craig McHugh loses his objectivity in pursuing the source of a deadly batch of heroin. He goes undercover in an attempt to infiltrate the Fuxi Spiders Chinese gang. In the process he loses his partner, and is in jeopardy of losing his wife and daughter, his job and his life. Can he pull it all back together or will he be destined to go down the tubes? Not for the faint of heart with descriptions of the world of drugs and gangs and their effect on the rest of society. Above average. 09/08 Jack Quick

PERSONAL EFFECTS: DARK ART by J.C. Hutchins and Jordan Weisman: Zach Taylor, a young art therapist making a name for himself in his field, has been asked to take on the biggest case seen in the history of Brinkvale Psychiatric Hospital. Notorious serial killer Martin Grace is set to go on trial in just a short time, and it’s Zach’s job to determine whether the man is fit for the hearing. Grace has always claimed innocence, but there are two things that make his case stand out amongst the others: Grace suffers from psychosomatic blindness, and he claims that the person responsible for the killings is someone he refers to as “the Dark Man.” Zach soon finds himself confronting memories of his own mother’s death and questioning whether Grace may be linked to a dark and sinister force of a supernatural origin. This unique and innovative thriller takes the form of a patient file with props, or “personal effects,” websites, and even telephone numbers, that allow the reader to follow right along, and even interact, with Zach Taylor’s investigation. A very different delivery, a great concept, and a fun read besides. 06/09 Becky Lejeune

A PERSONAL HISTORY OF THIRST by John Burdett: No, this is not a treatise on alcoholism. The title is derived from the name of one of the key characters – Oliver Thirst, whose life and death shaped the lives of ambitious London lawyer James Knight, a defender turned prosecutor; Oliver Thirst, his former client; and Daisy Smith, a wayward American. Like Gaul, the book is divided into three parts. In the first part, Daisy is charged with Oliver’s murder. The second part is a flashback to the late 1970s, which establishes and develops the dark triangle. The third and most compelling and funny part of the novel returns to the present to cover Daisy’s trial, with all its manipulations and ramifications. Decidedly different and nicely done. This is the first of four books by Burdett, this one set in England, and three set in the Far East. 08/08 Jack Quick

Persuader by Lee Child: Newest installment in the Jack Reacher series. The book opens with ex-military police officer Reacher saving a young man from an apparent kidnapping. But the kidnapping attempt is a set up to get Reacher into the boy’s family home, where his father, Zachary Beck, a rug importer (and who knows what else he’s importing,) is under investigation by the FBI. A female agent is missing, there are steroid overloaded bodyguards hanging around the house, and Reacher finds out that an old enemy, Quinn, long thought dead, is alive and involved. Reacher wants Quinn, and agrees to help the FBI with their investigation. Intriguing characters, interesting setting and twisty story make this the best Reacher book yet. Don’t miss it.

PETTY MAGIC by Camille DeAngelis: The subtitle of this book “Being the Memoirs and Confessions of Miss Evelyn Harbinger, Temptress and Troublemaker” really sets the tone perfectly. Evelyn Harbinger, a 149-year-old witch (she prefers the term beldame) is still as feisty as ever, spending her Saturday nights dolling herself up—and making herself appear younger—hitting the bars and picking up men. Evelyn had one great love, Jonah, a man she met and worked alongside during WWII. Since then, her dalliances have been nothing more than fun ways to pass the time, never growing a more serious attachment than simple fondness. All that changes when Evelyn meets Justin, a man over a century her junior and more and more the spitting image of her lost Jonah. But Evelyn’s love life—past and present—and her antics are just part of the story. When Helena, one of Evelyn’s sisters, is accused of murdering her long-dead husband, the family must band together to prove her innocence, complicating matters in Evelyn’s life even further. Camille DeAngelis’s tale of love and magic is the perfect read in every way. Evelyn is truly one of the most enchanting characters I’ve encountered in a while and the flow of the story is such that it just begs to be read all at once. An amusing and fabulously rich tale of witches and true love. 10/10 Becky Lejeune

PHANTOM PREY by John Sandford: Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension agent Lucas Davenport, in his 18th outing, gets into the local goth scene at the request of his wife. A wealthy young woman has been kidnapped and presumed murdered. Her mother is a friend of Weather Davenport, and seeks Lucas’ help through Weather, in trying to gain closure regarding her daughter’s disappearance. Then there is a second death. It becomes clear there is a serial killer targeting Goths and anyone else who becomes involved, including Lucas. Although not the best Davenport, this one will still keep you involved late into the night. 07/08 Jack Quic

PHILIPPINE FEVER by Bruce Cook: Homeland Security Agent Sam Haine is tracking a cargo container of Chinese AK-47s destined for terrorists in Texas when he finds the American buyer of the weapons dead behind a sex club in the red light district of Manila. In order to stop the shipment, Sam must first find the killer. Sam soon finds himself deep into an unsavory stew of CIA covert operations, corrupt politicians, Al Qaeda and the international trafficking of sex slaves. Fast paced and not for the faint of heart. 07/06 Jack Quick

THE PHILOSOPHER’S APPRENTICE by James Morrow: This is a tale in three parts, each being equally fascinating and equally mind-boggling. In part one, Mason Ambrose is hired to act as tutor and moral coach to Londa Sabacthani, a young girl living on a private island off of Florida. As it turns out, the girl is actually one of three clones created so that their “mother” can experience every stage of motherhood before she dies. Part two begins ten years after the end of part one. Ambrose and Londa have not spoken in ten years. Londa’s grown, completed her own college education, and has in fact created her own sort-of utopian village using Ambrose’s philosophy teachings to create a better world. Her plan backfires, however, when a group of crazy religious fundamentalists gets wind of some of her varied “works.” In part three, Londa has abandoned her more positive approach to bettering society – she’s also thrown aside Ambrose’s well-meaning warnings in regards to her more extreme plan to exact change on today’s morally ambiguous society. Humorous, tedious, and enlightening are all appropriate ways to describe this book. Morrow is wonderful in his wacky and illustrative prose, but he can also prompt some pretty heavy thoughts despite his mostly light tone. A thought provoking, if somewhat confusing read. 04/08 Becky Lejeune

A PICTURE OF GUILT by Libby Fischer Hellmann: it has been three years since Ellie’s last adventure. Her thirteen going on twenty-one daughter is still a challenge. This time it’s the out-takes from one of her videos that puts her squarely between the mob and the FBI during a highly publicized Chicago murder trial. Johnnie Santoro is found guilty of murdering his girlfriend, Mary Jo, in spite of Ellie’s video showing him elsewhere. Then Mary Jo’s best friend Rhonda tells Ellie she was with Mary Jo the night Mary Jo was killed and Johnny is innocent. That night Rhonda is killed in a one-car accident with no witnesses. Ellie decides to tell Johnny’s lawyer anyway, but the lawyer is killed in a botched robbery at his office. Then Ellie is locked into a video suite and the building set on fire. You’ll have to read the remaining two-thirds yourself. Recommended. 06/05 ~This review contributed by Jack Quick.

PICTURES OF YOU by Caroline Leavitt: Suspend your disbelief and sink into this compelling story of two doomed marriages. Isabelle finds out her husband is not only having an affair, but that his girlfriend is pregnant. Estranged from her mother because of her husband, she nonetheless flees the marriage, heading out of town. April seems to have it all; Charlie, a successful husband who dotes on her, and Sam, her eight year old son. Sam suffers from terrible asthma, and April hovers so much that the nurses in the hospital avoid her. But April also has a secret, and as she prepares to leave town, she finds Sam hidden in the back seat of the car. There is a terrible collision, leaving one woman dead and the other wounded. Charlie is confused, he can’t understand why April was hours from home with Sam. The lives of these well drawn out characters intertwine in pain and love, making for a very interesting dynamic, and leading us to a satisfying conclusion that still leaves the doors of hope open. Very well done. 04/11 Stacy Alesi, AKA The BookBitch

PIG ISLAND by Mo Hayder: Journalist Joe Oakes has been recruited by the Psychogenic Healing Ministries to write a story about their community. After years of being labeled devil worshippers, the cult hopes that Oakes can paint a more socially acceptable light on the community. Oakes’s own motivation in agreeing to write the story stems from his past experience with the ministry. One of the many philosophies of the group is the belief that no medical intervention is necessary to heal. When Oakes’s aunt falls victim to Pastor Malachi Dove and his followers, Oakes exposes Dove for the fraud that he is. Now, years later, Oakes’s curiosity has gotten the best of him. Oakes suffers an unfortunate accident while on the island and is rushed to the mainland to recuperate. When he returns, he discovers that every last member of the ministry has been brutally murdered. Anyone who has not read Mo Hayder has been missing out, her shocking and brutal thrillers are maddeningly intense. Pig Island is somewhat reminiscent of Wicker Man but is much more satisfying, even if it is a bit predictable towards the end. 02/07 Becky Lejeune

PINES by Blake Crouch: Ethan Burke is on his way to the small town of Wayward Pines to find two fellow Federal agents who have gone missing. He has a bad car accident on the edge of town, waking up in the hospital and not at all sure of what is going on. The psychiatrist on staff tells him that he has suffered a brain injury and warns him not to leave, but he takes off anyway. The town sheriff is less than helpful, and, with no ID or money, Burke can’t reach his superior or his wife, and he starts fearing for his sanity (reminiscent of Dennis Lehane’s Shutter Island.) Matters turn ominous when Burke finds the ravaged body of one of the missing agents and realizes he needs to run for his life. Clearly, despite the idyllic beauty of Wayward Pines, something is seriously out of kilter: a helpful bartender disappears, picnicking mothers turn homicidal, and seemingly innocent children display maniacal tendencies. The suspense builds to an almost unbearable point, culminating with a twist that ratchets it up even further. Fans of Stephen King, Peter Straub and F. Paul Wilson will appreciate this genre-bending, completely riveting thrill ride, which mixes suspense, horror, science fiction and dystopian nightmare all rolled up into one unputdownable book. 8/12 Stacy Alesi, AKA The BookBitch Copyright © 2012 Booklist, a division of the American Library Association. Reprinted with permission.

THE PINES by Robert Dunbar: This cult classic, originally published in a somewhat edited version in 1989, is now back in print, and in full. Pine Barrens, New Jersey is the home of the famous legend of the Jersey Devil. Robert Dunbar, an expert on this American folk tale, weaves an original narrative around this classic New Jersey horror story. Legend has it that in 1735 a woman called Mother Leeds cursed her thirteenth child and swore that his father was the devil. Upon its birth, the child appeared normal but quickly transformed into a terrifying beast. Now, Pine Barrens and the surrounding area are beginning to see an increase in unexplained disappearances and deaths. Athena is not from Pine Barrens. She only moved there after being swept off her feet by Wallace Monroe. After their marriage, he brought her back to the home he grew up in, but died shortly thereafter. Left alone in the dilapidated old farmhouse, Athena does her best to provide for herself and her son. The locals don’t like her and the only help she gets is from her sister-in-law, a woman who could never have kids of her own and now dotes on Athena’s. Athena knows there is something wrong with her son, that he’s not like other children, that the “Piney” blood that runs through him is at least partially responsible. It becomes clear pretty soon, however, that Matthew himself has some strange connection to the recent occurrences in Pine Barrens. A thoroughly satisfying horror read! Dunbar is reported to be working on a sequel to The Pines to be published in 2009. 10/08 Becky Lejeune

PIPSQUEAK by Brian Wiprud: New York taxidermy collector Garth Carson makes his living by restoring stuffed animals and then renting them out for photo shoots and the like. His girl friend Angie is a professional jeweler who does piece work at home for various manufacturers, gem setters and art jewelers, involving cutting tools, torches and exotic metals. Is it any wonder that this seemingly ordinary American couple is threatened by becoming involved in the recovery of one Pipsqueak the Nutty Nut squirrel, star of an old kiddies’ cartoon show, which also featured General Buster, Howlie the Wolf, Possum his sidekick, Magic File Drawers and the Milkshake Saloon. If you don’t laugh somewhere during this one, have the relatives call Carson to come pick you up. It’s time to get you stuffed and placed on a shelf along with Howlie, Possum and the infamous Pipsqueak. 06/07 Jack Quick

THE PIRATE’S DAUGHTER by Margaret Cezair-Thompson: It’s 1946 and Errol Flynn has just arrived in Jamaica. Ida Joseph’s father, Levi, is the only taxi driver and justice of the peace in Port Antonio. Both positions lead Flynn directly to him. The two become fast friends and Levi even begins a property search for Flynn after he decides to stay in Jamaica. Thirteen-year-old Ida quickly becomes enamored with the star and finds herself, just three years later, carrying his child. Her infatuation with Flynn never truly dies, and up until his death, she still believed that she could save him from himself. Despite years of hardship that follow the birth of Ida’s daughter, May, fortune finally smiles on them. Baron Karl von Ausberg marries Ida and buys Flynn’s estate on Navy Island. Meanwhile, the political and cultural atmosphere of Jamaica has begun a tumultuous period of change. May leaves the country to attend college, but is drawn back to the island. Neither Ida nor May truly fits into this new Jamaica, the land they still call home, and they are in danger of losing Navy Island as well. Both Ida and May must confront the ultimate questions: who am I and where do I belong? This gorgeous and phenomenal book has been earning well-deserved praise of late. It is a tale of amorous love and belonging, of family drama, political unrest, and cultural discordance as a result of colonialism. The Pirate’s Daughter is an amazing book. 10/07 Becky Lejeune

PLAY DEAD by Ryan Brown: By now everyone knows just how big Texas is on football. Debut author Ryan Brown takes it to a whole new level by adding zombies to the mix. When the Killington Jackrabbits make it to the final game before the playoffs, it looks like the historically losing team finally has a shot at going all the way. Their rivals, the Elmwood Elks are none too pleased. In fact, the Elmwood players are willing to do just about anything to make sure that the Jackrabbits don’t get that far. When threatening and maiming the star quarterback doesn’t work, the Elks decide to play a prank that has devastating results. Little do they know, Black Mona, Killington’s resident “witch” is a huge Jackrabbits fan and she’s got a few tricks up her sleeve. Excellent. Brown’s football playing zombies are definitely a win in my book. Great atmosphere, dark humor, and zombies in Texas, it just doesn’t get any better. 05/10 Becky Lejeune

PLAY DEAD by David Rosenfelt: This is the latest in one of my favorite series, and it’s fabulous. All you need to know of the plot is that our hero, Andy Carpenter, millionaire lawyer who picks and chooses his cases based solely on whether or not he cares enough to do the work, takes on a new client who faces execution. This death row inmate, however, is a golden retriever accused of biting, and the law says biters get put down. The last minute stay of execution opens another can of worms, as Andy realizes that this golden is also the only witness to a five year old murder. As implausible a plot as this may sound, due to Rosenfelt’s writing skill it works on every level. You don’t have to be a dog lover to enjoy this romp, but I bet you will be one by the time you’re done. Don’t miss this laugh out loud funny, twisty mystery. 06/07 Stacy Alesi, AKA The BookBitch

PLAY DEAD by David Rosenfelt: Probably every shaggy dog joke ever created will work its way into one or more reviews of this, Rosenfelt’s sixth legal thriller featuring independently wealthy Paterson, N.J., lawyer Andy Carpenter. In this outing Carpenter takes on a death row case involving a defendant accused of attacking his owner. Owner? Yogi, a golden retriever, is freed from the animal shelter and joins longtime pet Tara in the Carpenter home. The real action begins when an ordinary street walk turns into a reunion of sorts when Karen Evans recognizes Yogi, AKA Reggie, presumed dead five years earlier after the conviction of Karen’s brother, U.S. Customs Inspector Richard Evans, for the murder of his fiancée, Stacy Harriman. Carpenter realizes this is a case he can really sink his teeth into (sorry I had to) and sets out to free Richard Evans to reunite him with Reggie, ah Yogi. Anyway its up to the high standards set by Rosenfelt in previous outings. 06/07 Jack Quick

PLAY DIRTY by Sandra Brown: Griff Burkett is probably the most hated man in Dallas. They take their football seriously there, and the Cowboys star quarterback got caught throwing a game. He did time in prison and when he gets out, he finds himself ostracized at every turn, not to mention the target of the cop who busted him. Rodale is convinced he got away with murder, and is terrorizing Burkett and everyone who is involved with him. Unable to get any sort of job, he’s desperate enough to take the one thing he is offered. Foster Speakman is the CEO of a Southwest Airlines clone, a paraplegic married to a much younger woman. Speakman offers Burkett a job, of sorts: he wants Burkett to father a child for him, the “natural way.” Mrs. Speakman is amenable, but then things really heat up. This is romantic suspense at its best; by turns sexy and scary but always thrilling. 08/07 Stacy Alesi, AKA The BookBitch

PLAYING FOR PIZZA by John Grisham: Throw away any preconceived notions you have of Grisham and his books. Forget that he’s written some really excellent legal thrillers. Forget that he’s written some really mediocre legal thrillers. Forget the southern fiction and the true crime. Instead, pretend he’s a new author, first time out of the gate. Would this book land on the NY Times bestseller list in the number one spot two weeks after publication? Not in this lifetime. Is it worthy of a spot on the list? Probably not. Bottom line: is it a good book, and worth the time it takes to read it? Definitely; for one thing, it’s a small book (only 272 pages). And if you love football, and love Italy and all things Italian, especially the food, then it’s a great read. I loved it.
A friend who started reading it before I did said it reminded her of Heat, the Bill Buford book about Babbo, Mario Batalli’s restaurant, and having read it, I can see the correlation. There are a couple of chapters devoted entirely to food. Another to the churches in Italy. But most to the game of football, American football, that is played in Italy. Who knew.
The plot is a simple one; Rick Dockery is the third string quarterback for the Cleveland Browns. Third string quarterbacks aren’t supposed to play, they rarely see field time except in extreme circumstances, and there’s a reason for that. Without giving away the entire first chapter, let’s just say Dockery becomes the most hated man in Cleveland and needs a new job, preferably out of town, and fast. His better-than-you-might-expect agent comes up with nothing but a few lies and a ticket to Parma, Italy, home of the world’s best prosciutto di parma, Parmigiano-Reggiano, and the Parma Panthers, not the world’s best American-style football team. Italy’s rules allow three Americans per team, and Dockery runs off to join the Panthers as their starting, star quarterback, dreaming of beautiful Italian cheerleaders and not much else. While in Italy, Dockery eats really well and learns the meaning of home, friendship and loyalty during the short season. Football and Italy make for a magical, in the Disney sort of way, combination that worked really well for me. 11/07 Stacy Alesi, AKA The BookBitch

PLEA OF INSANITY by Jillian Hoffman: Julia Vacanti is a prosecutor in Miami who’s fairly new to the job. She has a one night stand with the star prosecutor in the office, and the next thing she knows he’s insisting she second chair on a media-hot murder case. Dr. David Marquette is a successful surgeon who is accused of murdering his wife and three young children who is pleading insanity, claiming that he’s schizophrenic. Is he a psychopath just trying to fool the court-appointed psychiatrists or is he really insane? Julia has a little personal experience with that question; her brother murdered her parents, leading to all sorts of complications with this case. A very gripping read despite some holes in the story, and probably Hoffman’s best book since her debut novel, Retribution. 06/09 Stacy Alesi, AKA The BookBitch

PLUM LOVIN’ by Janet Evanovich: In my grocery store they have something called “two bite brownies”. As Stephanie’s companion Lula would say, “You need a whole case of them little things to know you’ve had any.” Like Christmas 2002’s Visions of Sugar Plums, this is a “between-the-numbers” 2007 Valentine’s Day Stephanie Plum book that is too long to be a short story, but at 164 pages doesn’t offer the satisfaction of say, a dozen fresh Krispy Kremes or a large order of chili cheese fries. Not content with just two men in her life (Morelli and Ranger) Stephanie hooks up with Diesel to pursue an FTA (Failure To Appear). As the name implies, Diesel is kind of the “whitebread” Ranger with maybe a bit more muscularity. It’s the usual cast of characters and enjoyable if you’re already a fan and if you can get it free from the library like I did. If not, Stephanie playing Cupid for a shy butcher, a desperate vet, an overworked single mom, a 30-something virgin and the marriage-phobic fellow who just happens to be Stephanie’s pregnant sister’s boyfriend is probably not your cup of tea. 03/07 Jack Quick

PLUM LUCKY by Janet Evanovich: I love the Stephanie Plum books, but these “between the numbers” books haven’t thrilled me as much, although this is probably the best of the three so far (Visions of Sugar Plums; Plum Lovin’.) It’s rather like eating the crumbs of Stephanie’s favorite Tastee Cakes, but us diehard fans will take what we can get until Fearless Fourteen comes out in June. So far, these books have been centered around holidays: Christmas, Valentine’s Day, and now St. Patrick’s Day. Grandma Mazur takes off with a duffel bag that she found on the street. It’s full of money, and she’s convinced she’s found the leprechaun’s pot of gold and it’s hers to keep. But the “leprechaun” wants his money back, and so do the gangsters he stole it from. Grandma takes off for Atlantic City, so Stephanie, Lula and Connie take off after her. Diesel shows up too; he’s looking for the leprechaun. The scene with Lula causing a ‘distraction’ in the casino was priceless, as anyone who’s familiar with that character can imagine. At well under 200 pages, it’s a very quick, very enjoyable read that will leave fans hungry for more. 01/08 Stacy Alesi, AKA The BookBitch

PLUM LUCKY by Janet Evanovich: Bounty hunter Stephanie Plum’s objective in this one is her own Grandma Mazur who has found a duffle full of money on the street and taken off for Atlantic City. Unfortunately, the money was money was stolen from a notorious Trenton mobster. Stephanie and friend Lulu hot-foot it to Atlantic City to find Grandma and recover the money before Grandma is caught. Diesel returns and there is a new whack job – Snuggy, an ex-jockey who originally stole the money and is convinced he’s a leprechaun. Of course, it is all absurd and full of funny lines and hilarious situations, but isn’t that why you read Evanovich anyway. 03/08 Jack Quick

PLUM SPOOKY by Janet Evanovich: The further adventures of Stephanie Plum, via a “between-the-numbers” book. At least this one if almost full size, previous “between-the-numbers” books have been quite petite. Diesel is again the featured hunk, with brief appearances by on-again, off-again fiancé Joe Morelli and the hot, non-committing Ranger. This time out Stephanie is looking for Munch, a brilliant scientist who has hooked up with Diesel’s evil cousin, the other-worldly Wulf. Meanwhile a previous skip has dumped her pet monkey on Stephanie, with a note to babysit until she gets back from her honeymoon. Several visits to New Jersey’s infamous Pine Barrens (if you’re a Sopranos fan, you’ll know it well,) a free spirit who is hell-bent on saving trees and lab monkeys, and a plot to control the world’s weather makes this story even more far-fetched than usual, but with all those monkeys, you can be sure the laughs abound. Not the best Plum by any means, but enjoyable enough to get me through to June and the next book. 02/09 Stacy Alesi, AKA The BookBitch

PLUM SPOOKY by Janet Evanovich: By now I think everyone knows the drill. Improbable bounty hunter Stephanie Plum, the pride of Trenton, New Jersey, muddles around and gets into troubles from which boyfriends Joe Morelli and Ranger have to extricate her. Throw Diesel in the mix this time, add a generous serving of monkeys, weird FTA’s (Failure to Appear, i.e. fugitives), Morelli’s brother Anthony, and things that go bump in the dark and you have a Plum that is Plum Spooky. It is lightweight, it has little plot, but it does have some laugh out loud moments and snappy dialogue such as: “Carl (the monkey) is eating Fruit loops, so that leaves leftovers from last night, peanut butter, hamster crunchies, and half a jar of salsa. Looks like you ate all the chips.” On the same page, describing her infamous partner Lula – She didn’t have any makeup on, and her hair was somewhere between rat’s nest and exploded canary. Lula has her own take on things as well, “I got a high skill level. I just shot a rat off a rafter.” “You weren’t aiming for it.” “Yeah, my skill level is so high I do things I don’t even try to do.” Read it for laughs. 04/09 Jack Quick

POE’S CHILDREN edited by Peter Straub: Horror readers should definitely not miss this extraordinary collection. Straub has put together some of the best in the genre. The collection features a selection of original and award-winning tales from some of horror’s brightest and most famous, including Stephen King, Ramsey Campbell, and Straub himself. The collection also features some authors readers may be unfamiliar with, or may even consider outside of the genre, such as sci-fi and fantasy authors Neil Gaiman and M. John Harrison, relative newcomer (and son of Stephen King) Joe Hill, and short fiction author Benjamin Percy. Stories range from the super creepy like Dan Choan’s “The Bees” and the strange, M. John Harrison’s “The Great God Pan,” to the somewhat sweet “20th Century Ghosts” by Joe Hill (one of my favorites). Just in time for Halloween reading. 10/08 Becky Lejeune

POISON FLOWER by Thomas Perry: In this seventh novel in Thomas Perry’s celebrated Jane Whitefield series, Jane spirits James Shelby, a man unjustly convicted of his wife’s murder, out of the heavily guarded criminal court building in downtown Los Angeles. Within minutes, men posing as police officers kidnap Jane and, when she tries to escape, shoot her. Jane’s captors are employees of the man who really killed Shelby’s wife. Jane manages to escape but she is alone, wounded, thousands of miles from home with no money and no identification, hunted by the police as well as her captors. She must rejoin Shelby, reach his sister before the hunters do, and get them both to safety. In this unrelenting, breathtaking cross-country battle, Jane survives by relying on the traditions of her Seneca ancestors. When at last Jane turns to fight, her enemies face a cunning and ferocious warrior who has one weapon that they don’t. 6/12 Jack Quick

POISON PEN by Sheila Lowe: One of the advantages of being a reviewer is that you often find books that you would not otherwise have tried. This was one of those books for me, as my interest in handwriting analysis is negligible. Lindsey Alexander, a top Hollywood publicist, has apparently committed suicide. Claudia Rose, a forensic handwriting expert and acquaintance of Alexander’s, is hired by the publicist’s business manager to analyze the alleged suicide note. Soon Rose is in the middle of some sordid business dealings involving, among others, a United States senator and a prominent Beverly Hill plastic surgeon. Rose also has to deal with Detective Joel Jovanic, whose level of skepticism about handwriting analysis is even greater than mine. A well-written fiction debut evocative of Marcia Muller’s early works. The story wandered a bit for my tastes but Lowe does an excellent job of pulling all the disparate threads together for a satisfying ending. Recommended. 03/07 Jack Quick

POISON PEN by Sheila Lowe: Claudia Rose is one of the foremost experts in the field of graphology, or handwriting analysis. When a college “friend,” PR guru and overall nasty person, Lindsey Alexander, commits suicide, Lindsey’s business partner asks that Claudia analyze the suicide note. Claudia agrees with some reluctance as the man’s reasoning that Lindsey couldn’t have committed suicide hinge directly on the fact that the note was printed and she only wrote in script, and that the ink used was black rather than her signature green. Of course, he also reveals that if the death is ruled a suicide, the insurance won’t pay out and he can’t keep the business afloat without it. In searching for usable comparison handwriting, Claudia comes across one of Lindsey’s darkest secrets about her past. Then, Lindsey’s partner is murdered just moments before Claudia arrives to meet with him and Claudia has to admit that the evidence strongly suggests that Lindsey’s death was something much more sinister than the suspected suicide by overdose. Sheila Lowe herself is an expert in the field of handwriting analysis and the use of this rather interesting field as a background for the series is quite refreshing. Lowe develops her tale with an ease that is quite uncommon in many debuts. Poison Pen is a must-read for forensic mystery fans looking for something a little different. 10/08 Becky Lejeune

THE POISON THRONE by Celine Kiernan: The Moorehawkes are finally returning home, but the homecoming is bittersweet. In the five years since the king sent his Protector Lord to the north, things have fallen apart in the kingdom. The royal prince is missing and the king’s illegitimate son is being groomed to take the throne. The people of the kingdom are growing weary of events and beginning to make their discontent known with growing severity. As the kingdom splits into two factions—those who support the king and those who support the banished prince—Wynter and her father find themselves in a precarious position. The Royal Protector’s health has suffered greatly in the past five years and Wynter is in the dark about the cause of much of the trouble. Though things have changed greatly, Wynter’s loyalty to her loved ones remains the same and it is this that drives her to find a solution to the troubles that surround her. But can one girl reunite the king’s family and prevent the bloodshed that is sure to come? The Poison Throne is the first in a projected trilogy from Kiernan and is her US debut; an excellent introduction to a fine storyteller and I can’t wait to read more. High fantasy at its very best. 04/10 Becky Lejeune

THE POISON TREE by Erin Kelly: When Karen Clarke meets Biba Capel and her brother Rex, she finds herself completely entranced. Everything about their lives is so different from Karen’s own: from their carefree attitudes to their open lifestyle, she wants to be part of it all. But being a part of the Capel’s world also means leaving her own behind. As their summer together continues, Karen learns of the Capels’ secrets and finds that there are deep issues hidden beneath their laissez faire façade. Ten years later, Karen and her daughter, Alice, welcome Rex back into their lives. He’s served his sentence, but the tragedy that ripped their world apart a decade ago is far from forgotten. Erin Kelly’s debut is a tightly-plotted and well-executed tale of psychological suspense, a puzzle reminiscent of Ruth Rendell’s and Minette Walters’s best works. 1/11 Becky Lejeune

THE POLISH OFFICER by Alan Furst: Furst is as good as it gets when chronically the late 1930’s and early stages of World War II. Through his words you feel you are actually part of the fear and uncertainty of the era when death is potentially around every corner. This outing features Polish Army Captain Alexander de Milja who embarks on a harrowing rail journey to smuggle the Polish gold reserves out of the country at the start of the war and ends up as an operative of the Polish underground working against both the Nazis and the Soviets. From Poland to France to the Ukraine, de Milja takes whatever is dished out and squeals his way through situations of great personal danger. An excellent read. 10/08 Jack Quick

POLITICAL SUICIDE by Michael Palmer: A senator has been murdered and Dr. Lou Welcome’s friend Gary McHugh stands accused. Gary insists he’s not the killer but claims that he can’t remember anything that happened that evening. He’s struggled with alcoholism and admits that he’d been drinking heavily after his mistress—the senator’s wife—tried to break things off. Lou knows it looks bad for Gary, but believes him anyway. With Gary locked up and the police certain they have their man, Lou becomes determined to prove Gary’s innocence. Lou quickly discovers there was someone else with a motive to kill the senator, but when he brings his suspicions to the police they are seemingly unwilling to listen. Lou’s investigation does raise the interest of someone else, though, and he soon finds himself a target. Palmer combines politics and medical aspects in his latest to create a smart and intense page-turner. While this is the second book to feature Lou Welcome (after Oath of Office) it does stand completely on its own. 12/12 Becky Lejeune

POLITICAL SUICIDE by Michael Palmer: This is the second Dr. Lou Welcome but can be read as a stand alone. Dr. Welcome works for a group that treats other physicians for problems generally stemming from drinking or drug abuse. He is called by a friend of his and ex patient Dr. Gary McHugh for help. Dr. Mchugh had been involved in an affair with Congressman Eliot Colston’s wife and is caught drunk after a car wreck. He was seen leaving Colston’s house when Colston was shot to death in his garage. Mchugh insists that he was at the house only to visit his lover and get the news that she wanted to terminate the affair. Circumstances look bad for him: he is arrested and charged with murder and incarcerated pending trial. Dr. Welcome agrees to look into the crime as a favor to his friend and ex-patient. A completely different scenario than a love crime emerges, enveloping an official of the US government and an elite unit of the US Marines. Palmer has created a scientific possibility that could become real for both military and civilian personnel. In investigating the situation Welcome becomes involved with Sarah Cooper, Dr. McHugh’s attorney, a woman whose husband died as a result of a medical error and consequentially hates all doctors. The relationship between Sarah and Welcome is an important part of the book and to be continued. Michael Palmer has always drawn in his readers to his medically oriented novels and kept them glued to his books. It is almost a certainty that Lou Welcome will figure in future novels and I do look forward to reading them. 1/13 Paul Lane

PONTOON by Garrison Keillor: Occasionally you need a change of pace and no one steps outside the bounds of conventional writing nearly so well as Keillor whose stream of consciousness manner of presentation takes you completely away from the real-world and deeply into the trials and travails of his hometown, the fictional Lake Webegone, Minnesota. Ostensibly the story covers a week in the life of this imaginary town, which begins with Evelyn Peterson, a spry 82 year old dying in her sleep, except she has insomnia so technically that’s probably not correct. Daughter Barbara, who starts each day with a shot of Kailua in order to face her job at the elementary school lunchroom, discovers her body. Evelyn wants to be cremated and have her ashes encased in an emerald colored bowling bowl to be dropped into the Lake. The title comes from the pontoon boat that is to be used by Debbie Detmer, who made her fortune as an animal aroma therapist for the rich and famous, to hold a grand commitment ceremony to celebrate her relationship with a private jet time-share salesman. There’s obviously lots more, but I am already falling into Keillor’s meandering style so let me leave it with this – highly recommended if you need a good belly laugh. 10/08 Jack Quick

POP by Aury Wallington: I don’t read tons of Young Adult fiction but probably more than a lot of adults do. I find it a good way to keep up with teenage trends and since I have one (a 14 year old,) it’s important to me. This book has generated a lot of buzz because it deals with a teenage girl’s desire to lose her virginity, and graphically explains various sex acts, but the real cause celebre was Border’s decision not to carry the book in any of their stores. It is available from their chief competitor, Barnes & Noble, and most other bookstores, both bricks and mortar and online. But more importantly, it’s worth reading.
Marit is a high school senior and feels like the last virgin left on the planet. After a close encounter with a boyfriend with huge nostrils, her two best friends, Caroline and Jamie, point out that she tends to freak out and dump every boy who even gets close to having sex with her. Totally depressed about her apparent aversion to sex, she confides in her older sister Hilly, who advises her to find a “friend with benefits”. Hilly suggests Jamie, since he, too, is a virgin and cute and they are already friends. Marit decides that is the perfect solution so she approaches Jamie, who eventually agrees. But as everyone knows, sex between friends isn’t as simple and carefree as Marit thinks it will be, leaving her to deal with nasty gossip, friendships, a new boyfriend, and the newness and uncertainty of sex – the entire gamut of high school culture. The characters are believable, the plot moves along briskly, and the angst is balanced with humor. This book will appeal to a lot of teenage girls who are worrying about sex, and perhaps reassure them that their fears are normal, maybe even more importantly, so are their urges. 11/06 Stacy Alesi, AKA The BookBitch

POP TART by Kira Coplin and Julianne Kaye: Like many young adults, Jackie O’Reilly is not really sure what she wants to do with her life. After dropping out of college and dabbling here and there, she decides that she would like to be a makeup artist in her native Los Angeles. She gets her big break when she’s sent out to do a video shoot for up-and-coming pop star Brooke Parker (think Miley and Britney all rolled up in one). The two hit it off, in a way, and Brooke soon becomes dependent on Jackie for friendship and support in her new role as teen pop diva sex symbol. Through their friendship, Jackie gets a glimpse of just how crazy, and wicked, the entertainment industry can be. This biting debut might just do for Hollywood what The Nanny Diaries and The Devil Wears Prada did for Manhattan society and the fashion magazine world. 07/09 Becky Lejeune
Pope Joan by Donna Woolfolk Cross: Fascinating dive deep into the middle ages. This is the story of the legend of Pope Joan, a woman who disguised herself as a man to rise through the ranks of the Catholic Church, eventually taking the Papal throne for two years. Well written, well researched and well worth it.

POPPET by Mo Hayder: This latest installment in Mo Hayder’s Jack Caffery series finds the detective facing two cases. The first is that of Misty Kitson, a model who went missing from rehab in Skin. Caffery knows the truth about Misty and believes it’s time to bring the case to a close but can’t do so without the cooperation of another officer. Meanwhile, patients are dying at the Beechway psychiatric hospital. The wards at Beechway are plagued by chilling rumors of a creature called the Maude, and recent events at the hospital have caused a resurgence in supposed sightings. With every new mishap blamed on this mythical monster, the unexpected death of a patient only adds fuel to the fire. AJ LeGrande is convinced there may be some truth behind the stories. In fact, he suspects it could be linked to a recently released patient who’s now gone missing. If AJ is right, it’s possible blame could be set on the Beechway staff. He approaches Caffery in hopes the detective can begin an inquiry while keeping things under wraps. Believe it or not, Poppet does work quite well as a stand alone. I don’t recommend it as such by any means. Hayder is a one of my favorite authors. Readers diving in with Poppet will miss the evolution of Caffery and Flea as well as the brilliant plot that’s been building throughout the series. 5/13 Becky Lejeune

PORTRAIT OF A SPY by Daniel Silva: Gabriel Allon is retired and trying to enjoy life in England with wife Chiara when a suicide bomber pulls him back into the shadow world where one misstep can mean the difference between life and death. At the center of the new world wide terrorism threat is an American-born cleric in Yemen to whom Allah has granted “a beautiful and seductive tongue.” A gifted deceiver, who was once a paid CIA asset, the mastermind is plotting a new wave of attacks. Gabriel and his team devise a daring plan to destroy the network of death from the inside, a gambit fraught with risk, both personal and professional. To succeed, Gabriel must reach into his violent past for a woman with whom he shares a unique connection. It was Gabriel who killed her father who was financing terrorist activities. Suspenseful and twisty, no one captures the essence of the Middle East conflict like Silva. 10/11 Jack Quick

POSED FOR MURDER by Meredith Cole: Lydia McKenzie is a photographer on her way to the top, hopefully anyway. Her set of prints based on cold cases from an old book that she once read has finally landed her a showing in NYC, but opening night ends in disaster when the police arrive and notify her that one of her models has been murdered. Worse yet, the model was found in the exact position portrayed in one of Lydia’s photos. Lydia fears that the killer may be after more of her models and begins investigating on her own, in hopes of saving her friends. Of course, if the killer has targeted her models, it could be that he’s targeted her as well. Cole’s debut was winner of St. Martin’s Malice Domestic Award for Best First Traditional Mystery Novel in 2007. Though the concept seems a bit reminiscent of John Carpenter’s film, The Eyes of Laura Mars, the story is actually quite different. Posed is a quick read that toes the cozy line. I look forward to seeing what else Cole has up her sleeve after this one. 02/09 Becky Lejeune

THE POSTCARD KILLERS by James Patterson & Liza Marklund: A psychopathic couple is seducing and murdering young couples in Europe. One of the victims is Kimmy, daughter of NYPD detective Jacob Kanon. After Kimmy and her boyfriend were murdered while on vacation in Rome, young couples in Paris, Copenhagen, Frankfurt, and Stockholm have been found dead. Little connects the murders, other than a postcard to the local newspaper that precedes each new victim. Now Kanon, mentally and physically a wreck from the loss of his daughter, but still the most knowledgeable person about the psycho-couple, teams up with Swedish newspaper reporter, Dessie Larsson, who has just received a postcard in Stockholm–and they think they know where the next victims will be. Much better than other recent Patterson outings. 02/11 Jack Quick

THE POSTMAN ALWAYS RINGS TWICE by James M.Cain: Number One in an awesome anthology entitled CRIME NOVELS: American Noir of the 1930’s and 40’s. James M. Cain’s first novel, The Postman Always Rings Twice, published in 1934, is considered to be the noir novel that paved the way for all the noir fiction that followed. A drifter named Frank Chambers is dropped off at a rural diner where he meets and is attracted to Cora, the sexy young wife of the owner Nick. Cora sees Chambers as the way to a better life and, after beginning their clandestine affair, plots with him to kill Nick. Written in the spare style now used so effectively by Ken Bruen, there seems to be no socially redeeming values in any of the main characters. In the true spirit of noir, there are no winners, only losers. Violent, ugly, and mesmerizing. According to liner notes, this book “inspired no less than three great movies: Luchino Visconti’s classic Obsessions, in 1942; the 1946 remake, starring John Garfield and Lana Turner and directed by the extraordinary Tay Garnett; and Bob Rafelson’s underrated 1981 version with Jack Nicholson and Jessica Lange. When you read the magnificent source for these movies, you’ll be astonished at how three different incarnations could all, in their own ways, be faithful to the novel.” 07/07 Jack Quick

THE POSTMISTRESS by Sarah Blake: A lot of the publicity surrounding this book invite comparisons to The Help by Katherine Stockett, and at first glance I wasn’t sure why. The Help is a debut novel set in the 1960’s south during a time of civil unrest and explores themes of class and racial division. The Postmistress moves between a small town in Massachusetts and Europe in 1940 at the beginning of World War II and explores themes of war and family. But after reading The Postmistress, I can tell you that both books will hold similar appeal for readers. Both deal with women’s lives and their roles in society, both the strong and the oppressed, each in a unique and fascinating way. While the Publishers’ Weekly review refers to The Postmistress as a debut, it is not; Blake also wrote Grange House, published in 2001 to fair reviews. It seems her writing has improved since then; Blake has garnered multiple starred reviews for her latest effort, and if I did that sort of thing here, I would star it as well.
The titular postmistress is actually Iris James, the single, 40 year old, new postmaster of the Franklin post office. Franklin is a small town on Cape Cod where everyone knows everyone else. The other newcomer to town is Emma Fitch, the young doctor’s new wife. When Dr. Fitch loses a patient, he decides he can do more good in London and off he goes, leaving his pregnant wife behind to frequent the post office in search of mail. Everyone in town listens to Edward R. Murrow and the first woman reporter in England during the Blitz, Frankie Bard, on the radio. When Frankie’s roommate Harriet, a young reporter, is killed, Frankie takes up her investigation into what is happening to the Jews of Europe. Murrow arranges for her to take the train to France, and then to Germany, interviewing refugees along the way and recording their stories. Blake skillfully weaves these stories and characters together into a mesmerizing tale of the tragedies of war and how people deal with it. The Postmistress is intelligent, deeply perceptive and utterly absorbing, and undoubtedly one of the best books of the year. Book groups will devour it. 03/10 Stacy Alesi, AKA The BookBitch
POUND FOR POUND by F.X. Toole: This is simply the best fight book I have read since Fat City. Mr. Toole gets it exactly right. It is a tough, hard life. But that does not mean that the participants in the life are less than human. Their pain and humanity come shining through in his language.
The book’s central character is a young fighter from Texas named Chicky Garza. He leaves his drunk, addicted grandfather who fought under the name El Lobo, to seek the big time in L.A. L.A. is not a city that is kind to the innocent. Fortunately, in the nick of time, Chicky falls under the tutelage of a gruff Irish trainer Dan Cooley, who has lost everything in life that had any meaning for him. The story of their struggles separately and together makes for a powerful read.
This novel was published posthumorously after the success of the Clint Eastwood movie, Million Dollar Baby, which was based on Mr. Toole’s short story of the same name. 11/06 Geoffrey R. Hamlin

THE POWER OF THE DOG by Don Winslow: If you have not yet discovered Don Winslow, get thee to the nearest library now. It’s really simple: 1. Art Keller is a brilliant DEA agent who sometimes breaks the rules to serve justice. 2. Adan Barrera is an urbane drug dealer whose charm masks his brutality. 3. Nora Hayden is a high-class call girl whose heart is in the right place, and 4. Sean Callan is a taciturn mob hit man, a stone-cold killer who just wants out of the life. Winslow follows these four characters as they cross paths over three decades in the international drug trade, from Keller’s first encounter with Barrera in 1970s Mexico, through the drug cartels’ corruption of government officials in the U.S. and Mexico governments, to a final showdown on the U.S. border in 1999. Its complex, gritty, detailed, everything you could ask for in a thriller. Winslow’s depth of research and unflagging attention to detail bring the story alive. The only thing I can compare it is the early work of Harold Robbins, i.e. The Carpetbagger. Winslow is a winner. 07/10 Jack Quick

THE POWER OF THREE by Laura Lippman: In this departure from her Tess Monagham series, Lippman tells the story of a school shooting that affects three girls found in a bathroom. One is dead, one critically injured, and one minimally wounded and uncooperative with police. The homicide sergeant investigating the case seems more like a social scientist that an investigator and the narrative quickly becomes “CSI: Baltimore: Acceptable but somewhat disappointing. 09/06 Jack Quick

POWER PLAY by Joseph Finder: Finder, the CEO of the corporate thriller and the winner of the Best Thriller Novel from the International Thriller Writers for Killer Instinct, pens another winner in this tale that takes us out of the workplace and on to a corporate retreat for the top management of an airplane manufacturing company. One of the head honchos has a conflict, so he sends his assistant, Jake Landry, in his place. The retreat is at a very swanky lodge in British Columbia, but while the food and wine may be amazing, there are no televisions, computers, or even cell phone towers. They are virtually in an electronics-free zone, ready to go hunting or fishing and whatever other bonding exercises the new president of the company comes up with – except she’s a woman, and these men aren’t too sure they like her, or respect her. On the other hand, she smells a rat or two among her top staff, and is planning on using the weekend to ferret out the traitors. But all those plans are laid to rest when some men come in and take everyone hostage. They appear to be local mountain men, but Landry is suspicious because they seem to know quite a bit about these executives and the company they work for. The tension is almost unbearable as the hostage takers make their demands known and show no qualms about killing people to get what they want. Don’t plan on putting this one down until you turn the last page. 08/07 Stacy Alesi, AKA The BookBitch

PRAY FOR SILENCE by Linda Castillo: A sadistic and brutal crime like nothing Sheriff Kate Burkholder has ever seen rocks the community of Painters Mill in this follow up to last year’s Sworn to Silence. When an Amish family is discovered murdered on their own land, everyone is shocked. Murder in the Amish community is rare and though there are cases of hate crimes against them, those too are uncommon. The nature of the murders themselves is particularly disturbing, but a journal hidden by the family’s youngest daughter reveals secrets that hit very close to home for Kate. Though it seems that there is an abundance of damning evidence, narrowing down the list of suspects will prove to be more complicated than anyone expected. Faced with the toughest case of her career, Kate Burkholder will have to once again confront the demons of her past in order to move forward. Castillo pushed boundaries with her first in this series, but Pray for Silence blows all of those out of the water: her handling of the subject matter is impressive and the book is very well plotted. Again, not for the easily shocked and one that will utterly consume you as you follow Burkholder and her team. This series seriously needs a warning label. 06/10 Becky Lejeune

A Prayer for Owen Meany by John Irving: I just re-read this book, having read it when it was originally published (1989) and it remains my favorite of Irving’s books. This is Irving at his best; well defined characters that draw you into their world, a story with twists and turns that somehow keep you incredulous yet believing. An emotional ride that is not easily forgotten.

A PRAYER FOR THE DYING by Jack Higgins: Another classic Jack Higgins thriller now available as an ebook from Open Road Publishing. Main character Martin Fallon was a ruthless hitman and executioner for the IRA when he made a mistake that resulted in a school bus loaded with children being exploded. Now retired from that life, he is threatened by the Meehan brothers to make one last hit. Father Michael De Costa is a witness to the killing of Jan Krasko and now everyone wants De Costa dead except Fallon, who is determined to protect him as a way of gaining redemption for his own prior deeds. Jack Higgins is the New York Times bestselling author of more than sixty thrillers that have sold over 250 million copies worldwide. 10/10 Jack Quick

PRAYER OF THE DRAGON by Eliot Pattison: In this fourth novel of Eliot Pattison’s mystery series, former Beijing investigator and escaped prisoner Chan is called to a Tibetan mountain village even more remote than most. His ancient monk friends and fellow escapees, Gendun and Lokesh, have preceded him. He finds them chanting over the body of a comatose man who is suspected of murder. The man, ostensibly Tibetan, turns out to be an American Navajo on a quest with his anthropologist daughter, who disappeared at the same their two companions were ambushed, murdered, and mutilated. That is only the tiniest tip of the iceberg that is Dragon Mountain, which proves to be by far the strangest and darkest place Chan has come to yet. If Chan cannot find the daughter and prove the man innocent, Gendun will be tortured by the village head man and most likely he and the monks will be killed, along with the Navajo.
Unexpected bits of contemporary Chinese and international life penetrate the remote setting from time to time, in jarring but revealing clashes of old vs new. Dragon Mountain is saturated with Bon, the old religion that preceded Buddhism; Bon gods are fierce and uninterested in compassion. It is a place where even the best possible outcome leaves any survivors exhausted and still questioning. Truth be told, this series is not easy to read and its fourth book is the most difficult yet. It is also the most rewarding. 01/08 Dianne Day
PREACHING TO THE CORPSE by Roberta Isleib: Just in time for Christmas, Isleib’s second mystery featuring advice columnist and psychologist Dr. Rebecca Butterman involves a postcard-perfect Connecticut Christmas, perfect except for the dead matron whose demise may be connected to the search for a new assistant pastor at the Congregational Church. Dr. Butterman not only has to deal with the twelve days of Christmas, she is also contending with Commandments number six and seven – “Thou shalt not murder” and “Thou shalt not commit adultery.” Actually the broken Sixth Commandment is the one that is rapidly leading to the issue of Commandment Seven – with a very married detective who is trying to prevent her from being broken Commandment Six, Part II. Dr. Butterman is one of the more interesting amateur sleuths. 12/07 Jack Quick

PRECINCT PUERTO RICO by Stephen Torres: A police procedural with a twist – Sheriff Luis Gonzalo of Angustias, Puerto Rico, helps recover the bodies of illegal Dominican immigrants washed up on shore near his sister-in-law’s village. He can tell that one was murdered, but then the body disappears. It becomes apparent that not all is as it seems and that maybe there is corruption in high places. First of a series, it has promise with its laidback protagonist and somewhat exotic locale. 02/06 Jack Quick

PRECIOUS by Sandra Novack: It’s the summer of 1978, a summer that will prove to be disastrous in many ways. Sissy Kisch will always remember it as the summer that her mother left and the summer that her best friend disappeared. Sissy’s sister, Eva, will begin her senior year in August, but that summer she makes a mistake. Eva has been rebelling for quite some time, but her anger over her mother’s abandonment and her father’s reaction to it leads to an affair with a married teacher. In many ways, the disappearance of Vicki Anderson, or even Natalia (Eva and Sissy’s mother) and her abandonment are the catalyst for everything that happens to the Kisch family. Everything changes for Sissy and her family that summer. This is by no means a happy family tale. In fact, if you’re looking for a happy ending, this is not the book for you. The Kisch family’s circumstances and the eventual revelation about the missing child are a bit unsettling. Sandra Novack reveals the secrets that lie behind the closed doors of one typical American family, and makes you wonder what your own neighbors could be hiding. 03/09 Becky Lejeune

PRECIOUS CARGO by Clyde Ford: PI Charlie Noble is about to set off on his first boating trip with his new girlfriend when a couple approaches him and asks that he take on a new case. The couple had been about to leave on their yearly cruise to Alaska when they brought up a woman’s body with their anchor. Having lost their own daughter with no explanation, they want Charlie to discover the woman’s identity so that her family will not suffer as they have. The police are involved but have already admitted that this case is not top priority in the department, so Charlie agrees and sets his own plans on hold as he begins his investigation. He hires local salvage man and diver Dan “Raven” Ravenheart Washington to help him dive the area where the body was found in hopes of finding some evidence. Instead, the two discover more bodies. Now Charlie is embroiled in a murder investigation with connections to human trafficking and prostitution, and the players involved are not pleased about the attention their affairs are attracting. Ford has a great twist in that the novel has a heavy nautical theme. It’s a great gritty PI novel with an original spin. Precious Cargo is technically the second book to feature Charlie Noble. Red Herring, Noble’s first appearance, does appear to be out of print at this time. Cargo has just been re-released and Ford is rumored to be working on a third Noble story. 10/08 Becky Lejeune

PREP SCHOOL CONFIDENTIAL by Kara Taylor: Switching schools mid year is definitely not ideal, but after Anne accidentally catches part of her school on fire, she doesn’t have much of a choice. Her father does manage to pull some strings – on short notice and even considering his daughter’s new record as an arsonist – and gets Anne a place in an exclusive Boston boarding school. All in all it’s not so bad at Wheatley, at least not in the beginning: Anne’s roommate is nice and she does make other friends at the school fairly quickly. But when Anne’s roommate is murdered, she is determined to see the killer brought to justice. After all, if she’d stayed in and hung out with Isabella instead of going to a party, the girl might still be alive. But why was Isabella out that evening at all? And who would want to kill her? Kara Taylor’s debut is pretty fabulous. Technically it’s a teen mystery but the plot is quite clever and sure to appeal to long time mystery readers as well as its intended teen audience. It’s also the first in a new series and one that I’m definitely looking forward to continuing. 8/13 Becky Lejeune

THE PRESERVATIONIST by Justin Kramon: Sam is sure that he and Julia are meant to be. He noticed her on campus and was undeniably drawn to her, and when she returns the sentiment it’s certain. For Julia, it seems that Sam is the kind of person she can truly be herself with. But before Julia met Sam, she was dating Marcus and though their relationship was short, Marcus seems unwilling to let Julia go. As if settling into college weren’t stressful enough, now Julia has to deal with the growing tension between Marcus and Sam. And then there are the reports of attacks on campus as well. Freshman year is definitely not shaping up the way Julia had imagined. Kramon’s second release is an edge of your seat thriller that begs to be read in one go. It’s a story with a lot of twists, and while some are a bit predictable, there are plenty of others that are complete surprises. In fact, Kramon does an excellent job of gradually increasing the level of suspense throughout the story. 10/13 Becky Lejeune

THE PRESIDENT’S VAMPIRE by Christopher Farnsworth: Nathaniel Cade and his handler, Zach Barrows, are back in this follow-up to Farnsworth’s debut, Blood Oath. This time, the vampire is sent out to fight a strange mutated creature he calls Snakeheads. As Cade hunts down pockets of the enemy around the globe, Barrows is forced to stay behind and work alongside a group of secretive CIA operatives who have a motive of their own. It soon becomes clear that the Shadow Company—a covert group that Cade has long been trying to bring down—is involved and that the case ties in to one from Cade’s past, in a tiny village called Innsmouth. I love what Farnsworth has done. His tidbits of conspiracy theory and, in this case, ties to some of Lovecraft’s most famous tales, provide a unique and stand-out element in this series. 05/11 Becky Lejeune

PRESSURE by Jeff Strand: Darren Rust, budding sociopath – Alex Fletcher, shy and scared – meet first at Branford Academy, a “dumping ground” for problem children whose parents can afford the tuition. Their lives diverge until college, when Darren pops up at Alex’s college campus. Friends, yet enemies, for how can you be friends with a monster? Now Alex is all grown up with a wife and family, when Darren re-appears. Not for the weak hearted, or as Darren would say, “I’m a strangler, not a decapitator.” Best read during daylight hours. 09/06 Jack Quick

THE PRESSURE OF DARKNESS by Harry Shannon: Jack Burke earned his stripes as a Special Operations agent near Somalia in 1993, refined his skills in the Las Vegas PD and is now an unlicensed PI in Los Angeles. Nicole Stryker hires him to look into the gruesome death of her father, horror author Peter Stryker. The death has been labeled suicide but Burke picks up indications that it was, in fact, murder. Enter Burke’s former employer, the CIA; drug cartels, religious cult leaders, murder and mutilation of homeless people, a Mexican connection – and it just keeps getting more nerve racking, fast moving and complicated. This is definitely a horror, mystery, PI, military/adventure, techno-thriller with religious overtones, romantic angles and enough guts and gore to satisfy the most blood-thirsty. Amazingly hard to put down even though it runs well over 400 pages. This may be the break out book for Shannon, who has written two previous Mick Callahan novels. 11/06 Jack Quick

PRESSURE POINT by Dick Couch: Interesting techno-thriller with a twist. Palestinian terrorists hijack a Puget Sound ferry and then use it to capture and tow away a Navy Trident submarine with its nuclear weapons intact. It is up to Delta Force and the US Navy SEALs to deal with the threat but it is ferry Captain Ross Peck and First Mate Janey McClure that are instrumental in bringing this episode to an end and saving passengers’ lives. Nicely done with lots of detail on modern antiterrorist tactics, but hopefully not an accurate picture of lax security at a major nuclear naval base. Recommended. 11/09 Jack Quick

PRESUMED DEAD by Shirley Wells: “Dylan (Scott) wondered if life could get any worse. He was thirty eight years old, he had no job and little hope of getting one, his wife had thrown him out, his mother had moved in, and he’d had to hunt through a pile of laundry currently lying in front of his as-yet-unused washing machine for the shirt he was wearing.” So begins the saga of an ex-cop thrown off the police force for assaulting a suspect and all his resulting troubles. So when Holly Champion begs him to investigate the disappearance of her mother thirteen years ago, he could hardly refuse, could he? The local police still believe Anita Champion took off for a better life, but Dylan’s inquiries turn up plenty of potential suspects: the drug-dealing, muscle-bound bouncer at the club where Anita was last seen; the missing woman’s four girlfriends, out for revenge; the local landowner with rumored mob connections, among others. Who knows what other secrets this one sleepy little town holds and will Dylan survive the inquiry. Interesting ex-police procedural from the author of the Jill Kennedy and DCI Max Trentham series. 08/10 Jack Quick

PRESUMED INNOCENT by Scott Turow: Why am I reviewing a book originally published back in the 1980’s? Because that’s when I read it the first time, and there is a sequel, Innocent, coming out May 4, so I wanted to revisit the first book again. I remembered that I loved it, and that it was probably the first legal thriller I’d ever read and I’ve been hooked on them ever since. But I’d forgotten how beautifully it is written, how richly developed the characters are, how twisted the story is, and how shocking the ending was. And even more to Turow’s credit, it holds up remarkably well today; there are no jolts that scream “1987”, and the only thing missing from the courtroom is DNA evidence.
A prosecuting attorney, Rusty Sabich, has an affair with a co-worker who apparently liked to do that sort of thing – a lot. Several months later she is found raped and murdered at home. Sabich’s boss is running for re-election and one of the other prosecutors is working for the opposition. The politics of it all becomes part of the trial when Sabich is accused of the murder. Publisher’s Weekly had called it “spellbinding” and that was the perfect word for it, I hated to put the book down and when I did, I couldn’t stop thinking about it. Not much higher praise than that. 03/10 Stacy Alesi, AKA The BookBitch

PRETTY LITTLE THINGS by Jilliane Hoffman: When thirteen-year-old Lainey Emerson meets Zach online, she thinks he’s the perfect guy. Nevermind the fact that he’s a senior in high school, he’s hot and he seems interested in her. Lainey’s only worry when Zach suggests they meet in person is that the high schooler will discover her real age. Two days later, Lainey’s mother reports her missing. Bobby Dees, an officer with the Crimes Against Children Squad, is called in to investigate. Though most are sure Lainey is just another teen runaway, Dees is not convinced. Turns out he’s right and the case is much more complicated than anyone imagined. Soon a killer begins sending personal messages to Dees, messages that include gruesome clues linking more missing girls in the area to Lainey’s case. This latest from Hoffman is an intense thriller about a very timely subject. I don’t know if there are any plans for more Bobby Dees stories, but I could easily see this developing into an intense series with lots of possibilities. A definite recommended read for thriller fans. 09/10 Becky Lejeune

THE PREY by Andrew Fukuda: This second in Fukuda’s post apocalypse vampire series picks up right where last year’s The Hunt left off. Gene, Sissy, and the others have managed to escape their pursuers, traveling up the river on a boat left behind by the Scientist – Gene’s father. But the vampires aren’t so easily dissuaded. They continue to hunt the humans by day and are willing to die trying to capture these last remaining hepers. Following instructions left by the Scientist, they take the river to its end and discover a small settlement of humans. With protection and abundant resources, they seem to finally be safe. Unfortunately, it isn’t long before Gene and Sissy realize that there’s something strange about their newfound sanctuary: the settlement is led by a handful of older men called Elders who have set forth a strict series of rules for the town to live by. What’s more, there are no men or boys present other than the Elders themselves. It soon becomes clear that there is no salvation to be found here. But the Scientist’s trail seems to be at an end and Gene isn’t sure who to trust or where to turn next. Fukuda ramps up the suspense more and more as this trilogy continues and I am dying to find out what happens next. This is a great read for adults and teens. 2/13 Becky Lejeune

PREY by Rachel Vincent: It’s been nine months since Faythe has last seen Marc. Nine months since her trial for killing and accidentally infecting a human in Pride. Nine months since Marc was exiled. The plan was to meet Marc in the free territory—territory not under Pride control—so that he can help escort them to where Manx will now face the council for her own crimes. While on their way, the team is attacked by a pack of strays. Strange as it is that a group of strays would band together, the team has much worse to worry about when Marc is captured. They fear he may be dead, but Faythe knows differently. Still, time is running out and a war is about to be waged between the Prides as Faythe’s own family comes under siege from enemies within the werecat community. This fourth in the series will leave readers breathless waiting for the next installment. Conflicts that have been building in previous books are finally coming to a head and I’m just dying to see what will happen next. 06/09 Becky Lejeune
THE PREY by Allison Brennan: It has to be a crime writer’s worst night mare. Rowan Smith’s books have done very well, so well that two have been made into movies and she is now in a rented Malibu beach house working on the screenplay for her third movie. Then the press shows up, followed by the police and the FBI. A woman in Colorado with the same name, looks, and occupation as a character in one of her books is found dead in Denver. Then another person is killed in a direct rip off from the pages of her books. Is there a connection with her former career as an FBI agent, or is this a fan expressing his devotion in a most disturbing fashion. Terrific plot and good characterization. I definitely will read more by Ms. Brennan. 04/08 Jack Quick

PREY by Michael Crichton: The Military is always looking for the better weapon. This one is called Nanotechnology. Imagine if you could put an entire Army on the head of a pin, then transport them to the battlefield, and bring them back to full fighting strength. It’s every four star’s cream dream. Of course the “government” has been pursuing this for years, Thank God it’s not been proven successful yet. Crichton tells a classic story of the “unintended consequences” theory to great effect. The problem here seems to be that the technology, while feasible, has some major problems. Basically the problem is if you give these things the gift of reason, they’ll eventually outsmart their creators and conquer them. A group of really besieged scientists are the last line of defense here, and you’d better hope they win. 03/06 DOC

THE PRICE by Alexandra Sokoloff: Horror fans were in for a treat with Sokoloff’s amazing and original debut, The Harrowing. Her sophomoric effort is no less amazing. How far would you go to save the life of a loved-one? To save yourself? This is the question that Sokoloff poses in The Price. Miracles happen all the time. Hospitals make a business out of them. Brilliant doctors make new discoveries in science everyday. People are cured, seemingly miraculously, and go on to live long and healthy lives. Something different is happening at Briarwood Medical Center, though. Within these hallowed halls someone waits. He listens, intent on hearing those four magic words, “I would do anything.” Will Sullivan is about to discover just how far one will go to experience the hope of a miracle. Extraordinarily creepy. Sokoloff infuses even the most innocent scenes with an undeniable sense of dread. You know something bad is coming but it still sneaks up and scares the pants off of you. 03/08 Becky Lejeune

THE PRICE OF BLOOD by Declan Hughes: If you are a fan of Ken Bruen and have not yet tried Declan Hughes, you have a treat in store. Written in the same gritty manner but with a bit more lavish detail, Hughes follows Dublin PI Ed Loy, first in 2006’s The Wrong Kind of Blood, 2007’s The Color of Blood and now in The Price of Blood. When you have both Michael Connelly and John Connolly among your fans you have to be doing something right. In this outing Father Vincent Tyrrell hires Loy to find Patrick Hutton, a jockey missing for 10 years. There is not one, but rather two grisly murders with which Loy becomes involved. Before the final conclusion at a famous Irish horse-racing festival Loy will be beaten up, warned off, and blamed for actions taken and not taken. Parts are brutal – but it couldn’t be any other way. So pour yourself a pint and enjoy. 04/08 Jack Quick

PRIDE by Rachel Vincent: Following right on the heels of the events of Rogue comes the third installment to Vincent’s fabulous Shifters series. It is finally time for Faythe to go up against the council and plead her case. Infecting a human is a capital crime among the Prides and though Faythe has evidence to back up her claim that she accidentally infected her human boyfriend, certain members of the council are still convinced she is lying. Not only that, but they believe that she killed him, not to defend her life as she claims, but to cover up her crime. With part of the council pushing for death, Faythe will be lucky to get out of this one alive. She is granted a brief reprieve, however, when a local Bruin (were bear) appears at the meeting to make a complaint. It seems a group of Strays has been hunting in his territory and he wants them gone. When a human couple goes missing in the area, Faythe’s fellow werecats all agree that they must act fast in order to keep their existence secret. As the series continues, Vincent’s carefully constructed mythology keeps getting more and more intriguing. Just like Rogue, Pride ends with a major cliff-hanger that will have readers waiting anxiously for Prey (book four) to hit shelves later this year. 01/09 Becky Lejeune

THE PRIEST by Ken Bruen: After the tragedy that ended THE DRAMATIST, Jack Taylor has spent the last five months in a mental hospital. Now that he has recovered (?) he takes on three new cases involving a beheaded child molesting priest, a stalker, and the missing father of the girl who died while Taylor was babysitting her. This one is dark even by Bruen standards, but if you are into Bruen, its great. If not, this one won’t change your mind at all. Personally, I liked it. 01/08 Jack Quick

PRIME TIME by Hank Phillippi Ryan: Charlotte McNally is a seasoned reporter in the cutthroat world of television journalism. An apparently innocent e-mail may hold the answer to a murder, mayhem and multimillion-dollar fraud ring. Is she going to pursue the matter? You bet. Is her investigation going to lead her to a hunky guy whose appearance makes her want to overlook his apparent inability to tell the truth. Raging female hormones at 10 PM with the rest of the story. Somehow, I couldn’t get over the Harlequin imprint on the cover and take this one that seriously….. 11/07 Jack Quick

PRIME TIME by Hank Phillipi Ryan: Investigative journalist Charlotte (Charlie) McNally is not about to let her career end without a fight. After a string of Emmy awards, she’s always on the lookout for the next great story. And as a forty-something in an industry that’s so focused on youth and beauty, she knows that her talent is second-to-none, but she has to continue to prove it. When she is called to fill in last minute at the news desk, a story of a local man reported missing sparks her curiosity. Later, the man is discovered dead and his case is deemed a suicide. But Charlie is not so sure. Is it a coincidence that the man worked for a local pharmaceutical company that has recently been taken to court for dirty billing practices? And, when she discovers that the dead man tried contacting her very near the time of his death, she becomes more than convinced that something fishy is going on. Prime Time is the first title to feature spunky reporter Charlie McNally and her fellow cast of characters. The plot is great and will leave readers wanting more. 08/09 Becky Lejeune

PRIMITIVE by Mark Nykanen: Think Al Gore, with dialogue provided by Dan Brown. A “neo-primitive” cult, possessing secret government documents filled with terrifying information about global warming, kidnaps a famous fashion model and holds her hostage, forcing her to act as their spokesperson. Big government, big oil, big problems – all in this nicely done eco-thriller. Read it if you enjoy thrillers, read it and shudder if you have concerns about the future of our environment. 1/11 Jack Quick

PRINCE OF FIRE by Daniel Silva: The fifth novel featuring art restorer/Israeli agent Gabriel Allon continues the series place among the tops in spy fiction. This time Gabriel is pulled from his cover to hunt down terrorists who have bombed the Israeli embassy in Rome. The mastermind behind the bombing is French archeologist Paul Martineau, aka “Khaled, son of Sabri, grandson of Sheikh Asad. Khaled, avenger of past wrongs, sword of Palestine.” Khaled is also the adopted son of Yasir Arafat, who has sent him to exact vengeance on the enemies of Palestine and the PLO. Gabriel’s team of agents is able to track down the terrorist, but then there is a stunning twist. Gabriel’s mentor tells him “You’re the one who defends Israel against its accusers. You’re the angel of judgment – the Prince of Fire.” Hopefully there will be future missions. 01/07 Jack Quick

The Princess Bride by William Goldman, Ballantine Books: I know you think you know The Princess Bride, but I’m writing to tell you you don’t know it until you’ve read the book. I found myself with 3 hours to kill and a copy in front of me, and I’m so glad I picked it up. Bring itto the beach one sunny day and you’ll be glad you discovered it. It’s funnier than the movie, more interesting than the movie and much more lively than the movie – and I really enjoyed the movie!

PS: Where it tells you to write to Urban del Rey at Ballantine Books you ought to know that Ballantine has moved from 201 East 50th St to 1540 Broadway NY, NY 10036. I have no idea about Urban. Read the book to find out what I’m talking about!!! ~This review contributed by Ann Nappa

PRIOR BAD ACTS by Tami Hoag: Former state prosecutor Carey Moore becomes a criminal-court judge, but feels like she must be above reproach in her rulings so as to not give rise to charges of favoritism. The cops and prosecutors are sure that Karl Dahl is the one who brutally raped and murdered a mother and her two children, but Moore won’t allow Dahl’s “prior bad acts” to be admitted into evidence. Next Moore is brutally attacked and Dahl escapes. Homicide detectives Sam Kovak and Nikki Liska give chase in this first-rate thriller with a mind-blowing finish. 07/06 Jack Quick

THE PRISONER OF HEAVEN by Carlos Ruiz Zafon: In the time since The Shadow of the Wind, Daniel and Bea have married and are now parents to an infant son. The holiday season is upon them and Sempere & Sons is struggling. If their customers don’t return soon, Daniel and his father may have to make some tough decisions. But there’s good news as well, Fermin is to be married and everyone is ready to celebrate the big day. Daniel is alone in the shop one afternoon when a strange customer arrives and purchases a very rare edition of The Count of Monte Cristo. The customer informs Daniel that the book is a gift and he would like Sempere & Sons to deliver it to the recipient themselves. When Daniel realizes this is because the gift is in fact intended for Fermin, he becomes suspicious and decides to follow the man. Later, when he confronts Fermin over the issue, his friend is visibly shaken and warns Daniel to back off. Of course Daniel is reluctant to do so, believing that his friend is in trouble. When he learns the truth behind the visitor and Fermin’s past, however, Daniel discovers that his friend has been hiding some very strange secrets, one of which concerns Daniel and his family. Fans of Zafon’s work will love this return to the setting and the characters introduced in both The Shadow of the Wind and Angel’s Game. Anyone who has yet to read the prior releases should be wary, however, as it is necessary to read both books before diving into Prisoner and though Angel is technically a prequel, I’d recommend reading them in order of release: Shadow followed by Angel and then Prisoner. Word is there is one more book to come. 8/12 Becky Lejeune

PRISONER OF MEMORY by Denise Hamilton: Having tackled Southern California’s Asian and Latino communities, its time for Eve Diamond to check out the Russians. In this fifth outing, Diamond, an ambitious LA Times reporter, is checking out reports of a mountain lion in Griffith Park when she finds the dead body Dennis Lukin, teenage son of recent Russian immigrants. The mountain lion isn’t responsible unless he was armed with a 9mm Glock, but the experience quickly leads to further involvement when Mischa Tsipin, an illegal Russian immigrant running from gangsters to whom he owes money, appears claiming to be a cousin of Eve’s (her mother was Russian). It’s a regular who’s on first and I don’t know with Eve, FBI agent Thomas Clavendish, and reporter colleague, Josh Brandywine helping her solve the riddle. Not the best of plotting, but well written and enjoyable. 07/08 Jack Quick

PRIVATE WARS (QUEEN & COUNTRY) by Greg Rucka: In this sequel to A Gentleman’s Game (2004), Special Operations Officer Tara Chase is now the mother of an infant daughter. The baby’s father was killed in an unsanctioned operation for the British Secret Intelligence Service. Afterwards, Tara quits the service only to find retirement is not as easy as it looks. Paul Crocker coaxes her back into the game with a chance to vindicate herself and perhaps obtain revenge for her dead lover, Tom Wallace. Edgy and contemporary, the Tara Chase series are evocative of Adam Hall’s Quiller novels as well as the works of Len Deighton. (Faith, Hope, Charity, Hook, Line, Sinker). Let’s hope there are many more. 01/07 Jack Quick

PROBABLE CAUSE by Theresa Schwegel: Did you ever get stopped at a road construction project in the summer where the oily hot asphalt fumes also seemed to bring a fine coating of road grit that couldn’t be washed off? That’s the best way I can describe Schwegel’s writing. Its gritty. Ray Weiss didn’t join the Chicago PD to be a thief, but he quickly learns that in order to be initiated, he has to participate in a jewelry store robbery. Only when he breaks in, he finds the owner there – shot dead. From there it’s double-crosses, illegal immigration and cover-ups. Weiss’ father is a cop, but whose side is he on? Is he really helping Ray, or is he part of the problem? Not for the faint of heart. It’s hard to be sympathetic toward anyone, even the bumbling Ray who is trying to do right. 04/07 Jack Quick

THE PRODIGY by Charles Atkins: Charles Atkins is Dr. Charles Atkins, a practicing psychiatrist and Yale professor published both in Psychiatric News and Writer’s Digest along with two other novels prior to this one. Who better to take you inside the head of a dangerous sociopath with the opportunity and means to act on his every impulse. James “Jimmy” Martin IV should never have been released, but the combination of incredible wealth and a devoted twin sister, can trump even a lifetime sentence in a mental institution. The product of sadistic parents, Jimmy and his twin Ellen are cunning, ruthless, amoral and capable of just about anything. Better read with the lights on. 04/08 Jack Quick

THE PROFESSION by Stephen Pressfield: This over the top thriller takes place in 2032 after the third Iran-Iraq war which has left the region open for grabs. Oil companies, multi-national corporations and banks employ powerful, cutting-edge mercenary armies to control global chaos and protect their riches. Even nation states enlist mercenary forces to suppress internal insurrections, hunt terrorists, and do the black bag jobs necessary to maintain the new New World Order. Force Insertion is the world’s merc monopoly. Its leader is the disgraced former United States Marine General James Salter, stripped of his command by the president for nuclear saber-rattling with the Chinese and banished to the Far East. Opposing him is the novel’s narrator, Gilbert “Gent” Gentilhomme, Salter’s most loyal foot soldier and as close to him as the son Salter lost. Its a nicely done thriller although I tended to get bogged down in some of the technical details and found myself going back to re-read some sections where my focus had drifted. 08/11 Jack Quick

THE PROFESSIONAL by Robert Parker: In this 37th Spenser novel, Parker presents an interesting challenge to our Boston-based PI. Four attractive women, each married to an older rich man, have had affairs with a sexual predator calling him self Gary Eisenhower. Now Eisenhower is threatening to blackmail them and a lawyer associate of Rita Fiore has recommended Spenser to solve their problem. They want Eisenhower to go away, but they won’t press charges or testify because of the impact on their marriage and husbands’ careers. They say they don’t want him hurt (one is still seeing him, even now) and Eisenhower has indicated to Spenser that nothing short of someone killing him (Eisenhower) will stop him. Can Spenser find a non-violent solution to the dilemma or will he have to rely on Hawk’s willingness to put the matter to rest? Nice read. 12/09 Jack Quick

PROMENADE OF THE GODS by Koji Suzuki: Shirow Murakami receives a disturbing phone call late one evening from Miyuki, his best friend Matsuoka’s wife. It’s been two months since Matsuoka walked out on his family. All seemed fine with the couple, but after watching tv one Sunday evening, he just left. Miyuki has received a few phone calls, but has seen nothing of her husband since that evening. With no real education and no means to support herself but her dwindling savings, Miyuki is becoming somewhat desperate to discover what happened to her husband and Shirow is the only one she can go to for help. The two begin looking into Matsuoka’s past and they discover that this is not the first time he has run off. Shirow begins to suspect that Matsuoka may have fallen victim to some strange cult. Like Ring the main character is once again thrown into an investigation into the unknown. Fans of Suzuki’s horror might recall mention of one of the key characters and will recognize many similarities in theme. Promenade is a stand-alone, though, and is a great place for readers to begin to familiarize themselves with Suzuki’s work. 09/08 Becky Lejeune

PROMISE NOT TO TELL by Jennifer McMahon: The children of New Canaan and the surrounding areas still love to tell ghost stories about the Potato Girl. Del Griswold, aka the Potato Girl, was an unfortunate victim of circumstance. A farmer’s daughter in a family full of boys, Del suffered at the hands of schoolyard bullying. Kate Cypher never intended to become friends with the Potato Girl. Living in a nearby hippie community, Kate struggles to fit in amongst her classmates as well. Her shortcut home cuts right through the Griswold farm, though, and this is how two outsiders found each other and became best friends. Unfortunately, the friendship was short lived and Del’s murder was never solved. Kate had escaped her past and moved to Seattle but is forced to return to New Hope when her mother’s Alzheimer’s begins to threaten the safety of the few remaining members of New Hope. On the night of her arrival, a group of kids sneak up to the Griswold farm and another girl is found murdered. The scene is shockingly reminiscent to that of Del’s murder. McMahon’s powerful debut is one that will shake readers to the core. A story of childhood betrayal and the loss of innocence, Promise Not to Tell is a brilliant mystery. 06/07 Becky Lejeune

PROOF OF INTENT by Walter Sorrells: I recently learned Walter Sorrells is Lynn Abercrombie is Ruth Birmingham. Whatever the name, the result is a good tale. Charley Sloan had a bad day yesterday but today is worse. Local author Miles Dane calls him to his house in the wee hours of morning where Sloan finds the author and Dane’s dead wife. Dane tells his tale to Sloan who calls the police. Upon their arrival he proceeds, in front of Sloan, to tell the investigators a different story. So Dane is a liar? But is he a murderer? Did he kill his wife or is he trying to take advantage of the event to revive his flagging career? A different take on the ordinary whodunit and Sloan must find out the truth. It really gets dark when evidence surfaces that Dane seems to be following a script based on one of his own novels. Stay tuned for this finish. This one goes to the wire. 05/09 Jack Quick

PROOF OF PURCHASE by Richard B. Schwartz: Ex-Army Colonel Jack Grant is a sometimes private investigator and most times alcoholic who is called in to investigate the missing Cynthia Bladen, who happens to be Jack’s ex- girl friend. When Bladen’s mutilated body is found, Jack teams up with Lieutenant Diana Craig, a tough-as-nails tracker, whose razor-sharp insights and intellect give Jack a run for his money. They go from wary rivals to a relationship marked with cozy banter and growing trust. The investigation reveals ties to organized crime and Jack tries to remember if anything in his prior experience could have an effect on the case. Interesting. Hope we get to see more of Jack Grant. 03/07 Jack Quick

PROOF OF GUILT by Charles Todd: Inspector Ian Rutledge’s latest case involves the body of an unidentified man. The body, found lying in the street, seems to be the victim of an automobile accident. But there’s evidence the man had been dragged quite a way and all identifying items are missing, causing the first officer on the scene to suspect something more sinister than an accident. Rutledge discovers a unique and expensive watch on the man and is able to trace it to a pair commissioned for a local wine merchant family. The watches were gifts for brothers Michael and Lewis French, the elder of whom was killed in battle. When Rutledge attempts to call on Lewis French, he discovers the man is missing. Unfortunately, French’s sister claims the body is not her brother’s. As Rutledge continues his inquiries in an attempt to identify the dead man and now locate French, more and more questions pile up. With his superiors pushing for a resolution, Rutledge is running out of places to turn. This latest in the Rutledge series is an interesting and quick read. The plot is smart but the slew of red herrings and the abundance of investigative avenues pursued by Rutledge does border on becoming a bit too confusing by the time things begin to wrap up. The book works fine for readers who are just starting the series, but having read the earlier installments no doubt gives the reader a better handle on Rutledge himself. 2/13 Becky Lejeune

THE PROP by Pete Hautman: Peeky Kane has a most unusual job. The attractive middle aged woman works as a “prop” at a Native American owned casino near Tucson, Arizona. Whenever they need someone to fill in a shorthanded poker game, Peeky comes in earning a salary, health insurance, and any winnings she can pick up. Things are going reasonably well for Peeky until she becomes the unwitting accomplice of some crooked dealers who have come up with a new way to steal money. Hautman seems to know his gambling and keeps the action going at a good clip. The book is similar in setting to the James Swain series, but with less emphasis on mechanics and more on action. Enjoyable, even if, like me, you aren’t into Texas-Hold’em. 11/06 Jack Quick

PROPHECY by Paul Mark Tag: Its 1889, and over 2,200 people are about to perish in one of the greatest environmental disasters to befall the United States. More than 400 more people would die in the Johnstown, Pennsylvania flood than would be killed by Hurricane Katrina over one hundred years later. Minutes before the poorly maintained sporting dam above Johnstown gives way a nineteen-year old girl enters a local church and places a letter in a bottle, and secures the bottle in a safe. One hundred ten years later in 2009 the safe is unearthed. At the same time, Russian laboratory experiments would seem to confirm the contents of the letter – the author of the letter knew of the impending flood. In what could prove to be the scientific discovery of the ages, researchers uncover a rare genetic mutation that could scientifically explain the clairvoyant powers exhibited by prophets of old. Now the hunt begins for a present-day carrier who could confirm the gene’s potential. The stakes: theological chaos for the world’s religions-and the power to control the planet. Fasten your seat belts and hang on. This one has a bit of everything and Tag manages to pull all the threads together nicely. 11/07 Jack Quick

PROSPECT PARK WEST by Amy Sohn: Way too much whine and wine for me in this tale of Park Slope mommies and all their tired, trite problems like husbands who travel too much, husbands who don’t want to have sex, and husbands who cheat. Then there are the mommies who are so lonely that they condescend to semi-friendship with other mommies met on the playground, mommies who are famous actresses trying to prove they are down to earth by living in Brooklyn, mommies who are really lesbians, mommies who are bordering on psychotic yet in Sohn’s hands, somehow are also exceedingly dull. Only one of the mommies actually lives in Prospect Park West and she is desperate to move up to the Slope. This is a collection of stories about women who are too boring, too neurotic and too self centered to generate any interest in their banal, superficial lives, despite an occasional glimmer of humor or human interest. For me, this was a complete waste of time I could have spent on something more interesting, like cleaning my oven. (Note to self: if you don’t particularly care for an author’s work, like Lauren Weisberger, don’t trust their blurbs, either.) 11/09 Stacy Alesi, AKA The BookBitch

Protect and Defend by Richard North Patterson: Impeccable research and excellent writing make this novel about the political hot potato of late term abortion a riveting read. The only negative is the physical problem with this hardcover book; the spine breaks, causing the book to literally fall apart with more than one reading. I love cloth books (hardcovers) but if you want to keep this one, you’re better off with the paperback.

THE PROTECTOR by Gennita Low: Lt. Jazz Zeringue is a Navy SEAL on assignment in an unspecified foreign country working to stop terrorists from smuggling weapons. He meets Viviviene Verreau, a government agent, working to stop the same terrorists from selling women of all ages into prostitution against their will. Sparks fly between the two before they finally realize they have a common goal. Middling adventure, but not top rank. 10/08 Jack Quick

The Protector by David Morrell: This is a page-turner from the get go. Cavanaugh is a protector, one notch up from a bodyguard – a specially trained ex-government agent for hire. Daniel Prescott has invented a powerful new drug, and everyone from the drug cartels of South America to the U.S. Federal government is after him, and he hires Cavanaugh to protect him. But Prescott kills Cavanaugh’s associates and tries to take Cavanaugh out too, then takes off, and Cavanaugh goes on the hunt for Prescott. The action is non-stop in this well written and well researched book. Morrell suffered a broken collarbone researching one of the weapons used – the knife on the cover of the book. Yet another Morrell book that I could not put down – I stayed up until the middle of the night to finish it. Stacy Alesi, AKA The BookBitch

PULSE by Jeremy Robinson: Jack Sigler’s team, a Delta squad nicknamed Chess Team thanks to their call signs, has the week off and Sigler himself is on his way to Peru to help with private security on a friend’s archaeological dig. In Herculean mythology, Hercules killed the Hydra and buried its immortal head. Though the story has long been thought to be just that, a story, recent discoveries point to Hercules as being a real person. But if the Hercules was real, what else about his legend was real as well? The discovery in Peru is unprecedented and more than one person is convinced that the real Hydra is buried there. Manifold Genetics and its founder, Richard Ridley, believe the Hydra’s remains hold the key to regenerative properties that can be sold to the highest bidder. Their experiments in this area have so far led to disastrous and gruesome results, but the find in Peru might finally be the key. They take the site by force, but Sigler survives. Now Sigler and his team are on Manifold’s tail and they’ll stop at nothing to ensure that they bring Ridley down for good. Robinson kicks off his Jack Sigler series with a bang in Pulse. Though the story lacks some depth, the premise is interesting. Pulse makes for fun reading and pure entertainment in the book equivalent of an action movie (or video game). 04/11 Becky Lejeune

PUMPED FOR MURDER by Elaine Viets: This tenth entry in the Dead End Job Series follows a new path since Helen and Phil are married. They’ve started their own P.I. firm, Coronado Investigations, so how to get Helen in another dead end job? Easy when their first client wants to know who her husband is fooling around with. He’s been working out for hours a day at the gym, so Helen gets a job there as the receptionist to see what she can find out. Their second client, Gus, wants them to follow up on a 25 year old cold case that had ruled his brother a suicide, but Gus is convinced was murder. Then a dead bodybuilder turns up at the gym, and Helen and Phil really have their hands full trying to solve all three cases. Viets once again writes a tight story with lots of laughs amid the murder and mayhem. I couldn’t put it down. 05/11 Stacy Alesi, AKA The BookBitch

PURE by Julianna Baggott: After the detonation, the world became a very different place. Partridge, a Pure, was protected by the Dome when the detonation happened. Raised by his father, he’s expected to be one of the best and the brightest, but Partridge longs for something more. Pressia was just a child when the detonation occurred. Like those around her, she is permanently marked by the event. When Partridge escapes the Dome, it is Pressia who comes to his aid. But Partridge and Pressia are part of something much bigger than either of them can imagine. In Pure Julianna Baggott presents a nightmarish vision of the post-apocalypse. The world building alone is remarkable and sets the stage for something that promises to be huge. This is the first of a highly anticipated trilogy, one that delivers on all counts. 2/12 Becky Lejeune

Pure by Rebbecca Ray: When I was (a very wild) 14, I remember reading books about teenagers and thinking these people don’t have a clue what it’s like. I always wanted to write a book about the truth and now I don’t have to, Ray did it for me when she was 16 years old. It’s a very dark, very fast read.

PURGATORY CHASM by Steve Ulfelder: Steve Ulfelder’s initial crime fiction effort comes at a good time. With the passing of Robert Parker and Spencer, there is room for a new crime/problem solver in that portion of New England south of Archer Mayor country. And Purgatory Chasm is a pretty good first effort.
The hero of Purgatory Chasm is a competent, if itinerant, automobile mechanic named Conway Sax. He has some issues in life – he is on parole and faithfully attending meetings of Alcoholics Anonymous. But he is an honest and likeable fellow who is potential series material.
Since this is crime fiction, Conway doesn’t always deal well with women, but that is a part of the formula. The dialog in those interactions and his internal reactions seem, well, honest and likeable.
The mystery, or problem in this case starts with his attempts to get a fellow AA-er’s car back from an auto repair shop. Pretty soon, Conway is wrestling with both law enforcement and organized crime to solve both a murder and a nice missing money problem.
I enjoyed the book. It is faithful to the genre and well-written. My only quibble is with Ulfelder’s creation of a vengeful AA group as a device to generate and move the plot along. For an accurate depiction and use of AA in crime novels, you have to look to Lawrence Block and Matthew Scudder. Ulfelder is not a Lawrence Block yet, but I hope that he keeps trying. 05/11 Geoffrey R. Hamlin

THE PURE IN HEART by Susan Hill: Once in a great while, in this uneven experience called life, everything comes together in a way that is so remarkable, so perfect, we instinctively know we’ve been given something significant to treasure. I think that is what happened for Susan Hill when she conceived her character Simon Serrailler. Now she has passed along the gift to us in THE PURE IN HEART. I admit having been skeptical about this series after reading its first book, THE VARIOUS HAUNTS OF MEN, but no longer. Serrailler is the most enigmatic, complex, fascinating man to come down the pike of British police procedurals in a long time, and well deserves comparison to PD James’ detective Adam Dalgleish.
The crime that brings the Detective Chief Inspector home from a vacation sketching in Venice is the disappearance of a nine year-old boy from Lafferton, Hill’s fictional catheral town. Serrailler sets his flawless team, headed by brash, bright Sergeant Nathan Coates, into action and keeps them motivated through a frustrating investigation. Lafferton is a small place, where the disappearance of a child touches everyone, including Simon’s family, and we readers are touched too. The best thing about THE PURE IN HEART is that all the characters are so real, you forget you’re reading a book and simply participate in their lives. And so, page by page, you realize that not all mysteries are handled in police stations, and there may be as much satisfaction in illuminating dark corners as there is in solving crimes. This book goes on my short list for best of 2007. 12/07 Dianne Day

PURGATORY CHASM by Steve Ulfelder: “Tander Phigg was an asshole, but he was also a Barnburner. Barnburners saved my life. I help them when I can. No exceptions.” The job seems simple. Conway Sax, a no-nonsense auto mechanic with a knack for solving difficult problems, has never liked obnoxious blowhard Tander Phigg. But a promise is a promise. Tander’s a Barnburner, a member of the unique Alcoholics Anonymous group that rescued Conway, and when a Barnburner has a problem, Conway takes care of it. This time the road is long and twisty and Conway learns new things about himself while re-discovering his father and helping Try Phigg, Tander’s son, learn about his own family. 1/12 Jack Quick
PURSUIT by Luiz Alfredo Garcia-Rosa: Saturday Night Live once had a skit featuring a Hispanic television game show parody entitled Who is Most Macho? In this fifth Inspector Espinosa installment, the sub-title might be who is most crazy? The tale involves a psychiatrist, his family and a patient, as well as the good Inspector. The point of view is sometimes that of his doctor, of his daughter, of the patient, and occasionally, Espinosa. There is murder and revenge, which may or may not be appropriate, some chilling moments and unusual insights. Nothing in the book will enhance your opinion of the profession of psychiatry, or as the Amish would say – all are crazy, except me and thee, and I sometimes wonder about thee. It’s a love/hate book, which I liked. 01/06 Jack Quick

THE PURSUIT OF PERFECT by Tal Ben-Sharar: Tal Ben-Shahar, Ph.D., is the New York Times best-selling author of Happier. He taught the most popular course at Harvard University and currently teaches at the Interdisciplinary Center, Herzliya, Israel. He consults and lectures around the world to multinational organizations, the general public, and at-risk populations. He obtained his Ph.D. in organizational behavior and his B.A. in philosophy and psychology from Harvard. This new book should sell well as it is a straight forward easy to read self-helper with a simple proposition. The Perfectionist views life’s journey as a straight line while the Optimalist realizes it is an irregular spiral. The Perfectionist fears failure while the Optimalist uses failure as feedback. The Perfectionist is rigid, critical and defensive while the Optimalist is adaptable, forgiving, and open to suggestions. The Perfectionist focuses on the destination while the Optimalist focuses on the journey as well as the destination. Obviously Optimalists have more fun and play better with others. The good Doctor shares ways to improve you Optimalist quotient, along with specific examples and simple exercises you can do yourself. Recommended. 03/09 Jack Quick

PUTTING MAKEUP ON DEAD PEOPLE by Jen Violi: There’s no way around it. Death changes people. For Donna the change began four years ago with the death of her father. At that time, Donna withdrew from her family and friends. That’s normal. Fast forward four years to the spring of her senior year. Here, at the funeral of her classmate, she discovers she is more comfortable around dead people. Well, not so normal. Also, not the future her mother has in mind. High school graduation is a point where change cannot be avoided. While her friends receive acceptance letters from high profile colleges, Donna seeks entrance into mortuary school. With her past weighing heavily on her and a secret sure to cause unbearable strife at home, Donna seems to be stuck in neutral. In Putting Makeup on Dead People, Jen Violi provides a fresh angle on the coming of age story. She successfully weaves elements of a family struggling to move past death, the faith of a new friend, the power of reconciliation, the infatuation of first love and the classic boy-next-door to create an altogether believable tale. Sometimes destiny comes in strange packages. This one is sure to have wide young adult appeal. Of note, however, is one scene where manual stimulation is vividly depicted. 08/11 Kimberly Bower

PYRES by Derek Nikita: Lucia Moberg is 15 years old when she convinces her college professor Dad to take her to the mall. He hangs out in the bookstore while she almost gets caught stealing a CD, so she whisks him out to the car, only to witness him being shot to death in the front seat. And the chase is on, to find the truth about the Moberg family and the killer. Motorcycle outlaws and a pregnant dumb blonde with a violent boyfriend lead the cops on a not-so-merry chase, and the reader on a ride they won’t soon forget. But this is Lucia’s coming-of-age story, and it’s told very well. Nominated for an Edgar Award for Best First Novel with damn good reason. 03/08 Stacy Alesi, AKA The BookBitch

PYRES by Derek Nikitas: Luc (Lucia) Moberg will always regret begging her father to take her to the mall on that horrific day. She had planned to steal cds as gifts for her friends’ upcoming birthdays, but barely manages to evade mall security and feigns sickness in order to leave. While hiding in the backseat of the car, Luc is the only witness to her father’s murder – she never saw who pulled the trigger. Now, Luc is forced to come to terms not only with the loss of her father, but her mother’s seeming inability to cope with the tragedy. Her mother attempts suicide and awakens unable to remember the past fifteen years. Unfortunately for Luc, her mother knew something about her husband’s death and the killer isn’t finished. The climactic chain of events that follows Oscar Moberg’s death will claim the lives of many before it is through. An interesting debut with three parallel stories: the Mobergs, the criminal, and the determined cop on the case. It’s a somewhat literary thriller that is both captivating and thought provoking. The pacing is insistent and the book begs to be read in one sitting. Pyres is a haunting tale about the illusion of the perfect family. 10/07 Becky Lejeune

QUANTICO by Greg Bear: It’s the not too distant future and the FBI and other assorted alphabet agencies are on the track of gene-keyed anthrax (Remember 2001?). The focus of the book is on two classmates at the FBI Training Academy. One is William Griffin, son a legendary FBI agent, who ends up following a case in which his father is almost killed. The other is Fouad Al-Husam, who ends up on super-secret missions to the Middle East. Bear does an excellent job of interweaving their stories with that of the terrorists in a very believable scenario. At the end it’s up to Griffin, Al-Husam, and veteran agent Rebecca Rose to pull the plug on this potentially devastating group. Well done. I want to go back and read his previous, Dead Lines. 05/08 Jack Quick

Quantico Rules by Gene Riehl: F.B.I. agent Puller Monk is the damaged protagonist of this first novel by a former F.B.I. agent, whose experience shines through every page. Monk is a gambler, barely managing to keep on the right side of a bad habit. He is assigned to the SPIN unit, short for Special Inquiries, and his inquiry is into a Supreme Court Judge nominee. An almost insignificant discrepancy is on her security paperwork, a missing week during her college days, but that turns into something considerably more sinister. This is a page turner for sure, but for some reason, nothing really surprised me here. A decent first effort, but I’m hoping for more in the next installment – more tension, more twists, more suspense. Stacy Alesi, AKA The BookBitch

QUANTICO RULES by Gene Riehl: Puller Monk, FBI agent, compulsive gambler, and accomplished liar is head of the SPIN squad; i.e. Special Inquiries. Right now he is checking out Judge Brenda Thompson to make sure she’s squeaky clean before the confirmation hearings begin for her nomination to the Supreme Court. When a minor discrepancy shows up in Thompson’s record, Monk’s boss wants the investigation shut down. This is akin to waving a red flag in Monk’s face and away we go. Monk is a strong but believable character full of contradictions and obsessions. This could be the start of something good. 06/06 Jack Quick

QUARRY IN THE MIDDLE by Max Allan Collins: Hardcase crime number 61 brings back Quarry, the contract killer featured in, among other titles The First Quarry which detailed the start of his career and The Last Quarry which covered the ending. Not surprisingly Quarry in the Middle, set in the mid 1980’s bridges the two. The Broker is dead and Quarry has taken his files. Using them he gets hired killer’s targets to hire him to kill the killers. Still with me? So Quarry goes to Haydee’s Port, Illinois (locally known as Hades) following a fellow contract killer named Monahan who is gunning for Richard Cornell, owner of the Paddlewheel Casino. Monahan’s employer is one Jerry G, son of mob-connected Gigi Giovanni, owner of Cornell’s main competition, the less-classy Lucky Devil. So now it is up to Quarry to eliminate the Giovanni’s. Actually it is a much better read than my explanation. Try it. 11/09 Jack Quick

QUARRY’S LIST by Max Allan Collins: A thirty year old effort from Collins but still imminently readable. Quarry is a hit man. All you need to know about him is that he has a job to do and he does it, professionally – unless someone else gets him first. Reads a lot like a Mickey Spillane, or maybe just everyone is thinking about Mickey these days. Another one of this finish in one setting shoot ‘em ups. 08/06 Jack Quick

QUEEN OF BABBLE by Meg Cabot: The first in this new series for adults by Princess Diaries author, Meg Cabot, finds Lizzie Nichols in a bind. Lizzie has an awful habit – she can’t keep a secret. That’s the least of her problems when she finds herself broke and sleeping above the washing machine in her English boyfriend’s parents’ house. She quickly realizes that this relationship is not meant to be. Could it be the hideous Michael Jackson style jacket he insists on wearing? Or maybe it’s the fact that he lied about his job, lives with his parents and expects Lizzie to loan him money to pay his debts! Lizzie hops a train to France where she spills her own mortifying secrets the hottie sitting next to her. Normally, this would not be a problem. What are the chances that she’ll run into him again, right? Unfortunately, the hottie just happens to be her best friend’s boss! This hilariously sweet and cute novel is a refreshingly light and easy read. 10/06 Becky LeJeune

QUEEN OF BABBLE GETS HITCHED by Meg Cabot: Lizzie Nichols is confused, and rightly so. When we last left Lizzie at the end of Queen of Babble in the Big City she had just spent the night with Chaz, her best friend’s ex, and discovered that Luke, her own ex, was down on one knee on her doorstep. After accepting Luke’s proposal though, she begins to get nauseated and break out in hives at the thought of the actual wedding. Plus, what are all these confusing feelings she has about Chaz all of the sudden? Luke is a prince, for real, and he’s perfect. Chaz, on the other hand, has no fashion sense and has sworn off marriage. But it’s Chaz, not Luke, who remembers that Lizzie likes a glass of ice on the side with her wine and it’s Chaz, not Luke, who is there for Lizzie when she really needs him. Then Luke drops the big one on Lizzie and tells her he’s going to France for the summer. And what, does he expect her to just up and leave what with her newfound success in the New York wedding gown scene? It’s enough to drive a girl insane. Poor Lizzie, her adventures do make for some pretty amusing reading, though. I absolutely love Meg Cabot’s books, she never lets me down. They’re light and funny and they just always make you smile. 06/08 Becky Lejeune

QUEEN OF BABBLE IN THE BIG CITY by Meg Cabot: Lizzie Nichols is back. Following the events of her last tale, Queen of Babble, Lizzie has relocated to the Big Apple with her boyfriend Luke (the Prince). At first, she and her best friend Shari are supposed to find a place together but then Luke asks her to move in and Lizzie can’t help but say yes. This leaves Shari living with her boyfriend Chaz. Everything should be perfect, but it’s far from it. Lizzie is having trouble finding her dream job, restoring vintage clothing, until a neighbor turns her onto Monsieur Henri and his wedding restoration business. One problem, Lizzie is so desperate that she offers to work for free. Chaz is there to bail her out and lands Lizzie a part time job with his father’s law firm. Things are still not quite rosy for Lizzie and her pals. Chaz and Shari’s relationship is on the rocks and Lizzie thinks her boyfriend’s mother may be having an affair. She’s doing her very best to keep her mouth shut this time, the results of which are nothing short of hilarious. If you haven’t tried Cabot’s adult titles, I highly recommend them. They’re light, easy, and just plain fun. 07/07 Becky Lejeune

THE QUEEN OF PATPONG by Tim Hallinan: Hallinan’s fourth Poke Rafferty thriller focuses primarily on his wife/girlfriend Rose, who was once an innocent country girl named Kwan who was persuaded to come to Bangkok to prevent her father from selling her. There she met American Howard Horner who charmed her and led her to the dark side. Now Horner, whom Rose thought was dead, has returned to Bangkok and is stalking Rose and all who are dear to her. Hallinan paints a grim but non-judgmental picture of the life of Bangkok’s sex workers who often have to choose the least bad of all the unappealing options available to them. You sense that in some ways this may have been a painful book for Hallinan to write as it seems in some places to provide a catharsis for his hero Poke who is caught in the middle of violent emotions with potentially dire consequences and perhaps, even an end to the life he has made with Rose and adopted street daughter Mia. All in all, this one lives up to all the praise from fellow authors Gregg Hurwitz, Ken Bruen, Brett Battles, John Lescroart, Lou Berney and Jay Schwartz who blurb the book. Definitely recommended as the best Poke yet. 10/10 Jack Quick

QUEEN OF DIAMONDS by R. O. Palmer: Ngoc Soan is a Vietnamese refugee who, following in her father’s footsteps, has built a thriving diamond company in Philadelphia. She decides to defy the De Beers diamond cartel which controls the world supply, by seeking to exploit a revolutionary mining discovery – a discovery that De Beers will do anything to suppress. Other characters include a sinister Russian, a brilliant geologist, a rival tycoon and Ngoc’s own ambitious niece. Add in Paul Weeks, master of surveillance can disguise and you have the makings of a great read. Enjoyable. 02/07 Jack Quick

QUEENE OF LIGHT by Jennifer Armintrout: The world has been split. After discovering magic folk around them, humans banish them underground. Now, there is the Lightworld and the Darkworld. Lightworld, where Queene Mab and her fae court live, is home for Ayla, a half human, half faery assassin. When an assignment takes her to the Darkworld, Ayla makes what could be a fatal mistake. Her human side gives her an advantage over Malachi, an angel of death who has followed her into that realm. One touch leaves him mortal and desperate for revenge. Ayla should have killed him then, but she spared him, breaking her vow to the assassins’ guild. Broken and left by his own kind, Malachi becomes obsessed with finding Ayla and the unlikely pair become undeniably drawn to one another. Their union could mean terrible consequences, especially when Ayla is drawn into a conflict that has severe ramifications for the Lightworld and its occupants. Queene of Light is the first in a new trilogy that will appeal to readers of paranormal romance, high fantasy, and urban fantasy as well. A great and imaginative tale and the start of a story that will no doubt be amazing in scope. 09/09 Becky Lejeune

QUEENPIN by Megan Abbott: I don’t know if its noir or not, but I like it. In this short but sharp tale, the unnamed 22-year-old female narrator becomes the protégé of Gloria Denton, the hard as nails long legged collector for the mob. Gloria recognizes the same hardness in her, takes her under her wing and teaches her how to dress, move, behave and act as she begins to assist her in the pick up, transport, and distribution of payoffs and winnings. But then love or lust enters the picture in the form of smooth talking Vic Riordan. The result is inevitable and suddenly you find yourself in the middle of a tawdry ness that was there all along under the glitz and glitter. Eagerly awaiting her next book. 08/07 Jack Quick

THE QUEEN’S BASTARD by C. E. Murphy: Belinda Primrose has been raised to believe that her parents died years ago in an accident. Just before her twelfth birthday, the truth about her birth is finally revealed. Her mother is none other than Queen Lorraine and her father is the man she believed to be her uncle. She can never reveal the truth of her heritage, and she must help to ensure that her mother’s seat on the throne remains unthreatened, at all costs. After spending ten years training and acting as an assassin securing the Aulunian queen’s interests, Belinda is given a new task. She is to infiltrate the royal family of a neighboring kingdom and find out if there are plans against Lorraine. Belinda seduces the prince and discovers that they share a common bond. The two have special abilities, powers that have lain hidden in Belinda until now. With these abilities becoming more and more powerful each day, Belinda finds herself in a position of power and possibility that has remained unattainable to the bastard child. The question is whether she can overcome the evil and greed that has begun to taint her and stay loyal to her mother, or if she will be the instrument that will bring the Titian Queen down. Belinda’s dilemma is an interesting one that elicits many emotions from readers. At times she is not at all a likeable heroine, at others it is impossible not to sympathize with her. With so many aspects left to explain and a cliffhanger of an ending fantasy readers are sure to be on edge until the next installment of the story hits shelves. 05/08 Becky Lejeune

THE QUEST by Nelson Demille: In 1975, two Journalists and a photographer, covering the Ethiopian Civil war get lost in the jungle, and while bedded down for the evening meet an old priest that wanders into their camp. He is sick, dying, and advises that he just escaped from a prison where he was held prisoner for 40 years, or since the days when the Italian army came to Ethiopia to conquer the country. He relates an incredible story of having found the Holy Grail, the cup that Jesus drank from at the last supper before his crucifixion. The priest indicates that it is being held for safe keeping in a monastery in the jungle near to the site that the four are currently at. The monks, afraid that he would reveal what he has seen give him over to the army that holds him in a cell for 40 years without any communication at all. The next day, the priest passes away and the trio resolve to find the grail. Their plans are stopped when they are captured by elements of the rebel forces. Once freed they decide that they will mount an expedition to find the monastery and take the holy grail. They ally themselves with a British officer who had also been held by the rebels and all four set out to find the monastery and recover the grail. The photographer, a beautiful girl, had originally been traveling with the elder of the Journalists, and was actually his lover. Along the way the love interests change and she and the other Journalist find themselves in love. A well constructed book that covers 40 years of warfare in Ethiopia, paints a picture of a land covered with jungle, and ends with a surprise set of true events that bring the reader into a country in the midst of transition. Another memorable achievement for Demille who has never failed to keep his readers glued to the pages. 9/13 Paul Lane

A QUESTION OF BLOOD by Ian Rankin: John Rebus and his younger partner, Detective Sergeant Siobhan Clarke, are trying to close the case of a withdrawn ex-soldier named Lee Herdman, who apparently shot three teenage boys at a Scottish private school, leaving two of them dead, before turning the pistol on himself. But is the case that straight forward or is there more to the story? Rebus is handicapped because of badly burned hands, an injury he insists has no connection to the burning death of a small-time crook who’d been stalking Siobhan. Like a fine wine, Rebus only gets better with age and in his 14th outing he comes very close to going over the edge and losing his police position. At 525 pages, it’s not a “short read” but it is a good one. 10/05 ~This review contributed by Jack Quick.

THE QUESTORY OF ROOT KARBUNKULUS by Kamilla Read: Root Karbunkulus’s life sucks. Really. She’s fourteen and being raised by her two disgusting aunts who she’s expected to wait on hand and foot. In fact, at one point she’d all but given up on any sort of different life. All that is about to change for Root. She’s about to discover that everything she’s ever known about herself is absolutely wrong. For one, she’s not related to her yucky aunts in any way. In fact, she’s not even from this world. She hails from a world called DréAmm and she and just over one hundred other kids are about to embark on a treasure quest that will change their lives forever. This is just the beginning, though. First in an ambitious new series, Questory will appeal to young Harry Potter and fantasy fans everywhere. Parents will get a kick out of reading it, but I’m not sure if it will have the same universal appeal as HP. We’ll just have to see. 07/08 Becky Lejeune

THE QUICKIE by James Patterson and Michael Ledwidge: Okay, I admit I picked this one this up based on the title and the fact that Patterson’s output is like potato chips – not necessarily satisfying, but still hard to resist picking one up on occasion. This one is quite simple. NYPD cop Lauren Stillwell decides to exact revenge on her husband after seeing him leaving a hotel with another woman. However, in the process she witnesses a shocking crime. Now it’s not only her marriage that’s in jeopardy but also her job and perhaps even her life. A quickie read, hardly more than a couple of beers, and oh, could you pass me over that bowl of potato chips. 08/07 Jack Quick

A QUIET BELIEF IN ANGELS by R.J. Ellory: This literary mystery and coming-of-age tale is an absolutely amazing read. Eleven-year-old Joseph Vaughan could have lived out an unassuming life in his small rural Georgia town. But over the years, Joseph faced events that many would never experience; events that shaped his life in unexpected ways. It is 1939 when his father dies. Joseph, a bright student, is encouraged by both his mother and his teacher to develop his promising writing skills. When a girl in his class is kidnapped and murdered, Joseph takes a special interest, collecting facts about the murder and even forming his own band of Guardians to track the killer. As more girls are found, Joseph becomes entangled in the case, eventually discovering one of the bodies himself. For decades, the girls would haunt him, until he is faced once again with the death of someone close to him, someone whose murder resembles those of so long ago. Joseph’s pursuit of the truth sends him down a path that will change him forever. As he struggles with growing up, with prison, and even with fame, Joseph never forgets the murders that plagued his hometown or the body that he found. Ellory’s American debut is a brilliant read—enthralling and lyrical prose paired with a smart mystery that will literally leave you guessing until the very last page. 09/09 Becky Lejeune

A QUIET BELIEF IN ANGELS by R.J. Ellory: Whenever a grandchild is misbehaving, sweet wife also asks – Where is the parent? With this American debut from British author Ellory, the question is where is the editor? The plot is fairly straightforward. . In 1939, in rural Augusta Falls, Ga., someone brutally rapes and murders a classmate of 12-year-old Joseph Vaughn, the first in what will become more than 30 similar crimes over decades. Vaughan gathers together a group of local boys and forms the Guardians in the hope of preventing more attacks, but the failure of the group eventually drives Vaughan to Brooklyn, where he gets caught up in another murder linked to the killings back home. The problem is the basic story tends get lost in the subplots and among the huge cast of characters Ellroy has included. Bottom line – well written, but poorly edited. 08/10 Jack Quick

QUINCANNON’S GAME by Bill Pronzini: Former Secret Service agent turned detective John Quincannon is featured in this collection of four short stories. The first, involves a serial burglar, and the others feature a fraudulent rainmaker, a bogus psychic, and a couple of con artists. Combining two genres–detective story and western, in this case–is always tricky but Pronzini, a veteran of both, blends the two seamlessly but isn’t that what you would expect? 04/06 Jack Quick

THE RACE by Richard North Patterson: A war hero is seeking the Republican nomination for President in this timely, fast-paced yarn. Republican Senator Corey Grace leans to the left – he’s pro choice, stem cell research and gay marriage – and he’s one of the top three contenders for his party’s nomination. His competitors are favorite son Senator Rob Marotta, who will pander to anyone and do anything to get the nomination, and the Reverend Bob Christy, a right wing preacher with a national following. Grace has a few other stumbling blocks as well: he votes his conscience instead of along the party line, and even worse, he’s divorced and dating a beautiful, famous African-American actress. This is a well researched, in-depth look at the voting process in America, examining the unbridled lust for power of a right wing media magnate and a power-crazed lobbyist looking for complete hegemony by seating the next president. A three way tie at the national convention leads to a fairy-tale ending, but it’s the wild ride to get there that’s so much fun. 11/07 Stacy Alesi, AKA The BookBitch Copyright © 2007 Cahners Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. Reprinted with permission.

THE RACE by Richard North Patterson: What a perfect read to start on Super-Duper Tuesday. Across the top of my ARC is the question CAN AN HONEST MAN BECOME PRESIDENT? Unfortunately, I think we all know the answer to that. Anyway, in the book, Corey Grace, former decorated Gulf War Air Force pilot and current Senator from Ohio is in a fierce presidential primary battle with the party establishment favorite, and a charismatic leader of Conservative Christians. Sound familiar, so far? Grace’s dalliance with African-American movie star Lexie Hart is a complicating factor. THE RACE has it all – racism, terrorism, religious fundamentalism, gay rights, and powerful media monopolies with their own agenda. Grace must endure betrayal, excruciating moral choices, and secrets that can destroy lives only to arrive at a deadlocked party convention where he must choose between Lexie and his presidential ambitions. With his fifteenth novel, Patterson has definitely raised the bar, and produced a must read for anyone into this year’s US Presidential politics. 02/08 Jack Quick

THE RACKETEER by John Grisham: One of the key ingredients of a Grisham book is the author’s ability to immediately capture the reader and involve him or her in the proceedings. The Racketeer is no different than any of his others have been. There is the need to look askance at a less than believable plot, but in spite of the necessity to accept non logical events it is a captivating read. Malcolm Bannister is an attorney caught up in a crime in which his physical presence causes him to be found guilty and sent to prison for 10 years. It looks like in spite of his innocence he will have to serve the sentence and leave prison with his life ruined by the Federal government, his wife divorcing him, and no way to earn a living as a practicing lawyer. In the fifth year of his sentence, Raymond Fawcett, a Federal Judge, and his girlfriend are killed and the safe in the Judge’s house found open and emptied. Malcolm knows who did it and negotiates with the government for his release and entrance into the witness protection program in return for information leading to the killer. With the negotiation successful and ensuing events unfolding Grisham spins a tangled web with twists and turns that keep the reader going on with the book. Predicting the ending is almost impossible, but within the realm of what is happening is logical, and rewarding. Like his other books, The Racketeer is not easy to put down, and it is possible for the reader to go along with the considerably less than logical sequence of events. 11/12 Paul Lane

THE RADLEYS by Matt Haig: It’s true that parents sometimes lie to their kids. They lie to protect them. And Helen and Peter have been lying to protect their children all their lives. Rowan and Clara have no idea that the real reason for their sensitivity to light and allergy to garlic are anything other than what their parents have always told them. But when Clara decides to forgo meat, in an attempt to get animals to like her better (they truly despise her and she’s not sure why), it kicks off a chain of events forcing Helen and Peter to finally reveal the Radleys’ long-hidden secret: they’re vampires. As abstainers, Helen and Peter have made a nice life for themselves and their children, but it’s all about to fall apart. Though they’re bloodsuckers, the Radleys deal with all the same problems any family drama would tackle, but with a delightful paranormal twist. I couldn’t help but fall in love with Haig’s quirky style and his fantastic characters. 1/11 Becky Lejeune

Rag Man by Pete Hautman: Serio-comic novel that takes a business partnership gone bad to a new dimension. Throw in ethical and moral dilemmas and the age old question of good versus evil and there you have this quick, funny read.

THE RAGE by Gene Kerrigan: Welcome to Dublin, where the economy has tanked and violence has surged. Vincent Naylor walks out of prison and right back into the same business that landed him there; armed robbery. Working with his dimmer brother Noel and some friends, they kidnap an armored truck driver to learn how the system works, setting up for their biggest score yet. Detective Sergeant Bob Tidey is working the murder of an investment banker and contemplating perjuring himself in an upcoming trial when he gets a tip from an old nun that a strange car has been parked on her street for some time. That car turns out to be the getaway car, and that phone call changes lives when two of the men involved in the robbery are killed in the street. Vincent Naylor takes off on a violent revenge spree, and Tidey can’t help but reexamine his own life. The sparse writing exemplifies Irish crime fiction while at the same time adds an additional dimension to the story. Winner of the Gold Dagger award for best crime novel of the year, fans of Ken Bruen, Declan Hughes and Declan Burke won’t want to miss this one. 2/13 Stacy Alesi, AKA The BookBitch Copyright © 2013 Booklist, a division of the American Library Association. Reprinted with permission.

RAGE AGAINST THE DYING by Becky Masterman: Brigid Quinn is a retired FBI agent who gave her all to the bureau until she was forced out over shooting an unarmed man. She spent her career undercover, working on sexual predator cases, and trained her protégé, Jessica, to follow in her footsteps. Jessica went missing while working on a serial killer case and Brigid never really recovered from the loss. Several years later she is happily married and living an idyllic life in Tucson, when she learns that there has been an arrest in the case, but the new agent working it, Laura Coleman, thinks it is a false confession. When Coleman disappears and the Bureau doesn’t seem to notice, Brigid finds herself in the thick of things once again, only this time she is worried about losing another agent, her husband and her new found happiness. Brigid is a marvelous, well-developed character and her skills are fearsome for an old broad. Although she sometimes takes things too far, stretching the bounds of credulity, it is worth the suspension of disbelief to hang with her. Fans of Lisa Gardner and Tess Gerritsen will love this book. 3/13 Stacy Alesi, AKA The BookBitch Copyright © 2013 Booklist, a division of the American Library Association. Reprinted with permission.

RAIN GODS by James Lee Burke: With apologies to all my author friends, but if there is a better book published this year, I doubt I will be able to stand it. Thirty eight years after Burke’s 1971 Lay Down My Sword and Shield, he brings back Hackberry Holland, former defense attorney, Texas congressional candidate, maverick alcoholic, ACLU staffer and now small town sheriff. His beloved wife Rie is dead of uterine cancer, his twin boys have left home and he is left to deal with life. Holland gets involved with former New Orleans bad guys relocated after Katrina. His experiences as a POW survivor in Korea have enabled him to continue to function after discovering the burial site of nine massacred Thai women, a crime that brings FBI and ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) officials running. Preacher Jack Collins has been called in to dispose of Pete Flores and his girl friend (Pete is a possible witness to the massacre). The FBI wants to us them for bait and Holland must try to save their lives. Lowlifes, strong female characters, violence, a battle of wills and wits, but most of all lyrical writing that may be the best ever from even such a master as Burke. From the opening sentence – “On the burnt-out end of a July day in Southwest Texas, in a crossroads community whose only economic importance has depended upon its relationship to a roach paste factory the EPA had shut down twenty years before, a young man driving a car without window glass stopped by an abandoned blue-and-white stucco filling station that has once sold Pure gas during the Depression and was now home to bats and clusters of tumbleweed.” – to further observations like describing the actions of a local bootlegger – “Ouzel tries to keep it simple. No tax stamps or labels to create undue paperwork.” – this is writing that transcends any genre pre-conceptions. 08/09 Jack Quick

RAINSHADOW ROAD by Lisa Kleypas: This was my first Kleypas book and now I’m a fan. This is the first book of a new trilogy with a touch of magic. Not the clichéd magic of getting lost in a good book or the magic of love, but rather the two main characters each have a magical gift. The logical part of my brain usually says no no no you’re not going to like that, but I my emotional side says that if it’s done well, that I really do enjoy it. I loved the magic in Gabaldon’s Outlander series and Morgenstern’s Night Circus and in Ivey’s The Snow Child and now here in Rainshadow Road. I haven’t read enough romance to know a whole lot about the genre, but one of my co-workers is a huge romance reader and we have talked at length about the genre. I am used to series books in mystery and thrillers where the same characters appear in each book and carry a different crime story. But in romance, that doesn’t usually happen. Romance, by definition, has to have a happy ending, usually culminating in the marriage of the main protagonists, so unless they repeatedly break up and get back together, I couldn’t understand how a romance series would work. My co-worker explained, and Kleypas illustrates here, exactly how it works. There is a minor character in this book that will be the main character in the next. The first chapter of the next book is in the back of this one so once I read that, I understood immediately. This book is about a woman who is dumped by the boyfriend that she’s been living with for 2 years because he has fallen in love with her sister. Heartbreak ensues until she meets the local vineyard owner. She knows she is not ready for another relationship and he insists that makes him perfect because he is a total commitment-phobe. The characters are likeable, the story is compelling, and I really enjoyed this contemporary romance. In fact I can’t wait for the next book in the “Friday Harbor” trilogy. 4/12 Stacy Alesi, AKA The BookBitch

RAISING ATLANTIS by Thomas Greanias: Archaeologist Dr. Conrad Yeats, the son of a US astronaut, is apprehended by U.S. Special Forces in Peru and sent to Antarctica, where a glacial earthquake has exposed a mysterious monument older than the Earth itself. In Rome, the Pope summons environmental activist Dr. Serena Serghetti to the Vatican…and reveals a terrifying vision of apocalyptic disaster. She too, is dispatched to Antarctica. In space, a weather satellite reveals four massive storms forming around the South Pole…and three U.S. spy satellites disappear from orbit. Are these the end times, when the legends of a lost civilization and the prophecies of the world’s great religions come together to lead one man and one woman on the ultimate voyage, a journey to the center of time, as awe-inspiring as the dawn of man–and as inevitable as doomsday. Nicely done thriller obviously over the top but with solid roots. I am looking forward to the second and third volumes in this series. 03/10 Jack Quick

THE RANGER by Ace Atkins: Quinn Colson is no Jack Reacher, but he is a Ranger “You a Ranger?” Keith asked. Quinn nodded. “Goddam”, Keith said, “I saw two Rangers get into a bar fight one time in Memphis, and they done beat up the bouncer and two cops. Took about a dozen men to control them, and they was still fighting. Y’all are crazy as shit.” Northeast Mississippi retains its reputation for wildness dating all the way back to the War between the States, but its different when Quinn returns from his latest tour in Afghanistan. He comes home for the funeral of his uncle, the county sheriff. He is told that his uncle’s death was suicide but Quinn quickly learns it wasn’t necessarily the old man’s gun that killed him, but rather his poking around into the local meth and marijuana manufacturing and selling that ultimately ended up in the shot into his face. Nicely done and will be pleasing to all those who enjoy Lee Childs and James Lee Burke. Atkins grows stronger with each outing. 06/11 Jack Quick

THE RAPTURE by Liz Jensen: Gabrielle Fox is an art therapist who has survived a terrible accident. But it’s come at a cost: the accident claimed the life of her lover, and Gabrielle herself has been left paralyzed from the waist down. Wheelchair-bound and determined to return to work in spite of her superiors’ recommendations otherwise, she takes a post at an asylum for adolescents. Here she meets Bethany Krall, a 16-year-old who stabbed her mother to death with a screwdriver. Bethany’s treatment involves electrotherapy—the only thing that seems to bring her back to reality—but one side effect of the therapy is the delusion that she can see terrible events around the globe before they occur. Gabrielle’s whole world is turned upside down when she comes to believe that Bethany does in fact have the ability to predict these events. But who will believe Gabrielle and is there anything that can be done to prepare people for what is to come? The Rapture is a dark thriller with an apocalyptic view of our effects on the world. It’s also a very smart read with a well-thought-out plot. Definitely a book that stands out amongst the crowd. 08/09 Becky Lejeune

THE RASNER EFFECT by Mark Rosendorf: Ever ask a Mainer for directions and he says “Ya can’t get there from here.” That phrase would seem to define Rick Rasner. Rasner is a therapist at the Brookhill Children’s Psychiatric Residence, a retro type facility for troubled urban teens run by an oppressive director named Katherine Miller who bullies staff and patients on an equal opportunity basis. Rasner’s path to this position was set years ago when he barely survived a terrorist attack on a New York City bridge which left his car destroyed, his family killed, and his own near death experience (he flat-lined multiple times enroute to treatment). The trauma left him with virtually no memory although his communications skills were not affected. The attack also derailed the career of mercenary Jake Scarberry who was deemed responsible for not stopping the attack. Now the Duke Organization which caused the initial explosion has resurfaced, putting Rick Rasner and Jake in mortal danger. Also at risk is Clara Blue, one of Rick’s patients with whom he has developed a close relationship. Complex but exciting, this is a thriller that will leave you wondering who is good and who is evil, and who should win. 12/09 Jack Quick

RATLINES by Stuart Neville: World War II has been over for 17 years but Irishman Lieutenant Albert Ryan of the Directorate of Intelligence, who fought for Britain in the War is pulled back into the fray. Ireland is preparing for a visit from President John F. Kennedy to the land of his ancestors and three foreigners have been murdered. It turns out all three of the dead men were Nazis granted asylum by the Irish government in the years following World War II. Minister for Justice Charles Haughey wants the killing to end to maintain this shameful secret. When Ryan closes in on the killers, his loyalty is torn between country and conscience. Why must he protect the very people he fought against twenty years before? Interesting and authentic. 1/13 Jack Quick

THE RATS by James Herbert: The war has long since ended but London still bears the scars of the battle. The East End is by no means the posh urban setting that London is famous for. No, the East End is where the downtrodden and poor live. The East End is where the rats first appear, swarming up from the underground and attacking people in the subway, hiding in the trash heaps and killing innocent bystanders, plaguing the poorest part of the city – the part no one cares about. Harris cares, though. He grew up in the East End and when the rats attack one of his students, and later the school where he teaches, he knows he must step in and help. Originally published in 1974, The Rats marked the beginning of James Herbert’s career as a published author. For over three decades the “British Stephen King” has been scaring the pants off readers with his gory and violent tales. This is the book that started it all. Herbert should be on every horror fan’s reading list if he isn’t already. The Rats is still in print and available in the US and is the first in a trilogy, followed by Lair and Domain. The Rats is essentially a creature feature with a social message that is still very relevant today. 11/08 Becky Lejeune

RAVENOUS by Ray Garton: The town of Big Rock has some big problems. A serial rapist has been stalking women in town, and now it looks as though Emily Crane, the receptionist at the local sheriff’s office, has become the latest victim. The thing about it is Emily’s description of her attacker is vastly different from the other rape reports. Emily did manage to stab her attacker before she passed out, but Sheriff Farrell Hurley has just witnessed the body walking out of the coroner’s office. Minutes later, one of his deputies is ripped apart in what seems to be an animal attack. Two more bodies are discovered, torn to pieces like the deputy, when a stranger appears and tells Hurley that he has a werewolf infestation on his hands. Of course the sheriff doesn’t believe it, and things are made worse when the stranger tells him that it spreads like a virus and is transmitted through sex. Hurley and his men must get the outbreak under control before it spreads too far. It’s an interesting twist on the classic werewolf mythology. Garton’s style is reminiscent of the campy horror films we all love – lots of gratuitous gore and violence, and a killer ending. Werewolves haven’t seen this much action since the 80s. 04/08 Becky Lejeune

RAVENS by George Dawes Green: Childhood friends Romeo and Shaw have a plan that is finally going to get them to the big times. While passing through Georgia on their way to Florida, Shaw overhears news of a recent big-ticket lottery win. He is able to find out who the winning family is and hatches a scheme that will make both he and Romeo rich beyond their wildest dreams. There’s just one catch: the winning family has to be completely compliant in the plan. To do this, Shaw puts his friend in the role of enforcer and hit man, something the somewhat sweet-tempered Romeo is having a little trouble swallowing. But Romeo is willing to do anything for his friend. Soon, Shaw has a slew of people under his spell, and even the family themselves have started to fall for it. But in this kind of story, things can’t possibly end well. Or could they? George Dawes Green throws readers a curveball that they may or may not see coming. Either way, this is the kind of story that drags you along for the ride—before you know it you’re totally sucked in. 07/09 Becky Lejeune

RAZOR GIRL by Marianne Mancusi: Molly Anderson wanted nothing more than to be a normal teen with normal parents. Unfortunately, her father had other plans. A brilliant scientist who was once contracted by the US government to create an army of super-soldiers, Molly’s father knows all too well that the end is near. Molly is to be his most perfect creation – cybernetically enhanced and trained to survive the coming apocalypse. Six years have passed since Molly and her mother entered the underground bunker that her father had prepared for them. Six years without contact with anyone other than each other. Six years with no news from the outside. Molly emerges, alone, to discover that although the scenery has changed little, the people are all gone, turned into zombies or killed by the virus that had just started to break out when she went into hiding. She joins a small band of survivors and sets off to find her father, sure that he has survived and that he can help them to start anew. A post-apocalyptic/futuristic romance with zombies. It just doesn’t get much better. Light-cyberpunk with inspiration drawn from William Gibson, Razor Girl is great for readers who are looking for something a little different in the romance world. 08/08 Becky Lejeune

THE REACH by Nate Kenyon: Psychology major Jess Chambers is top her class and has been pegged for a special project by her professor and mentor, Dr. Shelley. It seems Shelley is guardian of a very special little girl, a girl who until now has been diagnosed as a schizophrenic. Strange considering the girl was diagnosed such at just six years of age and schizophrenia usually begins to show around puberty. The girl has become unresponsive, almost catatonic even, and the doctors think that a new face may be just the thing to bring her back to reality. Jess agrees and instantly can see that there is something much more going on with this case than her superiors are willing to share. As Jess grows to know the girl, she can tell that there is something terribly wrong with what she’s been told. Meanwhile, scientists have also come to notice the young girl and hope to cash in on a new drug designed to enhance powers that have manifested in the child. These powers are beyond Jess’s belief, but she will have to open herself to their possibility in order to help the girl as best she can. Kenyon’s second release is an extremely satisfying horror read that’s already earning him comparison to Stephen King himself. The story is certainly reminiscent of classics like Carrie and Firestarter, but I believe Kenyon has a voice and style that are all his own, both of which will place him firmly at the top of any horror fan’s must read. 12/08 Becky Lejeune

READY PLAYER ONE by Ernest Cline: In 2040, James Halliday, creator of OASIS—a hugely successful, multi-player, online game environment—passed away, leaving no heirs. Instead, his last will and testament stated that he’d hidden three keys and three gates within OASIS that would lead to the ultimate Easter egg. The first player to find the egg would inherit all of Halliday’s wealth and control over OASIS. For five years, gamers searched the online world high and low for clues, trying to unlock the hints left hidden inside the games, videos, music, and tv shows of Halliday’s youth. Five years and not one name appeared on the scoreboard. Until eighteen-year-old Wade Watts finds the first key and unlocks the first gate. The race is on and some of the players are willing to use any means necessary to win. Ready Player One is a futuristic video game quest in the spirit of all past video game quests, with references to most of them as well. But you don’t have to be a gamer to appreciate it. Cline’s debut is excellent fun and an ‘80s child like me truly appreciated all the pop culture references of the era. 08/11 Becky Lejeune

REAPERS by Frederick Ramsey: The World Cup competition in South Africa earlier this year is the background for this somewhat rambling effort, in which Sanderson, the Game Ranger in the Chobe National Park, finds a body. She and Inspector Kgabo Modise find evidence of local bribery, then smuggling, and finally what could well provoke an international incident. With Americans, North Koreans, Arabs, French, Chinese, and Russians all scattered among the various lodges and hotels in the country before, during and after the games, the potential for disaster is enormous. Included at no extra charge are various side excursions into the lives of silverback mountain gorillas, peace organizations that believe they will purify the continent, rid it of drought, poverty, and HIV/AIDs, as well as bloody war lords fighting the seemingly endless civil wars that plague the region. Can someone use their vuvuzela to summon an editor? 09/10 Jack Quick

REBEL ISLAND by Rick Riordan: Tres Navarre and his new bride are honeymooning on Re bel Island, a place Tres and his family visited when he was growing up. Newly married but with a baby on the way very soon, Tres is dismayed to find himself in the middle of a hurricane, stranded on the island, with the possibility of a serial killer on the loose. A reminder of the past shows up in the form of a corpse shot dead in room 12. As more guests die, it is up to Tres to sort out the reasons and relate them to the summer that changed everything in his life. A summer he could never forget but never entirely remember either. This series just keeps getting better and better. 12/08 Jack Quick

RECKLESS by Andrew Gross: A family is brutally murdered in Greenwich, Connecticut which starts off a chain of events that sometimes mirror the headlines. Money managers gone off the deep end, old banking companies collapsing and international terrorists take center stage in this fast paced financial thriller, the latest from James Patterson’s protégé. Ty Hauck returns as his former lover is one of the family members murdered in Greenwich. The local cops think it’s a robbery gone bad, but Hauck has his own suspicions. Gross gives just enough finance information to make the story plausible but not enough to slow down the action. Interesting characters and a tight, twisty plot make this a gripping read – the protégé has surpassed his master. 05/10 Stacy Alesi, AKA The BookBitch
RECKLESS by Andrew Gross: Ty Hauck started with NYPD and then became chief of detectives at Greenwich, Connecticut, before leaving to become an investigator for a world-wide security firm. He is stunned to learn that a former lover, who still lives in Greenwich has been murdered, along with Mark Glassman, the chief equities trader at a top investment bank. On the surface it looks like a burglary gone bad. Hauck has the motivation and the expertise to connect the dots on the case which is the tip of a global terrorist conspiracy, with global financial implications. Do the phrases “too big to fail” and “collapse of the US banking system” sound familiar? Once again the ex James Patterson co-author scores with a book that no less an authority than Lee Child calls a automatic must read. The best one yet. 05/10 Jack Quick

RECONSTRUCTING AMELIA by Kimberly McCreight: Kate’s a high powered corporate lawyer in Manhattan, and a single mother to Amelia, her overachieving daughter. During an important meeting, Kate is summoned to Grace Hall, the prestigious private school Amelia attends near their home in Brooklyn. Kate runs to her daughter, but arrives too late; accused on cheating on her English paper, it seems that Amelia has leapt to her death, scrawling “sorry” on the rooftop wall. Kate is devastated and confused, but she accepts the detective’s word and tries to move on with her life, until she receives a text message that says “she didn’t jump.” Kate demands answers from the police, but the detective assigned to the case has suddenly resigned, but fortunately the new detective isn’t happy with the case file and agrees to investigate further. Kate delves into her teenage daughter’s life, her computer, cell phone texts, and her friends, only to learn that she didn’t know Amelia as well as she thought she did. This is a heartbreaking story but it is told well, with lots of curveballs thrown in. McCreight’s first novel is as polished as a pro’s – this is an author to watch. 8/13 Stacy Alesi, AKA The BookBitch

RECONSTRUCTING AMELIA by Kimberly McCreight: Shock cannot begin to describe how Kate Baron feels when she learns that her teenage daughter has died in an apparent suicide. Just a short time before it happened, Kate received a call asking her to pick up her daughter from school. Amelia had been caught cheating and was to be suspended. Cheating—and suicide—were so against everything she knew about her daughter. In the weeks after the funeral, Kate forces herself to face facts. But when she receives a text simply stating, “She didn’t jump,” Kate knows there has to be more to the story. She quickly learns that Amelia was hiding things, but was it enough to push her to kill herself? Reconstructing Amelia is a tense and suspenseful read, a thriller of the highest order. Chapters alternate between Kate present day and Amelia in the months leading up to her death, with texts, Facebook updates, and posts from the unofficial Grace Hall gossip blog, gRaCeFULLY. Don’t plan to start this one late in the evening unless you’re prepared to read through to the very end. You won’t be able to put it down. 5/13 Becky Lejeune

RED CAT by Peter Spiegelman: I was sucked in by the cover; it’s dark and sexy, and fortunately, so is the novel behind the cover. John March is a private investigator, former cop, and a work-driven loner in New York City. His über-successful brother David comes to him for help because an affair with a woman he met on the Internet has turned from torrid to terrible – he’s tried to end it and she’s threatening to tell his wife and his boss. Problem is, all David knows about her is her screenname; Wren. John starts investigating when an unidentified woman’s body with a tattoo of a red cat on her leg is found in the river, and David looks good as the prime suspect in her murder. Turns out Wren isn’t really a blackmailer; she’s making performance art videos, secretly filming men she has affairs with – or is it porn? Either way there are lots of suspects and more twists than kinks in this provocative noir thriller. 03/07 Stacy Alesi, AKA The BookBitch

RED CHAMELEON by Stuart Kaminsky: Chief Inspector Rostnikov has offended the powers that be by applying for an exit visa. Now he is reduced to investigating “minor” crimes like the shooting death of an old Jew and theft of a brass candlestick. Rostnikov, along with Emil Karpo and Sacha Tkach could be the heart of the 87th precinct – in Moscow. At night Rostnikov reads a chapter of an 87th Precinct novel because of his admiration of Carella and the other guys. During the daytime he proves their equal in solving crimes, no matter who wants them solved or left unsolved. Another excellent police procedural. 12/05 Jack Quick.

RED FLAGS by Juris Jurjevics: Red Flags is one of the better books about the war in Vietnam, and in my humble opinion ranks up there with Nelson De Mille’s Up Country as novels of that war. Red Flags is not strictly speaking a book about battle but carries an accurate picture of a war since it was written by a veteran and participant in the combat. Mr Jurjevics indicates in a postscript that the book basically tells the truth about conditions and probably is so since he served in the area and during the time described. The principal character, Erik Rider, is an officer in the US army tasked with interdicting an out of control marijuana trade which is supplying funds to the Viet Cong and hence buying arms to use against the Americans. Rider discovers that an officer in the Vietnamese army is actually protecting the marijuana crops while he is supposed to act as liaison with the Americans. The officer both siphons off money for himself as well as getting weapons for the Viet Cong. Said officer is, of course, becoming a millionaire and due to this is preventing any action against the people that control the crops. The same officer is also preventing aid from reaching the Montagnard tribes who are allies to the Americans due to centuries of their own conflicts with the North Vietnamese.
Erik meets with corruption everywhere in attempting to carry out his mission and the destroy the marijuana crops. The ending is realistic, not particularly satisfying, but does supply a bit of justice for the reader, and probably did happen. War is never just two sides fighting each other, but always carries unintended consequences such as enrichment for individuals via consorting with the enemy. Jurjevics seems to tell it like it was with our soldiers fighting the enemy as well as the corruption rampant with those ostensibly on our side. 11/11 Paul Lane

RED FLASH by Kiva Wolfe: Diamonds and gemstones, the Russian Mafia, Brazilian criminals, murder, obsession, betrayal, exotic locations, sex, mayhem and double crosses. It all starts when a former triathlete finds out that the Russian Mafia caused his nephew’s death and that his older brother is involved with that same group in a gem smuggling scheme. Then it gets interesting. Everyone wants the gems, some badly enough to kill for them. Who will succeed and who will merely survive? When the stakes are this high the rules are merely an inconvenience. Interesting first effort. 02/06 Jack Quick

RED-HEADED STEPCHILD by Jaye Wells: This first in a new urban fantasy series featuring a half mage, half vampire assassin is great fun. Sabina Kane would have been a high-born vamp if her bloodline had been pure. As such, she is relegated to wet work on behalf of her grandmother, the Alpha and leader of the Domina, those who rule the vampire race. Sabine would like nothing more than to prove her loyalty and capability to her grandmother and finally earn the respect she deserves. This is why she accepts a job that sends her straight into an enemy’s camp, posing as a disgruntled vamp with vengeance on her mind. This group, led by the charismatic Clovis Trakiya, a half vamp himself, says that their goal is to unite the supernatural races, but Clovis’s own personal vendetta is against the Domina itself. This assignment will truly test Sabina in ways that she could never prepare for and will force her to face the truth about her birth for the very first time. I am very much looking forward to continuing this series. Wells’s unique spin on her subject and the questions left open about Sabina’s heritage are going to make this a stand-out series in the genre. 04/09 Becky Lejeune

RED HILL by Jamie McGuire: It’s Scarlet’s ex’s weekend with the kids when the world comes to an end. Sure, Scarlet and everyone else heard the news reports that morning but none of them really expected a world wide zombie epidemic was heading their way. When the patients at work begin attacking Scarlet knows it’s time to get the heck out of dodge. She’s headed for a secluded ranch owned by one of her colleagues. She and her friends always joked it would be the perfect place to survive the apocalypse, but first she has to get her kids. Problem is, the town is cut off and armed guards are patrolling every way in. Scarlet’s only hope is that her daughters will remember how to get to the ranch and that her ex can protect them long enough to get them there. Jamie McGuire’s zompiepocalypse survival horror is super fantastic. Scarlet shares center stage with two other characters: Nathan, a newly single (as of the morning of the zombie outbreak) dad trying to protect his eight-year-old daughter, and Miranda, a college girl traveling with her sister and their two boyfriends. The stories intersect at various points and eventually connect. This interplay between the characters and their struggles is really interesting and makes what would otherwise be a typical zombie outbreak book a bit of a stand out for me. 10/13 Becky Lejeune

RED HOOK by Gabriel Cohen: I think a good author is one who can take a fairly ordinary plot and bring it to life such that you feel you are part of the story. Detective Jack Leightner is investigating the murder of a young Dominican, Tomas Berrios, found stabbed to death with concrete blocks tied to his legs. His killers were apparently interrupted as they were planning to drop him into the river. Leightner becomes obsessed with the case, which happened in the Red Hook section of Brooklyn where he was born. Leightner has to deal with memories of his father, his dead brother, his failed marriage, and the son from whom he is estranged. Not that much of a mystery, but a good police procedural with characterizations that are uncanny. A first effort, and definitely recommended. 01/08 Jack Quick

RED SEA by Emily Benedek: Three international flights, each from different airlines and leaving from different countries, have been brought down over water in one afternoon. Although none of the flights were leaving from or headed to Israel, it is decided that a threat to the country’s security is an undeniable possibility that warrants their participation in the investigation. Julian Granot, a former commander in the Israeli Special Forces, is brought in as part of the investigating team. Granot’s inquiries soon lead him to a promising American journalist with some interesting theories concerning airline security. Marie Petersen’s curiosity is piqued when Granot suggests that they team up on the search and trade information. He leads her to a shop in England that repairs video machines on planes. Then, an innocuous observation on Marie’s part leads Granot to a possible lead. It appears that a man Granot has come up against in the past paid a visit to the shop just days before the crashes occurred. He visited again on the evening that Marie interviewed the owners of the shop. Then another plane goes down and Granot is convinced that this man could be the mastermind behind the terrorist plot. Shockingly enough, this story’s inspiration lies in actual interviews conducted by Benedek who easily transitions from journalist to novelist with Red Sea. Benedek’s superb debut promises to place her at the top of the thriller genre as firm competition for the likes of Stephen Coonts and Nelson DeMille. 09/07 Becky Lejeune

RED RAIN by Michael Crow: Luther Ewing’s genes, from his African-American Marine Sergeant father and French-Vietnamese mother, give him the appearance of an American Indian. In the Army, they called him “Cheyenne.” Now an Army Special Forces veteran with a steel plate in his head, he is a detective with the Baltimore County Police Department, with a reputation as a quiet competent narcotics cop. Here he is called “5-0” after the popular television show. Then his past comes back to haunt him when he hears about a Russian named “Vaseline.” Could this be Vassily, his mentor and nemesis whose wartime skills and abilities match those of Ewing? Now Ewing must revert to being “Shooter,” Vassily’s name for him when the CIA recruited them both to fight against the Serbs in Sarajevo. It was there that Ewing perfected his skills as a sniper before being shot in the head and almost killed. An edgier Jack Reacher type in his first outing. Recommended. 07/05 ~This review contributed by Jack Quick.

RED SEA by Emily Benedek: This underwhelming fiction debut from journalist Benedek. opens with the downing of three commercial jets, which results in the deaths of 723 people and plunges the world into a 9/11-like panic. Recently retired Israeli secret agent and aviation expert Julian Granot is tapped by his government to investigate. The stakes get higher when the terrorist group launches a massive container ship carrying a hellish mix of explosives toward New York City. Benedek offers lots of hot operational material and an exciting denouement, but thriller fans will find little that’s really new. 12/11 Jack Quick

The Red Tent by Anita Diamant: This is a book people feel passionately about; they either love it or hate it, and it seems to fall along lines of gender; women love it, men not so much.

I had a lot of baggage along with this book. It has been a huge seller in my store; the author, an intelligent and gracious woman, did a signing last year to the biggest crowd we’ve ever had (over 250 people!) and you could not, for the past two years, work a day in my store without having to straighten a stack of it, refill a display of it, or walk through the store without tripping over this book. It was, for a bookseller, a book to be avoided on principle! But I also had a lot of respect for it.

It grew, not from the publisher spending megabucks or winning the Oprah lottery, but strictly from word of mouth. Originally published in 1997, it finally hit the NY Times bestseller list in December, 2000 where it still lingers six months later. Once read, it is easy to see why. The story is based on Genesis, primarily verse 34, the story of Dinah’s rape. Short story indeed, until Diamant gets a hold of it. Some call it midrash, she calls it a novel, I call it a great read!

RED TIDE by Peg Brantley: I wanted to read this book so badly that I bought it. How about that for commitment, and I must say it was well worth it. Let me add my humble but favorable review to the many others who have previously congratulated Ms. Brantley. It is a whale of a tale. Multiple serial killers, cadaver dogs, exotic poisons, and professional FBI Special Agents and dedicated amateurs working together in digging up both old and new secrets at a burial site which is the clandestine playground of a madman. Just enough technical stuff to show Ms. Brantley has done her homework but not enough to take you out of the story. IMHO, much better than Cathy Reichs or Patricia Cornwell. Definitely “unputdownable.” Hopefully there will be additional material to follow, but not until I have caught my breath. Recommended for sure. 8/12 Jack Quick

Red Water by Judith Freeman: It could be called historical fiction or cultural fiction or religious fiction or all of the above, yet somehow this book defies labeling. It is an intimate look at polygamy, at the beginnings of the Mormon faith, and at the second worst civil crime ever committed in this country, after the Oklahoma City bombing. It was called the Mountain Meadows Massacre, and pardon my ignorance, but I had never even heard of it prior to reading this book. In 1857, 120 California-bound pioneers were massacred by a Mormon militia, who blamed it on their American Indian allies. The well written, fascinating novelization of these events is told from the perspective of three of the wives of John D. Lee, the man who was eventually convicted of the crime. I was so intrigued by this book that I started poking around the web, looking for more info and found tons available. The Massacre is still being debated and studied. Some recent articles are in the Salt Lake Tribune.

THE REDBREAST by Jo Nesbø: Bestselling Norwegian author, Jo Nesbø, known for his acclaimed Harry Hole series, made his US debut a few years back with The Redbreast. The third book to feature Hole, Redbreast was the first to be translated into English and released in the States. The book finds Hole in a tough spot—promoted after a shooting incident that could reflect badly on his country, Hole is proclaimed a hero and given a job intended to keep him out of the way. But when Hole finds evidence of weapons smuggling, he tracks the case to a possible assassination plot that has ties to WWII. Flashbacks to the frontline and a group of Norwegian soldiers in 1944 ultimately tie into Hole’s investigation, but make Redbreast something of a dense read with portions that are difficult to follow. It’s not until about halfway through that the book gains speed and the plot becomes clearer. Altogether a satisfying read, but one that requires a little more time and concentration. Books four and five, Nemesis and Devil’s Star are currently available. 12/10 Becky Lejeune

REDEMPTION by Lee Jackson: Benjamin Xavier Trinity is on his way to a government mandated job when he is waylaid by a snowstorm. He lands in Redemption, Montana, population 200. Carlene Ryton offers Ben a position as an all around handyman and café worker at the Grinnin’ Bear Café. Here, Ben endears himself to the townsfolk, doing favors and helping out wherever needed. The folks know he’s an ex-con, they just don’t know the whole truth behind his record. Ben is a convicted terrorist, a man whose past will forever hover around him like a black cloud. He was never given a chance to defend himself and never given a fair trial, but he will be forever marked by the most hate inducing crime known to man in this day and age. In this future America, gas and supply shortages are a regular occurrence as a result of the war, and Homeland Security has become the most powerful law-enforcing agency in the country. Ben defends his innocence, but is there anyone left who will listen in this bleak future? This harsh incarnation of America is not too far off the mark. Jackson’s tale reveals a slew of truly scary prospects that will burrow into readers’ consciences. 10/07 Becky Lejeune

REIGN OF THE RAT by Gil Smolin: For centuries leprosy created the same mind numbing fear that AIDS has caused in modern times. A disease without a cure, its victims sentenced to a long period of suffering. Now a new drug-resistant strain of leprosy appears and it looks like the only hope for a cure is to unearth the frozen remains of a medieval corpse destroyed by the Black Plague. Why? Because the symptoms not only mimic leprosy but also the deadly ones of the Black Plague. Firmly grounded in the reality of what is happening in medicine today as the result of over use of antibiotics, this one will keep you up at night. Smolin is an ophthalmologist and experienced writer. This is his first novel. Recommended. 06/05 ~This review contributed by Jack Quick.

THE REINCARNATIONIST by M. J. Rose: Josh Ryder has been experiencing memories that are not his own. It began after a bombing in Rome where Josh, a photojournalist, was working a story. He was left comatose and awoke weeks later with vivid recollections of life in ancient Rome. In an attempt to learn more, Josh becomes involved with an organization known as the Phoenix Foundation – a group that investigates past life regression in children. When a discovery at a dig in Rome interests the group, Josh is sent as one of the foundation’s representatives to the site. The find could finally provide solid proof of reincarnation and also allow others to experience exactly what Josh does – memories of past lives. The foundation is not the only group interested in this item, though. While Josh is on the site, the lead archaeologist is attacked and the artifact is stolen. Josh vows to recover the item and, in doing so hopes, to unlock the truth behind his strange visions. In The Reincarnationist, Rose combines historical elements with the theory of reincarnation to create a truly amazing thriller. The characters are believable, the settings are magnificent, and in most cases real. Rose masterfully transitions readers from one century to the next making this a smooth read that is easy to get lost in for hours. M.J. Rose is no newcomer to the literary field, but this is her first mainstream suspense novel, one that should finally earn her the recognition she deserves and introduce new readers to her fantastic talent. 09/07 Becky Lejeune

THE RELIABLE WIFE by Robert Goolrick: Catherine Land has packed up her simple wardrobe for her train ride to meet her new husband, Ralph Truitt. Truitt placed a personal ad for a “reliable wife” and waits at the train station for her in freezing 1907 Wisconsin, the richest man in a town where the cold drives people to occasional heinous acts of insanity. Truitt has been a widower for many years, and is eagerly awaiting his new bride. But this is no great romantic love story, and neither Ralph nor Catherine are exactly what they seem to be. For one thing, Catherine has also brought along a bottle of arsenic for her new husband. Every assumption is turned on its head in this hot, hot story and Goolrick pulls off one of the great reads of the year. 8/09 Stacy Alesi, AKA The BookBitch

RENEGADE by J.A. Souders: Evelyn has it all. In fact, some would say her life is just about perfect. Evelyn is a Daughter of the People, handpicked by Mother to be the future leader of Elysium, the underwater utopia Mother created to save them from the Surface Dwellers and the war. The people who live here have everything they could ever need and want. And, most importantly, they’re safe from the evil Surface Dwellers. But one day, the unimaginable happens: a Surface Dweller has found his way into Elysium. In spite of everything, Evelyn is fascinated by the boy and after speaking with him she begins to doubt some of Mother’s warnings about Surface Dwellers. Evelyn wants to save the boy and this triggers a series of events that will set them both in very grave danger. No one questions Mother and lives to talk about it. Souders’s debut is fast-paced and fun. It’s also pretty dark and bloody. The world-building is excellent and Souders does a great job setting it up for the reader while still keeping an urgent pacing throughout the story. And as that story progresses, things become even more intense. There are a few pieces of the story that can be said to be overly exaggerated but only if you’re really looking for something to complain about. For me, it was fantastic and I didn’t want to put it down. 11/12 Becky Lejeune

THE RENEGADES by T. Jefferson Parker: This is the highly anticipated sequel to one of my favorite books from 2008, L.A. Outlaws. Renegades is set in the modern day Wild West of Los Angeles – yes, there is such a place. Our hero from L.A. Outlaws, Charlie Hood, is grieving for his lost love and trying to get on with his life and his career. He’s paired up with Terry Laws, a community legend who unfortunately gets gunned down in front of Charlie and the chase for the killer is on. But it’s not that simple or straightforward, there are a lot of twists and turns here amid a couple of strong sub-plots, but Parker manages to draw it all together in the brilliant conclusion. Another excellent thriller from the under-the-radar Parker, although not quite at the same level as its predecessor. 02/09 Stacy Alesi, AKA The BookBitch

THE RENEGADES by T. Jefferson Parker: This book features Los Angeles Sheriff’s Deputy Charlie Hood first introduced in L.A. Outlaws. Hood isn’t completely over the death of Suzanne Jones aka Allison Murrieta when he is drawn into this tale of bad cops, betrayal, drugs, murder and blackmail. It’s the wild, wild west all over with most everyone carrying guns, but no white hats and black hats to tell the good guys from the bad, just shades of gray. Parker continues to deliver the goods, getting better with each outing. Hopefully he can keep this series going for a long time. I am a fan. 02/09 Jack Quick

THE REPLACEMENT by Brenna Yovanoff: The town of Gentry is hiding a dark secret. For years, the townspeople have lived in fear of their own superstitions. Horseshoes hang above their doors and iron over their babies’ beds. But the tokens and wards are not always enough. Every once in a while, a child disappears and another is left in its place. The creatures can pass as human and may be mistaken for the child itself by most, but many of them never survive. Mackie was one of those other children. One of those left to take the place of a baby boy taken away in the night. But Mackie lived. He’s always known that he’s different and he’s always done his best to fit in, but the older he gets, the harder it becomes. And in Gentry, no one wants to stand out, especially when the townsfolk need someone to blame for their misfortunes. Brenna Yovanoff’s dark and creepy debut is the perfect blend of horror meets teenage angst. Her twists on folklore and legend are surely influenced by some of the greatest in horror, but the world she creates is all her own. The Replacement is smart and captivating in a way that will appeal to both YA readers and adults. 09/10 Becky Lejeune

THE REPLACEMENT CHILD by Christine Barber: The Santa Fe Capital Tribune has often received tips from a woman they call the Scanner Lady. Her regular phone calls regarding reports she’s overheard on her police scanner have become an almost weekly occurrence at the paper. Night editor Lucy Newroe happens to be on duty when the latest call comes in: Scanner Lady has overheard news of a dead body in a call made by two men she believes are city cops. Lucy follows up the next day but is told that no such report came in. The closest case is that of a woman who drove off a bridge. Just days later, Lucy, a sometime volunteer medic, answers a call involving an older woman who’s found dead after an apparent home invasion – she had a police scanner sitting on her kitchen table. Lucy has to wonder if this is her Scanner Lady and if the death is more than just a coincidence. As she digs deeper she meets Detective Gil Montoya. Montoya has been assigned as family liaison on the bridge case. The state officers are in charge but the victim is the sister of a city cop from Montoya’s unit. Montoya thinks there’s more to his case than meets the eye, but is not sure where or if Scanner Lady fits in at all. Lucy and Montoya’s reluctant semi-partnership and their interplay is fascinating. I can only hope that this is going to be a series. Barber’s debut is a truly great mystery and can be a great foundation for what I think would be a wonderful series. 10/08 Becky Lejeune

THE REPLACEMENT CHILD by Christine Barber: If you are a fan of Tony Hillerman, then don’t pass this one up. Winner of the Tony Hillerman prize, this is a well written debut mystery featuring Capital Tribune editor Lucy Newroe and Police Detective Gil Montoya who are looking for the killer of seventh-grade teacher, Melissa Baca, whose body is found at the bottom of a local bridge. Although I have never spent much time in New Mexico (I can spell Albuquerque) the descriptions throughout ring true with all I have heard of the “Land of Enchantment.” 2/12 Jack Quick

Replay by Ken Grimwood: I loved the movie “Groundhog Day” and this book goes there and beyond. Our hero has a heart attack and dies when he’s 43 years old, then wakes up in his 18 year old body…all memories of the past 25 years intact. Then it happens again, and again, and again…leading to the question if you could do it all over again, knowing what you know now, would you? It makes for a very interesting premise that draws to a very satisfying conclusion. Stacy Alesi, AKA The BookBitch

REQUIEM FOR AN ASSASSIN by Barry Eisler: The assassin is the hero of this book, John Rain, who wants nothing more than to retire and spend time with his Mossad-agent girlfriend. But duty calls when he’s contacted by former CIA-agent-turned-rogue Jim Hilger and he learns that Hilger is holding his only friend, Dox, hostage until Rain completes three assassinations. Rain knows that the probability of he or Dox surviving the third is not too good, and with a little help from a business associate at the CIA and the Mossad, Rain gets to work on saving his friend. Lots of action, exotic locales, and edge-of-your-seat suspense make this a really fun read. Fans of Lee Child should enjoy the larger-than-life, half Japanese-half American hero, John Rain. 06/07 Stacy Alesi, AKA The BookBitch

REQUIEM MASS by Elizabeth Corley: A Detective Chief Inspector Andrew Fenwick Mystery Detective Chief Inspector Andrew Fenwick is just returning to work after burying his wife. His family is tenuously hanging on and Fenwick gets desk duty to ease him back into things. What starts out as a suburban London housewife gone missing turns into ruthless retaliation for a twenty-year-old mystery. Five schoolgirls went off for a walk but only four returned; one of the girls accidentally fell to her death, or at least that is their story. Now they are all grown up and dealing with the past by ignoring it as best as they can. One of the women is the missing housewife, two more are her neighbors, and the fourth is a world famous soprano, due to come home for a fundraiser for the school they all attended. When one of the women is murdered, Fenwick finds the connection between the two cases and sets out to stop the killer from exacting his revenge. He also has to deal with a very troubled son, office politics, and an affair that may be clouding his judgment. Fortunately, he has some good help, including Cooper, who has lots of experience, and a young woman rookie who is sharp as a tack. These characters are well drawn, especially Fenwick, but even the killer avoids cliché. This is a complex case, solved by meticulous police work and culminating in a very tense, superb ending. First of a gritty new series with strong promise, sure to appeal to Tana French, Benjamin Black and Tess Gerritsen fans. 5/13 Stacy Alesi, AKA The BookBitch Copyright © 2013 Booklist, a division of the American Library Association. Reprinted with permission.

RESOLUTION by Robert B. Parker: The man is a genius, an absolute genius. In this follow up to 2005’s Appaloosa, Everett Hitch and Virgil Cole are teamed up in the town of Resolution. Hitch is hired initially as the bouncer for the local real-estate magnate (saloon, house of ill repute, hotel, restaurant and general store), and quickly dispatches one Koy Wickman the local “hardass.” Things are beginning to be more civilized afterwards until Cole shows up along with the infamous Cato and Rose, a “matched pair” of gunmen hired to replace Wickman. The action is electric, the dialogue is sparse, and you can “see” John Wayne or Clint Eastwood on every page. I love Spencer but if Parker wants to do westerns, I welcome his next one. 09/08 Jack Quick

RESONANCE by A.J. Scudiere: Approximately 200 million years ago, map north was magnetic south. Ten million years later, the poles switched places and have continued to do so about every sixty million years. The last polar shift sixty five million years ago caused the deaths of entire species, species we call dinosaurs. Right now Dr. Becky Sorenson has some seriously mutated frogs in her lab. In Los Angeles bees are making abnormal columns on the side of the freeways. In Georgia, birds are migrating out of season. People are dying now from what might be SuperAIDS. Is this the beginning of the next polar shift? We are five million years overdue. How much time do we have left? Just when you thought we were safe from a swine flu pandemic, this comes along. Depending on your own orientation, this one is either: interesting, intriguing, or don’t-turn-out-the-lights-I-am-scared-witless reading. You decide for yourself. 06/09 Jack Quick

RESTITUTION by Lee Vance: If Russia is a riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma as postulated by Sir Winston Churchill, then Restitution is a great way to attempt to unravel it. Peter Tyler, a Wall Street hotshot, is the prime suspect when his wife Jenna is murdered. Although they had been having some marital problems, Peter loved her passionately and misses her greatly. As he attempts to find out who did, in fact, kill her, Peter finds himself involved with money scams, stolen art, a pharmaceutical giant and a brilliant, ruthless and tortured act of vengeance. Peter’s best friend, Russian business tycoon Andrei Zhilina, may hold the key, so it’s off to Moscow to seek answers. Pretty near “unputdownable.” 10/07 Jack Quick

THE RESTORER by Amanda Stevens: Ever since she was a child, Amelia Gray has had a fondness for cemeteries. She learned restoration from her father. She also learned the rules for living with the ghosts that surround her. “…never acknowledge the dead. Don’t look at them, don’t speak to them, don’t let them sense your fear,” her father told her. But when a body is discovered in the old Oak Grove Cemetery where Amelia has been working on a very important restoration project, she is thrown headfirst into a mystery and will find that keeping to her father’s rules isn’t as easy as it once seemed. This first in the Graveyard Queen series is a chilling blend of paranormal elements and tightly plotted mystery. Stevens keeps readers guessing to the very end and sets up the series nicely for book two, The Kingdom, due out this fall. 04/11 Becky Lejeune

Resurrection Men by Ian Rankin: Resurrection Men is Ian Rankin’s latest Inspector John Rebus outing. It is a solid effort and shows why the popularity of this series is growing. The setting, in Edinburgh, is interesting, the police work is sound and the hero is the Scot’s version of the tough cop whose life is going to pieces while he soldiers on.
John Rebus is no upperclass Lord Peter Wimsey, although I would like to think that the name is an acknowledgement of a worthy predecessor. Like Michael Connelly’s Harry Bosch, Inspector Rebus’ success in solving complicated and politically sensitive murders is second only to his indifference to and annoyance with authority.
At the outset of this novel, this characteristic has landed Rebus in a special class at the Scottish Police College where characters of that ilk are given one last chance to redeem themselves. His class of 6 christens themselves “The Wild Bunch.” Rankin explains “…these were lifers, men who’d been on the force an average of twenty years. Most were nearing the point where they could leave on full pension. Tullianllan was their last-chance saloon. They were here to atone, to be resurrected.”
As an exercise in re-learning how to investigate as part of a team, within proper police protocols, the class is assigned a project from the unsolved case files. Their case involves a brutal murder. Meanwhile, back at Rebus’ old station, his protege Siobhan Clarke, is continuing Rebus’ investigation into the murder of an art dealer.
Not surprisingly, the two investigations intertwine with the common links being possibly some members of the class and Rebus’ longtime adversary, Morris Gerald Cafferty (Big Ger). Rebus is called upon to perform a delicate balancing act to survive. As always, this is accomplished at considerable cost to himself and those around him.
This is a gripping, hard-nosed detective story. A gritty guy in a gritty town. What more could you ask for. This review contributed by Geoffrey R. Hamlin.

Retribution by Jilliane P. Hoffman: Wow. This is dark – very dark – and disturbing and really well done. Chloe Larson is a beautiful young law student who suffers a brutal rape at the hands of a sadist who leaves her for dead. She survives, but is left scarred, both physically and emotionally. Twelve years later she’s evolved into C. J. Townsend, crackerjack prosecutor in Miami who lands the biggest case of her career when a serial killer known as Cupid is caught in her jurisdiction. Cupid’s calling card is that after torturing his victims – all young, beautiful blondes – he claims his trophy, their hearts. Townsend is determined to get this monster the death penalty and everything seems to be working in her favor, until she meets the defendant and her nightmares become real again. The court process is fascinating in Hoffman’s hands; she is a former Florida assistant state attorney and it shows. The book could have used better editing; there are some minor errors and some repetitiveness, but nothing major enough to pull me out of the story. The violence is graphic without being gratuitous with details of some really heinous crimes, and the ending is superb. This is one very powerful debut novel. 12/03

THE RETURN MAN by V.M. Zito: Four years ago, The Resurrection hit the United States. The living were evacuated to the Safe States and everything west of the Mississippi was left to the infected—the walking dead. Henry Marco stayed behind. Now, he makes a living finding dead loved ones and laying them to rest, or “returning” them. When the government contracts Marco to track down a scientist last seen in California, he’s leery of the job. Before The Resurrection, Marco was a neurologist and the scientist in question was one of his former colleagues. The consensus is that with his developed skills in tracking and his personal connection to the man, Marco is the person with the best chance of finding him. But what interest does the government have in this man in particular? Marco is joined by Wu, a soldier with his own agenda, but is he someone Marco can trust? The Return Man is an action-packed, post-apocalyptic thriller with a slightly different spin sure to will satisfy the most rabid zombie fans. 4/12 Becky Lejeune

REVENGE OF THE KUDZU DEBUTANTES by Cathy Holton: Friends Nita Broadwell, Eadie Booth, and Lavonne Zibolsky have been trying to coast by and endure their thankless marriages for some time now. Lavonne, a northern transplant to Ithaca, Georgia, has become addicted to food as a way to fill the unexplained void in her life. Nita on the other hand, is addicted to trashy romance novels since her husband seems to be showing less and less interest in her every day. And Eadie is working on getting her husband back as he once again steps out with a mistress. All this changes when the wives discover that their husbands have been cheating on them at their annual hunting trips. Nita, Eadie, and Lavonne devise a hilarious scheme of revenge against their philandering spouses that will ensure that the women come out on top. Oh, if Desperate Housewives took place in Georgia. This is a great book for summer – Holton will have you laughing out loud. 08/07 Becky Lejeune

REVENGE OF THE ROSE by Nicole Galland: The focus of Nicole Galland’s follow up to last year’s The Fool’s Tale is courtly love as well as courtly gossip. Famous court minstrel Jouglet is Lord Konrad’s right hand man. He is the lord’s confidant and is one of his most trusted advisors. Jouglet is also close friends with Willem and his sister Lienor. It is no secret that Jouglet wishes to be more than just friends with the lovely Lienor when he cunningly manipulates Willem into the court. Willem impresses Lord Konrad with his chivalry, honor and talents. However, Jouglet and Willem will soon discover just how sharp gossip can be and all of his clever maneuverings may backfire on Jouglet. Galland’s enormous talent is evident in this multi-layered and witty historical novel. The scheming and plotting of the numerous characters makes for a hilarious read with a fabulous twist in the end. 09/06 Becky LeJeune

REVENGE OF THE SPELLMANS by Lisa Lutz: In the third Spellman story, Izzy Spellman is still suffering fallout from her actions in Curse of the Spellmans (now out in paperback). Her court-ordered therapy sessions are not going well ever since her first therapist ratted her out to the court and had her entire sentence reinstated, and now her new therapist has figured out all of her time-wasting tricks. Plus, Izzy’s parents are none to pleased that she’s left the family business to be a bartender. Their pleas are ignored and so they convince Izzy’s boss to fire her. Izzy’s solution, move into her brother’s secret basement apartment without him knowing. Now, broke and suffering from no sleep, a result of the paranoid nightmares she’s been having about her brother busting in on her new digs, Izzy finds that she’s being blackmailed and tailed on a regular basis. Could it be the case she’s taken practically pro bono to help a friend, or has someone discovered her new living situation? As usually, Izzy’s antics and her wacky family make for hilarious reading. I dare you not to laugh out loud while reading any of Lutz’s titles; I love them. 03/09 Becky Lejeune

THE REVERSAL by Michael Connelly: This is a combined series book featuring Harry Bosch and Mickey Haller, and the first one that really seemed like it worked the way it should. These characters are already so well defined that there was no stumbling here, the book really flowed, moving back and forth between the cop and the lawyer.
The title refers to the case that Mickey has taken. A man convicted of murdering a child has his sentence remanded after 24 years in prison because of new DNA evidence. The D.A., however, still believes in his guilt and is determined to try him again. The defendant has hired a top defense attorney who eagerly agrees to work pro bono, figuring the civil lawsuit he’ll be able to file against the city of Los Angeles for false imprisonment after the conviction is overturned will more than cover his fees.
To avoid any accusation of prejudice, the D.A. persuades Mickey Haller, defense attorney, to cross the aisle and work for the state as an independent prosecutor. Very much out of his element, Mickey agrees but with the proviso that his ex-wife, Maggie “McFierce”, be his second chair. Then he asks that Bosch be his lead investigator on the basically cold case. They have to start over, and Bosch is in his element. Combining a police procedural and a legal thriller works just brilliantly in Connelly’s gifted hands. I couldn’t put down this totally absorbing novel with a shocking ending. Note: The movie of The Lincoln Lawyer, the first Mickey Haller book, is currently in post-production with Matthew McConaughey and Marisa Tomei with a release date of sometime in 2011. 10/10 Stacy Alesi, AKA The BookBitch

THE REVERSAL by Michael Connelly: Mickey Haller, “the Lincoln Lawyer,” is back in an awesome case. Because of political ramifications the District Attorney wants Mickey to “come over from the dark side” for a one-time gig as a prosecutor, retrying a case in which a killer’s 24-year-old conviction has been overturned on the basis of DNA. Actually Mickey is quick to see the upside of accepting the appointment so its not as hard a sale for the District Attorney as he thinks. But Mickey, being Mickey, he has to get his pound of flesh. Taking second chair will be Haller’s ex-wife, the formidable Maggie, with Connelly’s classic hard-boiled cop Harry Bosch (identified in The Brass Verdict, 2008, as Haller’s half brother) serving as special investigator. It has to be the dream team, but…there are enormous egos involved and as the District Attorney learns in the first press conference, he may have hired Haller, but make no mistake, Haller has the reins and will be driving this Lincoln all the way to the finish. To borrow from another reviewer. “Reading this book is like watching a master craftsman, slowly and carefully, brick by brick, build something that holds together exquisitely, form and function in perfect alignment” (Bill Ott, Book List) Take time to savor this one as crime fiction doesn’t get any better. Connelly is now firmly up there at the top with James Lee Burke, IMHO. 12/10 Jack Quick

RHETT BUTLER’S PEOPLE by Donald McCaig: I have read Gone with the Wind at least a dozen times, and seen the movie a number of times as well. I discovered it when I was in high school. My stepmother had a first edition that an old boyfriend had inscribed and given to her, and even though she married and divorced that man, the book remained in her possession. I stayed up through the night reading, and didn’t put it down until I’d read those immortal last words, “After all … tomorrow is another day.” And so it is, and this new sequel, after the awful Scarlett by Alexandra Ripley and the ridiculous The Wind Done Gone by Alice Randall, makes it a day worth spending with it.
McCaig has filled in the gaps and completely laid open that iconic man of mystery, Rhett Butler. We knew that Rhett had had a falling out with his family; now we know why. We get to know Rosemary, Rhett’s beloved sister, and learn how the relationship between Rhett and Belle Watling came to be. There is additional background on many of the secondary characters like Aunt Pittpat and Archie Flytte.
There has been some criticism that readers didn’t really want to know that Rhett was repeatedly wounded by Scarlett, but you didn’t have to read too deeply between the lines of GWTW to know that; McCaig just spelled it out in case you missed it. My only criticism of the book was in the writing. I found it choppy and somewhat repetitive (of itself, not GWTW), but that didn’t take away from my enjoyment of the story. Fans of the movie will enjoy it as well, but prepare to be surprised by the additional characters that were left out of the film but are here in the book. Obviously, it’s no Gone with the Wind, nor did I expect it to be, but for fans there is definite pleasure to be found here. 11/07 Stacy Alesi, AKA The BookBitch

THE RICHEST SEASON by Maryann McFadden: Joanna Harrison has had enough. Her children are grown and the demands of her husband’s job have left her feeling neglected and alone. Upon learning that her husband’s latest promotion will require them to pick up and move, yet again, Joanna decides she’s not going to take it anymore. Instead, after shipping husband Paul off on his latest business trip, she packs her things and leaves her home in New Jersey to start a new life on Pawley’s Island, South Carolina. Upon arrival, however, Joanna realizes just how hard it’s going to be. Alone, with no one to turn to for help, or even a shoulder to cry on, Joanna becomes determined to make things work. She finds employment with Grace Finelli, an elderly woman seeking a companion. What Joanna doesn’t know is that Grace has only six months to live. Then Paul shows up demanding that Joanna return home. Her refusal only angers him more, but he doesn’t tell her that in addition to losing her, he has also lost his job. As each of the three deals with their own issues, they find that they are each facing the possibility of dramatic changes in their lives. This wonderful debut is a rich, character driven story that will appeal to any reader looking for a heartfelt summer read. 06/08 Becky Lejeune

THE RICHEST SEASON by Maryann McFadden: Joanna has been married to Paul for 25 years. In those two and a half decades, they have moved dozens of times, following Paul’s successful career. Each time, Joanna is expected to be the dutiful corporate wife by packing up and following Paul around without any complaints. But when Joanna learns that another move is eminent, she packs her bags and heads down to Pawley’s Island, South Carolina, an area she had fallen in love with years ago. She moves in with Grace, an older woman who retreated to Pawley’s Island to live out her last few months of life. Joanna’s impromptu “holiday” extends to several months, during which she finds a bit of happiness that she’s been missing for so long. McFadden wrote a wonderful account of a woman’s struggle for independence. The reader experiences the story from three viewpoints: Joanna, her husband Paul, and Grace. The lessons learned by each character during their journey of self discovery are very valuable, and for this reason I envision this book generating a lot of discussion in book clubs nationwide. 08/08 Jennifer Lawrence

RIDE WITH ME, MARIAH MONTANA by Ivan Doig: Since reading Cormac McCarthy’s No Country for Old Men last year, I have been revisiting authors who write about the American West – McCarthy’s older works, Wallace Stegner, the poet Richard Hugo and Ivan Doig, who was suggested to me by my sister who lives in Billings, Montana. She sent me a copy of Ride With Me before I was about to visit her for a family reunion in Yellowstone.
In the tradition of many books about the West, it is a road trip story. Not quite Kesey’s bus, but close. In this case, the vehicle is a battered old RV driven by an old Montanan former rodeo champion turned sheepherder, Jick McCaskill. The other occupants are his redheaded daughter Mariah, a photographer and her ex-husband Riley Wright, a newspaper columnist. Mariah and Riley have been assigned by their newspaper to do a series celebrating Montana’s centennial by traveling across the state to see what they can see.
Riley is doing it because he still has the hots for Mariah. Jicks is along to see if he can keep her from making the same mistake all over again. And therein is the tale.
It is fine adventure and the people are drawn with honesty and affection, warts, oddities and all. I believe that I enjoyed this book more than anything else that I have read this year. 11/06 Geoffrey R. Hamlin

Right as Rain by George Pelecanos: As I started reading this mystery, it felt preachy to me in a racial sort of way. But the story sucked me in and either the preaching stopped or I stopped noticing. A good, gritty mystery involving a white cop killing a black cop, set in the inner city of Washington D.C. Stacy Alesi, AKA The BookBitch

THE RIGHT HAND by Derek Haas: Derek Haas has created a “different” CIA operative with The Right Hand. Austin Clay works for the CIA, but not with other agents. He is on his own, only with his handler to execute his assignments which include covert operations that are outside of normal CIA work. He operates as he sees fit to accomplish his work, and his reputation is that the left hand (remainder of the CIA) does not know what the right hand (Clay) is doing. Clay, as a young man, was subjected to virtual imprisonment for eight years on his uncle’s boat after becoming an orphan. His personality is formed within the framework of abusive treatment, and eventual escape from his uncle. Clay is handed the assignment of rescuing a captured CIA agent being held in Russia. Events quickly move to the emergence of a young woman who unwittingly was connected to the imprisoned agent and knows the reason for his capture. Clay finds the girl as a possible means of tracing the whereabouts of the agent. He begins to have protective feelings about the young lady, but realizes that he is too old for her and too involved in his work to consider romance. But he does dedicate himself to making sure she is removed from danger showing his compassionate side for inclusion in future books. Haas sketches Clay quite well, and the reader will understand a little of his conflicting feelings as he continues to complete his assignment. A book that is difficult to put down and a feeling that the ending is in keeping with the events depicted and satisfying for the reader. 11/12 Paul Lane

THE RIGHTEOUS MEN by Sam Bourne: Rookie reporter, Will Monroe, takes a novel approach to his first murder by deciding to write a “human interest” story about the victim. What he discovers is a surprise to everyone. Shortly thereafter, Will investigates another murder – this one in rural Washington. The murders seem unconnected but, upon returning home, he discovers that his wife has been kidnapped. What comes next is an edge of your seat roller coaster ride as Will fights against a deadline that could lead to the end of the world. Meticulous research into Kabbalic mysticism and Jewish prophecy, paired with vivid characters and insight into the ultra-orthodox community of Crown Heights, makes this and interesting and exciting read. While the surprise twist ending comes as not much of a surprise, overall I found this to be a very satisfying read and a thrilling debut. Sam Bourne is a pseudonym for British journalist Jonathan Freedland. 08/06 Becky LeJeune

RING by Koji Suzuki: Japanese author, Koji Suzuki, is probably the most well-known Asian horror author today. Ring, the book that inspired multiple horror film hits, is actually the first in a trilogy of tales. In this first installment, journalist Asakawa is inspired to write a piece on a series of mysterious deaths after drawing a connection between a taxi man’s story and the death of his own niece. Like the film, he discovers that a total of four teens all died under strange circumstances, all at the very same time on the very same day. Asakawa is joined in his search by his best friend Ryuji, a professor with an upsetting habit and an interest in the occult. While there are minute similarities between the ultimate revelation at the end of this tale and the film version, the book remains vastly different in its specifics. Ring is worth the read for any horror fan, but having seen the film it does lose a bit of its punch. Hopefully this is not the case with the follow-up titles, Spiral and Loop, as I am hoping to be as creeped out in reading them as I was in first seeing The Ring. 06/08 Becky Lejeune

THE RISE OF RANSOM CITY by Felix Gilman: Harry Ransom always wanted his name to be known. He set off with an invention he promised would change everything. He called it the Ransom Process. As the Line and the Gun waged war around him, Ransom traveled from town to town exhibiting his masterpiece in hopes of interesting investors and always dreaming of the day that he’d become famous for his creation. In his travels he made many enemies, but nothing prepared him for what would await him in Jasper City. This is his story, from childhood to Jasper City and beyond as told through his own writings. Gilman’s latest is brilliantly clever and imaginative—an excellent cross genre blend of fantasy, science fiction, and weird western set as an autobiography. The world he’s created does closely resemble our own in the late 1800s, but there’s a touch of magic and a hint of the supernatural. The Rise of Ransom City is the second story that takes place in this world, but serves as more of a companion rather than a true follow up to The Half-Made World. Ransom does cross paths with the characters of Half-Made World so there are parallels with that book, but this is all his story and is perfect for fans of the previous release and newbies alike. 12/12 Becky Lejeune

RITUAL by Mo Hayder: This latest release by Hayder marks the return of DI Jack Caffery. He’s transferred to Bristol where divers, led by Phoebe “Flea” Marley, have just discovered a severed hand in the harbor. Most of the bodies that wash up in the harbor turn out to be the result of suicide. Something about this particular case is different, though, and the second hand is soon discovered buried beneath a local restaurant. Marley’s and Caffrey’s research into the case leads them to the African practices and beliefs of Muti, where various parts of both animals and humans are used in ritualistic manners for everything from luck to protection. Given the way the hands were removed, they also come to believe that the victim in question may actually still be alive, but just how long he can last without medical attention is the question. Time is quickly running out as the team races to unravel this strange case. Another fantastic thriller from one of the best in the business. Although this is the third book to feature Caffery (following Birdman and The Treatment) it can be read as a stand-alone and is the first installment in what Hayder refers to as her Walking Man series. Ritual is available now in the UK and can be ordered through specialty stores stateside. Official US release date is this fall. 04/08 Becky Lejeune

RIVER OF HEAVEN by Lee Martin: Sam Brady is a solitary bachelor who has taken great pains to ensure that his homosexuality remains a secret to those around him. After his neighbor’s wife dies, it becomes harder for Sam to keep himself closed off. He and Arthur strike up a tenuous friendship at first, bonding over the building of a custom doghouse for Sam’s basset hound, Stump. The doghouse, a small ship with a deck and cannon ports, attracts the attention of a local column writer for the paper, a writer whose great uncle was once Sam’s best friend, Dewey. At the age of 15, Dewey committed suicide on the train tracks near his house. The reporter has some questions about the events, though, and it is soon revealed that Sam has some other secrets in his past that he would rather not come to light. Enter Cal, Sam’s long lost brother. Cal has just recently survived a nationally broadcasted hostage situation and shows up on Sam’s doorstep, bringing more than a little trouble along with him. Pulitzer Prize finalist, Martin returns with an amazing story of loneliness, secrets, and ultimately forgiveness. River of Heaven is a touching literary tale with just a tinge of mystery – highly recommended. 04/08 Becky Lejeune

The Ritual Bath by Faye Kellerman: The first in the Peter Decker/Rina Lazarus series. He’s a cop, she’s an Orthodox Jew. They meet and chemistry is redefined. I ripped through this one in a few hours and within 2 weeks read the rest of the series. The early ones are best.

RITUALS OF THE SEASON by Margaret Maron: Its just ten days until the wedding and Judge Deborah Knott can hardly remember whether she is to stay the night with finance Deputy Dwight Bryant or go home to her place. It is that hectic with Christmas around the corner, the slaying of an Assistant District Attorney and her adopted daughter, a possible death sentence appeal, her house torn up by plumbers and carpenters and a very pregnant matron of honor. Somehow Knott keeps it all together as she is at the center of a whirlwind of pre-nuptial pre-holiday activity. Maron once again demonstrates she knows Eastern North Carolina and its characters – bless your heart, but sometimes she can be almost too southern, not unlike our beloved sweet tea, which, in a pinch, can always substitute for syrup. This twelfth Knott adventure is to be released 8/25/05. 08/05 ~This review contributed by Jack Quick.

THE RIVIERA CONTRACT by Arthur Kerns: Arthur Kerns spent a career working for the FBI in counterintelligence and counter terrorism. Upon retirement he became a consultant to the Director of the CIA and the Department of State and his travels for assignments took him to over 65 countries around the world. He has written short stories published in various anthologies and one non-fiction book. The Riviera Contract is his first novel and is based upon his own career. Kerns introduces Hayden Stone, a retired officer from the FBI now working as a consultant to the CIA. Stone’s first assignment in Afghanistan saw a colleague killed with Stone blaming himself for the death. The time is 2002, shortly after the attack on the World Trade Center in New York, and the United States is actively engaged in counter terrorism against Al Quaeda wherever they appear. A friend with the CIA offers Stone an assignment in France on the Cote d’Azur and Hayden takes it thinking that it might help him to regain his equilibrium. Little does he know, as two terrorists acting separately attempt to kill him. on the distaff side, he meets an old love of his, now a countess, and a young beautiful employee of the organization he is using for his cover while on this assignment. The key to the assignment is to stop a middle eastern terrorist who is in France to set up a delivery of the Ebola virus to several U.S. cities. The action is fast and Kerns has the reader go through one crisis after another. Stone is really the only character that is fleshed out, obviously because he will be used in future adventures. Not memorable writing but an entertaining read and certainly a good prelude to getting future Kerns novels in which the author will potentially be more adept at setting up scenarios and fleshing out characters. Recommended for setting up a credible plot and the threats outlined in it. E-book only. 3/13 Paul Lane

RIZZO’S WAR by Lou Manfredo: “There’s no wrong, there’s no right, there just is.” That is the philosophy of Bensonhurst, Brooklyn detective Lou Rizzo. Rizzo has a new young partner, Mike McQueen, who got the promotion after a lucky break in a case. McQueen knows it was luck that got him his shield, but he’s determined to prove himself. Being partnered with Rizzo, who’s nearing retirement and under an Internal Affairs investigation, could be a mixed blessing. Politics rears its ugly head when they are assigned to find a missing girl, the teenage daughter of a powerful city councilman. This is a police procedural of the best kind – a terrific cop sharing his wisdom, a gritty city setting and dabs of organized crime, racism, and politics. Manfredo’s debut novel is a winner and sure to appeal to fans of Michael Connelly and Ed McBain. 09/09 Stacy Alesi, AKA The BookBitch

ROAD DOGS by Elmore Leonard: Its reunion time with three of Leonard’s most memorable characters. Jack Foley (Out of Sight) is back in prison in Florida, and hooks up with Cundo Rey, the pint-size Cuban (LaBrava), who soon engineers their early release–legally, this time. Jack’s happy to be out and enjoying the California hospitality of Cundo and his wife Dawn (LaBrava and Riding the Rap). There are just a few issues. Dawn is lovely but husband Cundo is a murderously jealous husband who may get tired of Jack being around. Dawn likes M-O-N-E-Y and thinks Jack may be the best meal ticket. Jack – well first he owes Cundo thirty big ones from getting him sprung. When you have robbed a hundred and twenty or banks, the solution to that problem would seem to be at hand? Nobody does it better than the senior Mr. Leonard, so kick back and enjoy this one like a fine Havana with a pitcher of fresh mojitos. 06/09 Jack Quick

THE ROAD TO BEDLAM by Mike Shevdon: Ever since Niall’s recent introduction to the Fey and his acceptance with the Warders, everyone’s been waiting to see if his daughter will manifest abilities as well. The courts are ready to welcome her into the fold if she does share her father’s powers but her death comes as a surprise to them all. When Niall becomes convinced that she may indeed still be alive, he and the very pregnant Blackbird find themselves on the run and hiding out under the courts’ orders. The arrival of the Untainted complicates things further and Niall is sent away on a mission in the coastal village of Ravensby where a recent spate of disappearances has the Warders suspecting there might be a rogue Fey at work. This second in the Courts of the Feyre series builds further upon the dark Fey-infused world Shevdon has created and combines mystery and fantasy elements with actual history. This is one of my favorite series and is a must for any urban fantasy fan. 6/12 Becky Lejeune

ROAD TO PARADISE by Max Allan Collins: Collins completes his trilogy beginning with a young boy’s travels with his gangster father in the “New York Times” bestseller “Road to Perdition,” then down the “Road to Purgatory”–a tale of this same boy, all grown up. Lake Tahoe, 1973: Michael Satariano–who as a young man fought the Capone mob in Chicago–has reached a comfortable middle age, with a loving wife at home, a talented teenage daughter in high school, and a son earning medals in Vietnam. Now running a casino for the mob, Michael thinks he’s put his killing days behind him–after all, he’s made a respectable life for himself and his family . . . and plenty of money for the boys back in Chicago. So when godfather Sam Giancana orders him to hit a notoriously violent and vulnerable gangster, Michael refuses. But when the hit goes down anyway, Michael is framed for murder; to save his family, he must turn state’s witness under the fledgling Witness Protection Program. Relocated to the supposed safety of Paradise, a tract-housing development in Arizona, Michael soon finds himself facing a wrath so cruel that even the boy raised by a hitman father is unprepared. And with his teenage daughter in tow, Michael must return to the road and a violent way of life he thought he had long left behind. A must read series. 1/12 Jack Quick

ROAD TO PERDITION by Max Allan Collins, illustrated by Richard Piers Rayner: Although an avid reader of ‘comic books” as a kid, this is, as best as I can recall, my first adult graphic novel. Michael O’Sullivan, a veteran of the Great War, is still soldiering, only this time as chief enforcer for John Looney, the Irish ganglord of Rock Island, Illinois. A good father and quiet family man, life changes drastically for the “Angel of Death” when his son (narrator of the story) witnesses his father at work. A failed attempt at killing O’Sullivan cause him to rush home – too late to save the lives of his wife and younger son, but leaves him determined to seek revenge. Depression era Illinois, ruled by gangsters, where the bullets and booze flow freely, come to think of it not unlike today. A good read. 1/12 Jack Quick

ROAD TO PURGATORY by Max Allan Collins: In this followup to Road to Perdition, Michael O’Sullivan Jr., is now in his early 20s. His father was the “Angel of Death” a mobster hit man, who turned on the mob after his wife and Michael’s younger brother were killed. When he himself is killed, none other than Eliot Ness, the leader of the “Untouchables” arranges for Michael to be placed in a catholic orphanage. He eventually becomes Michael Satariano, the adopted son of Sicilian restaurateurs in DeKalb, Illinois, a town not far from the Windy City. Michael has enlisted and wins the first Congressional Medal of Honor awarded during World war II while serving on Bataan. He loses his left eye and is returned to the states where he finds it hard to settle back into his previous life and settle down with high-school girlfriend Patty Ann O’Hara. So when Eliot Ness, now heading a federal office charged with “safeguarding the health and morale of the armed forces,” asks him to take on an undercover gig–infiltrating Capone’s syndicate in order to curb its criminal enterprises–Michael can’t agree fast enough. However, as Michael worms his way into the mob he discovers that ascribing blame and exacting justice aren’t the easy tasks he’d imagined. 1/12 Jack Quick

ROADSIDE CROSSES by Jeffery Deaver: Complex and timely story about cyber-bullying and its effects. Travis Brigham is the driver in a car crash in which two girls are killed. He then becomes the target of a cyber-world smear campaign. The near death of one of the accusing bloggers involves Kathryn Dance and the California Bureau of Investigation. Brigham disappears and additional attacks occur. Each is preceded with a crude roadside cross. Meanwhile, Dance also looks into a mercy killing at Monterey Bay Hospital of a young Monterrey County deputy badly burned by the escaping Daniel Pell in a previous case. At the same time, Robert Harper, a special prosecutor from the attorney general’s office in Sacramento, begins an investigation that will affect Dance. It would be much better without the frequent information dumps about kinesics (body language) and Internet history and customs, but without them, the pace might be just be too blistering. 07/09 Jack Quick

ROBBERS by Christopher Cook: Compared by some to the works of James Lee Burke, this debut novel follows two criminal drifters, Eddie and Ray Bob, across the hot dry dusty expanse of Texas, pursued by Rule Hooks, a crafty Texas Ranger who has been told he looks like country singer Porter Waggoner and could be played by Tommy Lee Jones without any problem. In the first chapter, a convenience store clerk is killed for a penny – he wants $4.01 for a pack of Camel cigarettes and the boys only have $4.00. Afterwards, they have the pack of Camels, a carton of Marlboros and all the money that was in the register. Their only regret? They forgot to pick up some cold beer. You know how it has to end, but the journey is worth the time and effort with striking imagery and vivid insights into rural Texas life, and its often mind numbing consequences. It’s the kind of life where the local scoutmaster is shot and killed by his wife when she catches him in bed with her sister: “Used a twelve gauge with buckshot. Fat jackoff died in the saddle. A real asshole, too, always yelling about our uniforms, how we looked. Shoulda give her a merit badge for civic duty.” “Or marksmanship,” sniggered Ray Bob. I love it. 12/07 Jack Quick

ROBERT B. PARKER’S FOOL ME TWICE by Michael Brandman: Michael Branman takes us back to Paradise, at least Robert B. Parker’s version. A Hollywood movie company has come to town, and brought with it a huge cast, crew, and a troubled star. Marisol Hinton is very beautiful, reasonably talented, and scared out of her wits that her estranged husband’s jealousy might take a dangerous turn. When she becomes the subject of a death threat, Jesse and the rest of the Paradise police department go on high alert. But then Jesse witnesses a horrifying collision caused by a distracted teenage driver, the political repercussions of her arrest bring him into conflict with all the local power structure As usual, life is on the line, just for doing the right thing. 10/12 Jack Quick

ROBERT B. PARKER’S KILLING THE BLUES by Michael Brandman: Not bad, although the style is more Spenser than Stone. A series of car thefts and a related murder bring tension to Paradise, Massachusetts as it is preparing for the summer tourist season. An ex-con that Jesse had arrested back in California shows up and starts a mini-wave of terror, killing pets and setting fires that lead to another death. Through it all, Jesse confronts a personal dilemma as well: a burgeoning relationship with a young PR executive, the niece of the chief selectman, whose plans to turn Paradise into a summertime concert destination may have her running afoul of the law. Overall, not too bad. Would be interesting if Brandman can do a Spenser. 11/11 Jack Quick NOTE FROM THE BOOKBITCH: Brandman won’t get the chance; Ace Atkins has been tapped by the Parker estate to write the Spenser books.

ROBERT B. PARKER’S LULLABY (Spenser) by Ace Atkins: First, let me say that Ace Atkins has written an excellent book which I recommend highly. However, he is not Robert B. Parker. The plot is good with Spenser being hired by a 14 year old girl (for a dozen doughnuts) to look for the murderer of her mother 4 years earlier. The police have arrested and convicted someone for the crime but Mattie – gruff, street-smart, and wise beyond her years – is certain the police got the wrong man. As normal, Spenser and Hawk proceed to unravel the crime, finding the real killer and a corrupt FBI agent. In the process Spenser, Hawk and Mattie all get shot but recover in time for opening day at Fenway. While all this sounds very Robert B. Parkerish, Atkins misses on two counts. First, he writes well but not in the spare style of Parker. He uses a paragraph where Parker would have used a sentence. Second, the dialogue is “off”. Fewer quips and more extended speech than we Parker fans are accustomed to. All in all, however its still a great read. 5/12 Jack Quick

ROBERT LUDLUM’S THE JANUS REPRISAL by Jamie Freveletti: Colonel Jon Smith is attending a WHO conference when the hotel he’s staying in is attacked. This event launches the doctor and Covert-One operative into a plot that could have catastrophic consequences. At the time of the attack, a highly publicized terrorist leader escapes from imprisonment. As the CIA and Covert-One learn more, they become convinced that the two incidents are connected. What’s more, a cooler of highly contagious and experimental viral samples has gone missing. Smith knows that he was a specific target in the attack. He also knows there are two others on the same list. One is a fellow spy the other an unidentified woman. Smith is certain that the woman is the key, but he has to find her first. This latest in the Covert-One series works as a complete stand alone… with a bit of suspension of disbelief. Actually, most of the book worked for me: it was exciting and suspenseful. My biggest complaints were the believability of Smith and Randi Russell, the CIA op who helps him, both of whom seemed to be a bit slow in figuring things out making it a bit difficult to imagine them as actual expert spies. 10/12 Becky Lejeune

ROBOPOCALYPSE by Daniel H. Wilson: As our reliance on technology grows, intelligent machines become more and more of a reality. Wilson, who studied robotics, brings to life the robot apocalypse in Robopocalypse. Rather than a traditional straight narrative, the story is presented as a series of events documented from the early days of the robot uprising and through the war itself. From the creation of Archos to household bots with seemingly simple malfunctions that soon turn deadly, humans find themselves up against their own creations. Before long, the same machines once designed to help with day to day life are turning on the people around them, taking over entire cities, and even enslaving the human population. Robopocalypse is being hailed as one of the best reads of the summer and, in my opinion, it definitely lives up to the buzz. Robopocalypse is a quick read that will appeal to even the most fringe Terminator fans. If you’ve ever seriously hated your computer, you’ll love it even more. 06/11 Becky Lejeune

A ROCK AND A HARD PLACE by Darryl Wimberley: This debut offers a recycled main plot but does offer potential if the writing is tightened in future outings and the author is able to stick to his main premise without too much wandering. Barrett Raines is the only black detective on an all-white police force in Deacon Beach, Florida (Can you say IN THE HEAT OF THE NIGHT ?) Barrett’s brother Delton has always been a thorn in his side and Delton’s reputation for womanizing and drinking has hindered Barrett’s career. When Delton is accused of murdering a beautiful, popular white restaurant owner in a fit of passion, the only person between him and a lynching is Barrett. The cop arrests his brother and soon discovers that the killing may be tied to arms dealers based in Deacon Beach. The result is an unpolished work that is choppy and meandering but still entertaining. I want to try the next one in the series to see if there is improvement. 03/11 Jack Quick

ROCOCO by Adriana Trigiani: Trigiani steps outside her realm of women protagonists to write a book starring a man: Bartolomeo di Crespi, the interior designer extraordinaire of Our Lady of Fatima, New Jersey and a charming, loving family man. “B” is 40, unmarried but the unofficial family patriarch and confidant to his sprawling, extended Italian family. He’s nominally engaged although neither B nor his fiancée are interested in marrying, but her mother is the wealthiest woman in NJ and she has her heart set on it. The small town revolves around the church, and when the priest decides it’s time to renovate, B assumes the job will be his, and it is – but only after a fight. Redoing the church has been his long held secret dream, and he desperately wants to make it come true. Infused with Trigiani’s characteristic humor and love, Rococo draws the reader into this lovely cocoon of a book where we learn about the miracles of Fatima, family, and love.

ROGUE by Mark T. Sullivan: Robin Monarch is the most hunted man in the world in this international spy thriller. His parents, an American cat burglar and a con man from Argentina, are killed when he is just thirteen, forcing him to live in the most dangerous slum in Buenos Aires. He joins the Brotherhood of Thieves, learns their eighteen rule code of conduct and survives due to the intervention of a nun. Eventually he becomes one of the CIA’s top operatives, sent on a mission to find an Al Qaeda plot called “Green Fields.” Monarch discovers that Green Fields is something else entirely, and that his superiors are corrupt. He goes rogue, and Middle East arms dealers, Russian mobsters and his own government are all after him and Green Fields. This lightning fast read brings to mind the Robert Ludlum Jason Bourne books, Hitchcock’s It Takes a Thief, as well as Mission Impossible, but doesn’t quite measure up. Sullivan undoubtedly learned breakneck pacing and the art of the short chapter as co-author of James Patterson’s Private Games, and this book will definitely appeal to adrenalin junkies. 10/12 Stacy Alesi, AKA The BookBitch Copyright © 2012 Booklist, a division of the American Library Association. Reprinted with permission.

ROGUE by Mark T. Sullivan: Sullivan’s Triple Cross was published in April of 2009 and the author was unfortunately quiet until earlier this year when he collaborated with James Patterson on Private Games. Rogue Is his own work and shows the talent Sullivan has to capture and mesmerize his readers. Robin Monarch is introduced as a CIA operative that leaves the agency after discovering some very disturbing information about them while on a mission. He sets himself up as a security consultant to earn a living but has a very lucrative sideline which is not very savory to say the least. By chance Robin saves the life of a Russian mafioso, who than grabs the girl Robin is currently involved with. He tells Robin that he will pay him several million dollars if he will steal a weapon for for him, and will of course, also release the girl. The CIA in the personage of Robin’s ex boss also wants the weapon and contracts him to steal it with the carrot of being able to return to the agency in good standing. Sullivan sketches out Robin’s background in order to bring out his personality and motivations. Robin, the perfect name chosen for him, is shown as a 21st century Robin Hood, in effect robbing from the rich to help the poor. He begins life as an orphan on the streets of a Buenos Aires slum, and with the help of an angel of mercy taking him in picks himself up by his bootstraps and it is almost a certainty that Robin is destined for more adventures in future Sullivan books. Rogue is a fast and captivating read, with events rapidly coming one after the other keeping the reader going and not able to put the book down. Welcome back Mark, I trust that it won’t be another four years before your work appears again. 10/12 Paul Lane

ROGUE by Rachel Vincent: Stray – a human who becomes a werecat after being bitten rather than one who is born into the Pride Rogue – any werecat who commits a capital crime according to the laws of the Pride, includes disclosure, or the failure of a werecat to keep themselves hidden, and the creation of strays whether purposeful or accidental. Faythe Sanders has come to a reluctant agreement with her father. Unwilling to settle down and begin producing her own offspring, Faythe is training as an enforcer within the Pride. She and Marc have finally worked out their differences since Faythe was kidnapped and almost killed in Stray, and things are looking good. That is, until, the bodies of murdered toms (male werecats) begin to pop up in Pride territory. The deaths seem to coincide with a missing person’s case in each area – all strippers, and all resembling Faythe. In fact, the missing person’s reports bring to mind certain college campus murders that Faythe had heard about just before her own kidnapping. The truth behind the killings will bring Faythe face-to-face with a new enemy and will upset the balance of her own existence. Like Vicki Pettersson’s Zodiac series, Rachel Vincent’s werecats are unlike anything else out there. The continued development of the werecat mythology is incredibly fascinating and I can’t wait to see what she brings in next. Rogue has a total cliffhanger ending and I’m just dying to know what’s going to happen in Pride (due out next spring). 04/08 Becky Lejeune

ROGUE ISLAND by Bruce DeDilva: I don’t normally do mysteries that involve talking animals or media people police wannabes. In almost 50 years in the media I have never met a prescient panda or a budding young reporter I would be willing trade for a reasonably well trained law enforcement professional under any circumstances. I am glad, however, that I made an exception for DeSilva’s debut introducing Providence, RI newspaper reporter Liam Mulligan – a stubborn, street-smart hero with a snarky sense of humor. Someone is burning down the Mount Hope section of Providence where Liam was born and raised and he is determined to investigate who is killing lifelong friends and loved ones in his old neighborhood. This leads variously to his being threatened, beaten, arrested on suspicion of arson and murder, suspended from his newspaper, and targeted with a Mob contract on his life. In addition to the truly evil, Mulligan meets and must work with some real characters like his editor – “It’s hard to find good news. It’s not every day that a scientist finds a cure for cancer or a Good Samaritan opens fire at a Democratic fund raiser,” in his take on the state in which he describes graft as Rhode Island’s “leading service industry,” noting that “it comes in two varieties, good and bad, just like cholesterol.” This could be the start of something big. Let us hope so. 11/10 Jack Quick

ROGUE THREAT by A.J. Tata: Matt Garrett, a paramilitary operative with the CIA, is still recovering from his last mission when the U.S. government calls on his services once again. A number of uavs (unmanned aerial vehicles), called Predators, have gone missing and a terrorist plot is suspected. Everyone’s worst nightmares are realized when a group of public landmarks are destroyed by devastating attacks. And more targets will be hit way unless the plotters’ demands are met, or unless Garrett can stop them. The man behind the plot has a personal vendetta against Matt Garrett, though, and his mission in the Philippines is connected to the current threat in ways that Garrett could never imagine. Tata delivers an entertaining military thriller with intriguing technothriller aspects. The strength of this read lies in Tata’s evident military expertise and in the Garrett brothers themselves, heroes worthy indeed of Jack Ryan (Tom Clancy) comparison. Rogue Threat is second in Tata’s Threat series and can be read as a stand-alone, but I’d recommend tracking down Sudden Threat to get the whole story before Garrett’s return in the third title of the series. 01/10 Becky Lejeune

ROLLING THUNDER by Chris Grabenstein: I love this series, and it was in danger of going by the wayside. I was delighted that another house had the good sense to pick it up. John Ceepak has more on his plate than usual when his father gets out of jail on early release and shows up at the Jersey shore again. The pier has been revitalized with new rides and a new wooden rollercoaster, “Rolling Thunder”, but things don’t go well on opening day when the owner’s wife has a heart attack and dies on the first ride. Things go downhill from there when a young girl is murdered and the town’s leading citizens are implicated. I enjoy these characters and over the course of these books, watching Danny Boyle become a man. Can’t wait for the next installment. 07/10 Stacy Alesi, AKA The BookBitch

ROLLING THUNDER by Chris Grabenstein: I have a confession. My first Chris Grabenstein Danny and Ceepak novel was a flat out DNF. I kept hearing how good he was from friends and finally tried one of his non-series books which I thought was great. So I decided to tackle this series again. About fifteen pages after my first DNF, the darn thing took off, and I have read and enjoyed every page thereafter including this one (including the bright orange or is it electric tangerine cover). Rolling Thunder is the name of the old fashioned wooden roller coaster erected by entrepreneur Paddy O’Malley at the struggling resort town of Sea Haven, N.J… O’Malley’s wife suffers a fatal heart attack on the inaugural ride on the roller coaster. Shortly thereafter, the dismembered body of a party girl turns up in two suitcases. A check of her cell phone records indicates the last time she used it was to text O’Malley. Before the investigation is over Danny and John will face corrupt politicians, powerful business people, Ceepak’s father, and even enemies within the Sea Haven Police. Department. The corruption Ceepak sees drives him to be even more vigilantly upright. In the end Grabenstein pulls it all together nicely. Definitely recommended. 06/10 Jack Quick

THE ROMANOV CONSPIRACY by Glenn Meade: A well presented novel centered around the 1918 killing of the Russian royal family, the Romanovs, by revolutionaries fighting to gain power during the Russian revolution. Against the background of the revolution and the civil war between the Reds and the Whites each seeking power, Meade has written a book based on research centered around the events of the day. Dr. Laura Pavlov, an American forensic archaeologist working in the present day on a dig in Ekaterinburg, Russia around the site where the Romanov family was buried after being murdered discovers a body that has been perfectly preserved by the permafrost of an old mine. In attempts to identify the remains, Dr Pavlov travels to Ireland where a large group of Russian emigres fled to escape the horrors of the revolution. There she meets a man that introduces her to a plot to rescue the Russian royal family before they were executed. Meade has done a good deal of research to write this book and characters not generally known are introduced to the modern reader as forming a part of the team that is dispatched to effect the rescue in 1918. Anastasia, one of the Tzar’s daughters, did not die in the execution, and made a life for herself afterwards. Case in point that several years ago a woman claiming to be Anastasia appeared in Europe and caused a small furor when she apparently had details that were not generally known about the former princess. This passed without much investigation. Two love stories are set as integral parts of the plot and have bearings on the actions of the principal characters. Writing is swift and engrossing and the reader has no problem moving into 1918 Russia with it’s chaos, terror and the horrors that Lenin and his followers perpetrate. The feelings of people living in that era are described and allow the reader to be buoyed along with them into the events.
A well done, well researched book opening up events that transpired almost a century ago. 9/12 Paul Lane

THE ROMANOV CROSS by Robert Masello: Masello’s latest book is a very readable and engrossing novel incorporating various historical events coupled with a touch of the supernatural. Dr. Frank Slater, an army epidemiologist, is facing charges by the military of disobeying orders. He attempted to save the life of a young, very sick girl in Afghanistan by calling for a helicopter to airlift her to a hospital. This act was against direct orders by the army that only military wounded or sick could be transported this way. Facing court martial, Slater is advised that he can avoid that by leading an expedition to a remote island in Alaska to investigate a cemetery holding Russian dead. The permafrost covering the cemetery has melted enough due to global warming to expose coffins of those people that may have been exposed to the dreaded Spanish Flu that killed millions in 1918, for which a cure was never found. Dr Slater’s job would be to determine if the corpses still hold viable strains of the flu and decide on measures to prevent spread of the disease. Slater meets the mayor, an Intuit woman that figures as his romantic interest, who insinuates herself into the expedition with her knowledge of Intuit lore. The Russian town on the island was settled by followers of Rasputin, the mad monk that figured so strongly into the story of the Romanov family that ruled Russia up to the revolution and the ruins of the town show his influence. Masello has proven himself very adept at taking events happening in the distant past and tying them to the present via the supernatural. I found the book impossible to put down; this is a great story, and the work of a writer that is in complete command of plot and character building. The plot involves an acceptance of supernatural events, but once over that hump the read is fascinating. There is no doubt that I will grab Masello’s next book when available. 3/13 Paul Lane

THE ROOK by Daniel O’Malley: When Myfanwy Thomas opens her eyes she is surrounded by a ring of bodies sporting latex gloves. She is bruised and sore and discovers two envelopes stuffed in her pockets. In the first is a letter that begins, “Dear You, The body you are wearing used to be mine.” The letter leads her to a safe place and explains what the new Myfanwy Thomas must do next. She is given the choice to leave and begin a new life or take over the life Myfanwy Thomas has lived up to this point. After a surprise attack, she decides on the latter in hopes that she can discover who is after her—or the former her at least. As she reads through further notes from the old Myfanwy, she learns that Myfanwy Thomas is a Rook within the order of the Checquy, a secret government agency focused on investigating and covering up supernatural events. As a Rook, Myfanwy Thomas is rather high up in the food chain of the organization and the skills she possesses are the perfect tools for unraveling the mystery of her amnesia. The narrative alternates between the present Rook Thomas and the old Rook Thomas’s letters and notes to her new self, making the story an intriguing and amusingly quirky sci-fi thriller with two very different versions of a fantastic heroine. Without a doubt, The Rook is my first favorite of 2012. 1/12 Becky Lejeune

ROOM by Emma Donoghue: This was one of those books that I kept hearing about, but I’d pick it up, think “too creepy”, and put it back down. But once I actually read the first page, I was hooked and it turned out to be one of those books that I will be recommending for years to come. The premise, the creepy factor if you will, is that a young woman was kidnapped and kept locked up in a room for many years, during which time she had a son, Jack. The story is told from his point of view, and as we meet him, it is his fifth birthday. “Room” is his whole world, the only world he has ever known. They do have a TV, but his mother convinces him that everything he sees on TV is fantasy. This room is his only reality. He is a smart, very likeable little boy; heroic, in fact. His “ma” is fiercely protective of him, and he sleeps in the wardrobe, locked away from their captor, Old Nick. Old Nick visits in the nighttime, and disappears during the day. Once a week he brings them “Sunday treat”, and Jack has a few books, a TV and barely enough food to eat and clothes to wear. His ma has some terrible dental issues, which are not taken care of, but somehow Jack remains relatively healthy. It is a fake illness that finally brings about their deliverance. As they escape their bounds, life presents a whole new set of challenges for both of them. This is a remarkable story and one not to be missed. 1/11 Stacy Alesi, AKA The BookBitch

ROOM FOR LOVE by Andrea Meyer: Chick lit with an interesting premise based somewhat on reality; Meyer wrote an article for a NY newspaper about meeting men by looking in the classifieds – for apartments. She expands on that thesis in this cute but occasionally tedious debut novel. Jacquie is working at a film magazine and barely making ends meet. She has been drifting from one bad relationship to another when her sister moves in with her, creating havoc at home too. When her sister starts dating the men she’s meeting while looking for apartments, Jacquie pitches the idea as an article to a women’s magazine. They bite, with the proviso that she actually do it. The characters are somewhat underdeveloped, and starting each chapter with a classified ad for an apartment grows old, but despite these minor misgivings, it is still a fun read. 09/07 Stacy Alesi, AKA The BookBitch

ROOMS by James Rubart: The book has been out for about two years, and I confess that I just caught up with it fairly recently. It is James Rubart’s first book and a fascinating piece of writing. At first glance the book is seemingly a gothic novel in light of the happenings in the first few chapters. It is anything but. Micah Taylor is a young, highly successful half owner of an up and coming software company which seems to have nothing but a fabulous future in front of it. A letter is sent to him from a deceased uncle advising that a house has been built for him on the Oregon coast. Micah’s interest is piqued and he decides to visit the house to see what an uncle dead for many years has built for him. He travels to the area – Cannon Beach which brings back bad boyhood memories for him and almost immediately strange things happen in the house. Rooms appear and areas shapes become different. Instead of inspiring terror in Micah he begins to find peace within himself and with the help of a new friend and the meeting of the lovely Sarah begins to reshape his feelings. He begins to spend every weekend at Cannon Beach, only returning to his company in Seattle during the week. Eventually Micah finds reasons to spend more and more time at Cannon Beach, falling in love with Sarah and changing his entire outlook on life. Mr Rubart keeps the reader fascinated by the logical transformation of Micah from the businessman that he was into the spiritually guided human being more and more at peace with himself and his aims and direction. The changing of actual events in his life allows Micah to find happiness with his new self and allows a very satisfying end for quite a fascinating book. 3/12 Paul Lane

ROOTS OF EVIL by Sarah Rayne: Lucy Trent and her family have always lived in the shadow of her scandalous grandmother, Lucretia von Wolff, and the shocking events that led to the end of her life. Baroness Lucretia von Wolff was a silent screen actress who was later said to be a spy for the Nazis. In 1952, she killed two men and then committed suicide in the Ashwood film studio. The family secrets have surfaced again thanks to a woman who intends to write her thesis on the psychological aspects of the murders. The thesis also questions whether Lucretia actually committed the murders and has also resurrected a second mystery, that of the child Alraune. The researcher’s body is found only days later in the abandoned Ashwood studio. The murder bears a striking resemblance to the infamous last scene of Lucretia’s most famous film – Alraune. This is an intriguing multi-layered mystery that traces events as early as the 1920s, through Auschwitz, and into the present. Sarah Rayne is a pseudonym for a well-known British horror author (I have yet to figure out who) and was created when the author decided to break from her genre and begin writing psychological suspense. Though you probably will not be able to find Rayne’s titles shelved at most bookstores (I found mine in a specialty store), they are all available to order through most major chains as well as Amazon.com. I highly recommend this book and believe that it is well worth it to wait a few days for shipping. As an interesting side note, for those that are curious, the story of Alraune can be traced back to Germanic folk legend. 11/06 Becky LeJeune

THE ROOTS OF THE OLIVE TREE by Courtney Miller Santo: In Kidron, California, there lives a family of women who seem to defy all logic in aging: Anna, the eldest at 112 years of age; her daughter, Bets, who is now well into her nineties; Callie, Bets’s daughter and owner of the Pit Stop is in her mid sixties; Deb, the most tragic of the bunch in her thirties; and Deb’s twenty-something daughter, Erin, recently returned from Italy after cutting short her contract with the opera. Their circumstances have caught the attention of a geneticist who wants to include them in a study on what he considers the disease of growing old. See, for most folks there is a certain deterioration that comes with aging. Certainly most people over the age of 100 who are included in the study are nowhere near as active and healthy as Anna. Some say it’s the olive oil their family produces. Whatever it is, Dr. Amrit Hashmi is set on uncovering their secret, but his arrival stirs up other secrets as well. Santo’s debut is a wonderful story of family and the bonds between mothers and daughters. Each character shines but each also shares the spotlight equally, their stories woven together in a way that gives them all a depth and complexity that are excellent examples of Santo’s talent. 8/12 Becky Lejeune

ROSES by Leila Meacham: This sprawling novel by a relatively unknown septuagenarian novelist is sure to please fans of Margaret Mitchell’s Gone with the Wind and Colleen McCullough’s The Thorn Birds. Set in Texas and spanning three generations, this is the story of two families, the cotton farming Tollivers and the lumber producing Warwicks. Percy Warwick falls in love with Mary Tolliver, his best friend’s younger sister, from the moment of her birth. But Mary’s true love is Somerset, the family’s cotton plantation. When 16 year old Mary’s father dies, he leaves Somerset to Mary, effectively disinheriting his wife and son and destroying his family in the process. Two generations later, it seems history is about to repeat itself when Mary disinherits her niece and heir, Rachel, freeing her from what she believes to be the Tolliver curse. Reading this is an emotional rollercoaster ride; fast and furious with lots of ups and downs, hairpin turns and most of all, fun. Don’t miss it. 02/10 Stacy Alesi, AKA The BookBitch

THE ROSIE PROJECT by Graeme Simsion: Don Tillman is a brilliant professor of genetics at an Australian university, whose personality and quirks seem to place him somewhere on the autism spectrum. Since he is socially awkward and lonely, he designs a long questionnaire in hopes of finding the perfect mate and dubs this the Wife Project. In the process, he meets Rosie, a part-time bartender who definitely does not pass the wife test. Nonetheless, he finds himself spending quite a bit of time with her after she confesses that she believes her long-dead mother had a one night stand in which she was conceived. Don launches the Father Project, in which he and Rosie track down all the possible men who could be her father and surreptitiously capture their DNA for testing. I struggled a bit with the idea that autism, even if not completely spelled out, could somehow be overcome by love but despite that, I just loved this charming story. Suspend your disbelief and enjoy this fast paced, laugh-out-loud, slightly skewed look at love and life. The Rosie Project is an award winning first novel that has also been selected for the October LibraryReads list. 10/13 Stacy Alesi, AKA The BookBitch

ROSTINKOV’S VACATION by Stuart Kaminsky: Rostnikov and his wife Sarah are on vacation at the Lermontov Hotel watching the bathers brave the cold polluted Black Sea waters when Georgi Vasilievich, an old colleague, shows up. Their renewed association comes to a quick end when Georgi is found dead on his deck chair facing the sea. The coroner says it was a heart attack, but Rostnikov knows better. Why was there dirt on Georgi’s hand and why was the knuckle of his middle finger broken? Someone had murdered his friend, and figured that because Vasilievich was a lonely old man no one would care. While Rostnikov is busy with this case in this 7th Kaminsky police procedural, his colleagues back in Moscow have their hands full with a string of computer thefts, all of them owned by Jews who have been bearing the brunt for the country’s economic troubles, and a psychotic killer bent on political assassination. All three men are led to a final confrontation in Soviet Square, game pieces in a country where everything and nothing has changed. Another excellent outing in the series. 02/07 Jack Quick

ROUGH COUNTRY by John Sanford: On the surface it seems almost routine. While Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension investigator Virgil Flowers is competing in a fishing tournament in a remote area of Minnesota he gets a call from Lucas Davenport to go investigate a sniper shooting death at a nearby resort. Turns out the resort is for women only, mostly lesbians looking for a place to relax, get fit, recover from plastic surgery, commune with nature, etc. The victim is a woman and initial indications from forensics indicates a female perp. The more Virgil digs, the more complicated it gets, particularly after he finds out this isn’t the first murder – that one occurred the year before. And then there is a third murder…. Well, it is obvious Virgil has to shift into high gear to solve this one. I still like Lucas Davenport best but Virgil is coming into his own. Wonder if we will ever have one featuring Lucas’ favorite nun. 10/09 Jack Quick

ROUGH DRAFT by James W. Hall: It should have been Miami Police Detective Hannah Keller’s happiest day. Her first mystery novel had been purchased. But when she went home to tell her proud parents she found them dead, assassinated gang-style by killers leaving a sole witness, Keller’s then six-year-old son, Randall. The case has remained unsolved since. Now, Miami FBI agents Frank Sheffield and Helen Shane are out to capture the man who murdered a U.S. senator’s daughter. They’re sure that the killer is Hal Bonner, hired gun for the Cali cartel, and they decide to use Keller and her son as decoys to capture Bonner. In a creepy plot twist, Keller finds a copy of her first novel marked with scribblings that contain a secret code. As the good guys chase the bad guys in choppers, cars and UPS vans, you start casting the individual roles for the screen version. No Thorn, but still a first rate read. 04/07 Jack Quick

ROUGH JUSTICE by Jack Higgins: When you get to double digits in a series (this is the 15th Sean Dillon thriller), you have to expect an occasional downer. This outing introduces a new-comer to the team of Sean Dillon, Harry Salter, et al, in the form of one Major Harry Miller. Actually Dillon and Miller have some history as you learn as this one unfolds. Miller is a Clark Kent type, mild-mannered Member of Parliament, who is actually the British prime minister’s secret hit man. Blake Johnson brings in the American side as they all go after a combination of Al-Qaeda, Islamic Fundamentalists and modern day Russians. This reads more like a Bond movie script than some of Higgins previous work. Enjoyable, but not top shelf. 04/09 Jack Quick

ROUGH WEATHER by Robert B. Parker: For Spenser’s 36th adventure, Parker brings back an old nemesis, the Gray Man, who almost killed him in 1977’s SMALL VICES. This time around Spenser is hired by the wealthy Heidi Bradshaw to be at her daughter’s wedding on Tashtego Island in Buzzards Bay, Massachusetts. The ceremony is interrupted by an armed gang, headed by Ruger (the Gray Man), who kills the groom and abducts the bride. With the assistance of Spenser’s usual friends, he sets out to recover the missing bride. It’s another great Spenser and it possibly sets the stage for number 37. 12/08 Jack Quick

RUBICON by Lawrence Alexander: Right out of today’s headlines, an idealistic young senator from California named Bobby Hart discovers an assassination plot under the code name Rubicon that is to occur before the next Presidential election. He doesn’t know who is behind the plan, who is the target, when the event will occur or how, but he does come to realize this is, in fact, a plot to steal the country. It is up to Hart to solve the mystery and prevent the assassination. After stealing the election was just the beginning. How much truth is there in this book? Let’s hope that it is truly a work of fiction. 06/08 Jack Quick

THE RUINS by Scott Smith: Critics are buzzing about Scott Smith’s much-anticipated second novel. After twelve years, Smith has finally produced what is being described as a thriller/horror. A group of friends vacationing in Mexico plan to take a day trip into the jungle. Their destination – an archaeological dig at an old mine shaft. Upon arrival the group is greeted by some very unfriendly locals, two abandoned tents overgrown with vines, and the stripped remains of the archaeological team. What follows is the harrowing psychological deterioration as they realize that they may never make it off the hill. Readers should realize that certain aspects of this book are grossly misleading. Based on the title and the jacket description, I went into this expecting something completely different. I must admit, after all the buzz, I had high expectations and as a result I was a little disappointed. This was not a “horror” novel but rather a psychological suspense. However, once I was able to get past these initial expectations, I was intrigued by the shocking and gruesome story that followed. This is a very twisted vacation read. 09/06 Becky LeJeune

RULES OF CIVILITY by Amor Towles: New York City in the late 1930’s is one of the main characters in this ode to F. Scott Fitzgerald, along with Katey, Eve and Tinker. Tinker is a wealthy man, while Katey & Eve just get by. The three of them inadvertently celebrate New Year’s Eve together at a jazz club in Greenwich Village, with tragic results. The rest of the novel explores the difficult year that follows, with Katey shining as a beacon to her friends. An interesting story that often uses language as flowery as a bouquet of roses, yet somehow doesn’t have enough depth to reach all the senses. Fans of Fitzgerald will scoff, but this book is more accessible to the masses. After all the hype this book has received, personally I was disappointed, but nonetheless enjoyed the trip back to a different world. I couldn’t help but think of one of my favorite quotes: “The past is a foreign country; they do things differently there,” (L.P. Hartley.) 8/11 Stacy Alesi, AKA The BookBitch

RULES OF CRIME by by LJ Sellers: Another outstanding police procedural from Ms.Sellers featuring Detective Wade Jackson and his cohorts of the Eugene, Oregon Police Department. This time its personal as Jackson’s ex-wife, Renee, is missing, Jackson suspects alcoholic Renee has climbed back inside the bottle that destroyed their marriage. But the truth is far worse: kidnappers have snatched Renee and are demanding ransom from her wealthy fiancé. In the meantime, Jackson’s protégé, Detective Lara Evans, is working a seemingly unrelated case involving a battered coed and a whispered rumor of a secret sorority. Add in Eugene’s new FBI liaison, Agent Carla River, (formerly Carl) and you have all the main characters hard at work to save lives and bring the perps to justice. I still miss Ed McBain, but Ms. Sellers has become my go-to for solid police procedurals. 3/13 Jack Quick

RULES OF DECEPTION by Christopher Reich: Just how well do you know your spouse? Dr. Jonathan Ransom is about to face this very question, and the answer could be more than one man can handle. When Emma is killed in a climbing accident, Jonathan is devastated. A day later, a letter arrives addressed to Emma. In the envelope, Jonathan finds two baggage claim tickets. When Jonathan shows up to pick up the mysterious bags, he is accosted by two Swiss police officers. Instinct kicks in and Jonathan accidentally kills one of the officers while defending himself. Now he has become one of the most wanted men in Switzerland, and what he finds in the bags doesn’t help the situation one bit. Meanwhile, the assassination of a Dutch engineer living in Switzerland has raised some interesting questions. Just what this man’s death has to do with Jonathan and his quest to discover the truth about his wife is unclear, but the murder trail is leading investigators straight towards this unlikely fugitive. Reich’s latest is drawing worthy comparison to Robert Ludlum, admittedly one of espionage fiction’s greatest authors. The best thing about Rules is that it never becomes too bogged down in politics. As with all spy fiction, the political aspect is always present, but it’s not overwhelming to a layperson like me. Rules of Deception is an intense thriller that will definitely satisfy readers of the genre, whether they’re familiar with Reich’s work or not. 07/08 Becky Lejeune

RULES OF DECEPTION by Christopher Reich: Does anyone truly know another person? Emma, the wife of Dr. Jonathan Ransom of Doctors Without Borders, dies in a skiing accident in the Swiss Alps. Afterwards, the grieving Ransom receives a letter, posted to Emma, but delayed in delivery until after her death. The note leads to the discovery that Emma led a double life as a spy. Suddenly Ransom is in a frantic life and death chase across northern Europe. The plot is extremely complicated with a huge cast of characters, but the pace is breathtaking and in the end, you will see how it all fits together – albeit you may be totally exhausted by that point. One of my best reads of the year. 06/09 Jack Quick

RUN FOR YOUR LIFE by James Patterson: Second outing for NYC Detective Mike Bennett, caregiver for ten children, all of whom we met in STEP ON A CRACK. This time the Teacher is a calculating killer showing New York who is boss, killing the city’s most powerful and arrogant. Think Miss Manners with an Uzi who is determined to clean things up. Some of the citizenry seems to approve, but for the elite of New York it’s a call to terror. Enter superhero Mike Bennett (10 children?) to save the day. Its disaster time for the Big Apple and all ten kids are down with the flu. Not the worst of the Patterson collaborations, but not really first rank either. 04/09 Jack Quick

RUNEMARKS by Joanne Harris: According to Norse mythology, Ragnarok meant the end of the world. It was to be the penultimate battle between the gods and it would result in all of their deaths. Harris’s first young adult fantasy takes place 500 years after the end of the world. In this time, people have forgotten the old gods. They no longer have time for fancy, whimsy, or dreams. In fact, they fear these things above all else, as they bring about chaos. Their world is one of rules and order. Maddy Smith does not fit into this world. For one, she was born with a rune mark on her hand. The people of Malbry fear Maddy and her mark and talk among the village is that Maddy may be a witch. Maddy’s one friend is an outsider who calls himself One-Eye. At the age of seven, Maddy begs One-Eye to teach her about the runes, to tell her what the mark on her hand means, and most of all to teach her to use and harness the power that the runes hold. One-Eye has his own plans, though, and those plans involve keeping Maddy in the dark as long as possible in regards to what she really is. Maddy’s life as she knows it is about to be turned upside down as she embarks on the adventure of a lifetime. What began as a bedtime story for her nine year old daughter has become a fantasy novel four years in the making. Although technically a book for young adults, the story contains the same elements that can be found in any one of Harris’s novels. Runemarks is a great story steeped in Norse mythology and perfect for any reader who is young at heart. Fans should know that Harris has already confirmed there will be a follow-up somewhere down the road, her daughter has insisted upon it. 01/08 Becky Lejeune

RUNNER by Thomas Perry: After a ten year absence, Jane Whitefield returns. Whitefield, a Native American living a quiet life as the wife of a surgeon in upstate New York, had retired from her under-the-radar work as a “guide,” someone who helped people in peril vanish from their pursuers. A pregnant young woman shows up at the hospital during a fund-raiser. Her pursuers set off a bomb trying to capture her in the ensuing confusion. Instead, she is able to hook up with Jane, who reluctantly agrees to get back into the game. The game, however, has become more much complicated in the last decade with cell phones and databases and the proliferation of the Internet. Jane has to adapt to the new environment and in doing so, becomes the hunter. A ten year absence has only made Perry’s writing sharper. Let’s just hope we don’t have to wait another decade for the next one. 10/09 Jack Quick

THE RUNNER by Peter May: This is May’s fifth and my first thriller featuring Chinese detective Li Yan and American pathologist Margaret Campbell. Beijing is all buzz about hosting the upcoming Olympics, Ms. Campbell is pregnant with their child, and the couple is seeking to get married when the deaths of two potential Olympians take precedence. A top Chinese swimmer kills himself and an Olympic weightlifter dies in the arms of his Beijing mistress. Both are actually murders and connected to an inexplicable series of “accidents” which has taken the lives of some of China’s best athletes. All personal matters must be put on hold until Detective Li can get to the bottom of the matter. Very well done. I will definitely go back and read the previous outings. 02/10 Jack Quick

RUNNING FROM THE DEVIL by Jamie Freveletti: Emma Caldridge is one lucky woman. When her plan crashes in the jungles of Columbia, Emma finds herself thrown clear of the wreckage, hidden from the group of guerillas that arrives soon after to round up the remaining passengers. And Emma has some tricks up her sleeve as well: She’s a biochemist who runs ultramarathons. In other words, Emma has just the resources one would need to survive in such a situation. She tracks the guerillas and passengers as they trek into the woods, keeping far enough behind to remain undetected, hoping that she can last long enough to be saved. But Emma is hiding a secret as well. A secret that makes her a valuable commodity in the war that is taking place around her. Meanwhile, as American authorities begin looking for the persons responsible for the crash, their intel on Emma is beginning to make her look like a possible suspect. It will take everything Emma has to make it through this one, and the forces after her can’t imagine what they’re going to come up against. Running From the Devil is a page-turning adventure/political thriller and a fabulous read. Freveletti, already accomplished in so many ways, is sure to add best-selling author to the list after this one. 05/09 Becky Lejeune

RUNNING SCARED by Cheryl Norman: After enduring years of abuse at the hands of her husband, Ashley Adams finally got the nerve to leave, and it nearly cost her her life to do so. Her divorce has only just been finalized, but Ashley has already made great progress in putting her life back together. She’s even been training to run her very first marathon. This morning, though, Ashley and her running partner find themselves right in the middle of a drive-by shooting, not a common occurrence in their small Florida town by any means. Ashley is convinced that her ex is behind it all, but the police don’t have enough evidence to charge him. To make matters worse, the police aren’t even sure if Ashley was the intended target at all. Detective Rick Edwards knows that Ashley’s fear of her ex is not unfounded, though. In fact, he’s seen first-hand the results of the abuse and he’s taken a special interest in making sure that no harm comes to Ashley again. Running Scared is an easy and light romantic suspense/mystery bordering on cozy – not too heavy on the violence or the sex. My one complaint is that some of the dialogue is a bit dated for the fairly young heroine. She’s in the habit of saying “mercy,” and “oh, dear,” in response to being shot at. 09/08 Becky Lejeune

RUNNING WRECKED by Mark Combes: Phil Riley has come from Minnesota to the Caribbean’s Isla Tortuga for a fresh start. A job at the dive shop during the day, good friends and lots of cold beer afterwards, life is good. Then he discovers the beautiful sailboat Miss Princess abandoned and adrift. Why are the police lackadaisical about investigating? What happened to the family that was aboard? Riley’s fumbling attempts to play detective may foil a kidnap plot, or it may cost him his life. A bit uneven, like many first works, but shows promise. 06/07 Jack Quick

RUNOFF by Mark Coggins: Leonora Lee is the all-powerful “Dragon Lady” of San Francisco’s Chinatown. She is accustomed to getting her way in all things, so when her hand-picked mayoral candidate fails even to carry the predominantly Chinese precincts, see sends for August Riordan, rapidly becoming San Francisco’s go-to Private Investigator. Lee wants to know if the election was rigged, who did it, why they did it and how they did it. Once she has her answers, you sense she can handle the situation nicely. Coggins obviously knows what Herb Caen called Baghdad by the Bay, its people and its politics. Recommended. 12/07 Jack Quick

RUSH HOUR RULES by Huw Powell: It started out as an innocent bit of pub entertainment. At the insistence of his girlfriend, E. Z. Tyler reluctantly allows himself to be the subject of a hypnotist, as far as he is aware for the first time ever. The next thing he knows is he is in the middle of mayhem and murder. It seems that the trance triggers a lost memory which causes his best friend Jason (actually his minder) to kill several onlookers and attempt to kill E.Z., who fatally clobbers Jason with a chair. Tyler is arrested and the next day exposed to government officials who interrogate him and then plan to kill him. He escapes and the chase is on. What is it he knows but doesn’t know that he knows. Tyler exhibits remarkable ingenuity as he proceeds at a breakneck “rush hour” pace to save himself – and the world. Nicely done and recommended. 11/09 Jack Quick