4 stars out of 5
Let's be clear about one thing: This is not a songbook. Lyrics, when they appear, accompany the historical narrative written by co-author Jon Meacham with occasional sidebar insights by country star Tim McGraw (a friend and neighbor of Meacham). Some of the songs mentioned are of praise, others of protest - but all (ahem!) underscore what was happening at various times of crisis from the Revolutionary War to the Great Depression, 9/11 and more.
Personally, I'm a huge fan of music; history, not so much. But brought together here, they make for a very interesting, enlightening book from which I learned quite a bit (one of the more surprising facts being that the lyrics of quite a few of the songs we all know and love were added to already-written tunes).
I also did not know that there's an Abolitionist version of "My Country 'Tis of Thee" in which the line "Sweet land of liberty" became "Stronghold of slavery." I was unaware that the lyrics of some well-known spirituals were used as signals to those seeking freedom in other lands like Canada (in the "Coming for to carry me home" line of "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot," home is not a reference to Heaven). And "Dixie" was written specifically to be sung by white men in blackface, perhaps in minstrel shows which, for the record, remained popular in my small home town till not long before I graduated from high school in 1959.
Particularly since the book is a relatively short 289 pages (nearly half of the length is comprised of notes and reference material), I'm not even going to try to offer up more in-depth information. The authors do caution that many songs that have the potential to be mentioned here are not. One of those omissions most notable by me, for instance, is Pete Seeger's "Where Have All the Flowers Gone" - a long-time favorite that makes my eyes tear up every time I hear it. While I'd like to have seen a couple more examples to accompany each of the significant events of history, I understand that what's here is meant to be representative, not all-inclusive. As such, it is well worth reading.
And if you're like me, it'll stick with you for a while. Days after finishing the book, I can't get Woody Guthrie's catchy "This Land is Your Land" out of my head. Oh, but did you know the original version of this popular rah-rah America anthem contains rarely sung verses of political protest? Wow. Ain't that America.
Songs of America by Jon Meacham and Tim McGraw (Random House, June 2019); 289 pp.
4 stars out of 5
All the basics are here: Solid police procedural, well-developed characters (most of whom have flaws), a couple of twists and near-death misses and an easy-to-follow plot. Perfect, IMHO, for on-the-beach or way-to-work reading you'll enjoy but that won't seriously challenge your brain or scare you half to death.
This is, for the record, the third in a series featuring Detective Beth Young, who works in and around Cumbria in England. I've not read the others, but that wasn't a problem - this one stands on its own just fine. Beth has a few issues from her past - most notably that she's trying to find the person who started a fight years earlier that ended with her being hit with a broken bottle, leaving her with a nasty scar on her face. She's also got a relatively serious boyfriend, Ethan, a paramedic who understands her dedication to work and unpredictable hours.
As this story begins, Beth is called in to investigate the near-murder of James Sinclair. His wife found him clinging to life, with virtually every single bone in his body shattered in methodical fashion. His wife insists he's an extremely mild-mannered guy, but Beth and her team become suspicious when his squeaky-clean background ends around age 18 (before that, there's no evidence that he ever even existed). Needless to say, Beth is convinced that James and his gruesome attacker share a connection somewhere in that past. But what is it, and how can it be found?
Then two more bodies turn up with similar injuries; this time, they're dead, but it appears the damage done matches what was done to James so well that they must have been inflicted by the same person (now thought to be a serial killer known as the "Sculptor" because the weapon of choice appears to be a chisel).
From then on, it's mostly a matter of following clues and Beth's listening to her own inner voice that's just a bit off-center (one of the reasons her talents are appreciated in her department). But the closer Beth gets to identifying the killer, the closer the killer gets to choosing Beth as his next victim. Oops!
Entertaining and easy to read, this one definitely whets my appetite for the next one. Many thanks to the publisher, via NetGalley, for the opportunity to read and review an advance copy.
Fear in the Lakes by Graham Smith (Bookouture, July 2019); 356 pp.
4 stars out of 5
If Bad Axe County really existed, I'd never go near it. And based on the characters in this story (which, BTW, there were far too many of for my aging brain to keep straight), I'm happy to not live anywhere near any of these downright detestable folks. That's not to say the book isn't well-written; it is - and no doubt many readers will love it. But I disliked the people and places so much that it was hard to work up much enthusiasm for the plot.
Heidi Kick is the new interim sheriff in Bad Axe County, Wisconsin - the first female in what's clearly old-boy territory. She's married to Harley, who in his younger days was a star baseball player (and who is the only character in this story who has redeeming social value, IMHO). More than a decade earlier, Heidi's parents were found dead on their farm, and the police ruled it a murder-suicide. Heidi never believed that, though, and has tried ever since to figure out what really happened to them.
She's also got a job to do, though much of it seems to be an uphill battle against the seedy folks in the backwoods county who don't want her to do it. So bad is the situation that she's not even totally sure she'll run for the upcoming election that, should she somehow win, would give her a more permanent status.
As a real storm brews, a storm of another sort pops up in the local library involving an unidentified man, a young girl and a years-earlier baseball game that nobody - including Heidi's husband - want to talk about. That, in turn, leads to Heidi's learning about secret "stag parties" attended by all sorts of locals and an assortment of young girls, not all of whom were there of their own volition (think: human trafficking). One, in fact, has been missing ever since the party that followed that secretive baseball game; now, Heidi fears that the girl in the library may be another unwilling victim (one who, hopefully, she can save).
The nasty weather and roiling rivers take their toll as Heidi investigates up and down very run-down properties like a salvage yard and a restaurant/bar, both of which are operated by characters even a mother couldn't love. Can Heidi find the missing girl before it's too late? Will she learn whose hand really killed her parents? And will her marriage survive the secrets her husband has been keeping from her? All are questions that aren't for me to reveal; you'll just have to read it for yourself. Do so only, I might add, if you don't mind graphic language and really, really rough guys and gals (the language does fit the characters, but even though that usually doesn't bother me much, in this case it made me like them all even less).
Bottom line? While I appreciate the quality of the writing, this one is just too dark and gritty for me. In other words, I got through it intact, but I admit I'm now looking forward to diving into a cozy mystery (and if you know my opinion on those, you know that speaks volumes). Thanks to the publisher, via NetGalley, for the opportunity to read an advance copy.
Bad Axe County by John Galligan (Atria Books, July 2019); 336 pp.
4 stars out of 5
There's a touch of edge-of-seatness in this book to be sure, but I'd describe it more as a coming of age character study than a spine-tingling thriller. And I admit it's a bit of a stretch when it comes to believability; but then again, this is a work of fiction - so whether it could happen in real life really doesn't count for much. The bottom line is how well it's written - and I have no real complaints on that score; had I been able to finish it in one sitting, I would have.
Joshua Fields is your average Joe - went to work for his father, spending his days (and not a few nights) on the road helping with real estate deals and making his dad proud. He's got a girlfriend, although they're not quite seeing eye-to-eye at the moment and are taking a break. He makes decent money and, for all intents and purposes, should be a happy man.
Except he isn't. He hates to fly - popping anxiety pills before every one of his frequent flights. He knows he should be grateful that he's got a steady job with a future, a parent who loves him and a somewhat satisfactory love life. But in fact, he sees his life as hum-drum at best; he's just going through motions that he really doesn't much enjoy.
All that changes when he meets a beautiful but mysterious woman named Morgan during a layover at the Atlanta airport while on his way to shore up a real estate deal in Tampa, Fla. When she tells him little more about her life except that she's on the run, he's fascinated. And when she gives him a big kiss before flying down the concourse to catch her plane, fascination turns into infatuation. On a spur-of-the-moment whim, Josh decides to throw caution to the wind, cancel his trip to Tampa and set out to find her again. Perhaps, he seems to think, he can save her and his boring life in one fell swoop.
But you know what they say about good intentions and best-laid plans; finding Morgan isn't quite as simple as Josh thinks. And, he learns, she may not be all that happy to be found. Although she reveals a few more details about her dire situation, she leaves out enough to make Josh even more curious.
Meanwhile, a detective named Kimberly Givens is working on the case of the missing Giles Caldwell - the head honcho of a successful company that develops apps. It appears his home was broken into, but the only thing missing is a very expensive woman's ring. Giles's brother is pestering the police to get on with the investigation, but for the most part Kimberly's leads aren't going anywhere. She sticks with it, of course, eventually unearthing clues that point in the missing Morgan's direction (no big surprise there).
It's fast-paced, with short chapters shifting to different characters' points of views. It didn't end the way I would have expected, although upon reflection it was a good fit (see the first sentence in my review). All in all, a very enjoyable read - thanks to the publisher, via NetGalley, for the opportunity to review an advance copy.
Layover by David Bell (Berkley, July 2019); 414 pp.
5 stars out of 5
It seems incongruous that a book can be this good when all the characters are this unlikable (well, maybe with one exception). But when I had several chapters to go at the time we left for a three-day vacation with friends at the Marblehead area of Lake Erie, I stuffed my Kindle in my suitcase. I would, I vowed, make time to finish it. And I did - the very first night.
Short chapters that shift among character perspectives helped hold my attention on every single page. But it was the characters, all of whom I would classify as seriously screwed up, that really reeled me in. Even though I was certain how the book would end - and I was right - the way the story and characters evolved (for better or worse) made me wish I could have holed up and read the whole thing in one setting.
Kira Rascher, an aging actress who's been hoping for a juicy role for years (for whatever reason, Cassie from "A Chorus Line" came to mind), finally gets her wish as notoriously nitpicky director Malcolm Mercer chooses her for the lead in "Temper." The play is the latest venture at the theater founded by Joanna Cuyler, who doesn't think Kira is right for the part. Malcolm's relationship with Joanna is complicated, to say the least; they live together but, despite Joanna's wishful thinking, are a platonic couple.
Kira, too, has a complicated relationship (think: friends with benefits) with her apartment mate, Spence, who makes a living staging realistic, but accident-free, fight scenes for theatrical productions. For the two-person cast of "Temper," he's staging the final scenes between Trent and Mara, the characters played by Malcom and Kira. As rehearsals begin, Malcolm lives up to his take-no-prisoners reputation, challenging everyone involved in the production to their near-breaking points. He sets his most psychologically destructive sights on Kira, who knows exactly what he's doing but is sure she can out-psych him and deliver the performance of her life.
But can she? Aye, there's the rub. In fact, given this mixed-up bunch, whether there will be any survivors at curtain call is anyone's guess. Thoroughly engrossing and fast-paced (with no shortage of graphic sexual situations and explicit language, I note for those who eschew such things). Thanks to the publisher, via NetGalley, for allowing me to read and review an advance copy.
Temper by Layne Fargo (Gallery/Scout Press, July 2019); 352 pp.
4 stars out of 5
For much of my non-retired life (and on a freelance basis since I pulled the plug on the daily grind), my primary occupation has been writer and editor - every single word of it nonfiction. Along the way, I've conducted employee development seminars on a variety of topics like interpersonal communication and business writing. Now and again, I've toyed with the idea of writing some kind of how-to book. If I learned anything from reading this book, it's this: It ain't never gonna happen.
Hold on - don't panic. It's not because I, or you, can't dredge up enough how-to "stuff" to put in there. It's not because the author makes the process sound overwhelmingly difficult (quite the opposite, in fact). But if I had to pick the most important lesson in here, it's that actually seeing my book (and yours) in print requires total commitment to making a plan that will get us from start to finish - and then sticking to it no matter what. As I used to tell the folks in my seminars, all the daily charts and worksheets and motivational tricks in the world may help light your fire, but it's YOU and you alone who can accomplish what you need or want to accomplish. And quite honestly, at this stage of the game, I just don't have that drive (my late mama would call it "gumption").
But if you're still hem-hawing around (another of mom's faves), you'll get a ton of inspiration by reading what the author, a writing coach, has to say. No, you won't learn the nuts and bolts of writing - no instructions on grammar, punctuation, spelling or syntax are here except to say that if you don't have those down pat (actually, even if you do), you'll need to hire experts if you expect to sell your finished book to anybody outside your immediate family. And that brings me to another important point: the likelihood that you'll get rich by penning a book - or even several - is somewhere between slim and none. That's not meant to discourage you, but rather help you go into the book-writing process with your eyes wide open.
In seven easy-to-read chapters, you'll get tips on how to develop writing routines - hit or miss just doesn't cut it - as well as setting up and revising your first draft, getting the most from "beta" readers and pulling the whole thing together in a manuscript that's reader-ready. Helpful appendices (or appendixes, depending on which stylebook you've decided to follow) serve up resources such as books, blogs and podcasts. There's also more details on topics mentioned in the chapters, like creating a reverse outline (one that's done, the author explains, after the book is written). In the end, the book should give you a leg-up on what you need to do to get up, get started and get it done. Thanks to the author for providing me with a review copy.
Start Writing Your Book Today by Morgan Gist MacDonald (Paper Raven Books, June 2015); 140 pp.
4 stars out of 5
A fun book for sure: Sort of a "Godfather" meets "Wall Street" that pits wet-behind-the-ears stockbroker Will Matthews with a filthy rich rich stranger who met him at a hockey game and made him an offer he couldn't But as Will Matthews soon learns, if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
At first, Will - who is struggling to make his quarterly quota of new clients - is puzzled by the out-of-the-blue attention he gets from Samuel Abaddon (and by proxy, Sam's drop-dead gorgeous girlfriend, Eve). After turning over ludicrous amounts of money to Will to supervise, Sam showers the young man with expensive dinners and other high-priced treats - all with no apparent strings attached. Despite a few "why me" moments, Will can't help but think he's died and gone to heaven.
As all this is going on, lawyer Gwen Lipton is trying to make a name for herself in the huge firm for which she works, but she can't escape the reality that she's just treading water. Needless to say, neither Will nor Gwen have much time for a personal life, but they both turn to dating apps once in a while for quickie meetups that both hope might turn into something more meaningful. And surprise (well, not really) - the two meet up and hit it off. Any real romance, though, is destined for the back burner as Sam's demands on Will's time grow by the minute and Gwen suddenly gets assigned to one of the firm's highest profile cases: defending a movie mogul who's charged with murdering his wife.
As more and more money comes Will's way, he starts to worry about what he's gotten himself into; but the lure of success, his eternally optimistic outlook and the clearance of each deal by his employer's oversight officers convince him that everything is on the up and up. That is, until it's not; seeing a murder happen opens his eyes to some very unpleasant and unsettling truths. But can he do anything about it? And even if he can, will he?
Most of the story focuses on Will's situation, but I really enjoyed the progress and conclusion of Gwen's murder trial (which plays into the book's ending). My own conclusion is that while I wasn't exactly blown away with excitement, this is an easy-to-read, thoroughly enjoyable book that's a perfect accompaniment for a lounge chair on the beach or in front of a cozy fireplace. My thanks to the publisher, via NetGalley, for the opportunity to read and review an advance copy.
A Matter of Will by Adam Mitzner (Thomas & Mercer, June 2019); 304 pp.
5 stars out of 5
Love, love, love this series - and this, the 10th book, certainly does nothing to change that enthusiasm. Game Warden Mike Bowditch is in fine fettle - even if he's dithering a bit in his relatively new relationship with Maine state trooper Dani Tate. I've said this in other reviews, but Mike reminds me of author C.J. Box's game warden Joe Pickett, and in this book I picked up some tinges of Michael Lister's former prison chaplain John Jordan as well. But make no mistake: Mike is his own person - and a very capable, likable one at that.
Mike is an investigator with the Maine Warden Service, and as this story begins, he visits old friend and prison inmate Billy Cronk. Cryptically, Billy tells Mike that the new prison CO, Dawn Richie, needs to be investigated - but he stops short of explaining why. Mike is skeptical, but he also feels responsible for Billy's being in prison and somewhat reluctantly decides to look into the matter. Not long after his visit, Mike learns of a prison fight, during which both Billy and Dawn are injured. As it turns out, Billy was credited for saving the day (and Dawn's life), and now the governor says he'll issue a pardon.
Meantime, Mike - who's on vacation at the moment - must deal with a mystery of a very different sort; a wild wolf-dog with whom Mike once had a relationship of sorts has been shot with a wicked crossbow arrow and is expected to die. Both sad and furious, Mike vows to track down the archer. He uses his remaining free days to head for the deep backwoods, where some nasty characters and (surprise!) a group of Amish are ensconced. With help from an old friend, Mike even makes a rustic home for himself in the middle of a very scenic nowhere.
Billy's issues and the search for the wolf-killer run side by side for most of the book, coming together near the end when Billy's wife and children, who are trying to hide from some baddies who want to do them and Billy serious harm, take shelter in Mike's backwoods shack. At that point, all heck breaks loose - and readers are treated to a literal bang-up ending that happened way too soon to suit me.
Another terrific series entry is in the can - one thoroughly enjoyed by me as expected. Many thanks (once again) to the publisher, via NetGalley, for the opportunity to read and review an advance copy.
Almost Midnight by Paul Doiron (Minotaur Books, July 2019); 320 pp.
Let's be clear about one thing: This is not a songbook. Lyrics, when they appear, accompany the historical narrative written by co-author Jon Meacham with occasional sidebar insights by country star Tim McGraw (a friend and neighbor of Meacham). Some of the songs mentioned are of praise, others of protest - but all (ahem!) underscore what was happening at various times of crisis from the Revolutionary War to the Great Depression, 9/11 and more.
