5 stars out of 5
"Brave New World." "Soylent Green." "Thelma and Louise." All of these - and a couple more classics - popped into my head as I read this mesmerizing debut novel. More to the point, if I were given the chance to live for hundreds of years - most of them sans anything I now consider fun to do, eat or wear - would I want it? Now that I've finished this book, I'm still not totally sure, but I've sure got plenty of considerations to factor into my decision (and a doggone good story to illustrate them).
The setting is New York City sometime in the future, when research has found ways for people to live to 100 and far beyond. Those "Lifers" - chosen mostly according to genetic tests - get regular "maintenance" and replacement parts, like fake but realistic skin, blood and internal organs. They also must follow strict and ever-changing dictums; they cannot, for instance, eat bacon or open windows because doing these things might be detrimental to their well-being. Now, these Lifers are looking forward to the Third Wave, when those selected to be on The List will receive updates that will allow them to live to 300.
Two of these Lifers are Lea and Anja; Lea is about 80 years old and Anja is just over 100. Lea, whose mother died not too long ago, enjoys super success in her career (her father left the family years ago). Anja is caring for her 150-year-old mother, who remains alive - if one could call it that - only because her fake parts are still working (but they're starting to wear out). Anja is also a somewhat reluctant member of the Suicide Club, a group of Lifers who have come to reject the concept of extreme longevity and at some point commit suicide to escape both the fakeness of their bodies and the absence of a truly enjoyable life.
Quite unexpectly, Lea's idyllic existence gets a jolt. Hit by a car when she veers off the standard walking path to chase a man she thinks is her long-disappeared father, she finds herself constantly monitored by the "Observers," who believe she was attempting suicide - a no-no for anyone who aspires to be named to The List. Since her father is an outcast from the utopian society in which she thrives, she dare not tell the truth - that she was trying to reach him and simply not paying attention to her surroundings.
The future of her perfect life now in limbo, Lea tries to prove she's still worthy of The List. She's also been ordered to group therapy sessions, and it is here that she meets Anja, who works with "Sub-100s" - the folks who didn't qualify for replacement parts and will die naturally of old age. Still looking for ways to redeem herself, Lea goes to a meeting of the Suicide Club, where she sees not only Anja, but someone else who's very special to her.
Even if it didn't touch on touchy subjects like engineered humans and euthanasia, this would be a wonderful book simply because of the characters. They're real, they question life and don't always get the answers they seek. But raising those issues makes it even more meaningful; as the characters try to deal with them, readers must do the same (and I admit I didn't come away with conclusive answers). All told, this is a totally engrossing, powerful story I highly recommend, and I thank the publisher, via NetGalley, for the opportunity to read an advance review copy.
Suicide Club by Rachel Heng (Henry Holt and Co., July 2018); 352 pp.
5 stars out of 5
Truthfully, I figured this would be a so-so book - cobbled together simply because two very well-known names would be a sure thing sales-wise. Well, folks, I figured wrong; I absolutely loved it!
Make no mistake, though - there's plenty of political "stuff" in here. I've read that when Patterson writes with a co-author, they send chapters back and forth for additions, corrections, etc. In this case, it's fairly easy to spot the Clinton influence. In fact, for those who don't share his political bent, I'd strongly suggest skipping the final chapter entirely (President Jonathan Lincoln Duncan's address to a joint session of Congress). I happen to agree 1000% with what he says, but even so, it's a bit heavy on the rhetoric. In contrast, though, are insights as to the inner workings of government at the highest levels and even a few bits of humor, such as when the aforementioned President muses, "God, I sound like an ass. Worse yet, I sound like a lawyer."
Political leanings notwithstanding, it's the story that kept me on the edge of my seat - first and foremost because it tackles an issue that concerns a ton of other folks: Our country's nearly total dependence on the Internet. Remember the y2k scare back in 2000? Well, multiply that by a hundredfold. President Duncan is right in the middle of the situation, having been sent a dire warning about what's to come via his daughter in Paris (his wife died of cancer a year or so earlier and he's personally dealing with a serious blood disorder, adding a bit more tension as the story progresses).
The warning comes as the President is facing a House Committee hearing that his enemies hope will end in impeachment (hmmm, that, too, has a familiar ring to it). The hearing comes because he's accused of preventing the almost certain capture or killing of an international terrorist named Suliman Cindoruk (think Osama bin Laden). Duncan is acutely aware of what really happened, but for national security reasons, he cannot reveal the truth. And as he learns more about the imminent cyberattack that would effectively shut down the entire country for years to come, he discovers that there's a traitor in the worst possible place - his own cabinet.
Can the President and his carefully selected team find the solution and save the world for democracy? Well, you'll just have to read the book to find out. Highly recommended!
The President is Missing by James Patterson and Bill Clinton (Little, Brown and Co., June 2018); 528 pp.
As I read this, the first of a new series, I couldn't help but feel I was channeling medical thriller-writer Dr. Robin Cook. While the sci-fi aspect here may be a little harder to swallow than in those books (pun intended, and if you've read it, you'll know what I'm talking about), that doesn't make it any less exciting.
The book begins with two separate stories, the first of which is a look into the life of Jeffrey Harris, a serial killer dubbed the "Blood Eagle Killer" because of what he does to the husband/father of the families he murders. The second focuses on Ontario Police Department Detective Jake Wood, a.k.a. new series hero), who's called in when the killer takes down a family in his jurisdiction. Just as he and partner and friend Kirk are getting into the nitty gritty, though, Jake has an unexpected allergy attack and lands in the hospital. While he's there, old friend and scientist Luke Mercer begs Jake to follow him to remote Brazil. Jake declines - at least until he gets a message from Luke saying it's a life-or-death situation.
From that point on, chapters shift between progress in the two plots. We see the serial killer making plans for his next big thrill. And after some serious action in Brazil, we learn that Jake has been sidelined in a hospital for 18 months; he wakes up to learn he's been gone so long that he's lost both his fiance and his dog (yee-haw, cue in the country song). His doctor, though, lets him in on a more astounding tidbit: After a freak ingestion of snake venom out in the wilds, Jake has somehow acquired reptilian characteristics. Say what?
If that's a bit of a stretch for readers, imagine how tough it is for Jake. He comes home to find that some nasty folks want a piece of his hide, but that just gives him a reason to put his newfound powers to the test. As he deals with the bad guys, he tries to balance what he's feeling inside and out with what he felt before - hoping to maintain some semblence of a human relationship with Kirk (just as Kirk struggles to understand the ramifications of the "new" Jake, such as his rather unusual taste in food). Then lo and behold, they agree to once again tackle the serial killer case - bringing the whole thing full circle. There's a cliffhanger ending, but I suppose that's intended to whet readers' appetites for what's to come. The only way that works for me, though, is if the author will be releasing that next one within a month or two; a year and another 100 books later, I'll have totally forgotten the details of everything I wrote about here.
If I have an issue, it's that the concurrent plots are wildly different; and with the exception of one barely noticeable clue fairly early on, it was impossible for me to envision them connected in any way (even though common sense and reading enough novels that use this approach told me they must somehow converge). And converge they do - but not till after the halfway point. For me, that was frustrating; the connection - or at least a few other breadcrumbs - should have come sooner (boo, hisssssss). Other than that, though, this series is off to a fine start with an intriguing character. Count me in!
The Immortal Gene by Jonas Saul (Vesuvian Books, July 2018); 334 pp.
4 stars out of 5
Betrayal, human trafficking, blackmail, jealousy, unrequited love and super-lousy parenting - they're all in here. Added to what I'd call far from a happy-ever-after ending, and you've got a book that certainly wasn't fun for me to read. Every single character is flawed (save one who's too young to have been corrupted by the others, but I have no doubt her turn will come).
Although the description puts the setting in "idyllic" Cambridge and other lovely places, I respectfully submit that way too much of it for my liking takes place in godforsaken parts of countries like Libya, where a young doctor named Scott Langbrook is working for an organization known as Reach, which is charged with a task referred to as Dead Body Management. As one might suspect, it's not exactly a pleasant job - at least until Scott hooks up with Dr. Fiyori Maziq, the expedition leader. Problem is, she has more issues than Nike has swooshes.
Meanwhile, things on Scott's home front aren't going too smoothly either. He's got a shaky relationship with his mother, Lucienne, who's a dentist in Cambridge. Most recently, he's been living with his father, Eddie, and his second wife Susan (much to the consternation of Mom, who's been in a love-hate relationship with her ex for the past 10 years and has never met - nor ever wants to meet - Wife No. 2). Luci's good [platonic] friend and partner in the dental practice, Finlay Duff, clearly is infatuated with her, but apparently amid fear that he'll be rejected, he's never let her in on his secret.
As the story begins, Eddie is killed in a freak accident. Now, Luci is faced with really, truly never seeing him again - and worse, the possibility she actually may have to meet Wife No. 2. That her son is on a dangerous mission in an unfriendly country - and the awareness that if he makes it back home it most likely will be to his father's place instead of hers - just adds to her misery.
Then, come home he does - and the plot begins to thicken fast. If Luci thought her life was a mess before, she quickly learns she ain't seen nothin' yet. And for better or worse, this is where my narrative must end; to say more would spoil things for other readers. This is a short book as books go; my only complaint, as it were, is that the transition between chapter settings seemed on occasion a bit disjointed - meaning it took me a few paragraphs to realize where and about whom I was reading. For those who might object to such things, there are some sexually graphic passages; other than that, it's a well-thought-out, well-written story - and I thank the author for sending it to me to read and review.
Just by Jenny Morton Potts (Amazon Digital Services LLC, June 2018); 318 pp.
5 stars out of 5
As a somewhat prolific reader/reviewer of books - the bulk of which are advance copies provided by generous publishers - it's hard to find time for books I simply want to read (especially when they're as long as this one). That said, a handful of big-time and favorite authors get to skip to the head of the line, in large part because I know I won't be disappointed.
And I certainly wasn't with this one. Oh, I won't call this the best of Mr. King's works, although in all honesty, they're all so good I'd be hard-pressed to pick a favorite. Still, I moved heaven and earth to get to the end (well, more like rearranged dinner and bedtimes) not because I had a stack of other books to get to, but because it was so engrossing I just hated to put it down. The first third, give or take a few pages, was a bit traumatizing and the next third was mesmerizing. The last part - where the story begins to shift into otherworldly gear - was a little less appealing to a logical thinker like me; but then what would a Stephen King novel be if it doesn't challenge credibility?
Basically, the story begins with the almost unthinkably vicious murder of a young boy; rock-solid evidence leads to the arrest of a popular Oklahoma teacher and coach. Problem is, said coach has irrefutable evidence that he was elsewhere at the time of the murder. So now what?
Plenty of what, as it turns out, including ties to the similar murders of twin girls from Dayton, Ohio (actually, from nearby Trotwood - of special interest to me since I grew up not far from there and my late father worked for many years as a tool-and-die engineer at Trotwood Trailers). From this point on, I can't reveal much else except to say the rest of the book deals with the fallout and follow-up from that Oklahoma teacher's arrest and that those who read and enjoyed the author's Mr. Mercedes trilogy (like me!) will be happy to see one of the characters make a return appearance here.
The verdict? Well done once again, Mr. King - and when your next book comes out, no matter how many others are waiting for me to sample, you get dibs on passing them up.
The Outsider by Stephen King (Scribner, May 2018); 577 pp.
5 stars out of 5
Holy carnivore, Batman - this book's a killer!
FBI "consultant" Timothy Blake is Dexter and Hannibal Lecter melded together and on speed. In case you're wondering, yes, that makes for some pretty gory details, so if your idea of a tasty lunch isn't somebody's left arm, you might want to skip this one. For everybody else, though, it's a bone-ified winner.
After surviving what is easily an horrific childhood, Blake runs afoul of the law. But he gets a reprieve of sorts when he's offered a deal too good to pass up: Put his unique on-target insights to use by helping with tough FBI cases and - when he's successful - earn an even more unique "reward": a freshly dead human perfectly fit for consumption courtesy of the Death House at Huntsville Prison.
It's an arrangement that's served Blake well, so to speak; he's able to earn money in other ways, including winning $20 bets that he won't be able to solve puzzles sent by the bettors. To underscore his talent in this regard, each chapter begins with a content-related riddle, such as "What belongs to you but is used mostly by others?"
The story begins as Blake's handler, FBI Director Peter Luzhin, pulls him in to help when a 14-year-old boy is kidnapped. Despite Blake's concerns, he's paired with Special Agent Reese Thistle. Neither is thrilled with the arrangement, but the more they work together, the more they begin to respect and trust each other (well, to a point, of course; Blake isn't exactly chomping at the bit to admit his eating preferences to anyone except his FBI boss).
The plot itself is filled with twists, turns and surprises mixed in with some pretty grisly stuff - but hey, what did you expect when the "hero" is a cannibal? In between, though, is an intricately woven tale of a complex and tragic life that makes an otherwise unlovable character, well, palatable.
For the record, this is the first adult novel by the author, a successful writer for the young adult market. I've also read that ABC has a TV rights option, so I'll be keeping an eye out for developments on that front if for no other reason than I'd love to run into Blake again. And those riddles? I'll give you a freebie: The answer to the one above, if you haven't already guessed, is "your name." Here's another hint: If you read the book and want answers to the others, just go to http://jackheath.com.au/riddles.
In short, this is without question one of the best and most clever books I've read so far this year and I recommend it highly (except to the really squeamish). Many thanks to the publisher, via NetGalley, for the opportunity to read an advance review copy.
Hangman by Jack Heath (Hanover Square Press, June 2018); 320 pp.
5 stars out of 5
My honest thought as I finished this book? Thank goodness I got my hands on it before relations between the United States and Canada started to go you-know-where in a handbasket. That's because, I'm delighted to report, I've found a new series to love.
Well, sort of new; apparently, it was first published in 2011, so I'm not sure why it hasn't made it across the border till now. I am quite certain, though, that I want to read more about "Mac" MacNeice (oddly, I don't recall seeing a first name), a senior police detective in the fictitious Dundurn, Ontario. Apparently, there are three more books to be released between now and November, so there's plenty to look forward to.
I really love MacNeice, who is still grieving the loss of his beloved wife. Oh, there are hints of a possible personal connection with his co-worker Fiza Aziz - herself an interesting person in that she's a Muslim with a doctoral degree - but nothing serious developed by the end of this book. Is it a thriller? Not really; I'd characterize it as a basic police procedural (albeit with a unique method of murder), and for the record, that's my favorite kind of book.
As he returns from visiting his wife's grave, MacNeice gets a call to a murder that took place in a remote beach house. For more than one reason the woman can't be readily identified, but a bruise under her chin tells MacNeice that she was a violinist - as was his late wife. The rather horrific way she was killed doesn't help much in the clue department, so the motive remains a mystery as well.
But with input from the unusually perceptive MacNeice and investigative work by Fiza and other very capable (and likable) co-workers, the woman is finally identified; she'd recently graduated from a conservatory and apparently was headed toward a career as a professional musician. She had a wealthy businessman for a father, giving rise to the possibility that her murder may have been intended as some kind of message to him. But then, another body turns up - and connections between the two murders begin to take shape, as does the investigation itself. As much as anything, I enjoyed the character development and interactions; there are a few plot twists and life-threatening situations that keep the intrigue going, but at the same time I finished the book with a full set of intact fingernails.
In short, this was a joy to read (and thanks to the publisher, via NetGalley, for the opportunity to read and review an advance copy). Now if I could just get my hands on the next one, hint, hint...
Erasing Memory by Scott Thornley (Spiderline, June 2018); 322 pp.
4 stars out of 5
In my little world of books, not much makes me happier than finding a dependably enjoyable series. And this one, featuring Seattle homicide detective Tracy Crosswhite, fills that description - I look forward to reading each installment knowing I won't be disappointed. This book, the 6th in the series, is no exception (and to that end, many thanks to the publisher, via NetGalley, for the opportunity to read an advance review copy).
Tracy, now married to Dan, an attorney, is expecting a baby. She's been keeping it a secret except for her partner, Kinsington Rowe (and well, her husband, of course). So when she comes back to the office after a day in court providing testimony to find a new female detective sitting at her desk, she's perplexed to say the least. When the woman offers no real apologies for taking over the spot - and asks Tracy about her pregnancy - Tracy wavers between fighting mad and concerned about her job.
All that takes a back seat, though, when a friend calls to report a missing woman. Nothing is official - the woman, who is from a traditional Indian family from whom she is for the most part estranged, hasn't been gone long and she's a competent adult - but concerns quickly begin to suggest foul play. Missing persons cases aren't in Tracy's bailiwick, but she convinces her boss to let her have a go at it.
As this plays out, Tracy's co-workers Del Castigliano and "Faz" Fazzio run to a shooting in a drug-infested part of town; the victim has been vocal about the need to clean the neighborhood swamp, so there's a good chance she was murdered simply to shut her up. Del and Faz will work the case as best they can, but the waters get harder to navigate when Faz gets some bad news on his home front that weighs heavily on his mind.
The investigations bring the usual excitement and twists (although I'm proud to say I guess one correctly). But this book pokes a number of emotional hot buttons as well, such as arranged marriages and other Indian traditions, working women and pregnancy, prostitution and adult "dating" websites and dealing with life-threatening illness. Collectively, it creates an engaging and thoroughly enjoyable reading experience. Well done once again!
A Steep Price by Robert Dugoni (Thomas & Mercer, June 2018); 380 pp.
Que up a married woman who's overcome a secret past. Now a successful businesswoman, she's "taken advantage of" by a shady character who's now sending mysterious messages and demeaning photos. She can't go to the police, nor trust any of her friends to stay mum, because her husband might find out. And if he does, it's for sure he'll immediately stop loving her and take away the young son she loves so much. Instead, she decides to handle everything all by herself - meaning that she must up the ante on her lies until the muck threatens to bury her kneecaps.
Stop me if you've read this one before.
I have - several times. In fact, it's not all that different from the author's first book, Gone Without a Trace. Although both are well written (which, for the record, is why I'm quite comfortable awarding 4 stars), I can't say I was fond of any of the characters in either book.
Here's how it goes: After moving on from her teenage trauma, Gemma Brogan is married to a stay-at-home husband, has a young son named Rory and owns a real estate firm in England. The real estate industry is slowing, though, and to her growing dismay, Gemma's husband Joe just doesn't seem interested in finding a job to boost their income and allow her to slow down her own work pace. The at-home resentment builds, and then Gemma takes an overnight trip to an industry conference where, by her own admission, she gets thoroughly drunk. She can't recall much of what happened, but she knows it was nothing good when she gets an explicit photo and a few other telling messages. To her credit, she does speak with a policewoman, but the discussion never goes anywhere because, remember, she's terrified that someone might find out.
And that's where I pretty much tuned out. As I emphasized in my review of the author's first book, I've got zero tolerance for whining, paranoid females who, instead of taking charge, keep digging their own holes deeper (and, as my late mother was fond of saying, don't "have the sense God gave a little gosling.") That said, I kept at it, mostly because I'd accepted an advance copy in exchange for an honest review and simply won't go back on my word.
And in the end, honestly, I'm quite sure those who don't share my dislike of wimpy "heroines" will enjoy this book. It hits all the requisite high notes to qualify as a psychological thriller, serves up twists, turns and surprises - at least for those who haven't traveled this road before - and even comes with what I call a Robert Browning ending ("God's in His Heaven, all's right with the world"). For all of you, then, what's not to like? Go for it!
The Girl I Used to Be by Mary Torjussen (Berkley Publishing Group, April 2018); 368 pp.
5 stars out of 5
