Stacy Alesi's BookBitch.com™

HOSTAGE TAKER by Stefanie Pintoff

August 8, 2015

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Eve Rossi is an FBI hostage negotiator with a troubled past. Her last negotiation didn’t end well and then her stepfather, a retired CIA operative, passed away. She is on leave when she received orders to return to work; someone has taken several people hostage at Saint Patrick’s Cathedral, a New York City landmark.

The hostage taker has wired explosives to his hostages and to every known entry of the building. The Church is panicking about losing even a pane of stained glass, but Eve is worried about the hostages, especially as they start to die.

She calls in her old team, Vidocq, a group of career criminals with unique skills. Each member of the team is introduced through FBI reports interspersed throughout the novel. News updates also break up the chapters and the tension as the story propels forward. The chief suspect is a cop on suspension, Eve establishes contact with him but his demands are puzzling – all he wants is for the FBI to round up five specific people to bear witness.

Eve’s team is working against a tight timetable to try and find these people and to determine what, if anything, they have in common with the hostage taker. Pintoff skillfully ratchets up the tension and throws more than one curveball into this twisty, exciting read.

8/15 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

HOSTAGE TAKER by Stefanie Pintoff. Bantam (August 18, 2015). ISBN 978-0345531407. 432p.

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TRUST NO ONE by Paul Cleave

August 7, 2015

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Cleave presents us with the most unusual and commanding book to come along in many years. His principal character is an author who has written extremely successful crime novels involving murder and dark retribution by characters in the books. Jerry Grey, writing under the pen name of Henry Cutter, has been diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer’s at the height of his career and Paul Cleave picks him up while confined to a nursing home.

Jerry’s memories flow in and out of reality and he believes that he has committed the crimes depicted in his books. He also believes that he has murdered his own wife with whom he is madly in love. Written in the first person, Cleave takes Jerry and his persona Henry Cutter in and out of his conceptions of which crimes he has committed. Very ably done, the novel has every ingredient of a first class description of a serial killer who seems to remember certain details of his crimes. He also loses his grip on these memories from time to time, and we do not know if he is indeed a mass murderer or innocent.

Medical staff at the nursing home he is confined to keep insisting that the crimes he recalls are memories of the situations and characters in his books and are not real. But Jerry finds more and more evidence in articles found, copies of his diary, and physical discoveries that lead him into thinking that he is a serial killer. The twists and turns in the plot make doubly sure that anyone reading the book will not be able to put it down until completed, and afterward enjoy a sigh of pleasure at finding such a novel to read.

8/15 Paul Lane

TRUST NO ONE by Paul Cleave. Atria Books (August 4, 2015). ISBN: 978-1476779171. 352p.

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TWENTY-EIGHT AND A HALF WISHES by Denise Grover Swank

August 6, 2015

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Rose Gardner has been the dutiful daughter for twenty-four years despite her abusive momma. Rose is a charming character, incredibly naïve and sweet, but she finally snaps; she tells off her momma and creates a list of 28 wishes on the back of a Wal-Mart receipt that includes things like wear high heels, kiss a man, and get cable TV.

While working at the DMV, she has a vision about herself being murdered; turns out her momma is the one who gets murdered and Rose is the prime suspect. Her mysterious new neighbor, Joe, is incredibly helpful and adds a bit of romance.

There is a lot of humor in this book that borders on but never quite crosses over to silly, and the mystery here almost takes a backseat to Rose and her declaration of independence.

This is the first book in a new series, with the next two following in September and October, respectively. It is light, fluffy Southern fun and should appeal to Mary Kay Andrews and Charlaine Harris fans.

8/15 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

TWENTY-EIGHT AND A HALF WISHES by Denise Grover Swank. Crooked Lane Books (August 11, 2015). ISBN 978-1629532196. 288p.

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THE ETERNAL WORLD by Christopher Farnsworth

August 5, 2015

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The proverbial Fountain of Youth is a legend that has filled the minds of mankind for centuries. The Spanish conquistador Ponce de Leon is reputed to have looked for it on his trips to the new World five hundred years ago with no success. Suppose a group of Conquistador’s had actually found it. Would it have brought them great happiness as well as financial rewards, or would it prove to be a curse making living forever a horror because of its unnatural state.

Christopher Farnsworth brings us a novel based on the supposition that it was discovered by a group of Spanish soldiers 500 years ago in what is present day Florida. The soldiers kill the Utiza, i.e., the Indians living around the fountain in order to keep the prize for themselves. The only survivor is the Chieftain’ daughter, a girl named Shako who commences to hunt her people’s killers down through the ages to our times.

The source of the fountain is destroyed in our day and Simon de Olivares, the leader of the conquistadors is forced to try and get the water fabricated in order to continue life. The Spaniards have evolved the means to set up a very successful company and hire David Robinton, a scientific genius, who has been on the verge of a great discovery to come work for them in order to replicate the water needed to continue eternal life.

While David goes to work for the group the battle between the former Spanish soldiers and Shako nears a climax. Shako sets up a meeting with David and the two initiate a love affair while events move forward towards a climax between her and the Spaniards.

The reader must postulate the possibility of an actual fountain of youth in the hands of a group of people, but doing that will allow for a fast and rewarding read An engrossing novel, that while not an all-nighter is entertaining and keeps the reader entertained. Certainly a book that will cause further investigations of Farnsworth present and future novels.

8/15 Paul Lane

THE ETERNAL WORLD by Christopher Farnsworth. William Morrow (August 4, 2015). ISBN: 978-0062282927. 352p.

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THE INSECT FARM by Stuart Prebble

August 4, 2015

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Roger Maguire is mentally challenged, probably somewhere on the Autism spectrum, and as an adult, his childhood obsession with an ant farm grows into a full-blown insect farm housed in buckets, crates and aquariums filling the backyard garden shed. His younger brother Jonathan also has an obsession, his girlfriend Harriet, a musician.

Jonathan knows he will eventually have to take care of Roger, but when his parents die in a house fire, that responsibility comes much sooner than expected. Jonathan and Harriet marry quickly but she remains at college, and they maintain a difficult, long distance relationship, which grows more complicated when Jonathan realizes that another musician is after his wife.

Things come to a head with Harriet, who ends up dead with Jonathan covered in her blood. He has no memory of the murder, but goes into panic mode, hiding the body and plotting ways to throw blame elsewhere. Roger remains in his own world, and Jonathan continues to care for him as events unfurl around them.

This book starts out super creepy, but quickly morphs into an extremely compelling story about brothers. A compelling read.

8/15 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

THE INSECT FARM by Stuart Prebble. Mulholland Books (July 7, 2015). ISBN 978-0316337366. 320p.

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THE DEAD GROUND by Claire McGowan

August 3, 2015

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Paula Maguire is a forensic psychologist working with the Missing Persons Response Unit in Ballyterrin, a small town in Northern Ireland’s border country. She usually investigates old cases, but when a newborn baby goes missing from a hospital, Paula is assigned the case.

To complicate things further, she is pregnant and not sure who the father is. Then a woman is ritualistically, brutally murdered, and the pressure becomes intense. Someone in this tight-knit community is taking very young babies and even cutting them, unborn, from their mothers.

Paula follows this bloody trail with little to go on, while she is agonizing over a deeply personal decision. The history and culture of Northern Ireland are explored, along with themes of religion and fanaticism, but at its soul, this is a tale of motherhood and loss. All of the victims are children and pregnant women, which makes for very dark reading.

This is the second book of the series (after The Lost,) and probably should be read in order. While not for the faint of heart, this compulsively readable thriller should appeal to Meg Gardiner or Val McDermid fans.

8/15 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

THE DEAD GROUND by Claire McGowan. Headline Book Publishing; First Edition edition (April 1, 2014). ISBN 978-1472218568. 400p.

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NAME OF THE DEVIL by Andrew Mayne

August 2, 2015

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A Jessica Blackwood Novel

A church explosion in Virginia has led some to theorize the devil could be at work. It’s true, there’s little evidence of the cause of the explosion. There’s also no sign of the reported victims. The latter is easily explained, though, as Jessica Blackwood can attest. Called in alongside Agent Knoll to assist in the investigation, Jessica quickly realizes that the search perimeter is too narrow. They find the first victim hanging upside down from a tree just outside their search field. Less easily explainable is the strange symbol etched in blood across the man’s chest.

In this follow up to Angel Killer, Andrew Mayne once again pits Blackwood against a criminal mastermind whose motives and methods are truly baffling and bizarre. But baffling and bizarre are exactly what Jessica Blackwood excels at.

There are just so many things Mayne does so perfectly here – the cases are super odd, Jessica Blackwood is completely unique and kick ass, and all of the weirdness is couched in a premise that ultimately comes across as believable.

As a second in a series, this is also a great follow up because we finally get to meet some of Jessica’s family and learn more about her background. As such, and due to the fact that there are some references to Angel Killer, I would suggest reading these in order. Trust me, they’re worth it.

8/15 Becky LeJeune

NAME OF THE DEVIL by Andrew Mayne. Bourbon Street Books; Uncorrected Proof edition (July 7, 2015). ISBN 978-0062348890. 432p.

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Win the August ’15 bookshelf of signed thrillers!

August 1, 2015

No summer doldrums here…just an awesome collection of signed thrillers!

THE DEVIL’S BRIDGE by Linda Fairstein
In her seventeenth Alexandra Cooper thriller, New York Times bestselling author Linda Fairstein takes readers where they have never been before: Inside the mind of NYPD Detective Mike Chapman. Nelson DeMille says Fairstein is “one of the best crime fiction writers in America today.”

IRON WOLF by Dale Brown
New York Times bestselling author Dale Brown goes beyond the headlines in this high-tech, high-tension military thriller in which a resurgent Russia inflames sectarian unrest and violence in Ukraine and Poland, setting off a stealth robotic war and escalating an international crisis. Kirkus Review says, “The action’s relentless. … High-tension, all-out action-adventure. … Brown out-Clancys Tom.”

CENTER OF GRAVITY by Laura McNeill
Center of Gravity weaves a chilling tale, revealing the unfailing and dangerous truth that things—and people—are not always what they seem. Booklist says, “Readers will find this tale of domestic suspense deeply compelling as a once-happy family unit disintegrates and a woman summons her heretofore hidden strength. Told from multiple perspectives, McNeill’s gripping tale explores family, trust, and how lives are rebuilt.”

CRACKS IN THE COBBLESTONE by Susan E. Sagarra
St. Louis-based author Susan E. Sagarra has penned her first mystery novel in which two women take a crack at adulthood in vastly different worlds. Sagarra has earned numerous journalism awards, including first place in the National Federation of Press Women-Missouri Chapter annual contest.

THE ULTIMATE THREAT by James Osborne
Mark is in the way of ISIS’s plans – and they want him removed. Can Mark stave of ‘The Ultimate Threat’ in his mission to save not only his family but the freedom of America as well? Osborne is a novelist and the author of more than 100 short stories. His award-winning stories have appeared in numerous anthologies, both in print and online.

BELIEVE NO ONE by A.D. Garrett
The race is on to catch a serial killer and save a nine-year-old boy in this gripping sequel to A. D. Garrett’s highly praised forensic thriller, Everyone Lies In a starred review, Publishers Weekly says, “Fine attention to forensics and investigative techniques distinguishes this stellar thriller.”

SILENT CREED by Alex Kava
Ryder Creed and his K9 search-and-rescue dogs return in the second installment of an exciting new series, teaming up once more with FBI profiler Maggie O’Dell in their riskiest case yet. Publishers Weekly says, “Exciting . . . . [an] intense thriller, which builds to an explosive conclusion.”

THE ETERNAL WORLD by Christopher Farnsworth
If you could live forever, what would you die for? Kirkus Reviewsays, “A fantastical witch’s brew of Spanish conquistadors, biotechnology, and hubris . . . with cinematic pacing and colorful action scenes, Farnsworth blends a unique premise into fun summer reading . . . entertainingly explores the border where science fantasy meets reality.”

BLACK-EYED SUSANS by Julia Heaberlin
Shocking, intense, and utterly original, Black-Eyed Susans is a dazzling psychological thriller, seamlessly weaving past and present in a searing tale of a young woman whose harrowing memories remain in a field of flowers—as a killer makes a chilling return to his garden, sure to appeal to fans of Laura Lippman and Gillian Flynn. Publishers Weekly says, “Gripping . . . The suspense builds as Tessie uncovers devastating secrets from the past en route to the shocking ending.”

You can win autographed copies of all these books! If you are new to the site, each month I run a contest in conjunction with the International Thriller Writers organization. We put together a list of books from debut authors to bestsellers, so you can win some of your favorites and find some new favorites.

What makes this contest really special is that all of the books (except eBooks) are signed by the author!

Don’t forget, if you subscribe to the newsletter or follow this blog, you get an extra entry into every contest you enter. Check out the Win Books page for more information on all these books and how you to enter this month’s contest.

Thanks for reading, and good luck!

Just wanted to add congratulations and thanks to the

November winner for sending in this picture!

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ANA OF CALIFORNIA by Andi Teran

July 31, 2015

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One of my favorite books is Anne of Green Gables by Lucy Maud Montgomery. I read it as a child, and then again when I was in library school taking “History of Children’s Literature.” It was an even better read as an adult, or at least it felt that way to me. So when I heard about this modern retelling, I must admit I was skeptical. But I braved it out and started Ana…and was immediately hooked. I loved how Teran brought this story into the 21st century and kept the charm and spunk of the original.

If you haven’t read the Montgomery book, I urge you to do so. I recently watched the movie and was startled to see that the actress playing Anne was named Anne Shirley, the same name as the character. That caused me to do some digging and apparently she was moved enough by the story (or the studio) to legally change her name to that of this most beloved character. The movie was okay but I would recommend the book over it any day.

Back to Ana…it is absolutely not necessary to have read Anne to enjoy this book. Ana is a 15 year old Mexican American, and a product of the foster care system. Eventually she gets thrown out of one too many homes and is offered a last chance; to work as an intern on a farm further up the California coast. If she can manage to hang on until she turns 16, she will be old enough to become emancipated.

Garber Farm is run by brother and sister Abbie and Emmett. Emmett is all in favor of an intern, but he’s expecting a boy and grudgingly decides to give Ana a one month trial period. Abbie is delighted to have a girl around the house, and Ana quickly finds that she enjoys life on the farm. Things get a little more difficult when school starts and there is boy trouble, friends and drug trouble, and other road blocks to happiness thrown in her path. But slowly she starts making a difference in the lives of those around her.

For fans of Anne, all I can say is some of the most memorable scenes are updated here. Ana has a run in with a neighbor, her best friend’s accidental drunkenness is now a psilocybin mushroom trip, there is a major hair mishap, and so forth. Every one of these scenes felt like finding a little nugget of happiness.

Ana is a charmer and this is a warm, wonderful coming of age story that should appeal to adults and young adults too. Great for book discussions – check out the Reading Group Guide

7/15 Stacy Alesi

ANA OF CALIFORNIA by Andi Teran. Penguin Books (June 30, 2015). ISBN 978-0143126492. 368p.

Kindle

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YES PLEASE by Amy Poehler

July 30, 2015

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Narrated mostly by Amy Poehler (with help from Carol Burnett, Seth Meyers, Kathleen Turner, Mike Schur, Patrick Stewart et al)

Amy Poehler is funny and nice, and apparently a lot of really funny people like hanging out with her. This is one of the best audiobook memoirs because of all the readers – they really add something to the reading experience.

I was not a “Parks & Recreation” fan. We watched the first season, thought “eh” and stopped watching. Apparently (according to friends and family members who LOVE it) it got a lot better after that initial season. So after listening to this book and my friends and family, it is in my Netflix queue.

Amy talks about her life, her friends and her work. She talks about growing up outside Boston, motherhood, SNL, Parks & Rec and more. She also talks about her family, but sadly, she is divorcing (already divorced?) so that was in the back of my mind as she spoke lovingly about her husband.

I couldn’t help compare it to Bossypants (best of the comedic memoirs) and the Mindy Kaling book and frankly, it didn’t quite measure up. Nonetheless, it was definitely an enjoyable read, probably more so as an audiobook.

7/15 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

YES PLEASE by Amy Poehler. HarperAudio; Unabridged edition (October 28, 2014). ISBN 978-0062350886. Listening Length: 7 hours and 31 minutes

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