ICE COLD HEART

5 stars out of 5

Last year about this time, I discovered this very entertaining "Monkeewrench" series - and felt bad that I'd missed earlier issues. Missing out, I vowed, wouldn't happen again. Happily, I learned about this one and was delighted to once again be approved by the publisher (via NetGalley) for an advance review copy. 

And I've got to say I enjoyed this one even more. In large part, that's because it's a really good story; it's also true that I'm more familiar with the very likable characters - some of them with quirky names like Harley Davidson and Roadrunner - and therefore never encountered any "Whoa, where did that come from?" feelings. Monkeewrench, you see, is a Minneapolis-based software development company that specializes in security. One of the partners, Grace, is married to Minneapolis Detective Leo Magozzi (a rather unlikely couple); together, they have an infant daughter. 

At the police department, a psychic named Blanca Szabo insists on speaking with Magozzi. An unknown woman, she insists, is about to be murdered. Shift focus to a beautiful woman, Kelly Ramage, an arm-candy wife to a rich but unfeeling old codger; she's off to meet a friend for the evening, or so she claims - dressed to kill.

Or more accurately, to be killed. Magozzi and his trusty team are called in to begin the investigation, not quite believing that Kelly was the about-to-die woman Blanca had envisioned. The trail leads to a local art gallery and the sadistic but wildly popular works of a reclusive artist named Rado. Meanwhile, enter another character as readers get a look at Petra Juric, a historian and researcher who's come to Minneapolis, surreptitiously looking for a man with a lurid past.

Are these characters somehow connected? Can the computer experts at Monkeewrench find clues that will help the detectives find the killer before he or she kills again? I'll give you a couple of hints: The answer to the first question is yes; and to the second, yes and no. More than that, you'll just have to read for yourself. Loved this one - great fun!

Ice Cold Heart by P.J. Tracy (Crooked Lane Books, September 2019); 320 pp.

THE FIFTH COLUMN

4.5 stars

As a general rule, I don't enjoy books, movies or TV
shows that involve battles, conflicts and wars. I've even given up on a couple of previously favorite authors because the focus of their latest books shifted too heavily in that direction. So when I started this one, I was more than a bit wary. Can't imagine I'll like it much, I said to myself.

And it just goes to show me not to prejudge. Not only did I enjoy it, but I finished it in only two sittings. In fact, it's a very intriguing plot that is related to World War II but, happily, does not take place on a battlefield at all. It opens in New York in February 1939, when unrest in Europe is heating up and people everywhere are taking sides for and against the Nazis. Charlie Mossman, a sometimes-practicing Jew and often drunk, is in a bar and approached by some belligerent Nazi supporters. A fight ensues, and Charlie unintentionally hits a teenager, an innocent bystander. The young man dies, Charlie is charged and convicted of involuntary manslaughter, and spends the next two years in prison.

When he gets out, he learns his wife has given up on him, although she's still friendly and allows him to spend time with their young daughter Emma. The United States is trying to avoid a war that's growing by leaps and bounds and fast. When he visits Emma, he meets Trudi and Willi Bauer, a couple who seem to love Emma dearly and claim to be Swiss. It doesn't take long, though, for Charllie to find clues that lead him to believe they're something else entirely. Perhaps, he suspects, they might even be members of a "fifth column," a network of German spies embedded in day-to-day life in the states (if you've watched "The Americans" on TV, you get the drift).

As time goes on, Charlie becomes even more suspicious and finally discovers sufficient evidence to be sure he's right. Problem is, no one will believe him. His soon-to-be-ex-wife loves the "Swiss" couple, and Charlie's prison background doesn't exactly make him a reliable source to the police or FBI. Still, he's convinced that something big is about to go down - something that could threaten thousands of U.S. lives. When Pearl Harbor is attacked, drawing America into the war, Charlie just can't pretend everything is fine. What he does, how he does it and what happens in the end make for an exciting story.

So what did I not like so much? There's a fair amount of repetition - Understandably, Charlie has to retell his findings over and over to people he thinks he can trust. But after the second or third time, even somewhat abbreviated, it got a little boring. And it didn't take long for me to wonder if the author is on a crusade against Charles Lindbergh - he pointed out several times that the late pilot at one time was a vocal supporter of Nazi Germany. Actually, that's an historical fact; but one mention would have sufficed.

Those small issues aside, I was very satisfied with this book and thank the publisher, via NetGalley, for the opportunity to read an advance copy.

The Fifth Column by Andrew Gross (Minotaur Books, September 2019); 336 pp.

THE LONG CALL

5 stars out of 5

Would you believe this is my first encounter with this prolific author? It's true - but for sure it won't be my last. In fact, this book marks the start of a new "Two Rivers" series, and already I'm taken with the main character, Detective Matthew Venn of North Devon.

As with intriguing characters in most mysteries, Matthew is flawed; in his case, he long ago left his parents' precious fold - a religious group (cult) called the Brethren. For that alone, his parents essentially disowned him; the situation took a turn for the worse (if that's possible) when he married the love of his life, Jonathan, who manages a community that caters to people with disabilities.

So it is that he stands outside the church at his estranged father's funeral - intentionally unseen and with mixed emotions. As he walks away so as not to encounter his mother, he gets a call: There's been a murder at a nearby beach. An unidentified man has been stabbed. The albatross tattoo on his neck is the only clue, and it turns out the man is Simon Walden, a rather odd duck who not long ago secretly moved into a spare room with two local women who, as it turns out, have secrets of their own.

The plot begins to thicken when Matthew gets an out-of-the-blue call from his mother, who asks for his help: It seems the daughter of her best friend, a girl with Down's syndrome, has been "lost." That draws Matthew back to a place he really doesn't want to be - dealing with Brethren folks. Perhaps worse, because the girl spent her days at Jonathan's facility, Matthew must deal with a possible conflict of interest that would leave the investigation in the hands of his team members Jen and Ross (both complex characters in their own rights, but very capable detectives).

In an effort to avoid disclosing more than I should, my analysis will stop here, except to say that the action heats up near the end to the point that I was reluctant to put the book down. Already, I'm looking forward to seeing these characters again. Meantime, thanks to the publisher, via NetGalley, for the opportunity to read an advance copy. Well done!

The Long Call by Ann Cleeves (Minotaur Books, September 2019); 382 pp.

TIN BADGES

5 stars out of 5

Wow! A good old knock-down, shoot 'em up story with a
really cool lead character (somewhat reminiscent of the late Robert B. Parker's Spenser) that doesn't challenge readers with ever-changing character perspectives and time flashbacks or confusing head games. That means assuming the very talented Mr. Carcaterra  keeps writing about retired NYPD cop "Tank" Rizzo, I'll be first in line to read each and every one.

Tank, you see, is a "tin badge" - the term used for retired police officers who are called back by the department to provide extra help. This isn't Rizzo's first such rodeo; he and his former partner Pearl, who suffered a formal career-ending injury that's left him in a wheelchair for life, now have an entire group to work with and a stellar solve rate. Together, they form a rather motley crew that includes a couple of young techies and a beautiful gypsy fortune teller (yes, you read that correctly).

This time, Tank gets the nod following a home invasion that leaves two women nearly dead. Two men are sure bets for doing the deed, but they have alibis that are phony as a two-dollar bill but unshakable. As he gathers his buddies to get started, Tank gets bad news: His long-estranged brother and his wife have been killed in an auto accident, orphaning their teenage son Chris. With no other relatives available, Tank offers the boy living quarters in his Greenwich Village brownstone; reluctantly, the kid - not coincidentally a computer whiz and cops-and-robbers aficionado - agrees to the arrangement.

Angered over the emotional distance between Tank and his late father, Chris takes more liking to other crew members as well as Tank's longtime love, Connie, and her "retired" mobster boss Carmine. Over the years, despite their usually-at-loggerheads occupations, Tank and Carmine have forged an unlikely but very real friendship. For the record, that unusual relationship, plus Tank's love of wine, jazz and other more intellectual pursuits and a strong but marriage-free relationship with a beautiful woman are among the traits he shares with the aforementioned Spenser.

As the investigation moves along, it leads directly in the path of a very nasty mob boss who threatens the lives of Tank and everyone he loves and works with. Needless to say, that doesn't sit well with Carmine; his age and the loss of his beloved wife may have nudged him toward inactivity, but threats to his family quickly revive his sense of honor (even if it is among thieves).

All told, it's a fast-moving, totally engaging plot as well as a study in character development and interaction. In the end, I wanted for nothing except more - which hopefully will come soon. Meantime, my wholehearted thanks to the publisher, via NetGalley, for the opportunity to read an advance copy.

Tin Badges by Lorenzo Carcaterra (Ballantine Books, August 2019); 286 pp.

THE WAREHOUSE

5 stars out of 5

Think Amazon and Walmart on steroids: What would happen if either (or both) of these already giant companies went wild and, quite literally, took over the world's commerce?

At first blush, the yin-yang is easy to envision; virtually all small business would be wiped out and the only "secure" jobs essentially would be low-paying gruntwork (albeit with substantial benefits). On the other hand, the convenience for consumers would be unmatched. With state-of-the-industry order technology, huge distribution centers staffed by hundreds and a sky littered with delivery drones, anything people might want would be at their fingertips almost instantly. The question then becomes - and worthy of note is that it's a question that's being asked today - to what extent are those consumers willing to overlook the exploitation of other human beings in order for their own needs to be satisfied?

This entertaining yet often disturbing book gives readers some idea of what life might be like should that happen (some, of course, will argue that we're already at that point). The scene is set at the mothership of a ginormous company called Cloud, which has "campuses" all over the country complete with living quarters, health care and recreational opportunities for the thousands of employees at the facilities. During working hours, they perform jobs assigned to them by managers supposedly according to their skills; to keep them all in line, there's a rating system that, if in any way violated, would land them back in the outside world to fend for themselves (with the promise they'd never again be employed by Cloud). That outside world is dog-eat-dog - pretty much literally - and the long lines of people waiting to submit their resumes to Cloud is a testament to their desperation to escape as well as serve yet another deterrent to any employee who might consider bucking the carefully contrived system.

Enter central characters Paxton and Zinnia, both of whom applied for jobs at Cloud, each for a different, nefarious reason. I won't reveal what those reasons are, but only that neither expects to be working there after their goals have been realized. They meet for the first time briefly on the tram ride that takes them to their work and living quarters. Paxton is more interested in Zinnia than she in him, but early on, she sees an advantage in cozying up to him. Meanwhile, Gibson Wells, the creator and CEO of this monster company, is dying of cancer. Considering himself to be the savior of the free world, he starts a blog to lay out the reasons - more like justifications - behind all he's done that will culminate in the announcement of his successor. He's also announced plans to personally visit all his Cloud facilities before he succumbs, ending with the MotherCloud at which Paxton and Zinnia are employed.

Told through alternating perspectives of the three characters, readers begin to get the full story - complete with a few timely surprises that keep things really interesting and, in the process, provide some food for thought that carries over to the real world (as evidenced by the twinge of buyer's remorse I felt just after finishing the book as I pushed the "place order" button to get the items in my Amazon cart). Oh well, at least they haven't activated drone delivery in my neighborhood (yet).

Thanks to the publisher, via NetGalley, for the opportunity to read and review an advance copy of this entertaining and thought-provoking book.

The Warehouse by Rob Hart (Crown, August 2019); 348 pp.

LABYRINTH

4 stars out of 5

I'm a big fan of this series, in particular the FBI duo (and married couple) Dillon Savich and Lacey Sherlock. Oh sure, they're always a little too "perfect," but I enjoy them, their interaction and respective talents - a lot. So it was that I looked forward to reading this, their 23rd adventure.
  
And I have to say that while I enjoyed it, the whole thing seemed just a bit, well, sappy compared with others I've read. Much of that, I think, is because early on, Sherlock is involved in an auto accident that results in substantial memory loss - primarily of people. Her skills seem to be intact, so Savich has no real qualms about involving her in whatever he's investigating; but he also spends a ton of time trying to convince her (and himself) that she'll get her memory back, and that part, to me, is a bit overdone.

After her car was hit, Sherlock's car spun out and, in turn, struck and wounded a man who they learn is a CIA agent being chased by a couple of (presumably) bad guys. Now, the goal is to find him and keep him safe - if in fact he's still alive. While all this is going on, another FBI teammate, Griffin Hammersmith, is grabbing some R&R in tiny Gaffer's Ridge, Virginia, when he "hears" distress cries from a damsel who's been kidnapped and stashed in a houxe he's passing by. When he rescues her, she says she heard her captor - whose family basically owns the town - admit to murdering three teenage girls who have gone missing recently. Needless to say, the man denies everything, putting Hammersmith and Dr. Carson DeSilva, the woman he saved, at serious odds with said powerful family.

The two plots overlap here and there, allowing interaction among Savich, Sherlock, Hammersmith and deSilva, the latter a much-accomplished journalist. Also on display are the special psychic talents of Sherlock and Hammersmith, who share those abilities with select other characters who use it in not-so-friendly ways.

All of this makes readers wonder: Who will win the war of the minds? How far up the CIA food chain does responsibility for Sherlock's accident reach? And will she ever remember the people she once loved, including Savich and their young son Sean?

All in all, it's another fun adventure that is, as always, well worth reading.

Labyrinth by Catherine Coulter (Gallery Books, July 2019); 512 pp.

THE WHISPER MAN

5 stars out of 5

For sure, this is a book I didn't want to put down - but for two reasons: First and by far foremost, yes, it's that good. Second, I was trying my best to finish before a cataract removal made it next to impossible to read anything, even with a bumped-high font on my Kindle. Happily (sort of), I made it - almost. The best I could do the night before my surgery was get close to the 90% mark, leaving me frustrated and chomping at the bit to get to the end. The day after surgery - with help from a pair of readers, a magnifying glass and a whole lot of determination, I finally got there.

And what a treat it was! Since it's still difficult to read (and therefore write), I'll necessarily keep my review short; but suffice it to say I enjoyed every thrilling page. For openers, a young boy has gone missing, and similarities soon point detectives to older murders by a serial killer known as the "Whisper Man." But that killer is in jail, so the theories are that there's a copycat on the loose or that the original killer had an accomplice. So strong is the connection that Detective Inspector Pete Willis, who worked the missing boy's case 20 years earlier and is the only person ever allowed to meet with the jailed killer, has been called in to help once again. That case has haunted him ever since - no body was ever found and the killer refuses to reveal the whereabouts - so he's understandably reluctant to get involved again.

Enter a second storyline as readers meet young Jake, whose mother died tragically. His father, a writer, is tryig his best to connect with his son even though both were devastated by the mother's death. The son, Jake, carries around a Packet of Special Things as a sort of security blanket, and he also "talks" to an unseen by anyone else young girl and, worse, hears a man's voice whispering to him on occasion. When Jake's dad moves them to a creepy old house that Jake inexplicably loves in Featherbank - the same community in which the boy went missing - things start to get really crazy.

And that's where I'll leave it. There are a couple of plot twists that keep things intriguing, and the character development keeps it interesting as well. This one, I think, deserves to be a winner - and I thank the publisher, via NetGalley, for the opportunity to read and review an advance copy.

The Whisper Man by Alex North (Celadon Books, August 2019); 368 pp.