5 stars out of 5
How do I love thee? One of the ways is making me laugh. And nobody does that better than this author, who has been a favorite of mine ever since somewhere in the early 1980s (if memory serves me well) when I began reading - and giggling my way through - his syndicated newspaper columns. Several books have crossed my reading path as well, the latest being this one. It's a bit more introspective than others have been - after all, he's getting older like the rest of us (for the record, he's about seven years younger than I am). Nonetheless I chuckled, chortled and, on occasion, belly laughed my way from beginning to end.
Subtitled "The Simple Joys of an Old, Happy Dog," the center of attention here is Barry's aging dog Lucy. From watching (and clearly loving) her, he has derived seven "lessons" that everyone - not just those of us for whom the years ahead are far fewer than those we've left behind - would do well to consider. That's largely because Lucy has always known how to be happy; if we follow her examples, we, too, can live out the rest of our years as happier individuals with fewer regrets. Each chapter presents a new lesson (No. 1: Make New Friends (And Keep the Ones You Have), followed by his observations of Lucy's behavior and his conclusions as to why we humans would do well to be copycats.
Did I mention cats? That reminds me to mention Barry's often wry humor runs rampant throughout the book, including a reference to cats, who he claims "have the morals of Hannibal Lecter." My personal favorite is his take on the burden of Social Security costs that is being passed to younger generations: "I view this as payback for what the younger generations have done to music."
Both amusing, yes; but the "no spleen" story had me - quite literally - doubled over and in tears (you'll just have to read it for yourself).
Now that I've finished the book, I'll offer one of my own life lessons: Never underestimate the importance of laughter. It will - trust me on this - serve you well through the best of times and the worst of times. This book provides a wonderful reminder of that - and I thank the publisher (via NetGalley) for the opportunity to read and review an advance copy. It's rare that I say this, but I really, really didn't want this one to end.
Lessons From Lucy by Dave Barry (Simon & Schuster, October 2018); 208 pp.
4 stars out of 5
Okay, let's get the pesky stuff out of the way first: No, it's not that book. This one is the third in the Matt Blake series, published in early May of last year. At just 139 pages, it's a quick and enjoyable read; I learned about it when the author asked if I'd consider giving it a go. My standard response to such requests is no - I really do have too many other books in my must-read-and-review stack to take on something else. On the other hand, I can imagine how tough it is to go head-to-head with the big guns title-wise - a feeling I recently encountered when I read The Other Woman by Sandie Jones. Her luck of the title draw came right about the same time as Daniel Silva's best-seller of the same name. For those who may be wondering how that can happen, book titles are not protected under copyright law (although they can be trademarked).
In any event, I had little trouble making my way through this one; brevity helps, of course, but it's also well-written and the action happens lickety-split. I didn't read the previous books, but the dashingly handsome and all-around super-competent Matt is now the U.S. President, replacing an eerily familiar dictator wannabe who darned near ruined the country in his first and only four-year term (Lordie, they must have found tapes). Matt's wife, the beautiful and equally intelligent Diana (Dee), has assumed her role as First Lady. One fateful day, Shep Smith of Fox News fame announces that a communication link with the "USS Louisiana," a fully armed nuclear submarine on which President Matt is a passenger, has gone blank. Shortly thereafter, an explosion is detected and flotsam and jetsam appear on the surface of the sea - signaling what is believed to be the destruction of the sub and all its occupants.
Ever perceptive and conveniently well versed in the world of submarines, Dee simply can't fathom that all is lost. After being named Chief of Staff by the new Acting President - Matt's good buddy and Vice President Roland Benton - she lays out her argument that it's all a smokescreen. Most likely, the ruse is being orchestrated by the evil Boris Chernekov, who recently pulled off a coup that toppled Russia's powerful Vladimir Putin.
Shifting between points-of-view of Dee and Matt, the rest of the novella focuses on what's really going on and efforts to retrieve both Matt and the submarine from the not-so-fine mess they're in (in large part because of the brevity, I can't reveal much else without spoiling it for others, so I won't). My only "complaint?" I've got a wonky sense of humor, but not in my wildest imagination can I believe that real U.S. espionage officials - especially at top levels like these - would ever refer to themselves and their cohorts as "spooks."
One final point regarding the title: If you want to find this book (or the very good Sandie Jones book mentioned earlier), searching by the author's name rather than the title should get you exactly where you want to go. As for me, I say thank you, Mr. Moran - I'm up for the next one when you are!
The President is Missing by Russell Moran (Coddington Press, May 2017); 139 pp.
5 stars out of 5
If it's possible to have a love-hate relationship with a book, this is it. On the one hand, the writing is almost exquisite, virtually ensuring my reluctance to put it down. Conversely, wading through page after page hoping that yet another important character won't bite the dust - probably in a most horrific way - is borderline unbearable. Characters I adore; other characters so loathesome that I wouldn't wish them on my worst enemies.
Oh, what a happy conundrum!
This is the fourth book in the series featuring former FBI agent now-fugitive Jane Hawk; the other three are excellent as well. And for the record, although each of the books can stand alone, I daresay I've derived much greater understanding and enjoyment by having read them in order from the beginning (and I recommend this to anyone who's new to this series).
At this point, Jane has been indicted for espionage, treason and seven counts of murder - many of the charges trumped up because she's fighting a nasty group called the Techno Arcadians, who are intent on changing society by injecting select humans (including Jane's late husband) with mind-control drugs. These "adjusted" folks, whose numbers are growing day by day, then can be programmed to do the bidding of the Arcadians - with the possibilities ranging from sweeping floors to murder to committing suicide. All of the above are fast zeroing in on Jane, her young son Travis and her in-laws Clare and Ancel Hawk; torturing or killing the latter three would, in their opinion, bring Jane to her knees. In the previous book, the couple Jane entrusted with hiding Travis were found and dealt with, so he's now living with a slightly autistic but sweet recluse named Cornell. Scared and lonesome, Travis calls his mother, who promises she'll come to get him.
At least that's her intent - but we all know what happens to best-laid plans. Most of us, happily, won't run into fake FBI and Homeland Security officers with murder on their minds nor mind-controlled folks who have been ordered to be on the lookout for us - but Jane isn't so fortunate. And since the brain-altered folks look and act just like they did in their previous everyday lives, who can Jane trust?
The answer is almost no one, thus complicating her attempts to get to Travis and keep both of them out of the hands that would do them wrong. There are several narrow misses (involving some pretty grisly scenes and salty language, for those who may be bothered by that stuff}. And just when you think Jane, Travis and their trusted friends may make it, the nanotechnology begins to go awry; one by one, the recently injected people begin to psychologically regress - euphemistically falling through "the forbidden door" and turning into insatiable killing machines.
I'd love to say there's a happily-ever-after ending, but that's just not the case (well, except that Jane lives to see another day, which one would expect of any character without whom there wouldn't be a series). It's certainly a wild ride, though, and once again I thank the publisher, via NetGalley, for the opportunity to read and review an advance copy. Another winner that has me chomping at the bit for the next installment (The Night Window). Bring it on, please!
The Forbidden Door by Dean Koontz (Bantam, September 2018); 480 pp.
5 stars out of 5
For a bookaholic like me, finding a great series is more satisfying than finding an ice cream shop with 24 flavors and a going-out-of-business sale. They both, however, share the same downside: Finding time to do them justice. For sure that's true in the case of this author's Mike Bowditch books; this is my first, and I'm determined it won't be my last.
The happy dilemma came about by way of an accident of sorts; my husband Jack, who's a bit hard to please when it comes to books, learned of the series on Facebook (I'll have to keep this in mind next time I start bashing social media). He loved this one, and as of this writing, he's on the fourth and still going strong (there are nine books in all, I believe). With his recommendation in mind - and a description reminiscent of another favorite series of mine, C.J. Box's game warden Joe Pickett - I decided to give this one a try. Now I, too, am itching to get at the rest (according to Jack, they get even better as they go along).
Set in a mostly remote mid-coast area of Maine, Mike is the son of a cantankerous backwoods dweller whose wife left when Mike was 9 years old, taking him with her. Despite his father's notable absence, Mike - now 24 years old - is drawn to his father's territory. He passed on law school in favor of the lifestyle of a game warden (a move that put him at odds with his mother and stepfather and more recently cost him his college sweetheart). One evening, he walks in his door to see his phone blinking; it's a cryptic message from the father he hasn't seen in years. A return call proves fruitless, but the next morning Mike gets an unwelcome hint at what's going on: A call from the local police, who want to know where Mike's father is. Turns out two men were murdered the previous night - one of them a police officer - and they believe Mike's dad is the killer.
Mike has no doubt of his father's tendency toward a nasty temper, but he's convinced that the man would stop short of killing someone. The police, however, see things very differently. Mike desperately wants to help, but because he's got an emotional stake in the outcome, the police warn him to keep his nose out of the investigation. Needless to say, Mike doesn't listen; the rest of the book details his efforts to find his father and clear his name, therein threatening both his career and possibly his own life. It's a nonstop adventure that brings out the best and worst of love, loyalty and betrayal with a bang-up ending. Highly recommended!
The Poacher's Son by Paul Doiron (Minotaur Books, May 2010); 315 pp.
4 stars out of 5
Somewhere I read that this book is to be made into a movie - and it's easy to see that it could be a good one. It's a cleverly written story that's intriguing enough to make me not want to stop reading as well as raise more than a few ethical issues that really did make me stop and think where I stood pre- and post-read. I've never been a big fan of chapters that switch back and forth among characters, and this one does that as well as shift to before, during and after the main event, the kidnapping of five-year-old Emma Townsend by successful business owner Sarah Walker. Happily in this case, though, it's hard to imagine that the story could be told any better without using that technique. How that can be accomplished in a motion picture, however, remains to be seen.
In the airport on a business trip, Sarah sees Emma and watches with near horror as the girl's out-of-control mother is verbally and physically abusive to the child. Sarah desperately wants to intervene, but in the end everyone goes in separate directions, presumably never to see the others again. But as luck would have it, another chance encounter at Emma's Montesorri school (where Sarah is trying to sell her popular digital educational activity books) puts Emma back on Sarah's radar, where she discovers more child abuse. Not long after that, Sarah gets a chance to snatch the girl from her parents and baby brother - and takes it.
From that point on, readers watch Sarah's efforts to stay hidden from the authorities while she makes sure Emma is lavished with attention and fights to believe that she's acting in the child's best interests and, therefore, has done nothing wrong. Readers also begin to see how Emma's family ended up the way they are - especially Amy, Emma's abusive mother. Sarah doesn't get short shrift either; we see how her own background has played into her insecurities and abhorrence of the treatment Emma was getting at the hands of her mother.
As I mentioned earlier, the story raises important ethical issues. Does Sarah's intent to remove Emma from danger, for instance, justify the kidnapping? Amy's disastrous childhood may explain her treatment of her daughter, but does it justify the behavior enough that her daughter should be returned to her? If anybody cares about my opinion, it's no and no - but you'll just have to read the book and judge for yourself. The story is totally engrossing, although in my mind not totally believable. In this day and age, I can't imagine that the loose ends Sarah leaves everywhere they go wouldn't lead police right to her doorstep in less than a week - the most obvious being no attempt to change either of their names despite a nationwide media blitz. And, Sarah supposedly has plenty of money - but how is she able to access it on the run without leaving any kind of electronic trail?
Oh well, I'll never know. I do know, though, that this is an outstanding book - and I'm super-delighted that the publisher, via NetGalley, saw fit to offer me an advance copy for review.
Not Her Daughter by Rhea Frey (St. Martin's Griffin, August 2018); 352 pp.)
4 stars out of 5
I have to admit that a sinking feeling started to creep over me after the first couple of chapters. Not again, I said to myself - another of those whiny, paranoid wives/girlfriends/lovers who just can't dredge up the intestinal fortitude to extricate themselves from a situation that clearly is headed for disaster. And to a certain extent, that feeling never left (I'm just too independent and bull-headed, I guess, to identify with these types of females). Nevertheless, the intrigue - or more to the point, curiosity over what was really going on here - pretty much glued to my Kindle until the whole thing was over.
The wronged woman - not necessarily to be confused with the "other" one - is Emily Havistock. She's a successful, relatively independent woman who, a human resources conference, meets Adam Banks and (surprise!) they fall in love. Soon, Emily leaves the apartment she shares with her friend Pippa and moves in with Adam; her other friend, the very gay Seb, has a few misgivings about that situation, but he's such a close buddy that he goes along with it if only to keep an eye on Emily.
At first, Adam balks at having Emily meet his mother, but he finally relents. And it is at that meeting that seeds of doubt start planting themselves in Emily's head. Could it be that Adam is a momma's boy - and momma will do anything to keep him that way? Honestly, any fully grown woman who insists on being called "Pammie" would have raised my hackles immediately and made me run the other way fast. But not so Emily, who is intent on making Adam put her first (and that may well be her first mistake; as my late mother used to say, he's not worth the powder and lead it would take to blow him up). But hey; the show must go on.
And on it does, with encounter after encounter with the conniving Pammie, leaving Emily reeling and plotting other ways to keep her man. But at every turn, she's outsmarted; Pammie, it seems, is always one step ahead of Emily. There is little else I can say without giving away too much except that not everything is as it seems (but then the book is billed as a "psychological thriller," so that's to be expected). Despite a fast-paced, somewhat surprising ending, I really don't agree with the thriller part, but the head games really are something else. Definitely worth reading - many thanks to the publisher (via NetGalley) for the opportunity to read and review an advance copy.
The Other Woman by Sandie Jones (Minotaur Books, August 2018); 304 pp.
4 stars out of 5
My experience with the Detective Jessica Daniel series has been both warm and lukewarm so far, but this latest entry - the 11th - is one of the better ones. I must note, though, that the customary honker of a cliffhanger rears its ugly (to me) head at the end. That's because by the time the next book comes out, I'll have forgotten where this one stopped. But that said, I'll be at the ready to start a new one all the same.
After a tantalizing prologue, this story reverts to three weeks earlier, when a van transporting prisoners is hijacked and two of them escaped. Not long afterward, one is found hanging from a bridge - quite dead. This is a puzzlement for the entire Manchester Police Department, Jessica included; why on earth would someone go to the trouble of setting a prisoner free only to kill him?
Jessica's personal life is in a bit of a turmoil as well; her fiance, Adam, has been hospitalized and in a coma for months now with no sign that he'll ever recover. That notwithstanding, she's been keeping overnight company with one of her police cohorts (although in fairness, she at least has the good sense to feel guilty about it every once in a while). She's also got Bex, an abused about-to-be 18-year-old girl who's been living with Jessica while she tries to get her life back together. That takes a maudlin turn, though, when it appears a mysterious woman may be stalking Bex (or is it Jessica)? Add to the mix infighting (and a couple of murders) among casino owners - "mob" types who of course deny any involvement and don't want to play nice with the coppers - and you've got a stew of oddball situations going on at once. The fact that any one of them could go south in a New York minute keeps the action moving along quickly.
Honestly, although I do enjoy this series, I've never cared a lot for Jessica; and for sure, I don't much like Archie, her stand-in love (who comes across as more of a dolt than anything). But hey, for better or worse, it's Jessica's life - and that she's a competent enough police detective makes up for what she may lack when she finally calls it a day and goes back home. All told, then, this is a strong, easy-to-read entry in what already is a good series. Many thanks to the publisher for the opportunity to read and review it.
Nothing But Trouble by Kerry Wilkinson (Bookouture, August 2018); 367 pp.
4.5 stars out of 5
Admittedly, I've read only two books in this series, but they were good enough to make me a fan of former cop Alex McKnight. That familiarity made me doubly happy to be approved for an advance review copy from the publisher (via NetGalley). And once again, I wasn't disappointed. In fact - save perhaps for the knock-down, drag-'em-out ending involving almost super-human feats - this is my pick of the litter so far. It was so good, in fact, that I kept reading all the way through a nightly episode of "The Rachel Maddow Show" (well, okay, with one eye on the program); that should convince those who know how much of a news junkie I am that I'm telling the truth about how much I liked the book.
Anyway, this one starts off with a [figurative] bang as a vacationing homeowner watches a live video from the security cameras he installed in his bedroom back home. Not too long of a story short, they catch the perp - a presumed serial killer named Martin T. Livermore - who refuses to talk to anyone except Alex, who's now contents himself working for Superior Bail Bonds in Paradise, Michigan. Hot to trot (or at least get some kind of confession out of Livermore), the FBI agrees to bring Alex in. But when he meets Livermore, he has absolutely no idea why the guy sought him out; there's no readily discernible connection between the two men, nor does there seem to be any among all the other five (at least) women Livermore has brutally murdered over the years.
Once in Alex's presence, Livermore not only admits to the heinous crimes, but promises to take him and an FBI crew to the place he's stored his victims' bodies. Livermore isn't exactly trustworthy, but the lawmen agree, albeit reluctantly, that there's no other way to find the bodies - all women. What happens next, though, proves them dead wrong; clearly, Livermore not only can't be trusted, but he's intent on playing some kind of head game with Alex to reach some kind of end that is intended to be the end of Alex.
Will Livermore emerge triumphant? Assuming as I read along that this book doesn't mark the end of the series, I was on the edge of my seat but not too worried about Alex's life. But why the killer wants to get Alex remained a mystery almost to the aforementioned action-packed end, making the book almost impossible to put down till then. I must point out one other tidbit made this book more interesting to me - that some of the scenes are set in two of my favorite places on earth: Columbus, Ohio (go Bucks!) and Michigan's scenic, secluded Upper Peninsula. All in all, this is a stellar entry in the series, and yes, I'm already looking forward to the next installment.
Dead Man Running by Steve Hamilton (G.P. Putnam's Sons, August 2018); 304 pp.
3 stars out of 5
Half-stars aren't possible at most book review websites, so I'll note that my actual rating is 3.5 stars. For the most part, that's because this, the sixth in the series featuring law firm partners Bennie Rosato and Mary DiNunzio, didn't quite reach the level of others I've read. The plot seemed more than a little contrived, the ending borders on silly and I rather quickly tired of the pregnancy "humor" (especially since Mary, the mom-to-be, most of the time is just seven months along; if she's that huge with two months to go, she must be about to deliver a whale).
All that said, overall it's an enjoyable book that reads quickly. And I do, except for the pregnancy blather, like both the Philadelphia-based law firm partners - as well as the other characters who work there. Everyone gets involved at the start, when the firm is sued for reverse sex discrimination; apparently, three men who'd been interviewed recently didn't get the job, and they claim it's because the owners want to keep it an all-female law firm. That did beg my question, though, that if that's the case, why bother to interview male candidates at all? Along the same line, I don't recall reading who else got interviewed, nor who got the job (if anyone). Inquiring minds would like to have known - and I'd think the answers might have had an impact on the lawsuit outcome.
But I digress. Turns out their only male attorney, John Foxman, interviewed one of the three applicants and let it slip that he felt like a fish out of water - a statement that is central to the plaintiff's case. When pressed, John admits not only to making the statement, but that it's how he really feels - and then says he will resign. If he follows through, though, it could do serious damage to the firm's side of the story (which of course is that no reverse discrimination took place and that any male lawyer worth his salt would be welcome and delighted to work there). Adding fuel to the fire is that the lawyer for the plaintiffs is Nick Machiavelli, who grew up in Mary's family's neighborhood but lost a major case to her and is looking to even the score with a vengeance by putting Rosato & DeNunzio out of business.
Believing, perhaps, that a lawyer who represents him- or herself has a fool for a client, the firm turns to a high-powered but "Zen" kind of attorney, Roger Vitez, to take their case. He's reluctant at first, but firm partner Judy Carrier, herself a bit on the Zen side, convinces him to sign on. He does, but only under the condition that he's allowed to do things his way despite objections from the strong, opinionated female partners. They agree, albeit reluctantly - and promptly go against his counsel by running out and holding what turns out to be a disastrous news conference. Stop right there, I said to myself - if I were their attorney and they pulled a stunt like that, I'd have shown myself to their door and closed it behind me on the spot.
But after more cajoling, Roger agrees to hang in there, and almost immediately, things go south as a prominent character is murdered. Relationship issues point to Judy as the killer - unthinkable to her co-workers, who set out to prove her innocence. Meantime, they try to deal the brother of the dead guy, who lives in a group home and has potentially serious issues of his own, as well as the ongoing saga of Mary's pregnancy.
Taken as a whole, the book reads to me more like a cozy mystery than a nail-biting thriller; the ending, during which the whodunit and motive are revealed, not only came across as rushed but, given the seriousness of the crime, rather unbelievable (although maybe you have to come from an Italian family to "get" it). Overall, it's really not bad at all despite my protestations - some of the one-liners, even about that pesky pregnancy, are pretty funny. I'm pretty sure longtime Rosato and DiNunzio fans will love it - but it's just not my favorite of the series. Many thanks to the publisher, via NetGalley, for the opportunity to read and review it.
Feared by Lisa Scottoline (St. Martin's Press, August 2018); 400 pp.
4 stars out of 5
Love-hate relationship? Sisters Penny and Hattie Grayson have taken it to a whole 'nother level. Now that I think about it, that's kind of the way I feel about this book. At one sitting, I loved it; at the next, not so much. The only thing my split brain could come together on is that I really didn't like either [twisted] sister.
That's not to say, though, that it's not a good book; in fact, I finished it easily in two days, actually carving out time to read more when I should have been doing other things.
The two girls - Penny is the elder - have been bonded by shared secrets ever since childhood and their father's decision to walk out and their mother's subsequent (and untimely) death. Much later, that bond is fueled when a fire destroys Penny's home (and in it her abusive husband). Now, the sisters move into their old family home, trying to make a new life for themselves and escape the rumors, innuendos and hatred of former friends and neighbors over something their gone-missing father did.
Their uneasy truce continues until the day Penny meets a handsome, intriguing new teacher and introduces him to Hattie. Ever the outgoing, charming sister, Hattie charms him away from Penny, who rationalizes that she "owes" it to Hattie to give up her claim on the guy - to the point of supporting their marriage and agreeing to live together in the same house (a quote from the book offers one explanation for that: "Let no man put asunder. Let no man pull us under.")
From the first page, of course, it was clear that all's well wouldn't end well - the only question was when, and how, would it all start to unravel, and which sister would be the one to call, a la Shakespeare's Macduff, hold enough? Tension builds as the sisters continue to bicker - each afraid the other might spill the secret beans - and they grudgingly agree to a somewhat unique approach to motherhood. In the end, faced with a son whose behavior appears to be fueled by his mother's and aunt's actions, everything comes to a head (amid a few surprises).
For my part, I was left with a few questions, not the least of which is what did their father do all those years ago to become a social pariah? Was their mother's death really an accident? And why did it take the local cop so many years to figure out the incongruity at the scene of the fire that killed Penny's husband?
All in all, though, this is a well-written book that those who enjoy psychological thrillers should enjoy, and the length makes it an easy read that's great for the beach or a doctor's waiting room. Many thanks to the publisher, via NetGalley, for the opportunity to read an advance review copy.
Sister of Mine by Laurie Petrou (Crooked Lane Books, August 2018); 304 pp.
4 stars out of 5
After I finished the debut book in this series, Crime Scene, last year, I knew I'd keep going. And sure enough - thanks to an advance review copy from the publisher - I got my chance at the follow-up. It is, I believe, better than the first, thus signaling that the father-son author combo may have found its groove. What it lacks in down-and-dirty action is more than compensated for by interesting, likable characters, a good story and expertly turned phrases.
At its heart, though, it's a fairly basic police procedural; the main character, Clay Edison, is a deputy in the Coroner's Bureau. He's got Amy, his live-in love, a wayward just-out-of-jail brother with whom he has a love-hate relationship and, at the start of this one, some dead bodies that went bump in the night.
But one of those bodies is not like the others; she was found elsewhere on the property, was strangled rather than shot and her identity can't be determined. Intrigued, Clay sets out to rectify that latter point, and once accomplished, begins to work on the whodunit and why. That trail leads to the victim's childhood school - a private one that touts total freedom for the students (think Montessori on speed). As all this is unraveling, Clay continues to work on the case of the other victims, one of whom has an identity crisis of his (or her) own. In the middle of it all, here comes his brother Luke - with a rather brash fiance in tow - claiming to be a changed man and offering Clay an investment deal guaranteed to earn a pot of money.
Beyond that, the whole thing is a fairly straightforward look at how all of Clay's professional and personal scenarios are resolved (including his relationship with Amy). Although I'd personally like fewer characters to keep straight, most things get sorted out by the end (leaving, perhaps, one or two little issues unresolved, presumably to be continued in the next adventure. For sure I'll be watching for it!
A Measure of Darkness by Jonathan Kellerman and Jesse Kellerman (Ballantine Books, July 2018); 352 pp.
4 stars out of 5
Honestly, I'm not sure exactly how I feel about this book. No question it's well written and attention-holding (though perhaps a hundred-or-so pages more than really needed). What amazes me most, I guess, is that it was originally published in 2006; that it so closely mirrors the worst that's going on - or what could yet go on if what's happening now is carried to extremes given the current U.S. administration - is positively eerie. Consider, for instance, this quote from the book's President Bruce Jansen:
"From now on we're letting the world take care of itself while we take care of each other here in God's own country. Reforming our way of thinking will pave the way."
It's impossible to believe the author could have known back then who would be the U.S. President in 2018, I have little doubt that the similarities are the impetus for the book's re-release now. It's also worth noting that the author takes aim at the potential for abuse of power - citing in his notes at the end of the book the U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), which he calls a "shadow government" that has "unlimited authority in all crisis situations." That unfettered power, coupled with corrupt government leaders, is an open invitation to disaster.
But on to the story which, even if you aren't aware of what's going on in the United States right now, stands on its own quite well. Yes, it's a bit over the top when it comes to believability (especially given the time frame in which everything happens), but certainly not beyond the realm of possibility. The aforementioned Jansen, as the Democratic governor of Virginia, embarks on a trip to China with several of the other important characters in the book including "Doggie" Curtis, who won the trip and, as a Republican, somewhat reluctantly accepts. The two hit it off, and Jansen tells her to come to him if she ever needs help. Not long afterward, the unthinkable happens: Jansen's wife is murdered - sending him in an emotional tailspin.
Fast-forward to 2008, when Doggie is 30 years old and working on Jansen's presidential campaign. She and friend Wesley Barefoot, who was on the China trip as well, expect to get jobs in the White House - and they do. Jansen has remarried, and his wife is pregnant with their first child. And the unthinkable happens once again: During a victory celebration at a hotel complex owned by Doggie's father, the president-elect's second wife is murdered. Worse, Doggie's father, once an outspoken opponent of Jansen, is arrested for the murder and sentenced to death.
Emotionally shattered once again, the new President makes his acceptance speech, in which he surprisingly deviates from his prepared text to announce "great and radical" changes. His proposal, in fact, pretty much kills the U.S. Constitution; and it's pretty clear he's serious. To say that all hell breaks loose from this point on would be an understatement. The media is gagged, military folks roam the streets to maintain order and "fringe" groups threaten uprisings. Worse, the political leaders and staff in Jansen's administration who don't agree with what he's doing either claim to support him outright or refuse to voice their objections in fear of retaliation.
Doggie finds herself at odds with the "new" laws as well as not at all certain that her father really is guilty as charged. But can she prove it? A direct encounter with Jansen's vice president not only puts her at odds with the powers-that-be, but on the run and not knowing who to trust. It's a wild ride with many twists and and a very surprise ending (as an aside, I think this would make a very good motion picture).
My conclusion? If you read this book wholly as a work of fiction - or if you don't give a hoot about current politics or don't live in the United States - it's likely you'll find it a very intriguing story on its own. While I've always leaned toward the no-hoot position, what's going on today has me in such a dither that it was tough for me to not worry even more that my country is headed down a slippery slope similar to what happens here. Now all I can do is try to put everything in these pages behind me and continue to hope that there is hope.
The Washington Decree by Jussi Adler-Olsen (Dutton, August 2018); 592 pp.
How do I love thee? One of the ways is making me laugh. And nobody does that better than this author, who has been a favorite of mine ever since somewhere in the early 1980s (if memory serves me well) when I began reading - and giggling my way through - his syndicated newspaper columns. Several books have crossed my reading path as well, the latest being this one. It's a bit more introspective than others have been - after all, he's getting older like the rest of us (for the record, he's about seven years younger than I am). Nonetheless I chuckled, chortled and, on occasion, belly laughed my way from beginning to end.
